A/N: This is proving to be one of my most popular stories. Thanks for all the reviews, follows and faves. They really encourage writers to continue stories, and I'm no different, so keep those reviews coming.

Publishing this a couple of days later than planned due to FF web access not being possible.

Chuck now needs Bryce's help. Will the ex-spy support his friend's need for more time with the ex-assassin?

Caribbean Retreat

Chapter 5

Chuck caught Bryce the following morning before he went to buy produce. He needed to ask for his help, but first he wanted to listen to his friend's concerns.

"I'm just worried," Bryce said to start. "She can destroy everything we've done here."

He sounded like Ellie. Chuck questioned in the same way. "Destroy?"

"There are so many ways she could do that," Bryce replied. "Taking you to the CIA is just the obvious one."

"Do you think she'd do that? After all this time, we thought the CIA would've lost interest in me."

"Has your dad confirmed that?" Bryce asked.

"No, but it's most likely."

Bryce just looked at him for a moment. "Okay. Let's say she doesn't do that. She's gonna break your heart, Chuck." He stopped there.

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Go on, say it! Like Jill did."

"I wasn't going to say her name, but what she did nearly killed you, Chuck."

Chuck had been thinking about this overnight. "I thought Jill and I were forever, then she just upped and left. It was totally unexpected. It wouldn't be the same here."

"And you think she'll give you notice?" Bryce challenged.

This was getting Chuck annoyed. "She has a name!"

Bryce nodded. "I know. It's hard for me. I've always called Sarah by some other names."

Chuck remembered some of them. 'That fucking bitch,' or 'the assassin,' or 'the woman from hell.'

"Please just call her Sarah."

Bryce sighed and nodded. "I'll try." He sat quietly for a moment. "You haven't answered my question."

Chuck had hoped that he'd forgotten it. Sadly not. "I trust her, Bryce." He shook his head. "She's not the Sarah Walker that you knew. So, yes, I think she'd warn me."

Have you asked her when she's leaving?" Bryce asked.

Chuck shook his head. "I know I should, but I can't bring myself to."

Bryce gripped his arm. "So, you stay in the dark to avoid the pain. I'm sorry, my friend, but without even trying, she's already causing you pain."

Chuck tightened his jaw. "No, she's not. I'm causing this myself and need to address it."

Bryce nodded. "So, you want to see her today."

Chuck put his hand on top of Bryce's. "I need to change our arrangement in the café. I can't just slave away in the kitchen from when we open until we close. When I'm not preparing meals, I'm going out to be with her."

Bryce initially looked stunned, but his face relaxed after a few moments. "So, I'll have to cover in between?"

"Yes. It's just making drinks and cutting cake in addition to what you already do. Please?"

Bryce pondered that for a moment. "You're right. This hasn't been fair on you. At the start, you hiding in the kitchen was right, and I've gotten used to doing less in this partnership." He took a deep breath. "Ok. So, after I bring what you need for the day, I'll just have a short break and then you go. It won't be long, though, before you need to be back for the lunch meals." He looked to see Chuck's reaction.

"Probably an hour-and-a-half," Chuck responded.

"It could be longer in the afternoon," Bryce stated.

"Yeah, probably a half-hour longer."

Bryce held his gaze. "Will that be long enough?"

Chuck smiled. "Without changing opening or meal times, that's the best I could hope for. Are you ok with this?"

Bryce nodded. "Yeah." He pulled his hand away and patted Chuck on his arm. "You deserve it. Spend some time with Sarah."

Chuck beamed at him. "Thanks, Bryce."

As he got up to head to the kitchen to start breakfast prep, he heard Bryce mutter, "I hope we don't both regret this." Chuck just kept walking, trying not to think the same.

Before starting work, he had something important to do. He pulled his phone out of his pocket.

Sarah had just finished her shower when her phone rang.

The always ready agent of the past, jumped at the sound she hadn't expected to hear on this vacation. Am I already losing it!

She rushed to her purse and pulled the phone out, knowing who it was. "Hi, Chuck," she chirped.

"Ooh. You sound happy."

She laughed. "I'm not a morning person. If you'd called half-an-hour ago, you would've found that waking Sarah Walker is not a good idea!"

"Well, I guess I'm lucky, then," he replied jokily.

"So, what's up?" she asked.

"Bryce agreed to everything."

She gasped. "Morning and afternoon?"

"Yup."

She squealed, shocking herself. Agent Walker doesn't squeal!

He laughed. "That reminds me of my sister. Ellie's squeals used to wake the whole of the apartment complex." She noticed his happy tone reduced as the comment tailed off.

She then said something totally out of character. "I wish I'd met her." She was quite serious.

"I could set up a video call sometime," he suggested.

She couldn't resist teasing him. "Meeting the family is a big step, Chuck."

"You-" He stopped himself and then restarted. "You're teasing me, aren't you?"

She grinned. "Yep."

"Well, it's probably better that our relationship has lasted more than a day before you meet her."

Sarah felt her heart flutter. It was stupid. Of course, they were starting a relationship. Stop behaving like this isn't real, Walker!

She replied, "Ok. Not until tomorrow, then?" She was eager to see the woman who'd effectively brought him up while still a teenager herself.

"Rollercoaster springs to mine, right now," he quietly commented.

She knew what he meant. "For me, too, Chuck," she replied softly.

He was silent for a moment, obviously feeling like she did. "So, I get about ninety minutes from ten and two hours from two-thirty. Same spot on the beach?"

"We can do other things," she replied. "This morning, I intend to come to the café. I need to thank Bryce."

'Hmm. Ok. I hope that isn't awkward."

"It'll be fine, Chuck."

"He'll be having a half hour break from nine-thirty. After that, it might get busy for him, doing two jobs."

She chuckled. "Noted. See you later."

"Can't wait."

As the call ended, she thought she felt the same.

She hadn't dressed for Bryce. This was for Chuck, but as she walked to the café, she was aware that Bryce would see her first, which was kinda sad.

She would change to go to the beach after lunch, but this morning she was wearing a different sundress. She'd not put on any makeup, but with the effects of the sun yesterday, she thought she looked good.

Before entering, she sent Chuck a quick text.

* Going in. Wish me luck *

She didn't wait for a reply, she just wanted him to know where she was.

She walked into the café, and saw that Bryce was the only one in there, no customers. His eyes widened when he saw her. She couldn't read his expression, but at least he didn't bolt.

She walked over to him, bent down and kissed his cheek. Before standing, she whispered into his ear, "Thank you, Bryce." She stood and sat in the chair on the other side of the table.

He nodded his acknowledgment and looked at her for a moment. "Please don't hurt him. His last girlfriend split, and I didn't think he'd ever recover."

"We're not boyfriend / girlfriend yet," she said, knowing that was avoiding the topic he'd raised.

He quietly said, "I think you'll find that he doesn't share that belief."

She suspected he was right and sighed. "Bryce, I have no intention of hurting him."

He leaned forward. "I know him. When you leave, he'll struggle."

She sat back. "I've only just arrived." Again, she knew she was evading.

"I didn't say you were about to leave," he commented and then took a sip of his coffee.

He wasn't pushing her, but she had to give him something. "I honestly don't know what I'm going to do, but for the first time in my life, I feel both free and happy. Getting away from the Company caused the first, but Chuck is responsible for the second." She leaned forward. "I'd be a fool to walk away from him."

He sat back, clearly moving away from her. "Chuck is special, Sarah, I guess you've realized that." She nodded. "But he's also fragile. That's why I worry."

She was quite pleased about his attitude. "I never thought you'd be so protective of another person." She didn't say it, but he never seemed to care about her.

"You just saw the agent in me, but I guess I've been the same. I never saw this side of you, Sarah."

She looked down. "I was never like this. You're right about me back then. I was coldly efficient. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry for judging you, when I know what I was like."

He chuckled. "I guess we were just spies."

"No. It was my whole being." She took a deep breath. "I'm not what I used to be."

He paused, looking at her, this changed woman. "I guess the same is true of me, now that I've removed my spy persona," he said. "I'm not going to ask what caused your change, but you definitely have. It suits you. I hope you and Chuck can be good for each other."

She smiled. "I hope so, too. He's already good for me."

"And that shows how you've changed. You never would've opened up enough to admit that before."

She nodded. "I was a closed book before."

"Ha! Closed and locked away in a vault!"

She laughed with him.

He looked at his watch. "He'll be out soon."

She glanced at hers. One minute to ten. "Is he that precise?"

He grinned. "Like clockwork."

The kitchen door opened at exactly 10 o'clock.

Chuck saw no blood flowing when he stepped out of the kitchen. He wasn't actually expecting it, but it was a relief all the same. The fact that they were even smiling was really encouraging. Bryce was trying hard.

Sarah looked his way and her eyes lit up. He was still amazed at how anyone could look so beautiful.

She stood to walk toward him and he saw the sundress she was wearing more clearly. "Wow! You look gorgeous!" he said.

Her smile transformed further and she was now beaming at him as she approached. "Thank you," she said before wrapping her arms around him and kissing him.

Chuck was PDA-adverse, but forgot that as his emotions overwhelmed him. Besides, the room was empty apart from the three of them. He pulled her closer and kissed back as enthusiastically.

They only stopped when Bryce muttered, "We do have families here."

Their lips separated and Chuck said, "Not yet." He kissed her again. God! I love her kisses!

Sarah pulled away after that kiss and said to Bryce. "Would you mind if we sit in a corner?" She must've thought about what Bryce might think she had planned. She chuckled and added, "To talk."

Bryce chuckled too, guessing why she said that. "Coffee?"

Chuck was pleased, but couldn't resist saying to Sarah, "We might be the first he's making coffee for today, but he does make a mean Capuchino."

She looked at Bryce and said, "I'd love one of those, Bryce, if you don't mind." He shrugged and headed to the kitchen.

"He knows what I like," Chuck commented as she pulled him toward a table. Before sitting, she gave him another kiss.

As they separated, she murmured, "Such great kisses!"

He was glad she thought so. "Wonderful," he breathed out.

They sat and she said, "Before anything else, I want you to know my complete lack of plans."

"That's a weird thing to say."

"Chuck, I came here to get away from the Company and any chance of meeting someone from my past." She chuckled. "Look how well that went! But Bryce aside, all I wanted to do was effectively disappear. I guess you both know what that's like."

He nodded. "We do."

"I only booked three nights at the hotel." He tensed up and she guessed why. She reached over and grabbed his hand. "Not because I want to leave here, but because I want to find a place to rent for a longer stay here."

He knew that most other guys would've instantly told her to move in with him, but he wasn't like that. He asked the other thing on his mind. "For how long?"

She didn't reply immediately because Bryce brought them their drinks. She took a sip and then smiled at Bryce, "He's right. It's perfect, thanks."

Bryce smiled and walked back to his seat to grab his mug to get another coffee himself.

She looked back at Chuck to answer his question. "I don't know. I thought it'd be at least for my six month sabbatical, maybe longer." She held his gaze. "You've complicated things for me."

"Huh? Why?"

"I haven't done anything about finding accommodation. You seem to have filled all my thoughts."

He smiled. "You've done the same to me, Sarah. It feels rather overwhelming."

She smiled briefly, but then looked unsure of herself. She took another sip of coffee and then said, "I've never had a long-term relationship, Chuck. If we start one…" She stopped and bit her bottom lip. "I'm likely to mess it up."

He held her hand again. "Sarah, I'm no expert on relationships. I've only had one and it failed spectacularly. We can learn together, like most people do."

She laughed sharply. "Most people aren't a recluse in hiding and an ex-assassin, for god's sake!"

He squeezed her hand. "Both of whom want to change."

Her eyes locked with his. They were full of nervousness, but also growing determination. And they were so beautiful, drawing him in. He blurted out, "I love your eyes, Sarah." Then, he felt he shouldn't have said anything like that yet.

She squeezed his hand with one of hers and placed the palm of the other against his cheek. "Thank you, Chuck. You say the nicest things." He felt on top of the world.

"I'm not just saying them, Sarah."

She smiled. "I know."

"So, you plan to be here for six months, unless we screw up and you need to leave me?" He deliberately made it a joint thing, rather than his usual blaming himself.

Sarah nodded. "Thank you for sharing the possible guilt. I saw that you did that." She took a deep breath. "Please tolerate any mistakes I make. I understand that a relationship takes effort."

He nodded and said, "Same for me."

She grinned. "We'll blunder through together."

"Bear with me for a moment." He stood. "I'm going to get my laptop so we can start the hunt," he said. She looked confused, so he added, "For your home for the next six months."

She smiled. "I would appreciate the help. Thank you, Chuck."

He rushed upstairs.

For the next hour, Sarah looked at images and plans for rentals in the town. Chuck seemed to know exactly where to look, both for the sites on the internet, but also good and bad locations.

By the end, she had three places she wanted to check out. All were furnished and available immediately.

She would make arrangements when Chuck left for the kitchen in a few minutes.

"Thank you, Chuck. You made it so easy."

"That's what…" he stopped himself from finishing the sentence.

She guessed what he was going to say. "A great boyfriend would do?" He flushed. "Chuck, what would you call two people entering a relationship like we are?"

"Boyfriend and girlfriend?" he tentatively replied.

She smiled, but then noticed the time, so she stood, pulled him up and kissed him, "Thank you, boyfriend."

He looked around the café, as their lips parted. She did, too. There were people in now, but none seemed interested in them. She patted his chest. "Go, cook lunch." She smiled. "I have calls to make, but I'll have whatever you're cooking."

He grinned. "It's a certain Caribbean pizza today, complete with lobster and shrimp. If you want I can do one without those, so the same as last night."

She shook her head. "No, I'd like to try that version, but-"

He cut her off. "Don't worry, I don't put olives on them."

She loved that he remembered and grinned.

"I noticed the remaining slices from last night had disappeared," he said with a grin.

She blushed. "Yeah, guilty, I ate them before going to sleep."

He had to get started, so after a quick peck on her lips, he rushed toward the kitchen.

She noticed that Bryce was already up and guiding a couple who had just arrived to a table.

Chuck had left his laptop, so she found the details of the first of the properties she wanted to see and grabbed her phone.

She planned to see all the three properties as soon as she could.

Two-and-a-half hours later, Sarah had been successful with her calls. She hoped Chuck wouldn't mind missing time on the beach with her. Two of the visits were scheduled in the time she would've been there. She did that deliberately, not just because she was told there were others visiting in the evening, but she secretly hoped Chuck would go with her.

The pizza was, of course, wonderful. She didn't have wine with this one, because of the afternoon appointments, but she still enjoyed it.

Bryce seemed to just expect her to stay for lunch, which was pleasing. She wondered if they could become friends. She'd try, for Chuck's sake.

She didn't say anything to Bryce, but she planned to have all lunches and dinners there.

There hadn't been too many people for lunch and most of those at the start of the lunch period. She wondered if the business was really sustainable.

She was pleasantly surprised when Chuck came out of the kitchen earlier than he'd suggested. "Quiet at the end, so I finished early," he said as he sat down.

She quickly told him her plans and apologized for messing up their intended trip to the beach. He waved that off. "Would you like me to accompany you?"

She nodded and nervously said, "Would you mind?"

"I'd love to," he replied.

So, that was how the afternoon played out.

The first apartment was nice, but the second was perfect. She knew it had a view of the beach, further up from where the hotel and the café were located, but the online photos didn't do it justice. She leaned close to Chuck. "I want this one so much."

He nodded. "I thought you would. And it's not far from the café."

She immediately started thinking of him staying over and then walking to work in the morning, but had to push that thought away when he said, "So, only a short walk for your meals."

She gave him a kiss, and made arrangements to take the apartment. She'd move in on the day her hotel booking ran out. That was perfect, too.

She held Chuck's hand as they walked over the road to see this part of the beach.

Sarah couldn't help imagining them enjoying themselves like they had on their first time on the beach and then heading back to her apartment to shower. That made her shiver. They would definitely do that when they were both ready.

A/N: Thoughts?