Don't own Chuck

Casey began the interrogation of Carlos the Badger while Sarah watched from the other side of the two-way glass. Already she didn't like him because she thought he was a smirker and if there was one thing she couldn't stand was a smirker. Carlos sat there smug and defiant as Casey began questioning him.

"Listen, we can do this one of two ways. The easy way you tell me everything you know or the hard way and I pound it out of you. Just I'll like the later more."

"You're an American agent you wouldn't do anything like that to me."

"You want to bet on that."

"I'm not going to tell you anything. This isn't the first time I've done this dance so do your best."

"Maybe a trip to Gitmo will change your mind." Morgan came back to tell Sarah and Casey that Chuck and the rest were in the conference area. As he walked by the interrogation cell Carlos saw him through the glass door.

"That boss of yours is something."

"Who Grimes?"

"Yeah anyone who'd put all their info out like that daring people like me to come after him, dangling it like bait. Man is he crafty like a spider I guess I got caught in his web but tell me, a professional courtesy, how many spies has he captured like me?"

"I really don't remember. Listen you don't want him in here with you. I've seen him do some stuff that well isn't exactly kosher with the Geneva Convention. See this scare," Casey showed him the scare on his forearm, "that's from parking in his parking spot."

"I'm still not talking."

"Well that's up to you so don't blame me I warned you," said Casey as he left going into the observation room where Sarah and Morgan were. "I thought I had him but he's not going to roll as easy as that Ratner guy."

"I think the weak link might be the other guy, Martinez" said Sarah.

"Hey guys, why don't you let the Cobra have a go at them," said Morgan as he cracked his knuckle "Ouch that hurts, how do you do that Casey?"

"Let's regroup with Chuck and the rest," said Sarah, "Kenny needs to know about the Federal building and let them stew a little bit before we come back at them."

"Sounds good to me," said Casey.

"Me too."

"And now for someone who counts."

"I know you love me John. But really, did you hear Carlos go on about the Cobra," said Morgan as they walked into the conference area.

"What did Carlos say about the Cobra?" asked Chuck as he walked over and took Sarah's hand.

"Man, Chuck I had the guy shaking in his boots at the mere mention of the Cobra."

"Actually he said you had all your crap up on the internet and it was easy to find you. Only an idiot or moron would do something that moronic."

"I think he said crafty like a spider."

"I think he meant imbecile, abridged version. The next time an assassin comes after you we might not head him off first then spider meets insecticide, said Casey watching a two man CIA team bring down the freezer into Castle."

"Technically spiders aren't insects," said Morgan.

"So what information have you gotten out of our house guests," asked Chuck as a CIA clean up crew wheeled a freezer by. "Is that-" Chuck started to ask Sarah.

"Yes it is."

"Gives a whole new meaning to the Maytag man, I'm going to have a nightmare tonight."

"Well our friends aren't being very talkative unlike some present but we were able to intercept a phone call and found out that the Federal building has been compromised. A mole called and said that something was going down tomorrow."

"Crap, that's when Juan is supposed to testify," said Kenny. "I've got a senate subcommittee in the air as we speak. Now what?"

"Can't you move it somewhere else," asked Casey?

"No, the deposition has to be done there I can't get into the particulars but it has to be there and if it doesn't go down Juan's promise of WITSEC in the US goes out the window."

"What we need is for one of them to roll on where their cell is hiding," said Casey.

"You can forget Carlos," said Juan. "I know him and he'll never say anything. If you want I can talk to him but he'll never talk."

"Well, we have the other guy a Jose Martinez or that's what his ID says," said Sarah. "I think he's a new member. He might break if we apply the right pressure."

"You all realize I'm a law enforcement officer and I can't allow any torture on US soil."

"Who's talking about torture," said Chuck.

"Well, there is no clear definition for torture," said Sarah.

"Casey, give Kenny the cuff keys for Martinez and cell access. Kenny, you and Juan move him in with Carlos and wait for us there. We have to call our General then we'll be with you." Chuck waited until they were gone.

"I take it there was a reason you wanted to get rid of them," said Casey.

"Yeah, I don't think Kenny is going to be too kosher with my plan to make Martinez talk. Morgan it all depends on the Cobra. Remember the Untouchables little Buddy?"

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"Come on," said Kenny as he opened Carlos' door. "Sit next to your Boss and put your hands out. Juan help me." As Juan helped Kenny cuff Martinez to the table Carlos snapped at Juan but he didn't flinch.

"I expected that from you," said Juan.

"Traitor, pig."

"I'm not the traitor. You betrayed our beliefs when you killed. You caused a circle of violence that has spiralled and grown. The only way this ends is for people like you to stop."

"And you think you will stop us, your own people."

"You aren't my people and I don't recognize myself in you. You and people like you have twisted and corrupted the innocent. You have taken something good and noble and trampled on it."

"Fine words but it's your wife who's going to put a bullet in you. Yes I know she told me. Giselle is here, she's my lieutenant which means if I'm in here she's in charge of your execution."

"Juan," said Kenny, "don't let him get to you."

"I see you're talkative in there," said Chuck as he and Casey dragged back the man from the freezer holding him up so his back was to the cell. Sarah went ahead of them and locked the cell door so that Kenny or Juan couldn't come out.

"Okay Morgan or should I say Cobra make this guy talk," said Casey.

"Man this is disgusting, do I have to," asked Morgan in a low voice.

"Yes, just close your eyes little Buddy and punch him. Think back to 8th grade this is your chance to get even," said Chuck.

"Look Troll you punch the stiff or I punch you which one is going to hurt?"

"Okay, okay, you've pissed off the Cobra now," yelled Morgan as he punched the dead man in the stomach. "I'm going to be sick."

"That's it little Buddy think of him as a punching bag. Work the bag."

"Still nothing, take this," and he punched him again. "This is so disgusting."

"Hey, you can't do that," said Kenny, "this isn't Gitmo. There are rules here. Christ, Chuck, Sarah stop this." Juan was immobile just sitting there in disbelief.

"Cobra, he's not talking. I think we need to pass on to the next guy," said Casey as he handed Morgan his Sig.

"Next one, right. Okay buster one last time you got anything to say now would be the time if not oh well, crap." Morgan shot the dead man in the head, blood and brain matter splattered on the glass. "I think I'm going to heave," said Morgan as he walked away.

"Keep in the can," said Chuck as he and Casey let the body double over before they dragged it out of sight. Chuck walked back and opened the door with a pistol in his hand.

"Kenny, Juan stand back this is our interrogation."

"More like your execution. How could you, you've got a baby at home."

"Because I have Sam at home certain things need to be done to protect her."

"Now you sound like Carlos," said Juan finally coming to a realization as to what had just happened.

"Carlos, you're coming with me," said Chuck.

"Are you going to kill me too?"

"Not if you tell me what I want to know."

"Then you should kill me here."

"It'd mess up my carpeting. Sarah get his cuffs," said Chuck. She undid them from the table then she walked him outside and around the corner. Casey came up after Carlos was out of sight and stood in the doorway on the other side of the glass door.

"Beckman gave the kill order," he said then he raised his weapon and fired. That was enough to set Kenny off.

"I want out of here right now," yelled Kenny, "and I'm taking Juan with me. Open this door or I swear I'll shoot my way out." Chuck came to the door and opened it waving for Kenny to leave. Kenny grabbed Juan by the arm and stomped out to find Carlos tranq'd sitting in a chair in the hallway next a sand bag that had been fatally wounded with sand pouring out a bullet hole.

"Don't say a word," said Chuck as he pushed them into the observation room. "I'm sorry for the melodrama but it was the only way to sell this to Martinez. Watch and see if he isn't more talkative now that he thinks we mean business."

"But you killed that guy before," said Juan. Kenny had already figured out what had happened.

"You can't kill someone who's already dead," said Chuck as Martinez gave up everything he knew; the location of the terrorist cell along with the number and names of its members.

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Giselle was driving back to the sports center when suddenly she found the road ahead blocked. A policeman signalled for her to pull off to the side of the street when she heard sirens coming up from behind her. In her rear view mirror she saw two SWAT vans approaching. Her instincts told her to pull her Colt mustang from her bag and have it at the ready. But it turned out to be a false alarm as the vans blasted pass her heading in the direction of their hideout.

"Sorry miss," said a young officer, "but you're going to have to turn around. This area is sealed off until further notice."

"Really why? It sounds so scary."

"No need to worry police matters, that's all I can tell you."

"But my old mother lives down there with my grandmother," said Giselle maybe the grandmother was too much but the policeman sympathized with her.

"Don't worry I'm sure they're not working out in the sports center. I shouldn't say this and I could get in trouble if someone found out I talked but we got a tip that there were some dangerous people held up down there. SWAT has been called in and we've got the situation under control."

"One Adam Twelve," said a voice over the policeman's radio. "One minute miss," said the policeman, "This is One Adam Twelve go."

"One Adam Twelve, this is dispatch stand down suspects taken into custody. Go back to previous duties."

"Roger dispatch," said the officer. "Miss you're in luck everything is over and the bad guys have been taken into custody."

"Thank you I feel much safer now. You're very kind."

"Don't mention it and oh by the way," he said as he handed her his card. "If you want you and I can go out for a drink sometime."

"Do you often pick up women at barracks," she said and laughed.

"No just the pretty ones. I'll wait for your call."

She waved to him as she drove by then tossed his card on the sit next to her. It would be a cold day in July before she called him. The man was half her age what was he thinking but it was flattering. She drove for a little distance before she pulled over again. She was now without her leader and her support team. The only things she had was herself and a Barrett sniper rifle in the trunk along with an itch to see this to the bitter end.

Giselle did what she had to do. She drove to Federal plaza where she could size up the situation and then went to the Lincoln hotel on the other side of the square where she checked in.

"May I help you," asked the check-in clerk.

"Yes, I'd like a room for three days. I'm visiting friends. I'm sorry but I don't have a reservation. This trip was a spur of the moment thing. You see my friend has cancer and I had to see her before it was too late."

"I understand my Aunt had a bout with stomach cancer but she came back. I can feel for you. Listen, we're booked up with some big shots coming in from out of town but we usually set aside a couple of rooms for VIPs that come in at the last minute. I can put you in one of them and I'll give it to you at the normal rate."

"Thank you, you're too kind," she said as she put her hand on his arm.

"Here's my card," he said as she looked at it, "I get off at eight if you need anything just let me know. I'll tell my relief to watch out for you. So if you need anything don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you Mr. Booth you're too kind."

"Like I said I've been where you're at now and I just want you to know if you keep the faith things will work out. Just keep the hope alive."

"Thank you, my key card please." She needed to move along too much time out in public was a risk she wasn't sure if the police were looking for her or if there was a description.

"Don't mention it. You're up on the 14th floor room 1865."

"Thank you again," Giselle said as she quickly disappeared into the elevator. Each of the floors was designated by months of the year and hers was April.

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BACK IN CASTLE

They had just finished briefing General Beckman and Sarah was on the phone with Alex. The morning was over and she wanted to see Sam badly so Chuck hooked up a video feed from home. Sarah talked on her phone so Sam could hear her voice while she watched and listened from a monitor.

"Is that the best use of our tax dollars? I'm sure that's not what that was intended for," said Casey.

"What you and Gertrude use the firing range for isn't what it was intended for either but you do it anyway."

"We only us it to fire weapons."

"And some at close range. Juan are you okay?" Noticing Juan was a little sullen.

"Yeah dude," said Morgan, "I was expecting you to tell Casey about the need for open communication and that he should explore his feelings."

"I'm sorry my friends but I'm a little down. After all this time, my wife still hates me and she wants to kill me. The love of my life wants to put a bullet in my head. Well, I guess it's fair she thinks I put a knife in her heart. I just wish there was some way I could reach out to her maybe it's not too late."

"Maybe, we haven't heard back from Kenny's people yet. She might have been taken in the sting operation. If so we can arrange something I'm sure."

"Bartowksi, Bartowski, always trying to fix things."

"Better than breaking them," Chuck said as Sarah came over and put her arm around his waist then kissed him.

"Thanks," she whispered. "Alex said there's a Torte Sacher at home." Chuck's eye lit up.

"They finished it together," said Chuck beaming.

"I thought you really didn't like it."

"No, I mean yes, Oh crap not the cake but what it represents. Don't you see Emma and Jack worked together to make it."

"Sweetie, you promised."

"Can we talk about how we're going to take Juan in tomorrow," said Kenny. Chuck said something about a Jack Burton plan. Listen I did some checking on him and you know he's a total loser, an absolute bottom feeding scum of the Earth."

"And he's Sarah's father," said Chuck.

"Just goes to prove you can't choose your relatives."

"Casey what was it Roan called you? Agent Frankenstein, we all can't be born in a lab."

"Sweetie, I appreciate your defending me but Jack is Jack what can I say. What did you tell me, the sins of my father are his not mine," Sarah said as she took Chuck's hand.

"Yuck I think I'm going to be sick."

"Right the plan, well it's quite simple we'll need three black Escalades with tinted glass. They will rendezvous at Echo Park where Kenny, one of your men and myself will dress exactly as Juan. Then we will each get into a separate car and take different routes to the Federal building. We will all arrive at the same time but enter in three different entrances. Casey will arrive early and set up a sniper nest where he'll be able to cover all three of us. Juan will duck out of Echo park dressed like me with Morgan and take a herder to the Federal building driving in a half hour after us so if Giselle shows up Casey will take her down before Juan arrives." Chuck saw Juan's face and added, "but hopefully she'll already be in custody."

As Chuck had just finished when Kenny got a phone call from one of his colleagues giving him the status report on the local bust. Kenny kept continually nodding his head making it impossible for Chuck to figure out what had happened until he finally hung up.

"I'm sorry," he said, but we got everyone on the list that Martinez gave us except for Giselle. Juan you realize you have to testify."

"Yes, yes of course I do," he said but it was a hollow yes. "I'd like to go home now."

"I should go too I need to go to the office and get all this line up for tomorrow. Chuck I'll call you when I get all my ducks in a row."

"Excuse me," said Sarah, "this is a great plan except what am I supposed to be doing? Sweetie if you say stay in the car I'm going to hit you."

"This is going to be worth watching," said Casey. "Bartowski, talk your way out of this now."

"Not helping," said Chuck, "Well Love I guess I made an oversight."

"I guess you did but I understand," she said, "as she kissed him. I'll case the Federal building while Casey sets up and cover everyone from the steps."

"That was what I meant," he said as he kissed her.

"Yuck, take it home."