Don't own Chuck
Chuck smiled as he stood back to admire his handy work and he was right. They didn't have to wait long before they heard the key turn in the lock but they were surprised by the person at the door. Standing in the doorway was Ilsa Trinchina in a French Captain's uniform. She walked into their interrogation room and strolled over with her hands in her pockets admiring Chuck's calligraphy on their mirrored one-way glass.
"What is this, your attempt at pop art? Good thing you didn't have a spray can. You know I could charge you with vandalism," said Ilsa looking at the wall as Sam giggled.
"And I could charge you with unlawful arrest Captain. I'm sorry I didn't get your name but you look like someone we once knew but she was engaged to a Russian oligarch but that didn't end too well."
"The name is Capitane Thomas, Alice Thomas and you've not been arrested or should you? If we search you bags will we find weapons?"
"Go ahead but you won't find any," said Chuck as picked up their bags and dropped them on the table in front of her. Ilsa held up a finger to her lips telling them to be quiet as she went over and disabled the video and audio feed from the room.
"Chuck what about the thirty foot rule? Or have you forgotten about it. No good agent should be more than thirty feet from a backup weapon."
"I'm within thirty feet of yours. So now we know each other Ilsa or Alice? Does Sugar Bear know you're here?"
"Of course not, I got dropped in this hell hole after you two botched up my mission. Yes I arrested Victor Federov but the General Directorate never forgave me for blowing my cover so here I am, Capitane Alice Thomas and thanks to you two. So you can kind of understand why I'm still a little bit pissed at you. By the way it's nice to see you Sarah and who is this?"
"This is Sam our daughter," said Sarah as Alice bent down to say hello. Chuck stood there digesting what Ilsa or Alice had just said. He just couldn't see how they were to blame.
"Hey, you were the one going to marry the Russian mobster and was about to get blown up in his plane with Casey and me so he could get away. If anything I think you should be thankful to us because you're still alive."
"You see apples, I see oranges or in the case of this island coconuts, lot of coconuts. Cute kid you two have got. Good thing she's got her mother's looks. I always knew there was something between you two. The French in me could tell but why did you bring your kid on a mission? I understand the CIA starts recruiting early but this is a little exaggerated by any standards."
"This isn't supposed to be a mission or that was how we were sold it," said Sarah as she took Sam out of her stroller to hold her.
"I think you want this," said Alice as she bent down and handed Sam her rabbit that she was vehemently pointing to. "Well from what the Sky Marshal told me and the two clowns you danced with Chuck I say it sounds like one. I have to inform you that this is French territory and as such if I catch you spying or even if I think you're spying with one phone call I can have you deported."
"But you won't do that," said Chuck as he folded the stroller.
"Really? Why is that?" said Alice but as she said it, it felt as if she had heard someone else tell her that in another life saying the exact same words.
"That's right," said Chuck he could see she was remembering, "because that would be unprofessional and that's not you. Then I believe you said something like, 'I wish things could be different'."
Sarah could see that Chuck had reached her and she noticed what looked like tears in her eyes but as Alice was looking away one of her officers ran in.
"I'm sorry Capitane but this is important," said an officer as he came close to her and whispered in her ear. Alice turned looking at Chuck and Sarah as she listened.
"Are you sure," she said and the man nodded his head. "Both of you need to come with me, there's been an accident involving the Turners."
"Okay but how bad is it? We can't take Sam," said Sarah and Alice knew she was right. Alice looked at her man and came up with the only solution available.
"Marceau, I know this isn't in your job description but I need you to take Sam and their bags to the Milton. Just show your badge at the front desk and they'll let you in."
"How did you know the hotel we were staying in? And how do you know we're here to see the Turners?"
"Come on Chuck I think you can figure that out on your own. Hasn't Sugar Bear taught you anything yet? By the way how is he? I was hoping he'd be with you."
"Well in a few days you're going to get your wish," said Chuck as Sarah reluctantly handed off Sam to the Sergeant Major but she took right to him like they were old friends.
"Good, my car is outside and Chuck just because I'm bringing you along doesn't mean I'm giving you any sort of authorization to work here."
"This is going to be fun," whispered Chuck to Sarah as she cuddled next to him in the back seat. Alice hit the lights and sirens then they were off. "What's the matter? Something is wrong."
"It's the way Sam took to the Sergeant Major. You don't think she spends too much time with other people that she goes with anyone she sees?"
"Where's this coming from? Are you seeing the way Jack used you as a child and the way we're treating Sam? Because I don't see it that way if you look at it Jack used to scam strangers but we are simply trying to keep Sam out of harm's way."
"I don't know the end result is the same. Maybe I'm just being silly again," said Sarah, "but I worry about her."
"I know you do and so do I. It's because we love her. I tell you what once we get rested, why don't you and I talk this out?"
Alice drove at break neck speeds through town then out along a winding road leading from Fa'a'ā to the accident scene. It would have been a scenic trip if they hadn't been so tired and somewhere between almost running over a guy on a bike or hitting a wild pig scurrying across the road they fell asleep.
"Hey wake up we're here," yelled Alice as she got out. But if they had any doubts they were there as soon as they heard the sound of Craig and Laura's bickering they knew.
"I knew this was going to happen the moment I let you behind the wheel. You and cars don't mix that's all there is to it."
"Me and cars? I suppose you and skirts do?"
"I really don't see the analogy but just look at what you did. My poor, poor baby wrapped around a coconut tree. Have you no pity woman? You killed her and almost killed us in the process."
"The only thing that got killed was my patience."
"Well, well it has been a long time," said Chuck as they walked up to them still arguing hoping their presence would give them a reason to stop.
"Maybe not long enough," whispered Sarah. "We heard about the accident and the Captain was good enough to give us a lift. We were worried about you."
"Oh we're fine Sarah," said Laura as she tried to get up but fell back down light headed.
"My Love is dead," said Craig heaving a sigh.
"Are you sure you're okay," said Chuck, "Mrs. Turner's right here and she says she's fine. You are fine Mrs. Turner."
"Of course I am, he's talking about his car, the Bentley over there. I guess it is bent, bent around that tree," Laura said as she tried to laugh but grabbed her side.
"I think you need to stay down Mrs. Turner, has anyone checked you out," asked Sarah as she stood over her not liking the color of her skin or lips.
"She wouldn't let the medics touch her," said Craig. "She's indestructible. You should've seen her drive that Trabant across the wall. She used a construction ramp and went over as a hail of bullets passed us by unscathed."
"That was a close one, but I got us out. Who knew we'd live this long? I certainly never through we'd last this long."
"Neither did I love, neither did I," said Craig as he took his wife's hand.
"Chuck, Sarah can I see you two over here," asked Alice as she was standing over the remains of the Bentley. It had not only struck the tree but actually ran up it twisting the frame and exposing part of the undercarriage.
"Is there something you want us to see," asked Sarah noticing a perplexed look on Alice's face as she walked around the front end of the car.
"I don't know I want your opinion. Have a look and tell me what you see then I want to compare notes." They looked at the damage and both saw what she had seen.
"Okay the brake lines have been cut but made to look like they ruptured, probably they used some sort of forced air pressure," said Sarah as she examined the lines. Sarah looked back at Chuck just as he flash.
"Yeah and looks like someone rigged the accelerator too, notice this spur," he said as he steadied himself on the car. "If you didn't know what you were looking at you'd think that this was done in the accident but this was done before. The spur was made so when the accelerator pedal was pushed down so far it wouldn't come up again. It's like having the throttle stuck wide open. Laura did good finding a relatively safe spot to crash because with the alternative no one would be walking away," said Chuck as he pointed to the other side of the road with a hundred foot bluff, jagged rocks at the bottom and pounding ocean waves.
"You two are confirming what I suspected. This was no accident. Are you two still going to tell me that this isn't a mission?"
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Philip was sitting at his desk in Papeete in the office of the Governor staring at the phone and glancing at the clock on the wall. He couldn't understand why the men from the plane hadn't called in yet. He tried to stay cool but he couldn't wait any longer so he picked up the phone and called a friend he knew at Fa'a'ā who worked at the airport.
"Hey, it's me Philip. I'm calling for the Governor and was wonder if the flight from Los Angles arrived already. He's expecting guests and I need to make arrangements for them. You know my job never ends. …. What it already arrived and all the people have left. Are you sure? Of course it's your job, I'm sorry. Well I guess I need to try and track them down at their hotel," said Philip thinking he needed to try and contact the men directly. They were making the hit out in town which was not what they were told to do, but then his friend volunteered additional information. …. "What do you mean there was an incident on the plane? What kind of incident? You can tell me I'm the Governor's public relations officer I need to know. …. What do you mean two men were arrested on the plane? …. Carrying weapons on board? But how? …. I don't know either but I'm sure the Governor will want to look into this personally. Thanks I have to run," Philip said as he hung up his phone. He didn't like it but he picked up his private phone and reported in.
"Yes I'm still in the office and I shouldn't be using this phone here but you need to know this. Your idiot men on the plane got caught by a Sky Marshal carrying weapons and were arrested. You know what that means the two spies on the plane have landed. I hope your car repairs have had better results.
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Chuck and Sarah were talking with Alice going over theories as to what caused the accident and how someone one could have perpetrated it while Laura and Craig sat in a police patrol car. They were having their usual row when Laura suddenly grabbed her throat and gasped for breath before passing out.
"Chuck! Sarah! Someone come here I need help," yelled Craig as they all ran to him. "I don't know, she was acting her normal self then she acted like she couldn't breathe and passed out."
"Let's get her out and lay her on the ground," said Chuck. "Craig elevate her head."
"Quick get one of the ambulance drivers over here we need to get her to a hospital as soon as possible."
"They were called away to another accident when you told them you were both alright," said a policeman standing behind them."
"We need to get her to Papeete. We can load her in my car but I don't know if we should move her or wait."
"Chuck you've got this," said Sarah as she put her hand on his shoulder. He flashed.
"Oh boy, okay let's see what we've got," said Chuck as he leaned over listening to her chest. He noticed she had red froth coming out of her mouth and her breathing was labored. "Craig, she was driving when you had the accident and the steering wheel jammed into her chest, right. Well I think her lung has deflated maybe she's got a broken rid or the impact caused it but we've got to act fast."
"This is my fault she insisted on driving and I let her. Chuck please do something, I can't lose her. She's all I've got." Sarah put her hand on Craig's back, they'd spent over thirty years arguing but they really loved each other.
"Alice I need your medical kit and a sterile scalpel or very sharp sterile knife. I'm going to need a piece of tube. Craig I don't suppose you have any of those mixing straws in your car?"
"Sure I do along with some bourbon and vermouth; you never know when you might get an urge for a Manhattan."
"What no cherries," said Chuck as he took the disinfectant from the kit and raised her blouse to clean a spot.
"Can't find any this side of the Grand Ambassador," said Craig as he held her blouse up for Chuck to work. "You do know what you're doing? I mean do you do have a medical degree or something?"
"Let's leave it at the or something," said Sarah as she disinfected the tools Chuck would need. "Okay Sweetie it's on you now."
"I've got this," said Chuck as he made a deep incision in her side, cutting deep then inserting one of the straws. Then as if on cue she took a deep breath. "Good her lung has inflated. Hand me some tape to secure this for transportation."
"That was some impressive work," said Alice as her men got Laura in her car. "You two need to come with me, we might need you on the way."
"And also you can keep an eye on us," said Chuck as Alice smiled back.
They drove back to Pepeete, pass the Turners' home and on towards the hospital. Craig held Laura's head in his lap stroking her forehead the whole way imploring her to hold on. Sarah sat on Chuck's lap in the front seat watching the Turners in the back.
"Is she going to be okay," whispered Sarah in Chuck's ear. She couldn't even imagine the thoughts going through Craig's head right then.
"I hope so but there are a lot of things working against her. Her age, this tropical climate and probably a partially functional liver I noticed yellowing in her eyes and on her tongue signs of jaundice. But she's a fighter I need to talk with her doctor when we arrive.
"They pulled into the Emergency Room entrance Alice's men had called ahead so a stretcher and doctor were waiting."
"What have we got," asked the Doctor as his staff got Laura on a gurney to wheel here in.
"White female mid to late sixties involved in an automobile accident suffered blunt trauma to the abdomen resulting in a Tension Pneumothorax. She needs to be bagged and put on a ventilator asap," said Chuck as they wheeled her into the ER and straight in the operating room. Chuck was talking to the doctor about Laura the whole way to the operating room, he advised them to monitor her oxygen levels and to put her on a regime of antibiotics as well as an anti-inflammatory and a diuretic to reduce her fluid build-up. He stopped at the operating room door then started to walk away.
"Wait Doctor you've brought the patient in this far, why don't you help me finish this. Nurse, take the doctor and help him scrub in." Chuck was about to tell the man he wasn't a doctor when the man made his confession. "I'm glad you're here this is the first time I've seen anything like this."
Chuck followed the nurse and came out in scrubs while Sarah and Alice took Craig into the waiting you. Sarah gave him a quizzical look and he just shrugged his shoulders.
"I just hope he doesn't have to handle any needles," said Sarah as she followed them inside taking a seat among a couple of other women comforting a woman.
"I don't know," said the woman crying as she spoke in Reo Mā'ohi. "He was well one day then sick the next," Sarah pretended not to listen but she flashed and could understand everything.
"Why did you wait so long to come to the hospital," ask one of the woman next to her as she rubbed the sobbing woman's back.
"I don't know at first it was nothing he said he felt a little nauseous and had a slight headache. I gave him some aspirin but he always felt tired. But instead of getting better his nausea and headache got worse then he had low fever. We thought it was just a passing bug but it wasn't then today he couldn't stand up so we called an ambulance."
"I'm sure he's in good hands," said the other woman. "We'll stay here with you until someone comes and tells you something.
"When did Chuck become a doctor," asked Alice. Sarah was so intent on listening to the women she didn't realize Alice was talking to her. "Sarah, Sarah can you hear me. Earth to Sarah," said Alice as she snapped her fingers in front of her.
"What? I'm sorry I guess I zoned out for a bit, what did you ask?"
"When did Chuck become a doctor? The last I remember, he was working the Nerd Herd at a Buy More in Burbank."
"Oh well that was his cover back then Chuck is a jack of all trades the kind of guy you need when crap happens."
"But that doesn't answer my question, when did he become a doctor?"
"I can say without a doubt he's the most qualified doctor you've got in this hospital and probably on this island right now." At that moment Chuck came out in scrubs with a nurse.
"How is she," asked Craig as he almost leaped across the room.
"Everything went text book. She's in recovery right now and will be on a ventilator for a few days so she won't be able to talk but she should make a full recovery. The nurse will take you back I'm sure yours is the first face she'll want to see."
"Thanks," said Craig, "but all this we need to keep on the down low she'd never let me live this down if she knew how I acted." Craig disappeared with the nurse leaving the three of them alone.
"Well you two can meet me out front once you've changed. I'll run you to your hotel it's not too far from here."
"Thanks we'd appreciate that we need to get to our daughter," said Chuck as he caught a look from Sarah and waited until Alice left. "Okay what is it?"
"I'm not sure," said Sarah as she went over to the women. "I'm sorry but I couldn't help but over hear what you were saying about your husband." The woman looked puzzled at how Sarah could've understood her. "Never mind how, what room number is you husband in mine happens to be a doctor and maybe he can help."
"You think so?" asked the woman as the other women encouraged her to go ahead.
"What can it hurt?" They both said. "They aren't helping you here."
They took Chuck and Sarah to her husband's room. He was lying in bed, feverish and ranting, "We can't bring that thing on board. I won't do it, it's not safe. I don't care how much you pay us."
Chuck picked up the man's chart and looked at it. He looked at the women over the top of the clipboard then shook his head at Sarah.
"Excuse me who are you?" asked a man in a white coat as he walked in trying to look intimidating but Chuck wasn't having any of it.
"I could ask you who you are and if you're a doctor. Why don't you have this man on potassium iodide and active charcoal? And you know why. Is this man the only one with these symptoms?"
"No there are three others," said the woman they all work with my husband and they're all down the hall from here."
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave," said the man. "You don't have privileges to work in this hospital and I don't know who let you in."
"What does your husband do," asked Sarah ignoring the man's tantrum.
"He's a fisherman, they all are and they work on the same boat down at the Port de Peche."
