A/N: Last chapter, Sarah had to rescue Chuck and decided to move in with him, something he was very happy about. This chapter, Ellie and her family visit.

Thank you so much for all the reviews. It's great to see what people think of my creation.

And thanks again to LetsGoRed for another great job as my beta for this work.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, sadly.

Life After Death

Chapter 8 – inquisition

Chuck and Sarah's house

The Woodcomb family was arriving in the taxi from the airport in ten minutes.

Sarah was pacing up and down with Chuck just watching with a big grin. "You know, they're going to love you, don't you?"

She stopped and almost snarled, "And if they don't?"

He raised his hands palm up, "They will. How could they not? We're in love and they'll see it. Ellie will love you to bits!"

She huffed, "Chuck, this is a big thing for me. I've never been in a relationship before. I don't know how to be with your family."

"Just be yourself," he replied.

"As if that helps," she grumbled.

"I'll be with you all the time," he assured her.

Sarah glared at him. "Oh, so who goes into the kitchen to get drinks? Both of us?"

"Well, no, but that won't be for long."

"It will feel like an eternity to me!" she said exasperatedly.

"Just keep calm," he soothed.

"I can't!" she snapped.

In a reassuring voice, he said, "Sarah, come and sit down."

As she sat, he started to go through some things they'd covered before. "El will probably hug you fiercely, so be prepared for that."

She nodded.

"And, as you know, brace yourself when she squeals."

She smiled at that.

"When she asks about your job at the CIA, don't go into the detail of the seductions or the deaths, just talk at a high level."

She nodded. This will be easy.

They arrived and were getting out of the taxi while the driver got their things out of the back. Sarah hadn't thought about what was needed for a two-year-old, but after four cases emerged, there was a car seat, a stroller, some sort of wheeled device and a large bag, which Chuck whispered, "Diaper changing."

Devon was carrying the small child, while Ellie was holding the hand of the four-year-old as they walked to the door. Clara, Sarah reminded herself.

Chuck opened the door and bent down holding his arms wide. Clara let go of her mom's hand and rushed to him, "Chuck!"

He scooped her up and hugged her. Sarah just watched with a tentative smile, while starting to panic. Will I have to do that?

Her attention was then drawn to Ellie who wrapped her arms around Sarah and gave her a really strong hug. "Sarah!"

Trapped, Sarah managed to get out, "Hi, Ellie."

Devon, carrying Liam, walked up to them and said, "Let her breathe, El."

Ellie released her and Devon gave her a lighter hug, "Hi, Sarah."

It was easier to respond this time. "Hi, Devon."

Chuck, while still holding Clara, was hugging Ellie, "Hi, Sis."

She replied, "Hi, little Brother."

Chuck looked up, "Hi, Devon."

"Hi, Chuckster. Can we go in?"

"Sure."

Devon bent and grabbed the folded wheeled device and walked in. Sarah was curious and saw him shake it and it opened up into a wheeled stroller in which he deposited Liam. "There you go, Bud."

He then exited to get the cases and other items. Sarah shook herself and went to help. In no time, they had everything in and taken through to their rooms, Ellie, Devon and Liam in one and Clara in the small one next to it.

Chuck took Clara to her room. "Here you go. I'll let you get settled in. Toys are over there." He pointed at a pile of toys. She grinned and rush over to them. "Play with me?"

Sarah looked at Ellie. "Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee, water, iced tea?"

Ellie sank into the couch. "A water would be great. Same for Devon and Clara. Liam has been drinking all the way."

Sarah went and got those, bringing them back on a tray. She handed one to Ellie. "You look exhausted."

Ellie nodded, "I am. The flight isn't long, but with a family, it feels it. Of course, getting there, checking in and so forth is also harder with kids. Glad we're here though." She beamed. "And so good to meet you, Sarah."

Sarah smiled back, "It is. Chuck talks so much about you and all you've done for him, Ellie."

Ellie waved her hand to dismiss that.

After a few sips of water, Ellie put the glass down and looked at Sarah for a few seconds. Sarah was getting uncomfortable thinking, "I'll always be with you." Where is he?

Ellie looked at her and asked, "So, Sarah, where have you been all his life?"

God, straight to that question! Save me, Chuck!

Sarah breathed in and replied, "I moved to LA recently, so not hiding from him before that."

Ellie chuckled, then asked, "So where were you?"

Sarah never liked talking much about the past, so just a clipped, "DC".

That obviously was not enough for Ellie, who just looked at her, waiting for more.

"I moved to LA from DC."

"Job move?"

She knew she needed to tell her, but she'd always kept her job secret. "No. I left my job."

Ellie frowned. "You left your job and moved from east coast to west with nothing to come here for?"

This was getting out of hand, so Sarah stopped being evasive. "Ellie, I had plenty of money saved up from my job. I wanted to get away and decided to start a new life over here."

The frown was still there. "What was your old job that had you leaving like that?"

She persists doesn't she! Chuck had warned her about Ellie's interrogation skills, but Sarah had just dismissed them. She'd resisted torture a number of times and never let anything slip, but this was different. Sarah wanted Ellie to like her, to approve of her being with Chuck. Well, here goes. "I worked for the government."

"As?"

"I was a CIA operative."

Ellie looked shocked. "A spy?"

"Yes. A spy." Her shoulders slumped.

Ellie now looked concerned. "Why did you leave? Were you in trouble?"

Sarah chuckled at that. "No. I just had enough of the job."

"How long were you in the CIA? Or can't you tell me that?"

"Thirteen years. And yes, I can tell you that, now I've left, but can't give you details."

Ellie gasped, "Thirteen years! You don't look old enough."

Sarah smiled, "Thanks for that, Ellie. Boosts a girl's ego."

Ellie frowned, "How old were you when you joined?"

She asks all the right questions, doesn't she! Sarah looked down. She didn't want to go here, but just straightened her shoulders and looked at another pair of Bartowski eyes. "I was sixteen, Ellie." Please drop this!

But, no, she didn't. "Is that even legal?"

"Probably not, but it happened."

"You said you came from DC, but don't the CIA operate overseas?"

She was sharp. Sarah nodded. "Yes, but the headquarters are in DC, so I had an apartment there, for between missions."

"And what types of missions?"

Sarah hedged, "A variety."

"Such as?"

Oh God! Doesn't she stop? "Many retrieval missions, reclaiming stolen American goods."

That did seem to work for a while, with Ellie obviously thinking. Then she stared at Sarah. "Have you ever killed anyone?"

Sarah swallowed and just said, "Yes."

Ellie continued looking at her, but the stare seemed to lose its focus. Her expression changed to one Sarah interpreted as disgust. "God!"

Sarah hated the look on Ellie's face. "It was part of the job, Ellie. I hated it."

Ellie focused back on her, "Is that why you left?"

Sarah nodded, "That was part of it."

Ellie nodded, seeming to understand and not pushing for the other reason or reasons. Then she asked something totally unexpected, "Is Chuck a mission?"

Sarah was shocked and that obviously showed on her face, but Ellie's expression hardened. Sarah had to respond and get Ellie to believe her. "No, Ellie. I told you. I left the CIA before I came to LA. I am no longer an agent. I only met Chuck here. Please don't ever think otherwise." She looked Ellie in the eyes and opened hers hoping the other woman would see the sincerity. Her eyes were starting to water, worrying that Ellie didn't believe her. This is awful!

Ellie just sat and looked at her. "I'm sure you know how to deceive. It has to be part of the job. How do I believe you?"

Tears now running down her cheeks. Sarah looked away. How could she make this woman believe her?

Ellie was hardening more. "And you can stop the false tears!"

Sarah didn't know what to do. She'd lost control of the conversation completely. Hell, she never had control of it!

Well, she had to try. "We met when out running, Ellie. He was with Devon, but I didn't know that at the time. I only knew this attractive guy, stumbled when he saw me, which made me smile. I was intrigued because he never checked me out, just looked at my face. It was such a change."

Ellie's features softened a bit. "Well, I brought him up right!"

"You did and I am grateful for that. For the next few days, he seemed to appear running towards me at the same spot, the same time. It was almost as if he was doing it on purpose. I now know he was. We never spoke, just smiled at each other, and he always just looked me in the eyes. I started looking forward to it."

Ellie just sat quietly, listening.

Sarah continued, "I missed a couple of runs. Missed seeing him. I didn't understand how he could affect me like that when we'd only seen each other for a few seconds each day!" She looked down. "Ellie, my job was very intense. I never had time to meet people other than those that were part of the missions. I've never been in a relationship. I'm very naive about this sort of thing."

Ellie still said nothing, but at least she wasn't frowning anymore. Or making accusations. She seemed intrigued.

Sarah continued, "As I said, I missed a couple of days. On the second day, I decided not to run, but to just continue my normal routine and I went to my gym. He was there in the spot next to my usual. It was almost as if he was following me."

Ellie frowned again, "Are you telling me Chuck went to the gym? I don't believe you!"

Just at that point, Chuck came into the room. "Yes. I went to the gym! The one Devon recommended." Then he saw Sarah in tears and rushed to her pulling her to him. He glared at Ellie. "What have you done, El!"

Ellie was now incensed. "This CIA agent has been playing you, Chuck!"

Chuck was now furious. "El, if you treat Sarah like this and talk like that, you can just go straight back to Chicago. You're not welcome here!"

Ellie looked shocked, but before she could say anything, Sarah pushed herself away from Chuck and looked at him, saying, "No, Chuck. I won't have you pushing Ellie away. Just help me, like you promised."

He realized he'd done exactly what he'd said he wouldn't and had left her to be grilled by Ellie. "I'm so sorry, Sarah."

He then looked at his sister. "El, Sarah left the CIA. She's not on a mission. She hasn't been "playing me". Hell, I stalked her for several days before we even talked! If anyone was on a mission, it was me. I wanted to get to know her, but didn't think such a beautiful woman would be interested in me."

Sarah looked annoyed and hit his arm. "Stop putting yourself down!"

That made Ellie smile briefly. She agreed with what Sarah said, but wasn't going to back down. "How can I believe her. She's a trained liar."

Chuck was now shouting at his sister. "I don't care what you believe, El! This is the woman I love and want to spend the rest of my life with. If you don't approve, then get out!"

He was going to continue, but Sarah put her fingers over Chuck's mouth and softly said, "Stop, Chuck. I care." Tears were rolling down her cheeks again.

He looked down at her and she looked back. Ellie could see Sarah's almost pleading expression and Chuck's hardened expression softening.

Sarah turned back to Ellie, determined to fix this. "Ellie, I didn't have to tell you about my job. Hell, it would have been easy to lie and give you something you'd believe, but I wanted you to know me. I love your brother and want to be with him as much as he wants to be with me. I can't make you believe me. I'd love to have a sister who was as supportive and protective as you are of Chuck. And I'm grateful that you are, but I'm taking over the protective role. I'm sorry, but he's mine now to protect. We love each other."

Ellie could see nothing but sincerity in the other woman's eyes. Then, when Sarah looked up at Chuck, she could only see love in those eyes. She'd probably overreacted, but even if she hadn't, these two were now an item and she could see that she wasn't going to change that. She looked away.

Chuck held Sarah in his arms. She still looked hurt to him. It was his fault. He'd promised to never leave her side and he'd done just that while playing with his niece. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I let you down. I never intended for you to face the Inquisitor."

Ellie snorted. He was right though. She did get like that sometimes. "I'm sorry too, Sarah. I've worried about Chuck all my life. I am very protective of my little brother. Now he's a rich, eligible bachelor, I worry even more. I can't think why the CIA would even be interested in him; they don't even operate on US soil. I just overreacted when you said you were a spy."

Sarah smiled at her boyfriend's sister. "That's okay, Ellie. I'm glad you're so protective, but I mean it, I'm protective too. Admittedly, I'll just be protecting him from the attention of other women, and that's protecting my interests!"

Ellie burst out laughing. "I think I'm going to like you!"

Sarah beamed at her, "I hope so!"

Ellie rushed over and pushed Chuck out of the way and grabbed Sarah, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug.

Chuck caught himself after that shove and just watched. The smile on his face growing.

"Is it safe to come in now?" Devon said in his booming voice.

They all looked in his direction, Ellie saying "Yes, you coward!"

Sarah couldn't help barking a laugh at that.

It had taken Chuck with her to get through to Ellie. She was a great Inquisitor, but Chuck seemed to know how to get through to her. Or maybe that was Chuck and Sarah as a team. Didn't matter. They were now passed that first hurdle.

Sarah had wanted to cook for them for their first meal here, but now was regretting it. Why is following these instructions so difficult?

She was really starting to panic. Would she ruin it and they'd think she couldn't look after him?

Chopping the vegetables had been easy. She was, after all, great with knives. However, following a set of instructions to make the soufflé was almost impossible. At least she thought so.

Chuck had been entertaining the others, giving Sarah the kitchen to herself. She wished now that she'd never started this.

As she glared at the cookbook, she heard someone come in behind her. She'd always been able to sense someone approaching like that, but knew she wasn't in danger, so no knife grabbing.

"Can I help?"

Sarah huffed. "Ellie, I wanted to make something for your first meal with us, but I am not great in the kitchen!"

Ellie looked at the recipe and smiled. "Maybe trying a soufflé wasn't a great idea, in that case."

Sarah's eyes started to water. "I wanted to impress you, Ellie, and I've done just the opposite!"

Ellie placed her hand on Sarah's arm. "You don't need to impress me. In fact, this makes me like you more."

Sarah frowned, "Why?"

"I got the impression the ex-spy could do anything. It seems you can't. It makes you seem normal." She grinned.

Sarah grinned back. "Oh, there's a lot of things I can't do!"

Ellie laughed and gave her a hug. Not a bone crusher, but a hug all the same. It helped Sarah relax.

"Do you want me to help or do you want to give up and we'll get takeout?"

"Oh, no takeout. Please help and we can enjoy a meal that, hopefully, is healthier."

Ellie chuckled. "Okay."

Working together made Sarah realize how much she enjoyed it. Maybe it's just these Bartowski siblings that relaxed her enough to trust them.

As they sat at the dining table enjoying the food she and Ellie had prepared, Sarah was relieved. It had worked out okay, thanks, she thought, to Ellie.

"This is delicious, Sarah," Devon called out. He was taking longer over his meal than the others as he was also supervising what Liam was doing.

Sarah sighed, "You can thank your wife for that, Devon. I was ruining it!"

Ellie shook her head, "No, Sarah. You just needed a bit of assistance."

Sarah smiled.

Clara seemed to enjoy it as well, which please Sarah and the little girl's parents.

Liam was sitting in a chair attached to the end of the table, chewing cucumber sticks Devon had given him or drinking water from his sippy cup. He seemed content.

It was a relaxed evening, especially after the afternoon's tensions, both in the living room and then in the kitchen. Sarah leaned back and just took it all in. She had never been in a happy family atmosphere. Looking at Ellie talking to Clara and Devon with Liam, she thought, one day. Then she realized what she was thinking. What? Kids?

She had never even thought she'd be in a loving relationship, let alone have kids. She knew nothing about bringing up kids. First seeing him with Molly and now this! She was starting to really want kids with him. Their own. I'd never make a good mother, would I?

She shivered at the thought. Chuck noticed and leaned over to her. "You okay?"

"Sure," she lied.

He frowned but didn't say anything else, thinking, I'll find out later.

Ellie looked over to Sarah and started, "So, where are you living?"

Sarah shot Chuck an angry stare. "Doesn't Chuck tell you anything?"

Chuck looked embarrassed. Ellie frowned at him. "No, he's become a lot less communicative since we left. I thought that was because of you, Sarah."

Chuck stammered, "I... well… uh..." He got himself under control. "Yes, El, it was because of Sarah."

Ellie looked at Sarah who was obviously shocked at that revelation. She turned back to her brother. "Explain."

"When I'm not with Sarah, I can't stop thinking about her. I forget everything else. Including calling my sister, I'm afraid."

Sarah stopped looking shocked and just seemed to melt. The happy look on her face was obvious to everyone. Then her ears hurt. That squeal!

When Ellie had calmed down, she looked at Sarah again, obviously waiting for an answer to her question.

Chuck stepped in, "El, I asked Sarah to move in with me, which she did two weeks ago."

Sarah winced expecting another squeal, but none came. Ellie looked stunned and asked, "Isn't that a bit quick?"

Sarah was going to answer, but Chuck beat her to it, "El we were with each other all the time apart from overnight. It was the most obvious thing to do."

Ellie looked at Sarah who nodded. "We love each other, Ellie. I was renting an apartment, but that seemed pointless. It might seem like a whirlwind romance; well, it probably is, but we can't imagine being apart. We spend all our time together now and it's just great."

And there was that squeal again!

When they could all hear again, Devon asked Chuck, "If you're spending all your time together, how are you starting up your new company?"

Sarah growled and Chuck knew he was in trouble again.

A/N: I always thought Ellie was overprotective of her brother, so giving Sarah a hard time here reflects that. I always wanted someone to push back, which Chuck does, eventually. The cooking demonstrated Sarah's inexperience, but allowed Ellie to show her skills and make up for her earlier behavior. Chuck has been remiss in telling his sister, well, anything really. More next chapter.

So, what do you think of this chapter? Please leave a review to let me know.

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