Don't own Chuck
Sarah ran her hand through her hair in frustration. The past week had been alternately fun, and hell. The more time she spent with Chuck, the more time she wanted to spend with Chuck. He was funny, kind, thoughtful, adorable, and flat-out sexy, in that he-doesn't-even-know-he-is-sexy kind of way.
She blew out a rough breath. Tomorrow… tomorrow was going to be interesting. She glanced at the clock and mentally noted that it had become tomorrow already. It had all started with something she thought was outside her purview, but as Chuck had warned her, anyone who showed the slightest bit of competency was "rewarded" with more tasks. That was the Buy More way… at least, the Buy More in Burbank.
She leaned her head against the pillows, thinking about the talk she had with Big Mike earlier in the day.
}o{
"Walker, you are doing amazing," Big Mike began, as he selected a donut from his box. He paused and looked up at her, a frown on his face. "Do you want one?" While he may have verbally offered, the look on his face said take one and I will haunt you for the rest of your days. Sarah shook her head no, making him smile. "We have a problem."
"Oh, have I done something wrong with the Herders?"
"No, nothing like that. The problem is we have a small issue with the launch of-"
"Wait, that's not part of the Nerd Herd," Sarah pointed out.
Big Mike scowled. "If there is no Buy More, there is no Nerd Herd, hence it is a we problem… understand?"
Sarah sighed. She did understand. This felt like a mission involving Carina, but instead of men, there were donuts.
"Good," Big Mike chirped. "Now, the talent that was booked to entertain the customers waiting in line to pick up their new game are not able to make it."
"So, they're breaking their contract?" Sarah asked.
"Uh, no… there was no contract," Big Mike said, looking a little uncomfortable.
"Who messed that up?"
"That is not important," Big Mike said quickly. Sarah knew that tone. Big Mike had screwed it up. She didn't know if he hadn't made the talent sign the contract, or if he had even contacted the talent, but it was his fault. "What's important is we keep these nerds calm."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Sarah asked. "I mean, you are the store manager, and I would think someone in your position is trained for just these types of situations." Big Mike puffed up a bit at that. "Also, thank you for allowing me to learn these things from you."
"It's my duty, to pass my knowledge," Big Mike said, looking very pleased with himself. "I think the answer might be that band of yours, but I'm not sure how we can pay them."
"Corporate gave you money for entertainment," Sarah reminded him. Big Mike's eyes glanced down at the donuts for a split second. "You bought food?"
"Lou's was having a deal where you could buy a fifty-dollar gift card for thirty-five dollars," Big Mike explained. "I then convinced the donut shop to do the same thing."
"How much did you spend?" Sarah asked. Big Mike pulled at the collar of his shirt. "Okay, how much of the money is left from corporate?" Big Mike stared at his hands as he fiddled with his fingers. Sarah ran her hand through her hair. "So, at this point, it's a we situation, because if I don't figure something out there will be no we, because you'll be fired."
"Some could see it that way," Big Mike admitted. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to talk them into playing for free. I'd give you a Lou's gift card." Sarah just stared at him. He sighed. "It's only got four dollars and twenty-six cents on it anyway."
"How much money did corporate give you?" Sarah asked, leaning forward and placing her palms on his desk, staring at him.
Big Mike cleared his throat and leaned back. "Five hundred dollars," he said softly.
"Jesus Christ!" Sarah muttered, straightening back up. She thought for a second. "Okay, here's what you're going to do. They are all off today, but you are going to pay them their normal wages for working today." Big Mike started to protest but one look from Sarah stopped that in a heartbeat. He nodded. "And…" – Big Mike looked like he was constipated with the 'and' – "…you are going to press for my clients to be sponsored by the Buy More."
"Now wait a minute," Big Mike began.
Sarah slapped his desk. "I have to go out there and convince these fools to take this deal," Sarah reminded him. "Lester, the one who talks about how this is freeing him from 'the man' and now is about to be sponsored by 'the man.'"
"I could see the difficulty in that," Big Mike muttered. "But, they'll do it?"
"They will," Sarah told him. She headed for the door, and then paused. "Next time, come to me as soon as you get the money."
"I am the manager," Big Mike protested. Sarah glared at Big Mike. "You're right."
"Also, you should really fire Harry Tang. He's creeping everyone out, and is making this place miserable."
"He's creeping everyone out? You do realize Jeff is an employee?"
"I said what I said," Sarah said, opening the door and leaving. Big Mike shuddered.
Sarah went to Chuck first, and told him everything. He couldn't help but laugh as she told him the whole ridiculous situation. When she finished, he put his hands on her shoulders, squeezed them, and told her he had it. She didn't believe him, but five minutes later, he returned and told her it was done.
}o{
A familiar rap on her door pulled her from her thoughts. "Chuck?" she said softly, wondering what he was doing at her door at that hour. She slipped off the bed, hurried over to the door, and opened it. He stood there, concern coloring his features. "Chuck, what's wrong?"
"Can I come in?" Chuck asked. She nodded, stepped back, and he entered. She shut the door and turned toward him, worried. "I'm just gonna come right out and say it, okay?"
"Please, what is it?"
"It's you," Chuck told her. "It's everything about you. Your kindness, your laugh, how I feel when I'm around you. I was in a relationship for, I don't know how long, and never felt a thing like what I'm feeling when I'm with you."
"Chuck, listen, this is sweet… hell, I feel the same way about you, but you don't know me-"
"I know you, Sarah Walker," Chuck said, stepping up to her. His eyes were darker than normal, and it made her swallow. There was no fear on his face, the nerves were gone. "I'm crazy about you, and I think you feel the same way about me. I've laid in my bed for the past few hours, and I've only had one question running through my mind over and over and over."
"What's that?" she asked softly.
"What if she wants to kiss me as badly as I want to kiss her?" The question hung there between them. She realized both of her hands were in his. His thumbs were softly stroking the back of her hands, and she was feeling an inferno building within her. She pulled her hands from him, grabbed his head gently, and pulled herself in.
When her lips met his, she heard a moan; whether it was him or her, she couldn't tell. She just knew it was the most delicious sound she had ever heard in her entire life. When his mouth opened and her tongue swept across his, she realized she had been mistaken… the moan made then was the most delicious sound she had ever heard.
And then his fingers touched her bare back where her shirt met her shorts. What she thought was an inferno earlier had nothing on what was going through her now. She pulled away, slightly, grabbed her shirt, lifted it, and tossed it across the room. She grabbed his shirt, pulling it from his pants. He began to unbutton it as she worked on his belt buckle. As it came free-
The most evil sound she ever heard came from across her room.
Her hand slid under her pillow, grabbed the hilt of her knife, and in one swoop the offending alarm clock was dead. She sat up, blinking as she pushed her hair out of her face. "Damn," she said softly. She looked over and saw the knife buried in the alarm clock.
She had dreamt him showing up and knocking on her door.
"I need a shower," she muttered, as she closed her eyes and wondered if the real Chuck tasted as good as the dream Chuck. She quickly yanked her eyes open before she could return to the fantasy.
"A cold shower."
}o{
She was signing off on a work order at the Nerd Herd desk, her back to the front door, when she realized he was right beside her. He was leaning on the desk, back also to the door, elbow on it, hand supporting his head.
"Oh! Hi!" she said, a little surprised and taken aback. She found herself staring at his lips, wondering how they tasted.
"You okay?" he asked, concern on his face. He took his hand and felt her forehead. "You're a little warm, and look flushed."
"Just nerves," she blurted out. Good Lord. Nerves. When did Agent Sarah Walker ever have nerves? That would be never, that's when… absolutely never. But when this kind, beautiful man in his button-up shirt, jeans, and Chucks leaned next to her, her nerves showed up, and brought all of the nerves she had repressed on every mission ever.
"Whatever we screw up, it's not your fault," he said, trying to reassure her. He stood up, and she found herself turning toward him. He took her hand, and she swore electricity should be jumping off it. "Sarah, whatever happens, you got us a shot. If we screw it up, which considering it's Jeff and Lester and the rest of the Nerd Herd, so…"
"It probably will?" she asked, wincing.
Chuck shrugged. "Someone very important to me once said some very wise words." She found herself hanging on his every word. Now, I know, JEFFSTER!," and Sarah leaned back at the way he said it, giggling, "is going to be a train wreck, and you know it's going to be a train wreck. But right now, what's the harm?"
"Wait, I said that to you," Sarah said, as it dawned on her.
"Like I said, someone very important to me," Chuck told her. "Listen, the other day at practice, if I made you uncomfortable-"
"No, no, no, perfectly comfortable on my end," Sarah replied. Dear God, she was nearly babbling. She tried to get control of her mouth, and then she looked at his lips and thought about getting control of his mouth.
"Well, I still owe you a dinner, and wondered if you'd like to go as friends, and split the bill."
Sarah stared at him. She started to speak, and she could see panic start to rise in Chuck's face. "No, I don't think so," she said softly. Chuck gave her a sad smile, but nodded.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You see, I need to make up for the other day, so I am going to pay."
"Sarah," he said, beginning to protest. She couldn't help the grin that appeared on her lips.
"What's wrong, Chuck? Can't let a friend pay for dinner?" Sarah asked.
"Well, if you pay, I'm worried you'd have a certain set of expectations from me," he bantered back easily, before he realized what was coming out of his mouth. His eyes began to widen.
Sarah couldn't help herself. She found that was her natural setting around Chuck Bartowski; she just couldn't help herself. "I suspect not only would you meet said expectations, but pass them easily."
"I suspect you're the first person to ever think that," Chuck replied, honesty pouring out of him. He noticed that when he was around her. He just said what he felt. He did it around others, but with her, the filter was just nonexistent.
"I think you're wrong," she replied. "But anyone who didn't think what I just said, is a damn fool."
Chuck stood stock-still, his mouth open in shock.
"Charles, do you mind joining us?" Lester said, interrupting their moment.
"Go," she said softly, a proud look on her face. "Show them how good you are." She squeezed his hand, and he smiled at her. He walked toward Lester, glancing over his shoulder at her. She winked at him.
As he turned the other way, she wondered what the hell she was doing.
}o{
"Dude, why would you pick that!?" Chuck hissed at Lester. The crowd was booing and jeering. A few of their songs had been okay, but when Lester said he had to sing I'll Never Let You Go by Steelheart, Chuck had asked him if he had lost his damn mind. Lester replied that he was the front man, and he would pick the songs.
Chuck began to play, and prayed Lester hit the high notes. Either his prayers were ignored, or there was no higher being that could save those notes. When Lester hit the first Let you Go! off-key, Chuck worried his ears might bleed. He saw Big Mike grab a pair of noise canceling headphones and quickly put them on.
Boos rained down on the group, and Lester looked terrified. "Do something!" Lester pleaded. Chuck gave him an incredulous look.
"What am I supposed to do?" Chuck asked.
"Folks, for you listening pleasure, Charles is going to play and sing to you!" And with that, Lester fled, followed by the rest of the band. Chuck found himself alone. He had no idea what to do.
He looked out at the crowd, and found two blue eyes looking back at him. They locked with his, and everyone else seemed to melt away. "You got this," he saw her lips say.
"Uh, can someone get me a stool please?" Chuck asked. He was wracking his brain, and had an idea. Sarah brought him a stool, and he sat down.
"Need anything else?" she asked. He shook his head. She went to the mic. "Ladies and gentlemen, Chuck Bartowski is going to grace us with a song."
There was a light smattering of applause. She turned to him. "Look at me if you need to," she told him.
"You sure?" he asked. She grinned at him. "Okay."
He took a deep breath.
One, two, one, two, three, four
He began to strum the guitar and whistle. The playing picked up as the whistling intensified. Sarah locked eyes with him, holding her chin up. Chuck began to sing.
Shed a tear cause I'm missing you
I'm still alright to smile
Girl I think about you every day now
Was a time when I wasn't sure but you
Set my mind at ease
There is no doubt you're in my heart now
Said woman take it slow and it'll work itself out fine
All we need is just a little patience
Said sugar make it slow and we'll come together fine
All we need is just a little patience
(Patience)
Sarah let the words wash over her. If only it was that simple. If only it took patience to get where she wanted to get them. Chuck Bartowski deserved everything in the world, and her past would do nothing but destroy him and his goodness.
He continued singing.
I sit here on the stairs cause I'd rather be alone
If I can't have you right now I'll wait dear
Sometimes I get so tense but I can't speed up the time
But you know love there's one more thing to consider
Said woman take it slow and things will be just fine
You and I'll just use a little patience
Said sugar take the time cause the lights are shining bright
You and I've got what it takes to make it
We won't fake it
I'll never break it
Cause I can't take it
He began a guitar solo, looking down at the guitar as he played. She didn't know if he did it for him, for her, or he just needed to watch himself play. Whatever it was, she was thankful for the break. She steeled herself, because she knew the full-on Chuck assault was coming, and she both dreaded and welcomed it.
Little patience, yeah
Need a little patience, yeah
Just a little patience, yeah
(Some more patience) I've been
Walking the streets at night, (yeah-yeah)
Just trying to get it right
It's hard to see with so many around (Could use some patience)
You know I don't like being stuck in
The crowd (Gotta have some Patience yeah)
And the streets don't change but maybe the names
I ain't got time for the game cause I need you
Yeah yeah yeah
Cause I need you
Ooo I need you (All it takes is patience)
Whoa I need you (Just a little patience)
Ooh all this time (Is all you need)
He finished, and the crowd erupted.
"CHUCK BARTOWSKI, Ladies and Gentlemen!" Big Mike yelled into the mic. "And now, the moment you've been waiting for; our registers are open!" Everyone started for the registers, to get the copy of the game they'd preordered.
Sarah just stood there, her eyes still locked on Chuck's.
"Gonna need a lot of cold showers," she thought to herself.
a/n: Today's music included Patience by Guns N' Roses