A/N: So if you've read one or two of my fics, you know how fast I can write. This chapter and the next, they each took over five days to write each, individually. This fic built to this huge point, and I was worried the payoff wouldn't be enough. You all seemed to like it, but then, there had to be consequences. So there were a lot of walks of me thinking, me staring at a page, to get two or three right words. I have been more meticulous than I ever have on one of my own fics (Now Rewrite…well, that last chapter and the next we poured through EVERY WORD) I tell you all of that to say, I know, it's been a minute. Thank you for hanging with me. Story still isn't over. Is it closer? Sure, over…I don't think so. Thank you for being here, for reviewing, supporting, and just cheering me and C3PO on. I'ma gonna shut up now. J2P Ch 38

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck walked across the beach as the surf crashed against it. He didn't say a word as he sat down right beside Stephen. Chuck reached into his jacket pocket, handing him a small chilled bottle of Chardonnay.

"I shouldn't have an open container here, Charles," Stephen said, taking the bottle from Chuck.

"Dad, you've got plenty of other things to worry about," Chuck told him. "A misdemeanor open-container ticket is the least of your worries." Stephen didn't say anything, as he unscrewed the top, and took a drink.

"You know, I don't know why I drink this stuff," Stephen said after a moment of silence. "It's always helped me when I made things."

"Me too," Chuck told his father. The similarities between them were striking… as were the differences. Chuck watched his father, as the older man watched the ocean. "You okay?"

"No," Stephen said, after a few seconds. "And that's my fault." He sat silently, looking down at the sand. Chuck sat there quietly as well, feeling that Stephen had more to say. "I hurt a lot of people, and I was really stupid. Really, really, really stupid."

"Well," Chuck said, feeling his dad give him a look. Chuck couldn't help but grin. "This wasn't one of your top ten moments, Dad, if I'm being honest." Stephen couldn't contain a chuckle. "How can I help?" The offer was sincere, earnest, and it took Stephen completely by surprise.

"Why would you help me?" Stephen asked, honestly.

"Because you're my dad, and I love you," Chuck told him. "I'm not coming back to the company, but if I can help you, I will."

Stephen nodded slowly, replaying in his mind what Chuck had just said. "Do you know anyone who can help with quality control, and shipping, and other logistics?" Stephen asked, making Chuck laugh. "Obviously not you."

"I do," Chuck admitted.

"Who?" Stephen asked, genuinely curious.

"I know of several someones, but one, I won't tell you because she has enough issues with where to work right now. And the other…" Chuck trailed off, shaking his head.

"Morgan," Stephen said softly. "Morgan Grimes."

"Yep," Chuck admitted.

"I need to tell your mother that, and then let her do whatever she wants with it," Stephen said. Chuck looked at his father. Stephen reached down, running his hand through the sand. "I'm stepping down." Stephen picked up a handful of sand, watching it slowly slip between his fingers to the ground.

Chuck didn't know what to say, what to do. "Dad," he began.

"Don't… I need to," Stephen said, cutting him off. "It's… it's what has to happen. I am not a good CEO."

"No, you're not," Chuck said. Stephen shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "What you are is an amazing inventor, that should be working on products." Stephen lifted his head to look at his son. "What you should be doing is not being tied up in paperwork you don't like and that you're not good at and is sapping your energy, when you could be using your creative juices doing other things."

"Yeah," Stephen said, nodding. "I should, and I'm going to."

"I'm sorry," Chuck told him. Stephen looked back over at him, confused. "For all our differences of opinion on so many things, never did I want to see this happen to you. Never did I want to see Teddy betray you this badly."

"You knew," Stephen said. "You had evidence." Chuck nodded. "Can I see it?"

"It's all audio," Chuck told Stephen.

"I want to hear it," Stephen insisted.

"Dad," Chuck began.

"Charles… please."

Chuck blew out a breath. "Three Pee Oh, play it all," Chuck told his assistant.

"Very good, Master Chuck," the voice chirped. "Mr. Bartowski…" the assistant said, sounding very unsure of itself. "I am sorry."

Teddy's voice began.

}o{

"Is that it?" Stephen asked, his voice cracking, sometime later.

"Not quite," Three Pee Oh said. "It appears Master Chuck's friend managed to clone Mr. Roark's phone, and that's how the email was sent."

"I see," Stephen said.

"Dad-"

"Don't worry about it, son," Stephen said, shaking his head, looking absolutely broken. "You had someone actually trying to help you. I had someone trying to shadow-run my company." Stephen looked out over the water. He blew out a breath. "I really screwed this up."

"Dad… I can't say you didn't," Chuck admitted. "But, you didn't do it intentionally, or maliciously . You trusted people – and yeah, it bit you in the end – but I admire that about you, and-and, I like to think maybe that's why I am like I am." Stephen looked at Chuck. "I've been burned trusting people… Jill, Teddy… as well."

"What he did was wrong, son."

"I know, Dad," Chuck replied. "But, if we don't let ourselves love… if we don't let ourselves be vulnerable to people and get to know them, then…"

"Then I end up in a personal castle," Stephen said. "Like the house I moved into." Chuck winced, but nodded. "My biggest mistake was not trusting you."

"Dad, understand what I'm about to say," Chuck began. "I get why. It doesn't mean I approve, or that it didn't hurt, but I get why. That said, it hurt a lot."

"I know, and-and I'm sorry, Charles, it was just… that meant my oldest friend was… well, what he is. And it means I've been an idiot for a long time," Stephen said, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. "And that's a lot for anyone's ego."

"You're not an idiot dad," Chuck disagreed. "But, you were wrong."

"I was," Stephen said. He straightened, looking Chuck in the eye. "I did you wrong, and I am not proud of it. And Sarah… my God, after everything I said, she saved my life."

"She's pretty amazing," Chuck said with a shrug.

"If you remember, I did introduce you to her," Stephen reminded him, grinning.

"You trying to get back into my good graces?" Chuck asked, grinning. Stephen shrugged, grinning as well. "Dad, I love you, and I forgive you, for me. I can't carry a grudge. But you need to know, you did hurt me, and I don't know how long it's going to take for us to get back to where we were."

"We won't," Stephen said. Chuck looked confused. "I treated you wrong, wanted you to do those jobs because of Teddy's influence. And-and we have to find a new place to get to… I'm not very good at this."

"Yes, you are. I understand, and thank you," Chuck told him. He turned, hearing footsteps. "Looks like some people miss us."

"Son, I gave birth to you, I am more than people," Mary said, as she walked up to Chuck and Stephen.

"I'm not gonna say what all I've done in front of your parents," Sarah added, making everyone laugh.

"Sarah," Stephen said, after everyone sobered. "I owe you an apology that I don't know if you can ever accept." Stephen looked down at the ground, let out a rough breath and looked Sarah in the eye. She was giving him a kind smile. "We are so lucky to have you in our life, in Charles's life, and I don't know if I'd be alive without you."

Mary squeezed Stephen's arm, a proud look on her face. "I'm sorry, Mary," he said, shaking his head.

"I love you, you big goof," Mary told him.

"I love you," he told her. "I am resigning as CEO… any chance you need someone to invent things?"

"Well, there would be a strenuous interview," Mary said, grinning at him.

"What?" Stephen asked.

"Is my mom saying what I think she's saying?" Chuck asked Sarah in a low voice. Sarah snickered, nodding. Chuck shivered.

"OH!" Stephen said, as it hit him. He looked at Chuck, who shut his eyes and shook his head. "Perhaps, we should discuss this someplace else."

"Perhaps," Mary said, grinning at him. "Chuck, Sarah, if you two could come by the company tomorrow, I think I could use your help."

"It would be my honor," Sarah told Mary. "Burton Consultants always honors their contract." Sarah turned to Chuck, grinning.

"I'm not part of Burton Consultants," Chuck said with a shrug.

"Think I could work out a freelance contract with you, Mr. Bartowski?" Sarah asked him.

"I drive a hard bargain," Chuck told her.

"I'm holding a cookout for the whole company, and you and all your friends that were there tonight are invited," Mary told him. "If that helps."

"Sold," Chuck told Mary.

"Hard bargain my ass," Sarah muttered.

"Not in front of my parents," Chuck told her, making her mouth drop. She swatted him.

"You should hit him again, for that one," Mary told Sarah.

"Hey!" Chuck protested.

"Don't screw this up, Chuck. I like her," Mary admonished him.

"Well, I love her, so nyeh," he said, sticking his tongue out at his mom. She reached out and grabbed his tongue. He tried to yell, but couldn't.

"I am lovable," Sarah said with a shrug. "We will see you tomorrow." Mary let go of Chuck's tongue, wiping her hand on his shirt.

"I do need your help, Chuck," Mary told him.

"Okay, I'm there," he said. He began to move his tongue around. "Nice reflexes."

Mary shook her head, said goodnight, and the older couple started toward their vehicle.

"Guess you're riding with me," Chuck said to Sarah. She gave him a look. "I'm riding with you?"

She just smiled, spun on her heel, and headed toward the vehicle.

}o{

"I know what you're doing," Chuck told her, as she drove silently. "You're over there psychoanalyzing me. Well, the jokes on you… I've been psycho my whole life."

Sarah didn't say anything. She just gave him a warm smile, and continued driving. Chuck sat there, trying to be comfortable in the silence, but his mind kept playing back the past few hours, days, and months, of what all had happened between him and his father.

"Yeah, it was a lot, but we came through it, you know? My family is going to be okay. Mom and Dad will figure it out, they always have." Sarah nodded, listening as she drove.

Chuck was silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was much softer. "As you get older, you realize that your parents are not perfect. Not that mine ever tried to make me think they were, but I just thought they were being modest, you know?" Sarah gave a slight nod, but still said nothing. "And now…." He trailed off, shook his head, and looked out the window. "I saw him as human, and I have been." He was silent a second. "And-and while I don't know that I ever saw my dad as perfect, I've seen him flawed, at his absolute worst and…" He blew out a rough breath. "Sarah, he's just as human as I am."

"He is," Sarah agreed. She reached over and took his hand as they drove on, in silence, toward home.

}o{

Chuck sat in a chair at the table, his hands clasped between his knees. He hunched over, his elbows on his knees. Staring straight ahead, his eyes focused on absolutely nothing, his mind playing through everything that had happened. Sarah walked out of the bathroom, freshly showered, putting lotion on her arms as she peered into the bedroom, then padded into the living room to find him sitting there.

A sad smile graced her face. She knew he was doing his processing, dealing with everything, but she still wanted to comfort him and take the pain away. Sadly, there was no way for her to do that. She could, however, let him know she was there. She walked over, and gently put her hands on the outside of his shoulders, giving him a gentle squeeze.

"Wanna talk about it?" she asked.

"What's there to say?" he replied, sitting back a bit and straightening. She put her cheek to the side of his head, feeling his curls against her skin. "We both knew this was coming… not that bad, but we knew."

"Chuck, your dad just gave up his company. Part of you has to be thinking about whether you should return," Sarah said, placing a kiss on the side of his head after she spoke. "And before you ask, it's your decision as to what you do."

"I moved on, I was happy… am happy," Chuck began.

"But your sense of right and wrong, who you are, what makes you Chuck… it's asking you, it's saying to you, you should go back and help," Sarah said.

"So you think I should?" he asked, turning to her.

"Let me be very clear: I have no opinion on this. I was just voicing your inner thoughts," Sarah replied.

"You voicing my inner thoughts sounds so much better than me voicing my inner thoughts," Chuck muttered. "Let's be real… I could listen to you voice my inner thoughts all day long."

"I could read the phone book all day long, and you'd listen," she said, grinning at him. She placed a kiss in his curls. "I'm here. To bounce whatever thought, to listen, whatever you need."

"This is an us decision, Sarah," Chuck said. Sarah pulled away a bit. He turned to her. "I'm sorry, was I overstepping?"

"No, it's just… we're dating, Chuck, not married," she told him.

"We're more than dating and you know it," he replied.

"Oh, I know. I just wanted to make sure you knew," she said, grinning. "But at the end of the day, this decision is very simple. What would make you happy?"

"It wouldn't be the way it was, with mom in charge," Chuck began.

"It wouldn't," Sarah agreed.

"But I feel like we're building something, together. And while we don't actually work together…" he trailed off.

"We do work together," Sarah said, hugging him from behind. "Now, I wouldn't like you not being on trips with me, but maybe I don't-"

"Whoa, you aren't going to turn down trips because of me," Chuck began.

"Whoa yourself," she replied. "I will turn down trips because of you if I damn well want to." Chuck's eyes widened. "What are you not understanding, Chuck Bartowski?"

"I'm not understanding how if it makes me happy to go back, that you should not go on trips, making you unhappy."

"Maybe it makes me happy when you're around, you nerd," Sarah told him.

"Why do I think I cannot win this discussion?"

"There is no winning," Sarah explained.

"Yet… you are winning." Sarah shrugged and grinned. "Why do I think I've been talking to two different people: Dr. Sarah Walker, and my girlfriend Sarah Walker?"

She grinned at him, leaned close, and spoke softly into his ear. "Your girlfriend is Doctor Sarah Walker."

"Good God," he nearly choked.

"However, sometimes I choose to ignore what the trained professional part of me wants to do, and do what makes the girlfriend part of me happy," Sarah continued.

"Would it make them both happy if we kept working together?" Chuck asked.

"Only if he weren't upset by not returning," Sarah told him. Chuck quickly stood and spun, making her squeak in surprise. He pulled her into a kiss. "What was that for?"

"Because I love you," Chuck said. "Because we are going to do this together."

"I love you, Chuck Bartowski," she told him. "Would you like to come to bed and me comfort your curls?"

"I thought my curls comforted you," Chuck pointed out.

"Fine," Sarah said, sighing dramatically. "Cuddling?"

"Naked cuddling?" Chuck countered.

She grinned and winked at him. "I thought that was implied?"

"I'm so sorry. I'll have to do better remembering that," Chuck told her.

"Reinforcement is proven to be the best way," Sarah said, taking his hand and slowly leading him to the bedroom. "You don't mind if I… lead, do you?"

"You're the doctor," he said hoarsely, following her.

"Don't worry, I'll be gentle," she said. She pulled him to the bedroom and shutting the door behind him.

A/N: Now what? You're still here? Oh, you want a preview…fine….

"Don't worry, he doesn't eat hair." Sarah nodded, looking a bit more comfortable. "Anymore," Chuck added in a low tone. Sarah looked at him as he shrugged and started walking toward the nerd herd desk.

"Anymore? What the hell do you mean anymore?" Sarah was following behind him. "Chuck?"

"You know the human stomach can't digest hair, right?" Sarah glanced over at Jeff and then back to Chuck. "Well, now Jeff does too, and he can remember it."

Oh my. Looks like a field trip to the Buy More, but whatever for? Come back next time and find out. Stay safe my friends. Take care.