The Beach

It felt different. She was shaking as she was given the most passionate kiss that any girl could hope for. And, for some reason, she kissed him back. It felt right. But then, her instincts as an agent kicked in.

What are you doing? This isn´t some fairytale where you get your prince and all the crap that goes with it.

But would that be so bad?

The sea was still looking peaceful as their lips parted. She looked at him. He was smiling, but she could tell it was a painful smile. He was there for her no matter what, and that was scary. She had almost killed him, and yet there he was right beside her. How could she live up to that? She had to think straight and put her emotions away.

"Chuck...?" Her voice broke. She could not breathe. Everything was falling apart for no reason.

But is that true? Or you are denying the fact that something is still in there?

She felt his hand on her shoulder. It was reassuring, it was what she needed.

"Sarah, I don´t expect you to love me right now. I just want you to know that I´m here if you need to talk." he gave her his charming smile and she was grateful for it.

"Thanks, I really appreciate this. I´m sorry, I just need some time to process all of this."

"You can have all the time you need and I promise you that I will be not try to push you. I know that you like your private things to be kept - private."

This man was so sweet. Her husband was so sweet.

She suddenly felt a need to kiss him again, but she stopped herself in the last second.

"Chuck, I have to go." Sarah got up.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

She gave him the look.

"Sorry it´s none of my business and I know that. It´s just - be careful ok?

She walked away and he watched her until long after she was out of his sight.

Sometime later...

Echo Park

"And you did what...? Man, you are so dead!" Morgan was shaking his head while holding his grape soda on the couch with Chuck.

"What did I do wrong? I can´t just command her to love me. She needs space."

"That's not the point Chuck. The point is you weren't trying at all. She kissed you and you just let her go!"

Morgan it isn´t like that..."-

"Is that so? Last time you did that was in Prague which ended up with you get drunk out of your mind, and me tied up on the floor. When are you going to admit that pushing people away doesn´t help?"

"And by that you mean?"

"You are not going to be on the couch this time!" Morgan´s face was clear as crystal.

Chuck gave his friend quick reassuring smile. "Believe me buddy, I´m not going to do this..."

Meanwhile...

Sarah´s room

A shower was what she needed, to calm herself. She was in her Sarah Walker, never put her emotions on the line, persona. Emotions are an enemy for an agent, feelings get you killed.

But was that true in this case? Thanks to Chuck, she was alive. Thanks to him, everyone at the concert hall had been saved.

And then there was the beach... Sarah felt a tear on her eye and then started crying.

Everything that happened in the last few days just hit her hard. Her eyes soon turned red and her pillow was just a soggy mess. She was angry and confused. Chuck had tried to convince her that he was her lover and loving husband. Quinn tried to convince her that Chuck was her enemy and Casey…

The stone cold soldier known as John Casey, had showed up on her doorstep to give her DVD with her mission logs from the last five years? She just could not handle it anymore. She wasn´t sure how long she sat there in this state of mind, when her phone rang. She was really surprised when she saw who was calling.

"Mom?"