The 49B – The heart won't lie

Chapter one

Sarah watched through the small window of the door that separated the Orange Orange and Castle. Chuck and Casey were the only thing she consider even close to a resemblance of a family, was downstairs and she wasn't. After Casey escorted her to the door upon Beckman's request to have her removed. All she could do was watch and wonder what she would do now. All because of some technicality that the CIA had implemented to prevent a CIA handler from over stepping their role. Or in other words, having feelings for whom they were there to protect. Sarah did care for the asset and if she was honest, in more ways than one. But to her, she felt that she had been able to manage both, but after two intense lip on lip action moment and feeling him so close to her, his lips, his warm breath and the way he held her when he kissed her, she couldn't say.

But if it wasn't for the fact that he was holding her while they kissed, she'd figured that she would have collapsed right there in front of him.

Recalling the first time was when she truly felt that their lives were over, and she had to know if what, she was feeling was real and not leave this world wondering what it would be like to finally kiss Chuck Bartowski. The second time as hot as it was, it was forced upon them because Roan Montgomery wanted to know if Chuck had it in him to be able to woo one black widow. When he stood up, Sarah went into slow mode as Chuck grabbed her and kissed her hard, then tender, her fingers could only graze his cheek, but it was over as soon as it started.

As Casey headed back down the stairs, he passed behind Chuck giving Chuck's shoulder a slight squeeze as Chuck ran his hands through his hair. Knowing that Chuck wasn't too pleased and that Chuck didn't like change, and this was one big change. Agent Forester strutted back and forth laying claim to her newly acquired territory. Sarah lowered her head and walked out the door of Orange Orange not looking back.

Arriving at her hotel room she sat staring out her window for some time. Her eye caught her note pad and for the first time in forever she needed to write to Chuck to explain. The last time she felt like writing or had to write a letter was when her dad was first arrested. His lawyer figured that it might help him get a lesser sentence. But this time it wasn't that kind of letter but a letter that would force Sarah to come tell the truth; the truth about how she felt. Turning on her heels she grabbed the note pad and a pen from her bag and turned on her light by her bed. For being a spy, she was able to pinpoint exact methods, strategies, weapons and escape routes but penning her feelings was to date the hardest thing she'd ever had to do.

Sarah crumbled her latest attempt and noticed the pile of previous crumbled attempts. By early morning she was done, and the pain in her heart was far worse than the pain in her head. Eyes puffy from crying she packed up her bags and drove to Echo Park and waited till she knew that Chuck was gone to work, and no one could see her slip in and out. Opening the Morgan door, Sarah slipped the letter subtly between her lips as she stepped over the window's entrance walking over to his bed. Placing the letter on his pillow, slipping back out taking one last look at his room and what could have been.

Later that day

Chuck headed home after a double shift to pack his spy bag as Forester wanted to get started right away and Beckman was more than willing to cater to her. Chuck recalled, the conversation. Beckman told the new team Bartowski that they would be heading to Riverside California and would be staying at the infamous Mission Inn. They would be try and get to know a woman named Nikita Pavlukhin, who the CIA believed was interested in US Government secrets. And the second person Beckman wanted was who she was buying the secrets from. One Randall Bartholomew former employee of the USA Department of Justice. As Beckman disclosed and Forester explained what she had known previously about this case, it sounded more like her telling them about her impressive resume. She didn't know that Chuck was the US's biggest secret of all. And every person place or thing she spoke about, including when Casey repeated the name Randall Bartholomew, Chuck flashed. His flashes produced a long rap sheet.

Forester signed off with Beckman and left the room. Casey turned to Chuck. Why didn't you tell her about the you know what? As Chuck pointed to his head. Casey leaned in. "I had my reasons."

"But why not?" Chuck recalls asking Casey.

"Because she's not going to be here long and there's no need to add to her power, which she thinks she already has."

'In and out Bartowski. In and out.' Chuck reminded himself.

Chuck opened his closet and grabbed his mission suitcase and placed it on the bed. He knew it was early fall so it could chillier there, so he grabbed some warmer clothes and his best suit. Stuffing them into his suitcase, he topped it off with his toiletries and zipped it up. Looking up, he saw Casey waiting at the window. Chuck grabbed the suit case not seeing the letter. "You ready to go?"

Chuck zipped up the last zipper and grabbed his jacket. Turning, Chuck remembered that he needed his passports. Slipping under the bed, Chuck tossed his jacket on his pillow covering up Sarah's letter. Chuck grabbed his box of passports and ID's, grabbing a few to choose from. Getting up he grabbed his jacket and as the jacket flew off the bed the letter flip face side up and slipped between the pillow and head board, dangling a box springs length away from the floor.

Chuck stopped on his way out and he didn't know why. Something in the room or something caught his senses, and made him stop. He took a whiff when he passed his suitcase to Casey through the window. He looked around the room seeing that nothing was out of place. But felt that someone had been there. Chuck stepped out and closed his window and snuck out into the darkness. Casey tossed Chuck's bag into the trunk and drove back to Castle. Forester waited as the three switched vehicles and were escorted to Riverside. Chuck sat in backseat with Casey. Leaning over to Casey. "When did we get the privilege to have an escort?"

"She's just collecting brownie points with the General. Remember she won't be here long."

Chuck sat up and seconds later Forester turned around passing them two files. Chuck grabbed them then passed the other to Casey. Chuck and Casey opened and browsed the files. "We will go in as follows." Forester explained. "Casey will be our accountant/muscle and Chuck you and I are…."

Chuck looks up then at Casey. "MARRIED?"

"Yes, you and me, are going in as the Harronworths'. We both come from money and Casey is…"

"Married?"

"Yes Charles! Let's move on. Randall Bartholomew is the man I want. He is selling Government secrets to a woman named Nikita Pavlukhin, who we think is then selling them to the Russian mafia. The Russians want her, and we want Randall."

"So wifey of mine." Sarcastically. "What do I do?"

"You and me, will try and get cozy with Nikita and have her believe that we are in association with a very wealthy group that is interested in secrets and not the Russian Mafia. Hopefully we will convince her to sell to us and our secrets will still be safe. Once we have Nikita where we want her, we'll go after Randall. Getting Randall to trust us as well as Nikita we get them both off the street.

Chuck looked up. "Sounds like a lot of holes of hoping it will work out.

If Sarah was here, we would do it totally different with a lot less hope. And, we wouldn't go in using some fake intel to…"

"Agent Carmichael, you will do the job the way I have instructed you." Forester turned around. Then turned back. "Remember Agent Walker isn't here, I am."

Chuck was glad when the car stopped in front of the Inn. It was the longest hour of his life. Forester walked in with her tight white jeans on and her baby blue cotton shirt and large sun glasses. Which made Chuck shake his head when it was almost 11:00 at night. Chuck followed as Casey rolled in their gear. Chuck grabbed a key card, but Forester turned and switched it another one. "You and me, are sharing a joint room and Casey is across the hall."

Chuck looked at the key card then looked at Forester. Chuck didn't despise many people in his life even those who hunted him down or threatened him, but she was moving up the line pretty quick.

Sarah drove through LA heading east passing places like Riverside and Barstow and out of the state California and drove into Arizona reaching Flagstaff. Deciding to drive the rest of the way tomorrow after she got some sleep. Pulling into a 24 hour truck stop, she walked into the restaurant and sat staring at the map. She hadn't been out this way in years. Now that she was coming out here on her own, she had to reacquaint herself with the route. Grabbing a meal, she ate, then bought a bottle of water. Walking out she found a cardboard box and carried it back to her car that faced the truck stop. Tearing the cardboard open she placed it inside her front window blocking anyone from looking in, then grabbed a few hoodies from her bag and inserted them inside her driver's window and her passenger window blocking onlookers as well. Her back windows were tinted so she was good there. Slipping off her boots, she placed them on the floor of the car and leaned the passenger seat back. Locking her doors, she grabbed a blanket and pillow and propped them on the seat, and curled up on the passenger side and closed her eyes but not before she thought of him once more.

Chuck slipped his key card in and opened the door and the first thing he saw was the door that led her room. Chuck tossed his suitcase onto the bench and walked over to the window. He looked down into the center of the Inn, wishing that someone else was here instead. His thoughts were rattled by a knock at the door. Chuck walked back to the doors hoping that it was Casey. Chuck stopped to hear which knock went with which door. Hearing that it was the hall door, Chuck opened it and smiled. Casey looked at him and grunted. "I brought over some surveillance. Your window is going to be one of the places we set up in. I will walk the Inn in a bit and place bugs, so we can get a visual of Randall and Nikita."

"Can I come with you?" Chuck wanted to be far away from his room.

Casey set up and nodded.

Chuck closed the case and slid them into the corner and followed Casey to the door when there was another knock. This time Chuck knew it was her. Chuck unlocked the bolt and opened the door. Forester walked in. "We good here."

"Yeah the kid and I are going to place bugs around the Inn."

Chuck crossed his fingers in his pockets hoping that she'd say okay."

"Sounds good."

"We will meet for breakfast at 08:00. I got word that Randall and Nikita have a meeting tomorrow around 2:00, so we will make our presence known."

Chuck avoided eye contact while Casey nodded. Forester walked back in and closed the door. Chuck walked over and started to lock the bolt. Forester opened her door. "We won't lock this door."

Chuck walked out into the hall. Casey followed and closed Chuck's door. "She has some ner…."

Casey sped up their walk. Casey let go of Chuck's arm. Chuck looked down the hall. "She has some nerve."

"Breathe. We smile and do what we are told."

"But that woman."

"That woman is here because…"

Chuck closed his eyes slightly. "I know. But I don't have to like it."

"No, you don't but you have to act like you do. If she feels that you're not doing your job, Sarah may never come back."

"But maybe she will, if we can't work together, Beckman will see that and reinstate Sarah and we will be the three musketeers once again."

Casey didn't want to burst Chuck's bubble, so he smiled and headed down the hall.

Casey and Chuck finished earlier than they thought and headed to the lounge. Finding a booth, they sat and had a couple of drinks, till Casey looked up at Chuck. "How are you doing?"

Chuck looked up. "I don't know. Twelve hours ago, Sarah was here and now she's gone. She didn't even say good bye."

"They can't."

"Once a handler is asked to leave a post, they must leave without any explanation or try to explain. They say its easier on…."

"What better for who?"

"Are they worried that Sarah might say something?"

"No, protocol."

"Screw protocol." Chuck raised his hand getting the waitress to bring another round.

Casey let Chuck vent then helped him back to his room.

Sarah was awakened by semi trucks driving near here. Their engines lulled her to sleep but the shifting of gears and moving traffic woke her up. She opened the door and pulled the cardboard off the front window and started her car allowing her to open her windows to pull her hoodies away from the windows. Grabbing her boots, she slipped them on and stood up. Stretching, she was surprised that she had slept as well as she did. Grabbing her tooth brush, she brushed her teeth and took a swing of her water and spat into the bush beside her car. Grabbing breakfast, she ate and enjoyed her breakfast and was having a clear free-thinking moment when on the radio a familiar song came on, that made her think of Chuck. She had heard that song the first day she walked into Buy More and where it all started. She was glad when the song was over. She paid for her meal and grabbed a large coffee and some snacks and slipped back into her car and drove till saw the turn off to highway #89. She headed north, driving into the Navajo Nation and admired the landscape driving into the state of Colorado. She had a few more hours till she reached her destination and the only place that she ever called home. And only a few people knew that this place existed and for it being all the way in Colorado, she didn't expect anyone including Chuck to come looking for her.

Mission Inn

Forester took the lead and Chuck played the part, Casey got enough surveillance to use against Randall and Nikita eventually sold the info to Chuck after Forester couldn't convince Nikita. Nikita was a lot like the black widow and Roan didn't think that he had it in him to pull it off either. But in the end Chuck showed them all. It took them a few days more to make the deal, but when Chuck got into the back seat of the car and it facing south, he leaned back and took a long over due sigh. Casey loaded the back and slipped inside, and he too was glad to be going home. Forester slipped in closed her door and it was a very peaceful ride back to LA.

Chuck slipped into Orange Orange and down into Castle. He noticed that there were signs that said that Orange Orange was closed till further notice. 'Maybe, they are waiting till Sarah returns, that is why it's closed.'

Getting a bit of energy in his step, he sat down at the desk and waited till Beckman was ready to debrief. Spinning in his chair, Forester came in and forced the chair to stop as she placed her hands on the back of the chair. Reaching the button to call Beckman. "I already pressed it."

Forester looked at him, not pleased. "That's not your job."

Casey walked in. "It's just a button relax."

The three sat in silence as they waited till Beckman connected. Ten minutes later Beckman appeared on the screen. "Hello team. Great job on the Mission Inn mission. We have Nikita Pavlukhin and Randall Bartholomew in custody. Randall will be flown to DC awaiting a trial and Nikita will be extradited back to Moscow. Again, great work."

"General, I have to say that the mission didn't go as planned."

"It seldom does."

"But Chuck failed to follow protocol."

Chuck sat up. He wanted to hear this. "Chuck took it upon him to go against my instructions, forcing our hand…"

"General." Chuck stood up. "You know that we have always worked towards an end goal and for the most part not by the book. This was one of those situations that I felt needed an extra push in another direction. In the end we got both individuals case closed."

Chuck sat down. Looking at Casey then Forester where his smiled turned upside down.

"Agent Forester, I have to agree with Chuck. Looking at your reports and the surveillance, your methods yet admirable would never have worked. Nikita was alot like another woman we had been in association with and Chuck's offence work the same way it did with this one. Sometimes, what's written on paper doesn't always work out the way we want them too. Over all great job. Get some rest and I'll let you know when you all will go out again."

"General about Forester's day job. I see that the Orange Orange is closed?"

"It is, until we have a final report on this new arrangement, Agent Walker's day job will be put on hold. Good bye team."

"Good bye General." They all replied.

Sarah turned off the 145 and drove in Telluride. A small mining town about six hours south of Denver. She drove past what was left of main street and drove a mile and half north east driving parallel to the mountains. She liked the gravel road that led to the farm. Locals called it a ranch but to her it was the family farm. Her real family that meant the world to her. As she drove to the last turn she looked up and saw the family crest and rod iron initials hanging above the posts leading into the long winding road. TCR in tall rustic letters above her head. 'The O'Connell Ranch''. Sarah rolled past them and reached the last hill that looked down into the valley that housed the old farmhouse that looked more like a log house. The smoke stack shot out a plume of smoke as the smell of fall leaves and a wood fire welcomed her as she opened her door. Grabbing a jacket, she slipped it on and walked towards the front porch. Stepping up, Sarah walked around the porch, dragging her along the wooden rail. Reaching the front of the house, she stopped and looked around. Her reflection caught the person inside as they walked towards the door. Sarah opened the door and the squeak of the screen door brought back so many memories. Sarah smiled when, two frail hands were extended. "Pa-pa."

"Sammy, my Sammy."

Sarah, fell into her grandfathers, large arms which held her close. Papa O'Connell held his Sam close. Sarah leaned back looking at her Papa. He had aged since she last saw him, but his eyes were still as blue as she remembered. Papa O'Connell put his cane into his other hand and walked into the kitchen. Sarah could smell the coffee and his famous biscuits. Sitting down, she looked around. The kitchen was still the same. She loved that he didn't changed things after Grandma had died. The radio still played in the back ground. Just loud enough to hear what was playing but not loud enough to distract a conversation. Papa carried over two cups and returned with a jar of jam and a butter. As the coffee was poured, Sarah added cream and sugar, just like her Papa.

"I was surprised to hear from you. With your line of work and all."

"Papa I'm sorry for calling like I did but I had no…."

"What was their reason?"

"That I over stepped my role."

"That's pretty hard to do unless this person was worth the risk."

"Why would you think it had to do with a person?"

"Well is it. And what's his name."

Sarah took a sip of her coffee. "Chuck."

"And he chipped away at that wall you put up."

"More like he smashed it into pieces. But I could still do my job."

"You probably could, but this is the CIA. And they are helpful when they want to be and the rest of the time, they do things like this. Just like when they arrested your dad. And turned you into a spy."

"What they did for dad saved his life."

"I know, but your dad is your dad and we both know that jail only kept him contained."

"So, where is he?"

"Near, we drove down from Denver the other day and brings me out at the beginning of the week and I stay till Wednesday to check on things. But now that you're here I can stay in Denver."

"But you love this place."

"I do but it's getting to be too much. Been thinking of selling it."

Sarah sat back, this farm was a big part of her childhood in between con jobs and her parents divorce. And now her Papa was thinking of selling. Sarah thought to herself. 'Even if I did go back to my job this place would be too far away to keep it?'

Sarah walked the house as her Papa went to have nap. Sarah dragged her fingers along the logs and looked at old photos, then slipped out the back door from the kitchen towards the pens. She saw the horses and counted five. When she was little, they had over a dozen. Standing on the fence looking into the horse's stall, she wondered if any of the horses would recognize her. As Sarah whistled her call to her horse she waited. Sarah could see from the far field a dark brown horse galloped towards the fence. He was a lot taller but when Sarah saw his white diamond patch above his eyes, she smiled. "Rex."

Rex came and nestled his nose into her hands, getting use to a familiar smell. Sarah jumped down and met Rex in the barn. Grabbing a saddle, she saddled up and climbed onto Rex and sped out of the barn. Rex knew where to take her. Sarah trotted, down a well ridden path coming to a hilly area with its view overlooking the mountains. "Thanks Rex." Sarah leaned down and rubbed his face and gave him a kiss.

Chuck was about to head home when Forester stopped him. "Good job on the mission but if you think that this is how it is going to be, your sadly mistaken. I am your handler and you're my asset."

"Trust me, I think that I know that."

Chuck walked off as Forester was still talking.

Chuck headed up the stairs and tossed his suitcase into Casey's trunk. Casey sped off.

Casey pulled in behind their place and pulled out their suitcases as Chuck then rolled his up to the door. "Not going through the window?"

"No, Devon and Ellie are working so I am good."

"Okay, get some rest and I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah."

Chuck rolled his suitcase into room and filled his laundry basket. Even before he saw the note from his sister, reminding him of laundry day. Chuck laughed as he grabbed his dirty clothes and figured that his sheets needed to be washed as well. Pulling his comforter off his pillows fell on the floor knocking over his picture of Sarah and him. Chuck walked over clumsily kicked it further under his bed. Dropping to his knee, he bent down to grab it and his eye caught something sticking out from his mattress. Pulling his bed forward the item fell to the floor. Chuck picked it up and pushed his bed back. Turning the envelope over he saw his name written in her handwriting.

Please let me know, what you think? I love hearing from you all.

Mssupertigz