I still don't own Chuck. But one good thing. Nope, sorry. I've got nothing.

It looks like I am really going to have to ramp up the fluffy Charah goodness if I want to stay ridiculously ahead of the show. Needless to say, I accept this challenge. Thanks to Happydayz for the ideas and for holding my virtual hand through all the angst on the show. It looks like we may have weathered this storm. And, of course, thanks to BrickRoad for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

Ok, shippers. Get your insulin injection ready. Chuck and Sarah have been apart for two whole chapters. And you know what that means. This may be the most shippery chapter I have ever written.

If you enjoyed this or any of the stories on this site, please take a second and send the author a review. It's the only reward that we get for putting ourselves out there. I want to thank everyone who has sent me a review. I really appreciate the support that you've given me. It really helps me stay motivated.

If you're a Chuck fan (and if you're not, boy are you reading the wrong story), join us in the forum on this site. We would love to hear your thoughts on the show and where it's going. Since we've talked about every possible outcome, someone is sure to be right.

The One Chosen

- - - -

"Are you feeling better now?"

"I am," Janice said without looking up. "Thanks for being there. I don't have many people in my life that are ever there for me."

Janice still had her head on Chuck's shoulder. But the tears were only a memory. As a matter of fact, from Chuck's angle it actually looked as if she was smiling. And that was confirmed when she turned her head to whisper in his ear.

"It's pretty obvious that your sister wants to talk to you."

"I know," Chuck said with a forced smile. "I'm sorry but she's pretty protective."

"Protective," Janice repeated in a questioning voice. "What is she worried about? What am I going to do to you here on the plane?"

"She's not being protective of me," Chuck said trying to keep the grin off of his face. "She's being protective of Sarah. They're very close. And I don't think she likes the idea of me having my arm around a beautiful woman who isn't Sarah."

"Wow," Janice said with an even broader smile. "She sounds like a pretty straight arrow."

"The straightest," Chuck said in his best deadpan impression.

"Wait until she hears about Sarah's and my contest," Janice said.

"Yea," Chuck said as he stood up out of his seat, breaking Janice's semi embrace. "I'm sort of hoping that never comes up with Ellie. And I'll bet that Sarah does too."

"Seriously, are we going to be friends?" Janice said with a huge smile. "I'd really like that."

"I would too," Chuck said with his classic grin. "I just hope it doesn't get me in trouble with Sarah."

"You know how much I like to mess with people's heads." Janice said with a mischievous grin.

"That's the part that I fear is going to get me in trouble." Chuck replied.

Janice didn't say anything. She just smiled at him.

"Well," Chuck said with a resigned sigh. "I might as well get this over with."

So Chuck moved to an unoccupied aisle out of hearing distance. And sure enough, it wasn't long at all before Ellie sat next to him.

"She's really beautiful," Ellie said softly. "She might even be prettier than Sarah."

"She's not prettier than Sarah," Chuck said in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"Just checking," Ellie said as she flashed a grin. "So Sarah doesn't have anything to worry about?"

"She has plenty of things to worry about," Chuck said with his own grin. "But me cheating on her is not one of them. If that's what you're asking."

"I'm worried about Sarah," Ellie said suddenly serious. "Aren't you?"

"Of course," Chuck replied. "What makes you think that I'm not?"

"Then why was she just all over you?" Ellie said. "Do you know what that looks like?"

"She wasn't all over me," Chuck said with a grin. "She was just down because she didn't do a good job hiding me. I know what this is. You're just cranky because you're tired. You must have had a long day. Flying in this morning and turning around and flying back."

"No," replied Ellie. "I'm fine. We flew in last night."

"Where did you sleep?" Chuck asked now that his curiosity was piqued.

"In a hotel," Ellie relied calmly as she tried to avoid Chuck's eyes.

"Wait a minute," Chuck said after a moment as his eyes narrowed and he had just figured out a way to get out of trouble. The best defense, after all, is a good offense. "Casey would never let you out of his sight if you're in his custody. You slept in the same room."

"Nothing happened," Ellie said quickly as it was suddenly her turn to blush. "I swear."

"Maybe," said Chuck as he enjoyed turning the tables.

"But do you know what that looks like?"

- - - -

"Even if you're right and you did it for me," Sarah said softly. "Why do you think I would give up Chuck, allow him to die just for a job?"

"You weren't supposed to fall in love with him," Beckman said with the hint of a smile. "Come on, Sarah. I don't have to tell you that."

Sarah just sat and stared blankly into space for a long moment. Finally she whispered, more to herself than Beckman.

"Two years ago, I would have walked away. I would have done it. I know I would. And two months later I wouldn't have felt a thing."

"Why do you think that spies are taught never to fall in love?" Beckman asked softly. "Why do you think that it's covered over and over in training? Why we don't ever let male and female partners stay together for over a year?"

Sarah just sat and stared.

"You should have told me," Beckman said.

"You would have taken me away," Sarah said quickly.

"That's right," Beckman replied just as quickly. "I would have. And we wouldn't be in this mess today. You should have told me, Sarah. It wouldn't have hurt so much."

"You don't understand," Sarah whispered while looking at the floor.

"I know," Beckman said with a smile. "The only one in the world who can truly understand what you're feeling is you. I'd be lying if I said that I did."

Sarah just nodded without lifting her head.

"But there is one thing that you don't understand," Beckman continued. "I know what it is to be in love."

"Yes, Sarah," Beckman said as she noticed the look of surprise. "Even I've been in love. His name was Jim and we went to the Academy together. Naturally, women being in the Air Force Academy were still pretty uncommon and fraternization of any kind was strictly forbidden. We would have both been immediately dismissed had we been discovered. So we could hardly ever get together. But when we did find the time, oh my goodness was it great. When we finally graduated I think we spent six straight weeks in bed. The night that he proposed was the happiest I've ever been in my life. We were going to be married when he got back from his first overseas tour."

"What happened?" Sarah asked as she lifted her head for the first time.

"He never made it back," Beckman said softly. "He was killed in the terrorist bombing of the Beirut Embassy."

"I'm sorry," Sarah said in shock.

"Don't be," Beckman said sadly as her eyes drifted off into space. There were no tears but she was obviously deep in thought. "I was lucky. I had just been accepted into the NSA training program."

"I don't understand," Sarah said.

"The NSA didn't allow you to be married," Beckman said. "So it was a good thing that I was able to throw myself into my work. It kept me sane. I was actually lucky in another way."

"I didn't have to break his heart."

- - - -

As soon as the plane touched down in Los Angeles, the pilot taxied to where Casey's car was waiting. All four quickly piled into the car and Casey drove to the hotel. As soon as they pulled up, Casey jumped out of the car.

"Ellie," Casey said cautiously. "I need you to promise me that you'll stay in the car. You're still in my custody. Chuck, you need to come with me."

"Do you want me to come and back you up?" Janice asked.

"Would you please stay here with Ellie?" Casey asked.

Janice quickly glanced at Chuck with the question obvious on her face.

"I'll be okay," Chuck said to reassure her. "We'll be back in a couple of minutes."

"Okay," Janice said with a sigh after thinking about it for a moment. "I'll be here if you need me. Good luck."

As Casey led Chuck in the hotel lobby, Casey couldn't help but take a shot.

"I sure hope that this Bartowski stays in the car better than you do."

"But maybe," Casey continued after seeing the wince on Chuck's face. "If you had Janice in the car to keep you company you might stay better. I sure as hell would."

Casey walked directly to the front desk and flashed his badge at the clerk.

"John Casey," he said firmly. "NSA. This is a national security situation. I need Dianne Beckman's room number."

"Do you have a warrant?" the clerk asked in a monotone without looking up.

"Yea," Casey growled. Quicker than Chuck could even react, Casey had his gun pointed between the clerk's eyes. "Here is my warrant. Any questions?"

"No, sir,"

When Chuck and Casey got in the elevator, Chuck turned to Casey.

"Since when did you name your gun warrant?" Chuck asked with a smirk. "It sounds sort of sentimental."

"I'll tell you what I named my shoe," Casey replied. "Right after it kicks your ass."

"Speaking of kicking, if we need to kick in the door," Chuck said with a grin. "Let me do it. I'm getting pretty good at it."

"Sure thing, sport," Casey said with a smirk. "It's just window sills that give you trouble."

As soon as Chuck and Casey got off the elevator, Casey held his fingers to his lips to tell Chuck to be quiet. As they walked up to Beckman's room they could hear her and Sarah talking.

- - - -

"It's not too late, you know?" Beckman said after taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "You can still have your dream job."

"How would that work?" Sarah replied skeptically.

"I'm willing to overlook the past week," Beckman said. "Let's just forget that it happened."

"But I'm married," Sarah said in an exasperated tone.

"Are you really?" Beckman said with a sly smile. "We couldn't find any record of any marriage when we were looking for you."

"We used cover names," Sarah said.

"There you go," Beckman said firmly. "It wasn't legal. You're not married."

"There is no way that I would ever allow Chuck to be killed," Sarah said firmly as she raised her gun again. "No way in hell."

"Relax, Sarah," Beckman said. "Nobody is talking about killing him. I canceled the termination order. We found out a way to overwrite the intersect. We're going to make him normal again. That's what he wants isn't it?"

"Why don't you take six weeks," Beckman continued, seeing the look on Sarah's face. "Go and lie in the sun. Recharge your batteries. Let Agent Larkin take good care of you. Bartowski will be okay. He'll get his life back."

"Why are you so intent on hooking me up with Bryce?" Sarah said after a moment. "I don't love him."

"That's good," Beckman said with a grin. "Because I wouldn't allow that. I'm not trying to hook you up, Sarah. You're a big girl. I'm just pointing out that a fling with Agent Larkin is the kind of thing that would be allowed."

Sarah didn't respond. She just started at Beckman.

"Just let him take care of you while he's debriefing you," Beckman said softly. "Agent Larkin has a reputation of knowing his way around the bedroom. You probably know that better than anybody. Then, after your head is back in the game, come back and take the position that you've worked your whole life for. The job that you've earned. The one you were meant to have, serving the greater good with me."

Back out in the hallway, Casey looked over at Chuck. He could see the tears streaming down Chuck's face as he listened to Beckman's full court press. Chuck began to walk away aimlessly in defeat when he felt Casey's hand grab his wrist.

"Listen to her answer," Casey whispered, "before you assume the worst, dumb ass."

Sarah's smile couldn't have been any bigger. Beckman had no doubt that she would accept.

"It's funny," Sarah said. "Two years ago I would have done anything for this chance. And I do mean anything. But right now, all I can see is Chuck's silly grin. And all I can think about is finding my husband and wrapping my arms around him. And seeing the look on his face when I tell him that we don't have to run anymore. So, I'm sorry. I have zero interest in your job."

"Sarah," Beckman interrupted. "Think about this."

"I am thinking about it," Sarah responded. "Why do you think I'm smiling? There is simply no decision to make. For the first time in my life I feel loved. Do you really think that I could give that up? I've been away from him for a little over a day and it feels more like a year. So I'm going to find Chuck and beg him to forgive me for making him wait so long. And then I'm going to thank him for saving me. I hope you don't take this the wrong way but he saved me from becoming you."

"Is that your final decision?" Beckman said disappointedly.

"It is," Sarah said firmly. "And, as long as we're having this chat, you should know something else. I'm pregnant. I'm going to go now and have his little girl. And then we're going to start working on a little brother for her."

"And, by the way," Sarah continued as she broke into a giggle. "Bryce may know his way around the bedroom. Lord knows, he's had plenty of practice. But the truth is Chuck is ten times better."

At that point Casey knocked on the door. "Are you okay in there?" he called.

Casey then used the key that the clerk had given him to open the door and dragged Chuck into the room.

"Ma'am," Casey said.

"Good news. I've found him."

- - - -

As soon as Sarah saw the shape that Chuck was in, her protective instincts kicked in immediately. Whether they were the protective instincts of an agent or those of a wife, even Sarah couldn't tell.

"Sweetie," she said quickly as she ran to him. "What's wrong? Are you all right?"

Chuck opened his mouth to speak but no words would come. So he just nodded his head.

"Damn it Casey," Sarah said angrily as she raised her gun. "What did you do to him? Is it Ellie? Where is she?"

"Relax," Casey said with a smile. "Ellie is fine. She and Janice are down waiting in the car. Chuck is just messed up because he heard the General talking about Larkin helping you recharge your batteries."

"Sweetie," Sarah whispered as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "I'm so happy to see you. You heard me tell her no, didn't you?"

Chuck just nodded and wrapped his arms around Sarah as tightly as he could.

"Then tell me what's wrong," Sarah said with the concern obvious in her voice. "Chuck, please talk to me. You're scaring me."

"You've told me that you love me lots of times," Chuck finally whispered. "And I've always wanted to believe you. I desperately wanted to believe you. But part of me never did. I mean Roan said it, right? How could a girl like you fall for a guy like me?"

"Sweetie, please," Sarah pleaded with her own tears quickly forming. "You have to know…"

"Please, just… let me finish," Chuck interrupted. "Deep down, my biggest fear was always that someday I'd wake up and you'd be gone. You would have realized that you missed your old life. But then I heard you tell her that you didn't want your dream job, the job you've worked for your whole life, to have our baby. And it hit me. I'm being stupid. You really truly do love me."

Sarah just squeezed Chuck as hard as she could.

"And I promise," Chuck continued as he tried unsuccessfully from keeping his voice from breaking, "that this is the last time for the rest of my life I'll ever ask you this. But are you sure?"

Instead of answering, Sarah smashed her mouth into Chuck's. And while Casey and Beckman being in the room might normally have dented the passion a little, tonight it made absolutely no difference. It was a movie night kiss of old. Sarah grabbed two handfuls of Chuck's hair as was her custom. And as their tongues danced the tension in both of their bodies slowly faded away.

Finally when the kiss broke, Sarah looked at Beckman who was quickly trying to wipe the smile off her face to maintain at least some illusion of decorum. Casey had turned away but Sarah knew that was only to try and respect their privacy. Sarah gently kissed Chuck again only for a second and then drew back to be able to look him in the eye. Neither made any attempt to wipe the tears from their eyes but Sarah could see the beginnings of a twinkle.

"Did that answer your question?" Sarah asked.

"I think so," Chuck said with the beginnings of a smile.

"Don't you dare tell me that you think so," Sarah said in mock anger.

"Yes," Chuck said as his smile turned into his classic grin. "It did. But I have one more question."

Sarah's eyes told him to continue.

"Really? Ten times better?"

- - - -