been disappointed when his handlers didn't have a new assignment for him. However, this was contingent upon the fact that he still had the Intersect in his head. Chuck frequently expressed a desire to return to a "normal" life, based partly on his understanding that having the Intersect in his head is a barrier to a real relationship with Sarah. He was determined to remove the Intersect from his head once he began to believe it was a possibility, and pursued that possibility even at risk to himself. Once the Intersect was removed, Chuck turned down an offer to become an analyst on the new Intersect project. In "Chuck Versus the Ring", Chuck decides to help Sarah rescue Casey (who fortunately did not need to be rescued) and Bryce and prevents the Intersect from falling into the wrong hands and explains to his father that he is doing so because he loves Sarah. He strongly insists on joining the mission to the Intersect room and argues that he is uniquely qualified to help. When he finds Bryce dying and is suddenly faced with the choice of downloading the Intersect again or just destroying it, he reflects on the confidence that others have in him (that he is both good and capable) and his sense of duty to protect those close to him. He downloads the Intersect, marking a shift from being a reluctant asset to being a willing agent. In the aftermath, Chuck shows an unusual enthusiasm for becoming a different person as he gets the chance to train to be a spy. He soon turns down an offer from Sarah to run away together, choosing instead to go through with the training. Later, he explains that he made that choice because he has a unique ability to help a lot of people, including his friends, his family, and Sarah, and because he had learned from her to act for the greater good despite his personal feelings. Chuck begins to challenge himself to prove he is a real spy. In "Chuck Versus First Class", when Agent Shaw concludes that Chuck's handlers have been holding back his development as a spy, Chuck agrees, and welcomes the news that Shaw is assigning him to a solo mission. And though he is clearly conflicted, he "burns" an asset, relegating that person to a life in an isolated facility instead of letting him escape;