Wasted

Summary: After three years, Sarah Walker finally gets what she truly wants, Chuck Bartowski. Between Daniel Shaw and the intersect, she may lose the one person she cares for most in the world.

A/N: For any of you that read my one-shot So Long, Goodbye, this is the longer FF that I was talking about. I want to thank Bad Seed for beta'ing this bad boy for me. I can be a little-over critical of what I write. Normally I hate just about everything I write-and am often called my own worst critic, so just hang with me and judge the story yourself. Typically I'm told I'm wrong on my writing but *shrugs* I usually still think it's awful.

Also, just another side-note. I also have another Chuck FF idea. I'm gonna kinda hash out the storyline for a bit though. If I decide to write it, it'll take place at the beginning of season three and will be a kind of AU verision kind of like "What if Chuck had ran away with Sarah in Prague thing" I will also be introducing a new character that I thought up all on my own-or well sort of.

Chapter One: Devastation

Sarah watched in awe as Chuck sauntered into the Buy More. Gun in one hand, raised at Shaw, ready to shoot if the need arises. He walked halfway up the aisle, a look of pure hatred etched on his face.

"A gun fight? Is that what you really want?"

Chuck raised an eyebrow, as he let the gun hang out of his hand. Shaw shifted toward Chuck only slightly.

"You have one good flash left?"

The cockiness in Shaw's voice made Sarah sick to her stomach. She knew that Chuck didn't have one more flash in him. She knew that he was teetering on the edge of losing his mind to the intersect, and yet she knew there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it.

Shaw had handcuffed her to the Nerd Herd reception desk. The desk where she had first met Chuck. The desk in which she had stood numerous times, thinking about what a wonderful guy Chuck was, and eventually thinking about how in love with him she was. Because it had taken her so long to finally admit her feelings to him, to finally get over her fear of feeling and give her heart to him, she might not ever get a chance to actually be with him.

"Saved the best for last."

Sarah glanced up in time to watch, almost as if in slow motion, Chuck fling his gun to the right, clattering into the aisle. She watched his eyes, and saw him flash, before he bent over double, gripping his temples between his fingers. She knew that Shaw would take advantage of Chuck's worsened condition. Thinking quickly, she started tugging at the cuffs that bound her wrists to the desk. Wishing, praying that Casey would get here quicker. That he'd come in and take Shaw out before something bad happened to Chuck.

"We're waiting Chuck."

How she could even remotely think that she ever had anything that resembled feelings for Shaw made bile slowly rise in her throat. The fact he could turn his back so quickly on his country filled her with anger.

Then Shaw slowly started his advance on Chuck, who was now standing straight up, his fists held in front of his face. He looked ready to fight, but she knew that the nerd wasn't as ready as he appeared to be. Quicker than she thought was possible, Shaw took off running toward Chuck, who reacted just as quickly and slid under Shaw's legs. As soon as he stood up, Chuck tried to kick Shaw in the face. Unfortunately he didn't connect. Shaw countered with a kick of his own that Chuck quickly ducked. Chuck went for a punch that was blocked, and almost just as quickly Shaw went for his own punch, which Chuck blocked easily.

Sarah took her eyes off the fight for a moment, yanking at the cuffs that bound her hands to the reception desk. Hoping—praying that she could pry herself from it and help Chuck out. Her head jerked back up when she heard Chuck groan out in pain, and saw that Shaw's knee had made contact with his stomach, and then his elbow connected with his face sending Chuck backward into one of the Buy More's aisle-ways. Back on defense, Chuck blocked a few of Shaw's punches and connected a kick to Shaw's stomach. Unfortunately Chuck's momentum didn't last, as Shaw roared back and connected with combo that sent Chuck flying backward.

Sarah grimaced when Shaw landed a kick to Chuck's face that sent him flying to the floor.

"Please stop it Shaw!"

She knew begging wouldn't get her anywhere. Shaw was far too gone, plus all he really wanted was to torture Chuck before killing him.

Even though he said that he wanted to kill her too, Sarah knew that he would much rather settle for killing Chuck and leaving her to deal with his death. Letting her know that it was her fault that he was dead. That if she hadn't killed his wife then he wouldn't have killed her Chuck.

Watching in horror as Shaw attempted to knee Chuck in the face, yet Chuck was able to block the move and shove Shaw into the aisle end-cap. His offense didn't last long as Shaw shoved him away, grabbed what looked like a large piece of metal and swung it at Chuck's face, the metal connecting with a sickening thud.

Gasping, she watched as Chuck flew over the Nerd Herd desk and land directly in front of her.

"Shaw stop this!"

This wasn't a plead, this was a threat. She promised herself in that moment that if anything happened to Chuck because of Shaw that she would personally kill him. She watched, as she yanked over and over on the handcuffs, Shaw stand over Chuck who was now unconscious.

"Poor Chuck. This fight could have been so much more. Could have been epic. Then again, I always knew you were useless Bartowski. It's funny how you think you got the girl. Did you ever think that maybe Sarah was only with you out of pity? That she was just sad to watch you try and fail so many times at trying to be the hero that you'll never be? The spy you were never capable of being? Now Chuck, you must die."

Shaw raised the piece of metal in his hand above his head. Sarah forced her eyes to close, unable to just sit there and watch the man she loved die. That's when she heard the familiar sound of gunfire. Of a bullet ripping through skin. Shaw didn't have a gun though. He had dropped his gun. She opened her eyes and stared on in shock. Morgan stood in the middle of the aisle, Chuck's gun held firmly in his grasp.

"Morgan?"

"I couldn't let him kill Chuck. Did I-?"

"Wow Grimes, didn't think you had it in you."

Sarah sighed when she saw Casey poke his head around the corner.

"Sorry, got here as fast as I could-"

"Just uncuff me and get an ambulance here."

Casey shook his head in acknowledgment, before bending over Shaw's lifeless body. Fishing his key's from his pocket, he stooped in front of Sarah, and uncuffed her hands. He stood back up and backed away from Sarah, as she placed a hand on Chuck's face. He'd never admit it to anyone, but the scene broke his heart a little bit. The thought that Chuck might be gone was almost more than he could bear.

"Please just tell me he's okay," Morgan sounded almost near tears, as he moved to stand a little closer to Casey.

"He's breathing...Chuck, please wake up," Sarah closed her eyes as tears filled them. She felt as one slipped down her cheek.

"Sarah, the paramedics are here."

Sarah nodded, but wasn't capable of moving. It was almost as if she had become immobilized, almost paralyzed by the thought that she could lose Chuck. The man that had risked his life to save hers. The man that had loved her for so long. The one that she loved so very much. She felt like kicking herself for taking so long to tell him how she felt. For waiting so long to give over her heart. She felt as Casey pulled her away from Chuck's lifeless body, but wasn't even aware that she was now standing, staring down at him. He looked so peaceful...too peaceful.

"He's got a pulse..but he's unresponsive. We have to get him to the hospital now," one of the paramedics stated.

She watched in stunned silence as they loaded him onto a gurney and wheeled him away from her. She looked over at Casey's still form, unshed tears in her eyes.

"Please tell me that he'll make it."

"I can't promise you that Sarah...I'm sorry."

That was the second time in a day that Casey had called her by her first name. Without a second thought she threw herself into his chest as tears fell from her eyes. Today was full of things she never thought she'd see...hear..or even be possible. Then again, today...tomorrow...or the next day could be her last with Chuck. That was something that she never allowed herself to think about...allowed herself to imagine could be possible.