Thank you charahkids, GCG23 ,wilf21, Nomadic Nerd for the reviews. I appreciate them.

Chapter 2

For the past three days Chuck hadn't been able to get Natalie out of his mind. He still couldn't figure out what it was about her but he couldn't help but want to know more of her. To learn about her. He knew in his heart he was in love with Sarah, but he also felt that they were going nowhere. They couldn't go anywhere. Not while she was in the CIA and not while he was just an asset.

Chuck rolled over on his side, bringing his lanky legs up flat against his chest. Laying his arm under his head he could see the skin there, noticing the weight loss. It was obvious Ellie noticed it as well as she went out of her way to make sure a meal was made and food was in the fridge and things he like to eat was around. Whenever she was home she would make sure he ate, frequently bringing him snacks watching him like a hawk to make sure he was keeping it down.

Like bulimia has ever been something he did. He had to roll his eyes at that thought. He didn't do any of this intentionally, he just happens to lose his appetite when he's lower than down in the dumps.

She had tried talking to him about it. Bringing up that she noticed his moods, noticed his depression. She confessed she was very worried about him, that she was afraid he would hurt himself again. Ellie had broken down crying at that and it only served to make Chuck feel worse.

"I promised I wouldn't Ellie, I'm holding on to that no matter what happens." He told her calmly holding her tight. He promised in a soft whisper over and over that he was staying, that he'll get over it. Ellie recommended counseling again, but this time the thought dug Chuck even further. He couldn't do that. He wouldn't be able to tell her the truth. He would have to keep lying about what was wrong and make something up which would serve no purpose in the help the counseling was supposed to do.

Chuck shook his head best he could while lying down. He didn't want to think about that anymore. He's thought of it plenty over the last two days since it happened.

Even worse was when Sarah came by the night after he yelled at her. After he told her not to touch him. She pried into him, using her best techniques as an Agent to get him to confess but the whole activity just made him even sadder. That she couldn't even talk to him as her, she had to resort to her training.

He didn't blame her. He was well aware of her emotional limitations. She had grown up with a con artist father who while he no doubted loved his daughter, had obviously loved the rush of the con more. Her immediate recruitment to the CIA also probably didn't help matters either. And neither did being with Bryce Larkin.

But the constant push and pull she did to him as she figured out her own feelings was taking such a huge toll on him. And the constant fear that once this was over, if it ever was over, she would leave. And probably without much of a goodbye.

Chuck sat up in bed abruptly hoping to clear his mind. He didn't want to think about Sarah either. He didn't want to think about anything. Looking down at his watch it was only six thirty, and he knew his sister would be home soon sending another wave of exhaustion over him. He was feeling overwhelmed. Ellie would surely hover over him; force feed him then guilt him into sitting in front of the TV for a movie or something. Something he didn't want to deal with. He hated that as a doctor his sister was always over worked but she had taken in the last week to actually being home on time.

The thought struck him. He didn't want to deal with it. He didn't want to deal with anything. He didn't want. He couldn't think of anything to want. He was restless, and tired, and nothing held his attention.

Except Natalie.

He hadn't stopped thinking of her, he couldn't. She was unlike any one he'd met but at the same time he recognized himself in her. She was polar opposite to Sarah. Not just in looks but in everything else it seemed.

"Stop that." He scolded himself. He told himself on the way back from the install that he would not ever compare Sarah and Natalie. Or Sarah with anyone, because there was no one like Sarah in the world.

He glanced at his watch again, noting the date. Deciding he had nothing to lose Chuck decided he would go to the Wet Noodle. The name sounded intriguing and he could use a drink to calm his nerves and maybe his mind. And if Natalie was there, that would just be a perk.

Chuck got up and walked to his closet opening it up to look at his clothes. His wardrobe had improved even greater since Sarah came into his life. While his sister always made sure he didn't look like every other geek in the world she allowed him his own style. Sarah was the same but she was more upscale about it.

Over the course of the past few years as she came over for double dates and what not that was required for their cover she would bring him over some sort of clothing. At first they were horrendous and preppy. Something that Awesome would wear but he figured his sister had talked to her or she figured it out on her own and started bringing things over that he would consider wearing.

Since then his closet had grown exponentially more crowded.

He picked out a grey T-shirt and a black button up shirt over it followed by a pair of black jeans and his traditional Chucks. Looking in the mirror for the first time in a while he actually felt good. He felt he looked good and he wasn't nervous about going out, causing him to believe that this was exactly what he needed.

He grabbed his keys from the table and left a small note for his sister saying he was going out. He debated if he should say where but based off her current concern he didn't want her showing up and causing a scene if Natalie was there. Ellie adored Sarah and thought she was the perfect girl for Chuck. He agreed.

"And where do you think you're going Moron?" Casey stopped him at the fountain as he was passing. Chuck gave a deep sigh debating what to tell him, settling on the truth.

"Out." He said simply to which Casey gave him a sarcastic grunt.

"No none pre-approved activities allowed Bartowski. You know that." He told him sternly. Anger began rising in Chuck again at his words.

"I'm not a fucking child Casey I wish you two would stop treating me like one" He barked out. Casey gave a small look of surprise till his own anger rose up.

"Stop acting like a child we won't treat you like one." He replied. Chuck gave him an incredulous look.

"How am I acting like a child? I'm going out, on a Friday night. I'm an adult. I don't need permission from you, you're not my parent." He spat.

"That's because your parents left so they didn't have to deal with you anymore." Casey yelled.

Chuck froze, his mind going blank as the air left his lungs. He always knew Casey was an angry guy, tough love kind of man and he always respected and even liked him for it. But he never thought Casey could be so cruel. He held his breath in trying to calm the tingle from his nerves that ran over him to see what Casey would say next, afraid of what low blow he would deliver. He was sure there was plenty in that file they had complied of him after he received the Intersect.

They were both silent for several minutes before Chuck finally released his breath. He could tell that Casey knew he had crossed a line but he couldn't tell if he was sorry about it. The silence between the two stretched on for a long while, before Chuck finally took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Opening them he glared at Casey, putting all his fury into it.

"There are some things you don't say to a person Casey, because it hurts, a lot. This is one of them." He said delicately. With that he walked passed Casey intent on leaving. Casey reached out and grabbed his upper arm for a moment but one deadly glare and a clenched jaw from Chuck caused him to let go.

"Just stay in contact. Leave your phone and watch on." He warned before letting go.

With one final look Chuck turned and walked out of the courtyard without looking back. He walked down the street angrily, trying to calm his nerves. He should have known that Casey would find one of the sorest parts of him and poke it in the worst way. It wasn't the first time he thought about his parents leaving because of him but he had to admit that it was the first time somebody else had said it out loud. It caused him to think further on it.

He shook his head. No, he would not think about that tonight. He wouldn't think about anything. He was going to the Wet Noodle to have a drink, or ten in order to stop his mind from racing, from thinking. Hopefully from flashing.

Chuck shuddered at that. The flashes caused him tremendous migraines and made him dizzy and sick. He could only imagine how ill he would be having one if he was drunk or hung-over.

He walked down the street looking up at the businesses he passed, attempting to not make eye contact with anyone. Typically he was the one guy you would walk by on the street and smile to a stranger, even say a 'hey' to them, but tonight he just wanted to get to his destination.

Twenty minutes later he finally did. He stared up at the sign above the club. It did look like a wet noodle spelling out the name of the club. There was a small line outside it with a large man checking ID's and taking money.

Chuck got into line, and looked up and down at the people in front of him. He was relieved he had changed his clothes and that this appeared to be one of the more normal clubs. He didn't think he would be underdressed, not thinking about it until he had already arrived but seemed his outfit was fine to fit in.

Eventually it was his turn and he showed his ID and paid his twenty bucks and then entered the club. It was dark inside, lit only by some lights on the dance floor and up at where the DJ stood listening on his oversized head phones. The club smelled like smoke and a mixture of perfumes and body odor. It seemed to be a hip place to be with people dancing like crazy on the floor.

Chuck walked up to the bar and sat in the only empty space on the far side. He waited patiently for the bar tender to take his order for a beer before sitting there nursing it while watching those around him. The music was loud and shot through his body, shaking his insides making him slightly nauseated, making him wish he had eaten something before.

He didn't know how long he sat there alone, observing people, feeling as if he were an outsider observing in. Watching everyone else have fun. He wanted nothing more than to join them, to dance, to smile, to enjoy the music. But the energy required was something he couldn't muster up.

"I knew you'd be here." A voice said next to his ear, the warm air of her breath caused shivers down his spine. He looked over and saw Natalie standing next to him.

"Well I had nothing else to do." He shouted back at her. She smiled wide and he couldn't help but return it. She grabbed his drink in front of him and took a long chug of it finishing it off and placed it down on the table. Chuck watched enamored as her throat swallowed the bitter liquid and as her tongue darted out to lick her lips.

Natalie motion for the bartender who laid down several glasses and a bottle of tequila on a tray. She handed him a wad of Cash and looked at Chuck expectantly and walked away. It took him a second to realize she wanted him to follow her, so picking up the tray he followed best he could skirting around the dance floor and avoiding drunken bodies as she lead him to a booth in a dark corner.

She sat in the booth first scooting all the way around to the middle motioning for him to join her. He placed the tray down and scooted in as well, leaving several inches between them. He noticed Natalie roll her eyes amused and smile and close the space between them, practically sitting on him.

"I uh…do have a girlfriend." He stumbled out louder then he intended. He'd been so busy following and watching her that he didn't notice it was quieter in the corner they were in, sitting in the opposite direction of the DJ.

"Yeah, you said that before, but I don't see her here." She pointed out. She began pouring shots of Tequila into the glasses on the tray and Chuck watched as the liquid filled them.

"She was busy." He lied, not really wanting to get into talking about Sarah. She gave him a look that meant she knew he didn't tell her where he was going.

She took the salt that was on the table and licked her hand slowly as he watched her and poured the salt on her hand. She slowly licked the salt off her hand before picking up one of the glasses and drank it down in one gulp tossing her head back. She slammed the glass down on the table and immediately picked up the lime that sat in a bowl and sucked on it.

Chuck couldn't take his eyes off her. The whole process, every gulp, every lick, every facial expression fascinated beyond anything that was perceived as normal. And she swallowed it all up and put on the show. Once she was done and shook her head she looked at him expectantly but he did not move. She gave him another amused smile.

"What? You never do tequila shots before?" She asked him, still holding the shot. He shook his head no.

"I have, in college. They had a contest as part of the pledging." He said, eyes glazed a second as he remembered that time for a second. It was not his proudest moment even though he outlasted everyone, including Bryce. He had been so sick and hung over for days, missing classes, but he had made it in to the fraternity.

Chuck reached out for the salt but she held it away from him and he looked at her confused for a second. She made another show of licking her hand and pouring salt on it before holding it out to him. He looked at her dazed for a second before bringing his lips to the salt. Sticking his tongue out he licked it off her skin, tasting the salt and her skin below it. Sitting up straight he gulped down the shot of tequila feeling it burn down his throat before slamming the glass down as Natalie had done moments before.

He reached over for the lime to be stopped by her as she picked it up in her tiny fingers. He watched entranced as she held the lime to his lips and he bit into it, feeling the sourness of the juices slide down his throat after the alcohol. She dropped the lime from her fingers but continued to probe his mouth and he let her, sucking in each finger to drink the juice that was left on them.

When she finally lowered her hand from him he stared into her eyes, confusion and lust coursing through him. It puzzled him beyond reason. He didn't even know this girl but yet he felt drawn and out of control. His body and mind felt alive for the first time in a long time.

"What is it you want from me?" He finally asked, his voice husky as he stared down at her. He couldn't help notice the change in her now he was really looking at her. Natalie had cleaned up, and cleaned up well. She wore stylish clothes, her hair was up and braded. She had make up on and was presentable. It was an amazing transformation.

"I don't know yet Chuck, what do you want from me?" She countered. He thought for a moment. He wasn't sure. He wasn't even sure he wanted anything from her except to know her and be near her. He watched as Natalie repeated the routine of taking another shot and then repeated it for him. This time he didn't hesitate to do it. This time he took her slender wrist in his hand and kissed her palm, using his tongue to memorize the ridges and lines of it.

They sat there for what felt like eternity taking turns licking salt and drinking tequila. Chuck could feel the effects hitting him. The world felt askew and he was beginning to feel dizzy and warm. He wanted to leave the club and get some fresh air but he didn't want to leave Natalie. He wanted to stay with her.

For the first time in a long time all thoughts of the Intersect, of the Buy More, of assassins and terrorists, of Sarah fled his mind. All that was there was Natalie, and her scent, her taste, and the feeling of her close.

"Let's dance." She said once the tequila had almost run out. Chuck wasn't sure if he could stand let alone dance, but Natalie was nothing if not persuasive. Instead of scooting the other side of the table she crawled under table. Being as disoriented and drunk as he was Chuck hardly noticed until he felt a hand on his crotch kneading him. He felt aroused and jumped up shocked.

Natalie crawled out from under the table with a wicked grin on her face. She laughed as she bumped her head and fell a little before finally catching herself. Chuck didn't laugh though, he couldn't. She had awaken something in him and he was lost.

Finally she was able to stand up and she held her hand out to him and he scooted out of the booth and stood at his full height in front of her surprisingly not feeling as drunk as he should. She looked up at him, eyes fluttering drunkenly at him smiling.

"I felt something that I think I will like." She said to him placing a kiss on his chest. "But first, we dance." With that she turned around with her hand tightly entwined with his and led him out on the dance floor.

They stopped in the middle of it and for a second Chuck felt absolutely sick. The beat and the loud music echoed in his drunken head and the scent of the people around him made him dizzy and nauseated. Bodies moving around him pushed and pulled him and he was disoriented and frightened. Until she stepped in front of him.

He looked down at her as she stared into his eyes and suddenly everything came into focus. The music didn't echo and the bodies didn't sway him. All he could see was here and all she could feel was the beat.

Natalie slowly began to sway in front of him, closing her eyes and feeling the music course through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing up against his body causing him to move with her. And then he was completely gone.

All he knew was the beat and the feel of her as she danced with him, swayed with him. He was so focused on her, the way her body moved as if one with the music. He'd never been so aroused in his life and he never wanted it to end. He wanted to hold her closer and just dance the night away. Everything was perfect. Everything made sense.

Nothing was wrong.

A/N. Don't worry this is a Charah story...eventually.