A/N: This chapter and the next….it's gonna get real. What was supposed to be chapter 15 or so in my original idea has now become 36 & 37, the fallout probably happens in 38. I'm working on 37 now, but I have to get it exactly right so it might take a bit. Hope you enjoy this.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck sat on his deck, sipping his virgin margarita. Sarah had teased him about it, but he told her he just enjoyed the taste of the lime drink.

"So, are you just gonna sit here and catch rays as your woman makes money?" Zondra asked, grinning as she sat down beside him.

"I'm not the one dating my personal secretary," Chuck retorted. Zondra grinned. "Come on, you know you want to say it."

"The dictation joke just doesn't work in this instance," Zondra replied, with a shrug. There was silence for a moment. It was comfortable, but Chuck knew she wanted to ask him something. Pressuring her wouldn't accomplish anything, so he sighed contently, and sipped his drink. He smacked his lips together happily.

Zondra shook her head. "You are so weird."

"Yup," Chuck replied, making her snort. "You gonna ask me today, or just sit over there brooding?"

"I'm not brooding," Zondra responded. Chuck shook his head, and took another drink. "I'm not!"

"Batman thinks you brood too much," Chuck continued.

"You know, not everything is a joke," Zondra snapped. Chuck sat up, and turned toward her, taking his legs off the lounger.

"Hey, talk to me," he said softly.

"We're in freaking paradise," she said, gesturing toward the beach. "What I should be doing is planning how I'm going to be walking on that beach with my girlfriend and, as the sun sets, sink to one knee and propose to her."

"Why is that what you should be doing?" Chuck asked her. Zondra stared at him. "You know, there's no one perfect way to do anything."

"I love her, I want to spend the rest of my life with her," Zondra told him.

"So, you're worried she'll say no?" Chuck asked.

Zondra grinned. "Chuck… she never tells me no." Chuck sputtered with laughter. "Brood my ass," she muttered. She shook her head. "She wants to marry me, we've talked about it, it's just…"

"It doesn't feel right," Chuck said, nodding in understanding. "You've… had a lot to process these last few days."

"She deserves it to be magical," Zondra said, frowning.

Chuck reached over, placed his hand over hers, causing her to look up at him. "When you do, it will be, because it's you asking."

"Jesus, Curls," she muttered.

"Sorry, I said to much," he began.

"No," she cut in, smiling at him. She shook her head and sighed. "How the hell were you single so long?"

"I was hiding," Chuck replied, shrugging. "Even when I was dating Hannah, I didn't let her see all of me. I liked her, but… it just wasn't right, and after everything I had been through…" He locked eyes with her. "When you know, you know. And that's when the time is right. Not something built on a scene, or what 'should be'. Hell, Zondra, according to some, you two shouldn't be." She tilted her head acknowledging that. "Do what's right for you and her, and don't worry about anything else."

"Damn it," she muttered as she stood. She grabbed his hands, pulling him up.

"We're not hugging, are we?" Chuck asked, as she pulled him into one.

"Absolutely not," she told him, squeezing him. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Zondra. Anytime."

}o{

"What are you doing?" Bryce heard behind him. The two had returned home. As night approached, Cole had no problem sleeping, but Bryce found himself bothered by what he had seen and heard in Hawaii. Bryce wished he had met Chuck Bartowski years ago. There was a kinship between them. A certain bond, like a brother. And given that he currently had no family… Bryce couldn't sleep, and had begun to work on something he had read about on the flight back.

Bryce knew enough about technology to get himself into trouble. And after a few chats with a friend of his, he had managed to figure out how to clone someone's email, if he could get his phone close enough. He had sent Teddy a message, and he had gotten his response. They were meeting tomorrow, and Bryce found himself double-checking his work one last time.

"I've set up a meeting with Teddy Roark tomorrow to turn him down, and tell him not to contact me anymore," Bryce said, turning in his chair. Cole sat up in bed and stared at him. "You're welcome to come along."

"What are you doing, Bryce?" Cole asked.

"Chuck… Chuck isn't like us, Cole, you saw that," Bryce began.

"What the hell did you do?"

"I'm going to clone his email and calendar and see what I can find out, and I'm going to forward it all to Chuck," Bryce told Cole. "Remember about Jill?" Cole looked away. "Cole, someone's gotta watch out for him."

"You can't keep doing this, Bryce. You can't keep jumping in and trying to be the white knight, because it's going to make you the villain one of these days," Cole said.

"I get it," Bryce said, holding his hands up. "This is all I'm doing."

Cole sat there quietly. "When?"

"Tomorrow," Bryce said. "One o'clock."

"I'm going to be nearby, just in case," Cole said.

"Just in case what?" Bryce asked, confused.

"Just in case this guy tries anything," Cole told him. Bryce smiled at him. "What?"

"You're kinda being my white knight," Bryce told him. "Still sleepy?"

"Not really," Cole said, grinning.

}o{

The next afternoon, Bryce walked into the restaurant for his meeting with Roark. He told the hostess who he was supposed to meet, and she led him to a table. A few minutes later, he saw Cole being led to another table. Bryce sat there waiting. Roark was ten minutes late, but that didn't surprise Bryce in the least. That seemed like the kind of power move Roark would pull. Bryce was glancing at his watch when suddenly the chair across from him was pulled back, and Teddy plopped down.

"Sorry about that," Teddy said. His tone made it abundantly clear he was in fact not sorry in the least, and rather quite amused with himself. Bryce smiled, and clicked the button on his phone that was sitting in his lap, beginning the cloning of Roark's phone. "So, you decided to do the right thing?"

"I have," Bryce answered, making Teddy smile. "I will not be doing what you asked, and furthermore, ask that you never contact me again about doing anything to hurt Chuck Bartowski."

Teddy stared at Bryce for a minute, huffed a laugh, and chuckled. "Oh, you're one of those idiots," he said, shaking his head. Teddy leaned forward. "You just passed up on getting your family back together. Yeah, Jill failed, but she told me everything about him and his friends. And guess what? I know about the Rizzo woman and her family issues."

"Listen," Bryce began.

"No, you listen," Roark snapped. "Chuckie thinks he got one over on me, because his girl didn't drop her pants for the guy I sent." Bryce couldn't believe his ears. "So for right now, he's fine. But there will come a day, when he's not looking, when he's not thinking, and that piece of ass is tired of his shit. And then, she'll dump him like a bad habit, because I will have found a man that will push all of her buttons."

"You're a fucking fool," Bryce said, shaking his head. He had glanced down and saw the app was 87% done. "She has that man already."

"Have you seen him?" Roark asked. "And before you say a word, I get it. I'm not the sexiest looking beast in this place." Bryce blinked. "But you know what I do have? Power, ambition, drive, and the ability to do whatever needs to be done. And Chuckie? He hasn't got any of that."

"Just leave him alone," Bryce said.

"Or what?" Roark asked, sneering. "What are you gonna do, tell Stephen? I'm the man's best friend. I believe in him, his son doesn't. I've got him believing that tart Chuckie is with has turned Chuck against him. I have all the power. I have everything under control." Teddy smiled, proud of himself. "You know what, kid, enjoy lunch on me. But remember – he's got nothing but broken friends around him. Think that Rizzo woman wouldn't do what I want, for a shot to get her family back? They're right here in town."

Bryce was stunned. He glanced down, saw the app was done, and considered walking out. Teddy continued. "Do you truly believe all of those friends he supposedly has wouldn't do something for me? That they wouldn't hurt Chuckie, would help his father, for a chance for me to fix one of their problems?" He asked it in a low voice, contempt pouring through. "Do you think every single person that kid meets and befriends will turn down the offer I made?" Teddy paused, and grinned. "Hell, do you think you will always turn down the offer?"

Bryce slammed his hand down and stood. "Go, and never contact me again."

"Your loss," Teddy sneered, shrugging exaggeratedly, and walking out. "Hope you and hubby are happy… by yourself… no other family. Bye!" Bryce sat. He was breathing hard, his nostrils flaring, his hands were gripping either side of the table. A hand landed on his, and he looked up, seeing Cole.

"Are you okay?" Cole asked. Bryce shook his head. "What happened?" Bryce took a deep breath, and told him what Teddy had said.

}o{

"I don't like this," Cole said sometime later, after Bryce had finished telling him the story. They'd had their order taken, and had been eating in silence, both lost in thought. "You do this, and then we stay out of this."

"Cole," Bryce began.

"Bryce, while he's our friend, we can't butt in like this," Cole told him. Bryce blew out a breath and nodded.

"You're right," Bryce said. He was scrolling through Teddy's calendar. "Hey, look at this… they are getting a shipment at a warehouse, outside of town, the night Chuck gets home."

"Send it to Chuck's email, and then, stay out of it, unless Chuck asks you otherwise," Cole said. Bryce nodded.

"Sending it to Chuck's Orion email now," Bryce said, grinning. "It looks like Teddy invited him to the calendar and I'll erase the proof here… done." Bryce put the phone down, and looked at his husband. "Thank you."

"For what?" Cole asked.

"For watching out for me, that I don't go too far," Bryce said, a warm smile on his face. "I love you."

"And I love you," Cole replied. "Now, eat your lunch, or I will for you."

"I see where I stand," Bryce said, grinning, as he finished his lunch.

Over at Orion, Stephen's computer dinged with an incoming email. Since Chuck no longer worked there, all of his email was forwarded to Stephen. Stephen opened the email saw the attachment, and clicked it. "A delivery?" he muttered. Stephen sat back, smiling. "I get it, he's showing Chuck the product, to prove to him that he's not doing anything wrong. Genius, Teddy."

Stephen picked up his work phone, paused, took a deep breath, and hit a button. "Mary, when does Chuck get back from Hawaii?" He listened for a moment. "I see. Hmmm, no, I'm not looking to fight with him, just ending this. Love you." Stephen hung up, proud of himself. This was ending, soon. Stephen was so thankful for the email that Teddy had sent.

}o{

Chuck found himself in a bittersweet moment. He was glad to be back from Hawaii, but at the same time, life there… it had been easier. Sure, he had problems there, namely Jill. But he knew who Jill was, she was easily identified. The problem in LA was his father and Teddy. The man who he thought of like a godfather, was one of the most despicable human beings who had ever lived. And the man who had his father's ear.

The ride back to their apartment was quiet, with Chuck mulling things over, and Sarah in her introverted world, resetting herself. "Do you wanna talk?" she asked softly.

"Yeah," Chuck answered. "Do we need a bigger bed?" She glanced at him, and shook her head. He was definitely trying to avoid what she knew he was thinking about. "I mean, while I do enjoy sleeping next to you, one day, there might be more people in that bed."

Sarah's eyes went wide, and she turned to him. "Excuse me?" she began. "No, Chuck, that will never happen."

"Okay, got it," Chuck said, holding up his hands. "I figured when we had kids you might want them in the bed with us some nights, like when they had bad dreams, or a fever. But you obviously have policies in mind."

Shock covered her face. "Chuck," she began softly.

"I'm sorry," Chuck rushed out, realization dawning on him, he thought. "You don't want kids. I should have talked to you about this. After our last talk, I thought maybe you were more open to it. Listen, it's not a deal breaker, I promise. Besides, I'm barely on solid foods myself. For the record I meant years from now about the kids. The bed, not so much. I think we need a new one-"

"Will you take a breath," She cut in. Chuck shut his mouth, embarrassed. "I thought you were talking about someone being in our bed… you know… in our bed."

"In our… bed…?" It dawned on him. "OH MY GOD NO!"

"You have spent a lot of time with Carina," Sarah said.

"Sarah," Chuck began.

"Chuck, I'm sorry," Sarah said, cutting him off. "I… I forgot for a moment who I was talking to. I know some people are about that life, and I am not. I have insecurities and-"

"You think I don't?" Chuck asked, making her snort. "I mean, I'm not even offering other women foot rubs."

"And you damn well better not," she said. The two glanced at each other and laughed. "We can get a new bed."

"Yeah… we," he said, grinning.

"So, you're back on that me-quitting-my-job-and-having-kids stuff?" she asked him.

"We both know that of the two of us, I'm far more the stay at home type," Chuck said with a shrug. She chuckled. "I was just thinking how one day, it might be nice on a Saturday morning, being snuggled with you, a little one…"

"That does sound nice," Sarah replied. "Of course, we'd have to return it, at some point." Chuck gave her a look, and she burst out in laughter. "God, that was too easy."

"You have established my easiness," Chuck muttered.

She reached over and took his hand. "Yes," she said softly.

"Yes to what? My easiness?" Chuck asked. She was silent as she smiled. "Sarah?"

She shrugged. "Yes, to getting a new bed."

"And the rest?" Chuck asked.

"I guess you'll have to ask at the right time," she told him shrugging. Chuck sat back, and grinned.

He was pretty sure what that yes was about.

}o{

"No, mom, I haven't heard from him," Chuck told his mother, as he carried luggage in from the car. "I haven't heard from him since I left for Hawaii." He mouthed "sorry" to Sarah, and she waived him off.

"That's everything," she said softly, giving him a peck on the lips. "Hi, Mary!" she called out.

"Mom says hi and… no, I will not say that." Sarah grinned, taking one of the suitcases to the back of the apartment where the washer was located. "Listen, do you want me to-" a knock on the door cut him off. "Hang on, someone's here."

Chuck went over and opened the door. "Mom, I think you can call off the search party; he's here."

Stephen was standing there. "Come on, it's time we finished this mess about Ted," Stephen told him. Sarah walked out into the front room. "You can come too, if you'd like."

"No, I don't think this is my place," Sarah said. "You two go do whatever, just be careful."

"We'll be fine, we're heading to the warehouse," Stephen told her. "I'll have him back in no time." Chuck raised his eyebrows, and followed his father outside.

"Stephen," she called out after him. He stepped back inside. "He loves you, and he isn't trying to hurt you. This is killing him."

"It's killing me," Stephen admitted. He started to go, stopped, and then turned back. "I have said some – some things. Some things I had no right to."

"It's okay. Fix you two," Sarah told him. "You both deserve to be happy." Stephen nodded and closed the door. Sarah pulled out her cellphone. "Ellie, have you any idea why Stephen is taking Chuck to the warehouse?" She peered at the door, frowning.

"Me either."

A/N: I'm thinking Teddy's an asshole. I could be wrong. Next time…whoo boy!

"After tonight, you're going to understand, it was all a big misunderstanding, a mistake, and we can all go forward together," Stephen said, leading him into the office. He spied the manifest and picked it up. "See," he said holding it out for Chuck to take. "Go on, look at it."

"You sure?" Chuck asked. Stephen nodded, and Chuck took the manifest from Stephen. He looked at it, then back to his father, and then back to the manifest. "Who is Fulcrum Industries?"

The poop hits the oscillating blade….Reviews, PMs, finger guns, smoke signals, all appreciated. DC