Note: This is the happy ending for Chuck/Casey - if you're not interested in anything else, this is the last part. Don't read part 10!


It was early evening, the day after Ellie's wedding. Chuck perched gingerly on the edge of the fountain, shifting as a twinge reminded him of last night's activity.

'Hey.' A small figure sat down beside him, uncharacteristically subdued.

'Hi, Morgan.' Chuck trailed his fingers through the water, concentrating on the ripples they made.

Morgan tucked his hands between his thighs, breathed deeply and sighed out. 'So, can I take it you aren't moving in with Sarah?'

Chuck grimaced. 'We split up.'

'You know, that was pretty obvious. I could tell by the way Casey had his hands on your ass, oh, only all evening.' Morgan paused and Chuck finally looked up. 'You could have told me, Chuck. I'm here for you no matter what. You could have talked to me.'

'I'm really sorry.' Chuck's expressive face showed his distress. 'I shut you out, and I shouldn't have. I just... I didn't know how to tell you or anyone else.'

'What happened, man? I know Casey's always had a thing for you, but you only had eyes for Sarah. So what went wrong?' Morgan's voice was high, tight. 'Help me understand here, buddy.'

'I... Sarah and I just aren't meant to be,' Chuck said helplessly. 'It was never going to work out and I guess when I was faced with moving in with her... I couldn't do it.'

'I thought that was just cold feet,' Morgan protested.

Chuck shook his head. 'It made me realise there was something fundamental missing between us and no matter how much I wanted it, it just wasn't right and I couldn't make it so.'

Eyes wide in distress, Morgan pushed on. 'But Casey? Really? How? When?'

Chuck shrugged. 'Not long. He... He took me out, told me he was there for me, he was interested.'

'Out as in on a date?' Morgan's eyes bugged, incredulous. 'You guys are actually dating?'

'Yes, a date and yes, we're dating.' Chuck frowned, offended. 'Why, you think guys can't date?'

'No, no, no, guys can date, sure, but Casey? John Casey actually knows how to date? Without threats of violence?'

'Hey!' Chuck nudged Morgan with his shoulder, nearly knocking the small man into the fountain. 'Yes, John knows how to date. He's very charming when he wants to be.'

'Wow, that's not a word I'd ever have applied to him.' Morgan frowned.

'Stop insulting my boyfriend!' Chuck nudged Morgan again.

'Sorry, sorry,' Morgan raised his hands in surrender. 'Charming, whatever you say.'

Chuck glared at him.

'It's not something I've ever seen, but then again, last night with that tango, you guys were smokin' and I know I never thought I'd say that about my best friend and the scariest guy in Burbank,' Morgan rambled. 'So did you...?'

'What?' Chuck asked, confused.

'You and John? Get past third base? Hit the home run?' Morgan grinned.

'I am not discussing my sex life with you,' Chuck said, flushing.

'You did! So did you do him, or did he-' Morgan broke off abruptly. 'Hi Casey!' He grinned nervously. John twitched an eyebrow. Morgan swallowed.

'Chuck, can I have a word?' John rumbled, ignoring Morgan.

Chuck exchanged glances with him and nodded. 'Be right back, Morgan.' He stood gingerly and followed Casey over to his doorway. 'What's up?'

John shifted to keep an eye on the entrance to the courtyard and also on Morgan, who was staring at them with unabashed interest. 'You should move in.'

'What?' Chuck's eyebrows shot up towards his unruly hair. 'We only just started... this!'

Leaning in, John lowered his voice to a rumble. 'You need to move out of Ellie's now that she's married, you know that. I have a spare room. You can have your own space.'

Chuck frowned. 'I suppose it'll make it easier to go on missions.'

'Got it in one, genius,' John flashed a rare smile. 'Besides, you might enjoy the company.'

Chuck studied John's face for a long moment, then his frown vanished and the corner of his mouth quirked up. 'You never know, I might. Sure. You'll have to move the spy stuff out of the living room, though, or Morgan might get suspicious.'

John groaned. 'Fine. We'll move your things tomorrow.' He turned and strode back into his apartment.

Chuck grinned and watched him go, then went and sat back down on the edge of the fountain. 'So, it looks like I'm, uh, moving in with John. Get out of Ellie's hair, you know?' He ignored the way Morgan's eyebrows tried hard to meet his hairline and ploughed on as quickly as possible. 'How do you fancy a Halo 3 tournament at John's tomorrow evening? If you help me carry my stuff over there, I'll buy the pizza.'

'Let's see... an afternoon spent helping my platonic life partner move into his new and exceedingly scary boyfriend's place, with pizza and computer gaming to follow... Yeah, sure. I'll bring Anna.' Morgan watched him for a while, then put a hand on his arm. 'You know, if you need to talk, Doctor Morgan is always in for you, right?'

Chuck nodded. 'Thanks, buddy.'


Note: I'm serious: if you want a Chuck/Casey happy ever after, this is it! Stop reading! The story is done! Don't read part 10!

Life is more complicated than that, things don't always have a happy ending, and sometimes an unhappy ending is just a step in the right direction. This story is based around the film Kissing Jessica Stein and, as with that film, people grow and change and the person who's right for now isn't necessarily the person who's right for you to grow old with. If you secretly hope Chuck stands a chance with Sarah, part 10 is for you.

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