Sorry it took forever to continue the story. I don't own anything other than the world's greatest dog, but definitely not Chuck. Please let me know what you think. This chapter doesn't have much action but there should be some coming soon.

Chapter 10

Sarah did not knock on the door before she entered Casa Bartowski. Ellie and Devon were sitting at the table each with a cup of coffee in hand. Both were startled when the door suddenly swung open revealing the tall blond agent. The look on Sarah's face did nothing to ease their concerns.

"Sarah what's wrong?" Ellie asked as she subconsciously held her breath fearing the worst.

"I…I can't really say." Sarah had started pacing back and forth maintaining the fierce expression. "I can say that Chuck's life is not in any immediate danger."

"That is great!" Devon exclaimed. Though when he noticed Sarah's disposition had not changed, he added, "Isn't it?"

"Yes…it is great that Chuck is not in any danger, but it's…complicated." Sarah had stopped pacing though she still looked angry.

"You know, I am getting tired of hearing that from you and from Chuck. What makes this so complicated?" Ellie had stood from her chair and slowly moved towards Sarah.

Sarah paused as she looked at both Ellie and Devon. "Ah screw it. I don't work for them anymore anyway." Sarah thought out loud. "Chuck was not taken by Fulcrum. He was taken to a secure government facility, supposedly for his own protection."

"I am still not seeing the problem. That sounds like a good thing. At least Chuck is safe." Ellie smiled to Devon as she spoke. "When can we go see him?" She asked as she took another step in Sarah's direction.

"You don't understand. The facility that he was taken to is a top secret secure facility that Chuck will never be allowed to leave, and they don't exactly allow visitors." Sarah's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Ellie as she continued in a much softer tone. "Ellie we may never see Chuck again."

"No, that can't be right. I thought Chuck was helping the government. Who would lock away someone that had been helping them?" Ellie had started crying.

"The CIA would," Sarah's voice was barely more than a whisper.

"What?" Ellie screamed, "I thought you worked for the CIA."

"I do or at least I did." Sarah flopped into a chair at the table hanging her head.

"What do you mean you did?" Devon reached over and placed his hand on Sarah's shoulder reassuringly.

"I just resigned. They wanted to reassign me which would take me away from Chuck and you guys. I could not handle the thought of never seeing Chuck or losing…this. So I refused and told them that I quit." Sarah did not lift her head as she responded.

Ellie looked at Devon with a shocked expression on her face then looked back at Sarah. "You did that for Chuck?"

Sarah nodded though she continued to stare at the floor. "I love Chuck and this is the closest I have ever come to feeling like I have a real family. I couldn't just let that go now." Devon and Ellie both smiled at Sarah who briefly smiled before her expression turned much more solemn. I am so sorry Ellie. I should have never let this happen. I should have been there to protect Chuck. It's my fault that you will never see your brother again." Sarah's shoulders began to shake as she had started to quietly sob.

Ellie quickly closed the last remaining distance between her and the chair that Sarah was sitting in. She knelt on one knee and leaned in to look Sarah's down cast face. "First of all I will see Chuck again and so will you. Second, don't ever let me hear you say anything like that again." Sarah quickly turned her head to face Ellie. "Sarah none of this is your fault. I have seen the way you look at my brother when you think nobody is looking, or when he first walks into a room. I also remember the way you held Chuck when we were rushing him to the hospital from the beach. I have known for quite sometime how much you care about Chuck, and I also know that there is nothing that you wouldn't do to protect him. There was nothing you could do to change what has happened, NOTHING."

Ellie leaned in and hugged Sarah then pulled back to look her in the face when she heard Sarah start to speak.

"Thank you Ellie. I meant it when I said that you and Chuck are the closest thing to a family that I have had in a long time." Sarah smiled as she heard Devon clear his throat, "and Devon too, of course. I was just afraid that you would blame me or hate me for what has happened."

"Sarah we really do see you as one of the family, and I don't think we could ever hate you." Ellie said as Devon nodded in agreement.

"Thank you both…," Sarah paused for a second. "In some ways that makes what I have to say next both easier and harder." Sarah's grin faded. "I have to say goodbye."

"Goodbye? Why do you have to say goodbye? You just said that you refused to be reassigned." Ellie was becoming worked up again.

"I did, but I need to fix this. I can't tell you where I am going or what I am going to do specifically, but I can't live without Chuck. I have to try to get him back."

"Then we will go with you," Ellie began with Devon adding, "we can help you get him back."

"No." Sarah's expression became very serious. "What I am going to be doing is very dangerous. There is a very good chance that I will not make it through this alive. I can not have any more of the people I care about getting hurt."

Ellie had opened her mouth to argue but Sarah interrupted her. "I know that you want to help, but it will be a lot better if I do this alone, especially for Chuck. I stand a much better chance of rescuing him if I don't have to protect anyone else."

Ellie started to speak again, but this time stopped her self. There was really nothing she could say. She knew that there wasn't much she could do to help Sarah save Chuck. After all Sarah was a world class spy. Finally after sitting in silence for a minute, she was able to speak, "Alright, I will agree to stay out of the way on two conditions."

"What would they be?" Sarah hesitantly asked.

"First you have to keep us informed as to what is going on. I will go crazy if we have to sit here not knowing what is going on."

"Fair enough. And second?" Sarah asked.

"You need to take care of yourself. Do what ever you can to bring Chuck back to us, but come back yourself as well. We don't want to lose you either." Ellie's eyes were warm and sincere.

Ellie's concern for her made Sarah smile. "I will do my best."

---

Sarah headed to her hotel room after staying with Ellie and Devon for a short time. Before leaving she had established an encoded means of communicating with Ellie, said her goodbyes, and shared some hugs.

It only took Sarah a few minutes to gather up everything she may need which included every weapon she owned, a large amount of cash, and numerous forms of identification for both her and Chuck. She had most of everything else she would need already packed in an emergency bag in her closet. As she prepared to leave, Sarah looked around the room one last time. This room had been far from the most extravagant cover home she had used, but it held more happy memories than any "home" she had ever known, CIA cover or not. Now looking around the small room Sarah knew she would never be returning. Even if she were successful in freeing Chuck they would more than likely have to go off the grid. She sighed knowing that the life that she had come to love was going to be drastically different no matter what the outcome of this, her most important mission.

Once she had all of her things together Sarah headed over to Casey's apartment. She was uncertain what the Major had planned on doing. She couldn't blame him if he did go back to Washington as he had been ordered to. He had known nothing but the government assigned life for even longer than she had. He was a good partner to her and a good friend to Chuck, but she would not be surprised if he had forgotten how to live as anything other than a government agent. Hell, she had nearly forgotten herself until Chuck had reminded her what life could really be. And even though she knew Chuck had had an impact on Casey, she just wasn't sure to what extent. Shaking her self from her thoughts Sarah knocked on Casey's door.

---

Dr. Williams returned to Chuck's room a few hours later that day bearing gifts. "I know that you are probably going mad in here so I brought you some things to keep you occupied." He showed Chuck a stack of movies. "I have been assured that there are no images in these movies that will trigger a flash."

"Sweet! What all do you have?" Chuck began excitedly flipping through the pile, only to quickly lose his enthusiasm. "You're kidding me right?"

"What?"

"You don't mess with the Zohan, House Party 4, oh and Spy Kids…This not exactly the apex in cinematography." Chuck smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"These are the only movies that we had available. I will try to pick up some more for you on my way in tomorrow. In the meantime, you may be more interested in this. Dr. Williams handed Chuck Call of duty. "I think this may be more up you alley."

Chuck laughed and slyly smiled, "Dude, don't mess with my head like that. Remember, my head is very valuable."

Dr. Williams smiled in return before ordering a nurse to bring in a cart containing an XBOX 360. "I would love to stay and challenge you to a game, but I have patients to see and my son tells me that I am hopeless when it comes to video games anyway."

"Ah, I would take it easy on ya." Chuck smiled, "Thanks. I really appreciate all that you have done for me."

"Don't mention it. Everyone needs a friend every now and then."

As Dr. Williams turned to leave Chuck's room Director Graham walked away from the small window in the door to Chuck's room through which he had been watching the two converse. His expression was none too pleased as he quickly moved away to avoid being seen.

---

Sarah had knocked on Casey's door three times without an answer. Her heart began to sink as Casey had always answered the door on the first knock if not sooner when he was home. She reached down and turned the door knob. The door was unlocked and freely swung open revealing the inside of the apartment which had been stripped. It actually appeared as if it had been vacant for months. There were many things about the NSA that did not impress Sarah, but the cleanup crews were never one of them. Sarah sighed and walked toward the door knowing she would be going after Chuck alone, and although she could understand why Casey had left, Sarah couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She knew that she could have really used some help, and over the past year she had come to enjoy the feeling that Casey had her back. But that would not be the case this time because Casey was gone.