And... Here's the next chapter! Oh yeah, Just wanted to let you know that college is great. I have so much free time and I've never felt more productive. You know what that means? It means that when I'm not studying or doing something related to school, I'm writing. It's such a great feeling. Though, I'm still working on getting the buffer back. I'm not doing a good job with that since I'm either writing on this story or my other one. But, I'm still getting chapters out to you. So... I call that a win!

I would do all the reviews separately like I always do, but coincidently, everyone is pretty much prompting me to say the same thing so... here's my response to all of you.

I'm surprised you guys are still with me on this! LOL! I feel like I've been all over the place with this story but it seems that there is some flow. Remember when I said shit's about to hit the fan? Well, get your shit cleaner, 'cause we've got a huge mess all over the intersect room. (Only one of you seemed to remember that particular detail...)

One last thing to do...

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Chuck as Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz are the gods of their creation and Warner Brothers hasn't put up the brand for sale.

Nearly a month had gone by since Chuck had last seen Sarah. Though, he heard from Morgan that she had just signed on for the lead role in a new action film called Phase Three. He, on the other hand, would be leaving soon to go on tour for the next three or so months. Things had just gotten so crazy with their careers that they didn't really have time to even talk to each other. Chuck figured that if he was going to try and convince Sarah that they could still be together for real, he needed to have a serious talk with her. So, he pulled out his phone and gave her a call. Thankfully, she answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Sarah," he greeted.

"Hey Chuck. What's up?"

"Uh, not much. I just wanted to ask if you wanted to meet up for lunch? You know, if you're not busy."

"Actually, you picked a good day. It's my first day off since I last saw you. How about California Pizza Kitchen? The one on Sunset Boulevard?"

"Perfect." Chuck got dressed into a fairly simple outfit and hopped into his car to get down to Sunset Boulevard. It was still a little early but he needed to drop off a demo for a new track to Castle Records. By the time he made it to the restaurant, he noticed that Sarah's Porsche was already sitting in a spot in the parking lot. Suddenly excited, Chuck pulled into a vacant spot and made his way toward the restaurant.

When he walked in, he saw that Sarah had found a booth by the window and was waiting patiently with a menu in her hands. He made his way over to her and took a seat down in front of the blonde actress. "Find anything good?" he asked. Sarah smiled at him and set her menu aside.

"I already ordered for us," she replied.

"Is that so?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. He eyed the menu now sitting on the table. "What's with the menu?"

Sarah shrugged. "I like looking at the options. Plus, I didn't want to sit here awkwardly without anything to do."

Chuck nodded. "I see. So… You wanna tell me what you ordered?"

"Absolutely. For our appetizer I got us the Artichoke Dip and the Crispy Mac 'N' Cheese. And for our main course, I ordered the California Veggie and the BBQ Chicken."

"Wow, that's… spot on. That's impressive."

"Thank you." And as if on cue, a waitress came by and placed their orders on the table in front of them along with a glass of water for Chuck.

Chuck smiled to himself as they began their meal. Sarah was comfortable enough to order for the both of them and even bothered to remember what he always ordered here. They'd only been to California Pizza Kitchen together one other time so she must've really paid attention to him when he had ordered for the both of them. The thought of Sarah staring at him while he ordered made him want to blush.

Halfway through their pizzas, Sarah wiped her mouth. "So, why the lunch date?" she asked.

"Well," Chuck replied after swallowing. "I think I may have come up with a way for us to get around Graham and Beckman's ridiculous 'no dating for real' rule." Chuck had been sitting on the idea since he'd proposed it and after a month of fool proofing, he thought that they could pull it off. However, the look on Sarah face told him that she didn't feel the same way. "What is it?" he asked.

Sarah looked back at him with sad eyes. "Chuck," she began. "I don't think it's a good idea."

"What?" he asked incredulously. He thought that things were going great between them. They got along extremely well and they were really starting to act like a real couple. She just ordered for the both of them for crying out loud. "You told me that you were open to the suggestion and that you were willing to take the chance for us to work."

"I know I did, Chuck, but our lives are so different. Just think about it. Without Graham or Morgan setting up a meeting, we haven't seen each other in nearly a month. We've been holding off on interviews together because we've gotten so busy with our careers. In a few weeks, I'll be flying off to Australia to film my new movie and you'll be going on tour. We wouldn't see each other for months at a time. That's not what a healthy relationship is, Chuck."

Chuck shook his head. Those all sounded like excuses and that just wouldn't fly by him. "Sarah, I understand that our jobs will make it difficult for us to spend time together but time away isn't what makes an unhealthy relationship, us not trying to make it work does." He reached for her hand across the table. "I'm willing to try, Sarah. Are you?"

Sarah looked him in the eyes and took a deep breath. "I am, Chuck." The nerdy musician felt a smile grow onto his face. "But not right now." The smile quickly deflated as Sarah spoke her second statement.

"What?"

"I've done the long distance relationship before, Chuck, and I got burned. I can't take the chance of that happening again. It's best that we stick to our cover for the time being. It'll make things easier. For the both of us." Chuck slowly retracted his hand from Sarah's and silently continued to eat his pizza. He kept his gaze down as he felt Sarah's on him the entire time.

He couldn't believe that he was so close to breaking through Sarah's walls. She had seemed so ready to risk it all; but now, all he saw was doubt in her eyes and in her body language. She wasn't sure about their relationship and it made him unsure about their relationship. He didn't like that.

When they were finished with their meal, Chuck paid for their meal and the two stars exited, heading to their respective cars. Since they passed by Chuck's first, they paused by the driver's door and Sarah turned to face the musician. "Please understand where I'm coming from."

"I understand where you're coming," Chuck said glumly. "I just thought that what we had was stronger than any fear. But I guess what I thought was just as fake as our relationship." Chuck unlocked his car. "I have to go," he said. "I'll see you around, Sarah."

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

Watching Chuck drive away felt like Sarah was sticking needles into her own chest. The truth was, she wanted nothing more than to be with Chuck but when she had confronted Graham about it, he told her that starting a real relationship was the last thing she needed at the moment. She needed to remain focused if she wanted to get her career back on track and since it was the only thing she had, Sarah couldn't let that fall through the cracks. She knew that she and Chuck would get their chance someday, but that someday was not in the near future.

Walking back to her car, Sarah felt her phone buzz in her purse and she pulled it out. She saw that Casey was calling her so she answered. "Hello?" she answered tiredly.

"Gym. Now," said a gruff voice before the line disconnected. Sarah groaned before she hopped into her car and drove to the gym where John Casey, no doubtedly, was waiting for a training session. Since she was going to be playing an agent on a mission to find her missing partner, she needed to learn new fighting techniques and get her cardio and endurance back up.

Arriving at the gym, Sarah grabbed her duffel bag from the trunk and made her way to the locker room where she changed into a sports bra and spandex. The actress rolled her neck on her shoulders as she walked into the training room and wasn't surprised when she saw Casey pounding on the punching bag. "I'm here," she announced, putting her stuff on the bench.

"Put the gloves on. Warm up," he grunted. Sarah followed his command and began her warm up on the bag. As she warmed up, she thought about her last meeting with Graham.

Sarah walked into the large office of Langston Graham to see her manager typing away on his computer. "Ah, Sarah," he greeted without looking up. "Right on time. I have some things to discuss with you."

"Actually, I have to talk to you about something as well," was her response.

"Is that so?" Graham looked up from his computer screen and removed his glasses. "And what is it that you need to talk to me about?"

"I just wanted to ask how strict the whole 'keep it professional' thing is with my fake relationship with Chuck is." She might as well ease into it. That way he'd be more inclined to agree.

"Very strict. Why?"

"Well, you see… The thing is…" Oh, to hell with easing into it. "I want have something real with him and not just this fake relationship."

"I never said you couldn't have a real friendship with him."

"No, Graham. I want to date him. For real."

"Well, I'm afraid I can't have that," he replied. The way he was so nonchalant about telling her who she could and could not date made her angry. Her ears felt like they were starting to burn.

"And why not?" Sarah balled her hands into fists and rested them firmly on her hips. "You may be my manager and you may be the closest thing I have to a father figure but you do not have the right to tell me who I can and cannot date." Sarah couldn't believe the fact that she sounded like a teenage girl yelling at her stepfather.

"You're right," Graham said standing up. "I don't have the right to tell you who you can and cannot date. But I'm worried about you."

"Why are you worried about me?" Sarah asked, not buying the load he was giving her.

"Sarah, your acting career is on the fence as it is. I'm working my ass off trying to get you a job. Right now, I need you to be completely focus on your auditions and meetings. You need publicity. Chuck needs publicity. That's why we put you two in this arrangement. For publicity and nothing else. How can I have you perform well at auditions if your mind is wondering what your precious boyfriend is doing? Trust me, Sarah. If it were any other time, under different circumstances, that you wanted to date this boy, I would have no problem with it. But for now, I need your sole focus on getting a new project."

Graham made a really good point. Sarah had been doing only average at her auditions and even though she was inching her way back into the green with the media, it still wasn't good enough for directors and producers to be mailing her scripts for possible projects. She really did need to focus if she wanted to save her career. And, although she didn't want to admit it, she couldn't. Not with the constant thoughts and fantasies about her and Chuck's life together. "So what do I do?" Sarah asked. "I already told him that I'd be up for a real relationship."

"Just tell him what you have to in order put any of those thoughts to rest. At least, for now."

Sarah continued to pound at the punching bag, rage burning through her. By the time she figured she was warmed up enough, she nodded to Casey who directed her toward the sparring mat. "Basic approach," was all he said before putting his arms up in a defensive position.

Sarah put her own hands up in a defensive stance and bounced around on the balls of her feet. Then, without warning, she sent a quick jab at Casey's face and bounced back. She moved forward sending two more jabs.

"Hook."

Sarah tightened her stance and released two quick jabs followed by her right hook. Casey managed to block all three hits.

"Upper."

Once again, the blonde actress began with her two left jabs followed by a strong right uppercut that was, again, blocked by Casey.

"Side."

Sarah shifted her stance again for the new command. This time, when she attacked, she sent a left and right jab, bouncing back immediately with a strong side kick, all of which Casey was able to block easily.

"Round."

Sarah took her two left jabs and spun around so her right leg circled her body before coming down for a roundhouse. Casey barely had time to move away to avoid being hit. He took a step back and loosened his stance. Sarah did the same. "Getting better, Walker," he praised.

"I've been practicing."

"Yeah, well, let's see how well you've been practicing." They both got into their defensive positions circling each other. Sarah knew that she had to stay focused in order to keep up with Casey during their sparring sessions but her encounter with Chuck and the meeting with Graham have been bugging her since they happened and at this point, with all of her adrenaline coursing through her veins, Sarah was angry. And the best way she knew how to take out her anger was on the punching bag, or in this case, John Casey. So she went to work on him, landing multiple jabs and combos. After the fifth hit that Casey took to the face, he shook the pain off and snorted. "What's got you all riled up, Walker? You're fighting like a pit bull."

"Have you ever liked someone you couldn't be with?" she asked as she took another jab.

"What? Like a high school crush that's dating someone else?" Casey grunted as he stumbled back from another blow.

"No, I mean like, something's keeping you apart even though you really want to be together."

"Well if you really want to be together then nothing should stand in your way. You've got to fight until you get what you want." Sarah finished off her last combo with a roundhouse that sent Casey stumbling back off of the mat.

"You think so?" Sarah said, loosening up.

"I know so. This guy, whoever he is… If you think he's worth it, then you've got to do everything in your power to show him that you want to be with him." Sarah smiled.

"Thanks, Casey."

"No problem," he grunted. Getting back on the mat, he clapped his gloves together and got back into a defensive position. "Now, the lady feelings out of the way, let's get back to real work."

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

Once Sarah had finished her workout-slash-training session with Casey, she decided that she needed to talk to Chuck right away and tell him that she really was a hundred percent behind him in whatever plan he came up with. She drove all the way down to his apartment complex in Echo Park and walked through the courtyard toward his apartment. She knocked on the door and waited but no one answered. She knocked again and waited until a door across the courtyard opened and Ellie walked out wearing light blue scrubs. "Sarah," she greeted, slightly surprised at the appearance of the blonde actress.

"Hi," Sarah waved, walking up to the brunette. "Is, uh… Do you know if Chuck is home?"

Confusion found it's way into the doctor's features. "No, he left for the airport an hour ago."

"Really? Why?"

"He didn't tell you?" Sarah shook her head. "I guess he never had the time. After his lunch with you, Morgan gave him a call telling him that he'd got him on the circuit in New York and that they were on the next flight out."

"When will he be back?"

"In about two weeks, maybe," was Ellie's reply. "I'm sure he'll call you and let you know all of the details when he lands."

"Yeah."

"Well, I'll see you around. I've got to get to work. I have a thirty-six hour shift that I am so not looking forward to." Sarah chuckled softly.

"Have fun," she said with a smile. Ellie gave her a hug and left the complex, leaving Sarah all alone by the fountain.

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

Chuck couldn't believe that Sarah just decided to write him off so quickly even after she had said that she was willing to give them a try. But, oh well. At least he knew where they stood and that whatever thing they had under their fake relationship was just a fluke of his own imagination. Now, landing in New York, Chuck was ready for the barrage of talk shows that Morgan had set up. He still had to decide who his opening act would be and once he did, everything would be set for the kickoff.

Stepping off of the plane and onto the tarmac, a security team was there to escort him to the black Chevy Suburban. From there, he and Morgan were taken to the Hilton hotel where they checked into their room and relaxed for a bit before they had to leave for the interviews.

"How about this new band, Owl City?" Morgan asked. He had been giving Chuck options on opening acts for the past twenty minutes.

"Play something," Chuck said, scrolling through his twitter feed on his laptop. Morgan played one of their cover videos and Chuck had to admit that it was different. A good different. "I like them," he said looking up. "See if you can set something up."

"You got it, Boss," Morgan said before disappearing out of the room. Just as the door closed behind his bearded best friend, Chuck's phone rang. When he checked the caller ID, he was surprised to see Sarah's name and face grace the screen. He wanted so badly to answer the phone and he knew, after seeing the schedule Morgan had planned for the next two weeks, this would be the only time he would have to talk to her. But, he just couldn't bring himself to hit the button. Instead, he just watched it ring until it went to voicemail.

He knew that Sarah had some stuff going on. He didn't know what they were exactly, but he knew that there were things in her past that created some serious trust issues and Chuck respected that. It just annoyed him that after she'd promised that she'd tried; she still turned around and broke it. And that was one thing Chuck did not like: to break a promise. Of course he wasn't naïve and understood that not all promises can be kept, but at least he could try. When his phone started to ring again and Ellie's face popped up, Chuck snapped out of his thoughts and answered the phone. "Hey, Sis," he greeted.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, sounding angry. Chuck was suddenly confused, wondering what he did wrong.

"Woah! Slow down, Ellie," he placated. "What exactly are you talking about?"

"Will you please explain to me why Sarah was outside your apartment looking all distressed? And why she didn't know you were headed to New York?" Chuck scrunched his face.

"I just got settled into the room. I was going to call her. Everything was so rushed and I'm pretty sure I left my eczema cream in the bathroom. I promise I'm not a terrible boyfriend."

A terrible fake one, maybe, he added in his thoughts.

"Well give her a call then."

"I will," he assured.

"Alright. I'll talk to you soon."

"Bye." When they hung up, Ellie's words echoed through Chuck's mind.

Will you please explain to me why Sarah was outside your apartment looking all distressed? And why she didn't know you were headed to New York?

Well, she didn't know that he was going to New York because he didn't tell her, but the first part…

Will you please explain to me why Sarah was outside your apartment looking all distressed?

Chuck didn't know the answer to that. If anything, he was sure that Sarah would do whatever she could to avoid going to see him after she had rejected him. Again. But if she was at his apartment then maybe she'd changed her mind.

Stop that! the little voice at the back of his mind yelled. That's what got you into this mess in the first place. You get your hopes up for a relationship with Sarah, only to get burned in the end. Do you really want to go through that again?

The little voice had a point. Sarah has been playing games with him from the very beginning and it was time for them to stop. A resolve in mind, Chuck unlocked his phone and dialed Sarah's number. She picked up on the second ring. "Chuck!"

"Hi, Sarah," he greeted. "You called?"

"Yeah. You're in New York?"

"Yeah. It was kind of a last minute thing."

"Oh. Well, I just wanted to tell you-"

"Wait," he interrupted. "Before you say anything, I want to let you know that I'm sorry for the way I acted at lunch. I've had a lot of time to think on the plane and I just want to say that I really do understand where you're coming from and that I'll stop pushing you. For real, this time. I know that you aren't looking for a real relationship and me giving you a hard time about it isn't making things easier for you so I agree; we should just stick to the cover and leave it at that."

"No, Chuck-"

"I'm sorry for being such a jerk about you just wanting some space. I'll talk to you when I get back to Los Angeles. I've gotta go." With that, Chuck hung up his phone and just laid on his bed until Morgan came to get him.

And how messy did that get? Yeah... You didn't think this story was going to be easy did you? LOL! Well, until next time!

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