CHAPTER 2: THE TORN-UP WORLD

It's been five days since Sarah left Chuck to go with Bryce and Chuck has hardly been focused on his work. He has been an emotional mess since her departure. He has hardly gone to work even when at work, he doesn't talk much. He spends most of his time alone. For 3 days since he learnt about Sarah's departure, he didn't get up from his bed. Ellie and Devon, Elie's boyfriend has been worried about him. They tried to console him many times that Sarah will come back. Last week he quit Buy More citing personal issues. Chuck has stopped taking Casey's call. He has directly told Beckman of his refusal to work. The thought of Sarah just leaving with Bryce without even a goodbye has been too hard for Chuck.

Beckman after some consideration thought it would be best to give Chuck some time to heal as it could lead to major catastrophe seeing that Chuck is the only remaining Intersect and the government cannot lose him. Kate & Casey has been ordered to stay put in Burbank for the time being.

This morning Ellie comes to Chuck's bedroom to motivate her brother.

Ellie shouts at Chuck "Chuck get up. I am tired of seeing you like this, mopping all the time. Sarah will come back. I am sure she loves you too and she will come back."

Chuck says dejectedly "She's gone Ellie and won't be back. She left with Bryce." Immediately he tries to backtrack his words at the mention of Bryce.

Ellie on hearing Bryce's name sprang up "With Whom? Bryce, your old friend, the guy who got you kicked out of Stanford. I thought Bryce died."

Chuck tries to control his slip up "No..No..No Ellie. This is not the same Bryce. This guy is someone else. Bryce Larkin is dead. Although I think, Bryce must have a reason to get me expelled out of Stanford. I shouldn't be too hard on him."

Chuck obviously could not tell Ellie about his whole CIA stint and how Bryce in order to save him from getting recruited into the CIA got him expelled from Stanford. The CIA wanted Chuck to join their Omaha project because of his genius brain.

"If you say so. However, you are getting up today and going to work, that is an order." Said Ellie

No matter how much he wanted to stay in his bed but he couldn't defy his elder sister. So reluctantly, he got up. After getting freshen up, he reached the kitchen for a meal of fruit loops and milk.

"So, Chuck what is your plan for today?" inquires Ellie.

"Don't know El. I was planning on sleeping all day before you deprived me of that privilege."

"Very funny. Why don't you look for a job?"

"I have a job sis which I can get any time Sis. Besides who will give a job to a guy who has been dismissed from college?

Ellie replies "I'm not talking about Buy More, I'm sure you can do whatever you want Chuck. You need to believe in yourself. You're the most amazing person I know and sometimes I don't think you realize that about yourself. Promise me you won't let the departure of Sarah hurt you so much that you will go back to your old state before Sarah. I can't see you like that anymore Chuck. Just do it for me."

"Ok.. Ok.. Sis. I will do it. I will start to look for a job."

Ellie smiled "Good."

Right, that time Devon walks in after his Nightshift at the hospital.

"Hello Chuckester!" greets Devon

"Hi, Awesome! How was the shift?"

"Same old Chuck. How are you feeling today? Ready to take on the world now?"

"What!.." Chuck suddenly realized Devon doesn't know about Cover Job at the CIA says "I am feeling much better"

Awesome!

After breakfast, Chuck calls his best friend Morgan.

"Hey Buddy, where are you?"

"Hi Chuck. You know at the Buy More. When are you coming back, Buy More is not the same without you man."

"I am thinking of not going back to Buy More anymore. I want a real job, Morgan"

"You telling me Buy More is not a real job?" inquired Morgan.

"Don't take me wrong buddy but I want to do something that excites me"

"So where shall we start our Job hunt?"

"Our Job Hunt?" Chuck said Mockingly

"Yeah; where will we work then Chuck?"

"Ok. Let's see, we will meet and discuss. Meet me at Weinerlicious in half an hour"

"You got it Chuck"

At the Weinerlicious-

"So, how's Buy More?"

"Not same without you Chuck. The whole Nerd Herd division is broken without you man. Big Mike is going crazy. However, leave all that how are you dealing with Sarah?"

Chuck says flatly, "I'm sorry to hear about Buy More buddy, things will improve there. I am starting to come to terms that Sarah is not going to come back. I should move on."

"Good for you. I know just the way to make you move on." Morgan said excitedly. "How about we go to the Tech expo this weekend at Roark Instruments. You can meet someone there or land a job with the freaking Roark Industries. What do you say? It's been so long since we spent some time together, just the two of us."

"Ok!" replied Chuck.

It's 4:00 AM in Budapest, ten days after Sarah has left Burbank, Sarah is awake laying on her bed with Bryce sleeping next to her. She hasn't slept properly in nearly the whole time she has left Burbank. She doesn't feel loved, she is definitely not happy. She keeps imagining Chuck and her fortune of Solitude that was Echo Park; the place where she shared many dinners together with Chuck and his family. She keeps imagining Ellie, who was like an elder sister to her, one which she doesn't possess. She keeps thinking about all the late-night movie marathons with Chuck where they just snuggled onto each other enjoying each others' company as Sarah has no interest in movies or music whatsoever. She just enjoyed Chuck's company.

In the hindsight, she keeps thinking whether it would be fair to Chuck if she stayed with him. Chuck wants a normal life with her, which is one thing that she can't give him as much as she wants to. Chuck is her Asset; he is her guy but the situation surrounding them doesn't allow them to be together. She couldn't believe her luck. Coming with Bryce was like running away from commitments. Bryce did love her but he isn't Chuck and Sarah knows that. She has been an effective spy but happiness has eluded her since she left Burbank.

Hearing her rumbling between the sheets led to Bryce waking up. Bryce has been happy to get what he wanted, Sarah. He was a spy always going as per book same as Sarah was before she met Chuck. For Bryce duty always comes first, same as was with Sarah. Sarah didn't realize the change until she went on a couple of missions with Bryce.

Bryce in a flirtatious tone "Hi Sarah Baby, why did you get up?"

Sarah replied coldly "Don't call me baby. I am just not feeling sleepy."

Bryce tries to contain the situation "OK! OK! I won't call you baby. What is troubling you?"

Sarah replies, "Nothing much I have just have a lot on my plate.

"You can talk to me anytime you want Sarah"

"I know"

With that Bryce again went back to sleep. Sarah's thoughts start to wander off what Chuck would have done if he had found out that she can't sleep. She imagines he would have entertained her; Chuck would go to any length to make her happy. The mere thought of Chuck made Sarah smile.

Sarah and Bryce reach for the briefing at 0900 from Graham.

"Good Morning Agent Walker and Agent Larkin" said the General.

"Good Morning General" Sarah greeted Graham

"Good Morning General" Bryce greeted too.

Graham started giving them instructions "You have to go to Siberia today. There has been fulcrum activity there. We would like you to infiltrate one of the offices of Roark Industries there in Siberia. You will go there as a potential client. Details of the same have been couriered to you. You will receive them shortly. Find out anything about Fulcrum there."

Sarah and Bryce in Unison replied "Ok General"

"Good Luck!" Graham said before disconnecting the call.

"So, I think we should get ready fast if we are to reach on time" Sarah said flatly.

Bryce replied mischievously "Ok. You freshen up first then I will get ready unless…"

"Unless...?"

"Nothing. We should get ready. You go first."

In the past, this would have led to them having shower together but now things have changed. Bryce has been noticing these differences in Sarah's attitude. She has been more distant to him. His charm hasn't worked on her even a bit. She has been quieter than her usual self. Bryce couldn't figure what has happened to Sarah. Sarah even refused to go on any mission as Mrs. Anderson, their cover before her last assignment in Burbank with Chuck.

Roark Instruments' office was a typical Tech office building with walls covered in glasses to reflect the sunlight. Opening a tech office in Siberia could cause certain concerns, However, Chevy Roark, the founder of Roark Instrument has deflected such accusation by merely stating that it's a data management office predominantly.

Bryce asks Sarah "So how do you want to go about it?"

"Lets just go as Business Partners and we want to improve our cybersecurity"

"Okay. Sounds good" replied Bryce.

Inside the office, they were asked to meet the head of security, Mr. Volkoff. Alexi Volkoff was a man of sturdy build, in his mid-forties, who looked like he would shoot first ask questions later. He looked rather puzzled seeing someone coming to their Siberian office for cybersecurity as opposed to going to their Headquarters in Pasadena, USA.

Volkoff greeted the couple "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Larkin"

"It's Sarah walker and Bryce Larkin, we are not together. We're just Business partners" Sarah said coldly. Bryce flinched at her words but replied cautiously.

Hi, I am Bryce Larkin. I am here to discuss about improving our cybersecurity. Considering the importance of data security in our firm we would like to redesign our network to prevent any unprecedented intrusion in it.

You are right Mr. Larkin. CyberSecurity has become very important in this age of data. Before this goes any further, allow me to show our hospitality. What would you like, any beverage or drink?

No thanks, said Sarah.

Bryce too replied "It's all right. Please don't trouble yourself"

The next hour was spent with Bryce and Volkoff discussing Network and Cybersecurity which Sarah had no idea about. Bryce being a Computer graduate from Stanford was easily able to understand the discussion, Sarah was just nodding her head in agreement. Sarah kept thinking of Chuck in midst of the discussion and all the nerd talk was making her regret her decision of leaving Chuck. She kept looking around for any clue, but nothing came her way. In the mid of the meeting, she excused herself to go to the ladies' room.

"Please Excuse me. I need to go the restroom"

Once outside Sarah got into action. She searched the area to look for any clues which could connect Roark Instruments to Fulcrum. Everything looked so clean, it looked like exactly what it says it is. On one of the notice boards, she found a pamphlet for a Tech Expo at their HQ next week. She noted and decided to enquire about it with Volkoff. Sarah enters the room and sits in her chair. Bryce and Volkoff still busy with their discussion. Finally, after some time the meeting got over and they shook hands with each other. Just as they were about to leave, Sarah enquired about the Expo.

Sarah inquiringly "I noticed some pamphlet about Tech Expo next week outside."

Volkoff in a serious tone "Ohh! That's just Mr. Roark's' idea. Every year he organizes it. He unveils new products or services at the Expo."

"Okay. Thanks." Said Sarah.

Both Bryce and Sarah got up to leave the building. Once outside, Bryce and Sarah got into their Mercedes to depart for their hotel.

Bryce asked Sarah "Anything you could muster about Roark?"

"Nothing much. Just about the Expo which I asked Alexi"

Bryce replied "Me neither. The only thing I could figure out is that the system has very good security. My codes couldn't penetrate the security system of the firm. There's something shady definitely going on here"

"Let's have a call with Graham and discuss our next plan" said Sarah.

In the call with Graham, he asks them to go to the US for the Expo. He advised them to be discreet there. As the call was about to end Graham asks Sarah to stay there, he wants to talk to her privately. Sarah just nodded.

Graham inquires "How are you, Sarah?"

"I'm not sure I follow Sir!"

"The Intersect is not functioning back in Burbank. Bartowski has stopped going on missions, is there anything you want to tell me?"

"What? How is Chuck? When did this happen?" Sarah replied in frustration.

"Calm Down Sarah. He's fine. You still haven't answered the question about you and the Intersect. Why did you leave so urgently?"

Sarah replied "There is nothing to tell. Chuck was my asset but he isn't anymore. I needed to get out of Burbank. Bryce was my partner and we were a good team before so I wanted to continue the good work with him."

"Okay, if you say so. Keep me posted if anything comes up." Graham said before disconnecting.

Sarah: Sure General.

Graham was getting anxious about what to do with the Bartowski guy, he still couldn't figure out how much impact did Walker had on him. He contemplated assigning a new Agent to protect Chuck, someone tough and Casey-like, although he never assumed Walker would become so doe-eyed with Chuck. He hated Chuck for converting his best Agent vis a vis Wild card enforcer into someone who doesn't have complete control over her emotions.

Finally, he decided to send Agent Miller to be his protector. He had to pull some strings, but he thought given the predicament that Agent Carina has already met Chuck, she would be able to handle him emotionally. CIA still needed Chuck for another around six months till the new Intersect is up and running smoothly.