A/N: Ta-Dah! Another one up. More fluff and stuff. Hey...there's my sub-title: jaytoyz fluff 'n' stuff. Not as 'historicool' as H R Puff 'n' Stuff but I try.(maybe I should trademark the word ,'historicool' before some other nerd steals it for their very own. Nah, too much work. You're welcome to it if you want it...or has somebody already used it? Wow, did I just bit-hack the word 'historicool' and not realize it? Does it matter? I would imagine that in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter.) Now ... where was I...oh yes... A couple of readers have mentioned that Chuck isn't doing a lot of 'walking' during his walkabout...well there is plenty of 'walking' coming soon. Someone else asked if Orion was some kind of superhero, given his amazing accomplishments...superhero...NO!~ Super genius...Most definitely!

Thanks to everyone who's stuck in there so far. I promise to get to 'walking' soon. Thanks for all the kind reviews. They warm the cockles of an old-ish guy's heart.

I don't own Chuck nor do I profit from this story...but it would be cool to...own Chuck and profit from this story...hell, I'd take either one of the two...but then again, so would a lot of you...wouldn't you?

Enough babbling...on to the story

Chuck Vs. The Walkabout Chapter 11

The ride to San Francisco was going smoothly which allowed Chuck the chance to enjoy the scenery. Chuck's best 'guesstimation' had them about halfway there when Ginger pulled into a rest area followed by Jim and Trish. The break provided Chuck the perfect opportunity to stretch out. After giving his muscles a quick workout, he turned and noticed that Ginger was doing the same thing. After a few seconds, Ginger looked up and, realizing that he'd been caught staring, he gulped and started to blush.

"Hey B, were you just checking me out?"

"Well…I…uh…"

"That's ok Chuck" Ginger said as she took a few steps towards him, " I don't mind. Now it's your turn."

"My turn?" Chuck stammered, looking slightly panicked.

"To drive, B. What? Did you think I was gonna make you 'stretch' for me?" Ginger laughed. "Get on the bike you big goof."

"Yes ma'am" Chuck said with a smile as he swung his leg over the bike. A few moments later Ginger climbed on behind him. Before he could start the bike she leaned forward and whispered into his ear, "You can stretch for me at the next stop." Chuck whipped his head around and found her smiling at him, obviously enjoying the effect her teasing had on him. "C'mon Chuck, I'm just kidding. Let's hit the road."

"Chuck turned his head back around and fired the bike up. As he began to pull back out onto the highway Chuck realized that he had suddenly become very aware of the warm form tucked in behind him. And that awareness didn't scare him…much.

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"Sarah looked up from her Sunday morning paper and found Ellie and Devon staring at her.

"Well Sarah, did you think about our offer?"

After carefully folding the paper and sitting it aside, Sarah took a breath and started: "First, I want to thank you guys for inviting me over for breakfast." Picking up her coffee cup she saluted them, "Second, it was really incredible that Devon's parents paid off your student loans as a wedding gift and because of that, you guys have decided to use your extra income to purchase the apartment across the courtyard. Now, about your offer… I'm afraid that I'm going to have to say no to renting this apartment from you." Sarah saw Ellie's smile disappear but before she could say anything, Sarah added, "…but I would be interested in buying it…that is , if you guys would like to sell it."

Ellie and Devon looked at each and then back at Sarah.

"Are you sure?" Ellie blurted out.

"I spent a lot of time thinking about it last night. I've spent most of my life living out of suitcases and staying in cheap motels or crappy apartments. I've decided that I want to have a place to call my own and I'd like that place to be here, in Burbank, the first place that I've ever felt at home. So, what do you think, would you guys be willing to sell it to me?"

Ellie looked at Devon, pretty sure that she already knew his answer. After he nodded back, she squealed and jumped up to run around the table to give Sarah a big hug.

"I take it that this means that you'll let me buy it?"

"Of course we will. Sarah, I'm so happy that you've decided to stay. Wait until I tell Chuck, He'll…"

"Hold on Ellie, please. I know that I don't have any reason to expect you to do this but could you please, let me tell him? I really need to talk to him and to try to clean up this mess that I've made. I think that Chuck needs to hear from me that I've decided to stay and I need to convince him that he is the only reason for that decision. Do you understand ?"

"Yeah…yeah I do. We'll let you tell Chuck and hope for the best. One thing Sarah, I can't tell you where he is or how to get in touch with him. I promised Chuck and Dad that I would keep that secret and I'm going to. I hope you understand . I really hope that the two of you can salvage this but I promised Chuck and that is a promise that I intend to keep."

"I understand Ellie, I really do. But , just so you know, I'm not going to stop looking for him. I'll do whatever I can to find him and then I'll drag him back here and make him understand that I'm not going anywhere and that he'll be staying here…with me! I don't want to come between you and Chuck but I need him and you can tell him that I said so, anytime you want!"

"Alright Sarah, I will. I'll ask him to call you. I hope that's enough for you."

"That's more than I have any right to expect from you, Ellie. I did lie to you for almost two years and I know it may be hard for you to believe but I'm really sorry for that and somehow, I'll make it up to you…I promise."

"Alright Sarah. Now, how do you want to handle all the moving stuff?"

"Ellie…babe, why don't we finish our breakfast before we start moving…" Devon suggested with chuckle. "I'm sure that Sarah is hungry and we haven't signed the papers on the other apartment yet."

"You're right Devon" Ellie replied, "We'll finish our food…and then we'll see how the rest of the day goes. Does anyone want more pancakes?"

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Following Ginger's directions that consisted mainly of her pointing and tugging playfully at one or the other of his ears, Chuck finally backed the bike into a parking space next to the one taken by Jim's bike. After pulling off his helmet, Chuck looked up and had to do a double take when he read the name of the bar that the four of them were about to enter.

"PISSED OFF PETE'S?" Chuck asked." We rode all this way to go into a bar called PISSED OFF PETE'S?"

"That's right Chuck. This bar is where mom and dad first met, almost thirty-five years ago. They have been coming here, once a year, every year since. I started coming along when I was old enough to ride and I thought that you might enjoy it."

"Wow…that's cool. Every year since? I've got to hear the story behind that first meeting . It's got to be a great tale."

"I don't know about great…it starts off with the dashing and charming hero, out for a ride with his friends and ends up with him forced...OW..OWWW ..OW." Jim wailed as Trish used his ear to haul him down to her eye level.

"Forced...?" Trish asked with menace, and a hint of humor, in her voice.

" For-tunate...with the hero being for-tunate enough to meet the love of his life."

"That's the story I remember" Trish said with a smile as she let go of Jim's ear.

"So, you see Chuck, this is a magical place. That's why we come back here, once a year." Jim finished as they made their way through the front door. "Plus, the drinks are cheap and the food's pretty good."

"Oh, I see. Magical ...and practical. An unbeatable combination in my book...OW..OWW..."

"You forgot to mention the great company!" Ginger said while she tugged on Chuck's ear.

"... and the company is fantastic!" Chuck finished as his ear was released. "That hurt, you big bully." Chuck added with a pout.

"C'mere you big baby!" Ginger answered, pulling Chuck close enough so that she could plant a kiss on his ear. A kiss that became a nibble that was followed with a quick tongue lash. "Does your widdle ear feel better now?" Ginger asked with a laugh and then smiled as she watched the blush that crept up Chuck's neck, disappear into his hairline.

Trish was watching the interaction between Chuck and her daughter with a smile while her husband was scanning the room, looking for a table for the four of them.

"C'mon folks, I've spotted the perfect table for us on the other side of the room."

"Jim, it's just like every other table in here." Trish said with a wave of her hand to indicate the other empty tables.

"That's where you're wrong, oh love of my 's our 'table'."

"We don't have a 'table' you big doofus. I was sitting at the bar when we met so how could we have a 'table'?" Trish said with a big smile on her face

"For the last thirty-four years, we've sat at a table when we visited so I've decreed that, this year, the table over there is our 'table' for the rest of our visit. Let's get over there before someone else uses my brilliant logic!"

"Don't worry honey, I'm pretty sure that your logic is all your own...and I love you for it. C'mon gang, let's go sit down at our 'table' and order some lunch" Trish said, leading the way to their 'table'.

"Mom, dad...why don't you order a burger for me, hold the pickles and ...What do you want ,B?"

"Well, that sounds good. Can I ask why we don't just order our food when the waitress gets here?"

"Because we won't be here when the food gets ordered. We'll be in the back room, playing pool."

"Playing pool? But I'm not very good at pool."

"Don't worry, I have you playing better in no time at all." Ginger said as she looked back at her parents and winked.

"Chuck" Jim hollered, "Don't let her talk you into playing for money...or anything else that you value. She's my daughter and I love her, however , and trust me about this, don't let her fool you about pool. She's a 'hustler' and she'll take your money...or your...you know what, never mind. Just be careful." Jim finished, laughing at the fake hurt look on his daughter's face. "We'll find you when the lunch is ready. Have fun."

"C'mon B" Ginger said, grabbing his arm. "It'll be fun, I promise."

"Lead the way, G. Lead the way. I'm all yours, until lunch is ready, and then all bets are off because I'm hungry."

Trish watched her daughter lead Chuck off towards the back room where the pool tables were and sighed.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" Jim asked as he looked at his wife.

"Nothing...nothing at all. Let's order a drink and stall the waitress. That way they can play a little bit before lunch. After lunch we'll head back so we'll be home before it gets to late. Ok with you?"

"Sounds great. Now where's that menu?"

"Under your elbow, you great big ape."

"Remind me again, why did I marry you?"

"Because...you're head over heels in love with me and I'm deeply and completely in love with you...and I said yes when you asked."

"That's right...thanks for reminding me. Menu?"

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About an hour later, the waitress came into the back room to let Chuck and Ginger know that the food was ready and waiting for them at the table. After returning the cues to the rack on the wall, Chuck led Ginger back out to the table where her parents were sitting. Chuck pulled a chair out for Ginger and waited until she was seated before sitting down. Trish noticed the small pout on her daughters face and the smile on Chucks and had to ask. "So, how bad did she beat you Chuck?"

"Well..."

"He lied to me!" Ginger said before Chuck could say anything else.

"How do you figure that I lied to you?" Chuck asked with a smile.

"You said that you were very bad at pool!"

"No, I said that I wasn't very good at pool...there's a difference." Chuck said, still smiling, as Jim Began to laugh.

"It's not funny daddy. Chuck tricked me and... I ...I think you should stick up for me!"

Still laughing, Jim shook a finger at his daughter. "Oh no you don't!" he managed to get out. "My daughter, the pool hustler, got hustled. That's great! How much did you lose? Ten?...Twenty?.."

"It wasn't money, daddy. It's gonna be dirty!"

Jim suddenly sat straight up and turned to stare directly at Chuck. "What , exactly, does my daughter mean by ...'it's gonna be dirty', Chuck?"

"It means, that for the next few weeks, your daughter will have to come over to her aunt and uncle's house and help degrease and clean all of the parts for 'the heap'!" Chuck answered with a huge smile on his face.

Jim slapped the table and burst out laughing again while Trish hid her laughter behind her hand.

"It's not funny!" she said as she watched the her mom and dad...and Chuck laugh at her. "I mean it..." she said as she started to smile ,"...it's not that funny!"

Her dad had begun to tear up, he was laughing so hard and her mother wasn't trying to hide her laughter anymore.

"Yes it is, pumpkin. It is that funny! I'm gonna call Shel and make sure she gets plenty of pictures of you getting dirty."

"You know I'm not afraid of greasy work, dad."

"I know that sweetheart. It's why you're doing it that's so funny! The hustler got hustled...Thank you Chuck...that makes today a perfect day!" and Jim grabbed a napkin so he could wipe his eyes as he continued to chuckle at his daughter's loss.

"Yeah, thanks a lot Chuck!" she said as she shot Chuck the 'stink eye'.

"Hey...it was your idea to play, not mine. And I seem to recall that you jumped at the bet."

"That wasn't what I thought you meant when you talked about getting dirty!" Ginger whispered into his ear and then found herself laughing as Chuck sputtered and blushed redder that a fire engine.

It took a couple of minutes for everyone to catch their breath and get started on their lunch. As promised, the food was good and Chuck was definiitely enjoying the company. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had laughed this hard. Looking up from his plate, Chuck saw that everyone at the table was smiling and thought that everyone was having a Sunday just as good as his and that made his smile get even bigger. Ginger caught his attention by giving his knee a squeeze. When he looked at her, she smiled a smile that let him know that she wasn't really upset about losing to him in pool. Chuck smiled back. 'This really has turned into a great day' Chuck thought to himself as he dug back into his lunch.

-oo-oo-oo-

The ride back to Rockport got off to a rocky start when Chuck was pulled over just out side of San Francisco. Knowing that he had a long ride ahead of him, Chuck had only had one beer that morning and that had been before lunch so he wasn't worried about that. The CHP officer had walked up to the bike and asked for Chuck's drivers license and the bike's registration. Ginger dug the registration out of her wallet and Chuck handed it and his license over to the officer. After going back to his cruiser, the officer came back and handed the license and registration back.

"The reason I pulled you over, Mr Bartowski, is the fact that one of your turn signals isn't working. Since this isn't your bike, and because I'm in a good mood, I'm going to let you slide with a warning as long as you promise to get the light repaired. Sound fair?"

"More than fair, officer. I can promise that the light will be fixed Monday afternoon."

"See that it is" the officer said before walking back to his cruiser and pulling away.

"I'm so sorry Chuck, I didn't know it was burned out."

"Hey...calm down. It's not a problem. Just promise me you'll get it fixed on Monday, just like I told the cop."

"I promise Chuck!"

"Ok. Well, let's get going then. Next stop, Rockport."

"Sounds good Chuck. Let's get home."

Chuck thought about mentioning that it wasn't home, at least not to him but decided that, for right now, it was a temporary home. And on this particular Sunday, that wasn't a bad thing...not a bad thing at all.