A/N: So, I worry about this and next chapter. I'm gonna dive into why Stephen is the way he is. I worry it will be too much but I'm gonna TRY and not make it too much. Bad news, there is literally not a word of the next chapter written (Beta has been all over this fic) I know I took a poll, but I just didn't have a chance to work on it. I'll get to it ASAP. Without further ado, Ch 18

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck.

Chuck lay there in the dark, eyes open, staring at the ceiling. He was hurt. His father didn't believe him, thought he was trying to destroy Orion Industries. Or get him kicked out, for some crazy reason that Chuck couldn't comprehend.

"Hey," came the soft voice beside him. "Was this a mistake?"

"What?" he asked, turning to her. "No, we're never a mistake. In fact, right now, you're about the only thing right in my life."

"Wow," Sarah said. "While that was sweet, I mean would you have been more comfortable at your place, in your bed."

"Oh," Chuck replied. "Muh bad."

"You okay?"

Chuck held out his wrist to her. "You tell me, Doc."

She snorted at him. "Not that kind of doc, remember?" She did take his wrist, and felt his pulse. "Slow and steady," she said.

"What about yours?" Chuck asked.

Sarah rolled her eyes and took her own. "Slow and steady," she told him.

"So, what does that mean?" Chuck asked her.

"That while we're good at slow and steady, I'm okay picking up the pace," she told him, bouncing her eyebrows.

"We've been slow and steady?" Chuck asked, incredulously.

Sarah shrugged. "We've been what we are," she told him.

"Yeah, we are," Chuck agreed, snuggling against her shoulder. He raised his head. "Hey, you mind if I sleep here?"

"I'm gonna have to just about absolutely insist," she told him, kissing him on the side of the head.

}o{

"You do know the problem with her work, don't you?" Jack asked Chuck, as they sat at the table the next morning. Chuck wasn't hungry. He was sipping on coffee, his mind everywhere and nowhere all at once. Chuck looked up at Jack. "It's about traits, not facts."

"Okay," Chuck began.

Jack sighed and grinned. "So, Sarah likes things that she can plan for, but sometimes someone does something completely out of their trait field, and it drives her crazy."

"The human element," Chuck said.

"Exactly," Jack replied, nodding. "So, what happens when someone is detail oriented like her, and someone does the exact opposite of what she is expecting?"

"Throws her for a loop," Chuck replied shrugging. "But, isn't that what life is?" Jack grinned as he listened. Chuck continued, "We all expect certain things." Jack was silent. "For example, my father throwing me out of the building and accusing me of ruining his business: out of character. Not the trait anyone expected."

"So, what you're saying is, in some ways, we're all like Sarah?" Jack asked. "We expect things, we prepare, and then when it doesn't happen the way we think…?"

"That's where life is lived," Chuck told him. "But, there is a big difference." Jack gave him an intrigued look. "Most of our… expectations, are set on faulty data. Most of us don't give others enough credit. Take me, for example. I didn't think I deserved your daughter."

"You don't," Jack replied with a shrug. "However, I do not believe that man exists, so…" Jack grinned at Chuck.

"And you made my point on faulty data, with how you think no one deserves your daughter," Chuck pointed out.

"That's debatable," Jack replied, making both men laugh. "But I see your point. Sarah gathers data, and makes a decision based on it, for the most part. The rest of us take data we think is correct, and make that decision."

"Oh, she does too," Chuck replied. "She's not perfect."

"No, she's not," Jack admitted. "But damn near."

"Damn near," Chuck agreed. Chuck was silent for a second. "There's a point to this, isn't there?"

"The man you keep describing in that office, that's not really your dad," Jack said gently. "That's a business man in over his head."

"Molly pointed that out last night," Chuck replied, and then his eyes went wide as he realized what he had said. "Jack-"

"Calm down, Charlie. I know how much she hates my job."

"Wait, what?" Chuck asked, confused.

"I love my daughter, and she's more like me than Sarah ever will be," Jack began. "She doesn't 'hate' what I do, she just doesn't see the point in it, the fun of it." Jack chuckled. "Molly likes talking on the phone, yelling at people to get things done. She doesn't see yet how, or more importantly, why, she could make a difference. And until she does, she won't want to be a part of the business in any more capacity than she already is." He was silent for a minute. "Now, once you and Sarah take over…" he shrugged.

"I thought Sarah's boyfriend couldn't work for you," Chuck reminded him.

"He can't," Jack said, standing, picking up his coffee, and taking a sip. He grabbed his plate, started for the kitchen, and paused at the door. "But I didn't say a thing about her husband."

"Oh," Chuck replied. Jack went into the kitchen, and that's when it hit Chuck.

"OH!"

}o{

Chuck and the two Walker sisters found themselves at Chuck and Ellie's favorite Mexican restaurant around lunch time. Ellie came in, rushed over to Sarah and the two met in a hug. Molly bounded out of the booth and was instantly pulled into the hug.

Ellie looked over at Chuck. "No thanks, I'm good right here."

Ellie sat down beside Chuck, Sarah across from him, and Molly across from Ellie. Ellie slid a piece of paper over to Sarah.

Chuck raised an eyebrow. "I really want to be nosy and ask what that is, but I'm not going to."

"But didn't you, just by asking that?" Sarah asked, her eyes never lifting from the paper. She had been grinning as she was speaking, but as she read, the grin fell off. She folded the paper back up, and sighed.

"So, Ellie found out you were married over that spring break and you're cheating on him with me?" Chuck offered.

"No, I didn't get married," Sarah said.

"It was just casual sex," Molly said sipping her water.

"Ya done?" Chuck asked Molly, as Sarah was laughing.

"Nope," Molly chirped.

"I see you found your tribe," Ellie said to Chuck, squeezing his arm. "That paper is dad's personality test. I got him to take it before he lost his mind and accused you of some heinous things."

"Do I even want to know?" Chuck asked Sarah.

"Don't you like how he goes right to her, and not only that, but sees her as an expert and doesn't get his feelings hurt?" Molly asked Ellie.

"Hey, what if we got a dog together?" Chuck asked Sarah, making the other two turn to watch Chuck and Sarah. "You know, one of those ones that always yips."

"Why would we do that?" Sarah asked.

"Just so you can finally have your dog," Chuck said, trying to look innocent.

"I get it, Curls, you want to call the dog Molly. But the jokes on you, that means Molly is always gonna be around, and sitting on your bed, watching you two have sex," Molly replied.

"Okay, enough," Ellie said, making everyone laugh. "I don't want to hear about Molly watching you two have sex." Molly's eyes went wide. "Remember, he's my brother, and I have his back."

"I like you," Molly said, grinning.

"And I you," Ellie replied. "But that face you made when you read the test, what does it mean?"

"My biggest worry," Sarah admitted. She looked at Chuck and then back to Ellie. "Your father is ISFJ."

"Sweetie, you said that like he has terminal cancer," Chuck said gently.

"I know, I expect you to know things," Sarah began.

"Long story," Chuck said to Ellie and then turned back to Sarah who was grinning at him. "So being an ISFJ isn't bad? Or is it?"

"ISFJ, in itself, is not bad, but given what your father is dealing with… it's not the optimal outcome." Sarah took a deep breath. "Okay, so an ISFJ is quite unique. Many of their qualities defy the definition of their individual traits."

"Okay," Chuck said, nodding.

"Take for example your father, he's an s, or sensitive. You father has excellent analytical abilities," Sarah pointed out. Chuck and Ellie nodded. "And, you know that he is reserved, but he does have well-developed people skills, and many social relationships."

"True," Ellie admitted. "But, are the relationships because of his job?"

"Hold that thought, because I'm gonna come back to that," Sarah said. Ellie nodded. "Now, your father is what I would call a conservative type, with his expressions." Chuck and Ellie both nodded. "However, I would think you both agree that he is often receptive to change and new ideas… as long as it has nothing to do with Chuck leaving the company."

"Bouncy house and laser tag," Ellie muttered.

"I'm so gonna get you back," Sarah told Chuck, a look in her eye that made him swallow… but also feel excited.

"Did I miss something?" Ellie asked.

"Chuck took out her, Carina, and Zondra in laser tag," Molly explained

"He used C3PO, didn't he?"

"Yep, and he let Sarah download C3PO onto her phone," Molly said. Ellie's eyes went wide, and she turned to Chuck. Chuck reddened a bit and wouldn't look at his sister. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No," Ellie said, looking at Chuck. "No, you didn't," Ellie said softly.

"I feel there is a story there," Molly began.

"If there is, it's Chuck's story, and not ours," Sarah said, looking at her sister. Molly grinned. Sarah turned back to Chuck and saw a grateful look on his face. She took his hand and squeezed it. "So, to sum," she continued, trying to get Molly off what had happened to Chuck in the past. "As with so many things, people with the ISFJ personality type are more than the sum of their parts, and it is the way they use these strengths that defines who they are."

"I love the way you set the stage and give us an overview before you hit us with the big stuff," Chuck told her.

"Jesus, get a room," Molly said, rolling her eyes. Ellie laughed.

"These personalities," Sarah continued, smiling at Chuck, "are often meticulous to the point of perfectionism."

"Oh, God," Ellie groused.

"Hence why I have to believe him about the hard drives," Chuck told Ellie. "You know he has his hands on everything."

"Who's in charge of quality control, or whoever should catch it?" Sarah asked.

"Teddy," Chuck told her. "And dad said he knew, and Teddy had admitted it."

"How long have they known each other?" Sarah asked, worrying her lip with her fingertip.

"Went to college together," Ellie told Sarah. Sarah closed her eyes. "They both started their own company. Teddy's went bankrupt, and he came and worked for Dad. He has ever since."

"Loyal," Sarah said softly. Chuck's eyes widened. Sarah shook her head, and squeezed his hand again. "Let me walk you through all of this, and maybe it will make more sense." Chuck nodded.

Sarah took a cleansing breath. "Now, while this personality may procrastinate-"

Ellie and Chuck both snorted with laughter, making Sarah smile.

"-They can always be relied on to get the job done on time. ISFJs take their responsibilities personally, consistently going above and beyond, doing everything they can to exceed expectations, and delight others, at work and at home."

"The car," Ellie said softly. Chuck nodded.

Sarah was quiet for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. She had to do this delicately. This wasn't clients she was talking to, it was the love of her life and his sister, her friend.

"It's okay," Chuck said softly. "We know what you're about to say is a trait, and while it may apply to our dad, he's not perfect."

"Everyone has flaws, Sarah," Ellie added. "We don't think that you are trying to hurt us, or our dad."

Sarah nodded. "ISFJs face a difficult challenge. Sometimes they are not noticed." Chuck and Ellie shared a look. "They have a tendency to underplay their accomplishments, and while their kindness is often respected, more cynical and selfish people are likely to take advantage of an ISJF's dedication and humbleness by pushing work onto them and then taking the credit."

"Or even straight up steal their ideas," Chuck said softly.

"Or manipulating their kindness," Sarah added gently.

"Shit," Chuck muttered. "Dad could be being played."

"Teddy could be telling him that there's only a few this happened with," Ellie began.

"But he could be doing this on all the computers," Chuck finished. "But if that's the case, then where is the rest of the money?"

"We need to get mom involved," Ellie said, thinking about their next step.

"ISFJs need to know when to say no, and stand up for themselves, if they are to maintain their confidence and enthusiasm," Sarah told them. "They may also not know when to stand up." Chuck locked eyes with her. "They are going to trust those that they have history with."

"Business history," Ellie added. Sarah nodded.

"I want to walk in there right now and punch Teddy in his damn mouth," Chuck said, anger crossing his face. "I mean, does he know what he's doing to Orion Industries?"

"Does Teddy care?" Ellie asked. Chuck whipped his head to her. "Tell me you haven't always thought that Teddy thinks more of himself than he does dad."

"He does," Chuck admitted. "I've always thought Teddy thought dad should have gone bankrupt, and not him. But Teddy puts on a show as well."

"He does," Ellie agreed, irritation covering her face. "Always talking to dad like he's his best friend." They saw Sarah's face. "Go on," Ellie said. "I'm a doctor, it's best to rip away the band-aid.

Sarah nodded. "Okay, so ISFJs are naturally social, admittedly an odd quality for Introverts. ISFJs utilize their excellent memories not only to retain data and trivia, but to remember people, and details about their lives."

"Like who was there for them, when Dad thought he would lose the business?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded.

"Shit," Ellie muttered. "Teddy has told the story time after time about how his company going bankrupt probably saved Orion."

"Loyalty," Chuck said, echoing the word his father had used. He rolled his head back on his shoulders, and stared at the ceiling. "My dad is being conned."

"Dad suspected as much," Molly said softly. Sarah was looking down at the table, shame on her face. "Hey, we are who we are."

"And you use it to help others see them, where most wouldn't," Chuck replied, looking at Molly, who grinned at him. He looked over at his girlfriend and squeezed her hand. "One of the many reasons I love your family… like it was my own." Sarah raised her head and held his gaze.

"So, are you gonna be matron of honor, or am I?" Molly asked.

"Why not both?" Ellie asked, laughing. Chuck and Sarah didn't even notice them.

A/N: Whew, that was a lot, and there's more to come. I hope I have not bored you, but as I thought about this fic and researched, it became very clear to me why Stephen would act the way he did. There's more coming next chapter about him to further explain. This wasn't even planned but some reviewers were a little down on Stephen and I wanted people to understand why he acted the way he did. We're not saying it's okay, just the why. Thank you all for reading…what? I'm serious…there's nothing more. I owe you a preview on Facebook. What? You're not a member of the Chuck fanfic facebook group? WHAT? Come join me, Joe Watkins, Steampunk Chuckster and so many more. I'm a mod, so answer three questions and I'll let you right in, I promise. And you can bug Joe Watkins about not posting Matchmaker lately. (He's been really busy).