A/N: Therapy time. For Chuck, not me…I go one Wednesday a month…you know what, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Sarah studied Chuck, trying to do so in a way in which he wouldn't. Apparently she was doing it well, because he began to laugh, and that made her grin. "What?" she asked softly, warmth in her heart.

Chuck looked over at her. He had been working on a project after he got back from therapy, telling her that it was important and as soon as he was done, they would talk. "You know that in my 'dream' you were a spy, right?"

"Yeah," Sarah replied. "I obviously am not."

Chuck looked over at her, his grin growing. "Yeah, when she was worried about me and would check up on me, she was terrible about me not noticing."

"Huh," she replied, her grin growing. "How's work going?"

Chuck turned back to the laptop, hit a few keys, and then clicked the keyboard mouse with a flourish. He shut down the program, and then the laptop. He laid the laptop on the table, and turned to her. "Finished," he told her. "I need to say this."

"Well, don't let me stop you," she said, turning and sitting like him on the couch, one leg curled under her, and the other foot on the floor. Her elbow was resting on the back of the couch, her head resting on her hand.

"You're adorable."

"That's what you needed to say?"

"Not originally, but you doing all of that, I thought you should know," he explained.

"You really need to tell me what you needed to say, because I have felt the need to kiss you, for a while."

"Well, now I don't want to say anything," Chuck admitted. "And just let you kiss me."

She leaned forward. "Tell me, and I promise you, I'll kiss you until you can't take any more."

"You seriously underestimate my ability and desire to be kissed by you and how many kisses I am willing to take," Chuck countered.

She sighed deeply. "Chuck."

"See, I went to far," Chuck told her, making her chuckle. "You don't have to stay here tonight. I'm okay."

"Maybe I'm not," Sarah said. Chuck gapped. "What?" she asked with a shrug. "Can your girlfriend not care about you?"

"Oh, you care all you want to," Chuck told her. There was a knock on the door. "Of course there is," he muttered.

"Just ignore it," Sarah told him, smiling.

"You know I can't," Chuck replied. Sarah nodded. Chuck sighed, stood, walked over to the door and opened it. "Sarah, we have company."

"Sorry," Molly said, with everyone behind her. "We were worried about you."

"Come in," Sarah said. Chuck turned to look at her. "Sorry, did I overstep?"

"No," Chuck told her, grinning at her.

"Oh, God, they're about to get domestic," Carina groused, a smile on her face.

"Don't worry, Red, I can teach him tricks you didn't," Sarah said, walking over to Chuck. As Carina walked in, she fist bumped Sarah. Sarah reached over and closed Chuck's mouth. "What can I say, I'm a doctor, I know things."

"Chuck me," he muttered.

"That's the plan," she said, walking over to their guests.

}o{

The next morning found Chuck jogging down the beach. His friends, seeing that he seemed okay, ended up staying longer than they meant, everyone talking, enjoying themselves, and just glad Chuck was okay. Sarah was exhausted by the time everyone was gone, and drug him to bed. They quickly fell asleep.

He awoke alone, a note from Sarah that she had to be in early. He laid in bed for a minute, before he decided he needed to be alone with his thoughts. That's what found him on the beach, jogging and thinking.

}o{

Yesterday with Dr Stephen Freeman

"The ABC (antecedents, behavior, consequences) model is a main component of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)," Stephen began.

"I feel like I'm back in my dream," Chuck muttered. Dr Freeman looked at him. "There's so many initials of things."

"Sorry," Dr Freeman replied, chuckling. "I like to give people those starting facts and then get into how it will help you." Chuck nodded. So the idea is that emotions and behaviors are not determined by external events but by our beliefs about them."

"I don't understand," Chuck admitted.

"Let's say you're walking down the street and see a friend and call out to them. The friend continues to walk, and doesn't respond. If you are in a bad emotional place, you might think that the friend didn't want to talk with you or be bothered by you."

"What if you're in a good emotional place and that's what you think?" Chuck asked. Dr Freeman sat there silently. "Is this one of those times where you tell me that I have the answer and the answer is, I do this way to often?" Dr Freeman continued to sit there. "I feel like internally you're laughing at me."

"No, Chuck," Dr Freeman said gently. "But why would you think that?"

Chuck started to answer but stopped. "So the….Doc, I don't like ABC as the name."

"Okaaayyy," Dr Freeman answered. "Do you have something else in mind?"

"Yeah, CCC," Chuck told him. "Catch, confront, correct."

"I like that," Dr Freeman said, nodding. "So, break it down for me."

"Okay, so first, catch. I need to catch that my thought….my negative thought," Chuck began, as Dr Freeman nodded approvingly. "Is that you are laughing at me for being…me."

"Go on," Dr Freeman encouraged.

"If you were laughing, it was probably because you found it funny, not to mock me." Dr Freeman frowned. "I know, I know, I shouldn't think that you are laughing at me at all, but I've done the self-deprecating stuff to myself my whole life."

"Go on," Dr Freeman said, shaking his head.

"So, the confronting part should be, you were quiet because you knew I had the tools to work it out, and were giving me a chance to do so. Also, you told me this is a safe space, and you wouldn't mock or judge me."

"Very good," Dr Freeman murmured.

"And the correcting part is simply, don't jump to the worst conclusion," Chuck told Dr Freeman.

"One thing you did that I liked, you did ask," Dr Freeman told him. "Some time confronting or correcting could be to get confirmation."

"Oooo, a fourth C," Chuck pointed out. Dr Freeman shook his head.

"So, CBT is a popular mental health treatment that involves recognizing and examining problematic thought patterns and behaviors and adjusting them to be healthier and more productive. It is used to treat depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and more." Dr Freeman paused. "Do you see how it can be helpful?"

"I do," Chuck nodded. "But, what about in the case of my parents who said that it was because of them I am where I am today?"

"Let's do it," Dr. Freeman said with a shrug.

"But Doc, they did," Chuck insisted.

"They put in the work?"

"Well, no," Chuck admitted.

"They created your business, came up with the plans, the idea for your video games, the ideas for your comics, or any of the ideas you had?"

"Well….no," Chuck continued.

"What did they do?" Dr Freeman pressed.

"They convinced Hartley to give me the seed money," Chuck began.

"Gave?" Dr Freeman asked. "You didn't pay it back?"

"Oh, no, I paid it all back," Chuck replied.

"So, they didn't give you the money, but asked a friend to invest, or lend you the money?" Dr Freeman asked.

"Yes," Chuck replied.

Dr Freeman leaned forward. "Then how the hell are they responsible for your company? Do you know for sure that he wouldn't have invested if it wasn't for them?"

"Well….uh…" Chuck sputtered.

"Did they give you an advantage?" Dr Freeman asked.

"Yes!" Chuck said, pointing at Dr Freeman, happy to get an answer right.

"Did they help you at any point in the business?" Dr Freeman asked.

"God, no," Chuck replied.

"Then how are they responsible for your company, Chuck?"

Chuck sat there in silence for a moment. "I guess…" Dr Freeman raised an eyebrow. "Okay, let me rephrase that." Dr Freeman chuckled. "They aren't. They helped me secure financing."

"That they did," Dr Freeman replied. "We call those people investment bankers." Chuck couldn't help but laugh. They were silent for a moment. "What about Carina?"

"What about her?" Chuck asked, stunned that he had brought her up.

"Why did you two not work?" Dr Freeman asked.

"Because…I wasn't good…." He stopped as Dr Freeman's gaze made him reconsider his words. Chuck was silent for a moment. "You know, in my dream, I…I wasn't the most confident person. I…I was destroyed by what Jill did to me, for five years, I was destroyed."

"You weren't like that in real life?" Dr Freeman asked.

"I mean, no," Chuck replied. "I was more confident…outwardly." Dr Freeman nodded. "Was the dream…was the dream showing me the real me?"

"I have no idea," Dr Freeman admitted. "But, aren't we all scared inside about things and put on an exterior…a mask if you will. Are we really completely who we are with anyone?"

"I was with Sarah," Chuck replied, without even thinking. "I was my nerdy self, but around Carina, my ex-girlfriend….I was terrified."

"Why?"

"Because she wasn't the one," Chuck said. He blew out a breath. "Why does that feel like a weight off of my shoulders? I've said that before."

"But did you believe it?" Dr Freeman asked gently. Chuck looked at him. "Did you think you weren't good enough? Did you think that it was your fault she couldn't love you?"

"Maybe," Chuck said. "But…But how can my mind know I love Sarah when I hadn't even met her?"

Dr Freeman smiled. Chuck thought about what he said and his eyes widened. "I have no idea," Dr Freeman admitted. "I do think maybe it knew that Sarah was better for you than Carina."

"What do I do?" Chuck asked.

"Live," Dr Freeman said simply. "Live in the here and now with what is actually happening, not what is happening in your mind."

}o{

Chuck stepped out of the shower, and dried off. He stared into the mirror, Dr Freeman's words replaying in his mind. "I gotta live," he muttered to himself. He walked into his room, put on clothes, went and stood in front of the mirror, and then went and changed again.

After five tries, he was happy with what he had on. A simple button up, and jeans, and of course…his Chucks. "I need to talk to her." With that, he walked out of the house. A second later, he walked back in and grabbed his keys and wallet. He was just glad he hadn't locked himself out of his house. He paused again, in front of the mirror. "Live in the here and now." He nodded, made sure he had his wallet, keys, and phone. He locked the door, and headed to his car. He was going to see Sarah.

A/N: When I first learned of ABC I told my therapist I couldn't remember the words for ABC and told her my thoughts on CCC. She told me if that worked, than to use it. Mental Health fam…you know how I feel about it.

Next time:

"So what are you thinking that I'm thinking?" Sarah asked. She watched him turn a hair red. "Oh, this should be good." He saw the amused smile on her face, and shook his head. She squeezed his hand. "Tell me."

"I have to wonder, if we were to….you know," he began.

"You mean when, right?" Sarah asked, the amused smile growing.

"Yep," Chuck replied, his voice a little higher than normal. He cleared his throat. "I worry that…uh…in the throws of passion…" he trailed off.

"Oh do please keep going," Sarah said.

"That's what she said," he blurted out, making her laugh.