A/N: EDC: I'M BACK! Lester get the Intersect? No…it's worse. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck found himself sweating profusely, loading the moving van. It was 10 am, and he noticed he and Devon seemed to be the only two actually moving things. Devon had, as per the norm, taken off his shirt. Sarah had teased him that he was welcomed to do so as well, on his last trip upstairs to grab a box. Chuck had hurried away. He knew he looked nothing like the Adonis that was his soon-to-be brother-in-law.

"Spill it, Chuckster," Devon said, as he sat on a box drinking water, taking a break.

"Spill what, Devon?" Chuck asked. "She's amazing, beautiful. She's got a child, and is such a great mom. And she's with me, even though there are a lot of guys around here better than me."

"No, there aren't," Devon replied. "Better shape, sure. Better looking, it depends on your taste, but yeah."

"Your pep talks leave something to be desired," Chuck muttered.

"Bro, there is no better guy than you out there," Devon said with complete conviction. "Chuck…"

"Fine… but she has a daughter; and not a toddler, not a teenager, but a baby. Awesome, a freaking BABY! Do you know what happens if you drop one?"

"I am reasonably aware," Devon replied. "Don't."

"Have you seen me carrying things? I can be a klutz."

"Do you normally go around dropping babies?" Awesome asked.

"No," Chuck replied.

Awesome shrugged as if to say, there you go.

"Devon, it's one thing to date someone, but there's a kid. And I'm not 100% sure about the dating part," he admitted, looking away. He shook his head and looked back at Devon. "Listen, I just need to think about this, about what to do."

"Have you thought about talking to Sarah?" Devon asked. Chuck gave him a flat look. "I think it's time you and Morgan have another talk."

"I'm going to throw that damn book if I see it again," Chuck said, shaking his head. "I know what he's going to say." Devon gave him a look, waiting for Chuck to share. Chuck sighed. "When the collision happens your first instinct will be to engage in the hit and run. You will feel overwhelmed. You will feel uncomfortable. You will question everything, and in that moment, you need to stand your ground until you are told you are no longer needed."

"Has Sarah said you're no longer needed?" Devon asked.

"She wouldn't, she's too good of a person to do that," Chuck replied. He headed back toward the door to go in. "I'm not enough for her and Molly. I work at the Buy More, Devon."

"Has she ever told you that?"

"No, she's too good to do that, as well," he said, grabbing the door to walk inside. "The baby needs… and that's just it. I'm not saying how serious we might get, but if we did… what kind of…"

"Of what, Chuck?" Devon asked.

"I don't know, I'm not saying provider, but I need to carry my weight, don't I? It's a baby, Devon. I mean, me holding her, and making funny faces, and all that isn't enough." He walked off, head hung low.

"Or maybe it is," Devon called after him. Chuck paused. "Maybe that's more important than all that other stuff." Chuck turned slowly to look at him. "Chuck, you're the best person I know. Sarah and Molly don't care about any of that other stuff. They need someone real in their life, and that's why she's drawn to you. You're real… dare I say… Awesome?" Chuck grinned. "Maybe you should talk to her, huh?"

"Maybe," Chuck admitted, and headed inside.

Devon stood there a second, pulled out his phone, and sent a text. "He might throw the book at me, but his little buddy has never done him wrong."

}o{

They pulled up to Echo Park, and Morgan was sitting there, waiting for them. The truck stopped, and Sarah walked up to Morgan. "I owe you an apology for the way I acted the other day."

Morgan grinned and waved off her apology. "I've been on the other end of Ellie's… questions, so I know how she can wear you down until you snap."

"Thank you, Morgan, that means a lot to me. Are you here to help?"

"I'm afraid not… I need to borrow my buddy for a moment, and then I need to get back to the Buy More," Morgan said.

Sarah turned. "Hey, Chuck… Morgan needs you for a minute." Chuck walked over to Morgan, a questioning look on his face.

"Having some collisions today, dude?" Morgan asked.

"I am going to beat someone with that book, I swear," Chuck muttered.

"Hey, don't fault my man Dr. Fred," Morgan said, seriousness in his voice. "He's working on a new one, 101 Conversations Before I Do. I'm going to get the Buy More to carry it."

"I'm sorry, I have trouble with a man called Fred Hornblower being my romance guru," Chuck countered.

Morgan shook his head. "I kind of wish he'd just go ahead and write How to Know so I could prove to you she's right for you."

"It would be better, order-wise," Chuck replied. "It would be a shame to go through one hundred and one conversations, only to find out later it wasn't necessary because you now know she's not right for you."

Morgan studied him. "You're making fun of this."

"OF COURSE I AM!" he nearly shouted.

"Chuck, Sarah is right for you," Morgan said gently.

"But am I right for her, and Molly?"

"There it is," Morgan said, nodding sagely. "The Collision, when the trunk pops open."

"Oh for the love of God," Chuck muttered.

Morgan went on, ignoring Chuck. "And I quote, 'When one finally sees the content that the other is carrying, what we see can scare us, for what it implies to us."

"I know, I know," Chuck muttered.

"Not ready to be a dad?" Morgan asked.

"Not ready? Or don't have the tools or the mental make-up?" Chuck countered.

"Interesting," Morgan said, tapping his finger on his chin. "I mean, you care about everyone, you put others first, and you don't gripe about doing it." Morgan patted Chuck on the shoulder. "You're probably right." With that, Morgan hopped off the hood of his Nerd Herder. "You even encouraged me to get this job, so I have something to ride around in, instead of on a bicycle. Let me tell you, dates in this go a lot smoother than on the bike."

Chuck let out a breath. "Thanks, buddy."

"Love 'ya, Chuck," He said, getting in the car and pulling away. Chuck had to admit, when his heterosexual life partner was right, he was right.

}o{

Sarah was standing in the apartment, looking around, beginning to feel overwhelmed. She was a mom. This was her apartment, and it was time to put the only life she knew behind her. She wanted to run everyone off and hide in her bed… especially Chuck. Not that he did anything wrong, it was just… he made her feel things. Things she did not want to feel right now. How was she supposed to raise Molly? Were her and Chuck exclusively dating? And what the hell did that even mean after that talk the other night? It was overwhelming her, and he continued to be there for her, time after time. And as much as she appreciated it… right this moment, she needed a break. She turned, and collided with him, knocking them both down.

"Sarah, I am so sorry," he said scrambling to his feet, pulling her up to hers. "I should have watched where I was going."

"There were no cars involved… what does this mean, date-wise?" she asked with a grin. But her emotions were becoming visible, regardless of how much she tried to pull up her spy mask.

"I'm not sure it means anything, considering most women go out of their way to avoid me," he replied, a slight grin on his face. A flat look admonished him. "Of course, there is one now that seems to go out of her way to run over me at every opportunity."

"Bump," she insisted. She took a deep breath. "I am so tired."

"Yeah, me as well," Chuck said, nodding. He glanced at her and saw her frown while looking around. "You know, if you need to, I would understand a raincheck on our date."

"You know, that may not be the worst idea," Sarah replied.

"Okay," Chuck said with a nod. "I'll, uh… see you around?"

"Yeah, you will… neighbor." Chuck nodded and headed out the door. Sarah stood there staring at it. She suddenly spun to go find her mother. Emma was standing in the hallway holding Molly. "I need to go find him, and talk to him."

"Yes, you do," Emma agreed. Sarah spun back, grabbed the front door, jerked it open, and jumped back as Chuck was standing there, with his hand raised to knock on the door.

"Sorry!" he apologized.

"It-it's, okay," she said, a bit shaken.

"Listen," he rushed in before he lost his nerve. "I get you're maybe overwhelmed, because you've had to move and quit your job-slash-career, and now… now you've got these dates with me, but I need you to know something: I'm here, Sarah. I don't know what you want, or what you need, but I do know I like being around you, and… and Molly too, and… Gah, I'm terrible at this. Sarah, I know you can't tell me about your past and stuff for whatever reason, but you don't have to carry all of this baggage by yourself. You don't have to take on all of this burden. I want to help, if you want me to."

"Anything else?" she asked, a grin on her face.

"Yeah, I need to be totally honest… I like you. A lot. Like… like you."

"So, to be clear?" she began, teasing him.

"I like you."

"I like you too, Chuck."

"Great, now that we got that out of the way… you have a daughter," he began again.

"I do… and it took you to help me realize that," she said softly, in a thankful voice.

"And well… I… Listen, I'm not trying to figure out the future, and I don't want to hurt your daughter if something went wrong…"

"You don't think we should date," she finished for him.

"No, that's not what I'm saying," he said shaking his head. "I understand that if we continue, and I'm for continuing our… hell, what is it? I mean the way we were talking the other day… can I come in or do you really want me to keep doing this at your door?"

"You were doing fine, but sure, since you moved over half of the stuff in here," she said with a giggle.

Chuck came inside, and began to pace, trying to think. Sarah sat down and watched him. He stopped, then spun toward her. "I like you, I like Molly, I would like to date you, and I will do my best to understand any, and all, concerns you might have about me and the future… Sarah, I just want to be there for you."

Sarah stood, walked over, took his hands and peered into his eyes. "You know that whole exclusive thing the other day?" Chuck nodded. "I can't just be dating willy-nilly, I've got a kid."

"I get it," Chuck replied.

"That means when this is too much and you can't do it… I need you to be honest with me and tell me," she said softly.

"Can I be honest right now?" She nodded. "Earlier… I was scared to death when it all came crashing down on me. Sarah, I'm just a guy that works in a big box store."

"No, you're a guy who is kind, considerate, and puts others first. I don't care about what you do as a career, I just want you to be happy. And if your being happy involves you wanting to be with me and Molly, all the better."

"Sounds kind of exclusive to me," he said grinning. She nodded. He leaned down and gently kissed her.

"Listen, I know I had to change the last date, but tonight… can we just hang here and… I don't know, order some food?"

"My treat?" he asked.

"Fine, but one of these nights I'm taking you out, and paying for it all," she said, grinning.

"I'll put on my best heels that night, but make sure you don't drink too much and try and take advantage of me."

She smiled at him, leaned up, and pecked him on the lips. "It would be the best night of your life if I did." With that she turned and walked toward the kitchen. "Water?" she called out. Chuck never answered. She peered over her shoulder, and he was just standing there with a stupid grin on his face.

}o{

Monday night was the big birthday party in the courtyard. With the festivities in full swing, no one noticed Jeff and Lester enter the party. Skirting the crowd in the courtyard, they snuck into Chuck's apartment. Jeff and Lester acquired the computer tower, and no one really paid any attention to them as they spirited it out of Echo Park.

A little while later, they arrived at the Buy More, where Lester took the tower and hooked it up to a monitor. He turned it on, and his eyes gleamed at the idea of messing with Chuck.

"Look, he has no password on his computer," Lester said.

"Probably because he never expected it to leave his house," Jeff offered with a shrug.

"He has a new email," Lester pointed out. "From some dude named Bryce." Lester opened the email. "What the hell is this?"

"Let me see," Jeff said, pushing Lester out of the way. "Oh, I know this… this is that text-based role-playing game." Jeff typed something on the monitor, while Lester rolled around in his chair, rolling his eyes at Jeff.

"We ought to put a lot of porn on it," Lester said, nodding, while thinking about his evil play. "Don't you think, Jeff?" Lester turned toward Jeff, and saw a light coming out of the computer. Then Jeff fell backwards, landing on the ground. "OH MY GOD! Chuck put a virus on his computer, and killed Jeff!" Lester fled from the Buy More.

}o{

The next morning, Jeff shook his head and sat up. "Where am I?" He looked around and realized he was at work. He walked out to his van, got in, started the van, and began to pull out when he slammed on the brakes. He glanced at the odometer, and then the tag in the upper corner of the windshield, indicating when to get his next oil change.

"Cheese and crackers! How did I let this go so long?" He headed toward oil change place, turning on the radio, listening to music. He pulled his van in, went inside and told them he wanted an oil change and full inspection.

He was listening to the radio in the shop while waiting, when he heard something that seemed to make his head spin. When it calmed down, he shook his head.

"Mr. Barnes," the mechanic said, walking up to him. "You have an exhaust leak."

"Can you fix it" Jeff inquired.

"Yep, just need you to sign here, and here," he told Jeff.

Jeff did so, then smiled at the mechanic. "Hey, do yourself a favor and stay off the 5, okay? The cops are in phased deployment." The mechanic gave him a strange look and walked off. Jeff shook his head and shrugged. He felt like a new man.

A/N: EDC: Oh yes I did! DC: TRANQ HIM!

Ed. Note: From the corner, a gloved hand raises, and aims a silenced tranq pistol… fahTHUT! fahTHUT!

A/N 2: Serious stuff for a second, this is all I have held back on this story. You guys know I've been in therapy, this is my busy part of the year (FAFSAs and reporting our Annual Report to the Govt.) I've got to take care of me, so I'm not forcing any writing as I have in years past. It could be more than a few days before you get the next but I have some of the next chapter done, and WCMS's next chapter is done in my head. (happy tears on that one). Thanks for following this one, you guys seem to be having as much fun as I am with it. How are we gonna deal with this fallout? With fun...maybe not for Casey, but with fun. See you soon, and take care of yourself

DC