I do not own Chuck.

Here's the next part and I hope you enjoy. Thanks for the on-going great reviews; I'm really glad this story has kept you all reading.

Chapter 12 – Clues

Picking up the call, Casey seemed agitated and disorientated.

'Chuck, we have a huge problem. Is Walker there?'

Noticing the tone in his voice, he knew something was seriously wrong.

'Yeh, she's asleep. Casey what's the matter, what's happened?'

Struggling to keep his speech impaired, Casey was stumbling causing Chuck to panic. He instantly woke Sarah up and put Casey on speaker phone.

'Casey, talk to me. Are you ok? What's happened?' Chuck asked.

'We're going to have to cut your trip short. Evelyn, she's got to her husband.'

'What? Sarah screeched.

His nightmare, combined with the sense that something was wrong and not being able to reach either Casey or Verbanski, it all started tying together. His sub-consciousness was trying to tell him something had happened.

'Casey are you all right?' Sarah pressed him, but got no reply.

Casey was stumbling in and out of consciousness. With them in Italy and him back in Burbank, they could do nothing. The line going dead, Sarah began calling Verbanski. The call rang out with no reply or pick-up. Chuck suggested calling Beckmen. Dialling her number, they were both on tender hooks. Whilst Sarah was trying to reach Beckmen, Chuck tried and tried to reach Casey but he wasn't picking up. Sarah having got through to Beckmen asked what was going on.

'General what's going on there? Casey just called us.'

Beckmen not knowing Casey hadn't filled them in with the situation pressed on to tell her what was happening.

'He called me too. I couldn't get much out of the Colonel but I have received word that Evelyn ambushed the van transporting Shaw to a new government facility.'

Confused and not understanding what went on, she asked Beckmen to clarify.

'I'm sorry General?'

Clicking that Casey had not filled them in, the general went on to explain.

'Obviously you have not been told. But Casey and Verbanski were due to over-see a transfer. Evelyn tried to break into a facility where her husband was, we couldn't keep him there so had to move him. Evelyn somehow found out and they were ambushed. She got to Daniel Shaw, the CIA has no idea where they are but we will be searching every part of this country to find them. We hadn't been able to locate them since she escaped and we found out why she is here. She has a daughter Sarah.'

Having trouble taking this all in, Sarah could barely speak and handed the phone to Chuck and the general had to relay everything to him. Showing obvious concern for their safety and his sister, the general explained that he and Sarah must return to the States ASAP and that his sister and Devon were to remain there for the rest of the holiday, but they would have protection wherever they went.

'I can't leave them here general, I just can't.'

'Chuck you must. They will be safe, I assure you. I will put them under 24hr protection, you have my word that they will not be harmed Chuck. I will have a jet on standby for you; I expect to see you here soon.'

Beckmen ended the call and quickly dispatched agents and emergency services to Casey's and Verbanski's location which she picked up from the gps of their call.

'Sarah we have to get back. I am so sorry this vacation didn't end better.'

'This can't be happening. She has a daughter and she was pregnant at the time of my red test. This is why she wants her husband out; she wants to kill me because she blames me for taking away her daughter's father.'

'Sarah, listen to me….this isn't your fault. She isn't thinking straight ok and since your linked to her, she needs to pile the blame on someone and that's you. She can blame you all she wants, but we all know this isn't your fault, it's all on her head.'

Listening to Chuck, they grabbed their things together. Packing their stuff away, Chuck sneaked away to tell Ellie that him and Sarah had to dash back to Burbank. Knocking on their door at a stupid hour and sounding very stressed and freaked, Devon quickly answered the door.

'Bro, have you any idea what time it is?'

'Yeh yeh I know, but listen. Me and Sarah have to get back home. Something's come up and we need to get back right away.'

Coming to the door, Ellie suspected this had something to do with Evelyn.

'It's her isn't it Chuck, go do what you got to do. But please...be safe.'

'You two can stay for the rest of the trip, but the General will put you under 24hrs protection ok, carry on doing what you're doing, just please enjoy the rest of the vacation.'

Rushing off back to Sarah, she had almost packed everything together. Gathering their passports and papers, Sarah placed her rings and bracelet back on and the two headed out. Catching a taxi to take them to the airport, Chuck repeatedly tried to get a hold of Casey. After 3yrs of hard work bringing down the Ring and putting Shaw away, all their work was slowly being picked apart. Not only was Evelyn out there, she had got to her husband and now they were free and Chuck and Sarah were left on a knife edge. It was clear their normal life seemed to be drifting further and further apart. In both of their pasts they had put away bad people, people that would want to get back at them given half a chance. Would they always be chasing after someone? Chuck couldn't believe this was happening, how were they going to find them. Reaching the airport, the two dashed out as quickly as they could. Handing their luggage over and now waiting to board, they felt helpless. Everything was unfolding back home.

'Sarah I shouldn't have pushed you to come on this trip. We should have told Beckmen that we would stay and help with the search.'

Still visibly shaken at recent events, Sarah told Chuck,

'Don't be. I'm glad we came. Ok we didn't stay the distance but for 5 days it was just us and I loved every moment of it. Now we just have to go back to our jobs and find them, and just like before we will put Shaw back in his place. He is not robbing us of our dream Chuck….I promise you.'

Chuck nodded and tried once more to reach Casey, this time managing to get through.

'Casey…Casey are you ok?'

'I'm fine Chuck. I'm just at the hospital now, you two better get here quick.'

'We're just waiting for the jet. Casey I'm so sorry, we shouldn't have left. It was stupid.'

'Forget it Chuck, me and Verbanski had it all under control till that woman undermined us again.'

'Beckmen told us about Evelyn's daughter and the agent that's with her. Casey why didn't you call us?'

'I'm sorry Chuck…..do I have to explain everything to you. As I said it was all under control, we were dealing with it.'

Chuck snapped back,

'Obviously you weren't because you haven't found her and now she's got to Daniel Shaw.'

Stopping, Chuck knew he said wrong. Casey had already been feeling the flack of letting her get away, this was bound to make it worse. Chuck tried to back step but before he could say anything Casey grunted to him,

'I'll see you when you get back here.'

Cutting Chuck off, he felt a sense of guilt. Everything was falling apart and becoming too much to deal with. He had everything he ever wanted and now the Shaw's seemed to be tearing everything down. Sarah feeling worked up herself, tried to reassure Chuck. Every promise she made him, she kept.

'Chuck listen to me….I promise you nothing is going to stop us from moving on, they can throw whatever they want at us but I will always be right beside you.'

'Your yet to break a promise.'

'I'm not going to start now.' Sarah replied.

The wait for their jet seemed never ending and counting the minutes go by was not helping. Sarah needing the toilet, headed off to the ladies room. Staring into the mirror, she splashed water over her face to keep her alert and on-point. Trying to keep her composure, Sarah left the ladies and went back over to Chuck, just before sitting down their jet, which was only for them had landed. Without hesitating, the two instantly boarded their jet and were soon on their way home. Checking back in on Ellie he called her.

'Hey Ellie.'

'Chuck, are you and Sarah ok?'

'We're good. But I don't want you guys to worry, I want you to enjoy the time you have left their ok.'

'Chuck I can't, we're both worried. This woman seems psychotic and you're heading right back into the thick of it.'

'We have to sis, we have to find her and get Shaw back behind bars.'

'Chuck…..Daniels out, you didn't tell me that?'

'I didn't want to scare you.'

'So you scare me whilst you're heading back home and I'm in Italy where I can't do anything.'

'If I told you back at the hotel, you wouldn't have stayed. I have to go sis, I love you.'

'I love you too Chuck.'

Ending the call, Chuck faced Sarah who was gazing out of the jet's window. He wanted to take her away for just a week to give her a break. She has protected him for 5yrs and not once had she ever complained. He wanted to give her that life that had been planning since they married, but every time they got close everything went pear shaped. First Decker, then Shaw, then Quinn and now Shaw again. Not know what to say to make this situation any better, Chuck simply held onto Sarah's hand. Tightly gripping his hand, Sarah continued to stare out the window.

Missions had never really had this effect on Sarah, but this was different. She was blaming herself for everything that had happened since the crash. As much as she disliked who she once was before Chuck, the downside about who she was now was that she could feel every emotion, guilt, fear, sadness and anger. The general video called them detailing what the next step would be in finding the two.

'Chuck and Sarah, I am sorry we had to cut short your vacation, but urgent matters have arisen that we simply cannot ignore. As you know, Evelyn ambushed Daniel Shaw's transport to a new facility. We have been trying to find them but to no avail. The first people they are going to want to head for are you two. All we can do is wait.'

'What, we just sit and wait? General this is Daniel Shaw we are talking about, he tried to kill us and he held my wife hostage and nearly froze her to death. I'm not sitting her like a duck waiting for him to show, we have to draw them out on our terms.'

'What do you suggest Chuck?' the general asked.

'We put something out there, something that would lead them to us. I don't know what yet but we will think of something. At least this way we can prepare.'

'Chuck, Daniel and Evelyn are ruthless people. Don't forget that they have the help of the former ring agent. We can draw them out, but they are not stupid. They will know exactly what you are trying to do.'

'Yeh well its better than sitting around. If we can't find them, we lure them out. It's the only way general.'

'Ok Chuck, we will do it your way. On your return to Burbank I will be there.'

The video chat ended and Sarah had made no reservations to Chuck's plan which prompted him to ask her,

'Ok, this is how we have to play it…..' Sarah interrupted him mid-sentence.

'No… no Chuck. It's me she wants, so that's what I'll give her.'

'Sarah no, you're not putting yourself out there to be killed.'

'Think about it Chuck, why has she broken Shaw out? She wants her daughter to have a dad. And why was Shaw in jail, because we put him there…I put him there. And why is he there, because he saw my red test, I killed his wife remember. This all leads back to me, if I find a way to meet her at least I can try to convince to end this.'

'And if she ends up…..'

He couldn't say it, nor did he want to even think it but Sarah knew exactly how the sentence would end.

'You will still be alive. 5yrs ago I took on a mission on to protect you.'

Before Chuck could protest further, Sarah's phone had beeped. She opened up the message and her face dropped. It was from an unknown source but she pretty much guessed that unknown was Evelyn.

This game doesn't start or end in the States, but an Island.

Showing Chuck the message, it was some kind of riddle. Chuck was disturbed that Evelyn referred to their life as a game. This isn't a game; she can't mess with our life like this. Clearly Chuck's plan to put themselves out there wouldn't work. Evelyn was only going to work on her terms and she would not be easy to find.

'I know what she is doing. She's sending us a clue to where they are. Beckmen was right, we just have to wait.' Chuck voiced.

Several hours later, Chuck and Sarah were now back in Burbank….

At the castle, Sarah was sifting through her wedding photos. Chuck had gone out to grab them some pizza. Looking at a picture of them after they left the church, she gently touched the photo, focusing purely on Chuck. It was the happiest day of her life, staring down at the photo a teardrop splashed on Chuck's face. Wiping away her tears, Casey and Verbankski entered the castle.

'Casey, Verbankski….are you guys allright?'

'We're ok. She gassed us with some form of sleeping gas, knocked us out cold.'

Casey headed right over to where the guns were, he had to clear his mind somehow. Picking up a handgun, he armed it and headed to the firing range inside the castle.

'Yeh, he's not in the best mood right now.' Verbanski told Sarah.

She noticed that Sarah wasn't in the best of moods either. She was visibly upset and no matter how hard Verbanski tried to reassure, nothing worked.

'It's all got out of hand. And now she is toying with us, she sent me this message.'

Sarah showed Verbanksi the riddle.

'This game doesn't start or end in the States, but an Island. What is that supposed to mean?'

Casey who had come back overhead what she had said.

'She's trying to point us to where she is. She wants us to chase her.' Casey told them.

Looking over to Casey, Sarah knew exactly how he was feeling. Chuck soon re-emerged with pizza. Glad to see Casey and Verbanski were in one piece, he asked how they were doing.

'Hey you two. How have you been?'

'Oh we're good Bartowski. We're great in fact.'

Chuck knew he was playing sarcastically. Not only did he have to deal with Sarah taking on full responsibly, he know had Casey taking the full brunt of the situation. Out of the 4 of them, Verbanski was the only one with a clear head. The team weren't themselves; she had to snap them out of this before it got worse.

'Look you 3, you have to stop this. The job we're in, we are always going to have someone who wants to kill us, it comes with the territory. The blame lies on none of you and you have to understand that otherwise you will not be able to complete this mission. We have to think straight and we have to understand where it is they are going. Casey said that she is pointing us to where she is, my bet is that she will sends us another message. She wants us to find them and we will. Once we do, we will put them both away for good, this ends now.'

The talk had an effect and it certainly snapped Chuck out of his stump. Standing next to Verbanski, he peered over to Casey and Sarah who were yet follow.

'Guys she is right. None of us are at fault. We play by her rules, we sit and we wait till she gives us another clue. She wants us dead, so she wants us to find her. But it won't end on her terms, but ours.'

Both Casey and Sarah were sceptical about just sitting back. Not long ago, did Chuck object to just waiting around. But it was the only way.

There you go, chapter done. Hope you liked and please review. Next one up soon.