"I'm afraid I don't understand, Sans. You... saw Chara? According to the orderlies, Chara was in their room the whole day. I don't know what you saw, but... It couldn't have been Chara."

"I know it doesn't make any sense, Tori. But I need to see them myself. Just for a few minutes. I'd say I was seeing things, but Dad saw them too. The only person who could convince me otherwise at this point is Aria, but she's still asleep."

"I'll take you with me if you talk to Aria first. She's the only one I think I could begin to believe... Because it's just not possible, dear. I don't think you're a liar, but I think you and William misread the situation."

…

February 7th, 213X

...

Sans sighed as he tucked his phone away after saying goodbye to Toriel. He hadn't expected her to believe him, but he had hoped she might trust that he wasn't crazy.

"Sans." He turned to see Frisk leaning lightly on the doorframe of the waiting room.

"Hey, babe," he muttered in return, his posture feigning relaxation as he tucked his hands into his hoodie pockets. Frisk knew that facade well. Sans tried to pretend he was cool and relaxed no matter what. "Did you see Aria?"

"She's awake. Your father wouldn't leave her side." Frisk pushed off the doorframe to step up in front of Sans. They took him by the arm and drew him into a gentle embrace. "You haven't eaten all day."

"Not really hungry," Sans murmured. His hands came to rest on Frisk's lower back and he leaned into their chest.

"Hungry or not, you need to eat something. So does Al. Undyne and I will drag you both downstairs if you don't go."

"Alright, fine... What about Dad?"

"I'm afraid neither of us can make him go. So I'm going to bring him something." Frisk pressed a kiss to Sans' forehead. "Come on." With a little tug on his sleeve, Frisk set Sans walking out and down the hall toward the elevators. Undyne and Alphys were waiting for them. Or rather, Undyne was waiting and trying to make Alphys believe that her mother would be fine if they went to eat.

"She's okay, baby," Undyne soothed softly, knelt before Alphys who sat on a bench against the wall. "Gaster's with her. She's safe as can be."

"I-it only took a few minutes of being on her own to get hurt. It doesn't matter wh-who's with her... If they look away..." Alphys was trying to hold back tears as Undyne tried to keep her from having a full-blown panic attack in fear of losing the only parent she had left.

"Alphys." When Frisk's soothing voice reached them, both women looked up to see Sans and Frisk approaching. Needing the stability of Frisk's calm and patient presence, Alphys stood to hug them tightly. As safe as Alphys felt with Undyne, Frisk was the unshakable rock of their friend group. Frisk didn't scare easily and they reacted peacefully to everything even when force was necessary.

Undyne stood with a sigh and glanced at Sans. The circles under his eyes were darker than usual. He and Frisk and Gaster probably hadn't slept the night before. Undyne knew she and Alphys certainly hadn't. After arriving to see Aria who was still too foggy to tell them what happened, Undyne and Frisk had been looking after the others. They'd all spent the night at the nearby hotel, and Sans had fielded all the calls from the CORE and the lab to save Gaster and Alphys the trouble, while Undyne had called into work for herself and Alphys.

Sans met Undyne's gaze and the two stepped away together. "So… how goes the plan to visit Chara?" Undyne asked quietly as they leaned on the wall down the way. Frisk would take care of Alphys.

"Tori said she'd take me- obviously I can't go without her permission. It's her kid after all… But she doesn't believe a word I said."

"It's not exactly the most believable story… especially considering Chara lost any power they had thanks to Frisk. But… we can't afford not to believe it," Undyne sighed, and Sans looked up at her.

"Speaking of… how goes the training with Al?" Sans murmured, and Undyne reached up to fix her ponytail- a nervous habit.

"Al's kind of like Frisk on the fighting front… even when she attacks, she just can't do any damage. She's a great defender and healer, though. But her forte's always been healing thanks to her work. Me… It seems like I still can't do anything other than destroy. I've got a good handle on fire thanks to Tori and Asgore, but that's about it."

"Maybe once things settle down, you should ask Asriel," Sans suggested, making Undyne raise an eyebrow.

"I thought that was dangerous for him."

"That's just Asgore being too cautious. Asriel trains every day. He's one hell of a kickboxer too, according to Pap."

"Papyrus works with him?"

"Weekly."

"Huh… It'd be a nice excuse to get to know Az again… I kinda miss the kid. I don't think I've even talked to him lately."

"He's a good guy. And not nearly as dangerous as his parents make him out to be. They're just overprotective and they don't want to risk someone setting him off. But I doubt anyone could make him lose it these days unless he was in real danger."

Both went quiet for a long moment and Undyne crossed her toned arms. She watched Sans stare at the floor, looking completely exhausted. His gaze eventually wandered back to Frisk down the hall, watching them cup Alphys' cheeks and speak to her softly while tears rolled down her face. Undyne wanted to go running back to her, but she knew Frisk was the best for the job.

"So when're you gonna pop the question?" Sans murmured, making Undyne sigh and shake her head. "You bought that ring like two months ago."

"I'm still waiting for the right time."

"You've had plenty of great chances, Undyne. Especially that weekend you guys took at the hotel near the hot springs."

"I was going to then…"

"But you got scared," Sans gave her a little grin and she frowned, narrowing her eyes.

"I never get 'scared,' Sans."

"You chickened out of asking the love of your life to marry you, because you've somehow convinced yourself she might say no," Sans chuckled.

"And what about you?" Undyne huffed. "You and Frisk have been going steady for two years. When are you gonna ask?"

"Eh. I never really considered it. Weddings aren't my thing," Sans shrugged.

"Aw, come on, you know Frisk would love it. It'd be simple, and they probably wouldn't even make you wear a tux."

"Huh… maybe one day. We'll see."

"Hop to it, old man. You're not getting any younger."

"You're two years younger than me."

"But not thirty like you. Doesn't that make you a cougar, with a partner eight years younger than you?"

Sans sighed deeply, but thankfully Frisk and Alphys' return saved him from any more teasing. Undyne's usual sarcasm melted away at the sight of Alphys' glassy red eyes, but Frisk had managed to calm her down. "Hey, baby," Undyne murmured, drawing the tiny blonde into her arms with a kiss pressed to her forehead.

Frisk wrapped an arm around Sans' broad shoulders, giving him a small smile when Sans' own arm looped around their waist. Once Alphys was ready, they headed for the elevator and out to the parking garage. Once they were all in Frisk's car, Undyne's phone rang and she pulled it out to answer. "Wagner," came her typical professional voice, but her expression quickly became surprised and then sheepish. "Hey… Hi, Ma. I-… Yeah, she-…" Sans held back a slight snort, hearing a tirade on the other line that was undoubtedly Undyne's mother Maurette. "I'm sorry, Ma, listen-… yes, I know she's your best friend. I'm sorry. I've been with Al." The voice on the other end quieted and Undyne seemed to relax. "Did Gaster tell you? … Yeah, he's with her… Room 576. Do you want me to come meet you? … Okay. We'll see you there, then. Love you too, bye." With a sigh, she tucked her phone back into her pocket.

"Oh boy. Are we getting a visit from the old captain?" Sans asked with a little grin, looking back at Undyne as she relaxed into her seat.

"Yup. Hold onto your asses. She's gonna be on the warpath."

"How much are we going to tell her?" Frisk asked, glancing at Undyne in the rearview mirror.

"It's up to Aria and Gaster. Mom would be good to have on board, but then again, it might be better if we have fewer people involved."

"Do you think we should tell Mettaton and Papyrus?" Alphys asked quietly. "They're going to hear about Mom and they're going to know we're all involved eventually."

"I'd rather keep Pap out of it… and M would tell him if we didn't," Sans sighed. "Maybe we should. But I'm not looking forward to making them worry."

"They'll worry anyway if we keep secrets," Frisk reasoned, and Sans nodded. "Besides… we don't know the scope of the problem yet with Chara and the CORE. Mettaton could be a big help seeing as he knows a thing or two about the CORE, and Papyrus could be helpful if there are any more 'accidents.' He's a great healer and good moral support if nothing else."

"Yeah… I guess that's two more people I gotta call. But I'll deal with that after I go with Tori to see Chara." Sans slid down in his seat.

"I'll talk to them," Frisk told him, reaching over to lay a hand over Sans' on the center console. "You just worry about Chara."

"Thanks, babe…" Sans muttered. No one envied him the task of going to see the heir that Delta had forgotten, and Frisk wanted to make everything else a little easier. They couldn't go in Sans' place, if only for their own sake. Frisk was certain that the very sight of Chara might make one of them lose their composure. Either Frisk would shut down in fear, or Chara would attack them. Chara had promised as much when they'd been dragged away by royal guards twelve years back- they would destroy Frisk, and never be parted from Asriel again.