CHUCK VS. THE BEGUILING BEHAVIOR

DISCLAIMER: I don't own "Chuck."

SUMMARY: After Chuck breaks up with Sarah (in the second season episode "Chuck Vs. The Breakup"), she fights to win him back. But Chuck's mysterious behavior worries both Sarah and Ellie. Has he found a new girl friend or is something else going on?

NOTE: Here's another chapter folks. Don't worry, I've completed the story and the remaining three chapters will be posted soon. Thanks for reviewing!

Part Four – Ellie Speaks Out

The next morning, when Chuck got out of bed, dressed and headed out to the kitchen, he found Ellie sitting on the couch. And it looked like she was waiting for him.

She was.

"Sit down," Ellie said as she patted a spot on the couch next to her. Chuck thought that she looked serious.

She was.

"We need to talk," she said.

He sat down beside her. He had a feeling that Ellie wanted to talk to him about his lying last night. And he wondered what he would say. He waited for her to start talking or chewing him out or something. But she stayed silent. When she finally spoke, she turned and looked directly at him.

"I want to ask you a question and I want you to answer me honestly. I don't want you to be concerned about my reaction or what I'll think about your answer. I just want you to look at me and please tell me the truth," she said.

Chuck stared at Ellie. They had been close all of their lives and had always looked out for one another. She looked concerned or sad, maybe both. "OK," he replied.

Ellie took a breath, looked right into Chuck's eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Chuck … are you having a relationship with some other girl, someone other than Sarah? Are you … cheating on Sarah?"

He almost laughed. But instead, he looked right into her eyes and said no. Ellie let out a sigh of relief.

"Why would you think I was cheating?" Chuck asked.

"I talked to Sarah last night when she left. Chuck, she's really upset and hurt. She said that you have been avoiding her. She said that she had no idea where you were last night and that you wouldn't talk about it. And she said that she smelled perfume on you after you came back from who knows where. I didn't know what to think or say to her. And then while I was doing laundry earlier this morning, I pulled some of your clothes out of the hamper to wash. Chuck, those clothes have perfume all over them. And it wasn't Sarah's perfume. I .…" She paused, not knowing what to say next.

"I promise you Ellie. I'm not cheating on Sarah. I'm not having or even starting another relationship with a different girl. Although it would be better if I was," he said.

Ellie's jaw dropped. "Chuck, how can you say that? Sarah really likes you, I think she may love you. And … I thought you loved …."

"Ellie, you don't know this but Sarah and I have been having problems for a while. What you have been seeing is all fake, pretend to keep a good front up while we try to figure things out. I finally did and Sarah is not the one. I wish she was but it just isn't going to happen. It can't happen," he said.

Ellie still looked shocked. "Chuck, I've seen how she looks at you. And you should have heard her when I talked to her last night. She –"

"I wish she did Ellie, I really do. But I don't think so."

"Maybe if you two just talked and tried to …."

"Talking will not solve the problem." Chuck paused and turned away from Ellie. He stared off into space for a while.

"Chuck, what is the problem? Tell me! Maybe I can help!"

"I'm tired Ellie. I'm tired of a lot of things," he replied. "I'm tired of being alone. I'm tired of being lonely. I'm tired of the joke of this life I have. I want a life. I want to be happy."

He paused and then looked directly at her. "This strange behavior of mine is me trying to take control of my life and trying to do what I want to do. I promise you that I'm not cheating on Sarah – as if there ever was anything to cheat on. But I'm doing what I want to do. And isn't that what you have wanted me to do? Get on with living? Get on with my life?"

He stood up. "Anything else you want to ask?" When she said nothing, he walked away. As Ellie watched his departing form, she realized that she had never heard her baby brother sound like he just did. Was he growing up? she wondered.

End Part Four