A/N: Okay, so I know I said quick turn-around on chapters, but I bet you weren't expecting two within a week right? Me either. However, after I beat, scraped and clawed at Chapter 13 (which I just finished rewriting) I was finally able to write something that was worthy to be called a chapter. Might sound harsh, but it was is the truth, bitter, truth. Which means that I only have one remaining chapter to write (the eplouge), and this baby is done. So since I am like three chapters ahead from what I'm posting, I thought, why not give you guys an extra update.
I also want to thank, about a million times over, my most awesome beta Creedog. Without him, and his awesome words of wisedom, I probably would have given up on this thing the first time I hit a giant sucking snag. Alas, he keeps me motivated with his constructive guidance from all that sucks, to all that doesn't suck as bad. Now, I'll stop rambling on, and let you read the next chapter.
Chapter Eleven
Sarah put a comforting hand on Morgan's shoulder as his body shuttered. Tears were in his eyes, but they didn't fall. Sarah felt her heart breaking for Morgan. She hadn't even realized that he had come up behind them as they watched Shaw torture Chuck into unconsciousness. Casey was whispering in a harsh, clipped tone in the other room, discussing what needed to be done next with General Beckman, and neither Sarah nor Morgan heard the door squeak open or close.
"What happened?"
Sarah jumped, already on edge, her hand immediately on the pistol that Casey had left on the desk in front of her. She scowled at the woman standing just in front of the door. She wasn't sure how, but Sarah knew that Kaitlin had something to do with this. All of it.
"Where have you been?" Sarah's tone was calm, relaxed. Even if she didn't trust Kaitlin, she'd never let her know that. Not if she wanted to catch her in the act.
"I decided to go for a walk. It helps me clear my head. I was hoping it'd help. Now, what happened?" Her eyes fluttered from Sarah's protective stance behind Morgan, to Morgan himself who had unshed tears in his eyes.
"Shaw set up a video feed. We just watched him shock Chuck into unconsciousness..." Sarah waited for the look of disbelief to cross Kaitlin's features, but it never appeared. She stood there, unmoved by what Sarah said.
"Is Chuck okay?"
Sarah shook her head. "He's alive, if that's what you're asking..." Sarah tried to keep control of the impulse she had to lash out at Kaitlin. Their staring match ended when the door to the bedroom opened and a very angry looking Casey stepped out of the room.
"I told you to stay put." Kaitlin's eyes whipped from Sarah to Casey, and back again. "I needed to clear my head. Sarah wanted some time alone and Morgan fell asleep. I didn't think it would hurt to leave for a little while...why are you looking at me like I'm the bad guy?"
Casey's lip snarled. "Well, let's start with the odd behavior, Agent Buchanan. Like the mysterious phone calls..."
"I told Sarah, I called General..."
Casey took a step toward her. "Don't lie to me! I just got off the phone with General Beckman. She informed me that she hasn't heard from you since we arrived in Berlin."
Taking a small step backward, Kaitlin looked from Casey to Sarah. "Okay. I didn't call the General, but I am not involved in this at all! I want to find Chuck just as badly as you two do."
Sarah shook her head. "No. You don't even know Chuck. Do you know how terrified he is right now? That he feels like he's going to die?"
"I may not know him like the two of you do, but my job is to locate agents. It's who I am, and it's what I do."
Casey huffed a laugh. "It's what you do now. We'll get into that later, when Bartowski's life isn't hanging in the balance. I knew I never should have trusted you."
With that, Casey walked stiffly back toward the bedroom. "Beckman is calling in reinforcements. We will find Chuck, and Sarah here is going to keep a close eye on you."
Chuck groaned loudly as his mind registered the tremendous amount of pain that was radiating throughout his entire body. He felt as if he had been ran over by a semi truck, and he didn't even know what that felt like. Then it all came flooding back to him. The brawling match with Shaw that had broken his nose, and possibly his cheek bone. The electric shock device that had coursed through his body. The camera...
"Sarah." His voice was rough and hoarse from dehydration. The word squeaked out, a mere low cry. He hoped that she hadn't seen that. The last thing he wanted was for her to blame herself. Shaw might be crazy enough to blame her for his wife's death, but Chuck didn't. She had done her job, done what she was trained to do.
"Ah. Chuck, you're awake, and calling out for your little girlfriend. How cute. She's watching, so I want you to know that she heard you. If only she knew how to find you, right? Too bad. You'll be long dead before then. Too bad, too; long lost reunions of love are my favorite." The glare in his eyes and the heated anger were enough to chill Chuck to the bone, and yet they had nothing on his calm exterior. For someone as angry as Daniel Shaw to be that calm...
"Please, Daniel..."
Shaw laughed, "Really, Chuck? More begging? This really is getting old. I may have to kill you earlier than I wanted to. Breaks my heart, really, it does. Oh well, guess life goes on. Well, for me it does. For you... well, that's a sad story for later on."
Sarah gasped when she heard Chuck moan out her name. Her eyes fixated on the computer screen, the agony in his eyes apparent. Her hand flew to her mouth, and out of the corner of her eyes she saw Kaitlin doing the same thing. Maybe, just maybe she was wrong. Maybe Kaitlin wasn't the bad guy... No, she couldn't give in that easy just because she might be a good actress.
"Ah. Chuck, you're awake, and calling out for your little girlfriend. How cute. She's watching, so I want you to know that she heard you. If only she knew how to find you, right? Too bad. You'll be long dead before then. Too bad, too, long lost love reunions are my favorite."
Sarah felt bile rise in her throat. She knew she should get Casey, but she couldn't force herself to move, unable to pry her eyes from Chuck, and the pain so apparent in his eyes.
"Morgan, get Casey."
It was the best idea, since her legs no longer worked. She felt herself collapse into the chair that luckily was right behind her. The calm of Shaw's voice made her insides squirm, and she'd never forgive herself if Chuck didn't make it out of this alive.
"How long has this feed been up?" Kaitlin's voice broke Sarah out of the trance she was in. For a moment she looked back at Kaitlin, who was now leaning over Sarah, trying to get a better look.
"Hours. Though Chuck has only been conscious for a few minutes here and there."
She couldn't force the word torture out of her mouth. Just thinking it left a bad taste in her mouth.
"Please, Daniel..."
The pleading in his voice brought a fresh batch of tears to her eyes, and new feelings of dread to her stomach. He was still pleading, but not like he had before. He was giving up hope.
She heard Shaw laugh. It was the single sickest sound she'd heard, right along with Chuck's screams of agony. He was laughing at Chuck for pleading for his life. He really had lost it.
"Really, Chuck? More begging? This really is getting old. I may have to kill you earlier than I wanted to. Breaks my heart, really, it does. Oh, well, guess life goes on. Well, for me it does. For you... well, that's a sad story for later on."
Sighing, her eyes fluttered back to Kaitlin. The hazel of them seemed slightly familiar, but she shrugged it off. Her eyes jumped back to the monitor as Shaw raised his fist and she heard the familiar sound of a cracking bone, as Shaw's fist made contact with Chuck's face. She watched as blood dripped from the corner of Chuck's mouth, and she saw the familiar grin on Shaw's face, as Chuck spat out excess blood that had pooled in his mouth. The sight made her sick.
The bedroom door opened and Casey stepped in.
"That's all for now. Don't want Chuck here to pass out again. What fun would that be? I'm going to be shutting off the feed for a little bit, don't worry. We'll be back soon."
Again that same sinister grin appeared on his face. In response, Casey's fist came down hard on the desk. "Dammit!"
As the screen went black, Kaitlin stood up.
Sarah rose when Kaitlin did, ready to tackle her to the floor if need be. "Where do you think you're going?"
"The bathroom, or do you need to accompany me in there too?"
Sarah gazed at her for a moment, before looking at Casey. "Go on. Five minutes, Buchanan, then Walker is coming in for you."
Kaitlin shook her head, as she headed for the door.
Sarah paced slowly back and forth in front of the bathroom door. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. That was the saying at least. She wasn't about to give Kaitlin an inch, let alone a mile. She stopped for moment, her brow quirked slightly, and a scowl formed on her face.
Backing away from the door far enough to peer back into the main room, she motioned to Casey. He stood and walked toward her, his face taunt with exhaustion.
"What is it, Walker?" he asked, his eyes moving between Walker and the bathroom door she had been watching like a hawk.
"She's been in there for nearly ten minutes, and I swear I can hear her talking to someone." Casey nodded his head in acknowledgment as he followed her back to the bathroom door.
"Open up, Agent Buchanan." He paused for a moment to let her open the door. When she didn't, he pounded on the door. "I know you're not using the restroom. I hear you talking to someone." He growled when she still didn't open the door. "Open the damn door!"
With that, the door flew open, and she looked at Casey, her eyes wide. "I know where Chuck is! We need to leave now though. Shaw is sick of his game already."