The Detective and the Tech Guy
Authors: Steampunk . Chuckster & dettiot
Rating: T
Summary: A case of mistaken identity and murder brings Sarah Walker, Pinkerton agent, to sunny California. Protecting the heir to the Bartowski Electronics Corporation should be just business-but Chuck Bartowski fills out a suit nicely and makes a mean martini. Chuck lobbied to hire the Pinkerton Agency, but had no idea that the detective they'd send would be as alluring, intelligent and fascinating as Sarah Walker. Will the detective and the tech guy solve the mystery, distracted by the riddle in their own hearts? An homage to The Thin Man movies co-written by Steampunk . Chuckster and dettiot.
Disclaimer: Neither of us own Chuck. If we did, there would have been a 1940s flashback episode. And a musical episode. And . . . you get the idea.
Author's Note: So you know how sometimes you write a fic because of something you yourself want to read? Like, say, ohhh, I don't know, the thing that Chuck isn't wearing in this chapter? Well, it turns out dettiot went ahead and wrote it instead. Which means I get to kick back and read it without doing any of the work. And really enjoy it, because she's such a great writer. That's what being a good writing buddy is about. Taking one for the team. She did all the work for us, you guys. And now...I present to you, written by the magnficent dettiot, shirtless Chuck. Erm...I mean...The Detective and the Tech Guy Flirt on the Beach.

XOXOXOXO

As a Pinkerton agent, Sarah Walker had traveled all over the country. She had spent January in Seattle, July in Washington, D.C., March in Boston and September in Texas. Even though she had only been in California a few weeks, she had to admit that California was pretty nice. Especially in late May, basking in a beautiful Southern California sunset.

Outside her corporate housing building was a jogging path to a pier overlooking the beach. In the evenings, she had gotten into the habit of going for a gentle run on the path and along the pier, before pausing to watch the sun set. A chance to let her mind wander, to meditate and find her center once again.

It wasn't like her. To take this kind of time. Especially when she was working. But she couldn't seem to help it. It seemed … necessary.

Sarah rested her arms on the railing of the pier and gazed out, watching the waves roll in to meet the beach. There was something peaceful about this. Something she liked, and—

Was that Chuck?!

Narrowing her eyes, Sarah leaned forward a little. She knew this area wasn't that far from Chuck's place, and she knew he enjoyed running on the beach. But according to her files, he never ran at night. But there he was, wearing shorts and a t-shirt and running along the hard-packed sand.

As she watched, he paused, jogging in place as he looked down at his watch. Then he peeled his shirt off and started running again.

What was he doing running by himself? Altering his patterns without telling her? Did that watch have GPS? Did he have his cell phone with him so he could be tracked or call for help?

She needed to get answers to these questions. So she ran for the stairs from the pier to the beach, easily closing the gap on him.

"Chuck!" she called out as she jogged up to him. But not before she had taken a moment to watch the muscles in his back flex as he moved.

He stumbled slightly on some loose sand as he turned, looking surprised. "Sarah?"

Thanks to her training, she was able to run her eyes down his torso without actually moving her eyes. And this was a good thing, because it let her examine him for future reference. There might be a situation where he would have to be identified by his chest.

"Hi," she said, giving him a professional smile. "I didn't know you ran at night."

"Yeah, sometimes … I had a breakfast meeting today, so …" he rambled as he fumbled with his shirt, pulling it on and shaking out his hair. "And you're running now, too!"

"I always run in the evenings. It helps me sleep."

"Ahhh," he said. "So you have trouble sleeping? Don't like warm milk?"

She made a face, prompting a laugh from Chuck. "Warm milk is only acceptable with brandy or rum in it," she said.

"I definitely agree with you there," he said, folding his arms over his chest. "But then, most every beverage is improved with alcohol."

"Really?" She quirked an eyebrow. "Like water?"

"That is one of the exceptions that prove the rule. I haven't found a liquor that improves water." Chuck grinned and kicked at the sand a little.

"True … after all, water works against alcohol. Making it weaker. As the term says, watering it down."

Chuck laughed, ducking his head. "Good one," he said, displaying his even, white teeth in a wide smile.

That smile had taken two years of orthodontia to achieve. It was pretty great work, she had to admit.

Sarah straightened her shoulders. "Well, I should let you get back to your run. Oh, did you bring your cell phone with you? It's important to have a way to contact you. And to track you in case something happened to you."

"Would you actually do that?" he asked, his eyebrows drawing together.

"If I thought you were in danger? Yes, of course. Standard Pinkerton procedure."

He eyed her. "Only if I was in danger? Not just because you might want to know where I am? It's okay, you can admit it. You can tell me that you just have to know my location 24/7, just in case you can't hold out against my charms any longer."

It was all so ridiculous, the way he flirted with her. The very fact that he was flirting, when she was in charge of protecting him, shouldn't be happening. Most men would use her job as a reason to hold her at arm's length. To treat her like the furniture. Not Chuck, though. The longer she had known him, the more he seemed to flirt.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. I think someone's gotten too much air or something."

"Or something," Chuck agreed, grinning at her. "But you're right, I need to get back to my run." He pulled his phone out of his pocket, untangling the earbuds wrapped around the device. "And see? I have my phone. I feel like I should be rewarded."

Looking up at him, for some reason she felt a flutter in her stomach. But she sighed melodramatically and patted his shoulder. "Oh, Chuck, you can't get rewarded until you've worked a lot harder. And I've always heard that exercise is its own reward."

He let out a bark of laughter. "Okay, okay. Me, back to my workout. You, keep being strong and gorgeous, and I'll see you tomorrow."

Why did he say strong first? Like it was the most important part? Sarah gave her head a quick shake. "Yeah, of course. See you tomorrow."

Giving her a small nod, Chuck smiled and popped his earbuds in. Then he turned and started running back towards his apartment building, leaving Sarah alone on the beach.

Because it was her job, she watched him run away. That was all.