A/N Leave (someone) out in the cold, idiom

To leave (someone) in a bad position. To not give (someone) the rights or advantages that are given to others. Such as shelter or protection.

Chuck vs Everybody

A Charah Tale

By Lord Rapier

Edited and Guided by CliffM

Chapter 2: It's Cold Out in the Cold

"Major Casey, where the hell is my intersect? Explain to me again why he isn't in custody."

"General I thought I had them. I tracked the nerd's phone to the Angeles National Forest. When I got there with the search team there was no trace of them. If they were there, they covered their tracks."

I'm sorry Major, did you misunderstand me? Did you hear me say I want to hear your sorry excuses for your incompetence. Have you forgotten what Bartowski has in his head? How much he's worth to our enemies. Damn it, Casey. If Fulcrum finds out he's in the wind they'll grab him to use as leverage against Orion. I'm authorizing extreme prejudice."

"General, is it possible that extreme prejudice isn't required? He's just a kid. He's not trained. Maybe he got scared and took Walker in a moment of panic? Give me a chance to bring them in."

Beckman sits back and closes her eyes. Without looking into the camera she replies. "Tell me Major. Do you believe that this untrained kid, a nerd, was able to evade capture by you for over 24 hours? That nobody helped him, like maybe a CIA officer? Have you considered what Fulcrum will do to him if they figure it out? That he's the Intersect? Think about it Casey. What would they do to him? I can hear his screams in my head now. I'm doing the best I can, under the circumstances. Find him. I'll give you another 24 hours. Then I'm authorizing extreme prejudice against him and Walker. Bring them back. I don't care if they're breathing. Get it done." She cuts the conversation off.

Beckman leans forward and rests her forehead on her desk. Damn it, Casey. Do you really think this is the outcome I wanted. I like the kid too. She gets up and paces her office. Walker, I don't get it. Maybe I gave you too much credit. The indications were there. I chose to ignore the clues. I guess that puts it all on me. It feels wrong of me to ask you to end your own team, your partners. So be it. Someone has to be the grown up in the room. Maybe it's time for me to take this off your hands. Come on Casey, save me from my duty.

Casey sits down fully aware that he's still on camera. He can't show what's going on inside his head. There is no way I can take out my partners. I have to find a way to bring them in. I hope that phone call was the real thing, and he'll be contacting me again. There's no way Walker let me grab her phone's location by mistake. I guess I'd better give her what she up the GPS coordinates on the last contact. This time he speaks out loud. "Okay Walker, still in California, heading north and east." Casey copies the data and sends it to Beckman.

The screen comes up. "I got your message Casey. I'm putting a team on it now. How did you get this data?"

"I got a call from Bartowski on my private line. My guess is he's freaking out. He had a second thought and reached out. Then he got scared again and hung up, but he didn't turn the phone off. I'm guessing he's spiraling as we talk. I don't think it'll be long before he calls and begs me to come get him."

Beckman stares at him. "End this Casey, I'm tired of this crap. Seems I can't trust Walker either. Can I trust you Lieutenant Colonel Casey?"

"General?"

"Bring me evidence that this ridiculous dance is over, and your promotion will be permanent. Beckman out." The screen returns to the NSA logo.

Getting up slowly, the weight of the situation weighing him down, he slowly climbs the steps out of Castle. That kid is a pain in the ass. But he's my pain in the ass and nobody gets to touch him but me. Walker please be careful. I don't want to lose the best partner I've ever had. Call me back. Let me help you get out of this. However, if the two of you went rogue, betrayed our country, I will finish you.

"Okay Chuck, time to move. I'm going to ask you to get down in the back of the car again."

"Any chance you want to get in the backseat with me?"

"Chuck, you do realize we're in a life and death situation…." She pauses and looks at him. "Yes, damn it. I do want to get in the backseat with you. But that'll have to wait. I can't believe I'm out in the cold with a nerd who wants to relive his high school days."

Chuck stands up and takes her in his arms. But Sarah, It's cold out in the cold. I need you to warm me up."

Sarah groans, "I'm starting to think I may have screwed up." She looks into his eyes. "No, no I didn't. Chuck, I need you to behave. This isn't a video game. If we die, we don't get a new life." She wraps her arms around him and holds him tight. He hugs her back. "Chuck, don't freak out. I'm sure by now Beckman has put a hit out on us. We need to be very cautious and aware."

Chuck kisses the top of her head. "Huh, were you saying something. I'm feeling very warm right now."

Sarah sighs. "Okay Wiley, let's go."

Chuck squeezes tighter. "But I caught the road runner. Don't I get to eat her?"

Laughing hard, "Bartowski, you're incorrigible. In the car now. Keep your head down."

Sarah cautiously looks out the window. Satisfied there are no signs of pursuit. they leave the room. Climbing into the car, Sarah starts to drive. "Chuck, feel free to grab a nap back there. I'll wake you if I find that café. When we leave the car, your name is Wiley. Mine is Rhoda." Chuck smiles. "Be careful not to use our real names in public."

"Okay Sarah, tell me your real name and I won't use it."

She laughs, "Incorrigible, absolutely incorrigible. Tell you what, if we get out of this alive, I may just tell you. But only if you behave yourself."

"I will, I'll behave myself."

"Wiley."

"Yes Rhoda?"

"Don't behave too much. Thanks for making me laugh."

Arriving home Casey gets on his computer. I hope that Beckman never finds out that I let the nerd mess with my personal computer. He made it so that the NSA couldn't monitor it. If she finds out, I'll be on that list with them.

Okay Walker, I know you. There's no way you're heading towards the East coast. If you were, I wouldn't know about it. One thing Beckman was right about. There's no way the nerd could evade me this long.

Bringing up a map program he pins the last known location of Chuck's phone. Hmmm the Angeles National Forest. I'm guessing that's where you stashed your Go Bag. Then you head east where I picked up your burner. He pins the spot. Lots of Highway access. But highways have cameras and lots of cops.

You know by now there's a BOLO out on you. He sighs. I'm sure you've also figured out that Beckman has sanctioned a hit. OK Walker I'll wait. But Beckman won't. Be careful.

Sarah reaches between the front seats and gives Chuck a shake. "Chuck wake up, I found your café." Chuck opens his eyes and sees Sarah's face looking at him. He reaches up putting his hand behind her head lifting himself up he presses his lips to hers.

Letting her go. "Still plenty of room back here."

Sarah smiles, "Uh, huh and still plenty of cops and agents out there. Do you have any ID on you? Anything at all including credit cards?" Chuck hands over everything he has. "Good, here's some cash. Remember your name is Wiley, Wiley Cotes."

Chuck nods, "Got it."

"When you get on that computer, you don't look up anyone or anything connected to our lives. No Ellie, Morgan or Buy More. The agency will be monitoring any means you have of connecting to them. We'll come up with an explanation when we get back."

Chuck looks scared. "Sarah, will we get back?"

She reaches over to stroke his cheek. "Chuck, I did this to save your life, not take it away. We'll find a way back."

Chuck manages a weak smile. "I trust you."

Sarah smiles back. "Okay, you go in there, take your time. I have to buy us a car. We need something that's not on every cops' hot sheet."

"I wish we had some idea of where we're going."

"Into the desert, near Barstow. That's where they took my dad."

Sarah stares at him. "How…how the hell do you know that? How long have you known that?"

He looks down at the floor. "Jill told me. Before she ran. She saved my life. Then told me she overheard where they took him. They took him to a Fulcrum facility called Black Rock. I flashed when I heard the name."

"Saved your life huh? I'm not going to ask. If anyone else does, you never saw her. Do not leave this café until I come back for you. Keep your cap on, the brim pulled down, Do not look up. The camera will see you before you see it. It there's a camera on the computer, cover it before you sit down. Chuck, don't mess up. I want to hear those lady feeling. Maybe I'll even tell you mine."

Chuck leans up again to plant a soft kiss on her lips. "I'll be careful."

"Good, we're parked behind the café, there's a back door. I'll be back in this spot in two hours. If I'm not here, check every half hour after that. Chuck, if I'm not here in four hours." She lets out a long breath. "You need to turn yourself into the police. You'll get locked up. But at least you won't be dead."

"Sarah, you'd better come back. If I don't get to tell you how I feel about you. I'll…"

Sarah pulls his head forward and kisses him. "You'll feel the same way I will if I don't get to hear it. Go, be smart, be safe. I'll see you soon."

Stepping through the back door of the café. It's hard for him to avoid looking up. Sarah's warning echoes in his head and he keeps his head down. Walking up to the counter he orders a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee. "How much to use the computers?"

The clerk places the sandwich on the counter and pours the coffee. "Five bucks an hour."

Chuck places a ten and a five on the counter. "I'll take two hours. Any chance I can borrow a pencil and a piece of paper?"

"Sure no problem." He places the pencil, paper, and the change on the counter.

Chuck takes the paper and pencil. "Keep the change." The clerk smiles and pockets the money.

Chuck takes a look at the computer. Cool no camera. Using the logon the clerk gave him, Chuck dives into the operating system and bypasses all the security measures. Rebooting the computer he's able to fully access all of the computers capabilities without fear of being recorded or tracked.

Okay first things first, I need a laptop. A quick search turns up three used computers stores within fifty miles. He writes down the addresses. Good now a little cross referencing. Chuck smiles, excellent just what I needed. He asterisks one of the addresses.

He looks at the clock at the bottom of the screen. Okay, one hour left. Chuck's fingers fly across the keyboard as he hacks into the local bank's system. He smiles, here we go, just what I want. He writes down five addresses. He then looks up the latitude and longitude coordinates for each one. He erases the search history and any trace of what he's done. Another look at the clock tells him it's time to look outside.

Stepping up to the counter. "That sandwich was outstanding. Can I get another sandwich and two coffees with milk to go." He pays for the food. "Thanks." Chuck steps outside. No sign of Sarah. His heart skips a beat.

Please be safe. We're finally together, please be safe. He turns and opens the door to walk back inside. Pulling the door open he's startled when a horn sounds directly behind him. He turns to see a smiling Sarah at the wheel of a black jeep. "Need a ride mister?"

Chuck couldn't smile wider. He pulls the door open jumps onto the seat on his knees and pulls her towards him to kiss her hard. The caps get in the way, and he pulls them off. His lips release hers and he presses his forehead against hers. "I missed you."

Sarah gives him a soft kiss. "I got that. I'm here now… me too," She sighs. "That may not be such a good thing. We're on the run. I need to stay sharp, not distracted."

They put their caps back on. Chuck sits down and fastens his seatbelt, as the car moves forward. "I'll try and tone the Bartowski charm down, but no guarantees. I brought you breakfast, and I did get good stuff done." He hands her the sandwich and puts the coffees in the cup holders. "I found a used computer shop not far from here that needs a tech. Hopefully I can trade work for a decent laptop and the other stuff I'll need."

Sarah nods, "Thanks for thinking of me. I am a little hungry. That trade idea would be good. This ride is legal, but it sucked up a lot of our cash, and we still need to buy supplies. I'll need your help to hide the other car."

"I also hacked into the local bank and found a bunch of places that have been foreclosed on. They've all been for sale for quite a while. I also looked for properties that were somewhat isolated. No neighbors around them." He hands her the sheet of paper with the addresses.

Sarah shakes her head and laughs. "Are you sure you've never done this before?" She takes a quick look at his face. Her countenance goes soft. "Totally distracting, not good."

Chuck shrugs. "Sorry, I tried." Sarah laughs.

They drive for about ten minutes to where Sarah left the stolen car behind a used car lot. Pulling in behind it. "We need to hide that car. If the locals find it, it'll be traced back to the Buy More and us. The longer it goes unfound the longer no one knows we're in this area." She gets out, "Time for you to drive. Follow me. I'm going to move it somewhere that I can hide it."

Sarah drives the car till she finds a dirt fire road that goes into a wooded area. Driving up the road she finds a gully off to the side and stops the car. Getting out she waves Chuck to join her. "Help me, get the plates off." Chuck pulls the plates off as Sarah goes through the car removing any trace of the two of them in the car. She takes the items and the plates and tosses them in the jeep. She also grabs anything else she thinks might be useful. "Okay give me a hand." She places the car in neutral and they shove it down into the gully. Then Sarah climbs down and starts to pull loose branches over to cover it. Chuck climbs down to help her. The car covered. Sarah moves over towards Chuck and hugs him. "You're going to have to turn that Bartowski charm down a lot more. Let's go find your new job."

"Casey why are you sitting around on your dead ass?" Casey jumps up when Beckman's voice suddenly comes out of the monitor on the wall.

Casey looks up at the severe face on the wall. "Ma'am, it's been less than 48 hours. We're chasing a master spy and a genius. Both of whom have complete access to all our protocols. The only way we catch them is with patience. They will make a mistake. I'm counting on the nerd to be his usual self."

"Your lead on that cell phone was a bust. We pulled a long-haul trucker over in Oklahoma. Someone stashed a burner phone in his rig. He vaguely remembered meeting a blonde at a gas station in California. He said she was alone."

Casey nods, "I told you, master spy. The only way I catch them is when the nerd makes a mistake because Walker won't. Like I said, patience. Bartowski will screw up." He gets up and checks the multiple screens in front of him. "I have taps on every phone. Every computer he might access is monitored. Even his sister's hospital is being watched. Sooner or later he'll miss his sister/mommy. That's when I'll get him. He's also not going to go too far until he rescues his daddy. His lady feelings are his biggest liability, our greatest advantage."

He brings up a new screen. "I also have teams looking for any indication of Fulcrum, Roark, and Orion. On the upside he'll find Daddy Bartowski and the Fulcrum hideout. Win, win for us. General, there's a web out there so tight a spider wouldn't get through it. All federal agencies, state police and local LEOs are alerted. All we need now is for the nerd to do his thing. Patience."

Beckman stares at Casey, "You'd better be right, Colonel. You'd better be right… soon. Personally, I'm running out of patience. I'm considering calling in somebody who's not quite as attached to the asset." The screen goes to the NSA logo.

Casey, fully aware that he's under surveillance groans internally. Walker, you'd better give me something soon.

Helping each other they climb up the bank to the jeep. Sarah jams a few branches under the front bumper. As she backs the jeep down to the main road they clear the tire tracks. She pulls onto the asphalt and Chuck gets out. He pulls the branches and tosses them towards the woods. Climbing back into the car Sarah starts to drive. "Now we hope for rain. That will wash away a lot of our trail."

"Stephen really? You can't tell me you haven't missed working together?"

Orion puts down his soldering iron. "We're not working together Roark. You're a criminal who got me to cooperate by threatening my son."

Roark waves his hand in dismissal, "Potato, Patatoe. Get my intersect working and your son stays safe. I did some research Stephen. Seems you're getting paid double. You're working for Eleanor Fayenow as well."

Stephen growls and jumps up lunging at Roark. He screams in pain when the chain attached to the cuff around his ankle reaches its limit and wrenches him back. "ARRRGGGHHH."

Roark doesn't move. Standing outside the reach of the chain his face is passive with the exception of a small self-satisfied smile. He sneers. "And they tell me you're the smart one. Don't stress Stephen. It'll all be over soon. Finish my intersect and you'll be free." He turns and starts down the tunnel leading from Orion's prison/workshop. His voice echoes off the concrete walls as he walks away. "Free to spend eternity chained to that desk. Bwaa Haa Haa."

Frustrated and angry, Stephen turns his attention back to his keyboard. I have to find some way to contact Chuck. I can't let Roark get away with destroying everything decent. No Roark, you'll never have the intersect. You'll never hurt my kids. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Looking up the address in the street guide she found in a used bookstore, Sarah is able to find the computer shop in a town called Rancho Cucamonga. She pulls up in front of a store. The sign in the window says Gates Computers, new and used. "Should I wait to find out if you get the job?"

Chuck gives her a look of surprise. "You do realize you're talking to Wiley Cotes? Computer tech extraordinaire."

Sarah smiles, "I forgot. Do you have the number for the burner?"

Chuck taps his temple. "Up here, I'll call when I know what's going on."

"Okay I have to do some shopping. We'll need camping gear and food."

"Can you get me some stuff too?"

"Sure, what do you need?"

Two bottles of a cheap Chardonnay, some protein bars, shaving stuff, clean underwear."

"Two bottles, are we planning to get drunk? You won't need the shaving kit. The beard will add to your disguise. I'll get you some clothes."

"I'll do whatever it takes to get you to snuggle with me in that sleeping bag. If that means getting you drunk… I guess that's what it takes. Make sure you get the kind that zips together."

Sarah leans over and gives him a tender kiss. "You won't need to get me drunk and I wouldn't consider getting any other kind. Good luck, check in with me when you have some idea what's happening." Chuck stares at her. "Is there something else you need?"

Chuck nods and purses his lips. "I don't want to leave you. I'm scared. What if something goes wrong and I never see you again?"

Sarah takes a deep breath. "I won't lie, that could happen. But I for one am going to fight like hell to make sure it doesn't. Be careful, watch what you say. DO NOT go near anyone in your life. For right now you're going to go into that shop. You're going to use that Bartowski, I mean Cotes, charm on the shop owner to get that job. You'll call me to tell me when to pick you up. Then we'll go to our hideout. Which I will pick off the list you wisely came up with. We will eat some dinner, drink some wine, and snuggle in our double sleeping bag. Easy stuff." She leans over to kiss him. "Let me know when to come get you. I'll be here."

Chuck nods, kisses her again. "I'm still scared."

Sarah strokes his cheek. "I know, but you'll do what needs to be done anyway. That's why you're my hero. Now go quickly, before I change my mind and keep you here and ruin all our plans." Chuck climbs out of the Jeep and heads into the shop.

Sarah waits until Chuck walks into the computer store, then drives away. I'm scared too Chuck, please be careful.

Casey paces around Castle. He picks up a gun, checks it's action, puts it down. Come on Walker. He jumps when his personal phone rings. "Casey"

A familiar voice says, "Soon." The line goes quiet.

Casey screams into the phone, "No I don't want your damned car warranty insurance, take me off your list." He puts the phone away. Well it ain't much but at least I know she's alive.

When Chuck walks into the store there's a customer arguing with the clerk. "Look man, I bought this thing from you two days ago. All it does is give me error messages. I can't get to my Email."

"Mister look, I would love to help you, but my tech walked out on me. I own the store, but I don't know anything about fixing computers. He left me with a mountain of machines I can't figure out. What did you do to make it stop working?"

Chuck eavesdropping, hears his opportunity. "Mister, do you mind if I take a look?"

The customer looks at the shop owner. "Who's this?"

Chuck doesn't wait for an answer. He turns the laptop towards himself and types a bunch of commands. He watches as code fills the screen. He nods and types in a couple more commands. Restarting the computer he turns it back towards the customer. "I had to change your password. You should change it again. 1,2,3,4 is not very safe. Your new password is ChangeMe. The C and M are upper case. You also need to get some virus protection on there before you visit anymore of those questionable sites. I'm sure the proprietor can sell you something that will work."

The customer types in the new password. The start menu pops up.

The shop owner drops a box on the counter. "29.99 and my new technician will install it for free." He looks at Chuck with expectation.

Chuck nods, He picks up the laptop and the box of software. "Where's the workbench?"

The owner points to the back of the store. "I'm Billy."

Chuck heads towards the back as the customer pays for his purchase. "My friends call me Wiley."

Once in the back Chuck finds a portable drive and plugs it in. He cleans the computer then installs the virus protection. Twenty minutes later he comes back out to the front. "Here you go, all cleaned up. Make sure you keep those virus definitions updated." The customer takes his laptop and software. "Thanks mister, you saved my life."

Billy, looks at Chuck. "Can I afford you? You seem to know what you're doing."

Chuck smiles, "I may know what I'm doing, with computers anyway. Whether or not you can afford me is up to you. I saw your backlog back there. I'll clear up that mess for you. In exchange I get a used laptop, a power inverter, and the cabling I need." Chuck thinks for a moment. "And you never saw me."

Billy stares into his eyes. "Do I need to worry about the people looking for you?"

Chuck smiles, "Who said someone's looking for me. I prefer to stay off the grid, that's all."

Billy nods and offers his hand. "Deal, we close at eight, do you think you can make a dent by then?"

Chuck heads towards the back. "I'll see what I can do. Can I borrow your phone?"

Billy points towards the back. "There's one on your workbench. If you call China, no power inverter."

Chuck laughs, "Seems fair."

Chuck sits at the workbench and picks up the phone. He dials Sarah's burner. She answers on the second ring. "Yes."

"Eight O'clock."

"See you then." She ends the call.

Chuck gets into the zone and works on one machine after another. Billy walks into the back of the store to see Chuck closing a laptop. He looks over to the shelves still full of computers. "It's closing time. That's it, one computer. Do you realize how long you've been back here?"

Chuck smiles as he picks up the laptop and a plastic bag holding a bunch of other stuff. "They're all fixed. Take care."

"Take care? Wait, what does that mean?"

"It means I'm done. I repaired all your computers. I also updated the operating systems and installed virus protection on all of them. Make sure you charge for that."

"Where are you going? I thought you were my tech. Are you coming back?"

Chuck gives him a hard look and a thin smile. "Please don't tell anyone you saw me here… I'll try to come back to help you out. I can't promise. You were right people are looking for me. I promise I didn't do anything bad. I just pissed off the wrong people. If they believe we've interacted, they won't hesitate to treat you harshly." Chuck puts on a big friendly smile and offers his hand. "It was nice to meet you, Billy. Glad we could work something out that benefited both of us."

Billy stares after Chuck as he walks out the door to find the Jeep waiting for him. Looking in the window, he sees a woman with black hair. Shrugging he looks around for Sarah. He turns back when he hears the woman laughing. "Need a ride, mister?"

Chuck does a double take and realizes it's Sarah. He jumps in the car and immediately puts his lips on hers. He sits back. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Sarah smiles, "I'm fine Wiley. Let's go home." She pulls out into traffic.

Chuck acts surprised. "We have a home?"

"We do. I see we also have a computer."

"Yes, we have a computer. And I just put a very nice man in danger. I'll need to go back and apologize later."

Sarah looks at him and sees his sadness. "We will. I'll make sure we will."

Chuck reaches over and takes her hand. He squeezes it and with a weak smile. "Thanks."

A/N I hope this chapter is to your liking. I've received many good reviews about chapter one. To those who took the time thank you. To those who haven't yet let me know how you feel about my new story, please take the time. It's feedback from my readers that energize me to keep writing. If you want more, please let me know.