"Looks like this is the last day for the bandage," said Sarah, attempting a smile. They were once again in the bathroom, but this time he couldn't enjoy being close to her.

Chuck didn't know there was something more miserable than being shot, but there was, and it was the past two days.

Ellie hasn't spoken to him since their last… conversation.

And that was two days ago.

They occasionally passed each other in the apartment, she'd sometimes mention a greeting that was not welcoming in any way, but the tension was palpable.

And it was killing Chuck more than the bullet nearly did.

Any time he'd wanted to apologize, he couldn't figure out what he was supposed to say. She was going to need a reason, and he couldn't think of any he was able to tell her. It was absolutely destroying him inside.

Chuck had been mildly worried that Awesome would have approached him at some point about the injury, but though he seemed to take his fiancé's side in this, he'd more or less stayed out of it. Perhaps since his condition has been improving every day they weren't as concerned, which was the luckiest break. He and Sarah both seemed unsure how to handle the tension that everyone could feel in the apartment. But although Awesome held some short casual conversations with Chuck, he was just as civil.

Sarah sighed, leaning against the edge of the bathroom sink, reading the turmoil in Chuck's face. But she didn't necessarily have to; she'd been staying here for both the past two days and he hadn't been shy about how much it was tearing him up.

"She'll come around," said Sarah gently.

But Chuck picked up his head, that awful guilt and misery in his voice when he said, "Sarah, I've never yelled at Ellie before. Ever. I didn't even mean to, I just…" His eyes shut and he rubbed at them. "I didn't know what else to do."

He'd also hardly gotten any sleep, which hasn't helped.

Sarah put a hand on his shoulder, brows creased in sympathy. "You had no choice," she said softly. "You'd be putting her in danger if she were to—"

"I know," said Chuck, eyes shut. "But you… you should have seen the look on her face. I've never seen her look like that before. And because of something I said to her?" Chuck sighed. "How much more is the stupid computer in my head going to take from me?"

Sarah held his gaze, her brows still pulled together sadly, but she seemed unable to find words to say.

The bullet wound had lessened in pain over the past two days, but his overall suffering just seemed to be getting worse. "I can't lose her, Sarah." Chuck opened his eyes and said, "I have to talk to her. I have to fix this."

"What are you going to say?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said quietly. "But I have to say something. I have to try."

"Want me to come with you?" asked Sarah.

"No," said Chuck with another sigh. With a wince, he said, "Not that I don't appreciate it, but… I don't think you would exactly make things better… since, you know, I've been using you as the reason I won't let Ellie help me."

Sarah bit her lip, nodding with a wince of her own.

"I think it would be best if you… left," said Chuck hesitantly. "Not that I want you to go, but I—"

Sarah met his eyes, hesitance in hers.

"Look, the guy is in custody, Casey's been dealing with him for three days, and Ellie's done pestering me, and possibly done anything-ing me," said Chuck, face creasing with utter misery. "I'll be okay." he said with another sigh.

Sarah held his gaze for a long moment, seeming torn. But finally, she said, "Okay. But… just a few hours."

Chuck smiled. "Thanks."

Chuck's experienced more terrifying scenarios than he can count, and yet poking his head out of his bedroom to find Ellie felt like the most daunting mission yet.

He spotted her in the kitchen, cutting up some vegetables for what was mostly likely dinner. Awesome was working and Sarah had just left nearly thirty minutes ago. Chuck's spent enough time trying to prepare himself.

Now or never.

Taking a breath, Chuck walked down the hall.

As he approached the kitchen, he cleared his throat a little. "Hey," he said nervously.

Ellie didn't look at him, nor stop what she was doing.

Chuck sighed.

"Ellie… can we… talk?" he asked hesitantly.

She didn't stop chopping, and if anything, it gained a little more force, and Chuck suddenly worried he should have asked her when she wasn't holding a knife.

"Why don't you talk to Sarah," she said, glaring at the cutting board. "You only like sharing things with her, anyway."

Chuck felt his chest twist.

So far, so not good.

"Sarah went home a little while ago. I asked her if she could leave us alone to talk," said Chuck slowly. "I miss you, Ellie. And I'm really sorry about the other day. I just…"

"You just, what?" said Ellie, finally putting down the knife and turning to look at him. "Chuck, just come out and say it. You don't want me in your life anymore."

Chuck's brows shot to his hairline. "Wh-What? Of course I don't! I mean—of course I do want you in my life, Ellie, you have no idea how much I care about you and—"

"Well," she cut him off, her face hard with hurt and frustration. "Ever since you met Sarah, you never do anything with me anymore. You cancel plans with me all the time, you either have no excuse or you lie," Chuck winced, "and now you won't even let me help you with an injury that I am trained in caring for." Tears gathered in her eyes. "I have helped you with broken bones, sprains, cuts, splinters—I have helped you with all kinds of injuries, broken hearts, everything ever since we were kids." A tear rolled down her cheek. "Then Sarah walks into your life, and all of a sudden, I've been replaced."

Chuck felt his own eyes burn.

"Ellie, it's not like that—" tried Chuck, racing through his mind for a way to make this right. He'd been trying to for the past two days, but every excuse he could come up with for why she couldn't see his injury, and why their plans always get ruined came up blank.

"Yes, it is!" she shot back. "Look, I get that you really like Sarah. So do I. I'm glad you're happy," she said with a huff. "But I'm in love with Devon and I still make time for you." The words hit him hard and Chuck nearly flinched. "Because you're my brother and because I love you." The firm way she said it seemed to contradicted it a bit, yet it made Chuck wince all the same.

"Ellie," said Chuck, voice tortured. "It really isn't like that, I promise. You have no idea how much I want you in my life. And—"

"Then either let me see your injury," she said, arms crossed, "or tell me why I can't. And don't give me the whole 'Sarah likes nursing' crap. There is no reason why I can't look at it even once."

Chuck shut his eyes. "Ellie," he said painfully, opening his eyes. "I'm sorry, I just…"

Ellie looked at him with so much hurt, Chuck felt like being shot all over again.

"You know," said Ellie quietly, but the words hit Chuck like a physical blow, "I don't even know who you are anymore, Chuck." Chuck opened his mouth, trying to find words to say, but nothing came. There was nothing he could say. "But don't worry," said Ellie. "Message received. You don't want me in your life, then I won't be. Because I can't do this anymore."

With that, Ellie stalked out of the kitchen and she left, slamming the door shut.

"Ellie!" exclaimed Chuck, trying to follow, able to move slowly but he hadn't tried moving fast yet. He grimaced as it made his ribs twinge sharply. A hand to his abdomen, he followed as fast as he could, using the wall for support. "Ellie, wait! Just—"

But the front door opened again, and Chuck nearly breathed out in relief that she'd come back. "Ellie—" he began, but his words died in his throat.

Ellie had returned.

But she wasn't alone.

A man walked into the apartment, one arm wrapped around Ellie's waist, his other hand around her mouth, pinning her to himself.

She was struggling against the grip, eyes wide and terrified, trying to scream against the hand.

Chuck jerked his head to the man's face.

It hit him in an instant.

Agent Trent Barlowe.

Fulcrum team leader.

Chuck lost his breath.

Behind the man, four others walked in.

Chuck flashed on each of them, revealing their names and status as Fulcrum members, plus every scary little thing about them.

Chuck's head swam.

He stumbled, but suddenly his arms were grabbed by two of the agents, yanking him painfully upright. Chuck shook himself from the flashes, trying to jerk free but their grips held strong.

Fulcrum.

Ellie.

Two worlds that should never mix were crashing violently together.

Horrible fear stole his breath.

"Charles Carmichael," said the man holding Ellie—Agent Barlowe. "Or, is it Chuck Bartowski?"

"What do you want," ground out Chuck, trying to keep his fear out of his voice, and kicking himself for sending Sarah away. He jerked against the arms holding him, wishing he could hit the panic button on his watch.

Ellie was still struggling against Barlowe, but her attempts didn't look like they were affecting the man at all.

Chuck's heart pounded.

"Well," said Barlowe. "I wanted you, alive, days ago. Agent Bradford wasn't supposed to kill you. He had orders to bring you in," he said with a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "Well, you know what they say. You want something done right, you have to do it yourself."

Chuck froze.

The agent that shot him.

He was supposed to abduct him?

Casey had said that Bradford spoke of shooting Chuck out of revenge.

Chuck felt himself flash back to the moment he was shot, to the hazy memory right before the bullet struck him.

"You've caused Fulcrum a lot of trouble."

The way he'd stressed Fulcrum, as if it was more than that.

It was personal.

"Who is the Intersect?"

Bradford had orders to bring him in.

"You know what… it's not worth it."

Chuck couldn't breathe.

They were looking for the Intersect.

Him.

"Look," said Chuck, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice. "Just let her go," he said, eyes on Ellie, who was watching him with terrified eyes. "I'm the one you want."

Ellie made a distressed squeak at that, and Barlowe tightened his grip on her, making her wince with a muffled cry.

"Don't hurt her!" cried Chuck. "I'll do whatever you want, just please don't hurt her." He couldn't keep the desperation out of his voice.

Barlowe raised his brow. "Anything?"

"Yes, anything," said Chuck quickly, trying to fight the chill that swept down his spine at the implications that might have. "Just, please, let her go."

"Well if you'll do anything to ensure her safety, she proves quite useful." With a sick grin, he pulled a rag from his jacket, and pressed it firmly over Ellie's nose and mouth.

"Ellie!" cried Chuck, but the grips on his arms prevented him from moving.

She struggled for half a second more before falling limp in the man's arms.

Rage and fear twisted Chuck's chest horribly. "Ellie—!" He fought against the arms holding him even when it tore horribly at his injury.

"Don't worry," said Barlowe, nodding to something behind Chuck. "You'll be reunited very soon."

Before he could react, damp cloth was pressed over his own face, a sickly-sweet smell overriding his senses.

"Get them in the van. Before his handler returns."

Chuck blinked heavily, feeling weakness trail through him.

He blinked again, trying to fight it.

But he was already gone.

a/n: ...based on the your reviews, I don't think you guys saw that coming xD

hope y'all enjoyed the wrench thrown into the story, cause things are gonna get quite a bit more interesting...

~cosette141