Warning: From the start of next Chapter onwards the story will contain love making. Pretty frequently. If that's not for you then don't read on. But if it is for you sit back and enjoy the sweet ride.

Events picks up in the CIA transport on route to the CIA office to protect Lazlo.

Chapter Ten:

I Could Have Lost You!

Bryce let Chuck and Sarah be without saying anything. He drove in silence wishing someday he may find happiness like this himself. He really could not remember seeing Chuck this happy in the years he had known him. He didn't know much about Agent Walker. He had known her for only two months. Most of that time was spent apart and he could not blame her for that. Bryce was stupid for thinking Sarah was like the other female Agents. He would try to find the time to talk to her about Chuck. Bryce never wanted to lose contact with Chuck but he had to. Maybe if she seen how much he really did care about his friend she might be able to forgive him and start fresh as friends.

As Sarah's lips met Chuck's she never wanted to let go. Chuck would die for me? I would die for him!

As they stopped kissing Sarah spoke in little more than a whisper. Physically exhausted because both of their confessions filled her with so many emotions it tired her. "Chuck just so you know... I would die for you too... So lets just hope neither of us ever has to make that sacrifice because if you died saving me how could I live with you not being here Chuck? You mean so much to me already. I've never had anybody in my life who has done for me what you already have."

Both of them held each others face with their hands. "Sarah... I could not live if you died saving me too... So yes I hope we are never put in that situation. And like I said. You are the greatest thing that has happened to me."

They kissed again trying to stop emotions from pouring out. They had sorrow at the thought of possibly losing each other. And happiness that they were together at this moment in time.

No more words could solve that problem. Two people who would give their life to save the other knowing that if they did their life would be empty because the other would be gone. That is one puzzle that can not be solved. Unless they left the CIA.

Bryce had to wipe his eye. He came to a realization that if ever the situation required it he would give his life so that Chuck and Sarah could live together. That was the most beautiful and loving thing he had ever heard.

After a few minutes Bryce spoke. "We're ten minutes out."

"Ok pull over so we can gear up."

Bryce pulled over and the three went to the rear of the car and got suited up. All three agents wore Kevlar. Sarah took from the weapons cache her Smith & Wesson 5906 Chuck going for his preferred Sig Sauer P229 Bryce going for the Glock 17.

Chuck joked to try lighten up the sombre mood that Sarah and Chuck had just created. There would be plenty of time tonight when they got home. Right now they needed to protect Lazlo and each other and Bryce.

"Glock huh?"

"Hey! It's the most reliable weapon out there!" Said Bryce in his defense.

"He's right Chuck." Sarah said nodding her head in agreement.

"Yep, it's the most reliable." Chuck also agreed, continuing again, "But I always trust the Sig it has never failed me and hits the target every time."

"Same for my S&W."

"So what's the plan?"

The Agents spent the next ten minutes discussing the best course of action. It was decided that Chuck and Sarah would enter the office. Bryce would remain outside alert for a Fulcrum or NSA team. They needed to get Lazlo and get out before Fulcrum or the NSA arrived. And return him to the Orange, Orange. Even Bryce didn't know why the Orange, Orange was so important and found it weird but that was their orders.

Sarah entered the car, Chuck wanted a quick word with Bryce.

"Hey Bryce sorry for being a little hostile with you two days ago. I'm going to be honest with you I know what you did in Zurich to Sarah and I don't like it."

"Chuck buddy you have nothing to apologize for I was an ass to her I get it. Always pressing and advancing on her when she clearly wasn't interested in me. I can not be more sorry than I am right now. I just hope you will both find it in your hearts to forgive me. Buddy we were like brothers in Stanford I miss that."

"And so do I Bryce. This life we live is a lonely life. Shedding new identities moving Cities all the time. I'm up for a clean slate Bryce. But you have to know that I will not allow Sarah to be disrespected in any way. And anybody who does will deal with me. Do you understand me?"

"Chuck I understand. You really care about her huh?"

"Bryce, buddy. I care about her more than I have ever cared about anybody."

"Well I promise you. You can trust me. I want you to be happy Chuck you have had a crap life. You deserve this happiness Chuck."

"Thanks buddy. Missed having you around."

"You too Chuck. Lets get this mission out of the way and catch up?"

"Sound good to me Bryce."

They shook hands. Both friends again.

Chuck got back into the vehicle. In the rear this time, he wanted to be close to Sarah they are about to enter an armed facility this may be his last moment on earth and he wants to spend it with her.

He got into the vehicle and held out his arms smiling at Sarah. Sarah moved into his arms.

The air was cleared with Bryce. Sarah was ready to forgive him too. He didn't physically hurt her he only did what many other guys had tried on her. But she has her Chuck. 'Chuck is all that matters to me. Nobody else.'

The vehicle containing the Agents arrived outside the office and Sarah and Chuck departed it. Bryce would remain on communications. If they needed backup he was it. The nearest tactical team were thirty minutes away.

As they left the vehicle Bryce told them to watch their backs. There are two hostile teams after the same thing they are. Both Agents nodded and proceeded inside the office.

As Sarah and Chuck entered the office they noticed no Guards stationed around the exits. Very odd considering it's not just any normal office, it's an CIA undercover office.

The CIA disguise their base of operations as normal working environments. This eliminates most of the threat of an enemy or terrorist attack. To normal people it looks just like another working environment. To top CIA Agents like Chuck and Sarah it's an undercover research facility.

"Bryce there's no guards here." Said Chuck.

Sarah was taking in the surroundings of the office. Looking for anything out of the ordinary.

"Something's not right here Chuck."

"I agree Sarah. Bryce what floor is Lazlo on?"

"four." "Do you want me in there?"

"No wait outside Bryce."

"Affirmative."

"Chuck lets take the stairs."

Never use an Elevator because it may open and you're in the middle of an ambush.

The Agents headed for the stairs making their way up to the fourth floor slowly. As they reached the fourth floor they heard Bryce yell "CONTACT!"

'Oh Shit.' Thought the both of them.

"Bryce do you need backup?"

"Negative. Chuck get Lazlo to a secure floor in the facility I'm calling Graham for a tactical team. Out."

The Agents hurried into the fourth floor. They can only presume Fulcrum had entered the lobby and were making their way up.

As they entered the office on the fourth floor they quickly sounded the alarm and told the Analysts and Scientists inside to make their way up to the 7th floor which was the top.

Sarah and Chuck would take Lazlo up to the 6th while waiting for a tactical team to arrive.

They found Lazlo destroying his files.

"Laszlo Mahnovski?"

"And you are?"

"CIA" The Agents showed him their badges.

"We need to move you right now. You are not safe here there is a kill order out on you. Lets move."

"Waiit" Lazlo wasn't ready he tried to tell the Agents but they were having none of it.

"Chuck grab him." Sarah simply commanded and on her command, Chuck grabbed Lazlo roughly as they headed for the stairs.

As they exited the fourth floor they seen the Fulcrum team heading up.

"Sarah take Lazlo up and secure the 6th floor, I'll delay these guys."

"Chuck I'm not leaving you!"

"Sarah I'll be right behind you now go."

Sarah was hesitating.

"Please Sarah, protect Lazlo go!"

Sarah Walker was torn right now between man and job. Would she do her job. Or protect the man she cared for?

"No Chuck! I will not leave you. If we die then we are going to die together."

"To late get back into the office."

They hurried back into the office to take up a defensive position. Lazlo was confused at what just happened then.

The Agents took up a defensive position.

"I counted five." Said Sarah as she looked at her partner; Chuck ignored her.

"Bryce, ETA on the tactical team?" Chuck asked.

"About twenty minutes." Came the reply.

"What is your situation?"

"Pinned down. Hostiles inside the facility. Watch your back. Out." replied Chuck.

"Ok Sarah it's just us Backup wont get here in time."

"Then lets show them what the CIA's best can do." Sarah tried to smile but Chuck was pissed off. 'He can't blame me for not leaving him surely? He risked the mission to save me several days ago. He cannot expect me not to do exactly the same thing!'

"Stay down Lazlo." Commanded Chuck to the Analyst.

"I had no intention of doing anything else." Said Lazlo agreeing furiously with Chuck's statement.

The Agents took up firing positions waiting for the Fulcrum team. They were advancing cautiously. They must be clearing each floor.

'Good. It buys more time for the tactical team to arrive.' they both thought.

Chuck seen the exit door open. He waited for a clear visual because he couldn't simply just fire off rounds in case of friendlies. two targets came into sight. It was a sweeper team. 'They're pretty well organized.' he thought. This was special ops tactics. Chuck fired first. Both scrambled for cover.

Sarah identified her target and fired at the Fulcrum Agent.

"Got one." Said Sarah simply.

The other three of the five man team entered reinforcing the one already on the floor. One dead. They could hear the contact outside. 'How many Agents do Fulcrum have here' Chuck wondered.

The Agents exchanged fire with Fulcrum. "Got one." came the call from Chuck.

Three remaining.

The exchange of fire continued. Chuck and Sarah had the positional advantage. They had plenty of cover in their defensive positions while the hostiles that came out of the exit had limited cover.

"Got one." Yelled Sarah.

Several moments passed that involved both teams trying to outmanoeuvre the other. Sarah and Chuck had the advantage. Chuck was flanking the remaining two Fulcrum agents. "Sarah flash and go on three how copy?"

"Copy"

"1.."

"2..."

"3..."

Chuck threw a Flashbang at the location of the Fulcrum Agents disorientating them. Sarah and Chuck were on them in an instant quickly dispatching of them.

They were secure for now. All five of the Fulcrum team had been eliminated by Chuck and Sarah's smart tactics. But they were unsure how Bryce was holding up down below.

"Bryce Situation Report?"

No response.

"Bryce?"

Then somebody spoke on the net who they didn't recognize.

"Your Agent has been captured. I believe we are both after the same person. Bring him down to the lobby if you want your partner to live. You can not get out of this facility we control the exit. Your tactical team is at least ten minutes away."

Chuck and Sarah took in what the voice had said.

"Look Sarah we can't give them Lazlo but we can't let Bryce die."

"I agree Chuck. We could take Lazlo down and try to take advantage of the situation in the chaos of the tactical team arriving."

"Sounds good. Ready to test your hand to hand combat skills Sarah?"

"As long as you're by my side Chuck."

"Sarah... I'll always be by your side."

They finally gave each other those familiar smiles that they reserve only for each other again.

The two Agents would surrender themselves to Fulcrum and upon the arrival of the tactical team take advantage of the chaos and eliminate the Fulcrum team.

"Come on Lazlo lets go."

"Do I not get I get a say in this?" Said Lazlo, protesting as he didn't want to be used as bait.

"NO!" Said both Agents unison.

"Oh Sarah?"

"Yes?"

"Just in case I don't get another chance."

Chuck pulls Sarah in for a quick kiss.

"Mmm." Sarah enjoyed that.

"Just don't do anything stupid Chuck. I don't think I could live not being able to kiss those lips anymore."

Chuck nodded his head.

They headed down to the lobby to try save Bryce.

Upon arriving in the lobby the Agents surrendered their weapons. They assured Lazlo he would be okay and a tactical team were almost on scene. There were five Fulcrum in the lobby with two outside. Four of the Fulcrum surrounded Chuck and Sarah while only one remained with Bryce. Chuck looked over at Bryce to see how his buddy was doing. He looked fine. Chuck sent him a signal nodding at the one Fulcrum guard. Bryce nodded.

Bryce knew what he had to do. He had to take out that Fulcrum guard as soon as Chuck and Sarah made their move.

The Fulcrum team spent the next few minutes interrogating the three Agents and Lazlo. They were too confident and that was their mistake.

The tactical team arrived on scene. Two SUV's pulled up. Agents left the vehicles immediately engaging the two Fulcrum outside the lobby. Chuck and Sarah reacted in an instant using the confusion created to attack the four Fulcrum guards surrounding them. They never had a chance to raise their weapons as Chuck and Sarah began fighting in sync, backs leaning against the other. Using their bodies to their advantage. Chuck bent over and Sarah spun over his back sending a kick to the advancing Agent moving in on Chuck. Lazlo watched on in awe he had never seen anything this good in his life. Even in movies he never seen anything as good as this. The two Agents protecting him were fighting with their backs to each other protecting the other Agent. He knew that they were close after the female Agent wouldn't leave her partner back up in the office. But they fought with a strong desire to make sure the other one was ok.

As soon as Bryce seen Chuck make his move he attacked the Fulcrum Agent guarding him who had turned towards his buddy. They fought with each other but the Agent was no match for Bryce. As he disabled his contact he was pretty happy with himself. Until he seen that Chuck and Sarah had already eliminated four Fulcrum guards. 'Bloody hell they're fast.' he thought.

The Fulcrum threat had now been eliminated and team one of the tactical team entered into the lobby reporting to the three CIA Agents.

Chuck immediately went over to them.

Bryce was protecting Lazlo from any more possible threat.

"Ok I want you positioned outside. We've just had a twelve man team here and I don't know how many more are around. There's also threat of an NSA attack. Be alert." Chuck told the team leader.

"Yes, sir." The team leader positioned his men outside the lobby until they were ready to extract Lazlo to safety.

Chuck then turned to Sarah.

"Nice job there and great kick ouch that must have hurt."

Sarah smiled at her partner and boyfriend.

"You're such a geek Chuck."

"It's nerd and you love it admit it."

Chuck smiled brushing two of his fingers over Sarah's cheek.

"Maybe just a little." Said Sarah smiling again brushing Chuck's cheek as he was hers.

Just when they was about to kiss Lazlo went over to them. Leaving them both frowning.

"Wow... You two are just amazing that was the greatest thing I have seen. Wait! I know who you both are. You're. You're! Agent Walker!" he said pointing at Sarah. "And and and and you're Agent Carmichael!"

"I have admired you for quite some time Agent Carmichael! I never believed how good you actually were but now I just seen what you two did to those guards and the other five back in the lobby I'm proud to have you both protecting me."

Lazlo was rambling.

Chuck felt proud of himself that somebody spoke highly of him like that.

"Uh thanks Lazlo but I'm really not that special."

'Yes Chuck you are' thought Sarah. 'You're special to me.'

Sarah interrupted "My partner is just being modest. He is very special. He is the best Agent that I have seen." Sarah looked right into Chuck's eyes.

Chuck was just nodding dismissively.

Sarah had already told Chuck how amazing he was and he always brushed it off. And that's what she liked about him most of all. Chuck could never be arrogant. That was why he was special to her among hundreds of other reasons she'd already thought of.

Chuck continued "So, you ok Lazlo?"

'Another reason why he is so special.' thought Sarah. Putting others before himself.

"Yeah, I'll live. I owe you both my life!"

"Don't worry about it, it's our job lets get you to safety."

Chuck spoke quickly to Bryce.

"Thanks for coming for me Chuck."

"Don't worry about it buddy. Couldn't let nothing happen to you."

Bryce offered his hand which Chuck shook.

'Caring for his friends, another reason.' thought Sarah. Sarah would show Chuck just how special he is to her tonight when they got back to their apartment.

The Agents and Lazlo headed to the transport.

The SUV's were about ten minutes away from the Orange, Orange. There was a road block ahead.

"Pull over!" Yelled Chuck suddenly.

The SUV's ground to a halt on Chuck's request. The three vehicles forming a perimeter.

"Bryce get the Director on the sat phone immediately get him to call of the NSA. This is an NSA ambush." Chuck said confident in his assessment.

All Agents suddenly went into Agent mode. Chuck had spotted it first there were workers a hundred yards away. NSA hit team.

Sure enough once the vehicles pulled over the workers stopped what they were doing reaching for their weapons. Hopefully unnecessary collateral damage could be avoided. The CIA Agents took up positions in cover around the SUV's and Bryce was on phone to the Director who was trying to reach the head of the NSA.

Then all of a sudden one of the NSA Agents opened fire towards one of the SUV's the CIA Agents immediately returned fire.

The two Agencies now began exchanging fire. The Director was screaming for the teams to stand down but it was too late for that. The NSA hit team were advancing on their positions.

Sarah was co ordinating the teams.

"Chuck on me. We need to flank are you with me?

"Always."

"Ok I need two of you with me." Sarah motioned to two of the tactical team.

"Bryce take over. provide suppressive fire so my team can break and flank clear?"

"Copy."

"On three."

Chuck Sarah and two Agents broke cover from the SUV's and took up a flanking position on the NSA hit team.

They were now 30 metres away from the SUV's in a flanking position. Some of the NSA re positioned themselves to cover the move. The two Agencies continued returning fire sustaining casualties on both sides. The government is going to be in an outrage over this. Two United States government Agencies firing upon each other. All because one of the NSA Agents lost his cool and fired upon the CIA.

Chuck noticed in his peripheral vision an NSA Agent taking aim towards Sarah he reacted instantly and threw her out of the way to the floor as Chuck fell to the floor.

"CHUCK!" Sarah screamed.

Chuck had been hit.

"CHUCK! Where are you hit Chuck talk to me!" Sarah's tears were flowing. Her partner was having trouble breathing.

Chuck was coughing violently.

Sarah stripped his vest and shirt immediately looking for an entry wound. She couldn't find one. The vest must have taken all of the impact. It was close to his heart.

"Oh Chuck..." Sarah was sobbing as she held his face in her arms. He just saved her life and took a bullet for her.

Chuck was still having trouble speaking or regaining his breath. The impact took it out of him. His heart even stopped momentarily because of the impact from the shot.

Bryce's team had managed to make the NSA team retreat and were advancing on them. The NSA dropped their weapons they were no match and it was pointless losing any more.

"CIA!" Bryce yelled "dont you move!"

"CIA? We thought you were a Fulcrum team!"

"You just opened fire on us you fucking ASSHOLES!" yelled Bryce.

Bryce seen Chuck on the floor Sarah over him and instantly thought the worst. He went over and let out the biggest sigh of relief to see that the bullet only hit Chuck's vest.

"Bryce... stay with Chuck" Sarah said before proceeding towards the NSA team that was surrounded by tactical.

Chuck had regained full composure and made Bryce help him up. 'God that hurt like hell.' he thought. But worth it to save the life of the person who meant everything to him. And now he was probably going to have to save her again. He knew where she was heading. He could just somehow feel the rage inside her.

Sarah found the person she was looking for and sent a blow full force to his head and was about to reach for her weapon when she felt somebody put his arms around her from behind. She instantly calmed but she needed to make the NSA Agent hurt who just shot the only person that matters in her life.

"Chuck please he shot you."

"But I'm fine Sarah."

"I could have lost you Chuck!" Sarah started to weep ever so briefly and turned around into Chucks arm. He stroked her hair. "I could have lost you!" Repeated Sarah.

"I'm here Sarah."

Chuck grimaced as she got tight into him. but he didn't care about himself. He cared about Sarah. He comforted her for the time it took to get her emotions back under control.