A/N: With email notifications back, I now know whether you've left a review or not without having to search for them! Thanks to those that did for the last chapter. It makes a huge difference to writers.

Thanks also to Capt Lil for the beta reading. That's really appreciated, too.

This chapter covers the events of "Chuck Versus the Beard," but with significant differences.


Don't Walk Away

Chapter 10: Raid


Sarah was lying in their bed thinking about the discussion that she and Chuck had about names.

On their last mission, Chuck had pretended to be an associate of Rafe Gruber, Jake Adkins, but he usually used the same alias, Charles Carmichael.

She hadn't thought about this before, but using the same false identity repeatedly was foolish. If any of the people they came up against eluded capture, or escaped, that name could get associated with her boyfriend.

Early on in their time together, Fulcrum had targeted the Buy More as a location that had been used by Bryce Larkin when they thought he was the Intersect. They'd sent in Lizzie Shafai as a Fulcrum agent pretending to be a delivery girl for the Pita Parlor restaurant near the Buy More. Sarah worried that information may have been passed on to The Ring. The last thing she wanted was for Chuck to be seen there and then associated with the Carmichael name.

When Chuck came out of the shower, she'd talk to him about using different names, like she did. Best not to take chances in the future.


"I'm thinking we should add some additional features to Castle security," Chuck told her when she aired her concern.

"What?" she asked.

"When the Fulcrum Leader and Jill got in and so easily overcame us, I decided we should have bullet proof screens that drop down in the corridors as well as sealing off individual rooms. Cole managing to get in so easily confirmed the need," he said.

She obviously noticed his frown as he mentioned the British spy. She placed her hand on his wrist. "You saw him kiss me, didn't you?"

He blushed. "I didn't mean to spy on you, but it hurt to see how you responded."

She blushed. "It was a hard time for me, back then. You'd screwed your ex, which upset me so much, but I couldn't have any intimacy with you. Then, you rejected me in front of Casey. Was it any real surprise that I responded to someone showing interest in me?"

He looked down. "I made a lot of mistakes, didn't I?"

"We both did," she responded. "You know he invited me to go away with him and I couldn't. I couldn't leave you, but not just because of that thing in your head. I'd fallen for you even though we couldn't be together. He'd seen how I looked at you and knew it was more than just a job."

"I wish I'd known that," he said quietly.

"You compounded my hurt by refusing to stay with me when he left."

He put his free hand over his face. "That wasn't just because he was right for you and I wasn't. I knew that being with you and not really being with you was too much for me to handle."

She gently lifted his hand off of his face. "Were you thinking that I wanted a spy as a lover?"

"You looked perfect together," he replied.

"No, Chuck," she said forcefully. "You and I look perfect together. I don't want a spy boyfriend. I want you, just as you are." She moved in and kissed him to emphasize her point.

When she pulled away, she held his gaze to make sure he understood. He smiled. "Ok. You're right. We are perfect together."

She nodded, then thought about what had led them down this path. "So, have you discussed this added security with Casey?"

"I have and he's getting Beckman to implement it."

She kissed him again. "Good."


The last two weeks had been quiet on the spy front. That was fortunate, as Castle had been refitted during that time.

Casey was impressed with the kid's engineering skills matching his computer wizardry. He'd never admit it, but he was finding himself more and more impressed with their analyst as time progressed.

He wasn't sure whether it was the new Intersect, being recognized as important and being made an analyst, or just having Walker as a real girlfriend, but Bartowski had definitely changed. Personally, Casey suspected it was Walker that made the difference. The old phrase about the love of a good woman certainly seemed to apply. The same seemed true in reverse. Bartowski was good for Walker, too. Removing the emotional tension between them made them both function better.

When the refit was complete, Bartowski demonstrated it to the two agents. It could all be activated from their watches, even remotely. In addition to the transparent screens, there was also one that they'd leave in place except when they needed access from the Buy More. In addition to the secure access from the break room, there was now also a metal screen that would prevent access if the security was bypassed and as an additional benefit, would prevent infra-red sight of the corridor beyond.

Needless to say, Walker showed her appreciation immediately.

Casey shuddered. He'd avoided that store room they'd set up as their sex den ever since the first time he'd opened the door and discovered its new purpose. He now stored stationary in a different location.


Sarah was relieved when General Beckman contacted them with a new mission.

It wasn't that she wanted it, but Casey was getting stir crazy and driving her nuts when she was around him. God knows what he must be like over in the Buy More.

The three of them sat facing her on the large monitor. "We've intercepted Intel that The Ring is planning to turn and use a CIA agent against us. And that will be somewhere near you. The problem is, we don't know who, when or where."

Chuck frowned. "I'd need more than that for the Intersect to be of any use."

Beckman nodded. "I know. When we have anything, I'll send it through, but I wanted the team to be ready."

As her image disappeared, Casey let out a grunt. Chuck recognized it, one of frustration.

"She wouldn't have told us if she didn't expect them to get more information soon, Casey," Chuck said.

"Maybe it'll be too late, though," the NSA agent grumbled and walked off.

"I hope they do soon," Sarah commented. "He's spending every minute he's in here stomping around, or in the firing range."

"I need to get back over to the store if we might have to go away. I need to clock some hours there."

"I'll call you when Beckman gets in touch again," she said. She gave him a quick peck on the lips and waved him off.


Sarah had called Chuck over. As he rushed down the stairs, he said, "News?"

Sarah looked up and nodded. "The agent that The Ring plans to turn is staying at this hotel." She had a plan of a hotel on the large monitor, the Malibu Vista Hotel. "We have no record of any spy being there, so whoever it is, is deep undercover."

Chuck frowned. "The Intersect has no record of anyone there either."

"So, we're heading over there," Casey said. "Bring your bikini, Bartowski." He walked into the armory and started loading guns into his bag.

Chuck looked at his girlfriend. He knew his eyes would be lighting up. She smirked at him. "Yeah. I will be wearing a bikini, if necessary. We need to head home to get what we need other than weapons." She had an alarming array of those in the bag in front of her.


After collecting what Sarah felt they needed from their apartment, including a fairly tame green bikini, they took it all to her Porsche.

As they climbed in, Sarah handed him a wedding ring.

"You could at least propose first," he joked.

She chuckled. "We're booked in as a married couple, Jason and Angela Silverman."

She noticed how he watched her putting on a wedding and engagement ring. 'He's imagining him putting rings on my finger.' That ought to frighten her, but somehow, it didn't.

"Right," he said as he slipped on the wedding ring she'd given him.

She started the car and set off for Malibu, trying to squash down the thoughts in her head.


The woman checking them into the hotel finished and looked up. "Here are your keys. Enjoy your stay here at the Malibu Vista Hotel."

She looked them up and down. "Might I add that the two of you are a very beautiful couple."

Chuck still found it strange hearing comments like that. Sarah, yes, but him?

Sarah smiled and replied, "Oh. Thank you."

Casey's voice came through to their earpieces as they entered the elevator, "You two lovebirds have fun while I'm cooped up in the van again. Have a margarita for me."

The two of them headed for the elevator to get to their room.

Chuck wanted to change to go down to the pool because he wanted to see Sarah in her bikini. He knew that was ridiculous, but he was only human. Unfortunately, he also knew they had spy stuff to do.

A few moments later, Casey said, "There's a Ring agent somewhere in this hotel. We need to find him. I tapped into the phone's mainframe. If The Ring calls out again, we can trace it back to the room it originated from."

Chuck opened one of the cases and replied, "Sarah and I are setting up the surveillance equipment. Then, we'll begin searching for possible targets."

They sat next to each other and looked at what they'd set up. This felt like it was going to take a long time. It wasn't. Only twenty minutes later, Casey told them, "Okay, The Ring just made a call from the hotel. I'll connect you in while I trace it back."

The line was a bit crackly, but still clear enough. A man's voice said, "The target is by the pool. Six foot two, well built. He's wearing a blue and white bathing suit."

"You got that, Walker?" Casey asked.

Sarah grabbed her binoculars. "Yeah, I got it." She walked to the window and scanned the pool area that was full of people on sun loungers around it. Knowing she needed to find a man in a blue and white bathing suit, she zoomed and scanned slower. Then she gasped.

"Did you find the target?" Casey asked.

Sarah just about managed to get out, "Yeah, we found him."

She turned to Chuck to tell him who she'd seen. He groaned. "Beckman said his identity had been contained!" Then he looked more focused. "Well, we know he's not a CIA agent that we have to worry about. I don't think they're really planning that. This all feels off." He then asked Casey, "Any luck on that trace?"

"Not yet. Working on it," Casey replied.

Sarah grabbed Chuck's arm. "We should go and get Devon and Ellie to safety."

"I guess." He looked reluctant. "They both needed this break."

She looked shrewdly at him. "Did Ellie or Devon tell you where they were going?"

He frowned. "No, why?"

She started shedding clothes. "Come on, time for your bathing suit and my bikini." He just stared for a moment. She stopped. "You can stare at my body when we have time." She clapped her hands. "Come on, chop-chop."


As they walked out to the pool, Chuck said, "I hate that Devon is in this situation, but it's worse because Ellie knows nothing. After we clear this mess up, I'm telling her everything."

Sarah had been expecting this for some time. "That may put her at risk," she muttered.

He stopped and looked at her. "And you don't think that's already happened here?"

She sighed. "Fair point."

They started walking again and she then said something that had been on her mind for a while. "It would be good having someone like her on the team. She might be able to help with what's in your head."

"We'll do it and then tell Beckman," he said.

"Ok."

They acted as if they'd just spotted Devon and Ellie when the brunette doctor spotted them.

"I didn't know you were coming here," Chuck said to them, which Sarah knew was completely true.

"We wanted to get away from everything," Devon said and the look he gave to the two of them said that included them and the spy life.

Sarah was going to offer to buy them a drink, but Casey's voice stopped her for a moment.

"The call came from Room 4305. I'll head there now and search it."

Sarah told the three in front of her, "Well, there's nowhere for us to sunbathe right now, and I forgot that I needed to make some calls, so I'm sure Chuck will buy you some drinks to apologize for disturbing you."

She was sure that Chuck would take the hint and he did. "Help me with the drinks please, Devon," he said.

As Sarah rushed to room 4305 to join Casey, she reached for the gun that she had in her clutch bag.

She heard Chuck talking to Devon. "We got a tip that The Ring was trying to turn an agent staying at this hotel. I don't know why they think you're an agent, Devon. It must be a mistake."

She could also hear Devon's panicked response. "You told me that I was in the clear. Are Ellie and I in danger?"

"We're here to make sure you aren't, Devon."

When Sarah reached the room, smoke was clearing. Casey must've flash-banged it. As she walked in, Casey looked at her. "It's a set-up."

"That means Ellie and Devon are safe," she concluded. "But why do this?"

She saw realization appearing in his eye the same time as he must in hers. "To get us away from Castle!" he said.

"Chuck, Devon and Ellie are not at risk but we have to get back to Castle. It's under attack."

Chuck responded almost instantly. "I've set all the screens to drop. It'll be very hard for them to get to anything of interest."

"Come back and change quickly. We need to go," she told him. She was tempted to tell him to stay, but had to stop herself. She wasn't responsible for protecting him anymore.


Chuck was quiet in the car on the way back. The conversation with Devon playing on his mind. Sarah didn't know what to say, so she just drove quickly.

Chuck got a call, which he answered, mouthing, "Morgan."

He didn't put it on speaker, so she only heard Chuck's side of the conversation.

"Sarah and I were having some time at the beach in Malibu, but we're on the way back now."

He sighed. "No. I had some time off."

"What? Interviews to see who can stay in the Buy More?" he asked incredulously. "Says who?"

He looked at her and put the phone on speaker. She heard Morgan say, "Big Mike heard that someone's thinking of buying the store. We're closing today so some building inspectors and technicians can come down and they'll be interviewing everyone. They're gonna fire everyone who's not essential, man!" He paused for a second, then added, "They'll want to interview you too, so you better get here."

She could see Chuck had worked out what was happening. "I'll have to go home and change. I can't come in wearing a t-shirt and shorts." He wasn't wearing that, but it was a good stalling response.

"Do it fast," Morgan said.

As the call ended, Chuck turned to her. "They're gonna try to go in through the Buy More."

"Yeah," she replied.

He smiled. "It won't be any easier that way with the new screens."

"They might even struggle to find the entrance," she commented.

He grinned. "Yeah!" Then his face dropped. "That means the Buy More staff are all at risk."

"Tell Casey. He can get NSA teams there." They should've done that first, but now was better than never.

Chuck quickly made that call.


Just before they got to the store, Morgan called again.

"I was in the break room and two men came in with some device sweeping it over the lockers."

Chuck looked at her in a panic. "Where were you?"

Morgan sounded proud of himself. "Hiding on top of the lockers on the other side… The one with the device switched it off after a full sweep. He looked pissed and said to the other, 'I was sure there'd be access to Shaw's CIA base from here. We'll have to tell Del that access must just be via the yogurt shop.' Then they stomped out. What the hell, Chuck!"

Chuck looked at his girlfriend and covered the phone. "Looks like Morgan knows about us, too."

"Not necessarily," she responded. "Tell him the guys must be mad." Chuck did.

"I dunno, buddy," Morgan replied. "They seemed rational and very sure of themselves."

"Were they with the other guys?" Chuck asked.

"Yeah."

"It could be that the CIA is thinking of buying the store," Chuck suggested.

"And who's this Shaw guy?" Morgan asked.

"Maybe he's the CIA buyer," Chuck responded.

"All seems weird to me," Morgan said, sounding dejected, he ended the call.

"Hopefully, we won't have to worry about explaining the entrance from the store," Sarah said.

"I'm worried now that The Ring will decide the store staff are of no use and shoot them all."

She couldn't answer that with any words of comfort, so just continued to drive.


As they pulled into the parking lot, they saw Buy More staff milling about outside the store as men in military gear marched men in suits out to van

Sarah looked at Chuck. "Too far away for me to flash on them," he said.

Three suited men were being loaded into another van over by the Orange Orange.

"There is a problem with the NSA turning up," she said. Chuck turned to her, looking confused. "It confirms their suspicions that there is a base here."

"Maybe they didn't get to tell their superiors?" Chuck suggested.

"Maybe," she responded, but wasn't hopeful.

Morgan rushed over to the car as they climbed out. "A CIA base under the Buy More and the Orange Orange! Wow!"

Chuck rolled his eyes. "In some crazy men's dreams, Morg." Sarah was impressed.

Morgan looked at the two of them appraisingly. "I can imagine you two being spies." Sarah controlled her facial features. "Casey, too," Morgan added.

"Yeah, sure!" Chuck responded.

"Ahh, well. It's a nice dream," Morgan said and walked off.

"If they'd got in, I bet he would've followed them and discovered Castle himself," Chuck said. He looked at her. "Then I'd have to tell him everything."

She shuddered. "Thank god he didn't."

"I guess," he said, but sounded a bit disappointed.

Sarah just thought one crisis averted, but there was going to be fallout. Morgan would have to be closely monitored and kept unaware of what was really happening, for one.

Chuck was determined to tell Ellie and that would have an impact, not least that they'd have to get Beckman on board with it.

She sighed. Why was nothing ever easy?


A/N: Sorry to those that wanted Morgan to become aware of everything. In the show, that was important partly because he reminded Chuck that he loved Sarah and, once he acknowledged that, Chuck was able to flash again. Not necessary here.

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