With His Dying Breath

I don’t own Chuck

Three weeks ago

He was standing in Castle, studying the map of the Czech Republic as Bryce was walking him through his plans. “I…we…hell, Sarah, once had a safe house here she let me know the code to.”

So we can stay there?

“No,” Bryce said, shaking his head. “She’d figure it out.”

And that’s bad?

“Chuck, you don’t understand, at the end of the day she is who she is, she’d stop you,” Bryce told him.

I thought you said she had picked me.

“She did, Buddy, but you’re gonna be an agent now, and she’s going to treat you like one, like she did me.” Chuck didn’t say anything. “Chuck-”

Bryce, I need to make this very clear for you. While I’m glad you’re here, helping me, there is only one way I’m doing this, and this is my way. I’m driving, I’m making the decision, not you. You are now supporting me, and that means giving me intel, making suggestions, but at the end of the day going along with what I say.

“Chuck, I know the CIA,” Bryce began.

Yeah, I know you do, and that’s how we’re going to beat them. The Ring is expecting a push back from the CIA.

Bryce was silent. “So…so you’re saying by doing things…off the book…” Bryce trailed off, starting to understand. “Chuck, that’s dangerous.”

Chuck looked around, saw no one was watching him and looked straight at Bryce. Buddy, you saw how doing it the CIA’s way got you. Bryce didn’t reply. Neither of them noticed the camera recording Chuck.

-ooooo-

Now

Sarah watched the tape of the day she told him in Castle that she would meet him in Prague and they would run. She knew that day that something was wrong. She watched him in the video, looking at something…someone…what was in that Intersect? She paused the video and thought back to that day.

“So, I’ll be there to meet you in Prague, Chuck, we’ll leave then,” she had told him.

“Sarah, what would a life be like on the run?” Chuck asked.

She glanced over and saw that Casey was nowhere nearby. “I’ve done it before,” she confided.

“With the Intersect?” he asked. “Won’t that put you in danger?”

“I can manage,” she told him.

“You shouldn’t have to,” he said softly.

Her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. She looked over at it and saw it was Casey. “Walker, secure,” she answered.

“Walker,” Casey said, a somber tone in his voice.

-ooooo-

Ellie thought her eyes would cross with the questions Shaw was asking her. “Agent, please, I know you are serious in your questions, and I know you are serious about your job, but a computer…in someone’s brain…that’s science fiction.”

“Dr. Woodcomb,” Shaw began. “It’s not science fiction, it is cutting edge technology, but it is not science fiction.”

“Well, it’s above my understanding,” Ellie said, rubbing her temple. “I’m sorry.”

Shaw started to talk when his phone went off. He looked down at it, and his eyes went wide. “Shaw, secure but in public.” He listened and looked at Ellie. Ellie rubbed the back of her neck. Something about that look was unnerving.

“Are you sure?” Shaw asked. “No, I’m on my way.” He hung up, and stared at Ellie for a moment.

“Is something wrong?” Ellie asked.

“It seems a case I was working on they have found someone, that we thought kidnapped.” Shaw paused, a look on his face like he was trying to figure out what to say next. “I need to go confirm what I was told.” He paused again. “Doctor, in your professional opinion, would you tell the family what you suspect, or wait until you confirm what has actually happened.”

“Always confirm,” Ellie said.

Shaw nodded, and stood. He hesitated and held out his hand. “Thank you Doctor Woodcomb.” She shook his hand. He started to say more, seemed to think better of it, gave her a tight lipped smile, turned, and left her office. She followed him to the door, and as she saw him turn down the hallway, she locked the door.

She walked over to the safe, opened it, and saw a message that said to call ASAP. She dialed the number. “Dad, what is it?” she asked.

-ooooo-

“Casey, are you sure?” Sarah asked.

“I haven’t personally verified, but it matches the dental records,” Casey told her. He was silent for a moment. “I know it doesn’t help, but he’s getting a star.”

“I’m still following the leads here,” Sarah told Casey.

“Your orders haven’t changed,” Casey said. “You can come home for the funeral.”

“Have they found an actual body?” Sarah asked. There was a silence on the other end. “Casey?”

“No, Walker-”

“Then I’m not going to the funeral,” Sarah told him.

“Walk…Sarah,” Casey said softly.

“I’ll call you back when I have a better lead on things here,” Sarah told him, and hung up. She picked up the note and examined his scrawl. Tears came to her eyes. “Damn it, Chuck,” she said softly.

-ooooo-

“Dad?” Ellie said softly.

“He’s been confirmed killed by the CIA,” Stephen told Ellie. “Good work.”

“It was simple enough to get you the dental records, you did the hard work swapping them out,” Ellie said. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have to go play a grieving sister, all while not telling my husband what is going on. When he gets back I may murder Chuck, you tell him that, dad.”

“Eleanor,” Stephen began.

“This is not awesome, Dad,” Ellie said. “Not. Awesome.”