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, 20 Chuck vs The A-Bomb, 21 Chuck vs The Snowman, 22 Chuck vs The Tin Man, 23 Chuck vs The Baguette, 24 Chuck vs The Black Knight, 25 Chuck vs The Merchant of Venice, 26 Chuck vs Electric Sheep, 27 Chuck vs The Band, 28 Chuck vs The Cold, 29 Chuck vs A Horse With No Name, 30 Chuck vs A Bolt In The Blue, 31 Chuck vs Brick and Mortar, 32 Chuck vs Juri Sheshenkov, 33 Chuck vs The Couch, 34 Chuck vs The Hijack, 35 Chuck vs El Capitan, 36 Chuck vs The Wall, 37 Chuck vs The Outback, 38 Chuck vs The Evil Twin, 39 Chuck vs Golden Thumb, 40 Chuck vs Ben Franklin, 41 Chuck vs The Lady of Uruk, 42 Chuck vs The Beard, 43 Chuck vs Bunny, 44 Chuck vs the Football, 45 Chuck vs El Serpiente, 46 Chuck vs The Circus, 47 Chuck vs Broken Arrow, 48 Chuck vs The Gift Horse, 49 Chuck vs Armageddon

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The day they arrived at the cabin Sam and Clara wandered off in the forest. Sam promised they wouldn't go very far she just wanted to check on something she'd left the last time they were there. Ellie wasn't so sure that was a good idea she and Kat were in charge of Bunny and preparing lunch while Devon and Morgan were bringing in luggage and putting things which left Alex in charge of Clara and Sam.

"I don't know. Why can't it wait until tomorrow?" said Ellie. "None of us can watch you two and I'd rather you not go off on your own."

"Well if you really want to go we can go so we can let the others work. But I'm coming with you two," said Alex. Sam made a face and let out a sigh. "That's the deal. You heard Ellie so it's with me or you don't go at all."

"Okay, but I've got to get something out of the kitchen first. You wait here with Clara. I won't be long I want to grab some water."

"That's a good idea," said Devon as he brought in two suitcases. Morgan came out of the kitchen after dropping off a bag of groceries with a grape soda in hand. Sam passed Morgan on her way into the kitchen stopping just to shake her head at him. "Morgan," Devon continued, "you ought to lay off the sugar water and be more like Sam. Water's your friend."

"You know what fish do in water. If you did you wouldn't be saying that," said Morgan. "Besides this is like a glass of red wine and everyone knows how good that is for your arteries…"

"People say that but I've yet to read the research… I mean real research with case studies to back that up. Anyway, Morgan that grape soda you have I bet if you read the ingredients you'll find it's got grape flavoring not real grape juice."

"Okay let's go," said Sam as she came back through carrying a backpack. Alex looked at her. "What? I also have to carry my medical supplies in case one of you get injured and need medical assistance."

"Let's try to avoid that," said Ellie. "Alex try to bring everyone back by lunchtime. After we get situated Devon is going to cook up hamburgers on the grill."

"Babe, you know how many carcinogens there are from grilling on charcoal? Healthy habits are formed early on that's why they are called the formative years…"

"Translated you can forget about charcoal grilled hamburgers," said Clara. "Let's go before they decide we have to eat kale burgers."

"Is that a real thing," said Sam as she made a disgusted face. "It certainly doesn't sound very appetizing."

"See this is what I mean. Tastes are learned from an early age. If children got used to eating healthy when they were little this habit will grow with them as adults."

"So everyone with kids has to eat bland until their kids move out. Is this some sort of incentive for kids to leave the nest," said Ellie. Alex left with the girls as everyone debated over what the lunch menu was going to be.

"Maybe we ought to gather nuts on the way back for the squirrels that play around the cabin," said Sam as she picked up some acorns and shoved them in her pockets.

"I thought you were going to say so we'd have something to eat," said Clara as they laughed. "You know they could still be arguing by the time we get back."

"I think you're a little hard on your father," said Alex. "He's only trying to look out for your best interests and besides he tries."

"He tries too much. Imagine you have friends over for a sleepover. They're expecting a party and what do they get… a nice vegetable tray with sour cream and onion a dip because you can't have ranch because you don't know what's in it nor can you have cheese because it's processed. The long and the short is everyone eats onions so the next day at school everyone knows who went to your party."

"At least you have friends to have over for a party," said Sam. "You're looking at my circle of friends… me, myself and I."

"And what about us who are we? Chopped liver," said Alex. "I think you can include Morgan, Casey and Kat in that circle too."

"Don't take us wrong," said Clara. "I understand what Sam means. You guys are adults so by nature you are on the other side. It's not your fault but when you get old I guess somewhere along in the process of aging you forget what it's like to be young."

"How old do you think I am? I'm no Methuselah you know," said Alex as they made their way deeper into the forest. "We've been walking for a while now. Where are we heading anyway?"

"Don't worry we're almost there. Just a little bit further," said Sam as she kept walking and even picked up the pace. She knew exactly where she was going.

"This place is familiar," said Alex as she they continued walking deeper into the woods. The trees and foliage got thicker blocking out the heat and light from the midday sun.

"We need to get wherever it is we need to get to soon because Ellie wants us back for lunch," said Alex as she looked at her watch.

"Don't worry, we're almost there," said Sam. "It's just ahead. Have a little faith. I know that's hard for an adult but I know where I'm going."

"Will you guys cut out the adult jokes… I mean jokes about adults," said Alex as both Sam and Clara laughed. "Oh, you know what I mean. Hey, I remember this place. Oh Sam, I don't know if your parents want you back here."

"And what they don't know won't hurt them," said Sam as they came to a clearing. This was where Sam had found a family of coyotes. "I just want to see if Sarah or the little ones were back here. I brought them something to eat," she said as she pulled a package of hamburgers from her backpack.

"Oh, Sam that was supposed to be our lunch," said Alex. Sam looked over at Clara who shrugged her shoulders back.

"Don't look at me coz' I'm a carnivore living with a family of herbivores. I could probably eat that meat raw…"

"But we won't," said Alex. "You might as well feed the coyotes with it by the time we get back to the cabin it will have been out of the fridge for too long."

"Don't worry I didn't take it all."

[Meanwhile back at the cabin]

"Okay, let's stop arguing. I've got the solution," said Morgan. "I'll take the van drive back into the Buy More and pick up a gas grill then stop off and get some liquid smoke as well as some secret spices. I'll show you a little trick I learned working as chef with Benihana…"

"Morgan, you studied to be a chef at a Benihana school in Hawaii but got kicked out," said Ellie. "Is that supposed to make us feel better?"

"I quit because my heart wasn't in it anymore. You have to have a passion for meat and I lost my meat muse."

"Meat muse Really? That's what you're going to call her and what was her name Angus or Charolais?"

"Babe, give the little guy a break. He's got a good idea. The gas grill would reduce the carcinogens to an acceptable level as long as we don't burn any if the meat. Morgan, good job."

"Okay but let me check to see how many buns we have and don't start on processed flour," said Ellie as she and Kat disappeared into the kitchen with Bunny. "Guys, come in here."

"What's the matter," said Devon. He could tell something was up from her vocal tone as he and Morgan walked in. "It something wrong Babe?" They found them looking in the fridge.

"We're missing a package of hamburgers. Did we forget them at home? I don't want that stuff to go bad in the apartment then when Chuck and Sarah go home they find what's left stinking up the place."

"Don't worry I'll handle it. I'll swing by the apartment and do a double check on my way back. After I get the grill and do the shopping. I take it we need more meat."

"And a few other things," said Ellie as she handed him a yard-long list.

"So just a few things you say," he said as he looked it over. "I think I need to get a move on it if I'm going to get all this done and be back by lunch."

"Hey dude, you want me to come and give you a hand," said Captain Awesome. "That looks like a long list and I can help you put the grill in the van."

"I can get the guys at the Buy More to help me," said Morgan. Everyone started laughing. "What's so funny? They work for me. I'll just tell them and they'll do it."

"I'm sorry Morgan," said Devon. "But Dude when you weren't manager what would you've done if Big Mike asked you to load a grill in someone's car?"

"I would've… okay you can come with me. But I would've loaded it only after no one else would've and I couldn't find Chuck to get him to load it for me."

"Now that sounds more like what I'd expect. Then while you're getting the meat I can walk through the fresh produce aisle and see if I can find some fresh kale. Oh, and at the Buy More I need to pick up a blender. I'll hook you up with a power shake tomorrow that will have your colon thanking you. We might even go for a run together."

"Or we might not. Come on the sooner we leave the sooner we get back."

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At the Buy More, Big Mike was surveying his kingdom. With Morgan out for a few days all the responsibility of running the store rested on his shoulders. And as Big Mike liked to remind everyone uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

"What are you two up to?" asked Big Mike. "It had better be work related or I hear two brooms calling out your names in the back."

"Of course it is," said Fernando as he smiled proudly about what they'd done. "We're putting up the sale stickers. Just have a look," he said as he opened his arms. "Do you see that and you didn't have to tell us to get it done. When we have our employee reviews I want you to put down 'needs little supervision'."

"That's right and you can do the same for me. Also, I'm helping the sales department so you can also mark 'flexible' as well as 'hard working."

"I'll also check the one that says 'idiot' and 'moron'. You two lamebrains the sales don't start until the weekend. Until then everything is full price. Wait a minute, I remember seeing a request for time off this weekend. You did all this so you could have the weekend off, didn't you?"

"We asked for the weekend off," said Skip as he looked at Fernando. "I don't recall but if you say we have it off then…"

"Yes, we did. I don't know why Skip can't remember but we've got everything lined up to see Jeffster live. They're back in town and playing at the bowl…"

"Wow, they made it that big that they're playing at the Hollywood Bowl. Maybe I could get them to play here for old time sakes."

"Sure, I don't see why not but after they're done playing at the Skip's cousin's bowling alley. They already promised him. Oh, and how good are the lanes at the Hollywood bowl? I bowl a mean game."

"Get out of here and get out of my sight. Go back to work and make sure you take those sales stickers down too or the money we lose will come out of your pay."

"Oh man, you show a little initiative and the man's got to knock you down," said Skip. "Fernando, we don't get any respect."

"Let's see what kind of respect you get in the unemployment line. And I won't knock you down, I'll drop kick you right out of here. If anyone is looking for me I'll be in the manager's office going over the books," said Big Mike as he left.

"Going over the books... he means the book was written by Danielle Steel," said Skip as Big Mike started to go into Morgan's office. He looked back at them and gave them the hand sign he was watching them. "Fernando, I need the weekend off. I've got a hot date and I think I can hit all the bases."

"It's not going to happen," said Fernando. He seemed adamant so adamant that Skip was worried. "You're going out with my cousin Flores so you can forget about."

"What's the matter? If you want I can introduce you to my cousin Delores and with a little effort you can make it to first base."

"Then you should introduce Delores to my cousin Flores. She might be able to teach her a few things she doesn't know."

"I don't know? Depends what you've got in mind. I don't Delores is that kind of girl," said Skip. Now he knew he had to go out with Flores. "Don't worry I can teach her anything she needs to know."

"I'm sorry but Flores doesn't know anything about baseball so you're going to have to teach her about the bases. I thought maybe Delores could explain first base then we go from there."

"You know I keep telling myself you're not a complete idiot but then you open your mouth and out comes out something that proves you are."

"Oh, what did I say?" said Fernando. "If anyone is an idiot it's you. That lame pretending you didn't remember that we put in for the weekend off. What was that?"

"It's called strategy, something you know nothing about and speaking of strategy don't look now but Morgan's back. We can hit him up before Big Mike can tell him he told us no."

"Technically he didn't tell us no. He just called us idiots as he was looking at you. I just wanted to clarify that for you."

"Just shut up and follow me," said Skip as he made a beeline for Morgan before he could talk with Big Mike.

"Oh dude, why do you have to be that way?" said Fernando as he followed Skip. "Oh dude, I think this is a bad idea."

"Shush and follow my lead. I'll show you how it's done. Hey Morgan, how was camping? What happened to you? I see a bear grabbed your leg and can we have the weekend off?"

"What? Oh the limp… I twisted my ankle buying groceries. You know slippery aisles, lazy personnel who take their time about cleaning up spills."

"It's terrible when you have poor help but luckily you have us here. If you're looking for Big Mike he's in the loading dock. Maybe we can help you?"

"No thanks, I'll find who I need to find on my own. You want the weekend off? Sure, I don't see why not. A couple of hardworking guys like yourselves. I'm going to go look for Big Mike in the back," said Morgan then he walked off.

"Did you see that? Hardworking he called us and we got the weekend off. Crap, I should've asked for a pay raise. Maybe I will."

"Well, if you want to here's your chance," said Fernando. He pointed to Morgan walking in the front doors with Devon beside him. "How'd he make it around so fast?"

"Never mind that now is the time to get that raise and maybe I can get a home theater system with Dolby surround."

"But first you need to get a home. Your mother's basement is still your mother's and you know you're going to have to ask permission."

"Hey, I get laundry service and free meals in the deal so don't knock it. Besides I don't see you moving out either. Shush, here he comes."

"Don't shush me," said Fernando as they walked towards Morgan. "And I'm staying at home to save money for a rainy day."

"Like that the Mac Book Pro you bought the other day."

"Didn't you see it was pouring down."

Morgan and Devon walked in together then they split up. Devon went hunting for a blender while Morgan went to take care of the grill.

"Look blenders are on sale," said Devon. "Let me grab one then I'll help you with the grill. Remember it has to be gas."

"How could I forget that's all you went on about on the way in? You and Casey ought to get together and talk grill. Why are the sales tags up already?"

"Maybe they started the sale early and I'm going to take advantage and grab that blender. I might get two and take one back home to replace my old one. You don't want to pass up a good deal when you find one."

"Good deal… too good a deal," said Morgan as Skip and Fernando appeared in front of him. "Geez, don't do that. You can give a person a heart attack."

"Sorry, but we were wondering… you know it's been a long time since we've gotten a pay raise and well we were wondering…"

"Wondering if I was going to fire you? I like to keep that a mystery. Why are all these sales tags up? Did corporate start the sale early? You know if you start a sale early price difference comes out of the local store?"

"That's a management thing," said Skip. Fernando nodded his head. "Now getting back to our pay raise. I was thinking…"

"Which is always a bad thing for you to do. I hate to ask this but I need to talk to Big Mike, where is he? Never mind I'll find him. Oh and I've got a van parked out back. I need a gas grill loaded on it. Make it the cheapest gas grill we have. I don't know if I'm being reimbursed and after this early sale I'm going to have to find a way to cut corners. Now where's Big Mike?"

"I think he stepped out for a bite… something about grabbing a snack at Subway… a foot-long meatball sub with gooey mozzarella on hearty Italian. He said it was like your mother 'muy caliente'."

"Did he? Of course he did. Well I need that grill and I need it now so go put it in the back of the van. You know what take the display model that's pre-assembled then afterwards I can return it. Get the good one… the beastmaster and make sure the tank is full. Now let me find Devon then we can make it over to Trader Joe's and get the rest of what we need."

"I thought you said…" Fernando started to say but Skip elbowed him to keep quiet.

"We have that in your van right away," said Skip as he scooted Fernando along. "Don't say a word if you still want the weekend off. They quickly went over to the display models with a dolly.

"What's up with the elbow before and what's this about if I still want the weekend off? Of course I want the weekend off. What's wrong with you?"

"There's nothing wrong with me… well that depends on who you ask but we're getting off the topic. It's Morgan. Didn't you see the way he was acting? It was as if he didn't remember talking to us before and if he didn't remember…"

"He wouldn't remember he'd told us we could have the weekend off. I see but why do you think he didn't remember?"

"I don't know but his limp has gotten better. I know… I know what it is. When he fell, he must've banged his head on the floor and it scrambled his brains… he's got… what do you call it… amnesia. Yes, that's it. He's got amnesia."

"I don't think amnesia works that way but if it gets me the weekend off you can call it whatever you want. I just want to put on my bowling shoes and tiptoe down to the lanes."

"Now that Bennigians is closed. It's the only place to pick up our kind of women."

"Yes, female and Jeffster is going to make it happen."