I don't own Chuck

"Why are we here?" Chuck whispered as softly as he could to Sarah. It might have been at a normal decibel for conversation. The club was loud, too loud if he was honest. The four of them were out on the town, painting it red, or some saying like that. Bryce and Carina both thought Chuck needed cheering up, and were certain a club would do it. The only reason Chuck had said yes was because Sarah was there.

He and Jill had broken up, and while he realized he wasn't heart-broken about it, he wasn't sure how long he was supposed to wait before he asked Sarah out…not that he was sure that he could. Every time he tried to bring up how he felt about her, he found nerves stopped him from speaking. Plus he began to blush, which he prayed she hadn't seen.

"To, and I quote, 'Get you laid,' endquote," Sarah told him, sipping on her lemonade through her straw, amusement on her face as Chuck closed his eyes and blew out a rough breath.

"I know he means well," Chuck began.

"Let's be honest, Carina's encouraging him as well," Sarah pointed out.

"Okay, Chuckster," Carina said, walking up to Chuck, Bryce in tow. "Let's hear the lines you have." Chuck just stood there. "What's wrong, do I make you nervous?"

"Carina, you make me nervous that if I try to practice on you, you'll say yes," Chuck admitted.

"That's fair," Carina said to Bryce, making him laugh. "Okay, pretty boy, that's Bryce, not you Curls."

"Thank God ,she told me which of the forty-seven nicknames she throws around are mine," Chuck muttered to Sarah. Sarah chuckled, still sipping her drink through her straw, continuing to look amused.

"Show Chuckles your best line on Sarah," Carina continued to Bryce, ignoring Chuck and Sarah.

"Are you my appendix?" Bryce asked Sarah. Sarah furrowed her brow, confused. "I don't know what you do or how you work, but I feel like I should take you out."

"Oh Jesus Christ, that's awful," Chuck said.

"I know," Bryce replied. "Chuck, just be confident when you talk to a woman, they find that sexy."

"We do?" Sarah asked Carina. Carina looked away, trying not to laugh.

Bryce shook his head and turned to Sarah. "Sarah, would you go out with me?" Bryce asked.

"No," Sarah replied. "Okay, Chuck," she said, turning to him. "Now you try."

"You saw me get shot down, and I survived," Bryce told him.

"Bryce, it's not about being shot down, it's about being with the right person, it's about has it been enough time-"

"Chuck," Sarah cut in. "Just do it."

Chuck turned to her, and his mouth went dry. Why did his body betray him so? He could feel his cheeks pinking. He swore her smile grew as if she knew a joke he didn't. It was Sarah, she was just trying to help him get over his nervousness. He needed to man up.

He smiled at her, and cleared his throat. "Hey, Sarah?" She lifted her head, her smile growing. "Would you like to, uh, go out to dinner, some time, maybe?"

"I would love to," Sarah answered.

"Pity date, but we'll take it," Bryce said, chuckling and clapping Chuck on the arm. "Okay, now it's time to find someone to actually ask."

"Or, you and Carina could go dance and let me do things at my speed," Chuck countered.

"Chuck," Bryce began.

"Bryce, leave him alone," Sarah told him. "You two go on and have fun, I've got this."

"You sure?" Carina asked. Sarah nodded, and the two took off.

Chuck let out a sigh of relief. He loved his friends, but some times…they were just too much. He needed to be cool talking to Sarah. It was a chance for them to hang out, and he really wanted to just talk to her.

"Thanks, Sarah," Chuck said to her. She beamed at him. "I appreciate you staying behind and keeping me company."

"My pleasure," Sarah told him. "I mean, I have to find out when we're going out, and where." Chuck laughed…and then his laughter died. While there was amusement on her face, it was clear she was serious. "What, you didn't think through the consequences of if I said yes?"

"Uh, Sarah," Chuck began.

"My dad gave me some great advice a long time ago, and while some of the things he told me are absolute shit, this…this bit of advice I found to be very true." Chuck was silent, listening to her intently. "He once told me, 'Darlin', there's a lot of guys out there that are gonna hit on you, and it's hard to tell who's doing it for what reason.'"

Sarah sat her glass down on the bar, and turned back to him. She reached over and took his hand. He hoped she was okay with sweat because it was pouring out of his hands right now.

" 'Angel,'" she continued. " 'Those guys that are smooth, that aren't nervous, that seem like they exude confidence, be wary of them.'" Chuck was fascinated by this. " 'Those guys, they aren't nervous not because they don't get nervous, they aren't nervous because you saying yes isn't important to them.'"

"And," Chuck began, and had to clear his throat because his voice broke. "And those that get nervous?"

"Those that get nervous," Sarah said, squeezing his hand, turning around, getting her drink, and turning back to him. "Those that get nervous think they could have something special with the person they are asking out." She sat there a second, her smile making him blush, because she had spoken the truth. "So, Chuck," she said, emphasizing the "k", grinning like a madwoman. "Where are we going on our date?" She took her straw between her lips and began to drink.

Chuck chuckled, and looked her dead in the eye. He was as nervous as could be, but he knew it was okay. "How do you feel about Mexican food?" Sarah's grin grew.