Three:

So far, Chuck thought, being a superhero kinda sucked.

Maybe he just needed a cool superhero outfit. As he pictured his tall and lanky form in colorful, tight spandex, he winched at the unattractive mental image... so maybe not.

But at least the blinding headaches had ceased within a day or so of his down loading the Intersect intel and program; along with the almost crippling nausea and nose bleeds. He'd decided that all were symptoms of his brain and body adjusting to what he'd begun to call his new super power.

The past few days had been interesting; having to deal with a panic stricken wife the first time he'd puked after a 'flash' of intel and the subsequent nose bleed. He'd managed to pass it all off as a strange form of food poison detox. Lou had whipped up a batch of her grandmother's chicken soup guaranteed to restore him to health.

The fact that the symptoms had quickly passed had helped his argument with his skeptical older sister. Ellie had been in full, protective older sister who also happens to be a doctor mode. She'd been ready to run him through a Cat Scan, an MRI and anything else she could think of and had recommended a battery of antibiotics...

Chuck finished drying his hands, gave the rest room another quick appraisal and stalked out shaking his head.

Jeff was once again spending way too much time in what he liked to call the office. He was beginning to add little homey, personal touches like a weirdly colored lava lamp and a rather garish poster of the country and western edition of JEFFSTER. Chuck made a mental note to himself to have Lester speak to Jeff.

Chuck sighed as he turned down the back hall to continue with his travel path. It wasn't one of his favorite things to do, but it did get him away from Emmett Milbarge's obsequious brown nosing and Harry Tang's power hungry sniping and snarking. Big Mike had been in full delegate mode when he'd added the travel path to Chuck's to do list. He allowed nothing to interfere with his danishes or his fishing so if he wanted the job done right...

As Chuck walked along his mind churned away at the multitude of questions the two emails and the Intersect itself had created. He pondered the possible reasons and rationale for his mother sending him the Intersect and for Bryce stealing it in the first place. Then there was the identity of Orion, her partner in all of this.

He wondered if his father knew that his wife was a spy. A spy who'd deserted her family to go on a long term undercover assignment. Who would do that? Who would make that kind of choice and what kind of government agency would ask such a sacrifice of an agent.

Then there was the additional mystery concerning the where about of his father. No one had heard from Stephen Bartowski in a couple weeks and Ellie was heading into freak out mode. Not that his father going off grid for an extended period of time were atypical actions but still...

And Chuck pondered the fascinating mystery of Sarah Larkin. He recalled the original email he'd received from a Sarah Walker who'd helped her Chuck deal with the Intersect and spy stuff, who had claimed to be from some parallel universe or alternative time line.

Chuck finished the travel path check list and made his way to the Nerd Herd desk. It was presently manned by Morgan Grimes, his best friend and Green Shirt and who had no business being at the Nerd Herd desk. " Hey little buddy, what's going on? "

" Hey Skipper... " Morgan looked up from a computer monitor. " I'm tweeting Frea and I'm trying to convince her to make me a minion... "

Chuck had the feeling that he really should be able to translate what Morgan had just said. " Who? "

Morgan gawked at his buddy. " Are you serious Chuck? She's only like the best Bionic Woman fan fiction writer writing... "

Chuck belatedly remembered a fan fiction story that Morgan had been particularly enthusiastic about. " Sorry dude, but as I'm married and don't have the time... never mind... "

He leaned a hip against the Nerd Herd counter top and glanced from his friend to a large card board box at Morgan's elbow. " What's in the box Morgan? "

" Not much Chuck, just worldly belongings and memories. " Morgan sighed mournfully. " My Anna Banana dumped me a while back and she finally got around to dropping my stuff off... "

" Seriously? You and Anna have split up? Why? "

" She said she was tired of dealing with my man boy issues... " Morgan grimaced as he rifled through the contents of the card board box.

" Which she knew when you guys started dating right? "

" You'd think so 'cause everyone else does. " Morgan peered into the depths of the box. " Remember this? "

He held up the first season DVD set of 'The Bionic Woman' re-boot offering from NBC. A gorgeous blond with vivid blue eyes and clad in a black leather cat suit posed heroically on the DVD cover.

Chuck nodded. " You stalked the lead actress, Yvonne Strzechowski, for months to get her to sign it and managed to get yourself banned from Comic Con for life. You even got me banned whenever she agrees to make an appearance. Thanks for that... "

Morgan sighed pensively. " Good times Chuck... "

" Yeah, I suppose. " Chuck reached over and clapped a sympathetic hand on his friend's shoulder. " Maybe Anna has just spent too much time watching crap like Oprah and Dr. Phil. That would mess up anybody's thinking... "

" Very true Chuck... " Morgan scratched thoughtfully at his beard. " She did say she's met someone else. "

Chuck's eyebrows sprang towards his hairline. " Who? "

" Dudes name is Jason Wang and he runs an import / export business. I think he's got a lot of money as he owns a bunch of exotic cars... "

Chuck studied his friend. " And you know this how? "

" Well I thought Anna might be cheating on me so I grabbed a pastrami sandwich one night from Lou and hid in the bushes outside Anna's place... " Morgan continued to look rather mournful. " And I don't blame her. Let's face it, I still peddle around on a bicycle. "

" And are doing your part to keep the planet green, " Chuck said helpfully. " Buddy, I had no idea... "

" Me neither but you know what they say Chuck? Life goes on and maybe Frea will let me be one of her minions! "

" It's good to have ambitions I guess. Does being a Frea minion offer decent pay and good benefits... "

Morgan's nostrils flared as he took a sharp sniff of the air " Hey Lou! "

Chuck spun to give his wife a welcoming smile. " Hey babe! "

Lou strode up to the Nerd Herd desk bearing a brown paper bag; a petite woman with long, brunette hair, big, brown eyes and a brilliant smile for her husband.

Morgan's eyes lighted up as he scurried around Chuck and snatched the bag from her hands. " Awesome! Lunch! Thanks Lou! "

" You're very welcome Morgan, " Lou said with an easy laugh. It had taken some time but she had grown accustomed to the bearded man's antics. " Enjoy... "

" You know I will... " Morgan sniffed blissfully at the delicious aromas as he opened the bag.

" And where's mine? " Chuck asked plaintively.

" Skip's guarding it in the break room and enjoying his own sandwich. " Lou grabbed Chuck's grey tie and hauled him down to her level so she could kiss him.

" You guys need to get a room, " Morgan said critically. He was trying his best to glare at his friends and salivate at the same time. " Seriously... "

" Seriously Morgan? " Chuck growled. " Do you like having a fresh 'Bartowski' sandwich hand delivered by the most beautiful woman... "

Morgan's voice squeaked with faux outrage. " Are you threatening me Chuck? "

" Yes I am... "

" Oh! And nicely done too! Obviously silence is a virtue... "

" Smart man Morgan, " Lou said. She gave him a warm smile and received a bashful shrug in return.

" I do have something for you, " Chuck said. He dug a small, white jewelry box from behind the counter. " They got the clasp fixed... "

A brilliant smile lighted Lou's face as she popped the top off and pulled a lovely yet simple charm bracelet from the cotton batting. The charm bracelet had belonged to Chuck's mother and he'd given it to her their first Christmas together.

" Can you put it on for me? " Lou handed the charm bracelet to her husband.

Chuck nodded. When he was done, they both admired it's simple beauty as it graced her slender wrist.

" Thanks Chuck, I've been feeling naked without it this week and I promise to take better care of it... " She halted her own version of the Bartowski Babble to give him a passionate hug and kiss.

" Oh crap! " Morgan suddenly yelped. " It's her! "

Chuck turned and gave his bearded buddy a quizzical look. " Now what? "

Morgan gazed towards the front of the Buy More in stunned horror. Chuck followed the general direction and saw a familiar face.

" Morgan that's... "

" Why is it always blonds? " Lou grumbled quietly.

" Sarah Larkin, " Chuck finished.

tbc