A/N I found this chapter on my computer and decided to finish this story (...4 years later, where did time go!?). Here's a recap of what's happened so far:

After unsuccessfully going off the grid in Prague, Chuck fell apart after Sarah's 6 month disappearance. Sarah stumbled back into Burbank, and informed Chuck what her mission had been: Casey's daughter, Alex, had been working with a photographic memory program (PGMA) and the professor she had been researching it with was murdered. Alex was injected with the drug, and now she remembers everything she reads. Sarah's partner, Aaron Parker, managed to save Alex but Sarah was shot. Chuck called Devon for help with Sarah's bullet wound. (Devon, not Elle, knows about Chuck and Sarah being spies). Chuck got angry at Sarah for leaving him at Prague but Sarah was confused since General Beckman said she could be with Chuck after he went through spy training. They discovered there is a rogue agency, SPI, that interfered with their happy ever after. To make it worse, Sarah's sister, Jenn, thought to be dead, and Shaw are the leaders of the program. SPI kidnapped Chuck and Elle's father. Sarah went to visit her sister, Jenn, without telling Chuck and the two fought. Sarah followed her sister's instructions to scan Alex's brain and hasn't told anyone what she did.

Other crucial information: The Buymore is struggling financially. Alex and Morgan like each other. Jeff and Lester have a big audition coming up.

My beta is MIA (maybe they were kidnapped with Chuck's dad?) so if anything needs edited feel free to let me know. Enjoy! :)

It had been two weeks since Chuck had asked Sarah to move out. Two weeks. How was it possible that two weeks of fighting with her could be as miserable as the long, six months he had spent apart from her? It didn't make sense to him.

Chuck was on desk duty, but he had a very clear view of Sarah in the Orange Orange. She looked as miserable as he felt.

He had done some soul searching in the two weeks that they hadn't been speaking. What if he and Ellie had been separated when they were kids? Would he want to try and see her again? Yes. Of course he would.

Had Chuck over-reacted that night at the Chinese restaurant? It was debatable. On one hand, he was angry at Sarah for not letting him know how she felt. If she wanted to see her sister, why didn't she just say something? Why did she have to be secretive about every emotion she had? She was impossible.

Then again, from her perspective, she hadn't had the opportunity to live life as an open book. He had had a family that was supportive of him being free about how he felt. Her childhood wouldn't have permitted that.

There, exactly, lay the problem: family. His dad had been kidnapped. Not just some random abduction, but by Sarah's sister. The note had said they wouldn't harm his dad, but could he trust Sarah's sister? This was his dad for crying out loud. His dad, even though he had been MIA for his adult life, had been there for him growing up. If it came down to it, could he choose his dad over Sarah, if she chose her family over him?

Why did family have to make everything so darn complicated?

Chuck sighed and rubbed his temples. Maybe he shouldn't have kicked her out. He was being as bad as her, shoving her out of his life because he couldn't handle his emotions. He needed to talk this out with Sarah, but would she even be willing to talk to him?

"Chuck old buddy old pal," he heard someone behind him say, causing him to jump, "can you help a poor guy out? Jeff and I need help setting up for our practice show," Lester explained.

"You're doing a practice show? Here, in the Buy More? Is that a good idea?" Chuck started.

"It's a great idea! Our sales have been plummeting, what better way to get some business than to have a live band playing music in the store? We'll not only attract new revenue but we'll also get some practice in for our big audition!"

"The sales thing is exactly why we shouldn't have you playing music…" Chuck mumbled, but Lester was already bouncing back towards Morgan and Jeff. Rolling his eyes towards the ceiling, Chuck followed him and helped attach the cables.

Before too long, music was blaring from the speakers. What little customers the store had were making their purchases and leaving, quickly. No one in their right mind wanted to listen to Queensrÿche*. Chuck groaned, plugged his ears, and then perked up. Alex was walking in. This could be good.

"What on earth are you guys playing?" she yelled to Jeffster over their music. Neither responded, obviously too into their music to notice that their crush was yelling at them.

Alex huffed, walked over to the cable connecting to the speakers, and ceremoniously unplugged it.

"Alex!" Jeff exclaimed, "You're here!"

Alex rolled her eyes, refusing to rebuke the obvious statement. "Help me," she whispered upwards. Directed towards the two musicians she started, "Guys, you have a lot of talent," making the two blush and Chuck gawk, "but I have a few song requests. Do you know how to play anything by John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Michael Buble, you know, more chill sounding songs?"

Lester glanced at Jeff. "Yea I suppose we could handle something like that. They're just not as exciting as classic rock."

"They might not be as exciting, but Lester, your voice was made for smooth music. I could easily see you winning your audition if you sang something a little less, umm, thrilling and instead tried for the sensational route. Would you at least try it, for me?" She batted her eyelashes in what she hoped would come off as flirtatious.

"Anything for you mi amor," Jeff creepily said into the microphone.

Alex gave a half-hearted smile and visibly relaxed as they started to play something by John Mayer. The two may actually get a crowd in Buy More if they played something less intimidating.

She noticed Chuck standing off to the side, clearly lost in his thoughts. Walking over, she gently tapped his shoulder. "Hey, Chuck, could I be blunt for a few seconds?"

"Uhh, sure," Chuck responded. He mentally grinned at the ironic music playing softer in the background: "Say what you need to say, say what you need to say"

"Look, I know you and Sarah are on the rocks right now. But I want you to know that she feels bad about what she did. She opened up a little bit to me that night you kicked her out. I know having your dad kidnapped is horrible, like the worst thing ever, but you have to realize that it's her sister that did it. I think she's really struggling to come to terms that her sister was the one that caused all of this to happen. She hasn't said much of anything since that night, and I can tell she's eating herself up with guilt."

She paused, watching Chuck's reaction. "Look, I'm supposed to meet Morgan for his lunch break, and I don't think anyone will be at the Orange Orange. You both might still be mad at each other, but for the sake of the team and finding your dad, could you talk to her?"

Chuck nodded his head once, agreeing. "You know, you'd be a great psychologist. Why did you decide to work in the science lab anyway?

Alex laughed. "That's exactly what Sarah said the other night! I love to learn about new things, and doing research in the lab offered me a paying job as well as the ability to work with something I hadn't before. Besides, I really enjoyed Professor Whickman's philosophy: if you can revolutionize the way that a person remembers, you can revolutionize the world."

"Do you like being able to remember everything you see?" Chuck asked.

She hesitated. "Sometimes. I like that I can remember the exact way Morgan looks when he kisses me, or how proud my dad is when I impress him. I don't like remembering every single murder the CIA has me read. I would never have injected myself with the drug had I known I could never forget every bad thing I've ever seen or read. Do you wish you had never seen the file Bryce sent you?"

"Absolutely," he started. Alex raised an eyebrow and he hesitated. "I think I'm like you. Sometimes I wish I could live my regular nerdy life again, but then I realize how boring my life would be without the intersect." He swallowed. "I never would have met Sarah if I hadn't seen that computer screen."

Alex put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "You need to talk to her, Chuck." She glanced at her watch, "And I need to go meet Morgan. Good luck!"

"Even if your hands are shakin' and your faith is broken… Say what you need to say"

Shaking his head at the irony, Chuck resolved to make this happen.

Guilty was not enough of a word to describe how Sarah felt right now. Why on earth had she scanned Alex's eye? Alex was kind and sweet, she hadn't done anything to hurt her. Was Sarah really that desperate for her sister's approval?

Chuck had hurt her, deeply. Prague wasn't her fault. That was because of the stupid rogue agent and corrupt CIA. She hadn't told Chuck she was going to see her sister because she knew he would freak out and demand to come along. His paranoia at her leaving wasn't her fault. So whose fault was it, Chuck's?

Why had her sister taken Chuck's dad? Of all the people she could kidnap, she had abducted one of the few people that could drive a wedge in their already tedious relationship. Was that her sister's plan, to break her and her boyfriend up? Jenn had been so vague. Revenge because she didn't get chosen to be the intersect. Really? That's all she was mad about?

Sarah made herself a cone of mango yogurt and leaned against the counter, licking her cone and completely lost in thought. She didn't even hear the doorbell go off as a customer entered the store.

"You sure look busy," a voice said, startling her out of thought. She looked up into the bemused face of Chuck.

Shrugging her shoulders, she replied, "You should have been here an hour ago when I had a group of boy scouts come in. That was nuts!"

The two lapsed into an awkward silence, Sarah still licking her ice cream cone. Chuck cleared his throat. "So, since you're not very busy right now, do you think we could talk?" Sarah nodded her head, waiting for Chuck to take the initiative.

"Look, I know I was a jerk. I shouldn't have kicked you out of Devon and Ellie's place, but I'm really confused right now. Are we even still dating? Or were we ever even dating to start with?"

"I still want to be with you, if that's what you mean," Sarah said, after a few seconds hesitation.

"Do you?" Chuck started, "because if the other night was any indication, it would seem like you want to be with your sister more. Why didn't you tell anyone she left you a secret message?"

"I wanted to see what she had to say," was her reply. "Look, Chuck, I didn't even know she was still alive. Jenn is my sister, just like Ellie is your sister. I was hoping that she would trust me enough to say what her plan was. I want to make things right between us, Chuck, but I'm not sure how to do that. I don't know how I can have both my sister and you."

"Sarah, why do you even want your sister so badly? She's a rogue agent! She kidnaps people, important people, like my dad! She's working with this Shaw guy, who honestly gives me the creeps. Why do you need her when you have us?"

"She's my family, Chuck," she stated, eyes filling with tears.

"Well so is the CIA! You have me, Alex, Casey, Morgan, Ellie, Devon, heck, you could even throw in the General, Jeffster, and Agent Parker. Can't you be content with them for a family? Jenn doesn't really want you as a sister, she wants you as a partner. Someone to help her with her dirty work. Please, Sarah, can't you see that?"

Sarah was crying by this point. "I told you, I don't know how to have both. I love the family I have with the CIA, but I want both, Chuck. I lost my sister once already; I don't think I'm ready to lose her again."

Chuck was quiet for a few minutes. "So are you saying you pick her over me?"

"No!" she said, "I want you. I've always wanted you, Chuck. But I still wish my sister could be on our side. I'm just not sure how to get that." Somewhere in the conversation, she had dropped her cone when she was crying, and now she sat staring at the mess on the floor, hugging herself as the tears still streamed down her face.

Chuck reached deep within himself, and steely walked towards Sarah. If she noticed, she didn't show any indication. He sat on the counter, next to her, and put his arm around her, drawing her close. This brought a new wave of tears from Sarah.

"I'm so sorry I didn't come for you at Prague, Chuck," she began. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the secret message. I'm sorry my sister kidnapped your dad." She hiccupped. "Chuck, is there any hope for us? We should be happy now. Beckman cleared us to date. Why aren't we trying to be happy together?"

Chuck grimaced. "We are trying, Sarah. Or what do you think this is right now? Purposely trying to be miserable?"

They were both quiet for a few minutes. Chuck cleared his throat a few times, opening and shutting his mouth a couple times in an attempt to continue the conversation. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Do you want to move back in with me? I know Alex and Casey are great roommates, but, I mean, if you decide you don't want to live there anymore…"

"Yes, I want to," she agreed, quickly, interrupting him. "Casey snores. Actually, Alex snores, too. It's hard to sleep with all the noise."

He smiled at that and kissed the top of her head. "Sarah, I want this to work. I've known since the day you first came into Buy More that we had potential. I know we can get my dad back and defeat SPI. We just need to work together, as a team. No more secrets between us, okay?"

Sarah was quiet, the guilty feeling about what she had done to Alex resurfacing. "Chuck, I…" She stopped as Alex came back into the room.

"Oh, erm, wow, sorry, I keep interrupting you guys," Alex started to babble.

"No, I think we had just about finished," Chuck replied. He gave Sarah a side hug and started to stand up, only to have Sarah pull him back down for a kiss. Chuck was surprised at first, but he soon melted into the kiss. Both of them forgot Alex was in the room until she cleared her throat.

"Right, well, I'm just going to clean up the ice cream on the floor," she began. Chuck and Sarah pulled apart, reluctantly, and Chuck headed towards the door.

"See you ladies later," he said before heading back to his job.

Sarah quickly dabbed her eyes, making sure the tears were gone, before she stood up and started helping Alex with the mess on the floor. Neither of the girls said anything, but Alex felt incredibly happy for the couple.

Agent Parker had watched the whole exchange quietly from the stairwell. So the lovebirds were making up. That was good, right? He wanted to believe that there was such a thing as happily ever after, but in this line of work, he wasn't too sure what he should believe.

Sarah wasn't the only one having family problems. Agent Parker was in the Castle, evaluating a letter he had received from his brother-in-law, Shaw. It outlined everything that SPI was doing, their reasons behind it, and why he should join the rogue team.

Why did family have to be so darn complicated.

Aaron turned on the TV screen and requested an audience with General Beckman. He put the letter in a folder, making it look like another random piece of paper, and waited.

"Agent Parker, is everything alright?" he heard the General say.

"I'm not sure," he replied. "I've been doing a little bit of side research, and I have a few questions. Do you know anything about the night my sister, Eve, was murdered?" He looked up at the screen, hoping for some truthful answers at last.

"No, I don't think I do," was her truthful answer. "I know she was shot in the street, but I thought the police had decided it was a gang related shooting?"

Aaron shook his head. "That's originally what I had thought, too, but something else has recently come to light. Do you know what Agent Walker was doing the night she was murdered?"

The General's eyes widened slightly. "Surely you're not suggesting that…"

"I'm not suggesting it; I think it's the truth," Aaron said bluntly. "What I fail to understand is why the CIA would assign my sister's murderer as my partner for this case. Care to enlighten me?"

"Aaron, I had no idea. If I had… I would never have put you in this sort of situation."

"Would you? You didn't seem to care for all the other mile stones in my life. You didn't love me after the divorce. You didn't ever want me over to your house and I don't remember one sports game you came to watch when I was growing up. I don't think you even would have been there for my graduation from CIA training if it wasn't required."

"Aaron, would you listen…"

"No, you listen! I know Eve was your step-daughter, but that doesn't mean you could have her ordered to be murdered. I thought you were better than that."

"Aaron!" the General yelled from the screen. Finally, he was quiet. "I know you were close to Eve, and I know I was never the greatest parent. But you should know I would never order my step-daughter to be murdered. That was Sarah's order from who knows who. I'm sorry that you had to find out this way, but please understand that it was not Sarah's fault. As an agent, you do what you are told without questioning why. Please don't be an agent, be human right now, and don't do anything rash before thinking about this, okay?"

He was still angry, furious even, that his own mother would be defending the side of a murderer. No wonder Daniel and Jenn had gone rogue. Their government was a mess. "I won't do anything rash, but I don't know if I can still work on this case, General. I hope you understand." He clicked the power button, hoping to not see the concerned look on his mother's face. "Family," he grumbled to himself.

A/N *If you haven't heard of Queensryche, you should youtube them. They scream Jeffster haha.

Please leave a review if you're still out there! My outline has 6-7 more chapters & chapter 13 is mostly written. The plan is to finally finish this fic!