A/N: Welcome back. A huge shout out to michaelfmx for betaing this chapter. I know everyone is hoping for some quick movement, and given it's me, the chances of it happening are at about 100%, but it's going to come with starts and stops, but don't worry, we'll get there. This chapter, we find out all may not be what it seems. Welcome to Wanting It All Ch 7, Conversations

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, but he currently occupies about 30% of my brain.

Chuck leaned back on the couch. They had gotten home, had a bite to eat, and Sarah got Jordan ready for bed. He was beat and, to be honest, so were the two of them. Sarah walked back into the living room. She had on a robe and Chuck's mind wandered what she had on underneath. All he knew was that it was short because he could see miles and miles of bare leg, and dear lord did she have amazing legs. He shook his head and brought his thoughts back, but he saw her smirk and he was pretty sure he was busted. "Is he okay?"

"Jordan? He's out like a light, he was so exhausted he crashed as soon as I got him into bed. I mean, he got his hand petted by an otter." Chuck grinned. He was glad Jordan had enjoyed it. He liked the little guy, a lot. He really wanted Jordan to like him, because he was Sarah's son, and that was important, but he also liked Jordan, a lot. Sarah wondered how he'd pulled off the otters and decided to mess with him. "Used your rich guy pull to get that done?"

Chuck looked a bit sheepish. "Uh, no. See, uh, during summers while in college, I came home and worked at the Buy More all I could, and when I wasn't working for them, I worked on my project. Ellie forced me out of the house one day, and took me where we went today. I wasn't having a very good time, I was, uh, well, grumpy then."

"Oh." What else could she say. She was pretty sure she knew why.

"I'm not sharing this to upset you, I wanted to explain how it happened." She nodded. "So I'm standing there, looking irritated and Debbie walked up to me. Yeah, same one from today. We talked, long story short, she said she could make me smile. I just harrumphed, but Ellie BEGGED her to try." Sarah chuckled. "So I went and fed an otter and he shook my hand. She was right. She told me to come down anytime I was feeling grumpy and I could feed them. Debbie's kept her word ever since. I called her before we went to make sure it was okay, and Debbie insisted we feed the otters." Sarah looked at Chuck with a grin, and shook her head. She got up, walked over, and sat right on his lap.

"Chuck, I'm sorry I hurt you, but I'm glad you found those otters." He grinned. She kissed him and time stopped, space was distorted, and he wasn't sure but his molecules may have gotten rearranged. She pulled away, grinning at him. "I really want to thank you for this wonderful weekend. We needed it, and I'd like to do it again, if you do."

"Anytime you want." She pulled back and gave him a mock affronted look. "You know what I mean, Walker," he said with a wink.

"Chuck, maybe I want anytime." Chuck's head about spun off of his shoulders. "However, I have a four-year old in a bed, by himself, and if he wakes up…"

"He'll be scared." Chuck was nodding, and grinning. "Nothing worse than a scared boy."

"Nothing," Sarah agreed. "Who holds you while you're scared?"

"I used to have a girlfriend who did."

"Used to?" she arched an eyebrow. "Since high school?" He shook his head. "So me?" He nodded. "If you ever need to be held, I'm here, I won't judge you."

"I know, Sarah," he said softly. After a moment's pause, he continues, more seriously. "Sarah, where do we go from here?"

"Forward." She looked him right in the eye, without hesitation. "We go forward, together."

"Together?" He didn't even try to hide the grin on his face.

"Together, and we promise each other, we talk about what we think we saw, or read, or heard. If we see something like a letter from the other one that doesn't sound like us, we give each other the benefit of the doubt."

Chuck nodded. "Okay, then I heard that there's this guy who would like to see you every day, but he's really trying to be cool about things."

"Well, I heard there's this girl that's considering dragging him into her house every evening."

"Huh, your house?"

"I didn't say it was me."

"You didn't say it wasn't you." She squinted her eyes at him. "In fact, I know it's you." She leaned down and kissed him.

She pulled away. "I really need to go to bed, you know Jordan."

Chuck nodded. "Absolutely, because if you don't, something might wake him up." Her eyebrow went up. "NO! NO! Not that, I wasn't implying that, I just meant…..." She laid a finger on his lips to quiet him.

"Chuck, maybe I was." His brain exploded. She removed her finger, kissed him gently on the lips and left. Chuck sat there for a long time, alone, with the dopiest grin on his face. They had only been there for the weekend, in their own rooms, but one day, maybe…maybe it could be more.

-ooooo-

The next afternoon saw Jordan hugging Chuck before he finally got in the car. Chuck watched them leave and felt something in him, something he wasn't expecting. He missed them. That threw him. They had only been here for a weekend, this shouldn't throw him that much, but it had. He sat in his living room, with the lights off, as the sun set, staring out the window. He heard his door open and he really hoped he had locked the door and set the codes.

"Did she leave again?" Ellie flicked on a light switch and Chuck blinked, his eyes having gotten used to the darkness.

"Yeah," he said softly, and then felt the anger radiate off of her. He spun, saw her face, and realized what he had said. "No! I mean she's not here! I mean, she's here just not here!"

"Chuck."

He stopped. He was spiraling and he didn't know why. "Ellie, I'm scared."

"Why are you scared, Chuck?" She came and sat down in front of him, on the coffee table, searching his eyes. "She just went home, right?" He nodded. "Then what's wrong?"

"It's more than just us this time, and how do I still love her this much?"

Ellie smiled. "Because, Chuck, what you two had was so special that eight years couldn't diminish it."

"If it was so special, why didn't we try and find each other?"

"Because you were both so hurt, you shut yourselves off so you'd never be hurt again."

"Jordan hugged me." Ellie was confused. "I mean really hugged me."

Ellie smiled. "You're conflicted?" Chuck nodded. Ellie patted him on the leg. "Good. That means you're paying attention to everything involved, but don't overcomplicate things, Chuck." She paused. "Chuck, I shouldn't have deleted her number."

"No, you shouldn't have, but you were hurt, and I'm not sure you've dealt with that."

"Have you dealt with your hurt?"

"I'm dealing with it, with her. It's just all so much. We take a few steps forward and then I start thinking about what happens and I get scared again, and I want that to stop."

"Trust your heart, Chuck. That's the advice I should have given you long ago. I think that's my biggest regret, what if I was wrong then? What if I should have encouraged you to go after her? Obviously I should have, and I didn't, and that's why I acted the way I did. Because I had to admit I was wrong, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry you've been through all of this. So, little brother, what you need to do is love that woman and not be scared to go to the ends of the earth for her, do you understand?" Chuck nodded and Ellie stood. "Love you, Chuck."

"Love you, Ellie." Ellie nodded, and left. Chuck sat for a second, and pulled up his computer. After a few minutes he found what he was looking for. He already had the computer access that he needed,)given his contract with Barsoft, and found the emergency contact number he was looking for on Jordan. He pulled up his phone and made a call.

"Daniel, Chuck Bartowski. We need to talk."

-ooooo-

Sarah sat at her desk, humming. She hardly ever hummed. If she did, it was to Jordan to calm him, but this wasn't about calming herself. No, she was at peace. She was happy, ridiculously, stupidly, happy. This past weekend….it had been perfect….well, except that she'd had to go home. Chuck was perfect. He was more than perfect, she wasn't sure what that word was, but it was and he was, and they were, and she was spiraling and didn't care. A knock at her door yanked her out of her thoughts. She smiled at Lisa, who had a weird look on her face.

"Uh, Sarah, there's a woman here who said she's your sister. She's here to see you."

Sarah perked up. "Brunette?" Lisa nodded. "Beautiful?" Lisa nodded again. "Little intimidating?" Lisa nodded a third time, and grinned. "ELLIE!" Lisa stepped back, Ellie came in, and Sarah got up from her chair, came around the desk, and hugged her.

"Thank God," Ellie said. Sarah looked confused. "I went over Sunday night and Mr. Deep Thoughts looked like he was ready to jump off a cliff." Sarah looked concerned. "He's working things out in his head, Jordan got to him."

Sarah grinned. "Keep a secret?" Ellie quickly nodded her head. "Jordan wanted to know if Chuck could spend the night so that both of us could take Jordan to school…..don't squeal." Ellie was nearly vibrating. "Okay, let's get you out of here, lunch?"

The two of them took off to an old haunt they used to visit when Sarah last lived in California. It was a Mexican restaurant that had become a staple of the Bartowskis. They entered, and were quickly seated. Sarah was about to start speaking, when she saw someone familiar out of the corner of her eye.

"Sarah?" She turned to Ellie. "You have the oddest look on your face."

"Well, I think I see my….uh…Jordan's dad." Ellie started to turn but Sarah grabbed her arm and gave her a look to "be cool".

Ellie nodded, rubbed the back of her neck, stretched and looked over her shoulder. She had a different angle than Sarah. Whereas Sarah could see Daniel, and couldn't see Chuck, from Ellie's point of view, she could see Chuck and not see Daniel. She quickly turned around, and eyed Sarah, thoroughly confused. "Uh, Sarah, I'm a medical doctor and unless you met up with my brother at some point five years or so ago and no one told me, there is no way my brother can be the father of your son."

"What are you talking about….Ellie, is Chuck over there with the tall, dark-haired man?" Ellie nodded. Sarah leaned forward, put her hand on her head and rubbed her temple. "Daniel and Chuck are having lunch. The love of my life and father of my child are having lunch together in this restaurant." She looked a little pale.

"Why?" Ellie whispered.

"Why are we whispering?" Sarah whispered back.

"I don't know."

Sarah straightened and grinned. "Okay, we are two grown women, and we are going to enjoy our lunch, and not worry about what they're doing, because it's none of our business."

"Exactly." Ellie sat there a second. "So, do you have joint custody?"

"No, he's on the birth certificate, but he thought it was best for me to raise Jordan since his personal mission was to get revenge at all costs." She sighed. "Ellie, have you ever felt like it's just not going to work out, but you feel like you have to try?" Ellie shook her head, but took Sarah's hand.

"Sweetie, after what you told me your dad pulled, I thought about it. Chuck told me a little about the con stuff he pulled and looking back…" she looked away, tears pooling in her eyes. She turned back to Sarah and gave her a sad smile. "I should have told him that you weren't capable of that. I told him not to try and contact you. I was mad, I was hurt." Shame crept into her face as she blew out a breath. "When you showed back up, I took Chuck's phone and I deleted the number, because I thought you had abandoned this family, like my mom and dad. When someone turns on this family like that…."

"They don't deserve back in," Sarah finished for her softly, sadly. Ellie shook her head.

"No, they do, and I'm so glad Chuck found you and brought you back, and I don't mean just because of how it all happened. I mean, you didn't deserve that. You deserved better of us." She looked away again and when she looked back, tears were running down her face. "We'd lost everything and we were just getting our feet back under us. Chuck had met this wonderful girl who I just knew was going to spend the rest of her life with him, making each other ridiculously happy. And then that letter." She paused, anger building up in her. "I don't mean to speak ill of your family, but your father…."

Sarah scoffed. "Pissed doesn't begin to describe what I feel towards him right now. He is my father, so I don't know if I can hate him, but I can never trust him, not that I really should have."

Ellie nodded. She spoke, softly. "We'd been left twice, Sarah." Sarah took Ellie's hand. "Twice, and now after what you…scratch that. After what we THOUGHT you did…I'm sorry."

"No, Ellie, I get it. You thought I turned my back on you."

"Sarah, you were seventeen, how much of a choice did you, could you, have really had?"

Sarah sat there for a second. "Thank you." Ellie shook her head, and started to speak but Sarah cut her off. "Thank you for being there for me, not just as Chuck's girlfriend, but for me. Dad knew how to play me. He knew what buttons to push, knew all my insecurities, what he had put in my head for all those years. I shouldn't have believed it. I understand why you thought what you did. So again, thank you, for being my friend." Ellie squeezed her hand. "I hate what he did to you, to Chuck, to me….that son of a bitch hurt all of us."

Ellie grinned. "Always, Sweetie. I'm sorry, I should have known better." She squeezed Sarah's hand again. "Okay, enough of this. Now, how is Jordan and when do I get to meet him and babysit him so you and Chuck can have a night to yourselves?"

Ellie winked and Sarah grinned. "Subtle as always Ellie." Her eyes got big as she saw the occupants of the table rise, both seeing Sarah. Daniel waved, and fled. Chuck stood like a deer caught in headlights. "How do you feel about your brother joining us?" Instead of answering, Ellie turned and waved him over. Chuck walked over slowly, looking nervous.

"Ladies." Both women laughed. "Are you two following me?"

"No, Silly," Sarah said, reaching over and taking his hand. "Can you join us?" Chuck nodded, grabbed a chair and sat. The two women stared at him.

"I was making sure he was okay with me being around Jordan so much," Chuck blurted out, not able to take the staring. "I'm going to be in his son's life." Sarah beamed. "And I needed to make sure he was okay with it. I don't know what it's going to entail, but the last thing Jordan needs is adults acting like children over him." Ellie and Sarah both wanted to hug him.

"What did he say?" Ellie asked, never one to hold back.

Chuck sighed. "To care for him like I do for Sarah." He sat there quietly, looking at the table. He glanced up at the two pair of eyes waiting for him. "Sarah, he's part of you, of course I will, but that's going to take time and work and it won't happen overnight."

Sarah reached over and took his hand. "I love you, Chuck Bartowski, and I don't care how loud your sister squeals in a public restaurant."

Ellie took his other hand. "Don't screw this up, Chuck." He grinned at her. "You're aces, Charles." Ellie and Sarah let go of Chuck's hands and settled in to eat their meals, Chuck joining them for dessert. Eventually Chuck and Sarah relented and agreed to let Ellie watch Jordan. She told them it was a shame he didn't already know his Aunt Ellie. Chuck's phone rang and he excused himself to take the call outside. Sarah and Ellie talked a bit more until Chuck came back in. He told them something had come up and he needed to run. Sarah took his hand and asked if he would come by later. He grinned and nodded. Chuck took off leaving the two alone to talk.

-ooooo-

Chuck walked into Barsoft and was nearly run over by Morgan.

"Finally, I was about to call Ellie!"

"Morgan, I was with Ellie and Sarah. This is LA, you know, traffic?"

"I get it, I get it, but this guy says he has the opportunity of a lifetime. I've even looked the company up online."

"Did you or Skip?"

"I mean I told Skip to, so that counts right?"

Chuck ran his hand through is hair and chuckled. "Okay, Morgan I'll bite, tell me while we walk. What is the company?"

"Humane Palms is a charity organization providing humanitarian relief in third world countries. Their boss is worried hackers may one day attack his system and cost these fine people their money and supplies." Chuck stopped walking.

"Okay, that's kinda incredible."

"I told him we'd give him a discount."

"No, we'll do it for free."

"Chuck, he wants a one of a kind system that no one can hack into."

"Okay he'll get a discount." Morgan nodded. "Give me a minute to talk to Casey." Chuck headed toward Casey's office, and knocked on the door. Casey grunted. "Got a minute, Big Guy?" Casey look up, and nodded. Chuck walked in, shut the door, and sat across from him. Casey was paying attention. Chuck never shut the door when talking to people.

"Daniel Shaw," he began. Casey grunted. "He's going to ask you to provide sniper support in an upcoming mission to take down a criminal that killed his fiancé."

Casey leaned back in his chair. "You want me to take it?"

"I want you to do whatever you want. I know you, you'll ask for my blessing since you work with me now, and I have no problem with it."

"You want me to." He didn't ask.

Chuck struggled for a moment. "He's Jordan's dad, but he's on this suicide revenge mission. He's so blinded by what happened to her he can't see the wonderful son in front of him. Jordan deserves better, Daniel deserves better."

"Bartowski, you're either the world's best person or biggest idiot."

"Why does it have to be one or the other, Casey?" Casey grinned at him. "Do me a favor, check out Humane Palms." Casey nodded. "I may be the world's biggest idiot, but I am careful." Chuck got up and headed back to his office. He opened the door and there was the head of Humane Palms with Morgan.

"Chuck," Morgan began, smiling. "Meet Augusto Gaez, CEO of Humane Palms."

Chuck held out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Gaez."

Augusto flashed a smile. "The pleasure is all mine Mr. Bartowski."

-ooooo-

Sometime later, Chuck walked Augusto out of the front door. The two shook hands, and Augusto left. Chuck watched him walk away. Both men were all smiles. Neither of them noticed the van in the parking lot with two figures in it, watching them.

"You got a plan?"

"Yeah, we snatch up the curly headed one, and I get him to talk."

"Do you have any plans that don't include you 'forcing' someone to talk?"

"Why change it up if it works?"

"You do know who that is, right? That's Chuck Bartowski, head of Barsoft."

"When we get done with him, he's going to give us everything on Gaez and that trashy blonde."

"Carina, if we blow this, it's our last chance."

The redhead studied her friend. "Zondra, we're not going to blow this. When I get done with 'Curls" he's going to give me everything."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of," Zondra muttered.

A/N: What the what? I made my Beta gasp if it tells you anything. Hoped you liked it, reviews are always welcomed…til next time.

DC