A/N: Last chapter retold S3E8, the Gruber and Ring mission. Chuck and Sarah managed to secure a chemical weapon, stopping the Ring from getting hold of it and saving Hannah in the process.

This chapter is the retelling of S3E9, "Chuck Versus the Beard".

Thanks for the reviews, those of you that left them. Definitely dropping off, but most of the reviews were positive.

Thanks, again, to my pre-reader, JohnnyRayChandlett, for yet more help. The chapter is better for his input.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck.

Prove Yourself
Chapter 15 – The Beard

There's a tentative knock on their apartment door.

Sarah is on her own in the kitchen. She tenses and rushes over to the couch and grabs her gun from under the cushion. She then hastens to the door. Looking through the peephole, trying to see who has arrived, she spots one person and relaxes.

She pushes the gun into the back of her jeans, opens the door and beams at the person outside. "Hi, Hannah."

Hannah looks up to her face and replies as tentatively as she knocked the door, "Hi, Sarah. Can I come in?"

"Sure. I've just made some coffee. Want some?" Sarah says, ushering her in.

"Please," Hannah says, looking grateful.

Sarah smiles, replying, "Go sit in the lounge and I'll bring it through."

After handing over the coffee, Sarah sits and looks at her friend. To Sarah's keen eye, Hannah looks like she's been crying. "Are you okay, Hannah?"

Hannah looks down at her coffee. "Not really, Sarah. That's why I came over."

Sarah places a hand on Hannah's free arm. "Tell me. I'll help, if I can."

Hannah looks up and smiles sadly. "I know you would." She continues, "My dad has had a heart attack. My mom is struggling and needs my support. I need to go back to them."

"Where do they live?"

"Santa Barbara."

"Oh, so too far to commute?"

"That's right, too far. I'm going to have to leave the Buy More."

Chuck has just walked in and is now standing behind Sarah with his hands rubbing her neck muscles. Sarah had tensed hearing this news, but Chuck's ministrations help her relax. He knows how I'll be taking this and just how to help.

He says, "Hi, Hannah. I'm sorry to hear that, but there's a Buy More in Santa Barbara. Maybe you can transfer there."

Hannah smiles at him. "I'd like that, Chuck. I'll ask Big Mike."

Hannah looks at back to her friend. "I'm going to miss you, Sarah." Turning to Chuck, "You too, Chuck."

"We're gonna miss you too, Hannah," Sarah replies, thinking, I really am!

Hannah gives them both a hug before she leaves.

Chuck looks at his girlfriend and holds open his arms. As she embraces him and he wraps his arms around her, he says, "I know you'll miss the first friend you brought into our relationship, Sarah. I'm sorry."

She hugs him and feels so grateful to have him with her.

Chuck has just joined Sarah and Casey for a briefing with General Beckman, who is on the screen. "Thank you for joining us, Analyst Bartowski," General Diane Beckman says, with a hint of sarcasm.

He looks embarrassed and responds, "Sorry, General. I had difficulty getting away from one of the customers in the Buy More."

Beckman ignores the excuse and starts the briefing. "We've intercepted Intel that the Ring is planning to turn and use a CIA agent against us. The problem is, we don't know who or when it will happen."

Casey turns to Chuck. "Did you flash?"

Chuck, obviously frustrated, says, "With what? That's as specific as saying there are Ring agents in the States!"

Sarah grabs his hand, makes him look at her and shakes her head. He looks back at Beckman. "Sorry, General."

She looks amused. "I have more information."

Casey also apologizes to the general, who then says, "The intel tells us this will be happening at the Malibu Vista Hotel. That's all we know."

"That's not much, General," Chuck comments.

"I know, so we need you to go there and find out more and stop it happening. Good luck, team." She ends the call.

Sarah turns to her partners. "Couple and support from the van?"

Casey grunts and heads to the armory.

"Chuck, we may have to be there for a few days. Casey and I will pull together the equipment we need, you head home and pick up and few things, not much, but make sure to include swimwear; we might have to spend time at the pool." She winks at him.

He grins and nods. He knows just what that means. Both of us in swimwear. I'll wear something that'll blow his mind.

She watches him head out.

Sarah is still thinking of him in swimwear lying on a lounger by the pool. She shakes her head to clear it of such thoughts and then grabs the equipment and pockets three rings, before walking up to her car.

Having helped Chuck load his small bag into the trunk of the Porsche, Sarah gets in. Before setting off she hands Chuck the wedding ring she collected for him.

"Aren't you going to propose to me before just handing me this?" Chuck teases.

Sarah keeps the smile off her face as she responds, "I'm old fashioned, Chuck. I'll leave the proposing to you."

He starts to choke.

She chuckles and starts the engine, watching him out of the corner of her sparkling eyes, amused at his reaction. "Serves you right, Mr. Carmichael."

"Okay. So, Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael?" he just about gets out between coughs. "What first names?"

She looks over at him. "We'll keep it simple. Sarah and Charles. Chuck's still okay, too. That way we won't make any mistakes and if anyone we know spots and calls to us, it won't break our cover. That's more likely this close to home."

They drive to the hotel in silence.

Sarah is thinking about the possibility of being married. She had never thought she would ever have such thoughts or, to be honest, ever have someone who she could marry. She doesn't feel worthy of marriage to someone like Chuck, with her awful past. However, the concept that had always seemed out of the question before, doesn't anymore. Committing to staying with one people for the rest of her life was unimaginable before she met Chuck, but now doesn't frighten her anymore.

She looks over at Chuck, who is deep in thought. I wonder if he's thinking the same.

Standing at the check in, Chuck has his arm around Sarah. It just feels so right to her and she wishes it was a real vacation again.

"Here are your keys," says the woman at the desk, who looks at the two of them. "Enjoy your stay here at the Malibu Vista Hotel. Might I add that the two of you are a very beautiful couple."

Sarah smiles. "Oh. Thank you." Chuck is just looking embarrassed.

They both hear Casey. "You two lovebirds have fun while I'm cooped up in the van again. Have a margarita for me."

Once they are in the room, they start unpacking the gear and hear Casey again, "To find the Ring agent, I tapped into the phone's mainframe. If the Ring calls out again, we can trace it back to the room it originated from."

They work for a couple of minutes, then Sarah replies, "Chuck and I have set up the surveillance equipment. We'll begin searching for possible targets."

Thirty minutes later, Casey tells them, "Okay, the Ring just made a call from the hotel. I'll connect you in, while I trace it back."

The connection is poor, but they all clearly hear a man with a strong accent say, "The target is by the pool. Six foot two, well built. He's wearing a blue and white bathing suit."

Casey asks, "You got that, Walker?"

"Yeah, I got it." She takes her binoculars to the window and scans bathers by the pool. She finds the person mentioned.

Tall and lean, a chest and a six-pack to make the front cover of any and every fitness magazine, an easy smile, and winning All American Boy charm. He could easily be a model, actor, fitness guru or sports star, but she knows he's not an agent. It's Devon Woodcomb. What the hell's going on?

Casey questions her, "Did you find the target?"

"Yeah, I found him," she replies, thinking rapidly about what to do. She doesn't want Chuck to see Devon being the target. It'll put him in a panic. She wants to protect him from that.

She turns to talk to her boyfriend and sees him on his cell phone. She listens. "I'm out on a call with a client, Morg. I can't just come to the Buy More."

He starts pacing the floor. "They what?"

Sarah immediately thinks of Jeff and Lester. Their usual hijinks.

"They can't do that!" Chuck remonstrates.

Hmm. Sounds like more than their usual mischief.

"I'd get there if I could, but I'm not even in Los Angeles." He spots Sarah waving to him. "I gotta go, Morg." He hangs up and turns to Sarah. "Have you found him? Want me to flash on him?"

Sarah deflects, "What's happening at the Buy More?"

He huffs. "Some corporate guys have turned up, closed the store and are interviewing everyone. They've asked for me."

Perfect!

"You should go, Chuck, for the cover," she replies.

He frowns. "What about the agent?"

She waves that off. "Someone I recognize. Casey and I can handle this. You get back and deal with that problem."

He points out the obvious. "I can't, Sarah, I don't have my car."

Shit! Not thought of that!

She walks over and hands him her keys. "Take mine."

He looks shocked at first, then decides to tease her. "Trust me with your baby?"

"You better take care of it, Mister, or you'll pay for it," she advises.

He spreads his hands. "But I won't be able to afford it. You know that."

"That's not how you'll pay then, is it? No sex for a week, if you even prang it a little. More if it's worse," she growls.

He smirks. "You'll not last a week, Sarah."

She gives him one of her iciest glares and he rushes out, but she's left thinking he's right. God, I've got it bad!

Sarah loads her gun ready to go down to the pool.

Casey tells her, "Call came from room 4305. I'll head there now and search it."

She replies, "I'll go down to the pool, get Devon and Ellie out of harm's way."

He sounds shocked. "Devon and Ellie, what the hell?"

"Tell you later," she replies.

"You leaving Bartowski in the room? Don't want him to see all those girls in bikinis?" Casey needles her.

Not making it clear what she means, she just replies, "No." Take that how you will!

Devon has left Ellie and is walking towards the poolside bar. Sarah is hiding behind some palms. As he walks past her, she places her hand over his mouth and pulls him into her hiding place.

Devon looks shocked. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. I just reclaimed my awesomeness."

She replies, "We got a tip that the Ring was trying to turn an agent staying at this hotel. You."

He looks both confused and frightened. "Me? But I'm not an agent. Chuck told me that I was in the clear. Are Ellie and I in danger?"

"I don't know," she admits.

The look on Devon's face says it all. "I gotta get Ellie out of here. I got to get both of us out of here. Right now."

She places a hand on his arm. "Please don't. That might cause more problems. We'll figure this out."

She receives a text. "Hold on a second, Devon." She reads the text:

We've been setup.
Abort mission.
– Casey

"What? What was that?" Devon asks.

She looks up. "I'm so sorry, Devon. It was a false alarm."

He now looks annoyed. "Wait, you crashed my weekend getaway to tell me I'm in danger and now you tell me what, we're safe?"

"I'm so sorry, Devon. Please forget you saw me and enjoy the rest of your vacation." She pauses and decides to lighten the mode a bit. "You looking awesome, by the way."

That brings a smile to his face. He puffs up. "Always."

As she walks away, she sees him look over to where Ellie is sitting and hears him mutter, "We gotta get away from this."

Saddened by the fact she's ruined their holiday; Sarah tries to focus back on the mission. She has to get to Casey and work out what is going on. He said room 4305.

Casey is kneeling down looking at the Ring phone in the device on the table. He comments, "The phone works remotely. It was a set-up; they've lured us here."

She frowns, "Why would they lure us here?"

He gets up. "It's not where they lured us to, it's where they lured us from. They must know we have a base of operations in Burbank. They sent us here so we abandon our base. That way they can go and recover all the intelligence we have on them. They weren't after Devon. They're after Castle."

"Oh, God! I sent Chuck back to the Buy More!" she exclaims.

"In your car?" he asks, incredulously. She nods. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"I was protecting him from worrying about Devon and Ellie," she confesses.

"Well, you've put him in danger with that. Call him and we'll head there as fast as we can."

She pulls out her cell phone as they run to the van.

This must be the hundredth time she's tried his number. "Chuck's still not answering his cell." Fear is threatening to overpower her. Trying to hold back the tears, she turns to Casey. "I'm panicking, John. What if he's-"

Casey has been using his cell phone, too, while driving. "Buy More land line's down. I can't get through either." He looks over at her briefly. "He'll be okay, Walker. Have faith in him."

She tries to calm down. He'll be alright. He will.

Five minutes later they hear Chuck's voice. "Sarah, Cas… ca… hear me?" Thank God he's okay!

There's the sound of singing on the line. Sarah replies, "You have to speak up, Chuck, there's someone else on your frequency."

The interference reduces and she hears him say, "Can you hear me now?"

She replies, "Yeah, I can hear you. What's going on, Chuck?"

He sounds relieved, "Oh, thank God. Listen. The Ring is inside Castle, guys. They came in posing as buyers trying to purchase the store."

Casey replies, "We're on our way back. Sit tight."

"Please stay safe, Chuck," she implores.

They hear nothing after that.

"Drive faster, Casey. I'm not losing him!"

They have heard no more from Chuck. Sarah is trying not to panic, but instinctively knows he has managed to get into Castle. He'll be in there on his own, damn it!

Sarah is in Orange, Orange and has just failed to open the access to Castle.

She hears Casey's voice through her earpiece, "Walker, anything?"

She replies, while walking through to the front of Orange, Orange, "We're locked out. They overwrote our security access."

He comments, "I'll check the Buy More."

She tries to access via the laptop on the counter. "I'm locked out completely. I'll join you."

"No. Tell the general what's happening," he replies.

Cursing him for being right, she makes the video call from her laptop. The general appears. "Agent Walker, why the call?"

Sarah quickly tells her, "The Ring are in Castle and we're locked out, General."

Beckman replies, "Castle has a self-destruct program built into it, in case of catastrophic events like this. I'll get that activated right now." She leans forward to break the connection.

Sarah cries out, "No, General, you can't destroy the Castle. Chuck is down there."

The general winces, but doesn't hesitate in her reply, "So is every piece of intelligence we have. Not just on the Ring... Everything."

Sarah pleads, "Please, just give Chuck five more minutes?"

Beckman looks at her sympathetically and uses her first name when she replies, "I'm sorry, Sarah, but you can't think of Chuck. We have to do the right thing here."

"This is the right thing, General. Think of the investment in the Intersect. And think of his abilities. He can succeed, if we give him time. Just give him five more minutes."

The general considers that for a few seconds before replying, "Very well. Five minutes."

Casey comes back into Orange, Orange, panting slightly from running over from the Buy More. "I couldn't get in. We're locked out there, too."

She looks up. "The general has given Chuck five minutes before she activates castle's self-destruct."

"Shit!" Casey snaps. "How long left?"

The screen comes on and Beckman says, "Well? Time's up."

Sarah hears noise coming from the door to Castle. "Wait, General, I think the door's opening."

She and Casey grab their guns and position themselves to shoot any Ring agents that come through. It's quite a surprise when Morgan Grimes saunters out. He nods at them and says, "Bag 'em and tag 'em, Sarah."

He pauses for a second, then says, "Excuse me… Agent Walker." He winks at her.

As she turns to look at Casey with her mouth open, she sees a shocked face that must match her own.

Turning back, she watches Morgan grinning and Chuck appearing behind him, looking embarrassed.

"You told him everything? Not just about the CIA and NSA, but even the Intersect?" She says in a tone that expresses how shocked she is.

He sighs. "Sarah, I've been bottling this up for two and a half years. Yes, I told him, I couldn't hide it anymore; particularly after he worked out we were spies."

She instantly corrects him. "You are NOT a spy."

He huffs. "Semantics, Sarah."

She raises her voice, "No, it's not, Chuck. You are not a spy and, if I am still here, you will never be one."

That clearly floors him. "If you are still here?" he says quietly.

She realizes how he will be hearing that and assuming the worst. "Chuck, I'm not planning on leaving; I'm sorry for phrasing it that way. I just meant that they'd have to get rid of me if they wanted to make you a spy. I will protect you from that as long as I live."

He starts to look tearful. "I don't want to think of you dying either, Sarah. I want you by my side forever."

That causes them both to pause. Neither had talked about 'forever' before. She feels a warmth rush through her. Forever! I want him forever, too.

Then reality forces its way back into her head. "I don't know what they'll do now, Chuck, but Beckman is going to be pissed that you told him, especially about the Intersect, which no one should ever know about."

His shoulders slump. "I know. Once I started telling him, the whole thing came rushing out."

She pulls him in for a hug. "I know, but that mouth of yours is going to be the death of us." She feels him tense. "That's right. It'll get us all killed if you don't control it."

Sarah was watching Morgan on one of the screens, sitting in a briefing room with his feet up on the table.

Beckman is on the main screen. "I'm glad you took out five Ring agents, Analyst Bartowski." She seems to emphasize the 'analyst'. "But you weren't even supposed to be in Burbank."

Sarah winces. She knew she'd have to confess how she had put the general's precious Intersect at risk. "That was my fault, General."

Beckman looks at her. "Explain."

"I sent him away from the hotel when I realized the target was his brother-in-law," she confesses.

"Why?" the general questions, with a frown on her face.

Sarah looks over at her boyfriend and can see he is both confused and surprised. Sarah wishes now that she'd told him about this.

She swallows. "I was trying to stop him from seeing that, General."

Casey chips in at this point. "Bartowski would've panicked if he saw his sister and brother-in-law at risk. He wouldn't have functioned well."

Sarah is grateful for that and smiles at her partner. She watches the general nod. "Good point, Colonel."

Turning back to Chuck she then asks the question that they had been dreading, "Why on earth did you tell Grimes about the Intersect?"

Chuck looks down. "I shouldn't have, General."

Sarah replies to that, "If he knows Chuck is working with us, he'll only question why. Chuck doesn't lie well, General."

Beckman glares at the analyst. "No, he doesn't."

She ponders for a minute, then says, "He's an Assistant Manager at the Buy More, isn't he?"

Chuck replies, "Yes, General."

Beckman nods. "We ought to put him in witness protection. Move him out of Burbank tonight after dark," she starts.

Chuck looks shocked and instantly responds, "What? You can't do that."

She looks at him. "He knows your secret."

Sarah is worried he is going to mention that Devon does too and manages to catch his eye. She shakes her head slightly.

Before Chuck can respond, Casey comments, "Grimes is a moron. It's dangerous."

The general adds, "We have no reason to believe that we can trust him."

Chuck replies now. "Yes, we do. We have twenty-two reasons why we can trust him. That's the number of years that Morgan has been my best friend. And, yes, he has his faults... granted... but one thing he is, is loyal, and he will never betray me or my secret."

Sarah wants to provide a united front and comments, "He's right."

Chuck smiles at her. "Thank you."

The general acknowledges Sarah's support. "Very well. Anyway, I only said 'we ought to put him in witness protection.' We won't, but I will hold Agent Walker and Colonel Casey responsible for his silence." She ends the call.

Casey snarls at Chuck, "He better behave. I'm holding you responsible, Bartowski." He storms out after releasing the lock on the cell door.

Morgan walks in, looking at Chuck. "Hey, buddy."

Chuck replies, "Hey. Sorry about the wait."

Morgan grins. "No, no problem."

Chuck looks at Sarah, who nods. He turns back to his friend. "So, yeah, everything's okay."

Morgan replies, "That's great. Yes! I love to hear it." He looks at Sarah. "Okay, so am I, uh, like, officially part of the team or..."

Chuck interrupts him, and Sarah who was about to say no, "Let's um... Let... let's walk before we run, huh, buddy?" He starts to lead Morgan to the stairs.

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Yeah. Definitely," says Morgan.

Chuck looks at Sarah's face, obviously thinking he is seeing negativity there, and adds, "And maybe crawl before that."

Morgan is obviously not listening and responds, "Yeah, yeah. You know what, we should celebrate."

Sarah smiles at how he is taking it and watches them walk up the stairs.

Morgan hasn't stopped, "Okay, little old-school game night... Duck Hunt, Subway meatball marinaras with extra jalapeños. That's how you like it. And, uh, just the two of us. Yeah, just the two of us."

Chuck looks back at his girlfriend. He was looking forward to a night with her, just as much as she was with him. He is obviously questioning what he should say.

Sarah replies for him, "Games night at our apartment. I'd like to play, too."

Morgan stops climbing the stairs, looks down at her, then turns back to his friend. "She's a keeper, buddy."

That makes her laugh. She's also glad Morgan is not wanting to keep her out of their gaming. "Love you too, Morgan," she calls out, as they reach the top and exit Castle.

She smiles to herself. Everyone is telling him, I'm a 'keeper.' Maybe I am.

"We're not playing Duck Hunt with you again, Sarah," Chuck grouches when he joins her in bed that night.

She chuckles and questions him, "Too good for you?"

"I'd have had to use the Intersect to beat you!" he grumbles.

"But that'd be cheating," she comments, while trying to look innocent.

His grunt is as good as any of Casey's.

She grins, "Morgan seemed impressed."

Another grunt.

With a sultry look, she pulls him down to her and says, "How about you play a different game, to get you over it? A different hunt, with a different ending?"

She loves the smoldering look he gives her in return. "I know that hunt, Sarah, and always enjoy hitting that target."

Just before he kisses her lips and pushes the cover off of her, she whispers huskily, "Me too, Chuck, me too."

A/N: A retelling of S3E9. Unfortunately, Hannah has left, but she probably wouldn't have coped with how the Buy Morons behaved, anyway. Sarah didn't get to see any of that, so not included here. So, now Morgan knows about the Intersect; he will keep quiet, won't he?

As always, please leave a review to let me know what you think of this chapter.