A/N: Happy Thursday friends, and welcome to Chapter 12 – A Family for Christmas.

Chuck is out of the woods with an excellent prognosis. And while Sarah is thanking the Gods for yet another chance to build something special with Chuck, she is starting to feel a profound guilt for her impulsiveness. Impulsiveness that created the circumstances that led to Chuck's shooting. Just as Sarah and Chuck settle into another intimate and private moment connecting emotionally, there is shouting outside of his hospital room. While Sarah gets up to investigate and meets a new and yet strangely familiar face. In the meantime Clyde Decker is making preparations to find and eliminate Volkoff, the man who could link Teddy Roark to the conspiracy.

Thank you for the continued support. I got whacked with a nasty virus this week (NOT COVID!) so your personal messages and reviews kept my spirits high. Thank you!

As Usual, my thanks go to Nevr for pre and beta reading, though I have made a number of changes since his review, so any errors are mine and mine alone. And as usual, I don't own Chuck or profit in any way from writing this completely AU story.

Valkyrie's Invisible Shield

Chapter 12 – A Family for Christmas

Date: Tuesday, 21 December 2021

Time: 09:15 GMT (04:15 EST)

Location: Royal Brompton Hospital - Sydney St, London

Sarah had a sleepless night, as she continued to replay the events of the previous day. She prided herself on her mental toughness, but hard as she tried, she could not push down the memory of seeing and feeling Chuck's blood on her hands…..physically and figuratively. Oddly enough, she was considerably less stressed about killing the man that had shot Chuck, and she was sure she would not hesitate to do the same again if anyone threatened him. Her brain hadn't even fully considered the self-defense nature of the shooting, so that part yesterday's shocking events she was actually at peace with, which surprised her more than a little. Still, she felt a profound guilt for creating the situation that resulted in Chuck being shot. Damn her impulsiveness. She would probably need to talk to someone about that. But at the moment, Sarah was focused on seeing Chuck, holding his hand, staring into his deep brown eyes, and gently running her fingers through his hair.

Sarah had arrived at the hospital early, wanting to spend as much time as she could with Chuck before having to leave that afternoon. Chuck's post-operative recovery was progressing very well, and while he was still in pain, he was completely lucid and communicative. Having said that, Chuck and Sarah spoke little, focusing instead on the intimacy of their physical contact. The clock was inexorably counting down to Sarah's departure, but the future seemed to hold a warm promise for them to explore. They sat quietly, lost in each other's eyes when their moment was disrupted by angry yelling in the corridor outside Chuck's room.

As soon as Chuck's medical status had been clarified, John Casey called Eleanor Bartowski, Chuck's emergency contact. The conversation was short, with Casey limiting the details, letting her know that Chuck had been injured in the line of duty and was expected to make a full recovery. Ellie became testy when Casey refused to provide greater detail other than to share the name of the hospital in London where Chuck was recovering. Within minutes of the call, Ellie had pulled her husband, the Chief of Cardiothoracic surgery at Westside Hospital in Los Angeles, where the couple worked, and booked two seats on the last non-stop flight from L.A.. The flight landed a little before seven AM, and with no checked luggage, Ellie and Devon were in a taxi and on their way to the hospital in short order.

Once arrived, Ellie identified herself as the sister of patient Charles Bartowski, producing identification that would allow her and her husband visitation. The hospital staff had been friendly and efficient until they reached Chuck's room, when two members of Sarah's protective detail blocked her entrance. Ellie was about to put the hurt on one of the men when the door opened, and Sarah peered out.

"What's happening here?" Sarah asked in an annoyed tone, "Chuck needs peace and quiet, and….."

Sarah's eyes locked with Ellie's, and both women instantly froze.

"Wait….you're…." The two women spoke simultaneously, causing Sarah to stare wide-eyed while Ellie looked perplexed.

"Please, let me go first," Sarah smiled. "You must be Ellie. Chuck has told me quite a bit about you, and of course, I can see the family resemblance in your eyes. I'm Sarah." Sarah smiled warmly and held out her hand.

"You're Sarah Walker, daughter of President Walker?! What on earth are you doing in my brother's room?" Ellie remained confused as Chuck had never mentioned Sarah to Ellie or Devon.

"I am, Ellie. Why don't you come in, and I can explain everything." Sarah opened the door further to invite the couple in. "And you must be Devon." Again, Sarah extended her hand and smiled.

"I am, Sarah. Pleased to meet you." Devon flashed a bright smile. "Can we…?" He pointed into the room.

"Oh, of course. Please." Sarah stepped aside as Ellie rushed to Chuck's bedside.

"Ellie, What on earth are you doing here?" Chuck's eyes brightened as Ellie moved in to hug him but stopped short.

"What did you get yourself into, Chuck? What happened to you?" Ellie asked, wanting to better understand the nature of Chuck's injury, his treatment, and the prognosis. As she spoke with Chuck, Devon grabbed the medical chart hanging at the foot of Chuck's bed.

"Ellie," Devon interrupted his wife gently. "Chuck seems to be recovering well, and the prognosis is excellent, with little concern about any residual effects. They expect to allow him to travel back to the U.S. by the 24th, where he will continue after-care and, and if needed, physical therapy….so all good." Devon was trying to soften the blow, knowing Ellie would react badly to learn Chuck had been shot in the chest.

"Devon, dear." Ellie looked at her husband caustically. "Thank you for the spoonful of sugar, but what happened? HOW did Chuck get injured?"

"I got shot, Ellie. In the upper left chest, but everything is okay." Chuck smiled weakly as Sarah bit her lower lip.

"It's all my fault, Ellie. Chuck was protecting me…." Sarah started to explain when Ellie raised her hand.

"Okay. In a minute, you are going to walk me through exactly what happened that resulted in you being shot, but what I want to understand now is why Sarah Walker, the daughter of the President of the United States, is in my brother's room and is holding his hand." Ellie took a breath. "Please feel free to enlighten me."

Chuck and Sarah exchanged glances as Chuck started to explain. "Ellie, Sarah, and I…."

Ellie caught the unspoken exchange between the two and brought her hands to cover her mouth to stifle a squeal, then cut off Chuck. "Wait….Chuck, you two….you two are together? As in, you are dating the daughter of the President of the United States, and it never occurred to you to tell your sister this?"

"Ellie, it's a little complicated," Chuck tried to explain but Ellie's expression was unconvinced, and Devon wisely chose to say nothing, so Sarah jumped in and continued.

"Ellie, it's a long story, but the short version is that Chuck saved me in New York when I was almost kidnapped. And because I'm a complete idiot, instead of thanking him, I got angry, and as a result, he requested reassignment to London. When I came to realize I had deep feelings for your brother, it was too late. He had already left, so I concocted this trip to London, with my mother's help, to beg for his forgiveness and to see if he felt the same way I did. It was only on Saturday that we managed to say how we felt without me screwing things up, so all of this is very new to both of us, especially me, and the minute we got together, it all went sideways." Ellie was utterly flabbergasted by what came out of Sarah's mouth and what it all meant. Her eyes flashed from Sarah to Chuck, then back to Sarah, then finally to Devon, who smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Chuck was almost as stunned as Ellie. He hadn't heard the whole story about how Sarah snookered her mother into supporting the trip to London and that it was solely to make things right with Chuck. As the siblings sat in stunned silence, Devon broke the peace.

"Way to go, Bro!" Devon's voice bellowed as he reached over to give Chuck a fist bump. "The daughter of the President. Awesome!"

"Devon!" Ellie immediately chastised, "Your frat-boy comments are definitely NOT awesome. I'm sorry, Sarah. He can be so childish sometimes. I swear I can't believe he's the Chief of Cardiothoracic surgery at our hospital."

"Yeah, but you love me…." Devon wrapped Ellie in a hug and kissed her neck while winking at Sarah and Chuck.

Once things settled, the Sarah and Chuck returned to recounting the story, from the covert protection detail in New York to the attempted kidnapping, all the way to the rather unfortunate end of the late-night rendezvous that landed them all here at Royal Brompton Hospital. They also discussed the near-term plans. Sarah was leaving that afternoon to head back to D.C. for Christmas, while Chuck was expected to be discharged by Friday, the 24th, and had not yet had a chance to make any plans for what might happen after their return to the U.S. for Christmas.

As the conversation evolved, Ellie and Devon made the spontaneous decision to stay in London until Chuck was discharged. Then, depending on his plans, they would welcome the opportunity to stay with Chuck in D.C. through Christmas, an idea Chuck readily agreed to.

They were chatting as if they had been a family, or at least friends, for some time, and the happy back and forth was raising everyone's spirits. Sarah then floated an idea.

"Chuck, if you are up to it, when you get discharged, if you were to fly to D.C. with Ellie and Devon on the 24th, we could have all of you over to the White House for Christmas." Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Sarah, on behalf of my sister, Devon, and myself, thank you. That is a very kind and thoughtful gesture, but I don't want to intrude on your family plans."

Sarah winked at Chuck, pulled out her phone, and called her mother.

"Mom, Hi. Do you have a minute?" Sarah smiled at Chuck. "Mom, Chuck will likely be discharged Friday and is considering going to D.C. with the help of his sister and her husband, who are both doctors and want to help him get settled while he recovers. Would it be okay with you and Dad if they joined us for Christmas at the White House?" The conversation went on for another minute, with Sarah listening carefully. "Thanks, Mom. And thank Dad, too. Love you."

Sarah reached again for Chuck's hand, leaned over, and whispered in his ear as he nodded. Sarah then turned to Ellie and Devon. "Ellie, Devon, no pressure, of course, but assuming Chuck is well enough to travel back to D.C. and you accompany him, you are welcome to join the Walker family on Christmas Day."

"Christmas at the White House?" Ellie was stunned. "Okay….wow, There is a lot to process here. My brother was shot in the chest and could have died protecting his girlfriend, the daughter of the President of the United States, and now we are invited to the White House for Christmas…"

"Awesome!" Devon flashed a brilliant smile. "Always knew you would go places, bro!" Chuck and Sarah smiled as Ellie continued to shake her head in disbelief until the doctor in her came out.

"Sarah, that is incredibly kind of you, but this has been a little overwhelming." Ellie looked directly at Chuck. "Chuck, I'd like Devon and me to have a chat with your surgeon to make sure we are completely up to speed on everything and that we can be comfortable not only with your discharge but that you are well enough to take an eight-hour flight. Assuming everything works as planned and we land in D.C. on the 24th, I would still want to make sure you had no ill effects from the journey. If that is acceptable to everyone, Devon and I would be delighted to accept, but Chuck's health comes first."

"Thank you, Ellie. That's perfect. When I came over, I had hoped to be able to bring Chuck back home with me, but given all that has happened, this is the best alternative." Sarah walked over and gave Ellie a hug. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you and Devon outside of a hospital setting. Now, I'll leave you two with Chuck for some catch-up time while I go find the surgeon, okay?" Sarah gave Chuck a loving smile and walked out of the room.

Twenty minutes later, Sarah returned. "Ellie, Doctor Singleton, Chuck's surgeon, will be by shortly and would be delighted to meet with you and Devon. That will give me some alone time with Chuck before I need to leave for the airport." Sarah's expression suddenly saddened as her inevitable separation from Chuck loomed. She sat next to him and again wrapped his free hand in both of hers as Ellie and Devon looked on.

Ellie reached out for Devon's hand as a warm smile appeared on her face. "Sarah, we'll wait outside for Doctor Singleton." She turned and led Devon out of the room, gently closing the door behind them.

"Did you see the way they were looking at each other?" Ellie asked Devon.

"Sure did, hon. I'd say Chuck's goose is completely cooked. In fact, given his current condition, I'm not sure we should have left the two of them alone in there." He gave his wife a saucy smile and a wink.

"Is that all you think about, Devon?" Ellie chuckled in response.

"You know it is, baby….but only with you. Wanna find a supply closet before Doctor Singleton comes along?" He pulled Ellie close and gave her a kiss.

"I love you, Devon, but that's not happening right now. Later, though…." She was about to kiss him on his cheek when Doctor Singleton arrived, breaking the moment.

After securing Chuck's permission, Dr. Singleton spent the next thirty minutes going into the nature and extent of Chuck's injury and all the salient details of the surgical procedure. He then covered all the pre and post-op diagnostic tests, including X-rays. They finished the session with a detailed after-care plan that Ellie and Devon would manage for Chuck after his release. After thanking Doctor Singleton again, Ellie and Devon returned to Chuck's room to find Sarah had climbed onto the bed and was gently cradling Chuck's head against her chest and stroking his cheek.

Ellie pulled out her phone and quietly snapped a picture before speaking. "Hey, you two. Everything okay?" Ellie asked quietly as she looked at the younger couple affectionately.

"We have two little problems, Ellie." Sarah's response immediately caused Ellie to be concerned.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Ellie's voice had gone dry, worry evident in her tone.

"Well, Chuck won't let go of me, so I can't leave." Sarah smiled.

"Oh. Okay. I understand. What's the other problem?"

"I can't seem to let go, either." Chuck snuggled further into Sarah as she spoke.

"Okay. Well, we will leave you two to sort out how to manage your two problems, but you should know that we spoke to the surgeon, and we have a plan for managing Chuck's recovery after he gets discharged. He has every confidence that Chuck will be able to fly by the 24th. So, if you two can bear it, it's just a few days of separation. We'll be outside waiting for you to tell us what you are going to do." Ellie and Devon quietly retreated to the hallway and found some vacant seating in the nearby waiting area.

-o-

"Sarah," Chuck looked up into Sarah's blue eyes. "I love you and want you to stay more than anything, but I think you need to go home with your mother. I'll rest and get strong enough so I can travel back to you on the 24th. Okay?"

"Are you sure, Chuck? I am happy to stay and fly back with you. I don't want to leave you here alone."

"I'm not alone, Sarah. I have Ellie and Devon, and most importantly, I have you right here." He gently placed her hand over the uninjured side of his chest. "You need to be with your parents, and I need to recover a little more. Besides, we both have something to really look forward to."

Chuck cupped her chin and tilted her face towards him, kissing her softly on the lips as Sarah continued to stroke his cheek.

"I love you, Chuck. Please hurry back to me. I miss you already." Sarah's eyes were glassy as she carefully slipped off the bed, suddenly feeling a cold void where Chuck's head had been resting. She stood immobile for a moment, refusing to let go of his hand as a tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek. "What have you done to me, Chuck Bartowski?" She smiled weakly as Chuck released her hand and blew her a kiss.

"Please go, Sarah. Because if you don't go now, I'm getting up and dragging you back into my bed." Chuck smiled warmly.

Sarah chuckled and slowly moved toward the door. Before leaving, she stopped and turned. "Chuck, get some rest and your strength back. You will need it." Sarah blew him kiss with a wink, and she slipped out the door. Morgan had arrived to take Sarah to the airport and was standing just outside the room with the rest of Sarah's detail.

"Morgan, I'm ready to go, but if you want to check in on Chuck before we leave, I'll wait."

Morgan returned a minute later and accompanied Sarah to say goodbye to Ellie, Devon, and Dr. Singleton. Less than ninety minutes later, her motorcade arrived at Heathrow, only a few minutes behind Emma's. Sarah climbed the stairs to the aircraft and found her mother waiting for her. After exchanging an affectionate hug, the two women took their seats as the flight crew announced that the plane was ready to start its engines.

Sarah and Emma sat quietly, holding hands as the big plane started to roll along the taxiway toward the departure runway.

"You okay, Sarah?" Emma squeezed Sarah's hand.

"I guess, Mom. I really struggled to leave; honestly, I've never felt such emptiness in my chest. I miss his touch. His smell." Sarah sobered for a moment and looked at her mother. "Mom, is it strange that I feel his absence so much? I mean, I feel weak just thinking about him. Is that normal?"

"Oh, sweetheart. You've really got it bad, don't you?" Emma gave Sarah a knowing look. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course, Mom."

"I was the same way with your father. The first time I saw him, he took my breath away, and at the end of that first summer, when we had to go our separate ways, I didn't think I would survive if I wasn't in his arms or him in mine." Emma's eyes sparkled as she relived the memories of her first days with Jack Walker.

"Really?" Sarah was surprised.

"Sarah, darling, I know you only see him as your old dad, but when he was young…..the man cast a spell over me. I had never felt that way before, but I knew. I knew he was it for me. I knew it almost immediately. We were just kids, so we needed to grow into the relationship, but I knew and saw my future with him." Emma paused for a moment, then winked at her daughter. "You know it too, hmmm?" Emma leaned in toward Sarah and spoke quietly. "You see a future with him already, right?"

Sarah looked down for a moment, and then a tiny smile started at the corner of her lips. "Thanks, Mom. I love you!"

The mother-daughter moment was interrupted by an announcement from the cockpit that they were ready for departure. Moments later, the two Pratt & Whitney P2000 turbofans spooled up and started to howl, propelling the aircraft down the 3,902 feet of runway 27-Right and into the sky.

-O-

Date: Friday, 24 December 2021

Time: 14:00 EST

Location: Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia, USA

Chuck was discharged earlier that morning and, under Doctor Singleton's watchful eye, was escorted through the hospital to a pair of waiting U.S. embassy vehicles. Lou was driving the lead car, which had been loaded with Chuck's luggage as well as Ellie and Devon's bags. In the tail car were Mike, Anna, Cole Barker, and Jill Roberts, all of whom had wanted to be there to see Chuck off. When they arrived at Heathrow, Chuck thanked the London-based team for their warm welcome, collaboration, and their help. They agreed to stay in contact and share information through Chuck's recovery period and the team welcomed Chuck to return when he was healthy enough to do so. Even Jill Roberts behaved herself after Lou explained Chuck's involvement with Sarah Walker.

The flight itself had been a little uncomfortable for Chuck but otherwise uneventful, landing smoothly and on schedule. On arrival, John Casey boarded the aircraft and, with help from the flight attendants, made sure Chuck, Ellie, and Devon were the first to deplane. Instead of proceeding toward the terminal, the three were escorted down the jet-way steps to a waiting Suburban, where their passports were handed to a Customs and Immigration officer who quickly checked the documents before returning the passports to Casey and allowing the group to depart.

"How are you feeling, Chuck?" Casey asked as he drove.

"I'm okay, Casey. I will need a few weeks before I can return to limited duty, but I can do desk work immediately. In fact, I want to start doing some work on the money trail. The "Arranger" got paid by someone, and if the money moved, I can find it. I'll stay close to the team in London but can easily work from home for the next week, then come January 2nd, be in the office."

"Don't rush it, Chuck," Ellie intervened from the back seat. "By the way, Mr. Casey, what about Chuck's luggage? Ellie asked, a little concerned as the big truck headed for the highway to D.C. and Chuck's apartment.

"Not to worry, Doctor, Chuck's bags will be delivered directly to Chuck's place in Georgetown," Casey replied. "And Chuck, I hope you don't mind, but we took the liberty of stocking your house with a few essentials. President Walker's physician also ensured that the prescriptions ordered by your U.K. surgeon and other items needed during your recovery are there for you."

Chuck was busy thanking Casey for everything when his phone buzzed.

Sarah – I really missed you. How was your flight? You feeling okay?

Chuck – I missed you too. Flight was fine. Should be home soon.

Sarah – Sorry I could not come to pick you up. John Casey insisted.

Chuck – It's okay. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Sarah – Me too. Have a small surprise for you.

Chuck – I'll call you when I get home and can speak freely. Love U

Sarah – Okay. Love U, too.

As Chuck put his phone away, Casey received a call. It was a one-sided conversation, with Casey responding in grunts and single-syllable words before he hung up and addressed his passengers. "Your bags have been retrieved and are on their way. They should be right behind us when we arrive."

Ten minutes later, the Suburban pulled up to 2501 Q Street in Georgetown, where Chuck rented a cozy but comfortable two-bedroom apartment. Chuck had been looking forward to getting home and taking a nice long shower to wash off the plane ride.

As they all got out of the Suburban, Casey spoke to Chuck. "Chuck, why don't you go on up, and we'll wait for the bags. They'll be here in just a couple of minutes."

Chuck nodded, again thanking Casey for all the thoughtful gestures and the ride home. He turned and slowly entered the complex, riding the elevator to the third floor. He was about to put his key in the door when it opened in front of him.

"Sarah!?"

"Surprise! I missed you and couldn't wait to see you." Sarah blushed as she stepped into Chuck and gave him a very careful hug and kiss on the lips. "I hope you don't mind, but Casey, let me borrow a key."

"Mind? Never! I can't think of a better way to come home." Chuck grinned happily as Sarah held him.

"I can." Sarah gave Chuck a saucy wink. "But that will have to wait until you are better."

Chuck momentarily lost the ability to speak but managed to lean down and find Sarah's lips again for a slower, more meaningful kiss. After a minute or two, they pulled out of the kiss but remained embraced, standing quietly inside his apartment, foreheads touching, eyes locked until Chuck pulled back.

"Sarah, why are you here alone? Where is your protective detail? Chuck asked suddenly concerned.

"I asked them to duck into the stairwell to avoid ruining my little surprise, but they are here with me. Mom and dad barely let me go to the bathroom without them." Sarah winced knowing she hit a sour note with her comment.

"I know it's a burden, Sarah, but you are really important to me, so please don't fight me or your Mom and Dad over the protection. At least until we figure out who is involved….okay?

Sarah didn't answer, choosing to attack his lips with a fevered urgency.

"Ah hem…" Ellie could be heard clearing her throat as she approached the consumed couple. "Sarah, what a nice surprise to see you here." Ellie smiled warmly as Devon and Casey made their way into the apartment carrying the luggage.

"I couldn't wait to see Chuck and thought you might all be tired and hungry from your trip, so with help from Casey and the team, I prepared a tray of sandwiches, hot soup, and salad for everyone." Sarah waved toward the kitchen, where she had set up all the food and drink.

"Chuck," Ellie whispered in his ear. "Marry her now!" She then laughed and led Devon to the guest room to unpack as Chuck grinned and shook his head.

Casey then walked by with Chuck's bag, carrying it to Chuck's room, returning a moment later.

"Okay, Chuck, I'm heading back to the White House. You rest up and have yourself a Merry Christmas, okay?" Casey gave Chuck a soft pat on the shoulder. "And don't be in a rush to come back. I won't let you near the office until you are cleared by the medical staff."

"Thanks Casey. For everything. And merry Christmas to you!"

Once Casey left, things at Chuck's apartment settled. Chuck took a shower to wash the nine hour flight off his body. Then, with Sarah's help, he placed fresh dressings on his wounds and put on some sweats emblazoned with the Stanford logo. The younger couple joined Ellie and Devon in the salon and together enjoyed the lunch that Sarah had pulled together. By the time 6:00 pm arrived, Sarah was organizing herself to head home. As Morgan had flown to see his mother in California early that morning, opened the apartment door to tell her temporary security detail she was ready to go. Less than two minutes later, There was a knock on the door….the Suburban had been pulled up and her escorts were ready to take her back to the White House.

Ellie and Devon were sitting on the couch, quietly watching Sarah and Chuck as she prepared to leave.

"I'm so happy you are back, Chuck. I really missed you. And I really enjoyed spending the day with you and your family." Sarah gave Chuck a very gentle hug and pecked him on the lips.

"Me too, Sarah, me too. And we will definitely see you tomorrow."

Sarah smiled and turned to Ellie and Devon. "So great to spend part of the day with you both, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, too. A car will pick you up at ten am, and please dress casually. We will have breakfast in the family dining room, open presents, and spend the day lounging around, maybe even bowl in the basement." She turned to Chuck, "No bowling for you….but you can keep score."

Devon piped up. "Sarah, what does casual mean at the White House?"

"What you are wearing now is perfect, but honestly, whatever you will be comfortable in. My dad may be the President, but we are also pretty regular people when not working."

Devon was wearing a pair of khakis and a white button-down with brown loafers. "Thanks. That helps." Devon responded.

"Don't worry, Sarah. I'll make sure the boys are presentable." Ellie smiled as Sarah once again turned her attention to Chuck, cupping his face with both hands and kissing him firmly.

"Wish I could stay, but I promised my folks I'd be home for Christmas Eve dinner."

"How about you stay with me after your folks head out to Camp David?" Chuck smiled warmly.

"Yes. I'd like that." Sarah kissed him once again and then slipped out the door.

Chuck watched the shock of blonde hair vanish as the door closed, and he stood there immobilized, thinking about how suddenly alone he felt without her.

"She's completely smitten with you, Chuck. You know that, right?" Ellie's voice pierced Chuck's reflective moment.

"Huh?" Chuck turned slowly to face Ellie. He had heard her words but needed a minute to organize his thoughts before answering. He slowly made his way to the salon area and sat across from Elle and Devon. He took a moment to put himself in a comfortable position, then pursed his lips in thought.

Chuck finally broke the silence. "Do you really think so, Ellie?"

"I do, Chuck. I really do." Ellie smiled.

Chuck turned to Devon. "Hey, Devon, can I ask you something?"

Ellie leaned back, smiling, while Devon leaned forward as if to engage Chuck more deeply. "Anything, Chuck," Devon answered affectionately.

"Thanks." Chuck paused again as Ellie's smile quietly deepened. "Devon, when did you know?"

"Know what, Chuck."

"When did you know Ellie was the one for you? When did you know she was it?" Chuck asked as Ellie squeezed Devon's hand and struggled to contain the squeal that was desperately trying to escape her.

-O-

Date: Friday, 24 December 2021

Time: 18:00 EST

Location: Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia, USA

Clyde Decker was a consultant to the CIA, which meant that they used him on occasions where the CIA needed to keep things at arms-length. He had been introduced to Roark a few years ago by none other than Langston Graham, when Roark had an issue with a woman who threatened to go public with allegations of sexual assault during the presidential campaign. The woman disappeared without a trace, and Roark, duly impressed with Decker's performance, kept his contact. Decker did not have the global reputation of Gruber, but he was as effective an as assassin. A former Ranger with the U.S. Army, Decker was dishonorably discharged for threatening a superior officer in Kuwait. There was enough noise in the system that Decker took private side jobs during his numerous deployments, that pushing him out without pension or benefits was appropriate to those in command.

Decker's conversation with Roark on Monday had been short. Roark's orders to Decker were simple and direct; "get to London, take out that Russian motherfucker, and make sure the bastard didn't have any tapes or other evidence that could link back to me." To make this happen, Decker required some trustworthy local resources to find where Volkoff might keep evidence of his engagement with Roark, before he was to be terminated. It took Decker a couple of days to make the necessary arrangements before he could fly over and execute Roark's order. After almost a week of planning the travel logistics and backstopping the fake travel documents and credit cards, Clyde Decker checked into his Virgin Atlantic flight to London as Alec Trevelyan, a grade school teacher, flying to London for the holidays. His flight would arrive at Heathrow early Christmas morning, and with any luck, he would check into his economy hotel by eleven am. As soon as he settled, he would make arrangements to pull in the local resources, pick up the necessary materials, and put his plan in place.