Chapter 3 – Thanks for reading, some are very split on everyone that is involved, and some are getting pretty good at reading my mind. Please let me know what you think. Mssupertigz

Sarah kept Chuck outside trying to console him but also until as long as Casey was at the door Chuck wasn't going in. It was hard for her to keep the lines drawn between her role as his handler, and what was starting or what they agreed to go ahead with. There had always been a connection, but as Sarah looked at Chuck and how she thought he had died the job wasn't a priority anymore. She thought to herself that 'Maybe they could live off the grid and be together just the two of them but then she wondered what he'd do about his sister.'

They finally headed inside once it got dark and the door way was clear. They made no eye contact, even if there was someone in the main room. Chuck turned in the room that he had been staying in and fell on the bed. Sarah looked at his stuff. Chuck looked at her. "Yeah, I guess Casey had a conscience and grabbed some of my stuff."

Sarah saw the laptop then the picture of Ellie and then she paused when she saw their picture. She dragged her fingers across the glass then went quiet. Chuck got up and walked towards her looking at the photo then looking up at her. "I'm sorry for putting you through this."

Sarah put the photo down and turned towards him. "Never say that. If it wasn't for this assignment I would have never met you and we wouldn't be able to do this." Sarah leaned in and kissed him. Chuck slid his arms around her which enhanced the kiss. They kissed for awhile then Sarah walked to the door. "I'll see you in the morning. And we need to take a new picture." Chuck laughed then walked towards the door. "You could stay?"

"I could."

Sarah kissed his cheek then whispered goodnight.

Chuck walked back to his bed and crawled in. He flipped off the light. Shortly after he closed his eyes he saw the door open. He wasn't ready to talk to Casey. The door opened wider and there stood Sarah with her things. Chuck sat up. "I guess we're short beds. Casey took the one I was sleeping in."

"I guess it's your loss." Sarah smiled a sheepish grin. She dropped her bag then walked over to the bed. "We're just sleeping."

"I'll take it however I can get it."

Chuck pulled back the covers then laid back. Sarah snuggled inside his arms laying straight as not to get too comfortable but as her free hand slid across his chest her leg followed laying over Chuck thighs.

Chuck was tired of fighting sleep and having the most beautiful woman in his arms as his bunk mate. It wasn't the fact that they weren't doing anything other than sleeping, which in his experience with women was very small. He couldn't remember 'just sleeping' with Jill or if they ever shared a bed other than just having sex. This was Sarah, he slid his arm out from under her, which her body was perfect fit to his. He tiptoed out heading into the kitchen to grab a glass of water, hoping that it was just thirst. He opened the door of the cupboard reaching for a glass, when he froze. In the distance he could hear the playing and replaying of someone's voice, seconds later that same voice triggered a flash. Chuck's hand slipped causing him to fall forward taking the contents of the counter with him. It startled Casey who ran into the kitchen. Chuck looked up. "Who's Decker?" Sarah rolled over not seeing Chuck only hearing the crash. She ran out of the room only seeing Casey looking at someone. Sarah got closer thinking that Casey had done something to Chuck again, then she saw him. Chuck was starting to bend down to grab the items that fell. Sarah joined him coming up together. "I flashed." Sarah took the items from Chuck as Chuck sat down. "Why Decker?" Casey anxious to know.

"I heard the voice and flashed." Casey looked at Sarah. "I was listening to a voice of someone that Beckman was talking to." The two looked at Casey. He still wasn't their favourite person but at least they were talking. The three sat down. Alexander walked in pleased that they hadn't killed each other and were talking. Alexander made a late supper or early breakfast then sat down between Chuck and Casey just in case. Casey took a deep breath then looked at his friends. If they were still his friends. "Where to start." Casey's voice lowered.

Sarah grabbed Chucks hand and put it in hers. "The beginning sounds like a good place to start." Sarah replied, her voice was calm.

"Well then we have to go back 6 months." Chuck looked at Sarah.

"It started back at Bryce's funeral. I got a call from Beckman telling me not to get too comfortable because they were working on the new intersect and in 6 months we wouldn't need two intersects coexisting." Chuck ran his hand on his shorts. "I was speechless and how calm she was. Then when Longshore came and the 29 bugs found at Buy More I started to make alternative plans."

Chuck sat up. "Plans?"

Casey looked at him with endearing eyes. "You never asked for this, it was forced upon you by Larkin, a task that I admire about you. You never complained."

Sarah remembered one of many conversations she had with herself. 'He did care for Chuck.' Chuck never responded. Casey continued. "When Longshore took you, I looked into his credentials and they didn't seem legit. Almost like they were made up. Then pita girl was found out to be Fulcrum, so we kinda knew that they were coming after you, then Colt. I wanted to know who hired him."

Chuck looked up. "He did say that the one who hired him scared him."

"That's right." Sarah agreeing with what Chuck said. Casey continued. "The night that the cipher was taken that whole thing didn't make sense. And how they knew the password and everything. I didn't tell you guys but there was someone sitting outside the apartment prior to the delivery man."

"Was the delivery guy legit?" Alexander came and sat down with food.

"As of that night yes." Casey looking up at Alexander. "But when Chuck was sent here I looked closer into the delivery guy and the company no longer exists. I gave the cipher to the guy and in seconds I was down in the floor having breathed in a toxin. I grabbed a syringe to resuscitate myself. When I got my breath again I looked for you guys." Chuck and Sarah looked at each other. They remembered that it was their first second date. "Then everything crashed. I got another call from Beckman and an email with the assignment. (he paused) I didn't…... Want to…. This was the first time in my career that I contemplated not following an order and this was the first time I'd be okay with it." He looked at Chuck with mournful eyes. "They were never going to keep you existing if there was to be another intersect. You were never the agent that they wanted. But Bryce we know felt different about that. The one thing we do agree on. And all the dots led me to finding a way to follow through on the assignment but still keep you safe. I thought of ways to kill you."

"Great! Well you almost succeeded."

"I had to make it look real."

"But to shoot me?"

"What else could I have done that would show them that you were dead. They would come looking."

"Maybe a poison, you're good at stuff like that, that would make me look like I was dead."

"This is the CIA/NSA it had to look real. If they did it. It wouldn't only be you they kill, but everyone else that they saw a threat. If I did it I could live it knowing that you lived, despite being shot." Chuck instantly rubbed his shoulder. Alexander looked at Chuck. "It was a clean shot. If you ever wanted to make it look like someone was dead you would shoot them in the shoulder. Left side would make it assume that their heart went along with it." Alexander looked at the table. "Eat and we can continue this after. Chuck grabbed his plate and left the table heading outside.

Sarah got up but Casey stopped her. "Can I go talk to him." Sarah looked out at him. "You do anything else and."

Casey looked at her. "I understand."

The sun was just coming up over the horizon giving the sky a slight orange glow. Chuck dug at his plate in between bites as Casey sat down.

"I am so sorry for what I have put you through and what I did. But this is bigger than you know and I had to do something to prevent them from coming after you. What you possess is more than important – its who you are. You were never the Chuck with the super brain, after uploading the Intersect. But you were, and are Chuck the person, the one who in my book is one who doesn't need a cape to be a super hero or have a super computer in their head. But if I had to be honest, and knowing how big this thing is. I rather have you alive and have it than have those commies have it. Casey stared out at the sun rising and when Chuck never responded. Casey got up and headed to the door. "I'm glad you're not dead, the world wouldn't be the same."

"Decker?" Chuck finally spoke.

"I'll check him out, thanks."

"Casey?" Chuck stood up giving Casey a sincere look of appreciation. Casey smiled some what then walked inside not making eye contact with Sarah as he passed her.

Chuck had slipped quietly inside as Casey kept busy probably to stay out of his way. Sarah went to go check on him. As she opened the door Alexander came out from the kitchen seeing Sarah peaking into his room. "Casey did what he thought was best. He has never intentionally hurt someone. He knew the risks but he also knew that Chuck's life was in danger. They weren't going to keep him alive if this thing whatever it is was going to work."

Sarah sighed. She knew what the risks could be but coughed them off as hazards of the job. But when she met his eyes that first day and after he disarmed a bomb like he did she had fallen for him. And with the risks she pledged to risk her life so that she could protect him but in hindsight it was the love she felt for him that got her up every morning. Sarah continued to stare inside his room.

"From what I am getting here, he's someone special."

"In more ways than one."

"For sure, if he has the two of you watching him."

"About that." Sarah looked at him, then closed the door. "This job is hard enough without adding feelings to the mix."

"Totally."

"But I am not going to apologize about how I feel for him. I know that I am breaking a handful of rules."

"I'm not judging."

Sarah laughed. "I guess that what we feel for each other has been there since we met a year ago and just a few days ago it changed."

"Because you thought that he was dead."

"Yes and no. I am so happy that he's alive but it also puts life into perspective of what is important and what is not. I guess a part of me died that day then when I I saw him and when didn't say no to Beckman I felt that I was betraying him somewhat. That I chose the job over my grieving. But Casey."

"Casey what?"

"He gave me the files and somehow gave me this one."

Alexander nodded. "He did but he didn't think that you would be here so soon. I guess he was looking out for his team."

Alexander squeezed Sarah's shoulder and continued down the hall.

Sarah waited till Chuck woke up then motioned for him to join her outside when he walked out to find her. He gave her a kiss that made her smile. She kissed him back. Making Chuck smile. They sat down side by side staring out past the pony wall. "Did you sleep?"

"I think so, I'm not a napper so this is not the norm. I could go on hours without sleep."

"Maybe your body is telling you something."

"Speaking of bodies?" Chuck gave her one of his eyebrow dances. "Not to be rash or anything."

Sarah grabbed his hand tighter and placed them up near her chest. "In a heart beat. I want you to know that. So when it happens its because it is the right time. I've waited over a year, I can wait a little while longer." Chuck looked at her. "A year huh?"

Sarah moved in closer as her nose touched his cheek. Her breath cool on his skin. "365 days give or take a few of waiting." She brushed his cheek with her nose then placed her lips on his cheek.

Alexander walked in as Casey was looking into this Decker fellow. Casey looked up. "We have a problem. My sources say that someone is asking questions about the car that went off the road."

Casey turned his seat around. "I thought you got rid of it."

"I did. I had it towed out of there."

"So who is asking? Where is this person?"

"They haven't been able to identify this person."

"How can If there is someone out there asking about the car then we know that they are coming for him."

Casey didn't want to go with that thought. He had kept him safe this far minus the fact that he'd shot his friend. He got up and walked outside where the two of them were sitting. Joking around like they used to. It brought a smile to his face. Now he had to break up the little bit of happiness that they were sharing. He coughed getting their attention. They had seen that look on his face before. They were still holding hands as they stood up facing Casey. "We have a problem. Someone is looking for you."

Chuck's face turned white. "Not you Chuck, but Sarah." Chuck looked at Sarah. "We got to go now." "Who? how?" Sarah asking questions. Casey hollered back. "The car!" As they are running inside. Sarah trying to catch up. "The car I bought on the side of the road."

"I know I believe you. But whatever you did or didn't do is bringing someone here and if their after you then." Casey stopped. "They are probably coming after Chuck."

Casey started up again. Chuck coming in from behind. "Where are we going?"

Casey turned to look at Chuck. "It's better you don't know."

Chuck had a worried look. Sarah felt instantly sick to her stomach. Casey hollered "We're bugging out."

Alexander dropped his newspaper and started grabbing huge army totes and started loading up his house. Casey got Sarah started on the armoury. "Take whatever you can and load then the truck."

She grabbed Casey's arm. "He's still our number one priority, Sarah." Casey left leaving Sarah. Sarah emptied the armoury and went looking for Chuck. He was staring at his bags. She slid her arms around him but he turned around. "I'm kinda freaking out here."

"I know, but Casey and Alexander know what they are doing." She wanted to kiss him but Casey's voice killed the moment. "Let's go."

Chuck grabbed his bags and walked out. The rooms were bare only the shell of the house existed with a few pieces of furniture scattered around the house.

Alexander pulled up with his truck as Casey headed towards the other. "Walker your with me and Chuck go with Alexander. We will follow you guys to the next location."

Sarah looked at Chuck as she wanted to kiss him, hug him but he waved subtly as he got into the truck and buckled up. Alexander shifted into drive and sped off. Casey followed. They drove deeper into the jungle leaving any populated area out of site. Chuck rolled down his window seeing a canopy of green. He looked in the side mirror and saw that Sarah and Casey were still behind them. Alexander focused on the road tapping his fingers to a familiar song. Chuck looked at him and again that familiarness that he had seen when he first got there was more evident as Chuck looked at the side of his face.

Chuck needed to know who this guy was. And this was the prime opportunity and the worst he could say was no. "It took me awhile but I knew that hearing all that had gone on, Casey wouldn't have left me with just somebody and taking the chances that he had, he had to have complete trust in the person who was going to take this on." Alexander turned up the radio. Chuck continued. "Your son is a lot like you. He's a little gruff, straightforward, cynical and hard edged and tends to keep everyone at an emotional distance which is not like you so that means he had to get from his mother. He is very sarcastic and has a tendency to be a bit ironic. And rarely shows any sign of caring for anything other than his job and his country. And despite the name calling and over all tough exterior, he's human."

Chuck sat back getting the response he figured he'd get, just like his son Casey. Alexander eventually turned down the radio. "You're right. We have never had the typical father son relationship, as I was always away with the Marines and he grew up with his mother. I got back in touch with him when I met a young man named John Casey. I was stationed in Indonesia when a scrawny fresh faced kid walks in and reports to me. He was under the leadership of one Colonel James Keller at the time who I didn't care for as a person, but as a soldier he was one of the best. Chuck flashed on the name. "So when he told me who he was and I turned around I had to force myself not to react. There stood my son, my name, Alexander John Coburn being introduced as one John Casey. I saluted back then he waited till the room emptied. It was strange to see him like this. I closed the door and we sat down and discussed his assignment. We never really talked about his name change but I knew that he was in a field that he'd do a wonderful job in. And seeing him over the years I did but just small glimpses until he joined this team. He called me when he headed to LA. He laughed or more liked grunted when he'd said that he'd be in and out in a week. Well that was a year ago. When we chatted, he was a different man, softer."

"Softer, that's funny."

"Well we both know that he is not one to share his feelings."

"I'm surprised that he hasn't said anything about Sarah and I."

"In his own way he has. He got you here safely, he got her here as well and he hasn't stopped you from being together."

Chuck leaned back in his seat.

"Now what?"

"Until we find out who is asking questions we go off grid, then regroup."

A little while later Chuck spoke. "Thanks for taking care of me, for all of this."

"It's nice to be asked to help and you're a pretty good kid, and like Casey said, you didn't deserve this, none of this."

Alexander slowed down then turned into what looked like a pile of bush and a small wooden sign with a faded happy face painted on it. Chuck looked out the window and if you blinked you'd miss it.

Sarah looked straight ahead, she had heard of these places and when a team bugs out. She had never had to leave a place in any of her missions like this. She wondered what Chuck was thinking and she had rubbed her hands enough times on her jeans to last a lifetime.

"He's fine."

Casey glanced over at Sarah. "I know, it's just he's not use to this and now something I did or didn't do has put his life in danger again."

"We don't know that. But we can't take any chances either way."

Casey turned down the road and continued to follow Alexander. "So how did you get down here so fast?"

"I don't know, I was stuck in the lower 49 for what seemed like months not getting anywhere then something came over me and it made me head over the boarder. I did find the name Dennis Berry, he has a background in chemistry and life sciences. I wondered why he would be down here. Then that feeling led me down the road and those darn goats. I wasn't even near Chuck's location but I guess they went for a drive to get Chuck's mind on something else and they ended up in the same traffic jam."

"That feeling?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe it was something bigger than you and I. I just had you going in a direction that would keep you safe and maybe after I found out more on why they wanted him dead, I would then toss you a bone and have you rejoin Chuck."

"He does have that affect on people." Sarah laughed.

"I'm sorry for putting you through this and what I did to Chuck. And when and if he forgives me, we can continue being a team?"

Sarah turned in her seat to face him. "He's angry yes, hurt yes. He trusted you and you (slight pause) shoot him."

"I know."

"He's starting to understand the why, and that may take him some time. So what do you know?"

"Beckman is at the top of my list and now that Chuck flashed on this Decker guy. I was talking to Beckman and didn't hear this voice the first time but when my place was ransacked I grabbed my stash and listened to all the conversations I had with Beckman. The authorized ones and the not so authorized ones."

Sarah looked at Casey. "I listened to our conversation mapping out a timeline and I hear this voice at the end of our conversation. Her demeanour changed and the voice told her that they needed to talk and she quickly ended our conversation then Chuck flashes on the voice. So now we have three players."

"Well four and whoever they are bringing with them."

Alexander pulled up to a canopy of leaves and drove under them then got out looking back at Casey pulling in from behind. As the headlights turned off the area got really dark. The sky could be seen faintly through the umbrella of high trees. Sarah got out and joined Chuck sliding her hand in his. They followed Alexander, with his hands full of items, down a wooden walkway to another canopy of trees. He brushed away some branches with his shoulder clearing the view of a panel. He typed in a code and Chuck heard a click. Alexander opened the doors and pulled up on a breaker box. The entrance lit up with a row of lights that looked like garden lights on a string. Alexander led them into a larger room with a small kitchen, eating area and an area for what Chuck assumed was for debriefing or surveillance work. Alexander continued to turn lights on as Sarah faced Chuck. They keep to themselves till Sarah gives him a kiss then goes and helps Casey unload.

Chuck followed grabbing his bags and hers, following the same path several times more till they were all unloaded. Alexander looks over the boxes and totes. "Go find a tent and get settled. "There are other cots and blankets if you need more in the forth tent." Chuck nodded and grabbed their bags and headed towards a screened in porch door. Chuck swung it open and instantly he was transported into what looked like an army base. It reminded him of the tv show MASH. There were tents lined up on the left and right of this wooden path. The roof was covered with trees and large leaves but you were still able to see some of the sky which made Chuck feel like he was at summer camp. He looked at the tents and decided on the farthest one. It was staked on an angle that he figured would give him some privacy yet still see what was going on in the center area. He opened the screen type wooden door feeling the tent vibe. He dropped the bags and saw the folded up cots lined up against the far wall. He grabbed one stretching it out then laughed. "Man these men were tiny back then." Chuck grabbed three more and laid out two, setting them up vertically side by side then placed the third at one end horizontally. Then he walked over to the forth tent and grabbed a hand full of mattresses that were tightly sealed and he was glad he had brought his sleeping bags from the house. He walked back and laid out the mattresses then sat down. He looked around catching his shoulder giving it a slight rub. It still gave him pain and the reminder that things could have turned out differently. He heard a faint knock, looking up. There stood Casey. He was carrying his sleeping bag and extra blankets. Chuck stood up motioning for him to come in. "Alexander told me that you were out here. I brought your sleeping bag and some extra blankets." Chuck knew that Casey was trying and he appreciated it but there still was this huge void that was between them. Chuck was looking at the man that shot him, that was harder to get over but he was also the one who saved him as well with that bullet. Chuck walked closer and grabbed the sleeping bag. "You can put the blankets on the cots."

Casey grunted. "Yeah these cots are tiny."

"Aren't they." They both laughed.

Sarah came walking down with something cold to drink hearing laughing. One thing that she had not heard in a long time. She opened the door as Casey was coming out. "Just dropping some things off for him."

"That's okay." Casey held the door open as Sarah walked in then headed down the wooden path. Chuck gave her a grin. "That sounded like progress." As she walked over giving him a kiss. She put down the bottles then slid her arms inside and around him bringing him close. "That's better." He smiled. "It is for both." Chuck looked at her. "Missed you." "Missed you too." Their kiss started out slow then picked up. Their closeness evident. The emotion even with all that was going on. Sarah leaned back as Chuck started to nibble on her neck. The trickling of that tingling feeling that came along with it curled her toes. Chuck found her lips again slowly down to almost stopping but he stayed close to her. They held each other for awhile.

Sarah gave him one of the bottles twisting the cap off. He took a long swig then grabbed the mattresses laying them out as Sarah grabbed his sleeping bag opening it up and using it as the cover over the mattresses. Then she grabbed the single sheet and did the same adding the one of the blankets to the top. She laid the extra blanket on the edge of the cots. She stood looking at their creation. "Not bad." Chuck slid onto the cots lying on his back. He padded the area next to him as Sarah joined him. Sarah slithered towards him causing him to smile and she could read his mind and knowing that she was on the same page. She wouldn't mind at this point to turn the page but until she knew that this new threat was no longer she had to remain focus but as she crawled into his arms it was going to be harder than she thought. Sarah met his lips as she crawled closer even closer than she originally wanted to. Chuck slid his hand down her thigh and around her lower back. She could feel the heat from his hand touching her already sensitive skin. It felt good to feel him touch her after all that they had gone through and all the what if's. Trying not to think about the last six months and what Casey had told them there were a few nice moments, well sort of. As Chuck continued to kiss her, those were the moments she remembered during that time. The kiss in the warehouse, amazing but it ended up at the time as a bomb going off, then Bryce reappearing. The second thought was their first second date just a few months ago, when they were talking and Chuck leaned in. Sarah remembered how close he was and that they would soon kiss only to be interrupted with Chuck flashing and Casey crashing his car into the restaurant. She turned to look at him during this amazing make up session, it wasn't them making out it was them making up for lost time all because of this job.

Chuck rolled Sarah onto her back as he caressed her face with the back of her hand. "I love you."

Sarah rested her hand on his. "I love you too."

He lowered himself then kissed her once more. "We better go."

Sarah looked at him. "I guess."

Chuck slid to the edge of the cots standing up then reaching his hand back to grab her. "It's not bad for a bed." Sarah shook her head. "No you made it quite comfy."

Chuck and Sarah slipped back in as the room started to look liveable. Casey was flipping switches making large screens come on. Sarah urged Chuck to go lend a hand. It would keep Chuck busy and not thinking of the pain he was in. Chuck walked closer looking at Casey's findings. Casey looked up. "Can I?" Chuck grabbing some files. "Sure."

Chuck sat down looking at the first file. It was the timeline that Casey had been working on. Chuck stared at the six month timeline starting at Bryce's funeral. Casey had jotted down the highlights then Chuck scanned the weeks leading up to Bryce resurfacing. Chuck noticed that he had added Beckman's response to this as a hiccup, a huge hiccup. And Bryce's plan to keep the intersect out of Fulcrum's hand and that he knew that Chuck could handle this. Chuck continued to read his side notes, seeing Beckman in a different light. How she saw Chuck has the imbecile with the interest planted in his head to a national hero when it fit her. Even the missions that they went on and the threats like Tommy. Chuck slid down to the days leading to Longshore taking him. Chuck looked up at Casey.

"Who hired Tommy?"

Casey put down the wires that he was holding. He pulled out a chair and sat down.

He grabbed another piece of paper that was under the timeline. Chuck saw Tommy's picture and a picture of a woman named Alexis Winter. Chuck flashed. "Alexis Winter Fulcrum, and not a nice lady despite her looks."

"Right, but what is interesting is she ransacked my place looking for something and she happened to leave a print where I was able to get an id on her. She is CIA but a disgraced agent and after some digging I found a connection to her and Tommy. I believe that they were recruited by Fulcrum early last year around the time that Bryce stole the Intersect files and sent them to you. Beckman and Graham from what I could see were on the same side well sort of. Graham didn't trust Beckman completely so he sent Sarah out to LA for the same reason that Beckman sent me. To retrieve the Intersect files that we all assumed were just that, files and not what we know now. I am guessing that this Decker fellow that you flashed on could be connected as well. I'm still trying to find something on him but also stay off the grid so to speak. We don't need any more people looking for us. As far as Beckman knows, Sarah is on a mission and I am with my old troop on a black op mission, with no communication in or out."

"So who is after Sarah?"

"That I don't know."

Chuck looked back at the timeline. "Casey you mentioned that you weren't able to look into Decker?"

"Yeah, any unauthorized searches would alert them. Plus I am on a mission no calls in or out."

Chuck got up and looked around the room, alerting Sarah. Sarah came towards to where Casey was standing now. "What is he doing?"

Casey shook his head. "Not sure."

Chuck turned to face them. "This is some kind of army base."

"Sort of, we have the basic, but very off the grid, like ham radio then it got some analog hookup in the 90's."

Chuck got a big grin on his face. He sat down at one of the chairs facing a small computer screen. Sarah joined him. "What doing Chuck?"

Chuck giggled. "We are going analog."

Alexander stood by his son. "I see why you have so much invested in him. He's smart."

"And that's half of it." Casey and Alexander joined him.

"Alexander do you have access to a satellite." He nodded. "There are hundreds of satellites in operation. If we can find one that is close by we can piggy back on their feed using their ethernet. I remember setting up a program at Stanford that allowed me to access at the time an older satellite and what I know of the CIA, there are hundreds of feeds that are not being monitored." Alexander gave Chuck the coordinates. Chuck looked around. Alexander looked at him. "What do you need?"

Chuck stood up. "Modem or ham radio to get a frequency, ethernet cables." Alexander grabbed Casey and left. Sarah stood behind Chuck giving him a kiss on the top of his head. "What is this head of yours thinking?"

Then she sat down beside him. "Getting access to the CIA files and getting some answers."

"We don't have internet."

"That is what I am trying to do. Casey says that we can't let them know that we are poking around so we will do it another way."

Sarah looked up as Casey and Alexander brought in an old ham radio and some ethernet cable. "It's not exactly what you need but it's the closest thing we have."

Chuck got up and turned the ham radio around. "Do you have a ham radio call sign?"

Alexander got a big smile on his face. "I do but I haven't used it in awhile."

Alexander sat down and switched on the ham radio looking for a frequency. "This is YNA-YNZ Alpha Charlie looking for a frequency." The four waited only hearing static. Chuck grabbed a satellite phone, some walkie talkies. "I need a tuner and antenna analyzer." Alexander continued with trying to get a frequency. With in the hour Chuck had set up the whole system. He looked back at the three. "Here it goes." Chuck turned on his laptop followed by the antenna and the radio transceiver and the rest of the equipment. He then set up the ham radio to give them their very own amateur radio station. Chuck stood up giving Casey first hand access to the internet. "It's more or less like dial up. Press here."

Casey clicked on the dial up icon on Chuck's computer and the room echoed with the familiar dial up sound. "Love that sound." Chuck replied.

Sarah slid her arm in his. In seconds, the melodic sound opened up an intranet feed bouncing off a weather station satellite orbiting over the southern hemisphere. Casey grunted a laugh. "It actually works."

"Way to go Chuck." Alexander sitting down beside Casey. Sarah turned to face pulling him to the side and out of the way giving him a big kiss. "You did it."

Chuck kissed her back. Then smiled.

Chuck returned and leaned over Casey's shoulder. "You can use the laptop just like you would but there maybe times that the system goes down – just reboot. It could be cloud cover or the satellite moving. As long as we are using this feed any searches in the CIA will not be found and if it is we just shut it down. I am guessing that they have a system that tracks the usage of intranet and I wouldn't be surprised that certain files are quite secure."

Alexander continued to talk to some old buddy of his on the ham radio getting info on the happenings of the area. Chuck and Sarah listened for awhile but went outside. Sarah decided to grab a shower making Chuck look up. "You stay here."

"I can wash your back."

Sarah walked back and gave him a kiss. "I won't be long."

Sarah disappeared into one of the other tents. Chuck walked back to his tent grabbing her bag. He wondered how long it would take her to realise that she didn't take anything with her. He grabbed her bag and a couple of towels and face cloth from his bag and her toiletries bag to the tent. As he walked out there was Sarah walking towards the tent. "I guess that I need this."

Chuck laughed.

Sarah arrived back to the tent wearing a towel that got his attention. He was reading one of his comics when she walked in. She looked in her bag and pulled out a t shirt and shorts. Chuck looked over his comic as she slid her shorts on under her towel then grabbed the shirt slipping it over her head as the towel dropped exposing her back. Chuck sat up. She could feel his eyes on her. She slid the material down then turned to face him. He looked at the t shirt. He sat up as she walked towards him. "My shirt?"

"I took it as a reminder and one thing that Ellie wouldn't know that it was missing."

He took her hand. "It looks better on you."

He slid his hand along her cheek. She leaned in a gave him a kiss. He fell back as he took her with him. They covered up and fell asleep.

Sarah woke up before Chuck and headed into the main area. Alexander was making breakfast and she couldn't see Casey. "Morning."

"Morning Sarah."

Sarah sat down as he brought her a cup of coffee. "Chuck still sleeping?"

"Yeah, not going to complain about that one."

"His body is still recovering. How are you doing? How's the eyes?"

"Good, thanks for taking care of me. Where's Casey?"

Alexander stopped what he was doing, wiped his hands on the towel and sat down. "Casey went back into town. We got word from talking to my buddy last night that there was this guy asking questions."

"Same guy?"

"That we don't know so Casey is heading back there to draw him out."

"Then what?"

"Get some answers to who they are and why they are coming after you."

Alexander squeezed her hand then returned to making breakfast.

Casey drove into town pulling up to a lone truck sitting on the side of the road. Casey nodded as the man was familiar to him. Casey gave him a case of beer and the guy gave him a box of cigars and a piece of paper. "Thanks." The other car drove off as Casey proceeded back to the house. He pulled up along the house and scanned the area. He could sense that someone was watching. He slipped inside covering his face just in case they recognized him. He wore Alexander's jacket making whoever was out there to believe that he was Alexander and not Casey. Casey pulled up a chair and grabbed his rifle with the strongest scope on it and pointed it out the window to the south. He scanned left to right up and down finally getting a reflection of someone looking at him. It was subtle and they probably didn't even know that they did it. He kept his eye on that spot, then he got up and grabbed a heat sensor and got an image of one person lying low in the wooded area. The heat source was faint. Casey knew that they were well protected and had been sitting there for some time. He kept a watch for an hour then grabbed his gear and headed out the back and around keeping an eye on the house. He headed up the side of the hill towards the spot where he believed that they were sitting. He aimed his heat sensor still getting a heat source. He approached the spot when whoever was there sprung up and ran up the hill. Casey fired just as the person ran up the hill, the bullet caught the back of the shoe, lucky shot. Casey ran after the person but they disappeared. Casey walked back looking at the spot. He lifted the tarp and the camouflage. Whoever they were they had to been there for a few days and it looked like they were planning to be there for awhile. He looked for something to give him an idea who this person was but nothing he could use.

Casey headed back and waited. Then drove into town, grabbed a bite then headed back to the house to keep watch. Whoever they were they'll be back. He called Alexander and told him he'd be here for the night just in case.

Chuck and Sarah sat at the computer looking into Decker and the name Sarah had found. Sarah was glad that Chuck was up for this as it felt like old times, just the two of them. Chuck typed away. "Did you know that Alexander is Casey's father?"

Sarah looked at Chuck. "I started to wonder how he was connected. Really?"

"Yeah, I guess Casey's real name is Alexander John Coburn junior. When we were driving out here I looked at him and from the side I swear that I was looking at Casey and when I asked him he told me. I guess that Casey grew up with his mom most of his life as Alexander was with the Marines. Then one day Casey shows up at one of his dad's ops and the rest is history."

"So that is why he trusted him with you."

Chuck nodded. "Yeah, blood is thicker than water."

Sarah leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder.

The next day

Casey returned dropping his gear off and within an hour as if he knew, he wasn't alone. He let the team know, keeping Sarah and Chuck hiding. Casey kept to himself as Alexander waited just inside the compound. Chuck and Sarah watched from where they were a lone person creeping up the past the happy face sign, then up the drive way where they had parked. Whoever they were they were good but Casey was one step ahead. The lone person entered the compound triggering every sensor that he didn't know about. It gave Casey time to get ready. As the last door opened Casey reached for the wrists of the person and threw him onto the floor. Alexander pointed a gun. The person tried to reach for their side piece. "Try it I dare you." Alexander called out. Casey pressed his knee into the back of the person holding the persons hand backwards causing them some pain. Casey saw that this person wasn't going down without a fight. He also noticed the bullet hole tear on the back of the shoe. Alexander took the end of his gun and hit him across the face knocking him out. Casey zipped tied their hands. "Thanks." Casey locked the door and reset the alarm. Alexander bent down and grabbed the one arm as Casey grabbed the other. They dragged the person into the room as Sarah and Chuck came out. They sat them down. "Okay let see who you are."

Casey pulled on the mask. Chuck stared at the person as Sarah wondered who this person who was looking for her. As the mask came off Chuck froze and Sarah yelled "Bryce!"

The four looked at him. When he finally regained consciousness he looked at the people standing in front of him. When he set his eyes on Chuck he was shocked to see him. "You're alive?"

Chuck looked at Sarah. "Bryce what are you doing here?"

"I can say the same about you and how is Chuck alive and who are you."

Alexander looked at Casey. "You can take the ties off. This is Bryce Larkin."

"The Bryce Larkin that you told me about."

"The one and only."

Bryce got up and walked over to Chuck giving him a hug. "Man I am so glad you're not dead."

Chuck looked at him. "Thanks."

Then he turned to Sarah. Sarah backed off.

Casey looked at him. "So why are you here?"

Bryce walked the room then came back and sat at the table. The rest joined him. "I had been looking into Fulcrum when I heard that there was a kill order on Chuck. I tried to get back to LA but when one of the safe houses alarms had gone off I had to check it out. That is when I assumed that Sarah was there. "I was. But I don't remember any security in place." Bryce looked at her. "I put it in a few months ago when my cover was almost blown and had to hide for awhile. So no you wouldn't have known about it. Then I did some digging and to find out who was there and it led me to your car." Bryce looked at Chuck. "How? Kill orders are permanent."

Chuck kept quiet. "I shot him."

Casey looking at Chuck then at Bryce. "I made the decision to go against my orders and to do whatever I could to keep him safe. Knowing what they could do if they did it themselves. Then I had him brought here."

"And Sarah, how did you get here?"

"Mostly by fate. Didn't have any idea that he was here or that he was alive, until I got here."

"But the car, it was totalled."

"Goats." Chuck joined the conversation.

Bryce shook his head. Sarah continued. "Some farm truck tipped over causing a pile up, my tires froze in the rocks and I lost control and drove into the ditch and Chuck and Alexander were out for a drive and came across the accident, where they found me."

The four continued to talk with Bryce getting a little more intel than what they had. Casey and Bryce got up and headed over to the set up that Chuck had set up. Sarah joined them a Chuck stayed back at the table. Alexander left then came back. "Bryce a friend or foe?"

"Depends on the day, or lately when things are going great between Sarah and I. He shows up. And he was the one who got me kicked out of Stanford, another long story."

"So a frenemy."

"Sure."

"Well I don't think that he has a chance with Sarah. She knows where her heart lies." Chuck looked up catching her eyes. She smiled warming his heart.

"I hope so." Alexander got up and squeezed his shoulder. Chuck joined the group but after a few hours of hearing about his life being in jeopardy he got up and left. He headed outside and headed towards his tent. The skies opened up giving a symphony of sounds as it trickled down into the area. It was nice to hear, almost calming, despite the heat. He entered his tent and stripped down to his boxers and laid down on his cots. He could hear the four of them talking faintly in the background. His eyes got heavy eventually closing.

He opened his eyes looking at the silhouette of Sarah. He sat up. "What's wrong?"

"Sorry to wake you."

Chuck stretched out his hand. Sarah walked over and sat down beside him. "You left?"

"I had enough, kinda weighs on you when all you hear is that they wanted you dead."

"We weren't trying to dwell on it. But I guess I can see how it sounded. I'm sorry."

They stared at each other. Sarah got up and straddled his hips. "Remember when I asked you to trust me."

"Yeah." As Chuck rested his hands on her hips. "I want more. I want you and none of this matters, I am so happy that your still here."

"I'm not going anywhere." Chuck slid his hands around her neck caressing her skin. Their lips met. Sarah leaned into him allowing his hands to be wrapped around her. He sat up with her as he slid his hand under her shirt lifting the shirt over her head. He looked at her. "You sure?"

Sarah nodded. "I did say when we were ready. She looked at his shoulder and placed her lips on the wound. Then dragged her lips up towards his. Chuck unclasped her bra exposing her beautiful chest. "Wow?"

Sarah giggled slightly. Chuck wrapped his arms around her kissing her hard then laying her down on the cots. They kissed, held each other and caressed their bodies adding kisses to enhance their touches. Chuck slid between her legs as they became one and at that moment nothing outside the tent mattered. The rain continued to fall giving them a soundtrack as they made love. Sarah held him close as he made love to her. A moment that might not have been if he wasn't rescued and brought here. Sarah rolled Chuck onto his back looking down at him. His hands still on her and his fingers doing some amazing things. Who knew that making love to Chuck Bartowski was going to feel like this. Sarah looked down at Chuck looking into his eyes despite the tent being somewhat dark. She stared at him. "I love you." Chuck sat up as Sarah wrapped her legs around his hips. "I love you." Chuck wrapped his arms around her, kissing her, falling hard for her.

Sarah woke up laying on her back staring at a parrot who also just woke up. The sun was peeking through the canopy of leaves giving a halo of light over the compound. She could hear him sleeping and had to pinch herself for how she was feeling this morning. Last night was beyond her wildest dreams and something she'd never regret knowing how things could have ended up. She flipped over looking at him, this specimen this handsome man who rocked her world. She laid on her side dragging her fingers over his warm skin, drawing figure eights with her finger tips through his chest hairs. She had seen glimpses of him without a shirt but they usually were so brief she had to use her imagination to finish the rest. Moving onto her elbow she kissed his lower rib cage then dragged her lips over his lower stomach. She raised herself up to continue kissing him when she heard him. "Don't stop on my account." Chuck moved to his side and faced her. She fell back as his lips met hers. "I won't." She answered through the many kisses. She pulled him onto her, holding him close as they started again. He obliged and welcomed the early morning love making session. Chuck fell to his back as Sarah nestled inside his warm embrace. "That was…" "Amazing…" They both laughed.

Chuck looked at his watch. "We better get up." Sarah rolled over to the other side. Chuck followed sliding his arms around her. "Why?"

"If we don't they will come and find us and I would like to keep this just between us for a little while longer."

"Casey doesn't know does he?"

"As far as Alexander knows he does and that is why you're here. He told me the other day that Casey has done all of this just to keep us all safe and what has transpired between us, I am thinking he knows."

"So then why."

Chuck rolled onto his back. "Bryce?"

Chuck didn't answer. Sarah grabbed his chin and made him look at her. "He has nothing on you, nor will he ever have. You are my present and my future. And so what if he found out, who is he going to tell." Chuck looked at her. "Chuck, last night was amazing and far beyond what I expected. I hope that we are in a good place now."

"We are. And I like that you're still in my life."

"Always."

Chuck brought her close as they kissed a few more times.

Sarah rolled out of bed. "Get up and grab a shower, there are two stalls there. And if you obey maybe later we can share one." Chuck got up and grabbed a towel watching Sarah dig through her bag. She tossed a few things. As Chuck walked past her. "If you need something to wear, grab a pair of boxers and a shirt. We can do some laundry later."

Sarah turned around. "I didn't think of packing more than a few things."

"Neither did I, Casey packed for me. So I have plenty."

Sarah tugged on the towel that was secure around his waist. She eyed the bed then looked up at him. "Tempting." Chuck laughed as she grabbed a pair of boxers and her other things and slipped out ducking through tent number three then heading to the showers. Chuck followed.

Chuck entered the main area about a half hour later seeing Sarah. She smiled then went back to eating. Chuck walked over and grabbed a plate and a cup of coffee. Alexander and Casey walked in conversing. Chuck looked around seeing that they were missing one, he spoke. "Where's Larkin?"

"Still sleeping." Casey spoke. "We ended things pretty late."

Sarah looked at Casey. "So where do we go from here?"