A/N: Welcome back
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
It was the Monday after Chuck had gone to Sarah's hotel room.
"This is weird."
Carina turned to look at the bearded man beside her, who was offering her a pair of sunglasses. She looked at them, shrugged, and put them on. The two were standing in the back of the conference room, both wearing shades, watching Chuck and Sarah.
"Why are we wearing these?" Carina asked softly.
"To not go blind from Chuck glowing," Morgan replied.
Carina snorted. "To be honest, Sarah is radiating something," Carina admitted, reaching up and taking off the sunglasses.
"Also, to see if they're paying any attention to us, which they aren't," Morgan added, as he removed his sunglasses as well. "They seem to be… lost, in each other's eyes."
"That's one way of putting it," Carina agreed with a shrug. "I mean, I'd call it eye-fucking, but hey, whatever." Morgan's eyes widened, but he couldn't disagree with Carina. "So, we're pretty certain they figured things out… a lot of things, yes?"
"I'm sure," Morgan replied. "Chuck is known to be quite accommodating, and to do all he can to help others. He believes that everyone can reach their fullest potential, and he's willing to do everything in his power to help them reach that goal." Carina slowly turned to Morgan and stared at him. Morgan kept looking straight ahead. "I heard it after it came out of my mouth, but it was too late," he said, somewhat embarrassed.
"I've always heard it is better to give, than to receive," Carina replied. Morgan's head jerked around to look at her. "I said what I said." Morgan cleared his throat and turned back to the two sitting at the table.
"I think we should talk benefits," Chuck began. Sarah gave him a grin that left no doubt about what kind of benefits she was thinking about. Chuck cleared his throat and continued. "It seems that Constellation Electronics insurance is different than the type your company carries."
"What you mean to say is yours is better," Sarah corrected, as Chuck winced. "We at
Langston Graham Enterprises have noticed the same, and have done some research." Chuck looked surprised. "After some discussions, and my boss being shocked that I actually suggested a switch to a policy that will cost the company more money, all of Langston Graham Enterprises will be switching to the insurance your company carries next year."
Chuck sat there, stunned. "Sarah," he began softly.
"I mean, don't get me wrong… it is an investment," Sarah said, trying to keep the smile off her face. "Data shows that the better insurance tends to have people at work more, and the ability to do virtual visits also means less time out of the office, so it pays for itself and then some."
"I see," Chuck replied, knowing exactly what she was doing. "So you have found a way to justify it."
Sarah leaned forward. "Chuck, I am good at what I do."
"Don't I know it," Chuck muttered, grinning at her. "But that's only one part of the benefits I want to discuss."
"Oh," Sarah said, deflating. "PTO."
"Correct," Chuck nodded.
"Chuck… you realize that very few major companies allow limitless PTO, right?" Sarah asked.
"I do," Chuck replied. "But, this company is in the creation business, the idea business. And you know what you can't do, or can't do as well, if you're burnt out? Have ideas. Listen, we don't require anyone to work ridiculous hours when we're trying to finish a product. But many people are here, ridiculous amounts of hours, for the good of the company."
"I know," Sarah said softly, enjoying seeing his passion for his company… his people… his friends.
"And, yes, they might take a month off – and forget anyone working the month of July, everyone's at ComicCon – but do you know what is happening? They are being inspired, recharging their batteries, and when they come back, they come back excited to be here, excited to create, and that's good for this business."
"I know," Sarah agreed.
"Sarah, too much of this world… too much of life, is built on this construct of 'business hours', and I get it… sales teams, and people in that line of work, they do have to be here for those hours. And those folks understand that. But those that create… they may get an idea at two AM and come in to begin work on it, and work all day. And then… then they may need to rest and recharge their batteries, and for a day or five, they aren't here, but that doesn't mean that in their head, they're slacking off."
"I know, Chuck, but there has to be some level of accountability," Sarah reminded him.
"And there is," Chuck told her, pulling up a file on his laptop. "We keep records showing who is creating and contributing, and each person is on a one-year renewable contract. Both sides must agree to continue it, for the contract to be renewed. I've never had to tell someone they aren't welcomed back, because those who can't work like this leave on their own accord, they're better off being somewhere that is more structured. That fits their needs, but for the employees here… family is first."
"You had one employee take off six months," Sarah began.
"Steve," Chuck told her. "Steve's mom was in a car wreck, and he had to take care of her. Before his review, I had a line of people outside my office telling me if Steve wasn't renewed that they would all quit. Sarah, we make each other accountable. It's a family. Is it normal? No, but how many times in business do you hear think outside the box? And that line is bullshit by the way, because usually what someone does is think outside the box, by building another box. In this world… in this place, doing things 'by the book', doesn't work for these folks… on the creative side, that is."
"The business side?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, that's me and I suck at it. And that's why I'm selling the company," Chuck said, looking down at the table.
"Well, that's a lie," Sarah told him. He lifted his head. "You have done a marvelous job, Chuck. Now, do you enjoy it? Probably not."
"No, I don't," Chuck admitted.
"You know, there was this guy that once told me something," Sarah began. "I was struggling about how to complete a job I had, and he told me to relax, go see friends, and let my mind do what it needed to do. That was leadership; helping people, that is what you are born to do, Chuck Bartowski. As for the dollars and cents of it all… have you maximized profit?" Chuck sat there, waiting for her to say no. "No, but then again, you don't judge things in dollars and cents, do you?"
"No," he said warmly, shaking his head.
"No, you don't," Sarah said, giving him a look. "You think about others, you sacrifice your bottom line… your best interests, for others."
She thought about how after they left that diner a few nights ago and ended up back at his house. How they came through the door, and she couldn't fight herself one second more. As soon as he'd turned back to her from shutting the door, her hand was on his cheek, her lips on his. She'd felt his hands up by her shoulders, holding her, making her feel secure. Making her feel safe.
Making her feel…loved.
"I don't like that you do that all the time," Sarah told him.
Her other hand had made its way into his curls, and she'd felt him moan into her mouth, making her smile while kissing him. His hands made their way to her back, and slowly began to make their way down to her waist.
"You don't?" Chuck had asked, leaning forward, unable to keep the grin off his face.
He'd broken the kiss, and she saw the question in his eyes. She'd smirked, stepped back, took his hand, and led him down the hallway to his bedroom. Having lead him inside, she'd turned back to him, and slowly began unbuttoning his shirt, her eyes never leaving his.
"I do not," she'd replied, leaning in towards him, her own grin covering her face.
"Are they gonna do it on the table?" Morgan asked Carina softly. Carina shushed him, trying to listen.
She remembered having pulled his shirt off, their eyes still locked. And what had happened next, she would never forget for the rest of her life. The smile on his face, that made her knees melt. He'd reached up and cupped her cheek and her insides… they'd nearly exploded. She'd found herself nervous, in a way she hadn't been sure she had ever been before. A few minutes later, she'd found herself sans clothes, on the bed, as Chuck was kissing and caressing every inch of her body.
"Do you have some ideas to rectify that situation?" Chuck asked her, seemingly leaning forward even more. Sarah lifted one eyebrow, amused.
She remembered that look on his face, of him winking at her, just before his tongue touched her inner thigh. After that, she remembered grabbing the sheets in her fists. She remembered thinking it wasn't fair, she was going to take care of him… apologize to him… and he… he was taking care of her.
He suddenly jumped from his seat at the table, and she suppressed a laugh. He looked under the table and then back up at Sarah, who was fighting to hold in her laughter. "Uh… you seem to have lost your shoe… and that's impressive, because they are… well… Chucks," he told her.
"You usually don't jump when I touch you," Sarah replied, trying to keep a straight face. Chuck made a choking sound. "I'm going to make sure you get everything you deserve, Chuck Bartowski, to answer your question." Chuck swallowed.
"Uh… okay… now, or… uh…"
"Compensation," Sarah offered. Chuck's eyes widened. "For your employees."
"Jesus," Carina muttered.
"We really shouldn't be here," Morgan said to her.
"If we don't, they will do it on the table," Carina replied.
"I'm not entirely sure they're not going to, anyway," Morgan countered.
"Sarah, the compensation package, it's too much," Chuck argued.
She had seen stars… hell, she thought she might be hearing some sci-fi music play, with the things she was feeling. It was a damn out-of-body experience. She was trying to focus on him, and there he was, looking at her, concerned. She grabbed his head and pulled him into a kiss.
"Chuck, I think there's something you need to know about me," Sarah began.
She thought she had been kissed before, but the kiss on the bed… that had been life-altering.
"And what is that, Sarah?"
It was a promise. A promise of then, now, that moment, but it was a promise she knew she had never made before until that moment. It was a promise of tomorrow.
"I don't do anything half-assed," Sarah told him.
And that promise wasn't just to Chuck Bartowski. No. If it had just been to him, maybe it wouldn't have scared her so. Excited her so. Terrified her so. Worried her so. No, it wasn't just to Chuck, it was to herself.
"I'm beginning to become quite aware of that," Chuck told her.
When the kiss broke, she saw the concern on his face, the worry. She had let her mask slip, and he saw her. He saw all of her. She was lying, naked, limbs only half working, there for him to see… to appreciate, and she felt more nude… more exposed, than she ever had in her life, with him simply looking at her face.
"Yes, I am increasing everyone's pay," Sarah told him. "I want Constellation Electronics to be the standard bearer. I want the best, the brightest, the most creative, and the only way to do that is to have someone working with this company that the employees can believe in." Chuck pointed to himself questioningly. "Yes, you," she told him with a grin. "But also, the best compensation package that can be put together. Chuck, if I'm going to keep this company… if I'm going to think about running it-"
"Think?" Chuck asked.
He had the same look on his face, the same look of worry he had that night, with them lying on the bed. As she'd laid there, she'd told him simply, she wanted this. He smiled and nodded, but she'd needed to make sure he understood. She'd needed to make sure that he knew how she felt.
"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."
He had looked at her directly in the eye, and told her they could be whatever they wanted themselves to be, and he did want more. He was greedy, just like Frank in the movie. She couldn't help but smile at that.
"I haven't made up my mind yet," Sarah admitted. "I want this company to have the best, and I'm not sure I'm in… in this sense. But I will be part of it."
"How's that, if you're not running the company?"
Her thoughts raced back to that bed, where she gently, but firmly, flipped him onto his back, him giggling, and her loving that sound. She'd been on top of him, and leaned down to gently kiss him, as they became one.
"Chuck, what kind of girlfriend would I be, if I didn't help my boyfriend with his company when he asked me?" Sarah asked.
"Girlfriend?" Chuck asked.
"Girlfriend?" Carina parroted.
"Girlfriend," Sarah told him. Chuck grinned. "I am committed to this."
"I need to be committed, watching all of this," Carina muttered.
"Is she talking about them, or the company?" Morgan asked. Carina gave him a look. "Got it."
"Nothing major can happen without your knowledge," Sarah told him. She opened a folder and showed him the papers that gave him a measure of control. "This company has a future… and it's your vision. That's not going to change."
She'd seen the look on his face as they made love, felt his lips on hers, his hands on her body. Everything she had thought about romance before meeting Chuck was wrong. Everything she thought about being loved was wrong. She thought being with someone else limited her. Tied her down. What she didn't understand, until being with Chuck, was the freedom of someone loving you, caring for you, wanting the absolute best for you. And now she had that, and she swore on her soul that no one would take this away from her. No one was going to ruin this.
Including herself.
"And this is the amount I'm to be paid for the company?" Chuck said, pointing at the number.
"That's right," Sarah told him. "And that," she said point at a much smaller figure. "Is the yearly salary we pay you to be a consultant. You will work for us no more than thirty days a year." Chuck blinked, and looked at her. "What?"
"Thank you," he said softly. "This takes care of everyone, and lets me try and help others."
"My pleasure," she told him honestly.
She thought back to that night, after they had finished. She'd been lying in the crook of his arm, his lips gently kissing her head through her hair.
"I've never done this before," Chuck said softly.
"Damn, that's impressive," Sarah told him, making him chuckle.
"No, I've never… been with someone, that I'm working a deal with," Chuck told her.
"I haven't either," Sarah admitted.
"I wasn't trying to imply you were," Chuck said quickly.
"Chuck," she said gently, "I didn't think you were, but you brought this up for a reason. So how about you spiral later, and tell me why you brought this up."
"Did we risk everything by doing that?" She chuckled into his shoulder, causing him to raise an eyebrow questioningly. "What? Am I being stupid? Naive?"
"Before I came here, we absolutely would have been risking everything," Sarah told him. She placed her chin on his chest, and looked into his eyes. "No, Chuck, we're fine. We will make this work for both of us, both professionally and personally."
"Good," Chuck told her. "Because… I don't know if you know this, but I'm fond of you, Sarah Walker."
"I'm crazy about you Chuck," Sarah told him, shrugging.
"I-I-"
"Don't," she said softly. "I know you were messing around, and I know how you really feel, but I needed to make sure you knew how I felt."
"I feel the same," Chuck told her. "You deserve to know that." She smiled at him.
She looked into his eyes, in the present and smiled. "So? Do we have a deal?"
A/N: Well…do they?
Next time:
"See, that's where I disagree," Chuck said, shaking his head. "You are worth the effort, you are worth the time, and you are just… worth it.
"You know how I told you that you say things that make me want to kiss you?" Chuck nodded. "You're doing it again."
He just keeps doing stuff he shouldn't….thanks for reading. Review if you would.
