A/N: Hey guys, another day, another story. I know, I got another story going, I'm expecting to update that one this week as well. But the idea for this story didn't leave me, so I thought I'd just write this one as well.

This story will see Sarah go to Stanford and meet our favourite nerd.

There will be plenty of Charah fluff here, but I can't rule out some angst.

Disclaimer: Yeah don't own Chuck

Chapter 1: The Stanford Ghost

Jenny Burton, or Sarah Walker or whoever the hell she was now, was not happy. She had been happy, back at Harvard. Or at least, as happy as Jenny Burton would ever be. That is to say, she was somewhat satisfied. She even had one or two friends, though she wasn't sure how much of a friendship it was. After all, they knew nothing about her, not really anyway. Not about her past and not about her future. And definitely not about what she would be upto those weeks and weekends when she claimed to be looking after a sick relative.

Still, she'd had fun at Harvard. That was, till someone had apparently recognized her from one of the 'adventures' she'd had with her dad. She didn't know how it happened, the CIA had made sure she looked nothing like she did back in those days. It was considered prudent for her to transfer somewhere else.

So now she was here, at Stanford, she had to make sure to survive one more year. Just keep your head down. She told herself for what felt like the millionth time. It would be her mantra for this year. No attachments, no friends, just hide in the crowd and get the final credits she needed. That was the plan.

To prepare herself, she had studied the lay-out of the complex. She wasn't going to be one of those new students that didn't know her way around the place. It would only make her stand out more. It would make her life easier if that didn't happen, and she was already reaping its rewards as she was making her way to her first class. No one looked up, other than a few guys gawking at her. But most seemed more interested in catching up with their friends after a long summer away from campus.

She rounded two corners, and found herself at the room she needed to go. Silently she slipped past a lanky looking guy with brown curly hair, who was talking to his more athletically build friend. They were talking about trolls or something. Nerds she thought to herself. She was sure there would be more of them here. Not just Stanford, but specifically at this class. Something about data and subliminal messaging. Not a topic that particularly interested her, but Graham had insisted she'd sit in on this one. She wondered if this Professor Fleming, was perhaps tied to the Agency somehow.

Careful to avoid anyone she slipped into the backrow of the class. This would have to do for now. She wanted to be the Stanford Ghost this year. At least the CIA had considered it wise to give her an apartment just off campus. Just run down enough to be suited for her cover.

She'd just been seated for a minute, when who she assumed was Professor Fleming arrived. It didn't take long for her assumptions to be confirmed.

"Good morning everyone I'm professor Fleming." He stated as if he was just going through the motions.

Her instincts took over as she observed him. There was something familiar about him, she was sure she had seen him before. She just wasn't sure where. Had she met him with her dad? Or was Graham playing a game?

She mused for a little where she had seen him. It felt like she had all the time in the world. Gosh this was some boring stuff. It took all her training to pretend to be interested. This was going to be a long semester if this kept up.

Suddenly the monotonous sound of Fleming's lecture was interrupted by another sound. Someone had had the audacity to ask a question. Seriously, could they just this over with?

In her annoyance she looked around to see who had spoken up. She saw it was the lanky guy she had slipped past before class. As he spoke she used the interlude to have a closer look. There was something about this guy, he seemed so open and kind, and he had a certain boyish charm about him. Charm? What the heck Walker? There was something about him and the way he spoke. She had to force herself a little to look away. Focus Walker, he's just a nerd.

"So, this is basically human programming?" She heard him say intrigued.

Fleming looked somewhat amused, a small smile on his lips. "Indeed, mister Bartowski".

Bartowski? Nice to have a name. Sarah thought to herself. Once again she forced herself to look away. She rubber her hand against her forehead. This wasn't good.

She breathed a sigh of relief when the class was finally over. This was going to be a long year.

X-X

Chuck Bartowski was in a good mood, no he was in a very good mood. He loved being back at Stanford. Of course, he loved spending time with his sister and the captain and of course Morgan, but Stanford was home. So it was good to be back. Especially considering it was his last year. One more year, and he could finally start working on his dream. He already had his five year plan thought out. Bryce was right, the new millennium belonged to the geek.

On top of that, he liked the classes he'd had today. Especially Professor Fleming's class. He'd followed a few of his classes before, and always got along well with him. The last semester last year the professor had taken a keen interest in him, and after everything that had happened, it felt nice to feel valued by someone other than his sister or Morgan.

So it was great to be in his class again, they had a few interesting conversations. Only thing that struck him as odd, was that this blonde girl kept looking at him. He hadn't thought much of it at first, but she kept at it. He'd considered asking Bryce who she was, but knowing his friend he'd see it as a challenge to sleep with her. Somehow, he couldn't stand that idea.

Now he was lounging in the common room. Waiting to start his shift at the Buy More. Several of his frat buddies were engaged in playing a few games, that created a mixture of screams and talking about girls and the summer. Apparently Trevor and Mike had spent the summer dating the same girl. As much as Chuck loved college life, he never understood all the sleeping around. He just wanted the one special girl to spend his life with.

For a time he thought that might be Jill, but their dating had stalled when their differences started to cause some friction. Who knew what the new year would bring.

He was jolted from his thoughts as he felt someone sit down on the couch next to him. "I can't believe you still work at the Buy More." Bryce stated in wonder, though there was an edge of disgust when he said Buy More.

"You know why Bryce." Chuck replied, they had had this conversation before.

"Something about life and wanting to save some money." He said halfheartedly. "But you got a scholarship, you don't need money. It's not like no one will hire you after you're done. This is Stanford not some community college." Bryce stated

Chuck looked at his friend. He and Bryce had hit it off quickly, but Bryce never had to work at something in his life. It all came easy to him. Including his parents wealth.

"I know you mean well buddy. But can we just drop this?" He wouldn't understand anyway.

"Fine, fine, whatever you want." Bryce replied easily. "So have you seen Jill yet?"

"Nope. Why? You know we ended things right?" He answered.

"Yeah but I know you. Don't want you to get depressed because of a girl." Bryce said earnestly.

"Thanks buddy. But I'm good, I'm great. Jill just wasn't the girl for me, you know. I'm just glad we figured it out so fast."

Bryce gave him a look over, and then smiled, seemingly satisfied.

"So, when do we continue on finishing Zork? You know the troll doesn't kill itself." Bryce changed subject again, but this time with more enthusiasm.

"We can work on it tomorrow, but first I got to go to work." He replied with similar enthusiasm, getting up as he spoke.

"Bye Chuck." Bryce said with a look of disbelief.

"Cya buddy."

X-X

Mission accomplished. Sarah Walker had spent the whole day at Stanford and had not been noticed once. As a human, she might be sad about that, but as an agent and daughter of a conman it was great. Now she was home though, and her great day didn't continue. The CIA had promised they'd outfit her apartment with everything she'd need, and make sure everything worked. But nothing worked, at all.

She'd quickly called one of the tech specialists at the local field station, but they had a huge backlog of mission stuff that had to be done. Setting up an agent's apartment was not on anyone's priority list. Apparently there had been a lot of activity going on in the area. Some terrorist cell had recruited quite a few new people.

Not her problem though, not till Graham made it hers. No she wanted to get her television and computer working. Set up most of this stuff, till the agency could get a more secure set up for her. The technical guy had advised her to contact the local buy more. They would help her get tied over, till one of them could get down there in a week or two.

So she sighed as she looked at her pristine place, the only real color coming from the green furniture. She picked up the phone and called the local buy more.

X-X

"Chuck!" Rob yelled as he walked across the Buy More.

Chuck looked up from his work, he was just fixing one of the computers that was in the back area of the store. One of the customers had tried to improve the performance on their machine and it had overheated. Nothing more dangerous for a computer than an amateur trying to do stuff with it.

"What can I do for you Rob?" Chuck replied as he saw his manager come up.

"I got an install for you, television, computer, the whole shebang." Rob replied, Chuck could see the dollar signs in Rob's eyes. It was one of the things Chuck didn't like about this guy.

"Right now?" Chuck questioned, he was super busy.

"Yeah, right now. You're the best we got." Rob stated.

Chuck eyed him, he really just wanted to stay here and fix this machine. But he sighed, he knew that Rob was the boss, and so he had to go.

"Okay, where do I go?" He asked resigned to having to postpone his own mission.

Rob gave him a piece of paper. "This is the address. Make her happy Bartowski." Rob said with a grin.

Chuck took the paper, and went to get a key to one of the herders. He was glad he didn't have to ride a bike across town like Morgan always does in Burbank. After he got a key he walked out of the store and into the loading bay and found herder nr. 3. Checked the trunk to see if the tools he'd need were in there and took off.

He quickly moved through traffic, and had no difficulty in finding his way to the address. An apartment building quite close to campus. It looked like it had been built about 20 years earlier and was home to young upstarts. He buzzed the door, and quickly got into the elevator. A small sign next to it told him he needed to go to the fifth floor. He pushed the button and a few moments later he was walking through a small carpeted hallway. Some apartments had some ornaments next to the door. But the apartment that he needed to find didn't. He knocked on the door and waited.

X-X

"Finally" She muttered. As she heard the knock on her door. She was done waiting, she just wanted to watch some television as she was waiting for another day. Hoping that perhaps Graham would shake her mundane life up a little with a quick mission.

Within a few strides she made her way to the door. She swung it open, and saw a familiar face. Crap, crap, crap! She silently yelled. Mission failed. She thought as she tried to keep her face neutral.

"Hi, I'm Chuck." The Lanky guy in front of her said, before giving her a big smile. A smile that somehow tugged on her heart just a little. Who is this guy? "I heard you've got a computer emergency?"

A/N: Ok so I considered a different Nerd Herder showing up at Sarah's place. But I really just want to get into the Charah story.

Let me know what you think.