Chuck vs. the Defense Contractor, Chapter 13 – 15.5 hours after

Disclaimer: I don't own anything at all related to Chuck. No characters, no plots, no themes, no nothing. Enjoy!

Secret CIA medical facility, Los Angeles, 5:02pm on a weekday

The building looked just like every other tilt-up with green glass in an anonymous business park. Chuck entered the TekTel Systems office in suite 131 and was greeted by the attractive receptionist.

"Hello sir, can I help you?"

"Sure. What do you think about the Dodgers this year? Who's your favorite player?"

"I like Andruw Jones. Who's your favorite player?"

"I like Jeff Kent. However, I think the Giants will win the NL West this year. They're going to win ninety-nine games."

The receptionist regarded Chuck for a moment before pushing a button on her phone. Chuck worried that his total lack of sports knowledge had caused him to bungle the code phrases.

"Please have a seat Mr. Bartowski. Someone will be out shortly."

Chuck felt like a new man as he received his visitor ID at the CIA medical facility where Nikki was recuperating. Seven hours of uninterrupted sleep had done wonders. He was fortunate to have had the day off. Casey and Sarah had to invent plausible excuses to miss work. Their videoconference with D.C. didn't end until 10:30 that morning. Chuck hadn't talked to them since their morning debriefing, but Sarah left him a voicemail time-stamped at 11:05am with instructions on how to see Nikki.

His guide led him into a room that had two armed guards and an elevator that only went down. Four levels down, Chuck walked out of the elevator into something resembling a hospital floor, except for the multitude of cameras and armed guards. They walked the length of the hall and stopped before two more guards who verified Chuck's ID. He was allowed into Nikki's room alone.

She was sleeping peacefully as he approached. He took in her features and noted her attractiveness. She was looking pale and tired, but recent events would have caused anyone distress. He stood quietly by her bed and simply watched, resisting the urge to brush some unruly dark hair away from her face.

"Hi Chuck."

He jumped a bit, feeling like he'd been caught looking when he shouldn't have.

"You're awake."

"Just now. I knew it was you." Nikki opened her eyes and sat up as much as her injured shoulder allowed. "I'm glad you came to see me."

"Yeah, I wasn't sure if they would let me, but I think I'm in their good graces at the moment."

She smiled at him and awkward silence ensued. Chuck finally spoke.

"You lied to me."

Nikki looked away and composed her thoughts before looking back.

"I'm sorry. I did what I thought was best for you and me. There wasn't time for debate. I didn't think you could see past your trust of Sarah."

"Sarah and Casey covered for me. They said I was trying to taser you and missed by mistake."

"It's their best play at the moment. Continuing to work with the Intersect ensures that they get the best and biggest missions. Nothing could be better for their careers."

Chuck's ire began to rise. "You don't know them like I do. We've been working together for months!"

Nikki sadly looked at Chuck. "I don't think you know them as well as you think. I saw Sarah in my father's office after she cut off his fingers. She was going to kill me on the spot. I've worked with military and intelligence people around the world. Professionals in that field get a look in their eyes when they're about to do something like that. Sarah is as cold and ruthless as they come. If you're up to it one day, ask her why she was going to kill me."

Chuck wondered if he'd ever have the nerve to ask.

"Chuck, I'm just trying to help you see things as they are. You and I are kindred spirits of a sort. There are things that only the two of us can ever understand about each other. I know you'll make the right decisions. But don't stop questioning things. Once you cease to be an asset, they won't hesitate to get rid of you."

"So that's why you did it, right? You made us both priceless resources for the government?"

"I also have to try and right some of my father's wrongs. His original intentions may have been noble, but his methods became despicable. Thank you for that."

"For what?"

"For being you. For showing me that things aren't all gray, and that sometimes you have to choose a side. Promise me something."

"Sure."

"Don't ever let this dirty game corrupt you. Keep being one of the good guys. Despite my wariness about Sarah and Casey, I think you've worn off a bit on them. I do hope they are the protectors you think they are." She lifted her uninjured arm and extended her hand.

Chuck thought seriously about what she said and clasped her hand. "Ok. If I ever become morally ambiguous, will you come back and set me straight?"

Nikki laughed out loud. "If you ever turn gray, I'll come back and whip your ass myself! Or maybe I'll convince them that they only need one Intersect and that I'm the one to keep."

"Hah…you're kidding right?"

Before his smile faded completely, she winked.

"Well, I wish you would have told me beforehand, but I guess killing the Beta Intersects was one way to keep us alive."

"It was our best option."

"So now what? When do you officially become Intersect East?"

"Soon. I should be able to move in a few days."

"Think we'll ever work together?"

"It makes sense. We'll probably get to verify each other's flashes and maybe they'll combine our brainpower on some big tasks."

"Well ok then. Until next time."

Nikki pulled on Chuck's hand and brought him closer until their faces were nearly touching. She released his hand and placed her hand on his cheek as they kissed lightly. The kiss acknowledged the deep bond they shared that was more friendly and knowing then romantic.

"Until next time, Chuck."

Smiling, he turned to leave. She spoke before he reached the door.

"Chuck, about Sarah."

He turned back. "Yeah?"

"I know how you feel about her. I hope that she feels the same about you. But don't just rely on your heart and body around her. You have to keep your wits around her. You know what she's capable of. Any relationship that starts with lies and subterfuge has a hard time lasting."

Chuck nodded. "Roger that. I'll see you around Nikki."

After he left, she answered to no one. "I'm sure you will, Chuck. Make every moment count."

Fogo de Chao Churrascaria, Beverly Hills, 8:13pm on a weekday

Sarah called Chuck after he saw Nikki and invited him out to dinner. She said she wanted to talk. She picked him up and after an hour battling traffic on the Santa Monica Freeway, they arrived at the restaurant. Both seemed in good spirits. Conversation was light and breezy, and all talk surrounding recent events was avoided. Chuck wore jeans and a long-sleeve button down. Sarah also wore denim, with a red form-fitting blouse that turned heads as they entered the restaurant. The women all looked for flaws in Sarah and wondered what was so special about Chuck that she was with him. The men didn't notice any flaws in Sarah and wondered what was so special about Chuck that she was with him. The cut on Sarah's forehead was masked by makeup. They were seated immediately, and after ordering caipirinhas, the meat assault began. In short order, they both had eight different piles of meat on their plates. They turned the green and red disks on their table to the red side, telling the Gauchos to give them a chance to eat. And talk.

"Nice place. I've driven by, but never eaten here. I don't usually go places it takes a few days of wages to pay for."

Sarah smiled. "I'll put it on the expense account."

"So how's your head? Did you get a concussion?"

"It was a little one. Nothing to worry about."

"Ok. I'm sorry."

"For what, Chuck?"

"For shooting…" Chuck realized he was talking a bit loudly. In a quieter tone, he repeated, "For shooting you with the taser."

She continued cutting a piece of sirloin which she popped in her mouth before responding. "It's no big deal. Just a little shock. No harm, no foul."

"I don't believe you."

Sarah put her utensils down.

"I know you're pissed with me about it. Just tell me you're pissed so we don't have to pretend everything's ok. We don't need to hide how we feel from each other."

For the first time, Chuck really noticed all of the emotions that flashed across her face. He saw anger, betrayal, hurt, and mostly, uncertainty.

"I'm pissed that you shot me."

"I know. And I'm really sorry."

"How could you not trust me? How could you not trust me to make the right decision? Haven't I proven myself to you time and again?"

"I do trust you. I wouldn't be alive today if I didn't trust you. You do your job better than anyone I know. But this isn't just about your job."

"What?"

Chuck sighed and steeled himself for what he felt could be a very painful conversation. Recent events had given him the confidence and desire to push forward. He may not like where things would go, but better to know where things stood.

"Remember the sunset on the beach a few days back?"

Chuck noticed more emotions flashing from her. He wondered why he never noticed how expressive she was before. She nodded. He continued.

"Well, I've come to the conclusion that you primarily did that to regain my trust, and control over your asset. And I'm ok with that. I'm starting to learn how the game is played."

"Chuck," Sarah interrupted.

"Sarah, let me finish. I also believe that you meant a lot of what you said. That there is something real under our undercover thing. And I know that how you feel often conflicts with how you have to do your job. And I'm ok with that too. I think you know how I feel about you, but if you don't…if you don't, just know that I like you a lot. I like the real person that's underneath all the identities you have to assume. I'd like to know her better."

Sarah was shocked…SHOCKED that Chuck had been so perceptive. And that he had the confidence to bring it all up. He clearly was not the same person she had initiated contact with back in September. She wasn't the same person either. Her eyes began to water.

"Did you practice that little speech in the mirror?" She smiled as a few drops ran down her cheek.

"More times than I could count." Chuck smiled back. "Are those fake-breakup-tears-for-the-benefit-of-Morgan-Jeff-and-Lester, or real-Long-Shore-kidnapping-me-on-the-rooftop-tears?"

She reached both hands across the table and grasped his. "What do you think?"

"I want you to tell me."

He wasn't going to let her off easy this time. "They're real tears. And you were spot on about everything else. I must be losing my touch as an agent if you can read me so easily."

Chuck massaged the backs of her hands with his thumbs. "It's only because you let me."

They both felt the moment. What they had between them just advanced to another level.

"You want to hear something funny?"

"Sure."

"I was going to pull my gun on Long Shore on that rooftop."

"Really? What were you going to do?"

"I had no idea! I just couldn't let them take you like that without doing something."

"Wow. Really?"

"Really. Who knows, Long Shore and I could have killed each other and left you a sitting target for Lizzie. You'd be having dinner in a Fulcrum interrogation facility right now." She took a long swig from her drink.

"I thought you said you were going to say something funny?"

"Hey, it's worked out so far, right?"

"I'd have to agree, despite your gallows humor."

Chuck raised his drink to toast. "To the next chapter of the Team Chuck Chronicles. Better yet, to the Chuck-and-his-beautiful-CIA-Agent-who-is-also-something-more Chronicles."

Sarah clinked her glass to his. "I'll drink to that." They took long sips while gazing at each other.

Chuck turned over his disk to the green side immediately attracting the attention of a Gaucho with a skewer of filet mignon. "Time for more meat!"

Ellie Bartowski's apartment in Echo Park, Los Angeles, 11:38pm on a weekday

After having dessert at Sweet Lady Jane on Melrose Avenue, Chuck and Sarah walked hand-in-hand through the apartment complex. Casey's light was on as usual. The future Mr. and Mrs. Awesome were working late. They went to Chuck's room and sat facing each other, Sarah on the bed, Chuck in a chair.

Sarah pulled out a small device resembling a USB drive. With a flip of a switch, a red LED went on.

"What's that?"

"Anti-listening device sonic scrambler. Casey is listening to static right now. It should buy us a few minutes of privacy."

"So how is work going to change now, with two Intersects around?"

"We don't have to protect Nikki in public like with you so security will be much easier. We'll be able to churn through twice the intelligence as before. You can both check each other's work too. Beckman and Graham seem relatively pleased, despite losing their Beta Intersect and all the money that it cost. Maybe we don't have to protect you as well now that we have a backup."

"Shutup!" Chuck playfully slapped her knee. "I hope I get to work with her again."

Sarah snorted. "I don't see what's so great about Nikki."

"She's actually not a bad person. She's brilliant, and we know she's one of the good guys now. I think she'll really help things along. Oh, and she's beautiful."

She looked incredulously at Chuck.

"I gotta tell you though, I prefer blondes."

Sarah beamed at him.

"Wait, are you a real blonde? Or did you dye your hair for this assignment?"

"One day, you may get to find out."

Chuck blushed as his smile reached his ears. Sarah's smile promised everything.

"Well, I better go before Casey breaks in here with guns blazing."

They both stood and wrapped their arms around each other before Chuck leaned down to capture her mouth with his. It was a passionate yet sweet kiss that didn't have the hunger of their previous kisses, but reflected a deeper relationship between them. Neither wanted the kiss to end.

They both heard the doorbell and Casey's fist pounding the door. They let it ring a few times before parting with tremendous grins.

"We better go before he breaks something."

"I'll walk you to your car."

They walked to the front door and greeted Casey. He was wearing a robe made from the same gray camouflage pattern of the Army Combat Uniform.

"What the hell is going on with the bugs?"

"What the hell is going on with your robe?"

Before Casey could hurt Chuck, Sarah spoke. "We were just running a little test to see if you were paying attention. I figured you'd be knocked out after this morning."

"I am tired, so if you're done with him, will you please tuck the Intersect in, so I can get some sleep?" Casey turned and stormed off. His robe did blend in well with the darkness.

Chuck and Sarah shared a laugh before walking to her car. They had their arms around each other until they reached it.

"Sarah, I have to ask you something. I was going to ask you sometime in the future, but it's going to bug me if I don't know the answer."

"Sure, what is it?

Chuck turned her until they were facing each other. "Were you going to kill Nikki?"

Sarah's eyes widened. That was not something she expected him to ask. She gulped as she tried to form a response. She suspected that Chuck's newfound attentiveness had already picked up on her emotions and that he knew the answer. She struggled to overcome her training and give him an honest response, not one that would manipulate and coerce. She gathered her courage.

"Yes, I was."

Chuck wasn't as surprised at her answer as she expected.

"Can you tell me why?"

She decided to stick to the truth. It had been working well all night.

"When Beckman and Graham learned about Nikki's ability, they wanted us to grab her. They also wanted us to eliminate you. They felt she would prove to be a better Human Intersect than you. You knew about Casey's standing order to terminate you when the Beta became operational. They wanted him to carry it out. I had to come up with a way to save you and killing Nikki was the answer."

"How's that?"

"If Nikki got killed in the crossfire during the Miller-Johnson takedown, then only one Human Intersect would remain, you. In that case, even with the Beta fully operational, Graham could overrule Beckman and keep you alive. For insurance and as a research subject."

Chuck processed the news. "So Nikki was right, that destroying all the Beta Intersects was the only way to insure both of us lived."

She looked down at the dark sidewalk. "Yes, she was."

"So you were ready to kill Nikki, and maybe Long Shore, to save me?"

Sarah's eyes began to water. She had shed more tears for him in one night than she had for any reason in five years.

"You know what, that's one question you don't have to answer tonight. I know the answer." With that, he embraced her. She buried her face in her chest and sobbed, letting his shirt absorb her tears. Years of emotional frustration and pain came to the surface and were washed away by his presence. He held her as long as she needed.

After a long silence, her eyes dried up and she moved back.

"Thank you, Chuck."

"Anytime. Everyone needs a good cry once in a while."

"Not just for that." She hesitated. "For saving me."

His face showed puzzlement.

"By shooting me with the taser, you kept me from killing Nikki. When I have to kill people for the job, its one thing. I've never killed someone for personal reasons. Thanks to you, I still haven't."

Chuck cupped her face and gave a reassuring smile. "The night's still young."

They both shared a laugh that left them feeling free and relieved.

"We're a good team, Sarah. I think your strengths are my weaknesses and vice versa. I'm good with computers, and you're good with fighting, shooting, espionage, seduction, knifing, spy craft, and everything else."

"We are a good team. And you're good at a lot of stuff besides computers."

"Where does Casey fit in?"

"He's just the muscle. He makes a good limo driver or bartender."

"Hehehe…"

Sarah fished her remote from her purse and unlocked her car. "Well, I'm going home to get some rest. Want a ride to work tomorrow?"

"Sure, I can't wait to see you again. Let's make every moment count!"

Note: Thanks for reading! Sorry for the long delay. I've been occupied by too many things lately. I hope you enjoyed the story.