Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

He walked into the break room, his sub secure in his hand, happiness on his face. Things were going well. He had his own apartment, and he was happy. Sure he was single, but he and Morgan got to play games at night, he got to see his sister, and he loved his job. The smile fell from his face when he saw her.

There she was. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. Also one of the nicest, funniest, and just amazing people he had ever met. She looked miserable. "You okay?" he asked, walking up to her at the table she sat at, alone.

"Hmm?" she asked, looking up from her phone, the frown evident on her face. "Yeah, sorry," she said, as if coming out of a fog. "Sit, Chuck."

"You sure?" he asked. She tilted her head at him and gave him a look. He quickly sat. "So, again, are you okay?"

She sighed. "No," she replied, glumly. "I'm twenty-five damn years old. I have my degree, a good job, my friends, and I never want to date or see anyone because of my parents."

"What happened?" Chuck asked.

"I'll save you the long part of the story, but basically they're both selfish, and miserable, and I have no idea why they're still together, and they both keep texting me bitching about the other," Sarah told him.

"Wow," Chuck said. He began to unwrap his sandwich. "Would you like half?"

"Chuck, everyone here knows how you feel about that sandwich," Sarah told him. "I do appreciate it, but that sandwich won't even begin to make me feel better, and it would be wasted."

"I rescind the offer," he told her, making her giggle. He picked up the pickle that was wrapped. "Pickle?" She gave it a long look. "Go ahead," he urged her.

"Welllll," she said. "Are you sure?" He nodded. She took it, unwrapped it, and bit into it. Chuck heard the fresh crack of her biting it. She didn't moan, but the look on her face said she wanted to. "Thank you," she said chewing on it and enjoying it. "You may have made my day."

"My pleasure," Chuck told her.

}o{

A few weeks later

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Sarah Walker," Morgan began.

"Morgan, this is why no one comes down to the basement," Chuck told him, trying not to sigh heavily.

"Chuck, quit telling him that," Sarah said, grinning at him. "You know and I know it's because all those single ladies can't resist the beard." Morgan beamed, stuck his tongue out at Chuck, and headed upstairs with the file he had been looking for in hand.

"Sooo, what are you going to do when he replays that sentence in his head and asks you, a single lady, if you can resist the beard?" Chuck asked, his eyes sparkling.

Sarah winced. "I didn't think about that," she admitted. "I mean do you have any ideas?"

"I wouldn't want to stand between you and the beard that you cannot resist," Chuck told her, picking up a file and heading toward the filing cabinet.

"Chuuuccckk," she whined.

"Fine, fine," Chuck said, laughing. He opened the filing cabinet, and pointed the file at her. "But you owe me."

"Fair, and I might owe you for two," she said, a slightly pleading look on her face. "I know today isn't sub day-"

"Craving a pickle?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded. "You pregnant?"

"That would require me to be having sex," she said, and then her eyes widened.

"You know what, I'll forget what you said, if you'll forgive my insensitive comment about you and pregnancy," Chuck told her.

"Deal," she said sticking out her hand. Chuck took it and gave it a shake. She didn't let go. "About that sub?"

"Finnnne," he said, faux exasperated, making her giggle.

}o{

A few months later

"Sorry I'm late, Ellie," Sarah said, dashing inside of Ellie's apartment.

"It's fine," Ellie said, waving a hand. "Chuck didn't want anything special for his birthday, but Morgan had the idea to have all the things for sandwiches and build our own."

"That's actually a great idea," Sarah said. "You know, I gotta admit, I always knew he was a great guy, but him talking to me about my family…it's been a Godsend."

"When you don't have a mom and dad…" Ellie trailed off.

"Wait, what?" Sarah asked.

"You don't know?" Ellie replied. "Our parents left us. Mom disappeared when we were young, and while Dad was around…he wasn't around. He basically didn't come back home after I started college, and I kinda had to raise the dufus."

"Why didn't he tell me?" Sarah asked.

"You're were having problems with your parents, right?" Ellie asked. Sarah nodded. Ellie shrugged. "That's who he is. He just listened."

"I feel like a fool," Sarah said. Ellie gave her a concerned look. "No, that came out wrong. Not that he did anything wrong, but that I was…I took advantage of him."

"Sweetie, you didn't," Ellie said, squeezing her bicep. "And besides, I know he loves having you for a friend." Ellie grabbed a jar of pickles. "Would you open these for me?"

Sarah took the jar, and opened it. "Why did you get me pickles?"

"I didn't," Ellie replied. "Chuck looooovvvveeesss pickles." Sarah looked stunned. "Is something wrong?"

}o{

"Hey, I got you something," Sarah said a little while later, walking up to him, offering him a pickle.

"For me?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded. He took the pickle. "Thank you." He consumed it in two bites. "Damn I love those things."

"Then why the hell have you been giving me yours for the past three plus months?" Sarah asked. Chuck's eyes went wide. "No, seriously, why?"

"Because I love to see you smile," Chuck said with a shrug. "I mean, you get so happy over a pickle, that…I like pickles, a lot, but not nearly as much as seeing the joy on your face, seeing you smile."

She was silent for a moment. "I guess I learned something today," she said softly. "In fact….in fact, I think I learned two things."

"Oh?" Chuck asked.

"Yeah, one, you like pickles," she said. He stood there, patiently waiting for the second. "And two…maybe my stance on dating is wrong." He looked confused. "Uh, Chuck, would you like to go out with me some time?"

"How do you feel about Mexican?"