Thank you for all the reviews. It's amazing to see this fandom going so strong even after the end of our show. I can't remember the last time I was behind on reading fanfiction and it is tough to catch up when I can only read on my spare time. It's like a surge of fandom and I can't keep up with it, so I'm going to ask nicely… only because you don't want me to get angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Please stop updating so much. Just take like a three day break so I can finally catch up. Thank you.

I do not own Chuck.

February 23, 2005

Chuck kicks his champagne colored Infiniti G35 into fifth gear as he soars down 101 freeway. He missed his car and is so glad to have it back. The grin on his face is permanently plastered on his face and he couldn't be having more fun at the moment. Suddenly, a black Porsche 911 GTR flies by him at over ninety miles per hour and his permanent smile wavers when he notices the familiar license plate. "That's not fair!" Chuck exclaims in a pout, to the empty cabin of his car. "Man," Chuck whines to himself, "how am I supposed to keep up with that?"

Chuck, Sarah, and Bryce had their vehicles shipped to Los Angeles and they went together to pick them up, taking the opportunity to drive home. Sarah laughs joyously as she passes Chuck and turns around the bend in her black Porsche. She has missed her vehicle immensely and it always gives her a type of high when she drives. Driving is one of the few activities along with hitting a punching bag that allows her to focus and relax when she needs to clear her head. At her speed, the cars are merely blurs as she swifts by them. Almost instantly, she notices the cop car pulling onto the freeway and eases on the brakes, but knows she is too late. The sirens turn on and the cop catches up to her. "Shit," she hisses as she pulls off to the side.

She waits impatiently as she bounces her left leg for the cop to run her plates. She knows from past experience that cops take their time only to emphasize the point that they should not be speeding or it will only take them longer to get to their destination, as well as another form of punishment other than the ubiquitous amounts of money the tickets cost along with the driving school and so on. "Come on, come on," Sarah mumbles as she glances back in impatience as she clips her CIA badge on her belt loop. "Fuck it," she opens the door and stands up outside the car. The police officer instantly pulls his gun and aims it at her in defense. She rolls her eyes; at least he is quick on the draw.

The officer pulls the PA speaker to his lips, "stay right where you are, ma'am," he demands in a forceful tone. Sarah appeases him and rests up against the side of her car, staring down the officer through her Oakley X Metal Juliet sunglasses. The officer calmly steps out with his gun aimed at her and approaches her cautiously. "Ma'am, do you realize how fast you were driving?"

"Does it really matter?" Sarah responds agitatedly. She doesn't have the time or patience for this.

"I clocked you at 'one oh two,'" the officer informs her. "Do you know how reckless it is to drive that fast?"

"I was being careful," Sarah sarcastically responds when she notices Chuck cruising by. He mock salutes at her with a teasing smile. The annoyance flairs up inside Sarah as she then notices Bryce's bright red Lancer a few cars behind Chuck. She then turns to the officer with a scarily determined gaze. "What's your name?" She demands quickly and determinedly.

"License and registration," the cop responds with his gun still held at her.

"Well, officer 'license and registration,'" Sarah responds snootily, "if you don't get back in your car and leave, I will have you fired by tomorrow."

"Is that a threat?" The officer barks with slight anger. He's an officer of the law and a symbol of peace and respect. No matter how beautiful a woman is, he still must uphold the law and be impartial to all parties.

"Yes, it is," Sarah deadpans. She quickly lifts the front of her shirt to show her CIA badge clipped to her belt loop, flashing a little bit of toned abs. "You are impeding a government issue. Now, get back into your car and continue to do your job, Officer Rodriguez," she demands, using his real name after reading his name tag.

"I'm sorry ma'am," the officer responds humbly. "I had no clue."

"I understand," she responds as she steps back into her Porsche and sees the cop walking back to his car with his tail between his legs. She revs her engine and pulls back onto the freeway with a bright grin on her face. "Works every time," she quips with a victorious grin as the car is already past sixty miles per hour.

Chuck drives all the way into the parking lot by the entrance of the Castle. As Chuck pulls in, he sees Sarah's car already waiting there; she is leaning on the driver side door with her elbows propped against the roof, jutting out her chest and making her look incredibly sexy in her black Oakley glasses and her hair lightly tussling through the wind.

"That's not fair," Chuck pouts as he steps out of his car to meet her; Bryce pulling in only seconds behind him. He walks over to her, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms and plant a juicy kiss that relays that no matter how much she enjoys her car, she will always love and enjoy him more. Maybe even cop a fee, but Shaw could be watching. "How'd you get here before us?" He questions in complete awe.

"I went fast," she responds simply.

Chuck cracks a humorous grin. "And how'd you get out of the speeding ticket?" Chuck queries with a smirk.

"Just had to show a little boob," she responds when she sees his skin flush a bit red, his eyebrows rise quickly, and he frowns. "I'm kidding," she smiles innocently, feeling a little sour for her words knowing how sensitive Chuck is. "I told him he was 'impeding a government issue.' It works every time."

"Good to know," Chuck smiles brightly, happy to know that she didn't have to flash the officer. He was actually quite surprised by the jealousy he felt just from thinking that another man got to see Sarah's perfect breast. Remind me not to ask about her previous… friendships, he tells himself.

"Damn Sarah," Bryce exclaims as he catches up with them, "Speed Racer over here."

"That's what fast cars do," Sarah pets the roof of her sleek black Porsche as if it is her pride and joy.

February 23, 2005

"How're the cars?" Shaw asks sincerely inside Castle by the main table as Chuck, Sarah, and Bryce enter. Casey and Jesse are already inside and sitting at the table while Shaw is standing by the monitors with his arms crossed.

"Perfect," Sarah beams with her ecstatic answer before Shaw nods and turns towards the monitors. "I may have to take one day off just to wash and shine it." Sarah looks over to the glazed expression on Chuck's face as his mind retracts and imagines Sarah Walker cleaning her car in a transparent white shirt with a bikini under and some daisy dukes. Somehow she splashes water onto herself and her shirt clings to her breasts and she is forced to take it off, leaving her in just the bikini top. She narrows her eyes and elbows him in the side, waking him from his awesome daydream.

"Uuf," Chuck coughs out as he looks over at her in confusion. Her smirk informs him that she knows exactly what he is thinking of. 'What?' Chuck mouths with an apologetic shrug. Sarah grins hopelessly as she shakes her head. Boys will be boys, Sarah surmises.

"Through the intel," Shaw speaks as he continues to type on the keyboard with his back to the team, "we've located another Ring agent in England."

"England? Why would the Ring be in England?" Chuck questions curiously. "Not that I have a problem with England, but isn't the Ring America's enemy, not the Brits'?"

"The Ring is everyone's enemy," Shaw responds without missing a beat almost as if he expected this question. "Plus, we share a lot of intel with our counterparts across the Atlantic. Right now, a Ring agent," Shaw brings up a dossier on an agent, "Jonathan Reynolds…"

Chuck fights off his flash for the umpteenth time; something he is getting sick of doing as Bryce flashes on the name. As Bryce is brought back to consciousness after his flash, he recites the information he just downloaded. "Reynolds is a classic James Bond style spy," Bryce explains. "Loves the ladies, but never attaches himself. Always thinking mission first and knows how to get the job done."

"Exactly, so we can expect him to be trouble," Shaw responds. "Did the Intersect give us a face to the name?"

"No," Bryce shakes his head in disappointment.

"It's alright," Shaw responds spryly. "You'll be able to locate him."

"Oddly, I didn't flash on him being part of the Ring," Bryce muses with a crook of his neck.

"This intel is more up-to-date than the Intersect," Shaw explains. "Most of these people won't be labeled as the Ring in the Intersect. We already know where this agent is going to be. He's going to be at a gala in Yorkshire, hosted by a wealthy businessman. I've already taken the liberty of getting us invitations to the event."

"Us?" Sarah questions, not missing the pronoun Shaw used.

"Yes," Shaw responds confidently. "You and I will be going as guests along with Jesse and Bryce as another couple. Casey, you will be a security guard and Chuck, you will be in the van as backup."

Chuck wants to protest but buries his anger, jealousy, and agitation at this. "I thought you were the backup?" Chuck cannot help but ask, doing his best to keep the venom from seething out of his mouth. "I mean…" Chuck takes a calming breath. "We've already established our covers and are comfortable working in the field together."

"A spy needs to adapt to his surroundings immediately," Shaw responds, not at all agitated by Chuck's questioning. "We need you on this, Chuck. Backup is just as necessary as the front lines. If anything happens to one of us, we need you to help correct things."

Chuck just nods, not trusting his mouth to say something he'll regret. He knows that Shaw is only doing this to be close to Sarah. The man is a pig if he is trying to hit on her when he is married. Sarah is angered by this new revelation but she cannot voice it without giving away anything about their relationship. It is bad enough that Chuck is questioning Shaw's orders, but she can explain it all to Chuck later and hope he understands and accepts it.

"The party will be in two days," Shaw explains. "We'll be leaving tomorrow to accustom ourselves to the time difference."

February 23, 2005

"This is crap," Chuck throws his arms out in frustration as he stomps around his hotel room. Sarah is sitting on the edge of his bed, unsure on how to approach this subject. "Now he wants to go in the field? What the hell changed? Did he just grow a set of balls or something?"

Sarah smiles in spite of the situation at his comment. "Chuck," she hums gently.

"This is just some way for him to get close to you and hit on you," Chuck spits out venomously. "He's married dammit!"

"Chuck," Sarah states again with a little more confidence. He finally stops and looks at her as if she holds the answer to life, the universe, and everything. "I know you don't like this," she continues humbly. "I don't either. But it's not worth complaining about."

Chuck sits down next to her with a heavy sigh, "I know." He drops his head as he leans forward with his forearms against his knees in a brooding manner. "It's just… I don't like this."

"I know," she reaches over and takes his right hand in her left. "But there's nothing we can do. And I'll try to do my best not to fall in love with him," she grins subtly at her joke as he glances over at her with a depraved and perturbed look before breaking out into laughter. He falls backwards onto his bed and she follows him and cuddles against him; overjoyed that her joke lightened the mood.

"You better not," he teases as he kisses the top of her head resting on his chest. "I'm making a big deal out of this, aren't I?"

"Kind of," Sarah responds childishly with a jumbled grin. "But that's why I love you."

"Oh so it's not my charming good looks?" Chuck mock pouts.

"That too," she lifts her head to plant a chaste kiss on his lips. "I should probably go," she sadly states. "Shaw is going to suspect something is up."

"I guess," Chuck responds in the same somber tone. He sits up, pulling her up with him. "Thank you for being my very own personal shrink," he grins brightly at her. "But something is missing… oh, I know… you're not naked." He beams as he remembers a shining moment from their past.

"Oh god," Sarah laughs as she remembers the moment too, "that would be a horrible idea. I'd never get out of here then."

"Probably," Chuck responds with a devious grin, "but then there's no risk factor."

"Please stop," Sarah laughs as she kisses him on the lips. "You don't know what you're doing to me. I have to go," she laughs again as she pulls away, letting her hand linger on his chest. "We'll talk soon."

"Okay," Chuck smiles sadly, not wanting her to go. "I love you."

"I love you too," she responds before slipping out the door.

February 25, 2005

"So this is England," Chuck admires as he glances around him from the middle seats of the van. Sarah is beside him while Jesse and Bryce are in the far back. "It's a bit more rural than I expected." The land is blessed by gorgeous green pastures with castles over almost every hill.

"This is a more rural area," Shaw explains as he drives the van across the single road causing the only blemish over the hills.

"It honestly looks like something out of a magazine," Jesse muses. "Like one of those stereotypical paintings and such."

"The mission is to locate Reynolds and apprehend him without making a commotion," Shaw explains so everyone knows what to do. "It wouldn't look good to cause an international incident. We know from Bryce that he enjoys women so we can take advantage of that."

Chuck immediately tenses at the thought of Sarah having to get close to another man. It is bad enough that she needs to pretend to be with Shaw. Sarah notices and reaches over and grabs his hand to calm him. She looks him in the eyes to relay that nothing will take her away from him. He glances at her with recognition in his eyes.

"The Intersect didn't happen to have what preferences he enjoyed, did it?" Shaw asks almost humorously.

"Nope," Bryce responds shortly.

"Alright, Sarah," Bryce glances into the rearview mirror to see her eyes shift from Chuck to him in a flash, "we're going to need your expertise. You're more experienced than Jesse."

"I'm fine with doing it," Jesse speaks up, knowing how protective Chuck is of Sarah.

"Alright, Jesse," Shaw responds with a grin. "We'll see what you got."

"Are you sure?" Chuck looks back with concern in his eyes. Even if he is relieved Sarah isn't going to have to put naughty thoughts of her nude body into the head of Reynolds, he still doesn't want Jesse to do it. Sadly, sex is one of the most useful tools of a female agent and they know are extensively taught how to take advantage of it.

"Yes," Jesse smiles assuredly. "You do know I trained for this. Don't you remember making out on the first day of class?" She winks at him and he starts to blush in embarrassment and he hopes Sarah doesn't get mad at him. Sarah giggles quietly at the look on his face. "I'll be fine," Jesse states confidently.

"Okay," Chuck nods his head in agreement before turning back to sit normal.

"So we're all in agreement?" Shaw asks and when he gets no answer he states, "Good."

February 25, 2005

Sarah and Shaw are walking towards the castle where the party is located after being dropped off by Chuck a hundred or so feet away. Bryce and Jesse will be dropped off a few minutes later to make sure no one knows the couples have any affiliation to each other. Sarah is in an elegantly gorgeous black cocktail dress that accentuates her cleavage so greatly that she needed to use that magical body adhesive tape to keep her breasts from popping out. Probably Shaw's choice, she surmises agitatedly. It doesn't help that she is wearing six inch black stiletto heels to go with her dress. Shaw is in an ordinary black suit with a black tie over his white dress shirt. "You look good," Shaw informs her with a small smile.

"Thanks," she responds almost apathetically.

"Are you ready?" Shaw asks.

"Of course I'm ready," Sarah responds quickly and coldly.

"It's just… this is our first mission in the field so… I want to make sure that we're both on the same page."

She glances at him with the inkling of a smirk forming on her lips before turning back towards the castle.

"You know…" Shaw pauses as studies her expression. "Maybe we should talk about how many dates we've been on." She looks at him with an incredulous expression with a hint of repulse. "We are playing a couple tonight," he tries to justify himself. "So… what do you think? One, two… five?"

"Does it really make a difference?" Sarah questions with slight repulse and indifference.

"It informs our cover…" Shaw responds with the hint of a smirk on his lips. "Chemistry, body language… For instance, have we slept together?"

Sarah fights away the unbelieving chuckle begging to bellow from her stomach as she looks down with a smile. She cannot believe he is asking these questions. "You've got to be kidding me," she deadpans.

"It changes the whole dynamic," Shaw responds like he is completely justified.

"Well in that case…" she pauses for the slightest second. "No," her voice lowers into slight annoyance, "we have definitely not slept together."

Shaw nods his head in surprise by her coldness. "Good to know," he muses as they approach the castle. Shaw snakes his arm around her waist as they step up the stairwell to the main entrance and Shaw hands the two invitations to the greeter.

"Have a lovely evening," the greeter smiles at them.

"Thank you," Shaw smiles sincerely as he and Sarah step into the luscious party.

Chuck stops a few hundred feet from the party. "It looks like it's your turn now," he informs Bryce and Jesse.

"Don't worry," Jesse smiles at Chuck, knowing the pain flowing through him, "Sarah loves you and everything you see in there is only acting."

"Thanks, Jesse," he smiles sadly, knowing that her words are right, but he can't help but feel hurt that he is stuck on the sidelines as Sarah has to pretend to be in love with another man.

"How is it in there?" Shaw asks Casey through his microphone watch.

"I have no way of locating Reynolds, but it seems like he's most likely going to be by the bar," Casey responds from his post by the bar. "We still don't know what he looks like."

"Bryce is on his way," Shaw assures as he and Sarah enter the grand ballroom where there is a large dance floor, a live band, and multiple small tables for couples to share a drink.

Chuck is watching the multiple monitors with cameras set up in all the men's pins on their lapels and the necklaces of the two women. "All cameras are working," he informs them.

"Roger that," Sarah responds as she and Shaw reach the bar, inconspicuously surveying the area.

"What would you like to drink?" Shaw asks her in a sensual whisper into her ear.

She fights off the shiver begging to run through her body. "The strongest drink they have," she blurts out accidentally, but not feeling apologetic for her words. Shaw gives her an odd look. "A glass of red wine will do," she corrects herself.

"Okay…" he drawls skeptically as he turns to the bar to grab the bartender's attention.

"Well this is nice," Jesse muses in her dark red dress that completely covers her back with an elegant V-shape that connects at the top of her stomach. Her arm is entwined with Bryce's. He is in a sleek black suit with a black bowtie and white dress shirt.

"Yea," Bryce responds in a murmur as he gazes upon the grand ballroom with an eloquent crystal chandelier dangling over the center of the room.

"I haven't danced in ages," she enthuses as they continue into the crowded party.

"If we have time," Bryce smiles at her, enjoying the glee growing on her face.

"Do you have a problem with me?" Shaw asks as he takes a sip of his mojito.

"What?" Sarah flinches at the unexpected question. She didn't expect Shaw to be so upfront, but she can easily respond with a sarcastic remark; her mind is definitely thinking of it. "No…"

"You just seem to be very closed off," Shaw explains honestly. "We need to be focused on this mission and if you can't work with me, then we need to figure out how to fix this."

"I am focused," Sarah responds. "That's the last thing you need to worry about."

Bryce and Jesse find the bar between them and the dance floor with no real way through the sea of people. Bryce smiles sincerely and leans into Jesse, "would you care to dance?" He sticks his hand out, palm up for her to take.

"I'd love to," she responds with a big smile as they press their bodies together and spin to the melodic orchestra.

Chuck is watching all the cameras and smiles at Bryce and Jesse because he knows they have feelings for each other. Bryce thinks he is so manly that he can't have those feelings, but he is completely wrong. Jesse doesn't want to admit it because she is afraid he doesn't feel the same way and she doesn't want to push Bryce too much. Chuck is watching the cameras and he feels himself getting dizzy from all the spinning Bryce and Jesse are doing through the monitors. Chuck swallows the saliva growing in his mouth as he looks away to catch his bearings. He takes a few calming breaths before looking back to see Jesse a few feet from Bryce after he lets her spin with their arms attached over her head.

He gets a quick glimpse of a suave handsome man with black hair and dark brown eyes sitting at one of the tables by himself with a martini in his left hand. The brief glimpse is enough to set off the Intersect and he flashes on the man.

A top sirloin steak and garlic mashed potatoes.

Jonathan Reynolds, CIA agent.

Multiple images of him with different girls in his arms.

Operation Homecoming: recover a disc with the names of a shady businessman's contacts.

A top sirloin steak and garlic mashed potatoes.

Operation Homecoming, Chuck ponders in his head, but it doesn't trigger the Intersect a second time. He overlooks the curiosity and contemplates a way to inform Bryce that he flashed on the Ring agent. He can't just state that he just flashed on him because that would tip Shaw off. "Bryce," he finally speaks into his headset, "make sure to check your *left* too," he informs Bryce while emphasizing the left just enough to get Bryce to look over.

Bryce glances over Jesse's head as they spin towards his left side. Bryce's eyes catch on Reynolds and he feels the flash affect him. The flash is similar to the one he had a few days ago so he grins victoriously at locating their mission. "I got eyes on Reynolds," he whispers into his watch as he caresses Jesse's cheek. "He's at the third table in from the bar. The man with the dark hair and dark eyes."

"We see him," Shaw whispers into his microphone as he trails kisses on Sarah's neck to make it look like they are a couple. Sarah tries to maintain her poise without grimacing and hopes that Chuck doesn't catch a glimpse of what Shaw is doing to her. "We'll cause a distraction and you take him out."

"Okay," Bryce and Jesse make their way off the dance floor and to the wall behind Reynolds. "We're in position," Bryce updates Shaw and Sarah. "Just waiting on you." Bryce and Jesse relax against the wall as if they are just minding their own business and enjoying the party.

"Ready to dance?" Shaw asks Sarah as he draws out his hand for her to talk.

"You expect to distract them with a dance?" Sarah questions with a furrowed brow.

"Dancing can be very erotic and entertaining to watch," Shaw replies with the inklings of a smirk.

"It can," Sarah agrees shortly, "but that isn't going to work here. You think all of these people are going to care about a couple dancing? The security isn't going to even be phased. You can ask Casey, if you don't believe me. But I have a better idea," Sarah stands up and tussles her hair messily to one side.

"And what's that?" Shaw asks curiously with a hint of skepticism.

"That glass of wine must've put me over," Sarah states groggily as she puts the back of her palm to her forehead. "Jesse, get close to him now," Sarah whispers.

Jesse takes an empty drink form one of the vacant tables and walks over to Reynolds. She places the glass down at his table and looks over at him. "Does the handsome man have a name?" She asks sweetly with a pleasant smile.

"James," he replies uninterestedly as his eyes watch over the entire party.

"Jesse," she smiles brightly at him. "Both our names start with a 'J.' I've never understood the point in these parties," she explains with a skeptical tone. "I honestly think it is just a way to hook up because I don't really see the point otherwise."

He finally glances at her with slight surprise at her affronted statement. "I can't argue with that," he responds with a tiny grin. "Nothing else ever happens at these lavish parties."

"Maybe this is his way of thinking he has friends," Jesse quips with a little giggle. "He's practically buying our friendship, but as long as I get free things, I'm not complaining," she beams at him.

"Heh," he smirks in agreement. "So, you here alone?"

"Well, obviously," she rolls her eyes adorably. "If I was with someone else, then I wouldn't be able to hook up."

"Right," he chuckles. "That makes sense." He looks down at his watch and whispers, "I have time." He turns to Jesse with a charming smile, "you know, there's three master bedrooms in this castle?"

"Three?" Jesse's eyes widen in surprise. "Those must be some nice beds. I can just imagine lying in one of them; silk stain sheets, all the room in the world… that sounds amazing."

"I've always been curious myself," he grins at her before whispering conspiratorially, "Would you like to check them out?" Jesse grins widely as she scoots closer to him.

Sarah stumbles by the tables when she trips on purpose, crashing down onto one of the tables; collapsing it instantly. "What the hell?" She shouts in an angry slur. "Who puts a table right in the middle of the walkway?" She looks around as if expecting someone to answer her question.

"Come on, honey," Shaw whispers to her as he helps her stand up, "you're drunk."

"Drunk?" Her face takes on the picture of irate rage. "I'm not drunk! I barely had anything to drink!"

"There's no need to shout," Shaw humbly states as if he is an abused husband.

"Get your hands off of me!" She tears herself from his grasp, bumping against another table, nearly knocking that table over. "Don't touch me!" She orders lividly. "Don't… You… Touch… Me!"

"Now guys!" Chuck commands into their earpieces to inform Bryce and Jesse to take Reynolds out.

Jesse and Reynolds head for the hallway, his hand is wrapped around her waist and her hand is on his ass; Reynolds surprised by the coincidental distraction that works perfectly for them. Bryce catches up to them and whispers, "Hey," to Reynolds.

"What the…?" Reynolds furrows his brow when he feels a prick on his neck from the tranquilizer dart Jesse poked him with. He immediately slumps and Bryce and Jesse hold him up as they carry the now asleep agent into the hallway towards another exit of the building; everyone's eyes on Sarah.

"We got him," Bryce informs everyone.

Casey and two other security guards walk over to Sarah. "Ma'am, you need to leave this party," he gently helps her towards the exit. "Get your hands off of me!" She shouts as they gently push her towards the exit. "This is sexual harassment! I'm going to sue you for this!"

"I'm so sorry," Shaw ruefully states. "She usually doesn't get this bad. This is the first time she's done this in a while."

"What's your name?" Sarah shouts into Casey's face. "Huh, Muscles? What's your name so I can sue you for sexually harassing me! You think you're so slick… don't think I can't feel you touching my breasts, you perverts!"

Casey has to fight the smirk from taking over his face as he and another guard carry Sarah out of the castle by strictly her arms. "Will you be needing a cab?" Casey asks sincerely as he looks over at Shaw.

"No, we have a ride," Shaw responds apologetically. "Again, I'm so sorry for this."

"Silly Americans," one of the patrons of the party mumbles to another, "with their Zima's and Smirnoff Ice."

As Sarah is released by Casey and the guards, she brushes herself off and checks to make sure her breasts didn't pop out of her dress. After insuring she didn't flash anyone, she grins brightly at Shaw. "Piece of cake," she beams bouncily as they head around the castle to meet Bryce and Jesse.

"Has anyone told you how heavy bodies are?" Jesse chokes out as she lifts Reynolds by his right arm while Bryce lifts him by his left arm. "Jeez…"

"I feel your pain," Chuck responds in his best interpretation of ex-President Bill Clinton. He chuckles before sobering up, "seriously though, it is much heavier than you think and no one ever tells you either."

Shaw and Sarah meet Jesse and Bryce at a glass window door in one of the bedrooms. "Do you mind helping out a bit?" Jesse croakily asks Shaw.

"Sure," Shaw replaces her spot from under Reynolds' right arm.

"Chuck, we need a pick up," Sarah commands into her watch.

"On my way."

February 26, 2005

"Man," Chuck rubs his eyes blearily, "that was a long flight." He looks over at Sarah sitting next to him inside Castle. "Not all of us were able to sleep through it," the hint of a grin informs her that he is only kidding.

"Sorry," she shrugs innocently. "You know how airplanes make me tired," she smiles sweetly, remembering how comfortable Chuck's shoulder is.

"So far, we haven't gotten any word that Reynolds has talked," Shaw explains. They dropped him off in Washington D.C. to a CIA facility to be interrogated. "He is still denying his involvement with the Ring, but he will crack."

"If you don't mind," Chuck stands up, "I'm going to get some sleep."

"Good job, guys," Shaw projects. "You're all dismissed." As everyone disperses from Castle, Shaw catches Bryce before he leaves. "Good job, Bryce," Shaw compliments kindly. "We couldn't have succeeded without you."

"Thanks," Bryce grins sincerely. "Chuck's right, I think we can all use some sleep."

"Go ahead, you deserve it," Shaw shoos Bryce humbly.

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