A/N: I am trying to write a longer, more thought out, more insightful story than I ever have. Some have told me it's my best ever to date. We'll see how they feel by the end. However, I am always here for shenanigans, regardless of how insightful I get. Hence, we must have the shenanigans. If this isn't shenanigans...ladies and gentlemen, I give you something so outrageous...I'm just about positive it would work. Maybe. Who knows. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck was waiting at the bottom of the staircase for Sarah. He had given her the company credit card, prompting Casey to grumble something about US tax dollars. After a brief fight, Beckman was called in, and said that she believed she knew someone that could help them.

That had been five hours ago.

"Mr. Walker, looking nice," he heard in his ear over the coms. He turned to reply, but the words were caught in his throat.

Sarah Walker was a beautiful woman, but what she had done with her hair, the lightest touch of makeup, and the dress she had on… He wasn't sure what word went beyond 'beautiful', but that was the only way to describe her. And in that moment, it hit him: that word was 'Sarah', because it was all her.

"Moron, you're married… no one stares at their wife like that," Casey muttered.

"If a man is married to her, he should, or he doesn't deserve her," Chuck retorted. Sarah grinned at him. "Strapless Versace, huh? Very daring, Mrs. Walker."

"How much Project Runway have you been watching?" she asked, coming down the steps toward him.

"Ellie watches it a lot, in her downtime," Chuck replied, grinning.

"Right," she said, coming up to him, and straightening his tie, and smoothing down his shirt. "I mean it Chuck… very nice."

"Can you two mix your peanut butter and chocolate later?" Casey asked, irritation clearly in his voice. "I have eyes on 'Pam'."

"Are we sure she's not 'Babs'?" Sarah asked. She saw Chuck turn to her, gawking. "Did I say something wrong? Morgan and I discussed it, and that would make Bryce 'Dick' because, and these are Morgan's words, not mine: 'He has the ass for it.'"

Chuck stood there a second, blinking. "He's right. Bryce does have the ass for it."

"That's what you got out of that conversation?" Sarah asked in a droll tone. Chuck grinned at her. "So, what's the play?"

Chuck thought for a second. "Casey, all snarkiness aside, you know her better than any of us. Any ideas?"

There was silence, though they were sure they could hear Casey mulling things over in his mind.

"Miller's more direct about stuff than I am."

"Jesus," Sarah muttered.

Casey went on, ignoring her. "I think we approach, make the offer, and go from there."

"Chances of success?" Chuck inquired.

"Oh, none," Casey replied with a shrug. "But I always thought this was a fool's errand."

"Casey, you hold too much in," Chuck muttered, heading toward Carina and Cole.

"Carina Miller, Cole Barker?" Chuck asked, approaching them. He saw the two tense, ready for action. "I've been sent here by General Diane Beckman of the NSA to talk to you, Carina, about you assisting our operation."

"Who the hell are you?" Carina asked, eyeing Chuck up and down. "That would explain how you are with her."

Chuck gave her a flat look, reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Carina. She took it, looked around, opened it, and scanned it.

"Okay, you are legit," she said nodding. "No." And with that, the two turned to walk away.

"People could die if you don't," Sarah said. The two turned around, amusement on their faces.

"Sweetheart, people are gonna die no matter what I do," she replied with a shrug. "I don't know you two, there is nothing in it for… Johnny," she said, her tone changing as Casey walked up. She got a grin on her face. "Think about me?"

"Keep it in your pants, Miller," Casey growled. "I'm asking you to join, as a favor."

Carina grinned like the cat that had eaten the canary. "I'll make you a deal. You finish our mission, and I'll join you. We finish our mission before you, I get you, for 24 hours, to do whatever, however, whenever."

Casey grimaced, but held out his hand. "Deal."

Chuck quickly reached over and pushed his hand down before Carina could shake it, surprising everyone. "No," he said, as he turned to Casey. "If you two want to do… what-the-hell-ever you two want to do, that's on you. But to do this for my op… no, that's not how I operate. And I would never ask you to, or allow it, for this team."

"You are so screwed," Carina said with a headshake. "You're in the real world, and that's how things happen."

"Tell my mom, Agent Frost, that," Chuck snapped. Carina's eyes went wide. "There's a way we do things. We'll finish your mission, and then Casey, Sarah, and I can decide if you fit our team, and if you're worthy of an invitation." With that, Chuck spun and walked away from everyone. Carina stood there, here mouth open, respect in her eyes… along with something else: Desire.

"Apparently, married life agrees with him," Casey said in a low voice to Sarah as they walked over to Chuck. It was clear to her he was shaking. She told herself it was for the cover, but even if it wasn't he needed to be calmed. Was it so awful for a friend to hug a friend? They were friends, right?

He turned around as they approached, and she simply slipped past his arms as they came up in surprise and pulled him into a hug. "You okay?" she whispered in his ear. She felt him nod. She figured he couldn't speak after that had happened.

"Christ, if that scared you, what's gonna happen when a real mission takes place?" Casey asked. But Sarah heard it, the teasing in his voice, and there was something else there – pride. "Bartowski…" They both turned to look at him. "I… that was good work, but you made one small error."

"Just one?" Chuck asked, letting Casey off without having to say anything else.

"It's a big one," Casey said with a grin. "Miller's gonna wanna ride you hard, and put you up wet." Chuck shut his eyes, trying desperately to keep the mental picture out of his head. And he had almost succeeded, when Casey added, "I should know."

}o{

"What now?" Sarah asked a little bit later, after she had calmed Chuck down. She couldn't help but grin at his reaction to Casey's explanation of Chuck's predicament with Carina.

"Well, that is Sophia," Chuck replied, tipping his glass in the direction of a gorgeous woman surrounded by three other insanely attractive women. "Any idea how we get invited into her room?"

"You're going about this the wrong way," Casey said, walking up to him. Chuck choked on his drink. "Now what did I say?"

"Nothing, I just hate these martinis," Chuck admitted.

"Then why the hell are you drinking it?" Casey asked, wondering if he truly was working with an idiot.

"Because Chuck Walker loves them," Chuck replied. Casey rolled his eyes. He was working with an idiot.

"So," Casey said, giving Sarah a look as she shrugged. "You're going about this all wrong. The trick is not to get invited up to her room, but find another way. You need to find the weak link, and he's the weak link." Chuck and Sarah followed Casey's line of sight to a very large man.

"He really resembles Lou Ferrigno," Chuck muttered.

"Is that the Hulk guy?" Sarah asked. Chuck turned to her, a stupid grin on his face. "Rerun in crappy hotels," she said, shrugging.

"Christ," Casey muttered. "Your 'Hulk' there has a thing for his boss."

"How do you know this?" Chuck asked, curious.

Casey shrugged. "I had to take a class, Infiltration and Inducement of Enemy Personnel." Chuck and Sarah both looked at him, confused. "Seduction school." Chuck's eye went wide. "Yes, numbnuts, I know how to seduce someone…" he took a drink of his beverage. "I'm just not real good at it," he blurted out quickly.

"Okay, then how do I do it?" Chuck asked Casey. Amusement plastered Casey's features as he glanced at Sarah. "Oh, Sarah should?"

"No," Casey said, shaking his head, watching Sarah try to hide the expression on her face. "I had another idea, if you don't mind hearing it."

"Floor's yours," Chuck said with a gesture of his hand.

"I get Sophia away from the 'Hulk', and you get the 'Hulk' to talk about his feelings, maybe get him good and liquored up. Then you help him to his room, while Walker steals the evidence from the safe."

"So basically, you want me to be me, to someone I don't know?" Chuck asked.

"I like its chances," Sarah admitted. "But, you've already questioned your ability with Sophia."

"There's a technique I could try. It's called the bastard," Casey said, looking a little nervous.

"Talk us through it, maybe we can spot something that we can improve, or learn for down the road," Chuck said, trying to encourage Casey.

"Well, the principal is this," Casey began. "Sophia has always been the hottest, most wanted girl in her little troop." Sarah nodded with that assessment. "So, what happens when someone goes up to one of her squad and talks to them, but ignores Sophia?"

"That's sort of brilliant, Casey," Sarah admitted. "She's going to chase after you." Casey shrugged. "You can do this, you got it."

Casey stood tall, tugged on his jacket, and headed over to the group. Sophia saw him coming and both Chuck and Sarah saw a satisfied grin on Sophia's face. Casey walked up, stopped, and turned to one of the other members of the group.

Chuck and Sarah listened intently to their ear buds. "I just had to tell you, I've been watching you all night, and you are by far the most attractive woman in this place." They watched Casey gently take her hand, put it to his lips, and place a soft kiss on it. He nodded to her, turned, and walked away toward the bar.

"Dayum!" Chuck said to Sarah, who was grinning. The two watched as Sophia began to stew. She turned to 'Hulk', whispered something into his ear and stalked off after Casey.

"You two are up," Casey said into coms.

}o{

"What's he got that I haven't," 'Hulk' muttered into his drink at the bar. He was only having one. He wasn't drinking over Sophia tonight. She didn't get that from him. He noticed his glass was empty, and decided two would be okay. "Another," he said, signaling the bartender.

'Hulk' looked over at the man Sophia was sitting with. 'Hulk' was more muscular, sure, a bit older, but what did age matter? He had been her muscle, and now, now his biggest muscle was hers… his heart. But she trampled on it, with a man that did not even want her.

"Some guys, am I right?" Chuck asked, sitting down beside 'Hulk'. "Chuck Bartowski," he said, offering 'Hulk' his hand.

"David Banner," 'Hulk' replied. He saw the face Chuck made. "Yes, really."

"That's gotta be hard," Chuck began.

"Doesn't matter," David said, shrugging. "She's too young to have seen the show."

"So, it's the age?" Chuck asked.

"Age is just a number," David replied, bringing one of his ham-hock-like fists down, shaking the bar. The bartender's eyes got wide, and he scooted carefully away from the two.

"Absolutely," Chuck said, beginning to grow scared.

David reached out, and grabbed Chuck by the coat, dragging him closer. "She doesn't see me. She thinks I'm just a big ole muscular guy, and while I am quite jacked, I have a mind, a heart, feelings." His voice lowered, and trailed off as he said the last part.

Sarah slipped in behind David and swapped out his drink, taking the old one to the bartender. "Why don't you have a drink, and put me down, because I have feelings."

"What are you feeling right now?" David asked.

"Sad," Chuck said as somberly as he could. "Sad that she doesn't recognize the man that you are."

"Jesus," he heard Casey mutter in his com.

"You understand," David said, nodding. "It's what's in here," he said, pointing a huge paw toward his heart. "Sure, I'm big, and strong, and could snap someone's neck in a blink of an eye."

"You could?" Chuck asked, gulping.

David continued on, either not hearing, or ignoring, Chuck. "But, the worth of a man comes from inside, not by the size of one's muscles."

"Beautifully said," Chuck replied. David let go of Chuck, and Chuck reached for his glass of water. "To the worth of a man."

"To the worth of a man," David said, and shot-gunned his drink. Chuck watched the big man as he turned to Chuck. "I don't feel so good." He slumped against Chuck, nearly knocking Chuck out of his seat. It took everything Casey had not to jump up, but if he did, Sophia would have turned and seen what was going on behind her. Sarah rushed over to help Chuck.

"He's a real lightweight when it comes to alcohol," Sarah told the bartender. "We'll get him to his room." And with that, the two led him out of the room.

}o{

"I'm glad you're strong, because there was no way I could have done that by myself. In fact, let's be honest; you took over half of the weight."

Sarah glanced over at Chuck, and shook her head. "Is this your way of trying to get out of the doghouse about last night, and me protecting you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Chuck replied. "But, if I did, did it work?"

"You weren't in the doghouse, dork," she said, ruffling his hair.

"It's nerd," he replied, standing. The two had been sitting on David's bed, recovering from carrying him to the room. "Hotel safe?"

"That's where I'd keep it," Sarah replied with a shrug. The two headed toward the large closet. "Wow, that's a lot of clothes."

"Who the hell unpacks this many clothes to stay at a hotel?" Chuck asked, looking around. "Ah-ha! Found it," he said, heading toward the corner of the closet. He looked over the safe and then his eyes went wide. "Uh, Casey, we have a problem. I didn't flash."

Sarah squatted down beside him. "You know about some things not being in my folder?" Chuck turned to her, a curious look on his face. "I got this." He watched her as she worked on the safe for a few minutes, and grinned as she opened the door. She reached in, pulled out a small notebook, and handed it to him. She had a sad look on her face, that turned into surprise when he hugged her.

"You are officially bad ass, Sarah Walker!"

"You are so weird," she said into his shoulder, but she pulled him a little tighter.

"Walker, we have a problem. She's on her way. You'll have to get him out, secondary escape route," Casey said into her ear.

"Got it," she said. She pulled away from Chuck, and took both of his hands in hers. "You trust me?"

"Yeah," he said, and with that she was standing and pulling him along with her out the balcony door. Chuck turned and saw two harnesses attached to the walk beside the door. "Why didn't we just come in this way to begin with?"

"Security alarm on the door," Sarah replied. "Now it doesn't matter." She was taking one of the harnesses and attaching it to him, and then the cable. "Trust me," she said. He nodded as she leaned in, and kissed him on the cheek. "For luck," knowing he would nerd out over Star Wars, and not pay attention to what she was about to do.

She hit a button and the automatic wench pulled Chuck up to the roof.

"SAAAARRAAaaahhhhhhh" she heard him yell, as she rolled her eyes and put her gear on. Hitting the button, she too was pulled up to the roof. She pulled herself over the lip of the roof, helped Chuck undo his harness, and disconnected her own.

"Come on!" she said, taking his hands, the two running toward the stairway. They descended the stairs to their floor, and quickly entered their room. "Do you have it?" she asked.

"Hey, it's me," Chuck replied, showing her the book. She pulled him into a hug. They could do this. Even if they couldn't get anyone to join them, the three of them could work as a team, and do this.

}o{

"Carina," Casey said, opening the door, and letting her into the hotel room.

"Casey," Carina said, letting a finger drag over his chest as she walked past him. He growled, whether it was a growl of irritation or… whatever else. Chuck wasn't sure, but he was very uncomfortable.

"Here's your ledger," Sarah said, handing it to Carina.

Carina glanced from Sarah to Chuck and then back. "You're doing his bidding?"

"No, she did the majority of the work, so I let her decide who we give the ledger to," Chuck replied. Carina looked at him, and he swore she licked her lips. "This is a team, the three of us, and we need you."

"Where's your mother?" Carina asked.

"In the hospital, recovering from the compound fracture in her leg that Amy was responsible for," Chuck replied.

"Wait, Amy took out Frost?" Carina asked for clarification. Chuck nodded. "I'm in."

Chuck looked skeptical.

"Let's be clear: I'm all about me. But there are those I respect in this business, and she is one of those. Her, Johnny, General Beckman… if they're all in, then I'm in. I just had to know what you three are made of." She looked down at the journal. "You did better than Cole and I."

"You were too busy playing hide the sausage with Cole," Casey retorted.

"Nope, strictly business. No pleasure this time." She turned to Casey, and looked him up and down. "So, what's our move?"

"We find our last member," Chuck began.

"Zondra," Carina cut in. "We're after Zondra, and I just happen to know right where she is."

A/N: So for those of you too young, or never saw it, the TV show that Lou played the Hulk, the main character was called David Banner, why? Kenneth Johnson created the show with the one and only, Stan Lee. Kenneth changed the name because he didn't want to it to be tied to the comic book series (really?!) and then CBS said they wanted it changed for reasons I will not post here, but let's just say the reason would have flown today. On the DVDs Kenneth changed the name in order to honor his son, David. Why was it changed, who knows.

Do I have a sneak peak of next time? You curious thing you...okay, since you asked nicely

"Any idea where Casey is?" Chuck asked, standing by the door the next morning. He was afraid to leave the bedroom, for fear what he might see. He saw the smirk on Sarah's face. "Listen, I'm all for adults having fun, but that woman terrifies me."

"Oh, she knows," Sarah said, shaking her head at Chuck. She sat on the bed and patted it with her hand. He padded over to her and sat down beside her. "Chuck, you know it's her weapon, right? Her sexuality?"

"I'm fully aware, and I don't want to accidentally be shot with it," Chuck replied, honestly.

Dillwg...is this fine? I'm not sure. See you next time.