With His Dying Breath

I don’t own Chuck

It was a ten hour drive from where they were in Austria to Paris. Chuck had asked Sarah to drive to give him time to think. He was having some difficulty breaking into the Ring’s computer network inside of their headquarters. Sarah told him he’d figure out how, and he knew he could, he just didn’t know if he had time to.

He had to give the Ring credit, they were aware of how flawed the US’s cyber security was and had gone to great lengths to protect themselves.

“Is there a way you could get in, without hacking?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah, if I could get a flash drive into one of their computers…” Chuck trailed off, thinking.

“Kind of leaving the back door open so you could slip in and out?” Sarah asked. Chuck nodded. “Okay, then what we need to find is a computer we can gain access to.”

“But they’re all inside, the computers,” he pointed out. “And I’m dead and you are too probably too well known amongst this group of spies.”

“Let’s get there, case the place, and then, if I have to, I can use some other skills I learned,” she trailed off, uneasiness on her face.

“You know,” Chuck said softly. “I’ve learned a lot about you over the past few months, thanks to Bryce.” She looked over at him, but he was staring straight ahead. “I mean, that’s not right, I already knew some of these things, but seeing Bryce’s memories put things into context.”

She said nothing, continuing to drive but knots were forming in her stomach. He let out a chuckle. “I thought you didn’t tell me much, but poor Bryce, he was even more in the dark than I was.” He turned to her. “I’m not saying this right. What I’m trying to say is, I see how you let me in.”

“I’ve never let anyone in farther than I have you,” she said softly. “Chuck…my first name…it was Sam.” Chuck’s eyes went wide. “But, I haven’t been Sam for a very long time…if ever.”

“Thank you,” Chuck said softly. “So, what should I-”

“Sarah, Chuck,” she said a little forcefully. “Sorry, it’s just…I’ve felt like Sarah ever since I’ve met you.”

“Good,” Chuck replied. “I mean, good that you’re comfortable with who you are.” He was silent for a moment. “Gah! What I mean is-”

“I know what you mean,” Sarah said gently, taking his hand and smiling at him.

-ooooo-

“Fine, I’ll take your husband and the bearded gnome, but you owe me Ellie!” Casey growled.

“How about I forget how you bugged my apartment for the last two years?” Ellie asked.

“I feel we’re now even,” Casey answered quickly. Morgan raised his hand. “What Grimes?”

“Was my house bugged?” Morgan asked.

“No, no one gave a damn about your sandwiches,” Casey informed Morgan. Morgan looked disappointed.

“You sure about this, Babe?” Devon asked Ellie. She gave him a kiss.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Ellie told him. “I’ll be here with my dad, what trouble could I get in?” Casey gave her a look, but said nothing. The three left Castle and Stephen spun toward Ellie. “What?”

“We have to go to Russia,” Stephen told her.

“Okay, then we have to get tickets.” Stephen shook his head. “Do I even want to know?”

-ooooo-

“Are you sure you know how to fly this thing?” Ellie asked from the co-pilot’s seat, looking out the window at the ground very far away…again.

“It’s simple, you’re mother taught me,” Stephen told her.

“When?”

Stephen thought for a moment. “A few years before you were born.”

“And you’ve flown since then, right?” Ellie asked. Her father said nothing. Ellie looked out the window at the ground below. “I am going to kill you Chuck Bartowski,” she growled.

-ooooo-

“There is no good way in there,” Chuck groused. “Damn it! All of this work, this planning, and I’ve screwed up.”

“Chuck,” Sarah said calmly, her hand on his. “It’s Paris, the city of love, calm the hell down.” He grinned at her, and chuckled. They were sitting outside at a cafe, having walked around the compound that the Ring meeting was supposed to take place in.

“What am I missing?” Chuck asked. Sarah raised an eyebrow, and sat back, amused. “You’re calm. You’ve seen something I’ve missed.”

“The guard station,” Sarah said, sipping her coffee.

Chuck darted his eyes toward it, and then back to her. “I’m missing something.”

“The mirror on the station, to let the guard see better, from my angle I can see into the station and see his computer,” Sarah told him, grinning.

“And you see a drive I can put a flash drive into?” Sarah nodded. “So how do we get the flash drive in without the guard knowing.”

“All that has to be done is the flash drive inserted, right?” Chuck nodded. “How long does it take to upload?”

“Thirty seconds, tops,” Chuck replied.

“Trust me?”

-ooooo-

Edgar was bored out of his mind. He was paid great money, but there was never anything to do. He looked down the street, and then back to his paper, when he did a double take. Walking down the street was a gorgeous blond woman in a red dress, heels, and obviously having a night out on the town. He heard the voice of a man and saw a tall man chasing after her.

“Janice,” he called out. “Janice, baby, please don’t.”

“Will you give it a rest?” She said to him. “I’ve had with you and your constant jealousy.” She kept walking and saw Edgar. “Sir, sir, can I please come in there for a bit. That’s my ex-boyfriend.”

“Janice, baby, please,” the tall man begged.

“Go, right in, but don’t touch anything,” he told her. Edgar walked out and confronted the tall man. “You need to leave.”

“But she’s my life,” the tall man pleaded. “You don’t understand, she’s so…amazing, and I’m so freaking out of her league.”

“You are,” Edgar replied. “So you have a choice. Continue to be like this and lose her, or trust her.” The tall man dropped his gaze to the ground. He sighed, and raised his head, looking over Edgar’s shoulder at the woman. “Okay,” he said, resigned. “Please, tell her I’m sorry, and that I’m going home.” Edgar nodded, and watched the tall man turn and walk away.

“Thank you,” the woman told him. “He just gets so jealous.”“Are you okay?” Edgar asked.

“I’m fine, is there any chance you can call me a ride?” Edgar nodded, picked up the phone and made a call.

-ooooo-

Chuck waited in an alley, tapping his hands on the steering wheel. He saw a car pull up to the hotel, and Sarah get out of the car. She headed inside, and after the car pulled away, she crossed the street, heading for the car Chuck was in.

“Did it work?” Chuck asked, as she got in.

“Yep,” she chirped. “You were perfect.”

“Nah, just following my partner’s lead,” Chuck told her, putting the car in gear and driving back to their safe house.