10 Aug 2010
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Chapter 4
The Chase
Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA
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"Sarah, are you sure?"
"The black SUV followed us on that turn. I'm sure." Angry girlfriend Sarah had been replaced by the cold seriousness of Agent Walker.
"I would think you would have noticed them sooner?"
"It's hard to tell on the expressway. I noticed them when they followed us on the exit ramp. Do you know who they are? Why are they following you?"
"This is your van, Sarah. I think they are following you."
"I assumed, since you have this mysterious source of intel."
"No. My source is private. The FBI, Homeland Security, NSA, or CIA were all involved. One of them probably has a leak, again."
Sarah couldn't disagree. "How close are we to this home base of yours? Is the layout the same? We could use the cage. The home theater room is defensible."
Chuck blinked in confusion. "Wha-What cage?"
"We're going to the Encino Buy More, right?"
"There is no Buy More in Encino. Encino shops at the Beverly Hills Buy More."
It was Sarah's turn to be confused. "Oh. Well is this base defensible?"
"Far from it. It has a safe room, but that would be for hiding, not defending. I really don't want to bother the neighbors. It's just a house."
Agent Walker was gone. "You bought a house!? We're not ready for—"
"Not time for the relationship freak-out, Sarah. I'd rather the bad guys not know about Encino. We don't want it to be an espionage hot-spot target like the Buy More was. We should get back on the expressway. First, we need a reason why we pulled off the expressway. Ah, this will work." Chuck pulled to the side of the road in front of a convenience store.
"What are you doing, Chuck?"
"They don't know we've made them yet. Go in and buy something. When you return, we'll get back on the expressway and lead them away from here."
Sarah cocked her head for a second, mentally reviewing her shopping list. "Then what?"
"I don't know. You're better at the 'taking out the bad guys' part of the plan."
Sarah quirked her mouth to the side. "Ok, I'll think of something." Sarah hopped out of the van and turned back to Chuck. "Don't leave without me. You are still technically my prisoner."
"I'll never willingly leave you, uh, without some plan of coming back like I had in Prague. Unlike other people who plan on leaving to DC, uh, maybe I should just shut up now." Chuck thought the glare in Sarah's eyes probably dropped the temperature ten degrees. Angry Sarah's door slam could probably be heard three blocks away. There was no way their tail would think they had been made. Chuck really needed to learn when to stop talking.
Chuck pulled out his phone, flipped through to Morgan's number and dialed. Since the van was still idling, he mounted the phone in the hands free station and enabled speakerphone.
"Hey buddy. When are you going to get here?"
"Morgan, we've picked up a tail. It's going to take us a while to deal with them. Did anyone follow you?"
"I don't think so. I've been sitting out in front of the house for the last few minutes, and nobody has driven on this block. It is quiet enough here that even I would have noticed."
"Good. Go inside and lock the door."
"I can't. I don't have keys. Remember you are saving a set for Sarah and another for Ellie. You never got me duplicates. Although I really think I should have a set, considering I am your best friend and all."
"Right. Try the Morgan door. It's been over twelve years, but I doubt Dad fixed it."
"Ahhh, the original. It's been ages."
Sarah opened the passenger door and tossed a bag in the back.
"Morgan, when you get inside, I need you to bring up satellite surveillance of the area." Sarah sat and looked to Chuck with a curious expression.
"You didn't tell me the basement code either. You said Sarah gets to find out first." Now Sarah looked at the phone in surprise.
"You're right again. Ok. Just get inside before the neighbors think you are a stalker. Turn on some lights so they don't think you are a burglar. We'll think of something."
"Burglar, huh? Maybe I should go by Bilbo.
"Bye Morgan."
"Oh, bye. Cobra out."
Chuck pulled away from the curb and turned around, back the way they came. "Did you get me some Milk Duds? I'm starving."
"I would think someone with their own satellite links could get their own Milk Duds delivered." Sarah ignored Chuck's little pout. "What's going on, Chuck?"
"We're being followed, Sarah."
"No smart ass, I mean the other stuff: the missions, the satellites, the house."
Chuck turned onto the expressway ramp. "One mission at a time, Sarah." Chuck followed the signs and exited west on to the 101. "What did you buy?"
"Necessities," Sarah replied. "Chuck, how far did you get in Vehicular Evasion and Pursuit training?"
"Not very. Plus it was Europe, so the cars were tiny and the roads were winding and narrow."
Sarah sighed. "That's what I was afraid of. We are going to need to get off the expressway once we are out of Encino. Have you tried flashing on the skill?"
"No. Not yet. I'm trying not to."
"Why not? Chuck, we need you to flash."
"The watch is cracked."
"What!? How!?"
"A beautiful kick-ass ninja girl attacked me earlier this evening."
"I broke your Governor! Oh my…" Sarah was panicked. Agent Walker was no where to be seen.
"Calm down Sarah. It's ok. I'm not sure it's broken. I just want to be careful. I went months before the Intersect heated up my brain last time. I should be ok until I can test it and, if necessary, repair it. I just don't want to overdo. I may really need to flash later."
Angry girlfriend returned, "You really need to stop hiding things from me! Are you sure you can really fix it?"
"Yes, Sarah. It will be ok. I have plans back at home base. For now, we have a bigger problem."
"I can't image a bigger problem than your pending brain meltdown."
"Uh, a more immediate problem then. I think our tail just got reinforcements."
"Oh. Ok. We can't be subtle anymore. Here, let me drive." Sarah undid her seat belt and started to slide over the center divider between the seats.
"Sarah, what are you doing?"
Sarah unclipped Chuck's belt and placed her left leg between Chucks to the floor of the van. She leaned in and started scooting across Chuck's lap. In other circumstances, it would have been a welcome surprise. Going sixty down the Ventura Freeway, this did not seem like a good idea.
"I'm putting it into cruise. Slide out, Chuck." Sarah grabbed the wheel from Chuck's hands.
Chuck inhaled the intoxicating smell of Sarah's hair and tried to focus. "Shouldn't we have done this earlier?"
"We would have, if someone had told me his watch was broken." Somehow, flirty Sarah had snuck into the van. Chuck loved all sides of Sarah's personality, but he knew flirty Sarah was the most evil.
Carefully Chuck slid up the seat, his front rubbing across Sarah's back side. He turned and leaned across the center arm rest. Sarah failed to contain her giggle. "Not now, Chuck."
Chuck joined in the laugh. "Why do the bad guys have to interrupt our fun all the time?" Chuck was stretched on his side from door to door. As he continued his laugh, he tried to pull the passenger door armrest while pushing off the driver's door with his left foot.
"Uh, Chuck. Not that I would normally mind…" Chuck slowly turned his right ankle so his foot would no longer be caught in the rather compromising position between Sarah's thighs. With a final twist, he was able to pull himself sideways, most the way into the passenger seat. Sarah was finally free and able to sit down on the driver's seat. "We better finish that later."
"I hope so," Chuck flirted back. "You know there were easier ways of doing that. Does this mean I'm your boyfriend again?"
Sarah only response was a mischievous, tight smile. Returning her focus to the immediate problem, she started to accelerate. "They have figured out we've made them. You should wake up Casey."
"Shouldn't the tranq have worn off by now? Last time it took three."
"I remember. When you told me that, I increased the concentration in my darts. I thought I might need to stop him from hurting you sometime." Sarah was going eight-five now, but the pursuers were closing.
"Thaaanks. Sooo, how exactly am I supposed to wake him?"
"Get in the back and open the first aid kit."
Moving to the back was much easier without the steering column and a beautiful girlfriend in the way. Of course Chuck still crashed headfirst into the back when Sarah swatted his rear.
Chuck righted himself and reached under the main surveillance desk, pulling out the large white case. "What am I looking for?"
"Get a bottle of epinephrine and load it in the hypospray."
"Did you just 'Star Trek' me?" Chuck started fumbling through the small bottles in the kit.
"I thought that would be better than telling you to grab a syringe and a needle. Inject Casey with the epi."
Chuck stopped and looked up. "You want me to inject Casey with adrenaline? You're kidding, right? When Casey reacts and kills me, I won't be able to finish what we started earlier."
"Chuck, just—" Sarah was interrupted by the sound of gunfire. Chuck fell back into the side of the van as Sarah jerked across three lanes of traffic.
Chuck righted himself and squatted over to the sleeping bear. "Ok. Got it. Waking up Casey with my eyes shut."
"Why are your eyes shut?"
"I'm trying not to flash on medical skills. Are you sure about this?"
"It's required for the plan."
"There's a plan?"
"Spies always have a plan. Stop stalling, Chuck!" Chuck shot the epi into Casey's neck.
After about two seconds, Casey shot up, sending Chuck across the back of the van for the second time. With more gun shots, Sarah turned the opposite way, shifting two lanes to the left. This caused Chuck to fall across the van the opposite direction, knocking Casey back down. Instinctively, Casey grabbed Chuck's neck. Lifting him away, Casey narrowed his eyes at his prey. "Bartowski! What are you doing here?"
"Can't… breathe…" Casey adjusted his grip from Chuck's neck to his vest. "You can kill me later, Casey. Now, you need to focus, or you are going to miss out on some gunplay."
Casey attention on Chuck was redirected with the sound of more gunshots. Casey discarded Chuck to the back of the van with a thud. Turning to the front, "What's the situation, Walker?"
"Two unknown hostiles in superior vehicles. I need to get off the highway. I would appreciate some covering fire. Eventually we are going to need capture, disable, or eliminate them." Casey reached up to the ceiling, dropping an access panel. "Chuck, I need an isolated area with few civilians. You grew up around here. Any ideas?"
Chuck ducked around Casey, making his way up front to the passenger seat. It was a little awkward with the involuntary rocking caused by Sarah's irregular swerving between lanes. "Where are we?"
"El Camino Real, Woodland Hills." [*]
"Take the Valley Circle Boulevard exit and go south to Mulholland."
The van was jolted by a bump to the rear bumper. "I told you we should have brought the SUV… or the Vic," Casey growled as he dropped a crate to the floor.
Sarah called back, "Your tank is not much more maneuverable than this boat. If we were in my Porsche, I would have lost them in my dust ten minutes ago."
"Then there wouldn't be room for your boy toy."
"Yes there would, you would have ridden with your captor."
"What? Bartowski wasn't the one who shot me?"
Sarah swung back across a couple of lanes. "Nope."
Chuck couldn't contain himself. "Wasn't me," he sung out.
"Who then? Wait. NO! I don't believe it." Another crash from a crate. This one was dropped accidentally.
"We have pictures. Maybe a video."
Sarah whispered to Chuck, "You have a video?"
Chuck whispered back, "I'll have to check the recording when we get to home b—"
"Where. Is. That. Little. Bearded—"
"He left before us and didn't get tailed. He's already at home base. I'll explain after we take care of our immediate problem. What are you doing back there Casey?" Chuck turned to look at Casey just as Sarah cut across four lanes to the Valley Circle Boulevard exit. Chuck flew back into the passenger door, but Casey was so firmly planted from anger he didn't budge.
"Weapons. I have two M5's and ammo, an M203 grenade launcher and ordinance, and four 80s-vintage High-explosive Anti-armor Grenades."
Chuck couldn't help but flash. "Oh crap. I flashed on the HAGs. Those were supposed to be recalled in the 80s because they are too dangerous for infantry."
"I can handle them."
"They were designed for tanks. They will vaporize the SUVs. Sarah, turn right onto Valmar. We're heading towards the park."
Sarah jumped in, "Casey, Chuck's Governor may be damaged. He's trying to limit his flashes until it can be tested and repaired. Please restrain from saying anything that might cause a flash." Sarah's driving skills on surface streets had helped build up a gap between the van and the pursuit vehicles.
"Great. Super moron is limited to a Google maps role now. Stay up in the wife's seat, Chuck, while I do something useful." Casey busied himself with the crates on the floor of the van when he found a bag. "What is this? Ehhh! Seriously? What is a box of condoms doing back here? Can't you two control yourselves?"
Chuck jaw dropped as he looked over at Sarah. He closed his mouth into a grin. "So that is what you bought. Is that how you treat all of your prisoners?"
Sarah smiled and quickly glanced at Chuck before refocusing on the winding of Old Topanga Canyon Road. "Chuck, we both know you were going to come up was a half reasonable excuse that would be just good enough for me to forgive the past two nights. Then you would be your normal adorable self, say a few cute things to make me laugh and a few more that would make me melt. Finally you would flash a Bartowski eyebrow dance at me, and it would be all over. After last night we were running low. I wanted to make sure we were properly stocked for our make-up activities."
"Ehhh! Can you just let me jump out of the van next time? Maybe one of those SUVs will run me over."
"Sarah, just ignore him. I love how you are always planning ahead. Quick! Pull in there!" Chuck pointed at a scenic view overlook. Sarah slammed the breaks and spun into the small lot off the road. Casey still didn't fall over.
"Casey, gun!" Sarah flipped off the headlights, leaving the area dark except for the dome light of the van.
Casey tossed an M5 and a clip to Sarah and busted out the rear of the van. Sarah bounced out her door. Both took cover behind the guard rail between the observation point lot and the road. After a couple of seconds, the first vehicle caught up. Efficient dispatching of the tires caused the first SUV to skid and crash into the hill wall on the far side of the road. The second SUV stopped short as the driver saw the fate of the first. Before its occupants could get out and establish positions to return fire, Casey launched a round from the M203 through the side window of the SUV, causing the passenger cabin to explode in a fireball.
Casey called out, "Sarah, check the crashed vehicle. I've got the blast victim. Chuck, stay in the van!" Casey chuckled to himself. "I've missed saying that."
Sarah slowly approached the first vehicle, gun at the ready. From the glow from the burning SUV, she could see the airbags were deployed and the driver was unconscious. Everything seemed quiet. She was about to open the rear door, when she hear something behind her. She spun to find her hard-of-hearing boyfriend, once again, out of the van.
"I thought you could use zip ties."
Sarah shook her head in resignation. "Thanks, Chuck." Taking half the zip ties, Sarah secured the unconscious occupants in the back. Chuck secured the two in the front.
Casey called through the comms. "One dead, one wounded and incapacitated, and two unconscious here."
"All four of mine are out cold. I need to get Chuck out of here before Beckman finds out."
"Right. Ok. I'll call this in. You can get Chuck out of here. I'll tell Beckman you are following up a lead on who these guys are. That at least is somewhat true. Before you two break in your new box of supplies, I expect to be filled in on what the hell is going on."
"Of course. Chuck, where are we going?"
"925 Lindley Avenue, Encino," Chuck replied. Sarah nodded her head a couple times in recognition.
"Got it. I'll see you there in a couple of hours."
Sarah and Chuck started back towards the van, the beauty of the lights spread before them at overlook. It wasn't the greatest view in the world, but it was good enough. When you with the one you love, it really doesn't matter. Chuck reached his hand out and took Sarah's above the wrist. She turned and he could see the light from the burning SUV reflecting off her smile. Just a normal couple in love, a night out by the campfire, well, a SUV fire. They both turned and continued their walk to the van, arms loosing swinging. Suddenly their view was blocked by a black shape, their ears filled with a thumping sound. A spotlight on this black shape turned and focused on them.
"Uh, Chuck. Take cover!" Sarah dove forward under the van, while Chuck dropped back behind the guard rail. The helicopter lifted above them taking a high position twenty yards short and above the van. "Chuck, you're too exposed! Get over here!"
"Just a minute." Chuck was busy doing something with his wrist.
"Now, Chuck!" The helicopter turned, revealing a mounted M-135 Minigun. Sarah rolled out from her position under the van and shot up from underneath the helicopter, desperately trying to draw fire from whatever Chuck was doing. Her plan worked. The helicopter dipped forward, and shooter refocused towards her. The spotlight found her so she aggressively pushed off the ground to race around to the road-side of the van, where it could provide better cover. A few shots clipped where she had just been, when unexpectedly, the gunfire flipped up into the air and stopped. She turned just in time to see the helicopter cockpit explode in a ball of fire.
"Nice shot Casey!" The fiery helicopter seemed to hesitate for a second. Then it fell slowly towards the down slope below the overlook, when it met with another crash and explosion.
"Maybe this will take more than a couple of hours." Casey called through the comms.
Sarah pushed up and brushed herself off, and Chuck reached up to the mic button on Sarah's shoulder. "Casey, how about you come by that address at 0930 tomorrow? It's getting late, and I wouldn't want you to interrupt something you'll regret."
Grunt (the please no details grunt.) "Fine. 0930 tomorrow."
Sarah looked up at Chuck was a curious expression, as Chuck stepped around her to brush off her back. "How—"
"I'm still hacked into your audio signal."
"Oh," Sarah replied although she still looked as if she were missing something.
Sarah and Chuck got back in the van and pulled away. Sarah was still driving in case another hostile showed up. The first fire rescue vehicle entered the park, just as they were leaving. All was quiet as they got back on the freeway. The air did not seem as hostile this time. It was more solemn.
Sarah broke the silence again. "I wasn't sure we would ever be working together again." Chuck didn't know what to say. "I loved working with you. I was always worried about you, but we..."
"We were a great team," Chuck finished.
"Yes we were." Sarah paused for a few seconds. "Please tell me we are still on the same team, Chuck. I don't think I could handle it if we weren't." Sarah was holding back tears.
Chuck reached out and lightly brushed Sarah's arm. "Sarah, honey, we will always be on the same team. You'll see everything is ok in just a few minutes, barring any more mysterious vehicles in black trying to disrupt our evening."
"Don't you hate it when that happens?" Sarah stifled a laugh.
"Sarah, I wanted to tell you everything sooner. I just had to figure out what it was first. It's kind of complicated. With the Buy More being rebuilt, I recruited Morgan to help me sort everything so I could figure out what I really would be explaining to you. I'm still trying to figure it out. I wasn't trying to hide it. Then we found those four companies, I made the mistake of listening to my excited friend, and things got a little out of hand."
"A little? Your Governor is damaged!"
"It'll be fine. I need to replace it with something more durable anyway." Chuck brushed Sarah's cheek.
Sarah leaned into Chuck's hand. "Promise?"
"I promise. Take the Resada exit, then Burbank to Lindley."
"I know," Sarah mumbled under her breath.
"I'm just glad I didn't have to call in air support."
Sarah laughed. "Funny, Chuck. That would have made your other felonies seem like small time." She turned off the freeway.
"No. I'm serious. That's what I was doing instead of coming over to the van."
"What? I don't follow."
"We're almost there, and you appear to have figured out where we are going; I guess I can show you." Chuck pulled up his left sleeve and held his arm in front of Sarah.
"Is that your Dad's wrist computer? I thought it was confiscated by the NSA."
"It was. They tried to reverse engineer it, but I didn't know to tell them it had DNA-based security. If anyone besides Dad, me, or probably Ellie used it, it would melt down."
"So you repaired it?"
"No that one is scrap. This is a second one. It can—"
"—call in a Predator in for air support. I saw the result the first time. "
"Oh yeah."
"Beckman is going to—"
"Freak out. I know. This one is secured too, so it's not like they can use it."
"Chuck, she's not going to let you keep your new toy."
"She might because of what I found. You'll see. There it is. The one with the silver Toyota out front. Morgan left the light on."
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A/N: Coming next: Welcome Home
I've never been to LA (outside of LAX), but Google Maps' Street View is great for finding good showdown locations. I needed a winding route in which Sarah's superior driving skills could be utilized to build a lead, despite being in a surveillance van. I also needed a marginally remote location for a couple of small explosions, unlike the stealth bomber's bunker buster to the Ring warehouse in the middle of LA. The address is intentionally not real.
[*] For some really good chase music, search for "El Camino Real, Alfred Reed, Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra". It's not really in the Chuck-style, and probably not to most readers' tastes, but it is great for staying awake late at night.