I don't own Chuck

Three months later found them ready, or so they thought. Chuck and Sarah had continued practicing until they felt like they had mastered everything, and then Morgan made them do it again.

Chuck was working on dinner when the door opened. He saw the look on Sarah's face and his heart sank. "What is it?"

"It's Bryce," Sarah said, anger, fear, and rage on her face all at once.

}o{

They gathered in front of the monitor, Zondra and Carina watching Chuck in a way he had never seen them look at him. Beckman and Graham appeared on the screen.

"Team," Beckman began, the look on her face indescribable. She paused and stared at Chuck. "Agent Bartowski, the rest of the team has seen this video. After you have seen it, I think you'll understand why."

Chuck narrowed his eyes and nodded. Beckman hit a button and she and Graham were replaced on the screen with Bryce.

Bryce was sitting, a smirk on his face. "Agent Carmichael," Bryce began, smugly. "I was going to let you go, leave you alone, but over the past few months, I've realized that you can't leave loose threads out in the wild." He paused, leaned back, and tapped his forefingers against each other, looking like some villain mastermind that was about to tell his evil master plan.

"You have three options," Bryce continued. "The first option is you do nothing." Bryce paused, and then gave an evil grin. "If you do that, you should know the consequences." There was a long pause. "I will kill Ellie and Molly."

"You sonofabitch," Chuck muttered, anger on his face. Sarah took his hand, and squeezed it.

"You won't do that one, I'm sure of it," Bryce continued. "Don't make me kill Ellie and Molly, Chuck." Bryce glared at the camera like it was Chuck's fault that might happen.

"The second option, and the one I'm pretty sure you'll pick, though I wish you wouldn't." Bryce leaned back in his chair, a proud smirk returning to his face. "You come to me, and we fight this out. You have three months. So kiss Ellie and Molly goodbye, and your new piece of ass, and come fight me. I'll hate to kill you, but I have to."

"God, he is so arrogant," Chuck muttered. He noticed Carina and Zondra still staring at him. Before he could ask what was going on, Bryce continued.

"The final option, and the one I hope you choose, is to return and join me," Bryce said, a sick smile on his face. "But, to do so, you have to kill your whole team. Ellie and Molly, they will be left alone, but your team, it has to go."

Chuck turned to Sarah, shock on his face. Sarah shook her head at him and nodded back to the screen. "Now," Bryce continued. "What I suggest you do, is not let them know this is the one you are going to choose." Bryce moved in close to the camera. "Come on, Chuck, you can't tell me you haven't missed us. We're brothers, Chuck."

Chuck was shaking his head. "Think about it," Bryce said softly, almost like he was trying to seduce him. "The freedom to kill. The freedom for us to do whatever we want. The freedom of us to rule the world…together."

He smirked. "I know that you have a plan to come attack me. I know you have a team, but do you know what I just did to you? I have made sure the team will never trust you. I have made sure you are all alone. Do you think anyone is gonna trust you? Do they know?" Chuck took a deep breath, knowing what was coming. "Do they know about the night we had?"

The pride on Bryce's face made Chuck's stomach churn. "I do hope no one sees this before you do," Bryce added, chuckling. "Three months, Chuck. Don't make me kill Ellie and Molly." With that the camera clicked off.

Beckman and Graham returned on the screen. "Agent Carmichael," Graham began.

"I'm sorry, sir," Chuck cut in. "There is no Agent Carmichael. I am agent Chuck Bartowski. I have a team I trust, I have a family here." He gestured to the TV. "I know what he just did. I know exactly what Bryce Larkin did. He's scared and he took his big shot. He has tried to turn my team against me, and that tells me he's worried."

The room was silent for a moment and then Casey's voice rang out. "Semper Fi." Chuck, and everyone, turned to Casey. "Semper Fidelis is a Latin phrase that means 'always faithful' or 'always loyal'." Zondra and Carina shared a look. "God, country, family," Casey continued. "Chuck Bartowski is the very definition of always loyal." Chuck straightened and nodded to Casey.

"I guess this is where I tell you that there was a night that Bryce…" Chuck cleared his throat.

"Bryce Larkin being the piece of shit he is seduced you at your lowest point," Carina said, anger on her face. "Casey's right. You are loyal and faithful…to a damn fault." Zondra nodded in agreement. "I don't trust many people, and even fewer men, but you Curls…you I trust."

"Me too," Zondra added. "We got this."

"Great," Chuck said, nodding. "Well, this has been fun," and with that he turned and left.

"I got him," Sarah said, heading off after him.

}o{

"Come on," Sarah said, catching up to him, looping her arm through the crook of his. "There's something we need to do." Chuck gave her a look, but went with her. They found themselves at Ellie and Devon's apartment. "She knows," Sarah told him. "I knew you'd want to tell her, but it would be a lot."

"Thanks," Chuck said, as they headed inside. "What are we doing, Sarah?"

"I know you, Chuck Bartowski," Sarah told him, grinning. "I have gotten to know you better than I thought I could know anyone."

"So if you know me so well, what do I need?" Chuck asked, confused. "He might kill us Sarah."

"He might," Sarah agreed. "But I think maybe you need one more thing to fight for." Sarah had him sit on the couch, and disappeared for a minute. When she came back, Ellie was with her, carrying a sleeping Molly. Ellie gently handed Molly to Chuck, and sat down across from him in a chair. Sarah sat down beside Chuck.

"Chuck, that's your daughter," Ellie told him. Chuck looked at Sarah. "When this is over, I want you and Sarah to adopt her. She already sees you two as her parents."

"Ellie," Chuck began.

"Chuck, you know it's true," Ellie told him.

"But Sarah and I aren't…." He trailed off and looked over at Sarah.

"I double dog dare you to finish that sentence," Sarah told him. "Tell me what we are not, because buster, I know what we are, do you?"

Chuck looked from her to Molly. "I don't dare ask…or guess," he said softly.

"We're a family, Chuck," Sarah told him. Chuck nodded, as he held Molly tight. Sarah put her arm around him and pulled him in. "We're a family and you can't go to far for family or those you love, can you Ellie?"

"Nope," Ellie chirped. "You can never go to far for family."