A/N: Hope this update finds everybody doing well. Wanted to get back to the basics a little bit in this chapter and touch base on our favorite couple. Please feel free to review. I always enjoy reading the reviews good or bad. Look forward to hearing from all of you soon. Also another big thanks to michaelfmx for his beta services on yet another chapter.

Smith's man pulled the trigger a put a tranq dart in Chuck's neck. Almost instantly Chuck began to feel the effects of the tranquilizer. As the effects of the dart took effect, he closed his eyes and hoped that everything he had set in motion would work.

Flashback: Three days prior to the mission.

Chuck sat at his computer going over all the information they had gathered about Mr. Smith and their own lives. He was looking for something…anything. Some shred of information that he could find to get the upper hand. His frustration began to build and he found himself spiraling. No matter how he looked at it or how he spun it, they had nothing. Everything led to another dead end or another question. He stood up from his workstation and slowly began to walk towards the stairs. "I just need some fresh air," he thought to himself. He knew he shouldn't be out alone, but right now he needed to get his head on straight. Everyone he cared about was in danger and they needed his A-game if they were going to get through this. He jotted down a quick note for the team letting them know where he was going, and grabbed the keys to Sarah's Lotus on the way out.

Chuck pulled up in front of the dream house. He just sat and stared at the little white house, with the white picket fence, and the red front door. He imagined all the good things that would happen here someday. However, in the face of the danger presented by Mr. Smith, he couldn't help but wonder when that day would be. Would he and Sarah ever get their happily ever after, or where they doomed to constantly repeat the last mission curse. In that moment Chuck made a decision. He was no longer going to let fate decide when his future began. Sarah deserved this house, she deserved a family, and most of all she deserved to be happy. Chuck grabbed his phone and dialed the realtor.

"Hi, I would like to make an offer on a property you are listing," Chuck said. "I am making a full cash offer for the asking price."

With the money from the Decker incident freed up and the sale of the Buy More, Chuck knew he could afford the house and still have money left over to keep Carmichael Industries afloat. The realtor let Chuck know that she would present the offer to her clients and would get back to him as soon as possible. Chuck hung up the phone and looked at the house again. He knew this was going to be his home and nothing was going to stop him from making it a reality. In this moment of clarity Chuck came to a realization. Much like with the Volkoff mission, it took Chuck hitting a crossroads to make a tough decision. While Sarah had been undercover Chuck had felt that he was slowly losing her. Now, with Smith, he could feel that he was slowly losing himself. This realization made him realize what he had to do. A plan had been jumping around in his brain for a while now. It was a risk, but it was now or never. If he was going to have the future that he and Sarah deserved, he was going to have to risk it all.

Chuck jumped back into the Lotus with a feeling of hope. It was the first time since all of this had started that he felt like he had a chance. He started the car knowing that the next part of mission would be critical. If the team agreed to his plan, it promised to be the riskiest mission they had ever carried out. But first he had to convince Sarah that this was the right thing to do, and the thought of telling her made him break out in a cold sweat. He took a deep breath and drove off to talk to his wife and, hopefully, get his future back.

Back at Castle, Chuck had spent most of the night debating how to lay his plan out to Sarah. He contemplated not telling her at all, but he knew, as far as his health was concerned, that wasn't going to be a wise idea. He was stuck in a chess match with Smith and the only way he was going to win was to plan several moves ahead. The game was already in motion and Smith's greatest advantage to date was the fact that he was calling all the shots. In order to flip this, he would have to be two steps ahead of Smith, as Smith was already one step ahead of him. As Chuck was about to approach Sarah his phone rang. "Great it's the realtor already calling me back. They must have rejected our offer," he thought to himself. "Hello," Chuck answered. "Really that is fantastic news. I will be over to sign the paperwork right away. Thank you so much for everything, and I hate to ask, but can you do me one little favor." The realtor was eager to help Chuck with his little request. Chuck hung up the phone. He figured this might help to soften the blow a little to Sarah when he told her his plan.

Sarah was in another room with the rest of the team working on a plan for the mission when Chuck came barging in.

"Hey guys, mind if I borrow Sarah for a moment?" Chuck asked.

"Whatever Bartowski, just keep your lady feeling to yourself," Casey exclaimed.

"What do you want Chuck?" Sarah asked.

"Just come with me, it's a surprise," Chuck said as he did his trademark eyebrow dance.

Chuck and Sarah pulled up in front of the dream house, and there was already a 'Sale Pending' sign in the yard. Chuck was glad that the realtor was able to beat them there and get the sale pending sign up in the yard. He figured it would add to the moment.

"Chuck, why are we here? Somebody has already bought the house." Sarah knew Chuck was up to something so she thought she would play along.

Chuck turned to look at Sarah as she walked up towards the door. He could imagine her carrying their children up the walkway to the house, or maybe returning from a run, or even coming home from a night on the town with him. Chuck saw the promise of everything they wanted and worked for over the last five years. It hadn't always been easy on them, that was the understatement of the century, but in this moment it was all worth it.

"Sarah, I know that with this entire Smith situation going on so many things have gotten put on the back burner. I don't want our lives to be on hold forever, so we bought the house." Chuck waited for a reaction from Sarah, but there was nothing. She was just looking at him. She slowly closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him with a kiss. Sarah broke the kiss and looked into Chuck's eyes.

"I kinda already figured that part out Chuck. I didn't figure you drove me all the way out here to show me that someone else bought our dream house," Sarah said with a smirk on her face.

Chuck had a slight look of defeat on his face. He was hoping for a bit more of a reaction to finally owning their dream home.

"Well, I guess I should have known I couldn't get one over on a spy," Chuck laughed.

Sarah quickly gave Chuck another passionate kiss.

"What was that for?" Chuck asked.

"I might have figured out the surprise on the way out here, but it is definitely the thought that counts. Chuck you never cease to amaze me. Even in the middle of a mission you put me first. What did I do to deserve such an amazing husband?" Sarah quickly gave Chuck another passionate kiss. Holding on a little longer this time.

"Kisses like that are definitely part of it," Chuck said as he tried to regain his breath.

"Chuck, it is amazing that you did all of this, but we should really be focusing on Smith right now. We don't know what he has planned and the mission is only a few days away," Sarah stressed.

"Sarah let's go inside where we can talk." Chuck looked around and guided Sarah to the door.

Once inside Chuck wrapped Sarah in his arms. He knew what he was about to tell her was going to go over like a lead balloon.

"Sarah about Smith, I have a plan but I don't think you are going to like it," Chuck explained.

Sarah looked at Chuck and could feel her stomach start to tighten. She knew if Chuck was starting a conversation off with that it couldn't be good.

"Ok then, what is your plan?" Sarah asked.

"I think that Smith is actually after the Intersect. He appeared to me first. The first threats he made were towards everyone that I cared about. He talked about how he had been following me since Bryce sent me the Intersect. They only way all of this lines up is if the Intersect is a big piece of the puzzle he and his group need. Think about it Sarah, Smith even went as far as to say that they know the Intersect only works in me. They want me, and I think we should let them have me," Chuck paused allowing his last words to totally sink in.

Sarah couldn't believe what she was hearing. Chuck wanted to give himself to Smith. What did he think, that the dream house would make this all ok? That somehow by giving Sarah the house she would just say ok to his crazy plan. How could he ever think that she would allow him to be taken by the enemy?

"Sarah I know what you're thinking," Chuck started to say before Sarah quickly interrupted him.

"Really Chuck, you know what I am thinking? Obviously you don't know me very well if you would ever think that I would let you turn yourself over to a madman like Smith. What did you think, that if you bought the house I would just be so happy with it that I wouldn't protest your crazy plan? I think Casey has had it right all these years calling you a moron. That has to be one of the dumbest, craziest, and downright worst ideas I have ever heard. Let's give the bad guy exactly what he wants. Here you go Smith, here is Chuck and the Intersect. Do whatever evil acts you want. I mean Chuck, what are you thinking?" Sarah was furious. How could Chuck ever think this was a good idea?

Chuck allowed Sarah to get everything out. He knew that interrupting her might have been the last thing he ever did on this planet. When Sarah was finished Chuck took a deep breath and just looked into her eyes. He hated what he was suggesting, and even more what it would put her through. He was tired of waiting for their future to happen and this was the only way he could think of to take his future back into his own hands.

"Sarah I know it's crazy, stupid, and a whole lot of other words. I didn't buy the house to make it all ok. I bought the house to show you that our future is now. I bought the house to show you that I am willing to do whatever it takes to have this with you. No other woman has ever meant even a fraction of what you mean to me. I would move Heaven and Earth for you, and that is what I am asking you to let me do now. Smith is always a move ahead. He knows what is going to happen next and how we will react to it. The only way to defeat him is to start doing things that he would never expect. Sarah I don't want to leave you. How could I ever want that, but to protect you I have to do this. Smith and his group won't stop until they have what they want, and what they want is me. I have to take them down from the inside. Like you told me when you went undercover into Volkoff industries. I am doing this for us. I am doing this for the real future that we are going to have. Please Sarah let me do this." Chuck knew what he was asking wasn't fair, but nothing about this situation was fair. He just hoped that Sarah would understand.

Sarah just looked at Chuck. She knew he was right. Smith was always ahead of them. They were up against an adversary that had been watching and studying them for years. She had been taught about this at the farm. If you ever have to go up against an agent that is trained the same way you were use that against them. She knew the best weapon they had against Smith was his familiarity with the team. When you feel like you know everything there is to know about a target that is when you relax, and when you relax that is when you make a mistake.

"Chuck going into Volkoff was different. I had your mother to help me navigate through that world. It took time doing odd missions before he even noticed me. Do you really think that you can waltz right in and expect they are going to hand you the keys to the Castle? They aren't going to trust you and you will be all alone," Sarah responded.

"Sarah I know this is a huge risk, but it is a risk I am definitely willing to take. They won't harm me, because they need me alive. I don't expect them to hand me the keys, but as long as you guys are still out there Smith is going to feel like he has leverage over me. He knows I would never do anything to put anyone I care about at risk. That is what I am hoping for. I am hoping he will be so convinced that I won't do anything that he won't see the rest of the plan coming. Sarah, I need you to be ok with this. If you are not ok with this I won't do it. I will come up with something else." Chuck just looked at Sarah and waited for any kind of response.

Sarah just stared at Chuck. Just weeks ago they had stood in this very room. Chuck wouldn't fight back, he vowed that he would never hurt her. She closed her eyes and for a split second, and she was pointing a gun at Chuck's head and was ready to pull the trigger. Her gut screamed no, that what this man was telling her was true, but she had a mission. Just as she was about to pull the trigger she saw the carving in the door frame, 'Chuck and Sarah.' She opened her eyes and she walked over to the carving again. "Chuck, I almost killed you right here in this very spot."

Chuck started to talk, but Sarah quickly shot him a glance that told him he'd better let her finish.

"Chuck, at the last second I saw this carving we had made, and I hesitated. I remembered making this carving. I remembered all the emotions that were tied up in that moment. Now, in this same spot, you are asking me to let you go. That night in this house still haunts me. I came so close to losing it all. I could have easily pulled that trigger. Heck, I could have killed Ellie earlier in the day. If just a couple things had gone a little bit differently we could have lost everything. When I got my memories back, I promised myself that I would never let anything happen to you or any other member of our family. What I almost did to you, to Ellie, that is unforgivable. I still have a hard time understanding how you and Ellie have forgiven me for that…I don't know if I could. So I don't know if I can let you go Chuck. Knowing how much I need you, and how close I came to losing you." A tear started to form in Sarah's eye. She had been bottling this up since the moment she decided to stay with Chuck. Her greatest fear had almost come true that night. Did Chuck realize how close it all came to crashing down? Did he realize how much he had changed Sarah in their time together?

"Sarah, Ellie and I forgave you because we love you. The same way you would have forgiven me had it been the other way. Quinn had manipulated you into believing what he needed you to believe. Yes, you almost killed me in this spot, but this spot also saved my life. After Quinn shot me and you ran out of this house, I thought I would never see you again. Then you told me you didn't feel it anymore, and I thought for sure that I had lost you forever. You came back into my life and I decided to fight. I decided that no matter what happened, I had to try, because I could never live with myself if I didn't. Sarah, nothing in this world means more to me than you and your happiness. I know what I am asking is crazy, dumb, and a huge risk. The only reason I am doing this is because I can't lose you. Sarah, you changed me in so many ways and I can't go back to the way things were before you. I am asking you to let me do this so I can give you everything you deserve." Chuck didn't know what else he could say.

Sarah contemplated what Chuck had just said. She thought about her time undercover with Volkoff. During that mission, she had to revert back to her wild card enforcer persona. Chuck didn't have that luxury. He was the exception to the rule. He had not only survived in this world but he had thrived. Chuck's existence in the spy world was an anomaly. It all started with and email that changed his life and his destiny. Sarah thought back to the beginning of all this. How she had fought for so long to keep her feelings to herself. Now, in this moment, she was glad she didn't have to do that anymore.

Sarah again closed the distance between them. She quickly wrapped him in her arms and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Right now she just wanted to be with her husband. She knew what they had to do, but right now she didn't want to think about it. She wanted this moment, in their new house, to not be about Smith, or missions. She wanted it to be about them and the future they both desperately wanted. While embraced in a passionate kiss, Sarah quickly began to tear at Chuck's shirt. Right now, she wanted nothing between them and nothing was going to stop that from happening.

Sometime later, Chuck and Sarah's clothes were scattered all over the place. They were catching their breath as they sat on the bare floor with their backs against the wall.

"Well, that was an unexpected surprise. Not that I'm complaining. Any time I end up naked with you is a good thing. What was that for?" Chuck asked.

"Really Chuck, we can't just lay here for a moment and enjoy our new home." Sarah responded.

"Sorry Sarah, I was just a little thrown off. One minute we are arguing and the next minute…well you know," Chuck replied.

Sarah still thought it was cute how modest Chuck could be sometimes. "Chuck, I didn't want the first thing we did in our new home to be an argument. I wanted it to be something special we could always look back on and have a fond memory of."

"Well I would say that was a great memory. I will always enjoy looking back on it." Chuck quickly moved out of the way of Sarah's incoming elbow.

"You know what I mean mister."

"There is something I need to tell you Chuck. What happened that night, with Quinn, still haunts me. I have nightmares almost every time I close my eyes. I am standing there pointing my gun at you, but this time I don't see the carving in time." Sarah hesitated as her emotions threatened to take over.

"You changed me. When I met you, I didn't care about anyone or anything. The World was just a giant mission. Then I met you and you flipped my world upside down. You gave me something to care about, someone to care about. I couldn't hide behind the mission anymore. When I lost my memories I reset back to my old ways. I was a weapon and Quinn pointed me at you and I attacked without a second thought. Then, Chuck, you saved me again. You showed me that there are things in this world worth fighting for. Chuck, you have saved me so many times. It has taken me a long time to feel like I deserved this life with you. I thought for so long that you deserved someone better than me. I have done horrible things, but you never held that against me. You saw things in me that I thought were long gone. That is one of the many reasons I love you. You see the best in people...and you have somehow managed to see the best in me. I strive, every day, to live up to what you see."

"Sarah, your nightmares our not only yours to bear, but mine as well. Don't shut me out. I am here for you no matter what. Sarah, I love you so much and you deserve so much more than you think you do. I strive every day to give you everything you deserve. Like you said, we are perfect for each other. We both have pasts, and they aren't pretty, but they led us to this point. Right now, I am asking you believe in me. I need you to trust me. I am going to continue to do whatever it takes to give you the future you deserve."

Chuck, I know your plan seems like a good idea, but how does turning yourself over to Smith help us out in anyway?" Sarah asked.

Chuck proceeded to explain every aspect of his plan to Sarah. He didn't want to leave out a single detail. He knew that the only chance he had of getting her on board was by leaving nothing out. When Chuck was finished detailing his plan, he just looked at Sarah.

"Chuck if we do this, and I stress if, we have to make sure that everything is ready. We have to cross every 't' and dot every 'i'. We can't miss a single detail. If this is going to work we have to be prepared," Sarah replied.

"So you're ok with this plan?" Chuck asked.

"I wouldn't say I am ok with the plan, but I agree that it is our best shot of taking Smith down. Chuck, I want this. Right now, this moment, I want it for our future. Lazy mornings just lying around the house. One day the pitter patter of little feet running around. The only way it works though, Chuck, is if we are together. I never imagined I would want any of this until the day I met you, and now I can't imagine not having it. The only way I can have it is with you. No one else Chuck. Do you understand? If we do this you have to promise me that you'll come back to me," Sarah pleaded.

"Sarah, nothing will keep me from getting back to you." Chuck leaned in and gave Sarah a passionate kiss.

Chuck and Sarah got dressed and headed back to the Lotus. They knew for the plan to work the whole team had to be onboard. This plan was going to have to be perfect and they only had a few days to get it all put together. "When we get back to Castle, gather everybody up in the secure room and we can begin to lay out the plan," Sarah said.

Chuck just looked at Sarah in agreement. They jumped into the Lotus and sped off. It was now or never for team Bartowski.

Present Day:

The tranquilizer was slowly beginning to wear off. Chuck was trying to regain his bearings when he heard Mr. Smith's voice. "Our boy is starting to wake up. Make sure he sleeps for the whole ride," Smith commanded.

Just then Chuck felt the sensation of another tranq dart piercing his skin. Before the effects of the dart could take hold, Chuck's mind jumped to the image of Sarah in their dream house just days earlier. "Remember what you are fighting for," he thought as the world around him faded to black

Team Bartowski exited the underground facility. They quickly surveyed their surroundings, ensuring that they were alone. "Grimes we are ready for extraction. We are just south of the facility," Casey said.

Moments later Morgan appeared around the corner in the transport van. "Hello everybody, our boy get picked up like we hoped?" Morgan asked.

"The package has been delivered," Verbanski responded.

As Sarah climbed into the vehicle, she couldn't help but allow a sense of fear to creep over her. The plan was going exactly the way they had intended it. The only thing she could do now was hope that Chuck was strong enough to do what needed to be done. The entire team would have to be ready because the plan was in full swing and there was no turning back.