A/N: The Carner Way …..*deep breath* I still don't think you all know what that means…That means stupid jokes about the train station. That means sapp, and fluff and….Bryce….Are we ready? Bryce joins up and Ellie finds out. Get your popcorn….and maybe those of you that need to, premedicate. Hehehehe….I give you Chapter 4, Team Moron vs The Pink Slip, Part III

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

"I mean seriously, are you going to pick it up at any point along this jog?"

Chuck gasped. Air was not making his way into his lungs properly. "Jog?" He caught a gulp of fresh air, and nearly stumbled. She reached to help him, but he shook his head, amusement on his face.. "Woman I'm giving you everything I have."

She shook her head, barely having broke a sweat. She made sure he could see the disappointment on her face. "I expected more from you, Chuck. We're gonna have to work on your stamina."

Chuck attempted to look affronted but he didn't have the energy. "I have plenty of stamina, thank you." She turned toward him, an amused smile on her face and a raised eyebrow. He immediately turned red. "So you want me to go faster and have more stamina. You drive a hard bargain Miss Walker."

"That's Mrs. Bartowski to you."

"Right, and I'm Mr. Walker." He was grinning at her, he didn't know how. There was no extra oxygen in his body for smiling and the muscles that required him to do so had given up ever being used properly again.

"No," she said seriously. He looked confused. "You are, and always will be, my Chuck."

"If I didn't know better…" he trailed off. No sense going down that road. Where they were was confusing enough. "Well, let's get on with our run."

She grinned at him. "We're done." Chuck looked around and realized they were back at their cars. She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled herself in close against him. She felt him tremor and smiled into his shirt. "Now what were you saying about if you didn't know better?"

"That you are practicing for our cover, which is ridiculous because why would you ever need to practice a cover?"

"No, Chuck," she said softly. She was practicing… "It's not a cover."

-ooooo-

"WOW! We have a dojo!" Sarah grinned at his boyish enthusiasm. Chuck spun toward Sarah. "You mean we get to spar."

She bounced a shoulder. "Or I get to kick your ass." She was grinning, and he knew it was good natured. He turned and flashed on martial arts that wouldn't hurt her where she couldn't see him. He got to the edge of the mat, turned, stretched one hand out and gave the universal sign of, "bring it." "Chuck." She said it low, amused, but with a tone of warning. He made the sign again. She came at him and she found herself on the mat, looking up at the worried face of her man. Her Chuck. A warmth filled her, but she also had just been shown up by Chuck, and there was one thing she knew about Chuck, he liked it when she showed off.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" It was adorable how concerned he was. In a second she had him in an armbar. "Never show weakness to an enemy."

"Okay, but I didn't." She cranked on his arm just a bit to show him the position she had him in. "Sarah, you're not the enemy." She loosened her grip, emotions flooding trough her, and the next thing she knew, she was looking up Chuck, who had her pinned, his weight pressed on her quite deliciously. "Seriously, you fell for that?" Her legs wrapped around his waist. "I'm not familiar with that move. It's not in the Intersect." The grin turned wanton. "Is it me or is it hot in here?" She thought it was adorable how nervous he looked.

"Chuck." The word dripped off of her tongue like honey. She watched him gulp. "I think we've done the will they won't they long enough, don't you?" Chuck nodded and licked his lips. He had her wrists pinned, but he took all the pressure off of them, spreading his fingers over her wrists and hands. Her eyes fluttered to the touch. He shifted his weight, making her raise her eyebrows. "Mr. Bartowski, do that again, and I will not be responsible for my actions."

"You promise, Sarah?"

The grin she gave him made him blush to his roots. He grinned and shifted his weight again. Her hands shot out from under his, grabbed his shirt and pulled him into her. Their lips crashed together. The bomb, Barstow, all of it was nothing compared to this. This was the promise of now, the hope of tomorrow, and a future that he, and she, could only dream about. She rolled him over , her hands now sliding down his wrists, making him growl.

"Chuck, if we do this…"

He pulled away, looking her in the eye. "Sarah, I'm here, as long as you promise to try, for us to be together, then I'm not going anywhere. I love you. I have for a very long time."

She grinned at him. "I was gonna say, we're both really sweaty."

He shook his head. "If we do it right, we will be anyway."

"Hi-Yo!" Chuck's mouth dropped. She leaned down and got right by his ear. "What can I say, you've made your way into my heart." She was talking very low. She spoke in a whisper next. "I think it's time to evaluate exactly how much you can give me." His body shuddered. She sat back up, gave him a slightly disappointed look, and made a tsk tsk noise. "Like I said, stamina."

"I didn't," he said confidently

Her smile was lecherous. "You will."

-ooooo-

Bryce came down the steps into Castle, admiring the place. He had to admit, no expense had been spared for his friend, and if anyone was worth it, it was Chuck Bartowski.

Casey looked up from the file he was studying and eyed him. "We need to talk."

Bryce expected that. Casey wasn't having any of the usual. "Could I go first?" Casey grunted and nodded. "That bullshit is over. She chose Chuck over me and an Intersect. I could tell you I was protecting him, protecting her, but I was jealous, Casey. He has no idea what a great guy he is, and try as I may, I can never live up to what Charles Bartowski is. On my best day, and on his worst, I can't really even compete."

Casey studied him, walked over to the screen, pushed a few buttons, and turned on the monitor. Chuck and Sarah were in one of the back rooms having lunch. "Look at this. This is what I've been putting up with for a week."

Bryce studied the monitor. "Are they glowing?" Casey grunted. "Is Chuck glowing more than Sarah?" Casey grunted again. "A week of this?" Casey shut his eyes, shook his head, and grunted again. "And their cover?"

"Mr and Mrs Carmichael."

Bryce grinned. "Did you suggest they really get married?" Casey grinned. "Chuck said no because 'they deserved better' or something like that." Casey nodded, still grinning. "Sarah wanted to?" Bryce's eyes were huge. "Oh dear God." Casey clapped Bryce on the back. "Let me guess the Intersect is preforming better than ever."

"He's flashing on things without even really trying. However, we still have the rest of the Bartowskis to work on and get Chuck out of the Buy More."

Bryce spun, stunned. "He's still in the Buy More? Oh hell no, that place will sap his soul."

Casey shrugged. "I don't know, selling Beast Masters is always nice. Not as nice as shooting someone."

"Do you hear yourself?" Casey closed his eyes, shook his head, opened them, and walked off. Bryce turned to the screen. "Let the Ring think I'm the Intersect. They'll never see him coming." He watched the two of them. "I think it's about time you two get the happy ending you deserve and I know just how to do it."

-ooooo-

Ellie and Devon had returned from their honeymoon. Chuck told them they needed to talk, but Ellie had sounded quite distracted. Chuck was pacing the floor growing concerned.

Sarah watched him, amused. "I think you're overreacting, Chuck. Maybe they're still honeymooning." Chuck stopped midstride and shook his head to keep that mental picture from happening. Sarah giggled. "You know," she said in a low voice. "I think maybe I can think of things we can do to occupy our time."

Chuck turned toward her. "Things for the cover?" She shook her head. "So not for the cover?"

She stood and walked toward him, long purposeful strides and he got lost in her. Just seeing her, just being around her, no more stupid cover, no more denying what they were feeling, no more-the door burst opened and there was Ellie, madder than a baptized cat. Bryce was behind her grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"First, it's about damn time! Second, why didn't you tell me? Third, Charles Irving Bartowski….ugh."

Chuck's eyes got wide. Ellie rarely ever ughhed anyone, and when she did…he shuddered. The last time he remembered involved Morgan, her pillow, and the prom.

"Ellie," he stammered.

"You knew Bryce wasn't dead and you didn't tell me? You didn't tell me you had a job opportunity you turned down because of Bryce? That you two had made up? That you could finally start your own software company? Because you thought I'd get mad?"

"You mean you wouldn't?"

"Over course I would!" That was the Ellie he knew. "But, it's an incredible opportunity, one you need to take advantage of, and this." She pointed to the two of them. "I mean I'm glad you moved out, I'm glad you're together, and I can tell REALLY together."

"Ellie, please," Chuck began, turning red. Sarah was grinning.

"Zip it. I get to enjoy this." She turned to Sarah. Sarah had faced every imaginable horror, never even breaking a sweat, but the look in Ellie's eye…she was terrified. "You hurt him…" Sarah gulped.

"I love him," she blurted out. Ellie softened, squealed, making Bryce grab his ear and wince, and pulled Sarah into the sister hugs of all sister hugs.

"Finally," she said softly. "Finally you admit it." Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, you are the worst at hiding your feelings for him. If you were a spy, you'd be terrible." Chuck was biting a fist so as not to burst out laughing. "Now, family dinner tonight, I'm not sure why you need Casey, but I'm glad that you've kept everyone together. I know what people mean to you two." Chuck nodded and Sarah looked a little surprised. "Come on, Sarah. You kept coming over to see us even after you two broke up."

"You're the only family I've ever really had," Sarah admitted. Ellie pulled her back into a hug. She let her go, grabbed Chuck and hugged him.

"Tonight," she said, leaving, the hurricane blowing through and then back out. "You too, Bryce. And thank you." And with that, she was gone. Bryce walked in.

"I hope I didn't overstep." The sincerity in Bryce's voice caught both by surprise. They knew he was here, but hadn't talked to him all day. "As team lead I thought maybe I could smooth some things over. I wasn't trying to do my usual. I just know you, Chuck. You'd get all scared of Ellie, and Sarah, while you come a long way, you vocalizing feelings still isn't your strong suit." They both had to agree. "So I've had Emmet transfered back to Beverly Hills, to give you, Casey, and Morgan a bit of a break. I'm sure at some point you're going to want to bring the bearded guy in. But we need to talk about a Ring courier, Javier Cruz. He has a sleazy contact, Giles."

"You want me to get close," Sarah said. She knew it was part of the mission, she knew she had to do things she didn't like, but this, this she wanted stopped.

"No," Bryce said, shaking his head. "As good as you are at seduction, you aren't as good as a perfectly functioning Intersect, and that's what we have with you and Chuck. Seduction missions are over for now. IF it comes to it, I can play the male role, although I need to not be in the field as much as possible since the Ring STILL thinks I have the Intersect."

"What about female seduction?" Sarah was so hopeful. It sounded too good to be true.

"I have an idea. As for Giles, he's slimy, I can play an arms dealer or something to get in good with him." Bryce was grinning, and Chuck realized it was old Bryce. Stanford Bryce. "So dinner tonight, Pot Roast?"

"We can only hope," Chuck replied. Bryce nodded and headed for the door. "I'm staying at Mason 23. Apparently the spy who stayed there before has moved on to better things, and I'm really happy for her, and her better things."

Chuck and Sarah shared a look. "Thanks, Bryce," Chuck told him earnestly. "Are you…okay, with this?"

"Guys…you two belong together," and with that, he left. Sarah wrapped her arms around Chuck and couldn't believe it. It was real, it was happening, and she was with Chuck.

A/N: I warned you. If I'm gonna do this, it's gonna be my way. Til next time…hope you enjoyed it!

DC