A/N: What an amazing community! You continue to amaze me with your positivity and energy…Thank you for your enthusiastic reviews.

As mentioned in the last chapter A/N's, Chapter 8 will be released in a few days, before we return to a more normal weekly schedule.

As you know by now, the story has a "T" rating for some language and adult themes, but nothing explicit or graphic. If you are offended by content, you are welcome to change the channel and read something else.

Special thanks to Nevr, whose contributions make me and my story better. Thank you Nevr!

If you like Chapter 7, please take a moment to Review, Follow, and/or Favorite….I love reading how the story impacted you, and I appreciate the opportunity to engage with you.

I don't own Chuck or make any money from writing this story, but I believe Langston Graham identified the owner and put him in a bunker...nobody knows where...

Chapter 7 – When Lightning Strikes:

Wednesday 30 November 2011 – 19:30 Eastern Standard Time
Fort Meade, Maryland – NSA HQ

Sarah and Carina had both received encrypted email messages from Mary Larson, advising them to report to General Beckman's office for their first formal assignment for the NSA. Aside from getting their assess chewed off by Beckman for trying to figure out who the secret VIP was, they had been enjoying the analysis work they had been doing with John Walden, continuing to identify and map potential resources or assets for future use, and had built a very comprehensive reference guide outlining specific people and their core competencies, locations, and profiles, but finally getting THE assignment they had been waiting for…..directly from Beckman was something worth celebrating. They had decided before leaving work to go out for drinks and dinner that evening to celebrate, even though it was a Wednesday. Carina wanted to head to her usual haunt in Georgetown, but Sarah read some great reviews for a new crab shack in Baltimore harbor. The reviews said the place had great ambiance, excellent food, and a lively bar scene. And Wednesday was ladies' night with 2 for 1 bar drinks and a fixed price crab dinner. They decided to flip a coin, and as fate would have it, this evening, they were heading to Baltimore for some drinks, some crab, and whatever else the evening might throw their way.

= ! =

Wednesday 30 November 2011 – 19:30 Eastern Standard Time
Linthicum Heights, Maryland –Bartowski Residence

After the calls with Morgan and the Beckman, Chuck decided he needed to get away from his work to clear his head and get some food. He went online, looking over reviews to help him find a nearby place for dinner. 'This one looks good,' he thought. 'On the water, interesting menu, a lively bar and its ladies night….why not.' He dressed in dark jeans, a fitted white button-down, a long black wool coat to ward off the November chill, and a pair of black loafers. He was here on business as a government contractor, so his Chuck Taylor All-Stars and quirky t-shirts were best left at home in California. He grabbed two phones, his wallet, and the keys to the Porsche and made his way to the harbor.

XXX

Sarah and Carina arrived and checked in with the hostess. There were no tables immediately available, but the wait was only expected to be about 20 minutes, so Carina left the name "Red" with the hostess, and the partners made their way to the bar with virtually every pair of eyes in the place on them as they moved. At the exact moment, Chuck was sitting alone at the bar, deep in thought and nursing his beer while waiting for his table to be ready. He completely missed the two stunning women standing just behind him.

Carina leaned into Sarah and asked her to order a slippery nipple shot and a beer chaser. She didn't really want the slippery nipple but thought it was hilarious to have Sarah order one, so she giggled and went in search of the ladies' room. Meanwhile, Sarah slid up to the bar, squeezing in next to Chuck Bartowski, instantly getting the bartender's attention, who rushed over to engage the blond beauty. The first thing that stirred Chuck out of his deep thought was the scent of vanilla and wildflowers. It was fresh, light, clean, and beautiful. He closed his eyes, inhaling slowly, concentrating on the fragrance when he heard the woman next to him ordering a drink that made his eyes snap open, and his head turn to his left. "I'd like a chardonnay, a blue moon, and please give me a slippery nipple," Sarah said, completely missing Carina's joke. As she started fishing for her wallet, she smelled something clean and fresh…sandalwood maybe. She closed her eyes and turned her head to the right, following her nose and inhaling deeply. She stopped turning and opened her eyes with a small smile on her face. Sarah was staring into the biggest, most soulful eyes she had ever seen. They were a deep, warm brown color, with tiny flecks of gold, and she was frozen. At the same time, Chuck found himself staring into the bluest eyes he had ever seen. Eyes that sparkled with energy, intelligence, and liveliness which took his breath away. Chuck was utterly paralyzed. Neither moved nor spoke while all around them the world just disappeared, leaving the two strangers alone in the crowd, lost in each other's eyes.

"Blondie…BLONDIE!...HELLO!" Carina laughed at her smitten partner. "Wanna introduce me to your very handsome friend here?" Sarah's brain had again decided to go bye-bye, and the butterflies fluttering in her stomach were not helping.

"Earth to Blondie," Carina laughed out loud, enjoying her partner's predicament.

Somehow Chuck managed to connect his brain to his mouth first and broke into a huge smile that made the flecks of gold in his eyes sparkle, further mesmerizing Sarah.

"Uh…hi…hi," Chuck stuttered without breaking eye contact with Sarah. "I'm Chuck….nice to meet you."

At this point, Carina gave Sarah a little hip check, hoping it was enough to get her to at least say hello, but it was not looking too good, so she decided to take more direct action. Carina leaned, pushed her face right up in front of his, and said, "Hi. I'm Carina. Nice to meet you, curls…..my befuddled friend here is Sarah, and I would really appreciate it if you stopped staring at her as I'm worried her ovaries might explode…."

That did it as Sarah snapped out of her stupor, flashing daggers at her red-headed partner, who was suddenly on the verge of tears because of how hard she was laughing.

"I'm sorry, Chuck….I'm not sure where my mind or manners went for a moment there….my name is Sarah, and regrettably, you have met my friend Carina," she said with a warm smile. The two were about to fall back into their little private world when the hostess approached, tapping Chuck on the shoulder.

"Chuck…table for one? Your table is ready, sir. Would you follow me please?" smiled the young hostess.

"Excuse me. How much longer for our table? It's under Red," Carina interrupted.

"I'll check and come back in a minute. Sir…this way, please."

"Uh…sorry miss, but is there room at my table for these two ladies to join me?" Chuck asked without moving his eyes from Sarah…..then he had a moment of panic. "Oh my God…I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be presumptuous. I mean, I should have asked you first, but I thought you might not mind sharing a table with me instead of waiting. I would be delighted to have you join me, if that is ok."

Carina smiled and said, "We don't want to impose on your…."

"Yes, please!… I mean, that would be wonderful…..Uhm…..I mean very kind of you, thank you," said Sarah, cutting her off.

"And there it is," Carina smiled. Then, turning to the hostess, "Can the table accommodate the three of us?"

"Of course," the hostess replied, "let me add two place settings. Just give me a moment."

The hostess returned and invited the trio to follow her to their table. Sarah and Chuck took seats across from each other, leaving Carina to sit between them. A moment later, Josh introduced himself as their server and explained the evening's specials and recommendations as they took their seats. Chuck ordered medium-priced California Chardonnay from a well-known vineyard with approval from his two dinner mates.

"Excellent choice, sir. I'll be back with your wine and to take your order in just a moment." Josh smiled before heading off to the kitchen. Moments later, the wine arrived and was poured, and all three ordered the crab dinner special.

If anyone cared to notice, the conversation at dinner was decidedly awkward. None of the three were in a position to talk much about what they actually did. So when asked, Chuck explained that he was an IT guy based in the LA area, in town, to meet some clients. He expected to be here for just a couple of days, but he came back so regularly he had a small apartment and car that his company paid for. Sarah and Carina said they worked as consultants and were doing some work for the Government, again, without being very specific about anything. Still, the conversation had nothing to do with what was happening at the table.

Chuck and Sarah sitting across from each other meant that the conversation frequently just died while they stared into each other's eyes, creating an intimate table for two. Carina sat quietly watching the two and feeling a particularly warm spot for her friend and partner, who seemed to be getting completely lost in the tall and dark stranger hosting their dinner. In the time the two women worked together and became friends, Carina learned a few things about Sarah and her historical resistance to developing any sort of relationship with members of the opposite sex, immersing herself in her pursuit of academics, sports, or career. Carina believed Sarah was probably lonely deep down inside. Still, the mask she wore fashioned out of focus and discipline always managed to suppress the desire to open herself to any form of intimacy. Carina then looked at Chuck with his inviting eyes, warm smile, and total focus on her friend and partner. He really seemed to be a kind and gentle man that exuded a quiet warmth that just drew in everyone around him. Maybe Chuck was the one…..the one who could break through the walls that Sarah had built around herself. She giggled at the thought of whether poor Chuck could actually survive Sarah if he managed to awaken and unleash her dormant passion. And to be honest, the dinner itself did not help. The crab was delicious, and both were eating with their hands, butter dripping off their fingers and down their chins. They sucked the meat out of the legs while staring into each other's eyes, and it took very little to imagine what the two were thinking while eating. Carina laughed…..this was fun!

Chuck himself was wholly captivated. Sarah was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but it was more than just her looks. The moment their eyes locked, Chuck really couldn't see anything else around him. He just lost himself in the bluest eyes he had ever seen, eyes brimming with life energy, intelligence, and kindness. They revealed a depth to her character that he seemed to feel deep in his heart before she uttered a single word, and he immediately felt a connection, unlike anything he had ever experienced. He found himself having two separate conversations at the same time. On one level was a banal conversation between the three about who they were, what they did, weather, etcetera. At the same time, he was having the most profoundly intimate conversation with Sarah, wordlessly conveying the depth of his connection to her. Chuck was an intelligent and good-looking man, and while he had his share of experiences with women, particularly during college when he was swimming competitively. However, between maintaining his scholarship, training schedule, and work on his various projects, his relationships were never deep and usually short. The mere thought of dinner ending and watching Sarah walk away caused an uncomfortable feeling of emptiness in his chest. He had never met anyone who so instantly overwhelmed him so wholly and utterly, and he had no idea what to do about it.

Sarah was having even more complex conversations, the most difficult of which was between her head and her heart. His eyes were absolutely magnetic, and she could feel them pulling in her very soul. Her brain was desperately trying to sabotage her heart, demanding she break their gaze and focus on Carina to diffuse the slow burn she was beginning to feel inside. Her brain pulled every dirty trick it could, popping up memories of her father psychologically abusing her mother, the boys in college who looked at her as a trophy to be bagged, and the cretins at the Farm who started a fucking pool for who could bed her down before graduation. It promoted her incredible success through focus, commitment, and dedication, without wasting any time or energy on frivolities like romance. Unfortunately for her brain, Sarah paid about as much attention to that conversation as she did the one about the weather. She was fixed entirely on Chuck, watching him eat the crab, his deep brown eyes never breaking away from hers. It was the fucking sexiest thing she had ever seen, and she was starting to feel a profoundly primal urge unlike anything before. She was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of feelings, and she had no idea what to do about them.

Carina watched the two of them. "Holy shit, I think I need a cigarette after that," she laughed out loud, but neither Sarah nor chuck caught the joke, causing her to laugh even more.

After two bottles of Chardonnay and a delicious crab dinner, Chuck picked up the check and escorted the ladies back to the bar for a final drink.

It was clear to Carina that neither Chuck nor Sarah were ready for the evening to end, so when Chuck excused himself to go to the restroom, Carina pulled Sarah into a hug so she could whisper in her ear.

"Geez, Blondie, you got it bad for Curls, don't you?" Carina said with a gentle smile on her face.

"Mmmm, yeah, I guess so…I mean, I don't know…. I'm not sure," Sarah stared to explain when Carina put her finger on Sarah's lips.

"Sarah, I have never seen you frozen like that, and maybe you don't know what you've got going on here, but I do. I actually thought you two were going to go at it right on the table in front of me. Look….he seems like a smart and decent guy, and damn if he is not a total hottie. Go get him and have some fun. Tomorrow, we are getting a new assignment that could take us anywhere, so get something good when you can." Carina gave her partner a kiss and a tender smile before whirling around and walking out the door.

Two minutes after Sarah watched Carina float away, Chuck returned.

"Is everything ok, Sarah? Where is Carina?" asked Chuck.

"She left Chuck. She said she had a great time meeting you and wanted to thank you for dinner." She paused for a moment as her brain tried again to flash a red light, but there would be no denying her desire right now. "Any chance you can give me a lift to my place? Carina was my ride, and she took off, so I'm stuck..…I'm maybe twenty minutes away?" Sarah smiled sweetly.

The tension between them for the duration of the ride was palpable. Chuck was focused on driving the car, while Sarah's brain continued to do what it could to derail her desires, hoping that at some point, she would come to her senses. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at her place.

Chuck gallantly asked her to wait for a moment as he got out, rounded the car, opened her door, and offered his hand to help her get out of the low-slung sports car. She smiled and reached out to take his hand and felt an indescribable jolt that traveled up her arms and spread like fire across her body. The entire evening, while they practically made love with their eyes, they had not physically touched each other, and it was clear he felt it too. They both froze, their eyes locking again. Then a moment later, Sarah gracefully swiveled in the seat, putting her long legs out of the car and standing in front of him. He pushed the door closed, and together they started to slowly move towards the building entrance, never breaking his gaze, unaware that he was still holding her hand in his.

Sarah knew what she wanted but was struggling with how she would go about getting it. Her brain had effectively been shut down, and all she could see now was Carina sitting on her shoulder dressed as a devil, complete with tail and pitchfork telling her to go for it. "Tomorrow, you will get a new assignment," Carina told her. "Get something good when you can." She had not been with a man since her time at Harvard and lubricated with copious amounts of Chardonnay and two vodka martinis, she could feel her hunger growing.

"Chuck," Sarah looked up at him through her eyelashes as she moved closer to him. "Would you like to come in?"

Chuck very slowly put his hands on her hips, pulling her into him, then he pushed a stray blonde curl behind her ear and leaned in to kiss her with a tenderness that curled her toes.

Sarah broke the kiss, took Chuck by the hand, and pulled him to her building, then to her apartment. As the door closed, she pushed him against the door and attacked his lips with a predatory hunger. Chuck responded, immediately pulling her body into him as their tongues explored each other's mouth. Sarah once again broke the kiss leaning back, inviting Charles to move his lips along her jawline, where he lingered for a moment to gently nibble on her earlobe before finding a magic spot between her neck and collar bone.

Sarah felt her knees weaken as Charles tickled the base of her neck with his lips…

"Chuck…bed….now, please," Sarah whispered as she moved in to gently bite his lower lip. Chuck picked her up and did exactly what he was told.

It was only 5:00 am when Sarah woke up feeling warm and content. She had her head snuggled into Chuck's shoulder and her leg thrown over him. She gently lifted her head to look at the man sharing her bed and could not help but smile at how handsome and peaceful he looked. And, she could not get over how amazing last night was. He was powerful but gentle and attentive, always focusing on her needs and pleasure. He did things for her she had never experienced and brought her to heights she had never reached before. As she gently stroked his chest, his breathing pattern changed, and he started to wake.

"Good morning, beautiful," Chuck whispered with a smile that caused her eyes to brighten.

"Good morning to you, handsome," Sarah beamed back at him.

Their eyes connected again, and both felt the desire stirring deep inside them. Their lips met as their naked bodies pressed against each other. Sarah felt his arousal and climbed on top of him, grinding her hips against him while kissing him deeply. As the fire in Chuck intensified, he pulled her close and rolled over on top of her, his weight pressing down on her body. Sarah responded by wrapping her legs around him and slowly pulling him into her. Once joined, she felt his strength as his rhythm accelerated and his movements became steadily deeper and more powerful. She surrendered herself entirely to his passion, calling out his name as her eyes rolled back and her legs spasmed. Chuck slowed himself to help her come off her peak, and she responded by rolling him over onto his back and taking over the pace of their lovemaking until she felt him shudder, leaving her feeling warm and satisfied.

It was 7:00 am when Sarah forced herself out of the comfort of her bed and away from her favorite new bed warmer. She padded into the kitchen, put on the coffee maker, and headed into the bathroom to take a hot shower and get herself ready for the day. Shower done, teeth brushed, and make-up applied, Sarah wrapped her hair in a towel and slipped on her terrycloth robe. She then poured two cups of coffee and walked back to the bedroom, where Chuck was sleeping comfortably and breathing deeply. As she watched him sleep, she felt a warmth bloom in her chest and radiate out through her arms and legs to her fingers and toes. She gently sat on the edge of the bed as Chuck stirred, opening his eyes and finding her smiling gently at him. "Wow. You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and you take my breath away," Chuck said to her with a smile as Sarah's brain disconnected again from the rest of her, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Chuck rolled himself up to her and gently kissed her lips, breaking her out of her stupor. "Is one of those for me?" he asked, taking a steaming mug from Sarah's hand. "Thank you. For everything, Sarah. Last night was…."

"Amazing," Sarah interrupted.

"Yes, it was," Chuck added, "and it got more amazing with each time."

"Sarah…..I want to say something here. You are amazing, and last night…wow. I have never done anything like that…I mean, I have, but wait….I mean, I've never made love to a woman I just met. I mean, I've always needed to build some sort of an emotional connection, to get to know the other person before I was comfortable enough to take the next step….and that usually takes me a lot of time. I don't know what happened last night, but I felt the most incredible connection to you, and it felt so deeply right that I could not fight it. So I wanted you to know this because I really hope this was not a one-time thing and that you will want to see me again." As he spoke, his eyes burned into her.

"I'm going to kiss you now, then I am going to get dressed and leave you my number before I go back to my place to get ready for work. I'm in new territory here, so a bit unsure of what to do or say because I don't want to make you uncomfortable. So I won't call or pressure or pester you, just know that I want to see you again. If you feel the same, all you need to do is call or text me, and I will come running." He kissed her gently, whispered, "you took my breath away….." in her ear, gathered his clothes, left a card with his number and walked out into the cold morning air.

Agent Sarah Walker was knocked completely on her ass…..

= ! =

Thursday 1 December 2011 – 09:00 Eastern Standard Time
Fort Meade – NSA HQ

Chuck had planned to get to the gym by 6:00 am for a workout, but that was before the fates smiled upon him and granted him the most incredible night of his life with the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. There was no way he was leaving her bed to go to the gym at 6:00 am so he could do 5 miles on the treadmill. Now he was sitting in his office next to the Director's on her secure floor, with a cup of coffee, trying to think about how to deal with Jill Roberts and Fulcrum, but without much success.

At the same time, Sarah and Carina were meeting in the cafeteria for coffee, and of course, to chat about what happened last night. Carina was all smiles as she saw Sarah approaching, and when Sarah reached her friend, she lowered her eyes, and her cheeks reddened. Carina gave her a warm smile and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Ok, Blondie….spill….now!" Carina made it clear that this was not a request.

Sarah looked her friend in the eye, pausing for a moment before whispering, "Oh….My…..God….I think he broke me. I had trouble figuring out how to put on shoes this morning. It was overwhelming, and I have never felt anything like it…. And this morning, he said some things…and the way he said them….wow. Honestly…I have no idea how I even managed to get dressed or make it to work."

Carina's jaw was literally on the floor as she stared at her friend, completely stunned. A moment later, she regained her composure. "Good for you, girl…..I'm so glad you had fun with him…do you think you are going to see him again?" But then, as she looked at her friend more closely, it was clear that as of this morning, her friend and partner was a complete goner. Sarah Walker was the person you could always count on to be disciplined and calculating, not the one who would bubble over like a lovesick teenager. Carina had not really expected her partner to get completely run over by the charming Mr. Chuck, thinking that perhaps it would be a night of fun and passion, then back to the real world….but obviously not. She suddenly felt a twinge of pain in her chest. Perhaps it was a touch of jealousy, but just a touch, as she would very much like to have the feeling that Sarah seemed to be having right now. She was, however, incredibly happy for her friend, who, for the first time since they had met, appeared to be blissfully floating on a happy cloud. And if this thing was real, at least in the NSA, she might have a real shot at a normal life. How hard could that be?