Ellie Bartowski

Ellie and Chuck had been home for nearly a week now. It was strange to be back in Encino, which was odd since it was supposed to be home. It just didn't feel like home right now. Maybe because it was now officially in her name after she signed a bunch of forms yesterday.

( Cut for a bit of canon angst! )

[NFB]

Ellie knew what today was. It was just another good excuse to call home. She settled on her bed, grabbed her new cellphone (not nearly as clunky as her older mid-90s style), and dialed home.

"Hey Chuck," she said into the phone. "Is Dad there?...Oh, he isn't? Do you know when he'll be back? Yeah, I know. Nothing to worry about."

She frowned slightly, trying not to sound too disappointed. "He'll come back eventually. He always does. Just...tell him I called, okay?"

After talking to her brother a little longer, she hung up the phone and sighed. She really should stop thinking she can rely on either of her parents, especially when her dad was more and more flaky. She just hoped he wouldn't leave for good the way her mother did.

[establishy]