A/N First of all thank you to all the readers of this story. When I set out on this journey I would never have imagined I'd be here 27 chapters in and this story would have passed 500 reviews. Thank you so much for that and your continued support of my ramblings.

This chapter marks the end of Act 2 of the story and sets up the final act. I have never worked so hard on a chapter yet. I hope I got it right. Thanks to my pre-readers/betas on this chapter. The 3 of them really made it so much better and kept me in line throughout. Thanks esardi, BDaddyDL and Angus McNab. This chapter really needed your help.

Just a bit of a warning, the language does get a little rough in this chapter.

I still don't own Chuck but in the immortal words of Betty Davis, "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night."

Chapter 27

The Other Girl part 3

Vibiana

Los Angeles, CA

9:55 pm

The Ring Director and his two man security team headed through the doorway that led to the Annex at Vibiana. When he passed his men stationed at the entrance, the same two that Sarah had flirted with, the taller of the two opened his clenched hand to signal that the NSA cameras had been disabled and that Carmichael and the NSA were now blind to whatever would take place over the next fifteen minutes. He was counting on that bringing The Intersect out into the open where he planned to capture him using his one major weakness, his blind spot, his emotional attachment to the beautiful blonde Agent currently on the arm of the man he planned to kill as soon as he had both Carmichael and Walker.

As he rounded the corner he pulled out his specially modified Ring smart phone. On screen was a display of the locations of the suspected NSA agents Shaw and Walker had as backup. Overlaid on top were the positions of his team. Each Agent was assigned one from the other side and as soon as he gave word they were to neutralize their targets. That would leave Walker, Shaw and Carmichael without any backup. The one wild card that still concerned him was the location of Colonel John Casey. So far he had not been seen on any of the cameras but the Director fully expected him to show up at the worst possible moment. He had heard about Casey's involvement in the take down of Roark and the Fulcrum team when he tried to upload his own army of Intersects. The air strike that killed that plan certainly befit the work of the Colonel.

But Colonel Casey had been known to the Director long before his encounter with the egotistical Roark. His reputation as a cold school killer was not limited to his colleagues in the NSA. Once spotted, Casey would become top priority to keep from running into the meeting guns blazing.

The three men passed by the fashion show staging area just as Chuck sent Carina a text with his picture. She responded quickly "Eyes on him."

Once Sarah and Shaw were passed the end of the catwalk, Shaw reached over and grabbed her by the arm startling her.

"I've got a bad feeling about going into this basically unarmed. Are you certain these bullets are all that Carmichael says they are? I just don't like your safety or mine for that matter depending on the word of a geek analyst who has no field experience. He will never be as good as you or I in planning a mission."

It took all of Sarah's professionalism to not blow the mission and punch Shaw in the face. Everyone underestimated Chuck and yet it always proved to be their downfall.

Sarah's right hand closed into a fist, and the more he spoke, the whiter her knuckles became. "First of all it's nerd, not geek and one thing I've learned from working with Carmichael is to never underestimate this nerd. But what I am beginning to wonder about is if you, Agent Shaw, can pull this off. What makes our team so successful is we trust our partners to do their job. If you can't do that then I have to wonder if I should trust you to do yours."

"Sarah, I meant no disrespect. I'm just used to working on my own and walking into what could be a Ring trap without a real weapon is just taking some time getting used to."

"Well you better get used to it fast as we are due in that meeting right now. Besides I have another weapon in my clutch and if it gets hairy I'll give you my backup piece. Plus Casey and the NSA team will be covering our collective asses so we should be good. Now are you ready for this or should we call it off and miss our best shot of getting someone on the inside of the Ring command structure? I'm sure General Beckman would love to inform the DNI that their 'Ring specialist' backed out of the most important mission of his career at the last minute."

"No, that won't be necessary. I will do my job, you can count on it, and once this is done I'll meet you back at Castle to 'witness the arrival of my fallen partner' and we can finish what we started last night. I love a good mission but I love what happens after a successful one even more." Shaw gave her his most confident and to Sarah, lecherous grin. He really was trying to sell her the idea he fully expected her to walk out after the mission tonight straight to his bed.

She had to chuckle inside. There was one thing she is certain about with Shaw and that is his predictability. But that was also his biggest weakness, well besides his undeserved ego. He actually believed he had a shot with her. Even though she wasn't certain as to what his real plan was she knew that Shaw wanted to either shoot her or screw her and most likely both.

"Daniel, nothing is going to happen afterwards unless you focus on the mission at hand. You need to sell the Ring Director on your willingness to kill your partner to get a chance to work with him as a double. Nothing and I mean nothing will happen if you don't pull this off. "

"Ok Agent Walker, let's go give the Director my resume."

Vibiana Annex

Los Angeles, CA

10:01 pm PDT

"Director, the NSA cameras have been disabled and Agents Shaw and Walker are headed this way."

"Any sign of Agent Carmichael or Colonel Casey?"

"Not yet sir."

"Well once Agent Walker disappears from view of the regular cameras, kill them too and then wait 10 minutes before jamming their comms. Once he is blind and deaf it won't take him long to make an appearance. Let him approach but keep an eye on him. We don't want to draw any unnecessary attention. But I want Shaw to play out his little charade before we move on Walker. Once Carmichael hears that Shaw is going to betray her, he'll come running." He then pointed at the agent and said, "Find John Casey! I want his gun to be the one that takes out Shaw." The Director said forcefully before heading over to sit down on a small, tan leather couch in the corner of the annex. In between the cushions was a loaded Glock 17 if the Director needed it. He had planned this operation with the idea that he himself would never have to fire a weapon. He liked it that way. Someone in his position had 'others' to do the dirty work. Besides he hated the smell of gunpowder on his suits.

The Director signaled for the three glasses to be placed on the small coffee table and a bottle of his favorite Pinot Noir was placed along with them while he waited for the arrival of his guests.

The plan had been that once they approached the annex, Shaw was to begin his role for the evening. With her arm looped through his, he smirked at the security folks she had spoke with earlier. To them it was to look like he was headed to the back for a little "quiet time" with the hot blonde model they had spoken with previously.

Shaw glanced at the guards inside by the exit Chuck had predicted the Director would be using and they signaled him to head inside where the Director was waiting for them.

Once around the corner, the change of direction was to "concern" her.

"Daniel, where are we going? The next collection is the one I came to see."

"Just this way a bit. I have something I need to take care of. It will only take a minute."

"Ok, but if I miss this I'm going to be one unhappy girl later on when we get back to your apartment and you don't want to see that." Sarah gave her best angry girlfriend look warning him of what he would be missing out on later on if she missed the next designer.

"Ahh, you're here. Right on time I see." The Director stood up and extended his hand for them to come over and sit down.

"Daniel, what's going on?" His 'date' hadn't 'expected' a business like atmosphere.

Shaw smiled at her politely and continued.

"Sarah, this will just take a minute."

"Please, have a seat. How about a glass of a nice Pinot I think you will enjoy while we have our meeting." The Director opened the bottle and poured the three a glass. He picked up his, swirled the wine to check the color and aroma before taking a drink.

"I find this Pegasis Bay Pinot from New Zealand to be one of the best in the world. I hope you'll enjoy it. 2006 was a good year for them."

Sarah looked at Shaw before they both picked up their glasses. Having seen the Director drink his first they both took a sip.

"It's excellent. What do you think Sarah?"

"Very nice." She said with a small smile.

"Pardon my manners, Sarah, this is Simon Foster, the Ring Director." The timing and the look of shock on Sarah's face was perfect.

"Simon, this is my partner Agent Sarah Walker of the CIA."

"Well Daniel, you are one lucky man, your partner is more beautiful than any model on the runway this evening. Her reputation doesn't do her justice."

"Thank you Simon, yes I am a very lucky to have someone this beautiful for my partner both during and after our missions." The three sit and look at each other for a few seconds before Shaw continues his role. Inside Sarah was fuming at the insinuation she was also his post-mission partner. But outside it was just the glare of a well trained agent watching her cover being blown.

"Shaw, what the hell are you doing?" Sarah ramped up the fierceness in her expression She made a show of grasping at her clutch.

Ignoring Sarah, Shaw turned his attention back to the Ring Director. "Simon, it is so kind of you to meet us like this I know you are extremely busy but I do find it curious you chose to meet us here."

"Well Daniel, normally I don't attend events like this but an associate of mine's wife loves to come to various fashion week events all over the world. Her position in her country demands that she spend a great deal of money on clothing. She fashions herself only in the latest designs by the world's hottest designers. He was in town only for this event so it seemed like a good place to conduct some business."

"Well thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

"So what did you want to talk about."

Sarah glanced back and forth between the two alpha males. The confidence on the Directors face signaled he thought he had the upper hand and was holding court.

Shaw shifted in his seat and leaned back to try and show off his confidence. The display of testosterone between the two men almost had Sarah laughing if it wasn't such a dangerous situation. She and Shaw were alone with the Ring Director with two security men in the room and four more outside. She knew that Casey and the NSA team were close by but with each passing minute the tension was building. Shaw needed to pull this off but in the back of her mind she was also anticipating Shaw making his move towards her for real.

"I have some critical information that a man in your position would be most interested in Simon."

"And what might that be?"

"First we need to talk about what we are looking for in return."

"You want to talk about payment when I don't even know what it is you are offering?"

"Simon, I'm not looking for payment as such. In fact I'm actually looking for a job."

"Why would I give you a job?"

"Because I'm here to offer you a trade."

Sarah turned and found not the modified Glock 17 she had expected but a silenced Walther PPK pointed at her head.

The two guards quickly drew their weapons but the Director raised his hand to have them stand down.

"I'm listening." A small smirk appeared on his face.

Sarah looked at Shaw and saw the true betrayal in his eyes. She knew he intended to go through with his own modified plan. A plan where she would be 'sacrificed' but not with Chuck modified ammunition but with real live bullets.

"Sorry Sarah, it's been fun. I just wish our date didn't end so soon the other night. I would have liked to have had sex with you at least one more time before I killed you." Shaw reached over and took her clutch containing her Smith and Wesson. His fantasy about her having sex with him still on display for the Director.

He then turned his attention back to the Director. "Simon, what does the Ring want access to most?"

Shaw looked over at Sarah, her face full of hatred. She knew what he was going to offer, Chuck.

"Shaw don't. I swear I will ..."

"Sarah please, you won't be leaving this room alive so don't bore me with your idle threats."

The Director watched with great enjoyment as the two CIA Agents played their little game before him. He loved watching an enemy betrayed by their partner. It was one of the great perks of turning an agent.

"Daniel, you were saying something about what we want most?"

"Yes, what the Ring wants most is the Intersect and not only can I give you the technology so you can build your own army of Intersect Agents but as a bonus I'll give you the very first successful Human Intersect."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"By killing my beautiful partner."

Little Tokyo Public Library

Basement Server room

10:17 pm PDT

Casey and Chuck intently watched the scene unfold before them on the special cameras Chuck had had installed. On another monitor he punched up the face of General Diane Beckman.

"Did you get that General?"

"Yes, we did Agent Carmichael. That was the proof we needed to bring to the DNI and you are authorized to take whatever measures are necessary to kill or capture Agent Shaw. As far as the Director goes, continue with the plan Agent Carmichael."

"Thank you General."

"Good call on the traitor Chuck. But you really are taking a big risk with her."

"Thanks Casey and I know, for Sarah's sake I hope I'm right." Chuck took a deep breath and checked that his modified pistol was still in the shoulder holster under his suit. "Now it's phase 2 and I need to go meet the Director myself and get Sarah out of there. We don't need any surprises screwing this up."

Vibiana Annex

Los Angeles, CA

10:18 pm PDT

"Daniel, as much as I'd like to have the great Sarah Walker eliminated, she and her team decimated Fulcrum as a threat and have done more damage to us than the rest of the CIA combined, why would the Intersect come work for us if you kill Agent Walker?"

Shaw sat back with the cockiest grin Sarah had ever seen. She had seen this same look on Bryce many times but his was usually justified as it was just before he put a bullet between the eyes of their target.

Shaw looked first at the Director then settled on Sarah. As he spoke he was intently watching for her reaction to what was about to happen, almost drooling in anticipation.

"Because I'm not going to be the one to pull the trigger."

The Director for his part looked a bit confused before his attention was drawn to a voice he had never heard before.

"I am."

In the dim light that shone through a curtain that blocked off access to the backstage area stood a tall redhead who looked like she was more at home in the main room on the runway than standing there holding a Glock 23.

Shaw's surprise guest did her best model walk over to where he was sitting and plopped herself on his lap. She leaned in and gave him an open mouthed kiss that would make many a man's toes curl along with a few other physical reactions. Pulling back she winked at the Director and then turned her attention over to the woman who had once been her teammate and partner.

"Hello Sarah, Surprise!"

The Ring Director signaled for his men to lower their weapons. As soon as Carina had appeared they had both drawn a bead on the beautiful DEA agent. A stunned Sarah Walker looked open mouthed at the redhead now seated on the traitor's lap. "Carina, what the hell are you doing here? I thought..."

"Come on blondie. You know I'm a gamer and when Agent Hottie here asked if I wanted to keep chasing some ugly assed drug lords through the bug infested jungles of whatever godforsaken country the DEA sent me to or come along with him to Paris, New York or Monte Carlo, it was a no-brainer. If I'm going to have to fuck some mark for the job I might as well do it in a five star hotel in Ibiza than in some shit hole hut in Thailand."

"Fuck you Carina, though I really shouldn't be surprised, you were always out for yourself."

Simon chuckled. "Pardon me for interrupting what seems to be a not so friendly reunion. But I still haven't got an answer to my question, Agent Shaw. Why would killing Agent Walker by this lovely creature, whom I assume is Agent Carina Miller of the DEA, cause the Intersect to come work with us voluntarily?"

Sarah sat there fuming. Her eyes were nothing but pure hate directed at her one time partners. The Director and the other two Agents could feel the icy glare almost cause goose bumps to rise on their skin.

"Well Simon. The Agency has been going through some old files of former Directors Graham and Mitchell and have come across some 'loose ends' that need to be tidied up. It seems that during her "Wild Card Enforcer" days for Director Graham, Agent Walker was sent on a number of non-authorized 'personal' missions for the Director. Certain 'files' about a number of Red ops have recently been uncovered that would be most politically damaging to our Intelligence services if they were ever released to the press. In light of those 'discoveries', Agent Miller here was given a 'termination order' on Agent Walker by General Beckman on behalf of the Director of the DNI."

"That's a lie!" Sarah tried to stand up and go after the Agent but was pushed back down by the Ring guards holding their guns on her now.

"Maybe yes, maybe no but as far as the Intersect knows all of it was off the books. Graham kept a great many things out of the Intersect data and I'm sure you haven't told him much about your past 'activities' for the agency. The orders Agent Miller was 'given' will 'unfortunately' be discovered and along with them the records used to order your sanction. Without any contradictory evidence, he'll have no way to disprove it."

Leaning forward against the redhead's shoulder who was sitting on his lap grinning widely at the look of horror and outrage on Sarah's face, Shaw got an evil twinkle in his eye as he said this final part.

"Sarah, your Red Test was one of those personal missions for Graham. But it was also very personal to me. The woman you killed that night was an innocent agent that had found out how Langston Graham had betrayed her. When she confronted him he used some trumped up intel to order her sanction. Sarah, that agent, the innocent woman you never knew the name of but left to die alone on the streets of Paris was named Evelyn Shaw, my wife."

"What? No, Graham would never do that. I...He ... wouldn't... She was a traitor. He promised" Sarah's eyes began to moisten. The shock of what Shaw had told her written all over her face.

Carina got up off of Shaw's lap and stood next to him placing a hand on his shoulder. She looked at the pain so evident on Sarah's face, her voice full of smugness as she spoke. "But the really ironic thing Sarah, is that the CIA is setting you up to be the patsy for all of your mentor Langston Graham's crimes. They can't allow the possibility of any of this getting out, so you, my little blonde loose end, need to be cut off and disposed of. They picked me to undertake this mission because they knew you had 'friends' in the CIA that would tip you off."

Shaw leaned back into the chair once again and turned his attention back to the Director. "Once the Intersect learns that his employers set up and killed the woman he loves, he will stop at nothing to destroy them and what better way to do it than by defecting to the organization that is trying to do the same."

"I'm impressed Agents Miller and Shaw but how is the Intersect going to 'discover' this plan?"

"That's where I come in again." Carina said smirking. "He and I will 'seek each other out' for comfort after the death of his beloved partner and my best friend. In a moment of passion and weakness I will make a mistake that will lead him to the intel and the sanction order."

"You bitch! You keep your fucking slutty hands off him!"

"Oh I plan to have a lot more than my 'slutty hands' on him, believe me." Carina licked her lips to emphasize her point.

Watching the exchange, the Director was thoroughly amused. He had to admit it was an interesting and if he had to say so himself, a well thought out plan. Too bad he had other ideas for Agents Walker and Carmichael. He didn't trust that Carmichael could be so easily turned by vengeance. From all he had seen and heard he was a patriot to a fault and would put his own pain of betrayal aside to defend his country. Carmichael was a great spy and great spies don't allow those kinds of personal vendettas to affect them. However Shaw had shown him something else or actually someone else that might be very helpful in the future. The Ring could always use more female Agents willing to 'lay it all on the line' so to speak and if he had to wait till Carmichael was completely under his control to utilize Walker in the field then maybe Agent Miller might be a very effective substitute.

Suddenly there was a commotion just outside the entrance of the room they were occupying. The Director nodded and the Agent closer to the entrance headed over to where the sound came from. After a few moments he returned.

"Director, our men have detained a woman, a civilian, who says she needs to see Agent Shaw."

Noticing the looks of confusion on both Shaw and Walker's faces he spoke. "Oh this should be interesting. Bring her in."

The Agent turned and came back in a few seconds later with a middle aged woman held by two other men.

Shaw closed his eyes for a few seconds when he saw who was there. Simon looked at Shaw and smirked. He turned back to Agent Walker and saw nothing but confusion.

"So, you say you need to speak with Agent Shaw. Might I ask who you are and what this is about?"

"My name is unimportant but I came here to watch this woman die." Her gaze locked on to Sarah and never waivered, her eyes filled with hatred and vengeance.

"And why would that be of interest to you?"

"Because I've waited five long years and she deserves it for what she's done."

The four main parties looked back and forth between each other. The unexpected arrival of this woman had thrown a new surprise element into the mix. Sarah, Shaw and Carina knew who she was but the Director had no idea and that fact bothered the obsessive man who prided himself on planning for every contingency. 'This has to be some screw up brought on by the idiot Shaw', he thought.

"That may well be but how the hell did you know she was here?" The Director was getting angrier and angrier about the distraction. He had no time to deal with another Shaw mistake. He expected Carmichael to arrive any moment and this mission was too important to let this uninvited guest screw it up. He couldn't wait to put an end to Shaw's incompetence.

"I followed them."

"Them?"

"Daniel and that bitch." The hatred in her eyes directed at Sarah would have made any other woman cower in fear.

"Huhh." Simon shook his head slightly. "Agent Walker I'm surprised at you. Shaw not noticing a tail I could understand, but you? Frankly I'm a bit disappointed." His British accent made it seem even more condescending.

Sarah just stared expressionless. She wouldn't dignify the insult.

"So Agent Shaw, would you care to explain who this woman is and why she's here? And please don't insult me by saying you don't know."

Shaw took a breath, looked first at Carina, then Sarah and finally settled on their uninvited guest. He knew that he couldn't deny he knew her and that his only chance to come out of this not looking like a complete screw up was to speak confidently that it had all been planned.

"She's here because I wanted her to see this killer pay for her crimes. Her name is Ursula Reidy, Ursula Schneiderman Reidy." Shaw turned his fiery gaze towards Sarah before continuing. "Sarah, this is the woman you murdered, my wife's... mother."

Carina gasped. This was the woman she saw visiting Shaw at his penthouse. The woman Chuck told them about. She had recognized her when she came in. But what made her gasp was more the fierceness and intensity in Shaw's voice. Maybe if he showed that kind of passion in the sack it wouldn't have been such a disappointing evening with the tall handsome Ken doll.

As soon as Chuck saw Ursula brought into the room he knew it was time to move. Her presence was the unforeseen circumstance he and Sarah had worried about. An emotional family member hell bent on avenging her daughter's killing was the kind of wild card that sent many a mission belly up, many times with deadly consequences. The mission and the love of his life were in grave danger. He knew he had to act fast before things got out of hand.

Watching the monitors focused on stage, Chuck saw the perfect moment in the program to begin the operation. He dispatched Casey and the NSA team to quietly disable the Ring operatives throughout Vibiana. As everyone attending the Gala's attention was locked on the parade of beautiful half naked women prancing the catwalk in barely there lingerie, the light and smoke effects coming from overhead covered the firing of small trang darts from robotically controlled guns Chuck had had mounted in the lighting grid surrounding the catwalk. A special CIA crew had been substituted for the normal lighting grips that morning. Chuck had chosen these weapons to eliminate any civilian casualties. Anyone struck accidently would simply wake up with the same hung over feeling half the room was going to have the morning after an event like this.

The distraction on stage made it easy for the NSA team to discretely neutralize the disoriented Ring Agents without grabbing the attention of the patrons at the event. With the six Ring Agents in the function hall taken care of, that left just the two by the entrance, the two by the escape door and the guards in the room. Ursula's unplanned arrival actually was beneficial as the door to the room was now unguarded with the two operatives that were stationed there now holding her captive.

Chuck punched up the special camera feeds he had installed on his smart phone as he headed through the underground tunnels connecting the library to Vibiana and the Annex. Watching and listening to the exchange in the room above him he found the narrow staircase that reminded him of the one that led to the top of the dome of St Paul's Cathedral in London. He had always wanted to visit and climb all 528 steps and gaze across at the spectacular view of one of the world's great cities.

Once at ground level he waited for the signal from Casey that the NSA had accomplished their mission.

Sarah sat stone-faced. She had to command all of the strength she had gained by exorcising the demon that was her Red Test with Chuck. She would not let the horrible memories of that night affect her this time. His love had borne that pain for her and she would not fail him now.

Sarah took a deep breath and stared an icy glare into Shaw's eyes. "She was a traitor, just like her husband."

"You bitch! She was innocent and you murdered her for nothing!" Ursula screamed and tried to break free from the grasp of the Ring Agents holding her. Thankfully the beat of the music from the stage was loud enough that no one outside heard the cries of the hysterical woman.

"Shut that woman up!" Commanded the Director. This whole meeting was heading into the shitter because of this intruder. It was time to end all this and get on with his plan.

Shaw also knew he was losing control and he needed to do something. He nodded to Carina who stepped out from behind the chair Shaw was seated in and aimed her gun at Sarah.

"Actually Sarah, she's right. Eve was an innocent. The intel Graham used to order the sanction was bogus."

Sarah's resolve was shaking. The memory of her Red Test was bad enough but if Eve was an innocent, she was a murderer just like Ursula had screamed at her. She knew Chuck loved her but how could he look at her the same way once he found out she had killed an innocent woman.

"H... How do you know that? Graham would never have had me kill an innocent."

Carina saw the pain in Sarah's eyes. She knew Chuck wouldn't let this go much further. Her eyes scanned the room for any sign of him or Casey. 'Where the fuck are you Chuck?'

"I know it was because I was the anonymous source who leaked the intel to Graham."

"What?" Sarah and Ursula both exclaimed.

"You bastard Daniel! You told me she was a rogue Agent who wanted Eve out of the way so she could get close to Graham and advance her career. Now you tell us Graham ordered her killed on information YOU provided? Eve was your wife! I thought you loved her? I thought HE loved her." Tears now flowed from the distraught woman's eyes. Her son-in-law had set up her daughter to be killed, a killing ordered by the man who had taken her in after she helped him on a mission that got her pregnant with Eve. All the hatred and anger she had felt these past five years had all been based on a lie. It was too much for her and she slumped in the arms of the Agents holding her.

"It doesn't matter now, Sarah, as Agent Miller is about to put a bullet between your eyes. And Ursula here, well she is just going to be another casualty of a CIA operation gone bad. You see Agent Walker, after I left Thailand I knew I wasn't going anywhere in the CIA. Agents who sell out their partners and get them captured don't tend to be promoted real fast up the ranks. Agents like you can just fuck their way to the top. So I saw a brighter future for me with the Ring. After a few years working small ops as a double Agent and feeding some low level intel to the Director here, I figured what better way to advance in the Ring, than by becoming the CIA's Ring expert. I'd have access to all kinds of classified information, mission plans etc and I could feed that to Simon and eventually get a seat at the table."

"But what the hell does that have to do with setting up your wife?"

"Yes Daniel, do tell us." the disdain for the bragging agent this time dripping from the Director's voice.

Shaw looked back and forth between all the parties and flashed a sinister smile of pure evil.

"I knew Graham was all about mission first. He would order his own mother killed if he thought it would help protect this nation. He thought Eve was a threat and so it was easy to get him to give the order. I also knew he would never acknowledge the sanction as it would cause folks to look more closely at his relationship to Eve and the circumstances of her birth. Ursula here can attest to Graham's part in that little soap opera. His only solution was to blame it on the Ring. So what better way to become the CIA's Ring expert than by playing the distraught husband bent on avenging his wife's murder at the hands of the Ring. Graham thought I would stop at nothing to bring them down and that is exactly what I made him believe."

Carina chuckled a bit in surprise. "Wow Shaw, you sacrificed your partner and then your own wife for a plum assignment so you could become a double and defect. Remind me to never, ever get in the way of something you really want. If it weren't so creepy, it would be all kinds of freakin' hot." She winked seductively at her new partner.

"Don't worry Agent Miller, once our friend Simon here gives me what I want, I'll show you just how 'freakin' hot' I can get."

"Well I'm not that easy to impress, so I hope you are up to the challenge Danny boy."

Ursula continued to struggle against her captors. The anguish in her heart was also being fueled by the hatred she felt for the man she had once embraced as family. He had betrayed her and he had betrayed Eve.

Sarah on the other hand was using every ounce of will power and training to control the ocean of emotions inside her mind and soul. Her biggest private fear had always been that she had killed an innocent that awful night. If what Shaw was telling them was true, that fear had become a reality.

Just when she thought she was about to break from the despair of this revelation, she heard the one thing that would carry her through anything no matter how painful or how alone she felt. Just as her tears were about to surface, she heard her partner, she heard her anchor, she heard Chuck.

"Sarah, Casey and the NSA guys have neutralized the Ring Agents in Vibiana. All that's left are the two by the exit and those in there with you. Ursula showing up made me call an audible and Seven of Nine is a go."

God she loved that nerd.

Simon however, was getting impatient. He needed to dispose of Shaw, capture Walker and Carmichael and get back to the hive. The longer he was in the open, the more likely something else unforeseen would happen that put him at greater risk. Shaw's mother in law showing up was enough. He was also concerned because of the lack of chatter from the other agents on site. Carmichael should have been seen by now. He needed to get this thing moving before Shaw screwed things up completely. But then again he thought he had a trump card up his sleeve that just might change the balance here so it was time to call Shaw's bluff and see what he wanted. Simon hated to lose at poker and that's why he always stacked the deck.

"Ok Agent Shaw let's say you can deliver the Intersect, what is it you want from me?"

"Your job." Shaw face full of smugness.

Simon laughed. "MY job, and why the hell would I give you that?"

"Well Simon, the way I see it, I deliver the Intersect to you in exchange for your job and you deliver it to the Elders in exchange for a seat on the council with a fast track to become the next Ring Elder. The Elders get what they want, you get what you want, I get what I want and Carina here gets what she wants. Everybody wins except Agent Walker, she just gets dead."

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen, Agent Shaw."

All eyes turned towards the sound coming from a previously unseen passageway that had opened in the wall separating the Annex from the main room at Vibiana. Dressed in a suit that even James Bond would have been proud of, holding a modified Sig Sauer P226 and lit from the staircase below, all the entrance needed to make the tall and confident agent's entrance complete was a smoke machine.

"Carmichael? Where the hell did you come from?" Shaw realized he hadn't been briefed about the secret passageways that lay under Vibiana.

Ignoring the question Chuck simply said, "You see Agent Shaw, Agent Walker is my partner and from what I've just heard, I'm glad you no longer are."

The Director was pleased. Carmichael's entrance made it possible that he may just get what he wanted after all. It was time for him to take control. He signaled the Agents to take out the NSA team. Unfortunately for him none of them in the main hall were still on station.

"So Agent Carmichael, we finally meet. How nice of you to drop in on our little gathering. I think you know pretty much everyone here. But unfortunately your 'former' partner isn't the only one that wants Agent Walker dead. In fact I believe that you are the only one who doesn't."

Chuck looked slowly around room and focused on the redhead standing next to Shaw, his eyes piercing.

"Sorry, Chuckles." Carina shrugged. "You know I always take what Sarah wants. Too bad for you she moved on to the tall, dark, and traitorous Agent Shaw here. I've still never fucked a nerd."

"Still pissed about the diamond and me rejecting you I see."

"In your dreams Carmichael. Shaw just made me a better offer."

While Carmichael and Miller were doing their little dance, the Director noticed the strong visible reaction coming from their original unwanted guest.

"From your expression Mrs. Reiddy I believe you recognize Agent Carmichael here as well. May I ask how?"

Chuck turned and looked at Ursula, her mascara running haphazardly down her cheeks. He had never seen her look as broken, angry and desperate. He knew that everything she believed in had been a lie and the betrayal and devastation she felt right now was crushing her soul.

"Charles! Please! They both have to die for what they did to Eve!" Her voice cracking like she had screamed for the last three hours at a rock concert.

"Ursula, what do you mean they both have to die? And who is Eve?"

"So you do know each other?" The Director said, carefully watching the interaction between the two.

Chuck never took his eyes away from Ursula when he responded. "Ursula was my nurse while I was in training."

"Charles, I helped you in Zuoz, you have to help me now, you owe me. Shaw set up an innocent woman to die and that bitch is the one who killed her. They killed my Eve, Charles. They killed my innocent daughter."

"Ursula, Shaw is a traitor but Agent Walker would never kill an innocent. There has to have been a mistake."

"He just told us he gave Graham false info and Graham ordered that bitch to kill her. He had his own innocent wife killed so he could join the Ring. He has to die Charles, you have to kill him!"

Shaw realizing this was spiraling out of hand real fast and needing to move this along signaled to Carina to take aim at Sarah once again. Shaw turned and aimed his Walther PPK at Chuck.

"Drop your weapon Carmichael or Agent Miller here puts a bullet between the eyes of your little blonde CIA whore. You see she and I had a nice romantic diner last night and she was planning to screw my brains out back in my penthouse so she wouldn't have to go home to her lame assed apartment with the king of the geeks. Too bad that little tight assed General called or she would have been barely able to walk today."

"In your dreams Shaw. I'm not a fucking slut like Carina." Sarah spat out. The redhead shifted her gun and took aim once again.

"What's it going to be Carmichael, the gun or the whore?"

Suddenly the group heard a commotion outside as the indoor fireworks began to a rousing ovation for the finale of the fashion show.

Realizing the distraction, Ursula pulled her right arm free from one of the Ring Agents holding her and reached into the jacket of the one to her left grabbing his silenced Steyr M1-A pistol. She aimed and fired two quick rounds into the head of her former son in law. As Shaw was stiffly falling to the floor she turned her aim towards Sarah still seated on the couch.

"NOOOO!" Chuck yelled as he dove at his former nurse knocking the gun out of her hand. Ursula fell, crashing her head into the leg of the other Agent holding her.

When Carina saw Ursula shoot Shaw, she dropped the modified Glock 23 and quickly grabbed Sarah's Smith and Wesson from her clutch on the couch. She raised the gun and fired killing the two Agents near Ursula who were now taking aim at Chuck as he tried to get up off the floor. As she turned to see the Agent standing next to the Director take aim at her, Sarah reached for one of her throwing knives and took him out. They both then took aim at Simon. Showing no fear at all, he simply grinned back at the two female agents. Chuck had now grabbed his tranq gun from behind his back and aimed it at the Director as well.

Simon decided it was time to play his trump card. With a nod of his head towards Carina, suddenly another shot rang out from behind them and Carina dropped to the floor. A small river of blood slowly oozing from the wound just below her shoulder blade.

"Carina!" Sarah yelled, looking down at her fallen friend.

"I'd put down my weapons if I were you two or you will end up just like her." A new familiar female voice sounded from behind Chuck and Sarah.

"Why Agent Saunders, how nice of you to finally arrive."

"Yea, damned LA traffic. I almost missed my chance on the catwalk earlier. Agent Walker here almost had to fill in for me."

"Well I'm glad you got a chance at a little bit of fun after being cooped up in that underground cell for so long."

"Agent Walker, Agent Carmichael, your weapons please."

Chuck and Sarah placed their weapons on the floor and kicked them over towards the Director.

"Charles, Sarah I can't say its nice to see you again but the surroundings are much more airy and pleasant than the last time we spoke."

"Andrea, how the hell did you escape?"

Saunders smirked. "Come on Agent Carmichael. Ask your partner here how a trained female Agent can get any man or woman for that matter, to lower their guard down to a most compromising level. It's pretty easy once you get them thinking with their little head instead."

Andrea then looked over behind Chuck to see Ursula cowering in the corner terrified from the carnage she had just witnessed and been a part of just moments before.

"Well this certainly is a surprise. What are you doing here Ursula?"

Ursula said nothing. The shock of seeing her old boss added little to the range of emotions she was feeling for the past few minutes. She was on the verge of becoming catatonic.

"Your former co-worker did us all a big favor." The Director nodded towards the dead body of one Daniel Shaw. "It seems we were all screwed by him."

Andrea walked over to see the remains of the man who had betrayed her those many years ago. She stood over him with an icy gaze at her one time partner. She put her foot under his chest turning his body onto his back so she could see his face. She reached down and pulled Shaw's Walther PPK from his dead hand.

"Fuck you, partner." Andrea raised his gun and fired two shots directly into his crotch. "You won't be needing those where you're going."

She turned and looked back towards the rest of the group with a most satisfied look on her face. "So why is she here?"

The Director smirked. This was going to be fun.

"It seems you two have a bit more in common than just working at the training facility for Agent Carmichael here." Simon walked over, standing next to Saunders and looked towards the woman still sitting on the floor.

"Well you see Nurse Ursula, Agent Carmichael was actually telling the truth, your daughter wasn't an innocent. She had been working for me all along. Agent Saunders was our mole at the Farm feeding us the names of trainees she thought might be vulnerable to being recruited. She found out about her connection to Graham and we recruited her when she was still in training. A few choice stories about Graham and her long lost mother and she was eager to get back at those she thought betrayed her. She was working for us ever since. So the info Shaw gave to Graham may have all been true. Agent Walker here simply followed her orders and killed a real double agent, your daughter."

Watching the scene unfold, Chuck knew it was time to end this or Ursula would have a complete breakdown right in front of them. He shifted his weight onto his left foot raising his right heel and tapped a small switch he had embedded there back down lightly three times signaling Casey to make his move.

All eyes turned towards the entrance knowing the difference between fireworks and gunshots. Casey's team was engaging the remaining Ring Agents.

Realizing he and Saunders were about to be out numbered Simon spoke, "I believe that is our cue to leave Andrea. Agents, I promise you, we will meet again." The two turned and headed towards the area Agent Saunders had entered the room across from where Casey was engaged with the Ring escape team.

As they were about to disappear Andrea turned and spoke to their adversaries one last time.

"Remember Charles, resistance is futile."

A/N2 I hope your head isn't spinning too much after that one. Have a great holiday season and I'll be back with act 3 of Chuck VS Life,Love and Lies in 2013!