"That is merely speculation Agent Carmichael." responded Chapel to Chuck's allegations of a relationship between her and Graham. She continues to aim her gun she's holding with her right hand directly at Chuck while holding the phone up to left up to her ear. "That picture you're holding doesn't prove anything?" she added with absolute plausible deniability.

Chuck knows it's a long shot but judging from the picture he found on the floor he had to find out for all their sakes. He pulls himself together as he takes a few steps closer towards Chapel to where she tenses up aiming her gun from his chest to directly at his head. Sarah, Casey and Travis steel themselves upon Chuck's risky move causing them to do the exact same thing Chapel does only directing their aim at her.

He notices the call she is making hasn't been completed yet as all her concentration is focused on both the photo and Chuck. Its a positive sign all things considered and as much as he knows there is no turning back at this point he firmly takes control of his nerves. Chuck knows all eyes are on him as he makes the attempt to persuade Chapel into working with them instead of against them.

"Maybe…" answered Chuck with a wry smile. "…maybe not.

Graham's secretary shows signs of apprehension causing the tension within the room to intensify. If things turn south its because of him and he doesn't want to let his team down. Chuck thinks to himself that it can go either way but the pause she takes is possibly another positive sign because in his view not refusing immediately to answer his questions shows she is hiding something.

Sarah, Chuck, and Travis have no choice but to trust Chuck's judgment. Its his show for the moment and they are simply there as support. Sarah and Travis know how Casey is itching to shoot someone but at this particular juncture they quickly glance at him to see that he's restraining himself. From Travis' view point, he looks like a Rottweiler that has been chained up frothing at the mouth wanting to be unleashed and reek havoc.

"You're just stalling." stated Chapel.

"Look, answer me this one question. Just one." retorted Chuck raising his right finger in the air. "Hey, you have the advantage here so what do you have to lose except for just answering one lousy question." he added shaking his head as he raises both arms to the side.

Team Chuck anxiously wait for Chapel's response and after what seems like a lifetime she gives Chuck her answer. "Ask your one question." she emphatically stated.

Chuck's teammates breathe out a brief sigh of relief but know they've been given a limited amount of time to get her to cooperate with them; but more importantly cooperate with Chuck. Sarah and Travis can sense Casey silently telling him to not screw this up and then ends with whatever adjective he has chosen to describe him. They continue to train their weapons at Chapel all-the-while wondering what the one question he is going to ask her will be.

"When did you find out about Graham's disappearance?" Chuck wondered.

The question completely throws Sarah, Casey, and Travis off. Casey thinks to himself that Chuck just screwed the pooch because of all the questions to ask at this particular moment he chooses that one. Travis exudes a look of utter confusion on his face but continues to have his buddies' back while Sarah has every assurance that Chuck knows what he is doing.

"I found out this morning from a friend of mine who works for General Beckman." she replied.

"Huh." answered Chuck with a sense of confusion on his face with hint a laughter mixed in.

Questionable looks appear on the face of everyone in the room except for Chuck who continues to exude a lack of comprehension to what she just said to him. It causes Chapel to ask why. "Why did you just do that?" she inquired with vapid curiosity.

"Do what?

"That…" Chapel is disbelief as it seems to her that Chuck is making light of the entire situation. "…all you can respond with is a huh and laugh." she responded shaking her head. "What is wrong with you?" she added shaking her head.

Casey is about to respond when Sarah turns to give him a glaring look of disapproval. Of the many things that Sarah knew about Casey was that he thoroughly enjoyed ribbing Chuck whenever he found the perfect opportunity to but now wasn't the right time. The blonde agent gives one more glaring look just for the sake it before she redirects her attention back to Chuck.

"No disrespect to Graham but I find it funny that you chose now to come into work." he said as he crosses his arms. Chuck then glances around at his teammates and returns his attention back to Chapel. "Its well close to noon…" Chuck looks down to checks his watch and then up at Graham's secretary. "…and I'm thinking as a boss I wouldn't appreciate having any of my employees walking in late."

Chapel is insulted by what Chuck says causing her to become angry. "How dare you!" she bellowed. "I found out The Director was taken and instead of you finding him you're here questioning me on why I didn't come in to work early?"

"Yeah…" Chuck nodded. "…that's about right."

"You got to be kidding me." she said in absolute disbelief.

She continues to shake her head at the outright audacity of the whole situation. To her, it seems the man that is standing in front of her is treating Graham's abduction as a joke. At this point, all she can do is laugh because of how absurd the questions and statements Chuck is making truly are. She begins to slowly lower her gun but quickly raises it immediately stepping forward placing it against Chuck's forehead while still clutching Graham's phone in her left hand.

The response Chapel gives put Casey, Sarah, and Travis on high alert as they converge closer towards her. However, Chuck raises both arms silently informing to back off as deals with a very angry woman with a gun pressed up against his forehead. In that very moment Chuck has two decision to make and they are to either keep going or call a time out to in order change his boxer shorts.

XXX

Travis Riley stands there a few feet away from a highly volatile situation with a target in his sights. It didn't make him feel any better to know his teammate and friend has a gun against his head put there by a woman who isn't in the right frame of mind. Thinking about though, not being in the right frame of mind isn't quite the right word for it as she is clearly going off the deep end.

The former protégé of Tobias Carter was used to doing things by the book and following procedure without questioning it. However, after joining Chuck's team 6 months ago he found it quite different and not to mention a bit unorthodox concerning the way they handle business. It took some getting used to but eventually he integrated into the mix quite nicely.

He read past reports of their exploits over the past 3 and a half years concerning mission of high importance and was totally enamored by their heroics. In some ways, he idolized the 3 person team for not always going by the book and were given free reign to do whatever it took to get the job. Essentially, the one thing that stood out to him would be the team's chemistry.

At first glance, it would be sufficed to say they are a well oiled machine that worked well together as a whole. Whenever one would ever be in danger the other two are right there by their side backing him or her up. Its that cohesiveness in which Travis respected because as much as he saw them as a team, he also saw them a tight knit family as well who loved/cared about each other although Casey may disagree with particular sentiment.

As a team, they would be a force to be reckoned with and despite altercations within in the team dynamic they are always able to resolve them for the sake of the mission. He has seen first hand times where arguments occur between either Chuck and Sarah or Sarah and Casey or Chuck and Casey or all three at one time and never let it effect them while on the field…sometimes.

However, individually they brought to the table a plethora of skill sets that by themselves make for quite an interesting partnership. Three people unceremoniously joined together for the greater good and it all apparently started by a mutual acquaintance that Chuck, Sarah, and Casey were very familiar with…Bryce Larkin. I would like to meet him someday Travis thinks to himself.

In any case, the 3 individuals he is currently in the tension filled room exuded different personalities that on paper would make you scratch your head in absolute confusion. Agent John Casey is considered a soldier's solder who seemingly always obeys orders. A man deemed as a burnout never really looked the part of a team player as he's considered the pre-conceived loner type who in his own words broke things instead of fixes them.

Travis knew of the things that he thoroughly enjoyed other than trimming his bonsai garden was not only picking on Chuck, but also the special relationship he shares with Sarah. Casey would always threaten him or found something to pick on him about whether its sharing what he liked to refer to as his "lady feelings" with Sarah or just the little things they do together that annoy him to no end.

It would be Casey who gave him the hardest time upon entering as the newest member to Team Chuck. From the minute he joined the team the NSA agent would be on his case every time about something so insignificant it boarded on becoming personal, which he understood. The strong but albeit dysfunctional relationship he shared with Chuck's father Abe Bartowski meant a lot to him and as much as he enjoyed making fun of him he carefully watched over not just him, but Sarah as well.

Speaking of Sarah, the voluptuous blonde agent is one of those woman men would die for and for the most part they did…literally. Agent Sarah Walker exuded absolute outer beauty that deceptively masks a trained killer within. Travis would come to find out how deadly she truly was when during a mission where Chuck was in peril she took on 5 men alone killing 1 and severely injuring the other 4.

He mentally noted to never mess with her, especially if it involved either her family or the love of her life a Mr. Chuck Bartowski. Yet, as impressed and considerably scared of Sarah Walker during his first few weeks on the team he grew to become fond of the real her a one DeAnna Wexler daughter of military weapons mogul/fellow Zeitgeist member Jeremiah Wexler. It would be DeAnna Wexler who would treat him like a little brother even though he was about the same age as Sarah and Chuck.

If someone ever asked him who he liked being around more Sarah Walker or DeAnna Wexler who wouldn't be able to give him a straight answer because they are one in the same. He liked the kick butt take no prisoners persona of Agent Sarah Walker, which is someone you want fighting by your side. He also liked DeAnna Wexler who exuded the qualities of a caring big sister, the motherly duties of strict disciplinarian when it comes to Casey, and most definitely loving girlfriend to one Chuck Bartowski.

Now when it comes Chuck, he is considered a puzzle with in an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. The skill set he possesses is absolutely remarkable and the accurate intel he provides is so spot on its totally unbelievable. It just boggles the mind how much he has in that noggin' of his he thinks to himself. He jokingly referred to Chuck as Data during the plane ride to D.C. but in his honest opinion he lives up to the factitious character brilliantly portrayed by Brent Spiner.

As a teammate, he would be an exceptional teammate but as a fellow video gamer he's a great adversary next to his best friend Morgan Grimes who comes a close second. Travis could always tell that when it came to missions he has the qualities similar to that of Star Trek Voyager character Lieutenant Reginald Barclay who is somewhat like Chuck tending to be anxiety ridden, having moments of self consciousness, and socially awkward when it comes to confronting bad guys head on.

In addition to that, add the moral standing of the Enterprise doctor Leonard McCoy otherwise known as "Bones" and you get a timid, reluctant spy with a conscience. However, when it came to playing video games he's a mixture of the more playful mischievous rather the threatening omnipotent being known as Q of the Continuum combined with the child prodigy of a young Wesley Crusher giving him considerable advantage in the Call of Duty gaming realm.

For its those 3 individuals who in his opinion make up one of the greatest teams he has ever seen or ever been a part of. A team that no matter how much it looks like their backs are against the wall they always seem to get fight their way out of it together. Travis' thoughts abruptly end there as his focus returns to Chuck who has put himself in an unfortunate predicament to say the least.

XXX

"You ok buddy?" asks Travis with concern.

Truth be told he wasn't fine being that he currently had a gun to his head and probably needed to change his boxer shorts but he didn't need Chapel to know that. As much as he's freaking out inside he tries to remain as cool as a cucumber in order get the information they need from Chapel. The attention he has as his eyes divert from her gun back to the blonde haired secretary.

"Peachy Trav." Chuck sarcastically remarked. He resumes his efforts in trying to interrogate Graham's secretary. "Listen, I get it and truth be told I understand."

"Understand what exactly?"

Chuck witnesses the mixture of confusion and curiosity growing on her face. His instincts kick in and begins sharing a very familiar story with Chapel. "The relationship you have…" Chapel pulls back the handle upon hearing causing Sarah, Casey, and Travis to become even more tense. "…ok alleged…uh alleged relationship is similar to two people." he says raising two fingers in air.

"I don't have time for stories…"

Chuck knows that he needs to keep it going so he makes the decision to cut her off. "I'm going to tell it anyway because it's a story of love and the obstacles these two people had to face in order to be together." A hint of a smile begins to creep on his face as he begins telling his story. "It all began 3 and half years ago as this very gorgeous woman walks into this guy's life. He sees her and instantly makes a fool of himself right off the bat but here's the funny thing she finds it quite endearing." he says with a small chuckle.

As Chuck continues the story Sarah realizes the love story he's sharing with Chapel is theirs and even though their all currently in a high pressure situation she can't help but be touched by the story.

"The woman and the man have a great first date but unfortunately like all first dates go things seemingly go unplanned. He finds out information about her that freaks him out and then he find comes to find that his former best friend from college used to date the woman he's currently with making it very hard for him to comprehend. As a matter of fact to this day it sort of unsettling…"

"Chuck!" Sarah shouted.

"Sorry…sorry I was rambling." he stated with an apologetic tone to his voice. "Anyhoo, despite finding about her ex, they talk and form a bond of trust. Unfortunately, the trust they both shared would be tested but like any love story you have to go through hell in order to reach heaven right?" Sarah can feel tears starting to form but holds them back for the sake of Chuck while Casey has this disgusted albeit annoyed look on his face as he hears the story. "The relationship first becomes a matter of liking each other and after spending more time together it's becomes a matter of appreciating each other for the times when she needed him and he needed her. Ultimately, the like and appreciation turn into love but the story doesn't end there my friend because you see…"

"Enough!" Chapel bellowed. The tone in her voice sounds like she is absolutely fed up. "I don't see what the point of the story is so I'm just going to call…"

"The point is…" he chimed in interrupting Chapel. "...the love story I just told you is about myself and Agent Walker."

"What?"

"Yeah…" he responded slowly turning back to give a cheeky smile back at her to which she reciprocates. They share a brief moment when he is attention is turned towards Casey who gives a low sounding grunt. His smiles goes flat and then immediately turns his attention back to Chapel. "…umm…Agent Walker and I went through so many obstacles to be together knowing the one rule to never break was broken when it comes to the spy game…never fall in love."

"I…"

"You're not in love with Graham. Yeah, you say that but I think otherwise. And…" Chuck steps back and begins slowly reaching over towards the desk lamp. He turns it on and flips the top directing the light at her. "…if I'm right you've been crying and that's why you're late to work."

"I…ummm…" is her only response at this juncture.

"Trav." called out Chuck.

"Right here man. What do you need?" he inquired.

Chuck continues to look straight at Chapel with his eyebrow furrowed showing he has a hunch. "Check her bag and tell me what you find."

Travis un-cocks his weapon and backs up to Chapel's desk where her purse and now cold cup of coffee sits. He rifles through her back and after a few seconds he comes back with a couple items. "Got 'em." Travis holds up in front of him to show several bags of tissues one of them being opened and a small bottle of Visine. "How did you know dude?" he says in amazement."

"Look at her eyes…" All 3 team members cautiously lean forward and look closer to see what he apparently sees. "…they are somewhat blood shot probably from crying all morning. Plus, there are signs of slight redness underneath her nose with a bit of puffiness under here eyes as well." Chuck confidently stated. "So, are you going to finally come clean and cooperate with us?" he added.

Chuck stands there with her gun still pressed up against his head hoping Chapel gives in and cooperates with them. His hopes are for the most part coming true as she gradually lowers her gun letting it fall to the floor. At the same time this happens, Sarah steps forward to check on Chuck while Casey retrieves the gun on the floor. After a brief moment with Sarah he takes a big breath and then stands in front of a speechless Chapel.

"So are you going to help us or not? Please, we need it." he asked reaching over placing his left hand on her right shoulder.

Graham's secretary hasn't said a word causing much concern with Chuck. He is about to say something to see if she is okay when all of a sudden he sees tears flowing down cheek. Its a bit unsettling to him but he's been there before as a shoulder to cry on and gentlemen that he is offers to be her shoulder to crying on. What he doesn't expect though is Chapel suddenly bawling out loud then immediately hugging him much to Chuck's surprise as he's completely engulfed in her embrace.

XXX

The situation in Graham's office no longer a high threat situation after Chuck is able to reveal there is indeed a relationship between her and Graham. She is sitting in Graham's chair blowing her nose with the same tissues that Travis got out of her purse. Chuck walks out of the bathroom with a glass of water in hand heading towards Chapel in order to hydrate her after letting go of the waterworks. After handing her the glass, she takes a few sips and then looks up at Chuck.

"Thank you." she softly said.

Chuck gives her a reassuring smile. "No problem." Chuck retorted. "Out of curiosity how long have you and Graham secretly been in love?" he added.

"15 years but like you said spies don't fall in love, which also goes for The Director of the C.I.A. and his secretary." she remorsefully answered. Sarah can see the anguish in her face and the genuine sadness in the tone in her voice that her feelings for him are truly real. She thinks to herself Graham is human after all and has a heart beating with actual emotions. "As much as I wanted to share the news of my relationship with all my friends, it was better to just keep a secret." she says. Chuck can tell that by revealing to them about their relationship it has lifted a weight off her shoulders. "I'm sure you two know what that feels like." she added.

"We do." responded Chuck as he lovingly looks at Sarah beside her which she reciprocates back. The moment is abruptly ended by Casey stepping in.

"Ms. Chapel, we need you to provide us with the files on Archer and his men. It's a matter of National Security." requested Casey.

"Casey, come on man. Have a heart or was it taken like Spock's brain by a female alien being." said Travis as he responds to Casey's rude interruption.

"How about I take my foot and stick it up…"

Chapel immediately interrupts the two men argument and directs her attention towards Casey. "Have you ever been in love Agent Casey. I mean truly in love?" she asked looking deep into his the proud marine's eyes.

Casey stands there knowing with a shadow of the doubt that he has. Long before falling deeply in love with his current girlfriend Jayne and his former love Isla he was madly in love with Kathleen McHugh who he would later find out shared a daughter with. He used to go by the real name Alex Coburn but he was officially declared dead not by his choice but by the choice of his now deceased former commander Colonel Keller.

The burly NSA agent had many regrets in the past and she was definitely one of them. As painful for him to see her again it was equally as painful for him to see his daughter grown up as a young woman. He couldn't help but think of what if but ultimately he chose the greater good over love and he made his choice so he has to live it no matter how painful it is.

"Yes ma'am." he grunted.

"So will you help us?" Sarah asked expressing a softness in her eyes.

The secretary to the Director of the C.I.A. sits silently for a moment in his chair as all 4 members of Team Chuck patiently await her answer. The seemingly long silence is abruptly ends with her taking a brief breath and then lifts herself out of Graham's chair. She heads out of the office and toward the back wall of her desk where a small painting of a soldier one half man and the other half robot hangs with the signature N. Soong located at the bottom right hand corner.

Sarah, Chuck, Travis, and Casey follow suit standing on the other side of the desk. She takes the painting down to reveal a hidden wall safe behind hit. From their view, it's a combination voice recognition and thumb print model that is specifically modified for her. To Chapel it made perfect sense for the safe to be behind her desk because quite frankly it wouldn't be obvious for anyone attempting to break in and steal files.

After saying her name and placing her thumb on the scanner it opens. She takes out several files with the words CLASSIFIED in bold red letters. She momentarily stares at the top file and then slowly turns around standing behind her desk giving a look of absolute seriousness towards the 4 people standing in front of her. Chapel extends her arms handing over the files to Chuck.

"A list of Archer's men are in the top file." she said with a mixture of worry and hope. "God speed to you all."

XXX

NOTE: I don't know about you but this past episode was just AWESOME! Anyways, hope you enjoyed the read and please leave a comment.