Chapter 2

A/N: ….will there be Charah…..will there be Charah?….(walks off mumbling about have they read the other 150+ fics, come back)…WILL THERE BE CHARAH!?!?!?

Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck

“You would think with OnlyFans, we wouldn’t get as many of these customers with porn viruses,” Anna groused, making Chuck laugh.

“Come on, Anna, you know people have limited funds in this economy, and those ‘free’ sites are littered with viruses,” Lester replied.

“You would know,” Anna replied, shaking her head.

“Speaking of which,” Lester continued, ignoring her dig. “Have you considered my proposal?” Chuck looked up to see the glare Anna gave Lester. Lester scurried away, scared out of his mind. Chuck thought about asking Anna what proposal Lester had given, when something on the large TV caught his attention. He grabbed the universal remote, and turned up the sound as he walked toward the TV, the other Nerd Herders watching him.

“Again, CIA director Langston Graham has been arrested for crimes of Treason,” the news anchor said as the video showed Langston Graham being walked away, in cuffs, by law enforcement officials.

“He did it,” Chuck said softly.

“Didn’t know you to be one of those people,” Lester said coming up beside him.

“What kind of people?” Morgan asked, having overheard the comment as he was approaching Chuck.

“Informed,” Lester replied.“Chuck is the least informed person I know,” Morgan said, trying to defend his friend. Chuck turned to him slowly. “Nope, don’t have to say a thing. Heard it when it came out of my mouth,” Morgan admitted, wincing. Chuck shook his head and turned down the TV.

“I’m going to the cage to repair computers,” Chuck told Morgan. “If those two do something stupid, come get me.”

“You think we’ll do something stupid?” Lester asked. “Charles, I’m offended.”

“You propositioned Anna,” Chuck replied walking away. “If that’s not the definition of stupid, then I don’t know what is.”

“He’s got a point,” Morgan said softly.“I know,” Lester said grimacing and walking away. Chuck walked away from the madness, his thoughts still on everything he learned last night.

}o{

“So, I’m a spy,” Bryce said. “Now, before you turn this off, hear me out. Remember all the Nerf wars we had? The drop boxes? That was all things I learned in my spy craft lessons with the CIA.”

Chuck paused the computer and thought about his time with Bryce. Chuck had believed him to be an accountant, because that’s what Bryce claimed to be studying, and because of his analytical way of thinking. But, if Bryce truly was a spy, then the calculated risks he took in those games…the ideas he had…Chuck shook his head. It was POSSIBLE. He didn’t believe it, but it was POSSIBLE. He looked at the screen and his former friend. The day Chuck was kicked out of college, Bryce had told him he had done this to himself, and Chuck knew Bryce had meant it. It had bothered him. Chuck knew Bryce. He knew when Bryce was talking bullshit and when it was the truth. He wanted to walk away from this video, but he was so intrigued, he pressed play.

“That test you took, that I did plant under your bed-”

“I KNEW IT!” Chuck yelled, having hit pause. “I KNEW IT!” Validated, Chuck hit play.

“It was a test that would have led to them recruiting you to the CIA.”Chuck didn’t paused the video this time. He was too busy picking his jaw up off the floor.

Bryce blew out a breath, and looked conflicted. “I messed up. I know I did. I should…dude…” He looked directly into the camera, tears in his eyes. “Dude…you’re my brother…I love you like a brother, and…I couldn’t…I couldn’t watch you….Chuck…you’re the best person I know and this life…” Bryce shook his head. “And I did this the worst way possible, I know, and for that I will always be sorry. I did you wrong, and I know this changes nothing, cause I’m dead, and no one will believe you, and you really can’t show this to anyone.”

“Why not?” Chuck asked aloud.

“What I’m about to show you and ask you to do…it would put someone else’s life in danger. An innocent in this…thought she’ll tell you…” he shook his head, a wry smile on his face. “She’ll tell you she’s not innocent.” He chuckled, and smiled at the camera. “She reminds me of you in a way. Life has not been fair to her. Hell, I wasn’t fair to her.”

Chuck blew out a breath. He had NOT expected to be watching his former friend’s deathbed confessions on his birthday.

“Let me tell you about Langston Graham, Director of the CIA.”

}o{

Chuck had the small TV on as he worked on the computers in the back, listening for any more information on the arrest of the former CIA Director. Bryce had told him all of the awful things Graham had done, and how someone had to stop him. How his “assassins” were taking out political enemies abroad, and the dirt he had on people in power in the US. Bryce’s plan was simple. He would break into the compound where the blackmail material was held against those in power. He would access the files that showed Graham’s corruption, email them to various government officials, and press people, and Langston would go down. He might be able to pull it off without anyone being the wiser, but, if Chuck were to get the video, chances are he was caught, a gun fight ensued, and he was labeled a traitor to the United States. If that happened, his personal belongings would be gone through by the NSA and anything that was to go to someone else upon his death would be delivered by the NSA.

“Explains the military guy,” Chuck muttered to himself.

“Sorry I bolted on you last night,” Morgan called across the back room, due to his irrational fear of the broken computers.Chuck looked up at his friend, and gave him a grin. “No you’re not.”“Fine, sorry I abandoned you,” Morgan corrected. “Wasn’t my scene.”

“Wasn’t mine,” Chuck admitted. “But, you had to save yourself.” Morgan was silent, and studied Chuck for a moment. “What is it Morgan?”

“You okay? You seem…different this morning,” Morgan said. “More of…more of the Chuck before…you know.”

Chuck laid down his screwdriver and studied his friend. “How have I acted different?”

“I don’t know, but you seem…you seem more confident…like you do when you smoke my ass playing video games,” Morgan replied, shrugging. “My bud’s back.”

“I’ve always been right here,” Chuck told Morgan.“No,” Morgan said, shaking his head. “You left a part of you at Stanford, and…you know what, maybe it’s me but…” He started to walk off, and smiled at his friend. “But, it’s good to have all of you back.”

“Yeah,” Chuck said softly after his friend had left the back. “All of me…back…”

}o{

“I know, my plan is insane,” Bryce admitted. “And if you’re seeing this…well….it went as bad as possible. So there’s two things I ask, watch the news to see if he does go down. Scour the Internet. I pray this works, cause if it doesn’t…” Bryce shook his head. “He’s the worst of the worst and one of the reasons I didn’t want you to join the CIA.”

“I can do that,” Chuck said softly.

“Chuck, I’m really sorry for what I did to you,” Bryce said, shame on his face. “Looking back, there were so many better ways I could have handled the whole situation, but fear gripped me that said you would argue with me, want to join, prove that you could do it.” Bryce was silent for a moment. “And that’s the thing, you could of. You could have been an amazing spy, but it would have killed who you are. The good person you are, and I did you wrong.”

“I forgive you,” Chuck said softly. “I do.”

“And I wish to God I could say that you are the person I have done the worst,” Bryce continued, his eyes…haunted. “I wish to God that I could say that I’ve done no one wrong like I have you.”“Oh God,” Chuck muttered

“It’s not,” Bryce continued. “And the worst part is, I love her.” He chuckled for a moment. “I guess loved, if you’re seeing this.”

“This is getting a bit too macabre,” Chuck said softly.

“I need to tell you about the woman I love, and how I did her worse than you,” Bryce told him.

}o{

Chuck walked back to the Nerd Herd desk, having finished all of the repairs in the back. He was reading over one of the many information sheets about different upcoming products, when the bell rang. He put down the sheet and turned to look at the woman who had rang the bell.

“You’re brave,” Chuck told her, grinning.

“Why would you say that?”

“You know how these guys are about you,” Chuck said in a low voice. “And look, I’m your brother. They don’t care. They talk about you-”

“Okay,okay,okay,” Ellie rushed out having a full on hebbie-jebbie attack. “I have a favor to ask.”“Is it another birthday party?” Chuck asked, his voice flat, but unable to stop the grin.

Ellie studied him for a moment. “Something’s different about you,” she said softly.

“Maybe I grew again?” Chuck offered.

“Funny enough, that’s one reason I’m here,” Ellie told him.

“Can’t reach a dish on the top shelf?” Ellie swatted him. “Need me to get a box down from that shelf over there?”

“You are such a brat,” Ellie told him, shaking her head and laughing. “So…I saw the strangest think on Friendster.”

“You mean other than you use Friendster?” Chuck asked. “Who’s on there, you and what grandmothers?”

“Chuck,” Ellie said, the tone in her voice dangerous. Chuck held up his hands in surrender. “There’s a nice young lady on there that said free avocados to anyone taller than five foot ten.”

“Okay, that totally doesn’t sound like a line a serial killer might use,” Chuck replied.

“I knew you would say that,” Ellie began.

“Wait…are you going to send me there like you did last time something was on Facebook market place?” Chuck asked.

“You two got along,” Ellie insisted.

“I got taken to a bar by that woman’s husband, and he basically forced me to watch some MMA event to get the things you sent me after,” Chuck reminded her. “You know how I feel about that much blood.”

“I know,” Ellie said. “But I’ve talked to the woman who posted this on Friendster.”

“Cause that makes it better,” Chuck grumbled.“Chuck,” she said in a flat voice.

“I really wanna say, ‘Yes, Mom,’ when you do that,” Chuck admitted. She gave him the flattest look. “Yes, Sister,” he muttered.

She laughed at that. “So the woman that posted this, is five foot ten, and that’s why you have to be taller than that.”

“So she picked all the avocados she could reach,” Chuck replied.

“No joke about how she could pick more than me?” Ellie asked.

“Pretty sure I’ve already made it,” Chuck reminded her. “Where is she?”

“The Azusa Foothills,” Ellie told him.

“Can I go tomorrow on my day off?” he asked her.

“That would be perfect,” Ellie told him. “I owe you little brother.”“For going to pick your avocados or what I’m about to hear from my co-workers?” Chuck asked. Ellie turned and ran, her fingers in her ears making some noise as to chase away the bad thoughts. “Totally sounds like a serial killer,” he muttered. He went back to the papers he was reading, but his mind kept going back to last night.

}o{

“There’s a woman I met in the CIA. She was an agent, and dude…I fell in love with her so hard,” Bryce told him. “She was very closed off, but we were together. We were partners, and then…” he blew out a breath. “To be honest, it’s what started my obsession with taking down Graham. He recruited her. I only found out because I accessed her files. Now before you get mad that I used the skills you taught me, she was closed off, and I was very worried about her. Turns out I should have been worried about her, and no, I shouldn’t have done it.” He was silent for a moment, but then looked into the camera, with that mischievous glint in his eye that Chuck knew so well. “What is it your sister always says? You can’t go to far for love?”

“Yeah, but that’s akin to stalking,” Chuck muttered.

“He blackmailed her at sixteen to join the CIA,” Bryce continued.

“That’s illegal!” Chuck blurted out, suddenly mad. “Wait? Blackmailed?”

“Her father was arrested and he told her she could go to jail or she could join the CIA,” Bryce explained. “He didn’t have that kind of authority then, but….” Bryce shook his head. “He exploited her.”

Chuck didn’t know this woman and he was angry for her.

Bryce was silent for a few moments. “Chuck, you know that saying that if you love someone to set them free….”

“Oh, Bryce,” Chuck muttered.

“She was never going to know that he was free, Langston made sure of it,” Bryce told him. He looked away. “So…I did what Jill accused me of.”

“What?” Chuck said.

“I didn’t sleep with her, man,” Bryce explained. “I don’t know why she wanted you gone, but that…that didn’t happen. I did NOT sleep with Jill. However, I did cheat on my girlfriend. I didn’t want to. Okay, I didn’t want to hurt her but she had to believe it was over between us.”

“That was overkill you idiot,” Chuck said, and immediately felt awful about talking ill of the dead.

“I’m not going to bother you with the details, but…I had a contact that took in my ex-girlfriend’s father. Helped him go straight…and then…then made sure a newspaper interviewed my contact about helping people turn their life around. I made sure my ex-girlfriend saw it.”

“Bryce,” Chuck said softly. “That…that was good of you. The other stuff sucked. But that…that was good.”

“I did some convoluted shit to make sure she left me, and then I back-channeled getting her out of the CIA,” Bryce told him. He looked away. “Okay, I fucked that part up.”Chuck dropped his head into his hands.“I let the information about when she was recruited into someone’s hands that would get her the option to leave,” Bryce began. He was silent. “Or so I thought,” he said softly.

“They forced her out,” Chuck said, looking up, just knowing where this was going.“They forced her out,” Bryce confirmed. “I fucked that up.”

“Yeah you did,” Chuck said, shaking her head.

“She left the CIA, and then her and her father dropped off the map,” Bryce continued. “I tried to find them, but I’m not as good as you.” He reached over and grabbed something, and held a picture of a beautiful blond woman to the screen. “And as beautiful as she is, she’s a better person.”

“She is pretty,” Chuck agreed.“I have no idea of what name she’s using,” Bryce admitted. “On this drive there is a list of aliases that her and her father used, but the way she is…I doubt she’d ever use any of them again. So, this is where I need your help.”

“Here we go,” Chuck muttered.

“IF, you could do a little…” he grinned. “Fishing expedition.”

Chuck groaned.

“And just see if she’s okay,” Bryce told him. “And look, the chances of you finding her are remote. If she wants to disappear she will, but if anyone can find her, it’s you.”

Chuck sat there, nodding, not saying anything.

“So, I’m off to do this mission, and I pray to God you never see this, and I get to tell you all of it face to face…but if you’re seeing it…you’re the best friend I ever had, and I ruined.” Bryce was trying to hold back tears but failing. “I know I did you dirty, and while it was a good intention, it was wrong.”

“It’s okay,” Chuck said softly, his own tears falling.

“And what I did to her may have been worse,” Bryce continued. “Every man in her life had let her down, and I did as well” Bryce shook his head. “I mean, let’s be honest, I kinda suck at long term planning…hence why you’re seeing this video.”“Really?” Chuck groaned.

“I hope you have the life you deserve. The one Ellie thinks you should. Love you, Bro.” With that, Bryce reached up and turned off the video recording.

“Love you, Bryce,” Chuck said softly.

}o{

Chuck walked out to his car after his shift, got in, started the car, and Spotify instantly connected. He heard the notes of Hello hit, and pulled out his phone. He stopped the song, and scrolled through his music. He stared at a song, grinned, and picked it.

Birds flying high you know how I feel

Sun in the sky you know how I feel

Leaves drifting on by, you know how I feel

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me yeah

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me

And I’m feeling good

“Maybe I should set up a facial recognition search,” Chuck muttered to himself. “Just take a screen grab of that photo…” He smiled. He would go on a fishing expedition. And tomorrow, he would go pick some avocados. Things were changing. The peace that had felt always just out of reach now seemed closer. He couldn’t touch it just yet, but it felt closer than ever. Things were changing and for the better. “AND I’M FEELING GOOD!” He sang at the top of his lungs.

A/N: Now who do we know that uses Friendster and is five foot ten…..See you next time.