WITHOUT ME

by mssupertigz

What if Casey followed through on his orders to kill Chuck. What were his reasons and what would it do to his relationship with Sarah. Was killing Chuck the answer or would they give Casey the answers he needed to redeem his actions.

7. Chapter 7

Without you Ch 7

Chuck held Sarah close as he could feel her body shake. He had never seen her so shaken up like this before. She was always the strong one despite putting her through their fake break ups, protecting him and almost dying. But in her eyes, he did die, then to meet face to face with maybe the person who metaphorically pulled the trigger. Casey opened his door. "We better move, not sure who might be watching." Chuck released his hold seeing her wipe her face. He looked down at his shirt and seeing the tear stain. Alexander drove off.

They reached the hotel as Sarah went inside to change. Chuck gave her a few minutes then walked to the door knocking slightly. He peeked in and saw her standing there hugging her dress shirt in front of her. Chuck walked up to her and took the blouse from her giving her a t shirt to put on. She slid it on then slid into his arms. "You want to talk about it?"

Sarah released her hold sitting down on the bed. Chuck joined her. They had sat in this similar pose several times when missions didn't end up like they thought they would. Sarah sat cross legged facing Chuck as he sat with his one leg bent at the knee and the other dangling over the bed. He faced her grabbing her hand. "So, it didn't go well?"

"No, it was okay like any other meeting but to sit across from a person that may or may not have been involved in your kill order was harder not to crawl over her desk and."

"I hope that you didn't go all Sarah on her."

Sarah smiled. Rubbing her finger over his hand. "No, but it was tempting. I wasn't sure where she was at. She did say that she was sorry for what transpired and for a moment I think she was very sorry but then quickly said that it was part of the job and that we were a good team."

"We are."

"But get this, her offer was to have me and Casey start up a new team in LA for what was to come."

"A new team?"

"Yeah, like I could do that, in LA, in Castle without you."

"Did she say what kind of team?"

"No, she asked me to settle any outstanding jobs and get the place ready for what was to come. She is waiting for my answer."

"What are you going to tell her?"

Sarah wiped her face down trying not to show that she was affected by what had occurred.

Casey and Alexander walked in.

Sarah repeated what she said to Chuck.

"What did she say? "She tried to say she was sorry for how it happened. Like she was sorry Chuck had died. She said she wished that there was another way then changed the subject."

"Do you think she had anything to do with Chuck's kill order?"

"Honestly, Alexander, I don't know. I have known Beckman for some time, but to hear her say what she said I don't know. I think she knows something and whatever happened she wasn't on board with it."

"So, we look at who she was in contact with?"

Chuck went quiet as this conversation was becoming too much again. But he needed to be there for Sarah. She noticed his changed in demeanour. She grabbed his hand. "I'm okay. Just a little hard to go through. But seeing you here, thankyou." She kissed his cheek. Then got up. Chuck saw the three-start up a conversation. Chuck looked at them almost like they were robots not allowed to feel or deal with emotions other than what the job entailed. Maybe he was looking into it too much, but if he was Sarah and had to stare at the woman, that maybe ordered a kill order to kill someone you cared about, wouldn't you be screaming at the top of your lungs? Chuck got up and walked outside. The room was getting too crowded. Sarah finally noticed that he left and walked outside. Chuck was crouched down looking at something on the ground. She stood beside him placing her hand in the back of his neck. She knew that he liked it and it seemed to calm him down. She stood up and looked at her. "Why don't you scream, yell or throw something." She was taken aback by what he said. "If I were you and had to sit across from someone who may or may not have ordered a kill order for someone you knew cared about. I would be furious."

Sarah was slow to think methodically like him. She was trained to just do and not think. She was still learning to see things through another set of eyes. See the world as he saw it. "Chuck I can't."

"Yeah, you can. And I know that you did something crazy, when you found out that I was shot. Something crazy, so do it again. "I was angry, I am angry at her."

Chuck turned to face her. "Then say it."

Chuck grabbed her hand. "She hurt you as much as she hurt me. She betrayed us. She put duty over life. My life. And not taking into consideration how hard it would be to go back to Castle and start up a new team after she said that we were the best team that she had worked with. And even if she is not totally involved in all of this, she gave the order."

Sarah listened as he continued, who now was the protector. She loved him so much and hearing him defend her, making her feel special, cared for just added to her love for him. She ran her thumb over his hand and then her eyes started to water. Just like they did the night when Longshore was going to take him in. Chuck wiped her cheek when he saw a tear run down. He brought her close, as she screamed inside his chest. He held her close as her screams were loud and clear to how she felt. Casey and Alexander watched from the window. "They sure do care for each other." Casey faced Alexander.

"They make a good team."

Casey knew now that this team was all he needed. He reached for the door. "Give the kids a few more minutes."

Casey leaned back and sat down. Alexander joined him. "I think we need to find a new place." "Wouldn't hurt even if we weren't followed, they could be watching."

"So do you have any places we can go?"

"I can see, most of my contacts are either dead or retired and in hiding like I was."

" I don't think that you were technically hiding."

"No but not many people would check on me after all these years. I will call around, anything specific?"

"Not really just somewhere we can control the area with what we have."

Chuck continued to hold her as her screams became soft whimpers. His shirt was soaked but he didn't care. He was holding the most beautiful woman in the world in his arms. She squeezed him once more before she broke their embrace. She wiped under her eyes assuming her mascara had run. He smiled. "My little raccoon." She playfully punched him. She continued to wipe under her eyes then grabbed his hand and sat down. "You feel better?"

"I will be when this is all over."

"Then what?"

His comment settled her. She didn't think she had to think about after. "One mission at a time Chuck." She knew he didn't like her answer but she was right. Focus on this one then see what happens. He knew she'd be with him till the end.

Chuck woke up after he couldn't sleep. He watched Sarah for a while then grabbed his notes. He scanned the buildings schematics and noticed that the buildings plans had changed from what he saw earlier and what Zondra had given him. He laid the new version over the older one and noticed that some rooms were not added to the newer version. Chuck looked at the date and it was exactly during the timeline from when he got the Intersect and months ago. He remembered that Bryce blew it up a year ago when he stole the files then it was rebuilt as of six months ago. Then blown up again months ago. So where did these rooms go? He dug deeper then flashed on a number 136. He looked over at Sarah wanting to tell her what he flashed on but slipped outside and called Zondra. "Hey I didn't wake you?"

"No, just heading into work, what's up?"

"You have time for Rosie's, now?"

"Yeah."

"Okay I'll be there soon."

Chuck grabbed a cab and headed over to Rosie's. Zondra met him outside and saw that he was alone. She knew that it wasn't good.

They sat down. "Thanks for meeting me."

"No team?"

"No, I wanted to do this now while I was thinking of it."

"Okay what's on your mind?"

"Is there a room 136?"

Zondra looked at Chuck as he brought out the schematics of the building and showed her the differences. She was intrigued. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"Take me there?"

"I don't know if it's exists?"

"Trust me I think it does."

"Okay give me an hour."

"I'll wait here."

Zondra gets up and leaves.

Sarah wakes up to find Chuck is gone. "Chuck where are you?"

Sarah calls Casey and thanks to his set up he looks at the feed. Chuck came out and was talking to someone. "Can you hear what he is saying?"

Casey adjusted the volume. They both listened. "Hey I didn't wake you?"

"No, just heading into work, what's up?"

"You have time for Rosie's, now?"

"Yeah."

"Okay I'll be there soon."

"Chuck what have you done."

Casey and Sarah headed to Rosie's and see Chuck sitting in the last booth with his cap on having breakfast. When they reached the table. Chuck held up their plates. "Breakfast?"

Casey grunted and started eating. Sarah sat down beside Chuck. He turned to face her and kissed her. "Good morning."

"Chuck, in her agent voice. What have you done?"

"Not sure what you're talking about plus I knew you'd find me."

He slid her plate near her. Casey nodded then went back to eating. Chuck sat back and waited till they were finished then he brought out the plans and showed them the differences. "So, I also asked Zondra if there was a room 136 and right now, she is looking into it."

"And if this room exists then what Chuck?"

"We go and check it out. I think that this room holds a lot of answers."

"What about security?"

Chuck looked at Casey. "That is your department, and you are beautiful."

Casey grunted. "You."

Sarah gave him her infamous look as you better say something nice. "I did tell you how beautiful you are this morning?"

She shook her head and kissed him back.

Zondra called and the three headed over to the DNI. "I looked into room 136 and technically it doesn't exist. It is not on any map that I know off. But there is a door with a keypad that fits in with the numbers of the rooms in a certain wing." Chuck kept facing away from any cameras. "So how do we get there?"

Zondra looked at Sarah. "You know the place where we hid from Carina and got turned around and were late for the bus to take us to Langley." They both laughed. "I think it is down that hall."

Chuck smiled when he saw Sarah laughing.

Zondra and Sarah headed down the hall as Chuck slipped in behind her with Casey taking their six. Zondra looked at Sarah. "You have less than a minute to get in or the camera comes back again." Sarah crouched down and picked the keypad and was not getting anywhere. Chuck bent down and flashed. "Try 36785." Sarah looked up at him and typed in 36785. The door clicked and the four entered. Sarah looked up at him as he pointed to his head. Sarah opened the door looking for a light but as they entered the room the lights came on automatically. "Casey didn't you say the intersect room blew up?" Chuck in awe.

"That is what I was told."

"Then what is this?"

Chuck faced them. "Guys this is."

Chuck spun himself looking around and flashing. Images of structures, plans, algorithms, names, the word Orion. Chuck was about to fall backwards. "Casey!"

Casey sprang and caught him before he fell and hit his head. Sarah ran towards him. Zondra heard voices. "Guys we need to hide, now?"

Casey picked Chuck up and propped him over his shoulder as Zondra looked for a place to hide. Sarah followed and the four of them slipped into a room. There was a two-way mirror which was good for them but would it protect them if they got caught. Sarah sat with Chuck as Casey and Zondra watched. "Can you see anything?" Zondra trying to see crouched down along the wall near the doorway. "No." Casey whispered standing on the other side of the doorway. "Me either."

Chuck eventually opened his eyes and sat up. "Chuck, you okay?"

"No. But we have to."

Chuck wobbled as he stood up seeing that they were in a small room. "Someone was coming so we hid." Zondra standing up.

"Are they still here?" Chuck holding his head as he tried to walk towards Casey. "Not sure." Chuck listened for a moment then walked out. Catching the three of them off guard. "Chuck!" Sarah whispered loudly.

Chuck slipped out seeing no one. Casey did a check and came back. Shaking his head at Sarah. "Chuck what is this place?" Chuck turned to face Zondra.

"Zondra, guys this is the mainframe for what we know is the Intersect. Well, the planning stages of it, from what I can see." Only Casey, Sarah and Chuck knew that he possessed the original. Zondra walked the room. "So, what does this do?"

Sarah looked at Chuck as he was still unstable on his feet and desperately wanting to know what he flashed on but she also knew that Zondra deserved to know what she got herself into, but not here.

"Chuck, we need to go and Zondra, we will tell you what this all means."

Chuck slipped back and reached into his pocket pulling out a USB and waiting. It was like he knew that he was going to do it, and what buttons to press. He slipped back and the four slipped out.

That afternoon the four of them packed and headed to a place that Alexander had found for them. They called Zondra to pop by later. Chuck was tired of moving and kept quiet. Well too quiet. He avoided them and crashed once they arrived. Sarah went to check on him and saw him sleeping. She sat down beside him dragging the loose hairs back over his face. His eyes were fluttering but she knew he was sleeping and a nap sounded like a good idea. She curled in behind him and covered them up. Before she knew it, she too fell asleep.

Hours later Sarah awoke and slipped out heading to the bathroom. On her way back to lay with Chuck she heard Casey whistle. She took a quick check to see if Chuck was still sleeping then closed the door. "Sorry to keep you from sleeping but Chuck might be onto something."

Sarah sat down. "I looked into Decker before he arrived. He went to Brown and got a job at the DOD and got a little bit over his head. Had hedge fund issues and hands in things." "Figured he pay off his debts?"

"Maybe, worked his way around and I'm guessing he heard of someone who was working on the schematics of this theory - the intersect? I'm guessing."

"So, he wanted it for himself?" Sarah continued.

"Maybe."

"But what about Beckman? What's her involvement? Innocent bystander or conspiracist?"

Casey grunted. "She did make the call six months ago and you said that she seemed to be remorseful and saddened by his death."

Chuck woke up and padded the spot beside him. He was sure that she was just here. He walked in mid conversation only hearing pieces.

"I don't know anymore." Just then Sarah's cell rang. She grabbed it seeing Zondra's number. She showed Chuck as he sat down. "Answer it."

"Walker."

"You guys around?"

"Yeah." Sarah passed the cell to Casey as he gave her the new address. He passed the cell back to Sarah as she slipped it into her back pocket.

"Did she say why, she wanted to meet?"

"No." Chuck got up walking back to his bag. Sarah followed.

Zondra arrived within an hour and knocked. Alexander headed to the door seeing her. He pulled back on the door and she walked in. Zondra walked the distance from the door to where Casey was sitting. Sarah heard Zondra but wanted to talk to Chuck. She walked over to where Chuck was grabbing some aspirin. Sarah sat down. "It was another bad one wasn't it." Chuck tried to get the cap off but was struggling. Sarah stood up and placed her hand over his. She took it from him and opened the cap and tapped a few onto the palm of his hand. She reached for a bottle and gave it to him. He capped the bottle then tossed it. Sarah kissed his forehead. "Yeah, it was a bad one."

"You want to talk about it?"

Chuck heard Zondra's voice. He turned to face Sarah. "Later?"

Sarah tried to respond and the moment passed. Chuck gave her a kiss and she kissed him back, wanting another but he slipped out of the room.

Chuck walked into the main area with Sarah following.

Zondra started talking. "Decker showed up today."

"Where was he?" Sarah coming in from behind.

"Word has it that he was in Belgium."

"What for?" Chuck grabbing a chair.

"From what I could find out was that there was a meeting with a group of people." Zondra slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and passed it to Chuck. "I have seen that you have a unique skill set maybe you can decipher this."

Chuck looked at the paper and instantly flashed again. ' Decker, Alexis Winters, Bill Bergey, Bernie Ominsky, Tommy Delgado, Brandon Stacey and Denis Berry engineer.' Sarah looked at him as this time he didn't shy away at flashing. "It's a list of the same names that Bryce gave us. The ones that were in the meeting that he was in." Chuck blinking. Sarah wanting to do something for him.

"Larkin is involved in this too?" Zondra sat back in her chair.

Sarah looked at Zondra. "Bryce kind of - of started all of this."

"I thought that he was dead."

Chuck looked up at her. "Yeah, Casey shot him too, but a group called Fulcrum took him because they assumed that he was the one that had the files, but minutes before he was shot, he sent them to me."

"Larkin Fulcrum?" Zondra now very curious.

Chuck replied. "No, but he is working with them but at the same time trying to bring them down. He is not one of my favourite people for obvious reasons but we are keeping him at arms length."

Casey knew that this meeting was pivotal to what was going on. "So, Zondra you said that this meeting was in Belgium?"

"As far as I know unless it was only him that went."

Casey looked at Alexander. "I'm on it." Alexander got up and exited the room. Chuck and Sarah looked at Casey. It was like the two of them were on the same page. Casey looked at them. "He's going to check up on the rest of them that were on the list that Larkin gave us."

Sarah looked at Zondra then at Chuck and Casey. "It's up to Chuck."

Sarah looked at Chuck and he nodded. Sarah began. "Zondra what I am about to tell you is very top secret and only the people in this room and a few others like Bryce, General Beckman and Langston Graham know and now you will know. What you are about to hear took Casey and I some time to grasp and even today Chuck is still dealing with the effects. Bryce stole files that were a joint effort with the CIA and the NSA, a joint endeavor that allowed them to keep all intel between the agencies since 9-11. But we also found out that these files if downloaded subconsciously into someone, that person would be able to hold all the data, intel, you name it in their head."

Sarah looked at Chuck. "I'm okay."

Sarah continued. "Bryce somehow got wind of these files and broke into the DNI to steal the files and he knew that whoever got these files had to be someone he trusted and not associated with either the CIA or NSA. So, he sent them to Chuck."

"Are they on a drive or something? That would have been tonnes or even thousands of files."

Chuck tilted his head back and forth, whispering ' maybe tens of thousands." Sarah continued. "Well not exactly. The Intersect computer did everything, its data looked for patterns, connections you name it. And when they were sent to Chuck, they came through an email which was attached to a riddle that once he solved it, it opened up a subliminal flood gate of images and each image had its own set of images. And Chuck somehow, after some convincing we found out has a unique brain structure that absorbed all those images into his sub conscious, making him the human Intersect."

Zondra looked at Chuck. "You?"

"Yeah, they found a trace signature that led to me. Sarah was sent by Langston Graham and Beckman sent Casey. At first, they were only sent to retrieve the files like they were physical files or on a drive. But once the files were uploaded the computer crashed. So, their task went from retrieving the files to protecting me because I am the one who knows all the files. And for the last year or so they have been protecting me."

"So, these weird looks you get?"

"We call them flashes, they are triggered by a word or phrase, an image or whatever is already in the many many files."

"So, the day we met, you flashed on me?"

Chuck smiled. "Well, if it helps, I flashed on Carina too."

Zondra looked at Sarah. "You guys as well?"

Sarah nodded. "He knows it all."

Zondra looked at Chucks head. "Weird but exciting but man what a responsibility."

"You're not kidding."

Sarah continued as Zondra tried to make sense of all of this.

The venting system kicked in cutting through the quietness that had formed after Zondra was informed. She looked at Sarah. "So that is why you are protecting him." "Yeah."

"And the other thing."

"It just happened. I guess we knew it all along. But when I thought he was dead then seeing him again it verified that we had feelings for each other, deep feelings for each other. I know that it is against protocol but after what he has been through, I am willing to take that chance."

Zondra and Sarah continued to talk. When Chuck walked up to them. Zondra looked at him. She admired what he was going through and what it meant to her to be included. "Because you're a friend of Sarah's and she felt that she could trust you and so far, you have been amazing. And now that you know the reason I have one more friend that I can count on. So, what I am going to ask you might seem out of the ordinary but I haven't been ordinary for some time."

Zondra stood up. "I want you to start a rumour that maybe I didn't die."

"Chuck!" Sarah standing up.

"It's fine Sarah. I have a plan." His look he gave her made it all right. He also showed them his laptop. "My flash earlier showed me what room 136 is." He showed them on the screen the whole room. "And what I can do to make it work for us. They are in the early stages so we have some time. They will never get to where it was prior to Bryce sending me the original. And I want to know if Decker is ready to protect that. And by dropping a few breadcrumbs it might show us his hand." Sarah walked up to him. "So, you want Zondra to tell the world including Decker, Beckman that you're alive. This time they'll make sure you're dead. If they find out." Sarah started to walk away. Chuck grabbed her arm sliding his hand down to her hand. "Please just listen. I didn't ask for this. Bryce sent it to me, then you and Casey came, not at first to protect me, but to recover the files for each of your departments. But things changed and so to would changes to whoever else wanted these files. Decker, Fulcrum, and the rest of them. They had six months to rebuild what they had left which was breadcrumbs or maybe they started from scratch using those people that are on that list. There is not one person on the list that is CIA besides Decker who is technically not CIA either, which makes me believe that maybe Beckman is not entirely involved like we think she is. So, this group wants control. They convince the real CIA to rebuild the Intersect and by doing this they get rid of me, then Langston and then eventually they take over completely. But if they know that their plans didn't work out and that their biggest threat is still alive, we can find out who ordered the kill order."

Casey walked up to him. "So do we want to bring Beckman in!"

They all looked at him. "I know that's what Chuck is thinking."

They all looked at Chuck then he shrugged his shoulders. "It wouldn't be a bad idea. I mean after we find out who takes the bait and see who shows up and who doesn't then we know where to go from there."

Zondra walked to the door as Sarah followed sliding the door open. Chuck watched as they embraced which was something that was long over overdue. Zondra stood in the doorway. "You have a great man there." Sarah looked over at him talking to Casey then making eye contact. "He's worth the risk, and you seem happy." Sarah faced Zondra "I am." Zondra walked to the steps. "Okay, blondie. I will get on tossing the crumbs and get back to you." Sarah slid the door closed as Zondra headed down the stairs.

Sarah walked up to Chuck as Casey got the message and took Chuck's laptop. They walked to the far corner of the room and stared outside. Chuck leaned against a small ledge with his back to the wall as Sarah continued to look out the window. "I want to know that you're okay with this Sarah." She stayed quiet for some time. "I'm not." As she turned to face him. "I just got you back." He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. "I know and that scares me too, but I learned one thing from you two, is that's sometimes the risk is worth all that you have invested. I know where we stand but we will never have a life if we are always running. I won't do that to you or my sister." Sarah stood in front of him as Chuck slid his arms around her waist bringing her close. He looked at her with all the love he had for her. She looked at his lips then his face. "I love you too." She leaned in and kissed him. He kissed her back releasing his hands and sliding them behind her lower back bringing her even close. Their kisses were many then being so close together they knew that they could get through this as well.

Few days later

Sarah woke up to find Chuck not beside her. She wasn't happy. She was about to get up when he walked back in with a tray. He placed the tray on her lap giving her a kiss. He slid in beside her. "I thought we'd not rush getting back to work. Maybe stay here for a little while." Sarah kissed him back. He grabbed her cup and gave it to her then grabbed his. They both took a sip then did the same with the plates. Sarah finished her French toast and fruit laying back as Chuck got up and took the tray leaving the coffee press close by. Sarah half laid half sat with her back leaning on Chuck's chest. They played with their toes then held hands. Chuck finished his coffee feeling his hands. He ran his hand over her arm then under her chin and down her chest. She tilted her head back to look at him. He bent down and kissed her. She grabbed his face bringing him closer sliding down into the bed forcing him to slide on top of her. She wrapped her leg around his right hip as he caressed her face. His lips were soft and they tasted like caramel and coffee. He kissed her several more times as each kiss became urgent. Chuck leaned back pulling of his t shirt then rejoining her in an embrace. He slid her top off kneading her breasts in his warm hands. She moaned rolling into him. They were getting good at making things progress, because it took them so long to be together like this. She held her hand behind the back of his head as he continued to do his thing. She closed her eyes and let him take over. Some time later she rolled him onto his back straddling his hips. She pressed into his chest to sit up somewhat straight looking down at him. She just stared at him as his sexy sleepy eyes looked up at her. He slowly walked his fingers up her thighs settling his hands on her hips. "Do you know how beautiful you are?"

"You always say that."

"As long as I have breath in me, I will continue to tell you how beautiful you are." "And that I appreciate all that you have done for me through all of this. Your life with me hasn't been easy." Chuck sits up facing her. "You didn't ask for this either. No one asked you how you felt." Sarah ran this thought through her head. ' No one had ever asked her how she was feeling, to them it was a job. She looked down at him. "I have accepted that it was just a job on several occasions but in all honestly it was more than that, that's why it made it so hard to do my job. But without you my life it would have been a whole lot different." Chuck slid his hands up her back pressing her close to him. "I love you."

"I love you too Sarah." Their lips met and their bodies started to move.

Chuck started to move but the more he moved the more she prevented him from leaving. She laid down on top of him facing him, laying her head on his chest sprawling her body over his. He laughed then kissed the top of her head. He looked at the clock. "It's almost noon. "

"So."

"We can't stay here all day."

"And why not."

Chuck caressed her naked back covering her up with the sheet.

They laid quiet for a little while longer .

Sarah wrapped a blanket around her as they walked out of their room early afternoon. Casey was sitting in his chair finally catching a nap and Alexander was doing a puzzle. Chuck slid the tray on the counter joining Sarah. Alexander winked at them then got up. "Coffee."

Sarah smiled. Alexander tapped Casey's foot waking him up.

Chuck sat down looking at the laptop then switched on the feed. "I uploaded their cameras onto an USB it was like I knew what to do. After the flash…." He tells them what he flashed on. "Orion?"

"I am thinking that he is the one behind this whole thing that he created it. And when it got interesting that's when Bryce stole it."

"What to protect it?" Casey grunting.

"Yeah."

"We just need to find out from who."

Just then Sarah's cell rang. "It's Zondra."

"Put her on speaker."

"Hey, your on speaker."

"I think someone is heading down to room 136. I told a few people that maybe Chuck didn't die. A few had no idea what I was talking about. But there was one person named White."

"Yeah, we know of her."

"Well, she sure ran out of the room. I followed her as far as I could."

Chuck leaned into the phone. "Keep an eye on her and keep us posted."

"Will do."

The four watched the feed and in no time the room was full of most of the people that were on the list.

"Did anyone see Beckman?" Chuck staring at the screen.

They all shook her head. Sarah turned up the volume on the feed. Someone started to speak. "Sorry for the short notice but we are not taking any chances after Langston and his group were taken care of. It has cost us too many headaches. But we have come into some information, whether it is true or not."

"Alexis, can you tell us what you heard." Alexis stood in front of the group. "Thanks Clyde." Now the team had a face to go with the name. "I overheard an agent discussing what sounded like that a kill order for one Charles Bartowski did not happen. As of yet we can't confirm that he is…"

Just then the door opened and Bryce showed up. "Missed me?"

Decker looked at him. "What are you doing here?"

"For the same reasons you all are." Looking around with his cocky smile. "What did I miss?" Chuck looked at Sarah. "Alexis was just about to tell us what she heard." Bryce's cockiness continued as he stood. "As I was saying. I over an agent say that she heard that the kill order didn't happen, that he might still be alive."

The four watched Bryce's response. "And that is why we are meeting? Funny."

"And why is that Larkin." Winters looked at him. "Like I told you guys before when I saw shot. I have the file well a version of it, did you forget?" Clyde walked toward him. "And you are telling me, us now?"

"Well Tommy knew."

Bryce looked around the room and did not see Tommy. "So that meant that he was still in custody." Chuck looked at Casey.

"Is Tommy still in custody?"

"I'll check." Casey got on the phone. Casey's voice could be heard faintly in the background.

Decker continued. "Well, he didn't say anything."

"Well, your team needs to get on the same page and whether or not this Charles guy was killed or not. What does he have to do with us?"

Decker continued to speak. "About a year ago rumours were floating around that Beckman put together a team to protect someone in LA. We were close to finding out who. We had put people out there to find out, but they have not made contact with us. "Who was that, maybe I can ask around?"

"Lizzie Shafai and Longshore."

"Never heard of them." Bryce shaking his head. Casey returned. "He's still in custody. What did I miss?" "Decker just admitted that he planted Pita girl and Longshore but neither have reported back." "I knew that Longshore was not true CIA."

Sarah added. "But he was sent by Beckman."

"To make us believe that he was CIA and not Fulcrum."

Casey looked at Sarah remembering their conversation outside Chuck's place. Decker continued to talk. "So, this Bartowski. Would he be related to a Stephen Bartowski?" Chuck almost fell off his chair. Bryce stared at his nails. "Not sure? Don't know much about him either." "Well can you look into it?" Bryce nodded then took a deep sigh. "The rest of you keep your eyes and ears open. We are close to getting what we want."

He walked the room and placed his hand on the very tower that Chuck looked at yesterday. "Very soon this will be up and running." The room emptied and the four watched Bryce grab his phone. Chuck leaned down to see if he could find another angle. He managed to get a glimpse of Bryce dialling someone and his lips moving.

Sarah grabbed her phone. "Zondra, Walker here. Can you follow Bryce. He just showed up." Zondra looked up and saw Bryce walking out of the hallway. "I can." "Good, keep us posted. He called someone and we want to know who."

Sarah turned to face the screen. She slid her arms around and down Chuck's chest. "Some good news?"

"I guess."

Alexander called the three for coffee. "Well at least Larkin did some good."

The rest couldn't argue with that comment.

They sat facing each other. "Now what?"

Chuck looked at Alexander. "Do you have a van?"

Sarah sat up. "Chuck what are you thinking?"

"Go after the one person who wasn't there."

"Beckman?" Sarah shocked.

"Then do what Chuck." Casey intrigued.

"Talk to her but, it has to look like a kidnapping."

Casey put his feet flat on the floor. "You want to kidnap Brigadier Diane Beckman senior official of the United States AirForce and the National Security Agency, and who works within Office of the Director of National Intelligence."

Chuck nodded.

Casey smiled then grunted.

"Wait!" Guys. "Is it safe for her to know that you're alive?"

"I am willing to take that chance, Sarah. From what we heard earlier and her not showing up she might not know what's going on."

"And if she sees you and she was behind this meeting and couldn't make it, she can let them know that the rumour is true."

Chuck stands up. "Alexander, can you get us a van."

Alexander stood up and padded his shoulder. "Yahoo a snatch and grab." Chuck laughed then pointed at Alexander. "That was so much like Casey."

Sarah looked at him. "You sure?" Chuck swooped her up and kissed her. "Yes." Sarah knew it was good plan but she needed more details.

Alexander slid the door open and called out. The three came out from where they were. "I got a van downstairs." Chuck grabbed his jacket and Sarah and Casey followed. Casey passed a gun to her as she slipped it in the small of her back. The four sat in the van. Alexander looked behind him. "So where to?" Looking for directions. Chuck looked at him. "Underground parking DNI."

Chuck turned and handed out tranq guns. "No one is going to get shot." Casey held the tranq gun in his hand. It looked like a toy water gun in his large hand. Then faced the front grunting. Chuck trying to mimic his friend. Sarah sat back reaching for Chuck's hand. He slid his in hers then leaned back.

The team minus Chuck, who sat in the van waited as they brought in the petite General. He heard the tranq gun go off, then the back of the van opening up. Casey and Alexander carefully laid Beckman down. Chuck got up and closed the door as Sarah slipped inside. They drove back to their hideout. Alexander carried Beckman in and sat her in a chair. It didn't take long for her to move. "Whoever you are you – you will not I repeat will not get away with this!" Alexander walked up to her and pulled the cover off her head. She blinked a few times then looked around the room. She was Beckman and of course she was furious when she saw who took her. "I'll have your badge for this." Casey looked at her. "I don't care." Then Sarah came into view. "You too Walker? What is going on?" Then she saw Alexander. "You in on this too?" "From the start. Nice to see you, Diane." Beckman tried to loosen her hold. "What is going on? Why are you doing this?"

"We want answers." She looked up seeing that the voice did not come from the three of them. "You want to take their badges what are you going to do with me then." Chuck walks out adding to the shock. "You're suppose to be."

"Dead. Not breathing. Six feet under. I'm know I'm still trying to see the good in all of this." Sarah caresses his arm as he walks by. Beckman picks up on it. He grabs a chair and sits backwards on it and faces her. She looks at him very carefully then softly speaks. "How? " He looks over his shoulder. "Casey took care of me." Turning back to face her. "I want to know if you made the order, you owe me that. Did you order the kill order on me?"

Beckman looked at her team which she had doubts at first that it wouldn't work. But seeing them stand together in solidarity she had to come clean. She looked at Chuck. "I knew that once the files were stolen from the DNI, the government would want to recover them somehow. Either get them back and, store them somewhere so that no one could get access to them. Or use them for other stuff that I am just finding out more and more about. We found out when you uploaded them that the files were more than just your average files and that they could be manipulated and formatted into what we now know them as the Intersect. So, when you acquired them and, in all honesty, not the ideal candidate." Chuck shrugged his shoulders. "We wanted to change that, but the mechanics of the whole thing was beginning to be difficult. It was like it was made for you." Chuck was starting to believe it himself. "So, it was becoming difficult to see whether having the files switched or transferred for that matter would make a difference but it wasn't up to me."

Chuck looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Chuck, I didn't order the kill order (Chuck took a deep breath) but I did do my part in it. Six months ago, I called Major Casey and told him not to get too attached to you, but I could tell it in his voice that things had changed. His motives had changed." Chuck looked over to Casey who tried to avoid eye contact. "I was approached during that time by a man named Clyde Decker who just showed up. Just about the time that Fulcrum started to become a threat. I couldn't make any connections to him or what his involvement was in Fulcrum, if any. But somehow, he convinced the powers at be that a new cipher had to be created, in order for them to have control over the new Intersect. Once it was in place as far as we were told the new Intersect would replace what you had. And unfortunately, they didn't want two of them." Sarah walked over and loosened her ties. Beckman looked up and rubbed her wrists. "They wanted full control of it all, so not having you around would make it easier. And to do that they implemented the kill order."

"Who made it, who made the call."

Beckman swallowed hard. "Clyde Decker."

Sarah walked up to Chuck and squeezed his shoulder. Casey stepped forward. "So then how is Colt involved."

Beckman looked up. "I am guessing that through some underground connections Decker somehow found him and convinced him to seek out you three."

Sarah added. "He mentioned that the people who hired him scared the heebie geebies out of him."

"Sarah he probably made a good enough claim. Decker has lots of connections and still does, so yes, he could have threatened them enough to say that." Casey continued to inquire. "And the delivery pickup, they sure knew a lot of the details." "Decker must have found out the plan. It was only Langston Graham and I and our team that had that information." "Who else was on that team?" Beckman listed the names. Sarah spoke. "Berry was on the list I found. Yes, he was a chemist that we hired but he had been with us for years."

"Who else?"

"I guess the initial team of engineers who created the Intersect." Chuck looked up at her as he stood up. "Who was this team?"

"I would have to look into that." Chuck looked at Sarah then Casey. "General we believe that Bryce Larkin was in contact with someone that may or may not have given him the information about the Intersect." Beckman looked at them. "He is deep under cover looking into Fulcrum."

"Well not exactly." Chuck sarcastically replied. Casey looked at Beckman. "Larkin somehow found us while we were hiding Chuck and somehow had on him an upgrade even though he knew that Chuck was dead or he said he thought that he was dead. And Sarah was looking into a lead that surprisingly led her to us as well. Until a week or so ago Chuck was in hiding. It didn't feel right to follow through on the kill order so I made it look like I did, when Sarah walked in seeing Chuck lying on the floor in his own blood. I had my da…Alexander come and smuggle him out of the country till we could find some answers. Then Larkin showed up coincidentally after Sarah had restocked her supplies at a safe house and triggered an alarm."

Beckman looked Chuck. "How?"

"Casey is good. He shot me in my shoulder which I passed out and I am thinking that in order to move me they gave me something. When I woke up, I was in a strange place with a man that later I found out was Casey's dad. That this wasn't a half ass plan it was planned to the smallest detail all by Casey. He called Alexander and Alexander came up here and got me and took me. He made it so Sarah would eventually find me and she did. Even if there were goats involved." Sarah chuckled.

"When I got strong enough things changed and we started asking a lot of questions. Which brought us back here. And as far as the CIA is concerned, I am dead." "What about your family? Your sister?"

"She is taken care of. Casey set up random calls and she thinks that I am doing installs so I am on the road." Chuck continued. "We need to know where you stood in all of this."

"I am so sorry team for what I put you through. But my hands were tied."

"What does Decker have on you General?" Casey throwing in his last card.

Beckman gathered her thoughts. She had nothing to lose. "He told me that if I didn't follow through, he'd leak some personal stuff that would get me fired." The four looked at her. "The short version not to bore you with all the details, was that I was on a mission in Berlin in the late 80's and I was with another agent and we had an affair that could have jeopardized the mission that we were on. I didn't think that we were hurting anyone. We were still able to do our jobs and as far as we were concerned the mission was a success. But as we proceeded with our mission, we sat on some intel that ended up with the death of a German official. Decker found out that we withheld that intel and threatened me with exposing the secrets that we kept." Chuck left the area. "I'm sorry Chuck I didn't mean to get you involved."

Sarah ran after him. "Chuck wait!"

Chuck stopped and closed his eyes, turning around. "No, she was only worried about her career and my life was a bargaining chip!"

Chuck stormed off as Beckman walked up to her. "I'm so sorry Sarah, you know how this job goes." She turned to face her. Her tone was very harsh as she spoke. "Yeah, I do and you're going to help us fix it. I love that man and I am going to do whatever it takes to make this right and so are you." Beckman nodded. Alexander walked in. "I'll take you back." Beckman smiled a straight smile then followed Alexander out the door. Casey walked up to Sarah. "Did you just tell her that you loved him?"

Sarah looked at him. "I guess I did."

Sarah and Casey looking at the direction that Chuck took off too.

"Do you want me to get him?" Sarah shook her head. "No, you can check in on Zondra and fill her in, with the latest." Casey nodded then walked back. Sarah slid the door open and saw that the roof door was open. She grabbed her blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders and headed upstairs. Chuck was sitting on a metal box looking out towards downtown. Sarah walked up to him and took her blanket off as he slid back till his back was against the brick wall allowing her to settle in between his legs. She covered them up with the blanket.

Sarah and Chuck walked down and hour later and walked towards Casey. "So, what do we do now?" Casey sitting down. Chuck looked at the two if them. "At first, I didn't have much to go on. I didn't have the who." Looking at Casey. "Casey is just part of this but not the whole. We have Beckman's involvement and who she was talking to and now her so called apology that she gave Sarah. Her confirmation that she didn't order the kill order. So, I wonder if she is going to go ahead with her plans to have you and Casey still run this new team."

Casey replied. "I was wondering if she was going to start something up. Did she say when?"

"No, she said that she was waiting for you to return from your black ops mission."

Casey grunted. "This should be fun, we just got Beckman to admit to her involvement in all of this, we have Decker as the one who ordered the kill order because he was threatened by you Chuck and now, we have more questions."

Well, we do have the who - Decker who is involved and piecing together his reasons for all of this. The where and when - starting over 6 months ago but we don't really have the how/why, do we?" Chuck rubbing his hand on his pants.

"Someone had to tick Decker off enough to go ahead with the changes in where the Intersect was going to end up." Sarah continues. "So, Bryce steals them and sends them to you?"

"Yes, Sarah at least we know that much. But who did Bryce talk to? And how did he get in that initial meeting with Decker if Beckman didn't put him deep undercover till months later."

"So, we ask Bryce and this time we ask the right questions?"

Sarah looked at Chuck, who was her world and Casey who was their glue.

"We start there."