A/N: After reading almost every popular (and not so popular) Chuck story out there, and loving all of it by the way, I decided to take a crack at it. I quickly realized reading is a whole lot easier than writing, so to any and all writers out there, I have grown a new appreciation for your efforts. Also, happy five year anniversary! Five years ago today, the television world was changed forever. Even after all this time, I'm still in love with every version of these characters, canon or otherwise, so I did my best to do them justice.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chuck, NBC and WB do. "A Comet Appears" belongs to The Shins and "First Day of My Life" belongs to Bright Eyes. I'm not making any money off of this, so please don't sue.

The Leland Stanford Junior University aka Stanford University

10 March 2003

13:44 PST

"You're a dead man, Chuck Bartowski!"

The threat shouldn't have scared him. He had been in this scenario many times before. So why was fear spreading through him like wildfire? No, not this time. No fear. Focus, Bartowski.

The enemy was out of ammo, that was Chuck's advantage. Chuck may be slower, less stealthy and more awkward, but the enemy can only dance around him for so long.

One-on-one, just you and your gun, in a library of all places.

Florescent lighting left the large room well lit, which would've been a good thing for his clumsy nature, but it also made it harder to hide. The endless rows of books almost made him dizzy, unable to search for his target. He just couldn't focus with all of the bright colors of the various books distracting him. Eyes shifting, he weaved in and out of the shelves, pressing his back against the cold hard wall before moving forward.

The dust in the air threatened to make him sneeze and give away his position, putting him even more on edge. What was worse was that he could barely hear anything from the other inhabitant of the abandoned library, save the random threat called out from the last place he'd expect. He tried for stealth by treading with light footsteps, but ended up squeaking half the time. And here was the enemy, effortlessly gliding across the room, laughing at his bumbling opponent and teasing him with threats spoken in an overconfident voice. He hated feeling so inferior. He hated that down to his very nature, he would always be the one to trip over his own shoelaces. Stupid Chucks.

Coming up from his position of crouching and hiding behind a bookshelf, Chuck moves across the aisle to another section of the library, just missing the enemy peeking around the corner. Running through the maze of books, he was still oblivious to the enemy spotting him around every corner. Because really, Chuck Bartowski was in way over his head. He had been in these situations plenty of times before, and it never, ever, turned out well for him.

The enemy was more experienced, better trained, and more athletic. Able to anticipate all of his moves, the enemy waited patiently for Chuck to fall into his trap. They scurried around like mice that lost the scent for the cheese they so desperately wanted, seemingly avoiding the other at every turn.

They were now parallel; the only thing separating them was a bookshelf. Chuck saw a table and decided to slide to it and use it for cover, all the while seemingly unaware of the other body next to him jumping over the same table. Summersaulting, the enemy landed silently and walked right behind Chuck, whose back was to him. He had Chuck right where he wanted him.

"All right, give it up. I know you're out of ammo," Chuck shouted, still completely unaware of where the enemy was.

"Buddy…" Chuck heard a familiar voice say, but it was coming from a place he was not at all expecting. Startled, he jumped up from his crouching position and whipped his weapon forward, aimed at point blank. Finally, I got him now. Because there standing behind him, was his ridiculously good-looking rival with his hands up in surrender. There was a light in his eyes though, and he wore an expression that should not have been worn by someone who was about to meet their fate.

"You wouldn't fire on an unarmed guy," he said simply, knowing what a bleeding heart Chuck could be. His heart, the enemy realized, would always be his downfall.

"I might, it's hardly sportsman like but…" Chuck replied, but it was a futile effort at bravado. Both Chuck and the enemy knew that he would never do such a thing. Faced with a man unarmed, Chuck Bartowski could never pull the trigger. This victory was in his hands if he'd only take it, but he didn't.

The opportunity had passed for Chuck to shoot and they both knew it, but remained at a standstill. The enemy knew he could do as he pleased, comforted by the fact that Chuck would never shoot him now.

The enemy, clearly exaggerating his curiosity, pointed out a thick history book. "What's this?"

Chuck had no idea how to react. Weren't we in the middle of something? Really, talking about a book, now? Well, maybe it would be a good read…

In a flash, the enemy fired his gun and Chuck immediately felt a pressure in the middle of his forehead.

He was too shocked to move. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He never thought this was possible, he'd been counting damn it, and he had been so careful. He spent so much time practicing, just dreaming of the moment he would take his victory. All of this time preparing, and this was how it ends.

"Gotcha! Larkin over Bartowski, again," Bryce said with a smirk, that same smirk he always got when he beat his friend. Chuck sighed and looked down in defeat, removing the dart from his forehead. He'd always come in second to that guy.

"Okay fine Bryce, you win again. I don't know how you do it buddy. I really thought I had you this time," Chuck admitted sheepishly. There was really no point in wallowing; he'd already done that the first few losses. Maybe, someday, he'd learn the Bryce's secrets.

"I'm just that good," Bryce said triumphantly. He may play it off as a joke, but Chuck was constantly impressed with his friend's skills. Since their junior year, the game had gotten ten times harder for Chuck, who had originally been able to put up a fair fight. Now in their senior year, Bryce had become untouchable.

"C'mon, let's grab a bite before we head back. I've got a test to study for." Chuck, being the true nerd that he was, made it a rule to always have food after exercise. Running around for an hour may not be much for the gymnast/track star/natural athlete Bryce Larkin, but Chuck was dying for some good pizza.

"Alright…oh hey! Mind if I introduce you to my new lady friend? I've been showing her off to all of the guys this week." Great, another addition to the list of things that make Bryce's life perfect, a new girlfriend. She's probably gorgeous. Chuck was suddenly grateful that he had Jill so he didn't look completely pathetic next to his super star friend.

"Sure, sounds good."

Bryce made a quick phone call to 'Sarah,' presumably his new girlfriend. They walked together towards their favorite lunch place on campus, easy banter flowing between them.

Well, semi-easy. Bryce was a little more closed off recently. To go from giving explicit detail about one's weekend to simply stating that it was fine – it was always just 'fine,' never 'okay' or 'good' – was an adjustment for Chuck. A welcome adjustment, considering he couldn't help but compare their vastly different social lives, but still. Perhaps this new "lady friend" of his could help Bryce open up more.

Patxi's Chicago Pizza

10 March 2003

14:02 PST

Sarah sat patiently waiting for Bryce and his friend Chuck to arrive at a local pizza place. Chuck, what a stupid name. Unfortunately, this was her role now. She and Bryce were partners, and they had to sell the cover. But, Jesus, why did it have to be so hard? Sarah considered Bryce to be a good person; he was focused, smart, and intelligent. Maybe a bit cocky, but that came with the territory of being a government agent. Confidence was everything. His friends, however, were a different story.

They were just so conceited and arrogant. She had enough experience with men like them to be able to ignore their cheesy pickup lines, disgusting innuendos, and wandering eyes. Cocky nerds were like a completely new species. Nevertheless, Bryce promised that Chuck was different.

He had warned her of the hurricane of geek that would be coming her way, and she soon turned skeptical. A sea of jocks and one dorky friend? Please, the guy's probably just some wannabe sci-fi game designer way too lost in his own self-proclaimed genius to notice that yes, women actually do exist outside of porn. She was curious, Bryce had called him his best friend after all, but this had to be the meeting she was least looking forward to.

The CIA put any important or time-consuming missions on hold so that they could catch up on any classes they'd missed. The CIA certainly had pull with the university, but it was the principle of the thing. Agents still had a right to get a real, proper education. She and Bryce had also used the time to establish a cover relationship with his friends, who would now no longer be questioning her constant presence or Bryce's more-than-occasional absences.

She looked up from her post at the small table to see a familiar face. Slick brown hair, charming smile, defined jaw. He was quite a looker. That much, she really couldn't deny. Any heterosexual woman would find his chiseled body, classically handsome looks and piercing blue eyes attractive.

Still, she couldn't help but notice that he was there alone. She gave up studying for this? He was the one who kept insisting she meet this incredible friend of his, and now she was interrupted for nothing. She silently cursed him, but immediately felt guilty. Perhaps his not-so-nice friend had stood him up. Or maybe, just maybe, he just wanted an excuse to take her out for a lunch date.

Bryce and Sarah had already been intimate for some time. They had been partners for nearly a year, and engaging in a personal relationship for about six months. Both agents wanted to keep as much from the public eye as possible, which included any sort of partnership that may have formed between them. No one can be too careful. A young athletic couple that paraded themselves around and happened to be missing for days at a time could draw the attention of some enemies. Plus, if she were to be completely honest, the forbidden nature of it all made it that much more exciting. It was only recently that his frat brothers started teasing him about seeing some blonde bombshell with him all the time. Hence, the new cover.

Now that the cat was out the bag, at least they could work more efficiently. Less sneaking around, and less distractions. Still, she was an adrenaline junky after all, and she wasn't sure how their relationship might change after this. Would the excitement be gone? Sarah inwardly scoffs. Of course not, they were still spies after all.

The missions, the danger, the life saving and the time spent together was what eventually lead to their more physical relationship. One mission, he had saved her by killing the man that was about to shoot her. She had never been more grateful. The world they lived in was lonely, and he was a nice enough person. She often felt so depraved, so broken, and just so damaged. Yet, he wanted her. The constant threat of death, the intensity, the pressure and the horrors associated with her job just made her want to hang on to anything, anyone at all, that could provide her with an escape. And there Bryce was – daring, dashing, and well, just there. So that night, they consummated their budding partnership.

The sex was good. Both were trained in the art of seduction, and both knew what they were doing well enough. So they continued their relationship, being more than friends with benefits, but not quite the loving, happy couple. If she had to label it, she would describe her feelings for him as infatuation, or even genuine affection. Not love, if such a thing even existed.

Still, they didn't have to label it because neither really cared to. They understood each other and relied on each other. To call it a romance would be an overstatement. It was superficial intimacy, not the all-consuming love the movies and books advertise. That kind of relationship simply couldn't exist in her world. She was no illusionist, she knew what she and Bryce had was shallow, but it was enough for her.

They kept professional at work. The mission came first for both of them, no matter how much they cared for each other. And maybe after a tough mission, if they so felt inclined, they would engage in some relaxing extracurricular activities. It was ridiculous, if she really thought about it, to be Agent Walker the coworker one day, and Sarah the lover the next. Maybe she had a distorted view of how normal relationships should function, but if two people were really in love, the time of day and the situation shouldn't matter how they'd act towards one another. Then again, she was anything but normal.

To even consider being in a normal relationship with another agent was absurd in and of itself. She had to be professional and focused if she wanted to survive. This job meant everything to her. It was her redemption from a previous life of criminal activities, her validation for giving up her innocence, her hope for a new and purposeful life. To throw away her career now for a boy, for romance, would be a slap in the face to all of her penniless victims, her imprisoned father, her worried mother and even an innocent woman left dead on a street corner in Paris.

Every decision she made in her life lead her to be a spy, so she had better be a damn good one. That meant she dropped all thoughts of normalcy to be extraordinary. The life she chose was good, noble, exciting and everything most people could ever want. To be an attractive, independent, skillful government agent was the perfect life, she decided, loneliness be damned.

But that was why she had Bryce, who she noticed was calling out to his friend Chuck outside of the pizza shop. I guess he decided to show up after all, she thought. Oh well, time to meet yet another person I could never be able to relate to.

Chuck couldn't understand why he was so nervous. Sure, some of Bryce's friends were a lot to handle, but this somehow seemed different, more important. Maybe this girl is the one for him, Chuck reasoned. He smiled, thinking of his beautiful and smart girlfriend, the one that was perfect for him.

He felt a sudden bitterness towards his best friend that shocked him. He believed in love, so he should be happy for Bryce. Bryce was living the good life, one with a new romance, a beautiful girl and endless hope. So much hope.

Maybe Chuck and Jill's relationship had fizzled, but Chuck refused to accept it. He loved her; he had to after being with her for all this time. He had been putting everything he had into the relationship to keep it alive, but wondered if Jill even noticed.

She could be so hard to read sometimes. That thought scared him, considering he used to know everything about her. Like any other beautiful woman that had paid him any attention, he made sure to study her, learn all he could about her to make sure she stayed happy. After all, being a nerd had its privileges. He knew that she pouted her lips when annoyed, and she bit them when she was hiding something. Clenched fists resting on the hips meant he was about to get his ass chewed out and then they probably wouldn't be talking for a few days. He took special note of her smile though, and knew when it was forced. It had been a lot lately.

So meeting a new woman, one that could make his best friend as happy as Chuck had once been, could certainly be nerve-racking. Chuck knew the importance of love in a man's life. And he was in love with Jill. He just wasn't sure if Jill was with him anymore and it broke his heart. Perhaps it was possible to fall out of love. But then again, he thought, true love, real love, never died.

And it seemed neither did his hunger. Wait where's Bryce? Damn him and his unending energy. Can't he give a guy a break? He has to know I'm dying over here! He saw Bryce enter the small pizza shop way ahead of him. He was only close enough to see shapes and colors of the people inside, but still tried to sneak a glance at the woman he was about to meet.

If he saw her now, out of public, it might help prepare him for the inevitable babbling that spewed out of his mouth whenever he saw a pretty girl. The least he could do was not look like a bumbling idiot in the face of a beautiful woman. He found that they didn't really find it very endearing when said idiot was twenty-two. It just came off as creepy.

However, he was too far away, and when he heard Bryce call for him to hurry up, he sighed and continued. He'd just have to hope that this new girl wouldn't reject him completely. He wondered if he was so much of a turnoff that he could actually scare her away from Bryce. Oh who was he kidding, Bryce was a great guy, and not even Best Friend and Super Nerd Chuck Bartowski could keep the women away from him.

Damn he'd been in a bad mood lately; normally he wasn't so self-deprecating. Pushing all insecurities aside, he trudged forward to meet the mystery woman.

What he saw when he stepped into the shop rendered him speechless for the second time that day. She wasn't just some pretty girl. There standing by their table was a truly stunning woman. She was beautiful – so, so beautiful. Was it a goddess, an angel? Vicky Vale? So much beauty could not possibly be concentrated to one person. Heavenly, breathtaking, irreplaceable beauty. He had never felt uglier or less worthy to be in someone's presence than he did at that moment. Where in the world did that wind machine come from? You're staring, man! Why aren't you moving? She's holding her hand out to you! Wipe off the drool, pick up your jaw, find some balls and for the love of God, shake the woman's hand!

"…to meet you. I'm Sarah." Wow what a smile. Her voice was so soft, so sweet, and so warm. He now felt very, very warm. He just stared at her hand awkwardly, far too embarrassed to make eye contact. He should not be thinking this way, but it was almost as involuntary as breathing. He really had to get a hold of himself. He forced himself out of his surely stupid-looking expression and finally looked up, indulging himself in the wonderful sight again.

"Hi! I'm Chuck." He gave the biggest smile he could muster, finding it helpful in awkward situations. People didn't tend to hate him as much when he smiled, and he was counting on that right now.

It certainly wasn't a fake smile, since he was genuinely excited to meet her. Guys like him usually never got to meet, shake the hand of, or share a meal with a woman of her caliber. He eagerly took her hand. His palms were a little sweaty, but hopefully not enough for her to notice. It may be in his head, but something felt so right about the way her skin felt against his, even if it was from the brief touch of a handshake.

The biggest mistake he ever made was look into her eyes. They were so mesmerizing. Mysterious and passionate and good and maybe a little sad. They were blue. So, so blue. They locked gazes and she was staring right back at him, a question in her eyes. Maybe he had been staring a little too long. Oh God, she must be so uncomfortable right now. He couldn't look away.

The strangest thing of it all was that she didn't look away either. She kept his gaze just as intensely, seemingly doing the same thing he was. But then again, she was with Bryce, he was with Jill, he was a nerd, she was a goddess, and as much as he would've liked to think so, she was not interested in him. She couldn't be and he needed to accept that. Nevertheless, he'd like to get to know her better. For Bryce, of course.

"So, you guys ready to order?" They broke eye contact the second they heard Bryce's voice and sat down at the table Sarah stood by earlier. Bryce and Sarah sat together on one side opposite of Chuck, Sarah directly across from him. Both Chuck and Sarah answered in the affirmative, still feeling slightly uncomfortable from their initial encounter.

Bryce just focused back on the menu, seemingly unaware of the moment that had passed between Chuck and Sarah a minute before. Chuck was glad; things could've gotten uncomfortable if he had. Still, Chuck couldn't help but want to smack Bryce upside the head for not pulling out Sarah's chair for her, but he knew it wasn't his place.

Desperate to take his mind off her, he shared his news, "So, Bryce, did I tell you I got a job at the Buy More?"

Bryce just snickered. "Let me guess, as part of the Geek Squad?"

Chuck scoffed, mouth hung open in exaggerated hurt and disgust. "It's nerd, you jerk," he teased. "And you should feel honored to be looking at the newest member of the Nerd Herd. I pulled a lot of strings to get out of stock boy duty with the help of my buddy Morgan." As he spoke of his friend, he looked at Sarah, who couldn't have known who Morgan was.

"Morgan? You still talk to that guy?" Bryce asked.

"How many times do I have to tell you? The guy is my oldest friend. He has never left my side and I plan on returning the favor. Loyalty is something I don't take for granted." He reasoned there were too many crappy people out there to take the good ones for granted. Morgan, Ellie, Bryce, Jill, and even Sarah now would all hold places in his heart, and there was no doubt in his mind that he'd stay fiercely loyal to them. Life was too short to waste on skepticism and bitterness.

Bryce, however, grew quiet. Chuck never meant it as a slight to his friend, but Bryce seemed to be taking his comment rather hard. His eyes stared down at the table, confusion and regret painting his features. The sudden change in mood made the shop grow cold. Chuck, afraid he had somehow insulted his friend, tried to think of a way to forward the conversation. "Besides, I've got to keep him away from Ellie, the guy just doesn't know when to give it up," he said with a chuckle, sending a pleading look towards Sarah.

Bryce came out of his stupor then and cracked a smile. "It's so cool you two are still so close. I'll have to visit the family again soon." He said the right words, but Chuck sensed that Bryce didn't believe them. Maybe because it was the second semester of their senior year, but recently Bryce always seemed like he was saying goodbye. "But uh, this thing at the Buy More, it's good right? Nice back-up job with some extra cash…"

"Yeah, but it's just for breaks and when I have extra time, especially if I don't find a job right after graduation."

"Chuck, you're a smart guy, I know that no matter what, things will turn out for you," Bryce said with far too much sincerity for the previously light conversation. Bryce's intense stare demanded Chuck's attention. The tension between the two felt unnatural. Something was off.

Sarah decided then to speak up, possibly to avoid the dreaded awkward silence, "So, uh…Morgan, I didn't think people named their kids Morgan, or Chuck for that matter."

Chuck grinned, knowing the perfect retort. "Carnival freaks found him in a dumpster, but they raised him as one of their own. As for me, my parents were sadists."

Sarah smiled, genuinely smiled, and he couldn't stop the swell of pride that nerdy and all, at least he could make a pretty girl smile. If he could make her smile like that every day, he would.

Through sips of water, they continued with small talk, Chuck steeling glances at her every few seconds. Not for the first time that night, he found himself admiring her. Natural blonde, creamy skin and athletic build – she was quite a sight. She hadn't said much yet, but she intrigued him like no other. Another place, another time, Chuck would do anything to be with her. But for now, all he could do was be happy for his friend. Bryce was one lucky guy.

The pizza arrived, the greasy food serving as the icebreaker they needed. Bryce decided to join the living, putting the strange behavior behind him. Sarah sat back and listened as the two discussed homemade video games and space cowboys. The subject matter she could care less about, but it was fun to watch the two interact.

She picked off another olive from the vegetarian pizza, listening half-heartedly to an in-depth discussion about something called a 'teelk', evil 'gold' people, and the pseudo-romance between O'Neill and Carter, whoever they were.

"Oh come on, you gotta love Daniel, he's a freaking genius!" Chuck defended angrily, and what she suspected a bit of irritation.

"He's annoying and pretentious. Who honestly spends their time studying that stuff?" Bryce was really getting into it, eyes hot and fists clenched. She hadn't seen this side of him before.

"People who travel the galaxy fighting Gods, that's who," Chuck said proudly, clearly identifying himself with the character, "and besides, you could be studying things way less important."

"Like video games and old sci-fi TV shows?" Bryce said, knowing that Chuck still studied nerdy pop culture like a second major. He did too, of course, but could hide it much better than Chuck ever could. It was too much a part of him.

"Hey, I happen to think it makes for great conversation at Comic-Con." He didn't seem to be shameful, which was quite endearing. He was who he was, and proud of it. That was more than she could ever say for herself. Being surrounded by hard-asses and business people all day made this normal, lighthearted college life all the more enticing. Chuck and Bryce were having such a good time just talking about nothing at all. Maybe just for one night, she could allow herself to be the typical college girl. She planned to keep quiet all night, but teasing Chuck looked like fun.

"Because that makes it better," she said turning to Chuck, whose eyebrows had risen to the middle of his forehead. She didn't blame him for being surprised; she had barely said a word since introducing herself.

"Ha, since when did you start making jokes?" Bryce asked with condescension in his voice, and she inwardly cringed. He could be such a jerk sometimes.

"I thought it was funny," Chuck said.

"I guess he has a point, I'm really not that funny," she shrugged, accepting that humor was not her forte.

"Is that your big secret, by the way? Because I've been sitting here trying to figure out what's wrong with you…"

"Oh, plenty believe me," she said, a little shocked at how easily he could tell she was hiding something.

"And I was thinking, 'either she's a cannibal or she's really not that funny,' and I was pulling for cannibal, because I never met one before."

"Uh, not a cannibal-"

"Well, some could call her a man-eater," Bryce cut in, grinning at what he thought to be a clever quip. Chuck's eyes widened and mouth dropped, looking back and forth between the seemingly happy couple.

Sarah's shoulders slumped, knowing the full meaning to his words. Maybe Bryce meant it as a joke, but that didn't stop her from feeling like a penny was more valuable than she was. She hated cocky egotistical men, and she hated fawning all over them for the sake of the mission. She really just wanted to be the shy girl, that's maybe not so funny; not this secret seductress used for her looks to lure out horny bad guys. The whole situation made the bile rise in her stomach, draining away all of her confidence. It was one thing to feel beautiful; it was another to feel like a slut.

Seeing her eyes cloud over, Chuck instinctively put a hand on her back, not too low of course, and she immediately felt more relaxed. He gave her a soft smile, apologizing for his friend's rude remark.

"Bryce shut up. If she knows what's good for her, she'll dump your ass right now." Chuck kept it light – much to her relief – by lacing his words with sarcasm. Sarah could feel his hand tense up though, and there was a bit more bite to his words than necessary. She smiled at her social savior as they walked on.

Cold Stone Creamery

10 March 2003

15:03 PST

So it turned out, Bryce wasn't lying. Chuck was a great, funny, charming guy. And he seemed to bring out a very dorky side of Bryce that she had to admit, Chuck pulled off much better.

Upon finishing the meal, she felt the overwhelming urge to get some rocky road ice cream. Interrupting their now heated debate about the best Captain from something called a Star Trek, she informed them of her preferred post-lunch dessert. Bryce and Chuck happily tagged along as she led the way to her favorite ice cream shop.

Sarah couldn't explain her instinctive desire for rocky road ice cream if she tried. She hadn't had it in such a long time. But something inside her yearned for it, and it scared her how easily she listened. It was just some ice cream after all.

She walked hand-in-hand with Bryce, Chuck trailing behind them. Chuck was not at all what she was expecting. He was kind, goofy, and nerdy in the most adorable way. He made her smile and he made her laugh. His compliments to her were so sincere it made her want to cry. But his absolute honesty had to be the most enticing thing about him. That characteristic was so rare in her life and in life in general, that she had to acknowledge and appreciate it.

Conversation between them happened so naturally, it was as if they had known each other for years. He was just so innocent, so unassuming and so gentle that she really shouldn't have been so shocked at how easy it was to like him.

They walked up to the shop with Chuck in tow, Bryce insisting on paying. She watched silently as the two argued over who had the right to pay.

She looked at the ice cream in the glass display. She was usually a plain chocolate kind of girl – well, at least recently. Rocky road had been with her since she was a kid, but upon growing older her tastes changed to chocolate. It was safe, typical, and still as good as any other flavor. Most people loved chocolate ice cream – it wasn't too plain and always tasted good. She was used to it, and it still contented her to have a scoop every now and again.

Waiting in line to order, Sarah took this time to look at Chuck, really look at him, and she had to smile. Curls bouncing, his messy hair was just so adorable, a far cry from Bryce's smooth and well-kept hair. Chuck was lanky and lean, but she could always appreciate a man taller than her. His shoulders were broad, and although not muscular, he still looked like he kept in decent shape.

Bryce had won the battle, considering Chuck had paid for lunch. She thought it was cute how he still insisted on paying. After they all ordered Bryce went up to the register. Chuck and Sarah locked eyes again, him with a goofy grin on his face. Since the first time she saw that grin, it was an involuntary response to grin back. His smile was infectious, and she found she liked it more and more each time she saw it.

The chocolate definitely looked more appealing. Rocky road wasn't necessarily unappealing – it had its own charm, but looked a bit more lumpy and disproportionate next to the chocolate. It was through no fault of the ice cream; the very nature of rocky road eliminated all possibilities of it looking smooth. It wasn't the predictable choice, and some people just couldn't see past its messy look. But she knew what it tasted like, and the more she ate it, the more appetizing it was. It may be the best-looking ice cream she had ever seen.

"So, Sarah, I feel like I should've seen you around more, what classes are you taking?" He looked right at her, his eyes boring into hers, leaving her certain that he wasn't just starting conversation for an excuse to ogle her. He wanted to know her, cared about what she said, and looked only at her eyes. She found herself getting lost in the warmth and gentleness of his gaze, taken aback by the raw emotion and openness of his features. He was just so different.

There was something about rocky road. It was a mixture of flavors, a combination of salty and sweet, and every bite kept her on her toes. It was really one of the most entertaining things to eat. But in many ways, rocky road was harder to eat too. Not as smooth as chocolate, or as consistent. Maybe that was what made it more engaging. It was sometimes crunchy and sometimes chewy, and at times, the flavor combinations didn't exactly mix well resulting in an awkward taste. But it was still better, in her mind, than just the chocolate.

"Um, nothing much, just some language and art classes. By far the hardest has to be Fleming's class. It's frustrating when majority of his tests don't even involve studying." She realized that she rarely got the chance to complain about teachers or classes with Bryce. It was always the mission, or…others things that their time spent together consisted of. With Chuck, she could just relax and be normal – no mission, no danger, just her and her petty problems with stupid college classes.

"You know, believe it or not, I'm actually acing the guy's class!" Chuck said excitedly. Sarah's not surprised at all though, from what little time she spent with him, she could already tell how intelligent he was.

"Of course you are," she said it matter-of-factly, smiling at his cluelessness to his own aptitude.

"Honestly, the entire last section of the midterm was a complete shot in the dark for me," he said, awed at his fortune in picking the right answers.

Bryce came back then, handing everyone their respective ice cream cups. Sarah eagerly took the cup and dug in, completely forgetting about their conversation and just relishing in the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

"Oh come on Chuck, bragging about your grades again?" Bryce teased, overhearing the last part of their conversation.

"Don't be jealous Bryce, you know you can't beat me at everything."

"Oh I know, but I can certainly try."

There were certain elements of chocolate within rocky road. Rocky road was chocolate, with a whole lot extra added in. Both were sweet, both tasted good. But chocolate was one note. One flavor, although satisfying, not nearly as good as rocky road. Rocky road was just better – with layers of flavors, each intriguing and unexplainably tasty – in almost all ways. Still, chocolate would never be a bad choice.

"Hey at least I'm a better singer than you are," Chuck said, with a bit of uncertainty in his tone.

"Like hell! If you ever actually got the courage to sing in front of people, we might find out. I've heard you sing man, and maybe with a little practice you can try and take me on in that old karaoke bar down the street."

Chuck stayed quiet, unable to retort to his friend's sound argument.

It disturbed her how curious she really was to hear his voice, and how eager she was to watch him succeed and come out of his shell. She wouldn't mind seeing Bryce knocked down a peg or two either. But she shouldn't care about his self-esteem needing to be higher, and she shouldn't be wondering what other hidden talents he possessed. This was just another mission with her partner, and this was all part of her job.

She took another bite of her ice cream, starting to feel guilty about how good it tasted. Rocky road wasn't exactly healthy. Neither was the chocolate, but it would certainly be easier to explain to the treadmill. For her own self-discipline, chocolate was easier to rid her system of.

"If I started singing in public, I would be such a laughing stalk that Jill would be sure to dump me," he joked. Not all of it was a joke though, she could tell.

"You never know, I heard a guy who can sing can be quite a hit with the ladies. You might just sweep her off her feet." Bryce led the way, aimlessly walking around campus as he continued, "How are things going by the way? I haven't seen her around lately."

"Um, well, I'm giving her some time, she hasn't been responding to any of my gifts – that's actually part of the reason I'm running out of money. But I've been thinking, I should really just, you know, talk to her, let her know I love her. Or maybe I could take her out to her favorite place and…like do her favorite things. But singing, my friend, could only make me look more pathetic." Chuck's mood had rapidly declined. Upon the mention of the name 'Jill,' his body language had completely changed. His shoulders were slumped, his eyes a bit darker and a bit sadder, and even his curls seem to fall more limply. Her heart broke for him.

"Just wait it out, she'll come around," Bryce soothed, but Sarah could tell Jill's betrayal disturbed him as well.

Sarah had never met the woman, but she wasn't sure she even wanted to. Bryce told her Chuck had a girlfriend, and that they were having some problems. But from what she could tell, Chuck had done nothing wrong. Maybe Jill was just stupid. Who could reject a man like Chuck? He was such a good man, so sweet and passionate and caring and…Whoa, Walker, watch it. Those were way too many positive adjectives. Sarah took another spoonful of her rocky road, its sweetness surprising her yet again.

Sometimes rocky road was too good, too rich for her and she needed the simplicity of chocolate no matter how much it paled in comparison. Rocky road was so very good, and yet so very bad for her. She should just go to the gym. Forget all thoughts of all ice cream – rocky road, chocolate, or otherwise – and just focus on her exercise.

They continued walking around campus; Sarah listening intently as Chuck animatedly retold the story about how his sister and her boyfriend were caught in the supply closet on their first day of med school. She thought the boyfriend's name was Devon, but…wait, what did he just say?

Sarah interrupted, "So, so wait, you call him Captain Awesome?"

"Yeah, wait until you meet him, everything he does is awesome. Climbing out of mountains, jumping out of planes…flossing." He gave that smile again, and she couldn't help it, she laughed. He was a funny guy.

They walked a little more and it was starting to get late, but he just kept talking and she found herself wanting to listen. He had a different life, a normal one, but she had never been so immersed in a conversation. It was light and fun, and pretty soon, she forgot Bryce was even with them.

Sarah was sure she had never laughed more in her entire life. Who knew old stories of family could be so entertaining? Chuck was quite the klutz as a kid, but it was endearing how easily he shared his embarrassment. It saddened her momentarily when he talked so reverently about his family and friends when the closest thing that she had to a family was a careless father, an abandoned mother, and a CIA recruiter. Still, the way he lit up when he spoke of his family made her wish for that life too, and reminded her of a time when such a life was possible.

The scariest thing about rocky road was how far back it took her – back to a childhood where the soothing taste of the ice cream healed her after a particularly dangerous con. It brought back her innocence in a way that chocolate never could. She didn't know how, but the rocky road ice cream actually made her feel, and she found herself being giddy and happy when she ate it, as ridiculous as that sounded. Chocolate was something that simply satisfied her taste buds when she was in the mood.

The sun was starting to set, and Bryce said goodbye to Sarah with a sweet kiss on the lips, tasting of the chocolate ice cream he had earlier. She couldn't help but wish she had a proper goodbye with Chuck. Like maybe a hug, a kiss on the cheek, or just another handshake. Wait, why does she want to touch him so much? Geez, it was just a handshake, Walker. She returned to her dorm with thoughts of Chuck Bartowski in her head.

Brushing her teeth, she knew that the next time she got ice cream it would probably be chocolate. It was simple and all she really needed. She may long for the rocky road; secretly wanting it without even realizing it, but it was just too different. She was a secret agent, one who wasn't even supposed to be indulging herself in such desserts. But if she did – when she did, it might as well be chocolate.

It was unreasonable thinking, but she knew that if she was told never to have chocolate again, she could handle it much better than if she became too attached to rocky road.

But after that first taste, after so many years, she knew she could only resist it for so long. Something about rocky road kept pulling at her, enticing her to have another taste. She realized that it was her new favorite flavor.

Gamma Delta Phi House: Bryce and Chuck's room

10 March 2003

20:12 PST

Bryce and Chuck returned to their room, Chuck finally getting to study for that test he was so worried about. Somewhat studying – he was still thinking about the blonde beauty, Sarah. He liked her a lot, but he hoped not too much. She was with Bryce after all.

Upon first setting eyes on her, he saw her like an extraterrestrial being – too perfect to come from Earth. She was his Halley's Comet, a once in a lifetime type of thing. One could only be so lucky as to witness such an enigma, and she absolutely enraptured him. It was wrong to be thinking of her so profoundly so soon, but he couldn't help but think that meeting her could change his life.

His initial reaction to her was severe – he felt an instant connection, a strong attraction to her like a magnet, opposite to her yet fitting her perfectly. This girl was different, he knew almost immediately. It had no explanation; he himself had absolutely no idea why he had come to that conclusion so quickly. It was more than her appearance though. They had only talked briefly, but her very presence changed his world completely. Everything about her intrigued him, the blonde hair – he usually went for brunettes – the toothy smile, the shy yet confident personality.

He looked over to his friend, sitting at his own desk, texting his girlfriend – maybe even about him. That thought excited and terrified him at the same time. Turning back to his work, he thought of how cool it would be to hang out with Sarah. Tonight, he reflected, could very well have been the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Little did he know, Bryce was in inner turmoil, just agreeing to do something that would change Chuck Bartowski's life forever. The burn phone he held in his hand just revealed a text message from the mysterious Orion explaining the urgency of what Bryce must do.

So, it was decided. Soon enough, Chuck's life was about to change, in a way that Bryce hoped will be for the better. Chuck may not see it that way, but Chuck needed to be protected. This was the best way, the only way to do so. He was still, in a way, ruining his friend's life too. It was painful to think about what it would do to Chuck. He sighed.

Still to come was the worst part, and Bryce knew it.

A/N 2: Any and all reviews and criticisms are welcomed and appreciated. If all goes well, I will be updating every Monday for old time's sake. Also, I don't have a beta, so anyone who's up for it let me know, I would be forever grateful.