Fic takes place present day
I don't own Chuck
He opened his eyes. He hurt…everywhere, and he found in that moment, that there was only one person on his mind…Sarah. As the bullet ripped through his body, there had been one person on his mind…Sarah. He hadn't expected that. He tried to move and found he was not held down but at the moment lacked the energy to raise up. In the background he heard music as he strained to listen.
… Some things are long forgotten
Some things were never said
We were on one endless road
But I had a wandering heart
… I said we were opposite lovers
(Said it from the beginning) you kept trying to prove me wrong
(Said you'd always see it through) and I know that I ran you down
So you ran away with your heart
The lyrics assaulted him. The one thing he never in his life he wanted to be like, he was absolutely like…his father. Bryce shut his eyes and tried to drive awaythe memory of his mother crying when his father came in late one morning, drunk, and reeking of perfume. He remembered swearing to himself he would never get that close to a person so he wouldn't hurt them.
He had done it twice in his life, the first time, it broke him. His best friend…Chuck Bartowski. The CIA…their psyops were next level. They knew all the things to say to Bryce. They knew all the hurt he had suffered in his life. They presented him with a job that sounded amazing, and he took it. He quickly learned how not amazing it was.
The day Bryce found out Chuck was being recruited into the CIA was the second hardest day of his life. Bryce knew what he had to do, and he did it. He got Chuck expelled. He also began to drink, to wash away the pain of what he had done. It was only after seeing himself drunk in the mirror, that he knew he had to stop. He was becoming his father, the man he swore he never would.
He became what the CIA wanted, but he was lonely, so he found comfort, albeit temporary comfort, where ever he could…until he met her. Sarah freaking Walker.
She was grace and beauty, destruction and care, she was everything he had ever hoped for and he saw the pain in her that he saw in himself. He fell for her, even though he knew he shouldn't.
… But just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you, I'll take the fall and the fault in us
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you
Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you, I'll take the fall and the fault in us
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you
Bryce opened his eyes and sat up. This wasn't like the last time he was shot. There were no members of Fulcrum waiting for him to put him into some machine. He touched his chest where he was shot, and found no scar…just like last time. What the hell kind of technology was used on him?
Last time. He had awoken and found both of them…Chuck and Sarah…she had chosen Chuck….at least, she didn't choose Bryce. Which was fair, because when she asked him to, he wouldn't choose her. He remembered those words in Cabo.
"Bryce, you don't have to sleep with other women…with marks…there are other ways to do it," Sarah protested.
"Sorry I'm not purely fresh like the fallen snow like you are," Bryce muttered.
"Bryce, don't give me that bullshit," Sarah replied. "You know what we've done, you know I've been with other men before you. I've given the CIA so much. I have so much blood on my hands, but I am not going to fuck some guy to get information out of him. First, you know they aren't using protection, and secondly, I don't want to. What I'm telling you is, you want to. You have a choice, be with me, or be with them."
"That is the most you've said to me in our entire relationship at one time," Bryce said to her smirking.
"Lot of good it did me," Sarah replied. "Which is it Bryce?"
"I can't limit my options," Bryce replied. Sarah nodded. "You're not leaving?" he asked as she grabbed her things.
"How can I leave, when you're never really here with me?" Sarah asked, walking out the door.
Bryce blew out a breath and looked around the sterile room. The music continued to play softly.
… I know it's hard to hear it
And it may never be enough
But don't take it out on me now
'Cause I blame it all on myself
… And I had a fear of forgiveness
(Said it from the beginning) I was too proud to say I was wrong
(Said you'd always see me through) but all that time is gone
No more fearing control, I'm ready for the both of us now
He had done Chuck wrong a second time. Sarah was falling for Chuck, and he tried to protect Chuck…that was a damn lie. Bryce wanted Sarah back. He loved her. Bryce knew he loved her, but he was scared. He was scared of what caring for someone meant. He was scared for what being open with Sarah the way Chuck was, looked like. He couldn't do it…until it fell into his lap…and it didn't.
"Your not coming with me are you?" He remembered the look on her face when he asked it. She had chosen Chuck. She had chosen Chuck the way Sarah had asked Bryce to choose him.
… So just know that I want you back
So just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you, I'll take the fall and the fault in us
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you
Just know that I want you back (just know that I want you)
Just know that I want you back (just know that I want you)
Just know that I want you, I'll take the fall and the fault in us
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you (just know that I want you back, baby)
… Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you, I'll take the fall and the fault in us (you back)
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you (you back)
Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you, I'll take the fall and the fault in us (you back)
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you (you back)
"Mr. Larkin," he heard Beckman say as the door opened. "Good to see you with us."
"He didn't destroy it did he?" Bryce asked. Her snort was all the answer he needed. "How am I alive…again?"
"Something to do with that nanotechnology in you," Beckman told him. Bryce's eyes widened. "Graham never told you that was how Fulcrum brought you back?"
"You mean those idiots have figured out nanotechnology but not the Intersect?" Beckman nodded. "Figures."
"So, what do we do now?" Beckman asked.
"I go deep undercover and never see Chuck or Sarah again," Bryce answered without even thinking about it. He held up his hand, stalling her protest. "They have something, General."
"It's not going well," Beckman admitted.
"It doesn't matter, she loves him, he loves her," Bryce replied. "I love her…she doesn't love me."
"I've never seen you do something quite so noble," Beckman told him. Bryce chuckled. "Although some might say what you attempted to do for Mr. Bartowski was noble." Bryce gave her a look. "Mr. Larkin, we are the US intelligence agency. Do give us some credit."
"Just send me some place they'll never find me," Bryce said with a shrug.
"I'll do what I can," Beckman told him.
}o{
Fifteen years later
"DAD! Look at the Eiffel tower!" the blond headed curly hair boy yelled.
"What is it about the Eiffel tower and Bartowski men?" he heard a familiar voice say. Bryce lifted his head from where he was meeting with his contact. He saw her blink and began to look around.
"I need to go," Bryce told his contact as he slipped away.
"Babe, you okay?" Bryce heard his old friend ask.
"Yeah…I got…never mind," Sarah told Chuck.
"Oooo, did you spy sense tingle?" he heard Chuck asked. Bryce had to put his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. Sarah swatted him on the shoulder but gave him a grin. "Love you, Sarah, thank you for this."
"Love you, Chuck," Sarah told him. "Bryce, let's go."
"Okay, mom," the little boy huffed. Bryce Larkin watched them walk away, his heart hurting. He quickly ducked behind a building just before Sarah glanced over her shoulder one last time.
… Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you back
Just know that I want you I'll take the fall and the fault in us
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you
Just know that I want you back (just know that I want you)
Just know that I want you back (just know that I want you)
Just know that I want you, I'll take the fall and the fault in us
I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you (just know that I want you back, baby)
(Just know that I want you)
(Just know that I want you back, baby)
I'll take the fall and the fault in us, I'll give you all the love I never gave before I left you (you back)
A/N: I Want You Back by Haim
