Wow, such a great story! I just binge read this entire thing, or I would've if pesky work hadn't gotten in the way. This is one of the best Chuck stories I've ever read and hands down the best OC. I can't believe it, but I think you managed to successfully navigate and avoid all the OC cliches, kudos! Your Casey was just perfect too, absolutely spot on. Great job, thanks so much for posting this on here from LJ!

In the last chapter you mentioned the original, original ending that you never ended up posting here. Is it posted anywhere else? I'd love to read it! Anyway, terrific writing throughout the whole thing, looking forward to reading the AU/sequel now!

Nicely started.. I actually have thought that it should rise suspicions as Casey doesn't date anyone etc.. This will probably be a very entertaining story. Love Casey's character, so... well, you know. Phew.

I adore your writing style. Reading on xx

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with this story. I absolutely love it and I've read it twice and I love the ending but I always think of a different happier ending after reading yours. Which is stupid because the end you wrote is actually perfect. I cry every time I read it.

This was one of my favorite stories ever. And, I normally lean towards the jellie, but, you managed to hook me with your superior writing. The characters were totally in character and so well written. What a pleasure to read this. Also, thanks for the regular updates. That is huge. You buy into a story but are at the writers mercy as to if and when they'll continue posting. You know how I feel about it as you've read my countless comments over at LJ, but I wanted to post here as well. Can't wait to see what else you treat your readers to.

Such a good story. And while I would have loved a happier ending, this was Casey as he was at this point in the show. Chuck was right-love didn't happen for Casey because he didn't let it.

I could see Casey being good for Riah and Riah being good for Casey until these last few chapters. The rapist investigation seemed Casey's chance to unwittingly sabotage what was maybe the best relationship he'd ever had. He could deny it was love, but it was, and I guess that good little Marine in him just couldn't let it happen. And Riah was smart and insightful enough to see the signs and know what was happening. That's how I interpret her letting him hold her and telling him not to talk or explain things and the kiss that was deeper than he'd expected. The fact that Riah would have continued to be good for him and may have been the one woman to be able to take him as he was found and love him made it even more sad, and Casey's seeming to realize that made it more poignant.

I'll swing over to LJ and read the happily ever after version, but, again, I really enjoyed this piece. You write with just enough words. I know that probably sounds weird, but you know when to explain and describe and when to trust your reader's imagination, you show us what's going on inside Casey's head and keep even his thoughts in character. There was lots of emotion and processing of the psyche in this, but you managed to keep the writing so clean that it never went limp or stalled. Great story and hope to see more from you, Adderlygirl.

oh. I'm Little sad about the ending...

But great work!

I hope you continue this story with a new one :).

Great story but such a sad ending. Poor Casey fell in love. Losing love hurts. He retreated to the alcohol to deaden the pain. Riah was a one in a million and she was his for awhile. Kudos on such a great Chuck verse adventure.

Man, she had to be really pissed to leave the purse AND blackberry behind. And poor Chuck. And desperate, foolish Riah to drag him into it like that. In her defense, he is the only sweet, non-threatening, strong-charactered, intelligent male she's currently acquainted with (beyond a couple of drinks and dances with Patterson).

Again, I loved the introspection on Casey's part even though most of it made me want to slap him. He seems to be more stupidly befuddled than ever. But, they say the darkest comes just before the dawn.

I also loved that when he admitted he should've told Riah what was going on (Why didn't he? Stupid, stubborn man.) and couldn't bring himself to say "I'm sorry" that she accepted that as being as close to an apology as he could get and didn't even approach it for many people. Further proof of how well she understands him.

And when Ellie comes over followed by Chuck and fueled by Morgan and their horrible misunderstandings and assumptions, Casey's irritation would've been amusing except that I like him so much-even the darker side of him you've woven so well here-that I wanted to stand up for him. He wouldn't hesitate to hurt a woman who was trying to harm someone he was guarding or even himself, but outside of that he wouldn't lay a violent finger on a female. I also liked that even though Chuck knows better than any of them how violent Casey can be, the thought that John might have hurt Riah doesn't seem to even cross his mind. Good man, Chuck.

I like how you describe the scenes and characters expressions and gestures. Not too many words, giving us enough clearly and concisely to let our minds formulate the picture. My favorite was Chuck raising his hands when Casey first comes into the bar and goes all dark knight on him, palms outward, fingertips slightly curled.

I can't believe there's only one more chapter. Something major, galvanizing even, is going to have to happen to clarify Casey's thoughts and emotions, exactly where he stands on the matter of Riah. But when you finish this story, it will give you a chance to work on your next?

That reminds me, about your response to my last review-does your daughter write as well?

I have to start with that last. Even if she'd had enough and gone home, she would've taken her purse and blackberry. She didn't leave it behind so he couldn't reach her-that's what the ignore button is for. And a woman just doesn't go off and abandon her purse. I don't care how small it is and even if she's just using it for the evening, a woman carries a piece of her life in her purse. What a terrible cliffhanger. I'm glad I couldn't get around to giving this the time it deserved until tonight.

That having been said, cruel lady for doing that after such a great chapter, this really was a great-no, a wonderful-chapter. He may not like the words or the feeling they represent, but what you described was making love. He could use the same technique for simple (and I have to say glorious) seduction, but as thorough as you are with his introspection and dissection of feelings, he would've approached it with that in mind. But, he saw her naked and wanted her, and instead of hurrying it along for his pleasure and release with a little thrown in for her goodies as well, he took his time and *made love to* every inch of her body. And I'd say his using the words was Freudian, but it was too, too literal.

And he's doing girlfriend now. And so is she. That's why even though he ordered her to go to the ball and she was a little miffed about that, she obviously dressed (and under under-dressed) for him. What a huge ass he turned out to be! And now this ending because, oh yeah, there's also a rapist on the loose. Or is Captain Watson Fulcrum come to get a little back?

Well, thank goodness I have less than a week to wait to find out.

I realize there was little in this review praising your style of writing and the devices used, but please take my ranting as evidence that I am so very drawn into this story as to be living it out in my head as I read. I love the nuances-the way you make me feel Riah's anger, her jealousy, and (my favorite) her delight in seeing Celia miffed without overselling it and showing us the changes in Casey's attitude before he realizes and accepts them himself. And I really enjoyed Casey being such an ass then realizing he was being an ass then making such a colossal cake of himself over "his woman". Although it would be the corniest thing in the world, I almost hope to see him beat his chest before it's all over.

Sexiest things in this chapter: Casey's tender treatment at the beginning and his being able to tell by simply laying a hand at her back that she was commando at the military ball. And extra points for the first thing out of his mouth to Celia being the g-word.

My favorite Casey self-eval:

"He was the one being a girl, and it pissed him off."

My favorite Riah moments: 1) Her being so gorgeous there were obviously more men paying attention to her than Celia and 2) This:

"'Remember who brought you,' he growled. Ariel Taylor at her haughtiest, bitchiest self stared back at him from her daughter's face. Riah's chin lifted, her eyes went stormy and cold, and she raised her brows. She was more pissed off than he could remember seeing her. 'Don't forget who you brought.'"

I also love how she understands him and accepts him for the most part, likes/loves him for his hardness, not in spite of it and willingly takes on the unpleasant with the same gusto she employs in taking hold of the pleasurable. I also love how he's coming to see that kind of makes her perfect for him.

The whole chapter was a monument to the hot tug-of-war between man and woman. And this review may be the longest I've ever written. Write on, AdderlyGirl! Cheers!

Great Chapter. I loved the way Casey broke the ice curtain which had descended after his major gaff. I loved the tenderness Casey showed Riah in her bed. I loved how Casey got involved in a rape sting operation. I loved how Casey foolishly did not inform his partner. I feel Riah is going to be another victim of this rapist. Please continue.

Good. I'm glad the scotch didn't compensate. I had to get that out before I could go on.

This was a GREAT chapter! I couldn't stopped smiling throughout, even when there was nothing amusing happening, just because I enjoyed it so much.

I really like that I can see Casey as he often looked on the show, especially during those first two seasons: stoic, cold, hard, untouchable. But you let me see him seeth and simmer underneath. I love how well schooled he is at suppressing everything but that all of that anger and passion seems to always be just under the surface. I think that makes his control all the more phenomenal.

I also like that we all (even V.H.) see Riah getting better, much improved since she first arrived on the scene. I enjoyed and appreciated how you handled Beckman, V.H., Ariel and even Henderson's reactions to Casey and the slightly botched op as well as his personal involvement with Riah, each of them true to character and not letting him off the hook but not going overboard either. Well, V.H. and Beckman are too professional to go overboard, Casey didn't give Ariel the opportunity and Henderson just wasn't smart enough. I did love the snipes Ariel and V.H. managed to get in. And how Casey got a little of his own back.

The "Miss Perky"-precipitated events were good too. I loved Riah so angry, more evidence of her growing stronger as an individual. Also loved that it got Casey so worked up. And how can he say there was all of *that* between them from such an early point in their acquaintance and have a problem with making love to her? He has problems with Riah's double standard? I have problems with his paranoic and totally in-denial hairsplitting.

Again, this was such a great chapter, another in this great story. I'd say more about what I liked, but I'd end up just paraphrasing the whole thing.

Oh, wait. Back to the chapter's end and the scotch not compensating. I really liked (still smiling but now to the point of chuckling) Casey's anger at her going back to her own bed. I think my favorite part of that was his pulling back the sheets and glaring at the empty side of HIS bed. But being angry at her washing his sheets and not leaving any of her scent behind was a close second, especially with the loud growl. I just relished his seething at her removing any trace of herself from the bed and the accompanying sulking. *Fine.*

I hope she realized he was gone on a mission and didn't just spend those nights somewhere else.

NOW I'm done. As always, looking forward to more. That, by the way, is a completely inadequate statement. Thanks, Adderlygirl!

Great chapter. I loved the aftermath of the blown operation. I loved how Casey had to face down both Ariel and V.H. over Riah. I loved how Riah's choice of Casey was unsettling to them both. I loved how Riah got jealous when back at the Buy More Val was reacquainted with Casey. I loved how that led to a blow up and major make up sex in Castle's cell. Too Cool. I loved how when Riah wanted Casey to make love to her Casey balked. I loved how Riah took that as a sign. Please continue.

Man, if I used the f-word, I'd say you manufactured one hellacious clusterf*** here. This is so intriguingly complex, and there are so many variables that "what happens to Riah" could go any number of ways.

Every once in a while during those first two-and-a-half seasons, I could get very peeved at what a witch Walker could be. It's amazing how well you've kept her in character from that time frame. And what a hypocrite. If somebody was after Chuck like this, she'd be hardcore parkouring all over the place to get him out of there.

I'm so glad John was with Riah when she came to in the hospital (I love that you consistently have them calling one another by first names, and him using the diminutive at that.) and Ellie was there unknowingly making sure that happened and running interference.

Now if Beckman would only have one of her rare displays of humanness. I'm hoping-she seems to have a soft spot for Casey that manifests 1.6 times per year on average.

I don't blame V.H. for wanting Casey's head. He's a father, and he's desperately worried for his little girl. I hope he can see the whole picture though (that it's the CIA he needs to be concerned with and that it was Walker who took over the op) and realizes Casey's his daughter's best hope. And that maybe the two men should work together to make it more than hope.

Finally, I loved how the scene played out in my mind's eye when "Casey eased down beside her, and pulled her close." It's terribly dear when he's gentle and caring with her, and for some reason his kissing her on the head gets me every time, especially preceded by a sigh as it was this time and followed by the gentle kiss to the lips. And Riah, never too beat up or drugged or near death to kiss him back. What a woman.

Go, Solly, go.

I loved this chapter. I loved how Riah got captured like planned and the fulcrum doctor was called. I loved how Riah was drugged then told them about the Montreal Project. The doctor showed her pictures. The information came flooding out of her. However, it was very old 1985 Canadian state secrets. The Fulcrum agent declared they finally found an Human intersect. I loved how Casey felt compromised and allowed Sarah to take over operational control.

I loved how Riah was unconscious and had to be rushed to Westside Hospital where Ellie took over treatment. I loved how Casey had to inform her father of what happened. I loved how V.H. was heading to LA via Washington. I loved how General Beckman suspended Casey on review. I loved how she asked if he was compromised. I loved how Casey did not say anything.

I loved how Casey was allowed to be in Riah's room just waiting for the noose to tighten. I loved how Chuck was concerned about Casey. I loved how Riah finally awoke. I loved the kiss they shared which happened to be seen by Gen Beckman. Too Cool. Please continue.