Sarah looked at Chuck's face, at the earnestness and sincerity there. He truly believed he loved her. And, she had to admit, he probably did, for any definition of 'love' she could imagine. Did she love him, though? How could she answer?

She couldn't look at him as she answered. "I do, Chuck, yes. I'm not very good at emotions, but I think I love you."

Chuck dropped to his knees, with a million-watt smile across his face. "You do?"

"I do, but I don't see how it changes anything." Circumstances still conspired against them. The Intersect, her job, his life in danger – it was too much.

"It changes everything. It means we won't have to go through pointless other people. It means I can get through the day."

Sarah tried to smile. "Are you sure?"

"Even if we don't act differently, it changes everything. I know how you feel."

A new voice interrupted their discussion. "I'm afraid you're right. It does change everything." John Casey appeared, behind his customary SIG-Sauer. "You know the rules, Walker. Emotional attachments aren't allowed."

"Casey, you know us. We can do this." Sarah's voice was pleading.

It didn't move the older man. "'Fraid not. I've seen too many agents go soft or hesitate when their emotions are being pulled. You can do this the easy way and leave now and never come back, or…." He gestured with the gun.

Chuck was the first to move. "I'm not letting her go." He ended between the two of them, clearly putting himself into the crossfire position.

"Chuck, get out of the way." Both agents said it, in different tones of voice.

Casey continued, "This is for your own good, Bartowski."

"I'm not moving. Let's talk this out." He tried to get them to see reason.

He failed. He was no match for trained agents. Sarah rolled to her left and went for her knives. Casey went to his right to get around the interference. His first shot caught Sarah in the left shoulder and spun her slightly. A knife flashed through the air as a second shot rang out.

Casey's throat blossomed into blood even as his bullet tore through Sarah's insides.

Chuck watched helplessly as they both fell to the ground. Neither spoke another word. After a minute, the sole survivor moved to Casey and picked up his firearm.

He spoke to the dead man. "You're wrong, Casey. This is the opposite of good for me."

When they found him, his lips were pressed against Sarah's forehead and his two wounds almost identically matched hers.

Can't say I didn't warn you.