Chuck vs. The Death of Daniel Shaw

Well, here's another chapter folks. I hope those who are reading this are enjoying the story. It's going to pick up in action real soon with the snatch and grab of The Ring Director vastly approaching. Anyways, enjoy the read peeps.

Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment please leave a comment for this this one as well. Tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy the read.

I don't own Chuck but I hope to own Season 5 on DVD.

Broken

XXX

Sarah's Porsche
Santa Monica, CA
September 19th, 2010 1:45 p.m.

The clock reads 2:05 p.m. on the front left/center panel of Sarah's Porsche. She sits behind the wheel driving on her way to Subway and as she does the female dj on the radio begins talking about the song Broken by Seether featuring Amy Lee. The blonde beauty has heard the song several times before riding shotgun with her husband who would sing along while driving in his car. As much as she enjoyed hearing him sing she never really listened to the song itself until now because she was too preoccupied with her best friend for life belting it out his own rendition. However, while driving she anticipates the lyrics of the song to truly make an impact because they have so much meaning now as it involved not only her, but more importantly involves Shaw as well. She thinks to herself how the situation at hand most definitely coincides to the song itself so much so that as the song begins playing on the radio the trained deadly assassin listens intently.

I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph; I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

Sarah remembers sitting in Shaw's office listening to him share the precious and not to mention treasured memories of his late wife Eve. Of the many things that he shared with her was the way she laughed to the point where the happily married woman became keenly aware of how talking about even the littlest thing is considered painfully comforting. He truly held her in such high regard not just as the woman he loved with all his heart, but as an agent for the C.I.A. as well. It's quite possibly why he's not so much stealing but rather using her pain as his unwavering strength that in his mind forever are like heavy chains to her in the afterlife she thinks to herself. It wasn't the only thing she was keenly aware of as she continued listening to the life of a woman who was only known to her at the time as just a mere face on a photo given to her by her late boss C.I.A. Director Langston Graham in order to pass her red test.

What she was also keenly aware of was the framed photo of his wife sitting on the right corner of his desk. According to her team leader, it's considered a constant fixture wherever he goes as it serves to him as reminder that she's the reason why he'll never quit in regards in battling to take down The Ring. She was very privileged and not to mention honored enough to hold it giving her the opportunity to in a sense get a better understanding of the woman behind the supposed double agent she was duped into accomplishing her main objective because of two reasons. The first reason was her naivety to believe what her superior told her because after all she was fresh out of The Farm and he became the only face of familiarity she trusted. As for the other reason, she considered herself a competitor and because of her excellent scores she attained at not only The Academy and The Farm, she wanted to prove herself, as well as Graham that she can be the best spy the C.I.A. has ever produced.

As much as the blonde beauty sees the outer strength being displayed, she can tell a part of him mainly his heart is not only broken but missing as well. She can't help but be touched by the fact that he's been fighting the good fight all alone against The Ring even though the memory of his wife is always there with him. Yet, he's no longer alone now with her and the rest her teammates backing him up in order to bring closure to not just his past, but her past too. In the blonde veteran agent's mind, that feeling of loss will never go away until the dangerous and mysterious organization that has basically ruined the life of their team leader who for the past 5 years made it his God given mission to take them down by any means necessary. True, this same organization attempted to wreck the life of her long time partner John Casey in regards to capture his daughter Alex along with her now boyfriend Morgan Grimes but unfortunately that particular attempt was thwarted.

You've gone away…
You don't feel me…
Anymore…

Eve Shaw hasn't gone away Sarah thinks to herself. To her, the spirit of his wife is ever present and quite possibly watching over him to the point of protecting him. Though he can no longer feel her physically, the determined special agent can most definitely feel her in an emotional sense in his heart. For it's within his heart that her presence and memory are most alive to where it will continue to be long after The Ring has been completely decimated from existence she thinks to herself causing her to grip the steering wheel tightly.

The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain

Unfortunately, the worst is not over and truth be told it could quite possibly get worse before it gets better. It depends on how successful Team Chuck is taking down The Director. However, it's easier said than done because they are certainly going to be contending with a number of unknown variables one of which are The Director's body guards who will certainly be armed and ready for a fire fight to protect him from being captured. The one thing they know about The Ring is that they don't care about whether their enemy lives or dies as long there is no obstacle in front of them impeding their intended and nefarious goals. She shakes her head knowing that everybody including herself will be holding their breath when the mission goes down and won't be able to breathe again until The Director is either captured or gets killed. Either way, it brings absolute finality for a continuous nightmare they've both have never woken up from. By this time tomorrow afternoon the utter nightmare for the both of them will end she thinks to herself.

For Sarah, she hopes to learn more about Eve Shaw once things have settled down and the threat of The Ring is no longer a factor. A slight smile appears in the right corner of mouth as she thinks about how her esteemed leader will finally be able to have vindication and retribution for an act so heinous that she doesn't want to ever think of herself falling victim to that kind of painful torture when it concerns her own loving husband. To her, it's simply unimaginable because Chuck is her whole world and it's that thought in which it causes her eyes to get misty. Yet, she pulls herself together restraining any tears from being shed, which she successfully does. As much as it saddens her to think about, the connection between her and Shaw will always be there as it involves his wife. She was partly to blame for her death and even though he assured there is no ill will or anger directed towards her, the fact remains the gun that killed her was in her hand. If she had the opportunity to stand in front of The Director with the same gun long ago then a wrong is made right only if they pull off this seemingly impossible mission they're going to undertake in a matter of 24 hours.

Team Chuck has been in countless battles before and they know there is always going to be a fight in order to stop a threat from whatever evil villain or organization from accomplishing it's master plan. They've always been able to figure out the endgame but this time it's a complete unknown as this battle they're about to embark on in a mere 24 hours has become personal for her and Shaw. It's been a long time coming for her as she will no longer have to fight the haunting reminder of her red test that has essentially followed her to no end since she left or in this case made a quick escape from Paris. Years later, the consequences of her actions would unknowingly result with her coming face to face with the unknown woman's widow who just so happened to be their new team leader unbeknownst to her. As for Shaw, she knows after listening to him speak about his late wife there's been a painful battle within his rose colored heart when it comes to the loss of his lady love but in her of hearts she hopes the pain he has felt for so many years will subside to where it doesn't hurt whenever he breathes because the hole in his heart has been healed. Unfortunately, the happily married woman doesn't know he no longer has one as it inevitably has turned black as night as he seeks vengeance on her. Her thoughts are momentarily are momentarily set aside as she listens the following repeated chorus to the song.

'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I'm strong enough

'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.

'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I'm strong enough

'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.

'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone

You've gone away…
You don't feel me…
Anymore…

The inward pain and suffering is something she truly wants to go away for not only her sake, but Shaw's sake as well. Tension, nervousness, anxiety, and not to mention anxiousness are what she's experiencing sitting behind the wheel of her Porsche as the moment of truth vastly approaches for them both. It's either that or the lack of food in stomach as the sound of her stomach growling causes her to briefly peer down. I must be hungry because I'm been craving something tasty all day she thinks to herself. As she thinks that, the experienced government agent switches on her left blinker and then makes a left turn pulling into Subway.

XXX

Union Station - Unoccupied Bowels of the Red Line Tunnels
Hollywood, CA
September 19th, 2010 2:05 p.m.

"This place is awesome." said Morgan . He slowly does a 360 degree turn as he looks up and all around the eerily quiet unoccupied and not to mention the uninhabited bowels of Union Station.

"It is Morg and it's a great location to do a snatch and grab of The Ring Director." nodded Travis looking up and all around the inner façade.

The unofficial member of Team Chuck arches his right eyebrow after hearing that. He was truly excited after receiving a call from Shaw telling him he was going to take part in a truly important mission. Granted, it would be his 2nd mission…3rd if he counted saving his now girlfriend Alex from being killed by a Ring agent who thankfully met his demise at the hands of one John Casey. In any case, he wasn't really clued in on what the mission entailed but now he is causing him to be absolutely curious as to why they are in this particular part of Union Station to begin with.

"How exactly is that going to happen?" inquired Chuck's bearded best friend.

Travis reaches behind him retrieving a flashlight. He turns it on and then point it up near the vicinity of some pipes above them. "Right there dude." he said leaning back a bit looking up causing Morgan to do the same as well.

"What's up there anyway?" wondered Morgan.

"Well…" answered the 4th member of Team Chuck. "…Grauman's Chinese Theatre and The Hollywood Walk of Fame. I'm basically going to be stick some explosive charges underneath there…" he explained showing the area where the charges will be placed. "…and once I get the signal that puppy will blow causing The Director's vehicle to fall through." he added glancing at Morgan standing next to him.

"Dude…" he responded quickly turning his head to face him. "…you're seriously not going to blow up The Hollywood Walk of Fame are you? Bruce Lee, Stan Lee…"

Instantly, Travis interjects throwing his hands up in order to calm him down. "Don't worry, I have no intentions of blowing up the Hollywood Walk of Fame." assured the confident protégé of one Tobias Carter patting Morgan's right shoulder with his left land. "I'm blowing a rectangular hole right next to it." he said returning his attention back up to the area where's placing the charges.

Morgan raises both eyebrows after getting a sense of relief upon hearing the cemented names of certain Hollywood celebrities are safe from being destroyed. His attention also inevitably returns to the spot where Travis pointed that will have a rectangular hold instead of solid street. His thoughts concerning the street itself turn to what Shaw said his part of the mission is and even though it isn't any major it's considered a crucial part of the snatch and grab process. "Shaw said my job is to press a button causing a big metal structure of some sort that's on a truck parked next to the street to fall on and cover the hole entirely."

"Yeah, that's the plan…" he retorted glancing at his little bearded friend. "…so don't screw it up or you won't hear the end it from Casey." he added shaking his head a bit expressing a slight chuckle.

In that instance, Morgan's eyes widen knowing how true those words are. It's one thing when it came to the mission at the Ambassador Hotel concerning The Ring Agent Serena Davis and how he almost botched that mission by completely wiping out falling flat on his face. Thankfully, he recovered quickly and was able to accomplish the crucial mission without much trouble afterwards. However, the importance of this particular mission is considered truly important knowing it involved the head honcho of The Ring. He doesn't want to fail his best friend Chuck or Shaw for that matter, but most of all he doesn't want to fail Casey because if he does he'll possibly endure the threat of bodily harm in regards to being broken in half he thinks to himself. It's at that moment, a sudden thought occurred to him.

"How are you guys going to make your escape?" wondered Morgan.

Travis lowers his head turning to face a storm tunnel off in the distance just a few yards away. He pats Morgan on the his left shoulder once again this time with his right hand as he steps back then moves forward taking a few strides before stopping. "There." he answered pointing the other end of the flashlight towards it.

After seeing their intended escape route, Morgan turns and steps forwards standing next Travis. He briefly glances at Travis then turns his attention to the storm drain off in the distance. He does this a few times before he responds. "There…" he said pointing with his finger. "…how are you going to fight your car in there? You're going to need a shrink ray like the one from movie Honey, I Shrunk The Kids to have your, Sarah's, Chuck's, Casey's and even Shaw's car in there dude."

A grin appears on Travis' lips in response to the little bearded man. He turns his head in order to peer down at him. "That's why we're not using our cars."

"What cars are you using then?" inquired Morgan quirking his right brow.

"Mini Coopers bro." nodded Travis crossing arms.

It takes a moment for Morgan to process that piece of information. Once it sets in he nods expressing a sheepish smile. "Awesome."

"I think so. Shaw thought of everything." he retorted as both men turn their attention back to the storm tunnel.

The two men stand there in silence but it wouldn't stay silent for long as Morgan brings up something that has been weighing on his mind. "You know…" he said giving a sideways glance to Travis. "…Shaw's plan seems oddly familiar to the one in the movie The Italian Job starring Mark Walhberg, Charlize Theron, and Edward Norton."

Travis nodded. "Yeah I know. I didn't want to bring it up."

"Oh ok." nodded Morgan. "Do you think Chuck knows?" he asked.

"I'm sure he does. It's hard to tell since he's pre-occupied right now trying to hack into L.A.'s Automated Traffic and Control Operations Center."

"Cool."

"Yup." he answered rocking slightly rocking back and forth.

"Still a cool plan though."

"It is, no doubt." he replied quickly glancing at the bearded man standing next to him. The two men stand there once again in awkward silence gazing upon the storm tunnel off in the distance that is a means for an escape route. The awkward silence would inevitably be broken by Travis as he pipes up. "We should…"

"Yeah." chimed in Morgan following Travis out from the bowels of the Union Station.

XXX

Castle
Santa Monica, CA
September 19th, 2010 2:15 p.m.

The amount of food brought back by Sarah could quite literally feed a small army when she returned from Subway, which in this case it is. Luckily, Travis and Morgan returned from scouting the location underneath Hollywood Blvd helping her bring in the food and drinks into Castle. The threesome approach the end of the conference table setting down the sandwiches and drinks in a drink tray leading Sarah to delegate in handing each one out to teammates, team leader, as well as Morgan.

"Okay…" she said picking up the first sandwich. Sarah take a moment to take a quick glance over at her husband who is still focused on his laptop. Afterwards, she peers down examining the sandwich for a brief moment then turns her attention to Travis. "…Big Philly Cheesesteak with a Dr. Pepper." she added picking up his drink and handing it to him.

"My fave. Thanks Sarah." Travis nodded walking towards his spot at the conference table in order to sit down and eat.

"You're welcome Trav." smiled the blonde beauty. After picking up and quickly examining another sandwich she turns her head looking directly at her long time partner. "Casey, I got you Buffalo Chicken with a Mountain Dew." she said handing over both to him.

Casey grunted and then expressed a smirk towards his partner. Sarah nodded in response as he watches him take a seat in his spot at the conference table. Afterwards, her attention then turns to Morgan who is eagerly awaiting what she got for him. "Morg, here you go…" she stated handing him his sandwich and drink. "…Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki with a Sprite."

"Awesome. You're the best Sarah." responded Morgan. He doesn't know where to sit, so he heads towards the bottom of Castle's steps just off to his left, sits down, unwraps his sandwich, and

"No problem." smiled Sarah watching her husband's little bearded best friend act like a little kid for a moment. Truth be told, he always been considered a man-child who hasn't really grown up but more and more he's grown due in part because of Alex she thinks to herself. She snaps out of her thought process as her attention quickly goes to Shaw standing next to her.

"What did you get me?" wondered Shaw peering at the 3 sandwiches left on the conference table.

Sarah once again examines the 3 sandwiches left on the conference table. After correctly choosing the one she bought for him, she hands both items over expressing a hint of a smile on her face. "Here you go, an Oven Roasted Chicken Sandwich with a Coke."

"Thank you Sarah." nodded the team leader raising both items in appreciation. His attention on her would inevitably be averted to Casey, Travis, and Morgan who are focused on devouring their sandwiches. "Gentlemen…" he firmly stated getting the attention of all 3 men who turn their heads to face him. "…come join me in my office and we'll discuss where to procure 3 mini coopers among other things. So let's go." added the nefarious double agent.

The experienced C.I.A. agent watches as all 4 men head towards Shaw's office while munching on their subway sandwiches in one hand while holding their drinks in another. As for Sarah, she can't help butbe slightly amused expressing a bit of a chuckle by what she just witnessed. She turns back around briefly looking down at her sandwich. "And for me, I got a Subway Club without olives and a diet Coke." she quietly muttered to herself.

For Sarah, her brief attention on her meal would be averted towards her husband at the other end of the main conference table who she once again taking another swig of her "thinking juice" causing her to shake her head as the advice Morgan gave to before ring true in her head. It's at that point, she pushes the remaining two sandwiches along with their drinks across the main conference table towards her husband. She stands right next to him briefly looking at the lap screen filled with countless equations that are way over her head. Sarah returns her focus to her husband and places her left hand on his right shoulder. From her point of view, she can tell he's a bit tipsy but she'll fix that soon enough.

"Babe…" she said picking up one of his favorite and showing it to him. "…I got you a Chicken and Bacon Ranch Melt with a Pepsi." the blonde beauty added bending down a bit and leaning forward to see if there would be any kind of response on his part. Unfortunately, there is none. Undaunted, she is about to try again when she suddenly sees him reach for his "thinking juice", uncork it, and is about to take another swig but he doesn't get the chance to wrap his lips around the top of the bottle. The battle of Chardine is immediately snatched up by Sarah causing Chuck to instantly respond.

"Hey!" he said turning his head quickly searching for the bottle that was snatched from his right hand. He didn't have to search long as he peers up at the woman who took it. The brown haired business owner can see not only the concerned look on her face but verbally expresses those concerns as well. Unfortunately, he can't hear a word she's saying. "What!? I can't hear you!" he loudly stated.

In response, Sarah rolls her eyes and places the bottle of Chardine on the conference table far beyond his reach. She then steps behind him and reaches up over taking hold of his head phones uncovering her husband's ears. She quickly but gently lowers them down letting the head phones hang around his neck. Once she does, she takes a step to her right in order to peer down at him repeating what she tried to tell him but he wasn't able to hear it. "I said I got you're favorite sandwich from Subway. Come on, take a break and eat with me." encouraged the happily married woman to her husband.

"Babe, I almost got it. I can feel it." he said turning his attention from his wife to the lap top screen in front of him. "I just need one more…"

Sarah doesn't let him finish what he's going to say as she reaches over with her right hand closing the laptop. Afterwards, she turns around sits at the edge of the conference table and then locks eyes with her loving husband who peers up at her with a "what gives" look expressed in his chocolate brown eyes. "Eat…now…mister." she firmly ordered. She furrows her eyebrows and narrows her eyes at him while leaning forward poking him with her finger firmly against his chest.

Chuck immediately answered his wife reaching over taking the sandwich his wife bought for him. "Yes ma'am." Mrs. Bartowski couldn't help but smile as she sits down next in order to partake in her sandwich. The married couple sit together enjoying each other's company even if it for a few moments before he returns to his hacking duties.

XXX

Castle
Santa Monica, CA
September 19th, 2010 2:25 p.m.

A loud contented burp echoes within the confines of Castle. After hitting his chest several times with the his right fist a smile appears on his lips as he turns his head facing his wife sitting next to him. "Thanks babe. That hit the spot." he said taking a sip of his Pepsi.

"Thank Morgan. He told me you forget to eat when you get like this." she replied sticking the crumpled up Subway wrappers and napkins in the clear plastic bag. After a taking a quick sip of her diet Coke, she continues on. "Is that true?"

Chuck nodded. "Pretty much. That's how The Piranha rolls babe." grinned the former nerd herd leader.

Sarah quirks her right brow after he hears him speak in the third person. "Uh huh. Are you going to be referring to yourself as The Piranha from now on?" questioned the blonde beauty eyeing her husband.

The grin on Chuck lips quickly falls flat once he notices his wife eyeing him. As much as he's proud to be The Piranha, he doesn't want to be "that guy" whose ego is so overblown that it gets out of hand. That is why he has his wife to keep him grounded he thinks to himself. "No, it just for right now then he'll be gone never to return." he retorted quickly shaking his head.

"Good answer." smiled Mrs. Bartowski. Her attention on him would inevitably turn the lap top in front of him. She glances over at her husband and ask him a seemingly pertinent question. "So how close are you to hacking into the system?"

"I'm close…" Chuck reaches over opening the lap top showing the work he's done so far. "…I'm real close babe." he answered with a grin. "I just need to find the right access code and I'm in."

"How long with that take?" she wondered leaning to her left and resting her head on his right shoulder.

Chuck takes a moment to briefly turn his head to kiss his wife's forehead. He then answers her. "It may take a few more hours because the security system is tough but I know there's a back door into it." he firmly stated furiously tapping away at the individual keys on his lap top. His eyes locked on the countless equations and algorithms on the screen before him.

"Well, good luck." she responded straightening up. Sarah stands up from her chair and turns around inevitably planting herself behind her husband. She grabs hold of her husband's head phones placing them over his ears. Afterwards she bends down over to his right in order to plant a soft kiss on his right cheek causing him to smile, which she witnesses causing her to smile as well. Once she does that, she reach down grabbing the trash and is about to leave when she decides to grab one more thing…the bottle of Chardine. The trained deadly assassin retrieves the bottle unbeknownst to her husband who sole focus is directed at the lap top screen in front of him. At least he'll be for the most part sober as she walks off heading towards Shaw's office leaving her to do what he does best but not before throwing the clear plastic Subway sandwich bag with 2 crumpled up wrappers/napkins and the nearly finished bottle of Chardine in the trash.

XXX

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