Don't own Chuck

Hannah finished work like she did every day at six. She had a routine she always went through, she checked her e-mails then sent out an end of day report to Chuck and Sarah even though they rarely answered. She was their woman in Paris and they had absolute trust in her. So much so she had an astronomical credit limit that she could spend on anything. Chuck did this so he could tap on her at any time to get things done like buy a boat to sail to Montenegro or rent a plane to fly to Moscow. However she also proved herself as savvy business negotiator making Carmichael's Industries a leader in its sector. The only thing missing now was to go public but so far that was the only request they ever balked at and she couldn't understand why. A part of her routine was to say good evening to the night guard Francis who came on as she left. She shot the breeze with him for a little while because he was easy to talk and he helped her perfect her French. He always had two standing complaints his mother and his football team, Olympique Lyonnais.

"I just don't understand my mother sometimes. She meets a women and the next thing I know she's invited her over to meet me. You know she told one woman at the supermarket I was a police inspector."

"Well you do wear a uniform," said Hannah thinking that the whole thing was a little funny but she understood. "Francis, my parent keep asking me when I'm going to come home and settle down. I mean I've got a good job and live in a beautiful city…"

"And you know me," added Francis smiling at her. "But you don't have a woman asking you to fix her traffic tickets."

"No I can't say as I do and you're right I know you. The highlight of my day is talking with you and you're kind enough to help me with my French but what I'm saying is parents are the same world over. I saw your team lost on Sunday."

"Don't remind me. That referee could've used a new pair of glasses. Did you see when he called that off side, what was he thinking and the assistant referees were no better. I'd pay to have their eyes examined maybe they could do a better job. I tell you everyone has it out for us but this year this could be number eight. I think we'll go all the way."

"But you're not doing so good in the UEFA league this year either. Both Juventus and Arsenal have come out as the teams to beat."

"They're just lucky, the championship has just begun we'll see at the end of the season who's on top and they'll all be crying." Hannah laughed she really didn't know anything about soccer just bits and pieces she heard in the corridors but she knew enough to be able to push the right buttons to get Francis going.

"Well I really need to get going I want to go the gym before I go home," said Hannah as she looked down at her watch.

"You should be going out with some nice French guy. You don't look like you need the gym just a diner by candlelight."

"Is that an invitation," ask Hannah with a laugh but if he would ever get up the courage she wouldn't turn him down.

"It'd make my mother happy. I'm sorry but I can't walk you over to your car tonight. The guy who was supposed to be here with me called in sick so I'm on post alone. But we've got a mobile patrol on bike I'll have him make a round in the parking garage to be sure you get to your car safely."

"Thanks but it's not necessary I don't want to inconvenience anyone. It's not that far anyway just across the street."

"Nonsense he has to make a round anyway so you can wave to him when you see him in the building then he'll take off again. How do you say a piece of pie?"

"No it's a piece of cake although I don't know why? But I appreciate the concern I don't want to be a bother."

"I don't know of all the cars you could buy you had to buy half a car. I mean with what you make you could afford something nice like an Alfa Romeo spider."

"My Smart is not a half a car," said Hannah as Francis laughed. "Okay you're getting even for what I said about your football team. My friends are making fun of it too. One asked me if I got it half price since it was only half the size of a normal car."

"I never thought about it but they're right. It looks like one of those cars they used in the old comedies where the car gets sawed in half but keeps on driving."

"Funny, very funny, but it's the ideal car to drive in the crazy traffic of downtown Paris. I can park it anywhere and it's good on gas."

"So is a scooter and it's even easier to drive through traffic," said Francis as he acted out driving a scooter with his hands while making motor noises.

"If I bought a scooter I'd have my mother on my doorsteps the very same day. Then she'd start in about I'm not getting any younger and all about how my sisters are all married with children."

"You're right; parents are the same the whole world over. Well you need to go I'll see you tomorrow morning when you get in and if you can..."

"I won't forget you café au lait and croissant, I promise two sugars right," said Hannah as she was opening the door to leave.

"You're my angel of mercy but for now I'll just tell you merci beaucoup."

Hannah left laughing as Francis watched her from the window as she crossed the street into the parking garage then radioed the mobile patrol. Strange though Maurice wasn't answering so he wrote the failed connection in the log then called it in.

"Don't worry about," his boss told him. "It could just be interference, it happens all the time or Maurice could've taken an unauthorized extended stop at a coffee shop. Try him in a half an hour then let me know."

Hannah took the elevator to the fourth floor. This was one of the perks that came with her job Carmichael Industries provided her with paid parking. In her previous job before the Buy More all her living expenses were out of pocket but not with Chuck everything was covered. She was glad when she signed her last contract to see Sarah signed off on it too. She didn't want to be a kept woman, not that she was. Truthfully she could count on one hand the number of times she'd seen Chuck since taking the job. However, she also realized that he created this position for her as a sort of payback for the way he had treated her.

She got off the elevator and headed over to her car reaching into her purse she pulled out keys. She pushed the button on the fob that deactivated the car alarm and the lights lit up. Then as she was about to get in she heard a motorcycle heading her way so she waved. The bike kept coming towards her so she continued to wave until she decided to yell.

"Hey can you dim your lights I can't see a thing. I appreciate the concern but as you can see I'm fine. You can tell Francis I made it safely to my car nothing to worry about and I won't forget his coffee tomorrow." But with the bright lights she didn't notice until he was almost on top of her that he wasn't a security guard. He was a guy dressed all in black even his helmet had a tinted black visor then she saw the pistol. It glistened under the neon as he drew it from inside his black leather jacket and pointed it at her.

"Oh God," she yelled dropping her bag and keys. But as he was about to fire another shot rang out in the garage that seemed to come from behind her. She heard the whine of a bullet travel past her and the sound of a thud as the bike driver's head jerked back then he fell forward. In some involuntary act he revved the throttle causing the bike to run into the back of a Renault sending bike and drive flying over the top of it. She turned around to find a man standing next to her holding a pistol.

"Come with me if you want to live," said the man as he took her by the hand pulling her along. Hannah didn't know what to think a mugging that had gone terribly wrong or a kidnapping. She just didn't know. Things were happening too fast, her brain just couldn't keep up. Before she knew it she was in this stranger's car and they were driving breakneck speeds over the Seine with the île du Pont underneath.

"What's going on? And who are you? I want to know right now or let me out," said Hannah as she looked over at her kidnapper.

"Well Hannah if I let you out you won't make it fifty feet before someone puts a bullet in your pretty head and let me tell you that would be a shame. As for who I am, people call me Captain, Captain Perry and no, it's not my real name."

"Thank you Captain but you haven't really told me all about what's going on. Why did that man try to shot me? What've I done? I'm just a consultant."

"It's not you they're after they want to flush out your bosses, Chuck and Sarah. Do you know where they're? I need to talk to them and believe me when I tell you it's urgent."

"I thought they were in Burbank. I've sent some memos a couple of days ago and am still waiting for replies but that's normal," said Hannah as she thought about the past few days but there was nothing out of the ordinary. "They give me a lot of authority on how to run things. It's like I have my own company without the hassles of owning it."

"Do you know who your bosses really are?" asked Perry as he eased up on the gas. "I think we've lost them. I don't see anyone following us."

"What do you mean if I know who they are? They own Carmichael Industries and we deal in cyber security for multinationals and corporations."

"That's the cover. Hannah you work for two of the top agents in the CIA and right now they're playing a game with an evil villain who just happens to be my ex-boss. I know this sounds like something you watch on television or go to the cinema to see but I'm not crazy. This is me being honest with you, why I don't know but my old boss is trying to kill me and he's put a contract on me. I need to contact Chuck or Sarah it's important. Everyone's life is at stake."

"How much would I get if I whack you? Come on this is some sort of joke isn't it? I'm being punk'd by Francis this is his way of getting even for what I told him about his football team, isn't it?" said Hannah as she looked over at Perry expecting or hoping he'd be laughing but he was straight faced and looked intense. "But why would this guy come after me? I'm no one that is if what you're saying is true."

"You still don't believe me after you had a gun pointed in your face and saw me kill that guy on the bike in the garage. You know what you saw. Look I need to meet your bosses. I'll keep you safe but I need to meet them, they're in Paris this I know but I don't know where."

"Here? When did they get here? They haven't checked in with me not that they have to but I just assumed…. Well they would. I need access to a computer there might be a way to get in touch, a message board of sorts that I can leave word when we need to meet.

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Sarah walked back to the galley where she poured herself a cup of coffee then came and sat at the table watching Mary play with Sam. Sam was laughing as Mary grabbed her feet and Sam tried to grab her hands. Sarah noticed Mary's wine glass was almost empty so she went and filled it. As she moved around the room she felt Mary's eyes following her as she played with Sam. Finally she couldn't take it anymore. This silent game of who's going to break first was just stupid so Sarah broke the silence.

"So how did you find us? I have to admit I'm a little amazed at how much Chuck had in place and how well he thought everything out."

"Don't get mad at Ellie but she told me that you guys were in Paris. She's just concerned about you guys and I told her I was going to help you."

"Then Chuck told her, I should've known he would so are you?" said Sarah. Mary gave her a strange look. "Are you going to help us?"

"Of course I am, I don't always do what I'm ordered to do," said Mary as she continued to play her game of got your foot. Sarah wondered if that remark was directed at her or Casey. "I knew about the barge. I don't know what Chuck told you about it."

"Just that it's owned by him under his cover name. Why is there more," asked Sarah. Obviously there was or Mary wouldn't have mentioned and if she did there was a reason she was telling her. Mary didn't say anything she didn't mean although sometimes there were a lot of different interpretations.

"This was once owned by Volkoff Industries. It was used as a mobile detention and interrogation center. Chuck did wonders removing the stains don't you think? I hate to admit it but I did some pretty terrible things here but you should know all about that."

"What's that supposed to mean? I did, we did what we had to that was our job and sometimes that required extraordinary rendition."

"I just love how that rolls off the tongue, extraordinary rendition. Well that is neither here nor there we had to leave and abandon the barge because Orion got too close. Alexei thought it had been compromised. Sarah I had to run from my own husband to protect him."

"I know Mary and that must've been very hard for you and for him. I can't even imagine how

what must've been like."

"You have no idea and I hope you never find out. But there's more to the barge's story, something I think you need to know. There was a plan and I'll admit it, it was mine but when you lost your memory and left we, I thought about taking you."

"You mean kidnapping," said Sarah looking at her mother in law. "There's no need to candy coat just tell me the way it was."

"Okay we were going to kidnap you and bring you here to force you to remember. I figured we use the Command room and run video 24/7 of your lives together until you recalled everything."

"So that's why Chuck had my ID, Passport and clothes. He told me he put everything together after our run in with Shaw and Decker."

"That's true we talked about it so once Ellie told me about Paris I knew where you had to be. But as far as my plan I just tacked onto what he already had in place. However, Chuck wouldn't hear of it and refused to let me go through with it. He threatened never to speak to me again if I went through with it."

"But why?" said Sarah trying to wrap her head around everything Mary was telling her. It was difficult to understand but she understood Chuck's desperation.

"Why did he refuse or why are you only hearing about this now? Which one do you want to know the answer to?"

"Well both," said Sarah as she leaned back in her chair still trying to understand.

"The why he refused you have to ask him but I think I know and… well I admire the man my son has become and the why you're only hearing about this now is I think he was embarrassed that he'd even considered the idea. Sarah, he'll do anything to stay with you, even give up something he was born to do and likes more than almost anything. That almost is his love for you; he'll never give that up not as long as he's breathing."

"You're talking now about us leaving the agency but we decided that together. I'm not forcing him to give up anything he doesn't want to. We talked it over and that was the decision we came up with for the good of Sam and whatever future children we might have."

"Did you? Are you sure? I'm not accusing you of anything I just know how he feels about you. You know as well as I do you could ask him for anything and he'd break his back to deliver it to you."

"I feel the same about him Mary and frankly you weren't there when the decision was made so you can't expect to know how it was made."

"I'm sorry if I upset you. Chuck's father never wanted this life for him especially after what happened to our marriage and us. He tried every way to shield Chuck and Ellie from it but in the end it found him. This is what Chuck was meant to be, a spy. His father couldn't keep him from it and I don't think you can either. It's what makes him happy and if you force him to give it up, he will be profoundly unhappy. He may give you one of his 'all rights' but you can see through them. I'm Chuck's mother and I have a right to look out for him," said Mary as soon as she spoke she knew what was going to be thrown back in her face and that their conversation was over.

"I think you lost that right when you walked out on him when he was in the fifth grade. I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything I'm… well I'm… I just need to get changed," said Sarah as she started to go down below Chuck walked in carrying a couple bags of groceries.

"Honey, I'm back and I found a fish place on the way back that had fresh shellfish. I thought we could put some with our pasta and make a type of pescatore. Oh and I found Sam's yoghurts. I was thinking she can eat her pasta with cheese. Or not," said Chuck as he realized he had just walked into the middle of something.

"Sounds good to me," said Sarah as she continued on down below. "I'm going to dry my hair and finish getting dressed."

"Mom what's going on?" asked Chuck the tension in the air was so thick it could be cut with a knife. "What did you tell her while I was gone? Oh my God you told her about the barge."

"She had a right to know Charles and frankly I don't know why you haven't already told her yourself. Chuck you can't keep treating her like she's made of glass and you're afraid you're going to break her."

"How I treat my wife is my business. Do me a favor and put the groceries away. I'll start supper when I get done down below fixing your mess," said Chuck as he took a deep breath then went down the ladder.

"Your parents are something," said Mary to Sam who was still sitting in her lap. "Tell you what you come with me we'll put things away then we'll start supper. I think they're going to be down below for a while." Sam got down then played on the floor in the dining room with Mr. Rabbit as Mary put everything away. She kept a watchful eye on her from the galley then after she put the water on for pasta she went back to play with her.

"Sam your grandma has something for her little sweetie," said Mary. She could give Sam her present they were finally alone. "I think you're going to like this." She pulled out of her bag a coloring book and some chubby crayons.

"Wow," said Sam as her eyes grew huge. The coloring book was about a family of rabbits that lived in the woods. Mary showed her what to do with the crayons and naturally she tried to eat a couple but after she got the hang then there was no stopping her.

"Now that's better than television any day," said Mary as she stood back and admired her granddaughter's handy work. "Don't worry if you mark up the floor you father did and the wall. His father had to put down three coats to cover it." Mary went back to tending to supper as she checked her watch. Chuck and Sarah had already been down below for almost an hour and not signs of them yet.