Thank you to Charakids once again for reading through this.

Chapter 12

Sarah woke up slowly to the soft touch of fingers brushing away stray hairs on the side of her head. She smiled gently as she turned further into the touch, wanting more of it. The hand stopped and rested upon her crown as the person leaned over her, blocking the bright light she was bathed in and placed soft kisses across her forehead and nose. She didn't want to open her eyes, just wanting to lay there in the somewhat chilled air of wherever she was languishing in the attention of her companion.

However a knock at the door brought Sarah back to reality as her eyes shot open, looking immediately into the soft brown eyes of Chuck. Unable to control herself Sarah reached her tired yet satiated arms up behind Chuck's neck and bringing him down into a deep passionate kiss that brought all of her sleeping body back awake. Time was lost on her as she pushed herself further into his embrace.

Until another knock brought them back to the present once more.

"Go Away!" Sarah shouted, going back to her administrations with Chuck, exploring his mouth, becoming reacquainted with every part of him once again. However the knock persisted and Sarah pulled back, her head hitting the mattress below her with a soft thump as she glared up at Chuck's amused grin.

"I'll go see who it is, while you get a little more decent." He suggested as he placed a last kiss on her temple, causing her to tingle.

Sarah watched him sadly as he tried to stand up and put his shirt back on, frowning at his state of dress compared to her lack thereof. Giving a final sigh she reached out for her shirt that he had placed next to her and begun getting dressed as Chuck cracked open the door.

"You guys need to come upstairs." Sarah heard Orion state to Chuck. Tugging up her pants quickly she almost ran to the door, shoving Chuck out of the way and opening it wider as she buttoned them up.

"What's going on? Did you hear from Casey?" She asked urgently, ignoring the amused grin that was plastered wide on Orion's face as he looked over the two of them. She blushed slightly at knowing he probably guessed what had happened and ran her fingers through her tanged hair, attempting to make herself look more together and less like she just got laid by her son.

"Yeah, he sent us a message. I think we have a plan on how to get the two of you off the government's radar for good." With that Sarah watched Orion give a final grin at the two of them and head back down the hall, leaving Sarah alone with Chuck once again.

Giving a glance at Chuck Sarah leaned against the padded wall next to the door and slid down it to sit on the floor. 'A way out?' She thought. It was the goal they were reaching for now that they had Chuck out of their custody but Sarah didn't expect it to come up so quickly. It had barely been a month since they've retrieved Chuck. It's barely been a week since he first left this cell. It's been less than…well, she didn't know what time it was or how long they had been down in the cell but it hadn't been long since they first learned of the kill order set out on him.

"Wow." Chuck said, standing next to her. Sarah looked up at him, having to tilt her head back as far as it could go to see him, her stomach fluttering at the sight of him and wanting to crawl up his body and place never ending kisses all over him.

Sarah nodded her head; it was a lot to take in. "Yeah, wow. You'll be completely free soon hopefully." She said as she lowered her sight as her neck twinge. However, it snapped back up at the sound of his laughter. "What?" She asked curious.

Chuck hunched down so they were now eye to eye and Sarah couldn't help the coy smile that came over her as she leaned over to kiss him again. Chuck however stopped after a second, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"I mean wow, I can't believe we just had sex in a padded cell. You think we can get the video for it?" He teased.

Sarah's jaw dropped as she mentally face palmed herself while physically smacking Chuck in the arm. He cried out in mock pain, pouting that she was abusive and that she had hurt his feelings, but another passionate kiss quickly quailed any thoughts of possible law suits he might try to mock threaten her with.

"Just met with General Beckman. She gave me a list of places they suspect Walker and Bartowski to be. I've been tasked to head up the search for them and proceed with extreme prejudice. I've sent the file. Come up with a plan and let me know."

Silence descended the dining room once Casey's message ended. Sarah gripped tightly to Chuck's hand as she stared ahead at the screen on the wall that held the files that Casey had mentioned. It looked like there were five locations, all out of the way, hidden, like the cabin they were currently in. Luckily it looked like none of the locations were anywhere near where they actually are. It appeared as if Beckman had just picked five random spots and chose those as the places to send Casey.

"So what exactly does he mean come up with a plan?" Ellie asked confused.

"I'm more concerned what proceeding with extreme prejudice means." Devon cut in.

"It means that they put a kill order out on Chuck and anybody who is in contact with him." Sarah said distracted. Orion handed her an iPad and she held it between her and Chuck so they could both look over it.

"Woah woah woah. A kill order? We could like die?" Morgan said eyes wide. Sarah just looked over the iPad at him and glared.

"You knew that when you got into this Morgan. You really shouldn't be so shocked." She berated him.

"On top of that Devon and I are technically already dead so there wouldn't be any heartache over that." Ellie added, standing up with her cup of tea and heading to the kitchen.

Sarah felt Chuck jerk at the comment as he stood up next to her and went to follow his sister into the kitchen, but Sarah stopped him, holding tightly to his hand. She felt him struggle for a moment, trying to release his hand from her grip but gave up quickly and sat down heavily in the chair he had just vacated. She sat down the iPad and placed her arm around his shoulders as he buried his face in his hands while his breath sped up.

"Chuck?" She asked gently, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "What's going on? Please tell me."

Chuck shook his head, face still covered with his hands. Sarah glanced up at the others, giving a slight tilt of her own head indicating that perhaps they should leave for now. Without another word the others got up from their spots, leaving the files on the screen and left Chuck in Sarah's capable care.

They sat in silence, time stretching out before them with no place to go. She didn't want to break it, she wanted him to come to her. To tell her what was wrong, what was going on in his head. Guessing what he was thinking wouldn't be that difficult but regardless, he needed to tell her, he needed to communicate with her.

"She can't be dead. Why would my mind do that to me? Do that to Ellie?" He said sadly, finally lowering his hands to look at her. Sarah swiped her thumb underneath each of his eyes, removing the tears that had fallen, sighing.

"Chuck, it's not your head. This is all real. Please believe me." She pleaded.

"It can't be real Sarah. It's not possible. I'm still in that tiny room, with the blank walls, high on whatever drug cocktail I'm being fed." He cried. "And I'm sure their forcing me into giving them the information they so desperately desire, but I don't care. Not anymore. I want to stay here. But why would Ellie be dead? Even deep inside my mind I'd only want the best for her. I'd want her living out in the world with Devon, making a difference and starting a family that she loves.

Is this some subconscious thing? Is this some information that somehow was leaked to me during an Intersect update? That my sister and her husband were dead, and my mind, for whatever reason decided that I should know about it? But that makes no sense."

"Chuck stop! This isn't a dream!" Sarah shouted turning him to face her. Once again placing the sides of his face in both her hands, forcing him to again focus entirely on her. "This is real Chuck. Everything here is real. I'm real, you're real, Morgan, Ellie, Devon, your dad…They're all really here Chuck."

Chuck shook his face free of her grasp and sat back in his chair. Sarah didn't like how distraught he looked over this. She didn't like finding out that Chuck didn't really believe that he was saved and that he was just a prisoner, although a happy one, inside his own mind. She didn't know how to convince him otherwise and she wished she had had more time to think on the situation between discovering it and being notified of this new development.

Her head shot to the left as footsteps approached from another room and Jill came in, giving an apologetic smile as she went into the kitchen to rinse out a mug. Sarah fought the urge to scowl at her to get lost when a thought ticked in her head, as she stared at Chuck waiting for Jill to leave.

Leaning over next to him, elbows on her knees, she looked up at him through her lashes and schooled her face not to show the grin that was coming out.

"Seriously Chuck, if this is a dream, why is Jill here?" She asked him. Chuck's eyes widened comically as and she could see him thinking on that thought. "Should I be jealous Chuck?"

"NO! No no no." He said hurriedly, grabbing her hands in his. "No you're the only girl for me Sarah. I can't even fathom what she would be doing here aside from some unresolved issues that we may or may not have that is lurking deep in my mind."

Not able to stop it anymore, the grin she was hiding came out and she leaned forward and placed a comforting kiss on his lips to stop him from babbling any further. It lingered for a few moments before Sarah broke it off and sat up again.

"Now do you believe me?" She asked him warily. Chuck narrowed his eyes at her and Sarah's heart pattered hoping the answer was yes.

"Tell me why Ellie said they were already dead." He said simply. Relieved that he appeared to at least be giving the notion of this all being real.

Sometime later, everyone gathered around the dining room again. Ellie had made dinner and everyone was happily eating the meatloaf and mashed potatoes with furbish. Sarah wondered how she ever ate before Ellie came along, because food, no matter where in the world she was, had never tasted as good as anything Ellie Bartowski Woodcomb had ever made.

They were discussing the best options on the opportunity that Casey had presented to them and so far everyone was in agreement on some aspects, but not all.

"No, absolutely not. Chuck cannot go to a location. He has to stay here." Ellie argued taking a drink of her wine.

"But they need him as proof that he's dead, or that he was there." Devon argued.

"Don't I get a say?" Chuck pipped in.

Sarah padded his hand that was next to hers on the table gently "Of course you do sweetie." She told him soothingly before turning to everyone else. "I'm with Ellie, he's not going anywhere."

"I know!" Morgan said lifting his fork with a piece of meatloaf still pronged. "You, have a 3D printer right Mr. B? I can go in as Chuck!"

Everyone at the table groaned at the horrible idea except for Chuck who laughed out loud, causing Sarah to grin happily at the sound. She loved to hear him laugh. It had been so long since he really had, since she heard it and she vowed to hear it more.

"Right Morgan, and how are you going to do that? You'd look like a little kid playing dress up in his clothes." Ellie muttered mildly into her glass.

"Hey, I can pull it off right Chuck?" He asked his friend.

Sarah cocked her brow at Chuck amuse at the vigorous nodding from Chuck. "Oh yeah buddy, if anyone could pull of a Chuck Bartowski it totally would be you man."

"Alright bro, gimmie some love" They both stood at that point and awkwardly bumped fists in some kind of mock gangster handshake.

Keeping her eyes on him as he sat down he gave her a devilish grin, with his own raised brow as if daring her to say something about how uncool he truly was. But of course she wouldn't, she couldn't. She knew he wasn't cool and it entertained her to no end to watch him interact with his less cool friend.

Sarah just shook her head and turned back to her plate, not justifying anything that she wanted to say to him at the moment. She'd save it for later when they were alone, hopefully in their bedroom instead of a padded cell this time.

"In any event Morgan, thank you for offering to pretend to be my son for this but unfortunately, that will not work. And it has nothing to do with your size." Orion said. "For this to work, I'm afraid Chuck is going to have to be there."

Chuck raised his hand tentatively much to the laughter of those around him. "Yes Charles." Orion called on.

"I don't want to leave dad." He said. Sarah placed her fork on her plate and reached into his lap to hold his hand.

"Charles-"

"No, dad, I can't. I'm sorry I can't leave. I have to stay here. You're stuck with what most parents fear dad, I'm staying home and probably for a very long time."

"You can't ask him to do this dad. He's barely been out for a week. Physically he's not up for it and mentally and emotionally…well…" Ellie trailed off as everyone looked towards Chuck who just shrugged. Sarah agreed with her. She wasn't sure if Chuck was mentally up for what this would entail.

"I know its hard sweetheart, but this one act will guarantee his freedom and Sarah's for the rest of their lives." Orion argued. "Yeah they'll still be in hiding but they won't have the government hanging over their heads everywhere they go. They won't have to live in such fear of being found out."

Silence decided upon the table as everyone sat staring at their plates, letting the last words permeate in their own heads. Sarah knew Orion was right. This was the best move for not only her and Chuck but for everyone. If the world thought they were dead they would be left alone and the others would be safe. If they didn't do this then the government would forever keep looking for Chuck and place the others at risk. If something happened to his friends because they were with him, or associated with him, Sarah didn't think Chuck would be able to recover from that. That would be too much for him, the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

But she could sense his fear as he sat next to her. She could sense Ellie's fear, and Morgan. Everyone was afraid because they knew what she knew, what Chuck knew. He wasn't ready for this. It was far too soon. It had only been the previous day that Sarah had finally, after a week of asking gotten him out onto the front porch. And that was barely on the porch, he had stayed close to the wall of the cabin, never venturing out of arms reach of it, as if it would disappear if he wasn't able to grab hold of it in a pinch.

Prior to that he was locked in a room, whether it was in the cell downstairs or the concrete one provided by the government with no view or contact to the outside world. He had been isolated, physically, emotionally. The world was gigantic and as he had said that first night when she woke up seeing him sitting by the window, he had forgotten how loud the rain was.

However they didn't know if this opportunity would pop up again and she was afraid to let it go. Afraid that Chuck would miss his chance of complete freedom because he was scared, because they were all scared about how he would handle it, on what effect it would have on him. But like before, when she thought he would be completely insane, and odds were still in his favor on that front, she would be with him. Always and forever she would stay by his side and as long as they were together she knew they could do anything.

"I think we should do it." Sarah said breaking the silence. Ignoring the others she turned in her chair to face Chuck directly. "I know what you're thinking Chuck-"

"No Sarah, I don't think you do." He stated not looking at her.

Sighing Sarah closed her eyes, concentrating on her breathing for a moment before opening them again. "You're right Chuck, I don't really know. I can guess but I don't know. I can't know unless you tell me."

"What does that have to do with anything right now Sarah?" He asked her, finally looking at her. She could see the panic in his eyes as he fidgeted in his seat.

Sarah nodded her head, more to herself than to anyone else before turning back to her plate. "You're right Chuck, we can discuss this later when we're alone."

"How about we discuss this now since you obviously want to." He bit out angrily, startling everyone.

"Chuck honey, what's wrong?" Ellie asked concerned from across the table.

"You, all of you. I know what you're thinking. I know what you want." he stated. "You think I should do this. That it's the best chance for us, and you're right. It is. There's no if, ands, or buts about it."

Sarah reached out for his hand again but he pulled it away and placed it forcefully on his bouncing legs. "Chuck-"

"I can't do it Sarah. I can't go out there, and do this. Aside from the complete and utter fear that I feel right now making me want to throw up at the prospect of leaving this place, of being out in the open, at the sounds, the sights, the air, everything…I can't do this."

"You can Chuck because I'll be with you." Sarah countered.

"And what if something happened to you?" He shouted. "Did you think of that? No plan is foolproof, even one involving the great Orion and Col John Casey, NSA assassin extraordinaire."

"Chuck, in case you've forgotten buddy, your lady here is also a trained assassin." Morgan cut in, but everyone ignored him.

"If something were to happen to you Sarah-"

"It won't Chuck because I won't let it. We'll be careful and everything will be planned. Nothing will go wrong." She said desperately.

They sat in silence as the last words hung in the air. Sarah wanted to say more, to plead more but she wasn't sure what she could say to make any of this better. Finally Chuck stood up, placing his napkin next to his barely touched plate and stepped around his chair pulling it in and leaning against the back of it.

"Fine, I'll do this. Plan everything, check everything, and make sure nothing could go wrong. Just be aware though, if something does, and you don't live Sarah, than neither will I. So be sure you know what you're doing, because if you die, I refuse to live."

With that Chuck gave Sarah a final look before turning away from her and headed down the hallway behind them, leaving Sarah staring at the empty spot he was just in, her heart beating rapidly.

'Don't freak out.' She told herself.

A/N: Another chapter. Only 2 more to go. Well...maybe 3. I'm debating an epilogue. It makes me sad cause I feel like I'm leaving the world of Chuck fanfic and I love it here, and you guys have been so amazing in your reviews. But we must all move on at one point and I feel its my time.

charahkid: I'm saddened too.

atcDave: Good, Jill's an ass

Rob M (Guest): Thank you very much! I do try.

wilf21: I'll tell you now you're probably be disappointed in the ending. It's already written and I quite like it but...

zanex9: They'll get a happy ending

phnxgrl: She is a horrible person.

sevenrez: I think I would believe like him, where it was all a dream and I'd gone crazy. But how long can ones mind hold that together?

phathead01: Oh! I'm so going to miss your reviews! I'm so sad to leave, but I've been so focuses on fanfic and not my own stuff and I need to do the opposite.

supesfan18: Thanks!

uplink2: Yeah...Plot hole. i didn't think that one through very well. Kinda regretting it.

Nomadic Nerd: Oh don't make me cry! *sobs*