126A/N: PeterOinNYC had a prompt, but halfway through I got another idea and well….it got out of control.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
"You sure this isn't weird?" Chuck asked for what must have been the thousandth time in the past twenty minutes. Ellie and Awesome were supposed to be going to an awards dinner sponsored by the hospital, but of course, Devon found out that morning he had to perform emergency surgery.
"No, it's not weird," Ellie replied. "The head of the hospital told me to bring you. Whole families come to these things, Chuck. Besides, there will be all sorts of people there that don't work at the hospital," she added, picking at her dress without looking at him.
"Wait a minute," he began, as she looked up at him, amusement on her face. "Ellie."
"Listen, would it be so awful if a pharmaceutical saleswoman were to meet you, and like you?" Ellie asked.
"I have no idea," Chuck admitted. "You admit you're trying to set me up?"
"No, I admit I am taking my brother out to an awards dinner, where good food will be served, and there will be a lot of people around for him to meet. If he should happen to find someone he likes… well…"
"And you're not gonna push?"
"Let's not get carried away, Chuck… I am who I am," Ellie replied with a grin. Chuck laughed at that. Ellie was nothing if not honest.
"So, do you at least know the people we'll be sitting with?" he asked, as they entered the ballroom. Chuck nodded, impressed with the setup despite his misgivings.
"No," Ellie admitted. "Some of the drug companies helped sponsor this event, so we'll be sitting with some drug reps. They usually talk about their products for a few minutes, but mostly it's just a get-to-know-you-type thing." Ellie went to her tiptoes to wave at someone. "I'll be right back, I want to talk to… you don't care do you?" Chuck shook his head, grinning.
He walked over toward a table filled with drinks. "Water please."
"You sure?" came the voice beside him. Chuck turned, finding a tall blonde woman. "We're going to be stuck for hours, listening to a bunch of medical people talk about medical things."
"I take it you're not a medical person?" Chuck asked.
"No, and I know you're not, because I heard you talking to that woman you were with," she explained. "I wasn't eavesdropping, but I overheard you and got amused." There was a crooked grin on her face, and Chuck found he liked it when she was amused.
"That's my sister, Ellie," Chuck explained, as the woman nodded. "You here with a sibling, so, you've been taken captive and forced to be here as a penance?"
She snorted at him. "No," she replied, shaking her head. "I am here with a friend, because her boyfriend couldn't make it. He really wanted to be here, he's a pharmaceutical rep as well."
"Well, I hope you have an incredible evening," Chuck said with a grin. He started to walk away, but stopped when right beside her. "You know how they sometimes say the dress makes the woman?" She turned to him and nodded. "In your case, they got it backwards; the woman definitely makes that dress."
Chuck headed over to the table, grinning, knowing that he had just knocked her figuratively on her ass. He sat, and then stiffened as he felt someone standing beside him. "This seat taken?" He turned and saw Sarah standing there.
"Uh, no," Chuck said, stammering.
"My friend Jill thinks that Ellie Bartowski is one of the best neurosurgeons in the country, and is an even better person," Sarah said by way of explanation, as she sat down. "Oh, look, here they come now."
"This is for the dress comment, isn't it?" Chuck asked in a low voice.
"I have no idea what you mean," she replied, taking a drink of her water, her lips not moving.
"Chuck, this is Jill Roberts… you'll never guess who she's dating!" Ellie said, the two walking up to the table.
"Bryce?" Chuck replied, trying to sound surprised.
"Of course you knew," Ellie said. "So you must also know Sarah, since she's Jill's friend."
"We ran into each other at the bar," Sarah said, jumping in. Chuck glanced at her, keeping his face neutral, but wanting to laugh. "We both got water… figured getting plastered here wasn't a good call, given we're the guests."
For the next half hour, the four chatted. Sarah and Chuck quickly realized that Jill and Ellie were working hard at getting them together. The presentations began, and Sarah moved her chair closer to Chuck, saying it was a better angle to see the stage. The lights were dimmed, and Ellie and Jill had scooted their chairs together, in front of and to the right of Chuck and Sarah.
"Coward," Chuck said under his breath.
"I'm not the one who hasn't told his sister," Sarah reminded him in the softest voice.
"I'm not the one who hasn't told her best friend," Chuck replied. He felt her looking at him, and he turned his head, seeing the amused smirk on her face. "Fine, I haven't told Bryce or Morgan either, but only because you said not to."
"Me?" she said quietly. "You agreed with me," she reminded him. "We both just wanted to see someone without the drama of everyone we know being…"
"Dramatic?" Chuck offered.
"Exactly," Sarah said, and was silent for a moment. "But now…" she trailed off. Chuck turned to her, and saw the grin on her face. "What, can't a girl want the world to know what a great boyfriend she has?"
"Who is he?" Chuck asked, looking around. "I'll… well, I'm not gonna fight, you know that, but I'll challenge him to a hell of a game of Call of Duty."
"SHH!" Ellie shushed them. She couldn't hear their words, but Chuck had gotten a little bit out of control with his antics. Sarah was trying not to giggle, and Chuck did his best to look admonished.
"We said six months," she said a few minutes later.
"And it's been four," Chuck told her. She gave him a look. "Okay, we've only been dating for three and a half, but I've been crazy about you since I met you." She slid her hand onto his leg after making sure Ellie or Jill couldn't see it, if either turned around.
"As well you should be," Sarah teased, making him grin. "And you should also be commended on all the dates Ellie keeps arranging that you've had to evade."
"Sarah," he began, but the lights came up, and everyone was clapping, so the two joined in. Music began, and people started to dance.
"Chuck, why don't you ask Sarah to dance," Ellie said, turning in her seat and giving him a look.
"How do you feel about having your feet stepped on?" Chuck asked Sarah.
"Best offer I've had all night," she replied, and the two headed for the dance floor.
A slow song began, and a smile crossed Chuck's face. "Exactly how close should two people get, who have only just met, and are being forced to dance by the guy's sister?"
"Forced?" Sarah asked.
"I mean, I can soldier through it," Chuck replied, as she molded herself into his arms and they began to dance. "This is probably too close."
"Probably, but you wore this suit, and I specifically told you not to," Sarah reminded him.
"When your girlfriend tells you not to, and yet had the look in her eye that you did this morning… well," Chuck shrugged.
"Don't be surprised when I show up at your place later," she told him.
"Ha, jokes on you; I was going to your place, if you didn't show," Chuck replied. She laughed and glanced over at the table. Four eyes were watching them.
"Well, I think the jig is up," Sarah said, turning back to him. Chuck smoothly turned them to where he could see the two.
"Yep, it was a good run while it lasted, kid," Chuck replied.
"While the sneaking around was hot…" Sarah began.
"Sohot," Chuck added.
"…It will be nice to drop this, and really get to know your friends and family," she said, shaking her head at him and grinning.
"Sarah Walker," he said with a smile. "It sounds like you're in this for the long haul."
"I am, and you had better be too, buster."
He stopped dancing. "Are they watching?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded, not sure what was going on. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on the dance floor. He felt her surprise for a split second, and then it was gone, and she had melted against him. He pulled away. "Did you drive?" She nodded. "I rode with Ellie… think a guy could get a ride?"
"I'll even take you home… eventually," she told him.
"Hi-yo!" he said, as she walked to the table, grabbing her clutch as Chuck waved bye to his sister, who was in shock.
}o{
He looked up from his computer in his office the next day about noon, a smile on his face, as memories of the previous night and consequent little sleep played through his head. "It's a miracle I get anything accomplished thinking about her."
A knock pulled him out of his thoughts. "Come in." The door opened and Sarah was there. "Hey, beautiful."
"I'm not alone," she said, chuckling. She walked in, followed by Ellie, Jill, Bryce, and Morgan. "The jig is up, kid," she said, in an old Chicago-mob accent.
"God, that's hot," Chuck said.
"Charles Irving Bartowski!" Ellie began.
"Ellie, I get it, but you four are way too nosey." He looked at Sarah. "I found her, and I wanted to do this without anyone's influence. Without being told what to do. I wanted to follow my heart. I'm in love."
Sarah spun toward him, her eyes wide. "Wait, what did you say." Chuck swallowed, realizing what he had just said. She smiled. "I love you, Chuck."
"I think we should leave," Ellie said, herding everyone out the door. It didn't matter; Sarah and Chuck never noticed. It was like no one else was in the room.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this little one shot.
