Chapter 3: A Sister's Worry

Psych Ward, a Private Hospital, somewhere outside Escondido, CA

Ellie struggled to breathe as her pulse raced and sweat formed around her temples and down her spine. She started to cry but the noise jolted her awake. She opened her eyes. Relief overwhelmed her at seeing her hospital room. She took a deep breath and exhaled as she tried to calm her riotous emotions. She was thankful to finally have escaped her awful dream.

The young doctor had suffered from horrifying nightmares since the night at The Institute. Her dreams varied, but they always starred Sarah Walker as her brother's food service employed girlfriend, who suddenly morphed into a cold-blooded killing machine.

Ellie knew her dreams played like some bad horror movie. But she knew in her case, it wasn't. Her nightmares were real. She was reliving the terrible night over and over again in her dreams. It was unsettling and it made Ellie's hands shake. The nightmares just served to highlight her precarious situation.

Ellie grabbed her head and shook it for at least the hundredth time. She had thought of Sarah Walker as her friend. But everything that she held as true suddenly seemed to have spiraled out of control.

Nothing in her life seemed to be what she thought it was.

Ellie had watched Sarah Walker kill in cold blood, imprison her in The Psych Ward, and threaten to kill her if she attempted to escape. It was surreal. It was frightening, it made Ellie want to cry out in anguish.

And yet, she had no idea why these events had befallen her. Ellie could only stare at the bare walls of her hospital room and wonder what her brother did to ensnare them in a world with Sarah Walkers in them. She truly hated that woman.

Tears fell down her cheeks as she thought about her brother. She had witnessed her baby brother being tortured. She hadn't understood what had happened to him. But the grim seizures that wracked his body afterwards were a clear sign of trauma.

As part of her residency, she had spent time in neurology. She knew that the seizures were a symptom of a traumatic brain injury. She held little hope that he would escape without some type of brain damage.

Her breath caught when she thought about the possibility that he would never wake up. It had always been "them" against the world. She couldn't comprehend her life without her beloved brother. Overcome with emotion, she gathered herself in a ball and cried.

Two Miles Outside of Gustine, CA

The Fulcrum agent pulled into the parking lot of the City of Gustine's Airstrip. He was checking all the airports surrounding The Institute, looking for indications of an injured man being evacuated.

He was following up on this lead that the Fulcrum interrogators been beaten out of Bryce Larkin. The CIA agent had revealed that The Intersect had been injured at The Institute. It hadn't been easy but they had gotten the information out of Larkin after numerous days of torture. Larkin was a tough SOB, but he couldn't last forever.

Fulcrum would eventually break Bryce Larkin; and when they did, they would finally have the name of The Intersect.

The Fulcrum agent smiled wickedly at the thought of having The Intersect in their control.

Psych Ward, somewhere outside Escondido, CA

Completely wiped out from crying, Ellie laid on her bed thinking about her options. Ellie wanted to flee, even if it meant that she would jeopardize her life.

But Chuck was in no condition to run. She bit her lip with indecision.

Ellie couldn't leave her brother. It wasn't in her. But her stomach turned as she thought about her situation.

Sarah Walker was in total control of the care of her brother. She had to admit that the medical treatment that Chuck had received at the private hospital was impressive. But it was all at the mercy of Sarah.

At one time, this wouldn't have been a concern. She had trusted Sarah with her brother. But now, Ellie didn't know what the icy blond's intentions were. Was she providing treatment because she cared or was it just a means to an end?

Ellie didn't know. And frankly, at this point she didn't care. All she knew was that Chuck had to get well. And then, she would spirit her brother away from Sarah and whatever evil life that she had involved him in.

Ellie realized that she couldn't flee. She just had to bide her time. She would find a way to save hime. She loved Chuck too much to abandon him.

Ellie's thoughts were interrupted by the clicking of the lock on her door. She rallied her courage.

The icy blond was the only one allowed into her room and it seemed that the only thing that happened between them was threats. Ellie wiped away the moisture on her cheeks and turned her back to the door. She just couldn't look at Sarah.

Casey entered the room and took in Ellie's prone form. He had heard her crying through the door earlier and he had waited until her sobs had quieted.

Not quite knowing what to say to the upset doctor, Casey grumbled, "If it isn't the crazy lady with the needle."

Ellie's whipped her head towards Casey with wide eyes. Her face brightened upon seeing that it was Casey.

"John! It's good to see you up and around," replied Ellie with a small smile. She sat up and turned her body to face him. She looked at him but her eyes kept drifting to his torso.

Casey was puzzled by her behavior until she looked up into his eyes and he saw the guilt in her eyes. She stammered, "How is your chest feeling. It's only been four days since I…I broke your stitches?"

His agent persona melted a bit upon seeing her concern. "Forget it," mumbled Casey, uncomfortably. He started to speak but stopped when he noticed her puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. His eyes narrowed as he took in her distress.

His silent assessment made Ellie uncomfortable. However she rallied her courage, and asked, "John, can you tell me what's going on. I really don't understand why my brother was tortured or why bad men are after him. Or why he is involved with people like you and Sarah."

Casey winced at her question. "Ellie, a lot of what you just asked requires a security clearance to know, so I can't tell you. But even if I could, I'm not sure that I should. You are much safer...the less you know."

Ellie's eyes flashed and she felt a stab of anger. "Are you kidding me? At The Institute, no one cared if I knew anything as they shot bullets at me."

She angrily jumped off her bed and paced her room. She turned towards Casey and yelled, "It didn't matter to the bloody ice queen when she was threatening me and Devon's life... that I didn't know a thing."

Her shoulders slumped. In a much quieter voice, she added, "It hasn't mattered for the last four days while I've been imprisoned in a Psych Ward... that I didn't know anything."

Tears started to flow. "I just don't see how telling me what my brother is involved in...is going to put me in any more danger than I already am," anguished Ellie.

Casey grimaced. Walker had used intimidation to keep Ellie in line but with some significant consequences. Sarah had to fix this situation soon.

Not quite knowing how to respond, he tore his gaze from Ellie. He looked around the bland room and sighed. He knew that this was definitely an arena where he shouldn't tread. It wasn't his forte. People's feelings weren't something he was good at. He cared enough about Ellie Bartowski that he didn't want to say the wrong thing.

Looking to escape their conversation, Casey asked, "Do you want to get out of here?"

Two Miles Outside of Gustine, CA

The agent's shiny cowboy boots crunched along the rocky pathway to the front office.

He reached for the door handle to the front office and pulled.

"Can I help you?" asked a young sandy hair boy.

"You work here?" quizzed the agent.

"Yeah, I work the gas pumps and watch the office when the office manager is out," replied the boy. "What can I help you with?"

The agent racked his brain trying to decide how to ask they boy about the flight activity at the airstrip. Finally he had an idea.

"No, I needed directions back to I-5. Have you been busy? I know there's a flight show over near Vallejo. Have you had much air traffic come through?"

The boy laughed. "Are you kidding, mister? Here? Nothing comes through here except crop dusters."

But then the boy gave the agent a considering look. "We did have a Lear Jet come through four days ago. But it was a medical flight. They had two guys in stretchers taken off a helicopter and put on the jet. But we don't normally get that kind of traffic here."

"Really?" asked the agent, his interest suddenly piqued. "Did you hear where they were going?"

The boy squinted for a second and said, "Vegas." The boy laughed again and said, "I guess that's a little funny considering the two guys were hurt and all."

The agent shrugged and left the airstrip office with an evil smile on his face.

Hallway outside of Chuck Bartowski's Hospital Room

Casey and Ellie sat on two worn chairs in a visitor's area outside of Chuck's room. Casey had positioned them so he could maintain an unobstructed view of Chuck's door.

Casey had a pen and was busy writing on a piece of paper. Finishing the last entry, he inquired, "So these are all the drugs that we would be needed to treat Chuck?"

Ellie eyed him curiously. She bit her lip and replied warily, "Yes. But I don't understand why you are asking."

Casey grimaced. "People are still looking for Chuck. We might have to leave quickly and I'm just trying to establish a contingency plan in that event," explained Casey patiently.

Ellie's eye grew wide. "We're still in danger?" Her voice lowered to a whisper.

Casey's eyes narrowed at her sudden alarm. He needed to make sure she understood the seriousness of the situation.

"Chuck is always in danger. That is why he has two full time agents assigned to his security. It is also why Sarah and our superiors took your antics at The Institute so badly. This is not, nor will it ever be, a game," said Casey in a deadly serious voice.

Ellie's heart fell and she felt her hands begin to tremble. The enormity of the situation made her feel ill. She averted her eyes from Casey and looked around the visitor's area nervously. She glanced at Chuck's door and suddenly felt the need to be near her brother. Ellie stood up.

"Speaking of my brother, maybe I should look in on him." Ellie started to walk towards the door.

"No don't go in there," ordered Casey.

She turned to Casey in concern. His tone had suddenly become tense. Furling her brow in puzzlement, she asked, "Why?"

"Walker is in there."

Ellie looked at Casey sharply. Anger dripped from her. "You let me sit out here while that thing was alone with my defenseless brother?"

She spun around and started to march to the door with determination. Just as she reached for the door handle, Casey slammed into her. He swung her around and plastered her against the door with his body.

"Don't you ever disobey me again. Do I make myself clear?" seethed Casey.

Ellie's eyes grew big. She suddenly became alarmed as she noted the hard and deadly feel of his body against hers. She nodded silently as the now familiar feeling of fear coursed through her.

Casey relaxed when he saw her agreement, but was slightly taken back when he saw the fear in her eyes. He felt the need to explain.

"Walker is asleep in there. Regardless of what you think of her, she stayed up four days to protect your defenseless brother. She also made sure that you were protected from the outside world and from yourself. Because let me tell you Ms. Bartowski, at this point in time, someone needs to keep you from doing something really stupid," explained Casey, heatedly.

Ellie looked into his eyes, clearly affronted at his remarks.

He responded by leaning even closer to Ellie. He seethed, "She protected me... in my incapacitated state. So don't you even try to tell me that Sarah Walker is anything but a consummate professional who would give a great deal to protect your brother and both of us," growled Casey.

Ellie nodded in confusion. "But why can't I…"

He swung her around and made her look through the glass. He pointed at Sarah who was snuggled up against Chuck.

Casey explained, "Agents are trained from day one that sleeping is the most vulnerable state that they will ever be in. When startled, an agent will come out of sleep ready to shoot first and ask questions later."

Ellie looked up at him aghast. "Is my brother in danger?"

Casey chortled in disgust. "Your brother is the safest place he could ever be."

Casey looked down at Ellie's still puzzled face. Sighing in frustration, he explained, "Sarah is like a big, mean grizzly bear protecting her cub. Wake her up and Walker will come out guns blazing to protect Chuck."

"So you are saying that Sarah considers Chuck her child?"

"I didn't say that," shrugged Casey and then continued tiredly, "In the spy world, Chuck is like a child. He's defenseless. And Sarah…Sarah's protective instincts have always been higher than you would expect, even for a protective assignment like this. But Ellie, you've gotten a taste of this world. You should be grateful that Chuck has Sarah."

Ellie turned towards the door and looked through the window. She considered her brother and Sarah as they laid snuggled together.

"But she is a killer," cried Ellie in confusion. How could her gentle brother be with someone like that?

Casey grabbed Ellie by the shoulders and spun her around to continue their confrontation. But he stopped when he saw her face. He saw a myriad of raw emotions on her face. He recognized that she was confused and couldn't process anything more.

Casey sighed in resignation. "Come on, it's time I got you back to your room."

Chuck Bartowski's Hospital Room, Escondido CA

Sarah awoke but she didn't open her eyes. She let her senses take in her surroundings. Awareness of the body entwined with hers made her smile. She was with Chuck. Her body relaxed as it recognized the nearness of him.

She opened her eyes and drank in the sight of him. A feeling of melancholy floated through her. The love of her life was in her arms. It felt so right, but also so bittersweet.

Tragically, Chuck laid in her arms, but was injured. He had a traumatic brain injury, of which, no one knew if he would ever awake from. It was so wrong; so unfair.

Pain seared her heart at the dire nature of their situation. But Sarah chose to ignore it. For a few fleeting moments, she simply wanted to be with Chuck.

She reached out her arm and laced her fingers through his hair. She loved the feel of it, as it glided through her fingers. The intimate act always made him feel like he was hers.

Her eyes shifted to his face and its still form. She frowned. His stillness was so unlike "her" Chuck. She tensed at the reminder that "her" Chuck might be gone.

Her emotions suddenly seemed to clog up her ability to breathe. She clutched him to her and buried her head near his neck. She willed herself not to cry, but a few sobs racked her body.

She raised her lips to his ear and whispered, "Chuck you can't leave me. I need you."

She closed her eyes as her need for him overwhelmed her. She laid her head down on his chest. She could only lay there as emotions surged through her.

After the storm had past, Sarah laid quietly upon his chest listening to his heartbeat. She was lost in thought; when suddenly her own heart stopped. Holding her breath, she listened as her ears picked up a faint whisper.

"Sarah…."

Author's note: Thanks to Sharp for beta-ing an early draft. All new errors are strictly my own.