A/N: Greetings everyone and thank you all for the following of this new improved version of my story "Chuck vs A New Beginning". For those who don't know, I'm an Over The Road Truck Driver and lately haven't had much time (if any) to be home not only trying to finish up what I've written much less posted once it's been edited. Been stuck on the road more the last two weeks, doesn't help that I can't really use my laptop on the road because I really don't want nothing to happen to it. Just concluded "Helicopter" portion of the story and now on to "Tango". Also note that my beta had an unexpected issue pop up so now it's just dahlemann helping me out. Since I have a little down time at home, I'm taking advantage by getting this done ASAP before heading out again. Please enjoy the ride. Side note: I hate the format on here, Line breaks and centering isn't going how it's supposed to be (Note change of locations and title intro. Supposed to be centered with 3 spaces in between text, never cooperates. Sorry.)

CHUCK VS A NEW BEGINNING

EPISODE 4: DAY OF SURPRISES

CLUB APOCOLYPSE / LOS ANGELES, CA

Everyone was gathered around the conference room table as the monitors came to life. They were in a split-screen configuration, as Spyder and Jackson were going to address the team. Jackson waited for everyone to be seated before his gruff voice began the briefing.

"Alright people listen up. First, you can see that Lieutenant Smith has re-joined us ahead of schedule. Congratulations on your excellent showing young lady."

Hailey politely accepted, "Thank you sir, just doing my job as expected."

Jackson replied, "Humble too, something you definitely got from your mother, no doubt."

Snickers were heard all around the room as David glared at everyone.

Jackson's throat clearing brought everyone back to focus, "Now we have something interesting that came to our attention. The arms dealer La Ciudad is expecting a shipment of plutonium to arrive in Los Angeles."

David asked, "How exactly is it being shipped? Wouldn't it be hard to smuggle on board a ship through customs?"

Spyder interjected, "Actually, it's hidden in a painting that's been displayed at several art auctions. There have already been four trades among other buyers. All of them have been shot point blank. This is what the painting looks like."

The image of the painting was brought up and everyone thought the same thing, ugliest thing they've seen. After gauging their reaction, Spyder continued, "Now thing of it is, nobody knows what La Ciudad looks like. That's what the official reports say. Last report was MI6 lost track of them in London."

David questioned, "You said official reports. Come on Spyder, you know we have higher reach than those government agencies."

Spyder glared, "That may be true, however you know if I had confirmation on La Ciudad's identity, then I would have to share it with the CIA and NSA. Or have you forgotten that?"

David grinned, "Not a bit. Besides, we know you just love having to share your work. Especially with Beckman and Graham."

Spyder bit back, "I only give them the bare bones, not full disclosure because I don't trust them. Which you already know. Something seems to be off with everything else. Zarnow for one, was something fishy. Graham's been making off the books operations, and he knew about Zarnow. Given the situation with Bartowski, would you have a double-agent sniffing around your most valuable asset?"

Jackson answered quickly, "I wouldn't have Bartowski within the same country, much less the same zip code. Spyder, you keep an eye on Graham and report anymore dealings he has plus any meetings with Beckman. The rest of you, if this faceless arms dealer is gonna be in town, I expect you to be on top of it."

Hailey chimed in, "What about Chuck?"

David saw where she was going with that question, "She's right sir. If Beckman and Graham are alerted to La Ciudad's interest in L.A., chances are that they're gonna want Chuck involved along with his handlers. We've already had a close call with Zarnow because they didn't trust each other. I still don't think he should be in there without any backup he can depend on."

Jackson agreed, "I concur. Have a team shadow Chuck and his handlers, and have another team onsite once the location of the art auction is known. This is something we can't allow to happen. Dismissed!"

The monitors powered off as plans were being made. Prodigy was digging up all the information they could find on the elusive arms dealer, while Hailey was heading for the elevator. She had just turned around when her father stopped the door from closing.

David asked, "Do I want to know where you're going?"

Hailey quietly answered, "Buy More to see Chuck. Not only do I miss him, but we need to talk. Especially after everything that's happened."

David questioned, "Have you listened to the audio? You do know that he only did what he thought was best, he didn't want to risk you being thrown into a bunker."

Hailey admitted, "Yes, I did listen to what was said Dad. It's unbelievable that those spooks would threaten him like that. They don't have the authority like they think they do, you know all we'd have to do is make one call."

David nodded in understanding, he knew that much. But he didn't want to get anybody sniffing around about the team if they had no knowledge of them. Especially when it comes to how easily paranoid intelligence agencies can be.

David pulled his daughter into a hug, before whispering into her ear, "You just be careful out there, Buy More's monitored by the two spooks."

Hailey laughed, "Don't worry Daddy, I can handle them. After all, you and the guys trained me in fighting. I promise, I will be careful. Bye Daddy, love you."

Hailey hugged and kissed her father's cheek before playfully shoving him out of the elevator.

BURBANK BUY MORE / BURBANK, CA

Another day as usual at the Buy More. Chuck Bartowski was helping one of his younger customers. The video game gun wasn't cooperating, and the customer complained it was busted and wouldn't shoot.

Chuck took the gun controller from the hand of his customer, and did some tweaking to it with his trusty screwdriver. Once it was repaired, he gave it back to the young man to try, and he went back to shooting targets on the demo.

About that time, the resident bully Harry Tang approached Chuck, "Chuck, Big Mike wants to see you."

Chuck didn't bother to look, "Not now Harry. Can't you see I'm with a customer?"

After Harry walked away, Chuck looked down to his customer, "I apologize, sir. This isn't how we do things at Buy More."

Big Mike's voice thundered as he appeared over Chuck's shoulder, "Now, Chuck."

Chuck immediately responded, "I was just on my way to see you. That's crazy."

He started to walk away before whispering to the customer to pause the game. Moments later, Chuck walked into Big Mike's office seeing the obese man in his usual place sitting in his chair behind his desk.

Big Mike asked, "Bartowski, what is it you want out of life?"

Chuck replied, "You mean existentially? Like fulfillment, inner peace, that kind of thing? Or practically? Laker tickets, personal steam room..."

Big Mike cut him off, "We're talking Buy More. Career objective. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?"

Chuck wondered, "Honestly?"

Big Mike clarified, "Honestly."

Chuck replied, "Honestly, I have no idea."

Big Mike stopped him, "It's time you started to think about it. As you know there's an assistant management position open. It's down to you and Harry Tang. Now, do you want that job or not?"

Chuck quickly answered, "I do, I do. I'm sorry Big Mike, I most certainly want that job."

Big Mike ordered, "Well then Bartowski, it's your turn to show me something."

Chuck assembled the rest of his Nerd Herders. As they made their way to the storage cage area, he decided to give them the news, "Guys, I got some bad news. Big Mike wants us to fix all of this junk in two days, or he's gonna give the assistant store manager position to Tang."

Hearing a couple of groans, he continued, "I'm sorry guys, and Anna."

Anna cut in, "Guys is fine, I don't mind."

Chuck replied, "No, it's not right. We need to come up with something more non-gender specific. How do we feel about 'team'?"

Everyone offered suggestions.

"Fellow Nerd Herders?"

"The Lester's?"

Jeff came up with a surprising one, "Chuck's stable of ho's?"

Chuck looked back to Jeff when Morgan chimed in, getting everyone's attention, "Hey. Oh, man. Uh, I heard Big Mike threw down the gauntlet. Just wanna say I'd love to help. But A) I lack the skill set, and B) old computers give me the willies. You have no idea how much courage it's taking me just to stand here."

Chuck encouraged, "I'm really proud of you buddy."

Morgan breathed, "Whoo. Thanks bro, I bring you news."

Chuck asked, "What's that?"

Morgan replied, "Your lady's here. And if I'm not overstepping my bounds, looking good."

Chuck looked surprised, he knew he was talking about Sarah. Although, inside he really wished it was Hailey when he heard those words. He walked out of the cage towards the front of the store, where he saw Sarah Walker standing there looking for him.

He watched as she searched for him than gave him a bright little smile that he knew was fake. After all it's for the cover, as he knows. Walking up to her, he's a little surprised to see her.

"Hey there, what's going on?"

Sarah didn't beat around the bush, "Hey. Give me a kiss."

Chuck was surprised, "I'm sorry. What?"

Sarah explained, "We've been on three dates, we have to sell it."

Chuck hesitated before looking around and gives Sarah a quick peck on the cheek.

Sarah was certainly surprised, "That's it?"

Chuck explained, "I'm not really good with PDA."

Internally, he wasn't comfortable doing PDA with Sarah. If the situation was with Hailey, he wouldn't be bothered by it whatsoever.

Sarah decided to change the subject, "Well, let's go somewhere more private. Shall we?"

She took him by the hand and began leading him away towards the home theatre room. Morgan was watching the scene and saw the direction they were going.

"Okay, he is so in."

Seconds later, John Casey came walking past him heading in the same direction. Morgan jogged to get in front of Casey, not understanding why the burly green shirt was heading for the same area.

Getting in front of Casey for a second, "Hey, whoa. Whoa. Okay, whoa. Why don't we give the kids a little privacy...?"

Casey gave Morgan a little face-palm action, pushing the man-boy out of his way. Morgan got back up muttering how that's not cool.

Inside the home theatre room, Chuck and Sarah are standing there when Casey barged in. He wasn't happy about not being told, "Sorry to break up your little tryst. Next time you need to talk to the subject, I would appreciate a little "heads up."

Sarah replied, "Relax, I wouldn't dream of starting without you, Agent Casey."

Chuck noticed the tension between his handlers was still there from their last mission. He silently agreed with Wildfire and Hollywood that these two need to learn about teamwork, he spoke up, "Mom, Dad, can we get on with it? I have hard drives to fix."

Sarah began laying out pictures when Chuck looked down before sitting down picking one up, he was confused about something.

"Why are these people sleeping?"

Casey stated, "They're not sleeping."

Sarah interjected, "They were killed Chuck, and we wanna know why."

Chuck hastily dropped the picture, "I have no idea."

Casey pointedly told him to take another look. Chuck explained he'd rather not because it's kind of creepy. They heard the door open and everyone looked up to see Jeff Barnes carrying a folded newspaper.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was gonna take a nap. I will come back in five, kind of called dibs on the couch."

Chuck noticed the article about an art auction when he felt the Intersect firing up and a flash about to hit him. After seeing the information and watching Jeff leave the room, Sarah had noticed his facial expression changed. She knew how he looked after receiving a flash.

"Chuck, what did you see?"

He replied, "I don't... I'm not totally sure. Water lily painting, weapons, an art auction tomorrow night. Does the name La Ciudad mean anything to you?"

Casey and Sarah exchanged looks like they have no idea, then asked why. Chuck simply stated, "I think he's gonna be at the art auction tomorrow night."

Seeing the look on his handlers' faces, he decided to get out of there and back to work.

"Right then, I'm gonna fix some hard drives. Good luck with the spy stuff. Excuse me."

He left the room, leaving the two agents behind. On his way back to the cage, a voice called out to him, "Excuse me sir, can you assist me in getting some games?"

Chuck stopped in his tracks. The voice was oddly familiar. He knew that voice, but also remembered that she was supposed to be in Hawaii for another six weeks. He turned around, and was surprised to see her standing there. She had a baseball cap on backwards and a pink tank-top with cut off blue jean shorts, looking like a true California girl.

He couldn't help himself as he walked up to her and engulfed her in a big hug, which she naturally returned. It felt so good to them that they didn't want to break away. Reluctantly, they parted to get a good look at each other.

Chuck asked her the burning question, "What are you doing here? I thought you were still in Hawaii?"

Hailey just laughed, "I was originally supposed to be there for another six weeks."

Chuck was confused, "Is everything okay?"

Hailey looked serious, "There's something I have to tell you Chuck. I'm pregnant, you're going to be a father."