Don't own Chuck
Devon and Ellie were in the living area looking over brochures that they had picked up from the lobby. Thinking that it was time they ventured off on their own to some place safe and away from Chuck's spy life. They were grateful but it was time for normalcy and that was something they couldn't have around Chuck and Sarah.
"I don't know," said Ellie "I feel like we're abandoning my little brother if we take off."
"But Babe think about it, what can we really do to help and this way your brother won't have to worry about us. Besides we can always hook up with them later or maybe they can join us?"
"I've always wanted to go to Capri ever since I was a little girl. Remember reading Shakespeare's 'the tempest.' I've had this idea about it being some magical place and now we can actually visit it. Before you say anything I know it's not the island in the play but I don't even know why I thought it was. Just thinking about this magical island in the Mediterranean, I just associate Capri with it, Prospero's domain."
"It does sound muy caliente."
"Devon, that's Spanish not Italian. But I could be your Miranda and you could be my Ferdinand lost on an enchanted island lost in the Mediterranean. Oh hun, let's do it."
"Then it's a done deal. I'll have the people at reception make our reservations. It's just a quick train ride to Naples then a ferry trip out from the piers. The question is do we take Clara or leave her with Emma and your mother?"
"We should really ask them first but I know what they're going to say."
"Then it's a go," said Devon.
They left their part of the suite and went over to where Mary and Emma were supposed to be but they were gone. Morgan and Rick were still arranging and re-arranging the leaves.
"Hey Guys, you know where the Moms went?" asked Devon. "We've got something to ask them."
"They went down for an Italian caffè in the lobby bar and took the kids for ice cream. What do you think Ellie?"
"What do I think about what?" Ellie said as she looked over Morgan's shoulder.
"What do you think about how we put this puzzle together?"
"Morgan," said Rick, "this really is classified and Ellie even if she is Chuck's sister is a civilian. Sorry Ma'am, no offense."
"None taken, actually that's what we wanted to talk to Mary and Emma about."
"I don't see how they're going to get you a security clearance. Mary may have an 'in' with the acting Director, but there are background checks and interviews. It just takes a while not something you can get over night."
"Not to mention the need to know," said Rick
"No boys, we were thinking about getting away, just the two of us to Capri kind of a second honeymoon and we're going to ask them if they wouldn't mind looking after Clara."
"Oh I get the picture, you two want to sneak off somewhere by yourselves and-"
"Enough Morgan," said Ellie, "I'd rather not have you picturing anything about me in that head of yours."
"Well I don't think Clara will want to go anyway she's having too much fun with Razib and Molly. I don't know what the girls are going to do when Sarah finds Razib's mother."
"That doesn't mean they won't see or hear from him anymore they can still stay in touch and Razib needs his mother."
"What if she isn't looking for him," said Rick in passing. "I think this goes here as he moved a leaf around. It's been how long since his father took him away and nothing?" Just then the phone rang and Devon went to answer it.
"Buon Giorno," said Devon. Morgan looked at his watch then at Rick who looked puzzled too.
"Those are the only Italian words he knows," said Ellie.
"You speak English," said Devon as he gave a thumbs up to everyone and grinned. "How can we help you? … Yeah we have a boy named Razib and he's looking for his mother. … You are! That's great the police called you and told you we were looking for you. … Sure we can bring him tomorrow just give me the address and telephone number. … You don't have a phone then how … Oh a public phone you're traveling through. … I understand. Okay I'll make sure he's there tomorrow," said Devon then hung up."
"Honey tell me you didn't just tell someone that we'd bring Razib to them, did you?"
"Not just anyone El it's his mother, isn't that great!"
"You should've talked to Chuck and Sarah first."
"You should've talked to Chuck and Sarah about what," said Chuck and Sarah as they walked in.
"Great news guys Razib's mother just called and wants us to bring him to her tomorrow. She'll be waiting in her apartment on the corner of Lungotevere and Via Del Corso number 23. She said her buzzer was broken and that we should come straight in. I wrote it down right here," said Devon as he handed the note to Chuck.
"Wow that's great news right Chuck," said Morgan. But Chuck was silent as he stared at the note and heaved a sigh then passed it to Sarah.
"You were right to worry Love," said Chuck.
"And now what?"
"We have to do what we were told. Guys as far as you're concerned we never got this," said Chuck. "Razib cannot under any circumstances know about this. It's for the good of the nation."
"You're joking right Chuck. I mean after everything he's done for us, and especially for you guys. It's not right to keep this back from him."
"I know believe me I know," said Chuck as he walked away.
"Devon, Chuck knows and this is not a decision that was made lightly. Razib is giving us important information that has the potential to save thousands and we can't give that up right now. It's just greater that one boy and his mother."
"Sarah, do you hear yourself," said Ellie. "How could you say something like that then go and hold your baby."
"Ellie maybe you're right I'm not cut out for motherhood and maybe that's what Sam is telling me. I don't know."
"No, everyone stop, and I mean stop right now," said Chuck. "This isn't about me or Sarah or Sam. It's about the thousands of other mothers who want to hold their babies at night but won't be able to because a bomb will devastate their existence. Ellie you're the wrong person to be pointing a finger at Sarah. She sacrificed me and Sam to come to your rescue and almost got killed in the process. Devon, I agree this solution sucks but do you have an alternative that saves lives. I think not. No one is to see or to have any contact with this woman tomorrow. If necessary I'll get the Company involved but right now the woman and her apartment are off limits. Am I clear? This is not a democracy and you guys may think you have a vote but you don't. This is my mission and I'm in charge if you don't like it then you can go home. Ellie and Devon that goes for you too."
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In the lobby bar lobby Emma and Mary were sitting around a table drinking coffee and chatting about what Chuck and Sarah were like when they were little. This was when the both realized that the really didn't know much about their children when they were children because neither were around.
"The kids like you better than me," said Mary after a moment of awkward silence.
"Which kids are we talking about? The younger or older ones Razib if you eat your ice cream too fast you'll get a headache."
"But I need to go back to the room and draw some more pictures for Chuck. They asked me."
"I think you mean 'he asked you' but your English is coming along quiet well."
"Thank you but I've got work to do."
"Razib," said Mary, "your work is to be child. My son just asked a favor that's all but if you want to run up I could use my jacket I left it on the sofa. Can you get it for me?"
"Sure I'll be right back," said Razib as he ran out of the bar and into the elevator going back up to their floor. Once he got off the elevator he ran down to the door of the suite but before going in he stopped. Chuck and Sarah were inside and he could tell the tone of the conversation was heated then he heard his mother being mentioned so he quietly stood there and listened like he used to do at the Toy Maker's compound. What he heard stunned him.
"We have to do what we were told. Guys as far as you're concerned we never got this," said Chuck. "Razib cannot under any circumstances know about this. It's for the good of the nation."
Was this the same man he helped to safety and who had promised to help him find his mother? How could Chuck, thought Razib. His world collapsed when he heard Sarah. Is angel speak.
"Devon, Chuck knows and this is not a decision that was made lightly. Razib is giving us important information that has the potential to save thousands and we can't give that up right now. It's just greater that one boy and his mother."
How could they. He felt angry and upset but mostly he felt betrayed, betrayed by people who called him friend.
"Some friends," he told himself.
When he worked for the Toy Maker it was different no one pretended to be his friend and somehow that was better. False friends were worse than enemies at least with an enemy you knew where you stood. Razib waited until they were finished talking then he knocked on the door before coming in.
"I'm sorry for interrupting but Mrs. Bartowski asked me for her jacket."
"You mean 'Mary asked for her'," corrected Chuck. Looking back Chuck should've realized then that something was off with Razib but his head was elsewhere.
"Whatever, I just need to get it for her. There is it," he said as he got it then turned around and left without another word. He was having trouble speaking and formulating phrases he was so upset. Once outside he tried to hold back the tears but he couldn't so he took the stairs back down to the lobby to give himself time to cry it out. There were many a night at the Toy Maker's when he cried alone in the dark but couldn't there be someone in this world who loved him.
"No I'm going to go through with this even if I have to do it on my own," he said to himself as he dried his eyes. "If no one is going to help me I'll do it," he said as he walked down the steps. He decided that during the night he'd find the note that Chuck had with his mother's address then go meet her on his own.
"Okay if I leave the room before anyone gets up no one would be able to stop me," he said tom himself as he walked down the stairs. "But until then I have to act like nothing was going on." Razib had a plain he had survived in the Tazi household after his father died and his uncle sold him. He had managed to not be sold off like the other children he met while working there this would be a piece of cake if he knew what cake was.
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Back in the room Chuck was quiet after Razib left he felt like he was lower than the lowest scum he had arrested. He didn't feel much like socializing with anyone and knew all eyes were on him. He felt the tension this had created in the air but there really wasn't much choice. There were just no god options. Sarah walked up and wrapped her arm around him pulling him in close.
"Did you hear Razib now," said Chuck, "My gut says he knows."
"Don't be silly, how could he? You're just feeling guilty."
"Guilty! So you think I'm wrong too." If the truth were told he already convicted himself.
"I think you know this is wrong but you can't do anything about it. Sweetie, if Beckman didn't have you to do this, she'd get someone else like me. I understand you sacrificed yourself again for me. I love you.
"It's better this way. I don't want anyone hating you from our family and friends. Like this I'll be the jerk in the family."
"But you'll be my jerk," she said as she kissed him.
"Guys, Devon and I have something we want to tell you," said Ellie, "and we hope you won't get upset but we've decided to get away for a couple of days and go to Capri." Chuck couldn't help but think the timing was awfully convenient. Was Ellie trying to get away from him? He couldn't blame her if she wanted to.
"Wow, that does sound nice," said Sarah, when did you two decide this? During your afternoon siesta no doubt?" Sarah read Chuck's mind so she wanted to put him at ease.
"Well actually right afterwards but you get the idea. We need to talk to Mom and see if she'll watch Clara or we'll take her along. It just seemed a shame to take her when she's have so much fun with the other kids."
"Ellie you know Mom's on mission with us and she's-" Sarah cut Chuck off. Chuck was still operating in jerk mode. "Sweetie let them go," whispered Sarah then turned back to Ellie. "She'd be happy I'm sure and you two deserve some alone time and you're right it'd be a shame to separate the kids right now. You know the Moms are in the lobby we saw them when we came in if you run down you can talk to her and make tour reservations at the same time."
"Thanks for understanding. Devon come on let's go."
"Hey guys that looks like the chemical composition of Hydrogen Sulfide H2S," said Devon looking at Morgan and Rick's work. Chuck flashed.
He saw Mount Saint Helens erupt and watch other volcanoes doing the same with streams of lava flow and spectacular explosions. Huge columns of smoke reaching into the sky then raining pumice and ash covering everything and everyone followed by shockwaves as the columns collapsed destroying everything in its path. The last images he saw were the casted figures from Pompeii in their dying last moments.
"Oh boy," said Chuck, Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide CO2 are two gases that are sometimes associated with volcanic activity."
"Do you think this has something to do with Novokov and the NATO threat," asked Rick.
"Well Naples is famous for Mount Vesuvius but there are many more active volcanoes around. Bagnoli, the installation they are closing, is in the Phlegraean or burning fields which is a series of volcanoes. There's a place next to it called solfatara with mini geysers or fumarole as the locals call them and the ground smokes with steam. The air smells like rotten eggs from the sulfuric fumes coming from below."
"Sounds pretty strange, Kubrick strange, what are you thinking?" asked Morgan.
"I think it needs to be investigated. I'll call the Embassy and arrange for a copter. The Admiral can organize something with the MEU and the Bataan she should be around Sigonella by now. I could fly down first thing tomorrow."
"Oh no you don't," said Sarah. "Have you forgotten about our luncheon date tomorrow or are you trying to get out of it? I'm not going alone or do you want me to?"
"Chuck, Casey and I can go," said Rick. "The MEU is our people anyway and Casey loves a chance to wear his uniform."
"You just met him and you know him better than we do."
"What can I say right corps, wrong corps but there's only one Marine Corps."
"Love, no I don't want you to go alone and we both know why. Okay I'll ask John but if he says no I'll have to go."
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It was late evening and a woman came walking to the entrance to a dark subterranean parking garage. She looked around to make sure she wasn't being followed then duck inside. She walked down a metal corkscrew stair case to the last level. Her high heels clanged on the metal rungs as she descended. If she was trying to make a quiet entrance, that idea failed miserably. When she got to the bottom a man came out of the dark.
"Is it done? Have you made contact?"
"Yes, it's set up like you wanted. Do you have my money?"
"Right here everything we agreed on."
"I don't know if it's enough now. You know I've got expenses and there's a kid involved. I could end up in trouble. "
"What are you talking about you were just a voice on the phone? We had a deal."
"Well I'm changing it I'm going to need another five grand or I'm going to the cops and we both know you can't afford that."
"Are you trying to blackmail me?" said the man as he stared her in the face.
"No, I wouldn't think of it let's just call it insurance. You're ensuring that I keep my mouth shut. I think it's only fair since I'm taking a risk that everything you're doing with the kid is on the up and up. All I need is for some cop come knocking on my door some night, not that they don't now just not for work."
"I see, okay take what I have now then I'll get you the rest tomorrow. You'll have to trust me for it."
"You'd better not stiff me or else."
"Or else what?"
"I'll climb up on Er Cupulone and scream for the world to hear and I don't think you want that," said the woman trying to sound menacing.
"Honey, would I do that to you? I understand here take this money and go," said the man as he looked around then accidently dropped the envelope with the cash in it on the ground.
"Hey watch it that's my money you're throwing around," said the woman as she bent over to get it before something happened to it. As she was bending over the man moved around behind her and when she got up he slipped a garroting wire over her head and around her neck then pulled with his full strength.
"Augh!" She tried to scream but she couldn't speak the wire had crushed her voice box as the man continue to pull tighter and tighter. She tried to reach around to get at him but she couldn't. She flailed around like a rag doll and after a few minutes of struggle she collapsed then died.
The man let the woman's body drop to the ground then he pick her up and dropped her into his trunk then recovered her shoes.
"The devil always wears Prada," he said under his breath as he tossed them in on top of her. "Sorry honey, but don't worry, you were going to die anyway so it didn't matter how much you asked. This is my type of insurance and now you'll be as quiet as a tomb," he said as he closed the lid then got in and drove to the Tiber where he dumped her body. In a few days when the current takes her body to Civitavecchia where it might be found, the police will think that some John killed his prostitute. If he was lucky the current will take her out into the Tyrrhenian sea where she'll be fish food.
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Devon and Ellie got off the elevator and made a bee line to the bar. They found Mary and Emma sipping on espressos while Clara and Molly were still shoveling ice cream in. Molly had a finger painting project going on all over her blouse in chocolate and hazelnut. She like her sister loved Rocky Road. Ellie took a deep breath when she saw Clara. She had some form of Dali-ism going on either from his blue or raspberry period from head to toe.
"Devon are we sure about this? Look at your daughter. I'm going to have to burn that dress."
"Babe, kids are wash and wear, nothing that a good hosing won't take off besides in a few months she would've out grown the dress anyway. Miranda, don't you want your Ferdinand?"
"Oh you're so sweet okay," said Ellie as she turned and kissed him. "Let's do this."
"Mom hi, Devon and I want to ask you something and first of all I want you to know that you can say no if you want to," said Ellie as Devon nudged her. "But we were thinking about getting away for a few days and going to Capri."
"Oh do I have to go," asked Clara. "I'm having fun here with Molly and Razib. I don't want to go, please do I have to."
"Hey where is Razib? He came up to the room and got Mary your jacket then left long before we did. You don't think," said Devon as he looked at Ellie.
"Think what?" asked Mary.
"Never mind," said Ellie, "Remember what Chuck said."
"Chuck said what?" asked Mary.
"Nothing here he is now," said Ellie. Razib came walking over and handed Mary her jacket. She looked him in the face and could tell something was up. His eyes were red and puffy she could've been mistaken but it looked like he'd been crying or was coming down with something. She couldn't tell which.
"Razib, what took you so long to get here," asked Mary. "Devon said you left before they did and you just got here, where were you? Are you alright?" Mary put her hand on his forehead to check to see if he had a temperature but he seemed to be fine.
"Yes, of course I am, why wouldn't I be you see I took the stairs it's good for my legs. That's right the stairs are good to me."
"Listen if you're worried about your mother I'm sure Chuck and Sarah are doing everything they can to find her. You can trust them."
"Yeah I know," he said then took his seat and became sullen.
Mary looked at him then looked at Devon and Ellie. They were quiet when she was talking to Razib about his mother, something was going on, but she'd have to wait to investigate.
"So you two want to run off and dump your daughter on me," said Mary.
"Said like that it sounds bad," said Devon. Mary looked over at Clara who gave her an imploring look.
"I'm just joking. I had all of you fooled," he said as she laughed. "Of course, I'll take care of Clara but first you've got to clean her up. I'm only in charge of making the mess, it's your job to clean her up. It's in the grandmother's handbook under rights and responsibilities article 10 subparagraph 14."
"Here, here," said Emma as they clinked their coffee cups together.
"Wow, we ought to get a copy of that when we get back home."
"Come on Ferdinand, Miranda is waiting. You know Clara will be down here for a while finishing her ice cream."
"I hear you babe. Has the thought of Capri made someone muy caliante?"
"Let's go back to our room and see where we left off before," said Ellie as she took Devon by the hand and disappeared back into the elevator.
