A/N: Hey! This chapter flowed a lot smoother than I thought it would. Thank you all for the encouragement!! That definitely helped make me want to write. I appreciate all the insight to what people like and want. Helps me know where to focus more of my energy and time. Thank you all again for the support.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, or anything remotely famous.

Chuck vs History

It had been a few days since Sarah had talked to Chuck on the beach. Life had seemed fairly normal, apart from Casey was now working at the BuyMore with him, and Sarah got a job at the Wienerlicious across the parking lot. And the daily reports that he had been made to look over before work each day. Other than that, and Sarah's cover being his girlfriend, it had been back to the daily grind, no one knowing he had saved so many lives. Oh well, could be worse. Could've NOT been able to save those lives. Chuck thought with a shrug. But he was wondering if they were making any progress to get the Intersect out of his head either. Just then he saw a flash of green sprinting out of the store. Casey was running down one of their regular shoplifters. Crap Casey's going to kill him!!! Chuck took off running after him. For how bulky he is, Casey was fast! "CASEY CASEY CASEY!!!! THE NATION IS SAFE! The world isn't in danger!" Chuck yelled, as he met the hulking man and grabbed his arm. Casey grunted and hoisted the shoplifter up by his arm. "Been here less than a week and he takes his job WAY more seriously than I do!" Morgan panted as he caught up to them. "That's because he is CRAZY!" Chuck huffed. Casey gave an affirmative grunt and started dragging the guy back to the store with the video game.

Chuck stood and a flash of blonde hair caught his attention, Sarah was standing outside the Weinerlicious. He couldn't help but stare. She's perfect… Chuck thought and before he could stop himself, he was walking towards her as she waved and headed inside. He jogged up to the door and headed I. As he heard her cussing about burning another batch of the awful hotdogs. "I can't seem to get this right." She huffed as she turned around to see Chuck standing at the counter. She wasn't surprised. She knew he was likely to head in to see her. "Hey Chuck" she said with a smile. To her surprise it was genuine. Chuck smiled back "Hey, umm I just wanted to see, is there a plan? You know, to get this out of my head? I can't imagine that the nation is super secure with all its secrets inside of the head of a guy who makes 15 an hour." Chuck said self deprecatingly with a chuckle. He doesn't have any clue how significant this is. How special he is. How adorable… stop it Walker. Focus. Mission first. "Yeah, we have a plan. There is a top scientist coming to see you. We are confident he can help get the data out, if that's still what you want?" She said with a slight smirk. Why am I wishing he didn't want that anymore? I don't get attached to people. Make him feel he's special but keep him at arms length. You've done this a million times. Focus on my orders. Sarah reprimanded herself. "Umm. Yeah… yeah! That's what I want. Just, to get my life back." Chuck said. "Ok. Date tonight. I'll pick you up at 8." Sarah said, fighting the smile on her face and the urge to feel excited about more time with Chuck. "See you then!" Chuck said with a smile, not bothering to hide his excitement.

After work Chuck was standing in his room, Ellie was once again helping him pick out his outfit for the date. "A second date with Sarah huh? Getting pretty serious?" Ellie teased with genuine interest. "It's really not that big of a deal" Chuck mumbled, knowing that Sarah wasn't what they all thought she was. "I'd say it's a big deal! She is SO hot!" Morgan said as he continued to play Gears of War on Chuck's bed. "Wait, Morgan has met her and I haven't?!" Ellie says with indignation. "Chuck confides in me El. He tells me things. His deepest darkest secrets." Morgan said, "you can too you know." Morgan said flirtingly. "Here's a secret: I loathe you." Ellie said with a roll of her eyes. "That's not really a secret El." Chuck said with a chuckle at the both of them. "And it's not a big deal. We are just getting together. She wants me to show her around town more." Chuck lied without even realizing it.

Sarah pulls up to the entry to Chuck's sister's apartment complex. Her Porsche idling as she waved to Chuck. I need to be more careful tonight. Maybe it was my last mission still messing with me. I can't afford any slip ups. Sarah thought as Chuck made his way to the car. Opening the door and plopping down, Chuck quipped "Weinerlicious is really paying well huh?" Sarah couldn't help but smirk, all the tension she had built up gone in a single moment with Chuck. She released a breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding. "So, what are we doing? A movie and dinner? Or some drinks?" Chuck asked as he put his seatbelt on. "No, not really anything like that." Sarah said stoicly as she zoomed off into traffic. The ride remained fairly quiet, with mixed small talk about their day. Sarah felt it would be best to minimize contact with him, given how easy it has been for them to slip into calm and easy banter. Soon they are pulling up to the Buy More and Chuck is looking fairly confused. Sarah had him let them in as he says "Is this a date or just a chance for me to clock in some overtime?" With a smirk. Sarah took a breath, "We are here to meet the scientists who is meant to help you. He is going to test you to see if everything is good and to make sure that you can have them removed or not." Ending this assignment already. She thought surprisingly begrudgingly. "Great!," He said as he sat down in the home theater display room as Sarah indicated for him to. "When do I get to meet him?" "Oh that won't be happening. For your safety it's best if he doesn't know who you are. You're too important." As an asset. Yeah. Sarah said as she set to head out the door. "So what do I do?" Chuck said confused. "Just sit there and look at the images and tell us what you see." Sarah replied chipperly. "Sounds easy enough." Chuck answered. "I'm sure you'll find a way to screw it up." Casey grunted, appearing out of nowhere. Sarah closed the blinds and shut the door as the scientist walked in. After initial introductions the test began. Chuck did perfectly, as she expected and then things started to feel off. Her senses were hightened, and she felt on edge. Even tho she wasn't sure what had changed. Casey and the scientist Dr Zarnow were discussing Chuck ambiguously. Something seemed off with it. She couldn't tell if it was Casey or Zarnow. But the situation was unsettling for her. She wanted this done as soon as possible. "Do you think you can get it out?" She said, getting to the point. "Yes, I believe I can." Zarnow said slowly.

They showed him out, and she got Chuck and headed to take him home. Once again they traveled quietly. Both clearly in thought. Why didn't I feel right. Sarah thought as she replayed the scene in her head. Casey was his grumpy self. Chuck is safe. That's what matters. And it looks like he will be getting those out of his head soon. Both good things. Sarah started to slow down and calm down as they approached the apartment again. "I gotta say. This is the best only-second-date that I have been on in a long time!" Chuck quipped with a chuckle. He had a soft slightly embarrassed smile. Why does he do that? Does he know how disarming it is? Is he really playing me? Sarah found she couldn't respond. "So," Chuck coughed out, "I guess once I get this out of my head, we are all done right?" Chuck said sadly. "Umm yup." Sarah said nodding her head. And Chuck paused for a moment. Great. I'm sure she is ready to be not babysitting me anymore. She's feeling awkward now. "Ok, well goodnight Sarah." Chuck didn't wait for a reply. He vaguely heard her say goodnight.

Chuck got into work the next day, not sure what to feel. He liked that he wouldn't be in danger like having to disarm a bomb again, but it also meant no more Sarah. I think I'll miss her. No, I KNOW I'll miss her. I barely know her. So, why? Chuck thought as he started working on a computer. I didn't see Casey on the way in. And Sarah's car wasn't in the usual spot. I wonder if everything is ok. Just then Casey came storming in, clearly upset. When isn't he upset? Chuck thought with a roll of his eyes. Casey got clocked in and then made a beeline for him. The way he walked it made him feel uncomfortable. Things weren't ok. "You can't trust her" Casey whispered right before Big Mike interrupted them to push the training that he needed. After he left Casey continued with a blunt and aggressive tone, "you can't trust your girlfriend. She is CIA. How much do you really know about her? Huh?" It suddenly became painfully aware at how little Sarah had actually said about herself. Even on the first date, she avoided talking about herself much. He started to focus on her. Thinking about details of her. And suddenly, images flashed, he saw clips of a few of her missions, some pictures. People dead. Sarah surrounded by bodies. Then another of her shooting out a surveillance camera. Chucks breath caught. He felt dizzy. And out of the corner of his eye he saw a message pop up on his laptop. Come see me. We need to talk. Don't tell Casey. SW Chuck didn't know what to think. He felt his pulse increase. She hadn't seemed like that. She'd been so sweet. She even cared enough to not treat him like a nuisance. Chuck thought. Casey had started running through situations with Morgan. He seemed distracted enough for Chuck to be able to sneak out. As he crossed the parking lot, he could see a bunch of teenage boys in the eating area of the Weinerlicious. Rolling his eyes he made his way in, as the group started to leave. "I don't want you to be having any private meetings with Casey." Sarah warned as the restaurant emptied other than Chuck. "What is with you guys? Did something happen?!" Chuck said, seeming exhausted. "What can you tell me about this?" Sarah said as she tossed a bag with a severely burnt up cell phone on the counter. "It's a mangled… NSA incinerator designed to erase all biological traces?! Sarah what is going on?" Chuck almost whimpered. "Zarnow is dead. His car was found a few miles out of town. And that was among the debris. And who works for the NSA?" Sarah replied. "No, why would Casey want to kill him? He wants out of here." Chuck whined. "It's what he does Chuck. He's a killer. For all we know he didn't like how Zarnow looked at him. Now steer clear of him while we get this figured out. And you go back to work and act like you know nothing. Ok Chuck? You can do that." Sarah ordered matter of factly. "Ok. Act like I know nothing. Ok" Chuck said absentmindedly. Trust me Chuck. Please. This is getting real now. Sarah pleaded mentally. Chuck was walking across the parking lot and he focused on Casey. As with Sarah, soon images were flashing through his mind and then, death. Bodies. Military record, redacted. And Chuck realized just how dangerous these handlers of his are. And a chill went down his spine. He walked in and Casey grabbed him. "What did you talk to your girlfriend about?" Casey growled at him. And Chuck just gapped at him. Casey huffed anger and headed to the Weinerlicous. Chuck tried to refocus on work. Zoning out in the parts and soldering of the computers. In his happy place. As Lester came up and told him a call came in for him to go offsite to fix. He hadn't seen Casey again and he wasn't sure what was going on still. He wasn't liking being in the dark on his life. He wanted to know more of what is going on. And who he is having to deal with. Especially with this Zarnow gone and there being no way to get the Intersect out of his head. Focus on the work Chuck. Don't think about that right now. Chuck headed to the offsite install and as he pulled up to a stop sign the car behind him bumped into him. He started to get out and got a call. It was Casey. He looked in the mirror and there was Casey. "Hello?" Chuck whimpered. "Get out and get in the car with me Chuck." Casey commanded. "It was you! You killed him and now you're going to kill me!" Chuck yelled. Throwing the phone he sped off. Casey quickly ended the chase with a pit maneuver and Chuck's car spun out. Getting out of the car Chuck briefly forgot why he was running and started yelling at Casey. Casey jumped out of his car and grabbed Chuck. Pushing him into his car he locked the door and climbed in the other side. "I'm not trying to kill you. If I did, you'd never have a chance to run." Casey grunted as he went to start the car. Just then a cell phone rang in the back seat. Chuck turned around and sitting in the back seat was a lit up NSA insinuator, ready to blow. Chuck and Casey both bolted from the car and as they got to the other side of the road the car exploded. They were picking themselves off the ground when it occurred to Chuck that Sarah may be the killer, and she was currently about to have dinner with his sister. He jumped in the car and sped off.

At the dinner things were tense but seemed ok, right until Sarah brought out a souffle that she had made and Chuck flashed on her setting it on the table. Alana Truffo, assassination, kill ring of assassins, poisoning. Chuck freaked out. He tipped the candle and it spilled onto the soufflé, grabbing it he rambled as he took off toward the bathroom. Tossing it in the shower, he dosed it. Everyone was watching him like he was insane. "Let me talk to him" Sarah implored the others as she shut the door. What is going on with him? This isn't him. He's paranoid. He knows something. With the door shut, she turned on Chuck. "Talk Chuck. Now." Sarah commanded. "His SUV exploded when he was trying to get me alone and convince me it was you. NSA incinerator. Just like the one that killed Zarnow. Based off both your responses, I figured that the only logical assumption was that you were who killed Zarnow." Chuck explained. She doesn't need to know I flashed. Neither of them do. "Wait. If Casey really didn't do it, then.." Sarah trailed off. "I have to go. NOW" she said as she rushed out. Making an excuse as she rushed out the door. Chuck on her tail. Casey saw them leaving and met Chuck as he passed by, following him. Just in time to hear Sarah scream. They ran to the entrance, to see Zarnow entering the car he fired a tranq gun and hit Casey as he got in and drove off. On seeing him, Chuck froze as he flashed. Images of flags and equipment. "Casey, Zarnow has been selling our secrets to the highest bidder for years. Most recently a string of them to North Korea. Casey?" Chuck turned to see Casey leaning against the entry gate. He rushed over and pulled the tranq from Casey's arm. "Ok numb nuts, now we have to figure out where they were heading. Get me in the car." Casey nodded toward the Nerd Herder. As they got in Chuck asked where they were headed. "I'm not sure. But likely a small air field near the water. With a helipad to take her outside US jurisdiction." Casey replied. "I know where then! Port of LA." Chuck exclaimed as he sped off, hoping he wasn't too late.

As they pulled up, Casey pulled out his side arm and said "Stay in the car. Let me take care of this." He got out of the car right as they slowed down and took off toward the warehouse that seemed the most active. "So I do nothing." Chuck said to a now empty seat. He sat there for a while, and then he saw Zarnow coming out of a different building than Casey went into and heading in a different direction than Casey could see. He said to stay in the car, but what if Sarah is in there? It's my fault. I thought she was the bad guy, but she's not. Ok fine. Here we go. Chuck thought as he opened the door and closed it quietly. He hurried crouched down to the door Zarnow had just come out of, and eased it open. Slipping through he looked around quietly. He spotted Sarah chained up and gagged. She spotted him and glared after getting wide eyed. What is he doing here?! Does he not understand that this is what I do? He is supposed to be safe! He is SO frustrating! Sarah thought as she tried to figure out a way out of the situation, that was now infinitely more complicated since Chuck showed up. As Chuck made his way to her, the door opened again, and Chuck hid. "We are going to get you offsite where we can do some serious torture. Not this child's play we have been doing." Zarnow said. Chuck winced and suddenly realized he had made a noise. Zarnow was looking at him, he took off. As he got close to the door, the syringe that Zarnow had was now embedded into the door, causing Chuck to jump. "You were with agent Casey! You must be patient X" Zarnow exclaimed. Right before his neck was wrapped in 2 long legs, and his entire body was thrown to the ground, his head hitting a box on the way down knocking him out. Chuck immediately leaped forward and started searching him for the keys. He released Sarah as Casey came through the door. "Area secure." Casey said as he cuffed Zarnow. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" Sarah turned on Chuck. "What are you even doing here?! Don't you get it? You are too valuable! It doesn't matter what happens to me! You are the top priority, and your safety and anonymity is our main objective! And then you think I'm the double?! How could you? I'm NOT Bryce! He betrayed everything I stand for! If you EVER think I'm working against you again, I will walk. We will all go back to DC. GAME OVER. And you don't want that. Trust me when I say that." Sarah yelled. Then she brushed past him as she made her way out of the building. "Great going" Casey grunted, grabbing him and pushing him out the door as well.

The next day was Bryce's funeral. Tho he wasn't sure why it was taking place in LA. He was from Connecticut and lived in DC. Or at least that's what the official report said. Chuck saw Sarah there. He tried to wave but she could barely make eye contact. He thought he saw tears forming. How could he not trust me? Just like Bryce always did. I thought he was nothing like him. I guess I was wrong. And now I am stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Can I handle it? Sarah thought as she turned to leave. She couldn't be there anymore. It was all fake anyways. Bryce would never be buried here. She felt guilty. She never should've talked to Chuck like that. He was new and truly didn't understand the stakes that came with being a part of this world. Maybe now, after the funeral, he would. She needed him to. I need to have more patience with him. This isn't a seduction mission. I've never been on one long term and don't intend to ever, too many complications. But I do need him compliant. She thought as she got to her car. The phone rang, "Walker secure." She said in a dull tone. "Agent Walker, Zarnow never made it to our facilities. He died in transit. We aren't sure what's at play here, but it feels like there is more than just him. Keep an eye on the asset, and if he seems lost to the enemy, kill him." Graham hung up before she could reply. Kill him? He's done nothing wrong. He didn't want this. Still doesn't want this. I know I'm an assassin. It's what I'm best at. But isn't my job to protect him? No. It's to protect the country. It's secrets. Not Chuck. The intersect. And it's better to be gone than with the enemy. He's right. I have to prepare for it.

Later that evening Chuck made his way to the Weinerlicious. Ellie said to just try to apologize, right? That's all I need to do. Easy. Chuck thought with a huff. It definitely was easier said than done. But hopefully, maybe, she had had some time. Walking in he saw her and immediately started, "Sarah. I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. I was a real jackass. I was scared, and all of this is new. I didn't know who to trust because I didn't know anything about any of you. My life has been turned upside down, and it's left me facing my mortality at a rate I couldn't have imagined less than a month ago. I'm sorry I didn't trust you. I should have. And this won't happen again." He said while maintaining eye contact. He's serious. He set his ego aside and was genuinely sorry. He acknowledged he messed up. So I guess he isn't completely like Bryce. "I understand Chuck. But that's even more of a reason to trust me. And I guess Casey. We have lived in this world for a long time. That alone should tell you that you need to listen to us." Sarah softly reprimanded. "I know. And you're right. I will do better in the future. But I can't just not help when someone needs me. But I'll listen better. And," he paused and in walked Morgan, Ellie, and Devon, "I was hoping we could have a redo of the failed dinner from last night? Here?" Chuck asked. "Here? You do realize that that means you will all be subjected to my cooking, right?" Sarah said with a smile. Surprising her that it was once again genuine. Chuck smiled back.

That night after he got home from the make up dinner with Sarah and his makeshift family, Chuck sat in his room. He was stuck. And worse he felt helpless. Sarah was mad at him, he barely trusted Casey, his world was falling apart, and he couldn't even talk to his sister about it. Not really. What was he supposed to do? Ellie had told him to apologize to Sarah, but she didn't even know what the real issue was. The soufflé didn't mean anything. This was entirely about trust, or lack there of. He had found he could force a flash, so there was some assemblance of control to his life. But it wasn't easy and felt weird when he did it. There is one thing I can do to gain some control. Some kind of order. I will have to be careful, but it's time to stop sitting on the sidelines. They don't need to know. I want to help. There is no point in sitting idly and hoping someone else can fix the situation. Even if they could, I need to make the most of it. And that starts with research. Time for an old friend to come out to play. They weren't here because they knew I was Piranha. So that means I can use that to my advantage. Time to start digging. Chuck thought as he sat down at his computer. It was like riding a bike. He got into his old coding, and started reworking it. Making it fit the modern designs for sites and after a bit, he was in. Surfing silently through the government's data servers. He had goals in mind that he hadn't had before. First off, who was in charge. NSA and CIA. So the directors for those. He would need as much information on them as possible. And Sarah and Casey. He trusted them for the most part. But both had made a strong point that he knew nothing about them. Either of them. And yet he had to trust them with his life. What was it his dad used to say? Trust but verify..? Yeah. Verify. He was going to make sure he wasn't flying blind anymore. The more he pulled up, the more he felt sick to his stomach. The things that they had had to do to make sure that he was safe, even before he had the Intersect. It was sad and terrifying. And some of these didn't make sense. Sarah's missions didn't always seem to work in favor of the American government. Definitely not for the American people. Casey's was fairly straightforward once you unredacted his file. Military operations mostly. His real name. Likely some things he didn't even know. But all seemed to be ok the up and up. Sarah's read different. Even when unredacted. There was chunks missing that shouldn't be. There is gaps in her training that don't make sense. And the age she was recruited at. There wasn't much on her early life. Not like Casey. Fragments. Names. Not one. Many. It didn't really make sense. He would need to take a much deeper dive into her training and recruitment. Those didn't sit right with him. Chuck noticed a difference in himself as he read. It felt similar to when he was younger. Easy to read things and recall them. He didn't feel a need to write anything down because he knew it would never leave his mind. General Beckman, Director of the NSA, imposing yet diminutive woman. Her record more than spoke for itself. An old soldier, turned Cold War spy, turned general. She was tough as nails. Her file was full of mission after mission, success after success. Rarely ever was there a failure. And the few that were there stood out as beyond her control. For a while a couple names popped up a lot. But then in the late 80's early 90's the stopped showing up. Same with Director Graham. But his file had far less successful missions. Infact, he seemed to be mediocre before those names showed up in his file. He had made his way to the CIA and was an apprentice to the then Director. Little more than an errand boy. And then these names showed in his file, and suddenly he started his rise in power. Quickly to Assistant Director, and then froze until his predecessor retired. Maybe it was out of respect. Chuck thought, though in the same thought disregarded it. The freeze in the rise to power started right as those names stopped showing up in his file. First one. Then several years later, the other. Just gone. Frost, and Orion.

A/N: BUM BUM BUUUMMM. Yes. Super early for this, but he was a hacker right? What hacker wouldn't use his ability to figure out a little of what's going on in his life? Especially when the world goes all topsy tervy on him. And I still have a few twists and turns up my sleeve. But this is where the AU really starts. I'll stick to cannon as much as possible. But I feel there is more to who Chuck would be than we see in the show. As always, let me know your thoughts!