A/N: I want to start by thanking all those that reviewed the first chapter or liked my post in the Chuck FanFiction group. I'm glad people enjoyed it.

So, to recap, after quitting the CIA, Sarah Walker moved to Los Angeles to settle down. When out on her runs, she kept seeing an interesting guy who she subsequently met at her gym and then he asked her out on a date.

Once again, thanks to LetsGoRed for doing a sterling job as my beta.

Now let's see how the date goes….

Life After Death

Chapter 2 – First date

Sarah's hotel room, later

She'd been back for an hour and the euphoria of being asked out had waned. She knew he'd ask about her past and she had to decide what to say. It was also relevant to discussions about future employment.

Thinking about the past was always painful and she never did that. She had always gone from mission to mission not wanting downtime. Downtime was thinking time and that was to be avoided. But now she was out of that life and needed to start a new life. She had time to think. She needed to think about the future and what she would do now, but that inevitably led to thinking about what skills and experience she had to offer new employers.

God! Her past was so awful. Con artist turned assassin. What skills did she have?

She could lie and deceive. Who would want that?

She could kill in many ways, from a far distant sniper shot to close range throat slitting. And those were the clean kills. She'd poisoned on a number of occasions – slower, more painful deaths. She'd gutted a few and left them to bleed out – that was slow and painful too. Burning to death in a blaze wasn't quick either. Detonations could kill quickly enough, if close enough to the blast. Who would want a killer? Maybe some sort of protection detail? No, she had wanted to get away from being a killer. She couldn't use these skills.

She could speak many languages, so that might be a possibility, but thinking of languages took her back to the many places she'd assassinated targets. She shook herself.

Infiltration & seduction skills? She had done these, but only when she could get out quickly and never be more than groped. She had always refused long term assignments, which would inevitably require the female agent to give up part of herself that Sarah was not willing to do. She knew of agents who had done that and how dirty they felt. Well, apart from her friend Carina, but she was an exception. Unless she wanted to become a prostitute, she wouldn't need those skills anyway. Then she thought about Chuck and smiled. Maybe privately, if they became more than just friends.

Her thoughts were now on a different part of her future. She had never been in a relationship and didn't know how to be a girlfriend. Everything about her was false. Could she be authentic? Was her "real" self still within? Would anyone want to be with her if they knew what she had done? She knew her looks attracted men, but that led to one-night stands, not a meaningful relationship. She frowned at that – is a meaningful relationship something she could ever have?

She shook her head. These weren't the thoughts for tonight. This was a first date, for god's sake, not a long-term commitment! But she had never been on a date either. Not a real date. Sure, she'd had many pseudo-dates with marks, but that didn't count. However, she needed to push those thoughts to the back of her mind and just make herself presentable, then relax and try to behave like a normal woman. Ha! A normal woman! Me?

Italian restaurant, that evening

He'd picked her up at Maison23 in his Audi R8.

Seeing her raised eyebrows, he shrugged and said, "Yeah. It's not usually my style, but my sister persuaded me to splurge a little on myself for a change."

Sarah admired the car. "Not as fast as my Porsche, but pretty good."

Chuck smiled, "I actually wanted a Lamborghini, but I'm too tall, I didn't fit when I got into one."

Sarah chuckled. "I can imagine!"

As they pulled up outside the restaurant, she observed, "Good thing you didn't waste your money on the Lamborghini. You drive too slow."

"I drive at the speed limit!" he retorted.

She smugly replied, "Exactly!"

Chuck frowned, but with a teasing glint in his eyes."So you are a reckless driver?"

She put her hand on his arm. "I'm a very safe driver, I'll have you know. So safe, the speed limits aren't relevant."

He shook his head at that thought as he opened his door and rushed around to open hers for her.

As she got out, she smiled at him, "A gentleman."

He smiled.

Chuck had been here several times and the staff recognized him.

He'd booked a corner table with the best view of the rest of the restaurant which her spy instincts appreciated.

Sarah watched the waitress walk over to them. She was a beautiful brunette. As she approached, the smile on her face grew. She finally stopped at their table and said, "Good evening, Chuck. It's nice to see you here with someone for a change. Can I get you both some drinks?" Sarah noticed her eyes were sparkling. She looked over at Chuck.

Chuck had been looking at the menu. He looked up. "Oh, hi Maria. Yes, this lovely lady is Sarah."

Maria turned to her. "Hi Sarah. Welcome to our restaurant." She seemed genuine.

Sarah smiled, "Thank you. I'm looking forward to your food. I love Italian." That got a big grin from the waitress. "I'd like some red wine. Do you have any Barolo?"

"Certainly. And for you, Chuck?"

"I'll just have some sparkling water, please."

As Maria walked away, Sarah turned to him. "First name terms. You must be a regular."

He shrugged. "I used to come once a week. Less so now that I live in Malibu, but I do like it here."

"You used to live near here?"

"Yeah. An apartment in Echo Park. With my sister, Ellie and Captain Awesome."

"Captain Awesome? Is he a superhero?"

"You've seen him. He was running with me on the first day we saw each other."

She cast her mind back and remembered. "Oh, yeah. Surfer dude."

"Well, he does surf, but he's also a heart surgeon. One of the leading ones in the country."

"Wow. Awesome, indeed." That made him smile.

He continued, "I'm trying to stop calling him that. It upsets my sister and she doesn't want their kids to hear it. His name is Devon."

Sarah nodded.

"Ellie is one of the country's top neurosurgeons. They are both amazing."

"You're obviously proud of them," she observed.

He snorted. "That doesn't tell the half of it."

"Well, you're going to have to tell me now."

He was about to start when Maria brought their drinks. "Have you decided what to have to eat?" she asked.

Sarah looked up at the expectant eye on the waitress. "Yes. Can I have the lasagna and a side salad, please."

Maria turned to Chuck. "Same for me, please Maria."

Maria nodded and left them again.

Sarah looked at Chuck waiting to hear about his sister.

He thought for a while. He didn't talk about this much, but he was proud of his sister and he felt so relaxed around Sarah. He found he wanted to tell her everything. "I don't usually talk about this, but here goes. My Mom died in a car accident when I was nine."

Sarah was not expecting this. She reached over and held Chuck's arm. "Oh, Chuck. I'm so sorry. You know you don't have to talk about this."

He looked into her eyes seeing compassion there. "No. It's okay. I somehow feel that I want to tell you."

She just looked at him for a few seconds, then nodded.

"My Dad wasn't the same after she passed, Sort of distant. Ellie was thirteen and basically had to take over what Mom used to do for us. She was amazing even then."

Sarah imagined a thirteen-year-old looking after a nine-year-old boy and her dad. When she was that age, she had no responsibilities other than helping her dad.

Chuck continued, "Three years later, Dad disappeared."

He paused after that bombshell. She was shocked.

Chuck ducked his head, but didn't stop. "Ellie basically brought me up after that. When the authorities came to see Dad, the neighbors told them that he was ill or just out. Whatever they could to keep them at bay. El worked jobs to bring in money and I took on a paper route initially. Somehow, El also managed to work hard enough on her education to get a scholarship to go to medical school. Medical training is hard work and long hours, but she still managed to do other work and support me. She met Devon there and he moved in, sharing the cost of being in the apartment." He looked up at Sarah. "So, yes, they are both amazing and I owe them so much."

Sarah sat quietly contemplating what she'd heard. What a life he'd had. "That's quite a story, Chuck. Makes mine seem a breeze."

He looked at her for a while, then spoke. "That sounds like it wasn't easy either."

She looked into his eyes. Could she tell him about her past? She already saw sympathy there. She suddenly felt the urge to tell him about her childhood. Something she'd never spoken about to anyone. Only Director Graham knew about any of it.

She started, "I'm from a broken home, Chuck, but that's not the worst of it." She looked down at her hands, that she'd now crossed in front of her. How much should I say?

She didn't have to say anything then, as Maria brought their food. They sat quietly and ate their lasagna. Neither wanted to break the silence.

As she finished, she had decided to give him edited highlights, or more accurately lowlights of her time with her dad.

"When I was seven, my Dad left my Mom and I went with him. He offered a life of adventure whereas Mom was all about rules and schooling. For a tomboy like me, it wasn't a hard choice." She looked down at her folded hands. "That was the first bad decision of my life. I wish I had stayed with my Mom."

Chuck had no idea why, so just stayed silent and let her continue at her pace.

Sarah looked up and he could see the pain and regret in her eyes. "Dad was a grifter. A con man. I basically became his assistant. We conned our way around the western states stealing from anyone we could. It seemed fun at first but by the time I was twelve, I had realized it was wrong, but continued anyway. I was a con artist. I was a bad person, too."

He grabbed her hand. "No, you weren't, Sarah. You were just trying to please your Dad. That isn't your fault."

She looked into his eyes and could see he believed that. She shook her head and continued, "For the most part, I picked up books to read to educate myself, as Dad wasn't going to do any of that. Sometimes we stopped long enough in one place for me to go to school, but that never lasted long."

He was shaking his head. She continued, "I never had any friends. There was no point trying as we wouldn't be staying. I just kept to myself at school, trying to be invisible."

He choked on that. "I can't believe you'd ever be invisible, Sarah"

She smiled slightly. "I didn't look like this, Chuck. I was gangly, awkward and had braces most of my time when I was in school. You wouldn't have been interested in me."

He shook his head at that. "I know you are beautiful, Sarah, but no matter how different your skin, teeth and clothes were, it's your eyes that pull me in. Those would have been the same, even then."

How does he know just what to say? "Thank you, Chuck. Somehow I believe you really think that. It makes me very happy hearing those kind words."

She sat quietly for a moment thinking about what he'd said. She didn't want to hide anything. "For what it's worth, your eyes draw me in, too," she said hesitantly.

His beaming grin made the comment worth a lot.

She'd never been so open before, but found it liberating rather than frightening.

"So how did you leave your Dad?" he asked.

Well, this is the big tell!

Sarah looked straight at him, wanting to see his reaction to the big reveal. "My Dad was arrested and taken away." She swallowed. "And I was recruited by the government. That way he would be relatively safe and I wouldn't get sent to prison."

Chuck thought about that. "So, you went to work for the FBI?"

He was sharp. "No, Chuck, the CIA."

His eyes widened. "So, you're a spy?"

She shook her head. "Not anymore. I left, remember."

He frowned. "How old were you?"

"Sixteen. I went on my first mission at seventeen."

He looked shocked. "Is that even legal?"

"Probably not, but I really had no choice." She looked pained. "Sorry, Chuck, I find this very hard to talk about. I never have before."

He looked down, "Sorry, Sarah. Stop now. I guess this is why you don't know what career to follow now."

She was surprised by this. "You're really smart, aren't you?"

He just smiled.

"Yes, you're right. I don't really have any transferable skills," she admitted.

"Oh, I bet you have. We just need to work out what they are." His enthusiasm was infectious.

"We?" she asked.

He nodded, "We. I'm dedicating myself to helping you."

She smiled at that. "So, you're not just going to continue stalking me in the park and the gym?"

"Nope. I'm now your dedicated career advisor." He grinned.

"I think you just want to see me again," she teased.

"Oh, that as well. I'd be a fool if I didn't want that. Plus it's hard for us stalkers to go cold-turkey." He grinned.

"Good! I want to see you again too. More than at the park and gym." She grinned back.

When Maria brought coffees, he brought up a different subject. "So, if you don't know where you're going to work, I take it you're staying at the hotel."

She nodded, "That's the plan."

"Won't that get expensive? Wouldn't it be better renting an apartment?"

She hadn't really thought about that, but he was right. Her savings would last longer if she did. "Any suggestions of good places to live?"

"I know Ellie and Devon's apartment is probably too large for one, but I know there's a one-bedroom apartment also coming free in that apartment block. I'll get you the details."

"That would be great. Thank you, Chuck, I'm very grateful for the help."

As he sat looking at her, he knew he was falling for her and would do anything for her. And anything to spend more time with her.

As he was driving her back to her hotel, she wondered about inviting him to her room, but decided to leave it at just a wonderful evening. She'd loved the meal and enjoyed his company. A lot.

They'd arranged to meet the next day to discuss her career options. She smiled at that, thinking they really just wanted to see each other again.

When they got to the hotel, he leaned over and gave her a kiss on her cheek, with those electric shocks. How does that keep happening?

She got out of the car and leaned in. "Thank you, Chuck, for such a great first date."

He could see the twinkle in her eye. "Thank you, Sarah, for being such great company."

As she stood watching him leave, she felt completely out of her depth. She'd never felt like this before.

A/N: Well, first date over and they still seem to like each other. They're even going to see each other the next day. Certainly better than Chuck's other first dates since Stanford!

I hope you liked this chapter. Please write a review, or PM, to let me know your thoughts.

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