It's a Wonderful Cover Life
A/N 2013: Wow, thank you for all the feedback, guys, you are truly awesome. Speaking of awesome, thy name if Nervert – thank you for the super fast beta on this one. And in case you missed it, Revenge of the Bartowski is ba-ack. Make sure to check it out.
This is our last reread for the week. Meet us back here Monday for chapter 5. Happy reading!
A/N: As promised, this is back. What I can't promise however, is that you'll be able to read the Christmas chapters on Christmas day. My trip has thrown my writing and posting schedules out a bit, but I'm sure you won't mind if this story only finishes the first/second week in the New Year. Who said we're supposed to lose the Christmas spirit on 26 December? Anyway, for those who keep track of these types of things, there's another 8 chapters to this story.
As always, credit goes to Nervert for sorting out my grammar gremlins and his awesome suggestions and to quistie64 for making sure I don't screw up my kid. Maggie thanks you.
Lastly, it was great to come back from my trip to find some amazing reviews in my inbox. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to leave one, it's always nice to hear from you guys.
Now let's get to the story already.
I don't own Chuck.
15. The Remains of the Day
Chuck was starting to regret that he'd ever opened his mouth. After some convincing, Sarah had agreed to let him 'cozy' up the house. Of course she didn't have any stuffed toys or board games lying around, so she'd sent him on an emergency shopping spree – with John Casey.
He swallowed a nervous yelp when Casey cut off a school bus only to slam on the brakes to avoid missing the turn into the Buy More parking lot. Chuck had stopped pleading miles before that he was a single parent who didn't want to leave his daughter orphaned. Casey had merely grumbled that he'd be fine as long as he held onto something.
Less than an hour later, they were back on the road. Now knowing what to expect, Chuck decided that he needed to distract himself. He tried focusing on the guilt of dropping a generous amount of cash at the Burbank Buy More's biggest nemesis, the Beverly Hills' branch, instead of supporting his own, but that quickly faded. He'd be quitting soon and it was Sarah who'd suggested avoiding the Burbank store and possible awkward questions from his coworkers.
When the black SUV took yet another turnoff on what Chuck was certain was only two wheels, his head snapped around.
"Don't say it," Casey grunted without taking his eyes off the road. "I know what I'm doing."
"Would it hurt you to be more careful?"
"Yes."
"Could you at least try?"
"I don't take orders from you."
"Well then you're gonna have to learn." Chuck had no idea where his sudden bravery stemmed from – perhaps it was the fact that Casey's hands were otherwise occupied – but when Casey fixed him with a steely look, he quickly backtracked. "What I mean is you're going to have to pretend."
That did not make the situation better. Casey's jaw tightened and the vein in his forehead grew more prominent. Chuck shifted a little closer to the SUV's door.
"Okay, how about this – we avoid each other for the duration of my stay." He ventured a smile in Casey's direction, but the big man merely stared ahead. "You know," he said, "your stunned silence is very reassuring."
"You stay out of my business, I stay out of yours."
Chuck took that as an agreement, though he suspected Casey just said that to get him to stop talking.
"Good." He puffed out a relieved breath. "So now we have an understanding that works for the both of us. That's good."
Leaving Casey to concentrate on flirting with death, hopefully without sealing the deal, Chuck turned his attention back to the scenery. When he'd driven up earlier he'd been too busy looking for the right address to really appreciate the magnificent estates that bordered on the tree-lined boulevard. Of course at the speed they were traveling he could only appreciate every fourth mansion if he moved his head steadily from left to right and then snapped it back to repeat the motion. It felt like watching a one-sided tennis match.
When a familiar gate came into view, Chuck swallowed a 'thank god'.
They circled the fountain and Casey pulled up close to the front door. Before he even had the engine switched off, Chuck was outside, standing next to the SUV. The first thing that caught his attention was Sarah waiting on the porch. He reached her in three strides.
"Is Maggie okay?"
Ellie always teased him about inheriting her overprotectiveness after complaining about it for years, but since he'd become a dad, he completely understood where she was coming from.
"Maggie's fine," Sarah assured him. "She's been playing dress-up the whole time you were gone. I told you Gertrude has a real knack with kids. It's a pity she only has one of her own."
Chuck heard Casey approach behind him, his 'watch it' grunt making him hard to miss.
Sarah smirked at her butler. "Don't worry, big guy, she's given up on trying to rope you into having more."
Chuck's head snapped from Sarah to Casey and back to her. Casey ignored them, juggling a giant dollhouse in his arms as he opened the front door.
"Your butler and your housekeeper?" Chuck asked once he'd heard Casey's footsteps ascend the stairs.
"Apparently the heart wants what the heart wants," Sarah replied. She walked past Chuck, patting him on the arm when he merely stared at the door, open-mouthed, and started to make her way towards the SUV. "Come on, Chuck," she called over her shoulder, "those toys aren't going to unload themselves."
16. A Personal Touch
"Will you stop fidgeting already?"
"I don't fidget."
Sarah was fidgeting and she knew it. She'd thought she would have more time to mentally prepare herself for the charade they were about to attempt to pull off, but had spent the afternoon stringing popcorn for the Christmas tree instead. She had no idea giving the house a family friendly makeover would be such hard work.
"I don't care what you call it, just cut it out." Carina held up two pairs of strappy sandals for Sarah to inspect. "Black or silver?" she asked, lifting the appropriate pair as she spoke.
"Silver." Sarah reached out to take them, but then her hand hesitated. "Or is that too formal?"
"There's no such thing as too formal," Carina replied. She stuffed the shoes into Sarah's hands, took a step back and, with her hands on her hips, she studied her friend from head to toe. "What's wrong with you?" she asked.
Sarah spun around, dropping her shoes on the carpet as she scrutinized herself in the full length mirror. The cobalt blue satin hugged her curves intimately, flared out to the bottom and ended just above her knee. She tugged at the mermaid straps, wondering if the V-neck was perhaps cut too low. She turned to ask Carina's opinion, but the redhead beat her to the punch.
"The dress is fine. I'm talking about you."
"What about me?" Sarah asked.
"First you fidget, then you second guess your choice of shoes, something you never do, and now you seem to be rethinking the dress. Whatever happened to following your instincts?"
Bryce happened, Sarah thought, but didn't say it. They had a business deal to concentrate on and the last thing she needed was another I-told-you-so.
"I was asking for your opinion because I want to make a good impression," Sarah said. She retrieved her sandals, slipped them on and propped her foot up on a nearby chair to fasten the straps.
"And who exactly do you want to make this impression on?"
Deciding that she won't be baited, Sarah switched feet, taking her time to thread the thin leather strip through the buckle.
Carina smirked. "Nerd got your tongue?"
Biting back a snarky comeback, Sarah checked her watch. "Beckman's plane lands in half an hour. Shouldn't you get going?"
"There's plenty of time," Carina replied, following Sarah over to the dresser. She rummaged through the jewelry box while Sarah checked her make-up. Finding a pair of suitable earrings, she placed them in front of Sarah. "Speaking of first impressions," she said, "I think you should kiss Chuck."
It was sheer luck that Sarah didn't poke herself in the eye with the mascara brush. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. The two of you are like Beauty and the Geek. I bet if you touch him you'll break him, then Beckman will know something's up. Think of it as practice."
"Chuck is fine with me touching him," Sarah replied, realizing belated how that sounded. "I doubt Beckman is expecting us to make out in front of her to prove we are what we say we are. What she would expect is to be fetched from the airport on time."
"Yeah, yeah, you've said that already. I still think we should send Casey –"
Sarah cut her short. "We're going for the personal touch, remember? Hence the family dinner and sleepover." She grabbed Carina's clutch from the dresser and tossed it at her along with a this-was-your-idea look.
Carina's expression turned sour. "Fine, but I'm taking the Porsche."
"Your Mercedes has more trunk space." Carina knew no one touched Sarah's baby, yet she'd never let a chance go by without trying to get her hands on the keys.
"Working for you is such a pain sometimes," Carina shot over her shoulder.
"Which is why the job comes with excellent health insurance."
Sarah smiled to herself when Carina almost didn't slam the bedroom door. It was rare that she got the last word in. Not that she kept score, because despite the occasional squabble, Sarah knew that Carina would always have her back, and vice versa.
17. Second First Impressions
"Do you remember what to do?" Chuck asked.
"Yes," Maggie answered with conviction, nodding her head.
"Good girl." He straightened out her collar and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Now take a step back so I can see how pretty you look."
He remained on bended knee as Maggie obliged. She did a slow full turn and then gave him a toothy grin.
"Do you like my dress, Daddy?" she asked. "Miss Gertrude says it's the same as my eyes, so it's okay that it's a boy color."
"I love it," Chuck replied, swallowing a lump that suddenly formed in his throat. Not so long ago held a tiny pink bundle in his arms, completely freaked out because he didn't have the faintest idea what to do with her, and now she was a perfect little lady. "You know," he said, "you're gonna break hearts when you grow up."
Maggie tilted her head and frowned. "Aunt Ellie says I won't break so much stuff when I'm bigger."
Chuck couldn't help but laugh quietly. "She's right, but a heartbreaker doesn't actually break stuff," he explained. "I mean boys are going to like you because you're so pretty." He wisely left out the part about him buying a shotgun.
She thought it over for a moment and then asked, "Daddy, was Mommy pretty?"
This threw Chuck for a loop. In the back of his mind he'd always known that she'd ask about Jill someday, but he wasn't prepared for it to be today.
"Are you guys ready?"
Neither of them had noticed Sarah stepping into the hallway.
"Uh-huh," Maggie answered when Chuck didn't, her previous question seemingly forgotten.
Grateful for being saved a difficult explanation, he pushed to his feet and took his daughter's hand. He turned towards Sarah, fully intent on sending her a silent thank you over Maggie's head, but when he caught sight of her, all coherent thoughts fled. All day he'd been trying his best to avoid looking at her, really looking at her, for fear that he'd start acting like an idiot and blow the whole thing, but he was not expecting that. He was well aware that she was beautiful, but in that dress…
A tug on his sleeve shook him from his stupor.
"Daddy," Maggie whispered loudly, her eyes bouncing between Chuck and Sarah, "she's pretty too."
"She sure is." Realizing he was talking about Sarah as if she wasn't there, he added "I mean, you look…you look amazing. Absolutely breathtaking."
Sarah briefly broke eye contact and Chuck swallowed audibly, thinking that maybe he'd overdone it. When she met his gaze again, her cheeks slightly pinker than before, she smiled. "Thank you, Chuck." She gave him a once over. "You look very dapper."
"What's dapper?" Maggie asked.
"It's how you tell a man he looks nice," Sarah said.
"But his tie is crooked," Maggie said. "Aunt Ellie always has to fix it."
Chuck laughed nervously at his daughter's unasked honesty. "Aunt Ellie is a perfectionist. I can fix my own tie. All I need is a mirror and a ruler and –"
"Chuck," Sarah cut him off before he could start rambling. She walked over and stopped in front of him. "I've got it."
oooOooo
Chuck made an indiscernible sound in the back of his throat when her hands reached for his tie, but Sarah barely registered it as she retied the knot. She was too busy trying not to notice how good it felt when his breath brushed over her cheek, but her heart rate increased when she ran her hand across the silky piece of fabric, straightening it against his chest. Then she made the mistake of looking up.
Their eyes locked and something passed between them.
You should kiss Chuck.
Of all the times to have Carina in her head, she thought. Involuntarily her eyes fell to his lips and her mouth went dry. She licked her lips, inhaling deeply through her nose. This was crazy, she told herself, like most of Carina's ideas were. Dropping her hand from Chuck's chest she cleared her throat and was about to step away when she felt his hand low on her back, his touch burning through the thin material of her dress. She hadn't even noticed that he'd made a move.
oooOooo
Chuck had no idea why he'd done that. He wasn't normally so forward with women, but there was something about Sarah that drew him in, and it was more than her looks. Plus she didn't seem unwilling, given that she'd initiated the situation. He had no idea why – in the short period since they'd met she hadn't given any indication that she was even remotely interested – but when she leaned in and closed her eyes, he decided to shut off his head and just act. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something though, and before their lips was about to meet, reality came crashing down on him.
"Daddy." Maggie was tugging on his sleeve again, shifting from one foot to the other. "I gotta go potty."
18. It's Show Time
Sarah refused to open her eyes until she heard Chuck's bedroom door click shut. Only then did she allow the embarrassment to color her cheeks. She'd almost made a complete fool of herself and that in front of a four-year-old. Luckily it didn't seem that Maggie had understood what had nearly happened, but she couldn't say the same for Chuck. She didn't want to imagine what he must think of her, throwing herself at him like that. Sure, he responded in kind, but he was a guy. It was different for them.
Shaking her head to clear her mind, she realized she was still rooted to the spot. Voices drifted from Chuck's room and she forced her legs to move. She didn't have the courage to face him, so instead she rushed down the stairs, grateful for the plush carpet that absorbed her footfall, and headed straight for the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, twisted the cap off and drank it in big gulps. The cold liquid had the desired effect as her breathing and heart rate returned to normal.
She turned just as Lou entered. "Miss Walker, your guest has arrived."
"Thanks," Sarah replied with a nod. A quick glance at her reflection in the metallic toaster confirmed that her lipstick was still intact. She ignored the fact that her eyes were shining brighter than normal. Just outside the kitchen she paused, took a deep breath and forced a smile before making her way to the foyer with measured steps.
Sarah noticed Casey first, almost doubled over as he helped Beckman with her jacket. Carina shrugged out of her own and held it to Casey who hesitated momentarily before taking it. He hung both on the coat rack, gathered Beckman's luggage and disappeared down the hall.
"Mrs. Beckman," Sarah said as she closed the distance, "it's nice to finally meet you in person." She offered a hand to the shorter woman.
Beckman regarded her for a full three seconds and Sarah couldn't help but be reminded of Sister Agnes, the ruthless Mother Superior from the all-girl Catholic school her mother had shipped her off to. Then Beckman smiled, shaking Sarah's hand, and the resemblance disappeared.
"Mrs. Beckman was my mother-in-law, rest her overbearing soul. Please, call me Diane." Sarah acknowledged the statement with a smile and a nod. "And thank you for opening your home to me. Hotels can be so impersonal."
"It's no problem at all," Carina interjected. "Chuck and Sarah are happy to have you."
"We are," Chuck said behind Sarah and she almost jumped. She took half a step away from him, hoping that no one would notice.
"Diane, this is Chuck." Sarah felt a bit silly when she realized she'd just stated the obvious, so in an attempt to mask her embarrassment, she smiled down at the little girl who held firmly onto her father's hand. "And this is Maggie."
Maggie stared wide-eyed at Beckman and then up at her father. Chuck smiled and gave her a little nudge, and after a second's hesitation, she let go of his hand and stepped forward. After a small curtsy, which Sarah attributed to ballet training, Maggie stuck out her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Diane," she said shyly.
"Well, isn't she just precocious," Beckman remarked to Carina. The redhead responded with a slight nod and a tight-lipped smile.
Sarah missed the rest of the exchange when she felt Chuck inch up behind her.
"Give me your hand," he whispered in her ear, low enough for only her to hear. As she couldn't question him without drawing attention, she obliged and slipped her hand behind her back. "The other one," he whispered again. She swapped her right hand for the left, trying her best to ignore the effect his proximity had on her, the incident from the hallway still fresh in her mind. When his fingers brushed against hers, her instinct was to pull her hand away, but then she felt the cold metal of rings slip down her finger. She'd completely forgotten about that.
"Chuck," Carina addressed him, oblivious to what had just happened, "would you mind checking with Lou when dinner will be served?"
"Of course." He stooped down to pick up Maggie. "We will be right back."
Relieved that her best friend and fake husband were making an effort to be civil to each other, even if it was just for Beckman's benefit, Sarah was about to invite Beckman for a pre-dinner drink, but the woman never gave her a chance.
"I thought you had a boy?"
"Oh." Sarah let out an uncomfortable chuckle. "Maggie is such a little tomboy we sometimes forget she's a girl." The explanation sounded lame, even to her, but Beckman seemed to buy it as she simply smiled and excused herself to go freshen up.
"A boy?" Sarah hissed as soon as Beckman was out of earshot.
Carina just shrugged. "I forgot."
A/N: So did anyone spot the reference to a certain Sir Anthony Hopkins/Emma Thompson movie? It's cool if you didn't, it's quite an old one, but surely none of you missed the reference to quistie64's awesome Chuck vs. The Sound of Music.