A/N: Again, I need laughs

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck


Sarah was sitting in front of Chuck's apartment complex, waiting on him. She had picked up her phone to text him that she was there, when she saw him jogging toward her with his messenger bag and another bag that she hoped he had clothes in.

He put his stuff in the trunk and hopped into the car. "Sorry," he said, a grin on his face. "I was watching the news about what happened at the zoo, and lost track of time."

She saw his lips twitch, and knew it was a setup, but she found she couldn't help herself. "Oh? What happened?"

"It seems someone filled in the snake pit at the zoo," he replied. Sarah blinked, wondering if that was supposed to be funny. "Care if I turn on the radio?"

"Go right ahead," she said. She could see the grin fighting itself on his face. "I feel there's more to the story." He looked at her, trying to convey confusion, but his twitching lips gave it away. It was obvious, it was part of the joke. "About the snakes?"

"I just feel bad for them," Chuck replied, shrugging. "Now they don't have a pit to hiss in."

"Oh my god," Sarah said, laughing at the absurdity of the whole thing. "First this, and then the chicken legs later."

"I'm telling you I'll do all I can to cover them up, but as far as the jokes go…" he trailed off and shrugged.

"I'll brave it," she said, grinning, and looking forward to the trip. She didn't know the last time she had looked forward to anything work related.

}o{

They pulled in to the hotel, and they exchanged a look, and went to check the address in the email and their GPS. It wasn't your typical hotel. "All that is missing is some lighting, thunder, and rain, and we'd be in a remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show," Chuck said.

"You know, there's no way there're two beds in our room, right?" Sarah asked. Chuck turned to her slowly, his mouth agape. "I'll bet they have roll-aways, and that's what they're calling the second bed."

"Who the hell would book such a…" Chuck trailed off as Sarah gave him a look. "Never mind, I got it."

She was silent for a minute. "So, are we going to fight about you sharing the one bed with me? Or are you just going to give in, when I point out you won't fit on a rollaway cot?"

"Wait, first, we don't know that there's not two beds." She gave him a look. "We don't," he insisted. "Second, why do you assume I will just take the cot." The look continued. "Fine, you're right. You're not giving me anything, are you?"

She grinned at him. "I'm not touching that," she said, and got out of the car as Chuck sat there, not sure how to respond.

}o{

Chuck grabbed his bags. He tried to grab Sarah's, but after a second, he found himself against the car, his arm behind him. "Damn," he muttered, laughing at the situation.

"Sorry, self-defense is something I pride myself in," Sarah said.

"Got it, no sudden moves at night, "Chuck told her.

There was silence for a second, and Chuck looked over his shoulder at her, finding a smirk on her face. She leaned forward. "That's right, at night you better go nice and slow." Chuck's eyes widened, as she let him go and began to laugh.

"I don't know what to do with you," Chuck said.

"You'll figure it out," she chirped, walking into the entrance of the hotel/old Transylvania-looking castle. She stopped as she saw Lester. She started to speak, but apparently Chuck had a lot to say. He didn't even notice her starting to talk.

"Lester, what in the hell is this?" Chuck asked. "You promised this was on the up-and-up."

"This is on the up-and-up," Lester replied, his hands spread wide. "This place is glorious."

"Yeah? What about the sleeping arrangements?" Chuck asked.

Lester pressed his lips together and swallowed. "Think of it as team building?"

Chuck shut his eyes and sighed.

"You realized you're going to get sued over this, right?" Sarah asked. Lester grinned. "What?"

"You didn't read all of the email you sent in as your confirmation that you were going on this trip, did you?" Lester asked, a smarmy grin on his face. Chuck reactively reached for Sarah's hand as he saw her clench it, and he noticed her calm down. He was trying to process that when Lester continued. "By agreeing to go on this trip, you have signed a waiver in which we can't be sued."

"Lester, if she beat your ass could you sue her?" Chuck asked in a low voice. Lester's eyes widened.

"Oh, look, people I should speak with," he said, and ran off.

Chuck watch Lester go, then turned to Sarah, who had turned to face him. "That a special trick or something?" she asked him a smirk on her face.

"What, threatening him with legal action?" he replied with a chuckle.

"No… Taking a woman's hand in yours, to calm her down?" she asked, looking down at their hands, still entwined. He started to let go, but noticed she hadn't. He looked up at her as they heard a commotion down the hallway. She looked over her shoulder, and he felt her tense. She turned back to him. "I don't have time to explain, but… please, do you trust me?"

"Absolutely," he blurted out.

"Okay," she said, and stepped closer to him, making his eyes go wide. Her hand not currently in his slipped around his neck, and she pulled him into a kiss.

"Hey, this is a work retreat, not a lover's retreat," they heard a voice say, as they pulled apart. Chuck tried to focus on the man that was talking to them, but he was having trouble focusing on anything but the taste of Sarah Walker on his lips.

"Jack Burton, you co-presenter…" he paused as he looked at Sarah. "For the weekend," he finished, his voice trailing off.

"Sarah Walker," she said, letting go of Chuck's hand and shaking Jack's. Whatever had bothered him was gone. "This is my boyfriend, Chuck Bartowski."

"Boyfriend?" Jack asked, like it was the craziest thing he'd ever heard.

"Boyfriend?" Chuck parroted, looking at Sarah. He saw Jack look at him and then to Sarah. There was a pleading look on her face. "So…" he turned to Jack. "Okay, we're out, in public now." Jack looked from one to the other. "What can you do? You know? Workplace romance, try to keep it on the DL," he said, using some hand gestures to emphasize DL. "People give you crap, make up rumors."

"Think you're sleeping your way to the top," Sarah finished for him. "You said, co-presenters?"

"Yes," Jack said, still not looking like he was buying what Chuck was selling. Hell, Chuck wasn't buying it, either. "Daphne Paralta is my co-presenter."

"Wonderful," Sarah said. "We really should get checked in to our room."

"Room?" Jack asked. "Isn't that kind of a giveaway that you two are together?"

"Some of them here aren't the brightest," Sarah said, giving him a pointed look. "I'm sure you've noticed it yourself."

Jack pressed his lips together, widened his eyes and rocked back on his heels. "Yeaahhhh," he said, a grin on his face. "I've noticed."

"Well, wonderful to meet you, Jack," Chuck said offering his hand. Jack took it and squeezed it as he shook. "Nice, firm, grip there."

Sarah reached over and pulled Chuck's hand away. "Lovely meeting you."

"I'll be here all weekend," he said in a cheery voice, as Sarah led Chuck away.

"I'm aware," she muttered. She led Chuck to the check-in counter, got their keys, and led him upstairs. She unlocked the door, opened it, waited for him to enter, shut it, locked it, and leaned against it.

"Okay, I feel like I've done something," Chuck began. "It was the kiss, right? I'm sorry, it's just… it was a really good kiss, and if I used too much tongue, that's on me."

She gave him an are you crazy look. "What? No, my only complaint about the kiss was it wasn't long enough." Chuck shook his head, thinking he had lost his mind. "So, I have to tell you something, and this… this is not easy."

"Jack is your ex-husband?" Chuck asked. She pulled her chin back and made an eww face. "Well, it has something to do with him, because you got all weird when he showed up. I mean, he is older, but I could see where some would find him attractive."

"Jesus," Sarah said, shuddering. "I didn't think there could be anything worse than him being my father, but I was wrong."

"Wait… father?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded. "I made out with you, you told him I was your boyfriend, and we're sharing a room, with only one real bed, which, of course, you were right about." She shrugged as if to say naturally. "But I did all that in front of your father?"

"Yep," Sarah replied. Chuck sat down on the bed. "And, he's a con artist."

Chuck blinked. "Of course he is," he replied.


A/N: Please, if you're taking any of this fic seriously, you're doing it wrong.