Don't own Chuck
"I was supposed to meet her at a little Café we know just outside the diamond district for a late afternoon aperitif," said Roan as he began his briefing. "I had just arrived on the supersonic and went straight there before checking into my hotel. I wanted to get there early to surprise her with a rose but the surprise was on me because she never showed. I contacted her team but they told me that they hadn't seen her since she met with her contact and that they had lost both more than an hour before.
"Okay Roan I get she's missing but what was she doing in Antwerp to begin with," asked Chuck.
"Yeah, what was so important that she had to do it herself? This doesn't sound much like her to go off on her own."
"Oh yes it does that was the way we were in the early days. Young and full of ourselves we thought nothing could happen to us. But I'm getting side tracked. You see the British government wanted an independent gemmologist to inspect the Nadan-I-Noor diamond."
"Why?" asked Sarah, "I thought we had it under protection in the vault under Langley and why would the Brits want to have it inspected?"
"It has something to do with the Koh-I-Noor, doesn't it?" said Chuck, "It only makes sense since it's our diamond's sister stone and in the Crown Jewels in London. That would be the only reason the British government would be interested in it."
"You are a bright lad. Yes, they got intel that said that their diamond was in fact a fake and the real stone was the Nadan-I-Noor so in the spirit of cooperation our government agreed but both governments wanted an independent examiner so it was decided to use a man in Antwerp, a Mr. Moses Caster. Diane flew to Antwerp with the gem handcuffed to her wrist."
"What every woman wants on their hand," said Chuck. Sarah frowned at him and shook her head. "Sorry I was thinking out loud."
"Right and moving along, Diane met up with her team and they escorted her and the stone to the diamond district in Antwerp where she met up with Mr. Caster in his office. That's where the whole the story gets sketchy somehow Caster and Diane drop off the map. Diane's escort lost her and since then Caster hasn't shown up for work and we've been unable to locate him."
"Have you brought the escort in for interrogation?" asked Sarah. "This sounds like an inside job to me."
"We've been waiting for you two to arrive first. Right now they're still in the field looking for Diane. They have no idea what was in the case and are not know."
"What are you waiting for you want them to disappear too? Why are you waiting so long? Roan, do you want then to send a postcard from the Figis saying 'Missing you. Wish you were here'?"
"Charles you know her team, in fact you both do, they're Cole Barker and Carina Miller." There was a long awkward pause of silence. "I know your history with the two but you're going to have to put that aside for now and treat them like suspects."
"I can't believe they're involved," said Chuck. "That's absurd to even think, right Sarah?"
"Roan, I agree with Chuck. There has to be a logical explanation both of them have served their countries with honor, risking their lives on countless missions and the throw all that away for money? No, I don't buy it."
"To throw it away for love, I think you two are experts in that field and a wedding is expensive," said Roan. "Yes I know that they're about to get married and I want you to know I have the utmost respect for the institution for other people."
"You're off the mark if you're looking at them. Okay talking here isn't helping we need to get in the air Roan I assume you've got a plane gassed up and ready to go."
"As we speak it's waiting on the tarmac with engines revving."
"Good no pilots we'll do the flying, the less people who know about this the better. We can arrange for mid-air refuellings and file a flight plan as Buy More executives going to a conference in Brussels."
"Why Brussels and not fly direct to Antwerp?"
"Because my dear Roan if our, I mean your operations in Antwerp have been compromised then whoever is responsible will be waiting for us. I want to throw then off and try to catch them when they're not looking. This can be all planned out in the air. There's something else isn't there Roan I can tell from your look so spit it out."
"I wanted to wait until we were in the air but I might as well tell you now, Sarah you have a submission."
"Roan from the look on your face I'm not going to like this so just tell me and get it over with what is it?"
"Charles you might not want to hear this so if you want to leave go ahead and get ready while I brief Sarah but if you stay you can't interfere once you hear."
"Roan spit it out," said Chuck knowing what he's about to hear he's not going to like.
"There's a kill order out on Diane and you've been tasked with it."
"What! Why? There's no way I'm going to do with that. Are you people back at Langley stoned? My God what are you people doing back there? If you know me then you know about my red test and what it did to me, to us. I'm not the enforcer anymore can't you people understand that."
"Listen I'm not asking you to be the only people who know Diane is missing are the four of us here plus Mary, Cole and Carina. It takes two senior officers to issue a kill order that was Mary and myself. I can't trust trigger happy agent Frankenstein outside. You don't understand it's not a kill order per se you're to make an assessment. You are first to make sure Diane hasn't been compromised. It's only a kill order if she has been and we need someone skilled to make that determination."
"But it doesn't end there, does it," said Sarah. "If we can't extract her I'm to what's the word you people love to use 'terminate her with prejudice'. You might as well say 'euthanize'."
"If you don't like it you can take it up with Mary she's in charge now but we both came to this conclusion. Mary didn't want me to make the decision because of my personal relationship with Diane. We thought I might not be objective."
"That's convenient," snapped Sarah but Roan ignored Sarah's remark.
"Mary didn't think Chuck would be able to but I argued against it. Chuck I know you've got what it takes if you have to. You first proved that on that bridge in Paris with Shaw and I know if push comes to shove you'll do it again."
"No, I agree with Mary on this. Something like this could destroy you Sweetie and I don't want to lose you ever again," said Sarah as she reached out to him but he pulled away.
Chuck sunk in one of Casey's chair immobile and sullen. Sarah went to him and put her arms around him. He felt cold and clammy she knew he was angry and upset he just didn't want to show it but a storm was brewing inside his head.
"Talk to me Chuck, tell me what you're thinking. Please let me in," said Sarah as she kissed him. Then he reached over and took Casey's remote and pressed 'call back'.
"Charles, Sarah I didn't expect to hear back from you until you were in the air. Is there something wrong?"
"You tell me? And you can drop the act Roan just gave Sarah her little side mission."
"Oh I was hoping he'd use a little tact in delivering it but Charles, I can't talk to you about it. It's still national security even if you are my son." Mary thought afterwards that that had been a poor word choice and from Chuck's reaction she was right.
"Listen, you are a woman who happens to be my mother," snapped Chuck back as he looked out the window at Ellie. "If you hurt Sarah I promise you this will be our last conversation."
"Chuck, are you threatening your own mother?"
"No, I making a promise you or your agency hurt Sarah and you'll regret it."
"I can see your upset and I think we should stop talking until you've had a chance to calm down."
"I'm not going to calm down and truthfully I'm not upset, disappointed is more the word I'd use disappointed with an organization that has called on me time and time again to make sacrifices, but has given me or my family little in return. Do I need to remind you the sacrifice my father, your husband made to try and find you, who called to me from his grave to come after you! And for what? I can't think of a damn thing." With that he just reached up and turned off the monitor.
Sarah and Roan stood silently as Chuck dressed down his mother there was little they could say or do but just listen.
"Sarah, Roan I'm sorry if you two had to hear all that," said Chuck.
"Sweetie Mary is your mother," said Sarah, "I don't want you to do anything on my behave that could risk your relationship with her."
"And Jack is your father," said Chuck. "I'm sorry that wasn't fair I didn't mean it."
"Sweetie I know you're angry and I get it but this is our life. If Beckman has been compromised then I've got an obligation to the service."
"You don't believe that she's been compromised do you?"
"No I don't, not for a minute."
"Good because I don't either, so let's get over there and bring the old girl back."
"I'll drink to that," said Roan who in the meantime found Casey's stash of gin.
Chuck came out of the apartment to find Casey and as he was about to walk over to him Morgan cut him off. But before Morgan could speak Chuck shut him down.
"Listen Morgan not now," then Chuck turned to Casey, "John, I need you to get your crap together I want to be wheels up in half an hour or less. Morgan you and Alex are staying here to provide tech support. You might have to work nights and sleep during the days."
"So Alex and I will be like 'Ladyhawke'."
"If you like the analogy, go for it but that's what you're going to have to do so just do it. Listen I don't have time to explain Morgan just make it happen."
"Chuck are you okay," said Morgan he could tell something was wrong. "You know I'm your best friend and you can talk to me."
"I appreciate the offer but right now I've got work to get done. Emma I'm sorry but we're going to have to leave something urgent has just come up. Can you and Molly watch Sam for us? Alex can throw in a hand if you need relief."
Casey retreated into his apartment while Chuck was still organizing their departure sounding more like a general barking orders.
"Christ what did you two do to him," said Casey as he walked in, "Captain Bligh had better bedside manners."
"Let me go talk to him," said Sarah. She went out to find Chuck just finishing talking with Margo, Ellie and Devon. He turned around and found Sarah in front of him.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said as he almost bumped into her.
"Sorry for what?" she said, "I'm the one that ought to be sorry I dragged you back into this world of lies and deceit."
"Love, I chose this life out of my own free will and I've had ample opportunity to walk."
"But you didn't because of me."
"A choice I would make again and again with no regrets. I'm just sorry you had to hear what I said to my mother but I'm not sorry I said it."
"I'm glad you're not it's nice to know I've got someone who's got my back and I can trust."
"You can always trust me and I'll always have your back."
"I know I can and you do. I love you for it. I don't think I've ever had anyone in my life that really looked out for me without some other motive in mind with the exception of Emma."
"I know you do and I believe in you Love even when you don't," Chuck said then hugged and kissed her. "Roan is right, I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."
"Good you've made up so can we go now," said Casey as he lugged two bags and a Barret strapped across his back pass them.
"Come along," said Roan as he walked by carrying a small briefcase.
"I bet there's a bottle of gin, a bottle of vermouth and a shaker in there," said Chuck.
"Don't forget the olives," added Sarah.
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Two oriental men sat down at a sidewalk café across from the Excelsior Hotel next to the Schedlt River. The waiter walked over and placed a menu on their table before leaving giving them time to look it over. One man picked it up and began reading while the other studied the entrance to the hotel.
"No movement I wish she'd just let us tap them and be done with it. They aren't leading us anywhere and I'm getting tired of waiting around. If we keep this up someone is going to notice us. I mean look at us we look like something out of an old Jackie Chan movie."
"Calm down and follow orders. Remember why the Madame wants us to follow them."
"I know to track down this Caster guy."
"And why do have to find him? Who screwed up and let him get away?"
"It wasn't my fault how was I supposed to know he had a secret passageway built into his office. I'm not an architect or an engineer."
"If you had looked at the placard in the entrance to the building you would have read that a number of Jews used it as an underground railroad to escape the Nazis during the war. If you had read that you'd have had a clue to look for a secret escape route instead of throwing up your hands and running to find me. By then it was too late to do anything."
"Okay you're right but that still doesn't mean these two are going to lead us to him. They haven't got a clue any more than we do where he is. They just spend all day looking in the same places they've already searched to find nothing."
"Yes, but they've got more and better resources than we do; you've just got to have patience and learn to wait. Now look over the menu and decide what you want to order," said the man as he passed the menu to his friend.
The waiter waited patiently then when he noticed the men had put the menu away he came to take their orders.
"Are you ready," asked the waiter. "Might I suggest the Cha, we've got an excellent selection of green teas that I'm sure you'd enjoy trying. They come highly recommended."
"Listen guy just because you see a man and he looks oriental doesn't mean he's from China or he drinks green water," snapped one of the oriental men.
"I'm terribly sorry I didn't mean any disrespect," said the embarrassed waiter thinking he could lose his job.
"Hey let it go," said the Man's partner. "I'm sorry my friend got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Can you just bring us two coffees please, cream and sugar. Maybe a couple croissants too, plain with some jam on the side. Do you have blackberry?"
"No we have apricot or strawberry both are homemade."
"Can you give us a little of both? My friend could use the sugar and I need the potassium."
"Straightaway with pleasure," said the waiter as he wrote down the order then disappeared looking back at them as he left.
"What do you think you're doing," asked the man's partner after the waiter left. "Do you want to get us spotted? Do you think that waiter will ever forget you? We need to blend in remember that."
After the waiter came back and placed their order on the table another oriental gentleman came up and sat down at their table with them. But as the waiter started to walk back with a menu, the man waved him off.
"What word do have Liu? Please tell me that this waiting and watching is about over. Let's just finish them and move on we're not getting anywhere here."
"What's up with you," said Liu as he looked over his man across the table with a stare that the man's partner didn't like.
"Don't mind him he's just getting a little antsy. I think we're both getting tired of tailing our friends. So what does the boss have to say? If you're here then we've got new orders?"
"New orders no, the boss just got back from Montenegro and we're to move our guest this evening. Is she travel ready and packed to go?"
"We gave her a sedative so she should be out the whole trip but is the boss sure she can trust this guy. I know from my contacts that he was a friend of Novokov's and we both know how that went."
"Wave money in front of someone and suddenly friendships take a back burner. Besides that's not your concern."
"That may be true but I've also heard that some of the people on the board didn't like the way she got business done. They thought she was a little rash and hasty in her actions."
"Listen, she's the boss and if you want to have a future in this organization or a future period you'd better pipe down and listen up, am I clear?"
"Sorry I didn't mean anything I just wanted to pass on some concerns."
"Well if any of the guys want to complain send them my way and don't be their go between. Go betweens tend to have a short life span in this occupation, if you know what I mean. Your people are on the move you need to go follow them I'll cover the check and stay close to your phones." The two men got up and left following Carina and Cole through the streets of Antwerp.
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Carina and Cole walked out of the Excelsior and headed back to the diamond district looking for leads. From the way they were talking and acting to each other they were having a little tiff as they walked down the cobblestone road.
"I can't believe we lost her," said Carina. "I've never lost anyone in my whole career and now this. I can't believe it."
"I can't believe we're shut down. I mean who is this Agent Montgomery to order us not to contact our parent organizations."
"I really feel for Sarah if that's the way her mother in law acts with her but Cole we lost Beckman. How could we?"
"Repeating it won't help anything. We need a lead and we need it now. If only they'd tell us what she had in the case maybe that would help us."
"I thought you knew I was told your people were the ones that asked for it so I just assumed you knew. Guess I fooled myself that's what assumption gets you."
"Sorry Love but I was told I had babysitting duty for some Air Force General. I hope this isn't like what happened in Italy with that Army General and that Marxist group. Red Brigade I think they called themselves."
"Crap that's all we need I'll never live that one down then to add insult to injury their sending Casey, Chuck and Sarah to help us."
"So we could use the extra eyes and maybe a new perspective."
"Every time Sarah does me a favour I have to hear about it. She never gets tired of reminding me how I like to take risks and improvise. I get things done and at the end of the day that's what matters, right?"
"But we still lost Beckman."
"But we still lost Beckman."