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, 50 Chuck vs The Return of The Evil Troll
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With the latest threat taken care of there seemed to be a lull in bad guy activity so true to his word Roan organized a holiday getaway for the General and himself. Once he got the final confirmation and things were booked and ordered he went to Diane to spring his plan on her. He sauntered into her office the next morning with a smile that for anyone who knew him knew he was up to no good.
"Roan, what have you done now?" said the General. "That look on your face tells me you've done something or are about to do it so what gives."
"Well, following the advice of Admiral Hopper, 'it is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission'. I didn't want to say anything until I got my last confirmation but I'm going to be taking a couple of weeks off. I've got a three masted schooner waiting with crew at Saint Thomas to go cruising the Virgin Islands ending with a run up to Nassau."
"I guess if you want to take time off now would be as good a time as any. The Carmichaels are in route back to L.A. and it seems we're in slow patch after dealing with Ettore and the Chinese. So go ahead and blow off a little steam chasing skirts in the Caribbean. Just don't make me come looking for you when I need you and remember you're not getting any younger…"
"Chasing skirts? Not getting any younger? I don't go what you mean by that and I don't go chasing skirts. If anything they come chasing me. I merely keep my skillset finely honed and besides I'm not going alone."
"Oh really," said Diane as she looked at him from over the top of the folder she was reading. The Major caught her tone and knew this was his cue to leave so he started heading for the door.
"Major, there's no reason for you to leave and in fact it's probably better if you stay. There are some things you'll need to arrange."
"The Major works for me and we have better things to do than to arrange your trysts. Please tell me you haven't picked up someone from the company. I'd hate to have to see them every day."
"I hate to tell you that you do. Diane, don't you remember a promise I made to you that once this mess with the Chinese was taken care of that you and I would go away. Well it's over and I've made our reservations. I want you to come away with me," said Roan. The General was caught off guard and for once didn't know what to say.
"Roan… I don't know… You want me to drop everything and go away with you? And for two weeks you want me to leave this office? Are you mad? What will I find when I get back?"
"I made a promise and you accepted so there's no turning back. I've already contacted Mary Bartowski, she'll be sitting in for you in the interim. Major, the only glitch is she wants run the office out of L.A. Her granddaughter is starting first grade and she wants to be there for her first day at school."
"That's not a problem I can route everything to her through Castle. As the General said everything is slow right now anyway. And if an emergency comes up..."
"I'm sure you and Mary will be able to handle it," said Roan. He caught Diane's look. "But of course, I'll leave contact details with Connie for you should the need arise. However, only after every other avenue has been pursued short of thermonuclear war."
"I don't know Roan. These reports need to be read and processed," she said as pointed at her desk. "Besides the Carmichaels haven't touched down yet... you know as well as I do Chuck will do another one of his as soon as he steps off the plane and I'm not completely happy with his solution with Ettore AKA Lotus Blossom."
"It was the perfect solution. The man is serving a life sentence doing a benefit to mankind instead of being housed at the government and taxpayer's expense. Prison isn't about punishment it's about rehabilitation and different life choices."
"That's a little Orwellian if you ask me and I have no intention of letting this administration know what we... hell, he did. I can see this quickly spiraling out of control. This is exactly why I need to stay here."
"And this is exactly the reason you need this vacation. If you keep all this in you'll snap and you might snap at the wrong moment. Do I need to paint you a picture of the body count the last time this happened?"
"No... no you don't. But I simply asked them to find you and make sure you were safe. I didn't ask for them to go in all death squad. However, I did get you assigned back to Berlin in time to see the wall come down with me."
"Yes, those were the memories and what I'm doing here is making more memories with you. So, what you say? Come away with me so for the last time is 'Operation Fun in the Sun' a go?"
"I'm going to regret this but yes, it's a go. I know this is a bad decision," said Beckman as Roan smiled like the cat who ate the canary. "I just need a day to catch Mary up to speed and have the Major deliver the more urgent folders to her. They can't be sent so they'll need to be hand carried."
"Major, it looks like you need to get some sun screen before you're off to L.A. and we need to get some before we fly down to Saint Thomas.
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Sam looked over the treasure trove of school supplies Mary had bought for her. She was doing the best she could do to put on a happy face but everything Mary bought was girlie-girl with the predominant color being pink the one color she hated. The Barbie note pads, pencil and pencil case were bad enough but the Little Mermaid backpack and lunch box was just too much. She'd wish she'd been consulted now she was condemned and her first day was in two days.
"Gee, thanks Nanna Mary," said Sam as she looked over the heap. Dead man walking was what she thought. "You really shouldn't have… No, you shouldn't have."
"Your parents aren't going to have time to get you what you need so I handled it. This was what I wanted to buy for your aunt Ellie when she started school but I was away and your grandfather put together some things for her."
"Really, like what? I bet it wasn't this nice," said Sam wondering if she dropped a match could she get rid of it.
"There was a bullet proof backpack he made out of some Mylar he had lying around the lab. He said it was in case there was a firefight she'd be safe. Then there was a lunch box that could cooked the food inside. You could have roasted chicken and potatoes in fifteen minutes. The idea was based on the MREs we have today."
"Wow, that sounds neat. But the look on your face says it wasn't so good. What was wrong with it?"
"Everything was designed for a Marine to carry into the field not a first grader going off to school. In the end Ellie just put all her school things in a bag and was made fun. I had to calm her down on the phone then I sent what she needed from where I was. As you can imagine there wasn't a large choice. But things are going to be different for you… I'm going to make sure of it."
"Thanks but shouldn't we be leaving? Mommy and Chuck's plane ought to be arriving soon and Bunny's still asleep. We need to get her up and change her before we go."
"I handled that too; I asked Casey and Morgan to run to the airport to pick them up so I'd have time to do this shopping."
"Gee, it was really swell of them to go. I'm going to have to remember to thank them. You know I'm going to put all this stuff in my bedroom so it won't be in the way. Bunny will be up soon and there are too many things she can get hurt on."
"That's good thinking. You're a good sister. Here let me help you and tomorrow we can go shopping for clothes."
"What's wrong with the ones I have? I don't see anything wrong with what I've got on. I don't want to get all dressed up just for school."
"We're talking first impressions and they're very important. Remember you're in this school until you start middle school."
"You make it sound like a prison sentence. I just need to learn to read and write then I can move on. How long can that take? A week or two at the most."
"I hate to break it to you but it doesn't work that way. You have to learn about math too as well as other subjects," said Mary as they took Sam's school things to her room.
"I know all about math. I can add and subtract… Chuck taught me so I think I can skip that for now."
"Really? I don't know, but somehow I doubt that. Okay smarty, let's say you've got six apples and I take two. What we do you have?"
"What we have is a problem because you stole two of my apples and I'm going to be pissed," said Sam as she smiled at Mary.
"Stop joking around and you shouldn't say pissed. You should say you'd be upset. Teachers don't like wise guys like your father. He got a collection of notes sent home with him as well as some time spent in detention."
"That's good to know," said Sam. She filed that intel away in case of emergency as her get out of jail free card.
[Meanwhile at LAX International Airport]
"Are they here yet? Why aren't they here? Their flight landed a half hour ago and I don't see them. Do you think they missed their flight?"
"Will you stop your yammering and worrying you sound like an old woman. Of course I'm sure they got on the flight. They called while they were in the air to tell us what flight they were on. So unless they decided to parachute out while flying over Echo park they're on this flight."
"You don't really think they parachuted, do you? I mean it would save them time and the hassle of going through customs," said Morgan. There was a loud whack as Casey slapped him in the back of the head. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"You've got my comment on your idiocy. Now will you pipe down and keep your eyes peeled. Next time I'm bring Alex and I would've this time but she had to stay home to help prepare the victory dinner. Victory dinner... victory for what? Your brother is still out there. If I got a meal every time I took out a mark I'd be as big as a whale."
"First of all, Ettore isn't my brother but he is taken care of. The Minister was taken care of and Alex was rescued..."
"As far as we know, Wang died of natural causes or that's what Chuck said. The kid's not like me or his wife, he's not natural born killer. Although I'll give you Wang's heart attack happened at a rather convenient time. But if he were taken out it could've been his cronies that did him in. I still don't see the need for the special treatment."
"Alex and Kat just want to say thanks. There they are I think I see them now," said Morgan as he started waving his hands.
"Will you stop that. You're making a spectacle of yourself. People are looking at you flailing around. In our line of work you're supposed to go unnoticed. Geez, what is it they've got with them?"
"It looks like a backpack with... oh that's Wonder Woman on it. I guess no one told them that Mary was out buying Sam's school supplies."
"Wonder who? Or maybe they did but really bullet proof wrists give me a break," said Casey as Chuck and Sarah walked up to them.
"I hope you haven't been here long. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting but we had a little problem clearing customs. They wanted to confiscate Sam's school bag saying it was a knock off. Just because I bought it in China doesn't make it a knock off. Besides most of these are made there anyway."
"Guess you guys never got the word Mary's been buying Sam's school supplies. I don't know if she's going to appreciate the backpack? Maybe it would've been better if customs had taken it."
"I remember Ellie's 'Tinkerbell' backpack… Mom thought she was doing her a favor but she wasn't."
"So which one of you picked out Wonder Woman? I bet I can guess. That's probably a good choice and helps counter social stereotypes."
"I hate to tell you this Morgan but this is all Chuck's doing. I wanted something simple with out any design. Just because someone puts a picture on it they feel they can jack up the price. If you know all the cons you'll never be a sucker."
"But love, I said the same thing Morgan said… countering social stereotypes if you remember."
"I don't recall but what I remember what I said… sucker," said Sarah as she smiled at him and stroked his head.
"Please, I prefer schnook," he said as he leaned over and kissed her. "Let's go home. Where did you guys park?"
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In an unsavory bar near the port on Saint Thomas island, a group of sailors sat around a table drinking and telling sea stories. Like most tall tales they grew every time they were told and the sailor sitting around were not to be out done so they each spun their own yarn larger than the last.
"I swear I saw him. I really did. We were only a day out of port making our way to Saint John. We were sailing at night when all of a sudden his ship appeared out of the darkness. He boarded our boat with his men and robbed our passengers then took all our supplies. We were lucky to get away to tell the tale."
"How do you know it was him? Did you see him face to face or is this just the whisky and your imagination getting the best of you?"
"I swear it was him, but no, I didn't see him face to face but I saw his crew all right. Each looked like a devil straight from hell. They locked us all up below decks."
"Then you can't be sure it was Black Bart…" Everyone around the table suddenly got silent and a few spit on the floor.
"You know we never mention his name. It's like mentioning the name of the devil. You'd better watch out Troy or he'll come for you and take your soul to Davy Jones."
"That's just an old wife's tale. Okay, if what you say is true and it was…" He started to mention Black Bart by name again but he saw the looks he got from around the table so he stopped. "Okay, it was him or his ghost then what use would he have with your supplies? The last I heard was that ghosts don't eat."
"I don't know what he wanted with it and I wasn't going to ask him. I just know what he did and that's what I told you."
"Well, you have to admit it. It does sound a little fishy. Why does it have to be him and not someone who wants you to think it's him?"
"If you'd been there you wouldn't be asking these questions Troy. I know what I saw and I saw them with my own eyes…"
"And if you'd been drinking Captain Morgan would you have seen him?" Everyone started laughing around the table.
"Funny... yeah real funny. Go ahead and laugh. No, one laughed at Jim when he said he saw a Mermaid and tried to kiss her. What was he drinking then?"
"If the truth were know I think he was smoking. Jim always was a big pot head God rest his soul. But you're right and I'm sorry Spike for making fun of you. Let me buy this round," said Troy as he waved at the bartender to come over.
"You can keep your apology but I'll take the drink," said Spike as everyone started laughing again. The bartender came over and set everyone up.
"I guess you can afford to be the big spender, Troy," said the Bartender as he poured everyone another round. "Word has it you landed a big gig."
"I wouldn't say big but it looks like it could be a good one," said Troy as he picked up his glass. "To friends present and those we miss." There was a round of cheers as they all drank.
"So what's this big gig you've got lined up," said Spike. "You've been holding out on us and that's no way to be a friend."
"Look guys, it's really nothing. Some guy from D.C. booked my boat for a two-week charter. He wants to do some sailing around here and then make a run up to Nassau."
"And you just mentioned the name. You're just asking for trouble and you know that's in the middle of his old stomping grounds."
"Give me a break, that's just a lot of old superstition. Well, it's been nice but I've got to go and check on my crew. My charters arrive the day after tomorrow and I still have to get supplies loaded," said Troy as he got up and left. He left the bar and was headed towards the piers when Spike ran after him.
"Hold up there Troy," he yelled. "Can I have a word with you? Hold up." Troy stopped and turned around as Spike caught up to him winded.
"What is it? I'm in kind of a hurry, I lost track of time in there with you guys. Now I've got to hustle down to the piers and see to things."
"Now that's what I'm talking about. I'd like to sign on with you. Look, you know I can do the job and right now I need the work with the Maryanne being impounded until after the investigation."
"Well, the investigation would've gone faster if you guys hadn't mention ghosts," said Tory. He saw the look on Spike's face. "Okay, you saw what you saw… I remember. I guess I do owe you a favor or two but lay off the sauce when we pull out. I don't want to have to answer the question what do you do with a drunken sailor early in the morning."
"I think it goes, 'shave his belly with a rusty razor'," said Spike as they both laughed. "So what do you know about your charters? Who are they and what do you know about them?"
"All I know is they're money is good and the guy who booked this wants everything to go smoothly. You can help me out by making sure the guys have got the supplies stowed away and we've got everything our clients want. I'm going to go plot our course and set up a couple itineraries for them to choose from. Once you've got that done come and see me. You can look over the courses I've plotted and give me your input. You've been at this longer than I have so you might know some special places our guests might want to see."
"I'd be happy to."
"Good but just do me a favor and keep the ghost story to yourself. I don't want to spook my charters. No pun intended that is."
"I can understand that so sure not a word more about... well you know who."
"Good and let's keep it that way. Look we're here already."