Don't own Chuck
The next morning Sarah woke up feeling odd. It was early and she didn't want to bother Chuck but the baby seemed to be more agitated than normal so she got up and went to the kitchen. She made herself a cup of chamomile tea and was nursing it when Ellie walked in to start breakfast. She had an idea of making pancakes for everyone and she wanted to get an early start.
"Hey what are you doing up," said Ellie as she walked into the kitchen. "Is everything okay? You're usually the last one to get up."
"The baby decided it was time for me to get up and that's not true... well not always. Bunny wants to go dancing so I had to get up I hope this isn't a sign for what my future holds me waiting for her to come home. If that's what you're thinking Miss you can get that thought out of your head right now."
"Come here and let me check something. Would you say it feels like someone turning around in bed trying to find the spot but can't," said Ellie as she began touching and pushing on Sarah's stomach. Sarah nodded. "Sweetie, your due date was supposed be in thirty days?"
"That's what Gwen told me. Ellie is everything okay? Is the baby okay? Do we need to run to the hospital," said Sarah as she suddenly got terrified that she might've missed something and started to spiral.
"You need to see Gwen today but she's going to tell you that your baby just turned over and is now in the birthing position. I think she's going to have to re-evaluate when you're going deliver. It's a good thing we went shopping yesterday."
"No, no, no, she can't be born early," said Sarah as she closed her robe then went back to her tea. "We're... I'm not ready."
"Ready or not she's going to be coming soon so you need to get ready. What's the matter? Is something wrong? You can tell me we're sisters remember. I know Chuck can be work sometimes and he acts like boy in a man's body but...
"No it's not that... I don't have a crib for her to sleep in and that's partly my fault. I've been kind of picky and I was even thinking about having it made but there's no time anymore."
"I wouldn't worry about it worse comes worst we can grab something temporary then do something better later on. The one thing you're not doing is sleeping with the baby in bed."
"No never, Gwen and I already had that talk when Sam was born. I need to ask you just one thing don't tell Chuck yet. I want to talk to Gwen first and make sure. You know the way he'll react."
"I can understand. My little brother can be intense sometimes like a little puppy when it's excited then it pees everywhere then you let it outside and it gets hit by a car. Afterwards you have to tell your little brother it ran away."
"Yeah or something not so dark," said Sarah as drank her tea. Now she believed she just found out what really happened to the original Peaches.
"I should give you a head's up Clara is going to ambush you," said Ellie as she pulled out the batter for pancakes she'd prepared the night before.
"Ambush me about what? She said there was something she wanted to ask me but fell asleep before she could tell me what it was."
"Her class is having career day next month and she would like to invite you to come and speak on being a secret agent."
"I can't talk about my job, it's classified. In theory she shouldn't even know what I do other than I'm married to Chuck and am her aunt. But I could talk about when I was with the Secret Service and I worked the presidential detail."
"How'd that work out?" asked Ellie as she worked the batter thinning it out.
"He almost got shot," said Sarah as she took a sip. "I should add by me."
"Well I should warn you you're playing to a tough house. There will be a fireman, a policeman and two women from the Army speaking too. Clara let us know that surgery was too gory and neurology too boring so there you go."
"But if we had an Indian we could have our own version of the village people," said Sarah. Ellie laughed as she poured the first pancake.
"You've been around Chuck too long," said Ellie as she shook her head. They were both laughing when Chuck came walking into the kitchen.
"I think I heard my name being derided," said Chuck as he walked in kissed Sarah then went over and started making coffee. "What are you two doing up so early anyway?" he said as he fumbled around with one arm.
"Let me do that for you," said Sarah as she came over and took over making coffee. "How's your shoulder this morning? Before you get dressed I want to change your bandage."
"I woke up and you weren't there. Is everything okay?" asked Chuck. Ellie plated the first pancake as she glanced over at Sarah.
"As far as I know but I want Gwen to give me a quick look over to make sure everything is on track. I was wondering if she can tell me a more precise delivery date."
"I don't know how much she can tell you and how much is up to Stephy. Do you want me to come with you? I can cancel what I've got to do today if you want?"
"No you go on with what you need to do. Gwen is going to have to visit Hortencia too so no I won't put you through all this. But I want you there when the baby's born."
"Don't worry I packed my catcher's mitt," said Chuck. Ellie laughed as she plated the second batch of pancakes and put them in front of Chuck and Sarah.
"You laugh," said Sarah. "But I saw him pack it."
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Nurse Ratched came to work early like she always did after feeding the twenty some cats that roamed the neighborhood around her condo. She had no family, no friends that were human at least so she threw everything she had into her work. Walking in the front doors she felt like the Master Chief of the hospital and if everything got done at the end of the day it was because she ran a tight ship. That's why she was not happy today.
"What do you mean we have another no-show? What's going on here? Call in the first person on standby list then I want to have a sit down with them at the end of the day that way we can get the oncoming and off going shifts," barked Ratched.
"Yes Ma'am, I'll make it happen. Is there anything else you want me to do," asked her assistant but Nurse Ratched's attention was drawn to a group of orderlies who were standing around in the lobby drinking coffee and laughing.
"Belay my last," said Nurse Ratched as she turned back to her assistant. "I've got another idea how to deal with this problem. Why should the hospital pay for overtime when the ones that are supposed to do the job are standing around?" Her assistant just nodded her head she lost her at 'belay' and was discreetly googling it.
"Did you hear José didn't show up for work today," said one of men in the circle. "I wonder if he caught what Pedro has."
"I think it takes two shots of penicillin to curing it," said another one then the group started laughing out loud.
"Oh crap, you guys laughed too hard," said Pepe as he noticed Nurse Ratched headed their way. "Oh no here comes the dragon lady. Everyone scatter."
"Just hold up a minute," said Ratched. "I want to talk to you guys while you're all standing around doing nothing. As you guys must know by now we've got another UA..."
"What's that a new type of venereal disease?" asked one of the orderlies and the rest started to laugh. That is everyone except Nurse Ratched.
"No it means 'unauthorized absence' or if you like something you can understand a no-show or simply fired and since your buddy José is a no-show you guys are going to make up for him. I expect every one of you to look at the schedule and to work your floor and his for fifteen minutes each. In the end we can cover both floors without that much of a hassle."
"Hey that's not fair. You're supposed to call in someone. That's why there's a standby roster and we have to be near a phone just in case. Isn't this 'just in case'?"
"Except for today where you've proven to me that you don't have anything to do because you can stand around in front of me drinking coffee and joking. If you keep it up you'll prove to me that we can get along without you altogether or at least some of you and don't think I won't call immigrations and inform them that you are now currently unemployed. I think that's grounds for deportation if I'm not mistaken. So the lesson to learn here is don't piss off the Head Nurse and get to work," said Nurse Ratched. The group stood still mumbling to each other. "That would be your cue to get moving now."
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Ellie walked into the hospital with Sarah and Sam after they dropped Clara off at school. Devon was still out running when they left but he asked Sarah to tell the Premier and Hortencia that he'd be coming in later. He needed to get cleaned up and he had a couple of patients he had to see but that he'd be straight up afterwards.
"Sweetie, I'm going to leave you here for the morning," said Sarah. "You're going to be in Child Care with other kids you can play with. Either your father or I will come and get you for lunch so we can eat together then we'll play it by ear from there."
"But I don't want to stay here, can't I come with you?" said Sam as she looked up at Ellie and Sarah. "This is going to be boring."
"I have to go do some work upstairs but like I said I'll be down so we can have lunch together and then if your father isn't back I'll take you to see Hortencia. She's the other pregnant woman we met in Costa Gravas. She's the one that gave you that doll."
"I remember her but I don't want to go with you I want to go with Aunt Ellie. I want to see patients with you. I can help screen them." Ellie laughed which got her an angry look from Sam.
"I'm sorry Sweetie but to work in a hospital you need to have permission for the hospital's administration. I know this is hard to understand but I could get into trouble if they caught you seeing patients here with me. You don't want me to get into trouble or get fired do you?"
"Well no I don't... but how can I get permission? I know I've got it... Mommy can write me a letter asking for permission. Will you please?"
"Sweetie, it's not that easy," said Sarah as she tried to bend over to talk to Sam at her level. "You have to go to school then university and then medical school. It's not fast but if that's what you want then one day I'm sure you'll be like Ellie."
"Uffa it's going to take a lifetime to get all that done," she said as she cross her little arms. "I'll be old by then almost as old as you. I won't have many years left to practice before I have to retire."
"I'm going to remind you about this day when you get older. For this morning this is where you're going to have to stay," said Sarah. She kissed her then Ellie did too before they handed her over.
"Come on turnkey take me to gen pop," said Sam as she took the caregiver's hand. It was all Ellie and Sarah could do not to laugh.
"I swear it was either Big Mike or Jack that taught her that and I should kill them both. You've got quite the character for a sister," said Sarah as she rubber her stomach. "Now let's go see Gwen and see what surprise you've got for me."
"You were joking about killing Big Mike and Jack," asked Ellie as they got on the elevator alone. Sarah just smiled.
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Devon told everyone he was going running but instead he hid in his car. He was going to follow Chuck and get the evidence he needed. As he waited he thought about what he was doing and he felt a little stupid but if he was right it was his obligation to put Chuck back on the straight and narrow. He didn't have to wait long before a cab pulled up and Chuck got it.
"Okay Chuck, let's see where you're going," said Devon as he sat up and pulled out. As he backed out his drive he noticed Gladys in the window next door. "I'm nothing like you," he said thinking what Ellie accused him of.
Meanwhile in the cab Chuck sat back after telling the cabbie to take him to the Police station. As he was sitting there he received a text message from Maureen asking him to meet her for coffee.
"I don't need to go the Police Station anymore I need to go to the Chicago Coffee House. Do you know where that's at?"
"Yeah it's a place for people who want to drink expensive coffee in little cups. I can take you there buddy but don't say I didn't warn you."
"Thanks, duly warned," said Chuck as he leaned back thinking about the morning. He was kind of worried about Sarah but he figured it was nerves because she was pregnant and plus he didn't like her being a bullet magnet next to Hortencia.
"Here you go buddy," said the Cab driver as he pulled up out front. Chuck got out paid the cabbie then went inside. Maureen was waiting for him in a back booth.
"I'm sorry for meeting like this but I thought with your people looking over my shoulder it would be better if we met someplace discreet. I squelched the investigation into your attack when I saw the address but strange your people never came to see if we investigated it."
"Well the truth is there wasn't much to investigate. The person who did this got away with two accomplices," said Chuck as he showed her his sling. "I assumed they'd be looking for them."
"You said three. Two of them wouldn't happen to have been Hispanic," asked Maureen as she slid him a folder. "Because if they were I think we might have found them for you."
Chuck opened the folder and there were their dead faces. He started flipping through the pages glancing over the report.
"Yeah these are my guys all right. It says they were shot behind a strip joint with two nine millimeter weapons. I'd like to know what kind of weapons were used."
"As soon as I get something back from ballistics I'll let you know. Does this have anything to do with the special guest you people are guarding in our hospital?"
"I believe so I think his problems have followed him here from home. Can I take these photos I need to show them to some people and if I'm right I'll be able to get you names."
"Sure no problem so you think this was a hit made to look like a robbery," said Maureen. "My investigating detective wants to write it off as a robbery gone bad."
"I think they got whacked because they got out of the car. I saw them so someone was afraid I'd be able to identify them."
"That means they had to be around someplace you're visiting or hanging around at these days," said Maureen. "Like in the hospital."
"It would be a possibility but I've got a crazy question for you. In all probability no one will come to claim those two bodies. What happens to unclaimed bodies?"
"There is usually a ten day waiting period then the body is sent off to be cremated. Cremation turns out is cheaper than maintaining a pauper's cemetery which has a bad habit of filling up too quickly or becoming prime real estate. Why? Are you worried about your friends? If this is reclassified I can keep them on ice for a long while."
"No but I'd like a copy of ballistics and finger prints from my perps but I guess they're your vics. I appreciate the Intel but I won't find anything on them. Can you give me the addresses of the crematoriums the state contracts with in the area?"
"Sure," said Maureen as she wrote it out on a napkin. "The state contracted out with only one facility for us to use so sometimes they have a backlog. Now let's talk about something more pleasant I hope you brought photos. I want to see that daughter of yours. She has to have gotten big by now."
"She is and she can't wait to start school. She wants to be like her aunt and become a doctor," said Chuck. "One second let me send a text then... Okay here we go. Here I've got a few of her playing doctor." He passed his phone to Maureen.
"She is a looker all right. You're going to have some serious problems very soon. I don't want any suitors going missing from around here."
"You haven't heard the other big news. We're expecting number two here within the next thirty days and another girl."
"My friend your peace and tranquility is a thing of the past. I assume your wife is on maturity leave back home."
"Kind of, she's here and in the hospital with the asset. We go back a long ways and the man's wife is pregnant too. Sarah and her basically found out they were pregnant at the same time so they have this bond. After what happened down there the wife wanted Sarah to stay with her and hold her hand so that's the why we're here in a nutshell."
"But if your wife is near this woman that puts her and her baby at risk. How can you be cool with that? I think I'd be going up the wall."
"I'm not but I was out voted and why I'm running my little... well it's not off the books but more parallel to what the team at the hospital is doing. I'm afraid they're a little myopic setting up a defense..."
"You're hunting aren't you? Yes, but for what and who? Listen Chuck can we at least try to keep the head count down."
"I'll do what I can do. I hate to go but I need to run. Listen before we leave I want to take you out for dinner so you can meet everyone. You pick the restaurant, any restaurant."
"Chuck, kids have a way of being unpredictable. I'd like that but you might have your hands full. I'd like to send more patrols over to the hospital but we've been ordered to keep our distance. However, I'm going to add an extra patrol on your sister's street."
"I'd appreciate that," said Chuck. He got up covered the tab then left. Devon nursed an orange juice at a safe distance and he got a few photos of Chuck with Maureen.
"Chuck, dude, what are you doing? Not cool dude not cool." He waited for Chuck to leave then he ran for the door only to see Chuck ride off on the back of a Kawasaki Ninja.
"Oh dude, what are you doing," said Devon as he tried to get a photo of Chuck on the bike. But suddenly he found himself face first down on the pavement with a knee in his back.
"No, what are doing," said a woman's voice as he felt cuffs being put on. "What were you doing following that man?" asked the same voice as she rolled him over. It was the same woman Chuck was talking to in the coffee shop.
"What were you doing talking to him? You do know he's a married man. I know my rights you can't hold me."
"Of course I know he's married. What's going on? No don't tell me we'll sort this out down at the station."
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[A half hour before]
The Major was standing in the room with Hortencia and Sarah as they were both talking with Dr. Louis wondering where Devon had gotten to. Casey and the Premier were off smoking cigars in the smoking area and Nurse Ratched was walking the corridors of the hospital looking for slackers and goldbrickers.
"Well I don't know what's gotten into Devon this morning," said Sarah. "I would've thought he'd be here by now. Maybe he decided to go an extra couple of miles or had to run to the store for kale."
"It's okay we really don't need him," said Gwen. "I want to examine both of you. I want you to do a pre-examine here then Hortencia I'd like to do an ultra-sound."
"I think I ought to tell you Ellie thinks my baby rotated and now is in the birthing position. It happened this morning," said Sarah. "It felt like she was rolling over and over inside kind of like when you can't find a position in bed." Sarah remembered Ellie's analogy.
"Well then that changes things a little. Why don't I take you both down to get an ultrasound first then I'll do your examination. When Devon gets in he can just look for us."
As they were talking the Major received a text message it was from Chuck. She brought it up on the screen and read it: Get down to the Chicago Coffee House, I need a ride. I think I might know where we can find you missing man. But you're not going to like it. Chuck P.S. Hurry up.
She found the Colonel and placed him along with one of her man outside the examination room then slipped out. She made it to the parking area got on her bike and made record time to the Café where she found Chuck waiting outside.
"Come on," he said as he got on the back of the bike. "We need to go to the Heavenly Peace Funeral Home and Crematorium." He caught her look. "I warned you that you wouldn't like it," he said then he gave her the address. "You might want to step on it or we could be out of luck."
"There's just something wrong about hurrying to get to a funeral home," said Isabella as she laid rubber.
