I don't own Chuck

Two weeks ago

"For the love of God, don't sing it," Bryce pleaded.

"The hills are alive….with the sound of…musiccccc," Chuck sang. Bryce disappeared, making Chuck happy. For most of the drive they had argued back and forth. Bryce kept insisting that Sarah was not going to forgive him for this, and Chuck argued that he was going to explain everything to her, because that's what grown adults did, have a conversation.

Bryce insisted Sarah didn't talk and Chuck kept silent. Sarah didn't talk, but she did communicate, you just had to listen, observe, and trust what you were being told by her. Sarah Walker was about action, about doing, and that was her language. Chuck had had nothing but time the past few weeks and thinking back over their time together, he now truly understood what Sarah was telling him. She cared about him.

Bryce had told Chuck that Sarah wasn't going with him right before he died. Barstow had been a moment of almost, but because of their continual luck it hadn't happened. Chuck didn't know what Sarah was going to say or do when she found him, but he would talk to her, and he would until she listened. He was going to explain everything, and then trust in her the way she deserved to be trusted.

As he pulled into the safe house, he looked around. Sarah had done right again. It was isolated, a trail ran up one of the hills in the back. There were trees perfect for chopping wood. "Still gonna do your 'Rocky' training?" Bryce asked.

"So you get to pop up whenever you want to if you go away?" Chuck replied.

"I guess, you're the one with me in your head," Bryce said with a shrug. "Listen we have to talk."

"Not now," Chuck said, and Bryce disappeared. Bryce was right, Chuck had to build up his endurance, and he was going to do it old school style. Chuck sighed. This was gonna suck.

-ooooo-

Now

Ellie watched Daniel Shaw leave her apartment. Hopefully this would be the last time she had to see him. She had made Daniel tell her everything. She glanced at her far wall that connected with John Casey's apartment. John Casey was NSA. That did not surprise her one bit. He had the build, the demeanor, but more importantly, it made sense why he protected Chuck. She wasn't an idiot, she knew something was off about Chuck and Sarah. She also knew something was off about Casey. She hadn't put it all together, but she knew something had been going on.

She had some suspicion that Casey was actually Sarah's father and that's why Chuck and Sarah were so hot and cold. Chuck had a plan, Stephen had a plan, but it was time for Ellie to enact her plan. She knew people, she was a brain doctor, and she read people like a book. There was one thing she knew, John Casey respected the hell out of her brother, and now she knew why he did.

Ellie was sure Chuck hadn't counted on Daniel Shaw to be so hounding with Chuck's family, and she had to help Chuck, or his plan was dead before it even began. She was tired of having to fake tears when Daniel was around talking about Chuck. She got up, walked out her door, across the courtyard, and over to John's apartment. She rapped on the door.

The door opened and there stood John Casey. He was nervous, she could tell, and that made her smile on the inside. "I think you better let me in," she said softly. "We don't want to have this conversation out here in the courtyard." John grunted, opened the door, and moved out of the way. Ellie entered and made her way to his living room. It was furnished exactly how she thought it would be.

"So he told you everything," Casey said pulling her out of her thoughts. Ellie turned and faced John. She swore he swallowed. "Your brother saved lives countless times. He was a true American hero, Ellie."

"Is," Ellie said. John gave her a confused look. "He is a true American hero." John's eyes widened. "But, I think you already suspect that." John cleared his throat. "I need your help, John. If he is to stay safe and pull this off, Daniel Shaw needs to quit coming to see me. It's upsetting."

John nodded. "I can take care of that."

"How much damage has he done?" Ellie asked. John remained stoic looking. "Oh, come on! We both know he's out there wrecking havoc if he faked his own death!"

The corners of John's mouth turned up. "They have no idea what the hell hit them," John told her. "You're sure he's alive?"

"You sure I can trust you?" Ellie countered.

John Casey walked over, picked up a bible and a picture of Ronald Regan, put his hand over both, and spoke. "I swear."

"He's alive," Ellie told him.

-ooooo-

Chuck was chopping wood, the way he had been for the last two weeks. While there wasn't massive muscles, his endurance was greatly improving. He felt stronger, and more importantly, he was keeping his body busy while he thought about his next move. That's when he felt it, two eyes on his back.

"Chuck!" he heard. He turned around and saw her standing there. Her eyes were holding his, piercing into him. Her face a mask. He had no idea what she was thinking.

"Sarah, thank God you found me," he said. She walked to him, stopping right in front of him. "I've got so much to tell-" She slapped him across the face, so hard he wondered if his jaw wouldn't unhinge. He turned back to her, rubbing it, and working it. "Okay, that's fair. I deserved-" He stopped talking as she grabbed his face in her hands, pulling him in for a kiss. He forgot everything he was going to say. He forgot every thought in his head. All he knew was she had found him, and maybe now they had a shot at something real.