Summary: How will our two couples co-exist in such a confined area? Would Ellie tell anyone what she saw? Where is Devon? What was the incident that changed Chuck? All that and more in chapter 7 of Bryce and Jill vs Chuck and Sarah.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck. I do own a nasty sinus infection.

*Spoiler Warning*: This chapter may make mention of things that we know happened through episode 2.19 Chuck vs. The Dream Job, as well as things that were pulled from the synopsis of episode 2.21 Chuck vs. The Colonel. What is mentioned from future episodes is in no way canon, but merely conjecture by me from what I've read, molded to fit my story.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to review chapter 6. It really means a lot to get that feedback. I know there are a lot of questions right now, but they should all be answered over time. This is one of the shorter, if not the shortest chapter so far in the story, but it sets things in motion to move towards the eventual climax. I would say we have at least six or seven chapters left. I am off of work for the next couple of days though, so I hope to get this thing done before Monday. I have all ideas that Monday night, this becomes very, very AU. I think my beta said he was busy, so this one is proofread by me only. All mistakes are my own. If I get the edited version, I'll post it. Again, I'd like to thank all of you who have stuck with me through this story, and I hope you continue to enjoy it. And finally, I present to you Bryce and Jill vs Chuck and Sarah ch. 7: Drain You.



Interrogation Room, Castle Base, Below the Orange Orange, Later That Night

"…and so Fulcrum's Intersect was up and running. But before they could figure out that their Intersect was coded backwards, Sarah and I infiltrated their base to rescue Orion; to rescue my dad. While I was there, I managed to remove all of the Intersect images from my head, and I was a free man." Strangely, Chuck seemed to have become very somber at finishing this story.

"Wait, so if you got rid of the Intersect…why are you here? And that still doesn't explain 'Agent Bartowski' now does it?" While all of this new information was interesting, it didn't really make sense to Bryce. If Chuck had freed himself of the Intersect, then Sarah and Casey should be gone. Chuck should be back to living a normal life.

"Do you remember the 'incident' at the Fleetwood Mac show back in May?" Bryce nodded.

It had been the largest loss of civilian lives in any one attack in US history. The Staples Center in LA had been targeted by a group of foreign extremist. Over 14,000 people had died that day. After investigation, the CIA determined that the extremist had been funded and abetted by Fulcrum. It was a diversionary tactic. It had been Fulcrum's hope that the intelligence community would be tied up in Senatorial hearings and thus weakened enough to be overtaken once and for all.

"You can't possibly blame yourself for that though. Just because you live in Los Angeles doesn't mean you're responsible for finding every single threat here. Even if you'd still been the Intersect, who's to say that you'd have seen-"

"Turns out, my friend Morgan was a huge fan of the song 'Tusk.'" Chuck paused to see if Bryce would understand. He finally put the final piece of the puzzle into place for the shorter man. "I was there that day, with Morgan and Devon. The Intersect would have identified the threat before it was allowed to happen. If I'd still been the Intersect, Morgan would still be alive. Devon would still be able to walk." Chuck stared out into space, contemplating the what-ifs.

"But what's done is done Chuck. You can't fix what's already broken by becoming an agent!" Bryce was infuriated by his friend's lack of logic.

"No Bryce, I can't!" Chuck's voice had taken on an edge of its own. "But by getting the Intersect back and learning how to be an agent, I can stop it from happening again. I can keep innocent people safe. I can make a difference in the world."

"Chuck, you don't have to do what we do to make a difference." Bryce had softened his tone. Chuck was not meant for this. He had too good of a heart for the world of espionage.

"No. I know." Chuck's shoulders sagged for just a moment. Then he lifted his head, a look of determination suddenly radiating from his eyes. It was a look Bryce was unfamiliar with from his old college roommate. "But it's the only way I can make it right. It's the only way I can make sure it doesn't happen again. I won't let anyone else go through what I went through. Not when I have the power to stop it."


Castle, Main Room

Jill, not being privy to the conversation that Bryce was having with Chuck had struck out to find her own answers. She had been just as shocked to learn of who Chuck had become. There was only one person Jill could think to blame for this occurrence.

Jill limped over to the blond sitting behind a Mac Book, furiously typing up…something. Jill didn't really care what it was. Jill pushed Sarah out of her chair and stood over her threateningly.

"What the HELL did you do to him?" Sarah looked up in shock at the bruised and beaten brunette that stood over her. "What did you turn him into? Chuck is a good person. He is a GOOD person. But that wasn't enough for you? " Jill then came to a conclusion that in her rage filled mind could be the only reason this could have happened. "You couldn't stand losing Bryce could you? You tried to make Chuck into Bryce. Well listen to me! Chuck Bartowski is NOT Bryce Larkin. And YOU are not good enough for either of them!"

Don't kill her Walker. Don't kill her. There will be repercussions if you kill her. Taking a breathe to calm herself, Sarah looked up at Chuck's belligerent ex-girlfriend. "First of all, most of the time I don't think I'm good enough for Chuck either. The things I've done…Chuck deserves better." Jill started to nod vigorously, but then Sarah continued. "But I love him. And he loves me. And I would NEVER change anything about him." Sarah now stood and stared dangerously into Jill's eyes. "Chuck made some very hard decisions that he felt were right. I support him in whatever he does. And he is still the same Chuck, even if he hides behind actions that say otherwise. I know Chuck. He could never be like Bryce, or you, or even me. Don't confuse his denial of a traumatic event with losing who he is. Now, if you want to know his motivation for doing what he's done, I suggest you ask him."

Sarah turned to walk away. She stopped in mid-stride, turning on her heel and grabbing Jill by her collar. "And while I'm making suggestions….I suggest that you never pull anything like that again. Injured or not, I will end you." Sarah now stomped away from Jill, seething with rage at what had been done to her.


Casey's Apartment

Holy hell. This is the best reality show ever. We took four US Intelligence Officers who have a much entangled romantic history and put them together under one roof. What happens when spies stop playing nice, and start getting real?

Okay, that was a little over the top John. No one will ever know that you're a fan of that show…understood? Casey had thoroughly enjoyed watching the four spies trapped together in Castle. He was a little disappointed that Walker and Roberts hadn't started ripping clothes off of one another, but he had an active imagination, so he'd be fine with what he'd seen. He could picture the rest in his mind.

The action had died down for the moment though, and Casey could see the motion detector outside of the Woodcomb labode had been tripped. Pulling up the surveillance outside the couple's home, Casey was relieved to see it was only Devon, coming home from his two week trip. Since the incident, and his impending paralyzation, "Captain Awesome" had been travelling the country giving motivational speeches. At least we don't have to hear about that Tony Robbins turd anymore, Casey thought with a small grin at his own wit.

Just as he was about to switch back to the Castle feed, he heard something from Ellie -who was greeting Devon at the door- that caught his attention.

"I think something's up with Sarah. I saw two people at the Orange Orange today that shouldn't have been there. They disappeared into the store. I went to see what was going on, and the door had been locked, the closed sign put up, and Sarah was nowhere to be seen. Then, an hour later, I saw our neighbor John Casey come out of the store. He hadn't been in there either. Devon…do you think Sarah has gotten my brother into something bad?"

Oh, shit, Casey thought.


Castle Base, Main Room

Seeing Chuck walk out of the room he and Bryce had commandeered, Jill immediately approached her ex-boyfriend and cornered him.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Jill stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes drilling a hole through Chuck's.

"Jill, I don't want to get into this." He had just explained everything to Bryce, who he considered a friend. He sure as hell wasn't going to go through that emotional strain of recalling the events that led him to change him life for this backstabbing bitch.

"Chuck!" Jill's expression softened. "Chuck, I just know that this is not who you are. You're better than this." She paused again, grabbing Chuck's arm. "I just don't want to see you get hurt I still care about you."

Chuck couldn't believe she would have the nerve to say that after everything she had put him through in the past. "I'm sure you do Jill," he said with a very sarcastic tone. "But it doesn't matter anyway. I don't love you anymore Jill." That's not the point, Jill thought. I just don't want you to get hurt. "I'm in love with Sarah now."

That's still not the point dumb ass. "So what Chuck? I'm in love with Bryce. That doesn't-"

"What?!" Chuck asked

"What?!" Sarah –who had been walking by- chimed in.

Jill clasped her hand over her mouth realizing what she'd said. A look of horror spread across her face.

In another part of the room, a cup clattered to the floor. Bryce stared on in shock.


A/N: Thank you again for reading. I ask that you please leave me a review and let me know what you think about the story so far, and what you think of where it's going. I really adore reviews, and interacting with you guys, the readers. I try to respond to as many reviews as I can. And if you have a specific question, or suggestion, I will most certainly get back to you. Thank you again for reading. You guys are the best. Peace.