Thanks to everyone who helped me on this chapter, Jimmy for reading the raw version of this chapter and putting up with my crazy typos, Wepdiggy for the final beta and Yokaputo for her excellent input and helpful comments. You guys are stellar :-)

Song this chapter is Shattered by Trading Yesterday.

Yesterday I died; tomorrow's bleeding
Fall into your sunlight
The future's open wide beyond believing
To know why hope dies
And losing what was found, a world so hollow
Suspended in a compromise
But the silence of this sound is soon to follow
Somehow sundown
And finding answers
Is forgetting all of the questions we call home
Passing the graves of the unknown

...

"Hands up," a newly arrived Agent Smith commanded, a smug smile covering his face.

Sarah and Carina looked around; they were completely outnumbered. Where there had been hope for them to get out of the last situation, with the arrival of these reinforcements they couldn't win. Sarah looked at Carina and both began to raise their hands.

"I'll come peacefully if you don't hurt them," Sarah gestured towards her husband and daughter, hopelessly trying to find someway to keep them out of this. Smith looked down at Chuck and then Emily and chuckled.

"Grab them," he ordered and men began to drag the two away.

"No!" Sarah cried and threw herself forward. "Don't you touch them!" An agent stepped in front of her and she struck at his nose, palm outward. He slumped and she finished him with a diagonal kick down to his neck. She groped at the agent's hand and grabbed at the cold steel located in his fingers. Bringing the gun up swiftly she fired two shots at the agent attempting to carry Emily off and another two at the agents moving Chuck. As they fell she returned her gun to Smith, ready to fire if she had to.

"Don't you dare touch them," Sarah growled, staring hard at the slightly shorter CHAOS agent in front of her.

"Agent Walker," Smith started, sighing as if Sarah were being a difficult child. "We have uses for your family and you cannot stop us, because you're out numbered. Now put the gun down before I'm forced to get angry."

"Sarah," Carina began. "We have to surrender. We can't fight it off this time." Her voice would sound collected and calm to anyone else, but Sarah could hear the hopelessness in Carina's tone and it struck her with frustrated pain.

"No," she stated through clenched teeth at Carina. "I won't fail them." I promised.

"Walker, we're going to take them anyway, now whether you come along alive or not is a different matter entirely," Smith spoke.

Sarah stared at Smith for a moment, her pulse pounding in her ears. She had promised Chuck that nothing would happen to him and Emily, hadn't she broken enough of her promises? The first thing you learn as a spy is to never make promises. That was something every spy learned pretty quickly. I'm not much of a spy anymore, am I? Sarah thought and knew she really wasn't. Having a life with Chuck had ruined (or so others in the Agency would say) her as a spy, he'd chipped away what little she'd had and being around him again continued to cause her to fall into that old role she'd once been so comfortable in. Sarah was not a spy anymore, that part of her was dying fast. She couldn't stop Smith from taking her loved ones, and so she lowered her pistol to the ground.

Smith nodded. "Smart choice," he motioned towards her and three agents came up to her and handcuffed her, slipping a bag over her head. Sarah's failure bit at her, her fear sinking its sharp talons into her. She didn't know how she could get them out of this one and keep them safe. Not only did she bring this on them, but now they were being taken to God knows where to go through God knows what. She wondered if the agents around her could see the tears through the fabric of the bag.

Suddenly they were pushing her forwards, ushering her outside. The CHAOS agents were quiet, the only sound was the sound of their feet hitting the ground. Sarah was pushed into a car and fell onto the floor of what she figured was some kind of van, her face smacking first due to her bonds, she grimaced and they lifted her just enough to push her in more. The car started and she laid in the floor, trying to keep herself calm.

As reason clouds my eyes with splendor fading
Illusions of the sunlight
A reflection of a lie will keep me waiting
With love gone for so long
And this day's ending
Is the proof of time killing all the faith I know
Knowing that faith is all I hold

...

Chuck's eyes opened groggily. He blinked several times, trying to focus in on his surroundings. Where am I? It was dark and he knew he wasn't at the safe house anymore. Then it all came back to him, a rush of memories and emotions came flooding back into his recollection. We must have been taken. Chuck wondered where Sarah and Emily were and his stomach twisted as mental pictures at what could be happening to them. He knew those thoughts wouldn't help him in the least and he attempted to shove them away with little success. He needed to find them...but how? Where was Bryce? Carina? Were they even alive? What had happened after he'd gotten shot?

The room was extremely dark and Chuck had trouble keeping himself upright. The tranq dart's effects must still be coursing through his system. He struggled to stand again, his arms and legs shaking in protest. He collapsed to the ground again as his arms gave out and he laid there helpless, angry at himself for everything. Angry that Sarah had left, angry she'd come back, angry at CHAOS, angry at every damn spy he'd ever known. Damn them all. They're hell bent on destroying everything, I hate them. The rage he felt caused his eyes to burn with tears as he lay on the floor, wanting to scream at the walls and beat them; wanting to get this anger out of his system, he'd been bottling it up and it was fighting to escape. He'd never felt such an intense and unfocused rage. He was just pissed off at everything and wanted to make someone hurt as much as him.

Then Chuck heard what he thought sounded like a door opening and lifted his head. He was correct as three men entered his cell, two of them lifting him up off of the ground. Chuck's eyes met with the third man, the shortest of them all. "Mr. Bartowski," the third started. "My name is Smith, I've taken your family and the other two agents who were residing with you." He paused for a moment, studying Chuck's face. "Now, I am aware of the fact that you once were an Intersect and have a proposition for you. Now, you are unaware of an event that happened within the CIA and NSA shortly after you removed the Intersect and retired. The government foolishly uploaded the Intersect into ten candidates without once considering the effects of such an action. Nine agents successfully uploaded the Intersect. The one who went horribly insane was my brother." Smith's eyes seemed to glaze over and Chuck stayed silent, watching the agent's pained expression.

"Now," Smith continued. "The CIA, due to my specific request, kept the nine agents for a week after the upload and even though there were some inconsistencies with the nine other agent's health they wrote them off as okay...I begged for more time but they told me to butt out and keep my mouth shut. The nine agents were sent out and one by one and slowly began feeling incredibly sick. I sat by the side of one of the nine agents daily, keeping her deteriorating condition on record, all the while hoping that she'd recover. After a week she was blind and practically deaf, but constantly screaming due to the hallucinations and intense pain she saw and felt. By the middle of the second week, I no longer had to strap her down to the bed because she was paralyzed. On the fourteenth day of her sickness she died painfully. I have this all on record."

Smith paused. "I had told our government to discontinue this project, that it was faulty and we couldn't risk the lives of ten agents on the success of one person. They refused to listen to me and now my brother...and my wife...are dead due to this thing called the "Intersect 2.0". Instead of completely abandoning the project, they uploaded the older version of said Intersect into two agents, this time taking the care to not risk too many of their best agents. Agent Larkin and Agent Walker as I'm sure you are aware. But, my superiors have decided its time for CHAOS to make the U.S government pay for their mistake with 2.0. Therefore, you and Agents Larkin and Walker will now be working for us in exchange for your lives."

Chuck opened his mouth to speak but Smith stopped him by raising his hand. "Not just yet, Mr. Bartowski. I have something else to explain. One, we managed to obtain Intersect 2.0 and so you, due to your success with handling it and its special abilities will undergo another upload. Second, we are willing to let your daughter return to your sister if she fails the Intersect testing. If you refuse to cooperate your daughter will still be tested, but she'll be killed if she isn't able to handle the programming of two-point-oh." He paused and lowered his hand, nodding for Chuck to speak. Chuck knew his answer, if he could somehow keep Emily away from this life he'd do so.

"What if she can handle the Intersect?" Chuck asked, fearing the answer.

"Then she'll begin her CHAOS training immediately," Smith stated, matter-of-factly. Chuck's heart hit the floor.

"You can't do that to her! She's just a kid!" He protested loudly.

"Mr. Bartowski, I can and will. But if she fails testing...then she'll be set free to your sister Eleanor Woodcomb and live a life free of us...but only if you cooperate."

Chuck's shoulders slumped, his strength waning. His knees buckled under him and only the two agents holding him kept him from falling. "I am sorry about the fact you had to be tranquilized." Smith stated. Chuck wasn't so sure it was the tranq's effects that were causing him to collapse. "So what say you, Charles?"

Chuck's brown eyes met with Smith's cold gray and slowly the father began to nod. "I'll cooperate, just don't hurt them. Don't bring Emily into this...she's just a child."

"That all depends, Charles." Smith started for the doors and suddenly Chuck's support system was gone and he fell to the floor, tears escaping his eyes as he called out.

"Can I at least see Sarah and Emily?"

The door slammed shut and Chuck was left in a cold darkness, with only his despairing soul for company.

And I've lost who I am,
and I can't understand
Why my heart is so broken,
rejecting your love, without,
love gone wrong; lifeless words carry on
But I know, all I know's that the end's beginning

...

Emily groaned, turning onto her side. Her head throbbed and her muscles felt like they were tied down with thirty pound weights. She heard this faint voice and noticed it sounded like someone was saying her name over and over. She slowly opened her eyes and began to focus on the face of her mother, bent over her with concern evident on her features. "Emily?" Sarah asked again, her hand resting on her forehead. Emily slowly raised herself up on her elbows.

"Where are we?" She asked, remembering that she'd been shot as more agents had poured into their little safe house. She wanted to freak out, but knew she had to hold it together and so she forced herself to breathe deeply in and out, just as she'd been told once to do when she felt panicked.

Sarah's hand continued to rest on Emily's head and the brunette could barely make out the slight traces of tear tracks on her mother's cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Emily. I couldn't keep you and Chuck from CHAOS' hands...there were just too many of them. Carina and I had to surrender and now we're...somewhere...still in LA, I think."

Emily watched her mother's face and could clearly see the pain that the blonde was feeling. She understood that Sarah recognized and fully blamed herself for the current state of events. "I don't hate you." Emily said quietly. Sarah looked shocked.

"Emily, I understand if you hate me. I caused you and your father a lot of pain and now I've come back and only made it worse when really you two were doing just fine without me."

"I don't. I was just upset. I don't hate you. I'm sorry I said that." Looking back at the way she'd reacted, she couldn't believe she'd done that. She hadn't fully forgiven her mother for leaving her, but she didn't hate Sarah. Her mother was really suffering and hated herself far more than Emily could ever do so. Emily couldn't quite tell if her mother was holding back tears, but the blonde certainly looked like she was about to cry. "Have you seen Dad?"

"No. They put a bag over my head as we left and when they pulled it off you were lying here on the floor. You've been out the whole trip probably. Seeing as how you're already awake, the dosage wasn't too high. I'm glad, because too much of that stuff can really mess up your system."

"Do you think he's alright?" Emily asked, suddenly afraid for her father. Sarah looked down at Emily with deep sadness.

"I honestly don't know, Emily, but I pray he is."Sarah closed her eyes, as if she were actually praying. She looked back down at her daughter after a moment.

"I'm going to do my best to get you out of here,"

Emily opened her mouth to quickly state that she didn't want her mother doing anything to further injure herself but stopped when the door opened and in walked three men, one of them Smith. Sarah instinctively put herself between the man and her daughter, staring the man with cold blue eyes.

"Walker," Smith greeted. "I've spoken with your husband and we've reached an agreement. He will serve CHAOS in exchange for Emily's freedom in the chance she fails the Intersect testing. I'm here to get your cooperation with CHAOS by promising this: If you do not do exactly what I say, your husband and daughter will be killed. Perhaps - if my superiors will allow - you and Bartowski will be able to work together, but only after you've both proven to me you won't run away first chance you get. Because if you do, Emily's life will be over."

"You can't do that to Emily or Chuck! Chuck's already been the Intersect once -"

"What?" Emily asked behind her but was ignored by her mother.

"- and Emily doesn't deserve that kind of life! I'll test for 2.0 again, I'll make it work. Just let them go. They don't deserve this! They've already paid the price for being involved with an agency."

"I'm not here to listen to your pleadings, Walker. Will you cooperate or sacrifice your husband and daughter?"

Emily looked at Sarah, who's brow was furrowed and giving a look to Smith that actually gave the brunette goosebumbs. Her mother could be quite intimidating. But were her mother and father giving up their lives just for her? Was there any way any of them could get out of this?

"You'll pay for this, Smith. I'll cooperate. But one day, the tables will be turned...and I'll make you pay for this I swear it."

"Good luck," Smith retorted and strode out of the room.

"I want to see Chuck!" Sarah called out. Smith paused.

"Fine. I'll send him in, but only because you both agreed." The door slammed.

who I am from the start, (I'm waiting)
take me home to my heart (and fading)
Let me go and I will run, (and holding)
I will not be silent, (silent) all this time (onto these tears)
spent in vain; wasted years wasted gain (i am crying)
All is lost but hope remains and this war's not over (i'm dying tonight)
There's a light, there's a sun (i'm waiting...)
taking all these shattered ones
To the place we belong (i am waiting...)
and his love will conquer all

...

Sarah sat beside her daughter, watching the girl in an impressed awe. She'd expected Emily to panic but the girl sat with her knees drawn up to her chin, shaking slightly. She hadn't spoken since Smith had left and said they could see Chuck. Sarah wondered where Bryce and Carina were. She was certain Bryce was still alive, but Carina? What purpose did she serve to CHAOS that was enough to keep her alive? Sarah held back a shudder at the though of Carina in some kind of torture.

Suddenly she heard the distant sound of feet and listened carefully. The steps were getting louder and Sarah once again found herself instinctively putting herself between Emily and the door as it swung open. Two men pushed Chuck in and checked to room once before leaving again. "Dad!" Emily exclaimed and ran to Chuck, wrapping him in a strong hug. Sarah looked away from the two, feeling as if she was intruding on their privacy by watching them. When she looked back Chuck was staring right at her, and she wondered if he could see her trembling and hoping that he couldn't.

Chuck's arms fell from Emily and he gently pulled away, giving their daughter a smile. He walked over to Sarah and placed his arms around her gently. The security she felt just having his arms around her amazed Sarah, they were in an enemy compound and yet just having Chuck hold her brought some strange relief to all this chaos. Sarah began to feel the tears spring to her eyes, the contact of Chuck being what she'd craved this whole time. She felt the pressure in her throat increase as her eyes continued to pool and she knew she wouldn't be able to hold back these tears.

Sarah broke, the emotions she'd been holding back this whole time escaped. It was like releasing floodgates and her shoulders shook from the sobs and she whispered "I'm sorry" multiple times.

The agent in Sarah knew she shouldn't be doing this, that she had to remain calm, but Sarah wasn't an agent anymore. She was Chuck's...and he was the one person she trusted with this. Yes she loved Emily and trusted her as well, but this was Chuck, who'd been there for her all this time. Sarah knew she wasn't completely forgiven, but she also knew Chuck didn't hate her and it gave her more relief than she could put into words.

"Shh," Chuck said, quietly. "This right here, isn't your fault. It's Smith's, he's doing this to us, not you. I don't blame you, Sarah, so stop blaming yourself. You did everything you could to keep this from happening, I know who to blame and I'm not blaming you." Sarah looked into Chuck's soulfull brown eyes and couldn't think of anything to say, so she just wrapped her arms around him harder, staying there a moment before pulling away fully composed.

"I made the deal," Sarah spoke, her calm center returning. Only Chuck could do that to her with his ways. Chuck nodded slowly.

"They gave us no choice. If there's a chance for us all to come out of this alive...I have to take it." He spoke. Sarah looked at Emily, who was wiping her cheek and sniffing.

"How do people get like this?" Emily asked, her voice cracking. "What could have possibly happened to make them so...evil? We didn't do anything to them."

"Smith's wife and brother died because of the Intersect. He blames our government and wants to use us four against the US." Chuck explained. Sarah finally understood that Smith was hell bent on revenge for whatever circumstances surrounding his wife's death. "Sarah," Chuck started. "People were getting sick from the Intersect?"

Sarah nodded. "Yes. Nine people died after uploading the Intersect. It's why Bryce and I don't have "special abilites". The government scratched the project."

"CHAOS wants to upload it back into me," Chuck explained. "Because I didn't get sick."

"They must have gotten their hands on 2.0," Sarah stated. "Seeing how they found us at the house, I think its safe to assume that they have a very well placed mole. Have you heard anything about Bryce and Carina?"

"He only said Bryce would be working with them just like you," Chuck replied and Sarah sighed. Did Carina even make it to this location? Is she dead?

The door swung open again and the two men who'd dropped Chuck off motioned for him to come back with them. "Come on," one said and Chuck did as he was told with a quick goodbye to the women.

"The upload begins in the morning," The second man stated and Sarah thought she saw just the briefest looks of pity as his eyes locked with Emily's. Sarah wondered if he had a daughter of his own, maybe a wife, or maybe he'd been forced into working for CHAOS as well.

Everyone had a story.

Yesterday I died, tommorrows bleeding
Fall into your sunlight
...

So what did you think? I worked hard on this chapter and hoped that it paid off. Are you glad to finally see some progress between Sarah, Chuck and Emily? I've been having a hard time writing more than just the emotional angst that filled the preceeding chapters. Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter and please review, those are always appreciated and make me want to write more. Sorry that it took me awhile to update, but each new chapter I work harder on, so I don't disappoint you fine readers. I know you guys have come to expect good chapters, and so I try to achieve that :-)