A/N: So, I figured I'd be more clear about the timeline deviation. The first chapter picked up almost immediately after S1E2, Chuck vs the Helicopter. Also, Charah fans will probably really like this chapter. She gets a lot of screen time, and we find out more about her role in this fic. Enjoy!

Jill vs the Intersect

by Justin Jossart

Chapter Two

"...Jill?"

"Hi, Chuck."

Chuck Bartowski had a remarkable brain. He'd been valedictorian of his high school, top of his class at Stanford (until Bryce screwed him over) and had forgotten more about computers than most professional IT technicians learned in their entire career. He was one of only a handful of people capable of withstanding the stress the Intersect put on a subject's psyche.

At the moment, that brain, usually moving at a mile a minute, had ground to a halt at the sight of the brunette standing beside Sarah and Casey. Jill Roberts, his college sweetheart, the woman who'd shattered his heart, was in a meeting with the Directors of the CIA and NSA. It was such a surreal moment, he briefly wondered if he'd walk outside to a neon pink sky. This had to be some weird dream. Dumbly, he reached down and pinched himself as hard as he could, squeezing and twisting the tender skin of his forearm.

Nope, definitely not dreaming.

Jill was really standing there. Her brown tresses were longer than he remembered, and she had lost what little baby fat she had retained through college. She was wearing a navy blue tank top that showed just a hint of her toned midriff, and her cut-off shorts showed off the rich caramel of her legs. Her dark gaze rested firmly on his face, though her brow had furrowed as she waited for his reaction.

His mouth opened, his head reaching desperately for something, anything, to say. He'd been staring at her for several minutes now, and he had to say something. "You got contacts," he stuttered numbly. She smiled softly and shook her head. "Lasik?" She nodded, the gentle smile never leaving her face.

Director Graham cleared his throat over the monitor, and Chuck finally remembered that he and Jill weren't alone in the room. His brain finally sputtered back to life, bringing the world back into focus. He shot a guilty look at Sarah, who was eyeing Jill like she was a particularly disgusting cockroach.

"You have your orders," General Beckman said, dismissing the group. "Good luck, agents." The console switched off, and silence pervaded the room. Casey stood off to the side, his arms crossed over his chest, watching the two women square off. Chuck was by the door, still trying to make sense of what was going on. Jill and Sarah occupied the center of the room. If looks could kill, both women would be twitching on Casey's hardwood floors.

Shaking his head to clear away that particularly unpleasant mental image, Chuck took a step forward, intending to dispel the oppressive silence that still filled the entire apartment.

"So you're the infamous Jill," Sarah spat. Chuck had never heard the blonde speak with such venom. She had drawn herself to her full height; she had a few inches on Jill's petite frame.

"Have I done something to offend you?" Jill asked, venom seeping into her own tone.

The blonde's eyes narrowed. "Besides cheating on Chuck with Bryce?"

Jill rolled her eyes, crossing her arms beneath her chest. Sarah snarled, and Chuck saw the blonde's hand twitch towards the gun he knew she kept in the back of her jeans. She was angrier than he'd ever seen her. "Really?" Jill asked sarcastically. "I never slept with Bryce. Can you say the same?" Chuck's brain shifted into overdrive. Was Jill lying? He still remembered her roommate standing in the window, telling him that Jill and Bryce were dating. The memory had been burned into his brain for five years; he'd still been a green shirt at the Buy More. It was one of the worst moments of his life, second only to his 'walk of shame' through his Stanford fraternity when he'd been expelled. Meanwhile, Sarah shot him a guilty look that only lasted a moment, but spoke volumes. "That's what I thought. You get this look in your eyes every time someone mentions his name. How's the view from your glass house?"

"How... how did you...?" Sarah was clearly on the back foot now.

"You hide your emotions well, but I went through the same training you did," Jill stated coldly.

Sarah laughed, though it lacked the mirth that Chuck was used to. "I highly doubt that." It was Jill's turn to snarl, and her own hand twitched towards the back of her cutoff shorts. Casey moved for the first time, his large hand drifting towards his shoulder holster.

Things were quickly spiraling out of control. "What's going on?" Chuck finally found his voice, unintentionally shouting. His voice was a half octave higher than usual. "What is she doing here?" He asked Sarah. Jill recoiled as if he'd slapped her, but her face immediately slid into an emotionless mask. He'd seen that look before, albeit on a different woman's face.

"Chuck," Sarah began, her features softening. "Try not to freak out." He nodded, sucking in a few deep breaths. They were supposed to calm him down, but instead he found his entire upper body tensing as he started to hyperventilate. He gasped for air, his hands on his knees.

Both Jill and Sarah rushed to his side, but a cold glare from the blonde had Jill taking a step back. "I need you to breathe for me, Chuck. In... and out." She repeated the commands several times, and Chuck dutifully obeyed. After a few moments, he felt the tension leave his shoulders. "There we go," Sarah comforted, rubbing his back in lazy circles. "Better?"

Chuck nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He was acutely aware of her hand still gently resting between his shoulder blades. Jill cleared her throat, drawing their attention. "Walker, we need to-"

"It can wait," Sarah spat.

"No, it can't," Jill retorted. "Not if you're going to catch your flight."

"Flight? What flight?" Chuck asked, starting to panic again. "Sarah, where are you going?"

"Casey and I have been reassigned," Sarah said softly, refusing to meet his gaze. "Bryce escaped from an NSA detention facility, and we've been ordered to bring him in." Jill quirked an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Chuck swallowed, fighting past the sudden pain in his chest at the thought of her leaving. "How long?" He stuttered. "How long until your come back?" Her sad smile and downcast gaze told him everything he didn't want to hea. She wasn't coming back. "When are you leaving?" He couldn't keep the emotion from his voice.

"Tonight. We're going to preserve your cover, then Casey and I are going to catch the red-eye." Chuck could tell she wanted to say more, but true to character, she fell silent. That was okay; her eyes said it all.

"What about the Intersect? The team?" 'What about us?' he mentally added. He knew he was begging; he knew how pathetic he sounded, but he couldn't bring himself to care. She couldn't leave.

"Roberts will be your handler while we're gone."

"Jill's a spy?" He turned to the brunette. "You're a spy?"

She nodded. "I was recruited out of Stanford." Chuck felt the entire room shift. Nothing made sense anymore. Two weeks ago, he'd learned his ex-best friend was a CIA agent, and now Jill? Was he the only person in his graduating class who hadn't been pressed into government service?

"I need a moment," he said, running a hand through his unruly hair. Everything was moving so fast. He stepped outside, though he left the door slightly ajar, just in case they needed him. He let the sweet California sun heat his face, momentarily basking in its soothing warmth. There was so much going on, and he needed a moment to process everything. Sarah dated, or was still dating, Bryce Larkin. She was leaving, probably to never return, and he'd never get a chance to tell her how she made him feel. Just the night before last, she'd been sitting in Ellie's living room for game night. "Oh, god," Chuck muttered. "Ellie's gonna hate this so much." His sister despised Jill with every fiber of her being. She was not going to react well to his ex's return.

Morgan would react just as poorly. He knew that his bearded best friend hated Jill even before... everything. Before he could ruminate on just how much flak he'd get from his friends and family for re-entering a 'relationship' with Jill, he heard raised voices from inside. Softly, he stepped towards the slightly open door. He wasn't normally the type to eavesdrop, but he couldn't help himself.

"You can't just walk in here and take over!"

"Excuse me? This is my operation now, and Chuck is my asset." Jill retorted. "I get it, Walker, I really do. Believe me, I don't want to be here. I wanted Chuck to live a normal life with a normal girl. I didn't want this mission, but it's the one I was assigned, so I'm going to complete it. I know the idea of me spending time with Chuck has your panties in a twist, but I don't really give a fuck. When I'm done here, Chuck will be a spy in every sense of the word. I won't let him get shipped underground for the rest of his natural life, and I won't watch him get killed in the field because he was too nice to shoot the other guy first. It's going to kill me to do it, but thanks to your boyfriend, it's really my only option."

"Chuck is not a spy!" Sarah was shouting now. "He's not a killer!"

"Yet," Jill fired back. Chuck took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, he considered running. Since he'd started spending time with Sarah, he'd imagined the two of them in exotic locales taking down bad guys, but he'd never really considered what 'taking down' really meant. In his head, it had been like Call of Duty, where the other guy just screamed and fell over before fading into nothingness. Now he was assaulted by images of men and women bleeding on the ground, begging for their lives, their existence cut short by his hand.

The door swung open, revealing Casey in his green Buy More shirt. The big man roughly grabbed Chuck's collar, forcibly leading him towards the Nerdmobile. "C'mon, Romeo. Time to go to work."

"Work? You want me to go to work?" Chuck asked, his voice cracking as Casey shoved him into the driver's seat. "What about-"

"You're going to work," Casey cut him off as he slid into the passenger seat. "Roberts will show up at the Buy More, looking for you. You're going to act like you're still madly in love with her. Walker will show up, see you two together, and you're going to dump Walker for Roberts in front of everyone. Capiche?"

"W-What? You want me to break up with Sarah?" The idea was inconceivable. A guy like him dating a girl like Sarah in the first place was unbelievable enough. A guy like him dumping a girl like Sarah was nothing short of laughable.

Casey grunted. "What's the matter, Bartowski, haven't you dumped someone before?" Chuck opened his mouth to reply, but Casey cut him off again. "Don't answer that. I don't want to know."

They drove the rest of the way in silence while Chuck recalled all his past relationships and realized that no, he'd never dumped anyone. His high school girlfriend had dumped him when he'd left for Stanford because 'long distance relationships never worked out.' He'd wanted to try; only five hours separated Burbank and Stanford, but she decided that he wasn't worth the effort. Then there had been Jill, which had definitely ended with him being dumped. Since then, the variety of women that Ellie set him up with had all stopped calling him, not the other way around.

Now he'd finally be the person doing the dumping. He was struck by the irony that he'd be breaking up with someone that he wasn't really dating, even though he didn't want to lose them in the first place. When had his life become so complicated? Oh, right. When Bryce had e-mailed him all the government's secrets.

The day drug by. He blatantly ignored Jeff's three hour nap in the break room and Lester's ineffective attempt to flirt with a college co-ed who's PC had been infected with a Trojan. Numbly, Chuck had stepped in, installed the proper anti-virus software, and the young woman had positively fled from the 'Nerd creeps.' Morgan tried to get Chuck out of the funk he'd found himself in, but even his best friend couldn't help. He knew he was being a crappy friend and horrible supervisor, but he couldn't exactly tell Morgan that he was fake dumping the girl of his dreams to start a fake relationship with the girl who'd haunted him for five years. No, he'd have to lie to Morgan and pretend to still be head over heels for Jill. What bothered him most was that a part of him wouldn't have to pretend. Seeing Jill had been nerve wracking and painful, but the way she had smiled at him had his heart pounding even now.

"Chuck, run!" Chuck's mouth fell open. Morgan was sprinting through the store, bodily shoving employees and customers out of the way in his haste to reach the Nerd Herd desk. "Run!" Morgan repeated, all but shouting as he skid to a stop. "Don't ask questions, just go!" The small man's face was morphed into an expression of abject terror.

Chuck quirked an eyebrow. "What is it now?"

"What did I say about questions?" Morgan said, trying to drag Chuck away from the desk. "Crap, too late!" With a strength that honestly surprised the taller man, Morgan tackled Chuck to the ground. "Don't move. I'll get rid of her," Morgan whispered frantically, his face just inches from Chuck's.

"What the-"

"No talking, either." Morgan stood up, and from his view point from the tiled floor, Chuck could see a fake smile spread across his friend's bearded face. "Welcome to Buy More! How can I help you today?"

"Hi, Morgan," Chuck recognized Jill's voice. He tried to scrabble to his feet, but Morgan kicked him beneath the desk.

"Jill! I didn't even recognize you without the glasses! How's Bryce?"

"I wouldn't know," Jill replied shortly. "Where's Chuck?"

Morgan faked a confused expression that wouldn't fool a five year old. "Chuck? Who's Chuck?" Morgan paused for a moment, and Chuck could almost feel the glare that Jill was giving his friend, the poor guy. "Ooooh! You mean THAT Chuck! He... uh... called in sick today! Isn't that right, Anna?"

"Sure."

"See? No Chucks here. We have plenty of TV's though. Why don't I show you the AV wall?" Chuck went to stand up again, blocking another kick from Morgan. The shorter man tried to resort to forcibly shoving Chuck, resulting in an impromptu slap fight. Several minutes of grunting and wrestling later, a slightly winded Chuck emerged from behind the desk. "Chuck! Look at that! Wow, seems like you made it in after all! How are you feeling, buddy?"

"Jill," Chuck said. He didn't have to feign the catch in his voice as he saw the brunette. She was smiling at him again, making his stomach do somersaults. "What... what are you doing here?"

"I just got back into town," she said smoothly. "I was hoping we could catch up, for old time's sake."

"Yeah!" he replied, forcing a smile on his face. "I'd love that."

Her smile broadened, and Chuck honestly couldn't tell if it was real or not. "Great! When do you get off work?"

"He has plans with Sarah!" Morgan butted in, elbowing his friend in the stomach. "You know, his girlfriend?" This last comment was pointedly aimed at Chuck. "He's super busy all week. Why don't you try again next month sometime? Or, ya know, never?"

"Chuck?" Jill said, quirking an eyebrow. Her chocolate eyes found his, and he was left breathless for a moment. Memories swirled vaguely in his head of hot summer nights in his dorm room back at Stanford... "How's eight o'clock?"

"I'm... uh... actually about to go on break. Why don't we go grab something to eat now?" He ignored the second jab to his gut.

"Sure," Jill replied, giving him a calculating look. "I could eat."

He had just extricated himself from the Nerd Herd desk when he saw her step through the door. Sarah Walker, his 'girlfriend,' had just walked into the Buy More. He could feel the sweat dripping down his brow as he watched the gorgeous blonde sachet her way towards him. His heart pounded as she stopped in front of him, her eyes never leaving his.

He wasn't expecting the kiss. They'd only kissed a couple of times for their cover, but never like this. She yanked him close by his tie, planting her lips firmly on on his. One soft hand snaked its way to the back of his neck, holding him firmly in place. Chuck let himself get lost in the sensation of her full lips, as his hands wound their way to her narrow waist. She moaned into his mouth as he pulled her closer. After a few seconds, or what might have been an eternity, she pulled away. She looked up at him, pupils dilated and her chest heaving. "Hey, babe. Ready for lunch?"

"Uh..." Chuck said dumbly while his brain attempted to reboot. The woman was seriously trying to kill him. Didn't she know how hard this was going to be as it was? "I... uh... yeah," both women's eyes widened slightly, giving him a moment to collect himself. "Actually, I was going to catch up with a friend." He'd spent all day dreading the break up, but it had never occurred to him just how he was going to do it, especially after that kiss.

"We can all go together! Is this her?" Chuck nodded. "Hi, I'm Sarah," the blonde said, extending a hand. Jill took it. To any casual observer, they looked completely amicable, but Chuck could see the tension in their hands as they both grasped each other in vice-like grips.

"Jill," the brunette replied in a friendly tone.

"Jill? I feel like I've heard that name before... Wait, aren't you the girl who dumped him for his best friend?"

"Bryce was not his best friend," Morgan cried vehemently, though both women ignored him.

"You're bailing on our lunch date to 'catch up' with an ex?" Sarah asked, turning to Chuck. "Really?"

Sarah had been an amazing actress for as long as Chuck had known her. He tried to tell himself that she was faking the pain he saw in her eyes, but he wasn't so sure. There had certainly been nothing fake about the kiss that still tingled on his lips. "Uh... she just got back into town."

"I'm a pretty understanding girl, Chuck, but I'm not sure how I feel about you going on dates with your college girlfriend."

"Well, it's not up to you," Jill replied coldly. "Isn't that right, Chuck?"

Chuck's head started pounding. Both cerulean and chocolate gazes bored into him. His colleagues had stopped what they were doing to watch the show. Lester made some sleazy comment about 'cat fights being hot,' and Jeff just nodded his agreement. Casey stood behind them, his arms crossed. The big man gave Chuck a slow nod. "Uh..."

"Come on, Chuck. Let's go." Jill's tone was insistent.

"Well..."

Sarah shot her a glare. "If you leave with her, we're through."

Chuck looked first at Jill, who was radiating confidence, then at Sarah, who's face wore an almost pleading look. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Morgan with his head bowed, hands clasped together in prayer. He knew what he should do, but his heart was telling him something completely different. The worst part was, it wasn't really his decision to make. He wasn't really with Sarah. Jill wasn't really interested. This was all a farce to insert his CIA agent ex-girlfriend back into his life.

"I'm sorry, Sarah." Morgan groaned to his right, while Jill's smirk morphed into a wide smile, but Chuck wasn't paying them any attention. His entire focus was on the blonde in front of him.

He watched as her blue eyes lost their sparkle and welled with tears. He immediately regretted his 'choice.' "Really? That's it? Some cheating skank walks back into your life, and we're just done? Screw you, Charles Bartowski!" She smacked him, rocking his head to the side, before fleeing from the store, wiping her eyes as she left. Chuck knew it was all an act, but he couldn't help but feel like the world's biggest piece of shit as he rubbed his cheek.

He and Jill had postponed their 'date' for that night. Chuck just wasn't feeling up to faking it at the moment. Now he stood outside the front door of Ellie's apartment with Morgan. It struck him how just two weeks ago, he'd been standing in the exact same spot, working up the nerve to tell his sister about his date with Sarah. He had a feeling that Ellie wouldn't be picking out his clothes for a date with Jill.

Chuck opened the door, and a sense of deja vu washed over him. Ellie and Awesome were curled up on the couch in their scrubs watching TV. "Hey Chuck," his sister said, still clearly focused on whatever show they were watching.

"Ellie, Captain, don't freak out. Remain calm..." He swallowed. "I've got some news." Ellie's brow furrowed as she tore her attention from the television, while Awesome simply quirked an eyebrow.

"Chuck's got a date," Morgan spat the word as if it was poisonous, stalking into the apartment and glaring at Chuck.

"Okay?" Ellie was obviously confused. "I mean, we all like Sarah, but that's not exactly news."

"It's not with Sarah," Chuck replied, suddenly feeling guilty. His sister was going to think he was a scumbag. "I'm... uh... going out with Jill."

The entire apartment fell silent; the calm before the oncoming storm, judging by the emotions clouding Ellie's face. He knew his sister well enough that he could read her perfectly. She started with shock, which quickly devolved into confusion. After a few moments, confusion dawned into disbelief, which quickly morphed into rage.

"Chuck, that is not awesome," Devon stated, pointing a finger at Chuck. Somehow, that one condemnation was worse than Morgan's disappointment and Ellie's look of betrayal.

The older Bartowski was on her feet now, pacing back and forth, Every so often, she'd glance at him before shaking her head and pacing some more. "Jill, Chuck? Really? Don't you remember what you went through, what we went through the last time?" Chuck stood tall, taking his licks, though every word hit harder than a punch in the gut from Casey. It wasn't fair. This wasn't his choice. "We worked so hard! I set you up with every woman in the hospital to help you get over her! And what about Sarah?"

"Sarah and I broke up," Chuck defended. "She saw me talking with Jill, and one thing led to another..." he trailed off after seeing the vein in his sister's neck throb.

She threw her hands up in disgust. "So you ruined the one healthy relationship you've had in five years to get back together with Jill? Sarah was perfect for you! She was smart, pretty, and totally into you!" She sat down on the couch, her anger abating. She looked up at him, pleading. "I don't understand. Help me understand, little brother. Every time things start looking up for you, you just throw it all away. Why would you do this to yourself?"

"Ellie," Chuck began, his voice hoarse. He sat down beside her on the sofa. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just... I still love her. After everything, I still love her." He hated himself for lying to her, the woman who'd all but raised him. "She's the one that got away, you know?" Morgan scoffed in the corner, rolling his eyes as he crossed his arms, while Devon stood awkwardly to the side.

"Well, I hope it was worth it," Ellie said, disappointed. She stood and walked towards her and Awesome's bedroom. Opening it, she looked over her shoulder at him. "I hope she's worth it." Devon followed her into the bedroom, closing the door in Morgan's face. The bearded man shot Chuck a cold glare as he stalked back out of the apartment. Chuck buried his face in his hands. This had to be the worst day ever. He'd been slapped, yelled at, condemned and chastised all for something he didn't even want to do.

He didn't really know who to blame. Bryce was an easy target. If Bryce hadn't sent him the Intersect, none of this would have happened... but he'd have never met Sarah, either. General Beckman and Director Graham were almost as easy as Bryce. They'd decided to send the one woman in the world his family and friends would hate with a passion. He could blame Jill, but as he'd heard this morning, it wasn't her choice to come. Then again, she'd been the one to come up with today's plan. She'd also cheated on him with Bryce. No matter how vehemently she denied it, he didn't know if he'd ever believe that she didn't shack up with the best looking guy at Stanford.

Most of all, he blamed himself. If he wasn't such a screw-up, Ellie wouldn't be so disappointed. He was in his mid-twenties, living with his sister, working a dead end job and getting back together with Jill. Chuck could definitely see where Ellie was coming from. She'd been so happy with him this week, over something as simple as applying for an assistant manager position at the freaking Buy More. She'd set her expectations of him so low, only for him to come up short. Again.

After a quick shower, he shuffled towards his bedroom, numbly shifting through his closet for something to wear on his 'date.' A light blue button down, striped with navy, over a white t-shirt would suffice. A pair of jeans and his favorite pair of Converse completed the ensemble. He ran a hand through his unruly hair, trying to at least somewhat tame the curls, but ultimately gave it up as a bad job. Glancing at his CIA issued watch, he realized he only had a few minutes before Jill would arrive to pick him up.

The living room was deserted as he made his way to the front door. Casting a remorseful look at his sister's bedroom, he stepped out into the evening air. Morgan was sitting in the courtyard, staring at the fountain. "Hey, buddy," Chuck called.

His friend looked up at him. "Hey. Sorry about earlier." Morgan paused, searching for the right words. "I don't like Jill."

"I know."

"But I don't have to like her. If you like her, that's enough for me," Morgan said firmly.

Chuck grinned. "I appreciate that, buddy. This whole thing with Jill... I didn't plan it. She just kinda popped back into my life."

"I get it," Morgan replied morosely. "Do you really still love her?"

"Yeah," Chuck lied. "I really do."

"Then I'll do my best to like her, too. You're my best friend, and I'll always have your back." Chuck knew he didn't deserve a buddy like Morgan. The little guy was the most generous friend a guy could ask for. It killed Chuck to lie to him.

An electric blue Audi R8 Spyder pulled up to the gate of the apartment complex. Both guys admired the car for a moment, before a familiar brunette climbed out with a smile and wave. "Well, that's my ride. I'll catch up with you later."

"Have fun," Morgan said, trying to put on a brave face. "Just... be careful, man."

"Will do. Have a good night." He strode towards the vehicle, still admiring it. A high performance V10 convertible? Yes, please. "Your taste in cars sure has changed," he joked, smiling at her melodic laugh. "What happened to the station wagon?"

"Well, I figured that I'm in LA now, and when in Rome..." Jill held up the keys. "Wanna drive?"

"What?" She wanted him to drive? Sure, he'd always driven while they were dating. She'd jested about how neanderthalic her boyfriend was, but he knew that she enjoyed riding shotgun. They'd driven to Vegas once, and she'd made him drive the entire way, just staring out the window or glancing at him as they talked and laughed. Those were the moments he remembered most clearly, just the two of them together and enjoying each other's company. Still, a car like this? He'd better not.

"I don't know, Jill. This car looks really new," he said, eyeing the R8. It still had the dealership tags on it.

She laughed, tossing him the keys. "It should. I just drove it off the lot twenty minutes ago. I love the color." She pulled the passenger door open, then looked at him expectantly. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

Taking the hint, Chuck reverently climbed into the driver's seat. Fingering the leather steering wheel, he marveled at just how nice the car was. He'd never be able to afford something like this in his lifetime. The entire vehicle rumbled as he turned the ignition over before settling into a smooth roar. Six hundred horsepower and a V10 engine were his to command. He couldn't help but grin as he peeled out. "If you break it, you buy it," Jill admonished, though her tone was light and playful. She fiddled with the GPS, putting in an address he didn't recognize, then turned on the radio. True to form, it was already set to the Top 40 crap that he detested.

Smirking slightly, he quickly tuned in to the classic rock station. Quirking an eyebrow, Jill changed it back. It was an old game they used to play, one he almost always let her win. Back and forth they went, until eventually Jill shook her head in disgust and let Jagger do his thing. After Sympathy for the Devil finished, a very familiar string section faded in, followed by piano arpeggios. Chuck glanced at Jill, but she hadn't reacted. Steve Tyler started his ballad, crooning about not missing a thing, and Chuck glanced at his passenger again as he turned on to the freeway. She wasn't looking at him, but her eyes were red.

"Sorry," he apologized, turning off the radio.

She shook her head. "It's not your fault. Just a lot of memories there. Do you remember that night?"

"Yeah," Chuck couldn't help but smile. "Bryce..." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Bryce had pretty much thrown me at you."

They both chuckled nervously, before Jill turned to him, giving him a serious look. "Chuck, I need you to know something," she began. "I never, never, slept with Bryce. I'd been recruited by the CIA, and I was leaving in a couple months, and I didn't want you to..." She looked away as she trailed off.

"So it was all a lie? You lied about sleeping with Bryce? Why?"

"What was I supposed to do? We'd been dating for two years, Chuck! I loved you! But I couldn't take you with me to Langley, you know that," she defended. "If I had just left, or told you I was leaving, you'd have tracked me down with an old laptop and a flip phone. I didn't know what else to do!"

Chuck was starting to get mad now. "You could have ended things like a normal person. instead of coming up with this so-called 'lie' to what? Protect my feelings? Give me a break." He took a deep breath, trying to regain control of his temper. "That was pretty much the worst day of my life. The girl I loved, telling me she was sleeping with the person I hate most in this world."

"I'm sorry, Chuck," she said, her voice raw. "I thought... I thought that if you hated me, it would help you move on. I knew it would hurt you, but I... I didn't mean for everything to get so screwed up."

"Well it worked," Chuck retorted, stone-faced. "I sure as hell hated you."

They drove the rest of the way in silence. When Chuck pulled up to the address, he didn't know how to feel. It was a nice enough house. Light beige aluminum siding framed off white windows and doors, with a small front yard guarded by a short, white-picket fence. He noted Sarah's Porsche parked in the driveway, and he couldn't help but compare Jill's suburban home to the blonde's very modern apartment building. The brunette led the way to the front door, deftly unlocking it before stepping inside.

"Welcome home, Chuck."

He gaped at her. "What do you mean?" He asked, looking around. The house was tastefully furnished, decorated in warm reds and browns. To his left, he could see a living room, if you could call it that. What sort of living room doesn't have a television? The sofas were large and squashy, microfiber, not leather. Jill always hated leather couches. She liked to sit with her legs curled beneath her, and she often complained about leather sticking to her skin when she wore shorts or skirts. Bookshelves lined one wall, while an electric fireplace occupied the other.

"Well, in a few weeks you'll be moving in," Jill said hesitantly, trying to gauge his reaction. "With just one agent guarding you, we'll have to use around-the-clock protection. So unless you want me staying in your place with Ellie and Devon..."

"Here's fine," Chuck replied quickly. He tried not to think about Ellie's reaction to him moving in with Jill. "Why'd they only send one agent?"

"I'm supposed to draw less attention to anyone watching. That's one of the reasons they sent me, instead of someone else," she answered. "Officially, I've been released from the CIA. I'm just a girl who wanted to start things up with her college sweetheart."

Chuck nodded. "That makes sense, I guess."

"C'mon, I want to show you something." She took his hand, opened one of the hallway doors, revealing a staircase heading down to what he presumed was the basement. All but dragging him down the staircase, she stopped at the bottom, blocking his view of the room. "I wanted you to have a space of your own, to relax or hang out with Morgan... I hope you like it." He hadn't seen her so vulnerable since she walked back into his life. Hope, sorrow, and determination warred on her face.

She took a step back, allowing him to enter the basement proper, and he gasped. Several reclining couches, their brand new black leather shining, all focused on the gigantic 70 inch television screen mounted on the back wall. He noted the surround sound speakers on the walls, recognizing the brand. A computer desk sat at one wall, though it lie empty, and an empty book case sat cozied up next to a comfortable armchair lay against the other. Honestly, Chuck was impressed. Morgan would sell his soul for a setup like this.

"Wow. Jill," he paused, trying to find the words. It struck him then, just how well Jill knew him. "This is perfect."

"I didn't know what consoles you played, and I figured you could pick out what computer you wanted, so we can get those at the Buy More tomorrow, if you want. I have to go there anyways to apply for a job."

"What?" Chuck asked, his voice cracking. "You're going to work at the Buy More?"

"Well, yeah. Twenty-four hour protection, Chuck. There's a new Rule Number One: If we're not in this house, you're to stay in my line of sight at all times. Never go anywhere on your own. Ever." Chuck swallowed. "Which means I'm going to get a job at the Nerd Herd. Any off-site installs or a repairs, I go with you. If you're fixing computers in the back, I go with you. If you go on lunch, I go with you."

"What about the bathroom?" Chuck asked, only half joking.

"Nothing I haven't seen before," she said simply, turning towards the book case.

"You're joking, right?" She just smirked over her shoulder at him. Chuck resolved then and there to never leave the house without using the bathroom first. "Right?" The shelf suddenly swung open, revealing a heavy steel door with a complicated access panel. The nerd in him wanted to take it apart immediately and see how it worked.

"Step up to the scanner, put your palm on the reader, and say your name." Jill explained. Chuck followed her instructions, marveling at the light that looked into his eyes and read his palm. After a moment, the door thunked open, revealing another staircase. "Down there is Castle, our base of operations. It's a panic room and training facility all rolled into one." Chuck nodded, taking the first step, but realized that Jill wasn't behind him.

"Aren't you coming?"

"No," she replied softly. "There's a couple people down there waiting to say goodbye."

Chuck's nerves skyrocketed. He had assumed that he'd seen the last of Sarah and Casey this afternoon at the Buy More. It had hurt, thinking that the last he'd see of Sarah Walker was her running out the door with tears streaking down her cheeks. At least now he'd have a chance to give her a proper goodbye. Oh, and Casey, too.

He hesitantly made his way down the staircase, his heart pounding in his chest. The stairwell opened up into a gigantic conference room centered around an equally large table. Seated at the table were a bored-looking Casey and the ever-beautiful Sarah Walker. She smiled when she saw him, while Casey just grunted.

"Took you long enough. Couldn't wait till after to play 'hide the pickle?" Casey snarked.

Sarah shot him a warning look. "Hey," she said, smiling at him. "We can't stay long; our flight leaves in two hours and we still have to get to the airport."

"I thought you guys had already left," Chuck said, his voice filled with emotion. "I thought that's how you spies did things."

Sarah laughed. "Normally, it is," she said. "But, as always, you're a special case." Chuck felt his chest swell at the look she gave him. "I'm going to miss you, Chuck."

"You, too," Chuck said, fighting to collect himself.

"Take care of yourself. No more flying helicopters, okay?" He smiled and nodded. "And be careful."

"I'm sitting here in Burbank while you're going to track down dangerous rogue agents," Chuck replied. "I should be telling you to be careful."

She glanced at the cameras in the room, suddenly indecisive. After a moment, she seemed to come to a conclusion and pulled him into a tight hug. Surprised, Chuck barely had time to reciprocate before she started pulling away. As she did, he felt something small and hard drop into his back pocket. He opened his mouth to say something, but the look in her eyes silenced him. "Take care, Chuck." She turned and headed up the stairs, leaving him alone with Casey.

The big man extended a hand, and Chuck took it. "Don't do anything abnormally stupid, Bartowski," Casey said sarcastically before following Sarah up the stairs. Alone, he pulled the object out of his back pocket. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. It was a cellphone. Very basic, he doubted it even had internet access or a GPS locator. He flipped it open, even more surprised to see that he already had a text message from a contact known only as "S." A huge grin spread across his face as he read the message.

Call me if you need me.

-S