A/N: A funny (well, to me, anyway) story from early on in writing this. I was picking names for everyone and had written O'Broghlan calling Sarah "Erin O'Connell". Then I just happened to watch Chuck vs. The Cougar when Graham spills some of her previous names include Katie O'Connell. Don't know if this was my subconscious mind working or just luck. Anyway, thought I should avoid that and changed it to Raian (Ryan). I sure you are not as amused as I, but wanted to share.
Thank you, NBC and Warner Bros. for this wonderful little show. Thank you to the cast for these amazing characters we all so like top play with.
O'Broghlan got back to the cockpit and pulled the knife from his arm. "Damn that bitch to hell! I forgot how good she is with a knife. Okay, Captain Jameson, time for you to head to Rio de Janeiro."
"We can't cross Peruvian airspace without permission."
"Just do it! They know we are here anyway, so just shut up and drive."
"What do I say when they call us?"
"Nothing. Not a word. Let them wonder what we are up to."
"And what are we up to?"
"Not your concern. But you'll go down in history. Trust me on that."
"Now, Bradan, get down there and get the girl and her friend. I don't care what you do to him including making him dead … preferrably in some cruel and painful way. But make sure she is in one piece. Hurt her and you die too. Understand?" Bradan just shrugged and left.
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"Colonel, international air traffic control has just informed us the plane has turned northeastward on a course directly towards Rio de Janeiro. The Peruvians tried to protest the entering of their airspace but didn't get a response. They have scrambled jets but we have requested they shadow them only. It won't take long for them to move into Brazilian airspace."
"Thanks for the update General. Do you want us to head to Rio?"
"Not yet. Let's see if we hear any more from the Bartowski's. If they change course again we could lose any way of catching up to them again."
"But General, if we are in the air we can adjust when they do ... if they do."
"That's true." After a pause: "Alright Colonel. Get airborne for Rio. We will contact the Brazilians and see if they are willing to allow us to assist."
"Okay, Grimes, here we go again. God help us if Ellie catches us sneaking out."
"At least I won't have the front and back of my brain meeting in the center this time!"
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Sarah had just reached the top of the stairs when she heard the cockpit door open. She moved quickly to the center bar and hid, waiting to see who came out.
Chuck couldn't hear the door from downstairs so he started slowly up the stairs after her.
Bradan moved ever so cautiously through the cabin. His rifle was at eye level and he swung from side to side as he looked between and under each seat. He was definitely a professional. Chuck's head started to appear up the steps so he crouched down and took aim. He was a hunter and his prey was in sight, unaware of his presence. But he didn't realize he was also being hunted. He had not figured super spy Sarah Walker Bartowski into the equation. She was beautiful … yes! But dangerous? ... No. And as had happened so many times in the past, with those who went up against the CIA's best field agent, he paid the price for that oversight.
"Chuck, look out!" she shouted. Bradan squeezed off a shot but was distracted by her shout and it went wide. Sarah wasn't looking at Chuck or distracted at all. Instead she leaped over the bar, took one more step forward and kicked him in the face. He was down, his brain only registering the pain and an annoying thought that he had been bested by a blonde bombshell. Sarah's following punch laid him out unconscious.
Chuck was peeking back up the stairs as Sarah ran over to him, "Are you alright, sweetie?" she asked anxiously and was relieved to see that big, wonderful smile coming up the steps to meet her. They met at the top of the stairs with each taking the others' cheeks in hand before kissing deeply. It didn't last long, however, because they knew they still had at least one foe left onboard.
Looking over her shoulder at the unconscious man Chuck grunted, very Casey-like, and said, "So, another notch in the gun handle, eh babe?" They both chuckled lightly.
"Sweetie, run back down and gather up all the weapons and ammunition you can carry and bring them back up here. I will take care of our little friend here." As he went back down the stairs Sarah, while keeping an eye on the cockpit door, moved Bradan between two rows and tied him up to the legs of the seats. "Sleep well," she said softly as she patted his cheeks to see if he would wake but he was definitely out for the count. Sarah then moved over to the center bar where she looked for food and water. There were still some hors d'oeuvres and bottled water in the refrigerator. They hadn't eaten since lunch at the Resort, which, while less than 48 hours ago, seemed like a week. Her spy training was in full force now: always eat and sleep when you have a chance because you never know when the next opportunity will come.
Chuck returned quickly with quite an arm full. They checked and loaded all the weapons and took stock of how much ammunition they had. Done with that, they adjourned to the bar to eat and chat, all the while watching the cockpit door.
"So, Chuck, how did you get back on the plane?"
"Oh, I just ran along side until I could climb up into the wheel well and shimmied through the hatch."
"Oh, is that all, 007?" The electric smile Sarah flashed made Chuck shiver with love and desire. "I guess Casey told you how to do that?"
"Yep. Said it was a piece of cake." Now Chuck returned the smile as well as his Bartowski eyebrow wiggle that left Sarah weak in the knees.
"I found a large, wooden crate down in the luggage compartment. I took the top off and there is a big chamber connected to two cylinders which are full of green and blue liquids. That can't be good, can it?"
"Sure doesn't sound good. Hey, let's see if the comm app is still working."
Chuck pulled his phone out and discovered it had a broken screen and appeared dead. "I'll bet when Casey tackled me I fell on it."
"I'll get mine." Sarah was back in a second with her phone. "I've still got power so let's see if we can get a message to the General." Sarah set up the app and put in the message about the crate. "I hope she gets this and can make some sense of it."
Sarah put the phone down on the counter and Chuck reached over to take her hand. Their fingers laced together naturally. "Well, it worked pretty well when you were with Volkoff, although there were times when I wasn't sure if you said you loved me or were buying a Buick."
They both laughed and sat there for some time just holding hands. Even though they were still in a dangerous situation, just being together was comforting to them both. They looked deeply into each others' eyes, enjoying this moment of peace and their love for each other.
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They were still airborne so the satellite phone startled Morgan. "Hello? Oh, yes, General. Uh huh ... uh huh ... uh huh ... uh huh ... uh huh ... okay. I'll tell him. Thank you, General.
"Hey, Casey. Come on ... wake up. Hey, the General just called. They are still on course for Rio and only have enough fuel to make it that far so they will have to land. Chuck and Sarah have gotten the comm app working again so we can track them even better. They sent a message saying the big crate we saw loaded onto the plane in the Cook Islands holds containers with green and blue liquids inside and what looks like a mixing chamber. Chuck said he can't tell what it is but it doesn't sound good. Beckman has a team of experts in terrorist weapons working on it. We have permission to land in Rio but not to leave the airport until further notice."
"Okay, Grimes. Go back to sleep." Casey left and headed for the flight deck.
"Yeah, like I was ever asleep in this noise bucket."
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"So now what do we do?" Chuck so wished they weren't sitting there waiting for a madman to try to kill them. He just really wanted to quietly hold Sarah … well, no that wasn't completely true. He certainly wanted to hold this beautiful goddess sitting next to him but he definitely didn't want to be quiet or to stop there. These damned international terrorists sure could put a cramp in your love life. "Do you think we can force our way into the cockpit?"
"Hmmm?" Sarah was also a little distracted thinking about how nice it would be to be in Chuck's arms right now. "Uh … no, I don't think so. Since 9/11 security has been beefed up too much for our little arsenal here. Somehow we have to get O'Broghlan to open the door." Sarah again thought about being held by Chuck and how much she wanted to make love … mad, passionate love … with this wonderful, handsome man. Damned terrorists … no sense of timing at all.
"Great ... not exactly my idea of fun."
"Nor mine. If we just knew where we were headed and how long 'til we get there. Then maybe we could anticipate his next move."
"Well, look, he's lost all his hostages and all his compatriots. It's just him in there with the flight crew. They all have to be exhausted and hungry and he has to know there's no way out for him. Do you think he would give himself up or try to commit suicide?"
"He's a fanatic and a mercenary. Not a good combination. He may choose to end himself but he's going to do it in such a way that will do as much damage and kill as many people as possible."
"What the hell is that in the cargo compartment? Could that be used to cause mass destruction?"
"Very possibly. We'll just have to wait for him to make a move."
Sarah hesitated causing Chuck to look at her in concern. She was unsure of how to ask her next question but the love and security she saw in those big, brown eyes gave her the confidence to forge onward. "Chuck, this is hypothetical but, if you could get the Intersect back right now, would you?"
"At least twice during this ordeal I've thought, 'oh, if I could just flash'. But, Sarah, when I think of all the problems it's caused me … us ... the price we've all paid for me to have it, I just don't know if it's worth it. I wouldn't trade in the experience for anything because it's what brought you into my life. But to go back to that existence … I don't know. Sarah, baby, even if we should die on this plane tonight, at least I am here with you ... to the very end ... my lovely, wonderful bride."
"Yeah, it would be a hard decision and I'm just glad you ... we ... don't ever have to make it again. And I wouldn't want to be anywhere else … the two of us … together forever. We are truly the best when we are together, both professionally and, more importantly, personally. I love you, Chuck Bartowski!"
"I love you, too, Sarah Barto…."
Suddenly the glasses, plates and Sarah's phone on the counter exploded in gun fire. Sarah and Chuck dove into the center area of the bar, barely avoiding being shot. "What the hell..."
Coming next on Chuck vs The 747: Has O'Broghlan gotten the drop on Chuck and Sarah? Or will O'Broghlan finally get his comeuppance? What about the bomb? Stay tuned, friends.