A/N: Here's the next installment. I hope you enjoy.

Sarah rushed into Cedars Sinai with the two kids in tow. After a few words from the receptionist they were off to Chuck's private room in the ICU where he had just come out of surgery. Sarah tried her hardest to keep her composure, especially in front of her kids but found it increasingly difficult as they approached the door to Chuck's room.

As she opened the door a look of total bewilderment came over Sarah's face as she saw Director Arthur Graham, General Diane Beckman standing alongside Devon, Ellie, and their kids with Morgan and Anna. Normally she would've asked for an explanation but her immediate concern was focused on the man lying on the hospital bed, attached to every monitor possible.

Quickly rushing to his right side, Sarah took his hand into her own and squeezed tightly as if she could pull him out of the state he was in. She turned towards Ellie and whispered "I'm so sorry Ellie. I promised you that Chuck would be safe. But now..."

Ellie ran over to Sarah's side to comfort her. "Don't talk like that. You did more than anyone could or should be asked to."

"You guys know everything?"

"Yes. Director Graham and General Beckman let us in on the whole story about how you guys are agents for the CIA and had to keep it a secret in order to protect us."

Sarah turned to Graham with a puzzled look.

Graham said "It seemed only right that your family be here considering how much we asked you two to sacrifice over these years."

"Besides, I don't think there a better group of people to have around to help Chuck overcome his injuries" added Beckman.

No matter how times she saw, it always amazed her how Chuck was even able to wear down their bosses. They had started out as straight-laced, by the book, hard-ass bosses but after several years of working with Chuck, even they started to warm up a bit. The very first indication came when she announced she has expecting Kylie. She expected Graham to show some disappointment for losing a valuable field agent but instead he congratulated her and Chuck. The bigger surprise came when they got home and found their living room strewn with baby clothes and various baby paraphernalia from both Graham and Beckman.

Sarah looked over and gave a smile. "Thanks."

Graham noticed that Chuck and Sarah's kids and Devon and Ellie's kids were quite confused with the situation and looked like they were starting to worry. "Hey kids, you know what? I think I heard that they just restocked the freezer in the cafeteria with ice cream. How bout we go down there and get some?"

Miley and Blake looked to their parents who nodded their approval. Sarah turned to Joshua and Kylie and motioned for them to join Graham as well. With a quick glance to her boss, Sarah expressed her gratitude for shielding the kids from the bad news for now.

Kylie took Graham's hand and asked "Director Graham?"

"Call me Art."

"Art, is my dad going to be ok? He doesn't look good."

The other kids looked over to Chuck and nodded.

Sarah was about to answer when Graham put his hand up and stopped her. "Let me ask you, do you know what your dad and mom do for a living?"

All the kids shook their head while the parents showed a worried look on their faces. They hoped to shield them from the reality that their parents were spies.

"Well, let's just call them fixers. They fix things when they go wrong and your parents were the best fixers I ever worked with. They were able to fix things that others couldn't. When things were hard, they were always able to overcome it."

Kylie smiled.

"But let me tell you something that even your mom doesn't know."

Kylie's interest peaked as well as Sarah's.

"Before he and your mom started going out, he called and told me that he was going to pursue a relationship with your mom. At the time, our company had rules against fixers going out. I was afraid they would be in danger if they had become a couple."

Sarah never heard of this from Chuck and just assumed that Graham noticed the closeness between them and that had sparked the approval of their relationship.

Kylie asked "Why would they be in danger?"

"Because we thought that your mom and dad wouldn't be able to focus on fixing things if they were worried about each other. You understand?"

Kylie nodded.

"But your dad was adamant that they were the exception and that they were better together than apart. So I agreed under the condition that he would train to become a full fledged fixer so that he wouldn't endanger her life or his. And he did; he worked harder than anyone else and surprised everyone with how good he got." Graham smiled. "You know what I learned about him?"

"What?"

"That he loved your mom so much that he was willing to stand up to me so that they could be together. I'm sure he loves you guys just as much as her. So I'm pretty sure he's not going to give up until he comes back to you guys." Graham looked over the whole group of kids. "What was the last thing he talked to you guys about?"

"He told us that when he came back he would take me, Josh, Blake, and Miley to Disneyland."

"He promised?"

"Yeah."

"Well then, there's your answer. He made a promise to you and if I know your dad, he's trying his hardest right now to make sure he takes you guys to Disneyland."

Kylie and the rest of the kids all had full smiles on their faces. They were also joined with smiles from the adults in the room listening in.

"So let's go get that ice cream I told you about." Graham ushered the kids out of the room and gave a nod to Sarah.

Beckman followed after and closed the door to the room to allow them some privacy.

Sarah's smile faded away as she watched the door slowly shut. The realization that her husband was lying in the room attached to various machines with wires and tubing suddenly filled her mind. She slowly turned around to face the man that had turned her life around. Sarah gasped as she was finally able to see the full extent of Chuck's injuries.

Ellie saw the anguish on Sarah's face and quickly moved to console her sister in law. "Sarah...."

Sarah looked up to Ellie with tears in her eyes, "Ellie, how bad?"

Tears formed in her eyes as well and Ellie struggled to get out the words.

Devon took over after watching for a few moments. "I'm not going to lie to you Sarah, he's not doing well. Chuck is in a coma right now; the doctors think it was due to lack of oxygen and the altered pH from all the smoke he inhaled before they found him. They also found signs that he sustained an injury to the head but luckily there were no signs of hemorrhaging. Those are his most severe injuries; the docs have him on 100% oxygen for the moment to help alleviate some of the symptoms. They'll be taking him in soon to start hyperbaric oxygenation treatments to speed up the removal of carbon monoxide from his body." Devon paused to allow Sarah time to assimilate all she just heard.

"Keep going Devon. I'm ok."

Devon nodded. "Chuck also received second to third degree burns over his left arm and will need some skin grafting. He broke his right femur and sustained various cut and bruises from the explosion."

"Is he going to be ok?"

"We...we don't know. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy will help with the problems caused by the smoke inhalation but it will be up to him to wake from the coma. Also, there is...." Devon looked down, unwilling to look at Sarah's face at what next he had to say.

"What? What is it?" implored Sarah.

"We don't know what state he will be in when and if he wakes up. The team that rescued him had no way of knowing how long Chuck was without oxygen. If it was for more that 4-6 minutes, we could be dealing with severe brain damage." Devon looked sullenly to the floor. "I'm sorry Sarah."

Sarah slumped down into the chair next to Chuck's bed. Everyone in the room looked on as the normally bright and cheery woman sink deep into worry and sorrow.

Ellie let go of her and told everybody to wait outside to let Sarah have some time with Chuck alone. As the last of them stepped outside Ellie whispered into Sarah's ear, "We'll be outside if you need us."

With a sad smile and tears in her eyes, Sarah nodded. She slowly turned her head back to her husband and took in his condition. "Chuck. Please pull through. You promised you would come back to me. Everyone's here waiting for you." She gently placed her hand onto his forehead and winced as she noticed a gash starting at his left cheek, narrowly missing his eye, and ending at his left temple. "Kylie and Joshua are here too. They want their daddy back."

She brought her face close to his and let her tears drop onto Chuck's still face. "Don't leave me Chuck." Sarah laid her head onto his chest and closed her eyes, hoping to wake from this nightmare.