Hello again. I hope everybody is having a good spring, although I imagine it improved greatly this week when we found out Chuck would get a 13-episode wrap-up next season. Like any fan, I'll be sorry to see it go, as I think it has been a wonderful series with great work done by the actors, the writers, and the entire crew. Not to mention the most dedicated fan base of any TV show this side of the original Star Trek. I guess something like that can be the impetus to get your creative juices flowing, as I completed the majority of this chapter once the renewal was announced.

This is another entry into the Forrest and Slade series of stories. If you're not familiar with these stories, you can always go back to the first two F&S stories, The Popeye Doyle Mission and The Zack and Paula Mission, for a little background into these characters. This story takes place not long after 3 Weddings, a Funeral, 2 Retirements, and a Birthday, where agent Jimmy Slade took over as the Intersect so Chuck and Sarah could leave the field and start their lives together as a married couple.

Special thanks to BDaddyDL for letting me bounce a few ideas off of his head and to MySoapBox for proofreading a few of these paragraphs to make sure I still know what I'm doing.

I hope you enjoy the story, and please feel free to leave reviews. Let me know what you liked or disliked about the story.

Unknown Location
October 10, 2011
10:30 AM

"Please state your full name for the record."

"Alexandra Caroline Forrest."

"Date of birth?"

"August 24, 1977."

"Place of birth?"

"Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."

"Current position?"

"Field Operations Officer, Clandestine Services, Level GS-14."

Alex Forrest stared at the technician as he typed the information into his computer. She was still uncertain why, or even how, she ended up here. It had all the appearance of a federal holding facility, right down to the itchy, ugly jumpsuit she was wearing. Still, something felt very off about it.

She tried to keep her mind from focusing too much on the interrogation. The technician was about to ask the control questions for the lie detector test, and she wanted to make sure her mindset was in the same frame it would be when he started asking questions. Giving her a lie detector test was strange in and of itself. Every CIA agent knew how to beat a lie detector test; why even bother with it?

They're stalling for time, she thought. Something was going on. Perhaps this had nothing to do with her. As the number of missions she had been on in nine years was extensive...not to mention successful...there was always the possibility something in one of those missions would come back to haunt her. Some anal-retentive Congressman on the Intelligence Committee didn't like the way something was done and wanted someone's head on their platter. But that didn't feel right. The CIA was not immune to the rumor mill grinding out its grist. The majority of the time, an agent would have found out through said rumor mill they were in trouble.

This has to be about James, she thought. Alex had to redouble her efforts to keep her mind in that scattered state, but whatever was happening must have been related to Jimmy's abilities from the new Intersect. Jimmy had become, literally, the most advanced human being on the planet. He knew every piece of information from every intelligence agency with which the U.S. government maintained a relationship. He had knowledge of every combat skill, weapon, computer, and machine known to humanity. His IQ had more than doubled to somewhere in the 350-400 range. He even had limited telekinetic ability, although it was more effective when he used it on himself.

And through all of it, Jimmy still annoyed the living crap out of her with his humble-to-a-fault attitude.

Alex had talked a few times with Sarah regarding Jimmy, as Chuck and she were the ones who knew him best. Sarah preached patience with Jimmy, something Alex had to concede was not high on her list of skills. She still found Jimmy quite frustrating when he refused to take credit for anything he did. Her life was finally back to the way she wanted it, where she was never happier, and he would say it was all her.

Most people would say she fell in love with a wonderful man. If only Alex could convince Jimmy of that.

"I will now ask you a set of three questions to establish your baseline. Give a truthful answer to the first two questions, and please give an incorrect answer on the third. Am I wearing a white shirt?"

Alex concentrated to keep her mind unfocused, which was quite a contradiction but was still the first thing they taught her at Langley. "Yes," she replied in a monotone.

"Are you hooked up to a polygraph machine?"

"Yes."

"Is the color of your jumpsuit blue?"

"Yes," Alex replied to the question about her orange jumpsuit. The technician made a few more notes on his computer before continuing. Alex's mind drifted towards a more pleasant time.

Woodland Hills, California
September 25, 2011
2:30 PM PDT

"I think it works."

"Really, Professor? Figured that one out all by yourself?"

Chuck's eyes widened. He cautiously glanced at Casey. "Case, he threw us across the room…FROM across the room. Are you really sure you want to insult the man right now?"

"Uh, no…no problem, Chuck. I'm too shocked to even register insults right now."

Jimmy Slade stared in amazement at the Ring agents lying around him. He still couldn't believe what he just did. It felt like someone attached a generator to him and sent electricity coursing through his veins. His mind was operating in overdrive. What in the hell did Mr. Bartowski put in that new Intersect? He was quaking in fear. Thankfully, Chuck and Sarah were there to help him. Of course, they always helped him when he needed it. They looked after him like nobody had in his life. Taking over as the new Intersect so they could leave the field and live a happy life together was a no-brainer. Jimmy owed them that much.

Jimmy slowly made his way to the car. Alex came over to him and kissed him.

"Are you OK?" Jimmy asked Alex.

"I'm doing fine. But the doctor said I'll be out of the field for a couple of weeks."

Jimmy smiled. "You think there's any chance Beckman will let me have some time off so I can take care of my new partner?"

Alex was surprised. "Your new partner? Me?"

"If you want to be. We worked well together before. And I'll need someone to keep an eye on me. Someone who won't let me turn into an arrogant jerk."

Alex couldn't believe what she just heard. "How in the hell could you EVER turn into an arrogant jerk?"

Jimmy looked off in the distance momentarily. A huge smile spread across his face. He turned to Alex and put his arm around her waist. They started walking towards the car.

"Let me tell you a little story…"

Santa Monica, California
September 25, 2011
6:30 PM PDT

"You're telekinetic?"

Jimmy got a weird look on his face. "Why is everybody focusing on that? You're making it sound like a bad 70's TV show. That's just one part of it."

"How can you be so calm about this? You're acting like you had a regular day at the office."

"Actually, I was calm because I was trying to enjoy our little dinner on the beach. Honestly, I'm more surprised I got this together in the span of an hour and a half. I thought you'd like it. The sun will be setting over the horizon in a few minutes. I figured you deserve a romantic evening, especially after the day we've had."

Alex exhaled and smiled. Jimmy was right; it was time to relax. She had been on pins and needles all day since Ilsa took her to the hospital to get her shoulder fixed. She was worried about Jimmy being captured by The Ring. Ilsa promised to keep tabs on what happened, but she had difficulty contacting anybody. Alex couldn't help thinking about John and how he was taken away from her ten years ago. She was fearful the person she loved even more than him would die trying to keep the Intersect from falling into enemy hands. As soon as Ilsa got through to John Casey, Alex insisted on going there, despite the hospital wanting her to stay overnight for observation. A leg broken in two places didn't stop her from detonating a Syrian chemical weapons lab in 2004; one little bullet in her shoulder sure as hell wasn't going to keep her from her boyfriend.

Alex slid her hand along Jimmy's cheek and gazed into his eyes for a moment before pulling him to her for a passionate kiss. "You might be surprised you can pull off a romantic dinner, but I'm not. You better be careful; a girl can get used to this kind of treatment."

Jimmy gave a gentle laugh and brushed back some of Alex's hair from her face. He gazed at her in silence.

Alex studied Jimmy's face. She frowned. "Is something wrong, babe?"

He looked down abashedly. "No, it's just..." He fell silent again.

"What?" she asked while gently cupping his chin and tilting his face upward.

"Well, you know how you hear about people picturing those 'perfect moments' in their life, how they're so magical, so special. I...never imagined what a moment like this would be like because I never thought I would have one. I didn't really have a lot of good moments growing up. None, in fact. I never dreamed about what I wanted in life because I figured it would be impossible to get. And now I'm here, with someone as incredible as you, and I...I don't know how to react...I'm sorry. I'm rambling."

Alex smiled and gave him a few gentle kisses along his cheek. "Don't be sorry. I'm feeling that, too. I didn't go through what you did, obviously. I had friends in school, and we got into trouble like everyone else. I thought I lost that when John died. I figured I would never be that happy again. But then you came along. I can't lie; I don't even know what it was that attracted me to you, but I felt something deep inside me come to life. Something I hadn't felt in over ten years. Like you said, there was something magical about it."

Alex grinned and arched an eyebrow. "Although it certainly helps you're ridiculously hot and amazing in bed." Jimmy smiled and self-consciously looked away. "Oh, don't even try to say you're not," Alex admonished.

"Sorry, it's just...I'm still not used to being told that."

Alex gripped his face tightly and all but wrenched it back to face her again. "My advice? Get used to it...quickly. That shy routine you have is really pissing me off."

Jimmy smiled and gave her a kiss. "I'll work on it."

Alex turned toward the ocean and shivered. Jimmy sat behind her and held her in his arms as he grabbed the second blanket he brought to the beach and wrapped it around them. Alex leaned back against him as she ran her fingers through his hair. He planted some gentle kisses along her neck, causing her to sigh contentedly.

"Mmmm, some of the nastier girls in school used to laugh and call me Giraffe for being so tall," Alex purred as she pulled Jimmy closer to her. "Payback's a bitch. Isn't it, ladies?"

Jimmy laughed. "I've never been anybody's payback before. This has definitely been a weekend of firsts for me."

Both of them fell silent and watched the sun slowly descend below the horizon. Alex felt a chill go through her and drew Jimmy around her more tightly. Jimmy glanced at her and was surprised.

"Are you OK?" he whispered as he gently wiped a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"John...John and I took a long weekend in Myrtle Beach once. We would walk the shoreline every morning and sat as the sun came up over the horizon. And..."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Jimmy said quietly.

"No, it's not a bad thing, James. I just...it used to hurt me when I was an agent. Those memories came back to me from time to time and reminded me of what I used to have. And not being able to feel that way anymore made me even more upset. It's no wonder why nobody ever wanted to work with me. But then what all of you did for me in Las Vegas..."

She fell silent for a moment, looking at the hues of orange and pink in the sky fading into darkening shades of blue as the night sky began to envelop them. "I was up that entire night after you rescued me thinking about everything that happened to me since 9/11. I was tired of denying myself what I wanted; tired of thinking I couldn't have it. I vowed right then to stop acting like some self-righteous bitch lashing out at anybody who actually deigned to be happy. I was going to go for what I wanted. And the first thing on that list was you."

She turned to face Jimmy and gazed into his royal blue eyes. "It was the best decision I ever made."

She slid her hand behind Jimmy's neck and kissed him with a fire inside of her blazing as hotly as it was on the dance floor the previous night when Jimmy said he loved her. She pressed up against him, pushing him down on the blanket as her kisses increased in fervor.

Her leg accidentally kicked the bottle of wine. It started to tip over onto the blanket. Jimmy's hand shot out, and the bottle froze in mid-air. He moved his hand, and the bottle glided through the air, gently depositing itself inside the picnic basket.

Alex watched the entire thing with wide-eyed astonishment. "OK. That will take a lot of getting used to."

"Sorry," Jimmy sheepishly replied. "It was instinct."

Alex glared at him. "You're apologizing for preventing a $300 bottle of wine from going to waste? Really?"

Jimmy rolled his eyes nodded in consent at how silly that sounded. "You're right. Why should I be ashamed of my new abilities? I'm sure the government will think of a few ways to put them to good use."

Alex grinned and gave him a hard kiss, her free hand roaming over Jimmy's body. "I know I have a few ideas on the subject."

They continued their torrid make-out session. Jimmy's hands slid under Alex's clothes to caress her skin. Her breathing became more labored as Jimmy fondled her breasts. She ground hungrily against him.

"Let's get back to the room, quick," she panted, resisting the urge to take Jimmy's pants off.

"You sure we can make it there? I mean, this is a pretty romantic setting already," Jimmy replied, equally out of breath.

"Making love on the beach is one of those things that sounds good in theory. I've tried it once or twice. But things get out of control because you're so turned on and sand ends up...everywhere."

Jimmy cringed a little at the thought. "Fair enough." He quickly stood and pulled Alex up with him. He grabbed the blankets and the picnic basket. The two ran back to the hotel.

They stumbled out of the elevator on the ninth floor with their lips permanently locked together. Jimmy struggled to stay balanced with all of the items from their picnic as they made their way back to Alex's room.

"Do you have the room key?" Alex breathlessly whispered, her lips barely away from Jimmy's to ask the question.

"Uh, front pocket," Jimmy answered with equally labored breathing.

He looked to his pocket, but his hands were already loaded down with the picnic basket and blankets. Alex grinned and slid her hand into Jimmy's pocket.

"Not the room key," Jimmy answered with a slight moan. "So not the room key."

Alex reached into Jimmy's other pocket to get the key. "How many chances do I get to tease you and you can't do anything about it?" she replied with a flick of her tongue at Jimmy's lips.

Jimmy quietly growled as Alex inserted the key card into the lock and opened the door. Jimmy dropped the picnic basket and blankets on the floor as Alex continued kissing him. She started pushing him towards the bedroom and tried to take off his shirt. However, unbuttoning his shirt with one hand quickly became problematic.

"OK, you're going to have to help me here," Alex said impatiently.

"Wait, are you sure we should be doing this? Ilsa said you left the hospital against the doctor's orders. Maybe we should just..."

"You have to be kidding." Alex's voice was practically a growl. "You take down The Ring, you save Chuck, Sarah, and Casey, and you even take me out for a romantic night on the beach. Do you really think you're not getting some tonight? You'll never get luckier if you draw a royal flush in the Emperor's Room at Caesar's Palace. Clothes off, now."

Jimmy relented and quickly unbuttoned Alex's shirt. She flitted her tongue against his as she removed his belt and pants. He barely had enough time to remove Alex's bra and panties when she pushed him down on the bed. She straddled him and kissed her way up his chest.

She looked into his eyes in complete carnal lust. "So, anything in the Intersect that covers our current situation?"

Jimmy was a bit surprised. "But isn't it more sweet and romantic if I try to do this myself without any help? Wouldn't that prove how much I love you?"

Alex caressed his cheek and kissed him deeply. "That is very romantic, James. And I absolutely love you for thinking that." She kissed him hard and pushed his hands over his head. She locked her legs tightly around him and pinned him to the bed. "But not tonight. Now flash or I'll do things to you that are illegal in twelve states."

Jimmy shook his head with a tired smile as Alex kissed him deeply and put his hands on her breasts. Jimmy's eyes darted around in a bit of a zig-zag pattern as his Intersect found exactly what Alex was looking for.

His eyes stopped darting around. He gazed into Alex's ocean blue eyes with the same expression of want. "To quote Marvin Gaye, let's get it on."

Alex grinned and kissed him hard.

Washington, D.C.
September 26, 2011
8:15 AM EDT

Bill Ganz walked into the offices of the Director of National Intelligence and placed his electronic badge against the gate. It dutifully opened for him, and he took the elevator to his office on the 14th floor. He noticed the charged atmosphere in the DNI this morning. Everybody walked with an extra spring in their step. He saw something similar to this almost five months ago when everybody walked in the morning after the President announced Osama Bin Laden had been found and killed. Not that he cared about it. One less fanatic, even one with the resources Bin Laden had, was not going to change the world much. He was part of something much greater, something far more organized and better-funded. And they had a purpose beyond bringing down Allah's 'enemies'.

"Here are the latest flash memos, sir," Lieutenant Cates said as she handed him a single-use flash drive.

"Thank you, Elaine," Ganz crisply replied as he took the flash drive from his assistant.

"Big day, sir, if the water cooler talk is accurate."

"What is going on?"

"The reports are still coming in, but the rumor is The Ring was taken down once and for all."

Ganz nodded. "That'll make life more pleasant for a while if it's true."

Ganz walked quickly into his office and closed the door. His businesslike demeanor faded instantly, and he could feel the blood drain from his face. The Ring was no more. The organization he had been feeding intel over the past four years had been taken down.

He quickly took out his Ring-issue phone and tried calling a couple of numbers. Every single one replied with a computerized shrill tone. He quickly ripped the back off the phone and removed the battery to not risk anybody tracing it.

He went to his computer, entered his password, and waited for the monitor to confirm his identity with a retinal scan. Once the desktop showed on the screen, he quickly inserted the flash drive Cates gave him and glanced through the memos on it. The information was sketchy, and certain paragraphs were redacted. However, three words on the screen caught his attention: Bartowski, Murdock, and Intersect.

Ganz closed the memos. He pulled the flash drive out of the computer, which promptly started making a high-pitched noise. He dropped it in the secure firebox underneath his desk and sealed the lid. The flash drive sparked and fizzled inside the box. Ganz always thought it was funny that was the one part of Mission: Impossible they actually got right. Of course, in 2011 they were past the days of flash paper and tape recordings. He sat back in his chair. He knew more about the Intersect project than the average operative at the DNI, as he had both the information from The Ring and his bosses in the government to help him. He was the one who got Dana Browning a position at the DNI, and he was also the one to tell The Ring where the computer holding the new Intersect was being housed.

But all of the effort and risk he took for them was in vain. They were gone. The Five Elders were captured. He had heard of this Agent Murdock before. He even passed by him in the hallway of the DNI back in early March. Until a year ago, nobody had heard of the man. Suddenly, he was one of the top agents the government had. Obviously this Roger Murdock had to be someone with a new identity; perhaps someone the government had dealings with before. But it was Murdock's involvement with the Intersect project that caught Ganz's attention.

He sat for a minute and gave his situation some thought. Sitting around and doing nothing was not an option. Eventually, the NSA would go through the extensive files The Ring had and discover he was a mole inside of their organization. His offenses would not be resolved with a jury trial. The Agency was quite efficient at dealing with traitors like him. But perhaps he could turn this to his advantage. The possibility existed the remnants of The Ring could be reorganized. He could use his knowledge as leverage should a new organization appear.

Ganz grabbed a few files, exited his office, and told Cates he would be back by lunchtime. He needed to do some research far away from the prying eyes of the DNI.

Unknown Location
October 10, 2011
10:45 AM

Alex noticed the taller man enter the interrogation room as the technician readied himself with the first set of questions. This person, however, was content to just stay in the back and watch the proceedings. He kept his expression unreadable. However, Alex knew he was someone of interest in whatever was going on. The technician and the guard standing in the corner with their hand covering their sidearm were just worker drones.

"How long have you worked for the CIA?"

Softball questions, Alex thought. They knew the answers to these already, so lying was pointless. "Almost ten years," she replied.

"How many missions have you completed?"

"Fifty-six."

"Four years ago, you were transferred to Washington, D.C., where you were tasked with assessing personnel."

"Correct." Alex tried to keep her mind focused on many things at once, but she was starting to wonder why they were asking so many questions to which they already knew the answers.

"And you remained in that position until a year ago, when you were assigned as a team lead for an operation in Las Vegas."

"Yes." At least now Alex knew this interrogation was about Jimmy and not her. They were heading in that direction.

"What was your assignment?"

Alex decided to be cryptic, just in case. "We were tasked with the capture of individuals who were intent on gaining sensitive information."

"What kind of information?"

"Files regarding certain overseas groups."

The technician was getting frustrated. "I want specific information on the files."

Alex had him. It was time to go on offense. "And why do you need information from me that you already have?"

"Answer the questions completely and truthfully, Agent Forrest."

"Why do you need to know? Is this an authorized interrogation?"

The technician slammed his fist on the table and bolted up. "Agent Forrest…"

The technician was interrupted by the tall man gently clearing his throat. The technician looked back to him, and the tall man gave a quick shake of his head. The technician exhaled and sat back down.

"When did you first meet Roger Murdock?"

"I met him on the mission in Las Vegas."

"He was another part of your assignment in Las Vegas, is that correct?"

She wasn't sure why they kept feeding her questions for which they already had the answers, but she played along. "It was his first assignment, and I was to assess his effectiveness as an agent."

"And what was your assessment of him?"

"Since you know the mission in Las Vegas was a success, I think you already have the answer."

"I want specifics as to what he did on the mission."

"We drew up plans to apprehend our targets, and he executed his assigned roles adequately."

The technician started to get aggravated again, but a quick look back to the tall man calmed him down.

The technician flipped to the next page in his notes. "I want to ask some questions about your mission in New York last November."

Santa Monica, California
September 26, 2011
7:30 AM PDT

Alex had heard the classic phrase 'be careful what you wish for; you may get it' many times before. However, this could very well have been the first time learning that lesson was a good thing.

Jimmy and she spent the entire night making love. She thought their night together following the wedding was an amazing experience, but Jimmy managed to top that last night. He pleasured her in every conceivable way she knew and several she never even heard of. At one point, tears actually came down her cheeks from how good it was.

Whatever it was Mr. Bartowski put in that new Intersect, Alex was going to send him Christmas gifts every year for the rest of his life.

She lay in the bed next to Jimmy's naked form, both of them still bathed in sweat from such an incredible night. Her injured shoulder was throbbing in pain from lying on it during the night, but she could care less at this point. Despite the danger they had been in, Alex still considered this weekend one she would never forget.

She slid on top of Jimmy to take the pressure off her injured shoulder. She kissed his chest, tasting his salty skin. She recognized the cologne he wore as one of the ones the CIA recommended. She could only shake her head and smile when she found out several years ago actual taxpayer money was spent on matching different types of scents with the body types and personalities of their agents. On the good side, they gave Jimmy the right recommendation.

Jimmy's smartphone rang on the nightstand. She reached over to get it, and Jimmy stirred at feeling Alex's naked body sliding against him.

"Mmmm, do anything you want, as long as I don't have to move," he quietly groaned.

Alex laughed and gave him a kiss. "It's just your phone, babe." She paused for a second. "But hold that thought."

Jimmy took the phone from her and hit the button to answer it. "Murdock here."

"WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON?"

Jimmy recoiled at Beckman's furious greeting. "General?"

"You had no authorization to download the new Intersect!"

Jimmy rolled his eyes and Alex shrugged, having heard Beckman loud and clear. "The Ring attacked the facility, General. All of us would be dead if I didn't do that. I figured you'd be doing cartwheels right now. The Five Elders were captured, and so were all of the agents they sent."

"I want you on the next flight to D.C. I'm not putting you in the field until I have all of the information Mr. Bartowski conveniently forgot to tell us about the new Intersect."

"Uh, respectfully General, shouldn't I finish up out here first?"

"If Agent Forrest needs her boy toy so badly, she can accompany you. Get her off of you and arrange a flight immediately!"

Jimmy looked at his phone disdainfully before tossing it aside and looking up at Alex. Alex shrugged.

"I seriously doubt we were fooling her, anyway," she said with a hint of a smile.

"I get the feeling we're in for a long couple of days."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Alex said as she kissed him and caressed his face. "All of us know you did the right thing. There's no way in hell you should be in trouble for taking down The Ring. Beckman wasn't expecting this to happen. None of us were." She held up her injured arm as proof. "But it was still a success, thanks to you."

Jimmy nodded and pulled her to him for a kiss. "Thanks," he said with his usual shy smile. He tried to get up. "I should see what flights are available."

Alex pressed him back down. "James, it'd take two hours to get to LAX if we're lucky. Then it's a six-hour flight, plus three hours time difference. We wouldn't see her today unless she wanted to stay in her office until midnight. So we have a few hours before we have to go."

Jimmy smiled. "You're right. I just need to relax."

Alex arched an eyebrow, kissed Jimmy hard, and slid her hand between them. "I didn't say you'd get to relax."

Jimmy lay back on the bed and moaned quietly. "I think you wore me out last night."

Alex grabbed his face to look into his eyes. "Never underestimate me in the bedroom, Slade."

Alex started kissing all along his neck and tickled his ear with the tip of her tongue. She whispered a few things into his ear. The effect was instantaneous.

"OK, apparently I'm not as out of it as I think."

"Not while I'm around, you're not," Alex said in a throaty voice as she kissed and licked her way down his body.

Washington, D.C.
September 27, 2011
12:15 AM EDT

There was one distinct advantage to having an executive position in the office of the Director of National Intelligence: nobody questioned you if you had to work late. Bill Ganz had every intention of using it to his benefit tonight. He spent his morning studying the files coming in regarding the capture of the Five Elders and everything he had on the Intersect project. He spent the afternoon studying the specs The Ring had on the computer systems in the DNI. Even though he had provided some of that information himself, the files they possessed gave him what he needed to hack General Beckman's private drive. After the attack Dana Browning orchestrated in the DNI back in April, Beckman kept the important files regarding the Intersect project on her computer and nowhere else. Ganz downloaded those files and went through all of them.

Some of the statements from the interrogations of Ring agents were astounding. They described one person taking the entire group down with speed and agility they had never seen in their lives. There were even rumors of this same man taking everyone's guns by magic and levitating people through the air. He would have normally dismissed this as the ramblings of someone who lost their mind, but the reports were too consistent for that. If this was the work of Murdock, preventing him from working even one day for the government might provide Ganz some serious cache with whoever may emerge to fill the void The Ring left behind.

There was always another group with the will to exert its influence in the government like Fulcrum and The Ring. Bill Ganz might be able to provide the means. But it would mean planning and organization. And the government might even be able to help.

Washington, D.C.
September 27, 2011
8:15 AM EDT

Alex and Jimmy walked into the office of General Beckman. They stood outside the closed doors.

"Just relax," Alex told him while squeezing his hand. "You have the facts on your side. You didn't know what was in that Intersect, either."

Jimmy shook his head. "But it's going to make for one interesting conversation."

She smiled. "I don't doubt that." She gave him a kiss…and General Beckman once again interrupted a tender moment.

"Agent Forrest," Beckman said with some derision. "I should have guessed you'd escort Slade up here. I may as well talk to you, too."

Beckman turned on her heel and reentered her office. Alex and Jimmy followed close behind. Beckman's assistant closed the doors behind them. The General picked up a file from her desk as she sat down. The agents sat down as well.

"I read your reports. Can someone explain to me why two agents no longer on the active list and a pair of civilians were involved in this?"

"It was coincidence, General," Alex replied. "Colonel Casey and Ilsa Trinchina were meeting me for lunch when The Ring attacked me in my hotel room."

"And I seriously doubt anything could have stopped those three from coming to get me," Jimmy added. "I think even you'd have to agree with that, General."

"Agent Slade, were you aware of what Mr. Bartowski intended to put into the Intersect?"

Jimmy shook his head. "We were all shocked by what happened in the Intersect room. Honestly, I still can't believe it. I had every intention of destroying the Intersect so it wouldn't fall into The Ring's hands. But with Chuck, Sarah, and Casey there, I thought we could complete the mission."

"Respectfully, General, the mission was a success," Alex said. "Maybe it didn't go according to plan, but the Intersect works and The Ring is finished. I don't see the problem."

"The problem is what we will do with Slade," Beckman countered, her voice inching towards where it was when she greeted them yesterday morning. "The President's advisors had no idea what Mr. Bartowski planned with the new Intersect, and some of them are convinced we should terminate Agent Slade…permanently."

"Over my dead body," Alex hissed.

"Agent Forrest, do not take that attitude with me," Beckman replied with dangerous undertones. "You do not want to put yourself in a position where you become more trouble than you're worth."

Alex settled back in her chair, but she still looked ready to attack Beckman in order to protect Jimmy.

"For now, I'm keeping both of you off of active status until it is decided what we will do with Agent Slade. Might I suggest you take a vacation somewhere. Dismissed."

Alex and Jimmy stood and exited Beckman's office. They got on the elevator, and Jimmy pressed the button for the Lobby.

"Thank you," Jimmy said quietly.

"For what?"

"The way you stuck up for me in there. I know I'm not the best when it comes to defending what's right. And saying that you wouldn't let them eliminate me, that…"

Jimmy let the words trail off. Alex turned him to face her and took his hand. "You did fine. You said what needed to be said, and you didn't back down. And I said I wasn't going to give you up. They're not going to take you away from me. Not if I have anything to say about it. I love you, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

Jimmy gazed into her eyes and saw that confidence in her he always saw, no matter what the situation. He spent so many years being betrayed by almost everyone he ever knew, even his father. To hear Alex say the words she did to Beckman was humbling. He knew he couldn't give her up, either. And he would do anything to protect her as well.

He gently took her face in his hands and gave her an arduous kiss. "I love you, too," he gently replied.

The elevator opened on the ground floor. Alex and Jimmy walked out holding hands.

"So, do we actually follow Beckman's orders and go on vacation?" Jimmy asked her.

Alex paused for a moment. "My mother always wanted to see Ireland. Her parents were born there and emigrated to the States just after World War I. My father and she were all set to go when they discovered she had an inoperable tumor. I was in London three years ago on an assignment but didn't get a chance to see Ireland. What do you think?"

Jimmy nodded and smiled. "I'd love to go. I didn't get to see much outside of Belfast. Besides, I bet you'd look totally hot in one of those sweaters they wear."

Alex wiggled her eyebrows at him. "And if you play your cards right, I may wear only that."

"Mmmm, I'm excited already," Jimmy replied in a low voice that would make Barry White proud. They headed for their car.

Unknown Location
October 10, 2011
12:45 PM

A pair of guards led Alex back to her holding cell. She kept her face expressionless, but she was still confused. After answering the questions about her mission in New York last November the same way she answered all the other questions…by not giving specifics and throwing it back in the technician's face…she was told there would be more questioning later. She was having a hard time wrapping her head around what was going on. They kept asking her about things anybody with sufficient clearance could read about themselves.

Is this a smokescreen? she thought. Were they just going through the motions because they had something else in mind? She had the distinct impression the man who watched her interrogation earlier knew more than what the technician and the guard were told. He must have had some agenda he was following. Perhaps he was operating outside of government scrutiny but was putting on the show to get cooperation from the others. A mole? The thought crossed Alex's mind, but it wouldn't make sense unless…

Suddenly, the guards pushed her forward as if to hurry her back to her cell. Alex's eyes darted around. She caught a glimpse of someone in the cross-hallway. It was definitely a man and was someone imprisoned like her, as he also wore an orange jumpsuit. Alex did a double-take and pushed her way past the guard behind her. She chased Alex down the hall. Alex made it to the cross-hallway and saw who it was.

They had Jimmy. Judging by the way the guards were guiding him down the hall, he was heavily sedated.

Oh, my God was Alex's last thought as the guard took out her taser and zapped Alex, who fell to the ground.