A/N: Think of the children! Hi, I wasn't going to mess with this one until I got some fics finished but since that time I sure have posted a lot of other things so…I'm just thinking of the children. So what in the world is going on with all these moving pieces? Let's dig a little, shall we.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, and we're all only thinking of the children here, right?

"And you click here," Chuck replied, pointing at the screen. Sarah followed his instructions and they heard a noise from her phone. "That should be the confirmation email." She pulled up her phone, took a look and nodded. "Great."

"Yeah," Sarah said, unconvinced.

"Hey, you do know if you have trouble with anything, you can contact me to help, right?" She gave him a look. "I mean, the children need their time, right?"

"Right, the children," Sarah replied.

Outside, Roan rolled his eyes. This was pitiful, pathetic, and possibly the easiest assignment he ever had. All he had to do was get proof on Jill, keep these two apart, prove Sarah's innocence or guilt…wait a minute. Roan smiled evilly. He could kill two birds with one stone. He knocked on the door, making the two who had been staring at each other jump. "Mr. Bartowski, when you have a moment, could you stop by my office, I need to have a word with you. Nothing wrong, just need your expertise."

"Absolutely, sir, Mr. Montgomery, sir. I was just showing, Sarah, uh, Miss Walker here, how to reserve something on the calendar." He paused, took a breath, and gulped. "For the children."

"For the children," Sarah added. Roan nodded, and did an internal happy dance. This was going to be cake.

-ooooo-

"Charles, have a seat," Roan said as Chuck walked in the door. Chuck sat down and Roan gave him a smile. "You're enamored with Miss Walker."

"Uh, sir, I'm sorry, I'm sure there's some rule against it, it's just she's so…" he trailed off not sure how to describe the enigma that was Sarah Walker.

"Come, come, there's no such thing as a rule against teachers dating."

"There's not?" He was puzzled but realized he shouldn't argue the point. "Well, that's good, but Sarah, she wants nothing to do with me."

"Charles, I'm not going to keep anything from you, but this must stay between us. Can you do that? Can you trust me?"

"Of course Mr. Montgomery," Chuck replied.

"In here, it's Roan." Chuck nodded. "I'm here as a member of the CIA keeping watch over Sarah, but I'm guessing you know that?" Chuck's eyes widened. "Come, Charles, John Casey being as close as he is to you, I'd expect nothing less."

Chuck slowly nodded. "So why is she here?"

"Retired," Roan stated simply. "Not by her choice, but she wants a normal life, she wants understanding, and you, young man have the opportunity of a lifetime, all you have to do is just be yourself."

"Myself?" he sputtered. "Have you met me? No, Roan, no one wants me."

"Ah, Charles, she does," Roan replied. "She is drawn to the simplistic life you offer. But you must be wary, her former lover might still be around." Chuck blanched. "I believe you knew him." Chuck nodded. "You must, must let her know how bad he treated you and how he hurt you….the child is yours?"

"Yes!" Chuck replied. "It didn't matter to me if she was or not, but there were tests done. You know Jill and her tests….actually, maybe you don't know."

"She cheated on you with him," Roan replied. "She was pregnant with your child and cheated on you with him."

"I don't think this trip down memory lane is helping anyone," Chuck said, ready to leave.

"No, you don't understand, you need Sarah to know what a cad Bryce really was. It will help her solidify her feelings for you, trust me, Charles."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Chuck asked.

"I once knew your parents," Roan replied. "I want you to have the happiness you deserve."

"Thank you, Roan," Chuck said, rising, and sticking out his hand. Roan shook it.

"The least I can do, my boy." Chuck left, shutting the door behind him. Roan shook his head. "Sarah Walker drawn to the mundane lifestyle of Chuck Bartowski. All she needs to do is remember the adventure and fun of Bryce, his upscale lifestyle of spying, attending amazing parties, and she'll reach out to him if he's alive. My job will be done, and I'll be reinstated." Roan grinned. "As if Chuck Bartowski could win that woman by being himself." He sniffed and went back to his computer. "I really should have asked him how to use this thing while he was here."

-ooooo-

Chuck was in the lab when he head the taletell footsteps. He never turned around. "I thought I said no running in school." The small blur crashed into him, catching him in a hug. He scooped her off the ground and put her on his lap. Sarah had just happened to be walking by, saw it, and decided to do some background work. That's what it was, background work.

"Dad, do you like Miss Sarah?"

"She's fine, Sam, why do you ask?"

"She's really nice, and let me color earlier," Sam replied, squirming in his lap.

"I thought I told you not to bother any of the teachers. You promised." He tickled her belly making her squeal. Sarah found herself smiling and fiddling with the necklace she had on that her father gave her when she was a child.

"Well, she saw me and asked me if I wanted to help her, and Dad…I had to. If I didn't everything wouldn't be ready for the first day of school. I did it for the other kids."

Chuck huffed a laugh. "Thinking of the children, huh?" She gave him a look and he just shook his head. "Listen, if she asks, it's fine, but remember she's going to be your teacher, and you have to listen to her."

"Like I do you and Uncle Casey?" Sam asked.

"And Aunt Ellie and Uncle Devon," Chuck added.

"And like I pretend to with Uncle Morgan," Sam added. Chuck laughed and squeezed her. "I like Miss Sarah." Chuck gave her a look, and Sarah thought she might cry. "She's nice."

"I'm glad you like her," Chuck replied. "She's going to be a big part of your life this year."

"I hope she likes me," Sam said softly.

Chuck gave her a little shake, earning a giggle. "Why would you think she doesn't?"

"Jill doesn't like me," Sam replied.

"Hey," Chuck began. "You're mom likes you."

"Then why can't I call her Mom? Why don't I get to see her?" She looked at him for a moment, with tears in her eyes. "Why aren't you mad at her?"

"I am," Chuck said softly. "But, I'm not going to be that parent who goes off about his ex and makes his child mad at her. I'm not, Sam. Whatever relationship you two have, as long as it's healthy and she doesn't do something bad to you, I'm not going to interfere."

"Dad, she does do something bad, she hurts me." Sam pointed to her chest. "In here."

Chuck squeezed her. "I feel sorry for Jill." Sam looked at him. "She doesn't get to see what a precious, wonderful, smart, beautiful young lady you are."

Sarah left before she bawled. She had been wrong about Chuck Bartowski. She bumped into Roan.

"Sarah," Roan said. "Is everything all right?"

"It is you," Sarah said, shaking her head. "No."

"Did Chuck do something?" Sarah gave him a look. "I saw you two earlier."

"He didn't do anything inappropriate," Sarah began.

"Ah, that's good."

"But he did do something…made me…" She looked away. "Made me think about the past…excuse me."

Roan watched her walk away, pleased with himself. He didn't think his plan would work so well so quickly.

-ooooo-

"Still a jerk?" Gertrude asked, walking by and watching Sarah attempt to destroy the heavy bag.

"God, how could I have been so wrong?" Sarah asked, with a combination that would cripple a real person.

"Is he still charming?"

"Oh, so charming, and lanky, and good with his daughter." Gertrude was impressed with how she managed to say that with all of the shots she was throwing.

"Was his hair charming?"

She stopped and looked at Gertrude. "I wanted to run my hands through it."

"Such a jerk," Gertrude said as she walked off. Sarah began to pound the bag some more. "I bet he'd be even more of a jerk if you actually talked to him." Gertrude swore the strikes sounded louder.

-ooooo-

"You're quiet," Casey said, drinking his tea.

"I think I need to move," Chuck said, staring off into space.

Casey looked around their house. "I'd miss this place if I'm honest." He speared one of his red potatoes.

"I meant me and Sam," Chuck explained.

"Oh, good plan," Casey said, cutting a piece of steak. He made a face as Chuck reached for the steak sauce. "Don't know what that steak did to you for you to have to ruin it," he muttered. He chewed as he thought. "I'd stay behind, sell the story, catch up later."

"I didn't mean for you to…." He stopped seeing the look on Casey's face. "Nevermind then."

"Kid, if the CIA is watching you it doesn't matter where you go."

"Roan pulled me into his office told me I needed to tell Sarah what a cad, his word," Chuck explained at the look Casey gave him. Casey shrugged and nodded. "Bryce was."

"They think Walker is working with Bryce, and think you are doing something with Jill," Casey said, chewing. Chuck's eyes were wide. "It's the only thing that makes sense. Carina is defiantly here to for Jill…DEA."

"Makes sense."

"Walker is legit retired, and my sources tell me Roan is persona non gratis in the CIA right now so he has been reassigned here."

"Great," Chuck said, pushing his plate away. Casey reached forward, grabbed it, and began to try and clean the steak sauce off of the steak. "Help yourself," Chuck groused.

"I cooked them I will." He paused and pointed a fork at him. "I work hard to make meals for you two, the least you could do is not ruin it with steak sauce."

Chuck sat there a second. "Casey…this is weird."

Casey set his jaw and thought. "Agreed. Let's forget this scene ever happened." There was a knock on the door. "Bet you a gallon of regular milk it's one of the three we just mentioned."

"You want to hurt Sam's stomach?" Chuck asked, getting up to answer it.

Casey rolled his eyes. "No," he groused. "But for Christ's sake. Nut milk?"

"I'll have you know I find the cashew very smooth and creamy," Chuck said as he opened the door looking over his shoulder to Casey. "You can ever get it in chocolate flavor." He turned around and there stood Sarah, eyebrow raised. "Cashew chocolate milk," he explained.

"Because that makes it better?" Sarah asked.

"Not a fan of Cashew chocolate milk?"

"Never had it."

"Well, Numbnuts here can get you a glass if he ever invites you in," Casey said, getting up from the table.

Chuck turned toward Casey. "I know you think your words hurt, but they don't." Chuck turned to Sarah. "Won't you please come in."

Sarah stared through, an amused expression on her face. "You two aren't…" she pointed from one to the other. "You know what, nevermind."

Chuck's face was filled with mirth. "Please, I am begging you, PLEASE, finish that sentence."

"Christ," Casey choked.

Sarah burst out laughing. Suddenly footsteps came down the stairs. "MISS SARAH!" Sam yelled. She launched herself at Sarah, who swooped her up.

"Sam! Careful, you know Miss Sarah has a bad leg." Sarah turned to Chuck, an eyebrow raised. Chuck audibly gulped. "I mean, you wouldn't want to flaunt your relationship with your teacher in front of the other students."

She lowered the eyebrow, the mixture look of amusement and something Chuck couldn't quite put his finger on remained. She turned to Sam. "He is right about that," Sarah conceded. "I need to talk to your dad and…" She turned to look at Casey. "It is UNCLE Casey, isn't it?"

"Mmhmm," Sam hummed. "But he's kinda like my second dad." Casey's face fell and Chuck's smile was on full blast with that. Sarah thought her bad leg was messing up because she felt a little weak. She then realized she was feeling the exact same thing in both legs.

"Come on, Munchkin," Chuck said, removing the little girl from Sarah's arms. "We adults need to talk before Miss Sarah makes Uncle Casey stroke out."

"What's a stroke?" Sam asked.

"It's when your brain hurts," Sarah replied, grinning at the two. Sam ran back upstairs.

"Do that again, Walker…" Casey let the threat hang in the air.

"Looks like I missed dinner," Sarah said, grinning.

"We have extra," Chuck offered.

"Wait a minute, how do you like your steak?" Casey had a gleam in his eye.

"Medium," Sarah retorted.

"Sauce?"

"Why?" Sarah replied, almost insulted.

"Hmmph," Casey said, handing her a plate. "Potatoes and green beans are on the counter."

She looked from one to the other. "I need to tell you two this, and I'm not thrilled about it, but Sam doesn't deserve to be caught in something stupid." She sat her plate down on the table, focusing on the two of them.

"That's something the three of us can agree on," Casey said. Chuck nodded.

"Carina thinks you're the key to getting to Roberts Pharmaceuticals." Sarah said.

Chuck looked at Casey. Casey nodded. "Roan pulled me into his office to…." He cleared his throat. "Help me win you."

"No," she said in a voice just above a whisper.

"He told me I should tell you what happened to me by Bryce, how my life is, and you'll move on from that life…toward me." His hands were in his pockets and he was looking at the ground. Sarah still had the wherewithall to hide her emotions but Casey saw her and had a grin on his face. She shook her head, and he gave a soft grunt. Chuck looked up. "Casey and I kinda think Roan believes if I do all that, you might contact Bryce."

"Because I'll miss him when I hear what terrible things he's done?"

"He persona non gratis," Casey replied.

"And seriously, let's not kid ourselves, what would someone like you see in someone like me?" Sarah stayed stoic, trying to control things in her. "The fact is everyone is trying to use us against each other to get what they want." Sarah nodded. "Maybe we three should team up, and see if we can't have each other's back."

"Team Moron," Casey muttered.

"So you're the leader then?" Sarah asked, grinning. Casey looked from her to Chuck and shook his head.

"Sarah, I'm not asking you for me, or for Casey. I'm asking you for Sam, she doesn't deserve to get caught up in some government shenanigans."

Sarah nodded. "I'm in," she said offering Chuck her hand. He reached out and shook it, and both looked at each other a little confused at what they felt.

"Christ," Casey muttered.

A/N: I needed something non-Broken. Think of the children!…Hope you liked it, reviews and PMs are always welcomed…Til next time!

DC