A/N: Will and Sarah have their date and Chuck is left at home to stew. If only I could be a fly on the wall on that date. Oh, wait! I guess that's what all that stuff down below is for, huh? OK. So, let's go follow along and see how this night turns out.

Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck

Chapter 18

Chuck watched through the window of the study as the limo pulled away down the driveway, carrying Will and Sarah off to their date. The ache that had been in the pit of Chuck's stomach all day only intensified as the car disappeared from view. Ever since the elimination ceremony, he had been at war with himself. The optimist within him tried to look at all that had happened between him and Sarah over the past few days. The talks, the quiet moments, the looks… the dancing, not to mention the incidents with Bryce and Jill. It all pointed to a mutual connection.

Yet that voice in his head, the one that remembered all too clearly how it felt to have his heart ripped out, to believe so naively that someone could genuinely have feelings for him, only to turn out to be so wrong, kept filling him with doubt. Though he now knew the difference. What he felt, or thought he felt, for Jill was so insignificant in comparison to what he felt for Sarah. That just made it all the more dangerous. If Jill's betrayal had wounded him so badly at the time, the damage that would follow in the wake of Sarah Walker would be like a tornado waltzing through a trailer park. Though they were not together, he knew his heart and mind had fallen for her so completely, that if she didn't feel the same for him, the fallout would be apocalyptic. That was why he tried to acclimate himself, prepare himself, for the very real possibility that she would not choose him. Maybe in doing so, he could lessen the trauma.

Chuck had overheard Will making preparations. He wasn't intentionally eavesdropping, but with them being the only two people in the house, it was eerily quiet. He only picked up bits and pieces, but he made out that Will was calling in favors from clients, securing reservations and the like. Undoubtedly, he would be taking Sarah to some lavishly exclusive restaurant for dinner, hence all the wheeling and dealing he'd overheard on the phone.

The show had given them each a thousand dollars to spend on their dream date. Chuck had called a few places to inquire about reservations, but most of the fancy restaurants had long waiting lists, and since Chuck didn't know anyone of consequence, he had no leverage to grease any palms to secure an early reservation. The more he thought about it, the more dejected he got. Once again, he couldn't compete with the likes of WIll when it came to wining and dining at the poshest places in town. That wasn't who Chuck was.

It was in that moment, watching that car vanish from view, that another voice sounded in his head. Not the yin and yang voices that had plagued him all night and day, but the greatest voice of reason he knew; Ellie. The steak dinner versus the PB &J analogy that he had made when talking with Ellie had come to mind. He closed his eyes and could nearly relive that moment.

"Look, you shouldn't have to prove your worth to someone. They should just see it in your actions. If you have to pretend to be someone you're not, or change yourself to be the person they want you to be, then you're in the wrong relationship. There's no scenario where that doesn't end badly. 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."

Chuck chuckled to himself, realizing that he had lost sight of her guidance. As was usually the case, she was right. As much as he wanted, with his whole being, to be with Sarah, if he had to become somebody else to do it, eventually it would lead to misery for one or both of them. If Sarah wanted to be with him, it would have to be the real him, warts, nerdy graphic t-shirts and all. He would just have to show her that a life with him, as simple and unrefined as it may be, would not be a sacrifice.

In any relationship there was give and take, at least as Chuck understood it. Looking back on his past experiences, he realized it was largely him giving and them taking. It couldn't be just about her liking Chuck for who he was, she deserved to have someone like her for who she was as well. He wanted her to be free to be herself and not sacrifice who she was to be with him. Given what little time they had been able to spend together, he wasn't certain who "Sarah Walker" was underneath it all; not exactly. What he gathered from years of watching from afar, and the few conversations they had shared, she seemed to possess many of the same core values that he did. He would just have to do his best to make her feel comfortable enough to share herself with him.

Chuck went back to his room to plan his date with Sarah, with a renewed sense of confidence. He still wasn't allowed to call family or friends, or discuss the show with anyone, but he could at least use the Internet from a tablet they provided. He had a plan forming; a Night with Chuck Bartowski.

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The limo ride to dinner was more than a little awkward. Sarah had been informed that the evening would be 'formal', so she had dressed accordingly. She wore a floor-length, sleeveless black dress, with a split just above the left knee. A black clutch and tasteful diamond and white gold jewelry completed the ensemble. Her hair was styled up in a French twist, not dissimilar to her hairstyle the night before, but not quite as ornate. She tried to psych herself up for tonight, but she just couldn't muster enough enthusiasm to put a lot of effort into her hair.

Will had complimented her outfit when he met her at the door to the guest house. Sarah had insisted, and Zondra and Roan agreed, that they would not meet at her private home, so they settled on the guest house as the meeting place. Will was in a finely tailored, expensive looking suit, with equally expensive looking leather shoes and gold watch to match. He seemed well equipped to blend into a formal dinner or social event.

The conversation in the limo had been light so far, not straying from the pleasantries around their attire or the weather. Sarah stared out the window, watching the lights and buildings of LA pass by. They had exited Santa Monica Boulevard and onto Wilshire. As they passed the Beverly Hilton, her mind flashed back to the events of the gala the other night, causing a smile to spread across her face. She watched as they passed Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, shops she was intimately acquainted with. They turned onto Rodeo Drive and the limo pulled over in front of Tiffany & Co., surprising and worrying her in equal amounts.

Casey opened the door for them, having been riding in the front seat with the driver. He would not be accompanying them on the date, but would be 'close by' in case his services were needed. He gave his customary grunt as Will exited the car. Will turned and offered his hand to Sarah to assist her. It wasn't necessary, but she took it to be polite and thanked him. As they stood in front of the iconic jewelry store, Sarah stared up at it with wide eyes, then glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh! Oh, no," Will jumped in, waving his hands. "No, we're not going there. Wow. That would be… no. We're going up those stairs, to the courtyard behind it." Sarah let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, much of her nervousness dissipating. Will chuckled nervously and blew out a breath as well. "Shall we?" he asked, offering her his arm. She nodded, taking his arm as they headed up the steps to the courtyard of shops tucked behind.

They walked a short distance through the courtyard, passing some quaint outdoor seating to an alcove that housed an elevator door. Sarah gave Will a questioning look, but he just smiled and gestured for her to enter the elevator once the doors opened. She did as directed and they rode the elevator up to the second floor. When they stepped off the elevator, they were greeted by a receptionist.

"Welcome to Urasawa, Mr. Dunn. So happy you and Miss Walker could join us this evening." The young woman gave a slight bow in greeting. "Right this way." Gesturing toward the curtained entrance, she held the curtain back to allow them entry. Once inside the small room, elegantly decorated with Japanese styling, they were escorted to the polished wood counter which surrounded the preparation space. Sarah had only heard stories of this restaurant, one of the most exclusive and expensive restaurants in LA. They were also very secretive, not even allowing the show's cameras more than a few pictures before they were made to wait in the lobby.

The two sat, waiting, as the other eight chairs quickly filled. They apparently only served ten guests per night and the menu was never the same. As they continued to wait for the chef to appear, Sarah turned to Will, hoping that some small talk might ease the awkwardness.

"So, how did you get a reservation here on such short notice? I heard this place is almost impossible to get into." Will almost looked relieved by the question, seeming to relax slightly.

"Chef Urasawa is one of my clients. I've done very well at managing his money, so he was more than happy to squeeze us in at the last minute. He really is an artist. I … crap. I didn't think to ask if you have any food allergies. There's a lot of seafood and shellfish in his creations. I hope that's not a problem," he winced, looking apologetic.

"No. No allergies, but thanks for thinking of that," Sarah snickered. The fact that he was asking at literally the last minute was slightly amusing, but nothing about this date was conventional, so she'd cut him some slack. He relaxed at finding out he hadn't completely screwed up with the restaurant choice. Before they could continue with their conversation, the chef appeared and introduced himself.

For the next hour and a half, they sat and watched Chef Urasawa create dish after dish, expertly prepared and artistically plated for each of the guests. The painstaking attention to detail added suspense, and often impatience, to the dining experience. In all, there were a staggering thirty different courses including caviar with gold and octopus. For Sarah, some of them were amazing, while others were an… acquired taste. Thankfully, the Japanese wine was very good, cleansing her palate after some of her less than favorite dishes. The experience was enlightening but she felt rather exhausted afterward.

"So, what'd you think? He's an artist with food, isn't he?" Will turned to her as they rode the elevator down. Sarah had been impressed with the chef's skills, but after ninety-minutes it had become a little tedious. Still, she didn't want to sound ungrateful.

"Oh, yes. He was very impressive. Some very… unique dishes," she replied, trying to sound interested while not letting on that most of the dishes had been a little too 'authentic' for her taste.

"Yeah. I was blown away the first time I ate there," he added, nodding his head in agreement. They were quiet the rest of the way through the courtyard and down the steps until they met up with the limo and Casey again. Once they were seated in the back, the limo took off to their next destination.

"So, um… where are we off to now?" Sarah asked, trying to cut through the uncomfortable silence that began to fill the back of the limo. If nobody talked, the cameraman would have little to film, which didn't make for great television.

"It's a bit of a surprise. I asked the driver to take the longer, scenic route to give us some time to … talk and relax a little." Sarah could tell there was something bothering him, but she didn't know if it was just nerves because of the date or something else. She just nodded her understanding, holding her clutch in her lap. "So… this competition. It's been pretty crazy, huh? How uh… how did you come to be on the show? I mean, did they approach you or… did you ask to be on the show?" Sarah was taken aback, surprised at the question and a little uncertain on how to respond.

"Well… to be honest, I'm under contract with the studio that's producing the show. They didn't force me to be on the show, but they did approach me with the opportunity. They thought it would be a good fit, both for the show and for me." She paused for a moment, but decided to go on. "I've been more or less type cast into a certain kind of role. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any regrets. I'm proud of what I've done, but I'd like to broaden my horizons a little more."

"Really? Like what?" He asked, turning in his seat to face her.

"I… I dunno. Maybe some more serious, dramatic roles or … I dunno, just different kinds of roles. A change of pace I guess. I'd like to challenge myself more. Use some of my talents beyond high kicks and knife throwing," Sarah mused, chuckling at herself.

"Wait, you do your own stunts? All those fight scenes and stuff, you did all that?" Will asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Well, yeah. A lot of it anyway. They used a stunt double for some of the more dangerous stunts. Most of the fight scenes are choreographed and I have to learn them all, including the knife throwing. It was something I became good at, so they tend to use it a lot in my films," Sarah confessed, shrugging shyly.

"Wow, Chuck was right. You are a badass," Will admitted, looking genuinely impressed. Sarah was taken aback, more at the mention of Chuck's comment than the compliment from Will.

"He… he said that?" she asked, ducking her head to look at the clutch in her hands. She missed the knowing smile on Will's face as he turned to look out the window.

"Yeah. He's … he's quite the encyclopedia on all things Sarah Walker, it would seem. Says he's been a fan from the beginning." Will was quiet for a moment before continuing. "He's a really good guy, Chuck."

"Huh? Oh… um, yeah. Yeah I suppose he is," she uttered hesitantly, not wanting to go on and on about Chuck when it was supposed to be a date with Will. Sensing the tension in the car, she tried to change the subject. "You're a pretty good guy too. I bet you meet a lot of interesting and important people in your line of work."

'Me?" he asked incredulously. "I mean, I have met a number of powerful and influential people in this town, but I'm sure nothing as exciting as the people you've met and worked with. I do manage portfolios for a number of people in the industry, though. Mostly producers and directors, that sort of people. No actors yet." After a few seconds, he snapped his head toward her, his hands raised. "I.. I wasn't suggesting you. That wasn't a plug or anything. I'm sure you have your own people to manage your money." Sarah chuckled, amused at his back pedaling

"No, it's fine. I get it. But you're right, I do have people that manage my money, and I'm quite happy with them. If that changes though, I'll keep you in mind," she offered, giving him a smile. With that, the limo came to a stop and the door opened a moment later, Casey holding the door. The cameraman exited first, so that he could film them exiting the limo. Once everyone was out, Sarah turned to look at the building they were parked in front of.

"Welcome to the Getty Center," Will stated, gesturing to the vast complex of while buildings, brightly lit making them standout against the night sky.

"Wow. This place is impressive. I've heard a lot about this place and its museums, but I've never been. But aren't they closed at this time of night?" she asked, looking at Will in confusion.

"Yeah. Normally they are, but I happen to know one of the curators. They're letting us sneak in," he added, holding his finger to his lips. They both chuckled, the notion of sneaking anywhere with a camera crew following you was pretty ridiculous.

Walking through the museum complex, Will led them to the J. Paul Getty Museum, where the security guard gave them a nod and a smile. They passed by artworks by various artists Sarah had never heard of. She wasn't much into the art world, but could certainly appreciate a piece of art for its contributions and the skills of the artist. She just wasn't well versed in that world. However, when Will informed her that they had arrived at their destination, she was fairly familiar with this artist. Unless you lived in a cave, it would be hard not to know Michelangelo. The thing that stood out most was the large mural on the back wall, a copy of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

"Wow. I actually saw this in person. Granted, it wasn't this close, but it was still a magnificent sight," Sarah said as they walked further into the exhibit.

"Really? So you've been to the Sistine Chapel?" Will asked, his hands folded behind his back.

"Yeah. Carina. You know Carina Miller? Well, anyway, we went to Milan for Fashion Week. While she was distracted with some of the 'local flavors' as she put it, I took a day trip to Vatican City. It was an impressive sight to see. To think that those paintings have lasted for over five-hundred years."

Sarah just stood admiring the mural as Will continued, "That's really cool. I've been to Italy, on a wine tour, but never made it to the Vatican. I always admired Michelangelo's work, his attention to detail, in the human form especially. That's why I wanted to see this exhibit. It showcases many of his drawings, studies on human anatomy, even some sketches of things that made it onto the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel." Sarah noticed that it was the first time he'd really sounded passionate, reverent about something.

She turned her attention toward Will, watching the way he was admiring one of the small sketches in the display case to their left. The look of wonderment on his face, she recalled seeing that look on his face once before. At the gala, when she had seen him sitting at their table, talking with Megan, he had the same expression then. In fact, they both had that same expression, seemingly lost in one another. It had seemed so innocent at the time. Sarah wondered if that was how she looked when she talked with Chuck. Was she as transparent, so unable, or unwilling, to hide her feelings? Maybe Will wasn't aware of it, or at least couldn't admit to it, that he had feelings for Megan. Maybe that was why he was acting so nervous, so uneasy during their date so far. He was playing along with the game, just as she was. Suddenly, her whole body relaxed, letting out a breathy chuckle.

"You know, I think Megan would really enjoy this place. She mentioned she studied Art History in college. I'm sure she'd really appreciate a place like this," Sarah mused, pretending to look at a sketch in a different case nearby.

"She… she did? I-I mean, that's … that's interesting. Art History, you say?" She could hear him swallow thickly, trying so hard, yet failing so spectacularly, to hide his reaction to Sarah bringing up Megan. It only made her feel all that much better, knowing that she wouldn't be dismissing someone that had legitimate feelings for her. Will was clearly interested in Megan, but much like her, found himself in a position where he couldn't, in good conscience, act on those feelings. She felt so much lighter now, and found his stammering to be rather humorous, Sarah felt like teasing him a bit more.

"Yeah. I seem to remember her mentioning a fondness for Renaissance artists. I'm surprised it didn't come up… when you two were talking at the gala. You seemed to be having a nice conversation," Sarah continued, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his eyes widen, a look of fear on his face.

"It was just… just an innocent conversation. We didn't… it wasn't…" Will stopped his spiraling when he heard Sarah start to snort in laughter, unable to hold it back any longer. It reminded her of Chuck, the way he was stammering, unable to conceal his feelings. Will looked on in bewilderment at the woman before him, who was now doubled over in laughter inside the Michelangelo exhibit, on their special date. On what was supposed to be a serious, romantic gesture, the reaction seemed quite out of place.

"What… what's so funny? Was it something I-" Will was cut off by Sarah, waving her hand at him as she tried to catch her breath.

"I'm… I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh. It's… I'm not laughing at you, just at the situation," Sarah rushed out, trying to get the words out between gasps.

"Situation? I don't understand," he stated, confusion painted across his face. Sarah blew out a breath and sobered enough that she could speak clearly. Straightening, she glanced at the cameraman and then back to Will.

"Can we take a walk?" Will glanced around the exhibit, but ultimately gave a shrug then nodded. Leaving the exhibit, WIll led them to the museum courtyard. At the end, there was a railing that looked over the entire valley, the lights of the houses like constellations in the darkness below.

"Is something the matter? Are you not enjoying yourself?" WIll asked, sounding apprehensive.

"No," she began, and realized how that sounded. "Not 'No'. I mean, I'm enjoying myself. Nothing is the matter really. Well, that's not true exactly is it?" Sarah asked, turning to look at him. They both sighed.

"It's Megan-"

"It's Chuck-"

"Wait. What?" They said in tandem. Will shook his head in confusion, "You go first."

"Look, all of this. The dinner, the museum, the company, it's all been wonderful. But I can tell, it's not me that you wish were on this date with you. Is it?" Sarah asked softly with no hint of anger or jealousy.

"I…" Will began, but he wasn't sure how to proceed.

"I can tell that you didn't plan this. Neither of you did. Sometimes it just happens. As they say, the heart wants what the heart wants. You don't always get a choice in the matter. You're a good man, Will. And Megan is a great woman. I've seen the two of you together, and while I know it was innocent, I could clearly see something between you two. Can you stand here and tell me I'm wrong?" Will looked like he might protest but gave up the fight and shook his head in resignation.

"Will, I'm not angry. I know you tried to honor your obligation to the show and take me on this wonderful date. I commend you for it, but your heart isn't in it. This show is about finding romance, isn't it? Sure, the focus is mostly on me, but the way I see it, you've found your someone in the process."

"And so have you," Will interjected, giving her a small smile. Sarah was at a loss for words, not expecting Will to turn this around on her. "Let's face it, Sarah, we've watched you and Chuck throughout this competition, and it seems clear to everyone but you two that you're meant for each other. It's kind of fitting. The one guy that never thought he was good enough for you. The one that thought he was the least of us, turned out to be the better of all of us." They both stood silent, turning to stare out at the valley, the sounds of crickets chirping in the distance.

Sarah blew out a breath, looking up at the night sky. "So what now?" Will gave a single note chuckle, amused by the absurdity of it all.

"Well, you have a big date with Mr. Right tomorrow night. As for me?" He hissed through gritted teeth, wincing. "The jury's still out on that one."

"For what it's worth, you have my blessing, not that you need it. In fact…" Sarah trailed off, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I think I have an idea. You'll just have to trust me."

"That worries me a little, but I trust you. I have no reason not to," Will conceded. "Can… can I be honest with you?" Sarah turned to face him, matching his serious demeanor.

"Yes. Of course."

"Be honest. That… that dinner was pretty terrible, wasn't it? I mean, I still have no idea what half of those dishes were and I probably don't want to know," he confessed, looking a bit pained, fearful of her response.

"Oh, thank GOD! I thought it was just me. That foam stuff? And the octopus?" Sarah shuddered at just the thought of it, her whole body convulsing as she stuck out her tongue in disgust. The two burst into laughter, all the tension of the night melting away. After several minutes, their laughter settled.

"What do you say we go grab some coffee or something? Just chat, as friends?" Sarah asked, looking hopefully at Will. He nodded with a large grin.

"I'd like that. Let's get outta here." Will gestured with his head toward the exit. Offering his arm, she took it and they made their way back to the limo.

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It was nearly two o'clock in the morning when the limo pulled up to the house. Chuck had been unable to sleep, tossing and turning, stressing over the date he had been planning for tomorrow. Hearing the car pull up, curiosity got the better of him and he hopped out of bed. Racing to the window, he peered out through the curtain. He watched Casey get out of the passenger seat and walk to the back of the limo. He opened the door and laughter spilled out, along with Will and Sarah. Sarah held on to Will's shoulder, bent over laughing while he braced his hands on his thighs, laughing right along with her.

When they straightened, their laughter subsiding, they spoke for a moment then hugged each other. That hurt more than a little, but it was just a hug. When she reached up and kissed his cheek, that was a punch to the stomach. Chuck winced and averted his eyes. He couldn't watch any more, shuffling back to bed. Plopping back down on his bed, he resumed staring at the ceiling for the second night in a row.

A short while later, Chuck could hear Will coming up the stairs, humming a tune to himself, but still loud enough that Chuck could make it out in the quiet of the house. After the door to Will's bedroom closed, Chuck let out a long breath. Thinking about what happened on their date wasn't going to do him any good. It had happened and no amount of worrying was going to change that. Instead, he closed his eyes and he walked through the date he had planned for tomorrow in his mind. Perhaps if he rehearsed it over and over in his mind, he'd be less likely to screw something up tomorrow afternoon.

A/N2: So, one date down. I turned out better than any of them imagined, especially Chuck. If he only knew. He seems to have a plan together. I can't wait to see what it is. He's keeping it pretty close to the vest. He won't even share it with me.

Love all of the reviews. Thank you all so much for taking the time to leave a note. It really means a lot.

Until next time. Be safe.

JW