A/N: Back again! Another cannon related chapter. The only relation to canon in this chapter is the nuclear codes thread, and the truth serum altered to fit my story, but most of it is entirely new.

My goals in writing this story will become clearer in this chapter.

Reviews are always appreciated😊

Don't own Chuck!

Chuck Versus the Real Undercover Relationship

Chapter 4: The Truth Paradox

When Chuck thought back to his and Sarah's first date and her asking if he had any secrets, that was a lie. Not because of the computer that he was unaware that was in his head at the time. Chuck was a genius hacker with a notorious reputation. Built-in high school from both practice and necessity (helping Morgan pass Math and Science) he became known as the Piranha. He was so great because he was always a subtle hacker, never left a digital signature behind which was more difficult these days. He was an expert on all things related to cyberspace. His reputation as the Piranha was a game in high school now he would assume the identity on a real-world scale.

Chuck and Sarah were breaking from another early sparring session the next day and she brought up the mystery that surrounded it. She sounded extremely intrigued, "When will I see your hacker reputation?"

Chuck grinned folding his arms, "You're curious?"

Sarah smiled, "Of course, I don't like surprises."

Chuck nodded, "do you have a computer?"

Sarah nodded, "My room, it's a CIA computer though."

Chuck's smile widened, "Alright then!"

Within a little while at the CIA computer, Chuck turned it into a workstation ready for hacking: he found the IP address, configured his own series of ghost proxy servers, found Sarah's company credentials, and set up his layer of VPN encryption."

Sarah watched Chuck with intense interest; when he finished she sounded in awe of him, "All that and you haven't even started yet?"

Chuck laughed, "That stuff, that was just defense; hacker 101 is to protect yourself from getting hacked before you start playing offense. Now is there something you want me to find inside the CIA database?"

Sarah's did not even hesitate, "can you find the last known location of Kieran Ryker? My first and only handler…"

Chuck nodded, "I can, why?"

Sarah was serious, "He tried to claim Molly, going rogue in the name of her inheritance. He will do it again."

Chuck nodded, "This will take a bit, hacking takes more time than what is seen on TV and movies." He cracked his fingers and set to work.

Technically he was not hacking it because he used her credentials, but he made sure that the digital signature of her login looped back to an endless amount of ghost IP addresses and not the one assigned to the computer. He needed to dig deeper and wanted to make sure accessing classified information would not implicate her, so the steps Chuck took earlier made it look like the trace signature originated from multiple places abroad.

Sarah watched for an hour as Chuck searched the CIA mainframe; when he got to the archives section, he ran a search for Kieran Ryker, his personnel folder was a large chunk of missions abroad, but nothing suspicious and nothing related to Hungary, he seemed clean. Then, near the end of the folder was a file entirely encrypted.

Chuck stopped to look at Sarah he was blunt, "Good news is there is definitely something here; it will take a while to decrypt, I try to just look for patterns if I need a password, but there is encryption to the teeth."

Sarah narrowed her eyes; "can you crack it?"

Chuck nodded folded his hands thinking, "I can, from this point forward I will need to make some digital noise. The price of the internet is everything leaves traces. Hacking is a lot like magic; you need to misdirect and distract to be successful. I prepared for that, but at the very least they will know someone was poking around."

Sarah nodded permitting Chuck to continue, "Do it."

Chuck nodded, he took a moment and then pulled out a blank disc labeled "The Piranha." After inserting the disc, he ran the program. A DOS screen came on screen Chuck typed several commands and then let the program run.

Chuck turned back to Sarah as she asked a question, "I thought black screens on a computer meant death?"

Chuck smiled at Sarah's effort, "That is a blue screen of death or BSOD for short; black screens are just windows that execute programs without loading a graphical user interface in Windows; other systems are slightly different.'

Sarah nodded and continued, "What is it doing?"

Chuck continued proudly, "Checking the webpage for encryption and returning information so I can decipher the pattern."

Sarah was curious, "Where did you get it?"

Chuck grinned smiling, "I designed it…coding is hard, but I know a thing or two" He showed her the front of the label on the case; the Pirhana.

Sarah smiled highly impressed, "Chuck that's incredible…you were in high school, and you think you have nothing to offer."

He shrugged her off and turned back to the computer, "Looks like it's done. Alright; SSL, 256-bit encryption, alphabetic, seven letters, and the only commonality is the second and sixth letter are both U. I was hoping for more than that…there's one other thing I can do with this."

Chuck typed another syntax into the command line and after a minute the program started isolating the encryption on the webpage and scanning it against the 26 letters of the alphabet.

Sarah was still in awe as Chuck turned back to her, "You are incredible Chuck, far above our analysts."

Chuck smiled modestly, "Hasn't done much for me."

Sarah sat on his lap and put her arms around his neck, "I think I can help with that." She got up and pulled an official-looking document from a drawer in her dresser. The Stanford seal was on it. She continued, "I think this is long overdue."

Chuck took it from Sarah uncertainly, "My diploma?"

Sarah nodded with a smile in confirmation, "Yes, you were expelled unfairly."

Chuck wore an appreciative smile, "Well thanks it means a lot even if you did have to create a fake."

Sarah smiled encouragingly, "it's real, Chuck."

He stared at her, "Wait, what?"

Sarah debunked his disbelief with a smile, "After you saved Fleming Casey and I convinced Stanford to erase your expulsion and credit your senior year. Fleming backed me, not that he needed persuading since you saved his life, but Casey and I insisted that your exceptional field service ought to count for something and Stanford agreed."

Chuck smiled, "And by exceptional you mean, oh I don't know; my bomb disarming skills?"

Sarah grinned, "Electrical Engineering."

Chuck continued, "Running away from a lethal crossbow assassin?"

Sarah locked eyes with him, "Physical Education, you earned it Chuck."

Chuck looked light and happy. He grinned, "I love you!"

Sarah kissed him slowly and purposefully. A few minutes later the computer chimed. Chuck reluctantly turned his attention to the computer again. He sounded encouraged, "Fulcrum, that's the password, let's see what this guy is hiding." Chuck sighed a few minutes later, "Well, this is the Hungary file. I have a hunch too…" He ran the password fulcrum against the redacted file and most of it unscrambled.

Sarah studied the file with uncertainty, "I think Fulcrum is the name of the splinter-cell."

Chuck nodded agreeably, "it says he still lives in Langley."

Sarah's eyes widened, "That's impossible, he tried to kill me and kidnap that baby."

Chuck folded his hands, "Ryker probably has friends in high places."

Sarah sighed much longer this time, "Ryker is part of Fulcrum, I was afraid they were still looking for Molly and I was right."

Chuck looked at her worrisomely, "That means a rogue group inside the CIA is looking for me too."

Sarah took Chuck's hand with a determined reply, "I know I am just one person, but I'm the best at what I do so Fulcrum will have to go through me and I'm a pretty good wall. Can you identify other names?"

Chuck shook his head, "I stick to one rule, don't spend too much time where you shouldn't; get it in, get what you need and get out. We have enough for now." He did a bit more tinkering and stood up to stretch a few minutes later. "You won't need to worry about getting caught because I made sure it's like nothing ever happened."

Sarah nodded but was quiet, "I don't have a good feeling about this situation Chuck; that baby is an orphan, but she is mine. I rescued her, I cared for her, and as much as I tried to shake the feeling she is my daughter."

Chuck hugged Sarah to his body. He was quiet too, "I know, we will figure it out. That boring job I have, I have to get there now."

Sarah grinned, "Duty calls if you can stay in it a bit longer I might be able to do something about that."

Chuck peaked smiling curiously, "Really? Well, what's a little more time when I've already survived five years."

II

There was no excitement for the rest of that week apart from continued training and a bit more careful hacking from Chuck. The next Monday, Chuck, and Sarah went out with Ellie and Awesome for Sushi. Devon went prying as they ate at the quiet last little diner.

Devon's question was personal, and his expression showed he enjoyed catching them off guard. "So, when are you two getting married already?"

Chuck shot back defensively, "I could ask you the same thing?"

Devon laughed lightly, "Sorry, I just figured you fell in love in a month so married in two seemed right."

Ellie shook her head, "Devon that's none of our business! Since he brought it up though?

Chuck turned the tables again, "We can't all move as fast as you guys, are you ever going to retire that sweater, Ellie?

Ellie was wiping sauce of the sleeve and responded defensively, "This is my lucky sweater."

Devon pulled her in close, "More like my lucky sweater, was wearing it when I met her in an epidemiology class."

Ellie smiled brightly, "He told me that LL Bean must've stolen the color from my eyes because it belonged to me."

Sarah smiled, "that's almost as good as what Chuck said to me on our first date."

Chuck shook his head shyly, "oh don't bring that up…they will never let me forget it."

Sarah grinned in a flattering way, "it was ironically sweet and funny. She plunged in brightly, "I warned him I may come with baggage and he said he could be my baggage handler." Sarah let her head fall on Chuck's shoulder.

Devon laughed while Ellie gushed, but neither understood the irony and Devon said as much, "That's funny but Chuck's got his own baggage he can't handle so why is that ironic?"

Chuck dropped his voice some, "Because Sarah is my CIA assigned handler."

Devon recalled with a slow smile of comprehension, "Oh right, I try to stay completely out of that because I am a bad liar. So, is that why you haven't tied the knot?"

They gave an awkward smile. Sarah gushed at Chuck and then responded sadly, "we want to, but it would cause well…baggage."

Ellie raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

Sarah gave an explanation with a dull tone and annoyed expression. Her eyes were daggers. "subtle way of saying unhealthy emotional attachment with an asset or mark is against regulations."

Ellie smiled, "He has a gift my brother to affect people."

Sarah tilted her head against Chuck's shoulder, "He certainly affected me. Sarah stared at Chuck in deep thought and then she spoke again with comprehension, "Which is why I need to do this properly even though I said it once already." Sarah stepped off the chair and took Chuck with her.

They were standing in the middle of the diner. Chuck looked at her uncertainly, "What?"

Sarah dropped to a knee and took Chuck's hand. She was not emotional, but the happiness in her expression was like nothing Sarah ever felt in her entire life and it came through her words which were quiet, "You are my gift. A gift I never thought I would want or need, but I know I need you. I can't set a date, but I'm asking you anyway because I need to be your wife forever. Marry me, Chuck?"

Chuck smiled and dropped to her level. She was in dressed down clothes; a green top and jeans. Even when she was not trying she was beautiful. "I was always going to marry you, but since you beat me to officially asking the question; yes!" They kissed and stood up together lip locked for quite a while.

Devon smiled, "Get a room, but points for doing that Sarah."

Ellie rolled her eyes, getting up to hug them both as the diner clapped in congratulations. "Ignore him, I'm so happy for you both. You could just sneak off you know."

Chuck shook his head holding Sarah's hand, "if I do that before Morgan even knows about it he would never speak to me again."

Devon agreed, "That would not be awesome."

Ellie shrugged dropping her voice again, "What are you going to do about the asset, handler thing?"

Sarah sighed, she shared a somber look with Chuck, "I don't know…that won't matter if I have to break cover, but things likely will have gotten dangerous if that happens. We don't know much about fulcrum except a few names: Tommy, Edgar and then there is him." Sarah hand and expression tightened just thinking about Ryker. Sarah smiled at Devon, "Thank you, I did it because I need Chuck way more than he needs me."

Chuck shrugged shaking his head, "You keep saying that, but it's just not true. He squeezed her tightly, "Don't worry about Ryker, he won't find her, at least not easily. I created a fake trail over the last few days, I just hope he followed it."

Sarah raised her eyebrows, "Fake trail to where, and how?"

Chuck smiled, "Alaska, and I have a good amount of knowledge about fake communications, and he doesn't keep himself hidden in cyberspace."

Sarah smiled, "I love you Chuck Bartowski, and that kind of thing proves my point." She kissed him again.

Chuck smiled, "You guys good to get going?" They nodded.

There was commotion outside on the street a few minutes later. A man was stumbling on the street and looked on the verge of passing out. Ellie set to work at once, checking him over and decided he was in grave condition and needed the hospital. Unseen by anyone he stashed something in the pocket of her sweater before falling unconscious.

Chuck was examining the ID when he flashed on nuclear weapons-related info. His expression turned worrisome, "That is my sister, Elanor Faye Bartowski saving that bad dudes life." A second ominous man obscured by the crowd seemed alert to Chuck's words pocketed a device and faded into the background.

III

They saw Ellie in the ER, but that did not stop Chuck from panicking about his sister's safety while he paced back and forth.

Chuck's voice always sped up when he panicked and now was no exception. "Hey, hey do you think I should call the hospital again?"

Sarah was both sympathetic and realistic, "You've called twenty times in the past 10 minutes, I'm sure Ellie is fine."

Chuck was no less anxious, "I know, but what about that sweaty nuclear guy. I flashed on that guy and what if she's in danger?"

The door opened, and Ellie came in, she looked tired but otherwise okay. She was somber as Chuck closed her in a frantic hug. "We tried everything, but nothing worked. They think he was poisoned or had an allergic reaction or something?"

Chuck wasted no time, "I'm betting poisoned I flashed on his card."

Ellie looked puzzled, "Why does that sound wildly inappropriate…"

Sarah gave a small smile, "Sorry, that's the term for when the Intersect gets triggered by surroundings in the environment and Chuck recalls the information attached to the trigger.

Chuck pressed on, he's a nuclear scientist guy."

Ellie inhaled sharply, "What?"

Sarah shook her head smiling. "he is freaking out, we will confirm your flash in the morning."

Devon finished on his stationary bike and chimed in brightly, "You are staying the night to celebrate then?"

Chuck looked anxious, I'm too worked up to celebrate or sleep." He left the apartment without a word.

Ellie was concerned, "Is he okay?"

Sarah sighed, "Anytime something spy related happens his PTSD kicks in again, I've been there. My place is more of a training dojo, I think it helps him cope."

Ellie's next words came as though giving a final blessing to their de-facto engagement, "Married or not, with you he will be just fine, we're going to bed."

Sarah smiled back genuinely. "good night guys." When they disappeared, Sarah headed out the front door, after her de-facto fiancé.

IV

Chuck was pummeling the punching bag when Sarah came into view. He was sweating to the point that his blue dress shirt collected most of it.

Chuck was insistent, "I'm fine." He started again on the punching bag.

Sarah stood next to Chuck crossing her arms. She smiled with her mouth closed and then spoke gently, "I know, but the punching bag is taking a beating, and as much as I enjoy seeing you soaked with sweat. Sarah curled her mouth slightly. "Stop and take a breather."

Chuck shrugged sighing as he spoke, "I'm sorry, it's just there is always something, I get like four hours of sleep a night…the PTSD is annoying and makes me feel even more pathetic and I didn't think that was possible with how my life has gone the last five years."

Sarah left momentarily and came back with a washcloth. She removed his shirt. Her words were empathetic as she started slowly wiping his face. Chuck, the last thing I would call you is pathetic, so I don't want to hear you calling yourself that. She smiled with a blunt expression, "Consider that an order."

Chuck nodded with a smile, "you don't have to stay up with me you know."

Sarah shook her head as she moved on to his chest, "Chuck, marriage is for better or worse, so this is good practice. Besides, if sleepless nights because of PTSD are your worst then sign me up!"

Chuck held her free hand gently, "And you still think you need me more than I need you, not even close."

Sarah smiled with a dismissive expression, "You won't win this argument…I don't think you know how much you are saving me. It sounds funny to admit this, but every second I am not around you I feel the spy in me try to claw her way out; I need her, but I don't want to be her. I just want to be Sarah."

Chuck locked eyes with her, "Spy is what you do, not who you are."

Sarah finished wiping Chuck down, and then smiled, "you helped me figure that out. So, you'll get a handle on the PTSD, but for now, let's get some training in, it might help you sleep if you're exhausted."

Chuck nodded, she changed clothes earlier and was now wearing sweatpants and sports bra. He welcomed Sarah plan to tire him out, "What's next on the list?"

Sarah walked over to the equipment and took down two bow staffs tossing one to Chuck, "fighting with a weapon." She brandished the bow staff diagonally in front of herself.

Chuck eyed it with an unsure look, "Are you sure?"

Sarah nodded smiling, "You've succeeded with hand to hand combat and are more than adept with most specialized Kenpo techniques. If you aren't tired this is the best way to get you there."

Chuck smiled, "I can think of something else to do."

Sarah's mouth curled again, "Maybe when I run out of training ideas. Are you ready?"

Chuck looked unprepared. "How am I supposed to use something this long? It's almost as tall as I am?" He fiddled with his bow staff in the fingers of his right hand.

Sarah boosted him, "Chuck your muscle memory is just as impressive as your ability to retain verbal and written information. That means you just need practice, brace yourself." He imitated her form and nodded.

Sarah soon met Chuck at his end of the dojo and they clashed weapons. Chuck only met her first strike. The second met his right shoulder.

Sarah pulled back from any force but held her position. She was instructive but calm. "Chuck just because you're holding a weapon doesn't mean footwork doesn't matter. Look down."

Chuck did, sure enough, his feet were completely uneven. He sighed, "It's too awkward."

Sarah shook her head offering help, "you're focusing too much on the bow staff in your hand and forgetting about your feet on the ground. She took a step back and continued, "let me see how you move with the bow staff for a minute."

Chuck did as she asked. His feet were out of whack with every swing he made.

Sarah smiled leaning against her staff, "You're having trouble with the extra weight."

Chuck scratched his head, "it's fine just to hold, but when I swing it around I swear it gets heavier."

Sarah thought for a moment and spoke plainly, "Your dress pants and footwear probably aren't helping things, take them off and try again."

Chuck smiled suspiciously, "Seems like you have other motives here?"

Sarah smiled back, her words were blunt but playful, "Chuck if that were true we would already be in my room." She smiled in an appraising way as he stripped to his boxers. She nodded warningly, "Brace yourself again." He did just that.

One strike, two, three, four…this time their attacks collided from different directions. It was on the fifth strike—when Chuck took a top-down approach with his swing—that Sarah won out again. She was impressed even as she forced his staff backward, so he was holding it above his head.

Again, Sarah held her position with a satisfied expression. Her tone was praising, "Great job Chuck."

He responded pointedly, "This takes so much energy."

Sarah's mouth formed a closed grin, "So does sex, but you built up stamina for that pretty quickly, so I think you'll be fine." She broke position and relished his flustered reaction with a smile. "Let's keep going."

Chuck recovered with an ironic expression, "That's a lot more fun to hear when we're having sex."

Sarah leaned against her staff with an amused look. She saw an opportunity to motivate Chuck, "Tell you what, if you win I'm all yours." She set herself again waiting for him.

It took four more rounds, but Chuck did win and cashed in Sarah's offer. Afterward, he got his first full night sleep since their first time together two months ago. He was glad his de-facto fiancé was with him.

V

That morning Chuck was at the Buy More, lost in thought at the Nerd Herd desk when Morgan's voice hit his ears. He looked Chuck in the face with concern.

Morgan was sympathetic, "Dude, I can't tell if you're bored or exhausted."

Chuck snapped out of his trance. There was dullness in his expression and response," Probably both, You're back from lunch on time. Don't you usually drag that out as long as possible?"

Morgan smiled sadly, "True, but Big Mike's working me to the bone dude. Wants me to find a gift for Tang's wife. I don't have time for this. I am a very busy man-boy."

Chuck knew Morgan hated Tang and took the opportunity to pass on some spy wisdom to Morgan that would be helpful to his situation. He turned it into a teachable moment. "Morgan think of it as an opportunity to learn something you might otherwise never know about our freakish leader."

Morgan nodded, "Alright, but enough with me, something's different about you, and I'm guessing it's because of a certain blonde Valkyrie?"

Chuck seemed uncomfortable about sharing the life-altering nature of his relationship with Sarah. Morgan "Buddy the thing is, we kind of promised to get married."

Morgan grinned, "Afraid she's going to leave? I would be too."

Chuck's voice went up, "What? No, I'm serious!"

Morgan chuckled, "I'd bet on Ellie and Awesome before either of us dude."

Sarah entered the conversation moments later. She spoke casually, "You'd lose a lot of money on that."

Morgan instantly became flustered, "Do you make a habit of sneaking up on people?"

Sarah smiled, but there was tension there, "You know Morgan, the biggest mistake people make is jumping to conclusions. I'm the one who proposed."

Morgan looked terrified, "I put my foot in my mouth a lot."

Her voice returned to normal, "I don't mean to freak you out Morgan, I don't let Chuck think he's beneath me, so I'm not going to let anyone else think he is."

Morgan stared and then responded, "You really proposed?"

Sarah nodded, "You seem surprised?"

Morgan was at a loss for words. Luckily, Tang's wife entered the store. Morgan took off toward her so fast you'd think he was running at high speed.

Chuck smiled, "I don't think he is used to anyone taking me seriously; he was never flustered by Jill. Something tells me he will have trouble letting go; I feel a little guilty I can't say anything to him about the other half of things."

Sarah sighed in a quiet voice, "Morgan is what agency security experts would call…an unpredictable whistleblower risk. I don't think it would happen intentionally, but he's got the same kind of unpredictability as Carina which is ironic."

Chuck was in sad agreement, "I get it, but it still sucks."

Sarah gave a consoling smile and whispered again. "Turns out our deceased nuclear guy handled programming and storing our nuclear codes on an electronic skeleton key. We think an unidentified person killed him to get his hands on the codes, but Beckman wants you with us at the morgue to investigate the body."

Chuck shrugged, "At least this is more exciting than the Buy More."

VI

The trip to the morgue did not yield the skeleton key. It did reveal the cause of death, which was from exposure to a doom like truth serum called pentothal. That meant that the unknown culprit was still actively looking for them. Later that evening Chuck, Sarah and Casey were discussing what to do next.

Chuck seemed irritated and anxious, "If this guy is looking for nuclear codes why hasn't he shown his face?"

Casey sneered slightly, "People don't advertise that Chuck, I'm going to listen to courtyard surveillance for something to do. I put what's left of the surveillance on an isolated frequency Walker, still can't believe you have a cybernetic implant."

Sarah nodded turning to Chuck, "People slip up. Eventually, we have to be patient."

Casey's face tightened, "I'm getting cross feedback, somebody is eavesdropping."

Sarah raised her eyebrows "Why would somebody come here?"

Chuck muttered inaudibly and then turned to the others, "I announced Ellie's whole name to that street. Whoever is after the codes could easily drag her into something worse when she was doing her job."

Casey's jaw clenched. "I think they already have, the direction of the signal is coming from your apartment, not to mention I caught the tail end of some pretty random bickering between her and Devon, that sounds more like she's hyperventilating."

Chuck sighed, oh boy—"

Sure enough, Ellie was incredibly hyper, and a geyser of truth. She spoke extremely fast, "Chuck!" She turned energetically to Sarah, "When people would ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up he would always say the same thing, big boy; how cute is that. I can tell that he is a big boy because he is marrying a big, big girl. Casey raised his eyebrows.

Devon was apologetic, "Sorry guys, she's all over the place. I'm thinking she drank some more than usual when I wasn't looking."

Ellie's ramble continued, "Chuck you need a haircut it is starting to make funny animal shapes." She stared aimlessly. "When you were seven I told you that burglars stole money from your piggybank, that was a lie it was me. At the time I felt it was very important for me to have a New Kids fanny pack."

Sarah was growing concerned now, "Ellie are you okay? Has anyone come by here today?"

Ellie looked at Sarah with a squint, "A man was asking questions about the guy I tried to save and then he left." She noticed Casey come into the foreground. She grinned, "Those PJ's make you look like Dennis the Menace's father." She gave an awkward laugh and then passed out on the couch.

Casey moved his equipment to Ellie where it pinged rapidly. They found a bug near her ear. He responded with dull shock, "Yeah, she was poisoned."

Devon's eyes widened, "Whoa that is not awesome, why would somebody do that to your sister?"

Sarah sighed, "The guy she helped yesterday was a programmer for our nuclear codes, and whoever bugged her is still looking for them."

Chuck stood up, "We'll worry about that later, let's get her to Westside Medical.

They nodded Devon paler than the others.

VII

Outside Ellie's hospital room Chuck was cracking from the stress of his sister getting poisoned. Devon stayed by her bedside.

Chuck's panic was clear, "This is not good, Ellie's only got a few hours left. We have to get the bad guy trade us the antidote for the codes."

Sarah gripped his hand gently, "Chuck our medical teams are trying to identify the poison to create an antidote."

Casey was gentler than usual, "Even if we knew where the codes were that's not a practical plan; can't risk the bad guy endangering millions of lives for the one.

Chuck completely objected, "it's my sister we're talking about, we can't just sit around and watch her die!"

Sarah noted Chuck's passion and tried to reexamine things, "The only clue we have so far is the bug we found on Ellie?"

Casey cautioned holding a device in his hand, "Soundproof box don't want the bad guy knowing we're on to them."

Chuck thought for a moment and then hastily took the box speaking quickly, "Found the codes, can't believe where they hid them. Going to keep them on the lady doctor until I can move her safely."

Casey seemed surprised and angry. "Now the bad guy is going to come right to us, not bad Bartowski. Ever do that again and I'll kill you!"

Chuck shrugged, "Excuse me, while I go visit with my unconscious, dying sister." Casey relented with a passive grunt."

While Chuck visited Ellie's bedside he happened across the codes in her lucky sweater, which Devon brought with him. At the same time, her attacker fell for Chuck's ploy, cornered by Sarah and Casey in disguise. Chuck rushed in during his ultimatum, exposing all four of them to the poison. The shock allowed the pursuer to flee with both the codes and the antidote. Quick thinking by Casey—thanks to a crutch throw—made him drop the latter, which Sarah caught before it hit the ground. They decided to forgo the bad guy and worry about the more imminent threat of death by poison, for which the potential casualties increased from one to three people.

Sarah handed Chuck the vile urgently, "Here!"

Chuck looked at it and shakes his head, "No, no it's for Ellie."

Sarah shook her head too with conflicted eyes, "I'm sorry, I can't let you die, Chuck!"

Chuck challenged her though he was also conflicted, "I can't take it knowing that Ellie will die and both of you have been poisoned too!"

Casey cut to the chase, "You're a good person Chuck and I respect that, but I've got a job to do, so take it before I shove it down your throat!"

Chuck gave a quick sigh, "Okay, okay I'll do it. He suddenly spilled his guts, "I'll pretend to agree to take it and then I'll run like hell to my sister's room and make her take it."

Casey tightened, "You do that I'll give chase, point my gun at you, threaten to pull the trigger if you don't take it!"

Chuck challenged him, "Would you really shoot me?"

Casey was fighting against his own face, "No."

Chuck was blunt, "Yeah, don't waste a bullet we're already dead. I'm saving my sister." Chuck rushed to his sister's room and fed her the antidote.

Ellie came around while Chuck, Sarah, and Casey sat rather dejected on the floor outside her room. Chuck was very reflective and subdued, "You know if I had a blog this would be a pretty productive month for me: save my old college professor, check. Hack the CIA central database check. Save my sister's life, check."

Casey raised his eyebrows, "You hacked the CIA's central database?" Casey was extremely impressed.

Chuck was briefly resistant and did not explicitly confirm the question, "the piranha; found that Fulcrum is the splinter cell and the reason Bryce screwed up my life, the second time anyway."

Sarah wore a saddened expression, "I'm am so sorry about all of this."

Chuck sighed, "It's okay, it's okay; I've lived a pretty good life. I mean how many guys can say they landed a helicopter or saved the lives of innocent people?"

Casey interjected, "Courageous and honorable members of the United States military."

Chuck continued casually, "Plus, I've gotten pretty good at fighting like a spy. Even won against Sarah."

Sarah confessed, "I let you win, we just got engaged and I wanted to have sex, mark the occasion."

Casey's face turned sour and surprised, "So you two can't keep your peanut butter and chocolate apart. Compromised is putting it lightly. What do you mean engaged? I don't see a ring. Besides, the brass won't like that."

Sarah sighed, "it was about someday, and I stop listening to the government when they wanted to keep Molly and Chuck as property. Now the CIA is a means to an end."

Casey was direct, "What's that?"

Sarah was blunt again, "A normal life."

Casey looked at her seriously. "You really think this won't blow up in your face? What will you do if it does?"

Sarah was blunt, "Kill anyone who tries to stop me from protecting the people I love, but that doesn't matter since we're dying."

Chuck chimed in again, "At least you don't have to kill me, Casey. Hey, my silver-lining is I don't need to work out my five-year plan again, I can streamline that down to about five hours."

Chuck turned his head and spotted a device on the floor. After picking it up he flashed on all the bad guy's information and since the device was a tracker it would lead them right to him.

VIII

Eventually, they found Riordan Payne's apartment, knocking on his door. He responded casually, "Who is it?"

Chuck spilled his guts because of the truth serum, "The NSA, CIA and me; who's a little tougher to explain but…" Casey shot Chuck a look before stepping back to shoot and kick the door open.

Sarah spoke bluntly with her gun on Payne, "My partner would rather shoot you in the face than let you get away!"

Casey looked surprised, "You called me your partner?" Sarah smiled in acknowledgment. Casey continued sharply, "Where are the codes you son of a bitch?"

Sarah stayed transfixed, "And the antidote?"

He spoke quietly, "Actually I was just about to enjoy a little antidote myself. What kind of host would I be if I didn't offer you some as well?"

Casey was threatening, "Careful, haven't killed anyone in a while I'm getting a little hungry."

Chuck stopped them from taking it, "Wait, I've read tons of comic books, and the villain always samples it first."

Payne quickly attacked them creating space with a series of backflips before Sarah shot him in his repaired knee and he fell to the floor.

Casey wore a look of satisfaction, "Very un-sportsmen like, I like it!"

With Payne tied up, they found the antidote in the cabinet. All three of them were about to take it when Casey stopped, addressing both Chuck and Sarah.

There was a curious annoyance, "Wait, I've got to know what is with you two. Let's start with you Sarah, what is the real act your putting on…you know asset and handler relationships are forbidden, and then there is the baby."

Sarah emotions took over, "I could not leave Molly behind. I am her mother I feel that even when I try not to. I love her, and Chuck enough to go against the government, but I am trying not to have two enemies for as long as possible, so I act like my reputation when I need to, but I stop caring about rules the night I fell in love with Chuck. They make me feel human again and I will protect them as a spy until I can be with them as a wife and mother."

Casey turned to Chuck, "Bartowski what is this Piranha you mentioned?"

Chuck could not resist the truth serum either, "It's the hacker reputation I built in high-school. Now, I'm using it to flush out Fulcrum and take back control of my life, and don't try to stop me or I will pry open your life and start asking questions."

Casey tightened slightly, "Is that a threat?"

Chuck was blunt, "it's a promise, I don't need a truth serum to find out about you Casey. I am the best hacker—that no one has ever heard of—in the world." Casey's eyes widened from the realization that Chuck was not lying.

Sarah smiled with satisfaction, "Anything else you want to know?"

Casey looked at Sarah with a half-smile, "Who proposed?"

Sarah answered, "I did."

Casey grunted, "You really think you can be handler and wife if you need to be."

Sarah nodded, "He helped fight the Chinese mafia and saved Fleming didn't he, I think I'm doing just fine."

Casey conceded her point, "He's a pretty solid spy." They drank the antidote a moment later.

IX

Ellie was fine by the time Chuck, Sarah and Casey returned to the hospital and they went home. The following day Sarah visited Chuck during lunch hour. Something was clearly on her mind.

Chuck was surprised, "Hey I didn't know you were coming by, what's up?"

Sarah began lightly, Chuck, you know when you think you're going to die and your whole life is supposed to flash in front of you." Chuck nodded. Sarah continues nervously, "That happened for me yesterday; I only saw three things: you, Molly, and the three of us as a family."

Chuck smiled, "What are you saying?"

Sarah walked behind the Nerd Herd Desk and grabbed Chuck's hand, kneeling on the spot and pulled out a ring. She stared through the diamond ring she was holding; it was more than typical, but not flashy either. "The one thing my father doesn't have is bad taste, this is the ring he bought for my mother and it is the only thing she kept after they divorced. She said it was because it made her remember how happy she felt. She gave it to me hoping I would have a reason to wear it one day and feel the same. I never thought I would have someone to wear it for, but…" She was pointedly sweet, "Forget someday I have to Marry you Chuck Bartowski, on the beach in Malibu where we watched the sunrise after our first date."

Sarah's speech mesmerized Chuck, his brain took several seconds to absorb the moment and then it kicked in again. "Okay."

Sarah stood up smiling more than she ever had in her life. Chuck took the ring and slid it on her finger. They kissed for an extended period.

Jeff, Lester, and Morgan all returned from break. Lester spotted Chuck and Sarah first and scolded them with a judgmental tone, "Hey lovebirds, breaks over. Besides, I'm sure Sarah's got wieners to serve other than your's Chuck."

Jeff chimed in too, in his unwittingly awkward way. "I think they'll need a longer break. Sarah's got a chain on her finger."

Lester interpreted as they broke apart. He was chuckling, "No way…what did you do beg her to marry you?"

Sarah's expression turned stony, "The next person to insinuate Chuck is out of my league gets thrown in the Wienerlicious deep fryer!"

Jeff and Lester scattered. Morgan stayed where he was, fidgeting awkwardly. "Sorry about yesterday just caught me by surprise because people like us don't attract women, and definitely not someone like you Sarah. I guess I thought it would stay that way a lot longer, but I'm realizing Chuck's not like me. He is better, but you figured that out already since he proposed."

Sarah smiled, "I proposed again Morgan, and Chuck's not going anywhere."

Chuck embraced Morgan smiling, "Buddy I need you to become ordained, so you can marry us at a moment's notice."

Morgan laughed, "Chuck, you can't-fool me into thinking your life is too busy to plan a wedding. Tang disappeared so you should have plenty of time."

Sarah lied without lying, "I just want to know we can get married whenever we want."

Morgan smiled, "Calling the shots? I will on one condition, take care of my boy."

Sarah nodded throwing her arm around Chuck, "I will Morgan." Morgan grinned tapped Chuck on the arm and left to count inventory in the storage cage.

Chuck was curious, "I wonder what happened to Tang?

Sarah shrugged, "Who knows…"

Now alone Chuck turned to Sarah with a sigh. "You really want to take this risk? Something tells me an asset; handler marriage is against government regulations."

Sarah looked at Chuck, "No risk no reward. Besides, I'm a handler; I can handle the government. They will find out the hard way that my emotional connections will make the spy they molded into their worst nightmare."

IX

There was a nightmare all too real the government was hardly aware of spreading from within its walls. Fulcrum was just as unaware that the best hacker in the world they knew nothing about knew some of their players. The highest in the organization were ghosts, but they always had people willing to do dirty work. The goal was to take control of government technology and circumstances in the last few years positioned them to stage a full coup of every major entity and a joint database called the Intersect. Fulcrum was furious when Sarah Walker and Bryce Larkin of the CIA got in their way. Their interference was only a month apart. Walker grew a soul out of nowhere and unwittingly hid the orphaned baby that would have afforded them a money pit, which meant they needed to stay in the shadows. Then there was Larkin; the SOB took it upon himself to steal the Intersect from the DNI and send it somewhere in Burbank, only never made it out alive. John Casey was too proud to turn but many in Fulcrum knew they owed him thanks. The kicker was they had to bring Larkin back from the dead because the files were in his head and they did, but he was still healing in a light coma, and so they had a plan to drop him back into the field of play. It irritated the highest members that this was necessary but Walker's unwitting part in Fulcrum's setbacks meant they had to remain unknown and pull strings.

From their base of operations in Barstow, Edgar Sloan entered Kieran Ryker's office. He was quizzical and blunt, "Why did you request me here I am technical still working for the CIA, a disappearing act will not help Fulcrum's anonymity; Graham already has antennas raised."

Ryker was indifferent, "The people above us have bigger priorities than worrying about Langston Graham."

Edgar scoffed, "Like searching for some baby just because she has personal to some money."

Ryker looked like Edgar lost his mind. "some money, almost a billion-dollar fortune will sustain our ring for years, seizing control of that child is a must and Walker has placed her in a black hole. Her father is the only person in her family with any public record and a con artist is no father. Where is she?"

Edgar shrugged, "How the hell should I know? We would not be in this situation if you pegged Walker correctly"

Ryker was indifferent again, "I didn't pick Walker because I needed her specifically, I picked her because I thought she was her reputation. Turns out she actually has a soul; never would have bet on that."

Edgar shrugged again, "What do you want?"

Ryker was blunt, "The higher-ups say the package is ready for dispatch to Burbank; have Tommy get ready to drop it off and play his part. With any luck, we will flush out who is in possession of the Intersect. It could just be inactive because the subject is still unconscious, or they might not even have it, but either way, this is the next step." Edgar nodded and left.

Ryker smiled to himself, they were taking what they could get. Considering they still had anonymity, pulling strings gave him satisfaction. Next week he scheduled to meet with one Harry Tang who Tommy met very recently and seemed to think was promising because he was at some dead-end job in an electronics store.

Chuck and company were completely unaware of how deep the splinter-cell ran and soon it would rear its ugly head.

A/N: I never believed Sarah could not be both Chuck's significant other and handler. So, I make it a point to explore that. Harry Tang bad guy was a last minute addition! More fun ahead, though my finals are around the corner…hopefully, it won't affect my update rate.