Episode 3x05

A/N Thank you Morgan for making this episode bearable. Again, Charah moments were few and far between. I found exactly one. Be warned, this chapter is all fluff.

I don't own Chuck. And Shaw is still an ass. (Pardon my French, my mom smoked when she was pregnant).

"I think we can all agree that this team has been dysfunctional the last two years and I think I know what the problem is." Chuck's heart sank. Just great, Shaw is going to kick the Bartowski off team Bartowski.

"The problem is them." Shaw pointed to Sarah and Casey.

"What? What does that mean?" Sarah couldn't believe it. They were a great team before this...this...he joined.

"It means he's a moron." Casey never had much respect for the CIA. He always thought they recruited based on looks and ego rather than skill. The only decent one amongst them was Walker. Pity the NSA didn't get to her first.

Shaw ignored Casey's comment. "Chuck, they coddle you. You can be a great spy, but they won't let you evolve."

"Really?" It was Chuck's turn to be surprised. He was going to be a spy. This was awesome. "I mean, yes, yes, really. He's right. Let me be a spy. Let me out of the car. I'm ready."

"No, Shaw, he's not." Sarah couldn't believe Shaw could even consider this. If he puts Chuck in the field, she can't always be there to protect him. He hasn't even completed his training yet. What if something happened and he didn't flash?

"Duly noted. And ignored." Sarah was starring daggers at Shaw. "Chuck, you're going on your first solo mission. Undercover. In Paris. Are you ready?"

Casey shook his head. You're not ready, numbnuts. Sarah was too shocked to respond.

"Absolutely." Chuck smiled. His first solo mish. And it was in Paris. Being a spy was...awesome! Even if he was starting to sound like Devon.

[Section break]

Sarah and Casey were briefing Chuck on the mission, making sure he packed everything he would need. Everything except a gun. Chuck was taking nun chucks instead. Sarah was fuming. When was he going to realise that this was not a game? It's dangerous. Very. And she won't be there to protect him.

"Casey, can I have a second?" I have to talk him out of this. He can't go.

"Hm? Yeah," Casey grunted with an eye roll before walking off.

Sarah leaned forward on the desk, making sure she had Chuck's attention. "Listen, I know you want this to work and you want to impress Shaw, but this is crazy." Trust me.

"Okay, fine, the nun chucks are a little crazy. You weren't supposed to see those. But Shaw, an honest to god, real life, special agent for the CIA, thinks that I'm ready. He thinks that I can do it and I want to prove to him that he is not wrong about me." I want to prove it to you too, Sarah. You said I could do anything...have anything I wanted. It's time. I'm ready.

"I'm not saying that you can't do this, but...please...please just don't go now, okay? You need more time." I need more time. I'm not ready to let you do this. I could lose you forever. I'm not ready.

"He's going. Beckman agrees with me," Shaw interrupted. "We've set up a sub-network on your phone. You'll be able to text and call in the plane. Your ticket," Shaw hands it to him, "and your car is waiting outside. You will receive further instructions in Paris."

Chuck was very excited. This was really happening. "Oh, daddy! First class. That is..." not very spy-like, agent Carmichael, "...probably what you do for everybody," Chuck regained some sort of composure. He cleared his throat. "Okay, well, see you later."

Shaw was very pleased with himself.

Casey was worried.

"I hope." Chuck's parting comment only made matters worse for Sarah.

She had never been so scared in her life.

[Section break]

Sarah pulled the Porsche into her usual spot in front of the Orange Orange. She slammed a fist into the steering wheel. She was still livid. Shaw lied to them about Chuck's mission. If she had known it was on the plane, she would have tranqed Chuck to prevent him from going. Right after she shot Shaw. With a real gun. He refused to let her answer her phone when Chuck was in danger. When he needed her. In the past day Chuck was nearly taken by the Ring, actually poisoned, shot at in the cargo hold and had to go up against one of the most dangerous ring agents in closed quarter combat. Shaw put his life in danger. And he practically accused her of being a double agent.

Sarah took a deep breath to calm the rapid beating of her heart. Chuck was fine. He'll be home soon. She was determined to never let him out of her sight again. There were too many close calls in the past twenty four hours. It made her realise that it was time they set a few things straight. She was Chuck's partner. No more solo missions for him. And seeing as he is now considered a 'real spy', they will be taking their relationship to the next level. The CIA and 'special agent' Shaw be damned.

"Hey, Casey," Sarah greeted taking the stairs down into Castle. Casey just grunted. He was still pretty furious at Shaw himself. At least she could count on his back up. The NSA recruited a decent one every once in a while. "Where's Shaw?"

Casey didn't look up from cleaning his gun. "He's in the back. Ironing his cape." Sarah suppressed a giggle. She didn't want to attract Shaw's attention in any way. Knowing Casey was in her corner and that she would see Chuck soon allowed her anger to take a back seat for now.

Moving closer to Casey, she whispered. "Will you cover for me? And cancel the car you send for Chuck? I want to go fetch him." Casey grunted again. It actually sounded like an approval grunt.

"Finally going to put the nerd out of his misery, huh?" Sarah gave Casey the biggest smile she was capable of. "Just keep it out of his place," he grunted in feigned disgust, "that is not the type of surveillance I signed up for." If anyone would ever asked John Casey, he would never admit it, but he was relieved that something good came out of this. He remembered what it was like to be in love. And to give it up. These kids deserved a break.

Sarah suppressed the urge to give Casey a hug. She needed her limbs intact. "Thanks, Casey." She barely made it up the first steps when Shaw interrupts.

"Going somewhere, agent Walker?" Sarah hesitated a moment, but she didn't turn around.

"It's personal," she answered coldly taking another step.

"Can't it wait until you're off agency time?" Shaw was sounding very condescending. As always. It irked Sarah.

"We're agents, Shaw, we're never off the clock."

"Glad you realise that. There is a lot of paper work to be done. Whatever you need to do can wait." It's time this team learnt who the agent in charge was.

Sarah took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "I'll finish up the reports when I get back."

"I didn't ask, Sarah." She decided to ignore him and headed for the door. Shaw pulled his gun on her. Casey was quicker, aiming his at Shaw.

"Do we have to go through this shit every time?" Casey asked, cocking his weapon. Shaw had no choice but to surrender.

[Section break]

Sarah was tapping her foot impatiently. Why did it always take this long for passengers to come through the terminal? She travelled more than her fair share, so she was aware of the whole procedure with baggage claim and going through customs. CIA agents had to fall in line just like the rest of the civilians if there wasn't a pressing national emergency. She looked around. Maybe I can set a fire or something. She knew she was being ridiculous. Chuck will be out soon, but she has waited three years for this moment. She was tired of waiting.

Chuck was dragging his feet. He couldn't believe it. He was literally in Paris and he didn't even get to see the Eifel Tower. This sucks. Would it have killed the government to let me spend at least one night? He was a little curious about Hannah too. See seemed like a nice girl. She wasn't Sarah, but then again, no one was or will ever be. He had to face it sometime. It was time to move on. He wasted five years pining after Jill and look how that turned out. He's not going to make the same mistake again. No matter how much he still loved Sarah Walker.

Chuck passed through the terminal, looking for his driver. Out of his peripheral vision he noticed something barrelling towards him, but before he had time to respond, he was practically tackled. Grabbing onto whatever...whoever it was, he managed to maintain his balance. Proud of the fact that he didn't tumble over, he looked down. It couldn't be. "Sarah?"

Sarah unwrapped herself from Chuck's body. She looked a little embarrassed and a faint blush tainted her cheeks. "Sorry. I don't usually act on impulse like that." She looked up at Chuck. "Uhm...hi, Chuck." It was the cutest thing Chucks had ever seen. He always thought she was a beautiful, smart, badass ninja girl. And she could be funny, even if she didn't think so. She was everything he ever wanted in a woman. But he had never seen her cute side. It made his heart beat a little faster.

"What are you doing here?" He was surprised. They haven't exactly parted on the best terms.

"I...uhm...just wanted to make sure you were okay. Are you okay?" She gave him a once over to make sure he still had all his body parts. When she lifted her hand to check his forehead, because you can't be too careful, Chuck caught it. She immediately entwined her fingers with his.

"I'm fine. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. No." Sarah answered breathily. This was hard. She never openly discussed her feelings with anyone. She was nervous as hell.

Chuck frowned a little. "So which is it?" Was she sick or something? He lifted their joined hands and checked her forehead with the back of his hand.

Sarah became aware of the strange looks they were getting and quickly lowered their hands. "Let's get out of here." She wasn't chickening out, but maybe an airport was not the best place to tell him. She wanted to tell him, she just needed to figure out how. She dragged Chuck behind her towards the exit.

"What? No welcome home kiss?" Chuck quipped. He was finding it difficult to read Sarah, but humour usually snapped her out of her weird moods. Right now, she was acting very strange.

Sarah stopped so suddenly, Chuck nearly crashed into her. He just gave her the opening she needed. She spun around and cupped his cheek in her free hand. "Sar...?" She reached up and crashed her mouth to his, cutting off what he was going to say. It took Chuck all but two seconds to get over the initial shock. He let go off the suitcase he was wheeling behind him and pulled Sarah closer, kissing her back as much eagerness as she was showing. They ignored the whistles and snide 'get a room' remarks from by passers. Nothing else existed but giving into three year's worth of pent up tension. They have kissed before, but usually in the company of a ticking time bomb or a seduction school instructor. Except for Barstow.

Chuck reluctantly ended the kiss. His need for air won out. "Wow. I should go away more often."

Sarah didn't respond immediately. She was still struggling to breathe normally. Chuck misinterpreted her silence. "Look, Sarah...please just don't say it."

Sarah frowned. Don't say it? I thought he'd be happy when I finally admitted that I...

"If it was a mistake...or...or an impulse thing...let's just turn around...and...and walk out of here and forget it ever happened...I just don't want to hear..." He thought I was going to let him down again. Not that I blame him.

"I love you, Chuck," Sarah tried to interrupt his babbling.

"...and Beckman won't find out...and if Shaw asks...wha...wait...what?" He must have heard wrong. He was sure of it. Maybe that gunshot in the cargo hold caused some permanent damage to his hearing. "Did you just say...?" Sarah placed a finger over his lips to silence him. He took the hint.

"I love you, Chuck." Sarah's gaze didn't waver. He needed to know that she meant it, with all her heart. Chuck was speechless. "Aren't you going to say something?" Chuck nodded eagerly, pointing to her finger over his lips. Laughing softly, she removed it.

He gave her one of his famous Bartowski smiles. The one that usually made her a little weak in the knees. Right now her knees were still recovering from the kiss.

"I love you too, Sarah. So much. Always have." And then he kissed her, smiling against her lips when she immediately returns it. Who needs Paris?

"Let's get out of here," she whispered when they came up for air.

"Yeah. We'll drop the key at Castle and..."

"FedEx it."

Chuck looked surprised. "We can't just..." he started to protest.

"Why not? They did a great job with Peyman's diamond. The CIA was very satisfied with their service." Sarah leaned closer, whispering seductively in his ear. "And that we way, we could go back to my place and take care of some unfinished business from Barstow."

Chuck swallowed a little nervously. "FedEx it is."

A/N Thank you for reading. Reviews are a better reward than a pay cheque. If only my landlord felt the same way...

I don't own FedEx, nor did they ask me for a product placement or paid me in any way for advertising. And all other disclaimers apply.

Good news, no Superman in the next episode! Yeah, there's his teenage girlfriend, don't shoot me, but I actually liked Hannah. She and Morgan would make a cute couple, I think deep down he really appreciates opera, deep, deep, deep down. I was planning on writing an alternate ending for this, involving Chuck going off grid and staying in Paris with Hannah and Sarah going to Paris to find him and tell him about her red test (as it was in Paris) and they do their Charah thing, but then I thought, nah...there was enough angst in the last chapter. This was more fun to write anyway.