Chap 2: The Talk
Both the CIA and the NSA were in full alert mode. Casey actually thought it was more panic mode, but being the good soldier; he kept that to himself. Surprisingly, Chuck had done something that no one would have ever suspected.
Chuck had mailed copies of the tape he made of General Beckman issuing his termination order to both General Beckman and Director Grahams' home and work addresses. Both addresses were highly confidential and way beyond Sarah or Casey's security clearance.
Even more shocking, in General Beckman's letter, Chuck had also addressed a second un-mailed CD to Beckman's daughter, who was away at college. Chuck knew enough information to include the girl's nickname and dorm room number. Chuck did not send the CD to Beckman's daughter, but he certainly made everyone aware that he could.
Furthermore, Chuck had very clearly implied that if anything happened to his sister, copies of the tape would make it outside the intelligence community. It was a very effective message. As the agents had feared, The Intersect wild card had come to fruition.
Sarah had initially tried to phone Ellie after Chuck's escape, but Ellie refused her calls. Not accepting rejection, Sarah had driven to Devon's parent house. However, as she was about to ring the bell, she had received a call from the CIA director himself ordering to stop all contact.
Since that call, very strict orders came down from above, to not contact Ellie or Awesome. The agents were strictly in surveillance mode. Devon's parents were highly visible political figures and both the CIA and NSA were literally in a 'tizzy' about General Beckman's assassination order being recorded. Neither agency wanted exposure.
The no contact order was issued with the belief that Chuck would be captured quickly without the involvement of Ellie or Awesome. However after thirty-three days, there were no real leads on Chuck's whereabouts. Incredibly, Charles Irving Bartowski had fallen off the grid all by himself.
After repeated requests, Sarah received clearance to attempt a friendly meeting with Ellie. Sarah decided to surprise the doctor at the hospital. Casey discovered her plan and insisted on accompanying her. She agreed; against her better judgment. He was much better suited to brute force situations than the type of conversation required for an overly protective, Ellie Bartowski.
Upon seeing the agents at the hospital, Ellie's normal sunny disposition turned electrifyingly cold. Alarmed, a nurse actually asked Ellie if she should call Security to remove the intruders from the hospital wing. Not wanting a scene, Ellie indicated no and practically spit out that she would meet the agents in the hospital cafeteria after her shift.
-o-
The agents were waiting in the cafeteria drinking coffee.
Sarah was nervous and was toying with her untouched vanilla latté. She knew Ellie was due to arrive for their meeting and it unnerved her. She had decided that a preemptive strike would work best, where she would address all of Ellie's concerns before she raised them. This way Sarah could control the conversation and minimize the risk of Ellie asking something that would break down the fragile emotional barriers, that she had erected since Chuck's disappearance.
Casey was not helping. When nervous, he tended to lash out. As such, she wasn't very surprised when he reproached, "I don't know what your worried about. It's Ellie who has the explaining to do. She drugged a United States NSA agent and helped her fugitive moron of a brother escape the governmental authorities."
Unfortunately, Ellie Bartowski arrived just as Casey was delivering this tirade. Taking his remarks as an act of war, she responded with barrels blazing.
"I would be happy to explain! I'll explain to the media why I helped him escape a governmental contracted killer. I know who and what you really are. Want me to shout it out right here in this cafeteria, John Karl. Want a last name to go with the middle name? " snarled Ellie.
Casey's eyes bulged and his face turned beet red. Recovering from his shock, he jumped up into Ellie's face. In a deadly quiet voice, Casey uttered, "Say my real name and I will kill you."
Ellie Bartowski was not impressed. "My brother left information on all of you, in case I got into trouble and needed leverage. Don't think for one moment that I won't hesitate to use it," seethed Ellie.
Ellie's threat to out Casey's identity took Sarah off guard. Glancing at Casey, she saw that the agent was floored and was vacillating between an erupting volcano and a deer in the headlights. She realized that Casey's presence was not going to do her any favors.
Trying to temper the situation, Sarah explained, "Agent Casey did not mean to threaten you. Its just that in our line of work someone knowing our real identity could mean life or death. He was a bit shocked that you are aware of his given name and spoke in haste." Sarah gave Casey a reproachful look and silently indicated for him to sit down.
Buoyed by Casey's consent, Sarah continued in her most professional tone, "Let's start this conversation again. Agent Casey and myself are here to help Chuck. As you know, we work for the government and our mission is to protect Chuck. We understand that you may mistrust us, because we had to hide our identities. But let me assure you...it was all done to assure our overall objective...which was always to protect Chuck."
Ellie listened to Sarah's speech, but was not convinced. Mockingly, she replied, "You call what you two were planning protection?"
Affronted, Casey jumped up ready to fight. He'd be damned if he would let her out his identity and then question his motives. Sarah was forced to grab Casey's wrist to stop him from antagonizing Ellie further. Realizing that he was jeopardizing their mission, he relented and lowered his gaze and sat down. Ellie's knowledge of his identity had him a bit sensitive.
Struggling to focus, Sarah continued, "We know that Chuck thought we were going to hurt him, but he was mistaken. Casey and I personally made sure that the situation was resolved favorably on Chuck's behalf before his disappearance. Believe me when I say, that we both …. respect Chuck…. and would never wish him harmed."
Finishing her speech, Sarah was flabbergasted when she realized that neither Casey or Ellie had been listening. Instead, they were embattled in a staring contest; neither willing to give any ground. What was up with these two?
Infuriated, she exploded, "Casey, just leave. Let me finish talking to Ellie alone." Casey turned towards Sarah combatively, but was stopped by the desperate plea on her face to 'not screw up this meeting.' He relented and went across the room and sat down.
Finally alone, the women sat silently contemplating each other. Without Casey's presence to steady her, Sarah fears brimmed to the surface. She needed Ellie to understand the severity of the situation.
She burst out, "Chuck is in a lot of danger. Organizations beyond the CIA and NSA are actively searching for him. Ellie I am frightened of what will happen if they find him. Either Chuck will hurt himself to avoid capture, or he will be captured and unspeakable things will be done to him. These organization torture people, Ellie. You have to help me find him, before someone else does."
Torture was not something Ellie had considered, and it rocked her. Chuck implied on the beach that he might consider something stupid, to keep himself from falling into the wrong hands. That reinforced what Sarah was telling her. Genuinely afraid, Ellie let her combative demeanor drop. The stress of the last month began to appear on her face. Ellie looked imploringly at Sarah.
"Did you ever care about my brother at all?"
Sarah's stomach dropped. This is one of those questions she was hoping to avoid. She considered telling Ellie the truth, but discounted the idea. Ellie would not believe her declaration of feelings. And truthfully, Sarah wasn't ready to say the words out loud yet. However, Sarah didn't think Ellie would believe her if she lied about her feelings either.
Finally Sarah decided upon a reply. "Ellie, you are a doctor… you may understand the situation better than most."
Sarah stopped and took a drink of her coffee. Her hands began to shake as she concentrated on selecting the right words. Sarah's nervousness was not lost on Ellie; she listened intently.
"Have you ever had a patient…that against your better judgment…breaks through your professional detachment and objectivity…even though their illness and injuries were so complex that you needed your detachment to deal with the situation? "
"Your professional duties are clear, and it doesn't matter that this patient is this warm incredibly wonderful person with an amazing array of friends and family that treats you like you're a part of their family."
"You are torn between between what you want and hope for; and your professional duties. But the reality is...that you are the patient's doctor and your duty is to fight for your objectivity and detachment. Because if you don't…then all might suffer because you might not be able to make that tough call. The call that might be required to save the patient's life."
Ellie frowned as she considered Sarah. The agents appeared stricken as she described her situation. If Sarah's analogy was anywhere close to the truth, then Ellie may even feel a bit sorry for her.
Sarah recognized that Ellie was softening, so she asked, "Will you help me find Chuck?"
"No." It was resounding. Ellie may feel sorry for Sarah, and afraid for her brother. But, she would never be untrue.
Sarah was disappointed, but tried another approach. "I may be out on a limb here, but I know how much Chuck cares for you. I can't believe he hasn't established some way to communicate with you that he is okay."
Ellie didn't respond, and evaded Sarah's questioning eyes. Sarah recognized what the doctor's avoidance meant.
"Ellie these organizations are real and they will do terrible things, if they find Chuck. Will you tell me if something goes wrong, and he stops checking in?"
"Maybe."
Sarah was silently elated. She knew 'maybe' meant 'yes.' Ellie's admission affirmed, albeit indirectly, that Chuck was safe. Furthermore, she now knew that she will eventually find Chuck...through Ellie.
Recognizing the fragility of their truce, Sarah doesn't want there to be any miscommunications between them. "I need to make sure you know that as part of my job, I will continue to look for Chuck." Ellie nodded. Relief flooded through Sarah. Chuck's sister understood.
Unfortunately, Sarah's elation was short lived. Ellie asked a question that made Sarah reel.
"Will you promise me that you will never hurt my brother?"
The question was like a knife to Sarah's heart. There are so many scenarios in her head, where she would be forced to hurt Chuck. Thinking about it, ate at her.
Trying to remain on safe ground, she replied, "Ellie, I think you already know that it's too late to ask that. I've already denied to Chuck that I have any feelings for him in order to keep him safe."
"That's not the type of harm I'm referring to, Sarah."
She was afraid that was what Ellie meant. Sarah knew she couldn't honestly make that promise. If it was a choice between a quick death or an agonizing one for Chuck, she knew what she would do for him, because she cared. But she couldn't voice that truth.
"If it's a choice between my life and his….his life has always been ahead of my own."
Satisfied with the response, Ellie continued, "You know Sarah, even after everything you've told me, I still have a duty to my little brother, to try and hate you."
Sarah pondered Ellie's remark for a second and responded, "After getting to know Chuck and being apart of your amazing family for awhile, I think it would be hugely disloyal if you didn't."
-o-
On the return trip, Casey and Sarah reviewed the information that they received from Ellie. They agreed not to report that Ellie was in communication with Chuck. Neither wanted to expose their lead.
Suddenly, Casey looked at Sarah and asked, "Why couldn't the moron reveal your identity and not mine?"
Sarah frowned at Casey. "My identity was never in The Intersect. That's why I received this assignment. You weren't as lucky. Chuck was never supposed to know you. Your assignment was more…clean-up… but it morphed into a protection type assignment. He was never supposed to see your face."
Sarah sighed. "My assignment was different. I was always supposed to get close to him. There had to be no possibility that he could discern my identity."
Casey listened but was confused. "But he flashed on you."
Sarah responded, "He flashed upon the particulars of an assignment, but not on me."
Casey was flabbergasted. He knew that all identities of standard field agents would have been fed into The Intersect. "Who and what are you, Sarah Walker?"
Sarah grimaced. She had begun to wonder that herself. Finally she replied, "It's need to know, John Karl, it's need to know."