For notes and disclaimer, please see part one. Additionally, no copyright infringement intended toward LucasFilm, either. Thank you.

Here's a couple things you might need to know or maybe you just forgot: Ellie learns from Morgan that Chuck isn't exactly dealing with her new relationship very well.

Scruffy-Looking Nerf Herder

He watched as the imposing figure of John Casey cut through the electronics superstore toward the front door. Chuck easily vaulted over the Nerd Herd desk, his lanky legs quickly catching up to the NSA agent. "Hey-hey, Casey, where you headed?"

He regarded the younger man for a moment. "Pets R Us across the mall. Gotta get something for Downy for Christmas."

A goofy grin blossomed on Chuck's face. "You... you're one of those kind of pet owners? The gift-buying kind?" he asked, mildly amused.

Casey grunted, annoyed, as he stepped out into the sunshine of the Burbank afternoon.

Chuck, however, continued to follow him, undeterred. "Listen, big guy, I have... I have some concerns, some things I wanted to discuss with you and, really, being out of the Spy More is probably the best place to have these conversations," he said, glancing over his shoulder at their real fake place of employment.

"What's the issue, Bartowski?"

"Well, here's the thing. As a kid growing up, I always dreamed of being Han Solo. And, I mean, who didn't, right? As the witty rogue, he's all kinds of fantastic. But, deep down, I have come to realize, much to my chagrin, that I am more Luke-like. I've been given this gift that I've had to try to learn to use... Y'know, the Intersect is kinda like using the Force, really. I can do things I never imagined possible. Plus, it's like Yoda says: Do or do not, is no try. With the Intersect, there is no try, there is just do. Except, sometimes when it doesn't quite... work... correctly..."

Casey fought to keep from rolling his eyes. Of all the idiotic things that had come out of Chucks' mouth in the years he'd known him, he was starting to think that this was going to take the cake.

"But, if I'm Luke, then that makes Ellie Princess Leia. Smart. Sassy. Great at everything. And so, if we continue on this metaphor, which, really, I think is quite accurate, then that would make you..." He paused, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was going to state his theory aloud. To Casey. Who might very well punch him. "Casey, that would make you the half-wit, stuck-up, scruffy-looking nerf herder," Chuck said, quoting a line from Empire Strikes Back.

Casey stopped in mid stride, his blue eyes turning laser-like to the kid. "Scruffy-looking?"

The younger agent paused. Casey had missed what he'd tried to say entirely, though, granted, he could see where the Marine might've taken it out of context. "That makes you Han Solo, buddy. Shoot first, ask questions later... And he did shoot first, I don't care what revisionist history Lucas tries to give us." He could tell Casey was losing interest again, and he winced. When he spoke again, it was faster, louder: "But, my point... my point is this, all right? I never would've imagined you and Ellie together. Ever. But, for whatever reason... I guess..." He took a slow, lingering breath. "I guess it kind of seems to work."

One of Casey's eyebrows drifted up his forehead slightly.

"Much like the Leia/Han dynamic. She's... graceful and poised and you... Well, you don't exactly have a Wookiee as a co-pilot, but you're rough and tumble, a fighter. I'd say you love your guns as much as he loved his Millennium Falcon."

Casey put all of that through the Chuck filter, boiling it down to one simple idea: "So, you're okay, with my seeing Ellie?"

Chuck had to swallow hard. "Ellie's happiness is paramount," he said, answering by way of not answering.

Casey jumped to the conclusion that he'd been wrong to assume that Chuck was accepting of the relationship that had been building for months, going on a year now, between him and Ellie. Casey, who had begrudgingly put up with Chuck's on-again, off-again with Sarah, who had, really, been rooting for the two of them the whole time, realized that he had erroneously figured that, at some point, Chuck might return the favor, sister or no.

"Y'know, I didn't like Awesome either."

Casey looked at him curiously, having been successfully pulled from his darker thoughts.

"Truthfully, I think I've adjusted to you a lot faster than him. But, my life kinda depended on trusting you, not Awesome. Even though Devon was a doctor," rambled Chuck. "Devon wound up hurting her, though, I know that. It wasn't physical pain or anything, but it was emotional pain. After Dad died, after everything... I know it wasn't ideal anymore. So, the fact that you were there, to pick up the pieces..." He nodded a little. "But, just remember something, okay? If you hurt her, so help me, John Casey, I will unleash the full potential of the Intersect on you..."

Casey grunted, effectively ending Chuck's diatribe. "Listen, Chuck," he began slowly. "There are a few things I want you to know, without a doubt."

"Okay..."

"First, I didn't set out to fall in love with Ellie. It wasn't my goal or my plan. It just happened. Second, I never meant to upset your... idyllic... non-spy life with spy stuff, but this is our reality now. Ellie and me. Third, and most importantly, I don't want to hurt her. Or... Or even you," he admitted. "And I know that hurting one of you hurts the other."

Chuck nodded a little.

Feeling that there was at least a fragile trust between them, Casey continued to head in the direction of the pet store and Chuck continued to follow along after him. "If it makes you feel any better?"

The Intersect looked up at him.

"I have always seen you as that whiny Skywalker kid," Casey said, cracking a smile.

In spite of himself, Chuck grinned, too.

Stay tuned...