It has been a long time. I know that I promised to not stop until it was finished. I am not stopping and it is not finished. I have been working a lot, trying to write my dissertation prospectus, and training a new principal at our school. Additionally, I had some health issues along the way that needed attention. Summer is here! A little more time to write, and a little less stress! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry again for the long delay.

Chapter 28-

Had it been nearly two months since that night? Chuck looked down in the bassinet at the form of his sleeping son, David. David Bartowski was born November 2, 2012, and at nearly two months old, he was already showing the signs of being a good mixture of his mother and father. He had these sandy colored curls and bright blue eyes, and a smile that knocked people out. Chuck didn't care that Casey said it was just him passing gas. He was still smiling, and in their world, that was sometimes more valuable than gold. He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear Sarah behind him. She walked up and placed her head on his shoulder with her arms around his waist.

"You know we can't watch him sleep forever?" She whispered in Chuck's ear.

Chuck just smiled and turned his head to kiss her on the temple and then allowed himself to be pulled to bed. Climbing in he looked at Sarah lying there next to him, "Do you think it's time to move him to his room and the crib?"

"Chuck, I just don't feel comfortable with that yet. You know what dangers are out there and we've only just begun to make headway to eliminating that threat."

Chuck nodded and lay there thinking about the last two months, and all the highs and lows they brought.

Late November 1, 2012

Chuck was not prepared for this night. The contractions were about 5 minutes apart, and he did not realize it could take hours before their child entered the world. He walked with her and supported when contractions hit. He held her hand, stroked her hair, but most of all he talked her down. Chuck had heard horror stories of women cursing, threatening, and generally blaming their husbands for…. Well everything, like they didn't say yes and enjoy themselves. Well, some might have jerks for husbands who only cared about themselves, but anyone who knew Chuck and Sarah knew that any form of love between them was mutual and equal. Still, he had prepared himself for the scary form of Sarah. Some version close to when he fell through the skylight on the Augusto mission.

Chuck was not prepared for this night. She practically begged him not to leave. She pleaded for him to hold her. He supported her as she walked the halls trying to speed up the contractions. Do a lap and then hook back to monitor for a few minutes, then do another lap. She wouldn't let him leave for ice. Instead, a nurse got it for her. Finally, on one trip to the ice machine, while the nurse was out, Chuck asked, "Sarah, why are clinging to me like this? This is not like you, and it's kinda freaking me out."

"Chuck, listen…" she had to pause to catch her breath from the contraction. "Graham is alive and evil. Our unknown enemies just increased exponentially, and I am extremely vulnerable right now. You can't leave me and the baby, I can't defend us."

That was it! Chuck was in full protection mode. Nothing happened that night, well, Chuck didn't know at that time that something did indeed happen, it wasn't until many years later that a few shared drinks in a relaxed atmosphere allowed Carina to share what happened and for Casey to become embarrassed.

Casey and Carina delivered Graham to the holding facility within their compound. Once they knew he was secure, Casey left Carina to watch over him while he went to the hospital.

"Casey, I am going, and you can stay. Sarah is my sister…"

"Cover sister."

"Whatever, she is my friend, and I should be there with her. She needs someone to look after her."

"Negative. You're still recovering, and we don't know what danger might show itself at the hospital. I, however, am in perfect shape for dealing with some bad guys."

Carina took a moment to think about it. "Fine." She huffed as she sat back down in her chair and decided to give in knowing John was right.

Back at the hospital, while Sarah was delivering her son, John Casey was keeping watch on their floor. To say that that the Graham situation had sat him on edge was an understatement. In fact, if Carina had not tapped into the security cameras she would have never believed that Casey tranqued two orderlies, a nurse, a civilian visitor and three Syndicate goons that showed up to take the Bartowskis. She often wondered what all those people thought when they woke up in the same room together.

In the recovery room, Chuck was amazed. He sat beside Sarah and David and watched them sleep. His son was snuggled into his mommy's side, and she had him pulled close. He couldn't take his eyes off the sight. They looked so beautiful. He could almost let out an Ellie squeal. He rolled his neck as he heard the light knock on the door.

"Speak of the devil," Chuck called out as Ellie stuck her head in the room. "Hey sis, what're you doing here?"

"I just came by to check-in on you guys and to give you a break," Ellie spoke as she glanced over her shoulder. Carina walked in behind her.

"Hey, Carina. Look everyone's asleep. Let's step out in the hallway." Chuck motioned with his head, and everyone followed. "What's up?"

"Casey sent me to here. Three guys came here last night, but he intercepted them. He needs you and your brain at the Lair. I'll stay here and keep watch."

"I'll stay as well," Ellie added.

"Ok." Chuck just nodded and went back inside. When they followed, they saw him leaned over the bed talking to Sarah, "I'll be back. I love you, both of you."

-0-

Chuck walked the hallway with Casey behind him. Stopping in front of the door, he took a deep breath and punched in the code. There before him sat Langston Graham former spymaster. Graham looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, Mr. Bartowski. How is our future little spy doing?"

"Langston, I would say it's good to see you, but then I would be lying, and I was taught never to tell a lie."

"Kind of goes against being a spy doesn't, Chuck?"

Casey watched the two through the observation window with interest. He was recording this session, but everyone knew the tapes would never leave the building. Even still he was surprised by the even coldness in Chuck's voice when he responded.

"You're right. I guess I'm a rare type of spy. The kind that tells the truth or simply doesn't let people know. I've learned a secret is not a lie, and you don't have to answer someone, but in your case, I will tell you what I'm thinking. I'm thinking you're going to die very slowly in this room telling me every one of your secrets, and then I'm going to present the tape to Beckman and my wife as a present. So, where should we begin?"

Casey turned from the equipment to the window just in time to see Chuck flash and then drop his heel on the top of Graham's right knee. The sound of ligaments popping was evident just before Graham screamed in pain.

"Now that we know you'll never run again. Tell me all about your plans and the plans of those you are working for or with."

"Go to…" The words were never finished. The next sound to come from Graham was the noise of more ligaments popping as Chuck shattered the structural integrity of his left shoulder with a well-placed .45 caliber hollow point round.

"I must warn you that you need to be nice. Dead men have no rights, and you sir, died a long time ago in an explosion. That means that there are no rules in here, so don't think for a minute, I'm who I once was, or that I'm bound by some code of conduct. I'm a husband and father, and though I'm not normally like this, you and people like you have pushed me to this point. If I may, I would like to quote the character John Rambo here, 'when you're pushed, killing is as easy as breathing,' and you, Langston, are about to witness a man who has been pushed far enough."

John Casey had stopped recording. He was busy preparing to write anything that came from this session, but he was no longer recording. No one, not even Sarah, would know about this session. It would be something that Chuck and he took to their graves, and it would never be spoken of once it ended. When asked, the only answer ever given was that Graham gave them the information they needed. However, it would be the lowest point in Chuck's life. Yet he knew that to protect his family, it was what Chuck needed to do.

-0-

Chuck was tired. He and Sarah had been learning to adjust to caring for their son while Casey and Carina hunted down the leads given to them by Graham. Graham had breathed his last providing insight into the inner workings of the Syndicate. His information revealed an organization comprised of high-level spies and specialist who were bent on establishing a militant rule. How many more nights could he stare at the ceiling patterns or look over to the red light glowing on the baby monitor, carefully listening to the sound of David breathing. Looking at his sleeping wife, he decided to sneak out of bed and do some deeper research in locating Richardson. The one thing that had frustrated him was how in November Graham poured his information out, and then as the weeks stretched out into months and the seasons changed. Seven months later, it was summer and they were no closer to locating the man responsible for the capital being used by this rogue group to not only threaten freedom but the life of his family. He had lost his mother, father, and a piece of himself over the years. For a time, Sarah had been taken from him, and why? Because Fulcrum, Volkoff, and the Ring were portions of this group and they all wanted super spies to breed and build an army to control the populace of the world by controlling the information of the world. He was tired, but he fired up the computer anyways.

As he searched, he began tracing money trails throughout a series of transfers and business fronts. As the hours of the night began to dwindle and the morning quickly approached, Chuck began to think it was going to be another useless night, and then it happened. A file popped up, and as he scanned the document, he realized that he had just found a break. He soon became so engrossed in reading that he nearly lost it when Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

"Good morning, Chuck."

"Hey, babe. You scared me, but I managed to not wake the baby up this time. Which reminds me, are you ever going to cease having ninja skills?"

"Not likely. When we're old and gray, I'll still be able to sneak up on you."

"Sure. I'll be deaf. The question is will you be able to sneak up on the grandkids?"

"Hmmm, grandkids. I love the sound of that. What have you found to keep our grandchildren safe?"

"How do you know I found something?"

"I was able to sneak up on you and you not notice."

"I did find something. There is a lot of money flowing in and out of this bank in the middle of….." Chuck delayed as he clicked his mouse, "Dallas."

"Dallas. You mean Texas?"

"Yeah, the 'Big D.'"

Sarah leaned over and looked at the screen. It looks like this bank is the epicenter of activity."

"Comerica seems to have several accounts that appear to be what we've been looking for all these months. I am going to prepare a flight to go look it over."

"Wait a minute. You are not going alone. Remember, no lies, no secrets, and no missions without me."

"I thought it was no missions by myself. I was going to get Carina to go with me."

"Oh, is that right. The wife gets to stay behind why someone else goes along and pretends to be the wife?"

"Not just someone. It's Carina."

"Oh, and that makes it better."

"You know you said that to me on the first day we saw each other."

"Don't change the subject. You are not going alone. I have not been away from this house in months. I love our son, but Chuck, I am going stir crazy."

"Ok. I will see if Ellie can keep David for a few days while we fly out, look around, and then fly back."

"Now that sounds like a plan." Sarah smiled as she walked away. When she looked back, she saw Chuck watching her, so she placed a little more sway in her hips and said, "I am heading back to bed, if someone was inclined to join me."

Chuck practically knocked over the chair as he rose and followed, "I might know someone."

-0-

California is hot, and it is not uncommon to have high temperatures in Los Angeles during June, but LA has an ocean breeze. Dallas on the other hand, well Dallas was just hot. They had landed at DFW airport, claimed their luggage, and rode a transport bus over to the rental garage. Why, considering they owned their own jet, both were qualified pilots, and they could have had an agency vehicle waiting for their arrival? They were trying to fly under the radar. They were not Chuck and Sarah Carmichael. They were Charles and Sarah Charles. It seemed she was never going to let him live that fiasco down. Yet, here they are. Walking hand in hand into a bank that may very well hold the information that they need to finally end the threat against their lives.

"Hi, can I help you?" The receptionist greeted as they entered the lobby of the bank.

"Why yes, I think you can, darling. My name is Charles, but people call me Charlie, and this is my beloved, Sarah. We are the Charleses, and we would like to talk to someone about moving a business account of ours from Washington, DC to a little closer to home."

"Well, I am sure someone can help you. If you would just fill these out, and I will get you fixed up with one of our account specialists."

"Thank you. You hear that Sarah, they're going to get us fixed up with a specialist."

"I heard her, Charlie. Now, sweetheart, don't forget that we need to make sure that we also get a safety deposit box to ensure that all our oil deeds are kept nice and safe." Sarah was playing up the part and enjoying herself when she noticed the men coming in the bank. From the look of the suits, their haircuts, and deportment, she knew she was looking at agents of some sort. "Come here, baby and give me a hug. I am so excited that was are going to have our money closer to home."

As Chuck leaned in to give her a hug, she whispered, "We have agents just entering the bank."

"Are you sure? I didn't flash. Did you flash?"

"No, but look at them and use your spy training. Don't rely on the Intersect. Trust your instincts."

"You're right. I wonder who they work for, and what they're doing here."

Just then the receptionist interrupted their whispered conversation, "Mr. Mallory is available to see you."

"Wonderful. Shall we go, Sarah?"

"I'll be right there. I need to use the ladies room."

"Of course, you don't mind if my wife catches up?" Chuck stated more than asked.

"No, sir. She can join us in a moment. Mrs. Charles, the ladies room is just down the hall and the second door on the left."

"Thank you. I'll be just a minute, Charlie." As she leaned in to hug him again, "I am going to try and lift some identification off those guys." Chuck kissed her cheek, "Be careful."

Sarah smiled as she walked away. Moving through the bank, she closed the distance between her and the men standing in line. As she passed, she applied just enough pressure on the outside of her foot to snap her heel off. Of course, this gave her an excuse to stumble into the men. She quickly lifted their credentials while apologizing for being clumsy. With their credentials secured, she walked into the office.

"Mrs. Charles, I am glad you could join us. Please, be seated." Mr. Mallory then pointed to the empty seat next to Chuck. "Charles. I'm sorry. Charlie tells me that you want to transfer money from your bank in DC to here and open a safety deposit box."

"Well if that is what Charlie wants, he knows best how to take care of us."

"Ok then, let's get this party started."

"Yes, let's." Sarah and Chuck both smiled. It was just a short time later that they exited the building and crossed the street to their car.

"Ok, what do you have?" Chuck was leaning over trying to look at the wallets in Sarah's lap.

"Just drive. We'll look at them in a minute. Drive to the hotel, and we don't forget to use anti-surveillance methods when driving."

"Yes, dear. Anything else I need to do as we head to the hotel?"

"Yes. Drive the speed limit. We don't need any zealous cops looking too closely at us."

"Got it."

-0-

Back in the hotel room, Chuck and Sarah were looking up the agents in the CIA and NSA databases. None of them were coming up despite having non-forged credentials in both agencies.

"Sarah, should we inform Beckman?"

"No, Chuck. It is clear that they have been deleted from the files, and that there is a mole in our organization. For seven months people have been ahead of us, and it is time to find out what is going on and who might be in control right now."

"Ok. No Beckman. Hey, where are you going?"

"Come on. It is time to locate these guys and tail them."

-0-

It didn't take long before they were following the mystery agents to an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. It was there that they saw the en get out of their black SUV and enter the building.

Chuck and Sarah entered through an open window on the far side of the building. As they approached the meeting room, they were not prepared for the next revelation in this big mix of people from their lives.

"Alright, mates. What were you able to find out at the bank?"

"Sir Barker, you were right. It looks like the bank is the center of all that is wrong."

"Of course, I was right. Now if you'll forgive me. Chuck, Sarah, come out. I know you're here and hiding to find out who my men are and why they are not in your database. Come on, I know you're there. Come out and say hi to your old pal, Cole."

Chuck and Sarah looked at one another and then slowly emerged from the shadows. "Barker," Sarah spoke as they exited.

"Barker? Come on love, you can call me Cole. Especially, after all that, we went through together."

"Together, we were never together, you pompous…"

"Chuck, good to see you. Still at the spy game are ya? I thought by now your time as an asset would have run its course."

"It did. I am an agent now."

Cole walked up to Sarah and took her hands. His thumb ran over her wedding ring, and he looked down, "Nice to see that the agencies are providing better props these days."

Sarah pulled her hands away, "They're not props."

"That Bryce fellow?"

Chuck coughed, "Nope. This fellow."

"No way. Well, congratulations. Who would have thought that the great Sarah Walker would settle down with an asset?"

"Agent!" Sarah hissed as she looked at Cole.

"Agent. Well, agents, how about we talk about why we were both in the same bank. Let me guess, you're here to see if this is Richardson's new headquarters. Let me save you the trouble, it is indeed his new headquarters."

"How do you know?"

"I've been able to get someone on the inside of the bank that is feeding me info, Charles. Two months ago, people and money began to flow through that bank. It seems that there are three main areas that hold the secure data we both seek. What do you say? Are you two up for a bank heist?"