Thank you to charahkids for betaing this thing. Personal thanks at the bottom as always.

Chapter 3

Present.

Having Orion on the mission took a lot off of Sarah's mind. It took a lot of the how and where's away and gave positive results and solutions. She was able to concentrate more on keeping her cover as a CIA agent, something that sometimes amused her and less on the details of the rescue mission.

Casey was less reluctant to just accept everything. He didn't out right say it but she was pretty sure that he was glad to hear that Orion was alive and was currently on the case but he was hesitant to get involved in anything involving Bryce Larkin. Sarah couldn't blame him, and she felt the same. But this was their best chance so they went along with it.

However Chuck was never really far from her mind, always in the forefront no matter where she was or what she was doing. She couldn't stop thinking about him. Couldn't stop wondering how he was doing. If he was alright or if he was happy.

It really was no surprise to Sarah when after four months she was pulled into the Directors office and put on leave. Though it broke her heart to leave the job that she had been on since she was 17, it had lost all appeal to her. It had taken away the most important person to her without any word or closure. She was angry, hurt, and upset. She felt betrayed by the agency that had made her who she was, and she was ready to turn her back on them.

It was only a matter of time till she got wounded in the line of duty. One mishap, one stray thought and she was injured during a mission. Though if she was honest with herself, she almost wished that the wounds had been worse than they had been. It was the first time she thought that perhaps death was a good solution.

7 Months Previous.

Sarah stared straight ahead as she walked down the halls of the CIA building, ignoring all the looks she was garnering from those around her. She knew what they were staring at, what they were saying. The great Sarah Walker, CIA spy extraordinaire was about to be fired from the CIA.

She knew it was coming, she had seen the signs. She knew that her performance had been slipping more and more since she left Burbank and with the last mission the previous month landing her in the hospital for a week with several injuries, including a bullet wound and other lacerations, it was only a matter of time until she was called in for a review.

Suffice to say she at least learned that the doctors were correct in saying that she'd heal better and faster if she just rested, as that was all she could do after that. All she could muster the strength for. She had barely stepped outside her apartment for the past three weeks after being discharged from the hospital. Choosing instead to lie in bed and live in her memories. She was content to stay that way until the end of her days when she got the phone call from the Directors office that her presence was requested.

So there she was the next day, dressed in her finest and heading up to the top floor to the Directors office for what she was sure was the last time, barely a limp in her step even though her thigh still burned from where the bullet hit her. She may be going out but she was going out with her head held high.

She stepped off the elevator into the open floor with a single secretary directly in front of her. Approaching the desk she didn't even have to say a word to the woman as she was informed the Director was waiting. With a curt nod Sarah headed to the right where the Directors office was.

Sarah stepped in front of the big doors to the office and paused for a second, taking a few deep breaths to calm her beating heart. She opened the door quickly and firmly, with the confidence of many years of experience of dealing with people in high places.

She stopped in her place just in the opening at seeing Director Johnson sitting at the conference table in his office next to General Beckman. It took all her willpower and years of training to school her face into calm cool expression of indifference at seeing the tiny woman who was responsible for everything.

"Agent Walker." The woman greeted with a slight nod of her head. "Please, come in. Shut the door." Sarah turned and closed the door quietly before walking to the table and standing next to Director Johnson.

"Please have a seat Agent." He said, indicating the seat across from them. He offered her something to drink which she turned down, her gut already rumbling with both anger and anxiety at the moment. She knew why she was called to the director's office but it didn't bode well that Beckman was here.

"What is this about Director?" She asked pointedly, wanting to get to the chase. The Director sat back in his chair, glancing at the General who gave a nod and then began.

"Agent Walker, it's come to our attention the past few months that you are not operating at your best." The General started. "Your record is impeccable but since your assignment in Burbank your quality of work has gone significantly downhill."

Sarah didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. They were right, she knew it, they knew. There was no point in denying it or defending herself. The work speaks for itself. But still, she wasn't quite pleased with it being brought out in the open like this.

"With your latest injury and your month off for rehabilitation, it's been decided that it's time to take you out of the field."

Sarah nodded and sat up a bit straighter and leaned slightly forward. "With all due respect General, I don't understand how this concerns you." She stated.

"Agent Walker-"

"It's alright Andrew." The General spoke up. The two eyed each other for a moment in some form of secret communication before the Director nodded his accent and sat back in his chair. "You are right Agent Walker. You are not NSA. However you were a large part of a previous project that was NSA and therefore it is my right to be here as that assignment is currently still affecting you and your performance."

"What does that assignment have to do with what's happening now." Sarah inquired curiously.

The General eyed her for a moment before sitting back slightly. "Because that is when your performance began to decline." She said simply. Sarah didn't know what to say, and just nodded her understanding. "I'm well aware that you were compromised during the mission, and I wish I had caught it earlier and stopped it before it got too far. But the fact is we didn't and it's over and you need to move on."

"I can't." she admitted hopelessly, hating herself for sounding so weak, but it was already out there and there was no point in denying it any more. She didn't want to deny it.

"There is nothing you can do for the asset any longer Agent Walker. He is safe where he is." The words hit Sarah like ice cold water and she felt herself shiver at them. It was the same thing that secretly ran over and over in the back of her mind but she refused to admit to or listen to it. She refused to give into the voice. But hearing the words aloud was a bit too much for her and she couldn't respond.

"I understand." She quietly answered.

The rest of the meeting went by quickly, with the Director going over her severance package. They were to pay her out on her contract and give her recommendations and anything needed in order for her to find work outside the agency. Sarah listened quietly not saying another word, just nodding when appropriate.

Finally the meeting was over and she stood up and walked towards the door, but before she exited she turned back towards the two at the table, staring hard at General Beckman in particular. She bit her lower lip nervously for a moment debating on if she should ask but she was desperate for any news at all.

"Is he at least happy?" She asked. She didn't need to say who; they all knew whom she was referring to.

The General met her gaze but didn't answer. Sarah didn't expect her to. But in that look, she knew with all of her being that no matter what, they had to get Chuck back. All doubt flew through her mind.

With a final nod Sarah opened the door and exited the office of the Director for the last time. She wasn't sad about being kicked out of the Agency, not at all. If anything she felt relieved. Relieved she didn't have to play the part any longer, that she didn't have to divide her attentions. Now she can focus on what is most important to her.

The Agents she passed in the hall gave her a wide berth, obviously knowing that she was no longer one of them but Sarah didn't care. She strode towards the exit of the building with her head held high and her dignity fully intact.

As she left the building for the last time she smiled up at the sun, enjoying the feeling of its warmth on her face. The pressure lifted from her shoulders. She mentally made a list of what she wanted to do, what needed to be done, feeling hope flutter through her.

The bliss she was feeling was broken by the sound of her phone ringing from her purse. Lowering her face back to the pavement, everything seeming dull and unfocused after staring into the sun, she frowned as she grabbed her phone, noting that it was in fact the phone Bryce had given her, and not her normal one.

Glancing around her location before answering is Sarah begun walking towards her car, not wanting to stay stationary in front of an intelligence building when taking an encrypted call.

"Hello?" She asked in a hushed voice as to not be overheard.

"Sarah, I'm sorry to hear about your job." Orion's voice came in over the receiver. Sarah gave a small smile, knowing that was as sorry as she was that she had been fired.

"Thank you." She said, careful not to say his name. "What's going on?" Sarah had reached her car and pressed the button to unlock it, getting into it quickly.

"Press the FM/AM button on your radio before you drive away." He instructed.

Sarah did as she was told and then put her car into drive, exiting the parking lot of the CIA. She drove down the road for a few minutes until the silence begun to get to her. "What was that for?" She asked.

"It's to disable any tracking or listening devices." He explained simply. Sarah rolled her eyes at his paranoia, even though it was valid. It was the government after all and considering what she knew she wouldn't put it past them to bug her car and follow her around.

"I'm on my way home to pack. I have some back up id's and documents there hidden away." She told him.

"Good. Don't use them." He said. Sarah pulled the phone away from her ear looking it balking.

"Excuse me?" She asked confused.

"We can't take the risk that anybody in the CIA knows anything about them. Even if you are completely sure of your source it's just safer not to use them."

"Ok, what should I use then?" She asked confused still.

"Don't worry about it Sarah. There are some documents waiting for you at your apartment. Use those. Included is a plane ticket to Burbank."

Sarah pulled into her spot in her apartment complex not a moment too soon as her heart beat erratically at the thought of going to Burbank. She wasn't ready to go there. She couldn't go there.

"Uh, why do I need to go to Burbank?" She asked Orion, trying to keep her voice steady. She heard him sigh on the other end and she knew whatever the reason was he wasn't too happy about it.

"I need you to go talk to Ellie."

Sarah's heart completely stopped at those words. No way. There was no way she would go talk to her. What would she say? Sarah had taken off immediately after the Chuck's funeral, and though she communicated occasionally through email to Ellie and Morgan there hadn't been much contact at all. For all they knew she fell off the face of the planet, and she had wanted it to stay that way. She couldn't go back to them, not until she knew Chuck was safe.

"I…I can't." She stumbled.

"Yes you can, Sarah. I need you to." He insisted.

"And say what exactly? I haven't talked to her in five months." Sarah protested, slamming the back of her head against the back of her seat.

"I need you to tell her what happened." He said. "It's time she knew the truth."

If she wasn't stunned before she was definitely stunned now. "Why? Why now." Irritated at having to be asked to do this task.

"She needs to know. Because she deserves to know the truth about her brother Sarah." He told her

Sarah closed her eyes, counting to ten in her head. "And why can't you talk to your daughter? She believes that you just ran out on her, again, right before her wedding. Right before she had to bury her brother."

"Exactly Sarah, that's exactly why. She needs to hear it from someone she trusts, from someone who she doesn't just think of as a flake and a crazy one at that." He argued and Sarah hated that he was right. Even with him there Sarah remembered how tense Ellie had been even in her happiness of him finally coming back. She knew Ellie wouldn't believe him.

"Alright, I'll do it. What do you want me to tell her?" Sarah asked reluctantly.

"That truth Sarah. And a choice I wish she never would have to make."

Sarah's stomach fluttered as she sipped from the glass of water that was placed before her. She hated that she was asked to do this and she hated that she felt this way. Once upon a time before everything went to hell Ellie was what she considered her first and only real friend. Even though she had to lie to her about who she truly was Ellie was the first person Sarah made a conscious effort to be as honest as possible with. And now she was going to have to tell her all about her lying and what she did to Chuck.

Ellie had been excited on the phone the other day when Sarah had called her out of the blue stating that she was going to be in town for a few days. She didn't even have to do anything, Ellie already made arrangements to meet up and spend some time together. All Sarah had to do was show up.

It was a quiet café out of the way that Sarah had found during her time in Burbank. She liked it because it was innocuous and had amazing food. On top of that she was pretty sure that she wouldn't be followed or recognized aside from the owners who had seen her multiple times of course.

"Oh my god! Sarah!" Ellies voice screeched and Sarah immediately turned towards the door. There stood Eleanor Woodcomb, still in scrubs and longer hair but still looking amazing. Ellie quickly closed the distance between then and wrapped her arms tightly around Sarah. Sarah automatically returned the hug, surprised but how much she enjoyed it and missed it, missed Ellie.

"Ellie, I'm so happy you could meet me on such short notice." Sarah said reluctantly releasing Ellie. They sat down in the chairs at the table in the corner. The waiter came by and took the meal orders quickly before leaving the two girls to themselves.

They spent the time waiting for the meals catching up on what had been happening, most of the talking being done by Ellie. Sarah was pleased that Morgan was doing so well in the job she had set him up with. He had moved out of his mother's house, has a girlfriend, and even his own car now. Devon and Ellie still lived in the same apartment complex as they did before. With Ellie not able to move yet even though they could afford a house now with both of them being full-fledged doctors on top of a life insurance policy on Chuck that Ellie had no idea about.

Sarah suspected it was a payout from the CIA or NSA. Or based off the amount Ellie gave, probably both.

Their meals came in short order and Sarah decided it was best to broach the topic she had been sent to speak to Ellie about. Pressing a button on a device in her purse effectively disabling all bugs that may be around them, Sarah scooted closer to her friend to begin her tale.

"Ellie, there actually is a reason I needed to talk to you." Sarah started, moving some lettuce around her plate with her fork.

"What is it Sarah? You know you can tell me anything." Ellie replied concerned. It took Sarah a few false starts before she could get the story out, Ellie immediately dropping her fork and listening to Sarah with rapt attention.

When Sarah was done she sat back from Ellie, letting the woman process what she had been told. She hadn't said a single word the entire time, her brows narrowed and her eyes wide. Sarah wasn't sure if Ellie believed her or not and was afraid either way of what her friend thought.

"Chuck's alive." Ellie muttered amazed, more to herself then to Sarah. Sarah nodded her head confirming her stated.

"Yes, he is. We don't know where he is right now but we're going to find him. We're going to get him back." Sarah stated vehemently.

"And then what?" Ellies asked her, narrowing her brows further. "He can't come back here Sarah. If he's being held by the government they're going to want him back."

"I know."

"He'll never be safe. Never be free." Ellie covered her face with her hands while Sarah sat silently. There was nothing she could say to counter what Ellie was saying. It was the same things she had thought and spat at Orion herself months before.

"I know it all sounds, confusing Ellie, but we are doing everything we can to get to Chuck." She said determined. "And…he won't be alone Ellie."

The other woman lowered her hands then and stared at Sarah curiously. "How do you mean?" She asked simply. Sarah swallowed and leaned forward in her chair, making sure that the words she was saying would imprint into Ellie.

"I mean he won't be alone Ellie. I will be with Chuck. Always and forever no matter what. He will always have me." She stated unblinkingly.

"You'd give up everything to be with my brother? You'll be on the run too Sarah. This Intersect thing, it doesn't sound safe. It doesn't sound like they'd let it go without a fight, and they'd destroy anything that would get in their way."

"Then they destroy me Ellie, with Chuck."

Ellie pushed her plate away and stood up from the table throwing a few bills down and walked out. Sarah watched her for a moment before moving into action, doing the same and following her.

"Ellie wait!" She shouted after her friend, walking quickly to catch up to her. Ellie didn't slow down or stop and continued walking forward. Sarah wasn't sure where she was going and was becoming concerned as she kept an eye out on their surroundings.

A few blocks later they came up to Ellies car. She went around to the driver's side and roughly pulled the door opened. "Get in." She shouted at Sarah as she got into the driver's seat. Still confused but obeying Ellie Sarah got into the car, barely in the seat before Ellie jerked the car into traffic.

"Where are we going?" Sarah asked putting her seatbelt on. Ellie didn't reply, just gave Sarah a glance before turning back to the road.

They drove for over half an hour before Sarah finally recognized where they were heading. They were going to the cemetery where Chuck was buried, or supposedly since he was not really in there. They pulled into the lot and Sarah had to move quickly to follow her friend up the hill and a few rows over to a large tree.

They slowed, and then came to a stop in front of a gravestone that Sarah refused to read. She looked anywhere but at the headstone. She looked at the large tree that's branches were hanging over the plot causing a shade for those who come to visit. It was kind of cliché but it was perfect for Chuck as he adored the cliché.

However she couldn't avoid it forever, especially as Ellie sat down gingerly on the ground, easily like a pro, obviously having done it many times before and Sarah was forced to do so as well. Once she was settled she could no longer avoid it any longer.

Starting at the grass that was beneath her and stretched out in front of her, she noted how it was a beautiful lush green, obviously taken care of. Flowers were at the head, planted not placed like a miniature garden was planted in an array of colors. And then she moved her eyes upward, finally read the words on the granite stone that lay in front of her.

Charles Irving Bartowski.
Loving Brother, Caring Friend,
Fellow Nerd

Sarah let out a soft laugh at the last line. The stone hadn't been ready at the time of the burial and though she had received pictures in her email, she hadn't been able to bring herself to look at them.

"Why did you bring me here?" Sarah asked after several moments of silence. She saw Ellie sigh in her peripheral.

"I like to come here and think sometimes." She said. "I talk to him, tell him my problems, reminisce on the past. Hearing that he's alive now..."

"Ellie-"

"Who is in the grave Sarah? If it's not my brother, who have I been spilling all my secrets too?" Ellie asked. Sarah didn't know the answer to that. They know there was a body in there, burnt to a crisp, probably some poor John Doe that the NSA had placed in the role of Chuck Bartowski.

"I don't know Ellie." She told her honestly. There was no point in lying or hiding anything now.

"How are you going to get Chuck? You said 'we'. Who is the 'we' in this operation?" She asked intelligently. A lie was just on the tip of Sarah's tongue, after years of doing it, of all the training and experience, hiding the truth was engrained in her. But giving herself a little headshake she leaned forward on her knees and was prepared to tell Ellie anything she wanted to know.

"Well, me, of course, Casey, Bryce-"

"I still can't believe Bryce Larkin is still alive, fucking bastard-"

"And your father." Sarah finished.

"My father? How…"

"Your father isn't the crazy man you think he is. Well, he is kind of crazy in my opinion but he's a genius Ellie. He created the Intersect." Sarah told her. Ellies mouth was agape at the news, quickly turning from Sarah to stare at Chuck's headstone.

"He created it? This computer that got stuck in Chuck's brain? HE did this to Chuck?" She said angrily.

"No, no Ellie, nothing like that. He created the program but once he saw what they planned on doing with it he walked away from it." Sarah told her. "That's probably the time that he had to leave you Ellie. This program is extremely dangerous. They wouldn't have hesitated to use you or Chuck to get him to cooperate."

"But he left us. Without any word without warning. We didn't even know that he was thinking about leaving. We were abandoned, unwanted." Ellie sniffed a few times as tears fell down her cheek. Sarah knew it was painful for her. Chuck had told Sarah over and over how important Ellie was to him, how grateful he had her and how much she sacrificed to help him.

"What would you do Ellie? The choice he made to participate in something that killed people or walk away from his family so they live. It's not an easy choice. Was it the right choice? I don't know. I don't think so personally but I'm not him. We all make bad choices. And your father was in a lose-lose situation." Sarah explained softly as Ellie nodded her understanding.

"We just, after mom left. Dad was so distracted by his work. He was physically there but he wasn't really, you know there. I didn't realize what he had riding on his shoulders." Ellie stated sadly.

"He loves you two Ellie. I have no doubt about it." She knew that with complete certainty.

After spending the last couple months speaking to him, getting to know him during their mission to save Chuck she had learned a lot about Stephen Bartowski. Most specifically that he loved his kids above anything else. She knew it was his biggest regret not being there for them when they were growing up. To not be there for them when they needed him the most. He had told her that he always provided for them as best he could without drawing any attention to himself, such as paying for their colleges by making it look like scholarships. Paying most of the rent at their apartment so it seemed they pay less. Things like that. But as someone who had an absentee father herself, she knew well that while those things helped, it was nothing in comparison to having him around.

"I know." Ellie stated simply, giving one last long sniff before turning her head back to Sarah. "So what do we do now?"

"Now, we go after Chuck." She said simply. It sounded so simple coming out but the task was next to impossible.

Ellie nodded her head, thinking for a second. "And how can I help." She asked.

Sarah held her breath. She knew that Ellie would ask this and this was the part she hated even more. It was never easy of anyone to discuss but it had to be done. Orion was right; it was her right to choose.

"Ellie, it's going to be hard, but you have to make a choice." Sarah started. "If you choose to stay out of it we will do everything we can to keep you in the loop and once Chuck's out, we'll try everything to keep you two in touch."

Ellie shook her head and Sarah's gut twisted. "That's not enough Sarah. I need to be more involved. I'm not going to just abandon my brother. The only thing that will separate us is death. And he's not dead. I will never give up on him."

"Ellie you have a life, you have a husband, a career. If you're involved you'll have to give all that up. What we're doing, just talking about it is considered treason." Sarah explained, hoping the importance of what she was saying was being conveyed properly to Ellie. But Ellie just nodded.

"I understand. And I'm willing to give it up for Chuck."

"What about Devon? Are you going to give him up too? You love him. He's your husband." Sarah exclaimed.

"I know that Sarah. He'll come with me. He loves me Sarah." Ellie stated unwavering. "He loves me like you love Chuck"

Sarah couldn't argue with that. How could she. She loved Chuck so much she was risking her life and freedom to rescue him. It sounds incredulous that that someone would give up everything for another person but Sarah was living in that situation right now.

"And you're sure you can trust him?" She asked, unnecessarily so. He was called Captain Awesome for a reason. And he already knew Chuck's secret of being a spy.

"I trust him with my life Sarah. He's the one. He's my other half." Ellie said.

And so it was decided that simply that Ellie would join the strange assembly of people out for one purpose. They discussed briefly the next steps in the operation. Sarah handed Ellie a secure phone built by Orion and hashed out the plans. Ellie and Devon were to take a short sabbatical from the hospital and participate in something such as Doctors without Borders. Due to them having to give up their freedom and lives to save Chuck Orion would pose an accident of some kind that will have an unfortunate end of the Woodcombs.

As they headed back to the car, Sarah feeling lighter yet slightly guilty about what she talked her friend into but glad to know that Chuck will have his sister back, Ellie stopped mind step.

"There's just one more thing." Ellie said, turning to Sarah. But her expression Sarah wasn't sure if she was going to like this.

"What is it Ellie?" She asked hesitantly. Ellie bit her lip, a nervous habit Sarah shared with her.

"You're not going to like it but, we have to bring Morgan." She said.

A/N: So I know I said saturday, but I wont have time. And i'm way excited over zachary levi yesterday. He is just so awesome and diffrent in Heroes Reborn. Plus I got 2 tweets from The Nerd Machine so I'm excited about that.

Oh, and as a side note I haven't done any writing this week. Bad missy bad *smacks*

zanex9: Celebrate with some Cake! perfect ending yeah?

Nomadic Nerd: I know it hurts Sarah to hear that from Bryce but I really do see Bryce believing that his only real friend would be Chuck. With Sarah, she's a spy, and though he obviously likes her, he can't trust her. I thought about bringing in some others but I'm just afraid of having too big a cast to juggle with.

phnxgrl: Well they need all the help they can get.

atcDave: Thank you! and I'm never excited about them too but they were logical choices.

sevenrez:Don't be nervous. I will never let Jill or Bryce hurt them.

wilf21: Only time will tell *plays x-files theme*

fezzywhigg: I totally love your name. There is always a happy ending if one only knows where to look...though i don't have ending yet. I hope you do continue to enjoy reading it though.

supesfan18: Aww, thank you. I hope you continue to enjoy this one too.

Grayroc: Thank you for your kind words! they make me feel warm and fuzzy.

Rob M (Guest): I agree with you, I really believe that Jill loved Chuck back in Stanford, and still had feelings for him when she came back. But she was just too deep in whatever she was doing to really do anything. Her loss, Sarah's win. And I never want to make Bryce out to be a punching bag. I genuinely believe he's a douche bag but I truly believe that he had the best intentions for Chuck. He thought more about saving him and less about what it would mean in the end and that's why his actions look so bad. But I still hate him.