A/U Chuck and Sarah are recruited out of high school. (Or in Sarah's case when her father is arrested while in high school). They first meet during the summer after they graduate where they will train together.
Disclaimer: I do not own Chuck, if I did it would still be on tv and I do not mean in syndication form or repeats. Even though technically the show didn't last long enough to earn syndication.
Chuck Bartowski was nervous, but then again most people assumed by now that that was his default setting. Usually those people assumed correctly unless he was in the private company of his sister Ellie and/or his best friend Morgan Grimes. Chuck wasn't the most popular guy in school, but he took some small pride in the fact that he wasn't picked on by the popular crowd. The popular crowd even asked him what music he would recommend for there weekend parties. In fact he usually got the popular crowd to not pick on Morgan. Morgan was usually best at putting his foot in his mouth in front of everyone. It didn't matter if it was a teacher, parent, student (boy or girl), janitor, principal, or pretty much anyone in general who didn't work with food. Chuck always protected Morgan no matter what because Morgan was there for him whenever he needed him and of course Chuck made a silent vow to himself to always do the same. Chuck graduated with top honors in all of his classes, but he wasn't your atypical nerd. He didn't wear glasses, have a pocket protector except for that one summer he worked at the local Buy More. He didn't have a nerdy voice or frame. He was tall, lanky, and lean only he wasn't exactly the skinniest guy in the world. His hair made animal shapes, according to his sister, when it grew to long. The only real tell that he was a nerd was his tendency to play video games, his grades and his tended to get flustered when he talked to girls especially if he thought they were pretty. His sister was the world to him. The only person other than Morgan who had always been there for him. The only family he had left who hadn't abandoned him when he was younger.
If Chuck was asked if he ever thought the C.I.A would recruit him, his immediate answer would be no. He was uncoordinated, clumsy, and the exact opposite of suave. He freely admitted he was no James Bond. Unfortunately for him, the C.I.A apparently didn't care for his opinion because on the last day of school he was called into his guidance counselors office. The only problem with that was his guidance counselor wasn't there instead it was a tall, lean African-American man leaning against the wall staring at him. Chuck stood frozen at the entrance of the door because even though he had gone to this school for four years. He thought he must have opened the wrong door until the man spoke.
Man: Hello, Mr. Bartowski. I'm Langston Graham the director of the C.I.A.
Graham stuck out his hand and Chuck nervously wiped his hand on his pants before walking forward and shaking his hand.
Chuck: um Hello hi I'm uh Chuck. I mean you can call me Chuck. Uh the C.I.A. why are you here? If I'm allowed to ask please don't kill me.
Graham smiled and motioned for Chuck to sit down while he did the same.
Graham: Chuck, you can relax. I'm here to offer you a job. I want you to become a spy.
Chuck gulped deeply before replying.
Chuck: Why me?
Graham: You have potential Chuck. Potential I fully intend to help you achieve. Of course if you accept we will train you for a long time before you actually go on a mission. We will pay for your college and we can get you into any college you wish. Full scholarship and no fear of getting kicked out if your grades happen to suffer.
Chuck: I appreciate all that but I still don't understand why you would chose me. I don't exactly look like spy material.
Graham: I chose you because you are incredibly smart, you are unassuming, nice to everyone, and I need spies who don't look like spies even though with a few changes to your appearance you would look exactly like a spy.
Chuck: How do you know all that?
Graham: I've had people watching you for awhile now. So Chuck will you join the C.I.A. If you say yes, you must realize you can't divulge this meeting or your job to anyone. Not even to your sister or Mr. Grimes.
Chuck: How do you... Oh right you've been watching me. Never mind.
Graham: You will attend a three month training program here in California before heading to Harvard to attend your college career. You will be able to pick all of the classes you wish to be in for your first semester at school. So Chuck will you join the C.I.A.
Chuck: Wow, Harvard. Harvard Harvard. They accepted me but wouldn't offer a scholarship and now I can get in there and go for free. Where do I sign?
Graham: Excellent. In two days time a car will come to your home and take you to our facility. Tell your sister you got a job in Massachusetts and that the job has promised to pay for your schooling at Harvard. Good luck with your training. Chuck.
Chuck: Thank you sir. I'll try to make sure not to fail. Thank you.
Chuck left with a huge smile on his face.