Don't own Chuck

Previous Chuck stories and order: 1 Chuck vs Charles, 2 Chuck vs the Love Boat, 3 Chuck vs The Rock, 4 Chuck vs Amtrak, 5 Chuck vs The Dictator, 6 Chuck vs The Name, 7 Chuck vs The Volcano, 8 Chuck vs The Ghost, 9 Chuck vs The Shooter, 10 Chuck vs The Package, 11 Chuck vs The Jade Dragon, 12 Chuck vs Jai-Alai, 13 Chuck vs The Greek, 14 Chuck vs The Suitcase, 15 Chuck vs The Pirate, 16 Chuck vs The Toy Maker, 17 Chuck vs The Sibyl, 18 Chuck vs The House, 19 Chuck vs The Heist

Chuck and Casey were bringing a rather large box into their apartment as Sarah and Sam watched. Emma and Molly were gone, visiting Jack in Montenegro. Emma caved in to Molly's demands after Jack sent them a postcard telling what a lovely spot it was. Molly wanted to go and she had a break from school so Chuck and Sarah sent them but only after they convinced Emma everything would be alright. That was yesterday and today was the day that Sam got her big girl bed. There would be no more prison breaks risking life and limb but life would never be the same.

"Guys are you sure you don't want a hand. I can help," said Sarah as Sam sat in the middle of the living room. She put both hands over her eyes as Sarah grabbed a lamp that was about to get knocked over.

"No Babe we've got this," said Chuck. "There's no need to worry."

"I can see that," she replied with the lamp still in her hand.

"You know Love there's a thing called the internet where you can order things like this and they even deliver it assembled."

"Ha ha, very funny," said Sarah, "I know but you really can't tell what they're like on line and when we happened to be at Ikea this one just jumped out at us."

"Happened to be? We drove all the way across town to North San Fernando to find it then you had them show you how many before you picked this one?"

"Maybe ten or fifteen but it was just off the I5 and not that far away. So it was rush hour, what's a little traffic? Besides, we had the van."

"Misappropriating government property is all," said Casey as he dropped the box and wiped the sweat off. You don't happen to have anything cold in the refrigerator, do you?"

"Yeah John," said Sarah as she went over to get Casey a beer, "but we didn't say anything when you wanted to get that table down at that flea market. No we went with you and helped you out like good partners."

"That was the table Reagan sat at when he said, 'all great changes in America begins at the dinner table' so I was saving an iconic piece of Americana."

"It was an awkward icon; we almost never got it into your place. If you'd let us remove the legs it would've gone in a whole lot easier."

"Then it wouldn't have been worth as much, no I'm not letting you philistines ruin my stuff. Okay it's in so I'm out of here. I'll be next door for a bit then I'm going to take the van back so if you need any tools you need to get them now."

"Everything should be included. You know this isn't my first Ikea experience. I think my first one was a set of book shelves but those didn't work out too well."

"Yeah, they fell off the wall," said Sarah.

"How did you know? That was evening after we first met when a thief broke into my place and tried to steal my computer. He put it on the shelves that Morgan hung and they fell off the wall with my computer."

"See it was Morgan's fault. Sam what do you think of your new bed Chuck's going to put together for you?" said Sarah changing the topic as Sam giggled.

"Mine," said Sam as she got up and inspected the box.

"Yes yours," said Chuck as he walked over and picked her up kissing her on the forehead then handing her off to Sarah before starting to unbox.

"Chuck I need to confess something," said Sarah as he turned towards the box then he stopped and turned back kissing her.

"I didn't like that computer that much anyway. No, Casey I think I've got everything I need and more," Chuck said as he kissed Sarah again.

"Yuck, I think I'm going to be sick. At the rate you're going Sam will be able to sleep in her new bed when she comes home from the prom."

"I'll have together in a snap, the instructions are inside and I've got plenty of screw drivers in my Nerd Herd handy repair case."

"Instructions! Instructions, no man ever follows the instructions they include in those boxes. Every man knows that after you kill the prey you have to gut and skin it."

"Casey, Ikea is hardly big game hunting although I don't know about their meat balls. I hear after you eat them you get an urge to run down to Santa Anita and do a lap. Someone also mentioned a craving for oats."

"Funny Chuck, but don't be surprised if you have a bucket of extra pieces, they always give you more than you need."

"Hold off on the household chores team for right now," said General Beckman as she came on the monitor in Echo Park. "I've got the deal of a lifetime for you."

"General I don't know if you realize it or not but you sound like a used car salesman. I've got a low mileage slightly late model car that has only been driven to church at the weekends."

"Chuck, Sarah how would you like a government financed holiday vacation? All expenses paid trip to Tahiti. It seems the Turners have made a request that you come visit them on the island and after all the missions you've been on I thought we ought to foot the bill."

"Wow General it would be nice to see them after all this time and that's nice of you to offer but what do we do with Sam? Emma's not here and we really can't keep using Alex. She's an agent not a babysitter even if that's her cover. And we can't leave Casey, he's the backbone of our team," said Chuck as he was looking over at Sarah.

"Sure a tropical vacation would be nice but we've got responsibilities now," said Sarah but Chuck could read between the lines. In this case what was between a blue sky and a blue ocean was a white corral beach.

"Well if it's a vacation and we're being invited by the Turners as guests then I guess we could take Sam along. It would be rude to turn them down but what about Casey? It wouldn't be fair to him to leave him behind while we run off and enjoy ourselves."

"The Colonel will be joining you few days later. He'll be flying over in a PBY; well he'll actually be flying the PBY. You might have to do some island hopping and a PBY would be the ideal vehicle."

"Island hopping and a free aircraft this is sounding more and more like a mission."

"Have I said the word mission? I don't think so I've tagged you along with a government survey team as a way to account for the costs. I need you to be packed and at the airport in three hours you have a flight out of LAX to Aéroport International Tahiti Fa'a'ā. I've already had your passports pre-screened so you can walk on board the plane."

"Seems you already knew we'd agree," said Chuck starting to smell a rat but if the rest wanted to go he wouldn't rock the boat.

"Chuck, you never say no to a General. Beckman out."

"Well Love I guess we need to pack," said Chuck as he grabbed the phone and headed back to their bedroom. "Let me go call Morgan, I've got a special mission for him while we're gone."

"John I don't like this," said Sarah as soon as Chuck disappeared. "How often has the agency paid for a vacation for you?"

"Never, I smell a rat too. Let me do some checking and I'll call you as soon as I know something. This government survey team makes me suspicious. While you three are out there keep an eye open."

"I wish I could leave Sam with someone but Chuck's right we can't keep dumping on Alex and there's not enough time to vet another sitter."

"Just remember what I said keep an eye out," said Casey as he grabbed his beer and left heading back to his place.

"What does a person wear in Tahiti?" yelled Chuck from their bedroom.

"I don't know normal clothes I guess. We could go Hawaiian with flower prints or we could always pick something up there."

"Honey, what do you think," said Chuck as he came out dressed with a jacket on top of shorts and scandals.

"No one wears that ever," said Sarah as she shook her head and Sam put her hands over her eyes. "TSA will arrest you the moment you walk through the doors at the airport for crimes against fashion."

"What? You two aren't digging the whole business up-top, party below-the-waist thing? I figured it covered all activities with one fell swoop. Just joking but I could use a little help before I get accused of over packing."

"But you always do. You had me going there of a bit I thought you wanted to go to Venice Beach with that get up."

"Not a bad idea I could get the mime of the Statue of Liberty to laugh, or put out a tin can and make some extra cash."

"Or come here and give me a kiss. I think I'm overdue," said Sarah as Sam giggled.

"We can't have that now, can we," said Chuck as he came close to her put his arms around her and kissed her.

"Yuck," said Sam as he put her hands out to him.

"I don't know if she wants me to hold her or it's her comment on my fashion statement," said Chuck as he took Sam from her and they headed back to their bedroom.

"It could be both," said Sarah as she looked him up and down shaking her head. "Oh, by the way what mission did you give Morgan? Is it something I need to know about?"

"Well maybe, I asked him to assemble Sam's bed while we're gone," said Chuck. Sarah stopped for bit as if she was processing what he said then went into the bedroom with him.

"Chuck, are you sure that was such a good idea. I mean we're talking about bookshelf Morgan here and our daughter's safety."

"Oh no faith in the little bearded man," said Chuck as he shook his head and made a funny face at Sam. She thought he was funny and giggled then wanted down.

"Trusting Morgan's recommendation for Chinese takeout isn't the same as trusting him with our daughter's safety."

"I knew you'd say that so I asked Alex if she'd be quality control and check it to make sure it was safe."

"So you were what? Making fun of me? I hate you," said Sarah as she grabbed a pillow off their bed and threw it at him.

"But you looked so serious," he said as he deflected it then climbed on their bed. "Meet you halfway."

"Halfway for what," she said as she climbed on it too and then kissed. "If we keep this up we're going to miss our flight."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" As they were kissing Sam grabbed her rabbit and climbed in bed with them sitting in the middle.

"Well that ends that. I'll pack Sam's bag you grab our breakout bags and take them to the car. Remember to throw in your eczema cream. If we need anything else we can get it in country."

"There is one thing we need to take with us and I think we can still get it before we leave," said Chuck as he looked at this watch. "But we have to hurry."

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Laura and Craig were sitting in a hotel bar drinking an early afternoon aperitif with a little soda and a lot of gin. The room seemed to be hopping as people came and went. There was a pianist playing soft background music which set the perfect atmosphere for a romantic interlude.

"Craig can we concentrate here if you don't mind stopping staring at all the skirts going by," said Laura as she took a gulp from her drink.

"I wasn't staring and besides most of the women are in bikinis so they aren't wearing skirts not that I noticed my love I only have eyes for you."

"Yeah me and the dozen other women you've looked over who've passed through. You know they could be your daughters. What am I saying with your track record they might be your daughters."

"I don't think so can we get back to the mission at hand. The Bartowski's will be arriving late this evening then tomorrow we have the governor's Gala to attend. Oh it will be good to get our feet wet again even if it's for this one time."

"Just as long as at the Gala your feet stay wet and your hands stay empty."

"Love I see where you're going with the metaphors but how many times do I have to tell you I'm just an admirer of beauty, a true connoisseur."

"As long as you do your admiring from a distance and don't trying for any free samples. But you're right it will be nice to see Sarah and Chuck. Beckman said they have a daughter now and before you say anything she's about one and half a little young even by your standards."

"Funny, very funny but I just hope they don't have any trouble with that French Captain in Gendarme when they clear customs. She takes her job way too serious."

"If you'd kept your hands to yourself none of this would've happened."

"An accident, as I explained I was reaching for my drink when she walked by an honest mistake and neither of you will let me live it down."

"Since when do you need both hands to pick up your drink and the fruit at the stand was ripe so the less we talk about this the better off you'll be. And for our sake we can only hope that she gets a transfer soon but from what I understand she's stuck here for duration."

"In that case, barkeep another round for the Lady and myself, have I told you that you look rather radiant today my love," said Craig as he brushed Laura's hair back and looked into her eyes.

"What do you want? I know you want something. It's been ages since you've paid me a compliment. Your compliments are like Christmas they come once a year. "

"The same as Halloween but can't a man compliment his wife on the way she looks especially after all these years," said Craig. "I mean after all these years of happy marriage."

"Which time? And are you calling me old?"

"I think you've had enough to drink," said Craig as he tried to move her glass away but she grabbed and downed it.

"I think I haven't had enough yet. But no you're right we need to be professional when the Bartowski's get here.

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Chuck and Sarah had to run through LAX to make their flight. Sam thought it was fun getting pushed in her stroller at break neck speeds along with the occasional speed bump as Sarah ran over bystander's toes. One thing Chuck noticed as they were running the hurdles was the more he was in a hurry the more people got in his way. It was as if they were deer and someone had shined a light in their eyes. They just stood there as he came running through and had to push them out of his way then they even protested when they got shoved.

"There up ahead is the gate. We're almost there," said Chuck as they heard the final boarding call. "Hold up we're here, don't close the door."

"Boarding passes," asked the gate assistant. "Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael, I'll take the stroller and you can pick it up when you arrive."

"Chuck I swear no more detours," said Sarah. "Well at least we got our run in for the day and I'm glad we got the upgrade. I can't image a flight this long in coach."

"Only the best for my girls," said Chuck as he got his breath and a cabin attendant showed them their seats. After take-off the attendant brought them a glass of champagne and as they were being served Sarah's phone range.

"It's Casey I need to take this," said Sarah as she answered but the flight attendant got angry and protested.

"I'm sorry but according to FAA regulations all phones must be put in airplane mode. You can't receive or make calls while the plane is in the air."

"I appreciate that and I know you're only doing your job but we are Federal agents," said Chuck as he showed them his badge then dug out Sarah's. "See and the phone call has to do with national security."

"I see and does the baby have a badge too? I'm sorry but you're going to have to hang up or I'm going to have to get someone."

"Casey, hold on a second we have an incident," said Sarah as she turned to the woman. "I'm sorry miss but my husband was polite I'm not. What he said is true and if you have to get someone than do it just get out of my face."

"Well I never," said the woman as she stormed off going to the aft part of the plane towards coach disappearing behind a curtain.

"Okay John what did you find out," said Sarah as she returned to her conversation with Casey and the mystery mission.

Chuck knew a showdown was brewing so he took a deep breath and waited. It didn't take long then like on cue the woman reappeared this time with a rather large man with her.

"Excuse me ma'am but interfering with the functions of the flight crew is a federal crime. I have the authority to arrest you and bring you back to the US for prosecution," said the man as he showed Sarah his badge as Sky Marshal. Before Chuck could stop him the man reached for her phone which was a big mistake. She grabbed his hand and put him in a wrist lock which took the big man to the ground. The rest of the passengers stared at her and Chuck saw the terror in their faces.

"Everyone just calm down, this is just a training exercise for the Marshal," said Chuck as he took the Marshal's badge and Sarah's phone. John, write down this badge number and name," said Chuck as he gave him the details then handed the phone back to Sarah and the badge back to the Marshal.

"Lady you just bit off more than you can chew," said the Marshal as he went for his Sig but found it missing.

"I think you're looking for this," said Chuck as he held the gun on the Marshal, "I can't let you shoot my wife although there have been times when I've thought about it."

"Hold Casey, really Sweetie?"

"No not really but it sounded good," said Chuck as the Marshal turned beet red and the flight attendant didn't know what to do she was just paralyzed standing there.

"You're both crazy and in big trouble. I'm going to have the book thrown at both of you when we land. I'm going to-" but before he could continue his phone rang.

"I'd answer that if I were you it might be important," said Chuck. "Miss pour the man a Scotch, I think he's going to need it."

The man went pale when he looked at his phone. He didn't have to be told it was important, he recognized the number it was his Divisional Director his boss's boss.

"Yes sir can I help you …. But sir she was …. Yes they showed their badges but …. I know our mandate and our interagency agreements …. Yes, I've been through training and no sir I don't have to be told that …. She did tell the flight attendant it was a national emergency but everything is a national emergency these days. …. No, I'm not trying to be funny …. Yes sir I'll file a report as soon as I get back. Thank you," said the man as he took the Scotch and downed it then started to walk off.

"Wait," said Chuck as he had the man turn around, "you forgot this. You don't want to have to explain losing your weapon too."

"No you're right. Thanks," said the man not knowing if he'd still have a job when he got back home. Sam stood up in Chuck's arms and waved bye to the man as he went back to his seat.

Sarah finished with Casey then hung up. She felt like everyone's eyes were on her as she was still getting stares from the other passengers. Chuck could tell it was starting to bother her so he defused the situation by using Sam.

"Love come with me and let's change Sam together in the back of the plane," said Chuck as he stood up with Sam waiting for Sarah to stand up then they walked to the aft lavatories. "Can you tell me what Casey found out," he asked as he changed her with Sarah standing in the lavatory doorway.

"To put it in a nutshell the Turners reported some strange movements around the Centre d'expérimentation du Pacifique. Then we questioned the French but they have flatly denied wanting to renew nuclear testing in the Pacific."

"Some vacation, this is sounding more and more like a mission. Well, all done here. Shall we go back to our seats? I'll take the first watch if you want to try and get some sleep," said Chuck as they made their way back forward. Sarah noticed something off with two men sitting in coach with Hawaiian flower printed shirts but she just wrote it off to nerves after the Sky Marshal. However, what she didn't see was one of the men had a Time magazine open with Obama's picture on the front and turned to the middle where pictures of them were glued.

"Yeah that's them you want to take them here?" said the one man leaning over to the man next to him.

"Are you crazy? We're twenty thousand feet over the Pacific where are we going to escape to after the hit? Do you have a parachute I sure don't? No we'll take them in the airport once we've landed."