Note: HERE BE SPOILERS FOR 2.21! In case you were wondering how this stacks up against the entirety of 2.21, there's a note at the bottom of this chapter. It also contains spoilers for 2.21. I know this part is short, but the next part is written and will be up over the next couple of days.
Breakfast was odd, to say the least. Sarah brought a selection of pastries, some fruit, coffee and spent the time reviewing both her own report and John's before sending them to General Beckman. The NSA agent ate sparingly, did his own share of reviewing reports, but Chuck, buzzing with endorphins, sugar and caffeine, couldn't settle, flicking from game to game on his iPhone. Every time he glanced up, he caught one of the others just looking away.
It was a relief when the big screen flashed on to show the General. Immaculate, as always, and sharp as ever, there was still an air of fatigue about her that she couldn't quite conceal.
'Long night, General?' Chuck asked, then froze as his brain caught up with his mouth.
She regarded him icily for a moment before turning her attention to the two agents. 'Agent Walker, Major Casey.'
'Ma'am,' John acknowledged.
'Operations are still under way at Barstow. I'd like the asset and his father to remain in Castle for another few hours until I'm certain there's no further threat to either of them.'
'But I'm supposed to be in work in twenty minutes,' Chuck protested.
'I'm afraid you'll just have to call in sick. I'm sure you can come up with some excuse. Now, I have read both your reports and in light of the positive outcome, Agent Walker, I am inclined to overlook your breach of protocol, but if it happens again I will not hesitate to send you back to Langley. You are not, however, to retain your cover as Chuck's girlfriend. The ongoing psychiatric evaluation of the asset suggests that this is causing him undue stress. Effective immediately, you are to break up but remain good friends. Is that clear?'
'What ongoing psychiatric evaluation?' Chuck asked. 'And hey, don't I get a say in this?'
'No.' The agents and the General answered in unison. Chuck scowled.
Sarah stared at the big screen, her face automatically schooling itself to the professional mask that meant she was hurting. 'Yes, General. I'm part of Ellie Bartowski's wedding party tomorrow, though. I can't get out of that without causing suspicion.'
'There's also the rehearsal dinner. Tonight. Oh, crap,' Chuck's shoulders slumped. 'We'll be out of here before then, yes? Because otherwise Ellie is never going to forgive me.'
The General's face briefly softened. 'Current estimates are that you should be free to leave the Castle by mid-afternoon.' Her gaze flicked sideways to Chuck's father. 'Stephen, we'd like you to continue your work on the Intersect. Will that be a problem?'
Stephen shook his head. 'Not as long as I make it to my daughter's rehearsal dinner tonight and the wedding tomorrow.'
'That shouldn't be a problem.' General Beckman looked at each of them in turn. 'I don't have to tell you how close you came to handing Fulcrum everything they need to win this secret war. It's thanks to John Casey that you are all here, now. In recognition of your outstanding work, I would like to say thank you, Colonel Casey.'
A tight smile passed across the agent's face. 'Thank you, ma'am.'
The screen went black. Chuck blinked and turned to face John. 'Wow! A promotion!'
'Congratulations,' Sarah mustered. 'I have to go open the store. I'll be upstairs if you need anything.' She jogged up the stairs, very carefully not paying attention to the sounds of kissing behind her.
#
It was after six by the time the General gave them the all-clear to leave Castle. Chuck stopped off at the Buy More to pick up his car keys, finding a half-naked Morgan carrying Anna out of the store. He didn't have time to ask the hundred questions he had about just what the heck was going on, but his friend seemed happier than in quite a while, so, bemused, he grabbed his keys and left before an apparently enraged Emmett, or anyone else, had chance to corner him.
#
'Dad? Ready to go?' Chuck called, leaning over the handrail.
'Sure, son.' Stephen pushed back his chair and stood, just as an alarm went off.
'What, what's that?' Chuck asked nervously.
John tapped at the computer. 'Perimeter breach.'
Chuck ran down the stairs. 'Here?'
John shook his head. 'My apartment.' A video feed flashed up on the screen. It was Devon.
'Oh, god!' The three men dashed out of the Castle and into the parking lot. Stephen piled into the Nerd Herder with Chuck, John dived into his SUV and with a screech of tires, they peeled out onto the highway.
'Dad, I want you to wait in the car, just for a minute. Please,' Chuck begged, pulling in behind John's SUV.
Stephen looked at Chuck, nodded. 'Okay, Chuck. Go get 'em, tiger.'
Chuck grinned, popped his seatbelt, and was gone. Five seconds later, Sarah's black Porsche pulled in behind the Nerd Herder and the blonde sprinted into the courtyard, gun at the ready.
#
'Whoa, wait on, John!' Chuck called, bursting into the apartment.
'Hey, Chuck! Call the cops!' Devon called. 'This guy's a major-league stalker!'
'No, no, put the gun down,' Chuck babbled, coming up beside the angry agent and putting a hand on his arm. 'Please, John, let me handle this.'
'Chuck, what's going on? Sarah?'
Chuck looked over his shoulder. 'Hi, Sarah. Guys, please! There's no need for guns!'
Scowling, John lowered his weapon. Sarah nudged the door shut and did the same.
'Chuck! The cops!' Devon was still panicked.
'Devon, there's no point in calling the cops,' Chuck said slowly, stepping forwards. 'I... sort of am the cops. We are.'
'Chuck!' John hissed, but the young man ignored him.
'For the past eighteen months I've been a top CIA asset, and these guys are here to protect me.'
Devon stared.
'I couldn't tell you, I'm sorry. It's all top secret, and you can't know this, but I need you to know that John's not a stalker. The surveillance is for my protection. Our protection.
'And Sarah?' Devon's tone was high with disbelief. 'She's not your girlfriend?'
Chuck shook his head. 'No, that's just a cover. But John...' He took a deep breath. 'John's my boyfriend.'
Devon gaped at Chuck for a long moment, then slowly closed his mouth. 'Wow. That actually explains a lot.' He cast an appraising eye over the NSA agent.
'Devon, I need you to do something for me.' Chuck moved to stand right in front of his future brother-in-law. 'Can you do that?'
'I, I guess so,' Devon said uncertainly.
'I need you to cover for me with Ellie. Sort of like...'
'Don't say it!' John mouthed, but Chuck wasn't watching.
'Sort of like a mission. Can you do that? Can you be awesome for me?' Chuck stared at Devon, keeping his face open, neutral, calm. It worked.
'I - yes. Awesome, bro!' Devon clasped Chuck's arm. 'Awesome.'
'Okay, I'll be over in a few minutes. Can you keep Ellie calm? Don't tell her anything,' Chuck said.
'Sure, fine. No problem.' Dazed, Devon didn't register that Chuck was walking him to the door, but then he was out in the courtyard and the door was shut behind him. 'Wow.'
#
'What the hell was that?' Sarah demanded as soon as Chuck shut the door.
'Yeah, that's what I'd like to know, Chuck.' John frowned.
Chuck turned to face the agents, leaning back against the solid wood. 'Devon's a smart guy. Really smart. Once he has time to calm down, he'd have figured out that this isn't just a case of John being a crazy stalker. This is way too professional a setup for that. This way, at least he's on board and willing to help us. And this way he can help protect my sister from all of... this.' His arm wave encompassed John's mission board, maps, monitors. 'And besides, I'm going to need all the help I can get when Ellie finds out that you're my plus one for her wedding.' He smiled at the agent.
John rolled his eyes and went about resetting his alarm systems. 'Fine.'
'Sarah?'
The agent forced a smile. 'Fine, Chuck. We're going to have to report this, though.'
Chuck nodded. 'Make sure you both have time to get dressed up for tonight. It's going to be... interesting.' He grimaced. 'I'm going to go get Dad, talk with Ellie. I'll see you guys at seven thirty?'
The agents murmured agreement. and Chuck slipped back out into the courtyard. He strolled to the Nerd Herder, opened the door. 'You know, I didn't think you'd stay in the car,' he said, smiling.
'I thought about getting out, but. You know. Then I'd have to face Ellie on my own.' Stephen managed a little smile.
'Yeah, suddenly the car's looking a lot safer, huh? Come on, Dad.' Together the two men went to face the music.
Note: In this, the events of 2.21 happened over 1 day, not 2; Casey followed Sarah and Chuck straight up to Barstow; NSA teams stormed the base and recovered Stephen Bartowski and the not-quite-functional second Intersect. Chuck and Sarah didn't spend the night in a motel together; there was no airstrike. The events with Devon all happened pretty much as in 2.21. Morgan's still heading for Hawaii.