A/N: Since it is the season and I am trying to get a few stories out. This, another story starting at the end of First Date, and an AU non-intersect story which for now I have set for 12 chapters, along with one profiling two characters who don't get much time in the spotlight. This is set after Crown Vic. I do not own Chuck or Dickens, I merely manipulate the characters in my mind and sometimes I dare to present them.

Chuck's Christmas Carol

2322 12/24 Casa Bartowskicomb:

Sarah took a deep breath as she found her focus drifting. Leaning back onto the corner of the wall that marked the outer edge of the kitchen she closed her eyes and absentmindedly ran through the various exits which allowed the corners of her mouth to turn slightly upward. Opening them the smile came full bore as she found she shifted her body and Chuck was in the middle of her field of vision talking and laughing with Morgan and Anna. She turned her head and saw Ellie and Devon talking to another couple, but every so often Ellie would sneak a look at her brother and beam. The smile maintained as she remembered asking Ellie why she'd look at him that way and she received a hug along with the knowledge this was the first party ever that Chuck had not spirited himself into his room and actually talked with other people and not solely in geek-speak.

A slight consternation kicked up as she wasn't told about this party until she showed up at the Buy More one. That would be something that needed to be talked about, but at a later time. The dinner of roast beef and double baked potatoes with Ellie, Devon, Chuck, and her was delicious. About a half hour after they had finished the party then expanded; starting in the courtyard and that had both good and bad moments. Although there were mostly couples from the hospital, there were a number of single doctors, both male and female looking for somebody to unwrap. One of the good moments was a red-headed physical therapist who targeted Casey, her barrage was stopped after a dance, but still as she shared a glance with Chuck they both knew that was something to be savored. After politely declining her advances, Casey soon left the party, which surprisingly was one of the bad things as Chuck was making his way around and talking with just about everybody, besides her, and she situated herself outside the Morgan door. Morgan and Anna had talked with her for awhile before they decided to dance. She mingled into some of the groups that inevitably form at a decent sized party, never keeping her eyes off Chuck for too long; and although cordial she let it be well known she was with Chuck. That stopped as she tried to engage in conversation with a group of women it turns out included some whom Ellie had tried setting up with Chuck.

Oil and water mixed better, a few of them were admiring the 'improved' Chuck and wanting him under their tree, before Sarah announced that Chuck was her boyfriend. Just like that she noticed a change where she was an antelope and they were leopards or tigers and the cover story was put under heavy scrutiny. Working at the Weinerlicious was bad enough, but they were able to make it feel worse. Her college degree and vehicle only seemed to add fuel to their fire. Luckily Ellie as the consummate hostess was able to see Sarah's wordless plea and spirited her away. However that didn't stop the gaggle; soon she found all the single doctors, and a few married ones, wanting to talk with her, or more correctly hit on her. Most took the news she was with somebody like gentlemen and offered 'He's a lucky man'. One in particular did not, for a number of reasons he reminded her of Bryce and it just so happened Chuck had made his way to the gaggle when this buffoon was going through his routine. She debated about just going through the Morgan door to get away, but realized it would've looked as an invitation to this bozo as well as to Chuck's fan club. She looked to Chuck to rescue her, but his back was to her. Eventually she managed to get away for a refill, but the bozo followed her until Devon stopped him and walked him out to his car. When Devon came back he appeared tense, but soon found Ellie and relaxed.

The party started to dwindle down and when it was around eleven Ellie informed the group the party was going back inside. Eight were still inside: Chuck was talking to Anna and Morgan while Ellie and Devon were saying goodnight to a couple she did not know. She straightened up then leaned back against the wall again; a little unsure why she was in a good mood considering the unwanted attention, but she felt relaxed and warm. Especially as she was able to hear the sound of Chuck Taylor's walking towards her.

"Hey, was tonight ok? I know I didn't get to spend as much time with you as I wanted to…" Sarah opened her eyes which apparently gave him the answer without needing to speak, "Right… Ellie gave me the 'we need to talk later' look. It was strange I usually sneak away to my room about fifteen minutes in and stay until about a half hour left in the party without anybody noticing."

Unfortunately Sarah could not hide her smirk, and he cautiously asked, "What?"

"You may need to talk to your sister about that as well, I don't think she's that mad at you, but then again…" Sarah steps to Chuck going cheek to cheek and whispers sarcastically in his ear, "She wasn't abandoned by you tonight." Her grin as she pulled back was immediately turned upside down as Chuck had a solemn look on his face. The sudden rush of shame caused her to look down as she noticed something on her shoes and was trying to recall how to clean them when she felt a hand gently pushing up on her jaw. Helping the hand she looked up and saw remorse in the deep brown eyes.

"You are right, I was an ass tonight… I thought perhaps you'd rather have a night off from the cover and get a chance to relax a little, but … I am sorry." Chuck held her a little tighter he was relieved that she didn't pull away and felt the flicker of hope as he would swear Sarah is reciprocating, but then she whispered something into his shirt. As he loosened his end of the hold he craned his head to look at her and softly asked, "What did you say?"

Sarah twisted her mouth battling within herself whether to repeat it. She took a deep breath and earnestly stated, "Don't do it again," as she stared into his eyes.

Chuck swallowed as this was a much different tone than her 'don't get out of the car' one. He maintained the eye contact and simply said, "Ok" and smiled. She responded in kind and he felt his heart flutter from her response.

They found themselves back into a loose hug eyes closed, slightly swaying to the hum of the Christmas tree lights when they both realized it was far too quiet and opened their eyes. Ellie and Devon were sitting on the couch looking at the tree. Ellie's head was resting on Devon's shoulder while he laid his on top of hers. Sarah felt a little flushed witnessing this display of complete contentment as well as a tinge of jealousy doubting that she would ever be at that point in her life. She released Chuck and grabbed her cup of eggnog slightly misjudging the contents she brought it up a little too quickly, but recovered without spilling anything out of the cup. She looked back at Chuck and smiled, "It's late… I getter bet going, "and took an uneasy first step towards the door she felt an arm wrap around her.

"I'm not going to let you go."

Sarah was shocked at the words; the only thing that kept her from exploding was although his grasp was firm his tone was playful. Holding back on her judgment she decided to look at his face and see what he exactly meant by that. Seeing the look of fear as well as resolve that he had to do it allowed her to present her look that she was going to listen to his explanation, before she left because it was getting uncomfortably hot.

"… Sarah I know you can handle… well I guess I don't know for certain, but I'd assume you are probably trained to handle liquor better somehow," he whispered into her ear.

"Chuck, I'm fine to drive." Sarah responded automatically before seeing the look of disbelief on Chuck's face which brought a slight frown to hers.

"Sarah, you know I never doubt your abilities, but you had a glass of wine before dinner, two with it, another two before the party started and then you've hit the eggnog pretty hard during the party." As Sarah's look of consternation began to take hold, Chuck swallowed and rapidly tried to protect himself by saying, "Devon was the one who initially brought it up just before the party as something we should be aware of because Ellie did the same thing. I didn't bring it up as you were relaxed and happy and it was so nice to see. I think when you two do go out for an evening you need to make sure there's a driving service. I think it's good for both of you to have a real friend."

Sarah's thoughts first went to Chuck using 'when' instead of 'if' and although there was initial nervousness in convincing Ellie of their cover; that went away quickly. She could easily envision the two of them sitting at an outdoor café talking and laughing about nothing in particular. Almost as quickly she became disheartened by his using real for Ellie insinuating he wasn't one. For the second time she found herself trying to decide what she could say versus what she wanted to say. Still debating she looked up and saw Chuck with an amused look, now completely confused he leaned down and whispered, "I know where we are… its ok."

Just as that weight was lifted, she wanted to ask why he had his goofy grin on; but was interrupted as he placed his lips on the tip of her nose and lightly brushed it with his tongue then pulled back still with that grin. A few nanoseconds after his tongue touched her nose her mind emptied and the only thing that existed were Chuck, herself, and wanton lust. The initial surge of adrenaline that followed brought back the rest of the world along with the knowledge this felt far different than any liaison with Bryce: whether the rush of completing a mission that would have killed almost any other pair of agents or the few times they met after Graham had ended their partnership. Sex was a competition; similarly to everything else in their partnership training, cooking, dancing, when they were undercover in the Alps they forced their guide to judge who was the better yodeler. This felt more like a connection; however the competitor in her had to come up with something. The image her mind created was an incomprehensibly huge jigsaw puzzle; somehow she knew the number of pieces was fifteen thousand and she had one piece in hand and saw Chuck's hand with another, of course the pieces fit perfectly.

Chuck knew he crossed the line, he simply couldn't stop himself. The remnant of eggnog foam on her nose was the most adorable thing that he could ever recall and the sensation from his tongue made him consider if he was a cannibal. Granted he would never literally eat Sarah, but the little taste convinced him he would spend the rest of his life trying to sample as much of her as the FCC would allow. In a Pavlovian way his salivary glands started working overtime as he looked at the inebriated angel in front of him. After several months of intense study he had no clue what was currently going on inside the head of Sarah. Her mouth hung slightly open which meant she was contemplating her reaction. Her eyes had narrowed which wasn't a good sign, and the fact they very briefly seemed to change color completely grabbed his attention, both confusing and intriguing him.

With the fog lifting, Sarah was a little surprised she hadn't pounced on Chuck yet. From the look he was sending her anything less was unacceptable. Realizing she had yet to respond to whatever that move was he just did her hands locked onto the curls and jerked his head down crushing his mouth onto hers; his mouth being open at the time allowed her to suck his tongue into her mouth. Never one for patience she playfully bit his tongue to bring him into the moment and it did. His eyes flickered and the fire in them stoked Sarah's own arousal as did the hands that grabbed her jeans-clad ass bringing her up as he straightened himself out. She let go of his hair locking them around his neck and doing the same with her legs around his torso as he started to move.

Neither one noticed the squeal followed with a look of disgust as Ellie realized as much as she wanted them together this was too much information for her to take at the moment. Devon kissed her forehead and handed her a glass with the eggnog, taking a sip from his glass before stating, "It's amazing that you don't taste the alcohol. I still cannot believe Morgan in making 1½ of the recipe added three times the alcohol and only twice the other ingredients… But it is the best tasting one he has made." Ellie nodded her agreement just before successfully attempting Sarah's move. Devon quickly responded bringing his hopefully soon to be fiancé into their bedroom.

After making it into the room Chuck closed the door with his foot and slowly brought Sarah down onto the bed. Once they made contact they released each other's mouth both turning their heads trying to bring in enough oxygen to continue. When both were ready to go onto the next round their eyes focused on something which simultaneously brought back their full lives destroying the mood. Chuck's went to the picture of Sarah in her Leia costume when the initial one had a bug attached to it; Sarah's to the camera on top of Chuck's computer. With a reluctant sigh Chuck rolled off of Sarah and sat in the middle of the bed. Sarah put her hands to her face and pulled herself up sitting next to him and took off her shoes.

At Chuck's confused look she said, "I thought I had to stay here because the eggnog was spiked." Chuck's brow furrowed more, "I realized it after the third one, by that time I figured what the hell and Ellie had taken my keys from my purse. Since I am staying here there is no need for surveillance." She finished in a forceful, but still a little louder than she intended way.

"You are buzzed, aren't you?" Sarah exaggeratedly nodded her head then placed it upon Chuck's shoulder. Both were extremely comfortable for a few minutes before their fervor started to rise up again. Chuck carefully lifted Sarah's head, but instead of the toe curling, mind-melting extravaganza she was anticipating instead was a chaste, tight lipped kiss which still revved her up.

"Chuck, I'll go over to Casey's right now and make sure it is all off. We both know Casey is a lot of things, but this would be the last thing he'd want to see."

Chuck turned and smiled, but still went through his drawer coming back out with a t-shirt and some sweatpants, "I know that and agree with you, but if he's sleeping or that physical therapist made her way back…" This elicited a giggle from Sarah, soon though he was facing her 'what aren't you telling me Chuck' look. "Ok there is more, do you want me to step out while you change?"

Sarah wondered to herself how that question could turn her on more. The only thing that was keeping her seated was the look on Chuck's face as he appeared to be battling a number of demons right now. Not wanting him to leave though she replied, "That's ok Chuck, if you want to turn your head or don't, I trust you."

Somehow this made Chuck a little more forlorn as he went to his computer chair and after seeing Sarah's reflection on the monitor he placed his head on the desk. Sarah saw this and quickly changed into the clothes Chuck had handed her. She placed her hand on his shoulder, "Please tell me what is wrong Chuck." Then running her other hand through his hair, "Please?"

He lifted his head and slowly turned the chair taking the hand that was in his hair and bringing it down to his chest while one hand was holding it, the other was lightly following the assorted lines and/or scars before turning it over and brushing the back of it with his thumb. He released her hand and went to sit on the bed. After a moment of missing the attention her hand had received she followed him a little wary of what to say.

Finally Chuck took a deep breath and said, "Sarah I could never take advantage of you and with your judgment impaired going further… I can't." Looking up into her blue eyes he saw she understood as she brought her face close to his and kissed his cheek.

As she pulled back she started to say, "Thank you for respecting me like that… there's still something else though, isn't there?"

Chuck closed his eyes wondering if there was anything he could say besides the reason and convince Sarah. Unfortunately he was certain that while Sarah did not put in the work he did in studying her, she had a frustratingly innate ability to read many of his moods. Opening his eyes he knew she would not let this go and looking at the combination of caring, concern, and admiration on the most stunning face bathed in moonlight he hoped any one of the three were still there in a few moments.

"There is… I don't know what I would do when you told me it was a mistake tomorrow."

"Wh…"

"Sarah. I know you cannot admit it, but there is a part of you that does want something real with me. Whether it is forty-nine percent or just one and for tonight that percentage is in charge and not that I am complaining, but tomorrow when the fifty-one or ninety-nine is back and you need to say this cannot happen again it will break me… You'll get reassigned and I don't know how I will possibly function. You are the only thing that has kept me sane since this whole thing has started."

Sarah sat there taking what he just said in, after the display in the living room into the bedroom to deny him one percent was so cruel, but not denying it would just be leading him on. The truth was he probably had it in reverse, the majority of her wanted something real with Chuck; the problem was the small percentage that didn't recognized she did want it, but giving in would result in only unacceptable results. She'd be reassigned, the person coming in would have him tossed in a bunker, or worse not protect him enough and get him killed, or even worst he'd fall for the new agent and somehow everything would work in their favor and when Sarah would return after her exile he'd be happily married with children and she would be back to being completely alone. The second part of his admission was not any better; she felt secure in protecting Chuck physically, but now even though she had thought it hearing it from his lips terrified her. Being responsible for another person's sanity, especially as she doubted hers on occasion after following Chuck's ideas was too much for her. Wanting to change the subject to anything else, "Why didn't you tell me about the dinner and party, "blurted out.

"Uhm, "This was the proverbial rabbit hole and Chuck was rapidly descending, "I didn't know if the mission would be completed." Chuck looked down at his shoes remembering the layout of the bedroom as he was positive he was not going to be looking up anytime soon.

Sarah was contemplating the exact same thing plus she was berating herself on asking that ridiculously stupid question. Taking care on what she was going to say, but trying to hurry knowing instead of visions of sugar plum fairies in his head it was Lon Kirk boinking her. "If you had told me I would have come." She said earnestly.

The tone brought Chuck's head up, but he couldn't quite believe it, "Sarah, it was a mission; besides I did tell you."

Anger worked its way to the top of the emotions, "If I hadn't shown up to the Buy More party, which I wasn't told about either; you're saying that you would have called me. Or were you hoping for Lou to show up. Just for the record, you went a lot further with her than I did with that creep."

"Maybe this bed is possessed, "Chuck said trying to lighten the mood as he slid off his shoes, "I wasn't insinuating anything. I'll sleep on the couch."

"No, Chuck both of us will stay here. We don't want to bring Ellie into this. Tomorrow I'll look into the schedule of the CIA exorcist."

"You really have one of those?"

"Chuck."

"Yes."

"Good night."

"Good night Sarah… I… uh… Sweet dreams Sarah."

Sarah laid down closest to and facing the door into the hallway. This was her rationale of sleeping in this spot even though that was where he would sleep she was between Chuck and any bad guy who would enter this way. He tried to sleep on his back, but he was used to sleeping on his right side which would cause him to look at Sarah's back. Figuring if this could get him to fall asleep perhaps she wouldn't mind as soon as he adjusted he heard her sniffle and immediately went to attempting to sleep on his back.

Casey went to his cabinet and grabbed his gun cleaning kit and his brand new bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label. He had walked in after doing a visual inspection that all party vehicles had been accounted for. The three left that normally weren't there were not Trojan horses. Two were people who had been at the party but weren't in good enough condition to drive home. The third was Walker's Porsche, coming in he was just about to turn off the surveillance feeds when he heard Chuck state he couldn't take advantage of Sarah. He could tease Chuck about being a Boy Scout, but only a true man would turn her down in that way. Hearing the rest made him skip the glass and drink straight from the bottle. He wasn't a voyeur, but he had to stop Walker if she left; she wasn't in any condition to drive especially the way she liked to. He would have definitely turned it off if it looked like it was going to go the other way, first because the thought turned his stomach, but also after hearing about the new Intersect along with those jackasses plan for Chuck; allowing him to have a night with the woman he was enamored with was something the moron earned. After a few healthy swigs he rewound the footage to before there was anything Graham or Beckman would have any issue with and erased it. Noting that time he wrote a few sentences on an NSA post-it, turned the camera, but not the recorder, on quickly just to make sure they hadn't made up. They were asleep, so he went outside opened the Morgan door and placed the post-it on the inside before closing it, and locking it just in case Grimes wanted to make an unwanted appearance.

There was only the one that he had heard, but it was enough. He fought the instinct that would have him say something, anything to try to make her feel better. Nothing came to him so he carefully went back to lay on his right side and looked over at her. This time he only heard a tiny snore which made him think, 'She can even make snoring sexy'. The smile that brought along with the snore allowed him to begin to relax. Almost instantly after his mind fully relaxed he was brought back by somebody whispering 'Chuck. Looking over he could only see Sarah's back, but heard the whisper once again; it was familiar, and female, and coming from the area by the Morgan door. Slowly turning to it he could see a figure coming out of some shadows.

"J-J-Jill?"

A/N: In the immortal word of Peter Griffin, "Whoa." Charah earned is far better than Charah given, well not really but it will happen. I know I say it, but I will try to get these chapters posted as quickly as possible. Right now there are four more chapters definitely, but there may be a fifth primarily because I enjoy my epilogues and a few details that I want to address. As always please let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.