A/N: Welcome back

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck looked out over the water, the excitement growing in his chest. He wore a rain jacket. Even though it was summer in Alaska, the highs barely cracked sixty degrees. The water the boat was slicing through was much colder, and Sarah warned him, he really didn't want the water getting his clothes wet if he could help it.

He was so far out of his league, and he knew it. He was a California city boy, used to being around people, and here… there were few people, and the weather… this felt like winter, to him.

He knew Casey's friends – Casey called them Bill and Fred, but Chuck honestly wondered if that was their real names – had already begun to set up camp. A fight had already broken out between Casey and Sarah. Chuck, while being the subject of said confrontation, kept his mouth shut. Two structures were being built for sleeping. They were basically prefabricated walls, a roof, and a floor, to keep out the elements. One was built to accommodate one person, the other for two.

Casey had claimed the one person building. His reasoning was that as he was the cameraman, Sarah was tasked with protecting Chuck. Sarah argued, saying they were both men, to which Casey responded something along the lines of this being the 2020s, and laughing.

Chuck didn't want Sarah to be uncomfortable, but all things being equal, he really preferred staying with Sarah as opposed to Casey. He was sure Casey snored, he trusted Sarah, and… he couldn't finish that sentence. He glanced over at Sarah, who wore a smile on her face as she admired the scenery as the boat cut through Port Chatham Bay. He looked back over the water, and couldn't help but smile, as well.

He was soooooo far out of his league. Since she had made her way into his life, he found himself spending more and more time with her. And just not because he had to, as part of this project. It was plainly apparent to him it was because he wanted to. Sure, she was physically the most gorgeous creature he had ever laid eyes on, but… he softly blew out a breath.

She was so funny. Her dry sense of humor, her little quips, just made him laugh. God, and she was so kind. And when others would run while he was rattling off about anything he was nerding out over, she just smiled and truly seemed like she enjoyed it. But it was even more than that. She was just… there with him. She was just… she accepted him for who he was, and liked him for it. And good God, was there a more powerful an aphrodisiac than that?

"You okay, buddy?" she asked. He turned to her, seeing the mischievous grin on her face.

"Yeah, why?" he asked. She raised an eyebrow at him, grinning the whole time. "You mean that we are very close to somewhere I always wanted to visit, and investigate?"

"Listen, ever since we landed in Alaska, you've been trying to keep from bouncing like a four year old on Christmas morning," Sarah said.

"Nuh-uh," he replied, trying to look as couth as possible. "A five year-old." She didn't say anything… her smile just grew. "We're so close, you know?" Sarah nodded. "I don't know what we're going to find, I don't know what we're going to see, but I'm excited."

"What happens if you see or hear nothing?" Sarah asked.

"I'm not sure," Chuck admitted. "Again, there are all these stories, but not seeing anything over two weeks doesn't mean something doesn't exist. He is the grand champion at hide and seek."

She snorted at that, and Chuck grinned. The boat rounded the point, and he could see the land, his eyes going wide. "Sarah," he said softly.

"The woods… they're… they're almost to the shore," Sarah said. He looked over at her, a tight look was on her face. He knew what she was thinking about, the last words the village elder had said to them before they had boarded on the boat. He looked back at the looming shore they were approaching.

Don't go into the woods. That's Nantiinaq's land.

"We can't not go into the woods, because the whole place is woods," Sarah said in a low voice. She reached over, took his hand and squeezed it, making him look at her. "I got you." He believed her. Deep in his soul, he believed her.

}o{

Sarah is sitting in the interview chair.

"I'm not going to lie, I was fighting… things… feelings… emotions." She paused. "I'm not great with words, but I had to make sure Chuck knew that I would protect him." She sat silently for a moment. "I was glad, deep inside, that Casey forced us into the same sleeping… shack? I guess that's what it should be called."

"Love shack, amiright?" a voice that sounded like Morgan came from off-camera. She shot an attempt at a disapproving look, but couldn't keep the amused look from her face. She sighed, lifted her hand, and a hand came into frame, high-fiving her. "So, was there anything that you can point to that got to you?"

"Yeah," Sarah said with a smile.

"Apple juice."

}o{

"Can you think of anything we missed?" Sarah asked Chuck over the phone. It was a few days before they would leave for Alaska. Chuck and Sarah were going over the plans, supply list, and anything else they might need while in Alaska. She had just gotten the last documents from the government, emailed them to Chuck, and facetimed him to talk to him as they went through it. It was a rainy evening, or she would have just driven over to his apartment.

"What's wrong?" Chuck asked. He had just seen the look of disappointment on her face. She looked at her phone, chuckled, shook her head, and showed him the empty bottle of apple juice. "I didn't know you were big on apple juice."

Sarah shrugged. "I really didn't either. It's one of the things I've been trying out."

Chuck was silent for a moment. "That sounds like a story. An interesting one, at that."

"Oh, not really," Sarah told him, going back over to her bed and flopping onto it. Chuck just sat there, an amused look on his face. "Fine, I know you, you'll passive-aggressively pout until you hear the story."

"I don't know if it's a passive-aggressive pout, at much as a look of complete adorableness," Chuck quipped. Sarah couldn't help but giggle. "But," he continued in a low voice, "you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." She nodded. He looked back down at the tablet that had the information she had provided. "I can't think of anything else that we need, or isn't on here, can you?"

"I can't," Sarah agreed. Chuck nodded and started to speak, but she continued, surprising him. "I tried to never order the same thing or eat the same food when on a mission. Not because I wanted to try things, but because I didn't want someone to pick up a tell on me." Chuck looked up, confused. "Say I used the name, Jodi Jullian for instance, when I was an IT person on one job-"

"Wait," Chuck cut in. "You have the skills to be an IT person?"

"No," Sarah said, trying not to laugh. "You were a little excited about that, my guy."

"Well, come on," Chuck replied. "We're gonna be in the wilderness, just you and I."

"Casey will be there," Sarah reminded him.

"I said what I said," Chuck continued, making Sarah laugh. "I thought if you had a similar interest as I did, it might make things more interesting."

"Chuck, I promise you, there's plenty about you that's interesting, and I will not be bored," Sarah assured him. He gave her a shy smile, and looked down, like he was embarrassed. "So, when I did an IT job, it was mostly… mostly a distraction."

"Oh," Chuck said, nodding. "You know what? I totally get that."

"You think I'm distracting?" Sarah asked, a devious grin on her face.

"Girl, you know you're distracting," Chuck replied. "But I don't think you know why." She sucked in an audible gasp, and Chuck thought he had said too much. "Sorry-"

"Chuck," she said softly. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"

He saw the concerned look on her face, and realized he had gone too far to quit now. He took a deep breath. "I think you are aware that men find you attractive," he began.

"I mean, I've been hit on a time or two," Sarah admitted, chuckling.

"I don't know how much people get to know the real you. I'd like to think I have sort of gotten to know the real you, and if I haven't then… well, you're an even more amazing spy than I realized," Chuck continued.

"I… I've been the most real around you than I have been around people in years," Sarah told him. Chuck nodded. "I'm trying, at least."

"Sarah, you are charming as fuck," Chuck said bluntly. Sarah laughed. "You're funny, you're smart, a little sassy when you feel like it." She shrugged one shoulder, making Chuck laugh. "You're a fun person to be around. You're a kind person to be around. Hell, I'm going to be honest; of this whole situation I'm in, the best part of it has been meeting you, and getting to be around you."

"You're too kind, but you don't know me," Sarah began.

"No, I think maybe you forgot who you are. Or had to hide it so much in your job, that you don't recognize her anymore," Chuck said. Sarah sat there, quietly. He cleared his throat. "So, you were telling me about food choices, before I stuck my foot in my mouth."

"You didn't," she assured him. "Your foot, I mean. But yes, say Geordi drank Earl Grey tea, because that's what a good IT person that watched Star Trek would do." She laughed at him biting the first finger of his fist.

"See, now, that… that is how you captivate some IT nerds," Chuck told her, making her laugh out loud.

She sobered and continued. "Whereas, Ilana Truffuat," she said, changing her voice slightly, "it felt more classy… regal, even. "Would only drink an un Café, or Café au Lait."

"Ooo, la, la," Chuck said, as Sarah batted her eye lashes, as she laughed. "So you found out you like apple juice?"

"Yeah, I think I do," Sarah said. "I mean, yeah, I like Earl Grey just fine, but… I don't know, tonight I was just feeling some apple juice." She glanced out her window. "And it's raining, so I'm not going out… Sorry," she said, shaking her head. "I'm just mopey. So, you think we're good?" Chuck nodded. "Okay, see you tomorrow."

"Sarah," he began.

"Chuck, don't mind me," she said gently, smiling. "I don't need apple juice, I'll be fine. We don't get everything we want in life. I will live. Goodnight." With that, she waved and disconnected. He was waving at her as the screen went black.

"I mean we don't get everything we want in life… but there's no reason you shouldn't," Chuck said softly to the phone.

}o{

Chuck in the interview area.

"I would have done it for anyone," Chuck said to the camera. He was silent for a moment. "But I really wanted to do it for her."

A/N: I can hear you now, WHAT DID HE DO?

"Uh, can I come in?" he asked.

"Oh. Yes. Sure," she said, stepping back, and letting him come in.

"This is for you," he said, handing her a small juice box.

"Tell me you didn't come over here to bring me apple juice, Chuck," Sarah said.

"I didn't come over here to bring you apple juice?" he replied, sitting a bag on the counter. He spun toward her and clapped his hands together, excitement on his face. "Now, that brand is my favorite." He pointed to the box in her hand. "And I only got a quick look at the brand you liked, but if I was right, they are sold out, sorry." He winced and Sarah just stared at him.

I have no idea why the song Vanilla Ice Cream was playing in my mind from She Loves Me. No idea at all….thanks for reading and if you have a second to leave a review, that would be lovely. Take care fam.