Fate's Design

Chapter 4

Main Cast

Charles "Chuck" Bartowski - Zachary Levi

CIA Special Agent Sarah Walker - Yvonne Strahovski

Major John Casey, USAF, NSA - Adam Baldwin

Eleanor "Ellie" Bartowski - Sarah Lancaster

Supporting Cast

General Diane Beckman, Director of NSA - Bonita Friedericy

Jacqueline Donovan - Jaime Murray

Michele Salvago - Jean Reno

Rio de Janiero, Brazil

A man bursts through a crowd of people, tripping over, and hurriedly gets back up on his feet. He ignores the heckling of the woman he barged into and continues to run, going down an alleyway on the right. Reaching behind him, he pulls out a gun and loads it, pointing it at the entrance whilst backing away.

With his free hand, he takes out a mobile phone from his left pocket and fumbles with it, punching in a number. Bringing it up to his ear, he growls in frustration.

"Come on, come on," he mutters under his breath. Hearing a sound, he swivels around with his gun at the ready. His finger is slowly tightening on the trigger.

"Hello, Enterprise Holdings, how may I help you?"

"This is Daniels, identification code, alpha-hotel-7-4-echo-0." He pauses to allow the person to verify it.

"Confirmed, Agent Daniels. What is your status?"

"My cover's been blown and someone's after me. I've been tailed for the last ten minutes."

"Make your way to the bus station five hundred metres southwest of your position. There will be a transport there within ten minutes."

"Understood, I'll get there as fast as I-" His shoulder suddenly jerks back harshly as a bullet embeds itself there and he tumbles over, dropping the phone and gun. Struggling, he reaches out for his weapon, but a black steel-rimmed boot crushes his hand against the ground. He grunts in pain.

The figure above him flips him over and, keeping a knee against his chest, places the barrel of his gun against his forehead.

"Where is he?" asks the man with the gun.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

In response, the man smashes a fist into the agent's face. "I repeat, where is the agent you were working with? Where is John Casey?"

"Go to hell, you son of a bitch, I'm not telling you anything."

"Wrong answer," snarls the man. The gun flares and the agent immediately goes limp.


Waking slowly from a refreshing sleep, Chuck yawns widely and rolls over onto his stomach, pulling the covers over his head. Nhmmm,he thinks, dream about Sarah: good. Stupid waking up. Finally yielding to the persistent ringing of his alarm clock, he gets on his feet and walks slowly into the bathroom. Blinking a bit from the bright sunlight filtering through the window, he fumbles with his toothbrush and accidentally drops it in the toilet. It lands with a plop.

"Great." Carefully fishing out the toothbrush with a lasso of floss, he deposits it in the bin and opens a bottle of mouthwash instead. Ten minutes later, he heads out to the living room with slightly watering eyes.

"Morning, sis," he yawns as he pours himself a cup of coffee. Ellie smiles at him.

"Morning, little bro." She pauses as she notices her brother's eyes. "What's wrong with your eyes?"

"I used Awesome's mouthwash and let me tell you, it has quite a lot of kick."

Rolling her eyes, Ellie continues. "Guess who's moving into one of the apartments here."

"Leonard Nimoy?"

The elder Bartowski slaps Chuck on the shoulder and he adopts a feigned look of hurt.

"Hey, am I not allowed to indulge in my childhood dreams once in a while?"

Ellie pouts. "It's Sarah, you idiot. Now, stop standing around and go help her move in."

"Yes, Ellie, your royal highness." She pouts at him again as she walks out, grabbing her handbag from the couch. Chuck gulps down the rest of his coffee and, taking a slice of slightly burnt toast, hurries out of the apartment, only to run headlong into cloud of blonde hair.

Chuck lunges forward and catches Sarah before she trips over. He grins sheepishly down at her and can't help but notice that her cheeks reddened a little. "Sorry, Sarah."

"It's okay," replies Sarah as he helps her up. "You going somewhere?"

"I was actually coming over to help you to get all your stuff into your new apartment. After all, I did promise you."

Sarah smiles. "Well, if you insist. The furniture's already in there, but there are still two boxes of stuff in the guest room that needs moving. We could get them now." The brown-haired man nods.

"When you said box of stuff, I thought you meant books, or clothes, something light, you know?" pants Chuck as he hauls a heavy crate up the stairs, stopping after a few steps. "What is in this thing?"

The blonde walks past him carrying her own crate with ease and deposits it at the door of her apartment. "Weapons," she replies nonchalantly. "Pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, and I think a RPG's somewhere in there." She notices his progress up the stairs. "You need help?"

"Oh no, missy, I assure you that I, Chuck Bartowski, will personally get this "box of stuff" through the door and into your apartment."

She quirks an eyebrow at him. "Sure you can," she taunts playfully.

"Watch me." Chuck heaves and lifts the box up. In a sudden rush, he quickly gets into the apartment and drops it onto the floor with a loud thud. Grinning, Sarah enters with the other box.

"Looks like being a gym rat for a whole spring break paid off, huh?"

"Yup," he manages to get out and gingerly straightens his back, grimacing. "Huh. This place isn't half bad, although it seems a little empty."

"Well, I don't really have much stuff of my own, and my personal stuff is in my room."

A mischievous look appears on Chuck's face. "Do I dare?" he asks as he inches his way closer to Sarah's bedroom door. She locks a steely glare at him and points a finger at him. He freezes.

"You watch it, mister."

At that moment, Casey sticks his head into the doorway and adopts a slight look of nausea. "You two enjoy playing happy families, don't you?" Sarah turns her glare to him. "Briefing with the General's in five minutes."

"Well, it looks like someone's got a stick up their ass," mutters the CIA agent.

"Aww, he's not that bad. He's really a cuddly person. On the inside." After receiving a pointed look from Sarah, he corrects himself. "Okay, I admit it, I have no idea what I'm saying. Of course he's as scary as hell."

Laughing a little, she gathers her things. "Come on, let's go before Mr. Stick-up-ass gets the stick rammed up further."

"See? You can do funny!"

Sarah grins as she ushers Chuck out of the apartment and shuts the door.

"Good morning, team," greets General Beckman. "Unfortunately, there has been no major break in the interrogation of Mitchell and his associate – most of the information they have given up is of very little value. However, they did reveal one important piece of information."

She taps on her keyboard and brings up a photo of a brunette Caucasian woman in her mid-thirties which Chuck flashes on. "Ja-"

"Jacqueline Donovan," states Casey, "former CEO of a multi-national mining corporation, arrested two years ago for serious fraud and corruption."

This leaves Chuck's jaw hanging a little. "Do you have the Intersect too?"

"Two years ago, Agent Casey was part of a collabarative undercover operation between the CIA, NSA and DEA to infiltrate Donovan's company and uncover her illegal dealings with several prominent criminal bosses in Eastern Europe. The mission was a success and Donovan, along with her associates, were captured and placed in a high-security detention centre." Beckman looks uncomfortable. "However, she was able to escape from the facility last month."

"With all due respect, General," asks Casey with a hint of anger. "Why wasn't I informed of this?"

"It was deemed to be unnecessary at the time. However, things have changed." She taps on the keyboard and another photo appears. "This is, or rather was, Agent Philip Daniels of the DEA. He was on a routine mission in Brazil when his cover was blown and was killed and torched."

"Daniels was in the Donovan op. He was our third man," remarks the NSA agent.

"Donovan could be trying to get revenge on Casey's team," notes Sarah. "Who was the CIA agent in the team?"

"It was Bryce Larkin, Agent Walker."

The instant Sarah hears the name her jaw tightens slightly.

A photo of a mansion pops up on the screen. "This is the residence of Michele Salvago, a drugs and arms trafficker with operations running all over the world, and also the man who broke Donovan out of prison. He is hosting a celebratory dinner tonight as a cover for Donovan to meet up with him, looking for any leads on the Major's location. Agent Walker, you and the Intersect will enter the mansion posing as guests and capture Donovan and, if possible, Salvago as well."

"Wait a minute," says Chuck slowly, "did you just say that I'm going on a mission?"

"Yes I did, Mr. Bartowski. Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all, this is so awes-"

"General!" Sarah's voice is now considerably loud and angry. "With all due respect, you cannot do this! Chuck is untrained and vulnerable, and putting him into the field is a bad mistake! He could get hurt, if not killed!"

"Agent Walker! You will respect my orders! We need the Intersect in there to flash on anything which could be of value. And if anything does go wrong, you will be able to handle the situation, won't you? Besides, Mr. Bartowski is the last person they would expect to be a spy. If that is all?" Eyeing the CIA agent, Beckman taps on her keyboard, terminating the link.

As soon as the briefing ends, the blonde stalks out of the apartment angrily and the door slams louder than usual.

"Hmph. Figures," grunts Casey as he reaches for a cleaning cloth and a can of lubricant. Quickly dismantling his pistol, he lays each individual component out neatly and begins his work.

"What do you mean?"

"Hmph." Casey smirks. "You're thicker than I give you credit for."

"Hey!"

"You really can't see it, can you?" He shrugs and reassembles the pistol quickly. "Meh. Whatever. You'll need some proper clothes for tonight. Tux is in the spare room."

"Yeah. Thanks." Chuck walks to the spare room and tries on his tux, finding it a perfect fit. "Um, Casey? The tux itself is great, but can I ask you one thing?"

"Do you have to?"

Chuck glares at him. "How did you know my size?"

"We're the NSA. We know everything there is to know about you – daily routine, habits, food preferences, that sort of thing."

"What? My daily routine? My habits? You are kidding me! And my food preferences?"

"Like I said, everything."

"You're like a creepy stalker, you know that?"

"Better than fantasising about Walker all the time."

The nerd's face goes bright red. "I do not!"

"Try saying that with a little more conviction, moron. Don't think I can't see where your eyes go."

Chuck's mouth opens and closes wordlessly as he tries to respond. After a moment, he turns around and walks out, flustered.


Later on that night, the door to Chuck's apartment slowly opens and a figure carefully slips out, turning around to close it behind him. He is surprised by a loud scream.

"OH MY GOD, A BURGLAR! TAKE THAT!" With another shout, Ellie whacks the figure hard on the head with her handbag.

"Ouch! Ellie! Calm down, it's me! It's Chuck!"

"Oh…. Oops, sorry! Did I hurt you?"

"Of course you did! You clobbered me with your handbag!"

"Well, you should have been so shifty! You scared me!"

"Head! Bag! Bruise!"

"You scared me!" There is an uncomfortable silence between them. "Anyways, why are you so dressed up?"

"I'm going to a party! A, um… fancy dress party! I'm Bond, James Bond." He mimes blowing smoke from the barrel of his hand/gun.

"Well, I hope you enjoy yourself," Ellie says as she enters the apartment. "You bring Sarah home before midnight, okay?"

"Aww, sis, why do you always think that?"

"You've bought a bouquet of her favorite flowers and dressed up for her." The elder Bartowski grins. "A girl's gotta dream, Chuck, a girl's gotta dream."

Chuck groans and knocks on Sarah's door. It swings open and, taking one look at Sarah, he freezes. She is absolutely stunning - the sleek blue dress she is wearing hugs and accuentuates her curves perfectly, and her long blonde hair is combed into loose wavy curls. Move, you moron, do something, Chuck thinks, anything. It's not like you don't already look like an idiot for gaping at her.

"Oh yeah! These are for you." Chuck hands her the flowers.

"Gardenias... you remembered." Sarah allows herself a small smile.

"I pride myself on my ability to remember all the little details of Sarah Walker." She blushes. Continuing hurriedly, he says excitedly, "So... my first mission, eh?"

"Chuck, we have to talk about this," says Sarah seriously. "If you can't tell, I'm not okay with bringing you along to the mansion tonight. First of all, you're not field trained at all, and secondly, there are people who care about you a lot and don't want you to get hurt."

Chuck sucks in a deep breath and he steps right next to her, taking her hands. "Hey," he says softly, "I promise I'll stay out of trouble. Don't worry!"

Sighing, she sits down. "You know I'll worry about you just the same."

"Yeah..."

"Just lay low and don't get noticed. If you have a flash, tell me through the microphone in your watch."

"Okay, don't get noticed, flash, watch, you, got it."

Chuck opens an envelope on the table, revealing an invitation. "You are cordially invited to dine with Mr. Michele Salvago - Charles Carmichael."

"That's your cover identity - Charles Carmichael, businessman, dealing in stocks and shares, but looking to expand into more shady areas."

"Right. Charles Carmichael. Got it." Chuck absentmindedly fiddles with his shirt cuff. "When are we heading out?"

"Just waiting for Casey. He'll be in the van whilst we go in."

"Doesn't it defy logic to bring him closer to the person who wants him dead?"

"He'll be in the van the whole time and anyways, he can handle himself."

There is a knock at the door and Sarah opens it, letting Casey in. "What's up with Bartowski?" he asks. "I'd have thought that he'd be really hyper."

"Just nerves," lies Sarah.

"So, Casey, how was you first mission like?" asks Chuck.

Casey growls at him. "Curiosity killed the cat, moron, remember that." Chuck gulps nervously. "You'll need some sort of protection just in case someone comes at you."

"Whoa, slow down Casey, nothing's going to happen tonight," protests the nerd.

"A gun, moron, to protect yourself from other people with guns." The Major hands a gun to him. Seeing the look on Chuck's face, he groans. "It's a gun which fires darts filled with a non-lethal tranquilliser. And yes, your aversion to violence is also on your file."

An hour later

A black Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder rolls up the driveway, its engine humming loudly as it does so, and stops. Two servants open the door and Chuck steps out. He heads to the other side and helps Sarah out as well. Pulling out the invitation from his jacket, he shows it to a security guard.

"Charles Carmichael and Serena Langford. I'm here to meet Mr. Salvago."

The security guard nods. "Of course, Mr. Carmichael, Ms. Langford. This way, please." He leads Chuck through the entrance hall and into the main hall. It is filled with guests, all preoccupied with talking and the drinks, and Chuck flashes immediately on several of them.

The flash is seen by the guard, who eyes Chuck suspiciously. "What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, nothing, he just has a small problem with his eyes," assures Sarah. "Nothing serious."

The guard nods and heads away, periodically glancing back at Chuck. The CIA agent turns to her companion and nudges him.

"What did you see?"

"There are some very, very, very bad people here tonight. That guy's a paid assassin," Chuck gestures at a Chinese man in his late twenties standing by the fountain, "this deceptively harmless-looking old lady is the head of a Russian crime family, and you see that happy-smiley-chubby guy with all the ladies?" He shudders. "Was it really necessary to use such a graphic image?"

"Don't worry about them right now. Donovan should be somewhere here."

Casey's voice crackled through the radio. "Hurry up, you two, I've got a bone to pick with her. I liked Daniels." He grunts. "Couldn't say the same for Larkin though. No offence, Walker."

"None taken." Sarah glances around the room and spots her targets talking by the bar. "I've got eyes on both of them." The two figures shake hands and with a smile, the man slips away into the crowd. "I'll deal with Salvago first. Chuck, stay put and don't draw attention. Okay?"

"Yeah. Not going to move an inch," replies Chuck and Sarah smiles brightly at him before disappearing into the crowd after Salvago.

Idly, Chuck motions to a waiter, who walks over. "Vodka martini, shaken, not stirred." The waiter nods and scuttles off to get the drink.

Sarah allows a small smile to form. "Oh, and will you be speaking like Sean Connery tonight?" she whispers into her comlink.

Chuck coughs loudly and attempts to cover up his embarassment. "College was a long time ago, it's not like I still do that play-pretending..." His voice tails off as Sarah laughs quietly.

The waiter returns with his drink and hands it to him. "One more thing, sir. The lady at the bar wonders whether you could give her some company." Chuck looks past the man and sees the woman, who gives him a small wave. He gulps as he recognises her.

"Thanks, I'll consider it." He offers a smile to Donovan, who pats the stool next to her. Reaching up to brush a stray curl away, he brings his watch to his mouth and hisses, "Casey! I think I'm in trouble!"

"What did you do, Bartowski?"

"It's not what I did, so much as what I am."

"No time for your stupid riddles, numb nuts, get to the point."

"I think Ms. Donovan is hitting on me. She wants me to sit with her."

"Does she look urgent?"

Chuck notices the increased speed of her tapping on the stool. "Yup."

"Then go, before she comes over and you start spluttering all over her."

"But I can't do thi-"

"Go! Now!"

Reluctantly picking himself up, Chuck makes his way to the bar and sits down next to Donovan. "Hi, I'm Charles, Charles Carmichael." He smiles winningly at her.

Donovan giggles girlishly. "Well, Charles, I'm Jacqueline, but I prefer Jackie."

"Well, Jackie, let me say that you look absolutely beautiful," compliments Chuck. She giggles again.

"A charmer. Wonderful!" She takes a sip of her drink. "And a handsome one too." Leaning forward, she deliberately closes the distance between her and Chuck.

Meanwhile, Sarah follows Salvago to the door of a private suite, which he opens and closes behind him. She slips off her heels and snaps off the heel from one of them, and messes up her hair a little. Opening the door, she saunters in drunkenly and Salvago whips around.

"Oh, hello handsome," she slurs out. "I must have taken the wrong turn somewhere."

The man grins at his apparent luck and approaches. "Well, Ms.?"

"Serena. Serenaaaa Langfooord."

"Well, Serena, I wouldn't mind if you stayed here with me for a while."

"I wouldn't either," replies the blonde. She rubs her right ankle. "Could you help me to the bed? My heel snapped and now my ankle's aching a little."

"Sure." Salvago helps her over and takes every opportunity to stroke her arms and hips, smiling as he does so. Sarah growls under her breath and lashes out with a sharp right hook, knocking him out cold. He collapses onto the ground and stays there.

"Sorry," she spits, seething at him. "I don't put out on a first date." Dragging him across the room, she shoves him into a cupboard and locks it. "Casey, I've captured Salvago. On my way to Donovan now."

Casey gives off a short barking laugh. "Bartowski's already beaten you to it and it looks like he's doing a good job. Little Jackie all over him."

"What! How could you let him?"

"She came onto him, and he seems to like it. The woman is pretty attractive."

Storming out quickly, Sarah finds Chuck at the bar with Donovan draped over his side and her anger flares up. "Chuck," she growls with grit teeth, "get that woman of you now."

Hearing the underlying threat of instant death in her voice, Chuck gently removes Donovam from his arm.

"What's the problem, Charles?" she asks, playing with his curls. Keep your damn hands of him, the blonde yells in her head. You don't deserve to touch him.

"Tell her that you want to take her to a room."

"Ahh, umm, ehh," stutters Chuck, "would you like to come with me to a room?"

"Would I?" replies the brunette huskily, eyeing him predatorily. "Lead the way, Charles."

The CIA agent tails them to the private suite and once inside, she grabs the other woman by the front of her dress and headbutts her hard, rending her unconscious. "Skank," Sarah mutters under her breath.

"Whoa! You just- you just- completely kicked her ass! That was amazing!"

Grinning a little, she nods. "Thanks, Chuck." Hearing footsteps approaching the suite, she quickly shoves Donovan under the bed and turns to Chuck. "Sorry about this," she says.

Before he can respond, Sarah grabs the brown haired man by the shirt and crashes her mouth to his, fiercely kissing him. His eyes widen at the sudden move and makes several surprised murmurs, trying to back off.

"What are you doing!" he hisses.

"The guards are coming our way!" The door opens and a guard sticks his head in. Immediately, she presses her lips against his and feels him slowly relaxing into the kiss. Oh my god. I'm kissing him. I'm kissing Chuck. Dammit, I know I shouldn't but it feels... so right.

His mind went into overdrive the instant Sarah started kissing him. He can hear his heartbeat pounding away in his ears, thumping harder and harder as his breathing becomes faster and more laboured. Oh my god. I'm kissing her. I'm kissing Sarah. And she is kissing back. This has to mean something... right?

Chuck pulls away from her lips and attacks her neck, slowly trailing kisses down her jawline. With her self-control and rational thinking fading, she involuntarily moans as his tongue finds the sensitive spot on her neck and, as if he sensed her pleasure, Chuck continues to focus his attention on that spot.

"Um, sorry for the intrusion," mutters the guard and turns away, leaving the two alone again.

As the steps die away , the agent inside of her finally regains some control and Sarah breaks away from him, still panting slightly from the intense make out.

"We need to get these two back into the van."

Seeing her shift back into agent mode, Chuck sighs. "Yeah. Totally."

"Wait, Chuck!" Sarah brushes her hand against his face and rearranges his curls. "Can't have you looking disheveled. You're very handsome tonight." she says breathily. For a moment, it seems as though they are leaning in for another kiss, but the blonde pulls away at the last second. "Mission."

"Aww, can't it wait?"

An hour later

"I miss the car," whines Chuck.

Casey smirks. "Don't worry, Bartowski, you get plenty more chances to ride in one. Now hurry up, Beckman wants us to report in five." Chuck nods and heads to his apartment. Just as Sarah goes to follow him, Casey pulls her back.

"You and I need to talk."

"About what?"

"You're not expecting the "play-dumb" trick to work on me, are you? I saw everything that happened back in the suite after you beat Donovan senseless."

"Ho-" The truth strikes Sarah. "You put a button camera on him."

"Of course. An asset like him needs to be under constant surveillance." He pauses. "The point is, I can see where you two are trying to take this and it's not going to end well for either of you – asset-handler relationships don't work. Your feelings will impair you judgment, and you'll end up getting yourself and maybe even him killed. So I'm only going to warn you once – just do what you used to, stay friends, and if you do try to make it more, I'll be forced to file a request for a 49-B. Understood?"

"Case-"

"I said, am I understood?" The Major interrupts sharply, glaring at her.

"Yes."

"Good. Glad we got that sorted." He heads into his apartment, leaving the blonde fuming by the fountain.

"Congratulations, team," enthuses General Beckman. "Thanks to your efforts, Donovan is once again in custody and this time, I assure you, she will never escape." She turns to Chuck. "Well done on your performance last night, Mr. Bartowski. Maybe we'll make a field agent out of you yet."

The General goes on, detailing the capture of the other individuals at Salvago's mansion, but it's just a faint buzz to Sarah. She catches a loving glance from Chuck and this makes her more determined to be with him. What the hell does Casey know about caring for another person? He can kiss my ass.

The screen blanks and Chuck whoops. "Successful mission! Can I get a hi-five?" Casey merely groans and walks away. "Come on, big guy, you know you want to!"

"He's gone, Chuck." Sarah slings her jacket over her shoulder and starts to walk out, but Chuck pulls her back into a close embrace, sending her mind spiraling towards shut down. Mental alarm bells and sirens go off in her head as she remembers the surveillance.

"Wait, Chuck, we need to talk."

"Can't it wait?" He almost makes it to her lips but she pushes him away.

"Not here," whispers the blonde into his ear, "there's surveillance everywhere. Come with me." She leads him out to her car and turns around to him with a frown. Reaching forward, she rips off the entire front of his dress shirt and stuffs it in her handbag.

"Sarah! What- what is this?" Chuck gestures frantically at his exposed chest. "Why did you restyle my shirt?"

"There was a camera in one of the buttons. And anyways," Sarah shrugs with a glint in her eye, "I think you do look good without a shirt on."

Chuck's face goes a dark shade of crimson and he pulls his blazer over his chest. "So where are we going?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

The Porsche slows to a halt on a beachside road and Sarah jumps out, practically hauling Chuck out after her. They head down the beach and sit down, letting the waves lap at their feet.

"Chuck-"

"Sarah-"

"Wait, let me go first." Sarah gazes hopefully into his eyes and he relents. "You know I like you a lot- you're my best friend, for crying out loud. And I can accept that, being just friends. But I want to be more than that - I want to be with you, Chuck. And now I've kinda put myself out there, so..."

Chuck stares at her silently and for a moment, Sarah feels more vulnerable than she has ever been. And she had been captured by Afghani warlords once.

The tension holds until slowly, the trademark Bartowski grin develops on his face. "Wow," he manages get out. "Oh my god. Wow."

"So you feel the same?"

"Of course I do!" Her heart races at his confirmation and she leans forward, bringing her lips to his. This time it is less rushed and much more passionate, leaving them both gasping a little for air.

Chuck grins again. "How couldn't I? You're the most amazing woman I have ever met in my whole life, well, besides Ellie of course."

Sarah laughs a little and wipes her watering eyes. "Way to ruin the mood, Chuck. Rule of thumb - never mention your sister again when we're doing our thing."

"Zipping my lips." He mimes zipping his mouth shut and Sarah pouts.

"Don't do that," she whines, "now we can't kiss properly."

"Of course, what was I thinking?" He pulls her into another kiss, which Sarah breaks after a while.

"One more thing - we can't let Casey know."

"What could he possibly do? There's you, and I have faith in my kickass ninja girlfriend."

This earns him a playful nudge in the side. "I'm your kickass ninja girlfriend, am I?" She pauses, considering. "Girlfriend. I like the sound of that."

"I do too," agrees Chuck, nuzzling her neck and causing her to sigh in contentment.

Shaking her head and regrouping her thoughts, she continues. "I really need to tell you about the situation with Casey." The curly-haired man rests his head in her lap and gazes up at her. "Okay. In CIA terms, you're what is known as an "asset", and I'm your agent "handler". I look after you, and you provide useful intel for the government. However, the two of us are not allowed to be seeing each other as you-know-what." She pauses to allow Chuck time to digest the facts.

"Casey has caught on to us and he's threatened me with a 49-B." Seeing the confused look on her boyfriend's face, she continues. "It's a long complicated clause in the regulations, and basically at the end of it, I get reassigned permanently and will never see you again."

"But the risk - we might never see each other again!"

"But it's worth it, right? I really want to be with you."

Beat. "I do too. So basically, keep Casey out the loop. What about Ellie and Awesome?"

"Only if you make sure they don't tell anyone else."

"Awesome!" Chuck leans up and captures her in a deep kiss. "They'll be thrilled. You know, they were pushing for the two of us to get together from instant we met."

"Really?" The blonde strokes his chest, tracing random shapes on it.

"They kinda knew, I guess. And they were right." Chuck sneaks another kiss and Sarah giggles. After an hour or so, they pick themselves up and head back to the Porsche, hand in hand.

At around four in the morning, the apartment door opens creakily and Chuck slips inside, closing it noisily behind him. He plonks himself down on the couch, smiling goofily from ear to ear.

Hearing the commotion, Ellie walks blearily into the living room. "Chuck, why are you still up?" She notes his clothes. "Stayed up all night did we?"

"It was well worth it. Sarah and I are together." He quickly shushes his sister, who is almost shrieking in joy. "Keep it on the down low, okay? Admittedly, we've known each other for a long time, but this is still just a new thing."

"But-but-but-but-"

"You can tell Awesome, but that's it okay?"

The elder Bartowski hugs her brother tight. "I am so happy for you!"

"Yeah," replies Chuck happily. "I am too."