Summary: AU fic. Some say that people are all just particles floating around waiting to be thrown together by some catastrophic event. This is a story of how one of these unthinkable events changed the lives of everyone in the small town of Conley, TX forever.

A/N Hey guys first off as some may have noticed there has been a title change and thats because I realized there was another story named Chuck vs The Aftermath so I felt I should change mine out of respect. Anyway thanks for reading as some of you might also be going through right now its finals week for me…in my senior year of college so I am a wee bit stressed out. None the less this fic has given me something else to think about and it's a great diversion from studying. I appreciate those that reviewed ya'll are awesome! This chapter was both easy and hard to write given the subject matter and I tried to be as sensitive to that as possible. Enjoy.

Chapter 3 Conley Massacre

Sarah's POV

What do you do when nightmare becomes reality? When life and death don't seem all that far apart anymore? When your fear becomes so strong you lose your ability to think? There was a time in my life that I felt safe…I felt secure…the world wasn't full of pain. There was a time I thought I understood the difference between good and evil, the difference between darkness and light. But all that changed, in the amount of time it takes to pull a trigger evil and darkness became my life…our lives. Why? That's the question why, or more how, how can someone have so much hate in their heart? How can someone feel so lost and so angry they decide that the only way out is to kill? Is there an answer? Is there a label for the tragedy and evil we experienced that day? I hope not. Because if I could put a label on that amount of hatred that would mean I understood it, and if I understood it then I would feel it…to feel that amount of hate would be more terrifying than experiencing its consequences.

Conley High Hallway 10:15 AM

By the time she came out of shock and realized the enormity of the situation she was lying on the floor dodging everyone as they ran by. She could hear the shots getting closer and the anguished cries that followed them. That was when she felt someone grab her, pulling her to her feet and pushing her down the hallway. It wasn't until she had been pulled into a room did she realize who it was. Honestly she didn't really know him all that well besides that they went to school together and that his name was Chuck.

"Are you okay?" He asked out of breath. I just sat there stunned still not sure I could form words.

"Listen to me we are safe here okay?" He said trying to reassure her.

Sarah just nodded her head before lowering it into her hands and closing her eyes trying not to lose complete control over her emotions. After a few minutes of silence she worked up enough energy to speak.

"Your name is Chuck right we have Calculus together?" She asked in a hushed tone afraid to lead the shooter to their location.

He nodded yes and she continued "Thanks for grabbing me out there….I just…I couldn't move, my body felt like it was paralyzed and not necessarily in fear but more like….I don't know it was as if I wasn't there anymore."

"Like you checked out? Went to a place where you couldn't hear your classmates dying mere feet from you? Where you weren't about to die?" He replied with a look that Sarah was sure matched the one on her face, a look of disbelief and sorrow.

"Yes exactly…how can this be happening, we should be trying to survive our cal test right now…not praying that we live."

"I don't know Sarah I just don't know." He answered in a faint whisper as the adrenaline began to wear off and the magnitude of their situation began to set in. "But I do know you are going to be okay…no don't shake you head...listen to me you are going to get out of here alive okay, trust me?" He said with such conviction Sarah nodded her head not understanding why but knowing that in that moment she did trust him.

"Here is the plan, we don't know where the shooter is but they don't know where we are either. There hasn't been any gunshots for a while…maybe he has given up or ran out of bullets. Either way we are safe here, see that door over there?" He said as he pointed to the far side of the room. "It's a closet that holds the sound board…its not that big but there is enough room to squeeze in beside it so if for some reason he gets in here you are going to get in there and hide okay?" She had no idea how he was able to take control like this as if he had prepared for this to happen. So she nodded her head before something occurred to her…where was he going to hide?

"Wait no not okay where are you going to hide?" She asked with a shaky voice.

"Sarah listen to me I know we aren't necessarily friends but we are classmates, we have grown up together and even if this is probably the most we have ever spoken in that time I promised you that you would get out of here alive and I meant that okay?" Chuck said looking at her with such determination she was almost scared to question him. And before she even had a chance to he continued on "besides we have been in here for 10 minutes now, the police should be here soon right? This can't go on much longer."

With Sarah's mom working at the hospital she understood how emergency protocol worked and so Sarah knew that they couldn't just come in guns blazing. Even though that might make the most sense she knew more likely than not they would be required to wait and formulate a plan before coming in. But even though Sarah knew Chuck was probably wrong she kept quite because she could tell he was trying to be strong for her and she didn't want to take away any of the hope he somehow had left.

Conley High Parking Lot 10:25 AM

Officer Casey's POV

It wasn't until they were pulling into the parking lot that the report came through. SHOTS FIRED…SHOTS FIRED CODE RED AT CONLEY HIGH. Casey could not believe what he was hearing shots fired at a high school…at Conley high school. When he and his partner made it to the school you could see kids streaming out from the back. What worried him was that he only saw 20-30 kids outside…that meant the other 350 or so were still inside.

They parked their car and ran up to where other law enforcement were huddled. "What's the situation?" Asked Casey

"All we know is there have been multiple shots fired. We do not know where the shooter is, how many are injured, or how many shooters there are." Answered Officer Reyes who was taking lead as the senior officer on the staff.

"So basically we know nothing." Casey let out in frustration while running a hand through his hair.

Reyes just nodded before filling Casey in on the plan, "We have contacted SWAT and they are in route now from Abilene, until they arrive we have been instructed to wait and control the perimeter."

"WHAT? There are children in there getting shot and you want me to stand here and just let it happen? No, I am going in." Casey said while strapping on his vest and preparing to head into the school.

"Stand down major, you aren't going anywhere. I understand your frustration but we are following protocol we can't just go in guns blazing without knowing how many gunmen there are or where they are for that matter. We have to be careful a wrong move on our part could turn this already bad situation into something much worse." Reyes said talking Casey down.

"How can this situation get worse sir, answer me that? There are kids, KIDS inside of that school presumably being shot to death and we the people who signed up to protect them are sitting here twiddling our thumbs!" Casey practically screamed out in anger.

"Major I need you to take a breath and think. I realize you are used to combat and that's a, 'they shoot you shoot', mentality but kids' lives are at stake in there. Kids who didn't sign up for any of this, kids who we owe it to to make sure we aren't the cause of further pain. We have to rule out anything that could further endanger their lives before moving in. Our biggest fear is any explosives that have been planted in the school or on the shooter that could be triggered by our attacks. Trust me I want to go in and take down this bastard just as badly as you do but we have to be smart. So yes stand down Casey and wait." Reyes retorted giving Casey a stern look.

Casey knew Reyes was right and he needed to get it together. He normally wasn't an emotional man in fact it normally took an attack against his family or his hero Reagan to get him this worked up. It was just high school aged kids were not supposed to get shot up at a school, not in Conley Texas, not anywhere. And it was killing Casey that he had to sit outside while he knew that inevitably more kids were being shot. But knowing that Reyes was correct and the protocol was in place for a reason he turned his attention to the students that had made it out of the school and looked to gain as much information as possible from them.

Conley High Video Tech Room 10:40 AM

Chuck's POV

It had been 10 or 15 minutes and it seemed like whoever it was had either exited the school or was on the other side so that they could no longer hear them. Chuck and Sarah were sitting against the far wall just staring into the silence neither really knowing what to say. Sarah suddenly began laughing and Chuck gave her a confused look as laughter was the last thing he expected at the moment.

"Sorry I was just thinking about how this morning I was worried about our big cal test and my stupid basketball game tonight. Ha if I only would have known…" She said with a chuckle completely devoid of any actual humor.

Chuck gave her a knowing smile. "Yeah I know what you mean an hour ago I was literally having an argument with my best friend about what sandwich I would take if on a deserted island."

"Sandwiches?" questioned Sarah with a real honest laugh.

"Yes you ask that like it's not a legitimate question." He teased. "I mean a good sandwich when stuck on an island is key…me personally I would go with a turkey club on rye…" He rambled on with a smile.

Sarah laughed quietly before yet again the enormity of the situation set in on her and her smile faded.

"You okay?" Chuck asked with such sincerity she couldn't even roll her eyes at the ridiculousness of the question given their situation.

"I was just thinking about how my Dad is out there. His classroom is right near the commons, I just can't get it out of my head because I know him and I know that as soon as he heard those shots he would run to help."

Chuck grabbed her hand and tried his best to calm her down. "Sarah listen to me okay? We can't sit in here and think the worst right now. We are going to get out of here and then we will deal with whatever is facing us on the outside of that door."

"I know Chuck I know it's just, you know when you get that feeling? Where you just know…." She trailed off as her voice began to break.

Chuck nodded not really knowing what to say. I mean how do you console a girl you barely know in the midst of your school being shot up like some horrific Vietnam film. That's not exactly something they teach you growing up. And to be honest he knew she was right, he knew Mr. Walker and just like she said he would be the first one out to help. Chuck just prayed that he wasn't hurt or worse because this day was bad enough and he couldn't imagine Sarah having to deal with losing her father too.

Conley High Parking Lot 10:55 AM

Casey's POV

It had been 30 minutes and the scene outside the school had morphed into one of complete chaos. It seemed as if the whole town was there, parents screaming for their kids, sirens blaring, and more survivors trickling out of the school. Some students were injured some were fine, well physically fine, mentally it was hard to imagine any of these kids would be the same. The SWAT team was a few minutes out and they had been in contact with the Conley officers trying to have everything in place so they could infiltrate the school as soon as they arrived. From the information gained from the few students capable of speaking they are about 90% sure there is only one shooter and he was armed with a sawed off shotgun and what sounded like an AK47. Casey had a hard time understanding how a high school aged kid would have an AK…but then again he had a hard time understanding anything that was happening today.

"Okay I just heard from SWAT and they are about 10 minutes out. Once they get here we are going to enter from the back of the school. Since according to students the front doors were locked we can't assume they haven't been rigged with explosives. It is unlikely but I am not taking any chances, everyone understand?" Chief Reyes instructed his team.

"Yes sir, from what I understand from the students the shooter is in a black hoody and seemed to be wearing a vest." Casey, who was pseudo second in command given his military background, informed the team. "As hard as this might be we have to separate the fact that whoever is in there shooting is a kid too, we have to be prepared to stop him any means necessary. It won't be easy but if it comes to it…." Casey trailed off as everyone understood his message but they were all praying it wouldn't come to that. No one got into this business thinking they would have to take the life of a kid in order to save others.

The SWAT team arrived soon there after and the teams got in place ready to enter the school. What was waiting for them on the other side of those walls however was something they could never be prepared for.

Conley Video Tech Room 11:00 AM

Sarah's POV

After a few more minutes of silence and just as Sarah was beginning to think it was all over, that this the nightmare was over…she heard a commotion in what sounded like the room next to them. It was the sound of someone trying to bust through the door and the shouts of the students on the other side of it doing their best to keep it shut. The struggle lasted for a few seconds but then shots rang out once again.

"Sarah closet now!" Chuck said while grabbing and helping her into the closet. As he was about to shut the door Sarah spoke up with a sudden resolve she wasn't sure came from.

"Chuck no we can both fit, I am not going to sit in here and listen to you die. Chuck please…" Sarah said losing her new found composure. "I just I can't okay please."

Chuck looked back at her obviously struggling with the decision but before he could argue Sarah got up and pulled him into the closet. He was right it was very cramped but there was no way she was going to let him stay out there to get shot. So here they were both crouched into the tiny space both completely silent. Partly, because they didn't want to tip the shooter off to their location but mostly because they were both too scared to speak. The shots rang out again in the room next to them and you could hear anguished pleas begging the shooter to stop, screaming out for help. Sarah didn't even realize it herself but she started crying. Chuck somehow still in control reached out and grabbed her hand and for an instant it worked, she was able to breathe. He motioned to her that she needed to stay quiet but she couldn't do this, she wasn't prepared for this.

"Sarah I know you're scared, I am too but we have to stay quiet. Just breathe okay slowly…in and out. There you go we just need to stay quiet if he doesn't know we are here then he can't find us, okay?" Chuck said with a squeeze of Sarah's hand.

Sarah couldn't speak, well to be honest she probably could have but she didn't trust that anything other than a scream would come out so she clamped her mouth shut and prayed. She prayed that she would get out of here okay, that Chuck would get out of this okay, and that somehow all of these shots were just a product of some extremely realistic nightmare. The screams died down in the room next to them which Sarah wasn't sure was a good thing or not, because with out any screams she knew the gunman was on the move. Her fears were confirmed when she heard the jostling of the AV room door. Her eyes got wide and she was seconds from losing it, Chuck reached and clamped his hand over her mouth giving her a look to stay quiet. She nodded but she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold up.

Chuck's POV

You could hear the door being shaken and he could see Sarah's eyes widen so he did the only thing he could think of and quickly put his hand over her mouth. Whoever this was he knew was seconds from being inside the room. He just prayed that they could stay quiet enough that he would move on without realizing they were here. Sure enough the door flew open bashing against the wall, and you could hear the faint sound of footsteps walking across the floor. The shooter didn't say a word he just seemed to be walking around surveying the room. The steps were getting closer but Chuck kept squeezing Sarah's hand and staring into her eyes hoping that the fear he was feeling wasn't showing on his face. If they could just stay quiet he would leave. He kept repeating this in his head trying to keep himself from losing it. It was then that the footsteps came to a halt….in what sounded to be right in front of the closet they were currently hiding in. Chuck gulped and he heard Sarah's breathe hitch, this was it whoever this psycho was Chuck knew he was either about to open the door or leave. When Chuck saw the doorknob begin to turn he felt Sarah tense next to him and he knew it was now or never. Chuck jumped up in front of her and threw the door open.

The door smashed into the gunman and knocked him to the ground. While this gave Chuck the upper hand for a split second it didn't last long because unfortunately he was up against someone with a gun. The kid recovered jumped to his feet, pointed the shotgun at Chuck, cocked the trigger and was about to pull it when all the sudden he stopped and lowered his gun.

"Chuck?" the gunman said.

"Omg Michael no…Mike what are you doing?" Chuck answered in shock that one of his best friends was responsible for this horrific day.

Before he could answer, Michael's attention was drawn to the closet when he heard a muffled gasp. "Come out, whoever that is come out now hands up!" Michael yelled while pointing the gun in the closets direction.

"Come on Mike calm down buddy put the gun down okay? Just put it down." Chuck said trying to talk his friend down.

"Ha put the gun down and what Chuck? I have shot up half the school you think stopping now is going to change anything?... Besides I have one more on my list." He said in a manic voice.

Chuck had never seen or heard his friend like this. Sure he had been going through some hard times of late but this kid in front of him now wasn't his friend, this wasn't Mike.

"Another one on your list? Mike, listen to me okay you need to stop right now." Chuck should be fighting for his life but all he could think about was the look on Michael's face right now. It was a mix of pure evil and fear…

"Yeah Chuck another one on my list and lookie here there she is. Hey Sarah I've been looking for you." He said with a gleam in his eye.

"Mike what are you talking about? You don't need to do this just let us go." Chuck answered with a shaky voice while he slowly edged his way closer to Sarah.

"What do you mean Chuck? I'm not going to shoot you buddy I just want her, she is one of them." Michael said raising his gun in her direction.

"Whoa whoa now Mike listen to me okay I can see you are struggling with this…behind that anger is the guy I know, the Michael I know. Come on man you don't need to do this you are a good guy you can stop this right now." Chuck pleaded with his friend all the while inching closer to Sarah who was standing there in what Chuck assumed to be shock.

"No Chuck I can't I am finishing this. You are a good friend Chuck you always have been…please tell my parents I love them….and that I'm sorry." Michael said with an eerie calmness to his voice before once again taking aim on Sarah and squeezing the trigger.

Sarah's POV

She is standing there knowing that in mere moments her life would be over, Chuck is trying to talk the guy down but to be honest she hasn't registered anything either of them has said. All she knows is that a gun….a flipping gun is pointed at her head. As she stares down the barrel just waiting for this nightmare to finally be over, her fear is gone, replaced with a calmness she doesn't quite understand. She realizes Chuck has slowly been getting closer to her and she isn't sure why but she can only assume it has something to do with the fact a gun is currently pointed at her head. For the first time, she really looks at the shooter and can see it in his eyes…the fear….the complete unbridled fear and madness that she can only imagine comes along with murder. He was saying something to Chuck again…something about him being a good friend, it sounded like a goodbye. Then his eyes flickered from fear to sadness to determination. He tightened his grip on the gun and Sarah closed her eyes and waited…waited for her life to end.

She heard a sound unlike any she has ever heard in her life. It was loud and powerful, and soon after she heard another one identical to it…but then she realized she wasn't dead….she was still standing there. She opened her eyes half expecting to be in heaven, or wherever it is you go after you die,… but instead she was in hell. She saw the shooter in front of her undoubtedly dead, as his skull was ripped open exposing his brain mater. She nearly threw up right there but when she turned her head she saw Chuck on the ground, lying in a pool of what had to be his own blood. He wasn't moving and she lost it, she no longer could maintain her composure. She fell down to where he was laying and grabbed his head.

"Come on Chuck you are okay. Remember you promised we would get out of here alive? Don't you dare break that promise to me now okay?" Sarah pleaded to the unconscious body of Chuck.

"Please….Chuck…this cant be happening…please wake up." She struggled to get out. But he didn't wake up instead she just saw more and more blood coming from his body. His face was getting paler by the second and all the tears she had been holding in for the past hour came streaming down her face.

She was alive but she was more scared now than she was when the gun was pointed at her head. It was over, there would be no more gunshots, there would be no more blood shed, but she didn't feel safe, she wasn't sure she ever would anymore, she was scared. She was scared of what was waiting for her outside of this room. This room where she currently held a dying classmate in her arms, this room where the kid who had killed god knows how many people today was lying dead, this room yeah it was somehow more comforting than what she knew awaited her outside.

A/N There you have it guys, very heavy I know. I hope I did the sensitive nature of the subject justice and please know I don't condone school violence. That's not what this story is about, it's about the lives of the characters after this day. Please read and review I appreciate any comments positive or negative that you may have. I will finish this story regardless but as any of you fellow writers out there know it's always nice to know someone else is reading.