Chuck vs The One That Almost Got Away is a story idea I had while doing vs The Prequel.
The plan is to give it the style and organization of an actual episode - more dialog and action than my last effort.
It'll also be broken up into 6 parts to follow where the commercial breaks would be.

Standard disclaimers apply about not owning Chuck, etc. Hope you enjoy, and feedback is certainly welcome!

----------------------------------------------

"Hey sis!" Chuck said with an alert tone.

"Morning," Ellie answered looking at her watch, "you're up early... well, 45 minutes early. What's the occasion?"

"Emmett's calling me in for some emergency at the Buy More."

"And why then are you in a good mood?" she asked in her protective voice.

"Because," he said with a grin, "whatever's going on at the Buy More made him desperate enough to trade 45 minutes today for a few extra days off around the holidays."

Ellie's smile told him his answer eased his big sister's concerns. "I assume you're going to put that time to good use with Sarah?"

Chuck looked up from his coffee. "Just what are you implying Ellie Bartowski?" he asked playfully.

Ellie blushed slightly. "I didn't mean - I just know that the holidays can be a special time, and I want the two of you to be happy together."

"It would be nice... wouldn't it?" he heard himself accidentally admit.

"Why wouldn't it be? Chuck? What's wrong?"

Chuck kicked himself. If his relationship with Sarah was anywhere near normal he wouldn't have a need to filter everything he said through a cover story. Instead, his mind struggled to constantly maintain the right responses by putting the spy world over his heart.

"Nothing... Nothing sis," he attempted to backtrack, "I - I just have to see if Sarah's free on my new days off."

Ellie nodded trying to imply she was following, without actually following.

"Well, do you have any plans yet?" she continued.

Chuck began to grow increasingly uncomfortable. There would be no way for him to make something up without knowing what the spy world would throw at him next.

"Still working on it," he said as he headed towards the door, "Maybe we can talk about it later, I need to get going so I get those days off... See you."

Ellie watched her brother disappear behind the closing door. "Okay. Hope so."

***********

Chuck barely managed to make his way into the entrance of the Buy More before Emmett began running towards him.

"Ch-- Ch--" Emmett struggled to say.

Chuck couldn't tell if Emmett was out of breath or simply hyperventilating. "Relax... slow breaths... What's going on?"

"It's... It's Big Mike's computer... It won't start up this morning," he said waving his hand towards Big Mike's office, "and you know how he gets without his fishing forecast!"

"You're right," Chuck said sarcastically, "that does sound like an emergency."

"I know we've had our differences in the past Chuck," he said regaining his composure, "but you've got to do this. He asked for you specifically." Emmett straighted himself as tall as he could. "Do it for Buymoria!"

"Buy-what?" Chuck said in confusion.

Emmett gave Chuck a sinister glare. "Don't tell me you don't recognize this great nation."

"Whatever," Chuck said walking passed him, "I'll take care of it."

***********

Chuck began with his usual set of automated diagnostics. The screen estimated the tests would take at least an hour and a half to complete.

As Chuck sat watching the progress bar eventually advance from 0 to 1%, he realized he once had found this kind of work exciting.

The promotion from sales associate to Nerd Herder had felt like a big one at the time, but it wasn't all he had hoped it would be. The pay wasn't particularly much higher, and while he did get to drive a company car, he felt like the time spent out on calls had caused him to lose touch with the friends he had made at the store.

He had tried the last few days to reconnect with some of his coworkers, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was a bit of a stranger to the rest of them. During his time as the Intersect, that feeling had grown. He mostly missed his friendship with Morgan, but now days at the Buy More had begun feeling like they were his 'other job'.

He looked at the screen again. The progress bar remained at 1%.

"Okay, this is taking too long, even for me. Gotta find something to do." he said standing up. Noticing some shipping boxes that someone had left on the showroom floor, he mused "Well, it's better than nothing."

Repeating a task he had done so many times earlier in his Buy More career, he took the boxes outside to the appropriate recycle container. As he closed the lid and turned around, he threw his hands up.

"Hi," said the man holding the gun.

"I get it, okay, moving supplies are expensive. Take all the boxes you want," Chuck nervously said pointing to the container, "no need for guns."

"I'm not here for boxes..." he said looking at the Nerd Herd name tag, "'Chuck'. Where is she now?"

"Uh, she? She who?"

"Don't play stupid. I saw you talking to her - the female agent - yesterday."

Chuck's eyes widened.

"I see you know what I mean, so stop wasting my time. I saw her here today. When she spotted me she glanced at you before disappearing."

For a moment Chuck was stunned more by the realization he had somehow failed to notice Sarah than by his current predicament.

"Know what 'Chuck'? I've got a better idea." he said pulling a different looking gun from his jacket.

Chuck cringed as he felt the shot hit him. Looking down he saw the needle end of a dart sticking into his shoulder.

"Oh God" he cried as he felt himself becoming lightheaded and collapsing.

As he watched his vision blur, he heard the familiar sounds of Casey's silencer. The would-be kidnapper quickly fell in pain.

Chuck watched the blob of Buy More green kneel down next to him. Despite the effects of the tranquilizer, he tried his best to scream "Casey!"

The touch of a soft hand checking his pulse finally made him feel safe.

"Sarah..." he mumbled before passing out.