A/N: Hi there. It's me. This chapter took a while to prepare, mostly because I had a lot of other commitments, but I got it out and this means we're one chapter closer to the end. So yay.

Thank you to ALL the reviewers, favoriters and alerters for making this story much more fun to write. Without you, this story wouldn't have been possible. Well, it would've been possible, but you guys make it a lot more fun to actually commit to the project. So hooray to you! Also, a lot of thanks to all the well-wishers, both for my health and the Awesome Awards. The voting's closed now, but to anyone that's voted for me, a thousand times 'Thank you!'

This chapter was beta-ed (beta'd?) by the wonderful ShinyJayne20 and she made sure that the poor sentence structure and silly choices that were rather prevalent throughout this chapter got ironed out. If you think to yourself: "Hey, the sentences flow pretty well" that's all her. This is a fact.

Disclaimer: Didn't own Chuck. Still don't now. Conflicted about whether I would make a movie if I did own it.

The Good Samaritan, Chapter 9
The Pining, part II

Recovery room, Washington Hospital Center
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2004
12:00

Chuck was happily munching away on a sandwich, when a pensive frown came over his face. Sarah, who had been reading a magazine—she was amazed at how ridiculously interesting celebrities' lives truly were—noticed from the corner of her eye, causing her to look over.

Ellie, who had some kind of radar built in that was fine-tuned to Chuck's emotional status, dropped her own magazine. Morgan kept drinking his grape juice, but Sarah wasn't surprised about that. Nothing could deter that man from his juice. And Devon, well, he was too busy working out in the gym to worry with something as trivial as lunch. Or, as he had told them, he'd 'end up fixing himself an awesome shake anyway.'

So, two sets of eyes curiously regarded the frown that passed over Chuck. Truth be told, he looked a bit constipated, not that she'd tell him that, ever. But still.

Sarah finally broke the silence. "Chuck, what's wrong?"

His frown deepened. "I haven't said I was sorry to you yet."

"Sure you have," she replied. "You've apologized like, twice yesterday."

"Right, but not today."

Oh you've got to be kidding me. "Chuck, that's really sweet, but not at all necessary."

"Of course it is. I acted like a jerk and I think you deserve enough apologies from me alone to last you lifetime. Or of course, until the time comes when you hit me over the head to make me stop…whichever comes first." He stopped rambling to find Sarah looking at him with a bemused expression. "So, here it is: Sarah Walker, I am so very, very sorry for acting like a jackass."

Smiling, she nodded. "For the millionth time, Apology accepted Chuck... seriously this is the last time I'm going to say that. Or else I will hit you."

Satisfied with her response, Chuck's brooding demeanor shifted to ease; munching on his sandwich happily. Even though she jokingly threatened him to quit it, she secretly knew that this wouldn't be the last time she'd hear him apologize. It was eye roll worthy, but kind of sweet in a twisted sort of way she supposed.

It was nice to be acknowledged, finding that there were some people left in this world that cared enough to apologize. Even if she had forgiven him for behaving like a total jerk… well sort of. It was semantics anyways. She accepted his plethora of apologizes, and was fine enough to resume her daily activities. Said activities centered mostly around him—listening, talking, laughing with him—and that in itself was a really sad testament to her own life. She missed all of those things after Chuck had told her off subsequent to taking that awful break away from each other.

Apparently that wasn't enough for him. Sarah couldn't just accept that sometimes guys acted like morons and move on. No, Chuck wanted her to completely and utterly forgive him. She'd do it soon, but not today.

Sarah blew the wisps of hair that gone rogue, out of her face and continued to read, the ghost of a smile on her lips.

Physical therapy room, Washington Hospital Center
Wednesday, December 29th, 2004
14:58

"Alright Chuck, that's more than enough. You're doing amazing," the therapist called. Her name was Linda, as Sarah found out during the afternoon session, and apparently they were now on first name terms too.

The older woman looked towards Sarah and the passion and enthusiasm for Chuck's progress seemed almost real... Hell, it was. She gave a tight-lipped smile in return, governed by her excitement as well. This was it. The end was coming, and fast. His movement had returned pretty much all the way and that would mean that soon... soon it'd be over. She swallowed.

"Well done, Chuck," Sarah congratulated him. He seemed pleased with himself, if that grin of his was any indication. "You've made amazing progress!" Okay, so maybe that was a small lie. His progress had been average at best, but he didn't have to know that.

"Thanks. I actually feel pretty great."

"Would you like trying to wash up by yourself this time?" the PT asked.

Chuck blushed, which caused Sarah to stifle a chuckle. She figured he'd be over the whole being bashful thing. If she was honest, he wasn't even that bad in the physique department. There was always room for improvement, and that could be easily rectified with some training courtesy of her…

Oh shit.

What was wrong with her? That was a horrible thought to consider, especially at this particular juncture, or hell, ever. Because as much as her heart tried to rebel and stage a coup against her brain, she knew there wouldn't be a quick, clean resolution. No, her logical half told her that it was impossible for her and Chuck to be anything more than they were. They were from two different worlds, worlds that weren't supposed to collide. The fallout that'd result from their cataclysm would be unfathomable. Spies and nerds didn't mix, unless the latter was an analyst. And even then, they were supposed to be physically apart, communicating via tactical headsets, ear-buds and other assorted spy gadgetry.

That's why Sarah found herself hoping that Chuck wouldn't try to make a move. She couldn't stand the thought of breaking his heart. It'd crush him. But maybe, maybe she'd been misreading the signs. There was a chance that Chuck wasn't even into her at all.

Unknowingly she held in her breath, and glanced over her shoulder to find Chuck staring back with a look full of adoration.

Damn.

With a smile, he disappeared into the bathroom stalls and Sarah was left in an amicable silence. Linda remained in the room alongside her, looking proud of Chuck's accomplishments. The two of them had bonded over Chuck, it seemed.

"It's nice to see such a devoted girlfriend," Linda piped up suddenly. "You don't see much of those anymore."

Sarah inwardly grimaced. She just had to ruin the silence.

"Thanks," she said, adding. "But he's not my boyfriend."

This caused the woman's eyebrows to rise. "Oh, well you two look nothing alike. I don't remember Chuck saying he had another sister."

"I'm not his sister either."

"Cousin?" asked the PT.

"Nope."

"So then, what exactly are you?"

"Um... he calls me his guardian angel," she admitted with a shrug and a small blush. Throwing that term around willy-nilly still felt odd.

"Oh," she said, her eyes widening. Realization dawned in her eyes. "So you're the one that the staff's been talking about."

"They've been talking about me?"

"Oh, don't worry," Linda smiled. "It's just, a woman like you and a guy like him that hang around each other like that, people start talking."

"Oh, well, sorry to disappoint, but there's nothing going on."

Linda shrugged. "That's a shame. You'd be a cute couple. Why exactly aren't you a couple by the way? I mean, if those looks he's been giving you are any indication, I'd say that he wouldn't at all be opposed to the idea."

"It's... complicated," explained Sarah lamely. "I guess would be the best way to describe it."

"Let me guess, you're a high priced call-girl and he's the client that's madly in love with you?"

"Excuse me?" she asked confusedly.

"Oh, no, wait, I've got it." The therapist snapped her fingers. "You're the heiress to an empire and he's the lonely servant from the lower class."

"Are you alright?"

"Oh, no, no, you're a secret agent and he's a computer repairman, caught in a web of lies and secrets through no fault of his own and you end up falling for each other despite the trials and tribulations of past lovers, nasty secrets and horrible misgivings that are thrown in your path!"

Sarah blinked. That was awfully specific. And not that far from the truth either. Well, the first part anyway. She squinted her eyes. "You wouldn't happen to be interested in my copy of the National Enquirer, would you?"

"Been a subscriber for the past ten years," she stated with pride in her voice.

"Of course you are," Sarah sighed. "By the way, would you say that Chuck is fully healed now?"

Linda shrugged. "He can walk again, so as far as I'm concerned, he is. He'll probably want to use a cane or a walker for a while though. Just until his muscle mass is fully adjusted to long bouts of movement."

"So, I could say, take him to see the sights tomorrow, right?"

"I don't know," she replied honestly. "That's not up to me. But between you and me, I'm sure you can."

Sarah nodded her thanks and started tapping her foot. The urge to burst into the washroom and check up on how Chuck was doing became overwhelming. Several short moments later, and he returned. He looked a lot better than before. His face was still flushed from exertion, but it wasn't as red as it was a few minutes ago.

"Ready to go?" asked Sarah, smiling.

"Sure," he replied and they walked out of the room, Chuck's infectious smile playing on both their lips.

Sarah couldn't help but feel a pit of ice forming in her stomach though. The words of the physical therapist replayed in her mind. 'He wouldn't at all be opposed to the idea.' She gave him a sidelong glance, noting how much healthier he had appeared. Healthier than she'd ever seen him considering they initially met when he was at death's door. Now she found herself wishing to be strong enough to walk away from him, before he could get a word in.

The longer they walked, the longer she grew to hate herself. She was setting up both her and Chuck for heartbreak and she wasn't doing a single thing to stop it.

She sighed.

This really sucked.

Recovery room, Washington Hospital Center
Wednesday, December 30th, 2004
21:45

"That was awesome, Sarah!" Devon's voice boomed excitedly as they walked inside, still laughing at the frankly ridiculous day they had spend touring the sights of Washington D.C.

Sarah had toured the Capital more times than she could count; one of the pitfalls of being a Secret Service agent for a year she supposed, but the Bartowski family plus companions had a way of making it seem appealing and refreshing. The almost perpetual look of wonder on Chuck's face, reminiscent of a child in a candy store, didn't hurt either. And she got to observe him in his natural nerdy habitat, which made him sound more like a zoo attraction than an actual human being, but it still fit.

She was suddenly immersed in his life; listening to him have inane conversations with Morgan, have man-to -man talks with Devon, and have that good ole sibling rivalry with Ellie, although that was played for giggles more often than not.

And the best part of it all was that they included her.

She had been integrated into the family like she'd been part of it the entire time. Her, a spy through and through, a supposed ghost with no real ties. With the ability to become anyone, do anything, she was thoroughly content with just being herself at DC, among this crazy mixture of personalities.

The tour moved along seamlessly. The feeling of belonging and genuine comfortableness hung with her, as she'd guide the group through the city. She knew everything—having memorized the speech given from previous tour guides—and regurgitated all of the historical facts for each building and monument they passed. Overall, it was a fun day

The only fault she could find was Chuck having to rely on a walker. But after the mandatory quip about her fake surname (which she saw coming from a mile away), his face lit up into that of his trademark megawatt grin, and that was that.

Chuck nodded furiously, concurring with Captain Awesome. "This was much better than if I had to go by myself. I probably would've gotten lost," he joked lightly. "Thanks for being here with us, Sarah."

Sarah nodded. "You're welcome Chuck."

She knew full well by his tone of how sincere he was, and it wasn't just because of the free tour of Washington DC.

The night dragged on and as the loving couple and Morgan said their respective goodbyes, an ominous feeling crept up on Sarah. It was a strange foreign sensation, like she wouldn't ever attain a sliver of the same happiness she'd felt today. So chilling that it'd make it impossible to close her eyes and fall asleep. That feeling caused her to commit his face to memory, as if scared she'd never see it again.

A weird, inexplicable sense… no, a premonition.

Recovery room, Washington Hospital Center
Friday, December 31st, 2004
08:30

Doctor Spencer walked in with a giant smile on his face. "Good news, Mr. Bartowski. You will be allowed to go home tomorrow. We have your discharge papers right here." He waved the manila folder in front of Chuck, who resembled a boy on Christmas morning. Sarah felt her gut tighten habitually.

This was really it.

This was what it all came down to, wasn't it? He was going to go home and she was going to stay.

Sarah shut her eyes, as though the world suddenly stopped spinning. The doctor seemed to be walking in slow motion, as each step brought him closer to the end. As a last ditch effort to save her from further distress, her brain assured her that this was going to be alright. She'd been worked up over nothing, and Chuck appreciated her as a friend. Just friends. Not potential lovers.

Toying with this idea both elated and infuriated her at the same time. Lord knew she had given thought to it, even if she had refused to give it a name. The world seemingly resumed its normal pace and she focused her attention on Chuck, deciphering his facial features. She couldn't afford misreading him, not now. If there was any way they would get out of this without heartbreak, she'd take it in a heartbeat.

He cried, "Gimme!" before shooting Sarah a look of happiness, and she didn't have to be a master of reading faces to recognize the second emotion: hope. She knew what he was hoping for. She also knew that it was the one thing in this world that she couldn't give him either.

Her shoulders sagged in defeat. "Oh no…" she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just like that, Sarah's own bubble of happiness popped.

A/N 2: If you want to kill me, either wait on the chapter after the next one or make it fast! Thanks in advance :P

Please review (this if you want to threaten my life or inform me of a chapter well done). Hate mail is appreciated, although not recommended. Human conditioning and all that!