Just for the record, I don't own Chuck and I wouldn't want too, too much drama... This is my first fanfic so I would appreciate any input. I did have some help, but I'm sure I found a way to screw that up. Feel free to let me know the error of my ways.

The morning after…

Charles Irving Bartowski sat on the edge of the ocean wondering what had become of him. He was Chuck, the guy who just wanted to fix a few computers, log some quality Call of Duty time and worry about tomorrow… when tomorrow gets here. And then all the questions he wanted answers for in his life started staring back at him. His understanding of the world had changed, and in ways he never could haveimagined. For almost two years he had been living in "spy world" and his endless search to remove the intersect from his head and slide back into the normal life of Chuck had come to an end. Yet he now understood why his father had left him and his sister, for their protection. He knew why Bryce had him kicked out of Stanford, for his protection. The pain was still strong from watching Bryce die in front of him, once again protecting him from something bigger. He knew why Jill had left him, once again for his protection. He might as well be sitting on the edge of the world for as little as he knew about where his life was headed. And yet Chuck stared out into the blue sea of diamonds as the sun broke over the horizon behind him thinking to himself… What have I done?

"I finally had what I wanted, my father helped me remove the intersect out of my head and I'm moving on from the Buy More and maybe start the life I've always wanted with the girl I love. Yet I can't just walk away from what I've known for the last two years! What was I thinking, ARGH!!! Why is life so damn complicated?"

At the same time Sarah Walker had just left her briefing with General Beckman and Casey to find Chuck and see if he would talk to her. After Chuck left Sarah and Casey shell shocked with his unexpected ability to defend himself from the members of the Ring inside the intersect room, he sought out his little place of haven at the beach. Sarah and Casey had no explanation for what happened when Chuck re-intersected himself and unexpectedly took out several Ring agents saving both the lives of his protectors and the new intersect at the same time. General Beckman informed them the new intersect had programming updates allowing it to project the best course of action along with the intelligence patterns it linked together. They never imagined that included a computer program defending itself. They talked for hours about ramifications and what this meant for Charles Bartowski. General Beckman informed Walker and Casey that protection for the asset must be back in place while they sort this out. General Beckman turned off the feed.

Casey looked at Sarah "Walker, you find the asset and inform him our protection detail is back up until further notice. I'm going back to set up surveillance on the asset's apartment and put a plan of action together. We'll reconvene tomorrow at 0800 and update our status with the general and get our orders. Inform me when the asset is back under your protection."

Sarah looked at Casey with a blank stare. "Ok Casey, I'll go check on Chuck, I'll Text you as soon as I get to him."

Casey looked at Sarah and she turned to leave the castle and could see the emotionless front she had put on. He couldn't help but wonder how their 'lady feeling talk' was going to go…

Casey walked towards the armory and sighed to himself… "Their goes my gun play for a while"… Then Casey had a thought with a grunt, on the upside with the newlyweds on their honeymoon and Bartowski at the beach, I'll be able to install a few extra bugs in a few more difficult places to hide….

Sarah bolted out of the parking lot in her Porsche and was headed to Chuck's spot on the beach. She had spent the last 24 hours racking her brain trying to rationalize the choice not to leave with Bryce and what that would mean for her and Chuck. Sarah thought to herself, why would Chuck choose to re-intersect himself? What was he thinking? This isn't what he wanted… He turned Beckman down and wanted out, no more secrets, no more lies… ARGH! why must this be so damn complicated? Sarah let out her frustration on the accelerator on the way to the beach. As she pulled into a parking spot she saw the reason for all the joy and angst in her life. She quickly sent Casey a message informing him of her on site presence and she took off her shoes and started towards Chuck.

The sand felt cool in the morning between her toes, but the thought of getting to share Chucks' spot on the beach again sent a warming sensation to her heart. Sarah walked up to Chuck…

"Mind if I take a seat," Sarah asked softly as Chuck looked up to her and smiled at her presence.

"Sure," Chuck said with a sigh. "I guess this feels a little bit like Déjà vu, huh?"

"Yeah," Sarah relied, matching Chuck's sigh. "But I suppose I don't have to ask you to trust me now, do I?"

Chuck smiled at Sarah, not the 'full nothing else in the world existed but Sarah' smile, but one that made her smile back.

"Chuck," Sarah said with the concern obvious in her voice. "Care to tell me what's on your mind?"

Chuck's expression turned gloomy as he responded. "If I knew the answer to that I might not be sitting here. I've had so many thoughts running through my mind and I'm pretty sure I haven't been able to put any rational patterns together. I just don't know who I am anymore Sarah. I was standing on the door step of the life that I wanted… and…"

Chuck just stared out into the Ocean as the words stopped coming from him. Sarah took in every detail of his facial expression and especially his eyes and swallowed as she thought to herself. Was she a part of that life he had talked about since the day they met? Was she included in his plans? She was ready to walk away from the only thing she knew in her life.

"Sarah," Chuck spoke softly as he looked into her eyes. "When I was in the intersect room Bryce said something that I couldn't comprehend at first. He said that you weren't coming with him."

Sarah simply looked at Chuck sadly as he continued

"Do you know what he meant by that?" Chuck asked Sarah with all the emotion he had in him.

No matter how much her heart warmed in his presence, she tired to keep up her emotionless mask as she responded, "Chuck a lot has happened in the last 24 hours and I haven't really taken time to sort it out." Sarah just turned and looked out into the ocean as the wind blew a few strands of hair out of place and said, " you have always been the one open and honest with your emotions and I'm just not there, especially with what happened to Bryce"

Chuck just looked at her with amazement and said, "Sarah, I know Bryce meant a lot to you and I'm really sorry you had to go through all this again." Yet in his mind he felt like once again he was shot down when trying to get CIA Special Agent Sarah Walker to open up about something… he would let her lack of an answer slide for now but he knew in the bottom of his heart he would have to revisit this question…

Sarah listened to Chuck's words and thought to herself; even though he's known Bryce as long as I have he's still concerned with how I feel about him… I wonder if Chuck will ever realize that as I'm saddened by the loss of Bryce, I'm devastated that the man I love chose to put himself back into spy world, but I guess that's why I love him so much…"

Chuck just looked at her angelic face as he could see the gears turning in her mind but nothing was being said… It was a comfortable silence that they shared. Chuck was thinking about all the aspects of his life Bryce had influenced and what it all meant.

Sarah just stared out at the ocean and tilted her head onto Chuck's shoulder and let the feeling of his warm body wander to dangerous territory in her mind… If only Chuck could have just destroyed the intersect and then we would be trying to figure out the next step in our relationship, or what ever it is we share together…

Chuck stared out at the ocean and was taking in the feel and the scent of the most beautiful woman he's ever known… his mind kept turning and out came an idea. "Sarah, you know today is a new day and I think I have an idea on how to start things off on the right foot."

Sarah just listened and said "What do you have in mind Chuck?"

"Well Sarah, I know this little breakfast place where Bryce and I used to eat and play video games when he would visit back in college… in fact I bet some of our high scores are still standing today"

Sarah looked up and grinned, "Well Chuck, a good breakfast and a little time without having to think just might be what the doctor ordered" They both stood up and brushed the sand from their clothes and made their towards the parking lot as closely together as they could without touching accidently. To much that is.

Chuck and Sarah dropped off Ellie's car at the apartment and made their way to a little Mexican cantina and checked out the old video game machines they had. Chuck and Sarah spoke about some of their favorite memories and times with Bryce even though they kept thinking about each other… They were enjoying an old favorite of the two fraternity brothers, heart attack special omelets with sausage, bacon, ham, green peppers, onions, and hot sauce on top with a shot of tequila. Just when Chuck was starting to show Sarah his and Bryce's scores on an old packman machine Sarah's phone rang…

"Walker secure"

"Casey secure"

"What is it Casey?"

"Walker, grab the little intersect that could and get to the castle, Beckman wants' to talk to all of us pronto"

Sarah looks at Chuck, "I guess time to reminisce is over, General Beckman wants' to meet ASAP and not wait till tomorrow"

Chuck looked as the seriousness in her eyes and the emotionless mask was back up in no time….

"Ok, Sarah"

Chuck left a twenty on the table, more than enough to cover the bill and asked Sarah was they walked out "any idea what she wants'?"

"Nope" replied Sarah as they got into her car, both of them wondering what curveball life was throwing at them now...