Don't own Chuck
Chuck laid on the deck of the raft as the coxswain sailed in back to the Scheherazade with Sarah kneeling over him. He reached up and caressed her face and brushed back her wet hair. She took his hand in hers and kissed it. Soon they were back alongside where she could get a better look at him. Steve offered to help her take Chuck up the ladder but she refused she preferred to take him up herself.
"Let me get some people down here and we can take him up."
"No, I have him and I'm not letting go. He's mine all mine," she said. "Sweetie but your arm around me and lean into me let me support your weight. That's it now one foot in front of the other."
"Love it's okay," said Chuck, "You can let Steve or Rick take me up."
"Shut up and let me take care of you for once. Remember I'm your doctor and wait til you get my bill." Chuck tried to laugh but cringed in pain.
She got Chuck back into Adrim's cabin and had him sit on the edge of the bed.
"Let me get your clothes off."
"That's something I was longing to hear."
"Be quite and let me get these wet things off. I'm sorry if this hurts," she said as she got his shirt and undershirt off. Steve walked in shortly afterwards as Chuck sat in his boxers to give her a dry pair of coveralls for him. He stopped catching himself staring at Chuck's scars.
"I guess I owe you an explanation," said Chuck as Sarah began prodding him and he cringed in pain.
"Shut up," said Sarah as she put her ear to his back, "Take deep breaths in and out."
"No, no, sorry I was just thinking you've got a good start on connect the dots." Sarah stood back and looked at Chuck.
"You know you're right. I bet Ellie will blame me for this too." Chuck laughed then held his side in pain
"Who's Ellie," asked Steve.
"She's his sister," said Sarah.
"I take it she doesn't really agree with your lifestyle."
"That's kind of putting it mildly," said Chuck. "But she's the reason we're here. Her husband is the man that's still missing."
"Sorry but good news I don't think you've broke anything," said Sarah as she helped him into the coveralls. "Don't pull it up yet. Steve can you ask your corpsman for a body wrap and Sweetie I'd like for you to get an x-ray to make sure nothing is fractured."
"Steve I've got the most beautiful doctor there is but her bedside manners."
"What about my bedside manners I don't remember hearing you complain before buster," she said as she kissed him.
"At least you've got each other. Try and explain all this to a civilian I think that's why I decided to but the whole idea of family on hold until later. I just can't see it when I don't know where or if I'll even see tomorrow."
"You wanted this sir," said a man walking in with the wrap and the Commander had him give it to Sarah.
"Sweetie, I'm going to wrap you, it will help with the pain but you need to tell me if you can breathe deep. Listen to me this is not the time to be a hero I don't want you getting pneumonia on me."
"So Chuck how was your midnight dip? I hear the water's warm but next time you two try not to jump in with my radios on," said Casey as he walked in.
"It's not as warm as you might expect and I really didn't have time to change but I'll keep that in consideration next time."
"There'd better not be a next time," said Sarah as she tugged on his bindings as a reminder of the consequences.
"Ouch, Casey, what part of alive didn't you understand?"
"I understand you're alive and don't mention it."
"I'll say thank you if you won't," said Sarah. "Sweetie if it'd been me I wouldn't have waited as long as John did."
"I guess you two are right. Thanks Casey," said Chuck, "but what am I going to tell Ellie?"
"I think you just have to tell her the truth if she doesn't already know. We rescued the hostages but Devon wasn't among them but we'll keep on looking."
"I think whatever you're going to tell her you need to get ready soon because I came to tell you that Mamma B is almost here so you two need to get topside."
"You know I could stay here a little longer and help search for intel."
"Chuck I hate to tell you but other than this office there really isn't anything on this ship. I've got a crew coming in soon and we'll be taking his rust bucket out to sea. But I just don't see much more intel here."
"There has to be something. Whoever Adrim met with had to have left something behind other than that empty glass of mint tea and the smell of Jasmine. Put the cup in an evidence bag and let me try to recover DNA. If we're lucky there might be a match in the database."
Chuck took the cup with him and Sarah helped Chuck up to the forecastle where they waited for the copter to set down on an improvised flight deck. An unmarked copter flew in and Mary climbed out.
"Commander Hull, this is Agent Bartowski she'll be taking over for us," said Chuck. Mary extended her arm to the Commander and they shook.
"Nice to meet you. Now you two need to go the General is waiting for a debrief I wish we had more time but we don't. Casey and I will fly the Lear back up to meet you when I'm done here," said Mary. She helped Sarah put Chuck inside and closed the door then signaled the pilot to depart.
"So how long have you known Agent Carmichael," asked Commander Hull.
"I'm his mother," she said which just brought home to her what she didn't know about her son and how much she wish she knew.
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Once the copter was in the air there was little Chuck could do except lean on Sarah. She pulled him close to her trying not to squeeze him too tight. He took her hand in his and kissed it. She knew something was bothering him and she had a good idea what it was.
"Have you decided what to tell Ellie?"
"No, I haven't but what I want to tell her I can't."
"What do you mean? You can tell her what I told you to tell. There's nothing wrong with that she'll understand."
"No that's not it if everyone hadn't been worried about keeping me out of the loop we could've gotten to Devon a day earlier and he would be on this copter with us and that's the reality."
"Are you angry with me because I keep a secret from you?"
"Maybe no, no I'm not. Love, I realize you were backed into a corner by people who should've known better but as much as you told me no more lies no more secrets that goes for you too but I can never be angry with you, may be disappointed is a better word."
"I seem to keep saying I'm sorry but I don't know what else to say."
"I don't want you to have to say anything just love me."
"I do, you know I do."
"And I love you, for me that's enough."
"When Casey and I were captured by Ellyas I really thought that well it was the end. I thought you wouldn't be coming for me because you couldn't and I thought about Sam growing up without a mother. I didn't like it."
"You didn't like it because that was the way you were raised."
"Also because that was the way you were raised too. What I'm trying to say is I don't know if I can continue doing this. Mission after mission and lie after lie maybe we should do like what we originally planned and go into something safer."
"I don't know every time we've tried to leave something has come along and pulled us back in. I'd suggest let's hear Beckman out but the first thing I want to do is to look at my daughter. I never told you how I got my sight back. Molly gave it back to me. And I guess if I had come with you guys I'd still be blind but I'm not going to tell Diane that. Let me tell you what happened in Chicago after you left."
Chuck told Sarah everything that took place in Chicago. He told her about how he felt he was going mad before the rest arrived. How Morgan wanted Chinese then being jumped by the same punk he'd help arrest then his desperation at hearing Molly cry and his flash. His trip to the police station and how he met Rick there then he told her about seeing Devon on TV.
"Crap I should call Emma, Morgan and Alex to apologize I snuck out on them. Do you think they'll be mad at me? I could understand if they were."
"I don't see how anyone could ever be angry with you," she said as she caressed his face. "Well, sometimes you do make Casey pissed at you."
"We both know he loves me," Chuck said then laughed. "Ouch, my side."
"Well, I've got a cure just wait until I get you on the ground."
"Maybe I can try a sample before we land," he said as she kissed him.
General Beckman was at the helicopter pad when the CH 53 touched down and waited for Chuck and Sarah to walk out the rear. Chuck walked with Sarah supporting his weight as the General went up to greet them.
"Agents Bartowski, it's nice to have you back in service both of you."
"Well that's still to be seen. Diane, I need for you to have one of your people extract DNA from this," said Chuck as he handed her the cup he brought with him. "I believe the person that drank from it either took or knows who took Devon then we need satellite imagery of the Berbera airport they probably left by plane."
"So you want me to mount a rescue operation for one civilian."
"What are you saying? And I'd be careful what you say considering what happened to the last director."
"I guess what I'm asking is, is Agent Carmichael back."
"Ma'am, don't you have any regrets about what you did to Chuck," said Sarah.
"Agent Bartowski, Sarah, regrets are for old people who are about to retire and die. I have intention of doing neither. Although a few names come to mind that I'd like to help do the later. Please ride with me I think you both want to get to the hotel to see your daughter. Chuck you can consider this our walk along the beach."
Sarah looked at Chuck then he opened the door for the two of them. All three of them got into her car and drove off. Once inside she had her driver close the partition so they could talk.
"The last time I was in a car like this was after our wedding and Morgan was driving."
"Yes, well maybe we can bring the rest of the team over to assist," said the General.
"I haven't agreed to anything yet and frankly I'm more that a little pissed so make the used car sales pitch good. Right now I think you're selling lemons.
"Well, Chuck, Sarah I see the world around us for what it is, and the truth is that what I see frightens me. I'm frightened because our enemies are no longer known to us. They do not exist on a map, they aren't nations. They are individuals. And look around you - who do you fear? Can you see a face, a uniform, a flag? No, our world is not more transparent now, it's more opaque! It's in the shadows - that's where we must fight. I'm not going to make a promise that I'm not going to lie to you because I probably will and the same way I don't expect you to be always honest with me. I need, we need, the nation needs both your intersects."
Chuck and Sarah looked at each other surprised.
"Yes I know and I have known for some time but what's important here is I told a little girl that I'd bring her father home and by God that's what I'm going to do."
"Should I start calling you M," said Chuck.
"I'm offering you section head of Special Operations with presidential signature authorization and your first mission is to bring Devon Woodcomb home. I'm sorry but I need your answer now."
"What are you thinking Sweetie?"
"I think we're making a deal with the Devil but it wouldn't be the first. I need for you to be onboard before I can agree."
"Chuck if it's what you want."
"It's not what I want it has to be what we want. So Diane, you're telling me in a nutshell you're going to lie to me and you expect that will lie back to you?"
"Said in another way, that would be correct." Chuck looked at Sarah and she nodded then took his hands in hers.
"Then I think we've got a deal but I'll need your Crisis Response Center for a few days."
"That can be arranged."
General Beckman's car pulled up in front of the hotel and they all got out. Chuck and Sarah rode the elevator up to Ellie's room while General Beckman took the cup to her people. As they got off the elevator Chuck was still leaning on Sarah then when he got in front of his sister's door he righted himself and swallowed the pain.
"Are you ready," she asked and he nodded. Sarah knocked on the door then entered. Clara came running across the room and jumped into Chuck's arms. Sarah saw the pain in his eyes and he buckled but pretended he was kneeling down to hug her.
"Now that you can see can you bring my daddy back," asked Clara. "Mommy's been really sad but I told her that you'd bring daddy back to us because you've got super powers like spider man."
"Sweetie, let your uncle up," said Ellie. Chuck could see in her face that she hadn't slept since Devon went missing and her eyes were red and swollen from crying. He could only image what she felt like inside. He had planned on having it out with her but looking at her he couldn't.
"El, I'm here, we're here and we'll bring Devon back I promise."
"I know you will. Seeing you is the first good piece of news I've had since this ordeal began." As Chuck and Ellie were talking Sarah went into the girls' bedroom and picked up Sam and brought her out to Chuck. Chuck immediately went to Sarah as she held out their daughter to him. He didn't think twice he took her up and held her close to him not pain was going to get in his way. He held his daughter tight and tears of joy flowed. Sam reached up with her little hands and caressed his face.
"Yuck," she said.
"For everyone present Sam said Chuck if Casey asks."
Ellie stood teary eyed trying not to cry but it was a losing battle until finally she gave up and turned away. She tried to hide the grief and sorrow she was feeling.
"Hey El," said Sarah as she wrapped her arms around her. "We're going to get Devon back. You just have to hang in there and believe. Isn't that what you told Chuck and me?"
"That was different and things weren't impossible."
"El don't you know that's what we work best with," said Chuck. "We take the impossible and make it possible." Chuck kissed Sam and handed her to Ellie. "Come on Love let's go get things rolling for Devon's return."
Chuck and Sarah walked back out then got back in the elevator that they rode back down to the Crisis Response Center. Chuck pushed pass the guards at the door and walked straight up to General Beckman.
"Is your offer in effect now?"
"Certainly this is all yours if you need it."
"Good, Comms officer I want you to tap me into the IDF feed for Berbera airport. The satellites hold a week's worth of data before they download it in Tel Aviv so I want video for the past two days specifically around the time we boarded the Scheherazade. I'm looking for unregistered jets without tail numbers and no flight plans or bogus flight plans. Then I want another list of jets I want them cross referenced with their flight plans then I want to verify that they actually flew what they filed. There were some puzzled faces.
"Come on folks let's get a move on it you're all behind the power curve here. There's an American out there being held captive who needs to come home." General Beckman went over and took a chair smiling while watching Chuck command.
"Agent Bartowski, I think I've got something," said a lieutenant, Both Chuck and Sarah walked over and stood behind him. He did a double take at the two of them.
"Go ahead show us," said Chuck.
"I've got this plane registered to Souad Al Habi, a Saudi oil tycoon that took off from Berbera for Cairo." Chuck and Sarah flashed.
"The owner Souad Al Habi was killed by Fatima Tazi in her fortress in Marrakesh. He along with other investors had backed her production of super notes but when they balked she had them killed."
"By her Amazon guard; Yaida, Amina and Salinda," added Sarah.
"Yes, that's what I was going to say," said the Lieutenant a little bewildered at what they knew.
"Bring up the feed on that plane I want to see who boards. Put it up on the big screen, please." The image was out of focus in the beginning and Chuck was getting a little impatient.
"Do you mind," he said as he moved the man out of the way and began writing code and editing pixels. "There we go. I'll show you later how to do this," he said. The image played clearly.
"There he is," said Chuck, "freeze frame. Okay we've got a woman in a burca and a Middle Eastern looking man. Let's get facial recognition on the man. I want a name. Lieutenant any luck on what happened to the flight after Cairo?"
"No sir, it seems to have disappeared."
"Planes don't disappear they probably repainted it."
"Sir, I've got a hit on facial, Shahir El Aziz. He's a go between, works out of many North African counties and specializes in finding hard to find items for people willing to pay and not ask questions."
"Do we have a last known location on him?"
"He's rumored to be working out of Islamic Cairo. He operates a spice shop that is his front in the Khan al-Khalili bazaar."
"Contact Agent Bartowski," they all turned to look at him, "my mother and get her and Colonel Casey here ASAP. When they land gas up the jet we leave for Cairo in the morning, and thanks guys."
General Beckman began clapping her hands and soon the whole room echoing with the sound of men and women applauding.
"Chuck," said Beckman, "I'm going to tell your mother that the children have their licenses and we should let them drive. But before you fly out in the morning you might want to change your clothes."
He looked down and realized he was still in coveralls. Then he remembered he had no clothes to change into what few clothes he had with him were on the Lear.
Continued in Chuck vs The Toy Maker