A/N: Now for the part you've all been waiting for.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
"I didn't sleep with Martin… or Morgan, or anyone… well, not for this job, anyway," Carina began. "You see…" Sarah held up a hand to stop her. Carina had pulled VUDU up on the TV, and bought Scrooged. She had it ready to go for Sarah, when she decided she needed to let Sarah off that particular hook.
"What you're saying is, for the purposes of this job, and hopefully any job you have ever worked on with me, you haven't slept with anyone," Sarah said.
"Haven't even let them feel me up," Carina told Sarah, watching her sigh in relief. "Now, some of those guys, later, when the job was over…" Carina shrugged, making Sarah chuckle. "Listen, I'm going to leave you alone to watch this. I'll be in my room. I have a feeling you're gonna have some… feelings, watching this, and maybe you'll need some space."
"I told him I never wanted to see his lying face as long as he lived," Sarah said softly. "How the hell am I going to apologize for that?"
"You don't have to," Carina said with a shrug. "In fact, you never have to see him again." Sarah hung her head. "Except, you do, don't you?" Sarah looked up at Carina and nodded. "Maybe try what you did with me."
"Cry my eyes out and look like a fool?"
"No. Apologize… and mean it." With that, Carina left her alone with the movie.
}o{
Sarah sat down and began to watch the movie. As it went along, she realized how Chuck could worry she'd see the similarities in the main character, Frank, and herself.
She didn't think she was as bad as Frank, but the stunt she pulled on Carina a few days ago… Frank would have approved. As she watched the love story unfold, and Frank end up alone after having tasted happiness with his girlfriend, she thought about how she was close to losing Chuck – if she hadn't already lost him – if she ever had him to begin with.
It was at that moment Carina burst into the room. "For the record, I'm not Bobcat Goldthwait!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sarah asked, wiping away a tear.
"Damn it," Carina muttered, staring at the TV. "I mistimed this." Sarah gave her a look. "Hit play." Sarah hit play in time to watch Frank escape from the Ghost of Christmas Future, and walk back into the studio where the actor Bobcat was waiting for him with a shotgun. "I'm not Bobcat," she said. "Damn it, it was much more effective if I had timed this right."
"I never fired you," Sarah pointed out.
"I know," Carina said. "But come on, Sarah, this is you. Which means… you know what, I'm gonna shut up."
Sarah turned back to the movie, and her eyes widened when Frank said to Bobcat, "I was a schmuck."
Sarah turned to Carina. "You know, my dad used that word all the time," Sarah said softly.
"I know," Carina said, nodding. "Keep watching."
Sarah turned to watch Frank, the main character of the movie, go downstairs to the studio that was producing a live broadcast of A Christmas Carol, and interrupt it. After a little bit, he began to talk to the viewers at home. Sarah was drawn in.
I'm not crazy.
It's Christmas Eve.
It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer; we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more.
For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.
It's a miracle. It's really a sort of a miracle, because it happens every Christmas Eve. And if you waste that miracle, you're going to burn for it.
I know what I'm talking about. You have to do something. You have to take a chance. You do have to get involved.
There are people that are having trouble making make their miracle happen.
There are people that don't have enough to eat. There are people that are cold.
You can go out and say hello to these people. You can take an old blanket out of the closet and say, "Here."
You can make them a sandwich and say, "Oh by the way, here." I get it now. And if you give, then it can happen. Then the miracle can happen to you.
It's not just the poor and the hungry; it's everybody who has got to have this miracle. And it can happen tonight for all of you.
If you believe in this spirit thing, the miracle will happen, and then you'll want it to happen again tomorrow.
Sarah hit paused and turned to Carina, tears in her eyes. "Oh my God, Frank's girlfriend, Claire, it's Chuck!" Carina nodded. "He literally wants to open a center like Claire, to help people, all year round."
"He does," Carina agreed.
"God, how could I have thought that he was trying to screw me over?" Sarah asked.
"Because you live in a world where that's what people do, Sarah," Carina said gently. Sarah turned to her. "You… you do this to you. Because for some reason, that only you understand, you think you deserve this. This hell of an existence." Sarah shook her head, fighting tears. "Hey, it's okay, you can fix this."
"You don't understand, Carina," Sarah said, fighting through emotion. "The other day, he told me about the Christmas spirit." She gestured toward the TV. "That's exactly what Chuck was talking about, that. That feeling, helping people, trying to just make someone's life a little better."
Sarah trailed off, and Carina put her hands on each of Sarah's biceps. "Hey, you're Sarah Freaking Walker; this isn't over." Sarah sniffled and nodded. "Finish watching it." Sarah nodded, turned, and hit play. Frank continued.
You won't be one of these bastards who says, 'Christmas is once a year, and it's a fraud.' It's not. It can happen every day.
You've just got to want that feeling. And if you like it and you want it, you'll get greedy for it. You'll want it every day of your life, and it can happen to you.
I believe in it now. I believe it's going to happen to me now.
I'm ready for it. And it's great. It's a good feeling. It's really better than I've felt in a long time.
I'm ready.
Have a Merry Christmas everybody.
The movie continued, but Sarah couldn't watch any more. She started gathering her stuff.
"What are you doing?" Carina asked.
"I have to go see him," Sarah said, fighting tears.
"I see," Carina said, grinning.
"What?" Sarah asked.
"Let's just say I never thought I'd see this day," Carina replied. The movie started to wrap up, and Put A Little Love in Your Heart began to play. "Go, go see your man," she said.
"Right," Sarah said nodding, putting her bag on her shoulder, walking to the door. She yanked the door opened, and stopped dead in her tracks, in shock. There stood Chuck, his fist raised as if to knock on the door.
"Chuck?"
"Oh, this is gonna be good," Carina said, watching and grinning.
"Listen, I know you said you never wanted to see me again, and-and I will leave if you want me to, but all I am asking if for a chance to explain what happened," Chuck began. He took a breath, and continued. "I swear to God, Sarah, I had no idea that you were here to buy my company. I have had nothing to do with the company for months, and-"
That was as far as he got.
He lost the ability to speak, because he found Sarah's tongue in his mouth, and her lips locked on his. Carina was kind enough to give them a little time, but after fifteen seconds or so, she began to clear her throat. The two either didn't hear her, or ignored her, so Carina cleared her throat louder.
The two moved away quickly, Chuck looking a little embarrassed. "Hi," Carina said, waving at Chuck. "I'm Sarah's best friend, Carina."
"I've heard of you," Chuck told her. "Nice trick on that e-vite."
"Well, I should probably go," Carina began.
"Don't go on my account," Chuck said quickly.
"Ooooo, kinky, you want me to watch?" Chuck furrowed his brow, trying to figure out what she was saying. It then hit him, and his eyes widen.
"Carina!" Sarah hissed. Carina smiled, slipped past the two in the doorway, and headed to her room. Sarah pulled Chuck inside, stepping back out to glare at Carina, then re-entered the room and shut the door. She turned, and there stood Chuck, ridiculously close.
"Was she saying what I think she was saying?" Chuck asked.
"Probably," Sarah replied. "Unless you were thinking of something normal, and then you're not thinking dirty enough." Chuck looked flustered. "I need to apologize."
"No, you don't-" Chuck began, but a finger was pressed against his lips, stopping him.
"Yes. I do," she told him. "You may choose to forgive me, you may think that I had good reason, but that does not mean what I did wasn't wrong. I made an assumption without hearing you out, without taking into account who I know you to be, and I jumped to the worst and most outlandish conclusion."
Chuck stood there, reluctant to speak, her finger still on his lips. She grinned and moved it off his lips. "I understand why." The finger went back on his lips.
"And I appreciate that you have thought about this from my point of view," Sarah told him. "That said, I shouldn't have, and I am truly sorry."
She moved her finger from his lips. "Am I allowed to say apology accepted?" he asked. She nodded. "Apology accepted." She smiled and took his hands in hers. "But, Sarah, now what?"
That was the question, wasn't it?
}o{
Sarah took Chuck to her and Awesome's café. They each had a slice of pie, trying to figure out what to do, and what to say. Both were having difficultly, because of the situation itself, and the pie was heavenly.
"I don't think I'm good enough for you," Sarah blurted out. Chuck was savoring the taste of the bite of pie he had just put in his mouth when she spoke. "Sorry."
"No, no, it's fine," he said around the bite, holding up single finger and trying to chew. "I hope I've done nothing to make you feel that way."
"You have," Sarah admitted, but quickly laid her hand on his. "But what you have to understand is that it was nothing you demanded, or even asked me to do. It was just being around you and your energy, and your… your spirit, Chuck."
Chuck sat there, not sure what to say. Sarah swallowed, and continued.
"God, between that movie, and what you said to me at Thanksgiving, and just being around you… you are as greedy as Frank when it comes to the Christmas Spirit, and damn it, I want it too." Chuck blinked, fighting back tears. "I am entering a world about which I know nothing about. I don't know how to navigate it." She smiled at him. "If your offer is still on the table, I would like you to be my navigator."
"I don't know if that's best for you," Chuck blurted out, making Sarah's eyes widen. "I mean, you are trying to buy the company."
"Chuck… I want this." Chuck sat back, stunned. "I have never felt like this, and know this, Chuck Bartowski: I have gone to great lengths to close deals to get what I want." Chuck nodded. "And I'm willing to make that look like child's play, to have this."
"When you say this," Chuck began.
"You," she said softly.
"When you say… have," Chuck asked, letting it hang there.
"I want a relationship," Sarah said, blowing out a breath. "Dates, talking to each other, being there for each other, hugs, holding each other… I want it all, Chuck. I am greedy." He chuckled. "What?"
"I notice you didn't mention sex," Chuck said, laughing.
She leaned forward, an amused smile on her face, her grip secure on his hand. "You're right," she said. "I'm sure there will be times we will, but I want to do something I've never done before."
"Wha… wha… what's that," Chuck managed to get out.
"Make love." Chuck made a slight choking sound. "But, if I know you, that can't happen until we finish this deal."
"Do you mean completely finish it, or just have a framework?" Chuck asked.
"Hmmm," she hummed, sitting back and appearing to ponder the question. "I guess that would be your call."
"I need you to know, while I am in favor of all you say, of us being together, I will not concede things just to… uh… you know," he said, waving his hand in her direction.
"Make love?"
"That's it," he blurted out, turning red. She realized she was enjoying this more than she had any right to. "There are things that I just will not negotiate."
"You referring to the types and positions of sex, or your company?" Sarah asked, grinning. Chuck's eyes bulged out of his head. "I won't fire anyone," she told him.
"Sarah," he began.
"And I will put all of this in writing," she cut in.
"I believe you," Chuck told her, knocking her back on her ass, figuratively. "Don't do something because you think it's what I want. Because if you do, one day, you'll regret it. One day, you'll resent me, and I don't want that." She shook her head and chuckled. "What?"
"I was talking to my parents and Devon about you, and I said that I had to change because I wanted to, not because you 'made me'. Not that you would ever try and make me."
"I wouldn't," Chuck assured her.
"I want this business to flourish," Sarah said. "I've studied it, and it can be much more."
"So much more," Chuck agreed.
"You talking the business, or us?" Sarah asked, a smirk on her face.
"Yes," Chuck replied, making her raise an eyebrow. He shrugged.
"Well played," she murmured. "Fine, we both agree that your business – your former business – should not be stripped down and sold. It deserves to be fully capitalized, and led."
"It should be you," Chuck told her.
Sarah scoffed. "I don't know the first thing about that kind of stuff, Chuck."
"Maybe you don't know that particular industry, but you do know industry." She twisted her lips… he was right about that. "You know when to invest, when to advertise, when to pull back. When to keep going when everyone says you shouldn't."
"I would need to work with someone. Not on a consistent basis, but someone I could trust, that knows this industry and what will work for this particular customer," Sarah said. She leaned forward, taking his hands. "That way he could have time to pursue his other interests."
Chuck leaned forward, grinning. "Would those be personal or professional?"
"Yes," Sarah replied.
"Well played," Chuck murmured. "You know, there's something I've always wanted to do."
"What's that?" Sarah asked.
"I've always wanted to go to Paris with someone that knows the language, the customs, and all of that. Someone that would put up with me going to each site I wanted to go to," he told her.
"So, you need a navigator, so you can be a navigator?"
The two were facing each other at this point, their noses inches away. "That's one way to put it," Chuck replied.
"That's a lot of trust in someone, Chuck," Sarah said.
"So, if you were to buy this business, would you run it?" Chuck asked.
"A few months ago… hell, a few weeks ago, I'd have said no. But today…" She bounced a shoulder. "Is that required to have the framework of a deal?"
"I would say that's more of a fine point," Chuck replied.
"Do you think we should take these negotiations to a more private place," Sarah suggested. "My place?"
"If you remember, I have an entire house, and no co-workers nearby," Chuck reminded her.
"You drive a hard bargain, Chuck Bartowski," she said, standing and offering him her hand.
He took it, but instead of rising, gently turned it so that the back of her hand was right in front of his lips. He gently kissed it.
"Check," she said hoarsely. She cleared her throat. "Check!"
A/N: Next time:
"Chuck, I need this. Us, you and me. A couple." She was trying not to cry, but she felt so damn emotional and vulnerable. "I'm different around you. Without you, I'm some damn corporate raider, and I want to be more. I need to be more. Tell me we can be more."
….welp, it sounds like they are home free…*Laughs maniacally*
