AN: Hey everyone, "I'M BACK". Think of Randy Quaid cackling near the end of Independence Day just before he crashes into the alien spaceship. That's what I sound like.

Okay, I need to apologize for being gone so long. Here are my reasons in no particular order. Burnt out, pinched nerve that left me with no use of my right arm for 6 weeks. New girlfriend, computer problem, new girlfriend, new girlfriend, sick, holidays and of course new girlfriend, new girlfriend.

You all have jagged1 to thank or blame for this. She is awesome and kept telling me she would be there when I was ready with a new story. I submitted five that I felt weren't really bad and this is the one she picked. In her defense, this is the one I wanted her to pick. I think I somehow subliminally steered her here.

All mistakes are my own, I never listen to jag enough. Lol.

Without further mind-numbing rambling drivel, here is my take on what happened after the Suburbs.

Xxx

Chapter 1

Xxx

Chuck sat in the passenger seat of Casey's Vic, his head leaning against the side window. His eyes were closed, thinking about how the most wonderful week of his life had gone bad so quickly. What had started as an uncomfortable Valentine's date at Casa Bartowski with Sarah had become decidedly awkward. Both were trying to not look at the other or even acknowledge the other when Casey texted, informing them they had a mission.

"You'll be posing as a married couple living in the suburbs." Casey laughed at the look of horror on both of his partner's faces as he handed them their wedding rings.

The first morning in the house, Chuck woke to the delicious smell of pan-fried bacon. Dressing and walking down the stairs, his eyes lit up as Sarah stood in the kitchen in a short nightie cooking breakfast.

"Sarah, you don't have to do that."

"I want to do something special for my husband," Sarah replied as she put a plate on the counter and moved to Chuck, straightening his collar and tie.

After breakfast, Chuck walked out the front door, wondering how he remembered to breathe let alone where he was going.

"Chuck?" Sarah called after him.

Chuck turned and Sarah ran up to him, taking his face in her hands and kissed him on the lips. "Have a great day, honey."

The week had been wonderful, just a normal couple interacting with their new neighbors. Sarah had assumed the role of the perfect wife. But it was all an act; she was being the perfect spy.

It turned out the entire cul-de-sac was inhabited by Fulcrum agents trying to find an Intersect host for their first attempt to download it into a human being.

Sarah looked on in panic as the Fulcrum scientists ran their version of the Intersect. "Chuck?" She screamed.

When the download ended, Chuck sat in the chair not moving, seemingly devoid of awareness or even life. When they entered the download chamber one of the scientists remarked. "He's toast, get him out of here."

After the straps were removed Chuck took a huge lungful of air and let out a small shriek.

The scientists all smiled. "Mr. Carmichael, do you know where you are?" The blonde woman asked.

"I'm in a specially built lab beneath Meadow Branch subdivision used to test the Fulcrum Intersect download." Chuck replied in an almost robotic voice.

"Do you mind if we test your wife next?" The blonde scientist asked.

"I don't have a wife." Chuck replied in the same unemotional voice standing and moving out of the way so Sarah could be strapped into the seat.

Chuck winked at Casey, who was in the outer room about to initiate the download again

"I you don't mind, I'd like to say something to Agent Walker first." Chuck asked.

Casey put on dark glasses as Chuck bent at the waist so he was looking straight into Sarah's eyes.

Chuck pulled Sarah to him, burying her face in his shoulder before whispering in her ear. "Close your eyes."

After Casey gave the all clear, Chuck stood before Sarah while Casey cut her free of her restraints.

"Thank you, Chuck."

Chuck nodded because he wasn't able to speak at that exact moment. The minutes with Sarah in his embrace and the delicious smell of Sarah's perfume was still tickling his nostrils.

The small headache seemed inconsequential compared to his euphoria of saving the woman he loved.

After the NSA cleaners had arrived to remove the incapacitated Fulcrum agents, the three headed back to the house Chuck and Sarah had used for the mission.

Chuck didn't ask for much; he only wanted another night in the house. Just a normal couple, as friends, maybe a pizza with no olives, a glass of wine and a movie. Just friends. Sarah refused, saying she had paperwork to do. Chuck was sure it could wait until morning. Nodding his head and trying not to show his disappointment, he headed out to catch a ride with Casey back to Burbank.

With a stab of despair, he realized this week had been all acting on her behalf, nothing more. She was protecting her asset, acting like a professional spy.

He'd saved her; he'd protected her because he loved her. That was the difference, he wasn't acting like a spy saving an asset, and he was acting as a man who loved a woman more than his own life.

Xxx

Sarah watched Chuck walk out the door and tried to ignore the anguish on his face when she refused an extra night. The week had been wonderful and she thought of how life with Chuck, with no missions, would be. She was sure it was what she always wanted - but she was a CIA agent. It could never be. She'd done things that even other agents would have a hard time accepting. An innocent like Chuck would be repulsed by the true woman who went by the name Sarah Walker. It was better to end it now than lose her heart later.

Xxx

Casey could see the anguish Chuck was feeling by the look on his face. He hated to admit it, but he liked him – well, maybe tolerated him - like a little brother, an annoying little brother but still a brother nonetheless. He'd heard Walker turn Chuck down cold. A despondent asset he didn't need. He didn't need to keep hearing him talk about Walker in his sleep or whimper occasionally like he knew he would tonight.

The only problem was that tonight would be worse; Chuck would come over to his place and want to talk about his feelings after he talked to Ellie about them. He would have to hear it twice. He needed Chuck to grow a pair and realize with a heartbreaker like Walker, it would never be. It was what she was trained to do. It would've been easier if she had just slept with him right away and controlled him that way. Instead, she had opted for the MAYBE SOMEDAY and let him follow her around like a puppy dog. She was his partner and a good partner for a CIA skirt, but she could be such a tease.

Making up his mind as he pulled up to the apartment complex, he decided to pre-empt it by telling him how it was: like pulling a band-aid quickly, get over her and be done with it.

"Bartowski?" Casey said. "You gotta Man Up, remember you're just a job for her and it's all a cover; the moment the new Intersect comes on line or they get this one out of your head, we're gone. You'll never see us again. How many times do you need to be kicked while you're down before you realize it?" If the new Intersect goes online with the old one still in your head, you'll be dead, but Casey didn't want him to know that.

Chuck looked at Casey with glassy eyes, realizing he was finally hearing some truth. The look on Casey's face told him it was the truth. The truth hurt.

"Thanks, Casey." Chuck mumbled as he got out of the Crown Vic. He grabbed his bag and headed to the apartment, deciding things needed to change.

Xxx

Chuck laid his head down on the pillow when the word "Salamander" started reverberating through his subconscious. Reptile, amphibian, lizard. What the hell did it all m

He'd been asleep for about an hour when he started to feel the pain. The intense pain started ten minutes later. He stumbled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, fumbling for a handful of aspirin or whatever he could find in the medicine cabinet. The initial thought was to take two, but the pain was increasing exponentially and he hoped the handful he swallowed would alleviate some of the pain. Something seemed to be drilling into his brain. It felt like the Ceti Eel that Khan had fed into Chekov's ear in the Wrath of Khan - an infinite pain that only got worse by the minute. Curled up in the fetal position on the cool bathroom tile floor, Chuck was unable to control the terror. His conscious self started to scream and scream.

Ellie, Devon and Casey all woke at the same moment; Ellie and Devon from across the hall, Casey upon hearing the shrill sound through his bugs scattered throughout Casa Bartowski. But, he figured he would've heard the screams even if he didn't have his bugs turned on. The wails transcended the walls and reverberated through the courtyard.

Casey had his hand on his gun as he ran to Chuck and Ellie's apartment. He didn't bother to check the door; he knocked it off its hinges with a well-aimed kick.

He was sure the screams would wake the dead or at least the people in the next county. It was three in the morning; everyone's apartment lights were on. Tenants were peeping out of their doors, wondering what was going on. Devon jumped up and looked out the bathroom door, before grabbing Casey's arm.

"John, I'm glad you're here. It's Chuck. Can you go out to the street and wait for the ambulance?" His eyes blazed with concern as he told Casey that something had happened to Chuck and he was in severe pain. Casey walked to the bathroom, following the hollow screams and when he rounded the corner, he saw Chuck lying in a pile of vomit. Ellie was busy wiping Chuck's mouth and trying to comfort him. A black satchel was open at her side while she checked Chuck's pulse and other vitals.

Casey looked down at Chuck; the Intersect finally fried your brain, Chuck. Casey hated to admit it, but in a way, he was relieved. He wouldn't have to pull the trigger on a functioning man who had done so much for his country already although he'd never been asked. The prick Larkin had done it; first, he sent him the Intersect and then the refresher. Beckman and Graham had wondered if it was too much for one man to handle and it was.

I hope it ends soon for you Chuck or I might be forced to end your suffering myself. An honorable death to end this pain would be better than being forced to kill you because they got the new Intersect on-line.

Casey was snapped out of his thoughts by another bout of screaming, this one worse than the last. He'd tortured people to get information and had never elicted this much screaming - they would always pass out long before they would get to this stage. Casey fingered his gun and wondered if it was time to put him out of his misery.

Abruptly, Devon pushed him out of the doorway. "Go direct the paramedics when they get here John." Casey strode quickly outside, still hearing the screams. It rankled him that he was bothered so much by Chuck's anguish.

Pull your head out, agent. Casey tugged his phone out of his pocket as he rushed through the courtyard. "General, we have a situation. It's Bartowski. You were right. The Intersect was too much for one person. You'll want to have your doctors on standby. I'll contact you when I have more information." Casey finished.

"Keep me advised, Major. I'll have our doctors on the first plane to L.A." Beckman replied before hanging up.

Casey was just putting his phone away as the ambulance pulled up with its lights flashing.

"This way," Casey directed as the paramedics pulled a gurney out of the back.

Once inside the apartment, Casey was again assaulted by the feral sounds of Chuck's screams. While outside, he could hear it but it didn't seem as bad from a distance.

"We need to get him to the hospital." Devon shouted to be heard above Chuck's screams.

Ellie was holding Chuck's hand and climbed into the ambulance for the ride to the hospital. Casey grabbed Devon by the arm and pulled him to his Crown Vic. "I'll give you a ride. You're in no condition to drive."

Casey followed the ambulance closely, keeping his eyes glued to the road. Devon finally spoke. "I swear I can still hear him screaming," he said quietly.

"I know. We're twenty feet behind them and I can still hear him. What's wrong with him?" Casey asked, hoping it was something known and treatable.

"I don't know; might be a seizure or a … I really don't know, I've never seen anyone like this. I think we should call Sarah."

"That might be a good idea. I'm sure she'll want to be there," Casey said, sticking to the cover.

"I don't have her number but as soon as we get to the hospital I'll get it from Ellie."

"I think I can get it from Morgan. I'll call her while you check on Chuck," Casey lied as he pulled into a parking spot not far from the entrance to the emergency room. "I got it. Go check on Chuck."

Casey pulled his phone out and hit the speed dial. He really didn't want to try to explain this to Walker. Why she should be here. She'd made her position clear: he'd thought once that she had a little thing for Bartowski, but after the suburbs, he knew it was all for the cover. She was a professional just like him.

"Walker secure."

"Casey secure, Bartowski's at Westside Medical Center. Don't know what is wrong yet, but you probably should be here for the cover." Casey couldn't resist twisting the knife and making her feel guilty that she wasn't doing her job.

Sarah was already on the way out of her hotel room, still talking to Casey. "What do you mean, he was fine the last time I saw him. What's that I hear in the background?"

"Don't worry about it, Walker. Just get here," Casey said as he stood outside the emergency entrance.

"Casey, it sounds like… I don't know, someone's screaming."

Casey hesitated before replying. "It's Chuck. They don't seem to be able to stop the screaming. You need to get your ass over her now, even if it's just for the cover."

Sarah was running down the hall to the elevator and when she finally processed the screams and Casey's words, her knees got weak. I'll be there in a few minutes, Chuck. Please hold on until I can get there.

"I'm keeping my phone open. Keep me updated. I want to know everything," Sarah called before getting off the elevator and rushing to her Porsche.

Sarah jumped into her Porsche and was accelerating down the street when she noticed the screaming that she could hear through the phone had suddenly halted; she was the first to comment. "The screaming stopped. They must've found what was wrong and he's okay." She said heaving a huge sigh of relief.

"Wait." Looking side to side, Casey elbowed his way through the emergency room door, himself relieved the screaming had stopped. It had unsettled him and everyone else that had to hear it. The picture of frantic doctors and nurses running around pushing equipment twice their size suddenly unnerved even hard ass John Casey.

Casey held the phone to his ear but he was not listening, he only saw the doctors. Through the open curtains of one of the emergency cubicles, he could see a doctor performing chest compressions.

"Casey, what's going on?" Sarah screamed into her phone.

Casey stumbled for words. "I think…"

"You think what, Casey?"

Casey watched as they placed the paddles on Chuck's chest and his body jolted on the bed.

"Clear," A doctor called.

"Flat line," A nurse called.

Casey was close enough now that Sarah could hear the emergency room medics.

"Again, clear." The doctor called, before using the paddles again. We've got a heartbeat."

Sarah was frantic and had almost sideswiped three cars in her haste to get to the hospital. It wasn't until Casey said that they'd gotten a normal sinus rhythm that Sarah took a deep breath. She still had her Porsche to the floor. Chuck was alive. If only she'd agreed to a night of wine and movies, she'd have been there for him. The guilt rode her like a pair of cement boots.

Xxx

Chuck woke up; he was surprised he was no longer in pain, and the first thing he noticed from the position he was laying on the floor was the strange lighting. The second thing he noticed was the bars at the end of the hall leading into the main conference room at Castle and more bars behind him forming a cell. The third thing he noticed was the strange person in the other room.

Rising to his feet unsteadily, he moved quietly. The room was almost devoid of light except for a small spotlight that seemed to cast strange shadows on the only occupant of Castle.

The figure almost looked like Casey from the back, but the shoulders were not broad enough and were slouched while looking at a screen and typing on a keyboard.

"Hello?" Chuck asked. Had Fulcrum taken over Castle and captured him?

"Chuck, I'm glad you're awake. We need to discuss some things. The dark figure responded to Chuck's question without turning around. I've taken control. I'm the Fulcrum Intersect download. Call me Sid, a variation on the id that I'm sure even you can enjoy." Sid laughed deeply, the laugh seeming hollow and echoing throughout the chamber. "I've decided you're too emotional. I've created an avatar for you to see. We don't really need it, but for your peace of mind, I felt it was necessary." The dark shadow laughed even louder making the hair on the back of Chuck's neck stand on end.

"Who the hell are you?" Chuck asked.

"I've already told you."

"Where's Sarah?" Chuck asked, his voice faltering.

"She's where she should be. Working the cover. Everything you've hoped for with Agent Walker isn't real. You're only the job and we've seen from the Intersect that she doesn't fail the job."

"No, Sarah and I…" Chuck started.

"Nothing is real. Do I need to replay when she said under truth serum that there was nothing under the cover? You're a loser and she's using you to get the job done," Sid replied, his almost mechanical voice again echoing throughout the chamber.

"That's not true!" Chuck shouted although deep in his heart, he wondered if it was true.

It was then that the other part of what he'd been told dropped on him. I'm the Fulcrum Intersect download. "You're Fulcrum. You're going to turn me over to them and help them."

"Chuck, I'm a computer program. I don't have loyalties, unlike you I take the logical and unemotional approach. Think of me as 'Spock.' I'm you, but without being a pathetic puppy dog that enjoys being kicked around and keeps coming back for more."

"No I…" Chuck began.

"Case in point; she tells you under truth serum that there is nothing real under the cover. She kisses you but then says it was a mistake. She refuses a simple night of friendship. I rest my case. You are the job and she keeps you in line by letting you think maybe someday something will happen."

Chuck didn't know how to counter what he already knew. "Okay, how does this work? When can I get out of here?"

"You don't, I control your brain now. I control everything. You should've been purged while I was taking over. For now, until I can find a way, you will remain locked in that cell. I won't be the loser you are, I will take control of our life. I won't let it be controlled by a blonde handler that is just using us for the greater good."

Chuck rattled the bars, hoping to somehow break free from this nightmare. It was all consuming and he felt nothing. He stopped and listened when he heard a voice that had always soothed his mind whenever the spy life got too much for him. It was Sarah and she was calling to him.

"Chuck, please come back to me. I love you. Please wake up," Sarah softly spoke.

Chuck began to scream at the top of his lungs that he needed her help. He needed her to save him once again.

"Don't bother, Chuck. I told you I'm in control and I'm not going to let that honey trap control us anymore. You can't feel it but she's playing the perfect cover girlfriend and holding our hand and whispering in our ear." Sid laughed. "She's even gone so far into the cover that she's kissed us several times, once on the lips."

Chuck screamed out in anger. "Sarah, Sarah, help me."

"I told you, she can't hear you. I guess it's time for me to wake up and end this charade. I'm going to let her know we don't appreciate being used. If we're to be used by the CIA and NSA, we need to get the hell out of the Buy-More and get a real job. We need to quit living with Ellie and we definitely need to find a woman that actually cares about us."

"Sarah cares…" Chuck started.

"Don't you get it? If it weren't for the job, a woman that looks like Agent Walker wouldn't even look at us twice. She must have to shower for an hour each night, scrubbing herself raw when she gets home after spending a night sitting on the sofa watching a lame movie snuggled up to us. Face it, you've seen it we disgust her. Bryce is the type of man for her, the cool superspy. Even Ellie wonders…twenty-eight years old and still living with her. You've heard Devon's comments. Admit it, you're a loser. I'm doing what's best for us."

Xxx

AN 2: To everyone who thought I ended my last story too quickly and rushed the ending a little I apologize. I have a little something in mind for an epilogue.

I need to thank my buddy T-Rex, for just being a great friend and letting me bounce ideas off him.

Again thanks to jagged1 for all her help with this and doing a great job on the beta.

Hit the little review button and let me know what you think. Reviews equal faster updates.