A/N: I swear Arik was six foot nine in everything I saw, but he is only six foot seven….he still large, and has an amazing heart. Arik has been nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the year for two consecutive years. That award goes to the person who does the most good in their community.

A/N 2: I know some of you have questioned Chuck having anxiety and me talking about all this mental health. A whole lot of people have reached out to me, thanking me, talking about their mental health. We gotta destigmatize this folks. I write about it, and talk about to let others know, people have mental health needs. The person you think is fine, they may be holding on by a thread inside. This world has gotten scarier over the past several years and I'm hoping and praying we can all give each other a little grace and love. Take care of your mind, your body, and your spirit.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

The camera opens on Langston in the interview chair. He just sits there, grinning.

}o{

Sarah walked into her office, tired. It was early, and she had not slept much. She had tossed and turned all night, thinking of two different men, in very different ways. The things Cole had said…hurt. The things Chuck had said, hurt, but in a different way. What Chuck had said was all she ever wanted to hear from someone, but she knew her life…her lifestyle…it would hurt him so much, and the thought of that…hurt her. She loved her career, and she knew if she gave it up to try and make this happen…she'd resent him. She blew out a rough breath. She wasn't even sure he felt that way about her…although she had an inkling he did.

You just simply trust, and if you get hurt, that's part of it. You make yourself available to those you love, to those you want to spend the rest of your life with

Those words Chuck spoke, stuck in her head and kept repeating themselves. "I could always try and trust him to tell me if it doesn't work," she muttered softly. She shook her head. If he did feel the way she thought he felt, he was the kind of guy that would move heaven and earth to make it work…regardless of whatever personal harm would be inflicted on him. She couldn't do it. She just couldn't. She started up her computer, and opened a file she kept. It was the picture of Chuck at the premier from some time back, she went to touch the screen, no idea why, only that it comforted her, when there was a knock on her door, making her jump.

"Netflix, line one, a Mr. Quinn!" came the cheery voice outside her office door.

"Great," Sarah muttered to herself. "Thanks!" she shouted out. Sarah shut the picture, gathered herself, went to pick up the extension, when it hit her. Why was Netflix calling? She hadn't told them of the problems yet. "Cole," she growled, thinking he had called and made a stink of things.

"Sarah Walker," she answered professionally after putting the receiver to her ear.

"Miss Walker," she heard Quinn say. "It's not often I'll admit when I'm wrong, but you were right, I was wrong. Cole doesn't work, not like your guy."

"My guy?" Sarah asked.

"The curly haired tall guy, he's perfect," Quinn beamed. "Don't worry about Cole, I'll call him, tell him we have the perfect project for him…one that suits him better."

"Do you?" Sarah asked, not really caring, just needing to say something while her brain worked to understand what had just happened.

"We have tons of projects, I'll find something," Quinn assured her. "Just don't tell anyone until I can get rid of Cole. Give me a couple of hours or so." Quinn paused. "Ballsy move, Walker, but I think you're proving that you can do this. I think maybe it's time we talk more serious about that other project you want to do."

"Really?" Sarah asked, stunned.

"Really," Quinn replied. "Now, get that guy signed up and let's get to shooting."

"The tall, curly haired guy, just for clarification?" Sarah asked.

Quinn chuckled. "You're funny, of course him." And with that, Quinn hung up.

Sarah looked at the receiver, hung it up, and dropped her head into her hands. What in the hell had just happened?

}o{

The camera cuts back to Langston, who's still sitting there, just smiling.

}o{

Langston was sitting in his office, ready to go talk to Sarah when he heard a knock on the door. "Enter!" The door opened and Chuck was standing there.

"Do you have a minute…Mr. Graham….Langston….sir?"

"It's just Langston, Chuck. Come on in and have a seat." Chuck came in and sat down across from him. "What's on your mind?"

"Well, I got to thinking last night about why Cole was hired for this role," Chuck began.

"The company paying for the show said so," Langston told him.

"I get that…but why? Why wouldn't they let you…us, pick the male lead?"

Langston sat back in his chair. "The studios bet on a name, Chuck. They bet on Sarah Walker figuring out how to make this company work, and if they're right, they'll make a huge windfall. They look at different things, but one of the things that do draw viewers to a TV show is how attractive stars are."

"So, Cole is here to pull in female viewers to watch, and hope they stay around for the story," Chuck said, his fear confirmed. Langston nodded. "Okay."

"Was that it?" Langston asked.

"Well….no, but…."

"You looked me up," Langston said, not asked. "New company owner in Sarah, a first time Executive Producer in me…you must have questions."

"I do, but it's not my right to ask. Here's the thing, Sarah Walker trusts you." Langston nodded. "I trust Sarah Walker, ergo…" he trailed off.

"Trusting in this business will get you hurt," Langston pointed out.

"Yeah," Chuck said with a shrug. "I'm pretty sure she's worth the risk."

"That kind of talk kinda implies you'd do anything for her," Langston said. "Nothing criminal, mind you, but…anything."

"Probably," Chuck replied. "I know, I'm naive."

"Yes, yes you are, and it's time I taught you some things. Do you have an agent?" Chuck had a surprised look on his face. "It's not uncommon for an Executive Producer to appear on a show, and you'll need an agent…or an attorney."

"I do have an attorney, Diane Beckman," Chuck told him.

"Probably ought to call her and have her come down," Langston told him. "Get all the legal stuff taken care of."

"Okay, will do," Chuck said standing. "Thanks, Langston." And with that Chuck left.

Graham sat there quietly for a moment. "I also did some digging on you, Chuck Bartowski," he said softly.

}o{

The camera again cuts to Langston, and he is still sitting there, smiling, except the smile seems to be bigger than before.

}o{

She had just put two and two together when the door opened and she saw him standing there. "I knew it," she said, standing. "You are responsible for this."

"Yeah, you're welcome," Langston said, closing the door behind him and coming into the office. "Sarah, we both know what had to happen."

"Yeah, but you could have told me! You could have told him!"

"Have you seen the tape?" Langston asked. Sarah couldn't stop the smile as she nodded. "It was like that part was written for him."

"How in the hell are we going to get him signed?" Sarah asked. "How in the hell did you pull that off?"

"It was mostly Chuck's doing, he wanted to work with Arik, because he felt Arik was blaming himself, and I told him to record it so that Arik could study it. I then had a friend edit it and send it to Netflix."

"Langston," Sarah began.

"Do not start, I told you hiring me to be an EP was a bad idea because then I would owe you, and I would do everything within my power to make sure this show succeeded. I warned you." Sarah sat back down in her chair, crossed her arms, and frowned. "That shit doesn't work on me and you know it."

"Langston you could have gotten in trouble," Sarah pointed out.

"Yes, I might have, and this kept you out of trouble," Langston pointed out. "We can have you yell at me later, right now, we have to figure out how we are going to tell Chuck Bartowski he's the male lead of the show."

"We need Zondra," Sarah began. "Oh, shit, he needs an agent."

"He has a lawyer," Langston told her. Fear covered Sarah's face. "Diane Beckman."

"Jesus," she said, dropping her head into her hands. Of course his lawyer was one of the shrewdest lawyers and agents in all of Hollywood.

}o{

The camera comes back to Langston, sitting in the chair. The producer speaks. "Is there anything you'd like to say about the situation that happened?"

"No," Langston said, the smile gone from his face. "It's not my story to tell." Off camera you hear someone begin to speak but Langston's face hardens. "It's. Not. My. Story. To. Tell."

}o{

"You want Chuck to be the male lead?" Zondra asked.

"Netflix insists on it," Langston told her.

"I know, it's gonna be hard on you to act with him," Sarah began.

"What?" Zondra replied. "Are you kidding me, that guy was a natural at it. The entire time he was trying to keep Arik's spirits up and it's like the three of us had a magical moment that I didn't know you can have with costars."

"What about kissing?" Langston asked.

"I'm pretty good at it," Zondra quipped. Langston frowned at her. "Someone is going to have to teach him to TV kiss. I think it should be you, Sarah."

"Why me?" Sarah asked, one part terrified at the notion, one part excited.

"Because if it's me…it will just get weird, and I'm pretty sure Langston isn't doing it."

"You don't pay me enough," Langston told Sarah.

"Besides, he's pretty good." Sarah gave Zondra a look. "It was a dare one night at a party, for fifty bucks, and we were both broke. He's really good…almost makes you wish there was something there." Zondra gave Sarah a significant look, which she flatly ignored.

"Okay, fine," Sarah said. "I'll teach him, it's not that hard."

"We won't tell anyone if you enjoy it," Zondra said.

"The show depends on it, Sarah, so it may take many lessons," Langston added.

"You two are enjoying this waaayyyyyy too much," Sarah grumbled. The door opened and all three turned. Chuck walked in followed by a short, red-headed woman.

"Langston?" Beckman said.

"Diane," Langston said with a soft smile, nodding his head at her. "I'm glad you could be here."

"You know her?" Sarah asked, stunned.

"You know I've been around for a while, we've met," Langston explained. Diane made a "hmph" noise as she took her seat. Langston pushed the contract over to Diane.

"Have you looked at this?" Diane asked Chuck.

"I have not," Chuck admitted. "You and Lou usually handle that stuff better than I. I get caught up on lawyery words and spend ten minutes spinning my wheels on one sentence.

Diane chuckled at that, and began to read. After a minute she looked up at Langston. He simply nodded and she went back to the contract. She turned to Chuck. "Exactly what do you think you're signing here?"

"A contract for whatever cameo I do in the show," Chuck said with a shrug. Diane gave Langston another look. Again, Langston nodded at her.

"Chuck…this is a contract to be the male lead in the show. It's a contract for four seasons," Diane explained.

Chuck's eyes went wide. "Okay, listen to me buddy," Zondra said. Chuck turned to her. "Somehow Netflix saw the tape of what we did yesterday and loved you. Basically they want you, and if they don't have you…"

"There's no show?" Chuck asked. He looked directly at Sarah.

"They didn't say that," Sarah admitted. "But it was implied."

Chuck blew out a breath. "I can't act. I'll have to kiss Zondra…have sex with her…and-"

"Whoa, hold up, wait," Zondra cut in. "Like that would be a bad thing for you." Chuck couldn't help but laugh. "Also, this ain't Game of Thrones, or any of that stuff. They ain't paying me enough to see my fine ass nude, and buddy, I love you, but no one wants to see your scrawny ass."

"Langston, what is your role on this show?" Diane asked.

"I am Executive Producer," Langston told her. The hardness left Diane's face. "It is the first show I have ever been an Executive Producer on."

"Do you think he can do this?" Diane asked.

"I do," Langston said.

"Chuck," Diane said turning to him. "As your lawyer, I'm advising you, if you want to help your friends, sign this, but I have to tell you, I have a slight conflict of interest."

"What?" Sarah said. "How well do you know Langston? Why have I never heard about this?"

"It's not my story to tell," Langston replied.

"Well, it's mine, and I will," Diane told them.

}o{

The camera comes back to the interview chair and this time Sarah is sitting there. "All those years," she said softly. "And he never told." She shook her head, and looked directly into the camera. "This is where I began to believe this show was going to make it, and not just make it, but be huge."

A/N: Next time:

"Well, we need to make sure that you can handle kissing on TV," Sarah began.

"Okay," Chuck replied. "And how are we going to do that?"

"You're going to practice on me," Sarah told him. Chuck's eyes went wide. "I'm serious, Chuck, I know you haven't had any training-"

"In 11th grade, Becky told me I could kiss quite well," Chuck retorted. "Although, she did dump me for Ben Knight, the QB of the football team…I was helping her with her homework….you don't think….never mind."

*spits out drink* Who let EDC out?