A/N: I really hate me. I was just writing a one-shot, but there were suggestions, and then Marc Vun Kannon said those magic words, "there's a world of possibilities between talked and eventually." That's when my brain started to think, and think. I've done/am doing Break Up as a rewrite, but it's a lot more over the top humor. This could be something a little different, plus it starts much sooner. (I believe atcDave said something similar). So small steps in this one. Very small. Like short chapters when I have some time just to throw things down….none of you believe me…even I don't believe me…The Kiss, Ch 2, The Talk

A/N 2: I've worked on this for four days and just didn't like it, so I had to make it longer…anyone surprised? Me either

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, but I spend a lot of time thinking about it…

They had been kissing for a bit, and that's when he felt her hands at his shirt He couldn't, not like this. He hadn't known her long, but one thing he did know, emotions weren't Sarah's friend, and he didn't want her doing something she'd regret. He pulled away, seeing a puzzled expression on her face.

"Something wrong?" she asked. Chuck took a deep breath.

"Look," Chuck began. "There is nothing more I'd like to do then where I think this is headed, but I don't want to take advantage of you." Sarah chuckled, and moved in close again.

"Chuck," Sarah whispered into his ear. "We both know that only one of us can take advantage physically of the other one in this room, and we also both know it's not you."

"And while I have no problem admitting your physical abilities exceed mine, and may I also admit, that thought excites me more than I should probably admit, Sarah, one of us is a little emotionally stunted," Chuck replied. "Actually, we both are, I just think you are more than me, which is bad now that I think about it. That means-"

"Chuck," Sarah cut in.

"Right, spiraling," Chuck said. "Look, you just buried Bryce, who is at least someone you care about." He looked her in the eye, and she reluctantly nodded. "Last I checked you aren't supposed to be doing this with an asset, though the rule seems pretty stupid."

"The asset rule," she began, but Chuck put his hands on her shoulders, and looked her in the eye.

"Sarah, I understand the asset rule, I just think it's stupid I'm considered an asset," Chuck replied. She nodded. "I'm not saying you're emotionally compromised, but I think today has done something to you, and I don't want you to do something and be upset with yourself in the morning. I care about you too much to take advantage of you." Sarah stepped back and looked at him.

"Let me get this right," Sarah said, shock on her face. "You've have a government computer shoved in your head. You've got Casey and I, two government agents, and known assassins, driving you crazy and getting you in situations that scare the bejezzus out of you. You've been made to lie to Ellie, Morgan, and everyone in your family, and you don't want to take advantage of me?" Chuck nodded. She grabbed him by the tie and kissed him until he thought he would pass out. She pulled back and took a long look at him.

"Maybe we should talk tomorrow," Chuck said, backing slowly to the door. Sarah stood there and nodded. "Let you mind get un…" he couldn't think of a word right now, he really couldn't think of much, and made some gestures that had his hands making circles. "Hey, quick question, General Stanfield is giving his make-up address from a few weeks ago, and I was thinking about going and listening and see if I flash on something. Is it okay if I go?" Sarah stood their staring at him.

"Sure, I would offer to go with you, but I have hot dog duty," she said.

"No problem, I'll talk to you later?" he asked. She nodded, and crossed the distance between them.

"Yes, later…we'll talk," she said softly, looking him in the eyes, and running her hand down his cheek. "Chuck…thank you…no one, and I mean no one, has ever looked out for me."

"Sarah, I told you, personal baggage handler, I got this. I'll see you later," he said, and slipped out the door. The door shut and Sarah studied it for a moment. What was she doing? She knew she was tired of the CIA games. The one that had nearly cost Molly her life, the ones that had led to Bryce going rouge, and this one…this one was just killing her. Chuck Bartowski was a civilian and he was being taken advantage of. Not only that, he was a good guy, that she liked…a lot…more than liked…and she wasn't sure how to handle that.

}o{

It had been a bit since Chuck had been to the hotel he had kept from blowing up. It was much calmer this time, well, it was for everyone else, Chuck, he was just as nervous as he was when he disabled the bomb. The General's aide had scoffed when Chuck said the General Stanfield would see him, but see him, he did. Chuck figured this was another bad idea. It could backfire in his face, but he had already been threatened to be thrown in a bunker, and frankly, he was sick of being pushed around. Sarah had said there was no where he could run from them.

That was the thing, he didn't want to run, but to always be put in these situations…was just ridiculous. He understood sometimes he needed to be in the field, but sometimes he didn't, and he really didn't need Casey watching over him 24/7. This was a bad idea, but so was earlier today, and that had worked out well, and that had emboldened him.

"So, let me make sure I have this all straight," Stanfield said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The CIA and NSA have sent you handlers and are calling you an asset?"

"Yes, Sir," Chuck replied.

"You are in the field often, and you aren't being compensated?" he asked, disbelief on his face.

"That is correct, Sir," Chuck replied. Stanfield looked ready to spit.

"Son, were you under orders to save me?" the general asked. Chuck shook his head.

"No, in fact, I was told to stay outside," Chuck admitted. "Sir, I'm not complaining about being in the field, but all the time?" Stanfield shook his head. "Plus the constant surveillance of my sister's apartment…" Chuck shook his head.

"Son, don't you mean security?" Stanfield asked. Chuck shook his head again. Stanfield groaned.

"Please, Sir, I need you to understand, Casey is amazing in the field, but he….he scares me a little," Chuck admitted. Stanfield chuckled.

"And what about the CIA agent, Miss Walker?" Stanfield asked.

"Sir, she's the only reason I'm alive. She protects me, watches over me, reassures me, and makes me feel like a person. To everyone else, I'm property, to her, I'm Chuck, and without her, I'd be crazy," Chuck admitted. "We don't even know how this thing works," he said, pointing to his head. "But, I've got to think my emotions tie into it, and that's the other thing, my sister, a brain doctor, can't know."

"So you want Casey and Walker on your team still?" Stanfield asked. Chuck nodded. "Walker does have Secret Service experience," he said, scrolling through something on the computer. "They're primary objective should be protection and surveillance. I have some ideas," he said giving Chuck a smile, and picked up the phone.

"I need the president," he said simply. He looked up at Chuck and put his hand over the speaker. "I hate to ask, but…you know what, never mind. Anything I say, you already have in your head." He took his hand away from the phone. "Mr. President, General Stanfield with NATO, Sir. What do you know about the Intersect? Really? That little. Have you got five minutes, Sir? It does affect the country and the rights of a private citizen who have been trampled. One who saved my life and hundreds of others. Thank you, Sir." Chuck sat back and grinned. He didn't know what Sarah and Casey would say, but he was pretty sure he had just taken control back of his life…for the first time since Stanford.

}o{

Sarah stared out the door as she burned another wiener. What was Chuck doing outside with that very attractive woman, making notes on everything he said. The customer got disgusted with her burning another gourmet wiener and left. Sarah walked outside, and Chuck waved at her. As she got closer, she noticed that the lady with Chuck had a tablet she was typing things on, and there was a face on it, talking to him.

"That's the beauty of it, Sir," Chuck was saying. "No one from the Buy More will ever come over here. They all hate the broken computers, in fact one of our employees gets extremely creeped out by them." He turned to Sarah, winking. "Morgan," he whispered.

"General Stanfield, Sir," Sarah said.

"Agent Walker," Stanfield said. "I'm glad you're here, I've been reviewing your file."

"Oh," Sarah said. "I was afraid Chuck had done something."

"Sarah, it's okay, I know how they've been treating him," Stansfield said. "I am taking over the Intersect project." Sarah looked at Chuck, her eyes wide. "Sarah, you've spent a long time in the field, and don't even get me started on your recruitment." Sarah stared at Chuck. Chuck shook his head to let her know he hadn't flashed on her. "Sarah, I need someone in charge of Chuck's security, and that may extend after the mission over. I know you had family in the area at one time."

"That is true," Sarah said. Chuck's eyebrows raised.

"Think about it, Agent Walker, unless you'd rather be off the Intersect team," Stanfield replied. "You would be reporting to NATO, but we would still be getting our missions from the CIA and NSA since it is their data."

"You are now my commanding officer?" she asked.

"Yes, if you approve, you, Major Casey, and your analyst here, Mr. Bartowski will be the Intersect team," he said.

"Did you just say Mr. Bartowski?" Sarah asked.

"Is that a problem?" Stanfield asked.

"No, General, it's just the first time I've ever heard someone refer to him other than the asset or Intersect," Sarah said. The general nodded.

"I hope you don't mind, but we're going to close down the Wienerlicious for something a little more believable, you don't mind being the office manager do you?" Stanfield asked. Sarah shook her head no, in surprise. "Good, Chuck is about to open his own company, where he'll subcontract with the Buy More to repair computers, and have a security company. Casey can be the hired muscle for awhile until the security company expands. This way if you three need to be gone, no one will bat an eye, and Gretta here can watch the store, unless she has to go with you."

"You're making an addition, Sir?" Sarah asked.

"Sarah, we are pulling back from surveillance to protection on Chuck's home, so you might have to step up personal protection, any objections?" he asked. She shook her head no. "If you're in charge of security you can't very well be off running some crazy field assignment," Stanfield said. "Plus, during those times I'm sure you're having to make judgement calls in the field of when to call something a bust, or make other tactical decisions to protect yourself physically. What I'm saying is, you don't need to have Chuck's security on your mind. Sarah, you've been on the Secret Service detail. This is only slightly less important." Sarah nodded. "Maybe we need to bring along another operative to watch the store."

"Plus we might hire a CIA nerd or three to repair the computers if we're off on a mission," Chuck said, grinning.

"It will probably have to be three to do the job Chuck does, Sir," Sarah said, smiling.

"Any objections so far?" Sarah asked.

"None, Sir," Sarah said. "Girlfriend cover, still on?" she asked. Stanfield shrugged.

"If it makes you uncomfortable, we can change it, but it does help explain why you are, and will be so close to him," Stanfield said.

"It doesn't me, Sir," Sarah said, looking at Chuck.

"Look, you two," Stanfield began. "You've been stuck in a unique spot to do good for the country and after it is over, you'll still need protection, Chuck. I will never order you to do anything to compromise yourselves, but…whatever you two do, I need you to be on the same page. As Chuck pointed out, we don't know how the Intersect works, but it makes sense to think it is linked to emotions. Chuck is not a spy, nor do we want him to act like one. He is analyzing data, and from what I've read he is exceeding all expectations."

"Understood, Sir," Sarah said.

"Understood, Sir," Chuck replied, but the look on his face said he didn't.

"Sir, I think what Chuck would like to know is, if he asked me out, like on a real date, would that be a violation of protocol?" Sarah asked.

"I don't care what you two do on your own time," Stanfield said. He thought for a second. "Are you telling me…" he stopped, seeing the look on Chuck's face and knew the answer. "Oh for Christ's sake…I'm going to wear Beckman's and Graham's asses out when I get ahold of them. Good day you two." And with that he was gone.

"Sarah," Chuck said softly. Sarah looked up at him, grinning. "I think some wieners are on fire." Sarah turned, saw the smoke, and ran. Chuck grinned. Things were certainly looking up.

A/N: Like I said, shortish, and Chuck and Sarah will talk…I just didn't mean this chapter. There will be issues with them. (I would say it's not fluff, but how about not as fluffy as I normally am…you aren't buying that either, are you?) Hoped you liked it, reviews are always welcomed….til next time.

DC