Don't own Chuck
Capitol Limited Amtrak pulled into Chicago's Union Station on time. The train ride had been without incident this time. Sarah and Chuck basically slept the whole way back as they retraced their steps to where they had started from just a couple of days before. Sarah was awoken by the announcement that they were arriving in Chicago and all passengers had to disembark along with checked luggage could be claimed inside the station. She opened her eyes slowly wondering why Chuck had let her sleep so long then she saw him with his head bent down sleeping in the chair sitting in front of her. She got up quietly caressing his cheeks with her hands.
"Sweetie we're here. It's time to go. Did you sleep there all the way to Chicago?" She thought to herself that was kind of a silly question because looking at him, he obviously did. "Weren't you uncomfortable?"
"Love, I had the best view in the room I watched you sleep. Sarah, there is something I need to tell you about when you told Shaw your name. But before Chuck could say anything else two agents arrived.
"Agents Carmichael, please follow us. We need to get you to the hospital as soon as possible. You're expected. Sarah and Chuck looked at each other. Chuck made a mental note to tell Beckman that they needed to teach a lesson on knocking on doors at the farm.
"Sweetie, we'll talk later." Chuck agreed with a heavy heart.
The couple disembarked and were whisked away from the station to the hospital. As the black escalade pulled in front they heard the sound of rotators above and saw the white medevac helicopter with big red crosses on each side hovering then landing on the roof above.
"She's here," said Chuck "Do you want to come with me or wait in Ellie's office?"
"What did Beckman tell you I was supposed to do?" Now there was the question he had expected.
"For now we're together," relied Chuck and gave her a kiss.
"Then led on but Chuck, Sweetie, but don't think that we've finished talking yet. Please love." Chuck didn't answer he just took her hand and they walked in and went straight for the elevators. The hospital was almost like a second home for them and they even knew some of the staff that they greeted when they came in asking things about their families. They rode the lift to Cardiology where they were challenged by two men in black.
"Agent Colson, Please he's expecting us," said Chuck.
"Yes, please follow me this way." The man really didn't need to escort them because Chuck knew the way to Devon's office by heart. As they went inside they found Devon, Ellie and Colson standing around with cups in their hands.
"Chuck, Sarah am I glad you two are here. This is the agent I talked to you about on the phone. Agent Colson this is …" Devon froze because he didn't know whether to introduce them are Bartowski or Carmichael. Seeing Devon's confusion Chuck stepped in.
"That's Bartowski, Devon you already forgot your wife's maiden name or are you trying to forget us?" They all laughed. This was going to be awkward because he couldn't tell the FBI he was Charles Carmichael but then he had an idea. "Yes we work for Carmichael Industries you might have heard of us?"
"Yes, but I don't know why you two are here? We have the situation under control all the perimeters have been checked and this floor is on lock down. I think all our bases are covered." Colson looked Sarah up and down and said, "I guess you'll be billing the government for your jaunt. There goes some of our tax dollars."
Sarah turned bright red and to say she snorted and pawed the ground like a bull was an understatement. Before Chuck could stop her she grabbed Colson's weapon from his holster and field stripped it on Devon's desk in under a minute and reassembled it in the same time then holstered it back again.
"You need to clean your weapon more often. Didn't your mother teach you cleanliness is next to Godliness, I pull my own weight and don't forget it!" There was an awkward moment of silence that lasted until an intern came in to tell Devon that the patient was ready for visiting. Devon, Chuck and Colson went to meet with the Costa Gravan Doctor Martinez who was standing outside the patient's room.
"Morning, I'm Dr. Woodcomb, Dr. Martinez I presume?" Said Devon as he put out his hand and they shook.
"Yes, Dr. Woodcomb our beloved Premier asked me to tell relay that he sends his best wishes and asks you do your best."
"Always. This is my brother-in-law, Chuck Bartowski and agent Colson from the FBI."
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. Mr. Bartowski, the Captain of our security squad Juan would like a word with you. Our beloved Premier told him before we left to trust only you and your wife. I hope I get a chance to meet her before we have to leave."
"Thank you Doctor, if you could just point Juan out then Agent Colson and I will leave you two to your work," Doctor Martinez pointed out a tall muscular man in a paramilitary uniform surrounded by others dressed the same. Chuck and Colson talked as they went over to speak with the Captain.
"Okay, I think we go off on the wrong foot. Just call me Chuck. My wife is under a little stress lately."
"I agree and I'll apologize to her later, you can call me Dave. How do you want to deal with these guys seems you've got the in."
"I understand you don't want foreign troops running around armed. I'd suggest we use them as an inner circle since they were all handpicked by Allejandro."
"Allejandro? Who's he?"
"I'm sorry the beloved Premier."
"You two are on a first name basis. You must know him quiet well."
"Not really we met a couple of times," Chuck remembered He and Sarah gave Hortencia and Allejandro marriage counseling but their problems seemed small compared to his now. "He's trying to bring his country in from the cold and I, we are doing everything to bring democracy to that corner of the globe."
"I'm starting to think there is more to you two then meets the eye."
"Right now let's keep our eyes on the mission."
"Yeah mission huh now if that doesn't sound like company jargon I don't know what does." Chuck ignored Colson and went over to the captain.
"Captain, my name is Bartowski and this is Agent Colson of the FBI. You can call me Chuck and this is Dave." Colson wasn't sure if he liked the informality with a foreign military officer he just met but he'd follow along.
"Ah, Mr. Chuck," he said then saluted, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance our beloved Premier has talked much about you and L'Angelo della Vita, Agent Casey." Colson just got the confirmation that there was definitely CIA involvement but he didn't know at what level but evidently there was some history here that he was unaware of. Better to let things play out he'd seen too many good agents get burnt in inter-departmental squabbles.
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Sarah and Ellie walked around Surgery until Sarah was sure that Colson's security was reasonably safe. She said reasonably because if it had been left up to her she would have locked down the whole hospital as proper protocol required but she was positive that this was also a compromise between the bureau and the medical staff.
"Ellie do you want to go down to the cafeteria and get a tea or coffee?" During Sarah's pregnancy she had switched to herbal teas it was more relaxing for her baby who was beginning to move more and more.
"Sure you look like you could get off your feet for a while." They got in the elevator and went down to the ground floor and as they exited they bumped into Latin-looking men that seemed to stare at them as they walked out. Ellie and Sarah laughed to think these men were so obviously trying to hit on them.
Talking about being muy caliente, I wanted to tell him to heel tiger," said Ellie as the both laughed.
"Listen as big as I am it's almost a compliment but no there's just something wrong with a guy hitting up on a pregnant woman, I'm sorry," and they both laughed again.
One of the two men pulled out his phone while they rode up in the elevator. "Pablo I though Miguel told us that this female Doctor Woodcomb was pregnant? …. Well, we just met this woman with a lab coat on with Woodcomb over the pocket. … The problem is she isn't pregnant but she was talking with this other woman who was. .. Okay we'll go up and meet you outside her office and grab her after you confirm it is her. Thanks."
Pablo was mad. A screw up like this could cost the whole operation so he decided he needed to make an example of what happens to those who fail to meet expectations.
"Miguel, come here I want to speak with you," Pablo said. "Didn't you tell me that this Doctor lady was emarazada?" Miguel was no fool he could tell by Pablo's tone that something was wrong so he did what he had always done to survive. He lied.
"That was what Tomas told me. He said he heard some people talking in the parking a garage while I was in the hospital. I swear on my mother's grave."
"Tomas, come here," yelled Pablo "El Cardillo wants to give you a reward for your service. You'll be going home to get what you deserve."
"Pablo, it's not necessary. Thank you very much."
"But first you must go in the bathroom and take care of your Miguel. He talks too much and needs to be silenced. He must be made an example for the rest."
"I understand and I'm sorry he's a relative, a cousin on my mother's side are you sure it has to be done?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
How do you want me to do it?" Pablo handed him a suppressed pistol and he walked in. Tomas raised the pistol at his cousin but it was empty and two men grabbed him while Miguel put a plastic bag over his head and tied it with a zip tie. He trashed for a while then went stone cold.
"Sorry cousin your mother's going to cry but if the tables were turned you'd done the same to me."
"Miguel," said one of the men. "You swore on your mother's grave to Pablo but your mother isn't dead."
"I know but it's one of those things you say," and he thought to dig yourself out of a grave like the one Tomas was in right now.
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Sarah and Ellie had Styrofoam cups in front of them sitting in a booth as doctors, nurses, patients and guests all walked by while they were trying to hold a private conversation. Ellie noticed Sarah being reserved almost as if she were choosing her word.
"What's the matter? You look like you want to ask something but are afraid to. I would think by now you would know that you can ask me anything."
"Anything El, I mean absolutely anything?"
"Anything Sarah, you're my sister. There shouldn't be any secrets between us."
"Even if it has to do with Chuck? I realize he's your brother and the two of you have this special relationship that goes beyond being brother and sister."
"It's because of that I can tell you to ask me anything."
"I had a memory flash or burst however you want to call it at Langley," Sarah said starting to regret she had brought it up.
"That should be good but from the way you're acting it isn't. What's the matter? It has to do with Chuck, does it?"
"Yes and no, there is no other way to say this then just to spit it out. Sarah Walker isn't my real name and the only person I ever told this to was Daniel Shaw and Chuck over heard me. Ellie, I remember doing it but I don't know why and I know it hurt Chuck. Why would I hurt him like this? Ellie the thought makes me feel dirty like I was some sort of prostitute and I sold my soul to spite Chuck, but why?"
"Sweetie," Ellie said trying to calm her down. Sarah hadn't seemed so vulnerable since she lost her memory. "I know. Chuck talked to me about it already."
"What? When? Why didn't he talk to me?" Sarah felt ashamed and embarrassed that Chuck had to go to his sister about something that she was to blame for.
"Sarah, you and Chuck weren't together at the time. He was in a fake relationship with Hannah.
"Why would he be in a fake relationship with her, she isn't a spy so there's no need for cover. She even works for us now in Paris."
"I know it was Chuck's way of apologizing to her for the way he treated her. You were blunt with me so I guess I have to be with you too. Chuck slept with Hannah and you knew about it. It never went anywhere and he was sorry he did. He broke up with her because he was still in love with you. He told her that she deserved to be with someone she could know completely and he wasn't that guy. He told me that she said he wasn't a nice guy and after thinking he had to agree. Every woman he's been with since you has had to meet your standard and none have measured up. Sarah for Chuck it's you or nothing."
"How can I be a standard? Okay he had rebound sex what does that make me I wasn't rebounding. Ellie I'm so ashamed and I don't know how to apologize. The fault was mine but I still don't know why I did it."
"I can't answer that question other than it could have been Hannah's curse, she told him, 'I hope your lies keep you up at night' and they did. Chuck was hurt and not just a little. I saw him spiraling out and to tell you the truth I was more than a little afraid for him. I'm sorry but I thought you were like Jill. I watched that train wreck happen and I wasn't going to standby again. Chuck said he was living a lie and he wasn't himself anymore. Morgan and I did an intervention but nothing seemed to work. Then you showed back up one day and somehow you two worked things out. My brother was like a new man. You and he made plans. You moved in then you got married, life was great for you two and then-"
"And then I lost my memory."
"Not just that, you left."
"I was so concerned about myself I never thought about how all this affected Chuck. I thought that the best thing for everyone was to just rip the band aid off."
"Best for whom? Sarah I don't want to make you feel like I'm pointing fingers but Chuck has carried all this on himself and I know he told you that the past is the past but I think you and I both know better."
"Ellie, how can I be sure I won't hurt him again if I don't know why I did what I did, like when I told Shaw my real name? My God what else have I done I can't remember. The reason I want to take him to where I became Sarah is so he will understand me better like he deserves so he can know me completely like I think he wants. Maybe then I can wipe clean all my past let him know me for who I am."
"That sounds good but do you really think Chuck doesn't know?"
"How could he? I don't think I've ever told him and something like that I would know for sure. No I've never told a soul. Besides he's never said anything."
"He never mention to you that he knew your name or the fact that you told Shaw either so it shouldn't surprise you if he does. My little brother will do what we Bartowskis always do."
"And what would that be?"
"Nothing. Silent suffering is one of our hallmarks. Chuck and I were taught that the day our parents left. Just look at our father and mother. Our father chasing after our mother and she living with my father's mistake. I shouldn't say that about Hartley but every time I see him I think about the time we missed with our Mom. Now who's spiraling?"
"What should I do then?"
"Sweetie let's go see go to my office. I think it would be more private it seems the noonday crowd is coming in. Maybe we have time to duck out for some ice cream afterwards?"
"Maybe take some and see Clara."
"Sounds like a plan I know she was happy to hear that you two were back so soon. I just had another idea the next time you get one of these bursts why don't you call me and we can talk about it."
"I don't know I promised Chuck we would talk them through."
"But you're not breaking any promise you're just be adding me to the loop. I mean what are sisters for if not to share things with." Sarah hugged Ellie which was a first because it was usually the other way round.
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Casey and family moved into the beloved Premier's war room and were debating recent developments. There seemed to be a wall being dropped over the country and no one or thing was being allowed to leave or to come in. This could mean only one thing a prelude to all-out war.
"What do you mean General all communications are down?" asked Allejandro.
'I'm sorry beloved Premier but all forms of communication including internet, radio and television as well as phone services are down. It seems that there is some sort jamming device that is blocking all our frequencies even our radars aren't working which means all our airports are closed."
"Can this get any worse?" asked the beloved Premier and just then a Captain came in with a communique.
"Let me see that," said Casey as he took the piece of paper.
"I didn't know you could read Spanish," said Morgan.
"There are a lot of things I can do you don't know starting with a thousand and two of them I'm willing to demonstrate."
"What does it say?" asked Alex trying to deflect her father's anger from Morgan. Casey was mad at Morgan because if he hadn't been trying to find the ideal place to ask Alex to marry him without his being there then Alex would be safe at home.
"The Army and Navy of Costa Masgravas has set up a blockade. They have ships off the coast stopping all vessels from reaching our ports and the Army is doing the same to all vehicles trying to come in. We're in a choke hold."
"I don't understand how they can do this. They don't have the money or technology. Where is it coming from?"
"Hydra," said Casey. "It's the only answer."
"Who's this Hydra? What does he want?"
"It's not a who but a what a group of evil people bent on world domination. You cut off one head and three spring back up."
"So we're completely cut off."
"Not completely," said Casey. Much to the amazement to the Costa Gravans present Casey walked over to the picture of the beloved Premier hanging on the wall and poked two fingers in the eyes which caused a secret door to open up. "I'll be right back," he said as he disappeared inside.