The Choice
Chapter one
Chuck laid awake in his bed utterly depressed. Life was becoming to hard, eight hours at the buy more, another five or six doing missions with Casey and Sarah, all while hiding from his family and friends the truth behind his random absences. On top of that, he had to maintain a fake relationship in front of the public eye with his handler Sarah, a woman who he actually had fallen in love with. He trusted her, but she did not trust him quite as much, and she was always very nervous about the CIA finding out about the feelings they shared, so it was kept a secret, one that was never acted upon. Daily Chuck had to pretend to be with Sarah, while in his head and heart he had to remember she was really only pretending, while he was just acting out his daydream. It was a hard life to live, one that was really getting him down.
Recently Chuck had been contemplating telling Sarah it was to much to handle, but his nerve was shot to hell after Bryce decided to ever so nicely update the intersect that was stuck inside his head with more government secrets, making sure Chuck would know, this was his life now.
Chuck sighed as he heard the opening of the window, also known as "the Morgan door" to those in his house. He knew it was Sarah, she had become increasingly worried about him ever since Bryce updated the intersect information on his last visit.
Chuck moved over, knowing she was going to climb into bed next to him. Normally, he would be over-joyed at the thought of Sarah joining him in bed, but he knew it did not change how she felt about starting a relationship with him, outside of the cover. Chuck was more then in love with her, he was head over heels for this girl, and he knew she felt the same. It was torture to be able to look but not touch.
"Chuck?" Sarah whispered as she slid into bed next to him.
"Yea?" He replied back, sleep lacing his voice.
"…Do you mind if I sleep here tonight? I have gotten so used to it…I missed you and couldn't sleep." Sarah whispered, obviously embarrassed.
Sarah's answer caused Chuck's eyes to go wide. Sarah was never open like this. She missed him? Yes, she had been sleeping next to him most nights after missions, but she always claimed it was to strengthen the cover. There was no cover to protect now.
"I never mind you coming in at night, I have told you, I will wait for you forever." Chuck finally answered, looking over to make eye contact.
"…Chuck you know…I mean you are the asset…the would give me a new assignment and take me away so fast it would make your head spin." Sarah sighed out, the stress of having this conversation a million times before causing her to lose some of her reserve on the matter.
"I wouldn't let them take you, you protect me daily, I am going to return the favor someday when you realize the CIA cannot control you forever." Chuck replied, a softness in his voice that showed the patience that he has to wait for her.
"I don't know what to do Chuck, I just don't. I don't want to be taken from you!" Sarah cried, for the first time ever allowing tears to fall in front of him.
Chuck quickly took the sobbing woman into his arms. He has never seen her be so open with him. They were actually having a disscussion about becoming a couple and she was actually not just brushing him off, she was honestly telling her feelings. Something must be wrong.
"Sarah?" Chuck asked suddenly alarmed. "You wouldn't be talking like this unless something was wrong, what is it?"
"The CIA has offered me a contract extension, I can either take it and be signed on for ten more years, immediately getting a reassignment as I would be promoted, or I can stay here for good and Casey and I would become your handlers until death. The CIA never wants Fulcrum to have a shot at grabbing you." Sarah explained through her sobs.
Chuck sat astonished as he tried to calm Sarah down. The CIA wanted her to choose what would become with her life, either get promoted and move on, or stay with him. Chuck knew the answer he wanted her to choose, but would Sarah really give everything she has worked for, for him?
"What do I do Chuck? I love you. I won't deny it, but the CIA is all I have known since I was a teenager!" Sarah cried, again burrying her head into his shoulder as the tears continued to pour down her face.
Chuck knew this was the biggest choice Sarah had ever had to make. She was going to have to choose work or love, a choice that she had been able to put into the back of her mind for the past year.
"How long do you have to decide?" Chuck asked.
"A month." Sarah answered, drying her tears as she sat up to look directly at Chuck.
"Sarah you know I love you, what is left to decide?" Chuck asked, knowing to him the answer would be so simple, he would do anything to stay with her.
"I have never been in love Chuck, I have never been emotionally open with anyone , it scares me how much I depend on you. I don't want one day for that to fade and you no longer want me. Then I would be stuck here, but if I leave I will never take the chance of being happy for the rest of my life." Sarah admitted, deciding if everything was going to come out tonight, she was going to tell the honest truth and not hide anything.
Chuck mulled over what she had said. To him, it was insane to picture falling out of love with the agent that sat before him, however he understood why she was so nervous about the choice she was going to have to make. Sarah had never been in a loving relationship, even with her father she was used to his plots to get more money, she was an employee not a daughter.
"Sarah…I cannot picture my life without you. I love you, I love you more every second of everyday, you never cease to amaze me. I do know deep in my heart that you are the one for me, but if you are not sure of the love I have for you, then I am willing to prove it to you. Give me the month to show you how much I love you. Lets drop the cover realtionship and start a real one, if by the end of the month you still have your doubts I won't fight you if you leave, but if I can prove you are the only one for me, then you stay and we come out openly about our realtionship, to everyone." Chuck pleaded, knowing his love for her would never end, and all he needed to do was prove it to her, more specifically gain her trust.
"Ok Chuck, one month, but know I do love you…I just…I am scared." Sarah cried.
"I am not hurt or angry Sarah, I understand. It is scary to trust someone you love with your heart and soul forever, to think that they will never leave you. I had fears like that about Ellie staying and helping me after my parents left, it just takes time and love. I have more then enough love to show you, and I know I can gain your trust before the month is up. I love you Sarah, I trust you to never to hurt me on purpose, you have my heart and soul completely, I just have to reassure you that I am never going to break yours." Chuck assured Sarah.
"I have never given myself to anyone so fully." Sarah choked out.
"I know sweetie, I am not hurt trust me, I am more then happy. I get the chance to be with my favorite girl, if all I have to do is convince you of my love, I know I have nothing to worry about. I got my favorite gal." Chuck smiled, easing Sarah's nerves.
The two stared at each other, his brown eyes connecting with her shinning blue ones. If an hour ago you told Chuck that Sarah was going to come in a say all of this, he would have laughed in your face, but here she was, finally giving him his chance! He finally had a shot with the love of his life! His depression and dark mode was immediately gone, he knew he could prove his love. He knew it deep in his heart. Sarah was his.
The next morning Chuck couldn't help but wake up with a smile on his face. He knew it would be a challenge to gain the trust of his love, but he also knew it was going to happen. He looked down at the girl laying on his chest, her blonde hair spread out, as she comfortable slept.
Chuck could watch Sarah sleep forever in his arms, she was so beautiful and simply amazing.
Slowly Chuck ran his fingers through the woman's long hair, causing her to stir briefly, a smile forming on her own lips.
"Good morning beautiful." Chuck whispered, kissing her head softly.
Last night Sarah agreed the cover relationship would be no more, and instead they would not put on an act, but actually play out their true feelings for each other. Yes, they would have to use the cover as well a cover to hide their feelings, but at least they would know the truth.
"Morning Chuck." Sarah whispered, loving the feeling of being in his arms.
It was strange, Chuck always seemed to be a lanky kind of guy, but Sarah had learned over the months she had worked with him how actually strong he was. Her favorite place to be was wrapped in his arms, where all the fears of the world disappeared, leaving the comfort and safety that only Chuck could provide.
"I love you." Chuck said as he again kissed her head softly. "Even more then I did last night."
Sarah smiled before leaning up and kissing him gently. She was timid at first, not knowing how the kiss was going to turn out however, the kiss turned passionate immediately. Chuck started to pour every ounce of love he had into the kiss pulling Sarah against his body quickly, causing her to move onto his lap, her fear fading away as she to returned the kiss with as much intensity as he was.
"Oh my God!" Screamed Ellie as she walked into Chuck's room, surprised at the sight before her.
Sarah ontop of Chuck in only an over sized t-shirt and panties while Chuck wore only a pair of basketball shorts.
"Hi Ellie." Chuck stumbled nervously.
"Sorry! I didn't know Sarah was here! Not that I am not thrilled…I just wanted, I mean I came in to tell you…breakfast, breakfast is ready." Ellie finally got out, a huge smile appearing on her face as he looked at her brother's smile.
"Thanks, we will be out in a bit." Chuck responded, loving how embarrassed Sarah had gotten, having now burrowed into Chuck's shoulder to hide her blushing cheeks.
"Now that is what I call a good morning." Chuck laughed, lightly tickling Sarah.
"Stop Chuck!" Sarah laughed as Chuck found a particularly sensitive spot on her side.
"Aha! I found the kryptonite to Agent Sarah Walker!" Chuck laughed out, tickling her sides even more as he crawled on top of Sarah with her squirming and laughing below him.
The games continued until Ellie yelled breakfast was getting cold, it was a tradition that Chuck and Ellie had started that every Friday, like today, the two would eat breakfast together, usually pancakes or waffles. When Devon moved in they included him in their tradition. Sarah had been to a few as well already.
"Mmm pancakes." Smiled Sarah as she a Chuck walked out freshly dressed, hand in hand.
"When did you get here Sarah?" Devon asked, having not seen her the night before.
"I couldn't sleep…I sneaked in the Morgan door." Laughed Sarah, giving Chuck a kiss on the cheek as he pulled out her chair.
He and Sarah had decided not to talk about the choice she had to make, but instead just live their lives normally, that way, it wasn't constantly hanging over their heads and Chuck could really prove himself.
"That door needs a lock, of course you would get a key." Ellie laughed, shuttering at the thought of Morgan being able to come and go at all hours.
"Hey! That Morgan door has scored some quality gaming time." Chuck defended, holding up a blistered finger from playing call of duty a couple nights ago on a rare night off.
"Did you really just say that?" Laughed Ellie.
"Yea, sweetie, those games…have to go." Laughed out Sarah.
Chuck gasped, throwing his hand onto his heart. "Not my babies!"
"Oh yes, it is like you are cheating on me with the way you act with those silly things." Sarah continued to laugh, until she saw Chuck's eyes lose their humor.
"If that is how you feel about those games, then they will be gone this afternoon. I am not going to let anything make you feel uncomfortable about how I feel for you." Chuck said seriously.
"Oh my God." Ellie shrieked. "You…you tamed Chuck!"
Sarah laughed before turning to Chuck, "You wouldn't be the man I loved if you didn't play those games, I was only kidding. Maybe you can teach me?" Sarah asked, a smile on her face at the thought of Chuck actually willing to get rid of his video games for her, that was actually a big deal and she knew it. Maybe their love really could be the true love you only hear about in fairytales.
"Not awesome." Ellie sighed out, realizing her brother's goofy ways were not going anywhere.
"Hey! That's my line babe." Devon replied, a slight pout on his face.
"Sorry sweetie." Ellie laughed.
"So, what are you crazy kids doing this weekend?" Devon asked, changing the subject.
"I want to show Sarah the old house." Chuck answered, connecting eyes with Ellie who just nodded with a small smile.
"The old house, big step kid." Devon remarked. "Awesome."
"What is the old house?" Sarah asked confused.
"I will take this one." Devon answered with a smirk. "I am the only other non relative who knows the story. The old house, is where the two knuckleheads grew up after their parents left. It is kind of…sad…but at the same time inspiring to see where they learned how take care of themselves." Devon explained.
"I don't understand." Sarah answered, an obvious confused expression on her face. "I mean I don't know the story." She clarified.
"You never told her Chuck?" Ellie asked.
"I was waiting until I knew she was the one, it is not a story I go around telling, but the other day, when I looked into her eyes, I knew there was no one else I was going to spend my life with, it was her or no one, because there was no one else I could ever love like I love Sarah." Chuck explained with an embarrassed smile. It was the truth, and he knew Sarah should know, but it was nerve racking to say in front of Ellie and Captain Awesome.
"Aww you two love each other!" Ellie gushed, honestly happy for her little brother a girlfriend. "Sarah, we have to pick a day where we can go out together for some girly time! I want to get to know you better, you are like family now." Ellie finished, throwing a smile only Ellie could over in the blonde's direction.
At first Sarah was caught off guard, having never been referred to as family with anyone, but then she smiled, if she could get over her insecurities, she could see herself twenty years from now having this same breakfast with their kids rushing out the door around them.
"Defiantly! I would love nothing more. You guys are the closest thing to a family I have ever had." Sarah answered truthfully.
Ellie and Devon shared a smile, Sarah had never been very open with them, this must mean she and Chuck were really getting close.
"Do you have work today?" Chuck asked, he knew she didn't have a shift at the ice cream shop, as she and him always had Fridays off thanks to the CIA for any over night missions that were saved for the weekends, it was just easier to have the cover of going away for the weekend that way.
"No, my…boss, gave me the weekend off, she said me and my…uh partners at work needed a weekend off after working so hard this past week." Sarah answered, trying to hide the information from Ellie and Devon while letting Chuck know it was actually a message from Director Graham.
"Who knew that woman had a soul." Replied Chuck with a teasing smile, showing Sarah he understood.
"Oh stop, you know you love her even if she is weird." Sarah laughed.
"I do love her, I would protect her at any cost because of what she means to you." Chuck answered honestly, eliciting another dazzling smile out of the secret agent that sat before him.
"Do you guys mind if we come too? I miss the place…kind of want to poke around and see if there is anything left I may want to bring to the house." Ellie whispered, letting her brother know secretly with her eyes that if he wanted alone time she would be ok, but that she really wanted to go for personal reasons.
"Of course you can come! I think today is perfect day, since the place is so close to pier and beach we could have lunch and ride some rides after we go." Chuck answered with a grin, he knew Ellie loved to ride the mary-go-round that had been around since they were kids.
"Awesome. A Bartowski outing!" Devon cheered, over excitement obviously in his voice, causing a laugh from everyone around the table.
"Well, I am going to run home and grab some different clothes if we are going to be going to the pier as well. I will be a little cold in shorts with the beach right there seeing as it is March." Sarah laughed, grabbing Chuck's hand under the table and giving it a squeeze.
"I will drive you, I myself in my awesome jeans and T-shirt just need to grab a hoody. To you two want to meet us there in like…an hour?" Chuck asked, figuring it would be a good idea to take separate cars in case an emergency came up.
"Ok, good idea, Devon stinks and needs a shower after last nights rounds at the hospital anyway." Ellie laughed, as Devon tickled her in return.
"Ok see you then sis." Chuck smiled, kissing his sister's cheek and doing the fist bump with Devon.
Sarah laughed as Chuck secretly shook his fist in pain from the much stronger man's bump as they walked out the front door hand in hand.
Once outside, Sarah quickly looked around, making sure Casey wasn't lurking about as they walked towards Sarah's car.
"I guess I am not driving then." Chuck said with a laugh, knowing Sarah would never let anyone drive her car.
"A chance you wrecking my car? Not a chance." Joked Sarah.
The two climbed into the Porsche and eased into a comfortable conversation on the way to the hotel Sarah had been staying at, of course at the CIA's expense, while she was in LA.
"So you want to tell me the story of the house?" Asked Sarah.
"When we get there, it is more of a show and tell story then just tell." Chuck explained, lacing his fingers with hers. "I love you." Chuck said with thick emotion in his voice.
Sarah quickly turned to look him in the eyes, she couldn't help but see the truth and sincerity swarming his warm inviting eyes. With a smile she squeezed his hand and said she loved him too before going off into her own thoughts.
She knew Chuck loved her, and she knew she loved him, there was no question about that. So what was holding her back for accepting the assignment to stay? Casey had already said he would, having grown fond of Chuck over the months, secretly seeing him as a little brother.
Thinking hard, to find the exact reason that was holding her back, Sarah concluded it was the trust issue Chuck kept mentioning. She didn't know how to completely trust someone with her heart, and the thought of being able to do that scared her. Right then and there, Sarah decided this month she was going to work on letting Chuck all the way in, and if she could do it, there was no doubt in her mind what her choice would be. She would stay, and she would scream from the rooftops how in love she was. She knew the CIA would be unhappy, but really it was Sarah's love for Chuck that kept him so safe, and all she would have to do is prove it. She figured she should talk things out with Casey first though, it would be best to get someone else on their side.
As the pulled into the hotel parking lot, Sarah noticed Chuck's face of confusion, like he was thinking really hard.
"What's up babe?" Sarah asked, coming out of her zoned out state of mind, pulling him with her.
"Isn't lonely here?" Chuck asked, motioning to the hotel as the walked inside.
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked.
"Like living by yourself, isn't lonely and sort of unsafe? I mean Casey lives right next door to me, but you live across town from us, what if someone blew your cover?" Chuck asked.
Sarah opened the door to her room with a shocked expression. She and Casey had never really talked about the distance between her and the team, it was always just something that was.
"Well yea, it is risky, but I mean for a while it was the only thing that worked." Sarah finally answered.
"Move in with me." Chuck then offered seriously. "You just said yourself it is risky being all the way across town, and Ellie and Devon know how in love our cover life is, plus our real relationship may be new in declared terms, but our feelings are nothing new. Then the whole team would be close, plus we could spend more time together." Chuck rambled out.
Sarah mulled it over in her head, the CIA had been pushing for her and Chuck to take the next step, just in case anyone was getting suspicious so them moving in together seemed like a good idea, plus like Chuck said, they could be together more and that was defiant bonus.
"And where would I sleep?" Sarah asked seductively, pressing herself against Chuck, who noticeably started to blush.
"With me." Chuck answered.
"I would sleep with you? Or we would sleep in the same bed?" Sarah asked with a smirk, knowing Chuck was getting nervous.
"Oh you would defiantly sleep with me." Chuck answered, his nerves disappearing as he pulled Sarah even closer so they were flush against each other.
"You're pretty sure of yourself baby." Sarah grinned out, loving the feel of them so close together.
"Yea, I am." Chuck grinned widely, loving being able to kid around. He then leaned down and kissed the girl in front of him with the most passion he could muster, pouring out his heart and soul into a single kiss. The intensity caught Sarah off guard, but she quickly responded matching his passion as Chuck backed her against the wall.
Chuck smiled through the kiss as he picked Sarah up, her legs wrapping around his waist as they leaned into the wall for extra support. Sarah was glad she was off the ground, her knees had gone weak from the emotions she was experiencing as Chuck slowly left her mouth and started his way down her neck, nibbling on a sensitive spot, causing a moan to fly out of Sarah's mouth.
Sarah quickly noticed things were getting to heated, seeing as the only had a short period of time before they were to meet Ellie and Devon at the house soon, and as Chuck's hand slid up her shirt she realized there would be no stopping if he got much further.
"Chuck." Sarah breathed out, but in a stern tone.
"Hmm?" Chuck mumbled, moving to suck on her ear.
All thought flew out the window as Chuck continued his attack, slipping his hand inside of her bra.
Sarah finally was able to pull her head out of the clouds, and slide off of Chuck's body, his hand being forced out from her shirt at the same time.
"Why?" Chuck groaned.
"We have to meet Ellie and Awesome." Sarah laughed, noticing Chuck's obvious discomfort of ending the make out session.
"We can be quick." Chuck tried, trying to start another kiss.
"Oh is that how you want our first time? A quickie?" Sarah asked teasingly, knowing Chuck would stop.
"No." Chuck grumbled, going over to sit on the bed while Sarah quickly started to grab things to change.
"I will be back soon, just have to shower." Sarah laughed, kissing his head as she ran into the bathroom.