Don't own Chuck
Everyone had dessert and coffee sitting around the table and chatted until late. Bunny was the first to crash while Sam tried to hang in there trying to stay awake to hear everything. She didn't want to miss a thing but in the end sleep won out. She slowly lowered her head then popped back up but each time her head dipped it went a little lower until she couldn't raise it any more.
"Well, I think that's a sign we need to call it a night. Guys it's been swell but we've got to get up tomorrow for school. Boy, I don't remember ever being this excited about going to school with the exception of when I started Stanford."
"Then I guess I won't see you in the office until the afternoon," said Mary as she stroked Sam's hair. "Tell me how things go tomorrow."
"This is ridiculous," said Sarah. "Mary, if you want to come along with us you're more than welcome. The letter doesn't say that this meeting is only for parents so if you want to you can come along too."
"Thank you for inviting me but as Acting Director, I really need to be in the office," said Mary then she paused. "But I could bring the office with me. The Major's still in town so he could have a mobile command center parked out front of Sam's school. Then if anything comes up he can come and find me."
"Good, so that's decided. Let's all go so the kid can get some sleep," said John. "Kat, if you're ready I'll run you home. Alex, Grimes if you guys want a ride I'm leaving now."
"No thanks, we've got a herder I borrowed from work," said Morgan as he scooped out the last bite of peach cobbler. "If I didn't know better I'd wonder if you weren't trying to clean house?"
"Not as clean as you've done with that cobbler and what are you talking about? Cleaning house, really. I don't know where you get your idiot ideas from sometimes… probably from the brain you're sitting on."
"What did I say? I just said you didn't have to worry about taking Alex or me home. Geez, John what's gotten you so wound up and besides I'm standing."
"Well, I think Dad right we need to go and let these guys get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day for Sam," said Alex. Chuck heaved a sigh and nodded. A few minutes later everyone was gone leaving Chuck with the mess to clean up and Sarah with two children to put to bed.
"What was up with Casey this evening? He practically gave everyone the bum's rush to get everyone out," said Sarah. "I wonder if it had to do with why he came home early today."
"I don't know. I think I walked in on the end of a discussion between Mom and him today. He was leaving to come home then but there was something in the air and Mom didn't volunteer any information..."
"Ha, like she would, Mary's been at this for a long time so she's not going to offer up intel like that. I'm sorry Sweetie, I know she's your mother but that's just how things are."
"I know and look at you offering the olive branch. Before... this afternoon I thought you were going to hit her over the head with it."
"Funny, it's not like I didn't think about it. But she does love you... in her own way and so do I, so we have that in common. I just hope I didn't stick my foot in it inviting her to come along with us."
"No, I don't think you did and this should go a long way to bring peace in the valley," said Chuck. Sarah gave him a look. "It was joke. I'll finish up here and in the meantime why don't you start shuttling our sleepy children to their beds."
Chuck went about rinsing off the dishes as Sarah took the girls to bed. She first took Bunny because she was the easiest to manage and then she came back for Sam. She took her first to the bathroom where she helped her brush her teeth then to her bedroom where she had to change her into her pajama. That was a chore to get Sam's clothes off then to put her pajama on someone. Sam was half-asleep and fighting every step of the way.
"I swear one of these days I'm just going to let you eat supper in your pajama so you're already for bed." Then still half-asleep Sam threw her arms around Sarah's neck and hugged her.
"I love you Mommy," she said then she climbed into bed and Sarah tucked her in kissing her on the forehead.
"And I love you too," she said and forgot all about the hassle it was to change her clothes. Sarah stood in the doorway for a few minutes watching her roll over going back to sleep. She never thought she'd end up here but now that she had it she would do everything she could to keep it. Even if it meant she had to play nice with Mary.
As she stood there she thought she heard voices from the kitchen like Chuck was talking to someone. Neither voice was loud or sounded upset so she stayed there in the doorway. But when she walked back into the kitchen Chuck was gone but the dishes were done and put away. She didn't feel alarmed but she wondered where he could've gone so she went out into the courtyard to look for him.
"This is strange," she said as she looked around but didn't see him. The lights in Devon and Ellie's apartment where Mary was staying were all out. However, she noticed a light on in Casey's place. She ducked back inside and got the baby monitor then went next door. Before she knocked she heard voices inside. One was Chuck and the other Casey and they sounded like they were arguing.
"Guys, what's going on," she said as she ducked inside. "You know how late it is? If you keep this up you're going to wake Mary then that's on you."
"It's not me it's John. He wants me to flash on one of his missions and tell him who the Agent was who got him and his friends fired. I keep tell you John, it doesn't work that way."
"Then how does it work? I'll show you a picture of me and you think about Honduras then you tell me how the butthole was who sold us out."
"John, do you think this is healthy for you? If you want to know that badly why don't you just ask Mary to give you access to the service records," said Sarah. She saw the look on his face. "Or have you already and she sent you home to cool down? That's what happened today, isn't it?"
"It's not fair. She's got no rights keeping that from me. I should be able to know the name of the jerk who screwed me over. If he hadn't filed that report, I would've been selected for Spec Ops."
"But John you've had a good career and it's not over yet. You're on the cover of G-Man Assassin weekly and all the would-be assassins look up to you. Or is this about something else?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Bartowski. Just look at this stupid picture and flash. I ask for one simple favor and you're turning me out after every time I've saved your butt."
"No, Chuck's right, there's more to this, isn't there? This is about the time you missed with Alex and Kat. This is about the life Alex Coburn would've had."
"It's not fair. All that was taken from me. I thought all this time that Keller had gotten me tanked for Spec Ops to recruit me. I was never so happy in all my life as when I snapped his filthy neck. But now I find out that my recruitment was an accident. I found out that Keller wasn't even supposed to be there in camp then. He was just there at the right time and the person I have for this is some Company puke whose life I saved. Can you believe that? I should've let that rebel slit his throat."
"Then they would've been mad at you because you didn't save the man's life. You don't know if you hadn't taken that shot that things would've been different. What is just is I believe someone told me."
"Yeah, I said that but what if it isn't? I sacrificed everything to join black ops and now I find out that it was all by accident and the man I have to thank for this is the guy whose life I saved. I think I deserve to know who it was so I can thank him up close and personal."
"And that's why you shouldn't. I don't think the man meant anything personal when he wrote to your Colonel and told him you were trigger happy. Although you did single handedly take out all those rebels and covered the guy with brain matter. It was kind of gruesome after all and no one told you to shoot."
"Oh Chuck," said Sarah. She and unfortunately for him Casey did too that he knew too many details of the incident.
"What did I say? I'm just saying that anyone might have reacted the way this guy did. You were told to hold your fire until the agent on the ground signaled but you took the initiative and shot anyway."
"And how do you know all that? I never told you all those details. Confess, you already flashed and know who this guy is but you don't want to tell me."
"I don't know... okay maybe but John, I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this. There's no reason to get so worked up about this. Like you said let bygones be bygones and move on."
"I don't think I've ever said that and if you don't want to go to that parent teacher meeting in a wheelchair you'll tell me what I want to know."
"John, believe me when I tell you that I wish I could but it won't help anything and it will only get you into big trouble. Please, just let it alone."
"John, is this photo new?" said Sarah as she picked up the photo of Casey in Honduras he'd lifted from Marta's house.
"Sarah, no, don't look at that," said Chuck. But it was too late she flashed. She dropped the photo and she heard the glass shatter but she was suddenly propelled into the jungles of Central America. She was looking through Casey's scope as he fired round after round and watched the hostiles drop one by one. Then she saw the blood covered agent turn. Suddenly she changed perspective and she was now down looking back at Casey. Then she shifted again she looked over and there she saw the man looking at the other American. She could see how angry he was then she saw who it was.
"Roan? Roan was there? John, you never mentioned you knew Roan before Spy School when he flunked you twice from Seduction School," said Sarah. John gave her a look. "I mean Infiltration and Inducement of Enemy Personnel."
"That was because he had it out for me. Hey, wait a minute are you saying he was the guy I saved. He was the guy who got me fired. Crap, that explains why he had it out for me."
"Now John, don't jump to any hasty conclusions. I'm sure there's a good explanation for all this and we can ask Roan when he and Beckman come back from their vacation."
"I hope he enjoys it because it's going to be his last when I get finished with him. They took the word of a functional alcoholic and fired me..."
"You're right Big Guy. What kind of man does that? Maybe French Fry deserved his nickname. But you were probably better off in the long run."
"What are you saying? That Alex and Kat were better off without me? Why you. Is this supposed to make me feel better because if it is you're wrong. I ought to," said John as he moved towards Chuck but he backed up.
"John, Chuck was just trying to look out for you and I'm sure that's not what he meant. He was just commenting on what an illustrious career you've had and why you shouldn't throw it away now."
"All based on one bad report filed by Agent Roan Montgomery, the Judas. After all this time, you'd think he'd at least have the guts to tell me what he did to my face."
"John, have you thought he might not know who you are or were. I mean you changed your name and you didn't know who he was so he might not even know who you are. In his letter, he just mentions your unit and the shooter so there's no indication he ever knew it was you."
"Really? You aren't just saying this to make me feel better and to save his life?" said Casey. Then he thought. What Chuck said did make sense.
"No, what Chuck said is true," said Sarah. "Let's all get some sleep. It's going to be an early day tomorrow for us and you need some alone time to reflect."
"On how I'm going to end him."
"John, come on. I know you don't mean that, do you," said Chuck as he smiled looking at Sarah then at John. "You are just kidding, right? You really don't mean that... this is Roan we're talking about."
"Yeah, Mr. Seduction Master, I want to see him talk his way out of this."
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In a back alley on Saint Thomas not far from where the Annabel Lee was tied up Luiz met a man in the dark. He'd called him and told him he had news but he wanted to meet Luiz in person. Their man was paranoid and didn't trust that the NSA or the CIA or the FBI or anyone of the other government agencies with anacronyms that seemed to be spelt from a bowl of alphabet soup wouldn't be listening in.
"Okay, I'm here so what do you have that's so urgent. You know you could've told me whatever you have to say when you called me. That's why we gave you a secure phone."
"I don't trust them. You don't know who might be listening in or what they might hear. It just takes one slip and you're done for. Your father learned that the hard way and I don't intend on being a victim of carelessness."
"What does my father have to do with this? No, never mind, just tell me what you've got to tell me so I can get back to base camp."
"Not so fast there Luiz. First, there's a question of payment and just for your information the cost of intel has just gone up."
"Gone up! What are you talking about? We've been paying you good money to feed us intel on ship movements and goods."
"I don't care. Once this is over I'm going to have to disappear and disappearing costs money. What I'm getting from you is going to be my relocation allowance and that's not cheap. The cost is ten big ones paid up front now take it or leave it."
"Ten grand? Are you crazy? Donna Rosenda will never pay you that kind of money and do you really want to piss her off."
"I don't care I have to think about my future. After you take this boat, it won't be long before the authorities come knocking on my door and I intend to be long gone by then."
"I hope what you have to sell is worth the price you're asking. I don't want to pay that kind of money just to know what they're going to have for breakfast."
"Poached eggs, fresh fruit, toast, marmalade, coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. I can give you that information for free. This is a cash and carry business."
"I hope you don't think I carry that kind of money around on me. I'm going to have to run back to the villa then come back."
"Well, the sooner you go the sooner you'll come back and give my regards to the lady of the house," said the man. "Your mother always was a fine woman."
"You do realize you're talking about my mother. You know I could take offence," said Luiz as he got close to the man.
"Just calm down there tiger. I didn't mean no disrespect. I always had a soft spot in my heart for her and if things had been differently who knows you might be calling me daddy."
"In your dreams, maybe or in my nightmares but both are far from reality. Okay, I'll go get you your money but you'd better hope it's worth it or you just might be taking a long walk off a short pier."
"Now is that anyway to be talking to your old man. You just go get me my money and believe me it will be worth every penny and maybe even more."
"Don't you even think about jacking the price up even more. I don't know why someone hasn't already put a bullet in your head."
"Because I'm a nice guy and a good dancer. Just ask your mother, she and I used to tear up the dance floor before your father came along smoking his Cuban cigars looking like the Ché. He turned your mother's head and a lot of other women too."
"What's that supposed to mean? That my father had a lot of other women on the side. He was just charismatic like any good freedom fighter."
"Yes. and he spent most of that freedom fighting in the bed. If I were you and fell in love with a girl around here I'd get a blood test straightaway man before you find out you've been with your half-sister."
"You're nothing but an old drunk," said Luiz. He felt flush in the face as his anger came bubbling to the surface.
"That might be true but I'm also an old man whose got information you need so remember that before you let your anger get the best of you. Now run along sonny and go get me my money. I'll wait for you right here."
"You'd better be careful old man or Black Bart just might pay you a visit and I don't think you'd like that. He's not a very forgiving soul."
"Because he never had one. But he's nothing but a bunch of old moldy bones at the bottom of the sea. You and I both know who this new Black Bart is."
"You'd better be careful saying his name. You just might conjure up his spirit."
"You said his name first and I think he'd have more of a problem with you than with me. Now be a good little boy, run home and get me my money."
Luiz stomped back over to the van then opened the passenger door and got inside. He was pissed and mad.
"We need to run back to the villa then come back. I swear when all this is over and done I'm going to put a bullet in that old man's head. I don't know why Donna Rosenda keeps him around."
"You know they go way back together. I heard some of the other guys say all the way back to Nicaragua and even before."
"Well, you tell the guys they'd better be thinking more about doing their jobs then about the personal life of my mother or we're going to have a problem. I don't think they'd appreciate the way I solve my problems."
"Yes Sir... I didn't mean any disrespect I was just telling you what I heard because you asked," said the driver as he tried to dig himself out of the hole he'd dug for himself but he only buried himself deeper.
"Just shut up and drive. Not another word or I might go 'Pulp Fiction' on you."
"What's that?" said the driver as he glanced over at Luiz.
"Don't tell me you've never seen 'Pulp Fiction' where John Travolta accidently shoots the guy in the head in the car? Samuel L. Jackson and himself along with the car are covered in blood and brain matter. It was a Quentin Tarantino film."
"Quentin who? No, I don't go to the cinema much and I don't like TV. You get hooked on a series then they yank it so you never know how it ends or worse they give you some screwy ending where anything goes."
"I can agree with you on that. It used to be you could watch TV to be entertained but not anymore," said Luiz as he pulled his Glock from his holster and checked the magazine. "I mean you could escape for a moment from your crappy life," he said as he put the clip back in and housed a round.
"Isn't that the truth. So, this 'Pulp Fiction' is worth watching? Think I can find it on Netflix?" asked the driver as they pulled in to the garage.
"Sure, I don't see why not and I think it's one of Tarantino's better films. 'Ezekiel 25:17. The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.'"
"Is that in it?" asked the driver and Luiz nodded. "Then I really do need to see if I can find it."
"Yes, Samuel L. Jackson says that then he pops a cap into these college student drug dealers who tried to stiff his boss. At one point later he says, 'Now I'm thinkin': it could mean you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. .45 here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness...' Then he says some other crap but this is where my story ends and so does yours."
"What do you mean? There has to be more. The film ends there?" said the driver as he shut off the engine.
"No, just yours," said Luis. A loud gunshot rang out from the garage and the windshield along with the driver side window was suddenly covered in crimson and gray.