A/N: A relatively short Chuck Christmas story about how that time of year is embraced by one Sarah Walker, detective with the LAPD, and the man who helps her. It's set at the same time as the pilot. Both Chuck and Sarah still have their quirks and insecurities we saw in the show, but some might be accentuated.

Thanks to Capt LiL for kindly doing the beta on this for me.

That Christmas Spirit

Chapter 1: Just a Drink

Chuck had decided to stop feeling like a failure and do something with his life, all aspects of it. He was going to restart his software development in the evenings instead of wallowing in self-pity over what had happened at Stanford five years ago.

A great resolution, however it wasn't the New Year yet, but a week before Christmas. Nothing was going to change for some time. He'd spend another Christmas with his sister and her boyfriend. He loved them both, and their Christmas Day celebrations were special, but it would be better if he had someone of his own, and a future to look forward to rather than the Buy More. That was the other change he was keen on making, finding a girlfriend. He told himself that leaving him was Jill's mistake, not his failure. Of course, finding a girl was easy enough to say…

So, here he was, a week before Christmas, at what he'd heard was the best nightclub in LA, sitting at the end of the bar, nursing his beer and realizing that he shouldn't have let Morgan and Anna persuade him to come with them. He couldn't dance and he couldn't just walk up to a group of girls and say, "Hi," without words to follow that. He had no chat up lines, as the British called them, and knew his interests were not topics to discuss with girls. All in all, a pretty miserable situation.

The only saving grace about being here was the music and the band that was to appear on stage soon. He'd stay and watch them and then quietly leave. No one would notice. Then back to DVDs, comics and games. Oh, and spending time listening to his sister and her boyfriend in the room next door. Woopie!

Sarah had no idea why she'd let Zondra persuade her to come with her tonight. Normally, she'd jump at the chance to go dancing, but that was just it. She couldn't jump and she couldn't dance. That damned fall when she and her partner had caught the three men who had raided the grocery store two days ago had badly sprained her ankle. That happening only three weeks after she'd passed the exams and finally become a detective, felt ironic, as she'd never had problems when just a beat cop.

So now, she was benched. Not a great start as a detective. It also meant she had to sit and watch her friend having a great time on the dancefloor without her.

She huffed to herself. She never really enjoyed this time of year, anyway. She wasn't religious, nor did she get into the Christmas spirit. All she could think of was what she'd done with her dad, which completely soured her feelings. It was guilt, she knew that, but it still lingered. For many, Christmas was a time to be with family, but not for her. Her dad was in prison somewhere and her mom had passed away. So, all Sarah had was herself, her guilt, ready meals, alcohol and Christmas television. Not something to look forward to, really.

Seeing happy people here when she had that prospect was not great, especially when she couldn't get up because of her ankle.

Looking out at her friend, Sarah saw that Zondra was trying to enjoy herself, but it may not last long. She, like Sarah, came to places like this with the intention of just dancing. Doing that together, they were able to pretend to have an interest in each other. Zondra dancing on her own meant that she was getting a lot of guys hitting on her.

Sarah shook her head. Do guys only think of one thing? Do any of them come to a club to dance, or just to chill out and enjoy the bands?

She looked around the room, seeing guys looking at the dance floor, eyeing up the girls. She knew guys like them. Smooth talkers who just wanted to take a girl somewhere to screw her.

She did notice the guy at the other end of the bar though. She'd noticed him earlier with a shorter couple when they all arrived. He'd not looked at any of the girls as he'd walked to the bar. It took him quite a while to get noticed and receive his beer. That itself was odd. He was very tall, but didn't seem to have the confidence to get noticed. Now, he was almost playing with his beer, occasionally looking beyond the dancers at the stage. He was obviously here for the band.

As she looked at him, he seemed… nice. That was the best way to think of him, nice. He certainly didn't seem like the others here.

She was surprised then to find herself hobbling around the bar toward him. She never approached others like this. What had Zondra put in her drink? No, it couldn't be her drink, she'd bought the last round.

He looked up at her as she neared him.

Chuck looked at his watch and groaned. Still another twenty minutes to go until the band came on. He'd just finished his beer. It'd taken so long to get this one, the thought of trying to get another made his heart sink.

Maybe he should leave now and go home, recognizing what a mistake coming here really was.

He was about to slide off of the stool he was on, but noticed movement and looked up. He froze. The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen was approaching him. Him!

Then, he noticed she was hobbling and he leaped up. "Here let me help you into a seat," he said, reaching to let her sit on his stool.

She pointed behind him and he glanced back, seeing an empty stool.

"I can sit there," he rushed out. "You have this one and rest… your ankle?" He then realized he may be wrong. What if she hadn't injured herself but was always like this. He winced.

"Thank you," she said and took his hand as she moved forward and sat on the stool. "How did you know it was my ankle?"

He was completely flustered now. "Lucky guess?" he asked, still feeling bad.

She smiled, and looked at his beer, seeing it empty. Her smile faded and she frowned. "Are you leaving?"

How should he answer that? He didn't want to leave now. He wanted to talk to her. She probably wanted the two seats so her boyfriend could join her, but why the frown? Best to say something. "If you were looking for two seats, there isn't another one here. However, if I leave, your boyfriend can join you."

Her frown deepened. "My boyfriend? I don't have one." He looked at her shocked at that revelation. "Why're you looking at me like that?"

He shook himself and blurted out, "Why?"

She looked totally confused. "Why what?"

He cursed himself for making a huge assumption. "I'm sorry. Seeing such a beautiful woman, I just assumed you must have a boyfriend. Do you need a seat for a girlfriend?"

She continued to look confused for a second and then that cleared. She grinned. "Thanks for the compliment. My friend is out dancing, leaving me on my own."

He heard the word 'friend' rather than 'girlfriend' and realized he'd made another false assumption. "So why come over here?" he asked.

She cocked her head to one side, her smile dropping, looking uncertain. "To talk to you?"

He found that hard to believe. "Me?"

She frowned. "Is that so hard to believe?"

He sat back in the free stool. "Well, yeah. Women don't come and talk to me."

She looked puzzled. "Why not?"

He found the question absurd. "It must be dark in here for you not to see what I look like."

"The lighting is fine," she replied, then lips curled a bit. "Tall, dark and handsome."

He snorted. "Hardly."

She turned serious. "I saw you alone and decided to join you. You didn't seem as desperate as the other men."

He thought about why he'd come here. He couldn't tell her just how desperate he was and that'd driven him to come here with his friends, but at the same time he couldn't lie. "I'm not like others here," he said.

She snorted. "Thank god!"

That was a strange comment. "Why did you come here?"

"To be with you, or to the club?" she asked.

He couldn't halt his mouth. "With me is unbelievable. I meant the club."

She frowned. "We'll come back to you, but I came to the club because my friend wanted to dance."

"And you came to be a supportive friend," he concluded.

"Yes," she replied. "But I wasn't enjoying sitting on my own. Do you want another beer? I can probably get you one faster."

His jaw nearly dropped. "You saw how long it took me to get this one?"

She nodded and looked sheepish.

She'd been watching him? He had no words!

Sarah was finding this conversation very different to what she expected.

This guy thought so little of himself! That made her both glad she'd come to talk to him and a bit frustrated that he was like that.

"I'm Sarah and, yes, I saw how long it took you to get that beer," she said with a smirk.

"Chuck," he replied. "Surely you had better things to watch than me."

This self-doubt was irritating her now. "Why do you think so little of yourself?" she challenged.

He looked surprised, but had nothing to say.

She didn't know why, but she had to try to correct his perception of himself. "Chuck, I don't know you, but I can say that watching you has been the highlight of my evening." He blushed as she said that. Then, she realized how that sounded. "Watching the dancing just makes me sad, because I can't, and watching other men trying to get into the pants of the girls dancing out there is very upsetting."

His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. "Is that what you see happening?" She nodded. "But not your pants because you're not out there."

She didn't know if he meant she was upset at not getting that attention or pleased for her escaping that. "The one good thing about not dancing," she said, to be clear.

He glanced at her whole figure, which he hadn't done before, he'd only looked at her face and into her eyes. She hadn't realized that until this point. She'd appreciated that, but now she expected to dislike what he was doing. Thankfully, it didn't last long.

"You must be surrounded when you dance," he commented. That was a surprise and made her blush.

She looked at him. "That's a very subtle pick up line, Chuck."

He blushed furiously, and looked horrified. "I- I didn't m-mean it t-to be," he said, completely flustered.

She liked him and grinned. "I was teasing you, Chuck."

"Oh… oh." He calmed down. "Well, you got me." He looked amused, so she didn't feel guilty. Then he said something else. "I don't know any successful pick up lines."

She thought back to their whole conversation. She shouldn't say this but, "I don't think you need them."

He just gazed at her with the loveliest hazel eyes. She could imagine being drawn into those. "Thank you, Sarah. Very kind of you to say that."

She could tell he didn't believe it, but she wasn't going to push. "So, another beer?"

He nodded. "Please, but I'll pay."

She raised a brow. "Because men have to pay?"

He shook his head. "Because you don't really know me." Then, he smirked. "And you can't get into my pants that easily."

She burst into laughter, nearly falling off her stool, but Chuck caught her elbow and made sure she didn't. His touch was electric.

When she could, she said, "Best comment of the evening, Chuck." He grinned.

She looked around and easily caught the bartender's eye. He rushed over. She lifted up Chuck's empty bottle. "Two of these, please."

Chuck was loving being with this gorgeous woman who, amazingly, seemed to like him.

He'd noticed she was tall when she approached him, but it was only when he briefly looked at her that he really registered what a fabulous figure she had. He hadn't been joking with his comment about what must happen when she danced. She was stunning. All men must think that.

Awful though it made him seem, he was glad she had a bad ankle. If she hadn't, he would never have gotten the chance of being with her.

"Earth to Chuck," she said.

He refocused on her. "Sorry!"

She looked at him curiously. "What were you thinking?"

He blushed. He couldn't tell her that.

She mock-glared at him. "Thinking about pants?"

He could tell she was teasing. "Just glad to have had the chance to meet you, Sarah." That was a safe response, he thought.

She obviously thought about that before answering. "So, my ankle enabled that, huh?"

Shit! She saw right through him. "Well, it did, but I'm not saying that you getting hurt was a good thing."

She smiled. "But you were thinking it?"

His shoulders slumped. "You must think I'm a terrible person," he said dejectedly.

Her hand clasped his wrist and he looked up, startled. "I don't think that, Chuck. How could I? I was thinking the same thing." That was unexpected. He looked into those deep ocean-blue eyes and saw no deception. She meant it.

Chuck had been so wrapped up in talking to Sarah, he'd not realized the band had come on until people appeared at the bar. He looked to the dancefloor and, apart from Anna and a scattering of women, it was mostly covered in guys all looking at the stage.

People started struggling to get to the bar and he was suddenly worried that someone would end up pushing Sarah off of her stool. "Let's move. Too crowded here," he said to her and held out his hand.

She nodded, took his hand with a grateful smile, and slid off of the stool. They walked around the crowd with her leading the way to a table. "This is where my friend and I were sitting," she said, as she sat down.

Chuck noticed the drinks the girls had left there. "I wouldn't drink from a glass you've been away from. You don't know if someone has laced it," he said.

She smiled but nodded. "I know that, but thank you for being so considerate." Then a thought appeared in her head and she couldn't resist saying, "You might have been the one to get lucky, though."

He stumbled, not having sat yet. That just made her laugh. He had found a girl with a sense of humor. He liked that and got himself together. "It might have been you that got lucky, Sarah."

She chuckled. "I like you, Chuck."

"Good. I like you too, Sarah," he replied and realized that he really meant it.

"Didn't you want to see this band?" Sarah asked him, drawing his attention to the stage.

"I did, but…" How could he say he'd rather be with her without it seeming like a cheesy chat up line?

She grinned. "Go on, say it."

He decided they'd both laugh. He looked at her, deepening his voice, puffing his chest out and pretending a smoldering look. He then said, "I'd rather be with you, Babe."

Sarah clapped her hands and roared with laughter.

He grinned. He really liked her laugh and her very happy face as she did.

As her laughter died down, she imitated how he'd looked and said in a gravelly voice, "Same at you, Babe." Then, she lost that expression and started laughing again, as did he.

They both looked at the dance floor. "Where's your friend?" he asked.

Sarah pointed at a dark-haired woman standing with a tall guy who had his arm around her. They were both nodding their heads to the music the band was playing. "She was dancing with him earlier, so I think she's fended off the others by being with him."

"You really don't think much of men who come here, do you?" he asked.

She reached for his hand while looking seriously at him. "Some are better than others."

Looking into those gorgeous blue eyes, the music faded into the background and his mouth took on a life of its own. "I'd ask you out, but I don't want you to have bad thoughts about my intentions."

The smile that appeared on her face was worth the embarrassment he felt from uttering those words, but not as much as her words that followed, "If you did, I might say yes."

Sarah enjoyed their conversation. Nothing serious, just light-hearted and… fun. When she commented about her ankle bringing them together, his reaction and response indicated he felt bad thinking her injury was a good thing, so she admitted to feeling the same. She'd never have expected to meet someone she actually liked here and now was so glad her ankle had stopped her from dancing. She enjoyed teasing him and seeing his reactions, but he didn't seem to mind at all. His sense of humor was very much like hers and he had no difficulty making her laugh. All together great company.

When he hinted about asking her out, she didn't know if he was testing the water, but she had no hesitation giving a response. She would like to see what he was like on a date, away from here. God, she'd been on worse ones than this before! She knew this wasn't an actual date, so there were no expectations, but she suspected he'd be just as tentative and considerate on a real date.

Chuck suddenly clasped her hand making her look down at them and then back up.

"Will you go out with me?" He asked, the excitement at the prospect clear in his face.

She squeezed his hands. "Yes."

He let go of her hands and raised his fists in the air. "Woohoo!"

It was adorable and infectious. She raised her fists up too and shook them in the air, grinning her face off.

Unfortunately, this all drew attention to them.

They had only just settled down, chuckling together, when a broad-chested man sauntered over to them. He completely ignored Chuck and leaned toward her. She saw Chuck's face change, going through a series of expressions from irritation, through nervousness and finally anger. He obviously wanted to fend off the man from her. Then he looked into her eyes, clearly not wanting to step out of bounds.

She smiled at Chuck, but slightly shook her head. She could handle this.

She looked over her shoulder at the man who was full of confidence. He spoke first, "You're fun. You must have a sense of humor to be with the geek."

She heard Chuck's hiss, but waved her hand behind her, hoping he would stay quiet. This jerk would probably pick a fight and she doubted Chuck would win that.

"We share the same sense of humor," she told the idiot. "We're not afraid of making fools of ourselves. You must be the same, because that's what you're doing right now."

That confused him. "Huh? How?"

"By approaching a woman who is clearly taken," she replied.

She turned and faced the jerk completely. He'd need to lean further to get anywhere near her, and she hoped he wouldn't.

"I'll show you a good time, unlike him," jerk said.

She raised her left arm to scratch the back of her neck and deliberately eyed him up and down with a look of disgust on her face. "I don't think so."

That irritated him, but he pulled a sprig of mistletoe out of his pocket. "Well, you might change your mind after this." He held the mistletoe above his head and leaned forward to kiss her. She swung her left hand around, smacking into his right ear and causing his head and left ear to hit the table surface.

She leaned down to him. "As I said, making a fool of yourself, and now being bested by a mere girl with a bad ankle."

He stood up, looking dazed and staggered off.

"Wow!"

Hearing Chuck say that brought her back to the current situation. She twirled back toward him. "Sorry. I don't like men lunging for me, even carrying mistletoe." She noticed that on the table surface where the guy must've dropped it.

He held his hands back. She realized she ruined the mood and given him the wrong message there. "Unless invited," she added, giving him an inviting look.

"I'm scared!" he said.

That did it. She was going to have to take control. She grabbed the mistletoe, leaned to him, holding the sprig above his head, and kissed him quickly before whispering in his ear, "I like you, Chuck. I'm not going to hurt you."

He looked stunned. Then he visibly shook himself. "I think you burst a few of my blood vessels there."

She laughed out loud. "I wasn't expecting to do that!" She thought she should say more. "I'm a police detective, well capable of defending myself."

"I'll never try to hurt you," he said jokingly, trying to hold back his grin.

She thought about her previous relationships which had ended badly. She cocked her head and looked at this guy. "No, I don't think you would."

He wrapped his hand around her hand that was still clutching the mistletoe and raised it above them. Then he leaned forward and tenderly kissed her lips. Not a lunge but a gentle kiss that was very nice indeed.

When he pulled away, he looked nervously at her.

"No, definitely not hurting you tonight," she said and grinned.

He grinned back. "Saving that for another night, huh?"

She chuckled. "Only if you're really bad!" she teased.

God, she liked him blushing!

They'd exchanged phone numbers and he waited with her for her taxi. Her friend had apparently met someone she liked, and would be leaving with him.

"He got lucky," Chuck muttered.

Sarah's laugh was as lovely as ever. "I'm not like her. Besides, it might be uncomfortable with my ankle."

His mind started to spiral, thinking about what could be uncomfortable.

She placed her hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry if that's what you thought would happen." She looked genuinely sorry and a little bit nervous.

He wanted to reassure her. "I was only joking. I'm not like that."

She leaned back and looked at him. "Ever?"

He grinned. "Well, it would take more dates."

She hummed. "So, this counts as the first, huh?"

"Must be," he replied.

The mischievous look in her eyes should have prepared him. "So, how many dates will we have to go on, for you to be 'like that,' Chuck?"

He was trying to formulate an answer when her taxi arrived. She gave him a quick peck on the lips and said, "Call me and we can arrange date number two." Then, she eased herself into the taxi.

As he watched the taxi set off, Chuck got his act together and grabbed his phone.

"We should've done this in the club, you know," she answered. He could tell she was amused.

"Tomorrow night, wherever you want to go and do," he rushed out.

She laughed. "Anyone would think you're desperate to see me again."

"Not denying it," his mouth replied before he could stop it.

She sobered up. "Thank you, Chuck," she said. "You've given my ego a boost."

He realized something and cursed his misfortune. "Thinking about it, we'd never get a table at restaurants at such short notice this close to Christmas," he said despondently.

"So, we'll get a takeout," she responded. "We can have it at my place." Then she thought about that and added, "If you don't mind the mess."

Just as the taxi arrived at her apartment, they finalized the plan for tomorrow night and ended the call.

Sarah had been smiling throughout the conversation and hadn't realized until the driver turned to her as they ended the call. "That's the Christmas spirit," he said.

As she exited the taxi, she wondered if that was all it took to engender that feeling. Someone not only taking an interest in her, but also great to be with.

Chuck also seemed to need someone like that, so she thought that maybe they could brighten each other's Christmas this year.

A/N: This will be six chapters long, updated every fourth day, and will complete before Christmas Day.

Thoughts on their first meeting?