A/N: Howdy, welcome back
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
"Hey good lookin'!" Chuck smiled as Sarah walked up to him. She held out a glass and he took it, sipping as he looked at her. "I need this." Sarah nodded as she looked at the freshly tilled field. It was fall, winter was coming sooner rather than later, and they knew that they would have to till the ground again in the spring. They needed to grow enough feed to for the animals they were going to raise.
"We get through this winter, we should be good," Sarah said. Chuck nodded his head.
"The fact we've gotten this far is somewhat of a miracle in its own right," Chuck told her. "Who's that?" Chuck inclined his head toward the road, as they saw someone riding up in the distance.
"Looks like Big Mike," Sarah said. "Morgan, come take care of these horses," she called out. Morgan waved that he heard her, and started that way. "Come on, let's see why the sheriff's here."
The two walked over to Big Mike as he dismounted, near the wagon. Casey walked up to join them. "Sarah, can you come over here, I need some help!" Alex yelled out from the house.
Sarah turned to the three men. "Excuse me," she said. The three nodded at her, and she headed toward the house.
"Well, you boys have scared the Shaw Gang spitless," Big Mike said, looking proud. "A member of the gang from the Rolling Rock camp has turned himself in."
"One member turned himself in," Casey said, standing tall and looking around. "When did this happen?"
"Well, just now. I rode out here to tell you," Big Mike said, looking proud.
"And the other members that were at that camp?" Chuck asked.
"They went to join Shaw," Big Mike told them. Chuck and Casey shared a look, and reached for Big Mike at the same time. Two shots rang out. Chuck pulled his right arm back, grabbing it like he had been hit. Big Mike's hat went flying and he fell to the ground face down. Casey grabbed Chuck and pulled him behind the wagon.
Shots rained down on the wagon as the two did their best to stay hidden.
"Damn fool led them right to us," Casey muttered, having pulled out his pistol. "This ain't lookin' good, kid. I think there's five, maybe six of 'em."
Chuck started to respond, when he heard shots go off that didn't hit the wagon. In fact, they seemed to come from the direction of the house. Looking over, he saw Gertrude, Alex, and Sarah, all shooting in the direction of the initial shots.
Sarah was leading the three, with the other two flanking her. There was no return fire.
"Check on your husband, Alex and I will make sure that they're dead," Gertrude told Sarah.
"Chuck!" Sarah yelled, running towards the two men.
Big Mike lifted his head. "Is it over?"
"Holy shit, he's alive," Casey said, stunned. "Let me guess, your hat is too small for your head."
"How'd you know?" Big Mike asked.
"Because if it had fit right, and they had hit you where they thought they were aiming, because of the hat, you'd have a hole plum through yer head," Casey said. "Bartowski," he said, turning to Chuck. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Chuck said, his left hand over his right forearm. Casey could see blood coming down. "Shouldn't have had my sleeves rolled up.
Before he could say anything else, Sarah was there. She moved his hand and inspected his arm. She looked up at him. "There's no bullet," she said softly.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "A bullet hit the wagon, causing splinters to hit my arm. I'll be okay."
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. She pulled away, looking down at his arm. "We need to clean this and get the splinters out."
"I'm fine," Chuck assured her.
"Alex, can you grab me a needle?" Sarah yelled. "And a rag and some clean water."
"On it!" they heard the younger woman yell.
"Really I'm fine," Chuck insisted.
"Gerty, I owe you my life," Casey said softly, pulling her into a hug as she got near them. "I'm guessin' you saw 'em?"
"I did," Gertrude said. "I knew yelling to you two would alert them."
"I don't think it's too deep," Sarah muttered, worrying over Chuck's arm.
"I'm really okay," Chuck told her. She slowly lifted her head and looked him in the eye. "I mean… not okay, okay. Like, it's not going to fall off, okay."
"Nah, won't fall off," Casey said. "Might have to cut it off if it gets infected. But definitely won't fall off."
Sarah slowly turned toward Casey. He gulped.
"What say we get those bodies in the wagon and you pay us the bounties on them, Sherriff?" Casey asked Big Mike. Big Mike nodded, and Gertrude chuckled as the three went over to get the horses for the wagon.
"I'm really okay," Chuck told her.
"I know," Sarah said. Chuck grinned at her. "We have to finish this."
"I know. We can ride in the morning," Chuck told her.
"No, I mean, we have to get married," Sarah told him. His eyes widened. "In case this goes wrong in the end, I want to be in one marriage that I know I'm loved for who I am."
"If that's what you want, that's what we'll do," he told her.
"It is," she said. "Also, I want to get these splinters out of your arm."
"I'm probably going to be a quite childish about it," Chuck admitted.
"That's fine," Sarah told him. "Marry me?"
"Absolutely."
}o{
It was on a fall day in the next week, as the sun set, that they stood on the hill near the fence line. Under a tree displaying brilliant fall foliage, they exchanged vows. It was a small wedding; simple, elegant, and at Chuck's insistence, Sarah wore trousers.
They used simple rings, and were surrounded by those that loved them, save Ellie and Devon. As they both said, "I do," they knew that those words also meant they would have each other's back not only on the farm, but in the hunt for the rest of the Shaw gang.
After the simple ceremony, a huge meal was enjoyed. Songs were played by the outside bonfire, and as the night progressed, everyone began to take their leave until it was just Chuck and Sarah.
Sarah sat there, smiling, looking into the fire. "May I ask what you are thinking?" Chuck asked.
She turned to him, grinning. "I'm just thinking we need to go inside and consummate this marriage," she told him.
"Boy howdy," he breathed.
}o{
A few days later found five riding off the farm. They were dressed in warm clothes, with more in their packs. While it wasn't cold yet, where they were going was expected to be snowing and freezing. Casey had tried to argue that Alex and Gertrude shouldn't go, and someone should watch the farm. Morgan had promised he would, which had gotten him a kiss from Alex.
Casey had turned to Chuck for help, took one look at Sarah, and knew the Chuck would not be helping him in this discussion. Big Mike promised to help Morgan with the farm, and knew several in town would, as well.
That morning, five left the farm, wanting to rid the earth of the scum that was the Shaw Gang.
They rode hard, little talk between them, and it wasn't long before they found themselves in the foothills. Here, the air was much colder. A crisp cutting wind, with the first hints of snow. As they began to ascend the hills, the temperature began to plummet, and the slight signs of snow became heavy flakes.
"Any idea how much further?" Gertrude asked.
"That summit, is where I was told," Casey said, pointing up the mountain.
"Then we should stop for the night," Gertrude said. "We need to scale that in the daytime."
"Won't be able to take horses," Casey said, not looking happy.
"And if they're smart, they'll have lookouts," Chuck said. "It could be walking into a shooting gallery."
"You know of any other way?" Sarah asked. Chuck shook his head no. "Then let's camp, eat, and get some sleep before we do this in the morning."
Chuck watched Sarah, knowing something was off.
}o{
Sarah snuck out of the tent she shared with Chuck and silently went to mount her horse. "Shhh," she said softly, petting the horse's side. "Shhh."
"Really, you think you're just gonna ride off without me?" Chuck's voice asked, cutting through the still night.
She turned toward him to retort, when she saw everyone standing there. "What are you doing here?"
"We're going with you," Chuck said.
"Chuck, listen, I can understand why you think you have to. But Alex, Casey, Gertrude… there is no reason," Sarah began.
"Oh, there's every reason," Gertrude said. "You're family, Sarah."
"And those men need to die," Alex added.
"They tried to kill me," Casey said with a shrug.
Sarah looked at Chuck. "Well?" she asked. "Do you have a reason?"
"Many," Chuck admitted. "But I love you, and we're partners top the list." Sarah nearly melted with that.
"This is my fight," she insisted.
Chuck shook his head. "It's our fight," he told her gently. "It's all our fight. Gertrude's right, we're family. It's not normal. It's not what others would say is family, but it's ours. Look at us, Sarah. Two widowers, who found each other, through blood and death." Sarah nodded. "Two lost people who clung to each other to try and get through this world. You have my back, and I damn sure have yours."
"I'm going to kill him, Chuck," Sarah told Chuck. "I have to."
"Okay," Chuck replied. "We've talked about this."
"But you don't like it," Sarah protested.
"I don't like it when Casey has gas," Chuck pointed out.
"Or me," Alex added.
"You two don't have to sleep with him," Gertrude muttered.
"What the hell did I do?" Casey asked.
"You eat beans every damn meal, that's what!" Gertrude said.
"I like the taste," Casey said with a shrug.
"Like I said," Chuck said, turning back to her, with a shrug and a grin. "Family. Messed up, but family."
"If one of you dies because of this," Sarah began.
"It would be our choice," Alex cut in. Sarah sighed. "We get to make the decision of who we help, and who we don't."
"Let's us help you, Sarah," Chuck said.
"Okay," Sarah relented. "But in the morning. We need some sleep."
"That's what we were trying to do, before you tried to ride out of here," Casey grumbled, heading back to the tent.
"I thought you were trying to murder me with your gas," Gertrude replied.
Sarah walked up to Chuck, watching the two argue as they went into their tent. "One day, that could be us," Sarah told him.
"Nah, you wouldn't let me eat that many beans," Chuck told her.
"What do you mean I wouldn't let you?"
"Simple, you wouldn't let me," Chuck replied with a shrug.
"And you're okay with that?" Sarah asked.
He turned to her and looked her in the eye. "I know exactly what I agreed to by marrying you," Chuck said softly. He gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "Now, let's get some sleep."
"Or, in case this goes bad, we could do something else," Sarah suggested.
"Boy howdy!" Chuck replied.
A/N: Fire's dying, get some shut-eye. See you soon.
