A/N: Oh, you like it. FYI, I'm working on chapter four and we've barely met Carina at this point. This may take a bit.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Sarah sat in the passenger seat, waiting for Doug to take her back to jail. No matter what Chuck had told her, she didn't believe it was possible. She believed him, but she didn't trust that Beckman woman.

"Where are we headed?" she asked softly, waiting to be lied to.

"Westside Medical," Doug replied. "I'm to stay with you until we can get you a place to stay, ID, and transportation."

"Why?" Sarah asked, genuinely confused. "Why not let me go back into the world the way I am? Why take care of my dad?"

Doug chuckled. "You saw why, today." Sarah gave him a look, his explanation seemingly explaining nothing. "Chuck Bartowski… heh," he glanced over at Sarah. "He Bartowskified them."

"He what them?" Sarah asked.

"Bartowskified," Doug said with a shrug. "Chuck's mom was the Frost Queen, the thing of CIA legends, and she was heading back into the field. He, as a little boy, stopped her from going."

"What parent would leave their child?" The bitterness in her voice wasn't lost on Doug.

"Most wouldn't, but I'm not sure Stephen and Mary were the best parents," Doug explained. "Rumor has it then-Agent Beckman went to the Bartowski's house to try and get Frost to change her mind. Chuck climbed on her lap, called her Aunt Becky several times, and by the time the visit was over, not only did Beckman not want Frost to go, they came up with a plan for Frost to work from home. They created Carmichael Advanced Technical Solutions."

"CATS?" Sarah asked, giving him a look.

"It was the 80s," Doug said with a shrug. "You had KITT, and KARR-"

"What the hell are those?" Sarah asked, more confused than ever.

"Knight Rider?" Doug offered. Sarah snickered, and gave the agent a look. "Fine, the kid may have affected me as well. I haven't seen him in years, and he remembered my name. We always talked Knight Rider."

"She took out everyone he was close to?" Doug was silent for a second and then nodded. "Is Chuck the one responsible for my dad getting help?" Doug nodded again. "Why?"

"It's Chuck," he said with a shrug. "That's just what he does."

"But he doesn't know me. I'm a criminal," Sarah countered.

Doug laughed. "You don't get it. Chuck Bartowski figured out why you did what you did." Sarah swallowed, and looked back at the road, refusing to let the agent see the tears in her eyes. "Chuck Bartowski would do whatever to save whoever, but if you think he sees you as a criminal, then you have no idea who that man is."

"What does he see me as?" Sarah asked softly. She wanted so badly to be seen through someone's eyes who saw her as anything but a criminal.

"Someone who is kind. Someone who was framed, and someone who will do anything to save those she loves." Doug was silent for a second. "He sees himself." Sarah turned to look out the passenger window. It was the only way Doug couldn't see her tears.

}o{

"Hey, what's a'matter, darlin'?" Jack asked Sarah a little while later, as he was sitting in his room at the hospital.

Jack had been moved to Westside Medical the night before, told he was a free man, and was about to begin cancer treatment if he wanted it. At first, he refused… not that he didn't want the treatment, but because he didn't want to lose his hair. If he was gonna die, he wanted to go out with a full head of hair.

He was sitting, waiting to be dismissed, when a tall, fit, blond man, with a booming voice saying everything was 'awesome', came by and began to talk to him. Jack had never seen someone so excited about being married and having a daughter one day. He told Jack he couldn't wait to walk her down the aisle.

"Some of us don't get to be that lucky," Jack muttered. He caught the confused look on the blond man's face. "Cancer, my time's up."

"Are you here to see Dr. Oaks?" Jack nodded, and the blond man's face lit up. "Awesome! There's no one better to have as your doctor! Seriously, if someone can figure out a way to beat that beast, it's Oaks."

"You serious, kid?" Jack asked, feeling something that he hadn't felt in a long time.

The blond man stood up, and put his hand to his heart. "As God as my witness, he will do everything he can. And if you run into any heart problems with it, I'm your man, Dr. Devon Woodcomb," he said, offering Jack his hand. Jack stared at it, and then took it, shaking it.

"What's that Dad?" Sarah asked, being pulled out of her thoughts.

"I said, what's eatin' you?" Sarah smiled at him, and shook her head. "Hey, I'm gonna beat this."

"I know," Sarah replied, walking away from the window to his bed. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "You're too damn stubborn to die."

"That I am," Jack agreed, with a head nod. "However, you are trying to change the subject."

She grinned at him. "You know that agent that caught us? She's one of the bad guys."

"Bad guys," Jack scoffed. "There are no bad guys or good guys, darlin'. Look at this world. Everyone is on the con about something."

"That may be, but Amy… she killed people, hurt people," Sarah replied. "The person who got us out, she killed his friend and hurt his parents."

"That's terrible, really, but what does it have to do with you, darlin?"

"They're going after her, and they want me to help," Sarah admitted. Jack looked down at his hands and then back up to her. "I think I should help."

"Why?" Jack asked. "What's in it for you?"

"God, Dad," she said, throwing her hands up in frustration. She spun away from the bed and walked to the window. There, she played with the long stick that controlled the blinds. When she spoke, she never looked at him. "Why has it always got to be about what I get out of it? Someone has done us a favor, someone has helped us."

"Why? To get you to help, to make you feel guilty," Jack told her. "Darlin', it's a con. Not one you or I would run, but a con all the same."

"What if he's just a good guy, that wants to catch a bad guy?" Sarah asked, spinning and looking at him.

"Darlin'," he said softly. "If he's such a good guy, why does he want your help?" That was the question that kept swirling through her mind.

}o{

She wandered through the halls of the hospital. She had to get away from her dad for a bit. He had been right. What was a guy like Chuck wanting from her? If he was so good, why would he even have someone like her on his radar? She found herself near the elevator banks when the door opened, and she saw him. Her eyes narrowed. So, it was a con, and he was here to finish the job. He was all sweet and caring and now he was gonna swoop in, remind her he saved her father's life (which… he did) and guilt her into coming back with him.

She stood and waited for him to come her direction toward the oncology department. After a minute or so when he didn't show, she peeked around the wall, and saw the back of his head (he was tall), heading away from her. Curiosity got the better of her, and she followed.

He walked into a section that was closed off from the rest of the hospital. Sarah paused, wondering what she should do.

"Can I help you?" a nurse asked, who had come from the other direction. Sarah hadn't seen her. She silently cursed herself. This guy had a habit of knocking her off her game, and she did not like it one bit.

"I was here with Chuck to see his parents, but I wanted to give him a minute," Sarah lied, wondering if this would work.

"Oh, please, go on in. He gets kind of mopey in there with his father," the nurse said, and walked away. Sarah pushed open the door and walked into the room. There were eight doorways in a circle, and she heard voices coming from one. She saw a coat and some masks at the nurses' station, that was currently unoccupied. She grabbed the coat, slipped it on, and then placed the mask over her nose and mouth covering them. She put a cap on, sliding her hair under it, hoping if he saw her it would make her look different enough that he wouldn't notice her.

She got near the room from which she heard the voice, and busied herself looking at a chart.

"I messed up, Dad," she heard Chuck say. "I did it my way, the way you told me too. I let her go, Dad. I let the family go that Amy framed. Beckman wanted me to… I don't know… blackmail sounds dirty, but isn't that what you'd have called it?" There was silence and she could hear the frustration in his voice. "Mom doesn't understand, she'd tell me to go order her to join… you know how she is." She heard him chuckle. He was silent a minute, and then she heard a deep sigh. "There is no guarantee that she could have led us to Amy. I mean, I've got Casey. He speaks in grunts a lot… and sneers." Sarah couldn't help but grin at that. "He was a former student of Beckett."

There was silence again. "How the hell am I supposed to do what you two did? Mom was a trained CIA operative. I have a computer in my brain. How is that supposed to help?"

Wait, he has a what in his where?!

"Plus, I really need you to wake up, or else this thing might be in there forever." She marveled at the relationship the two seemed to have, the trust… she wished she had that. "Aunt Becky gave me two more names, but… I mean, if I couldn't get her to join, Dad…."

"Amy framed them… framed them for terroristic stuff." Sarah felt anger boiling in her. "I've got to catch her, before she hurts someone else." He was quiet again. "Do you know her dad has cancer?" Sarah went deathly still. "She was doing everything to try and get money to fight it. She's so damn brave, unlike me, who hid in our house, and quarterbacked everything from safety." She heard a sigh. "Maybe… maybe I don't want to succeed, because that means I'll have to be out there, where it's not safe." There was a huff. "I do wish she was here, because she would keep me safe. She kept her dad safe. It took every resource Amy could allocate from the CIA, and it still wasn't enough."

She moved away from the room, quickly ditching the uniform and leaving the area. She had heard enough. She knew what she had to do. Did she have the strength to do it? That was the question.

}o{

She headed back to her dad's room quickly. Peering in, she saw him asleep. She thought about leaving a note, but changed her mind; she'd find him. She looked toward the exit, and saw Doug sitting there, waiting for her. That way was out. There had to be another way.

She looked over her shoulder, and saw an entrance to a doctor's lounge. Perhaps there was a back way out, there. She walked over to the door, saw no one, and opened it a crack. Seeing the room empty, she hurried in. She saw a group of lockers, none of them locked. She reached into the nearest one, grabbed a coat, and a stethoscope that was hanging on a hook. She'd pass for a doctor at a glance, and that's all she could really hope for. She turned toward the sign marked exit, and headed toward it.

She pushed the door open slowly, and saw a long tunnel. BINGO! Back entrance and escape area for doctors; no one would notice. She started down the tunnel, and heard footsteps coming toward her. She kept her head down, but glanced up and saw a very attractive brunette woman reading a file, paying no attention to those around her. Sarah continued down the ramp, and as the two neared, the brunette looked up, flashed a smile and Sarah returned one. She had gotten a few steps away from her when she heard the footsteps stop.

"I know you," came the warm voice of the brunette. Sarah wanted to run, but something deep inside said, for once in her life, not to.

Sarah turned to the woman. "I'm pretty good with faces, and I'm sure I would remember someone as striking as you," Sarah replied, honestly.

The brunette grinned at her. "Ah, Vicki Vale." Confusion covered Sarah's face. "The con artist." She felt everything in her sink. "That would do anything for family… which begs the question… have you been conned?"

Sarah stared at her. Who was this woman that both terrified her and… and… made her feel at home? How was that combination even possible? "I'm afraid you have me confused with someone else."

"I know you're in a hurry to leave, and I promise you I won't stop you, but I'm on the way to visit three people, and I wondered if you'd join me," the brunette offered. "I'm Ellie," she said, offering her hand.

Sarah looked down. "I really don't have time…" Yet, her hand reached out and shook Ellie's. "Sarah."

Ellie tilted her head, studying Sarah. "It fits you. Come on," she said. "You should know Dr. Oaks thinks your father has an excellent chance of a full recovery, and he never says anything like that unless he's really sure."

"That's good," Sarah replied, watching her walls crumble. She wasn't sure why she was letting this woman in, but she trusted her, for some reason.

"I'm his sister, you know," Ellie added. Sarah turned to her, more confused. "Chuck's. And, before you think I'm here to spy on you, or check up on him, I'm just here to check on my family, and friends."

"He's with your dad," Sarah said. Ellie nodded.

"I'm a neurosurgeon you know." Sarah's heart leapt into her throat. Ellie's dad was in a coma, and who better knew the dangers and pitfalls than a neurosurgeon. "I've stepped away from the case, I just… I can't."

"I understand," Sarah said in a small voice. "Believe me, I really do." They didn't say anything else as they walked back into the hospital. Ellie stopped at the lockers, grinning at Sarah. Sarah never said a word and fought the blush as she put back the stethoscope and coat.

They arrived at a room that saw an older brunette woman, asleep, her leg wrapped in a cast and suspended. "Three surgeries," Ellie said softly. "Amy broke her leg in multiple places, and it's taken three surgeries to repair it. You know, she built this team in the 80s." Sarah turned to Ellie. There was pride in Ellie's voice. "She could have run, been a spy, but she stayed. She figured out a way to make it all work together. She was an executioner for the CIA, and she became the best mom. It's why Chuck believes everyone is more than their past."

Tears were in Sarah's eyes, but she said nothing, as Ellie led her down the hall. In the next room was a very pretty man, with bandages covering his abdomen. "Amy's partner Bennett gut-shot him, and left him to bleed out. They were both Bryce's partner." Sarah looked at Ellie, and glanced back at Bryce in horror. "If it had worked out right, he would have bled out, lying there, in terrible pain. He's on a lot of morphine, so he's probably going to be out for a while."

Ellie nodded to the door and they left that room, and headed toward a closed door. Ellie stopped in front of the door and turned to Sarah. "You might not want to go in here."

"Good God, what did they do to this person?" Sarah asked.

"It's Morgan, we call him 'the beard', a lot. He's a weird little guy, totally in love with me for years, has been Chuck's best friend since we all can remember," Ellie began.

"Oh God," Sarah said, fearing the worst.

"There is nothing physically wrong with Morgan," Ellie began. "It's not something I can explain." Sarah nodded in determination. Ellie gave her a questionable look, and Sarah lifted her chin to hold Ellie's gaze. A grin slowly made its way to Ellie's lips. She turned, and opened the door. "Morgan, I've brought you a guest." Sarah saw a short, bearded man in bed, who turned his head to look at them. "This is Vicki Vale."

"Nice," Morgan said softly, a sad smile on his face.

"Really, no Vicki Vale, Vicki Vale, Vick, Vick, Vicki Vale?" Ellie asked. She turned to Sarah. "It's from Batman, the movie, 1989."

"Because that makes it better?" Sarah asked, before she could stop herself. Ellie smiled, and Morgan snorted a laugh.

"It's your code name," Ellie explained. "We keep waiting for Morgan to claim Alfred or Robin."

"I'd have to be Damien, Jason, or Tim," Morgan said, his heart not in the bantering. He got a far off look on his face. "Bryce obviously would be Dick."

"He would?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah," Morgan said, giving her a look as though she had lost her mind. "Have you seen that man's ass? He is so Dick Grayson."

Sarah snorted, making Morgan grin. "We just need to find his Babs, and that will prove it to you." Morgan turned to Sarah. "Babs was a librarian, but underneath, wowie!" Morgan shook his head, and Sarah felt Ellie feeling the hope that her friend was returning. "She's the smart girl hiding the hot girl underneath. I mean what's better?"

"The hot girl hiding the smart girl underneath?" Sarah offered, with a shrug.

"No," Morgan said, shaking his head sadly. "They get ostracized when trying to show they have intelligence."

"There's more to you than that beard, isn't there, Morgan?" Sarah asked, smiling at him fondly. She liked Morgan. Sure, he was weird, but he was 100% genuine.

"Her real name is Sarah Walker, Morgan," Ellie informed him.

Morgan stuck out his hand. "Welcome to the team, Sarah Walker. I am Morgan Grimes, your logistics specialist." Sarah stared down at his hand, and was surprised to find she wasn't shocked that her hand took his. She was doing this, wasn't she? She really had no choice, not if she wanted to be the person she wanted to be.

"Thanks for having me, but I warn you… I'm a former con artist, so watch yourself around me."

"I trust you, Sarah," Morgan replied. She knew deep down inside herself that he did, and that filled her with warmth she didn't know that she had ever experienced.

Except once.

}o{

Chuck walked out of the hospital, and huffed. He ran his hand through his hair in exasperation. He was in over his head. He had no chance of making this plan work, but he had to try. He opened the door to his vehicle, got in, shut the door, turned and yelped.

"Where to first?" Sarah asked. Chuck stared at her, and she gave him a soft smile. "If you still want me, that is."

"Oh, I want you," he replied. His eyes then went wide, realizing what he said. "Ontheteam, ontheteam, ontheteam."

She grinned at him, and patted his cheek. "Morgan said he would be at Castle, and have it ready to go by the time we land. So, where to first?"

"Milan," Chuck said. Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Our Pam Isley is putting on a fashion show."

"How do you know she's not a Babs?" Sarah asked. Chuck looked at her, his mouth open in shock.

His mouth snapped shut with a 'clack'. "I guess I don't," he conceded. Sarah nodded at him, and Chuck turned back to start the car. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe they did have a chance at beating Fulcrum. He glanced back at Sarah. Maybe they really did have a chance.

A/N: And we have Sarah. Next, Milan, sleeping arrangements, and Chuck makes a small mistake because some vital info is not in the files. It should be fine, right?

"What the hell is going on out here?" Casey asked, opening his door. He surveyed the room, and grinned. "Oh, Bartowski being stupid?"

"He doesn't think I can physically protect him," Sarah explained.

"I'm beginning to think there is stuff that wasn't in her folder," Chuck muttered.

"Ya think?" Casey asked, walking over to the couch to sit down. They both looked at him. "Oh, don't mind me, I'm just here to watch the festivities."

"Tell you what, I'll make you a deal: You try and kiss me, and I'll try and stop you," Sarah began.

Oh. My.