Still don't own Chuck

A/N Decided to expand on the one shot thanks to those who reviewed it was helpful. Special thanks to thsdow for the great Beta i have a tendency to read what should be there as opposed to what i have actually written.

Chuck vs The Investigation

3 weeks, an entire 21 days of waking up next to Chuck. Sarah could honestly say she'd never been happier. Even Ellie had commented on it, assuming that it was a by-product of living together with her brother.

In a way she was right. Although the irony that the person responsible for her good mood had no idea it was due to him, was not lost on her. That fact caused another pang of guilt. Sarah was now, for all intents and purposes, in a rather intimate relationship with someone who had no idea that it had occurred; but had been desperately trying to form a real relationship with her.

How often had she been tempted to let Chuck know, wondered how it would feel to be wrapped in his arms when he was awake, to go further to … . Giving herself a mental shake, she returned to the problem at hand. What she was doing was bad enough, he deserved to know that she was using him.

Realistically she harbored no doubts that he'd be thrilled at such a display of affection from her. Yet that was exactly the problem, he would pressure her for more and she knew she couldn't give it. Frack, why couldn't he just be satisfied with what she could give him. Though at the same time she grudgingly acknowledged the fact that she wanted more and despite her training was only just hanging on. It was unfair for her to expect that kind of emotional self control from someone who had no training.

With a sigh, she reluctantly accepted the fact that this was her secret and the guilt her burden to bear. However, the guilt was easy enough to deal with she merely let her mind fast forward to tonight she could almost feel his presence next to her. Warmth, comfort, safety all things she hadn't experienced in so long. Eight hours of peace and belonging, it was like a drug and even knowing the dangers of addiction any drug posed, she couldn't cut herself off.

As much as she hated to admit it, she was an addict which had been all to easily confirmed weeks earlier.


"Thanks again Sarah for the pills, they have really helped the last few days." Chuck said.

"My pleasure Chuck, I'm glad they helped" she'd replied. Unable to hide a small smile as she thought how accurate that statement was.

"Yea they were great but I think I'm ready to try without them."

"Are you sure?" the panicked words were out of her mouth before she could think.

"Yea, why?" he asked, giving her a curious stare.

"Nothing, I just don't want to have you walking into doors again" she replied, trying to distract him.

He gave her one of those goofy smiles as he remembered "Yea not my finest hour but I think I need to get off the pills before I build up a dependency."

"We wouldn't want that now would we" Sarah replied, unable to keep the wistfulness completely out of her voice.

Giving her another curious look and then shrugging it off, Chuck finished getting ready for bed.


She'd lain awake all night, unable to sleep. The next night had been worse, she'd found herself unconsciously shifting towards him half a dozen times, only just able to stop herself in time. She needed a solution soon as she was becoming fatigued. Sarah had pushed herself far beyond this before but the current trend didn't look promising.

Her tired mind ran through options to the problem. She could tell him, that would solve the problem but even her sleep deprived mind could come up with a dozen different consequences if she did. If only he wouldn't wake up when she went near him.

She shied away instantly from the thought of drugging him, surely she wasn't that desperate. Besides that would be going from morally gray to wrong. Why couldn't Chuck be a heavy sleeper ! Then it hit her, she wasn't sure how he slept normally. Maybe he normally would sleep through a thunderstorm, but she just didn't know. God please let him be a deep sleeper.

The sound of the door opening indicated only one thing, it was Chuck's lunch time visit as every day he arrived like clockwork.

Sure enough "I'd ask how your day was but I can't fathom a more exciting career than frozen yogurt sales." Chuck joked.

Sarah was conflicted between being jealousy at how energetic he seemed or pleasure that she was in his presence.

"Yea it's been a life altering experience." she said, trying to inject some cheer into her voice.

Chuck wasn't fooled, he never was it seemed, when it came to her moods. Almost instantly he was around the counter and examining her face with his gentle hand under her chin.

"You don't look so good Sarah" His voice was filled with concern.

"Is that your way of saying I'm not pretty anymore?" Sarah said, coyly trying to change topic.

A half formed smile appeared on his face, "Your always stunning to me Sarah but you do look very tired. Have you been getting enough rest?"

"Just had a lot on my mind. It's nothing."

The chuckle he emitted didn't make much sense to her and obviously her confused face tipped him off.

"So let me guess, you're fine?" he asked in wry amusement.

"Yes. I'm fine" she replied. Now annoyed, Sarah was sure she was the butt of some joke. She just wasn't sure about what.

Hearing the irritation in her voice, Chuck deemed it prudent to expound. "Just to reiterate, it's nothing and you're fine."

"Yes, I'm …" a slight blush appearing on her cheeks as she resignedly accepted the irony. "Fine. Haha mister. I get it. Very funny."

"I thought so" he replied with a smirk.

His face turning more serious as he continued "but clearly you're not fine. As much as I enjoy winning our little word games, you don't normally fall into something so obvious. Maybe you should take some of those pills, they worked great for me."

"Chuck, those pills are dangerous for an agent to use on assignment and I'm supposed to be protecting you." She saw his face fall at that.

"Makes me feel crappy that you can't take a simple sleeping pill because of me, is there anything I can do" he asked earnestly.

She wanted to scream at him yes, yes there is but she had to maintain control "No Chuck, but don't worry. I'm working on something to fix it."

Glancing at his watch, Chuck let out a small frustrated sigh. "Damn my break is over. I have got to get back to the Buy More. Maybe you can close up for a few hours and take a nap in the castle. No one comes in here much anyway."

"I'll be fine Chuck, you'd better get back." She replied

"Okay, cya at home" he said as he was leaving.


Sarah lay wide awake, watching the time tick by agonizingly slowly. She didn't have proof but she was damn sure that time had stopped at least twice so far.

How could it have been only 35 minutes since he'd fallen asleep. Screw it she thought she couldn't stand to wait any longer. Edging closer to Chuck, she proceeded with her investigation. 10 minutes later it was confirmed, Chuck for all intents and purposes, slept like a log.

A variety of prods, pokes and even kicks had failed to rouse him from his sleep. His most significant response was a barely interpretable moan along the lines of "No Ellie, Chuck need sleep." It was vaguely in the realm of possibilities that if a meteor came crashing into the courtyard, it might awaken him but it wasn't guaranteed. Exceptionally pleased with the results, Sarah snuggled up next to Chuck and fell into a blissful sleep.