Casey vs the wedding gift

A/N: Wow, I must say I was totally overwhelmed and humbled by all the responses I've received over the past few days. Thank you so much for your support, you are an awesome bunch of people. This show truly has the best fans in the world and we're gonna prove that by getting them another season and an Emmy for Yvonne.

I don't own Chuck.

Chapter 2

It was four a.m. Casey bent over the latest arrest warrant he pulled and jotted down a few notes. It was the third all-nighter in a row he pulled working on finding Sarah's father. Unfortunately his insomnia had nothing to do with his dedication to his mission. Or baby Clara wailing across the courtyard. Every time he closed his eyes, he flashed. A shirt. Wings. Chocolate sauce. A beard. A shiver ran down his spine just thinking about it. He sat back in his chair and reached for the can of Red Bull balanced on a stack of files to his right. He stared at the map of North America stuck against his living room wall. Downing the contents of his drink he got up and made his way across the room. He stuck another red pin into it.

A knock on his door drew his attention to the clock. Twenty passed four. He retrieved his weapon from the kitchen counter, keeping it hidden behind his back and checked he small video screen next to his front door. Recognizing Sarah, he relaxed. Casey opened the door slightly and stuck only his head out.

"Something wrong, Walker?" No one dropped by for a visit this time of the morning. Clad in a pair of sweat pants and one of Chuck's t-shirts, fortunately not bearing his face or the words 'love machine', Sarah shifted slightly from one foot to the other.

"I saw the lights on and I was wondering…Casey, can we talk?"

Casey hesitated. He was about as comfortable taking part in a personal conversation as a hippo dancing the lead in Swan Lake. The look on Sarah's face told him she wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important. Sighing inwardly he knew he couldn't refuse. He promised Alex that he'd be nice to his friends after all. He was about to open the door wider when he remembered the state of the living room. That would lead to a lot of questions he didn't want to answer just yet. "Okay, wait here." He closed the door and opened it again seconds later, sliding around it in an attempt to not reveal too much. He held up the bottle of Johnny Walker Black and two glasses and motioned to the fountain. Sarah raised a questioning eyebrow. "It's a nice night…morning," he explained lamely.

Sarah took the glasses from him before they sat down. "Isn't it a little early?"

Casey grunted. "It's noon somewhere in the world." He poured the liquid in the glasses she held out, placed to bottle on the edge next to him and took one of the drinks out of her hands. They each took a careful sip. Casey tried not to pull a face. Red Bull followed by whiskey was apparently an acquired taste.

"So what's up?" he asked when the silence stretched too long.

Sarah sighed. "Our kid moved out."

Casey was about to take another sip, but he was not in the mood to choke. Sarah actually looked distraught. "You're not happy about that?"

Sarah turned the glass round and round in her palms, focusing on the swirling liquid. "I don't know. It was okay, you know, having him there. And now Chuck's upset and I'm bad at hanging and I really thought they were toys and you're supposed to play with toys, even if I don't know exactly what Chewy is…"

Casey briefly wondered if she would have made more sense if he had more sleep and wasn't hyped up on caffeine and whatever else they put in those little silver and blue cans. "Hang on, Walker, you think it's your fault Grimes moved out?" At least, he thought that's what she was trying to say.

"It is. I made him feel like a third wheel. I should have tried harder." With another sigh she took a sip from her glass. Casey was quiet for a moment. This was unexpected. Any normal couple would appreciate the privacy. He almost snorted at the thought. This was Bartowski and Walker, not exactly the poster children for 'normal'.

"I told him to get out while he was still on top." He hoped his confession would serve two purposes. One, get Walker to stop blaming herself and two, wrap up the conversation. Ellie would be better equipped to deal with this, but it sounded like mini-Awesome had finally settled down, so the Woodcombs were probably catching as many winks as they could before the next round.

"Why would you do that?"

"You and Chuck are going to be married in a few months," he explained slowly. "You need your privacy. Or do you want to hang a sock on the door every time you're in the mood for peanut butter?"

Sarah turned her head towards him, frowning slightly. "What is it with guys and socks and doors? I don't get it." Casey felt like facepalming himself. Repeatedly. How does he always get himself into these situations? He blamed lady feelings. But seriously, how is it that a girl like Sarah doesn't know about the sock on the door? Then again, she was probably out training while other college students were being…college students. "NCS offered me a job."

"They what?" The tactic worked, the question about socks forgotten. This he could deal with. Not that he knew what he was going to do yet, but at least that discussion would make him feel less awkward.

"Director Bentley wants me to head up the new team." Ironically enough she gave him the same advice he gave Morgan. Get out while you're still on top. Casey took another swig from his glass, avoiding his partner's eyes that were now transfixed on his face.

"First Morgan and now you? This is not happening." Sarah sat speechless for a moment. "So what are you going to do?" Casey shrugged. This was actually harder than he thought it would be. "Are you leaving Burbank?" Sarah asked when she got no verbal reply.

"No. The mission is right here." It was more than he was allowed to say, but he trusted Walker.

"Good," she let out a relieved sigh, causing Casey's eyebrow to jump. "I mean, as your friend it's good that you'll still be around and you have to do what's best for you…" Sarah bit her bottom lip. "…but as your partner, I don't like it. Neither will Chuck. We're a team Casey. Semper Fidelis."

"Come on, Walker, I'm Team Bartowski's fat kid." He was touched by Sarah's speech, but she just made the decision harder, if that was possible.

"You're not," she protested. "Our last mission would have been my last if it wasn't for you, Casey. Look, you can take point on the next mission. I'll play waitress or housekeeping or whatever and you and Chuck can mingle and find the bad guy. And I will do all the paperwork afterwards. Spy's honor."

Casey grunted. "With my luck I'd have to do the tango. With your boy-toy."

"Well, then it's a good thing he knows the woman's part," Sarah retorted, giving him a shoulder bump. Casey felt his lips starting to tuck upwards and fought it.

"You better take care of that at some stage, unless you wanna take lead at the wedding reception. Surely you don't want him to use the Intersect?"

"I will, but don't change the subject…again. You still haven't told me whether you're going to take it."

"I'm still considering my options," Casey answered truthfully.

Sarah nodded slightly. "Okay, fair enough. But, Casey, however this plays out, Chuck and I will support the decision you make."

"Thanks."

Sarah handed her empty glass back to him and got up. "I better get going." She took two steps before turning around again. "Speaking of the wedding…Casey, would you mind walking me down the aisle?"

Casey almost dropped the bottle he just picked up. For a second he had no idea what to say. He didn't want to let on that he was searching for Jack Burton, not just so Sarah could have him at the wedding, but as a father he knew that was a moment in your daughter's life you should not miss. But he also knew he should have a backup plan in case he didn't succeed, so he responded with "I'll take responsibility for you being walked down the aisle."

Sarah raised a questioning eyebrow at his unusual answer, but then she smiled. "Thanks Casey."

He merely nodded in acknowledgement as they both went their separate ways. Casey closed the door behind him and caught the map in his peripheral vision. He turned to face the map, wondering how he missed it. "Well, I be damned."

A/N: Most of this was written before I saw Chuck vs The First Bank of Evil and given that it had only a teeny bit of Casey, though that last scene was so sweet, I'm gonna have to improvise with the next chapter, but I'll try to incorporate as much of canon as possible. Have a good week, folks. Even though there's no Chuck this week, there are a few great stories going to give us our fix. Make sure to check them out.