Chapter 5

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, the brisk, bitter air sent a chill through his body causing him to stir. Chuck's eyes fluttered open. He was greeted with the sight of 2 seagulls soaring above, no doubt in search of some breakfast. His attention then turned to the arm draped casually across his chest, the fingers tucked inside his button up shirt that was now only buttoned half way. He glanced over at the warm body snuggled up against him. The sun cast a glow upon her face much like that that he had witnessed the night prior with the moonlight and a smile crept across his face.. Sarah stirred in his embrace and snuggled up closer to him and he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to wake up with her in his arms every morning. Moments later Sarah too began to stir and eventually her eyes fluttered open as well.

"Good morning." Chuck said with a smile.

She looked up at him. "Hi." was her response as she pulled herself to a sitting position. Chuck did the same. Sarah crossed her arms across her chest in an attempt to warm herself up. "What time is it?" She asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

Chuck glanced down at his wrist. "Almost 7." he replied. "You're shivering." He said as he grabbed the blanket laying in the sand next to them. "Come here."

Sarah moved closer to him and he pulled her into his lap and wrapped the blanket around them. Sarah immediately felt warm in his embrace. "Better?" he asked as he leaned down to her, his lips grazed the side of her head.

"Much." she said settling into him.

"How'd you sleep last night?" He leaned down once again and trailed a few kisses down her neck.

Sarah closed her eyes to fully enjoy the sensation of his lips as they made contact with her skin. "Mmmm….I slept well." She replied. "You?" she asked turning her head to look at him.

"Like a baby." He replied.

The two sat in silence for a while, just enjoying being in each other's arms as they looked out at the ocean, watching the sunrise, neither of them wanting to acknowledge what the day would bring.

"Do you remember the last time we sat in this very spot watching the sunrise?" he asked finally breaking the silence.

Sarah turned in his arms to face him, a look of confusion on her face followed by one of recognition as it finally dawned on her as her mind drifted back to that morning two years ago. It was the morning after their first "date." Chuck had just found out that a super computer known as the intersect, which contained all the governments secrets had been uploaded into his brain thanks to his one time best friend and old college roommate, Bryce Larkin.

"I remember." she replied as she settled back into his arms.

"Do you remember what you asked me to do that morning?" Chuck grazed her temple with his lips. He inhaled deeply taking in her scent.

"Of course…I asked you to trust me." she replied.

"And I do Sarah. I trust you .…You are the only person I trust completely…Sarah…it's my turn now to ask you to do something for me?"

"Hmmm?" she replied.

"Wait for me?" His request caught her off guard. How could he think she wouldn't wait for him? Sarah pulled away from his warm embrace and turned to face him once again.

"Chuck." she started but didn't get out much of anything else before he interrupted her as usual.

"Sarah I know it's a lot to ask, It's just I don't know how long I'll be gone and I'm sure guys ask you out all the time, I mean look at you, I just…now that we finally have the go ahead to pursue this, I just…I'd hate for anything to come between us before we get that chance. I wish I didn't have to leave, but if my leaving for a while means we can be together…" Chuck rambled on. Sarah smiled and did the only thing she could think of to shut him up. She leaned in pressed her lips against his, catching him off guard. It wasn't long before he was kissing her back and the two were engaged in a tender, passionate lip lock. A moment later the two parted lips, breathless as they gazed into one another's eyes.

"Chuck." his name escaped her lips.

"Yeah?" was all he could say his eyes fell to her lips, hungry to taste their sweetness once again.

"I've waited two years for you, I think I can wait a little bit longer." She smiled up at him. The two moved in closer once again closing the distance between them.

Chuck's hands slid up Sarah's back as his lips met hers. Sarah's arms clasped tightly around Chuck's neck as she deepened the kiss. Chuck moved one hand up to rest behind Sarah's head as he leaned into her, guiding her body down to the sand beneath them until he came to rest on top of her. Sarah's hands slid down Chuck's broad shoulders, sensually caressing him, reveling in the sensations he was invoking by laying on top of her. As they broke from the kiss, their eyes met. Chuck's hand made it's way to Sarah's face, gently caressing her cheek as they gazed lovingly into one another's eyes. His hand gently made it's way down to her chin. Sarah ran her fingers through his hair, pushing back a few stray curls so she could get a better look at him. Her bright blue eyes looked up at him and he was mesmerized once again by her beauty.

"You're so beautiful." his hot breath tickled her neck causing her to tremble in his embrace.

Sarah gently stroked his cheek with one hand. "I don't want you to go." was all she could say.

Colonel John Casey was just about to make the last snip on his newly trimmed bonsai tree when General Beckman popped up on his TV screen.

"Colonel Casey." She startled him, causing his hand to slip and cut off a large section of his Bonsai. Casey grunted as he threw down his bonsai clippers and turned his attention to the screen in front of him.

"General?" he greeted her.

"Colonel Casey, I take it you and Agent Walker have made the arrangements for Bartowski's transfer today."

"Yes General, Agent Walker and I will have Chuck at the airport within the hour. Security detail is in place and will be assisting with the transfer."

"Very well then. I will check in with you and Agent Walker tonight after she has had a chance to meet with her new recruits and assign them their posts. Casey I want everything with this transfer to go smoothly."

"Yes General, there is no reason to believe it would go any other way." Casey replied.

"Don't disappoint me Casey." and without giving Casey a chance to respond the screen went blank.

Casey turned his attention back to his bonsai tree sitting on the table. A disappointed look on his face he picked it up along with the large snipped off branch and tossed them both in the garbage can before heading out his front door.

After grabbing a bite to eat Chuck and Sarah arrived promptly at the airport and made their way through security where they met up with Casey and their security detail, which consisted of three federal agents who would be escorting Chuck on the private plane that Beckman had sent for him. They would ensure Chuck's safe arrival to D.C where he would be taken directly to a secure, top notch, secret training facility where General Beckman would be awaiting his arrival.

"Nice of you two to finally make it. I'm glad to see you took the extra time this morning to shower and change your clothes." Casey commented as Chuck and Sarah approached.

"Hahaha….Funny Casey. Glad to see you are your usual cheery self this morning." Chuck commented as the two came to stand directly in front of Casey.

"Yeah well we can't all be rays of sunshine like you Bartowski. These agents will be escorting you to D.C. Once you land you will immediately be taken to a secure facility where you will await further instruction. General Beckman will be meeting up with you. Plane leaves in 10 minutes."

"Great." Chuck sighed as he walked over to the nearby seats, tossed his duffel bag down on the floor and collapsed into the seat.

"Casey, why do you have to taunt him like that? He's about to leave his family, friends, everything that matters to him behind for God knows how long and you…you just…ugh!!… I don't even know what to say to you." Sarah shot him daggers before heading over to Chuck and taking the seat next to him.

Casey turned his attention back to the fellow agents that would be escorting Chuck and continued to go over details for the transfer with them.

Chuck appeared to be deep in thought as he stared off into space.

"What are you thinking?" Sarah asked, nudging his arm with hers, causing Chuck to snap back to reality.

"Huh?…Oh… I was just thinking, I wonder if they'll let me use my phone at all."

"Probably not Chuck…When a spy is in training they are cut off completely from the outside world…It's…it's actually quite a lonely time…Chuck…it's going to be hard…Training is intense…the things they put you through, it can really change a person you know."

Chuck smiled at her. "It wont change me Sarah, I wont let it."

"It's not that easy Chuck…You may not have a choice in the matter."

"Sarah?… Can I trust Beckman?…I'm not walking into a trap am I?"

Sarah swallowed hard. "I don't know Chuck….I just don't know anymore."

"I need to leave a message for Ellie before I board the plan." Chuck said as he pulled his cell phone from his back pocket and hit his speed dial to Ellie's cell. It rang three times before going to her voicemail.

"Hey sis, it's just me, I didn't really want to bother you on your honeymoon and all, but I wanted to let you know that I'm going to be going out of town for a while. I got this great job opportunity and I will be away on business for a while. I'm not really sure how long I will be gone, could be weeks, maybe months. I'll fill you in when I get back though. Hope you and Awesome are having a great time, Love you and I'll see you when I get back to town." Chuck hung up his phone and stared blankly at the screen briefly before tucking it back into his pocket.

"You okay?" Sarah asked.

"I just hate lying to her." he replied before turning his attention back to the blonde sitting next to him.

"I know, but technically you didn't really lie to her, you are going away on so called 'business'."

"Sarah?"

"Yeah?"

"Take care of them for me?"

"Of course. You don't have to worry about them." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"I know. I'm just…I'm really going to miss them."

Sarah looked around to make sure no one was watching them. When she was sure that there were no eyes on them, she reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Chuck turned to look at her and their eyes locked and they shared an intense look with one another. No words were needed, their eyes said it all.

"I wish I could kiss you right now." he leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"Chuck, you know we can't" she managed to get out. "At least not until you come back. As far as Casey and the other agents are concerned, I'm still your handler….That's why we said our goodbyes this morning before we got here, remember?" Sarah moved back creating some distance between them.

"I know." he replied with a sigh.

"Chuck…are you disappointed?…You know, that we didn't…I just… I didn't want our first time together to be us saying goodbye."

"Hey… I could never be disappointed with you." it was now his turn to give her the reassuring smile. "Sarah, as bittersweet as it was, last night, being with you…waking up with you in my arms…it was the best night of my life…I wouldn't trade it for anything…and I wouldn't change a thing." He gave her arm a nudge. "We're going to have our night and it will be incredible."

Sarah was about to respond when Casey yelled over to them. "Carmichael." Casey was careful to use Chuck's alias in front of the other agents. "Time to go." Sarah's breath caught in her throat and Chuck swallowed hard. This was it. He was leaving and he had no idea when he would be coming back. Chuck stood up, grabbing his duffel bag he slung it over his shoulder. Sarah stood up as well and they made their way over to Casey and the other agents.

"The plane is ready to board." Casey said as Chuck and Sarah approached.

"Great…So I guess when I get back." Chuck said as he slowly inched away from Sarah and Casey.

"Chuck." Casey stopped him and extended his hand to him catching Chuck off guard. Chuck accepted it and shared a firm handshake with the man in front of him. "Good luck, and in case I didn't say it before….Thanks for saving my life the other night." Casey lowered his voice so the other agents couldn't hear. "and in regards to the intersect, you did the right thing Chuck."

Chuck was surprised by Casey's words.

"Good luck." Casey said before breaking the handshake and taking a small step back.

Sarah had stood motionless trying to figure out what she was supposed to do, what she was supposed to say to him.

"Goodbye Sarah." Chuck said, turning his attention to her.

Sarah smiled as she leaned in and gave him a hug, like any friend would do.

"Good luck, come back soon." was all she could manage to get out.

Chuck's lips lingered near her ear just long enough for him to whisper the words. "I love you Sarah Walker." before breaking the hug. Chuck took one last look at his team, one last look at the women he loved before turning away. Escorted by Beckman's three agents, Chuck made his way to the plane.

Sarah stood motionless for a while, She wanted to cry, she wanted to yell to him "Don't go," but she couldn't, not with Casey by her side. Deep down she knew Chuck had to do this. He had to learn to control this computer inside his head. He needed to be prepared for what they would be facing and this was the only way.

Sarah moved towards the windows, looking out on the runway, she watched as Chuck's plane took flight. Her heart pounded in her chest and she felt an incredible pain.

Casey approached her from behind. "You okay Walker?" he asked, almost sympathetically.

"I'm fine." She replied coldly.

"You headed over to castle to look through those files? Your recruits are scheduled to arrive at 1400." Casey reminded her.

"Yeah. I'm just going to head home to shower and change first. I'll be there within the hour."

Casey couldn't help but notice Sarah's tone. It was cold and dry, lacking emotion. He knew she had feelings for Chuck and that this had to be incredibly hard for her. He watched her as she continued to stare out the window, watching as Chuck's plane disappeared from sight.

"Walker?" Casey called out to her once again.

"Huh?" He startled her, causing her to snap out of the trance she seemed to be in.

"You sure you're okay Walker?" He asked once again.

"I'm fine Casey, it's just…It's hard to say goodbye is all." and with that Sarah turned and walked away.

Casey let out a grunt. It was his knowing grunt. He knew Sarah was far from okay and that she would do her best to mask her true feelings, that was what she always did. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her. After all, he had first hand experience when it came to losing the one you love. His mind momentarily drifted to thoughts of Ilsa and he could feel the pain seep through his chest, The same pain he was sure both Sarah and Chuck were feeling at that very moment. Casey sighed, forcing the thoughts from his mind as he left the airport and headed for castle to await agent Walker's arrival and word from General Beckman.