A/N 1:

So, did everyone come up with some fun dates for Chuck and Sarah to go on?

Well here is a scene with a sexy, romantic atmosphere.

A/N 2:

Don't own Chuck, No Money is involved in this endeavor

ooooooooooooooo

Over the week following Chuck and Sarah's big talk, new routines have been established. Chuck has breakfast with Casey, after their morning run. Lunch with Carina, usually including shop talk about upcoming missions. Dinner with Sarah that flows into evenings of light conversation. Chuck is catching Sarah up on old sitcoms, sharing the TV moments that became memes. Sitcoms are light enough, non-controversial enough, and brief. Perfect as a distraction, or as background, if conversation took precedence.

ooooooooooooooo

Casey walks into the kitchen, after passing the living room where Chuck and Sarah were watching a movie.

"The Muppets", Casey comments, shaking his head, in greeting to Carina.

She looks up from the salad she is preparing and questions "What?"

"Chuck and Sarah, they're watching a Muppets movie.", Casey explains.

Carina laughs softly, saying "Yeah, they're all over the place. First they can barely say two words to each other, while simultaneously craving each other's company. They seemed so raw, Sarah was like a downed live electrical wire, after a storm. Motionless and seemingly inactive, but crackling with energy just waiting to be set off.

With a serious face and tone, she looks directly in his eyes. "You should have seen her, John."

Tears, well up in her eyes, "She was a broken, empty shell of a person. Barely qualifying as existing. So, as bad as they were, over those past weeks, it was a huge improvement for her"

Casey shook his head sadly in empathy, and then, after a moment, laughed at the oddness of it all. "And now it's like they are long lost friends." He elaborated, "It's like they're trying to pick up from where they were. Trying to be just like it was in Burbank, sidestepping everything that's happened over the past 2 years."

"Yeah, but that can't stay buried forever. I wonder when and how that's going to come out?" Carina ponders, as she plates the steaks and baked potatoes.

Casey replies, "Who knows, I just hope it comes out as good as those steaks did."

"I hope one of those is for me?" He asks, wiggling his eyebrows in attempted persuasion.

"I thought it'd be nice for us to spend some quality time together", she answers, with a wink.

She picks up the two plates, and motions for him to grab the wine and the salad, nodding her head indicating for him to follow her. She leads them out onto the patio, where Casey is surprised to see place settings, wine glasses and candles, on the table.

This is impressive", he declares.

"Like I said, quality time, and the evening is young" she grins salaciously. "I was looking for you the other night but you were out. I hoped we could have a nightcap," she pauses for effect, "or something."

She stands next to her chair and waits a moment. Casey, ever the gentleman, and appreciating the situation, steps over and pulls her chair out for her.

While taking her seat, she reaches up, squeezes his bicep firmly and flirts, "Thank you very much, kind sir."

Smiling, Casey steps to his seat, opens the wine bottle, pours, and places their glasses. He sits down, ready to commence the night's festivities. He raises his glass, and with a head nod to the living room, says, "To lovers everywhere." He winks. She grins.

ooooooooooooo

Carina is laying next to Casey, sheets off, naked to the world, as their bodies cool to some temperature under 100.

Carina giggles, "Do you think we can fix the headboard? Or do you think it will have to be replaced?"

Casey barks out a laugh, "We may have to bury it. We are now bed killers."

Carina laughs in return, adding, "If we are going to keep doing this, we should look into metal frames."

She turns her head to him, and in a softer tone asks, "Are we going to keep doing this?"

Casey turns his head in quick surprise, raises his eyebrows, and asks, "Are you wanting to keep doing this? Have it be more than a one night stand, whenever?"

Carina chews her lower lip, and turns her whole body towards him, "I guess? I really like being with you, but we are both so profession focused, so I don't know how exactly to do this."

Casey stretches out his arm, and she snuggles into it, putting her head on his shoulder. "And you know we are both commitment-phobes, who are emotionally repressed."he chuckles.

She grins at him, "So are those our good points, or our bad points."

He chuckles at that, "How about if we just call them Data points."

In a soft voice, he states, "I like you Carina, really, really like you. You are good people, and a blast to be around. And this", he waves his hand around themselves and the bed, " this is literally, fucking amazing."

Carina snickers and grins into his chest, lightly kissing it.

"But, you know, right now, I am career focused. I am trying to see how high I can climb, because, like I said the other day, I want to make as big of a difference as I can, while I can."

His voice thickened, "Losing my foot, I thought, was going to mean losing my career. The military's response seemed to be, shove me in a desk, check off the box that said that I was properly taken care of and not abandoned, then they promptly abandoned me." he bitterly ended.

"Then Chuck came along, and changed everything. He made requests, pulled strings, and got me back in the game. I gave him so much shit over the years, well I guess that is appropriate, since I was a bigger asshole back then, bitter and burnt out. He was the stupid, nerd, kid that I had to babysit. And we ended up growing up together."

He wipes his eyes, "Anyway, my point about us, is that I, and I think you, want to focus on our careers, with no impediments."

Carina laughs, and lightly slaps his chest. "Such a romantic word for relationships."

Casey tilts his head, to look down into her eyes. With a more serious tone, he says, "You know what I mean, and you know I am right." He raises his eyebrows, seeking confirmation.

She meets his eyes, and with a soft, sad smile, agrees, "Yeah, you are right."

"So how about this," he says, brightening his tone, "How about we don't offer commitment. We offer priority. When I am looking for company, to hang out, to bump uglies," he says with a wink and a grin. "You are my girl, you are who I want," he emphasizes with repetition, "who I want to spend time with." But if that can't happen, I am not precluded from finding a Plan B. And, with the understanding that I could be shipped off tomorrow." He raises his eyebrows, looking for her response.

"Yeah John, I get it, I couldn't have put it better. And I don't see a better option." She caught herself. "Wow, that sounded kind of shitty. Like I am settling for you." She smiled at him, "I think that sounds like a wonderful option, and I am a damn lucky girl to have that option. So, same, same. You are my number 1."

He squeezes her tight, "But, I am not going out dancing", he says with a laugh. "You are on your own with that one."

"John, you know I won't be on my own for that one." She rubs his chest, and adds, "But they will be a poor substitute

He kisses the top of her head, and says, "I think we can make this work."

She snuggles into his chest and lightly scratches her nails across his skin. "We could have made this work the other night, I came looking for you and you were out."

Casey grins in memory. "That was a plan B, baby. A really great plan B." he says, turning his body towards hers. Then he grazes his hand down the middle of her spine, eliciting a shiver, and cups her butt cheek. "But right now I am all about Plan A. Plan A, round two" He rolls over, covering her body with his, and covering her neck with kisses.

"Me likey Plan A," Carina moans in response.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A while later. A toe curling, bed breaking, while later, as they relax, enjoying their newly established "relationship". Carina, laying with her head on his chest, drawing lazy circles on it with her finger, asks, "Do you think they will work all of their crap out?"

"Hmm? Chuck and Sarah?" He inquires.

"Who else?" She lightly slaps his chest.

And then, Carina explains that Chuck and Sarah are talking, but they're trying to be in some kind of honeymoon mode, just focusing on the positive, and innocuous things.

Carina goes on to mention that Sarah comes to her sometimes, or that she'll hear Sarah crying, and Carina will go to her room, and Sarah will tell her a little bit about the fights her and Chuck have.

"Sarah doesn't get too descriptive, because apparently I'm part of the situation, but as I understand it, they're each filling in the other on the past Year's activities. But they're not allowed to be judgmental, and so when it gets too intense, they separate until they can get their emotions in control enough to continue."

Casey shakes his head. "I can only imagine, and they are probably oversharing, in the name of "honesty"," he emphasizes, using air quotes. "I can only imagine how messy that is. But, hey, they seemed perfectly comfortable tonight, so who knows. Abnormal relationships seem to be the norm around here," he says, snuggling up to Carina and pulling the sheet over their heads.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A/N 3:

See, I said there would be canoodling. What, you thought it would be Chuck and Sarah? Ohh, that's in the next chapter.

Am I a bad boy? You'll have to let me know with a review. Or, you can pester me at the Chuck Fanfiction group on Facebook. Bwaahaahaahaa.

In all seriousness, this was supposed to be a little interlude, but they wouldn't stop talking. Sheesh! I guess I am now writing "Chasey?" WTF