A/N: As always, I really appreciate the reviews. They mean a lot to me.
Thanks to my beta, Captainrick944. He really got me thinking about a few points in this one, which meant I added clarification.
This chapter is loosely based on S1E10, "Chuck Versus the Nemesis." Yes, staring Bryce Larkin. It's a fairly long one.
Piranha vs The Intersect
Chapter 12: Nemesis
As Sarah drove to the shopping mall, all the thoughts swirling in her head were making it hurt.
There were the ones that would have existed even if she and Bryce had never been an item.
How the hell was a man that Casey had shot and left for dead become reanimated? That was how she saw this. Casey assured her that Bryce was indeed dead and she knew he would have made certain. Somehow Bryce had been brought back to life. How the hell could that happen? And who could make it happen?
Then there was the why. Why would someone bring Bryce back to life? What did they hope to gain from that? Part of her suspected that it was related to Chuck. Were they after her boyfriend? Were they using Bryce to get to him? That, of course, led to her wondering how they knew to send Bryce to LA. Had he told them where he sent the Intersect? Or had they traced the email in the same way that the CIA and NSA had? If the latter, why use Bryce at all, because they must know Chuck had it?
Of course, the overriding question there was who. Who sent Bryce? Obviously linked with who had saved him in the first place.
Then, there were the questions associated with her time with Bryce.
How did she feel about Bryce's resurrection? Part of her was pleased he was alive. She didn't think she ever wished him dead, or did she? That last question was associated with her current boyfriend. What Bryce did to him made her hate her ex-partner for a while, alongside her unhappiness with him for his betrayal of her. However, knowing he seemed to do it for Chuck's benefit eased that a little, though she was still upset at him for deciding for Chuck, taking his choice from him.
That betrayal in Mexico was still raw. On the face of it, he'd done the right thing. The mission being more important than the operatives, but he hadn't taken the intel back to the CIA or reported what had happened to her.
She knew she was lucky that the cartel men hadn't raped her. That was the fate of most captured female operatives. Her own skills had prevented that, but Bryce wouldn't have known for sure that would be the case.
The suspicion that fell on Sarah on her return made that betrayal sharper, more painful.
Finally, there was the impact of his presence on Chuck.
Even though she constantly tried to make Chuck realize how much she loved him and how she had never felt the same with Bryce, she knew that his own experience of being around Bryce at college made him feel inferior. He had observed how women fell for Bryce. He had also lost the girl he was with to him.
Chuck knowing Sarah had been more than just Bryce's work partner affected him. The work partnership was what drew him to her, but the sexual relationship made Chuck doubt himself, something that was in his nature anyway.
She was sure that Chuck would immediately start thinking that she would go back to Bryce. It was a totally illogical thought. She chuckled to herself for thinking that. He might like that if she said it to him, Spock-like, but it was true. She was in a committed relationship with the man she loved, something that had never happened to her before, and certainly not with Bryce.
Bryce was exciting to be with, back in their days together, and the sex had been good, too, but she never felt for him how she now felt for Chuck.
She was sure that even if they weren't in a loving and sexual relationship, she would choose Chuck over Bryce. She just had to make Chuck believe it. She really hoped she could.
Chuck was pleased with how the morning at the Buy More had gone so far, although the doors were yet to open for Black Friday. Both the sales and support teams were focused. That in itself was new, and quite refreshing.
Of course, there was one member of the sales team missing. Casey was with Sarah waiting to see what the non-bomb actually was. Chuck was obviously eager to find out as well, but couldn't be there with them. He hoped Sarah or Casey would let him know soon.
He listened earlier as Morgan talked to the sales team with the Nerd Herd team listening in. "Black Friday has always been crazy, and today will be no different. If we lose control of the store, we are gonna have a pineapple situation," Morgan stated.
Lester asked, "What's a pineapple situation?"
Morgan turned to him. "Never say that word."
Lester started, "You just..."
Chuck cut him short. "It's a black swan. It's an impossible event that changes everything. In case something terrible happens. Nuclear strike, earthquake… Anyone of us could initiate a full Buy More evacuation by uttering one word."
Morgan stated it, "Pineapple. The word that cannot be spoken." Even though he'd just said it again.
Lester smiled. "I really just want to say it."
Jeff muttered, "Pineapples are fun. My dad used to throw them at me. Pineapple. Pineapple."
Morgan glared at him. "Seriously?"
Chuck was drawn out of the inane discussion as Jeff muttered beside him. "Babe alert."
Chuck looked over at the store entrance and froze. Whenever he saw Sarah Walker, he reacted in the same way. It didn't matter that he saw so much more over her overnight. Any absence meant when he saw her again, he reacted like this. All his senses overwhelmed.
Of course, Sarah knew she had that effect on him. The little smile that formed on her face when she spotted him looking at her, caused a flutter in his heart. She was as pleased to see him as he was her.
She looked so sexy in that Wienerlicious uniform. It accentuated her gorgeous body, especially her fabulous legs. His sister had brought him up to be more respectful, but Sarah liked him looking at her legs, so his eyes were drawn down to them briefly before looking back up into those amazing eyes of hers.
Then, her smile disappeared and she walked quickly to him. He was filled with a deep foreboding about what they had found in that non-bomb.
Sarah grasped his hand as soon as she reached him. "Chuck, we have to talk." She started to pull him with her, toward the entrance.
She managed to pull him away from Jeff, but then his legs froze. He froze, suddenly stopping his forward motion. The foreboding became fear. "Have you realized I'm not what you want?" he managed to whisper.
Sarah turned back and realized her words had caused this reaction. She also realized she hadn't kissed him as she usually did. She immediately corrected that. She knew she couldn't kiss him as she wanted in the store. His aversion to PDA wouldn't cope any more than the other staff and customers. So, while the kiss had to be chaste, the look she gave him clearly conveyed her love for him. Or at least she hoped it did.
Chuck relaxed and his feet started moving again.
As they exited the store, he asked, "Is this about the non-bomb?"
Her grip on his hand tensed before she said, "It is."
She took him straight to her car and they got in.
She turned to him. "I'm taking us to the apartment first."
He frowned. "Why?"
"We have to talk, but we also have to make love," she replied and turned the engine on.
"Wow! Work stopped for sex?"
She nodded, but didn't smile. She concentrated on her driving.
Sarah didn't want to talk about Bryce in the car and kept quiet. When they reached the apartment complex, she grabbed his hand again and pulled him along.
"You did say talk first, didn't you?" he asked. "Feels more like I'm being dragged to bed!"
"Talk first," she replied.
She sat him down and sat on his lap and kissed him. A deep kiss. The sort she couldn't do in public. They were both breathless when she pulled away.
"What happened to talking first?" he gasped.
"I had to do that before talking," she replied. She climbed off him, and sat next to him, gripping his hands. She took a deep breath. "Chuck, the non-bomb was actually a life sustaining pod."
"What?"
A life sustaining…. Chuck, Bryce is alive."
"Brice? Alive? He was in that thing with the countdown clock?" Chuck shook his head in disbelief.
She nodded.
He stared at her and said, "Is the talk that you're going back to him. The kiss to ease the blow?"
She let go of his hands, cupped his face and looked into his eyes with an intensity that stopped him from looking away. "Never, Chuck. I'm yours and only yours. That's why I brought you here to tell you. I knew these damned insecurities of yours would flare up. I love you. I don't love Bryce. You are my present and my future, Chuck."
Chuck slowly smiled slightly and confessed, "I'm insecure around Bryce, Sarah. I can't help it, but thank you for this."
She kissed him again, to emphasize her feelings.
"So, you're not planning goodbye sex?" he quipped.
She glared and then relaxed her features. "I was thinking more that it would remind you that we will be having a lot more sex tonight. Happy, loving sex."
"God, I like the sound of that!" he declared as he stood and pulled her up.
They were in bed entwined in each other's arms in no time.
When Sarah and Chuck arrived at the secure hospital facility, Casey commented to Sarah on how long it took them to get there. "Bartowski need reassurance?"
"We took the opportunity to get some time alone before it got busy," she replied. "Then, of course we needed to shower."
Casey grunted and turned to face the window through to the room Bryce was in. "He won't talk to anyone but you, Bartowski."
"Sarah mentioned that," Chuck replied "I take it this is a one-way mirror?"
"Yeah, it is, Chuck," Sarah said. "We don't want him to see Casey and I yet."
Chuck looked through at his old friend. He looked in a bad way.
"We need to know what happened to him," Casey said. "He'll talk to you."
"I have things I need to know, as well," Chuck replied. "Like why he sent the Intersect to me."
"Don't push too hard just yet," Sarah said. "Let him drive the conversation, at least initially."
Chuck stared at her for several moments before nodding and sighing.
Sarah grabbed Chuck before he moved. She stood on tiptoes and whispered into his left ear, "Remember, I love you so very much." That helped him. He stood back and she added, louder, "Casey and I will be by the window. Don't go too far in. Call if you need us."
As he stood outside the door, waiting for it to open, Casey walked over and said, "Remember, he's rogue CIA, a trained assassin... So be careful."
"Thanks!" Chuck sarcastically replied then, he walked in.
Bryce didn't look up but asked, "Who are you?"
Chuck replied, "Hey, Bryce, It's me... Chuck."
Bryce looked up at him. "I don't believe you. What did you do with the real Chuck?" Bryce glumly replied.
Chuck looked at Bryce. He huffed. "You know, I didn't choose to be here. You asked for me. I'm happy to just leave."
"Prove you're Chuck," Bryce demanded. Chuck didn't know how he'd do that, but then Bryce asked a question in Klingon. Chuck replied instantly.
Casey turned to Sarah. "What the hell?"
She smiled. "Klingon. Bryce is asking Chuck a question in a language most wouldn't know."
"And how do you?" Casey asked.
"I've watched Star Trek with him. I don't know what Bryce asked, but hopefully Chuck's reply is sufficient."
Bryce looked at Chuck and smiled. "Your Klingon's a bit rusty, Chuck."
Chuck replied, "Yeah, I've been kind of busy lately... Ever since I got your email."
"You opened it, didn't you?" Bryce asked.
"Yeah, I did." Chuck didn't tell Bryce that he already knew what it contained before opening it.
"So, you're the Intersect now," Bryce stated.
"I don't get it, Bryce. Why'd you send me the Intersect? And how the hell are you still alive?"
"It's complicated," Bryce muttered.
Chuck wasn't going to leave it at that. "Who saved you?" he asked.
"They did."
"Shit, Bryce. Tell me who or I'll just walk out."
"Come here, and I'll tell you. For your ears only," Bryce said.
"Don't…" Sarah started, but Chuck was already smarter than that.
"No way, Bryce. I don't trust you." Chuck actually moved backward toward the door.
Bryce broke free and grabbed a syringe full of liquid and a very, very long needle. He rushed forward, but Sarah had already opened the door for Chuck and he was on his way out. Sarah pushed past him and aimed her gun at Bryce. Casey followed, doing the same.
Bryce was shocked to see his ex-partner. "Sarah, what are you doing here?" Then he looked at the older agent. "Hello, Casey. Planning to try again?"
"We will shoot you unless you drop that, Bryce," Sarah told him.
Bryce didn't look like he thought Sarah would do that, but he knew Casey would. He lowered the syringe and placed it back on the tray.
"Good choice, Bryce," Sarah said. Casey looked pissed that Bryce had done it.
Sarah asked what Chuck had asked. "What do 'they' want with you? And who are 'they'?""
Bryce refused to answer and Casey grabbed him and zip-tied him.
Chuck looked back in, but was turned around by Sarah. Bryce called out to him, "You need me, Chuck." Sarah didn't stop and just led Chuck away.
Sarah and Chuck walked into the elevator and started it down. She had put her gun into the back of her pants.
"I don't want him near you, Chuck," she said. "I don't know what he planned back there, but he can't be trusted."
"I know. That was why I backed away," he replied.
She pulled him into an embrace and kissed him.
The elevator stopped, but hadn't reached the first floor yet.
Sarah had her back to the door as it opened, something she never normally did.
Chuck saw the suited man, with a scar on his left cheek, standing a few feet from the elevator. He flashed, but that wasn't noticed because of the blonde hair swirling around as Sarah turned.
Chuck saw that the man was Tommy Delgado, a Fulcrum operative, a cold-blooded killer with a lot of blood on his hands.
"Hmm, I guess the person I'm looking for is still up there," Tommy said.
Sarah was surprised and irritated with herself for facing the wrong way. She had no idea who this was but her instincts suggested someone they did not want to spend time with. She didn't react other than to say, "Sorry," and pressed the button to close the doors again so the elevator could continue.
Chuck let out a breath. "That was Tommy Delgado," Chuck said. "He's a Fulcrum operative. He was after Bryce."
His words told Sarah that her instincts were correct.
She grabbed her phone to call Casey and told him about Tommy, as he could be heading up for Bryce.
Sarah and Chuck headed back to the apartment where he quickly got onto his computer while she made a call to Director Graham.
Chuck didn't find out much more about Delgado. The CIA did not have much on him, just that he was dangerous. He was originally from Hawaii, and was a known assassin before he seemed to disappear five years ago. Chuck guessed that was when he joined Fulcrum.
Graham told Sarah, "Fulcrum must be who brought Larkin back. You and Casey should interrogate him to find out where from and if he knows what they want."
"He's not being forthcoming," she replied.
"Then make him," Graham replied, looking at her for a few moments before ending the call.
The way he said that sent a chill up and down Sarah's spine. It used not to bother her, and she would just do what he said, but now she was with Chuck, she was obviously softening.
Having ended their conversation with Graham, they both realized that they needed to maintain their cover and needed to get back to the shopping mall, to their other 'jobs.' Being absent would raise difficult questions with it being Black Friday, the busiest day of the year.
Two hours later, Sarah's phone rang while working in the Wienerlicious. She looked at the caller. It was Casey. She answered it as Scooter frowned at her. She ignored him.
"Larkin got away."
She stared at the phone for a moment, before walking out of the shop and round by the bins. "How the hell?"
"He got away when they were transferring him from the hospital," Casey replied. "Larkin managed to smash the driver's head against the windscreen, causing the car to swerve. The other NSA man was knocked out in that crash. When he recovered, Larkin was gone."
"Shit! When did this happen?" she asked.
"Three hours ago," he replied.
"He's probably long gone, then," she said.
Casey just grunted.
Sarah called Chuck and told him what had happened and their thoughts about Bryce hightailing it out of LA.
"Unless Fulcrum has got him," he commented.
"That would not be good," she said.
"So, are you and Casey gonna go after him?" Chuck asked.
"No. Bryce is probably halfway around the world by now. It's someone else's job to find him."
Chuck was surprised. "Sarah, this is Bryce Larkin we're talking about here. Your ex and my old nemesis. We have to do something, if only to save him from Fulcrum."
Sarah wanted Chuck to fully understand the situation. "I'm not leaving you to go chasing after him. I don't care about him being my ex. I don't care about him. I don't care for my past. You are my present. You are my future."
"Wow! That's a lot of words, Sarah."
She huffed. "Do you doubt it?"
His reply warmed her heart. "Never, My Love. Never."
Sarah spotted Chuck's sister crossing the parking lot, heading toward the Wienerlicious. She waved and Ellie spotted her and diverted.
"Got to go," Sarah told Chuck.
Ellie walked up to her. "Hiding by the bins to avoid the sausages?" she teased.
She chuckled. "It is a nightmare in there."
"I hope you're both coming to Thanksgiving at Devon and my apartment."
Sarah grinned. "Of course."
Ellie grinned back. "Great."
Both Chuck and Sarah were exhausted when they returned home from 'work.' Black Friday had been a nightmare, crazily busy at both the Wienerlicious and the Buy More.
Morgan and Anna would be coming this evening. Both had worked late as well. As there was little support work that day, Anna had helped with sales, but left Jeff and Lester with strict instructions to inform her if the support work needed her back. Chuck had kept an eye on them, so no problems occurred.
Support calls would increase, of course. That was always the way after major sales days.
"So, Morgan and Anna are coming," Sarah stated. "That'll be the first time for Anna, won't it?"
Chuck nodded in the passenger seat. "Yeah. Ellie is pleased. It means an evening without Morgan looking at her like a love-sick fool."
"So, you don't think that'll be the case?" Sarah asked, dubiously.
"I really hope not or it'll cause problems. I can't see Anna being tolerant."
"Nor me," she replied.
They both fell silent thinking about that.
Chuck was thinking about a jealous, angry Anna. A frightening demonic force unleashed. In spite of saying Ellie would be happy, he knew Anna probably wouldn't be.
Sarah thought about her own jealousy around other women and how she had to control it, even though she knew Chuck would never stray. Then, she started thinking about Chuck's jealousy of Bryce, especially with her in mind. Another equally unrealistic train of thoughts would be set off in his head. Jealousy and self-doubt were a terrible mix, but everyone, apart from pure egotists, suffer from it to some extent. People like her boyfriend, and herself, who had the pasts they had, more so, she suspected.
As Sarah headed to have a quick shower, Chuck wandered over to Ellie who was setting the places at the table. "Uh, sis, Morgan is bringing somebody tonight."
Ellie didn't react and carried on with what she was doing, "Like, a real someone or an imaginary someone?"
Chuck replied, "Uh, real, actually, very real, and she's very nice. And you-"
Ellie whirled around to face him; shock written all over her face. "She? You said 'she.'"
Chuck smiled at her reaction. "Yes. Anna. Morgan's girlfriend." He had to warn Ellie, though. "There could be a little issue, though, because she knows about you and Morgan."
Ellie frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Chuck quickly reminded her of Morgan's crush.
She rolled her eyes. "Just keep him under control."
When they headed back over, dressed casually for the evening, Chuck and Sarah were surprised that Casey was at Ellie and Devon's apartment, dressed in a suit and tie.
Chuck walked over to him. "Surprised to see you here, Casey."
"Ellie invited me." Casey replied. "We are all part of the same team."
Chuck nodded. "True. Welcome to the family gathering."
Casey just grunted.
"Any news on Bryce?"
That got an angry grunt. "None."
There was a knock on the door and Chuck rushed to open it. Ellie came with him, holding her drink.
"Hi, guys," he said as he opened it to Morgan and Anna.
"Welcome to Thanksgiving," Chuck said.
Morgan looked at the woman he faced and smiled. "Ellie!" Chuck winced at the way he said it. "So, uh, this is Anna, my..."
Anna didn't look pleased to see the taller woman. She quickly said, "Girlfriend."
Morgan nodded. "Right." He looked pleased that she'd said that, though.
Anna handed something to Chuck. "And this is my green bean casserole. Try not to drop it." She wrapped herself around Morgan and looked at Ellie. The smile was obviously false. "Good to meet you… finally."
Ellie smiled, a genuine one, "Yeah. Chuck has told me about you and Morgan. I'm so happy."
Anna released Morgan, grabbed the glass from Ellie's hand and swept past her, muttering, "Hussy."
Ellie frowned at Chuck as Morgan rushed after his girlfriend.
"Sorry, El," Chuck said.
They all sat down with the numerous dishes on the table in front of them. It looked like the dinner would go well, if Anna could stop glowering at Ellie.
After finishing his first plate's worth, Morgan said, "I am in heaven. This is so good." Anna frowned.
Ellie said, "Glad you like it."
Morgan gushed. "Okay, you know what I want for my second plate? I need critical side dish number two."
He reached for a bowl and Ellie passed it to him. "There you go."
Morgan smiled at her, gaining another scowl from Anna. "Thank you." Then he looked at what he was holding. "There's no marshmallows on my sweet potatoes."
Anna immediately said, "It's Morgan's favorite number two side dish."
Ellie frowned. "I'm sorry, I picked them up, just forgot them."
Anna declared, "Thanksgiving is ruined."
Ellie looked to Chuck. "They must still be in the trunk of my car."
Chuck wanted to avert this crisis. "I'll go and get them. I'll be right back."
Ellie looked gratefully at him. "Thanks."
Chuck grabbed her keys and headed out. He really didn't want this to get any further out of hand. He rushed to Ellie's car and found the marshmallows, grabbed them and headed back.
He had to stop quickly before bumping into Bryce who stepped out from the archway shadows and stood in front of him. "Hello, Chuck."
Chuck snarled at him. "Sarah and Casey are right inside. One call from me, and they go into combat mode."
Bryce ignored that. "This your place?" He pointed at the apartment he was returning to.
Chuck shook his head. "No, but Ellie and Devon live here."
"But not you?"
Chuck replied without thought, "Until recently."
Bryce looked at him. "What happened? Chuck, what happened to you? The guy who wanted to be the software billionaire- Bill Gates with style."
Chuck glared at his ex-friend and snapped, "You got me kicked out of Stanford, Bryce!"
Bryce briefly looked sad about that, then said, "I need to talk to Sarah. Can you bring her to me, without Casey?"
"Why would I help you?" Chuck scoffed.
Bryce didn't hesitate. "Because of Fulcrum." He watched Chuck and saw recognition of the name. "So, you've heard of them?"
"Yeah, thanks to you," Chuck replied.
"They want the Intersect, Chuck," Bryce said. "They want you. I have to talk to Sarah about them and the CIA."
Chuck walked back into the apartment after giving Bryce instructions. He handed the marshmallows to Ellie.
Morgan cried out, "Oh, thank god the marshmallows are back? Thank you."
Anna frowned and picked up her dish and showed it to him. "I made this for you."
Morgan looked at it. He schooled his expression and took some. "Thank you, thank you." He ate it and still looked the same.
"Everything okay?" Anna asked.
Morgan nodded, "Yeah, everything's... Great."
Anna beamed, "You like it?"
Morgan nodded, "Very much. It's devastating. Devastatingly good."
Anna looked up. "Does anyone else want some?"
All said, "No, thank you."
Devon and Casey started talking about fitness, so the NSA agent was distracted.
Chuck walked around the table and gave Sarah a kiss on her cheek. While there, he whispered, "Bryce is here." Sarah tensed slightly. Chuck stood and said, "Sarah's going to help me with something in my old bedroom."
"Yeah, you've still got a lot of stuff in there," Devon called out.
Sarah walked in front of him, wishing she'd brought her gun with her.
"He wants to talk to you," Chuck said quietly.
"Okay. I'll go in first, but be prepared to call Casey if I signal you," she whispered back.
She pushed the door open and crept in slowly. She saw the window was open. Chuck must have done that earlier when changing. She needed to talk to him about safety again. She switched on the light and walked further in. She sensed Bryce was in there, but she couldn't see him.
Then, she heard him drop down from the ceiling directly behind her. Instinct kicked in, she immediately elbowed backwards, aiming high.
"Ooof!" Bryce gasped out as he stumbled back.
"Foolish, Bryce," Sarah hissed as she turned to him.
"I thought you were getting rusty, letting me drop on you like that," he muttered.
"And yet you're the one with the bloody nose," she replied.
Sarah now had one of her knives in her hand.
Bryce held up his hands. "I'm unarmed… And I'm sorry."
Sarah asked, "Why shouldn't I arrest you right now?"
"Because I'm not a rogue spy," Bryce replied. "Because the Intersect was a mission."
Chuck was standing leaning on the doorframe, wondering whether to go in.
Bryce continued, "And because, Sarah... You're still in love with me." He reached for her, obviously intending to pull her into a kiss. Chuck tensed. Sarah didn't look Chuck's way but was aware he was there. She neither wanted a kiss from Bryce or for Chuck seeing that happen. The fact Bryce was even trying to do so, and had said what he had, raised her ire. She reacted instantly.
"What the fuck?" Bryce gasped as he held the hand with a slash across the palm.
"I'm NOT in love with you, Bryce. I never have been!" Sarah hissed.
Chuck stepped into the room. "I think he got the message, Sarah." He hated the sight of blood at the best of times, but it was somehow worse when Sarah spilled it.
Sarah was still mad and leaned toward her ex. "I may not have a gun with me, Bryce, but you know how good I am with a knife."
"Yeah. Thanks for the reminder," he hissed back.
Casey chose that moment to arrive, having heard Bryce's cry on being cut.
Both Chuck and Sarah tried to stop Casey from shooting Bryce, who took the opportunity to escape out of the window.
Casey pushed past Chuck and rushed to the window. "Nice work, CIA," he hissed at the two of them.
"Hey," Chuck said, "No guns at Thanksgiving."
Casey huffed and climbed through the window followed by the other two.
None could see any trace of Bryce.
"He had news about Fulcrum," Chuck told them both.
"Well, he's gone now," Casey said.
"Yeah, because he didn't want you to shoot him!" Chuck replied.
"He should be dead," Casey hissed.
"Let's find him and hear what he has to say," Chuck replied.
Casey grunted. "We need to call this in from my place."
The three of them headed over there. Casey opened the door as the light came on. He immediately reached for his gun and shot with no hesitation. Bryce, who had just stood, was blasted back and fell to the floor on his back.
"Casey, we needed to listen to him!" Chuck called out.
Casey lowered his gun. "Too late now."
Sarah rushed over to the fallen man and felt a pulse at his neck and saw there was no blood on his chest. She opened his shirt showing he was wearing a bullet-proof vest underneath.
Bryce's eyes opened and he coughed. He leaned up on his elbows and looked over to Casey. "You should aim for the head next time, Casey."
Casey started to raise his gun but Chuck stood in the way. "Casey! Get a grip! We have to listen!"
Casey looked at Chuck in surprise. Chuck rarely stood up to him.
"He's right, Casey," Sarah shouted as she helped Bryce onto the couch.
Bryce started talking, "The Intersect was a mission. I was recruited by an outfit called Fulcrum. I thought it was a special access group inside the CIA."
Sarah muttered, "But they're not."
Bryce continued, "They knew who I was, my activation codes, my record. They ordered me to shed my agency contacts and go deep. Only then did I realize it was an internal strike to download and destroy the Intersect. Fulcrum had plans for its intel. I had to stop them."
Sarah hissed, "How can we trust you, Bryce?"
Bryce turned to her. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Sarah. I didn't know who to trust."
Sarah asked the question burning in her head, "Why Chuck?"
Chuck piped up, "Yeah, why Chuck?"
Bryce looked at him. "I needed a friend who wasn't a spy. He wouldn't know anything about Fulcrum, or the Intersect… or sand wall."
Chuck muttered, "Sand wall," as he flashed on the name.
Sarah looked worriedly at him. "You flashed?"
"Sand wall," Chuck repeated. "That was the name of a mission." He looked at Sarah and then Casey. "He's telling the truth."
Bryce said, "I'm not rogue."
Chuck asked the other big question. "I don't get it, Bryce. How are you alive?"
Bryce shrugged. "I don't know how they did it, if that's what you're asking. Maybe they have clinics somewhere that can do this. I don't remember it."
Chuck noted that. He would research that.
Sarah asked, "But you know why they did it?"
Bryce nodded, "Yeah."
Casey was getting frustrated with how long this was taking. "Well, should I pop some popcorn or beat the answer out of you?"
Bryce looked at the NSA agent. "No thanks. I'll talk."
Casey grunted.
Bryce said, "You know the first part already. I copied the Intersect intel onto a drive and blew up the computer. Raced out of the DNI. Then, I ran into you, Casey. So, I'm on the ground. No white light, just Casey staring down at me.
"They brought me back, but they weren't trying to save me. No, this was a Fulcrum team. They wanted something. They wanted the Intersect. They thought I had it."
"They thought you'd downloaded it? They knew that could be done?" Chuck asked.
"I don't know if they did before, but I said I had the Intersect data in me."
Chuck nodded. "So, Fulcrum thinks you're the Intersect."
Bryce nodded, "They brought me back to take it out of me. That's why I need your help."
Casey didn't like this. "We're going to help you?" His tone said not.
Bryce looked at Sarah. "I need to turn myself in to the CIA, but Fulcrum has operatives in every agency, including the CIA and the NSA. I need to know that I'm being handed over to the real CIA."
Chuck spoke quickly. "I can ensure that. I can be there at the transfer. If I flash on whoever they send, I can tell whether they're Fulcrum or not."
Sarah nodded. "That should work. Smart, Chuck."
He beamed at her praise.
Casey said, "They still need a place where the transfer can go down, a public place. Lots of people."
Chuck looked at him. "Public spot... Lots of witnesses." He smiled. "I know just the place."
Bryce stayed with Casey overnight.
Before leaving him there, they called Director Graham. As he appeared on the screen he looked at Bryce. "Agent Larkin. Didn't expect to see you again."
Bryce had argued against this call in case it was intercepted, but they had ignored him.
"Yes, Sir," Bryce responded.
"We should lock you up and throw away the key," Graham said next.
"Sir, I have intel about Fulcrum. I need to make sure it doesn't fall into enemy hands. Or me, either. They think I'm the Intersect."
Graham looked at him in silence for at least a minute. It felt like hours. "Very well. I'll send men to collect you."
Bryce wasn't happy about that. "They could be double agents, Director. Fulcrum has operatives in every agency."
Graham pondered that for a moment. "I'll send a number of men that I trust."
"I can vet them, Director," Chuck said.
Graham looked at him. "You can, can't you. That's good thinking, Chuck." Chuck nodded his thanks for the praise. Graham continued to explain to all of them what he intended. "I'll send more than one car. We don't want either to be intercepted." He looked at Chuck. "Vet them all."
They agreed on a time. The place was more of a challenge for Graham. "If this goes south, a lot of innocents could die."
"It'll be a quick transfer, Director," Casey said.
Chuck and Sarah really hoped that was true.
Having left Bryce at Casey's apartment, Chuck and Sarah walked to Elie and Devon's. Casey was as grumpy as hell over the baby sitting. Bryce wasn't happy either. He wanted to be with Sarah, but she'd made it very obvious that that wouldn't be happening.
Chuck couldn't explain why he didn't hold Sarah's hand as he walked out of Casey's, ahead of her. Sarah guessed it was his lack of confidence when around Bryce.
She caught up with him before they climbed back into his old bedroom. "You know it will probably be good for Bryce to know," she said.
He paused and thought about that for a moment. "You're probably right. I just don't want to jinx it."
He turned to step into the room, but Sarah grabbed his arm and pulled him back out. She turned him around and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He slowly brought his hands around her waist and pulled her closer. When they parted, both were almost breathless.
"He might have seen," Chuck managed to get out.
"I hope he did," she replied. "Now, let's get back to the rest of them."
When they did, they found Devon and Ellie clearing up. Ellie glared at both of them.
"Where is everyone?" Chuck asked.
"You deserted us first," Ellie accused, with her hands on her hips. "Then Casey disappeared, followed shortly by Anna." She paused and looked embarrassed about the latter.
"What happened?" Chuck asked, dreading the answer.
"Morgan gushed over the sweet potatoes and marshmallows." Ellie looked down. "I probably shouldn't have looked pleased."
"Morgan rushed after Anna as she stormed out," Devon finished the story.
Chuck groaned.
"I'm going to bed," Ellie declared and walked away from them.
Chuck and Sarah helped Devon clear up and offered to fill the dishwasher and wash the pots and pans. He took them up on the offer and went after his girlfriend.
When he and Sarah finally got to bed, Chuck was quiet.
"Damn your insecurities, Boyfriend!" Sarah declared. She stripped off, yanked his boxers down and climbed on top of him. He got the very clear message that he was the only man for her. She communicated that several times.
Chuck wondered if he'd made a mistake suggesting the Buy More as the venue. It was busy, as he'd suggested, but maybe too busy.
The CIA team walked into the store in two separate groups so that the cars were not left unattended.
Chuck did flash on all the men, but all were CIA operatives and none also worked for Fulcrum.
Bryce said his farewells to the team. Even Casey shook his hand.
When he spoke to Chuck, he said, "You know, I didn't mean to offend you, last night. About living with your sister."
Chuck smiled, "Well, I don't anymore."
Bryce looked at him. "Casey, between grunts, told me about your team, what you've done together."
Chuck just nodded.
"I got one friend in this world. You've got a store full of them and family too."
"So, what happens now, Bryce?" Chuck asked. "You just disappear all over again?"
Bryce nodded. "That's what I do well." He held out his hand. "Thanks, Chuck. For everything."
Chuck was surprised to see Bryce was sincere, and he found himself sad to see him go. "Yeah. You're welcome."
Bryce walked to his ex-girlfriend. "Come with me to the airport?" he requested. Sarah had wondered about that, but decided against it. She was still wary of Chuck getting the wrong message when she did anything around Bryce. She just shook her head.
Casey had listened in and said to Chuck. "I'll follow them and make sure he gets on the plane."
Chuck nodded his thanks and watched them all leave.
Sarah needed to head back to the Wienerlicious, so she gave Chuck a kiss and set off.
As Sarah worked, she looked over at the Buy More. She wondered what was going on in Chuck's head.
Then, she noticed two black SUV's turn up. Men in gray suits poured out and headed into the Buy More. The man that she and Chuck had seen when the elevator door opened leading them.
She immediately called Casey. "You need to come back."
"The Fulcrum team hit Larkin's car. We're dealing with them," Casey replied over gunshots.
"Well, Tommy Delgado just led seven Fulcrum men into the Buy More. Chuck's in danger," she said and hung up.
"You can't leave, Miss Walker," Scooter said as she walked around the counter. Sarah ignored him and rushed to her car, got in and drove to the back of the Buy More where she spotted two gray-suited men standing guard. She skidded the car around, throwing two knives at the same time. Both hit the Fulcrum agents in their necks.
She stopped the car and leaped out grabbing guns from the trunk, before scooping up the machine guns the men had dropped, along with her knives from their throats.
Her two pistols shoved into the back of her tight skirt were uncomfortable. The two machine guns strapped over her shoulders clunked together, but she was determined that nothing would stop her. All thoughts of hiding her identity were gone from her head. Rescuing Chuck was paramount.
She came across two more Fulcrum men at the back of the store. Knives eliminated them quietly.
She walked toward the main floor.
Chuck had been surprised when a gray suit appeared in front of him. "Remember me?"
Facing Tommy Delgado was the last thing Chuck expected.
"You're Charles Bartowski, aren't you?" Delgado asked. "We met the other day."
Chuck stalled. "Did we?"
The man with the scar on his cheek leaned closer. "You and your girlfriend visited my friend Bryce Larkin at that hospital," Delgado said. "I no longer think he has the Intersect, but I think you know where it is."
Chuck continued to act dumb. "The Intersect?"
Delgado calmly said, "You don't seem to understand the situation, Charles. You think that all these witnesses are a guarantee that nothing's gonna happen to you? You couldn't be more wrong."
Chuck ignored that and said, "I am so slammed right now. It's really busy. So, I should probably get back to work."
Delgado ignored that in turn. "My men will have intercepted Bryce Larkin by now. I have seven trained killers stationed throughout the store."
Chuck looked around and spotted three of them.
"See, here's the thing, Charles. Nothing stops me from fulfilling my orders, certainly not innocents... Civilians. If you make me, I'll execute every last person in this place."
Chuck nervously looked around. The store was crazily busy. So, he slowly walked toward the entrance in front of Delgado.
Suddenly, Jeff ran up to him looking panicked. "Chuck, the registers are down. I can't get them back up. What should I do?"
Delgado muttered to Chuck, "You say more than one word and I'll kill him right here."
Chuck knew exactly what to do. He looked at Jeff and said, "Pineapple."
Jeff's eyes widened, he gasped and then he ran off.
"Come on. Let's go," Delgado said.
They only got a few more steps before they heard Morgan shouting into a loudhailer, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have an emergency. I need everyone to leave the store in an orderly fashion… Anna, Pineapple."
The fire alarm was triggered and the store erupted into chaos with people rushing to escape.
Sarah heard Morgan and then the fire alarm. She rushed into the Audio Visual Theater, dropping her guns there, then ran out into the store. She spotted Chuck with Delgado, just before she spotted another Fulcrum man in front of her facing the other way. She kicked the back of his knee and then twirled, kicking him in the face. He dropped instantly.
She looked up and saw that Delgado was now surrounded by shoppers and Chuck was trying to get away from him. Fortunately, he was heading in her direction. She rushed to him, grabbed his wrist and pulled him into her safe haven.
"Sarah, thank god!"
"Strip off your shirt, Chuck," she said.
"I don't think now's the time," he started to reply.
She was lifting one of the seats up. He was amazed when she pulled out a bulletproof vest and thrust it to him. "Put this on."
He quickly followed her instructions.
"Delgado has two more men out there," she hissed.
"He said he had seven," Chuck replied.
"Now just two," she replied.
"God, you're amazing!"
She grinned at him. "Thanks. Stay here. Do not come out or you'll be in deep trouble with me."
He nodded.
She left and he watched her. The two men closed in on her and he held his breath, but needn't have worried. It was like watching ballet choreography in motion as she leaped up and then kicked both men in the face at the same time.
"Wow!" he gasped.
Then the door opened and he was yanked out.
Sarah looked around for Delgado.
"Over here," she heard Delgado say.
She turned and saw he was holding a gun to Chuck's neck. "Let him go... Now!" she demanded.
Delgado smiled coldly. "Does this look like my first time?"
Sarah looked at her boyfriend. He knew what she was going to do. He nodded to her.
"Sorry, Chuck," she said and then shot him in the chest.
Chuck fell backward and Delgado dropped him in surprise.
Sarah shot twice more, once at Delgado's knuckle holding the gun and once at his knee.
The man dropped the gun and fell to the floor. Sarah rushed over and kicked him in the face, knocking him out.
Then, she dropped to her boyfriend. "Hey, Chuck." He was out cold. She lightly slapped his cheek. "Chuck, come on, wake up. Come on, hey."
He gasped and opened his eyes. Sarah had her hand behind his neck, pulled him up slightly as she leaned down and kissed him.
"I'm so sorry, Chuck," she said tearfully.
"Hey, I'm alive," he replied and then started coughing.
She eased him back down, quickly ripped open his shirt and took the vest off, complete with the embedded bullet.
They both looked at the red mark on his chest where the bullet would have punctured his chest had the vest not been worn. Chuck looked up at her. "Not fair to not tell someone how much a bulletproof vest still hurts."
She pulled him to her kissing him harder.
As she helped him up to his feet, men in yellow outfits and helmets rushed in.
"Some fire," Chuck muttered.
One of the men walked up to them. "We're NSA. Major Casey sent us."
Sarah stepped forward. "There's eight of them scattered around. Four dead out back and four knocked out in here. The one with gunshot wounds is the leader." She looked back at Chuck, expecting him to look upset that she'd killed again.
He just smiled. "They would have killed everyone. Thank you, Sarah."
She helped him toward the front exit.
Once outside, they saw Big Mike yelling at Morgan. "You just ruined the most important shopping day of the year. For what? For what? Do you know what you are, Grimes?"
Morgan winced, "No."
One of the NSA men walked up behind Big Mike, recognizing him as the store manager, and tapped him on the shoulder. Big Mike turned, shouting, "What?"
The man replied, "There was a gas leak in the store."
Big Mike looked aghast. "Gas?"
The pretend firefighter replied, "Yes, sir. And whoever evacuated probably saved a lot of people. It will take us a few hours to clean all this up, so we'd appreciate it if you'd keep everybody out of here until we give you the green light."
Big Mike turned and looked at Morgan briefly before walking away. Chuck knew that apologizing was not his way.
"Thanks, Morgan," Chuck said, slapping his friend on the shoulder.
Anna, who had been hovering nearby, wrapped herself around Morgan. "My hero."
Sarah decided she had no intention of returning to the Wienerlicious. She was taking Chuck home. "Shit! My car's round the back of the Buy More."
Chuck grinned. "Let me take you there in my fancy company car." She chuckled as he led her to a Nerd Herder.
They arrive back at the apartment complex at the same time as Casey.
Chuck was leaning on Sarah as he walked. "Thanks for the help," he said to the big guy.
Casey looked at him and frowned. "You get hit?"
"Sarah shot me," Chuck replied.
Casey looked at her. "Had enough of him already?"
Chuck answered. "I was wearing a vest."
Casey grunted and rolled his eyes.
"What happened with Bryce?" Sarah asked.
"After I arranged for some NSA men to come help, I made sure Larkin caught the plane." He paused and looked at Sarah. "He wanted to go to the Buy More and save the day."
She rolled her eyes. "Not needed."
"She was amazing, Casey," Chuck said. "She took out eight guys on her own, including Delgado!"
Casey appraised her. "Nice one, Walker."
She nodded her thanks.
"Larkin had another message for you," Casey told her. "He said to tell you he'd see you as soon as he could."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Typical."
Casey turned to his apartment and Sarah led Chuck to theirs.
As they climbed into bed, Chuck said, "Bryce still wants you, Sarah."
"I know," she replied, sighing. She looked at her boyfriend. "But he'll never have me again."
"You know, I can sympathize with how he feels," Chuck said, gazing at her.
She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly.
"If you ever decided to leave me," he started. She frowned and was going to correct him, but he held up his hand to stop her saying anything. "No, Sarah, I need to say this."
She nodded her acceptance.
He started again, "If you ever decided to leave me, I'd never want anyone else. I'd just wait and hope that you'd come back to me." He paused for a second. "No one could ever replace you, Sarah."
She leaned closer. "Thank you, Chuck. I feel the same. No one could ever replace you in my heart, either."
They kissed and then she held him, tenderly, resting her head on the right side of his chest to avoid the bruise.
"I'm proud of you, Chuck. You demonstrated how brave you were in the crisis and handled the situation really well. That wasn't the Intersect, or Piranha, that was just my amazing boyfriend."
"Thank you, Sarah. I love you."
She kissed his chest. "I love you too, Chuck."
They lay down together and held onto each other as they fell asleep.
A/N: Sorry, no Omaha comment and Sarah didn't have a dilemma trying to decide whether to go with Bryce or stay with Chuck. Bryce was taken to Langley to be interrogated, so no quiet conversation with Beckman and then being sent out after Fulcrum. That just wouldn't happen.
Thoughts?