A/N: I know I've been trying to write fluffy stuff right now, but this chapter had always been planned. So we're going to do it, because it's a part of the story and needs to be told.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck


The door opened. Alex stood there, shock on her face. "Chuck," she said, tears in her eyes. "It's Lucky."

"Damn it," he hissed, and rushed out of the room. Sarah turned to Big Mike.

"That's Lily's dog," Big Mike said, rising from his seat. Sarah jumped up and hurried after him. She got to the front room in time to see the little girl, crying her eyes out, handing her dog's limp, broken form to Chuck.

Chuck took the dog, and asked Alex to join him in the examination room. As he locked eyes with Sarah, he mouthedstay with her please. Sarah gave a head nod, as Chuck and Alex went to the back room.

"Chuck," Alex began.

"You need to call Elizabeth," Chuck said. "They need to know Lily is here, and we'll watch her until they get here."

"Chuck," Alex began again.

"Lucky is dead," Chuck said gently. "I'll talk to her, just give me a moment to get myself together." Alex nodded as she headed back to the front. Chuck gently laid the body on the examination table, and looked down at Lucky. "I'm so sorry, boy."

He took a deep breath, walked over to his office, and opened a storage cabinet. He pulled out a small pamphlet he had made, that had the Rainbow Bridge poem on it. He looked back at Lucky. "I don't think this is gonna be even close to being enough." He just stared at the limp body. "Don't worry boy, I'll stay with her until her parents get here." Chuck gave Lucky a sad smile, and headed for the front room.

"Mr. Chuck, is Lucky okay?" Lily asked, as he entered the room. Chuck glanced at Alex, who held up five fingers, which he assumed meant it would be five minutes before her parents got here. Chuck turned back to Lily, took her hand and led her to the seats in the waiting room. He patted a seat beside him, and she sat.

"Sweetie," Chuck began, and her eyes filled with tears. Chuck held his hands out, and Lily climbed into his lap, and began to cry.

"Is he dead?" she asked between sobs.

"He is sweetie, and I'm so sorry." Lily sobbed. Chuck held her, placing his chin gently on her head, as she cried against his chest.

"What can I do?" Sarah asked Alex, softly.

"Nothing," Alex replied. "While he hates this, he's the best at it. The only thing you should do is probably run."

"Why would I run?" Sarah asked.

"Because watching that – him caring for a child that's not even his – you and I both know that you're wondering what he would do for his own."

Sarah turned slowly to Alex, who was grinning. "Sarah, we both know what you want, even if he doesn't."

"That's the problem," Sarah replied.

"Have you, oh, I don't know, discussed it with him? Shown him the… benefits?" Sarah grinned at Alex, and then turned back to the two in the lobby. "You want to go hug them, don't you?" It was more statement, than question.

"I do," Sarah replied. "But I think she's more comfortable with him."

"You might want to go fill in the group in the conference room," Alex offered.

Sarah nodded and left, as the door opened. Tim, Lily's dad, and Elizabeth walked in. Chuck looked up at the two, and gave them a sad smile in greeting.

"Lily, sweetie?" her mom said. Lily clambered off Chuck's lap, and launched herself at her mother.

"Chuck, thank you for calling, and being here for her," Tim said, offering Chuck his hand. Chuck shook it.

"I'm so sorry," Chuck began.

"Pete called us on the way here," Tim explained. "He told us what happened. He's devastated." Tim paused. "She's gonna wanna bury Lucky," Tim said, looking extremely uncomfortable.

"I can get Lucky in a container to bury," Chuck said. "You're welcome to come with me, or stay-"

"Let's go," Tim said. Chuck nodded and led him to the back. When they got to the back, Tim ran his hand through his hair, and huffed. "Sorry, it's just… I can't fix this."

"No, you can't," Chuck agreed. "All you can do is be there for her."

"Did he suffer?" Tim asked softly.

"I don't think so," Chuck replied. Chuck went into the back room and found the container he was looking for. "Did you want to put Lucky in there, or?" he stopped seeing Tim's face. Chuck nodded, picked up Lucky, and gently placed him in the box. He closed it up and turned to Tim. "There you go."

"What do I owe you?" Tim asked. Chuck shook his head. "Chuck, I know damn good and well, that container is a special one to bury pets in, and they aren't free."

"Fine, 20 bucks," Chuck replied. Tim gave him a look. "I get them bulk," Chuck replied with a shrug. Tim shook his head, pulled out a twenty from his wallet, and gave it to Chuck. Chuck pushed it into his pocket. "Hold a service for him… she'd like that."

"Good idea," Tim said. "I'm gonna go put him in the truck. He shook Chuck's hand again. "You're a good man, Chuck Bartowski." With that, he left, taking Lucky.

Chuck went into the front room and Lily rushed to him, hugging him. "Thank you," she said softly, her tears not flowing as heavily as earlier. She pulled away and Chuck crouched down.

"Remember, it's okay to grieve him and miss him, but you had better remember to go run around outside the way he liked," Chuck said, bopping the end of her nose.

She giggled and grinned through her tears. "I will," she said, and gave Chuck another hug. Lily headed to the door as Chuck stood. Elizabeth pulled Chuck into a hug.

"This town doesn't deserve you," she said softly, kissing him on the cheek. She gave him a thankful smile, and led Lily outside. Chuck pulled out the twenty, and gave it to Alex as she walked up to him. Alex took it, and gave him her own hug.

"They're right, you know," Alex said, heading back to the desk. He stood there, looking down at the floor.

}o{

Chuck had asked Sarah if she minded him leaving early to go home, and clear his head. She told him she'd see him there, shooing him on his way. She later pulled up at his house, and found him sitting on the porch, rocking in his chair.

"Hey, Sarah," he said softly, a sad smile on his face. "I made dinner, and put your plate in the oven."

"Sorry I was so late," Sarah apologized. "We had an emergency."

"I'm so sorry, I should have-"

She cut him off with a soft kiss. "Chuck, Lily and her family came back to ask me to go with them to the animal shelter in Owensboro."

"Did they find a new dog?" Chuck asked, a bit of a grin on his face.

"A puppy that they are now calling… Flash," Sarah replied.

"Flash," Chuck said, nodding. "I like it."

"I'm gonna grab my plate, and join you out here, if you don't mind?"

"I would prefer you join me, if I'm being honest," Chuck replied. She headed inside, noticing the rifle leaned against the doorframe. She found her plate, still warm, wrapped in tinfoil, in the oven. She pulled it out, poured a drink, and walked outside, sitting in the rocking chair beside him. "It's quiet," he said softly.

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked.

He pointed towards Graham's land. "It's quiet over there. See the dogs?" he asked, gesturing toward them. "They're not lying down; they're sitting there on their haunches."

Sarah listened closely, listening to the night sounds, realizing there was little coming in the direction of Graham's land. "What does that mean, Chuck?"

"Graham got rabies somehow," Chuck replied. "Remember the cows and how this all started?"

"I seem to remember that, around the time you commented on my melons," Sarah replied, innocently taking a bite of her green beans. Chuck snorted in laughter. "What do you think is going on?"

"No idea," Chuck admitted. "But I don't like it. I don't like it at all."

"Are you okay?" she asked, making him turn to her. "It's been a bit of a run for you." Chuck nodded agreement. "You have Graham's land. You found out Bryce was probably killed for what he knew. You had to deal with the death of Lucky, and handle Lily dealing with it."

"You forgot something," Chuck said, looking straight ahead out into the night. He turned to her, his eyes holding hers. "I was told someone wants me to marry them."

"Chuck," she began.

"The person who has shown me love; the person who has shown me that I have worth; the woman I love with all my heart; the one who dared have BBQ with me, knowing what it would do to this town." Sarah chuckled, her eyes misty. "The woman who believes in me. I was told she wants to marry me."

"What do you think about that?" she asked softly.

"What do I think?" Chuck asked in response, and leaned back in his chair. He blew out a breath. "What do I think?" he repeated. "I think that in my wildest dreams, I'm not sure I can ever believe it. I think that I would be the luckiest man in the world if she did. I think that I might be scared to ask her, because what if she said no?"

He swallowed, and turned his head to look at her, finding a smirk on her face. "Chuck," she said, emphasizing the k. "Seriously, when have I ever said no to you?"

Chuck nodded slowly. He slipped out of his chair, and dropped down to one knee in front of her. Reaching into the pocket in his jeans, he pulled out a ring.

"Sarah Lisa Walker, would you marry me?"

She leaned down, cupped his face with her hands, and kissed him on the lips. "Yes, Chuck," she said pulling away slightly, giving him a smile. "Yes."

The dogs barked their approval, as she leaned in and kissed him again.


A/N: Wash your hands, seriously. Take care of yourself, see you soon.