Don't own Chuck

The next morning Morgan got up early to find Alex was still asleep on the couch with her tablet next to her. She'd fallen asleep as the mainframe continued working, running an automatic search using bus cameras and hotel feeds. However, as Morgan picked it up the tablet died, it's batteries were gone, and it needed desperately to be recharged so he took it to the kitchen. There he sat it in the cradle while he made coffee but he left before the screen powered back on. If he had stayed he would've seen she got a hundred percent match off a facial at the Waldron but he was in a hurry and had already gone out the door.

"Okay, everyone dressed," said Jack as he made sure Sam and Molly were ready to go when Morgan arrived. "Hats, you girls need hats," said Jack looking them over in their nice new dresses. They looked like two little angels. "In the petting zoo the sun can be bright and since we're going to be there all day you guys are going to need sun protection. Sarah darling can you see to that I don't want to bring back two lobsters. They might want to keep them or serve them with butter and lemon."

"Haha funny but out in the sun? Why would they be out in the sun all day Jack. Wait this sounds like a…." Sarah started to say one of his cons but Jack cut her off. Something in her clicked and this story of a petting zoo suddenly became familiar.

"Sounds like a good time, I know and it's only the best for my girls," said Jack smiling at them. "We're going to have a great day out. Just wait and see."

"Bunny," yelled Sam as she held up Mr. Rabbit smiling.

"Yeah, he'll be running in the fifth but I don't know if we'll be hanging around that long darling," said Jack as Sarah appeared with two hats.

"What'd you just say," asked Sarah. "I was in the closet digging these out. Jack, there's nothing else going on is there? Are you up to something?"

"No and Nothing, who me? I was just saying I don't know for sure if they have bunnies but for sure there will be ponies. I can show you guys what to look for in a good one."

"Oh Jack, no," said Sarah as she looked at him. "Please tell me no." Just then Morgan stuck his head in the door.

"We need to get a move on it if we're going to make it by…." Morgan was about to say post time but Jack cut him off."

"That's right by opening time and there could be a crowd sorry darling. Our ride is here and we've got to go. The ponies won't wait for us," said Jack as he kissed her on the cheek then hurried everyone out the door. Sarah stood there as Chuck came out to say goodbye but they were gone.

"Couldn't they've waited a second; I wanted to give the girls a kiss. What was Morgan's rush anyway?" said Chuck then he noticed the look on Sarah's face. "What is it? You've got that look like you want to kill someone."

"Nothing we need to get a move on it or you'll be late for your appointment," said Sarah, "and remember you can't eat or drink until after the doctor's done with you."

"I know but you still haven't told me what's bothering you. If you want you can tell me in the car while I study."

"Study? Study for what?" asked Sarah as Chuck broke her out of her trance. She was still thinking about what Jack said turning it over in her head.

"For my blood test, it's a test no, so I should study. I'd hate to fail," said Chuck as Sarah looked at him with a look on her face.

"Really, you're going to tell me something that old and corny. I hope you don't expect me to laugh," said Sarah as she looked at him. He held her close.

"No I don't expect you to laugh but I did want to snap you out of that dark place you were in. What did Jack do?"

"How did you know?" asked Sarah. There were times Chuck amazed her at how well he could read her. It was as if he could read the thoughts in her mind and now was just an example.

"I'm going to kill him. I swear this is the day I put a bullet in his head but I don't want to upset Mom so we'll talk about this in the car."

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Dr. Schultz was milling around the paddock area after he bought a racing program. His two shadows had temporarily left him and he was on his own so he was looking for Jack. He realized as soon as the game was over he needed to insert the chip into the horse's hoof but then he noticed another drama. The track was muddy because of an early morning shower and he wasn't sure how the epoxy would react to the humidity. The last thing he needed was for it to fall out during the race. But finally he saw Jack walking towards him.

"I tell you guys this is the place," said Jack. "I guess my friend got confused or maybe I heard him wrong. But look at all the nice horses. Just think of them as really tall rabbits after all they've got long ears too."

"Jack, I don't think they're buying it," said Morgan as both girls had angry faces. "Come on afterwards we'll go for ice cream or something. Jack and I will make it up to you guys."

"Hey here's the guy I was talking about. He's a vet and animal doctor like in that movie Doctor Dolittle," said Jack but they weren't buying anything Jack said anymore. "Dr. Schultz, Franz how are you doing?"

"Oh good Jack there you are. Is this your son in law? Yes he does look like he's fallen on hard times," said the Doctor. "Don't worry after today you'll be able to afford a razor." Morgan started to speak up but Jack motioned for him to be quiet.

"So Franz, what have you got for me," asked Jack as they walked over to the sidelines to talk privately.

"Here look at the program for today; I think you'll find something interesting in the fourth." Jack opened the program and found ten grand and Raging Fury circled. "It's a long story but they won't let me bet so I need someone to place the bet for me. Bring me back my stubs then after the race I'll need for you to see me and cash them in."

"Friend, I could hold on to them for you," said Jack as he put the program under his arm but he could see by the man's face that wasn't going to fly.

"Jack, it's not that I don't trust you because you have a face that says I can," said the Doctor as Morgan almost choked. "You should really have that looked at probably some sort of spasm… Excuse me where was I?… Oh yes, but with this kind of money I wouldn't trust my own mother."

"Okay Morgan you heard the man," said Jack as he handed Morgan the program with money. "There's an ATM machine up there next to the betting window, draw out your four grand from your savings and place it to win on the same horse."

"How do you know how much money I have in savings? Wait a minute and how much are you putting up?" said Morgan realizing if this went south he was as good as dead because Alex would kill him.

"My wager is incorporated in yours. It's as if I were your guarantee and since it's everything you've got I think a guarantee is something you need. Besides remember why we're here and fortune favors the bold."

"And she kicks your butt especially if you lose your shirt," said Morgan but this was why they were there and he needed to see it through. Plus the win would be more than enough for the wedding and prove to everyone once and for all he wasn't a looser. However, this didn't help him when he went to the ATM.

"You sure you want to do that sonny," said the old man at the betting window. "The best way to bet is to set a limit then walk away once you lose it. No use throwing good money after bad they say. You don't want to lose your rent money or your kids' college fund. The ponies are fun and exciting but living in cardboard isn't."

"Thanks but I'm chasing a dream, Raging Fury in the fourth to win," said Morgan mustering up the courage as he slid the man the fourteen grand.

"Son, do you know something the rest of us don't," said the man as he entered Morgan's bet then handed him back the betting stubs.

Meanwhile back at the paddock….

"The kids would like to know if you're a real vet like Doctor Dolittle," said Jack. "I told them you were but they're not the gullible types especially the short one." Sam raised her eyebrow and gave Jack a look clinging to Mr. Rabbit but she wasn't going to dignify him by saying anything instead she looked off and turned her back.

"Yes, I'm a vet and I take care of animals. Specifically I specialize in horses that's what I do here I take care of the sick horses," said the Doctor but the girls weren't listening. "Here look in my bag see I've got everything a doctor carries but for horses." As he held his bag open Jack noticed something odd inside.

"Is this one of those GPS tracking chips," asked Jack. Sam saw it to so she grabbed the clear plastic box with what looked like a computer chip in it.

"Yes it is, give that back to me. It's very delicate," said Franz. He almost had a heart attack when Sam grabbed the chip. He took it back slipping it quickly into his jacket pocket. He was lucky his two shadows were gone or he'd have some serious explaining to do.

"I'm back. Bets are all made so now we just need a little luck," said Morgan as he handed Jack the program with the ticket stubs inside.

"Here you go friend," said Jack as he slipped the program into the Doctor's jacket pocket. "Time to go and find ourselves some seats."

"Here I've got a couple of tickets for the Club House that way I'll know where to find you afterwards. Son, your luck has changed today," said Franz as he walked away.

The Doctor had no idea he was so right but not in the direction he thought. Kasper realized it didn't take two people to take the rubbish out so he sent Arman back to keep an eye on the Doctor and he nearly had a cow when he saw Sam pull out the chip.

"I tell you I just saw the kid with the chip in her hand," said Arman on his phone. "I saw him with that guy I bumped into at the airport. Drop what you're doing and get back here… Yes I took a picture of him and this other little guy. … Of course I got photos of both and I've sent them off to our people. The one's already come back. … Jack Burton his information came back quickly. He's who he says he is but it seems his records have been expunged. … That's right since he's taken over running that casino all his files have been wiped clean. … What do I think? I think he did a favour for someone or some club with a lot of pull. … The short guy, they're still working on him. … Yes, I'll stay back and keep an eye on the Doctor then after the race I'll have a talk with him. … I understand consider it done. But just get back here." Arman hung up the phone then mixed in with the crowd keeping the Doctor in eye contact.

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Alex woke up on the couch with a blanket on. She smiled realizing Morgan had to have put it on her probably before he left. Stretching she got up and yawned then rotated her head as she walked to the kitchen to get the kinks out of sleeping on the couch. Good she thought, he made coffee before he left and he even put her tablet in the charger. He was definitely a keeper she thought as she poured herself a cup of coffee then took the tablet off standby. She almost gagged on her coffee when she saw she got a hit.

"Crap, what do I do now!" said Alex. Everyone was gone. Sarah, Chuck and Casey were are the clinic along with Kat and Morgan was with Jack. She joked with Morgan about this being her big chance but here it was. "Think what would Sarah do," said Alex. She reached into her bag and checked her Beretta mini cougar. "Okay what would Dad do?" Her finger started to itch. Alex grabbed her tablet poured herself another cup of coffee but this one in a go cup then went and hopped in her car driving down to the Waldron.

"Hey Mike," said Alex. She called their downtown office from her car connecting the phone with the car's Bluetooth. "I need a team to meet me at the Waldron."

"Who is this?" said Mike. "You need a team to do what? Where? You know this is a mechanic's shop we do body work lady."

"I know your cover Mike this is Agent Alex McHugh," she said then gave her identification code. "I've got a hit on our missing scientist, Dr. Harvey Nash at the Waldron. I'm enroute to intercept I need a backup team on location."

"Agent McHugh, has this been you run by the General or any of the senior agents on your team like the Colonel?"

"The other agents on my team are out of pocket and Agent Carmichael gave me the green light for the incursion. We're wasting time talking." She knew she was lying but Mike wasn't making this easy for her.

"Which agent Carmichael would that be?" asked Mike. She was caught in a bind now. If she said Chuck they probably would believe her. However, Chuck bends the rules all the time so they'd most likely call it into General Beckman who would pull someone from the clinic and her big chance to prove herself would go down the drain.

"Sarah of course, Mrs. Carmichael, she was my handler so I called her and got the green light. Listen are you going to help or do I have to have her call you. I can tell you she's busy right now and it won't be a pleasant chat if you know what I mean. You know what they mean when they say either use it or get off."

"Okay, okay I'll get a team down there in ten," said Mike as he hung up. "Christ, I just need to verify is all." Mike began working up an after action report to justify the team being dispatched sending a copy to the General and a copy to Sarah. A little cover your six never hurt in this job he thought as he sent out the secure mails.

Alex pulled into the parking lot next to the Waldron. She checked her watch and figured that it was going to take the team a lot longer than ten minutes to get there. She had a fugitive that was in risk of flight but she had no backup. This time she didn't need to ask herself what anyone else would do she got out of her car and walked in as Agent Alex McHugh.

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Casey's examination was short and sweet. The doctor checked John out by having him run a little on the treadmill with diodes attached that measured his heart rate then he had him do a lung function test. All the tests came back good so the doctor sent him on for some blood work but he stamped in his record before sending him on his way 'fit for duty'.

"See you around Chuck. Time to go back to work catching bad guys," said Casey as he walked out in the waiting room dress. "Some of us have to work for a living."

Casey was rubbing it in but Sarah wasn't paying any attention. She had just received a message from their office downtown informing her that the incursion team she had ordered for Agent McHugh was enroute.

"That's nice John," said Sarah. "I need for you to find out what's going on with Alex. I just got confirmation that my incursion team was enroute. But I never called in for a team."

"Use the GPS locator on Alex's phone to find her," said Chuck as the Doctor came out for him. "Do we have to do this?"

"Yes Agent Carmichael we do if you want to go back to work," said the Doctor. "So come right this way and let's get this over with."

"Hold on I'm coming too," said Sarah. "John, go and find out what's going on. You know where I'll be if you need me."

"Okay Chuck your test will be a little different from the one we did for the Colonel. We talked about this I want to send a probe down inside your lungs to check and see how they're healing. Have you noticed anything different now when you flash?"

"You know about that? You know about the intersect?" asked Chuck. He looked at Sarah but she shrugged her shoulders she didn't know the Doctor knew.

"Yes of course how can I take care of you if I don't know your full condition," explained the Doctor as he had him strip from the waist up then put on a hospital gown.

"Well I seem to be coughing when I flash," said Chuck as Sarah made sure he told the Doctor everything. "I'm sure it's nothing."

"Well I'll be the judge of that. Here let me give you a mild sedative. It will help with your gag reflex when we put in the probe."

"You're doing it so I won't talk," said Chuck as he laughed. "Casey's been telling me for a long time to keep quiet too bad he's not here. He'd enjoy this. If nothing else he'd have something to say."

"Oh you'll be able to talk although I don't know if you'll be able to with the sedative. Didn't I tell you we're sending the probe down through your nasal cavity?"

"Through my nose! That's disgusting," said Chuck a little revolted about the prospects. "This is the only way?"

"Chuck, you'll be in and out before you know it. I need to go see other patients while we're waiting for the sedative to take effect,"" said the Doctor as he went out leaving Sarah and Chuck alone.

"You know you haven't told me why you're mad at Jack. Is there anything I can do to help," said Chuck as he could start to feel the sedative.

"You've got other things to worry about like this test. I hope you've studied up because it doesn't sound like it's an easy one."

"Now who's being corny? Come on you can tell me. Besides I could use the distraction right now this idea of having a tube shoved up my noise and then it's going into my lungs is kind of freaking me out. It's a good thing I had to fast or there would be a mess here."

"Okay I don't think Jack took the girls to a petting zoo. I think they went to the racetrack. He was talking about ponies this morning and he had that look he had when we went to the Kentucky Derby. He got us in the governor's box. Sweetie, you've never had a Mint Julep until you've had one there."

"Wow that sounds like fun," said Chuck as he started to feel a little dizzy. "It would be really nice if there weren't all those horses."

"Chuck, what kind of derby would it be without horses?"

"A safe one, you know how I feel about horses," said Chuck but his tongue was beginning to feel odd like it was twice its normal size so he was having trouble speaking and being understood. "At least did he win big?"

"He lost his shirt and we had to quietly slip down the Ohio to get away from some people he owed money to. Naturally, he bet other people's money claiming he had a sure thing. A sure thing all right a sure way to lose."

"Too bad," was all he could get out then he didn't remember anything after that.

"How's our patient doing," said the Doctor as he came in then he checked Chuck. "Good he's ready. Agent Carmichael, Sarah I'm sorry it's the only way to keep you two separated but I need for you to fill out this medical questionnaire while we take a look at your husband's lungs."

"But I'm not the patient, my husband is," said Sarah as she looked over the questionnaire finding some of the questions a little bit intimate and embarrassing.

"I know but we need these to get a better overall picture of the intersect and how it functions in both male and female operatives. General Beckman was the one who asked me to conduct this and you may be asked to see your OB/GYN. I realize some of those might be embarrassing for you to discuss with me but I assure you it's for your own health and benefit. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to just write a response if you like. If I have any further questions then I'll ask you and we can go from there. I'll send a nurse and an orderly in to get your husband ready."

Sarah didn't like this surprise and surprises in general. But today seemed full of them, first her father then this story with Alex and now this. She wasn't sure she could handle any more and not go off. But she clicked the pen and began to fill out the questionnaire.