I still don't own Chuck. Not sure who does at this point. Maybe Subway.

Ok, shippers. There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there. Good stuff is coming. But you already knew that when you saw the author's name. But it's not here yet. Hopefully the action will make up for it.

Thanks to Happydayz for pulling double duty as my conscience in Brickroad's absence. Don't worry folks, her leash is just as short as Brickroad's. And thanks to Poa for being there to listen, encourage… oh and for teaching me how to be a real writer. It might come in handy someday.

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Don't forget to join us for Chuck Me Mondays from now until the new season starts. We will be streaming the episode on the WB web site and talking about it on Twitter. We are starting with the pilot on June 1st. If you want to know more about the schedule PM me or mention it in your review (I know. That was shameless, lol).

Perfect and Not So Much

- - - -

"Son of a bitch!" Fred Jones yelled. The coffee cup that he had been holding shattered into a million pieces as he sent it flying into the wall of his office. "Are you sure? How could this happen?"

"I'm afraid it's true, sir," the Fulcrum agent replied. "When I returned to the gang headquarters, all ten men were dead. And Agent Walker was gone."

"So let me get this straight," Jones said. His mood went from anger to dejection as his shoulders visibly slumped. "Agent Walker escaped from ten men and killed them all… All on her own? How is that possible?"

"We don't know, sir," the agent said. "When I left she was secured in the basement. Her hands were cuffed behind her back and she was bound to a chair. When I returned after transferring the NSA agent, I found the bodies."

"Son of a bitch," Jones muttered. "How many men of ours did she kill yesterday? Twenty two?"

"Well, sir," the agent replied. "In all fairness, the NSA agent got two." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized how stupid he sounded.

"And we're sure that she didn't have help?" Jones said. "She wasn't tailed on the way to the house? They didn't trace the NSA agent's cell?"

"I'm very sure of that, sir," the agent replied. "We swept her as soon as we captured her. I also searched her very thoroughly. We went well out of our way back to the house. We had a trailer car to make doubly sure that we weren't being tailed. And they couldn't have traced his cell. We didn't even call her from the house. His phone was never on there."

"Who is this Agent Walker anyway?" Jones said, more to himself than anybody. "Why is it that she seems to know everything that we do before we even do it?"

"Yes, sir," the agent said. "We actually have another problem. None of our agents are eager to go after Agent Walker again. Everybody that has tried so far is now wearing a toe tag. It's considered a suicide mission."

There was nothing for Jones to do except shake his head and dream about having someone like that working for him.

"I'd love to have a chat with this superwoman."

- - - -

As soon as Sarah, Ellie, and Janice were back in the van, Sarah had Chuck drive them away from the scene. There was no sense in risking possibly being identified. Sarah sat uncomfortably in the passenger's seat. She didn't speak except to give Chuck driving directions. She could sense that Chuck was very upset. But that would have to wait until they were safe. Janice sat at the center control panel, trying to find clues in the audio recording from the mission. Devon and Ellie sat in the very back, holding each other.

After driving for a while, Sarah decided that they needed to find someplace to stop for the night. And the last thing that Sarah wanted to do was to use a credit card. So that meant finding a hotel that would accept cash. Since Janice and Ellie were already dressed like hookers, the decision on where to go was easy. Sarah directed Chuck to drive to the red light district. They quickly picked a hotel that had parking that couldn't be seen from the road. Sarah sent Janice and Ellie in to get two rooms. She would have preferred adjoining rooms but it wasn't that sort of place. So she settled for two rooms next to each other.

Janice and Sarah remained in the van listening to the tape from the gang hideout while the others went into the closest motel room.

"They weren't using a secure cell," Janice said. "So we were able to trace the phone. It belongs to a Fred Jones."

"I'll mention it to Chuck," Sarah said as she began playing the tape. "Maybe he'll flash on something."

"They are not after Chuck, at all," Janice said as they finished listening to Jose's call to Jones. "There is no mention of Chuck or the Intersect. They are after you."

Sarah couldn't help but agree.

"I know," she said. "I have no idea what they are up to. Maybe they think that I know about the Intersect. They think that Bryce is the Intersect. Maybe they know about my history with Bryce. Maybe they just want to get information about him. Nothing else makes any sense."

"History?" Janice asked with a sly smile. Her implication was obvious.

Sarah was so surprised by Janice's question that she snapped her head up to look her in the eye.

"Can I ask you a question?" Janice asked. "We're friends, right? What is the real deal between you and Chuck? Don't give me the 'I'm in love' line. Come on, Sarah. Agents don't fall in love. You two are like oil and vinegar. Are you playing him?"

"I'm not playing him," Sarah quickly bristled. "Right now I'm pissed at him. That's true. I could picture me twisting his head until it came off in my hand. But he is my life. If anything happened to him, I would die."

"But how could you possibly give up on Bryce?" Janice asked. "He is the perfect man for you. Did he dump you?"

"He didn't dump me," Sarah said. "Look, Janice. I don't expect you to understand. I don't totally understand myself."

"You're right. I don't."

"You've never felt what it feels like to be truly loved," Sarah said with a smile. "If you ever had, you'd understand. Bryce may have been the perfect man for Agent Walker. But Sarah wanted more."

"Come on, Sarah," Janice said. "You've been treating him like crap. Is this how you act when you're in love? He's not a puppy that needs to stay in the car. I treat him better than you do."

Sarah looked at the floor sadly. "I know," she whispered. "I need to protect him. He's depending on me. And right now, I need to stay an agent. If I smiled at him once, he would have me in bed five minutes later. And then, goodbye Agent Walker. I have to stay professional. I'll make it up to him."

Janice glared at Sarah skeptically. "So," she said. "You wouldn't mind if I took a shot at Bryce? He is the hottest thing on two legs."

"I wouldn't mind at all," Sarah said. "I think that's a great idea. Do you want me to set something up? I know how to get a hold of him."

"Maybe," Janice said with a smile. "You really wouldn't mind?"

"I know that you've always had a thing for Bryce," Sarah said. "He's always noticed you too. I think that you two would make a great couple. But the truth is that Chuck is so much better… in almost every way you can imagine."

"Even in bed?"

"Especially in bed."

"Really?" Janice asked. "Then how about this? Since you're pissed at Chuck, maybe I could cheer him up?"

"If you even touch him," Sarah growled. "I'll leave your body buried in a shallow grave. I'm not kidding, Janice. Normally I wouldn't mind you being you with him. You wouldn't get very far anyway. But he's hurting right now and he doesn't need anyone messing with his head. Do we understand each other?"

Janice turned away so Sarah wouldn't see the smirk on her face. She loved Sarah like a sister. But it was so much fun getting under her skin.

- - - -

Janice and Sarah had moved to one of the rooms when Chuck came in. He was visibly upset.

"Do you think I could speak to Sarah for two minutes?" he asked Janice.

"Sure," Janice replied. "I'll be next door seeing what trouble I can cause over there. It looks like you already have enough of your own over here."

As soon as Janice left, Chuck turned to Sarah. "I'd like to speak with my wife for two minutes. I assume that you don't feel that we're in imminent danger since you left Devon, Ellie, and me alone for the past hour. Maybe Agent Walker can take a break."

"Chuck," Sarah said. "I'm still incredibly pissed. I really don't have anything to say to you right now."

"That's fine," Chuck snapped. "Because I intend on doing all the talking."

Chuck noticed the look on Sarah's face but didn't wait for her to say anything.

"First," Chuck began. "I'm sorry that you're pissed at me. I know that you think that I lied. But I didn't. I just got in a situation where I didn't know what to do. And I made a bad decision. I admit that. And I'm sorry if that hurt you. But I'm the one that would never intentionally lie to you."

Sarah's jaw tightened at Chuck's last barb but, again, he didn't give her a chance to speak.

"You made some promises to me as well," Chuck continued. "You promised me that you would keep our baby safe. Remember that? I don't think that getting slammed into walls by some sex crazed drug dealer and having a gunfight with ten of his buddies qualifies. Do you?"

Sarah looked at the floor. Her voice was so soft that Chuck had to strain to hear her.

"Chuck," Sarah said. "I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting Jose to be there. I'm doing my best to protect the baby. She's as important to me as she is to you."

"I'm sending Ellie in to check you over," Chuck said. "I didn't like the sound of him throwing you around."

"Chuck, I'm fine. I …"

"It wasn't a request," Chuck interrupted. "I love you, Sarah. I love the baby. Just because I'm pissed at you doesn't change that fact."

Sarah had to turn away to keep from throwing herself into his arms.

"Okay," Sarah said. "I'm pissed. I will be for a while. But it didn't change for me either. You know that, right?"

"Who am I getting tonight?" Chuck asked. "Sarah or Agent Walker?"

Sarah's heart broke as she looked at the fear in Chuck's eyes. Her instincts screamed at her to tell Chuck that she loved him. That this was just as hard on her. That, after all, she was doing it for him. That it was only for a little while and that she looked forward to making it up to him… again and again. That it wouldn't take too much convincing to get her into bed right now. But she knew that she couldn't say any of those things without breaking down. And he needed her to be strong.

"I'm sorry, Chuck," Sarah said. "Until we're safe, I'm Agent Walker. I have to be. Please help me."

"If you want me to help," Chuck said. "Then we need to stay away from each other as much as possible. I'll sleep with Janice tonight."

Even though the situation was very tense, Chuck couldn't help but smile at Sarah's reaction.

"You know what I mean."

- - - -

Chuck brought Ellie right over to check on Sarah.

"Chuck, I forgot to tell you," Sarah said. "We traced Jose's call to a Fred Jones. Do you know anything about him?"

Sarah waited patiently for the flash to finish. She knew that the length of the flash was unusual. It must mean that the Intersect had a lot of information.

"Crap!" Chuck exclaimed when the flash finally ended. "He's a Fulcrum Elder. He is based here in L.A. and is in charge of the entire West coast. I have his address."

"Good," Sarah said.

"Are you hurting anywhere?" Ellie asked Sarah.

"My left shoulder is a little sore," Sarah said. "I hit it when Jose slammed me into the wall. It's just a little bruised. I'll be fine."

"Let me look at it," Ellie said. "Please take off your shirt."

"Chuck," Sarah said. "Could you go get Janice?"

"What," Chuck said. "I can't see you take off your shirt?"

"I'm sorry, Chuck," Sarah said. "I don't think that's a good idea right now. Please just go get Janice."

"I guess that view is reserved for Jose," Chuck said as he stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

"Wow," Ellie said. "You must really be upset with him."

"I was," Sarah said as she took off her shirt. "I'm pretty much over that now."

"Doesn't sound like it," Ellie said as she felt around Sarah's shoulder.

"I feel horrible," Sarah said. "I need to concentrate on keeping him safe. He's taking this the wrong way. Can you talk to him for me?"

"That needs to come from you," Ellie said. "For one thing, he wouldn't believe me."

"I can't," Sarah said. "I would just break down. Please. Just let him know that I love him. That this is just for a little while."

"I'll make you a deal," Ellie said with a smile. "I'll talk to Chuck for you if you talk to Devon for me."

"Devon?" Sarah asked. "What's wrong with Devon?"

"He thinks that I am attracted to John," Ellie said with a laugh.

"Really?" Sarah said with a laugh of her own. "Casey? Please tell me he's wrong."

"He thinks I'm attracted to the excitement," Ellie said. "He is definitely wrong. I like John. We get along. But there is nothing sexual there."

"I'll talk to him," Sarah said.

"I'm not sure how much good either of us will do," Ellie said. "But at least you didn't suffer any physical damage in your fight today."

"Is the baby okay?" Sarah asked.

"Yes," Ellie replied. "Your shoulder has a moderate bruise. Some ice would help. But if you've managed up till now, I'd say you'll be fine. It would take a lot to hurt the baby at this stage. I would mention it to your obstetrician that you took a blunt force trauma. Who is your obstetrician?"

"I haven't seen one," Sarah said. "We've been on the run ever since I found out that I was pregnant."

"Sarah!" Ellie said in alarm. "You need to get in right away. I have a friend who is great. I'll see if she can sneak you in. You can't wait on this."

Just then Janice entered the room. "What's wrong with Chuck?" she asked. "He is really upset. He is throwing stuff around the room."

Sarah had to blink away the tears that were quickly forming.

"I know," she said. "We have to end this. I'm hurting him too much."

"What are you going to do?" Janice asked.

"Chuck flashed," Sarah said. "It turns out that Fred Jones is a Fulcrum elder. Chuck has his address."

"Okay," Janice said with a smile. "So, what's the plan?"

"This guy wants to talk to me so fucking bad," Sarah said.

Janice's smile turned into a grin. She was actually starting to feel a little sorry for this guy. Sarah must really be livid to use that language.

"Let's give him his wish."

- - - -

Fred Jones unlocked the door to his house and walked in. He threw his keys on the counter and walked into the living room. He plopped down in the overstuffed chair and sat in the dark. He didn't even have the energy to fix himself a drink. This had been a lousy day. It had been a lousy week. And it was shaking up to be a lousy year.

Suddenly a voice came out of the darkness.

"Are you Fred Jones?"

Startled, Jones turned towards the voice. "Who is there?" he asked.

A light switched on. The first thing that Jones would normally have noticed would be the stunning blonde sitting across from him. At this time, however, he was consumed by looking down the barrel of the Glock that she held pointing directly at him. She waited a long moment before speaking.

"My name is Sarah Walker."

- - - -