Don't own Chuck

The players were all picked up at pre-arranged locations throughout the city. As soon as they climbed on board the SUV player's phones were confiscated then they were asked to transfer a half million dollars into an offshore account where it would be held in escrow until the end of the evening. When the last player was picked up hoods were placed over their heads then they were taken to the cabin near Lake Mead shortly afterwards the game began.

"Before we start would anyone like anything from the bar," said Lucas. He passed out champagne to everyone. "A toast to tonight's festivities and may the best player win." They all drank to the toast. "One moment and the game will begin. Help yourself to the bar in the meantime."

"So where's our host," asked one of the men. "The name makes you kind of curious, El Serpiente... well doesn't it. What kind of name is that?"

"It's one you shouldn't be throwing around Mister... excuse me what's your name? Where you on our list of invitees? I don't seem to remember you this is a closed game."

"John Brown's the name and tractors are my game. We make them big or small. If you're interested in a deal on a good tractor we can talk after the game."

"Yes well Mr. Brown you're not on our list. How did you find out about this game? This is supposed to be by invitation only."

"Harley Burdock was invited and he couldn't make it so he told me I could take his spot. I got him a good deal on his tractor and it is a beauty you should see it to appreciate it. It came complete with air conditioned cab and TV. All it was missing was a mini bar and you'd have a limo but Burdock he's a teetotaler so it wouldn't have done him any good."

"That might be so but you're not on our invitation list. This is highly irregular. Why did Mr. Burdock give up his seat at the table?"

"You mean other than it being against his religion and he'd burn in eternal damnation. He knew I loved to play poker so he told me Slim, because Slim is what he calls me. You can see I'm anything but slim but that's what he calls me anyway. He likes pulling my leg well enough of that he told me to come in his place. Don't you be telling me I've got to go you took my half million."

"I'll have to have a talk with Mr. Burdock and explain the rules to him afterwards," said Lucas as he touched his ear and nodded. "But I've been told that since you're already here and you've put your money in the pot you can stay and play. Speaking of playing just set your glasses down and follow me," said Lucas. He led them into a room with a poker table sitting in the middle. Joe was sitting at the table with a deck of cards in front of him.

"Who is he," asked Mr. Brown turning to Lucas. "Why was he allowed in here before us? You aren't trying to pull a fast one over on us are you?"

"If you talk to me and not to him," said Joe. "You'd see I've got a bum leg so I couldn't mingle with you fine folk before nor can I drink with the horse pills the doctor's got me on. But my money is as green as your unless you print your own."

"Well enough of this these are the rules there are none. Dealer calls the game. You asked why Joe was here. He's playing for our boss like you're playing for Mr. Burdock. Everyone sit down I'll suffle the cards first," said Lucas as he made sure everyone saw him break the seal on the deck. "Now you can cut the deck to see who deals first. One last thing if you want a drink just signal and a barman will be over to take your order."

"I'll have a drink then before we start. I'll take adry martini, one. In a deep champagne goblet. Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?"

"Yeah sure buddy," said the barman as he shook his head. "There's always one idiot in the group who has to have it."

"Rufus, I'll take a Bourbon two fingers and George Dickel. If our friend is going to ruin his liver I'm going to help him."

"If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times my name isn't Rufus. It's Pedro... Pedro. It's not that difficult to remember."

"But you look like a Rufus. I don't know maybe when you were born you looked like a Pedro but now you definitely got this Rufus look about you. What do you think Mr. Lucas?"

"I don't know I thought you were here to play cards. Men your drinks will be here but in the meantime shall you begin," said Lucas as he stood over them as they cut to see who the dealer would be. "Okay looks like Joe's the first dealer."

"Well boys let's start out with a friendly game of Texas hold 'em everyone knows the rules right?" said Joe. "Okay let's start." He dealt out two cards each face down then the betting started as they began Lucas touched his ear.

"Are you sure? Okay I'll be right there. I'm sorry gentlemen but I have to step out for a moment. Rufus... I mean Pedro will take care of you in my absence," said Lucas then left the room.

"Don't look at me Rufus evidently I'm not the only one who thinks that's what you look like. Okay I'll see you and raise another hundred," said Joe as he pushed his chips out into the pot.

Pedro shook his head then moved over in Lucas' spot to get a better look at the players. His only consolation was knowing Joe's days were numbered even if Joe didn't seem to realize that.

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Casey drove the short distance from the park to Echo Park. It was because of the short distance that he didn't notice he had a tail. They pulled up and both hopped out. Casey passed the keys off to an agent from the downtown office that was waiting. They walked across the courtyard and over to the apartment. Opening the door they were hit with the smells of food cooking.

"Look at us," said Sam. She and Molly had aprons on and they were helping Kat cook. "Emma said we were on KP duty whatever that means." Casey stifled a laugh.

"It meant we had to help," said Molly. "But it was kind of fun. However, don't get any ideas about this becoming permanent."

"Well you two make adorable chefs," said Sarah as she gave them both a kiss. "My granny used to tell me idle hands are the devil's workshop so I had to be busy all the time. John, help yourself you know where the beer is."

"Where's Chuck," asked Sam. She went to the door and looked outside but he wasn't there. "Don't tell me he had to leave?"

"No, but he won't be eating here tonight. He's at a stake out. I'm here until I can get everyone to bed then I'll go check on him. Emma, Molly do you mind sleeping over here tonight?"

"No, we can manage," said Emma as she sat at the table holding Bunny. But I think someone wants to be fed."

"I'll take her into the bedroom," said Sarah. She took Bunny they started back to their bedroom. What's that smell? It smells absolutely delicious."

"It's nothing we decided to make a meatloaf. Sam suggested it would be… how did she put it something about a foray into the culinary arts. That kid I don't know where she comes up with half of what she says."

"Yes strange isn't it," said Sarah. "Morgan and Alex where are they? I think Chuck invited them to drop by for dinner."

"Alex called they're running a little behind but they should be here soon. You take care of Bunny and we'll take care of the rest out here."

"Gee thanks," said Sarah as she went into the bedroom. "Crap now if I make meatloaf everyone will compare it to Kat's and there's no way I can compete. I'm so hosed. Well you're easy to feed," said Sarah as she looked down at Bunny looking up at her. "I only have to decide right or left with you."

[Outside]

Blair and Barney pulled up outside in their rental car parking on the opposite side of the street. They had the apartment complex now they settled in for what looked like a long evening. Halfway through the stakeout Barney's stomach started roaring letting them know they hadn't eaten anything since lunch in the hotel.

"Why don't you leave me here then you go grab something at the nearest drive-through. I'll wait for you here and you can pick me up when you get back."

"And where are you going to wait at here that won't have someone calling 911 to report a suspicious man walking around the neighborhood?"

"Well if you want to wait here I'll fly but I thought you'd prefer to stay with the car. But if you want to stretch your legs than…"

"No I don't want to stretch my legs or wait and neither do you because we aren't going anywhere. We're staying right where we are. You're going to have to tell your stomach it's going to have to wait."

"I wonder what they're doing inside," said Barney as his stomach growled again. "I bet they're getting ready to sit down at the dinner table right now."

"If you keep thinking about food it's just going to make you feel worse. Think about something else like us trying not to get ourselves killed. It was you and Joe who wanted to go to that stupid poker game to begin with. I told you guys we shouldn't go but you two didn't listen to me."

"The way I remember it you didn't exactly but up a strong fight against us going," said Barney as his stomach growled again.

"Look in the glove box there might be some candy in there. See if you can find something to hold you over. Get down a car is pulling up," said Blair as he shoved Barney's head down.

Alex and Morgan pulled up then they ran across the courtyard to Sarah and Chuck's place. Blair and Barney watched them as they went up to one of the apartments rang the doorbell then went inside.

"Bingo we got you," said Barney. "Okay we know the apartment now. Let's go someplace quiet where we can phone El Serpiente. He's got to let Joe go now."

"I don't know think about it we're assuming that's the right apartment because they went inside. What if they just happen to be visiting neighbors? We tell El Serpiente he sends his people and they ring the door on the wrong apartment."

"That might not be too healthy for any of us. Remember he knows where we live," said Barney as his moment of euphoria was just that a moment. "So what do you want to do?"

"I think we need to stay here longer and see how the night pans out. That is unless you want to go over and knock on the door and say hi."

"You saw what they did to those guys in the park. If they did that to them simply for taking the photo what would they do to us?"

"Exactly, so we sit and wait. You know this is like being between a rock and a hard place." They waited for what seemed like an eternity but was in fact only a few hours.

"There's the blonde," said Barney but Blair was already on it. He started the engine then pulled out behind her as he followed her.

"Hey I know where she's going," said Blair as it became evident that they were heading towards their hotel. Hold up let me pass her and we'll wait for her there," he said and not too late. Sarah was beginning to look at them in her rearview wondering if they were following her so she slowed down. However, instead of slowing down to stay behind her they sped up and passed her.

"You're just being paranoid after the park incident," she said to herself. She sped up and continued on to the Waldron.

[In the Hotel]

Chuck found a comfortable chair in the lobby and planted himself there. There was something about the luggage that he noticed but at the time he didn't think much about. There was a partially torn stub on one of the bags. Now that he was thinking about it he was sure he'd seen that type of stub before. He used his phone and google to do search of baggage receipts and stubs but after searching most of the airports in the area he'd come up a blank.

"Excuse me," said the desk manager. He'd timed Chuck sitting in the lobby for some time so he decided to investigate. "You been sitting here for over an hour playing with your phone. Are you a guest here at the hotel or are you waiting to meet one of our guests?

"I was unaware that it was against the law to sit in your lobby. I had dinner in your restaurant and a few drinks in your bar so I'm not freeloading if that's what you're insinuating."

"No certainly not but as manager I need to know what's going on under our roof. The Waldron has a reputation to defend."

"Give me a break," said Chuck as he laughed. "I'm sorry but that was a joke right? With all the trysts that go on here you're worried about me doing work on my phone in your lobby."

"I'm afraid if you don't have a reason for being here I'm going to have to ask you to move along," said the manager becoming belligerent after Chuck laughed at him.

"Here this gives me authorization to be here," said Chuck as he flashed the man his badge. "Agent Charles Carmichael Homeland. I'm sitting here as a part of a stake out so if you don't want to blow my cover and then force me to haul you in. I think you're the person who needs to move along unless you want to share a holding cell with someone by the name of Bubba."

Chuck had just gotten rid of the manager when Sarah walked in. Chuck smile and stood up to kiss her then that sat down next to each other.

"I take it you got everyone off the sleep. What bedtime story did you have to tell Sam to get her to go to sleep?"

"You mean to get Molly and Sam to go to sleep. Molly and Sam are doubling up and I gave our bed to Emma so she can keep an eye on all the girls."

"You don't have to spend the night if you don't want to. I thought I was clear on that I've got this. Casey is going to come by in the morning then I'll get some rest and get back on it."

"Now you tell me after I gave away our bed," said Sarah as she smiled at him. "Don't be silly of course I'm going to stay with you. I would've brought you some dinner but Morgan found what I'd saved for you and I think you get the picture."

"It's okay things have been really slow here I thought I was going to fall asleep so I went to the bar where I grabbed a sandwich and a cup of coffee..."

"And where you over tipped the waitress because you feel sorry for her. Do you intend to put her kid through college too?"

"I did over tip I will admit to that but it's too early to talk about university. Joking aside did you notice the stub on one of the suitcases. I can't get it out of my mind. It's like I should know where it's from. I googled baggage receipts and check all the airports but nothing."

"I glanced at it but it had Los Vegas on it so I dismissed it. Maybe I put it aside too fast. You know you don't just check-in your bags are the airport but you can also check them in to travel on the bus and also the train."

"Yes the train! You're a genius," said Chuck as he leaned over and kissed her.

[Down below in the parking garage]

"Crap they found us here," said Blair. "We don't dare go up to our rooms. If we do, we'll get caught for sure. They've probably already staked out our room."

"But who are these people and what have we gotten ourselves mixed up in," said Barney. "This is bad, really back and I don't see it getting any better."

"Let's drive back to where that woman came from and stake out the neighborhood. On the way we can stop of at In-N-Out and grab something to take with us."

"You're just trying to appease me but it's working. Okay let's go."

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But Joe really didn't want to go anywhere. He was on a winning streak and things were looking pretty good for him. Pedro AKA Rufus was dumbfounded at the luck Joe was having. They'd played Texas Hold 'em, Royal hold 'em, Omaha Hold 'em and double Texas Hold 'em. The last game they played was five card stud that Mr. Brown called.

"You want any cards," asked Mr. Brown. Joe hadn't thrown any away. He studied his hand then moved things around.

"No I think I like these," said Joe. That was enough for all the other players to fold tossing their cards in.

"I think I have to see what you have," said Mr. Brown. "You talk a lot of crap but I have to see what you've got. Here's call and all in. Let's see if you put your money where your mouth is."

"Okay I'm all in too," said Joe as he pushed his chips to the center of the table. "I don't have much though just a heart flush."

"Nice try but I've got a full house," said Mr. Brown as he laid out his cards for everyone to see. "I guess this pot is mine."

"Gentleman as you can see the sun is starting to rise and with that hand concludes tonight's activities. Mr. Brown you asked to meet El Serpiente well he's interested in meeting you too."

"Good where do I have to go," said Mr. Brown. "Oh Joe that was a good game. Sorry for the bad luck at the end."

"You win some lose some," said Joe as he got up and started to hobble away.

"Hold up Joe," said Lucas. "El Jefe wants to talk to you too. You need to tag along so if you don't mind please follow me." Three men escort them outside and into a waiting vehicle.

"Where are we headed back to the ranch?" asked Joe. He didn't like not knowing especially after losing that last hand. He was afraid this was his last ride."

"Just sit back and relax. You two have to be tired after playing all night. If you want you can close your eyes and sleep for a bit," but neither man dared.

They drove on for what seemed forever until they came to an old abandon farm house with another Escalade parked outside. They pulled up and then four other men can out from inside and surrounded their vehicle. Lucas opened the door then waved them out.

"Have you been here before," asked Mr. Brown but Joe shook his head. Men came over and frisked Mr. Brown. They found a Beretta nine tucked in his belt and as they were finishing searching him a man stepped out from inside the farmhouse.

"Mr. Brown a tractor salesman from Butte. What are you doing carrying a piece like this," said the man. "I guess the tractor business is a dangerous affair. You wanted to see me well here I am."

"You're El Serpiente I was expecting something… well something more snake like I guess," said Mr. Brown. "Okay so we've met now I'm ready to go."

"Not so fast. Joe, what did I tell you before the game? I told you that if you let me down I was going to feed you to Cesar's pigs. How would you characterize the way you played this evening?"

"I was doing good all the way to that last hand. I don't know what happened. I guess my luck changed. But if this is it well I did have fun last night…"

"That's the way you want to go out. I tell you what let's have one last bet. One of you is going to die but I'm willing to let the cards decide here's a deck. Cut for high card, whoever has the high card lives."

"I can do that," said Mr. Brown as he looked over at Joe. Joe shrugged his shoulders and nodded. El Jefe held out the deck. Joe cut queen but Mr. Brown cut a king. "Sorry just not your day."

"Neither is it yours Agent Brown or whatever your name is," said El Jefe as his men grabbed Brown. El Jefe took his hand and pulled out the cards he had hidden up his sleeve.

"Let go of me I'm a federal agent. People will be coming to look for me if I disappear," he said as they tossed him into an old well. Joe heard the rattling noise of sidewinders. Brown yelled then silence.

"I hope they do come looking," said El Jefe as he tossed Brown's phone down with him. "You see that Joe. You don't know all the cons yet but you're getting there. Lucky Jack would've caught him at the table… heck he would've had a high hand up his sleeve. Joe, Joe you've got a lot to learn but if you know all the cons you'll never be a sucker."

"But how'd you know that man was an undercover agent," asked Joe. He looked over the edge into the dry well that had become a snake pit.

"Easy I had his fingerprints lifted off his champagne glass then had them run through the law enforcement data base. You think someone would've provided a back story. But that's how the cookie crumbles."