A/N: This chapter is where it all really begins. This will also explain where I got the title from. Thanks for reading!

Chapter Three:

Chuck cheated and ordered take-out which he promptly transferred into pots and pans at home. Sarah was not fooled when she returned early from work, but he hoped Bryce would not be so observant. After all, not everyone was as astutely trained as she was.

At five sharp there was a knock at the door.

Chuck sighed. "That's him," he announced, shrugging off his apron.

Sarah grabbed his hand as he passed, frowning. "Why are you nervous?" she asked.

Chuck self-consciously wiped his palms on his pants. "I'm not."

She arched one perfectly shaped brow. "Chuck…" she warned, and crossed her arms.

Chuck blushed. His heart was beating fast and he knew he was going to stutter if he didn't take a deep breath. "He's always been this guy, you know?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't know."

Chuck hesitated. No. Of course not. Sarah had probably been that girl. "He's always been that guy that every other guy looks up to. And I just don't want to feel like I'm living in his shadow anymore—"

"Chuck!" she admonished, a look of irritation briefly passing through her features. She sighed and hugged him tight. "You don't need to impress this guy, okay? And even if you wanted to, you don't have to try. He can't hold a candle to you." She kissed him tenderly, her eyes shining like the surface of the ocean. "When are you going to realize that?"

Chuck smiled, feeling a little better. "Lucky I have you here to remind me, huh?"

"Very lucky," she agreed, drawing him into another long kiss.

Chuck completely forgot about their guest until the knock sounded again.

"That said, will you help me look good?" he pleaded quietly.

Sarah narrowed her eyes just the slightest. "Are you asking me to be your trophy wife?"

Chuck gulped. "No!" he hissed. "Of course not."

Sarah winked as she gave him a push towards the door. "You're going to regret that, Mr. Bartowski."

_

"Sorry, didn't hear you there," Chuck lied as he let Bryce in. He was slightly disappointed to see that his old friend had changed out of his casual clothes and adopted an expensive suit for the occasion. His hair was sleek and gelled back and he stank of exotic cologne. It had only been thirty seconds and already Chuck felt inadequate in his sweat pants and t-shirt.

"You know we're eating in," he said as he took the proffered bottle of wine. It was a brand Chuck had never heard of, but he was sure the grapes had been hand-picked by monkeys and aged in a vat made of gold or something similar. Bryce had always found a way to stand out in the midst of normalcy.

The man smiled, his blue eyes dancing with amusement. "I know," he shrugged. "But it's been awhile and I wanted to dress nicely for your wife."

Chuck didn't know why, but the comment made him bristle.

Stop it. He's just being polite.

Chuck forced a smile and walked back into the kitchen.

"Honey?" he called, and tried to suppress a laugh as he saw Sarah with her back to them. She leaned over the stove, ladle in hand, looking as if she were hard at work. What a hypocrite, mocking him for ordering take-out.

"Yes, darling?" she called back sweetly. Chuck blushed; she was having way too much fun playing the role of domesticated housewife.

"Meet my old friend." Chuck looked to Bryce as he stood beside him, shoulder to shoulder. The blue-eyed man's expression of amusement faded and he stared into the kitchen in solemn silence.

"Bryce—" Sarah turned sharply around, the ladle dropping out of her hand. She sucked in a deep breath, her brows knotted with confusion. "Larkin," Chuck finished, shooting her a wary glance.

Sarah didn't say anything for the longest time. She could only stare at his friend, her eyes brooding with clouded thoughts. Chuck couldn't remember ever seeing her this way. What was it he saw in her eyes? Sadness? Surprise? Chuck had no idea and he thought he knew all her expressions.

Finally Sarah shook herself out of her daze and walked forwards. "Pleased to meet you," she said, her voice carrying the slightest waver. She held out her hand and Chuck saw that it was shaking.

Bryce cleared his throat and took it, holding it for a little longer than Chuck would have liked.

"Yeah, you too," he said. Something transpired between them; something Chuck had no part in. The thought of being an outcast in his own kitchen made him regret ever agreeing to let Bryce back into his life again.

Fears he'd never considered began to surface, and looking into Sarah's conflicted eyes, he could see that the horrors of Stanford were about to repeat themselves. And why not? They complimented one another, two beautiful individuals, overachievers, brilliant—

"Chuck?" Chuck didn't realize there was a hand on his shoulder until it was too late. Sarah was staring at him now. Bryce had already moved to the dining table, preparing to uncork the wine he'd brought.

"You okay?" she asked.

Chuck wanted to ask her the same. Her whole face was flushed but her hands were ice cold to the touch.

"Yeah," he said with a shrug. He wasn't fooling anyone though.

Sarah lowered her eyes and nodded. "Yeah, okay," she said, absent-mindedly.

Chuck watched as she walked back to the stove to pick up the ladle she'd dropped earlier, wishing she had stayed and asked him to explain himself. It wasn't like her to ignore his feelings; she was usually persistent to a fault.

.

The three of them sat at the dinner table making awkward conversation. Chuck sat alone at the head of the table; his wife and friend sitting on either side of him, facing one another.

Chuck didn't want to admit that the tension in the room was nearly palpable, but he could almost see the sparks fly between Sarah and Bryce. How could he have been so foolish? Maybe when she hung around her coworkers and Morgan she found Chuck quite the catch, but he knew he couldn't compare to the debonair charm of Bryce Larkin.

Chuck wasn't so much nervous as he was disheartened. Instead of the usual babbling he was so apt to do, he found himself short on words and spoke in monosyllables only when spoken to.

Sarah sat on his right with the most intense expression imprinted on her face. The usual warmth in her eyes was gone and what replaced it was the deepest, most piercing shade of blue. Chuck had never seen her like this before and he didn't like it. This wasn't the Sarah he knew.

Only Bryce remained unaffected. He grinned and his manner of speech was as smooth as olive oil. He joked, told anecdotes from their Stanford days, and generally behaved as if nothing was amiss. After spending the first half hour filling them in on what he was up to, something or other about finances and accounting, he turned his attention to his friend.

"So, what are you up to these days, Chuck?" Bryce asked.

Chuck prodded his fork through the largely untouched plate in front of him. When he didn't answer, Bryce asked again.

"Not much," Chuck responded with a shrug. "Just stuff."

He realized he was being a terrible host. Bryce's easy manner was proof enough that they had made up and become friends again.

"And you, Sarah?" Bryce asked, somehow finding Chuck's response more than adequate. "What line of work at you in?"

Much to Chuck's dismay, he realized she hadn't taken her eyes off of his friend since he arrived. He had never seen her pay so much attention to anyone before.

Sarah stared at the man sitting across from her. "Banking," she said with a twisted smile.

Bryce smiled back, leaning forwards across the table. "That sounds awfully interesting."

"It is," she said, raising her chin just the slightest. "It's fascinating."

Chuck stared down at his plate, unwilling to witness the exchange that went on in front of his very eyes. If they were going to flirt with one another, they should at least have the grace to do it when he was out of sight.

"What brings you here, Mr. Larkin?" she asked, leaning forwards in her seat. "You're not a native of Los Angeles, I understand."

Bryce smiled in a way Chuck didn't like. "I'm here on business," he informed. "Only here for a couple days."

Thank goodness, Chuck thought. He stole a glance at Sarah but she didn't seem to notice. The only man she had eyes for tonight was Bryce Larkin.

Chuck pushed his chair back as he stood, causing it to squeak against the tiles. The sound was sharp enough to break the two from their unspoken bond.

"Well, I'll start cleaning up here," he said, grabbing his plate. For the first time since dinner, Sarah tore her eyes off of Bryce and stared up at Chuck. She grabbed his wrist, keeping him from taking the dish away.

"But you haven't eaten anything," she said softly. For a second he saw a glimmer of the woman he loved, but when Chuck didn't respond, that person faded.

"I'm not hungry," he said and she let go.

Chuck took the dishes away and piled them in the sink. For awhile there was no conversation as Sarah and Bryce stood to help him clear the table. He was hoping to catch Sarah alone so he could ask her exactly what her intentions were tonight, but she lingered by Bryce's side, unwilling to join her husband in the kitchen.

Chuck rarely felt the awful claws of jealousy, Sarah had never given him reason to, but tonight the green-eyed monster finally reared its ugly head. He groaned, wishing there could be another reason but the easiest assumption was usually the correct one. Maybe it wouldn't hurt as badly if it had been anyone besides Bryce Larkin, but the guy had already taken everything from him once. Was he really going to stand witness as it happened again?

_

Chuck went for a walk around the block, making an excuse of taking out the trash. Neither Sarah nor Bryce noticed him slip away.

The night air cut through his t-shirt, sending chills down his spine. He knew he couldn't leave for too long without raising suspicion, but he couldn't bear to watch her fall for another man in front of his very eyes.

This was all his doing. He was such an idiot.

As if Bryce Larkin is the only man who's made eyes at your wife.

No. Of course not. Chuck trusted Sarah but for some reason, tonight was a different matter. There was something between them; that was undeniable. From the very first moment she saw Bryce she was affected.

He would never forget that look. Chuck wondered if she'd looked the same way when she first saw him. Could he ever take her breath away?

Who are you kidding? He was just an ordinary guy living out his ordinary life. Nothing he did would ever compare to the jet-setting lifestyle Bryce could offer.

_

Eventually Chuck returned to the apartment. The hallway was dark and the room was eerily quiet. He held his breath as he walked into the kitchen where his wife and friend stood, inches from the sink. Both of them looked a little worse for wear.

"Chuck!" Sarah cried, stepping away from Bryce. Her decision to distance herself made Chuck all the more aware of their prior proximity.

He couldn't help but notice that the dishes were still soaking in the sink. Whatever they'd been doing, they hadn't been cleaning up.

"Chuck, where'd you go?" Sarah asked, reaching for his cheek. Chuck flinched before she even touched him. He saw how it wounded her but the hurt that reflected in her eyes was only a fraction of his own feelings.

Sarah withdrew her hand. Her eyes were wide with bewilderment and her breaths came rapidly. There was a distinct flush to her cheeks that hadn't been there at dinner. All he needed now were traces of lip gloss on Bryce and he would have reason to denounce their friendship all over again.

"I went out," he said.

Sarah nodded absent-mindedly, accepting the answer for what it was--or better yet, she was preoccupied trying to catch her breath. Chuck wondered what circumstances he would have found them in if he had come a few minutes later.

He glared at her, commanding her to look up at him, but for once she wasn't able to hold her head up high. It only further cemented her guilt.

"Well it's getting late," Bryce said congenially. "I should get going."

Chuck found it difficult to speak. "Yes, you should," he choked, the most he could manage without adding something profane. Sarah turned her back to the both of them, refusing to look either in the eye. Bryce said nothing to Sarah and she didn't offer even the most basic goodbye.

"It was nice meeting you again, Chuck," Bryce said as he passed his friend. The look of triumph in his eyes was nearly enough to make Chuck throw a punch. "See you around?"

Chuck said nothing as he closed the door. He hoped he never saw Bryce Larkin ever again.

_

Chuck and Sarah prepared for bed in silence. There was no teasing tonight, no playfulness or banter, no asking what the day held tomorrow or goodnight kiss as they slipped under the covers.

Chuck just wanted to close his eyes and get the evening over with, as if it were a part of some awful dream. They turned down the lights and lay on opposite ends of the bed, staying purely on their sides tonight.

Sarah still hadn't mentioned anything about Bryce, allowing Chuck's imagination to fill in the details with the very worst. Chuck realized they had never in the last two years spent a night like this before. It felt awful. He felt like he'd already lost her.

"Is something bothering you, Chuck?" she asked softly, finally breaking the unspoken barrier between them. Chuck couldn't even turn his head to look at her. The nerve she had to ask a question like that.

"No," he said, lying outright. He didn't care if she saw through it; let her accuse him. "Is something bothering you?"

There was a pause. "No," she replied, an answer as honest as his had been. She turned her head and stared at him but Chuck refused to give in and face her. He just couldn't.

"A lot of women are attracted to Bryce," he finally said, giving her some way to explain herself. "He's got a lot to offer."

Sarah sat up in bed. In the darkness, Chuck had no idea what she was thinking when she looked over at him.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

Chuck paid no heed to the warning tone of her voice. "You were staring at him all night. Don't deny it." He sighed. "It's okay," he said, despite himself. It was anything but okay. "I get it. I told you, he's the kind of guy that all guys look up to."

The silence was so prolonged Chuck could hear Sarah draw in a sharp breath.

"I can see why some women would be attracted to him, but not me," she said flatly. A pause. "Did you hear me, Chuck?"

Chuck grunted. He wished he could believe her, but he'd seen the look on her face. He was about to bring up what he saw in the kitchen, but just the thought of his wife giving herself to Bryce Larkin consumed him with anger and resentment.

Sarah didn't say anything more and they fell in silence once again with their backs to one another. Chuck sighed. It was going to be a long night.