For notes and disclaimer, please see part one.

Here's a few things you might need to know or maybe you just forgot: Casey shows off the ring he bought for Ellie to Alex. Spoilers for Chuck versus the Bullet Train.

Time

She sat at the computer, watching the computations sputter past. She wasn't entirely sure how long she'd been there, but it was long enough that merely stretching her neck no longer eased the tension between her shoulder blades. Ellie was determined to figure out a course of action, to help save Sarah...

...whenever they found her.

She'd never seen her brother so upset before. It reminded her, a little, of what happened when their mother left. He withdrew into himself, as though soul-searching might unlock the key to getting her back. She tapped her fingers on the desk, wondering if a call to her mother might be beneficial. After all, Ellie was no spy, but Chuck and Casey were, and they always managed to do better with a full team. Mary might even be a calming influence on Chuck, serving as proof that spies could live a long, somewhat healthy life.

When the door from the Buy More slammed open, she jumped. The voices that followed echoed all throughout the base, the tones angry, bitter, frustrated, and scared.

"He has her, don't you get it?" Chuck demanded.

"He had Alex earlier. Yes, I think I understand part of what you're going through," returned Casey.

Ellie knew well that her John could be gruff, even ornery when dealing with others, but there was a kindness under his words.

"And Alex is fine, dandy, sitting at home with your cat!" Chuck spat.

Morgan quickly jumped in. "C'mon, buddy, this is far from over... If there's anyone that can find her, anyone in the world, it's us. Team Bartowski."

"She could be dead already!" Chuck cried out in anguish, in agony.

"If she were, she wouldn't have activated her emergency beacon," said Casey. "And Quinn needs her to get the other Intersect. I've got Beckman working back channels, pulling every string she has."

"It's taking too much time, Casey!"

"It may be to our benefit," Ellie said, getting to her feet.

Chuck noticed her for the first time. "Our... our benefit?" he repeated, disbelieving.

"I was there, Chuck, if you'll remember, when your Intersect finally took its toll. I remember the watch Dad made for you..." She gestured at the computer behind her. "With a little more time, I think I can have something for her, a governor of her own, based on her bio-chemistry, on her version of the Intersect."

Chuck blinked. "You... you can do that? How?"

"The laptop that was in Dad's Mustang... It had part of his research into the governor technology," she explained.

"But, what if it's gone? What if everything, if everything is all gone? She was already forgetting Alex..."

Ellie's eyes flew to Casey after Chuck said that, unaware that Sarah forgot her partner's only child. "The good thing, the one good thing, is that we know that Morgan returned to normal once the Intersect was removed. While it may affect her behaviors while she has it, once it's gone, once it's under control, Sarah will be Sarah again. The memories may be suppressed, temporarily forgotten. There's no doubt in my mind that, when you find her, everything will be fine, Chuck."

He closed his eyes. "God, sis, I hope you're right."

"In the meantime, you're going to need to try to get some sleep," Casey pointed out.

Chuck laughed, as though it was the most absurd thing he had ever heard in his life. "Not until Sarah's safe."

"You can't help Sarah, not without being at full strength," Ellie said gently. "You'll need to rest." While it was clear Chuck wanted to protest, his exhaustion was evident. "There are cots here, aren't there, John? So, whenever we receive news, he'd know immediately..."

"You aren't resting, too?" Chuck asked.

Ellie glanced back at the computer. "Not yet. But, soon," she promised.

"I feel like we're kids again, and you're sending me to bed at bedtime... like there's school tomorrow." Chuck rubbed at his forehead. "Like you used to."

"School? No," Casey said. "A rescue mission? That one's far more probable." He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "Find a bunk, Bartowski."

Chuck hesitated, clearly weighing the options.

"I could use some shut-eye, too. We work in shifts, might not be so bad. That way someone will always be up, ready to do whatever," Morgan added helpfully.

"Not a bad idea, Grimes," Casey said with an appreciative nod.

As Morgan guided Chuck down the hall, Ellie's eyes met Casey's. "How bad is it?" she asked in a whisper.

He crossed to her, pulling her into a hug – both for himself and for her. "We need to find her fast."

Ellie felt some of her tension leave when his arms encircled her. "We will... won't we?"

Casey kissed her hair. "We'd better."

Stay tuned...