Let us do something, while we have the chance. Still don't own Chuck.
Chapter 1—Searches
USC Hospital
Steven got to the hospital a little early. He brought a change of clothes for Sarah, Chuck, and Casey. They had just finished an operation capturing over seventy Fulcrum agents where a shed with a large amount of drugs was blown up. Their clothes had residue from the explosion. Steven had Sarah's overnight bag which was unpacked.
Sarah had moved her clothes to the new apartment. Chuck had planned to take Sarah to their new apartment after the going away party for Morgan. He had candles and rose petals around the apartment like they did for Devon and Ellie. But the attack at the beach and Casey's capture left those rose petals drying on the floor. Sarah would not go back to the apartment without Chuck. She spent the night with Chuck at the USC hospital.
Chuck and Sarah had led a force of their own teams and a National Guard Air Cavalry unit to get Casey back. During the operation when the shed with the drugs was blown up, a secondary explosion occurred which threw Casey's and Chuck's van off the road. They had possible head injuries and a dose of the tranquilizer that was also in the shed. Both were taken to the USC Hospital and Sarah went along.
Steven went to Chuck's room first. Chuck was just getting up out of his bed. And Sarah was still asleep in her bed. Steven quietly laid the clothes down. And went to Casey's room.
Casey said with a smile on his face, "You know those nurses and guards came checking in our rooms almost all the time last night." Casey shook his head.
"Well, did they tell you when you'll get out of here? Kelly call again this morning. I think this is getting more and more important that you three talk with him." Steven gave Casey his clothes.
"If those nurses ever got a bad reading last night, I would be surprised. They never said a word. So I assume that we are okay. But no one has said when the doctor will show up."
Chuck poked his head in the door. "Thanks for getting the clothes. Anyone hear when they'll feed us. I didn't get anything yesterday. Then they kept me up all night. I don't know how Sarah slept." When Chuck had turned to let the nurse in, Steven gave Casey another twenty.
The nurse said that they could get dressed anytime they wanted. The doctor would be here soon to release them. They were released about twenty minutes later.
Castle
CIA Director Kelly Robins was on the screen at Castle. "I think we have an opportunity against the Fulcrum Elder Maximilian de Brouget. First we need to confirm whether the Fulcrum agents you captured yesterday are under his supervision. Sarah's analysts think that if Chuck can identify them and put the information in his web search and model that we will be able to confirm that. There are pictures and a video of them being sent for Chuck to review.
"Then tomorrow night Old Max is holding a dinner at his ranch near Sacramento. I would like you three to go to that dinner, copy the files from his computer, and check his office safe for any documents that could link him to Fulcrum activities.
"I have the invitations for you. You'll be going as Mr. and Mrs. Charles Michelson and Mr. Daryl Michelson. The covers are included in an email I just send you. Cover documents are on their way. Do you have any questions?" Kelly was looking at the screen.
Sarah was very concerned, "I assume we'll need to change our appearance. Max would have our pictures. Did you already do that in the IDs?"
"Your IDs did not include pictures. They aren't finished. You can insert the pictures at Castle. This brings up a good point. Chuck if you see advanced surveillance equipment, Max maybe trying to use biometrics to confirm his guests. If that is the case, abandon the mission and get out of there."
Chuck was trying to figure out how long this was going to take. He looked at Sarah, "Say can we get that Liz Reynolds to come out and help? Even with Dad and Eldie on this I don't think we could get this done before tomorrow afternoon."
"I am sure she would love to." Sarah looked back at Chuck with a smile. She remembered the almost teenage infatuation Liz had about Chuck. "I'll contact her and see if she can come. If not I'll ask Mr. Wiggins who else is available."
Kelly asked, "Well any other questions? Casey?"
"Fine here." Casey grunted.
"Okay unless there are other problems, we'll do another conference tomorrow morning. Thank you." Kelly signed off.
Sarah began, "Casey, can you get the IDs fixed? I'll check the files they sent for our covers. Chuck, I'll get your dad and Eldie to come over. You have any problems with this?"
Chuck was a bit worried. He had not faced a constant series of flashes. "Well, no. I'll see."
Sarah looked at him and saw his expression. "Okay, what's wrong?"
"It's okay. Let me see." And Chuck opened the file. He opened his program in another window and started with the first input.
About a half hour later Steven and Eldie came into Castle. Eldie lingered in the back. This morning was the first morning he was actually going to be sitting around the angel. Sarah had stayed with Eldie after he got shot at the docks. She went with him in the helicopter and stayed with him at the hospital. He had remember the angel with him and told his friends, LT and Brad, that she was the reason he was alive. He was amazed that he was actually going to work with her.
Chuck was bent over his computer and looked very serious. Steven went over to Sarah. "What are we doing?"
"Chuck is going through the pictures and video of the Fulcrum agents we captured the yesterday day. He is trying to flash on them and then put the information he gets into the web search." Sarah saw his look of concern, "What? Chuck wasn't that sure about this. What is wrong?"
"Well, I am a little surprised you haven't noticed. Chuck probably doesn't watch the news too much. I know I don't. Successive flashes can be pretty hard. I know Chuck has been able to adapt better than I have. But it could be pretty hard on him. You better plan on getting him a break on a frequent basis." Steven motioned to Sarah. "Let's go see how many he has done already."
They walked over to Chuck. Sarah ran her hand through his curls. "Hey, how you doing?"
"I got two done. Now that Dad and Eldie are here we ought to be able to go faster." Chuck looked up at Sarah.
"Son, I never did this many on a continuous basis. How are you planning to do this?" Steven was pointing at the picture folder.
"Well, I thought I would flash on the pictures. Record the information that went with the picture and give it to you to put in the search program. I figured I could do six every hours and be done before midnight. With you and Eldie and then Liz we should be able to finish by midnight. That will give us enough time for the search and models to complete before we leave for Sacramento. Why?"
"Charles, you know what the flashes do to you. I could never do two in a row without laying down for a while. You get headaches from them sometimes?"
"Yeah."
"Then okay. This may take a little while longer. But unless you want me to take your place in Sacramento, you take a break after no more than five of them. Sarah, you ought to check on him to make sure he does. It will do us no good if you get a migraine and can't even look at the pictures." Steven was looking down at his son. It reminded him of the times he used to when Chuck did not want to do his homework.
"Okay, this will take longer." Chuck was about to turn around and start. Before he did he saw Mary and some of the others coming into Castle for their morning meeting. "Sarah, I'll keep working this. But our teams need to keep working their investigations. They might be able to add to the information I get from this."
"Okay, I'll get them started and on their way. But I'll be right back to check on you." Sarah walked over to meet Mary and the others.
Mary Ramirez from the FBI, and her team Chief Scotts and Lawrence Taylor from the FBI, were given the job of following up the shot out at the dock and the events at the garage. Both involved drugs and Fulcrum. The next team with Clay Carston as the lead was looking into a connection between Fulcrum and a smuggling operation being investigated by several agencies. His team included Officer Lea Suz from CBP and Brad Hill from FBI. Finally, the team to be assigned to the Roark spin-off included Alice Kazan from the FBI as the lead. Her team included Tom Newton from Secret Service and Sky Marshal Vera Townsman. There was one other team last team led by Marshall Kayle Poston included Kristen O'Day from IRS and Elton Devers from FBI. While Elton was recovering from gunshot wounds at the dock, they would fill-in where necessary.
Sarah reviewed the status of everyone's work so far. Most of it had been cut short by the incident at the garage and then the battle at the Fulcrum ranch. Sarah assigned Kayle and Kristen to Mary's team. With the two incidents they had more follow ups to complete. Sarah went to get Chuck when they were almost complete. She thought this would be a good break point and he needed to know what everyone was doing. She asked each lead to give him a quick summary.
Casey review his details' assignments with the teams. The details were composed of Special Forces personnel from various units assigned to SOCOM. Casey's people would provide additional surveillance on the targets assigned to Sarah's teams. They were also provided to provide additional protection of the teams. Three of their members had been wounded in the shooting at the docks and the ranch. These details were also assigned to protect Chuck, Sarah, and Casey.
Chuck outline the information he needed for the search program. "When you collect the information, get it back to Eldie. Also, we are getting in an analyst from Sarah's organization in D.C. She will be helping and knows how to set up the searches. One other thing when you can get pictures of the people you think may be involve with Fulcrum. We can verify that and put their information in the search. Finally, you all did a great job at the ranch."
As everyone started to go Chuck and Sarah said, "Be careful out there."
Chuck went back to the pictures. Steven and Eldie were busy typing the data from the recordings into the searches.
"Casey, are you going to have your protective details at Max's ranch?" Sarah was looking at the map Casey had displayed on his computer.
Casey grunted, "We need some cover if things go bad. The biometric sensors that Kelly talked about could be placed close to the actual party site. The ranch patio is back here. We have to drive almost a half mile to get to the house. Then even though we may not see any sensors in the house, we are way back here at the patio and then you get a sensor. There is no clear escape route."
She pointed to the lobby area of the house. "Could you try to stay here while we go back to the patio or whatever room the party is held? Then if we see a sensor, you could cover our exit?"
"That will work if Kelly is right about a diminished force under Max. But we could easily be surrounded." Casey pointed to the rooms where the extra Fulcrum guards could come from.
"Do we need to get back with Kelly and see if we can get more invitation to this dinner?"
"It might be a good idea to check. I'll keep checking this. You might want to ask Kelly." With a positive grunt, Casey returned to the screen.
Sarah went to check with Kelly and see when Liz would get in. She found the information on Liz's arrival and sent a note to Casey to get her a ride. She would arrive in about three and half hours. Sarah was impressed with how fast Liz got ready and got a ride. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed that Eldie was staring at her. She decided to ignore it right now. Confronting the behavior right now, like she did Lester, was not appropriate right now. Maybe she would think of something else. When she got done send an email to Kelly and checking her other emails, it was time for Chuck to take a rest. 'Well, maybe.'
Sarah went over to Chuck, "How you doing?"
"Okay, Dad was right this is getting harder. I am starting to fall behind. Let me finish these notes and I'll take the break."
As she was standing with him, she was carefully checking on Eldie. 'He is still watching. Hopefully, this will settle it for him. I am with Chuck. Actually, this could be some fun.' Her smile was getting bigger.
Chuck got up with eyes closed. He was getting a little tired from the strain of the flashes. Sarah caught his arm and started to lead him to the holding rooms. She noticed that Eldie was still watching. 'Watch this.' She got on her tip toes and started to kiss Chuck. As she put her hand around his back and the other on the back of his head, she made certain that Eldie got the point.
Chuck was a little startled. He looked at Sarah and then quickly gave into the moment. He bent down to complete the kiss and wrapped his arms around her. 'I like this!' He whirled her around into the holding cell. When the back of his legs hit the bunk, he smoothly sat side by side while still in the embrace.
FBI Detention Cells
Mary had split her team. LT came with her to the detention cells, while the Chief, Kayle, and Kristen went to the new warehouse where the 'evidence' from the garage was being secured.
Sarah told LT to use the name Max with the drug smugglers. When he was there before, he had shown them a letter with the Fulcrum symbol on it. They opened up immediately for him. He was able to confirm the garage was a trap.
The guards brought the smugglers up to the interview room. Mary went first. She spent a half an hour trying to get more information from them. Alice had tried the same thing before and got no information.
LT came in next. He told them the trap at the garage worked nicely. Almost a whole SWAT team got trapped down there. As the dirt bags laughed it up. LT got in that he was going to get something from Max to show his gratitude. They both perked up. LT told them he was going to a party up at Max's the next day. They went on and on about being there themselves and how Max had his own little trap area. His dining room would seal up like a holding cell and that his office was another trap. His real set up was in the basement and had a vault door to it. After LT was certain these dummies had no more information, he told them next time he should be able to get them out. He calmly walked down the hall and buzzed to get out.
Once out of their sight he motioned to Mary that he had some good information. He told her what it was. Mary decided it would be better to go back to Castle and let them know.
Castle
Chuck and Sarah spent this last break going over the details of the ranch with Casey. He had found places where a few of his protective detail could provide some cover. They went over the information that Casey had put together.
Mary and LT came down the stairs to Castle and saw Sarah, Chuck and Casey gathered together. As they came closer they could see the map of the ranch. LT started, "Oh, good. This makes a lot more sense seeing the layout of the house."
The three of them turned around. Casey, who was speaking, gave a grunted, "What?"
Mary explained, "We went down to the FBI detention cells to see the drug smugglers from the docks. I did not get much of anything from them. But LT using that Fulcrum letter got a bit more." She nodded to LT.
"I mentioned Max and that I was going up to a party at his ranch. They got all excited and told me about their experiences there. Max's dining room can turn into a holding cell. And his study or office is not the real thing. It is a trap too. The real office is down in the basement." He studied the floor plan and pointed to a door. "This door should be the one that leads to the basement. There is another door down there. They said it was more of a vault door than anything else."
Sarah turned to both of them, "I really appreciate you coming back with this. It is very important."
Chuck turned and shaking their hands said thank you also. Casey looked at the map and said, "Give me a little longer. I come up with a different strategy."
At that point one of guards let Liz into Castle. The first thing she got out was, "Oh wow, all three of them." She was nervous and excited at the same time when she started down the stairs and came over to the map.
Chuck moved over to her first, "Hi, you must be Liz. How was your trip?" Chuck held out his hand.
Liz went to reach for it. When she took a step to take his hand, she tripped and fell into Chuck. He moved quickly as she was going down. It clear she would have hit face first, if Chuck had not reached to grab her and stepped into her path.
Mary and Sarah reached over to steady her. Chuck let go as soon as they took over.
"Oh, I am sorry. I sure did not mean to do that. Please accept my apology." Liz had real concern in her face.
Chuck began instantly, "Oh, that's no problem. Ask Casey, I am sure I have made more mistakes." Casey grunted.
Sarah said, "Here please have a seat. Like I said when we asked you to come. We are trying to get the 72 profiles of the agents we caught into the search and model program. Chuck is looking at the pictures and then he records the information. You then take that and put it into the program. Steven and Eldie are working this too."
Steven and Eldie came over and shook her hand. Mary and LT said hi too.
Mary started to leave, "We are going to head back and see what else we can find."
Chuck looked over and said, "Good hunting and be safe."
Mary went over to Sarah. "You know that we are ready to take your place any time you want. Max may know who you are without any extra help. They won't know who we are."
Chuck and Casey watched Sarah deal with this question. "Mary, you may not know how much I appreciate that. But Chuck and I are now the best bet to get through any safe or security lock. And from what LT found, it looks like there will be a couple. Right now, you can help us best by getting more information about Fulcrum's activity."
Mary looked at Sarah for a moment and then said, "You know we'll do our best for you. You guys be safe too." Mary and LT left.
Chuck moved over to Sarah and held her hand. They sat down together as Chuck continued to review the pictures.
Liz looked over at Eldie who seemed to be getting ready to question what had just happened. "You know she's right. She was able to crack a bank's vault safe when a top NSA agent could not. You probably already heard that Chuck make it through two Roark cipher locks. Finally, Casey is the one to make sure they will make it home safe. Come on let's get our job done."
A/N Okay trying to include a little more Charah and get the relationships out in the open. Please review.