Chapter 1: The Spy Will

When Chuck arrived at Reagan International Airport, he didn't expect to see John Casey there to meet him.

Chuck gave Casey a sad smile and held out his hand. Casey shook Chuck's hand, offering a single word greeting.

"Bartowski."

Chuck replied in a low tone. "Casey."

Casey took Chuck's bag. "I have a car waiting."

Despite the melancholy mood, Chuck couldn't resist a jest.

"Let me guess, Crown Victoria?"

Casey turned and grunted in agreement. "Only the best."

Chuck laughed softly and shook his head. "Some things never change."

"It's reliable. Not like the plastic, imported piece of junk hoopties terrorizing the streets."

The two men exited the airport and silently got in Casey's beloved American-made car.

Sometime later, Casey pulled into a small bar not far from Fort Meade, Maryland. Chuck cast Casey a questioning look.

Casey grunted lowly. "You look like you could use a drink. This is my favorite watering hole."

Chuck nodded in understanding. "Sounds like a good idea."

Casey led Chuck to a corner booth and ordered a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label. Casey paid for the entire bottle.

The two men sat in silence until the bottle and tumblers arrived moments later. Casey poured a portion in each tumbler, then held up his glass.

"Here's to Walker."

Chuck raised his glass. "To Sarah."

Both men took a drink of the amber liquid, Chuck coughing slightly. Casey grunted in amusement and poured another.

Casey lightened the mood. "So, the General tells me you got off your ass and made something of yourself."

Chuck cast his eyes on Casey. "Uh…yeah. I own a cyber-security company. It's nothing fancy, but it pays the bills."

Casey shook his head. "That's not what I hear. Multimillion dollar contracts keeping zit-faced hackers out of network databases sounds pretty damn fancy to me." Casey paused, his tone fatherly. "I'm proud of you, Chuck. It's good you moved on with your life. You deserved something good from the rat-shitty mess Larkin dumped on your doorstep."

Chuck smiled sadly at the gruff Colonel. "Thanks, Casey. That means a lot coming from you."

Casey took out a cigar, snipped off the tip, and lit it. "Now, down to business. What I'm about to tell you is off the books, got it?"

Chuck forced a deep breath in his lungs. "Got it."

"Good. Officially, Beckman can't disclose what happened. I'm telling you unofficially." Casey lowered his tone for the next part. "It helps…knowing how. You can focus on mourning instead of letting your mind go places it doesn't need to go."

Chuck averted his gaze to his glass and took a large gulp. He nodded for Casey to continue.

"Naturally, I can't tell you the where's or why's. She went down swinging. There were just too many, but Walker took a helluva lot of 'em with her. She completed her mission, so her record will stay clean. There was an explosion involved, but that's not what killed her. They identified Walker through DNA and dental records. Her remains were cremated by the CIA. Standard SOP for fallen agents. They placed her star at Langley yesterday." Casey finished by emptying his glass, promptly pouring himself another, then filling Chuck's.

Chuck, with tears streaming down his face, grabbed the tumbler and drank every drop. Chuck forced out barely above a whisper. "Did she suffer, Casey?"

Casey swished around the scotch whiskey in his glass. "No, kid. Walker took a round through the heart. She died instantly. Never knew what hit her. And before you ask, agents can't always wear a vest."

Chuck squeezed his eyes shut to keep from breaking down completely. His body heaving from silent sobs. Chuck grabbed his glass and emptied it, grimacing slightly.

Casey cast his eyes downward. He took a breath and continued.

"I saw Walker a few months ago. Our paths crossed during a mission. She and I talked about Burbank and what the three of us did. She told me the proudest time of her life was our little operation." Casey paused as Chuck appeared to calm slightly.

Chuck forced out in a ragged tone. "We were a good team, weren't we?"

"I've been on lousy teams and good teams. Our team? It was bar-none the best Walker and I ever served on."

Chuck smiled sadly. Casey pressed on.

"Walker talked about you. She told me you are the best man she ever had the privilege of knowing. She cared about you, a lot."

Chuck replied softly. "I cared about her too. She made me believe in myself, even when no one else would. I'm a better person having known her. Sarah was the most amazing woman I have ever met. No one compares to her. No one."

Casey offered a small smile, and withdrew an envelope from his pocket. "Walker entrusted me to give this to you in the event something happened." Casey laid the envelope on the table and slid it to Chuck.

Chuck stared at the envelope and gingerly touched it before picking it up.

Chuck wiped his eyes with his arm. "Should I open it now, Casey?"

Casey shook his head. "Your eyes only."

Chuck gazed longingly at the envelope. "I never thought I would find out if anything happened to her. As devastating as all this is, I can't help but feel some happiness to know she thought of me…that she left a way to say good-bye." Chuck forced out the last part in a low sob.

Casey downed the rest of his drink and looked around the bar, puffing calmly on his cigar.

Chuck raised his eyes to Casey and cleared his throat. "Thank you, John. For this, and for telling me."

Casey locked eyes with Chuck. "It's the least I can do."

General Diane Beckman greeted Chuck in the lobby of NSA Headquarters with a warm handshake. Beckman led Chuck to her office and presented Sarah's Spy Will.

"Chuck, every spy leaves behind a Will. I'll admit, it didn't surprise me Sarah left her Will to you. I know the two of you were close. I'll give you the room while you read it."

Chuck stared sadly at the red plastic envelope with the white CIA seal on the cover. He opened the envelope and removed a one-page typed letter and a charm bracelet.

Chuck quickly recognized the charm bracelet as a Christmas present to Sarah years before. He could faintly make out her scent on the one-page Will and bracelet. The memory and smell elicited a small sob from Chuck's lips. He closed his eyes and smiled sadly at the memory.

"Chuck, this is something real, something you should give to a real girlfriend."

"I know."

Chuck opened the piece of paper and took a deep breath to steady his nerves and focus his eyes.

Chuck,

If you are reading this, I am gone. Please do not be saddened by my loss. I hope you will remember me and what we had. You are very special to me.

I have one final mission for you. You are the only person I trust. Many times, you asked to know the real me. My only regret is not having shared that in person. I hope you will not think differently of me once you learn who I really am.

Casey should have given you an envelope by now. Please open it in private. Inside you will find further instructions.

You will always be my Chuck.

Your Sarah

Chuck folded the Spy Will and placed it and the charm bracelet in his pocket. He stood and left the office, wiping tears from his face.

Outside the office, Beckman met Chuck. "Chuck, walk with me."

Chuck and Beckman proceeded down a corridor in silence. Beckman paused near a window at the end of the hallway.

Beckman took a steady breath before speaking. "I've never said this, but the work you, Casey, and Walker did for this country did make a difference. I have the utmost respect for the three of you. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors."

Chuck stood tall, and held out his hand. At one time, he considered Diane Beckman to be the bane of his existence. Now, he considered her a friend.

"Thank you, General. I know I didn't make your job easy, but I'm glad I was able to do something to look back on and know I tried to help people."

Beckman took Chuck's hand and shook it. "It's a shame the public will never know what true heroes the three of you are. Good luck…wherever your journey leads you."

Beckman removed a key from her pocket and placed it in Chuck's hand, closing his fingers around it. She enclosed Chuck's hand in her's.

"I hope the journey you are about to undergo, will give you peace. Chuck, I consider you a friend. If there is anything I can ever do for you, don't hesitate to call."

Chuck smiled warmly at Beckman as she turned and returned to her office.

Chuck opened his hand to examine the key. It was a simple key with the numbers 132 etched on the metal. Chuck turned and headed for the exit.

Casey met Chuck at the entrance and held up a plane ticket.

"Your flight leaves for Heathrow in two hours."

Chuck gave Casey a puzzled look, then took the ticket to examine it.

"London? Why am I going to London?"

"Don't know. Walker's instructions." Casey held up a letter. "Walker left a letter for me too. Mine wasn't riddled with lady feelings, just cash and instructions to put your scrawny ass on a plane."

Chuck decided he had enough. "Casey, what the hell is going on? You're handing me a plane ticket, Beckman handed me a key, then there's…" Chuck trailed as he removed the envelope Casey handed him earlier. "I suppose my answer is in here."

Casey grinned. "See? You're not a complete moron. Read it in the car on the way to the airport. Don't worry, I won't spy on you." Chuck snorted at Casey's well-calculated attempt at humor. Casey grunted amused and led Chuck to his car.