A/N: Dear Guest, we're good. Thank you. For everyone, sorry, an actual real life honest to goodness bug hit our house and everyone was down for a day or three. We continue the insanity.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

The camera opens to Carina and Zondra in the interview chairs. "You know, what you did to her was dirty," Carina accused Zondra.

Zondra grinned. "I didn't do anything," Zondra protested. "She kept going on about having to watch out for him and protect him, but what she wasn't getting was over the years he had found ways, and he can interact with people. I truly didn't know Valerie was showing up, but the fact she did…" Zondra grinned. "It really threw her, and let her see Chuck in a light that made her realize some of her dreams….they were possible."

}o{

Chuck and Sarah had gotten out of the SUV. The others had arrived first, letting Chuck and Sarah come in by themselves. As they made their way through the throngs of people, Sarah kept a close eye on Chuck, and was a little surprised at how well he was taking it. She looked away from him, toward the reporter heading their way and she steeled herself.

Valerie Hightower was one of the leading reporters for Variety, and she was known for doing whatever necessary to get a story. Valerie was making a beeline to the two of them. "I got this," Sarah said under her breath. She was a little surprised when she felt Chuck chuckle.

"Chuck!" Valerie said, her arms outstretched. Sarah's eyes went wide, and it took everything in her not to let the shock show on her face as she wrapped Chuck up in a hug.

"How are you?" Chuck asked. Sarah knew he was coming from a place of complete sincerity. She started to say something, when she felt a tug at her elbow. Sarah turned and saw Zondra.

"He's got this," Zondra said softly. "He's interviewed her."

"I don't remember that," Sarah replied, moving away from Chuck with Zondra, giving the two space to talk.

"It never aired," Zondra told her. "Chuck got her talking and she told a story about an ex of hers that was quite famous. Afterwards, Chuck thought about it and didn't post the podcast immediately like he normally did. He called her the next day and asked her if she was sure she was okay him posting it. She told him she really wasn't, and he deleted the recording."

"What?" Sarah asked. "Valerie is known for going after every story."

"Never one that's personal," Zondra reminded Sarah.

It was true, Valerie was known to break things that no one else knew, but she did stay out of rumors and personal affairs of people.

"So what are you doing here?" she heard Valerie ask. The two women watched Chuck and Valerie.

"Well, I'm sure you know," Chuck kidded her, grinning. Valerie shrugged, returning the grin. "I've joined Sarah Walker's Paussie Productions sitcom and am playing Zondra's TV husband." Chuck paused for a second. "You do know Sarah and Zondra, right?"

"I know of them," Valerie replied. "I haven't really had an opportunity to get to know them. You know how this industry is."

Sarah heard the sentiment behind the words. It was the sound of a woman who was proud of her career, but also know it had cost her. "I do," Sarah replied. Valerie smiled at her. "That's one reason I wanted to do this project. The story of a woman in her mid-thirties, child has gone to college, she's remarried, and it's like…now what?"

"Sarah, I had heard that Cole Barker was attached to this project," Valerie said with a wince on her face. Sarah could tell Valerie was just doing her job.

"Originally he was, but I think Netflix thought he would be better on another show, and frankly, after seeing Zondra and Chuck together…they have natural chemistry that most of the podcasting world already knew about."

"So there will be some of that banter that is on C to Z, and Everything in Between?" Valerie asked.

"Absolutely," Sarah said, nodding. "We'd be fools not to take advantage of these two bantering." She was smiling at Valerie as she spoke.

"God, I hope this project succeeds," Valerie told the three. "We need more shows like this. Thank you all for your time. We need to get a picture of you."

"I think it would be better getting one of the three of you," Chuck suggested.

"That's a good idea, Chuck," Valerie said. "Our photographer is right over here," she told the two other ladies. The three headed off to the photographer.

"You know, in the over two years we were together she never chased after me like she did you," Chuck heard behind him. He turned and saw Cole. Chuck gulped. "Hey, I'm not mad, just making an observation."

"You also probably didn't have an anxiety attack," Chuck pointed out.

"No, I didn't," Cole agreed. "But now…now I think I know what she meant back then." He was silent for a second. "I may have done her a disservice by what I suggested to her." He looked up at Chuck. "I thought she was like me, you know? I thought this job was driving her."

"It was," Chuck replied. "But, why does it have to be one or the other, why can't it be both?"

"It's very hard for someone in a committed relationship to do this job," Cole explained. "You are alone for long periods of time. People…think you're just…amazing and want to be with you, offer to do things to you, for you, that no one else ever would."

"I hear you," Chuck said. "And, I have never had those kind of offers, but if you love someone, truly love them, and know you would lose them for a few minutes of fun…is it worth it?"

"When you're all alone…" Cole shrugged. "Sometimes it feels like you have lost them anyway."

"Your brain's always the loudest when it's completely silent," Chuck said. Cole nodded. "I'm not going to pretend to understand, cause I don't, and I hate it when people do that to me. I guess if I found that person I think I would do whatever it took to make it work."

"Maybe I never found that person," Cole said softly.

"There is that," Chuck said, nodding. "I hope you and her both find happiness."

Cole gave him a look, and a slow grin started to grow. "So, you two aren't…" he waved his hand toward Sarah and back to Chuck.

"What, us, God, no! That's Sarah Walker, man. I'm just…"

"You're Chuck Bartowski," Cole told him. Chuck gave Cole a look. "You have no real idea, do you?" Cole chuckled, and clapped Chuck on the back. "Do something I didn't, eh? Listen to her. Really listen. Not through your filter in your brain, but the one in your heart. The one you listen to everyone else with. That woman…all she wants is someone to care for her for who she is."

"Isn't that what we all want, to be loved where we are?"

Cole grinned and nodded. "Best of luck, Chuck." Cole paused for a second and continued. "Somehow, I don't think you'll need luck. I think maybe you'll be just fine."

}o{

For the next few hours, there were pictures, reporters asking questions, questions answered, and then…then it happened, the afterparty. Sarah was expecting many things, but this…this was completely unexpected. She had been talking to a group of people, when Rob Bass and DJ EZ Rock's It Takes Two came over the speakers. Sarah saw the grin on Zondra's face and followed her gaze.

She stared at the man she thought that would be what her parents called a wallflower, all evening. She had been mingling, talking to people, doing what she needed to. She had been dancing with people, talking to them, mingling. Chuck hadn't danced at all, and the rest of the group had always been near him, so she felt safe leaving him. She had told him earlier she might have to, and he had completely understood.

She had no idea how to deal with everything coursing through her in that moment. She was jealous, she knew she was, and it was ridiculous. She had no claim on him. She had been dancing with others all night, men and women. Here he was dancing, well, with Valerie, and Sarah felt the green-eyed monster coursing through her. She realized she was lightly biting the corner of her bottom lip.

"Down girl," Zondra said softly in her ear as she walked past. Sarah stared at Zondra.

}o{

The camera cuts to Zondra and Carina both laughing. "So, I taught him traditional dancing," Zondra said through fits of laughter. "It always bothered him he didn't know how to dance, and he said he needed to if he ever went to an afterparty."

"And I taught him how to get down," Carina added. The two women continued laughing.

}o{

Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen came on, and Zondra offered her hand to Chuck. Chuck took it and the two began to dance. Sarah watched, unable to tear her eyes off of him.

"My God, you need to have them dance during the show," Valerie said. Sarah shook her head and turned. Valerie was standing there, and Sarah hadn't even noticed. "Look at them." Valerie shook her head. "I know you've had to be doing the executive thing, but trust me, you should dance with him."

"You think?" Sarah asked, looking back at Zondra and Chuck.

"Absolutely," Valerie said. "You know, it's none of my business." Sarah turned to Valerie again. "I think there's something between you two…this…chemistry…this…spark."

"There's nothing going on," Sarah began.

"Oh, I know," Valerie told Sarah. "Which is a shame. He's a great guy."

"He is," Sarah admitted, and turned to look at Chuck and Zondra. "But, we are co-workers, and that could be…"

"Sarah Walker, do you think for a minute that I would say anything about this to you, if I thought you were to use your power in this production over him?" Sarah chuckled and shook her head.

"What I am saying is, he's never acted before, and his anxiety…"

"Oh," Valerie replied, understanding. "It might be difficult, worrying he was letting you down on a whole other level."

"Exactly," Sarah said. "He's an amazing man."

"He is, and he only has eyes for you." Sarah snapped her head back and looked at Valerie. "He does." Sarah found herself biting her bottom lip again. "You know, for the show's sake, you should probably go dance with him."

"For the show," Sarah said with a grin. Valerie winked at her as Sarah turned.

"Okay, kids, tonight has been a blast, in fact you might say, we had the time of our lives," the DJ said. Groans rained down, most everyone realized where he was going with this. "For our last song, find someone and dance." Bill Medly's voice came over the loud speaker, as Time of my Life began to play.

"Chuck, may I?" Sarah asked.

"Careful," Zondra said, taking Chuck's hand and putting it in Sarah's. "He's good."

"I saw," Sarah replied. "But, I didn't just bring the watermelon." Chuck and Zondra groaned. Zondra walked off, and Chuck and Sarah began to dance.

"If I had known you could dance like that, I would have skipped all of those little meetings I had," Sarah told him.

"But, Sarah, you needed to make those contacts, and smooze, and do all that corporate stuff," Chuck replied.

"You underestimate how much I enjoy dancing," Sarah told him.

"Well, I guess I'll have to do my best to squeeze in everything I can during this song," Chuck replied.

"Or maybe, I just need to go out dancing with you one night," Sarah countered.

"Maybe you'll need more than one night," Chuck retorted, grinning at her.

She fell into Chuck's arms, as the song slowed down. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she warned.

"I think you know me well enough to know I try to never do that."

"I do, Chuck, I do," Sarah told him. "Thank you for coming with me tonight, I'm sorry I abandoned you. I thought-"

"Hey," Chuck said, looking down into her eyes. "I'm not upset, or hurt or anything. In fact, I may have had-"

"Dear God, do not say it," Sarah pleaded.

"The Time of My Life," Chuck finished, grinning.

"Is it too late to fire you?" Sarah asked.

"You're in charge, Sarah, you get to decide if it's too late or not," Chuck told her. She thought her heart might explode with that. It wasn't too late…he just didn't know what it was she was thinking about. Maybe it wasn't too late for them.

}o{

The camera cuts to the interview chair that Ellie is sitting in. She says nothing. She simply put her hands in front of her and brought them down as if making a rainbow. "Magical," she mouthed without actually saying the word.

A/N: It's like we're getting somewhere…Next time:

"I love you," Chuck said softly, and bent down to kiss her.

Her body nearly collapsed into a puddle.

*spits out drink* WHAT!?