A/N: Thank you again for the reads, reviews, follows, and favorites. I hope everyone is still enjoying this story and that this new chapter helps to push the story along. Can't wait to here from everybody. Thank you again for everything, and a big thanks to michaelfmx for his beta services. It really helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of. I apologize for the delay on this chapter had some life events come up. Hope to get the chapters out more regularly now. Again I don't own Chuck or any of its characters.

As Smith left Chuck's room he could practically feel the desperation in the air. The blow that he and Jill had just delivered to Chuck had done exactly what he had envisioned. It had knocked Chuck off his game. Now all he had to do was sit back and watch the fireworks. It is going to be magical watching Casey try to grunt his way out of this one, he thought. There was the off chance that Chuck didn't believe Smith and wouldn't even breach the subject with his team, but Smith knew his little nerd better than that. He knew that the thought would eat at Chuck like a parasite finally manifesting itself, giving him no choice but to confront his team. Smith approached the security monitors to see how Chuck was processing the information. He was a little surprised to see Chuck was nowhere to be found. Smith switched from one camera to camera another and still no Chuck. He was about to play back the feed when Chuck appeared in the hallway. He watched as Chuck paced the compound. There was so much confusion on his face. It was such an amazing sight.

Smith rather enjoyed the manipulation of the spy world. He reveled in the thought of bending someone to his will without them being the wiser. The sense of power that came from watching someone slowly and aimlessly falling down the rabbit hole, spiraling towards an outcome that was predestined for them, was amazing. Then watching as their world came crumbling down around them, a pure look of terror on their face as they finally realized what had happened, brought an adrenaline high that was he lived for. He just loved the power of it all. Team Bartowski was going to be another check in his victory column. He had manipulated them from the start. He had pushed and pulled wherever he needed to, and now he had the situation right where he needed it to be. The heart and soul of the Team was now second guessing everything. With just a little bit more of a push he might even be able to sway Chuck over to the dark side.

Smith had been basking in the glory of what he had done when the entire compound shook. He quickly looked at the monitors to see what was happening, but most showed nothing but fuzz. The facility then shook again. He went through shot after shot and nothing. What the hell was happening? Where they under attack. How was that even possible? No one knew where this facility was located. Could it be Chuck's team? No, they wouldn't risk Chuck's wellbeing would they? He began to hear radio chatter from his men. No one knew what was going on. Smith quickly grabbed a radio. "Initiate secure lockdown protocol and find the prisoner immediately," he yelled. Smith's men quickly responded and jumped into action.

"Anyone have eyes on the prisoner?" Smith was in a panic. This was not part of the plan. Smith had no idea what or who had caused the explosion. There seemed to be no follow up action. There was just silence. The only sound Smith could hear was from his own men.

"No eyes on the prisoner," Alpha team responded.

"Negative on the prisoner," Beta team replied.

"Last known location was the south hall," Smith yelled.

"Omega team in route to last verified location," was the response Smith received.

Smith just sat and waited. The feeds were all down. He had no eyes in the compound. Lack of control was not something he was use to. Controlling every variable and every movement was what Smith did. Now, trapped in the chaos, all he could do was wait for his team to do what he paid them for.

"Prisoner secure. Proceeding to extraction point," Omega team reported.

"Alpha team in route to secure leader."

"Beta team providing perimeter for extraction."

Smith took his first breath in what seemed like an eternity. Yes it had only been five minutes, but it seemed like it had taken so much longer than that. They had arrived at the extraction point and everyone was accounted for, even one Charles Bartowski. "So sorry about the fireworks, Chuck. I'm not really sure what happened. What do you say we board the helicopters and get the heck out of here? You know, before the whole place goes boom." Smith smiled at Chuck as they boarded the chopper.

Once they were a safe distance from the facility, Smith nodded to Alpha leader, who proceeded to remove a detonator from his vest. He pressed the button and the facility below was immediately engulfed in a ball of fire. Everything around them seemed to shake. "You see Chuck, we can't leave anything behind. Don't want people asking too many questions. Tomorrow, the headlines will read, 'Gas leak destroys abandoned facility just outside town.' When they look through the rubble they won't be able to find a thing. Oh, and by the way Chuck, enjoy your rest." Smith then put two tranq darts into Chuck's chest.

Now Smith was finally able to relax and evaluate the situation. What had happened? The initial blast hadn't caused much damage to the facility. It knocked out all the security feeds, and the second blast had caused just enough damage to add to the confusion. He looked around at his team and then focused his gaze on Chuck. He knew he had to have something to do with this, but what and how? He had no access to anything strong enough to cause that kind damage? Omega leader said they had located him in the hallway under some debris, right where Smith had last seen him. Blowing the facility wasn't what concerned Smith. That part was inevitable. Anytime they have a guest it was standard protocol to completely destroy everything. It was the timing. He hadn't initiated any of it. It wasn't his plan being acted out right now, it was someone else's. Smith wasn't sure about the why or how of what just happened, but he knew he'd better be prepared to elevate his game. Team Bartowski was coming at full speed and their sights were set on him.

As Jill exited the room, Chuck gathered himself and took a deep breath. He didn't have time to focus on what he had just been told. He knew it was an attempt to rattle him and right now that wasn't a luxury he could afford. It was now or never. Chuck quickly moved into the hall and headed directly to the janitors closet he had discovered earlier. Once inside, he took out all the chemicals he had prepared. He had flashed on the items inside the closet and knew exactly how to utilize them to his advantage. He carefully placed one in the ceiling directly under a piece of conduit. He knew it housed the security feeds. The few cameras that he had been able to locate fed directly into that conduit. The larger explosive he set in the center of the room. This explosive had a little bit more bite to it. Chuck had discovered multiple hidden charges in the facility. He had removed small pieces of C-4 that were attached to each charge. Smith's arrogance had played right into Chuck's plans. Smith had watched Chuck explore the facility. He knew that Chuck was looking into every nook and cranny. He just didn't care or even consider that Chuck would do anything other than look for Intel.

Chuck looked at his homemade contraptions and smiled. Channeled my inner MacGyver, he thought. Chuck started the reaction for the first explosion and then for the second, hoping they would go off within seconds of each other.

Chuck proceeded straight to the door he hoped housed the server room. Smith was wrong about what he was looking for in the ceiling earlier. He wasn't looking for a data line, he was looking at the fire sprinkler system. His days at the Buy More had taught him many things, but one important thing was that water and computers don't mix. He knew that the room without sprinkler lines leading into it most likely housed something electronic. Again, not dealing in exact science, he had to take an educated guess. This whole mission was an educated guess. Chuck began to pace in the hall. He knew Smith was watching and he wanted to give him the illusion that he was spiraling out of control.

Suddenly, the first explosion went off. Chuck used the mold from the security guards finger print to quickly gain access to the room. Once inside Chuck was pleasantly surprised to discover that he was alone and surrounded by computer equipment. He quickly took in his surrounding as the second explosion rocked the facility. He knew he needed to hurry. He made his way to the first server he could locate. He removed a tiny drive which he had hidden in the sole of his shoe. He had a modified version of the Omen virus loaded and ready to go. He quickly loaded it on the server. The virus would infect the system and hide its very existence. It was coding that the Piranha could be proud of. Once the file was loaded, he removed any sign of his presence and returned to the hallway.

Once out in the hall Chuck debated about trying to escape, but he knew he didn't have enough time. He could hear Smith's men rapidly approaching. He laid down on the floor and pulled as much debris on top of him as he could. Smith's men rounded the corner and located Chuck. "Prisoner secure. Proceeding to extraction point," Chuck heard the man speak into the radio. Another member of the team grabbed Chuck and began to drag him away from the room. They exited the building and he was surrounded by Smith, Jill and their men. Chuck continued to look away hoping to hide any signs of what had transpired. Once in the air he stared at the panel in front of him. He wasn't sure if what he did would do anything. Then the facility that they had just occupied was gone in a burst of flames. Chuck looked at Smith to hear the tail end of his monologue. Something about a gas leak. He wasn't sure what he was saying. All he was doing was hoping that the virus had enough time to do its job. Then maybe, just maybe, Team Bartowski would finally have the upper hand. "Oh and buy the way Chuck, enjoy your rest." Were the last words Chuck heard before he closed his eyes and allowed his thoughts to wonder to Sarah and their future together.

Team Bartowski had returned from Montana with not much to show for the trip. The compound was a giant warehouse that housed everything from weapons to art. They were able to get in and out without being noticed. The only good thing to come out of the op was the one server they found. It was kind of an odd setup. In an office they found a single server that fed a single computer. The odd part was that the computer the server fed was probably older than most of them. It reminded Sarah of the old computers that used to be in Stephen Bartowski's secret basement. The server had encryption unlike anything Sarah had seen before. It made her miss having Chuck around for all the computer stuff. Sarah sighed. Just the latest reminder of how much she missed Chuck. That was probably one part of her spy arsenal that she had let slip in her time in Burbank. All they could do was load the few programs that Chuck had left them and hope for the best.

"Any luck in Montana?" Morgan asked.

"Not much. We did get a pretty good idea where Smith must store most of his goods, but that's about it," Sarah replied.

"Hey moron, how about you come over and help Verbanski and I unload the gear?" Casey asked as he headed into the armory in Castle.

Morgan quickly got up from his seat and headed straight towards the armory. Sarah let out a slight chuckle. The friendship those two shared would never cease to amaze her. No matter what Casey would say, she knew that Morgan Grimes was now considered a friend. Sarah turned to the computer to begin cataloging what they had found on their recon mission when she noticed a flashing red dot on the monitor in front of her.

"Morgan, when did this light come on?" Sarah asked.

"Oh, that light? I would say about thirty minutes before you got here. I had no idea what it meant so I didn't touch anything," Morgan replied.

Sarah sat down in front of the monitor and clicked on the corresponding alarm. The smile that had been on Sarah's face was quickly replaced with a look of desperation. She turned and sprinted up the stairs. Morgan noticed the change in Sarah's demeanor and was about ready to ask her what had happened, but before he could get a word out she was gone.

Morgan approached the monitor. "Hey Casey! You might want to come take a look at this," Morgan yelled as he turned towards the armory. Behind him on the monitor where the words: Alarm Echo Park master bedroom.

Underneath the alarm was an image of Chuck laying on their bed.

Sarah was driving at breakneck speed. Right now, all her mind could think about was Chuck. She had no idea of his current state. He could just be knocked out, or injured, or maybe even worse. "No," Sarah yelled at herself, pushing those thoughts out of her mind. Chuck was fine. She thought back to her first days in Burbank. She remembered how quickly she had become compromised. She tried so hard to keep Chuck at arm's length. She used everything in her arsenal to try to keep their relationship professional, but even before their first date was over, she had already lost that battle. Now, all she could think about was making sure he was okay. Right now, the future they both deserved was the only thought she was allowing to fill her mind. As she came to a screeching stop just outside their apartment, she quickly exited the Lotus. She barged into their apartment with her gun at the ready. "Chuck…..Chuck….Chuck…..Are you okay?" Sarah yelled as she entered their bedroom. There was no response and she sat directly next to him, taking his hands in hers.

"Chuck, I need you to wake up. Please wake up Chuck," Sarah pleaded, tears starting to form in her eyes.

As Chuck started to come to, he slowly became aware of regaining access to his extremities. He could hear something faint, something in the distance. The harder he tried to hear it, the more he could swear it was Sarah. Then he felt someone squeezing his hand. He was now gaining control of his eyes again. With all the strength he could muster, he began to slowly open his eyes. The sight in front of him was beautiful, but also cruel. He saw his Sarah directly in front of him, but he knew his mind had to be playing a horrible trick on him. He was probably buried in some bunker with Jill and Smith. He knew it had to be a dream, but he wasn't ready to wake up. Just then he saw an even more beautiful sight as Sarah graced him with her amazing smile. She then took his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. She felt like his Sarah, she smelled like her, and she even tasted like her. It was the most realistic dream he had ever experienced. As they broke their embrace, Chuck couldn't help but smile. "I know this is a dream, but I am not going to complain," Chuck said.

Sarah reached back and gave Chuck a quick punch to the shoulder. "Ouch, what was that for?" Chuck screeched.

"That was to show you that this isn't a dream," Sarah said as she gave Chuck another passionate kiss.

Chuck looked around and he was starting to realize exactly where he was. "That's my computer, and my clock, and there's my Tron poster. Which means I'm in our room, and that means that you're my wife," Chuck said with the biggest smile Sarah had ever seen.

Sarah knew he hadn't really been gone all that long, but when your husband is in the grasp of a madman, time tends to drag painfully slowly. "Yes Chuck, I am your wife, and if you ever leave me like that again I will be your worst nightmare," Sarah said with a little hint of a smile.

All Chuck could do was embrace Sarah and kiss her over and over again. "Sarah, I'm so sorry. I missed you so much. You are all I thought about," Chuck said.

"Glad to know you were worried about us as well," Morgan stated.

Chuck and Sarah turned to see Casey and Morgan standing in the door. "We saw you on the monitor and wanted to make sure Smith hadn't done anything stupid. You know, go off hurting you and piss your wife off that is," Casey replied, hiding the fact that he was also worried about Chuck. "Let's say we give these two love birds a moment to themselves."

"Thanks Casey, but don't go too far, we need to talk," Chuck replied. Chuck knew he needed to talk to his team, but right now all he wanted to do was embrace his wife.

Casey gave Chuck a questioning gaze, but he knew it was better to let these two have their space or he was going to see more of Bartowski then he would ever be able to forget. Morgan and Casey returned to the courtyard and stopped by the apartment to check in with Alex.

Chuck and Sarah were together again, and all the couple could do was lose themselves in each other's gaze. They didn't waste time and energy on words, but instead allowed their bodies to tell each other what their hearts so desperately needed to profess. The 'I miss you', 'I love you', 'I need you' and every other emotion they were feeling went unsaid. Instead, those emotions were conveyed by their hands, slowly exploring every inch of each other's bodies.

Sometime later, Sarah and Chuck lay in each other's embrace, trying to catch their breath. With the heat of passion beginning to subdue, it was time for their words to take over.

"Sarah, I missed you so much. I don't ever want to be away from you like that again. I know I had to do it, but when I am away from you I am lost." Chuck pleaded.

"I'm glad we're on the same page about one thing. Never again. You aren't going with a madman again without me. We are in this together no matter what," Sarah added.

"Agreed," Chuck responded.

Chuck just looked at Sarah. He knew he had to ask. The information that Smith and Jill had given him was eating at him. He hated to do it now, but time was not something that was on his side.

"Sarah, I think we need to talk," Chuck said.

Sarah just looked at Chuck. She knew this couldn't be good, but no matter what, they weren't going to let whatever it was break them.

Casey walked into the living room of Casa Bartowski. The team was finally back together and they could hopefully start working on their plans for Smith. Something was troubling Casey. The look on Chuck's face when he had told Casey they needed to talk put him on alert. Just then he was joined by both Chuck and Sarah. "Glad to see you are okay. Hopefully Smith didn't rough you up to much," Casey commented.

Chuck just looked at him. There was not the usual innocence in his glare, it was more serious and direct. Chuck had a purpose and Casey figured he was about to find out what it was.

"Casey, do you know anything about a termination order put out against me?" Chuck asked.

All Casey could do was swallow the lump that had just formed in his throat. That day still haunted him. He fought with the powers that be to cancel the order. That Chuck had served his country with honor, but they wouldn't have it. They threatened to have someone else carryout the order. Casey knew Chuck deserved the best, and that was what he was. Casey flashed back to that day, staring at Chuck down the barrel of a gun. It represented everything wrong with the spy world. On that day, Casey had not only betrayed his team, but he had also betrayed his country. He almost ended the life of an innocent citizen of the United States of America. Chuck hadn't asked for any of what had happened to him, but in spite of that he had served admirably. When that service was done, the powers that be were prepared to throw him out with the garbage. Casey had run through that moment in his mind many times since that dreadful day. Truth be told he wasn't sure if he would have even been able to go through with it. He had waited for Sarah's date with Chuck. A part of him wanted her to catch him and save Chuck. He knew Sarah was compromised and she would have done anything to save him. They might not have had much of a life on the run, but at least they would have been together. That was at least what Casey had tried to convince himself of at the time. Now, of all times, this night was finally coming back to bite Casey in the ass. He could lie to Chuck and to Sarah, but he didn't want to. He deserved whatever reaction he got. He hadn't fought hard enough to save Chuck, and now it was time to pay the piper.

"Chuck, I'm not going to lie to you right now, but I need you to believe me when I say that I wouldn't have gone through with it. I've replayed that night in my head over and over. It was the worst night of my career. I know I don't deserve it, but I hope that someday you and Sarah can forgive me." Casey stared at Chuck. He waited for some kind of reaction, but there was nothing. Chuck just stared at him with a look that Casey hadn't seen before. It was like something had washed over Chuck. He wasn't the same happy go lucky nerd. He was now Charles Carmichael, heartless spy.

"Say something. Hit me. Anything, don't just stand there. I get it Chuck, you're angry. You don't know if you can trust me anymore, but I promise you not a day goes by that I don't regret that evening. I don't know what I would have done had the Intersect not blown up. I….." Casey wasn't able to get the next words out as Sarah's foot landed swiftly against his right cheek.

"How could you Casey? You almost killed the man I love. Then, you make matters worse by not even telling me! Me, your partner. I could have protected Chuck from another order. I could have hidden him away from everything, but no, you didn't even trust me enough to tell me." Sarah's anger was at a tipping point. She wanted to continue to attach Casey until he was beaten and bloodied. Just as she was about to strike again, a tranq dart pierced Casey's neck. Sarah turned to see Chuck pointing the gun at Casey.

"Chuck, it's ok. I'm right here," Sarah said as she closed the distance between them.

Chuck still had yet to say a word. His eyes had glassed over and all the emotion that was there earlier had been replaced with a look of emptiness. Chuck just stared at Sarah. No patented Bartowski smile, or eye brow dance. Just a cold, calculated stare that had frozen Sarah where she stood. "Chuck, what is it?" Sarah asked.

"Did you know?" Chuck finally asked.

"Chuck. You know I didn't know. Casey said I didn't know. I would have never let that happen. Chuck, you have to believe me that I knew nothing about the order." Sarah was on the verge of panic. She suddenly felt like she was not looking at her husband anymore. The husband she had fought so hard to get back. She was looking at someone different. Someone she had hoped she would never see. In front of her now was her greatest fear. Had the spy life finally striped everything away from Chuck? He had been through so much, and now the betrayal of one of his greatest friends would serve as the tipping point into darkness.

"Sarah. The government tried to have me killed, and why? Because I was an inconvenience. Because I knew too much. I didn't ask for the Intersect. I didn't ask to be thrown into this life. How could they so easily decide that I was expendable? Jill was right. Everything I think I know about what I am fighting for is wrong. The CIA, NSA, and whatever other groups you want to name, they are exactly the same as Smith. All they care about is power. Sarah, I want a normal life, and I want it with you. I thought doing the right thing and bringing men like Smith to justice was what the Intersect was for, but now I am not so sure." Chuck waited for Sarah to respond.

"Chuck, I'm beyond angry to with what the Government has done, but right now we can't focus on that. Smith is the bad guy in all of this. We have to focus our attention on him, and we are going to need Casey for this." Sarah pleaded.

Chuck turned on Sarah with an intensity that she had never seen before. It scared her, and she never got scared. "You really think Smith is the bad guy? What has he done that's any different from what our own Government would do? All we are to them are pawns on a chess board. Fighting down in the trenches and easily sacrificed so the King and Queen can get what they need. Sarah, I don't know what to think, but right now I need to be alone," Chuck said.

"Chuck we're in this together. We can't start unraveling at the seams now. That's what Smith wants," Sarah argued.

"Sarah, get Morgan and take Casey to Castle. Right now I don't care what Smith wants, or the Government. All I know is I have to do what's best for us."

Chuck started back towards the bedroom. Sarah wanted to stop him, but she knew he needed his space right now. She just hoped the damage Smith had caused wasn't going to be the death of Team Bartowski.

Chuck sat at the end of his bed staring at a picture from their wedding. In the picture he, Casey, and Sarah all stood in a row. Just then Chuck heard a ringing coming from his jacket. On the screen was a picture of Smith. "What do you want Smith?" Chuck yelled into the phone.

"Oh Chuck, don't go taking you little problem out on me. Hope you don't mind but I eaves-dropped on your little conversation, bugged your phone. So sorry that you had to find out the truth that way, but better to know now than never know at all. It goes to show you that they only person you can trust in this world is yourself." Smith let out a chuckle. He was really enjoying himself.

"Can it Smith, you are all the same. The Government, you, or whoever. You all manipulate everyone to gain what you want. I'm tired of the manipulation. I'm tired of it all. Here is the deal Smith. Whatever mission you have planned, I will do. Then Sarah and I disappear forever. I want nothing to do with the spy life any more. It's your one chance offer, and before you go threating my family, don't. If anything happens to any of them I will personally hunt your organization down one by one and kill every last one of you. So Smith, you have an offer on the table. One mission or you never find me again." Chuck replied.

"I must say Chuck, I like the new and improved you. Brooding, threatening, and maybe even a little scary. I'll tell you what, you complete this upcoming mission for me and I'll let you go. My counter is you have to do exactly as I say. No wiggle room because you gain your morals back. This mission will be done exactly the way I want it no questions asked. Do we have a deal Chuck?" Smith waited for a reply.

"We have a deal," Chuck answered as he hung up the phone. Chuck stood up and slowly exited the apartment. As he walked by the fountain he dropped Smith's phone in the water. Chuck knew there was no turning back now. He had a mission to complete. Chuck took a deep breath and hoped that Smith truly believed the show he and his team had just put on, because everything depended on it.