A/N: Hello and Happy New Year to all! May 2012 bring you all the happiness you desire and indeed deserve. The update is on schedule as promised and it's a rather longer chapter to celebrate the birthday of Coreymon77, and of yours truly (I'm turning 34 today).

Chapter 10

"I'm sorry, sir," Sarah said, trying to sound patient. "But the necessary arrangements have already been made. We can't and won't change them."

"Problems?" Chuck asked, plopping down in the chair by her desk.

"Hold on a second please, sir." She covered the mouthpiece and turned to Chuck. "A Mr. Barclay from the Beverly Hills Buy More called to protest our decision to launch the game at the Burbank branch. Frankly, he's a pain in the ass."

"Let me talk to him," Chuck said with a devious smile.

"Mr. Barclay, the chief game developer would like a word with you." She handed the phone to Chuck.

"Barclay, no matter how much you bitch about it, the decision is final."

"Bartowski?"

"In the flesh. It's my game, so I get to say where we'll hold the launch…"

"The Beverly Hills branch is the flagship store!"

"Flagship of my ass, as Big Mike would say. Have a nice day, Barclay." He hung up and smiled at Sarah. "There, the matter is settled for good."

"You know this Barclay character?"

"Unfortunately, yes. He's the Ass Man of the Beverly Hills Buy More."

"He's an ass, all right."

"Ass Man means Assistant Manager, Sarah."

"It's an apt term, because he's still an ass."

"Do you see me arguing? I have to call Big Mike. They're going to have loads of laughs at the Buy More."

"Chuck! Focus! Some of us are trying to get some work done here," she scolded him.

"Okay, fine. What were you saying before Barclay interrupted us?"

"I commissioned the artwork section to make some posters and cardboard cutouts for the promotion campaign. I sent them my suggestions and even drew some on my own."

"Let me see."

She opened a file and vacated her chair so that he could sit on her computer. "They're all there. The last folder contains scans of the drafts I sent to the artists."

He studied them in detail. "They are all fantastic, but why are you showing them to me? Mom should be the one to approve them."

"Really? About you liking them, I mean."

"Sarah, you are a girl of many talents. Apparently, art is one of them."

"Thank you Chuck. And I felt that you, as the game developer, should have a say in the promotional campaign and whatever it entails. Besides, you know better. I'm no gamer, nor have I ever marketed software, so I'm just going with my gut on this one."

"Keep going with your gut, Sarah. You're doing great." He rested a reassuring hand on hers as he spoke. She looked down at their hands and then back in his eyes.

Chuck then went on an errand for his mother. When he returned, he found Sarah sound asleep, her face resting on her computer keyboard. It was a rather uncomfortable position to sleep. He should know, for during his career as a CIA agent he'd slept in the worst places imaginable. And he couldn't let her wake up with a stiff neck and back, not to mention having imprints of the keys on her cheek. So he gently shook her awake.

"Huh, what's going on?"

"You fell asleep at your desk."

"Oh, I had a long night working on those images and some other stuff. I even decided to try my hand at playing the demo. I guess I couldn't keep awake any more." She yawned and stretched with feline grace.

"Go home, Sarah. I'm giving you the rest of the day off." But then he changed his mind. "Scratch that. I wouldn't want you falling asleep at the wheel. Follow me."

Curious, she got up and followed him to the elevators. He pressed the button for the executive floor and once there he led her to an office, which he unlocked.

"What's this place?"

"It's my office. Granted, I'm not here often, but it is quiet and has a comfortable couch bed. No one is going to bother you in here. Try to get a couple of hours' sleep. I'll come back later and we can go have lunch at the cafeteria."

She was too tired to argue, so she just draped her suit jacket over a chair, placed her cell phone on the coffee table and kicked off her shoes. Chuck unfolded the couch, turning it into a bed, took a lightweight blanket from a cabinet and handed it to her.

"Thanks for everything, Chuck."

"I'll be back in a couple of hours," he reminded her.

"Okay." As soon as he left, she took her shirt and skirt off, leaving on the short slip – by Agent Provocateur – she was wearing underneath, got under the blanket and made herself comfortable. She was asleep in seconds. In the meantime, Chuck informed Mr. Watkins that she would be unavailable for the rest of the day.

"I thought I saw you leave your office earlier," his mother said when dropped by her office.

"Uh, yeah, I just left Sarah there. She fell asleep at her desk, so I gave her the rest of the day off, but I wasn't about to let her drive in her condition."

"What happened?"

"She was up most of the night working on her own artwork for the game. I thought you might want to take a look." He tossed her a flash drive and she deftly caught it.

"Looks like we hit a bonanza when I hired her. She's a most talented artist."

"Yes, I was thinking about using one of her pictures for the cover."

"Stephen tells me that the cafeteria has something delicious on the menu today. We can discuss it over lunch."

"I'll bring Sarah along, too. It's her work we'll be talking about, Mom. She has to be right there with us."

"I agree. One more thing; when are you going back to your other job?"

"Technically, I have the week after new year day off as well. But I'll stay in town even after my leave is over, unless Graham calls."

"I'm this close to having a little talk with him. He's been sending you back and forth all over the globe. You need a little rest, Chuck."

"I'm on leave, Mom."

"For a measly three weeks. And even on your vacation you're working, hard. Can't he give you a nice cushy desk job for a while? That's how agents burn out."

"Mom, I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine."

"By the way, I'm partly to blame for Sarah's exhaustion," Mary confessed. "I asked her to take a look at the plans for a security system installation. It's an important deal and I needed her to see if she could find any weaknesses. She turned in her report first thing in the morning."

"She likes it here, so she's doing her damndest to be as good at her job as possible."

"Personally, I think she's still somewhat afraid subconsciously because we know about her past, Chuck. And she works hard so as not to disappoint us. She doesn't want to betray our trust. Your father and I are counting on you to help make her understand that she has absolutely nothing to worry about."

"I believe I'm doing a fair job in making Sarah feel welcome and comfortable."

"You are," Mary smiled. "Now show me the demo. In addition to being your mother, I am your boss. Therefore, I need to see for myself how good the new product is."

"Hasn't Dad seen it?"

"He has and he had nothing but praise for it. I believe he said something along the lines of not having games like yours when he was young. He's such a Nerd, but it's one more reason to love him so much, son."

"Hold on to your seat, Mom, because you're going to have a short trip on a time machine." He smiled at her slight puzzlement. "You'll feel like you're actually watching live action."

Time flew by as Chuck showed a suitably amazed Mary his crowning achievement in the gaming field. Before they realized it, lunch time came. Stephen entered his wife's office to take her to the cafeteria.

"There you are," he said. Then he noticed them looking at a short screencast from the game. "Aces Charles, you're Aces. Let's go grab a bite at the cafeteria."

"I'll go get Sarah."

"He likes her," Stephen remarked after his son left.

"She likes him, too," Mary replied. "I see them together every day. They've become good friends in a remarkably short time."

"Yeah, they kind of remind me of us. We started as work partners, progressed to being friends and then…"

"And then we made our own family. Seriously, I'd love to see Chuck with a girl like Sarah."

"I have to say it; you and she have a lot in common."

Meanwhile, Chuck practically ran to his office. Sarah was still curled up on the couch bed, sleeping peacefully. He knelt next to her and gently shook her awake.

"Sarah… Sarah, wake up."

"Huh? Chuck? What time is it?"

"It's just past one. Come on, Mom and Dad want to talk to you about your projects."

"Can you please give me a moment to get dressed?"

"I'll be right outside."

-o-

Over lunch at the cafeteria Sarah gave her bosses an in-depth report on the projects she had been assigned. Needless to say, both Stephen and Mary were more than satisfied with her work. And of course the artwork she had submitted herself as well as some from her department was approved. She now had the go-ahead to proceed with a wider advertising campaign. Funds to this end had already been granted by the company owners. She had requested a very modest amount, which she felt would be more than adequate, especially since the Buy More would be emphasizing the pending release of the game in their own commercials. The other project had been successfully completed, too. Sarah had noticed a few weaknesses, not in the security systems proposed for the client, but in his building. The system would be appropriately configured to cover them and the client himself would receive notice from the company.

"Well?" Chuck asked as he walked her to her workspace.

"Everything seems to be just fine. Frankly, I was a little nervous about missing anything about the security system installation."

"Did you try to think like a thief?"

"Actually, yes. And I once again confirmed my opinion on your products. Even if someone managed to get in, the system would activate without delay. Thus, any attempt at breaking in would be doomed before it even got at the planning stage."

"See? You have nothing to worry about. My parents are really fond of you. For an upstart, you're doing a great job."

"I don't want to disappoint them, Chuck… or you, for what the matter. You've all showed a lot of faith in me."

"You do have a Harvard degree, Sarah. That and your experience gained in your various jobs, combined with your admirable dedication practically ensure success here."

She blushed at the deluge of compliments. But before she could reply, her phone rang. "Walker," she answered it. "Mr. Barnes, hello… OK, Jeff. No, but I will as soon as I get the chance… The posters and cutouts were just approved. I'll send some to the store… You'll make your own banners as well? That's great news, Jeff! Thanks and give my regards to everyone."

"What did Jeff want?"

"Ever since we announced on our website that we'll launch the game at the Buy More, people are asking about it all the time. Big Mike wants to know about the actual date. I guess I'll have to lean on the production department and have them speed things up. By the way, how are we going to distribute?"

"The Sales Department will handle the matter. Don't worry your pretty head about it."

"Then I only have to oversee the initial promotion and advertising, right?"

"We need you for the launch event, too. What have you planned for it?"

She smiled. "I figured a few days of exclusive sales at the Buy More will be good before we go for wider distribution. You'd better have the online gaming server ready by then."

"Duh, it's nothing. I asked some friends at the webmaster's to handle it."

"Are you and your parents coming to the Goodbye 2011 party at the Miller?"

"We wouldn't miss it for the world, Sarah. I'll pick you up at your place."

-o-

True to his word, Chuck drove to the Maison 23 the following evening and took the elevator to the eighth floor while carrying a huge pot with a gardenia. He had seen it at a florist's on the way to pick up Sarah and purchased it on a whim.

"Yes?" Sarah answered the door, seeing a potted plant with feet.

"Delivery for Ms. Walker," Chuck replied, changing his voice a little.

"Who is it from?"

He lowered the pot a little, allowing her to see his face. "It's from a friend to a great friend."

"Thank you Chuck," she said beaming. Then she eyed him up and down. He looked fantastic in his tailored tuxedo. "Are your folks coming?"

"They all are. It was very considerate of you to invite Ellie and Devon as well."

"I liked them when we met at the company holiday party. Besides, I thought you'd like to celebrate the arrival of the New Year with all your loved ones present."

"You have no idea."

She turned around to find a place for the gardenia, giving him the chance to admire her outfit. It was a floor length backless red gown, slit along one side, with matching high heeled ankle strap sandals. She was also wearing her hair in a long ponytail and her makeup was expertly done. To be frank, red wasn't really his color, but he was beginning to reconsider.

"Don't mind the mess," she said when she found the perfect spot for her gift. Indeed, her dresser was littered with various bottles, boxes and compacts of cosmetics. She smiled at him. "I broke into Carina's apartment and borrowed some of these."

"Won't she get suspicious?"

"Not as long as she believes that she taught me my lock picking skills," she laughed. "It's Mistress Red, by the way."

He shot her a look of utter puzzlement.

"The lipstick I borrowed from Carina's room. You were kind of staring at my lips."

"I was? Well, it looks good on you. Shall we?"

"Lead the way."

They made it to the Miller just a few minutes after Mary and Stephen. They found their parents talking, Emma glaring at Jack and Stephen. Mary had obviously ratted them out. "Let's go save your Dad," Chuck suggested.

"I think it's too late for that. Mom can really hold a grudge. She'll probably come up with a suitable punishment for Dad's transgression."

Chuck laughed and grabbed two champagne flutes from the tray of a passing waiter. He offered one to Sarah, who accepted it with a smile.

"Hopefully, you can talk her into ameliorating her vengeful intentions."

"Maybe I can. I think I'll play the baby girl card. It always worked when I was little."

Chuck's mind formed an image of a blond little girl in pigtails making puppy dog eyes at her parents. "I'd never doubt that for a second."

"And I have a surprise for you."

"What kind of surprise?"

"Look over there." She jerked her thumb in the direction of a cluster of tables. His eyes followed her pointing thumb and his jaw dropped in surprise when he saw Bryce, Jill, Morgan and a girl he didn't immediately recognize, as her back was turned, sitting at one of the tables. "I know how much family and friends mean to you, Chuck, so I made sure you could have both tonight."

He was rendered speechless, and the only thing he could do was give her a big appreciative hug, which she eagerly accepted and indeed returned.

-o-

"TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Everyone had joined in the countdown. The people in the huge room applauded and cheered as they ushered in 2012. Chuck and Sarah hugged again. Next to them, Bryce and Jill and Morgan and Alex – Chuck and Sarah had by then recognized her as the waitress from the diner – were kissing. When things quieted down, the band started playing again.

"Care to dance, Sarah?"

"Why, I thought you'd never ask, Mr. Carmichael," she replied in a low voice. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

"I love this piece. It's the same one as in True Lies."

"Huh?" Sarah asked as he pulled her close.

"It's a movie."

"Oh."

"I'll make sure you watch it some day."

By virtue of his spy training, Chuck knew how to tango. Sarah was an excellent dancer, too. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw his and Sarah's parents dancing as well. At some point Stephen and Jack even switched partners, the former dancing with Emma and the latter with Mary.

"They're enjoying themselves," Sarah remarked. "Maybe Dad's punishment won't be so severe after all."

"Well, it's the New Year, Sarah. Your Mom can be forgiving."

-o-

A while later, most of the guests had left to go home, their parents and friends included. Chuck and Sarah were two of the very few people left. And during the party they'd both drunk more than usual, being quite tipsy as a result.

"The others were smart to take cabs to get here," Sarah slurred.

"Uh-huh. I don't think Graham would be terribly pleased to have to get me off a DUI rap, assuming I don't crash the car first."

"We can crash here," Sarah said in a flash of inspiration.

"Here-here? Sarah, this is a five star hotel and it's probably booked solid."

"I happen to know something you don't," she smiled drunkenly, took his hand and dragged him to the front desk. After a quick talk with the receptionist, she triumphantly brandished a key card in front of his face. "Mom and Dad always keep a room available should any friends or relatives come to visit. We can sleep in there. Plus, the champagne we serve here is excellent, so at worst we'll have very mild hangovers."

It made sense to him, so he stood back and let her lead the way. The room was a typical room for the hotel, elegant and comfortably furnished. They took turns at the bathroom and started getting ready for bed. Chuck took off his jacket, tie, shirt, shoes, socks and pants, hanging them neatly in the closet. Behind him, Sarah had just untied the halter of her dress when she realized something.

"Um, Chuck?"

"Yes?"

"We may have a little problem here."

"Problem? What kind of a problem? Is it about the single bed? Because I can sleep on the floor and you can have it all to yourself."

"Don't be stupid, Chuck. The bed is big enough for the both of us. The problem is sleepwear. I just remembered that I am not wearing a bra. And I can't very well sleep in my dress."

As a CIA agent, Chuck was accustomed to making snap decisions. He took his t-shirt off and held it behind him for her to take. "You can put this on," he told her. "It's clean."

"Thanks." She took it from his hand, noting with satisfaction that he wasn't looking. He'd seen the goods before, but it had been purely accidental. And now he was being his usual decent, considerate self. Stepping out of the dress, she pulled the t-shirt on. She found it very comfortable. "Okay, you can turn around, Chuck."

He got in bed as she hung the dress in the closet. Being a man, he couldn't help but admire her shapely body in his t-shirt and a pair of lacy boy shorts. "Goodnight Sarah."

She got under the covers next to him. "Goodnight Chuck."

They were both fast asleep in a remarkably short time, keeping to their own sides of the bed. But as they slept, they gravitated towards each other, ending up cuddled together. Their dreams might have had a little to do with it. Even when changing positions in their sleep, they did it in total harmony, not disturbing each other in the slightest. By late morning, they were spooned together, Sarah's back pressing on Chuck's chest, and holding hands. At eleven thirty, the sunlight coming into the room through a gap in the drapes played on their faces, causing them to wake up.

Chuck, his eyes still closed, caressed her knuckles, liking the feel of her smooth skin under his fingers. She made a contented little noise and laced her fingers with his. Realizing where they were and what was going on, both opened their eyes and looked at each other. Then it happened. They kissed again. Only this time the kiss was not fueled by desperation, but intense, white hot burning desire. When their lips separated, they were panting heavily. Having barely caught their breath, they kissed yet again.

"Chuck," Sarah panted as his mouth moved from her lips down to her neck and nipped at her pulse joint.

"Yes?"

"We… if… we go… all the way… oh, don't stop… yes, right there… protection…"

"My wallet… nightstand…"

"Got it… found one! Hooray!"

"Just one?" Chuck's head shot up. "There should be two!"

"Well, there is only one and a note."

"A note?"

"See for yourself."

"Hmmm…" The note was written on hotel stationery. 'IOU one condom. Your pal, Morgan,' it read. "I'm gonna kill Morgan!"

"He filched your condom?"

"He must have gotten lucky last night. But the fact remains that we now only have one condom."

"Then I guess we'll have to make it count. Are you game, Mr. Bartowski?"

"Do your worst, Ms. Walker!" Chuck said, accepting the challenge.

"Are you sure you can take what I can dish out?"

"Whatever you dish out I can return fivefold, maybe tenfold."

"Cocky, aren't you, Chuck Bartowski? Let's see if you walk the walk as good as you talk the talk."

"You're so on, Sarah Walker!"

The conversation quickly died down and was replaced by a cacophony of moans, grunts and screams of pleasure. Fortunately, the soundproofing of the hotel was excellent. Not even the guests next door had any idea of what was going on in Chuck and Sarah's room. Afterwards, Chuck lay on his back, hands clasped behind his head, the goofiest of goofy grins on his face as he stared at a point on the ceiling. Sarah was holding on to him like she used to hold her teddy bear as a child, eyes closed and an angelic smile on her face. They had made this one go count.

"A dollar for your thoughts," Chuck said suddenly, when he noticed her looking at him.

"I thought it was a penny."

"Inflation," he shrugged.

"I see."

"Well?"

"Well, I like you, Chuck. But I made that abundantly clear."

"I like you too, Sarah."

-o-

Chuck dropped Sarah off at the Maison 23 and drove back to his apartment. He parked the car and strutted to the courtyard like a prized peacock. Hearing voices from his sister's apartment, he tried to reach the open window of his room as furtively as possible, but to no avail.

"Someone's doing the walk of shame," Ellie said, with laughter in her eyes.

"Looks like it, El," Devon agreed. "Did you score last night, bro?"

"Where did you disappear to last night, guys? I might have needed a lift home, as I couldn't drive. I had a little bit too much to drink. So, I stayed at the hotel and slept it off. As for the other thing you asked about, even if I did, gentlemen don't kiss and tell. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go change."

"I can smell a woman's perfume on him from here," Ellie whispered to Devon as Chuck disappeared inside his apartment.

"Yes, I caught a whiff, too. He did get lucky, it seems. I wonder with whom."

"My money is on the blonde we saw him with at the party. Mom told me she works at the company."

"Nothing like a little office romance to start the year with," Devon chuckled.

Ellie elbowed him on the ribs. "Men," she huffed.

"No, seriously, hon. If it works for them…"

She thought about it for a second. "You're right," she conceded.

Sarah also tried to avoid her sister as she made her way to her room, but to no avail. Carina ambushed her just as she was unlocking the door.

"Doing the walk of shame, are we, baby sis?"

"I was drunk and decided to sleep it off at the hotel," she replied as nonchalantly as she could.

"Didn't Chuckles drive you there?"

"Yes, so?"

"He just left you at the Miller? Wait, you two… You did it!"

"No we didn't."

"Stop lying to me, sis. I can tell. Besides, the hickey on your neck is a dead giveaway."

"Hickey?" Sarah's hand flew to her neck and rubbed a spot.

"You successfully defended the reputation of the Walker Girls. I failed, but you did manage to get him between the sheets. Congratulations."

Sarah actually laughed. "Thank you – I think."

"But now I want details. Tell me everything, and I mean everything."

"Dream on. Some things are private, you know."

A quick shower later, Sarah was sitting on her bed in a t-shirt and basketball shorts, with her laptop computer open, looking at her emails. As it was New Year's Day, she decided to abstain from work. At some point she found her mind wandering to Chuck. Was what they'd done this morning going to remain a one-night, or rather one-morning stand, or would there be more? She would be fine with the former, she told herself, but somehow she knew that the latter would be infinitely more preferable.

In his room, Chuck was fingering his phone. Should he call Sarah so soon after dropping her off at home? She said she liked him and he liked her back, but were they in a relationship now, or was it just satisfying urges? Only time would tell. He only hoped that it wouldn't adversely affect their friendship, but he was confident it was strong enough already. He resolved to call her the following day and ask her out to dinner. Maybe he'd get the answers he needed. And he was quite hopeful. After all, he'd been attracted to her almost from the moment he met her in Rome.

What he didn't know, was that Sarah herself had also felt a similar attraction, despite having been blackmailed into working with him and his team. He'd more than made it up to her, anyway.