Sarah awoke the next morning and found that Chuck wasn't on the couch anymore. She looked into the kitchen and into the second bedroom but still no Chuck. Panicking slightly she quickly called Casey.

"Don't worry Walker. I'm with him" Casey answered before Sarah could ask.

"What is he doing?" she asked with a hint of concern in her voice.

"Working off his frustrations I believe. I don't know what happened last night with you guys but it has him riled up. He's already ran about 5 miles."

"I see. Ok, just make sure he doesn't over-exert himself. We need him tonight."

"Roger that."

Lunch time came around and Sarah was still all alone in the apartment. She picked up her cell and called Casey.

"What now Walker?" he grunted.

"What happened with Chuck?"

"You mean recently or his whole life history?"

"You know what I mean."

"Well after his run, he went over to his sister's place and got cleaned up. Apparently he left some clothes there. Now he's been sitting at the beach looking at the waves coming in."

"Has he eaten?"

"I don't know, I don't think so. I haven't either, thanks for asking."

"Well take him to lunch or something."

"I'm not his girlfriend you know. Maybe she should be here and take care of him."

"I don't think he'd want my company right now."

"Sheesh fine. I'll take him. Honestly I don't know what was worse: before you guys started going out and there was this weird sexual tension or now where there are unresolved couple issues. Where's my bonsai tree when I need it."

"Thanks Casey."

Sarah ended the call. Part of her wanted to rush over there and apologize for being so hard on him. But the other part of her knew that Chuck had to learn that orders were to be followed, no matter if his girlfriend was the one giving them. It was a hard lesson that she hoped he would learn soon so that they could go back to the way things were.

The surveillance van once again rolled to a stop, but this time at the Long Beach docks. Bryce had briefed the group that he found out a mole from the CIA was set to rendezvous with a Fulcrum operative onboard one of the docked cargo ships.

That mole was a high level analyst who had with him a list of CIA and NSA operatives who were suspected of being Fulcrum and were currently under investigation. Bryce emphasized the importance that they regain that disk or Fulcrum would be able to counter all the work they had done in the past year.

Once again the four agents prepared themselves for the mission at hand. They agreed that the best course of action was a simple one; board the ship, wait in hiding until the meeting occurs, and then quickly surprise and overwhelm them.

Sarah turned towards Chuck to remind him but was interrupted when Chuck grunted "I know. Stay in the van." Sarah looked at him sadly. He was obviously still hurt over last night's events.

Chuck added "I doubt I'll be leaving this seat ever again." With that he turned and watched the video feeds.

Sarah sighed and mouthed the words "Love you Chuck" before closing the door to the van.

Chuck waited patiently as he watched the team board the vessel by climbing up one of the moorings holding it in place. He sat in his seat amazed as they were able to sneak past guards without being noticed. Chuck knew that these guards were agents as well and that they must be good in order to be able to sneak past one of their own.

The group silently followed the CIA analyst into the inner corridors of the vessel. Every time they reached a bulkhead, they stopped and surveyed the corridor to make sure no cameras or other sensors were there to spot them. So far everything was going according to plan; the both the analyst and the Fulcrum agent didn't suspect anyone was coming and thus didn't see the need in placing cameras everywhere.

Sarah looked over and saw that the analyst had turned into one of the inner cargo holds. Scanning the room and seeing that it was safe, she motioned Carina and Bryce to take the lead. Casey stayed behind and made sure no guards were following them as well.

Bryce followed the wall until he reached the door and paused, hearing the voice of the analysts talking to someone. Assured that the meeting was taking place, he silently turned and peeked his head into the doorway. What he then felt was the cold steel of a gun barrel against the side of his temple.

"Hello Mr. Larkin. Nice of you to join us. Please come in and invite your friends as well" announced the unknown man.

Chuck watched anxiously at Bryce's video feed. As the video camera panned to frame the holder of the gun Chuck's eyes glazed over and suddenly he was seeing images in his mind's eye. "No no no. Not any ol' Fulcrum agent. One of the top men in charge. Agent David Sandoval. Not good. Not good."

Chuck struggled with what to do next. His first instinct was to rush out there blindly and save the woman he loved. But he recalled the past two days. She told him to follow orders and to stay put. Reluctantly he sat down and watched the monitors.

"Come in, come in. You must be Agent Sarah Walker. Agent Carina Hansen. Last but not least, Major John Casey. Seems like the whole gang is here." He quickly looked over the four prisoners lined up shoulder to shoulder. "I almost forgot." He pulled out a small device and pressed a tiny red button. "I don't want anyone snooping on our conversation now do I?"

At the same time all the video and audio feeds went dead inside the van. Chuck was now unable to determine what was happening. He slammed his elbows into the table in front of him and lowered his head into his hands. Was it all up to him now? Chuck had to think of something.

"Surprised Agent Larkin? You don't think we'd just let you gallivant around trying to take us down did you?"

"You have us at a disadvantage" answered Bryce.

"I'm sorry. Agent David Sandoval."

Bryce's eyes shot open.

"So you know who I am? You're more resourceful than I thought. Why don't you explain to your friends here who I am."

Bryce turned to his left and saw the faces of Carina, Casey and Sarah. "Agent Sandoval is in charge of South American operations for the CIA and also one of the leaders of Fulcrum."

"Very good. I must say that you must be slipping Larkin. This was such an easy trap as well. Just get a random analyst, plant some misinformation, and viola you come running in. Not only that, you brought in the CIA's top agent Sarah Walker and the NSA's cold-hearted killer John Casey." Looking at Carina, "Newest recruit too. Sorry about the short career in the agency."

He walked over to Sarah and plucked the earpiece/video camera from her head. Calling over to one of his men, "I want you to search the perimeter for the surveillance van. They must have a companion waiting for them."

"Yes sir" the man answered.

Sarah whispered "No."

Sandoval turned around and faced his prisoners. "Well gentlemen, let's make sure our guests here are comfy. Please handcuff them to the ceiling and let them stew in their own thoughts until their inevitable end."

As their captors finished stringing them up, a single gunshot echoed through the hull of the vessel. Sarah's heart dropped and her eyes misted over, she knew that it could only be one thing. They found Chuck. She didn't want the enemy to have the satisfaction of seeing her broken, but she was. No, not Chuck. It can't be Chuck.

Sandoval smiled, "That didn't take long." He and his men left and closed the watertight door behind them.

A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed. Hopefully the next chapters live to expectations.