CHAPTER FIVE – EVEN AT MY WORST

Charles grabbed a tissue from Sarah's desk, slipping the letter with the glued letters on it into an evidence bag. He hoped to get an idea of who sent this and maybe some answers to why she was willing to keep this from him. He quietly shut the drawer slipping the bag into his suit pocket. He slipped downstairs to the lab grabbing a CSI kit, same one that he had used months before. He took a quick look to see if it had all the items he would need then slipped away through the back steps.

He had time now that he was benched. He reached for the door with his right hand allowing the effects of what happened earlier hit home. The pain ran through his hand, shooting up into his shoulder. He turned his hand over and saw how swollen it was. 'Man this hurts.' Even with the pain he wasn't sorry for hitting that guy.

He placed the CSI kit on the counter, grabbing a glass of water and some aspirin. He opened the ice box and dumped a hand full of ice cubes onto a towel, wrapping it around his hand. He stared at the bottle of whiskey but decided not to. He grabbed the evidence bag from his jacket and sat down. He stared at the bag. "What have you got yourself into, Sarah."

He changed while he waited till his hand felt a bit better before sitting at the counter. He slipped his hands into latex gloves and carefully took the bag containing the letter out of his jacket. He needed to open the access the glued letters, and couldn't rip them off, so he put the kettle on. When he started to see steam, he grabbed some tweezers and held the letter over the steam. In seconds he got his first letter then another. He walked back to the counter working on getting something like a print or maybe some DNA.

He tried to keep the letter in tact as much as he could. He carefully cut a strip down the length of the letter then cut that into three centimeter squares. He placed the cut pieces into a vial adding some Tris-HCl, EDTA and a pH buffer. The paper dissolved. Standing it up he set the timer for fifteen minutes. As the timer counted down he needed to dust for any possible prints, but he couldn't dust it with powder. Otherwise she'd know that the letter was compromised. Chuck grabbed some lemon juice and carefully brushed the paper. He hoped that if there was a possible print, its oils would show up. Chuck waited and smiled when he got what looked like a partial.

No DNA came up but with the partial on the sample that he brushed with lemon juice. But was able to get another partial on another section of the letter. He possibly had 2/3 of a possible print. He grabbed his phone and took a snap shot of the area. He hoped that it would show up on the photo. He walked over to his lap top, and sent the photo to his email. Charles brought it up trying to enhance it the best that he could. Pleased that he got a hit, he needed more than just his word so he rang up a courier and had his evidence packed up and sent to a "friend" at Mi6. He watched the courier leave making him think of Sarah.

Sarah hated being benched and this time it wasn't her fault. She rolled over trying to avoid the inevitable wake up call. She was tired of fighting with the noise so she slid her hand under her pillow grabbing a knife. She partially sat up and tossed the knife at the alarm clock nailing it in the center of the clock. She fell back and dropping the knife on the floor and covering up the world outside. Hours later Sarah crawled out of bed not sleeping rather arguing with Charles all night. She got up and pain ran through her neck and shoulders. She walked into the bathroom and turned on the light seeing the state that her neck was in. Four distinct bruises with a fifth near her throat with their twin on the other side. 'Chuck was right to come in when he did. Otherwise she'd,' she didn't want to go there. She looked at her reflection, this was just another thing about him that it irked her but maybe it was something more. 'Do I have feelings for him?'

Two days later

Charles slipped into the office early to put back her letter. He planned to head downstairs after receiving a text that they might have found something. He walked over to her side and slid into the chair and grabbed two paper clips. He slid the ends in and jimmied the lock. The door clicked and he slid the letter back in. He closed the door slightly seeing Sarah coming out of the elevator. He slid out of hers and switched chairs. She walked in and Charles noticed that she was wearing a turtle neck. She was good at concealing her neck but he could see the bruises. He stared longer than he should have getting a look from her but as her look softened he nodded and she did the same.

Charles headed down stairs as Sarah sat at her desk. She sat down and saw a paper clip on the floor, she picked it up seeing the straightened shape. She grabbed her purse and pulled out her keys slipping the desk key into the lock. She pulled out the pile wondering if anything had been touched. When her concentration had been interrupted she slid the items back into her drawer and closed the door. Lafayette called her name again and this time Sarah stood up and straightened her sweater walking towards her office. Lafayette looked up as Sarah knocked on the side of the door. "Please Agent Walker." Sarah closed the door and sat down facing her superior. Lafayette sat back in her chair making Sarah relax a bit. Sarah sat down and crossed her legs. "Sarah, how are you doing?"

Sarah looked at her. "Ok and you?"

Lafayette smiled. She noticed the turtle neck. Sarah sat up and pulled up the collar. Lafayette cringed slightly. "I bet that hurts." "Only when I swallow or speak." They chuckled. "Well about that. I see from your report that Agent Carmichael entered the room and threw him off you and threw a punch."

"He did." Sarah diverted her eyes then instinctively ran her hands around her neck. "I called you in here to see if you can still work with Agent Carmichael." Sarah looked at her with concern. "What do you mean?"

"I was just wondering after what happened could you still work with him."

"He didn't do anything that a good partner wouldn't do. Do I agree with how it came about, maybe not, but I am glad he did otherwise things might have turned out differently."

"Very well, I will sign off on your report and you two can get back to what you two do best."

Sarah nodded then exited Lafayette's office. She scanned the room not seeing Charles, wondering if he got the same talk from McFadden.

Sarah slipped out of the office coming back with a coffee and a Danish. She was going to ask Charles if he wanted one but he seemed to be dodging her. Enjoying her coffee and a rare quiet moment in the office, she looked up seeing Douglas from forensic walk into the office. She had planned to talk to him later but wondered why he was there now. She put her cup down, ready to ask him why he was there. "Agent Walker." Sarah stood up. "I was going to call you but got held up."

"That's okay. I am here to see Agent Carmichael anyways, but I guess you can hear what I got to say as it pertains to the same thing your working on. I guess you two have a kink in your lines of communication." "Why?"

"Cause he came down to ask me to look into the same stuff as you brought me. He brought me some impressive work."

"What work?" He looked at her as if you should know what stuff.

"Oh sorry I forgot what, did he bring you?"

"He did a test and wanted confirmation. I told him that I would but he was right. He didn't need my expertise. He wanted a name."

"And did you give him one."

"Yeah, he did a test at home and got a partial, which I couldn't get on the sample you gave me, but when I compared it to the others that you gave me earlier I narrowed it down to possibly two people who besides you were in contact with the letters. I'll leave the results with you and you can discuss them over with Agent Carmichael."

Douglas gave the results to Sarah as Sarah faked a smile. She stared at the results. She feared what could be the results and who was behind this. Now it was no longer her secret, but his. He knew and she wondered why he would take it upon himself to look into this. She saw him walk past and down the hall. Grabbing the results she followed him till she met him outside. "How dare you!"

Charles turned around. "How dare I what?"

She raised the piece of paper. Charles shook his head. "And?"

"You break into my desk and steal what's not yours and you have the gall to get it analyzed. You had no right."

"I had every right, if what your going through is affecting your job, and our safety. I have the right."

"It's my life." Sarah's voice raised.

"It is." Charles' voice equally raised.

Sarah looked at Charles. "No, you stay out of my personal life and I will stay out of yours. We are only work partners and nothing else."

Sarah shoved the piece of paper into Charles chest and headed back inside. Charles watched her stormed back inside. He followed her till she headed to the workout room. He tried to enter but received stares from the other women exiting the women's change room. Charles leaned the wall and eventually slid to the floor sitting with his knees up. He wasn't done with this. He conversed with his thoughts. 'No one even someone like Sarah was going to have the last word.'

He held the piece of paper in front of him, he hoped it would shed some light on this. He stared at the door wondering why she didn't want to know who was sending this and why?

Sarah pounded the punching bag with all she had. Was she pretending it was something or someone? She kept at it till her muscles ached. She grabbed her towel and headed back into the change room. She tossed her towel on the bench and noticed that she wasn't alone in the change room. She called out. "Charles, I am not up for your analytic points of opinions. I told you we are done." When she looked up and saw that it wasn't Charles, she grabbed her towel and spun it to make a tool to use. She noticed that he was a tall muscular man, the same man she had seen several times before coming towards her. She whipped the spun towel at him. The man fell backwards taking the garbage can with him. Charles heard the crash and ran inside. He saw Sarah holding her towel and the guy on the floor. The guy looked up and ran out the door. Charles ran after him. Running through the hall Charles lost him once he got outside. Charles headed back in and walked into the change room. He saw Sarah staring at a box on the floor. Charles walked up to the box checking to see if it was ticking or something. After feeling confident that it was safe he made the judgement call and picked it up. Sarah stood there shaken but was also concerned that Charles was picking up the box. He put the box down on the bench and opened the flaps of the box. Sarah walked up to it and took one look at it and cringed. Charles opened the other flaps allowing a better look at what was in the box. Lifting the card, he read it out loud. "For a rat." He stared down at the dead rat laying in a pile of dead roses. Charles looked at her. "And you wanted to keep this to yourself?"

Charles hated what he just said and it wasn't his intensions to get the last word by making the situation worse than it was. Sarah turned her face away. Charles closed the box and headed outside and tossed it into the garbage bin in the back alley. Walking towards the door, he saw Sarah waiting there. She held the door open. And spoke. "I'm sorry."

The man slipped into a running car at the end of the parking lot. Sitting down and breathing heavy. "It's done."

"And the box?"

"Delivered."

"Good. EJ sat staring at office the building."

"So what's next?" The man looked at her. "We will wait till she comes out. By now she is spooked and that is where I want her."

"Then what?"

"Make her pay some more till I figure out what to do with her."

"Is it worth it? She's pretty feisty and her partner isn't someone to reckon with either."

"She took someone from me and now that I have been given this chance to make it right, no one is going to stop me."

The two waited.

Sarah sat down on the steps that led up to their office, as Charles rested one foot on the steps next to Sarah leaning on the railing. He passed the results back to her. She shook her head. Charles brought the piece of paper close to him and unfolded it. He scanned the results. Sarah nervously waited. "It gave us one name and another unidentified person. The name from the partial is a Cody Steiner."

Sarah shook her head again. "It doesn't ring a bell. The other?"

"Who knows. So I'm guessing that this Cody was the one who delivered the letters and the one who was just here, but the other result could be the person who is behind this."

His comments weren't comforting. She got up and headed upstairs. Charles sat at his desk checking out the name but saw the look on her face. He got up and slid his chair back walking her out. Just as his face of the person he was searching for came up on the screen.

They walked for an hour not saying much. Ending up sitting down for a coffee. Charles looked at his watch seeing the time. "Maybe we should go to bed?"

Sarah looked at him. "No sorry, you go to your place and I go to mine. Not you and me. To sleep." Sarah laughed. It was the first time all night that she had something to laugh about. She looked at him still laughing. Maybe because he said it and it was cute or because he was right. "No, you're right. Work starts in a few hours."

Early the next day

Across the street Cody remained keeping his eyes on Charles and Sarah. Cody looked at his cell seeing the text. 'Grab her'. Charles and Sarah headed across the street in the direction of where they had parked their cars downtown. Charles noticed the car first but didn't say anything till Sarah noticed the same car edging closer to them. When the car started to tease them they took off running. Charles extended his hand as Sarah held onto him. They ran up through the streets dodging the first car. Running into an alley they encountered another car. Now the two cars chased them knowing that they would eventually run the two of them into a corner. Charles was trying to avoid that from happening. Charles looked down the street. "This way." Sarah continued to hold onto his hand not giving up this lifeline. She was past being bothered to feeling actual fear. They had no weapons and the way that they were being chased. They weren't going to stop till the had them. Charles slid changing his mind to go down the path that they were heading forcing Sarah to lose her grip and slipping then falling onto the rough cobblestone road. Charles turned around heading back towards Sarah when he saw her being dragged. He ran charging the first guy. Charles pulled the guy off Sarah, he grabbed her hand and started running. But as their way of escape narrowed all Charles could remember was Sarah yelling 'No!'

Sarah watched as a 2x4 hit Charles right across his shoulder blades knocking him to the ground. She tried to run to him but was stopped by the first guy who had grabbed her. "You come with us, he lives." The second man replied. Sarah slipped into the back seat of the first car looking behind her as they tossed Charles into the back of the other.

Sarah tried to recall where they were taking her and what streets they might have been driving on. No one knew that they were taken, no on knew that she had been targeted. No one was coming for them.

They car stopped as the door flew open two hands reached in grabbing her. Sarah put up another fight. "I told you to make sure she was tied up. She's not to reckon with." Sarah wondered who would know what kind of person she was. But the voice behind the statement did sound familiar. Sarah was then zipped tied and forced to move. They took her upstairs where she saw Charles tied up lying on the damp floor. "Charles!" The man forced her into a chair where he added a few more zip ties to secure her to the back of the chair. Sarah looked around the room. Nothing looked familiar.

Charles opened his eyes and looked up seeing Sarah. "You okay?"

Charles sat up. "I feel like I was hit by a truck."

"Actually a 2x4."

"Well that explains it."

Charles looked up to see the two guys grabbing one arm each and dragging him to a chair next to Sarah. They pulled on the zip tie making Charles cringe. Charles looked up at the guys with anger in his eyes till he looked at Sarah. "You okay?"

Sarah looked at him. He saw the fear in her eyes. "Sarah, hey, we know that they want something otherwise we would have been dead by now. Any idea where we are?"

Sarah shook her head. She knew that he was trying to keep her mind busy and off being tied up somewhere. "All I know is we drove for an hour or so. They took our cells back in the alley after they knocked you out."

"And?"

Sarah looked around the room. "We're in a warehouse. It smells like wet stones or salt."

"Right"

"A quarry?"

"Maybe, or a processing plant." Charles leaned forward as much as he could eventually standing up. Thanks to his long legs he was able to move somewhat towards the only window in the room. He strained his neck upwards seeing the sun break through the dark skies. "What do you see?"

"Some abandon processing plant." He turned to face Sarah. "We must be north of town." Charles walked back towards Sarah and sat down facing her. Their knees touched. He leaned in allowing Sarah to rest her head on his shoulder. "We'll get through this."

Sarah didn't moved till she heard someone clapping. Sarah raised her head.

"Don't let me stop you. It was more than what I got to share."

Sarah looked over to the voice as Charles was pulled away from Sarah. The woman came into view and made Sarah look twice. Charles looked at her and recognized her as Constance. The woman from the auction. Charles was confused as much as Sarah. The women walked by Charles and dragged her fingers across his cheek. "Finally nice to meet you Agent Carmichael." Charles shrugged off the introduction.

"Save it, I know who you both are but I am very please to see you again Sarah."

She walked over to Sarah. "I'm surprised that you didn't recognize me at the auction. It took me awhile to place you as I saw you and him outside the hotel then after the real Steinback's called and wanted to reschedule, did seeing you make sense. Why wouldn't someone like you come and steal from me?"

"Steal? I was just taking back what wasn't yours. I don't call that stealing, I call that returning what's not yours."

Sarah felt the back of her hand hit her right across the cheek. Charles wrestled in his chair. "I see you trained this one too."

"You stay away from him!" Sarah shouted.

"Why should I? Maybe I should do something to him, make you suffer like I did."

Charles looked at Sarah. "Sarah, what's going on? Who is she besides a fake auctioneer."

"Yeah Sarah tell him. Tell him that you killed my husband."

Charles' mouth dropped. "Yeah. The honourable Agent Walker killed my husband."

Charles knew that Sarah had been a spy for some time and a very good one. He had heard through rumours at the water tower that she was at one time Langston Grahams' wild card. He looked at her and he knew that if she had to take a life it had to be for a very good reason. Sarah tried not to react as that was what she wanted.

Constance walked up to Sarah and grabbed her hair and pulled back.

"I've been waiting for this moment for the last few years. And my luck you fell right into my lap."

"I don't know who you're talking about and if your husband was killed I'm sorry or maybe he had it coming."

Sarah felt the burn of another slap across her face. Blood fell from her lower lip.

"You!"

Sarah spat to the side and gave her another look like you're lucky that I am tied up.

Constance pulled a chair and sat down beside Charles, not before she hit him hard in the gut. Constance tossed a picture at him. Sarah saw the photo. It was all coming back to her. Sarah now knew who her husband was.

'Shaw?' Sarah didn't want to admit that she knew him. He was part of her red test. All she was told was that he was the bad guy, even after she was paired up with him. She was told that he needed to be put down. Sarah had always confirmed her kills before she took her shots and never killed anyone before him. Sarah played back that whole night in her head. Constance snapped her out of her thoughts. When she raised her voice at Charles. "She killed my husband and now she'll pay." Sarah yelled back. "I was doing my job."

Charles looked at Sarah then back at Constance. "So you're the flavour of the month. Have you slept with her yet?"

Charles kept his composure. "Naw, you are a perfect gentleman and they don't talk. So I guess I'll talk. So Ms. Walker and my husband worked together. She was right out of Langley and was teamed with my husband. Next thing I knew I was getting a phone call saying that my husband was killed."

"There's more to it and you know it, Evelyn. You just want to blame someone for his actions."

"He did nothing wrong." Her voice trembling.

Sarah squirmed in her chair.

"Your Evelyn Shaw and your husband was Daniel Shaw. Traitor to the name and to the badge."

"Shut up! Sarah."

Evelyn stood up making the chair fall backwards. Evelyn snapped her fingers. Two men came and picked up Charles dragging him off. "Charles!"

"You took someone from me, I take someone from you."

The two men held Charles as Evelyn walked back to him and squeezed his face. She pulled out a syringe from her pocket, placed the end in between her teeth and pulled back on the syringe spitting the cap onto the floor. Sarah watching her actions. She held the syringe near his face. "Say goodbye." Evelyn stabbed Charles in the side of the neck. Sarah screamed watching his body fall limp as they dragged him off and out of sight. Evelyn looked over her shoulder at Sarah. By now the stoic Agent had tears rolling down her cheek. "You won't have it so lucky." Trent came walking in. Evelyn looked up. "Is the car ready?"

"Yes." He leaned in and kissed her then grabbed Sarah. Sarah squirmed. "Agent Walker, I hope that you enjoy your last breath of fresh air. Where you're going it won't last long."

LONDON – 12 hours later

William putting down the phone for the tenth time. He was getting worried. Charles had not reported in and there was no word of any mission that William knew of and when Sarah hadn't reported in either, there had to be a good explanation. Word travelled fast through the office, after two teams returned from checking out the homes of the two agents and coming up empty. Douglas walked in and walked over to Williams desk. William looked up. "Sorry Douglas I don't have time to talk. We have a situation that I need to take care of." Douglas looked around. "I know, but maybe I can help."

William sat down at his desk and listened to Douglas and what he had to say. "And this was yesterday?" "Yeah."

William got up and sat at Charles's desk and refreshed the screen when he saw face of a guy named Cody. At the same time Lafayette and Mcfadden both came out of their offices. "Any word on Walker and Carmichael?" McFadden's voice roared.

Carina arrived back at the office coming in from the elevator hearing the end of the roar and walked in. She stopped the first person that walked by her. "What's going on?"

"Agent Walker and Carmicheal are missing."

Carina hurried over to William as William stood up and greeted her with a subtle smile. "What's going on?"

William looked up. "Their missing, they didn't report in this morning and we just got surveillance of them being followed."

William brought up the feed. Carina sat down. William also brought up the photo of Cody. "They had to be looking into this guy. Douglas our forensic guru told me that Charles was looking into threats that Sarah was receiving. Carina turned to rummaged through Sarah's desk finding a few letters in her drawer. "I think that this Cody came and they ran."

"Probably, but where are they? And why haven't they checked in."

"Agent Batson!" A voice coming from the far end of the office.

William looked up and walked over to the far side of the office. A young analyst brought up a CCTV feed from the streets near the office. The three watched as they saw Charles and Sarah were indeed running from someone. They followed the two in and out of alleys till they were cornered. They watched as Charles was hit and Sarah shoved into a car. The analyst was able to get a partial of the licence plate while trying to keep up with all the directed questions that he was receiving. They followed the car a few blocks then lost it but when the partial gave them a name, they had a place to start.

"Team one you check out the residence of one Trent Writenham. Team two, Agent Batson and Millar you head to where we last had a visual on this car and find this Cody." "Yes sir." William grabbed his vest and his gun and followed Carina giving her another piece as they exited the office.

Sarah struggled to concentrate on anything except on where they took Charles. He had been gone for some time and time, they were running out of it. The two men dragged her down the stairs as she tried to hang onto the railing but got a karate chop on her forearm instantly making her lose her grip. The two men brought her outside as the fresh air was a slight reprieve, fearing what EJ had mentioned earlier. They followed a gravel path past the auger where huge rocks were being smashed. The noise was deafening and thoughts of being buried alive crossed her mind more than once. Sarah looked for Charles but couldn't see him. The three rounded a corner and there stood Trent leaning against a car in the middle of nowhere. Huge hills of gravel and mined rock encircled a once prosperous pit. Sarah was shoved forward into the arms of Trent. Sarah stood tall, wanting to go out on high note, it that was possible. Sarah tossed that idea out of the window and swung her tied arms in a upswing hitting Trent along side the head. Trent grabbed her and put her into a choke hold. "I can see why EJ dislikes you." Sarah bit down on Trent's hand as her teeth pressed into his flesh. He released her hitting her hard. Sarah fell to the ground out cold, as Trent grabbed his hand. "Toss her inside!" Trent grabbed a handkerchief and wrapped it around his hand. Sarah was tossed into the back seat.

Trent slammed the door shut then twirled his hand. A front end loader with a fork lift rolled into view. The lift was lowered then slid underneath the car. Metal on metal as the lift slid underneath it, resting on the rungs. Trent nodded giving the driver the ok to lift the car. The car was then raised waking up Sarah. Sarah sat in complete darkness as the windows were painted black. She tried to grabbed the door handle but was unable to open the door. Trent heard the faint pounding of the glass. The front end loader drove a few feet stopping at a open pit. The end was lifted enough to get the undercarriage up and over the ridge. The car was lowered then pushed into the pit. The ends of the lift pushed the car further into the hole. Gravity took it the rest of the way till it made its way to its resting spot. As the car finally settled and Sarah's voice was hoarse, she heard a faint tapping on the roof like rocks hitting the roof. Then an excessive amount of rocks were tossed on top of the car. The car fell further into the hole as the weight the rocks filled the outside of the car. Sarah placed her hands against the window palm down feeling the rumble of the rocks hitting the window. Heaviness and defeat over took her as she laid back against the seat. The shower of rocks subsided bringing an eerie quietness inside the dark car.

Sitting in complete silence she focussed on her breathing but felt that something was off. When she inhaled it sounded like someone was exhaling. She sat up reaching for the seat in front of her, she felt along the seat feeling that it was one full seat. Making the car an older model. She lowered her hand to feel what could be on the otherside. She reached downwards towards the driver's side and felt a leg, she stretch forward reaching the steering wheel. She took a quick breath and searched for the interior light switch. She feared who this person might be that would be spending her last minutes on earth with. She turned the dial looking to her right. Propped against the passenger side laid Charles. She slid over to him, caressing his face.

LONDON

William and Carina sped down the road dodging traffic and listening to updates from team one. Carina turned up the sound. "Residence is empty no sign of Writenham." "Batson and Millar?"

Carina grabbed the walkie talkie. "Yes sir."

"Sitrep?"

Carina lowered her head to get a look at the street signs. "We are a few blocks from the second address."

"Keep me posted."

Sarah looked down at Charles as he finally woke up. He sat up in a frantic, unsure of where he was but when he saw Sarah, he closed his eyes to prevent an emotional reaction. He held Sarah's hand close to his face, still trying to focus.

"I think that I was drugged. My mouth feels fuzzy."

"They shot you with a needle then they took you."

Charles sat up seeing Sarah's battered face. "Well it looks like you took a few hit yourself."

Sarah sat back and placed her hand near her face. Charles sat up finally registering where he was. He turned and reached for the window, seeing that it was darkened. He felt the window feeling the paint. Charles slid over to the steering wheel, seeing no key. He glanced in the rear view mirror as Sarah stared blankly.

Charles returned to the passenger side. They sat quietly till they heard static. Charles looked down in front of him finding a walkie talkie. A voice came on making Sarah sit up. "Hope that you're getting settled. I figure that this is much pleasant than what you gave my husband."

Sarah took the walkie talkie. "I had no choice."

EJ screaming her response. "You had a choice. But you chose to do the latter."

"If he had to die there had to be a reason."

"No your organization made you believe that he was to be killed. Now I am choosing to do the same. And as for Charles, such a handsome man, well let's just say he's collateral damage or he could see you as the person that took him to his grave. He's probably looking at you and sees you as that cold blooded murderer, and well looks can be deceiving. He sees you, he trusted you to be honest, a prestigious and respected Agent." Sarah looked up at Charles, but his look didn't change. "I'm no murderer."

"No you're a fake, assassin, executioner."

"Wait a minute. No sorry Mr. Carmichael, sorry that you have to die along with her."

Sarah looked directly at Charles. "We can talk about this Evelyn."

"Enjoy the after life. If you deserve one."

Static over took the cars silence once again. Sarah leaned against the door looking lost and terrified. Chuck got up and slid to the back of the seat taking the walkie talkie from Sarah and lowering the volume. He grabbed her hand and leaned against the seat looking at her as she leaned against the seat looking back at him. The interior light gave the car an ambience of light. Charles caught Sarah looking up at the light. "We have a few hours give or take."

William circled the warehouse, finding that it was empty. William and Carina circled the warehouse reaching what looked like an office. William sat down at the security desk hoping that there was something left that was useful. William pulled out his laptop and hooked it up to the outside gate's feed. He was about to log in when McFadden called. "We need you back here pronto."

William got up and followed Carina. He looked out across the lot. Carina stood beside him. "What are you thinking?"

"I have a feeling that they're out there."

"And we will go with that."

"They have to be here."

"Let's go see what McFadden wants and maybe we can see more in the morning."

Back at the office

William and Carina walked in getting a file shoved into his chest. "I need info on Sarah's red test."

William was just about to sit down at nearest table. "Excuse me, but we were out there looking for them and now you called us back to look at a file when there are plenty of other agents that could do this?"

"You heard me. While you two were out we found out that Trent was seen in Athens the same time the four of you were there to pick up the device. We got this video from the hotel. Carina stared at the feed. "That was the day of the auction."

"Yes, please continue to watch." McFadden resumed the video.

Carina and William watched as Trent and a woman came walking into the hotel just as the four of them exited. Carina recognized the woman as Constance Bell."

"We know her as Constance Bell, Interpol has her real name as Evelyn Joan Shaw. Once married to a.."

Carina sat up. "Daniel Shaw."

"Yes Agent Millar. We also found out that Agent Walker was paired with Agent Shaw. Agent Batson, I need you to find out what happened with them and why his wife would want to take Agent Walker."

"Chuck. I'm sorry that you were brought into this."

"I had nowhere else to be."

Sarah started to cry. "Maybe she's right."

"No she had no right to say those things."

"I killed him."

"Yeah, you did but it was your job. Cruel as it is. You did what your were assigned to do. We don't have a say in what we do with this job and sometimes the choices we make are not what we personally think is right. You know and I believe you that Daniel wasn't a good guy. His death was justified but his wife sees it as you killing her husband. That's something she has to deal with and not you."

Sarah watched as Charles fiddled with the walkie talkie. She watched his face, his eyes as they told her a story. That he wasn't giving up. He turned the dials getting static and she knew he was trying to get someone other than Evelyn on the other side. She continued to watch him. "Charles tell me a story."

Charles put down the walkie talkie. He looked at her.

"A story huh?"

Sarah tried to smiled. "Okay, you can call me Chuck."

Sarah looked up. "Chuck?"

"Yeah, Charles was my given name and when I joined the CIA, they looked at me and I knew that I couldn't be called Agent Chuck so I started to use Charles. My real name is Chuck Bartowski."

Sarah smiled.

(Time passed)

Chuck opened his arms but Sarah was hesitant at first but as the gust of dust seeped in as the car settled again, she moved into his arms. Feeling safe for the first time, in a long time. Chuck looked at her as she rested her back against the door looking at him through the faint interior light and the light coating of dust. A subtle cough tickled her throat as she smiled. "Thanks Chuck." Again his name on her lips warmed his heart.

"Where did you come from Chuck?" Chuck looked at her. "How did someone like you become a spy?"

"Childhood dream well sort of. And I was good at school which caught the eye of Stanford. But my dream of being a spy didn't have me sitting here with a very beautiful woman."

"Well, I didn't dream of dying in a backseat of a car."

Chuck looked up at her. "Sarah there's tonnes of other thing we can do in a back seat of a car. I'm sorry." After he realized what he had just said.

"No it's okay. It crossed my mind too." Sarah was happy that Chuck wasn't able to see her face. "Changing the subject. So you went to Stanford?" "Yeah."

"Where did you grow up?"

"LA. I have a sister who's a doctor, dating a doctor and my best friend Morgan. You'll love him. He's a little guy with a big heart."

"And you?"

"I grew up on the road with my dad. He wasn't a dad in the true sense of the word." Sarah looked at Chuck. "He was a con man and the day he got caught was the day that I was recruited."

Sarah continued to tell Chuck her story and she was surprised that he was so attentive. The ceiling light flickered alarming the two of them. The envitable.

Their breathing wavered. They knew that they we're running out of air. Chuck looked at her and remembered all the things that they did together; from talking late into the night, talking about books to even before he knew who she was. Chuck took Sarah's hand and entwined his fingers into hers. He looked at her. "Can I tell you something?"

"Sure."

"I don't want to die not doing this for real." She looked at him as if what now, there was nothing else he could do or say. Then he leaned in and kissed her. For that moment it was just them. No worries of the thought of dying but just the two of them. Two people who were more than partners, they were at this moment one person one breath. Sarah broke the kiss. Sarah was in tears. Chuck looked at her. "Was the kiss that bad?"

"No." She placed her hand behind his head pulling him towards her as she kissed him again. Resting her arms around his neck. Chuck brought her closer and held her close like a child. He looked up at her as the weight of the rock above them started to seep more dust inside the car. Chuck grabbed his jacket and covered Sarah's upper body. He looked down at her as the light above them flickered again. They knew that their light was soon going to flicker out. He kissed her again this kiss was life. He caressed her cheek, her eyes closed. Chuck lowered his head resting it on hers. His eyes closed.

"Chuck?" A faint whisper coming from her lips. Chuck hearing her say his name would be the last thing he ever heard from heard. She rested her hand along his cheek. "I like like."

"I like like you too."

Chuck sighed deeply and he wasn't sure about wasting air on finishing the story but she asked once again. He looked at her knowing that he'd do anything for her. He started up again. "The rest of the story or new chapter, well here it goes. There once was a clever spy who did his job well. But one day he met his match when he came across a sophisticated, beautiful, talented, smart, spy. They met unbeknownst to each other a few months ago. But that first meeting began an interesting relationship."

Sarah tried not to laugh. Chuck continued. But the air was dying. Chuck brought his jacket around her neck making a make shift pillow. She could smell his cologne from the inside of his jacket.

The creaking and heaviness of the rock above them was becoming more consistent as the gravel was still settling over head. Hiding their envitable grave from the rest of the world. Chuck continued. "Spy versus spy but it was more than that. It was the challenge to one day find out who we really were. The task to uncover the people behind the mask and who they were to each other. We knew how we worked, how we did the job. Our workmanship impressive to say the least, but all was hidden behind a mask."

Sarah looked up at Chuck. She just relized that he was telling her their story on how they met. "He yearned to see her face. To know who she was."

Chuck leaned resting his head on the back of the seat. The heaviness of the gravel shifted the slide down the top of car doors window. Chuck was glad that the windows were tinted and they were unable to see the remnants of gravel and small stones. He looked at her, their story was not like one of his novels he read, it was to be heard to pass the time. Sarah closed her eyes. This worried him. Chuck caressed her cheek pulling back the strands of hair. Sarah looked up keeping her eyes on him. Chuck forced a smile for her. Sarah caressed his face almost to memory.

"Finish our story." Sarah loses her gaze and lowers her eyes. Chuck placed his hand on hers hand as she rested her hand on his his chest.

"To find out who she was, everytime, every opportunity. Well it wasn't a fairy tale introduction but the fact that the chase was over, they had seen each other without a mask. Finally setting eyes on you was a far cry of what I thought you'd look like. You were like a breath a fresh air, the fragrance after a morning rain. An angel floating in the sunshine." Chuck looked down at her.

"This story isn't over, it's just beginning, but before the next chapter is written I want to do one more thing."

Sarah looked up at him and sat up slightly. "Sarah, I know that there's obviously something here, between us and maybe its us playing all our cards out on the table, or us feeling vulnerable, scared or the fact that we might never be found. I want…"

Chuck looked at her. She knew what was about to happen again. They had already shared a wonderful kiss that was longing and mostly feared and it wasn't part of a mission manifest. Knowing that outside this car it couldn't be because of the job. She didn't care and she knew by the look Chuck was giving her he didn't care either. Nothing mattered at that moment. No protocol, rules or anything else. Chuck again lingered his thumb over her lips. He leaned towards her subtly touching his lips to hers. He brought her close as their lips touched in an long anticipated embrace. Sarah looked at Chuck as their lips separated. Sarah repeated what she said earlier but this time her words sounded different. "I like you Chuck." Chuck returned the same emotion behind his words to her. "I like you too." Their breathing tired and soft. Their foreheads touching. Sarah opened her eyes once more. "How did our story end?"

Chuck whispered."The story?"

"Our story." Chuck kissed her again. Sarah held him close. "It's not over because your someone I'd like to share a cheese burger with and I hate to be stood up." Chuck gasped for air. Sarah closed her eyes. "With pickles."

"With pickles."

He held back a tear. Chuck held her close. This was not how he saw him self dying. Maybe 60 or 70 years from now. With his wife and three kids and their kids and their kids. With his wife.

William looked at the clock. He had no time to look into the why's. He needed to know the where. William bypassed a few CIA doors and was able to access Sarah's file. Mcfadden stepped out of his office. "Sarah's red test." The team watched Sarah's red test play out on the screens. "Her report is pretty straight forward but Daniel's wife claimed that his death was not what it seemed and that he was murdered. She filed a claim but nothing was done. Sarah was cleared but I guess she didn't get the memo."

"So this woman wanted revenge and when she recognized Sarah being in Athens, all those years came back. She knew where to find her."

"It looks like that sir."

"Any idea where she might have taken them."

William stood up.

"I would like to go back and check the quarry and warehouse, if possible."

Mcfadden had nothing to lose.

William grabbed a few more things and headed out. They arrived at the warehouse. William looked at his watch. "It will be dawn soon."

Carina looked out staring at the darkness. "We will find them."

William setup a feed tying to get a frequency of whatever was out there. Carina looked at him. "It's something new that I have been working on. It's suppose to pick up frequencies much quicker than the older models. Anything like tapping or sound waves."

"Can it pick up a heat source?"

William reached into the back of the car. "We can use this."

William put on a headset and adjusted the volume getting a level that allowed him to focus on certain noises.

Carina hooked it up and the two of them started to walk scanning what they could. Half hour later, Mcfadden, Layfayette along with a dozen of agents arrived and joined in doing a grid search.

Chuck held her close placing kisses on her forehead. He checked to see if she was still breathing but her breathing was like his slowing down. He grabbed the walkie talkie and fiddled with the channels at the same time making SOS clicking sounds. Chuck turned to a new channel then clicked a SOS and moved to the next one when he got nothing. He leaned back as he eyes closed. He kept his hand on the button still clicking SOS.

Inside there was silence. It was dark. Chuck's eyes closed.

The sky lightened as the first sign of a new day peeked over the horizon. William and Carina walked heading down into the pit of the quarry. William stopped. "Did you hear that?"

William adjusted his ear piece.

"Hear what?" Carina inquiring.

"Clicking."

"Clicking?" Carina looking back at him.

"I don't know. I just heard something." William stopped again. Carina looked at him. "What?"

William scanned the pit.

William directed his flashlight into the quarry. Carina looked around the quarry . She yelled out to William. "You sure?"

William spun around. The morning sun rose over the quarry lighting the gravel slightly. Carina scanned the quarry and noticed a faint gust of wind picking up dust. But she felt nothing. "William!"

Carina ran towards the spot and fell to the rocks and started digging. "Something's under here."

William followed and they dug till they felt the top of a car. Carina looked at William who picked up speed and dragged gravel away from the area. Agents came running towards them with shovels. William continued to shovel gravel away from the car exposing it even more. A back hoe showed up and carefully pulled back the rocks uncovering the top half of the car. Carina halted the machine and slid down smashing the window. She found the two of them in each others arms.

Carina reached down trying to get a pulse. Chuck startled by the intrusion opened his eyes. He looked at Sarah then whispered to take her. His voice tired and scratchy. Carina stood back as William slid down and grabbed Sarah pulling her out.

Carina reached in as Chuck grabbed her arm and escape the death trap through the open window. Chuck gasped as he took his first breath of fresh air. He vomited. He leaned on his knees bending forward. He looked up. "Sarah!"

Carina heard Chuck. She called out to him from the ambulance. "She's over here." Keeping the door open. Chuck ran over to the ambulance. Sarah was unconscious and fitted with a oxygen mask. The paramedic looked at him seeing the concern in his eyes. "She's alive." He also noticed the bruises on her face and arms. Chuck looked at him. "Occupational hazard." Then smiled slightly. He looked up at Chuck's face. "Well you better get checked out as well, then."

Chuck was guided to sit down as she kept his eye on Sarah. The other paramedic gave him some oxygen. He held the mask close to his face as his other hand held hers. Chuck settled as the doors closed. He got one last glance of the pit as the ambulance drove away. He held Sarah's limp hand as he tried to slow down his own breathing as the oxygen pumped fresh air into his lungs. He leaned back thankful for his long arms as he was still able to hold her hand. The paramedic looked slideways allowing Chuck to lean forward reaching for her mask. The paramedic reacted but nodded. Chuck lifted the mask up and rested it on her forehead. He caressed her face. Running his fingers over the tear stained cheeks. He lowered his face and kissed her closing his eyes knowing that he could have lost her. This was a kiss of relief. He slid the mask back over her face as the ambulance picked up speed. The sirens were a welcoming distraction after hours of silence.

The doors open as hospital personel came out grabbing the stretcher from the paramedics. William and Carina drove up behind them and parked. Agents surrounded the ER trying to keep the identity of their agents a secret. William waited till Chuck stepped off the ambulance. "You get checked out and we will talk."

Chuck grabbed his arm. "Thanks for finding us. I don't know how you did it but we thank you."

William squeezed Chuck's arm then watched him walk inside following Sarah.

Chuck waited as they worked on Sarah. Then was escorted to his own bay where Agents bordered the perimeter of her bay. Chuck sat on the bed getting another dose of oxygen but jumped when he heard monitors go off. Chuck ripped his mask off. He placed his feet on the floor, about to get up when Carina walked by and told him to sit down. "You need your strength." Giving him the eye.

"I'm fine." As he begrudgingly sat back down. The nurses readjusted his oxygen tube under his nose.

"Maybe you are, but she needs you to be better than fine."

Chuck sat back as the nurse left. "What you saw….in the car."

Carina smiled. "Our secret." Carina smiled inwardly.

Carina waited till Chuck closed his eyes, knowing how exhausted he was, then left.

Hours later Sarah opened her eyes and looked around the room. If this was heaven it sure looked like a hospital. The doctor walked in along with Carina. "Welcome back."

Sarah feeling dazed and confused, her chest feeling heavy. "Carina?"

Carina sat down beside her on the bed. Sarah looked up at the doctor. "We're not sure how long you were unconscious but whoever covered you up saved you from inhaling a lot of dust."

"Chuck?" Sarah sat up grabbing her IV.

"The other guy? He's."

Sarah froze. Instantly thinking that he was gone. Her eyes welled up. Just then Chuck wheeled by. He saw her and smiled. He tried to get out of his chair and enter her room, but was redirected down the hall bombarded by his superiors. Sarah recognized McFadden's voice. Chuck looked back disappointed. He looked forward faking being excited about being alive. He was super glad to be rescued but there was more to being alive. Sarah tried to listen but gave up and resumed talking to the doctor.

Sarah sat on her bed avoiding making eye contact with Carina. Everytime someone walked by she hoped that it was Chuck coming back. She stared at the IV. "How long?"

Carina looked up from flipping through a magazine. "You have to stay till the IV is done, then another check up. The doctor said that you were dehydrated so until your levels are up, you're staying put."

Chuck grabbed his shirt and tossed the hospital gown. He was finally able to get out of the emergency room. He turned on his new cell and looked at the clock and and the date and saw that it had been three days. Three days before this hell happened. He turned the corner walking towards her room and saw that the detail was gone. He sped up his walk reaching her room. He turned to walk in and saw that it was empty. He turned around walking to the nurses desk. "The lady in that room, where did she go?"

"The doctors allowed her to go home. Her levels were good."

"How long ago?"

The nurse looked at her clip board. "About an hour or so ago."

Chuck smiled. "Thanks."

He was glad that she was safe, but no one wished her a welcome back. She went home alone, he thought to himself. He looked down at his shirt and pants. He needed a shower.

He walked through the ER seeing William. "You need a ride?"

Chuck smiled. William drove him home. Chuck reached for the door. "McFadden told me to tell you to take a few days and he'll debrief with you two in a few days."

"Thanks."

Chuck entered his house and got ready for a hot shower. He grabbed a towel and stared at his bruise body and everything ached. He walked out to his kitchen grabbing some aspirin gulping it down with a glass of water. Pouring another he down that one too. He stared out at the evening sun and thought of her. He walked to his room and got dressed, grabbed his keys and drove to her place. He stopped at a local flower shop and grabbed a bouquet of gardenias. His heart raced as he walked up the stairs to her place. Her place was not known by many but Chuck was good at his job and was able to find her.

He nervously knocked on the door and waited. Carina heard a knock and looked up as Sarah was in the shower. Carina walked to the door and opened it. Chuck looked up. "Hi oh?"

"Chuckles." She hugged him.

"Hey." As he hid the flowers behind him.

Though Carina saw the flowers. She looked over her shoulder then back at him. "She's in the shower. She's not moving very fast."

Chuck nodded. "So how is she? I'm glad that you're here. I wasn't sure if she was with someone or."

"No, I drove her home."

"Good. Thanks for saving us."

Carina smiled.

"Anyways, tell her I stopped by." Chuck turned on his heels.

"You can stay, she shouldn't be too long."

"Na, just tell her I came by."

Chuck turned completely around and headed down the stairs. Carina watched him as he rounded the stairs.

Sarah came out of the bathroom a half hour later. Looking better than when she went into the shower. Drying her hair. "Did I hear the door?"

Sarah sat down. Carina standing in the kitchen. "Yeah it was Charles."

Sarah looked around wondering why he didn't stay. Carina grabbed her coat. "Got to run." Carina walked up to Sarah. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I will be."

"You be safe." As Carina walked towards the door.

"Always am." Sarah looked at her. She hugged Sarah. "Glad you're safe."

"Thanks for not giving up on finding us. Well you weren't alone. And that person made a special trip just to see you."

Carina turned the door knob."Do what I would do. If you get my drift. Carina hugged Sarah again. "He's worth it."

Sarah stood in the door way and watched Carina leave. Sarah closed the door got dressed and left.

Chuck placed the bouquet on the counter grabbing a beer from the fridge reaching inside the Morgan box pulling out a box of milk duds. Chuck stared at the boutique. "You stupid idiot. Why did you go over there? Of course she'd have someone there. No you had to go and talk like a bubbling idiot and to see Carina of all people."

Chuck continued having a conversation with himself, till he heard a slight knock at the door. Chuck looked up as he never had company and if he did it was usually the frequent delivery joints. He grabbed his side piece and looked through the peep hole seeing a beautiful person named Sarah standing there. He slid his gun onto the shelf by the door and opened the door. Sarah looked up and nervously and smiled. "Hi, I heard you stopped by."

"Yeah, I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Chuck opened the door enough to allow Sarah to walk-in. Chuck closed the door and saw Sarah looking at the flowers. "We're these for me?" Chuck slid the gun further back on the shelf and followed her into the living room. "Yeah."

"There my favourite."

Chuck smiled. "I noticed one day when we were going through our cat and mouse phase of our relationship, you would often walk by flower shops when you got the chance. Taking the time to stop and smell the flowers especially gardenias if they had any. So one day I was watching you from the roof top in Paris and I saw you walk up to an older lady who you saw sitting outside a small flower shop. You seemed to be drawn to them and I figured that they meant something to you."

Sarah turned to face him. "So enjoy." She leaned in and placed her nose into the flowers.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Sarah moved into the living room. Chuck followed. "Sorry that I didn't call and say that I was coming." Sarah sat down.

"No, me neither. I just needed to make sure that you were okay. I hated how things ended up at the hospital with all the people."

"It's part of the job." Chuck walked towards her. "No it's not." He looked down at her. "We were stuck in that place to die and only William and Carina thought to look there otherwise we would have, you could have." Sarah stood up and silenced his lips with hers. Pulling back. "You saved me. I wouldn't have survived, if it wasn't for you."

Sarah cupped Chuck's face with her hands. Then ran her hands over his shoulders then his arms. Those arms that held her tight those few hours. Sarah placed her hands on his chest feeling his chest rise and fall like she did in the back seat of the car. Chuck dragged his thumb across her cheek catching a tear that had formed.

"This isn't allowed." Sarah whispered.

"No, but it feels right."

Chuck lowered his face to meet hers inching closer till their lips touched. The last few days spilled out into that next kiss and the kiss after that. The energy, the feeling, the love. Chuck picked her up holding her close as they continued to kiss. Sarah's feet dangling.

He slowly set her down grabbing her hand and walking down the hall. It had been a very rocky road up to this point of will they or won't they. Only fooling themselves on how they felt for each other, denying those feelings.

Sarah faced Chuck as he slid his fingers under her jacket pulling it off her shoulders. He tossed it onto the chair next to his bed. He kissed her as he sat her down on the edge of the bed as he reached for her foot making her fall back onto his bed. He grabbed her boot trying to pull it off. They chuckled as it wasn't a smooth transition. But he was rewarded with a kiss as Sarah sat up to meet him. Chuck continued to stand between her legs as he kissed her. Sarah fell back bringing Chuck with her. She loved that first feeling of him being on top of her. His weight covering hers. Their kisses were soft and gentle then progressed to an urgency that could only be described as their way of releasing all the passion they held back for each other. Chuck rolled onto his back taking Sarah with him as she straddled his thighs slowly unbuttoned his shirt. She tugged with some force the release it from his jeans. Then laughed when she went for his belt.

Button after button Sarah dwelled in the fact that soon but not too soon she would see him, really see him. Chuck sat up as Sarah slid his shirt off his shoulders. She saw the bruises that brought back memories. She ran her fingers over them, then kissed everyone. Chuck shuddered and his reaction led to kissing her. Making those thoughts of the last few days go away. Chuck slid his hand under her shirt pulling it up and over her head. Kissing her stomach then moving his lips over her chest, placing more kisses carefully along her neck line. Sarah wrapped her arms around the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair.

They fell back onto the bed continuing to get acquainted with each other. Each kiss, touch they knew what they went through hours ago could have easily ended up differently. Chuck slowed down his ministrations looking at her as she covered her face, trying not to show him how this was affecting her. Chuck pulled her arms down, and looked at her. "We don't have to." Sarah composed herself sitting up, leaning on her elbow. She looked at his chest. She ran her hand over his chest, neck then his face. "You saved me." Chuck grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"No, we saved eachother. I would do anything for you." He kissed her again.

"The doctor told me that it could have been worse if I hadn't had my face covered. So that means you inhaled more dust than I did."

Chuck never responded instead he just kissed her. Sarah rolled onto her back taking Chuck with her. The initial feeling of him, everything about him, she knew, she loved him. Chuck held her close as they made love.

Sarah rolled over and in the past this would be the time where they'd be gone or she snuck out, mostly the latter. Her few experiences did not compare to what had just happened. This time it was different, everything about this time was different. She stared at him sleeping on his stomach, exhausted. Well he should be, after what he had been through the last few days. She watch his upper body rise with every breath he took. She laid facing him remembering the way he made her feel. The way he touched her, almost asking for permission in a tender touching way. The words he spoke when he spoke them. The looks he gave her, she knew that he was the one. He had saved her in more ways than one. Even at her worst he was there. She touched him gently returning a sheepish smile when he woke up. She whispered back. "Sorry." Chuck leaned on his elbow. "You ok?"

She kissed him and smiled. He kissed her back. She rolled him onto her. "Well ." Sarah gave him a seductive smile. "You up for…." Chuck smiled then kissed her softly. He rolled into her starting up again. Crashing in each others arms.

Sarah slipped out of his bed grabbing his shirt. She always wanted to do that, wear his shirt. She slipped into the kitchen seeing the flowers. She untied the ribbon removing the paper exposing the lovely bouquet of gardenias. She pressed her nose into them waffling the sweet fragrance. She looked around the kitchen looking for a vase. She found a tall pitcher and filled it up rearranging the flowers as she placed them in the water.

She grabbed a glass and poured some water from the tap. She brought the glass to her lips and feelings of the being in the back seat of the car startled her. She was left there to die. Sarah's body shook. Then she felt his hands on her shoulders. He grabbed the cup as he saw her hand shaking and placed it on the counter. He turned her around bringing her into an embrace. She laid her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head. Chuck leaned back to look at her. "We are going to get through this, you're going through this."

He leaned forward kissing her. The kiss made her toes curl. "Good morning."

"Good morning." As she kissed him back.

He picked her up and placed her on the counter. She now was eye level with him. He looked at what she was wearing. "Nice shirt."

"Thanks."

Chuck kissed her hard then tossed her shirt. He leaned in but pulled back, like he was waiting for her to say it was okay. He was ready, but was she? She appreciated the gesture. That was the kind of man he was. "I'm okay."

Chuck slid his arm under her left leg sliding her towards him. They both gasped but it was so worth it. Chuck didn't want this to end too soon, he brought her close and moved to the couch. He sat down having her face him. Sarah straddled him continuing to kiss him riding this new experience. They fell into a deep sleep in eachother's arms.