Chuck vs

I do not own Chuck and will not profit in any way from these words.

OK – Just free-wheeling here. Don't have a clue where this is going. If you have ideas let me know. I hope I have the time to stay with it.

I just learned how to edit these pages so I am going to clean it up some.

Chuck Vs. His Friend

Everything changed exactly one year ago. On October 23, 2008, Sarah Walker was reassigned and Chuck Bartowski awaited a CIA holding cell. Their secret was out and both the CIA Director and the NSA General were adamant that the situation had to be corrected. If not for the intervention of Major John Casey the situation would be unchanged.

"I wouldn't give you two cents for Agent Walkers lady feelings," Casey said as he walked to stand in front of General Beckman's desk. "What I do know is that Bartowski will be more effective around his family and friends… it's just the way he's wired."

"I appreciate your concern Major Casey, but the decision has been made."

"Then unmake it General." His voice rising. "I know what I'm talking about with Bartowski; you are not going to like the results after putting him away."

"What about Walker?" The General eyed him closely.

"As far as I'm concerned, send her to Siberia. I don't care. She has proven to be unreliable when it comes to maintaining protocol." He hesitated for a second. "However, Bartowski does not feel the same way I do."

"That's become painfully obvious Major."

"Don't blame Bartowski General; he's only done what every nerd on the planet would have done in his situation. Walker's a looker and she knows her business. She did what she was supposed to do. Bartowski was supposed to fall for her. The problem is that she wasn't supposed to fall for Bartowski."

"That's why Walker has to be reassigned," the General said with finality.

"If that's the way it has to be… has alternatives been considered?"

"What kind of alternatives?"

"I've had some time to think this over and I think it could be effective. Mind you I've got no skin in the game so if you don't like it…fine."

"What's your idea Major?" Beckman said impatiently.

"First, Walker and Bartowski get reprimands. Even though Bartowski is innocent, it will still have an impact on Walker because she will blame herself for Bartowski's reprimand. She will also get an official reprimand privately as well. I know that will tear her up. She will straighten up and fly right no matter how much she cares for Bartowski. General as much as I hate to say it, she is still a company man… er so to speak. She will do her job"

"I don't think-"

"There's one more component to this General. We surgically implant both Bartowski and Walker with bugs with their knowledge. That way they will have no privacy to continue their… romance," he said disdainfully.

"And what is the point of all of this… Major?"

"Bartowski's happiness and cooperation. With the threat of Fulcrum eliminated there is less worry about Bartowski's safety and we have been very successful up until now. I just want to keep getting the bad guys General. Walker, Bartowski and I have become very effective together."

The General appeared to be looking at the Major but he knew she was lost in thought. "I'll think about what you've said. I may talk with Art Graham about this. One way or the other I will let you know tomorrow what the decision is."

"Very well, General." Casey left knowing it was the best he could do for them.

And so it was decided to adopt Casey's plan. Before any of it was carried out it was left up to Casey to break the news to his partners. He called both Agent Walker and Chuck Bartowski separately and told them to be at his apartment for a meeting in thirty minutes.

"Come in." Casey said in response to the knock on his door. "Well isn't this just sweet."

Sarah Walker and Chuck Bartowski walked into his apartment hand in hand.

"Casey, we've snuck around long enough. I am tired of it. Everyone knows about Sarah and I now so why should we try to hide it." Chuck had a defiant tone in his voice.

Casey noticed that Sarah's body language was much less aggressive. "Good," he thought to himself. "If Sarah is not completely on board with Chuck this has a chance or working."

"Well that's what I want to talk with you about. I just got word from DC and have the decision from the brass there."

Casey saw by Sarah's expression that she knew how critical this was. She looked afraid to take a breath.

"Did they agree to my…uh suggestions," Chuck said.

"Suggestions. That's a laugh. Sarah frankly I can't believe you went along with this crazy scheme. If I hadn't put my neck on the line for you two…Chuck would be in a lock up and who knows where you would be right now." He slammed a manila folder on the table as he finished.

"Casey, I didn't know what Chuck was going to say. If I had I would have at least toned it down somewhat. But I have to tell you I agree with him that we should just carry on. Chuck and I will move in together and nothing else changes."

"All I said is that they'll get nothing from me if they split Sarah and I up," Chuck interrupted.

"You don't threaten the CIA and the NSA Bartowski," Casey said incredulously.

"And, Walker that's not going to happen. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is a negotiation. It is not. I am going to tell you what will happen from this day forward and then I'll tell you what will happen if you both do not agree."

Chuck began to argue the point when uncharacteristically Casey held up his index finger. Sarah realized that Casey was signaling to them and laid her hand on Chuck's arm. When he looked at her she shook her head. Chuck knew enough to take her lead.

"OK, Casey. What's it going to be?" Sarah said not able to hide some of the nervousness she felt from her voice.

Casey told them the verdict and what they would have to do to avoid Sarah's reassignment and Chuck's detainment. "So that's it. You play by these rules or you don't play at all." He looked at Sarah and then at Chuck. He knew Chuck would be the one to put up a fight.

"There is no way-" Chuck stopped what he was saying when he saw Casey hold up his finger again.

"Casey, we're not happy with this decision but if this is what we have to do to be together then that's what we'll do." She looked at Chuck imploring him to go along with it.

He had waited over a year to get Sarah to admit that she cared for him. He recalled the happiest day of his life when she finally said in an angry voice.

"OK, alright, you win. I love you Chuck. Is that what you want to hear?" As she said it, she looked into his brown eyes and seeing the slow smile replace the frown he was wearing. Her heart melted and they kissed for the second time, passionately.

The recall of that moment still brought a smile to his face as he remembered how they celebrated in her hotel room afterwards. "What choice do we have?" He sat dejected on the couch.

Casey walked in front of both Walker and Bartowski and pulled a bug from his pocket. He laid it on the coffee table and sat a glass over the top of the bug.

"Look, this is better than the alternative. At least you will be together."

"Your cover around family and friends is that you are now just really good friends. But there will always be missions were your feelings will get to come into play. You guys have until day after tomorrow to get your stories together, figure out how you're going to make this work. This is going to have to be believable to your friends and family. Once you have the bugs implanted there will be no cheating. You understand?"

Sarah looked at Chuck for conformation and then spoke for the both of them. "We understand. Can we have the next two days together? We are going to need it to get our cover straight."

Casey actually looked as sad for them as he felt. "Yeah, but don't be blatant about it. This decision is somewhat tenuous. Not everyone agrees with this approach."

The two days were wonderful but heavily tinged with the sadness that it would have to end. Chuck and Sarah agreed that their new cover would be that they loved each other but because of "issues" they had agreed to be just friends.

"I don't understand," Ellie said looking from her brother to Sarah. "How can you decide to give up on yourselves?"

"We are not giving up on ourselves Ellie. It's just that we have come to understand that our relationship is unusual in many ways." He knew that at least was the truth and felt better about being able to say something truthful.

"Ellie, I love Chuck as much today as I ever have more than anything, more than…anything." She looked at Chuck not able to contain a single tear from escaping her eye. She did not bother to hide it.

Ellie looked at Sarah, then to Chuck and then back to Sarah with a slow furrowing of her brow. "I can't help but think that you're not telling me everything."

"Come on Ellie, we are not happy about this. We have just come to realize we are not going to be the normal couple. Hey, I've invited Sarah over for pizza Tuesday night just like always."

"Are you going to date other people?"

That question floored them both. Chuck began to stutter and Sarah's face took on that professional mask she used for cover. They had failed to consider that as a likely occurrence of their "fake" breakup.

"Well I don't know. I'm not looking for anyone. I know that." Chuck said looking at Sarah."

"You say that now but you two have got to decide that if you're not going to be a couple then you have got to be OK with the other one dating other people." Ellie saw that they were both uncomfortable with this topic but pressed forward. "Look, without the romance there is an element missing in your relationship that will one day leave an opening for someone to "steal" your heart," she said looking at both. "I can tell from both of your expressions that that will be a sad day for the other one. I hope you have considered everything before making this decision."

"We have Ellie, I wish it could be different… but it can't." Sarah eyes were red now. She knew that there would never be anyone for her other than Chuck but she worried that under these circumstances Chuck would find a normal girl that he could live a normal life with. She knew that if Chuck wanted normal he would have to search elsewhere.

"Ellie, we need to give this a shot. Sarah has my heart and I can't imagine loving anyone else the way I love her. But…we need to give this a shot. OK?"

Ellie shook her head positively and wiped away some tears. She went over to Sarah and gave her a hug. Sarah hugged her back. Ellie felt the slightest hint of desperation in the hug and looked at Sarah closely again. "I hope you both find what were looking for," she said with a tinge of sadness in her voice.