Don't own Chuck
It was now early afternoon when Alex and the girls came back to the cabin. The day was sunny and hot the perfect day to spend outdoors. When they got back they found hamburgers grilling on the new beastmaster with Captain Awesome doing the cooking. Morgan, or who they thought was Morgan, brought him a beer as Ellie and Kat worked in the kitchen preparing a potato salad and other side dishes while they kept an eye on Bunny.
"I almost got the first ones done," said Devon as they walked in from their stroll in the woods. "Hey what's up with you?" asked Devon looking at Sam. "You look like Charlie Brown's friend, Pigpen."
"We had a small accident of sorts," said Alex as she looked at Sam. "Let's get you cleaned up before you eat."
"What?" said Sam as she stood there looking at Morgan. "Did you do something? There's something different about you?"
"If you're asking me if I grew any taller since we last met I think I can rule that one out," said Morgan as they all laughed.
"Morgan, did I say thanks for the beer? But I thought you were supposed to show us some of your Benihana skills on the beastmaster and spice up the burgers so they'd taste like charcoal grilled."
"I did? I mean of course I did but you can keep on cooking. I don't want to take the fun away from you and… oh, my leg is acting up from that fall this morning."
"Dude, you should really let one of us take a look at it. Are you sure you're all right? You know when you take a fall like that you might not feel anything in the beginning then later you find out you really hurt yourself and all of the grief that comes with it can be avoided with a simple checkup. In and out painless as can be."
"No, I'm fine. I don't want to be a bother. I just need to go inside and sit down for a few minutes then I'll be right as rain."
"It's not bother and since when did you care about that. But really if that's what you want to do all right but if the pain keeps up one of us is going to examine you."
"I'll do it," said Sam as she stuck her head back outside. "I've got my medical equipment and you won't feel a thing."
"Come back here," yelled Alex as she grabbed Sam. "Morgan, what is this I'm hearing about you getting hurt? What happened?," she asked as Sim tried to wiggle free. "You can explain to me after I take care of this one."
"Sam, what did you do," said Ellie as she and Kat came out with the potato and a fruit salads meeting them in the living room. "Don't tell me you went back to that coyote den? If you're wondering how I know your mother told me all about it but I forgot to warn Alex and now I can see it's too late."
"Yes, we went back there and you'll never believe what we found," said Sam as Clara cleared her throat. Sam paused realizing she'd said too much.
"Okay, we're all ears what did you find and please tell me it wasn't something hideous like a snake or spider. I'm guessing spider because of all the cobwebs you have in your hair."
"No, there wasn't any spiders… well none I could see. But the coyotes were gone so finding the place empty was kind of a bust."
"They don't always come back to the same den to have their babies. But you should've told us that was where you were going. You might've felt safe but did you think about Clara or Alex's safety?"
"But if I had told you what I was going to do you wouldn't have let me go. I kept an eye on Clara and Alex is packing heat so I didn't really have to worry about her."
"Packing what? Alexi, isn't your Sherpa Sam," said Ellie. Sam raised an eyebrow and gave her a look while Clara just shook her head. "I can explain what a Sherpa is?"
"I know exactly what a Sherpa is… or better who a Sherpa is and if anything, I'm the Sherpa because I guided them to the den and it was I would found the kitten. I'm the one who took the hamburger patties and I fed them to Bob and his mother."
"Sam, you should fib like that. It will catch up with you one of these days and what's this about a kitten? You found a kitten in the den where the coyote's used to live in the middle of the woods?"
"Yes, we found a kitten. At first we thought it might be lost then it's mother showed up and so we left it with her," said Alex. "But Sam isn't lying about the hamburger patties. I didn't know she had taken them with her but once she pulled them out I figured with the walk there and back they would've gone bad. So, I let her feed them to Bob and her mother. It didn't make any sense to bring them back."
"Devon and Morgan got more so no big deal, but I want to hear more about this kitten. Something tells me there's more to this story, but we don't have time right now," said Ellie. "Alex, can you see to Sam. Just worry about her face and hands for now. Someone is going to have to take a shower this evening before they go to bed."
"Come on turnkey let's go," said Sam. Kat and Ellie laughed as Clara followed them into the bathroom to wash her hands too. "But you have to admit Bob was cute."
"Come on," said Alex as she stood by the door then close it when she walked in. Ellie and Kat took the food they'd prepared outside to a table they'd prepared.
"Devon, I know you bought more hamburger but didn't you tell me you found the hamburgers at the apartment and threw them away?"
"Yeah and no actually babe, that was what Morgan told me. When I picked him up at the Buy More he said he'd already been by Sarah and Chuck's apartment. He said he found them inside and tossed them. He also said added that they were already pretty rank. Why?"
"That's strange because Sam just said she took them to feed the coyotes but found a family of cats instead and well to make a long story short she fed them the hamburgers."
"That definitely does sound like something she'd do but if she fed them the hamburgers what hamburgers did Morgan toss at the apartment."
"I don't know you were with him. Where's Morgan at anyway? I thought he was out here with you and why are you cooking? I thought after he went on about this secret recipe he'd be doing the cooking," said Ellie. But Devon just shook his head as he flipped some cooked burgers onto a serving platter then buy more on the grill.
"Give the little guy a break. He's had if kind of rough. He went inside to put his leg up. The little dude is putting on a good face on a bad situation. You see when we went into get everything he fell in the Buy More on his knee and that's the reason he's been limping."
"He did? Did you look at it? You know how easy it is to crack a knee cap falling like that and if he's not seen tomorrow it could be the size of a basketball tomorrow. If he's not faking it which I wouldn't put past him."
"What would he gain from faking? No, I think he really did. He says he's all right and wouldn't let me look at it. You know this thing with the hamburgers has me thinking what about head trauma? I was going to ask you to check him his head."
"I always did think he had a screw loose," said Ellie. She caught Devon's look. "Okay, I can do a quick look but that won't tell me much. No, I really should take him to Westside and do a CT scan. Then I can get them to shoot an X-ray of his knee. At that point we can really see what's going on."
"There would be no faking after that. I think it's worth the effort even if he was pretty adamant about not wanting to be looked at by me. But then again you might have more influence over him than me. He did have a crush on you for a while."
"That's over now and thank God it is. I'll go inside and see what I can do," said Ellie as she started to go back inside.
"Hold up Babe, here are the key to the van if you can talk him into it. I could come with you if you think you need me?"
"No, it's probably better if I do this alone at the most I'll grab Alex. She can come with me and hold his hand in the dark."
"That's a good idea. I think he's worse than Chuck when it comes to needles. At least you can get Chuck in a hospital. I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought him up. I know you're worried about them."
"Worried about who," said Sam as she came out with Alex and Clara. "Who are you worried about? It's all right to say it. I'm worried about them too but I found out a long time ago that it does no good."
"Out of the mouths of babes," said Devon. "I'm sure there's nothing to worry about and they'll be home soon. But for now, who wants a kale burger hot off the grill?"
"Eew yuck, I think I'm going to be sick," said Sam as she stuck her finger in her mouth like she wanted to heave. "I think I just lost my appetite."
"Don't believe him," said Clara. "He's got that look when he's trying to pull my leg. Besides, you don't mess with the meat," she said as she growled at him imitating the bobcat.
"That's good. You sound like Bob's mother," said Sam then she joined in. Devon looked perplexed at the two of them. "What's the matter, are you afraid?"
"Afraid of what? The two-little kitten who lost their mittens and why are you two making the sound of an angry female Bobcat? And who is this Bob? Don't tell me you fed the hamburgers to a family of bobcats? Do you know the mothers are hyper-protective."
"How'd you get that from our growl? And those hamburgers look really tasty, can we have one please," said Clara. But Ellie was onto what was going on now.
"Oh no, I know this game and it's not going to work. I need to check on Morgan but when I get back I want to hear everything… and this time I mean everything. Alex, can you come with me. I might have to take Morgan into Westside to get a CT scan and an X-ray."
"CT and X-ray? What's the matter with Morgan?" said Clara. "We saw him limping did he get into a fight with some killer spies?"
"Who cares… well I do care but can I come with? I can examine him and give you my results. I offered before but no one said yea or nay."
"Well, I'm saying nay and I want to hear more about Bob and her mother when I get back. And no, he did get in a fight with… who did you say? No, he just slipped on the floor in the Buy More. Where do you people get your ideas from? Too much TV and too much free time but we can work on that."
"Crap," said Clara. Both Ellie and Devon looked at her. "I'm sorry but come on it is possible what I said if you think about it. Morgan does work with Uncle Chuck and Aunt Sarah after all."
"Morgan, isn't that type of spy. He's a different kind of spy… a kinder, gentler one," said Devon. Clara looked at him puzzled.
"I don't understand what you're saying. There are different kinds of spies? The what kind of spy is Morgan?"
"Well it's hard to explain exactly. He's like the team mascot," said Devon. Alex gave him a look. "Sorry about that."
"We're wasting time and your burgers are starting to burn, hun," said Elle. "Come on we need to check on our patient then make a decision about what we want to do with him." Ellie turned and left with Alex following her back inside.
"Don't worry Dad, I understand," said Clara as she came over to watch him grill. "For what it's worth you'll always be my mascot."
"Thanks sweetie," said Devon as he smiled at her. The he turned to Kat who was quietly taking everything in. "Kat, can you watch everything out here? I want to run these burgers inside in case they decide to go into town. They can have something to eat so they don't have to deal with cafeteria food."
"Sure go ahead," said Kat. Devon got three burgers ready they disappeared inside. "So, tell me all about Bob, how cute was he or she?"
"It was a she and she was real cute," said Clara. As Sam nodded her head. "Here I can show you some photos I took with my phone."
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Morgan, the real Morgan, made his way down to Castle after he left Big Mike and the dynamic duo in the Buy More. He couldn't understand what was going on. Devon wouldn't forget him but it was late now. However, he didn't have time for that right then so he put it out of his mind for the moment. Right now, what he wanted to do was to check the security feeds and prove Skip's video was a fake.
"I'm going to prove this is a fake," said Morgan as he looked at Skip and Fernando on the monitor taking down the sale tags. "You've messed with the bull and now you're going to get the horns," said Morgan as he rewound the video to the time that Skip had on his recording.
"Okay here we go," said Morgan as he hit play. "A little drum roll and there I'm... I'm in it. What is this? How can this be? Hold on maybe it's someone they hired to impersonate me. Yes, that has to be it."
"But there you are again," he said to himself. "You're with Devon like you remember. Are you losing your mind? Memory blackouts are a bad sign."
"What blackouts? You aren't having any memory blackouts and that guy is limping and you don't have a limp. Crap, a limp... oh no it can't be. No, please tell me it's not him," said Morgan as he switched feed from the floor to outside.
"Morgan, it can't be who you're thinking about," he said to himself. He didn't want to mention the name because if he did then it would be true.
"Just calm down it doesn't have to be him," he said as he rewound the video then hit play. "Crap, there I am getting out of that black Nissan. But it's not me... oh crap, Devon," said Morgan as a thought flashed through his head as he looked at the clock on the wall. He was afraid he knew why Devon hadn't come back for him because he had. Morgan hit fast forward to the time when Devon should've been there to pick him up then he let it play.
"So far so good," said Morgan as he watched shopper after shopper leave the store with purchases they'd made thanks to the early sales. "Geez, it looks like the sales was a success. You know with this kind of volume I might be able to offset the cost of the early sales and even turn a profit."
"Maybe I'm wrong I don't see me yet," said Morgan after he watched for a while and saw nothing. Then it happened.
"Wait a minute that's me no it's him. Oh crap, no Devon don't pick him up," said Morgan as he watched Devon pull up and throw open the van door. Ettore got in then they drove off but as they drove off the black Nissan Ettore had gotten out of before pulled out too heading in the same direction.
"No, no, no code red someone… code red enemy incursion," yelled Morgan as he tried to call Devon but got no answer then he tried Alex and got the same bust ring. "Why aren't you guys picking up? Call Chuck… no he's on mission. Call the General." He quickly tried to connect with the General using the link from Castle. The monitor flicker then the General's not so friendly face came on.
"Grimes, what are you doing in Castle by yourself and why are you bothering me? I'm in the middle of an operation and don't have time for your…"
"Code red… code red General. He's here I know he's here because I'm here and he's there and it can't be me because I wasn't there so if that wasn't me then it has to be him. Not me but him and if it's him it's not me. Now that you see what's the matter what do you want to do?"
"I can't say that over comms but I do see you have too much time on your hands and you need to have your head examined. Why are you even in the Buy More? You and Agent McHugh are supposed to be at the cabin with Chuck's children and his sister's family."
"Devon and I came in to grab a grill and more burgers for our cookout. It had to be a gas grill because charcoal releases something bad… I don't remember what…"
"Carcinogens… and I'm sure you purchased a nice grill so if you don't mind I have work to get back too. Chuck and his team are about to take down this Russian sleeper cell that's threatening life on earth."
"That's nice… I mean that it's about over. Because Ettore is back in town and Devon drove him back to the cabin thinking he was me."
"What! Why didn't you lead with that instead of that stupid story about a gas grill? I'll send a team there right away."
"I should go with them to show them the way. The road back to the cabin can be a little tricky if you don't know where you're going and we don't have time to waste."
"I concur," said Beckman. "Let me take care of this. Standby where you are. There will be someone there soon to get you. Beckman out." With that the monitor went out.
"I need to get ready," said Morgan as he looked back at the armory. "John would want me to go in prepared."
When the team came by to pick him up Morgan was in full body armor on with a Colt M4A1 carbine slung over his shoulder and a Beretta 9 in his holster. Morgan saw them on the monitor so he came up and met them.
"Agent Grimes, we're here to pick you up," said one of the men as they opened the side door of the van and he got onboard.
"You can call me by my code name… the Cobra. I'm sure you've heard of my exploits," he said as he took off his sunglasses for effect.
"No, can't say as I have. Any of you other guys heard about someone call the Cobra?" There was just a lot of head shaking.
"It doesn't matter. You need to head down Burbank Boulevard," said Morgan as he gave them directions. They made good time. Morgan just hoped they weren't too late.
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[A few hours before at the cabin]
Devon went inside to take Ellie burgers she could take with her and had been gone long enough for Kat to finish the burgers. There was something off about Morgan that Sam couldn't get out of her head. Something was off with him. She hadn't seen him drink a grape soda since they came back and when he had a stash he always had one in his hand.
"There's something not right here," said Sam. "Devon should've been back by now and it doesn't take this long to check a patient out.
"Sam, where are you going," asked Kat as she watched Sam sneak around the cabin. She held her finger up to her mouth then waved for them to come around back.
"Kat, you can't take Bunny inside," she said as they stood next to the back door to the kitchen. "Leave her with us then peek into the living room. If I'm right… well you'll see but don't make a sound."
"Ellie's right you kids have an overactive imagination," said Kat. But she did as Sam told her she walked in through the kitchen quietly then peeked into the living room. There she saw Ellie looking at Devon who seemed to have a head wound while Morgan held a weapon on Alex and the rest.
"You had to play the hero. I guess that's why they call you Captain Awesome. Well I hope you've gotten that out of your system. We just have to sit here and wait now. My men should be here shortly"
Kat turned and ran outside as fast as she could. The door almost slammed on her way out but Sam caught it and let it close gently. Kat told the girls what she'd seen and heard. It the distance they could see the dust cloud of a vehicle coming towards the cabin.
"Come on," said Sam. "I know where we can go to be safe. Kat, you need to carry Bunny. Trust me, I've done this before," she said. Then they ran around to the grill before disappearing in the woods. Shortly afterwards the black Nissan drove up.
"Take these three and put them in the back of the Nissan. Did you see the kids when you pulled up? There should've been a woman with them?"
"No, but there are fresh tracks going off into the woods. I could take another guy and we can go get them."
"Do that but I want the kids taken unharmed. The woman… well you don't have to be as careful."