A/N: Welcome back everyone! It's been quite some time. No excuses let's get right into the chapter, eh? Once again my sincerest thanks goes out to michaelfmx for being a fantastic beta. Especially with this chapter that went through a rewrite and then editing. We'll see if it worked out. Fair warning, this chapter has some heavy angst. However, I do hope you still enjoy!


Eastern Standard Time: 1630 Hours/Undisclosed CIA Facility/Outside Washington D.C.

This was the kind of mission John Casey lived for. Adrenaline coursed through his body, sharpening his senses and quickening his reflexes. Bullets flew overhead, narrowly missing his skull more than a dozen times. But every near miss only served to further fuel his focus. He managed to keep one eye on Morgan while simultaneously gunning down enemy agents scattered across the yard. Although, to his credit, Morgan wasn't doing half bad. In fact he'd managed to incapacitate a few towering men all on his own.

Maybe all those endless Call of Duty marathons with Chuck paid off, Casey mused.

"Casey, I'm pushing forward with Alpha squad, while Beta circles around the west perimeter. If we can break their main defense line, they won't be able to hold out any longer. I need you to put down some cover fire." Cole's voice was difficult to hear over the gunfire, but Casey acknowledged his request with a quick grunt. Propping himself up on one knee, he set his assault rifle on the edge of the low wall he had taken cover behind and sprayed round after round into the enemy line, forgoing accuracy in favor of distraction. It worked well; Pierce's men took cover while Cole and his squad charged forward, guns blazing. The enemy began to drop and scatter, making easy targets for Casey and the rest of the CIA agents. As the field began to clear, Casey ordered Morgan to his feet and signaled for a few of the surrounding men and women to push forward as well.

"Barker," Casey lowered his gun and cupped a hand over his earpiece. "Is there any sign of Pierce near your position?"

From where he stood at the opposite side of the yard, Cole would have a better vantage point of each individual agent, but his answer made Casey's blood run cold. "No sign of him. Did he run?"

Casey glanced around, but the small man was nowhere to be seen. It was possible that he had hidden behind his army of agents during the battle but now that the tide was turning, he would have nowhere left to hide. And still there was no evidence to suggest that Pierce was nearby. Casey continued to scan the field, his eyes eventually falling on the facility behind them. "We need to get a hold of Bartowski. There's no way Pierce would leave without the Key and if he's not out here then it's likely he followed Chuck and Sarah inside."

Casey heard Cole swear lightly before he disconnected and tapped in to Chuck's frequency. For a brief moment, he thought he heard Chuck's voice, but the connection was too poor to be certain. Casey strapped his rifle across his shoulders and dashed across the yard towards Alpha squad who were busy subduing the last of Pierce's army. Once he found Cole, he pulled the large agent aside and muttered, "I can't reach Chuck inside the facility. If he's in there, he's on his own."

It was at that very moment that Cole's earpiece sprung to life and he flinched as Chuck's voice blasted through it. Casey was only privy to Cole's side of the conversation but from the sound of it, it seemed as if Pierce had indeed followed Chuck and Sarah inside, but was no longer a threat.

"Evacuate?" Cole asked suddenly, furrowing his heavy brow. "Pierce is…Understood. Copy that."

"What's going on?" Casey asked as soon as Barker disconnected.

"Pierce planted some sort of explosive in the facility. Chuck's attempting to disarm it but he suggested we get our men to safety….and quickly."

"I'm going in after him," Casey said turning towards the building, but Cole grabbed his arm.

"Don't. We hardly have enough time as it is, I need your leadership here, John. Bartowski and Walker can handle themselves."

Casey grimaced. The idea of leaving a comrade behind had never been something that sat well with him, especially after having served almost five years with a soft-hearted and loyal idealist like Chuck Bartowski. As Cole began shouting orders at the men nearby, Casey turned on his headpiece and connected to headquarters. As soon as he heard General Beckman acknowledge the call he said, "General, Agent Barker and myself have subdued the enemy. But Benjamin Pierce is MIA and Walker and Bartowski are still inside the facility attempting to disarm what sounds like a nasty explosive. We don't have much time, but I'm taking a small squad inside to retrieve them, while Barker evacuates the rest of our men-"

"Negative." Casey blanched as Beckman put a stop to his steam of conscious. "If you and the rest of our men are in immediate danger then it is imperative that we evacuate. I'm sending in an air patrol unit to speed up the process."

"…What about Walker and Bartowski?" Casey asked finding his voice. "I can't just leave them behind. General, they risked their lives going into that facility. This entire mission was for them, we can't just—"

"John." Once again Beckman interrupted, but this time with much more sympathy coloring her voice. "I understand your hesitation. I can't tell you how much it pains me to leave my agents behind…But I have to think about the men and women that we can still get to safety; and so do you. I need you to lead your team."

Casey's jaw clenched at Beckman's words. His team was inside that building, not out in the yard. He glanced upward, scanning the sky for the General's promised air patrol. There was nothing yet that he could see, but in the distance he could hear the faint pulsating sound of chopper blades. Casey had to make a decision and quickly. Five years ago he would not have hesitated to leave behind two agents for the sake of a successful mission. Sacrifice was a necessary evil. That was what he'd been taught to believe. But Chuck and Sarah were more than comrades. They were family. The old John Casey would have felt physically ill to admit such personal feelings, but the old John Casey no longer existed thanks to those two. Besides that, Beckman was technically no longer the woman John took orders from.

Having made his decision, Casey turned back to Cole and the others, who had managed to pile into vehicles while simultaneously loading Pierce's men into the air force helicopters that had landed. The scene was chaos; the air filled with whipping winds, shouting men and boots pounding the ground. Casey grabbed Morgan and pulled him towards the evac vehicles, handing him off to one of the agents in a helicopter and signaling for lift off. Morgan's cries of protest were lost in the wind as the chopper flew into the air and away from the facility. The other jeeps and trucks were thrown into reverse and squealed away until only Cole, Casey and two other agents were left outside the facility.

"We need to leave now!" Cole shouted over the howling wind. Casey had no idea how much time had passed since Chuck had discovered the bomb, but at this point it was clear that they'd either disarmed it and were on their way out or they had run out of time entirely. Casey looked back at the base and then to Cole. "I'm not leaving without my team. You leave. I'm going inside."

"Are you insane?" When John ignored him and started towards the building, Cole grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the truck. "Casey, it's too late! You're going to do nothing but get yourself killed by going inside!"

"I won't leave them behind!" Casey argued. "They've done too much for us to leave them like this."

Cole glanced at the base and although the stoic agent would never say it, Casey would tell how conflicted he felt about leaving Chuck and Sarah behind by his darkening expression. "John…You and I both know that we have to consider the mission at large."

"Fine then," Casey relented. "The Key is the mission and so is Pierce. We have neither. They are inside that base."

Once again, Casey's words gave Cole pause. "If we go in there, there's no guarantee we'll come back out. We don't know how powerful the bomb Bartowski found is and we don't know how much time is left before it detonates….It might be best to leave Pierce and the Key to the explosion."

"Chuck and Sarah too?" Casey challenged. "You gonna be able to sleep with a clear conscious tonight knowing you left your team behind, Barker?"

Cole shook his head, a rueful smirk spreading his lips. "Must be the Bartowski that turns agents like us into such romantics." Realizing he'd won the argument, Casey gestured to the remaining truck and shouted at the few remaining agents to take it and leave. The men seemed greatful that they'd been excluded from joining the 'suicide rescue squad', nearly falling over themselves in the dash to the truck and slamming the doors behind them.

Casey and Cole turned towards the base and began running. They'd only just begun their sprint across the yard when Casey felt the ground below their feet shake.

"Down!" he shouted as instinct kicked in. He and Cole hit the ground, hands over their heads as the air erupted around them. Casey peeked out from beneath his folded arms to see the base collapse inward on itself with an earsplitting boom. The bomb had detonated and destroyed the infrastructure of the building, crushing any hope Casey had of rescuing his friends. He'd failed his mission and what was worse, he'd failed his friends.

As the pressure in the air above them began to wane, Cole and Casey could only stare wordlessly at the wreckage before them. Finally, Casey felt the full impact of his sudden loss and without moving from his spot on the ground, he slammed his fist against the soil, swearing loudly. He continued to beat the ground, as if punishing it would somehow bring Chuck and Sarah out of the rubble. The empty field was quiet now save for Casey's cursing. Cole continued to gaze at the base, his brows pulled together and his mouth forming a thin line that was nearly hidden by his beard.

"John," he said finally when Casey had exhausted his rage and grief. "We need to get in that base."

Casey looked up at Cole who had risen to his feet and was offering a hand. Wordlessly, Casey took it, letting his expression ask the next question for him.

"You said it yourself. We aren't going to leave our team behind."

"We're too late," Casey muttered running a hand across his face to clear it of the mixture of sweat and grime.

"To rescue them? Yes." Cole's voice was grim. "But the Key is in there, like you said and we're not leaving the bodies of our team to rot in there. This mission isn't over."

o0o

There were many times in Sarah's career as a spy that she'd tried to imagine her own death; sometimes with gruesome clarity. In her mind, it seemed the best way to prepare for the very real possibility that any mission could be her last. If she replayed the situations in her head, then it would lessen the panic when the moment actually came to pass. Or at least, that had been the reasoning behind her macabre ritual. She'd imagined hundreds of different deaths. From torture to battle wounds and even simple accidents, where one clumsy slip of the hand lead to her untimely demise. But in all of those alternate realities, it had never occurred to her that she'd die like this; peacefully, slowly losing consciousness, while wrapped in the arms of the man she loved. It seemed almost romantic; like she were playing the heroine in a movie and her last words would be a confession of true love, followed by a magical kiss that would bring her back to life.

If only, Sarah thought as she slipped in and out of consciousness. Her body felt as if it were floating, only Chuck's solid arms and the vicious ache in her head kept her grounded. She could be free if only those things would let her go.

No. She couldn't let go. Not yet at least. Not before she knew that Chuck would be alright without her. Slowly she became aware of his voice, low and soothing even in the crushing darkness of the bunker. He was telling her the story of how they'd first met, arms tightening around her every so often. She wished she could return the gesture, but her limbs were useless. They felt far away and alien. Chuck's voice quavered, but it was warm and almost as comforting as the embrace she wished she could feel.

"You walked into the Buy More that day and I thought I'd seen an angel, Sarah. An actual angel…I was so painfully awkward," he chuckled lightly. "You were so beautiful and the way you smiled at me…It was all I could do not to melt into a puddle on that linoleum floor."

You were sweet, Sarah thought to herself as muddled memories stirred within her. And so gentle with…the little girl. The ballerina.

"And then you asked me on a date and for a second I thought it was a prank. How could someone like you even notice a nerd like me? Then of course the whole CIA agent thing was revealed and everything after that was just…I know it's been a crazy few years but I wouldn't change them, Sarah. Not for anything."

Sarah wanted to tell him how wrong he was for thinking he didn't measure up to her, even in the very beginning. Chuck had always been a hero and he'd always been strong. His inability to see those qualities in himself was what made him so special.

That's why I fell for you, she thought as if he could hear her words. It's why I stayed. I trust you, Chuck.

"I guess, actually, I would change the time we spent with Shaw…I think we could both do without what he did to us and the people we care about….and the decisions we made," Chuck continued to muse and Sarah noticed his tone darken as he recalled all of the hardships they'd faced together through the years. But Sarah didn't want those to be the last things she remembered if this was the end. She wanted to remember the happiness, the absolute bliss, the moments with Chuck that felt like a fairytale.

"Chuck," her voice was weak, the words barely passing her lips. But Chuck heard her. "Yes?"

"Will you…tell me about our wedding day?" She wanted to remember it more than ever now. In spite of the pictures in their bedroom and the ones Morgan had showed her on the plane, the memory still eluded her. But Chuck's words painted pictures in her mind and she would gladly have the one he made for their wedding day be the last one she ever saw.

"It was amazing," Chuck began after a shaky breath. "Beautiful. You were glowing, Sarah. When I looked at you I couldn't even say the vows I'd written because I realized that no words were going to be able to describe how I felt about you. Not then not ever. So I told you what I knew in that moment; that I loved you more than I could say and that I had so much hope for our future together and for our children.…Our superhero babies." Chuck paused to laugh lightly and Sarah wished once again that she could join him. "I've never been as happy as I was that day because I realized that we'd finally beaten the odds, you know? After everything that kept us apart, we'd finally found each other and we were gonna make it forever."

Sarah's chest was aching by the time Chuck finished his story. She recalled the same emotions he described; infinite hope and happiness, allowing herself to believe that they were invincible. How wrong she'd been, and how naïve. God, it was going to hurt him so badly and the last thing Sarah ever wanted to do was break her husband's heart. But she had to make sure he was going to make it out of this bunker, with or without her.

"Chuck," she said again and felt him lean to hear her better. "Will you promise me something…please?"

"Anything." The sincerity in his voice was palpable, but even so Sarah hesitated before continuing.

"Promise me you'll…keep going after this. After you get out. Promise me you'll keep moving forward." Sarah felt Chuck go rigid as the implication of her plea sunk in. He shifted again and she felt his right hand, warm and strong, cup her cheek. She wished she could see his face. She wished she could look into the soft brown eyes she loved so much, but the absolute darkness and her own exhaustion made it impossible.

"Sarah, please don't make me promise that. We're both getting out of here. Casey and Morgan are coming for us, we just have to hold on a little longer, okay?"

Sarah knew help was coming. Even if their team believed they'd been killed in the blast, the Key still needed to be retrieved. Beckman would find a way into the base and they would be found. But that would take time, and time was no longer on Sarah's side. Chuck could make it though and Sarah needed to know that he would find a way to go on without her. Chuck Bartowski had been himself long before he met Sarah Walker but Sarah, on the other hand, had not known who she was until she met him. It was a bit selfish, she realized, but Sarah was grateful that it was she who wouldn't have to leave this bunker without him. She knew, with a clarity she hadn't had before, that she would not be able to continue without him if their roles were reversed.

You're so much stronger than me, Chuck. You can do this. Please promise me.

Realizing that she had not said these words aloud, she swallowed dryly and tried again. "I need to know…that you'll be okay." And with as much strength as she could muster, she said firmly, "Chuck. Promise me."

She heard Chuck release a shaky breath and his hand quivered against her cheek. Her name was a whimper on his lips, ghosting past her own as he rested his forehead on hers. She waited patiently to hear his response, trying to breathe past the lump burning in her throat.

"I promise you, I'll try." That was the best she could hope for, she knew. But it was enough. Chuck didn't bother to hold back his sobs after that, he pulled her against his chest, cradling her head against the crook of his neck and rocking back and forth gently as tears streamed down his cheeks. Sarah felt them fall against the top of her head and drop down to her collar. Her senses continued to dim and the last thing she heard was Chuck whispering, "It's okay, baby. Just close your eyes. I'm here. I'm right here." In spite of everything, Sarah felt warm and safe and with the image of her wedding day, she let Chuck's gentle voice lull her into darkness.

Eastern Standard Time: 1900/Outside the CIA Facility

Two hours after the blast that had destroyed the base and Casey still hadn't made any substantial progress in rescuing his team. He'd tried contacting them over the com, but received nothing but static from the other end. Chuck and Sarah were still in there, he knew. Whether they were alive or dead, he wasn't sure. Either way they needed to be retrieved; John Casey wasn't about to leave his friends.

As it turned out, Chuck's estimation of the bomb's power had been exaggerated. The explosive was only powerful enough to collapse the interior of the base, leaving the skeleton of the building still standing. Their emergency evacuation had been unnecessary and now Casey lacked the man power he needed to help retrieve his teammates. The agent's he'd sent to the truck before the blast hadn't even had time to put the car in gear before the explosion. But three agents wasn't going to be enough to dig Chuck and Sarah out of the wreckage. Beckman had been too busy dealing with the arrival of Pierce's men, now CIA captives, at headquarters to answer Casey's pleas for assistance and the other officers in command didn't seem to think that sending in a search and rescue team for two agents, who were very likely already dead, was a top priority mission.

Cole was on his com too, also attempting to recruit help, when Beckman finally answered.

"Casey?" her voice was sharp and tense, obviously she was tired of dealing with the aftermath of the battle and evacuation. "Give me your status."

"General, Cole, Williams, Myerson and I are still at the base. The bomb detonated inside and collapsed the infrastructure. Requesting a team to begin a search and rescue operation for Walker and Bartowski."

"John…." Beckman's voice was sympathetic and it set Casey's teeth on edge.

"General, I don't care if they're…." Casey paused, he almost couldn't bring himself to say it. "Even if Chuck and Sarah didn't make it. The Key is still inside that base. We can't leave technology like that behind. If anything we need to enter the base and find those pieces…Maybe get rid of them once and for all."

"John, if you'd let me speak for a moment," Beckman interrupted in a clipped tone. "I fully agree that we need to reacquire the pieces of the Key. And I'd like you to know that there is a chance Chuck and Sarah may still be alive."

Casey's eyes widened slightly, "How do you figure?"

"That base was built with a bomb shelter underneath. The shelter also acts as an emergency exit. At the south end of the bunker is a tunnel that leads out about 200 meters away from the main base. It's possible they found the bunker and if so, they're going to need our help to escape."

Casey felt a spark of hope ignite in his chest. The chances were slim indeed, but any chance at all was one Casey was willing to take. "Roger that, General. Send a team to meet me at the tunnel's exit and I'll retrieve the pieces of the Key and the rest of my team."

"A team is already on their way. As well as a few medical personal. Keep me updated on your progress, John. Please." The plea in Beckman's voice confused Casey for a moment. But quickly he realized that the General cared for her former team as much as he did. She wanted them rescued as well. The com clicked off and Casey turned to face Cole, quickly explaining the situation. Cole nodded and gestured towards the truck still parked with the remaining agents. "Let's go."

The drive to the opposite end of the compound seemed to take an eternity and it was even longer still before Beckman's team arrived in their own vehicles. As promised, there was a group of medics prepared to assist with whatever level of distress they would find Chuck and Sarah in….If they found them. The rest of the agents began uncovering an entrance hidden just below ground. Two heavy steel doors were revealed and once they were pulled aside, Casey was greeted with a long dark tunnel. Taking a flashlight he'd been handed by one of the agents, Casey took a steadying breath before plunging down the steep staircase into darkness.

o0o

Chuck felt Sarah's body go limp and everything he'd fought to keep inside broke loose. His sobs filled the small bunker as he rocked her against him. Chuck remembered the pact they'd made in Somerset, when Sarah told him that this mission meant nothing if they didn't finish it together. Realizing that they'd come this far only to lose at the very end only made him feel worse. Once upon a time, he'd let himself believe that he and Sarah would be happy, living in a small house with a red door, two kids, a big dog and a white picket fence. That dream was long gone now and, no matter what he had promised Sarah, he knew that leaving this bunker would be the hardest thing he'd ever have to do.

If he made it out at all. Chuck didn't know how long he and Sarah had been trapped, but it felt like an eternity. He hurt everywhere. His eyes and throat were dry and his head ached from dehydration. He'd hung on this long for Sarah's sake. But with her gone now, he wasn't sure how much longer he would last. Nor was he sure he wanted to. Sarah Walker had been his everything, without her he wasn't sure what the future looked like. But he knew it wasn't one he wanted. It took every ounce of willpower he had to convince himself to wait for rescue and not death. He'd promised Sarah. Part of him was too horrified to accept that she had passed, but the other half of him knew that he was alone in the bunker and he would have to depend on himself if he was going to make it out alive.

It was then that Chuck heard voices. They were faint and muffled and he couldn't tell where they were coming from or even if they were real, but he heard them. They grew louder and louder and suddenly he felt the wall behind him shift as if the earth were physically opening. With a loud creak the wall-or hidden door it seemed-behind his back gave way and Chuck tumbled to the ground, momentarily blinded by the glow of flashlights. He began to panic until a familiar gruff voice called his name.

"Casey?" he blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision, but his eyes were still battling the sudden brightness. "Oh, Casey. Thank god…I need…Sarah needs…I think she's…."

"She's fine, Chuck." Casey was in front of him now, his voice surprisingly soothing. "You're alright, we're gonna get you out of here, okay?"

"No, no, no." Chuck's voice rose with terror. He was having trouble thinking straight. Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone examining Sarah's limp body, holding a gloved hand to her neck and checking his watch. Panic coursed through Chuck's body once again and he gripped Casey's forearms until his knuckles turned white, "Sarah! She needs help. Casey, help her first! Please, please help her! Casey—"

"Chuck, look at me." Casey had taken Chuck's face in his hands and forced his frantic partner to meet his intense gaze. "Look at me and breathe, Chuck. Sarah will be fine. You're going to be fine."

Chuck stared wide eyed at the older man, clinging to every word like a lifeline. "You did it, Chuck. You did well. It's over." Casey smiled at him and that gesture alone almost sent Chuck into a fresh bout of sobs. "I've got you. Come on, let's go kid."

Casey sent a quick glance over his shoulder as he helped Chuck to his feet. Sarah was surrounded by medics now and although he was too busy with Chuck to overhear their conversation, Casey felt it was safe to assume the worst. Casey felt as if his gut had filled with lead when he realized that he'd been too late to rescue his long-time partner. But there was no way he would let Chuck believe otherwise; at least not in his current condition. Any more stress and Chuck was likely to snap. For now, Casey would let him believe that Sarah still had a chance. Hopefully, it would be true. Setting his jaw, he turned his attention away from Sarah and the medic team and slung Chuck's arm over his shoulder, guiding him towards the exit. He may have been too late for Sarah, but he could still save Chuck and Casey knew that that would have been her plea had he found them with roles reversed.

Chuck allowed Casey to bear most of his weight as they ducked back into the low tunnel that the rescue team had come through. It seemed to go on forever and the longer he walked the more hopeless he felt. Sarah was being carried ahead of him, but he couldn't see her face in the gloom. All he could do was hope that she was still alive. Casey continued to talk quietly to him. Although the words no longer registered in Chuck's brain. He was so tired all he wanted to do was lie down and sleep for ages. Finally, they reached the end of the tunnel and crawled out into the cool night air. Chuck collapsed on the ground, gasping for fresh air; swearing up and down that nothing had ever smelled so sweet. Casey knelt by his side, patting his back and urging him to stay awake, but before Chuck could even try to lift his head off the ground, he'd fallen unconscious.

Eastern Standard Time: 24 hours Later/CIA HQ/ Washington D.C.

Sarah had never been a particularly spiritual person, but she'd be lying if she said she hadn't expected something other than total darkness when she died. There'd been no tunnel or white light to take her way, only unending black and the sensation of nothing.

That wasn't entirely true, she corrected quickly. There had been a light at one point, but it was harsh and painful and seemed to flicker on and off. It certainly wasn't a light she was willing to follow. As these thoughts passed, Sarah began to realize that she hadn't died in that bunker. She was still alive and becoming more and more aware of the various aches and pains that plagued her entire body.

She opened her eyes slowly, blinking rapidly as they adjusted to the incredibly bright light above her head. It took her a minute or two to realize where she was. She lay against the white cotton sheets of a pristine med bay bed; most likely the one located in CIA headquarters. The room was empty save for herself and another figure slumped against her bedside. As her eyes finally adapted to the light she realized that the person beside her was Chuck. He'd pulled a chair up to her bed, pillowing his head against folded arms, one of his hands loosely clutching her fingertips.

An enormous wave of relief washed through her as she realized that somehow, they'd both been rescued from that bunker, alive and well. She'd said her goodbyes to Chuck in that bunker, fully prepared for death. But now, as she watched his back rise and fall slowly with each gentle breathe, she felt all the tears she'd been unable to shed in the bunker returning. She tried calling his name, but her throat was dry and cracked from disuse, so instead she lifted a hand, ignoring the IV tubes attached to it, and pushed her fingers through his dark curls. Chuck stirred, his head rising and his exhausted eyes meeting her own. It took just a moment for his expression to brighten when he saw her smiling softly at him.

"Sarah." The word was a plea, a prayer and a grateful whisper all at the same time and it was enough to finally make the tears come.

"Hi," was all she could manage in return. Chuck leaned forward in his seat, carefully avoiding the various tubes and needles stuck into her skin and rounding her body with strong arms. He set his chin against her shoulder, burying his face against the side of her neck where she could feel his lips tremble against her skin. It was an awkward position for a reunion, but she did the best she could to return his embrace with what little mobility she had. No words were exchanged and yet Sarah still felt enveloped with Chuck's love. His body pressed against her own warmed her like a blanket and, as she pressed her lips lightly to his temple, she was filled with the scent of him, the essence of her Chuck. It was incredibly comforting and heart wrenching all at the same. With a loud sniff, Chuck pulled just far enough away to look her in the eye. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't seem to find the words. So, with a wet chuckle, he simply repeated her greeting, "Hi."

A small bubble a laughter fell from her lips as she looked at him, her eyes roaming over every inch of the face she thought she'd never see again.

"How do you feel?" Chuck asked brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Sarah had to stifle a fresh sob when Chuck touched her so tenderly. Of course he'd be worried about her, even after his own struggle inside that bunker.

"Sore," she replied, ignoring the scratch in her voice. "But I'll live." She realized too late that her choice of words might sound a bit harsh considering that hadn't been the case a few hours earlier, but Chuck didn't seem bothered. Instead he reached across her and grabbed a small plastic cup sitting on the bedside table. He held it up to her lips and gestured for her to drink. She did, feeling the immediate effects of the cool water against her sore throat. "Thank you."

He nodded and set the cup down, returning to stroke her face and hair softly without a word. After a moment, he leaned forward, touching his forehead to hers and closing his eyes. His next words were so quiet that Sarah had to strain to hear them. "I thought I'd lost you."

In all honesty, Sarah realized, he almost had. She'd been certain that her last moments were with him in that bunker; so much so, in fact that this moment still felt like a dream.

"You didn't lose me. This is real." She said the words with as much confidence as she could muster, but it was obvious that they were for her own reassurance as much as they were for his. Finally he closed the distance between them, touching his lips lightly to hers. The kiss was soft and incredibly gentle, and still it made Sarah's heart race. Chuck pulled away, alarmed, when he heard the heart monitor begin beeping quickly. He glanced at the machine and then back at Sarah and when he saw her blush he began laughing.

"Maybe we save the kissing for later?" He teased, gently bumping his nose to hers when she frowned.

She was saved from having to respond when a quiet knock on the door interrupted Chuck's gentle ribbing. Without waiting for an invitation, the door opened and in stepped Casey, Morgan and General Beckman. Morgan was the first one to reach the bedside opposite Chuck and he took Sarah's hand, patting it gently. "Glad to see you awake, Sarah. We were worried about you for a while there."

The familiar contact should have thrown her off, but instead she was warmed by Morgan's genuine concern. "Thank you. How long was I out?"

"Nearly a day," Chuck said.

"No big deal," Morgan teased when Sarah's brows rose. "That's like a normal Saturday for me."

Chuck rolled his eyes and snickered as Morgan stepped back to make way for Casey whose emotions were only evident in the way his blue eyes shone. He dipped his chin and put a large hand on her shoulder, "Glad we didn't lose you down there, Walker."

"Casey was the one who put together the rescue team that saved us," Chuck said quietly, regarding Casey with obvious respect.

"Thank you, John," Sarah said, knowing that using his first name would be enough to convey how grateful she was for his help. True to his nature, Casey merely grunted in reply, but his mouth twitched into a small smile when he stepped away to let Beckman approach. The small woman kept her always professional demeanor as she spoke, but Sarah could see the genuine relief clearly on her face.

"Chuck, Sarah," she began acknowledging them each with a nod. "You've both done an enormous amount to aid the CIA and in turn the entire country over the past five years. And even now, after the unceremonious end of Operation Bartowski, you've managed to remain two of the best agents I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

"Because you aided in the retrieval of the Key and the termination of Benjamin Pierce, and because you were once my own team, I'm offering you full access to the CIA's resources. We will reassemble the Key you retrieved and use it to create a modified Intersect that will, hopefully, return all of Sarah's memories." The team exchanged hopeful glances until Beckman continued with a sudden change in tone. "I must warn you, however, that using the Key will not guarantee their return. In fact, in light of recent events, it could have the opposite effect."

"What does that mean?" Chuck asked and Sarah felt him grasp her hand tightly.

"It means that Sarah's most recent flashes during the battle with Pierce left her highly unstable. We can assume that the Key, when used, will effectively trigger another flash of her past. It's the possible repercussions of this 'final flash' that concern me. Considering Sarah's current mental condition and the size of the flash the Key is likely to induce…." The General paused. "The results may affect Sarah much the same way as they did in the bunker." Beckman looked around at the team, watching the excitement drain from their faces as they registered her warning.

"It's not one hundred percent likely to cause any more damage," she added generously. "But it is a possibility and one you should seriously consider before using the Key."

"We'll need time to discuss it," Chuck murmured.

"You'll have it," Beckman said. "Even with our most experienced scientists working on it, I don't expect the Key to be ready for use in any less than a week. You have plenty of time to decide if you wish to use it."

"So what do we do in the meantime?" Morgan asked.

"You're welcome to stay in the facility if you like. Or, you can return home to Burbank and we'll send word when the Key is ready."

Chuck looked at Sarah, his wide eyes telling her that what happened next was her decision. Sarah knew it was probably more logical to stay at headquarters where she could be monitored by Intersect specialists, but she didn't care much for logic right now. It had been so long since they'd been home and, more than anything, she wanted to curl up on her couch and sleep for ages. It was almost ironic, Sarah realized, that it had taken an adventure all around the world to make her realize that home was a small apartment in Burbank with the world's biggest nerd. Squeezing Chuck's hand, she looked up at Beckman and said, "I think we'd all like to go back to Burbank, General."

Beckman smiled, "I can't say I expected otherwise. However, before you go I'd like you to meet with one of the specialists. It's imperative that we keep you from flashing further until a solution can be reached. The most effective thing to do would be to restrict your vision for the time being."

"A blindfold?"

"Indeed," Beckman nodded. "It's a bit unorthodox but if you aren't going to remain in this facility where you can be monitored, then this is what we'll have to do to avoid future flashes. We don't know what another one could do, Sarah. For now, we must assume that any flashes will cause irreparable damage."

The idea of walking around with a blindfold for the next week didn't quite appeal to Sarah, but she would do what she had to, especially since she was now without the protection of the Governor. Beckman said her goodbyes, told them that transportation to Burbank would be ready whenever they were, and left the room after shaking each of their hands in turn. When she was gone, Chuck turned around to meet Sarah's gaze and asked, "You sure this is what you want? Headquarters is safer, there are doctor's here."

Sarah just shook her head, "Chuck, I'm sure. Let's go home."


Thank you to everyone who's reading, reviewing or simply enjoying the story! The next chapter is going to be filled with some wonderful Charah fluff so stick around, the angst is behind us friends!

As always reviews and/or critiques are welcome and appreciated!

Until next time...