A.N.: Seems I am continually apologizing for the amount of time it takes to get a chapter out. Unfortunately, real life takes precedence...wife, kids, dogs, job, in-laws (bleh). It is what it is, but I am going to say I am sorry anyway. So, here's chapter 5...a little slower...a little shorter but hopefully, still a good read. I am also switching back to a T. I'm not sure what I was thinking. I guess I am just unfamiliar with the territory and did not want to offend anyone.

Massive thanks to my beta, KittyGoddess415. It means a lot when someone takes time out of their busy life to help you with something.

As before, thanks for sticking with the story and please review. It makes my day.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck or anything else to which I might make a cultural reference.

They rode in silence.

Carmichael had not said anything and Sarah was still reeling from what had just happened. What has the Intersect done to him?

The incident in DC had been different. Chuck had not been in command of the Intersect then. But, now, he was supposed to be in control. But who was controlling whom? It was as if there was only the Intersect and Chuck was just a cover. A façade so the Intersect could operate in the real world.

"What was that all about?"

Carmichael's gaze never wavered from the road. "Saving that woman? Isn't that what I do? Save people?"

"No, I mean the man. Roughing up the civilian."

"Nothing the bastard didn't deserve. So, he spends the next week or two laid up in the bed. Maybe he'll think twice before he hits his wife and kids. Besides, he attacked me."

"Actually, you hit him first," Sarah said quietly.

"The back-hand? That was just a little behavior correction. Something to teach him not to hit," said Carmichael with a somewhat evil smile. "I think he'll remember it for awhile."

Ah, hell, might as well throw it out there. "You know what I think? I think you were about to kill him until his little girl intervened," said Sarah.

"Kill him?" Carmichael chuckled humorlessly. "Please, Sarah. I'm the Intersect. If I had wanted him dead, he would be dead."

Sarah turned her head to look out the window, mostly so he wouldn't see her sadness. I came here to find Chuck but it looks like I'm too late. Maybe I should just debrief and be on my way.

She was surprised at her own thoughts. No, damn it! That was not Chuck back there and I will not just be on my way. That was…I don't know who…Carmichael, the Intersect, whoever. The one thing I do know is I'm sticking by him and I'm going to bring Chuck Bartowski back into the light.

Carmichael unlocked the door and stepped through, pausing to disarm the alarm. He took his usual look around before allowing Sarah to enter.

"I'm going to put your bags in the guest bedroom," Carmichael said as he closed and locked the door. Sarah glanced around the spartan apartment as he moved past her.

What she saw broke her heart. Given their history, Sarah did not expect to see pictures of her, but surely, he would have had photos of Ellie and Devon. Instead, there were bare walls. Let's be honest. What would the Intersect need with pictures?

Sarah jumped when Carmichael spoke. "Sarah, are you okay? It looks like you blanked out for a second. Your head bothering you?"

Crap, he's a lot quieter than Chuck. "No, I-I'm fine. Just loving what you've done with the place," joked Sarah, trying to put the whole parking lot incident aside for the moment.

"Yes, well, I'm a busy guy. I haven't had time to decorate. Besides, it seems like such frivolous gesture with the world being what it is," said Carmichael.

"A frivolous gesture?" asked Sarah, incredulously. This from a guy who had a Tron poster on his wall?

"Come on, Sarah. We see the world for what it really is," answered Carmichael as he walked into the kitchen. "We do what we do so the rest of the world can have their illusion"

Carmichael reached into the cabinet and pulled out the bottle of Jack. "Would you like a drink? Sorry, J.D.'s all I have."

"Yeah…yeah, I will. I think I need one." Or two or three.

Carmichael handed Sarah her drink and gestured to the recliner as he sat on the floor. "Have a seat."

"Chuck, is this the only chair you have?" Sarah asked as she sat down.

"I'm hardly ever here and when I am, it's just me."

Sarah took a long pull on her drink and shook her head. "What happened, Chuck?" More like, what happened to Chuck?

Carmichael smiled grimly. He tapped his forehead. "This happened." And he added, "And, you happened."

Sarah just stared into her drink.

"Look, I'm sure Casey has given you the whole story of poor little Chuckie and his transformation into big, bad Carmichael, so why don't we just cut to the chase? Why are you here, Sarah?"

Carmichael looked away and while it was not the emotional response Sarah had hoped for, at least it was an emotion.

"Like I said, I came to see you. Right after I left, I realized I had made a mistake, leaving you."

Carmichael still would not make eye contact. "And like I told you, what's done is done. I forgive you. You can move on."

Sarah could not take it any longer. She got up and sat down beside Carmichael. Grabbing his face, she turned it towards her. "Chuck, that's just it. I don't want to move on. I want you."

Sarah leaned in and kissed Carmichael. Softly at first but then harder as she poured her heart and soul into the kiss, trying to communicate everything she had been feeling for the last three years.

No response.

She might as well have been kissing a statue. Breaking the kiss, she pulled back and looked into his face. There was no expression.

Carmichael sighed. "Look, Sarah, you'll always have a special place in my heart but I'm not that guy anymore. I do what I do for the greater good. This is what I am now."

He stood up and offered Sarah a hand to help her up. "Now, I'm going to go to bed and I suggest you do the same. We have to be in early for your debriefing. Good night."

Carmichael softly closed his bedroom door. He sat down on his bed and put his head in his hands. Damn it, she left me! She's the one who disappeared without a word. She can't just reappear and think things can be like they were…that I would be like I was. I'm different. Really different.

Of all the things he had done in his life, pushing Sarah away was the hardest but it was the best thing for everyone.

Some things just aren't meant to be.

Sarah stood in the living room staring into her now empty drink. None of this was going as she had hoped. He was different. Really different. The old Chuck certainly would not have done what she had seen him do tonight, but, hey, she was no saint.

Lord, what kind of hypocrite would I be to give up on Chuck because he damn near beat some low life to death? He's killed people, I've killed people but it's not like we do it for fun. Like me, he's done what he's had to do.

Sarah meant what she said about pulling Chuck back into the light and she knew exactly what she was going to do. Sarah smiled. Mr. Carmichael doesn't know it yet but he has just become a short timer.

Waltzing down the hall to the guest bedroom, Sarah hummed to herself. Time to get some sleep. I've got an early debriefing and then I have some phone calls to make.

After all, some things were just meant to be.

Casey was pleased. The debrief went well, no surprises. The captured agent had been talkative and his story fit perfectly with what Walker had just told them. Just some low life Fulcrum agents trying to get their foot in the door with the Ring by offering up a top CIA operative. Running across Sarah Walker was like having a golden ticket dropped in their lap. Who could blame them?

Leaning back in his chair, he thought about the debriefing. Walker had looked like the cat that swallowed the canary whereas Carmichael had just looked unsettled. Normally, around people other than Casey, he was ice…cold and hard. Casey couldn't put his finger on it but, today, Carmichael was just...off.

Casey smirked to himself. Maybe, Walker was already working the magic. Maybe, she could make this happen.

"Well, Carmichael, you two have a nice visit, last night?" asked Casey, innocently.

"Yeah, Casey, we had a nice visit. You know, showed each other pictures of the family, caught up on each other's careers. It was a regular college reunion," snapped Carmichael.

"Damn, ain't we touchy? What's wrong? Walker didn't have any peanut butter for your chocolate?

"Jesus, Casey, what is it with you and chocolate and peanut butter? Why don't you go get a Reese's peanut butter cup and just be done with it?" Carmichael started slamming files into his satchel.

Casey grinned despite himself. Not only was Carmichael irritated…Carmichael was pissed. He seldom got angry, especially for no discernable reason.

This is good. This is very good.

"Where is Walker anyway?" Casey felt the need for a cigar. Too bad he couldn't smoke in Camelot. Stupid regulations.

"I don't know. She walked up top. Said something about making some phone calls." Carmichael was still stuffing files into the satchel.

"Are you going to stuff the whole damn filing cabinet into that bag?"

Well, there're no missions for a few days. I thought I would get caught up on some paperwork." Carmichael was rubbing his forehead.

Casey looked casual. "I thought you would be babysitting Walker."

"Umm, she's going to hang around a day or so to visit. We'll probably go out to dinner or something before she leaves. You should go."

Casey smiled. "I wouldn't think of intruding on you two kids."

Carmichael looked flustered. "Casey, for once and for all, I do not have the time or the inclination for a love life much less with Agent Walker." He looked at his feet. "That ship sailed a long time ago."

Casey got up and slapped Carmichael on the shoulder as he passed. "Carmichael, I know it would surprise you to hear me say this but sometimes, a little romance is good for the soul."

He headed to the stairs but paused momentarily. "I couldn't go tonight anyway. I have a date."

Carmichael cocked an eyebrow. "You? A date? Bullshit. With who?"

"The lady Army recruiter by the Buy More. Hey, don't look at me like that. We have a lot in common." Casey said sheepishly. He turned and headed up the stairs, talking as he went.

"We won't be doing this forever, Carmichael. It would be nice to have someone to grow old with. Think about it."

Later, that night.

Fort Meade, Maryland

General Diane Beckman looked up from the file she was reading as Selene White walked through the door.

"Diane, I need a word."

The use of her first name irritated Beckman. She was a general, for God's sake!

"It's late."

"You're here, I'm here. What's late got to with it?

Beckman sighed and took a sip of her drink. "Make it quick, Director White.

White sat down and crossed her legs. "Did you know Agent Walker was out of deep cover?"

"No, I did not. Agent Walker ceased to be my concern when she left the Intersect team." Beckman answered irritably. "Don't tell me you drove all the way from Langley to tell me that."

"Oh no, there's more. As is customary with returning deep cover agents, she has been given her choice of assignments," White said pleasantly. "Agent Walker has requested LA."

Beckman looked back at the file in her hands. "No."

White leaned back into her chair a bit. "I'm letting you know as a courtesy, Diane. I'm not asking your permission."

"The Intersect team is mine and as such, I choose its members. And don't think for minute I've have forgotten about your little impromptu mission," Beckman said angrily.

"Diane, Diane." White shook her head. "I do apologize but time was of the essence and I couldn't get a hold of you. Honestly, a woman in your position should make yourself more available," White said sweetly. "And I have not forgotten that the Intersect team is yours, however, the substation is mine and as such, I can assign whoever I wish. As it so happens, the chief of station slot is open."

"This is a bad move, White."

"I don't think so, Diane. You know I have a special interest in Carmichael and I think Walker's presence will be good for him."

Beckman shook her head. "This is going to end badly."

White stood up to leave. "On the contrary, Diane, I think this will end quite happily for everyone concerned."

She smiled at Beckman. "Well, almost everyone."

Carmichael pushed through the front entrance of the non-descript building that housed CIA Substation Los Angeles. He was immediately greeted by Jennifer Lee, currently duty agent and the station's first line of defense.

"Good morning, Agent Carmichael," she said brightly.

Jennifer always seemed a bit bubbly for this line of work but she was an excellent agent and a crack shot.

"Good morning, Jennifer. Anything new today?"

"Well, as a matter of fact, there is. Our new chief of station is showing up this morning…"

Carmichael groaned to himself. A new chief of station was always a pain in the ass. Usually, it was some burnout just making time to retirement and they never seemed to understand that they were the boss in name only. Oh well, he would have an excellent understanding by lunchtime.

"…and get this! It's one of the CIA's top undercovers!"

Something about this was making Carmichael uncomfortable. "What?"

"Yeah! Sarah Walker! Can you believe it?" Suddenly, Jennifer's finger shot up to her earwig. "Oops, the surveillance guys said she just pulled in."

Jennifer got up and started straightening up, wanting to make a good impression. Sarah Walker. Wow!

Carmichael was confused. "I mean, why would Sarah…"

Jennifer looked up just in time to see Carmichael head back through the entrance. Hmph, I guess he wants to give her a personal escort. She is awfully pretty.

Carmichael walked out into the parking lot just as Sarah was halfway across. Sarah, what in the hell are you thinking? This is not going to work.

All of sudden, he felt his focus sharpen and that familiar all-powerful feeling wash over him as the Intersect came online. His hearing narrowed and isolated to a particular sound: a revving high performance engine and a squeal of tires.

Carmichael looked to his right just in time to see a Ford Mustang picking up speed and headed for Sarah. Oh, crap!

He switched his view back to Sarah. She wasn't seeing the car headed for her. Crap, crap, crap. Carmichael did not think he would have time to get to her. He screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Sarah!"