A/N: You guys...you're amazing. So I screwed up and thought the surgery was July 3rd, that's preop. Surgery is July 10th. I haven't written anything after next chapter. I don't know if I will until after the surgery (we all know there's a good chance I write 20 more before the surgery) Anyway, I'm glad so many of you are enjoying the story. As my favorite wrestling commentator JR says, "Business is about to pick up."
Disclaimer: I don't own chuck
Not going to game tonight, Bryce will explain
Sarah stared at her phone, and the text from Chuck. She looked over at the on-set producer. "We good?"
"We are perfect, Sarah, great job," the producer replied, grinning at her. "You really are a natural at this."
"You're too kind," Sarah replied. "I need to make a phone call." The produced waved for her to go take care of what she needed to. She dialed the number, and it was picked up on the first ring. "What the hell is going on?" She hissed at Bryce. She listened for a moment and sighed. "Where is his skinny ass?"
}o{
Willis Tower, built as and formerly known as Sears Tower, was 110-stories of premium office space in downtown Chicago. Its' observation deck on the 103rd floor boasted unparalleled views of four states, the surrounding city, and Lake Michigan. A highlight of the observation deck was the Skydeck Ledge, a glass balcony extending from the side of the building.
Chuck stood on the glass floor of the Ledge. His head was leaning against the glass, looking down. Everything down there looked insignificant; just the way he felt. It wasn't fair. He had moved on, and yet… yet there she was. Jill had found him, because of that dumb twitter hashtag. It appeared she had known Sarah was working in Chicago for the NCAA tournament, and all she had to do was flash a smile to some ESPN folks to find out where he and Sarah were staying.
}o{
Earlier
"Are you sleeping with her?" Jill asked.
"What? NO!" he replied, and grabbed her arm, pulling her inside so no one would hear them. We're colleagues, and we're close, but not like that."
"Isn't what it looks like on Twitter," she said, showing him some pictures.
"You know what, it isn't any of your business what I am or am not doing," Chuck retorted, thinking the argument was over.
She stepped up and ran her hand against his chest. "I was kind of hoping it could be," she said softly. "I made a mistake, Chuck."
He removed her hand from his chest. "Yeah, you did. In coming here, today. You left me at the time I needed you the most, Jill."
She nodded and swallowed. "I did. I was immature and selfish. I thought only about how things would affect me. I was wrong." Chuck was knocked back on his heels. He wasn't sure what to do. She stepped toward him, wrapped one arm around his waist, and the other hand she placed on his chest. She gave him a soft look and Chuck faltered for a split second. He began to lean in, and then turned his head away.
"No," he said, his throat dry. He cleared it. "No," he said much more forcibly.
"I will do whatever I have to," she said softly. "Whatever it takes." Just then the adjoining door opened, and Bryce walked in, his eyes wide. "Oh!" she said. "I didn't realize…"
She reached into her bag, pulled out a piece of paper, and placed it in Chuck's hand. "My cell number, hotel and room number. I was just going to slide this under your door. Please, I just want to talk." With that, she turned and left.
Bryce shut the door behind her. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Chuck shook his head. He had been shaken to his core.
}o{
Present
He was lost in thought, when he felt two fingers hook into the belt loops on his pants and pull him back.
"Hey, I can't lose you going over the edge," he heard Sarah's voice say.
He spun around quickly, startling her, and he grabbed her to keep her from falling. "You okay?"
"Yeah, but I think you have a thing for catching me off guard, and getting me in compromising positions," Sarah replied.
"What is compromised about this?" Chuck asked. She tilted her head. "Seriously."
"Chuck all you have to do is lean down, and suddenly we're kissing like one of those love stories where the hero kisses the woman," she explained. Chuck gently pulled her back up.
"And we know how you wanna be the one doing the dipping," he replied.
"Depends on the dipper and what type of dipping," she replied. Chuck's eyes went wide. "Wow, that's a little over the top, even for me."
"Thank God," he muttered. "You have a line."
She leaned in close to his ear. "But I regularly cross it."
Chuck sighed. "Sarah… today… can we not?" She pulled away, tilted her head and gave him a soft smile.
"Talk to me," she said taking his hands. "Bryce told me Jill was there. What happened?"
"I nearly kissed her," Chuck replied. Sarah's face never changed as he spoke. She was there for him. He hadn't felt that from someone outside his circle in a long time. "It's not that I wanted to, but… it felt… I don't know…" he trailed off, searching for the word.
"Familiar?" she offered. He nodded. "Safe?" He nodded again. "And that's why I can't let basketball go." She took his hands, and pulled him to her, hugging him. "Chuck, it's okay to feel, to express those emotions. It's okay to want someone, even for the wrong reasons."
"But I nearly kissed her, and-"
"You didn't, and if you did, you and I both know what would have happened." He pulled away, confusion on his face. "One kiss, and you would have known it was over, it wasn't the same as you thought it was. Sure, there still might be some lust, some familiarity, but… IT… it wouldn't have been there, Chuck."
"You seem pretty sure of me, Sarah," he said in a low, almost haunted voice.
"Chuck, you know how you believe in me?" He nodded. "I believe in you, the same way." He gave her the piece of paper that Jill had given him, and she ripped it to shreds. "This is what I'm gonna do to her, the next time I see her," she muttered, with a teasing smirk on her face.
"Sarah Walker?" came a voice behind her. Sarah turned around, to find a teenage girl. "Can I have a picture? Are you really going to play in the WNBA?"
Chuck took the young lady's phone, and snapped a picture of the two of them.
Sarah pointed to Chuck, who was making sure the picture was in focus. "He certainly thinks so."
"I need a boyfriend like him when I get older," the girl said, taking her phone. "Thank you."
Sarah looked over at Chuck and then back to the young lady. "My pleasure."
}o{
"You've been quiet tonight," Sarah said as they entered the hotel room.
"Lot on my mind," Chuck admitted. "I'm just… I don't know."
"I see," Sarah replied, grinning at him. "Well, Mr. Loquacious, what say we get a good night's sleep, and go back to Cleveland and to work?"
"Yeah," Chuck replied. He looked over at her. "Sorry, you've got a lot going on and-"
She put her finger on his lips. "Hey, Mister. You are human, and again, I call you my friend so… I'm here for you, Chuck." She removed her finger and enjoyed the soft smile he gave her.
"You've already done a whole lot for me," Chuck replied. He pulled her into a hug. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You're lucky, you know," she said, heading toward the bathroom with her night clothes. He had a confused look on his face. "If you were my boyfriend, I'm not sure you could survive what I would DO to you. If you think it's bad as a friend…" she trailed off, not even glancing at him, and her fingers traced along the door way and then she shut the door. Chuck stood there two minutes, while his brain restarted.
}o{
April 19th, Cleveland
"Blondie," she heard from behind her. She tried not to roll her eyes, but she couldn't help it. "What are you and your boy toy up to?"
"Boy toy?" Sarah asked.
"You're the one with the Charah nickname," Carina said, as the two stood off to the side of the tryouts. "Listen, I need to apologize to you."
Sarah turned to her, the tone of Carina's voice different than she had ever heard. "I was the senior, but you… you were the star, and the media kept reminding me of it, and… well…" Carina lifted her head. "And I fell back into my old jabs last month, and we weren't there. I'm sorry."
"Wow," Sarah said, the hint of a grin on her face. "Wish I had been recording that." Carina glared at her.
Sarah looked back to the ongoing tryouts. "You gonna pull that shit on the court again?"
"No, because it beat us," Carina replied.
"Yeah, and more than we realized," Sarah said, watching Anna Wu dazzle the scouts and coaches.
"What do you mean?" Carina asked.
"Jill Roberts used to date Chuck," Sarah began.
}o{
Chuck had seen Sarah and Carina talking, and there had yet to be bloodshed. A few times she glanced in his direction, and then Carina did the same thing. He was feeling a bit uncomfortable, sort of like an impala on the savannah that looks up to find he's wandered into a lounging pride of lions. Remembering that discretion was the better part of valor, he headed to get something to eat. One of the perks of working with Sarah was his access to catering. He came around the corner, and saw Bryce and Jill talking… well, talking wasn't quite the right phrase.
"You think I'm gonna screw him the way you did?" Chuck heard Bryce say. "I am NOT representing you. EVER."
"You know we can make bank with media coverage," Jill argued.
"I'm not disagreeing, but you screwed my friend over at his lowest point, so THE HELL if I ever help you." Bryce walked away, leaving Jill standing there. Chuck saw her turn, and he tried to turn and walk away, hoping she wouldn't recognize him.
"CHUCK!" he heard her shout. As much as he wanted to ignore her, his manners refused to let him. "Chuck, why haven't you called?" she asked, catching up to him.
"Because he's seeing someone that doesn't drop him like a bad habit when things get uncomfortable," he heard another voice say, venom dripping from it. Chuck turned, and there was Carina.
"Oh, that's rich coming from you," Jill spat at Carina. "The only reason you're here now is to cash in."
"Uh, I'm on this team, whacknut," Carina replied. "Unlike another certain washed-up sixth-man reject hack, currently wasting our oxygen. Why are you here, if not to 'cash in?'"
"I'm here to win Chuck back," Jill said, taking his arm. Chuck pulled his arm away from her.
"Jill, I'm not with you, and I never will be again. You hurt me, and besides… you are not a good person," Chuck said, trying to get away from the crazy woman.
"Chuck, I made a mistake. I've changed," Jill began.
"You just don't get it, do you, Roberts," he heard Sarah from behind him. There was something in her voice… She almost… sauntered, towards him. "He's been trying to keep it a secret to protect me during my comeback, but… there's no reason to, anymore." She stood beside Chuck, reached up, tilted his face next to hers, and in one swift move pulled him into a kiss.
Jill's mouth dropped.
"Get it, Walker," Carina murmured.
Sarah pulled away, grinned at him, and turned her head toward Jill. "Get the hell out of Cleveland."
"Chuck," Jill nearly whimpered.
He tried to widen his eyes to get his vision working, and turned to Jill, like he wasn't quite focused. "I kiss the pretty lady."
Jill rolled her eyes and walked away. Sarah leaned in. "Sorry, I had to make her believe it was real."
"You did good," Chuck replied.
Now, how the hell was he ever going to convince himself that it wasn't?
A/N: Next time...
"Don't give me that professional bullshit; we haven't been professional since day one."
"It's complicated," Chuck began again. She stepped toward him. "Sarah."
"Look me in my eyes and tell me it's complicated, Chuck. Look me in my goddamn eyes and tell me how complicated it is," Sarah insisted.
...Are we ready? Again thank you for all the reviews, PMs, and everything. You guys are the best.
DC
