A/N: The inevitable Bryce Larkin chapter.

Thanks for the reviews and all the anti-Bryce comments. I originally planned for him to arrive in an earlier chapter, but it seemed better at the end of the last one.

Beta thanks go to MarkeyDeSad once again. My British phraseology was creeping back in and needed to be pushed back. In a recent video chat, jwatkins said people would cope with it, but I want this story told by American characters to be American; so, lifts will be elevators, they won't 'share a car to work', but carpool, and holidays & leave will be vacations.

On with the story…

Anger Management
Chapter 13: Unwelcome

Sarah staggered back from the window, reeling from what she had seen, or more accurately who she had seen.

She had left Bryce Larkin over three years ago and never expected to see him again. Hoped never to see him again.

That bastard had not only betrayed her, but done so in her bed. She had left New York behind because of him.

Even with all the talk recently about the company they both worked for, she never thought about him. She'd blocked him out of her mind as if he never existed.

Now he was back.

Her conversation with Chuck about him had shown he must feel the same. That made her look at her boyfriend who was still standing at the window. She got up and walked back to him.

Chuck's eyes were not focused on anything; they were glazed over.

She grasped his arm and tried to pull him out of this dream state. "Chuck," she said quietly as she squeezed his arm.

He unglazed. "Sarah, Bryce Larkin was talking to El."

She squeezed his arm again. "I saw."

He started babbling. "Why is he here? What does he want? When did he come to Los Angeles? Is he looking for you? Does he want you back? W-"

"Chuck!" she snapped him out of this spiral.

He focused his eyes on her, looking horrified. "Oh God, Sarah! He does this to me!"

She pulled him round and wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tip toes so she could kiss him; and she did, a "we're going to be okay" kiss, full of her love for her boyfriend.

When their lips parted, he smiled at her. "Thanks for bringing me back to reality, Gorgeous."

She grinned and was about to speak, when there was a load knocking at the door.

"That'll be El," he told her and rushed over to let her in.

Before she'd even entered Ellie Bartowski was ranting. "Bryce freaking Larkin was here, Chuck!" She was shaking.

He grabbed her arms to steady her, and she focused on his face. "He wanted to know where you were. I told him what I thought of him!"

By this time Chuck had led her into the apartment and to the couch. She plopped down on it.

Sarah could see Ellie's pupils were dilated and her cheeks bright red. She had never seen the calm, controlled doctor so out of control. She rushed to get her a bottle of water.

Ellie took the bottled water, thanking her, and took a long swallow.

"Tell us what he said, Ellie," Sarah implored.

Ellie started to calm down a bit. "When I heard the knock on the door, I thought it might be you again, Sarah; his knock sounded like yours."

Sarah snorted. "So, he sounds like a woman when he knocks," she joked.

This did make the two Bartowskis smile.

Ellie continued, "I opened the door with a smile and was about to hug you, when I realized it wasn't you at all. I recoiled seeing who it was." She shivered at the thought. She couldn't say any more for a few seconds, obviously trying to calm herself first. "What he and that harlot did was terrible, but what it did to you made it so much worse."

Sarah was finding it hard to hear her friend talking about it. Chuck had told her, but with far less emotion than his sister. Both women almost in tears.

Chuck didn't want to dwell on that and so cut through their thoughts, sounding frustrated, "So, what did he say, El?"

She refocused on the now. "He said, 'Hi, Ellie. Is Chuck here still?' I couldn't believe the nerve. Turning up out of the blue and acting as if it hadn't been years since he'd last seen you, and nothing had happened!"

"And you said?" He prompted, definitely looking frustrated.

"I yelled at him that you no longer live with his sister and even if you did he couldn't see you. I told him to F off to whatever hole he crawled out of." She looked pleased with herself for that. Sarah grinned; she was pretty proud of her friend too.

Chuck however wasn't happy. "So, we have no idea what he wanted?"

That took the wind out of Ellie's sails. "No." Then she got angry. "Who care what he wants! He can take his wants to hell with him."

Chuck shook his head. "It's too much of a coincidence, him turning up now."

Sarah saw it first. "The attack?"

He nodded. "Yeah." His face darkened. "Or he could be coming after you, Sarah."

That got Sarah angry. "He can f right off! I'd never go back to him." She caressed Chuck's cheek. "You're the man I love and I will never willingly leave you."

She felt a light touch on her shoulder. It was Ellie's hand and her arm around her back. Sarah looked at her and smiled weakly, but very grateful for her support.

They were no clearer on Bryce Larkin's reasons for being here, but they were united in their dislike of the man and their support for each other.

= ! = =

Going to work knowing that one of the men you hated was in the area was unnerving. Sure, she didn't like Daniel Shaw, but he had never hurt her like Bryce Larkin had. She dreaded the thought of bumping into him somewhere. Not because she was frightened of him, but of what she might do to him, and the consequences.

She would be seeing her boyfriend for lunch today. Over the weekend, Diane Beckman had invited him over for what she called a few informal interviews, plural. In addition to her, three other people would be there; Casey, Laszlo and someone from HR; far more than in her single interview. This was obviously a more significant job than hers. She was so proud of him.

He'd told the Buy More he would be at the client site all morning, as the series of interviews would take that long.

As she walked into the building, all thoughts of Bryce Larkin evaporated. Gwen helped with that too. "Sarah," she called.

Smiling, Sarah walked to her friend. "Hi, Gwen. How are you today?"

Gwen waved that off. "Oh, I'm fine." Then she lowered her voice, "Your guy has a series of interviews today."

Sarah grinned. "I know."

"Hope he gets it," Gwen said.

"Thanks, I do too."

She headed to her floor and her desk almost in a dream. Thinking about what it will be like when he is working here. She has no doubt he will get the job, unlike him.

He'd been a panicky mess when she had joined him for breakfast at the apartment.

She had to reassure him. "Chuck, she wants you for the job. If she wants you, it's because Casey wants you. Stop panicking. You've got this."

He looked at her, shaking. "What if I screw up the interview, Sarah. What if they change their minds? What if HR find something they don't like about me?"

"What if the Earth stops circling the sun? Huh?" she snapped at him. Then she softened her tone, "Just be yourself, answer the questions honestly and everything will be fine."

She hugged him as well. She felt him tense at the start, but it was less than a minute before that eased.

"Thank you, Sarah," he said into her hair, not letting go. Unlike her, he hadn't wanted to practice answers, but he did need her reassurance.

They'd agreed he would join her for lunch after the interviews, most likely to celebrate, unless they needed time before telling him the result.

Arriving at her desk, Carina grumbled at her. "Reporting for his projects sucks!"

"Good morning, Carina," Sarah replied.

Grunt!

"You know, impersonating Casey won't make you feel better."

Snort. Then Carina looked at her. "Why are you so chipper today?" The smile forming on her face was quickly interpreted. "Why do I ask. Your boyfriend." That was followed by a huff and Sarah's laughter.

Even though Sarah was confident for Chuck, she still worried all morning. Not majorly, but just hoping he was feeling okay during the interviews.

She was so relieved when she got the text saying he was now waiting for her in reception.

"Sorry, Carina. Gotta dash," she told her friend as she rushed out.

"Give him my love," the redhead replied, "As you won't let me give it."

Sarah was still chuckling at that when the elevator door opened and she saw him talking to Gwen.

Chuck and Gwen were laughing. It made Sarah really happy to see her boyfriend so comfortable with the woman she now regarded as a friend at work. I must arrange to see her away from here, she thought.

She walked towards them and Gwen made eyes her way causing Chuck to turn. His eyes lit up, something that always made her whole-body tingle. "Hi, Sarah."

"Hi, Chuck."

As she reached him, he did something she never expected from her PDA adverse guy. It was only a peck, but a kiss all the same.

"Well?" She couldn't contain herself.

He grinned. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up to give him a proper kiss.

"I'm gonna take that as a 'yes' he got it," Gwen commented. As they separated and both looked at her, she added, "Congratulations."

"Thanks, Mrs. James," Chuck said, smiling.

"Gwen, it's Gwen with people I like," she replied.

He grinned. "Thanks, Gwen."

"Sorry, Gwen. Gotta feed my guy. He hardly ate anything for breakfast," Sarah said, pulling him toward the restaurant.

"So, you had all four of them in with you for the start of the interview?" she asked, incredulously.

Chuck explained, "Well, that was just so Mrs. Beckman could introduce me to them, and they stayed while she outlined the role, so everyone was clear on that. Would have been daunting if they had stayed throughout."

She nodded.

"After they left, she asked questions about my time in Stanford and why I hadn't really used my qualifications." He blushed just thinking about that. She squeezed his hand showing her support.

"We discussed it. She actually laughed and commented how perfectly matched you and I are." He smiled at her as he said that. She squeezed again, grinning at him.

"When she talked about what I had done recently, she cut me off when I started to point out it was teamwork. Her words were, 'Take the credit you're due,' which quite took me back to your words at home," he told Sarah.

Sarah beamed. "I like her even more!"

"She seemed sure I would fit in, but that the subsequent sessions, she didn't call them interviews, would clarify the responsibilities and reporting lines."

Sarah was fascinated by that last comment and was going to ask, but he held his hand up. "I'll explain that in a bit."

She closed her mouth. He was right, she should let him tell it his way.

"Casey and Laszlo interviewed me together as this will be a role that spans IT and security, so they felt it best to show it being that way right from the start." He chuckled as he added, "I could tell Laszlo was dying to talk to me on his own, though."

Sarah couldn't hold it in any longer. "So, what is the job?"

He looked apologetic. "I should have started with that. It's Cyber-Security Manager."

"So, basically what you've been doing since you've been helping out here?"

He nodded. "Yeah, plus beefing up the IT security and keeping it up to date."

That didn't sound that challenging. "Won't you get bored?"

He acknowledged that. "Maybe, but Laszlo said he had a number of other IT initiatives that he would fire my way, too. The server farm needs upgrading, for instance."

She hoped that was the case. At least with his Buy More role he got variety. "And HR?"

The person I saw remembered you joining. Anita Jones?"

Sarah remembered her and what she thought of Sarah's 'backdoor recruitment' directly via Diane Beckman. She rolled her eyes. Poor woman.

He grinned. "That's what she looked like when she mentioned you, then commented that neither of us came in via the normal channels. She said she didn't mind, though. She ran through the usual HR stuff and we discussed when I could start. I'd already told the other three. Buy More don't like staff being recruited by clients. In fact, there are rules around how long between finishing as a client and a transfer, but in this case, Beckman & Associates aren't a client so that wouldn't apply."

"So, when?"

He smiled at her impatience. "They should get the paperwork to me in the next day or two," he started, but when she frowned, he rushed out, "Monday after next."

She grinned. "You do know that I want to come and sit on your lap and kiss you within an inch of your life?"

He looked at her, apologetically. "Tonight. I have to survive an afternoon at the Buy More first."

"Tonight," she agreed. "No DVDs and a very quick meal. Don't expect much sleep." He looked a bit overwhelmed at that thought, his face displaying a series of emotions, ending desire. That filled her with the same.

When he arrived back at the Buy More, he was hardly through the doors before Morgan grabbed him and pulled him through to the Home Theater room and closed the door.

Chuck was confused. "What's going on, Morg?"

"That bastard from Stanford was here," Morgan announced.

Chuck had almost forgotten about Bryce with the interviews and what Sarah had announced would be happening that evening. "Shit!"

Morgan told him more. "He was looking for you, but Anna told him you weren't here."

Did she tell Bryce where to find him? Any hint? "What were her words, Morgan?"

Morgan thought for a few seconds. "She was in a bad mood today. Totally unhelpful. said, 'Hmm. Chuck Bartowski. I remember him. Not seen him in ages.' And that was the best of it. She hasn't seen you in ages."

Chuck chuckled at that. It was true. Anna had been on leave for quite a while and when she got back he was spending so much time at Beckman & Associates that their paths never crossed. "And what did he say?"

"He just told her that he wanted to see you and if she saw you to contact him, then left a card." Morgan shook his head. "I was going to rip it up, but Anna wouldn't let me have it. Said she'd give it to you." He looked apologetically at his tall friend. "Sorry, man."

"No. That's perfect. Where is Anna?"

"Break Room," Morgan told him. Then he narrowed his eyes. "You're not going to contact him, are you?"

"Well…" Chuck started.

"Chuck! He ruined your life. Why would you want to see him?" Morgan almost shouted.

"Shh! I have my reasons," Chuck hedged.

"What?"

"Can't say, Morg. Sorry."

"You're shutting me out, Chuck. I don't like it," his bearded friend told him.

"I'll tell you when I can, Morg." Chuck set off for the Break Room.

When he got there, he went straight to Anna. "I understand you have a card for me."

She looked up at him, chewing her usual gum. "Maybe."

He sat opposite her. "It's really important I track that guy down."

She looked at him some more. "Fine." She pulled the card from her shirt pocket and handed it to him. "Who is he?"

"You weren't here when I came back from Stanford, were you?"

"Nah. Before my time here," she replied. "I hear you were a mess." She thought for a second. "More than you were when I joined."

Chuck didn't want to remember those days, but Bryce being here was forcing him to do so. "He's why."

She stopped chewing. "If I'd known I wouldn't have been so polite."

He patted her arm. "Thanks, Anna."

"I know it's not in you, but I'll say it anyway. Give him hell."

He nodded. "Maybe I will. Maybe I will."

He finished for the day and was looking forward to heading home and whatever his amazing girlfriend had planned. He felt like everything was falling into place for him. Tomorrow he hoped to receive the job offer and would hand in his notice at the Buy More. He had the most amazing girlfriend with whom he would be able to carpool to work. Their lives together couldn't look better.

As he left the Buy More nothing could be further from his mind than the business card in his pocket. Until the named person stepped in front of him. His heart sank at the sight of Bryce Larkin, his nemesis from college.

"Hello, Chuck," a beaming Bryce said, "Still working at this place? Bit of a step down after Stanford?"

Chuck pushed passed him and carried on to the taxi he was using to get home quickly. "I bet you're still living with your sister, too," called the man who had, indeed, ruined his life, until recently.

Chuck was tempted to turn and correct him, but he wanted to talk to Sarah before saying a word to this pompous ass. He climbed into the taxi and they set off.

As they drove away, Chuck noticed Bryce watching them. He looked disappointed. Good.

As he entered the apartment, expecting to be the first there, he was surprised to hear Sarah singing to herself in the bathroom. This was something new. She never used to sing. She never used to be happy enough for it.

The door was open so he peered in to see her in a bath full of suds washing one of her legs that she had poking out.

"Wow. What a wonderful sight to find on getting home," he commented.

She beamed. "Got to make myself look my best for my men to celebrate with him," she replied.

"You always look so much better than good." He leaned down and gave her a kiss, after first glancing down at the suds covering her body.

She placed wet hands either side of his face deepening the kiss. After a few seconds he pulled away. "Better stop that or you will never get out of that bath."

She grinned. "Thinking of joining me?" She teased.

He reached in to the bath and scooped her up. She shrieked in surprise, but as he carried her to the bedroom, she wrapped her wet arms around his neck and hung on, laughing all the way. When he tossed her onto the bed, she happily lay there watching him undress, then realized what her state was doing to her surroundings. "Chuck, the bedding is going to be soaked,"

He clambered onto the bed. "Don't care."

Soon, neither did Sarah.

"I was going to dress up for you," she pouted.

"Hey, you were wearing soap suds, that was wonderful!" he joked, then questioned her, "Are you complaining?"

She gazed at her boyfriend. "Every time is wonderful, Chuck. You know I think that, but I wanted to make tonight special for you."

As he peppered her neck with kisses, he replied, "Every night with you is special, Sarah. I still can't believe how lucky I am."

Those kisses were going to lead to more of what they both enjoyed. "Smooth talker and sexy as hell. I'm the lucky one. With my past, I never thought I could ever have this, Chuck."

He stopped kissing her, which kinda sucked. He leaned away from her. "What's wrong, Chuck."

"I bumped into someone from the past today."

He didn't have to say more. "Bryce. That bastard found you?"

He nodded. "Went to the Buy More looking for me. Left. Card. On my way out, he tried to stop me, but nothing was going to get in my way when I was going to be seeing you."

That earns him a lingering kiss, but she couldn't get him to cheer up.

She knew how his mind would start spiraling, so she stopped the loving. She'd been thinking how best to deal with Bryce. "Call him, Chuck. arrange to meet him tomorrow evening at a restaurant. Keep a chair free for me and after you've been talking for a while, I'll join you. Don't know what he wants but I want him to see how much in love we are with each other."

That brightened his look. "You know he's partly the reason we are together."

She hadn't thought of it that way, but Chuck was right. "So, we thank him for being such a shit."

He laughed at that. He got off the bed, put on his boxers, found his phone then sat at the end of the bed. She listened as he called. After the tense initial call, Chuck said they could meet for a drink at a bar in Burbank the following evening. "Bring your credit card, Bryce. You're buying."

When Chuck ended the call, he was still tense. She massaged his neck muscles and they started to relax. "It'll be fine, my love."

He placed a hand on hers. "That's what'll get me through this. You loving me. I hope my love for you will help you too."

She moved round and sat on his lap, still naked, but dry now. "Oh, your love more than helps me, Chuck," she said in her best sultry voice.

Her naked body and tone were enough to get him back to where they started the conversation. Bryce Larkin completely forgotten again, by both of them, as he should be.

Sitting at the table he'd chosen, nursing his beer, Chuck now doubted the sense in doing this. He could see Sarah at a table near the wall, in the shadows, surprisingly. He was sitting off to the side of the bar, but fairly near to it. Bryce wouldn't miss him and Chuck really hoped he wouldn't look behind him as he entered or he'd see Sarah.

This cloak and dagger stuff was starting to get to Chuck. Sarah's idea had seemed fun last night, but now, here, where it was to be enacted, it felt too complicated.

He looked up as someone entered.

Bryce. He looked as good as ever. Dark hair slicked back. Smart clothes. Chuck pressed a button on the recording device under the table, so that Sarah would hear everything.

He quickly scanned the room and spotted Chuck and walked confidently to him. "Hi, Chuck" Gesturing at Chuck's beer, "Want another?"

Chuck didn't greet him, but nodded about the beer.

When Bryce brought them back, Chuck noted how quick he'd been. Bryce could always get what he wanted quickly.

Bryce sat in one of the other two chairs and leaned back. "Thanks for agreeing to see me, Chuck. I wasn't sure you would after brushing past me yesterday."

Chuck replied, "I was in a hurry."

"You sure were, buddy. Nearly knocked me over."

Chuck glared at him. "First of all, I'm not your buddy. Haven't been since you stole my girl. Secondly, just get this over with. Say your piece and we can both leave."

Bryce looked down. "I am so sorry about that, Chuck. Jill was interested and I just couldn't help myself."

Chuck could feel the anger rising. "Oh, so it's all on Jill? And what about being in my bed?"

Bryce blushed. He actually blushed. "We didn't think. It just happened where we met." He looked up at Chuck. "It didn't last, you know. I thought it would but almost as soon as we got to New York, she left me. Didn't see her again until a couple of months ago."

This sounded intriguing. Chuck raised an eyebrow and Bryce continued. "I don't know how it happened, but she apparently gave up on jobs in Biosciences and ended up in management. She joined my company just before we were bought out. I tried to hook up with her again, but she stone walled me. She's quite a bitch now."

Lots of information there, but Chuck focused for now on how she treated Bryce. "A bitch, huh?"

Bryce nodded. "Started making my life hell."

Chuck burst out laughing. "Well, you two made my life hell, so I don't feel sorry for you."

Bryce did look apologetic. "Sorry, Chuck."

"So, why're you here?" Chuck asked again.

"The new guy at the top wants our company to expand to the West Coast. By linking with a company here. There's one here called Beckman & Associates, which I've been sent to negotiate with after I have a short break. I'm kinda hoping I could become the liaison between the two, if it works out. Keep me away from Jill."

Chuck felt the tension rising as Bryce told his story. He did have to make sure, though. "Who's your employer?"

"Gateshead Financial, Big in finance on the East Coast," Bryce boasted. That was the Bryce he remembered.

Unfortunately, that answer wasn't the one Chuck was hoping for. He needed to get his partner in crime involved in the conversation.

Bryce looked at him closely. "Still at the Buy More. Why haven't you moved on?"

That stopped Chuck from sending the prepared text to Sarah, at least temporarily. Chuck almost snarled at his ex-friend. "I felt comfortable there. Seeing your girlfriend and best friend screwing in your bed, kinda knocks the will to live out of you!" He sent the text.

"Ouch!" Bryce responded. "So, not gotten over Jill, then?"

Chuck noticed Sarah walking towards them. "Oh, I'm so over Jill," he retorted. He could see Sarah had heard it.

She walked passed Bryce and around to Chuck, twisting his head to one side and gave him a passionate kiss.

When she pulled away, Chuck just blinked a couple of times, before seeing her sit in the third chair. "Hello, Bryce."

Bryce's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "S- Sarah?"

Chuck watched as she smiled at Bryce, although no warmth entered her eyes. "I found someone better. So, so much better."

"Wow! Talk about small world," Bryce said as he leaned back into his chair. Then his arrogance shone through. "Miss me?"

"Only when I'm too tired to aim properly," she quipped.

Chuck felt her hand reach around and grasp his. She was finding this as difficult as he was.

Bryce obviously wanted to talk to Sarah, possibly alone, but Chuck had no intention of letting that happen. It wasn't that he doubted Sarah or her ability to handle herself, it was because he needed more about Gateshead. At Chuck's questioning, Bryce then explained more about his new boss, before finishing with, "Last thing I did today, was set up a meeting with Diane Beckman next Monday."

Sarah tightened her grip on Chuck's hand. He knew her anger was bubbling under the surface. She was glaring at her ex, obviously wanting to say something, but Chuck squeezed her hand. She looked at him and her features softened. God, I love this woman!

"How did you meet?" Bryce asked.

"Luck," Chuck replied.

"Chance," Sarah said at the same time.

They grinned at each other.

Bryce was just looking at them. "I don't make many mistakes, but I'm looking at two of them."

Sarah told him. "I think you've made a lot more than that, but it ultimately enabled the two of us to find our soulmates." She then picked up the glass she'd brought over and took a sip of wine.

Bryce just contemplated that, wordlessly.

Sarah then stood and pulled Chuck out of his seat, saying, "Sorry, Bryce, but we've a bed to catch."

Chuck grinned at his ex-friend and allowed her to pull him away from the man he'd hated for so long, but now just wanted to hand to Casey to deal with.

After they made love on arriving home, Chuck and Sarah lay facing each other, slightly sweaty but very, very happy.

Gazing into her lover's eyes, Sarah felt thankful for what Bryce had done, to both of them. If he hadn't, Chuck might be married to his ex, Jill, who obviously wasn't faithful, and she might still be in New York in a life far less than this. For her, it wasn't just the sex, although that was so much better than with Bryce; no, it was about their connection. They were both so much better together than apart. Not only that, this wonderful man loved her as much as she loved him. They were, as she'd told Bryce, soulmates.

"I recorded everything for you, and you should listen to it before going to work, but tomorrow, you should give it to Diane or Casey."

She pushed him onto his back and pulled herself on top of him. "Thank you, Chuck, but I don't want to think about that right now. I need more loving."

She could see in his eyes and feel that he felt the same. This wasn't to push Bryce out of their thoughts and certainly not to get them over him. This was confirming their love for each other, physically.

And it's so good!

A/N: Although only a small part of this chapter, the unwelcome interview process was still something Chuck had to go through. I once went for an interview where the woman recruiting sat behind her desk and a single chair sat in front of it, where I obviously was intended to sit; once I did, four others trouped in and sat behind me. I got questions fired at me from all of them, so had to keep turning round to see the speaker. I think it was a test of how well I coped under pressure. I didn't get the job, but never found out if that was the reason!

Drop me a review to let me know what you think of the chapter.