A/N: Today has been next to terrible, however, I have the most awesome friend/little sister (get over it) and she posted the most awesome thing ever, so I thought to myself, do something that will cheer you up. Here you go, the chapter title says it all, At Last (Listening to Etta James while reading is not only okay, but HIGHLY encouraged)
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, but I do rewatch them regularly….
"Last thing I heard was Sarah smacking her hand on the desk," Morgan whispered. The entire Burton Industries staff was listening via speakerphone at Alex's desk.
"Is he crying?" Carina asked.
"You really think he'd cry?" Morgan asked.
"If she wanted him to," Casey replied.
"You've got a point," Morgan replied. "I don't dare go down there and see what's going on though."
"Morgan, what good is it if you're our eyes and ears if you don't go down there?"
"Okay, okay, I'm going." Morgan crept to his door that was only cracked, not shut. He opened it, put his head out, looked left, looked right and saw Sarah and Chuck standing there. He screamed and tossed his phone into the air. Sarah reached out to catch it.
"Nice," Chuck said. Sarah smiled, and gave him a shoulder bump.
"Meeting, board room in five minutes," Sarah said into the phone, and shut it. She held it in her hand.
"Sarah, you should really give him his phone back, you know Alex helped persuade him to do this," Chuck said, trying to keep them out of as much trouble as possible. Sarah started to speak, when Daphne walked up.
"Yes, Daphne?" Chuck asked. She handed him papers.
"Today is my last day in this dump," Daphne said. Chuck looked at Morgan.
"That's not possible we have her until April 7th," Morgan said.
"Today is April 7th," Sarah replied. Morgan looked at Chuck. Chuck shook his head.
"Dude," Morgan began. "I'm sorry."
"No, Morgan, I'm sorry," Chuck replied. "For three months you've kept this place afloat, we still haven't hired Manoosh, and we need to re-up on the lease. I have got to get my head in the game."
"This is what I'm talking about," Sarah said. "I want to talk to you two about something and the rest of my crew. I think I have an idea that I want you all to mull over. I think we can make your business a lot more profitable."
"Unless you're planning on running it, I don't know how you could help," Morgan said. Sarah couldn't look him directly in the eye. Morgan's eyes got big. "Sarah, don't tease us like that. We can make games, we can do so many things, but running a business…we get pwned."
"Seriously, they're terrible," Daphne said.
"I really hope you ask us to be a reference, Daphne," Chuck said. Daphne rolled her eyes.
"I'm gone," she said, as started to walk away, but realized something and turned around. "If you two should ever decide to get hitched, let me know, I can give you a good deal."
"Good-bye, Daphne," Sarah said. Chuck looked at her, and she grinned. "If you know all the cons, you can't get played."
"Dude, your girlfriend is so awesome," Morgan said. Sarah chuckled. Chuck smiled so hard his nose scrunched.
"I know, right?"
"Let's go talk this over," Sarah said, handing Morgan his phone back and leading them out. Morgan walked out beside Chuck.
"Let's let her just run the thing, Chuck. We have no idea what we're doing," Morgan said.
"We've launched two games."
"One, I mean the second should be fine, but, Dude. We could just make the games and let her worry about all the other stuff, think about it."
"I am, Morgan. I am."
}o{
Everyone, including Skip, was in the conference room. Sarah looked around and began to pass out folders for everyone.
"Now, I've only had a couple of hours to work on this idea, so these are just preliminaries," Sarah began. "Yes, Morgan," she asked, seeing Morgan's hand raised.
"You've only had a couple of hours to work on this, and you have presentation folders ready for all of us?" Sarah nodded as if to say, "well, duh,"
"I put the folders together. Sarah sent me one presentation and I ran copies," Alex said, staring at Morgan and Chuck. "Daphne did that stuff as well, right?" Chuck looked at Morgan.
"I told you when she said that it was sexist she make copies it wasn't. That was literally in her job description," Chuck said to Morgan.
"But, she seemed so sure!" Morgan argued.
"Because she didn't want to work!"
"If you two would shut up, the grownups are trying to solve the problem," Casey said. Chuck looked at Casey.
"Really, Casey. Because it seems to me I made you quite a bit of money today," Chuck replied, cheekily. Casey grunted.
"Whatever, Bartowski," Casey sneered.
"Last page," Sarah said. "That's how much Chuck made this company in about three hours of work. Plus whatever we sell the encryption program for to other companies."
"Walker, I think there's too many zeroes on that number," Casey choked out.
"No, Johnny, that's what he did," Carina said. They shared a glance and Casey looked over at Chuck. He didn't say anything but nodded and grunted.
"Chuck, you're in the wrong line of work," Morgan said still gazing at the number.
"I don't want to hurt your feelings, guys," Sarah began carefully.
"We suck at running a video game company," Chuck said.
"I hate having to work," Morgan said. "Making video games and testing them, fun. Running a company…I'm terrible."
"I was supposed to be the one who did more of the CEO type stuff, and well, my world was falling apart and I almost let this company fail. In fact, I'm not a hundred percent sure that Daphne didn't steal some money because I'm scared to check," Chuck admitted.
"Here's the best solution I can come up with, merge our companies," Sarah said. "Skip, we all know you'd rather work on video games and let the IT stuff, encryption, and cyber security go. That is the best and easiest solution, however, that could leave Chuck vulnerable because of who he is and what he can do. Also we each have created our own branded company, and I'm not crazy about merging."
"Is there a solution that doesn't involve merging?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded.
"The other option is a holding company buys both companies. It could really be a shell corporation, but that doesn't protect Chuck," Sarah said.
"Why not?" Chuck asked. "Not questioning you, I just don't understand this part." Sarah nodded.
"No, I get it. Say a company buys us, and we suddenly start working on cyber security, where did the security expert come from? It will look like someone from your company," Sarah explained.
"I'm sorry, I'm new to this, but couldn't the expert come from the new holding company?" Chuck asked. Sarah shook her head.
"That would be great, but that means you then aren't the cyber security expert," Sarah explained. Chuck thought.
"Okay, go with me on this," Chuck said. "The company doesn't have to be real, right? It could be the shell company like you said?" Sarah nodded. "Why couldn't it be a company that a cyber security expert owns?" Sarah blinked, trying to draw the lines in her head, but not understanding. Chuck was smiling. "He doesn't exist. Just like the company."
"A cover?" Sarah asked. Casey and Carina straightened, intrigued.
"I've got some people who owe me that could build one," Casey began. "If someone could beat that, they'd figure out who Chuck is anyway." Sarah nodded slowly, and looked at Chuck, beginning her own grin.
"You wouldn't happen to have a cover story would you?"
"Charles Carmichael of Carmichael Industries. Retired tech extraordinaire entering his 30s, bored, and wanting to get back into the 'game' so to speak." Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Possibly Chuck Bartowski if he didn't get thrown out of Stanford on his ear, so to speak." Sarah nodded. "And, you can hide me in plain sight. I'll be your 'Q', Vice President of Research and Development, or something like that."
"That was going to be Manoosh's title," Morgan said.
"That's what Manoosh can still do," Sarah said. "That's the beauty, Morgan, no one will know because only we know who's going to do what."
"Can I be Vice President of Gaming Operations?" Morgan asked. Chuck nodded.
"I like it buddy," Chuck said. He turned to Sarah. "And, since Charles Carmichael is independently wealthy, he won't need to make a paycheck."
"You two could move in here, which would cut down significantly on your overhead, and ours since we'd be splitting it," Alex said. "Page eight." Morgan and Chuck flipped to page eight. They both looked at each other, and then at Sarah.
"What do you need from us? How soon can we sign off on this?" Morgan asked.
"That's it?" Casey asked, a little surprised.
"When you're drowning in your own stupidity, you don't question the color of the life preserver someone is throwing you," Morgan replied.
"That was surprisingly eloquent," Carina replied.
"I surprise myself sometime," Morgan admitted. Chuck sat there quietly, realizing something.
"Something in the books you don't want us to see, Bartowski?" Casey asked, enjoying needling him. Chuck looked at him, and Casey's face fell. "Have you been stealing from the company?"
"No, I need a second with Morgan and Sarah," Chuck said. "There's something they both have to know before this goes through." Sarah nodded and everyone else got up and left.
"Is this about the secret you mentioned earlier?" Sarah asked, coming over, sitting beside him, and taking his hand.
"Whatever it is, Man, you can tell me," Morgan said.
"I've made a game," Chuck said. Morgan nodded.
"Kinda what we do," Morgan replied. Chuck shook his head.
"At home, on my own time. It's called the Awesome Family." Chuck took a deep breath.
"Ellie, Devon, and Clara," Morgan said softly.
"And Peaches," Chuck said. "I kinda got the idea from the Lego games where you had to go back through and redo levels with other characters so each one has its own powers."
"Dude, that's…Awesome!" Morgan said, smiling.
"I want to take all the proceeds and start a scholarship for students that want to work on their PhD that have a significant financial hardship, specifically those that are homeless, in foster care, or in legal guardianship," Chuck was looking down at the floor. Tears were streaming down his face. Sarah was rubbing his hand, and hugging him with her other arm.
"Chuck Bartowski each time I think I can't love you more, you prove me wrong," Sarah said softly. Chuck raised his head. He was looking in Morgan's direction, and saw Morgan's face first. Morgan's eyes were huge, but he got up, and quickly left the room. Chuck turned toward Sarah, who had a look of panic on her face at first, but as she saw Chuck's face, the tears streaming down, she leaned forward and kissed him. It started slow and soft, but the passion slowly began to grow. They separated for a second and studied each other.
"We are totally going too fast," Sarah said. Chuck nodded.
"Love will make you do crazy things," Chuck replied. Sarah nodded.
"You know I'm not going to want to leave after this weekend." Sarah said.
"You know if you do, you'll take part of me with you," Chuck replied, and crashed his lips into hers. They pulled apart. "If we do this, are you going to be satisfied I'm safe enough?"
"No, I think I'm going to insist on having to move in and give you 24 hour protection," Sarah replied.
"Just you?"
"Can't leave my family behind."
"I would never ask you to. This is crazy," Chuck said, and Sarah grabbed him and pulled him back in. After a minute they came up for air. "Are you going to be okay me being around that much and working with me?"
"I have no idea," Chuck admitted. "If we had any sense we'd take the personal stuff slow."
"Yes, if we had any sense we would. Do you have any idea how I ended up in your lap?"
"Nope, my brain shut down a couple of times," Chuck replied, looking into her eyes. "I love you, Sarah Walker."
"I love you, Chuck Bartowski. If you have any questions or reservations you need to say them, NOW." Chuck looked down, took a deep sigh, and asked.
"How's your medical and dental?" Sarah never missed a beat.
"Excellent. We do some government jobs, and as a benefit, we're eligible for some of their medical." He pulled back, surprise and a smile on his face.
"Really?"
"Yep, I'm good at what I do," she said, and gave him her eyebrow dance.
"I'm not suprised," Chuck admitted. "Our company is a wreck isn't it?"
"I'm shocked you're still in business," Sarah replied, honestly. Chuck nodded.
"Well, I guess you'll be bossing me around," Chuck said. Sarah shook her head.
"No, Chuck, partners," she said, leaning back in.
"What about Morgan?"
"He doesn't get these benefits."
"Good."
"Wait til you get your signing bonus."
"We should probably get back to the meeting before we go too far."
"I walked in on Casey and Carina in the storage closet today," Sarah told him. Chuck recalled in shock.
"You poor thing."
"I'm going to need you to help me forget about it."
"Yes, ma'am," Chuck said, grinning. "I think I'm going to like my new job.
A/N: I know, it's short, but I had to do something. Next time, a celebration cookout, family movie night, and Chuck and Sarah spend the night together at Chuck's. Whatever will happen? See you next time, and as always, thanks for the love, the support and the reviews!
Oh, did I mention ConGame is back by the great Steampunk. Chuckster, Zettel is writing a masterpiece with Cable to Aces and Marc Vun Kannon is back with what appears to be another epic in The Rough Draft. Good things happening here at the Chuck part of fanfiction.
DC
