Without me Ch 9 – One more chapter to go. I say this now but we will see. Enjoy!

Chuck walked his dad to the door. Stephen grabbed his arm like he use to when he was young. He waited till his son looked at him. "Charles, I never wanted you to fall into this field. Unfortunately, it found you." "I know."

"Your sister and you are the most important people in my life. And I wouldn't have made that choice if it wasn't for your safety. And I'm not looking for you to forgive me but to know that I have always been looking out for you. If there is anything I can do?"

Chuck looked at his dad. "Ellie is getting married in a few months, so maybe you can be there for her. I think she'd appreciate you walking her down the aisle." Stephen got a huge smile on his face. With all that was going on his son still thought of others. Chuck slid the door open. "We will be in touch." Chuck faced his dad then felt that obligation to initiate that awkward hug. But this time the awkwardness led into an extended hug that Chuck had craved for some time. Sarah watched trying not to react. Even Casey gave a slight calm grunt then walked away. Chuck said goodbye and slid the door closed then turned to see Sarah there. She was always there when he needed her. He fell into her embrace and held her close as close as she held him. She caressed his back and ran her fingers through his hair resting them on his neck.

Sarah sat with Chuck just the two of them cuddled on the couch. Alexander came by with some sandwiches which Sarah thanked him for. Casey must have smelled food cause he showed up grabbing his plate. He took a bite then looked at Sarah. Chuck caught the glance and responded. "We're going after Decker." They all gave each other looks. Chuck sat up. "We know that the Intersect can't be duplicated. At least not like the one I have. There will always be others, and we know that in room 136 it has the latest one and maybe the closest it has ever been. Also, we know that Decker is ticked so making him worry might break him down. If we can get into the room again, I can figure out where they are at then program something that will shut it down entirely. I'm guessing that my dad put in some fail-safe hail Mary if anyone tried to duplicate it and with that, we locate that file." Sarah turned to face him. "What if that file doesn't exist? What if they created this version without it?" "I don't know, but most programs have some type of command or back up in case they had to shut it down quickly."

Casey catching onto Chucks computer lingo. "So, we find the right command and end this?"

"In logic yes. But I won't know till we get there."

Chuck faced Sarah as she was already on the phone with Zondra. Chuck gave her a kiss making Casey and Alexander walk away. Chuck laughed as they continued to kiss. Chuck eventually broke himself away from Sarah grabbing his sandwich as they headed out.

Zondra met the team at the same door she had met Chuck the first time. Zondra opened the door for Chuck to enter as Casey and Sarah headed to the main doors. It was easier for them to be seen in the building and not to be asked so many questions. Zondra made small talk getting bits and pieces from Chuck but could tell he was very preoccupied. They stood in a small entrance off from the hallway that led to room 136. Zondra looked at Chuck.

"I checked and no one should be around." Just then the door opened and two workers came out. Chuck flashed on Berry and the other person they weren't in the intersect. Sarah came around the corner recognizing Berry turning away so he wouldn't recognize her. They approached Chuck and Zondra seeing Chuck still coming out of a flash. He looked up and they both said at the same time 'Berry.'

Zondra added. "There was no sign of anyone when I checked the feed."

Chuck looked at her. "It's okay." They waited a little longer to see if anyone else was going to come out. Meantime Casey looked at Chuck. "I'm going to follow Berry and see who he meets. That will least warn us if they come back." Sarah nodded as she walked towards Chuck. She looked at him. "I'm fine. Just wondering why, he would be here?" "Well let's go, see?" The three approached the door as Chuck typed in the code he used the last time.

He tried again. Nothing. He tried to flash and maybe get a sequence. Sarah saw that he was getting frustrated and they were running out of time as the cameras were going to turn their way. Chuck looked at Sarah and stared at the keypad. Sarah took his hand. "What are the numbers?" Chuck told her and Sarah quickly pressed the sequence. The door unlocked and opened. The three of them slipped in just in time. Zondra made sure no one was coming. The three of them slipped into the main room looking up at the tower. Sarah made sure that there weren't any new security cameras but she couldn't know for sure.

Chuck ran his fingers along the machines that hummed and buzzed. It was a computer masterpiece based on something that his dad created. Chuck remembered when he entered the room and saw his dad's computers. How he felt and what came out of it. He didn't want anything his dad created to be destroyed but this version was not his dads and if it was allowed to be completed what evils would it bring with it. Chuck knew what the Intersect could do and what people would do if they got a hold of it. The power, the amount of money they could make, and the power to sell and buy peoples' souls at their expense. Chuck had the power to shut this down and that was what he was going to do.

He walked to the back and slipped open the panel that housed the main frame. He asked Sarah to push the portable computer over. Sarah pushed the cart over as Chuck opened the computer with a DOS command overriding the computers password security. Sarah watched his fingers dance over the keyboard. "Is this you or are you getting a little bit of help?"

Chuck looked up at her. "A little bit but mostly basic computer mumble jumble. They seemed to use a lot of my dad's initial data framework things that I remembered from when I was a kid. I'm thinking that the original upload had the framework and programming plans in it. That is why this part is so easy to fiddle through. I don't see any fail keystroke yet."

"What if you don't find one?" Chuck stopped typing.

Chuck looked up at the room then at Sarah. "You see that power switch over there?"

Sarah looked over to the far wall seeing a breaker. "Yeah."

"That is how we are going to shut it down. Any power surge once something has been activated will shut down the process and if the data hasn't been saved then the file is gone. Or we blow it up. Fulcrum did it to us we then will return the favour."

Sarah liked the fact that there was an alternative option, but she wasn't sure about him talking about the thought of hurting someone, in order to shut this down. That would be something Casey or her would do but Chuck?"

Chuck went back to typing and moved around the room. Sarah walked over to Zondra. Zondra looked at Chuck as it wasn't hard not to. "Is he always like this?"

"Like what?" Sarah trying not to explain Chuck to Zondra and trying to explain Chuck to someone who didn't know him was like trying to explain Sarah to someone like Morgan; she had to tread carefully. She had learned a lot in the last year and as she learned about Chuck she fell hard for him. "Chuck, beside what you see here, he is very smart and he doesn't think the way we do. The way he processes things is like he's three steps ahead of us in most cases but when it comes to dealing with things that involve emotions or feelings, he's all in and he takes things very seriously. He is learning to think spy but its not the fact that he has been with Casey and I for the last year and learning from us. It's more like we are learning from him. He is very smart and computers are just part of that. That is just a small part of why I love him. Chuck is an open book with many chapters."

Zondra looked at Sarah and could see how much Sarah cared for him. From what she knew of her friend was she had very little and cherished what she had. And if Chuck was the one to bring her happiness, who was she to argue.

Sarah's cell rang. She looked at the screen. It was Casey. "Hey, Berry headed upstairs and low and behold he met with Decker."

"And?"

"I am looking at them right now, I'm guessing that we don't have much time."

Sarah looked at Chuck.
"Can you stall them? Chuck seems to be getting somewhere."

"I can try." Casey looked up as Berry disappeared and so did Decker. "Sarah, I lost Berry, heading back to you."

Sarah slid her phone into her back pocket. "Chuck, we need to go."

Chuck looked up. "I can't."

"Well, you might not have a choice."

Just then Zondra took a quick peek seeing Decker and Berry heading their way. She moved into the room. "We got to go now."

"Chuck."

Chuck looked up and saved the file that he was working on and pressed the screen to put it to sleep as the three of them slipped into the back room that they had slipped into days before.

The main lights came on as Berry walked over to the computers. Decker who look rather out of place in his expensive suit found a chair and sat down crossing his legs like he owned the place. "This better not take too long." As he looked at his hands then inspected his nails. "I want this done so I can get the red off my back. She won't be able to have a say in this when this is up and running. Plus, what I have on her and her ordering the death on Bartowski we are going to make millions."

Chuck took a step as Sarah placed her hand in front of him then whispered. "Not now."

Decker looked around and wondered why they didn't use the security system. He got up. "Berry did you not set the security system?"

Berry popped his head out from the computer. "No, I didn't think I needed to as I was coming back."

Decker got on his cell. "Need you in room 136."

Decker walked the room. His security came in as he snapped his fingers then whispered, 'Check the room.'

The three held their breath not wanting to be found and at that moment they were sitting ducks. Zondra checked her gun then let Sarah know. 'Full mag.'

Sarah nodded the same. Chuck was pushed to the side as Sarah took the high view and Zondra took the low view. They saw shadows approach as they turned to face the room. Their eyes met the three of them as they raised their guns. In seconds, the shadowy figures were bodies lying on the ground as they heard shots. Casey came out calling as the three headed to the main room. Casey had his gun pointed at Decker. He didn't see Berry as Sarah took him out. Decker clapped at the theatrics. "Bravo, but why the show?"

Sarah and Zondra came out. "Awe agents Walker and Rizzo. It had to be Beckman that sent you cause we all know that Graham couldn't stand up to the heat. Plus, I am surprised that she would after what she put you through. She had your asset killed. Too bad there was only one intersect that had to die, but we all must go sometime." Sarah could feel heat rise from her mid section into her neck and moving into her face. She was ready to attack Decker when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"You were saying?" Decker looking at where the voice was coming from. When he saw who it was, he swallowed hard in disbelief.

"How!"

Looking at Casey who was the one who was supposed to pull the trigger. Then looking at the rest of them, especially at Chuck. Who obviously was not dead.

Casey brought a chair and forced Decker to sit down then stood behind him.

Chuck paced in front of him with Sarah close by and Zondra standing to Decker's right just in case he decided to bolt. Chuck stopped then turned to look at the man who was behind all of this. "You surprised?" Chuck didn't wait for a response. "I bet you are and I bet you're thinking about your plans and how they are now being flushed down the toilet. Flushed away like you had with my life. Well, you forgot who you were dealing with, and this team who never give up on each other no matter what."

"He shot you!" Looking back at Casey then facing Chuck. "He did." As Chuck unbuttoned his shirt just enough to expose his shoulder showing Decker the scar. "Casey always had a good shot and made it look like he killed me and the photos did the rest." Sarah watched as he buttoned up his shirt. She knew what he was thinking and the physical reminder what this whole thing did to him.

Decker took a moment figuring what to say next. He knew he couldn't compete with a scar but he went with what he knew and that was what he used to have Chuck killed in the first place. "I hope that you don't think that you have won. At this point in time, it doesn't matter if your alive or not, the new version is up and running as we speak." The team knew that was a lie but let Decker have his moment. "So even if being risen from the dead you will always be a target and it will get to the point that you wished that you were dead." Chuck raised his right hand and threw a hard punch directly at Deckers left cheek.

Decker flew to the side but Casey pulled him back up. "We wouldn't want you to fall or anything."

Chuck shook his hand to release the sting in his hand then started to speak.

"There's more where that came from but right now, we want to know why."

"Why? Why we wanted you killed?"

Decker feeling smug. "Let's put it this way. The person/ people." Quickly correcting himself. "The people who wanted you dead, they have names, jobs, lives. They're hidden in all sorts of places, government, private sectors. And if you know who they are, you can see the possibilities. You were just a link in this chain. A pawn in this game, you were never supposed to receive the upload. Why would we ever put this in you."

"Well, it happened and you tried to get rid of me and that didn't work either. And I don't think that what you have here." As Chuck looked around. "Is going to work out for you either."

Decker staying quiet. Chuck continued. "So, this list of people that you say are behind this whole thing is the key to destroying them and finding out who was behind the kill order and who gave you the power to wreak havoc over my life, my friends." Decker looked up. "Save the sad story Chuck. Even if you did find out who is behind this, you think that you'd just drop your social compass and destroy each and every one of them?"

"Try me!" Chuck moved in ready to give him another reminder.

"I wouldn't give them up even of you broke me. They're too powerful." Deckers voice raised. "Then you have to get past him and even with his training he can't be taken down."

The team looked at each other, wondering what they had just heard was the answer that they had been waiting to hear about.

"Maybe not but I already know who he is?" Sarah quickly looked at Casey as he shrugged his shoulders. Decker sat up. "Impossible." Sarah looked at Chuck.

Chuck wide eyed looked at Sarah. The look he always gave her when he wanted her to trust him. Chuck looked at Decker and randomly threw out a name hoping for a Rumpelstiltskin vibe here. "Merriweather."

"Ha pansy."

"Well not Langston, now that he's dead."

"You're good." Chuck smiled. Minutes passed as he continued to throw out a few more names. He was trying to bide some time and try and remember names he saw in the files he looked at. He remembered the last flash he had and a name popped up. Chuck rarely paid any attention to names that his flashes showed him unless they were attached to a photo or mission. But he never figured that this last flash might have given him the answers he needed. Chuck turned to face Decker and stared him down. Decker, thinking he has won. "One more name." Chuck just hoped it was the right name. "Daniel Shaw." Decker went white. The team knew that Chuck had just hit the right nerve. Sarah was so proud of him and her face showed how much. Decker looked up at Chuck. " How?"

Chuck stood straighter than he had stood in a long time. "You have your secrets and I have mine. And now you just confirmed that you have been answering to Shaw." Chuck flashed again and got a fast upload of intel on him. Chuck was on a roll; he threw out another name. "The five elders." Decker slumped in his seat.

Chuck grabbed another chair and faced Decker. "You're going to tell us where we can find Shaw and the five elders."

Decker stayed quiet for what seemed like a long time. Then took a deep breath then spoke. "We are just pawns in a very large chest game. This guy I work for he's more like a King."

Chuck replied. "Last time I checked, a pawn can still take a King." Chuck sitting back in his chair.

Casey leaned in breathing deeply and grunting. "Decker you have nothing left. We know that you black mailed Beckman. You lied to the U.S. Government about the use of the intersect. You killed Langston Graham and several others. You uprooted the institution and what the CIA stood for. Your going away for a long time you'll forget what fresh air smells like."

Sarah aching to ask a question moved in. "Who sent Colt?"

Decker looked over at Sarah. "Just another pansy who needed work."

Sarah didn't like the answer she was given. "Really?"

Decker looked the other way.

"That's okay Sarah." Chuck reassuring her. "What we have on him and when word gets out, those who were hired or are on payroll will start to spill what they know to save themselves from any repercussions that you Decker created."

"Maybe but I know things that will change the way you see this whole thing. What I know, got Beckman to work for me and what I know about you, you will let me go."

Chuck didn't know if Decker was bluffing or not, but he had to see this through. "What else would you have in that head of yours that I don't already know?"

"Your dad?" Chuck trying not to react.

"My dad?" Haven't seen him in years.

"Exactly, he left you and your sister to do this job."

"This job?"

"Yeah, your dad created all of this. So, if you're pointing fingers then you should also look at daddy dearest."

Chuck chuckled. "It doesn't matter, and if you think that your version will ever compete with what my dad created, you're so wrong."

"Am I? What is behind me is going to be much stronger, faster and will bring in a hefty sum of money. There's no way that you can destroy this."

Chuck eyes the tower beside him. "This system is impressive."

Decker smiles. "But it has one major fault." Chuck stood up and walked over to the tower. Decker watching him. "What are you doing? Stay away from that." Chuck dragged his fingers across the front of the computers. "This fault, well the fact is it's not the original. You will never have the original." Chuck waited till Decker was watching his every move. Chuck looked at the tower then inserted an USB into the drive. Chuck yelled at Casey; Zondra then moved closer to Sarah shielding her. "Keep your eyes closed." The room went dark then a huge serge of light filled the room. They could hear Decker screaming then falling to the floor. Chuck held Sarah close as the lights continued to flash. When the room went dark then light again Chuck looked at the room. The room was filled with light haze of smoke and the security lights came on. Chuck grabbed Sarah's face. "You, okay?"

Sarah looked at him. "I think so." He kissed her forehead. "Casey? Zondra?"

"I'm fine."

Me too." Zondra stepping over to check Decker. She looked up. "He's unconscious."

Chuck looked up. He heard creaking. He looked at Sarah. "We got to get out of here."

Sarah nodded.

Casey grabbed Decker and slipped him over his shoulder as Chuck grabbed Berry and dragged him out of the room. The team heard the tower reboot itself as Chuck spoke. "It's going to self destruct. That was just a surge to get things moving this thing is going to blow."

Casey propped Decker and Berry up against a side wall as Chuck entered Beckman's office.

Chuck stood inside Beckman's office. "General Beckman please." The lady at the desk looked up at Chuck.

"She is in a meeting and can't be disturbed."

Chuck walked passed the lady as she followed him. Chuck opened the doors and walked in surprising Beckman.

"I tried to stop him." The lady apologizing.

Beckman stood up as Chuck looked around the room seeing that she wasn't alone and was in fact in a meeting. "Mr. Bartowski."

"You will want to hear what I have to say."

He looked at the people in the room. "Sorry for interrupting but what you all have to discuss is not as important as what I have to say."

Beckman looked at the room. "We will continue at a later time."

Chuck flashed on the room. As they all started to stand up. Flashing on some very important people. "Please stay I think that you all need to hear what I have to say and what I have to show you."

He walked to the door and motioned to Sarah.

Beckman still standing behind her desk. Chuck walked back in as Casey half carried half walked Decker inside and Sarah and Zondra did the same with Berry.

The room went quiet as Chuck started to talk.

"Again, I am sorry to interrupt this meeting. My name is Charles Bartowski and I am the son of Stephen. J. Bartowski also know as Orion. The one who created the initial Human Intersect. A year ago, Agent Bryce Larkin stole the files to the intersect from the DNI and sent them to me. They were uploaded into my brain. Because of its securities that came with it. Langston Graham sent Agent Sarah Walker and General Beckman sent Colonel John Casey to retrieve the files not knowing for some time that the files were not easily accessible. So, for the last year they have been protecting me from these threats. Six months ago, Colonel Casey received a call from the General that changes were coming and that the Beta version of the new Intersect was being created. Fast forward to a couple of months ago when Beckman gave Casey the kill order." The room gasped. "Casey thankfully disobeyed those orders and made it look like he killed me. He did shoot me though but his skills spared my life. He had me moved to safety to recover. Unbeknownst to Agent Walker of his plan, she saw him shoot me and had to deal with the outcomes. As days turned into weeks Agent Walker had to continue to believe that I was dead. As I was recovering fate brought her to us and started to work on who ordered the kill order. To our surprise."

Beckman feared what Chuck was going to say next.

"To our surprise Clyde Decker was the instigator. But as we just found out he was not working alone. He had constructed a room only known as room 136."

The room looked at each other. "Room 136 is presently in shambles. Decker who was working for a man named Daniel Shaw and others only known as the five elders tried to recreate and construct their version of the Intersect. You might know them as Fulcrum, and I bet that there are other groups as well. Fulcrum hid and built their forces under the radar and played in the hand of the CIA as this institution tried to rebuild the Intersect. Giving them fake intel, ciphers you name it. Agent Bryce Larkin has been undercover in the Fulcrum organization trying to bring them down. We bring you Decker and Berry who is a scientist trying to rebuild the original. The problem with any version that is or will be created they will never be what the original had. The original Intersect was built for a specific brain chemistry and can not be duplicated. No matter what or how it is created?"

The room emptied as security took Decker and Berry away in cuffs. Beckman got a side bar with one of the Generals who were amongst those in attendance. He spoke briefly then walked towards Chuck. Sarah moved in and grabbed his hand. "Mr. Bartowski. General Merriweather."

Chuck extended his hand. "It is finally nice to meet you. And thankyou for your sacrifice and determination. I would like to meet with you and your team at your convenience to discuss your next steps. I am assuming that there is more to this."

Chuck looked at Sarah. He didn't know what to say. Sarah spoke for him. "We will be in touch General."

"I look forward to hearing from you. Agent Walker, Mr. Bartowski."

Chuck brought Sarah close as their embrace had put an end to a long reoccurring nightmare. Beckman coughed slightly getting their attention.

"Chuck, I want to thankyou for not."

"What he did to you was wrong but what you did to me will take some time to get over. I will stick around to bring Shaw down."

He walked to the door then walked out.

Sarah said goodbye then exited. Zondra followed with Casey taking the rear, leaving Beckman alone with her thoughts.