Slices of Life

Author: dettiot

Rating: T

Summary: A collection of ficlets, based off prompts received at my Tumblr.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck. No copyright infringement is intended.

XXX

Cravings

Set in the future.

Written for hotski.

"I'd like to see Charah going to Mc Donalds when Sarah is pregnant and grumpy."

XXX

Chuck did a double-take. "You want what?"

"I don't understand it, either," Sarah said, her voice frustrated and annoyed. "But I really, really want an apple pie from McDonald's. And French fries."

Chuck blinked. If there was one thing that hadn't changed in Sarah from before and after her memory loss, it was her disdain for McDonald's. He had never understood just why she hated the Golden Arches so much, but he had accepted it and kept to himself when he had hit up the fast-food chain for an occasional chocolate milkshake.

"Okay, okay, we can do that. We can totally do that," Chuck said, swinging the car around and heading towards the McDonald's he had just passed. "I guess the baby wants what the baby wants, huh?"

Sarah frowned. "I thought I'd want things like pickles and ice cream. At least they have some redeeming characteristics, even the ice cream. Nobody told me I'd want deep-fried, preservative-laden junk food."

Now in her fourth month of pregnancy, Sarah's moods varied wildly. Chuck had learned to tread lightly, although he was hoping that since her morning sickness seemed to be ending, Sarah would start feeling more comfortable with being pregnant. Today's grumpiness was out-of-the-ordinary, though.

He joined the long line of cars waiting in the drive-through lane. Taking advantage of the situation, he reached out and took her hand. "Is there anything else going on that's bothering you?"

Sarah looked at him and bit her lower lip. "I know I've been bitchy today … I'm sorry."

"It's okay, baby," he said, squeezing her hand.

"No, it's not," she said, shifting in her seat to face him. "The McDonald's thing is the straw that breaks the camel's back."

"Why do you hate it so much?" he asked, without really thinking his question through.

Sarah stayed silent for a long moment, long enough for him to wonder if he should take back the question. Then she blew out a breath. "When I was eleven, a con went bad and my dad left me at a McDonald's. And he didn't come back until the next day."

"What?!" Chuck said, looking at his wife. "He really did that?"

She nodded. "I stayed there all day, taking bits and pieces of food," she said, looking embarrassed. "I … I actually stole a Happy Meal from a little boy, because I was so hungry. And then, that night, I hid in the ball pit in the play area and slept there."

"Baby …" Chuck said, running a hand through her hair. Sarah had never really opened up about how exactly life with her father had been. He really, really hoped this was a rock-bottom moment.

It took Sarah a moment to come out of the memories, then she sighed and leaned into his hand a little. "It was awful. And after that, I vowed to only go to McDonald's if it was truly the only option other than going hungry more than eight hours. And I've kept that promise." She looked at him hesitantly. "After that, my dad stopped doing dangerous cons until I was nearly eighteen."

Chuck leaned in and kissed her softly. "I'm sorry, baby," he said softly against her lips.

She wrapped her arms around him, not moving until the car behind them in line honked their horn because they hadn't moved up. She pulled away and wiped her hand over her face. "Thanks, Chuck. I—I'll be okay."

He nodded as he moved the car up, bringing them nearly to the speaker. He considered his words, then spoke in a casual tone of voice. "You know … we could just go home and make our own fries and apple pie."

"Really?" she asked softly and hesitantly. "You … you'd help me do that?"

In answer to her question, Chuck swung the car out of the drive-through and headed towards the supermarket at the far end of the strip mall complex.

And although he had no idea how to make an apple pie or homemade French fries, Sarah's relieved smile told him that just attempting to learn was more than enough for her.