A/N: I don't own Chuck in any way shape or form. I have a birthday coming up but I know I will be disappointed again. I really don't want Chuck, I'd much prefer Sarah. Ha-Ha.

I have to once again thank my beta jagged1. She somehow makes sense of my ramblings. Without her, I would be lost.

Xxx

Chapter 3

Xxx

Sarah walked into Castle at exactly six in the morning. She was going to call Beckman and explain what had happened and beg if she had to. She didn't want to be taken away from Chuck.

"Walker, what are you doing here this early? Where's the mor…Bartowski? You're supposed to be providing protection for him," Casey stated, knowing it was a lie.

Sarah jumped slightly as she was descending the stairs and nearly dropped her coffee. Casey had come striding out of the back. "Ellie sent me home yesterday. Chuck was very upset and she said if I stayed, it might affect his recovery." Sarah half-lied, Ellie sent me home because I was very upset too.

"Doesn't matter, I've had him on surveillance all night. I was about to call you. We have a briefing in an hour."

"Is General Beckman reassigning me?" Sarah asked while biting her bottom lip. Please, please let me stay.

"I don't know, we'll all find out at the same time. Bartowski is getting dressed right now and will be here by seven. Beckman is being very tight lipped about what she's going to do. She asked for my opinion, but the decision is hers and hers alone."

Sarah looked at Casey while fingering one of her knives. "Did you tell her you agreed and I need to go?"

"Actually, I told her that you kept Bartowski grounded and you were a good partner, for a CIA skirt." Casey chuckled, looking at the fire in Sarah's eyes.

When Sarah had processed what Casey had, said she smiled. "Thanks Casey."

"Oh, don't go all girly on me; we'll get enough of that when Bartowski gets here. He made some demands but I think once under the glare of General Beckman, he'll shrink and be ready to go back to the way things were."

"Casey, what I said yesterday when I was upset… can we…" Sarah began.

"Walker, unless it pertains to a mission, I only listen to about half of what you say and then it goes in one ear and out the other," Casey growled. "In other words, I don't want to talk about it or hear about it."

Satisfied that she had Casey in her corner, Sarah settled in front of the computer to file her report on what had happened in regards to Chuck. It was the longest hour and she kept checking the clock waiting for Chuck to appear and find out if her life was over.

At exactly fifteen seconds to seven, Chuck opened the freezer door in the back of the Orange Orange and descended the stairs. He had just enough time to pull a chair out at the far end of the table and sit before Beckman appeared on the LCD.

"Major Casey, Agent Walker and Mister Bartowski." The last part was said with a look of disdain. "I've reviewed the events of the last few days and I've come to some decisions."

"General," all three chorused, although Casey and Sarah were surprised by the response from Chuck.

"Mr. Bartowski, I've thought about this long and hard. Quit the Buy-More, you now work for a small software company in Burbank. You'll have flexible hours and can work from home when you want. It will make it less suspicious when you have a mission and have to leave on short notice. You will earn a paycheck from the company but in actuality, it is a NSA front so you will be on our payroll as an analyst. As to your request for an apartment of your own, I whole-heartedly agree. A twenty-eight year old man shouldn't still be living at home when he's making good money."

"Exactly how much money?" Chuck interrupted.

Beckman glared at Chuck for the interruption, but he glared back at her, demanding her attention. "You will start at forty thousand with a sizable amount in back pay deposited into your account. I'm sure that will satisfy you."

"What about my other requests, Ma'am?" Chuck demanded at the same time trying to be diplomatic.

"We've arranged for the family on the other side of Casey's apartment to be offered the job of a lifetime and they'll be moved out by the end of the week. You'll move in there. It would look suspicious if Major Casey not only followed you to your new place of employment but moved to be near you." Beckman smiled even though it didn't reach her eyes. A happy Intersect is a productive Intersect.

"That's three of the four requests I made, what about the last one?" Chuck asked with a stony face.

Casey and Sarah's heads spun to look at Chuck when he asked about the one thing that they thought he wouldn't ask about.

"Analyst Bartowski, you must make a concession on your side after I've acquiesced to your demands. You require 24/7 protection. Agent Walker will be moving in with you. You've dated for over a year and it is the next logical step. We are at a momentous step in our fight with Fulcrum and we can't afford to lose our stranglehold," Beckman.

"I have an alternate suggestion; Casey will have bugs and cameras on me while I'm at home. I can ride to work with him and he'll be there all day for protection. Is that acceptable?" Sid asked.

"This is non-negotiable Chuck, Major Casey needs to sleep sometime and at this point I don't want to bring anyone else onto the team. The fewer people that know about you, the safer you are. Agent Walker will provide real time protection and it will add to the cover. Your sister and fiancé would be suspicious otherwise."

Chuck chanced a glance to Sarah and it only strengthened his resolve that this wouldn't work. The strange look on her face from the last few comments only cemented what he already knew to be true. He was the only thing that held her back from going to join her love, Bryce, and a real exciting assignment.

Sarah was trying to hold in the joy she felt when Beckman said they would be moving in together and they would be a couple. I have to be professional or Beckman will pick up on it and reassign me. This is what I've wanted for months.

"Then send me to the bunker. I'm sick and tired of a cover. I want real. I want what time I have left to be real, not a cover you devised."

"Mr. Bartowski, you have twenty-four hours to accept this or I will put you in said bunker. Contact me when you've made your decision."

As soon as the screen went black, Sarah snatched her purse and ran up the stairs. She was trying to hold back the tears until she was out of sight of Chuck. It hurt her so much that he would prefer to have Casey monitor him all night and then ride with him back and forth to work rather than live with her.

Once Sarah exited Castle, Casey walked over and gave Chuck a slap on the back of the head. "This is the only time I'm going to say this so listen good. Do you know that Walker begged me to keep her on the team? She was so upset by your actions yesterday that she disobeyed direct orders and left me as your only protection. Dumbass, she wants real with you. I don't know why. You're a whiney pain in the ass and you never follow orders. I'd kill you if it were me."

"That's the problem Major Casey, when the new Intersect comes online; it's her job to kill me. I saw the orders; it was in the update unless you volunteer first. Please make it quick Major, I'll make it easy. Code word Ulysses and I'll turn around, back of the head, no regrets."

"I think we have jobs to quit, give me an hour and then you can do your thing. It might look suspicious if we quit at exactly the same minute.

Casey started to feel bad, really bad. Someone that never deserved to die before his appointed time had just given him the ultimate easy hit. Ulysses and you're dead, no eyes to stare into, no blubbering or begging for mercy. He wondered if the order came to Walker if she would be so merciful.

"See you later, Chuck?" Casey called as Chuck shuffled up the stairs.

"Later maybe, unless I don't see you. Chuck called as he waved over his shoulder.

Xxx

"Told you Chuck, you saw the look on her face. The look of disgust at having to do something that revolts her for the greater good. You know that look, you've seen it before. It's a variation of the look Casey gives us. You know both of them would rather be out on an assignment that really matters than with us."

"You don't understand, that's just Casey's way and Sarah…"

"Right, she cares. She was so disgusted that she had to rush out of Castle, probably to throw up. Read between the lines, she was ordered to control us by any means necessary. Obey or die, I'm considering the latter. Beckman's orders are implicit, follow them or die. I don't even think at this time she's considering the bunker."

"That's not true. She made concessions to your demands. I never could've done that but I want to be a part of this." Chuck cried.

Xxx

Sarah was devastated. She needed to talk to someone but who could she talk to about Chuck. He didn't want to move in with her, he didn't trust her. Maybe Ellie could help but she didn't know anything about Chuck's other job and the cover so it would be difficult, but there was no one else. Carina was on an assignment in South America and she didn't know where her father was. She'd exhausted her contact with Casey; he didn't want to hear anymore.

If she didn't get help soon the only option would be to talk to Chuck, really talk to him, and that scared her. She was better with actions than words, and if Chuck had agreed to the new living arrangements, she could show him how she felt. I can tell everyone else how I feel, even Casey, why can't I tell him? Later, when she was comfortable, then she might be able to articulate the words to tell him.

Ellie, she's the one. I have to think of a story and it had better be good. Ellie is so smart that she'll pick apart a flimsy story. I'll tell her the truth or as much as I can. I'll tell her I want - to move in with Chuck and he's resisting. That'll work; I won't even have to fake the sad eyes or the tears. I want to move in with him so bad it scares me. I've never felt this way before or cared about someone so much. The CIA made me an unfeeling agent, but Chuck brought it all back. I love him.

Dialing her phone one-handed, Sarah maneuvered around a semi-trailer and accelerated toward the exit that would bring her to Casa Bartowski.

"Hello?"

"Ellie, can I come over? I really need to talk to you. It's about Chuck and I'm not sure what is going on in his head."

"Sure, Sarah, I just got home from work. I was wondering when you would come over for a talk, I'm not supposed to, but I left my phone on all day hoping you would call."

"Ellie…?" Sarah started.

"Sarah, if you're driving with one hand and talking on your cell, hang up. I don't need to rush to the hospital because you've been in an accident."

Sarah replied almost shyly after the reprimand. "Yes, I can be there in five minutes. I think it can wait."

"Good, I'll have a cup of hot tea ready when you get here, or do you think we need wine?"

"Tea is fine, thanks Ellie," Sarah said before hanging up.

Xxx

"Chuck, please, you can't quit. You're the glue that holds this whole store together. What if I offered you more money and a promotion?" Big Mike pleaded.

"Sorry Big Mike, ever since I finished my degree from Stanford I've been looking around and I was offered a job at a small software company. It's what I've always wanted; it's only a start, but please understand: I'm twenty-nine and need to move on. I can't be a nerd herd supervisor all my life. I'll honor the two weeks' notice, but after that, I'm gone. This job won't wait."

"Chuck, you're right and I have no reason to hold you back. Forget the two weeks' notice; you have accumulated time off that will cover that. I'm proud of you boy, if anyone here was ever going to go on to bigger and better things, I always knew it would be you."

Big Mike stood and walked around the desk. "Now give me a hug and promise me you'll still shop here for all your computer and electronic needs."

"Thanks, Big Mike," Chuck said as he embraced the Buy-More manager. "One more thing, Casey gave me a ride to my interview and while he was waiting in the lobby for me, an altercation started, and you know Casey. He defused the situation and detained the culprit. They offered him a job as security. You've seen the way he handles situations. I think he's going to be in to see you later. He told me they want him to start tomorrow."

"Not my nerd herd supervisor and my best salesman all in one day? I'm left with Jeff and Lester for the nerd herd and Morgan as my best salesman. I'm ruined."

"Big Mike, I'll steer all our purchases to this store. It's the least I can do after all the time you put up with me."

"Deal Bartowski. Can you take Jeff and Lester with you though?" Big Mike asked with a smile.

"Sorry," Chuck said as he shook Big Mike's hand and backed out of the office and into the next chapter of his life.

Xxx

Ellie had just handed Sarah with a cup of hot tea on the sofa. "Tell me - what he's done now?"

Sarah had settled on the story she would use with Ellie and she began her tale of woe. "I talked to Chuck this morning and I told him I wanted to move ahead. I told him I thought we should move in together, get our own apartment but he was so cold. He just kept saying he didn't think I was what he wanted anymore."

"Sarah I have to confess, part of this is my fault."

Sarah looked at the doctor and wondered how she could be the reason for her current problem.

"Chuck came home from your housesitting and when he said he didn't see your relationship going anywhere, I told him to move on and break up with you. I'm so sorry for that but I always look out for Chuck."

"I've been a little mixed up lately; please help me win Chuck back. I really want this. I'm ready for the next step," Sarah said with watery eyes.

"I'll help you, Sarah; if I have to I'll beat it into his brain. I just heard that the apartment on the other side of Casey will be open by the end of the week. It would be perfect for you two and it would be close by."

"This would mean so much to me, I… I…care about Chuck. I want us to be together."

Ellie winked and replied, "Leave it to me, Sarah. Pack your bags and be ready to move in by Friday. I'll call the super and arrange it. It's not even on the market yet, but I'm sure I can entice him to rent it to you and Chuck. With the short notice, he might not have time to paint and clean up, but we can do that this weekend."

Sarah jumped up and hugged Ellie with all the strength she had. "Ellie, I love you and thank you so much. I don't deserve it but I've decided Chuck is all I've ever wanted."

"I only want you both to be happy. Now get out of here so I can work my magic guilt trip on Chuck when he comes home," Ellie said with a smirk.

Xxx

Chuck walked back into Castle and found Casey checking the video feeds from the Buy More. "You didn't think I could handle the situation or come up with a suitable reason to quit? I don't need your help, Bartowski."

Chuck looked at Casey with dark eyes. "Quit whining Casey, I saved you from having to hug Big Mike unless you were hoping for that?"

The echo of Chuck's words hadn't left Castle before Casey had Chuck pinned to the wall with his forearm against his throat.

Chuck looked calmly at Casey, which only infuriated the NSA Agent more. "If you want to make jokes, find Grimes."

Casey wondered what had gotten into Chuck, where he'd gotten the courage to rattle the cage of one 'Major John Casey'.

"Bartowski, I'm going over to quit my job. You better be gone when I get back. Beckman wants another briefing tomorrow morning. Don't let me see you until then," Casey growled releasing Chuck.

"See Chuck, this is how you handle the NSA ape. We're more important than him and we're his job. He won't hurt us. We have to stand up for ourselves, get some respect." Sid directed his comments toward Chuck.

"Casey is the only one who has been honest with us. If you keep taunting him, I think he is going to kill us."

"He won't. Duty before dishonor. Semper Fi. Wait until the briefing tomorrow morning."

Xxx

Chuck walked to his Nerd Herder before he realized that the transportation he'd relied on for years was no longer available. Staring into space Chuck looked at the bus stop, deciding he had places to go and the bus was the only alternative. After a short ride Chuck, got off and entered his local bank branch. He wanted to know how much Beckman had put into his account. He needed a car. He knew he would be stuck with a government-supplied car full of GPS trackers. But he wanted something that he would be comfortable driving, in case he had to go off grid. Not a little box mobile like the herders that everyone laughed at when they saw them. The next step would be getting an apartment with an underground garage. A place to hide the car and a place of refuge, a place he could hide when he needed it.

Chuck had long ago designed a device to reflect the GPS trackers, with a flick of a switch it would appear he was driving aimlessly about the city, always just one camera ahead of the cameras the city had on the streets that the government could access on a whim. Chuck had been afraid to use it but Sid wasn't.

Chuck was surprised when he found forty-thousand had been transferred into his account. He'd hoped for more but was surprised by the amount, considering the government. They really owed him two years of back pay but he was enthusiastic that he would have more than enough to buy a car and put a deposit on an apartment.

Red flags would fly if he wrote checks or used his internet banking account to pay for said activities. I need a way to move the money to a new account under another name.

Looking at his wallet, he flashed on a man who could provide fake ID's that would withstand limited scrutiny. Withdrawing five thousand dollars, he went in search of the elusive Mr. Weaver.

One hour later, Chuck left the shady bar with a new identity. Chuck had made sure he'd sat in the shadows with a hat pulled low over his eyes and Mr. Weaver didn't have a good look at his face. The ID he'd obtained needed only a picture that he would attach himself to and then get laminated. Sorry, Big Mike I have to do this at another store. A quick stop at a passport photo shop and he had everything he needed. He found a place where he could laminate his ID himself. It was so easy that even Chuck wondered why he'd never done it earlier.

Chuck walked into the next bank he saw and opened an account. After buying the new ID, he still had enough for a deposit on an apartment and car. He would augment the account each week, no sense letting them know what he was doing. He picked up a weekly rental guide on his way out of the bank and while sitting on the bench waiting for a bus, he circled several apartments that were close to Ellie and would be easy to access when he wanted to be alone.

Chuck walked out with a signed lease and smiled. It was a furnished one bedroom sublet that he could move into tomorrow if he had any stuff to move in. It would be a sanctuary where he could think.

The next stop was to look for a car, he so wanted to get something splashy. A Mustang convertible, an orange Challenger or a black Camaro but he ultimately settled for a 1995 BMW. It was a car that wouldn't attract attention; he'd seen two drive by while he was making the deal. It was a bland grey, which only made it better to blend in. With the five hundred dollar deposit, they would hold it until he returned at the end of the week with the rest of the money.

It was only the first of his plans to escape his ultimate death. Nothing was ever as it seemed. The rest would need to be planned carefully. There could be no mistakes. Mistakes would mean captivity or death.

"Now I have to deal with your sister Chuck, any advice," Sid laughed.

"Let me talk to her one last time," Chuck begged.

"Not a chance, I'm protecting us."

"I need to say goodbye."

"Sorry, not going to happen, I've got it all under control."

Xxx

Chuck walked into the apartment, giddy at how everything seemed to go so easy. The smile left his face when he saw Ellie waiting for him.

"Chuck, we need to talk. I gave you some advice last night without all the facts."

"Ellie, it's okay, you were right, time to move on."

"No, Chuck, it wasn't the right advice. Sarah was here a while ago and we had a long talk. She told me she told you she wanted to take the next step. She said you won't talk to her. Chuck, that girl cares about you very deeply."

'Chuck a little advice, how do I get Ellie to back off?'

'Ellie doesn't back off, let me talk to her.'

'No Chuck, I'll handle it.'

Xxx

A/N 2: Tell me what you think, hit the little green button. I hope that the wait for the next chapter won't be so long.

You're all the best.