A/N: I know some of you have noticed I've not been around as much. I was recently (at the grand ole age of 50) diagnosed with ADHD. I've gone on meds, and things have changed for me. For the first time in my life, my thoughts aren't jumbled. I'm out here just enjoying life. Don't worry, I'm not gone, I just need a little me time. (Or if you were hoping I was gone, well, hate to disappoint you.) Anywhosel, thought I'd try and see if I can still do this on the meds.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Sarah sighed as she stared at the bar door. She didn't want to be out tonight, but then…then Carina called. She was upset, and it wasn't often that Carina was upset. Ben had broken up with her…at least Sarah thought the guy Carina was seeing was named Ben. To be honest, he was quite vapid, but as Sarah knew, Carina enjoyed more of a view and action, than depth, in her men.

Sarah shook her head, pushed open the bar door, and stepped inside. As her eyes adjusted to the lights, she couldn't help but grin. Carina was sitting at the bar, towards the corner. She was sitting beside a guy Sarah didn't know. He looked….overwhelmed, while trying to be nice.

He was quite attractive…his curly hair doing some things, talking to Carina, but he looked…well, he looked like how a normal person would look who had never dealt with Carina was suddenly thrust in her world. It was at that moment, Carina turned and saw Sarah.

"SAR!" she yelled. Sarah gave a wave, a resigned, tight smile, and headed over to them.

"This is Chad, he's been listening to me talk about my no good ex, Ben," Carina told Sarah.

"It's Chuck," Sarah saw him mouth. She couldn't help but grin at the look on Chuck's face.

"Clark has been stood up as well," Carina continued.

"Carina," Chuck said gently. "It's Chuck."

"Right," Carina said with a wave. "Cecil." Chuck just stared up at the heavens, Carina never noticing, intent on talking to Sarah. "His friends tried to set him up, and then they bailed on hi….m." Sarah saw Carina's face. "What in the hell are you doing here?"

Carina got up and walked past Sarah. Sarah sighed, and looked over at Chuck, and said, "Babe," in the most vapid deep voice she could muster, but low enough that Carina could here.

"Babe," the man said to Carina, in almost the exact same voice, making Chuck snort. "Listen, it's not you, it's me." Sarah rolled her eyes, never looking at Carina and the guy.

"Oh, you got that right, Ben, it sure the hell ain't me," Carina said to him. Sarah was impressed with herself that she knew his name was Ben. "Why? Why would you break up with me?"

"Because you scare me," Ben said. "You're amazingly hot, and so damn smart-"

"Wait, smart?" Carina said.

"Yeah, and I'm….I'm not that smart," Ben admitted. Sarah closed her eyes, where only Chuck could see. She knew what was coming. Her eyes opened quickly, a smile plastered on her face. Carina had walked back over to Sarah.

"Listen, I hate to do this, but…." Carina began.

"You need to talk some things out with Ben?" Sarah offered.

"You're a doll," Carina said, kissing Sarah on the side of the head. "Bye, Chuckie," she said, wiggling her fingers at him, and rushing off.

"It's just Chuck," he said, knowing Carina couldn't hear him and didn't care. "Not that you care."

"Sorry about her," Sarah told Chuck. "I think wolves raised her as their own."

"Huh, reminds me of Morgan," Chuck said, and then he shook his head, an unhappy look on his face.

"Oh, is Morgan the one who stood you up?" Sarah asked.

"Morgan is a guy," Chuck told her.

"Nothing wrong with that," Sarah said.

"No, it's not like that, we're just….nevermind," Chuck said.

"Now, I have to know," Sarah countered. Chuck studied her a moment, shook his head, and sighed. "Oh, it can't be that bad."

"He says we're heterosexual life partners," Chuck muttered.

Sarah sat there a second, absorbing what he just said. "So, I was wrong," she began, making Chuck snort. She laughed as well. She got up from her stool, and sat down in the one next to Chuck. "Sarah Walker," she said, offering him her hand.

"Chuck Bartowski," Chuck replied, shaking her hand. There was….something there. What, she didn't know. He cleared his throat, and pulled back his hand. "So, do they do that often?"

"Unfortunately," Sarah said. She was interrupted by the bartender. She got a drink, and paid for Carina's, since she had conveniently disappeared with Ben. "So," she said, once the bartender had moved away. "If I promise not to be weird like Carina, can I hear the story?"

"Not much of a story," Chuck told her. "I haven't been dating lately because…I mean you've seen what it's like out there."

"I have," Sarah agreed, taking a sip of her drink. "Oh, that's good."

Chuck grinned at her. "My friend Morgan decided he had a way to help me meet people."

"Oh boy," Sarah muttered.

"Whatever you're thinking, it's worse," Chuck told her.

"BDSM sex dungeon?" Sarah asked.

"Uh, no," Chuck said.

"Sorry, been hanging around Carina too long," Sarah admitted, making Chuck laugh. "Please, enlighten me about this hellish meeting….thing."

"It's all face to face," Chuck said.

"Okay, given how often I get unwanted pics on dating apps, it already sounds better," Sarah told him.

"It's a running club," Chuck said. Sarah blinked. "You okay?"

"Yeah, sorry, I think I just stroked out," Sarah told him, making him giggle. "Did you say running club?"

"I did," Chuck confirmed.

"Oh, God," Sarah said, shaking her head. "What the hell did you do to Morgan to make him hate you that much?"

"I asked him the exact same thing," Chuck said, stretching his leg and wincing.

"So that was today?" Sarah asked. Chuck nodded. "And then he stood you up here?"

"Not exactly, someone was here he's been…interested in," Chuck began.

"Ah, say no more," Sarah said. She was silent for a moment. "So, running club is out, but where do you think a good first date would be, but somewhere…different."

"I am so glad you asked that," Chuck said, turning more towards her, a smile on his face. "Okay, now, hear me out."

"Hit me," Sarah told him.

"An auction," Chuck began. Sarah looked dubious. "So, and is it okay if I use you as said date in this example?"

"Absolutely," Sarah told him.

"So you and I would go, not to buy anything, but to guess how much something would sale for. And-and, we'd make little bets on who ever got closest, like loser has to buy a drink, nothing crazy, just fun stuff," Chuck said.

"Okay, that does sound fun," Sarah admitted.

"And it's a great place to watch people and try to invent their backstories," Chuck continued.

"Ooo," Sarah said.

"What about you?" Chuck asked. "Where is some place different?" Sarah grinned but didn't say anything. "Come on."

"Okay, so the place itself, is not weird, but it's the conditions," Sarah told him.

"Now, I'm intrigued," Chuck admitted, leaning in.

"So, we go to Olive Garden," she began. "I know, I know, but here's the kicker, you know the tag line?"

"When You're Here, You're Family," Chuck quoted.

"Exactly," Sarah said, a grin on her face. "So, what I want to happen is my date and I…you?"

"Sure," Chuck agreed

"We're sitting in a booth, or table, beside this huge family, and they're probably drinking a bit," Sarah began. Chuck gave her a curious look. "And then…thirty-five years of family drama, just boils to the surface."

"Oh my God," Chuck said, clapping his hands together.

"I want them to throw all the dirty laundry right there on the table," Sarah said, laughing the whole time.

"So, I am required by law to tell you a story that took place some years ago at one of those restaurants in Colorado," Chuck said. Sarah interest was piqued. "There were two families who were in some kinda of feud, and the story goes, one was leaving and said something hateful in passing, or something, but whatever was said, a fight started."

"Oh, God!" Sarah said, excited. "Dinner and a show!"

"So, the local police were called, and long story short they couldn't get the families to settle down," Chuck told her. He took a sip of his drink, and Sarah was beaming, waiting to hear the rest. "So, the cops had to use stun guns on the two families."

Sarah burst out laughing. After a bit she sobered. "You know everybody in there got their meal comped."

"I would have paid full price," Chuck said.

"You and me both," Sarah said.

}o{

Sometime later, Sarah looked at her watch and saw it was later than she meant to be out. "Hey, I hate to cut this short, but I need to get going."

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Sarah Walker," Chuck said, reaching out to shake her hand. She took his hand, and after, waited a second in case he had anything to say.

"Good to meet you, Chuck," she said. She nodded, grabbed her bag, and took off. She walked out the door, and stood on the sidewalk. She stood there a moment, made a growling-like sound, spun, yanked the door opened, and marched back in.

"Chuck!" he jumped a little as she approached him, irritation on his face. "Why the hell didn't you ask me out or give me your number?"

"I didn't know when any auctions were?" Chuck answered, looking a little scared. "Listen, you're about the coolest person I've ever met. You're funny, smart, and….well, extremely attractive."

Sarah pulled her phone out of her purse, messed with it for a minute and laid it on the table in front of him. "There," she said pointing towards it. "There's an auction next weekend."

"Would you like to go with me to that auction?" Chuck asked.

"God, yes!" Sarah replied.

"Olive Garden afterwards?" Chuck continued.

"No, Chuck," she said gently. "Olive Garden would be the second date."

"Would that be that Sunday or the next week?" Chuck asked.

She thought for a second. "The next week, Sunday there's less likely to be drama."

"I like the way you think," Chuck said, nodding. "So, how do you feel about Mexican after the auction?"

"Great," Sarah said, she pushed her phone toward him. "Put your number in my phone."

"You're being a little pushy," Chuck said, with a grin.

"Well, I gave you every chance to ask me out, and you didn't, so know I have to make sure you don't screw it up," Sarah told him.

He looked her right in the eyes. "Thank you," he said sincerely. She nearly melted. "Just so you know, I really wanted to ask you out."

"I know, that's why I came back in here."

"I'm glad you did," Chuck said handing her the phone.

}o{

Ten years later

"I tell you, it's disappointing," Sarah said, pushing back from the table, stuffed from pasta.

"It's almost like people are not respecting our anniversary," Chuck replied.

"Now, is this our first date anniversary, or the first time we went to Olive Garden anniversary?" Sarah asked. "Because I know it's not our wedding anniversary, that's a few months away.

"The first time you met me and bullied me into taking you out," Chuck replied.

"You like it," Sarah told him. He grinned and shrugged. "Love you, Chuck."

"Love you, Sarah."

A/N: I think I still can. Take care fam, see you soon. If you have time to leave a review, I sure would appreciate it.