A/N: In case you were wondering, Non bis in idem (sometimes rendered non-bis in idem or ne bis in idem) which translates literally from Latin as 'not twice in the same [thing]', is a legal doctrine to the effect that no legal action can be instituted twice for the same cause of action.

Yeah, I told you what was happening in the title, but in Latin. I'm a stinker.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck dragged himself toward a tree, as Bruce continued to empty his clip in the direction he had fallen. Chuck realized he had to stay low, and his height was what had given him away. He got behind a thick tree and gathered himself.

He reached down, pressed against the injury, and brought his hand back up. Blood covered his hand. He fought to not pass out, throw up, or scream. What would Sarah do? That was the thought running through his head. She wouldn't die, that's what Sarah would do. She would stay alive until someone helped her. And that's when it dawned on him: Sarah was coming. He knew she was. He took a deep breath, knowing what he had to do.

Bruce and Helen slowly made their way to the tree where Chuck was located. Chuck grabbed a stick that was on the ground, prepared to fight. Bruce and Helen made eye contact, and moved around the tree, their guns pointed to the place they thought Chuck would be. They were, however, surprised to find no one there, only a pool of blood.

"Where'd he go?" Helen asked, stunned.

"Damn it," Bruce muttered. "All right, let's go."

"We're not gonna look for him?" Helen asked.

He's bleeding heavily," Bruce reminded her. He's not gonna make it anyway. We've got to get out of here."

"What about Walker?" Helen insisted. "We're just gonna leave her, too?"

"Someone had to have heard the shots," Bruce replied. "We can't just hope no one called it in. For all we know, the cops are on their way." Helen grinned and pulled out her phone. "What are you doing?"

"911," came the voice over the phone. "What's your emergency."

"I need to report a shooting," Helen said, fear in her voice, but grinning the whole time.

}o{

"Chuck!" she yelled out, having heard the car pull away. "CHUCK!"

"I'm here," he said. "I'd come to you, but I kinda can't."

Fear gripped Sarah as she headed toward his voice. "Chuck, what's wrong?"

"Don't get mad," he began.

"Are you shot?" There was silence. "I'm not gonna yell at you."

"You promise?" He had to be around the big tree. She rounded it and found him lying there, his hand covering the right side of abdomen. "Please don't yell."

"I'm not gonna yell," she told him. "Come on."

"No, leave me, you need to catch them," Chuck told her.

"Chuck, you're bleeding," Sarah began.

"Sarah, I know I'm not gonna die," Chuck told her. "You'd beat me up if I did." She couldn't stop the laugh. "Also, you'd fight death if he… she… what is death's pronoun?"

"Don't know, but we're getting you in the car and to the hospital," Sarah told him.

"I may need some help," he admitted. "This really hurts."

"You're not yelling as loud as I thought you'd be." He gave her a flat look. "I'm trying to lighten the situation!"

"There is no situation, you're not going to let me die," he insisted. She shook her head, reached down, and helped him up. "Which way is the car?"

"That way," she said, leading him in the direction of her car.

"I'm so glad you're here, I'd have probably gone the wrong way," Chuck told her.

"Yeah, that wouldn't be good," she said. She leaned him up against a tree.

"What are you doing?" he asked, as she grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, ripped it off, and pressed it against his wound. He cried out at the pressure. "What about the back?" She ripped the other sleeve off. "I should have kept my mouth shut," he muttered, and then yelled as she pressed it against him. She began to unbutton his shirt.

"Babe, I really don't feel like it right now," he deadpanned. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The feeling of wetness on her cheeks told her what her body had settled on.

She got his shirt off, wrapped the shirt around the two bandages, and tied it as tight as she could. "Do I look bad-ass in my undershirt, with this bullet wound?"

"You look to be in pain," Sarah told him.

"That checks out," he muttered, as she put his arm over her shoulder, and guided him toward the car.

}o{

"Keep pressure on it," she said to him, as they flew down the road.

"Eyes on the road, Sarah," Chuck got out. "You know, you've driven fast before, but this is new." She didn't say anything. "I don't want to survive a gunshot, only to die in a car wreck." She still didn't say anything. "Where are we going?"

"Westside," she replied.

"You know what, dying in a car crash is probably preferable," Chuck said. Sarah gave him a look. "Ellie's gonna yell."

"At me," Sarah told him.

"Did you shoot me?" Chuck asked. He started to say more when he heard sirens wailing. "Uh, I think they want you to stop."

"The hell," Sarah said. She punched some buttons on the dashboard. "I'm not stopping till I get to the hospital. Hang on."

"Walker, what in the hell is going on?" Casey boomed over the car's speakers.

"We need your help. We're being chased," Sarah explained.

"No kidding," Casey growled. "We got a tip about a multiple shooting. The caller said the shooter fled the scene in a car matching your description."

"Casey, Chuck is shot," Sarah said. There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Casey?"

"I'll do what I can, but it's gonna take a few minutes," Casey replied. "Sarah… does he… does he have a few minutes?"

"Aw, Casey cares," Chuck managed to get out.

"Moron, if you die…" Casey trailed off, and hung up the phone.

"Sarah, what are those cops doing?" Chuck asked.

"Putting out spike strips," Sarah replied.

"The whole road is blocked off. What are we gonna do?" Chuck asked.

Sarah looked over at him. "Whatever it takes," she told him. She hit a button on the dashboard, and yanked the wheel hard. Just before getting to the police cars, they went into the grass.

"OH SHIIIIIIT!" Chuck yelled.

"Director Busman," came the voice over the phone.

"Gale, Sarah," Sarah said turning the wheel, to keep from losing control on the grass as she circumnavigated the police. "Chuck has been shot, and we're begin chased by police."

There was a silence for a second. And then, "JESUS CHRIST WE'RE GONNA DIE!" Chuck screamed.

"Keep pressure on the wound," Sarah barked, pulling them out of a spin and back onto the road.

"I assume you're heading to Westside Medical?" Gale asked.

"Yup," Sarah replied, cutting across the median and two on coming lanes of traffic as Chuck screamed. She turned the car and headed down the off ramp.

"Please let me know his condition as soon as possible," Gale said, quite calmly. "FRANK, GET ME THE HEAD OF THE LAPD NOW!"

"Thank you, Gale," Sarah said. The call disconnected.

"You have the direct number of the CIA Director?" Chuck asked.

"Are you keeping pressure on that?"

"The G-force is," Chuck muttered. Sarah stepped on the accelerator.

}o{

There was a team waiting for them when they got to the hospital. He was quickly put on the gurney and rolled inside, Sarah by his side. As they got to the double doors, two hands grabbed her by her biceps, and she found herself staring into a pair of brown eyes.

"Come on," Ellie said softly. She led Sarah to a chapel.

"What are we doing here?" Sarah asked. "We need to-" That's as far as Sarah got. Ellie had Sarah wrapped in a hug, and the tears Sarah had held back escaped. The terror that had been bubbling inside her, burst out of her like that alien thing did in that movie.

And there she was, crying her eyes out in a chapel, and berating herself for talking about aliens while the man she loved was being wheeled back to surgery.

}o{

He was finding it hard to stay awake, which he decided was a good thing. He swore he had seen Ellie intercept Sarah. Chuck had to admit, he thought Sarah might actually perform the operation herself. He heard the monitor beeping rapidly.

"This is my first time being shot, you know," Chuck said.

"Is that right?" Came the booming, but comforting voice. "Well, while it is a privilege to be your first, let's also make it a one-time thing."

Chuck giggled. "You know, from this angle, you are more handsome than ever."

"Thanks, bro," Awesome replied.

"Now, how are you legally operating on me?" Chuck asked.

He saw Devon swallow. "Ellie told someone that I was going to operate on you. When there was push back, she said we were in-laws, and I was the best heart surgeon here. When they told her nothing was wrong with your heart, she told them as long as I was operating, there wouldn't be."

"Not gonna lie, I feel better with you here," Chuck told Devon. He turned to a nurse. "Is it me, or is his skin glowing more than ever?"

"It might be the drugs," one of the nurses replied, chuckling softly.

"Devon, you need to promise me something," Chuck began. "If… If this goes bad… Run."

"Why would I run?" Devon asked.

"Because not only would Ellie be mad at you, but so would Sarah," Chuck told him. His eyes wanted to close. "No pressure."

And with that, he was unconscious.

"Hey, I love you, Bro, you're gonna be fine," Devon promised. "Okay, I have a promise to keep, people." Devon took a deep breath. "Is he out?" He got an affirmational nod from the anesthesiologist.

"Scalpel."

}o{

Casey and Carina were sitting in the waiting room as Zondra walked up. "Hey, any news?" she asked.

Carina shook her head. "No, he's still in surgery," Carina said.

"I managed to talk to Walker, got a description of them," Casey told Zondra. "BOLO is out for them. Identified the vic. Seems he's actually died twice. State of Illinois declared him dead following an investigation into his disappearance back in 2006."

"So, she could literally kill him and walk away," Zondra said.

"Yup, until he shot Chuckles," Carina told her.

"Original case ruled a homicide, and the person found responsible was Max's wife, who also happened to be their client, Helen. Real name, Margaret Slattery," Casey continued.

"Any chance either of those names were used to rent a car?" Zondra asked.

Casey shook his head. "Nope," he muttered. "Anyway, she was released from prison last week."

"So, Max fakes his death, and then frames his wife for his murder? Damn. She spent all that time in prison for a crime she didn't commit," Zondra said, shaking her head. "What about the guy, Bruce?"

"Nothing," Casey admitted. Margaret had no relatives or male visitors that could have been her companion, Bruce."

"She only got out a couple of days ago. There's no way she could have got a boyfriend in that time," Carina said. "At least one that would be willing to do that for her." Carina paused. "Eh, maybe she did have enough time.

Zondra laughed. "Or, maybe she already had one," Zondra said.

"What do you mean?" Casey asked.

"A guard," Zondra told him.

"Sonofa…" Casey jumped up, yanked out his phone and made a call. The two watched him walk off. He spoke softly into the phone, and then yelled. "You heard me, numbnuts! Have the warden send over all the IDs on the male prison guards." Casey looked around, embarrassed. "Sorry," he grumbled, hung up the phone, and walked back to the two women.

"So, you're agreeing with Zondra?" Carina asked. "That she may have had a relationship with one of them."

"It happens," Casey admitted. "Men are known to think with the wrong head all the time."

"Tell me about it," Carina said, grinning. The grin fell, and she stood. Ellie and Sarah were walking back, both having obviously been crying. "Have you heard… have you…" Carina couldn't finish the sentence.

"No," Ellie said. "We've been… processing."

"It's my fault," Sarah muttered. "I let him split up with me."

"Sarah, it was the right tactical decision," Zondra told Sarah. She started to say more when a nurse walked up.

"Ellie," the nurse said. Ellie's face went pale. "He's going to be fine. In fact… in fact, you might want to check on your husband?"

"Why, is he upset about having to operate on Chuck?" Ellie asked.

"No, more of… your brother is telling Devon how much he loves him," the nurse told him.

"He has a weird reaction to pain killers," Ellie said, shaking her head. Casey was laughing his head off, breaking the tension, causing everyone to laugh.

}o{

"Oh! Come in!" Chuck said, giggling. "Guys, I'm just having some jello. OMG. It's utterly delicious." The group walked in, amused. "Where has it been all my life, honestly?" He saw the look on Sarah's face. "What's wrong?"

"Chuck," she said softly. He put down his jello, and reached out his hand.

"I told you I was gonna be fine. You just didn't believe me," Chuck told her.

"I know, just... you know," Sarah began.

"You know what would make you feel better? Jello," Chuck told her. Sarah heard Ellie snort behind her. "Guys, seriously, you should get in on this. Look at it. Gelled deliciousness." He took another bite. "I mean... Mm-hmm."

"Wow. They have you on some serious painkillers, don't they?" Carina asked.

"Yes, indeed, they do," Chuck said. He looked around, and leaned toward her conspiratorially. "You know, I could probably get you some, actually, if you wanted. I just ask you keep it on the DL." He looked around again, and whispered, "Like, super quiet."

"Probably shouldn't, you know former DEA and all," Carina told him.

"Welp, your loss," Chuck said, leaning back up.

"How's my best guy feeling?" Awesome asked, entering the room.

"Hey, you amazing man you, who saved my life," Chuck said. He turned to Sarah. "He saved my life, and looked good while doing it."

"Aw, Bro," Devon said, pointing at him.

"Bro," Chuck replied, pointing back at Devon.

"Do we have anything to worry about?" Sarah asked quietly to Ellie.

"I don't think so?" Ellie answered. Sarah gave her a look, and Ellie just shrugged.

Awesome picked up Chuck's chart and looked it over. "This is looking good," he said, nodding.

"You would know," Chuck replied, making Awesome laugh. Carina and Zondra glanced at each other. "But I don't want to intrude here, so I will take your vitals again after visiting hours."

"Sounds good," Chuck told him. "I'll be here."

"Great. I'll swing by later," Devon said, leaving the room.

"It's a date," Chuck called out after him, making Devon laugh. Chuck looked around the room. "What?" he asked, taking a bite of his jello. Casey's phone rang, pulling them back to reality.

"Casey," he said. His eyes lit up. "We're on our way."

"We gotta go, we've got something," Casey said.

"Sarah," Chuck said, stopping her. "Don't kill anyone. I love you."

"Love you, Chuck," Sarah said, giving him a quick kiss and heading out.

"She's totally gonna shoot that guy," Chuck said, taking a bite of jello.

"Anything I can do for you, baby brother?" Ellie asked.

"I could use a couple more of these," Chuck said, lifting his jello. "Maybe a different flavor. Maybe a blue one." Ellie shook her head and left the room to search for jello.

}o{

Sarah was driving Casey's vehicle, with Casey reading the info he had received. Casey had showed her a picture on the way down, and she had confirmed it was 'Bruce'. Zondra and Carina were in the back of the car.

"Looks like our boy Bruce is Officer Daniel Merrick," Casey said. "They ran the credit card and got a hit at a car rental place. Hang on, another charge coming in. The airfield!" Casey gave her the address.

"They can't fly out of there," Carina said.

"They can if they rent a helicopter to go to Vegas," Sarah replied. She punched the accelerator.

"Hell's coming, Officer Merrick," Zondra said. "And she's bringing friends. Sarah reached back, her fist out, and Carina and Zondra both bumped it.

}o{

"Should we call LAPD air support?" Carina asked as the four got out of the car, watching the helicopter begin to lift off.

"Bad idea," Sarah said. They've already shot two people today. Box them in, and it might be three. Anyone have an idea?"

"I can use Betty," Casey said, heading toward the trunk of his car. The three women shared a look. He popped the trunk and pulled out a case. Opening it, he pulled out a rifle, quickly assembling it.

"Why the hell do you have that thing?" Carina asked.

"Cause I'm F.O.C.," Casey said, shutting the trunk. He placed the supporting bipod on it, aiming at the helicopter.

"F.O.C.?" Carina asked.

"Friend of Carina," Casey said, targeting the helicopter.

"More than a friend," Carina said. "Ladies, get your weapons out. Chances are we're in for a fight."

"You packing?" Zondra asked.

"Always," Carina said. They all turned as they heard the gun go off. They watched the helicopter as smoke began to roll out, near the rotor.

The helicopter landed with all four having their weapons drawn. Bruce had the gun to the pilot's head as they exited the helicopter.

"Hands up," Casey barked, his gun pointed toward Bruce.

"Get your hands up," Zondra told them, her gun trained on Helen.

"Lower your weapons, or the pilot gets it," Bruce told them. Casey growled and lowered his weapon. Helen took off running, and Bruce shoved the pilot toward Casey.

"Take care of the pilot," Sarah growled. "That damn guard is mine." Carina and Zondra split up, and quickly captured Helen, catching her between them.

Bruce made it to the fence of the facility, and began to climb it. "Stop," Sarah said. He dropped down, spun, and began to raise his weapon, when Sarah fired. He dropped to the ground on one knee, his good leg. He had a bullet wound right above the knee on the other leg. "You nearly killed the love of my life, you son of a bitch!" Sarah snarled, as she leapt and Superman punched him. He crashed to the ground as Sarah stood over him.

"Walker, no more!" Casey bellowed. Sarah nodded, not moving, watching the former guard.

"Hey, let's talk," Zondra said, taking the gun from her and leading her away.

"What's that about?" Casey asked.

"Lady feelings," Carina told him.

"Aren't you a lady?" Casey asked. Carina smirked, making Casey laugh.

}o{

"Talk to me Sar," Zondra said to her.

"I love that man," Sarah said. "Damn it, Zondra, he nearly died, and I couldn't handle that. I want to be with him. I want to…" She looked away.

"Are you telling me you want to marry that guy?" Zondra asked. Sarah turned to her. "Hey, nothing wrong with him but…" Zondra gave her a soft smile and hugged her. "You love who you love," she told Sarah. "So marry him."

"He hasn't asked me," Sarah said.

Zondra cocked her head and grinned at Sarah. "And?" Sarah began to chuckle.

}o{

Sarah entered his hospital room. It was dark, and he was asleep. Ellie was standing there, watching him. "Ellie, I need to ask you something," Sarah said.

Ellie looked up, concerned. "Am I good enough for him? Would you approve of me…" She blew out a rough breath. "Would you approve of me marrying him?"

"If I said no, would it stop you?" Ellie asked. Ellie grinned at Sarah and opened her arms. They hugged for a moment, and then Ellie pulled away. "I should tell you, it's past visiting hours."

"You're here," Sarah pointed out.

"I'm his sister… and a doctor," Ellie said.

"He's my forever," Sarah replied.

"Dayum!" Ellie said. "Okay. Well, I do hope you don't just sit in that chair all night and watch him drool. The meds finally knocked him out."

"I'll be fine," Sarah told her. Ellie nodded and left. Sarah sat down in the chair, watching him. "I need you to get better Chuck. I need you to get off those meds, so I can ask you to marry me."

"I've got a whole proposal plan," he muttered. She grinned. He was talking in his sleep. "Morgan and I have revised it, but I don't remember you asking me." Her eyes widened. Apparently, he was awake.

"Wait, why are you awake? What happened to the drugs?" Sarah asked.

"Well, you see," Chuck said, opening his eyes. "On those meds, I have a ridiculous love for jello, and Awesome warned me too much… well, it could hurt my tummy and I have to go… a lot." Sarah snorted at that. "And right now," he continued, looking over at the portable toilet. "That's all I'm allowed to use." Sarah broke out into full laughter. "So, you still wanna marry a guy who might have diarrhea in that thing?"

"For better or for worse," Sarah told him softly.

"Sarah, listen… I love you, and I would marry you in a heartbeat. But let's be honest, you got scared today," Chuck began.

"Chuck Bartowski, of course I got scared I was going to lose you," Sarah told him. "But that didn't make me realize I wanted to marry you. It made me understand the fear I have in marriage doesn't touch the fear I have of you not being in my life."

"You're scared to get married?" Chuck asked. Sarah tilted her head and gave him a look. "Let's blame that on the drugs." He was silent a moment. "Are you legit asking me to marry you?"

"Chuck Bartowski, will you marry me?"

"Yes," Chuck replied. "But, does it have to happen now, or can I heal up."

"Oh, you gotta heal up," Sarah told him, taking his hand and squeezing it. "We've got a honeymoon."

"Chuck me," Chuck replied, his eyes wide.

A/N: ….welp

Next time:

"Chuck, I'm not completely convinced if I were about to be buried, you wouldn't throw yourself on top of my casket," Sarah said, trying to make a joke.

"Are you sure I wouldn't be in the casket with you?" Chuck asked.

"Now who the necro…whatsit?" Sarah retorted.

"Necrowhatsit?" Chuck repeated.

"Listen, you know what I mean," she said, spinning from where she was gathering her clothes, and pointing at him. He was grinning, she was grinning, it was like the eight hundred pound gorilla was off their backs. "I'm not into all that role-playee stuff."

"Now we both know that's not true," Chuck countered.

"It's not the same," Sarah said, giving him a wink, walking up to him, and cupping his face with one hand.

…..I think he's gonna make it…..