A/N: Finale done? Check. Chuck and Sarah are together? Double Check. Appropriate ear protection? Well, let's rejoin our friends and see, shall well?

Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck.

Chapter 24

Chuck knocked on the door, tucking his hands back in his pockets as he stood waiting. He could hear the sound of movement inside and, a moment later, the sound of the door being unlocked. When it swung open, there stood Ellie, looking very comfortable in an old pair of scrubs that she wore around the house.

"Chuck!" she exclaimed, her eyes going wide with genuine astonishment. "What… what are you doing here? I thought… I thought you were on set at the show. What…" she trailed off, her expression turning to one of concern. "Oh Chuck…"

"Yeah. They sent me home, El." Chuck gave her a half-smile and a shrug. Ellie looked heartbroken for her brother, having had such high hopes, especially after what she'd seen on television so far.

Pursing her lips in a tight, sympathetic smile, "Oh no. I'm so … so sorry. Come in and I'll fix you something." Chuck nodded and started to enter the apartment.

"Oh. Before I forget, I did get a lovely parting gift." Ellie turned back to look at him in confusion. It was then that a beautiful blonde stepped up beside Chuck, taking his arm. Ellie's mouth fell open, with a look of unparalleled shock. Covering her mouth with both hands, she began to cry. Rushing forward, she ignored Chuck completely and wrapped Sarah in a bone crushing hug.

Squealing in delight, Ellie couldn't contain herself. "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! Are you serious?" Ellie pulled away, searching Sarah's eyes. With Sarah's teary eyes and brilliant smile, Ellie knew without a doubt it was true. Before Sarah even had a chance to answer, Ellie had her wrapped in a hug again. "I'm so happy for you." Without warning, Ellie pulled away and punched Chuck in the shoulder.

"You big jerk! That was a rotten thing to do. I actually felt sorry for you, you ass. Now come here and give me a hug." Rubbing his shoulder, Chuck finally acquiesced and submitted to his sister's hug, wrapping her in a hug as well.

"Hey, El. Can we take this inside? We kinda need to keep this on the DL." Ellie pulled away, looking between the two of them in confusion. Then it clearly dawned on her as they could see the lightbulb go off. Thankfully, she didn't see anyone as she quickly looked around the courtyard. Ellie pulled them into her apartment and closed the door.

"So the show's over? And you two are…" Ellie trailed off, looking hesitantly between the two, uncertain how to phrase the question.

"Ellie," Sarah began, trying to make eye contact with the older woman. "I chose him. Well, I'd say we chose each other, actually. I mean, it hasn't even been twenty-four hours yet, but regardless, we're together." Ellie snapped her head to look at Chuck for confirmation. When she saw how happy he looked, she broke down again.

"Oh, thank God. After we talked at the hospital, I was so hopeful that you'd have a chance to really get to know him. I was afraid you might overlook him because he's a little shy and awkward, not to mention extremely nerdy. I mean, he's no Bryce Larkin, but I thi-"

Chuck let out a hiss as he cringed at the mention of that name, "El-"

"Ellie," Sarah broke in, holding up a hand to stop Chuck, her expression turning serious. "Bryce Larkin is a lot of things, but even on his best day, he'll never hold a candle to Chuck Bartowski." Ellie held her hands up in surrender, looking properly chastised, yet slightly amused at Sarah's conviction.

"Well, I agree, but I'm biased. I'm glad you figured it out. Speaking of which, when did you figure it out? Tell me! I wanna hear all the details." Ellie demanded, gesturing for the two of them to sit on the couch as she took the overstuffed chair, tucking her feet under her.

"Come on, El. I'm not sure if Sarah wants to talk ab-"

"It first started on the initial meet and greet," Sarah began, completely ignoring Chuck's protest. She was practically on the edge of her own seat, eager to share the details. "I liked him immediately. He was just so… different. I'd never met anyone like him. Certainly none of the other contestants. He was so down to Earth and … awkward. It was kinda cute the way you stumbled all over yourself," Sarah mused as she turned to look at Chuck. Rolling his eyes, he shook his head as a blush started to color his cheeks.

Ellie pointed at Sarah, like she'd caught her with her hand in the cookie jar, "I knew I saw… something. When I watched the first episode, the introductions to all the other guys, I could see that your time with Chuck was different. You seemed… I dunno, more relaxed and maybe a little less guarded." Sarah gave Ellie a shy smile, shrugging. "OK, tell me more. I'm dying to hear."

"We've already spoiled the ending, so I'm going to let you watch the rest of it as it unfolds on TV. But, since it likely won't make it on air… on our date, he took me to the beach," Sarah continued, a grin growing on her face.

"No! Did he take you to … 'the spot'?" Ellie asked, literally on the edge of her seat.

Nodding emphatically, Sarah replied, "He did. It was very romantic and then…." Sarah paused for effect, "he proceeded to tell me that he thought the other guy was the best choice and that he would step aside so I wouldn't have to choose between them."

Ellie, turned on her younger brother, staring at him in disbelief. "You did what?! You idiot! You're too damn noble for your own good. What have I told you? When it comes to people you care about, you can never go too far," Ellie berated Chuck, pointing a finger at him as she lectured him.

"Ellie. It's OK. I knew what he was doing," Sarah cut in, chuckling at Ellie's reaction. "He's always putting others ahead of himself. What he didn't know, was that I'd already chosen him. I'd been trying to find the best way to say it, but I kept missing my chances. So, I did what I had to do." Ellie gasped, putting her hands to her mouth. "I hit him." Ellie burst into uproarious laughter, actually falling out of the chair and onto the floor.

"Ok. It wasn't that funny," Chuck chided, trying to mask his grin.

"I can't believe you actually hit him," Ellie managed to get out as she tried to catch her breath, pulling herself back into her chair.

"And it hurt too. She hits hard," Chuck grumbled, rubbing his arm, the memory of that night still fresh in his mind.

"Oh, stop. It wasn't that hard. But you deserved it," Sarah added, giving him a pointed look.

"And she yelled at me," Chuck continued, his grin growing. Ellie was looking between the two, like a match at Wimbledon.

"OK. That I did. I… I called him a 'stupid, wonderful nerd'." Chuck nodded, looking vindicated.

"Well, he is, but then what?" Ellie asked, the anticipation evident in her voice.

"And then… I kissed him." The resulting squeal could shatter glass. Ellie was practically vibrating, her fists clenched against her mouth, failing to mask her excitement.

"See what I mean about the ear protection?" Chuck interjected. Sarah gave an amused huff and swatted him lightly on the arm.

"Awww. That's so romantic. But… I have to ask. What now? I mean, it's great that you're dating, but where do you go from here?" Ellie asked, looking between them. Sarah and Chuck looked at one another and shrugged. Neither had really discussed it. Truth be told, there hadn't been a lot of time together for them to talk about it.

"I wanna be straight with you two. You and Chuck are from very different worlds. Sarah, while you're off on set at some exotic locale, with some hunky co-star, where is he gonna be? Sitting at home wondering?" Ellie questioned, looking between them.

"El-" Chuck protested, but was cut off by this sister, who was now in full momma bear mode.

Turning to face him, Ellie continued, "No Chuck, this is serious. I know you. I know that you'll bend over backwards for anyone, let alone Sarah. I'm just afraid that you're going to try to become someone you're not, just because you think that's what she wants you to do or what you feel you have to do in order to keep her. Swanky parties, red-carpet events, jet-setting around the world, can you survive in that world and still be… you? And Sarah," Ellie pivoted, setting her focus on the younger woman, "I admit, I don't know you that well, but when you discover that he's always going to be this shy, awkward, nerdy guy, can you accept that? Will your friends accept him for who he is? What will you say if your friends start talking down about how unrefined he is?" Ellie's tone was matter of fact but not accusatory, though, her last questions were asked with a raised eyebrow. Chuck began to jump in to try to defend Sarah, but she placed a hand on his chest to stop him.

"Ellie. I know you want what's best for Chuck. You're far more than a sister to him and I respect how important you are to one another. So let me offer you the same courtesy of being straight with you. I know who Chuck is and have no interest in changing that one bit. Without giving away too much, I've seen Chuck in action at your 'swanky, red-carpet' type affairs and it was the best time I'd ever had. So rest assured, he'll do just fine the way he is. As for my friends, I don't have many, but I've told them the same thing I told Chuck, and I'm telling you now. I love him. I love him, not for who I think he could become, but for who I know him to be right now. And if they can't see how incredibly happy he makes me, and appreciate that, then I don't need them as friends." Sarah sat up straight, trying to keep her emotions at bay as she awaited a heated argument with the woman that practically raised Chuck.

Instead of the defensive momma bear she expected, Sarah saw tears pooling in the older woman's eyes as she bit her bottom lip. Without a word, Ellie stood and strode to the couch, taking a seat between Sarah and the end of the couch. Immediately, Sarah was wrapped in a hug, the third one in less than thirty minutes. It felt like some kind of personal record. Taken aback, Sarah hesitantly wrapped her arms around Ellie. Not surprisingly, she could feel some familial similarity to the sensation of being hugged by a Bartowski. From her experience so far, they did it better than anyone she'd known.

"Thank you," Ellie whispered, before pulling away to look at Sarah. Fighting tears of her own, Sarah nodded, giving Ellie a tight smile. Ellie turned her gaze to Chuck, who was sitting quietly and smiling warmly at the two most important women in his life. "And what about you?"

"Me? What about me?" Chuck asked, sounding confused. The flat look she sent his way seemed to spur him into understanding, his eyes going wide.

"Oh, you mean… yeah. She's alright," he shrugged, trying to sound indifferent as he twisted his lips to the side. The fury that was boiling within his sister's eyes was enough to get Chuck to come clean.

"OK! OK! Geez. Of course I love her. How can I not? She's… she's it, El." Chuck shrugged as if there was nothing else that needed to be said. The look that Chuck and Sarah exchanged spoke volumes. Even without the words, Ellie could see it spelled out plain as day in the loving gaze shared between them.

Sighing in contentment, Ellie pushed herself off the couch, "I think this calls for some celebration." Walking into the kitchen, she called over her shoulder, "I don't have any champagne, but maybe something sweet. How about some Moscato?"

"You're a woman after my own heart. Moscato sounds perfect. I'm sorry Chuck. You may have to share my affections with your sister," she mused, leaning over and placing a kiss on Chuck lips with a hum of satisfaction.

Chuckling, Ellie appeared with a chilled bottle and three glasses. "How about we just share our mutual affections for wine and I'll leave the rest to my brother?" After filling the glasses, she set the bottle on the coffee table and raised a glass, Chuck and Sarah doing likewise.

"To friendship, family and love." All three gave cheers as they clinked glasses and took sips of their wine. Sitting down in her original seat, Ellie got comfortable.

"So, since they've only aired two episodes so far, I take it you're going to have to lay low for a while until the show's finale. What are you going to do? Split up and go back to work like nothing happened? Or…" Ellie trailed off, looking between the two expectantly.

"Or," Chuck jumped in. "Definitely 'Or'". Sarah gave him an amused grin as he continued. "I… I couldn't bear to go that long without her. Not after just finally getting together. Well, not 'together' together, but you know…. together as in-"

"I get it," Ellie interrupted, holding up her hand. "So, what? Hide out somewhere? That might be a lot to ask of a new relationship, spending that much time together. Plus, can you afford to take off work for that long?"

"I'm not worried about being together. In fact, I'm rather looking forward to it," Sarah grinned, blushing a little. Clearing her throat, she continued, "But Chuck, I realize that it may not be as easy for you to take that kind of time off. If it helps, I can easily cover any expenses if you're worried about that." Ellie snorted, nearly spitting her sip of wine back in her glass, but recovering in time to finish swallowing. Sarah gave Ellie a confused look as she turned to see Chuck glaring at his sister. Thinking that Chuck might be embarrassed that Ellie had given away something that he wasn't comfortable with, she reiterated her point. "Look, Chuck, if it's about the money, I have more than enough for both of us to live very comfortably. I don't care how much you make, as long as you're happy doing what you're doing."

"Hear that Chuck? She doesn't care about the money." The grin on Ellie's face and the sheepish look on Chuck's face didn't clarify what the issue might be.

"Did I say something wrong?" Sarah asked, looking between the siblings. "I didn't mean to offend you…"

"No, sweetie," Ellie began. "In fact, it was very reassuring to hear. Would you like to tell her, or should I?" Chuck rolled his eyes and sat up straight on the couch, blowing out a long breath. He turned to look at a very confused Sarah.

"Well, it's never been a secret that I didn't go into business to make tons of money. I was doing something that I loved, and I got to work with my best friend, Morgan. As luck would have it, my first project, a computer game, was very successful. It allowed the business to stay afloat. However, out of that, companies became interested in the gaming engine that I had developed for that first game. Eventually, I was given an offer I couldn't refuse, so I sold the rights to the gaming engine, while still retaining the right to use it myself, provided I released all of my games that utilized the engine in partnership with their company, where they received a small percentage of the game's sales." Chuck gave a shrug, as if it were no big deal.

"Well, that's great, right? You created something that they must have valued quite a bit if they wanted exclusivity rights to it. I hope you were compensated well for it. You deserve it," Sarah beamed, shoulder bumping him.

"I'd say," Ellie interjected, chuckling to herself. Rolling his eyes, Chuck shook his head at his sister's comments.

"I was well compensated, but it doesn't matter. It allowed me to donate to some very good causes and make some good investments." Sarah gave him a curious look.

"Exactly... how much are we talking?" she asked, squinting at Chuck, studying his reaction. "You don't have to tell me. It could have been five dollars and I wouldn't care, so long as you got what you deserved. I'm just curious." Blowing out another breath, he swallowed thickly.

"One-hundred ... twenty-seven..."

"One-hundred twenty-seven thousand?" Sarah asked, looking surprised. "That's great. I mean, I have no idea what that kind of thing would be worth, obviously, but if you were satisfied-"

"Not thousand, Dear," Ellie interrupted. She gestured with her thumb toward the ceiling with a knowing smile. Sarah's eyes widened with surprise, her gaze darting toward Chuck as her mouth fell open.

"One-hundred twenty-seven … million?" She breathed out. "Holy Shit! Who… who did you sell it to?"

"Activision Blizzard. I don't know if they bought it to bury the competition or if they plan on incorporating it into their games. Either way, I got a fair amount of stock in the company as part of the deal and they're retaining me as a consultant for future projects when or if they use my gaming engine. Plus, I get to do my own thing, so it's a win-win all around. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I don't really like to talk about myself much to begin with, but talking about finances just feels like boasting, and that's definitely not me. I hear stories about how people treat you differently when they know you have money, so I wanted to avoid that. Not… not that I thought you would be that way, but as part of the show and whatnot. I wanted it to be about... just me. Not me and a bunch of money." Sarah placed a hand on his jawline, rubbing her thumb on his cheek.

"Chuck, it doesn't matter to me. I'm glad that you got what you deserved, though I suspect you deserve far more. Thank you for trusting me with this. It means a lot." Leaning in, she gave him a kiss.

"Alright, so money clearly isn't an issue for you two," Ellie chuckled, "so what are you going to do?" Chuck and Sarah looked at one another, twisting their lips in contemplation. "You two are a lot of help. Well, clearly you can't go to some touristy place because people will see you two together. It'll have to be some place out of the way, where there aren't a lot of people…" Ellie sat tapping her chin as she stared at the ceiling. Chuck and Sarah were likewise engrossed in thought, the room growing silent.

"I got it! I know the perfect place!" Sarah and Chuck were both gripping the couch, nearly jumping out of their skin at Ellie's outburst. Paying their wide-eye stares no heed, she kept going. "Devon's parents have a little cabin up near Mount Shasta. I've never been there, but he said it was out in the middle of nowhere. Woody and Honey aren't exactly the 'roughing it' types, so it shouldn't be too primitive. They're in Europe right now, so I bet they'd let you use it for a few weeks."

Sarah turned to Chuck and mouthed "Woody and Honey?" with wide eyes.

"If you met them, you'd understand," Chuck answered with a chuckle.

"I can call Devon and have him square it away with his parents. If you're interested that is…" Ellie trailed off, looking between the two.

"Hmmm. Let's see… A cabin in the woods, not a soul around, only the beautiful and talented Sarah Walker there to keep me company. Whatever would I do?" Chuck mused, pretending to contemplate the scenario.

"Don't worry, Buster. I have some plans for you," she chimed in, giving him a shoulder bump and a wry smile. Chuck couldn't help but blush, ducking his head at the comment. "I think it sounds like a great idea, Ellie. I haven't spent time in the woods since I was on location in a Siberian forest. It was well below freezing with two feet of snow. I suspect this will be far more enjoyable."

"I should say so, especially this time of year. I'll call Devon and -" Ellie was interrupted by the jingling of keys at the front door. "Oh! That must be him now." Not but a moment later the door swung open.

"Hey Babe," the tall, blond man in blue scrubs uttered as he pushed the door closed with his shoulder. Sorting through the mail, he'd yet to look up to notice the company present. Ellie cleared her throat, trying to get his attention.

"Devon, honey. Look who's here." Devon's gaze lingered on the piece of mail he was reading before lifting his head to look at his girlfriend and then survey the room.

'Chuckster! You're back! WHOA! DUDE!" the man exclaimed, walking across the living room with a look of shock spread across his face. "Dude! That's Sarah Walker!" he added sotto voce, pointing to the woman sitting next to Chuck.

"Yes, Devon. I'm well aware," Chuck replied, looking mortified.

"Bro! Muy caliente, am I right? Awesome!" Devon raised a hand for a high five.

"Devon!" Ellie barked, getting her boyfriend's attention. With her eyes wide and lips pursed, he quickly saw the error of his ways, lowering his hand and standing up straight. With an amused smile, Sarah stood up and extended her hand toward Devon.

"Thank you, Devon. You're rather 'muy caliente' yourself," Sarah added, smirking at him with an exaggerated wink. Devon took the offered hand, shaking it firmly as he chuckled.

"That's awesome. Good one," he admitted, pointing at Sarah. "It's good to meet you. So you're…" Devon began to ask, glancing between Chuck and the woman before him.

"I'm Chuck's girlfriend," she confessed. Biting her bottom lip at first, a broad smile quickly spread across her face, followed by a slight chuckle. "Sorry it's just…. It's the first time I've gotten to say that," she said, turning to look down at Chuck. "I like the sound of it."

"I'm sure the ole Chuckster here is pretty pumped about it too. Eh, bro?" Devon asked, swatting the younger man on the arm with the mail he was still holding. "Congrats you guys. I had faith in you Chuck. It's so awesome. So I take it that this means the show's over? Didn't we just watch the second episode Babe?" Devon asked, looking over his shoulder at Ellie.

"Yes, but they film all of that in advance," Ellie replied. "So now, they need to lay low for a while until the final episode airs. Otherwise, the media could get wind of it and spoil the show." Devon nodded his understanding, humming in agreement.

"You guys should take a romantic vacation. Someplace secluded, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Don't you think, El?" he inquired, turning to face his girlfriend.

"What a great idea! Why didn't we think of that?" Ellie remarked, her tone dripping with sugar and a hint of sarcasm. Devon's grin turned flat as it sunk in.

"You already talked about this, didn't you? Let me guess. You already have a place picked out?" Ellie stood from her chair, patting him on the chest and giving him a kiss.

"It's OK Sweetie. You're still brilliant and I need my brilliant boyfriend to call his parents." Devon raised an eyebrow, confused by the request. Suddenly, like an epiphany, his eyes went wide.

'The cabin! Awesome! That'd be perfect. What time is it?" Devon checked his watch and nodded. "It's still early enough. I'll call 'em right now." Pulling out his phone, he placed the call and stepped out of the living room.

Having watched all of this unfold, Sarah leaned over to Chuck and whispered, "I see why you call him Captain Awesome."

'Right?" Chuck asked, looking vindicated. Sarah giggled, leaning in further and placing a soft kiss on his lips.

A few minutes later, Devon returned, brandishing his big, toothy grin. "You guys are all set. Mom and Dad said the place is all yours, Chuck, for as long as you need it. Oh, I didn't tell them about… you know who. I just said you and your girlfriend, so everything's cool. I'll go get you the code to unlock the front door," he called back over his shoulder as he was walking toward his bedroom. A few seconds later he was on his way back, holding a slip of paper in one hand and typing on his phone in the other.

"There ya go, Bro. I texted you the address and the code for the door. The place is all yours. The cabin should have everything you need. You'll just want to pack whatever food and clothes you want. Well, food anyway," he corrected, giving the two a suggestive wink. "I'd recommend you wait until tomorrow, though. It's at least a nine hour drive from here."

"As much as I hate to say it, we should probably go to our respective homes tonight so we can pack and get some sleep," Chuck reluctantly suggested, looking a little disappointed. Sarah nodded, looking just as disappointed, but it seemed like the logical choice.

"Hey, Chuckster. Why don't you take my Range Rover? In case you feel like exploring any of the back roads up there. Plus, it has a lot more room for your stuff. I'll just drive your car to work." Tossing his keys to Chuck, the younger man managed to catch them, only bobbling them slightly.

"Really? Thanks Aweso-Devon," he corrected himself, wincing at his sister's glare. "You'd really drive my Hyundai to work? Don't you have an image to uphold or something?" Chuck teased, chuckling to himself.

"Nah. I don't need to impress anyone. I already got my PYT right here,' he mused, leaning down to give Ellie a kiss. She happily accepted the kiss, but gave him a 'tsk' and a playful swat on the arm.

"On that note…" Chuck trailed off, pushing himself off the couch. "Thanks guys. I really appreciate all the help. We'll keep in touch, let you know we're OK and all that." Chuck exchanged hugs with Ellie and Devon, with Sarah following suit.

"Thanks Devon. It was really nice to meet you," Sarah commented, pulling out of the hug. "And it was great seeing you again Ellie." Sarah gave the older woman a strong hug, relishing in the comfort she felt from Chuck's family. "Once this is all over, I really want to get together. You, me and some of my friends, we should go out and hit the town. It'll be fun."

"Seriously?! You want me to go out with you and your celebrity friends?" Ellie asked with a look of utter shock on her face.

"Well, they aren't all celebrities, but yeah. Of course I do! You're… you're like family," Sarah stated very sincerely, nearly bringing a tear to the eyes of both women. After another quick hug, Chuck led Sarah out of the apartment and around to where Devon's car was parked. Opening the passenger door for her, he quickly made his way around the SUV and into the driver's seat.

"So…" he huffed, fastening his seat belt and settling into the seat. "I can't really drop you off at your house, can I?"

"No. I suppose not." She thought for a moment, then turned to face Chuck, placing a hand on his arm. "How about I call Casey and he can meet us somewhere. You can drop me off with him and then he can take me home. In the morning, I'll have him take me to meet you at a park or something and I can load my stuff in the back and off we go."

"Yeah. Yeah. That'll work. Oooo. Um… since he's your bodyguard and all, is he going to have to … come with us or something?" Chuck asked, wincing in fear of the answer.

"Casey is not staying in the cabin with us, I can tell you that for damn sure!" Sarah exclaimed adamantly. Thinking about it for a moment, she sighed in resignation. "Though, I suppose, if he insists, he can check out the place before we get there. Make sure everything's safe, maybe find a place to stay nearby if he feels like he needs to. I'm sure there's at least a town not far from the cabin where he could grab a hotel or something." Chuck nodded as she spoke, seeing the merits of her line of thinking.

"I suppose it would be best to err on the side of caution. I certainly don't want to put you in any kind of danger. So… it's a plan then? We're really doing this? You. Me. Alone in a remote cabin…" Chuck trailed off, swallowing the lump in his throat, unable to finish his thought.

"Yes. We're most… definitely… doing this," Sarah breathed out as she leaned in to kiss him. As the kiss escalated, Chuck turned his body in an effort to wrap his left arm around her, but only succeeded in honking the horn in the process. The loud noise shocked them both out of the kiss, causing them to separate to their respective seats.

"Maybe you should-"

"Yeah, I should just…" Chuck replied, starting the car. The two were still panting, trying to catch their breath, when Chuck pulled the car out of the parking lot and into LA traffic.

A/N2: ROAD TRIP! I'll buy the snacks, you pay for gas.

As always, you have all been so incredibly supportive of this story. Thank you all so much. To all of those that I've heard from, and those silently waiting in the wings, I hope that this little story has at least brought some sense of escape, maybe even a smile. I know that in the current state of affairs, smiles can be in short supply. If I can give that to you, I feel privileged to do so.

Be safe, wear those masks and keep supporting the amazing authors who are keeping Chuck and its characters alive.

Joe