Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Author's note:

This is Chapter 2 my friend! With all the help of phnxgr in beta-ing and cleaning up after my bad grammar and story loopholes. Nerdette-Allivart for bouncing some ideas into my head.

I really don't know what to say, but the next update may be later got this thing tangled up with work and a couple of other reasons that would be lame.

I really would like to thank all you folks who followed the story, reviewed and even tagged it as a favorite. You don't how much it makes everything all worth it.

Oh, I don't own CHUCK. But I do have a size 8's here somewhere.

Chapter 2
September 29, 2015
4:30 AM
Woodcombe – Bartowski Residence
Common Kitchen Area

There are literally some days that he can live without. Today was just one of those days Chuck thought.

He had just come home from a grueling 14 hour shift in the hospital. It consisted of two major surgeries an angioplasty and by-pass surgery. He had tagged team with another cardiac surgeon in doing a heart transplant to a 59 year-old-guy. Who had a donor die saving him in the nick of time from certain heart failure. Not only to mention the rounds has he had done for his patients. Those in the intensive care unit who needed close monitoring or are just recovering some surgeries.

When he came to his sister's house Ellie was sitting in the living room watching some TV with a bowl of popcorn in her lap which she was mindlessly munching on. TV was something he never cared about. He made a bee line to the kitchen to get some orange juice and water to recharge but only found a bottle of Gatorade. Shrugging he tiredly picked it up and opened it then took a slug. It was refreshing going down.

"Happy Birthday, Chuck." Ellie said surprising Chuck since he did not even know she noticed him being there. Tiredly he moved to the couch.

"Thanks sis. I really had a bad day. There were too many people in West Side and way too many bright lights. In the name of safety I thought I would crash here. I could not make it driving to Malibu. I feel like a freaking zombie. I hope you don't mind." He sat beside Ellie holding the opened bottle of Gatorade in his left hand, still in his scrubs.

"Want some pop corn birthday boy?" Ellie said still looking at the screen as if she dismissed everything he said.

"Nah, I'm good. I viewed too many brain, lung, heart matter not to mention blood to last me a lifetime. I feel like a Meatball Surgeon in the middle of a War Zone. So no I think I am good." He said waving his hand resting his head on the head rest of the sofa and closing his very tired eyes.

He had been a doctor for more or less 7 years. Then surviving medical school so he can say he has a pretty tough stomach but he just can't eat after surgery. He needed to wait for 2 or more hours to forget the gory details burned in his brain.

"Any plans for today handsome?" Ellie asked again seemingly disregarding that he is tired and only want sleep.

He smiled at that one. Despite being tired from work he really appreciated Ellie waiting and looking out for him. Then he realized.

"Please don't tell me about any birthday party." he whined keeping his eyes closed hoping this hint would dissuade Ellie but of course it did not.

"Humor me little brother it is your birthday after all. A little dinner date prospect wouldn't hurt. Level with me Chuck. I've got Devon and you got Morgan? I worry about you sometimes." Ellie said moving to look at him for the first time only to level her patented Ellie cares look. Chuck could see her concerned face through slitted eyes.

"Sis, come on. You can't be seriously setting me up with your friends or Awesome's. I can seriously take care of myself. And things with, uhh me and Morgan have never been better." Chuck protested. He knew the party would only consist of more Doctors and Nurses since that is the only people she knew. Chuck could get along with them at work but off work forget it!

"Now I am really worried." Ellie said concerned her Brother was becoming a recluse. Chuck tried to ignore her and closed his eyes again.

"I know Ellie. The thing is, I am not really into girls. They are too unsteady, too fickle minded and they always get the habit of breaking my heart at the end of the day." Chuck said with a sad heart.

"Not buying it. You are watching too many romantic comedies for your own good and reading too many novels as well." Ellie said standing her ground. Chuck had to open his eyes to look at her. He groaned. It was just too bright.

"I am gay Ellie. Don't you see it?" Chuck said in desperation to get out of this party at any cost even if it means saying Morgan was his life partner which was not too far from the truth some days.

"I see, well we can always call Devon's Frat brothers and set you up with them instead." Ellie said wise to his little tactic of getting out of what would be in her mind a great experience. Great even more Doctors! Chuck thought.

He mentally gagged at the idea. He hated happy people, well not really. Just the perky ones who believed that everyone around them should enjoy with the same enthusiasm and love they happen to have in their life.

"Are you a pimp or something?" Chuck asked as tried desperately to get out by changing tactics. He was now on the attack. He closed his eyes again.

Ellie ended up with a smirk on her face. This is basically the signal she won the argument now to add a nail to the coffin.

"I saw you making out with Jill a couple of times. My verdict says not gay. Also seen the magazine collections you borrowed from Morgan when you where in college. Still says not gay." Ellie crowed.

"Hey! I was curious! That is too much information and sneaking around when I was with Jill it's so not fair. That is just wrong. And we never made out on the couch unlike you and Devon! It happened only once and we were baking!" Chuck retorted knowing full well she got him and now was reeling him in but yet he did strike once. Score one for Chuck he thought.

That got Ellie blushing. The obvious trace of pink on her face gave it easily away. Ellie though quickly recovered and pressed the attack home.

"There will be party later 8 o'clock in the evening in the courtyard. It is suppose to be a surprise party but I know your aversion to too many people and wide spaces. The guest list is just thirty including Devon and I, invite Morgan at your own risk." Ellie said confident he would be there since he was here already.

Then his phone rang. Chuck groaned again.

-0-

September 29, 2015
4:57 AM
Los Angeles International Airport
Taxi Way

Agent Walker is not a very patient person. When you join the Military then got secretly recruited for the CIA you are time sensitive. Add to that she was in Agent mode ten times ten that can paint the picture on this one.

She was not taking it easy. She rushed taking two steps at a time down the stairs from the jet that took them to LA.

"Hurry up Casey. We have a terrorist to kill." Sarah said shouting from afar as she is almost at the bottom of the stairs with her now partner gathering up their fire power from the cabin baggage hatch.

"So much for being sweet, Walker, I did not know that was your term of endearment for Larkin. I've should have known." Casey needled as he followed down the stairs carrying 2 duffel bags with m-15 on each arm with an obvious smirk on his face.

His jibes caused him to face a deathly icy stare from the ice queen herself. It was the look she always gave to everyone before she kills them. It was her trademark signature and now it was being shown to him.

He smiled genuine one in return. She is one scary lady Casey thought but I do not scare easily.

She knew he was just trying to make her feel comfortable. Despite everything it was very kind of him. But they really needed to start moving faster. LA was a familiar territory for Bryce. He had the time advantage not to mention they are on the clock. So no matter how Casey may be kind she really has no time for it. And besides,

"No offense Casey, you are not my type." She answered his smile with a smirk of her own.

"Not interested sister." He reminded himself to stay on her good side.

-0-

Coordinating with local LA FBI had never been easy with John Casey. Well he really wouldn't mind the help from these freaks. Their apparent lack of concern on national emergency led him to have some detachment from these folks. Of course you cannot blame the bad portrayals in Hollywood movies either. They personified too much drama in the work environment. Especially on simple situations like a bank robberies or hostage situations.

Let them try hiding in a wall with nothing but compact food for 29 days to scout out the territory of Afghani warlords in '99. That really got his blood pumping during those days. Then he ended up in LA. Things he does for his country. He sighed.

Not only was the local head quarter residences were shell-shocked by the appearance of Langston Graham's Wildcard Enforcer and star recruit. They never expected her to be this beautiful or so skillful. No one stayed long enough to be paired with Agent Walker. Few have lived to tell about it. It was either a suicide mission or a suicide mission with her. You either way died on the mission. You could die getting the information or die leaving the mission. But you died all the same. There were the select few who were barely able to survive. Those with enough guts and hell of resistance to torture would do well.

And of course not only was Walker aware of the reputation she had built in the international community but she really knew how to uhm... maximize her assets. She could be both charming and intimidating to people around her. This was necessary to get positions and projections to determine her old partner's routes of exit.

Casey reminded himself to always try his best to be on her good side. Not only was she a lunatic driver who seems to enjoy seeing speedometers always at a three digit mark but an equally trained assassin then add a skilled medic by specialty. Agent Walker was the real package beautiful but oh so deadly.

"We are good to go" Sarah spoke breaking Casey from his train of thoughts.

"Are you sure you are ready? I thought you were going to ask someone out" Casey taunted.

"Shut up. I got us a ride. Pulled some strings, a Porsche." Sarah retorted.

"I've should have known." Casey said wincing since there was no leg room in these vehicles. Now give me a Crown Vic a good offering of American Automotive Know How! That is the car for me! Casey thought.

"We got 5 people surveying the area, 2 snipers and the second wave which will come with us. Hurry up. Casey." She mentioned picking up her weapons and making sure her knives were in place.

"I got your back. Carry on Walker." he said hurrying toward her so she could catch up with her prey Bryce Larkin.

-0-

September 29, 2015
5:58 AM
CIA Headquarters, Intersect Building
Los Angeles, California

It's been a bad day for Bryce Larkin.

Not only is he public enemy number one right now in the whole United States of America but he guessed one person is very pissed at him as of moment – a person with whom he learned never to piss off at anytime in the CIA.

Sarah Walker.

Since he figured it out basically that Sarah would do anything to hunt him down. Dead or alive but to be dead honest pun intended he would rather die.

Torture plus an angry Sarah Walker is not really a good combination.

It was worse than death.

He needed back up. There is only one of him against two hundred of them not good odds. He was running hard and fast. He could create some distance using the back alleys of Los Angeles. Surprise is his main weapon. No one would really think of him asking help from that person.

His job was to survive until he can get reinforcement and someone can extract him. He needs to hide the intersect somewhere safe. There had to be someone that no one would ever think he would consider running to.

He picked his phone then tried calling someone. His legs were aching not to mention his knuckles in punching his way. He had tranked more than 12 agents to get thru to the intersect room. It was in a heavily guarded building. He got his shares of punches and kicks on him to prove it.

"I can't avoid them forever. Some help would be nice." He said tersely to the person he called while catching his breath.

"I will be there in twenty." He said learning of the extraction point. He went to find his car, jumping in and igniting the engine when he heard some gun shots.

"Hey," he said seeing some bullet holes on his window and some dents too.

"I might be late. They're here" he said shutting off the phone since he needed both hands to quickly backing out of the parking lot and into the open space.

He drove full pedal to the metal. He smiled his devil may care smile. The one he used with all girls from around the world. It was the one which he had come to love. It showed his full blown white teeth and his boyish grin as he muttered to himself.

"It's hard to say goodbye." Bryce said to no one particular.

-0-

Chuck hated attention. Attention leads to trouble and ever since he was a kid that was a known fact. He knew even then he was different. This led to pain and problems. So he was an introvert by nature. Even though evading attention seemed to be getting harder the older he gotten.

Anything which encourages people to speak to him he wanted to avoid at all costs if he could. It's not that he was a recluse. He had too many responsibilities. He was running the Cardio-Thoracic wing with 8 surgeons all older than himself this left no room for mistakes. They were always gunning for his position. Then there are the interns. They were almost his age most were too perky and eager to learn. Then at the same time they were getting a little over his normal weight of work.

So when he got the call an hour after he got home from his 14-hour monster shift asking him to go back to the hospital for some code white where all doctors were asked to report in. He responded with aplomb.

Even without a decent sleep not to mention on his birthday he had a sworn duty calling him. He drove his way to his hospital with Ellie on the passenger seat of his brand new Aston Martin. Getting to the hospital he snaked his way to his designated parking space. Getting out he charged his way to his locker then quickly changing into new surgical scrubs. Listening closely he heard someone page him to go to the ER. Chuck took a deep breath then ran.

-0-

They made their way to the parking lot with her breaking all the speed limits and a couple of hundred more traffic rules in the busy street of LA, with her constantly running at 100mph + that made Casey thank the heavens for whoever invented the seat belt.

Sarah spotted the gray Camry that Bryce was driving. He saw her approaching from his rear.

She held the gun outside the moving car firing a couple of rounds hitting only on his car.

"If you are aiming to destroy his car, you are doing a good job" Casey said.

"Come on, let's go. We've got some terrorist to kill" Walker exhorted jumping out of the car.

Bryce was smart getting out of the car will be the end of him. He threw the car in reverse and squealed the tires backing out of the narrow parking space trying to get lost on the freeways of Los Angeles.

Sarah Walker never backed down from any fight, especially when the said fight involves one of the persons she wanted dead, Badly. She ran after him in the parking lot still firing at the retreating car.

Casey slid into the driver's seat and started to pace Sarah. He past several parked government cars. Catching up to the running Sarah Walker he yelled at her through the open door.

"Get back in the car, Walker!"

She gladly slid back into the moving car without breaking a stride. She had the grace of a ballerina that Casey did not knew where came from then closed the door. Once in Casey floored it in pursuit.

"Good job blowing our position Walker so much for stealth." Casey yelled.

She sighed, he was right she blew their position by firing shots on Bryce. She had lost the element of surprise when she gave up their position. She was very upset at the situation. She was having mixed feelings amongst all that has happened in the passed three weeks. The guy she thought that was interested in her, whom she trusted as any in their business would allow had betrayed her. She had trust issues and she thought he was different.

So yes she was not rational for the moment. She wanted to shoot everyone that came between her and her prey Bryce.

"Shut up and drive." She said reloading her gun.

-0-

The backup showed so things we're at least falling into his favor Bryce thought. He had a couple of Fulcrum agents tailing him.

It been a good 43 minute car chase and even though he got 4 men as his back up his front right tire was shot nevertheless by his angry, very ballistic ex-partner.

He had to find a new car. He has to do it fast. He is about 600 yards away from his extraction point.

He pulled up in an old building wherein he happen to be briefed a couple of times. He was able at least to create a 15 minute distance to his pursuers. This gave him time to stash some of his things and do something he should had done years ago.

-0-

Casey burst through the front door with his gun drawn.

Three of the Fulcrum agents as he assumed aiding Larkin on the opposite side of the room fell instantly dead as he quickly fired his Desert Eagle thrice one for each.

Headshots. Between everyone's eyes.

At the same time Sarah burst through the back door. Fired one shot killing the last back up for Fulcrum.

It just literally took one shot to kill the poor guy but she really had a bad day so she fired four more.

You get the picture. Bryce hearing the gunshots hurried up the stairs when Casey saw him

"Walker, the Stairs!" Casey yelled chasing after him.

Climbing up the stairs they followed Bryce. Casey fired another couple of shots. He was running while aiming at his opponent's arms and legs. He was trying to maim but failed miserably. While his partner was a different story firing up all death shots aiming for the head, heart, lungs and other regions in the chest cavity. She knew he was wearing a vest so she was doing a good job aiming for the head. He was actually joking on the killing part they needed him alive for interrogation.

Getting to the next floor Bryce darted out the door into a large warehouse. Sarah slowed down. She spied several large crates. Those would give her the high ground She thought. Sarah quickly made her way on top of the boxes then jumping from top magically dropping in front of Bryce. Bryce looking backward did not see Sarah in front of him.

She quickly made her presence known by giving him a round house kick that connected to his jaw as he turned around. Falling backwards from the blow he tried defending himself but she pulled out her guns then shot him in the chest cavity thrice and another at the leg. Just like in movies everything had been in slow motion for him. Things were going south fast. He was losing consciousness.

-0-

September 29, 2015
7:13 AM
Westside Medical Hospital
Emergency Room

If hearts could really shatter, his just did. This has been a hell of a day for one Chuck Bartowski.

He did not know what else to do. He was trapped in this situation. He wanted to run back to his house keep himself in a dark space before learning to breathe again. If that was not enough he found out that his old Stanford roommate Bryce Larkin was a spy. This was the man who took Jill away from him.

The same guy who got him kicked out in his dream school. It was the one where his father used to go. This was also the same person who was able to ask first Jill on a date way back on their first semester break. It was at my house too. Bryce F—cking Larkin! That dirtbag! Chuck thought.

There were a number of factors which precluded him dating. One he was socially awkward. Then he was too tall for his age but also not to mention too smart. The concept of dating girls didn't seem natural or believable for him. In fact Jill was his first serious girlfriend ever. He was around 22 when they met back again after the Roberts moved to Seattle because of a better job offer.

So yes, not only did he lack the social skills to date. Girls really don't dig 16 year old college juniors. It will be a tad awkward dating 18 year old girls which were more interested in boy bands and football. Things he had no interest in what so ever. But going with girls his age would be more like suicide missions. They tend to have attachment on going to concerts with too many people and too many bright lights. There was nothing in common to talk about either.

So yes he was practically romance-less if there is such a term pretty much summed up his whole life. Ellie does this have big theory. It goes whatever he felt for Jill was not love or anything of the same equivalent. She defined it as fondness or more likely an attachment to a person showing genuine concern to him. That person just happened to be of the opposite sex and with his entire attitude towards both romantic comedies was not really helping his case.

While putting on his surgical gloves and disinfecting himself before doing leading his team on doing a major operation, he shouted with all the calm and collectiveness he had left in his body.

"Get them out of here" he said looking over at the police operatives who apparently were part of the bust. He is well aware he is treating a criminal of some sort. Being a doctor for the most part of 7 years this is not his first dance.

"So much for the Hippocratic Oath" he said under his breath.

"Crash cart stat." He yelled, his voice sounded so loud and confident. He really doubted if it was him.

"Epinephrine, prepare six shots." as he stab the man's chest with syringe doing things that seemed like too natural to him like breathing. The patient flatlined working hard his chest was cleared and pads attached. His team worked like a well oiled machine in the OR.

He held the paddles and shouted. "We are starting with 200, clear."

A/N: Please let me know what you think, any questions, bad reactions, or violent reactions which is like the former are all welcomed. Come on guys make my day :)