Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck. I don't think you want me to own it at any point either. Why? Just wait.

A/N: Alright guys, so this is the last chapter. There will be a brief epilogue to follow. It will probably be up tomorrow, so look out for that. Thank you so much everyone who's stuck with me through all the angst in this one. I know it's been a chore at times to put up with what I put our characters through, but believe me, I have and have had a plan all along. You may not believe that after this chapter, and by the way (possible) major character death(s) warning, but it will all come together eventually. Thank you to everyone that reviewed chapter 9, and I look forward to you feedback on this one. Please enjoy Sarah vs. Ashes of an American Flag chapter 10: Across the Stars.

Cast in order of appearance

Sarah Walker-----Yvonne Strahovski
Chuck Bartowski---------Zachary Levi
The Operative---------Chiwetel Ejiofor
Speaking Guard---Dwayne Johnson
Johnson-----Nathan Fillion
Emily Bartowski---Daryl Hannah
Steve Bartowski---Scott Bakula
Ellie Woodcomb-----Sarah Lancaster
Devon Woodcomb---Ryan McPartlin
John Casey-----------Adam Baldwin
Carina Hansen-----------Mini Anden
The President-----------Don Cheadle

The answer is of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved. -Niccolò Machiavelli

In the great Book of John, you're warned of the day
When you'll be laid beneath the cold clay

Sarah and Chuck sat staring out at the ocean, neither willing yet to break the comfortable silence. For now, they were content to bask in each others company for the first time in months. As they continued to watch the waves roll in, the sea seemed to speak to them. It assured them both that everything was right with this moment. This was where the couple was meant to be.

Taking her much smaller hand in his own, Chuck peered deep into the eyes of the woman who possessed so much of him. Finally, resolved to speak the first words of this all important conversation, Chuck spoke. "I'm sorry Sarah." She looked at him questioningly but didn't reply. "I'm sorry for what I let happen to me. I'm sorry I stopped being the man you thought I was." He could no longer meet her gaze through his embarrassment.

"Hey," she began, cupping his face and turning it towards her. "I'm sorry too, you know? I should have been more honest with you all along. I wasted so much time that we could have spent together by lying and not telling you how much you mean to me. And…and I'm sorry I wasn't honest when I left the first time."

"How do you mean?" The two had now turned to completely face one another, each with their stare focused only on the other; their hands clasped together, their legs intertwined.

Sarah sighed before finally coming clean about her extraction back in May. "I never wanted to leave you Chuck. I tried to quit…I told them I couldn't do it any more. I told them I only wanted to be with you." She stopped briefly as her sudden sobs had overtaken her body. Chuck inched closer to her and pulled her into a comforting embrace, whispering reassurances in her ear. "They said that if I stayed, they'd take you. They would have made you be the Intersect again. I couldn't let them have you. I thought that when enough time had passed, that I could leave, and they'd never know the difference. I just wanted to be with you, Chuck. I'm so sorry I never told you that."

Chuck didn't know how to respond. She'd always planned on coming back to him? If he had just been patient, she would probably have been back by now and they could be living their normal life? He was suddenly rushed with many conflicting emotions. He was overjoyed that she wanted that life with him. He was angry that she hadn't trusted him enough to let him in on the plan, however. Chuck was furious at the organization that had ruined their dreams, but he didn't know if he should blame the CIA or Fulcrum. It was almost too much to take all at once.

Then he was calmed by the realization that they could have that life now. If she would still have him, they could be together for real, for good. "Sarah, I'm ready to give this all up. I'm done with Fulcrum. I'm done with spying, and lying, and all the stuff that I always hated. Please just give me another chance," he begged.

Sarah looked down to the sand to gather her resolve to tell Chuck her final secret. "Chuck, there's one other thing I have to tell you before you decide on whether or not you want to give me another chance."

"Sarah, I don't care what happened. I'll accept anything that comes with you. I'll be your very own personal baggage handler," he said harkening back to their first "date" with a classic Chuck Bartowski smile.

Sarah had no choice but to smile back despite the gravity of the moment and her impending confession. Schooling her face, she began to tell Chuck about their children. "Chuck, when I left the last time…there was more to it that I let you know. I left because-" Sarah's words were cut off as a gunshot rang out over the beach.

The first shot missed both Sarah and Chuck, meaning the shooter was either trying to play over his head, or he was toying with them. Morbidly, Sarah decided it was probably the latter. As the sound of gunfire again pierced the air, Sarah did what came to her naturally in these situations; she protected Chuck.

Throwing herself at the tall man, Sarah quickly took him to the ground, covering his body with her own. Yet another shot was fired, but this time, the sniper had not come up empty. Sarah felt the hot burning pinch enter through her side. Losing all the strength she was using to keep herself hovering over Chuck, she collapsed onto his chest with a gasp.

"Sarah?" Chuck asked frightened by her sudden fall. "Sarah, are you all right?" His voice and demeanor showed true panic, which was not assuaged when she didn't respond to him. Holding her against him firmly, he took care to roll her over to the sand to examine her. The dark red stain he saw emanating from just below her rib cage was quickly spreading across her white t-shirt. "Sarah, oh my God, you've been shot." He immediately regretted his words. He was quite sure that she knew she'd been shot. "You're going to be alright, okay?"

Sarah laughed bitterly at her fortune. She'd finally found her Chuck again and everything was being ripped from her before she could even come to know and enjoy it. "I knew I should have left the vest on," she choked out with a small smile.

"No, Sarah, it's alright, you're going to be alright. You have to be. You can pull through this, I know you can. You're Sarah, you can do anything," he recited with tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. The reassurance was more for him than it was for her. His Sarah was a fighter, and he knew she would get through this if she could. "Please Sarah, be alright."

She weakly pressed her finger to his lips. There were so many things she wanted to tell him, but she knew her time was limited. She had to stop him before he got going. It was her job to protect him, from anything. That included her death. She needed to say something to make this alright for him. She had to make sure that he continued to be the real Chuck even after she was gone.

"No, Chuck. I'm not going to be alright. It's not our time now. But…" her words trailed off as she felt him move away from her and stand up. She was hurt and confused by his sudden distancing of himself from her. There wasn't a lot she could do to stop him, however in her current condition.

"Where are you?" Chuck shouted. "Come out and face me! Or better yet, just kill me too. You've already taken everything from me!" Chuck's voice was pained and manic. Sarah did her best to reach out to him and pull him back to the ground where he'd be safe, but her attempts were in vain in her weakened state. "I said kill me, you bastard! Kill me!" Chuck shouted again. Sarah lunged for his legs once more, this time finding pay dirt. She began dragging him to the sand when one final shot was fired, knocking Chuck from his feet.

As he crumpled to the ground, Sarah pooled all of her remaining energy and drug herself over to Chuck's stilled body. "Chuck, talk to me Chuck!" It was Sarah that was panicked now. The pain from her gunshot wound had been silenced by her fear for the life of her beloved. "Chuck, look at me, please be alright." Sarah too was now crying.

Chuck opened his eyes and even through the pain erupting from his abdomen, he couldn't help but be taken by the blonde, goddess like apparition that hovered over him. He gazed up into her clouded blue eyes, reaching up to wipe a tear from her cheek. "Sarah, we're going to…" he paused, not willing to finish the thought. It wasn't so much that he feared his own death, but he couldn't bear to think of his Sarah dying. "Aren't we?"

She had no words for his partially asked question, but instead, merely nodded her head in reply. She let her weight rest on his outstretched arm as she gently stroked his face and ran her hands through his hair for what she figured to be the last time.

He mustered the strength to pull her closer to his body, ignoring the pain that it caused the gaping hole in his belly. "I love you," he said weakly.

"I love you, too. And I'll be waiting." The strangeness of her final statement didn't register for Chuck in the moment. He had a limited time left in the world, and a limited time left with her. He wasn't going to waste it thinking. Leaning his head down slightly he captured her lips with his own. The couple kissed each other as passionately as their current conditions would allow, both content to let their final breath die on the lips of their soul mate.

The Angel of Death will come from the sky
And claim your poor soul when the time comes to die

The operative sat atop his perch, watching the couple down on the beach intently while awaiting his orders. He'd instructed every man under his command to their posts, and they were awaiting their roles in the impending action.

"All units are in place, prepare to execute on the command," said the voice in his ear. He nodded to his right to indicate that his second should make a final pass over for their crew and make sure all systems were go. This was the most important leg of the initiative, and they couldn't afford any mistakes.

He stilled himself and focused on the moment. It was about time for all hell to break loose. "Execute the Machiavelli Initiative," said the voice of the President. The operative looked over to the others and gave a gesture to indicate that it was about to commence. He raised his weapon and took aim over the heads of the two entangled lovers. His hope was that the missed shot would separate the two in a panic. It didn't work as such. The second warning shot also failed to split up the pair and give him a cleaner shot on them. Resigned to the fact that they wouldn't let go of one another, he took aim at the blonde lying on top of the Fulcrum Commander. His shot was true, as he knew it would be.

He couldn't believe his good fortune when his male target turned over to take a position atop the already felled female agent. Feeling no need to rush, a rare moment of tenderness inspired him to allow the two to say their goodbyes before he took his next shot. After a moment, the man got to his feet and began yelling out into the open expanse. At first, the operative was taken aback by the bizarre behavior from the tall man. He quickly put aside his surprise, however, and decided to oblige the man's pleas to be killed.

After the two had been down for a number of minutes, they finally had seemed to still, resting in one another's arms as they expired. It was time for the next stage of the plan. "Get the medical team down there now!" the operative ordered. "Revive Bartowski by any means necessary. He is not to die. Is that understood," he spoke forcefully through the radio to the leader of the rescue unit. Then he watched as the body of the human Intersect was loaded into an unmarked mobile medical unit even as the medics had begun work to bring him back. The operative's job was done here.

When the Angel of Death comes down after you
Can you smile and say that you have been true?

The four agents that had been assigned protective detail of the Fulcrum Commander's family (each family unit had two bodyguards) sat just outside of the courtyard. It was rare that either team got to have interaction with any colleagues other than their partner, so these family dinners were always a great escape from the daily grind of staying hidden and vigilant. It's not like anyone ever came after any of their charges anyway. This type of duty was not why they had joined Fulcrum, but if it got them in well with the Commander, then it may not all have been for forfeit.

A dark figure walked towards the arch entryway to the complex putting all four men on their guard. One of the protectors immediately recognized the man, however. He was a high ranking agent within BASE, another organization within The Ring. "Johnson, what's going on?" questioned the man who'd been able to identify the visitor.

"Machiavelli Initiative has been put into action." If his answer was curt, his scowl only helped to add to the air of impatience the BASE agent showed the babysitters.

"What the hell is that Johnson?" All four guards looked at one another quizzically, all wondering if one of the others had been informed of this order. None of them had. Their surprise would only add to the illusion of the deception that was being carried out.

"This," he finally answered. He quickly drew two guns from just inside of his jacket, firing two rounds from each, taking down the protective detail in the process. Sloppy, sloppy work Fulcrum. This is why the President had to step in. The rest of us just can't depend on you.

The shooter motioned behind him for his strike team to follow, which they did immediately, each man taking up his designated position outside the Woodcombs' apartment.

Steve and Emily couldn't help but hear the gunfire from outside. They both made for the door, but Emily held a hand out to stop Steve from following. It was her job to protect him, even now. It was a job that she'd long ago vowed to never fail, no matter what.

She slinked her way to the door with a grace that seemed to belie her age. Just as she reached for the handle, the door was thrown open, allowing for the storm of agents that flooded the room. Devon and Ellie immediately scrambled for their son, only to both be gunned down in the process. Steve made a mad dash towards his wife, but failed to reach her before she too was shot.

In a panic, Orion ran to the only living relative he had left in the apartment, but before he was able to reach Worth, he was surrounded by men in tactical gear holding him at gunpoint. Seeing the faces of the attackers for the first time, a horrible realization passed over him. This wasn't a group of Independents, these were their own men. They'd been betrayed. Steve hoped that at least Charles had been able to escape a similar fate. It was the final thought he had.

The men grabbed the baby boy who was now wailing his displeasure at the noise and chaos that had overtaken his home. There were rumors that Bartowski's superior Intersect processing ability may be genetic, and if so, this child could come in handy for testing if nothing else. A clean up unit was called in, and the strike team left the building. They'd completed their mission. Two mothers and two fathers lay dead at their hands.

Can you truthfully say with your dying breath
That you're ready to meet the Angel of Death?

When the Angel of Death comes down after you
Can you smile and say that you have been true?

John Casey did not cry. That was an important part of the persona he'd worked so hard to project and perfect since he first enlisted in the United States Military. When his father had died, he didn't cry. When his big sister lost a two year battle with cancer, he'd been sad, but hadn't cried. So it came as a shock to him that viewing the tragedy that occurred on that California beach seemed to have brought tears to his eyes.

Walker…no Sarah, had agreed to the wire only because she needed Casey and Carina to know if her children were in danger. Casey had been concerned about what she would find in her search for the Chuck of old. He'd been relieved to see that Bartowski meant her no harm. He'd even said he was going to get out of this giant mess for her. Everything was going much better than his cynical mind had considered to have been possible.

Then there was the first shot. The sniper had missed both of them, but they were sitting ducks on that wide open beach. The second shot sent Walker into protection mode, which Casey knew had sealed her fate. And he'd been right. The third shot hit her, driving her down on top of the man she was trying so hard to keep safe. Then the moron had acted like the stupid, brave moron that had saved both Walker, and Casey, too so many times when they'd worked together. This time, however, his bravery wasn't being used to save anyone. He was begging for the shooter to take him as well. Of course, the hidden sniper had quickly acquiesced to the nerd's demands, and now two thirds of the old "Team Bartowski" lay on the sand dying.

Then there was the tearful goodbye. That was when he'd finally given in to the emotions that tore at him to be released. It was a strange feeling to the Colonel to feel these wet drops running down his face. He hadn't cried really since he was a very small child. The thought of small children made his mind drift to the two infants that were now his primary responsibility. Two beautiful baby girls who lost both of their parents before they really got to know them. This wasn't the way things were supposed to happen.

Casey looked over to his newest partner to see that she too had been affected greatly by the emotional scene that had just unfolded. For long minutes, there were no words spoken between the two. They both understood that with this latest turn of events their collective priorities had just been changed drastically. They'd made a vow to Sarah Walker before her final mission that if something were to happen to her, that they would protect the little girls that slept quietly in the next room, oblivious to the demise of their parents.

"So I guess we go with the plan we came up with then," Casey stated flatly. It was not a question. "Kate comes with me, and I'll keep her safe. You'll do the same for Karin." He was emotionally drained from the events of the day, and the thought of the long path that lay before him was just as much so. He'd never considered himself the family type; but he would become whatever he had to be to make sure his charge grew up healthy, and as happy as possible.

"Will you continue to fight the new regime?" Carina was undecided on the question she posed to the Colonel herself.

"Not for now," he said with a far off expression. "When the time is right, I'll do what I can. We both have bigger things to deal with right now." Carina nodded in agreement.

The four of them would spend one more night in the safe house before it was time to go their separate ways. When they awoke the next morning, Kate went with Casey and Karin with Carina. It would be the last time the sisters saw each other for at least a very long time. Of course they were too young to know that there was someone so close to them that they had been pulled away from. Details about who they truly were would have to be kept from even the twins themselves, at least until they were ready to know. With that blasted Bartowski connection to this whole mess, they might end up being the only one's who could save the country one day.

Can you truthfully say with your dying breath
That you're ready to meet the Angel of Death?

When the lights all grow dim and the dark shadows creep
And then your loved ones are gathered to weep
Can you face them and say with your dying breath
That you're ready to meet the Angel of Death?

Chuck opened his eyes. Wait, why am I opening my eyes. I'm supposed to be dead. I died in Sarah's arms. He began to panic at his sudden revelation that he hadn't died on that beach. Maybe if he hadn't died, then Sarah was still alive as well. He had to find out. He had to find her.

He tried to get up, but he couldn't. His arms and legs wouldn't move. He flailed wildly against his restraints, but to no avail. He took in his surroundings. He was strapped to a bed, in what looked to be a hospital. But if someone had gotten him to a hospital, then they had to get to Sarah too. He took comfort in that for the moment.

He heard the door open in his room, but from his position it was impossible to see who it was. He thought that it was perhaps the faceless shooter from the beach coming to finish the job. With the horrible pain that was coursing through his lower torso, he wasn't sure that he wasn't hoping that was who had come to visit. Those thoughts were chased away however by the familiar voice that spoke to him.

"How are you doing Commander Carmichael?" asked the President. Chuck knew that he must have really been close to death if the President had made his way all the to…where ever this hospital was. He wasn't looking forward to the conversation with the man who Chuck had come to admire when he informed the President that he'd be resigning to start a family. For now, that could wait. He needed to find out if Sarah was alright.

"Mr. President, sir, how is Sarah?" The older man had moved so that Chuck could look on his face. The sad expression the President wore was not a good sign. "How is Sarah?" he repeated, softer this time, as If somehow bargaining with fate to change the inevitable response.

"Chuck, there are many things that have changed while you were recovering from your injuries."

"Wait, how long was I out?" It had felt like no time at all for Chuck, but if what the President said was true, there was no telling what all might have happened while he was unconscious.

"You've been here five weeks, Chuck. We had to go to some extreme measures to keep you alive. As for Agent Walker…" the President sighed "I'm afraid she didn't make it Chuck. And I hesitate to say this in your current state, but you have the right to know. The attack on you and Sarah was not isolated; the people who shot you were making you a target. You and everyone you know, Chuck." The man looked at his second in command sympathetically.

"What do you mean, 'everyone I know' Mr. President?" Chuck's voice had dropped to a dangerous, harsh whisper. It was almost a growl.

"Chuck, they're all gone. Your mother and father, your sister and her husband, your friend in Hawaii and his fiancé, and Sarah. They were all killed. I'm so sorry, Chuck." Chuck took deep labored breaths trying to calm himself. It didn't seem to be working. The deep breaths actually hurt more than they should. Of course, Chuck wouldn't find out until later that most of the functioning organs below his heart had been so mangled by the exploding tip bullet that had struck him that they'd been replaced by synthetic versions of those very parts that were run by the latest Intersect refresh that he'd been given while in his coma. Nor would he find out for some time that he had actually been kept in that coma to allow testing on his brain to pick out the characteristics that made it possible for him to retain the Intersect as well as he did. It would be months before he found out about the army that was being built with the information they'd learned from Chuck's brain and about the testing they were requiring of all citizens, regardless of age to find the right candidates. And Chuck would never learn of the behavioral controls that had been put into his latest update. But at that moment, he wasn't concerned with any of those things. Right now, the only thing he wanted was vengeance.

"Who did this?" he said in a whisper, keeping his eyes away from the President to try to hide his rage.

"Chuck, you know who did this. It was the Independents. You know what lengths that damn insurgency will go to. They're ruthless, Chuck. They did this to you. They took everything from you. Are you ready to return the favor?" In his moment of grief, Chuck forgot all of the promises he had made to Sarah. He forgot about the time he'd spent finding himself with Ellie. He forgot about Chuck Bartowski.

"I am, sir," spoke Charles Carmichael.

A/N: Alright guys, I know this was a rough chapter, but it was necessary. I said from the beginning that this got dark, and I wasn't juts whistling Dixie. I hope you still found a way to enjoy it however, and I hope you'll leave me some feedback to let me know what you think. I so value the input I get from my readers. You guys are awesome. Peace.