AN- In which things progress towards a DC visit. Short chapter so that I can isolate the DC trip. Setting up Imported Hard Salami and Nemesis events.

They'd both had to work the next day, but the day after they decided to make a stop over at Lou's for lunch. Sarah had insisted they make time. She was determined to show that she could be gracious and friendly to someone who'd shown interest in Chuck. She followed Chuck through the entrance of Lou's Deli around 1:00 PM, they figured the lunch rush would be starting thin. Apparently they were partly wrong as inside was a sort of organized chaos. A swarm of people hovered at the counter ordering and waving little slips of paper with the number being served. Assuring herself that no violence over food was imminent, she looked around the place. Overall Sarah thought she liked it, Mediterranean products adorned shelves on the walls and a number of interesting pastry items were visible in one of the refrigerated cases that made up the counter. Lou, along with a helper, were quickly working through the orders. Most of them seemed to be for the sandwiches the shop was known for, but a few were bulk orders or other meals. She looked over the chalkboard menus while they waited for the backlog to clear.

A surprisingly short time later, Lou noticed them and waved them over. "Hey, glad you guys stopped in! Let me clear out these last few and we'll whip up something."

After the last few orders had been seen to, Lou talked with them and given a few hints, she created customized sandwiches for both of them. For herself, she grabbed a salad she'd obviously made somewhat earlier. They took them to a table close to the kitchen area, where Lou could be available to handle issues. Once they sat and started to eat, Lou waved a hand at Chuck. "So, Skip tells me someone got some good news from Stanford?"

Sarah looked up, surprised the news had already started to circulate. She glanced at Chuck who shrugged.

"I'm guessing Morgan spilled to the store?" Chuck asked. Lou nodded. "And Skip told you?"

"Why is that weird?" Lou asked, blinking. "He's nice once you get used to the giant hair."

"Lou, Skip talks so little that he texts me at the store. From the other side of the desk." Chuck replied, shaking his head. "So, what brought Skip over to tell you about me. Don't tell me he's broken his long standing loyalty to Sbarro?"

"He has picked up a sandwich now and then…" Lou said, considering. "Anyway, he was over to fix my internet. Something about a swatch? Maybe switch? He said you'd gotten your degree while he was changing out some box in the back."

"What exactly did he say?" Sarah asked, keeping her tone level.

"Just that. 'Chuck got his Stanford diploma.'" Lou replied. Sarah nodded, relieved that Morgan hadn't said anything more, then Lou continued. "Oh, yeah he mentioned something about Chuck quitting and needing a new Ass Man. I thought it was some… well he explained he meant assistant manager when I asked." her face turned a tiny bit pink.

Sarah looked at Chuck, who looked back at her. Both suppressed giggles. Then Chuck turned back to say something and Sarah saw him glance at the bulletin board. When his eyes started to flutter, Sarah quickly reached across as if to snag his drink. Instead she knocked it off the table with her hand. "Crap, I'm sorry. Let me help you clean that up." Sarah said, drawing all the attention to herself.

Chuck blinked and then bent down to help clear up the mess. Sarah bit her lip when she felt his breath as he whispered in her ear. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got. The content was much less nice. "The invite on the bulletin board, Demetrios family. Smuggling. Homeland bulletin."

"OK, keep saying things like that and we'll have to see if Lou's supply closet locks." Sarah said, to cover the communication. Uh, huh. Sure, that's the only reason.

Lou grinned. "Oh no, I can't let anyone manhandle the meat..." She stopped, turning bright red, then burst out in uncontrollable laughter. After a moment, Sarah joined her. Eventually they got themselves under control and returned to their seats, mess cleaned up.

"Lou? I couldn't help but notice that invitation on the board. Is that a new club? Some of my old coworkers are always bugging me about where to go out here." Sarah asked, hoping to get some detail they could use in their report.

"Oh, that. Club Ares. My ex, Stavros, owns it." Lou said, distaste evident. "He's a jealous prick, he trashed some poor guy's car because he thought I was dating him. And that was after I'd broken up with him. The only reason I still talk to him is 'cause his dad's an importer." she finished with a wave around the shop.

Sarah nodded "Sounds like a bad guy."

"He is. Old co-workers? You mean you didn't always sell hot dogs?" Lou joked.

"I'd been working a finance job for a federal contractor in DC. Pretty much since I got my business degree." Sarah said, deciding to try on the new story. At Lou's look, she continued. "Anyway, I left there after a breakup. The company was good to me and I've been just kind of coasting on the severance package. Took the Wienerlicious job, more or less out of boredom. There's a chance I'll be starting or working with a financial planning group here in California soon though."

Lou looked at her and here eyes widened, then she blew out a breath. "So much makes sense now. You wouldn't believe the stories I've heard. That little Indian dude from the Buy More had me halfway convinced you were some kind of call girl with that Porsche."

"Hah, no. I worked with a lot of federal government employees. Got a tip about an auction and picked the car up for a lot less than you'd think." Sarah said, with a small laugh. She glanced at Chuck and saw the look on his face. He was taking in how she wove the story together with elements of truth, and she gave him a tiny nod.

"Sounds like I need federal friends." Lou said with a touch of grumpiness. "I could use a new van. Think those old coworkers would trade an invite to a club for a line on a delivery van auction? I certainly wasn't going to go."

And there's the in for a team to slip into the club and look at Demetrios. Cutting her a deal on a van is cheap, operationally. "You know, I'm almost certain they would – or their friends in LA would. I'll get in touch and call you. When's the party?"

"Next weekend. You're not kidding? You think they'd do that for me?" Lou asked.

Sarah shrugged. "I don't see why not. Its not breaking any rules or laws. They'll sell what they've got impounded at some point, may as well be to you."

Lou looked very pleased. "This might be the first good thing knowing Stavros has done for me since he introduced me to his dad." She lowered her voice. "Sometimes you have to bend the rules a little for the best imported meat. Please don't tell your federal friends?"

"Secret's safe with me." Sarah assured her. "I know for a fact that they're not the sort that investigate smug… um… 'rerouted' meat shipments."

"Thanks." Lou said, then looked over at Chuck. "Hey, you know, what are you planning to do now Chuck? If even Skip thinks you're quitting, there's a good chance its true. You could freelance computer work while you're deciding. I'd bet a lot of the places around here would work with you. Maybe this new place Sarah's talking about needs a guy?"

"I hadn't thought about it, but I'll probably need some help. We'll probably need to share the office space with someone too." Sarah said, repressing an urge to pump a fist. Moments of pure luck like this were golden. Lou would tell Skip. Skip would spread the information farther. The cover would grow naturally from there. "If Chuck doesn't mind working and living with me." she smiled at him.

"You live together?" Lou asked, eyes widening. "How long have you been dating?"

"Four months?" Chuck replied, looking at Sarah to confirm.

"About that." she replied.

Lou shook her head. "Wow. I've dated guys for longer than that and never spent more than a weekend with them. Did it feel fast?"

"It felt… right." Sarah replied. Chuck smiled and nodded agreement.

"Guess I haven't met the right one yet." Lou said, sighing.

Sarah smiled. "I'll tell you what. Next one, let me know and I'll get a friend to run a background check for you. See if we can't avoid a repeat of Stavros."

Lou laughed. "Thanks."

Today was the day. They'd prepped over the past day and a half for the mission. Casey had expanded surveillance. Chuck had made a detailed survey of the approaches and possible exit routes. Sarah had arranged a vehicle for the getaway and then stationed herself inside with an earbud tuned to Chuck's watch as he entered. Chuck had rejected Morgan's offer of immediate backup or a timely interruption as too dangerous for the bearded one. They'd had no doubt the little man could have successfully separated Chuck from the Buy More. They were not sure he could do it without causing the police to be called.

"I've got eyes on." Casey's voice came over her earbud and Chuck's. "You're clear for at least the next twenty minutes."

Sarah chimed in. "I'm in position, proceed when ready."

"OK. I'm going in. Be ready to come in after me if it goes south." Chuck replied. Then he knocked on Big Mike's office door.

Sarah listened over the earpiece. No snoring, so at least he wasn't waking Big Mike up.

"Hey. How's the day gone so far?" Chuck said as the sound of the door closing came over the mic. "I stopped off for some donuts."

"Bartowski. What's this I hear about you possibly quitting and leaving me alone with these animals?" Big Mike's voice was abrupt, with just a tinge of fear.

"Well, its funny you should mention that sir." Chuck said diffidently.

Big Mike's voice came up a notch. "Funny? You think this is funny? First time in years the store passed an inspection. And we made our numbers. I'm almost in bonus territory here and you're talking about leaving?"

"You may have heard about Stanford finding out that the expulsion was fraudulent and reversing it? With the diploma, there were always things I wanted to be doing." Chuck began.

"OK, but do you have to leave while you're exploring? Can't you stay on? You actually have Grimes turning in decent work. Don't make a grown man beg." Big Mike had grown desperate sounding.

"That was sort of the other thing. You know my girlfriend, Sarah?" Chuck asked.

"Yeah. Its a cruel trick of nature, you landing a hot piece like Blondie. I would have thought Lester was right but there's no way you could afford a girl like that if she were 'working'. I figured it must be love." Mike replied.

Sarah ground her teeth. In a strange way, Big Mike was being perceptive.

"Yeah... try not to say that around her." The wince was practically audible. "I never really felt the need to explain it to anyone, but she'd moved here after leaving a finance job in DC. Had money saved and was working at the hot dog place out of boredom. She stayed to be near me after we started dating." There was a pause and Sarah guessed, some form of shrug. "She's going to be starting up a small financial services business soon. Since she'll have spare office space I was going to start working freelance out of that space while I get some things going." Chuck was rushing to finish his statements in an obvious bid to keep Big Mike from throwing out counter arguments. "I suppose I could take on the occasional job for the store, at a billable rate, and in return I'll point people your way for some of their electronics though?"

"You're telling me she's hot, rich, brain damaged enough to be into you, and wants you to work in the same place as her?" his voice was incredulous. "No way I could make an offer to compete. I'll take the deal. Now, what am I going to do for an Ass Man – I need someone to keep these reprobates in line. What about John Casey?"

"I think John might be considering a move soon." Chuck replied. "I'd suggest Morgan but he's not earned it – so what I was thinking... give it to Lester. Let him fail, hopefully not badly enough to destroy the store. Then ask Morgan to fix it, and then put him in the slot if he succeeds."

There was the sound of cardboard sliding across a desk. Then a muffled "Hmm", presumably around a donut. "I like it." Big Mike said, then sighed heavily. "What were you thinking of as a last day?"

"Well... Sarah's kinda waiting for me out in the parking lot. She wanted to celebrate the Stanford thing with a vacation. Just her and I. For a week." Chuck said, the emphasis on his words coming through loud and clear.

"Son, your last day was yesterday. We'll do the paperwork later. Pick up your stuff from Morgan when you get back." Big Mike's voice was serious, with a tinge of cheerful. "Now get out there before she gets bored and comes to her senses."

Sarah watched Chuck exit the store, a bounce in his step and a weird look of wistfulness on his face. He walked to the door of the van Sarah was in and climbed into the passenger's seat.

"It feels weird." Chuck said, after she'd pulled away to drive around the back of the store and pick up Casey.

"You did want to get out of there." Sarah reminded him. "And it went very smoothly."

Chuck smiled at her. "Oh yes. That's still true. I just… I spent years there."

Sarah smiled crookedly at him. "It was a home."

"A dysfunctional and abusive home, but yes." Chuck laughed. "Maybe that's why I agreed to take a job now and then."

"You're too nice." Sarah replied. She looked up and saw Casey waiting and stopped the van in front of him. Casey pulled open the back door and hopped in. When he closed the door she pulled away and headed towards Echo Park.

"That went well, Bartowski." Casey said, mild surprise in his voice. "I thought for sure he'd rope you into another few weeks of work. You ready for DC? Its not all friendly and Disney like here."

"Eager to get the next chapter started." Chuck replied. "I'll have to trust the two of you to keep me from making too many mistakes."

"Crap, why'd ya have to go spoil my fun by trusting me." Casey said then grunted. "Seriously though, stick close to Walker. Watch out for 'innocent' questions. They're never innocent."

"He's right, Chuck. When we're in DC, stay alert. There won't be any time when we're totally secure there." Sarah interjected.

"You guys are spoiling my good day here. Tell you what, if you both can avoid being doom and gloom for the rest of the day, I promise to be good in DC. I'll follow directions like a good little bureaucratic drone. Can't be worse than corporate America." Chuck said, looking at both of them until they nodded. "Great, now lets go get something to eat. My treat."