A/N: Sarah and Chuck had a great non-date, which helped her forget her problems, for a while. However, she does have a rent challenge…
Thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter. Still surprised at how much people like this, but really appreciate it.
MarkeyDeSad has kindly beta'd again, both Americanizing it and helping enhance some of it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck or the companies he or Sarah work for, but I do have many years of employment behind me; many, many years.
Anger Management
Chapter 4: Working and Talking
It had been two weeks since that wonderful day with Chuck at the beach and the pier. Sarah clung on to that memory as she fought with her anger at everything else.
She had told her mom about the raise in her rent, but not the "alternative payment" suggestion. So, Sarah shouldn't have been surprised when asked for her bank details to transfer some money over. Sarah tried to persuade her mom not to do that, but she was adamant, so Sarah reluctantly accepted it, but only for the first month and said that she'd pay it back. Now Sarah was focused on that. Earning more money.
Scooter was happy to let her work overtime. It meant he didn't have to do the work. So, now she started at 9am and finished at 7pm. With, at most, a half hour break; that was over ten hours a day.
The mornings weren't so bad, cleaning the place, receiving stock and putting it away, and doing regular stock checks. It was hard work, but none of the ogling, apart from a brief time when the delivery men arrived.
The extended hours at the end weren't so good, though. She now knew that the teenager wave didn't last. They obviously headed home, but the following was the 'let out of jail' office workers, who came here after finishing at work. Some of these obviously didn't have partners and loitered. Some even tried to touch her, usually getting slapped wrists in the process. Behaving like that around her, she'd be amazed if they ever got a date.
Her protector, Chuck, was also working longer hours, around his Nerd Herd shifts. She had gone over after work one time, and was told he was working in the back. His boss, Big Mike, had taken her there.
Chuck was penned in, in a cage, surrounded by computers in various states of disrepair. He wasn't pacing around, like a caged animal, just concentrating, with the tip of his tongue peeking out of the side of his mouth where his teeth had it pinned. He looked really cute.
It seemed he was keeping to his offer, or was that a promise? She hadn't asked him to do this, but it looked like he was working extra hours to save money for her. For her! No one had ever done that before and she never thought anyone would. This was a very special man and she was so, so glad she had him in her life.
Her landlord had looked pleased to get the full rent for the month, but, at the same time, was disappointed at how she was paying it. That further exacerbated the pressure to make changes in her life.
So, she had to get a new job, somewhere better paying that this one, and she needed to find somewhere else to live.
How the hell could she do either of those things when she was working such long hours and having no days off?
She desperately wanted to talk to Chuck about this. Why? She had no idea. He was in a dead end, poorly paying job and had been that way for years. On top of that, he still lived with his sister and had never found a place of his own. With that experience, or lack thereof, how could he possibly be of any help?
She knew the answer. He calmed her; put her at ease. He enabled her to breathe and think things through. He might even have some suggestions. He was smart, an attractive quality, but also a very useful one.
She really needed to make the time to talk to him about all this.
Of course, that was not the only reason. She missed him. She'd only known him for a short time, but still she missed him. A lot.
Obviously, having a friend like him was addictive.
Chuck was, as the phrase goes, working his socks off.
Thankfully, he loved the work he was doing while he was pulling his overtime shift. More so than the Nerd Herd work, if he was honest. Although he did miss the human interaction that went with his real job. It's just that rebuilding these computers gave him a much greater sense of achievement.
The stacks of broken computers on his left side were, very slowly, dropping. It'd be a long time before he got through them all and more would certainly appear on the pile before that.
The pile of computers with known problems were on his right. This pile was gradually rising. These were awaiting parts, which he'd ordered, but hadn't received yet.
The unfixable pile was outside the cage, off to the right, but not too close to the exit. They should be safe there, but he needed to tell Morgan, or even Big Mike, about those. These were computers that he couldn't fix or would be too expensive to fix, like the one on the top that needed the whole motherboard replacing. Someone would have to tell the owners of the computers about them, but that wasn't his problem. He'd get one of the others to do that.
The fixed pile was also outside the cage, with the details of the repairs and cost of the parts. Again, not his responsibility anymore, while he was working back here. In the morning, he'd place those orders.
This was all important, for the customers, for the Buy More, but, most importantly for the overtime.
He knows he often goes overboard helping people, but this was for Sarah Freaking Walker, that gorgeous blonde that had come into his life and turned it upside down. He'd do whatever he could to help her with her financial crisis.
She hadn't asked him to do this, he had just decided he would.
He knew he was sinking deeper and deeper, but he couldn't stop himself. She was important and she needed to be saved from the fate her landlord proposed.
Thankfully, Big Mike had agreed to him just doing the Nerd Herd day shift for the foreseeable future. The others grumbled, but when they knew his plans, and how they could avoid the cage, they stopped.
So, he worked his Nerd Herd shift and then started his repair shift. Each day. It was exhausting, but she was worth it.
So worth it.
All he had done for the last two weeks, since he started this regime, was get up when his alarm went off, showered, dressed, eaten cereal, made sandwiches, gone to work, done these two shifts, eating briefly, gone home, and staggered to bed. Then repeated the next day.
Oh yeah, and have Ellie telling him off for working such long hours, when she had breakfast at the same time. He so appreciated that!
He hadn't seen Sarah since this all started. He would soon, when he got paid and he could give her some money.
He missed those blue eyes he felt he could get lost in.
At some point, the two of them needed to sit down and plan her escape from the Wienerlicious to a new job. He had no idea what she could do. He doesn't even know what she had done before coming here.
She was a complete mystery, apart from the fact she had two ex-boyfriends that cheated on her. He still found that almost unbelievable. If she were his girlfriend, he sure as heck would never even think of any other woman than her, he was sure of that. He didn't know who these idiots were, but he wanted to, just so he could look into their pasts to try to understand what made them like that. If Sarah was attracted to them, she needed to be helped to avoid these types again.
Of course, he also wants to know what attracted her to them. Maybe he could emulate their positive behavior, be like them, so she could be attracted to him, too.
God, he so wanted her to be attracted to him!
They also need to find her another apartment, away from that pervy Landlord. She hadn't told him what her rent cost, before or now, just that she couldn't afford the rent hike. He needed to know what she can afford so he can help her with her search.
Of course, a different job would mean what she could afford would change.
He put his head in his hands. God, this is complicated!
At the back of his mind, he also was worried that she'd move away from the area, for the job, and he might not be able to see her anymore. I so hope not!
Can I see you today?
Sarah stared at the text. The first from Chuck in two and a half weeks. She doesn't do anything else, just stare.
It's not that she didn't want to see him. She really did. She was kicking herself. They could've been texting each other every day for the last seventeen days. Why hadn't she thought of that?
She had thought he was working overtime to earn more money, so that he could give some to her. What if it was for some other purpose?
Maybe he had not texted her before because he didn't really want to interact with her.
She cast her mind back, trying to remember if she had been her usual self around him. Have I frightened him off? Have I lost my friend?
Maybe he'd just been trying to work out how to tell her. He was kind hearted. He wouldn't have just told her to piss off, he'd take time to think of a nicer way to say it.
That's why he wanted to see her now. He'd worked out how to say it.
God! She doesn't want to see him at her apartment to hear that. Or his. Both would be so uncomfortable for her.
She'd see him here. Or better, in the parking lot. That way she can either let rip at him or come back in here and maybe yell at the next pervert.
She sent him the text.
Parking lot outside. 2pm.
Would he go for that?
He didn't immediately. She thought he'd decided not to even talk. Then a text came through.
Okay. Can we sit just outside? Or in Lou's?
That was it! Lou had finally gotten her claws into him. That's why he didn't want another girl around. Not even as a friend. Sarah wouldn't like that if she was his girlfriend. Damn that brunette!
Well, if that was the case. Sarah wanted to make them squirm. Make it awkward for them. So, she replied.
Lou's. Meet there.
At least she could watch them squirm. Take notes. When she wasn't shouting at the two of them.
He was already sitting at the same table, by the window, when she got there. She was surprised to see two coffees on the table. Was one of them for Lou? Lou was still standing behind the counter. She didn't have any customers right now, but wasn't making any move to sit with Chuck.
Chuck looked up and waved Sarah towards him. She walked over.
He smiled at her. Do people reject friends with a smile?
She'd only ever been rejected by those two boyfriends, so didn't have a lot to compare this to. They didn't smile. They got annoyed, but before that they'd both screwed someone else.
She didn't think Chuck would do that if she was his girlfriend, in fact she was sure he wouldn't, but they're just friends, so why had that entered her mind?
As she got closer, he nodded towards the coffee in front of the other chair. "Got you a skinny latte, like you had last time." He looked at her tentatively. "Hope that's okay."
Softening her up before going in for the kill? She wouldn't show weakness.
She sat and just said, "Thanks."
He just looked at her for a while. If she didn't know better, she'd think he was looking fondly at his friend. As she looked back at him, into those brown eyes, she was reminded how much she had missed him and she was going to miss him more after this talk.
She swallowed hard. Why do I feel this upset? It's only a friendship.
"Get it over with, Chuck," she growled at him.
He looks surprised and uncertain. "Ge- get what over with?"
She waved her hand at him and snapped, "This!" she paused, then stated, "Whatever you want to say." She was getting annoyed now.
"That I've got some money for you?" he asked, looking very confused.
That completely floored her. Her jaw dropped and she just stared at him, looking like a goldfish. "W- what?"
He gathered himself up. "I've been working overtime. I know you didn't ask, but I decided I would do it anyway. I was paid today, so I can give you some to help with your rent."
She actually cried, hearing that. She couldn't tell if they were tears of happiness or just a release from the tension she'd felt brewing.
He reached across the table and grasped her wrist, speaking softly. "Don't cry, Sarah. We'll make this work."
She pulled herself together and scooted round the table to the chair next to him. She hugged him. Hard. Then she whispered into his ear. "Thank you, Chuck. You're the best."
As they separated, he had a big smile, almost stretching from ear to ear. "You're welcome, Sarah. If that's what I get for doing it, I'll keep doing it."
She laughed and swatted his nearest arm.
She reached across the table and pulled the latte to her and took a sip.
She probably shouldn't tell him, but decided she couldn't keep it in. "I thought you'd worked out how to tell me to get lost, in a gentle way, and were going to do it here, in front of your girlfriend."
Chuck was shocked. "Why would I want to tell you that, Sarah? And, girlfriend?"
"Because it's not fair on her." She nodded her head towards Lou, who now was talking to a customer.
Chuck couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Lou? You think Lou is my girlfriend?"
She just nodded and took a longer drink.
He shook his head, incredulously. "First of all, Lou's not interested in me and, secondly, I'm not in the least bit interested in her." He should really stop there, but this had been gnawing at him now for seventeen days. "There's only one girl I'm interested in, and she's not interested in me."
If she was polite, she'd not ask, but that was not Sarah, the woman who wanted to know about everyone else, while hiding herself. Frowning, she asked, "Do I know her?" Why do I feel I don't like her?
He realized he'd probably said too much, so just nodded, hoping she would leave it at that.
I need to ask more specific questions, she thought. "Who is it?"
Chuck looked frozen, like the proverbial deer in the headlights. He looked away.
Sarah didn't like secrets. She may have a ton of her own, but she didn't like others keeping secrets from her. She knew that was hypocritical, but it was the way she was.
She wanted to know who this was so she could make sure the woman didn't hurt her friend. Right?
She grabbed his chin and pulled him back to face her and demanded, "Tell me, Chuck."
He swallowed. Those eyes boring into him. He couldn't lie to her. He wished he'd never said anything. She wouldn't take silence for an answer. He didn't want her shouting, not in here. "It's you, Sarah."
This was the last thing she'd expected. She was shocked. "Me?" she squeaked. Although, maybe she shouldn't be so surprised. He had asked her out before. I'm just dumb! Nothing but a dumb blonde!
"Sarah, I asked you out two and a half weeks ago. I know you don't want to be in a relationship with me, well, anybody. But I wouldn't change my mind, unless you say you'd never..." He trailed off.
She just stared at him. It made him feel uncomfortable. At least she'd let go of his chin.
Her voice was quiet. "I- I'm not… not ready to date, Chuck," she finally told him, just like she'd told him before.
"I'm not pushing you, Sarah. Remember, you made me tell you."
After a few seconds, she nodded. She had forced him.
He then asked something from her. "Tell me about your boyfriends, Sarah."
She looked at him, angrily now. "You want to be like them? You think that'll attract me to you?"
That was part of what he'd had in mind, but that look she was giving him said, don't!
"It might help me understand you better, that's all," he hedged. God, that sounds weak! Why did I say that?
She smirked. "Too frightened to just ask me about me?" She took another drink, looking over the rim at him.
He tried not to flinch. "Maybe." He then thought of something better. "Maybe if I find out that either of them comes here, I can let you know."
It was actually kinda sweet, she thought. "Okay. Just a bit about each, then."
She didn't like thinking about either of them, but would. For Chuck.
She started, "Let's start with the most recent, although he's not likely to follow me. Ryan Johnson is the son of the owner of the last company I worked for."
Chuck interrupted her, "Wait. What company was this?"
Sarah didn't like to be interrupted, certainly not so early in what she was going to say, but replied, "An accounting firm." She saw he was opening his mouth to ask another question, so she stopped that by saying, "I had a clerical job there."
He opened his mouth again, so she then glared at him and growled, "Chuck, don't interrupt me or I'll stop."
He looked admonished and closed his mouth.
Sarah waited a few seconds, to make sure he said nothing else, before she restarted. "I had been in Chicago for a while and had gotten over the last betrayal. Getting a job there seemed a blessing. I had previously worked in a similar company, so knew my way around. I didn't see Ryan for a long time. He had no reason to come down where I worked. He must have seen me when I had to take some paperwork up to his area.
"Anyway, he chased me. Relentlessly, for several weeks, before I agreed to go out with him."
Chuck was itching to ask, but kept his mouth shut, tightly. Sarah could see this. The story she was telling wasn't one she enjoyed or had told anyone else, other than her mom. However, seeing him bottling up his questions like that, was so funny. It made her smile, slightly. She stopped her narrative and leaned back. "Go on. Ask whatever it is you are bottling up."
"Thank you for telling me all this, Sarah. I didn't expect so much, but you haven't told me what Ryan himself was like."
She chuckled. That was right. She hadn't and that was what he'd asked for. She bumped his shoulder. "He's not your competition, Chuck."
Then she thought about what she'd just said and panicked. Looking at him, worrying he would take that as an invitation. What she saw in his eyes, just showed mirth. She had gotten away with that.
She restarted her story. "Okay. He was shorter than you. About my height. He had short, black hair. He always dressed smartly; debonair you'd probably call him. He didn't own a pair of jeans or any tee shirts. He was attractive. Pretty even. Piercing blue eyes." She paused looking at Chuck. She didn't say it, but thought, nothing like you and nowhere near as attractive as you are.
"Now I look back, there was also a hardness to his appearance. He rarely smiled." She shook her head. Why did I find him in anyway attractive?
"There were other men in the office who looked at me and wanted to know me, but I shut them down, sometimes quite hard and in front of others." She smiled at Chuck. "You know what a friendly person I am."
Chuck laughed.
Sarah continued, "Ryan was persistent, though. I guess I was seduced more by his wealth than anything else. I'd never had money growing up and the bright lights, luxury cars, fabulous parties, huge apartments all drew me in, but now I see how empty it all was and that I'd only ever been another shiny bauble to Ryan."
Thinking about that lifestyle was hard now. She'd never have that again. "Moving in with him was such a change for me. I had never experienced such grandeur. I think I was just bemused by it, dazzled even." And she had been, for months.
"I thought I had found what I wanted in life. I now know it wasn't. Material goods were what I had wanted all my life, but I realize now that isn't all I need. What's the phrase? 'Money can't buy happiness' or something like that. I was surrounded by wonderful things, but gradually I realized I wasn't happy. I became more like myself, I guess. Angry Sarah. Snapping at him, possibly even needling him. Ryan became less and less happy around me, unless we went out. I guess that's understandable. He seemed to like showing me off, though. Another phrase… 'arm candy'. I think that's all I was to him."
She shook her head. How could she have been so stupid?
She suddenly felt a warm hand wrapping itself around her wrist. She looked up at Chuck and his kind face. So, so different to Ryan's.
"So, you said he cheated on you?" Chuck prompted.
That brought her back to their conversation. "Yeah. I didn't catch him at it, though." That made her chuckle for some reason.
She took a deep breath. "I guess my attitude and anger didn't match his expectations of a girlfriend!" They both laughed at that.
"By the end, I felt like he often treated me as property, but I didn't have enough savings to match the life I was now leading, but the arguments certainly got us both down."
After another deep breath she talked about the end. "Ryan's mother was the one who owned the accounting firm at which I worked. I didn't think she approved of me. Maybe thought I was a gold digger. I was wrong.
"One Saturday, when Ryan was away on business, she turned up to see me. I thought she'd come to say I wasn't good enough for her son, but she actually told me she liked me and Ryan was a cheat, just like his father was. She told me he had another girlfriend, a woman that worked with him and was away with him on that business trip. She apologized for his behavior. I was stunned. Cheated on again!
"Ryan was due back the next day, so I just seethed all night, on my own.
"The next day, in the office, I didn't see Ryan when he got back from the trip. Instead, I got a visit from his other woman. This attractive woman in a business suit turned up at my desk. She was fed up with him still being with me, 'because I was pretty.' She had a much more senior position than mine, even worked on the same floor as Ryan. It turned out that they'd been together for three months by then; having sex at her place.
"Everyone heard us. Me yelling at her, calling her what she was." She shook her head. "I told my supervisor I was leaving and not to hold onto my desk for me."
Remembering that day was draining. "I went back to the apartment and started packing my things. I didn't have much. I was going to do what I'd done before. Just get out of town.
"Ryan turned up and I started yelling at him. I don't regret that one bit. He didn't even look apologetic. He was angry at me, for God's sake! Pissed at me for yelling at the girl he would marry. Marry! They'd only been seeing each other, behind my back, for three months! I told him where he could shove it and stormed out."
"That must have been a terrible way for it to end," Chuck said, quietly.
She looked at the man now sitting with her. No one had ever cared before. He really wanted her to be happy, didn't he?
She considered what he'd just said, and thought about the worse ending. "That wasn't the worst break up, or the worst boyfriend. That spot is reserved for a worm named Bryce fucking Larkin!"
The shocked look on Chuck's face was a complete surprise to her. "B- Bryce?"
A/N: Yes, that Bryce. You were probably expecting it, but Chuck certainly wasn't.
Drop me a review and let me know what you think this time.