A/N: A new day has dawned. We have three contestants remaining, so things are going to get interesting. At least, that's the hope. I'll leave that for you to judge. Let's see what new event they have planned for Chuck and the others.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck. Use as directed. Objects in the A/N are more interesting than they appear. Offer not valid in Puerto Rico, Guam, Ohio or wherever prohibited by law. Drink responsibly. Don't squeeze the Charmin. All your base are belong to us. Hail Gallaxhar!

Chapter 13

It was a beautiful morning. The birds were singing, the sun was shining and Chuck was excited. Nervous, but excited. He knew that whatever lay ahead of him today, he would have to step up his game; whatever that meant. That's what people said though, wasn't it? But in practice, what did that mean? Chuck didn't really have a clue. He had woken up early, and since his mind was racing far too much to think about going back to sleep, he decided to go for a run.

Dawn cast long shadows on the dew-covered grass, the morning air still brisk enough he could practically see his breath. The crisp, cool air was invigorating, energizing him even more. As he jogged around the property, he thought about the task ahead of him. Naturally, he didn't know what event lay in store for them today, but what he did know was that he had to prove himself to her, show her that despite appearances, he could make her happy, if just given the chance. That was all well and good, but how? He hadn't seemed to have the ability to do that with a regular woman, let alone someone as utterly amazing as Sarah. Sure, she seemed very down to Earth during their talks, but, undoubtedly, she would be accustomed to a certain level of 'effort'. She had dated some of the most handsome, charming and wealthy leading men in Hollywood. They had all turned out to be assholes, granted, but still the caliber of men she was used to would be hard to live up to.

Ellie's words played over and over in his mind. Her pep talk going into all of this still helped to center him, to remember what was really important. He had thought about it so much he could practically recite it word for word.

"If you truly want someone to like you for who you are, then you have to be yourself. That's it! Just be you. Just be Chuck Bartowski, nerd extraordinaire. Chuck Bartowski, who's sometimes a little awkward, makes corny jokes and loves with his whole heart. If it's the right person, they'll pick PB and J over that steak dinner, every time."

So far, he had tried to stick to that plan and he felt he had been true to himself, for better or worse. When he thought about it, Sarah had been pretty frank about the notions of her being out of his league, even going so far as to say that he was 'batting a thousand'. Sports metaphors weren't really his thing, but he knew enough, and had taken enough Statistics in college, to understand the implications. Maybe he was doing something right, and if he deviated from that course now, he would likely ruin whatever advantage he might have gained. After all, she was on this show to find a "regular guy", not another arrogant, narcissistic celebrity. While he didn't really feel he fit into the "regular guy" archetype, he hoped that his unique qualities might set him apart. The one unique quality he knew he possessed was his unending desire to make Sarah Walker happy, whatever the cost. With that, there was no plan 'B'. If she didn't choose him, then… The thought put a knot in his stomach so strong that he had to stop running to catch his breath.

He repeated the mantra aloud, "Be yourself. Be yourself. Be yourself." He could practically hear his sister's voice, feel her presence, and it helped to quiet the panic that was brewing inside him. "You can do this," he continued talking to himself, thankfully surrounded by nothing but nature. So far, the outings and events had seemed to play to his strengths, even when he didn't realize it. As long as that streak continued, he might be able to make it to the final two. As long as he wasn't pit against Jason and Will in some bizzare battle of looks and charm, he might stand a chance.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was nine o'clock that morning when Chuck and the other remaining contestants found themselves in front of the house, once again, faced by Alex Forrest. The cameras were rolling, along with Chuck's stomach. The nervousness had subsided during his run and throughout his breakfast and shower, but when he got in place to begin shooting, it all came rushing back. He tried to reassure himself, as he had this morning, but to only minor success.

"Good morning gentlemen. I realize that this competition has been quite rigorous and demanding. Unfortunately, that's not about to change. Since beginning this competition, you've gotten only a small taste of some of the things that Sarah has to deal with in her daily life. Another aspect of Sarah's life as a celebrity and philanthropist is to attend major events or charity functions; things such as movie premieres, fundraisers or even awards ceremonies like the Oscars. If you were to be in a relationship with Sarah, you would most definitely be required to attend as her escort. That, gentlemen, is the focus of today's outing. Tonight, you three will be accompanying Sarah to the WISH Gala. This is a major fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. This will be a star-studded affair, complete with a red carpet entrance, food and dancing. This is a formal event, and you will need to be dressed and groomed appropriately. So, the first part of today's outing will be … a makeover." The men gasped slightly, looking between each other, as if to gauge the others' reactions.

"If you're going to be Sarah Walker's company, you'll have to look the part." Chuck flinched at Alex's words, almost like a punch to the stomach. Look the part? He was never going to "look the part", no matter what sort of makeover they had planned. He tried to push down his growing panic so he could hear what else she had to say.

"To make that happen, you'll be taken to our makeover studios to be groomed and dressed by some of the best stylists in Hollywood. Once that is completed, a limo will whisk you away to the Beverly Hilton, the site of this year's Wish Gala. You'll walk the red carpet with Sarah and then accompany her throughout the evening. Once the festivities have drawn to a close, the limo will return you here, to the house. Then, tomorrow morning, she will make her choice of who the two finalists will be. So, good luck gentlemen. Your chariot awaits." Alex gestured toward a limousine parked in the driveway, the driver holding the back door open for them.

The other two contestants looked thrilled, practically jogging over to the limo. Chuck, on the other hand, was having a difficult time with all of this. Although he had managed to make it through the other outings, this one was entirely different. This one would require him to compete against the other guys' looks, physique and ability to walk without tripping over their own feet. Having a great personality was all fine and good, but it didn't photograph well. He was doomed. Shaking himself back to reality, he moved to catch up with Jason and Will, getting into the back of the limo with them.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Chuck, Jason and Will were met by Sydney and a film crew outside a nondescript storefront in the Design District of West Hollywood. The only reason Chuck knew where they were was due to the flags on the light poles lining the street, advertising that fact. He didn't frequent this area of L.A., or any other area of L.A. for that matter, besides Burbank, where he lived. There was no sign on the building, only the address number, so there was nothing to indicate what the establishment might be. The surrounding area was filled with trendy looking boutiques and restaurants. Judging by the cars parked along the street, these businesses attracted some rather affluent customers.

As they were ushered into the building, they were greeted by a welcoming reception area with comfortable seating, artwork on the walls and numerous decorative cabinets, filled with what looked like hair care products. The quantity and variety was mind boggling, considering Chuck only had a single bottle with shampoo and conditioner combined. He doubted there was any of that here. Sydney got them situated within the waiting room and Alex Forrest walked in a moment later, her hair fluttering in the breeze as the door closed behind her. She, Sydney, the camera operator and sound person talked for a moment, discussing the setup for the scene. With a few minor adjustments to the placement of the contestants, the shooting started.

"OK, guys. Around that corner are the stylists that will work with each of you to make you 'red carpet ready' for tonight's gala event. You'll be taken one by one to your own private areas where they will give you the full celebrity treatment. Once you've been pampered and groomed, you'll meet with your personal design stylist to find you the perfect outfit for this evening. Then, each of you'll have a private reveal with Sarah, giving you a chance to talk before all of you take the limo to the event. So, if you'll have a seat, they'll call your names when they're ready for you." Alex gestured for the men to sit on the long leather couch and adjacent wingback chairs. Jason and Will sat on opposite ends of the long couch, leaving Chuck to sit in one of the chairs.

Alex took her leave, now that her portion was complete, bidding everyone goodbye and good luck. Sydney approached the contestants, leaning over slightly to address them, "Alright guys. As Alex said, they'll call your names when they're ready for you, so just wait here, read a magazine. There's a coffee shop next door. Can I get you guys a coffee or anything?" She looked between them with a smile. The two men on the couch rattled off their complex coffee orders, Sydney dutifully making note of them on her iPad. Turning to Chuck, he could see the stress in her body language, even though she was putting on a smile.

"How about I come with you and help you carry everything? One of these guys," Chuck gestured to Jason and Will on the couch, "or Bruce or Eddie over there," pointing at the camera and sound guys, "can come and grab me if they call my name." Bruce and Eddie agreed, Will nodded his agreement and Jason just shrugged. Sydney's smile turned more genuine and the tension in her shoulders seemed to lessen.

"Thank you so much. That would be great actually." With that, she stood to her full height and started toward the door, Chuck rising to follow after her.

They entered the 'Mean Bean' coffee shop, the aroma of fresh ground coffee beaconing them forth. Chuck gestured for Sydney to go first and she rewarded him with an appreciative smile. Chuck admired that she was able to recite the order without having to refer back to her notes, showing what a mind for details she had. A useful skill in her business. She added a coffee for herself and two for the other crew members before turning to Chuck.

"Oh, uh… coffee. Black, please." Chuck just shrugged at the strange looks he got from both Sydney and the barista. "I'm a man of simple tastes, I guess." They all gave small chuckles of amusement before they were interrupted by Sydney's phone ringing.

"Oh crap. It's Zondra. I'm sorry but I gotta take this. Hey, Zondra… yeah. Yeah. They're waiting. I'm just getting them coffee right now…" she continued as she stepped away, the conversation trailing off. The barista looked at her then at Chuck.

"Oh. Right. Here. Let me…" Chuck dug in his pocket, pulling out his wallet and inserting his credit card into the machine. After the obnoxious beeping, reminding him to remove his card, he replaced it in his wallet and took the receipt. Chuck stood back and watched as two baristas worked on the substantial order.

"OK. Where was I? Here. I've got-" Sydney returned, digging her billfold out of her purse and stopping when she saw that she was apparently too late. "Chuck! You… you didn't have to do that. Here, let me pay you back-"

"No. No. It's fine. No big deal," Chuck interrupted, waving her off. "Besides, the show's paid for all of my meals so far, the least I can do is buy some coffee." Shrugging with his self-deprecating smile. Shaking her head in amusement, Sydney relented.

"Alright. If you insist. Thank you, Chuck. That was very nice of you." Sydney, brushed some stray hairs behind her ear as she watched the baristas make their drinks. After a moment, she perked up and turned to Chuck.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Alex called that number you gave. She said that … Morgan was it? Anyway, she said he was very excited to hear from her, especially when she said that you had sent her. She had to do a bit of explaining about how she knew you, and so on, but he seemed excited to meet with her nonetheless. They have a lunch meeting today to go over HR policies and compensation, that sort of thing." Chuck burst out in laughter, holding his stomach and covering his mouth to try to mute his outburst. When he finally gained control of himself, he waved at her in apology.

"I'm… I'm sorry. That… that's funny. We don't have any HR policies. We don't even have 'HR'. Morgan and I are the only … 'H' there are. Get it? You see what I-"

"I get it. I get it. That was bad. Ok, it was a little funny, but it was still pretty bad," she admitted, shaking her head in amusement. "So is he just wasting her time or…"

"Oh no! No. I'm sure he'll hire her. I suspect that he's just trying to put his best foot forward. You know, in the event that she's attractive and there is even a remote possibility that she might be interested in him." Chuck immediately put his hands up in surrender, "Don't worry. He's harmless. And by no means is her employment predicated on her looks or her interest in Morgan. He just… doesn't get out often. I'm sure he'll try to impress her, try to win her over to ensure that she'll want to work for us. That's just Morgan. I promise, he won't do anything inappropriate… I hope," he murmured, rolling his eyes. Sydney chuckled, shaking her head.

"Oh, Alex can take care of herself. She competed in the Taekwondo Junior World Championships in high school and still practices. I'm not worried," she reassured Chuck.

"Maybe I should be. I doubt he has health insurance." That caused both of them to burst into laughter until they were interrupted by the not-so jovial barista. Handing them drink carriers with their bounty, they made their way back to the salon. Will took his pretentious coffee - which was arguably more milk and syrup than coffee- and offered his thanks. Everyone was genuinely thankful, and they all sat drinking their coffees. The conversations were light and superficial, when there was any. Will and Chuck held a conversation about their respective jobs, Jason adding to the conversation as well. Chuck pulled Bruce, Eddie and Sydney into the conversation too, trying to make them all feel included.

Jason was the first one to be called and the show's crew followed him. Shortly after, Will was called back, leaving Chuck sitting by himself. He sat balancing his empty coffee cup on the end of one finger, when a shrill voice cut through the silence, startling him.

"Charles!" Chuck bobbled the cup a number of times before finally regaining control, grasping it tightly in both hands.

"That-that's me. I'm… I'm Charles," he stammered out, jumping to his feet. He turned to see a short, slight man with shoulder-length, black hair that looked wind-swept even though there was no breeze inside. The much smaller man looked Chuck up and down several times before refocusing on his face.

Clapping loudly, the man shouted, "Well come on! Let's go. You can't rush perfection," he exclaimed, gesturing to himself. "You, however, need to get your ass movin', Charles. Go!" Taken aback, Chuck moved quickly, following the diminutive man's directions. He was ushered down the hallway and pushed into a room on the left. The room had your typical salon equipment: chair, shampoo station, plus tons of product and hair styling gadgets. The array of brushes, combs and scissors might as well have been a display of torture devices, most of their uses were a mystery to Chuck. Jason, one of the cameramen, was already set up in an out of the way corner. Chuck was trying to take it all in, including the odd decorations in the room. Along one wall was a rather garish print of Ganesh, spread across five separate panels. A small table below it had other figures and trinkets that looked to be related to the Hindu religion as well. Oddly, on the adjacent wall was a framed canvas with Hebrew symbols written in concentric circles. There were small shelves around it with various tchotchkes, Chuck could only assume they were related to Judaism. The juxtaposition of these two walls, and their respective religious affiliations, made Chuck shake his head, doing a double-take. Pointing between the two walls, he tried to form a question, but he had no idea where to begin.

"The chair's over here, Charles. Put your butt in it." Chuck shook himself out of the theological spiral he found himself in and moved to sit in the styling chair. He couldn't help but feel that this stylist was being a bit rude, but maybe that was just the way things were in Hollywood. Sitting back in the chair, he tried to get comfortable. With a flourish, the stylist whipped a salon cap through the air, like an Indian matador, before it came to rest, draped over the front of Chuck. Afraid to move, Chuck just sat frozen, waiting for what might come next.

"Relax! You're too tense," the man ordered as he fastened the salon cape around Chuck's neck. He looked into the mirror at Chuck, sizing him up. "OK Charles, what are we doing?"

"Um… uh… I-I dunno. I thought…. I thought maybe that would be your area of expertise," Chuck replied with a wince.

"So let me get this straight. I have complete autonomy over your hair? You're not going to try to tell me how to do my job?" The shorter man stared intently at Chuck through the mirror as he stood behind him. Chuck tried to get his hand out from under the cape several times before successfully getting free. He held up a finger before beginning his response.

"Well, two things first. One, please call me Chuck. Charles just sounds too pretentious. Plus, my sister used to always call me Charles when I was in trouble, so just Chuck, if you don't mind?" The stylist considered Chuck for a moment then nodded.

"Very well. Proceed."

"Great. OK, second thing, what do I call you? I mean, wh-what's your name?" Chuck asked, looking back at the man behind him in the mirror.

"There are some who call me… Lester," he replied, looking at Chuck skeptically.

"Ok… what um… what do the others call you?" Chuck inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"They… well, they call me Lester too, I guess. Sometimes a few other choice names I won't repeat with the camera rolling." Lester cleared his throat, looking around the room. Anywhere but at Chuck or the camera.

"Alrighty. Well… Lester. Here's the thing. I'm going to a gala event tonight, where I'm going to be seen with an incredibly beautiful woman. This," he stated, gesturing to himself, "is no competition for the other guys, at least in the looks department. My one hope is that I just don't embarrass myself, or her. Especially her. Can you do that? I'm not asking for miracles, I just want to look presentable."

"Charles, err, Chuck. I think we can do better than presentable. Let's take a look here." Instead of raising the chair as was customary, Lester had to lower the chair slightly so Chuck's head was at the appropriate height. He began to spin the chair, examining Chuck as he made slow revolutions. "Alright. These curls. There's just too much there. It's too busy. What is that, a flamingo? A camel? It has to go. We need to tame that jungle, Chuck." He began to run his hands through Chuck's hair, causing Chuck to look a little concerned. After a moment he stopped, his hands still buried in Chuck's hair. "Give me your head, Chuck. Give me free reign over this glorious mop and together, we'll make history!"

Chuck sat frozen, like a deer in headlights. He was certain there was something not entirely right with Lester, but maybe that was exactly what he needed right now. A little crazy. "O… Okay. Just… be gentle. Please?"

"Silence! I must harness the energy of the past to ensure your future success." Lester slid open one of the drawers in his station and began rifling through it, his back to Chuck.

"So uh…. H-how does that work, exactly? Is there like some incense or…. Or praying involved?" Chuck asked with no small degree of apprehension. Lester spun to face him, a confused look on his face.

'Uh, no. I was just gonna pull up the 'All Out 80s' playlist on Spotify," he stated indignantly, waggling his cellphone in front of him. Shaking his head in exasperation, he tapped a few times on his phone and music began to play through a series of speakers throughout the room. A huge grin spread across Chuck's face as he recognized the song.

"Boy, ain't that the truth," Chuck chuckled at only hearing the song's intro.

"I can't stop the way I feel

Things you do don't seem real

Tell me what you've got in mind

Cause we're running out of time

Won't you ever set me free?

This waiting 'round's killing me

She drives me crazy

Like no one else

She drives me crazy

And I can't help myself"

"Chuck, prepare yourself for greatness," Lester declared as he stood behind Chuck with a comb, scissors and an almost maniacal look in his eyes.

"Oh brother."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"So? Are you excited for tonight? It's not every night you get to have three eligible bachelors vying for your attention," Zondra asked, taking a sip of her coffee. "Well, I suppose for you, that's just a regular Tuesday or something." Sarah snorted at that, rolling her eyes. She paused for a moment, as a rather loud truck drove past the quaint outdoor cafe where they were having a late breakfast.

"Not exactly. When I'm not working, I'm at home or at the gym prepping for my next role. When I do go out, it's … it's more like ogling than anything." Sarah gave a small shiver before taking a drink of her own coffee.

"You have to admit, Jason and Will are pretty damn sexy. I can't wait to see how they fill out a suit or tux," Zondra continued. Sarah just played with her cup, giving a shrug. "And then there's … Chuck." Sarah sat quiet for a moment before shrugging again, fighting to hold back the smile that was threatening to break through. Zondra and Megan both began to chuckle, causing Sarah to slip into a faux pout.

"What? What's so funny? I happen to think he's quite handsome," Sarah defended, starting to sound indignant. Megan and Zondra's chuckling began anew as they held up their hands in surrender.

"Girl, you are so done for," Zondra mused, shaking her head. "Well, I talked to Sydney a little bit ago and I suspect your 'quite handsome' Chuck is getting a makeover right about now. So we'll see what he looks like after they trim a layer of nerd off him."

"Hey!" Sarah protested, quickly catching herself and sitting back in her chair, looking a little embarrassed.

"That reminds me. Sydney seemed to be in a much better mood today. What's going on with her?" Zondra looked at Megan, taking a bite of a bagel.

"Right. When she came back after her talk with Chuck yesterday, she was practically skipping." Megan's eyes grew wide after realizing what she'd just said, especially in front of Sarah. Memories of nearly losing an arm the other night still fresh in her mind.

"What… what talk with Chuck? You… you mean they talked after I left yesterday? What'd they uh… what'd they talk about?" Sarah was on the edge of her seat, her jaw clenched, trying to give the appearance of remaining calm.

"N-not 'talk' talk. Just… you see..." Megan blew out a long breath. "It's kind of a long story, so I'll try to sum it up. Sydney's been a little - ok, a lot - stressed out. Her roommate got laid off when the company she worked for uprooted to move overseas. Sydney was facing being unable to make her rent and having to find a new place. On top of that, her friend couldn't find another job that would pay well enough to keep her in college and help with the bills. Well, it seems that Chuck noticed that there was something bothering Sydney and asked her about it, being the caring person he is. She said she just couldn't help it and confessed the whole story to him. Big surprise. Without a second thought, Chuck gave Alex a job at his company. Just like that. No references, no interview. He just gave Sydney the name and number of his partner and told her to have Alex give him a call."

"Holy Shit," Zondra breathed out, eyes wide in surprise.

"Right?" Megan asked, holding her arms out, looking dumbfounded. "I talked to Sydney this morning when she called to tell me she was on her way to the makeover studio. She said that her roommate had called the number and she's got a meeting this afternoon to go over HR stuff. Apparently, it's a done deal. I mean, I dunno if he can pay her what she needs, but it's a start anyway." Megan shook her head in disbelief at the story she'd just related to Sarah and Zondra. It was then that she realized Sarah had been quiet throughout the whole thing. Looking at Sarah, Megan could see that the other woman was lost in her own little world. The smile that was gracing her face made it all too clear who was occupying that "little world" of hers. Clearing her throat, Zondra spoke up, breaking the silence.

"You picking out a china pattern over there?" Megan fought back a snort and Sarah shook herself out of her daydream.

"What makes you so sure I was thinking about him, huh?" Sarah protested. Zondra just gave her friend a flat look, which she shared with Megan. Megan just sat back in her chair, hands raised in surrender with a 'I'm not touching that one' look on her face. Zondra just pointed at Sarah's face and made a circular motion.

"That…. That right there makes me 'so sure'. I get it, you're trying to stay objective, and as your producer, I'm ecstatic. As your friend, I can see how this guy affects you and, believe me, I couldn't be happier for you. Truly. Just don't get so wrapped up in being 'objective' that you scare off or push away the best thing that's ever happened to you." Sarah was a little taken aback by Zondra's openness. She sat opening and closing her mouth, not sure how to respond to that.

The more she thought about it, the more she became concerned about it. Casey had made the point that she intimidated Chuck more than he did. Was Casey right? Was 'Sarah Walker', international celebrity, too intimidating for Chuck, the mild-mannered software developer from Burbank? When they had talked in the garden, she didn't feel that way. It just felt natural, like two ordinary people having a great time talking about everything and nothing. It was just Chuck and Sarah. The question was, in the light of day, was that how Chuck saw her? As 'just Sarah'? Would he ever see her as 'just Sarah'? Could anybody see beyond the tabloids and bright lights of Hollywood to find the woman underneath it all?

Zondra's hand appeared in front of Sarah's face, snapping loudly to get her attention. Sarah shook herself out of her thoughts, leaning back in surprise.

"Stop that!" Zondra pointed a finger at her, a mock scowl on her face. Sarah was perplexed, but before she could protest, Zondra continued. "I can see that brain of yours overthinking it. Stop it. All I'm saying is, don't pull back too much in the other direction. The chemistry you two had in the garden yesterday, that was magic. People will eat that shit up. You know why? Because it was honest and sincere. It wasn't scripted or contrived, and people can tell the difference." Zondra sat back in her chair, taking a breath to collect her thoughts. "People like to see the competition, the guys fighting to win the heart of the lovely young woman. But, in the end, they want that happily ever after. They want that magical connection between two people that'll give them hope that love and romance are still alive. That if it can happen for you, it can happen for them too. So if that's what you feel for Chuck, don't shy away from it. Don't jump his bones in the limo either. We can't put that on TV." Zondra and Megan burst out in laughter, followed by Sarah, who finally relented.

"Look, if you feel things for these other guys and you want to feel it out, so to speak, fine. Great even. But I think we all know, there's only one man among them that's meant to be. Don't we?" Zondra looked between Sarah and Megan. A huge grin broke out on Megan's face as she nodded excitedly. Sarah looked between the two grinning women at her table and had to twist her lips to the side to fight a grin of her own. "Ahhh. See? There it is… there it is… don't fight it... " Sarah swatted at her friend with her napkin as the table erupted in laughter, the other cafe patrons be damned.

A/N2: So the day of preparations for the gala event has begun. I wonder what sort of transformation we can expect from our contestants? Oh, wait. I'm the one that's supposed to figure that out, aren't I? Hmmm… Well, I guess it will be a surprise for all of us. ;)

Thanks for following along. I'm sorry that these chapters have been taking longer to get out. Sometimes writing takes a backseat to real life, as much as that sucks. I'll try to get updates out as quickly as I can. Luckily for all of us, there are tons of active stories on the site for your reading enjoyment.

Reviews, PMs, smoke signals, or whatever, are welcome. I enjoy hearing from you all, even if I don't get a chance to thank you all individually.

Joe