Author's Note: Thanks to Bill and Tshadow for the beta. All new errors are my own.

TWOP readers: The fanfic writers are now meeting on the forums at this website.

Disclaimer: I still do not own anything... except my computer and my two pugs.

Chapter 10: Attachments

Bride's Dressing Room

Pasadena, California

Devon looked incredulously at Casey and his fiancé as they calmly told him that Sarah had been declared dead when she had made it through surgery. It didn't make sense to the straightforward doctor.

Suddenly a thought occurred to Devon. He grabbed Ellie's arm and asked, "Did you deceive Chuck into thinking that Sarah was dead?"

Casey shook his head in disgust. "No, dumb ass. As if Sarah Walker would allow that. Bad guys who will remain nameless for this conversation were after Chuck and Sarah had been recognized. Sarah's cover identity couldn't be allowed to live."

Devon looked imploringly at Ellie who seemed to have shrunk at his question. He turned towards her and rubbed his thumb against her wrist. "I'm sorry I accused you of deceiving Chuck. It's just that you said you felt guilty and I jumped to conclusions."

Ellie looked sadly at Devon. "I suppose it makes sense. At the time I didn't like Sarah. I was still upset because she had threatened your life," explained Ellie as she squeezed Devon's hand.

Devon face turned to puzzlement. He looked incredulously at Ellie and then at Casey. "Why would Sarah threaten me?"

Ellie shrugged helplessly and pulled her arm from his grasp. She went to the window and looked out pensively.

"Sarah told me that she and Casey were government agents assigned to protect Chuck. We were obviously in danger, but I didn't believe I could trust her. I didn't follow orders and put all our lives in jeopardy. She forced me to comply by threatening your life."

Devon walked over to Ellie and tried to comfort her. "Sarah wouldn't have hurt me. She couldn't hurt anyone. Besides, I have a black belt. You know me Ellie…I can protect myself."

Casey coughed loudly in attempt to stifle his amusement. Ellie turned to Devon and smiled at him.

"During the first few days of my disappearance, I saw Sarah kill numerous men in cold blood. They were military trained combat men. Sarah's amazing actually. You need to understand Devon that Sarah was a government trained assassin sent to protect Chuck. She was capable of …"

Casey interrupted Ellie. With a warning tone in his voice, Casey replied, "Let's just agree that Sarah is a highly capable agent who was intent on assuring Chuck's safety."

The NSA agent gave Ellie a warning look. The young doctor didn't need to tell Devon about Sarah's threats or the number of Fulcrum agents that she had killed. Casey still had a duty to protect some secrets.

Ellie grimaced when she saw Casey's annoyed look. She sighed in resignation, but continued her explanation. "Bad men kept coming after us because of Chuck. Sarah and the injured Casey kept being forced to fight. I owe my life to Sarah and Casey. They saved me. She saved me."

Ellie turned her back on the men and returned to looking out the window aimlessly. She regretted so much.

"I hated Sarah and even Casey for the situation, but I realized that Chuck needed them for protection. Everything we knew about Chuck and Sarah was for show. I wasn't sure what my brother felt for Sarah," sighed Ellie.

Ellie spun around quickly and added, "But then I saw how Chuck treated her. I realized that his feelings weren't just a cover. He had truly fallen for Sarah. I hated that. I thought it was one sided. I thought Sarah was using his feelings to manipulate him."

She looked imploringly at Devon and Casey. She wanted to make them understand. "For awhile…I would have done anything to get Chuck away from Sarah."

Devon stared at the broken figure in front of the window. "No one would have blamed you if you tried to break them apart. I mean Chuck in love with an assassin. That's a little hard to accept," remarked Devon cautiously.

Ellie's eyes darted to Devon. She shook her head negatively. "You misunderstand. I wasn't happy about their relationship. But there were bigger things than me trying to break them apart."

Devon's eyebrows furled in puzzlement. "I don't understand."

Casey put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Chuck was still an important government asset who was injured. The government needed him to function as The Intersect again as soon as possible."

"And Sarah?" asked Devon, suddenly alarmed.

The NSA agent smirked. "Well she was just an injured agent. She was dispensable."

Devon's eyes grew large in alarm. "Did they…. kill her," asked Devon in exasperation.

Conference Room, Robert Bush Naval Hospital, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA

Ellie and Casey stood in front of the video screen talking to General Beckman and Director Graham. She was nervous and intimidated by the authority emanating from the figures on the screen. She also noted how deferential Casey was being to the General and the Director. She recognized that these people wielded significant power.

"So Dr. Bartowski do you think that you can provide primary medical care to your brother? That is, if you are allowed to video consult with specialists who are more familiar with his other abilities?" inquired General Beckman.

Ellie gulped. She was shocked that the government would want to entrust her with Chuck's care; since he seemed to be so important to them.

"Of course I can, General. I have taken care of Chuck my entire life. But I have to ask…. why would you entrust me as an intermediary? Wouldn't it be better for the specialists to examine Chuck directly," inquired Ellie warily.

Beckman's eyes narrowed as she considered the young doctor. She recognized that the doctor was astute. "In normal circumstance you would be correct. But Chuck's security is an issue. You have already seen what organizations will do to capture him. We have had several security lapses with medical personnel assigned to examine Chuck already. The Monterey incident is a prime example."

Ellie flinched upon hearing the general reference to what had happened at The Institute. The general noted her reaction and continued more confidently, "It is best to only allow medical personnel near him that can be trusted to hide his identity Dr. Bartowski. We assume that you can be trusted."

Ellie responded instantly. "Of course I can. I would protect Chuck with my life," replied Ellie.

General Beckman's eyed Ellie for a long moment. "Let us hope that it doesn't come to that," noted the General in an ominous tone.

Seeming satisfied with her conversation with Ellie, the general turned to Casey.

"We have sent a Lear Jet to transport you and the Bartowskis to your new safe house. I am sending you the details now."

Casey nodded when he saw the secured email arrive on his laptop. "I just received it. What identities shall they be using?"

"Ellie will now be Eleanor Carmichael, the sister to Charles Carmichael," replied Director Graham.

"…and Agent Walker's new identity?" asked Casey cautiously.

Director Graham grimaced and interrupted the general before she could reply.

"Walker has done a good job. But she will be rolled off this assignment so that she can recuperate. Her assignment with the Intersect…er…Chuck is over."

Ellie's eyes grew wide and she looked at Casey and then back to the screen. She saw that Casey's body had tensed and his hands clenched into fists.

"Chuck has a strong attachment to Agent Walker. Her presence would likely help in his recovery," explained Casey warily. Ellie noted that there seemed to be some type of undercurrent that she didn't understand.

General Beckman replied tersely, "Agent Walker has been severely injured. She would add considerable complication to the logistics of moving Chuck. While we are aware of Chuck's attachment to her, our first priority is his security. We need you, Agent Casey, to focus on Chuck safety and not towards other personnel assigned to this mission."

Ellie watched as Graham gave the general an exasperated look, but then he schooled his reaction. The director turned towards Casey and explained, "Agent Walker will be more comfortable if she recovers at home."

Casey noted that the general and director seemed to have had differing opinions on the matter. But it seemed that the general had won. Walker's status on this assignment had already been decided.

The NSA agent knew there was no reason to continue this conversation. After all, orders were orders. Casey nodded his understanding, "Yes Ma'am."

Hospital Room, Robert Bush Naval Hospital, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA

Sarah awoke to a bright light and a scratchy throat. Her head felt like cotton and she struggled to right her senses. She heard a faint noise to her right and she shifted her head to investigate. She saw the top of a brown curly mop of hair leaning against her hospital bed. Her heart smiled at the sight of Chuck.

Chuck was half sitting in a chair at the side of her bed. He had propped his torso against her bed and had laid his head on the top of her mattress facing away from her. The noise she heard was Chuck gently snoring as he slept in the awkward position.

Sarah felt incredibly tired but the sight of him called to her. She needed to touch him; to make sure that he was real. She reached out and slowly drew her hand to his head. She lightly ran her fingers through his mop of hair. It made her lips upturn slightly as she felt the tendrils of his hair slide between her fingers. Her heart twitched as she felt his head lean automatically into her touch as he slept.

"Ch…Chu..ck…" whispered Sarah with a weak voice. But he didn't stir. With a bit more strength, Sarah called to him again and gently pulled upon his hair.

Chuck awoke sleepily. He took a deep breath and lifted up his head, stretching his neck and shoulders. He opened his eyes and gazed aimlessly around him. His eye sight still only allowed him to see general colors and shapes. He was about to sigh in frustration when he saw movement in front of him as Sarah's arm moved.

"Sarah?" asked Chuck with sudden excitement.

"Chu...ck," croaked Sarah again with difficulty.

Chuck grabbed the arm that had been moving and stood up quickly. He turned towards her. He could see the outline of her face as she laid upon the bed.

"Oh my god Sarah, I've been so worried about you. When you lost consciousness in the helicopter…I thought…I thought…Oh my god, I am so grateful that you're awake," cried Chuck as he bent down and kissed her hand.

"Water," cried Sarah with a scratchy voice.

Chuck immediately stood up. "I'm probably not the one that should do this for you," replied Chuck as he started grasping out with his hands towards the table behind him. He found the pitcher of water and a plastic glass by rapidly feeling the objects on the table. With difficulty he filled her cup and carefully turned it towards her with a straw.

Sarah watched with wide eyes as Chuck offered her the cup. She realized that his movements were like those of a blind man. Sarah immediately wanted to ask him all kinds of questions, but knew that her throat was too dry.

With urgency, Sarah grabbed the straw from one of his hands and placed it in the cup. She dragged his other arm towards her and held his hand as she drank the soothing water.

After she had washed away the scratchy dryness in her throat, Sarah turned towards Chuck and asked, "What's wrong with your eyesight?"

Chuck shrugged and gave her a slight smile. "Ellie says that it's nothing to worry about. It sometimes happens to patients with head trauma," explained Chuck as he turned away from her and carefully placed the cup on the table. He turned back towards her and gave Sarah a bright smile. "It's your health that we all are worried about, Miss Walker." He reached out and fumbled along the mattress until he found her hand. He gently squeezed it.

Sarah gazed up at Chuck with love and concern. She was so relieved that he was here with her but at the same time she was alarmed by his eyesight. She didn't know what to say. Looking up at him, she did the only thing that she could think of.

She reached up to his shirt and pulled him down towards her. Chuck allowed her to pull him down until his face was close to hers. Looking into his face lovingly, Sarah commanded, "Kiss me."

Chuck's lopsided smile disappeared and he reached out to her face. He cupped her chin and leaned in and brushed his lips over hers gently.

After a long but gentle kiss, Chuck started to pull away from Sarah. But she was not satisfied with his chaste kiss. She caught his lower lip with her teeth to stop him from moving away. She reached up and grabbed his collar and pulled him closer to her and hungrily kissed him.

Chuck was thrown off balance by her aggression and had to plant his hands on both sides of her head to regain his footing. He chuckled before allowing himself to be swept into Sarah's deeper kiss.

Their kiss spoke volumes. Sarah cupped his chin with her hands and they kissed feverously. They communicated their worry about each other through their kiss.

They were both so consumed by their need for each other that neither heard the door to Sarah's hospital room open. It took several seconds for either of them to become aware of the repeated coughs that were coming from the end of her bed.

Finally Casey growled, "Will you two give it up already?"

Chuck tried to immediately pull away from her, but Sarah held her embrace. She needed to warn him about what was about to occur. Sarah looked pleadingly into his eyes but saw the blankness within them. She sighed realizing that she was not going to be able to silently communicate with him. She released her hold upon him.

Chuck pulled out of Sarah's arms and stood up straight and looked warily at the visitors at the end of Sarah's bed. He could only see the rough shapes of Casey and his sister but felt uneasy. Sarah sensed Chuck's discomfort and grabbed his hand and squeezed it encouragingly.

"Walker you must be feeling better if you can play kissey face with your boy toy," barked Casey harshly.

Chuck's face darkened with the need to protect Sarah. Chuck was about to retort angrily when Ellie interjected in an attempt to calm the rapidly escalating situation.

"Sarah, how do you feel?" The doctor moved to the opposite side of the Sarah's bed and grabbed her wrist to check her vitals. The tension in the room immediately dissipated as they all focused upon Sarah's condition.

"Sore. But I'm doing okay," replied Sarah cautiously. She noticed that Ellie and Casey exchanged glances. Sarah recognized that their silent communication was not a good sign.

"Where are we?" inquired Sarah warily.

Chuck replied automatically. "We're at a naval hospital at Twenty-Nine Palms. We had to emergency land the helicopter because your condition was critical, "explained Chuck. "But you are okay now, right Ellie?"

Ellie pursed her lips and released Sarah's arm. "Yes, Sarah will eventually make a full recovery. But you will be weak for a long time," explained Ellie sheepishly.

Sarah looked to Casey and then at Ellie. Her partner wore a poker face but she could clearly see the guilty look upon the young doctor's face. Sarah needed to talk to Casey privately.

"Chuck, I'm starving. Do you think you could find a nurse down the hall and arrange for someone to bring me something to eat," inquired Sarah.

Chuck turned towards Sarah and smiled broadly at her. "I would do anything for you."

Ellie offered to help Chuck find the nurse. The young doctor knew that the agents needed to talk privately and guessed that Sarah had intentionally sent Chuck out of the room.

Once the Bartowski siblings had safely left the room, Sarah allowed herself to look tiredly at Casey.

"I'm not doing that badly, Casey. I'm sure I will be able to get out of bed in a day," replied Sarah with an almost a pleading tone in her voice.

Casey grunted sarcastically. "Get real Walker. You almost died. You'll be lucky to be out of bed in a week. You are going to be weak for a long time. Your chest is one big pin cushion."

Sarah gulped as she recognized the ramifications. She suddenly felt very afraid. She leaned her head back into her pillow and turned her head as a lone tear fell down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away.

"Casey, I swear I will walk down the hall tomorrow…."

Casey interjected forcefully, "Walker, it's not my call. Do you really think I want to have a despondent Bartowski on my hands?" seethed Casey angrily.

Sarah saw that Casey was not happy with the situation. Fear gripped her heart. Her partner had already received the order that terrified her.

"Did…did they…"

"Yes Walker, you are being sent home to recover."

Sarah's eyes widened in anguish and they quickly pooled with tears. Her time with Chuck was officially at an end. She felt a sudden swell of desperation.

"Let me talk to them Casey. I can make them understand that he needs me…."

Casey slumped his shoulders in resignation. "You think I didn't try to explain that Chuck needs you? They just don't care about Chuck the person. They are only focused on getting The Intersect to safety."

Sarah shook her head refusing to accept that Chuck was being taken from her. They had fought too hard; given too much to have it end this way.

"Chuck needs me…and I need him. You know this Casey. Please don't let them take him from me," cried Sarah with tears openly falling down her face.

"Please Casey you have to help us."