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
Chuck and Sarah were working down in Castle writing reports while Casey was tracking the Buy More for prey. He noticed her on the monitors below walking down the aisles of the home appliances- the wounded gazelle. Then what caught his attention was when she turned left to outdoor furnishings and what sent him into DEFCOM 1 was when he saw her gently stroke the Beastmaster and looked at it with her big doe eyes. He knew she was his.
"I'm bugging out of here single white female in distress. I've got a sale to make," yelled Casey as he ran up the ladder and to the elevator."
"I hope Verbanski or Kathleen get back soon this thing Casey has with the monitors is close to stalking and a little bit creepy."
"I know what you mean but in the end he's helping move product and that makes Buy More corporate happy. I just wish he'd help with some of this paperwork but his reports are always full of stick figures with exploding heads and bubble cut-outs," said Chuck as Sarah laughed. "My Lord no wonder the Amazon rain forest is disappearing. I don't mean to sound callous but bad guys don't have to fill out twenty different forms to get a tranq dart."
"Sweetie Bad Guys don't use tranq darts.," said Sarah as she rolled her chair over close to his and kissed him.
"I guess I wouldn't be much a Bad Guy then," said Chuck as he kissed her back.
"Well I'm up to a little role play, work on interrogation techniques tonight after Sam goes to sleep if you want," said Sarah as she nibbled on his ear.
"Wow, as much as I'd like to do that, there's a small problem with tonight and I really can't get into it with you."
"What!" said Sarah as she spun Chuck around to face her, "Charles Irving Bartowski are you keeping a secret from me after our promise."
"You know Morgan's right you can be kind of frightening when you get that look in your eye. Okay well it's not a secret as such it's more under the category of surprises and before you go off that spies don't like surprises you have to know the idea wasn't mine. However, I liked it and so I kind of went along with it."
"What is it then? Come on spill it or do I need to start interrogating right now," she said as she ran her hand inside his shirt.
"Wow, Oh boy, huh, listen you'll find out in a little while so can't we just table it for now and go back to what we were doing before like making out? You know we could do a quick inventory of the supply room?"
"You said it wasn't your idea," said Sarah as looked at the monitor and saw Casey with the non-descript woman. "I can rule him out so who else could it be. The only two people left are Emma and Molly."
"You're not going to let this go, are you? Well technically there are three you forgot Sam."
"Well I know our daughter is intelligent but I think organizing a surprise is a little above her right now. I mean she has her limits, you get her past Momma, Yuck, meow-meow, woof-woof and yum-yum she gets a little lost."
"We'll get there someday. When we do we'll look back and say where has all the time gone?"
"And she'll be genius someday like her father," said Sarah as she kissed him. "But you're not going to distract me. I'm on to your tricks buster."
"But I'm still not going to tell you what the surprise is, you'll just have to wait and speaking of waiting I need to run to finish some last minute errands."
"Not fair, I'm not done with my interrogation."
"I know but if you want I'm all yours tomorrow night," said Chuck as he kissed her then got up and grabbed the phone lying on the desk then left.
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Paul Dean pulled into his new parking spot at the First Savings and Loans East Burbank, one of five new convenient locations for all your banking needs. Paul was particularly happy today as his new parking spot went hand in hand with his promotion from cashier to bank account manager. He had to fight and claw his way to get this promotion even if others had offered themselves his talent had shown through.
"Morning Paul," said Marty, Paul's long term friend, Friday night poker buddy and bank security guard. "Saw you pull into your new spot looking mighty sharp. Just remember us little guys when you're hobnobbing with the big shots."
"Morning Marty thanks. Well you don't have to worry about that and who's the new guy?"
"This is Tom another new guard the boys upstairs sent to do a ride along. They want the old pro to teach him the ropes. He's going to be sent to our new branch at Hollywood and Vine."
"I hope this one goes farther. Well, Tom you can learn the basics here but we've got a different sort of clientele than their's. Ours tend to be… well you'll see, welcome aboard."
Marty took Tom on a quick tour of the bank walking him through all the spaces while the officers and tellers got ready for opening. They put their personal belongings away and then set up their individual stations. The Bank Manager and Paul being the senior representatives went down to the vault to oversee the opening.
"Well Paul now that you're account manager this will become a daily routine for you. Every day you'll be expected to be down here with me. This will become old hat to you after a while I know it did for me."
"Yes, Sir I appreciate your confidence in me."
"Just don't let me down and I can see you going places. Smell that," said the manager, "that's the smell of money. Now let's get the doors open are you ready to make some?"
"Yes, Sir," said Paul happy, he'd only been out of school for only a few years and now he really felt he was going somewhere. When he got up from the vault, clients were starting to come in so he just stood there for a while he watching them pour in through the door. Walking by the security station he overheard Marty and Tom talking.
"But why do you have the doors wide open and the metal detector off? Anyone can walk in like this? It doesn't seem too secure to me."
"Tom in all my years here at this bank we've never been robbed as a matter of fact I can't remember the last time I pulled my gun from the holster. The first group in the morning we let in because if we didn't it would take forever to clear them out from in front of the doors and some of the clients would complain so I've learned to look the other way. Tthat's something you'll have to get used to if you want to stay in the good graces of the big dogs."
"I'm just saying-"
"Nothing when you're working with the stars at your place you can run your security the way you want but here this is mine so don't rock the boat. Tell you what I could use a coffee, why don't you be a good boy and run around the corner to Starbucks and get me a double vanilla macchiato."
"You want a doughnut to go with that," said Tom sarcastically.
"No just the coffee will be fine but use NutraSweet I've got to watch my weight."
"Yeah grow," muttered Tom as he left the bank. On his way out he bumped into a man wearing a raincoat with the collar pulled up and dark Ray Bans. But this was California and he was used to the eccentric. He excused himself and kept on walking.
"Excuse me," asked the man to a teller, "I'd like to open a safety deposit box. Who do I have to talk to?"
"First of all do you have a bank account with us?"
"No do I need one?" asked the man as he looked around and three other men similarly dressed walked in taking up strategic positions around the bank.
"Not necessarily, they're reserved for our clients but if we have any open something can be arranged. You'll have to talk to our account manager, Mr. Dean. Only he and the bank manager have access to the vault. One moment and I'll have him come over to meet with you." The teller rang Paul up and he came over, his first customer in his new position.
"If you follow me to my desk we can take care of all the paper work and get you your safety deposit box right away."
"I'd like to look at the vault first. If I'm going to trust my valuables with you I want to make sure they're safe."
"Sure, but what accent is that you have? Eastern European?" asked Paul in the past he'd had some dealings with the Russians from little Odessa.
"I'm a naturalized citizen if that's your question."
"Well yes, there's special paperwork for non-citizens that we have to file with Homeland security. You know after 9/11 things got more complicated."
"No, no I understand. Can I get that tour now please? I'm looking for a safe home for my treasures."
Paul and the mysterious man left the teller proceeding down to the vault walking by Marty who Paul spoke to again.
"I'm taking my first client on a tour," said Paul, "where's your shadow? Please don't tell me you sent him on a coffee run."
"Got to break him right," said Marty. "By the way Mister you're in good hands here."
"Please, can we go," said the man looking at his watch holding out five fingers to the other men waiting in the lobby.
Paul walked his new client to the vault and explained the operating system probably in more detail than was necessary but this was his first and as his manager told him you never forget your first.
"Can we go inside I need to see the different types of boxes you have so I can make an educated decision on what I need. I'm sorry without seeing them I don't know if we can do business together."
"Well it's against bank policy but okay follow me but we need to get in and get out quickly. I could get in trouble for this." Paul took the man inside and began illustrating the various boxes and options but the man pulled out a piece of paper with numbers written on it then began walking around the vault looking for them.
"Can you open this box," said the man pointing at a box.
"No it's already rented and even if I wanted too it takes two keys, one mine and the other one the client has. But if you're interest in that type we have others over here," said Paul trying to bring the man to a different section
"You sure you can't open this one? I need to get inside."
"I'm sorry," said Paul thinking the man was becoming rude and maybe it was time to go, after all he didn't want to get into trouble his first day as account manager.
"I'm sorry too," said the man as he drew a supressed Makarov and put a round in the back of Paul's head. Paul had reached his terminal position. The man pulled out a small drill from the inside of his coat and began opening boxes dumping the loot into a bag. After he opened the last one he packed up and began his escape through the bank.
Meanwhile, upstairs five minutes later the man's accomplices drew HK MP5s from under their coats and opened fire. One of the men who was standing next to Marty disarmed him but when he tried to take Marty's pistol he found it was stuck in his holster so he made him take his belt off and his pants fell to his ankles.
"This is a hold up. Everyone on the ground, faces kiss the floor," said one as the other two went behind the counter and herded out the tellers.
"No one act funny and we all go home, now everyone in the middle where we can see you. Don't play hero or my friend here will do the talking," said the man as he fired a burst into the ceiling.
In a few minutes their partner came up from the vault and they started out. The group of bank robbers were on their way out when they met Tom coming back with Marty's coffee. Tom caught a glimpse of one of the machine guns tucked under one of the men's coats.
"Crap," said Tom as he dropped Marty's coffee and drew his weapon at the same time the bandits opened fire at him. He dove behind a car as a hail of bullets flew past. He rolled out from under returning fire but they were wearing vests.
"To the van," he heard on of the men yell in a heavy accent as the man laid down cover fire. Tom had time to eject his clip and reload before coming up to fire as the man turned to join his friends. Two shots exploded from Tom gun then he heard the man groan before dropping.
"Damn it! He got Vasil."
"Go, go! We can't do anything for him now, he's dead."
Tom watched the van speed off as he came out from cover and went over to inspect the downed man. He rolled him over and saw blood seeping from his neck. A sudden realization hit him the man was dead and he had killed him. He felt sick to his stomach he turned trying to walk away until he had to stop and heave mixing Marty's spilt coffee with his vomit all over the sidewalk.
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Chuck had printed out a list of all the requirements they needed for their party. He embraced the idea as soon as Molly suggested it. He thought it was a wonderful idea after all the missions they'd been on and the time they'd spent away a Big Sister party for Sarah was what she needed. He stopped off at Large Mart for all their paper and plastic products. He'd differentiate their trash which was how he justified using disposal.
"Okay plastic and paper bought," he said as he checked it off his list now he had to get the meat for the grill. Chuck played back in his head Molly begging Casey to fire up his Beastmaster it was too funny.
"Please Uncle Casey would you please grill for us. You know Chuck isn't very good at it, the last time half the hamburgers were raw in the middle and burnt on the outside."
"Hey, I heard that," said Chuck, "I have you know Morgan helped me and he's studied to be a Benihana chef."
"But never graduated," said Casey, "well I can't risk my niece's life or my partner getting salmonella or worse because some idiot with a computer in his head thinks he can flip a burger. It's my sworn duty to guard and to protect."
"Well Big Guy I'll buy the meat if you do the grilling."
"Sounds like a plan," he remembered Casey saying just Casey didn't know they had set him up. He was smiling when he heard a phone rang but it wasn't his ring tone but Sarah's. He touched the answer button on the herder's console and through blue tooth it answered.
"Hello Sarah," Chuck heard Emma's voice and it sounded agitated.
"Sorry Emma but I think we swapped phones by mistake. I'm out getting the last minute things for tonight's party. You sound upset what's wrong?"
"I really need to talk to Sarah."
"No you really need to tell me what's wrong? I'm not letting you go until you tell me what's wrong. Where are you anyway I'll stop by and pick you up."
"Okay I'm at East Burbank at the First Savings and Loan, Chuck there was just a robbery. I need your help."
"Stay put I'm on my way," said Chuck as he flashed. He pulled out all the stops to get to her as fast as he could.
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Sarah watched Chuck leave the Buy More on the monitor. He had escaped her interrogation but she knew there was a soft target still left that she could squeeze dry. She took one more look around Casey was still busy with his single white female demonstrating the ease and versatility the beastmaster had to offer. She made her way up heading straight for the manager's office and Morgan.
"Oh Alex I got in coming. … I know I'm supposed to keep quiet who do you think I'm? Don't answer that. Got to go," said Morgan as Sarah came in. "Oh Sarah, Alex said to say hi."
"Oh was that who you were just talking to I thought she'd be busy with the surprise."
"Surprise? I knew Chuck would crack like an egg. Molly's going to be mad she had the whole thing planned out."
"Well I won't tell her if you don't," said Sarah as she gleaned information without really trying. "So we don't want to disappoint Molly do we?"
"No we don't I mean she's worked hard on this. Alex is over at your place now with her helping put up decorations." Sarah started feeling bad; maybe she should just let it go after all Molly was trying to surprise her but why? And what for?
"Blabber mouth," said Casey from the doorway. "I came for the save but I guess I'm too late."
"Oh man, not cool Sarah not cool at all. You played me again. I can't believe it after everything I still fell for it."
"Sorry guys you know how much I hate surprises and so does Chuck so it's only natural I'm going to investigate. I wouldn't be much of a spy if I didn't."
"You all need to come here," said Big Mike as he barged in interrupting, "You need to see who's on TV."
They all followed Big Mike out and stood in front of the home video display watching the TVs. He'd tuned them all into the local new. There was a news bar that scrolled across the bottom, 'robbery at local bank. First Savings and Loans East Burbank, two men reported dead News at eight'.
"I'm sorry Big if they got your money but there are robberies every day," said Morgan. "What makes this one so important?"
"You think I'd bring you all out here about some fool robbery? I know that but it does give me and an idea for tonight's entertainment with your mamma… a little cops and robbers. She might have to rough me up a bit you know I've been a nasty little robber."
"Little? Little finger maybe. Really Big Mike?"
"She might have to break out the handcuffs and baton and-"
"This is called too much information," said Morgan pointing over at Sarah.
"Oh, oh right sorry got a little carried away. Here let's turn up the volume. There listen and watch."
"This is Robert Newman action reporter we're currently outside the First Savings and Loan at East Burbank where a holdup was just reported. Police are on scene and we're trying to gather information. We have been told there have been at least two deaths but names are being withheld... Christ Mike, was that gunfire? It's coming from the inside zoom over at the entrance I see movement."
In that moment a man came running out with a pistol in his hand firing back into the bank then they all did a double take when they saw Chuck running out with a pistol in his hand returning fire.
"See, I thought I saw him going in earlier. What's that fool think he's doing trying to get his fool self killed? Does Chuck think he's some sort of super-agent or something?"
"We'll find out when I get hold of him," said Sarah as Casey grabbed her by the arm and they slipped out the store.