A/N: Wow...there is a lot of Shaw-hate out there. Can't say I'm surprised...don't get me wrong...I actually like the idea of the character and what he's there to do (in my mind). But in the end, he's nothing more than an obstacle for the erstwhile hero to overcome. Also, I loved the in-joke in this week's episode; Chuck saying "If you're into the superman type" to "she-who-used-to-be-Lana-Lang" about "he-who-donned-the-tights". Its little pop culture touches like that that take Chuck up and beyond other "comedy" shows out there.

A/N 2: Sorry for the delay, took a bad fall on some ice and pulled some muscles pretty bad. Can't type if you can't really move your back or neck. All good now though, so without further ado...

A/N 3: Oh. one small ado. Be warned, the language in this chapter and following chapters may get a little colourful. Not suitable for small children and nuns.

Chapter 4

Chuck had some trouble when he tried to get past the nurse's station when he couldn't even flip open his NSA ID because he had to protect the covers. He was tempted to sic his two new goon shadows on the nurse in an effort to create a distraction, but stopped when he thought of an even better one.

"Look...Linda. I know because I'm not family you can't tell me anything, I do. But could you do me a favour? Could you page Doctor Eleanor Woodcomb and let her know that her neighbour John has been admitted and is in surgery? I'm sure Ellie would like to know."

As soon as the nurse turned to the phone to page Ellie, Chuck looked at one of his shadows and imitated Casey when he snarled "Keep her off my back."

Leaving his shadow behind, Chuck gestured at the second one to follow him because he knew Beckman would birth a litter of kittens if she knew he ditched his security detail. Taking advantage of the nurse's distraction as she talked to Ellie, Chuck ducked through the doors into the interior waiting room of the operating theatre. Dropping down into one of the hard plastic chairs, Chuck let his head fall into his hands, dropping all pretence of being in control. There was no one here to see him shake as he finally acknowledged the gravity of Casey's situation.

"There was so much blood..." Chuck muttered into his hands.

"Sir?" the security agent Beckman had sent asked.

With a slight jerk Chuck raised his head from his hands and looked at his bodyguard who he had managed to somehow forget about. "What's your name?"

"Agent Thomas," the man said.

"Ever seen a partner lose more blood than you thought the human body could hold Agent Thomas?"

"More times than I'd care to remember sir," Thomas said gravely.

"How did you deal with it?" Chuck asked with desperation threaded through his voice.

"The best you can, sir. You find something to hold on to in the situation, and you don't let go, no matter what."

"Like vengeance?" Chuck asked softly, his mind flickering back to Casey gasping out that it was Shaw that had shot him; that it was Shaw that had taken Sarah. Chuck's mind began to stroll down shadowy paths he never thought he'd see.

"Sometimes, yes sir. But you can't let it consume you; it will eat you up inside. Vengeance is a beast with a mind of its own sir. You don't keep it on a tight leash it'll take you places you never wanted to go."

Before Chuck could respond the door at the end of the waiting room banged open and Devon walked out talking quietly to a smaller man in blood stained scrubs. Seeing Chuck sitting in the chair with the well dressed shadow beside him, Devon stopped and motioned to the other doctor to wait.

"Chuckster, how'd you get in here bro?" Devon asked as he moved to take the seat next to Chuck.

"Oh you know..." Chuck waved vaguely at the door as if that was some kind of answer.

"Right," Devon said with a small nod and a wink, filling in the blanks with his own imaginings.

"How's he doing Dev?" Chuck asked wearily, making a visible effort to straighten up and resume control.

"Chuck, it's far, far too early to tell, but Doctor Blake was involved in the initial operation and will be able to..."

"Initial operation?" Chuck pierced Devon with a quick glare, his eyes darkening with his mood. "What the fuck do you mean initial operation?"

"Chuck," Devon gulped nervously. "It's standard procedure in these situations. Whoever the ahhh..."

As Devon paused Chuck figured out that he was waiting for Chuck to fill him in on the cover story. What the hell, it was an old standby. "Mugger."

"Right," Devon said with a grateful nod. "Whoever the mugger was knew how to handle a gun. He shot John where it would do the most damage without killing him immediately. Ahh, Chuck?"

At Devon's words Chuck shot out of the chair and began to pace a small area, his fists clenching and unclenching. "Did you say knew what he was doing?"

"Yeah, Chuck. And it's so not awesome Chuck. Whoever did this wanted John to suffer a great deal before dying."

"Ahh, sir?" Agent Thomas interrupted.

"Thomas?" Chuck looked up at the agent and then to where he was indicating and saw two hospital security guards enter the waiting room and make a bee line for where they were sitting. "Deal with it."

"Quietly, sir?" Thomas asked although it sounded like he knew the answer.

"Yes, quietly. We don't want an incident."

With a nod the agent moved over to intercept the security guards with an outstretched hand.

Turning to Devon, Chuck took a moment to square his shoulders, almost as if preparing to take on a great burden. "Give it to me straight Devon."

"Chuck, this isn't something we see here a lot, even with all the gang violence. This is something seriously evil, and I can't give you any promises. Doctor Blake?" Devon gestured his colleague over.

"Mr. Bartowski, Doctor Woodcomb told me you were the one to find the patient? I would like to start by saying your quick thinking in applying first aid saved his life, no question about it. Mr. Casey would not be alive right now without you."

"Doctor," Chuck interrupted. "I hate to interrupt but as I just told Devon, give it to me straight. Don't sugar coat it, and don't roll it in bullshit."

Devon's eyes grew a little wider still at Chuck's uncharacteristic tone.

"Alright," Doctor Blake said with a nod. "I can do that. There were four separate wounds to Mr. Casey's abdominal cavity. Any one of them would have, in time, been fatal, but together they present quite a problem. Mr. Casey has a number of surgeries ahead of him in order to remove the bullets and attempt to repair the damage caused by them. He has sustained a great deal of trauma to a number of internal organs, and we're already in the process of removing a section of his large intestine. Now, you must understand..."

"It's okay Gerald, I'm sure Chuck doesn't need to know all the details," Devon said with a polite smile. "Thanks. I'll scrub up and then be back in. I'm sure Rhonda is almost ready for you to come and start again."

With a nod the other doctor hustled back through the doors he had entered from.

"Is he going to live Devon?" Chuck asked, his voice somehow not cracking.

With a sigh Devon shook his head and looked at his brother in law with sad eyes. "I don't know Chuck, and I know you don't want me to tell you anything but the straight up truth, so here it is. John Casey might not live out the hour."