The choices we make

by mssupertigz

The jist of the story is Chuck and Sarah Casey too are team up but General Meriweather has other plans. As the team tries to justify his actions, they are given their final answer that doesn't sit well with any of them especially Sarah. Will the team get back to their glory days or will their final decision be their last?

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – The gang is back together

Chuck's words were deafened by the stares from the stranger who just walked in and the strangers looking back. Casey held his own as he had faced several tense situations like this before but never in his wildest dreams did he expect to see a pregnant Walker.

Sarah held her own. She knew what Casey was thinking. She would have thought it herself. But Casey was one man who would understand wouldn't he? This situation was slightly different, slightly unheard of and totally against the rules of a spy. Chuck stood stuck in the middle of the two spies, as the Cantina's patrons mostly made up of 'family' huddle behind one of their own. Casey dropped his bag. Staring at his partner, he knew that she wasn't going to back down even in her present state. Darting his eyes over, he saw that Chuck was never as happier with this old face standing in front of him but knew where his priorities were at, as he walked over to Sarah then reached out his hand towards Casey.

Casey reached out and shook Chuck's hands. Chuck brought him in for a hug which was received. As Chuck and Casey loosened their hold Casey turned to face Walker. Casey took a step forward turned then reached for Sarah's hand. Sarah looked up stunned but knew that the olive branch was thrown. As Sarah's hands fell down to her side the Cantina patrons backed off and the rumble of conversations resumed.

Rosa waited for the smoke to clear so to speak. She scooted off as she watched the three off them head to a booth where she knew that they had a lot had to talk about. Alfie brought the stranger a glass of Johnny Red thinking that he might need it. Casey nodded as Alfie and Rosa left the old friends to catch up.

Casey watched as Chuck made sure that Sarah was comfortable before he sat down. Chuck looked different as well. His hair was longer and his facial hair suited him making him look older almost more mature than when he left him a few weeks ago. Chuck watched as little was said between Casey and Sarah; neither party wanting to ask the evitable questions. Chuck took Sarah's hand in his then looked up at Casey.

"Ok before you freak out Casey." As Chuck kissed Sarah's hand.

"We love each other and well…we …..kinda….of…"

"You two slept together and now she's pregnant. It's obvious."

"Casey it's not like that." Sarah finally speaking up.

"Yes I am pregnant but it wasn't planned, none of this was planned. My feelings for Chuck were always there but I we never gave into them. Our relationship was strictly professional."

"Yeah I can see that?"

"Casey, she's telling the truth. I wish that she wasn't but she is. There was always something between us. You even saw that but I swear we didn't act on them till we were thrown into a corner with the whole Meriweather fiasco. I didn't know that she was expecting till I found her a few weeks ago."

Casey stared his partners down. He knew when someone was lying and when they weren't. Sarah held her hand over her stomach as Chuck brought her head to his shoulder. Leaning back he wrapped his arms around her placing it over her hand. Casey watched and he knew that they were telling the truth. Now he just had to find out the 'whys' to all his questions.

Sarah took her other hand and reached Casey's. "It's good to see you?"

Casey smiled and patted Sarah's hand. "It's good to see you both as well."

As the sun settled over the bar's counter top. Rosa had closed the doors but the three continued to reacquaint themselves.

"So how far are you?"

"Almost 7 months now."

"And the nerd is the father?"

Chuck perked up. Sarah looked at him then back at Casey. "Yes Chuck is the father."

Casey smirked then took a sip from his glass. "So, the night you left, you two." As he pointed his fingers back and forth in front of them.

"Yes, I knew that the feeds were no longer recording Chuck and time was running out as they would be coming for him in a few short hours."

"Then you left?"

Sarah nodded. "Yeah it wasn't one of my finest moments but I didn't know what else to do. It was bad enough that they were taking Chuck and splitting us up.

Sarah could feel a tear coming and she had already let her guard down and she didn't want Casey to see her crying now. She excused herself and headed up stairs. Chuck watched as she headed out the door. Walking over to the bar Chuck grabbed a few beers and some leftovers from lunch. Casey joined him at the bar giving the Cantina a once over look.

Sitting down Casey wanted to know how Chuck had found her. "So how did you find her?"

"It wasn't easy. All I had was the picture which at first I thought it belonged to you but it had ladies handwriting on the back. Even though it was posted near where you both sat in Castle I wasn't sure. I took the letters off the building and did a search of all the Rosa Cantina's in the world and my journeys took me to the southern States then to Hawaii. The second last place was here. So I said to myself that if she was here then I didn't have to head over to Spain. I didn't know what to expect. I walked in like you did and there she was. I didn't expect to see her the way she looked. After the shock wore off I had to ask her if it was mine."

"You had doubts?"

Chuck looked at Casey more serious than he had ever looked before. "Wouldn't you? I mean we are talking about Sarah Walker the infamous spy and me plain old Chuck.

Casey was silent which didn't surprise anyone. Chuck wasn't a man who would get the girl especially a girl like Sarah and Casey knew that Chuck hadn't totally accepted the fact that Sarah was carrying his child. It was still new to him as much as it was for her. To be denied your feelings based on a job requirement would take a toll on anyone even if they were a spy or not. But for Sarah to let her guard down and fall for a guy like Chuck there had to be something very special for her to do that. She had to know that even a kiss was seen inappropriate and it crossed the lines between a handler and an asset if got out of hand let alone a child to add to the mix.

"You doing ok?"

"Physically I'm getting there. You did a number on me."

"So sorry, I truly am."

"No don't be something had to be done plus if I didn't get out of there who knows what would have happened and I would never have found out about Sarah and this baby. I've been getting my strength back, the foods great and it's good to be back with Sarah."

"Did I hear my name?" Sarah replied, walking back in from the side stairs. Chuck greeted her with a kiss. Casey just smiled grunted and took a drink. Chuck walked back over to the other side of the bar as Sarah sat down next to Casey. Sarah looked up. "Chuck I forgot my shawl to cover up with, I'm kind of chilly."

"Oh sure, be right back."

Sarah leaned over as she waited till Chuck had run upstairs.

"Beckman doesn't know."

"What did you tell her?"

"Nothing I told her as little as she needed to know. All she knows is I left for LA. I had been in DC for the time that Chuck had been in the bunker. Once he was out and was safe I headed back to see what Meriweather was up to. I guess he had eyes on all of us so Chuck convinced me to head back. Once Meriweather left for London I knew that we weren't a priority as we once were. When I got back home I headed to Castle but I wasn't alone. Castle had some unwanted visitors. I snuck into the Buy More where I saw Chuck's handwriting on the letter. Once I deciphered it I came here."

"Did she ask about us, about me?"

"She did, she did want to know why you hadn't made contact with any of us. She found it strange that you didn't make any attempt to see how Chuck was doing or asked where he ended up."

"I tried several times but my pride got in the way. I didn't know that I was pregnant till weeks later and by then I assumed no one was looking for me."

"Why here?"

"I grew up here and this life I kept it out of the CIA files. But Rosa and Alfie know what I do for a living. So when I called they knew that I needed out. So don't be alarmed at the reception you received. They are very protective of me and now that Chuck is here they are keeping us close."

"So you and Chuck?" Casey grunting.

"Yes and there is nothing that neither you nor Beckman can do to change that."

Chuck walked back in as Sarah's voice was overly charged. He placed the shawl over Sarah's shoulders and walked back to the other side and faced the both of them.

"So what did I miss? Sounded like…."

"No we're fine, just stated to Casey where we stand right now?"

"And that is?" As the church bell chimed 4 o'clock; and as clockwork Rosa and Alfie coming in from the kitchen. Chuck looked at Sarah and Sarah back at him then to Casey and back to Rosa and Alfie. Rosa and Alfie stood looking again at this stranger sitting at their bar. But if Chuck and Sarah were still here he couldn't have been out to get them. Sarah got up and walked over to Rosa and Alfie and walked them over to Casey. Casey turned around and got up.

"Rosa and Alfie I would like you to meet John Casey, a very good friend of ours. He was the one who took care of Chuck while I was gone."

Rosa looked him over, Alfie waited. Casey swallowed hard as her form of interrogation was definitely creeping him out. It was worse than Beckman eyeing him down for a blotched mission. Rosa walked closer to him as Casey waited but fearing the worse Rosa hugged him tight.

"A friend of my Sarah's is a friend of the family."

"All good then." Alfie raising his arm in the air as he walked back to his booth turning back on his movie that he had stopped hours before.

Rosa led the group upstairs as she showed Casey his room. It was down the hall around the corner of Sarah's room. It was a bit smaller than hers but it also had the same small kitchen, shower and balcony as hers. Casey thanked Rosa as she turned to kiss Sarah and Chuck goodnight. As Rosa headed down the stairs Casey stood in the door way of Sarah's room.

"Hey you like your room?"

"It'll do. So are you going to tell me why I am here? I am assuming that it has something to do with Meriweather. Your letter was, let's say idiot proof."

"Well I couldn't come out and say what I wanted to say, I didn't know that you would get it and I knew Meriweather wouldn't be checking the mail that came to the Buy More."

"How did you know that I would go back?"

"I didn't. I told that Sarah that we were taking a big chance on this. I am so glad that you did."

"We both are." As Sarah came out from the kitchen.

Casey eyed her over. Thinking to himself that only a few months ago all seemed normal and now he didn't know what to think. Could she still be an active agent? Could or better yet would Beckman accept this? She was going to find out sooner or later.

Casey looked at his watch. "I guess we can wait till morning."

"Sounds good." Sarah walking towards the doorway. "You have everything you need?"

"I think so, if not I'm sure that Rosa will see to it that I do."

Casey stood for a brief moment as Chuck yelled goodnight from the room. Sarah wondered if she should say something but she didn't have to prove anything, especially to a man like Casey. If he got it, he would know what Chuck meant to her and he didn't have to ask her the questions that were definitely racing through his mind right now? Casey smiled knocking down the tense barrier. Walking away he paused and wished her a goodnight. Sarah returned the nightly greeting and turned back. The hall became quiet once again as she walked back in and closed the door.

Chuck was pulling his muscle shirt over his head as Sarah walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. Chuck placed his arms around Sarah holding her tight. "Hey, you ok?"

Sarah squeezed tighter. "He won't say anything, unless we want him to?"

Sarah was surprised that Chuck knew what she was thinking. That was another reason she loved him so much. His ability to see behind the rose colored glasses. To him she was just Sarah the girlfriend and not Sarah the spy. Chuck helped Sarah off with her dress and after taking a few long pauses at her they crawled into bed. Chuck did his nightly duty of reciting the stats from the all the Star Wars Movies. At first Sarah shook her head that her nerdy boyfriend the father of her child was citing Star Wars trivia and everything and anything Star Wars but she knew Chuck needed this time with his child as he had missed so many nights already. As Chuck sprawled across Sarah's legs, she ran her fingers through his curly hair. She loved how the longer it got the more curls it had. She remembered Ellie telling him one time that he needed a haircut because his hair was making weird animal shapes. Listening the best she could she knew that Chuck was coming to the end of his nightly spiel which meant snuggle time. One of the many Chuck and her moments that she loved to do. Chuck kissed his child good night then settled next to Sarah as she held her arms open. Chuck nestled into her neck as he placed the right amount of kisses on certain parts of her anatomy. Sarah basked in the nightly ritual as she got in a few kisses of her own.

"You know if we continue it might not end well."

"You up for a challenge Mr Bartowski?"

"I would but…."

"Yeah I guess we could give Casey one night of quiet."

Chuck lay on his side as Sarah settled in front of him and covered up.

Chuck crawled through the dampen tunnel that looked more like a miners tunnel. The smells were not of dampen soil but that of death. He feared that the next turn would be his last. A voice startled his concentration. "We know you're here and unless you want to see the light of day and that beautiful child of yours give us what we want." Chuck trudged through the cramped muddy tunnel. "You can run but you can't hide." Chuck felt his side he knew that he had been hit but he had to get Sarah to safety. He couldn't leave her not like this like. The voice echoed again through the tunnel. "Bartowski, I know you can hear me. You come back and we can spare your girlfriend and your child. We can get her the help that she needs. Just help yourself by helping us. You don't need what's in the sub nor do you need to be bothered with it. Chuck had enough, yelling back his voiced echoed back. NEVER!

Chuck sat up as Sarah followed him. Chuck's forehead had beads of sweat running down and his shirt was drenched. Chuck was breathing heavy as Sarah could feel his heart beat through his chest. Sarah looked up as the knock on the door startled her but not like Chuck yelling in his sleep. Sarah grabbed Chuck's shirt as she opened the door and Casey standing there.

"I guess this why I am here?"

Sarah nodded. Chuck got up and walked outside to cool off. The skies were a faint blue as in the horizon the small signs of a new day were creeping through. Sarah put the kettle on then sat down. Casey watched Chuck from the kitchen. "So how long has that been going on?"

"Shortly after he arrived, at first he coughed it off as nothing but when they were becoming more frequent more detailed I convinced him to send for you. It has something to do with Meriweather, or his time in the bunker or even both?"

"Does he say anything about them?"

"He tells me not to worry but I can't help it. He told me that Meriweather had done some test, looking for something but we're not sure what that thing was."

"Yeah he told me that too. He also told me that he had to let them do the tests so that he could figure out what they were looking for. From what Chuck could tell they were looking for something specific but they weren't able to complete because Chuck pulled the plug. He thinks it some code or file. From what the results stated he could be right."

"Did you see his file?"

"No."

Sarah walked over to Chuck's bag as Chuck walked in. He never said anything. He sat down as Sarah handed the file to Casey. Sarah grabbed the kettle and poured the hot water into a tea pot and grabbed three mugs. Chuck faintly smiled as Sarah placed the tea in his. Casey skimmed over the file and by his facial reaction Chuck could be right. Chuck and Sarah sipped their tea almost in sequence of each other as they were probably thinking the same thing. As they looked at each other over their mugs, Casey placed the file down on the table and grabbed his mug.

"Your right Chuck it definitely looks like they were looking for something specific. And from what Beckman told me it has to do with an old mission."

"Black Rain."

Casey nodded as Sarah looked at the two.

"So this mission Black Rain, the same one that you flashed on. A 65 year old mission is the root of this whole thing and why we were separated?"

"Yes I am thinking that it is?"

"So where do we go from here?"

"Let's get some sleep first then we can talk more about it later in the morning."

Chuck knew that Casey was right and the latest bombshell had made Sarah a little more anxious than she needed to be. So Casey said his goodbyes and headed back down the hall.

"Hey Chuck?"

Chuck looked down the hall.

"No more yelling in your sleep some of us are in holidays ok."

Chuck smiled as he entered the room. Sarah was cleaning up as Chuck walked up and slid his arms around her waist. Sarah leaned her head back as Chuck nestled in her neck. Sarah turned around and took Chuck's hand and turned out the lights and headed to the bed.

LONDON

Meriweather boarded Marcello's plane as Will and Thomas filed to the back. Will set up his tracker as the plane took off, he had 6 hours to pin point the exact coordinates and find a place to land close by. Marcello closed the door to the cockpit and sat down and snapped his seat bell securely around his waist. Thomas kept to himself but his mind was on other things as to whether this trip was worth it. But as he looked at his competition he knew he had to hang in there a little while longer.

As the plane ascended Will tapped into his lap top and sent a quick text to Alexis.

WEST INDIES

Alexis rolled over to her phone buzzing. Sergio was still asleep. Alexis walked over to the window and sat down. As she peered at her phone, she knew that they were closing in and their window of opportunity was quickly closing.

She looked at Sergio and picked up her phone.

La Havana

An older gentleman stumbled to the payphone outside a rundown gas station. As the sun blazed across the road as the older man donned his sunglasses.

"Jones here."

"Do you always answer like that?"

"Why not?"

"Never mind, this is Alexis. We are ready to move, can you get your men ready to move at a moment's notice?"

"We are ready, do you have the coordinates?"

Alexis gave Jones the coordinates and made arrangements to meet with Hilton and himself by weeks end in Guadeloupe. Jones agreed on the place. Jones hung up the phone as Hilton entered the room.

Jones looked up. "We leave Friday."

Hilton nodded and headed to the back room. He spoke Cuban to the men in the back room as cheers of excitement filled the room.

LA Havana (Rosa's Cantina)

Chuck stared at Sarah as she slept. He quickly glanced at the clock, it read 10:30. He was surprised that Casey wasn't banging on door. But he probably knew better than to disrupt a sleepy pregnant Sarah Walker. One blessing that Chuck liked, he got to sleep in. He took his index finger and softly caressed Sarah's face. When she didn't budge he tried again; still nothing. He laughed in his pillow as he brought his hands up and folded them under his cheek. He tried again, this time Sarah's nose started to twitch and her hand fanned her face. Chuck tried to compose himself but the more he bugged her the more he wanted to wake her up. 'Plan B' He thought to himself. Chuck placed a few loose strands of hair behind Sarah's ear and drove his face into the crook of her neck. A few nibbles here and there slowly awakened the sleepy princess. Chuck lifted the cotton sheet that separated them and Chuck moved in closer. Sarah wrapped her arms around Chuck's neck the best she could. She embraced every touch and every subtle touch that Chuck was giving her. Sarah propped her legs over his as she brought him closer. Chuck gave her the look and she lovingly accepted. All was going as planned, each kiss more passionately than the other. Sarah ran her hands through Chuck long curls trying to stay in the moment when their moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Chuck cringed and Sarah rolled back and brought her hands up to her face then laid them above her head. "Stay right here, don't move."

All Sarah could do was try and catch her breath. At her present state she couldn't move even if she wanted to.

Chuck grabbed a pair of shorts and quickly put them on, reaching for the door. There stood Casey with a coffee and a chocolate donut. "Let's go!"

"Go where?"

"To go and get our gear?"

"Seriously?"

"Why am I interrupting something?"

Chuck gave him a 'well yeah look'.

Casey was there for work and not there to worry about Chuck's 'lady's feelings'. "Don't care, well I do but you brought me here to help you out. That (as Casey pointed inside the room) can wait."

"I guess you don't know Sarah."

"Yeah I do and she can dip her chocolate in your peanut butter another time. EAT UP and I will meet you down stairs in 20."

Casey shoved the coffee and donut into Chuck's arms and headed down the stairs. Chuck turned around and slowly closed the door with the coffee and donut in his right arm. Sarah sat up and placed the sheets under her arms. She had mustered enough strength to sit up. Chuck sat down beside her. Sarah grabbed the donut and took a bite out of it and took a sip of the coffee. Chuck thought that the food and coffee break would be a peace offering but it wasn't enough.

"Got to go babe."

"How much time did he say?"

"I got to go?"

"I heard that but you're not hearing me. And Casey is downstairs."

Sarah sat up and reached for Chuck's button on his shorts. Looking down then up he smiled and stood up and placed on knee on the bed as Sarah lifted the covers. "I guess we have time."

"We sure do."

Chuck shimmied out of his shorts and slid under the covers.

Sarah laid back on her side as Chuck lay over her left hip. "I'm so sorry that I got to go."

"I know."

Chuck lifted himself closer to Sarah and kissed her lightly on the lips. Kissed his child and quickly took a shower.

Sarah met him at the door with his the rest of the coffee and a few bites of the doughnut. "Be safe."

Laughing ever so slightly. "What trouble can I get into here?"

"Please, if those dreams are any indication." Chuck took Sarah hands and kissed them.

"Don't worry. Casey has my back, and nothing I repeat nothing will happen, I promise."

Chuck kissed her one more time and walked out the door down the hall to the stairs. Sarah closed the door and walked over to the balcony. Chuck and Casey walked out as Sarah looked down. Chuck turned around and blew her a kiss. Much to Casey's disgruntled look. Watching them head up the street a slight breeze came through warranting Sarah to cover herself up more with her robe as a feeling came over her that she only had when Chuck went out on a missions. This feeling felt that same as it did the night on docks with Dr. Zarnov. Sarah dreaded that fact that she felt this way. But with all that had happened in the last year and now being pregnant she felt that she was losing control of her job of protecting the Intersect and most importantly protecting Chuck. Yes Casey could handle it and beside they were a team but she felt that she had to do it all herself, even with the baby.

Casey and Chuck walked to the docks as the ferry was coming in from the States. Casey nodded to a younger boy who was asked to watch out for Casey's stash until he arrived in exchange for a few American dollars and a 6 pack of coke a cola. Casey loaded an antique Dodge jeep that had seen better days. Chuck wasn't sure if the jeep was dirty or what the original paint color was. Chuck secured the crates and duffle bags on his side. Casey jumped into the driver's side and Chuck jumped in the on the other side. As Casey coasted out of the dock area they headed west back to the Cantina. The roads were crowded and congested reminding Casey of Indonesia. As Casey edged slowly through the streets the closeness to on lookers well the term reach out and touch someone was putting it lightly. Chuck rested his right leg on the edge of the jeep and sat back as Casey started to pick up speed just to be stopped at a four way stop. A 65 black Ford Fairlane pulled up. Chuck noticed the sound before the car and commented on how older men seem to buy the muscle cars to feel young again. Casey laughed then got serious. "Well that is how I felt about my Crown Vic."

Chuck looked at Casey. "I said that I was sorry and Beckman promised to get you a new one?"

Casey leaned forward to take a look at the Ford that caught Chuck's attention but as the two older men drove up and waited to turn right Casey knew that Chuck had flashed. Chuck held his head.

"You ok!"

"NO! That's them?"

"Them who?"

"The men, the voices in my head."

Casey wasn't sure what to think. Chuck looked to his right. "There are getting away!"

Casey turned his steering wheel and headed after the Ford. Chuck leaned back as the flashes were still as strong. Trying to gain the upper hand he took a few deep breaths and focused on where the Ford was heading to. Casey kept his 30 feet distance backing off if he needed to.

"So are you going to tell me why we are following a car that you think are the owners of the voices in your head?"

"I flashed on the voices a few days ago but lost them in the market. The one owner was and is the same voice that I hear in my dreams."

"The dream you had last night?"

"Yeah, and that dream doesn't end well."

"Have you told Sarah this?"

"Are you kidding, she has enough to worry about. All she knows is that I am having these dreams and not what the dreams entail frame by frame. I just hope that what I am dreaming about it that, a dream and nothing more. I couldn't bare losing Sarah or you for that matter. "

Casey looked ahead and noticed the Ford had stopped at an abandon ware house.

"Why is that every bad guy has to have an abandon warehouse. Why not a luxury penthouse or a secluded cabin in the woods?"

"They're not as sophisticated as you are I guess. How's the head?"

"Could be better, what do you want to do now?"

"Check them out, we've come this far. No point in going back empty handed."

Casey drove by and parked up the street. Chuck put his sunglasses on and followed Casey to the back of the jeep where Casey grabbed a 45 and gave Chuck a tranq gun.

"Awe Casey you remembered."

"Yeah well."

Casey covered the stash with a tarp and headed towards the warehouse. The front doors were locked so they headed around back; jumping over wooden crates and piles of discarded metal rods. Chuck peaked through the window and saw the two men sitting around a small table, filled with beer bottles, glasses and a deck of cards. Casey waddled to the side door that was propped open, looking back at Chuck, he motioned that he couldn't hear much. Chuck tapped him on the shoulder and pointed up. Casey nodded as Chuck and Casey headed up the ladder to the open flap at the top of the ladder. Casey slowly opened the flap and crawled inside as Chuck followed. Crouching down they listened to the two men.

"Can we trust her, I mean really. A smart CIA agent that has gone bad that combination doesn't end well."

"We have no choice at least for now. We have been able to stay one step ahead of the law and she did guarantee that this was the last job that we had to do and it's the only job that we haven't been able to put to rest. We are so close."

"But at what cost. We have spent the last 45 years looking into this."

"Relax; let's go get something to eat."

The two men headed out of the warehouse as Chuck and Casey watched from the stoop of the ladder.

"So I wonder who they are. And why would they be talking about a CIA agent?"

"Well let's go find out?"

Chuck jumped down to the main floor and started rustling through the garbage as Casey searched a few files on the desk. Chuck walked by indicating that he had found nothing. Casey nodded as well. Chuck headed to the door and saw a pad of paper and few other items. Flagging Casey over, they found a map and some indentations on the pad of paper. Chuck grabbed a pencil and started shading the pad of paper. When the shading proved to be successful he shaded the whole page. Ripping the page he looked at the numbers. One was a phone number and the other looked like coordinates. But Chuck wouldn't be sure till he could punch them into a computer. As Chuck continued to look around he heard a growl.

"You know Casey a doughnut isn't enough to fill your stomach. Bacon and eggs and toast now you're talking.

"Bartowski it's not my stomach that you need to worry about. Its'…"

"It's what Casey?"

"Six letters times two."

"Six letters times two. Well that could be anything."

"Bartowski!" As his pleads were falling on deaf ears.

"What?"

"PITBULL."

Chuck looked over Casey's shoulders. "That would be Pitbulls. Plural."

Chuck took a second glance. "Pitbulls! Do something CASEY!"

"And what do you think I should do about it?"

Chuck took a step back and headed to the door when Casey didn't follow he grabbed his shirt and headed out the door. Thinking that the door was closed behind them Chuck and Casey they were in the clear but as their brief recess started it came to an end. Casey grabbed Chuck this time and headed to the gate. The Pitbulls in full speed headed after the easy prey. Chuck reached the gate but noticing the chain he opted to squeeze through but Casey yelled "Jump over."

Chuck saw Casey leap over the gate with no problems but Chuck wasn't as gifted in the athletic department even though he had gained some muscle leaping over buildings wasn't part of the daily regimen. Casey leaned over grabbing Chuck's hand. As Chuck grabbed his hand a Pitbull snapped as Chuck's left foot. Reaching the top he laughed at the dogs but forgot at the moment that he had to get down. Casey had reached the sidewalk. Chuck straddled the gate looking to one side then the other. Casey knew what Chuck was thinking.

"No! You are capable of getting down yourself."

Feeling a little disappointed Chuck jumped down the other side as the hungry Pitbulls spit and growled on the other side.

Chuck smoothed out his pants and headed back to the car as he walked back he had his nose in the piece of paper, not watching where he was going. Casey avoided the trash cans but was too late to warn Chuck. Chuck smashed shin first and toppled over hitting the sidewalk with his forearm. Rolling to his side he sat up checking out the fall and what he tripped over. Seeing that it was a few metal garbage cans it did enough damage to his skin. His pants were ripped below the knee and his right forearm was bleeding. Casey helped him up and got his to the jeep.

Pulling up at the Cantina Casey parked in the back and walked in the side door. When Sarah didn't see Chuck with him her heart sank. But as her next breath added to the sinking Chuck hobbled in. Sarah ran to him as he walked holding up his pant leg. Sarah asked Casey for to grab the first aid kit behind the bar. Casey handed the kit to her.

"Spill it?"

Casey explained to Sarah what happened and it seemed to settle her nerves a bit. Chuck smiled at the professional job that Sarah did, his own nightingale, what else could you ask for.

Rosa gave them some menus as the dinner rush would be settling in on the Cantina and she didn't want them to go hungry like they would with her around.

The three placed their orders and sat in the same booth as they did the day before. Chuck gave the paper to Sarah and filled her in on what they found. She could tell that Chuck was still dealing with the flashes from earlier and went upstairs to grab some aspirin. She also grabbed his file and his notes. This was the first big lead they had in a while and she didn't want Chuck or Casey to forget any of it even if it didn't lead to anything.

West Indies

Alexis loaded the van with what she thought she would need once they reached Guadeloupe then onto Ascension Island. Sergio managed to grab a few underwater jet packs, and a few scuba packs as well. He hoped that Thomas's connections could get one of those submersibles but just in case he called to make sure.

Sergio alerted Alexis that they indeed had two submersibles one was manned and the other unmanned. Thomas had come through. Sergio made it clear to Alexis that though he trusted the man parts of him didn't and it worried him. Sergio did not want to go back to jail.

Alexis looked around the safe house one more time as Sergio walked in and wrapped his arms around her waist. Settling in her neck he assured her that everything and he meant everything was going to be ok. Alexis locked up and set the alarm. Jumping into the truck she took one last look not wanting to return.

Mediterranean Sea

Marcello had his pilot circle the tip of Tripoli Libya based on what Will had found out would be the best place to land. The Northwestern part of Libya was mainly made up of desert and it did not see many planes fly by. Marcello waited till the pilot confirmed that it was safe to land. A small entourage of locals ran out as the jet came to a stop at the Mitiga International Airport. It was almost dusk as Marcello stepped off the plane to inhale the dry desert air. A slight tinged of humidity hung around in the atmosphere even at the hour that it was. Hours from now he would on a boat sailing the Mediterranean Sea in search of the infamous USS Scorpion; A sub that had been able to stay hidden for almost 45 years. Will and Thomas and Meriweather followed and grabbed their gear and headed into the hanger. They were offered a room at one of the local hotels but Marcello chose to use his money to keep things on the DL. As Marcello and Meriweather met with the local army personal who quickly became a part of his bank roll, Will set up the transmitters to tossed into the Sea to get a better reading on where the Sub could be located. Thomas scurried around the hanger looking for something; he flipped over tarps and opened crates. Coming back empty handed he yelled back towards Will. "Will where are the submersibles?"

La HAVANA

Chuck sat up stairs as Casey made a list of what they had and what they still needed. Sarah sat rubbing her baby bump. Chucked noticed but let it go the first fifty times but after the rubbing became more frequent more anxious like. He reached over and placed his hand on hers.

"Babe, our child is not a Buddha and rubbing your tummy like you are is not going to make things any better or make things go any faster. Here take a look at these coordinates and let me know what you find. Then please do a search on anything that has to do with the file called Black Rain. Also what was done about the whole Blind mans' Bluff fiasco with the USS Scorpion 1968. "

Sarah sat up and kissed Chuck's top of his head. She knew why he wanted to divert her thoughts. Sarah walked over to the kitchen table where Chuck had set up his computers and made a make shift Castle in the Casey's room. He logged onto the several computers at the same time that allowed him to monitor and set up a GPS grid for the area. He also set up a feed to listen on any telecommunications between people on land or heading out to sea. This allowed the team to monitor anything that didn't sit well or sound right, they knew about it.

Sarah took the piece of paper that Chuck got from the warehouse and typed in the coordinates; as the computer searched for possible results Sarah quickly logged onto the CIA website; as Chuck was finally able to use the key card that Beckman gave him months back. He now knew why Beckman gave it to him, in case of an emergency. Silently he thanked her and slid the key down the side of the burner. Sarah smiled as it had been months since she was able to log onto the CIA site. She went right to work as if she hadn't left. All the files that they had in Castle back home were now available to them with just one click of the mouse. Chuck smiled back as he watched Sarah type away. He remembered a time when she was standing in front of the computer with her tight black skirt and purple blouse and high heels that made her legs look even longer than they actually were. Even though this image that was embedded in his thoughts new ones where replaced with this new sight of a beautiful woman, the mother of his child wearing shorts and his blue shirt and slippers. Her hair was up in a ponytail and with no makeup she looked like an angel; his angel.

LIBYA

Thomas checked again to see if he had missed the submerisbles but something that big it was not something that could be missed. Will took his nose out of the computers and walked towards Thomas.

"So Will where are the Submersibles?"

"Don't know, they were supposed to be delivered to the coordinates that I sent them. Maybe they haven't arrived yet?"

Thomas was too tired to argue but he gave Will a stern look. "They better be here soon. There's no chance in hell that I am going after a hidden sub without them."

Will kept quiet as Thomas left the hanger and headed to the back of the hanger. Will checked the requisition and there were two submersibles enroute. Will failed to check to see if the coordinates where the right ones.

GUADALOUPE

Alexis and Sergio arrived at the Residence Le Vallon, in La Dèsirade 8 km off the coast of main Island of Grand Terre. Grand Terre was deserted for the most part compared to the other half of Guadaloupe called Beausèjour where it was populated by people. The Island was formerly called Grand- Ange.

Alexis chose the place due to its close proximity to the sea. Sergio unloaded the truck. Alexis walked to the front counter to check in. A package was sitting on the counter waiting for her. As she signed for it she thanked the man at the counter and walked back. Sitting down at a nearby table she opened it to find that the envelope housed the keys for the submersibles and final instructions from Will stating that the weather conditions could hinder the recovery of the sub and where the submersibles where being shipped to. Sergio sat down and grabbed the envelope. He pulled out the map that was attached to Will's letter. It showed the currents and the area that the sub could be.

"Looks like where almost home free here."

"Yes it does look that way."

"You have doubts?"

"No not really but what are we going to do once we find it. It's not like we can hoist the sub up to surface without causing some talk amongst the islanders."

"We just need to get into the sub and type in the codes that we got from Bartowski, grab the circuit board and CPU's. Redirect the feeds to Will's computer and we are done. We will eventually head to the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico to tap into the ETECSA which from what I can tell it the key to unlocking the world's telephone and Internet resources. The Empresa de Telecommunicacions is our last destination. And honey basically the sub will be the hub for the Intesputnik undersea telephone cable lines that we were looking into earlier. So we don't necessarily need to have the sub surface we just need the right codes to make it work for us."

"Do we know which ones are the right codes to use?"

"No but I am hoping that Will has figured that out for us."

"I hope so."

Sergio stood up and picked Alexis up holding her tight. "We are almost done. And in a few short days we will be the riches owners of the world's telecommunications ever."

La Havana

It had been 2 days since they started really searching and Sarah finally settled in for the night. She was so tired that she forgot about their nightly rituals. Chuck had too but he had an excuse. Casey posted the findings that Sarah had found and placed push pins in on the map. Chuck stood back to see Casey's progress and more he stared the more he determined he was to solve this. Chuck ran the down stairs and asked Rose for some string or yarn. Rosa came back with a basket of her yarn. Chuck smiled and kissed her a thank you. Chuck ran back up and grabbed the yellow yarn and started wrapping the yellow around the trail that the USS Scorpion was originally supposed to take back in 1968. The he took some green to indicate where the USS Scorpion failed to make contact. Casey brought over the red and made a circular pattern around the area that from the data collected and the coordinates given could be the resting place of the infamous USS Scorpion.

Chuck closed the basket of yarn and sat on the chair staring at the screen that he set up to find a possible facial recognition of the two men in the warehouse. He wanted to find out what the connection was between the two men and who the CIA agent was that they were talking about. Chuck ran his hands through his hair as Casey walked by.

"Get some sleep Chuck, there's no point staring at the screen."

Chuck sighed. "I guess you're right."

Chuck walked toward the door as Casey took his own advice and crashed on his bed. Chuck slipped off his sandals and crawled into bed. Magnetically Sarah hinged her arms to Chuck. Chuck slowly went to sleep. His dreaming drifted from the birth of his child, to his and Sarah's first time and the day he walked into the Cantina. The more he slept the more his dreams shifted.

Chuck lay sprawled across the stretcher. He wondered why he was able to hear all that was being said even after being hooked up to the machines. Meriweather assumed that Chuck was under and resumed his conversation with Alexis and Thomas.

'The reason why we shut down Team Bartowski was not because the team did anything wrong. No one crossed the line or failed to do their job. Unfortunately this team has been very successful. General Beckman did a great job. The issue and the main reason is that Bartowski has the list of codes that we need. They were embedded into the Intersect with the help from an Engineer named Orion. He received the files from an old friend of mine. Unbeknownst to us at the time when the USS Scorpion set sail that the codes held that much power. When I was in the Navy my team consisted of Nick Jones and Casper Hilton who we know them as Francis Slattery and Joseph Underwood. We were contracted out to work on a Mission called Aquascape. We were convinced that the USS Scorpion was going to end up in the hands of the KGB because of its high tech advancements in underwater espionage. The KGB was interested along with the United Kingdom and United States. At the time the U.S. had the sub heading home but Nick told me that he was desperately in need of money. He convinced his friend Casper to walk into the Soviet Embassy and offered to sell them any information on the whereabouts of the USS Scorpion and a few other important missions of interest such as Operation Ivy Bells. Playing both sides he was able to convince me go against my country in order to make us rich. Unfortunately it didn't work out as fast as the wanted."

"Then what?" Thomas wanting to hear more.

"Operation Ivy Bells was a joint US Navy, CIA and NSA mission whose objective was to place wire taps on Soviet underwater communication lines during the cold war. Divers retrieved the recordings and installed a set of new taps. These recordings were supposed to be delivered to the NSA but were delivered to the Hans Jacob who was a double agent with the CIA and the KGB. Hans along with Jones and Hilton and myself, managed to keep the mission a secret till the fourth man that survived along with us named was Chester Buchanan grew a conscience and somehow recorded a secret meeting that proving that the USS Scorpion was indeed subjacked and the 99 crew members were simply murdered.

Fearing for his life he saved the files and the recordings of all the codes and gave them to his friend known to us as Orion who then saved them in a locked security system. Years later those files among thousands of others were uploaded to the Intersect. By that time I had clearance and was able to keep an eye on the Intersect. But the day that the DNI was broken into I lost track of the Intersect till Bryce Larkin resurfaced and sent it to (pointing to Chuck who was on the stretcher ). So when I found out that a civilian had the Intersect he also the codes. But it took me till now to get Bartowski and getting those codes and you have found out that it's not an easy task to retrieve them."

"So the sub was subjacked?" Will inquring.

"Yes and no. The 99 men did die but we justified that a collateral damage and not murder. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"And you can live with that?"

"Thomas, I have for 45 years so I hope that you don't grow a conscience now. It's done, was done and there is nothing we can do about now. Alexis where are Nick and Casper now?"

"I had them lay low as you requested. After you deleted the files from WITSEC it made it easier to hide them. No records so no one could come looking for them. Even the Russians stopped looking."

"So they are up for coming out of hiding?"

"They have been waiting for this opportunity for 45 years. And it will be good to finally put this mission to rest. I grew up listening to these stories and I can probably speak for my dad that he would rather have his old name back than Casper. Cause my dad isn't the friendliest ghost out there."

The three of them laughed as Chuck drifted deeper.

Sarah opened her eyes as she knew that Chuck was having another dream. She didn't want to startle Chuck so she lay back waiting for him to wake up. But Chuck never did. She reached and grab the blanket and covered them up, settling back into a sleep pattern of her own.

In the distant the computer beeped. The team who were still sleeping were awakened by Rosa trying to get their attention. Chuck rolled onto his side as he tried to focus on the woman's voice coming from the hall. Sarah opened her eyes as the room was still quite dark. Chuck drew the covers off and walked over to the door. As he opened it up the light from the hall blinded the eyes of a sleepy Chuck.

"What's the matter Rosa?"

"That noise?"

"What noise?"

As Rosa grabbed his arm she dragged him to Casey's room where the root of the noise finally registered. Apologizing he walked over to the computer to shut off the beep. He stared at Casey who was out for the count. Rosa said goodnight and headed back downstairs. The beep must have been set louder than he thought. Chuck flipped the screen on only to be shocked again. There on the screen were the missing pieces to this whole puzzle. Chuck ran what seemed liked slow mode back to Sarah's room. Sarah sat up as Chuck grabbed her hand and dragged her back to the computer. By then Casey thought that he better get up. When he walked to the computers he sat down as Chuck and Sarah came in shortly after.

"Is this who I think it is?"

"I guess so, the missing pieces or people for that matter."

"And who are we talking about again?"

Chuck looked at Sarah. "Meet the four surviving members of the USS Scorpion."