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Chuck and Sarah stepped out of their apartment together, the bright blue morning sky above lightly streaked with clouds.

Sarah looked at her wrist and gently spun the charm bracelet she wore. Chuck had observed her doing that several times since retrieving it from among her jewelry in the apartment and giving it to her (for the third time) shortly after she had awoken. It had been in its usual safe spot, as she would wear it only on special occasions, worried that it would be damaged or lost during some mission frenzy. Although her own memory of the bracelet had not returned, she cried nonetheless at the sight of it. She told him that their stolen moment together while held hostage, when he placed the bracelet on her wrist, was perhaps the sweetest part of their story he had recounted for her on the beach. He watched her spin the bracelet again and felt a brief disquieting pang as he was reminded that her hands were otherwise unadorned, then regained his focus on the here and now.

Chuck offered his hand and Sarah without hesitation took it, weaving her fingers in among his, and the two turned towards Ellie and Devon's place. Chuck had texted his sister a short while earlier to ask if he could pop over in the late morning, to which Ellie had responded, "Of course," that she and Devon would be around, packing for their upcoming move to Chicago.

Chuck had refrained from mentioning to Ellie that Sarah was home or that she would be coming with him. Chuck had worried that his sister would bombard him with a million questions, or, more likely come straight over, and he wanted to let Sarah prepare herself and to determine the time at which she would step into the Ellie whirlwind that was sure to come.

Chuck's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked hopefully at the sender ID and message. It was his cellular carrier offering a discount on a new plan. Disappointed, he put the phone back in his pocket as he gave a quick apology to Sarah and said he was ready to go.

After only a few steps Chuck sensed that Sarah was slowing. He glanced sideways at her and what he saw on her face tugged at his heart, and threw off his stride such that he caught one foot's toe on the other's heel and nearly tripped himself. Stopping and catching himself, he asked, "Are you alright?" Apprehension was painted all over her face and present in her body language. He could not recall the last time he had seen her so worried. "Sarah?"

"Chuck, what do I say to her? I threatened her life, pointed a gun at her, and didn't give it a second thought –like it was the next thing to do right after 'pick up the dry cleaning' on a list of errands. I sat with her in Castle afterwards and said nothing to her about it. No acknowledgment, no apology, nothing. She's like a sister to me and I did that to her."

"We're married. She is your sister," Chuck said gently, intending to reassure Sarah.

"Yes, Chuck, but there are sisters-in-law and then there are sisters. I've started to sense how fully she embraced me as her sister and how much I cherish that." Sarah's lips tightened, as she seemed to struggle to keep her emotions from overtaking her.

"Right, and that has not changed. She knows that wasn't you sitting across from her that day and threatening her life. It was Quinn. He messed with your head and manipulated you. She still loves you and surely has forgiven you. I know my sister. I have no doubt. None."

Sarah's eyes were glossed with wetness. Her expression softened and the start of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. "Ok, Chuck, if you say so."

Chuck thought her confidence was returning, or perhaps she was trying to not lose her nerve, as she pulled gently at his hand to start them moving again. When they reached the door, Sarah released Chuck's hand as he knocked on the door. It opened and Ellie stood there. Chuck could see Devon in the back over his sister's shoulder, wrangling a packed moving box, and Clara in a bouncing chair. "Hi, Chuck," Ellie said, "I was planning on checking on you before you asked to come over. How are you?"

Chuck glanced to his side where he expected Sarah to be and realized she had sidled away a couple of steps putting her out of view of his sister. She's still nervous. He quickly looked back at Ellie and blurted, "I'm good!" Ellie appeared unconvinced.

"I'm so sorry we couldn't do anything for Sarah. I mean, without the Intersect to upload with…" Ellie took a deep breath, slowly letting it out while she shook her head. "Even if we had it, I've had more time to think about my plan and I have my doubts now that it even would have worked. Oh, little brother, I feel awful. I got your hopes up. How can I make this better? What can I do?"

"Well, I'm doing much better this morning than I was yesterday," Chuck said. "I, uh, did run into someone who wanted to see you before you all left for Chicago." Chuck turned to Sarah, leaned and put his hand into the small of her back and gently drew her to his side, into view.

"Sarah!" Ellie's eyes darted between Sarah and Chuck several times. Devon had taken note of what was happening, caught a glimpse of Sarah, and his mouth fell open. Ellie's stare settled on Sarah. "I didn't think we'd see you again… so soon." The last bit Ellie tacked on clumsily. Looking back and forth again between her brother and her sister-in-law, Ellie asked, "What's going on?"

Chuck inhaled as he prepared to answer, but Sarah took the question. "Chuck found me. I guess it was harder for me to leave than I thought, and he found me as I was struggling with what I should do. He and I talked for a while and then," Sarah glanced at Chuck with a small smile, "and then he found me. With a kiss. I rememb… sorry, that's not the right word, I feel things. I seem to feel the last five years. Even though I can't remember the moments I've shared with people since coming here, emotions I have for family, friends, acquaintances are back. It's a jumble for sure, but I think they're all there for me."

Ellie's eyes narrowed and part of her seemed to be in deep thought, turning something over in her head. "That's amazing, Sarah. No memories, but every emotion. So, right now, with me, you… feel… what we have?" The hope in his sister's question was unmistakable to Chuck.

Chuck's hand had not left Sarah's back and he could now feel her trembling. Sarah spoke, "Ellie, yes, I can feel how close we are, how grateful I am to have you in my life and for you letting me be part of yours. How I love you as my sister." Sarah's chest heaved, her eyes closed and she bent slightly at the waist. Chuck whirled from her side to bring his other hand around in case he needed to catch her. Devon, who had been holding the packing box the whole time dropped it and took a quick step around it and towards them. But Sarah caught herself and straightened. "Sorry. These feelings can come crashing in like a tidal wave." She looked intently at Ellie. "My sense is I have only a few friends. And precious few close friends. My whole being is telling me not to lose you, Ellie. It would devastate me. But I know what I did to you at that outdoor café, the threat I made. Oh, God. Ellie, I'm so sorry."

Ellie was shaking her head vigorously. "Not just friends, Sarah. We're family. If your feelings are back, I hope they let you appreciate how important family is to me and how protective I am of my family." With a broad smile, Ellie added, "And let's not forget I deliberately crashed a car with you in it, so let's call it even."

Sarah snorted out a laugh and smiled back. "Ok. Even."

Ellie did a small shuffle dance. "Come here, both of you! Eeee!" His sister's squeal startled Chuck and before he recovered he found that he and Sarah were wrapped in a fierce hug from Ellie. Sarah returned the hug and was crying; Ellie, too, was crying. Chuck, enveloped by their hugs and their joy, looked over his sister's head to Devon, who looked back and silently mouthed, "Awesome."

"Boys." Ellie's voice was now commanding. "Could you let Sarah and me have some time to speak? I think I need to delve into what happened and what Sarah experienced. Just us gals."

Chuck nodded and Devon said, "Sure, Babe." Devon went over to Clara and scooped her from the chair, then strode to the doorway to join Chuck.

~oOo~

The two men sat on the fountain's edge. Chuck recounted in more detail the events of the day before, starting with his conversation with Morgan that occurred sitting at the same spot and ending with the drive back from the beach. Chuck asked if he could hold Clara, and Devon gladly handed her over. A bright, toothy smile broke across Devon's face as he watched Chuck make silly faces that delighted Clara. "It's good to have the old Chuck back," Devon said. Chuck glanced at his brother-in-law and simply smiled, then looked back at Clara with yet another silly face to entertain her.

After a moment, Chuck switched from the parade of goofy expressions to bouncing Clara on his knee and asked, "What do you think happened to Sarah's memories? What are her chances of getting them back?"

Devon let out a long breath. "Chuck, I don't know. Measured against the general public, I'm a smart guy. And when I'm in the operating room what my hands are able to do is, well, awesome, if I do say so myself. But when it comes to understanding the inner workings of the mind and how it might interact with the Intersect, that is your sister's turf. She's on a different plane than the rest of us when it comes to that stuff. The good news is if someone can figure out what might have happened, theorize how to fix it, it's Ellie."

Both men fell quiet for several moments, listening to the gurgles coming from Clara and from the fountain behind them. At one point Chuck faintly heard another one of his sister's squeals of delight. He wondered if they were talking about last night and thought his cheeks might have reddened. At another point his phone buzzed and he cradled Clara so he could look at its screen. It was Fernando, one of the green shirts from the Buy More, asking for job leads. Not the message he was hoping for, and he felt his hope that he would receive it fading. He put the phone away and resumed bouncing Clara.

"So, Chuck, Sarah says she has all her feelings back. Knows that she loves you and wants to be with you?" Chuck nodded. "So you two had a meeting of minds on how you feel about each other." Devon cleared his throat. "Was there a meeting of any other parts last night?"

Chuck had sensed where Devon was going with the conversation, but Chuck was nonetheless unbalanced by the question and his knee halted momentarily, throwing Clara's bounces out of rhythm. Chuck had no doubt now that the color was rising in his neck and cheeks and could not bring himself to look at his brother-in-law.

"Hey, Chuck, sorry, wasn't trying to make you uncomfortable, but looks like I got my answer. That happening, that's a good thing, right? Dispels all doubt." Chuck did not answer right away. "Was there a problem?" Devon asked.

Chuck kept his gaze on Clara, finding it easier to answer the question if he didn't look at Devon. "It was good. Great. And there wasn't a problem for Sarah. She seems completely sure of her feelings for me. For me, I dunno, maybe I was feeling awkward afterwards thinking how she's in love with a stranger. Some part of her mind recognizes me as the man she loves. The rest has no idea who I am. I worry that it's maddening for her even if she isn't saying so. It's certainly maddening for me. I think until Sarah gets her memories back or, if that's not possible, gets to know me again, I'll feel better if we reset on the, uh, physical intimacy and take it slow."

Devon nodded and said, smiling, "Chuck, you're a gentleman, perhaps to a fault. But you took it slow –awfully slow– the first time and that worked out." Both Devon and Chuck smirked at that. "And if Sarah knows how she felt about you before, however you go about it now, you two will eventually be fine."

Chuck barked a laugh. "Morgan said basically the same thing."

"Well, you should listen to him. When it comes to you and Sarah, that guy–"

"Yeah, I know," Chuck interjected.

The door to Morgan's apartment swung open and he stepped outside. "Hey, guys!" Morgan strode over to join the two. He gave Clara, who craned her neck to look at him, a finger wiggle wave. "Captain," he said (to which Devon returned a crooked smile), "Did our boy tell you what happened? Who's here?" Worry seemed to grip Morgan suddenly and he quickly asked Chuck, "She's still here, right?"

"Yes, Morgan, she's still here and, yes, I told Devon. Sarah's talking with Ellie right now."

"Oh, good," Morgan sighed.

"Is Alex around?" Chuck asked.

"Nah, she had to leave early for work. I gave her a quick rundown on what you told me, and she wanted to see you two but didn't want to intrude."

Chuck was about to respond when Ellie stepped through her doorway and called, "Hey, boys. Oh, hello, Morgan. Why don't you come back in now. You, too, Morgan. We've got things to discuss." The three men did not need to be asked a second time and were nearly to the door by the time Ellie had finished speaking.

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