a/n: CQ: ….

DC: ….

CQ: …

DC: …

CQ: *Throws hands in the air* FINE!

*DC grins*

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

He looked down at the text she had sent him.

Thank you.

He held a beer bottle, two fingers around the neck, looking out the window as he sat on the ledge, watching the city and the nighttime sky. Why had he said what he had to her? Why did he double down in song? He knew what she needed and, selfishly, he had to tell her; he had to sing it to her.

Part of her probably hated him. She had told him over and over what he could not do, and damn if he didn't go and do it anyway. The door opened, and Chuck looked over to see Jeff and Lester march in.

"How the hell did you get in here?" Chuck asked.

"We told them that there was a rock star in here not responding to our calls, and since we were your bandmates, we were better prepared to deal with you," Lester replied.

Jeff looked at Lester, belched, and turned to Chuck. "We stole a key off of the cleaning lady."

"That tracks," Chuck muttered, turning back to the skyline.

"Chuckster… Charles…" Lester began.

Chuck ignored him.

"Chuck, you're messing up my honeys." Chuck slowly turned back to Lester, wondering if he'd heard correctly. "You are making it difficult for me to get out of this trip what…well… what I am in it for."

"The ladies," Jeff told Chuck.

"I am telling this, Jeffery," Lester told Jeff, annoyed.

"Not very well," Jeff pointed out. "He's out there singing, his heart breaking, and everyone is wanting to drop their-"

"HEY!" Chuck yelled, cutting off Jeff before he could say anything else. "Is there a point as to why you two are in here?"

"We have to help you get your woman back, so that we can go back to being the stars," Lester explained.

"I don't think I need your help," Chuck told them, taking the bottle to the recycling and throwing it in.

"We are amazing at getting women," Lester insisted.

"You just came in here to tell me how I am messing you up," Chuck reminded him. Lester started to speak, his index finger pointing at Chuck, when he realized what Chuck had said. He stopped mid-gesture, and Chuck crossed his arms, waiting to hear the foolishness that was inevitably coming out of Lester's mouth. Lester straightened.

"You may have a point," he acknowledged. "But for the love of God, can you please do something about you and Sarah?"

"There is no me-and-Sarah," Chuck told him. "We're on a break, according to her."

"So, she's out getting some, and you're pouting," Lester replied. Chuck's eyes narrowed, and Lester stepped back. "Or-or, maybe she is giving you space to find yourself on this trip and willyoulookatthetime." With that, he fled the room.

"She loves you, man," Jeff said with a shrug. "I'm high, and even I can see that." Jeff turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

"What in the hell was I thinking, joining this band?" he muttered to himself.

}o{

When Chuck preformed the next two nights, it was songs that weren't aimed at Sarah. He needed to give her space to work out whatever it was she needed to work out. Or go out with whoever she needed to go out with. He walked off stage the second night to a thunderous ovation, blowing a breath out through his lips, confused and discouraged.

"Hey, Chuck!" Anna bellowed at him. "You pissed at her?"

"Huh?" Chuck replied, completely confused.

"Sarah just texted me, wanting to know if you were pissed at her."

"Uh, no, I just thought-"

"She asked if you're not pissed at her, then why aren't you playing songs for her?" Anna cut in. "What the hell, Chuck? I thought you liked her."

"Anna, this whole thing is confusing the hell out of me," Chuck admitted.

"No shit," she said, walking off. "Play something tomorrow night to blow her socks off."

Chuck stood there, confused as could be.

}o{

He took his place on a stool, the spotlight brightly illuminating him. In front of him stood a keyboard.

"I want to thank everyone tonight for being here. I hope you have enjoyed the show." He cleared his throat and wiped his hands on his pants, as the crowd cheered. Once they again quieted, he continued, "I think most of us have found ourselves in a relationship with someone, that we think is right for us, only later to learn that it was not right."

There was a murmuring of agreement in the crowd. "And then… then you meet someone, and that someone shows you exactly who you are." Chuck looked right at the camera. "For a long time, you had this idea of who you are, and then when you meet certain people in your life, everything changes. You learn that you can be more than you thought, because of them. Because of their belief in you." He reached as if to play and then stopped.

"My sister used to tell me that you know when that person is right for you, because you can't go too far. When you find the right person… when you love them, you cannot go too far."

Sarah took a deep breath in her room, watching the broadcast. Well, she had messaged him that he hadn't sung for her in a while. She was interested in where he went next. It was their game, for her to know it was about her, for him to know it was about her, but for no one else to know.

"So for everyone out there, that will do whatever you have to for love; to those of you out there who are doing whatever you have to, for love… This is for you." He began to play on the keyboard.

She blew out a breath listening to him. He was so good at their game… except the one time he wasn't. She was furious at him about that, if she was being honest.

She was furious that she found out someone felt that way.

She was furious how good it made her feel that he felt that way.

She was furious about how many demons she was having to confront in her head over it. And about her father showing up, and the past that she was being forced to deal with.

She really thought she might just slap the taste out of Chuck's mouth when she next saw him…

…and then kiss it, and make it all better.

She shook her head and focused on the performance on the screen.

How can I just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace

When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh

You're the only one who really knew me at all

She sighed. It went both ways.

He was the only one that knew her, and she was the only one that knew him. No one had ever known her, but Chuck Bartowski did. She blew out a rough breath. She had asked for this… could she take it?

How can you just walk away from me,

When all I can do is watch you leave

Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears

You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, oh there's just an empty space

And there's nothing left here to remind me,

Just the memory of your face

Ooh take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space

And you coming back to me is against the odds and that's what I've got to face

She heard the pain in his voice. She knew what he was saying. The way they had left it, the way she had told him they were taking a break, he thought he had lost her. The thing he didn't realize was that he'd never lose her. She wasn't strong enough to push him away, not for something as silly as the rules she made up. She had made those rules to protect herself, because she had known herself. And even though he had broken one, he didn't do it and then flaunt it. She knew he was mad at himself for what he did, and a normal sane person would have let him know it was fine, but she… she was a hot damn mess.

And the thing that got her, the thing that made her cry herself to sleep every night, was that Chuck Bartowski knew what a hot damn mess she was, and he kept putting himself out there. She had to talk to him, but not when he was on the road. It had to be when he was back. That said, she had to do something for him; she had to let him know.

But Lord, she had no idea how.

I wish I could just make you turn around,

Turn around and see me cry

There's so much I need to say to you,

So many reasons why

You're the only one who really knew me at all

She chuckled at the irony. This stanza wasn't about Chuck, this was about her. There were so many things she needed to say to him, not the other way around.

So take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space

And there's nothing left here to remind me, just the memory of your face

Now take a look at me now, cause there's just an empty space

But to wait for you, is all I can do and that's what I've got to face

Take a good look at me now, cause I'll still be standing here

And you coming back to me is against all odds

It's the chance I've gotta take

Take a look at me now

The crowd roared as he sang the last note. Chuck stood, gave a bow, and began to speak when he felt his phone go off. He bowed again, waved and headed to the back.

"Chuck," Anna began.

"Not now," Chuck said, pulling out his phone. "Someone texted me." Anna smiled at him, squeezed his bicep, turned, and stared at the rest of the band coming toward him.

"Leave him alone," she said in a low icy voice. Everyone drew back, except for Jeff.

"She's probably texting him her panties," Jeff said. Chuck started to read the text, but heard what Jeff said, and could only blink for a moment. He shook his head, getting rid of that mental image, then looked down.

Not bad. We really need to talk when you get back.

Chuck stood there a minute, and decided in for a penny, in for a pound.

We talking my kind of talk, or your kind of talk?

Dots appeared, and his heart was in his throat.

Why not both?

Chuck nearly fell over. He noticed she was still typing.

I do have one question though… Is that the best you got?

Chuck stared at his phone. She was really gonna do this? Really? He took a deep breath, and begin to type.

Careful, if I pull out the big guns, you might go and fall in love with me.

He watched the screen and saw the dots pop up. Finally, a message appeared.

I've warned you, if I fall in love with you, it would be the worst thing.

Chuck stared at his phone, and in that moment, he knew the song.

Final night of the tour, find something to hold on to, and when you fall in love with me, understand, you are the one who challenged me.

He watched the dots.

If I fall in love with you, then you'll know what a real challenge is. Go, have fun.

There's no one else but you, Sarah.

You're an idiot. But there's no one else for me either.

Chuck didn't know what in the hell they were doing, but he figured with both confused, maybe they could stumble along… together.

}o{

The crowd was screaming for Chuck.

It was the last night of the tour, and as he walked to his stool, he was worried. She had told him to go for it. He felt his pocket buzz. "Excuse me, my manager is texting me," he told the audience, making everyone laugh. He pulled out his phone and looked.

Don't hold back

"I have to work tomorrow," he told the crowd, making everyone laugh. He reached over and picked up his guitar. "Have you ever had thoughts about someone, thoughts you meant to keep to yourself?"

Sarah's mouth slowly opened, as she realized she might have stepped in it. He was referencing thoughts he was supposed to keep to himself. Like the thoughts of the last time they had slept together… the last time they had made love?

"And then, then you say those thoughts out loud, and you open yourself up to someone? And once you open yourself up to someone… there's no putting that genie back in the bottle. There's no putting that toothpaste back in the tube. It's out, and then you have to trust that person with your deepest, most intimate thoughts."

She had told him not to hold back, and he wasn't. And that's why, she realized, that she loved him. He was vulnerable to her. He let her see everything… the first man in her life that had done so. By seeing him that way, she realized how bad every other man in her life had been. It nearly broke her to have to recognize how she had been treated, how she had been used.

God, part of her hated him for it, and part of her loved him for it. It was a ninety-five/five split on the love to hate, and the hate was lessening each day. But it was there because he made her realize things that she might have been aware of in passing, but was now fully, consciously aware of.

She intimately knew how badly she had been treated.

"So, I've said some thoughts out loud, and I think maybe it's time I let all my thoughts out." Chuck began to play.

When your legs don't work like they used to before

And I can't sweep you off of your feet

Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?

Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?

And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70

And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23

And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe just the touch of a hand

Well, me—I fall in love with you every single day

And I just wanna tell you I am

So, honey, now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are

Jesus Christ. What the hell had she been thinking, challenging Chuck like that. Tears were pouring down her face. He loved her. She loved him. But how was she supposed to reconcile that? The last man she told she loved, in fact the only man, had used her for his own gain. And while Chuck would never do that to her, he was damned by her past with her father.

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades

And the crowds don't remember my name

When my hands don't play the strings the same way (mmm...)

I know you will still love me the same

'Cause, honey, your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen

And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory

I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe it's all part of a plan

Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes

Hoping that you'll understand

He had made a mistake. He made the biggest mistake he could have, that morning. And she knew he was going to keep on making that mistake. She knew that they were a mistake, but damn it, didn't she deserved to be loved? Didn't she deserve to be cared for, for who she was?

The tears were flowing. Over the next seventy to eighty years of her life, she would have to remember not to challenge Chuck Bartowski, because he did not play fair.

That, baby, now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Place your head on my beating heart

Thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are (oh, oh)

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, lo-ud

So, baby, now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

But maybe we found love right where we are

Oh, baby, we found love right where we are

And we found love right where we are

The crowd roared in approval and Chuck stood, his hand up to the audience. Tears were in his eyes. He felt his phone vibrate. He continued to acknowledge the fans as he made his way backstage. Everyone was standing there, waiting.

"Dude, what did she say?" Morgan asked.

He pulled out his phone and looked at it.

"Dude?" Morgan said again.

"It says, I'll see you when you get home."

"What does that mean?" Morgan asked.

"I have no idea," Chuck admitted. "No idea."

a/n: Today's music includes Against All Odds by Phil Collins and Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

Next time:

"You're not much on making money, are you kid?" Jack observed. "Got a trust fund?"

Chuck laughed. "No, no I do not," he admitted. "I'm a paycheck from living on the streets."

"The hell," Sarah muttered, before she could stop herself. Jack turned to her, an eyebrow raised. Sarah rolled her eyes at herself and huffed. "Dad, this is my boyfriend, Chuck. Chuck, my dad, Jack Burton."

"Pleasure, Sir," Chuck said, shaking his hand.

*EDC nods in approval*