A/N: As previously noted, I envisioned this to be a "brief" revisiting of Sarah's thoughts during seasons 1 &2 … It turns out that I'm a bit long winded.
"Chuck vs the Santa Claus" is one of my very favorite episodes of the whole series, although we never do learn who in John Casey's life knows him as "Johnny Boy" (secret coded message to Beckman, mavbe?) It might be a little harsh to watch a heroine like Sarah so brutally execute an unarmed, surrendering Frank Mauser, but I think the moment's so important to Chuck, Sarah and to we the audience. We already know that Sarah's a lethal fighter in the midst of combat, but here we clearly learn that when it comes to threats against Chuck, Sarah's simply lethal, period. I think the brilliant camera shot of Sarah's gun hand with the charm bracelet around her wrist is just lovely – and can be taken more than one way. It works as a POV shot from the hiding Chuck, and he's horrified that he's given his heart to a woman capable of such merciless brutality… and yet I think the show wanted to argue that the inverse is the case:: Sarah's only so merciless because of her love for Chuck. Sarah Walker, ladies and gents- dangerous enough when being professional, even more frightening when she's in love – which is saying quite a lot.
Bryce Larkin redeemed himself by dying at the end of Chuck vs The Ring. In the battle between Good and Evil, he always was technically on the side of the good guys, despite managing to selfishly hurt practically everyone he came in contact with. It'd be interesting to see what would have happened if instead of giving him a hero's death, the show insisted on giving him a redemptive arc with his relationship with Chuck and Sarah. Interesting, but probably not for the best. If we examined Bryce's relationship with anyone, we'd probably be dismayed to find that he never really had any such thing.
I bring that up because Diane Beckman gets such an arc ,more or less, and in seasons 3 4 and 5 is shown to be supportive and somewhat respectful of Team B/Carmichael … a very far cry from her infuriating Season 2 self. I actually forgave her for putting out a kill order on Chuck in "First Date". It's brutal, but somewhat logical and possibly even humane in the long run. (That and the fact you knew it was never going to actually happen!) I never did forgive her shameless manipulation of Chuck in "Predator" and her betrayal of Chuck, and her selection of using Sarah as the lure in "First Kill". It's one thing to secure the Intersect by eliminating it. It's pretty much the same thing to lock Chuck underground – these can be sort of justified as the rough costs of doing rough business. But exploiting and lying to Chuck about her sincerity in getting rid of the Intersect, and then revealing that she actually has no such interest, and insisting that Chuck simply patiently subject himself to being a toy under her thumb indefinitely is a special type of wickedly cruel, and Beckman tap dances frighteningly close to villainy here—so close that it's amazing that she's redeemed.
Going back to the concept of key moments, ever notice that several what-should-have-been "key moments" in season 2 turned out to be anything but? The heartrending fountain speech in "…Breakup" should have been one, but in the next episode "… Cougars" it's like it never happened. Also Sarah is pretty chilly to Chuck at the end of "… Suburbs" but they're right back to normal in "…Best Friend". Chuck and Sarah have dozens of adorable, tense moments, but very few of these moments fall into what could be called "game changers". Even "Chuck vs The Colonel" has one at the very end – considering the way the episode began in Barstow – is there any good reason why Chuck and Sarah don't spend the night together after the wedding rehearsal dinner? Considering how nice they both look and their obvious unresolved lust?
It's almost enough to make one say "thank goodness they shook things up for season 3".
Nah, just kidding. Season 2 wasn't anywhere near that bad.
Be Ye Warned: Probably the most violent chapter in the story, but if you've seen how "… vs the Santa Claus" ends, it's nothing that will surprise you. Also a mild rehash of the Barstow encounter.
Don't forget to leave a review! And thanks to all who have done so!
Chapter 11 Sarah vs The Asset (Part 2)
2008 … 2008 … Mr Colt … Roan Montgomery … Sasha Banachek … Bryce Larkin and Von Hays… Buchanan High School reunion … Atari Missile Command … Jill Roberts … Jill Roberts a traitor … The Leader … Ty Bennett the sensei also a traitor … A visit from dad … Nathan Rhyerson … Frank Mauser LAPD…
The stakes are as high as they've been since Lizzie the Schwarma Girl discovered Chuck's identity. LAPD Lieutenant Frank Mauser is not at all who he seems, and neither is Ned Rhyerson.
Only the most haphazard piece of luck had revealed that Mauser was Fulcrum, an inconsistency in Ned Rhyerson's background had cast suspicion on why the L.A.P.D. hostage negotiator was removing Chuck from the BuyMore in an ambulance.
A shot apiece from Sarah and Casey is all it takes to dispatch the tires on the ambulance, and it crashes headlong into a Christmas tree sales yard, mysteriously full at dusk on Christmas Eve.
This is a blessing though, as the crashed ambulance door springs open, and Chuck, thinking fast, charges out to hide in the artificial grove of pines and Douglass firs. An enraged Mauser piles out behind him. At extreme range, Sarah draws her suppressed 5906, and fires once, spider-webbing the door window just inches from Mauser's head. It doesn't solve the problem, as Mauser tears off into the tree yard in pursuit of Chuck.
Arriving at the lot, Sarah quickly and methodically searches for Chuck, eliminating the ranks of trees one by one. Chuck's self-preservation skills have slowly been improving, and it sounds as if he's trying to make a little noise as possible, the better to hide from Mauser. Of course, it also means he's hiding from her.
Mercifully, Chuck makes a step heavier then he should, from the rank of trees off to her left flank. As silent as a lynx in snow, Sarah slides in behind him, follows him for five steps and cups her hand over Chuck's mouth. He gives a suppressed yelp, before noticing that the hand that grabbed him is attached to a wrist that sports a charm bracelet that's very familiar to him.
At the sight of Sarah, Chuck's eyes are a mix of relief and fear. She imagines that they very much mirror the look that must be in her eyes.
"Lieutenant Mauser's Fulcrum, so is Ned! It was all a setup!"
"I know" Sarah reassures.
"Everyone in the store is still in danger!"
Sarah by now knows that Chuck's first instinct will be to go back to the Buy More and help Ellie and Devon – where Ned The Fulcrum Agent is. That cannot happen. "Our team is moving in on them right now- they'll be fine. Now I need you to run back as fast as you can to the Castle." It feels like the millionth time that she's come within an ace of losing Chuck, within a breath of watching those wonderful brown eyes of his close for the last time, within a heartbeat of having to break horrible news to Ellie and Devon.
"I can't leave you alone with this guy."
"Chuck! Your safety is more important than mine! Now leave and don't turn back. Go." It also feels like the millionth time she and Chuck had had this particular conversation. Why, exactly had the universe allowed this to happen? If the Intersect was going to be accidently downloaded into a computer nerd, why couldn't it at least be downloaded into one that was a coward to boot? It would have made things so much easier.
Chuck complies for once, in what could only be described as a minor Christmas miracle. Then she begins to stalk the Christmas tree stand. It's not enough to save Chuck this once. Mauser has to be eliminated as a threat, which means that today he'll be wearing handcuffs or a toe tag.
The two surprise each other, Mauser not even having enough time to turn his weapon to bear. Instead he attacks with a strong kick that knocks Sarah's Smith & Wesson to the dirt. As she registers the loss of her weapon, and her reduction to fisticuffs, Mauser comes in again with a slap to the side of her face. His next move is to end things with his gun, but Sarah quickly seizes his gun hand, and twists his thumb, causing Mauser to drop his Smith & Wesson 945.
With both disarmed, Sarah quickly learns that Mauser's police/Fulcrum training make him a ferocious, even savage adversary, and Sarah immediately finds herself at a disadvantage. She can usually rely on her opposition being less well trained than she, and she's used to having surprise as a preliminary weapon. Both advantages are absent tonight, and they're sorely missed. Mauser's considerable size also gives him a power advantage as well, and Sarah's strength begins to sap as each blow Mauser lands causes more and more damage. Speed is the one advantage Sarah has left, and it's not serving her well enough to compensate against Mauser's strengths.
Mauser blocks Sarah's first counterattack, and quickly causes harm by landing two strong punches to her solar plexus, and a third right to her face, causing her to bleed and to see stars. All the while, Mauser grips her hair with his left hand, limiting her opportunities to dodge his right fist. She's not shy about yelping in pain, as her cries are likely to summon support for her. The support of allies is another thing she vaguely has going for her, she surely has some, Mauser probably does not. But support for her could be minutes away, and unless she rallies now, this fight may not last that long.
She doesn't. Attempting to counter attack with strong kick with her left foot, Sarah finds herself almost fatally stymied when Mauser absorbs the blow with his side, accepting the pain, but then locks her leg, and sweeps her off her remaining foot with a kick of his own. Sarah sees the world tumble away. The trees go horizontal; Mauser's face rotates 90 degrees, and a carpet of dead pine needles rushes up to smack her in the face.
Sensing victory, Mauser lands a kick at on the prone Sarah's gut, causing her to howl in agony. A second one wounds her even further. A grinning sneer creeps across his face as he kicks her a third time.
In desperation, Sarah grabs his leg, which at least halts those awful kicks. It also reaps the benefit of temporarily immobilizing Mauser, fastened now as he is by a hundred and some-odd pound blond haired anchor.
The respite is only temporary, as Mauser decides to finish the problem by bending over to choke the life out of Sarah. His powerful hands lock around her windpipe and begin to squeeze. The very discomforting possibility that Mauser's hateful leering face might be the last thing she sees crosses her mind.
Rallying what strength she has left, Sarah unleashes a very strong kick to the side of Mauser's knee. The placement is perfect, even if it's the first thing that's gone right for her in the last minute and a half. As her foot makes contact, she can feel the Fulcrum agent's patella move a matter of quarter inches, and his entire leg buckles. It's a blown out knee for sure, an athlete's career ending injury, and Mauser collapses into the pine needles.
Gasping for breath, Sarah flops over on her stomach to search for her gun. The chrome colored suppressed S&W 5906 stands out well in the pine needles, and she crawls to it, curling her fingers around the grip and trigger, rising to her feet, and drawing a bead on Mauser.
Even as she catches her breath, she can taste the warm, wet blood on her lips, contrasting with the cool, wet rain that's just beginning to come down. It's been one of her most painful victories, but a victory nonetheless.
"You may have beaten me, Agent Walker, but Fulcrum's won. I know Chuck Bartowski's the Intersect!" Mauser beams, as if victory were his.
Victorious and confident, Sarah can't help but gloat a little. This clown has had his shot at stealing national security secrets, and he's lost. There's not going to be a trial for him, or a public hearing, or anything approaching a chance to spill his secrets, just a deep dark hole where he'll spend the rest of his life. "Chuck's secret is safe. And you're going straight to a CIA detention facility, never to be seen or heard from again." she snarls.
"You go right ahead, Agent Walker. Arrest me. But say goodbye to Chuck." Mauser speaks with an authoritative confidence, as if he were addressing a young rookie policeman. "You see, I'm not like those other Fulcrum agents. They'll do whatever it takes to find me. And when they do, every Fulcrum agent we have is going to know Chuck's the Intersect. It's going to be the end of his pathetic existence."
The sneering grin on Mauser's face- the aura of assurance in eventual victory jars Sarah to her core. He could just be right. Fulcrum does indeed seem to have eyes and ears everywhere. It had been Bryce who had warned them of Fulcrum- and when Bryce had been discovered alive, she and Casey had taken him to what they thought had been a secure location. Tommy the Fulcrum Agent was already there. It was the same type of CIA detention facility that Sarah had just guaranteed that Mauser would be spending the rest of his days. How can she be sure that that site is any more Fulcrum-agent-proof than the one in Los Angeles?
Quickly, steadily, like an invisible crushing serpent, the fear tightens around Sarah's chest. Mauser doesn't even need to escape or be rescued in order to make good on his threat – he need only turn or influence a guard- or an already corrupted guard need only come in contact with him at the facility and Chuck's secret is well and truly out. And then … the Fulcrum attack could well and truly be one of total surprise – perfect surprise – just as this one had almost been. Casey and Sarah had caught an amazingly lucky break, learning of Rhyerson and Mauser's identities in just the nick of time. Will they be so lucky next time?
"So take me in, Agent Walker. I'm ready to go." Mauser places his hands on the back of his head, in complete physical surrender.
General Beckman, if she knew, would no doubt be salivating at the idea of capturing such a high ranking Fulcrum agent alive. If Mauser is as special as he's advertised- and the simple fact that he's an LAPD lieutenant suggests that he's no ordinary goon – then his brain must be chock full of nifty secrets to know and tell.
And Mauser will tell. Eventually, everyone does. Casey is probably the hardest man she's ever met … and even he pales in comparison to expert interrogators schooled in what's euphemistically called "unrestricted techniques". Capturing Mauser alive, as she has just done, is a critical boon to the CIA information cache. These thoughts flash briefly through Sarah Walker The Agent's mind.
No.
…Is the thought that swiftly overrides all the others. Perhaps not the thought of a cold and calculating agent, it's the single-minded thought of a woman in love, frightened for the life of a man she loves. The fact that she's barred from exploring that love is irrelevant. So too is the fact that it'd be a challenge to articulate it to Chuck, even if she thought it feasible to do so.
Neither of these facts will be of any profit to Mauser. To betray one's country, and become a corrupt agent in a rogue faction of the CIA, one needs to have made a lot of errors and mistakes in their life. Mauser's made his share no doubt. In boasting of his importance, and inevitable release, Mauser's made his largest, most lethal, and last blunder. It's not so much the boast – it's whom he had made it to that is his fatal misstep.
Sarah Walker, Woman In Love, has The Solution to Mauser's nightmare scenario directly above the joint of her index finger, on the hand holding her service weapon. The Solution is 9mm in diameter, and rests in the chamber of her suppressed 5906. It sits on 4.6 grains of gunpowder, in a center fire cartridge.
With her eyes and heart as cold as a glacier, Sarah snaps her pistol up, and aims directly at Mauser's face. The Fulcrum agent's eyebrows have only a split second to rise in surprise at this turn of events before Sarah's index finger squeezes the trigger on her always-trusty Smith & Wesson. The Solution explodes from the chamber, twists its way down the 5 inches of rifled barrel, devours the three feet of range between it and its target, and shatters Lieutenant Frank Mauser's orbital bone just under his left eye. Moving at twice the speed of sound, it then proceeds directly into Mauser's cranium.
Frank Mauser's brain had once hatched many plots, had once held many secrets, including the identity of Chuck as the Intersect. But that brain had never deciphered the special connection that Chuck had with Sarah Walker. And thus now it comes to pass, that a good 15-20% of that brain explodes out the rear of the now-late Mauser's skull, and defiles a nearby Douglass fir tree with an unsightly gory mess as The Solution does its work.
Chuck's identity once more is secret.
2009 … 2009… Tyler Martin … Meadow Branch cul-de-sac … Jason Wang … Cole Barker … Fulcrum and Perseus …Orion … Alex Forrest…Roark Industries … Jill escaping …
Sarah has seen Beckman angry before, and with this unorthodox team, and its unorthodox methods of dealing with its very unorthodox asset, she, Casey and sometimes even Chuck have endured a dressing down or two. And yet the sight of Beckman angry isn't nearly as frightening as her resolved voice when she's made a cold blooded decision. …
"It's over. The Human Intersect project has become too hard to control. I can't afford to wonder anymore if this team or Chuck Bartowski is a liability."
"What are you saying, General?" At the description of Chuck as a "liability" a frigid spear of horror stabs into the base of Sarah's spine. This conversation won't be going anywhere good.
"I'm shutting down this project. Chuck's going into lockdown. He'll be taken to Washington and put into a secure facility once and for all." Sarah can scarcely believe her ears. A liability!? After the two years of work and thankless service Chuck has put in as the unwilling Intersect, and this is to be his reward? On the week of his sister's wedding no less?
"Operation Moron is over?!" Casey had been unusually frustrated with Chuck during the recent infiltration into the Fulcrum regional headquarters, so his relief might be understandable- but it's very badly timed and Sarah badly needs Casey to look into his more compassionate self.
"You're making a mistake, General." Sarah protests, already knowing with sickening certainty the poor chances she has of changing Beckman's mind.
"I have made my decision, Agent Walker."
Sarah can practically feel her intestines tying themselves into knots, and yet this makes a perverse sort of sense. Chuck has never been more than an "asset" to Beckman – a career making project for her to deal with, complete and move onto the next. Sarah always knew that of course- it would have been an error to think Beckman capable of any human-type feelings … but Team Bartowski has been successfully delivering for her for two years, with frequent successes and very rare disappointments. And Beckman wants to pull the plug, just like that.
"Chuck isn't going to go down without a fight." Sarah protests. Chuck's already suspicious enough of Beckman's intentions, and telling him that he's going to go to a bunker for an indefinite period of time is guaranteed to spark a one-man Intersect mutiny.
"That's why there won't be one." Beckman says with grim confidence.
"What do you mean?"
"Chuck trusts you, Sarah. He believes you would never betray him. Use that. Go to Chuck. Tell him that we intercepted his father while being transported and that he's back at Castle. Agent Casey will be waiting here. He will tranq Chuck. Then he will wait for the extraction team to arrive for his transfer. That is all."
A horrible sense of disgust washes down upon her. Not only is Beckman out to betray Chuck, but she's determined to use her as the Judas goat to lure Chuck into his confinement. In the past, Sarah's been ordered to entice and gain the confidence of some of the most despicable men in the world, and yet none of those assignments are as putrid to her as using Chuck's very real affection for her as a weapon against him. Making it even more nauseating is the fact that it violates her very real affection for him.
Sarah's appalled at Casey, as well. It's true that this proud automaton belongs to the "Emotions Make Us Weak" school but even Casey, a practical Marine, doesn't argue against success. She knows not to expect Casey to flagrantly disobey Beckman – that'd be asking far too much- but not even a hint of protest, or advocacy of Chuck's position? Chuck deserves better from Casey as well. "How can you just stand there and say nothing?" she demands.
"Beckman's right. Safest place for Chuck is underground. What do you think is going to happen when Fulcrum finds Jill, anyway?" Casey searches Sarah's face for understanding. Sarah can only cease all pleas for reason or for loyalty to Chuck, and snaps her poker face into position. Cleary Casey is intent on following his orders… … …
… … … Outside the BuyMore, Sarah paces, her mind moving at a thousand miles an hour. Just three years ago, she was given the order to execute a woman she had never met on a dark street in Paris. But even then, Ryker and Graham had taken pains to tell her that the woman was a traitor, a mole, an enemy operative responsible for the deaths of agents and US civilians. That had changed the task from morally repugnant to morally tolerable. That justification is conspicuously absent here. Sarah now feels like she's being crushed under the weight of the vilest order she's ever received, viler even than her Red Test.
Sarah is simply appalled at how easily Beckman takes Chuck for granted. He's a civilian who was innocent of anything spy related a scant two years ago. Since then he's assisted in the capture of dozens of terrorists, smugglers and traitors, and has thwarted as many dangerous plots against the country. Were there any justice in the world, he'd be in line for a medal with the clandestine services. Adding insult to injury is Beckman's decision to deploy Sarah Walker, Honeytrap Extraordinaire, one last time in operation Bartowski. Sarah's smile for Chuck has become genuine in the last two years, and it's an obscenity for Beckman to demand that she use it as a tool against Chuck.
Chuck hasn't behaved perfectly by a long shot; she'll be the first to admit it. But he's done nothing that could possibly justify this. So close to finding his father, so close to being there for his sister on her wedding day, Chuck deserves to be a part of all that. So close to getting the Intersect out of his head –
So close… so close … so clos- So close! Black Rock! A possible solution thunders into Sarah's mind. It's likely to be nothing more than the kind of idea that appeals to the desperate and foolhardy, but it's more attractive than the alternatives. They could run. She could take Chuck away from Casey and Beckman, and her Porsche could outrun any pursuit, barring a helicopter. Of course the sports car is also highly recognizable, so they'd need to ditch it. They could chase down the lead that Jill had given Chuck, site Black Rock, the location of Chuck's father. Possibly … just possibly they could find the place.
Then maybe … just maybe they could sneak in and rescue Chuck's father, the two of them … and then conceivably… what? Chuck and Sarah eliminate Fulcrum as a threat all by themselves? End Fulcrum's pursuit of the Intersect, of Chuck? Of the two of them, she's the only field-ready agent, the only one with infiltration or combat skills- she'd have to do all the work. A two-person team to take down Fulcrum? The notion was harebrained in the extreme.
And what if it went wrong? No sanction from General Beckman, no backup from Casey, no tactical teams at the ready, no support of any kind, no hope for any rescue- Sarah could just as easily be leading Chuck to his doom.
Sarah sighs and fights back a frustrated tear. To entice Chuck back to Castle to his imprisonment is horrible, but to lead him to his torture and death would be unthinkable. If she follows orders, her last view of Chuck before he goes into captivity will be of those wonderful brown eyes looking at her in wounded betrayal and anger, promising to hate her forever and regretting the day they ever met. If she goes AWOL with Chuck, if they run … her last view of Chuck could be much worse. She could watch him be tortured to death before her very eyes. Almost as bad, they could do things to her before Chuck's eyes – physical torture for her becoming mental torture for him that he'd just as quickly succumb to.
As despicable and unfair as Beckman's directives are, Sarah must admit that they are, at the end of the day looking out for Chuck's safety. He'd get no such treatment from Fulcrum.
Wiping her eyes, she puts on her bravest face, and walks into the BuyMore for the last time. With any luck, she can accompany him to DC, and perhaps explain the situation to him, so that he won't spend the rest of his life loathing her. Then again, that would depend on the universe being kinder than it has previously proven itself to be.
Chuck, concerned for his dad, but putting on a brave professional face as the Nerd Herder, is busying himself with an impending call, and but of course he has time to smile at her, blissfully ignorant of the betrayal she has readied for him.
Sarah's face hurts from the effort it takes to put on her phony smile, her guts rail at the notion of lying to the favored man in her life. "We have good news"
"Can it wait? Computer emergency" Even in the midst of his family concern, his voice is completely professional.
"It's about your father. We found him" Sarah lies. Please make this easy for me Chuck.
Chuck looks as if he scarcely knows how to process this. The news is so good that it's bewildering. "What? How? Where is he?" he asks in soft surprise.
Sarah can feel her smile, her potent seductress's weapon, begin to malfunction. She simply can't maintain eye contact with those chocolate eyes as she's deceiving him. "One of our recon teams intercepted his transport as Fulcrum was moving him. He's back at the Castle. He's safe Chuck. It's all over." With renewed vim, she brings back her smile, and pretends to be so happy for him. Perhaps, just perhaps this terrible façade needs to hold up only for a little while longer… .
Chuck sighs as if he's just shucked the weight of the world. "I owe you an apology." Chuck smiles with an indescribable sense of relief.
"Why" Oh, no! Please don't be sweet to me now!
"I was beginning to think that I couldn't trust you anymore, Sarah. That maybe Jill was right- that the CIA was never going to let me go. That they would always put their best interests ahead of mine. But not you. You've always looked out for me, thank you."
His each and every word feels like an arrow piercing her, and the bile at having to betray her Chuck returns anew. She takes one more look into those moist puppy dog eyes that have soothed, excited, amused and tormented her, and her resolve completely collapses.
Internally, CIA Agent Sarah Walker is restrained and made helpless, and normal Sarah Walker takes command. Beckman, Casey and the CIA be damned, Sarah's going to help her Chuck find his father. Even if the nightmare scenario comes to pass, and they're both cut down in a foolhardy strike against Fulcrum, Chuck will never consider her a traitor to him.
With a backward glance towards the security camera through which she knows Casey and Beckman are likely observing, she embraces Chuck in a warm hug, the better to sell the idea that she brought Chuck the great news. Also, the better to bring his lips into his ear to bring him into her new plan. The Running Plan that she hatched up just a few moments ago is now back on the front burner. "Take off your watch" she instructs in a severe, hissing whisper.
"Why?" Chuck asks back, suddenly concerned again. Sarah is not really much of a hugger unless it's for part of a cover, and Chuck's exposure to the spy world is serving him well, it seems. He deduces that something is up.
"Because it's all a lie. Your dad is still out there. Beckman sent me to get you to bring you back to the Castle. They're going to take you underground. We have to run." With the secret out now, she's committed to helping Chuck. Even if she didn't wish to aid him any further, Chuck is never going to go down willingly. Sarah pulls back to read his face, and it's a mask of hurt, anger, betrayal- and grim determination. His hand trembles as he removes his watch from his wrist.
Taking his hand, Sarah leads him out of the BuyMore, dropping the GPS watch into a shopping basket along the way. It only takes a few minutes to traverse the parking lot, and another few to access Castle from the Orange Orange. Sarah gives Chuck and herself five minutes before Casey realizes that something is wrong.
By the time those five minutes are up, they're in Sarah's Porsche, roaring south on Interstate 5, called The 5 by the locals. The first exit is CA-134 which begins a beeline east towards Barstow, towards Chuck's dad, and hopefully ultimate victory and redemption. Sarah keeps the speedometer at five miles over the speed limit, the fastest she feels she can safely move without attracting the attention of any roving California Highway Patrolmen.
"Chuck trusts you, Sarah. He believes you would never betray him. Use that." Sarah can here the disgusting voice of General Diane Beckman scorching her eardrums, like some sort of sinus infection.
Well general, apparently you believed that I'd never resist you. I'm using that. To Chuck she says. "Do you have those lat & long coordinates for Black Rock again?" she's holding up her cell phone to Chuck, with the voice memo function fixed on "record".
At the mention of Black Rock, Chuck immediately flashes . He gasps twice and blinks " Black Rock, Barstow California, 34 degrees, 53 minutes, 56.40 seconds North; 117 degrees, 1 minute, 19.20 seconds West."
"Great, thanks." Sarah says, her eyes scanning freeway signs for Pasadena.
"You're disobeying orders for me? You're committing treason, Sarah. You could go to jail."
"I know." She replies softly.
Agent Sarah Walker now assumes command once more, with a new self-assigned mission: To protect Chuck Bartowski from both Fulcrum and the US Government for the next few days. Her voice becomes very severe.
"I know you know I'm not doing this lightly, Chuck. And I know you're grateful. I want you to show that gratitude by doing what I say, when I say it. No excuses, no complaining, no bullshit. You do nothing without my say so. Okay? Even if we play by these rules we could both end up dead by Fulcrum or captured by Casey. If we don't play by these rules, it happens a lot sooner. Got it?"
"I got it… and thank you Sarah."
The Porsche ditched, and some small amount of money procured, Sarah picks up a Dodge Charger that was lying around, as Dodge Chargers are wont to be. Temporarily stymied at the Barstow site, she and Chuck buy a few toiletries and a change of clean clothes at a general store, then check into the Traveler's Oasis as dusk sets.
It's been a long and frustrating day, and after Sarah takes a shower, she bunks down in the one double sized bed next to Chuck. Chuck gallantly offers to occupy the floor, but Sarah will have none of it.
"Why are you doing this?" Chuck asks quietly and thoughtfully
"Because the floor is gross, and I'm not going to make you sleep on it" Sarah quips
"No, I mean why are you here, risking everything that you've worked so hard for?" Yet again Chuck attempts to search her face with those wonderful brown eyes of his.
"Because, after everything that you've done for this country, you deserve to find your father, to get the Intersect out of your head, and to have a chance at a normal life." Sarah's words do reflect many of her true feelings … but not all of them. The simple fact is that the pull of duty that comes from Chuck is simply pulling stronger and longer than the pull that comes from her duty to the CIA.
"Thank you" Chuck says, obviously very touched by Sarah's selflessness.
"You don't have to thank me; it's my job to protect you", Sarah reassures.
"What about when it's not your job? What happens to us then?" Chuck asks, arriving at the obvious question.
For her though, there is no obvious answer. If they fail in their attempt to take down Fulcrum, they'll either be dead or captured by the CIA. In the glorious possibility they succeed, she'll have to mull over some serious questions about her commitment to the Agency, and how determined she'll be to hang onto the wonderful man in the bed with her. It's certainly something she'll have to decide on – but now her energies are best directed to the task at hand.
"One mission at a time Chuck" she says, flicking off the light switch.
During the night, they drift their way into each other's arms, as if their bodies yearn to ignore the real world pressures facing them. As the dawn breaks, they're spooning, which Chuck behind her, his hand resting lazily on her hip. Sarah's hand, under no conscious direction, simply enjoys and explores Chuck's hand and fingers. As Sarah very slowly wakes up, she becomes vaguely aware of Chuck's warmth behind her. A little more determined now, she intertwines her fingers in Chuck's and pulls the two hands in front of her, forcing Chuck to spoon her even more closely.
Ohhh…. Hello. Not only can Sarah now feel Chuck's warm breath against the nape of her neck, Chuck's erection is now pressed into the back of her left thigh and buttock. And this early in the morning, she decides that it's a very pleasant thing to wake up to.
Her professional walls that have kept Chuck at a sexual arm's length are a construction. Artificial. On almost every morning for the last two years, Sarah's woken up alone and, no matter how many fiery dreams she's had of holding Chuck between her thighs, she's put on her professional veneer towards him as if it were a piece of clothing. At night, she's taken the veneer off, along with her makeup, before retiring to her private bed that hosts so many fantasies of Chuck. The system's worked well enough to this point, but her wall is simply not up yet this morning, and without it, she simply enjoys the weight of Chuck's arm around her, the heat from his breath against her neck and ear, and the warm, cloaked pressure from his loins, the heat radiating from his boxers and sweats and … oh, how nice it'd be to wake up to this.
Sarah rotates in the bed, turning to face Chuck, and comes face to face with one of the sights she so much wants to see – those wonderful brown eyes. They seem to envelop her emotionally as surely as Chucks arm is enveloping her physically. Chuck's eyes gaze at her, shining in desire, and yet holding back in respectful shyness, almost as if he's vaguely ashamed of wanting her. She's seen that conflicted look many times before, and just as many times has wanted to throw herself into his arms and ask him to never stop looking at her like that …
The moment is magical … Sarah doesn't give her Chuck any verbal encouragement; she simply holds his amorous gaze long enough to signal to him that she's oh-so ready. They kiss, desperately and passionately, their body temperatures skyrocketing. Despite all the pressures and dangers that this day promises, this small moment will be theirs. Their tongues clash and caress each other their hands wander. She runs her fingers through those chestnut sweaty curls. She grinds her clothed sex against his erection, as Chuck breaks the kiss, and maneuvers himself above her. Sarah wants nothing more than to feel his bare skin against hers. As Chuck nestles her head on the pillow, he stares at her in surprise and unbridled lust – does she really want this?
For practical purposes, it's her last chance to refuse him without her being the cruelest hearted witch that could ever curse his life. Sarah pauses merely to catch her breath from the latest kiss, stares into those wonderfully sexy bedroom eyes and nods for Chuck to go ahead. She can hardly wait for him to undress her. Chuck responds with an overjoyed grin as he comes down to kiss her once more.
Chuck seems to want to take it slow, and savor … probably not the best idea, considering the busy day ahead. Sarah responds to his kisses with aggression to accelerate things. Her tongue probes deeper into him, exploring his mouth and tongue … her hands travel down to the waist band of his sweatpants…
It suddenly dawns on Chuck that Sarah is very interested in hitting the throttle, so he lets her down on the bed with another kiss, and breaks away, gently removing her hand from his sweatpants.
"Just a second. Don't move. Don't move. Don't breath, don't move!" Chuck softly commands as he gets out of bed.
"Okay." Sarah says with an anticipatory smile. Chuck might not have deliberately trying to tease her, but he's doing a good job of it nonetheless.
"Don't breath don't move! Stay! Stay there!" Chuck pleads with her he disappears into the bathroom.
Sarah sinks back onto the bed, her sexual appetite ravenous – and delighted at the idea of being soon satisfied.
At the sound of Chuck's footsteps coming around the corner, she sits up and prepares to take off her t-shirt for Chuck, confident that he'll enjoy the view.
But when Chuck comes back, he has a distraught look on his face and a note in his hand. "Sarah, I'm sorry. I usually keep a condom in my wallet, but apparently I've been robbed". He holds up a note.
"What? What's it say?" Sarah demands. She really was supposed to be naked by now.
"IOU one condom, Your pal, Morgan." Chuck says glumly. His hand darts around the bathroom wall and retrieves his pants.
"You've got to be kidding me. I'm going to kill Morgan Grimes!" Sarah moans. Lightning fast, she considers the possibilities. Considering her lifestyle for the last two years since watching over Chuck, she's as STD free as a nun in a convent. Chuck however has bedded Jill, … and in all likelihood Lou .. she thinks.. during that time. And there's no telling where these women have been. If it hadn't been for them, she'd eagerly grant Chuck a pass this morning, as she already has countermeasures in place to avoid pregnancy. But facts are what they are, and besides, there's a Rite-Aid right across the street. Chuck knows this, and without any direction is pulling on his pants, and grabbing his t-shirt. "I will be right back!" He insists. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Not before I can get out of these clothes ..." Sarah purrs.
"Arrghh! Quit teasing! I'm going!" He makes his way to the door, and as he shuts it "Okay! Don't move, I'll be right back."
As the door shuts, Sarah flops back onto the bed with a sigh, shoving aside her hatred for Fulcrum for the moment to promote Morgan Grimes, Lou Palone and Jill Roberts towards the top of her current hate slate. She's known how kind, sweet and gentle Chuck is as a person, and she's spent the last two years fantasizing about him as a just-as kind sweet and gentle lover … and thanks to those three, she's not experiencing that for herself right now!
An ominous thump on the far wall informs her that her sexual frustration might be a blessing in disguise, and that she and Chuck now have other things to worry about…. … … … … … … …
… … … … … … … It turns out to be a busy day indeed. Although her exploration of Chuck's talents in the bedroom is postponed, every other goal she and Chuck have had is gloriously met. Casey is eventually brought around to their side, the Fulcrum base is annihilated, Stephen Bartowski is rescued and delivered as a wedding present to the delighted Ellie. And the Intersect- that intrusive, unwanted luggage of government secrets that has upended Chuck's life, and has nearly ended it - is removed from Chuck. There's only one minor disappointment to the day – Chuck's role as a government asset is known to Devon … but since Chuck will no longer be of interest to the government, the damage seems minimal. Well perhaps two disappointments – Chuck's methods as a lover are still a tantalizing mystery to her.
Now she steps out of her Porsche to pick up Chuck for Ellie and Devon's wedding rehearsal dinner. She's put a very nice blue number that she's sure that Chuck will appreciate on her. She only hopes she's not teasing him too much. Sarah's only allowed here because she has a professional excuse to be here – as the asset's – soon-to-be-former-asset's "girlfriend", it'd be suspicious if she didn't show. Immediately after the rehearsal dinner, she's back in Castle for the long list of reports that Beckman will demand to summarize the day's events. It's a shame this dress is so attractive, as alas, tonight is unlikely to be their first night together, and this dress unlikely to be the first one Chuck slips off of her.
Chuck's chatting with Casey as she approaches, and both guys take her in. The dress is having its effect, as even Casey pauses his look at her. Chuck smiles as he stares, and Casey, noticing both her smile and his stare, excuses himself to warm up the car.
"Hi" Chuck grins at her.
"Hi" Sarah smiles back.
"You look amazing." Chuck gives her the stare that only he can manage. A lot of respect, a lot of affection, and just the smallest amount of wild lust for her. It's a look she's only gotten from him, and one she's decided that she wants to get used to.
"Thank you. You look very dapper." And he really does. Like a lot of men, Chuck scrubs up and dresses up very well… too bad he doesn't do it often enough. Perhaps if they explore a real and true relationship, she can gently coax him into working on that. A few dresses like these should help spin the trick.
"Thank you"
"So how does it feel?" Only once, two years ago, did Sarah know Chuck as a carefree man, one who didn't know he had The Intersect in his head. It was so very brief. They went on their date, they had dinner, they talked like happy couples do. Ever since, the space between he and her has been tainted by the Intersect and the responsibilities and dangers it brought. But no more, for the first time she feels like she's finding the real Chuck, and he's a pleasant thing to find.
"Feels great, actually. Like everything is finally real." Chuck grins, the relief evident in his voice.
"It is real." Sarah reassures. And so it is. Not only is everything in Chuck's life now able to be taken at face value, so too can their feelings for each other. She's no longer his handler- he's no longer her asset. There's an almost certainty that she'll be reassigned … but … they won't be professionally barred from each other. Maybe she can tempt him into coming to DC or New York or wherever she'll be assigned next?
Her enchantment with her current job is another thing that's far from ironclad… but that's a deep and heavy discussion, surely not fodder a discussion to be held on one of Chuck's happiest and most important nights.
Chuck and Sarah clasp hands, stepping out as a couple. For the first time in a long time, all of Sarah's smiles are genuine. She's looking forward to watching a real love story acknowledged before her eyes, something she's never seen before. She's looking forward to watching a new family begin, something she's rarely seen before. She's looking forward to possibly starting something with a real boyfriend, something she's never had before…. … … …
... … … … Indeed it is a late night – after the rehearsal, Sarah and Casey literally pull an all-nighter down in Castle. Saving the day requires a lot of paperwork. Saving the Intersect requires a lot more- most of it no doubt will be redacted. Conjuring up some sort of official excuse as to why an abandoned movie theater got blown sky high also takes some creativity. Beckman would rather not have to explain to the general public why the US Air Force attacked Barstow.
"The nice thing about meth labs is that they blow up real good." Casey grins as he clacks on the keyboard.
"Hmm" Sarah yawns. "Need more coffee."
Both Sarah and Casey's cell phones chirp, an incoming message from Beckman. VidConference in 1 hour. Have Bartowski In Castle.
A chill goes up Sarah's spine. It's probably a bit too much to hope that Beckman simply wants to thank Chuck for the last two years. She peers with concern over at Casey – apparently he's genuinely surprised at the text as well. That's a comfort – whatever Beckman has in mind, Casey doesn't know he's part of it yet, and so he doesn't have a tranq dart ready for Chuck. Not for the first time, Sarah thanks heaven for Casey's lack of her poker face and seduction/induction skills.
"Gotta get changed." Casey growls. "Time to put in my papers to that pencil neck snot Millbarge. I'll make sure Chuck gets down here."
"I'll call him, Casey", Sarah says, and dials…
… It'll probably be the last time she sees Chuck come down into Castle, now that Operation Bartowski is over. His face is bright and happy, and it's not just because she's smiling at him. He and Casey come down the elevator together. "Hope this won't take too long." Chuck beams. "I can't wait to see the look on Ellie's face when I tell her that I quit the Buy More"
Sarah's grin grows wider. "She's going to be thrilled. She's been wanting me to nudge you in that direction for a awhile now. She even suggested that I put 'girlfriend pressure' on you to get you to do what I want. If she only knew how bad you are at listening to me."
"'Girlfriend pressure?'" Chuck asks, slipping into a chair by the table. "If that means what I think it means, then it's hilarious."
"Not so hilarious that we need to continue talking about it." Casey growls with a grimace, eager to set boundaries on Chuck and Sarah's flirting one last time.
The video monitor gives an electronic chip and comes to life with the face of Diane Beckman once more. Sarah stiffens. Still not over her disgust with the woman over the last 48 hours, Sarah begins to seriously think her days of taking orders from her may be numbered. There has to be more to life than accepting directives from a person – an organization that is so fickle and exploitative that it's ready to cast aside people the moment they become an inconvenience. Sarah doesn't know if she'll ever be able to truly forgive Beckman for setting her up as a honey trap to lure Chuck to a bunker.
"Good morning, team." Beckman says cheerily. "I wanted to congratulate you one last time on a job well done. The defeat of Fulcrum signals the end of a significant threat to the security of the United States, its citizens, and its allies. Thank you all."
"You're welcome general!" Chuck pipes merrily. It's uncanny, Sarah thinks. In spite of all the abuse he's suffered at the hands of Beckman, Chuck's more than happy to let bygones be bygones. He's far more forgiving than she is.
Chuck continues. "Are we going to have some sort of closing ceremony where we ritualistically burn or destroy The Intersect cube?" Chuck tilts his head towards the storage chamber where the cube lies. "Because I've been daydreaming about it for a while."
General Beckman's face permits a brief look of annoyance to flash across her face …. before putting on an officious grin. "Mr. Bartowski … the fate of the Intersect cube is no longer going to be any of your business … unless you want it to be."
Oh no. Sarah quails on the inside. She's going to try to reel him back in.
Chuck gives a quizzical look at the general.
"Chuck," Beckman's voice is almost a seductive purr. "What are your plans for the future?"
"Well I was going to get a good champagne buzz going on at my sister's wedding, followed by a nice extra-long slow dance with my date." Chuck smiles jovially.
Both Sarah and Casey are slightly amused – Sarah in spite of her growing concern. That does sound very nice.
Beckman, predictably enough, is not entertained. The miracles of technology allow her to transmit her annoyed stare across the 3000 miles that separate them, and attempted to bore two eye-shaped holes into Chuck's shirt.
Chuck snaps too. "Vocationally speaking? Oh, that, no, nothing. Nothing lined up just yet."
Beckman immediately goes into sales pitch mode. "How would you feel about working on the new Intersect project? Your government has rebuilding it's own Intersect. You've shown real promise. We'd like you to be an analyst. Your country is calling you, Mr. Bartowski." Beckman finishes with a patriotic beam that could put George C Scott to shame.
Sarah's disgusted. Even Casey lets out a rueful chuckle. After years of treating Chuck almost like chattel and months of being downright abusive of his life, Beckman now has the gall to appeal to Chuck's patriotism … complete with the not-so-subtle implication that if he refuses, he's letting down the whole country. No Chuck, please no. Don't do this. Don't volunteer for this life.
Chuck rises to his feet. "Uh, well, then I think my country might have the wrong number, 'cause I'm just Chuck Bartowski, not a hero." He says with grim determination. Clearly he wants no further part of taking orders from Beckman.
Sarah relaxes with relief … and yet is saddened by Chuck's opinion of himself. Chuck should be away from this spy life- he's right about that … but not right about why he's unsuited for spy life. It's work for loners – or at least people with family members special enough to tolerate the bad hours, the hazards, the secrets and the deceptions inherent in the spy life. No spy, man or woman has the right do demand their family be so indulgent. It's a miraculous gift if they find anyone so indulgent. The lies and deceptions have been tough on her Chuck. He deserves an escape. He deserves to have the kind of life he wants. That's why Chuck should be far away from the spy world - even if it means being far away from her.
But Chuck's disqualifying himself as a hero is absurd to the point where Sarah even wonders if he knows what a hero is. Chuck has come close to breaking her heart with the number of time's he's flirted with deadly threat all for what he felt the greater good was. And he'll do anything to secure or to please the people he cares about. How can Chuck remember the time he gave up an antidote to save Ellie, flirted with a car bomb that destroyed Nerd Herder Three to save Morgan, or bent over backwards to help her rescue her father? Chuck thinks of anybody but himself first, and it's so natural for him to do so, that he seems to suspect anyone would do the same. He has no idea what a hero he is.
It seems to satisfy Beckman, however, who seems to suddenly remember how obstinately independent Chuck can be. She lets the matter drop. "Very well. I guess that concludes Project Bartowski. Colonel Casey, please issue Mr. Bartowski his final papers before you and your Special Forces team ship out to Waziristan." Casey is cheered by the news, and ushers Chuck out of Castle. "Agent Walker, I'll need you for just a moment more."
Sarah stays silent. She's not sure she wants to tell Beckman that she's reconsidering her job at the CIA. She hasn't given the matter enough thought herself, to make a decision, let alone to clue Beckman in on such a game changing call.
Once Chuck and Casey are clear of Castle, Beckman addresses Sarah. "Agent Walker, I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that you're in charge of the new Intersect project, working in tandem with Agent Larkin."
"And this time the Intersect goes in my head." says a familiar … not to say entirely welcome … voice behind her. Bryce Larkin has evidently been back there the entire time, biding his time for Chuck and Casey to leave before coming to the storage locker where the Intersect cube is located.
"Bryce." Sarah says in some surprise. When did you get here?
"Now that we've got the cube, it's ready for upload."
"You leave for Zurich together at 0800. Auf Wierdersehen." Beckman says pleasantly. No doubt she has the impressive track record of the Walker-Larkin team from four years ago in front of her, and is looking forward to similar results in Switzerland.
Sarah's slightly shaken. She had hoped she'd be able to take some time off after the ending of Project Bartowski … and to perhaps use that time to decide whether or not it's time for her to get out of the spy game for good. The immediacy of her next mission is disquieting. If she's going to make any big decisions, she'll have to make them much much sooner then she thought.
Of no comfort is Bryce's anticipatory voice. "Walker and Larkin … together again. Finally, you can get out of here." Just a few years ago, she would have shared Bryce's enthusiasm. Exciting missions, exotic covers, a chance to do some real good for the country, and real damage to its enemies, and unwinding with copious amounts of liquor, dancing, more liquor, sex, and yet more liquor. And the night life and recreational opportunities in Zurich are a lot of fun indeed.
Sarah wastes no time in wondering why she's not looking forward to the idea as much as Bryce. Two mornings ago she woke up in Chuck's arms, and the truth is she can't look forward to anything as much as she'd look forward to another chance to have those arms around her again. But instead of locating Chuck, and dragging him to the nearest cheap motel, rest room, broom closet, or any place semi-private and large enough to accommodate their bare sweaty bodies, she has to give him this news… … … …
… … … … Sarah's now beginning to wonder if this is what falling in love is all about – finding new and unique ways to cause another person pain. Chuck wants so badly to take her on a tropical vacation. The idea sounds magical – they can finish what they started in Barstow … and start it again, and finish again… She has more than a few bikinis that she'd enjoy showing for him. Perhaps she could even bring the black one that had been contaminated by the Lon Kirk incident, and the two of them could revisit that theory of 'Reconquista' that he had been so proud about. She can't think of anything she'd rather do then have a few days of Chuck and those wonderfully adoring eyes of his pinioned on her for a few days.
And yet, she couldn't be crueler to him if she were actually trying to be. "Chuck, I'm leaving in the morning." Her next words almost choke her as she tries to get them out. "The details are classified, but I'm working on the new Intersect project, with Bryce."
"Bryce." What's so painful to hear is the tone of his voice. It's not even really surprised, as if Bryce coming back into her life was not so much an unwelcome shock, as much as an inevitable doom that was always going to take Sarah away from him anyway.
Sarah's composure starts to collapse, just as it did in the Buy More a few days ago. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to wait until after the ceremony to tell you."
Chuck stares right past her, his face a dull mask of numbness. "Thank you for coming to the wedding. Good for the cover." Chuck strides away from her in obvious pain, leaving her in the hallway in emotional agony. If he had run a cavalry saber through her, it wouldn't hurt more. For the millionth time, it seems, Sarah condemns anything that forces her to cause pain to this wonderful man… … …
… … … Almost unbelievably, the day actually gets worse. Much. Ted Roark and his men assault the wedding, and come dangerously close to wiping out all of the former Intersect team, until Casey and his Special Forces unit dramatically arrive to save the day and apprehend Roark, who will no doubt be living the rest of his life in confinement.
Back at Echo Park, Chuck mopes briefly about his connection to the spy life, and how it's ruined the most important day of his most important person … before realizing that his payout from his spy life may just be the solution to salvaging Ellie's day.
"Do you have time for one more mission before you take off?" Chuck challenges Sarah.
Sarah had once admonished Chuck that he ascribes good motives to people because he himself is a good person. Now she can't help to remind him about how special he is in his goodness. "That's not what a normal guy would do." Soon after, she grabs her phone to enlist Casey for his help. … .. … …
... … … In a very scant seven hours, Chuck's money, and Casey's ruthlessly efficient Special Forces team has had their effects, and Ellie's wedding ceremony is set up on a beach near Malibu. Chuck's money has replaced everything. Flowers, arches, Ellie's dress, even Sarah and her fellow bridesmaids are garbed in replacement dresses.
Sarah sighs in vicarious contentment as she watches Ellie march up the aisle, escorted by Stephen and Chuck. The entire congregation rises. Yet another unforced grin parts her lips as she falls under the spell of Bartowski Family Charm. Ellie looks so happy, and it's clear that she feels so loved. As Sarah glances at Devon, it's not hard to see why. The look he gives his bride is unlike anything she's ever seen, exactly. All men probably look at their wives differently, of course, but Devon Woodcomb's eyes and face radiate the perfect mixture of affection, pride, delight, lust, comfort and confidence.
"We are gathered here to join together Eleanor Faye Bartowski, and Devon Christian Woodcomb in matrimony." Begins the minister. "Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?"
Proud as can be, the two Bartowski men declare as one "We do".
Sarah can't help but feel ever so slightly envious of Ellie –that's natural, she supposes. It's Ellie's wedding. All creatures great and small are supposed to feel envious of her. But there's something else, Sarah decides as she looks at Devon, and sees the worshipful stare he gives his radiant wife. She has never been the recipient of such a look, such a stare. She's had men stare in lust at her as she enters a dining hall or bar, she's had men stare in fear at her as she's threatened their lives. Fellow agents like Bryce and Cole have stared at her as a sexy plaything who can no doubt warm their beds for a night or so … but none of those looks are anything like how Devon looks at Ellie. Everything she's experienced from a man lacks what's in Devon's look at Ellie. Her experience has lacked the fire, lacked the comfort, lacked the confidence in the future … lacked everything.
After pecking Ellie on each cheek, Stephen finds his seat in the congregation next to Honey and Woody, and Chuck takes his place as Devon's Number Three groomsman briefly sharing a look with Sarah before turning his gaze to Ellie. Sarah relishes the tingle that comes through her heart, as she catches the delight with which Chuck watches his sister's wedding.
Only the looks that Chuck has given her have any similarity to how Devon looks at Ellie. Sadly, the horrible circumstances surrounding her and Chuck have guaranteed that even her wonderful Chuck's gazes at her are only in the nascent stage of the way real boyfriends , fiancés and husbands look at their women. It's not his fault – it's the universe's fault. Sarah's sure Chuck could give a woman a look like that – perhaps even herself as that woman – if only she and he were given time to be together as a couple. To find out what their feelings for each other truly are. If only they'd share with each other … their hearts, their bodies, their souls, their dreams for the future, and of course their bed. Then she'd be able to look at her Chuck the way Ellie looks at her Devon, and Chuck would stare at her the way Devon does to his Ellie.
Taking advantage of the fact that only Chuck would possibly be paying attention to her (and probably not, because he too is focused on Ellie), she allows her eyes to flit across the congregation, and the sight amazes her. Affection and love radiate from nearly every eye. Stephen beams at his new son-in-law. Anna Wu cradles Morgan's hand, both delighted at the event, Morgan even tearing up. Chuck sends smiles to both his new brother and his sister. Big Mike and Bolonia Grimes, another happy couple, beam with delight at the pair, Devon's brothers grin with encouragement. One of Ellie's other bridesmaids sends a wink to her boyfriend in the congregation. Even the domineering Honey leans into Woody's embrace, no doubt recalling their own wedding day however long ago. Ellie's not starting her own family with Devon, not really, Sarah realizes – she's simply building on a very powerful and affectionate alliance of families. She and Devon are at the center of a network of Bartowskis and Woodcombs and all the families that hold them so dear. Ellie's not just beloved by Devon – the happy couple has love flowing towards them from each and every angle.
As that realization dawns on her, it's immediately followed by another: Being Agent Sarah Walker, CIA infiltrator/ assassin/ seductress the late Langston Graham's Wildcard Enforcer sucks. Somehow, she's made it all the way to twenty eight years old, and is only now beginning to discover the wonders and joys of a family, knowledge she was robbed of by her con-artist father, who never conned anyone as well as he did his own daughter, selling her as he did on the idea that a lonely vagabond's existence was ideal or even tolerable.
"A partnership should not be entered into lightly, but with much consideration. If any person can show just cause why they should not be joined, let him speak now or forever hold their piece" continues the minister.
Two weeks from now, Chuck's sister will be returning from their honeymoon, putting up pictures of it on Facebook, hosting their first party as a married couple, fending off questions from Honey, Woody, and possibly even Stephen as to how long a wait will it be before they become grandparents.
Sarah will be in Switzerland, far away from this wonderful family, ordering room service in a guttural language, cloning some terrorist's bank account number, and trying to explain to Bryce why she's less-than-interested in dropping her panties for him.
Her earwig squawks. Think of the devil and he will communicate via encrypted radio. "Sarah" Bryce voice rings in her ear. Sarah tilts her head towards the dunes and swiftly locates Bryce's dark hair and jacket among the grassy sandbanks.
"You're not coming with me are you?" Bryce asks. Sarah hadn't been bothering to mind her poker face, convinced as she had been that all the attention would be on its rightful place, Ellie. Bryce, it seems was able to read her face even from a football field away, as the recent flood of deep thoughts and deeper emotions flowed through her.
"Do you have the rings?" asks the minister.
Sarah watches as Chuck gleefully performs his duty and produces the rings to the happy couple. Again a sense of contentment embraces her, and this time it's not vicarious but for herself. This wonderful family wants her. Chuck wants her in every way imaginable, and Ellie and Devon have opened up to her on so many occasions. Morgan has constantly described himself as "Team Sarah", whatever that means. To be part of such a thing was something she never thought was available to her, indeed never had been available to her, until that day she walked into the Burbank Buy More on assignment. Now that it's available, she wants this. She wants to spend this Thanksgiving with Ellie Chuck and Devon, investigating the merits of gelled or whole cranberry sauce. She wants to see what Chuck had in mind with Twilight Zone marathons on Christmas- not infiltrating a band of Swiss counterfeiters, or acquiring data on Bulgarian opium runners. She wants to know what it'll be like to wake up with Chuck on weekends they can sleep in, and not have to worry about rescuing someone or needing to be rescued.
Her decision made, she stares back at Bryce's hiding spot… and shakes her head 'no'.
Bride and groom are united, and the delighted congregation cheers and applauds. As the very-new newlyweds process down the aisle, Chuck gives Sarah a contented grin. Again her heart begins to melt. Despite the fact that he thinks he's about to lose her forever, he's still happy and content for Ellie, Devon and Stephen. Tonight, no doubt is going to be a night of many surprises for him. … … … …
… … Later, Sarah enjoys the reception at the Echo Park quad. It's really the first wedding she's been to, and the party is wonderful. From a slight distance, she can see Chuck collect his well-deserved accolades from Ellie, Devon and Morgan.
Chuck, I'm leaving the CIA. I want to be with you. How to break the big news to him? Perhaps she'll bring it up over dinner … maybe during a dance. Chuck will be drinking, so it's probably better to tell him sooner, rather than later … of course there something to be said for the tactic of aggressively seducing him, making love with him, and then telling him in the afterglow…. But yet again, how much happier would Chuck be in the bedroom knowing that she wasn't leaving?
Sure enough, the hero of the day is soon by her side, and she still hasn't figured out the best way to break the news. "Where's Bryce?"
"Gone." She says. "They're uploading him with the new computer tonight."
"Off to save the world. I guess both of you are." Chuck says, with just a little dejection in his voice.
"You want to dance?" Sarah asks, as a slow song comes on.
"You know I do." Chuck grins at her. Playfully offering his arm, he leads her to the dance floor, and they start dancing cheek to cheek. She wraps her arm around his shoulder, and enjoys the warmth coming from Chuck's body.
"I'm going to miss you bad, Sarah." Chuck says "I've never met anybody like you, and you're the most amazing woman in my world. I'm crazy about you, but I guess I need to share you with the world." A pause and then. "You belong out there, saving the world. I'm just… just not that guy."
Sarah can't bear to hear any more self-doubt from the man who has redefined the word "heroic" for her over and over again. "How many times to you have to be a hero to realize that you are that guy?"
"But I want more, Sarah. I want a life. I want a real life." Chuck says with glum hopelessness, a sort of conviction that the celebration they're at now is the pinnacle of a successful real life, and that the life he's found himself wrapped up in is some sort of perverse joke.
It's time..she decides. Breaking her embrace with him she steps back and meets the gaze of those wonderful puppy dog eyes that have warmed her dreams for two years. "Chuck, I don't want to save the world" she begins. "I want .."
Stephen breaks into the moment with news of yet another catastrophe … and yet another revelation of the Intersect- he has one too. Both Bryce and Casey are in mortal danger, and the Intersect is in danger of falling into yet another pair of wrong hands. … …
… … Now she and Casey are prisoners, having been outgunned and outnumbered by unknown assailants after the Intersect. At gunpoint, they're herded into the white room, with a computer terminal in the center. The situation is dark, and immediately becomes darker. As she and Casey enter the room, the ring leader of the group threatens Chuck – for some reason he seems to be in a bit of a daze. And worse, as she enters, Chuck meets her eye, and throws a mournful glance downward and behind her. There she can see the lifeless body of Bryce against the wall next to the doorway..
"Bryce? Bryce!" She panics, bending down and searching for his wound, but it's clear that she's too late. His shirt and jacket are soaked with blood, and his sapphire blue eyes that had always shone with life are now ice cold, staring at some point at the wall behind her. They don't respond to her voice at all.
As she feels for a pulse she's roughly pulled back at gunpoint by one goon, while another unceremoniously drags Bryce's corpse out of the Intersect room which housed the secrets that he died to protect. The insult is more then she can bear, and she shrieks "No! Don't you touch him!" in impotent fury at these bastards that had taken someone so dear to her. Bryce had never been a perfect man, but he was a loyal comrade in the spy world, and every bit the patriot that she and Casey were, and it was defilement that these traitors mistreat him so.
In awful grief, Sarah looks at Chuck's face, itself creased with pain and heartache. "I'm sorry" he silently mouths to her.
"There's nothing left!" the frustrated ringleader snarls at the dead computer.
"So, you lose." Casey growls in smug victory. As one who has always been willing to lay down his life for his country, knowing that he died in victory is a true balm for the colonel.
Angered by his prisoner's insolence, the ringleader stalks over to Casey. "You should know this. No one stops us. No one ever has."
Nearly overcome with anger and despair, Sarah demands "Who are you?"
"Spies, Agent Walker." The goon says, then making the dreadful error of pointing a weapon at her. "The best."
Behind him, seeing Sarah under threat, Chuck goes into what looks like a mild seizure … he's flashing! "Sir you should look at this", another goon squawks in worry, having noticed Chuck's eyes. Where they once glistened wet with fear and sadness, Chuck's eyes now appear darker, focused, and devoid of any emotions at all.
"Chuck! Did you just flash?" she asks. It's obvious that he has. But how? And why? Chuck had his Intersect removed two days ago. And this goon hasn't given any useful intelligence to flash on. What's happened?
The ringleader storms over to Chuck incredulous and angry. "He uploaded it." he says in disappointment.
"Oh, Chuck me." Casey groans. Poor Chuck had worked so hard to be free of government secrets and now he's going to die protecting them. The poor kid just can't catch a break.
"Kill him" the ringleader issues his final command, in what turns out to be his final minutes of consciousness. .. ... ... …
… … … … …
… … … … …
"Guys, … … … I know kung fu."
Guys will let you down, Walker.
