Flashback11

A/N: I told you people less angst. See I was right. A happy tripe chapter. By the way, what the hell is a 'mary sue' and what is a 'crack fic'? Inquiring minds want to know.

APR


CIA Clinic
Langley, VA
Aug 13

[Transcription of counseling session #18 – Agent Sarah Walker Bartowski]

"Sarah, you must feel better wearing your own clothes. And the rings look nice. Now, I'd like to touch on something you mentioned yesterday, about his new team."

"I'm afraid he doesn't trust me anymore. Casey and I were more than enough in the past. Why does he seem to think he needs more protection, doctor? Is this his reaction to my attacking him?"

"I told you the selection of his new team members was the talk of the daily staff meetings. He supposedly required two mixed teams, fresh from the Farm. One of his teams didn't even finish their training and were 3 days short of graduation. The word is that Chuck refers to them as Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. That's an old movie from the 70s. I think I'll try to find it on-line and watch it. See if it gives me some insights into his thought processes."

"But why does he need such a large team? They're inexperienced, they won't know what to do, they probably aren't cleared for intersect information and now they're off on a road trip? I don't know what he's thinking and I can't believe Graham and Casey are OK with this."

"Well, I'll tell you one thing, in confidence, Graham pitched a fit about something in California then sent down the order to pick the teams and get them vetted and out there ASAP. I think your husband doesn't trust the CIA, Sarah. I think he's figured out already that a lot of the information he'll need has to come from sources other than the intersect. His approach is certainly unconventional."

"Dr. Foster, you have no idea what my husband is capable of. He has a cause, a mission, a vendetta. Those poor new agents are going to get 10 years experience in the next couple of weeks if they survive. If Chuck were a soldier, he'd be an unconventional warfare specialist. He's always thinking outside the box. He'll rattle their cages but then win them over with victory. Watch and see if I'm not right."

"Well, the Vancouver operation has rattled a few cages, that's for sure and the Agency shrinks and medics are all over the reports from the on-site agents as well as his teams."

"They're spying on him? His team members are spying on him? What ever for? He turns in reports and never omits a single detail."

"Not spying, reporting. I think Chuck's approach to this problem is being viewed with great interest. The medics are concerned because of some troubling feedback on his interaction with the intersect. You know you fractured his skull, Sarah, a depressed skull fracture. He stayed in the hospital longer than would be expected because of blood pressure issues."

"You deserve to know the truth: they're waiting to see if he can do his missions without suffering a stroke. Everyone in Medical and Psych are very concerned."

"Oh, why haven't they brought him in? Why are they letting him run around with a bomb in his brain? Aren't you doctors bound by an Oath or something? What are you letting him do to himself? He's one of a kind – he's the intersect."

"One of his backup singers is a doctor, Sarah, substituted at the last minute by Director Graham because of his concerns for Chuck's health and safety. Yes, because he's the intersect, but although he'll deny it until the day he dies, Graham genuinely likes your husband and is concerned with his welfare. Why do you think General Beckman has been noticeably absent from dealing with you and Chuck since your marriage? Graham's doing."

"Does Chuck know about the substitution? Is he aware he's being constantly monitored? He's not stupid."

"The doctor has completed training at the Farm and was supposed to go deep cover but was pulled for this op. She's less than thrilled but has been so impressed so far that she's actively supporting the mission."

"She? I suppose she's a damned short brunette. What is it with Chuck and brunettes. I may just dye my hair…"

"Oh, so do you feel threatened, Sarah? Should we explore your jealousy issues while we're at it?"

"Nope. It's just that his last two girl friends and his old fiancé, they were all brunettes. I'm the mold-buster. I'm the only blonde."

"Well, I'll try and find out Dr. Rivers' hair color if it will make you sleep easier."

"Screw you, Dr. Foster. I'll sleep just fine so wipe the smirk off your face."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sarah. Perhaps I'll be able to 'borrow' some of the reports on Chuck's mission and performance to give you something to read at night."

[End transcription session 18]

Belgrade, Serbia
Nikola Tesla Airport
August 15 2am local time

The 16 hours spent flying from Los Angeles or in airports had taken a toll on the team. Casey was cranky, Chuck was moody, not having slept as much as he'd have liked, and the four backup singers were almost comatose. Carol had sat next to Casey for part of the flight from Heathrow to Belgrade and then had switched with Ted and sat next to Chuck for the remainder of the flight. Although he was dozing, she noted a blood-stained tissue in his hand and several stuffed into the empty plastic beverage container they'd all received with their meal.

"So, Chuck, how you doing? Got everything planned out for us?"

"Need to do some recon, some sightseeing, plot out the targets' locations then we'll all get together and strategize our approach. Vancouver was easy, really. Here we'll need Alice's expertise and probably an assist from your partner, Bob. He's been here while studying architecture one summer. I'm hoping his knowledge of the city will enable us to cut some corners."

"Bob's an architect? What's he doing, um, y'know."

"He changed majors after 9-11 and a short hitch in the Army. He was medically discharged but is 100% again. He doesn't speak the local lingo but Alice does."

"So you picked each of us for a special skill? What's mine?" She was curious to see what her alter ego's specialty was and whether it would be a crippling blow to the mission if her 'skill' were needed.

"Medicine. Dr. Gwen Rivers, MD, class of 2004 Harvard Med. Or didn't you think I'd double-check the bona fides of the team after assignment? Don't look so shocked. I know I'm on borrowed time. It's obvious. You're here to shut me down if things go bad." He didn't look at her at all, just looked off into the distance to the aircraft bulkhead.

"Are you mad, Chuck? I really am a trained agent. Really. I won't let you down." She was suddenly uneasy with this man who seemed to be so…normal and yet according to her briefing from Director Graham was anything but.

"Nah, just don't come at me with needles. And next time you want to take my BP, just ask me. I hate the after-taste of your sleeping powders. Made the pizza taste like crap, too. You better let Casey know though. He's the one who vetted you guys initially. This will give him another reason to hate and distrust the CIA."

When they cleared customs and caught cabs to their hotel, Casey took Chuck aside to talk. "OK, why didn't you tell me about Carol being a plant, Chuck? Did you know? Don't you think I should have known? Hell, don't start having trust issues now."

"I honestly thought you knew, John. I thought it was overkill but I want to get this done and get Sarah out of that hospital. Closure might speed up her treatment and her return. But, I have no trust issues with any of them or with you. It's the CIA database information I find…lacking. NSA seems pretty complete as does DIA and State, but CIA should have more on these guys but doesn't. So either someone took the data out or it's been buried in the files under a bad cue."

"Well, let's get to the hotel and get things organized. We're all tired and jet lag will impact us tomorrow for sure. Let's arrange a meeting at noon and then go from there. Maybe the intel from the CIA Station Chief will have the missing information you need. I'll swing over there before the meeting and check in with my counterpart. See what we can see."

By the time they got to their rooms it was nearly 4am local time. Chuck took two of the white pills and a shower and slept dreaming of the three men he'd come to kill and flashing on their files again and again.


Gran Konstantin Hotel
Belgrade, Serbia
August 15 11:30am local time

Gwen Rivers knocked on Chuck's door. If she'd been outed as the team doctor, she was going to be the team doctor. Impatient with her patient, she banged on the huge oak door without result. She stomped back to her room and called his room. No answer. Now she was concerned. She went and pounded on Major Casey's door and explained the situation to a half-dressed Casey who threw on shoes and a shirt and walked with her to Chuck's room.

He used his NSA 'passkey' and opened the door. Chuck was still asleep, arm over his eyes.

Casey shook him by the shoulder. "Chuck, wake up. It's 11:30 and we have a 12 noon 'meeting' in the restaurant downstairs. C'mon, wake up, Chuck."

"He shouldn't be this unresponsive, Major. Something's wrong. Help me get him into a better position so I can examine him. His nose bled during the night. I thought it was only when he flashed?"

"Sometimes when he dreams he flashes. Can't help it and he can't control it. Weirdest thing is, some of the flashes are really detailed and insightful while others are just garbage. He tried to explain it to me once but after 'full prismatic fractal recognition' I was lost."

She opened a small travel case and took out a blood pressure cuff and took his pressure. "It's not dangerously high, but it's high enough to warrant upping his dosage of Heparin. I don't need to stress to you the danger he faces from internal bleeding on the dosage he's currently on. Blood thinners are a double-edged sword. The blood doesn't carry as much hemoglobin nor does it have the same clotting rate in the event of an injury. While this new dosage will reduce or maintain the status quo on his BP issues, it will exacerbate those blood issues. If this continues, I'll have to recommend to Director Graham that the mission be scrubbed or delayed."

Chuck stirred when the BP cuff inflated and deflated.

"Why are you people always bugging me when I'm trying to sleep? Jesus, Gwen, I'm hardly dressed to entertain a lady. And Casey? Are you indulging your voyeuristic tendencies again?" He was still groggy from sleep and he knew he needed to watch his mouth.

"Chuck, I pounded on your door, called your room, and so did Casey but you didn't wake up. How are you feeling?"

"Dead tired, like I haven't slept in days but no headache and no blurred vision, no hearing disorders, no weakness in the limbs. I cannot, however, tell you if my pupils are even and reactive since I don't have a mirror handy. Did I miss anything?"

"No, wiseass, you covered just about everything. Now, get showered and dressed. We have a team meeting in the restaurant in 30 minutes."

"No, let's have it here. Just wake me when they get here and I'll monitor your presentation, Major. I'm not hungry anyways."

"Chuck, out of bed or I'll go find Tom to help Major Casey haul you into the shower…and turn the water on cold."

"All doctors are sadists. Without exception. Especially the women. Needle-happy sadists. Back off, people, leave and give me some privacy. I'll be down in a few minutes."


CIA Clinic
Langley, VA Aug 15

[Transcription of counseling session #19 – Agent Sarah Walker Bartowski]

Sarah read the email copy that the doctor handed her without a word.

"Subject is in reasonably good health and spirits despite the events of the day. After eliminating target in Vancouver, subject vomited while exiting the mission site and dry-swallowed two pills for 'migraine' symptoms upon entering the vehicle. His consumption of prescribed meds has not exceeded the threshold that would require intervention. Subject's access to intersect causes bleeding from nostrils but is not unduly excessive. Subject's appetite is poor but he is eating. On two occasions I have approached subject with intent to take blood pressure readings while asleep but subject awakened enough that I had to abort attempts. This evening I laced his pizza with a sleep aid and was able to take a reading [See attachment]. Please note that the medication appears to be stabilizing the fluctuations in BP but it's 'base' remains dangerously high. Cover is still secure. Why was I not briefed on subject's wife's status?"

"He threw up after killing a man, doctor, not because he was ill. I know my husband. This vendetta will take a toll on him. It will alter his perception of events in the future as well as affect him emotionally. He's not a killer. His reaction to his actions speaks for itself. He's a kind and decent man who's only doing what he thinks is necessary for me. For me, not the CIA, or the greater good. That couples counseling sounds like a good deal to me right now. He needs to give this up and come home. He's too precious to waste on revenge. It's not what I need. I need him, home and healthy."

"No comment on her question regarding 'wife's status'?"

"No. None at all. I know how the Agency works. 'Need to know' and all that. I'm not sure she's reporting the situation in its entirety. I think Chuck said or did something when I was mentioned and she's reacting to it. With this little information, there's nothing we can know for certain."

"Well, this report should at least ease your mind about his physical health since as I understand it, he's taking his meds, at least eating something, and the team physician has had an opportunity to examine him and report back."

"I'd prefer the report state that subject had abandoned his plans and was going to Virginia to be with his wife but that wouldn't be the Chuck I know. Once he gets his teeth into something, once he's made up his mind, nothing short of divine intervention will stop him."

"Sarah, what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"You're kidding, right? Plans? I'm in a mental hospital, Dr. Foster, my plans are very fluid and ill-defined but escape is not one of them if that's what you're hinting at."

"It's not a mental hospital, Sarah, it's a CIA clinic. If you used the common room you'd see that. We have injured and wounded agents, agents' dependents, and a regular clinic with long-term patient care. But the reason I asked is that if you're free, how about joining me for lunch in Alexandria this afternoon? I told you that you were not a prisoner."

"You mean, outside, in public? Hell, yes!"

"Good. I'll swing by your room about 11:00"

End transcription session #19

A/N: Short but it's all I have an eye for.