This is not an original story. In fact it is one of my first. It was written at the beginning of season 2. The story was inspired by a series of discussions between BrickRoad and me talking through different storyline ideas.
Warning: There is some adult content in this. Nothing major but please use discretion. I still don't own Chuck.
If you enjoyed this or any of the stories on this site, please take a second and send the author a review. It only takes a second – and it really, really makes a difference. That's probably more important than ever now that the series has ended. If you want to keep the Chuck fandom alive and continue to read about these characters, you really need to think about rewarding the people whose hard work make that possible.
Fair warning, this starts out a little rough from a Charah point of view. In fact, I think the saddest scene I've ever written is in this chapter . Don't worry. I promise no shippers were actually harmed in the making of this story.
Just Friends
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Chuck was sitting in the cage working on computers. Well, he should have been working on computers. The truth was he was working on feeling sorry for himself. And at present that was pretty much a full time job. He smiled for a brief moment as he thought back to last night. For a while it was like old times. Sarah's smile could have lit up the city. But then Bryce had to call. Why did he let himself get his hopes up? Why did he let Ellie talking him into hoping? Sarah and he just weren't going to happen. She loves Bryce. The sooner he realized that and moved on the better off he would be. Chuck was concentrating so hard on feeling sorry for himself that he didn't notice Becky enter the cage.
"Hi," she said with a huge smile.
"Becky," Chuck said loudly as he jumped. "You startled me."
"Sorry," she said with a laugh. "I just wanted to thank you for last night. I had a really great time."
It was amazing how different she looked from last night. Although now that Chuck had seen her as a babe he could tell that she was intentionally trying to hide being attractive. It was hard to fault her for that. It was probably a good idea while working directly with Jeff and Lester.
"Do you think we could do it again some time?" Becky asked. "Maybe next time we could call it a real date."
Chuck really didn't want to hurt her. Here was this nice, attractive, single girl who was actually pursuing him. A year ago he would have been all over this. But this wasn't a year ago. "I don't know, Becky," he said hesitantly. "I'm not sure I'm ready to start dating."
"Please, Chuck," Becky said with a smile. "I really like you. We just seem to click somehow. I know that I'm being incredibly forward here. But you're hurting. I know exactly how that feels. Let me help you get over this. I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
She wasn't making much attempt to hide the double meaning in her offer. But it wouldn't be fair to use her like that. He would just be pretending that she was Sarah. "Let me think about it," he said. "I want to make sure that you know that it's not you. You're great. I'm just not sure I can make myself go on a date right now."
"Well, Chuck," Becky said over her shoulder with a sly smile as she walked away. "You know where I'll be when you decide you're ready. I'm from Dallas and we have a saying. It's like riding a horse. When one bucks you off, you have to get right back on. I promise that I won't buck you off."
As soon as Becky was out of sight, Morgan popped into the cage.
"Dude," Morgan said excitedly. "What could you possibly be thinking? She won't buck you off? You have to go out with her now."
"Still eavesdropping I see," Chuck said with a laugh. "I just don't think I'm really up to it right now, Morgan. I'm still not over Sarah. It has only been two days."
"Chuck," Morgan said firmly. "Dude, is there any real hope of you and Sarah getting back together?"
"I don't think so," Chuck said sadly.
"Then go over and talk to her," Morgan said. "Get over her. Man, it's not every day that a hot babe promises not to buck you off. I'm not exactly sure what that even means but it has got to be good, right? It sure sounds hot as hell."
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Like Chuck, Sarah was pretending to work. She had a rag and was attempting to clean off the counter. But she had been wiping the same spot for a good twenty minutes now. Again like Chuck, she was actually daydreaming. As much as this cover job sucked, there were definite advantages. When the teenage boys were in school, they had about ten customers a day. Not only that, but it was built on a world class spy facility. Now, if she could just get her real job in order. She wondered to herself. How did this situation get so messed up? This is exactly why spies don't get involved with civilians. That point was drilled over and over again in training. She had violated one of the most basic rules that an agent had. She had fallen in love. And now she was going to have to pay the price. Her thoughts were temporarily interrupted by a customer coming into the store. That was odd. They never had customers in the morning. Sarah wasn't even sure why they opened so early. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't realize that the customer was Chuck until he was standing in front of her.
"Hi," he said hesitantly.
"Chuck," Sarah said, the smile automatically coming to her lips. "I wasn't expecting you. Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," Chuck said quickly with a grin as he recognized Sarah's agent instinct kick in. "I just came over to apologize."
"What do you need to apologize for?" Sarah asked as she stepped out from behind the counter to face him."
"I've been acting like a baby," Chuck said softly forcing himself to look into Sarah's eyes. "I've made you feel badly for something that you can't control. I feel horrible about that. I just want you to know that I'm very, very sorry."
He couldn't have said anything to make her feel worse if he tried. Here was the sweetest man in world, the only man that she had ever truly loved, standing there apologizing for being in love with her. It was simply heartbreaking. She knew there was no way to keep her composure looking into those huge, sad brown eyes. So Sarah wrapped her arms around Chuck wordlessly and buried her face in his chest so he wouldn't see the tears that were starting to well in her eyes.
"You're my best friend in the world," Chuck continued softly, speaking into the top of Sarah's head. "I can't lose you out of my life. If that means that I have to be your friend and nothing more then that's what I'll do. Nothing is more important to me than your happiness. And if Bryce makes you happy, then I need to support you. So, I don't want you to spend any more time worrying about me. I'm going to be okay. I just need to move on. I promise that I will."
Sarah just nodded and squeezed Chuck harder, still not trusting herself to speak. They stayed that way for a long moment. Finally Chuck spoke again.
"I need some best friend type advice," Chuck said, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "There is a new girl at the Buy More who just asked me on a date. Do you think that it's too soon? I mean we've only been broken up for two days. I wouldn't want to appear disrespectful to you."
Sarah was wrong a minute ago. That was the worst thing he could have said. He was telling her that he was going to force himself to move on. That fact made him easy pickings for someone like Agent Ivan. Sarah paused for a long moment to compose herself. Finally she felt like she could speak without breaking down. "I think that you should do whatever helps you get through this," she said. She knew that her orders were to encourage him, but that's as far as she could go. Thankfully her words were muffled by his shirt.
Sarah made no attempt to break the embrace. If anything she was holding him tighter.
"I don't know when I'll see Bryce again," Chuck said softly while rubbing her back. "I may never see him again. So I need you to give him a message for me. I need you to tell him that I think that he is the luckiest person in the whole world. Can you do that?"
Sarah nodded silently, still buried in his shirt.
"And you also need to tell him," Chuck said. "If he ever fails to cherish you, if he ever lets you down, if he ever hurts you in any way, I know that he is a trained agent, but I'll find a way to kick his ass. Tell him that Chuck said that."
Sarah called on every bit of training that she ever had to compose herself to be able to break the embrace and look into Chuck's eyes.
"Thanks," was all she could say.
By some miracle, Sarah was able to keep her composure until Chuck walked out the door. Beckman would be very pleased. Sarah had performed many tough assignments during her time as an agent. She had killed people in cold blood. She had seduced the most vile, evil, disgusting men. But today she had just completed the toughest assignment of her career. Her and Chuck were now officially just friends. As soon as he was out of sight she broke down. It's a good thing that no customers came into the store for the next hour because Sarah wouldn't have been able to help them.
x-x-x-x-x
When Chuck walked back into the Buy More he spotted Becky sitting alone at the Nerd Herd desk. She was busy writing up some paperwork and didn't notice Chuck. He wasn't sure how she had managed to avoid Jeff and Lester but he didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, whatever that meant.
"Hi," Chuck said with a smile as he walked up to her.
"Hi," Becky said. Her eyes lit up as she recognized that it was Chuck.
"Would you like to go on a date with me tonight?" Chuck asked. "I mean if you don't have any other plans."
"I'd love that." Becky said as her face broke into a full fledged grin. "What are we going to do?"
"Well," Chuck said with an embarrassed laugh. "I guess I haven't thought through that part. We could always go to dinner and a movie. Would you like that?"
"Do you really think you're up to that?" Becky asked softly.
"I'm going to move on," Chuck insisted. "I have to be able to be up to it. I really appreciate your understanding. You've been great."
"Why don't we start slow?" Becky asked. "Come to my place and I'll make dinner. Then we can play some Call of Duty. I'm just learning the game and I could really use some help. Would you like that?"
Chuck hesitated. Yes, she was clearly willing to do whatever it took. But there was a pride thing involved. She needed to get something out of this too. "I don't want you to have to cook on our first date," he said with a smile. "How about if I bring over a pizza? I know the best pizza place that is really close to your apartment."
"That sounds great," Becky replied with a long laugh. "I was actually worried that my cooking might scare you away anyway."
"What do you like on your pizza?" Chuck asked casually.
"I like everything," Becky said animatedly. "I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this. I'm going to make sure that you have a good time."
"Well," said Chuck. "I really appreciate your understanding the situation. I'd better get back to the cage before Big Mike has a coronary. I'll see you around seven?"
"Sounds great," said Becky with a smile.
But then she said it. The thing that was about to doom the completion of her assignment, for tonight anyway.
"Oh and Chuck?" she called to him as he walked away.
"Ask them for heavy olives on the pizza," Becky said as Chuck turned towards her. "I love olives. It's my favorite part."
"I will," Chuck said with a sad smile as he walked away, suddenly much less enthusiastic for tonight's date.
x-x-x-x-x
Chuck was in his room getting ready to go meet Becky. "What do you even wear for a date to play Call of Duty?" he asked himself. He decided to settle on a pair of jeans and a blue polo shirt.
"Hi Chuck, what's going on?" called Ellie when Chuck walked out of his room.
"Hey sis," Chuck said with a smile. "I'm just heading out. I have a date."
"You have a date?" Ellie said as her face brightened into a huge smile. "I know that you kids would work it out. I must say, I didn't expect it so soon.
"Sorry sis," Chuck said with a sad smile. "I'm not going out with Sarah. We're over. I have to move on. I'm going out with Becky. She's the new Nerd Herd girl that I went to the beach with last night."
"No," said Ellie with a sad sigh. "Chuck, you can't give up on Sarah. She loves you. I know it."
"You're wrong, Ellie," Chuck said softly but insistently. "Sarah is in love with her ex boyfriend. She told me so. I heard her tell him that on the phone last night. It's over for us. I need to move on."
Ellie was not close to being convinced. "I don't believe it," she said firmly. "I looked into Sarah's eyes. She is in love with you. I promise. Don't give up on her."
"Ellie, please stop," Chuck said, much more loudly than he had intended. "You're killing me here. I would give anything for that to be true. But it just isn't. I don't know what you think you see in Sarah but you're just wrong. And if I don't move on, I'm going to lose her totally. Please quit telling me to hope. It hurts too much to hope. There isn't any hope."
"I'm right about this," Ellie insisted softly as she hugged Chuck. "But I guess you need to do what you need to do. Tell me about this girl. She works in the Nerd Herd? That must make her a nerd."
"Maybe," Chuck said with a smile as he broke the embrace. "But she is definitely the hottest nerd I've ever seen."
"How hot?" asked Ellie skeptically. "She can't be in Sarah's league."
"Sarah is the most beautiful woman I've ever met, except for you of course," Chuck said with a smile. "So Becky is not Sarah but she is clearly in the same league."
"Get out of here," Ellie said with a laugh at Chuck's corny compliment as she playfully slugged him in the arm. "Just do me a favor. Go slow. I know that you're hurting. Just take a breath before you jump into anything serious. If this girl can replace Sarah, she'll still be around in a week."
"I will," Chuck promised softly as he leaned in to give Ellie a peck. "Thanks for caring."
"One thing for sure," Ellie said angrily to herself as she watched Chuck close the door behind him. "Something doesn't smell right here. I'm going to find out what in the hell it is."
x-x-x-x-x
Chuck had ordered the pizza before he left so it was ready when he got there to pick it up. When he opened the box to check on it, Chuck grimaced as he saw the olives piled on. He used to like olives but being with Sarah for so long had conditioned him to not having them. He knew that it was quite silly but he wasn't sure how he felt about olives anymore.
Becky quickly opened the door as soon as he knocked. Chuck couldn't get over the change in her appearance between work and home. She was obviously an expert at makeup. She looked lovely. She had on a pair of kaki pants that looked like they had been spray painted on. She wore a very sheer button up blouse that wasn't all that buttoned up. Chuck had to remind himself to resist the natural temptation to look down her shirt.
"Hi Chuck," Becky said with a grin as she gave him a quick peck and pulled him into the room. "I've been looking forward to this all afternoon."
As soon as Chuck arrived, Becky pulled him to the kitchen table and handed him a beer. As they ate the pizza, they made small talk for a few minutes. After they finished eating they started playing the game. It turned out that Becky was a much better Call of Duty player than she was letting on. She was not quite in Morgan's league but she was darned close. Chuck noticed that while they were playing Becky was sliding closer and closer to him on the couch. The longer they played, the closer she got. She had a habit of reaching over and touching his leg to get his attention. After playing for about an hour, Becky suggested that they take a break.
"So, Chuck," Becky said as she handed him another beer and sat next to him on the couch. "I know you like video games. Do you like any real sports?"
Chuck considered the question. "I guess," he finally said. "If a game is on, I'll watch. I'm not a huge fan."
"What about football?" Becky breathed as she leaned over and kissed him.
"Basketball?" Becky whispered, not waiting for any answer as she reached her hand behind Chuck's head and pulled him in for an urgent kiss. Chuck was hesitant at first but there wasn't much choice. Either participate or sit there looking like a jerk. So he quickly warmed to the action when he felt Becky's tongue pass his lips.
Agent Ivan sensed that the end was near. If she played this right they would be in her bed ten minutes from now. "How about baseball?" she whispered as she moved to straddle Chuck. Her knees were on either side of Chuck on the couch. She wrapped both arms around Chuck's neck and resumed the passionate kiss. After a few minutes of serious necking, Becky finally broke the kiss. With a sly smile she grabbed Chuck's hand in hers.
"If you like baseball," Becky said as she guided Chuck's hand inside of her blouse. Between kisses she whispered, "you must be a fan of second base."
x-x-x-x-x
Ellie was just about to settle down to actually watch a little television. Devon was working the late shift so she was alone. The fact was that her life was so busy that she hardly ever got to just sit and relax with a show. She certainly wasn't complaining. She had a full great life. But she was in uncharted territory. So much so that she had no idea what shows were even on Monday nights. Looking at the TV Guide channel she decided to try The Big Bang Theory. She had just settled in with her glass of wine when there was a knock at the door.
"Morgan, if that's you," Ellie groaned in disgust as she got up to answer the door. That would just be her luck. But it wasn't Morgan. She was surprised that when she opened the door, there was standing in front of her a very nervous looking Sarah.
Suddenly watching a television show didn't sound all that interesting. "Sarah, hi," Ellie said excitedly. "Chuck's not here right now."
"I know where he is," Sarah said sadly. "Actually, I came to see you."
"Come in," Ellie said soothingly. Once she took a good look at Sarah it was obvious that she was on edge emotionally. Ellie quickly led her to the couch and sat down beside her.
Ellie knew what this had to be about. She could plainly see the turmoil in her friend's eyes. But she decided to ask anyway. "Honey, you're shaking," she said with the concern evident in her voice as she put her arm around Sarah and rubbed her arm. "Is something wrong? What's wrong?"
"Ellie," Sarah said. She was clearly struggling to keep from breaking down.
"I need a friend."
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