A/N: So…sorry it's late, my bad. Weekly updates are probably more my style. I tried to write a darker fic…I had a pretty good idea, but I just couldn't manage it. I possess neither the talent nor patience for something like that….so lucky you guys, all my attention is here. Once we finish this, we'll have a poll to see which story I finish next. Sounds like fun…and it'll last a few years I'm sure. Thanks guys, you rock.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Familiar Faces

-CHUCK'S CAR: 5:30 PM: BURBANK, CA-

"You seem a little nervous, considering that you're a spy and all…." Chuck quipped with a grin, watching his godly girlfriend gaze out the window.

"Ow!" Chuck exaggerated as she threw a punch at him, smiling all the while.

"It's a little overwhelming…." Sarah admitted.

Chuck gaped. "They're people, Sarah…."

Sarah nodded. "I know. And then…..you're sister is a Bartowski…" She shook her head, her ramblings made Chuck laugh. "You have to realize that it's been a while since I've really….dated anyone."

"Yeah….well, that makes two." Chuck replied, pulling into a parking spot at Echo Park, his former home and his sister's current residence. He leaned back in his seat. "You look gorgeous, Ms. Walker." He commented, leaning over to glance at her.

It was true. Though she was clad in jeans and a nice top, she still looked stunning. Her makeup was light and even then she was beautiful. Chuck had no idea why she was nervous.

"Thank you…" she smiled as she leaned forward and captured his lips softly.

"There is something I should tell you…" he admitted, watching her raise a brow.

"Yes?"

"Ellie….she doesn't really know I'm bringing you…She doesn't even know I have a girlfriend."

"Chuck…." Sarah warned. "Are you sure you should spring something like that on her?"

"Oh yeah…." Chuck lied with finesse. "Totally….she's so cool about these things. She'll love you…" at least the last bit wasn't a lie.

"Now….she'll expect lots of PDA…" Chuck teased, prepping her.

"That….I think we can manage." She replied, savoring the quick peck she earned as the two stepped out, embarking on the most dangerous mission of their lives.

Sarah felt it surprisingly hard to make it to the door, Chuck grasping her hand all the while. She'd taken away the lives of many terrorists, protected the president, and even quelled a revolution in Jakarta with nothing but a fork. But this? This was suicide.

Chuck's knocking woke her from her day-mares, as she came to call them.

"Chuck!" A beautiful brunette opened the door with a grin, yanking her brother in as she squeezed him in a bear hug. Sarah's eyes widened, apparently she was still unseen. She had time to flee.

"Hey, El." Chuck grinned. Clearing his throat, he watched his sister's jaw drop when she took in the golden angel that was Sarah, smiling shyly behind them.

"Oh…..oh my god….." Ellie held in her excitement. "Chuck, no way…."

"El!" He coughed rather loudly, cutting off her rambles of excitement. "This…..is Sarah Walker, and-"

"Sarah!" Ellie yanked her into a hug, which she returned after the brief barrier of shock. "You're just as gorgeous as he said!"

Sarah rose a brow at Chuck with a smile over Ellie's shoulder, who went red instantly.

"So….." Ellie began, releasing Sarah to breathe. "You…..are….?"

"Dating." Chuck finished, wincing as she made her congratulations known aloud.

Sarah couldn't help it, she laughed along. Ellie's good humor was contagious.

"Well, come in." Ellie smiled, shutting the door behind them. "This is so unexpected…"

"I'm not that bad, sis… " Chuck grinned.

"Yeah…." Ellie acknowledged him. "But she's….she's something else."

Sarah blushed, flattered. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ellie."

"Chuck has told me so much about you." Ellie smiled as they took seats in the living room.

"All good I hope?"

"Mmhmm." She nodded. "Seems like you had an admirer."

"Really?" Sarah smirked, raising a brow at Chuck, who avoided her gaze. "Is that so?"

"No…" Chuck coughed. "I mean….who wouldn't?"

Blushing slightly, Sarah leaned back. She felt so…at ease, with the Bartowskis. They were hard to dislike, and their damn smiles were contagious.

The door knocked. "Awesome?" Chuck inquired, rising.

"Yeah…He brought a little surprise." Ellie nodded.

Chuck rose a brow, opening the door. There stood the chiseled "captain" and his best bearded friend. "Morgan?"

"Chuck!" Morgan jumped him, grinning. "I heard you landed Vicky Vale, my man!"

Sarah smirked, watching the two go at it while Ellie shook her head in embarrassment. "Wait 'till he realizes you're here."

Morgan glanced up, freezing. "Uh…..Chuck?"

"Yeah buddy?"

"Is…..is that Vicky Vale?" he could barely speak. As far as he was concerned, Chuck was still a nerd.

"Better." Chuck grinned, watching Morgan practically melt before her.

"At your service, my lady. Morgan Grimes, executive best friend of one Charles Irving Bartowski, and if I may be so bold as to inquire…..do you have any friends?"

Sarah was laughing as she shook his hand, watching a tall, muscular, and handsome blond lift Morgan aside, chuckling deeply.

"That's enough, little guy." The man was clad in scrubs, and he wore a tired smile.

"Hi." He stuck out his hand. "I'm Devon Woodcomb." He introduced himself as well, as Sarah smiled and did the same.

"So you're the famed captain awesome?"

"Yeah…." He smiled somewhat sheepishly.

"Well guys…" Chuck stepped in. "I know you're all tired…why don't we just hang out for a while and then Sarah and I will hit the road….busy mission tomorrow."

Sarah envied the fact that he was able to talk so freely in front of his close family. She really had no one to tell, anyway.

The group all got together, Chuck taking a seat beside Sarah, who instinctively leaned in to him. Ellie smiled to herself. She was perfect.

-0-

After almost an hour, the group caught up quite well. Sarah learned how skilled Chuck's family was, and she admired them even more. Even though Chuck's family was "broken" at an early stage, they seemed quite functional and happy. It made her even more comfortable to open up and share with them.

"So tomorrow's…."mission" Ellie began after a small and comfortable pause between their talk.

"El, I can't say all that much…" Chuck didn't want to push his boundaries with Sarah, she was still his boss.

"It's alright, Chuck…" Sarah gave him the go ahead.

Chuck took in a breath. "I'll be seeing Jill Roberts and possibly courting her to infiltrate any enemy organization for which she does chemical work and experiments." He sputtered all at once.

Morgan spit out his drink. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

"You were hung up on her for a while, bro." Devon added.

Ellie shook her head. "What?"

Chuck groaned as Sarah watched with wide eyes. "Hung up….? Chuck I thought you left her? To be in the CIA?"

"I did…." He sighed. "But it was….not the easiest choice I made."

Sarah felt relief and jealousy all at once.

"It's no big deal…." Chuck shrugged it off.

Sarah nodded, downing the rest of her drink in self-assurance. It was probably nothing.

"Well…" Chuck rose, helping his girlfriend up. "We'd better hit the road."

"Okay…" Ellie nodded, not wanting to push her any further. "I just can't believe it…" She grinned, pulling Chuck aside for a moment, most likely into the hallway. Unbeknownst to them, Devon had just shown Sarah to the restroom, where she could hear the good majority of their conversation.

"What's up, Ellie?" Chuck's voice sounded.

"Chuck….It's just….Sarah…" she sighed.

Sarah bit her lip. Ellie didn't like her?

"What?" Chuck pressed gently.

"She's perfect. I've never seen you this happy in a long time." She spoke gently, lovingly.

Sarah realized her sighs were of happiness and content. She felt a warm feeling spread inside her as they continued.

"She's the most important thing in my life, El." Chuck told her gently.

"How long have you two been together?" Ellie asked.

"We've been pretty intimate for almost months but a week or a few as an official couple."

"Chuck…" Ellie spoke softly once more. "She's special. Don't you let her go."

"As long as she'll have me, sis." Chuck replied.

Sarah felt her eyes prick gently as her vision became blurred. She leaned back against the door, unable to keep from smiling. She was a wreck….and she loved it.

-0-

"You're kidding me, Larkin." Carina was skeptically glancing out at the man in front of her door, leaning there with a dress shirt, slicked hair, and even a flower.

"No…" Bryce grinned. "I don't kid about these things."

"Are you looking for the cheap whore down the street?" Carina snapped.

"No, I'm pretty sure this is the right address." Bryce knew he'd pay for that one.

"Screw you." Carina couldn't help the grin that came across her lips.

"You were expecting me." Larkin continued, eyeing Carina, who was in casual jeans and a nicer tank top, makeup still on.

"No, I was actually just going to party." Carina shrugged.

"Mission tomorrow?" Bryce reminded with a smirk, refusing to buy her act. "Nice try."

Carina shrugged. "Still a no."

"No?" Bryce repeated, raising a brow. "You'd rather cut the foreplay and get to business here and now?"

"No." Carina smirked, pulling a blade from her back pocket. "As in there's not a chance in hell you have a chance with me….you may have had Walker fooled for a little while, but not me." She hurled the blade at the flower, slicing the rose from its stem, but Bryce caught it before it hit the ground.

"You gonna invite me in?"

"No…" Carina sighed. "Fine…" she then smirked, an idea coming to mind. "But….have a seat." She motioned to the chair in the corner.

Bryce happily obliged, sitting comfortably as he watched her, not catching her discrete action of slipping two blades in her pocket once more from her counter.

"So, Larkin…." Carina drawled, eyeing him teasingly. "Why are you here? Does this have to do with our kiss?"

"That? No…" Bryce shrugged it off. "I feel bad for you…I mean, you get as much action as Casey."

A blade landed not one centimeter away from his crotch, causing him to blink.

"Let's try again, or I'll neuter you." She smirked, enjoying her leverage. "Why are you here?"

"Because, I like a challenge." Bryce smirked, watching as she yanked the blade from the inner core of the chair.

"Does this have something to do with Walker's ordered kiss, earlier?"

"No…" Bryce scoffed.

"You can do better?" She rolled her eyes.

"Obviously."

"Prove it."

He yanked her onto his lap as his arms slid around her lower waist, her lips finding his in an instant. With no one else watching, this time, they weren't too keen on separating just so fast.

-0-

"This is it….how do I look? Do I look rich?" Chuck asked Sarah, eyeing himself in the mirror. He was wearing a slim fit suit, designer of course, complete with a watch and matching sunglasses. He looked insanely wealthy, and that seemed to be the goal.

"You look perfect, Chuck." Sarah leaned forward, straightening his tie as his arms pulled her close for a quick kiss and embrace.

"I….I hope she buys this." Chuck sighed.

"Chuck…" Sarah started gently. "You're impossible not to fall for…you're charming, funny, and you're a great guy…."

"Sounds like a dating website." Chuck offered a smile.

Sarah laughed a little, giving him another quick peck. "I'll miss you."

"Even after last night?"

Sarah smirked, biting her lip. "It was a challenged to get up this morning…I'm surprised you're not exhausted."

Chuck went a little red from the compliment, glancing down. "You'll back me up over the comm?"

"Always." Sarah smiled, stepping back.

"So I tell her I left the CIA….to become an entrepreneur?" Chuck sighed. "How does that work?"

"It's the best suited profession for the cover." Sarah replied. "And you're great; I know you can play the part…."

'Maybe better than you should' Sarah thought to herself.

"What about Bryce and Carina?" Chuck questioned.

Haven't heard from either one yet…which is weird, they always answer…" She shrugged.

"Are they okay?"

"I'm sure." Sarah nodded, rocking back on her heels.

"Well…this is it." Chuck sighed, glancing into her eyes. Sarah knew what he was doing was hard, and she wanted nothing more than to simply go off with him and forget work. But this organization was a threat, and if he could get into that party….they'd be in great shape.

"Hey, just see if you can get her out to lunch." Sarah reminded, watching as he leaned forward to kiss her, closing her eyes.

"Won't be long…" He stated. "I promise."

-0-

A/N: Sorry for all the lateness, guys. I know I blew it. Thanks for all the awesome reviews, keep them up and a new chapter (HOPEFULLY) in about two to three days. Thanks a million for reading and reviewing, and as always, have a great one guys.

-LLC