Don't own Chuck

Casey put on his show in front of the crowd of circus spectators using the loud mouth as his assistant. He was an immediate success. People were laughing and clapping for him. Casey glanced over at Giovanni who gave him a thumbs up. Everyone was happy except Alfredo who was standing in the corner steaming. Casey concluded his number and took a round of roaring applause as he left the center circle.

"Excellent routine," said Giovanni as he came over to greet him as he came off. "I don't have time now but see me later we'll have a drink and talk about a long term gig. I need to go and make sure the others are lined up to go out but we need to talk."

"Sure we can meet up later," said John. "But right now I need to go get something to wet my throat. Clowns may not talk but their throat sure gets dry."

"I can understand that. Don't forget to come back in time to take the curtain call at the end," said Giovanni as he ran off.

Casey looked around and saw the Zorros were up high in the big top so he decided to use this time to his advantage and headed back to their trailer. However, when he got there he heard someone inside. He walked up outside it then took a mirror out of his clown coat. Holding it up above the window he could see Alfredo was inside rooting around.

"So what are you looking for," said John as he watched Alfredo looking high and low but not seeming to find whatever it was he was looking for. "I think I know what you're looking for," he said to himself. "But I can't figure out why?"

Since it looked like Alfredo would be at his treasure hunt for a while Casey cleared out choosing an easier target. He headed to the roped off area of the circus then when no one was looked he stole across the tape and went behind a curtain.

"Crap, you need cover," he said to himself almost running into two of Alfredo's minions. He recognized them from the trailer before and he remembered seeing them walk in this direction. Now he knew where they had disappeared to.

"What are you doing here?" said the one. Casey wasn't fast enough to get out of sight not in his oversized clown shoes. They almost made him trip over himself.

"Fricking shoes," he mumbled. "I was just looking for some place to smoke," he said as he held up a cigar. "Every place around here is no smoking..."

"I know what you mean," said the one minion as the other gave him a look. "What? It's true. Since all those new rules have been put in place it's hard to find a place that's not outside exposed to the elements. Try smoking in a rain storm. It's like smoking has become a capital offense."

"That's not why I'm giving you the look. No one is supposed to be here remember that's what we were told or have you forgotten," said the other minion. "I'm sorry but you're going to have to move along. You can't be back here."

"No even for a quick smoke," said Casey. But as they were talking they heard movement from under the tarp. "I thought the circus didn't have any animals on this tour."

"You need to move along before you get into trouble," said the belligerent guard. Flashing Casey a pistol under his jacket to enforce his orders. "You'll go before you get into something you don't want any part of."

"I couldn't have put it better," said Casey as he laid the guy out with one punch. Then took the other one out with a right left combination. As both moaned on the ground he gave each a whiff of X-13 gas. "Now just lay there and behave while I take a peek. What are you two idiots guarding?"

"Colonel shoot 'em up is that you," said a familiar voice from under the tarp. Casey pulled it up to find Roan locked up in an oversized cage. "I see McDonald's was hiring or did Diane send you out after the hamburglar?" said Roan as he laughed at Casey's get up.

"Funny, keep on laughing. Funny yes especially from a guy who got himself caught and locked up. Let me find the key and I'll get you out of there," said John as he started to frisk down the two guards.

"You don't need the key," said Roan. He took his cuffs off then walked out of the cage. "I picked it the same day they put me in here."

"I don't understand. Why haven't you escaped? Or do you like Ken-L Ration? The General sent me to get you out of here then to finish your mission you botched up."

"Botched up? I don't hardly think so... Well I don't need your help. I've got things under control as you can see so you can go right on back to Diane tell her I'm all right and I have things under control."

"I'm looking around here and I see everything but under control? Or am I missing something there? You were still in a caged under a tarp."

"True and right where I wanted to be. The nice thing about being locked up like this is that people after a while consider you apart of the furniture and they drop their guard when they talk to each other."

"You do remind me of an old armchair Kat used to own... that same musty smell. We had to toss is after a cat got it confused with the litter box. Okay so what have you found out?"

"Okay and what have you got going on here... Captain Kangaroo meets Bozo the clown. You wouldn't happen to had a bottle of something?"

"Sorry but you're out of luck. I bet this is the longest you've gone without a drink. Now can we get back to the business at hand. I figured out that the Zorros must be the ones who broke into the Crystal Palace they have the skill sets but how do the clowns fit into all this or is that the punch line?"

"Funny, it must be the costume. But yes, the Zorros are the ones who broke in and they still have the device. The clowns commission the heist for a third party. They got the Zorros to do it by kidnapping their father and holding him ransom. However, I overheard he might not be in such good health. The swap is supposed to go down when they get to Monte Carlo but I don't know where."

"That would be tomorrow then. Do you have any idea when?" Roan shook his head no but just then they heard voices. It was Alfredo coming in their direction talking with some of his men. "I need to get back inside and you need to go. Tell Diane I'm fine and that this will be over soon."

With that Roan got back into the cage and locked the door. He put his gag back in then put his handcuffs on. As he was doing this Casey pulled the tarp back over the cage then dragged the two guard next to the cage. He dosed them with cheap whiskey then put the bottle in one of their hands.

"I knew you were holding out on me," whispered Roan from inside. "You could at least put the bottle closer to the cage where I can get at it."

"You need to put that gag back on and shut up. If they smell whiskey on your breath then you're going to have a hard time explaining how it got there. I've got to run but I'll be back."

Casey slipped out of the back as Alfredo walked in the front. He heard him yell when he discovered his men passed out reeking of whiskey.

"Drunk on your watch," Alfredo yelled. He kicked both of them but they were out cold. "Get someone over here to help you drag these two off. I'll deal with them later when they're sober. I want two others sent over here to guard the prisoner."

"Boss, I don't want to contradict what you're saying but Maurice here isn't much of drinker. Could there be another explanation?"

"Let's see," said Alfredo as he pulled the tarp back and there was Roan. Roan squinted his eyes against the bright light. He was there still in his handcuffs and with his gag on. Alfredo went tried the door and found it was still locked. "Am I still wrong? Get those drunks out of here before I have them tossed into the river."

"Sorry," said the man. "You think you know someone then they go and do something stupid. I'll go get a couple of guys and have what you want done."

"Good, now let's stop talking about it and make it happen," said Alfredo. He looked at Roan and waved for him to come near. Roan walked over and Alfredo took the gag out of his mouth. "So do you feel a little more talkative now?"

"I think I told you everything I need to say. I think you're swimming in the deep end now and your legs are beginning to get tired. If you want I can throw you a life saver..."

"You know I've always been a good swimmer and I don't think this will be any different so thanks but no thanks. You on the other hand once everything goes down then you will become a loose end and you know what happens to loose ends?"

"You might think of me that way now but don't count your chickens before they hatch. The tide that comes in will eventually go out."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" asked Alfredo. Roan could tell he had him hooked. "If you're insinuating my people will turn on me... well you don't know our organization very well. We take care of our own."

"I'm sure you do just like you left those people in that fleabag of a hotel. I'll let you keep on believing that. But when you feel that knife in your back just remember I told you so but you chose not to listen."

"Shut up," yelled Alfredo as he tried to grab Roan but he moved back just out of his grasp. "Like I said you don't know the other people in our merry band."

"And that is another strike against you. I don't have to know them to know where you're going to end up. You don't think they haven't thought that if I'm here you've been compromised..."

"You lucked in on us. If you hadn't fumbled in, we wouldn't have grabbed you. You didn't know who we were... or who I was..." Roan cut him off.

"I might not have but the people they sent after me most certainly do now. How many people did you lose back at that fleabag when we had to run? You think they all were taken out quickly or could some of them have talked. If they talked what names could they've given up? Yes, if my people didn't know about you before they do now and your people are fully aware of that. You my friend, and I say that loosely, are... what did you call me a loose end to be tied up..."

"You are just trying to get under my skin with your lies. But you know what, it won't work because I've worked with these people for a long time and I know I can trust them. The same way they know they can trust me."

"Good for you, I'm glad you do because if I were in your position I'd be worried, but that's just me I guess. I tend to look at people as being greedy self-centered SOBs. But it's the people I run with, I'm sure your people are different. You sound confident like you know what you're talking about so who am I to say..."

"Yeah, who are you to say," said Alfredo. Just then one of his minions came running in to tell him they circus was closing and it was time for them to take their curtain call.

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Not far away John was on his phone back to Langley. It was early morning back in Virginia. The General and the Major were on their third pot of coffee. It was amazing how many patient records there were to wade through. The Major had suggested they call in other agents to help sort through the mess but the General refused.

"No, we know what we're looking for they don't and it will take us too long to bring them up to speed for them to be any use to us. Let's just keep ploughing through this."

"You know what we need is, and I know you're going to get angry... but we need Chuck to run all this through the main frame. It could run facial recognition and body descriptions to sort out the files that are of interest from the rest. Even if it could half these it would save us a lot of time."

"Who says we need Chuck for that? It's a good idea and if I wasn't so tired I would've thought of it. Call in Stanley Fitzroy. He can write us an algorithm to run from the main frame here at Langley. You work with him then bring the data output back to me and we can sort from there... No on second thought have him brought to me. I want to brief him first." But as the Major started to leave the General's phone began to ring.

"Hold up this is the Colonel," said the General looking at the caller ID. "I want you to listen in on this it could be important," she said as she answered putting the call on speaker. "Colonel, tell me you've got good news."

"I've got news. I made contact with Roan and he's fine. They're holding him captive in a tiger's cage... naturally without the tiger as a roommate. I offered to spring him but he wants to stay where he's at..."

"And why's that? Colonel, I don't want you to listen to him. Extract him then send him back to Langley. He's blown his cover but yours is intact you can complete the mission."

"With all due respect ma'am I don't know if that is going to be possible. We're breaking down the circus tonight and then carting everything down to Monte Carlo where we perform tomorrow night. Roan has gotten some good intel being an armchair..."

"Being what? Colonel you're not making much sense," said the General. She looked over at the Major who shrugged his shoulders.

"People are talking around him without noticing he's there... never mind. As we thought the Zorros were the ones who did the break in but only after being blackmailed by Alfredo 'the sad clown' and his minions. He's working for a mysterious third party who is unknown at this time..."

"Blackmail you say. Did Roan mention what or who was being held as ransom? We're tracking down the Zorros' father who went missing right before the heist at the Crystal Palace."

"Yes that's exactly what Roan said. Alfredo and his crew kidnapped the old man and forced the Zorros to pull off the heist. An exchange is supposed to go down in Monte Carlo the data device for the old man."

"Well, I don't see how since we've tracked the old man to a hospital here outside of Baltimore. It sounds like the Zorros might've been played and are probably going to be walking into a trap."

"I've met this Alfredo and he's a slimy sleaze ball. I wouldn't put anything past him. General, I'd have to advise against pulling Roan out now even if it were possible. It might seem he's being held but he seems to have the situation under control and I will be monitoring him."

"The Colonel's right," said the Major. "Agent Montgomery is in a good position to find out who this mysterious third party is. Whoever it is he or she seems to know about the intersect project which seems to be confirmed since they targeted the Crystal Palace."

"Okay, leave Roan in place but monitor him. If things get too hot I want him extract immediately and I don't care how much he protests just pull him out even if you have to tranq him to do it."

"Yes ma'am I have to go we're about done for tonight and there's closing parade I have to participate in."

"I almost forgot how did your routine go? I hope the time and effort we put in getting you schooled didn't go to waste."

"The Circus Manager wants to take me out for drinks and talk over a long term contract. If that's any indication I think I did well."

"Good, then it looks like you might have a budding second career after you finish with the NSA. If there's nothing else Beckman out."

"A second career... what was that supposed to mean," said Casey as he grunted. He was thankful that no one else saw him in his clown get up that knew him especially not Chuck or Morgan. If they saw him he'd never hear the end of it and probably would have to hurt someone.

"There you are," said Giovanni as he ran up to Casey. "Who were you on the phone with? Did you call your mother and tell her you were a success? But she probably already knows that."

"What are you blabbering about? Oh the phone," he said. He'd forgotten he still had it in his hand. "Yes dear old mom, she always wants to know that her son is fine and well."

"How old is she? She's got to be going on..." Giovanni stopped. He caught Casey's look. "Well I guess that's why you call her ma'am. She must've been a real disciplinarian... spare the rod and spoil the child."

"You wouldn't believe the half of it but what brought on this useless conversation," said John. Giovanni looked at him with a blank expression. "What did you want?"

"Oh right, the closing parade is starting and you need to get in line. You're going to lead it out since yours was the first act up so we can't start without you."

"Right the first act... just show me the way and let's get this over with," said John. This time it was Giovanni who was giving him a look. "I mean let's go so we can get packed up for our next gig."

"Oh you're right. There so much to do and always so little time to do it in. I never get so much as a thanks either. Here we are when I make the announcement you all come out and take a bow. Are we still missing anyone?"

"Alfredo isn't here," said Rita. "He disappeared after his act was over with as did our new clown Johann. Maybe there was a clown conspiracy going on."

"Hardly sister, but I thought I saw him over by the roped off area. What's in there anyway? Is there some sort of circus treasure," he said as he laughed.

"If that's your best laugh thank goodness clowns use mime. It sounds more like a grunt," said Rita as she laughed. "Over there are the animal cages even if we don't have any with us..."

"Don't remind me," said Giovanni. "That was my father's doings. He had all those cages shipped over. I was already having a hard time trying to balance our budget to cover our expenses then he goes and does this. Sometimes I feel like I'm sinking in sand and all I have is a shovel but no matter how much sand I shovel out I keep on sinking. Well, I'm not going to wait for Alfredo and as they say the show must go on. Wait for my cue."

Giovanni disappeared and Casey got in his place in the parade in front of the Zorros. Everyone was ready when Rita moved up behind him.

"Funny you asking about what's behind that roped off area. I could've sworn I saw you standing around it earlier then you disappeared. It makes me wonder if curiosity didn't get the better of you."

"It sounds like you were following me. You know curiosity cuts like a sword both ways and we know what it did to the cat."

"You're a strange man Herr Casey," said Rita as Giovanni announced their return to the center ring. The curtains opened up and they marched out as the crowd cheered and applauded.

"Some people have told me that… some people have called me worse," said Casey. He noticed Alfredo had slipped in and was trying to work his way up to get near to them to listen in. "Well here we go," he said as they marched in together.

"Yes, it's time to get this over with," said Rita as she smiled at Casey.

"Listen, we need to talk afterwards," said John. "I have something to tell you that you need to heard." He could tell by the look on her face she was perplexed. "Take my word for it you'll want to hear what I have to say and before we get to Monte Carlo."

They all started to walk out. Rita dropped back with her brothers. Raul and Marco saw the expression on her face.

"What's the matter?"

"I don't know but I think we've been made."