A/N: Yeah, life. Sorry.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck didn't think he'd slept a wink that night. He actually did, but he wished he hadn't. Every time he dozed off, he kept dreaming the same dream. The dream where Sarah kissed him. He could taste her on his lips. He could feel her hand in his hair, the other gripping his shirt, pulling him close. He could smell the shampoo she wore.

Every time he woke up the longing was there, and every time he fell asleep, he began the cycle all over again. It went on all night. By the time he awoke the next morning, he was just as confused as he was the night before.

"I can't do this," he repeated softly, trying to wonder what "this" was.

He sighed, got up, and tried to do some work. Unfortunately, he found it too busy to concentrate. He was supposed to have a session today, and he was sure it was to be his last. He would have to tell Beckman the truth, that he and Sarah did not know each other. That they were not a couple… not in the slightest. He shook his head, turned on his X-Box, and immersed himself into a game.

Something in the back of his head kept bothering him though. Beckman and Roan. What was that all about? He shut off the game in frustration, went to his room, and dressed. Grabbing his bag, he went to the front door, and opening it, was stunned to find someone there.

He stared at the woman in front of him. "Hi, Chuck," Sarah said softly, her hand raised to knock on the door. "Can we talk?"

}o{

He had invited her in, of course, and offered her a beverage and a snack… he nearly offered her the keys to his apartment, he was so shocked to see her. He brought them both a glass of water to the couch, the whole time trying to figure out what in the hell was going on. He handed a glass to her, set his on the coffee table, and sat down on the far end of the couch. He noticed that this was the furthest they had ever sat apart since they had met, except for those first moments in the waiting room.

"I guess I deserve that," Sarah said. Chuck looked perplexed. "You sitting over there-"

Before she could say anything else, he got up and sat right beside her. "Chuck," she said, slightly exasperated, but not at him, that he could tell.

"I'm sorry, Sarah, and I'm not trying to be mean, but you kissed me. Then you ran off. So I was trying to make you comfortable," Chuck explained.

"I know, I know," she said, running a hand through her hair. "For the record, I enjoyed the kiss."

"There were two, you know," Chuck pointed out.

"The first one you didn't seem to enjoy," she countered.

"No, not true… surprised, yes. Shocked you might even say. But unenjoyable? No." Sarah chuckled. "Sarah, it's me, your therapy buddy. What is wrong?"

"You're not my therapy buddy, Chuck." She watched his face fall. "You are my friend. You're the guy I like, you're someone I want to date-"

"Wait, what?" Chuck asked, shaking his head. "I thought last night, the whole night, the intimacy… you just got carried away and embarrassed-"

"You thought I was embarrassed?" Sarah asked him, her voice betraying her disbelief. "Chuck, I am many things. But embarrassed by kissing someone? No. Uncomfortable, maybe, but embarrassed? No."

It was Chuck's turn to laugh. "Then why run?"

"Because I'm a damn mess. You are the first thing good in my life, and I don't want to mess us up," Sarah told him. "And I know, running... that's kinda bad."

"Kinda?"

"Fine, it was a terrible decision."

"So, for the record, the kiss wasn't a bad decision?" Chuck asked her.

"In and of itself, it was a great decision. But the consequences afterwards… well, that's unknown," Sarah admitted.

"I'm here, and I'm going to be here, Sarah." Sarah gave him a sad smile, and started to speak. "Okay, wait, hear me out. Please." She nodded. "Last night, I dated you. I legit dated you. Not because of Beckman, not because of… not because of anything but the fact that for the first time in a long time – hell, maybe ever – I got to go out with someone I really like. And in my ultimate fantasy, I would get to go out with."

"Chuck, I'm a mess," she told him.

"And I'm not? In case you forgot, we literally met at a counselor's office!" Sarah had to laugh at that. "You know what you are? You're human. Now admittedly, a lot cooler, a lot nicer, a lot… a lot of other things more than any other human, but you are. Sarah Walker, you need to cut yourself some slack."

"I do?" Sarah asked. "For the love of God, Chuck, people keep hurting you and you keep putting yourself out there. You try. You legitimately try and make others' lives better. Most guys in your place would be strutting around. But not you. You're humble, you're kind, and," she sighed and took his hand, "you're just about perfect."

"No, Sarah, I'm not perfect," Chuck argued.

"Fine, you're perfect for me," Sarah told him.

"Then don't run." Chuck's eyes went wide as he realized what he said. "You know what, I need to apolo-"

That was as far as he got because she laid a finger on his lips. "You're right," she said softly, nodding. "I need to not run." She giggled at the smile that formed on either side of her finger. "Forgive me?" She pulled her finger away.

"For what? Being human, confused, and in that moment, rushing off to safety?"

"No," Sarah replied. "You don't understand. I didn't run off to safety. You are dangerous where I'm concerned, but you are also safe."

"I really don't understand that," Chuck admitted, making her giggle. "But, if you'd hang around with me for a while, maybe you can explain it to me."

"Okay," she told him. "Now, about Beckman."

"Yeah, about Beckman," Chuck agreed, grinning.

}o{

The two sat on the couch, both looking irritated. "Did the date not go well?" Beckman asked, a glint in her eye.

"Same as always," Sarah replied, her arms crossed, not looking at Chuck. "Oh, he was charming, kind, romantic as always, had me nearly melting, and then…" she shook her head and tailed off.

"And then what?" Beckman asked.

"It's like I don't even know you anymore," Chuck blurted out. Sarah twisted her lips and looked away, trying to hold in the laughter. Luckily, however, Beckman interpreted it as her being upset. "I mean...ugh."

"Wait, what happened?" Beckman asked. "Did something happen at the restaurant?"

"Oh, no," Sarah said. "Everything was fine until we got home and then…" She turned to Chuck, glaring at him. "And then he did it." She turned away again, glaring at the wall. There was silence, for a few seconds.

Beckman was perplexed; she thought these two had been conning her. Now, she wasn't sure what she had stepped into. "What happened?"

"He made an unreasonable request," Sarah said softly.

"An unreasonable request?" Beckman asked. She looked at Chuck. "In what way?"

"Aren't I allowed to make requests in the bedroom?" Chuck asked Beckman. Beckman's eyebrows shot up her forehead so quickly Chuck feared they would fly right off.

"Uh," Beckman was stunned speechless. This man did not seem to be the type…

"Apparently you are," Sarah said as snippety as possible.

"Apparently I'm not," Chuck retorted. "We have to do things your way, or there's hell to pay."

"I really need to know the request," Beckman said, dying with curiosity. "For professional reasons, of course."

"There's no need," Chuck told Beckman. "It's pointless.

"Oh, is that the way it's going to be?" Sarah asked, turning to Chuck, glaring at him. "We have an amazing night, and then the second you don't get your way over… that." Beckman had so many questions at this point. "It's over."

"I need what I need, Sarah, and if you can't appreciate that, then…" Chuck shook his head, sat back on the couch, crossing his leg. He put his elbow on his knee and looked away, his hand covering his mouth trying to hide the smile that was about to break.

"Sarah... what did Chuck ask for?" Beckman tried again.

"He asked…" Sarah blinked, and looked away. She turned back to Beckman, her head held high. "He asked me… if he could open the window."

Beckman sat there, waiting for more. "Why…. what… I'm confused."

"I like to sleep with the window open," Chuck said shrugging.

"And it kills my sinuses," Sarah retorted.

"So you mean it wasn't anything…" Beckman blinked. "It wasn't anything sexual?"

"What?" Sarah asked. "Oh, God, no. I mean, anything he asks for, I'll do." She paused, leaning forward. "Anything."

Beckman was staring at Sarah, stunned, completely missing the similar look on Chuck's face. That was when she lost it, and began to laugh. Beckman watched Sarah fall against Chuck, from laughing so hard, as Chuck began to laugh as well.

"I'm sorry," she said, getting her breath. "I just couldn't…" she began to laugh again.

"I don't understand," Beckman said, looking from one to the other.

"I had to get back at you for what you did to him," Sarah said, wiping tears from her face.

"Back at me?" Beckman asked. "You two tried to con me."

"We did no such thing," Chuck began. "At first... we... we had no idea what was going on." Beckman looked confused. "We both made solo appointments. Your receptionist changed everything." Chuck could see the understanding dawn on Beckman's face. "By the time we figured it out, Sarah and I... we prefer this method, going together, and we both do need help."

"You prefer talking about these things together?" Beckman asked, confused.

"I've connected with him, and…" Sarah paused and looked at him. "And I trust him. Diane, what we just did there, I never would have done that with anyone else."

"With her, my anxiety is not gone, but she reminds me of who I am. Of the good that comes of trusting people, of putting myself out there. Sure, it's still there, but…" Chuck shrugged, and trailed off.

"But now you have someone that reminds you of who you are, and Sarah has someone she trusts," Beckman finished for him. Chuck and Sarah both nodded. "So, are you really a couple?"

"We are," Sarah said, taking Chuck's hand. "We weren't when this started, but now... we are, exclusively."

"I like that," Chuck said, nodding.

Beckman was silent for a moment as she was thinking. "Then I guess you two can still come together," she said after a few moments. "That is, if you both want to. Sarah, I can sign off on your paperwork, so you don't have to anymore."

"I still need to," Chuck said softly. He felt his hand get squeezed, and looked over at Sarah.

"Then we'll do it," Sarah told him.

"I must apologize for a personal matter interfering with your counseling," Beckman began.

"Please don't," Chuck told her. "I'm sorry for whatever you went through that this happened, but I can tell you, coming to counseling has been the best thing for me ever." Sarah smiled at him.

"One question," Beckman said. "The whole request thing... did you think that up off the top of your head?"

Chuck shook his head and giggled. "No, I used to watch a Britcom called As Time Goes By. There was a scene where the two main characters got involved with a newlywed couple after they had a big fight. The newly married husband asked his wife to open the window for some air in the room, as she was lying closest to the window. It was a whole episode of misunderstanding, and people jumping to wild conclusions." Beckman shook her head at Chuck. "So, anything we need to work on?"

"Not today," Beckman said. "I'll see you both next time." She watched the two grin, stand, and head out the door.

"I'm gonna kill Roan," she muttered to herself.

A/N: And so ends our tale. Take care folks see you in other fics.