A/N: Maybe ownership of Chuck is carried in someone's back pocket? Or maybe not.

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Hi. My name is Chuck Bartowski. Here are some things you might not know or might have forgotten. Together with Devon, my team came down to Chihuahau, Mexico to check on the health of an Al Qaeda operative who suffered a heart attack. He has a tracker implanted in his pacemaker by the Intelligence Community and we are all hoping he'll lead us to Bin Laden. Ellie came along too. Here's the problem, though. We found out the man was in Mexico to negotiate a deal with one of the Mexican cartels to smuggle AQ men and weapons into America. Suddenly, this mission became much more complicated.

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Pablo said, "Chuck, you've asked us to let Ahmad go when he recovers, but that's not going to be possible. You see, his meeting in Tijuana is with members of the Los Equis cartel. They are negotiating a deal to bring men and weapons through our country and into yours on behalf of Al Qaeda. Ahmad cannot be permitted to attend that meeting."

"Oh, shit," said Sarah.

"Exactly," said Pablo. "None of us want that to happen. We have to stop Ahmad from making that meeting."

Devon spoke up, "Making the meeting? Guys, he's a very sick man. I'm not sure yet, but he might need heart surgery immediately. He may not survive. I know you all have plans for him this way and that way, but they should all be contingent on his survival. Sorry to be a bummer here."

"Thank you, Doctor," said Pablo, with a nod.

"Thanks," said Chuck. "We'll keep that in mind. Pablo, Ahmad is the one we care about. If he doesn't survive, you can do what you want with the rest of his guys. We don't care."

"But if he survives..." said Pablo.

"Yeah," said Sarah. "If."

"Sorry, I'm not loving your plan. Let's think about it for a minute," said Chuck, shaking his head. "Even if you grab him and he doesn't make the meeting, they'll just send someone else later. How did you know about this meeting anyway?"

"We have a confidential informant inside the cartel. If they send someone else, we'll pick up that guy too."

Casey said, "If you do that time and again, you'll burn your asset on the inside. They'll figure that word is getting out about the AQ meetings."

"Or they won't meet here. What if they meet in Lisbon or something? What if we can't find it out in time? Just stopping Ahmad isn't enough. We have to deal with the two organizations from a bigger perspective. Strategic, not tactical, considerations," said Chuck.

"What do you have in mind, Chuck?" asked Pablo.

"I don't know yet. Let me reach out to Washington. In the meantime, we have to wait for the results of the echocardiogram we ordered."

"Ok. Keep us informed."

"Will do."

The two men shook hands.

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Back in Chuck and Sarah's hotel room, the TV on the wall came alive with the image of General Beckman. Casey, Sarah, Chuck, Alex Forrest and Devon all stood together facing her.

"Good morning, Team. How is Ahmad?"

Devon spoke up, "With Chuck's help, I've ordered him an echocardiogram to confirm a concern I have. If I'm right, he's going to need immediate cardiac surgery to survive. We'll know more when the echo results are in later today."

"Something the Mexican doctors missed?"

"I'd like to hold off on that conclusion until the echo is back, Ma'am," said Devon.

"Fair enough," said Beckman. "Keep me informed."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Very well. Now why did your team decide to bring Dr. Bartowski with you on a mission? This is no place for tourists."

Although, surprised that she knew of Ellie's involvement on the mission, Chuck took the news without blinking. Keeping his composure and a straight face, he said, "I decided that she would be a useful addition to the team, given the medical nature of what we've been looking into. And, in fact, that has proven to be the case. She was instrumental in getting us access to the hospital."

Sarah said, "Ma'am, Chuck and I discussed it and concluded that having another doctor along would be helpful."

Beckman still looked annoyed, her resting face.

Casey, not prepared to let his partners take the blame alone, said, "It was a team decision, General. We all came to the same conclusion."

"Well, not all of you, it seems. Agent Forrest notified me of the breach of protocol."

Casey and Sarah turned to look at Forrest with a certain level of annoyance in their gazes, but Chuck continued to look at Beckman, his focus unchanged.

Chuck said, "Speaking of a breach of protocol, Ma'am. Why wasn't Mexican intelligence alerted to our mission in their country? Unless I'm mistaken, that itself is a breach of protocol."

"It was my decision. The fact that we have a tracker inside Ahamd was too sensitive to share."

"With respect, Ma'am, it was the wrong decision. We almost had a disastrous blue-on-blue situation. If not for the fact that both sides acted with restraint it might have been much worse. As it is, we are now in contact with a team from CISEN which had Ahmad under surveillance. Frankly, it was through my sister's diplomacy that we were able to achieve a working relationship with them. So, it seems that she was again proven useful."

Beckman looked annoyed at having been corrected by Chuck, but pushed on with the questions his revelation had given rise to.

"What have you told them about Ahmad?"

"We told them that, if he survives, we want Ahmad in the wild. I am assuming they believe him to be an asset of ours, but they haven't asked and we have not volunteered more than that. But there's a problem, Ma'am."

"What sort of problem?"

"They have their own reasons for wanting to interfere with Ahmad's business here in Mexico. Reasons that they have shared with us. But I think this discussion should include both Director Graham and Director Malone. Are you available later today, General? I think we should all be on a secure video conference."

Beckman seemed to have gotten past recent her annoyance at Team B for bringing Ellie along and her subsequent annoyance at Chuck for pointing out her error in judgement. "By all means. I will set it up and let you know. What is the nature of the problem?"

"A confidential informant in one of the cartels has given CISEN the information that AQ is negotiating an arrangement to have the cartel bring men and weapons across our southern border on their behalf."

"Oh, shit," said Beckman.

"Our thoughts exactly."

"Very well. I'll arrange the call for later today and text you the time. Perhaps by then we will have more information on Ahmad's prognosis." As was usual for her, she broke the connection without saying goodbye.

Chuck turned to Devon. "What time would you figure the results of the echo should be posted?"

"Probably immediately after it's complete. If they can get him in by noon, it should be done after lunchtime."

"Ok, we can start checking then. What are you and Ellie going to do?"

"I didn't sleep great and I burned up a bunch of adrenaline when Pablo's guys took us. I could use a nap."

"Cool. You guys do that. We've fixed up the hospital records so it looks like Ellie was discharged early this morning, so you shouldn't be bothered by anyone calling. Sarah and I can keep up the cover of scouting film locations." Turning to Casey and Forrest, he said, "What do you guys want to do?"

"Might as well do the same as you two and keep up the cover. Nothing else to do until the results of the echo come back or the call with the brass starts," said Casey.

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Casey was driving one of their two rented SUV's with Forrest in the passenger seat. They had been silent for a long time.

Finally, Casey said, "You've never been in the military. You've only been a spy." Those were not questions, as Casey had read her file when they were considering bringing her onto the team.

"Yeah. That's right."

"Well, you've got a lot to learn, Forrest. You reported Ellie's participation to the General."

"Yeah, I did, Colonel. When I realized you weren't going to, I did it. My decision was according to established protocol."

"Sure was. And you put the rest of your team in a tough spot. That occur to you?" he asked.

"The rest of my team put themselves in a tough spot by bringing an unauthorized civilian on a mission."

"An unauthorized civilian who you knew nothing about. You didn't understand what she was capable of. You didn't trust our judgment. And she's has been nothing but helpful on this mission. So far, she's been more helpful than you've been," he said with a deep growl.

"If she was going to be so helpful, why didn't you suggest to Beckman that she be included on the roster? Why go behind the General's back?"

Casey's voice was betraying his frustration and impatience with Forrest. "Because she would have said no, that's why."

"And you know better, is that it, Colonel?" asked Forrest, with a bit of anger of her own.

That made Casey pause for a moment or two before he replied, "No. But Chuck does."

Forrest made a 'hummpppfff' noise. "He doesn't act like a spy. At least not from what I've seen."

"That's because you're an idiot, Forrest. Whether he acts like a spy or not, he's the reason this team has been successful. And he's the most brilliant person I've ever met. It's an honor to serve with him. If you think you have any prayer of staying on this team, you better get your head in the right place."

"And what place would that be?"

"We don't treat each other like spies treat their partners. It's closer to the comradery of an elite military unit. We will always have your back. And we expect that you will always have ours. Protocol be damned," he said.

Forrest huffed and said, "Rules are made for a reason, Colonel."

Tiring of the discussion and Forrest's stubbornness, Casey said, "Stick with that attitude and you'll be off this team before you know it."

Forrest didn't reply.

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Chuck and Sarah drove around Chihuahua, taking pictures of locations for the fake movie. They had just begun to discuss lunch when one of Sarah's cell phones rang.

"Rachel," she said to Chuck as she glanced at the screen.

"Hi, girlfriend. What's up?"

Rachel said, "Hey, yourself. Two pieces of news for you."

"Ok. Shoot," said Sarah.

"So, they are sort of related. First off, I'd like to accept your job offer. To be the General Counsel of Carmichael Industries."

"Hey, great. That's great news." She turned to Chuck and said, "She's accepting. She's coming to CI."

"Wonderful." He raised his voice so it would be picked up by the mic on Sarah's phone. "Welcome aboard, Rachel. Great news."

Laughing, Rachel said, "Tell him I said thanks."

"She says thanks. What's the second bit of news? You said they are related."

Rachel's voice changed a bit. Somewhat less brash, a bit softer, and she said, "I'm engaged, Sarah. Brian asked me to marry him."

Sarah gave a whoop of joy. "YEAH. Well done Brian. Now that's some great news indeed. Fantastic. When's the wedding?"

"I have no idea. I'm only engaged since last night. He's moving to LA to be with me. He's going to work at his firm's LA office. He...well, he said he realized if he was going to make that commitment to be with me... to move across the country...well, he wanted to go all in. Total commitment, he said."

Chuck mouthed some words towards her.

"Oh, that's great. Congratulations. And tell Brian that both Chuck and I said good luck."

"Thanks. I sort of have you to thank. You and Chuck. If you hadn't made the offer and shaken us both up, who knows how long we would have lived with the status quo."

"Well, then, you are very welcome. Great news. When can you get to LA?"

"I'll give two weeks notice to my firm and take another week to get all our shit together for a move. So I ought to be there in three weeks. Figure we'll stay in a hotel or something until we can find an apartment."

"That makes sense. I'll see if I can get a recommendation for a broker for you. You know, someone to show you guys some apartments," said Sarah.

"That would be great. Oh, and it's LA. I'll have to get a car."

"You don't have a car?" asked Sarah.

"Sarah, I live in Manhattan. Why would I need a car?"

"Yeah. I guess that's right. You'll need two, though. You and Brian will both need cars. Oh, wait. Let's get you a lease through CI." She glanced at Chuck, who nodded. "Yeah, that's what we'll do. Pick something and we'll have the company lease it for you. You're an executive after all."

"Cool. A perk. I haven't even started work yet and I get a perk."

"Sure do. Hopefully the first of many."

"Sarah, I … I'm really excited about this. I really am. I think this is going to be so much fun."

"Yeah. I'm excited too," said Sarah with a big smile.

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Malone, Graham and Beckman filled the screen of the wall mounted TV in Chuck and Sarah's hotel room. Inside the room, a little crowded, were Team B, augmented by Devon and Ellie, facing them.

Malone started the meeting. "Good afternoon, Team. Before we discuss the latest intel, how is Ahmad?"

Devon answered, "No change that we can tell, Director. The results of the echocardiogram aren't posted to their computers yet. Chuck checked it only a few minutes ago."

"Thank you, Dr. Woodcomb. I'm sure you will keep on top of any developments there."

"Yes, Sir," said Devon.

"Now, Chuck, Diane tells me that those Al Qaeda bastards want to get into bed with a cartel? For smuggling?"

"Yes, Sir. The CISEN team we have been in contact with has intel from a source inside the cartel that Ahmad's meeting in Tijuana is to negotiate exactly that sort of an arrangement with the Los Equis cartel. It is their intention to take Ahmad and his men into custody and turn them over to us to derail the negotiations."

"And we want Ahmad and his pacemaker wandering around the world to find OBL," said Beckman. "So, we have to choose between a promising lead to the most wanted man in the world, or a nightmare scenario on the border." She sounded bitter.

"Well, Ma'am, I've been giving it some thought. Seems to me that the challenge is to allow Ahmad...assuming he survives, of course... to go on his way unmolested, but interfere with the incipient partnership nevertheless."

Malone grinned and said, "Ok, Chuck. Let's hear what you have in mind."

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A/N2: Well, I certainly hope a good plan comes out of these discussions. We've got some top notch brain power here. And, the moment they come up with a brilliant plan, I really, really hope one of them tells me what it is. See ya all next week. (Just a warning, if the next chapter is set entirely in O'Malley's Bar talking about Morgan's recipes, it means Chuck didn't tell me how to disrupt the bad guy's plans.)