* Ch 4 Welcome back. Sit back and let me know what you think of the last chapter. Mssupertigz

Chapter 4

"Casey!"

Sarah stood near Chuck as he bent over. Casey moved in quickly still protecting Chuck with his body and any onlookers. Sarah looked at Casey. In a worried tone spoke. "Chuck can't see."

Casey looked around as the street was bare but that didn't mean that no one was watching. Bryce walked up to Sarah. Sarah looked up. "You've done enough."

Then she diverted her eyes back to Chuck. "We need to get you back to the hotel." Sarah looked at the distance and figured that a cab would take too long. So, they decided to walk back. Sarah forcefully wrapped her arms around Chuck as Bryce felt that he needed to do something, so he gave Chuck his sunglasses. Chuck put them on because he was done with all of this and wearing sunglasses would lessen the amount of people looking at him. Chuck held onto Sarah with Casey close by, finally reaching the doors of the hotel. With a few collisions they finally made it to Chuck's room. Casey led him to the chair by the window as Casey and Sarah looked at Chuck as he held his head in his hands. Sarah and Casey walked away not sure what to say or do. "What happened?" Casey looking at Chuck then at Sarah.

"Chuck got an email and when he opened it, it was a live feed showing the outside the hotel. So, Chuck flashed, and I guessed he recognized who Bryce was talking to and ran out. When we got there, we saw Chuck hit Bryce and the man he was talking to left. "Then Chuck couldn't see?"

Bryce came in as the door was slightly a jarred. Casey stepped toward him. Sarah looked at him. "He's not worth it Casey."

Casey walked towards Chuck. Sarah looked at Bryce. "Can you explain this one or is this another one of your complicated lies that seems to get bigger and bigger."

"I don't know why this is happening?" Bryce looking helpless.

Casey and Sarah looked at Bryce. "Really?"

Save it guys. "Nothing he says is going to fix this anytime soon." Chuck trying to see.

Sarah knelt down beside him. "What can we do?"

"Leave me alone."

"Chuck?" His words stung.

"Go and do what you do best. And leave me alone."

Casey got up and walked to the door taking Bryce with him, Sarah followed. I'll stay you two go and find out something?

Bryce looked at Sarah and Casey. "I had nothing to do with this one."

Casey staring him down. "No but you are responsible for lying once again."

"Sarah." Bryce looking at Sarah for some help.

"Save it." Sarah walked back in. "I told you to leave." Chuck looked up.

"How did you know?"

"I may be blind, but my sense of smell has not left me and we'll you do smell better than Casey and Bryce."

Sarah walked towards Chuck and knelt in front of him. She reached for his hands and Chuck grabbed them quickly. She could feel that he was scared and why wouldn't he. His so-called best friend just lied to him again and his dad that he thought was out of the picture might as well be dead had just resurfaced.

"What can I do for you?" Her words sincere.

"Can you see anything?"

"A faint light?"

"So, it's coming back?"

"No, I can't see but something not right."

"Like what?"

"How one minute I can see then when I see my dad, I go blind?"

Sarah rested her chin on his knee.

Hours later Casey knocked. Sarah got up and went to the door. "Larkin has left so I thought that maybe you might want to go for a walk?"

Sarah gave Casey her determined grin. "How is he?"

"Angry. He had been listening to his laptop for the last hour or so. And just dozed off."

"Ok I'll stay. Go!" Casey looked at Chuck sleeping then back at Sarah.

Sarah grabbed her phone and gun and headed out looking for Bryce. She followed him through town and knew she had to stay out of sight as Bryce would do whatever he had to not to be followed. And whoever he was going to see he was taking a lot of precautions. Sarah finally caught up to Bryce entering a small house and pulled out her gun. Bryce raised his hands. "Your good."

"I know."

"Didn't even see or hear you till now."

"Well I am good at my job." Bryce turned around. "Who are you hear to see? Who are you meeting with and no more lies? And why did Chuck lose his sight?"

Bryce faced Sarah dead on. "I don't know why?" Then a voice spoke in the darkness. "Maybe I can help answer your questions." Sarah held her gun at Bryce then pivoted towards the shadowy figure making its appearance. He came into sight. A man about 5'8 shoulder length sandy brown hair. He looked a lot like Chuck but had Ellie's eyes. He had a slight limp but stood straight and proud. "You must be Agent Sarah Walker."

"And you are?"

"Stephen J Bartowski. But you might know me as Orion. My son finally made me come out of hiding."

"His search worked?"

"Yes, very impressive. But also, very dangerous. And that is why I was meeting with Bryce in person."

"Why not come to us directly? And why is Chuck unable to see?" Sarah staring both of them down.

"I was afraid that this could happen, that he'd lose his sight."

"Why?"

"Because it happened to me" Orion lowered his head then looked back up. "Please come in and have a seat."

Sarah kept her gun on the table which didn't stir the senior Bartowski. "So, Beckman hired you?"

"No actually Langston Graham then she called Casey."

"And how long have you been with my son?" Giving her a faint smile.

His comment caught her off guard. She didn't want to admit that she was sleeping with his son but chose to keep it professional. "Almost 2 years."

"And Chuck?" Sarah looked at Stephen. "It's a side affect of the having the Intersect but I didn't think that it would happen now."

"And why not?" Sarah sitting straighter in her chair.

"Because if people that are looking for him find out that he is unable to flash, (slight pause) how can I say this. If his barriers are down, they can locate him and get the Intel they want. As long as he is functioning and the Intersect is working then he is able to locate what they want before they can acquire it for themselves."

"What intel and if they get the Intel?"

"Then they can do what ever they want." Orion turning slightly.

Sarah looked at Bryce. 'This was the first thing that Bryce didn't lie about.' Sarah spoke. "So, your telling me that the Intersect has even more secrets."

Orion looked at her. "I created the Intersect for teaching purposes but that didn't work out along with the initial intentions. I also hid other important data and codes into the Intersect and embedded them into what I call threads that were lined or embedded within certain files."

"Like tags?" Stephen looked at Sarah. Sarah looked at him. "Surprised? Chuck might have mentioned something." Stephen smiled.

"He's smart."

"Very."

"Good. Then he can survive this."

"And his sight?"

"Temporary but he has to monitor how he is feeling. He also needs to wear this." Stephen put down the kettle and walked over to a wooden box and brought it to the table and lifted the top off pulling out a small box that housed a watch and gave it to Sarah. "A watch?"

"More than that, (as he closed the wooden box) it will help with the changes he is going to go through. And because I have gone through some of them, I know what is to come. His intersect is much more advanced than the one I uploaded years ago but the theory was good, his is just the improved version. And Bryce has been making sure that he has been looked after. And I can see that he has the best protecting him; you and Major Casey."

Sarah looked at the watch. "Impressive."

"He's worth it."

"I know, I have read your mission reports."

"What else do you know?" Stephen just smiled.

Sarah looked at Bryce and Bryce shrugged his shoulders. "Now what?"

"Take this back to him." Orion almost pleading.

"Why don't you give it to him?"

"I can't. Not till this is over. Juliette and Pablo must not know that we are family. If they know they will go after Ellie. They already know that Chuck is the Intersect."

"Yes, they do, but they can't do anything without being in contact with him right?"

"Yes, so you must keep him safe and out of view till they make their move and we take them down."

"The guy in the suit?"

Stephen smiled. Then Sarah noticed his hands. "That was you?"

"I had to see him, and make sure that they weren't watching you. So, I asked Bryce to act like I was a possible threat."

"But Chuck didn't flash on you."

"He wouldn't cause a fake face wasn't put in the Intersect. And you and the Major did exactly what I thought you two were hired to do. I did find the bug, but it took me awhile to find it." Laughing subtly.

"What about the email?"

"What email?" As he poured Sarah and Bryce some tea. "The one that was sent to Chuck that showed you and Bryce talking."

"That is why he came outside?"

"I didn't send him an email." Bryce shook his head. "Chuck and I were looking at his searches and an email popped up. When Chuck opened it, he flashed and ran out the door."

"Then they are close. If they hacked into CCTV feeds and some how figured out that Chuck was searching for me then they will be moving quickly. Go back and make him wear this."

"Then what?" Still looking at the watch.

"We make them come to us. As far as I know Juliette and Pablo are the only ones that know his secret but if they can confirm that Chuck has what they want then there could be others."

"What do I tell Chuck?"

"Tell him nothing, to keep him safe and don't say anything about meeting with me."

"I can't lie to him again."

"To keep him safe you will, and he will forgive you."

"He's going to figure it out. He saw you talking to Bryce."

"Let him think what he wants to think. It will keep him focussed on getting this done then I will explain everything to him when that time comes."

Stephen stood up. "Go. I will be in touch."

Sarah put her cup down and slid her gun into the back of her waist and when she looked up and Stephen was gone. And all that remained were three cups of tea and the kettle still steaming on the turned off stove.

Sarah looked at the watch, then looked up at Bryce. "Do you trust me now?"

Sarah looked at him sternly. "It's not me that you need to convince."

Sarah opened the door to Chuck's room as Casey got up and stepped into the hall. "Well? What lies did you uncover now."

"More like answers." Sarah pulled out the watch. "What's this?"

"Some type of governor."

"And where did you get it?"

Sarah looked up at Casey. "Chuck's dad."

"His dad!" Casey almost speechless.

"Stephen J Bartowski is also known as Orion."

"Larkin wasn't lying."

"No, (slight pause) he did lie, but not about this. Not entirely his doing, he was told to do what he did. Chuck needs to wear this in order to lessen the changes of the Intersect."

"And this watch is supposed to make his sight come back."

"Not right away but there could be other things that could happen to Chuck that his dad wants to lessen because he knows this firsthand."

Casey looked at her. Sarah looked up at him. "Chuck's dad had a version of the Intersect as well. He said that he was surprised that the changes were affecting Chuck so quickly. And because Orion had experienced some of these changes, he created this watch. He also knew that Chuck was searching for him. But the email he got was not from him or Bryce."

"Then who?" Casey looking at the watch.

"Juliette or even Pablo sent it which means that they are close and must have been doing the same search and piggyback on Chucks search and got a location sending the email then forcing Chuck to leave the hotel."

"What about his sight?"

"Temporary. I think that Orion wants us to get Chuck convinced to get Juliette and Pablo out in the open then take them down. He wants Chuck to help them access some files."

"He wants Chuck to expose himself even more by helping them, then what?"

"Orion hid some files within files that were alerted once Chuck's identity was exposed and ours were found on the chip."

"So, the weasel was trying to prevent that from happening."

"Yeah. That is why we came back."

"But we all ended up back here so there is something here that they want."

Sarah nodded. "And Chuck has the answers, or at least the map."

Sarah reached for the doorknob. "Ok I will look into the email and find out where it was sent from. Try and get some sleep. Don't worry about your room, told them downstairs we didn't need it. Chuck can't be left alone."

"Right. It's better this way." Sarah slipped in next door and grabbed her things and headed back to Chuck's room leaving the key card on the desk.

Sarah slipped in and closed the door. She took off her boots and took Chuck's lap and headphones from him and placed them on the table. She shut the lights off and slid in behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

She looked at the watch in the faint light. 'This can wait till morning.' She said to herself.

Next morning

Sarah woke up to the sound of the shower running. She was worried that Chuck wouldn't know where anything was. She tore the sheet off her and walked inside. Chuck looked at her. "What took you so long?"

Chuck extended his hand. "Even though I can't see you I can still feel you. And trust me I have put a lot of that to memory."

If Chuck could see the look on her face. She grinned ear to ear. She slipped out of her clothes and entered the perfect temperature of flowing water and was greeted with his warm lips. He held her close. They just stood together and let the water cascade over them. Nothing was different even though Chuck couldn't physically see, all his senses were fixed on Sarah. Chuck lifted Sarah up and pressed her against the corner of the shower as Sarah held him close. It was sweet and what they needed and as the hot water ran out Sarah kissed Chuck softly and whispered. "I guess we got our shower."

Chuck smiled but his smile was different. Sarah turned the water off and pulled back the shower curtain. Grabbing a towel, she wrapped the first one around his waist then dragged her fingers across his chest. Then laid them flat as he grabbed the other. Sarah looked up. "How did you know where the towel was? Can you see?" "No, I just remembered where the rack was."

Chuck kissed her then headed out, then returned as Sarah was drying her hair. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Sarah eventually came out and saw Chuck standing holding the small box that held the watch, he turned around. "Sarah what is this?"

Sarah grabbed a change of clothes and quickly got dressed, then walked up to him. "Chuck sit."

"This doesn't sound good."

"No, it might not be what you want to hear. And I don't want to lie to you."

Chuck sat on the edge of the bed as she reached for the box. "Please don't ask me where I got this and please don't ask me explain what I am about to tell you. Your vision loss is due to the changes with the Intersect. And there is fear that other things might happen as well, so this watch is supposed to alleviate those symptoms. You will get your vision back, the loss its only temporary."

"Sarah?"

Sarah opened the box and pulled out a simple but classy watch. "This will help you." "But Sarah where did you get this?"

"I can't tell you."

"You said no more lies."

"I know and I am trying to make up for those, but this is one thing that I have to stay silent on."

Sarah turned to face Chuck and placed her hand on his face. "Remember when we first met, and I told you to not to believe me but to trust me." Chuck nodded in her hands. "I am asking you again to please trust me and when the time is right you will know the truth."

Sarah inwardly hoped that what she said would be the truth. Chuck wished he could see her face, but her voice said enough. He had to trust her words and the way she spoke them she was telling the truth, but she was still keeping something from him.

Sarah pulled the watch out and slid it on Chuck's wrist and in an instant a wave of coolness was felt. It reminded him of cold water being poured over his head. The heaviness that he had felt for almost two years was still there but not as forceful as it had been. Chuck got up and he looked at Sarah, blinking then rubbing his eyes. "What is this?

Chuck reached for her face. "I missed this."

Sarah stood up. "You can see?"

"Kinda of, still blurry like I am under water, but I can see you."

Sarah fell into his arms as the last 24 hours were waning on the both of them.

They didn't want to celebrate to early so after ordering breakfast and sitting together in silence Sarah knew he wanted answers.

Chuck looked at her and he sipped his coffee. "I don't want to fight. I know you left last night and didn't come back for some time. You were with Bryce?"

"Yes. Casey felt that he was up to something."

"And was he?"

"I followed him, and we came upon this box."

"Really? You just happened to stumble on this watch that miraculously brought my vision back."

Chuck sat on the edge of the couch. "And now your going to tell me that who I saw yesterday wasn't my dad. Sarah, I saw my dad talking to none other than Bryce."

"Chuck."

Sarah was about to speak and thank goodness there was a knock at the door. Sarah got up and went to the door and when she opened the door there stood Casey and Bryce. "Good your up. We got movement on Juliette and Pablo." Casey walked in and Bryce followed.

Chuck saw the cut above Bryce's upper lip. "The shiner looks better." Bryce looked up and Casey's head made a quick swivel. "You can see?"

"It's blurry but I can see a little."

Bryce looked at Sarah and Casey picked up on it. Chuck couldn't make out the subtle glances and lucky for him he couldn't.

"We need to move and come up with a plan."

"Why don't we ask Orion? He made this thing and I am assuming that this watch isn't CIA approved. And save your explanation as to why my dad was talking to you Bryce. My dad is Orion?"

The silence was deafening. And for the longest few seconds the air could be sliced with a knife. Chuck squinted to see Sarah's face then Bryce's.

Chuck grabbed his cell and shoved it into Bryce's chest. "Call him!"

Bryce looked up. "I can't."

"He calls me."

Chuck walked over to his laptop and bumped into the bed then sat down at the table. He opened his laptop and brought up his search engine. Sarah moved in beside him. Chucks face was right into the screen and as he struggled to find what he was looking for, Sarah knew. Sarah placed her hands on his. "Let me."

Sarah turned the laptop and set the cursor in the search engine. "What do you want to say?"

Chuck closed his eyes then looked at her. "Type Tron showing midnight."

Sarah typed exactly what Chuck had told her and pressed enter. Then he looked over towards the door. "If you won't get him here then this will make him come to us."

Chuck's attempts to get answers from Bryce didn't go as planned as what he had figured out in his head and he knew that Sarah didn't want to lie to him, so she stayed quiet. Casey just hoped that it wasn't a trap.

Hours went by and the waiting started to bother Chuck. Sarah sat back down beside Chuck and as he sat bent forward Sarah rubbed his back as he placed his face in his hands. Bryce got up tired of waiting. "We can't wait, we must move."

Just then a faint tap was heard at the door which got the teams attention. Casey went to the door and saw a familiar face. Casey opened the door and as the door opened Chuck stood up focusing on the figure standing in the doorway. Chuck squinted and saw the face of the man that was at the pool days earlier. Casey closed the door and the man walked in. His face was the same but this time he wore a green army jacket and jeans and not the cheap suit that was worn days before. Casey closed the door and Chuck looked at the man that had removed the hat and disguise. Chuck got a glimpse of the man that had left him years ago. Stephen looked up. "You mentioned a matinee showing of Tron? Sorry I'm late."

Casey looked at Bryce. "We will head downstairs, and we will leave when your ready we'll go."

Sarah got up. As Chuck grabbed and squeezed her hand. "Stay?"

Sarah smiled. "For a little while."

Stephen hugged Sarah then walked towards Chuck. "Hello Charles."

Chuck was looking at someone who felt like a stranger. "Dad."

"You got one special person here."

"Yeah she is."

"Your lucky to have her."

Sarah spoke "No I am lucky to have him."

"So how are you feeling?"

"I can see and the heaviness in my head is less."

"Good good that means it's working."

Chuck looked at the watch. "The watch."

"Yes, it's called the governor. It's supposed to suppress the amount of energy in the brain that the Intersect takes up. Preventing further changes in the physiology of your body."

Chuck just stared trying to make sense of the fact that he was in the same room as his dad. The one who left him and his sister almost ten years ago. Chuck looked over at Sarah, yet his image of her was still blurry he was glad that she was there. Painstaking minutes went by and Sarah knew it was time for her to go and leave them alone. Getting up Chuck looked up like why are you leaving me. Sarah grabbed his face in her hands and gave him a kiss. "I'll be downstairs, this will give you time to talk."

Chuck kissed her one more time then watched her pat Stephen's shoulder and headed to the door. Chuck waited till the door closed. Stephen looked at her son. "So, she's more than your handler?"

Chuck looked over at his dad. "Yes, and I know what your thinking. She can't do her job and still love me."

"Not thinking that at all. I have seen how she has protected you above her feelings for you my son. Her coming to me yesterday I knew she had feelings for you and like I told her I have read a lot of your mission reports."

Chuck made a quick jerk of his head. "You read our reports?"

"Most of them. Impressive mission portfolio."

"What else do you know? Despite leaving Ellie and me?"

"I was wondering when you were going to bring that up."

"And why wouldn't I? You left your children."

"I did and I would do it again. If I had to protect you and your sister, then I would do it over and over again."

"Protect us?"

"The fact that I left, Ellie became a doctor and you're a…"

"I'm a what? I got kicked out of Stanford because you told Bryce to find a way stop them from having me recruited. And surprise, I am so involved right now with the CIA having me recruited wouldn't have been a bad idea at least I would have a purpose."

"Son you do have a purpose. When Bryce told me that he had sent the Intersect to you I wasn't pleased as I didn't want you involved with the CIA and now you are holding all the files plus a few extras that have unfortunately put your life in danger and because of that Sarah and Casey have been sent to protect you. But from what I have seen, you have been doing an excellent job of protecting yourself."

Chuck wasn't sure to take it as a compliment or not.

"How was you leaving protecting us? Mom left and then you left."

"Fifteen years ago, I stumbled upon a way to hold immense amount of data and have our brains be the host. Our brains have the capability to do much more than we give it credit for. So, when I came up with the idea of creating the Internet the CIA got wind of it."

"And how did they know about it? It's not that you broadcasted it unless you were."

Chuck looked up and for the first time since losing his sight he was seeing clearly. "You're a spy?"

"Not really, I'm an engineer by trade but have dabbled in some reconnaissance and if something is worth the eyes and ears of the CIA I let them in."

"So, the Intersect?"

"Well you know most of it but the part that you don't know much about is why you're down here. It was initially a black ops CIA mission that was executed to transmit Intel through a thread of information that seemed possible. Almost like a chip being absorbed in liquid and when digested it could be retrieved down the road. This thread would be the same, a series of threads banded together with Intel then embedded into a larger file or in our case secondary files or random files that only those who knew what to look for would know where to look. But what happened was that your identity, Sarah's, Casey and Bryce's were leaked and put on the chip, the one you retrieved from Juliette. The problem was she opened it opened it and gave it to a man name Von Hayes to hold. Meanwhile, she got in touch with Pablo which Bryce and Sarah came looking for months before. And when they saw the link they headed home."

"So, what does Pablo want?"

"The Intel he wants is passwords and codes for drones that can be used as weapons. Once the drones are reprogrammed all chaos will ensue. Pablo has been seeking out these threads for years probably since the Intersect was stolen."

"How did he find out about the Intersect?"

"That is what Bryce was looking into. He has always been ahead of the game even when his methods weren't what we though they should be."

"And you resurfacing?"

"I was also on that chip, and if they find out that you were my son then Ellie would be in danger as well."

Chuck stood up. "She's not in danger, now is she?"

"No and I hope it doesn't come to that. That is why I stayed away. And the same reason why no one else can find out that you're the human Intersect. Too many people with too many alterative motives. After I sent my files to the CIA I was always away and when I came back it was obvious that people were looking for me. We were broken into many times, so I had to go into hiding. If I wasn't around then they wouldn't come after you and your sister. What you have and been able to do with the Intersect has surpassed even my wildest dreams."

"Well it hasn't been a dream its been more like a nightmare. I didn't ask for this."

"I know."

"Why me?"

"Bryce thought he didn't have a choice. They couldn't have it and it had to be put somewhere safe."

"So, he figured, why not Chuck. I got kicked out of Stanford because of him, so why not add to my miserable life."

"I hope you don't feel that way now. With all that good you have done. The team you have put together."

"Sarah? Somedays having the Intersect is easier than dealing with her."

They both laugh.

"But you got through it. I can see that you two care for each other."

"You mentioned that once or twice already." The two Bartowski's laughed again.

"Son I know that your angry and you want answers to your questions, I left and if I could do things differently I would. I would have taken you and your sister with me but what kind of life would you two have."

"We would have our dad."

"We can't change the past, but we can protect the future, yours and mine. I need you to do that for me. Can you put aside your feelings and help me bring them down? I know that you have been looking at some angle, some plan. And I must say that your search was quite impressive. And to get me here using the Tron reference."

"If you were who I thought you were then you would have gotten it."

Chuck had lots of work to do but his talk with his dad was just the beginning. Bryce left with Stephen and Casey and planned to meet up with Chuck and Sarah in a few hours as they went looking for Pablo. As Chuck sat next to Sarah in the restaurant. Sarah rubbed his arm. "You want to talk?"

"No kind a talked out." Sarah leaned on his shoulder. Chuck ordered, ate and headed back upstairs. He crawled into bed and covered his eyes. Sarah sat down in the chair beside him when Chuck padded the bed beside him. Sarah slid in and rolled onto her side. "Can we just lay like this?" Sarah rested her head on his chest. "Yes, we can."

A week later

The senior Bartowski set up his equipment after finally convincing his son to let him gamble with his life and with the Intersect. Chuck knew that even though his dad created it he was unsure that it would work that they could get what they wanted out of it and still be able to bring down Juliette and Pablo. But things were not as they seemed from a few short days ago. Stephen just hoped he didn't have to run his program.

Chuck headed down to the street and waited for Bryce to show. His vision was back, and the governor seemed to work but not after Sarah had to remind him to wear it. As they waited Sarah sensed that something wasn't right and wondered where was Casey. Her worries became reality when a van drove up. Sarah had no time to react or grab her gun as both her guns were taken. She turned and tried to punch her way out but when a gun came out from the side of the van and was aimed at Chuck, she withdrew any more punches. Sarah shook her head slightly and Chuck knew not to react. They were thrown into a van. Bryce and Stephen came around the corner as the van sped off.

The van turned a corner and slowed down allowing Chuck to try and make a break for it but got the brunt end of a pistol across the face. Sarah leaned forward but felt a gun pointed in the middle of her back. "He'll be fine, as long as he behaves."

Sarah looked at Chuck as the blood trickled down his cheek.

Chuck sat tending to his head when Juliette spoke again. "Where the Intersect files Chuck?"

Chuck looked towards the front of the van. "What do you mean?"

"Where is the file. We know Larkin sent it to someone or maybe he still has it. Where is it?"

Chuck looked at Sarah. "Why would I know where it is?"

"Because we know that Sylvia and Tom tested you and you surprised them all." Chuck didn't speak.

The van stopped and Chuck and Sarah were dragged out and forced down a hallway then forced to sit down. Moments later a man came in and Juliette asked again. Chuck never responded. The man slammed a baton against Chuck's upper leg. Chuck screamed.

"Chuck!" Sarah screamed.

Chuck was forced back in his chair and the man walked over to Sarah. Ready to do the same to her. Chuck yelled. "You leave her alone."

Sarah could see that he was in pain, but he still was protecting her.

"So, are you going to give us what we want?" The man demanded.

"You want a file, right?" Chuck looking up.

Sarah looked at Chuck. He whispered 'Trust me.'

As soon as Chuck said a file, Pablo made his presence known. Sarah had seen photos of the man from what Bryce had disclosed but he was larger than life standing now in front of them. He gave Juliette a most uncomfortable kiss, but she didn't mind it as she wiped her bottom lip. "You got it?"

Chuck looked up. "The file?"

"Yes and no."

"Yes and no, not what I want to hear."

"Well that is all that I have to offer. If you know that I am who you think I am and that I have what you want I can't just give it to you, just like that…"

As Chuck riddled on, Sarah was use it, but Pablo and Juliette were getting impatience.

Chuck got another slap of the baton and by the fourth hit it was just something to do and not to make Chuck talk.

"So when can I get what I want?" Pablo walking around.

"It has to be located then uploaded."

"Then do it?"

Chuck looked at his hands and his leg that was now bleeding due to the splinters of the baton.

"Well I can't do anything tied up?"

Pablo got Juliette to untie him and two men dragged him out. Sarah managed to convince them to let her go with them. "It was a two-person job."

Chuck laughed inside knowing the reference from past missions.

The two men placed Chuck at a table of impressive computer equipment then Sarah joined him, quickly looking at his injuries.

"I'm fine." Then he whispered as he leaned into the screens. "We have to drag this out, I can't just bring up the file like I would a regular file, plus I don't know what they want?"

Sarah leaned back and turned to face the door where Juliette and Pablo were standing. Sarah motioned to them as they walked towards the table. "It might be helpful if we knew what file you wanted or even the names. Like Chuck said he doesn't know and if he doesn't know he can't help you."

Pablo sat down with Juliette sitting on the arm of the chair and Pablo's hand cupping her hip. As Sarah conversed with them Chuck quickly logged into the CCTV feeds then logged into his search hopefully his dad or even Bryce for that matter were near by.

Hotel

Casey turned towards the hotel when Stephen told him to wait. " We need to find them?"

"We will and we are. I know my son and he will find away to get a hold of us."

Stephen pulled up his sleeve and curiosity got to Casey as they sat down outside the hotel. Casey watched as the senior tapped at this sleeve that was not a sleeve but a portable computer of some kind. Stephen tapped and swiped and in seconds he looked up. "The boy never lets me down."

Casey looked at Stephen then Bryce. "You found them?"

"Yes, and they want the files, but Chuck doesn't know the names of the file and I can't just upload them."

"So how are we going to get the file out of something like Chuck's thick head?"

Stephen laughed. "Right and those curls don't help either." Casey grunted as the senior's humour was as dry as his sons.

Stephen quickly typed back a brief message to buy sometime till they could come and get them.

Chuck saw the response and smiled inwardly despite feeling like crap. He turned around and whispered to Sarah. "Time to shine."

Chuck typed randomed things making it look like he was busy.

"Pablo, Pab bloooo, Pablow. Who named you? It got a nice ring to it."

"Enough! Get busy."

Chuck looked at Pablo. Do you know anything about what you want? Anything about computers? Do you know what CPU threads are?"

Pablo looked at Juliette then back at Chuck and Sarah. When he didn't answer. "Thought so."

"It doesn't matter whether I do or not, I know that I can make a lot of money with those files and the intel on those files."

"You probably could. My question is who told you about the file or more specifically the ones you want. Sylvia and Tom are gone so we can't ask them, Alexis is dead and as I recall many of your kind of people who thought that you could get what was in my head have been taken down by us and I feel that this is going to be one of those times that we win." Chuck looking at him with confidence.

"Hardly. No one knows you're here and how would you, know that I haven't told anyone else your secret?"

"Because, if you have told someone else you wouldn't be casually sitting there waiting for me to do the impossible, you would be hiding out some where in some remote place extracting the data or you hiring someone to do your dirty work. Plus, the last time Juliette had help, he called me. Isn't that right Juliette, our good friend Von Hayes."

Juliette got up and walked off.

"Plus, these files are more complicated than I think you can handle. You want to breech security, apply trackers to steal intel?"

"Your smart?"

"I know I told you that already."

Pablo got up and walked over and pointed the gun at Sarah's head. "Enough of bs, give me what I want, or she gets it."

Hotel

Casey drove down the road dodging pedestrians and cars as they drove through town. "He hasn't done anything yet and he'll soon be running out of time."

Casey stepped on the gas leaving dust in his way.

Chuck turned towards the computers and knew he couldn't just grab the file. So, he

looked at Pablo. "It can't be done like you think it can. It doesn't work that way, if we can get a hold of someone you can get what you want then we all can get what we want."

"There is only one other person that seems to know about this, and I have been looking for him and was very close, but you had to ruin that."

"Sorry?" Chuck looking away.

"Who is he to you?"

"Who?" Chuck and Sarah looked up.

"The man that you chased the other night." Pablo looking at Sarah.

"I didn't see anyone; I was going after Bryce."

"Larkin?" Pablo surprised.

"Yeah." Chuck eyes' open like golf balls.

"I did see that you punched him."

"Yeah, he had it coming, he tried to kiss my girlfriend."

Pablo looked at Sarah. "So, you didn't see the man that Larkin was talking to?"

"No, why?" Both playing dumb.

"Well he seems to be the one that might be the man behind the science. He might know how to get what I want."

"And, where is he?"

Pablo moved towards Chuck and pointed the gun. "You."

Chuck swallowed hard. "Call your friend and get him to bring me Orion then."

Pablo shoved a cell into his chest. Chuck dialed Bryce's number.

Bryce heard his phone and put it on speaker. "Chuck!"

"Save it Larkin, I want Orion. If you want your friend and his lovely girlfriend to live you will bring me Orion."

Bryce kept Pablo on the line as Casey pulled up to the building. Bryce convinced Pablo that they would have Orion within the hour. Bryce looked up at Stephen as he whispered. Tell him early showing of Tron, bringing snacks.

Bryce looked at the phone.

"You hear me Larkin."

"Yes, and Chuck don't forget early showing of Tron and I'm bringing snacks."

Pablo grabbed the phone and motioned to the two guys to take Chuck and Sarah. Chuck limped his way out and faked a fall into Sarah's arms. "They are outside."

Chuck stood up and continued to walk behind Pablo and Juliette.

Pablo's men opened the door as Casey and Bryce crouched down waiting for the right time to take them down. Stephen knelt down near Bryce and waited. Casey raised his hand and counted down as the door opened as they came out. Sarah instantly scanned the area and saw Casey then Bryce as Casey motioned for them to head back in. Casey counted again and Sarah draped her body over Chucks as she pushed them backwards falling inside the door as bullets fired. The two men got hit and fell hard. Pablo fired and took one to the leg as Juliette ran. Stephen pointed to Casey as Casey ran after her.

Casey caught up to her. "We got to stop meeting like this." Casey zipped tied her hands and headed back as Bryce kept his gun on Pablo. Sarah looked at Chuck who was looking up at her. "Hey?"

"Hey." Smiling.

"We're alive?"

"Yes."

"I just thought that heaven wasn't looking too bad so far." Chuck trying not to react to how he was feeling. Sarah got up and when she tried to get Chuck up, Stephen was there to help.

"Chuck, Sarah you two okay?" Stephen looking at his son and Sarah.

Chuck leaned on his good leg as his other leg wasn't doing to good. "I'll be fine."

Casey brought Juliette back and made her sit her down beside Pablo.

Chuck and Stephen walked near the two of them. Chuck looked at Pablo. "I told you that we would win."

Pablo looked disgusted and defeated. Juliette knew that this was the end.

Casey slammed the van door shut as CIA agents arrived and took Pablo and Juliette away. Back at the hotel Beckman had assured them that know one else at least for now was coming after Chuck. Beckman debriefed with Stephen in Casey's room then followed with the rest of the team.

Sarah finished tending to Chuck's leg, giving him some ice for the swelling. She wanted him to go get it checked out, but he told her that he'd get it done when they came home. Chuck sat on his bed as Stephen knocked on the wall then entered the room. Sarah grabbed the garbage then exited giving them some time to talk.

"That Beckman is one determined lady."

"Yeah, she is but she's on our side so that's a good thing."

"It is?"

"So, what now? You are going back into hiding?"

Chuck waited as his dad formed the words in his head. "Not right away. Beckman wants me to meet with me in person when we get back to LA."

"Back to LA?"

"Yeah, I figured it was time for breakfast and pancakes."

Chuck smiled. "She will love to see you?"

"What do I say?"

"Exactly what you told me."

"Does she know that you are a spy?"

"She doesn't know anything, and I would like to keep it that way till that day comes that she needs to know. Someone told me once that it's better not to know too much unless you need to."

"There will be others Chuck?"

"I know, but with what I have seen we can get through anything. With help of course."

Stephen smiled.

"Well I guess I better head back and pack. See you at the airport?"

Chuck tried to get up. "No, sit."

Stephen walked around to the side of the bed and sat down and embraced his son. Sarah watched and smiled.

Stephen got up and hugged Sarah on his way out.

LA

Chuck hated lying to his sister and coming to her with a busted leg wasn't something he could easily lie about. Sarah looked at Ellie. "You should have seen it. The tire jack just came loose, and Chuck got the lady out just in time but unfortunately the way he was crouched against the car he slipped, and the car landed on his upper leg."

Ellie looked at her brother then back at Sarah. "You could have broken your leg."

Chuck made a huge sigh.

"Where did this happen?"

"Out near the hiking routes?"

"So that is why it took us some time to get back."

"Well Sarah did a good job of first aid."

Chuck looked at her, then she leaned in and gave him a kiss.

"Awe. Finally?" Chuck smiled as Sarah stood up.

Chuck slipped off the table and grabbed the crutch that Ellie was holding.

Chuck turned around just as he headed to the door. "Ellie can you pop by later, I have something to show you."

"Sure, 8:00?"

"Sounds good. Thanks."

Chuck hobbled out as Sarah walked beside him.

Days later

Chuck finally got to go through his gear as he promised to resupply his mission bag and it also kept him busy from wanting to hear how his dad and Ellie were doing. Chuck didn't see gun fire or smashing doors when Ellie walked into his place. It actually went okay, but she had harsher words to say to her dad than Chuck did but Stephen knew and expected it. They had plans to go to IHOP the next day for pancakes and Ellie was going to introduce Devon to her dad and Chuck felt that being there was too much for one afternoon. So, Sarah had dropped him off at Castle. Chuck hobbled around Castle adding items to his bag when he found Bryce's sunglasses. Chuck remembered when Bryce had given them to him to wear. He tossed them down on the table and kept busy for awhile but came back to them. He slipped them on and looked at the tinted window behind him. "Bond, James Bond. Charles Carmichael."

Just then Chuck stood stoic then started to sway. New images crossed his vision as Chuck uploaded another set of files and images. As the images flashed then blackened, Chuck stood swaying then fell backwards. Angrily voicing "I hate you Bryce Larkin."