A/N: Hey all! I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to update. When I get stuck on stories, I take my time to figure out where to go next. Some days I have the writing fever, and other days I just can't seem to get a word out! I went back and updated a timeline to my other chapters, because it was getting a bit confusing even for me. I hope you enjoy, and as always, thanks for reading!
-Charahfan44
Present Day 2019
Chuck had been worried about his ex-wife, as she headed back to Castle for a meeting with Beckman. Sarah hadn't wanted to be attached to the spy game again in the first place, and with all these secret meeting with Beckman, he was sure she'd get sucked back in for good. He waited patiently at her home, where he was watching Emma while she had the brief meeting with Beckman. His intuition had been right, as she pulled up to her house with a major screech and barged in, eyes blazing with speed.
"Everything okay?" He asked, watching her run upstairs, and then following.
"Fine." Was all she managed to get out before throwing open a suitcase that she found in a closet.
"Everything doesn't look fine, it looks like you're leaving."
"I am leaving."
"What? Why?"
"Beckman has another mission for me, and I'm taking it."
"I thought you were done after this last one?"
"This one will fix everything, Chuck. I'm doing this for more people than just myself."
"How?"
"Gold is Derek's father, which explains a lot. They have been trying to save Derek's mom, who has some sort of highly developed stage of dementia. Beckman told me that they're trying to create an intersect to bring her memories back, which is why they wanted to extract it from you." Sarah took a second to look at Chuck while she spoke.
"So you're saying that Gold can help you?"
"Yes."
"But do you really think he will? Willingly?"
"I didn't say that I wasn't going to fight for it."
"Sarah, you just got back home. I think you should stay with Emma for a while."
"Did you not hear what I said? I can fix everything." Sarah raced around her bedroom, packing anything she could think of.
"Are you listening to yourself? Sarah, you can't just go search a very dangerous fugitive because you think that he may have the means to get you your memories."
"Do you not want me back?" Sarah stopped packing and stared her partner straight in the eyes.
"I didn't say that."
"Then why try to stop me from going?"
"Because you could get lost in this mission, Sarah."
"Oh please, I'm a highly trained spy, Chuck. I'll come back."
"I don't mean physically. This mission is going to become your life and you'll do anything to complete it. You're going to lose yourself along the way, and I can't live with that."
"I'm sorry, but this isn't your decision."
"But it is my decision, Sarah!" Chuck's reply came as a harsh yell, causing Sarah to stop in her tracks and stare at him. "Sorry, I didn't mean..."
"No tell me, what did you mean?"
"This isn't just your life. It's ours. I know that you don't love me, and I know you don't remember what we had, but we have a kid sleeping in the other room. What about her?"
"Everything I do is for her, Chuck. You don't think I want a family? I need to figure out who I really am, and I just can't do that without my memories. If Derek and his ass of a father can help me retrieve my memories, I'm going to do it. I can't sit back any longer and watch my life fade." Sarah's head dropped.
"Then please let me help you. We started this together, and that's exactly how we need to end it." Chuck's eyes flashed with determination, and Sarah couldn't help but find it attractive.
"Chuck, this could be seriously dangerous."
"As opposed to fake danger?" He replied with a hint of a smile. Sarah flashed across a moment of Deja Vu before smiling back.
"Emma needs you."
"We'll both be back."
"How do you know that?"
"A really great spy once told me that we always bounce back, Sarah, and that's exactly what we're going to do. We're going to get you back."
"And if it doesn't work?" Sarah asked softly.
"It will." Chuck replied.
January 27, 2012
Nothing looked familiar to Sarah as the man who claimed to be her husband led her into the home that was supposedly hers. She had listened to herself talk about Chuck and how she felt when Casey handed her the old video logs, but she didn't feel a single thing towards the man. Was he nice? Sure. Did he genuinely care about her? Yes. But the thing was; she had no recollection of anything that happened over the past five years.
"So, uh, I'll give you the room. Maybe sleeping in your own bed will help jog your memories." Chuck interrupted her thoughts with the gentle tone of his voice.
"But that's your bed, I can just as easily take the couch." She replied.
"It's no problem, really." He said. She forced a smile in his direction. The two had just shared a special moment on the beach, only to have it end with no change in Sarah's memory loss. Chuck knew it was a long shot, Morgan's theories weren't ever usually correct, but he had hoped with all his heart that his bearded friend was right.
"No, really. Please take the room, I would feel guilty all night and not get much sleep anyway." He scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Hey, Chuck?" Sarah started, turning around before leaving the room.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry the kiss didn't work."
"Don't worry about it. Long shot anyway, right?" Neither of them really slept that night, as they both had a lot on their minds. Sarah was momentarily done with the CIA, Chuck couldn't seem to get his wife back, and they both had no idea where to go next. Being in the same home together wasn't exactly either, as everything seemed awkward with both. Chuck made sure to wake up extra early the next morning though, surprising Sarah with breakfast.
"Waffles?" Sarah entered the kitchen with a stretch.
"I figured that you've always liked them, and it's not just a recent thing."
"Well now you can say that you know at least one thing about me." She chuckled.
"You can stay here as long as you want. I know it may not feel like it, but this is your place too."
"Thanks. I may take you up on that."
"Are you gonna go back to the agency any time soon?"
"I thought about it, but I really need some time to myself. I can't really figure anything out until I figure out who I am now."
"You're still the same person, Sarah. You just view some things a little differently."
"And I cut my hair."
"Yeah, you did that last year. You woke up one day and wanted to cut it, never really told me why."
"I miss my long hair." She frowned, pulling a few strands towards her face to take a closer look at the length.
"I think you look amazing either way." Chuck smiled, but quickly turned red after the compliment. Sarah smiled back awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"Chuck! Buddy! Are you home?" Morgan's voice erupted from the front door.
"Morgan?" Chuck peered around the corner of the kitchen area to see his best friend smiling wide.
"Did it work? Did you get that kiss?" Morgan playfully slapped Chuck's shoulder.
"Morgan." Chuck warned through clenched teeth.
"Hi again, Morgan." Sarah said from behind Chuck, finding the moment awkward and amusing at the same time.
"Oh, Sarah, hey..." Morgan trailed.
"I have some things I have to go do today." Sarah mumbled to the two.
"Sure, yeah, I'll have my cell if you need anything." Chuck responded. With that, Sarah grabbed a few waffles to go, an entered the bedroom to change. Chuck turned to Morgan with somewhat of a glare, "Really? You couldn't have looked to see if anyone else was here?"
"Are those waffles? Nice!"
Present Day 2019
"So what exactly are you planning to do?" Chuck and Sarah just dropped Emma off with Ellie and Devon, and were now waiting for Derek to enter the interrogation room of Castle.
"I don't know."
"He's not going to talk."
"Chuck, maybe you should just wait outside." Sarah looked up at him.
"Yeah, maybe that's a good idea." Chuck gave a quick little laugh and exited the room, just as Derek was led inside.
"I should've guessed it was you." Derek sneered in Sarah's direction.
"Take a seat, Johnson, I insist." She glared back.
"Let me guess, you've figured out my father's reasoning for coming after your precious Chuck." He took a seat on the hard metal chair in front of him.
"Maybe I have, and maybe I haven't. But you are going to tell me where your father is hiding."
"You're cute when you're mad." Derek smiled.
"I'm done playing your games. Tell me where he is."
"Full immunity." He stated.
"There's no way in hell."
"Well then, I guess you're on your own." He leaned back casually. He wasn't breaking a sweat whatsoever.
"I can get you two years."
"No dice."
"Look, I don't know who I am. Five years of my life are completely gone, and I'm sure you don't care, but it's important that I get them back."
"Even if you find him, he's not going to help you."
"What if I give you the intersect willingly?" Chuck opened the door to the room.
"Chuck, you're not giving them anything." Sarah snapped.
"What if I promise you that your mom will be back to normal by the two years you get out?" Chuck ignored Sarah's comment.
"Then I'd probably say that my father is hiding out in the Bahama's at his favorite resort under the name Jackson Carroll." Derek replied with ease.
"I'll help her, I swear." Chuck said.
"If you don't, I swear that I will hunt you and your family until every last Bartowski is dead."
"Chuck, let's go." Sarah grabbed his arm, leading him out of the room. "What were you thinking?" She demanded.
"Sarah, I told you that I would help you. If it were me in that situation, I would do anything to get you back. Sometimes we have to help the villains to get what we want."
"I don't even think I can get him two years."
"Yes you can, you're you. But for now, let's go to the Bahama's and get your memories back."
