A/N: Hey folks sorry for the wait. This chapter would have been up much sooner but i found out that i have to have a knee replacement in the next month. SO at 35 i will have a new knee. ok the pity party is over. what does that mean well, it may take a little bit in between the last few chapters of this story. But i will try and get it one before i have the surgery. The question is do we do a sequel. there will be some questions left unanswered so that is up to you the reader. but don't tell me now wait till the last chapter and decide. that said i must thank everyone who reviewd the last chapter and all of you for your great comments. I must also thank my amazing beta Bdaddydl and all of the others who have urged me to get finished faster. and as always i must thank my wife and daughter for their love and support I love you guys. now on with the story

Chapter 21

The Doctor and his staff worked feverishly to try and get Chuck's heart beating again, but finally he gave up.

He looked at his watch and spoke, "Time of death 2:05 in the morning." As they pulled the sheet up over his head Chuck's eyes fluttered just for the tiniest of seconds before they stopped. No one noticed the movement.

After a few minutes Casey had Sarah in an embrace as they all started to walk out of the room. However no one heard the breath or saw the sheet being sucked into the open mouth underneath it.

Casey was walking Sarah down the corridor with his arm around her back, helping to support her while she sobbed uncontrollably and all he could think was Not Again. Just as they were about to get to an area for her to sit down and collect herself, the President walked in.

Just as Casey finished making his body as straight as he could, the President spoke.

"Will someone tell me why we have two people in the holding cells requiring medical attention?"

"I most certainly did not authorize this use of force when I ok'd you to come here."

It was at that moment that he looked at the team in front of them. They looked defeated, it was then that Sarah looked up at him. Her tear streaked red eyed face told him everything he needed know.

President Santos knelt down in front of Sarah and grasped her hands. "What's happened? Where's Chuck?"

Sarah tried to reply, but a choked sob came out instead.

"Chuck is dead sir, we didn't make it in time" Casey spoke up.

"Sarah, I am so sorry, are the prisoners the ones that did this to him?"

Sarah slowly nodded her head.

"We will make sure that they pay for this the proper way. Come along Sarah; let's get you to the residence where it is more comfortable."

"I, I can't" Sarah replied before pushing through the men in a sprint back to the operating room.

Fresh tears were running down her cheeks dripping onto Chuck's peaceful face, after she had just pulled back the white sheet that was covering him. Caressing his face with her hand "Baby, I am so sorry I tried to leave, but I need a piece of you, something to hold over my heart until I join you."

Sarah grasped his hand and started to slide his wedding band off of his ring finger. When she heard a breath escape Chuck's mouth she stared at his face, unable to move.

"CASEY!"

A moment later, Casey came bursting through the doors; the President and the doctor were close behind.

"Chuck's alive"

"Walker, what are you talking about?" Casey asked.

Sarah was broken out of her trance of staring at Chuck's lifeless body by Casey's question.

"I was just going to get his wedding ring when I came in and touched his hand. When I did he, he took a breath."

The doctor moved in towards Chuck's body, and began examining it. Once he was done, he pulled the sheet back over the body.

"I am truly sorry Mrs. Carmichael, but your husband is does not have a pulse. He is not alive."

President Santos was taking all of this in when he noticed the electrical lead still attached to Chucks finger. He then glanced at the monitor and saw a faint blip for just a second, but then it disappeared just as quickly.

"Doctor, are you sure that this man is dead?"

"Unfortunately, yes sir, the pulse that you just saw was the last of his neurons firing off."

"Well then what about that…." Casey pointed out.

The doctor turned just in time to catch the sheet inhale and exhale.

As he moved back to the bed with Chuck's body on it, Sarah violently pushed him out of the way into the wall and tore the sheet off of Chuck.

She leaned next to Chuck's ear and whispered in his ear "Chuck, you promised me."

Sarah then leapt onto the gurney with Chuck's body and straddled him. She then put her hands together interlacing her fingers together and raised them over her head.

"FIGHT YOU BASTARD," bringing her hands down on his chest "you promised me that you wouldn't leave me again. SO FIGHT" Sarah pounded on his chest again, twice three more times

The President and Casey moved to pull her off of him, when they saw his eyes fly open.

"SARAH" Chuck screamed then passed back out.

The doctor rushed back over to Chuck, and rechecked his vitals for a third time.

"I do...not, understand. He shouldn't be alive, and yet, he is."

He then went and hooked up the Electroencephalogram. As soon as he slid the finger monitor, Chuck's heart beat registered on the machine. He had a normal heart sinus rhythm and normal EEG patterns. The doctor then placed the electro leads to Chuck's skull to measure his brain wave activity. The results were confusing the doctor even more. His brainwave activity was already higher than most humans and should have defiantly not been that high after having been dead for almost ten minutes.

"Mr. President, I can't explain it. In my 35 years as a naval and private physician, I have never seen this before. This man should be dead, but not only that, he should be a vegetable."

"However, here he is with a normal sinus rhythm, and above average brainwave activity."

"Doctor is it possible to wake him?"

"Honestly Mr. President, with someone with this kind of trauma I'd say no. Although, this shouldn't be happening anyway. He is stable, so we can give it a shot. However, if things start to go bad, I will have a shot of Dilaudid to knock him back out, and calm him down."

"Sarah, are you ok with this?"

Wiping her eyes she shook her head yes. She just wanted those brown eyes staring back up at her.

The Doctor injected Adderal to wake Chuck up into his arm.

As Sarah reentered the room she saw Chuck laying there on the exam table, machines surrounding his head blocking it from her view. The large lamp hung over the table shining brightly over the non moving love of her life. As she made her way around she saw assorted cart and wires strewn about the room, making an already depressing situation worse. But she sat down and started stroking his left hand; she had just come back from the restroom so she could fix her makeup. She wanted Chuck to see her vibrant, not like she had almost lost a piece of herself.

After a few moments Chucks eyes started to flutter. Sarah raised herself out of her chair and she leaned forward just close enough for her voice to be whispered into his ear.

"Chuck. Baby can you hear me?"

"NNNNN" Chuck slowly started to open his eyes.

"Chuck?"

"Are, are we still married?" Chuck said in a raspy voice.

Sarah looked to Casey, and he nodded his head back at her.

Sarah leaned in with a cup of water and wet his lips first, then let him slowly take a small sip.

"Shhsh my love, small sips, your throat is parched. If you take too much, you will throw up.

She then raised his left hand to her lips and kissed his ring.

"Forever and always my love, nothing will ever tear us apart. Now can you tell me what happened?"

"Oh good…..had horrible dream. Like when was in coma. Saw Hal 9000, and had to cold reboot."

"Cold Reboot?" Sarah asked while exchanging glances to everyone else in the room.

"Shut myself down to stop virus…. Stop heart and lungs and brain activity. Otherwise, memory cascade failure. Hmm sweetie, come lay in bed…Cold."

"Simply remarkable" the Doctor stated to no one in particular.

Chucks hand was sliding to her back and dangerously too low for who else was in the room, Sarah just blushed a little, and pulled his hand away as he gave her a little squeeze…"Chuuuck there are others here."

"Yeah Bartowski, don't make me throw up on the President." Casey replied with his trademark grin.

After casting a glance towards Casey, the President stepped forward. "Hi Chuck" He turned to the Doctor and asked "Why is this remarkable Doctor?"

For his part the Doctor looked at everyone stunned. "The man shut his entire body down to fight a virus. He essentially killed himself to fight off a virus. It had been slowly eating away at him."

"Chuck?" everyone turned to the blonde angel sitting on the bed next to Chuck.

"Yes, Sarah?"

"Who is Hal 9000?" Sarah heard a chuckle coming from the President and the Doctor. When she looked at them with narrowed eyes they both shut up instantly.

"My dear Sarah, HAL 9000 was from 2001: A space odyssey." When he saw the look on her face he knew what to say "we will have a movie night soon."

Sarah, for her part just rolled her eyes at her husband's nerdiness, and then Chuck continued.

"He was also in 2010, but that movie wasn't nearly as good. After looking at Sarah's face he continued. Anyway, in this case he was my subconscious's representation of the Intersect construct." Chuck started to yawn after beginning his explanation.

"Can I finish explaining later, sweepy wight now" as he starts to doze off, the Dilaudid causing its desired effect.

"The President stepped forward and placed a hand on Chucks shoulder. "Ok, Sarah why don't you stay here and guard Chuck. Colonel Casey can come brief me on what happened in the interrogation rooms in my study."

He then turned to Chuck, whose eyes were only open slightly. "Chuck, get some sleep, when you're well enough to travel, I want you on your honeymoon. We can handle things here for a week or two." All they heard was a soft snore.

There was a quiet laughter as the men left the room and Sarah settled into the bed next to Chuck. Rubbing his buzz cut that she had given him against the palm of her hand she couldn't help but think I can't wait for his curls to come back but she whispered "sleep well beloved, because our honeymoon starts in a few days."

Sarah then slipped her head into the crook of Chuck's neck, and went to sleep with him.

Chuck woke up alone with a foul taste in his mouth. His tongue felt like sandpaper. The lights were still turned down, which meant that he could see a little.

He tried to sit up, but moved too fast, and got light headed. Just then the lights turned up on their own. The bright lights blinded him for a minute.

As he shielded his eyes from the light he heard a voice come from somewhere in the room.

Hello Charles…..

Chuck had known that he had been out for awhile, but as far as he could tell he was alone.

"Hello, am I still dreaming?"

No Charles you are not. My name is Orion, turn around and look at the computer screen. I am the creator of the Intersect."

"Creator of the Intersect? How did you find me?"

I always know where you are Charles.

"Ok. cryptic much? How do you know who, and what I am?"

I have been protecting you, your whole life.

"BULLSHIT, the only person who has been protecting me was my sister…"

Eleanor.

"Yes Ellie, wait how did you?

Charles we do not have enough time. Listen to me carefully. You can't trust anyone, not the Government, not your handlers and definitely not your new bride.

"Stop right there! Don't tell me I can't trust my own wife. You hide behind a digitized mask, and offer no glimpse of who you are. Then you are telling me what I need to do, and who to trust?"

"You are not my father, so don't pretend that you can tell me anything"

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds.

I will contact you again at a better time.

"Don't bother; everyone I trust and need is already in my life."

Chuck threw his glass of water at the monitor and it exploded upon contact.

Sarah was just walking through the door at this point, "Chuck, what happened?"

"Nightmare." he just rolled over, so she would not see his upset face.

"Hey look at me; you have been asleep for the last 36 hours. Look at me" Sarah asked.

However Chuck remained where he was.

"Chuck, sweetheart. Look at me please?" Sarah started sliding her hand up and down his arm.

Chuck tried to resist, until he heard "Ok, you have forced my hand."

Sarah started to lift up the bed sheet and leaned in to kiss his thigh. When she got to a certain area, she pulled her head up and smiled, while she continued to rub him underneath the sheet.

"Hey, Hey" Chuck yelled.

"Oh good, you are awake, hmmm in more ways than one I feel."

"We have no time for that right now; the President will be here any second to debrief us."

Chuck scrambled to cover himself with a pillow.

"You are so evil", Chuck glared at Sarah.

"I play to win Chuck, or have you never noticed?" Sarah replied with a twinkle in her eye.

Just as Chuck was about to respond the door opened…

"Hello Chuck, How are you feeling?" The President asked.

"Like I died and was brought back through a garbage compactor." Sarah looked shocked at Chuck and smacked his arm.

"Well, look at it this way Chuck, at least you are alive and your getting some rest and healing. Sarah, you are looking much better now that our boy is back among the living."

"Yes Mr. President, he kept his promise to me" she replied smiling at the President and giving Chuck's hand a heartfelt squeeze.

"Well this won't take long. Colonel Casey has already briefed me on what happened in the interrogation rooms and Sarah, while I don't condone what you did, but I do understand."

Chuck looked at Sarah, who looked away at the same time; he then returned his attention to the President.

"Chuck, we just need to discuss our handling of General Beckman and Agent Rhodes."

"Leave Beckman alone."

"WHAT?" Both the President and Sarah exclaimed.

"Until we are back from our honeymoon, I want her left alone. Was what she did reprehensible, yes. But she would never betray her countrymen, and besides, Beckman is very image conscious. I know how to take her down, but we can do it later."

"Mr. President, I think we should have the 1st interagency summit."

The President countered "How about in four weeks, that gives you time to get back from your honeymoon, decompress, and then tour your new base of operations. Then lay some ground work to get it up and running."

"Deal"

"Now about Agent Rhodes?" the President asked.

"How about we bury her in the sand on the beach and let the crabs eat her." Sarah mumbled.

"I am sorry what?" the President asked.

Chuck shot Sarah a look, and she just turned her head. She crossed her legs, and bounced her right leg atop her left vigorously.

Chuck then looked at the President and replied "I want to talk with her personally, and Sarah you will be there to help me."

Sarah's ears perked up, and she turned towards Chuck.

As the President turned to leave, he made one last remark. "Oh and Chuck"

Both Sarah and Chuck looked up "Yes, Sir?"

"I know you call this an interrogation, but be forewarned, I will not tolerate any interrogations that will cause bodily harm. If any more harm is come to the prisoner, you will answer directly to me is that understood?"

"You don't have to worry about that Mr. President; I would never harm a woman physically, now mentally, I cannot, and will not, say the same."

Matthew Santos had heard conviction come from the mouths of his soldiers before. When they were flying over the skies of IRAQ, during Desert Storm, he had heard it from those who served it underneath him. Some made it back some didn't.

He bowed his head and rubbed his temple. "Just make sure that she can still be a functioning member of society"

"Sir, you misunderstand, she will be fine, but I will leave no doubts in her mind, that I love my wife. Will never leave my wife and that if she ever crosses us again, I will not stop my wife from gutting her like a fish."

Sarah cringed just for a second the return of the new confident Chuck had returned and that scared her, but she now knew that the vulnerable Chuck, her REAL Chuck was still in there trying to come out.

"Very well, Oh, and Chuck, wheels up in 24 hours, do you know where you're going yet?"

"Yes, sir Jekyll island, Ga. Its remote, a small rural community, and there is a secure naval base not to far away if anything comes up. Of course, there's also a beach." Chuck smiled at Sarah.

"I'm very familiar with Jekyll; it's fairly secure, and not a huge tourist spot. I have to admit, I love the place. My first born was conceived there. You never know, you might love it too, I'll let the pilots know their destination."

Chuck looked over at Sarah and thought, Is my kick ass ninja girl blushing?

Sarah was wheeling Chuck down the hallway towards the interrogation cells. As they rounded the corner, she leaned down and asked him "Chuck sweetie are you sure you want to do this, and are you sure that you really want me here?"

"My dear, I need you to do just one thing for me. Just wheel me in there and kind of push me into the table and yell …whispering in her ear… I will do the rest, just follow my lead."

The guard saw Sarah wheeling Chuck towards the room. He readied to open the door.

Sammie heard the door being unlocked, and looked towards the door. Sarah backed in and pulled Chuck into the room. As Sammie saw Sarah's silhouette, she flinched slightly, and readied herself for yet another attack.

Sarah instead turned so Sammie could see a slumped over Chuck, his eyes glazed over, seemingly devoid of life and drool just dripping from his crooked lips.

"YOU SEE! DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID TO THIS BEAUTIFUL MAN! A MAN WHO SAW PAST EVERYTHING, AND FOUND IT IN HIS HEART TO LOVE A SOULESS MONSTER LIKE ME!" Sarah knew she had augmented what Chuck had told her to say, but she couldn't pass up the chance to let Chuck know how much he had changed her, what her life would be like without him. She shoved Chuck into the table in front of her.

"Take a good look at what you did to him, and I will be back in a few minutes after I have collected myself."

As soon as the door slammed shut Sarah leaned her head against the wall, and a flood of tears rushed out of her eyes.

Meanwhile Sammie slowly agonizingly reached out to move a tuft of Chuck's hair. Her hand trembling more and more as it got closer to Chuck.

"CChuck"

Just as her hand touched his hair, his eyes shot up and his face straightened out, his back went straight and rigid. A moment of recognition flew across his face as he registered just what had been done to the once beautiful woman in front of him. She was still a pretty woman, but more in the homely sense now. She would never again be the striking beauty that she was once before no matter how much surgery they put her through.

Chuck slammed his fists on the table "Tell me what did they promise you, what did they promise you to betray your team like this?"

"Chuck I, I, I did it for us."

Chuck starred at her for a moment and then ran his fingers thru his hair.

"Sammie, what exactly did they promise you?"

"That they would wipe out your feelings for Sarah, and that we could be together for life, in love, and in partnership."

"They tried to take my mind and soul. Did Beckman put you up to this?"

"I am sorry, I don't understand?"

"Did Beckman force you to do be a part of this hair brained scheme?"

"Wha..No! Chuck I told you I did this for me, for us." Chuck grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

"THERE is no us, there will never be a you and me."

Pointing to his ring, "This this right here, is my life, my love. That woman out there probably in tears, is the only woman who I will ever love. How could I love someone who tried to force me to love them?"

"But Chuck it wasn't….we were supposed to be in love, and have children, they promised."

"Frak" Chuck was not expecting this to go this way he wiped his lip that was filled with sweat. He then had an idea.

He strode over to the door, yanked it open and grabbed Sarah. He pulled her into the room with them, and slammed the door shut again.

"Sammie, look at me, look at us."

When her eyes would not meet theirs he kicked the table "NOW"

She looked up with tears in her eyes and she heard him say "This is love. This is passion. This is commitment."

He slid his hand behind Sarah's head. His fingers entangled with her blonde locks.

He kissed her intensely; she was shocked at first, but slowly opened her mouth to for his tongue to gain easier entrance. The passion that radiated off them flooded through the room. Their tongues danced no dueled for supremacy. Her hands snaked around his back and she clung to him as if she may never see him again. Slowly their lips parted, little nips at both lips played out until they were both spent from the most passion filled kiss they had shared since their wedding night.

As Sarah regained her composure, and used the wall to keep her wobbly legs straight, she felt her lips swell from the force and passion of the kiss. Chuck turned to Sammie.

He saw the look on her face, and saw that she finally understood. That their love would never, could never, be denied, and god help the next person who gets in their way.

"Sammie, I make this promise to you, I will do my best to help you, you will go to prison but I will make sure that you are treated right. Although, if you ever come near me or my family again, I will let my wife finish what she started in this room. Are we clear?"

She nodded solemnly, as Chuck and Sarah turned and walked out the door.

Chuck collapsed against the same wall that Sarah had. They could hear the sobs coming from the room they just left.

"Sarah what did I just do?"

End chapter 21