A/N: You know, after all these years, I still find it weird so many people like my writing. Thank you all for the kind words. Remember, we are still in one "episode", so what happened at the beginning of last chapter, we haven't got there yet (I thought this episode would be three chapters, I've started writing the fifth episode of this chapter, so….who knows how long it will go.) I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Then

She sat in her car, outside of the Buy More, trying to figure out how to approach him. She didn't want to mess this up. It felt… different, than anything she had ever done before. A part of her – a large part of her influenced by the two father figures in her life – told her to just show up, make a passing attempt for him to join her, and walk away. If she did that, in three years, she'd be in the upper echelons of the CIA.

Then there was that other part of her. The part that was much smaller, a part she thought at times dead inside of her. The part that reminded her of how she felt over the way she had been done through the years. The way she felt others were always in charge of the puppet strings that orchestrated her life.

And was she even sure that she wasn't trading in one puppet master for another? Sure, the two women had promised her that they were trying to right wrongs, but… they were government officials. She knew many officials that had no problem screwing over people to advance their own agenda.

She let out a rough breath. That wasn't fair. She had looked into Gale and Diane's records, and it seemed they were legit in everything they said. She gathered herself… and then nearly jumped through the roof, as there was a knock on her window.

She looked over and her jaw nearly dropped as she saw the man with whom she was wanting to talk standing right in front of her. She rolled down her window. "Are you okay?" Chuck asked.

"Yes," Sarah replied. "Why would you think I'm not?"

"Well, I went over to the Weinerlicious for lunch, but realized I forgot my wallet and walked back," Chuck began.

"The who-the-what?" Sarah asked.

"The Weinerlicious," Chuck said, pointing out the building. Sarah stuck her head out the window to look, gave Chuck a look, and pulled her head back inside. Rolling up her window, she turned off the car, and got out. "See, right there."

"I do see it," Sarah replied. "So, is it delicious?"

"Oh, God no," Chuck muttered, making her laugh. "I'm not even sure the licious is to imply that the food is delicious, just more of a we have lots of weiners." Chuck was silent for a moment. "God, that sounded awful." Sarah snickered.

"So, you went to get lunch, and then went back to the Buy More?" Sarah asked, trying to prompt more of his story.

"Yeah, and both times, well… it looked like you were trying to pump yourself up to go do something," Chuck continued.

"CHUCK!" They both turned to see a short, bearded man running toward them. "Dad…" he bent over and put his hands on his knees sucking in air. The short man placed his hand on Chuck's arm as if to steady himself. "No memory card."

Chuck groaned audibly. "Hey, I'm sorry, I have to go. It's an emergency." He started to take off after the bearded man, and then paused. He looked back at Sarah. "Listen, I'm probably the last person to take advice from, but you are never going to know unless you ask him."

"Ask who?" Sarah asked.

"Whoever it is you're trying to figure out who to… I don't know ask out… or, or her?" Chuck offered. Sarah tilted her head. "Look, I know avoidance of talking to someone, and that was definitely the look of someone trying to avoid taking to someone."

"Yeah, I am," Sarah admitted.

"Sorry, gotta go," Chuck said, and jogged back to the Buy More. Sarah opened the door to her car, and grabbed her bag. Shutting the door, she locked the car, and went inside the Buy More.

When she walked in, she saw Chuck taking charge, pointing things out and looking like he was… setting up a dance stage? That couldn't be right. He said something to a young lady. Sarah studied the girl, realizing that the girl was younger than Sarah originally thought. Also, the young lady was tall for her age. The girl smiled at Chuck as he backed away, and music played. She began to dance as three different employees began to record the impromptu recital.

"Impressive, isn't it?" she heard the voice at her side. Sarah glanced over and saw the bearded man from earlier. She didn't like this at all. Twice she had been snuck up on today. She knew this wasn't because the bearded man was good, but because she was getting lost in her thoughts about her would-be partner. "He's my best friend, you know."

"Who is?" Sarah asked, confused.

"Oh, I get it," the bearded man said, nodding. "Playing hard to get. I don't like that. He's been hurt enough."

Sarah turned to bearded man and stared at him. "What in the hell are you talking about? Who are you?"

"Like you don't know," the man said, a sly grin on his face. "I told him. I told the Chuckster that the ladies – the right lady – would find him, no matter where he was."

Sarah blinked. She wasn't sure what in the blue hell was going on.

"I'm Morgan, his best friend. And I know what you're doing."

"You do?"

"Sure," Morgan said with a wave of his hand. "You're scoping out my boy, but you need to know: we are heterosexual life partners, so I am going nowhere. No. Where."

"I'm very happy for you," Sarah said, turning to leave, weirded out.

"Oh, come on, don't be mad that I figured it out," Morgan called out, chasing after her.

"Listen," she said, spinning. "I am not here scoping him out." Morgan crossed his arms and stared at her. She stood up straight and crossed her arms. Morgan looked very unsure of himself and uncrossed his arms, sweating visibly.

"Fine, I am here scoping him out, but not how you think."

"Well, my guy doesn't do the hit it and quit it thing," Morgan told her. Sarah raised an eyebrow, and Morgan swallowed. "I… I mean…"

"I have been told he's quite exceptional with computers, and I might have a job offer for him," Sarah told the bearded man. What in the hell was she doing? Ten minutes around this guy and Chuck, and she was telling everything. She was beginning to think the Buy More was the problem. It just seemed so… problematic.

"Wait," Morgan said, awe covering his features. "You're saying you have something that will get Chuck out of here? You think you can get him away from the Buy More? Is this legit?"

"Yes, it's legit," Sarah replied, giving Morgan a look like he was crazy. "Do you have a lot of crazies in here offering jobs to people?"

"No, not really," Morgan admitted. "Right now, on our most important people Hall of Fame is Jeff Barnes." Morgan pointed to a picture that slightly frightened Sarah. "He had some medical issues… okay, he was breathing in carbon dioxide in his van."

"Jesus," Sarah said in a hushed tone, slightly disgusted.

"Yeah, but after he got some medical help, he dedicated himself to medicine," Morgan finished.

"So he's a doctor?" Sarah asked.

"Oh, god no," Morgan replied. "He's a coroner." Sarah blinked. "I mean, you really don't want him working on live people."

"Okaaayyy," Sarah replied.

"So, if Chuck could get away, he could potentially take first place in our Hall of Fame," Morgan finished.

"What I have to offer is not that big of a deal," Sarah told Morgan. Morgan looked disappointed, and Sarah found she couldn't help herself. "I need someone to help me with computers. I'm starting a private investigation agency." Morgan's eyes flew wide open. "He could be an apprentice, and in three years he would be eligible to be a PI himself."

Morgan fell to his knees and hugged Sarah around her knees. "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou," he began to chant.

"Uh, Morgs, buddy, you're scaring the customers again," Chuck said, rescuing Sarah. Morgan hopped to his feet, turned, and clapped Chuck on both shoulders with his hand. Smiling at him, he turned and walked away. "That was weird… even for him. Chuck Bartwoski," he said, thrusting out his hand. "We keep seeming to run into each other."

"Sarah Walker," she said, grasping his hand. They both gave their hands a look as something seemed to pass between them. They jerked their hands apart, and Sarah cleared her throat. "That would be my fault, I had been given your name as someone who could help me," Sarah told him.

"Oh," Chuck said, nodding. "May I see your phone?"

Sarah looked confused, but pulled out her phone, handing it to him. Chuck began to study it. "Can you unlock it?" She did, and handed it back to him. He started swiping on it, then looked up at her. "What's the problem?"

"There's no problem with my phone," Sarah began.

"I'm confused," Chuck admitted, still holding her phone. "I thought you said someone told you I could help you?"

"Is there someplace we could talk, privately?" Sarah asked. Chuck glanced over at a door, and then back to Sarah. "Please?"

}o{

Now

Sarah patted the spot beside her on the couch. Chuck walked over, sat down and looked confused. "You had plans tonight," Sarah said, not asked.

"No," Chuck said, shaking his head.

"Chuck," Sarah said, giving him an amused look.

"Fine, I was gonna watch porn." Sarah burst out into laughter.

"Something got awakened in you last night, buddy?" she asked, making him laugh. "Now, what plans did you have?"

"Nickleback concert was online," Chuck tried again.

"You know what I should do?" Chuck shook his head, indicating he did not know. "I should take a picture of your face, and every time you lie, show it to you and scream, LOOK AT THIS PHOTOGRAPH! THIS IS HOW YOU LOOK EVERY TIME YOU LIE!"

Chuck burst out laughing at her. After a few moments he sobered up. "Okay, have I forgotten a case we have scheduled?"

"No," Sarah said, amused. "You forgot it's Tuesday night."

"It is not…" Chuck trailed off, doing math in his head. "Sonofabitch, it is Tuesday," he muttered. "I'm so sorry-"

She laid her hand on his leg, and he went quiet. She studied him for a moment. His curly hair, having been towel dried, was an unkempt mess she found… perfect. He was dressed in cloth lounge pants and an old Atari TV shirt, and she thought nothing looked more at home and comfortable than he did right now. "Shocking that after what we went through last night, you forgot what today was. Now, what were you going to watch?"

"One of my ghost shows on YouTube," Chuck admitted, dipping his chin in embarrassment.

"Don't do that," she said gently, turning his head to face her, her finger cupped under his chin. "Chuck, people enjoy what they enjoy. And the best part of this job was meeting you and getting to relearn how people should be."

"I need to ask you something serious," Chuck said taking a deep breath.

"Okay," Sarah replied. "But before you do, I know you, and I realize I haven't really made my intentions clear." Chuck raised his own eyebrow, making her laugh. "That really sounded like I was about to propose to you, didn't it?"

"I was wondering if I was about to get wooed by Sarah Walker," Chuck admitted, making her laugh harder.

"I'm not going back to the CIA," she told him. "And, when you officially get your paperwork, I hope you will become my partner in the agency, in every way. Because before, while you were my partner…" she trailed off.

"I was your apprentice." Sarah winced at his words. "No, don't do that. It's part of the application process."

"I know," Sarah admitted. "It's just I considered you my partner. I never considered you my lacky, or someone under me, or there was some power dynamic between us. We were… are… equals. You can do things with the computer I never could."

"And you can do things athletically, shooting… you know what, you can do everything else," Chuck pointed out.

"No, Chuck," Sarah told him, shaking her head. "You have amazing ideas… unorthodox, yes, but that's why Castle Security is one of the fastest growing PI agencies in California."

"Thank you," Chuck said, ducking his head. "So, what are we watching tonight?"

"We're gonna watch whatever it was you wanted, on one condition," Sarah said, smiling.

"You back to proposing?" Sarah giggled. "Seriously, what is it?"

"I need to borrow your shoulder, it's been a long day," Sarah said. She scooted beside him, laying her head on his shoulder.

"You have literally slept all day," Chuck reminded her.

"No, I've had nightmares that woke me up," Sarah corrected him.

"Okay, you can use my shoulder, but I'm gonna need it back one of these days."

"M'kay," she hummed, her eyes shut.

"Forty or fifty years is the longest I can loan it to you," he continued, watching her, knowing she was nearly asleep. He heard her breath change. He remembered when she told him how hard it was for her to sleep, because how vulnerable someone was, when they slept. He knew what it meant for her to sleep cuddled against him like that. She trusted him. With her life. Chuck smiled, picked up the remote for his smart TV and pulled up YouTube. "Probably shouldn't be too scary, wouldn't wanna jump and wake her up," he muttered to himself.

}o{

Then

She followed him into the room, shutting the door behind her. She looked around. "What the hell?"

"Listen, it's a supply closet," Chuck said with a shrug. "No one will come in here, because that will mean they're having to work."

"That actually makes sense," Sarah admitted. She noticed the look on his face. "What?"

"I'm really confused," Chuck admitted. "Earlier, I was sure you needed to talk to someone. But apparently, the person you're needing to talk to is me. I have no idea why you'd want to talk to me. Some detective I'd make."

"Funny you should say that," Sarah began. "I am a former CIA agent." Mentally she was berating herself. That had just flown out of her mouth. She was a former CIA agent, and in seconds, she had told him information that she normally shared with no one. "Long story short, I have left the CIA and am starting a detective agency."

Chuck's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "You're a former CIA agent?" Sarah nodded. "Is your cover going to be that you used to be a model, and your detective agency was the only thing your accountant didn't steal and sell because it was a tax write-off?" Sarah blinked, confused. "Are you going to call it The Blue Moon Detective Agency?"

"I'm sorry," Sarah replied.

"Or-or, do you need me to be the face of a detective agency, because men are misogynistic pigs and you're obviously the brains of the operation, but you need a guy to pretend to be the face of the operation? I mean, you can do a lot better than me, I don't exactly give off Pierce Bronson vibes."

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Sarah asked.

"You've probably haven't watched a lot of eighties PI shows," Chuck muttered.

"Chuck, I'm here to try to right a wrong," Sarah told him. Chuck clamped his mouth shut, realizing that he had just committed possibly his most special spiral ever. "I was screwed over by someone in the CIA… and so were you."

"Me?" Chuck asked.

"My former boss… he recruited someone into the CIA that screwed you over," Sarah began, gently.

"Who the… are you saying that Bryce Larkin was CIA?" Chuck asked her. Sarah nodded. "Bryce Larkin… from Connecticut… was he even going to be an accountant?"

"I have no idea," Sarah admitted. "Never met him."

"Oh, he'd probably try to charm the pants off of you if you did," Chuck told her, shaking his head. "He always got the best girls. He was so smooth, and pretty… he was a very pretty man."

"Were you in love with him?" Sarah asked.

"No!" Chuck told her.

"It's okay if you were," Sarah began.

"I'm straight… I can just admit when another man is attractive," Chuck told her.

"Any other men you have crushes on?" Sarah teased.

"Anson Mount," Chuck blurted out. "Prefer the Strange New Worlds look to the Hell on Wheels look… probably also the fact he plays Pike has more to do with it…" He trailed off, his eyes widening as he realized what he just said.

"Okay," Sarah said, trying not to giggle. "Listen, there's a lot to this, but the short, condensed version is this: For the next three years, I am out of the CIA. I need a computer person and I have been told that you are the best."

"Who told you that?" Chuck asked.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Sarah asked. Chuck thought about it, then shook his head. "I can be licensed immediately. However, you would have to go through three years of apprenticeship to get in the required hours."

"What happens at the end of three years?" Chuck asked her.

"Then we make a decision," Sarah told him. "You would come a full PI, and you could open your own agency."

"Why wouldn't I stay working with you?" Chuck asked her.

"Again, long and complicated. I am willing to share it, but for now, I could go back to the CIA," Sarah told him.

"How do I know this is legit?" Chuck asked her. She handed him a card. "What's this?"

"This is the business card for Castle Security, my PI business. If you are interested, come by, take a look, and we can contact my boss… former boss, to better explain everything."

Chuck took the card. "What happens if I don't?"

"Then I am a PI for at least three years with a computer guy that isn't as good as you," Sarah said with a shrug. "Here's what I'll say. In the fifteen minutes I've known you, you've shown compassion, an amazing eye for detail that would be an amazing asset, and I've yet to see you work on a computer. If you join me, you will be my partner. Yes, you have to be an apprentice, but we would run it together." Chuck looked at the card. "Think about it." Chuck nodded. Sarah stuck out her hand, and he shook it. "I hope to see you soon."

With that, she turned and walked out of the Buy More. God, she hoped he called, and she also hoped he didn't.

This whole thing was taking a turn she hadn't planned on.

A/N: It's almost like everything Sarah has planned, some dumbass writer just messes with….oh wait, that would be me. Next time:

"I thought you were gonna sleep in the guest room!"

"Well, I was…"

"The guest room closet made strange noises?" Sarah asked. Chuck turned away, and Sarah laughed. "Why do you watch those shows if they frighten you?"

"They aren't scary," he insisted. "It's just maybe my mind got a little over imaginative last night," he added in a low voice.

"Okay, but next time, you can come in here with me and I'll protect you," she told him, a twinkle in her eye as she took a sip of her coffee.

"I don't think you can Kung Fu a ghost, Sarah," Chuck deadpanned, making her laugh.

But Chuck, hear me out…she probably CAN Kung Fu a ghost. Til next time, take care friends.