A/N: Carina inbound!

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

The camera opens on Carina in the interview chair. "You know the funny thing is, I've always had guy friends that I would tease to the point that we had sex…except for one." She pauses for a second. "To be Chuck Bartowski's friend…." She is silent again for a moment. "You find yourself becoming a protective mother bear. I had been keeping out of everything, but Zondra had been constantly filling me in. I knew Blondie. I knew what was going through her mind, so I thought it was time to cut through the bullshit." Carina chuckles. "Turns out it took just the tiniest push."

}o{

Sarah opened the door to Paussie Productions, glanced around, and entered. It was six AM and she was really regretting talking to Mark…and drinking with him, until past two AM. She didn't really regret it. She needed someone to talk to about everything, someone who had been with her nearly this entire journey and knew exactly where she wanted this journey to end up.

The goal she was focusing on wasn't her final destination, she knew that, but right now it was THE goal. This show, as great as she thought it was going to be, it was a necessary evil to get done what she wanted done. What they deserved, for all they had done for her.

She sat down at her desk, and began to work. There was a lot to do, and at some point, she needed to be in the room when Tristin Mays showed up. Sarah was praying she nailed the read through with Zondra, Arik, and Chuck. Sarah had thought Tristin would be perfect to play Riley, Arik's and Zondra's TV daughter. She sighed, and began her day, a call to Quinn. Why in the hell he was always in the office so early…she had no idea.

}o{

Two hours later she hung up, dropped her head against the back of the seat, and groaned. Everything had been going amazing, until Quinn reminded her of Netflix's upfronts to be held next Thursday. That was no big deal. Mark could easily accompany her. Zondra already had someone so Chuck didn't have to go with her, but Quinn reminded her that they would want Chuck there, AND it would be nice if he was at the after-party.

If this was something to do with the podcast world, she was sure he would be able to handle it fine, but his first foray into the world of acting…and be at an after-party…

She heard her door open, and brought her head back down. She saw a woman enter her office. "Hey, sexy!"

"Oh, Lord, it's Beelzebub," Sarah said, grinning, standing, and walking around her desk.

"More like Beelzebabe, amiright?" Carina asked, hugging her friend in greeting. "I need you to know I am very mad at you."

Sarah pulled back, grinning. "What did I do, and I'll try and do it more often."

"You sweet talker you," Carina said, taking a seat. Sarah sat down in the chair beside her, not behind her desk. "You taught Bartowski how to act kiss."

"Okay," Sarah said, not sure where that was going. "Was I supposed to send him to you, and you make out with him for half an hour?" Carina laughed. "Hell, Red, knowing you, you'd tell him he need to practice a sex scene with you, and that actors are really having sex, they just can't show it."

Carina grinned and then spoke softly. "Not with him." Sarah blinked. What had she just heard. "But you ruined my rep," Carina continued on. Sarah really wanted to question her on the, "Not with him," comment, but she also knew by the look on Carina's face, that wasn't happening. "I had been telling him for years that I wasn't in that many shows and movies because every time I kissed someone while acting, they were enamored with me, and I was being blackballed because I was a home wrecker."

"Oh my God!" Sarah laughed.

"So, Chuckles calls me last night, and said he knew the truth and wanted to know why I wasn't getting jobs." Carina was silent for a minute. "I had to tell him it was because I valued what all we did and the things we talk about and our job."

"Damn," Sarah said softly.

"I know, I got soft for a second, I swear if he'd of asked me to marry him and give up other men I'd of done it," Carina continued.

"You didn't go that soft," Sarah argued.

"You're right," Carina replied with a shrug. "Besides, he's already in love with someone else." Carina had a challenging look on her face, daring Sarah to ask her who. There wasn't enough love or money for Sarah to ask that question. Regardless of the answer, she'd be scared to death. Scared it was her, and scared it wasn't.

"So you're here to beat me up for ruining your rep?" Sarah asked.

"Nope, I'm here because I've been talking to Z, and I'm pretty sure I know what's going on in your head," Carina told her. "You're different than me and Z. You're so fiercely loyal to those that helped you and do everything you can to return that help tenfold. You also protect them."

"Okay, you make it sound like a bad thing," Sarah said.

"It is when you mother someone, and don't let them make their own decision," Carina told her.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Netflix Upfronts," Carina told her, pointblank. "Either it hasn't dawned on you yet Chuck has to be there, or it has and you're trying to figure it out. Now should I start with the, 'Should he go?' or 'Who should he go with?'"

Sarah sat there, stunned into silence.

"Okay, fine, first, should he go? It's part of his job, Blondie," Carina began.

"But the after-party," Sarah protested. "Even when he does stuff with Z he doesn't go."

"And the stuff he goes with Z to, she always goes to the after-party by herself, and no one cares," Carina reminded her. "Butttttt, this is his show now."

"It is," Sarah said, dropping her head into her hands.

"That's why who he should go with is absolutely obvious," Carina continued. Sarah lifted her head from her hands. "It should be you. If he goes with Zondra, it looks like they're a couple, and if people start watching the show because they think they're a real couple and we find out they're not…."

"They'll be pissed," Sarah finished for her. "So he can't go with me."

"Of course he can," Carina argued. "First, you are known as a company that brokers no shit. There will be use of anyone's positions over anyone else for sexual favors." Sarah just blinked. "So if you two go together and people are reminded how he just joined on, this is his first TV show…they're gonna just assume, okay, the EP is just walking him through this."

"Or that we're banging, as you would say," Sarah pointed out.

"And that's not so terrible is it?" Carina countered. "If he is bad in the show, everyone will just think, he got the job because he was banging you, and since he's not in the show as much as Z or whoever is gonna play the daughter…"

"You are so damn evil," Sarah muttered. "But right." Sarah shook her head. "I gotta talk to Chuck."

"You do," Carina said, standing. Sarah stood and hugged her again. "And don't even suggest I go with him, that will ruin his entire reputation."

"But he does a podcast with you two," Sarah argued.

"You know dudes think he's doing both Z and I, right?" Sarah snorted laughter. "Gotta go, Blondie. Got a podcast to do since you took away my two friends."

"Thanks, Carina," she told her as Carina walked to the door.

"You're welcome," Carina replied. "And hey, remember he is a big boy. He does get to make his own decisions. Your his friend and boss, not protector and boss."

"Don't you protect him?" Sarah asked.

Carina turned and grinned. "Yeah," she said. Carina smiled salaciously. "From me."

"Oh, God," Sarah replied, laughing. Carina waved and shut the door. "I gotta talk to Chuck," she muttered to herself. "This should be fine."

}o{

Sarah walked to the conference room, realizing she was late to hear Tristin's read through with Chuck and Zondra. Sarah opened the door, and walked in. Tristin was sitting with her back to Sarah. Sarah didn't say a word, she just listen to Tristin, Chuck, Arik, and Zondra read lines, sounding like they were having a natural conversation. Tristin laughed from something Chuck said, and she apologized for breaking character.

"Everything okay?" Graham asked, walking up to her. Sarah nodded. "So, we can start it over-"

"What do you think?" Sarah asked, cutting him off.

"We'd be a fool not to hire her," Graham told Sarah. "She works perfectly with those three." Sarah nodded, and walked up to the table.

"I am so sorry I am late, I had a call with Netflix and then an unexpected visitor," Sarah began.

"No problem," Tristin replied. "Where would you like us to start from?"

"Not necessary," Sarah told her. "I'd like to offer you the part."

"Are you serious?" Tristin asked.

"Absolutely, I heard enough when I came in, the four of you sounding completely like I hoped it would when I visualized it. I do hope you'll join us."

Tristin smiled. "Well, I need to see the contract, but…"

"I think that's where I come in," Graham told her. "Come with me, Tristin, and we'll see if we can't get this worked out." Tristin thanked everyone that read with her, and Sarah, and headed out with Graham.

"Okay, I need to talk with Chuck, but I think we're done with readings," Sarah told everyone. "Zondra, Arik, check with media and see if there's anything there that needs to be done, otherwise, have a great weekend. Z, don't forget the podcast tomorrow."

"Like he'd let me," Zondra said pointing at Chuck. "Come on, Arik, let's give these two some privacy."

Arik and Zondra left the room, and Chuck spoke immediately. "Did I screw up?"

"No, no," Sarah assured him. She wished she wasn't fighting this hangover/lack of sleep at the moment. She was going to need her full wits. "It's about next Thursday night and the Netflix Upfronts."

"Need me to go with Zondra?" Chuck asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sarah told him. "You're a star of the show, and if you go with the other star, and people think you're really together and watch because of that and find out you're not…."

"People will get pissy because people like to get pissy," Chuck finished for her. "So I need to find a date."

"Listen, if you don't want to, I get it, but I think you should go with me," Sarah told him. "I understand that world, and if you go with me, the producer, and everyone realizes you were brought on just days ago, and have no actual date…"

"Then there's no real problems, are there?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded. "I'm guessing me leaving and not going to the after-party is not an option this time?"

"No, Chuck, I'm sorry," Sarah told him.

"Don't be sorry, I'm sorry for you, having to be stuck with me, instead of a date, or your friend…Mark, isn't it?" Sarah nodded. "I'm sure you'd have a lot more fun with him."

"I'd like to think I'd have fun with you," Sarah told him. "And honestly, you've saved my ass by taking this role. Now, I have to find a dress. When I went to the one for 24 I was afraid my vagina was going to fall out." She realized what she had said and her eyes went wide. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

Chuck gave her a flat look. "Sarah, I'm friends with Carina." Sarah smiled. "If she had said that, her next line would have been, 'And no one there offered to grab it for me and put it back.'" Sarah burst out into laughter. She didn't know if it was the lack of sleep, the hangover, being with Chuck, or all three, but for one night, she was going to pretend she was on a date with Chuck Bartowski. She was going to let herself have that. Just one time.

}o{

The camera cuts to Sarah sitting in the interview chair. "See, being on a date with Chuck Bartowski is like eating those chips. Once you start, you can't stop."

"It's once you pop, you can't stop," Chuck's voice is heard saying.

"Whatever, you didn't pop that night," Sarah replied, grinning.

"SARAH!" Chuck is heard yelling as Sarah bursts into laughter.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it, next time, there's a podcast with Kayla. That should go fine, right? Right?

Next time:

"You did," Sarah replied. "But Chuck, I think it's pretty apparent most everyone you meet and get to know, becomes your friend. It's who you are."

"I'm starting my own little cult," Chuck said in the most sinister voice he could.

"Oohhhh," Carina cooed. "That was so adorable."

Everyone was laughing now. "I am not adorable, I'm a cult leader!" Chuck insisted.

"If by a cult leader you mean an adorable, curly-headed, nerd, then sure," Carina told him.

Poor Chuck. Take care of you and yours. See you soon.