T/N: Taking a break some I'm giving y'all one...lol Enjoy and push the damned green button. It mollifies him somewhat. BTW, his damned MGB is in the garage. My baby was recalled and I'm never going to hear the end of it.

Nik

Westwood Trauma Center
Westwood, CA

Chuck was out of surgery and in recovery in less than two hours. According to the surgeon the stab wound had nicked an artery but there was no damage to the kidney at all. He'd been very lucky. Still, he would be in pain and discomfort for a few days but there was no permanent damage. He could return to normal activities in two or three days. There were no restrictions.

She called Casey and asked him to bring her a change of clothes but he said she needed to catch 'a nap and a shower' and he'd sit with Chuck and then think of something to tell the sister.

One of the NSA agents drove her back to the Marriott to pick up her car and she drove to her residence hotel and showered and changed into something she knew he liked and then drove back to the Trauma Center. Casey was nodding off and jumped from the chair when she prodded him.

"Sorry. Just dozing, really. We've got surveillance cams on the halls and the room, so keep it PG, Sarah. He's out for a while. When things calm down, you and I need to talk, preferably without ears. Eva Mardis is telling a wild tale and she's consistent no matter what means are applied. I believe she's telling the truth. By the way, Eddie's singing like a bird and Graham is pleased overall but really pissed about Chuck. No flak our way but he's worried. We'll talk more like I said."

"Casey, what he said in the elevator to that bitch, it broke my heart. He said I didn't see him as a man. Why would he say such a thing? Have I been…handling him, Casey? Doesn't he know it's real to me?"

"Sarah, I don't know what to think about him. Did you see the plant? Flawless. She made him because of the damned earwig. No other reason. She said when she saw what was in his ear she watched him like a hawk and even she almost missed it. It's like he's two people, one a bumbling nerd and the other, hell, I don't know what the 'other one' is."

"Well, when he's out of here I'm going to sit him down and have a long talk with him. I love him. He has to know that. Surely he knows even if I haven't said it?"

"Maybe he thinks it's all just a cover within the cover, that you're working him like a mark for…I don't know, compliance? Talk to him and see what you can learn about the damned elevator. Eva said he 'hit her with two fingers' and she couldn't move her arms and the pain was incredible. Now that's incredible."

Casey left and Sarah took his place. She held his hand and looked at it, really looked at it. Several of the fingers had obviously been broken and one was poorly set. She also saw that one wrist had a nasty scar running transversely. She'd never imagined his hands having been so abused. Maybe something from his childhood? She'd definitely ask him.

The nurse came in and took his vitals and smiled at Sarah. "He's going to be fine. If his vitals are fine tomorrow he'll be out of here. Once they found and tied off the bleeder it was just a matter of stitching him back up. A mugging? Sad. Well, he'll be waking up anytime now. Use the call button. We have to do some checks and then he can go back to sleep."

Chuck awoke an hour later, disoriented and muttering and grimacing. She pushed the call button and the same nurse came in, raised his bed so that he was reclining rather than lying flat on his side and did some neuro checks and recorded his vitals. "Give him water if he asks for it. He needs to keep his kidneys flushed and water is the best way. Drugs never are the answer."

She sat staring at him while he slept. She'd never really spent time looking closely at Chuck Bartowski. Now she noticed small scars around the eyebrows and the corners of his mouth. Even when they cover-kissed she'd never noticed them. His nose had been broken several times over the years. Maybe it was the harsh lighting or the absence of shadows.

"Sarah, quit staring at me while I sleep. That's so weird, baby. Could I have some water? I am so thirsty and my mouth tastes like plains of Afghanistan."

Sarah puts the straw to his lips and watches him drink. "Thanks, babe. Ah, sorry, I meant 'Sarah'. I don't know what's wrong. I'm all loopy. I feel like I've been cut open and sewed up wrong. What happened? Are you OK? Did we get Eddie Vasco?"

"Chuck, you can call me 'babe' or 'baby' anytime you like. I like it. It makes me feel warm and all fuzzy. Yeah, we got Vasco and that bitch wife of his. She stabbed you, Chuck. She tried to kill you. Why didn't you watch your back? I almost lost you, Chuck." She started crying and Chuck thought, very uncharitably, 'Tears. Wonder what page she's on in the Honey Trap Guide to Nerd Control?'

"Hey, no tears. I just knocked her down. I didn't know she'd stabbed me or I might have punched her, but hey, quit crying, please? Please, Sarah. Don't cry for me."

"Oh, Chuck, I was so scared. Your whole side was soaked in blood and I couldn't find the wound and I was panicking and the bitch wouldn't shut up so I hit her with my pistol. And then you told her stuff but you…you…"

Chuck sighed. 'More tears. She must have aced the Asset Control classes. She's got me feeling guilty for getting hurt. She's really good at this. Wait, what stuff?'

"Sarah, what did I say? I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry for whatever I said. I don't remember but I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"You said I didn't even see you as a man. That's not true. I've always seen the man named Chuck Bartowski. I just wasn't allowed to acknowledge it until now.

Sweetheart, I love you and I know you feel something for me. We're moving in together. Graham has given us full approval to let things develop between us. No restrictions. The CIA is providing an apartment but until it's ready, you'll stay with me."

"Sarah, is this your idea or the Agency's? You told me spies don't fall in love and that there was never anything under the cover and now you're telling me those were all lies and that this isthe truth? Look, I'm really tired all of a sudden. Go home and we'll talk more when I'm out of here."

"Chuck…" But he had fallen back to sleep. She wanted to shake him, to kiss him, to drag his ass back to her residence hotel and just hold him until she was sure it was safe for him back in 'the world'.

He groaned and woke up. He must be in discomfort. "Hey, babe, you look like crap. Go home, Sarah. I'll be fine. Please, for me? Get some sleep. You look like crap. Go. Catch some Zs. Quit beating yourself up. I'd have been dead a long time ago if…" He fell back to sleep, a tight, pinched look on his face.

She was tired. It had been a hectic day and a terrifying night. She and Casey had to talk. Maybe all she needed was the man's perspective on things. Damn Chuck and his irrefutable logic. He was so damned aggravating at times, especially when he was right.

Ellie! Oh, crap! No one had called Ellie. She would be worried about him and it wasn't like him to stay out all night without calling her.

She leaned over and kissed his cheek and then whispered into his ear, "I really do love you, Chuck. Really. It's not the cover, it's the truth. I'll show you, convince you somehow. Now sleep safe, sweetheart."

She stood and stretched sore and stiff muscles and left to find Casey and solidify their cover story. She'd brief Chuck when they had their cover story straight so he wouldn't slip up and tell the truth. He had a disgusting habit of always telling the truth. He'd never make it in her world. Sometimes the truth would get you killed.

Chuck opened one eye to a slit and saw that he was alone. He had to get up and out of there. Sarah had mentioned NSA security and that meant they could snatch him and extract him and he couldn't have that. Maybe he shouldn't have sent her away. That was dumb. He was alone, hurt and defenseless if they came for him. He heard what she'd whispered and he wished it had been true but she was an agent first and foremost.

He did a quick assessment and made his decision.

Castle

John Casey had watched the surveillance footage from the elevator security cam at least five times and each time he muttered the same imprecation: 'No way, not Bartowski!'

He made a decision. He looked up a cell number and made a call.

"This is Major Casey. I want two armed guards outside Bartowski's room until I get there. No one in and no one talks to my asset. No, not even medical staff. I'm on my way. If he tries to leave, shoot him. Yes, with a trank gun, numb nuts!"

He called Walker and his conversation was brutally brief.

"Walker, secure."

"Get back to the hospital."

"Has something happened to Chuck?"

"No, but it's about to. I'm bringing the surveillance video from the Marriott elevator. You won't believe it. I want answers." He hung up and left the Castle for the hospital.

Westwood Trauma Center
Westwood, CA

Casey waited for Walker in the lobby of the hospital. She came in and walked over and handed him a cup of Starbuck's coffee. She'd showered and changed clothes but she still looked tired and worn.

"Let's get up to his room. I have something to show you and I want him to explain exactly what's going on here and exactly who the fuck he is!"

"John, what the hell is wrong with you? He's Chuck Bartowski. Who else would he be?"

"That's exactly what I'm going to find out, Agent Walker."

She noted the shift in tone and demeanor. Especially 'Agent Walker'. Casey had his game face on. She didn't know what was going on but she didn't like his attitude.

They walked down the hall to Chuck's room and saw a crowd of medical staff gathered around the door. Sarah immediately thought 'medical emergency' and started running while Casey was right beside her thinking 'I hope he didn't kill those two guards.'

Casey pulled out his FBI identification and said very loudly, "FBI, let us through, FBI!"

The room was filled with medical personnel, several of whom were snickering.

The two NSA agents were unconscious but in a naked embrace, each with an arm handcuffed to the bed. Their weapons were neatly arranged on the visitor's chair out of their reach. There was no sign of their asset, just slowly-emptying IV bottles pooling on the tile floor and a set of bloodstained hospital pajamas.

"Son of a bitch. He's gone. Son of a bitch." Casey's voice was tinged with awe and surprise. He didn't know how he'd done it but Bartowski had fled undetected.

"Answers, Major Casey, answers right now. Let's see this tape of yours and then I want answers." She was livid and seething with barely suppressed rage. Her Chuck was out there hurt and alone and it was obvious to her that the NSA had attempted another extraction.

The doctor had smelling salts and had revived one of the two NSA agents. Casey pounced on him.

"Where is he? Where is Bartowski?" It was all he could do not to lay hands on the groggy man and shake answers from him.

"He…he opened the door and it startled me, us. I pulled out the trank gun and shot him. He grabbed me and…and that's all I can remember. Man, I got a headache."

"Are you sure you tranked him? Are you sure you hit him? You didn't miss?"

"No, no, I hit him, twice. Where is he? I'm gonna kick his ass. Oh, my head!"

Casey pulled out his cell phone and made a call. "Lock down this damned hospital. No males in or out. Not until Agent Walker or I have a look at them. I want a top-to-bottom search of the hospital. There should be a male patient sleeping off two trank darts. Restrain and detain for transport."

Sarah pulled her weapon and shoved it into Casey's ribs. "No one extracts Bartowski without my say-so, NSA Major. That's all this has been, hasn't it? An elaborate attempt by Beckman to extract Chuck. So not going to happen, Major."

"Walker, you don't understand…" He could see her point of view but once she saw the tapes and the evidence around them, she'd understand.

"No one's taking him anywhere but the Castle. We, you and I, we'll do the questioning. He trusts us. He'll be honest with us, with me. Please, John, please."

"OK. But Sarah, he's not who we think he is. I mean, he's something else."

"I don't care. I want your word of honor, John, as an officer who took an oath, not as some NSA robot."

"I give you my word of honor, Sarah."

"Fine. Let's find him. He's hurting and probably scared out of his mind…"

Casey snorted and then sort of smiled and muttered under his breath "We're the ones who should be scared out of our minds…"

They found him in a room across the hall, dressed in clothes taken from the NSA agents. He was sitting in a visitor's chair with his back to the door, holding the hand of an elderly comatose woman and they almost left, not wanting to disturb them, until Sarah noticed that he wasn't wearing shoes.

He was sleeping off the tranquilizer darts.