A/N: Welcome back everyone! I can't tell you how much I appreciate the feedback and reviews from the last chapter. You've all suffered enough and it's time for some serious romance. That being said, this chapter contains some mature content. I've been assured that an 'M' rating is not necessarily needed, but I'm leaving a quick note here anyways. However, if you've been looking forward to that sort of scene, then I hope you enjoy? Once again my thanks goes to michaelfmx for being a fantastic beta and contributing so much to the content of this story. Let's get to it.

If there was one thing Chuck was going to miss about the CIA, it was the private plane rides. After another day of recuperation at headquarters, Sarah had been cleared for release and Beckman set the entire team up with personal transport. Casey said his farewells at the airport; he intended to return to Moscow and reunite with Gertrude. Chuck didn't get much of a chance to tell the older man how much he appreciated his help during the last week because, true to his nature, Casey grunted a goodbye before things could get mushy and lumbered off towards his terminal. Chuck tried not to feel too saddened by Casey's brusque goodbye; he doubted it would be the last time they'd see their stoic friend again. Besides that, the prospect of finally returning home was currently all that dominated Chuck's thoughts. His two companions, however, were hardly as enthusiastic.

Morgan had taken a seat near the window and promptly fallen asleep, his loud snores reverberating off of the compartment walls. Chuck sat next to Sarah who, seemingly, was sound asleep as well. She'd been less talkative than usual once Beckman and the doctors covered her eyes with the specialized blindfold, and now that they were on the plane she'd gone completely silent. The blindfold reminded Chuck of a modified sleep mask however Beckman had assured him it was much more secure than something they could pick up at the Buy More. Chuck glanced over at her, noticing that the cane she'd also been given was abandoned at her feet. He realized that she was awake when he saw the slight twitch in her jaw and the anxious jiggling of her right foot. Chuck sighed. He should have known she wouldn't accept the blindfold lying down. Sarah Walker had never been comfortable with vulnerability, even after they'd gotten married. There was always a part of her that kept up walls. It wasn't going to be an easy task to get her to cooperate, and Sarah was certainly making that clear in the way she held herself next to him. She sat tall, arms folded across her chest, one leg crossed over the other while her foot tapped the air. She was determined to appear entirely capable of handling herself and Chuck was going to have to find some way to bring her down gently. He leaned over in his seat and rested a comforting hand on her thigh. She tensed slightly, wary until she realized that it was Chuck touching her. She offered him a tight smile but nothing more and meanwhile her toe continued tapping the air.

"You alright?" Chuck asked gently. The last thing he wanted was for Sarah to start retreating into herself like the old days. Still Chuck knew it was a possibility; he could already see the signs. Sarah nodded and then braced herself against her chair, trying to find her balance before standing rather unsteadily.

"I'll be right back," she muttered, taking a step towards the back of the plane where the lavatories were located.

"Here." Chuck stood and reached for her hand. "Let me help you." She drew away from him rather quickly, using the seats to steady herself instead and waving him away as she went.

"I've got it."

Chuck tried not to grimace as he watched Sarah shuffle carefully down the aisle, nearly tripping over Morgan who'd sprawled himself out like a starfish as he slept. With an exhausted sigh, Chuck leaned back in his chair and ran a hand over his face. It was going to be a long week.

Pacific Standard Time: 1800 hours/Burbank, California/Echo Park

Once the team landed at LAX, they made their way to the parking lot where Chuck's car still sat from nearly a week prior. The journey to the lot felt like an adventure in and of itself. Sarah, once again, refused Chuck's assistance when descending the airplane's steps, using the tiny and unstable railing instead. Chuck watched anxiously from the bottom of the stairs, tensed for the moment when, inevitably, something would go wrong. When Sarah did stumble, it was Morgan who managed to break her fall, catching her by the back of the jacket and earning an irritable scolding in return. By the time they'd made their way to the car, Chuck's nerves were worn thin. Morgan was quick to explain that he would wait for a taxi to take him to meet Alex at her mother's apartment even though Chuck offered him a ride. Morgan just glanced warily at Sarah, who still stood rigid and quiet, one hand braced against the car for support.

"Thanks buddy," he said. "But I think I'll let you two have some time alone. I don't mind taking a cab. I'll meet up with you guys tomorrow….Or maybe a week from now."

With that, Morgan grabbed his bags, waved a hasty goodbye and hurried down the sidewalk, shooting one final apologetic glance over his shoulder. Chuck watched Morgan go and then returned to the car feeling even more anxious than before. He would have liked some company-specifically Morgan's enthusiastic company-to help balance out Sarah's icy attitude. A car ride with an angry Sarah Walker was never something Chuck looked forward too.

o0o

The drive home was quiet save for the gentle music coming from the car stereo. Luckily the tune calmed Sarah enough for her to offer Chuck a word here and there when he prompted conversation. By the time they reached Echo Park it was dark outside and the lights from the courtyard where the only thing illuminating the complex. Chuck grabbed their bags from the trunk and hurried around to Sarah's side of the car where she sat, twiddling with the cane.

"Watch your head," he said gently as she ducked out of the passenger door. She jerked her chin in his direction and glared; a rebuke that wasn't as effective as she hoped it would be beneath the blindfold. Carrying both bags in one hand and guiding Sarah by the elbow with the other, Chuck was forced to shut the car door with his heel and carry the keys in his mouth as they shuffled towards the apartment. Sarah held the cane in one hand but refused to let it touch the ground. She wasn't handicapped after all, it was just a blindfold and a temporary one at that. She didn't need to feel like she'd been permanently blinded, it was embarrassing enough having to hold on to Chuck's jacket for guidance. Sarah heard the keys jingle in Chuck's hands and slight thump as their bags hit the ground. There was a brief struggle with the lock and then Sarah heard the creak of the front door. Chuck's hand was on the small of her back then, guiding her through the doorway and into their apartment.

The first thing that Sarah registered was how familiar it smelled. She supposed that was an odd thing to notice about her home considering there was never a certain smell she'd associated it with but it did have a comforting aroma; a mix of the potpourri Ellie had given her before moving to Chicago and the smell of leather upholstery warmed by an afternoon sun.

"Home sweet home," Chuck sighed closing the door behind them and leaving their bags near the coat rack. Sarah set her cane against the wall, crossing her fingers that it wouldn't topple over the minute she walked away.

"You wanna take this with you?" Chuck asked after she set it down. Sarah shook her head, "I don't need it. We're home. I know where everything is."

Chuck rolled his eyes, comforted by the knowledge that Sarah could not see him, and managed to keep the frustration out of his voice when he said "Well, sure….But it may feel different. You know, it's been a few days and your depth perception might be off because of the blindfold."

"I'll be fine," she reiterated a bit more tersely this time. She didn't need that stupid cane and she didn't need Chuck to baby her either. She heard Chuck huff impatiently and added, "And I would appreciate it if you would refrain from rolling your eyes at me."

"Alright," Chuck relented, shocked that Sarah had somehow sensed what he had done. How on Earth…..nevermind, he had to keep her spirits up. He quickly regained his enthusiasm, clapping his hands and looking around the apartment. "Well let's settle in! You hungry? I could make us something to eat.…or we could watch a-listen to music? Or are you tired? We could get right to bed and deal with unpacking in the morning."

Sarah was already shuffling down the hall as Chuck spoke, laying one hand against the wall and knocking a few picture frames askew accidentally. "I'm going to take a shower."

Chuck was at her side in an instant, his hand on her back again. "Alright, let me help you-"

"I can handle a shower by myself, Chuck. I'm not a child." Her words came out more harshly than she'd intended and the hurt in Chuck's voice was noticeable.

"I know that. But I don't want you to slip and hurt yourself," he said opening the door to the bathroom for her.

"I'm wearing a blindfold. I haven't lost the use of my legs. I'll be fine." She was overusing that phrase, she knew, but it felt like it would become more real if she continued to say it. She heard Chuck moving around the bathroom anyway and then the spray from the showerhead hitting the walls.

"Okay," he said softly, running a hand down her arm. "But I'll be right outside if you need me."

Before she could apologize for being so curt, she heard the bathroom door close as Chuck left. She hadn't intended to be so rude, she knew that Chuck was only trying to help because he cared...because he loved her. But it was becoming more and more frustrating for Sarah to feel so helpless. After everything that had happened in the past week, she was more than ready for all of it to be over. It was supposed to end with Pierce's death but here she stood, a broken Intersect still in her head and a blindfold over her eyes. In a way it felt like she'd never left that pitch black bunker.

Shivering slightly, Sarah stripped herself of her travel clothes and stepped into the shower; taking Chuck's words into account, she tested each step before putting her full weight down. Slipping and hurting herself in her own bathroom would just be pouring salt onto an already gaping wound.

Sarah allowed the warm water to ease the tension in her shoulders as she stood beneath the spray. She almost let her head fall back into the torrent as well until she remembered the blindfold. Beckman assured her before she left headquarters that the material was waterproof, still Sarah wasn't eager to find out if it was watertight as well. Running her hand along the slick shower tiles, Sarah began to search for her body wash; realizing now that it was going to be more difficult to shower herself than she'd originally estimated. The body wash container felt familiar and Sarah found it easily, but shampoo and conditioner were going to be a different story. The containers were the same as were the scents, but the consistency of the soap was different. Unfortunately, Sarah soon discovered that the soaps were not different enough to tell apart and eventually she grew too frustrated and simply dumped both into her hands. Lather-rinse-repeat be damned. She briefly entertained the idea of removing the blindfold for just a moment. Just long enough to spot the labels on the bottles. But that thought was quickly brushed aside when she recalled Beckman's warning. She wasn't about to lose what was left of her memory for a shampoo bottle.

Without her sight, she quickly succumbed to the almost numbing sensation the water droplets had on her body as well as the soothing sounds it made as it streamed against the tiles. The sensations were almost hypnotic and Sarah soon found her mind wandering. She began to wonder why she was so adamant in denying Chuck's help. She suspected that part of the problem was her pride. She'd never relied on anyone but herself before Chuck came along and even then it had been a process opening up to him; or so she'd been told. The three months she spent as a resident of their guest bedroom after the events of the bullet train were also proof enough for her habit of building walls. She hated the fact that she was so helpless and clumsy. She felt a little overwhelmed and that-if she was going to be completely honest with herself, scared her a little…and she was not used to feeling scared.

Sarah knew it wasn't fair to Chuck to be so belligerent. He'd never done anything to make her feel inferior or incapable. But perhaps this would be what changed that for him. Would he see her differently now? Would he see her as someone he needed to coddle? Would he think less of her abilities? Sarah knew her fears were unwarranted, they had to be. This was Chuck. He wouldn't ever think anything less of her due to her struggles. So perhaps, she realized, it was her own fear. Perhaps she was afraid of letting herself down; of letting herself be vulnerable. Accepting Chuck's help wouldn't make her weak but it would make her feel as if she were accepting defeat. Maybe she was afraid to feel as if the Intersect had won; as if it had broken her and finally left her frail and fragile.

Putting her rambling thoughts aside, she finished washing herself and began floundering for the shower handle. Careful to avoid dampening her blindfold, she succeeded in shutting off the water, only to be left shivering in the now frigid air. She pushed the curtain aside and groped for a towel, realizing that she had not considered setting one aside before stepping into the shower. She reached along the wall nearest to her, searching for the towel rack she knew hung there only to find it empty. Stifling the stream of curses running through her mind, she swallowed her pride and called for Chuck. The door creaked open a moment later, letting another stream of cool air into the bathroom and forcing Sarah to duck behind the shower curtain for cover.

"Towel please," she mumbled, ducking her chin to avoid looking in his direction. She heard Chuck step across the room and open the cabinet below the sink. She cursed herself, once again, for being too impatient. Although rifling through the cabinets blindfolded and shivering might have been even more humiliating than her current predicament. Chuck pushed the curtain aside and Sarah felt the warmth of a large fluffy towel draped over her shoulders. As soon as she had it tucked around herself, Chuck placed another one in her hands. "For your hair."

Thoughtful, Sarah mused. Blow drying it could be a potential disaster that she wasn't willing to deal with. Chuck took her arm wordlessly and led her out of the bathroom and down the hallway. Sarah could smell food simmering in the kitchen and the light sizzle of a pan but Chuck seemed to be taking her in the opposite direction. He pushed open another door and Sarah quickly realized that they were now in the bedroom.

"I, uh, laid out some clothes for you," Chuck said, his voice drifting from across the room. "I can help if you want. Not to sound…weird or anything….but just, you know. If you want help, I can help."

Sarah couldn't help but smile as Chuck rambled. As sweet as he was trying to be, she wanted to do this on her own. A personal battle was raging inside. Part of her wanted to give in to her situation and allow herself to be taken care of. The other half was fighting hard to remain independent; constantly reminding her that she was Sarah Walker. She didn't need pampering.

"I think I can handle it," she said shuffling towards the bed and running her hands over the various items Chuck had laid out. "Chuck….Thank you."

"Right, of course," Chuck said again as he stepped outside. "Call me if you do need something, okay?"

She nodded amiably, but was determined to avoid a second shower debacle. The undergarments Chuck had picked didn't match….Boys. A lace bra and cotton underwear didn't scream sexy, but at this point Sarah didn't care too much and they were easy to don. The short sleeved tee was next. She searched the collar for the tag so that she could tell front from back. After slipping it over her head she set her sights on the pants. They were soft, fuzzy even. They were very possibly Chuck's Chewbacca pajama pants. Again, she felt around for the ties at the front and nearly tumbled over herself trying to slip them on. It was more difficult to keep her balance with the blindfold. Feeling oddly triumphant at having dressed herself, she wandered to the doorway, arms stretched out in lieu of the cane and opened the door. She almost bumped into Chuck who was waiting anxiously just outside.

"Well?" Sarah asked, righting herself and gesturing the outfit she'd donned.

"Well…." Chuck paused and the rise in his voice was all it took to bring Sarah's anger roaring back.

"Well what?" She demanded.

"Well, um, the shirt is inside out and the pants are backwards. But otherwise you did a great job!" Chuck's feeble attempt to assuage her failed rather miserably. Sarah growled and stepped back into the room. She was furious. Being home again was supposed to be a victory. They'd collected the Key, they'd defeated Pierce, survived the bunker and completed their mission. But all Sarah could focus on was the fact that she couldn't put a stupid shirt on straight. Pulling it up over her head, she tossed it aside and crossed to the bed, where she threw herself down onto the mattress and burrowed into the sheets, pulling them up to her chin and glaring at the darkness of her blindfold. The bedroom door closed softly and for a moment Sarah thought Chuck had left, until she felt the mattress sink beneath his weight. A small part of her wanted him to leave her alone to sulk but mostly she wanted his comfort. But how would he know that? She'd spent the majority of the day pushing him farther and farther away. Her attitude would never suggest that all she wanted to feel was his arms wrapped tightly around her, whispering words of comfort in her ear. He always seemed to know what to say to pull her out of her spiraling thoughts, and right now she needed it more than ever. As if by some sixth sense, she felt his hand drawing close and she tensed. It landed on her exposed shoulder where he began stroking her softly. "Sarah."

His touch and the gentleness in his voice made her resolution weaken. The anger and frustration began to drain away, leaving exhaustion in its place. She was so tired of this. All of it. Before the bullet train and before the Intersect, she knew that she'd been ready to start a normal life with Chuck. The pictures Morgan shared with her on the plane and the stories Chuck told her everyday made her wish she could remember on her own. She was tired of spying and she was tired of the stress it put on her relationships and she was so tired of the Intersect. Somehow all of these thoughts seemed like too much to say aloud so instead she muttered, "I hate this."

She knew she was being immature sulking beneath the covers, a pouty whimper creeping into her tone. But Chuck didn't seem bothered. He began to speak once more, voice low and soothing.

"I know, I do too. But this is only temporary, Sarah." He continued to rub her shoulder, occasionally brushing her hair back as well. "Beckman will figure out how to use the Key and you'll get your memories back and this will all be over."

When she didn't respond, Chuck decided it was safe to continue. "I need you to let me help you until then. That doesn't make you weak." Sarah shrugged her shoulders and mumbled something unintelligible. "Sarah, you are the strongest woman I know, and not just physically, because I think it goes without saying that you can kick anyone's ass."

Chuck paused, satisfied when he heard her quiet laughter. "You've always been the one to pick me up and dust me off when I'm down and now it's my turn to do the same for you. We take care of each other, Sarah. We're partners. I know you can't remember it right now, but can I tell you what I said to you on our wedding day, during my vows?" Chuck waited a moment until Sarah nodded her assent. "I vowed to fight for you every day. For the rest of our lives. I promised you that you could count on me, Sarah. Nothing's changed that and nothing ever will."

Sarah felt him shift until he was lying beside her, chin propped on his palm while the other hand rested on her waist. "I mean come on, this is gonna be a great week! Seven whole days of 'Spa Bartowski'. Free foot massages, room service, endless brunch." He leaned against her, nuzzling against the back of her neck and tickling her with the light stubble on his cheeks. She squeaked and tried to squirm away, but he had a tight hold around her waist now. "Come on, Sarah. What more could you want?"

His tone was teasing and Sarah felt almost foolish now for allowing herself to get so worked up. Pushing away the duvet, she rolled over to face him and reached out for his cheek. He took her hand and guided it there, keeping his hand on top of hers as she ran her fingertips along his jaw.

"How is it that you always know what to say?"

"Years of practice," he said turning his face to kiss her palm. "I'm lucky you don't remember all the times in the beginning that I spent sticking my foot in my mouth."

She giggled and continued to explore his face with the tips of her fingers. He remained very still as she did and she could feel him relax under her touch. She started at his cheek bone and then ran her fingers upwards to his brow, smoothing the concerned wrinkles. From there she followed the long bridge of his nose and then tenderly explored his closed eyes and the long soft lashes. She felt them flick back and forth as his eyes moved beneath the lids. He spoke again just as her fingers began to follow the curve of his soft lips. "Are you worried about the Key, Sarah?"

"I don't know."

"We don't have to use it."

That was true, but if they didn't use it, then the entire mission they'd just undergone seemed entirely pointless. And what was she supposed to do about the Intersect in her head? Simply leaving it and hoping she wouldn't flash anymore seemed irrational.

"I know there are risks," she said pulling her fingers away from Chuck's lips and instead allowing them to linger near the pulse point on his neck. She could feel his heartbeat quicken beneath them. "But I think I want to use it. There are so many things I want to remember, and it's not as if I don't feel that the new memories we've made aren't important. But losing five years of my life is difficult, Chuck. There are things about us that I want to know without having to be told. It's not as much about the memories but about knowing you…..knowing us. I want to know what to make you for breakfast or dinner without having to ask. I want to be able to surprise you when you have had a bad day by playing your favorite music for you, or buying you a comic you like. Do you understand?"

"I do," he said quietly. Chuck knew he didn't care whether or not Sarah remembered these things, but he also knew how important it was to her and so he continued with, "I'll support whatever decision you make, Sarah."

"I know you will," she replied with a smile. Chuck fell quiet as Sarah continued to trace his face and neck with her fingertips. After a few minutes, she could practically feel him vibrating with the laughter he was trying to contain.

"What is it?"

"Nothing! Nothing. I was just thinking."

"About?"

Chuck hesitated. "About whether or not I should put some googly eyes on your blindfold."

Sarah gaped at him. For a moment she wasn't sure she'd heard him correctly. Of course she had, this was Chuck she was talking too. Pulling her hand away from him, she rolled onto her side and pulled the covers back up to her chin again, "You did not just say that."

"I'm only teasing!" Chuck quickly tried to amend his mistake by tightening his grip on her waist and pulling her against his chest. "I'm sorry."

Sarah turned her head towards him, wishing for all the world he could see her glare beneath the blindfold. Chuck pecked her cheek and she could feel the grin on his face. "You have to admit it would be kind of funny."

"That's it." Squirming out of his grasp, Sarah used his surprise to her advantage and flipped over to face him. There was a brief and playful struggle between them and somehow the duvet was thrown from the bed along with a few pillows used for artillery. Finally, Sarah managed to hook her thigh against his and rolled herself upward, sitting on his hips and pinning his wrists to the bed. She lowered her voice for dramatic effect and cooed, "I don't need to be able to see to take you down, Chuck."

When he swallowed audibly, she smirked and leaned closer. "How do you feel about those googly eyes now?"

"I feel that maybe they aren't such a good idea?" He replied, his voice cracking at the end. She shook her head 'no' and suddenly became very aware of her current state of undress. She'd abandoned her shirt somewhere in the room before clambering into bed and could only imagine where Chuck's eyes were resting now. Whether it was the minor wrestling match they'd just had or all of Sarah's pent up frustration, she couldn't deny the heat rushing through her body and filling the air in their room with tension. She leaned forward to claim Chuck's mouth with her own but misjudged her distance to the headboard. Before she could reach him, her forehead tapped the headboard with a soft thunk. She sighed and sat back against Chuck's raised thighs, rubbing the spot on her forehead more out of embarrassment than actual pain.

"So much for sexy," she muttered. Chuck was trying not to laugh and failing completely. He sobered when she spoke and propped himself up on his elbows so that she could reach him more easily.

"I don't know about that," he said. "Clumsy can be pretty sexy."

"Maybe to a nerd like you," she teased.

"Oooh, you're going to get it for that one."

"Well," she began, draping her arms over his shoulders and running her fingers through the ends of his hair. "I certainly hope so."

Chuck stiffened and Sarah couldn't help but grin as she imagined the look on his face. He sat up straight, resting his hands against the small of her back and pressing his lips to hers. Sarah brought her hands from his neck down to his chest, slipping her fingers just inside the collar of his shirt, drawing a soft gasp from Chuck. His own hands traveled down her hips, tugging on the hem of the Wookie pajamas she wore. Sarah had just shifted onto her knees in order to help Chuck remove the offending pants when she caught a strange scent wafting into the room. She pulled away, their lips parting with a resounding smack and sat up straighter, trying to identify the odor. Chuck didn't seem bothered as he'd taken advantage of her shift in position and was now trailing kisses along her neck. Sarah was loathe to interrupt him, but if she'd correctly identified the smell, they certainly didn't have time for any further intimacy.

"Chuck?"

"Hmmm," he murmured against the underside of her jaw.

"Did you leave the stove on?"

There was a brief pause before Chuck leapt off the bed with a curse, sending Sarah tumbling onto the mattress in an ungraceful heap. She heard his endless stream of curses echo down the hall as he hurried to save the food left simmering on the stove. Sarah waited for a few moments. She heard Chuck groan in defeat and turn on the faucet, leaving the tap running as he padded back down the hallway.

"So." His voice was suddenly in the doorway. "The pasta is ruined."

She followed his footfalls as he stepped around the room and gathered the shirt she'd abandoned earlier. He knelt against the side of the bed and lifted Sarah's arms, pulling the shirt down over her head and letting his fingers trail tantalizingly down her sides. Cruel, Sarah thought as she shivered with pleasure. Chuck took her hand and helped her to her feet, leading her back towards the kitchen and the overwhelming scent of burnt noodles.

"On the bright side," Chuck said reaching for the car keys on the counter. "I can always run out and grab us something. How do you feel about Subway?"

o0o

The next morning Sarah woke to the sound of chirping birds and Chuck's singing. She was confused, and somewhat frightened, at first when she found she couldn't open her eyes and then quickly remembered the blindfold. She lay in bed for a while longer enjoying the still serenity and the way Chuck's voice resonated throughout the house. He'd always been a good singer but generally too shy about his hidden talent to share it. Sarah remembered the house being filled with song a long time ago, before she'd downloaded the Intersect and before her lost memories had broken Chuck down. It made her heart soar to hear him singing again. She rose slowly, making her way to the bathroom with careful steps and searching for her toothbrush. She found it next to an already opened toothpaste bottle as if prepared for her in advance. Knowing Chuck, it probably had been.

Once she'd completed her morning routine the best she could without her sight, she followed the walls of the hallway down to the kitchen where she could hear Chuck's hearty rendition of "Old Man River" much more clearly. He stopped mid chorus when he heard her approached and the next thing Sarah knew she was in the air, wrapped in Chuck's arms as he spun her around the kitchen. Her plea for release was lost in her laughter.

"Good morning!" He said exuberantly, setting her back on her feet and pulling her into a much more stable embrace. She felt his lips curving into an enormous smile against her temple.

She returned his grin, wrapping her arms around his shoulders-which turned out to be a bit of a chore considering she currently lacked the proper footwear to match her husband's height. "It's nice to hear you sing again."

He chuckled and pulled out of the embrace, holding her at arms-length. "You heard that?"

"Of course I heard it. You were practically bellowing."

"I was singing with soul!" Chuck rebuffed. "That requires far more finesse than bellowing."

Sarah shrugged. "It was beautiful bellowing."

Chuck laughed again and pulled her towards the living room. "Come here, I want to show you something."

"That might be a problem."

Chuck stopped in his tracks and looked back at her, his expression almost dumbfounded. "Sarah, did you just make a joke?"

"Is that shocking?"

"Well considering how grumpy you were about it last night…"

"Shut up," she replied, lightly smacking his arm. "Don't ruin my good mood."

"Okay, okay," he relented, squeezing her hand to reassure her that his prodding was entirely innocent. "Take a seat." Sarah made herself comfortable on the couch, listening to Chuck open his laptop and tap at the keyboard. "I got up early this morning and made you a few playlists."

Gently Chuck took her hand and guided it to the keyboard. Taking her index finger, he rested it on a key to the far left. He'd put tape or some sort of rough material on top of the key so that she could find it amongst the others. "One opens the music which I think you'll really enjoy. A bunch of it was taken from our wedding. The video for our rehearsal dinner is on this one too…But we won't worry about that one right now."

Once again he took her finger and guided it to another key, also covered with what Sarah assumed was scotch tape, only this time it lay on the opposite axis. "Two opens the audiobook library. I couldn't find too many, but some of your favorites are on here. Just hit the space bar to scroll through them and then the arrow keys-" he took her other hand and she found that he'd taped up the arrow pads as well "-will let you change chapters!"

Chuck rested the computer on her lap and allowed her to explore the keyboard while he plugged in a set of headphones and placed them in her left hand. "What do you think?"

"This is…" Sarah paused. She wasn't quite sure what to say to Chuck. Words didn't seem to cover what she felt at the moment. "This is incredible, Chuck. Thank you."

"Of course!" Chuck's tone sobered just slightly and he lay a hand on her thigh, rubbing it gently. "This week is going to be tough, I know. But I thought that, hopefully, something like this will help to take your mind off of it for a while."

Forgoing words this time, Sarah leaned over and planted a kiss on Chuck's cheek. A gentle buzz emanated from Chuck's pocket drawing his attention away from her affection and to the screen of his cell phone.

"I've got to go down to check out the Buy More and Castle for a few hours," Chuck said after he'd checked the notification. "Will you be alright on your own?"

Sarah nodded. The Buy More had been safe in the hands of Big Mike for the past week but it couldn't hurt to get back into the usual grind, or at least make sure everything was still in order at Castle.

"Okay. Call me if you need anything. I'll be back soon." She felt the couch cushion spring upward as Chuck bolted for the door. His shoes squeaked on the wooden floors, stopped, squeaked again and then his weight was flattening the cushion again as he leaned forward to give her a solid kiss. Then he was gone; out the door like a bolt leaving Sarah alone and slightly lightheaded.

o0o

In spite of the effort Chuck put into the playlists, Sarah found herself quite restless by the time noon rolled around. She'd never been good at sitting still for long periods of time; mission log sessions during the early days of Operation Bartowski had nearly been the death of her. If it hadn't been for Chuck's presence during those session and his natural ability to make any situations one thousand time more entertaining, she would have lost her mind swimming through all that paperwork.

Thinking back on those times wasn't making her feel any better, she realized, and so she quickly shoved them away. Turning on the music playlist Chuck had made, she began wandering around the living room, slowly memorizing the space object by object. By the time she'd made her tenth circle she was comfortable enough to walk without holding on to passing furniture for support and she'd also managed to avoid banging her shin on the coffee table for the third time in a row. Moving towards the dining area, she began the same process and then the kitchen and so forth. By the time she'd finished pacing the entire house it was nearly three in the afternoon. She returned to the living room, wondering what else she should try to pass the time when she heard keys jingling outside the front door. A moment later it swung open and Chuck stepped inside. "Sarah, come with me!"

Without further explanation Chuck took Sarah's hand and led her outside.

"Uh, Chuck?" she balked, grabbing on to his wrist to slow him down.

"Sorry! Hi, how are you?" he turned around and kissed her cheek before pulling her onward and opening the passenger door of the car. "I have a surprise for you, but we have to leave now while the sunlight is right."

"The sunlight?"

"Trust me, Sarah." She fell silent after that, sitting back against her seat and listening as Chuck scrambled around to his side, turning the key in the ignition and backing out of the apartment lot. While they drove to Chuck's mysterious location, he finally initiated normal conversation, asking her if she liked the playlists and detailing the current state of the Buy More. Sarah was going to bring up the future of Carmichael Industries now that they'd dealt with Pierce and soon the Intersect, but before she could open her mouth she felt the car pull to a stop.

"Here we are."

"Where is here?"

"You'll see….Okay, bad choice of words. Come on!" The excitement in his voice was palpable as he ran to her side of the car and helped her out of her seat. The moment Sarah stepped outside she knew where they were. A powerful wind swirled around her, tousling her hair and clothes and carrying the salty scent of the sea with it. She heard gulls squawking loudly overhead and the distance crash of the waves hitting the shore. She took the arm Chuck offered, squeezing it tightly as he led her down the beach. She kicked off her shoes while they walked, enjoying the warmth of the sand between her toes. Chuck took her all the way to the shoreline before turning and guiding her alongside it, slowing his pace so that they could both enjoy the moment. Sarah occasionally felt the cool water lapping at her feet. It was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the sand and she flinched against Chuck's side when it first touched her toes. "I remember this."

"I thought you might." Chuck's voice was quiet, almost reverent. Sarah wished she could see his face in that moment. She wanted to know if he was gazing at the horizon out over the crashing waves, or if his eyes were on her; soft and gentle. "This is where it all began."

There was a wistfulness in his tone, as if he yearned for a past when things were simple; perhaps a past before her.

"Is this where things end too?" She hadn't meant to say the words aloud but they came out anyway; Chuck's tone had made her nervous. Everything seemed suddenly surreal and without her vision she felt as if she were floating in this world of waves and gulls and sand. Chuck stopped walking and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him.

"Absolutely not. Not if I have anything to say about it." She could hear the smile in his voice as he continued. "Sarah, all of this started five years ago in a Buy More when a normal guy got thrown into a crazy world of spies, cons and lies. I don't know if Bryce sending me the Intersect was fate, or destiny or maybe just chance. What I do know is that it let me meet you and that has made everything worth it."

Chuck was making it difficult to hold back the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Sarah wasn't sure how comfortable it would be if she began crying beneath the fabric of the blindfold, but she certainly didn't want to find out.

"Five years seems like a long time, but I'm certain that one day we'll look back at all of this as a tiny blip in our lives. So no Sarah, this isn't where it ends. This is where it begins."

The lump burning in Sarah's throat was making it difficult to breathe. She didn't know if she'd ever loved Chuck as much as she did in this moment. Even if she could remember every moment of her life with Chuck, she was certain, more certain than she had ever been about anything in her life, that she had never loved Chuck more than she did right now. Loyal, optimistic, loving Chuck. Her Chuck. Taking his face in her hands, she ran her thumbs lightly over his cheekbones, feeling him smile that crooked grin of his before she pressed her lips to his. His response was immediate, one of his hands rising to cradle her cheek as the other pressed against the small of her back, pulling her flush against him. They stayed tangled together for a long time, exchanging affection while the ocean lapped at their feet and the wind whipped around them.

A sudden chilly gust made Sarah shiver so hard that she broke the kiss and burrowed into Chuck's chest for cover. The sun was falling over the horizon, taking the warmth of the day with it, and since neither of them had thought to bring a jacket, Chuck decided to end the beach excursion early. They hurried to the car, stopping quickly to grab Sarah's abandoned shoes, making it into shelter just as the wind picked up and tiny rain droplets spattered the windshield.

The light rain quickly turned into a storm and by the time they got home, they could barely see their front door through the downpour. Lighting flashed across the sky as Chuck scrambled out of the car and hurried to Sarah's side. Before she could step out, he'd scooped her up in his arms and was carrying her through the rain, shouting every now and again as a large droplet hit him in the eye or dripped down his spine. In spite of their situation, Sarah found herself laughing, even when Chuck nearly dropped her as he struggled to pull the keys from his pocket. Pushing the front door open with his toe, Chuck shuffled through the door sideways to avoid knocking Sarah's head against the frame and once inside, he leaned back against the door to shut it, sliding downwards until they both sat on the floor in a sodden shivering heap.

"That was fun," Chuck said through chattering teeth. Sarah felt him touch the blindfold over her eyes. It had remained unaffected by the rain, apparently waterproof just as Beckman had assured them it would be. "You okay?"

"I'm alright," Sarah replied. "Just freezing."

"You know what sounds perfect right now? A steaming hot shower." Chuck paused and for a moment Sarah felt her heart skip a beat as she waited for him to continue. "Last one to the bathroom is a rotten egg!" Chuck scrambled to his feet, tripping over himself as he struggled to pull off his shoes and leaving Sarah too dumbfounded to respond immediately. Shaking her head and chuckling, she rose, a bit more slowly than he had, and scuffled after him, using the paths she'd memorized earlier that day to find her way down the hall. She heard the spray from the showerhead and suddenly Chuck was in front of her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her up, pressing his lips against her collar as he carried her into the bathroom. The playful atmosphere sobered quite suddenly when Sarah felt Chuck set her down to remove his shirt and her hands rested against his bare skin. She could picture every move he made in the tiny ways his muscles twitched and tightened and it was making her feel a little breathless. He helped her remove her own sodden clothes and by the time they were both completely undressed, standing underneath the stream of water, Chuck had gone completely silent.

Sarah knew he was regarding her now, his eyes roaming up and down her body; but that didn't concern her. As far as she could remember Chuck had never treated her with anything but absolute respect, and he had a certain way of looking at her that made her feel like she was the only woman in the world. Still, her heart pounded against her ribcage as she stepped into his embrace, pressing every inch of skin that she could against him. She could feel his heartbeat quicken from this proximity, his breath hitching against her ear. While making love with Chuck in the shower was overwhelmingly appealing, it didn't seem like the safest way to release the pent up tension between them, especially considering her lack of balance. Chuck seemed to be thinking somewhat similarly because, while he tried to keep his touch soft and sensual as he washed away the salt and sand from the beach, she sensed a hastiness in his actions. Sarah helped him along as quickly as she could and soon Chuck had shut off the water and reached for a towel. Sarah felt lightheaded, her body buzzing with anticipation and as soon as she was dry enough to avoid dampening the sheets on their bed, she pulled Chuck into a deep kiss. Arms around her waist, he lifted her up and carried her out of the bathroom, forcing her to wrap her legs around him in order to maintain the kiss. Somehow, Chuck found his way to the bedroom, groping with one hand for the doorknob and then shoving the door aside impatiently.

She kept her legs locked around him as he lay her down against the cool bedsheets. Chuck sat up briefly to pull the covers around them, creating a barrier between their skin and the chill in the air around them. The gesture was appreciated but not necessary; Sarah felt as if she were about to burst into flames. Without the ability to open her eyes and meet Chuck's undoubtedly heated gaze, she instead felt every movement he made in almost unbearable detail. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once; first tangled in her hair and then trailing down her sides, eventually stopping at the dip of her hips and squeezing gently. The rough pads of his fingers made his touch almost electric and she rolled her hips into his hands in response. She didn't know if it was because she could not see him, but her skin was far more sensitive than she could ever remember. What she did know was that she couldn't take his teasing much longer; it was incredibly arousing to be so in tune with his touch.

Chuck's lips traveled across her cheek and down to the corner of her jaw, just below her ear, his tongue flicking gently across the sensitive skin and drawing a groan from Sarah. It was almost disconcerting how Chuck seemed to know how to tease every intimate spot to drive her wild with desire; of course he'd had years to learn, while Sarah felt as if she was rediscovering him from scratch. Not that that was necessarily an unenjoyable thing, but it still felt a bit unfair. Chuck's mouth began to trail downwards, refocusing Sarah's attention. His breath warmed the tender skin of her belly and she felt his teeth graze gently across her navel. Sarah dug her heels into the mattress to avoid bucking against him as he continued to savor her body, each kiss becoming longer and more delicate. Vaguely, amidst the haze of passion, Sarah was reminded just how lithe and soft Chuck's movements could be; a surprising contrast with the clumsy nerd she was used to.

Chuck crawled upwards once more, bracing himself on his elbows and hovering just above her. Sarah reached for him. Curling her fingers in his hair, she pulled him down and their mouths met in a desperate kiss. She caught the invigorating scent of his hair, still fresh from the shower and began running her hands through it, massaging the nape of his neck. Chuck's groan of approval vibrated deep in his chest, sending tremors through her own. Sarah moved her lips to his neck, relishing the way she felt his muscles tense when she sucked lightly on the soft skin. It suddenly occurred to her as to why she'd fallen so hard for this man who seemed to be a collection of inexplicable contrasts. His body was hard underneath the soft skin; his lips gentle but his kisses fierce; his movements fluid in spite of his innate clumsiness, it was confusing but unbearably alluring.

Chuck's fingers lingered around her waist again and Sarah decided she'd had enough of the foreplay. She needed him now. Seeming to sense her impatience, or perhaps he'd heard the desperate way she whimpered his name, Chuck buried his face against the crook of her shoulder. Sarah was about to say something when he hesitated for a few moments, but then pushed into her. The air left Sarah's lungs in a gasp as his first gentle thrust set the pace. His skin brushed against hers, creating a tantalizing friction. His lips to her temple and the passionate sighs he breathed against her were beginning to drive her wild. As she started getting lost in the haze of passion, she thought fleetingly that she really loved how his muscles felt and that she had never really given it much thought, but her tall and lanky husband was strong. Sarah ran her hands along his back once again, using her nails this time to lightly trace the curve of his spine. The assertive shift earned Chuck's approval as his chest heaved and he pressed into her with a satisfied moan. Without her sight, every sensation felt magnified, her body like a live wire ready to snap. Chuck's hips rocked against hers more quickly now and Sarah found herself all too eager to spread her legs further, welcoming him deeper. She was entirely enveloped in Chuck; every sense overtaken by some part of him and it took only one more gentle squeeze of her thigh for the mounting tension in Sarah's belly to shatter. She arched into him as the waves of pleasure swept through her body, spreading all the way to the tips of her toes that curled against Chuck's calf. He stilled above her, his body still tense and Sarah realized that he hadn't yet reached the same heightened pleasure as she had. She nudged his shoulder and pushed her hips against his again.

"Roll over," she demanded when he remained still, probably a bit confused. At her command, he rolled onto his back, keeping his arms around her so that they moved together. Sarah kissed him slowly, touching her tongue to his just long enough to leave him wanting. Then she sat up and braced her hands against Chuck's chest, unable to keep the smile off her face when he whispered her name reverently. She was going to learn how to push Chuck Bartowski's buttons, even if it took all night. And quite honestly, she hoped it would.

There you have it. My sincerest thanks to everyone who is reading, reviewing and enjoying this story. It's been quite a journey so far and we aren't done yet. As always reviews and/or critiques are more than welcome.

Thank you and until next time...