Thanks for reading Chapter 1! I actually didn't think anyone would be interested; I was also thinking of scrapping this since I got a new idea for another story, but I thought I should keep going and not let y'all down. I'm still relatively new to how this site works and what not. I do hope people keep reviewing and perhaps give me some ideas for upcoming chapters. Pardon the title; I didn't know what to call it and well, he had a long trip so... Enjoy!

Note: I do not own Chuck despite how much I wish I did.

Chuck Versus The Long Trip

Spring 2003

1156 Hours

CIA Building

Washington D.C.

Graham was immersed in reading some files when his assistant entered briefly to update him. "Sir, the arrangements you had asked for have been made. The private jet has arrived at LAX and is awaiting to bring the new recruit to Langley. Also, Assistant Director Beckman of the NSA had left a message for you to contact her ASAP."

"Thank you. That is all." He knew he was going to take his time contacting Beckman; she had been a thorn on his side during that entire meeting the other day so he found that this subtle revenge should be enough to keep him satisfied.

Glancing at his desk clock, he noticed that it was time to contact Bartowski. He frowned when the phone was not answered until the last possible ring.

12:00 PM

Casa de Bartowski

Echo Park, Los Angeles, California

"Hello?" Chuck asked since he didn't recognize the number when his phone started ringing.

"Graham secure." Goodness. Graham physically shook his head at how Bartowski had not caught on with phone procedure.

"Oh, right. Bartowski secure." Rolling his eyes, Chuck again acceded to Graham's wishes to sound funny at the start of a phone call. Well, I am going to be a spy now. I guess this is how I greet fellow spies?

"A private jet is expecting you in LAX. It will bring you to our HQ out in Langley. Once there, you'll begin training. Pack light and head to the airport as soon as you can. Questions?"

"Uh, yes. So what do I tell my sister? Do I tell her the truth?" Graham sighed as he began to doubt if Bartowski was capable of becoming an agent.

"No. Of course not. You lie. Make up something favorable towards unexpected trips and the long absences."

"Right, right. Spies lie. Of course." Chuck mentally chastised himself for sounding naïve. No duh, Chuck. Geez.

Before any more questions formed, he heard the other end of the phone hang up after a brief "Graham out." What do I tell, Ellie? He had only just relinquished every single honest detail about what happened at Stanford to her that morning. Minus the lies of omission, he thought.

"Chuck, what do you want for lunch?" He heard her voice come from the kitchen, knowing that she started her weekend routine of deciding whether to cook or order something.

Just wing it, I guess. Flipping his phone closed, he spun on his heel and headed to his sister's location. "Hey. I was thinking."

Ellie put down the take-out menus and looked up at her brother from the table, tilting her head slightly. "And?"

"Um, I think I shouldn't stay and mope around here. I should be updating my five year plan to fit my, uh, predicament."

"You're not going to mope around?" She said incredulously. After taking a brief moment to absorb what Chuck had said, she couldn't help but literally perk up.

He gave her his own version of the trademark Bartowski mega-watt smile and nodded. "Yeah, well, I kinda already did. During that trip down here, I moped. A lot. So I thought, you know, enough is enough."

Ellie couldn't help herself as she went to give her brother a tight hug. "You're really growing up, Chuck. What are you thinking of doing?"

Returning the hug, he smiled. "There are so many things I can do. I mean, I can start that two-man circus with Morgan."

"Really? The one you both tried to start when you were ten. No. Think again, Chuck."

"I could go up into the mountains and find a grand master to teach me the ancient art of origami." He was met with his sister's 'Really?' look. "Um, it's kind of funny since origami is paper fold- "

Shaking her head, she saved herself from the joke's explanation. "Seriously."

"Er, well." Chuck frowned, racking his brain for sufficient reasons he would be gone. "I think I should really just go. Out there. I should go out and experience the world for what it truly is. I mean the reason this entire Bryce thing happened was because I easily trusted him. I should- I should stop doing that."

"But trusting people is what makes you, you."

"I know, it's endearing, but what I'm saying is that I need to learn to control how much I trust a person. I can't just go out and give people the key to our apartment willy-nilly because I easily trusted them." He looked at his sister, hoping he was making a valid argument as his mouth kept going for him. "I'll work some odd jobs to get by. Hopefully, learn a thing or two."

Sighing, Ellie gave Chuck another squeeze. "You really need to do this, huh?"

"Yeah." Chuck smiled softly and nodded.

0100 Hours

CIA Headquarters

Langley, Virginia

Chuck stifled a yawn as he got out of the black Volvo S80 that he was picked up in at the airport about two hours ago.

"Mr. Bartowski," A tall, blonde woman with similarly stern face as Graham addressed him. Immediately after a short pause so Chuck could grab his bags, the woman turned on her black pumps and headed back towards the CIA building. "Follow me."

Chuck quickly moved to her side as the glass doors slid open to accept them in. He couldn't help but perceptibly turn his head in order to look at everything. He softly breathed, "Wow."

The woman led him through a maze of hallways until finally stopping in front of a door that appeared to be like the many other doors they had passed. She promptly knocked and opened the door for Chuck. "Enter."

Just as he stepped inside, he felt the door instantly against his back. He noticed the blinds were drawn over the window wall on the other side of the room. The room was mostly taken up by the conference table and the black swivel chairs that surrounded it.

"Bartowski, sit." Langston Graham nodded curtly before continuing to look back at the files that laid in front of him.

Yielding to his request, Chuck awkwardly dropped his luggage beside him, resulting with a loud thump.

"I told you to pack light." Graham stated while he shuffled his papers into order.

"This isn't light?" Chuck asked, slightly anxious. "I thought it was."

"No matter." Finally looking up at Bartowski, Graham faintly furrowed his eyebrows, but it went unnoticed by Chuck. "Mr. Bartowski, what I'm about to tell you is top-secret. Only a few handful know of this."

Chuck nodded, his attention caught.

"You are part of the Omaha project. We were sent data about you from a recruitment officer in Stanford. I was already in the vicinity upon your expulsion. Despite that, your results for that test were the most desirable for the position at hand, thus the Director granted the go-ahead to recruit you. Due to the fact that it would conflict with your moral history, we know that you didn't cheat."

Staring at the mahogany conference table, Chuck took some time to process the information. They know I didn't cheat. He sighed in relief. Omaha Project?

"Here at Langley, you will undergo training along with the other recruits. After daily training, you may go about your business as you wish. The only difference between you and your fellow recruits is that you will meet Agent Forrest after dinner at 1900 hours in this room for testing."

He froze. Agent Forrest? Testing? "With probes and stuff?"

Graham shook his head. "The test you were framed for cheating on was on subliminal messages. It coincides with what the Omaha project is about. Also, Agent Forrest is the one who led you here."

Without warning, Graham slid the file across the table to Chuck who unskillfully caught the file before it slid past him. "Agh!"

Ignoring Bartowski's yelp, Graham resumed the briefing. "That file involves all you need to know about the Omaha project." For someone at your clearance level, anyway. "Agent Forrest will show you to the training complex in which you will reside in. Training starts at 0600 hours. It's approximately 0200. I suggest you get some sleep, Bartowski."

I definitely guesstimated the time it would take for Chuck to get from LAX to Richmond, VA then to Langley. It turns out it's about an 8 hour flight (more or less) then two hours to Langley. From my research, it seems that Langley has been absorbed into the community of McLean for quite a while now. I'm keeping it called Langley though for the story's sake. Do tell me your opinions on what you think is going to happen. Much thanks!

Also, I'm working on the next update so don't worry!