Published November 13, 2020

A/N: Ellie wasn't trained to withstand truth serum like Sarah, but in this story, already Ellie knows the truth.

However, she doesn't know davida6 is doing a great job as beta, but you do.

In case you were thinking Ellie should go on a mission, let me again recommend davida6's "Chuck versus X-13." For this story, Ellie has enough to do protecting her home and those she loves.

November 14, 2007

Ellie was disappointed. She knew she wasn't back to 100% after being checked in to the hospital last night, but she felt well enough to not want to be there. In her experience, it was a good sign for a patient to feel well enough to want to be out of the hospital. Of course, as a doctor, she knew enough to know there were other medical factors that could mean someone shouldn't leave. Those didn't apply in her case.

She had asked, and as a courtesy to someone who worked at the hospital, she had been given a look at her records. According to the doctors on her case, there was nothing wrong with her. The concern was they didn't know why Ellie was better. They weren't even sure what had been wrong with her to begin with. They wanted to keep her under observation to be certain, especially after the poison victim she had brought in the day before.

Ellie knew something her doctors didn't. One possible reason for everything to appear normal was the involvement of spies. After Ellie had brought in a fatal poisoning the day before, the assumption was something similar that happened to her. It wasn't a disease, so it wasn't given to her that way. Ellie had to have been poisoned.

The big red flag to Ellie was her medical records from when she was admitted. They weren't completely normal, like they could be the records of someone admitted to the hospital, but they couldn't possibly be her records. There was no sign of the same poison found in the man she had brought in the night before. It was too much of a coincidence. It had to be the same poison. She probably got it from that weird "say cheesecake" police offer she talked to yesterday. He probably wasn't really a cop.

Her attending, Dr. Thomas, had noticed something earlier that wasn't in the records now, but he thought records couldn't change. Ellie happened to know people who could break-in and change her records.

Since Ellie felt better, her spy team of protectors must have found an antidote, which was also not in the records. She hoped a medical expert didn't comb through her records too closely. The CIA had to have faked them. They had her blood type correct. Her BP was plausible. The blood tests even had the drugs she was administered when arrived in an ambulance. However, the hospital kept records of everything. It'd be too easy to miss something.

As for getting out of there, the only thing for Ellie to do in the uncomfortable hospital bed was to be patient. At least they had unhooked her, so she didn't have to listen to a constant beeping.

There was one thing she could do while she waited. She pulled out her cell phone and called a spy. Ellie looked around and saw the coast was clear, so she called Sarah.

BBBBRIIINNGG! BBBBRIIINNNG!

Sarah answered, "Hi, Ellie. How are you feeling?"

"Hi, Sarah. I'm a little tired from sitting in bed and doing nothing, but I'm feeling fine, thanks to you." Sarah was quiet, not admitting anything, so Ellie explained, "I know it had to be something you did. My records don't show I was poisoned. Dr. Thomas is beside himself because he remembers a mysterious chemical in my early blood work, but it isn't in my records now. Tomorrow, when I'm out of here, I should probably go over my records to make sure your people didn't miss something. Until then, I just need to wait until they decide they have no reason to keep me. Devon has already asked when I can be discharged, because according to my records, there's no reason I should stay. The doctors here are giving it overnight. You don't have to say anything. I just need to say thank you, again."

"It wasn't me. Your brother…"

"Did he get out of the car again?"

"No. Chuck, Casey, and I were exposed getting the antidote from the poisoner. Instead of Chuck taking it himself, he gave it to you."

"But you got more. I know that because the three of you did not end up in the hospital. We triage like that in the ER all the time. Always deal with the immediate problem, first. Worry about the others after the first is no longer life-threatening. Chuck had more time, and he had you, so he was safe. We take care of each other. Speaking of which…"

Ellie had delivered her thanks. That left the second reason for this call. Ellie asked, "Where are you now?"

"I'm working my shift at the Wienerlicious."

"I don't understand how you can stand working in that place. You're a spy. Working at that place has to be so boring by comparison."

Sarah said, "It lets me monitor the Buy More, where Chuck is."

"I suppose Chuck has to stay there as a cover, even though he has a more important job."

"Chuck's job there is important, too. He keeps that place standing and I've witnessed him going above and beyond to save the day of customers. He's a hero at both of his jobs."

Ellie thought it didn't take much to get Sarah gushing about Chuck. Back to her point… She said, "I'm stuck here tonight. Devon is getting a quick bite to eat in the hospital cafeteria, but he ordered a cot and is staying with me tonight. Tonight, you should stay in the apartment with Chuck."

"Why would I do that?" Ellie could hardly believe Sarah was playing that game. She thought that had ended with Sarah saying over, the night Ellie was rushed to the hospital.

"My poisoning interrupted your night together."

"That was to reinforce Chuck's and my cover to Devon. Devon's not going to be there."

"Like that was the only reason you were there. If you want to sleep in Chuck's bed, you should." Ellie could hardly believe she was having to tell some to sleep with her brother. Sarah would only sleep in the same bed as him because of that stupid agent-asset rule. It was less weird that way, but still weird.

"I have no reason to be there. Casey's still across the courtyard for protection."

"Is this about that idiotic agent-asset rule? Sure, but you—"

"This isn't about the 49-B. Ellie, Chuck and I aren't together anymore."

"What!?" Ellie couldn't believe it.

"The owner of a deli shop in the plaza has been interested in him since she brought in her phone the other day, and he fixed it.."

"He fixed your phone first."

"This time it wasn't a CIA prop. She thanked him by naming a sandwich after him. I can't do anything like that. I can tell Chuck likes her, too."

"Sarah, I have eyes. You, versus anyone else? No contest. Also, he likes fried hot dogs on a stick better than sandwiches." In truth, Ellie wasn't sure about that for food. It might depend on the sandwich. If it depended on the woman server even a little bit, hot dogs would win hands down, even hot dogs burned to a crisp. Also, was Sarah implying she wanted to make some grand gesture for Chuck, like naming a hot dog after him?

"Apparently he likes sandwiches better. A few minutes ago, he broke up with me so he can ask her out."

"And you let him!?"

"I told you the night we met that if Chuck had someone else, I'd step out of the way. Chuck deserves to have a real girlfriend. I'm not going to get in the way of that."

"Chuck deserves to be with the person he loves. That's you," Ellie said.

Sarah tried to discount that. "I know what you said when you were falling victim to the poison…"

The night before

Ellie charged into Chuck's room where Sarah and Chuck were in bed. She didn't bother to see if they were "busy." She assumed they wouldn't be "busy" because of the agent-asset thing—not that it seemed to matter much to her, because at the moment, she didn't understand the need for boundaries.

"I have known him since the day he was born, obviously. When people would ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would always say the same thing: 'big boy.' How cute is that?"

Through closed teeth, Chuck said, "Ellie, you're killing me here."

Ellie sat on Chuck's bed where Chuck and Sarah were in sleeping clothes. They weren't naked; It was "safe" for other people to be in the room. Ellie couldn't help but think it was important to say everything she thought. "And now he is a big boy. And I can tell that he is because he is with a big…" Ellie's eyes widened looking at Sarah's lingerie. Sarah was really into the "cover." Between the Princess Leia costume and the lingerie, Sarah wasn't worried about covering much when with Chuck. "Big girl. A big, badass spy. I'm so happy Sarah's finally staying here. You two love each other so much. With Sarah here, she can sleep on top of Chuck and protect him more."

From the doorway, Devon said, "Sorry, guys. Don't mean to muck up your mojo. Tried to stop her."

Sarah quietly asked Chuck, "Is she drunk?"

Ellie wrinkled her brow. "Chuck, you need a haircut. It's starting to make funny animal shapes. Sarah, you like touching him. You probably like running your hands through his curls."

Devon put his arms on Ellie's two sides to steer her out of the room. "Let's go, babe. These two need their privacy, huh?" To Chuck and Sarah, he said, "I don't know where she got this 'spy' idea. Sarah, I'm sure the lint we never see on his shirt is really there."

Ellie didn't stop talking. "Chuck, when you were seven, I told you that a burglar stole the money from your piggy bank. That was a lie. It was me. At the time, I felt it was very important for me to have a New Kids on the Block fanny pack. Sarah, does the CIA arrest people for stealing?"

Sarah ignored the question. "Ellie, are you okay? Have you done anything out of the ordinary?"

Ellie moved her tongue around her mouth and squinted her eyes. "Words taste like peaches. Since you don't really have a spastic colon, you can have homemade pie when I make it next summer from fresh peaches."

With Devon, Chuck and Sarah led Ellie out to the couch.

Back the next day

Ellie and Sarah on the phone

Sarah said, "You said something, which you thought was true, but isn't."

Ellie couldn't remember what she said that wasn't true. She remembered that she didn't have a filter, even criticizing Devon for always saying everything is "awesome." He did say "awesome" too much, but she would never say that to him. "It's all kind of fuzzy. I said a couple months ago that the Intersect had to be suppressed, that memories can't be forgotten except by age or trauma. They can also be forgotten with drugs, but that's not precise. It makes things fuzzy so you don't remember everything, but it's not a precise eraser. Dr. Thomas said he remembered the chemical missing from my records was a derivative of Pentothal. That's truth serum. I was telling the truth."

"You said what you thought was true. That doesn't make it true."

Ellie didn't understand why Sarah was dodging the truth that Ellie knew for certain. "Now Chuck's going to go on a date with some random person, after not asking anyone on a date for years. Why would he do that after falling in love with you? Who is this woman? Once, never having met Devon, you said he might be a Russian spy. How do we know this woman isn't a criminal, working with the Russian mob? You're better for both Chuck's safety and his heart."

Ellie was on a roll and kept going. "You said Chuck broke up with you, but don't worry about it. As his big sister, this isn't the first time I've seen him break something. It happened all the time when we were kids. This time, I'm going to call him and tell him to fix it. He knew I never liked Jill, but I let that mess happen. Not again. You're so much better for him than she was. He's much happier with you, and you two aren't even really dating. You're still welcome to stay over as much as you want. You should start tonight."

Ellie didn't hear a reaction from Sarah, which was just as well, because her mind was made up. She did have a parting thought. "Thanksgiving's next week. I'm inviting Casey as a thank you for protecting Chuck. It'd be weird if I invited one of the team's spies but not the other."

Before hanging up, she realized one last thing. "Wait. Did I say something about you being a spy in front of Devon? He hasn't said anything about it since I woke up. I sort of remember something, but my memory of last night is a mess."

Whatever Ellie had said, Devon was…for lack of a better term…awesome. She was sure he could handle it. There was something she wasn't sure she could handle. "I'm just glad I didn't interrupt you and Chuck…you know. There are some things a sister might support but should never have to see."

"Ellie, I really think you should let it be and let Chuck be happy. You did say I was a spy, but Devon didn't believe you. You were loopy, and he didn't know it was a Pentothal-based poison, so he didn't think that part was true. Also, I'm not going to arrest you for robbing Chuck's piggy bank."

"Good. Your cover is not blown. I'll take care of Chuck and this stupid thing he did. Bye, Sarah, and thanks again. Chuck might have saved me with the first antidote, but I'm sure you saved him after that. We save each other. That's what I said last month when you came for Mother's Day. I'll see you when I'm discharged, probably tomorrow evening at the apartment and the next morning for breakfast. Goodbye."

"Ellie, wait—"

Ellie didn't hear the end of what Sarah was saying because she disconnected. A second later, she was dialing Chuck's cell phone.

BBBBRIIINNGG! BBBBRIIINNNG!

Chuck answered. "Hey, El. How are you feeling? Are they letting you out tonight or tomorrow?"

"That doesn't matter. I just heard."

"Heard what?"

"How you broke Sarah's heart."

"What? I didn't—"

"I just called Sarah to thank her. My medical records have been changed to show no trace of the poison or the antidote, so I knew spies were involved. She said I have you to thank. So, thank you."

"You're wel—"

"But that doesn't give you a pass for breaking up with Sarah."

"Ellie, it's not real. Lou—"

"That's the name of the homewrecker from the deli shop?"

"She's not a homewrecker."

"Whatever. I know Sarah doesn't live with you, but that's a technicality."

"Why would she live with me?"

"Because you two love each other. You're a great couple."

Chuck sighed into the phone. "As you've said before, we're just a fake couple. You know the poison was laced with truth serum?"

"Yeah."

"And you know Sarah, Casey, and I were exposed?"

"Sarah told me. She rescued you after you rescued me. That's what she does. She loves you."

"No, she doesn't. I asked her, while she was under the influence of truth serum, about our thing under the undercover thing. I asked if it is ever going anywhere. She said, 'No.'"

"I'm so glad I stopped you," Ellie said. "You almost made a huge mistake. First, Sarah's a spy. Aren't all spies trained to withstand interrogation, meaning Pentothal would have no effect?"

"I don't know. Maybe—"

"But that doesn't matter. Sarah didn't have to lie anyway," Ellie pointed out.

"What do you mean? She said there was no future for us. That means she doesn't love me."

"She didn't say she doesn't love you. She was telling you what she thought was true. She thinks you two have no future because of the threat of a 49-B."

"What's that?"

"You two haven't talked about it? No wonder you did something stupid. Sarah told me about it a few days ago when she told me about the video of Bryce and your Stanford professor. 49-B is a CIA rule and a test. It says if the agent—that's Sarah—is suspected of getting too close to the asset—which is what they call you—they do a 49-B test. You get another handler, and Sarah is assigned somewhere else, away from you. The only reason she'd have to tell me about it is she already has feelings and was worried about being assigned away from you. She explicitly told me she doesn't want to leave you. It's a catch-22. If she loves you, she can't be with you, or else she's forced to leave you."

Chuck was quiet for a few seconds. "So, you are saying…"

"I'm saying Sarah doesn't see a future for you two. That part was true, as Sarah sees it."

"With no future, I should break up with her."

"No. I'm… that's not what I'm saying. Sarah loves you, and you love her. You're always telling me Sarah can do anything. I'm not sure she can dodge a frying pan, but I had the advantage of surprise, so let's not worry about that. The point is if Sarah can do anything else, and you can do anything, which you regularly proved as my brother and which you repeatedly prove by saving the day, then you two should stay together until you figure something out. You shouldn't abandon the person you love.

Chuck stayed silent, like he was processing. His end of the phone sounded weird. Ellie asked, "Where are you? It sounds like you are outside."

"I'm along the front of the Buy More, on the sidewalk. I stopped when I got your call."

"You were going to the deli weren't you? Don't answer that. Just turn right, and go to the Wienerlicious and make up with Sarah. It's what you both want. I've already told Sarah that it's fine with me if she stays over. As a member of 'Team Intersect,' I can't think of a better place for your spy protector. As your sister and a member of 'Team Chuck,' you should stay as close as you can to the woman you love who loves you. Speaking of, the man I love is about to get back from the cafeteria. I gotta go. I'll see you both tomorrow night." She added one last thing, with a tease in her voice, "If I don't, I know where I keep everything in the kitchen, and I have no compunction about knocking some sense into my brother." She hung up, giving Chuck no chance to rationalize with her further.

Ellie's specialty was the brain. She wasn't trained to be a love doctor, but it was time. She figured she had done all that she could, especially considering the CIA's agent-asset rule that for some idiotic reason applied to Sarah and Chuck. Chuck had a computer in his head! Ellie didn't understand why he would be considered a simple "asset." He was unique. Sarah was protecting him, not manipulating a foreign national with suspicious loyalties.

Ellie was very happy neither the AMA nor hospital had some rule against doctors that worked together being romantically involved. UCLA didn't have a rule either. In practice, they weren't allowed to skip class in med school, like Ellie and Devon did the day they met, but they only skipped that one time and both did well in the class.

Now, she and Devon didn't have to take advantage of empty supply closets. They could happily live together and work at the same hospital. They didn't have rules that got in the way of love.

A/N: How was Ellie's recovery explained? There would be medical records of everything. So how? Spies had to have changed the records.

davida6 pointed out that Backstreet Boys were popular after 1996, when Ellie was too old to be interested in a boy band fanny pack, so I switched it to an earlier boy band.

Song:

- "Tell The Truth" by Eric Clapton