A/N: hey, thanks again for everyone's reviews, i'm glad you're enjoying the story. sarah's gone but be patient, this story is completely chuck/sarah.

Chapter 4.

Chuck hadn't regained any new memories by the time his plane touched down and he made his way through the airport. Doctor Casey had stated that there was nothing medically wrong with him, and he was fit to return home. He encouraged it even. The sooner Chuck fell back into his normal routine the sooner those missing years were apt to return.

And Chuck was eager to catch up. He recalled everything before the last five just fine but the rest flew over his head.

"Chuck!" Chuck's ears pricked at the sound and he scanned the crowd looking for the source. His heart swelled with relief when he saw his sister waving at him. He ran up to her and enveloped her in a great bear hug. "Chuck!" she cried again, looking just as glad to see him.

"Ellie!" Finally, a familiar face! "Oh Ellie, you don't know how glad I am to see you!"

She beamed up at him and tousled his hair affectionately.

"I know. It's been awhile, Stranger." Her smile faded though when her hand brushed against the bandage hidden by his mop of hair. "Oh Chuck," she whispered, once again the overprotective sister. "Chuck, you should have called earlier. If I had known I would have flown to see you!"

"Well…" Chuck shrugged. "I kind of forgot."

She smirked at the terrible joke. "Don't worry. It'll all come back in time."

He nodded. "Yeah, I really hope so." He smiled at her, relieved that she acted like the same Ellie he always knew. "So, what's new with you?"

_

Ellie had just finished describing the details of her wedding to Chuck when their car pulled in front of the familiar housing complex. It was hard for Chuck to imagine himself at their wedding, which he had just three years ago. He always knew his sister and the Captain would get married someday, but somehow he figured he would remember something like that.

"Okay, we're here," she announced.

Chuck was so glad that Ellie hadn't moved. Terrible bedside manners aside, Doctor Casey had been right to suggest his speedy discharge. He felt much better now that he wasn't surrounded by strangers in some sterile hospital room. Everything here felt so familiar and comforting.

"Chuck?" Chuck saw that his sister was staring at him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he said, quick to shrug it off. He must have looked like an idiot just standing at the door. "Hey , Sis?"

Ellie stopped just short of opening the door. "Yeah? Oh, did you just have a memory flash?"

Chuck hated to disappoint. "No, actually I wanted to ask about something you said earlier. When you came to pick me up you said 'it's been awhile, Stranger'." The elder Bartowski bit her lip and frowned. "What…what exactly did you mean by that?"

"Chuck…" Ellie began, fidgeting with her hands. "Oh Chuck, I'm so sorry." She rushed to hug him, but Chuck couldn't return the gesture.

"Ellie, you're scaring me here."

His sister sighed. "It's just…we're not really as close as we used to be."

"What?" Chuck exclaimed. "How is that possible?" He couldn't imagine not being close to his sister. They lived together, saw each other every day; she even tolerated his friend, Morgan.

Ellie shrugged. "I don't know, we just…" There was something, but she was obviously reluctant to voice it. "Come on, baby steps. Let's just get you inside for now." Ellie looked so exuberant when she smiled. "I'm just so glad you're back."

She wrapped her arms around him again and squeezed, just as if she hadn't seen him in a long, long time.

The furniture inside the house had changed but the layout was still the same. Chuck shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling a little unsure of himself. This had once been familiar territory but now he felt like he was intruding.

"Okay, make yourself at home, Chuck," Ellie said, running to the kitchen. She was in her element now, pouring drinks and preparing a snack. "Devon's got a shift until the evening but we can all catch up together later. How does that sound, Chuck?"

"Sounds good." Chuck glanced over at the photos that adorned the walls. There were pictures of Ellie and the Captain on a biking trip, another of them vacationing on some part of the Asian continent. Then he spied their wedding photo sitting above the fireplace mantle. He picked it up and examined it ruefully, wishing he could remember the day for himself.

"So, Sis, do I still work at the Buy-More?" He placed the picture back where he found it and met her in the kitchen. Ellie wore the same strange expression she had when he asked about why they'd grown apart.

"No," she said and offered him a drink.

Chuck smiled. "That's it? Just no?"

Ellie nodded, her lips pressed tightly together. "Yup."

"Ellie, I know when you're keeping something from me. Come on." Chuck wondered why his sister was so hesitant. The thought frightened him a little. Could he do any worse than the Buy-More?

Ellie sighed. "I told you. We sort of grew apart. You quit your job at the Buy-More about a year ago but I don't really know what you do now."

Chuck's shoulders sank a little. "Oh. I guess my boss hasn't called to complain about my absence, huh?"

Ellie wrinkled her brows, an expression he often replicated when he was confused. "Well I wouldn't know. Perhaps you should check your cell."

"I don't—" he stopped himself and realized that he was not only missing his memories, he was also missing his cell. Great.

"So, is my room still the second one on the right?" Chuck hoped to deflect away from the awkwardness but judging by the expression on Ellie's face, he had walked straight into it.

"Oh Chuck," she said. Her apologetic tone said everything.

Chuck held out his hands in front of her. "It's okay. I get it. I moved out. That's good, right?"

Ellie nodded slowly, her smile still melancholy. "Yeah," she said. Chuck was suddenly reminded of Sarah. He felt bad, disappointing his sister too. He'd hoped he wasn't such a big disappointment five years in the future but things weren't looking so good.

"So where do I live now?"

Ellie frowned again. "Really?" Chuck asked. "We don't hang out? You don't come over for dinner?"

"I've never been to your place," she confessed.

Before Chuck could say anything else, there was a knock at the door.

Ellie's eyes bulged and she nearly dropped her drink. "Oh crap!" she exclaimed. "I completely forgot."

"Forgot what?" Chuck tailed behind Ellie as she dashed for the door. "Ellie!"

Ellie stopped abruptly and turned around. "Okay, I'm sorry, Chuck, it completely slipped my mind."

Chuck wanted to laugh but the moment was completely inappropriate. Ellie had a habit of running around like a headless chicken when she panicked.

She pointed to the door. "That's your girlfriend. She's here to pick you up."

Chuck suddenly felt sick. "What?" he gasped, hearing his voice grow unnaturally high. "Wh-Who?"

"Relax, Chuck. You two have been going out for awhile now. I was going to tell you but I forgot."

"That's convenient," Chuck stuttered, feeling like the room might be spinning a little.

There was another knock at the door and Ellie turned to answer it.

"No, no!" Chuck grabbed his sister by the arm. "No, Ellie, wait! What is she like?"

Chuck couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Ellie's expression. "You've never met her?"

"No, I have," she said in her own defense. "Once…or twice. It's your business, you know?" Before Chuck could ask when any of his personal life had ever been off limits for her, she turned and unlocked the door.

"Hi, Carmen!" Ellie greeted.

Chuck dropped his sister's arm and stared slack-jawed at the woman standing at the door. There was no way they could be dating.

"Hi, Ellie," Carmen greeted his sister with a warm smile and an awkward hug. Then she saw Chuck and her smile widened. "Chuck!" she gasped and threw herself at him.

Chuck stood frozen on the spot while the strange woman squeezed him hard enough to break his ribs.

"I was so worried!" she said. "Are you alright? You didn't answer of my calls."

Chuck gulped. They must have gotten strange looks when they walked down the street together. She was stunning; her skin was golden and flawless, and her figure was slim and toned. She looked like a model straight out of a magazine cover. The only thing that made him leery was her resemblance to Jill, another brown haired-brown eyed beauty that had crushed his heart—but then again, he had always had a thing for brunettes.

"Hi…Carmen," he said, feeling the name tumble awkwardly out of his mouth. He must have said it countless times but it still felt strange.

Carmen smiled, clasping his hand and giving it a tug. "Ellie, would you mind if I took him home? I'll bring him back for dinner, I promise."

Ellie seemed relieved to hand the burden of breaking all the news to someone else. "Of course!" she exclaimed a little too enthusiastically and held the door wide open. "You two have fun!"

"Ellie!" Chuck hissed through gritted teeth. "Please."

Carmen squeezed his hand. For a moment, he caught a look of warning in her otherwise doe-brown eyes. Chuck knew if he protested any further, he'd be upsetting a third woman.

"See you at dinner then," Chuck said, trying his hardest to fake a smile.