Don't own Chuck
Ellie and Devon were on their way with the girls to Circus, Circus to enjoy the rides and take in some of the fun. They had grabbed a taxi and were half-way there when they overheard chatter on the taxi's radio to avoid the downtown area. The dispatcher broadcasted to all the cabbies that there had been some sort of prison break which resulted in a shootout around the Federal building. With all the ambulances on scene and the police still trying to clear the area it was impossible to drive by so it was to be avoided.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking," said Ellie as she tried calling Chuck or Sarah but neither were picking up. "Excuse me," said Ellie. "We're doctors can you find out where they're taking the injured? We'd like to go and help."
"Okay but what are you going to do with your kids," said the Taxi driver as he looked back at them in the mirror.
"What are we going to do hun?" said Devon as he looked at Clara and Sam. "I guess we could take turns like we did when we were working with Doctors Without Borders."
"You guys went to Africa?" said the Taxi driver. "I got a cousin, or had a cousin who did that. He went as a male nurse. I remember him saying it was the toughest job you'll ever love. Poor bastard died of malaria but he was loving it up all the way to the end."
"Yeah I had a bout too," said Devon. "I guess it's pretty common. He should've tried African snake herbs that would've cured it."
"What I'm saying is if you guys are serious about helping out I'll call my wife and have her contact our sitter, Maggie. She can watch your kids in the hospital for you while you guys work. She's Red Cross certified and her rates are reasonable or we couldn't afford her. Today is Tuesday she might have to go out tonight to do her other job but she could be available, what do you say?"
"Gus, is it?" said Ellie reading his name off this taxi license. "Make the call. Have her meet us in the hospital lobby. Clara I know this isn't what we promised you but like your Uncle Chuck and Aunt Sarah have their jobs that need to be done we have ours. Do you understand?"
Clara nodded her head yes but Ellie also realize how a child of her young age could understand something so big. She knew she was asking a little too much. They also had Sam; Ellie could only image what was going through her little head. But as long as she had Mr. Rabbit she seemed to go with the flow.
"Well okay," said Clara. But if we have to wait around with a sitter could we at least have some ice cream in the cafeteria?"
"I think that's a reasonable request," said Devon. "But you're going to have to keep an extra eye out on your little cousin."
They raced across town and pulled up out front of the South Las Vegas Medical Center. Gus came in with them and introduced them to the sitter then they set about getting rights to work there. Luckily for them the Hospital director knew the director of their hospital back in Chicago so it was a done deal. Within a half an hour they were suited up and ready to pitch in with the gratitude of the staff.
"Doctor Woodcomb," said one of the ER nurses. "The paramedics just radioed in they're bring in a female Caucasian mid to late fifties with a GSW to the lower abdomen. The bullet grazed the abdominal aorta but a doctor on scene stabilized the patient for transport."
"Good we won't have much time so we need to get blood in her as soon as she arrives. Have plenty of O negative on hand until we can blood type her. She goes straight into the OR." Devon suited up getting ready he understood from what the nurse told him that they were racing against the clock. He could feel his heart pulsating as he was preparing, he loved this adrenal high as he worked on patients. This was something he'd never get tired of unlike his short spy career.
"There here Doctor," said the nurse as she came into the changing room.
"Yes, bring it on," said Devon as he turned and walked out only to come face to face with Chuck then he looked down at the gurney at Mary. "Bro what the heck are you doing here? Hey you don't look so good."
"Devon it's you, good, someone I can trust. Listen my Mom's been shot, a 9 mm round I extracted the bullet but it nicked…"
"You can explain on the way to the OR," said Devon. "Get blood in her now. Come on folks this woman needs to get moving. Why are we standing around?" Devon was in his environment and here he was in charge. "I assume you're holding the artery closed or she would've bled out. Dude you're awfully pale."
"That's because he pumped his blood into her," said the paramedic coming in after him. "He's probably suffering from type two blood loss himself," the paramedic when on to explain what had happened on the way in.
"Chuck, bro not cool."
"Letting her bleed out would've been better? I did what I had to do there were no other options," said Chuck but this racing to the OR was making him feel light headed and the room began to spin. He told himself he had hang on until Devon could start work. It seemed like an eternity to get to the OR but they were finally there.
"Nurse, stand behind Chuck, Chuck on my three I want you to let go. Okay everyone take a deep breath. Chuck, three," said Devon. Chuck let got and blood squirted out of the wound. "I need suction in here and keep the blood bags coming," said Devon as he got in suturing up the artery. One of the nurses took Chuck outside then helped him wash his hands but there was little they could do about his clothes. She sat him in the waiting room with a glass of juice.
"Drink this you need to replace your liquids. I'll be back to let you know how things go," said the nurse then she disappeared back inside.
"But he couldn't sit still he had to move. He felt light headed and dizzy but it was worse sitting so he got up and began wandering about. How he got to the lobby he didn't know he just walked aimlessly about and ended up there. He stood there in front of the doors as the sun shined through the glass. The heat felt good on his skin so he opened his arms like a bird would open its wings to absorb it all.
"Mister, are you feeling okay," asked one of the men from security coming up from behind him. Chuck was making a spectacle and people were staring at him and his blood stained clothes. "Buddy can you come with me," said the guard as he tried to grab Chuck from behind, big mistake. Chuck flashed.
As the man but his arms around Chuck's waist he shifted his weight to one side then with his right foot scrapped the inside of the guards right leg stomping his foot then spur kicked the man in the groin. When the man bent over in pain Chuck elbowed him in the face. The whole thing was done so fast that one moment the man was up the next he was down. Two more guards charged him drawing Taser pistols, firing electrodes that he dodged like in matrix. The guards ended up shooting each other dropping to the ground twitching.
"Chuck stop," yelled Sarah as she came into the lobby and ran to him. "Leave him alone," Sarah yelled as he turned to her and smiled.
"You're here," said Chuck recognizing Sarah but everything around her was out of focus and spinning then he saw who was with her. "General, Lester. I'm dreaming."
"What's the matter? What's wrong?" said Sarah as she touched him. He felt cold plus he was pale and flushed. "What'd you do?"
"What I had to I'm fine," he said as his eyes rolled up and he passed out in her arms. Devon and Ellie came running over to help.
"He gave blood to Mary to keep her alive until they could get her to the hospital." Devon went on to explain how Chuck had given Mary a transfusion in the ambulance and how much too much was. "Nurse we need to get this man in a room and set him up with a Ringers Lactate solution." Devon saw the look on Sarah's face. "Listen if Mary's alive now it's because of what Chuck did."
They moved him into a room where they could start an IV and let him rest. Sarah stayed sitting by his bed holding his hand as Ellie stood behind her.
"This is why you didn't want me in the ambulance with you," said Sarah to Chuck as he laid there out of it. "You knew I wouldn't let you."
"He saved our mother, Sarah. If you had been the right blood type you would have done the same so don't go too hard on him."
"It's not that Ellie I'm going to have to go. I need to go after the people who did this and I don't know if he's going to be awake by the time I have to leave. Sometimes I wonder if the universe isn't against us but I love him Ellie. I love your brother."
"Let me go get Sam and Clara so you can spend time with them before you have to leave. Our baby sitter has to leave. I think we've hired an escort though she told me she had a date with a pole. She doesn't even know the guy's name."
"I don't think she meant that kind of pole but yes I need to spend time with Sam and Clara."
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Mad Max knew that he had a short window of opportunity to get them out without being detected. He headed south west flying low trying to keep from being seen, they might be invisible to radar but any other aircraft could simply look out the window. All ready he heard over the radio a call to all aircraft flying around Las Vegas to keep an eye out for them. They needed some place to hide and Calexico offered a wonderful possibility.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful," said Augusto. "But what's the plan? We need to get out of country as soon as possible."
"I just lost a lot of good men back there and you're up here in my face," said Mad Max glancing up at Gaez with a look of death.
"I'm sorry it's just… well, I put our lives in your hands and it's not like you're not getting well paid," said Gaez. He'd heard about how crazy this guy Max was and knew he wasn't in a position to challenge him but then Max smiled and started laughing.
"I had you going there for a while. You should've seen your look I wish I had a camera. The guys knew what they were getting into. It's a gamble we take on missions like this but in the end if a few don't make it out… Well it just makes payday that much sweeter. You asked about the plan… We'll be landing soon outside of Calexico. Don't worry everything has been prearranged by your people. There we'll hide his bird in a shed and go. But you know the nice thing about Calexico…"
"Is that it's next to Mexicali across the border in Mexico. There will be a coyote to take us over then… Smart we ditch the chopper then cross the border."
"We can't fly over if that's what you're hinting at. We blinded the radar on this side of the border but across, the Mexican's are up and running. The CIA could use it to find us and it wouldn't take long for them to send a predator drone to shoot us down."
"Yes after today I don't think they're many people wanting to take us alive. But you never know I made a good impression on their director."
"Well baby," said Amy coming up from behind him putting her arms around him. "I think it's about time you come back here and make a good impression on me."
"If you'll excuse me I'm being called," said Gaez as he let Amy pull him back into the hold. "I've waited a long time to be alone with you meu amor."
"Well Lover, you know we missed Walker's wedding while we were away and I was thinking we ought to send her a present."
"That kitty has claws," said Augusto as he took hold of Amy's hands and kissed them. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"
"And what I don't," she said as she pulled free. "I warned her what would happen if she came after us and she didn't listen. I always keep my word Amor. Besides my claws are sharper, do you what to see?" said Amy as she pulled down the zipper on his orange jump suit and scratched his chest drawing blood then kissed him.
"Okay let's get across the border then something can be arranged," said Augusto as he grabbed Amy by the hair and pulled her head back kissing her. "I'll talk with my people when we land and send a team to Burbank to do a little 'wet work' at the Buy More. There might be a spill on aisle thirteen."
"I love it when you mix business with pleasure," said Amy as she slapped him. "But why go there send them to Echo Park and deliver our wedding greetings to them at home and they can also drop in on the sister. We missed the baby shower too."
"I have debt to settle with Chuck, that is his name?" asked Augusto. Amy broke free from his hold then kissed him hard biting his lip.
"Excuse me," said Rusty as he walked up on them cautiously. Two tigers in heat came to mind as he interrupted them. "Max told me to tell you guys that we're getting close to the farm. We all need to be ready to disembark as soon as we get the bird under cover. There might not be much time."
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Sarah sat on the Black Hawk quietly next to Kenny looking down at her feet. She was physically there but her mind was back in the hospital in Las Vegas. Mary was still in intensive care and Chuck hadn't regained consciousness when Kenny came to get her. Now she was on her way with two other Black Hawks to a town on the border with Mexico chasing her nemesis and ex-teammate.
"You know you didn't have to come," said Kenny. "I've headed up manhunts before and so far I've always brought home my man or in this case gal."
"You don't know these people like I do and this is personal between Amy and me. She picked Chuck's mother out because she was Chuck's mother. She sent a message to me."
"Remember what the General said this is and what it isn't. I'd like nothing more than for her or Gaez to give me a reason to put them down but it needs to be justified."
"Kenny that's the difference between you and me I don't need a reason. I have all the justification I need they're a threat to my family alive and… well I've been trained how to eliminate threats."
"Really,… well, is Chuck okay with that? Somehow I don't think he is. He doesn't seem like the type. Although there was that incident on that flight when we first met," said Kenny remembering how Sarah sawed off a man's hand even though he was already dead.
"Chuck has seen me at my worst and no he's not all right with it but he loves me in spite of it. I'm a better person with him."
"What are you trying to say? He's not here so I need to stay clear because if you get the chance then…" Sarah interrupted him.
"Can we talk about something else? This what I am or what I'm not going to do is getting old. Maybe we just try and keep quiet for a while I think that would be the best." The truth was she didn't know what she was going to do and she didn't think this hash and rehashing was doing her any good. Kenny's phone ran as she closed her eye then she heard his voice.
"Yes General, she's right here I'll put you on speaker so you can talk to both of us," said Kenny as she was forced to open her eyes.
"I'm sending you the location where the chopper set down. It's a farm just outside Calmexico with a number of large sheds. Satellite imagery took photos of the CH47 setting down close to these complexes and the chopper with everyone onboard was taken inside. So far no one has come out I've detoured one of immigration's drones so we can keep the place under surveillance until you get there. I don't have to tell you the destruction they left in Las Vegas can't repeat itself. That bird must never get up in the air again."
"Roger that," said Sarah. Do we have anything on the owners of the farm?"
"The owners sold off the farm to a multinational farming conglomerate headquartered in Brasilia and so far we haven't been able to find out who owns the cooperation or any of the names of its board of directors."
"Sounds like a front company for the Gentle Hand. We should check their fertilizer and see what it's made of. It wouldn't be the first time victims have been recycled," said Sarah. She saw the look on Kenny's face and she wanted to tell him welcome to her world but she passed.
"Oh Sarah I thought you'd like to know I just got word from the hospital and Mary is conscious. Ellie and Devon are with her right now."
"That's good but how's Chuck? Is anyone with him?"
"I don't know no one mention him when they call. I'll ask the next time which should be in a half an hour. Beckman out."
Poor Chuck thought Sarah, no one ever thought about him. She could only imagine what would be going through his head waking up in a dark hospital room with no one around and no memory how he got there. The part that bothered her the most was that she wasn't going to be there. How often could she count on him understanding?
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Chuck came to slowly opening his eyes he stared up at the ceiling. Saying he had a headache was an understatement, he felt like someone had taken an axe and split his skull. Lying still he hoped it would pass but he realized he was in a hospital bed and judging from cool breeze he felt from below he was in a gown.
"Yuck boo-boo," he heard next to him. Turning over he looked into Clara and Sam faces staring at him from the side of the bed.
"Guys, what are you doing here?" said Chuck as he sat up in bed. "Where's Sarah and your parents?" He pushed himself a little too soon but with the kids there he was determine to at least act like he was fine.
"Mom and Dad are with grandma. They wouldn't let us go with them and told us to stay here and watch you. That's what we're doing watching but you were asleep. Mom told us grandma had an accident but I heard from our babysitter that she was shot. Is grandma like you and Sarah?"
"Let's go find everyone," said Chuck as he removed his IV turning off the valve. He realized he didn't answer her question but what was he supposed to say. He didn't know what Ellie wanted Clara to know and he didn't want to lie either so he ignored the question all together. The Bartowski way pf dealing with things he thought. "Do you know where they put my clothes?" but Clara shook her head no.
He checked a locker in his room and found a new suit hanging. At least he wouldn't have to walk around with blood stains he thought.
"I need for you guys to wait outside the door and not move. I'll be out soon then we can go find everyone."
He changed in a hurry then they stuck his head out the door before stepping out into the hall. The last thing he needed was a run in with a nurse or a doctor. Sam reached up for him wanting to be held and when he picked her up she pressed Mr. Rabbit against his face to give him a kiss to make him better.
"Thank you Sweet Pea all better," he said even if he wasn't. "Clara, do you remember where they said Mary was?"
"I heard them say something about an icy room or the likes but they were trying to be really quiet which made me listen even more."
"I think they meant ICU," said Chuck. Clara certainly was demonstrating all the qualities of becoming a fine spy one day which was probably driving Ellie and Devon crazy. "I know where that is, follow me."
They walked down the hall then took the elevator to the third floor where the operating rooms were but Chuck noticed as they walked down people kept staring at them. He thought it could be because of the fact that he had small children with him that really had no business being on this floor. But he had no choice but take them along. When he got to the door he hesitated he didn't know if he should take the kids in with him so he knocked then waited for someone to come to the door.
"Chuck what are you doing up. I knew I should've given you a sedative and made you rest. Give me Sam," said Devon. But she wrapped her armed around his neck tight and wouldn't let got.
"Mine," she said as Devon tried to pull her off. She wouldn't let go and in the end all they did was strangle Chuck.
"Devon… Awesome leave her. Just tell me how Mom is. Is Sarah inside?" said Chuck. Devon gave him a look."
"You don't know? That's right you wouldn't."
"Devon you're freaking me out. How is Mom," asked Chuck now wondering if Clara's reference to an icy room hadn't referred to the basement.
"Oh no, no I didn't mean… I'm sorry but no. Mary's fine thanks to you and we should be moving her up on ward but she wants to leave. Maybe you can talk some sense into her," said Devon as he opened the door for everyone to go in.