A/N: *DC flipping through reviews* No Charah...no Charah...no Charah. *Looks at SC and laughs together*

Disclaimer: We don't own Chuck, we aren't making any money off of Chuck. It owns us.


Chuck was sitting at the Nerd Herd desk, irritated. It wasn't fair. There was plenty he screwed up on a regular basis. He was well aware of his shortcomings, but to be accused of faking a flash… He just shook his head. He saw Casey off to the side then and slowly turned toward him. The two locked eyes and Chuck held his stare. Casey started to walk toward him and Chuck turned away.

He didn't know what Casey did, and frankly he didn't care.

He was pissed at both of them. Casey had treated him like a moron...well, more than usual, and his friend had doubted him. That's what hurt, that Sarah hadn't believed him.

He had picked up his phone multiple times last night and today to text her. He had laid it down again each time, the same way he had those three days she took some time off. He had given her space, he had seen how off she was during the Bryce mission. He had seen she was off during the Hennessy mission, but the entire time she was "off" she had still been amazing. She and Bryce had been a choreographed thing of beauty when he watched them fight a few days ago. She and Hennessy had been amazing as a couple, as a spy couple, and Chuck realized multiple times, he had been watching the two in awe. She could put her problems aside and be so good at her job, and Hennessy was an amazing spy, and nothing seemed to phase him. Sure, Chuck was star struck by the Secret Service agent. If Sarah wanted to call him out on that, he knew he couldn't disagree with her, but to fake a flash? …No. Just no.

"Hey, Chuck," Morgan said, strolling up to him.

"Hey, Morgs. You look better than the last time I saw you."

"Yeah, well," Morgan replied, grinning. "Anna was actually seeing her parents, and I thought she hadn't told me because she was embarrassed of me. But then I thought about you and Sarah. Man, do you know how much you inspire me?" Chuck pointed toward himself. "Yes, you. Chuck, you are you with Sarah. You don't hide you, and she likes you because of it, and if Anna doesn't like me for me, then...then she doesn't deserve me."

A slow smile began on Chuck's face, and he felt immense pride in Morgan. "No, she doesn't," Chuck agreed.

"I'm heading back to her parents' yacht," Morgan said. Chuck raised his eyebrows, amused. "Yeah, yeah. See you, Buddy."

"See you," Chuck said. He went back to work and eventually felt someone else's presence behind him at the desk. He turned around and found Hennessy standing there patiently. He studied the agent for a second.

"I feel like there is something you always want to ask me, but your two partners stop you."

"Do you use any kind of product to get your skin to look like that?" Chuck asked. Hennessy chuckled, but shook his head. "What can I do for you?"

Hennessy laid a folder on the desk. "Listen, I can't just let this go. My superiors told me it was over, but...I've put too much time into this. You seem to be the only one on this team who hasn't screwed things up."

"Hey," Chuck said, surprising both of them. "That raid was based off of intel we received at that time. It was the right call. You can't play this as a zero sum game. If you do, people get hurt. I get it, you two weren't in danger, but why leave you there one second more than we needed to if we had what we needed? I get it, we didn't, but that's not Sarah and Casey's fault."

Hennessy stared at Chuck for a second, and chuckled as he saw Chuck swallow. "You respect the hell out of those two...and me." Chuck started to reply. "Don't deny it, and may I say, they both respect you too, as do I. You...are interesting. You really aren't what I would call the analyst type, and yet I get the feeling you're the most important piece of the team."

"I'm afraid you're wrong, Agent Hennessy. I'm the least important member."

Hennessy was silent a moment. "I'm pretty sure you have two team members who disagree with you." Chuck didn't know what to say. "The photos please, Chuck. Is there anything there?"

Chuck looked at the photos and paused. "This one. Where did you get this one?"

"I took it yesterday, why?"

Chuck looked up at him. "We have to get there, ASAP. You get Sarah—she's at the Wienerlicious—I'll go get Casey."

"Wait," Hennessy said, making Chuck pause. All he could think was, please, please, please don't pull me from this op now. "You need to protect your main cover." Chuck grinned, and headed across the parking lot, picture in hand.

He entered the Wienerlicious and saw Sarah serving a customer. "Your wiener, Sir." Chuck watched him leave and headed to the front. He saw her swallow and prepare herself. They needed to talk, but not now. "Look, I need to talk to you, Chuck."

"Pease, not now, Sarah," Chuck pleaded, holding up the picture. She nodded. "These are the same crates that I flashed on yesterday, right here on a boat with the Taiwanese attaché. The one you saw arguing with Kirk, the one I flashed on while I was being a bad waiter." He saw her twist her lips. "He's getting away with the plates."

She looked over the picture. "You think Kirk put the plates on Rashan's boat?"

"Hennessy agrees with me," Chuck replied.

She looked up at him, and locked eyes with him. "Chuck, I don't care what Hennessy thinks. What do you think?"

Chuck nodded. "Yes, they are on there." Sarah scratched her head. "Look, I know that your orders are to stay away from this, but you have to believe me. The plates are on that boat, possibly with Morgan and Anna." She looked up at him. "Look, trust me, I wouldn't even be here right now if I wasn't 100% sure." Sarah was taking her apron off. She hopped over the counter. "What... What are you... ?"

She headed toward the door and looked over her shoulder at him. "Let's go."

He hurried after her.

}o{

Chuck pulled at the handle of the passenger side door to get in but she shook her head, popping the small trunk of her Porsche and grabbing her small overnight bag. "No, Chuck. I need you to drive."

"Your Porsche?" he asked.

She sent him a look like he'd just told her he was a creature from another planet. "No, of course not!"

Sarah ignored the amusement on his face as she slammed the trunk shut and gestured for him to go first. They traversed the parking lot as quickly as they could without full-on sprinting. Chuck had tried it and she'd had to grab him and give him a shake of her head.

Once they reached the lot on the side of the Buy More where the Herders were parked, Chuck slid around to the driver's side. Sarah opened the door to the backseat and threw her bag in first before diving in after it.

When Chuck glanced at her over his shoulder in curiosity, she gestured wildly to the wheel, already unbuttoning her blouse with one hand. "Let's go, come on! Get us out of here. I need to change; I'm not showing up dressed like a fucking fräulein."

He made a choking sound that was probably a barely disguised laugh and quickly got them out of the lot as she sank low to change.

Sarah made the calculated decision to trust Chuck wasn't going to peek while he drove as she changed into something less campy, and if he had taken a peek, there was really nothing she could do about that. She left her Wienerlicious uniform on the floor and then hoisted herself back into the passenger seat up front, shoes in hand.

"It's scary how fast you do that," he breathed, speeding through the Los Angeles streets.

She just smirked, pulling her shoes on, pushing her pigtails out of her face. And on second thought, she quickly tugged her hair ties off, too, fluffing her hair and sitting back against the seat.

Thankfully, he made quick time and she wasn't forced to say anything else. Now wasn't the best time for...that talk. She needed him concentrating on the road, and he was also probably worried sick about his best friend. There was also the fact that...Well, she'd most likely screwed up big time accusing Chuck of faking a flash. At least, they'd see what was in those crates on Rashan's yacht. But she believed him. And she also owed him an apology—a big one—if he was right and the plates had just been moved to another yacht.

Chuck screeched to a stop and they both scrambled out, racing down the steps to the dock and hurrying towards where the personal yachts were moored.

"Chuck! Sarah!"

She spun on her heels and looked up to see Casey getting out of his car. He hurried down to meet them, Hennessy not far behind.

"Casey...Agent Hennessy…"

"Yeah, yeah...I shouldn't be here," Agent Hennessy said. "This is my guy and I'm not pulling out 'til I get him."

"I'm just here for the potential gun play," Casey growled with a smirk.

Rolling her eyes, she snapped, "Let's go!" and started running down the path towards the yachts, everyone else on her heels. As they turned the corner to where she remembered Lon Kirk's yacht was moored, she spotted something else moving through the water, and she knew him immediately.

Morgan was perched on the bow of the yacht, his arms spread, as it sliced slowly through the docks towards the open water. "There he is," she said, stopping at the railing.

Chuck halted next to her, and she felt him tense. She spun to look at him, recognizing the way his features twisted up, and she grabbed his wrist. "What is it?" she asked quietly as Casey and Hennessy moved closer to the docks.

"There's a GPS missile tracking device on the yacht. They're gonna blow it up," he gasped out, thankfully quiet enough that Sarah was the only one who heard him.

Why? Why would there be a missile tracking device on Rashan's yacht if that was where the plates where being kept? And then it struck her. "Oh my God," she breathed, her heart in her throat. "Casey! Casey, Hennessy!" They halted and turned to face her as she closed the distance, pulling Chuck along by his sleeve. "Chuck just spotted what looks like a tracking device attached to that yacht. For a missile."

"A missile?" Hennessy frowned deeply and turned to look out at it. "I don't see it from here."

"I have really, really good eyesight. And I'm ninety percent sure that's what it is."

"Shit," Casey grunted, turning to them with eyes wide. "Kirk's already gotten his payment. He doesn't need those plates to survive. He can just bury the evidence."

Morgan's voice carried across the docks as he yelled, "I'm the king of the wooooooooorld!"

Sarah ignored it, casting her gaze around the docks. If there was a missile tracking device, there was a missile somewhere. Then she spotted a few of Kirk's staff slowly wheeling something onto the yacht and into the cabin where Hennessy had been close to punching the counterfeit bastard. "Hey. They're loading something onto Kirk's yacht."

Casey cursed. "That's definitely a missile launcher."

"I guess we know where the missile's gonna come from, then," Hennessy added. "Doesn't surprise me Lon Kirk's gonna try to pull this off. Out in the open. Asshole never faces consequences for the shit he does. That ends now."

"They're going to follow them out and use it to take out the Taiwanese attaché's boat."

Chuck spun to look at Casey. "What? Morgan's on the boat! My friends are on there!"

Hennessy blinked. "Wait, what? You know him? Why—?"

"Explain later," Sarah said. "I'm gonna create a diversion. Hennessy, I'm gonna need your help."

The look he gave her told her he figured out what the diversion would be, at least...somewhat.

"I'll take out the guards," Casey said, much too happy at the prospect of a fight. "Chuck…?"

"Yeah, I know. Stay in the car."

Sarah wracked her brain. "No. Not this time. Come with us."

She led Chuck and Hennessy down to the dock, but pushed them both back a bit and went the rest of the way to the gangplank, squinting up at the yacht and peeling her eyes for Kirk himself. She didn't see him, but one of his staff looked down at her and disappeared into the cabin.

"Lon!" she called out. "Mr. Kirk?"

Two of his men stepped out, and then he came out himself, confused, but not altogether displeased to see her. "Hi," she said, a bit shyly. And then she winced. "Mr. Kirk, I'm really sorry, but I...I really have to talk to you."

Kirk brushed off one of his men and started down the steps towards her. "That's-That's great, Sandra. But we're, uh, actually about to push off."

"I knoooow. I know. I'm really, really sorry. Um...It'll just take a second. This is kind of embarrassing, actually." She ducked her head and pushed a hand through her hair, grinning. "I just wanted to sort of...smooth things over a bit. After yesterday."

"I'm not...offended, Sandra. Don't worry."

"No, I just...Michael...Mike gets really jealous. I know you didn't mean any harm, and he knows that now, too. He overreacted. You know? But he really didn't mean to screw up the potential deal with you. He really wants to work with you."

"Uh, I'm not sure now is, um…"

"If I could just come onboard and talk with you for a few seconds. A minute at most. Just to...clear things up."

She saw that look on his face that he'd had before, and he crossed his arms. "Uh...we can—We can talk in my cabin for a few minutes. Sure." And he reached down for her to take his hand, helping her up onto the deck of the ship.

"WELL, WELL, WELL WELL WELL!"

Sarah spun to see Hennessy stomping down the wooden planks, his hands on his hips. "I see how it is, Sandra! How could you do this? After the plans we made?"

She turned to face him, Kirk's hand on her elbow. Oh. Maybe she should've made sure she and Hennessy were on the same page before she just...assumed. Uh oh. "Um, Mike…? What are you…?"

"I gave you a house in the Hamptons!" Hennessy barked. "Maybe I don't have a...a fancy yacht, Sandy, but I have given you a lot...of myself!"

"You're completely misreading this situation, sweetie. Go back to the office and let me fix things. You're seriously fucking this up right now," she said through her teeth. Lon Kirk was fidgeting in confusion, not seeming to want to be involved in this. They just had to keep this going.

Chuck was charging down the docks towards them now, too. Maybe she should've just let him stay in the car. Oh, God no. What was he going to say? None of them were on the same page.

"Misreading the—? His hands are all over you!" Hennessy argued loudly, drawing more of Kirk's staff closer to the railing to watch the drama unfold.

"He isn't touching me, Michael!" she snapped. "I'm trying to save your—"

"WELL! WELL! WELLLLL!" Chuck yelled, coming to stand beside Hennessy.

"Who the fuck is this?" Kirk muttered.

"And who is this?!" Chuck demanded to know, gesturing to Kirk. "I turn my back for a minute and this is where I find you? On some guy's...yacht?"

"Who are you?!" Hennessy asked him, spinning to face him.

"YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE, RICH BOY!"

"Will you get out of here?!" Sarah hissed at Chuck.

"No!" Hennessy snapped. "He's not going anywhere! Not until you tell me who he is!"

"Mike, I'm trying to help you! That's why I came here! You acted like such a jealous idiot yesterday and you jeopardized a legitimate deal! You're your own worst enemy!" she tried, and Kirk slowly stepped away.

"Listen, um...I don't have time for thi—"

"I WAS DEFENDING YOUR HONOR! YOU'RE MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"What?!" Chuck screeched. "Wait a second! Did she tell you—SHE TOLD ME I WAS THE ONLY ONE!"

"She told me I was the only one! What the hell is this, Sandra?!" Hennessy demanded, and Chuck spun to face her too.

"Yeah, Sandraaaa!" he drawled, accusatory.

"You're both being ridiculous!" she ground out through a clenched jaw. "Mike, you're lucky I even want to help you and your security business after you acted like such a possessive jerk!"

"WHAT?! You never did this to help me with my business!" Chuck yelled up at her.

"Because you work at a banana stand in Long Beach!" she bellowed, leaning forward towards them.

"I'm very proud of my work!" he yelled, turning as if announcing it to the entire dock.

"You know what?!" Kirk interrupted, holding his hands up. He put a hand on Sarah's shoulder and gently ushered her towards the plank leading to the dock. "It is time for you to go."

There was a thump behind them then and he spun. "What was that?"

She exchanged a look with Hennessy and he leapt up onto the boat right as she spun and brought her foot up to kick one of Kirk's staff in the jaw, knocking him out. Casey came around the corner and took another one out with an elbow to the temple as Hennessy brought down a third.

As she turned, she saw that Kirk had disappeared inside. But more of Kirk's men were rushing towards them up on the higher level of the deck, so she hurried up the stairs, ignoring whatever Chuck was yelling about on the docks.

Sarah was joined up on top by Casey as Hennessy moved around towards the aft deck, taking more of Kirk's men down, and with the precision of abject professionals, they knocked out the last two men.

She heard a loud WHOOOOSH behind her then and spun to watch as a missile sailed out from the yacht's cabin and zoomed up into the sky. "Aw hell," Casey grumbled. "That's bad."

Sarah looked for Rashan's boat, and spotted it, still moving towards open water. It was a lot further away now, and the missile seemed to be swerving in a circle, searching for its target.

There was a loud clambering sound from the steps that led up from the cabin and Chuck hurried over to join. "Hey! Hey hey hey!" he gasped, out of breath. "Look! The rocket is guided by GPS software. All software can be reset!"

Hennessy finally joined them as well. "What the hell was that sound?" he demanded.

"Missile's headed towards Rashan's yacht, that's what!" Casey snapped.

"Can he do that?" the Secret Service agent asked, gesturing at Chuck who was already tapping at the screen of the remote. Whatever was happening on that screen, she had no idea, but she was almost certain he hadn't flashed, which meant he was doing this on his own.

"Yeah, he can," Sarah insisted, putting a hand on his back in support and just looking down at the screen.

"I...I think I…" The screen blinked and then went blank for a second. "I got it! It worked!"

"You did it, Chuck!" she said, grinning as she squeezed his shoulder, and they all watched as the missile turned course from where it'd been zooming right towards Morgan and Anna on Rashan's boat.

It was making a strange trajectory, though. As if it was doubling back. And she suddenly had a sinking feeling.

"Chuck, where's it heading now?" Casey asked. And she knew by the tone of his voice he already had an idea.

"I dunno," Chuck chirped with a shrug. "I reset it."

"You sure reset doesn't mean return to sender?" Hennessy piped up from behind them, terror in his voice.

"Oh, man." Chuck looked down at the remote. "Oh-Oh, man. Oh...this is not good."

"Ya think?" Casey barked.

"Get it away from us," Sarah said, pushing at the remote, as if making it closer to him would help him move faster. It was a stupid, pointless gesture, but she was in a panic. "Chuck, hurry!"

"I need—I need another target first! I need to program in GPS coordinates! I don't know—" His voice drifted off as they all wracked their brains.

And as if the last couple of days were bringing them towards this moment—like fate and karma were holding hands—Sarah got an idea. She leaned forward to look past Chuck at Casey. "What about Casey's car?"

"NO!" Casey barked, eyes wide. "What the fuck?! NO!"

"Casey, we're runnin' outta time here! Just tell me the GPS coordinates for the Crown Vic!" Chuck demanded.

"AGENT CASEY, COME ON!" Hennessy joined in.

Casey sent a longing look over his shoulder at his precious car.

"TELL HIM, CASEY!" she snapped.

"71477," he finally said, barely able to get it out.

Chuck immediately went to work and she thought she heard Casey whimper—literally whimper—as Chuck hit send.

"Really sorry, buddy," Chuck said, and the missile sailed right over their heads, causing them to duck it was so close, before it arched up through the air and slammed into the Crown Victoria parked up in the lot, a safe distance away from them. A fireball erupted from the middle of it, incinerating the thing, and she winced.

Maybe it was a little mean, but after the shit Casey pulled, she couldn't help but turn and shrug at him, as if saying, That's what you get.

"I hate this assignment," Casey groused, watching his car burn to a crisp.

Chuck turned slowly to look at him. "I said I was sorry, right?"

For a split second, she thought the NSA agent would strangle Chuck, and she and Hennessy would have to find some way to contain him. But then he just turned back with a pitiful look.

"Oh, no you fuckin' don't," Hennessy muttered under his breath, and he sprinted forward, taking the stairs down to the bottom deck three at a time. Kirk was trying to escape, making a run for it. But Hennessy was faster, and trained, and he tackled Lon Kirk to the docks with a painful-sounding crunch.

"You'll be hearing from my lawyers, you pieces of shit!" the criminal was yelling as Hennessy restrained him, cuffing his hands behind his back.

Sarah and Casey moved to follow after the Secret Service agent as Casey pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Casey. Secure. Kirk's apprehended, but we need agents to stop Rashan's boat. The plates are headed out towards open waters."

Agents Walker and Hennessy exchanged smirks and he nodded, grateful. She nodded back. Clean-up wasn't going to be fun. And they needed to get out of here before Morgan and Anna saw them. But they'd done good work. And most importantly, Chuck's best friend would be back at work the next day, in one piece.

}o{

He was over to the side, dancing, trying to forget what he was feeling, trying to forget that kiss, what it meant, what it couldn't mean. She had a job to do, that was a fact. He was crazy about her, probably in love if he was honest, that was a fact. She was amazing, that was a fact. She felt...something for him. Deep down he knew that as a fact too.

That fight in his apartment had felt awful, and the way she'd accused him of faking a flash out of jealousy had wrecked his insides. She sincerely thought he was capable of that kind of dangerous immaturity? Or was it like he'd maybe foolishly voiced that night, and she was projecting her own mess of feelings onto the situation? He knew she had a mess of feelings, because he definitely did and she...didn't seem like she was able to look him in the face and answer his question. Did that mean she'd be lying if she said she'd kissed him because he was the only one there? He thought so. And maybe that was why she lashed out.

There was a lot there, how much of it was him and how much of it was her, he couldn't know. But something was there. He wanted to explore it so badly.

But if he was honest with himself, completely honest, would he be enough for her if this whole CIA thing wasn't there? With the NSA watching him, and that Goddamn computer in his head that he both was thankful for and hated at the same time?

He didn't know if he could ever be what Sarah Walker wanted. He didn't even know if she wanted anything. But if he were to wish for one thing for Christmas, it would be the opportunity to find out.

He pushed those thoughts from his head. He was going to enjoy tonight. He was going to dance like no one was watching. And that was when she stepped into his field of vision, a smile on her face. Oh God. She had been watching him dance.

"Hi," he managed to get out. Was it him or did her smile intensify? "I'm glad you…" He paused to try and get control of himself. Why the mysterious smile? "I'm glad you came." She gave him a nod, the smile still stuck on her face. Was she enjoying this? Did Sarah Walker enjoy knowing she made him lose his mind on a constant basis? He really hoped she did.

"I figured with someone else DJing I might get to hear something other than Michael Bolton," Sarah replied, the smile still on her face.

He grinned at her. "I don't JUST play Michael Bolton," he replied. "I just give the people what they want."

"I don't want to hear Michael Bolton."

"But don't you?" he asked, trying to look mysterious, like he could read her mind. He didn't know if he got the look he wanted, but she laughed, and her smile didn't leave. That was a win. But then she seemed to fidget somewhat, shifting her weight, looking off to the side like she maybe had something to say, or maybe she was trying to figure out something to say.

"I got you something," he said, maybe to help her out, or interrupt the verging on awkward tension. He walked over to the tree, feeling a little nervous. He reached down and grabbed the alarm clock and a small box that was wrapped, then handed it to her. "Ta da! It's a new alarm clock. Merry Christmas...and that's some sealant for that hole that got in your wall when your knife somehow ended up lodged in there."

Her smile got even wider. "You shouldn't have."

He wished he could give her more than that, but he had decided he was going to make this as easy on her as possible. "Ah, come on," he drawled. "They're on sale in Home Electronics. Which reminds me, I should probably scan that thing before you leave the store with it." She ducked her head and looked down at the alarm clock. Now or never, Chuck. Now or never… "Look, it's also kind of a... kind of a thank you for believing me when you had good reason not to."

There was the look again, her blue eyes cast to the side, shifting her weight. And she slowly moved her hands around the clock as she held it, before shaking her head. "That's the main reason why I'm here, Chuck. Because I really didn't have a good reason not to believe you. I jumped to conclusions—unfair conclusions—and I accused you of something I know deep down you'd never do. That wasn't right. I owe you a massive apology for what I said, for what I accused you of doing."

Chuck blinked. "You don't have to—"

"I really do, Chuck. Casey's really been overdoing it with...well, the thing he keeps teasing about. And maybe it's—" She huffed, biting her cheek and rolling her eyes a little. "Maybe we both let it get under our skin in different ways." Chuck gaped at her. Had she let it get under her skin? So he was...a little right? He didn't know how to respond to that. But something warm was churning in his chest. "But it's unforgivable...the way I accused you. Faking a…" She glanced both ways over her shoulder and lowered her voice. "Faking a flash because you were jealous of Agent Hennessy sticking up for me. It was such a childish reactionary leap that I made. Completely unfounded."

"Not...completely," he interrupted, his voice quiet. She frowned at him. "I mean, it isn't like I wasn't...a little jealous. Super good looking Secret Service agent with flawless skin and even more flawless work ethic. And you two...worked well together. I-I know now—and probably even knew at the time—that it was ridiculous to feel that way. All four of us worked well together."

Sarah just stared at him for a few moments, almost searchingly. "Maybe you were...jealous." She squirmed a little. "And maybe you're also kind of...Well, more emotional than any of us are really used to. But you wouldn't lie about flashing in a moment like that, when a lot is on the line. When your team could be in a lot of danger because of it. That's not you. So I'm sorry."

He smiled softly, nodding. "Thanks, Sarah. I really appreciate it. And-And apology accepted." They smiled at each other and then she twisted her mouth to the side shyly. "What?" he prompted, seeing a look on her face like she had something else she wanted to bring up.

Sarah let go of the clock with one hand and dug in the back pocket of her skirt, thrusting her closed fist between them. "I was out of line and feel bad about it, but I also feel like you deserve, well...some kind of...how do I say this?" She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully and glanced to the side for a moment. "You deserve a reward. A thank you. You know, for everything that you do." He was going to interrupt, tell her he didn't actually end up doing anything. But she opened her hand and thrust it closer to him, his response dying in his throat.

"A...flash drive?" He blinked. "Cool. No, this is super nice, Sarah." Grinning, he plucked it from her palm. "These are expensive sometimes and you can never have too many. Thanks."

She made a face. "Chuck, there's something on it. Something I thought you'd enjoy."

"Real footage of an extraterrestrial from Area 51?" he asked, making her giggle and roll her eyes.

"Uh, no. Not that. It's um…" Sarah stepped up closer and leaned up on her tiptoes, glancing around to make sure no one else would hear her. "Remember how I told you Lester came to my counter at the Wienerlicious to try to swoop in on me and I came on super strong and scared him shitless?"

"Yeah—Oh!" His eyes nearly popped out of his head as he realized what was on the flash drive. "You didn't really!" She smiled wordlessly, her features full of mischief and amusement. "It's on here? The footage? Does he pee himself?" He put a hand up between them quickly then. "No, wait! Don't tell me! I don't want spoilers! I want to enjoy this to its fullest potential."

She cracked up and shrugged. "I thought you'd like that. Anytime you're feeling down or he acts like a dick, just watch that. There's sound and everything."

"Best. Gift. Ever. Seriously, thank you. This is amazing. I'd honestly run into any seriously dangerous situation for the government if they always thanked me like this." He laughed and wiggled it between them, then shoved it in his pocket.

He waited for her amused look to dim just a little before he cleared his throat, interrupting the silence that settled between them. He wanted to make sure she understood that he appreciated her actions today, in spite of everything. "Anyway, I'm still grateful that in spite of not believing me the first time, you still took a chance on me the second time."

"Well, it's my job, you know," she said as she shrugged. "It's what I do. It's the one thing I'm good at."

He gave her an amused look. "Really?" She could not mean that. "'Cause I'm pretty sure you're good at a lot of things."

"Well, as you can see from everything that happened with Bryce, I'm not so good at relationships." Chuck thought she seemed...nervous. Really? Sarah Walker was nervous. Around him? He shouldn't like that, but he was human. Did he really make her nervous? Or maybe it was the apology. Maybe she wasn't used to opening herself up like that. And he was suddenly awash with gratefulness.

"I guess that makes two of us." The smile she gave was bigger than ever. It was absolutely infectious to the point he wanted to do whatever it took to get her to smile like that, daily. "And then that makes me good at... pretty much nothing, I suppose."

"Chuck, you're good at your job, too," she quickly disagreed. He was a little surprised at how quickly. "And not just here, fixing computers. You know, the one where you risk your life to save others; the one that you didn't ask for but were supposed to have."

"Supposed to have?" Chuck asked.

"Yes." The intensity that she said it with made him warm all over.

God, he'd love to have more, and he knew they couldn't...but he had to make sure they were at least okay. He held his hand out. "Friends?"

She tilted her head at him and gave him an amused grin. "I thought you said I'd always have a friend here?"

Chuck looked a bit uncomfortable but she took his hand. "Yeah, I just wanted to make sure with everything that happened…"

"Friends," she said softly. "Always."

They stared at each other and she started to speak, when a drunk Jeff wandered up. "Mistletoe. You'll thank me later, dude."

"Nah," Chuck said, with a grin. "I prefer someone kisses me when they want to, not when they're forced to by a fuggin' plant."

"Lame," Jeff muttered, and walked off.

When he turned back to look at her, she was staring at him, one eyebrow slightly raised, her eyes a bit wide, lips parted. And then a really slow, overwhelmingly warm smile stretched over her lips. As if realizing she was giving him a look that made him feel a little bit like he was walking on air, she ducked her head and looked down at the clock again, twisting her lips to the side. Was she...being shy? Sarah Walker, shy? Agent Sarah Walker…?

He cleared his throat then and tilted his head at her. "So, uh...things back to normal?"

She grinned. "Chuck, with you things are never normal." His eyebrows raised. "But we do this, together."

Chuck nodded.

"Together is always preferable," Chuck replied. "When you have someone with you that believes in you, and pushes you, it makes you better. I should know." Sarah gave him a look. "Before I met you, I was stuck here, stuck in my head. Now...now I guess I'm all those things you said."

She was quiet for a moment, wrestling with something. She lightly tapped his chest with her finger. "You are too important for me not to be here for you." She looked into his eyes and he knew better than to bring up the Intersect.

"So, Christmas is coming up, and since you're dating me..." He didn't miss how her eyebrows raised, and she grinned. "...You'll have to come to Bartowski Christmas."

Her eyes widened again, her grin falling away. And she bit her lip, darting her gaze off to the side. "...Chuck, Christmas with me is complicated."

"You can explain all that to Ellie," Chuck said, grinning. "How about we just dance?"

"Chuck," she whined, but was grinning as he pulled her to the dance floor.

They were dancing as Casey walked by, watching the two of them. His phone rang. "Casey," he said, picking it up.

"Major," Beckman replied. "I am calling to inform you that the beta version of Intersect computer was successful. This means the new Intersect should be up running soon. Once the new computer is on line, it will be time to take care of Chuck."

"Roger that," Casey replied watching them dance. "Walker is not going to like this at all."

"I understand, John, but if we don't…You know what the CIA wants to do to him. If he refuses, we'll do what we can."

"If Walker is given the order, ma'am?" Casey asked.

Beckman snorted a laugh. "There is no way she follows that order. If she's given it, she will run."

"And my orders if that happens, ma'am?"

There was a long pause. "Help them run."

"I understand my orders, General," Casey replied, watching the two of them.

"Oh, and... John?"

"Yeah?"

"Happy Holidays."


A/N: DC here. Yeah. WE DID THAT! Listen, we've been reading your reviews, we know what you want, and it's coming, we are building to something so huge WE think it will knock your socks off. I keep screaming ish for a reason, and next chapter, is the first of those big ISH moments.

Next up, the Christmas episode. Yes, you in the front with the confused look on your face. What? You say there's no season one Christmas episode? You know, the lost one. *SC whispers in EDC's ear.* Ohhhhhhhhhh….well, there is now. BOOM! Come back next time for Chuck vs the Skate….Date? …...SC….maybe you should take this over.

Please review! Thanks!

-SC and DC