Don't own Chuck
At an abandoned warehouse in the old industrial park on the outskirts of LA a black van pulled inside what used to be a subterranean loading area. The men got out commando style each knew his job and he did it quickly and silently. One man transferred all the goods from the van to an awaiting car while the other two took tanks of gasoline and doused the van completely then before pulling out they threw in a road flare. In and out in less than two minutes like clockwork then back on the road heading east out of town. As they drove Petr took out his telephone and made a call.
"Genosser, comrade General this is Petr, I just called to tell you we got the items you wanted in hand but the price just doubled."
"Put him the bastard on speaker so we all can hear the pig," said the driver angrily at the loose of his friend.
"Wait while I put you on speaker my men want to hear you too. Just to let you know tempers are running high and rightfully so."
"I said you're making a big mistake. We had an agreement and I don't like people changing things on me at the last minute I have a tendency not to react well."
"Like sending that Stasi dog Kolonel after us? You didn't think we'd see him."
"I didn't send the Kolonel if he's there he's working on his own or for someone else. My advice Petr, give me my things then the lot of you disappear. The man's a blood hound he will find you and your men are no match for him."
"You'd like that wouldn't you well we're not in the mood for your lies. We lost a good man back there getting you your trinkets so don't try anything or you'll regret it."
"I'm not trying anything. Petr is this any way to treat friends? I'll try and find out from here what he's doing there but I don't need to be a genius to know why. You need to keep your eyes open he's good at his job."
"Listen, Kolonel or not, we're on our way to the rendezvous point if you want your things it will cost you double, if not I'm sure the Americans will be interested or maybe even your Kolonel. Didn't he work for you?"
"That was a long time ago and also why I know him so well. Petr after everything we've gone through you'd double cross me? What about the movement? The Party Comrade Petr?"
"I'm not your comrade and the Party's over my friend as Frank Sinatra said and now we're all businessmen. We're all just trying to turn a buck, making a living which is more than I can say for Vasil who's turning up daisies."
"You mean 'pushing', the phrase is pushing up daisies."
"Whatever, if you want the merchandise you'll come up with the dough. It's that simple and don't try anything I'd hate for this to get ugly especially among old friends."
"The only thing the Kolonel will give you is a quick death and even that depends on his mood. Okay but for that kind of money you're going to have to give me a little more time."
"You have to the end of the week and if we see your dogs anywhere near us the deal's off, am I clear General?"
"You just make sure you keep the package safe. If there are any screw ups I can promise you none of you will like the consequences and that you can take to the bank."
"Now that we've made reciprocatory threats we understand each other," said Petr then hung up. He took out the SIM card from the phone and broke it then he did the same with the phone before tossing it out the window.
"You know Petr he might not have sent the Kolonel."
"I know Vlad and that's what I'm afraid of but we'll be ready for him just the same then we'll make our comrade General pay even more. Pencil pushing bureaucrat sat back in his office while we did all his dirty work for him. Now we don't have a job or a country but they still sit back fat and happy."
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There was a black cloud that hovered over the herder as Sarah pulled into their parking spot next to Echo Park. Chuck hadn't said much of anything all the way home. He just sat next to Sarah looking down at his bloody cuffs. Sarah looked in the rearview mirror she saw Emma was living her own hell thinking about all the ramifications if Molly's information got out. Sarah knew none of them could process the thought of losing her.
"Guys remember this is supposed to be a party not a wake so you two need to snap out of it. If nothing else for Molly you two need to get a grip. Emma, do me a favor go to our apartment and get Chuck a clean shirt. Sweetie you can't go into the party looking the way you do now, leave your jacket in the car. I'm sorry but first you're going to have to come with me to Casey's, General Beckman wants a debrief from you."
"Crap, what am I going to say? I don't know what to tell her," said Chuck realizing how much he couldn't say.
"I don't know just be generic, rabble a lot and go off topic, you know like you usually do," Sarah said trying to cheer him up.
"Ha, ha very funny and thanks I know what you're doing. But it's okay, game face right so let's go," said Chuck as they all got out of the car and everyone went their way.
Emma opened the door to Chuck and Sarah's place, Molly, with Morgan and Alex's help, had the place decorated up with streamers and signs that had pictures of Sarah and herself together. One caught Emma's attention that read 'World's Best Big Sister.' It was all she could do not to cry so she dashed into their bedroom as fast as she could and she closed the door behind her. She listened to Molly's laughter and began to cry.
Chuck and Sarah made their way over to Casey's without being detected, knocking they went in. Casey was already in the middle of his own debriefing when they came in. The first thing Casey noticed was Chuck's bloody shirt and was about to say something when Sarah signal him not to mention them.
"It's nice of you two to drop in and join us. I hope the time isn't too inconvenient," said Beckman. "The Colonel was just going over your exploits this morning Chuck. If it isn't too much trouble can you tell me what the hell you were thinking?"
"Sorry General it just happened. I was downtown by the bank getting some supplies when I noticed this man going into the First Savings and Loan. I thought I recognized from one of our files so I went to investigate. You know to see if I flashed. There was really no need to call anyone until I was sure and since it was a crime scene I needed a cover so I went in as an agent from Homeland security.
"A reasonable cover," said Sarah "and within our mandate. I was complimenting Chuck on his good work and quick decision as we were driving here."
"Exactly what I was thinking and I was thanking Sarah if it hadn't been for her expert training I wouldn't have been able to pull this off."
"Can we please get back on track," said the General looking at her watch.
"If you've got someplace to be General, I can submit all this in writing?" said Chuck trying to close the comm link as soon as possible.
"Stop stalling and continue."
"Well inside I made contact with a homicide detective, Joseph DiMarco and I assisted him with his investigation to gain access so that I could locate my target."
"But you didn't just locate your target did you or better he located you."
"No, well yes what I mean is well General I flashed. His code name is Mischa a former Colonel in the Stasi X directorate. He worked directly for Erich Miekle and Markus Wolf, a high up on the Stasi food chain. Did you know he was a personal friend of the Russian President and has been living up until now outside of Moscow in a government financed Dacha in semi-retirement?"
"Take's nice and important but it doesn't explain the firefight outside the bank, now does it?"
"I was getting to that and it really wasn't a firefight as an exchange of opinion," said Chuck as the General began tapping on her desk.
"Now this is a new twist on a firefight, an exchange of opinion? I've got to hear this," said Casey. "I guess Wyatt Earp was very opinionated at the O.K. corral. Put's a new meaning to dotting your 'i's."
"John, not helping," said Chuck.
"Colonel! Go ahead Chuck tell us," said the General as Chuck looked over at Casey and Sarah for help but Casey just motioned for him to continue.
"Well Mischa or the Colonel realized he'd been made so he opened fire with his PSM. He wounded Detective DiMarco who jumped in front of me shielding me with his own body might I add. I took DiMarco's weapon and pursued Mischa outside."
"Where you were involved in a gun battle in broad day light, do I have to tell you how irresponsible that was? Do you have a problem understanding the meaning of covert as opposed to overt?"
"No ma'am, but it really wasn't a gun battle. Sure he shot at me but I wasn't returning fire at him I was trying to disable his vehicle. The police would've been a poor match for someone like Mischa."
"But Chuck you could've gotten hurt," blurted Sarah out.
"Agent Bartowski's right Chuck, the government didn't spend millions of dollars on the intersect for you to go around acting like Batman."
"I had more Spiderman in mind you know the Peter Parker look," said Chuck as he whispered to Sarah, "is that rambling enough." She elbowed him back.
"Chuck! This isn't elementary school," said the General getting angrier.
"General with Chuck's flash and what I found out in the bank I think this deserves a closer look and by the way thanks Chuck the police handed me all the material you asked copies of that will make our investigation easier."
"Do we know why Mischa was there? And what he was doing?"
"At the time I flashed on him he was talking with tellers about the robbers. Maybe if we get an ID on the dead bandit that the security guard shot outside we might get some answers."
"I still don't understand what the Stasi would want with a bank in Burbank of all places. I agree this needs to be investigated more so I'm not going to reprimand you this time Chuck just in the future call for back up. Remember the Lone Ranger had Tonto."
"I will kemo sabe."
"What did you say?"
"I said will have a nice day, General."
"Well considering that it's almost over and we can only hope that tomorrow is, that is if you can holster your six shooter Chuck. I thought Casey was the trigger happy one. Beckman out."
"Well John you and I can go over to the party. I'll see what's taking Emma so long with that shirt. Chuck I'll be right back just sit tight," said Sarah as she started for the door.
"Hold up there Mary Jane you two might have pulled one over on Beckman but I smell a rat. Let's start with why Emma was there? And why Chuck, you failed to mention her in your brief?"
"Would you believe coincidence," said Chuck looking over at Sarah for help.
"Then tell me Chuck when you went to the bank and were how did you put it 'helping the police' to find this mystery man, why did you walked past the stiff? According to some of the cops I talked to you went straight down to the vault where the safety deposit boxes were stolen but you just said your man was upstairs talking to tellers so what gives?"
"I didn't see him and I thought it made sense that he'd go down there where the loot was taken so I went down below. When I didn't see him I worked my way back out."
"Giving him opportunity to slip out, do you two think I'm a mushroom? You want to keep me in the dark and feed me crap. I smell a rat and no one is going anywhere until I get to the bottom of this."
"You know Casey we really do have to start writing down your little sayings we could build a blog on the internet and call it 'Casey's Quote for the Day'."
"How about talk or die, is that good enough for the first one or if you don't start talking I'm going to shove my fist down your throat and pull you inside out."
"You know I think we're making progress with your anger management issues, don't you Love?"
"Okay John you're right, don't get mad at Chuck, he's looking out for Molly. Chuck I'm going ahead and tell him, he has a right to know. John will figure it out sooner or later anyway and he was with us in Budapest."
"Budapst? What does this have to do with Budapest? asked Casey. As Sarah was explaining the story of the safety deposit box, Emma came and brought Chuck a clean shirt then left to go back to the party.
"I don't understand, why didn't you destroy all of Molly's records so Ryker and people like him couldn't find her. You went to all the trouble of placing her with your mother so she couldn't be found then left a paper trail."
"John, it's Molly inheritance we're talking about and it's who she really is. I of all people know what it's like to have so many aliases that in the end you don't remember who you are. I couldn't do that to her. I thought she'd be safe and I'd never see my mother again."
"So what are we talking about anyway some documents, birth certificate, DNA samples and what else?"
"That's about it. There are some toys as well as photos of her when she was born along with pictures of her real parents and that's it."
"What would someone like Mischa and this guy want with Molly?" said Casey as he showed them a photo of the dead man he took with his phone. Both flashed. Chuck looked over at Sarah who looked back at him. "Okay remember I'm the guy without the computer," said Casey.
"But with good looks," said Chuck, "That is or was Vasil Todorov former Bulgarian Olympic wrestling champion until he was kicked off the team when he popped positive for steroids. Afterwards he went to work for the Bulgarian Secret Service then after the fall he dropped off the grid. There are rumors that he was doing odd jobs for the Bulgarian mob."
"We've got an ex-Stasi Colonel and now we've got Bulgarians who were Molly's parents? And what were they involved it?"
"The truth I don't know. I was told there was a package that I needed to pick up and it turned out to be Molly that's it.
"Well before we jump to conclusions her box wasn't the only one broken into. I say we table the whole thing until tomorrow right now we've got a party to go to and Sarah, Love, you need to act surprised. We'll pick this up tomorrow. Casey did you get that security guard's info Tom something or other?"
"Yeah, Tom Martinez here you go," said Casey as he passed him a piece of paper. "What do you plan on doing?"
"I think I'm going to swing by his house tomorrow and see if I can talk to him. I'd like to know how the band got into the bank carrying that much firepower without setting the alarms off. The whole thing smells like a set up."
"You mean 'we'," said Sarah, "remember what the General said about the Lone Ranger."
"Chuck, Sarah's right. You know how they tell you as a kid not to run with scissors in your hands. Well Chuck, you were born with scissors in yours."
"See Casey this is another one of those nifty sayings we could add."
"Shut up or you'll be eating you pizza through a straw and don't say anything about putting it up on the internet or I'll put a knot not only in your straw."
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In a cheap motel in downtown Burbank a man sat on his bed with the TV remote control in his hand flipping through channels but not settling on any. In the middle of his second pass his phone rang.
"What are you doing Comrade Colonel?" asked the man on the other side.
"Trying to find something on this stupid box to watch but I was trying to find that show about the guy with the computer in his head and tennis shoes."
"You've been in Russia too long they took that off a couple years ago."
"'Shizen' and how did it end?"
"You don't want to know but you might try Netflix. I called to see if there's word about the package and if Ryker's information was correct?"
"Yes but someone beat us to the box, Bulgarians."
"Bulgarians! How'd they get involved? This smells like we've got a mole. We only got and deciphered the message we intercepted from Ryker last week."
"You realize we risked not getting it at all. Stupid admin types misfiled the thing and if it hadn't been for the audit we might never have gotten it. Well, I'm on the trail but I think I've got people looking for me too. I had to shoot a policeman to get out of the bank today."
"I don't have to remind you that if you get caught you're on your own. Don't expect any help from here because no one other than me knows you're there."
"You're right you don't have to remind me and as far as expecting help I've never needed any nor do I want any."
"Comrade Colonel, one of these days that attitude of yours will get you killed and I'll lose a good friend so be careful.
"Stefan," the Colonel said without thinking, "see what you've made me do. In the old days I'd never used a name. Stefan, I appreciate the concern but this has to be done we both know it. I'll send an e-mail to the consulate using the drop box which will mean to call me until then I need to go dark."
"Dasvidaniya"
"You know how I feel about speaking Russian, especially on mission." With that he hung up and went back to channel jumping until he finally gave up.
"You might have won the cold war but you sure are a long ways from winning the channel war. So many choices and nothing to watch," he said to himself before switching off the TV and pouring himself a glass from a bottle next to his bed.
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Chuck, Sarah and Casey walked into their apartment. Standing outside the door they looked in through the window and watched Molly happy and bright running around like a little general putting everyone in their place waiting for the guest of honor to arrive.
"Guys I don't know if I can do this," said Sarah as she started to get cold feet. "I'm sweating and the last time I sweat we all know what happened."
"Take my hand and let's just go in I'll be with you."
"Yeah and if it gets too much just give me a nod I'll duck out then call you. You can tell everyone Beckman needed us at castle."
"Thanks John but I can't do that to Molly. Chuck stay by my side," said Sarah as she took a deep breath then nodded for Chuck to open the door.
"Surprise!" yelled Molly at the top of her lungs jumping in Sarah's arms and climbing her like a tree until she reached the top for a kiss.
"What's this," asked Sarah pretending to be surprised.
"This is for you," said Molly as she got down taking Sarah by the hand leading her to the dining room table. "Sit here," Molly told her as she went and brought back a crown she made out of gold colored poster board then she put it on Sarah's head. "It's official now," said Molly.
"What's official?" asked Sarah as she tried to straighten her new headpiece but it was about two sizes too big and had a tendency to go down over her eyes.
"You are now my Big Sister of the Year," Molly said as she handed Sarah an envelope with a card inside.
"For me? Thank you Sweetie," said Sarah as she kissed Molly on the forehead. "What do you want me to do?
"Read it, my teacher helped me make it at school. I hope you like it," she said as she oscillated side to side waiting for Sarah to look at it.
"I'm sure I will Love," said Sarah as she opened it. Inside in crayon was a card that read 'My sister and me' written across the top with two female stick figures in matching dresses, one tall and one short, both with blonde hair.
"This is me and this one is you," said Molly pointing at the figures. "We're always together."
"Yes we will be. It's lovely," said Sarah as she hugged Molly. Everyone around Sarah read love in her look while Chuck read it for what it was, desperation.
