A/N: I have not written on this in over a month, so if it doesn't have the right tone, that's why, and I apologize.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Ellie came around the corner of the apartment complex, grinning. That grin fell from her face as she pulled up short, seeing the blond woman in front of Chuck's apartment. As she got closer the grin returned, as she realized it wasn't Sarah but her sister, Molly.

"And what do you think you're doing?" Ellie called out.

"Probably the same thing you are," Molly answered, turning toward Ellie, grinning. "I'm here to harass my sibling. You?"

"I'm not here to harass, but encourage enthusiastically," Ellie said, returning the grin. She reached into her purse and pulled out a key. "I have a key to the apartment. How were you getting in?"

"I might have learned how to pick a lock or two," Molly admitted, with a wince. "Please don't tell my dad, he'd be so disappointed." Ellie furrowed her brow at that admission. "Dad used to be a con man… I know he told you. He also knew and did all this other stuff. I wanted to learn, so I… might have dated a guy… who taught me."

"That sounds like straight up rebellion," Ellie said.

"It was," Molly admitted. "It was Sarah this, and Sarah that, and everyone being a damn goody two shoes…"

"Goody two shoes," Ellie repeated, grinning.

"Yeah, yeah," Molly muttered. "I just… I got tired of hearing about stuff, and then the whole, trust me, it's not that exciting."

"Ah, parents… they want you to not do the things they did, so they impart their wisdom to you, but give you none of the experience so you can form your own wisdom," Ellie said.

"Right!" Molly replied. "So, are we gonna do this, or what?"

"Let's!" Ellie said, putting the key in the lock. She turned it, letting them in the apartment. They pulled up short, seeing Chuck and Sarah, dressed and working together in the kitchen.

"Would you like bacon, eggs, or toast?" Chuck asked, standing at the stove, never turning toward them.

"Juice, milk, coffee?" Sarah asked. Ellie and Molly exchanged a look, and then looked at the table, where four spots were prepared. "Have a seat, it will all be ready in a minute."

"How… why… how…" Molly began.

"C3PO," Chuck began. "What were the odds Ellie and Molly showed up to mess with us this morning?"

"Approximately three-thousand-seven-hundred-twenty to one," C3PO chirped. "Will that be all, sir?"

"It will," Chuck said, taking a bite out of the bacon. He chewed, grinning at Ellie and Molly. Sarah kissed him on the cheek, took a bite out of the piece of bacon he was holding, and moved to the table to sit down.

He grinned. "Got 'em!"

}o{

Chuck tried to hide a yawn, as they sat at breakfast. Molly raised her hand to Sarah, who shook her head, but high-fived her sister. "I hate to ask," Ellie began.

"Then don't," Chuck cut in.

"But," Ellie continued, ignoring him. "Is that from bad sleep, or… lack."

"Lack," Chuck replied. "What sleep I did get was amazing, though. Seriously." Ellie nodded. "How're things at home?"

"I don't think Dad has barred your name from being said any more," Ellie informed him.

"That's a start," Chuck said to Sarah. "It usually goes from you can't ever be referred to, to no one can say your name, to it's said, but Dad looks like he ate something that tasted like roadkill."

"It was never like that," Ellie insisted. Chuck gave her a flat look. "It's not." Chuck shrugged. "So, it's probably best if you two to don't come to Orion, yet."

"That's fine," Sarah told Ellie. "Stark Technologies is wanting to talk to us anyway." Ellie's eyes went wide. "Feel free to share that with whomever."

"Pull your claws in, sis," Molly said. "You don't want to piss off your in-laws."

"They aren't pissed at her," Ellie informed them. "Mom loves her, and Dad… Dad thinks she's good…" she was silent for a moment.

"He doesn't really think all this is because of her, does he?" Chuck asked.

"No," Ellie said, shaking her head. "In his rational mind, he does not." Ellie was silent.

"Someone influencing his rational mind?" Sarah asked. Ellie shrugged. "Do you suspect someone, Ellie?" Ellie nodded. Sarah looked over at Chuck. "Why would Ted do that?"

"I have no idea," Chuck admitted. "But you know what? I just don't care, if you want to know the truth." Sarah grinned at him, and went back to her breakfast. The conversation shifted, but Sarah kept running things through her head.

}o{

"Dad, do you have a minute?" Sarah asked, later that day. She and Chuck had gotten to work shortly after they finished breakfast. Molly had taken Chuck to show him the setup Stark Technologies had for their employees. Sarah used that time apart to try and go over what Stark had hoped to accomplish by hiring them, but her mind wouldn't leave the puzzle that was Orion Industries alone.

"Sure, Darlin'," Jack said. Sarah walked in and closed the door behind her. She sat in the chair across from her dad. "Everything okay with you and Charlie?"

"What?" Sarah asked, almost laughing. "You thought this was about me and Chuck?" Jack shrugged. "Dad, we're good, but there is something I have been thinking about that I think I can use your… experience, with."

Jack shifted in his chair uncomfortably. "Uh, Darlin', you know I love you, and want the best for you, but…"

"Dad, I'm talking business," Sarah cut in.

"Oh, thank God!" Jack replied.

"What did you think I was about to ask you?"

"I have no idea," Jack admitted. "But it seemed really serious."

"It is," Sarah told him. "I think… Ellie thinks that Stephen's friend… employee… whatever. We both think that Teddy is trying to get it into Stephen's mind that I have something to do with the change in Chuck."

"Well, you do," Jack replied. Sarah jerked her chin back, shocked. "Sarah, you do. But not in the way that I assume it's being applied."

"And what way do you think is being implied?" Sarah asked, a grin on her face.

"That somehow your feminine wiles are making Chuck leave his family, and throw his lot in with you," Jack replied, returning the grin. He leaned back in his chair, tilting his body slightly to one side, relaxing. "Which, in all honesty, is the exact opposite of what is happening."

"And what is happening?" Sarah asked.

"Charlie is finding out that someone, besides his family, believes in him for who he is," Jack replied, spreading his hands, like it was simple. "And that makes you dangerous."

"Me?" Sarah asked.

"You," Jack confirmed. "If it was me, and I was running my old ways…" he trailed off. He shook his head and sat up. "You don't want to hear-"

"This is exactly why I came to you, what would someone do? Someone… unsavory?" Sarah added, wincing.

"I've done my share of unsavory things in my life," Jack admitted. A knock on the door made him pause. "Come in."

The door opened and Chuck stuck his head in. "Mr. Burton," Chuck began.

"Oh, it's something bad," Jack said to Sarah, grinning. "That's the look of something smells funny, but is it my place to say anything?"

"I thought he smelled absolutely delicious this morning," Sarah replied. Jack blanched. "He was making bacon, Dad!"

"Is that what the young folks are calling it these days?" Jack laughed at the horrified look they both wore. "Oh, you meant literally making bacon… well, then I bet he did," Jack replied. Chuck stood in the doorway, shifting uncomfortably. "Come in, close the door, and tell me what you think."

Chuck came in, closed the door, and stood there, looking unsure. "C'mere, Chuck," Sarah said, patting the chair beside her. He walked over and sat down beside her. "So, what's bothering you?"

"It's this Stark proposal…" Chuck trailed off. "Maybe this isn't my place," he began.

"It's total bullshit, and they only want to keep us busy, and not helping Orion," Jack said, making Chuck jerk his head toward the older man. "Chuck, I've been in this game for a minute. Whenever someone's rival wants us, I always ask questions."

"So, it's not just me being protective of my family's company?" Chuck asked. Jack shook his head. "Then… I'm sorry."

"Wait, why are you sorry? You have nothing to do with this," Jack began.

"May I?" Sarah asked. Jack grinned, nodding. "Baby, I know lately, everything involved with Orion Industries looks like it has something to do with you. But this… this is Peter Stark being Peter Stark the businessman, and trying to position his company to be number one."

"We're not taking the contract," Jack added. "And again, nothing to do with you."

"Okay," Chuck said. He prepared to stand.

"Have a seat, if you don't mind," Jack said. "Sarah has brought to my attention that Teddy Roark is pulling something."

"Sir, I'd like to slug him," Chuck began.

"Charlie, no… don't," Jack said, shaking his head. "You have to hit them where it hurts, and that's outsmarting someone like him. You and Sarah have to be on the same page."

"I mean, we are," Chuck said, and then he glanced at Sarah. "Aren't we?"

"We are," Sarah said, reaching over, taking his hand, and squeezing it. Jack's phone rang and he glanced at it. "Take it, we've got this." Jack nodded, and the two left Jack's office, as he lifted the receiver.

}o{

Teddy sat in his office, as Daniel Shaw entered. "Daniel, have a seat." Daniel crossed the office, sitting across from Teddy. Teddy pushed a file toward Daniel. Daniel picked up the file in front of him and began to study it quietly. "Is everything in there you need?" Roark asked.

"Enough," Shaw replied. "I can find everything else."

"What do you need me to do?" Roark asked.

"Give me a few days," Shaw told him, glancing up from the file to lock eyes with Teddy. Teddy had been told his eyes were crazy, which he took as a compliment. Daniel's… they were dead. Teddy shuddered involuntarily for a moment. "I need to prepare for this. I need to know who I'm dealing with, and the best way to seduce her." He scoffed, and pulled out Chuck's picture from the Buy More. "This is who she is with?"

"Hey, that's my Godson you're talking about," Teddy said.

"Well, I'm about to seduce the pants off your Godson's girlfriend. Are you sure about this?" Shaw asked. "This will ruin her for him."

"I'm not thrilled about it, but it's him or me… and it's never me," Roark said, a smirk on his face.

"I'll call you when I'm ready," Shaw told him. "You know what to do?"

"I do," Teddy replied. "Half the money is in your account now, the other half when you complete the job."

Shaw looked at the folder, and grinned. "I almost shouldn't charge you that second half. I'm going to, but this looks fun." With that, Shaw got up and left.

"What a bastard," Teddy said to the empty room. "Really sorry, Chucky. Maybe you two can bounce back from it. I doubt it, but maybe."

}o{

"So now that I've moved in with you, you're just gonna ignore me?" Sarah asked, a grin on her face. She popped a shrimp into her mouth.

"I'm so sorry," Chuck said, pulled out of his thoughts. The two had worked late into the evening, and instead of going home and making something, they decided to stop at the Bamboo Dragon. Chuck insisted she not tell Morgan, to which she neither agreed nor disagreed, causing him to pout slightly. "I'm just… bothered."

"You're also hot, so you're hot and bothered?" Sarah asked. Chuck gave her a flat look. "Wow, it must be bad, if that can't distract you."

"I'm really sorry, Sarah, but it's just… Teddy," Chuck admitted. "He thinks you are the problem?"

"But aren't I?" Sarah asked. Chuck blinked. "Chuck, when did you change, really change?"

"When I met you," Chuck admitted. "You complete me."

"Oh, God," she muttered, shaking her head at him, but grinning. "I gave you confidence."

"You did," he drawled, and smiled at her.

"Now, wait… you're making me hot and bothered," Sarah told him.

"And that's a problem, why?" Chuck asked.

"Because we need to get ahead of them. We need to think what they might do. We need to be prepared." Chuck sat back, the grin gone, a serious look on his face. "What are you thinking?"

"You know that person that you've never really seen do something bad, but you get the feeling if you did, it would be really bad?" Sarah nodded. "That's Teddy. But however bad you might think, it would be worse."

"If it was dad in his old days, he'd break us up," Sarah told him.

"Yeah," Chuck agreed. "It would be the smart thing to do." He grinned at Sarah. "You know what's funny?"

"What?" she asked, leaning in, putting her elbows on the table, and leaning her chin on her fists. Chuck mimicked the pose, putting their noses inches from each other. "What's funny, Chuck Bartowski?"

"Not too long ago, I would have been terrified that if something happened, or someone was sent to seduce you, or something, that it would work," Chuck told her.

"And now?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know if I should tell this to you, Sarah," Chuck began, his grin growing. "I'm afraid what it might do to you."

"What might do what to me?" she countered.

"If I tell you what I'm feeling, you might do something rash, like drive me to Vegas and marry me," Chuck continued.

"Only if you took my last name," Sarah countered.

"Chuck Walker does sound pretty badass," he admitted. "I have no dowry, though."

"You do have a cute butt, so that will do," Sarah retorted. Chuck snorted. "So, what is it that you have to tell me that would make me want to make an honest man out of you?"

"That some hunk could come in here, try to sweep you off your feet. Finger pistols, and everything," Chuck began.

"I'm pretty sure finger pistols are your thing," Sarah told him.

"They are," he admitted with a shrug. "Why more guys don't use them is beyond me."

"I'll tell you why," Sarah told him.

Chuck sat silently, waiting.

"Because too many guys don't want to show who they are. Too many guys don't want to be vulnerable, or take a risk. Too many guys are worried about impressing with some charisma, or good looks, or wealth, or whatever. Very few are willing to be themselves, warts and all – raw, naked – in front of others. In fact, in my entire time on Earth, I've only met one."

Chuck was stunned silent. He had no words.

"Spoiler alert: It's you, you big nerd."

"Well," Chuck said, taken aback. "I guess that's why I don't care who it is, or what they try to do. I trust you. I trust us. I am here, raw, naked, in front of you, and I trust what we have will survive anything."

She sat there a moment, silent. "Three Pee Oh, how long does it take to get to Vegas?"

"Oh my!" C3PO replied.

A/N: Is that as the crow flies? What? You think you're getting a preview? Yeah, you are.

"Miss Walker," Daniel began.

"It's Doctor," Sarah corrected him. "I earned my PhD, and I'm not going to have some tiny man with an inferiority complex take away what I have earned, because he doesn't understand it or appreciate it."

"Dr. Walker," he tried again.

"See, it's always the same with you ISTJs." She paused. "That stands for introverted, sensing, thinking, and judging, in case you didn't know."

"I knew," Daniel said, getting defensive.

"You are the most common types of personality, contrary to your belief that you are so special," Sarah continued. Daniel cleared his throat and loosened his tie. "You people are always so reserved yet willful, a rational outlook on life. You compose your actions carefully and carry them out with methodical purpose." She paused, and looked him dead in the eye. "In other words, you're a boring ass 2 x 4."

"Dr. Walker," Daniel tried again, in a strained voice.

"Pumpkin spice thinks you're a basic bitch, Daniel," Sarah continued.

If you are an ISTJ, please do not take this personally, this is meant to hurt Daniel and scare him off. Chances are you're not trying to sleep with someone's girlfriend for money.