Six:

several months later...

Chuck inhaled the rich scent of the fresh coffee. He was at the end of a very long day and he was very tired. He took another sniff and winced as his sore ribs protested. But at least he was alive.

Which was more than could be said for a couple of his protective detail... A freaking shoot out in the Buy More...

He glanced at the security monitor as motion in the apartment complex courtyard caught his attention. He relaxed as he recognized his CIA partner. Sarah Walker let herself into the apartment with a tired smile and a small wave.

She walked into the kitchen and he could hear her root around in a cupboard for a clean coffee mug. " How are you doing? "

" I'm doing fine but sore. " Chuck blew a cooling breath across the surface of his coffee and took a tentative sip. " Damn bullet resistant vests really need to come with a warning label. May stop bullets but it'll still hurt like hell! "

" I'm just glad you've listened to reason and started wearing a vest. " Sarah walked back into the dining room and slumped into a chair across the dining room table. Her blond hair was caught up in a sloppy pony tail and the exhaustion smudges beneath her eyes were almost black.

" What can I say but that I found your reasoning compelling. If you don't wear it I will end you? "

Sarah shrugged. " It worked didn't it? "

" Well yeah... "

" Then I rest my case. " She pulled the sugar bowl over and proceeded to add a couple large spoonfuls. " Ellie way laid me on the way over. "

Chuck groaned. " Why? "

" A couple reasons... " Sarah took a small sip of her coffee. " She wanted to apologize for the whole 'are you having an affair with my brother while his wife is pregnant' argument... er... discussion we had... "

" I got one of those too and we definitely had the argument. " Chuck rotated his shoulders to try and loosen the stress tension in them. " And? "

" I told her that I understood how she might have read the situation like she did but that she was very wrong. I explained how I felt about infidelity because of the Rat Bastard's being serially unfaithful and I reminded her of your history with Jill Roberts... "

" Ellie was both wrong and out of line, " Chuck grumbled. " Sorry about that... "

" She's just being an older sister. She said they got a post card from your parents, who seem to be enjoying their second honeymoon. "

Chuck gave a more than passable noncommittal Casey style grunt.

" You are a stubborn bastard! " Sarah gave her partner a wintry smile. " Are you ever going to forgive her? "

Chuck took a health swig of his cooling coffee. " Why should I? "

" She's your Mom? "

" Who thought it was more important to run off and play spy than stay home and be a mom, " Chuck snapped out harshly, his brown eyes grim and angry. " All for the greater good... Who's greater good? Wasn't mine or Ellie's... "

She sighed as they'd had variations on this conversation before. " I'm not going to argue with you about this, Chuck. I'm just passing along the word. "

" Well the word has been given and ignored and we aren't going to argue. "

Sarah nodded her head in the direction of the master bedroom. " How's Lou doing this morning? "

Chuck set his coffee mug down and grimaced wearily at his partner. " She seems okay but I think my killing that Tommy dude from Fulcrum has really messed with her head... "

" And you saved her life as well as Casey's and mine... "

" And she was brought up in a world where killing is wrong, that killing is murder, " Chuck answered thoughtfully. " Hell Sarah, I thought that way myself not long ago. Heroes don't kill people... "

" Only on dumb television shows and in bad comic books, " Sarah said scornfully. " Just give her some time and don't forget that Lou loves you and you love her. "

" Yeah... " Chuck nodded. " Oh, and thanks for the red raspberry tea idea by the way. It seems to be helping the morning sickness. How is Casey doing? "

" He'll live, " Sarah returned. " When I left the hospital he was grumbling about the fact that if you'd used a .45 instead of a 9mm the bad guy would've been dead and that he wouldn't have gotten shot... "

" Bitch and moan, " Chuck grumbled with wry humor. " But he does have a point y' know... "

" Chuck, Casey is damned proud of you and I am too, " Sarah replied. " You put all that training and hard work to good use when you had to. The bad guy had both Casey and I dead... "

Chuck stood up abruptly and carried his coffee mug into the kitchen. He added some fresh and topped it off. " I'm glad you are alright. "

" Me too! " She too stood up and followed him into the kitchen.

Chuck turned to stand with his back to the counter and leaned against it with his arms crossed. Sarah mirrored his actions and slumped into him.

" And you are alright aren't you? "

Crap! He'd felt her involuntary wince as she leaned against him. " Yeah, my vest stopped the rounds same as yours did... "

" But I know you, Sarah and you aren't invincible so come on and show me... "

Sarah sighed. It was a part of his process, a part of his caring for and about his partners and his team. She stepped away and pulled her blouse free of her jeans and pulled it up, baring her bruised side.

" Damn Sarah... "

" Pain is just weakness leaving the body... "

" Yeah right, " he drawled. He reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a small jar of 'Tiger Balm'. He popped it open and the pungent scent of menthol, camphor, eucalyptus and clove enriched the kitchen air.

He dipped a finger in for a dollop and after a couple of deep, steadying breaths began to lightly smear the analgesic ointment in a film across her bruised flesh. She hissed and shivered at his touch.

" Sorry, " Chuck concentrated on his task, his eyes dark and grim.

Sarah grunted a wordless 'that's okay'...

" So you are seeing Special Agent Shaw? "

" Uh huh... " Sarah replied and a soft smile lighted her face.

" Can you? " He fingered the bottom of her bra strap.

Sarah nodded, reached up and popped the front clasp of her bra open.

" Thanks. " He pushed the bra out of the way and smeared the 'Tiger Balm' on the upper limits of her bruising. " Do I need to have a big brother type talk with him? "

" No... " Sarah shivered again then chuckled quietly. " You might not believe it but Casey's beat you to it... "

" Good man. " Satisfied with his handiwork, Chuck tugged the material down. " Is it serious? "

" No! " She turned away and fastened her bra and began to tuck her blouse back into her jeans. " And you know why... "

Chuck nodded as she turned and looked at him with those big and clear blue eyes. " I do understand but you know that you can have safe... "

" Chuck! " she growled his name as a warning to back off.

He acquiesced and changed the subject. " Are we still on for the bike ride this evening? "

Sarah nodded. " I'd like that, get the kinks and knots worked out. A nap and something to eat and we'll both be feeling much better... Are we good? "

" Chuck? "

Both turned as Lou's sleepy voice came from the direction of the master bedroom.

" We are always good, Sarah... I gotta go and see what she needs. Later? "

Giving into a rare impulsive moment, Sarah leaned in and gave Chuck a brief hug. " Yeah and thanks... "

and that's a wrap...