A/N: I don't own Chuck, or his friends.

Chapter 1

Chuck shook his head as he watched Jeff and Lester stumble past the fountain in search of a cab. No matter how annoying those two yahoos were at work, he had to admit they were pretty funny...as long as you didn't have to take responsibility for them. And, if he was forced, he would have to admit that it was a pretty fun Thanksgiving; much more fun than last year's had been with Anna being jealous of Ellie, and him being an ass about the whole Sarah and Bryce situation.

"Don't get arrested," he called out to his departing coworkers.

With a chuckle, Chuck stepped back inside the apartment and closed the door. As he turned around he saw Morgan bouncing back into the living room carrying an old Converse shoe box.

"Whatcha got there, little buddy?" Chuck asked, sitting down on the couch and slipping an arm around Sarah as she sipped wine. As soon as he sat down she moved closer to him, causing a warm feeling to spread throughout his body. He knew he shouldn't care for her as much as he should; he knew Bryce had a point. If he let himself give in to his feelings for Sarah either he or worse, she, could get hurt when someone came too close to finding the Intersect. But damn it all, his heart just didn't want to listen to his head. And after watching Jill tonight, watching her move into position to try and kill Sarah, he just wanted to be close to the blonde spy.

"Hmmm?" Morgan raised an eyebrow in Chuck's direction. Shaking the box slightly he continued "What? This? This little thing? This is a little something I like to call the next beta of Halo Wars, my dear Charles. Or as I also like to call it, my second Thanksgiving miracle."

"Second huh?" Chuck leaned his head just a bit to the right hoping to catch the scent of Sarah's shampoo. "And I hate to tell you buddy, but that looks nothing like a game demo. Looks like an old shoe box..."

As soon as the words were out of Chuck's mouth he felt his heart speed up. An old shoe box. An old Converse shoe box. Oh crap. As subtly as he could, Chuck tightened his arm around Sarah, hoping to get her attention. Hoping his voice wouldn't crack, Chuck closed his eyes for a moment and asked "Where did you get that?"

At the strained tone in Chuck's voice, Sarah glanced over at him with a question in her eyes. Seeing her glance when he opened his eyes, Chuck mouthed the word "Trouble" at her. She glanced quickly at Morgan as he moved towards the couch to sit beside Chuck and then back at Chuck. He nodded at the continued question in her eyes, at the same time as he tightened his hand on her arm to restrain her for the moment.

"Where did I get his?" Morgan repeated as he made himself comfortable on the couch. "You did well Chuck, you did real well. It wasn't in your locker at work, even though I saw the shipping box. And it wasn't on or in your desk. Nor was it in your closet or your underwear drawer. Speaking of which...silk boxers? You go Chuck! Anyway, it took me a while, but finally I thought to look under your bed. And lo, what did I find? Chuck's Box of Awesome Goodies."

"Oh crap," Chuck moaned. "Ummm, don't open that man."

"Why not? You said I could play betas if I had adult supervision. And I mean, come on man, I totally have that covered, what with Ellie and Awesome and you and Sarah."

"It's not that Morgan, it's just that it's not a game demo...it's..."

"My stuff," Sarah said quickly. "Just a few things I keep over here for when I spend the night."

"Really?" Morgan tried to purr. Sliding a finger under the lid he started to pry it up. "Interesting."

"Eeeewe. Don't be a pervert Morgan," Ellie said as she breezed by the couch, reaching out to grab the box out of Morgan's hands, only to have him resist.

"I'm not being a pervert...I just don't believe them. I know Chuck thinks I'm irresponsible with game betas. And maybe I am, but still, I think he's holding out on me. I know that he got the new Halo Wars beta. Come on Chuck Solo, don't hold out on your Chewbacca. Daddy needs his fix," Morgan pled as he tugged on the box to keep a hold of it.

"Let...it...go...Morgan," Ellie hissed as she tugged back. "Sarah says it's her stuff, and I don't want you pawing through her things like you've done with mine in the past."

His eyes shooting back and forth between Ellie and Morgan, Chuck couldn't help but feel this wasn't going to end well.

"Guys, it's nothing embarrassing, just some toothpaste and deodorant," Sarah tried to get Ellie and Morgan to stop the tug of war.

"That's...not...what...it...feels...like," Morgan grunted as he gave the box one more firm tug, only to have it slip out of Ellie's hands, and then slide from his own hands to go sailing across the room and crash open as it hit the floor spilling papers. Not seeing a disc anywhere among the mess, Morgan lost interest. "Hmm. Guess it wasn't a beta."

Shooting up from the couch, Chuck and Sarah rushed over to clean up the mess and get it all back into the box. Hearing Ellie step over to lend a hand Chuck closed his eyes, knowing he had been too slow.

"Chuck," Ellie said slowly as she caught sight of no fewer than nine passport covers. "What's going on?"