A/N Okay, that last Chapter was a punch in the gut. But we move on, we integrate that event into our reality, we try to keep living. Just like Chuck, Carina, and Casey.

This is fairly short, but I wanted to get something out soon, as life caused some delays.

A/N 2: No Chuck and No Money were harmed, or even involved with this.

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"Hey Miller, long meeting?" Casey greeted her, as she came into the shared office, from one of the secure video conference rooms.

"A couple of hours, but they go by quickly with everything we are dealing with." She replied.

As she sat across from him, she shook her head, "You know I never imagined what this would be like. Helping to make decisions that impact so many people, both agents and civilians. It's a power rush."

Casey laughed, "What, are you becoming a megalomaniac? Empress Carina has decreed!"

Carina wadded up a napkin and threw it at him, "Empress Carina! Not likely. No, it's not about lording power over someone, it's about having influence, about making a real, and a big, difference.

She took on a reflective mien, "BC, you know Before Chuck, my goal was to live long enough to become a station head, hopefully in not too bad of a shithole. And, I was living for the adrenaline rush from missions. I didn't ever think that anything could equal that. But, now, in these meetings, having this level of influence feels reeeally good."

"Hmph" Casey responded. "I have always enjoyed the power of Command. Being able to get something done, because you could pull together all of the necessary assets. But, my God, the paperwork, the bureaucracy. You want my end of mission report? I'll give you a picture of what I blew up and a body count." He laughed, "And, you can have it in triplicate."

"Well there is definitely paperwork involved, but for me, it is more reading than writing. I now have access to all sorts of amazing intel. Then they ask me for mission analysis and planning. I help them understand how their policy and strategy will play out in the field. Me! They're asking me! It makes my brain explode." emphasizing the point, making the gesture for having your brain explode, hands expanding from the side of her head.

"And being the DEA's trusted, and only, direct liaison to the Intersect, is the peacock feather in my cap." She grinned, pointing her thumb at herself, "The Golden Girl."

"I'll have a statuette made." Casey teased. "And, hey, it works for me! Now that I have replaced you as the tactical team leader, I at least get to shoot a gun every now and again."

More softly, he added, "And I am glad to see you back in the game. The past few weeks, since Sarah's news, I could tell you were taking it hard."

"Yeah. I don't want this to sound cold, but I am surprised how hard it hit me. I loved her dearly, she really was my best friend, but I thought I was tough, and emotionally hardened." She unconsciously wrung her hand, as unseeing, she looked down at them. "But, it was a punch in the gut. As I cried and thought, and cried and thought, I realized I also had a lot of unresolved mourning about my parents".

Casey raised an eyebrow in question. This was undiscussed territory.

She noted it, and explained. "When I was 17, my parents and little brother were all killed by a tornado. Our house was literally torn apart. I was away for a school trip, so I missed it all." She rubbed her face, wiping her watery eyes, pained by the remembering. It was a shock to my system, and I don't think I fully faced it back then. I became more active, and threw myself harder into living. I finished high school, in a daze. Went on to College, and the excitement of field work with the DEA, seemed to fill whatever emptiness I had."

"I have been running ever since, and then Sarah's death, just brought everything back." She dropped her face into her hands, rubbing it vigorously.

"Yeah," Casey commiserated, "It was a punch in the gut for me. Over the years, I've lost many people, often close enough for it to be a punch in the gut. Can't say I have gotten used to them, but I have definitely developed coping strategies."

Carina chuckled, "Yeah Johnny Walker."

Casey, with a wry grin, acknowledged. "Yeah, but it works for me."

"It looks like you poured yourself a big glass of Chuck."

Carina looked down, into space, and nodded her head. "Yeah, he really helped me get through this. He listened, offered comforting words, and, most importantly, held me in the night."

She looked up and softly smiled. I have never spent that much non-sexual time in bed with any man. First I was helping him deal with his whole Mom situation. Then he took over the comforting, after we heard about Sarah."

"Is it weird? You know, crying on his shoulder about Sarah, when he won't even admit she is dead?" asked Casey.

"Yeah, kind of, but he can relate to missing her, and he seems to have come to some acceptance that, whatever the circumstances, she is out of our lives now, forever. He has latched on to her being in Bali, but has no interest in going there to confirm it." She shared with Casey. "And, it does give some comfort, to imagine that she is alive, and creating a new life somewhere." She looked him in the eyes, "There is some comfort in delusion."

Casey nodded, then shook his head, "Yeah, I don't know if it is a good thing, or a bad thing, but it sure is effective. After that first week, he is back at work, busy as can be. Although like you, it seems to mostly meetings and video conferences. Between not having to be in the field, with guns a part of his life, and his Dad's talk, he seems to be finding a balance and coming to terms with his past. He deserves to find happiness again. Return to being that interesting guy, who was so comfortable in his own skin that it was disarming."

He looked up and directly at Carina. "Did you hear he is going to name a new Head Analyst, and remove himself completely from that day to day. You know that his flashes are now focused on strategies, how the chess pieces are moved, no longer moving them himself, so our analyst team are not being fed directly from the source, but getting the filtered intel like everyone else. Well, this will get him out of the Management game, no more concerns with staff."

He chuckled, "Charles Carmichael is extracting himself from Team Carmichael. We're going to need a new name."

"Yeah, I could see that coming." Carina added, "Did you hear he is promoting Ioana Baciu? He mentioned he had been mentoring her, to prepare her. He thinks she has a sharp mind and is good with people."

"Yeah, she seems nice enough, from the few times I spoke with her," he concurred. "And I assume she will be tasking me with missions. Like they say, the one constant around here is change." He added, smiling. "I just hope we get to keep working together. We are an amazing team, and should be used when appropriate."

Carina sadly smiled, "Yeah, it would suck to lose him now. And to tell you the truth, it would be worse on the personal side."

She stood up to go, looked directly at Casey and laughed, saying "To misquote Chuck, he may be the droid that I am looking for."

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A/N 3:

Always love to hear what you think about the story. We call it a review, around here.

And, because I think so highly of you, I am going to let you know that all the cool people are hanging out at the Chuck Fan Fiction page on facebook.