A/N (Updated): I had to update this because the worse news possible just came through my email. A faithful reader, a reviewer, and who I consider a friend has passed away. She was known on here as passionovermind. She was with me since my first story and it is with a very, very heavy heart that I have to say good bye. I wish desperately that I could write her life story because it would absolutely have a happy ending. Unfortunately/fortunately it's in God's hands now.

May we all remember behind every screen name is a real person, with real friends, real families, and real lives. It is a moment like this that breaks my heart because this isn't about a fantasy story, this about something real. May we call upon whatever religion or belief we have, and send a blessing to passion's family and friends that are left behind. I will miss you Nik!

A/N: First of all thank you to all those that voted. This story won for best Fluff which is awesome. There were some pretty big names to go against and I felt honored to even be mentioned, let alone win.

Ok, got to give a little warning on this one. I'm no medical expert, I don't claim to be, but I am a big MacGyver fan. So just enjoy this without expecting to much realism.

Thanks again to my beta Gladius and to all those that are still reading this.

As always, I don't own Chuck.

Chapter 19 - Never Give Up!

{Later at the wedding reception}

"Wanna dance?" asked Sarah as she turned behind her to see Chuck standing there.

"You know I do." Chuck was so grateful for this chance to dance with her. With all the running around and the excitement of the day, he barely had time to just be with Sarah.

The two lovers walked hand and hand over to the dance floor. Chuck gave her a little twirl and then pulled her close as they swayed to the music.

Sarah laid her head on Chuck's shoulder and held him tight as the music played.

Chuck was lost in the moment as he leaned down so only Sarah could hear and he softly started singing the words to the song they were dancing to. If it was possible, he swore she actually melted into him.

They danced for a little while longer and Chuck finally got the courage to ask Sarah what he had wanted to ask her since talking with Bryce earlier. He tried to step back so he could look Sarah in the eyes. Unfortunately, she was not letting him go, as the moment he tried to step back; she just grabbed on to him tighter and pulled him to her. "Hey Sarah. Come on, I just want to ask you something and I need to see your face to do it."

Sarah finally gave in but only a bit so that Chuck could look at her.

"Sarah I just want to know where we stand in our relationship? Now let me finish before you start hitting me again. I just… I never want to hold you back and I just want to make sure you still want this, you want us. This is it; I will never question it again, so if you have second thoughts about our future, please say so now."

Oh she really wanted to slug him. "Chuck it really is simple. I love you with everything I have in me. You're my everything Chuck. And when everything else is stripped down and the layers are peeled back, most of all you are my best friend. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Sarah looked deep into his eyes. She had to let him know just how important he was. "Chuck, I can honestly say now, at this very moment... I would even want to…"

"Charles, something is wrong." Chuck's dad grabbed both him and Sarah, interrupting what Sarah was about to say.

'Who did I wrong in this life?' Sarah thought, I mean really? I had to piss someone off because this stuff only happens in TV series trying to get ratings. These constant interruptions could not possibly happen to normal people. This night could not get any worse.

{* * *}

Chuck and Sarah were quickly on their way to meet up with Casey. Orion had informed them that he flashed on the CIA agent sent to transport Bryce to the CIA Intersect facility. The problem was said CIA agent had been deceased for over a year now. This got Chuck and Sarah moving as they had to get to the facility as fast as they could.

Chuck could not help but continue to be intrigued by the wrist computer his dad had given him. He was so grateful that his father was now going to support him in his job as field analyst. If anything, that was such a burden lifted from Chuck. Matter of fact, Chuck's father actually said he would do whatever he could to help Chuck succeed. It started by Orion giving his successor his wrist computer.

"Gee Chuck, I wish you paid as much attention to me as you do that new gadget your dad gave you." Sarah gave Chuck the sad eyes. She was driving as fast as she could to meet up with Casey at the CIA Intersect Facility, but she wanted to make sure Chuck was going to be alright.

Chuck just looked at her like get real. "You know Sarah, by having the hottest girlfriend on the planet, my membership in the nerds r us club could easily be revoked. There just some things I have to keep it real with. You know, I have a rep to protect."

Sarah actually giggled. "You are just too damn cute for your own good you know that. And yes, yes, I know. Just one of the million things I love about you."

Chuck just gave her the eyebrow dance. Hey she asked for it, he smiled to himself.

"Oh just classic Chuck. We're on way to save Bryce and you pull out the heavy artillery?" Sarah smacked Chuck on the leg. She innocently let her hand stay there instead of pulling away. Sarah could see the flush slowly creep up Chuck's neck as she ever so discreetly moved her hand slowly up his thigh.

"Uh Agent Walker, I believe now is not the time to frisk me for hidden... And bob's your uncle." Chuck nearly jumped as Sarah grabbed a hold of his manhood.

"Hmmm Agent Bartowski. Do you have a permit to carry such a large concealed weapon?" Sarah couldn't help but bite her lower lip as she gripped Chuck tightly in her hand.

"Sarah." Chuck squeaked in a voice that sounded too much like a little school girl. He coughed to regain some measure of dignity. "Sarah. Now really isn't the time to be..."

Sarah was looking at him with a hunger in her eyes as she gently stroked him. "Yes Agent Bartowski? You were saying?"

"Look we're here." Sure enough they had made it to the private CIA Intersect facility where Casey was already standing outside waiting.

Damn it again, Sarah thought. Of all the times she wished she didn't drive so fast, now might have been one of them. She reluctantly let go of Chuck as she turned off the car and got out to meet Casey who was already mission ready.

Seeing Chuck still in the car, Casey came over and knocked on Chuck's window. "You going to join us Bartowski?"

Chuck was embarrassed beyond belief. "Uhh, yeah. Going to need a minute there Casey. I'm sure Sarah can explain everything." Oh wow, way to start with the new team. Thanks a lot Sarah.

Casey looked over to Sarah who had a very innocent look on her face. "Really Walker? Right as we're about to go and save the new Intersect?"

Sarah just shrugged her shoulders. "Just making sure my field analyst is up for the task."

Casey just shook his head. 'What have I created?' Casey wondered as he turned to wait by his vic.

{* * *}

Chuck had just dropped through the ceiling into the Intersect room. He was actually amazed at how big the room was. He may have been the human Intersect at one time, but he had actually never been in a room like this. His awe was quickly squashed as he saw Bryce on the floor against the wall near the door. He quickly ran to him.

"Oh my God. Oh my God you been shot." Chuck was starting to freak out.

"I'm really sorry about this Chuck. I am sorry about everything." Bryce had his hand against the gunshot wound. He was feeling very faint as he figured the shot must have severed an internal artery.

"No its fine. It's not that bad." Chuck tried to reach to help him but he didn't know what to do.

"You take care of her." Bryce winced through the pain.

"Don't say that. You're not dying. We need you man."

Bryce knew there was not much time left. "Chuck, you were like a brother to me. I know I treated you like crap sometimes, but you meant everything to me."

"Bryce, please man, just hold on."

Chuck had just reconnected with his best friend. He couldn't lose him again. His heart and mind were so conflicted right now. "What can I do Bryce? Tell me what to do."

"Take this, it will destroy the Intersect. It's too powerful and if the Ring gets their hands on it… Just don't let them get it okay. Be the hero Chuck, I always knew you would be." Bryce handed him the Intersect device.

"Wait a minute, who is the Ring? I thought Fulcrum was who we were fighting." Chuck was even more confused as he grabbed the device Bryce gave him.

"Fulcrum was just one part of the Ring." Bryce grimaced as the pain was consuming him. " I never meant for you to be hurt by this. You and Sarah were the only ones I ever trusted. That is why I did it. I'm sorry…" It was the last thing he said as he fell unconscious.

"Bryce. Bryce please come back man." Chuck heard the voice of the Ring agents just outside the door. There was no time to mourn now. He knew he had to make a decision.

. . .

Chuck was surrounded by Ring agents, guns all raised toward him. They had already dragged Bryce out of the room, but Sarah and Casey were against the far wall.

The lead agent examined the burned out Intersect cube. He quickly got in Chuck's face. "What did you do?"

"I destroyed it. Now you will never get the Intersect." Chuck stood defiantly in front of the armed man as he waited for something to happen.

He didn't have to wait long as Sarah instantly charged the agent holding Chuck at gun point. She was able to take out the closest agent but with her hands cuffed, it was hopeless. The lead agent hit her across the head with his gun, sending her to the ground. Casey couldn't do anything as he was being held at gun point now also.

At seeing Sarah fall to the ground, Chuck instantly flashed. This was very different than anything he had felt before. His body filled with power as the images of all types of Kung Fu and defensive stances flashed in his head.

"Sir, I think you need to see this." Said one of the Ring agents standing close to Chuck.

The lead agent came up to Chuck, completely ignoring Sarah who was now on one knee. Sarah could not believe what she just saw, "Chuck honey, did you just flash?"

"I can't believe it. He downloaded it." The agent raised his gun towards Chuck. "For that, you die first."

Chuck heard Casey say "Chuck Me." And then all hell broke loose. Sarah was up again seeing the gun pointed at Chuck. She was not about to let anything happen to the man she loved. She only had one thought, and that was to kill those that threatened her Chuck.

Seeing Sarah in danger Chuck instantly reacted as the Intersect took over his body. Within the blink of an eye he knocked the weapons out of the five guys surrounding him. Sarah had already taken out the Ring agent nearest her and was at Chuck's side fighting as if they had been doing it all their lives.

Casey made sure to grab a couple guns that had dropped near him. He would hold off using them for now. He was too engrossed in watching the deadly dance between Sarah and Chuck.

Chuck bent over as Sarah jumped over his back kicking the closest agent in the jaw sending him flying backwards. Chuck was instantly up as he blocked a series of punches and kicks and then delivered a devastating round house knocking out two Agents at once.

The other two agents tried to ignore Sarah as they attacked Chuck. Big mistake as Sarah jumped into Chuck's arms, Chuck using her momentum to swing her to his side, causing her legs to smash into the second ring agent, knocking him out instantly. Chuck then brought Sarah back up where they both ducked as the remaining agent took a swing at them. Then with strength fueled by their anger at what had happened, both Chuck and Sarah launched their fists into the lone remaining Agent, knocking him unconscious.

With all the Ring agents lying unconscious on the floor, Sarah could only stare at Chuck. She had never felt so in tune with someone during a fight and this was Chuck. Chuck, not Bryce. She actually felt more in sync with Chuck in their first fight together then she did in years of fighting alongside Bryce. She really didn't know how to react, this was Chuck after all. "Chuck?"

Chuck was just staring at his hands. He could not believe what had just happened. It felt so… so…awesome. The way he and Sarah worked together, he had never felt like that. It was like a drug and he wanted more. He did not know what to say as the images from the Intersect still played in his mind. Not as a flash, just a memory. Then his conscious took over, the thing that made him Chuck. He looked to his friends and without knowing exactly what to say, he said the first thing that came to his mind. "Guys… We have to try to save Bryce."

Chuck quickly ran out the door, followed by a stunned Casey and Sarah.

They found Bryce's body in the hallway sprawled out on the floor, in a pool of blood.

Chuck turned to Sarah, "We need a medical team here NOW!" He quickly ripped open Bryce's shirt where he saw the gunshot wound. With everything he had inside of him, Chuck concentrated on what he needed to do. The Intersect initiated as visions of medical procedures, the human anatomy, and various survival techniques downloaded into his brain.

Once the download was complete, Chuck turned to Sarah and Casey. "Sarah give me one of your knives. Casey I need a lighter, towels, alcohol, anything that can be used to clean the wounds. I also need an extension cord, lamp, or something with electrical juice." Chuck grabbed the knife that Sarah handed to him and the lighter Casey gave him. Casey was off looking for the stuff Chuck requested. Chuck quickly heated the blade to sterilize it.

Chuck knew he didn't have much time. He had to stop the bleeding and then try to restart Bryce's heart. His calculations told him he only had three minutes left before Bryce's brain would be useless. With Bryce's heart stopped, it gave him the opportunity to get the bullet out and cauterize the wound. He only had seconds as he began working on Bryce.

Sarah had already made the call to the CIA med team and was now kneeling next to Chuck. She was beyond amazed as she watched his hands go to work. She had never seen anything like this from Chuck.

Chuck just finished getting out the bullet when Casey came back with an extension cord and handed it to him. Chuck quickly cut the cord near the far end, splicing off the lead and ground wire. Chuck then quickly maneuvered the lead wire near the vein where the Intersect told him he needed to cauterize. He then turned to Casey, "Casey, plug your end into the outlet over there and count to three, then pull it out."

Casey looked at him like he was crazy but he did it anyway.

"Now Casey." Chuck held the wiring in place as the electricity surged through the copper tip of the exposed wire, cauterizing the wound instantly. "Okay, unplug."

Casey immediately unplugged the wire, staring in admiration as he watched Chuck work.

"Oh man please let this work." Chuck then placed the knife, flat over Bryce's heart. He then attached the open wires to the blade. Chuck quickly removed his boot and placed it over the blade. "Guys this has to be perfect. Sarah you do mouth to mouth, 2 breaths, then I do five compressions. Casey, after my five compressions you plug in the cord for two seconds then pull it out. Please make sure we are clear when you plug in the wire. We keep this routine up for two minutes. That is all Bryce has left." He motioned to Sarah to begin.

Sarah gave two quick breaths then he started his compressions counting out loud for everyone to stay on rhythm.

When Chuck got to five Casey plugged in the Cord and Chuck held down on the boot keeping the connection close to Bryce's heart, the rubber from the boot keeping Chuck from getting electrocuted. Bryce's body convulsed as the electricity surged through his body. Once Casey unplugged, Sarah started again then Chuck.

"Come on buddy. You're not leaving me now. Not after everything we talked about. I need you man." Chuck was practically yelling at Bryce as the team worked to save him.

Chuck checked his watch. Two minutes had passed and no sign of life. "Come on Bryce, come back."

Casey and Sarah both knew it was over. They were so proud of Chuck for doing this, for trying to save his friend, their friend, their partner.

"Honey, it's over, Bryce is gone." Sarah was saddened as she placed a hand on an exhausted Chuck.

Chuck just lowered his head as his emotions came over him. This was the first time someone so close to him had ever died. He was not taking it well at all. "DAMN IT! NO BRYCE!" Chuck lifted his fist and slammed it into Bryce's chest. He did it again as tears fell down his cheek.

"Chuck, please." Sarah was pleading with him. "He's gone." She couldn't control her emotions as she saw the pain Chuck was going through. She was sad of course for Bryce but she hurt even more for the man she loved trying to save him.

It was then the medical team arrived, a little too late as Chuck sat back against the far wall, sobbing as he held his face in his hands. Chuck felt helpless. "Why couldn't I do something sooner?"

Sarah was right by his side as the medical team was busy securing Bryce to a gurney. "Chuck sweetie, you did everything you could. I am so proud of you for trying to save him." She held him in her arms as the tears were flowing.

Casey sat down on the other side of Chuck. Placing a hand on the kid's shoulder. "Hey kid. You were incredible. You saved us all and damn well gave the best effort I had ever seen to save Bryce. You're a damn hero Chuck."

Chuck still had his head buried in Sarah's neck. He could not believe the great Bryce Larkin was dead, again. Not to mention, now he has to deal with Intersect 2.0. That's a whole other issue.

"Everything is going to be okay Chuck." Sarah did not know what else to say. She knew nothing would be the same from this point on. Her anger and disappointment at Chuck downloading another Intersect would have to come later. She would be here for him right now.

The three friends comforted each other as the medical team took Bryce's body away.

Chuck could not look at his fallen friend, it was too much to handle.

Unfortunately, by not looking, he never saw Bryce's chest began to rise and fall again as the Med Team wheeled him away...

A/N (Updated): The next chapter will be dedicated to the memory of one of my most faithful readers who was taken from us way to soon. The next one is for you Nik!

A/N: Okay, here is the deal. I want to hear from you on the Bryce situation. I have no plans to make him a big part of this story but I did have some plans for something much later on. Of course Bryce will never come between Sarah and Chuck in any of my stories so don't ever worry about that. I would like to hear from you though on what you think concerning him in this story.