A/N: Last chapter the team had a call with General Beckman. She confirmed that Chuck will not be a spy, but an analyst in the field. She also advised they will start missions based on intel from Daniel Shaw. Chuck flashed and they worked out his wife was Sarah's Red Test. They are now wary of any information from Shaw. In this chapter, we will see how their first mission goes.
Thanks for reviews. People seem to like this more, now that the relationship is both real and happy.
As usual, thanks to JohnnyRayChandlett for pre-reading and his great suggestions.
Beta free zone.
Disclaimer: I neither own, nor make money from Chuck.
Prove Yourself
Chapter 9 – First mission
General Beckman had been understandably disturbed to hear the news about Daniel Shaw. She was obviously glad she had refused to let him join the team, as a leader or anything else. She was going to discuss this with her equivalent in the CIA. However, their first mission wasn't based on information from Shaw, so would proceed.
Sarah knew she would have difficulty concentrating. She was still reeling from what she had learnt in the morning. The general, unexpectedly, had shown some compassion and told her to take some time off, but Sarah had asked to just stay with her team and listen quietly.
Casey started getting agitated. "Haven't you personally given me the order to kill that commie crackpot on three separate occasions?"
The general gave him a cold stare. "And three times, you have failed to complete your orders."
Normally, Sarah would have teased him about that, saying something like "I thought you said you had a perfect record." However, today, she didn't feel any desire to do that. After all, he was supporting her relationship with Chuck.
The general continues, "Our relations with Costa Gravas have changed, Colonel. The premier is here to announce plans to open his nation up to democratic elections."
Casey couldn't seem to stop himself and replies, sarcastically, "Oh, and you believe that?"
This isn't like Casey, normally so respectful of the chain of command. There is obviously more to this than just failed missions.
Beckman ignores Casey's comment, but still staring at the Colonel, continues, "Our duty is to stop anyone who would stop him from going through with his plan. Understood?"
Casey finally behaves professionally. "Yes, ma'am."
The issue is that the premier has been shot while here in LA and has been rushed to hospital.
Sarah asks, "So, we're assuming this was an assassination attempt?"
The general replies, "We're not assuming anything until we've secured his medical records. That brings me to your assignment. The premier is being treated at..."
Chuck interrupts her. "Let me guess. Westside Medical?"
The woman on the screen stares at him. "Correct."
Sarah can immediately see both the solution and a problem. Ellie and Devon.
Chuck asks, "General, are you suggesting that I exploit my sister and/or brother-in-law to acquire confidential medical records for governmental use?"
Beckman acknowledges this. "Yes, Chuck, that's exactly what I'm suggesting."
He looks shocked. "Wait. Hold on a second, General."
The general doesn't let him speak and says, "If anything happens to the premier, I'm holding you responsible." With that, she ended the call.
Chuck sits looking shocked, then looks at Sarah and Casey. "I can't do this!"
Sarah is torn between agent mode and girlfriend mode. Her eyes full of sympathy says, "I can't see any way around it, Chuck. Can you?"
He looks at her. "Yes, I can hack into the hospital system and get the data. We don't have to involve Ellie or Devon at all."
Casey grunts, an affirmative grunt, and verbally responds, as well. "Do it."
Chuck turns to his laptop and gets started.
Sarah turns to Casey and whispers, "You know we will have to provide the premier with protection, too."
He looks at her and sighs, before whispering back, "I know."
Chuck turns to them. "They have him in the hospital, for sure, but he hasn't been examined yet. I'll keep checking. We don't need to involve my sister or brother-in-law."
Sarah placed a hand on his arm. "Okay, Chuck. They'll be fine."
He looks at her hand and then back at her face with an appreciative look.
Two hours later, Casey, Sarah and Chuck were watching the news on one of the large screens.
"In a miraculous turn of events, the Costa Gravan premier is being released from the hospital just hours after being rushed to the emergency room. Right now, we go to Westside Medical for a live press conference."
They are looking at Devon in the middle at the table.
Reporters were calling to him. "Dr. Woodcomb?"
One finally asks, "It was reported that the premier suffered heart failure. How do you account for his amazing recovery?"
Devon looks at the camera. "I can only say this. The premier is an amazing man, a real fighter."
Casey mutters, "I'm gonna be sick."
More reporters call Devon's name.
Then one asks a question in Spanish. Surprisingly, Devon repeats the question in English, "What is the probability of the premier returning to work?" Sarah notes that he correctly translates it.
He replies, all in Spanish. Although Chuck probably won't understand, Sarah definitely can. Devon is basically saying that the probability of that happening was "very Awesome." Chuck certainly understands the last word, which is in English. "Awesome."
Hearing Devon talking so well in a foreign language, Sarah looks to Chuck. "Is there anything your brother-in-law can't do?"
Chuck shrugs. "Well, thus the nickname."
Casey says, "Okay, enough sitting around. We need to figure out what really happened to the premier. Let's go apprehend the good doctor, get those medical records out of him."
Chuck turns to him and says, "Nobody is apprehending anybody. He's family. If that becomes necessary, I will talk to him. He's family. Before that, however, I will secure the medical records electronically."
Sarah looks at the two men. "Go ahead, Chuck, but Casey, Devon's a civilian and, as Chuck says, one of his family members. 'Bringing him in' would blow our cover wide open. That is absolutely last resort."
She gets a grunt and Casey walks off.
Chuck is already tapping away at the keyboard. "Got it!"
Sarah calls out, "Casey, you need to come back. Chuck has the records."
Once they are all together, Chuck looks at Sarah, standing next to the Colonel. She nods giving him an encouraging look. "The medical records show that he had the symptoms of a heart attack. That's the official reason recorded. However, there is a separate note that his potassium level was very high."
Casey states, "Poisoned."
Sarah says, "We need to tell Beckman."
Chuck looks very nervous. "What about me hacking into the records? She can't find out!"
Casey looks at him. "You do know everything you say here is recorded, Numbnuts!"
Sarah doesn't like that and growls, "He knows it, but is still worried about the general's reaction."
The NSA agent turns to her. "If that had been a problem, we would already have heard from her."
This was true. Beckman must be turning a blind eye.
Casey makes the call and Beckman appears on the screen. "That was quick. You can't have got the information from the doctor yet." She wasn't asking a question, just stating a fact.
Sarah steps in, wanting the general to know that Chuck had made an impact. Again. "Our Analyst…" All eyes turn to Chuck. "… has found a way to get the information without blowing our cover story."
The general raises an eyebrow. "What have you found out?"
Chuck tells her. She looks impressed. "Well done. Earning your pay, it seems."
Looking at them all, she continues, "We have to assume that there is an assassin still in play. There's an event at the Costa Gravan Consulate this evening. I need this team there to guard the premier."
Casey asks, "You want us to break in?"
This doesn't seem right to Sarah. She states, "Technically, that's invading sovereign soil."
Beckman states, "That is why the CIA and NSA have no official knowledge of this mission."
Chuck had been frowning and now asks his question. "General, why don't we just tell the premier that his life is in danger?"
She obviously wasn't impressed with that, but answers, "Would you trust a country that spent the better part of three decades trying to kill you? Your protection must go undetected." She ends the call.
Chuck starts to bluster. "What? So, that-that's... that's it? If we get busted, then the CIA disavows us, and then we rot for the rest of our lives in a Costa Gravan prison?
Sarah is also thinking this is not a good idea. "In Costa Gravas, the punishment for sedition is death by firing squad."
Casey smiles. "Just my kind of mission. Too bad I have to recuse myself."
That just gets Chuck going again. "What? He's bailing? You're bailing on us?"
Casey continues, "I can't show my face on Costa Gravan soil, I'm a wanted man. You know what they'd do if they knew I was in Los Angeles? I spilled more blood than that Mickey Mouse revolution than any other..." He stops at the look on Chuck's face.
Sarah can't see it, as she's behind Chuck, but she clearly hears his remark. "Don't you think you're being a little paranoid?"
Casey just remarks, "They call me el Angel de la Muerte."
Chuck can't seem to stop. "The Angel of Death. Please." He then continues his comments. Sarah realizes that's because he's panicking and moves to calm him down.
Before she gets to Chuck, they hear movement outside and, moving to the blinds, see armed men in the courtyard.
Casey quickly gets weapons for Sarah and himself.
Before the pair rush out, Chuck intervenes. "They are not here for you, Casey. They're here for Devon"
He points outside. They all watch as the men approach Ellie and Devon's apartment. One knocks on the door.
Chuck tries ringing his sister, but gets no reply. Then, they all see Devon open the door and talk to the man in front of him. Ellie joins him.
Chuck reacts, "Stay put. I'm going in."
Sarah grabs him, stopping him. "They're not in danger. You would put them in danger, as well as yourself. Watch."
He opens the door and does more than just watch, he listens, too.
Sarah relaxes, thinking he's actually listened to her for once. She moves back to the window to watch.
She doesn't notice Chuck leap out until she sees many, many guns pointing at him. Her heart stops. Thinking she is about to lose the man she loves; she wants to leap out to save him. Casey holds her back, saying, "Watch."
Chuck talks and Ellie does too. The man turns. It is the premier. He walks to Chuck smiling and pointing to Chuck's face. He turns back and hugs Devon before turning and all the men walk away.
Chuck turns and gives a thumbs up to Sarah and Casey.
After he embraces his sister, she and Devon go back into their apartment and Chuck walks to the parking lot, obviously not wanting to be seen going back into Casey's apartment.
Sarah follows him to her car. She has been trying to calm herself down after the fright he has just given him. She should berate him for risking his life. She'd done that sort of thing before. Now, almost in tears from that fear, she can't do that, being so relieved that he survived.
When she gets to him, he is about to start talking, but she grabs the collar of his white shirt and pulls him to her. She kisses him hard. He kisses her back for a few seconds, then tries to pull back, obviously wanting to tell her what happened. She won't let him, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him even more fiercely. He wraps his arms around her back and lets her.
When she finally releases him, she speaks first, confessing, "Chuck, I thought I was going to lose you! I can't lose you, now we are finally together!"
She is surprised at herself, sounding so dependent. Thank God he's not an asset anymore, or I would be compromised like no agent before!
Keeping his arms around her waist, he replies, "It's alright, Sarah. I knew it wouldn't be a risk. He was inviting Devon and Ellie to the gala. I saw a chance to get invited, too."
Her jaw drops, then, somewhat in awe, she asks, "And did you?"
He beams at her. "Yep."
She just wants to drag him back to her apartment to give him a reward, but knows they need to update Casey and the general. She whispers in his ear, "Tonight, I'll need to blend in, so may not wear anything daring, but whatever it is, you can help me take it off later."
She feels him freeze, but she doesn't want to move anyway.
As they walk into the gala, Chuck is obviously worried for his sister and brother-in-law. Sarah is worried for him. She never used to be so nervous. He's broken me!
She doesn't want them to separate, but knows they'll have to. That's what's worrying her. She also knows how well he'll operate if he just worries about the other couple. She needs to help him and take on all the worry herself. I can control this, it's what I do.
While standing on a balcony, looking out at all the people below, she turns to her man. "I know you're nervous, Chuck, but I also know how the Intersect works when you get nervous." She grips his hand, reassuringly. "To protect them, you're going to have to focus." Looking down at their joined hands for a second, he nods, then looks at her appreciatively, too.
He quickly scans the room and talks into his watch. "Casey, I got guards with submachine guns at both the north and west exits."
Casey's voice comes clearly to her ear piece. "Yeah, copy that. Main doors have hidden metal detectors. Someone should go around back, check the service entrance."
Sarah has been watching Chuck. She's glad he's being observant, but is worried about him and his watch. She leans into him and whispers, "Chuck, please try not to be so obvious when talking into your watch."
He looks at her and nods.
She knows they have to split up, but hopes he will stay here, safely. "I'll go check on the premier. Chuck, keep a lookout for any potential assassins. And, please stay safe." She gives him a pleading look. She's always commanded before, but it's different now.
He nods and gives her a smile.
Sarah heads down the stairs. As she nears the bottom, she sees Ellie with the premier all over her. Oh no!
She heads over to them and places her hand on Ellie's back. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
He says, "No."
Ellie smiles. "No. Sarah, this is, uh, the premier."
He smiles at Sarah. "Call me Generalissimo."
Although not thinking it, she replies, "It's an honor to meet you, sir."
He starts rambling on about Devon. Sarah knows what she needs to do. When he starts laughing at his own joke, whatever that was, she says, "Well, I'm, I'm so sorry, but I need to borrow her for a second, Generalissimo. Girl talk." She pulls Ellie away from him.
Once they reach their table, Ellie turns to her. "Thank God you rescued me. That guy's cologne was practically a WMD. So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Sarah looks over at Chuck. God! I want to tell her, but only want to do that when he's with us.
Ellie sees the look. "I'm sorry. Of course, this must be "really hard for you.
Sarah is not sure what Ellie means, so just looks puzzled.
Ellie doesn't notice and continues, "I mean, you're trying to decide whether you can get back together again and then the next minute, you're on this incredibly sexy date. Forced together."
Sarah smiles, but can't think what to say. She looks over at Chuck again. If only Chuck was over here with us. He always knows what to say.
She decides to stall. Just until the two of us can have a proper talk with her.
"I don't think that you understand our situation."
One of Sarah's inner demons laughs at that. "That's because you haven't told her!"
Thankfully, Ellie can't hear that voice. "I understand completely. I do. You know, you go through hot and cold patches. When Devon and I got married, we kind of put the passion on hold, but... being here in a place like this, it just... brings it all back, you know? It feels like it did in the beginning."
I don't need this place. I just need to get him back to my apartment!
She just smiles, looking self-conscious.
Ellie suddenly looks shocked and puts a hand over her mouth. "Oh God! I'm not pushing, am I?"
Realizing she has to say something to calm her friend down, Sarah puts her hand on Ellie's other arm. "It's fine, Ellie. I'm not going to run." She blushes, remembering that last time.
"I'm so glad, Sarah. I've missed you, y'know."
Smiling at her friend, Sarah replies with all honesty. "Thanks, Ellie. That means a lot."
Casey's voice comes through. "All right, ladies- yeah, I'm talking to you, too, Bartowski. Enough with the chitchat. Let's get back to protecting our foreign head of state, shall we?"
Sarah quickly says to Ellie. "I think something is about to happen. We should be with our partners." Ellie nods. Sarah passes Devon as they do so.
The premier is now pacing on an empty dance floor ready to make a speech. "Friends, ex-patriots, countrymen..."
Casey's voice comes through again. "Great, a speech. Makes him a walking target."
Sarah is scanning the room for that assassin, then Chuck tenses next to her. She looks back to the dance floor. The premier has pulled Ellie to dance and it doesn't look like Devon likes it. Ellie is trying to smile, but is obviously uncomfortable. Sarah looks at Chuck who looks concerned , but obviously can't see what he can do about it.
Casey then tells them about a possible mark and sends a photo to Chuck's cell phone. "Name's Pablo Alarcon. Freedom fighter. Guy spent 20 years in a Costa Gravan prison for trying to overthrow the Communist party."
Sarah spots him at the room's edge, the other side of the dance floor. She looks at her boyfriend. "Okay, I see him. We need to take him out before the guards see us. Remember, we're in Costa Gravan soil. They'll arrest us if we make a sudden move toward the premier. We need to get across that dance floor."
She then notices him flash. "Chuck?"
He pulls her onto the dance floor, saying, "Just follow my lead, huh?" He spins her.
When he pulls her back into his arms, she smiles. "Chuck, that's my line!"
"Not this time."
His dancing is so much better than last time they were together. She almost forgets where they are and why. She just revels in dancing. With my love.
Then she sees the mark again, reaching into his pocket. She is confident that Chuck can do what she's about to ask. hisses at him, "The assassin is behind you. Take him out."
He swings around and elbows the man, who crashes into the table behind him.
She dives down to the man, saying, "Oh, my God. I'm so sorry." She checks him over. A protest t-shirt under his white short and an egg rolling out of his hand.
She turns and says to Chuck, "False alarm. He's just a political protester."
Chuck lets Casey know, just before they get pulled away. "Let them sober up in the alleyway."
On the way out, Chuck looks at one of the soldiers, who gives him a strange look back.
Chuck suddenly starts shouting, "Wait. No, no! You don't understand! Premier's life is in danger."
They are pushed into a room and the door shut behind them.
Chuck turns to her. "Sarah, that guy we just passed, that other guard, he is the real assassin."
Sarah talks to Casey through her watch. "Casey, I'm out of position. The premier is completely unprotected. We need you in here."
There is nothing they can do until they get out of the room. Exploring it, she spots a door at the other end. "This way." She pulls him along.
They make it out, but can see through the window that Casey has been captured. Sarah turns to Chuck and says, "We have to get back to Castle."
The general has just told them they have to wait before trying to rescue Casey.
Chuck is getting impassioned. "Casey was doing his job."
Sarah is worried too. "Given Casey's history with Costa Gravas, I mean, just imagine what they're doing to him."
Beckman says, "We will do everything we can to get the colonel back... using diplomatic channels."
Chuck virtually splutters. "Diplomatic channels? General!"
"We can't risk upsetting relations with Costa Gravas. Their country's future is in the balance. Until the premier makes his announcement, I'm afraid Colonel Casey will have to handle himself." She ends the call.
Chuck has gone over to see Ellie and Devon. Well, Devon, particularly. Wanting to see what he might know about the premier. Sarah is sitting in Castle, looking at a building plan of the embassy, trying to see where Casey might be held.
Her phone rings. Seeing it is her boyfriend, she answers quickly. "Hi, Chuck."
He launches straight into what he needs to say, without a hello. "Devon's been asked to go to the embassy to treat the premier. He's collapsed."
She reacts instantly. Both as a friend of Devon who wants to keep him safe and the agent wanting to save her partner. "I have to go with him!"
"No, Sarah. We're a team. Both of us have to go with him."
The protective agent and girlfriend wants to keep him safe, but he's right. He will flash and find that assassin again. Not only that, they had both agreed to work as a partnership themselves and yet here she was making decisions without discussing it."
With a rueful smile, she replies, "Okay, Chuck. We have to have a cover for this. The one for the embassy is easy, we're his essential assistants, but we also need one for Devon and Ellie, too."
"I'll try to think of one, Sarah."
That makes her smile. My super smart boyfriend.
"I'm heading over to you. I'll bring a nurse's uniform."
She just hears silence. I've broken him just saying it. What's he going to be like seeing me wear it?
"You told him we're spies?" She tries not to shout, but it was really difficult.
He looks at her pleadingly. "I had to, Sarah! We're trying to save Casey and we need to protect Devon, as well. We have to go with him and he needed to know why."
She can't disagree with any of that, but doing it this way? "Chuck, you've just blown our cover. Completely."
Chuck is waving his hands and shaking his head. "No, no. Not completely. Devon won't tell El about this. She's the one we need to keep in the dark."
She looks at him, agog. "You think he'll keep this a secret?"
"Yeah, he will, with this."
Although she'd lied most of her life, this seems wrong. "Is that what loving partners do?"
Chuck's eyes widen, obviously realizing this was dangerous territory. "No… I told him that telling her would put her at risk. Devon would do anything to keep my sister safe."
Sarah considers this. That does sound like Devon. "Okay. I'll grant you that. I'll need to talk to him as well, though."
He looks puzzled. She smirks. "I'm not making any assumptions, Chuck."
He smiles at that.
Devon now fully understood the risks. Both the risks he was taking going to the embassy, hence why he needed the two of them to go with him, but also the risks of telling an overly inquisitive and extremely protective sister about her brother's other life. That man, the leader, subsequently leaves.
They have been taken into the embassy and straight to where the premier lay on his bed. Sarah is wearing glasses. Not really an adequate disguise, but one she wears with confidence. Chuck is just dressed in blue scrubs. She and Chuck had hastily put on masks, when she had noticed the man who had thrown them out of the party.
Devon is examining the premier. He tells them all. "Acute arrhythmia. This guy is hating life."
Sarah desperately wants to get away and look for Casey, so misses some of the conversation between Devon and the lead Costa Gravan. She pays attention when he looks at her. "I need ten units of insulin."
She starts to panic, but he mouths which bottle to use. She heads over to find the bottle. She spends a while doing so, stalling for time. Finding the right bottle, she starts to draw the required amount, but, noticing some relaxation in the shoulders of the two remaining guards, she pushes the tray of bottles onto the floor.
The crash makes everyone jump and she goes into action, kicking, elbowing and punching. Neither man managed to hit her. When she has one knocked out and slumping against the door frame, she picks up one of their dropped guns and hits the second man with the butt.
She turns around, still holding the gun. She notices the awe in Devon's face. Awesome's face. She grins. Awesome!
She takes off the glasses and says to Chuck, "Let's go."
As she leaves, she hears Chuck and Devon mutter something to each other, but doesn't hear what. She just hopes Chuck will hurry up.
On the way to the basement, which she'd noted from the plans, she sees a guard shoot at something around the corner. She hits him with the butt of the gun, just like she had the man upstairs.
Turning the corner and moving down the final flight of stairs, they find Casey, Staggering, with a gunshot wound in his left thigh. He says, "Let's get out of this stinking banana republic."
Chuck quickly replies, "First, we got to get Awesome."
Casey looks shocked. "You brought your brother-in-law? What the hell were you thinking?"
They burst back into the room where Devon is still treating his patient.
Sarah, the first one in, as Chuck is helping Casey, says, "Devon, we got to get out of here."
Devon turns to look at them. "No, you've got to get out of here. Those guards are looking for you. Besides, he'll die without me."
Chuck lets go of Casey and rushes to his brother-in-law, almost shouting, "Yeah, well,
we're all going to die if they find us in here. Come on." Seeing he's not getting through to him, he calms his voice and continues, "Devon, look, we've done what we needed to do. Now, it's time to go."
The reply, one that she expected from this professional doctor, is, "Sorry, Chuck. My mission's not over."
Behind her, Casey growls, "You know that man you're trying to save turned his country into a pariah state. Do you have any idea how many people he killed?"
At that moment, she hears guns being readied to shoot. Turning she see two men enter, with guns pointing at them. The leader of the guards walks in behind them, saying, "You're one to talk. Angel de la Muerte."
Sarah is about to intervene when Chuck starts talking, "Look, look, he's not here as the Angel of Death right now, he's here to protect your boss; we all are." She wishes he'd keep out of this and let her handle it.
Casey mutters, "The real killer's down in my cell."
The leader replies, "We found no one."
Then, Casey collapses to the floor. "Ugh."
Chuck still can't keep his mouth shut. "Can't you see he's bleeding to death? Please! We will sort out who's trying to kill who later; right now, we need to get this man to a doctor." Oh, Chuck. Shut your mouth!
The leader says, "He has a doctor."
Devon mutters, "Little busy right now."
"Not you, him." The man points at Chuck.
She can't stop him. Chuck starts spiraling. "Who 'him'? Me, 'him'?"
The man stares at Chuck. "If you wish to prove you're not an assassin, save him."
Sarah gets to Chuck and says, "We have all we need, doctor, over here." She points to the equipment in Devon's bag. Thankfully he stops blabbering and looks at her.
Sarah knows Chuck is about to spiral, so she grips his arm. With her back to the other men, she whispers to her boyfriend, "Flash!"
He does so, then turns to Casey. "Normally, I start with anesthesia." He reaches for it.
One of the men puts something in Casey's mouth for him to bite on.
Chuck shrugs. "Okay, no anesthesia."
He turns to Sarah and winks. "Nurse? Please cut his pants open and we'll see what we're working with."
She nods, gives him an encouraging smile, then does so. Then she looks at Chuck, with a 'you-can-do-this" look.
He nods. He CAN understand my looks, sometimes.
Chuck then fires off commands which she has to complete.
"Nurse, suction."
"Scalpel."
"Tweezers."
"Gauze."
"Iodine."
Chuck pulls the bullet from Casey's leg.
Sarah looks at Chuck with eyes full of admiration.
A buzzer goes off. They turn to see Devon leaning over his patient. "There's nothing I could do for him here. He needs a blood transfusion. I don't even know what blood type he is."
Casey calls out, "AB negative. His blood type's AB negative."
They all look at him. He shrugs. "What? You learn a lot about a guy when you're trying to kill him."
Devon says, "We need someone with type AB negative blood, now. Someone big. Does anyone have type AB negative blood?"
Chuck checks Casey's dog tag. AB-."
Casey tries to struggle, but Sarah holds him down while Chuck applies gas."
They get his blood and pass it to Devon.
We're going to be okay!
They stay while he recovers. Casey is still out like a light.
Back in Castle, The general's face is on the screen. She glares at Chuck. "You told a civilian?" Huh. Sounds like me!
He looks back at Beckman. "I improvised. That was the only way to save Casey and, at the same time, protect an innocent doctor going in on his own."
Beckman replies, "Hmmm."
Then Casey opens his eyes.
The general addresses the team. "Congratulations, the premier made a full recovery. Although I do not endorse your methods, you enabled him to make his announcement as planned. Costa Gravas will have its first democratic election."
She looks at Casey. "And it wouldn't have been possible without your extraordinary sacrifice."
Sarah smiles as Casey realizes what's happened, blustering, until she hands him the gift from the premier. The box of cigars and a small envelope. She tells him, "The premier wanted to thank you personally, Colonel Casey. But this will have to do."
Casey reads the card, then looks at the box. "These are pre-revolutionary Costa Gravas double coronas."
Chuck and Sarah find Devon at the hospital. They go into a courtyard to talk to him.
Devon starts the conversation. "Don't ever involve me again."
Chuck holds his hands up. "Hey! You were going in defenseless!"
"Yeah. Well keep me out of it in future."
Sarah places her hand on Chuck's arm, giving him a "don't respond" look. He obviously gets it and shuts up.
She turns to the doctor, "Thanks, Devon,"
She hugs him before he walks away.
She takes Chuck back to his apartment. He wants to see his sister.
As he gets out, she leans over and says, "I need to head over to my apartment and clean up. I'll come back later, huh?"
He smiles. "Don't forget the nurses costume." She sees a twinkle in his eye.
She grins and heads out.
She had gotten the call just as she prepared to head back. As she drove, she was worrying. About Devon. About Ellie. And Chuck.
She gets to Chuck's apartment and he opens the door. He can obviously tell something is wrong and rushes to her. She pulls him down to her and whispers, "I'm so sorry, Chuck. Devon's been kidnapped. Casey watched the surveillance. It was the man he fought. The Ring agent."
He looks shocked, understandably.
She hugs him and whispers more, "We'll find him, Chuck." She kisses him, then repeats, "We will."
They both hear Ellie call, "Hey, guys. Have you seen my husband?"
They turn and both say, "No."
Sarah continues, "He's probably at the hospital, isn't he?"
Ellie nods, "Yeah, probably. Just not answering my calls." She heads back into her apartment.
Sarah looks at Chuck. "We have people viewing the surveillance footage to see where they went."
He grips her arms. "When they find out who took him from the hospital, I can scan the roadside camera footage, as well. We WILL find out where they took him!"
She kisses his cheek this time. "That's my Chuck!" she proudly declares.
A/N: So, a retelling of S3E3. Some subtle differences, both with Chuck's involvement and, of course, with their relationship. Definitely, none of that crappy "only friends" conversation!
As always, let me know what you think in a review.