A/N Hello everybody! Frist off that's to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter, your comments are the main reason this story is continuing! Thanks to all who told me to have fun on my vacation, I did! The only bad thing that happened, except the tire on my car blowing out, was I sat on the beach at sunrise and at sunset and not once to a hot blonde spy come by… oh well. This is the end of the story, I have one chapter left to wrap everything into a neat little package (I hope it does). So enough of my rambling, here it is….

Chapter 10 – But I Think I Shot the Gun

Chuck sat down hard in the chair behind him. The faces of his mother and Casey etched into his brain. He rubbed his face with his hands, and he knew what he had to do. He stood and as he turned Sarah was standing right in front of him. "Where do you think you are going?" She said putting both her hands on his chest.

"You know I have to go."

"No, you do not, and certainly not without me."

"But Sarah..."

"But nothing Charles Bartowski, you made me a promise and damn it you are keeping it!"

"But... but what do I do?"

"You do what you do best, you make a plan and then WE save the world." Chuck gave her just a small hint of a smile and kissed her on the forehead. He then walked over to the small supply cabinet and took out several legal sized notepads and a couple boxes of pens and he went to the table and started to work.

Although it had only been a couple of hours, to Chuck it had seemed like days, his plan had stalled, and he had no idea what to do next. He just didn't have enough information, and just before he began banging his head on the table, his phone rang. "Carina, what's going on?"

"Chuck, thank God, we got the tracker placed but... DUCK!"

"Carina! What's happening?!"

"We were spotted... taking heavy gunfire!"

"Sarah, get in here... Carina back out now... get out of there," Chuck realized that was a stupid thing to say, put he was trying to help. Sarah ran in from the back room and asked: "What's wrong?!"

"Carina and Zondra are under fire... get a strike team there... they are at the port!" Sarah went right to work contacting the nearest strike team and getting them to head to the port to assist the two agents.

"Carina? You there?" Chuck asked with even more worry in his voice.

"Chuck, Zondra is hit... we are surrounded," Carina said. Chuck could hear the fear in her voice; it was a very surreal sound coming from Carina.

"Hang in there Carina; we have a strike team on the way. Carina? Carina?!" Chuck heard a small moan and then the phone went dead. He whispered still holding the phone "Carina... Carina..." He turned and placed both hands on the table to keep himself standing. Sarah saw him leaning on the table and ran to his side and asked: "What happened?"

"Z has been shot, and the phone just went dead." Chuck picked up all his notepads and threw them across the room. As he was picking up his mess, he remembered, Carina had told him that they had placed the tracker. He jumped up and ran to his computer and started the tracking software, and with just one little bing, he knew there was still hope. The ship was still in France. "Sarah, the tracker is showing that the Contessa is still at the port."

"Okay, the strike team is still 30 minutes out."

"Tell them they need to be there in 10, see if that will hurry them up." Just as Chuck had finished that last statement the cyber-attack alarms went off. Chuck turned to the monitors and saw Hartley grinning at him. "You're not having a good day are you Charles?" Hartley said with a sound of amusement.

"Where are they?"

"They are safe and we are taking care of their injuries, so don't fret. My guest, with me here and I will be joining them soon."

"You know it is me you want, set a place and I will be there. Just do not hurt any of them."

"Oh but Charles, you need to suffer first. So how's Eleanor?" Charles turned to Sarah and she immediately went to her phone to call Ellie. After not getting an answer she called Devon. Devon assured Sarah that Ellie was at work and she was alright. Sarah then called the hospital. Hartley, who actually looked bored, let out a sigh and said: "I'll wait... keep trying." Sarah disconnected her phone and walked over to Chuck and said: "They said she never showed up for work."

"Where is she?!" Chuck yelled.

"I was feeling a little sentimental today, so I am arranging a mother-daughter reunion."

Sarah was on the phone and turned to Chuck and said: "They found Ellie's protective team, they are all dead. Vicky Dunwoody was one of them".

"Sorry about that, got to break a few eggs you know. I will contact you again soon to tell you what you are going to do next. Since I have no other way to contact you I would not wander too far away from here, see you soon." The screen went black. Chuck just stared at the screen and then his knees gave way and he fell to the floor. The emotions and desperation now have overwhelmed him. Sarah, who was also in a state of shock, just watched her husband on the floor. She shook her head slightly to bring herself out and went to her knees and took him in her arms and they just held each other.

"Agent Bartowski... Agent Bartowski... Chuck!" Chuck lifted his eyes to the screen and saw Beckman; her whole face was encased in worry. "Chuck, I am so sorry about this, but you and I both know if anyone is going to have a chance of saving them it is you and Sarah. So go save them," the emotion in her voice more than the words, brought Chuck back, at least partially.

Unknown Location

A dark figure sat at a laptop computer he had just sat and watched it all unfold if he had tried he may have been able to help, but he just sat there and watched. He let out a big breath and said: "Time to go."

The Contessa

Atlantic Ocean

"I would like to welcome everyone, I hate that I have to keep you confined, but I can't have you just running willy-nilly all over my ship can I?" Hartley was smug, he was arrogant and he had every right to be. He had just captured four of the best agents in the world all in one day. "I am not going to stand here and bore you with a long speech, so I am just going to give you the cliff notes. You are all here to witness or be a part of the demise of one Charles Bartowski. He will try to rescue you and he will fail and he will die, so now you know my big plan, time to go to work."

The pain and fear of this revelation were evident on each of their faces; they were powerless to stop him, powerless to warn Chuck, all they can do is sit and watch.

Castle

72 Hours Later

Chuck was going over any intel he could find, unfortunately, the Contessa had already left port before the strike team could arrive, they also found the tracker on the dock so there was no way to trace where the ship was. He was becoming frustrated and he needed to do something or he was going to go crazy. He decided he would go to the dojo that was in Castle; once he was there he looked around looking for inspiration. And when he saw it hanging there he put on his gloves and started hitting the heavy bag. He knew he had to hit something his nerves were on end and he needed a release. With every thought of Hartley he hit the bag harder he slammed his fist harder and harder each passing moment. Sarah stood at the door watching him; she was very worried about him. He wasn't eating or sleeping. She knew he blamed himself for all of this and nothing she had tried or said could convince him otherwise. Sarah walked up behind him and when he stopped to take a breath she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Chuck, come take a nap, you need to rest."

"I'm ok."

"No Chuck, you're not. You need rest, come on I will lay down with you."

"But I am all sweaty, and I am sure I stink."

"You smell great to me."

"You, my love are a strange woman," Chuck said smiling for the first time in days. Sarah took his hands and led him to the apartment that was in Castle. He laid down on the bed and she crawled up beside him. "Sarah," Chuck whispered, "you don't have to stay with me I know I really smell bad."

"Shut up and go to sleep," she said snuggling even closer to him. Chuck had just closed his eyes when the cyber alarm sounded. Chuck jumped off the bed and sprinted to the briefing room with Sarah following close behind. Once he arrived he saw the face of the man he has come to despise more than any person he has ever known.

"Well Charles, It looks like you are trying to keep yourself in shape," Hartley said grinning that grin that made Chuck want to puke.

"I was hitting the heavy bag, practicing for when I see you."

"Cheeky this morning aren't we Charles. I guess you noticed we were no longer in France when your men got to the port. Sorry about that but when we found the tracker, I felt we needed to leave."

"I want to see everyone; I want to see that they are ok," Chuck said trying his best to hold in his emotions.

"And soon you will, my boy! I am headed to you, well we are headed to the States, and I want you and your lovely bride to join us. We will be docking at the Port of New Orleans soon. Oh and if you have any bright ideas about sending ships and planes to find us, I will blow up this ship with everyone on it, do we have an understanding Charles?"

"Yes, we do."

"Oh you may want to give me your phone number so I can call you once we dock; I assume you will want to be leaving right away. I don't want you to be late." Chuck gave Hartley a phone number of one of the burner phones that they kept in Castle and then he said: "Hartley why are you doing this? I have told you I do not have the intersect glasses you want."

"Oh Charles my boy, it has gone way past that now. But we are going to have some fun, and as they say down here in N'awlins… Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

After the transmission was disconnected; Chuck began to set up the security measures that he had placed on the rest of Castle on the monitor so Hartley could not connect back to Castle.

"Yes General, I know it is a trap…" Chuck had been discussing his plans and strategy for when they arrived in New Orleans for almost an hour and he was becoming very impatient. "Ma'am, Sir, I really need to be getting underway, can't we continue this on the jet?"

"Chuck, calm down, the jet will be ready soon, are you sure you will be able to handle this?" Director Webb said he had remained quiet for most of the briefing, but he was beginning to worry about his agent's state of mind.

"Yes sir I will be fine, I'll get some rest on the jet. I just need to be doing something, Sir."

"I understand and by the time the other Agent Bartowski returns from the supply run, the jet should be ready to go. Chuck, are you mentally ready to face him again, especially with everything he has taken," Webb sat quietly by as Chuck pondered an answer.

"Yes sir, I know I can be emotional and impetuous, but this is my family I know I have to be at my best, and I will be."

Webb showed a small grin and said: "Well from what I have seen and read, Charles Bartowski at his best is a very good thing. I have sent a helicopter to you and it should be landing on the roof as we speak, it will take you to the airport."

"Chuck," General Beckman let out a sigh and continued, "please be very careful and good luck."

"Thank you General, and thank you to Director. I will contact you once we are in the air." Chuck then ended that transmission and put his head on the table and waited for Sarah.

He was so tired that he fell asleep and did not wake up until Sarah shook his shoulder. The sudden shake made him awaken with a jump and he hit his bad knee on the table. Chuck let out a stream of profanities that would make a Sailor blush, that was all he needed, to head into this mess hobbled. Sarah apologized profusely, but Chuck kept telling her it wasn't her fault. Chuck did have good news for her, General Beckman had reinstated her and she was cleared to go back into the field again. Sarah just looked at him and smiled and said: "She had no choice, I was going anyway might as well make it legal."

They both grabbed their go bags and headed for the roof. Just as Webb had promised the chopper was waiting for them and they were at the airport in a matter of minutes. At the airport they were directed to the Gulfstream G550, Beckman had come through in a big way.

Private Jet

Somewhere Over Iceland

"Yes Sir, what can I do for you?" the pilot answered the passenger on the intercom.

"We need to change our destination; we now need to go to New Orleans."

"Yes Sir, we will still need to land once for fuel, but we should arrive close to the time you specified."

Louis Armstrong International Airport

New Orleans, Louisiana

Just as Chuck's foot hit the tarmac, the burner phone began to ring.

"This is Bartowski," Chuck said as he pulled on Sarah's arm to get her attention.

"Well aren't we sounding professional? Oh come on Charles lighten up, we are here for a big family reunion. There is a car out front to drive you to our location."

"That's okay," Chuck quickly said, "we have a car, just give me the address."

"Well that's the rub; the directions are in my car."

"You're not going to give me the address are you?"

"Well, of course, I am, as soon as you are in my car." Chuck rolled his eyes in irritation and told Sarah what was going on, she like Chuck was very apprehensive but knew this was the only way to get where they needed to be. "Which one is your car?" Chuck asked.

"Just go to the front of the airport, he will find you." Just as Hartley had said the second Chuck and Sarah came out the doors a large black limo pulled up. A strange looking man ran to the back door and opened it and said; "Right this way, please." As soon as the back door was shut, Chuck found that all their electronical devices had stopped working. "Crap" was all he said.

They had been traveling about 30 minutes, Chuck had tried to engage the limo driver, but he would only smile and wave. The limo then took an exit and was headed downtown, at that point the divide began to rise. Once it was shut gas began to feel the back seats. The limo pulled into the warehouse district near the New Orleans port approximately 10 minutes after the gas had been released. The car was quickly surrounded and the back doors were flung open, but the car was empty. The men started yelling and screaming and running around searching for the passengers.

Chuck and Sarah hid behind one of the many shipping containers and pulled off their gas mask. "I will never again gripe about you over packing again," Sarah said as she gave Chuck a kiss on his cheek. The two agents then began to survey for the best place to enter the building. As they moved closer they would come upon some of Hartley's men, the two took turns taking them out, Sarah by her CIA agent skill and Chuck by the intersect. The time Chuck had spent in Castle waiting for Hartley to call, he had used to really familiarize himself with the intersect. He had learned so many new things and he was eager to try them. He even tried the nerve pinch that Agent Jim Rye showed him while they were in Switzerland; it didn't work so he used a back handed brachial stun, which knocked the guard out. Sarah looked over at Chuck and got a worried look on her face, "Why are you smiling?" she asked hoping that all the violence had not driven him insane.

"I have missed this, you and me, together, it is the way it should be, its comfortable like and old shoe."

"Are you calling me an old shoe?"

"No, I'm calling you a kick ass ninja spy girl… DUCK!" Sarah ducked just in time as big burly guard just missed with an iron pipe that would have hit her in the back of the head. Chuck followed up with a palm-heel strike to the man's nose, the guard crumbled to the ground.

"Chuck, did you notice how all the guards are funneling us towards that door?"

"I noticed that too I checked the intersect, and there are a few blueprints of warehouses around here, but not that one."

"But of course," Sarah said sarcastically, "just once can't something be easy?"

Chuck looked at Sarah and said, "If it was easy, then it wouldn't be us." Chuck paused for a second then continued, "I think we should let them funnel us."

"You know what's in there right?"

"Yeah, our family," Chuck said grabbing one of Sarah's hands, "Let's go save them." Chuck and Sarah started easing toward the main entrance to the warehouse, along the way the continued to take out as many of Hartley's men as possible. Sarah was amazed at the control Chuck now had over the intersect if was now a fluid transition, no more faces that looked like he was having a seizure, she got a small smile as she remembered how cute it looked, but she had to admit this was much better. As the two approached a group of guards they were able to over hear them talking.

"Did y'all get it set up?" the tall blonde guard asked the short brown headed one.

"Yep, I marched that suitcase right into St. Louis Cathedral; no one even asked what I was doing."

The blonde looked at his friend and continued talking, "I have never seen a suitcase nuke, what did it look like?"

"Oh I didn't look in, I just put it down and ran." The man said with a laugh.

Chuck looked at Sarah and said: "We have to contact Webb or Beckman." Sarah smiled and said "Stay right here for a second." She moved to the left and in just a couple of minutes she returned and handed Chuck a cell phone.

"Where did you get this," Chuck asked amused at his wife's resourcefulness.

"I noticed that guy over there had a phone on his belt, so I barrowed it." Chuck looked over at the direction that Sarah had pointed and laid out flat on the ground and he shook his head with a smile and mad his call. After telling everything he knew to Director Webb he explained that Webb had a team headed to the French Quarters and would take care of the nuke. Sarah nodded and said "Shall we." And the two continued on with their plan.

Sarah took out the last guard that was standing by the door, she nodded at Chuck and they both slipped into a large storage room.

It was not completely dark in the room, but it was difficult to see. Chuck and Sarah moved cautiously along the outside wall to prevent anyone coming up behind them. As they rounded a blind corner, they came face to face with 20 of Hartley's men. The guards were smug, confident, and stupid. They came at Chuck and Sarah one on one and the two made quick work of them. The guards then realized their mistake and all of them rushed at once. Sarah had some trouble with the 5 that came after her, but she was eventually able to incapacitate them and she turned to go and help Chuck. Sarah stopped in her tracks and just watched, it was beautiful, it was amazing, he had really mastered the intersect. To her, it looked like he had eight arms and six legs moving in a choreographed dance of destruction and just like that the 15 men that attacked him were out cold. Sarah ran up to him and jumped into his arm and kissed him hard. "That was soooo hot," she moaned in his ear. Chuck smiled at her and then he saw a strange expression on her face, and then she went limp. Chuck heard the familiar "swoosh" and felt the jab in his neck, he quickly removed it, but it was too late, he was already woozy. He then felt two more jabs in his neck.

Charles's head had finally begun to clear and he was waking up. As he regained his senses, he found himself tied to a chair. "Really another chair," Charles said out loud to no one in particular, "Someone please get original, heck a lazy-boy would be an improvement." Chuck's attention was then was taken by someone moving in front of him. He then looked up and saw Hartley standing there holding a handgun.

"Good, Charles you are awake, I thought you would never wake up, I really need to learn how to regulate these tranqs." Hartley said and then spread out his arms in a grand gesture and said: "I need for you to look around you, Charles; I have placed you 'family' all around you, and don't worry they are alive, they are… just resting. I wanted them to be here for this momentous occasion, your demise and with you the end of the Bartowskis. Well, Charles, it would seem that our time has finally come to an end and it would seem, there is no one left to save you." Hartley was almost giddy, he had finally won, he had defeated the Bartowski family. He rubbed the barrel of his S&W Model 19 on his cheek, he has always preferred the revolver to the auto, it was just more his style. "Standing here looking at you, I am so tempted to monolog, just like one of those Bond villains you like so much. Yes, Charles, I know everything about you. I truly don't see why you like that garbage, the only one I ever really liked was 'License to Kill', but anyway I digress, I think I am going to tell a couple of things, though, my scientists have done wonders with those little flash cards, so I am going to use them on your precious Sarah, and when I am done she will believe she is my wife, and Frost will make a great servant. As for your loving sister, you understand no one woman can keep me satisfied, so I will need a mistress. The other two women I will give to my men, but I will let them enjoy it I'm not a total monster... well I am, but I am making an exception this time. Unfortunately your friend Casey, he has no use to me so I will kill him. Oh, I will kill you too Charles after you witness everything. After I have had a couple nights with my new wife and you are begging me to kill you… then I will. Oh, Charles don't look so sad, it was inevitable there was no way that a Bartowski could ever beat me. I AM GREATER THAN ANY BAR… TOW… SKI." Hartley finished his rant screaming at the top of his lungs, actually making himself a little dizzy, but he didn't care, he had won.

"Hey… Winterbottom," a voice came from behind him, making him turn around quickly.

"You? But…but-but how? I don't understand, how can…" Hartley was stopped midsentence by a single bullet. It left the barrel of the handgun and entered into his head just above the bridge of his nose and exited at the back of his head. The surprised look on Hartley's face as he fell to the ground amused the dark figure that stood at the door. Then the man stepped over Hartley's now dead body and walked to Chuck and began to cut him loose. Chuck was in shock, and he just stared at the man who was now handing him a knife, "Hurry, cut them loose." Chuck stood up and ran to Sarah and cut her binds and gently lowered her to the floor. The dark figure walked over to the other side of the room and began cutting the rest of the group loose. It wasn't long until all the captives had been cut loose, the man then handed Chuck what appeared to be tranq darts and said: "This will wake them up." Chuck just stood there, not moving even an inch and when he could not take it anymore he said almost screaming, "Don't you have anything to say to me?!"

"Aces Charles, you're aces."

Next: Answers…

A/N Nope not going to say anything here.