Don't own Chuck
Ellie had to cancel her luncheon appointment with Devon so she could walk some of the tests through the lab. Then she received a final briefing from the General before she went home to break the news that she would be out of town for a few days in L.A. Devon knew something was up when he got home. Clara was already home and Ellie was cooking supper. When Clara asked if she'd be able to see Chuck and Sarah she was a little evasive at first then she said she'd be staying with them. Devon thought Ellie's behavior was odd and he thought he knew why so he waited until Clara went to bed then had Ellie sit next to him.
"Something is going on that you're not telling us," said Devon. "Does this have to do with General Beckman? I thought I saw her in the hospital and now this sudden trip. Are Chuck and Sarah all right?"
"Yes… I mean no… Devon I don't know. Wait a minute," she said as she got up and took the folder the General had given to her out of her bag then handed it to Devon. "What you're about to read is classified so you can't repeat what you read."
"Wow babe, if this has to do with Chuck's spy life do we really want to get involved. You know what happened the last time we got involved."
"If you want to know you have to read the report," said Ellie as she looked at him with her sad eyes. Whatever it was it was bothering her so he had no choice but to read it.
"This is an autopsy report,' said Devon stating the obvious. He flipped through the pages until he got to the lab results. "This can't be. Someone made a mistake."
"That's what I said, so the General brought the bodies here. I did my own examination and I can confirm the physical findings as far as the labs I have no reason to doubt them but I've got new tests being done."
"The heart disease that the one patient died from looks like a form of progeria, rapid aging disease, I saw a patient who suffered from it when I was interning. But this is usually something children are born with and die way before they reached the age of your patients. I think the record is fourteen. I don't see any photos what did they look like physically? There are usually physical markers."
"There outward appearance was normal as much as I could tell and I see what you're saying but no there were none of the markers or I'd have thought about that."
"I don't understand why you have to go to L.A.? What's Chuck's connection to this? Or are you using that computer in his head to consult?"
"No not exactly…" Ellie was about the answer when Clara came into their bedroom sleepy eyed. Devon closed the folder and put it away as Clara ran over to Ellie and hugged her.
"What's the matter sweetie," said Ellie as she brushed Clara's hair back. Devon got up and sat on her other side as they both hugged her.
"Darling can you tell us what the matter is? Did you have a nightmare?" asked Devon as Clara looked back over at him and nodded her head.
"I dreamed Chuck and Sarah got hurt," said Clara in a thin little voice. "And you were in it too but I couldn't figure out if you were helping them or not."
"Well I think we need to eat lighter at night especially if we go to bed early. Come on I'll take you back to bed and stay with you until you fall asleep."
"Dad, Mom can I sleep with you guys for tonight, please," implored Clara with her little scared eyes. "I don't want to be by myself."
"Okay but if you snore too loudly I'm going to put you outside in the car," said Devon as Clara got mad.
"I don't snore!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
When Chuck and Sarah finally got Sam to bed it was late. She was all spun up from her outing at the supermarket and Chuck didn't help. He and she played in her room with Mr. Rabbit and her new friend Bunny. Sarah stood in the doorway watching the two of them until Chuck reached over and pulled her in to join the fun. It was an evening to remember.
Sarah was sitting on the bed brushing her hair before turning in when Chuck walked in and sat down next to her. He took the brush from her hand then continued brushing.
"I want to apologize if I pushed you into this dinner without talking to you first. You were right in getting mad at me."
"Chuck I over reacted and like I said I think I'm looking forward to it actually. It'll be nice to get everyone together. It'll be nice to have Ellie here tomorrow too."
"I'm glad you see it this way," said Chuck as he kissed her but then she pulled away.
"But that doesn't mean at Christmas we do a repeat," she said as she kissed him. "At least not until the new stove gets here."
"What!" said Chuck as he looked at her and she began to laugh. "Humor, funny I like it," he said as they fell back on the bed.
"You realize I have to be at the airport tomorrow morning early to meet Ellie," said Sarah as he kissed her wrapping his arms around her feel the warmth of her body close to his. "Hey mister do you want me to leave your sister at the arrival gate?"
"Maybe she could catch a taxi," Chuck said as he kissed her not wanting to let go. "Oh… but no you're right."
"I don't want to be right," said Sarah as she kissed him back. "You know wrong is sometimes good too," she whispered in his ear. Chuck reached up and switched the lights off.
Chuck woke up it was four in the morning and he was wide awake. He rolled over and watched Sarah sleep with his pajama top on that was her new night attire… not that he minded. It looked better on her anyway. But as he was watching her sleep he thought he heard a noise outside. Thinking maybe Sam was awake he got up to investigate. Chuck walked over to Sam's room as quietly as he could.
"Jesus," said Chuck as stepped on a toy, or so he thought, then felt something stick him in the foot. He hobbled around until he was able to make it to the courtyard where he could have a scream. He thought he heard a car drive off but at the same time Casey came walking in.
"Bartowski are you trying to make it rain. Right now the only thing you're missing is a feather in your hair and some war paint."
"Funny John and where are you dragging in from? Were you out on some secret mission that Beckman had you doing? Don't worry; I know if you were you couldn't say I was going to put a pot of coffee on would you like some?"
"Let me go in freshen up and shave first then I'll be right over. But aren't you afraid we're going to wake Sarah up."
"I've got to wake her up soon anyway. She's driving to the airport this morning to get Ellie. Oh I guess I didn't see you yesterday after I got the news," said Chuck as Casey shook his head. "Well Ellie called and she's going to be staying with us for a few days."
"While she works on Beckman's project," asked Casey. He saw Chuck didn't know what he was talking about. "See computers don't know everything. I heard from one of my NSA buddies that Beckman made a trip to Chicago all hush-hush and now Ellie's coming here. You do the math."
"She told me she had a conference to attend. Crap that means she lied to me but Beckman probably told her not to tell me."
"Whatever, I'll be over in a bit. Have the coffee ready I'm going to need a lot. The mission was hard one" said Casey as he started to leave.
"I'm sure it was. Oh I'd take a shower too if I were you big guy you can still smell Kathleen's perfume on you," said Chuck smiling. Casey gave a grunt then left.
Chuck went back inside then made coffee and as the coffee was dripping into the pot he stood there looking at it. He couldn't help but wonder what the General had asked Ellie to do. Beckman should've talked to him, Ellie was his sister. But Diane was the director and if she didn't tell him then that could mean that he wouldn't have approved which meant it was dangerous. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on the counter top. The stone counter was cool and soothing then he felt a warm hand caress his back.
"What's the matter," Sarah whispered in his ear. "Something is wrong or you've taken to praying to small electric appliances which is it?" Chuck laughed lifting up he kissed her.
"I love you and I'm really into your little quips. You've come a long way from when we first met when you told me you weren't funny. Do you remember that?"
"I think you said something like you were trying to figure out what was wrong with me and I said plenty. Then you said, 'and I was thinking either she's a cannibal or she's really not that funny, and you were pulling for cannibal because you'd never met one before."
"So have you suddenly decided to become a cannibal?" said Chuck as he kissed her.
"I could start with you," said Sarah as she bit him on the neck.
"Yuck I think I'm going to be sick," said Casey as he walked in with his empty coffee cup in his hand. "Did you tell her yet that your sister lied to you?"
"What? Is that what's the matter with you this morning?" said Sarah as she took the pot and filled Casey's cup then reached for hers. "Strange my cup is missing I know I put it here last night."
"No it's still in the sink," said Chuck pointing at it. "When we went to bed we were tired then well… huh you know we got even more tired."
"I think this is all I need to know and that's too much," said Casey. "But I heard from one of my old NSA buddies that the General made a hush-hush trip to Chicago yesterday an off the book kind."
"Yes and then Ellie calls me about a conference here in L.A. she's supposed to attend but she never mentioned where the conference is being held or anything about it."
"So you two think she's what? On a mission for the General? Come on guys this is Ellie we're talking about. Chuck you're her brother you remember the fuss she made about you being a spy and how she made you quit. Do you guys really think she'd do anything what? Spy? I think you both are being a little silly."
"Do you really think so," said Chuck as he wash Sarah's cup from the sink then poured the coffee she had into it. "Remember Beckman's famous words 'you never say no to a general'. What if she's blackmailing Ellie in some way? She could easily set up El or Awesome in a malpractice law suit then threaten to have them lose their licenses. They'd lose their practises then their house. They'd end up on the street with little Clara begging for change on the subway."
"Sweetie you're spiralling don't freak out," said Sarah as she took his hand.
"Augh why'd you make him stop. He was on a roll there Chuck you should write episodes for soap operas like as the World Heaves or the Bold and the Disgusting.
"Funny John, very funny, now those quips I could do without. I was thinking maybe I ought to come with you to meet Ellie. I could help you with her bags and then we could all talk on the way back home."
"I don't think that's such a good idea," said Sarah. "If we all gang up on her we could spook her. If Beckman has got her working on something classified then she's told her not to say anything about it which means she can't tell us. So if you go at this head on she'll throw up a wall then we won't get any information out of her."
"You're right as usual as well as beautiful and smart," said Chuck as he kissed her.
"Oh no not again," grunted Casey. "So what do we do?"
"I'll pick her up like planned then see what I can find out on the way back here then we play it by ear from there."
"Here," said Casey as he handed Sarah a GLG-4000 to track Ellie. Both Chuck and Sarah looked at Casey. "What I always carry a couple around you never know when you're going to meet someone and need to know where they're going."
"You know John I think that's called stalking and a little creepy," said Chuck as Sarah nodded but took it anyway.
"I hate to suggest this but we can break out the nanny cam while she's here but Casey, Sarah monitors the feed and she decides what we can see."
"Where's the fun in that."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
"Well I need to go if I'm going to get to the airport on time to meet her flight," said Sarah as she kissed Chuck sitting her coffee cup in the sink. Then she grabbed her purse and keys and was out the door.
"I need to run too. I want to see if I can finally catch that lady who's been eyeing the beastmaster," said Casey. "Oh and Chuck, Kathleen might be a little late this morning. She had a busy night last night."
"I'm sure she did John. No problem," said Chuck as he opened the refrigerator wondering how he was supposed to get at Sam's yoghurts. "I think today we'll opt for cereal."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ellie took a cab to the airport then checked her bags in and went through security. It was early so early that she made in through the TSA line in record time so she had time for a coffee at Starbucks. She was just sitting down when the General plopped down next to her with two men in black standing on both sides.
"You know we really have to stop meeting like this," said Ellie as she offered the General some of her blueberry whole wheat muffin.
"No thanks I've got to watch my weight. You know just because it says whole wheat doesn't mean that it's good for you?"
"Thank you Diane I'll keep that in mind but you didn't come here to comment on my breakfast choices. What is it?"
"I had your lab tests rushed through. I also made your hospital administrator happy by paying for all the overtime plus the government endowed the hospital with a sizable grant for research."
"Research into what? If it's what's in that folder it's both ethically and morally wrong not to mention that it's illegal."
"I left the administrator the choice on how to spend the money. But about what you just said, yes in this country all that is true; however, not all countries see the issue in the same way so black and white, cut and dry."
"Well I won't play God and I don't think anyone else should either. On that I won't budge so if you're looking…"
"Don't get so angry I hear what you're saying and I want you to know I agree with you on this. However, I think we need to understand what's been done and the only way to do that is to begin by asking how. That we won't know until you start to wrap your head around it."
"You said you had an expert coming in, when will he be in L.A. This needs to be taken care of as soon as possible."
"I never said he, we're having a little bit of difficulty finding her but I've been promised she should be with you tomorrow that will give you today to do your observations. Tomorrow we'll bring in the target for testing and interrogation. I don't like this anymore than you do…"
"That remains to be seen," said Ellie as she looked the General I the eye. 'I'm doing this for my brother."
"I know you are," said the General as one of her men bent down and whispered something into her ear. "It seems they're boarding your plane. I had you upgraded to first class so you'll have more room to look over the files I brought for you. Doctor I'm doing this for both Sarah and Chuck."
The General had her men help Ellie get her things together then escorted her over to the departure gate.
"I'll see you in L.A. I'm leaving from here to round up that expert and escort her personally to you at Westside Medical."
Ellie board the plane and was seated in first class. After the plane took off she pulled out the lab work and started looking through it. The flight attendant brought her coffee which she needed. The results confirmed the same gene marker that she noticed in the previous lab work up. All on the fourth chromosome she had a working theory that she needed to bounce off this so-called expert but she'd have to wait a day to do that.
"Can I get you anything else," asked the flight attendant giving Ellie a start. "Oh I'm sorry if I startled you but would you like some more coffee?"
"Yes please," said Ellie as she yawned. "Oh I'm sorry."
"Don't be I understand I'd like to be back in bed too. These early morning flights are murder," said the attendant as she filled Ellie's cup. "If you need anything else just push the call button."
"Thanks," said Ellie.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Combined with the fact that she hadn't slept much, the early morning hour and the flight she was dragging now. She could only image what she'd feel like when she reached L.A. Sarah was waiting for her when she walked off the plane. Using her credentials she was able to get past TSA and she was the first person Ellie met.
"El how was the flight," said Sarah as she kissed her the led her through the airport to retrieve her bags. Already Sarah noticed something off with Ellie she hadn't given her the big bear hug. But she blew it off probably just tiredness. "So El Chuck told me you're in town for a big medical conference, what's it about?"
"Oh just medical stuff," Ellie said as they got her bag. She only brought one there just wasn't time to pack and she had been in a hurry. "I shouldn't say this but I heard from Chuck that you were having some problems with Thanksgiving?"
"I was but I think I've gotten over the initial terror of having to cook for that many people and now I think I'm actually going to enjoy it. Maybe you can look over what Kathleen and I bought then look at what's left to get and give me any suggestions about what's missing. That is if you aren't too busy with your conference?" said Sarah as they got into her car and pulled out heading back to home.
"No, no I'll make time for you. After all what are sisters for, the main thing is not to forget the sweet potatoes."
"And the marshmallows I know Chuck reminded me but who could forget Morgan's face when he saw they were missing."
"Indeed who could forget," Ellie put a mental tick in a box as they were talking. "Maybe you should think about a green bean casserole as a side dish?"
"Why? Oh I get it everyone will remember Anna's so mine would have to be an improvement. Not a bad idea."
"Have you thought about dessert? I know everyone makes pies but you could do that thing you made when you first came over. Oh what was it again?" asked Ellie as they pulled up at Echo Park and got out
"You mean the chocolate soufflé. The one Chuck set on fire and stomped out in the bathtub, that one? Ellie I have a confession to make," said Sarah as she looked down at the ground. "Well I really didn't make it; I bought it at the pastry shop next to Large Mart."
"Oh that's the best news you could ever have told me," said Ellie as she hugged Sarah giving her one of her famous rib crushers. Sarah was really worried now.
"If I had known you cared that much I would've told you years ago."
"Hey can I get in on this? Kathleen is running late, Sarah. I'll explain later but how's my sister," said Chuck as he walked out with Sam. He could tell by the fact that Sarah looked blue that she needed some relief.
"Oh there's my niece," said Ellie as she knelt down and gave Sam a kiss. But before Chuck or Sarah could stop her, Sam gave Ellie a caress that left a large red mark on her cheek.
Chuck and Sarah were embarrassed at the time but after everything Chuck couldn't help but wonder if Sam didn't know what she was doing.
"We sorry but she doesn't know her own strength yet," said Sarah as she took Ellie inside while Chuck took care of the bag with Sam.
"I want to hear all about this conference you're attending and what new medical breakthroughs we can expect," yell Chuck as he and Sam walked behind them.