It's July 15th, 2022, and Sarah Walker has finally scored her dream job—working with dolphins at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Socially awkward and academically driven, Sarah's never found love—but when she meets a tech genius whose inventions have the chance to make her research a reality, she finds herself falling for him. Together, their work could change the world … that is, unless someone else gets hold of it first.

Disclaimer: We don't own Chuck…

Chapter 7: Down by the Sea

Sarah slipped her cell phone back into her pocket as she stood by the side of the dolphins' tank, watching Echo and Eden glide through the water in perfect synchrony, their every movement a mirrored ballet. It was as if they'd spent years perfecting this impressive little routine—a choreographed dance of grace and shimmering light.

They were beautiful—and Sarah should have felt elated. Eden's birth had gone off without a single hitch, and she and Echo were in perfect health, according to Casey. So—given the heartwarming spectacle right in front of her—why did she feel so melancholy?

Oh, who was she kidding? She knew exactly why: It was because of Chuck.

She'd been so excited—and equally nervous—to spend the evening getting to know this brilliant man better. She was done trying to fool herself. She was smitten. Just thinking about his parting words to her—"I would've died a very happy man"—made her weak in the knees … and everywhere else. God … his voice, pitched low and sultry like that—it had driven her crazy. She couldn't stop thinking about it. No man had ever affected her that way—not even close.

And then she had to go and cancel their … date?

"Don't worry about it," he'd assured her. "Really … it's no big deal, Sarah. Go and take care of our girls." Our girls? Was he even real?

Then he'd proceeded to tell her this would give him time to rebuild the speaker he'd just redesigned … the one that her dolphins had destroyed. He'd actually sounded excited by the prospect—and she'd felt like the scum of the Earth.

She'd commandeered his vacation with volunteer work, caused him to spend his own time and money on a speaker that was now a heap at the bottom of the trash, endangered his life by knocking him into a freezing tank with a couple of enraged dolphins, canceled the dinner invitation she'd extended to make it up to him—and instead of being pissed, he'd been patient and understanding. The man was becoming more alluring by the moment. Of all the days for Echo to go into labor—

"He really was amazing, wasn't he?"

Sarah turned her head to see Lou, the feisty little brunette trainer, making her way to where Sarah stood. "Who are you talking about?" she asked, looking back at Echo and Eden. The calf swam in Echo's slipstream, where she didn't have to work so hard to make her way through the water. Every few minutes, she'd lift her head to get her blowhole above the surface and take a breath. Breathing this way was a learned behavior for the baby dolphin, so she'd lift her head up way too high and then hit her face on the water on the way back down, a behavior called chin-slapping. Sarah had read about it, of course, but had never had the opportunity to see it in person before. She watched Eden in fascination as Lou giggled.

"Chuck, of course. All that research and the weird A.I. thingy—he did that overnight, right? And built the speaker, too? It was going so well, until the dolphins went nuts and you knocked him into the water. But even then, he didn't panic. Even Casey was impressed—not that he'd ever say that to your face. I think he's still mad at you for stressing Echo out when she was so close to her due date."

"I'm mad at me too," Sarah mumbled, her eyes on the small dolphin. Eden was far darker than Echo, which was typical of newborn calves—a protective coloration that helped to keep them safe from predators. As Lou and Sarah watched, she swam beneath the surface and started nursing, taking in the high-fat milk and colostrum that would help her grow and protect her from infection until her immune system strengthened enough to function without support. In captivity, this wasn't nearly as vital as it was in the wild—but it was still a good sign to see the calf nursing frequently and without trouble.

As adorable as Eden might be, the timing of her arrival hadn't been ideal. Sarah was mad at herself—but she was also extremely disappointed. If she'd only had the presence of mind to ask Chuck in advance what sounds he'd planned on playing, then maybe all of this could've been avoided. Echo might've kept little Eden percolating for a couple days longer—and Sarah could've enjoyed a lovely dinner with a guy who intrigued her more than anyone she'd ever met. Instead, Casey was brooding, and Sarah would probably end up having to stomach the closest McDonald's drive-through so she could spend the night sleeping on the dive platform, watching mother and calf to make sure everything was okay.

Typically, dolphins—even those in captivity—had what behaviorists and trainers referred to as an "auntie" … one or two female dolphins who stayed with mother and calf for a while after birth. This was especially important when it came to first-time mothers like Echo. They'd tried to get another female dolphin transferred to Monterey—an older, more experienced cow from Sea World—but she'd had some underlying health issues that had ultimately made the move unfeasible.

As for Finn, male dolphins had been known to attack calves in the wild, whether or not the calves were theirs—most likely to free the female up again for mating, since female dolphins only produced offspring every three to five years. Once the Aquarium staff had realized Echo was pregnant, they'd had to devise a divider to keep the two of them separate during delivery. As soon as Echo'd started exhibiting signs that were typical of labor—initiating an unusual amount of contact with the trainers, rearranging toys in the tank, swimming on her back, breaching repeatedly—they'd slid the dividing net into place. They'd keep it there for twenty-four hours after delivery, making sure Echo and Eden were safe before permitting Finn to join them again.

While this approach had the benefit of protecting Echo and Eden's physical safety, Sarah worried about it from a social standpoint. Male dolphins didn't typically stay with mother and child after birth, so she wasn't concerned that Finn's absence would alter the natural reproductive process—but it was important to try to keep a pregnant dolphin's social group stable before and after delivery. Not only was Echo, a first-time mom, deprived of the "auntie" who would guide her through delivery and help her navigate the challenges of early motherhood—she'd lost the other half of her social group. It was necessary to keep Eden safe—Sarah knew that—but it still made her sad to think of Finn swimming around on the other side of the tank, all alone.

Whenever she went over to visit him, she could hear the male dolphin whistling—maybe calling out for Echo. She found herself reassuring him, telling him they'd be together again soon enough … not that Finn could understand, but at least it made Sarah feel better. When Casey'd caught her doing this, he'd given her some fairly impressive side-eye—but she didn't care. It broke her heart to think about Finn being all by himself, not understanding why he was separated from his friend. At least Echo had Eden.

"—at yourself?"

Sarah blinked, then refocused. Lou was staring at her, dark eyes wide.

"I'm sorry—did you ask me a question? I zoned out there for a minute."

The petite trainer gave Sarah an understanding smile. "I'll say. And I don't blame you—it's been one helluva day. I asked, why are you so mad at yourself?"

Feeling awkward, Sarah shrugged. "Oh, you know. The obvious. I don't blame Casey for thinking I might've been responsible for stressing Echo out, triggering her labor prematurely and maybe complicating her delivery. I'm just glad everything turned out okay."

As far as that went, it was the truth. But Sarah wasn't about to tell Lou that Echo's delivery had also FUBARed her dinner plans with Chuck. For one thing, she was a big believer in keeping her private life just that … private. The last thing she wanted was to be the subject of juicy Aquarium gossip. Still, if Lou really did have eyes for Chuck—and if she, Sarah, was actually considering acting on her feelings—shouldn't she speak up and try to stake her claim?

Echo surfaced near the dive platform, Eden right beside her, and Lou leaned over, tossing the older dolphin some fish. As a nursing mom, she'd eat a lot more frequently than usual, supplementing her caloric intake so she could produce enough milk for Eden. The little dolphin hung back, watching Echo interact with the trainer but making no effort to approach. Neither Sarah nor Lou pushed it; it was common practice not to handle the calf or initiate any kind of interaction this early on.

"God, that little one is just too cute," Lou said, watching the two dolphins swim away together. "Times like this, I feel like I have the best job in the world." She set down the bucket of fish and stood, looking suddenly self-conscious.

"Dr. Walker?" Her voice was tentative. "I've been meaning to ask you… do you happen to have Chu—"

Before she could finish her sentence, the door to the prep room clicked shut and Casey strode onto the dive platform. He knelt down at the edge, and Echo circled back around, coming to greet him.

"How's my girl?" he crooned, sounding far gentler than he ever did when speaking to a human being. "No permanent damage inflicted by the oh-so-graceful Dr. Walker?"

Maybe it was the stress of Echo's delivery, her guilt over canceling on Chuck, her overall sense that the world wasn't functioning in the predictable way it should, the distinct sense that Lou was about to ask for Chuck's phone number—or the combination thereof. Whatever the cause, Sarah reacted in a way she hardly ever did, much less in a professional setting: She lost her temper.

"Oh, give it a rest, Casey!" she snapped, straightening to her full height and glaring at him. "Do you think I knocked Chuck Bartowski into the dolphins' tank on purpose? Don't you think I feel awful about the fact that I could've caused damage to Echo … or her baby? For God's sake, would you stop harassing me about it already? Believe me, I've beaten myself up enough for the two of us. You don't have to finish the job."

Casey and Lou both stared at her—Lou with a shocked expression and Casey with a blank look that could conceal anything—contempt … indifference … annoyance. Appalled at her own behavior, Sarah tried to backpedal.

"I'm sorry—that was way out of line. I shouldn't have—that is, I didn't intend to … I totally understand why you'd be concerned about Echo's well-being. You wouldn't be a good vet if you weren't. Which you are. A good vet, that is. And concerned. I apologize for biting off your head that way. I wouldn't normally—it's just been a really long … I'm sorry," she finished lamely, wishing she could sink down through the concrete of the dive platform and disappear.

Casey arched an eyebrow. "Don't get your panties in a wad, Walker. No harm done—to me or my dolphins."

Sarah had been doing a good job of pulling herself together, but his misogynistic—and inappropriate—comment nearly sent her over the edge again. She bit back the urge to tell him to stick his patronizing attitude where the sun didn't shine … not to mention, he didn't have a proprietary interest in Echo, Eden, or Finn; the dolphins were their own, inviolate creatures. The words were on the tip of her tongue—but giving him a hard time wouldn't help her cause. "Thank you," she said instead, hanging on to what smidgen of her dignity remained. "They look fine to me—what do you think?"

"As far as I can tell, both are healthy. But I'm going to stay here tonight and watch over them, just in case. I brought a sleeping bag—I'll camp out right here on the platform."

Sarah bit her lip, and Casey's expression softened. "There's no need to worry, Walker. I know how much you care about Echo, Finn, and Eden. I'll take good care of them."

"I was thinking I'd stay, too." She looked down at the platform, embarrassed by the vulnerability in her voice. "I just—what if Finn gets lonely, stuck on the other side of the tank … all by himself? If you're over here with Echo and Eden, who will talk to him?"

"Finn'll be just fine. Back me up here, Lou." He cocked his head at the trainer, who looked surprised to have her opinion solicited. Usually, Casey was a one-man show.

"Oh—ah, yeah, Sarah," she said, gaining confidence as she spoke. "If it was for a longer period of time, I'd be worried about Finn—but for a day or so? It won't be a problem. Since Echo will be getting a rest from shows for a few days, we'll keep him busy. He'll be just fine. Gertrude and I will make sure he gets plenty of attention tomorrow … and it sounds like Dr. Casey will be here all night long just in case there's any kind of issue. As for me"—she checked her watch—"it's already nine PM. I'm heading out so I can be here bright and early in the morning. Goodnight, y'all."

Lou waved and headed for the door. Outnumbered, Sarah sighed. "Okay. Well, I'll just stay around here a while longer, then. Just to make sure …"

As gruff and difficult as Casey could be, he had a soft spot for anyone who loved the dolphins as much as he did. "Knock yourself out," he said. "I'm gonna go grab a cup of coffee. You want some?"

Sarah felt better already. "I'd kill for some coffee," she said. "Maybe literally."

"Coming right up. And Dr. Walker?"

"Yes?"

He folded his massive arms across his chest. "Before the nerd made the mistake of playing the most aggressive vocalizations imaginable—really, what the hell was he thinking?—I have to admit that what he'd put together was actually pretty interesting. Why don't you bring him and that neurologist sister of his back here tomorrow to observe Echo and Eden—from a distance, mind you? No jumping into the tank this time."

Sarah had to resist the urge to leap up and down. This gave her the perfect excuse to see Chuck again—because no matter how much she might've wanted to invite him and Ellie to meet baby Eden, she never would've done so without Casey's blessing. "I sure will," she said. "Absolutely. Thank you, Casey."

He shrugged and turned without another word, heading for the door. Sarah sank cross-legged onto the platform, elbows on her knees and face cupped in her palms, watching the dolphins swim. She sat there for another hour and a half, long after she'd finished the coffee Casey brought her, mesmerized by the sight of Echo and her baby.

By the time she finally got home, it was just past 11 PM and she was exhausted. She could've called Chuck from the road, but she had a thing about talking on the phone while driving—as in, she never did it, under any circumstances. She was normally distracted enough as it was. So she microwaved and scarfed down a Healthy Choice, took a quick shower, and then drummed up the courage to dial his number. If he was asleep, she'd just leave a message …

"Hello?" he said after the second ring, his voice gravelly.

Sarah was mortified. "Oh no, I woke you up. I'm sorry. I can hang up—or I can text you what I was going to say—I'm so, so sorry …"

"Um—Sarah?" Chuck sounded more than a little bewildered.

"Yes, it's me. I know it's late. And you were obviously sleeping. God, I'm such an ass—I shouldn't have assumed you'd be up this late, just because I am…" Was there no end to the ways she could screw this up?

"You're not an ass." Now he sounded—amused? "I'm glad you called."

Sarah felt a smile lift her lips. "Really?"

"Yeah, of course. I was kinda hoping you would. I wanted an update—you know, on how Echo and the newest member of her family are doing."

Her smile widened. "They're great, actually. The birth was textbook, and Eden's doing everything she's supposed to—nursing, swimming, following her mom around. We got really lucky. Casey's staying with them overnight, just in case … but as far as we can tell, Echo has herself a perfectly healthy little girl."

"That's fantastic, Sarah." He blew out a breath. "I can't wait to meet her."

"Well, that's actually why I'm calling. Do you and Ellie want to come back, first thing tomorrow morning? It would be observation only—mom and baby need some time to themselves—but it would give us a chance to monitor their behavior … and for you to meet baby Eden," she concluded, feeling suddenly shy.

"Oh. Ah. Um." There was a pause. "I'd love to, Sarah, but I can't—not first thing in the morning, anyhow. I'm meeting someone. But I'm sure Ellie would love to be there. She wouldn't miss it for the world."

Sarah's heart plummeted. "Of course," she said, trying not to sound as disappointed as she felt. "I can't wait for Ellie to meet Eden too. And I totally get it—you're on vacation. It's not like you're just … you know, available whenever. Of course you have other plans. We'll do it some other time."

Chuck made a frustrated noise. "No, that's not it—I am available. I mean, not available available. I mean, that too, but—oh God, this conversation is not going as I'd hoped. What I meant was, I do have other plans tomorrow morning, but I would love to meet Eden. How about in the afternoon? Lunchtime? Would that work for you?"

All the happiness that had filled Sarah since watching Echo give birth leaked out of her, leaving her like a balloon whose helium had seeped away. "Of course," she said again, striving hard to maintain a professional tone. "Lunchtime would be fine. I'll see you then—and please ask Ellie if 9 AM works for her. She can text me if there's an issue."

"Okay," Chuck said, sounding uncertain. "Are you—that is, did I …" His voice trailed off, and Sarah was suddenly sure that he'd seen right through her—that he'd realized her interest in him went beyond that of scientist-to-IT-genius. He probably felt sorry for her … probably pitied her…

"I should really get some sleep, Chuck," she said hurriedly, before he could finish his sentence. "And so should you … if you've got somewhere else you need to be tomorrow morning, that is. I'll see you at noon, at the Aquarium. You can go back to sleep."

"I—" he started to say, but she didn't give him a chance to finish his sentence. She clicked 'end call' while he was still speaking, desperate to get off the phone before she made even more of a fool of herself.

God. He was probably meeting the same girl Ellie had mentioned—whoever it was that he'd been looking for on the beach that day. Why the hell had Sarah ever thought there could be anything more between them than a professional relationship? She was such an idiot. And on top of everything else, now she'd probably insulted him—she'd cut him off, mid-sentence … and then hung up on him—

Miserable, Sarah crawled beneath her comforter and pulled the covers up to her chin. She closed her eyes and tried to picture the happiest thing she could think of—newborn baby Eden—but it didn't help dissuade the cloud of frustration and sadness that had settled over her heart like a weight. Chuck had been absolutely perfect since the moment she'd met him. And what had she done? Gone out of her way to make unfair assumptions about him, and then punished him for those assumptions because she hadn't been able to cling to even a veneer of professionalism…

She blinked her eyes open and stared at the ceiling, trying to stop the whir of her overactive mind. But no matter how much she told herself to let it go, to concentrate on the amazing things that had happened today, she couldn't escape the sinking feeling that she might have damaged her relationship with Chuck … maybe forever.

OoOoOoOoO

Sarah was sitting around a cloth-draped table in a fancy Italian restaurant with Echo and Chuck. She wore an aquamarine sheath; Chuck had on a black suit and a tie patterned with tiny clownfish; Echo sported a red-and-white-checkered bib tied around her neck. All the walls were clear glass, and beyond them, she could see swirling currents, complete with schooling fish and vivid coral reefs. As she watched, a hammerhead shark glided leisurely by. It was as if the restaurant had been suspended in the middle of the ocean—a luxurious, oxygen-filled bubble. To add the final surreal touch, in the background, a full band—comprised of sea creatures and conducted by an octopus with a baton curled in each of its arms—played "Under the Sea." A mermaid who bore a suspicious resemblance to Ellie balanced on her tail in front, clutching a conch shell in lieu of the microphone, belting every word.

Across from Sarah, Echo floated in a portable, wheeled tank that was pulled right up to the table, her lower half submerged and her upper half visible above the table's edge. Daintily, she dipped her rostrum into a massive dish of salmon Florentine, then pinched a lace-trimmed napkin between her flippers and wiped her face. "So," she said to Chuck in perfectly understandable English, "tell me about yourself. My good friend Sarah here certainly seems to admire you, and while I've grown fond of you myself based on our limited acquaintance, I want to make sure you're what she deserves."

Chuck grinned at Echo, tearing off a piece of ciabatta and dipping it into a dish of herb-infused olive oil. He handed it to the dolphin, who accepted it graciously, balancing it on one flipper and nipping at it with her sharp white teeth. "I completely understand your concern," he said. "I probably didn't make the best impression, tumbling into the tank and invading your home. Sorry about that, by the way."

"Pfft." Echo set the bread down on her plate and shrugged her flippers. "You had a little help there." She winked at Sarah as the band segued into a rousing rendition of "Under the Boardwalk," then turned her gaze back to Chuck. "But some advice—maybe next time, don't choose the vocalization of a male dolphin attacking a calf? Really, Chuck—I thought you were smarter than that."

Sarah dropped her fork onto her plate with a clatter, and Chuck's face turned red. "Is that why you guys wrecked my speaker?" he said, looking mortified. "Oh my God, I'm so, so sorry… Let me make it up to you. I'll buy you anything … How about dessert? Some tuna tiramisu … or sardine gelato … or a nice herring Napoleon …"

Echo gave him a magnanimous smile, showing all her teeth. "I forgive you. And sardine gelato is my favorite. Two scoops, and we'll call it even. But Chuck … when we meet again and you can't understand me quite so well, just make sure to— "

Before Echo could finish her sentence, the restaurant's smoke alarm went off. Seawater poured through the ceiling's sprinkler system, drenching Sarah's silk sheath and flooding the room. The clownfish on Chuck's tie startled in alarm and swam away, leaving holes in the fabric, and Echo's half-eaten salmon flicked its tail, said, "Thank God!" and leapt off the plate. With a dawning sense of unreality, Sarah watched it go.

Instead of being intimidated by the chaos, the octopus conductor seemed to view it as competition. He waved his arms wildly, stirring the band into a maelstrom of agitation. One of his batons—which were actually seahorses, Sarah could see now—went flying, smacking the second violinist, a squid with arms as big around as Casey's, holding four instruments and four bows. The squid recoiled, dropping two of its instruments, which promptly shattered. A dark cloud spread out from its body, drenching the splintered violins and the seahorse, which struggled to get free. The Casey-squid regarded the mess in horror, then lifted its head and yelled at the conductor, "Damn it, Beckman! You made me ink!"

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The octopus' reply was lost beneath the bellow of the mermaid, who—offended by the interruption— glared at him, then at the squid, and bellowed, "Under the boardwalk…"

The smoke alarm was still blaring, getting louder and louder each time, drowning out the sound of the band. Sarah pitched her voice over the commotion, trying to make herself heard. "What the hell is going on?"

"Down by the seaaaaa…." the mermaid warbled as the squid swam by her, launching itself at the octopus, who promptly released a retaliatory gout of ink in self-defense. The two of them slipped and slid on the sprinkler-soaked floor, now under several feet of water.

"Oh no," Echo said, shaking her head. "This isn't good at all. I had something very important to say. And I was so looking forward to that gelato. Oh, dear. Oh, dear."

Chuck leaned forward, his curls plastered to his head and his dark eyes wide. A passing jellyfish, whose umbrella-shaped bell wore Lou's face, curled a possessive tentacle around his arm; absentmindedly, he peeled it away. "What did you want to tell me, Echo?"

Echo opened her mouth to reply, just as the octopus and squid careened into the mermaid, who struggled to remain upright. "We'll be havin' some fun…" she crooned, her voice cracking with effort.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Couldn't someone turn off the damn smoke alarm? They were in more danger of drowning than of being incinerated. The water was up to Sarah's knees. Tiny, multicolored fish darted around her ankles. Their table began to float away, and Echo's tank with it. Sarah grabbed for it, but the cloth came off, revealing fins instead of legs. The fins began to wiggle and the table drifted further, toward a portal that had appeared in one of the glass walls.

"Echo …!" Chuck yelled. He tried to wade after her, but the Lou-jellyfish had hold of him again.

Beep. Beep.

On the now-submerged bandstand, the squid and the octopus rolled over and over in a tangle of arms and tentacles. They collided once more with the mermaid, who finally lost her balance. As she sank beneath the surface, disappearing into a cloud of ink and water, she essayed one last valiant attempt to finish the song. "We'll be falling in luuuuuve…"

"Echo!" Chuck sounded desperate. "Come back!"

The dolphin's tank was speeding ever-closer to the hole in the wall. Echo twisted to look at them. "I'm … sorry …" she said, the words barely audible. "Chuck … just remember to …"

Beeeeeeep.

The wail of the smoke alarm grew louder just as the portal in the wall opened wider and sucked Echo through. Sarah caught a glimpse of the dolphin swimming free of the tank before all four walls turned solid and the restaurant went dark.

She sucked in a horrified breath—and sat bolt upright, her heart pounding and her eyes wide open. She wasn't in the bizarre underwater restaurant. She was in the cozy bedroom of her cottage, with its pale-yellow walls, gauzy curtains, and white comforter. The only water to be seen leaked from the toppled glass on her bedside table, which she must've knocked over when she grabbed for the imaginary tablecloth. And the insistent, aggravating beeping was coming from her alarm, which she'd programmed to increase in volume if she ignored it.

With a sigh, Sarah leaned over to shut off the alarm and then got out of bed, in search of a towel to wipe up the mess. It was going to be a very long day.

OoOoOoOoO

She showered, then ate a quick breakfast—Greek yogurt and strawberries. As she was rinsing out the bowl, she glanced at her phone—Ellie had texted her when she was in the shower, letting Sarah know that she could make their 9 AM meeting. That made Sarah smile—even if she wouldn't get a chance to see Chuck until lunchtime, she still looked forward to spending time with Ellie. Who knew … maybe they'd even become friends.

By the time she got into her car to drive to the Aquarium, she'd shaken off the weird dream, but she still dreaded having to face Chuck after making such an ass of herself the night before. Feeling exhausted, as if her eye sockets were stuffed with sand, she stopped at Tidal Coffee and asked the tattooed barista for the largest coffee they had—then stared at the intricate web of roses and thorns tattooed on his forearm, trying to figure out what she was forgetting. She knew there was something … ah.

"Can I get another coffee, please?" she said. "This one with milk and one Splenda?"

She paid and waited, blinking in a desperate effort to keep her eyes open. God, she was going to be useless at work today if she couldn't do better than this.

The barista cleared his throat. "They're to remind myself that sometimes you have to go through difficult situations to get to the beautiful stuff. That the things that matter the most are worth fighting for. And that there's beauty even in the ugliness. You know?"

Sarah's gaze lifted to his face. His eyes were an unsettling, clear shade of blue. "Excuse me?"

"My tattoo." He smiled, revealing white, even teeth. "You were staring at it."

She felt a blush heat her cheeks. "Oh my God, I'm sorry. I—I wasn't—that is—"

"I don't mind." His smile widened. "I had it inked after I went through some hard times. Got pretty bummed out for a while there. When I climbed out of it, I got this as a reminder that there's beauty in the dark places. And that sometimes you've gotta walk through them to get to the other side."

"That's, um, very poetic of you." It was the truth. "It's so poetic that I don't think I can really process it without caffeine. Could you … um …" She gestured at the coffee.

He chuckled. "Oh. Sure. Sorry."

He slid both of the cups across the countertop to her and she scooped them up, relishing the warmth against her skin. "Thank you so much," she said with heartfelt gratitude.

"Anytime. I'm Kent, by the way."

"Sarah."

"Nice to meet you, Sarah. Hey, um, do you work around here?"

She blinked again, this time in surprise. "Why?"

"I've seen you when you come in. At least three times a week. I figured you either lived around here or worked close by. Was I wrong?"

Sarah took a step back. "Stalk much?"

He raised a hand in apology. "Hey, I didn't mean anything by it. Sorry if I freaked you out. I was just wondering if maybe … if you worked around here … we could have lunch sometime. I work the early shift. Been here since five. I get off at noon. And I thought that maybe…"

He was good-looking. Interesting. Smart. Friendly.

And Sarah had absolutely no interest in him whatsoever.

"I'm seeing someone," she blurted.

Now, why had she said that? It wasn't even true. She hadn't dated anyone in two years.

The truth was, she sure as hell wanted to. But if she couldn't have Chuck, she'd rather be alone.

The barista ducked his head, looking embarrassed. "Sorry—again. Didn't mean to offend."

"You didn't. I'm not—it's just … I have to go," she said, clutching her coffees tight and spinning on her heel to leave.

God, she was in so much trouble.

By the time she walked through the Aquarium's doors, she was in a full-on funk. The combination of sleeplessness, the peculiar dream, and her fear that she'd driven Chuck away—not to mention her realization of just how much he'd come to matter to her—swirled in her head, making it difficult for her to focus. Lost in thought, she almost strode past Milton's security desk without stopping.

"Dr. Walker. Sarah. Hey!"

She came to a halt, turning around to see the white-haired security guard smiling at her, worry in his eyes. "You all right, sweetheart?" he said, reaching out to adjust the strap of her purse, which had slipped off her shoulder.

If any guy other than Milton—or, maybe, Chuck—had called her that, they'd be drawing back a nub. From Milton, though, she took it as it was meant—a genuine expression of concern for her well-being. "I—yes. Just … distracted," she said, doing her best to return his smile. "Um … this is for you."

She extended the extra coffee to him and he took it, beaming. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

"Just one?" she said, feeling better already.

"Well, several, then." He took a sip of his coffee. "Mmmm … perfect. Milk and a Splenda, just the way I like it. You're a wonder, Dr. Walker."

She took a sip of her own coffee, starting to feel better already. Milton had a way of turning her day around every time. "The feeling's mutual."

"So," he said, looking her dead in the eye, "what's bothering you?"

She gulped more coffee, burning her mouth in the process. "How long have we known each other, Milton? Could you please call me Sarah? And how do you know something's wrong?" she said after she managed to choke the scalding brew down.

"I see you every day, Sarah." He quirked his lips in acknowledgment. "I'd be a piss-poor friend if I didn't know when you had something on your mind, you'll pardon my French."

The last thing she wanted was to burden him with her troubles. "It's nothing, Milton, really," she said. "Just silly stuff. Please, don't worry yourself about it."

He shook his head, still smiling. "It's my privilege to worry about my friends," he said. "And I consider you one of them. So tell me—does this have anything to do with that tall young man who came to see the dolphins yesterday … the one who left his duffle with me?"

Sarah almost dropped her coffee. "How do you know that? Are you psychic?" She was only half-joking.

"Hardly. I know you like to keep your personal stuff personal, Dr. Walker … Sarah. But it doesn't take a clairvoyant to pick up on the way he looked at you when he didn't think you'd notice—and the fact that you looked back at him the same way. Given the fact that I know Echo's little girl was born without a hitch, it's easy enough to figure out that what must be bothering you is that long, tall drink of water. So tell me—has he been inappropriate or cruel to you? Do I need to set him straight?"

Now Milton was the one who seemed like he was only half-joking. Even though he was a security guard, he was always so kind to her; she couldn't actually imagine him hurting anyone. But there was no mistaking the steely glint in his eyes when he asked her if Chuck had done her wrong.

"Of course not," she said, rolling her eyes at him. "He's thoughtful … considerate … brilliant. The problem is me, Milton. I'm such an idiot."

"Oh, come now. I very much doubt that."

His faith in her nearly brought her to tears. "No, it's true. I am! I knocked Chuck into the tank with the dolphins when they were in the midst of attacking the speaker he made. The one he spent who knows how much time and money building. He could've been hurt … or killed! And because of that, well … maybe I'm the reason that Echo went into early labor." She bit her lip. "And then—I asked him to dinner at my house. You know, to make up for the fact that I basically shoved him into millions of gallons of freezing water with rampaging, infuriated, massive mammals …" Sarah ran her free hand through her hair. "Then I canceled on him, because of Echo's baby. And when I invited him to come meet Eden this morning, and he said he couldn't make it, I got all self-conscious … and I … I … hung up on him. While he was still talking." The last part came out in a nearly-inaudible mumble.

When she dared to glance at Milton, he looked very much as if he was trying to suppress a laugh. "Well, now, that's quite a story, Sarah. But let's look at the bright side. Chuck wasn't hurt, and Eden is just fine. Right?"

Nervously, she nodded.

"Was Chuck mad that you knocked him into the tank? Or canceled on him?"

She shook her head. "No. On the contrary, he was as nice as he could be. Ridiculously understanding."

"Okay." Milton regarded her over the rim of his cup. "And you hung up on him because…?"

"Because he's too good to be true!" Sarah blurted. "He spent God knows how much of his own money on the stuff he built for us. He stayed up all night working. And what does he get for his trouble? Sopping wet and all his hard work destroyed. But does he get angry? No … he makes a whole new plan and starts building the speaker all over again. He's so smart, Milton. He's brilliant and thoughtful and … and … I like him so much." She dropped her gaze to the floor, unable to meet his eyes.

Milton was silent for a moment. Finally he said, his voice tentative, "My wife always tells me that I couldn't understand women if I tried—and usually I find that to be a rather sexist remark. But this time … you're gonna have to clue me in, Dr. Walker. Is this something I'm gonna need one of your fancy PhDs to get to the bottom of? Because based on what you're saying—quite frankly, I don't see where the problem lies."

"I told you … it's me. I just—my parents didn't have the best relationship. I may have alluded to that. And in high school—not to get too graphic or anything, but guys wanted me for all the wrong reasons. Then, in college, I thought I'd found The One—but it turned out he was only interested in dating The Many. He was two-timing me with one of my best friends … and who knows who else. After that, I kind of just … gave up … until Chuck." She lifted her head, finding the courage to look at Milton directly. "He makes me believe in things I gave up on years ago. He makes me think that anything is possible. And when he said he had something else to do this morning—"

She ground to a halt, out of breath and miserable. Milton was staring at her, his eyes soft with understanding.

"Oh," he said, patting her shoulder. "Is that all?"

"I'm serious, Milton. What if he's off somewhere meeting up with some other woman—having mimosas and fancy French toast with her, right this very minute?"

He raised his eyebrows. "It's a little early for mimosas, don't you think?"

"He's on vacation!" The last word emerged in a squeak. "And what if he goes back to Cupertino … what if he leaves … and I never find the courage to … to …" Words failing her, she took a consoling sip of coffee, wishing it contained a shot of Baileys—no matter the hour.

"Well, first of all," Milton said, "any single guy would be crazy not to be interested in you. You're smart, giving, beautiful, resilient … I could go on. And second of all—if you'd seen the way Chuck looked at you, you wouldn't have any doubts that he's interested. The two of you were like one of those O'Henry stories, where everyone wants to do the right thing but just go about missing each other in turns. And third … this is the big one …"

He set his coffee down on the security desk and gave her his undivided attention. "Everyone's been hurt, Sarah. Everyone's got wounds and scars. The trick is not to let them run your life … to allow them to heal. Honestly, sometimes we've got to make it through the bad times to appreciate the good ones. I was married before, did you know that? Before I met my Melinda. And that marriage … well, I don't want to speak ill of her, but—we were far too young, let's just say that. We made a terrible mistake, and we both suffered for it. After that, I was just so down in the dumps. I'd been raised to believe that marriage lasted forever, and mine—we barely made it eight months. I was so depressed about it that I struggled to find something to occupy my time, so I didn't drown in my own sorrow. I ended up taking a cooking class—which wasn't my style at all, but I was desperate to do something different. So I took the class."

He paused, and Sarah tilted her head. "Don't keep me in suspense, Milton. Did you become a gourmet chef?"

"Hell, no. But I did meet my Melinda—and the rest, as they say, is history." His gaze slid sideways, to the picture of his wife and kids that sat on his desk in a modest silver frame. "If I hadn't gone through my awful first marriage and divorce, as devastating as it was, I never would have met the woman who means more to me than I can put into words. She changed my life. More than that—she is my life, she and the kids." He looked back at Sarah. "I guess what I'm saying is … as crappy as the world can be sometimes, you never know when an experience that tears you down is setting the stage to lift you up. Don't dwell in the past, Sarah. Acknowledge it, even celebrate it—because it made you who you are today—and then move on."

She stared at him, open-mouthed. "Wow, Milton. Have you been taking lessons from Kent?"

Shaking his head, he gave her a small smile. "Sweetheart, I don't even know who Kent is."

"He's a barista at Tidal Coffee. Tattooed … oh, never mind." Savoring another sip of coffee, she straightened her spine. "I think the universe is trying to tell me something today. And for once—I plan on listening."

A/N: Poor Sarah … hanging up on Chuck out of embarrassment, dreaming about a mysterious secret that Echo never has the chance to confide, spilling her heart to Milton … and it's not even 8:30 AM. What does Sarah's newfound conviction compel her to do … and does Chuck fare any better with the dolphins this time around? Stay tuned to find out.

As always, thanks for reading—and please keep your reviews, follows, and favorites coming our way! They really do make this all worthwhile.