Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait between chapters. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to proceed in this second arc. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that I was trying to clutter it with unnecessary characters so I've decided to minimize the role of some and cut others out completely. I don't need them for the third arc, which is where I really want to get, but I do need to set it up. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this one:

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Bygones

Part I

August 26, 2016

2:00 pm

Chuck answered the door to find Casey on the other side.

"Hey, Casey. Right on time."

"What else did you expect?" Questioned Casey as he walked in. "I thought you were watching your niece today," he said as he looked around, not seeing anyone else there.

"Naptime," Chuck replied. "She tired herself out at the park earlier."

Casey took a seat on the couch. "Okay, Bartowski, I've thought about it..."

"And?"

"And I've decided that maybe meeting my daughter wouldn't be the worst thing in the world." Casey was terrified at the prospect of seeing Kathleen again, but he had a daughter, family out there: how could he pass up the opportunity to get to know her?

"I'm glad... wait here," Chuck said as he got up. He walked to his room, leaving Casey alone in the living room.

He looked at the framed photos that adorned the room: photos of a happy family, photos of Clara getting just a little older in each subsequent one. He would never have that with his own daughter but maybe, if he had any grandkids, he could be there to watch them grow up.

Chuck came back a few moments later with a piece of paper in his hand. "Here you go," he said, handing Casey the paper.

Casey took the paper and glanced at it. It had his daughter's information written on it. "San Francisco, huh?" He looked up at Chuck.

"Moved there right after she finished college," Chuck affirmed.

"Okay, well then, I better get going," Casey said as he stood up.

"What? You're going now?" Chuck put his hands up to stop his movement.

"Before I lose my nerve," he responded. "It's either now or it never happens."

"Then, at least let me drive you to the airport."

"No airport. I'm driving there," he said.

"No offense, Casey, but the Vic's seen better days," Chuck argued. "I doubt it can handle the trip there, let alone there and back."

"My Vic is running as smooth as the day I got her," Casey assured, affronted by Chuck's insinuation.

"Still, you're going to need to think about what to say to Alex when you see her," Chuck insisted. "You can't do that if you need to concentrate on driving."

"Didn't you say your niece is sleeping?"

"Yeah, but by the time you go home, pack a bag, and come back, she'll be up," Chuck countered.

Casey could see Chuck wasn't going to drop the subject, so he relented. "Fine, whatever. But we're leaving as soon as I get back," he warned, leveling his index finger toward Chuck.

"Of course," Chuck grinned.

Three hours later Chuck was pulling up to the drop-off point at the airport. Clara was looking out the back passenger-side window from her booster seat.

"Hey, listen Casey, give me a call when you get back if you need a ride." Chuck turned in his seat to face him. "And I want to know how it goes," he added as Casey stepped out of the car.

Casey only grunted as he closed the car door from outside.

"Where's he going?" Clara asked as Chuck pulled away from the curb.

"He's going to go say good-bye to his past," Chuck answered.

Clara drew her eyebrows together. "What's that mean?"

Chuck smiled into the rear-view mirror. "Okay, who's hungry?" He asked in an upbeat tone.

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San Francisco, California

August 27, 2016

7:00 pm

Casey had parked his rental car at the top of the hill, from which he could see his daughter's house further down. He had arrived the night before, checked into a hotel and spent several hours thinking about what he would say to Alex. He finally decided to head to bed so he could get an early start.

He'd parked on the hill early on in the morning trying to work up the nerve to get out of the car and knock on her door. He watched as a woman, whom he recognized as Alex, left the house followed by a man he presume to be her husband and two small kids. They returned several hours later, went inside and still, Casey could not bring himself to make a move.

As noon came around, the need to use a bathroom and hunger drove him to a nearby diner. He promised himself he would be back, though and go through with his mission. He drew out his time at the diner, spending four hours there. He finally could not put it off any longer. He paid for his meal and headed back.

Once he was back on the hill, he thought through everything he wanted to say to his daughter. How he would prove who he was, how he would broach the subject of his presumed demise, and how he would ask for forgiveness.

Finally, he felt confident enough in what he was going to say. He took a deep breath, opened the door, and started to step out before he looked up. He stopped his movement when he saw a car pull up to the house. He observed an older man get out of the driver's seat, followed by a woman from the passenger seat and a kid in his teens from the back seat. The sun was setting but not enough to prevent him from getting a good look at the woman: it was Kathleen. The driver came around and put his arm around her as they started to make their way to the front door.

Alex answered the door, with her husband standing beside her, the small baby in his arms. Seconds later the other child burst through the two adults and threw herself into the arms of Kathleen. Casey saw them exchange hugs and greetings. They seemed like one big happy family, without a care in the world.

Casey shut his door and started up the car. What the hell had he been thinking? What had he been about to do? Alex didn't need him or his issues. That wasn't his family. She wasn't his daughter. He may have provided half the genetic material, but that's all he was: a donor. He was not her father. He didn't factor into her life at all. And Kathleen had moved on; found someone who would actually be there for her and her children. There was no room for him. There was no way he could come into that situation. All that would do is turn those people's lives upside down, cause unnecessary problems. That was unacceptable.

Alexander Coburn had made a choice; John Casey would live with the consequences.

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LAX

August 28, 2016

1:30 am

Chuck saw Casey walk out through the sliding doors of the terminal, headed for the car. He had a sullen look on his face; clearly things had not gone well. Chuck just had to figure out exactly what had happened in San Francisco. Casey opened the door, got in, and buckled up.

Chuck opened his mouth to speak, which Casey swiftly put a stop to.

"I don't want to talk about it, Bartowski."

Chuck nodded, released the parking brake, and started the drive back to Casey's temporary home in Echo Park.

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Woodcomb Residence

August 28, 2016

2:45 am

Halfway through the ride back from the airport Chuck concluded that Casey looked too much like someone had kicked his puppy, which Chuck didn't think was possible, that in itself said how much the trip had affected him. He decided he couldn't let Casey go home alone. Instead, he turned the car around and started heading towards Ellie and Devon's place. They would be asleep by now, so he and Casey would have some privacy to talk. Casey didn't protest at the change in destination.

They walked quietly through the living room into the dining room. Casey took a seat at the table and huffed out a breath. Chuck walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He joined Casey at the table moments later, placing a couple of beer bottles on the table in front of him. He took one, popped the cap and handed it to Casey then did the same to his own bottle.

"Thanks, Bartowski," Casey said as he took a drink.

"Sure," he said as he started on his own. "Want to tel— Scratch that. Tell me what happened in San Francisco," Chuck prompted.

"None of your business," Casey responded.

"Come on, Casey, it'll do you good to get it off your chest," Chuck pushed.

Casey wasn't in any mood to put up much of a fight. He was actually hoping Chuck would pry. He needed a friend right then that knew he wasn't the kind to volunteer this sort of thing. "Fine, you win." He started to explain. "I saw them... the whole family," he said. "Kathleen, Alex, their husbands, their children. There's no room for me there, Bartowski. I would only bring problems and complications into their lives," he finished as he gulped down the rest of his beer.

"Casey, did you really want a family, honestly?" Chuck had to know.

"I wasn't completely sure, not at first, now I've missed my chance," he answered. "But you can't miss something you never had, and at least, I'm glad that they're happy. I'll get over it."

Chuck nodded as he got up. He came back moments later with two fresh beers. He placed an open bottle in front of Casey then reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He placed it next to Casey's bottle.

Casey picked it up, unfolded the paper and read it. He face was taken over by surprise.

"You know, the only good thing about my time in France was running into her," Chuck spoke offhandedly as he drank from his bottle.

"What are you playing at, Chuck?" He said with narrowed eyes.

"Nothing. I just know what it's like to want a family," Chuck replied. "You've confronted your past and you've let go of it. You're ready to move on with a clean slate. That's your first step," he said pointing to the piece of paper.

"So, what? I'm supposed to wait around France until she pops up again?" Casey questioned. "Who's to say she's still even interested at this point?"

"Well, two things," Chuck held up two fingers. "First, she's retired. So no waiting involved." Chuck curled up one finger. "Second, trust me when I say she's still interested, very much so, actually."

"You think you have this all figured out don't you?"

"Nah," Chuck waved off. "I've just planned ahead a little, you know, just in case," he shrugged.

Casey grunted in acknowledgement. "Well, thanks, I guess," he said as he slipped the paper into his pocket.

Chuck dipped his head slightly. Then felt the awkwardness that threatened to take over so he decided to change the subject. "So, Sarah wants me to talk to a shrink," he threw out into the room.

Casey stopped mid-swallow and looked over at Chuck. "Intersect making you bonkers, Bartowski?"

"No, but you know, eight years on the run," Chuck reminded. "I've got issues and stuff."

"And Walker's still wearing the pants in your relationship," Casey couldn't let the dig go.

"She does wear them so well," Chuck grinned suggestively.

"Ugh... I don't need to hear that."

"Seriously, though," Chuck got back on topic, "Sarah says he's really good. Apparently, he's the one that helped her work out her issues."

Casey started coughing and pounding on his chest as he choked on his beer. His eyes were wide with surprise. "Walker talked to a shrink?"

"I know. Surprised the hell out of me, too."

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Author's Note: That's two updates down, hopefully I'll be able to deliver on the third. It helps that I only have readings this week.