Don't own Chuck

PAINT A RED SKY

Ned stood next to the fire place and started slapping the screen but the same thing kept being displayed – Access Denied. He couldn't understand how his perfect plan had gone sideways. This just couldn't be happening. It just couldn't.

"What? No this can't be right something's wrong," said Ned so he tried again getting the same results. "Listen there's got to be a glitch in the system. I'm telling you the vault is right here. Just let us go and you can demolish the house for all I care. You have to believe me the vault's here."

"I do believe you but you can understand my situation can't you. I'm sorry but I hate to say you're no use to us anymore, right Margery?"

"What? Margery?" Ned looked at his wife. "Tell me this isn't true. Margery you're in on this? But I loved you?" Ned felt like he'd just been punched in the stomach and for the first time in his life he froze.

"She knows that," said the man taking and, advantage of Ned state he shot him. "That's what made you the easy mark."

"No!" yelled Margery then as she ran to Ned the man shot her in the back.

"It's what made her a liability too." Margery dragged herself over to Ned as the man holstered his weapon and tried to phone. "Crap, no reception who lives all the way out here in the boondocks anyway. Don't worry, I'll be back so just go ahead and die on me while I'm gone." Ned fired a round but hit the door frame before he passed out.

They heard a car door open and an engine start then pull away. The man was a little pissed that he now needed to bring in someone to open the vault but he knew a guy he could call on short notice that owed him a favor and one more body wasn't going to make much of a difference. At least he knew where the guns were and with a little luck he'd be rolling in the dough by sundown tomorrow.

"Ned, I'm so sorry. This is my fault please don't die on me or at least not before me. I love you Ned. I do. Oh God, you have to believe me I never wanted this. If you can hear me let me confess, please you have to know the whole truth. I guess the best place to start is back in Honduras." Margery talked rapidly at first because she could feel herself bleeding out and she had to get her words out but as she spoke her voice got thinner and thinner until it was almost inaudible.

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THE A-TEAM OR BETTER TEAM BARTOWSKI

As they pulled up outside the cabin Casey saw the Jeep Ned took from the compound parked out front. After parking they climbed out of Sarah's Lotus and immediately they knew something was wrong it was too quiet, too still.

"Chuck, I don't like this," said Casey with his gun at the ready. "Ned should've challenged us by now."

"Yeah, Sweetie I don't like this either. Let Casey and me go in first." They made their way to the door of the cabin.

"It's open," said Sarah. "It could be careful a trap."

"Let me go," said Casey as he pushed the door open and they found Ned and Margery huddled together by the fireplace.

"Christ, so much blood," said Chuck as he felt a little woozy.

"Million dollar computer in his head and he can't stand the sight of blood. Chuck, man up, you're a spy for Christ sake."

"Thank you Casey but some things I just can't get used to."

"And that's what makes you wonderful," added Sarah. "John they're still alive but we've got to get them to a hospital right away. Let's load them in my Lotus. There still might be enough time."

"Sarah there's a clinic twelve klicks down the road we came in on hang a right at the first crossroad then go straight you'll run right into it."

"I won't ask how you know that," she said as she kissed him. "I love you and that brain."

"We love you back. Now run but have them admitted as Mr. and Mrs. Smith," said Chuck as he watched Casey flop Ned in the back seat bleeding on her upholstery. "Tell the doctor they were injured in a hunting accident or something."

"Don't worry Sweetie, I've done this before. You two stay safe. I'll call Beckman and have her send in troops."

"No," said Chuck, "not yet. We'll take care of contacting her just drive and leave everything else up to us. Now go!" Sarah froze for a moment she didn't like what Chuck had just said but there wasn't anything she could do about it. She drove off continually glancing back in her mirror watching Chuck and the Cabin disappear in the dust trail she left behind.

"Hospital," Margery moaned in the seat beside her. "How is Ned?"

"Save you strength everything is going to be okay just hold on,"

"This is all my fault," said Margery as tears rolled down her face and blood pooled in the seat under her. "Never betray your love," were the last word she said before she passed out again.

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BACK AT THE CABIN

The two went back inside the Cabin. Casey started looking around for the weapons while Chuck was in search of something in the kitchen, finally returning with two cups of coffee.

"Are these supposed to help us with our search? I know you're hurt and you should take it easy but a hand would help."

"My dear Casey," said Chuck as he walked up to the fireplace trying to avoid stepping in the blood. "Watch, please." He laid his hand on the same screen Ned had put his and it came on. The same blue lit up with circles around his fingertips but instead of turning red they turned green. The panel next to the fireplace opened up revealing a large wooden crate marked U.S. Government.

"You let me ransack the room while you knew where to guns were?"

"You had to do something while I made coffee. Drink up before it gets cold."

"No, I'll load these in the Jeep outside and we can take them to Beckman."

"Hold on Big Guy that's not my plan or at least not yet. Besides Ned left a few surprises there are C-4 charges with spring detonators under the crate. If you move the crate it goes boom."

"So we call her and get a bomb squad here then we move it."

"Sorry but when Ned tried to activate the vault he triggered a jamming device built inside that cut all comm links for a five mile radius."

"Ned did what? How did you know? Wait why did you tell Sarah not call Beckman?

"Casey I can see you're confused let's sit and drink our coffee and I'll try to explain," said Chuck as he placed his hand back on the scanner and closed the vault then carefully skipping over the red pools made his way to a chair. "Come on over and sit. I know sitting is difficult for you but my wound is aching and I need to rest for a bit. First thing you have to know is I won't let another bad guy escape, especially a monster. I did that once and it still haunts me so I don't and I won't do that ever again."

"Okay, so what's going on?"

"You see Alex and I came here before we went to Lake Havasu. I didn't want to make this detour and neither did Alex, but as you always say orders are orders. I already told you how I found the cabin so once inside the intersect told me where the vault was. I didn't want to waste the time to move the rifles so I simply used my Nerd Herd skills and re-programmed the locking mechanism to accept only my bio scan.

"So when Ned tried to access the vault he found he couldn't get in."

"Yeah and nothing short of a nuclear blast would cut through the vault door but I don't think our shooter knew that."

"That's why he shot Ned and Margery because they couldn't get the thing open?"

"Yes and I'm sorry about that I just wish we had gotten here sooner. Casey I really hope they pull through. I think they really do love each other or at least I'm sure Ned loves her."

"What! Are you saying she's involved? Christ, Sarah's trying to save both their lives."

"Casey, I think Margery does love Ned but I just think it took time for her to figure that out. Take my word I know how these things go. But Margery was with Ned before Honduras and with him throughout his Keller experience, and now this. What better way to keep track of a mark then to plant someone, a handler close to them. I think we can both understand that scenario."

"So you're saying Margery is a spy?"

"I don't know if spy is the right word or informant but I think she might have started out as one then switched over to the other."

"This is all just conjecture. You don't have any facts."

"Maybe not but we're standing in a cabin with a CIA grade vault so I think I'm allowed a little wiggle room here. Besides I think she really does love him and that's the reason she was shot. Her love made our mister x feel she was a threat so he had to eliminate her."

"Okay, who is this guy? I assume from the way you're talking that we're talking about a man. Is that the reason you didn't want Sarah to call Beckman? You can't think it's her."

"Casey now you're being crazy. No, but the man could get wind if Beckman put together a taskforce to raid this place and when he shows up I want him red handed. You see if no one but us knows about this place."

"I see he admits his guilt simply by showing up."

"Casey sometimes you amaze me."

"But if he shows up with a company of men it's just you and me and you're wounded."

"I don't think he will, greed is a powerful reason to come alone or if he does bring someone it will be to open the vault. But hey Casey let's look at another way, if he does we have two perfect weapons."

"I don't follow."

"We have the world's best sniper rifles along with the world's best sniper," said Chuck as he raised his coffee cup.

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AFTER THE HOSPTIAL

Sarah dove back to the cabin as fast as she could. Thinking about everything that had happened in the Clinic and wondering about what Margery had meant about betraying her love. Sarah had an idea from everything else Margery had said as she continually came in and out of consciousness. A vision of the woman stuck in Sarah's head.

"I shouldn't have let him do this to us," Margery cried as she tried to grab hold of Sarah from the gurney. "Why did I let this happen?"

Sarah couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't a case of turning left when Margery should've turned right. The decisions we take for granted everyday can lead to disaster later on. We find ourselves building day after day the prisons we trap ourselves in. She knew that feeling, the sense of desperation but thanks to Chuck she had been able to tear down her own walls before it was too late. She could only hope it wasn't too late for Ned and Margery.

The return trip seemed to take longer than the drive to the hospital but she was finally pulled up at the cabin. She noticed a van parked outside with its back license plate caked with mud even though there was none around. As she got out of her Lotus, she heard a loud bang. The unmistakable sound of a large caliber gun blast followed by the scream of a projectile, and the sound of breaking glass as the bullet hit a target inside the cabin.

"Chuck," she yelled as she ran to the door to meet a man trying to escape. She pistol whipped him without breaking stride knocking him off his feet and sending him to the ground out cold.

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SOME TIME BEFORE

Chuck made himself a second cup of coffee. The day was tiring and his wound was acting up but he was going to see this through if it were the last thing he did. He had let Quinn go the first time and everyone had paid a terrible price. No more, he said to himself monsters need to be put down like the beasts they are. He saw the van pull up from the chair he was sitting in and waited for his mark to arrive.

"This way," said a familiar voice to the man behind him as they both entered the cabin.

"Agent Gold, it's nice you came. I've been waiting for you."

"How'd you… Yes we traced Jones here," looking around. "Have you seen him?"

"Cut the crap you and I know why you're here. Does the ATF bring safe crackers to manhunts now? I think I missed that memo. And if we check you pistol I think ballistics will match it to the slugs we took out of Ned and his wife."

"How much do you know," asked Gold pointing his pistol at Chuck.

"Hey, I didn't sign up for this," said the other man

"Leo, have a seat over there while we talk this out," said Chuck.

"But I…"

"You heard the man sit." And Leo did wondering how Chuck knew his name.

"Pull up a chair," said Chuck pointing at the one in front of him, "or are you scared. I think if I were in your shoes I'd be. Do you mind if I finish my coffee?"

"Go ahead it'll be your last cup. I don't see any of your people around and there's no car parked outside. I'd guess since Ned and Margery aren't here they took them to the hospital while you stayed behind to guard the arms."

"Is it a guess you'd bet your life on?"

"No, but you would. Remember, I was there when you arrested Volkoff without firing a shot. This is the same thing without the cavalry. You see I know you can't call out from here so we're all cut off."

"Then you won't mind if I get chatty. I know a few things but I'd like you to fill in the rest. You were a green agent back in 1989 when you went to Honduras to work the joint ATF-NCIS task force. My guess it that was where Keller recruited you. Did you learn about Margery from him?"

"Yes, he needed someone to help with Jones. He never told me what he had on her but just knowing helped me later on. What else do you know?"

"I know that the ring helped your career along. You were one of the agents in charge of the merc training camp bust. I guess the long play was to take it so you could hand it over to Keller to run. You should've put up a sign Open Under New Manangement."

"That would've been a good idea if Keller hadn't gotten himself killed."

"Yes, because up until then you were the man behind the scene not wanting to get your hands dirty. I suppose you wanted Ned to take over for Keller but he ran with the guns before you could force him."

"If he had just come back with the weapons I could've had his wife talk him in taking the job and none of this would've happened. Damn inconvenient."

"Well, you should've figured he'd run after you killed Norton. The poor fool didn't know he was reporting in to the mastermind behind the scene. I guess he was so ambitious and blind with faith in the system that he told you everything. That's how he ended up in Ned's casket."

"I thought it fitting since they decided to work together that they should be buried together and that's how I found out it was empty. But not for long."

"The shot at the church was that for Ned, Casey or Margery?"

"I've got to leave something unknown. Now I think I need to add one more to the body count," said Gold as he raised his gun.

"Wouldn't you like me to open the vault for your first?" said Chuck as he got up slowly.

"I don't think so I can cut your hand off afterwards," said Gold as glass shattered behind him and the force of the fifty caliber round went through him throwing him across the room. Chuck had just gotten up and moved over to the side when Casey took his shot. Leo jumped up and went screaming out the door only to be silenced by Sarah.

"Chuck," she yelled as she ran inside and found Gold lying on the floor. "Chuck, are you alright!"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said as he waved to Casey who was walking out of the woods carrying one of the new rifles. Then he took her in his arms. "Love, you're shaking. What's the matter?"

"Don't ever do that to me again or I'll shoot you," she said as they embraced and kissed.

Everything after was kind of surreal. Sarah had called Beckman from the hospital even though Chuck had told her not to. Beckman sent in an extraction team that contained the area until the weapons were safely recovered then a sanitation team arrived and took care of all the biological agents such as all forms of human matter.

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AT THE HOSPITAL

Casey drove up to the hospital in a herder, adding injury to insult. Beckman had given him the order to arrest both Ned and Margery. He really didn't want to be the one but orders were orders he said to himself. That didn't make it any easier as he made the long walk down to their room. He stopped outside the door, to take one deep breath before going in, then pushed the door open.

"Chuck, what are you doing here? Where are Ned and Margery?"

"Well, for the official record they escaped. And for the unofficial one I let them go."

"You can't do that. You know you could go to prison for treason?"

"I don't think so besides I didn't want you to have to arrest your own friend. Even though you don't want to call him that but hey Big Guy I understand. It's just you and me so you can let out all those emotions."

"Shut up."

"Listen Casey, Ned and Margery are in love again but this time it's for real and they deserve a second chance. The same as Alex Coburn did, don't you think?"

"What was it you said about not letting bad guys get away? Or was that just talk?"

"No, but Ned isn't a bad guy. He was just a guy in a bad situation and I think you understand that better than anyone."

"What do you mean?"

"Alex Coburn could've easily become like Ned Jones. The same training, the same skill sets just you or Alex got a better break. If Kathleen had been able to tell you that she was pregnant what would you have done? Would you have followed Keller? John, some questions are best left unanswered, I'm just throwing them out. The only thing I regret in all this is that we never found out who the intended victims were."

"Victims?"

"Yes, why else go to all this trouble to recover those guns if they weren't earmarked for some greater plan. John I think we need to be vigilant. This isn't over, not over by a long shot. The only thing now is our enemy will have to come at us up close."

"Good because I'll be waiting. I've got a k-bar for just such an occasion."

"No, John, we'll be waiting. Hey, can you give me a ride home? Sarah has an appointment with her OBGYN and I don't want to be late. Gwen gets mad when I am.

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"Yes General, you called? … Where am I at? Today I had a checkup with my OBGYN and we're just getting finished. …. Chuck is in the other office, do you want me to get him? …. Yes, ma'am I can but I don't understand why you want me to go to Castle by myself. You know I don't keep secrets from Chuck. …. Very well I'll be there within the hour." Sarah finished getting dressed and met Chuck still trying to get Gwen to talk.

…

"Yes, General I concur," said Casey as she came into the room.

"I concur with what? I'd like to know why I was asked me to come in without Chuck."

…

"Jill Roberts was reportedly seen at LAX this morning arriving on a flight from Zamibia. I don't have to remind you that Zamibia was a hot bed for ring activity and after the arrest of Dr. Martin Kowambe his brother Luther took over as minister of health. Rumor has it that Dr. Roberts is now employed but Luther Kowambe and is working on evolutionary and genetic research. The scope of that research is believed to be related to the Rings' Intersect Project and even though the Ring is no more there are still enemies like Hydra who would love to get their hands on this.

"Okay, I see the threat but I don't understand why you don't want Chuck in on this? He is the intersect."

"Because Ms. Bartowski in the Colonel's words she'll shine her big brown doe eyes are him and he'll follow her like a puppy dog. Am I right in my quote Colonel?"

"I think that's unfair especially after everything Chuck has given to this cause not to mention his own family's sacrifice. Might I remind you that it was Chuck who arrested Jill after the assault on Castle and it was he who got her to turn on Fulcrum."

"He was the one who let Dr. Roberts out of the holding cell so that she and Leader could assault Castle and in that infiltration she escaped by somehow cutting her ankle bracelet." Sarah knew exactly what had happened. Chuck had confessed the truth to her a long time ago but that wouldn't help his credibility now. "I'm sorry Sarah but my mind is made up. Chuck is not to be told but I want him watched closely in case the subject makes contact. Colonel I want you to organize a recovery team to be placed on standby. Agent Bartowski I want you to keep a close eye on Agent Bartowski."

"General, you realize you're asking me to spy on my own husband?"

CONTINUED IN CHUCK VS THE PACKAGE