Don't own Chuck

The Woodcombs arrived at their hotel in Sharm El Sheikh on the coast of the Red Sea. It had been a long flight with a transfer in Rome but it had been worth it to now be in the sand surrounded by palm trees. Ellie was just overwhelmed by Sharm's beauty and how friendly the people were. Mary was different she could feel a ripple that flowed under the friendly atmosphere but she kept quiet for Ellie's sake. They all got their key cards and went up to their room. Devon had reserved for them a suite with two bedrooms and a balcony that over looked the sea.

"Isn't it awesome," said Devon.

"Yes, Honey you really out did yourself, but I'm tired and I want to lay down.

"Me too," said Mary and Clara agree.

"But guys we just got here and we should use every moment we have to enjoy it. Come on what's a little sleep anyway."

"Devon, I haven't slept in eighteen hours the bags under my eyes have bags I'm going to lay down."

"Ditto," said Mary. Clara didn't even answer she was curled up asleep on the sofa.

"Your daughter is the only one among us with good sense."

"Okay, I'm going to go out with some of my bros we're going to go down to the pier and check out the boat. Maybe do a little sailing before the big day. You sure I can't talk you into a little Sinbad the sailor or a game of Capt'n Hook."

"I have no idea what you're talking about just remember my mother and our daughter are present. If you want to go play Popeye go for it but remember what I said about me and boats. Just leave your credit cards on the table next to the door before you leave."

"Okay, then I'll shove off, arghh! avast, ye land lubbers!"

"Devon I swear if you come back with a parrot or tattoo you'll be sleeping in the reception area downstairs."

"That leaves a patch and a beg leg or a hook."

"Get out of here and go." Ellie trudged off to one of the bedrooms and passed out on the bed. She was so tired she didn't even change her clothes she just dropped and was out like a light. She awoke with a start, she didn't know how long she had been asleep for but daytime had given way to night when she heard someone knock on the door.

"I'm coming Devon," she yelled then she remember her mother and Clara were sleeping in the other room so she tried to be quiet. "I'm coming," she said in a low voice. "What's the matter? Did you forget your key card," said Ellie as she opened the door. However, instead of Devon there were three men in uniform. She recognized only one man as being in the U.S. Navy. The other two she thought had to be Egyptian.

"My God Devon fell overboard," said Ellie. That was the only thing she could think of.

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It was four in the morning when Sarah's phone rang. She was half asleep when she looked over at it and slowly the display came into focus. It was a message from General Beckman that read, 'Must talk to you in private. Urgent.' In all her years she had never received this type of message from the General and at first wondered if she wasn't dreaming but then she felt Chuck turn in bed and toss. He was dreaming again that was how she knew she was awake. She got up quietly and went to the closet and removed a portable communications device then went into the living room and switched it on.

"Evening General," said Sarah, "I'm a little confused about your message. You know I said I can't take any missions for a while and you agreed."

"Well, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to take that back. I need you on a plane the first thing in the morning."

"Even if I could I can't Emma and Molly won't be here to take care of Sam and I can't leave her with Chuck."

"You'll have to bring her."

"What! That's crazy I won't."

"Sarah, we need you," said Mary, as she held Ellie in her arms. The camera panned over to the hotel room with Mary, Ellie and Clara."

"What's going on?" Sarah asked realizing something terrible had happened and Devon was missing.

"Your brother in law," said the General, "has been taken by Somali pirates. They made a daring strike from the Gulf of Aden up the Red Sea and took the yacht that he and his other fraternity friends had rented. The last we know of was he and ten other friends were taken hostage. We believe they are back in Somalia now or almost there. We have Task Force 150 looking for them but they were running Zodiacs from a mother ship that eluded detection."

"What can I do, they can't. I'm sorry but my place is here with my husband."

"Diane, let me talk to her," said Mary. "Sarah you've already got a contact in Somalia, Ellyas Abshir. He knows you and will talk to you. We're bringing Casey in too."

"But he was supposed to fly everyone in from LA. If they don't come I can't go. I can't go."

"I know Diane, the General is sending another pilot just there will be a small delay or I'd already have them in the air right now. Chuck won't be by himself for long but most of all you can't tell him about Devon."

"I can't not tell him."

"No Agent Bartowski, that's an order. All the names are being withheld and I'm placing the list under national security. Some of your brother in law's friends are wealth and powerful people and their families want their names to be withheld from the public."

"That's just an excuse not to tell Chuck the truth."

"Sarah if he knew he'd want to come and well you told me about the incident with the policeman what do you think he'd do if knew about this?"

"If you have to tell him something," said the General, "tell him that you were called on mission because of an attack by Somali pirates that will be in the news."

"As far as Sam is concerned," said Mary, "bring her and leave her with Ellie here."

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all but I don't see I have any choice."

"You don't like what?" said Chuck who had walked into the living room after he woke up and found her missing. Beckman immediately terminated the connection.

"I'm being called on mission and I can't refuse."

"But after our talk in park I thought Beckman agreed that-"

"I thought she did too but they need me. There has been a pirate attack on a US vessel in Somali and the General has called both Casey and myself to handle it because we have contacts there. I shouldn't even be talking to you about this."

"Because I don't have the clearance, I'm still your husband you know."

"I do and well that's all I can say other than and I know you're not going to like this but I'm going to take Sam with me."

"No, absolutely not, you can't take her to Somali."

"I'm not taking her to Somali. I'm going to take her to Mary and Ellie. She'll be safe there. Sweetie, I have to leave in the morning and well, Emma and Molly won't arrive until late evening. I'm sorry but you can't take care of Sam by yourself even if it is for a little time. Maybe you will in the future when you're more accustomed to your condition."

"Just say it, because I'm blind."

"Sweetie, I don't know what to say."

"I think you've said enough. I'm sorry that came out wrong. I didn't mean it."

"Yes you did and you're right to be angry, mad and hurt. I wish there was another way but I just don't see one, do you?"

"I was thinking about calling Rick but he's supposed to be with his son."

"Maybe afterwards you should call him and take a taxi ride when he's back." Chuck tried to walk over to her but he forgot about the coffee table in the middle of the room and tripped falling on the floor.

"Chuck!" she yelled as she went to him and helped him up. As she helped him up he buried his face in her shoulder and cried.

"Shush, it's alright," she said as she held him trying to comfort him. She wanted to damn the world but the world had also given her him.

"I'm okay now," said Chuck as he tried to regain composure. "It's okay take Sam after all that was my plan wasn't it for her and Molly to see the world with us. I just never thought you guys would be seeing it without me. Let me get dressed and you two can get ready to go. I supposed there's a C-130 that's coming to pick you up, am I allowed to ride along to the airport or do we need to say our good byes here?"

"I'll shoot the first person who says you can't ride along."

They spend the morning getting everything together and then packed. She pulled out all the items she thought she might need her Smith and Wesson, knives and back up gun. She intentionally packed them without loading them, she knew Chuck could hear the clips being slid in and she was almost sure he could tell the caliber from the noise they made. She brought her bags and set them next to the door them she got busy with Sam's. She had just finished packing when her ride came and rang the doorbell.

"Come up guys," said Chuck as he let them in.

"We're here for Agent Bartowski," said one.

"Would either of you like Coffee," said Chuck, "there's some fresh on. My wife will be with you in a few minutes." Both men looked at each other perplexed.

"Excuse me, but we were told you where blind," said one of the men. "How did you know there were two of us?"

"It's your aftershave. You're each wearing different ones and the smell is distinctively masculine. The cups are in the cabinet over the sink help yourselves. By the way I'm riding along to the airport and before you disagree my wife has promised to shoot the first person who disagrees, so if you want to see your children tonight I wouldn't argue."

"Okay we can understand the aftershave but how did you know we have kids?"

"I'd say they're small so congratulations are in order, you both also have a hint of baby powder. Good for you, you're helping out by changing you kids."

"My God are you good," said one.

"Boys, can you give me a hand," asked Sarah as she walked into the kitchen carrying a bag and Sam.

"Sure ma'am."

"There are two more bags by the door and this one. "I'll carry my baby and take my husband down," she said as she handed one the bag she had in her hand then she put her hand under Chuck's arm and they all left. Chuck intentionally didn't ask anything about the mission because he didn't want to embarrass Sarah among colleagues and he figured some information he could get from CNN. They seemed to know everything that was going on better than MSNBC or at least got their facts straight.

"We're almost at Glenview," said Chuck. Both men looked at each other then one looked in the rear view mirror.

"Don't look at me," said Sarah, "I didn't say anything."

"Glenview is obvious if you're going where you're going you'll need to use a C-130 and you can't drop a plane like that at O'Hare without some heads turning. So the obvious place is an abandoned airfield that can handle that large a plane."

Sarah looked down at Sam who was wide-eyed taking everything in but not complaining then she reached over for Chuck's hand then she realized why he was so talkative. His hand was cold and sweaty he was nervous and scared.

"Everything is going to be okay," she whispered, "there's no reason to worry."

"Just get done what you have to get done and get home. You know what this looks like, if I can use the pun."

"No, what? I don't understand?"

"It looks like you're leaving me."

"Don't ever say that I'm not, I won't."

"You are leaving and taking our daughter, but no I know you're not."

"Then why did you mention it? Please don't think that I don't want you to," she said as she kissed him. "Listen you and I will have a long talk when I get back. Chuck, Sweetie, don't ever doubt me. I love you, we love you because you are you not for other reasons. I don't know how to tell you this other than to show you," she said as she kissed him again.

The road was bumpy and rutted from disuse and lack of maintenance but neither Chuck nor Sarah seemed to notice. They pulled into the abandoned airfield and over to a hangar with a large black C-130 parked inside.

"We're here," said one of the agents signalling them to come up for air. "We'll put your bags on the plane Ma'am," said the other one. They all got out and Sarah was about to speak when Chuck cut her off.

"Casey, it's nice well I guess I can't say see you but I'm glad you're here."

"Nice to see you two but how'd you know?"

"I'm working on my other senses. You're the only person I know that wears that big a shoe but walks so quietly almost cat like I'd say."

"Thanks I guess. It must be from my Angel de la Muerte days and living in that stinking commie palace in Costa Gravas."

"Ex-commie palace but if they haven't cleaned out the sewer system it's still stinking."

"Come on Sarah we've got to get wheel us and save the free world. By the way I got all those upgrades you wanted done to the Lear ahead of schedule so when they arrive here it won't have to go into the shop. Enjoy retired life Chuck."

"I know you miss me," said Chuck. "Thanks for the update I think I'll take her out for a spin when she gets here."

"Don't let him get you down."

"What am I supposed to say?"

"How about I love you?"

"I like that I love you. Come back soon," he said as she kissed Sam then he gave a passionate kiss to Sarah.

"Yuck come on before I get sick." Sarah and Casey left, Chuck heard her walk away and his heart felt like it was going to burst. He went back to the Escalade and got back in. The agents waited until the plane took off before they headed back to drop him off. Chuck would be by himself until late evening.

Once in the air Sarah walked over with Sam to Casey and sat down next to him.

"You should be nicer to Chuck. He's caught a lot of bad breaks lately and he's really down."

"I treated him like I always treated him if I didn't he'd know something is going on. I take it you didn't tell him about Devon?"

"No, I was ordered not to."

"So when has that ever stopped you from doing what's right."

"Maybe I should've. I don't know anymore."

"For what it's worth I think side-lining Chuck was wrong. I hope we don't pay for it and most of all I hope you don't pay for it."

"Me? Why me?"

"You don't think he's going to be happy when he finds out and we both know he will find out. He's got a sixth sense for these things. I wouldn't be surprised to see him walk through a door over there."

"I just want him to be safe."

"Sorry if I have to tell you but safety and Chuck seem to be antagonists. Do you plan on holding Sam the whole way to Sharm El Sheikh?"

"Yes, why?"

"Well if you need a break just let me know."

"Okay Uncle Casey," said Sarah as Casey grunted.

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The Agents dropped Chuck off in front of his apartment building. They offered to help him back up but he refused so they drove away leaving him on the curb. He couldn't help but see an analogy between himself and a sack of trash. He made his way back inside then rode the elevator back up and counted the paces in his head until he reach his door. After letting himself in he stood in the living room, the silence was screaming at him until he had to leave. He walked back first to the nursery and was almost over whelmed by Sam's smell. He braced himself against her bed and hung his head then tore himself away. Next he made his way to the bedroom and laid down on the bed. He reached over picking up Sarah's pillow and held it to his face.

"Enough Chuck," he told himself this was not him and he was not going to let this get him down. There had to be something he could do. "Ellie," he thought Sarah was going to go to Ellie. Ellie hadn't called to tell him everything was alright like she normally would have but there were a myriad of reasons why. Sarah's mission was against Somali pirates, Ellyas Abshir's name stuck out. But Sarah had to be careful how she dealt with Abshir he was a man not to be trusted. Chuck got up and made his way as fast as he could to the living room and picked up his phone. He dialled Ellie's number.

"Ellie this is Chuck. I just wanted to tell you that Sarah left an hour ago to bring Sam to you. … You know. … Hey, tell her if she has to deal with a man named Ellyas Abshir, she needs to be careful. He can't be trusted and the only way to deal with him is roll over him hard. Ellie why do you have me on speaker? … Hi, Mom how's the weather? … Is Clara there? … I guess Devon's with her then or did you let her go out on her first date. Well, Mom tell Sarah if she has to deal with Abshir don't go in as CIA or he'll kill them and Casey screams G-man. She ought to go in as a former associate of Volkoff. … He seemed to warm up I'm being sarcastic when he and Alexei exchanged greetings. Sarah will know what I mean. Please you have to tell her this or things will go sideways fast. … No, Emma and Molly aren't here yet. Please, listen to me I'm not lonely, well not a lot, well I am but this has nothing to do with the intel I just gave you. … You've got to go, go where? … Okay, I'll see you all when you get back. Tell Devon and Clara I'm thinking of them, bye."

Chuck listened to the dial tone and in the darkness that surrounded him one thing came clear. They had lied to him.