Title: Chuck vs. Life
Author: mary_br
Characters: mainly Chuck/Sarah (but the regulars are there – Casey, Ellie, Morgan, Awesome, etc.)
Chapters: 17/17
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters portrayed in this fic. I'm gaining nothing with this, except the sheer joy of being Chuck/Sarah's puppet master.
Summary: First of all I suck at summaries, so regard this fact as you read this. The fic fits right after the last episode aired (1x11), and it basically picks up after those events. It's nothing more than Chuck and co. moving on with their lives, and especially centering on how Chuck and Sarah will deal with their mutual feelings. I know, this summary blows… Just read the first chapter, and you'll get a sense of what is actually about.
A/N: Hey, everyone! Thanks for the last chapter's reviews. You're all very lovely. Ok, let's cut to the chase, shall we? This fic simply doesn't want to end! It's the freaking never-ending story! *lol* The epilogue was getting so big that I had to split it in two, otherwise you guys would have to wait even more for an update.
I hope you enjoy this massive part I, and next time we meet will be the last for real :)
Epilogue (Part I):
FLASHES OF LIFE*
(*pun intended)
1 Year Later (give or take)
Chuck lay in bed under this fluffy, cozy, white comforter. He watched Sarah, who stood by the bed putting her hair up in a ponytail. The big flat-screen plasma tv was on the news channel, 'though neither one of the two were tuned to it.
"Are you seriously going to your place? Now?" Chuck asked in surprise, emphasizing the last sentence.
"Yes, I need some clothes. Plus, I forgot I have to feed Goldie. It's been days," Sarah replied, getting out of her pjs pants and heading towards the wardrobe.
"You have plenty of clothes here, and please, that fish went through longer periods of time without being fed and it survived just fine. It's got more lives than a cat. Oh, and by the way, 'Goldie' for a goldfish?" he rhetorically teased in a joke tone, flashing his girlfriend a smirk from the bed.
Sarah, who grabbed a pair of jeans from the wardrobe, turned around to face him.
"Right… says the guy who named his brown dog 'Yeller'," the blonde retorted with a playful smile on her lips while putting on the jeans. She shifted her look from Chuck to the flat-coated retriever lying on the hardwood floor by the bottom foot of the bed.
When Yeller heard the mention of his name, he immediately got up and went to Sarah. The almost one year old dog enthusiastically began to wag his tail seeking the woman's attention. She briefly looked down at him and wondered if pets really start to resemble their owners after a while. 'Cause there it was in front of her: Yeller with his abundant, soft, and dark brown fur. Looking at her with those big, warm, smart, and light brown eyes. The similarities to Chuck were uncanny. So, Sarah just couldn't resist the little fellow – who was not so little anymore. She patted him with an endearing smile on her face.
"Hey! It happens to be a classic name. And a quirky one at that too given his color and all, which works for me," Chuck protested in a faux hurt tone, but unable to contain the little smile that graced his lips.
"But that's not the point; the point is that it's past 10, pitch black, and freezing outside. Look at that wardrobe, there are many clothes for you to wear. Come on, inside good, outside bad. Get back to bed," the man added with a pleading expression on his face.
"Yes, I have a few clothes, but they all have been worn many times in the last few days. Tomorrow is Monday and I have to look at least a little presentable for work," the woman replied, taking a seat on a sophisticated armchair to put her tennis shoes on. Yeller followed, obviously.
"I believe the clothing store will agree with me that you always look presentable, no matter what you're wearing," Chuck delivered honestly, turning on his side and supporting his head with his hand to watch her better.
Sarah, who had just finished tying her shoes, looked up at Chuck and smiled at him.
"Thank you," Sarah said, moving towards the dark oak, modern-lined nightstand to grab her watch, which lay beside a silver picture frame that displayed a candid photo of her and Chuck sitting on the sand at the beach, cheering with their ice cream cones. Sarah had a big smile on her face and Chuck had a what-the-hell on his, as a cute puppy Yeller licked his cone.
"But I…" she started to add, but was cut by Chuck.
"Move in with me," he stated softly and yet determinedly, sitting up straight and leaning on the black, soft and big headboard.
"What?" she asked in surprise, having to take a seat on the bed with her watch in hand.
"Move in with me," Chuck repeated verbatim with a smile on his face, glaring straight into her eyes.
"Where did this come from?" Sarah asked after a beat, half-closing her eyes and flashing him also a half-smile.
"Not from just right now, I mean, things won't change so much. You already spend most of your time here, the few clothes you have here already take almost half of my closet and I love that, by the way," the guy started to say picking up momentum, and making sure to smile a little wider at the end as he sensed to be treading in deep water.
"Your toothbrush hangs beside mine in the bathroom, I always make sure to have 1% milk in the fridge because you like it, this pillow here constantly smells like you, and when you're not lying beside me I always find myself reaching out for you at night. Besides, Yeller there misses you terribly when you're not here…" Chuck blurted out softly and steadily, placing his right hand over her pillow.
Yeller heard his name once again and energetically lifted himself up from the floor to go meet Chuck at the other side of the bed. He was pretty schooled by now to not jump on the bed.
"And it's not only him," he added in a charming tone after a small moment of silence, while patting the dog's head with his left hand.
Sarah smiled a bit wider at him.
"I love when you arrive, I literally feel happier the days you spend here with me, and I hate every single time I see you leave. Too straight forward?" Chuck finished his monologue flashing the blonde his megawatt smile and feeling quite uplifted.
"Wow, you really did think this through, huh?" the blonde replied midst a tight lip smile, looking down briefly in a small surge of shyness.
"Yes, I did. And I want you to do the same, there's no rush. The last thing I want is for you to feel pressured," Chuck honestly delivered with a genuine smile.
"I'm not… just so you know," Sarah replied. A playful smile punctuated her sentence.
One thing was sure, the couple learned a great deal about open dialogue in the last year. Not that there weren't many stumbles and falls along the road, of course.
"Good, good," the man stated in a soft tone, displaying a peculiar smile since it was his turn to be attacked by a small surge of shyness. While he watched Sarah finally manage to put on her watch.
"Still, it's a pretty big thing, so I'll have to sleep on this. Lunch together tomorrow at noon?" the blonde asked while standing up.
"Sure, I'll swing by the store," he answered simply.
Sarah kneeled on the bed, and supported by both hands on the mattress, leaned in to kiss Chuck goodbye. Then she stood up again to leave.
"Thanks for the offer," she stated midst a radiant smile, one that was reserved for special moments only, Chuck noted. His Sarah's smiles catalogue was pretty extensive now, he was an expert at that point.
Chuck didn't say anything, he just matched her smile. When she turned around and reached the door his voice calling out her name made Sarah turn back around. Her eyes met Chuck kneeled on the bed, holding up his blue t-shirt just enough to expose his gunshot wound scar.
"I just thought you should take a quick look at my scar, you know, in the past you always seemed more emotional and empathetic towards me at the sight of this baby here. I figured it would only help the move-in-with-me case," Chuck delivered in a mixture of puppy eyes and playful smirk.
"Goodnight, Chuck," Sarah managed to reply, shaking her head but unable to muffle a smile.
Sarah went down the spiral staircase that connected the first and second floor of Chuck's condo with the silly smile still on her face. She crossed his whole studio-like condo, grabbed her coat in the foyer's closet, and made it by lift to her Porsche in the parking lot level with the foolish thing still plastered on her face. Chuck made her happy. She was happier than ever before in her life. What was there to think about? It was a no brainer. A couple of weeks later she would be all moved in.
Approximately 2 months later
"…And this is your mission today: acquire said flash drive," General Beckman said through the high definition flat screen. Part of the spy paraphernalia that, back in the day, used to be in the Orange Orange basement and now was located in the basement of Dash – Chuck's small computer company, which functioned in a 3 storey Georgian town house. 4 if you count the basement.
It worked out well since Sarah and Casey got jobs at the big department store across the street. Sarah as a saleswoman in the clothing department, and Casey as – gasp – one of those employees who walk around the cosmetics department offering a free spray of some random fragrance. Usually wearing an outfit matching the name of the fragrance, much to his dismay. Months ago, when the fragrance was one by a famous rapper, he was obligated to wear super baggy jeans, white wife-beater, backwards baseball cap, and lots of chains around his neck… Chuck and Sarah made that month a miserable one for poor ol' Casey, especially Chuck. Sarah was glad that for once she wasn't the one stuck in a silly outfit. All in the name of his country, the NSA agent often reminded himself.
"It goes without saying that, due to Morton's background as a special ops operative, he's to be considered armed and extremely dangerous," she added sternly, before severing the live connection feed.
"I guess it is play-time," Casey announced jollier than usual wearing a tux – James Bond related fragrance -- while getting up from the table.
Sarah and Chuck, looking casually attired next to Casey, did the same.
A couple of hours later Casey dropped the couple back at Dash. Chuck's car, a silver BMW X6, was there. At the time Chuck closed the deal with Pierce and was out to find himself a car, he wanted a yellow VW bus like the one in Little Miss Sunshine, Morgan wanted him to get a powder baby-blue Lamborghini like Rod Stewart's; after much debate he wound up with the X6, a middle ground both were happy with.
The NSA agent had one more drop to make: Morton, who was all tied in the back of the van. Traitors of the country were especially irksome to Casey. Despite the apparent success of the mission, you could sense the tension in the air of the van from miles away. Something had happened.
The ride back home went by in complete, utter silence. Every once in a while Chuck caught Sarah stealing glances at him. Even 'though the blonde noticed all the times she was caught by her boyfriend, she didn't say a word. Neither did him.
Chuck parked his car next to her Porsche. Since they started living together they went to work in one car only, at times she took the Porsche and gave him a ride, and at times – like this one – he took the X6 and gave her a ride. It was very unusual for them to go separately, since they had similar hours.
The whole way up in the lift was quiet as well. Chuck got tempted to say something, but every time he tried to catch her gaze in attempt to find some receptivity he found none. So, he dismissed said temptation. He had tried already in the van to talk things over, and she clearly was in no mood for it. He wasn't about to be the grander person by keep hitting a dead horse. If she wanted to say something, she would have to come right up and say it.
Chuck and Sarah got out in their floor, and walked to their door. She started to open her purse to get the keys, but he shoved his hand in his pocket and retrieved his first. Then, with a tight-lipped smug in his face, he dangled the item in the air to show her. He considered saying "I got it", but resolved to the dangling move instead. He would be damned if he was the one to speak up first. She mustered up a matching smug, and in the condo they were.
Sarah went straight ahead the wall-less condo, leaving the foyer behind, and passing the living room, the dining room, and finally reaching the kitchen. Where she dropped her purse on top of the island's black granite top. Chuck watched the woman from the foyer as he played a bit with Yeller that rushed instantly to greet him. Then, after throwing his keys into a rustic key bowl, which stood on top of a neat looking sideboard at the foyer, Chuck also made his way to the kitchen.
Sarah, who was drinking a glass of orange juice sitting at the glass dining room table, which was located right in front on the kitchen's island, watched attentively Chuck pouring himself a glass on the other side of the island.
He noticed her eyes boring holes in him, so he looked up to meet them directly.
"What?" Chuck asked straight-forwardly, unable to hold his peace any longer.
"Nothing," Sarah stubbornly replied averting her eyes from him, and all of the sudden seeming very interested in the yellow content in her glass.
"No, come on, say it," the man demanded, while putting down a half-empty glass of juice.
"Ok, you shouldn't have gone after me in the mission. It was stupid, it was foolish, unprofessional and, most importantly, it was dangerous! What were you thinking?!" the blonde woman spat in high speed, also putting her almost empty glass down.
Their eyes were locked in a deadly serious stare. Chuck felt the need to come from behind the kitchen island to defend himself.
"I don't know, perhaps I was thinking that you had already snagged the flash drive, so why were you going into that elevator with Morton? Unarmed, by the way. Something must have been wrong. Then I got the confirmation when your ear comm. went down," Chuck spat in the same manner as her previous statement, talking profusely with his hands.
"What was I supposed…" he tried to add the question, but was interrupted by Sarah. At that point he was already standing across the table from where she was sitting at.
"You were supposed to stick to the plan, and follow what Casey…" she stood up quickly while attempting to reply, but then was her turn to get cut.
"The plan? To heck with the plan! And that was a rhetorical question, just so you know. I was supposed to do exactly what I did. You needed help. I was in the position to do so. Why not do it? This one was rhetorical too, by the way," Chuck said, unable to contain the sarcasm.
"Do you have any idea what guys like Morton are capable of? No, this is not a rhetorical question. He could have killed you. And me. That if we were lucky," Sarah shot back with a dose of sarcasm of her own.
"You make it sound like I went one-on-one against him, when I just beat you two to his suite and slipped you a gun. Ok, maybe it was stupid, maybe it was foolish and unprofessional. It certainly was dangerous, but if it happens again tomorrow, and the day after, I'll do the exact same thing," the brown-eyed guy stated louder, while Yeller watched the argument attentively.
Sarah's face expression reacted a bit to his words.
"You guys keep lecturing me about professionalism, but I guess a little bit of heart can do no harm, you know? After all I'm still here, and so are you. So is Casey, who is probably listening to this right now. I bet he appreciates the fact that you broke protocol and went after him 6 months ago in that NY mission. Spy or not, we have feelings, we are bound to bond; and not recognizing this can be for the worst. I won't do it. We three are alive and kicking; I like the odds of my current bet. Now, if you excuse me, I'll go take a long hot shower," Chuck added much lower and softer, before he made his way upstairs to his bedroom's bathroom.
Sarah watched him go, and what he had said really got her thinking. Could she really blame him? If the situation was reversed she would have done the same. The difference is that she's actually trained for that, it's her job, what she is meant to do. The truth was that she was scared. Scared by the fact that Chuck could have gotten hurt. Hurt while trying to help her out. She could never live with herself if something like that happened. But the reality of things was that this was their reality. They had to face life and death situations on a daily basis, and if this thing she had with Chuck was meant to last, she would have to deal with those issues. For better or for worse. The real question was: could she?
Casey lived in an apartment building across from Chuck's. When the nerd moved out of his sister's, Casey had to follow to protect the Intersect -- Sarah hadn't moved in yet. However, the NSA's budget for the Major didn't quite make it for a luxurious condo, hence the building across the street. Anyway, Casey sure was listening to the couple's argument and Chuck's speech also sent him into some thinking. The nerd was right; Walker did save his ass back in NY. Not that he would ever admit that. But he owned CIA one, for sure. He already had struggled in the past with direct orders from upstairs regarding his team mates. Casey squashed that train of thought. He wasn't one to delve, matters like these were better to just leave them be.
Chuck was taking his hot shower. The bathroom filled with steam, an unbelievably great scent, and his head filled with thoughts about his and Sarah's previous debate. He closed his eyes, looked up and let the massive amount of hot water fall onto his face, and soak his abundant hair. Suddenly he heard the shower box's door slide open, and was pleasantly surprised by none other than Sarah.
"You might have a point," the blonde woman said softly in his ear, while wrapping her arms around his torso from behind him.
Chuck wiped the water from his face with his right hand, then tenderly placed both hands on top of hers, and ultimately turned around to face her.
"Do…" Chuck started to say with a smile on his face, but was interrupted by a kiss from Sarah. She started it slowly but then she deepened it, and Chuck was more than willing to help pick up the pace.
After an intense make-out session they separated in desperate need for air.
"Wow! I should have a point more often," he told her midst his trademark megawatt smile, to which she smiled back at him.
They began kissing again, which led to another thing, which led to another thing…
One month later
Sarah walked out of the lift. She looked really good and hip in a well-fitted brown leather jacket with a pristine white shirt underneath, paired with dark skinny jeans tucked into a pair of long, high-heeled, brown suede boots. As she glided towards Chuck's office at Dash, her wavy blonde locks bounced quite alluringly. Her look was nicely finished with a marvelous big gold handbag, a tasteful exotic necklace, and natural make-up that somehow made her eyes seem bluer than ever.
"Hey, Lauren! Is he in his office?" Sarah asked the 30-something woman behind the desk with a polite smile on her face.
"Hi, Sarah! No, I'm afraid he's still in the conference room with the staff," Chuck's brunette secretary replied with a matching polite smile gracing her features.
"But he must be wrapping up the meeting by now," she added looking at the time on the bottom right of her computer screen.
"Do you want to wait in his office?" Lauren thoughtfully asked looking up at Sarah again.
"No, it's fine. I'll just wait outside the conference room. Thanks, Lauren," the blonde woman replied, midst a wide smile, before making her way there.
Sarah crossed the spacious, wall-less, lengthy floor; filled with work stations, desks and computers. At those hours there was no one circulating anymore. The high-ceiled room was empty. After some walking Sarah finally reached the outside of the all glass-walled conference room.
She didn't want to disturb Chuck. Chuck who looked mighty fine in a khaki linen suit paired with a light lavender dress shirt. Jacket off. She just stood there watching as he talked about something – she couldn't hear anything – gesticulating a lot, pointing at the big screen, hearing what someone sitting at the big table was saying… He looked excited and happy. She couldn't even describe how happy it made her seeing him this enthusiastic about his job.
After a little while Chuck saw her from the inside; so, she discretely waved at him with a bright smile on her face. He waved back in the same manner, and the eyes of the people inside the room quickly made their way towards her.
"As I was saying, I think we finally reached a decision here, people. This will be really good, I can already see it. Tomorrow bring in the layout for me to see first thing, ok Gary?" Chuck said enthusiastically, unable to wipe the smile Sarah brought to his lips.
"Will do," the guy in his late twenties succinctly replied.
"Alright, thanks so much for staying in late today, guys! This will not be forgotten when the time comes for me to write your Xmas bonus checks," Chuck stated midst a laugh, while grabbing some papers from the table.
Everyone laughed as well.
"Ok, see you all tomorrow morning," Chuck added as he left the conference room.
"If that isn't inspiration enough to succeed in life… I don't know what is," Will noted to Gary while looking at Sarah greeting Chuck with a peck on the lips outside the room, to which Gary shook his head from side to side.
"They started dating before he even founded Dash… pig!" Rachael forcefully admonished her co-worker before getting up from the table.
"Sorry, it took longer than I thought," Chuck apologetically said before giving Sarah a quick peck on the lips.
"Are we late?" he added looking at his watch, as they started walking back towards his office arm in arm.
"No, it's ok. We have time. Are you ready to go?" Sarah asked looking to her side at him, as they walked.
"Yeah, just have to quickly drop this off and grab my jacket in the office. Did you remember to bring their present?" Chuck said, also looking to his side at her.
"Yes, it's in the car. Do you have the tickets?" the blonde asked, as they reached his office.
"Yep. Lauren, what are you still doing here? I said you could go home," Chuck said softly, shifting his focus from Sarah to his secretary.
"I know, I know… I had some things to finish up, but I'm heading out now. Mr. Shapiro from HR called and asked you to call him tomorrow, Morgan also called looking for you; it's all written down on the notes I left on your desk. Oh, and the Cat Power tickets are in your top drawer," Lauren informed her boss after standing up with her purse and coat in hand.
"I also confirmed your dinner reservation. I guess that's it… You two have a lovely evening, and make sure to wish your sister and brother-in-law a happy belated anniversary on my behalf, Chuck. Bye," she politely added, and head out after Chuck and Sarah said their goodbyes to her.
Sarah, Chuck, Ellie and Awesome attended an amazing and intimate Cat Power concert that Thursday night. Since she started dating Chuck for real, Sarah wasn't as music clueless as before. Well, among Chuck's favorite artists she had her own favorites, and Chan was definitely one of them. So was to the married couple, hence their attendance to her gig. In fact, little else pleased Chuck more than to share with Sarah things he considered essential in life: music and movies. He secretly enjoyed watching her watch his favorite flicks, every reaction of hers to a pivotal scene made him happier than kid watching candy at the candy store. Every song he presented her and could see in her eyes the process of falling in love with it made him love her even more. Chuck truly treasured those moments, and even 'though he thought she was oblivious to this little routine of theirs, Sarah knew. And she loved it just as much.
After the concert they went out to dinner at an Indian restaurant. The place was great, the food was great, the ambiance was great, the company was great… Everything about that outing was excellent. They talked, they laughed, ate and drank a lot. Then it was time to leave.
"… then the innocent kid intern asked: 'But how could he swallow that whole cucumber?'" Awesome finished telling his hospital anecdote laughing out loud, as the foursome exited the restaurant.
His wife, Sarah and Chuck laughed out loud as well. The girls walked side by side ahead, and the boys followed behind them. They reached outside the restaurant, Awesome and Sarah handed the valets their tickets and off they went to bring their cars.
"This was great, guys. Thanks for everything, really," Awesome stated midst a wide smile, shaking Chuck's hand and giving Sarah a quick hug.
"I absolutely loved the concert! I never thought I'd ever get so close to Chan Marshall. And as if the tickets weren't enough you two get us this beautiful painting," Ellie said happily, mimicking her husband's smile while pointing to said big painting he carried.
"I'm glad you liked it! We saw that at a gallery last week, and I told Chuck we had to get it. It's just so you," Sarah replied smiling brightly at her boyfriend's sister.
"You're right. It is me, and I'm in love with it! Thank you, thanks so much, you two!" the brunette said, hugging Sarah and then Chuck.
"Well, it's not every day that you commemorate your paper anniversary, is it?" Chuck rhetorically asked midst his trademark smile.
The valets handed Awesome and Sarah their keys. The cars were parked just in front of the restaurant. Chuck and Awesome tipped the guys.
"Will you drive? I'm not in the mood for it," Sarah softly asked her boyfriend, while holding up the key in his direction.
"Sure," Chuck replied with a smile on his face, taking the key from her hand.
Both couples started walking towards their cars.
"I'll call you this week to set up our lunch, ok?" Ellie called out to Sarah.
"Alright. Bye," the blonde replied and waved at the married couple.
Chuck and Awesome called out their goodbyes as well, and in no time both couples were headed home.
The moment Chuck opened the door Yeller was once again at stand-by to greet the couple. Few things in life were more certain than this. Both took turns at patting the cute dog, and then went upstairs to their suite -- followed close by the pooch, of course.
Sarah dropped her handbag on the armchair and let her body fall onto bed. Chuck slid her bag sideways, sat on the armchair and started patting Yeller.
"I'm beat," Sarah stated shortly while closing her eyes for a while.
"I need to take Yeller out a bit for his walk," Chuck said, still playing with the dog.
He kept staring at Sarah as if she had to say something. She didn't fail to notice that.
"So…" the blonde played along staring right back at him, unable to prevent the corners of her lips from turning up.
"Come along with me, please," he said softly, while flashing his girlfriend his best charming smile.
A lying down Sarah laughed while shaking her head.
"You always say that," she pointed out with a smile still in place.
"And you always say that I say that… but you always come. It's our little special routine," it was Chuck's turn to point out. Then he stood up.
"Come on, let's go. It's so much more enjoyable when you come," he added while offering her his hand to pull her up, and still wearing the charming smile on his face to secure her company.
"But it's kinda cold… and late, and dark," Sarah complained midst a dramatic face, while staring at his outstretched hand.
"I'm sure you are more than capable to protect me," Chuck joked and waggled his hand in front of her to entice her to grab it.
She mustered up a small smile at his joke and finally held his hand, then Chuck pulled her up. At the end of this pull Chuck guided his lips to crash against Sarah's. It was a great kiss.
"Thanks," he said softly in her ear, to which she replied only with a smile, while wiping off some lipstick from his lips with her right thumb.
The couple went downstairs with Yeller, who got extremely excited when he saw Chuck grabbing his blue retractable leash from the foyer's coat closet. A minute later the leash was on, Chuck wrapped his arm around Sarah, and the trio was off to a walk.
Next morning the alarm went off at 6 AM, and Chuck quickly turned it off. He rolled over to see if it had awakened Sarah, but she just fussed a bit and remained asleep. Chuck had a quick breakfast, took a shower and went about with his regular morning routine. When he was tying his tie in front of the bedroom's mirror Sarah awoke, and he saw it through the mirror.
"Hey, good morning," Chuck said softly and without turning around, still working on the knot.
"Good morning," she replied, with eyes closed, in a huskier tone than her usual freshly-awaken one.
Chuck managed to finish the knot and turned around, finally getting a good glimpse at her.
"Are you ok?" he asked in concern over her unusual tone and a slightly red nose.
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Why you ask?" the blonde woman asked in denial with a hint of attitude in her tone, which didn't go unnoticed by him.
"Nothing, nothing… You just look, uh…" Chuck partially delivered his thoughts, stopping mid-sentence to study how to finish it properly, since Sarah wore a peculiarly pointed and expecting look on her face.
"… a tiny little bit less gorgeous than your usual self," he proudly finished with a charming smile on his face, while closing the gap between the two of them and stopping next to the couple's bed.
The little shenanigan granted him a small smile from his girlfriend.
"Really, I'm fine," Sarah reiterated in a softer tone, choosing to stick to her denial.
"Are you leaving earlier?" she added looking up at him and changing the subject, while adjusting her head in the pillow for a more comfortable position.
"Yes, it's been busy lately, but you can stay in bed for another 20 minutes," Chuck stated while stealing a glance at the alarm-clock.
"What about your car? I picked you up yesterday, so you left it at Dash," Sarah reminded him.
"Yeah, I called in a cab earlier. It must be arriving," the man replied succinctly.
"I've got a lunch meeting, so I won't be able to meet you. But I'll call you later, ok? Oh, and I made coffee if you want some. Now I've gotta run," he added quickly, and then leaned over to kiss her.
She grabbed his tie and pulled him closer. After a couple of quick kisses, and picking up his suit's jacket, Chuck was off to work.
The morning went by faster than a speeding bullet. Chuck's client called asking to postpone their meeting, so he was free for lunch. After telling Lauren he would be out for lunch, Chuck took the lift to go make Sarah a small surprise. He crossed Dash's first floor lobby -- making sure to greet everyone along the way – and walked out of the Georgian brick building through the big glass entry door, which read "Dash Co." in white letters at the center, and a big "DC" monogram on the top. With a quick walk across the street he reached the big department store Sarah and Casey worked at.
Chuck crossed the first floor – the cosmetics and such department – and ran into Casey near the rolling stairs. The man wore sandals, knee-length white shorts, a loud short-sleeved shirt, and a lei around his neck.
"Hmm… let me guess… 'Hawaiian Dreams'?" Chuck teased the NSA agent, unable to contain a wide smile. Not that he tried, anyway.
"I swear I'll…" Casey began to say menacingly, but stopped on his tracks when he saw his supervisor passing by next to them.
"'Sea Breeze', sir?" he said changing tunes and tone while holding up a fragrance bottle, but still through a smile that looked more like gritted teeth than anything else.
Chuck eyed the man passing them by.
"I don't…" Chuck started to say in a low tone of voice when Casey sprayed the fragrance at him.
"Hey!" he added a little louder, but still undetectable to the preying man.
"Keep your voice down and a smile on Bartowski, this man is targeting me already as it is," Casey said in the same demeanor.
Chuck obliged.
"Well, this thing stinks," he stated back in a low tone, while sniffing his collar.
"Welcome to my life," the NSA agent ironically retorted.
"Why are you here? Had a flash?" he added with a glint of enthusiasm in his voice.
"Nope, just looking for Sarah. Seen her around?" Chuck asked looking around himself.
"Yeah, sure. Keeping tabs on Walker is my favorite hobby," Casey shot back sarcastically, while raising an eyebrow.
"A simple 'no' was sufficient," Chuck delivered with an annoying look on his face, and then walked away from the agent.
Chuck had taken a few steps towards the rolling stairs when he saw that Casey's supervisor was still staring at the Major attentively.
"Excellent fragrance! You sold me, I'll sure come back for one," Chuck turned around and enthusiastically called out to Casey midst a wide smile.
The supervisor seemed pleased and walked away, so did Chuck.
"You own me one, Casey," he murmured under his breath to himself.
Chuck reached the rolling stairs. On his way up he took his phone out of his suit's jacket, and called out Casey. When the agent turned around he snapped a picture.
"Thanks! The collection's coming out great. Don't worry, I'll make you copies," Chuck said while ascending to the second floor, with a smirk gracing his features. Casey was left to fume by himself. The man never thought he would miss his job at the Buy More, but he sure did.
Chuck moved 360 degrees around himself trying to locate Sarah on the second floor. After a few steps and turns he managed to spot her near a clothing rack. He quickly made his way there with a happy smile on his face. When Sarah noticed Chuck coming towards her a smile made its way to her lips, and when Chuck got a good look at Sarah his made its way out of his lips.
"You're not looking good," Chuck stated with a serious look on his face.
"Well, hello to you too," she shot back with a hint of sarcasm through a nasal voice, but with a smile still in place. Her nose was completely red.
"Didn't you have a lunch meeting?" the blonde added with interest, but trying to evade the topic. The nasal voice was even heavier.
"Yeah, it got postponed. But don't change the subject; it really looks like you're sick," the tall man delivered in the same tone as before, while getting closer to his girlfriend to better assess her state.
"I'm not sick, ok? I never get sick," Sarah replied with a dismissive tone, although the dark circles around her eyes clearly gave away her tiredness.
Chuck placed his hand on her forehead, and after a few seconds she took it away.
"At least you don't seem to have a fever," Chuck assessed in a serious tone, actually talking more to himself than to Sarah.
"That's because I'm not…" Sarah started to say but was interrupted by a sneeze that she had been trying hard to contain throughout their whole conversation.
"…sick," she still had to finish, resolute to not acknowledge defeat.
Chuck just shot her a pointed look. And suddenly a woman came towards the couple.
"Thanks, Sarah! I found that large turtleneck in the stock," the woman in her mid twenties said in a friendly tone, midst a smile.
"No problem," the CIA agent replied mimicking the woman's demeanor.
The woman was about to leave when Chuck called out to her.
"Hey… Amanda," he said midst his trademark megawatt smile.
Sarah did not look amused.
"You see, Sarah is not feeling really well. It appears that she's coming down with a cold, so I'm afraid I'll have to take her home. Could you, please, get your supervisor so Sarah could talk to her?" Chuck added politely.
Sarah turned from not-amused to annoyed, and was about to jump in the conversation.
"Actually she's out for lunch at the moment," Amanda replied just as politely, while looking at Sarah to assess her co-worker's state.
"Well, could you tell her when she gets back that Sarah wasn't feeling well and had to go home?" the man asked in the same manner.
"Of course. You really do look kinda sick Sarah, I hope you get better soon," the green-eyed blonde said sympathetically, to which Sarah felt like rolling her eyes but didn't.
Chuck shot her another pointed look conveying his see-I'm-right position.
"Great, I'll just bring the car around to the entryway. You shouldn't strain yourself. Just sit down here and wait for me," the man softly said while protectively escorting his girlfriend to a nearby ottoman with Amanda by their side.
Sarah was about to vehemently protest, but before she could even utter a word Chuck rushed out of their sights. She and Amanda were left to watch the man speed through the floor towards the rolling stairs.
"Wow! Your boyfriend?" the younger woman asked looking down at a sitting Sarah, to which Sarah only nodded 'yes'.
"How cute! You can totally see it in his eyes how much he cares about you. Gosh, do you know how difficult it is to find one of those these days?! You should see the types that come my way… You're lucky," Amanda added in a pensive tone.
Sarah looked up at her co-worker and suddenly she didn't feel as crossed and annoyed as before.
"Yeah, I know," the blue-eyed blonde replied softly after a beat, in a matching pensive tone. And then, a rather sweet smile took over her face.
Moments later Sarah and Chuck arrived home.
"Where's Yeller?" Chuck asked while looking around, noticing the dog's absence.
"Oh, right… Friday. Dog day care. Forgot you would take him today," he added quickly before Sarah could even reply.
"So, do you want to lie down, or something?" the man asked softly, placing a hand on her back.
"I think I'll take a bath," Sarah replied while entering further into the condo, ready to head upstairs to their bathroom.
"Great idea! You just sit down here…" Chuck said, while deviating her path to the direction of the living room couch with the help of his hand on the small of her back. And then he gently made her take a seat.
"…Or lie down, your call, while I'll go up there to draw you a bath," he added looking down at her.
"No, Chuck. This is ridiculous," Sarah stated midst a dry laugh.
"I might have a cold. 'Might' being the operative word here. But I'm not an invalid, you don't have to go out of your way to do all of this for me," she added in protest with a nasal, husky voice.
Then she tried to stand up, but Chuck swiftly held her down.
"I know I don't have to do anything for you, but I want to. I'm not going out of my way. You're my girlfriend. I love you. Doing stuff to make you feel better makes me feel better as well. Now, will you just let me help you, for Christ's sakes?!" the man said a little louder, while looking directly into her eyes.
"Fine," Sarah let out and put on an endearing pout, but also offered her boyfriend a cute smile.
"Great. Now, if you excuse me, I'll be right back," Chuck said in a lower tone, midst a tight-lipped, playful smug. And then he started walking towards their room upstairs.
"You're a lot of work, woman," he joked loud enough for her to hear, with his back still turned to her, on his way upstairs.
He did not see it, but she laughed. All of this made Sarah reminisce about the last time she got sick. She pushed the discomfort through a mission, and after there was no one there for her in that lonely, random hotel room. She had to hold her own hair while vomiting her guts out, she had no one to insist she'd take a day off to take care of herself, no one preoccupied to make things easier like drawing her a bath…
The truth was Sarah Walker never, ever, had someone she could truly count on. Her mother passed away when she was a small child, and her dad… well, he did the best he could, between a con and another, that is. She knew he loved her. He stuck around and that spoke volumes, but he was never the motherly type of dad. So, she learned to fend for herself, and count on the only person who would always be there no matter what: herself. Breaking this type of cycle was hard. Allowing yourself to depend on another was never part Sarah's mo. Too risky, too dangerous, her mind told herself. What if this person leaves like all the others she allowed herself to care for before?
However, her heart had let Chuck in a long time ago. Her mind like it or not, doubt it or not. There was no way to undo it. Even though there were times like this when heart and mind crashed and produced reactions such as this from Sarah, something stronger always told her that this man could be trusted. So, she kept folding time after time and letting Chuck in further than she ever let any man before. And it felt good, really good.
A handful of minutes later Chuck came downstairs. He made his way to the back of the comfy, modern, white couch, and leaned over it to see Sarah, who had lied down.
"All ready, ma'am. I used a Chuck special: lavender bath salt accentuated with vanilla bubble bath. I think you'll find it of your liking," he said softly, flashing Sarah a charming smile.
"Thank you," Sarah replied matching his smile.
"Now let me just muster up enough will power to stand up," she added in a joking tone.
Before she could get up Chuck leaned over even more and stole a kiss from her.
"Don't!" Sarah hissed forcefully, while abruptly breaking off the kiss.
"You'll get sick, too," the red-nosed blonde woman added very nasally as she stood up.
"Not likely, but if so, it was so worthy," Chuck stated midst a smirk as he watched Sarah heading upstairs.
While Sarah was soaking in her greatly scented, warm bath, Chuck quickly went out in his car and came back in a flash with a small, white paper bag and a bigger brown one, which he placed over the kitchen's island.
Chuck put the kettle on and made some tea, with which he filled a glass mug with. Then he grabbed the mug and the white paper bag and went upstairs to their bedroom's bathroom.
"I take it you're enjoying," Chuck stated softly while heading towards the bathtub with an item in each hand.
Sarah, who had her eyes closed, opened them up slowly. She had a lot of bubbles around her.
"Here. Lemongrass. Your favorite, if memory serves me right," he added while handing her the steamy mug, and then he took a seat on the tub's wide edge with the bag in hand.
"First the bath. You even lit the apple-cinnamon candle," Sarah said, looking at the aforementioned item by her side.
"And now the tea. I'm afraid you're spoiling me, Charles Bartowski," she added midst a sweet smile with the warm mug in hand.
"I don't think so. Am I? Really?" Chuck rhetorically asked in a joking manner, with a purposely overdramatic confused look on his face.
Sarah laughed at his act, which trigged some coughs.
"I also went out to the drugstore and got you some medicine to help to get rid with that," the man said opening the white bag that sat on his lap.
Sarah was about to say something.
"Pa, pa, pa…" Chuck hissed, pointing his index finger at the blonde and facing away from her.
"I don't even want to hear it," he added in a softer tone, but his cell ringing interrupted their chat.
Chuck took the cell out of his suit's jacket pocket and saw that it was Lauren calling. Sarah kept taking sips of her tea.
"One sec, I have to take this," he said to the woman in the tub.
"Hey, Lauren," Chuck greeted the woman in the line.
"Yes… No, no, it's all ok… Uh-hum… Yeah, you go ahead and do that. Now Lauren, I won't be going back in today," he said, despite the fact that Sarah kept mouthing 'no' and shaking her head at him.
"Sarah came down with a cold, so I'll take the rest of the day off… Ok, I'll tell her you said so… You have a nice weekend, too. Bye," Chuck added and after finishing the call he put the cell back into his pocket.
Sarah didn't say anything, just kept drinking her tea.
"What? No words of protest?" Chuck asked while taking stuff out of the bag.
"What for? Do you listen?" Sarah shot back in a forced nonchalant tone.
"Progress, at last God!" the man joked, playfully looking up at the ceiling.
Sarah just shook her head in response.
Chuck handed her a pill and a tiny cup with cough syrup, which she washed down with tea.
"Almost forgot, Lauren said get well. Now, you should eat something after your bath," Chuck said, putting the bag away.
"I'm not hungry. My throat is kinda sore," Sarah replied in a husky tone, shifting some bubbles around herself.
"Well, make an effort. Ellie said you should eat to build your strengths up, and also drink plenty fluids. I picked up some chicken soup on the way," the man stated rather seriously, looking straight at her.
"You called Ellie? Oh, my God!" Sarah protested with an indignant look on her face.
"What's the big deal? I needed help with the meds, there are so many choices. You know, I knew the lack of protests wouldn't last very long," Chuck replied with a sly smile playing in his lips.
She stared at him for a while.
"I'm sorry, old habits. Now, could you please fetch me that robe? I wanna out," the blonde with her hair twisted into a bun conceded midst a genuine smile.
Moments later Sarah sat in bed, under the comforter, leaning on the headboard as she had just finished eating some chicken soup. The almost empty bowl sat on the nightstand. Chuck lay beside her, over the comforter, with his head propped on two stacked pillows as they watched the first movie of their "Ladies Marathon". Which was planned by the man himself and consisted of: Sabrina, Gilda and Lolita; in that order. Linus had barely started his plan to keep Sabrina away from David when Chuck paused the flick.
"I've got to run out for a bit," Chuck said, looking up to his side at Sarah.
"Really?" she asked with a hint of disappointment in her voice, as she pulled out a Kleenex from the box that was on the bed next to her and wiped her nose.
"Yeah, I have to bring your car in. It's back at the store's parking lot, remember? You rode back home with me," he replied, turning on his side for comfort purposes.
"Right, I even forgot about that," the blonde said huskily, and then stacked both of her pillows and properly lay down.
"Don't worry, I got it all covered. I also have to pick up Yeller at the dog day care," Chuck stated with a somewhat proud smile on his face.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Sarah asked with narrowed eyes as she assessed her boyfriend's face.
"I mean, me being all vulnerable and you coming to my rescue," she added with the same demeanor.
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm enjoying you being sick… But I'm always the vulnerable one, the one who needs you to save me, you know, come to my rescue and all. And I'm more than fine with that, don't get me wrong, you're like my real-life heroine," Chuck delivered frankly, looking directly into her eyes and with a nerdy smile at the final bit.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is… it's nice to be able to be on the other end of the stick for a while. Give something back; be there for you, even if in a small way like this," he added in a sweet and assertive tone.
Sarah's face morphed from attentive to touched in the blink of an eye.
"From what I've gathered so far, I'd say this 'switch' is quite… difficult for you," Chuck finished softly, after taking a few seconds to come up with the right word to depict her feelings.
The woman was amazed by the degree of knowledge this man who lay beside her possessed when it came to her feelings, insecurities… all of herself. Somebody in this crazy wide world knew her. Really knew her. Her true self, fake identities aside. And as much as this scared her, it was all she secretly ever wanted.
"You make it easier. Every day," Sarah seriously replied with all her heart, as genuinely as genuine can get. She truly meant it.
It took a moment for those words to really land on Chuck. A shiver ran through his body. He looked at Sarah and she had never looked more open and more beautiful than at that instant. The walls, her walls, were tumbling down. It was one of those moments when you can just sense these things.
The couple just stayed there laying down, facing each other. And then Sarah leaned closer and kissed Chuck. He kissed back, deeper.
They pulled apart. Smiles graced their features.
"Now, who's getting me sick?" Chuck joked after a beat, smiling brightly at her, to which she smiled coyly back.
"Ok, I have to go now. But don't you worry, 'Sarah fair'… I'll be back in a flash," he joked while standing up quickly.
Sarah laughed as she looked from a moving Chuck to the frozen still of Audrey Hepburn on the television screen.
"I'd never miss out on Gilda… or Lolita, for that matter," he finished in a loud tone of voice as he left their room.
Indeed in a flash Chuck was back with Yeller on his heels.
"That… was quick," Sarah stated in between coughs as she watched Chuck heading to the other side of their bed.
"Yeah," Chuck replied midst a smile while letting his body fall onto bed.
"And, apparently, just in time to watch Sabrina save Linus," he added, looking at the end of the movie playing on the big television screen.
"Truth be told, I'd say they save each other," Sarah knowingly replied, with a matching knowing smile on her face, as she caught her boyfriend's gaze.
Chuck mimicked her smile. The parallels were not at all lost at him. Suddenly, Yeller – feeling a bit ignored – jumped on the bed. Yes, he knew better, but dogs will be dogs.
"Yeller, down," Chuck said, looking at the dog.
The dog stayed put.
"Yeller, down," Sarah mimicked Chuck's previous words, but in a decisive and firm tone.
Yeller jumped off of the bed instantly, and Sarah shot her boyfriend a pointed look paired with a cheeky smirk on her face.
"It's all in the tone," the blonde told him, unable to wipe the smirk off of her face.
"So you keep telling me, Victoria Stilwell," Chuck shot back midst a forced smile.
"Should I pop in 'Gilda'?" he added in question, looking at Sarah.
"That came out…" Chuck started to say but was interrupted by a sneeze. His own.
"…wrong. Oh, boy!" the man finished with a peculiar look on his face. The look on Sarah's face matched his.
Next morning -- a pleasant Saturday morning -- Chuck woke up with his head throbbing, his nose stuffy and his throat sore. He rolled over to Sarah's side and saw the blonde wide awake; her cold allowed her little sleep that night.
"I'm sick," Chuck stated through a nasal voice.
"I told you," Sarah replied in the same tone, running a hand through her boyfriend's hair.
"This sucks," he stated even more nasally so.
"Tell me about it," she replied while wiping her nose with a Kleenex.
"In interest of full disclosure, I should warn you that I'm not like you. I whiny a lot when I'm sick. A lot!" the man said midst a small smile as he wrapped his arm around her.
"Duly noted," Sarah delivered, matching Chuck's smile only a bit wider.
"Well, since we can't do anything about our present state, what do you say we stay under the covers until this goes away?" Chuck asked softly and charmingly as he pulled her closer.
"I'd say we got ourselves a plan," Sarah replied huskily as she nestled against him and placed her head on the nook.
Six Months Later
"Can you believe she had the nerve to say that to me?" Sarah asked Chuck with a look of disbelief on her face, as the couple finished setting the table for dinner.
"I bet she regretted after you clocked her," Chuck replied with a smile on his face, while putting two wine glasses on the table next to their plates.
"Nice jab, by the way. She didn't even see it coming," he added proudly, looking directly at his girlfriend.
"Thanks," the blonde honestly replied, smiling back at him.
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it. Are you expecting someone?" Sarah added as she walked towards the front door.
"Nope," Chuck simply called out to her.
Sarah reached the door and partially opened it. There was a moment of silence after she saw who was standing there.
"Bryce? Hi," she said in surprise, looking at the smiling man in front of her.
"Hello, Bryce!" Chuck opened the rest of the door and greeted his Stanford friend with a not-so-natural wide smile.
"Chuck?" Bryce asked, surprised to find the man there.
"Missed me?" Chuck added rather sarcastically as he sized up the CIA agent.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Sorry about the cliffie :D