Don't own Chuck
Sarah and Chuck drove back through town to Chora along a series of long and winding roads. They decided to park in the harbour then they took one of the narrow roads up to the meeting point. As they climbed the streets they walked pass some small shops, Bougainville trees with purple blooms, small cafés and churches until they reached the summit of the small hill. On top of the hill situated in a row where a series of round windmills and when they got there Chuck saw his mother standing by one looking out at the sea.
"Chuck, Sarah," she said turning to greeted them as they approached. "Shall we go inside and talk. Sarah can you be a love and stand guard outside?" She was about to protest when Chuck took her hands and kissed her.
"Don't worry, it'll be okay," he said before he followed his mother inside. Sarah didn't like it because she couldn't hear a thing but that was how Mary wanted it she thought.
"Chuck, you shouldn't be here, neither of you should be here," she said. "It's dangerous. You should be home with your daughter."
"I could say the same thing; you should be with your granddaughter that you haven't seen yet. But we both know neither of us had a choice. Since when did you start working directly for the Director?"
"Chuck there are things I can't tell you but you've got to get your people out of here. Stavros will come looking for you and he has spies everywhere on this island. It's not safe."
"You can't tell me that your hunting for nuclear warheads that Stavros stole from the Black Sea Navy."
"It's not that easy. He has three warheads on three different ships around the world. He's the only one who knows on what ships they're on and where they're at. Stavros has a dead man switch attached to himself if anything happens to him they detonate. He's using them as blackmail to get world leaders to let him operate with impunity."
"I assume it's a passive system because it were active you'd be able to follow the signal."
"Yes, so you need to go."
"I don't understand how he got them. He has to have someone on the inside in Sevastopol, where in the Mykolaiv shipyard?" Chuck's mind was racing as the intersect kicked in.
"Yes a Vladmir Mikhail, I don't know the way the man did it but he's the one that got them for Stavros. I shouldn't tell you anymore about this. You need to go Stavros has put a kill order out on Lou. I'm to take a team to L.A. and eliminate her. I can give you a week tops but you need to take her underground and hid her. I'll arrange for something so that Stavros will think she's dead, but the main thing is she has to say gone or my cover will be blown and then she and I will both be dead."
"Like Carina?"
"You know you're a smart boy," she said as she caressed his face. "You almost blew my cover when you sent that report back to the DEA. The Director had to step in and squelch it himself. I think he was impressed."
"I was less impressed. Mom there's no way I'm going to leave you here by yourself. Let us help you. You don't have to keep doing things on your own."
"Chuck, I can't risk your lives and this is my mission. The Director came to me because of my experience with Alexi and he was right I'm the best person for this mission. But this is a one woman job so I'm sending Carina back with you."
"You don't have to do this, please listen for once. I can help, the intersect can help."
"As much as I'd like to, the intersect doesn't stop bullets. Sweetie, your father and I made some mistakes. I don't want you to pay for them so take your wife and go home to Sam."
"Mom, I love you."
"I love you too and I want you to know I'm proud of you. If your father were here he'd be proud too so listen to your mother and go home before it's too late."
"I can't make you change your mind then?"
"No, and take this," she said as she passed Chuck her phone. "This is where I've store all of Sam's pictures you've sent me. I can't risk Stavros finding out about her or you."
"I'll hold on to this for you and add more. But none of them match the real thing she can't wait to meet you."
"And I can't wait to meet her and I promise as soon as this is done I'll be there," she said as Chuck hugged her. There was a strange mix of emotions she hadn't felt for thirty years. "Okay, go before we all start crying. Chuck I won't be able to call you again for a while. I'll send you a jpeg like before to let you know about Lou so you can be prepared," she said as she started to go.
"Please Mom, don't go."
"I have to," she said with her back to him and left. She dried her eyes outside.
"Mary is everything alright," asked Sarah standing next to the door.
"No, no it's not but it's as it's supposed to be. Keep him safe for me, please."
"I'll try," Sarah said as Mary kissed her then turned the collar up on her coat and left. Sarah went inside to find Chuck wiping his eyes.
"She's gone, isn't she?"
"Yes, I watched her walk away. What did she want? Are you alright?"
"I'm sending you all home."
"And what about you?"
"I'm a Bartowski."
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Mary took Stavros' boat back to the island. She stood there on deck with her sunglasses on looking back as the port grew smaller and smaller wondering about her son. This was hard and each time she left she felt she lost a part of herself. One of these days she wondered if there wouldn't be anything left of her. Arriving at the island she made her way to the manor house and found Stavros in the garden having a late breakfast.
"Where'd you go so early?"
"I went to talk to Cole," she said as she sat down and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Would you like some more?"
"Please, but why? What did he have to say?"
"I gave him an ultimatum to get off your island with in twenty four hours."
"Why didn't you just kill him?"
"Killing him would just bring other MI6 agents and the CIA down on us. I made my point in the alley by killing Carmichael."
"You mean Chuck?"
"Yes, and I told him that before anyone else gets hurt, it would be in their best interest to leave on their plane."
"And what did he say?"
"Have your men keep an eye on the airport, they'll be gone soon. Do you still want that other person dealt with, Lou was it?"
"Yes, Lou Palone in Burbank she owns an Italian Gourmet Deli shop in the Mall. I want you to do this for me up close and personal. I want her in the ground."
"If it's that personal why don't you do it yourself?"
"No, I can't leave just yet. How long before you can be ready?"
"I'd like a week to get everything ready and in place. I don't want to cowboy it especially if she's got CIA contacts. This needs to be done professionally and I am a professional."
"Yes you are and welcome aboard," he said as he toasted her with his coffee cup.
"Afterwards can you show me around your island so I can get the lay of the land? Already I can tell you that you need more cameras with IR scan capability."
"I'm a little busy but I'll have your second take you around. I'm sure the two of your will hit it off."
"Good is he a new hire?"
"No he's one of the guys who survived the gunfire the other night. He was lucky because that girl left him in the van."
"Good, let me finish my coffee then we can call him." Mary was thinking back to that night. She was sure she'd looked in the van but didn't see anyone, but if he wasn't there, where was he and most important did he see her.
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Chuck and Sarah argued all the way back to the van. They argued pass the churches, they argued pass the small cafés, they argued pass the small shops and they even argued under purple blooms of the Bougainville trees. They were still arguing when they got to the harbour and to the van.
"I'm not leaving you by yourself. That's final," said Sarah.
"But you have to I'll be alright. It's no different than you going out with Cole."
"But I was with Cole you've got no one."
"Love, you need to go back and you know why. I'm counting on you."
"Oh no don't do that, you're trying to make me feel guilty. Sam's your daughter too and you should be going back home with me."
"But Mary's my mother."
"She's the one that said she didn't need help."
"She said the same before with Volkoff and how long did that last?"
"I don't want to argue your mother with you, but please at least let me stay with you."
"Trouble in Paradise," said Carina as she suddenly open the sliding side door of the van. Sarah's reaction was to punch her in the face. "Ouch, Sarah," said Carina as she held her nose.
"You know what that was for," said Sarah. "I'm glad to see you."
"I don't know if I can say the same. Come on and get in we need to get back to the safe house before someone sees us."
"Crap," said Chuck, "we forgot Casey's gyros."
"Don't worry I did some shopping," said Carina pointing at some bags in the back of the van. "When we left the house I saw the only thing there was the stuff Cole uses to make his bangers and beans. God awful I know but he tries."
"I was sorry before that Sarah punched you in the face but now. I still haven't digested them." They all laughed as Sarah started the van and left. Sarah noticed Chuck was still rubbing his chest.
"Does it still hurt?"
"What? Oh," he hadn't noticed what he was doing. "Just a little. Actually I was thinking, Carina do you still want to finish your mission?"
"Of course this would be a mark against me. Why have you got something in mine?"
"Sarah, Love, I still need for you to go home with the rest of the team but Carina and I are going to be doing something else."
"I don't have to like this."
"No, you don't but you're the one who said I needed back up."
"Don't worry," said Carina, "I have no desire to be punched in the face again. So Chuck, what'd you have in mind?"
"First, we're going to have to make a trip to Russia, Lubyanka square to be exact."
"But that's where the headquarters of the KGB, I mean FSB is?"
"I know."
"Chuck, Sweetie, that'd be like them coming to visit us in Langley," said Sarah notably concerned.
"I know that too but it can be done. I'm afraid Carina you're going to have to change your hair color again to black but you can keep the eyes."
Sarah drove the van back out of town and down the same dusty trail they had taken before but now there were shepherds with their flocks out grazing. Chuck looked out the window and if it weren't for the seriousness of the situation he would've liked to stop to have a picnic with Sarah and maybe do other things in the grass.
"What are you thinking," said Sarah noticing the quimmsical look on his face.
"Nothing I was just looking at the countryside and thinking," he said.
"Thinking about what?" She wouldn't let it alone.
"I'll tell you when we're by ourselves."
"He was thinking about you two rolling in the hay."
"Thank you for that painting that picture in braille Carina," said Sarah. "We're here." Then she leaned over to Chuck and whispered, "maybe when this is all done we can put your other plan into action."
They pulled up around back of the farmhouse then got out. Cole was standing guard keeping a watch out for any intruders. He waved to Chuck and Sarah as they pulled up and was walking to the van when the side opened up and a blonde headed Carina stepped out.
"What the?"
"That's all you've got to say" she said.
"No, it's just the hair and well I missed you."
"I missed you too," she said.
"And," said Chuck. They obviously wanted to kiss but neither wanted to be the first the make a move so they stood there living an awkward moment.
"And what?"
"Christ, we were labelled crap communicators. One of you needs to read Dr. Hornblower's book. Dr. Fred can explain it all to you in a 101 conversations."
"Sweetie, take this and follow me," Sarah said as she handed him the bag of groceries and took him by the hand then lead him inside.
"Yuck, I think I'm going to be sick," said Casey standing in the doorway as he watch Cole and Carina kiss.
"Seems like they've opened a new channel of communication," said Chuck.
"You two get in here and let's start packing up."
"What? We just got here? What's going on?" Chuck explained what he found out from his mother and some of his own plan.
"Just because she told us to leave doesn't mean we have to and I don't run from anyone or anything."
"Casey, don't think of it as running away but a strategic retreat."
"Sarah, are you okay with his trip to Moscow? Chuck really do you have to go to Lubyanka Square? You know they can arrest you and that's the good case scenario the bad they shoot you on sight."
"I don't like it either," said Sarah, "but he's got a plan. You do have a plan?"
"Of course I do and I think it's a good one. Besides I won't be going in without back up, Carina will be waiting for me outside in a car."
"So if things go sideways you're going to fight your way out of FSB headquarters? You won't even have your dart gun. Intersect or not the whole thing sounds crazy."
"Cole, don't worry."
"Have you thought about what Beckman is going to say? I don't think she'll take it too kindly that one of her spies takes a jaunt inside FSB headquarters. Some will accuse you of being a traitor."
"But we all know better, so for this to work we need to get back to the airport and get out of here."
They loaded up the van and locked down the safe house for future use then drove straight to the airport. There they found that Mary had already booked a flight plan for them so they were up in a matter of minutes. Once in the air they began to relax.
"I'm going to take Carina in the back and debrief," said Cole as he led her to the aft section.
"That's what you're calling it now," said Casey. Chuck sat in between them watching Casey and Sarah fly the plane.
"Sweetie, putting all joking aside, what are you going to do about Beckman? You know she's not going to go along."
"Well I've thought about that and you're right I'm worried she might throw up road blocks so I sent her a message before we took off and told her the mission was a scrub and that we had to maintain radio silence until we're back in Burbank. I didn't lie, well not much, and in the long run it's for her best interest."
"What plausible deniability?"
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Stavros had just finished his breakfast and a servant was cleaning away the table when another man came out carrying a mobile phone. Stavros gestures for him to hand it to Frost and then to wait.
"Frost, may I help you? … Good, and did they all get on board. … Did you see the plane take off … And what time was that," she asked as she looked at her watch. Stavros saw her calculating in her head. "Good work I'll see to it that you're rewarded," Mary said as she hung up.
"I take it you've got good news for me."
"Excellent news, Cole's team has just left and won't be coming back. Now that's how you handle these people."
"I guess my reputation must've put some fear into him that made him turn tail and run. Oh this is your assistant Demetri. Demetri, show your new boss around. After you get yourself settled in I want you to brief me on how we're going to deal with my problem in L.A.," said Stavros as he got up."
"You still want it up close? No sniper or car bomb?"
"No I want her to know in her last minutes that it was me who punched her ticket to hell and let her know that I paid her her fare," he said as turned and went back inside the manor.
"So you're Demetri the man who survived the massacre. Tell me how did you do it? Think of it as a professional courtesy."
"I don't know I didn't do anything special."
"You did something I mean it had to be scary to watch all your friends get mowed down like that and you walk away that is unless you were in on it."
"No ma'am, no I wasn't in on it. Okay the truth," he said looking around. "I drank too much before we left and the road there was really bumpy so when we arrived I had to, well you know, find a tree and when I got back everyone was dead."
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Flying westward over the Aegean Chuck got out his phone and dialled Carmichael Industries European Branch, Paris office.
"Hello Hannah, this is Chuck," at the mention of Hannah's name Sarah's ears perked up. "I know it's been a while and I should've called before now. But you're doing such a good job of running the place that there was no need. … What can you do for me? I need a few items to be waiting for me in Rome at the Ciampino airport. … That's right there are two airports that serve Rome but I need two Learjets gassed up and ready to go. Plus I'll also send you a text with a detailed list of other items I'm going to need on one of the jets. … No I won't need pilots I've got that taken care of already." Chuck noticed Sarah trying to listen in. "Oh and Sarah sends her love. Yes, Sam is fine. Thanks for asking. … I promise we'll try to come soon I don't know when but we'll do our best. What can I say, you're the best. Sure we can talk about a raise. I've got to go, bye," said Chuck as he hung up.
"I assume she wants us to visit?"
"Yeah, we really do need to go we haven't been since we found out you were pregnant. If nothing else just so we can show our faces."
"Or we could have Hannah come to Burbank, it would be cheaper than us both going and I'm not letting you go to Paris alone."
"I know and I wouldn't want to go without you. I'd like to take you back to our hotel and see the Eiffel tower again."
"So would I."
"Then after this is over it's a date and maybe we can catch a train for Zurich," he said as he stood up next to her and kissed her.
"Yuck, I'm going to be sick," said Casey as he turned on the fasten seat belt sign.
