A/N: Here is part two. It's probably still fluffy, you've been warned.

Chapter 15:

If Sarah had learned anything from her time in the agency, it was putting on a good poker face. She pushed the bad thoughts that were surfacing down, down, down until they were all safely tucked away, somewhere in the recesses of her mind. Only then could she take a deep breath and focus.

She would never admit to being the jealous type, had never allowed herself to sink to being one of those girls, but being in this room, their apartment, made her nearly sick to her stomach. She was sure Carmen was the type to take advantage of those who were weak and vulnerable. She had seen the way she looked at him sometimes, when she didn't think Sarah was watching.

But Chuck had known there was something wrong with Carmen, he told her so. Even if Carmen tried anything, it probably went nowhere.

So there's no reason to harbor these feelings, Sarah reminded, but it was difficult.

Yes, she'd known that Carmen was still around, but the woman's motives hadn't bothered her until Sarah stepped through the door. For the past few weeks her mind had only allowed her to think of one thing and one thing only. Finally able to put those fears aside, the rest of her life was still struggling to catch up with her.

Sarah hadn't lied to Chuck; they were friends the way Chuck and Carmen were girlfriend/boyfriend…it was complicated. Both women were bound by duty, and did what they needed to get the job done. They were efficient, dependable, and top of their class. The only thing Sarah would acknowledge they had in common however, was Chuck. Otherwise, she hated to find herself compared to her colleague.

Sarah's eyes flickered to the ring newly situated on her left hand. She hadn't gotten used to seeing it there and she knew by the look of surprise on Carmen's face that she wasn't prepared for it either. What was it that flashed across the woman's face? Disappointment? Denial? Jealousy?

Sarah walked slowly towards the other woman; holding her tongue, biding her time. She allowed the younger, less experienced agent to have the first say; it really didn't matter. Sarah would make sure she had the last word.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

Sarah smiled. "Then you haven't been doing your job." Arms still folded, she walked closer, a part of her unwilling to allow Chuck to hear any part of their conversation and the other curious to see the extent of Carmen's self control.

The brunette narrowed her eyes. "I'm doing this as a favor. I'm supposed to be on leave."

"I'm sure," Sarah said dryly. "Who needs a vacation, right?"

Carmen growled. Standing to her full height, they met eye to eye, so close to one another they were a breath's distance apart. They stared each other down and the tension in their faces spoke louder than words.

Sarah was acutely aware that her colleague was a short fuse but it only made her a glutton for punishment. That said, Carmen deserved everything she got for her dedication.

The brunette broke away first. The tension evaporated from her features and a smile broke across her face.

"What are you trying to say?" she asked, shaking her head in a guileless manner. Her stance relaxed and she uncrossed her arms, making herself vulnerable to an attack.

The transformation was nearly complete, except her eyes bore into Sarah's with all the intensity of a hardened interrogator. It was a warning—back off, and Sarah knew she needed to match it if she wanted to stand her ground.

She didn't have to try very hard. She only needed to remind herself of what it would be like to lose Chuck and those earlier thoughts raced to the forefront of her mind.

"You know your act might work on Chuck, but it's not going to work on me," she warned. She felt a certain sense of satisfaction at the reaction she got from the brunette.

Carmen tilted her head slightly, her eyes warming. The façade completed, it disarmed Sarah to see the similarity to Chuck's familiar brown eyes being reflected in front of her and for a second, she nearly fell under its spell.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Carmen said. "This was part of our cover."

Sarah had to smile. "At home too?" she queried, keeping her tone civil. "Who were you acting for then?"

Carmen crossed her arms in resignation. Given her high cheekbones, it was not difficult to see that she was clenching her jaw.

"What are you doing here?" she snarled, her true colors showing.

Sarah considered responding with a wise-crack answer, but she knew what Carmen really wanted to know. "I'm staying," she replied. For good.

The brunette shook her head. "You can't be here. Chuck is my boyfriend."

Sarah wanted to laugh, but the way she said it—as if there was some truth to it, robbed her of any elation. She glared at the younger agent, daring her to say more; provide her with any excuse to knock some sense into her.

You're not that kind of girl, she reminded herself. Sarah ran her left thumb against the metal band on her ring finger, making sure for the millionth time this evening that this wasn't a dream. She smiled. Alright, perhaps just a bit.

"Maybe, but he's my fiancée." Sarah never realized how much she enjoyed saying the word until now.

It was enough to silence her adversary.

"You should sit tight," she added, nodding towards the couch. "I think you'll be expecting a call soon."

Carmen made no indication of taking her advice. "Did he get his memories back?" she asked, her eyes darting towards the closed door of Chuck's bedroom. "Does he know everything?"

"No." Sarah was tempted to elaborate but she could already feel her resolve slipping away. It was amazing how quickly the tables could turn. Carmen's eyes bored into hers and she like all four walls were closing in on her.

"Don't lie to me," Carmen warned. "How does he know you then? Where did you get that ring?"

Sarah realized what Carmen was getting at, and even the veiled threat of it made her see red.

"He doesn't remember anything!" she hissed, a growl forming deep in her throat. She closed the distance between them until she was breathing down on her, each breath as hot as furnace. There were no longer skirting around the subject.

Implying that there was something going on between Chuck and Carmen she could tolerate, but not a threat on his well-being, especially not after everything they'd gone through.

It took every ounce of Sarah's restraint not to push the woman up against the wall and make a physical threat on her life, but the temptation was there.

"We gave him the test after the procedure and he didn't flash—at all. He hasn't recalled anything since he's come back." The very real and imminent fear of losing Chuck was like a nightmare she would never wake from. They were soulless, the whole lot of them, and they would stop at nothing until they had him. Her heart beat faster and faster as she tried to rationalize. They wouldn't take him, they'd already let him go. They just couldn't.

"Do you understand? He doesn't belong to them anymore and he never will. You can test him again if you don't believe me."

Sarah saw a real look of fear in Carmen's eyes. She saw her own reflection in those brown orbs and it frightened her a little too.

Had she gone insane?

Probably.

She knew she couldn't lose him again, and they both knew what she was capable of.

"He doesn't remember anything," Sarah repeated, more for her own reassurance than anything else. "You know that."

"I don't believe you," Carmen said, but her voice had grown quiet. Either Sarah had gotten to her or she'd finally realized what would happen if Chuck did regain those memories. "I refuse." Carmen looked stubbornly at her. "I've spent the last few days with him. I was a real girlfriend to him."

Sarah blinked, staring at her with disbelief. She took a step back, collecting herself. Was this really what it was all about? The danger of losing Chuck dissolved. Seconds ago she was on the verge of tears and now all she wanted to do was laugh. It was no longer a matter of life and death; merely a case of wounded pride.

Resisting the urge to provoke her any further, Sarah held a solemn expression. "And I'm sure he was nothing short of a perfect gentleman."

_

Sarah knocked once before opening the door to Chuck's room. Realizing Chuck wasn't used to having her barge in like this, she stopped halfway and was about to close the door when he grabbed onto the other side.

"Hey!" he said, shooting her a familiar and much welcomed smile. "What's going on?"

Sarah held the door slightly ajar, feeling suddenly self-conscious. "Nothing," she said with a shrug. "Can I come in?"

He pulled the door wide open and led her into his mess of a bedroom with a flourish and a bow. She laughed and collapsed onto his bed, overwhelmed by nostalgia.

"Is everything okay?" he asked as he sat down beside her.

Sarah was a bundle of nerves; her body was on high-alert and all senses were primed after the encounter with Carmen. Every touch, smell, sound, she experienced tenfold. So when Chuck looked at her in an unassuming but deeply concerned manner, she nearly burst into tears.

She knew it wasn't possible but when he looked at her sometimes, she felt like he hadn't changed at all. The joy of knowing her Chuck was still there and the terrible fear of losing him to the agency made her unsure whether she ought to smile or to cry.

She took a deep breath and exhaled quietly. "Yeah," she whispered, resting her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, resting his chin over her temple and their sudden proximity sent shivers all through her spine. It was when he did things like that, without even realizing it, that made her wonder how much he really remembered. "Everything's just fine."

"Carmen wasn't too mean, I hope."

Sarah couldn't help it. The thought sent her into violent laughter and she latched onto Chuck, spurred on by his incredulous expression. Really, if he remembered anything at all, he would know that he had much more to fear in the woman sitting beside him.

"What's funny?" he asked, holding her steady.

"Nothing, Chuck," she uttered inbetween gasps for air. Maybe someday she would tell him, but for now she was grateful for Chuck's comedic timing. When he looked at her and tenderly wiped her cheeks free of tears, he didn't suspect they were anything more than tears of joy.

"So, what do we do now?"

Sarah shrugged. The mental list she'd compiled filled her with dread and it only seemed grow. "It's late. Why don't we figure that out tomorrow?"

Chuck seemed to agree with her. They sat in silence, each lost in their own train of thought. Sarah wondered what he was thinking about now in that brilliant head of his.

Stealing a glance at him, her heart bubbled with so much emotion it was fit to burst. She had forgotten how much she missed him.

Having held back for so long, she could resist no longer and ran her hand through his gorgeous mop of curls.

It was a mistake. Shaken from his reverie, Chuck drew back, his eyes wide with alarm.

"Sorry," Sarah uttered, dropping the offending hand immediately. She should have known better. She was still a stranger to him.

There was a pause, and Sarah realized they had fallen into an awkward silence.

"No. You just startled me." Chuck flashed her an apologetic look and shuffled back to her side, dipping his head towards her. "Go ahead," he said, blushing visibly despite the low lighting.

Sarah felt another rush of emotion overtake her as she wrapped her finger around one of his curls. Chuck shouldn't have done that. Like the first taste of a forbidden fruit, it just wasn't enough.

She had a sudden compulsion to crush her lips against his, to kiss him the way she'd wanted to ever since he first woke up. She wanted her body against his, the warm touch of his flesh against hers. No distractions, no obstacles, just them.

But reality caught up to her, and she knew if a simple touch was enough to startle Chuck, a kiss would incapacitate him.

A quick glance at the clock told her time was running out. Like Cinderella at the ball, she had to return to the hotel eventually; without him.

You can handle one more night alone, she told herself. Or as many nights as it took for him to catch up to her. For now she had to contend herself with the ring he'd given her and all its promises for the future.

"What do you want to do tomorrow?" he asked.

She smiled. Ah, there was always tomorrow. "I don't know." She shrugged. "Maybe I'll start looking for a job."

Chuck laughed. "Good idea. I think I will too." Sarah would never admit it, but she loved it when he teased. His eyes sparkled with all the innocence and mischief of a child. "Unless you think I still have my job?"

Sarah shrugged. "Why don't we go tomorrow and find out?"

A glimmer of apprehension passed through his eyes. "You…you know where it is?"

She nodded, cementing the fear from something that was once a figment into something very real.

Chuck buried his face in his hands. "Wow, this is looking real good," he groaned. His sudden dejection combined with a rare sarcastic edge worried her.

"What do you mean?" Sarah grabbed his wrist, urging him to look up at her.

"I mean…by tomorrow I could be unemployed, homeless—" he stopped, looking to Sarah for confirmation.

"Sorry, Chuck." The agency had paid for the apartment and everything in it save for the items in this room. If the powers that be were so inclined, they could have the entire place stripped and vacated by tomorrow morning.

Chuck shrugged. "Least of my worries," he muttered. "I can't marry you like this. I don't have anything, I don't know—"

"Whoa, Chuck." She stopped him before he could go any further. The words formed a painful lump in the back of her throat and she thought she needed to catch her breath. "Are you having second thoughts?"

A pause. "What?" he gaped. "No!" He looked at her as if she were insane. "Of course not. I just feel bad for you."

"For me?" Sarah balked. "What's gotten into you, Chuck?"

"I feel bad for you," he repeated, looking at her in all seriousness. "You're waiting for me to catch up, to be able to be there for you, and I don't know when I'll be that guy again. Maybe I'll never recover, what then?"

"Chuck—" It was so far from the truth and Sarah wanted to stop him from saying anything more but like a snowball gathering size as it rolled down a hill, he was caught in his own words.

"There's this whole part of my life I'll never know about, and there are all these things we once shared that I have no recollection of. And there are all these things you can't ever tell me—"

Sarah had heard enough. She held his chin, tilting it so his eyes would meet hers. "I know," she said, cutting him off. "No one said it was going to be easy."

Nothing for them had ever come easily.

She held his gaze, strong and steadfast. Chuck had done it for her and she knew she had to return the favor in kind. "Yes, things happened in the past, good and bad. And yes, there are things about me you don't remember—but that belonged with my other life, and I'm ready to start living this one with you."

She squeezed his hand, wondering how she'd ever earned this second chance. She wished he could see that not everyone got to start over with a clean slate.

"It's okay if you don't remember. This is our life now, and we can start living it today." She paused, subconsciously raising her chin just the slightest. "You ready?"

Chuck smiled like he finally understood. "Yeah."