A/N: Disclaimer. Need I say more?

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"Ok," Sarah said. "Graham is on his way. He'll be here late morning. So, we wait."

"Guys," said Bryce, "can I get up and put on some pants now? I mean, you trust me enough to call Graham..."

"No," Sarah and Casey said at the same time.

"Don't mistake the fact that we called Graham to hear your story to mean that we trust you. We still don't," continued Sarah.

Bryce sighed and said, "What if I have to pee?"

"Too bad," said Casey. "Go ahead and pee. I'll mop it up later."

Bryce looked unhappy at that prospect.

Sarah said, "Best that we guard him all night, but there's no need for all of us to stay awake. We can take shifts."

"Sounds good," said Casey.

"I'll take the first shift. Want to relieve me in about three hours, Casey?" asked Sarah.

"Sure."

Chuck kissed her and said, "Ok, sweetie. I'll see you in a few hours. Be safe."

"Yup. Keep the bed warm."

"Will do. See you later, Case."

"Later, kid."

"G'night, Bryce," said Chuck from the door.

"G'night, buddy," said Bryce from the table.

Chuck left.

"Case, set the motion detector alarms in the courtyard and set the cameras on infrared, please. If he left a trail for Fulcrum to follow..." said Sarah.

"I didn't. I was..." said Bryce.

"Shut up, Larkin. You're not nearly as smart as you think you are. We took you down with no trouble at all. You didn't even interrupt dinner." Bryce nodded and shrugged to indicate that he recognized the truth of that statement. "I'll do that, Walker. It's a good idea. We don't want any uninvited guests to surprise us. The feed on the TV will be live," said Casey. He set the systems accordingly and the TV began to display an infrared picture of the courtyard in front of the apartment. If there was any movement outside, it would sound a tone.

"Night, Walker."

"Night, Case." Casey left the room, leaving Sarah and Bryce alone together.

Bryce said, "Look, I'm sorry for being presumptuous before. In the bedroom, I mean. About our relationship. It's just that what we had was really special to me. I really thought there was something there, you know? Something more than just great sex." He didn't see her roll her eyes. "I thought we had real feelings for each other. But I understand. You love Chuck more than you loved me. I understand..."

"No, you don't. You don't understand. I might have had feelings for you, but that characterization..." She took a deep breath and thought about how to describe what she wanted to tell him. She wasn't good at this, at talking about her feelings. "Listen, I don't blame you for not understanding. It's only recently that I understood myself." She paused for a little while. "Here's the thing. We were on a mission and this woman...a very beautiful woman...tried to teach Chuck how to tango. He told me about it and I wanted to rip her in half. I was so totally pissed off you can't believe it. And just because she was trying to teach him to dance. I know it's silly and I was acting like a jealous school girl, but that's how I felt."

"Ok," said Bryce.

"Later, Fleming, from Stanford, went missing. Graham sent us to find him. Long story, but it involves your friend Candy Reynolds. We met up with her and she helped us. Bryce, she told me that you visited her on Valentine's Day. We were a couple then, you and I, and instead of being with me on Valentine's Day you were with your favorite prostitute ..."

Bryce looked very uncomfortable, squirming a little. "Sarah, I can explain. She was an asset. That's all. I didn't feel anything for her. It was just..."

"I know," she said impatiently. "Hell, I told Chuck that's what you were thinking. I know exactly how you were thinking about it."

"So, then what is it?" he asked, honestly confused by the direction she was taking the conversation.

"Bryce, here's the thing. I didn't care. That other woman tried to teach Chuck to tango and I went ballistic. You had sex with Candy on Valentine's Day and I didn't care. I just didn't care. I didn't give two shits. You see? You see the difference? It's not that I love him more than I loved you. That's not it at all. It's not a continuum. It's not a scale with gradations. I love him. I never loved you. What I feel for him is totally different from what I felt for you, whatever that was. It's a totally different thing. I don't really know what I felt for you, but I now know for sure what it wasn't. It wasn't love, Bryce. I don't love you and I never have." She spoke with certainty. She recognized that she was being harsh, but she was partly fueled by her residual anger at him for a long list of grievances, starting with Stanford and ending, most recently, with his behavior in Chuck's room.

Bryce was silent at that revelation for a long time. Sarah got up and threw a blanket over him, then went into the kitchen and began to make a pot of coffee. While the coffee was brewing, she took a book off Casey's bookshelf, the first volume of Morris' s biography of Teddy Roosevelt. She sat down in an easy chair, keeping the trank gun handy and began to read.

Eventually Bryce said, "I'm happy for you. I'm happy for you both. I'm just surprised, that's all. I didn't think that you were ...well, that you were open to someone who isn't...you know..."

"No, I don't know. Someone who isn't what?" She sounded a little testy.

"Someone who isn't in the life. The spy life."

"Well, first off, Chuck is great at what we do, even without any training. He's a natural. He's brilliant and quick and brave..."

"Sarah, that's not what I meant. I'm certain that he's competent. Hell, he faked me into an ambush by Casey. No question he's competent. What I meant is that Chuck is good. He's a good person. He's not going to lie and cheat and steal and kill. Not like us. He's better than that..."

It came to her suddenly, where he was heading. "Oh, my God. You think he's too good for me. That's why you were surprised. I thought you were being dismissive of Chuck, but you weren't. You were being dismissive of me. You think I'm ...damaged goods." She was startled.

"Well, yeah, I do. You and me both. We are, both of us, damaged in one way or another. Casey too. We are cut from the same cloth, Sarah. We just aren't as good as Chuck is. I don't know anyone else who is. I didn't expect you to appreciate that, that's all. Like I said, I underestimated you. I was surprised that you were...are...as open to someone like Chuck. That's all. But I am happy for you. I hope...I hope it works out." Even he didn't know if that was true or not.

She said, "You're not wrong. He is good. And I'm...not. But we're in love, Bryce. You don't know what that's like. Those differences will work themselves out."

"I'm sure. Love conquers all, right?," he said, nodding his head.

Bryce was silent for a while and Sarah began to read the book. Eventually, he said, "How did he react when you told him all about your past? About all the things you've done? The seduction missions? All the people you've killed? The assassinations?"

Staring at the ceiling, Bryce couldn't see her face. Which was probably a good thing, because she looked like he'd just punched her in the stomach. She gathered her thoughts, pushing herself to answer, and said, "He...he told me that he was proud of me."

He chuckled dryly. "Yeah. That sounds like Chuck. Like I said, he's good. That's what a good man would say to stories like those. Dark stories like those. As much as they might horrify him, he'd be proud of you. Good. I'm glad that's behind you both." Every word hit her like a hard blow.

They stopped talking then and he seemed to go to sleep.

It was her worst nightmare and Bryce had pulled it out of the recesses of her mind and forced her to look at it squarely. What she contemplated horrified her more than anything she'd ever faced. Sarah sat for a long time without turning the book's pages, crying silently to herself.

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Three hours passed quickly. She shook Casey awake and left to go to bed with Chuck.

Casey came out and poured himself a cup of coffee. He sat in the same easy chair as Sarah had and began to read the latest issue of Guns & Ammo.

Bryce said, "Casey, you know, I think you and I got off on the wrong foot. I think if we..."

Casey said, in a deep growl, "Don't bother, Larkin. Don't waste your time. We aren't friends. We aren't ever going to be friends. Even if you're what you claim, and on the side of the angels, we still aren't going to be friends. I think you are a spoiled, arrogant, selfish prick. And you aren't going to get any better." Casey stood from the chair and looked down at the bound man. "But I do have to tell you this, Larkin, as long as we're chatting like a couple of old buddies here. If you ever hurt my partners again, even a little bit...either one of them...I will make your life so fucking painful that you will be begging me to kill you again. Capisce?"

"Listen, Casey, I …."

"I don't want to listen to you," said Casey, as he shot Bryce in the belly with another trank dart.

He sat back down and sipped his coffee, appreciating the silence.

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When Bryce woke up, Chuck was there in the easy chair working on his laptop. Sunlight was visible outside the windows, although the shades had been drawn closed. Chuck saw him raise his head off the table, and said, "Morning, Bryce. Do you want some water?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do. Thanks. If you could uncuff me..."

"No, no, no." Chuck held up a water cup with a bendy straw like they use in hospitals.

"Thanks, buddy. You can uncuff me. You can trust me. I won't …."

"Nope. Not happening. Stop asking. But, here, let me help you," said Chuck. Chuck maneuvered the water cup and straw so Bryce could drink.

"Thanks," said Bryce.

"No problem," said Chuck, sitting back in the easy chair and looking down at his computer.

After a while, Bryce asked, "What are you working on?"

"I'm reading Tommy Delgado's CIA file. Looking to see if there are any clues to his Fulcrum connection. Cross checking it with another Fulcrum guy we ran into a few weeks ago."

"Who was that?" asked Bryce.

"Nope. Sorry, dude. You don't get to learn stuff from me until we are sure you're one of the good guys. Anyway, I'm looking for something the analysts can spot, so we don't have to rely on the Intersect to pick out these guys."

"The Intersect. Yeah. I'm sorry about that..."

"No, you're not," said Chuck.

"What?"

"You're not sorry. That's bullshit. You're not sorry you did this to me. It was part of your plan. You needed someone who was not part of Fulcrum to take the Intersect, so you picked me. You aren't sorry you did it. You came here so that you could use the Intersect, which happens to be in my head, to accomplish your mission against Fulcrum. So, don't bullshit me, Bryce. Don't start feeding me bullshit apologies, because I really don't want to hear them from you. You did exactly what you intended to do and here we are." While he spoke, he continued to work on his computer.

"Ok. You're right. I'm not sorry." Bryce was silent for a while and then said, "We have to stop these guys, Chuck. It's important. These are some bad people. If it wasn't important, I wouldn't have done it. I knew you would want to help us. It's in your DNA. You help people. It's what you do. I knew you would …"

Chuck slammed his computer closed and said, his voice shaking with emotion, "YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME. YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME, BRYCE." He took a deep breath and continued, his voice harsh and angry. "It's just the same shit with you. It must be fucking exhausting to be so fucking sure of yourself that you know better than everyone else. That you can manipulate their lives with impunity because you know best. You know what, Bryce? I've been thinking about it and I don't think you'll make a very good father. Sorry. Nothing personal, I just don't think so. So, I've arranged for you to be castrated. I hope you weren't too attached to those little guys, cause they are gone." Chuck jerked his thumb over his shoulder to show the direction Bryce's testicles were destined to take. "I don't think it's necessary to talk to you about it or explain it or ask your opinion or anything. I know best, you see? I can make this decision for you and to hell with the consequences. If you don't like my decision, well, that's just too fucking bad, because I know best. I can manipulate your life. I can get you thrown out of school, cause that's what's best for you. God, you are such an asshole."

"Chuck, you have to believe me. I am so, so sorry for what I did to you at Stanford. I really am. I made a huge mistake and I now wish I'd never done it. And I feel terrible about it. I'm going to have to live with that guilt for the rest of my life. It weighs on me every day. You don't even understand how bad I feel about that. I feel terrible."

"You know what, asshole. I truly don't give a fuck about how bad you feel about it. I really don't. This isn't about you. Hell, it's not even all about Stanford. Think about what you did to me two months ago. You claim to be my friend? You're the fucking wrecking ball of my life, dude."

Bryce was silent for a while, thinking. "Well, it's not all bad. It brought Sarah into your life."

That actually gave Chuck pause for a moment. After a while he said, "You're trying to sell me on the silver lining, huh? So, I guess you're going to ask me to thank you for sleeping with Jill too, right? Cause that cleared the deck for Sarah."

"What?" asked Bryce, sounding shocked.

"Oh, right, sorry. You forgot. So many girls..."

"Chuck, I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. I never slept with Jill. Not once. I didn't. She was your girl."

"Oh, bullshit, dude. I know you did."

"No. I didn't. Why would you think that? Who told you that?" Bryce asked. He sounded honestly appalled.

"She did. Just after you got me kicked out and she dumped me. She told me so herself."

"WHAT?" Bryce jerked on the table as if he'd been hit with a cattle prod. "NO. It didn't happen. Why would she?...that fucking bitch...Chuck, I swear to you. I swear to you. I never did that. She lied to you for some twisted reason of her own. I don't have any idea why she would tell you that, but I swear it's not true. I never touched her. Never. After she dumped you, I was furious at her. I barely spoke to her again for the rest of school and have never spoken to her or heard from her since."

Chuck was silent for a while. He was pondering why Jill might have lied to him about that and was not finding any answers. Finally, he said, "I don't know, Bryce. I just don't know if I can believe you. You are a pretty skilled liar, in case you didn't know."

"I am. I know that. I don't blame you for being skeptical. After everything, I don't blame you. But, it's true. I never touched her." After a while he said, "Jesus. You must hate me so much. And who could blame you?"

"Ya think?" said Chuck.

They were silent for a while and finally Bryce said, "You have friends everywhere. Everyone likes you, cause you're such a good guy. Sarah's totally in love with you. Even Casey likes you, and that guy is a misanthrope if ever there was one. But I only have one friend in the world, Chuck. You. You are my only friend. I understand that you doubt that, it's reasonable after everything that I've done to you...except the Jill thing, I didn't do that...Anyone would doubt that I'm a real friend. But it's true. And if I can get right with my bosses and get a chance, I'm going to prove it to you. I'm going to show you. I hope I get a chance to. I really do." Bryce had meant every word he had said.

"Ok," said Chuck, with a small shrug. He didn't sound convinced. After a while, Chuck said, "And if you don't get right with your bosses?"

"Well, in that case they'll probably kill me or dump me in a cell someplace for the rest of my life. The best I could possibly hope for in that case would be that they cut me loose. Fire me from the Agency."

"What would you do then?"

Bryce shrugged. "I don't know. Something. I can get a job anywhere. A Stanford degree is pretty marketable, buddy."

Chuck looked uncomfortable. "Uhh...yeah...about your degree..."

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Casey and Sarah returned to Casey's living room to find Bryce looking pretty glum.

"Graham texted me. He's landed and is on his way here," said Sarah.

"Good," said Casey.

"Uh, guys? I know you're probably annoyed that I keep asking, but do you think you could let me meet the Director of the CIA with my pants on? It's kind of humiliating this way."

"No," Sarah and Casey said at the same time.

"Ummm. Maybe we could let him get dressed, guys. I mean, there're three of us here and we all have trank guns. He probably can't get away with too much. I understand a little bit where he's coming from. I mean, it would be kind of embarrassing to meet your boss in your underwear," said Chuck.

Sarah and Casey looked at each other and shrugged. "Ok. He can get up and get dressed. Don't think we trust you though, Bryce," said Sarah.

"Thank you, guys. And you can trust me. I haven't been lying to you." Casey snorted.

Casey uncuffed him and removed the plastic wrap from his hands. All three of them kept the trank guns in their hands, pointed at Bryce as he dressed. Casey moved Bryce's gear and weapons out of reach. Bryce had the good grace to look pretty nervous at the thought of the impending conversation with Graham.

It wasn't too much later that there was a knock on Casey's door. Casey opened it, and there was Director Langston Graham filling the doorway.

Coming in to the apartment, he shook Casey's hand. "Good to finally meet you in person, Major."

"You too, Sir." Casey was reassured by Graham's grip. It was strong without the extra pressure of machismo or competition.

Graham said, "General Beckman knows I'm here. Knows you have Agent Larkin, but no one else does. Not even my security detail outside."

"Understood, Sir," said Casey.

Sarah stepped forward next and said, "Director." She wore a tiny smile.

Graham said, "Agent Walker." He had a pleased expression on his face as they shook hands.

Whichever two were not greeting Graham were covering Bryce with the trank guns, and moving around the room to make sure they had a clear shot if it became necessary.

Graham reached out and took Chuck's hand. "Chuck. It's a real pleasure to meet you in person, son. A real pleasure. Thank you for all your help these past few months." His left hand grasped Chuck's right elbow firmly, emphasizing the warmth of his greeting.

"Thank you, Sir. And thank you again for all you've done for me. I'm incredibly grateful."

"No worries, Chuck. You've done some wonderful work for us in return. I'm delighted to have you on the team. I really am." He clapped Chuck on the back.

Finally, Graham turned to Bryce. "Agent Larkin." There was no warmth in his voice.

"Director," said Bryce, smiling and stepping forward with his hand outstretched to shake hands with Graham.

Graham stepped forward to meet him, his right hand outstretched to shake. As he did so, he shifted his weight and stride. His left fist swung up in a massive left cross, catching Larkin on the point of his chin. It was a mighty blow with all of Graham's considerable size and strength behind it. Larkin's feet actually left the ground for an instant as he flew backwards to land on a coffee table, which smashed to pieces under him. He lay sprawled and loose in the wreckage of the table, unmoving.

Graham said, "Sorry about the table, Major. Bill the CIA."

"Good swing, Sir," said Casey, nodding with professional appreciation.

"Riding a bike, Major," said Graham, shaking out his left hand.

Sarah and Chuck were more than a little surprised.

"Umm, why did you do that, Sir?" asked Chuck.

Looking at Chuck, he said, "Because I was pretty sure you wouldn't, and I really thought somebody should."

Casey laughed pretty hard at that.

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A/N2: Next up, Graham interrogates Larkin. Not going to be Bryce's easiest day. Thoughts? Comments? Always love to hear from you folks.