Disclaimer: I do not own Chuck.

Sarah versus The Dessert

September 22, 2007

Across the parking lot from the Buymore in the former home of Burbank's Wienerlicious, was the new Orange Orange store was having a grand opening. Standing behind the counter of the newly launched yogurt shop was a tall, blonde woman. Her name really isn't particularly important. The name she goes by, the one she had used longer than any other and which she had had for all of her adult life is Sarah Walker. Currently her life is full of clogged yogurt nozzles, slightly melted toppings, overly picky customers and teenage boys that deliberately chose toppings that no one in their right mind would eat just so that they can see her bend over to get them from behind the counter. What is less obvious is that Sarah works for the CIA. It used to be more exciting.

(Date Redacted)

Sarah stared incredulously at the door in front of her. Behind it lay the mission objective. Unfortunately sometime between when their undercover contact gathered information about the compounds security, and when she and Carina were actually standing in front of the door the security had undergone a drastic upgrade. That probably didn't bode well for their contact, but she couldn't think of that right now. Now she was stuck staring at virtually impenetrable door secured with a locking mechanism so advanced even she had no hope of either picking or hacking it.

"What now?" Beside her Carina rolled her eyes.

"Sarah, you really need to start thinking outside the box."

"The objective is inside that very well secured box Carina." Sarah answered, exasperated.

"Only the door is secured. There are other ways in." Carina gave her a smirk and reached into her pack, pulling out a block of C-4.

"You'll alert the guards." Sarah warned.

"Then I guess we'll have to be quick." Carina answered as she reached out and placed the explosives along the wall.

Sarah didn't protest. The idea was crazy but it was also probably the only way they would be getting into the room. Even if it wasn't, she had long since realized talking sense into Carina was like talking to a wall. She stepped just far enough away to avoid the blast and plugged her ears. Carina detonated the explosives. Within seconds every alarm in the building went off. Sarah rushed through the small opening in the wall, with Carina right behind her.

Just as she grabbed the container they had been sent for a creaking began emanating from the walls around them. It was followed by a moan, then a groan and the beginnings of a crack. Sarah looked to Carina.

"You did make sure that wasn't a load bearing wall didn't you?" Carina gave her a too innocent smile and a small shrug.

"Oops."

September 22, 2007 (Again)

Everything changed for Sarah when an Agent of the hitherto underestimated organization known as Fulcrum attempted to steal a database of government secrets known as The Intersect. Her boyfriend and his best friend had stopped her. In the process one had been killed and other turned into a walking Intersect. After the attack the NSA and the CIA decided to form a joint new black-ops team to pursue Fulcrum and its parent organization. By default, it would also deal with any intelligence discovered through the new human database.

No one knew how far the group had infiltrated either agency. The new team was ordered to report directly to the General Beckman and Director Graham and keep a low profile within the intelligence community. Beckman selected Major John Casey to be the NSA agent on the team. Graham tapped Sarah. As part of the plan to keep the team inconspicuous, Casey's cover job was at the Buymore and their base was scheduled to be built underneath. Unfortunately that meant Sarah's own cover job, which would also act as a primary entrance to the base needed to be in the same strip mall with the store. A shell company was used by the CIA to relocate the Wienerlicious and transform the location into an Orange Orange. Which meant Sarah now must deal with lecherous teenagers, control freak soccer moms and the occasional mechanical problems.

After handing a yogurt to her last lunch time customer, Sarah glanced up to see a teenager sprinting across the strip malls parking lot. Several seconds later, Casey came barreling after him. Hot on Casey's heels was a tall, somewhat lanky brown haired man dressed in the standard uniform of the Buymore's Nerd Herd. Chuck: Current human intersect, best friend and roommate to Sarah's recently deceased boyfriend, and the third member of the team. He had also been Sarah's first love. He didn't know that. Sarah hadn't even been willing to admit that to herself until long after the agency and her own issues had split them up and they had both moved on with their lives. It was a recipe for emotional disaster to begin with. And now she's posing as his girlfriend.

Outside Chuck was attempting to restrain Casey from hitting the now tackled teenager. Casey grudgingly let the boy up, and then began hauling him back towards the store. Sarah watched as Chuck brushed himself off and turned towards her store. He flashed a smile and a wave, and then walked towards the shop's entrance.

"Hey," he said with large grin, "how's your first day?"

"Like working in a yogurt shop."

"Right." He glanced around, taking in the now empty shop. "I wanted to say I'm sorry, about the cover. "

"It wasn't your decision." She reassured him. "And at least it doesn't involve corndogs."

"I meant the other cover." Sarah looked down towards the counter to avoid his eyes. She picked up a rag and began wiping the counter with a bit too much concentration.

"Couples are less conspicuous. That rule applies in Burbank as much as Bogota." Sarah looked up and gave Chuck a small smile. "And I know how important it is to you to keep your sister away from all this. Having a cover that explains why you're out late at night, will help that."

"I appreciate that. I just know this must be hard, when you lost Bryce only a few weeks ago." She looked down again for a moment. She fought to keep anything telling from her face or voice.

"Death is a part of this business. I've made peace with it." They stood there for a moment in a slightly awkward silence. Chuck tensed nervously.

"Speaking of my sister, she's going to want to meet you. I thought, maybe, we could take a bit of a preemptive strike and plan to have dinner together tomorrow night."

"Sure."

"Right, I'll ask her tonight. See you at seven tomorrow night?"

"Barring national emergency."

"Barring national emergency." Chuck gave a little wave and headed out the door. Sarah hoped she wasn't too obvious as she watched him walk away.

September 23, 2007

Sarah gave a final twist and felt the tumblers fall into place. She grabbed her equipment and silently opened the now unlocked door, her senses on high alert for any noises or movements. The owners weren't scheduled to return for at least another two days, but it paid to be cautious. After placing her bags down she did a quick sweep to make sure she was alone in the house. She unpacked her gear and stared at it for a moment, mentally reviewing her instructions, in an attempt to hold off the terror inching its way up her spine.

"Okay, first step: preheat the oven." Oh God, she was talking to herself.

Despite the cover nature of her current relationship with Chuck, Sarah found herself wanting to impress his sister. Chuck had once mentioned Ellie was a great cook. So, earlier that day when she had headed to the Buymore to confirm her dinner plans with Chuck she had what could only be described as a fit of domestic madness when she had offered to bring dessert. Since Chuck's friend Morgan had overheard their conversation, it was virtually guaranteed that Ellie would know if she backed out of her promise. Unfortunately her cooking abilities didn't extend much beyond eggs and salads. Which is why she was now standing in a borrowed kitchen, staring down chocolate and eggs with more terror than she had every felt looking at a ticking bomb. She took a breath. She could do this. She could conquer a soufflé. She hoped.

XXX

Chuck eyed her final creation suspiciously when he ushered her into his apartment.

"I'm glad you could make it." He said before gesturing towards a brunette women walking towards them from the kitchen. "Sarah, this is my sister Ellie." Ellie wiped her hands on her apron before offering one to Sarah.

"It's so nice to finally meet you," Sarah gave a slightly apologetic smile and held up the soufflé dish.

"Chuck, why didn't you take that from her." Chuck opened his mouth to offer an explanation, but was promptly cut off by Ellie.

"Never mind. Here, I'll take it." She scooped the dish from Sarah's hands and brought it over to the table. Over her shoulder she told Chuck "Why don't you show Sarah you aren't a completely incompetent host and get her a glass of wine?"

"Right. Red okay?"

"Fine." Sarah answered before following him towards the table.

"Is that Pot Roast?" Chuck's friend Morgan said, as he walked into the room from a hall just beyond the kitchen. Ellie's mood immediately soured.

"How did you get in here?"

"Chuck's window." He reached forward and plucked one of the tomatoes from the salad. "Or as I like to call it the Morgan door." A small crease developed between Ellie's eyes.

"Ellie, please." Chuck pleaded, "It's not like we don't have enough food." He gestured towards the overly laden table.

"Fine." Ellie agreed. A tall blonde man walked in from the hall. He moved over towards Ellie and gave her a slight squeeze on the shoulder before declaring "Mange Mange, let's eat!"

Chuck went with Ellie into the kitchen for the wine, and roast and Sarah moved to sit down, only to realize she wasn't sure where she was supposed to sit. A moment later, Chuck walked back, open bottle in hand. He moved over to the side of the table she was standing on and, seeing her uncertainty, pulled out the seat closest to the door. He poured everyone wine, then sat down next to her at the table's head. Ellie dished out the roast.

"This looks delicious Ellie."

"Oh it was nothing," Ellie dismissed. Ellie's boyfriend finished dishing out his side dishes, then turned his attention to Sarah.

"So let's turn this up a notch this up personal style. Chuck said you guys knew each other in DC?"

"Yes. I used to work near Chuck's office. We kept running into each other on our lunch breaks." Sarah reached forward for her glass.

"Why did you decide to come out here?" Ellie asked. Before Sarah could swallow Chuck cut in.

"Sarah grew up in San Diego." Sarah only just stopped herself from choking on her wine. Chuck just gave her an innocent grin. "That's one of the reasons we connected."

Sarah's anger began to bubble up, but she realized she'd have to wait to interrogate Chuck, and instead decided to steer the conversation in a less dangerous direction.

"So, Chuck said you're both doing your residencies at West Side Medical. That must be hard, I've heard you have to work really awful hour." Just as Sarah hoped, Ellie and Devon forgot any thoughts of a follow up questions and began enthusiastically to discuss their jobs.

XXX

Chuck told the others he was walking her to her car. Once they were out of sight and hearing range, she dropped his hand and turned.

"What was that?" Sarah hissed. She hoped that the anger in her voice drowned out the fear she felt at the thought of what he might have found.

"Intersect, remember?" He said pointing to his head.

"That's not in my file."

"But it is in your school records." Before she could comment he explained. "No, I didn't purposely flash on them." Sarah pursed her lips, her anger suddenly deflated.

Chuck gave her an apologetic smile and took a step towards her. He reached out for her hand again, giving it a small squeeze. Suddenly, she heard footsteps from the interior of the patio. Sarah tensed, and began to pull away but Chuck kept a firm grip on her hand. Then he pulled her towards him. She crashed into him, lips first. He tasted like burnt chocolate and red wine. A moment later, Morgan rounded the corner towards them and Chuck pulled away.

"Oh, you meant walk Sarah to the car. That makes sense since I don't actually have a car."

"Morgan."Chuck said, meaningfully glaring at his friend.

"Right. You too kids have fun. But not too much fun, I mean its still."

"Morgan." Chuck reiterated a bit more forcefully.

"I'll just be going." The short bearded man finally began walking away from them along the street. When he was no longer in hearing range Chuck turned back towards her.

"Sorry, I thought it was my sister."

"Of course." Sarah felt a wave of disappointed followed quickly by guilt. Chuck gave her a tight smile.

"Goodnight?"

"Goodnight." She answered with a small nod. She turned and head towards her car.

Sitting in the driver's seat, she took a deep breath, steadying herself. She tried to convince herself it was simply because of the residual adrenaline from her anger earlier in the meal.

September 24 2007

Chuck came to the Orange Orange slightly after the lunchtime rush.

"Are you busy tonight?"

"No. Is there a mission?" Chuck played with his tie.

"I want to do something, as an apology."

"You don't need to apologize for accidentally flashing on my file Chuck." She reassured him.

"Maybe not, but I still feel like I should apologize." He gave her a hopeful smile. "So will you come?" Sarah let out sigh.

"Okay."

"Right, I'll pick you up at seven. Oh, and dress casually, apologies can't be very expensive on a Buymore salary." Sarah gave a little snort. Then threw a gummy bear at him.

XXX

Chuck insisted on driving. He also refused to tell her where they were going. Twenty minutes later they began weaving down residential streets. Chuck stopped in front of a two storey house whose front was obscured by trees.

"This doesn't look like a restaurant." She said, eyeing the home in front of her.

"This is where I grew up." He pulled open his door and exited signaling her to follow. Sarah shook off her surprise and hurried to catch up with him as he made his way towards the door.

"Chuck, Beckman and Graham aren't going to be happy if we get arrested for breaking and entering, nostalgia value or not.

"Not a problem." He pulled out a key from his pocket and opened the door before motioning her in. Inside the house was dusty and empty; the furniture was covered and the only running appliance appeared to be a fridge.

"My dad bought the house. Again." He clarified. "My dad left Ellie and I my senior year of high school." He turned towards her, giving her a meaningful look. So he must have seen that part of her file too.

"Ellie sold the house to help pay expenses. After I joined the CIA I found out that my dad had been a company scientist. He left because he was afraid someone would try to go after his research by hurting Ellie or I. I also found out that the person Ellie sold the house to was one of his aliases. A few years ago I came by and realized that he never changed the locks." Sarah couldn't help but stare at Chuck for a second, in shock he would actually tell her something like that.

"Chuck, you didn't have to tell me all of that."

"Maybe, but it's nice to tell someone. " He looked wistfully around the dusty house. "And now you know something about me that no one else knows. So we're even." Chuck moved through the living room towards the kitchen. He hopped up and sat on the counter facing the fridge. Sarah sat down beside him.

"Does Ellie know?"

"No, and you can't tell her. Not until I'm sure Ninja Assassins aren't going to come crashing in looking for my dad."

"So, my apology was to be brought to a place with Ninja Assassins?" Chuck jumped down from the counter and opened the freezer.

"Ninja Assassins and freshly bought ice cream." He brought the tub out with a flourish and handed it to her.

"Rocky Road?" She gave him a curious glance.

"That wasn't from your file. I remembered you used to talk about it when we went to Max's?" Sarah couldn't help but grin at the memory. Chuck moved down from the counter, and pulled a package of disposable bowls and spoons from their hiding place next to the refrigerator. After the ice cream had been dished out Chuck touched his bowl on hers as if it were a toast. They sat in silence for a moment, eating. Several bites in, a thought suddenly occurred to her.

"What else did you see in my file that you thought you had to do this as an apology?" Chuck's eyes widened and he choked for a moment on his ice cream. When he recovered, she heard him mumble through the chocolately mire.

"Nothing."