Don't own Chuck
LOCATION: CASTLE HQ FOR TEAM BARTOWKI
General Beckman was speaking from a monitor to the team as they sat at the conference table in Castle, "Bartowksis, Doctor Bartowski informed me that she was prescribing a vacation for you. How did she put it a second honeymoon."
"General," interrupted Chuck, "my sister was just trying to look out for our wellbeing. If this is a problem we could-"
"Agent Bartowski, C. will you please stop interrupting me. Now where was I, oh yes the honeymoon. Well I have to concur. How does a MSC cruise sound in the Mediterranean? Two weeks on the MSC Splendida soaking up sun and relaxing as you visit romantic countries and cities in the Mediterranean."
"Is that like the sweetener Sarah uses for her coffee?" asked Chuck.
"Yeah does it come in a big yellow box or in little packets," continued Morgan.
"Children!" said the General
"Put a sock in it you guys," grunted Casey, "let her finish."
"You mean two weeks without a mission?" added Chuck.
"Of course not, from the data we uncovered at the warehouse we believe that Mrs. Shaw's organization, for a better name Hydra, has organized a met for high level agents to discuss the seizing of a cargo ship sailing from the port of Lamacia loaded with chemical weapons from Smyria. Your mission is to discover their plans and thwart their activities. I needn't remind you that this is the first real intel we've had on this organization so let's not waste it. Chuck and Sarah your cover will be as always Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael of Carmichael Industries, a couple on their second honeymoon. You will fly from Burbank to Chicago and take a connecting flight to Rome, Italy. There you will make contact with CDR Joseph Ryan Navy Intelligence at the Office of the Military Attaché in the Embassy.
"CDR Joseph Ryan, Jack Ryan!" said Morgan. "Guys, don't you get it? Hunt for Red October, Tom Clancy.
"I try not to confuse fact with fiction," grunted Casey.
"May I continue Mr. Grimes I am already late for my luncheon with Roan."
"No, no please continue."
"Thank you," the General said in a not too pleasant tone. "You will then proceed to Naples when you will embark. Colonel Casey your cover will be as ship's purser this will give you access to both the crew and guests. I understand that you have an able body seamen card make sure it is up to date.."
"Hey, General you know I could be a Sous-chef. I attended the Benihana school of fine dining and cuisine."
"But you never graduated," grunted Casey
"Mr. Grimes?" said the General.
"No, no just wondering what I'm supposed to do on the mis?"
"Mr. Grimes you will be manning Castle and keeping comms open with your team. If there are no more questions Beckman out." The screen went blank.
Chuck turned to Sarah, "When she asked if there were any more questions that was rhetorically, right?"
Sarah caressed Chuck's face with her hand, "yes."
"Man, how can she do that side line me. What the nerve."
"Grimes, what's go your panties all in a bunch. Weren't you the one who promised Alex no more missions?
"I know but this really isn't a mission well it is but it's not that dangerous. You sail around on the Love Boat stop a group of nefarious villains and have cocktails. Easy as pie, although pie technically isn't easy, I mean, hey guys, where are you all?" It was then that Morgan discovered that he had been talking to himself.
Sarah and Chuck had gone in the Armoury and were talking. "Sweetie, you know I could arrange for a little layover in Chicago. Wouldn't that be great? We could see Ellie, Devon and Clara in person not over Skype. You know, kids at that age grow fast and it seems so long since we've seen her even if it is only for a little while. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah, I know. It would be nice and I miss Clara too. Are you becoming an expert on child development? Is there something we need to discuss?" Chuck asked as he wrapped his arms around Sarah.
"Well, I've made it no secret that I want children but I can't help but keep thinking about, you know."
"Our line of work, I know but there really isn't anything we can do about it right now. Let's just take it one day at a time and see what comes."
"Love, you that's hard for me, you know I've been taught all my live to be methodical and organized in this line of work without that you die. Now you're asking me to throw all that out the window, it's just hard."
"I understand," said Chuck as he reached up brushed Sarah's hair back and kissed her.
"Hey, get a room, said Casey as he walked in on them.
"That was exactly what I was thinking myself," replied Chuck.
"Hey while I got you both here I could use some advice. You see Verbanski, Gertrude and I have an anniversary coming up soon and I was wondering, well wondering what I should get her."
"Way to go Big Guy, expressing those female emotions, good'"
"Are you going to make me regret this Bartowksi C.?"
"John, what have thought about getting her?" asked Sarah trying to calm down Casey.
"Well, I saw in Guns and Ammo that Sig has a new fifty calibre. It's got a sleek black matt finish and a recoil that you can barely feel. She can think of me every time she cradles it and squeezes off a round."
"Is she into large calibres," asked Chuck.
Sarah just ignored him and continued, "Well that sounds very romantic but I think you need to think about what you want to say. I mean every time Chuck gives me something there is some little message behind it telling me how he feels. I don't know if that helps but maybe you need to clarify your feelings and go from there."
"Feelings huh, thanks Sarah."
Chuck waited until Casey left, "There goes the most emotional constipated person I know." All Sarah could do was nod her head.
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LATER ON AT ECHO PARK
Chuck and Sarah are in their bedroom; Chuck is trying to decide what to pack. He has just come out of their closet wearing a Hawaiian shirt unbutton with an old university t-shirt underneath, khaki colored Bermuda shorts and flip-flops.
"What do you think?"
"Maybe on Gilligan's Island." Chuck thought Sarah might have been watching too much vintage TV.
"No, why?"
"Listen Love on a cruise you just dress normal, maybe not that normal but every day normal. Sure around the pool you'd wear a bathing suit but only there. There will be receptions and an invitation to have dinner at the Captain's table were you'll have to wear a tuxedo. Come here I've got an idea."
"I bet you have." Chuck could see a mischief look in Sarah's eyes as he strolled over. She put her arm around him. "When we get to Italy we can update your wardrobe with some suits from Armani or Valentino. I think a pinstriped Valentino would look sexy on you. No, strip."
Chuck replied to her order by ripping off his clothes as he disrobed he watched Sarah slowly remove one shoulder strap then the other letting her dress fall to the ground like an autumn leaf. She stood there with nothing but a black almost transparent bra, panties and matching garter hose. It was then Chuck noticed a change come across her face. Sarah slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and looked up at Chuck.
"What is it," asked a worried Chuck as he sat down next to her taking one of her hands in his.
"T.I.T.S", she said.
"Huh?," he answered trying not to glance down.
"Toes in the sand, this is what I wore to get you to tell about the plans you had concocted with Morgan. Do you remember the binder with the pictures of all those lovely homes?"
"Yes, I do and I also remember the white one with the red door and picket fence."
Sarah caressed Chuck with her free hand and he brushed back her hair with his. He could smell her perfume a light scent of peach blossom. They kissed and fell back onto the bed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A FEW HOURS LATER
"That was wonderful, Bebe"
"You were wonderful, Love but we need to get a move on it our fly out tomorrow morning is early and the car will be here even earlier."
"Okay, but can I just admire you for a little more."
"Love, you are so sweet." Sarah got up from bed naked Chuck just had to watch and think how grateful he was that she was his wife. Even after all they had been through together, here she was and she was with him. He couldn't help but wonder what he had ever done to deserve this but in the end all he could do was be grateful.
Sarah put on his old Standford t-shirt and continued to get organized.
"Hey," yelled Chuck jokingly "that's mine."
"Sorry Charlie, mine by right of conquest," Sarah replied laughingly.
"Yes, you did vanquish me," Chuck answered sprawling out over the bed.
"You did your bit of vanquishing too," she answered sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I love you," said Chuck. "I love you," was the reply.
A few minutes later as they, Chuck was back trying to decide what to take. Chuck turned to Sarah, " I have to ask how do spies take guns with them on planes now. I mean with metal detectors and x-ray scanners. I would think it would be hard."
"Oh, you mean the Glock 7, right – the ceramic gun."
"Yeah, do you have one?"
"No silly they don't exist."
"Don't exist! You just ruined Die Hard for me so you're telling me they just made it up?"
"Chuck imagine shooting a firecracker off in vase. Do you get the picture?"
"Wow, I can't believe Bruce Willis just made it up. Now you're going to tell me there's no Santa Claus."
"Love, we need to focus."
"So how does this work? We arrive in country then what?"
"Well, I'll call this CDR Ryan and set up a met then after we get his intel we'll make our way to Naples where we'll embark on the Splendida. Once on board we or Casey will make contact then my lovely intersect you'll identify the bad guys and we'll take it from there."
"What if I don't flash? What if these guys aren't in the intersect?
"Then we'll have to do it the old fashion way, spy craft. Love, we haven't talked about what happened yet."
"About what?"
"Evelyn"
"Love, I will always chose you and I won't let anyone hurt you anymore. This is promise. I lost you and now you're back that is all that is important to me."
"Yes, but-"
"Some things just have to be borne and let's just leave it at that."
"I understand, of all people I understand, but I just want you to know Love that you don't have to do this alone."
"I love you and for this reason I must." Having said this Chuck kissed her. Sarah was proud of her husband after all the men who had let her down in her life here was one willing to stand tall, stand tall for her.
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EARLIER THAT SAME AFTERNOON AT THE BUY MORE
Morgan was mopping around the store looking over the merchandise, but instead of thinking about inventory he was thinking about how unfair General Beckman had been.
"I'm an integral part of the team," he muttered to himself.
"Yes, you are son," said a voice from behind him. It was Big Mike his former boss and now assistance store manager. "Son you're the grease that opens those doors over there." This reminded Morgan that one of the doors had come off the rails so it didn't open and had been broken for over two weeks. He had in fact told Big Mike to have it fixed.
"Yeah, right thanks Big Mike."
"Just look at those fools," Mike said looking at the poster of Jeffster. "I got a postcard the other day from them saying how they were living high on the hog over there, that both men and women like them."
"I didn't know you got on so well with them."
"Didn't those mindless wonders asked me for a hundreds, I wouldn't even give fifty dollars to your Mamma and you know how she rocks my tree. Lordy, your Mamma is the jelly on my bread and you know how much I like jelly?"
"No, Big Mike but I'm afraid you're going to tell me."
"Let's just say she and I went through a gallon jar the other night.
"Thanks for that graphic description. I don't think I'll ever eat jelly again as a matter of fact I think I'm going to be ill. Big I need to go right now to get that image out of my head. Oh by the way, what's up with the front door?"
"It's broke."
"I know it's broke when is going to be repaired?
"Well, that's hard to say. I delegated it to those fools over at the nerd herd. You know what I learned at business school take it off your plate pass it on."
"Don't you mean delegate?"
"I ain't no rhyming fool. Do I look like Eminem?"
"No, you certainly don't, but you can't give it to the Nerd herd. They repair computers and electronics."
"You know I thought the same way as you did until I thought about. You see that door opens automatically, right, and what makes that door open automatically is an electronic eye and you can't have an eye if don't have a brain and what is a brain?
"A computer," finished Morgan.
"See son you're thinking just like me. So you see a problem for the Nerd Herd."
Morgan thought that is a contorted way of looking at things Big Mike was right.
"Okay can you check with them to see when it's going to get fixed?"
"Sorry, I'm on break but I'll get to it once I finish me Subway. I wonder if you can get jelly on a Subway. My Lord, I've come up with another sandwich idea. I can't wait to try it on your Mamma tonight, Lord have mercy."
Morgan just hung his head and walked away. He was heard muttering to himself, "someone just shoot me in the head please."