A/N: So, Chuck has helped Casey with the attack on Beckman & Associates. The problem is not resolved, but things are becoming clearer. What will happen now?

I am forcing myself to use Daniel Shaw's first name where it seems appropriate. It's funny how we naturally say 'Bryce' rather than 'Larkin', but then 'Shaw' rather than 'Daniel'. Both caused Chuck pain and belittled him, both wanted Sarah for themselves & tried to keep our favorite couple apart. Even before the latter turned evil, I just called him 'Shaw'.

As always, I really appreciate the reviews of the last chapter. Glad that this is still holding your attention.

Thanks to MarkeyDeSad for the beta work again. He turned it around so quickly this time, while still finding lots to correct!

Anger Management
Chapter 12: Visitors

When Chuck's alarm went off in the morning, Sarah and Chuck woke entwined, as usual.

Much as she wanted to make love again, after another night of passion, she knew today was an important one at work and wanted to be prepared for it. She expected Daniel to be taken away and she, Chuck and Casey work on tackling her old company.

She rose and headed to the bathroom leaving a moaning Chuck behind.

By the time Chuck had arisen and showered, she had their breakfast ready and was sitting down drinking her coffee.

Instead of thinking about the day at work, Sarah's head was filled with personal thoughts.

Calling her mom was something she should have done some time ago, but not the only thing. She had stopped her anger management sessions with Ellie. She had justified that to herself as being just too busy, which was sort of true. Then she and Chuck had decided to move their relationship on. Oh God, have we!

She hadn't even thought about it, but had assumed Chuck would've told his sister about them now sleeping together. That's what you do with close siblings, isn't it? If he hadn't, Ellie would know nothing about their current relationship status. Sarah needed to know what Chuck had told her, but she should have talked to her friend as well. Ellie was like the sister she'd never had, but she'd kept this secret from her!

Sarah would invite Ellie over for a meal while her mom was with them on the weekend, but she would try to catch her friend for a chat before that to apologize.

Chuck wandered through from their bedroom, dressed in his Buy More clothes. Sarah had always thought he looked smart in it, but now looked forward to him wearing different clothes going to a different job.

"Chuck, does Ellie know about us?" she asked.

"Good morning to you, too," he replied, then he thought about what she had asked and blanched.

"Shit!" Sarah responded to his look.

"Hold on, hold on. Why would I tell El that we are having sex?" he demanded.

"You know that's not what I mean," she retorted, "I meant that we are sharing a bedroom now. She would want to know, know that we are committed to each other."

His dreamy face told Sarah what he thought about that, which made her feel all warm and loved.

"So, you haven't?" she questioned again.

He blushed. "No, I haven't and you're right I should have told her. She would want to know. It's just not a subject I feel comfortable talking to her about."

"You know, she teased me about wanting to before you were even my boyfriend," Sarah mentioned.

He looked surprised. "Really?"

She nodded, then patted his arm. "I'll tell her. Girl-to-girl. Then we'll invite her and Devon over for a meal when Mom comes on the weekend."

Sarah was twirling her pen over and over as she sat at her desk waiting for Daniel to arrive. He'd submitted his report on Friday, but that was obviously not what she was awaiting.

She expected some dramatic event to happen at his desk, which was obviously delayed by his late arrival.

She couldn't settle to do anything.

"Will you stop doing that!" Carina groaned out at her. "It's driving me mad!"

Sarah looked over at her, sheepishly. "Sorry, Carina. A lot on my mind this morning."

Carina gazed at her. "Well, you're less flushed than normal, and not as happy as normal, either. Trouble in paradise?"

That made Sarah smile. "No. Paradise is still perfect."

Carina huffed. "Then settle down and get on with some work!"

Sarah tried to do that, but started to worry that Daniel had found out what they knew and had deliberately not turned up for work. Would he get away with it, but more importantly, would he go after Chuck and hurt him? That was stupid, she admonished herself. Daniel wouldn't try something like that; he was full of arrogance and self-importance, but not a fighter. Or at least she didn't think he was.

As she thought about it, she guessed that if he didn't turn up, they'd just get the police involved. In fact, why weren't the police involved anyway?

Her desk phone rang and made her jump. "Hello, Sarah Walker," she stated once she picked it up.

"Sarah, it's Gwen. Daniel has just been detained by Casey! Casey was chatting to me, something he never does, and I was starting to wonder what was up. Then Daniel walked in the door and started to walk passed us, when Casey called to him and walked over to him. They had a brief exchange, which I unfortunately couldn't hear and then Casey grabbed his elbow and walked him to Mrs. Beckman's office."

So, that was why he didn't turn up here!

"Have they come out again yet?" Sarah asked, holding her breath.

"No. It all looked pretty serious. I'll let you know when they come out."

Sarah thanked her spy, and put the phone down. It was happening as she sat here! She wished she could be in Mrs. Beckman's office as the drama unfolded, but knew that wouldn't be appropriate. She was, however, excited and couldn't stop grinning.

"So, why the change?" Carina enquired. "Did your boyfriend call you and tell you what he's going to do to you tonight?".

Sarah, still grinning turned to Carina. "Oh, I know exactly what he'll be doing to me tonight. I already knew that!"

Carina barked a short laugh. Then she raised a brow to get Sarah to spill the beans.

Everyone would know later today, so Sarah thought it best for Carina to know sooner. Sarah wheeled her chair to Carina's desk. "Daniel was the one that enabled the breach. Casey apparently just dragged him to Beckman's office."

Carina looked stunned. "Daniel? That sleazeball?"

Sarah nodded. "No one else knows yet, so keep quiet about it."

Carina nodded, then frowned, "How do you know?" Then realization obviously hit her. "Your guy. He's the one that found that out, wasn't it!"

"Yep," Sarah was so proud of him.

"Wow! Your boytoy has more uses than just stoking your fire!" Carina looked impressed. "Thanks for the early heads up, Blondie. Thank you for sharing it with me."

Sarah smiled. "You're my friend, Red."

Carina beamed at her on hearing that. "I am, aren't I!"

Sarah's desk phone rang again, so she scooted over quickly. She didn't even get to answer it properly before Gwen said, "The police arrived and Casey came and took them in there too! I think Daniel's being arrested!"

Sarah had to keep her backside firmly planted on her chair. She felt the need to get down there to talk to Gwen and be there as Daniel was taken away, but if she did, he might guess her involvement.

His departure felt anticlimactic. After all the excitement of the chase, knowing that Daniel was just taken away by the local police, even if others would get involved, just seemed so flat. Sarah didn't know what she'd expected, but all she now felt was hollow. The empty desk next to hers added to that.

However, work wise, things changed significantly.

The news had been presented with an email. It didn't say much, just that Daniel Shaw was assisting the police with investigations into recent problems, that he would not be in the office and any enquiries should be directed to Sarah or Carina.

Sarah would have been overwhelmed if all of it had come her way; she wasn't a Project Manager, just the support. However, Diane Beckman had called the two of them to her office before the announcement and told them that would be happening. Carina had balked at the additional work and that Sarah would have to carry most of it. The boss had pointed out the skill & experience difference meant Carina would need to be involved while they tried to bring in a contract resource until they found a replacement for Daniel. Before that, between them, they would have to cope.

Back at her desk, Sarah pulled up all the details of Daniel's project work and his schedule, looking for meetings, both internal and external, along with planned video and telephone conferences. She would have to bring Carina in on these or handle some herself, if she could.

There was nothing that day, but she decided to contact the internal team leads on the work he was doing to make sure they were all on track with their tasks. This occupied most of the rest of the day, but kept her busy. Carina was in her own meetings all day, so Sarah would catch up with her the next day.

By the end of the day, she was exhausted, but drove home feeling like she was actually achieving more than usual.

All this meant Sarah didn't get involved in the discussions with Casey and Chuck.

After spending so much time with the one client, Chuck had a lot of work awaiting his attention, so had decided to work into the evening at the Buy More. Sarah was not fooled at all. He was deliberately staying away to avoid seeing his sister. This didn't bother Sarah, as she planned to see Ellie on her own, but was a bit surprised that he couldn't be honest with her. It worried her a bit. Is this how it starts?

She pushed such thoughts away and focused on getting ready to see her friend for the first time for what felt like ages.

She reached to knock on their apartment door, when it swung open and she found herself facing the broad chest of Devon Woodcomb who had his head turned back into the apartment. "I'm off now, Babe."

"Okay, Dev. See you later," came the voice from inside.

He swung around and would have walked straight into Sarah if she hadn't already stepped back, noting his attire. He was wearing his blue scrubs.

"Oh! Hi, Sarah. Glad I didn't knock you over," his deep voice rumbled.

She smiled at him. "Hi, Devon. Off to work?"

"Yeah. Emergency. Don't know how LA survived while we were away!"

They both chuckled at that.

"Well, it was good to see you, if only briefly," she commented.

He patted her shoulder. "Yeah. See more of you on the weekend."

"Not too much more! You should only have eyes for me," Ellie said teasingly, walking up behind him.

"Good one, Babe," he said grinning, then gave her a peck on the cheek and rushed off.

"Hi, Ellie. Not seen you for a while," Sarah said, wincing to herself at how that sounded.

Ellie just pulled her into a hug. "Work then vacation getting in the way. Missed you too." Releasing Sarah, she stood back and said, "Come in, come in."

As they walked into the living room, Ellie asked, "No Chuck?"

"No. He's working late at the Buy More," she replied.

Ellie's features darkened. "Damn that place."

Sarah nodded. She couldn't tell Ellie that he would soon be escaping, that was his news to tell.

Without asking, Ellie poured Sarah a glass of wine from the bottle on the table. Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Well, Devon's not drinking it now, so his loss, your gain."

Sarah chuckled and took the glass and sat down on the couch.

"I was going to save all the details of our vacation until the weekend," Ellie started. "Have you come to talk about our sessions?"

Sarah shook her head. "No, Ellie. I'm not sure I need them anymore."

The older woman grinned. "Cured you, has he?"

Sarah hadn't really thought that much about it, but it was true. He had. "I think he was doing that from the first time I met him, if I'm honest, but even more so now."

Ellie looked at her closely for a second and then her eyes opened wide. "You're sleeping together!"

Sarah blushed, but grinned and happily nodded.

Ellie put down her glass and scooted over and hugged Sarah even harder. "I'm so glad for you both."

Pulling away from her, Ellie said, "I want all the details." Then she paused. "Hmm. Not all the details of what you do with each other, but when this all changed."

Sarah laughed.

Over the next hour and the rest of the bottle of wine, she told his sister. It felt good to actually talk to her.

As they walked to the door before she left, Ellie gave her another hug. "I'm so happy, Sarah."

Hugging her back, just as tightly. "Me too, Ellie, me too."

The rest of the week was hectic for both Sarah and Carina, but also for Chuck.

Chuck had agreed with Casey that he would get into the internal systems of Gateshead Financial, looking for both the hacker and to see if the company was supporting this. Sarah had been furious when she found this out. Furious and terrified. This could get Chuck in serious trouble and Casey had agreed to it!

Chuck had explained that he was too good to get caught and that Casey had objected until Chuck insisted that it was the only way. That was all well and good, but whenever her own work gave her a break and when she woke at night, the panic crept back in. Yes, nightmares were back!

He survived the week and found out a lot of information on the company, which is where he focused his attention initially. They had recently been acquired by another organization; they would run independently, but were being encouraged to expand. He found no evidence of targeting Beckman & Associates or moving to California.

The hacker search was a task for the following week, unless Daniel told the police his contact and they passed that information on.

Every evening they distracted each other in the best way possible. In bed.

Sarah tried to convince herself that was just because her mom would be coming on the weekend and staying with them, and neither of them would feel comfortable with making love with her only a thin wall apart from them. However, the thought of losing Chuck was playing on her mind and that intimacy seemed more important than ever.

Friday evening, they had gone together to the supermarket to buy what they needed for the weekend, so a late dinner was followed by the last love making of the week. There would be no more for the next two nights. After their second round, Sarah clung to her lover more tightly than normal and they had fallen asleep like that.

Sarah had spent time making sure the room her mom would be using looked clean and tidy and the bedding perfect, but Chuck was something else. His cleaning of the kitchen and living area was crazy. She knew he was tidy, meticulously so, but his nerves about meeting her mom amplified that enormously!

He was making her nervous too! She left him in the living room, now selecting 'suitable music', whatever that meant.

She prepared a salad for the lunch as that wasn't time dependent.

The knock at the door at eleven forty gave them both the signal to stop. Thankfully, Sarah had just placed the last salad bowl on the table, so was completely prepared.

Walking through the living room she gabbed Chuck's hand noting the sweaty palm. She squeezed his hand. "She will love you, Chuck."

Pulling him to the door, she gave him a kiss, brushing the palm of her hand on his cheek.

She opened the door, to her mom who she hadn't seen for months, and then opened her arms to her.

Emma had placed her case on the ground and stepped in, wrapping her arms around her daughter and pulling her into a tight hug. "Oh, darling, I've missed you!"

"Missed you too, Mom."

It was a couple of minutes, with the two women tearing up, before they separated.

Sarah reached around and grasped Chuck's hand again. Less sweaty now, she observed. "Mom, I want you to meet Chuck."

Before she could say more, Emma said, "Your roomie! Hi, Chuck." She had a twinkle in her eyes, Sarah noted.

Sarah corrected her. "Actually, more than a roomie, Mom. Chuck's my boyfriend."

Emma chuckled. "I guessed!" She opened her arms to Chuck, who said "Hi, Mrs-"

She cut him off, pulling him in to a hug. "You will call me Emma, Chuck."

He hugged her back. "Emma."

When she released him, Sarah took hold of her mom's hand and pulled her further in, leaving Chuck to get the case, which he did, looking somewhat bemused.

Chuck was making coffees for them all as Sarah sat down next to her mom. "How long?" was the first question asked.

"About four weeks now," Sarah admitted. "I'm sorry I haven't told you before, but I wanted you to meet him rather than just hear about him."

Emma smiled indulgently. "You haven't called me at all during that time, so I'm not surprised I didn't hear. I guess I know why now!"

Sarah felt bad for not telling her mom, but even worse that she hadn't called. "You should've called me. You always used to."

Her mom nodded. "I could've but didn't want to, in case you were… otherwise disposed."

Sarah blushed, thinking that after she moved into Chuck's bedroom, that might have been the case, but not before. "Mom!"

Emma laughed. "Your color tells me I am right!"

Sarah huffed, then she grinned. "Not all the time!"

That brought on another peel of laughter.

Chuck was just bringing the coffees through. "What did I miss?"

Emma was just about to reply, so Sarah grabbed her wrist attracting her away from him and answered first, "Just something between mom and I."

"I hope not!" Emma snorted,

Sarah glared at her then the funny side got to her and she laughed as well.

Chuck looked very confused, so Sarah had to tell him, once she got herself under control again. "Mom's talking about our love life, Chuck. Sorry."

Now he blushed and said, "I'll just get those cookies." He rushed to the kitchen and both women burst out laughing again.

"So, to sum up, you solved the crime?" Emma asked.

They were sitting at the table, eating the salad, and Sarah had just brought her up to speed on the recent events.

"We contributed," Chuck responded.

Sarah found this side of Chuck a bit irritating, not wanting to shout about his own achievements. "Don't listen to him, Mom. I hardly did anything and nor did the people at work. This guy's a genius. It was all him."

"You did a lot more than you're saying, your ideas on finding the person responsible were praised by Casey." Chuck argued. "And anyway, if you hadn't been there, I wouldn't have gotten involved at all."

"That's true, but without you, Daniel Shaw would still be free and probably causing more problems," she argued.

Emma had been watching the two of them. "Sounds to me that you make a good team."

That sunk in. Her mom was right. They do make a good team with how their minds worked. And, although she wouldn't tell her mom, they make an excellent team in the bedroom! "We do," was all she said.

The conversation turned to how they met and further back in the past.

"Your parents died in a car crash?" Emma was shocked. "While you were away at college?" Chuck nodded both times. "That's awful and must have been hard on you."

"Harder on my sister. She was still back here when it happened, so she bore the brunt of it."

Sarah chipped in, "You'll meet her tonight. She's amazing, Mom."

Her mom gazed at her. "These Bartowskis have really won your heart haven't they, Sarah."

Sarah grinned. "They truly have, Mom."

As she started to clear away the empty plates and bowls, Sarah said, "How about a trip to our favorite beach for a wander this afternoon, Mom?"

"I'd like that."

An hour and a half of strolling along the water's edge and back was incredibly relaxing. Sarah's mom was very easy to talk to. She was interested in everything he had to say and obviously as smart as her daughter, instantly understanding his techno speak; her questions were confirmation in themselves.

As they were leaving, Emma observed, "Sounds to me like you're wasted in your current job, Chuck."

"So everyone tells me," he dryly replied.

Sarah groaned. "By everybody, he means his sister and me!"

Emma pulled Chuck to a halt. "So, what're you doing about that?"

He smiled at her. "Tell you this evening, when El's with us."

Emma smiled back. "Sounds intriguing!"

Sarah had done some of the food prep and Chuck the rest. Once it was in the oven cooking, they settled down with some wine to chat more with her mom.

"What was Sarah like when she was little?" Chuck asked.

Sarah groaned, but they both ignored her. "She was always very inquisitive and a very fast learner."

"I've noticed that," Chuck noted.

Sarah didn't know what she had demonstrated that he would have seen, other that what they'd done in the bedroom that was new to her. She definitely did not want to discuss that with her mom!

Her mom's face then looked sad. "She didn't get angry while we were all together."

"Really?" Chuck asked, looking very surprised. He turned to Sarah. "So, what started it?"

Sarah felt instantly tense, but tried to control it. "Dad, boyfriends, stuff," she replied. "I don't want to talk about it this evening, Chuck." She really didn't; it would ruin her mood and tonight should be a happy one.

He gazed at her for a few seconds, then gently placed his hand on her arm and nodded. "Okay."

She felt the tension disappear.

"Wow! You are good for her," commented her mom.

Sarah looked at him lovingly. "Oh, he is, Mom. So good."

"Sarah's just as much good for me, Emma."

The knock on the door interrupted them. Chuck went to let the invited couple in.

Sarah and her mom watched as the two brunettes hugged each other. "Been a while, Little brother."

A snort from her mom made Sarah smile as she watched her boyfriend bending down to hug his sister. "Sorry, El."

He then stood and received a hug from someone his own height. "Devon."

"Bro."

Chuck walked them through to the living room and made the introductions.

Looking at her watch, Sarah realized that they had only just made it for the time specified. "Was this too soon?" she asked Ellie.

Ellie blushed. "Oh, no. we were just... running late. Sorry."

Sarah managed not to smirk, having guessed what had delayed them.

After some small talk, Sarah got up and headed into the kitchen to serve up.

It wasn't long before they were all sitting at the dining table eating.

Her mom was obviously enjoying having company and was eager to learn more about Chuck and his family. After a while she asked, "What did your parents do for a living?"

Ellie answered, "Dad was an engineering professor, but also used to like dabbling at home; mom worked for the government, which unfortunately took her away sometimes."

"What did she do for the government?" her mom asked.

Ellie frowned slightly. "She was kinda vague, so we stopped asking. I think she was an interpreter; she knew so many languages."

"Sorry you lost them when you were so young." Her mom looked distressed for them. Sarah felt proud of her. She always knew what to say and how to convey her feelings.

Ellie nodded, "Thank you. It was a horrible car accident. The truck just plowed into the side of them killing mom instantly. Dad was in the passenger seat but was crushed too, they tried to get him to the hospital, but he died before they got there."

"The truck driver?" Sarah asked, as she hadn't before.

"He was relatively unscathed. He lost his driving license and then disappeared, obviously not being able to cope with what he'd done," Ellie informed them.

They'd just finished the main course and Sarah was about to start clearing the table, when Chuck placed a hand on her arm. He turned to the others. "I think we need some lighter conversation."

"Her mom looked embarrassed. "Sorry."

Ellie changed the subject and she and Devon regaled them with details of their vacation. The mood change was palpable. Everyone was relaxed once again.

Chuck decided now was the time. He cleared his throat. "I have some news." They all looked at him and then at Sarah smiling adoringly at him. "I'm leaving the Buy More."

Ellie gasped and her hand rose to cover her goldfish expression. "Really?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. Amazing, huh?"

"Well done, Chuckster," Devon rumbled.

"Congratulations, Chuck. Where to?" Emma didn't sound as enthusiastic as his sister. Sarah knew her mom and could see that she was starting to panic that he was either leaving his girlfriend or they both would be leaving.

"It's alright, Mom," she told her.

"Sarah's boss is hiring me after the recent events. They seemed to be impressed with me."

Ellie almost squealed. "You'll be working together?"

Sarah corrected her, "Well, not together; he'll be in IT and Security whereas I'm in Projects, but we will be able to have lunch together. We don't yet know his hours, but we might be able to carpool, too."

By this time, Ellie had rounded the table, pulled Chuck up and was squeezing the life out of him.

Alcohol flowed after that, to celebrate. By the time Ellie and Devon left, they were all quite tipsy.

As they headed to their bedrooms, her mom stopped Sarah to mention, "I'm a heavy sleeper, just as I always was, and will be straight to sleep tonight after all that alcohol."

Sarah knew exactly what she was meaning and blushed, but after kissing her mom, whispered, "We'll be quiet, Mom. Thank you."

It took her a while to persuade Chuck, but they were quiet. Twice.

Sarah felt a loss as she watched her mom drive away the following day. At least she'd stayed for lunch.

Chuck had told her that they wouldn't leave it long before they drove to her place for a visit. He also, promised to get Sarah to call weekly, which was embarrassing.

Just before leaving, her mom hugged and kissed her, saying, "I like him, and his family. You picked a good one, Sarah."

"I did, Mom!" She beamed as she said it.

After clearing away lunch and putting the dishwasher on, she and Chuck flopped down onto the couch. She was exhausted. "I'm not used to visitors," she told him.

"Well, Ellie was always having people round for meals, so I'm okay."

"Lovely seeing Mom, though."

He smiled at her. "It was and we will make the effort to go and see her soon, Sarah."

She snuggled closer to him and hummed.

Life felt pretty good.

It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep.

She woke when Chuck shifted position and got up.

Grumbling at her pillow walking away, she sat up. He was standing, staring out of the window.

"What is it, Chuck?"

His voice sounded strange. "I don't believe it!"

That got her moving and she quickly stood next to him and grasped his hand. "What?"

"L- look. El has a visitor," he croaked out.

She looked and saw that Ellie was angrily gesticulating at a man standing just outside the door to the apartment she shared with Devon. The man had his back to Chuck and Sarah, so she could just see he had dark hair and was about three inches taller than Chuck's sister. "Who is that, Chuck?" she asked.

Then the man turned and started to walk away. She saw his profile and froze herself, her thoughts jumbled. What the hell is Bryce Larkin doing here?

A/N: Bryce F'ing Larkin! Who'da thunk it?

Thoughts?