Episode 3x09
A/N I have no idea why the previous chapter uploaded in italics – the original and doc manager were fine. I blame Shaw HAHA. Sorry if it made it difficult to read, let's hope it doesn't happen with this one.
I had to go totally AU here. Once again, more Sarah/Shaw aka gag-moments than Charah moments. I couldn't stomach watching the whole thing again, so where I go totally of episode, just bear with me. That's what AU is for, isn't it?
Thank you for all the reviews, it's the only thing making it worthwhile to watch these episodes again. I don't own Chuck. At this point, I don't want to.
Sarah tried accessing Castle again. Nothing. Damn it! Chuck was down there with heaven knows how many ring agents and he couldn't flash. She clung to the hope that he was okay. He had to be. All she needed to do was figure out a way in and save him. She hurried back into the Orange Orange. Maybe Shaw had better luck. He didn't. But he had a plan B.
"Castle has a self-destruct programme built into it in case of catastrophic events like this." Shaw reached for his cell phone. "I'm calling Langley and activating it."
Sarah was shocked that he'd even consider it. "No. You can't destroy Castle. Chuck is down there!"
"So is every piece of intelligence we have. Not just on the ring. Everything."
"Please, just give Chuck five more minutes, okay? For me." Sarah was trying desperately to appeal to Shaw's human side. How can he be so cold and calculating about this? It's Chuck.
"I'm sorry, Sarah. You can't think of Chuck. You have to think like a spy."
"I am thinking like a spy. Chuck is a member of my team and he has served this country well and...for all that he has done, the least we can do is just give him five more minutes." Sarah couldn't believe she was in this situation again, pleading for mere minutes in the hope of saving Chuck. Only this time, if she failed, she couldn't come up with a backup plan to rescue him from an underground bunker. She would lose him forever.
[Section break]
"So that's it. That's how it happened." Morgan shook his head in disbelief. "So now I've got this thing in my brain. The intersect, like I told you, you know, and it's not working. Anything else you wanna know before we die?"
"Uhm...yeah, yeah, just one more...uhm...so Sarah is your handler? Does that make her your beard?" Chuck frowned. "In other words, is your whole relationship a fake...'cause, oh buddy, that's...this is awful."
"Why? Because we never had sex?"
"No man, I just feel like, you know, having to be..." Morgan did a double take. "You never had sex with that girl?" He shook his head. "That's not...no...it's awful that you had to pretend to be in a relationship with somebody that you...clearly love."
Chuck was struggling for an answer. "Sarah and I are over, you know."
"No, you're not. You're a good liar, Chuck, but you're not that good, alright. You lied to me for three years, but I always knew...you love that girl. I mean, I saw how you looked at her. We all did." Chuck didn't say anything. "It's okay. You don't have to deny it. You tell me you don't love Sarah," Morgan dared Chuck.
Chuck thought about what Morgan just said for a moment. "You know what, you're right, buddy. I do love Sarah. I kept telling myself that I didn't...that I wouldn't...that I couldn't, but I do." Chuck let out a relieved laugh. For the first time in what feels like forever, he feels like Chuck again. "Morgan, you have no idea how badly I needed to get this off my chest. Thank you."
[Section break]
Sarah tried the computer again. Access denied. Casey stormed through the door. "I couldn't get in. We're locked out." Sarah's heart sank. She turned to Shaw, on the verge of tears.
"Time's up." Shaw dialled Langley again. This couldn't be happening. She had to save Chuck. Without thinking twice she drew her gun, aiming it at Shaw.
"Hang up." Shaw didn't flinch. Casey knew he had to draw on her, but he could bring himself to do so. He decided to wait it out instead, see what her next move is. He knew they had orders to destroy all intel, the intersect included, should it ever fall into enemy hands, but just like two years ago, he wasn't sure if he could go through with it. He was always certain Sarah wouldn't. She'd been comprised. Sarah Walker was still one hell of a spy, but she was also a woman in love.
"Sarah, you know we have to do this." Shaw reached for her gun just as the shot went off. Everything seemed to happen all at once. Instead of hitting him in the shoulder where she aimed, the bullet struck him in his chest. He slumped back against the wall and slid down. At the same time the Castle doors opened, revealing a smiling Morgan and a shocked Chuck.
The first thing Chuck saw was Casey drawing his gun on Sarah. He turned Morgan around by his shoulders, not taking his eyes of Casey. "Get back in there."
"But buddy..." Morgan whined.
"Orders, Morgan. Now." Morgan didn't need any more convincing. The tone of Chuck's voice and the memory of his kickass moves a few minutes ago was more than enough motivation. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of that, best friend or not.
When the door closed again, Chuck stepped through the doorway, taking in the scene in front of him. Shaw was lying on the floor, blood pooling under his body. Sarah was still clutching onto her gun, aimed at Shaw. Casey had his gun trained on Sarah. He had trouble processing what just happened. He hated it when Sarah had to shoot an enemy agent, usually to protect him, but this time she killed one of their own. He wasn't sure yet what he should make of this. Chuck's attention snapped back to Casey when he cocked his weapon. "Drop the gun, agent Walker."
Chuck knew he had to do something. Some of his most terrifying moments on missions were when Sarah was threatened, no matter who pointed the gun. "Guys, stand down." They didn't move. "Casey, please don't."
"Sorry, Bartowski. No can do. Drop your gun, Sarah." Casey slowly moved around a table towards Sarah. Chuck had to think fast. He didn't think Casey would shoot Sarah, but he also never imagined Sarah would shoot Shaw. He couldn't take the chance.
"Sarah, please put the gun down?" Sarah lifted her eyes, meeting Chuck's. Her face was unreadable. She still wasn't cooperating. "Sarah?" Chuck was getting really worried. This was not like her. Maybe she was in shock or something?
Casey was still inching closer. Chuck knew he had to get him to point his gun away from Sarah. He quickly went through his options. He couldn't tackle Casey. What if the gun went off and hit Sarah? He didn't want to flash. He could hurt Sarah himself. He had to distract Casey. Chuck quickly swooped down, grabbing Shaw's gun. He prayed that this would work. And that he wouldn't get shot.
He quickly ran his thumb up the side of the gun, making sure the safety was in place, before pointing it at Sarah. "Drop your weapon, Sarah!" He wished he could tell her not to freak out.
It worked. Casey was so surprised by Chuck's actions that he took his eyes and aim of her for a moment. He wasn't the only one.
Sarah snapped out of her trance and lowered her gun. Everything came crashing down on her. She shot Shaw. She thought he was going to kill Chuck. But Chuck was fine. And Shaw was dead. She noticed that Casey was distracted by Chuck who was aiming a gun at her. He wouldn't shoot. He couldn't have changed that much. Unlike her. For the first time in more than twelve years her first impulse is to run. And she did.
Surprised again, Casey spun around, but Sarah was too quick. He raised his gun as she opened the door, but before he could fire, a hard shoulder caught him in the ribs and he hit the ground.
"What the hell, moron!" he yelled as he got up, yanking Chuck up with him. "You let her get away!"
Chuck twisted himself out of Casey's grip and rubbed his shoulder. "Did you really think I'd let you shoot her?"
"She shot a CIA agent. Our agent in charge. She's in a shitload of trouble."
Chuck felt his anger boiling to the surface. After everything that happened today, he could no longer hold onto his 'calm centre'. "You didn't stop her! You only pulled your gun after the fact! Why would she shoot Shaw, anyway? She must have had a good reason. A very good one."
Casey wasn't expecting Chuck to lose his temper. That rarely happened. "Shaw was going to activate Castle's self-destruct programme."
"He was what! I was down there! What about the kill switch?" Chuck couldn't believe it. Shaw was going to destroy the intersect? As the host, he took that personally. Sarah shot Shaw to save him.
Casey frowned. "What kill switch?"
"The application that disables all forms of communication and surveillance. It's one of the precautions to prevent our intel from falling into enemy hands and one of us is actually in Castle to activate it. The self-destruct programme is only to be used in extreme circumstances. Didn't you read the fucking manual?"
Casey was taken aback by Chuck's outburst. He couldn't even come up with an appropriate grunt as response.
Something suddenly dawned on Chuck. "Shaw knew about it."
"What? Why would he order the self-destruct then? Unless he thought you didn't know about the kill switch. Sarah and I sure as hell didn't."
"We discussed it the other day...shit, Sarah!" Chuck took off running.
"Bartowski! Where the hell are you going? We need to sort out this mess."
"I have to find Sarah and make sure she's okay." What was he saying? She was clearly not okay. She wouldn't have taken off like that if she was. He couldn't even begin to phantom what was going on in her head right now.
"Chuck," Casey grabbed his arm, "did you activate it?"
Chuck tried to free his arm, eager to go after Sarah. "Of course," he resisted adding 'moron'. He will piss Casey off another time. Right now he needed to find Sarah.
"One more thing. Find Sarah, don't let her run. It will only make matters worse."
"You want me to turn her in?" This was unbelievable. After everything they've been through...
"No. When you find her, just stay with her." Casey glanced over at Shaw's body. "Something's off here. Give me a little time to check on something. We'll decide from there. Understood." Chuck nodded, but he was already formulating his own plan.
Casey released him. "Check the train station first."
"That was the plan. And, Casey," Chuck turned at the door, "Morgan better be in one piece when I get back."
Casey grunted. This day just kept getting worse.
To be continued...
A/N Now you're all thinking 'What the hell?' A one-shot wasn't gonna cut it, this episode will have two or three chapters. Let me know if you buy this and want me to continue or if I should come up with something different.
I'm trying my best not to go too OOC, but it's about time Chuck loses his cool and puts Casey in his place (not too much, though). And Sarah acted on emotion (like she often does) and believed she screwed up royally. But there is method in my madness. At least Shaw is dead (even though no one cared enough to actually check for a pulse LOL) - especially for you, actDave.