A/N: Hi. Welcome back. Get your slow jazz playlist on, and let's follow Chuck. I give you Walker, PI, Ch 3, Personal Protection

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck.

(Italics indicate a voiceover)

I don't follow men…well, that's not true. When someone pays me I do, but as a general rule, I don't chase after nobody. That's what was so strange about that night. Here I was following a man I barely knew. There was just something about him. I mean there were guys who looked good, and while Chuck was okay looking, there were better looking men…but… Okay, there was something about him. Something that looked broken, something I had seen inside of me. Something I recognized from when the Job had turned on me. Was that it? Was it just a kindred spirit? Two ships passing in the night? I had no idea, but I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame, but I had the strangest feeling he was the one that would burn if I found him. I was discreet…he never saw me, or so I thought. He passed in front of a liquor store and paused. He looked at the door longingly, like it was a former lover arms he wanted to run back to. Part of me wished he'd look at me like that…okay, all of me wished he'd look at me like that. I shook my head, pushing these feelings of this man I had just met away. I could see his reflection in the window, and that's when I saw his eyes…looking right at me.

"I don't remember paying you to be my bodyguard," he said.

"Someone gives me that kind of money, I like to do my own investigation," I replied. I pulled that one out of my backside. I never got caught like this. Why tonight? Was it him? Was he the reason I let myself slip and be seen…let my guard down?

"The money's not dirty."

"Never thought it was."

"Making sure there's nothing more to the story?"

"Something like that." I walked up beside him, never looking directly at him, just his reflection in the glass. "Need something to tide you over tonight?" He didn't say anything and just kept looking at my reflection. "I'm not sure what you need is in that store."

"Maybe I'm just window shopping," he replied, a slow grin crossing his face. I returned the grin.

"You can't handle it," I quipped. He turned toward me.

"Look, I hired you to do a job, and I'm sorry about anything else. I've never been one to do this sort of thing."

"What sort of thing? Talk?" He smiled, and I really wanted to push it further, but I was positive he wasn't ready. He had jumped in the deep end of the pool and was flailing about. I decided to do the right thing and throw him a life preserver.

"How about I make sure my client gets home okay." He nodded, and we walked silently to his apartment. We got to the door, and he turned to thank me. "Let me get you inside. Just in case someone saw you with all that money and decided to wait for you." He nodded, and as he went to open the door, I drew my gun, just in case. He opened the door, and went in. It was Spartan. It was pretty obvious he had done the decorating here, or lack thereof. I walked over, shut the door, and locked it. He had a confused look on his face. I checked each room, making sure they were clear.

"You know I have been living on my own for some time, I can do this sort of thing." I smiled at him.

"You're my client now, and besides, you've had a lot on your mind. You might miss something."

"I think I've been missing a lot," he said softly, almost to himself. The smile changed to a mischievous grin. I walked up to him, an impish grin on my face.

"Have you been properly buttoning your shirt buttons?" I asked, running my hand up his chest. He swallowed loudly.

"Is checking that sort of thing in your contract?"

"For you, it is." He swallowed even louder.

"Are there any other special services I should know about?"

"Well, it has nothing to do with money you see, but there are those clients I really like I do have a special protection service where I guard them."

"Do you have a lot of those clients?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

"You just happen to be the first." He looked like he wanted to push me away. Like he was fighting something inside. I knew the feeling. I was fighting myself right now, losing terribly, but I really didn't care. His face showed he finally came to a decision and he looked like he was trying to find the words.

"All night?" He asked, his voice nearly choking. I could tell this was something he didn't do. Who am I kidding it was something I didn't do, but tonight, right here, right now, it had nothing to do with what was the right thing to do, but what we both needed. I should have walked away right there. I should have left him alone, and I wouldn't be in this mess today…but I didn't.

"Not only all night, but I'll need to be close by," I said I as I reached up to kiss him. I think his mind exploded, because I knew mine did. I made sure no one got close to him all night…no one but me.

A/N: Let's give them some privacy, shall we? Reviews and PMs are always welcomed!

DC