A/N: Here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own CHUCK or its characters, we aren't making any money from writing this.
He had been quiet the entire ride to the mission site, and she felt just the tiniest bit guilty...just the tiniest bit. She knew Chuck was going through a lot, and she and Casey weren't helping. Morgan apparently was on the verge of getting fired—she had overheard that today—and he and Ellie were supposed to be doing something special, what she wasn't so sure. That was what she felt guilty about. What she did not feel guilty about was the look she gave him at Casey's. He had ignored her this morning in the courtyard, he had either flashed or found out information on Mei Ling some other way and hadn't told her or Casey. That was going to have to be dealt with. But the thing that had irked her the most was what he had said in the courtyard: "Family is more important than this...than this super spy stuff."
That had hit her right in the gut, because she was a damn hypocrite and she knew it. She joined the CIA to save her dad, she had saved a baby she didn't even know because….because it was the right thing to do. And right now, right now she would be on some other mission and Chuck would be in a bunker if she had just not said no. Chuck Bartowski was right, and she agreed with him, so the question became, who was her family? And that bothered her. That bothered her more than she ever was willing to let on or talk about. She knew the second he started talking in Casey's that he was going to help, even before he did, because that was Chuck Bartowski. She knew it, and she wanted him to know she knew it. And what Casey had said….or what he hadn't said….God….An easy assignment, huh, Graham?
Chuck was driving the van and the three spies were in the back, ready to jump out as soon as they reached their destination. Casey gave her a look to see if she was ready. Sarah nodded. He was a good partner. That should bother her, but she found he was the first partner she could remember that wasn't trying to sleep with her, or one-up her. Sure his jokes and little comments drove her batty some days, but Casey wouldn't leave her behind or one-up her to look like the better agent. The van slowed and the three spies jumped out, scaled the wall, and split up. Mei Ling was in charge of the feedback loop, Casey was responsible for hooking Chuck up to the cameras, and Sarah was in charge of initial ingress. There was a little bit of chatter on the line and finally Chuck yelling they had a picture.
Sarah knew she had to get across how serious this all was. She found a camera and looked into it. She knew he did better when he could see how serious she was. "All right, listen, the guards are looking at a static loop. You're our eyes, Chuck. If you see any trouble coming, you let us know."
She took off, and heard his response. "Got it. Let's just make this quick. 7:15's my curfew."
She shook her head. She didn't know what this dinner thing was with Ellie but it had to be huge. "Okay, we're going inside," she replied. She made her way in as she heard Casey and Chuck speak on the system, but she tuned them out. Apparently Casey took one out a little viciously because she heard the two of them banter back and forth. She was almost to the kitchen.
"Okay, okay. I've got, I've got three guards in the kitchen area," she heard Chuck say over the ear piece.
There they were, big guys too. "We see them," Sarah responded.
"Be careful," Chuck said, making her smirk. She knew it wasn't because she was a woman, or that he didn't think she could win the fight, it was because he truly cared. "They're-they're bigger than the first guy," he added. Sarah watched Casey give hand signals. He and Mei Ling took out the first two, and Sarah caught the third from behind. Chuck began rattling on again, and Casey quipped back at him. The three slowly moved toward their target area, when Chuck cut in, sounding frantic. "Wait, hey, hey, hey, what happened? I-I lost all visual on the security cameras. Guys? Guys? All I can see is what Casey's lipstick camera is picking up."
The three had reached their destination when they heard Chuck's pleas. Ben Lo Pan was alone at his desk and a glance from Casey told her they were going with the plan.
"Put down the book, Ironside," Casey said, his gun pointing towards him. "Hands up." He closed the book, smirking. God, she hated a smirker. She heard doors opening, guns cocking, and she knew it was a trap.
Chuck's voice squawked over the coms. "Guys, if you're seeing this, you might want to run." They were surrounded by the men with guns.
"You think?" Casey grumbled.
Ben Lo Pan rolled toward them looking very happy with himself. "Perfect timing, Mei Ling," he began, sounding like one of those stupid villains in those movies she watched with Chuck. "Your government has just refused my final offer for your brother." The goons with the guns pushed Mei Ling's brother over to her. He fell and she quickly helped him up. "Hopefully they will change their minds, now that I have two American agents to barter with."
The men took her earpiece and Casey's lipstick cam. They were in trouble. This was an unsanctioned mission. There was no backup. The only person that knew they were here was Chuck, and he could not get involved. If he got involved, and kidnapped...Oh God, what they would do to him if they figured out he was the Intersect? She was being led out when she glanced over at the van. She thought she saw something in the driver's seat. She probably didn't. She was sure she didn't, but maybe she did. She and Casey shared a glance, and he nodded. Sarah took off, getting the goons to chase her. Casey spoke quietly into his watch. Sarah had no idea what he said but he had to get the message across. It was bad enough what was going to happen to her and Casey, maybe Chuck could get away. A bunker was better than what they'd do to him. She hoped he really got to live his life.
}o{
The voice came through the van. "Chuck, it's Casey. Don't talk. I can't hear you. Go home. Repeat: Go home. Do not call the cops; don't do anything. Go home."
Go home. That's what he was supposed to do. That's what a good asset would do. That's what a good Intersect would do. That wasn't what he was gonna do, and he knew it meant missing Mother's Day with Ellie. He knew, but he had no choice. She took an oath, first do no harm...and if he left Casey and Sarah here there would be all kinds of harm. He wouldn't be doing the harm, but it would be his fault because he didn't do something. He had to do something, but he was told not to. But he should. He needed to. He wanted to. They told him not to...he was spiraling.
He yelled for Casey a few times with no answer. He noticed the white van with the Bamboo Dragon logo pull away, and then Chuck….well, he began to talk to himself. "They're taking them to the Bamboo Dragon." What should he do? Go home. That's what he should do. Oooooorrrrr… "Okay, okay. All right." He put the van in drive and began to tail the van. Wasn't it vans that did the tailing? Was it okay to trail a van? Had he broken a spy rule? "What are the rules for tailing? Tail rules. 30... 30 yards. Or was it 30 feet? I should've taken notes."
They arrived at the Bamboo Dragon and Chuck parked the van where Casey had the night before. He looked around to see if anyone was watching….Who he was looking for he had no real idea. Ninjas? Spies? Those two particular groups of people tended to blend in so if he did see them would he even know he was seeing them? Spiraling! He tried to walk inconspicuously while power-walking, which was next to impossible. He went down an alley to get to the back of the Bamboo Dragon the way Morgan had shown him and peaked in the window. The four captives were being placed in the freezer.
This was not good, this was not good. How long did they have? How long until things began to freeze? It was then his phone rang, pulling him from the door. He scurried away, seeing it was Ellie, and he sent it to voicemail. "Ellie's going to kill me," he muttered. "Sorry." He looked up, helpless, and saw Morgan's fireworks dealer. An idea came to him. An all-time stupid one, but an idea all the same. He ran up to the dealer.
"How much for everything?" Chuck asked.
"Dude!"
"Seriously, I don't have time to bicker, or haggle. I need those fireworks, please."
The dealer grinned. "$400.00"
"FOUR HUND—four hundred," he said, lowering his voice. "I don't have that kind of money."
The dealer grinned. "You work at the Buy More, right?" Chuck nodded. "The next two years you fix my computer for free."
"You're the one that has all the viruses, aren't you?" Chuck asked, hating his life right now. "Labor only, you've gotta buy the parts."
"You buy the parts, sell them to me at cost," he countered.
Chuck dropped his head. He really hoped Sarah and Casey appreciated this. "I don't know if I can get them for cost, but I'll buy them using my discount, it's the best I can do." The dealer held out his hand. Chuck sighed, and shook his hand. The dealer started to unpack his bag, when Chuck shook his head. "Nope, I need that to carry them." The dealer shrugged, handed Chuck everything and took off. He got everything together, took it over to the Bamboo Dragon van, and tried to mentally prepared himself.
"Please let me keep my fingers." Yep, that was all he had. He lit the fuse, put the firework in the bag, the bag in the front seat of the van, ran away, and hid. The fireworks were a sight, and for a second he got why Morgan loved them so. Goons ran past him quickly to see what was going on and Chuck snuck in. He opened the freezer door, and Casey came out ready to attack. Chuck made some noises he didn't even know how to describe. "Come on. Come on," he said. Sarah had a look on her face, and Chuck decided to preempt what was about to happen. "You can yell at me later." She gave him a quick glare and then a thankful look. Chuck helped free everyone and the three spies ran off. He turned to Mei Ling's brother. "This is the part where we hide."
He nodded.
The two of them hid and watched their own version of a kung fu masterpiece, Chuck adding sound effects and judo chops where needed, safely hidden away. A wheelchair came past them, and Chuck remembered that old saying, in for a penny in for a pound. "Ben Lo Pan's getting away," he said quietly. He turned to his fellow hider. "Wait here, wait here." Chuck grabbed the wheelchair just before he made it to the doors. "Forget it, Ben," Chuck said, holding onto the wheelchair. "It's Chinatown." He bent down to Ben Lo Pan. "You ever see that movie?"
The sounds of fighting ended and Sarah and Casey came running up to him.
Casey looked at Ben Lo Pan and then Chuck. "There is so much I could say."
"Don't," Sarah said. "Just...don't." She gave Chuck a look, turned and walked away.
"She's really not happy with me, is she?" Chuck asked.
"Not getting into that," Casey said, taking Ben Lo Pan before Chuck accidentally helped him escape again.
Chuck found himself standing in front of the door by himself. "Go team."
}o{
The living room was dark as he stepped inside at nearly two in the morning, and he wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed. Because he wanted to apologize, but he was also somewhat afraid of the Ellie he'd be faced with after he missed their Mother's Day.
But as he locked the door and turned to head into the kitchen for some kind of sustenance, even if it was the middle of the night, any semblance of an appetite died. Because there was his sister, fully alert, awake, but sitting in the dark with a cup of tea and a look on her face that made his soul ache.
It wasn't fury. There wasn't even much anger there.
He'd hurt her by missing Mother's Day. And he could see the hurt in her face, in the slump of her shoulders, the way she rolled her green eyes slowly up to meet his brown ones. The fact that she'd left the light off and was just sitting in the dark, dunking her teabag in the hot water… Had she waited up all this time?
Shit, he felt awful. He felt so awful.
He slowly walked over to turn on the lamp behind the couch, shedding a bit of light on the room as she stared at him wordlessly. She looked so tired and sad. Frustrated and tired and sad. He was the worst person on the planet. And the worst brother. Ever.
"Ellie," he said quietly, hearing his own hurt in his voice. "Ellie, I am so so so so so so so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am." He closed the distance fast, infusing his words, his face, with sincerity. He needed her to know how sorry he was.
She rested her chin on her hand, elbow on the counter. And she didn't say anything for a few uncomfortable seconds, looking down at the mug in front of her. Finally, she lifted her eyes back to his and shrugged, looking like she was almost trying to suppress the upset she felt. "What happened...Chuck?" The way she tacked on his name after a brief pause, the extra emphasis on the click of the 'ck' at the end of his name… This wasn't going to be easy. Not because she wasn't a forgiving sister. It wasn't that.
He and Ellie had gone through so much together. And they would continue to be there for one another. For the rest of their lives. He knew that. She would forgive him for this. She wouldn't punish him for it. But she was so filled with sadness and disappointment, hurting bad enough, that he felt so much worse than if she'd been angry and slammed a door in his face. He was the worst person on Earth.
"What...Were you kidnapped or something?" she mocked, folding her arms at her chest and hugging herself a little. "I mean...the way you didn't even answer my calls or texts all night. A girl could get to thinking her brother got into some trouble."
He shut his eyes tightly. No. He hadn't been kidnapped. But an ambassador had. And he'd had to help said ambassador's sister rescue him, and then Sarah and Casey had been in serious danger… Chuck knew he could never have left them. Not for anything in the world. And he didn't regret the sacrifices he made to get those fireworks from that God damn swindler. Nor did he regret that both of his intelligence agent protectors were alive and safe. There would be a rough parting between Mei Ling and her brother in the morning. He found himself hoping he wouldn't have to be there for it.
This whole thing was hitting a bit too close to home.
And now with him having missed Mother's Day…
"No answer?" Ellie prompted. "That's fine. I've gotten used to that with you tonight."
Chuck winced. "I deserved that."
"Yep."
"I-I wasn't kidnapped. But I had to...help...a friend."
"Casey?" she asked. He just stared at her, his brow furrowed. "Before you answer that, you should know I went across the courtyard and knocked on the door to see if I could help when you didn't respond to my first text. Turns out there were no color swatches or...deer heads to mount… Because nobody was freaking there. Not you, not Sarah, not Casey. Nobody was there, Chuck. So are we lying to each other now? Is that what's going on?"
"No. God, no." He made an anguished face that reflected his insides and sat down across from her.
"Well, when did we start keeping secrets from one another? Whatever it was you had going on tonight, whether it was with Sarah or...I don't know what… all you had to do was say it. Would I have been happy about it? I mean, no, probably not. But at least I would know you're still being honest with me. That you trust me with the truth." She shook her head and looked away.
"I do. I do trust you, Ellie. And I am...I am...honest." That got him a flat look that he rightly deserved. "Look, if-if you'll just let me...let me explain—"
"There's no need. I spent a few hours sitting here staring at multiple cups of chamomile that I only half finished, just...thinking. And I figured it out." Chuck frowned in question. "I know."
He gaped. She couldn't...She couldn't know. Not that. She couldn't know he was working for the CIA, that Sarah was actually a CIA agent and that Casey worked with the NSA. She couldn't know about the Intersect. She couldn't know any of that, right? That would be crazy…
"You haven't had a girlfriend in a really long time. Not a real one, at least."
"Oh," he breathed, letting his head fall forward so she couldn't see the relief.
"And I'm not trying to embarrass you with this, Chuck, but I get that things are new and exciting with Sarah, and that you really, really like her. I can tell. Not just because you go off and miss dates with me and your best friend to spend time with her, but the way I've seen you look at each other when you're both here… I know how great of a feeling that is." She licked her lips as he felt a deep pit of regret opening wider and wider in his chest. "I don't blame you for wanting to spend all of your free time with Sarah. That's how things were with me and Devon."
Chuck smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah. I remember."
"Do you also remember that I didn't ice you to hang out with him, though? Or...maybe I did a few times. But I at least talked to you, I told you the truth. I was honest."
He swallowed thickly. "Yeah. I know. And I understood."
"Exactly, Chuck. I'd understand. But you lied to me. About something so stupid."
God, if she could only know how not-stupid it was. If he could only tell her that he'd stopped two people who were important to him—yes, even Casey—from being ransomed to the government, and most likely murdered by Triads. If he could tell her he'd stopped an innocent life from being snuffed out. If he could only tell her he'd kept this country from being caught up in an international incident. That he'd gotten a Chinese spy to defect…
He couldn't. So he had to continue to lie. And that felt worse than anything ever had.
"I'm so sorry. I-I guess I just thought...I thought...Okay, honestly, I wasn't using my head. I wasn't. I thought you'd be pissed if I said I was spending time with my girlfriend and couldn't—couldn't leave her side." At least that much was true. "And it was stupid. It was stupid because I could have just told you the truth instead of pretending I was at Casey's all night. He did eat the guac, though. He said to tell you it's delicious."
She made a face. "Is Casey...like...your weird semi-elderly chaperone or something? What's going on with that?"
He tried not to choke, but he wasn't very successful. "Uh...Uh, no. No, he isn't. But he and Sarah have made friends from...you know, work. And she was there helping him. So I went over to help. And Sarah and I...went off together. She—She didn't know about Mother's Day. I-I mean, I haven't told her what it is. She knew you and I maybe had plans, but I didn't want to...be away from her."
Ellie watched him closely. "Look, lying to me...missing our most important day...Do you even know that Morgan's about to be fired? He came to me tonight and was...desperate. Looking for you, just like I was. And when you don't let even Morgan in on what you're doing, I know it's bad." She shook her head. "I'm not upset that you're spending so much time with Sarah, and I really, really like her. I think she is great. But you—God, this is going to sound so big sister preachy and it'll probably annoy you but whatever, you deserve it tonight. You run the risk of smothering each other if you do crap like this. Canceling plans—or in this case, just turning your phone off without telling anyone where you are when you were supposed to be somewhere else—to be together? Ditching other people in your life? That's not exactly great behavior, or healthy for a relationship, but the lying? You can't do that, Chuck." She huffed. "She's your girlfriend. You don't have to sneak or keep secrets. We all know you two are crazy about each other."
Chuck huffed and pushed his hands through his hair. "Yeah. Yeah, El, you're right. I don't wanna smother her. You're totally right. It's just … I dunno."
What could he say? How did he respond to any of this without it being bold-faced lies?
"Listen, Chuck. I know that this is the first big thing to happen to you in a while. With Stanford and everything, you sort of slipped into something of a rut. We both know it." He nodded. "And you feel like...your life isn't going anywhere," her voice shook a little, "your job's not either, and you're not Superman out there saving the day…" Chuck looked away. Because she was right about all of it. But he wished he could tell her he was trying to save the day. That he had a team that was doing something to keep people safe. That he was more than...what she saw sitting in front of her.
"But you're a good person, Chuck. You're a good brother. And you're a good friend. Don't lose that. You're more than what you did tonight. You're better than that."
He swallowed and nodded. "I am. You're right. I fucked up and I'm sorry." He paused, his voice coming out quiet and a little broken. "You-You think that maybe we could, uh, reschedule Mother's Day?" The look on her face was clearly a you sure about that? look. "For, like, tomorrow maybe? I know that that is...ridiculously unorthodox. I get that. And I know that it's my fault that we even have to do it, but I—I mean, it is our holiday. So I think we could make up our own rules."
Ellie was quiet for a few seconds, just looking at him. And then he saw a smidgeon of a smile in her face, though she was valiantly attempting to hide it, pursing her lips. "If I say yes, you'll actually be there this time?" she asked, standing up.
"I promise," he said, with an appropriate amount of gravity.
She didn't answer. Instead she crossed her arms and looked down at him knowingly. "You know, if there's something else going on, you can talk to me about it. You know that, right? Anything. Whether it's work, the assistant manager thing...Sarah...life in general? It doesn't matter what it is, you can talk to me, Chuck."
Thousands of things sprang to mind immediately, an overwhelming deluge of things he wished he could talk to her about. And instead of voicing even one of them, he nodded weakly.
She looked unconvinced. She knew something was up. She'd never in a million years guess what it was. But she knew there was something.
And as she smiled and slowly started to move away, he got to his feet to follow her. "Ellie? El…?" She stopped and spun on her heel, looking up at him. She was still so open, so comforting and reassuring, standing there. His big sister. His protector. She was that person he'd always talked to growing up, and he used to be able to talk to her about anything. But he couldn't talk to her about...that. Only Sarah. Sarah was it, for most everything.
But for this...maybe for this…?
"I really, really like being around her. And not just...it isn't even fully an attraction thing. I-I mean, it is. Obviously. She's…" He swallowed thickly and widened his eyes. "Incredibly beautiful." Ellie nodded in agreement. He saw some of that light coming back to her. Probably because he was talking to her. "But I just like her so much, as a person, that I want to spend as much time with her as I can. While I can."
Innocent confusion spread over her face as she crossed her arms. "What do you mean, 'while you can'? Is she moving or something?"
"No, no. Nothing like that." At least...not until they got the Intersect out of his head and she was mercifully released from her duties here. And she went back to her life of spying and adventure. Out there where she belonged instead of here, pretending to be his girlfriend. He couldn't help the spark of bitterness (not at her), but he was human. After all.
"Then what?"
"She is...who she is, Ellie. And there's just this big part of me that can't let go of the fact that she is worth...everything. So much more than me." He ducked his head. "She has to know that, maybe it's deep down inside, I dunno. And eventually, she's going to realize it and that's gonna be that." He cleared his throat, not looking at Ellie, instead gazing off to the side. "I guess I'm just...getting in as much time as I can before that happens. And trust me, I know how it sounds. I just can't help it. She's so much greater than she knows. She's better than she thinks. And I really like her. A lot. And I don't even know what I'm saying."
Ellie made a soft huff sound and gave him a half-smirk, stepping in close and giving him a hug. It was a hug he didn't know he'd needed. But he did need it and he hugged her back so tightly, he thought he might've felt a pop somewhere in her. She didn't seem to mind. "You are so hard on yourself, it hurts me sometimes, brother."
"I know. I can't...help it."
"And you go out and find a woman who's just as hard on herself. Typical Charles Irving."
He chuckled as they broke apart. "Yeah, but the difference is that she's, like…everything a person should be. And she's so nice to be around. Just talking to her sets me at ease, makes me feel good." And he reveled in being able to at least tell Ellie this much that was true. "I dunno, El, she's like...some kind of incredible goddess."
"No. She isn't." He blinked at that and she giggled a bit through her nose. "It's adorable you think that, and I'm sure she'd think so too, Chuck. But she isn't a goddess. We're all human beings. We all have faults. We all have little bits that are broken, or...off-kilter. I'm sure she has them too. Don't treat her like a goddess. Treat her like a person...a person you like a whole lot, even if she sometimes lowers her guard to show you a flaw or two here and there. Maybe even especially then, huh?" She moved in to hug him again. "You're a good guy, Chuck. She knows it. And you need to stop thinking she's so far above you, because then you'll start acting like it, and that's exactly what none of us wants."
He nodded and pulled back. "Yeah."
"You are just agreeing with me even though you probably don't get what I just said." He winced and she giggled. "Chuck, you keep thinking you're nothing—you aren't, at all, you're very much something—but you keep thinking that, you'll start acting like nothing. Lowering yourself to what you think you are. Instead of...being what you actually are, which is the best guy in the world. I know, I'm not making any sense to you. It's like two in the morning and I'm tired and upset." She gave him a look that clearly said you did this and he winced.
"No, I get it. Thanks, Ellie. As always, you give the greatest advice."
"I try." She winked and pat his chest, walking down the hallway to her bedroom and leaving him standing there alone.
He'd somewhat smoothed things over with Ellie, and he still owed Morgan an apology...a big one. But Sarah was still in his thoughts. Maybe she wasn't a goddess per se—she was human, so gloriously human—but whatever she was, she was also pissed at him.
And more than that, contrary to what Ellie knew about why Sarah was here, the fact was that she would be leaving someday. The second the Intersect was out of his head, Sarah would be out of Burbank. He was going to lose that part of his life—a part he'd grown to genuinely depend on. Because he hadn't lied to Ellie about any of that. He really liked Sarah Walker, Agent Walker. And he liked spending time with her more than with...anyone else. And the thought that she'd be leaving...at some point...made him feel the need to be around her, make the most of the time she was near him. Learn about her, remember things...store them away…
He huffed and went to turn off the light. He skipped the fridge and went straight to his bedroom.
He wasn't hungry.
}o{
Chuck stood there watching Mei Ling and her brother hug, knowing that there was another ass chewing coming, a big one. He decided to do the honorable thing: apologize and fall on his sword. He turned toward Casey and Sarah.
"Before you start, numbnuts, we have a problem," Casey began, cutting Chuck off before he could barely do more than open his mouth.
Chuck looked at Sarah and at Casey, they were on the same page with this….oh, shit. "Uh," he began.
"Zip it," Casey said. He poked a finger in Chuck's shoulder. "You had a flash, that you didn't tell us about so one, when was it? Two, how did you flash? And three, why did you keep it from us?" Casey glanced at Sarah and she nodded.
Chuck decided it was time for 90% of the truth. He would do 100 but… "Okay, you know I didn't sleep that night," he said to Sarah. She had her sunglasses on and he couldn't see her eyes, but good lord, was she just gorgeous. Her hair looked like the sun had kissed it, and...he was spiraling. "So I did some research," he turned to Casey so he wouldn't spiral. He caught the ghost of a smile on Sarah's lips… Did she know what she did to him and why he did what he did? SPIRALING! "I flashed."
"You mean to tell me you flashed on Google, but not on the case files?"
"How do I know what makes this thing work?!" Chuck asked, throwing his arms in the air. He knew Sarah didn't, and he doubted Casey understood the technicalities of it. He wasn't even sure the CIA or NSA knew, if he really thought about it. Casey studied him and grunted an approval. "As to why, you two were done with it. You two had your orders and moved on, but...I don't know if you've noticed, I'm not military, or a spy, and I don't always follow orders." Casey grunted. "Casey, you know even at the Buy More I'll do what's best for the customer." Casey nodded. Chuck looked at Sarah. "I thought me saying anything else…." he trailed off and shrugged. "Well, I'm the asset, I'm supposed to do what I'm told. I just...don't...a lot. And I'm sorry. I'm not trying to make your lives harder. I swear."
Casey looked at Sarah and she at him. They both had sunglasses on so he had no idea what they were thinking. He knew he needed to fix all of this. "Look, I'm... I'm sorry, you guys. I know that you wanted me to go home, but I... I just couldn't, you know?"
He turned to Sarah. "I know what you told me in the courtyard, but that's not who I am, and you both know that."
Sarah looked at Casey, and he nodded. "We just turned one of China's top spies. You did that," Casey said.
"And you helped save her brother," Sarah added. "So, good work, Chuck." Chuck grinned. "But," the grin fell off his face, "you need to realize you are more important than any of that."
Chuck nodded. "Then can we discuss the problem we're about to have?"
Casey and Sarah shared a glance. "You flash again and not tell us?" Casey asked.
"Uh, no. Ellie was hurt," Chuck began. Casey scoffed. "You wanna get us caught, then keep having me miss stuff with Ellie." Casey took off his glasses and studied Chuck. "Think about it. I have never missed stuff with Ellie before and she gets I have a girlfriend now, but if you want to blow my cover and have Ellie start digging into things, just keep doing what we're doing."
"Now just wait a second…" Casey began.
"You wanna look my sister in the eye and tell her you're regularly putting her only brother in danger?"
Casey looked at Sarah, and Chuck saw the NSA agent's resolve dim just a bit at the quiet glance she gave him. They both knew Chuck was right. Casey grimaced, and finally spoke. "No," he grumbled.
Chuck couldn't help himself. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear that." Sarah turned away so as not to laugh out loud.
"NO." Casey was glaring at Chuck, but Chuck could also tell he had won that one. He might pay for it later however. "We'll do better, Bartowski."
"Thank you, Casey," he said. He grinned at Sarah and she winked the eye furthest from Casey at him. "Well, I'd better be going. Got my own family reunion to attend."
Mei Ling walked over to them. "Thank you... Chuck."
Chuck ducked his head, and blushed a little. "Oh, yeah, hey... Don't—Don't mention it. You're welcome. Uh, but before you go, would you mind, uh, would you mind signing this?" He held up the Nerd Herd clipboard.
Mei Ling looked confused. "What is that?"
"Oh, it just says that I was off-site fixing your computer and that you're satisfied with the level of customer service I provided." Chuck smiled at her, and Sarah shook her head and rolled her eyes. Casey grunted in amusement as Mei Ling took the pen.
}o{
Chuck walked into the apartment carrying a bottle of wine. He had so much on his mind. He should have told Sarah about Piranha, but he couldn't. It was probably stupid of him not to, but it was his, and he had to have something, because the CIA and NSA was getting everything else about him. He was pulled out of his thoughts by Morgan's voice.
"Hey, Chuck!"
Chuck shut the door and spun around. "Morgan? Morgan, what are you do... Bu-buddy, I know that I haven't been around lately and/or really been the best of friend, but, uh, you know that Ellie and I have…"
Morgan grinned. "Mother's day, man, I know... I get it."
"Okay, hey, it's okay. I invited him," Ellie said from the hallway.
Ellie came and stood beside Morgan and Morgan put his arm around her. Ellie gave him a bit of a look but didn't say anything. "Yeah, yeah, and I told you he's gonna come walking through that door, didn't I? He's such a good kid." Morgan patted Chuck behind the neck as he said it.
"I'm going to get some glasses," Ellie said, leaving the two of them alone.
"Hey, Buddy, there's something I need to talk to you about," Morgan began. "And, um, I want to make sure you know I'm not making a play for her or anything—it's your girl, I get it."
"What are you talking about?" Chuck asked. "Ellie? She's my sister."
"No, not Ellie," Morgan said waving his hand. "We both know that's inevitable, it's...well, dude, it's Sarah."
"Sarah? Sarah Walker?" Chuck asked, one part confused one part HIGHLY amused.
"Yeah, seems she came into the Buy More to help me with the contest, and bought some things." Morgan was smirking…hard.
"Okaaayy, why the smirk and why would you think she, uh...well, whatever you think?"
Morgan put his hand on Chuck's shoulder. "Dude, you know I would never use the beard for evil around you, okay?" Chuck nodded. "She bought systems dude. Gaming systems. Gonna work on those forearms, eh?" Morgan gave a knowing smile and wink and Chuck had to hold in the laughter.
"Which systems?"
"All of them, including a Wii," he said, raising his eyebrows and walking into the kitchen. Chuck watched him go. What the hell was going on?
Ellie came back over to Chuck. "I know what you're wondering."
"There is so much I am wondering, but let's go with what you think," Chuck replied, grinning. Ellie gave him a look. "Apparently Sarah bought some video game systems and now Morgan thinks she has a thing for him."
Ellie rolled her eyes. "Sarah found out about the contest and wanted to help. She wanted to have some stuff at her place that you'd like. If anything, it sounds like she's getting serious."
"Whoa," Chuck said, holding up his hands.
"I'll think what I want," she replied grinning. "As for Morgan... We bonded over an 'I miss Chuck' moment."
Chuck grinned at her. "Did you now?" Ellie nodded. "So, uh, where's Awesome?"
"He couldn't get off work." A knock on the door made Ellie grin and point toward the door. "That must be Sarah."
Chuck looked at the door and processed what she said. "What, you invited her, too?"
Ellie headed over to the table. "Well, I mean, she's your new best gal. How could I not?"
Chuck gave her a look. "Ellie, you know you'll always be my best gal."
Ellie turned back to him with a bit of an "ew" look on her face with an eye threatening to twitch. "Don't take this the wrong way, Chuck, but I hope not."
"Morgan, and now Sarah?" Chuck asked, backing toward the door. "It used to be just the two of us."
"Well, we're growing up," Ellie replied.
Chuck opened the door and there was Sarah. "Hey," he said softly. She looked stunning. She was wearing a simple blue top and a pair of dark jeans, and there was something about her that was just exceptionally stunning.
"Ellie invited me," she said, waving to Ellie. "She, uh, insisted that I come."
"Well, we're glad you're here," Chuck replied. "Can I talk to you for a moment? Outside?" Sarah nodded and they stepped out. "So I'm glad you're here, and thanks for helping Morgan, I do hope you expensed your job for what you bought."
Sarah grinned at him. "Well, I am dating a nerd so I figured when we're at my place we needed something to do. Also what kind of girlfriend am I if I don't learn about some of this stuff?"
Chuck grinned at her. "I'll be glad to help you set it up, unless you bought the Nerd Herd plan... then I can send Lester."
She gave him a look. "Oh, you are gonna set it up so we can have a chat about today."
Chuck swallowed. "A...chat?" Sarah nodded. "So you aren't as okay as you pretended you were earlier..." She raised an eyebrow as if to say, what do you think? "Right. Well, by the time you get done, I shouldn't have an ass left so…"
She took his hand, and she looked into his eyes. "Chuck, this isn't a chewing out, but it is me trying to get something through your head. It's not bad, and when it's over, I'm gonna kick your ass at video games."
Chuck pulled back his lips with a smile. "Oh, you are, are you?"
"Yep," she said, walking back in.
"Everything okay?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah, I was just telling him about all the systems I bought today. Thank you for suggesting them," Sarah said.
"I just suggested one, you got all three."
Sarah shrugged. "My last job is paying relocation and I'm just turning it in, so it's no money out of my pocket."
"Good," Ellie said. "And Chuck will be glad to help you set them up after dinner."
"I will?" Chuck asked. Ellie gave him a look. Chuck turned to Sarah. "I will," he said, making her giggle. Ellie pointed a fork at him, shook her head and walked off.
}o{
Sarah looked at Chuck. "So, uh, Mother's Day..."
Chuck glanced at her, an unreadable look on his face.
"Yes, Mother's Day. That's right, you don't really know…" Chuck swallowed and looked her in the eye. "Mother's Day is the anniversary of the day our mom...left us. Our dad was here, but he was never really here. So now every year we celebrate the day we learned how to take care of ourselves."
"And rely on each other," Ellie said, bringing a plate of food over. She winked at Sarah and hurried to the coffee table, setting it down, but the CIA agent kept her eyes on Chuck. There'd been a thread of melancholy in his voice, gravity in his face, as he told her about their mom. His dossier hadn't mentioned his parents, except that she knew they weren't around. And now she at least had an idea.
The way he opened up so easily, the way the both of them were inviting her into this tradition after just a few weeks of knowing them, even if she was supposed to be Chuck's girlfriend. These were such good people who deserved better than what they got, than what they were getting. And yet, the way Ellie was just so...present, and glowing, welcoming and kind...and then there was Chuck rushing over to help Morgan grab the drinks he'd mixed for everyone.
Sarah broke her gaze away from Chuck and took the drink Morgan offered. "Thanks very much," she said, smiling at him.
"No, Sarah. Thank you." She got his meaning and she ducked her head a bit shyly.
"No worries. Can't let my boyfriend's best buddy lose his job, right?"
Morgan smiled. "Nah, you could'a. But you didn't, 'cause you're pretty cool, Sarah." He clinked her glass with his, then went over to where the Bartowski siblings were setting more snacks down. "Okay, but where are the carbs, Ellie?!" he burst out, plopping down in the chair.
"You're such a mess, Morgan."
Sarah laughed at Ellie's reply and slid in close to Chuck's side as he sat on the arm of the couch. He looked up at her with a smile that reached his eyes. "To old traditions with new friends," he said quietly as Ellie and Morgan quibbled around them.
She lightly touched his glass with hers and bit the inside of her cheek. She could tell by the look he was giving her that he meant what he said and that it had nothing to do with the cover. New friends…
For once, she just let the warmth flood through her, wrap her up like a comfortable blanket, and she nodded, bringing her drink up to take a sip. "Oh, Jesus." She coughed a little. "Morgan, what is this?"
Everyone else took a sip and made likewise sounds of disgust.
"What?! It's grape soda and vodka. My favorite!"
"Oh my God, I invite you into my home, for my special holiday with my brother, and you give us poison?" Ellie asked, standing up and grabbing Chuck and Sarah's drinks from them. "This is horrid."
"Hey, what?! Where-Where you going with those? You should all be honored I went into my precious secret grape soda stash for you ungrateful people!" He dashed after Ellie. "No, don't-don't dump it! The sink isn't good enough for the—Ellie, no!"
Sarah giggled, trying to ignore the bad taste of corn syrup and artificial flavoring in her mouth.
Chuck looked around and grinned, "I think we're gonna need some more champagne."
"Uh, yeah. If only to get rid of the taste."
"Yep!" He chuckled.
She bit her lip, then, leaning in close. "So you two usually have the same recipe for Mother's Day? Like how people eat turkey on Thanksgiving every year?"
"Nah, we switch it up. We did a pot roast last year, lasagna the year before...tacos. Chicken and cream sauce spaghetti this time."
She nodded and fixed the hem of her blouse just as Ellie and a glum Morgan came back.
"Here. Gin and tonic for Sarah. Gin and tonic for Chuck. Straight gin for me because I deserve it. And poison for Morgan because he deserves it."
"It isn't poison! It's the drink of the Roman gods."
Sarah giggled. "I mean, they do eat a lot of grapes in the cartoons."
"Yeah, wine. Not grape soda."
They sat around the table and ate snacks while the chicken finished baking and the pasta cooking, and when Chuck's sister jumped up to go back to the kitchen, Sarah joined her, forcing Chuck to sit back down with Morgan when he tried to help instead.
"It's all pretty much ready. You didn't have to come help," Ellie said pleasantly, pouring the sauce and chicken over the spaghetti noodles already shining with oil and garlic.
"That's okay. I can maybe mix the salad or something," she responded. Taking Ellie's thank you as getting the go ahead, she went over to the salad and started mixing it. "Uh, thank you, by the way. For inviting me. I mean, for letting me come to this. I didn't know it was so…"
"Depressing?" Ellie teased, smirking at her.
"No. Important." She smiled back, feeling a little shy. "I didn't realize Chuck missed something this big the other night. If I'd known, I wouldn't have...um...monopolized him. I'm sorry if I..."
The brunette bit her lip and stepped a little closer, making Sarah stop. "I don't want you to think that's what I think, Sarah. There's a skip in Chuck's step for the first time in a while. I think you're good for him."
"Thanks. I mean, for saying that." Sarah didn't know what else to say. Was Ellie just making that up to make her feel good? Or was she imagining that about Chuck, about Sarah and Chuck together, because it made her feel good?
"I mean it."
Sarah nodded with a smile. "But I won't let him skip out on this stuff for me anymore. I promise."
The other woman shook her head with a 'pfft'. "Sarah, I don't want you to feel like you have to do that. I'm not lording over this relationship you're in with my brother. I like you. A lot. You're great. And good for him. That's all there is to it."
Ellie winked again and walked out with a hearty, "Dinner is served!"
Sarah stayed in the kitchen for a moment, frozen, watching the doctor laugh with her brother and his friend. And in spite of everything in her telling her to stop, she let Ellie Bartowski's words seep under her skin and make her feel good. Maybe tonight, she could just let things make her feel good. That would be all right, wouldn't it?
Just this one night...
}o{
The night had been fantastic, and Sarah felt like she was really beginning to understand the Bartowskis. What she could not understand is how two people could leave Chuck and Ellie. It made absolutely no sense whatsoever. She watched Chuck fiddle with some cords and mutter something.
"You need anything?" she asked.
"Nope," he chirped. "Got it. This is a breeze. I can't believe you got the Wii. It just came out and it had to be expensive." He gave her a grin.
She gave him a smile and shrugged. "Casey and I talked, and Chuck...you were right. We need to protect Ellie, and the best way to do that is to make sure we're not doing something wildly out of character."
"Thank you," he replied, his head behind the TV. "Seriously, PS3, Xbox 360, and a Wii?"
"So, this is gonna be a thing, isn't it?" Chuck raised up slowly, looking at her with complete confusion on his face. "You, and not following my orders?"
Chuck stared at her, and she could see the gears turning in his head. "Listen, I know I can't fight." Sarah nodded. "I know there are skills you and Casey have that I don't have, and frankly will never have. But...Sarah, asking me to leave someone behind...?"
"I know, Chuck. I know. It sucks, it more than sucks, and you have to know that if it were any member of your family, I would never follow that order."
"I know that, Sarah," Chuck replied. "But you have to know...if it was Harry Tang we were ordered to leave behind, even then I wouldn't be able to do it."
She sighed and sat on the bed. "I know," she said. "For the record, if leaving him behind were the only way to save you, I'd do it over and over again."
"I know, because it's your job and you're great at it." The words hit her in the gut. She gave him a look. "I didn't mean it like that."
"Chuck, you are my friend, and I don't have many of those." She had to play this very carefully. He had to know he was important, but they couldn't step beyond that line. "I would do that whether it was part of my job or not."
"As I would for you," he replied.
She shook her head. "You can't, Chuck, you're—"
"Too important," he said, hanging his head. "I get it, the Intersect is too important."
She looked away. Damn it. She took a deep breath. "Did I say anything about the Intersect?" His head shot up. "Chuck, you know I've done things. You know I've killed people." She paused, she had to get this just right. He had to know, but not hope. God, could she pull this off? "If it came down to saving your life, or saving my own...I'd save yours every time. Easy."
"Sarah, don't you know I feel the same way?" The look on his face made something inside of her buzz. "You and Casey do so much good, but you only focus on the bad stuff you've had to do. You two have saved countless lives that never knew they were in trouble. You two put families back together. Sarah, I have info in my brain, I can do some stuff on a computer. You, Sarah Walker, you freaking badass, you can save lives."
"So can you." They stared at each other for a moment. She grinned. "So, this is going to be a thing."
He crossed his arms. "Looks that way."
She set her jaw, knowing she was letting him see too much, and shook her head. "I'm not happy with this, Chuck."
"You're gonna be even less happy when I kick your butt in Mario Party 8," Chuck said, holding up the controller.
She smirked at him. "Oh, I am going to enjoy kicking your ass at these video games, and then telling Morgan all about it."
"Just be careful. You build up your forearms up too much…" Chuck trailed off, grinning.
Sarah made a face. "Ew...just...ew."
Chuck watched her for a second. "Sarah, I promise you, I won't do anything stupid just to do something stupid, but if I can save you or Casey…" He shrugged.
She nodded. "Still not happy, Bartowski."
"Not the first time a woman has said that to me," he groused. Sarah burst out laughing. "Not the first time that's happened either."
After a minute she sobered up, wiped a tear away from laughing so hard, and grabbed the Wii controllers. "Come on, nerd, let's see what you got."
"Well, first off, you're holding the controllers in the wrong hands."
"These are the only hands I have, Chuck," she said, straight-faced. He blinked and then she laughed at him.
Chuck shook his head. "And you said you weren't funny."
A/N: Review if you want to. Thanks.
-SC and DC