A/N: When last we left our friends, we witnessed the big reveal of Chuck's makeover and their awestruck reactions to one another. Now, let's follow along as they head off to the Wish Gala. Three handsome men. One beautiful woman. What could possibly go wrong?

Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck. No animals were harmed in the writing of this chapter. Read only as directed. Discontinue reading if you are allergic to this chapter. If you cannot afford to read this chapter… well, it's free so I can't make it much cheaper than that.

See you at the next horizontal line!

Chapter 15

When Chuck and Sarah reached the limo, everyone was standing beside the car, chatting among themselves. Sarah had paid close attention to the look on Megan and Zondra's faces. Both women were clearly shocked by Chuck's appearance and Sarah had to admit she felt a little proud to be walking on his arm at that moment.

Jason and Will seemed surprised as well, but said nothing. Chuck being… Chuck, complemented Megan and Zondra, true gentleman that he was. He also complemented Jason and Will, stumbling over his words a bit, clearly losing some of his new found confidence. Being ushered into the limo by Zondra, Sarah ended up sitting between Will and Jason, while Chuck was sandwiched between Megan and Zondra. Sarah was less than thrilled, not only at no longer being close to Chuck but at the smirk Zondra had on her face.

The limo ride to the Beverly Hilton was awkward to say the least. The back was filled with the six of them plus a cameraman. Thankfully, Roan had decided to take a separate car with his 'plus one', otherwise the conversation in the car could have taken a turn for the worse, given Roan's penchant for stirring up trouble. As it was, Sarah could tell that Chuck was nervous and very uncomfortable. At first Sarah thought it was because of something that Zondra or Megan had said or done, being overly flirtatious perhaps. But throughout the ride, Megan seemed preoccupied and Zondra was talking with Jason and Will across from her. Occasionally, Zondra would ask Chuck his opinion, trying to include him in the conversation, but he would only offer a monosyllabic answer. Sarah noticed that, on a number of occasions, Chuck would look Jason and Will up and down, pretending to pay attention to the conversation. She was certain that her having to laugh and play it up for the camera was not helping matters either. Even though she also tried to talk with Chuck, hoping to pull him out of his growing funk, she could tell that his confidence was dwindling.

They made their way through the line of limos that were dropping off guests for the Gala. It was decided that since the show had not aired yet, if Sarah were to walk the red carpet with any of the remaining contestants, it would be a huge tip off for the media. So, instead, it was agreed that she would walk the carpet solo and the others would walk as small groups. There were already camera crews from the show filming from the red carpet and within the venue, so the cameraman in the limo would not be following them out, deciding it would draw more attention to them if he did.

Zondra and Jason were the first out of the limo, followed by Will and Megan. Before Chuck could get out of his seat, Sarah reached across and placed a hand on his knee, causing him to freeze in place.

"Chuck, you'll be fine. I've seen how you are with people. You tend to win them over before they know it. Just be yourself. Now, go, before the rest get too far ahead." Sarah gave him a beaming smile as she shooed him out of the car. He took a deep breath and gave her a smile that showed he was petrified but trying to put on a brave face. Swallowing thickly, he made his way out of the car.

Stepping onto the curb, he was pleased to see that there were not tons of cameras aimed at him, rather they were currently focusing on the group ahead of him. He stood to his full height, smoothing down his jacket before starting his walk down the carpet. It didn't take long before the cameras were on him, flashes going off from every direction. He tried to take his time, not wanting to trip in front of all the cameras. He wasn't sure if he should wave to the cameras or not, but when he heard people calling out "Sir! Sir!", he faced them and gave a wave. At first, he was a bit sheepish, but as he strode onward, he gained a bit of confidence, waving at photographers along the red carpet, his jovial, bright smile beaming.

When he neared the entrance to the venue, a woman with a microphone was standing there to greet him. He didn't realize that he would be interviewed and they hadn't really prepped him on what to say. The one thing he did know was that he was not allowed to talk about the show in any way, shape or form. Stepping up to the much shorter woman, he nervously greeted her, extending his hand to shake hers. Taken a bit by surprise, but seeming to be amused, she took his hand, shaking it.

"Welcome to the Wish Gala. And you are...?" she asked, aiming the mic at him.

"Hi. I'm Chuck. Chuck Bartowski," he declared, bending down toward the mic.

"Welcome Chuck. Who are you with?"

"Oh. I'm… I'm by myself. Flyin' solo tonight, as it were," he added in, sounding a bit nervous.

"Right. Um, I meant are you with a company or organization of any sort?" The woman was doing her best to keep the amusement from her face.

"Oh! Oh, right. Right. Sorry. I'm uh… you know what? I'm just here as a private citizen. No offense to the fine companies that have donated their time and money, but I don't want to take away from the purpose of this night by putting in a plug for my company. So, tonight, it's just … Chuck."

"Wow. That's … that's very well said. Is this your first time at the Wish Gala? What caused you to get involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation?"

"Uh.. Yeah. Yeah, this is my first Wish Gala. Well, my first gala of any sort, really. Let me tell ya, this is something else. Wow. I ... I recently had an opportunity to visit with some of the kids at Children's Hospital here in LA … love you guys!" Chuck exclaimed as he smiled and waved into the camera. "And let me tell you, each one of them touched my heart. The strength and courage they have is so inspiring. For me to donate my time or money to help make these kid's dreams come true, it just seems like such a small gesture in comparison. I think we can all do more. And that's why we're all here tonight, right?"

"Right you are, Chuck. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the evening."

"Thank you!" Chuck waved to the cameras again, before turning and waving goodbye to the interviewer. She smiled with amusement, happily returning his smile.

Once Chuck entered the venue, momentarily away from the watchful eye of the cameras, he deflated, blowing out a long breath. He turned to look over his shoulder, back at the red carpet, and saw Sarah standing there in all her splendor. She looked positively radiant, the lights from the cameras causing her eyes and smile to sparkle. The media was having a field day, unable to get enough of the mega star. As Chuck looked on, he realized that it was no longer the movie star or model that he was seeing, the woman he'd placed so high on a pedestal for so long, but rather a beautiful, smart and kind woman. A woman whose laugh was infectious, and smile intoxicating, turning his stomach in knots. There was so much more to Sarah Walker than what the camera could capture, and the thought that his time with her might soon be over sent a pang through his chest.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

There was about thirty to forty minutes of mingling before people would be directed to their seats for dinner. Chuck had made polite conversation, listening intently to people drone on about any number of topics that held no interest for him. Still, he kept a smile on his face, nodding to show he was listening. He got to meet some minor celebrities, and local media personalities, but any big stars, including Sarah, were surrounded by throngs of people vying for their attention. He wasn't about to insert himself into that mess. For one, it wasn't like he could just walk up to her and insert himself into a conversation. How would he introduce himself and explain how he knew her? Would she even admit that she knew him? Chuck shook that thought from his head. He knew Sarah was not the type to dismiss somebody like that, though with the show still being a secret, she couldn't divulge that information. It would be easier if he just stayed out of the way.

Chuck began to wander through the crowded ballroom, smiling and nodding his hellos to people as he passed by. He was making a large circle around Sarah's group, stealing glances at her as he went. Over the din of the crowd, he thought he heard someone call his name. Perplexed, he looked around, trying to discern the direction of the voice. Suddenly, the call came again, this time from several voices in concert. It was then that he saw a number of children excitedly waving through the parting crowd. Immediately his face lit up. Among the children was a young girl in a wheelchair, wearing a bright smile as she waved at him. Kaliey.

Chuck weaved his way through the crowd until he finally reached them. Several of the children wrapped his legs and waist in hugs, which he did his best to return. As they released him, Chuck moved to Kaliey, a shy smile on her face, and he bent down to wrap her in a hug. She returned the hug, squeezing him tightly for a long moment. When she finally released him, he stood and addressed the gathered children.

"You guys, it's so amazing that you're here! Look at you all. You're so beautiful and handsome in your outfits. And Kaliey, wow. It's great to see you up and about. And may I say, you look lovely in that dress."

Blushing furiously, she ducked her head, "Thank you, Chuck. I like the new haircut. And the tux, you look like some kind of secret agent or something." Chuck barked out a laugh. He knelt down on one knee to be on a more even level with her.

"Thanks. I promise, no secret gadgets in my watch or the soles of my shoes." Kaliey and the other kids giggled at his antics and soon they all started telling him about the excitement of riding to the event and all the people they'd seen so far. It was a bit chaotic with six kids all talking at once, but Chuck just ate it up, giving them his full attention. When the young boy that was in the middle of a story stopped, with his mouth agape as he stared over Chuck's shoulder, Chuck froze.

"Uh oh. You're busted," Kaliey snickered, amusement and wonder on her face. Chuck turned comically slowly to see who was behind him when he caught sight of the brilliant red dress. Following it up, he caught the gaze of Sarah, staring down at him. The smile and the look in her eyes spoke volumes, he just wasn't certain what language they were exactly. Clearing his throat, he slowly stood up, stepping to the side so that the kids could see Sarah.

"Hi guys! Wow, look at you. So dashing," she commented to one, fixing his hair. "Kaliey," Sarah exclaimed, leaning down and giving her a hug, "you look amazing."

"Me?! Sarah, you're gorgeous. Could… could I get a picture with you? And.. and Chuck too? Would that be OK?" Kaliey looked at Sarah, pleading. Sarah turned to look at Chuck, with a wry smile.

'What d'ya say Chuck? For old time's sake?" She gave him a wink and Chuck thought his heart was about to explode.

"Of.. of course," he choked out, making his way to stand beside Kaliey's wheelchair. Sarah did likewise, and the two crouched down to be on the same level as Kaliey. What was originally supposed to be a photo op for the parents that were with the children, turned into a full on media affair. Flashes went off from seemingly every direction. After a few more, Sarah stood to her full height and began talking with the parents and other children. Chuck, again, stepped back, allowing Sarah to be in the spotlight. He found he enjoyed watching her interact with people. She was so genuine and kind. When she smiled, people couldn't help but smile back. She just had this presence about her.

Chuck felt a hand squeeze his elbow, pulling his attention away from Sarah and the kids. A woman, perhaps in her mid to late-thirties, stood smiling at him. She extended a hand to him in introduction.

"Hi. You must be Chuck. I'm Meredith, Kaliey's mother. She's told me all about you," Chuck could see the woman's eyes becoming glassy as she fought to maintain her composure. "What you did for her, helping her find her voice again… I can't thank you enough. You have no idea how much of an impact you've made in her life; in our lives." Sniffling and choking back a sob, she wrapped Chuck in a crushing hug. Chuck was taken aback, but he was so moved by her words, all he could do was hug her in return. As they pulled away, Chuck placed his hand on her shoulder as he turned them to face Kaliey, who was engrossed in conversation with Sarah and the other kids.

"You've raised an amazing and talented daughter. She's got so much strength in her. You must be so proud." Chuckling through tears, Meredith nodded.

"I am. She's so much stronger than I am. But even as strong as she is, she still struggled. After you two came to visit, it was like that fire that had been in her before started burning again. She's made so much improvement in just the past few days. Thank you guys, so much. And speaking of proud, you must be proud of her," the older woman nodded toward Sarah. "She's an amazing woman. You two look really good together." Chuck's eyes grew wide as the implication settled in.

"Oh, no. No, no. We...we aren't… I mean she's not…. No, I mean she is… amazing that is, it's just… we're not…" Chuck continued to stammer as the color in his cheeks began to darken, gesturing between Sarah and himself.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I just assumed with you two being at the hospital together and the way you too were just … you know what, never mind. Still, you two do look good together."

Chuck was saved from the increasingly uncomfortable conversation by an announcement over the sound system in the ballroom directing people to find their seats as dinner was to be served. Chuck was happy for the distraction and bid Kaliey and her mother goodbye, along with the other children. As they were parting ways, he was left standing there with Sarah, a wry smile gracing her lips.

"Everything alright? You look a little...flushed," Sarah asked in a teasing tone.

"Yeah. Yeah. Fine. Fine. Groovy." Chuck winced, shaking his head at himself. Sarah mouthed "Groovy" at him with no small amount of amusement. Deciding to spare him further embarrassment she continued on.

"So am I the one with competition now?" Sarah asked as they began walking toward their table. Chuck gave her a confused look. "The woman you were hugging. Am I going to have to go through some obstacle course to stay in the running?" Chuck snorted at her comment, finding the humor in the role reversal she was clearing teasing about.

"Like anyone could compete with you." The amusement on her face changed to an expression that Chuck couldn't read. Quickly, he pushed on, hoping to change the subject. "That was Kaliey's mom. She was just very appreciative of the visit the other day. Apparently you made a big impression on her. She's been improving a lot since then."

"We," she countered. Chuck gave her a confused expression, one he seemed to use quite often with her. "We made a big impression. Though, I think it was more you than me." Sensing he was about to protest, she pushed on. "At any rate, it's fabulous that she's improving. It was really great to see her and the others tonight. Hopefully I get to see them again before we go." Chuck smiled, nodding his agreement.

They arrived at the table and were directed to their assigned seats. The group associated with the show was all seated at the same circular table. To Chuck's right was Megan, followed by Will, then Sarah, Jason, Zondra, Roan and finally to Chuck's left was Roan's plus one, Diane Beckman. Chuck could already see that Jason and Will were vying for Sarah's attention and she seemed to be rather enjoying it, laughing and joking with them.

Chuck knew he had no right to be jealous. After all, the whole point of this show they were a part of was for Sarah to get to know the contestants, and ultimately begin a relationship with one of them if things worked out. No matter how many times his head told him he shouldn't be upset, his heart just wouldn't listen. He wanted so badly to be the man on her arm, the one she laughed and joked with like that, but the competition was steep; maybe too steep. Seeing her sitting between the two very attractive, successful men illustrated how great she looked with them. Objectively, those were the type of men he would expect to see Sarah Walker with. It was a knife to his heart to admit it, but the more he thought about it, the more his resolve faltered. He was a nerd with both feet planted firmly in his world of computers and software. What place could he possibly have with her, in her world of glitz and glamour? He knew that, with respect to matters of the heart, there was nobody that would care for her the way he did. The problem was, would that ever really be enough to bridge the distance between their worlds?

"Shhhh," came a hiss from beside him. Chuck shook himself from his thoughts to see Megan smiling at him. He raised an eyebrow, curious as to why she was silencing him.

"You're thinking so loudly over there I can hardly eavesdrop on their conversation," she joked, gesturing slightly with her head toward Sarah. Chuck's cheeks turned red, dropping his gaze to the glass of water he was fidgeting with. She shoulder bumped him, chuckling. "I think I recognize that look." Chuck chanced a quick glance at Megan before going back to staring at his glass.

"I don't know what you mean," he stated weakly, clearly not even believing his own words.

"Your feelings for her are the worst kept secret on the show. It's written across your face, plain as day, every time you look at her." Chuck began to squirm in his chair, pulling at the collar of his dress shirt. Megan placed a hand on his arm, leaning in a little closer to him. "Chuck, that's nothing to be embarrassed about. If only there were more men like you. You know, being beautiful on the outside, that's the easy part, Chuck. Just look around LA. With enough money, anyone can do it. But being a beautiful person on the inside? That you can't fake, at least not for long. When you're paying attention, it's easy to spot the truly beautiful people. Chuck…" she paused, waiting for him to turn to look at her. Slowly he turned his head to look at her, his curiosity piqued. "...she's paying attention." With that, both of them turned their gaze toward Sarah. Chuck was surprised to find that Sarah was no longer focused on her conversation, but rather on him, or more accurately at Megan's hand on Chuck's arm. With a slightly furrowed brow she raised her eyes and met Chuck's, her expression changing to one of surprise. Sarah held his gaze for a long moment, giving him a soft smile before turning her attention to her own water glass, seeming a bit embarrassed, her cheeks taking on a slight blush.

Chuck watched Sarah for a moment longer, wondering if there was any truth to what Megan had said. When he was growing up, Ellie would always try to reassure him that someday he'd find someone that would appreciate him for who he was. As an awkward teen, that 'someday' seemed an eternity away. In college, he thought he had found that 'someone', only to find that it was all a lie. Was this just another point in his life where the carrot, the promise of love, was pushed further into the horizon? He so desperately wanted to believe it to be true, but he had long ago lost faith in his ability to read and understand women. Or perhaps he lost faith that a woman would ever be truly interested in him.

"Told ya," Megan whispered, leaning in closer so that only he could hear.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Dinner had been better than expected and Chuck's mood improved as the meal went on. He had conversed at length with Diane and Roan, finding their banter quite entertaining. Roan was the consummate ladies man, a throwback to a different era with shag carpets and Courvoisier. He flirted with everyone he encountered, perhaps subconsciously at this point. Even though his eye might have wandered, he was clearly smitten with Diane.

Diane Beckman was a force to be reckoned with. When it came to Roan, she gave as good as she got, never letting him get away with anything. Perhaps that's what drew him to her. Whatever the reason, the two tried to act as though their relationship was purely casual, but they only seemed to fool themselves. Listening to Roan and Diane banter back and forth had been amusing and helped him pass the time.

When the meal was over, everyone's attention turned toward the stage. While the evening was supposed to be a fun endeavor, it was still a fundraising event. Speeches were given, praising the tireless work of volunteers and donors while offering inspirational stories of the ways in which the Make-A-Wish Foundation was improving the lives of children around the globe. Chuck had teared up on more than one occasion, being overwhelmed by the stories that some of the children shared on stage. He wasn't aware, but his show of emotion hadn't gone unnoticed.

To everyone's surprise, including herself, Sarah was called to the stage, where she was met by nearly two dozen children, including Kaliey and the other children from Children's Hospital, to present her with the Wish Hero Award, for her tireless efforts in making wishes come true for so many children across the country. It was incredibly moving and Chuck found that he was crying right along with Sarah as she was hugged by the children while the audience applauded and cheered. Chuck was so proud at that moment. He knew it might seem patronizing, or perhaps a feeling that should be reserved for a much closer relationship, but he couldn't help himself. He was proud of the person she was and what she'd achieved, and he felt honored that he'd gotten to know her, even if it ended up being only within the confines of the show.

Once the presentations, speeches and awards were over, they opened the dance floor for the evening's festivities to commence. The director and producer (Roan and Zondra) had agreed to splitting Sarah's time evenly between the three men. While the order had been chosen at 'random', those random drawings always seemed to put Chuck last. So Chuck found himself nursing a flute of champagne while watching the dance floor from afar.

No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't help but watch Sarah and Will on the dance floor. When they weren't dancing they were laughing or carrying on lively conversation. Though his attention would wander for a moment, especially when he'd seen more than he cared to, his focus would always go back to her. When the song "Treat You Better" by Shawn Mendes began to play, Chuck let out an exasperated groan as his head fell back to stare at the ceiling.

"Ooookay. That's enough of that," came a voice from beside him, pulling him from his funk. He felt his glass taken from him and he lowered his gaze to meet Zondra's glare. She took him by the hand and pulled him onto the dance floor, away from Sarah and Will. He tried to protest for only a moment, but she was an imposing woman and her grip was strong. She stopped, released his hand and turned to face him. "This isn't my kind of music really, but humor me," she said, stepping up to him and assuming a chaste slow dance position. Chuck didn't object, partly from fear but mostly because he could use the distraction.

"I know it really hasn't been that long, but it feels like a lifetime ago when I first met you at that audition. I never imagined in a million years that I'd be … here. I mean, not just here but…" he trailed off, not really knowing how to finish that thought.

"You know, it wasn't really an audition," she confessed, looking up at him as they danced. He quirked an eyebrow at her in confusion. "I already wanted you to be on the show. Roan did too. You recall that altercation with Guy? The one where he insinuated you were a plant of sorts, only there to make the others look better? Well… in part, that was true." She could feel him deflate, dropping his gaze to the floor. She squeezed his hand, craning her head to look into his face, trying to get his attention back on her. "It was true until the day I met you. When I asked why you thought the celebrity should choose you. Your answer was the most honest, humble answer of any audition we'd had. I've watched it over and over again. So much so that I've committed it to memory. You said, 'I want to be with the person who sits around the house in their sweatpants to binge watch their favorite TV show. The person who eats whipped cream out of the can when they think nobody's watching. I would want them to just be themselves around me, warts and all. That's what I bring to the table. No judgement. No expectations. I offer unconditional acceptance.' Do you remember that?" Chuck nodded, giving her a half smile.

"Then, when I called to tell you that you were on the show, do you remember what you asked me?" She stared into his eyes, waiting for his response. He solemnly nodded.

"Why?"

"Exactly! 'Why'. Did you know that I had called all of the other twenty-four contestants that day? You were the last on my list, and before you read into that, it's not for the reason you think," she added, giving him a stern look. "All the other contestants were either excited or arrogantly confident, believing that they had won or deserved the right to be there. Then there was you. Your gut reaction was to assume that I was calling to give you bad news. You'd resigned yourself to the fact that you weren't going to be selected because you were different. Well, you are different, you're right about that. You see, I wanted you to be the final contestant I told, because I needed to hear that reaction. I needed to have my faith in humanity restored. Chuck, you are my ringer. Sure, this show is my baby and I have a lot riding on it. But Sarah's my best friend and I want her to be truly happy. She deserves that. And you deserve that too." Chuck's eyes grew wide, shocked by the candidness of her confession.

"Look, I won't rig the outcome of the show. Ultimately, Sarah has free will to choose whomever she wants, and I'm not going to try and persuade her one way or another. I also won't tell you anything she reveals to me in confidence-"

"I'd never ask anyone to do that," Chuck protested. Zondra chuckled, shaking her head in amusement.

"I know Chuck. I know you wouldn't. I can tell you this though. Since she's my friend, whoever she's with, by extension, I'll have to be friends with. Otherwise, it would get really awkward." She paused for a moment, seeming to plan her words carefully. "I'd really … really like to be friends with you, Chuck." She gave him a wry smile and his cheeks turned rosy, visible even in the dim light of the dance floor.

"Well, regardless of how things turn out, I'd be honored to be your friend. But, I get that it might be too awkward, so I won't hold you to it." Zondra could only shake her head, both amused and frustrated.

"You're too much sometimes, Curls. Wait. I can't call you that anymore. You cut off all your curls. I'll just have to come up with something else." She looked off into the distance pondering, twisting her lips from side to side.

"You know, there are some who call me…. Chuck?" Zondra threw her head back and barked out a laugh.

"Oh… that's good. Uh oh," she said, her tone becoming very serious. "I think I'm in trouble." Chuck looked around, trying to find whatever danger it was but he couldn't find anything. "I uh… I think I need to go check on the camera crews." Zondra pulled away, patting him on the chest. Chuck nodded his understanding as he watched her go. He cast his gaze at the floor for a moment, lost in his thoughts. When he lifted his gaze, he panned across the crowd and locked eyes on her. Sarah was still dancing with Will but her eyes were on him. Her expression was undecipherable. She wasn't smiling, but she didn't look angry either. If anything, she looked a little sad. Chuck wasn't sure what to make of that.

The song ended and Sarah broke eye contact with him, pulling away from Will and began talking with him. Chuck took that as his queue to find a drink. A strong one. Making his way to the bar, he leaned against it, looking out over the crowds of people, waiting for the bartender to take his order.

"What can I get for you, sir?" Chuck spun around, surprised that it hadn't taken longer.

"Oh, uh… Jameson. Neat. And make it a double. I think I'm gonna need it." The bartender gave him a knowing smile and set off to prepare his drink. Within a few moments, Chuck had his drink in hand, placing a generous tip in the jar. With an open bar, Chuck felt it only proper to take whatever he'd normally spend on the drink and just invest that in a tip.

Chuck meandered around the room, saying polite hellos and slowly nursing his drink. He had caught glimpses of Sarah here and there. First with Zondra, the two having a serious conversation, complete with hand gestures. He thought it best to stay clear. A short while later she was with Jason, dancing and talking. Chuck had watched from afar and could tell that she was not nearly as comfortable dancing with Jason as she had been with Will. Her body language was more rigid and she seemed to be doing more nodding than talking.

Feeling creepy for just staring at her, Chuck continued his wandering, stopping by some informational booths that were setup around the perimeter of the ballroom. The liquid courage was doing its job, settling his nerves and boosting his confidence. After spending another thirty minutes networking with doctors, entrepreneurs and philanthropists, Chuck figured it was time for him to get back to the group. Sarah's time with Jason would be ending soon and he didn't want to keep her waiting.

When he returned to the table, Chuck noticed Will and Megan sitting there, laughing and joking, seemingly enjoying themselves. Diane and Roan had disappeared for a long while but were now out on the dance floor. He had passed Zondra on the way to their table, seeing her in a heated discussion with a group of people he didn't recognize. Chuck was beginning to wonder if there was ever a conversation with Zondra that didn't become heated. The thought made him chuckle to himself. Jason was talking with a group of people, sloshing his drink around as his arms flailed when he talked. Chuck wasn't sure if that was just his normal way of talking or if he'd had too much to drink. Then it hit him. If Jason was here, where was Sarah?

Chuck began to search the area for her. Thanks to her red dress, she stood out in a crowd, though it wasn't just the dress. He found her on the edge of the dance floor, trying to peer over people, scanning the crowd as she fidgeted with her fingers. How she could look so stunningly elegant yet vulnerable and childlike was a complete mystery to him. If it were possible, he found himself falling even further for this woman. Gathering his nerve, he made his way through the crowd toward her. He wasn't more than ten feet from her when a man approached her. Unfortunately, it wasn't just any man.

"Hello Sarah," the smarmy man began, a smirk plastered across his face.

Even over the din of the crowd he could hear her gasp, "Bryce."

A/N: Let the hate mail begin! I'll try to get the next update out a little sooner, so you aren't left hanging on that cliff for too long.

Again, I really love hearing from all of you and I'm sorry I can't reply to each of you as much as I would like to. Just know that I read all of your comments and appreciate that you take the time to not only read this story, but go the extra mile to leave me a note. You guys are awesome.

If you haven't joined the Chuck Fanfiction Facebook group, I strongly encourage you to head on over and join. It is a great group of people, and as the name suggests, we talk about all things Chuck fanfiction. It's a lot of fun and sometimes you even get sneak peaks at upcoming chapters from some of the fandom's talented writers. Hope to see you there.

JW