A/N: Charahkids….thoughts and prayers…LOL! I'd like to apologize for my disappearance, and my goodness, I didn't know the love you guys had for this story. I'm quite blown away. Teach me to go 11 days without updating this one! I had a dental thing go sideways and trying to concentrate on writing when your mouth is sore if very difficult. Anyway, I'm back, kinda. (Fair warning, the Oxy has kicked in so things may have gotten wild.) So here it comes, the moment you've all been waiting for. …I give you Reassigned, Ch. 9, Giving Thanks

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck


Chuck, Sarah, and Bryce walked into Castle. Chuck looked around at the facility. He hadn't looked around last time very much since he was worried what might happen with Beckman. Now that he was, he was taking the time to appreciate the lengths the government had gone to for this project. He drooled over the newest computer hardware and Sarah watched him wander around like a kid in a candy store.

"He ever look at you like that?" Bryce asked, getting in a dig at Chuck's expense.

"Nope, he seems me for me," Sarah replied. "Except when I wear something that makes his brain fry," she said with a smirk. Bryce flinched a little at that one.

"Forget to use protection with the nerd?" Bryce said in a snarky, low voice, beside her. Sarah spun toward him, exhasperation on her face.

"No, I was already pregnant when we met," she replied. Bryce blinked, did math, carried the one, twice, redid the math, tried to think of any other conclusion, couldn't, and the color drained from his face.

"You mean," he began.

"Yes, BRUCE, your brother is the father of Sarah's baby," Chuck said to Bryce. Bryce stared at him, and then at Sarah, and then back to Chuck. He was speechless. "Oh, before I forget, Ellie has invited you, Bruce, to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night, so you better show up, you'd hate for her have to come find you and try to figure out the difference between you and your brother, who she hates."

"I'm the father," he got out.

"He's a little slow," Chuck said, turning to Sarah. Sarah nodded, a smirk on her face. They were really both enjoying this. "What did you see in him?"

"He was convenient," Sarah said, shrugging.

"Well, as long as he got the job done," Chuck replied. She gave him a look and shook her head.

"Many times it was one-sided, most times it was one-sided," she admitted, sighing. Chuck shook his head. She grinned at him coyly. "Now it's one-sided my way, at least by numbers." Chuck blushed. "Two to one, three to one, four to one," she mumbled.

"Four?" Chuck mouthed.

"The baby is mine?" Bruce asked.

"Maybe Casey shot his brain," Chuck offered, cocking his head to the side as if thinking of suggestions as to why he was acting this way. Bryce then, finally, asked a question that was not about who the father of the baby was. However, in retrospect, it was the worst thing possible.

"What do you want from me?" Bryce asked. Sarah gave him a look and Chuck shrank back, feeling a chill sweep through the air. Chuck felt a lot of anger toward his former friend, but in that moment he truly wondered if he was going to see a murder take place in front of him, and he felt sorry for Bryce, very sorry.

"Not one damn thing, Bryce," Sarah said, turning and storming out. "Not. One. Damn. Thing." She said, leaving through the Orange Orange, upstairs. Chuck turned to Bryce.

"You might have been better off dead," Chuck said, and followed Sarah out the door. Upstairs he found her glaring at the world in general, seated at a table. "Would you like any yogurt?" he asked her.

"No thank you," she said, arms crossed, steam coming off her head. Chuck turned to Carina.

"Can you get me a toasted marshmallow one, with a side cup of gummi bears?" he asked. Carina gave him a look.

"You like gummi bears that much?" she asked. Chuck shook his head, and Carina grinned at him. "You're a good one, Chuck." A few minutes later he sat down, putting the yogurt in front of him, and the cup of gummi bears between him and Sarah. Sarah was still irritated. "Wanna talk about it?"

"No," she said, reaching over and grabbing a gummi. "That stupid son of a bitch," she said, shaking her head. "What do I want from him? I told him about his child for his sake. It's his child, you'd think he'd want something to do with it, anything."

"Well, if you're looking for a silver lining, maybe this is best," he said. Sarah slowly turned toward him. "Hear me out." She inclined her head for him to continue. "If he wants nothing to do with your daughter," he began. She laid her hand on his, and looked him right in the eye so there could be no question what she was about to say to him.

"OUR daughter, Chuck," she said. His whole face lit up with a smile.

"Our daughter," he corrected. "Then maybe he won't be on the birth certificate which would give her some protection." Sarah thought for a moment, nodded, and started to get up. "Wait, wait." Sarah paused and sat back down. "Give him some time to get used to this. Remember he is an idiot but he was dead, and had no clue about the baby. Yes, he reacted poorly but he did get hit with a whole lot at once."

"He's a douchenozzle is what he is," Sarah said, eating a gummi bear. Chuck grinned.

"You sure you don't want anything to eat?" he asked. Sarah shook her head, eating another gummi bear as Chuck grinned. She then realized what she had done, slapped him lightly on the shoulder and leaned against him.

"I love you, Chuck," she said. "Thank you, for everything."

"Anytime, Sarah, anytime," he replied. He paused for a second. "Four?"

"Four," she replied, with a content sigh.

-ooooo-

"You are aware, just to make sure we're all on the same page, that you cannot treat "Bruce" like you would Bryce?" Chuck asked Ellie. She smiled at him.

"Yes, I am aware, but Morgan will be here, and I suspect he will say something that will make everything fine," she replied. Chuck laughed.

"This ought to be good," Chuck said. "Is he bringing Anna?"

"I told him to bring whoever he wants," Ellie replied. Chuck groaned and put his hand over his eyes. "What?"

"Morgan's told her all about you," Chuck said, knowing how Ellie would react.

"All about what?" Ellie asked. Chuck just stared at her and her eyes narrowed. "Chuck, did he tell her about me from his perspective or real life?" She paused and thought about what she just said. "Oh, God," she said, and poured herself a glass on wine and downed it. "It's Morgan, of course he told it from his perspective." She looked at the wine. "What am I thinking?" she said and began to put it away. Chuck took the bottle out of her hand and put it back.

"Ellie, if you put that bottle away, Sarah will know, and that will upset her so much more than it being out," Chuck said. "Besides, there's a slight chance she might martyr this up a bit."

"Why do you think there's only a slight chance?" Ellie asked. "I'd make that idiot feel as bad as possible."

"You're now assuming Bryce, I mean Bruce, cares about anyone but himself," Chuck replied. Ellie nodded. The door opened and Sarah came in. Ellie's smile broadened.

"I love that she just lets herself in like she's family," Ellie said. "Because she is," she said pointedly at Chuck. "Even if she's not officially yet." Chuck tugged on the neck of his shirt.

"Ellie, can you cool it, we're kinda dealing with a lot," he said. "Besides, I'm not sure she wants to get married, I've never really discussed it with her." The second those words were out of his mouth he regretted it.

"Sarah," Ellie said, waving. Sarah came over and joined them. "Chuck and I were having a discussion."

"No, please, no," Chuck said, trying to cover her mouth, but Ellie managing to push him away.

"How do you feel about marriage?" Ellie asked. "In general?" Sarah's eyes got wide and she watched Chuck's shoulders slump.

"Whatever two people want to do is fine," Sarah replied. "Some wish to marry, some don't, and I understand the reasoning behind either decision. But I'm guessing you mean more how do I feel about one day being married, myself?" Ellie nodded, grinning. Chuck was looking for somewhere to escape to. "I never thought I would be," she admitted. Chuck hoped he had controlled his face. He was worried that would her answer, so he tried to prepare his reaction. "I also never thought I would be a mother, and I am, and I'm excited about it. SO, I think my new answer is this, I would like to marry the right guy, and that would require the right guy to ask me." She turned and looked at Chuck. "I mean I'm not sitting here asking for someone to ask me."

"But you'd consider it if the right one did?" Ellie asked.

"I'd have to ruminate on it," Sarah replied.

"We Stanford people know that word," Chuck retorted.

"Well, those that graduated," she said, grinning. Chuck's mouth dropped.

"Woman, you wound me," he said. She quickly crossed what little distance that was between them.

"I'm so sorry," she said softly. "Should I kiss it and make it feel better?" Ellie, clapped her hand together, and vibrated.

"Um, yes, but not here, or now, and Ellie, can you give us a minute," he said, turning red.

"Nope, I am loving this, so to be clear, if my brother asked you to marry him, you'd ruminate about it?" Ellie asked, bouncing.

"I would, and, Ellie, if he takes to long to ask, then I'd ask," Sarah said. Chuck's mouth nearly bounced off of the floor. She reached over, and shut it for him, looking at Ellie the entire time. "He's not ready yet," she said, winking at Ellie.

"No, he's not ready," Ellie concurred. Chuck wasn't 100% sure they were talking about marriage. There was a knock on the door before that conversation could go any further. Devon opened the door, and "Bruce", Morgan, Anna, Carina, and Casey all joined them.

"Are you going to behave?" Chuck asked Sarah softly. She turned toward him, a mysterious smile on her face, and bounced a shoulder. "Really, you can't even commit to behaving at Thanksgiving."

"Is that a prerequisite of being Mrs. Bartowski?" she asked.

"Like you care if it is or isn't," he retorted. She stuck his tongue out at him. They didn't notice Bryce come over to them.

"Hi guys," Bryce said.

"Bruce," Chuck replied. "So glad you could join us today. A day of thanksgiving, because I have so many things to be thankful for."

"Like what, Chuck?" Sarah asked, acting bubbly and giggly, knowing what her boyfriend was doing and playing along.

"Oh, because of this guy's brother I got kicked out of Stanford, lost my girlfriend, which caused me to mope for a long time, but then I met you, so now, thanks to the biggest jerk I know, I'm with the most wonderful woman I know," Chuck said, watching each word slam into Bryce. "I only wish there was some way I could tell him. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get something to drink. Need anything, Honey?" Sarah shook her head, and Chuck turned to leave.

"Bit babyish about things, isn't he?" Bryce said, trying to ignore the hurt.

"You are an utter idiot," she said, and walked off, leaving Bryce standing there, alone. Casey walked over to Chuck.

"If I shoot him again, do you want the footage?" Casey asked. Chuck laughed.

"No, unless he lies about it, and tries to make it sound like it was nothing, so probably, because we both know Bryce Larkin can't tell the truth to save his life," Chuck replied.

"Wow, Bruce, you look exactly like Bryce," Morgan's voice came over the din. "I'm just glad you're not an useless tool like he was."

"Lot of love for him in this room," Casey said. "Did you know he has to open tomorrow and work a 14 hour shift, on Black Friday?" Casey chuckled. "Chuck, you are evil getting him that assistant manager job. Chuck grinned.

"My luck he'll get a mission and get out of it," Chuck replied.

"Nope, I made Beckman promise me nothing short of a nuclear missile would be given to us," Casey said, grinning. Chuck looked at him, and Casey shrugged. "I mean at that point he's going to screw it up anyway." Chuck nodded. It was at that point, Ellie announced that dinner was ready and everyone was seated. The began to eat and each was asked to tell what they were thankful for. Chuck and Sarah had no idea what anyone else said, because they stared at each other the entire time and each thought how they were thankful for the other. When dinner was over, Bryce came up to Chuck and Sarah.

"Can we talk?" Bryce asked. Sarah nodded. She looked over at Chuck.

"Why don't you go to my old room, it should be empty," Chuck offered. He started to walk away.

"Chuck," she said, thinking he was upset. He smiled and shook his head.

"Sarah, this is something you two need to figure out," Chuck said. "You know I support you," he said, and kissed her on the forehead. She looked at him, nodded, and led Bryce toward Chuck's bedroom.

"So, I handled finding out I was a father very poorly yesterday, but in my defense, you did spring a lot of that on me," Bryce said. Sarah fought rolling her eyes. He was telling the truth, but he was being defensive, same old Bryce.

"Bryce, that is very true," Sarah began. "We do need to talk about the birth certificate though. I think putting you on there is a mistake, for a couple of reasons, all of which have to do with you being a spy, and for the baby's safety."

"It's not because you hate me?" Bryce asked.

"Bryce, I don't hate you, I hate some of the things you did, and some of the ways you treated me, but I don't hate you," Sarah said. Bryce had a sly grin on his face hearing those words

"Did it hurt you that I was gone?" he asked softly, moving towards her.

"Bryce, so help me God if you pull any of that stuff, I will whip your ass in front of God and everyone and let everyone here know that Bryce's dead brother just made a move on me in my boyfriend's old bedroom," she hissed, fire in her eyes. Bryce stopped, and tried to look hurt. Sarah had seen this before and she wasn't falling for a bit of it.

"You're saying we're done?" Bryce asked. "It's because I made you pregnant?"

"No, you idiot," she said, staring at him wondering who dropped him on his head as a baby. "It was convenience, we don't, didn't, never have, loved each other. You need to accept I'm with Chuck and move on. This conversation is about the safety of our child, nothing more." Bryce nodded.

"So, what are your plans about the birth certificate then?" Bryce asked.

"Leave it blank," Sarah said. Bryce shook his head.

"Chuck's going to help you raise it, right?" Bryce asked.

"Her," Sarah stressed. Bryce looked confused. "Our baby is a girl, Bryce. And, yes, Chuck is going to be the father to our child."

"Right, then it's obvious, put Chuck on the birth certificate," Bryce said, shrugging. "When the baby's born I'll sign papers giving up all rights just so you're covered."

"Bryce," Sarah said, stunned. "You'd do that?" He nodded. Sarah didn't know what to think. For so long she had thought he was absolutely the most selfish man alive. She knew by doing this it did keep him out of child support and things of that nature, but he had sacrificed himself for the good of their daughter.

"You don't have to sign anything," Sarah said. "You're legally dead, remember." Bryce nodded and grinned.

"And this way, in a couple of years when the urge hits to be the Mrs. Anderson again, you can leave the rugrat with Chuck, and come back to my team and we can kick ass like old times," Bryce said. Sarah saw red. She clenched her jaw, and tried to remain calm. She kept telling herself to remain calm for the baby. That's when she looked up at him. She was looking at the father of her child, and that made her angrier than ever. She wished Chuck was the father, because she knew exactly what he'd do. Bryce grinned, and that pushed her over the edge. She slapped him so hard his teeth rattled. He blinked a few times, put his hand to his lip to see if there was blood and shook his head. "Hit a nerve?"

"You son of a bitch," she spat. "I don't know which is worse, that you want me to dump our child and run off and spy with you, or that you think I'll ever want to spy with you again. Bryce get your head out of your ass, we are finished." Bryce started to move toward her, and she couldn't stop herself. Her foot flew up and caught him right in the crown jewels. Bryce dropped to his knees. She put her hand on his head, gave him a push, and toppled over, collapsing on to the ground. "You were right about one thing, Bryce, I should put Chuck on the birth certificate, because he will be the father of MY child, but I won't do that to him. You really are a selfish son of a bitch." And with that, she walked out, leaving him lying on the ground. When she exited, Chuck didn't even try to scramble away from the hallway where he had tried to listen to what was going on in his old room. "How much of that did you hear?"

"No words, just the punching or whatever it was that happened," he said, looking past her seeing him on the floor. He winched at the sight of Bryce.

"I didn't punch him," she said, whipping her head a little making her hair toss. "I slapped him, and kicked him in the area where men are supposed to have balls, but I question if he does." She turned and walked off.

"Well, you are pregnant, so we know he does," Chuck replied. Sarah stopped, and turned toward hm. Chuck swallowed. "You know sometimes I don't know when to keep my mouth shut." Her face softened and she came back, took his arm and led him outside. They went to the fountain and sat.

"I'm sorry, Chuck," Sarah said. "I'm mad at Bryce not you."

"He hit on you, didn't he?" Chuck asked. Sarah turned to look at him, with a raised eyebrow. "It's Bryce Larkin, and your Sarah freakin Walker, of course he hit on you." She smiled at him. He took her hand. "I'm sorry he's an idiot." Sarah sighed.

"That I can deal with, it's what do I do about the birth certificate, Chuck?" Sarah said. "I mean he's going out there and going to do all his spying stuff, and I'm raising our kid, but putting his name on the certificate, legally dead or not, is bound to cause some problems. Mine's an alias, but his, it's his real name."

"But doesn't he always use Anderson?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded.

"Yeah, but Chuck, spies…they have a way of getting found out," Sarah admitted. "My choices are leave him off, or put him on, and neither is exactly the safest for our daughter."

"What is the optimal solution?" Chuck asked. Sarah smiled at him.

"You're always thinking, aren't you?" she asked. He shrugged. "Optimal is the names of two innocent people, that can never be traced back to me."

"So you're saying not even your name?" Sarah nodded.

"And that's selfish, if mine is on there, then why shouldn't Bryce's be?" she asked. Chuck gave her a look.

"Uh, because you're having the child, because you're raising the child, because you're sacrificing for the child, because you're being a parent," Chuck said. Sarah snuggled up against him and sighed.

"I think I'm going to keep you, you always know just what to say to make things better," she said. Chuck swallowed.

"Well…I'm about to say something that may test that theory," Chuck began. She pulled away, and looked up, curious. "So, what if, you put my name down. Hear me out," he rushed out, scared she'd object. She wasn't. He had no idea she wouldn't but she wouldn't. "If it's my name, then it looks like you met me, and decided to leave the spy life if you were ever found out. Also we're together. I'm still stunned, but we are, and you seem to be serious about keeping me around, so we're together." She smiled at him, tears in her eyes. "If something happens, and I hope it doesn't but life, you know," he said, shrugging. She nodded. "I'm still going to be her father according to you."

"Damn straight you are," she said.

"Then putting my name on the birth certificate causes no more problems then not," he said.

"Child support," she countered. "If, God forbid, something happens, you'd be on the hook for child support."

"Sarah, do you really think I'd not be a part of our daughter's life?" Chuck asked. "I'm already crazy about our child, as you keep reminding me."

"Chuck you are that child's father, maybe not biologically, but you are," she said.

"Then put me on the birth certificate if you want," he said. "I hope it didn't sound creepy, I was just trying to help." She studied him. Was he for real? Did he actually exist or was he some strange construct of her imagination? Chuck Bartowski may be the best person she had ever met.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Sarah, I'm positive," he replied. She smiled, and the smile turned a little predatory.

"Chuck, if you do this, then I'm going to get greedy and want more," she said.

"More children?" he asked. He shrugged. "I figure one day we'll have one too." She licked her lips.

"Chuck, I want more," she said, lustily. "I want five."

"Kids?" he asked his eyes wide.

"I don't know about kids," she said. "And while what I want isn't necessary or kids, it doesn't hurt." She gave him a second and it hit him.

"Well, I mean a gentleman always does what he can for a lady," he said. Suddenly she stood, her hand shot out, grabbed him, and dragged them toward their apartment door. "Wait, what will everyone think?" he asked. She gave him a "what do you think?" look as she opened the door and dragged him in. "Oh."


A/N: Ahem, Wade….Douchenozzle is now in your court….Reviews and PMs are always welcomed!

DC