"Ah… so this is your....friend? I did not know you two were so... close…" Pax said standing up.

Sarah hooked her arm through Chuck's. "Neither does my wife..." Chuck said in knowing way, leaning in and laughing after.

Pax slightly laughed, understanding. "Well you are a very lucky man, Mr....?"

Chuck looked over at the bar and found Casey smirking....

"Just... Just call me Dimitrios…" Extending his hand. "And you are?"

"You may call me Pax," taking Chuck's hand and shaking it.

"And if you gentlemen will excuse me for a second…" Sarah said looking from one to the other, but touching Pax's upper arm. "I need to powder my nose," Sarah excused herself with a smile.

Both men watched as she sashayed away. Both men stealing a glance at her swaying... dress.

Casey, who had been pretending to be drying cups, scowled and flicked the towel towards Chuck's arm.

Chuck was startled, but recovered quickly from the distraction to ask, "So.. Uh... Uh what kind of business are you in?"

"I'm in ... Exporting" Pax replied looking briefly at Chuck and back again towards Sarah's path. "She is a fabulous woman..." Talking to no one in particular.

"Yeah she is" Chuck said under his breath but then continued a little more loudly, "I would hope so, for the price I'm paying!" Chuck said leaning forward on his toes and wiggling his eyebrows "IF… you know what I meaaaaan.... Huh??? Huh??? "

Casey rolled his eyes, which did not escape Chuck.

Pax looked to be in utter shock.... "Nooooooooo!" He whispered, leaning closer.

Chuck turned to Casey raising a finger. "Barkeep! Whiskey on the rocks and another one of whatever this gentleman is having."

"Yes sir" Casey said.

"Oh yes" Chuck said turning back to Pax. "She knows the... Uh... ART... The art of... SEDUCTION!... Expert at it. Studied abroad and everything..." Chuck said, starting to ramble on and become fidgety...

Casey gave Chuck a look. Chuck shrugged his shoulders starting to panic. But once Pax turned back to face him, he crossed his arm and started nodding, attempting to look composed.

"Ah... How interesting... Interesting indeed..." Pax whispered more to himself.

"Your drinks sir," Casey said placing two small glasses in front of them.

Chuck was about to reach for his glass when he stopped short as if remembering something. Chuck awkwardly reached in his pocket to pull out a hundred dollar bill. He slapped it on Casey's hand with a smile and started patting his cheek, "Get yourself something nice."

Casey turned around resisting the temptation to strangle Chuck.

Pax picked up his drink. He turned to Chuck and stared. Chuck felt beads of sweat start to form. Casey was slowly reaching behind his back for his gun...

"I like your style, Dimitrios" said Pax.

Casey stopped short and resumed drying glasses.

Chuck silently exhaled a sigh of relief. He picked up his cup in a mock salute, raising it up and slightly nodding, and took a sip.

-----------------------

Sarah, who had been watching the exchange, also exhaled. There's my cue. She sashayed back towards them, taking care to lavish Pax with coy looks.

"I hope you boys were playing nice," Sarah said standing off to their sides.

"If it is nice you like..." Pax said to Sarah.

Sarah batted her eyelashes… "I prefer naughty myself..." Sarah touched his upper arm and gave him a demure smile.

Pax absolutely beamed. "Tonight! We celebrate!... To new friends!" He toasted, raising his glass and finishing off his drink.

Chuck did the same and almost choked. Pax grabbed Sarah's hands oblivious to Chucks coughing and chest pounding. "Till this evening, you vixen." And with that he walked off, raising a finger, beckoning for his minions.

"Wait... Where?" Chuck half-heartedly called out

"Good job Bartowski. I knew you couldn't possibly be a complete idiot," Casey said patting Chuck's chest. "Actually, we may have even found someone who's more of a sucker than you," smiling at Chuck and then walking off. But then he turned back around and called out to Sarah, "I have to admit Walker... you're good."

Chuck stiffened, and Sarah looked away.

---------------------------------

Sarah was at the work space looking up all known contacts of Pax's on the CIA database. Though she was preoccupied with her current task, she was very aware of Chuck's presence in the room. He had been quiet on the way back to the suite. He wasn't rude, holding the elevator and doors open and letting her walk in first. Stepping out first then waiting for her to go forth. Even holding out his arm for hers. That last part, she didn't know whether or not it was for cover.

But he didn't speak. He even avoided eye contact. Sarah had seen that same set of his jaw before, so she knew something was bothering him. But instead of opening up when she had asked him if anything was wrong, like he normally would, he had replied curtly "nothing." and that was the end of that.

Sarah followed Chuck out of the corner of her eyes as he made his way to the couch. He had taken off his shoes and was walking around with his socks. Gone was the jacket, and the first three buttons, exposing a black shirt underneath. He had also rolled up the sleeves of the collared shirt and pushed them up to his elbows. The result was relaxed yet poised.

Sarah found the sight visually appealing, him on the couch, reading files, like a spy on a mission. What she didn't like, however, was his emotional distance. Like a spy… On a mission.

Can't have it all in this line of work.

Sarah heard him exhale and get up to approach the bar. He took a drink out of the mini-fridge in the room and poured it into a cup. It's not that Sarah didn't know what exactly was bothering Chuck. Chuck was a genuine guy, and she knews that it was probably really hard for him to have to lie to everyone. To his friends and his family especially. She also knew that Chuck had strong feelings for her, and this whole 'cover', here and back home, was not easy for him. If he only knew how hard she had to struggle with it too.

Sarah continued to try to read his body language, but this was a Chuck she was not used to seeing. Or a Chuck she was comfortable seeing. And she couldn't help but feel responsible for this transition. Chuck continued to stand there with his drink in hand, lost in his own thoughts.

"Something's bothering you," Sarah said matter of factly. Chuck, who was jarred out of his head, quickly looked over at Sarah then looked away. "Nothing's bothering me," he said making his way back to the couch, glass in hand.

"You've been sullen since we got back. Walking around pretending I'm not here," she said losing her temper. She was hurt by his actions, but it's easier to be angry than admit to the hurt, "And frankly… it's a little immature."

This definitely hit a nerve, "Immature?... I'm immature?! What about you?... Miss… miss hands on.... Miss 'I like it naughty?'" Chuck said exaggerating the last part with a wave of his head and hands in the air.

"It's part of my cover, Chuck," Sarah bit back

"Well you sure do a damn good job playing the part..." Chuck said with an edge of sarcasm.

The last statement hit like a brick. Sarah stood up and planted a hand on her hip "I'm just being professional... It's my jo..."

Sarah didn't get to finish because Chuck chimed in "'Doing your job...' I know... It's all about the job with you people!..." Chuck said also standing up "You, Casey, Bryce... He's an asset, he's a job, he's the Intersect. What about Chuck? His name is Chuck and he's a person Sarah. I'm a person..." Pointing at his chest. "You kiss me then say it's for cover. Then you say being with me never felt like work. But everything WE are IS for work... IS for cover... and now I just don't know which part of 'US' I can believe…"

Sarah was left speechless. Chuck saw this and exhaled, now speaking in a calmer voice, "I know what you do is for the greater good. I get that. But after seeing you with Pax..." he trailed off, "...I just don't want to be made a fool of... I don't want to feel like an idiot... and I don't want to get hurt." And with that he walked off into the bedroom.