A/N: Last chapter, Sarah was spiraling, thinking Chuck must hate her for the letter she sent. Let's see how Chuck is really getting on.

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Betaless. Let me know if you spot anything I need to correct.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck or the lyrics I have used. One of my favorite bands, Gang of Four, this time, with their excellent first single plus some lines from their second too.

Chuck – After You

Chapter 10 - Damaged Goods

The change will do you good
I always knew it would
You know the change will do you good
You know the change will do you good

Damaged goods, send 'em back
I can't work, I can't achieve, send me back

Open the till (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Give me the change you said would do me good
Refund the cost (ah, ah, ah, ah)
You said you're cheap, but you're too much

"Damaged Goods"
Gang of Four

Chuck is passed thoughts of suicide. His mom had been watching him 24-hour a day until Casey and Gertrude turned up, then they took 8-hour shifts. For a week!

He had told them, after three days, he didn't feel that way. They didn't believe him, hence the whole week. Probably should have said that to his mom, before Casey arrived, and convinced her. Shaking his head, he ruefully thinks about that. It wouldn't have worked, though. His mom could read him as well as Sarah could. Freakin' spies! No, freakin' female spies. He is sure he could've fooled Casey.

Casey. Oh, boy!

He thinks back to his arrival with Gertrude.

When he saw the big guy, he calls out happily, "Casey!"

"What the hell do you think you are doing, Bartowski?" Casey growls.

"I –"

"You've pissed off Walker and now you're pissing me off!"

Chuck looks down and quietly speaks, "Bartowski."

"What?" Casey barks.

Chuck looks up and says, "She's Sarah Bartowski, not Sarah Walker."

"That's n-" Casey starts, but Gertrude Verbanski places a hand on his arm and he shuts up. With a grunt.

Chuck smiles. "Hi, Gertrude."

"Hi, Chuck," she replies with a slight smile.

Chuck is always amazed. This beautiful woman both runs the most impressive armed company, but also cares for Casey.

He continues talking to her, as that is more pleasant than talking to Casey when he's in one of these moods. "How was the journey here?"

Casey grunts, but Gertrude replies, "Long, hard, but at least we got some sleep."

Casey grunts again.

He's tried to avoid them all, but apparently at least one of them had to be with him all the time.

Verbanski is the best. She just sits quietly, saying nothing, not even looking at him. He knows that isn't really the case, she's aware of his every move, but it does make him feel less self-conscious.

Casey glares, grunts, and sometimes makes comments. Never kind comments. Usually sarcastic comments. Just like the old days. In some ways, that is a good thing. He loved those comments and how they would verbally spar. However, they also remind him of the three of them together and how much he misses Sarah.

His mom is the worst, though. She just stares at him. It feels like she is looking into his skull. Into his brain. Searching for his thoughts. He feels dissected. Cut open and examined.

At least none have tried talking to him about Sarah. Casey obviously wants to, but has probably been told not to be Gertrude. And his mom.

So, he'd focused on coming up with work ideas. Things to distract him. He's come to a conclusion. It would work. It would distract him.

Right now, it is the Mom Shift.

For the first time in days, he turns and looks at her. She raises an eyebrow, but says nothing.

"Mom," he says, nothing more.

She replies the same, "Son."

He almost smiles. She was never much of a talker. Sarah wasn't either. Did the CIA train them that way?

He realizes that he had just stopped talking. "I know what I'm going to do."

"To do?"

"While I wait for Sarah."

She nods her encouragement, obviously wanting him to say more.

"I'm going to start writing games."

Another raised eyebrow.

"Software. Interactive games."

"Have you done that before?"

"I started at Stanford, but… stopped." He didn't want to think about those wasted years.

That eyebrow again.

"It'll distract me from the upset. From the heartbreak," Chuck says defensively.

She nods. "Good."

"Just not here." He now has a determined face, one that brooks no argument.

"Where?"

"I'm going to move to Florida. Away from everyone."

"Hmm."

He feels frustrated. Why can't she just say what she's thinking? "What does 'hmm' mean, Mom."

She shakes herself, but ignores that question and talks as if she had just heard his idea. "It's a good plan."

He wasn't expecting that, so says,. "Really?"

She nods.

"So, you're supporting me?"

Another nod.

He looks at her dubiously. "How?"

"I'll help you move there. Get these two to help as well." Wow! Two sentences.

He frowns. "Will you stay? Keeping an eye on me?"

"No. I just wanted you to have a viable plan. And look like you would follow it."

He sighs.

"I will stay long enough for you to find somewhere to live. To work. I assume you'll work at home?"

"That's the plan. Mom," he says feeling much better.

"Good."

"Thanks, Mom."

She smiles. The first smile he has seen from her for a long time.

He gets up and pulls her up and hugs her. She hugs him back without any hesitation.

"Love you, Mom."

He feels her smile against his chest. "Love you too, Chuck."

He and his mom had flown to Miami, leaving Casey and Gertrude at the Burbank apartment to wait for instructions.

They had spent a couple of days looking at apartments and had found this one. Miami Beach. It was empty and ready for immediate occupation, if the money was available. The realtor thought Chuck would have to get a loan, so was surprise when he said he didn't and could transfer the money immediately.

So, within a week, he'd moved in. Casey had hired a van. Still Chuck smiles at that, Casey and a van! Casey had snapped at Chuck when he said he'd come back to pack, so he had to sit worrying about all the things being handled by Casey and Gertrude, but they had finally arrive and everything was fine.

The only awkward moment was when Casey handed his Tron poster to him. Back to front. Casey didn't say anything, but raised an eyebrow. All his scribblings about the spies in his life in the first couple of years.

Casey and Gertrude had left on the day they helped him move in. His mom had stayed another couple of days. One to help unpack, one to spend time on the beach with him. He'd loved that. Chill out time with his mom. It brings tears to his eyes even now. Happy tears. He had really needed that day. Those happy memories.

Now he is on his own, ready to start his new life.

He looks around his new apartment. The boxes unpacked, but still there, in the corner. His laptop on the desk. His Tron poster on the wall, pride of place. The view of the beach.

It's perfect. This is just what he needs.

He is away from LA. Away from everyone that knows him and will bring back memories. He will spend the rest of his days here.

He'll get settled here, in this apartment that is so new to him. In this place where he currently feels like a tourist. He smiles, thinking of a song he once heard, "At Home He's a Tourist" by Gang of Four.

At home he feels like a tourist
At home he feels like a tourist
He fills his head with culture
He gives himself an ulcer
He fills his head with culture
He gives himself an ulcer

Down on the disco floor
They make their profit
From the things they sell
To help you cob off
All the rubbers you hide
In your top left pocket

Well, no culture, but all the negative thoughts could have caused him an ulcer. The chorus didn't fit; none of that for him, but it was a fun chorus. Maybe he should listen to their other songs for some amusement.

All he has of his old life are possessions. Well, all that he has on show. The photos are all here, but in a box. Hidden. He hasn't deleted photos from his phone, but won't look at those.

He has told Ellie and Morgan to only contact for REAL emergencies.

He knows Casey won't call, so didn't need to tell him.

His mom also would leave him to it, but he has decided to keep in contact with her. He'll call her once a week. So she knows he is alright. She is the best to contact. No questions about difficult things. Sarah. She is also the only one that really understands all this. How he is feeling. Probably how Sarah is feeling too. She will be his sounding board. His lifeline.

While he waits for Sarah.

A/N: I couldn't stay in the house I'm in, if my wife left me. I'd want to get away from all the memories. Looks like he'll be okay now he's moved.

Next chapter, we'll be back with Sarah. She's not doing so well.

Two songs again, both from Gang of Four. Their lyrics were often amusing, but also anti-establishment. Their "I Love a Man in a Uniform" is hilarious, but might not agree with everyone.

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