For notes and disclaimer, please see part one. Also, that other post-ep I had intended to write last week? Yeah... we'll blame it on the holidays. Moving on! ~K

Spoilers(ish): Chuck versus the Curse

Here's a few things you might need to know, or maybe you just forgot: Chuck and Ellie discuss ways to break Casey out, and what implications that might cause.

Shaken

Ellie paced. Chuck had promised that he would call and let her know when they were free, when Casey was released, when everything would be back to normal. And it had to be back to normal quickly, right? That was how spies operated - at breakneck speeds. Of course, that was only part of the equation. Caution, planning, and cunning made up the rest.

Feeling eyes on her, she glanced over to see Downy watching her from atop the counter. "It can't last forever, right? At some point, the phone will ring and someone will let me know that this nightmare is over."

Except, Downy merely blinked.

She wasn't entirely sure what she was hoping for, or waiting for. She wanted an answer, desperately, from someone, and at that point, she'd have taken a meow from her pet. No amount of cleaning or cooking could contain her nervous energy. Her focus, no longer task-oriented, landed squarely, solidly, on her family.

On her brother and her sister-in-law.

On her... boyfriend...

The term seemed like a misnomer. John Casey wasn't at all a boy but a strong, protective, incredible man. And manfriend just sounded bizarre. He was her John, and she was ready for him to walk through the door to her apartment, smile that crooked grin, and lift her in a warm, solid hug.

Her heart skipped a beat, maybe six, when there was a knock at the door. Skidding in socked feet across the hardwood, she opened the door, hopeful to see everyone. She hated that her face fell when it was only Alex. "Hey..."

Alex, wise beyond her years, smiled knowingly. "I guess you haven't heard from them yet?"

Ellie shook her head, welcoming her inside. "Everything was going according to plan, at least that's the last thing I heard from Chuck."

"Then, I'm sure everything will be fine." Alex gave as hopeful a smile as she could. Seeing Ellie upset made it difficult for her to stay optimistic.

"You're right. Of course you're right," Ellie responded. "Why don't you go to John's, wait for him there... that way, no matter which apartment he comes to first, someone will be there to welcome him."

Alex looked up at her. "Are you sure?"

"Unless you don't want to be over there... I know you and Morgan..." Ellie drifted off.

"It's fine," Alex assured her.

"Why don't you take Downy with you, to keep you company? I'm sure she's seen enough of this place to last a while."

Alex was still hesitant.

"Downy loves your dad's place. He has a lot more interesting things for her to climb on," Ellie said with a tiny smile.

It all happened so fast.

Alex watched the drama unfold from the dim living room, content to observe the happenings of the courtyard with Downy on her lap.

The suits were clearly trained, blocking the exits as they methodically checked the apartments, beginning with Chuck's. When they pounded on Ellie's door, she wanted to warn her, to tell her not to open the door, to run, to hide, but there was no way to convey that message.

The last thing she saw was Ellie being pulled out into the courtyard by a blonde woman in heels and a black trench coat.

Scooping up Downy, Alex padded quietly to the kitchen, wedging herself in the tiny pantry which had been turned into a gun safe. Her father was notoriously changing things around to create his own personal arsenal.

She held her breath as the herd of elephants marched through the apartment, opening the bedroom doors upstairs, even venturing into the kitchen.

"He's not here," stated a nasally voice.

"I told you," said Ellie, "that he's not here. That no one else is home, not Chuck, not Sarah, no one..."

"You understand this is for your protection, don't you?" asked another female voice.

There was a moment's hesitation. "You understand I could really use a martini, don't you?" Ellie returned.

Alex clasped a hand over her mouth quietly. One night, they decided to come up with a code word. Being surrounded by spies, loving them and being loved in return, they both imagined that the time might come when they would be in danger, just by virtue of their proximity to their spying family. Alex had been the one to suggest the idea of a verbal warning, a cue that would seem innocuous enough. Ellie had joked about James Bond, and the "martini" was born, as an indicator of danger, of trouble.

The nasally gentleman spoke again. "Let's go, Ms. Bartowski."

"Actually, it's doctor-" Ellie began, but her voice sounded clipped, as though she ended her sentence prematurely.

Another series of footsteps left the apartment, though it was clear one or two remained. The woman spoke again. "Put this place on lockdown. No one in or out, not until we have apprehended the entire team."

"You honestly think that they'd come home?" asked another voice.

"Bartowski is a wild card. He makes game theory dizzying. Better safe than sorry. Monitor this complex until I give the all-clear."

"Yes, ma'am."

Alex strained to listen as the footsteps retreated from the apartment. Believing they were alone, she looked at Downy, who looked up at her. "What are we going to do now?"

Stay tuned...