A/N Thanks again to Tshdow for the beta. Sorry about the delay should be doing more regular updates now.

Chuck Vs Consequences

Sarah couldn't sit still in her seat. Why hadn't they let them off yet? It had been at least a minute since the plane had landed. Three whole days without Chuck and she should have been fine. It was an exciting mission, challenging, dangerous and packed with action. Yet it had aggravated her as the one day mission had dragged on and on, she had developed a phenomenally short temper.

She winced as she remembered tearing into an analyst for walking to loudly. She used to live for missions like those. A two day delay was nothing, she'd had operations delayed for months before. Something had changed and as much as she didn't like to admit it, she knew the exact cause. Damn it, even thinking of him was enough to cause a pleasant sensation.

Finally, they were let off the plane. Sarah nearly bowled over half a dozen people in her rush to get off. Reaching her car, she dropped her luggage on the ground and immediately reached for the phone in the glove box. Fifty six missed messages showed on her phone, which was strange. She couldn't be bothered with that right now as she hit speed dial, she waited anxiously for his voice.

It rang and it rang and it rang, "Hi you have reached Chuck's phone. I can't get to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you."

Where was he? Ellie would know. Dialing Ellie's number, she only had to wait for a single ring before she picked up.

"Sarah is that you?" Ellie's voice sounded ragged.

"Yea Ellie it's me. I was wondering if you know where Chuck is? He isn't answering his phone."

"Sarah, we couldn't reach you. We tried and we tried..." Ellie wailed

"Ellie where's Chuck?" Sarah demanded, her voice commanding even as she quailed internally.

"He's in the hospital. They don't know what's wrong with him." Ellie answered brokenly through sobs.

What could have happened, the team had been benched while she was gone. He couldn't be hurt, He had to be okay. She didn't remember hanging up on Ellie or the panicked drive to the hospital or the nurse she yelled at for not giving her Chuck's room number fast enough or even barreling through the door to find Chuck hooked up to those awful machines not moving.

Sarah choked back a sob as Ellie hugged her tight. "He's gonna be okay Sarah, Chuck wouldn't leave us. He can't leave us." Ellie wailed as her pep talk broke down.

Devon placed a comforting hand on Sarah's shoulder squeezing gently, "He'll be okay Sarah, just have faith." Turning to his distraught fiancée, he maneuvered Ellie out of the room while speaking softly to her.

Sarah felt like she was in a trance as she approached the bed, this wasn't real. Reaching out to touch his curly locks, she recoiled as she came into contact with them. It was real, what would she do if she lost him. Even though stunned by the sight, she turned instantly as she heard someone enter the room.

Casey looked haggard but it didn't save him. Sarah's despair and worry were channeled directly into anger and she lashed out. "How could you let this happen." She yelled advancing on him menacingly.

"Calm down Walker, we didn't do anything. Chuck just collapsed this morning after exhibiting what we think were withdrawal symptoms the day before. Has he been doing something, were you covering for him?" he accused.

"What?" she asked suddenly at a loss. Her rage lacking a target collapsed, leaving only misery.

"Has Chuck been using something. The doctor is running blood tests but he might not survive long enough to get the results."

Sarah felt her heart drop. She'd done this to him. Dear god, how could she have hurt him. She hadn't even thought about side effects as she had been blinded by her own desires. A heart broken sob escaped her.

"Walker!" Casey practically hollered shaking her shoulders. "What has he been taking? If you know tell me."

"Sleeping pills, CIA issue" she whispered back.

Not waiting for anymore information, Casey was out the door.A few moment later the doctor came back in with a syringe. "Agent Walker you sure the patient was taking Xenthonase?"

Sarah could only nod.

Turning back to Chuck, the doctor injected the syringe into Chuck's saline bag. "The good news is he should be alright, although he won't likely wake up till the morning."

Chuck was going to be okay "Thank you Doctor."

The man nodded and left.

He was going to be alright, then she felt the despair hit her. She knew it was only a matter of time before General Beckman found out. Looking at his face, she couldn't suppress a shiver as this could be the last time she saw him. Everything was finished now because she had let her desire to be with Chuck overrule her common sense.

Moving like a zombie she pulled back the sheets and snuggled up next to Chuck for the last time. It never ceased to amaze her how something so simple could be so soothing. The dark pit of terror clawing at her gut vanished and somehow, despite the sure knowledge that she would lose everything tomorrow, she slept.