Don't own Chuck
Morgan braced himself for what he was about to do. It was his turn to sacrifice himself for the team. He had no choice. He repeated over and over in his head a man has to do what a man has to do but that didn't make this any easier. He got up from behind his desk and walked to the door. Propping himself against the doorway he scanned the store and until he found his target.
"Big Mike, can I see you in the office?" He didn't want to say 'my office' because for years it had been his stepfather's and he didn't want to embarrass him.
"Yes, stepson what can I do for you. I don't have much time before my lunch break."
"This won't take long. I need to ask some advice."
"A stepson asking his new dad for love advice, it just makes you want to cry. But you've come to the expert just ask your Ma'am. She calls me lion king and each night we roar together in the jungle."
"Okay Simba, No, I really I don't think so. Listen I need to ask about fishing."
"Boy, you want to talk about fishing? Now that's a serious matter. You just don't go up to a pond and drop a line in and think Mr. Catfish is going to want to come home with you for dinner. No, there's skill involved, like selecting the right bait or lure depending on the fish you're trying to catch. You need finesse. But seeing as you're my stepson I'll hook you up so to speak. Get the joke son? Hook you up."
"Yeah I'm splitting my sides so you were saying."
"Where are you thinking about going fishing?"
"Lake Havasu. Can you help me out?"
"Sure, wait here and I'll go get my gear out of my trunk. I've got my emergency break out stuff in case I get the itch to fish."
"The itch to fish that rhymes."
"Son what have I told you, you're the manager not some rhyming monkey."
"Right now, I need to be a fishing monkey. Can you get that stuff for me while I get Sarah."
"Son you're going to take your best friend's pregnant wife on a fishing expedition?"
"No, no Alex and I are taking her so as to distract her until Chuck gets out of the hospital."
"Oh, oh good for a minute there I was worried about you, I thought you were becoming like those fools Jeff and Lester. You know I might take your mother fishing this weekend. We can put our poles in the water and see what we catch. Maybe bring a bottle of wine, a blanket and roar like lions on the bank."
"And scare away all the other little animals."
"What did you say?"
"And it's wonderful how much you care. Mike we need to go can you get that stuff for us? Just leave it here I'll be right back. Oh and while I'm gone you're in charge. The office is all yours."
"Thank you son this is a solemn honor I won't take lightly." Morgan ran back downstairs to Castle and helped Sarah get organized while Big Mike brought in his tackle box along with his rods and reels. He left them in the office and on Morgan's deck he placed his most prized possession his lucky fishing hat complete with lures.
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IN A CANYON NOT FAR FROM THE LAKE
Casey and Ned pulled off the main road onto a fire trail and followed in through some thick brush until it ended in a small clearing. From the truck they could see the lights of the camp below in the dark. Casey was trying to judge the distance from where they were to the camp. It was important if someone was going to have to shoot.
"I can see your brain working John," said Ned. "You're measuring the distance."
"So what if I am. If I'm the one that has to go down there I want to make sure the joker up here can cover my exposed parts."
"Don't worry. It's under a thousand meters and I can make a shot like that with my eyes closed."
"I'd prefer you keep them open."
"Here put these on," said Ned as he handed Casey handcuff. "And don't break your thumbs you'll need them tomorrow. We'll camp out up here and wait until first light to make our, your incursion."
"Do you know which building they're holding your wife in?"
"Not for sure, but hopefully we'll be able to be certain before you go down. If not you might have to scout around until you find her."
"I thought you said you had this thought through? Sounds to me like you're flying by the seat of your pants."
"She's probably being held in that center building. That was the one that was used for billeting and there are holding cells underneath."
"So the mercs are sleeping on top of her?" Casey paused a moment to think about what he just said.
"I understood what you meant and yes you're right. So I'm not starting a fire."
"You'd be stupid if you did."
"How about some cold C-rats? I've got your favorite," said Ned as he pulled back a plastic tarp from the back of the truck then fished around and took out a green plastic pouch. "Here catch," he said as he tossed it to Casey.
"Thanks," replied Casey as he caught it with his hands handcuffed in the front. Then he turned it over and examined it. "Chicken a la King, MRE. It's nice to know you remembered."
"Shut up and eat."
"What are you eating? Meatloaf with gravy? I'll trade my fruit for your desert after all I'm the one doing you the favor."
"You remember how many of these things we had to eat? I promised myself I'd never eat this crap again."
"I know what you mean," said Casey thinking about his usual meal of hot pockets warmed up in the microwave.
"Here," Ned gave him a small green box. "You earned it." Casey took in and in the little light there was read out loud
"Chocolate brownie, Ned now that's a sacrifice. Do you want my fruit? Delicious diced peaches."
"No go ahead I never really like those things too much syrup."
"Suit yourself," said Casey as he pulled the lid off then waited for Ned to turn away and pocketed it. The lip of the lid would make a good cutting edge if he needed one.
"Take this and get some sleep, dawn will be here soon," said Ned as he handed Casey a blanket.
"Ned you know this isn't going to end well?"
"Just shut up and get some sleep."
"Ned, listen you've been to my funeral and now I've been to yours can we please try not to make it for real next time?"
"You know Alex or John you've really started talking too much in your old age."
"You're one to speak. But I've said my piece," said Casey as he threw the blanket over himself and tried to find a comfortable position. He had been sleeping in a bed for too long. He was getting soft he told himself finding it difficult to go to sleep.
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A MILE OR SO AWAY IN THE DARK
Two team leaders are discussing a nighttime assault and the best methods for taking their prisoners captive. Emotions are running high as the debate becomes heated.
"Listen you take the East side and I'll come in from the West. If we move fast they won't have time to react and we'll take them down with no problem."
"No, don't you see if we do that we're risking that we'll be seen. The moon is high and the light is still too bright. You know who we're supposed to bring in. Remember that night in Honduras when those bandits tried to sneak into camp and steal a few MREs. He gutted ten over his Chicken al a King."
"I remember and what he wouldn't do for desert. But that was a long time ago what we need is a plan. Here comes our recon team now let's see what they say." Two men came in out of the dark pushing pass branches and foliage as they entered into the circle of men. One of them started to salute but caught himself.
"Sorry force of habit."
"So what have you to report?"
"They've set up camp about two klicks up, but the strange thing is Ned's handcuffed the other guy."
"You mean Alex?" asked the Bravo team leader wondering who the man was with Ned.
"No he kept calling him Casey."
"Don't you remember or has Alzheimer's set in? The boss told us that was what Alex goes by now. But if he's handcuffed that'll make our job easier. Okay let's do this. I want your team Bravo to do what we talked about come in from the East and my team will take the West," said the black clad man then he looked up at the sky and Moon. "Over there is a cloud bank that's headed our way. If we move not we can get into position and when it covers the Moon we attack. Remember whatever happens the boss wants them alive and I don't have to remind you the price of failure."
The two fire teams moved out disappearing in the night among the trees and bushes. Silently they encircled their victims moving stealthily through the night or at least they thought they were. Casey heard them long before he could see them.
"Christ, a bunch of buffalo's on a stampede would make less sound," he grunted to himself. "I thought I had grown soft! These people if they had been in Honduras would have their heads on poles or mounded on some guys hood." Casey's first thoughts were to warn Ned but after careful consideration he decided against it
"No, the best thing is to let these amateur punks take us in that way they'll take us straight to Margery," he said to himself but that didn't make the next part of his plan any easier. He had to let them take him.
In the still of the night a small ruckus was heard the sound of something similar to firecrackers, a pop pop noise then something like a struggle. The birds that were roosting close by made a brief cacophony of calls in protest, followed by a sudden silence.
"Base, this is Bravo team leader, over," said the dark clad man into a radio.
"Bravo team leader, go."
"Mission accomplished. Both packages have been secured.
"Roger that. Bring them to the hotel and place them in the penthouse."
"Roger, in route now."
"Bravo team leader, have Charlie team investigate North perimeter possible incursion."
"Roger that Bravo team leader out."
The two teams separated one heading back to the base camp while the other drove down a fire trail to check out two people who had been noticed snooping around the outer limits of the compound.
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ON THE INTERSTATE LEAVING BURBANK
Morgan and Sarah were in her Lotus making their way trying to intercept Casey but with the head start he had it would be difficult to make Lake Havasu before dark.
"Morgan, this idea is a little crazy. Who's going to believe we're a couple looking for a place to fish."
"Are you kidding just look at all the gear we got from Big Mike?"
"I can smell it, but how many people go fishing driving a Lotus?"
"Good point but there's got to be some big wig up in the Studios who would, probably someone one from NBC. Besides I thought you were going to call Chuck before we left?"
"There wasn't time."
"There wasn't time or you didn't want him to come along and meet Ned again?" But before she could answer Morgan's phone rang. "It's Alex, crap what am I supposed to say we were supposed to go out to lunch."
"Answer it and have Alex go to the hospital. She can stay with Chuck."
"Hey Alex, I'm sorry but something's come up and I'm with Sarah. … Your father can't make it for lunch. … Too bad but. … He always sounds a little off. ….. No, I'm not trying to make a joke. Listen. …. Yes, I understand but no listen don't worry about it. Sarah needs you to go to the hospital and stay with Chuck. … Yeah we won't be back before he's discharged so could you please make sure he gets home. … Don't worry about the Big Guy he can take care of himself. Well, I've got to run. Love you. Bye."
"Is it taken care of?"
"Yeah she'll go and stay with Chuck. I think she knows something's wrong with Casey. I don't like to lie to her."
"You didn't. Everything you said was the truth." Just then Sarah's phone rang it was Chuck's ringtone.
"Aren't you going to answer that?"
"I'm driving," she said as an excuse for not answering.
"I can answer it for you," Morgan said as he reached for her phone.
"You do and I might have to break your fingers."
"Okay am I in the car with Sarah Walker Bartowski or John Casey?"
"Morgan you're in a car with someone who'll do whatever it takes to protect her friends."
"So what's the plan? We go down and drive in through the front gate with guns blazing."
"No Morgan I'm pregnant I'm not going to risk my child's life on something like that. I sometimes wonder if you and Chuck don't play too much Halo. We're going to go and do some covert surveillance then when we have the right information we'll call General Beckman and have her put a team together for the actual incursion."
"So we're on a fact finding mission?"
"Exactly and nothing more."
"So if we're stopped you're my girl," Morgan said as he put his arm around her.
"Morgan if you want that you'd better move it and don't think I won't tell Alex."
"What? We have to sell the cover, don't we?"
"Morgan, what would Chuck say if he were here?"
"Behave," he said as Sarah's phone began to ring with Chuck's dial tone. "Speaking of the devil."
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IN THE HOSPITAL
Chuck was sitting on the edge of his bed dressed and waiting to go but couldn't get in touch with anyone. The more he tried Sarah and she didn't pick up the more anxious he got until he couldn't take it anymore.
"Mr. Bartowski," said one of the nurses at his door obviously already warned by his doctor, "hospital policy is that you must be released into the care of someone and wheeled to the exit."
"I appreciate your needs but frankly, well you don't understand. Just tell me how to get to your security office." After some negotiation and a call to his doctor Chuck was on his own in the hospital.
"Excuse me," said Chuck as he knocked on the door to the security office, "I need some information. Two agents came by this morning looking through your video feed can I see it." Chuck held up his badge and handed it for inspection.
"I'm sorry but they took it with them. But I can tell you that they did seem interested in what they saw."
"Thanks," Chuck said as he left and started for the exit. He hated playing catch up but it seemed that was what he had to do. As he got to the door he bumped into Alex who was coming for him.
"Chuck what are you doing here? I was supposed to meet you in your room or that's what Morgan told me."
"I was discharged about two hours ago and neither Sarah nor Morgan are picking up my calls. What's going on?"
"I don't know. I know they are together in a car. When we talked I heard the background noise. I know something is going on with my father. Morgan told me not to worry but I talked with my dad this morning and he acted funny on the phone. Talking about fishing with Big Mike and how he loved me and to give his regards to my mother. Then when I get here I found his car still in the parking lot. Chuck I'm worried."
"Did your father give you keys for his Crown Vic?"
"Yeah but he told me not to tell anyone."
"I think this is an exception and I forget easily. Take me to the Buy More and we'll try to find out where everyone went."
"But I was told to take you home."
"You are by way of the Buy More and if everything is okay then you can take me home but if it isn't then I'll need a partner. I know you've done good things with Sarah can you do the same for me? Alex, are you up to this?"
"Chuck what's the matter? I feel I'm not being told everything."
"That's good your senses are kicking in. Always trust your gut. Let's get going and I'll brief you on the way." Chuck and Alex drove off as he explained to her what he knew about Ned taking her father which wasn't much. After pulling into the Buy More parking lot they made their way inside only to be met by Big Mike at the doors.
"Bartowski, slow down boy the last thing you need is to fall again. I guess your parents didn't teach you anything."
"What? Oh yes the scissors. Yeah I feel really silly about the whole thing."
"Well, I can understand the responsibilities of parenthood are crashing down on your shoulders and the weight of having to raise a child can make a man go crazy. Especially if that child is a very short man with a beard."
"Yeah, right."
"You know I look at those fool Hollywood Stars and see the stupid things they do and I think to myself. Well I just think. Hey what are you two doing here? Aren't you both supposed to be out with Morgan and your wife fishing?"
"That's right Big Mike. We're heading out now."
"Kind of late to be going all the way to Havasu, isn't it?" Chuck flashed. "Boy you alright, I don't think it's a good idea for you to be driving?"
"I'll be taking him," said Alex.
"Yeah, yeah we're spending the night in a hotel but I didn't want Sarah to get too tired so I sent them on. Alex volunteered to drive me."
"Okay, it's good to see a man taking care of his family. Boy does Morgan's mamma take good care of me. You know she…"
"Really appreciate that Big Mike but I just got out of the hospital and you know we really got to get on the road."
"One thing, Morgan forgot the hat."
"The hat?"
"My lucky fishing hat, wait here and I'll get it."
