A/N I've been really lax this week, deciding I wanted to read the latest updates from SC, DC, JWatkins & Zettel. If you haven't read their latest work, take a gander, I'll wait.

A/N2 Ok you're back, thanks for stopping by. The usual applies, I don't own Chuck yada, yada. No beta involved, mistakes are all mine. Also, WOW for the positivity this has generated, your reviews have been so encouraging.

Chapter 4.

Chuck looked down at their joined hands, "So, what do you feel like?"

Sarah gave him a warm smile, I feel like running my hand through your curls, pointing to the right of the pier entrance "I know a nice place just down that way."

"Well, lead on." He mimicked her gesture with a flourish, causing Sarah to chuckle. "So what's it called?"

"Well, the place is called Ivy at the Shore, they serve wonderful Cajun food. I've eaten there for years, I actually worked in the kitchen my final summer of college. Ok, back then it was an amazing Mom 'n' Pop Mexican place called El Compadre…" Sarah took on a more sombre tone as she looked up at the moon rising over the ocean for a moment, fighting back a tightness in her throat "…the owners Mike and Bolonia were a great couple, Mike made the most amazing Horchata. Bolonia, his wife, was THE Carne Asada Queen."

"Are you ok?" Chuck asked, tightening his grip on her fingers reassuringly.

Looking deeply into his caramel eyes "Yeah, I'm fine. I just hadn't realised until now how much I miss them. You'll actually be the first person I've ever brought here on a date… I think they'd have liked you." Offering her hand to him again during the candid exchange.

"Well, I'm honoured…" Chuck took her hand reassuringly, giving her an encouraging smile "You know, Bolonia is Morgan's moms name too…"

"Yeah?" she muttered, returning his smile.

The couple talked comfortably as they walked the three blocks from the pier to the restaurant, its sounds fading into the distance as they nurtured the newfound tenderness. Sarah reminisced about the elderly couple, telling anecdotes about her time there, Mike's obsession with Subway of all things, and Bolonia's intense love for her sons. Chuck found himself conflicted, wanting to place his arm around her shoulders comfortingly as they walked, but afraid that any increased contact would derail any control he had over his growing feelings for this amazing woman. Tenderly stroking his thumb across the back of her hand as they walked, he tried through sheer force of will to offer that comfort, focussing on the small circles he drew across her knuckles as he tried to surround her with a bubble formed from the strength of his emotions.

"Hi Sarah" came the cheery voice of a pretty blonde waitress as the door closed behind the couple, thankfully cutting off the wind that had followed them in as they entered.

"Oh hey Amy, what's good today?" Sarah gave the pretty blonde waitress a nod.

"Everything…" the blonde cheekily replied, eyeing up the tall, curly haired nerd with a wide grin.

Rolling her eyes at the shorter woman, "Amy, this is my friend Chuck"

The petite blonde gave Chuck an appraising glance, fixed him with a broad smile and winked. "Hi… I didn't see your name on the list tonight. Your usual tables' busy right now, but we've got one near the window if that's ok?"

"Yeah that's great." Sarah chirped as the perky blonde led the couple through the restaurant, past a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower and seated them in front of a large portrait of a tall ship, its sails taut in the wind.

Passing the couple some menus, Amy gave them both a wink and a smile "I'll give you a few minutes to decide what you want, can I get you any drinks?" she stood back for a moment, waiting with a subtle grin.

Sarah gave him an amused look, deep into Chuck's brown eyes and asked "Do you trust me Chuck? I need you to trust me right now."

Chuck eyed her almost warily for a moment before breaking into a warm grin, "Yeah…"

Gesturing for Amy to write down their order "Ok, can you get him a Vieux Carre, and I'll have a White Russian." Sarah winked at Chuck, smiling broadly as the waitress nodded and made a quiet exit, leaving the couple making small talk as Sarah pointed out some of the subtle remnants the current owners had left in place from the restaurants earlier decor.

A few minutes later Amy reappeared, placing their drinks down as they decided the evening's fare. After taking their food order Amy walked away, giving Sarah another approving nod as she left.

"…You know what? I feel that I've been talking about myself all day, I wanna know about you." she looked through her lashes sweetly.

Deciding that he was OK with having Sarah see the real Chuck Bartowski he leaned back and opened his arms invitingly. "What would you like to know? I mean you know where I work already, so that's covered. I've lived in Cali my entire life, most of it in Echo Park, right here in L.A. I went to UCLA, studied TV journalism, I have no pets and I'm a Virgo." He shrugged at the end, deciding to leave out the upsetting period at Stanford. Chuck's smile grew as he realised for the first time in years he wanted someone, more specifically HER, to see beyond the usual Facebook profile version of himself. Even the thought of bearing his soul to another person had terrified him after the betrayal he'd suffered in Palo Alto, but he felt an honesty in their interactions and the purity of that thought astonished him.

"Wow, that's a lot to unpack… So, first of all, living in L.A. most of your life must've been nice." Sarah took a sip of her drink, letting the vodka wash away the final remnants of the ocean chill.

"Yeah, it's a pretty cool place, I mean I had my sister Ellie, and Morgan's been by my side for years. I like to think he's an unofficial Bartowski. Ellie always says he's more like a stray that just keeps turning up, for years she called my window his 'Morgan door, like a cat-flap just for him.'" Sarah gave him a sympathetic smile, an amused glint in her eye "…When I lived with her and Awesome…" Sarah placed her hand on top of his, interrupting him as she chuckled.

"Excuse me? But what's an 'Awesome'?" Sarah eyed him quizzically.

"Sorry, that's the nickname Morgan gave Ellie's boyfriend Devon years ago, it just kinda stuck. He really is an impressive guy, just started his residency as a cardiothoracic surgeon. Everything he does is 'Awesome', surfing, rock climbing, flossing…" her smile beamed at his childlike enthusiasm.

"Well, that's quite a resume." She gave a one note laugh as he nodded back, wiggling his brow a little.

"Just wait 'til you meet him…you'll understand." he quickly cut himself off as he realised that he'd basically just assumed she would want to meet his family. He'd have to get a second date before even thinking of going down that road. Covering his prospective mistake by clearing his throat and taking a sip of his drink, wincing a little at the strong liquor. "You know, this is amazing…What did you call it?" he eyed the liquid eagerly, before taking another sip as she gazed deeply into his eyes. "Ssmoooootthhh!" he choked out as he caught a glimpse of her licking a droplet of her own drink from her lips.

"It's a Vieux Carre, a Cajun cocktail that this place is kinda famous for… There's rye whiskey, cognac, and vermouth in there." She tapped the side of his glass gently.

"Why Miss Walker, are you trying to get me drunk? I mean… I don't think I should be driving after all that..." Chuck dropped into an effortless Texan twang as he eyed the liquid briefly and then lidded his eyes suggestively.

"It's ok, we can grab an Uber." Sarah's eyes widened this time as she accidentally let slip that she'd just thought about going back to his place, letting out a relieved breath as he still chuckled to himself, oblivious. Deciding to change the subject she quickly cut in "What made you want to be a journalist anyway?"

"Well that's a long story…" Chuck offered, shrugging a little and giving her a wicked smile.

"I've got nowhere to be? You?" Sarah openly stared at his crooked smile, the way it subtly crinkled his nose and seemed to confirm the unmitigated joy he felt at her rapid reply. Their imperceptible connection taking on a new, almost tangible manifestation as they locked eyes unceasingly.

Seeing the way she seemed to be studying every pore of his face, his confidence grew "…definitely not. Well, to be honest, I've always been curious about people. I want to know what makes them tick, see the world through their eyes. If I can tell their stories… help in some way, I want to…" Chuck began to tremble with excitement at his declaration.

"That's admirable." And cute. "…but how do you go from all that, to interviewing people like me?"

"What? Talking to a brilliant, beautiful businesswoman was definitely the highlight of my week. There's a hell of a story there too. You've told me things today that have opened my eyes to Sarah Walker, the person, instead of Sarah Walker, the figurehead of a culinary revolution. And I'm so glad you did…"

"That's sweet Chuck, but I'd really like you to keep that stuff between us, what I mean is, I'd prefer to keep my memories of things like this place private. Only my closest friends have even a passing knowledge of Mike and Bolonia, how much they meant to me… and now of course you know too…" Sarah ran a finger along the back of his hand, offering him a serene smile "So, you were saying…"

Chuck accepted the mild rebuke with a crooked smile "…anyway, an old friend of my dad's found out I'd applied to work for one of his TV stations, and offered me a job. I didn't want to get handed anything just because of my dad so I've been working my way up from the bottom. I have a confession… I'm barely above the guys in the mail room. I usually just keep the station's website updated." He shrugged, tilting his glass and taking another sip. "…you were my first REAL interview, I know your story will be one that lots of people will be interested in. I mean you just appeared out of nowhere a couple of years ago and now you're taking on the big boys in your industry." Chuck sounded so proud of her in that moment. "I've got to admit I was so nervous when you walked in. I know my boss will be more than happy with what Morgan filmed at the Kingdom earlier…I mean the camera loves you. You're a natural."

"My boss calls me every month to see how I am, every time asking if I want his help. Every month I give the same answer, he says it's the least he can do for the great Stephen Bartowski's son, that he owes my dad. He always calls my dad his 'frat brat'" Chuck looked away for a moment, a subtle shift of posture hinting at some obviously strong emotions.

Noticing Sarah's look of concern he found himself feeling the need to explain further but the blonde's comforting tone cut in. "Frat brother, that's nice of him." Sarah gave him a sweet, almost sympathetic smile.

Eyeing her curiously, "…you understood that? The brother thing? I always took it literally, I thought he meant that Dad was like the frat's naughty kid. It took me a long time to realise he was speaking a different language."

"I do speak Russian… Kak pazhivayesh? ...and by the way, I just asked how you were?" she flipped between the languages effortlessly, using a confident tone that made it sound like it was nothing.

"I'm a little shocked to be honest, just when I think I've worked you out, you just go and BOOM" he made an explosive gesture with both hands beside his head. "Mind blown… I actually knew that phrase though, it kinda slipped out of Alexei's mouth when he found out about my Dad leaving us."

"Alexei?" Sarah gave him a curious look, missing the subtle change in his tone.

"Yeah, Alexei Volkoff. My boss…" Chuck raised his glass to his lips.

"This is crazy, I know someone with the same name. It's not exactly common, even in a town as big as this. You think it's the same guy? Let's see… Late 50's, charming British accent, greying hair, rich as hell." Chuck nodded as she listed each trait, his smile growing again.

"Sounds like him…" he chuckled at her description "He's not really Russian you know, when he moved here from England just before college he got so sick of people mocking his name that he changed it. I mean kids are cruel, and having the name Hartley around here definitely put a huge target on his back. He thought Volkoff made him sound tough, like some Russian mafia boss." Chuck's beaming smile came back as she sat their laughing at the impossible odds of meeting someone who apparently knew Alexei Volkoff better than she did, and wondering why Alexei had never mentioned Chuck.

"You know he's the reason I drink these." Sarah tapped the edge of her glass, giving him a toothy smile.

Chuck snorted a little, "I get it… A white Russian."

"Well, every time I've seen him he's got one nearby… and they taste so good." Sarah offered, before chuckling herself as their food arrived.

They ate slowly, thoroughly enjoying the subtle heat of the wonderful Cajun soft shell crab as it added a new physical aspect to the warm comfort that suffused their conversation. After their delightful main course, Chuck called Amy over and ordered himself a beer and bought Sarah a nice bottled cider. Taking turns, they each talked about their plans for the following day, a domesticity that felt so natural to them already.

As much as they both wanted to escalate the evening's more physical undertone to its natural conclusion, they realised a deeper connection had been formed between them, a mutual understanding of their attraction and the knowledge that each wanted to have that second date and explore those possibilities, soon.

Stepping out of the restaurant a few minutes later they were greeted by the return of a now freezing ocean wind. Chuck leaned in to wrap a comforting arm around her shoulder, holding back the chilly air with his tall frame, secure in the thought that she would be OK with it now. As Chuck's Uber arrived, he looked deeply into her eyes and muttered something under his breath. Sarah leaned in close, no longer denying herself a glimpse at their physical connection, hugged him tightly and whispered "Chuck, shut up and kiss me…" With an awestruck grin he pressed his lips to hers.

A visibly happy Sarah bounced into her office around lunchtime the following day, taking a few Post-Its from her assistant as she passed, sitting at her desk with a faraway expression. After a few minutes, she pressed the button on her telephone distractedly. "Can you get me Carina?" she chirped into the microphone.

"Ok boss." Came her assistant's cheery voice.

Switching on her laptop, she checked her email, and glanced at the company socials. Carina had come into her life a few months after Jack had dragged her from Chicago to a new school in San Diego. The redhead's open, playful nature soon drawing out Sarah's hidden funnier side, becoming something akin to sisters. Jack had disappeared for a number of weeks not long after her fifteenth birthday, Carina's family taking in the frightened teenager.

The bond they'd formed let Sarah open up to someone, finally admitting her father's sins to the tall redhead in the endless hours talking to Carina after school. It had been Carina's original idea to try and find Sarah's mother, Emma. Something that had terrified the girl at first, unable to reconcile the lies Jack had told her, with the woman she hoped Emma was.

When she'd finally decided to attempt a reconciliation with her mother, Jack's stream of lies turned swiftly into an ocean of despair and anger. Finding proof of her father's lies, and of Emma's recent death. That had been the final straw, a reckoning with Jack inevitable. When she'd confronted him, they'd argued for the only time she could recall. Not even trying to justify himself, he span another web of lies, before simply walking away, leaving her alone in the world. Once again Carina came to the rescue, her family offering a home until the girls both went off to college.

Moments later the intercom on the large oak desk buzzed, pressing the button quickly as she sat dreamily with an amused grin on her face.

"Hey Blondie, what's up?" Sarah smile grew as she heard the light, cheery voice of her oldest friend.

"Just checking in Red… What the hell is that I can hear? Is that dub-step?" Sarah cringed a little.

"Yeah it is…" Sarah could hear the disgust in Carina's voice "…the DJ keeps shouting that he's bringing this crap back. Something about a movie… pool something or other. I don't really care. I won't be here long. Everything else about Miami is HOT. The weather, the guys, ME, did I mention the guys?"

"Yeah" Sarah muttered "you did… So how many have tried to whisk you away on their yachts?"

"Only two so far, I must be losing my touch." Carina let out a one syllable laugh "who am I kidding? I'm never gonna lose that. I mean, you know me…" Sarah could hear Carina's smirk through the line.

"I do" she rolled her eyes at the redhead's bluster, Sarah chirped "So what did Miami do to deserve the Carina show?"

"I just HAD to get out of San Fran for a few days, it's almost impossible to find a good party there these days. L.A.'s even worse, such a cultural porta-potty." Carina sounded frustrated with her choices.

"But we've got In N' Out burger." Sarah offered sarcastically.

"Wow, someone's in a good mood." Carina smirked at the humour in her friends' voice.

"Why shouldn't I be?" the blonde huffed dismissively.

"There's a guy, isn't there? Did someone finally butter that muffin?" the redhead declared proudly.

"Maybe… and NO." Sarah shook her head in frustration, feeling silly that the outward gesture was lost on her oldest friend.

Carina's voice took on a sarcastic edge "You know Zondra and I talk right? She told me you were totally cuckoo for this nerdy guy who came to the Kingdom yesterday." Sarah rolled her eyes, feeling her friend's smugness emanating through the handset. "She called me right after you left. I was gonna call last night but I hoped you were otherwise occupied…" Sarah snorted again. "What did Zondra say he was called?" Carina racked her brain for a moment "Charlie, or was it Chuckie?" the redhead deliberately messed up his name. She'd used this tactic before with Sarah, if she liked the guy then she'd be corrected by the blonde.

"It's Chuck" Sarah gently chastised the redhead, finishing with a dreamy sigh. Carina had her answer, Sarah liked this guy. The blonde huffed a little, "I like him OK, We've only been on one date and I can't stop thinking about him. I don't know if Chuck feels the same, but..." she trailed off, frustrated.

"From what Zondra said about the way he looked at you, he probably wants to feel more than your butt…" Carina added suggestively, drawing a snort from the blonde.

"Listen, he's a nice guy, we both know how rare that is, especially in L.A." Sarah blew out her frustration. "Please don't go all Carina and scare him off" she huffed at the end.

"Hey, what do you mean by "Go all Carina?" the redhead challenged.

"Don't strut into town, see if he'll jump your bones, just to see if he's worthy. Come on Red, we've both seen you around men. I mean, how many non-yacht guys have YOU hit on at that party tonight?" Sarah continued.

"Fair point. So Chuckie boys obviously got YOUR juices flowing" Carina added with a hint of amusement.

"Carina" Sarah groaned at her friend's crass observation, suddenly defensive.

The redhead's attention had obviously gone elsewhere for a moment "Hey there, John is it?" the redhead's sultry tone was drowned out as another loud cheer drowned out the man's quick reply.

"You're still using that line? What is it about you and guys called John?" Sarah's earlier sarcasm returned.

"What? It's a nice name…" the redhead replied a little too defensively.

"Yeah, it is but you do realise what sleeping with a constant line of guys called John makes you sound like?" Sarah used a mixture of sarcasm and sincerity.

"Did you just low key compare me to a hooker?" the redhead sounded genuinely offended for a moment before snorting a little in amusement.

"If the Jimmy Choo's fit." Sarah snorted again "…at least change it up a bit".

"So where did he take you?" the redhead ignored Sarah's plea, her curiosity piqued about the tall nerd.

"Well, he was already over at the pier so, I actually took him to Ivy."

"Wow, you must REALLY like this guy?" Carina sounded amazed, her concern hidden within their constant banter.

"Yeah I do." Sarah finally admitted. "…nothing happened though, we just had a couple drinks and a really nice meal. Chuck laughed so hard when he bought me a Woodchuck Winter Chill Cider."

"Bet that wasn't the only wood Chuck wanted you to warm though." Carina added as she began to laugh uproariously. "I'm going to have to go, this place is suddenly a target rich environment…" the redhead added, suddenly drowned out by background noises "…I'll be in town next weekend. We're going for drinks. And by WE, I mean you, me, Zondra, and Chuckie. NO EXCUSES. Now give Chuckie boy a call." The redhead ignored Sarah's repeated attempts to correct his name again. Carina's voice momentarily took on an unusually stern tone "I've gotta meet the guy who's got you so twisted around…"

Sarah shook her head at Carina's aside but knew a smile was plastered across her face, finding herself looking forward to spending a couple of days with the redhead. Despite her current irritation, time with Carina was fun, often frustrating, but always fun. Not waiting for a response, Carina ended the call.

A/N Can any of you guess the song that inspired some of this chapter. Its ok, I'll wait. Hope you're still with me. Please R&R etc. Thanks for reading.