This is AC, really super crazy excited that we're finally going to start posting this drabble! So, I know y'all just want to get reading, but I feel like you deserve to know how massive a project writing this particular co-op was. It took us 5 months, our word count was about 21,000 words, and on a word document, this story was 61 pages long. Basically, it's a novella. And it's got a whole lot of everything. Pumped to read this yet? Then let me get the basic disclaimer (we own nothing except for original characters) & spoiler alert (this is based heavily on Chuck versus the Ring) out of the way, so you can enjoy!

An LB note: I wasn't actually going to post this so soon after posting my last piece of Stars and Stripes, however someone *cough* AC *cough* was chompin' at the bit for me to post, so...I gave in. I hope y'all like!

Holy shieße. Chuck was a spy. Chuck's dad was a spy. Beth and Sarah and Casey were all spies. They were all being reassigned. Morgan was running off to Hawaii with Anna. And Ellie and Awesome were getting married. Ho-ly Shieße!

Those thoughts, and many like them, flew through AJ's head as she paced the entryway of her house, simultaneously trying to break in the new heels she'd be wearing as one of Ellie's bridesmaids. Sure, she'd suspected something was going on with Chuck and the others, had even guessed that they worked for the government, and when they'd confirmed her beliefs she'd taken it well enough. But now that Mr. Bartowski had been rescued, and Beth, Sarah, and Casey were all being reassigned, the reality and insanity of it all was beginning to fully set in.

AJ stopped pacing, however, when she heard the front door of Casa Bartowski open, and through the peephole of her door spotted Chuck leaving for work.

"Hey. Chuck! Wait up!"

"Oh hey AJ, I was just going to quit the Buy More, care to join me?"

Now there was an idea. With Chuck and Morgan both quitting (and Casey too she imagined), and Emmett taking over, there really was no reason for AJ to stick around.

"Heck yes! Let's go!"

Next door, Beth's mind was facing a similar overload. Of course, most of that had to do with a certain tall, dark, and handsome roommate of hers. With the Intersect out of Chuck's head, Operation Bartowski was quickly coming to an end. They would all go their separate ways. She didn't know how to feel about it; admittedly, when she arrived in Burbank, she had hoped it to be a short trip but after everything that had happened…she absently touched the scar on her neck.

It didn't haunt her anymore.

She still wore her pendent outside and around others, but when it was just John in the apartment, she didn't hide her scar. She didn't know what to think of him. He could be so detached, yet he never truly shut her out. Sure, he was as gruff with her as anyone else, but she knew how to read him. He spoke through actions, not words. Like when he baked a breakfast quiche for her birthday, or how he always left the middle cinnamon roll because he knew it was her favorite. She'd miss having someone to come home to.

As if her thoughts had summoned him, he walked through the door. Shuffled actually; he was having trouble holding onto all the bags under his arms. She stepped forward to help him, but he shook his head.

"John, don't be stubborn, let me help you."

"No."

She rolled her eyes and mumbled about him being a stubborn man. He smirked, silently agreeing. Making his way to the table, she began to ask what he had brought home until she sniffed the air. She knew that smell; it was the same aroma that used to greet her every Saturday morning when Jamie and she would take time and go eat breakfast together.

"You picked up Burnt Toast?"

He nodded. "I heard they have good breakfast."

Her eyes widened as she realized the implications. "John, the nearest one's an hour and a half away! You had to have been up at o-dark thirty to be back by now."

He doled out the food, not answering her. Looking down, she saw he had gotten her the triple chocolate pancakes. She literally gasped—he remembered. She had mentioned the restaurant in passing conversation, and never expected a detail like her favorite dish to be remembered. It'd been over a year since she'd had their breakfast; she stopped the ritual once Jamie died, and her mouth watered at the prospect of tasting the molten chocolaty goodness. She laughed as she saw what he had gotten—the blueberry supreme platter. She could have guessed he'd get something normal. Contrary to the restaurant's name, Burnt Toast's food was neither burnt nor toast. They specialized in pancakes and other breakfast breads. She had tried every type of pancake at one point or another, but the triple chocolate had fast become a favorite. She tucked in, savoring the rich delicacy.

After a couple bites, she licked her lips and sighed. "Gotta say, this is the best breakfast I've eaten in quite awhile! So chocolaty and wonderful!"

John chuckled, and raised an eyebrow. "Chocolate's not a breakfast food."

"Au contraire!" She held out the bite of pancake she had been about to eat. "Try it. You may be surprised."

He leaned forward to take the bite, and her heart leapt. What the heck, it wasn't supposed to do that. It was just a bite of pancake. But the way his eyes closed as he savored the bite. How his tongue flicked out to catch the lingering chocolate. No Beth, bad thoughts. You can't have thoughts about your coworker like that. She inwardly shook the thoughts away, and focused back on John, who was still debating the bite of chocolate pancake.

"Well?"

"It's decent."

"What? But it's chocolate!"

"Blueberries are healthier. Mine are better."

"Oh really?" Leaning across the table, she intercepted his fork en route to his mouth. She closed her eyes, moaning softly at sweet yet tangy flavor (that was the secret to the blueberry pancakes; she could tell they added a hint of lemon in their batter). It contrasted nicely with her own chocolate pancakes. When she opened them again, she found herself face-to-face with the fork's owner. Beth nodded at him.

"You're right, they are healthier. And are pretty darn tasty too. But…"

"But what?"

Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest from their closeness. She had to act. No matter where they went, or what happened next, she had to show him how she felt. Had to know if he felt the same. Giving a coy smile, she finally spoke.

"They're better together."

Leaning forward slightly, she brushed her lips against his. It was hesitant, shy. If kisses spoke words, this one would have asked permission. And if John's lips were any indication, he had accepted with great enthusiasm. Hands swept the breakfast plates; Beth was pulled partially over the table toward him. He stood up, moving her so that she was kneeling on the table, eye-to-eye. Not that she was very focused on looking at him, at the moment. Her senses were in overdrive. After all the comments, glances, and suspected innuendos, she was finally kissing him. And he was kissing her back. Nothing else mattered to her. They would be parting in less than forty-eight hours; both knew it. She could already feel it tugging on her heartstrings, but refused to let the sorrow sink in. Whatever happened in the future, she knew she'd never regret kissing Colonel John Casey.

AC: YES! THEY FINALLY KISSED! *Dances around like a maniac* Yeah, I've definitely been waiting for that as long as you guys have. Anyway...we'd love for you to review & let us know what you think. :) And LB says...well of course they kissed! How could you not kiss Colonel John Casey?