Setting: Café – April 25, 2012
Chuck and his team of Sarah, Morgan, Mary, Casey, and Gertrude pulled up to the café in their spy van a few minutes before midnight.
"I have to confront Brown on my own," Chuck said as they parked near the cafe right next to Brown's old building.
"Absolutely not," protested Sarah. "We're here for you every step of the way."
"C'mon buddy. Think this one through," Morgan pleaded.
"We're a team Bartowski. Don't you ever forget that," Casey added.
"I Know, I know, it's just this is personal. This is the man who ordered my father's death, stole my wife and best friend's memories, captured my sister and brother-in-law, and tore my family apart. I have to go in to the café alone. I can't risk him harming anyone else that I love and care about."
Chuck slammed the van door open and walked alone to the café.
"I'm so happy you could join us," Brown said as his men locked the door behind Chuck. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't come."
"Where are Devon and Ellie?" Chuck demanded to know.
Brown laughed. "You see Chuck, things in this line of business are never that simple. Devon and Ellie are all I have left to bargain with. But luckily for you, I'm willing to make you a deal. My building was taken over by the CIA, and is currently swarmed by agents. If you get me past all the security and into the Intersect room, I'll let Ellie and Devon walk away untouched. But if you don't want to cooperate, I'm sure I can find a consolation prize," Brown said as he pointed up to a ten story building next door.
Devon and Ellie were tied up on the top of the building. "If my men don't receive a phone call within fifteen minutes, your sister and her husband will plunge one hundred feet to the concrete down below. So what is it going to be Chuck?"
Both Brown and Chuck knew what was coming. Brown was exploiting Chuck's soft spot for his family.
"I'll take you, but Ellie and Devon go free."
"I had a feeling you would say that."
Brown rose from the table and pointed the gun directly at Chuck. "If you make any attempt to stop me, I will end you. Is that clear?"
Chuck knew that once Brown had access to the Intersect room, Brown would kill him anyway, but Chuck couldn't risk Ellie or Devon's safety, so he agreed to Brown's ultimatum.
Brown led him across the busy Los Angles street to Brown & Co Headquarters.
"Look!" Morgan shrieked at the sight of Chuck being held at gunpoint. "Brown's taking Chuck inside."
Chuck saw his team and gave them a subtle hint to Ellie and Devon by discreetly pointing up to the rooftops.
"What's that Bartowski's pointing at?" Casey asked.
"It's Ellie and Devon," Mary said. "Chuck wants us to go rescue them. Morgan, pull up the blueprints of that building. We'll need you to run point and help us get up to the roof. Casey, Gertrude, Sarah, let's go."
While Morgan worked on finding a safe path to the roof, the others jumped out of the van.
"Mary, I can't just let Chuck go in there alone with Brown. You go after Ellie and Devon. I'll go after Chuck," said Sarah . She didn't want to lose her husband only a few hours after rediscovering her love for him.
Before Mary could protest, Sarah was halfway across the street and not far behind Chuck and Elliot.
Chuck was granted access to Brown's old building by showing his CIA identification and just as Brown described it, the place was swarmed with agents.
"Let's move it Chuck," Brown ordered. "I need that Intersect now!"
Chuck led Brown up the seven floors to the Intersect room.
"Get this door open now or else I shoot you and your family," Elliot demanded as they approached the Intersect room.
"Before I open this door, I need to know that my family and friends will be safe," Chuck pleaded.
"I don't make guarantees like that Charles."
"I can't let him get an Intersect, but I also don't want him to harm Ellie and Awesome," Chuck thought.
"I'm not opening the door for you. You can kill me right here right now, but good luck getting out of here. The place is filled with agents that will be coming after you if they hear even a single gunshot gun off."
"Your family and friends are your Achilles Heel, Charles. If it weren't for them holding you back, you could have been the Intersect your father and I always dreamed of," Brown stated. "So Chuck…" Brown paused as he pulled out his revolver. "Are you ready to be reunited with your father?"
0o0o0
Author's Note - I'm finally back and for good this time. I had a business camp that was surprisingly fun, and also went on my first trip to Disney World which was a blast. Now I'll have more time to dedicate to writing this story.
This chapter is a tad shorter because I began editing it before my vacation and made my final edits as soon as I got home. I don't like to keep my audience waiting too long, so I'm posting everything I've edited so far, and leaving a good cliff hanger in my opinion. The next chapter should be out soon.
