A/N: Hey everybody...whew! As promised, here's another update...check this out...being a dinosaur, I write a lot of my notes, quotes and even some paragraphs out...long hand. Then using the amazing, two- fingered hunt and peck method, I transfer all of this amazing goodness to the electronic page...wow, how cool and tremendously old school can I possibly be? I don't have the answer to that...anyway, where was I ...oh yeah...I had the first five pages of this chapter written when I realized that the story had taken a turn I didn't like and ...back to the begining of the chapter I went...oh, no crying, brave readers...I suffer for my art...yeah, art, that's what I'll call it...for now. Anyway, went back because I believe you deserve the best or at the very least...not the worst...and still managed to get it up...the chapter...you know what i mean...oh..where was I again...crap...truly lost...must go to fallback manouver...Thanks for sticking with me and these stories( of course I'm including 'Walkabout', aren't you?), yoursupport means a lot and I really do appreciate any and all reviews...so, please leave them...tell me what you love...or hate...but mostly love, I hope.

Wow...that was an epic ramble. As many have said before me and many will say after me...I don't own Chuck or anyhting in the Chuckverse.

Wow # 2...Can you believe that I manage to produce this without the aid of a beta...or half of my brain cells? Don't ask...we just stopped getting along and they moved out...now they don't write or call...I do believe that they may be behind all of the spam I get but I can't prove it...damn brain cells...leave me alone!

Sarah Vs. The Strong Swimmer

Chuck awoke to a sound unlike any he had ever heard before. Looking around for the source of the noise, he looked down and realized that Sarah was asleep with her head on his chest and…oh god…the sound was emanating from her. He tried to analyze the sound and thought it was almost like a snore but not quite. Looking at her face he was enthralled by how peaceful and serene she appeared…nothing like the world-class, kickin'-ass spy she was. As he watched her sleep and sorta-snore, he remembered what he had said to her last night as they stood in front of the juke-box. He had told her that he thought he was falling in love with her and that had been a lie because, if he was being truthful with himself, he had fallen in love with her weeks before. In fact, he had fallen in love with her that first night.

Watching her sleep as she lay snuggled into his side, Chuck started thinking about what he would with his life. With no Buymore, he really needed to fast-track his five year plan…yup, he definitely needed to choose more than just the font.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Sarah asked, startling him out of his 'five-year plan' thoughts.

"Surprisingly good, all things considered" he answered, looking down at the angel who was resting on his chest. "I'm guessing that those pills you had me take last night have something to do with that?"

"That…and the shot of B-12 that your sister had me give you. You really do have a cute as, you know?" she said with a grin.

With a look of confusion on his face, he lifted the sheet and took note of the lack of clothing they both were 'suffering' from. "Miss Walker…did you take advantage of me last night?"

"Why Mr. Bartowski, exactly what kind of girl do you think I am?" Sarah giggled, "I thought about it though. I decided to wait until this morning" she added as Chuck felt her hand begin to drift down his chest and across his stomach before arriving at it's destination…and driving the last bit of last night's sleep from his mind. "Ah…good to see that getting fired hasn't left you to depressed to 'work." She said as she started to nibble at his ear.

"Sarah…I…uh…I forgot what I was gonna say. I'll try to remember after…"

"You do that, honey…now…uh…" she mumbled as she positioned herself so she was looking down into his eyes.

"I'm glad that you're one of those agents who believes in taking control of the situation…so to speak."

"Chuck" Sarah said as she did, indeed, 'take control of the situation', "don't expect this every time…I expect you to 'take control' sometimes, but right now…"she said breathlessly as she bent down so their foreheads touched, "…shut up and kiss me!"

And he did…and did.

-00—00-0-0-0

Chuck was enjoying his shower when he heard the bathroom door open and close. Placing his head under the nozzle so he could wash the shampoo out of his eyes, he felt the brief draft that told him that someone had joined him in the shower.

"After you're done with yours, would you shampoo mine?" Sarah whispered as she stepped up closer behind and wrapped her arms around him.

"Of course…and I'd be happy to wash anything else you want washed…"

"We'll see…I'm sure that we'll both be very clean when we get out. Oh yeah…we've got a briefing later…have you come up with any ideas about what you want to do? I'm guessing that you don't want to go back to work for Buymore…right?" she asked as she reached for his body soap. "Hope you don't mind me using your body wash."

"I don't mind at all but…if your reaction is any example, you might find yourself being mauled by beautiful, sexy, blonde, female spies." He answered, trying to look and sound serious.

"Are you saying that the only reason I want your body is because of the body wash you use?" she said as she lightly grabbed a handful of 'Chuck'.

"Well, of course not. I'm sure that you find me charming and , as evidenced by your grip, there is something else…besides my dashing good looks, that you enjoy."

"And don't you forget it!" she replied with a giggle. Releasing her grip, she reached up and pulled him into a deep kiss. Breaking the kiss minutes later, she looked into his eyes. "After you get done with my hair, would you mind washing my back?"

"Your back…your front…I'll wash anything you ask me to wash!"

-00—00-0—0-0

Sarah walked into the room, pulling her hair into a loose ponytail. Seeing Chuck sitting at his desk, busy writing something on a yellow legal pad, she walked over and draped her arms around his shoulders. "What you working on…that five year plan of yours?"

Chuck turned the pad over and turned around to look into Sarah's eyes. "Well…yeah…kinda. I know, great command of the English language…but trust me, this definitely has something to do with the plan."

"Well, why don't you let me take a look so I can see how I figure into this 'plan' of yours. I do figure in, don't I?"

"Of course you do…very heavily. I'm just not sure if you should see this before the briefing. Please, trust me. I think you'll be happy…and if you're not, well there's always plausible deniability."

"Okay, Chuck…I trust you." she said as she leaned in and planted a kiss on his neck. "The briefing is scheduled for five o'clock. Could I take you out for dinner after that? You know…that date, date that I tried to get you on last night before…"

"Yeah…that would be great…either way, after the briefing, we'll either be celebrating or…well, let's just plan on celebrating."

"That sounds great, Chuck. I've got some things I really need to talk to you about. Tonight?"

"Of course…after the briefing, I'm all yours" Chuck said as he got ready to go back to work on his plan.

Releasing his neck, Sarah placed a kiss on the top of his head and then turned to leave. "I'll see you later" she said over her shoulder. "I can't wait to hear this plan of yours."

"I'll see you later." Chuck said as he went back to making notes.

-00—0—0-000—

Chuck made it over to Casey's five minutes before the briefing was scheduled to start and found he and Sarah already seated in front of the monitor. Chuck let himself in and pulled a chair up behind his two 'partners'.

Right on time, the video conference started with the split-screen appearance of General Diane Beckman and CIA Director Langstrom Graham. The General got the ball rolling and seemed to set the mood for the rest of the briefing…"So, how did the asset manage to get himself fired from the Buymore…something that I had assumed was impossible to do…I mean…isn't his troll-like friend still employed there?"

"Maybe, Mr. Bartowski is just a more accomplished idiot than his friend." Director Graham suggested, which was all it took for Chuck to reach his breaking point.

"You know what?" Chuck said before either the general or the director could say anymore, "I had planned to present the powers that be with a well thought out, workable plan for me to continue working with you…however, since you seem to think so little of me, that plan's out the window…" and Chuck emphasized the point by tearing the top sheet off of the legal pad that he was holding, "…and now we're on to plan B. First, the government will start paying me for allowing them access to their secrets…"

"WHAT?" was heard from both sides of the video conference.

"…if you don't mind, please let me finish before you start threatening me. Sure, you could 'bunker' me or threaten my family or friends but I'm fairly certain that an intersect that doesn't want to co-operate, would be next to worthless. So, you'll start paying me whatever the going rate is for someone with my…abilities. Oh, that's right…there is no one like me, is there? Guess that makes me kinda valuable, doesn't it?"

"Next…director…since it was one of yours, namely,one Bryce Larkin, who sent all of your secrets to me…and it was this same special kinda douche who got me kicked out of Stanford for something I didn't do…I think it's up to the CIA to clean up his mess. Since you can't get this crap out of my head, I want you to clear things up with Stanford. I want to be able to complete my degree…online…and then get my diploma so I can put my education to use!" Chuck showed no signs of slowing down and everybody present was too shocked to say anything. "Finally, for now, after you take the time to check with the Buymore, you'll find out that I was wrongfully terminated. I see the question and NO…and I mean HELL NO…I don't want my job back. I'm thinking that the government should make a small business investment and help me open a computer repair business. I'd handle all of the work, repairs, installations, etc. The business would make it easier for me to perform whatever missions come our way and maybe it might even make some money! Any questions?"

Everyone was struck silent, not believing the outburst from the normally quiet Chuck. The General was the first to recover.

"Mr. Bartowski…I don't think that…"

"Wrong answer! You have nothing to threaten me with. You need me and you need to keep me happy. If you take the time to think over my proposal, you'll see that it's fair and…surprise, surprise…it'll work in your favor."

Director Graham spoke up. "Mr. Bartowski, I believe that we'll need a little time to review your proposal…say twenty-four hours. Would that be alright with you?"

Stunned silence greeted the directors statement until Chuck answered. "That will be fine. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Now, what else do you have for us?"

General Beckman was still stunned into silence so the director continued. "Agent Walker."

"Yes sir." Sarah answered, still a little in shock from Chuck's 'bomb'.

"The payroll office has finally cleared all the paperwork and you'll be receiving your spousal benefits from Agent Larkin's insurance policy within forty-eight hours…"

"What?" both Sarah and Chuck said at almost the same time.

"You were married to Bryce Larkin?" Chuck asked with confusion, hurt and betrayal all making an appearance in his eyes as he looked at Sarah.

Sarah was staring at the monitor with her mouth hanging wide open, "What was that, Director…did you say spousal benefits? I don't understand…we weren't married, we were in a relationship…sure, but we weren't married…what the hell is going on…"

The sound of a slamming door caught Sarah's attention and she looked behind her to find that Chuck was gone. 'Oh crap' she said to herself as she realized that Chuck now knew that Bryce had been more than a partner to her.

"Agent Walker" Director Graham said, causing her to turn back around and stare at the monitor. "Is there a problem, Agent Walker?"

"No sir" she answered, 'at least I hope not' she added to herself, wondering how she would explain this to Chuck. She had been planning to tell him tonight, when they went out for their 'date-date' but now she would have to seriously rethink her strategy. "Is there anything else, Sir? Ma'am?"

General Diane Beckman was still fuming because of Bartowski's demands and couldn't think of anything to say so the Director stepped in again and answered for both of them. "Agents, I believe it would be for the best if we table this briefing for twenty-four hours. This time tomorrow, we'll meet again. Dismissed." And just like that the video link disappeared, leaving a stunned Casey and a panicked Sarah Walker, sitting side by side, unsure what to do next.

"Walker!" "Walker!" "SARAH! What the hell is going on here? The asset suddenly finds a pair...a huge pair and 'threatens' the general and the ,director? And you were married to, what did the moron call him...oh yeah, a 'special kind of douche' Larkin?"

"God dammit Casey, I was never married to Bryce...but now Chuck thinks I was. I was afraid before to tell him that we dated but now...what am I gonna do? He hates Bryce with a passion and now he probably hates me. Now I know how Chuck felt yesterday...what a shit day, all of a sudden! I guess I better go and find him and try to explain everything to him."

"Explain everything? What the hell, Walker. You tell him that you dated but you weren't married...what's so tough about that?" Casey asked with a snort.

"There's more Casey, trust me, there's more and I really hope we can straighten this out...he and I, not you and I. I'm going to go and find him and tell him everything...and hope it doesn't all go to shit." Getting up from the sofa, Sarah makes her way to the door, deciding to start with Casa Bartowski first, not sure where she would look after that. She got lucky, finding him last night...tonight might be tougher. "Wish me luck, Casey"

"Yeah...whatever" he said to a suddenly empty apartment. 'Well, tomorrow should be fun" he said to himself as he went in search of scotch and a hot pocket.