Don't own Chuck
The circus troupe arrived on the site they had arranged for in the late afternoon. They immediately began work setting up. Like ants they poured out of their vehicles each with a preassigned task and like ants running about the mound began assembling. Soon the tents were up and the gear was in place for another late evening show. John put on his clown suit then went walking about running through his act in his head as he looked to see where everything and everyone had disappeared to.
"Hey there smiley," John hear behind him. He recognized the voice and had hoped that he wouldn't see him. But when he turned around there stood Chuck.
"Mister the name is Angry… Angry the Clown and we're not ready to receive visitors yet. You're going to have to come back when tickets go on sell."
"Angry hum… I pictured you more as a Grumpy but I guess angry does go down to your core," said Chuck as he looked around. "Nice cover the General's got for you."
"Go away before you blow my cover. I'm working here and you're supposed to be on vacation living it up while some of us are saving the free world."
"And the General has my sister and Captain Awesome on some mission in Baltimore. I think you know what's going on and I'm not leaving until I get an answer. Furthermore, you can't make me."
"Oh I can't make you," said Casey as he cracked his knuckles but as the two were about to square off they heard a voice yell out.
"Is that you? No it can't be… Jenny Burton all grown up and where's Jack at. He's got to be around here somewhere." Chuck turned around to see and older looking man approaching Sarah and the rest.
"Oh crap you brought the whole tribe," said Casey. "Haven't I taught you anything? You don't bring kids on a mission."
"I'm not on mission I'm on vacation and who's that guy talking to Sarah anyway?" said Chuck as she waved for them to come over.
"That's Don Rodrigo. He's the owner of the circus and his son, Giovanni manages it but the real power is him."
"Come over here and let me introduce you Sweetie," said Sarah. "This is my husband Charles Carmichael. Sweetie this is Don Rodrigo…"
"I know Angry was just telling me that," said Chuck. Sam and Molly looked at Casey and both shook their heads.
"Mister," said Sam. "You look like a grumpy more than an angry. Molly, what do you think? Am I right?"
"I don't know we really need to see him with his face painted," said Molly as both girls smiled. "Then we can take lots and lots of pictures to show everyone back home." Casey growled.
"That's an excellent idea," said Sam as both girls smiled at him. "Who knows how much ice cream a picture like that would be worth."
"What lovely little vermin," said Casey as he tried to pinch their cheeks but they retreat behind their mothers. Sam peeked at Casey from behind Sarah and stuck her tongue out. "Why you little.."
"Nice to meet you. So you knew Jenny back in the day," said Chuck. "I've only met a few people who knew my wife back before…"
"Yes, she and her father had quite the act," said Don Rodrigo. But his eyes were glued on Emma. "I often wondered how Jack could have such a lovely daughter and now I know."
"That's ancient history now I'm afraid," said Sarah. Everyone noticed how taken Don Rodrigo was with Emma. As they were talking a man walked over to them.
"Dad, we've got a problem. Rita's foot isn't any better so she won't be able to perform tonight. Johann it looks like I'm going to have to go with you on the tight rope. The Zorros are waiting in the big top for the road hands to finish setting up then they want to practice."
"Good let's all move inside and talk about old times. Giovanni you don't remember Jenny because you were away at school when she and her father were with us."
"Actually I go by Sarah now," said Sarah as they moved inside the big top. However, the truth was she could've said anything Don Rodrigo wasn't paying any attention to anyone or anything other than Emma.
"Just for the record," said Raul as he walked over. "I think this is a bad idea. It would be better if my brother and I do the act by ourselves."
"You need to be in three for your act to work," said Giovanni. "If you don't do this with Johann you'll need to do it with Alfredo…"
"Alfredo is still here? I knew I smelt a rat when we pulled up," said Sarah. Giovanni turned and looked at her but before he could say anything they heard a scream from above. One of the road hands setting up the big top had lost his footing slipped and fell. The only reason he hadn't gone splat was his foot got caught up in a rope. However, now he was dangling head down from a rope that was gradually coming undone.
"Get the safety net up," yelled Raul to the other workers. But it didn't look good for the worker. Everyone knew there was no way they were going to be able to put the net up in time. Chuck looked up then around and flashed.
"Love, can you give me a lift," yelled Chuck as he grabbed a coil of rope put it over his shoulder and started for another walking over to the middle of the big top.
"Where are you going?" asked a man who came out of the shadows. Chuck didn't have to be told he was talking to Alfredo.
"Isn't it obvious? Someone has to go up and get him. Are you volunteering?" said Chuck in a tone that was clear he had no use for the man.
"Are you crazy?" said the man as he looked up at the man dangling by his foot screaming for help. "He knew what he was getting into when he signed on."
"I thought no now if you'll get out of my way I've got work to do," said Chuck as he grabbed hold of a handing rope that was used to hoist material up for the roadies. He pointed to a box of tools and equipment that had been hoisted up before sitting on some scaffolding.
"Be careful," she said as she not so politely pushed Alfredo out of the way. She flashed and had a general idea what he had in mind which didn't make her feel better about it. She pulled a knife threw it at the scaffolding knock the box loose. It fell and Chuck went flying up.
"Oh momma," he said as he shot up. As he went up he oscillated back and forth swinging so when he got to the right height he let go as the tool box and gear crashed into the tent floor. Chuck flew through the air and with his momentum took him to some hanging scaffolding a part of the rigging of the big top. He pulled himself up.
"Are you all right buddy?" asked Chuck. "Just hold on for a little while longer I'll be right there. You're going to be safe."
"Hold on to what?" said the man dangling head first. But Chuck was too busy preparing his next move.
"Are you sure he knows what he's doing?" asked Giovanni as the men hurriedly worked to get the safety net out.
"Chuck knows. You just have to trust him," said Sarah. They all stood below holding their breath as they watched Chuck. Sarah hoped Chuck knew what he was doing. She had flashed too but that didn't make her feel any better.
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Ellie and Devon followed the General and two men along with the agent posing as Dr. Schweitzer. They all go in the elevator and started up to the floor. One of the men opened the back of the elevator control panel and rigged it so the elevator would only stop on the floor the target floor and the floor above. The General could tell Ellie and Devon were nervous and if the truth were told she was too. She liked being back in the field but if Roan had been there he'd be yelling at her that she was too valuable to waste on a snatch and grab if things went south. But She had Ellie and Devon to babysit. Chuck would never forgive her if anything happened to them and his wrath would be worse than any blow back she'd take if things went sideways.
"Okay this is the way this is going down," said the General. "Dr. Schweitzer will get off on the patient's floor and neutralize the agent at the door. In the meantime, we will ride up to the floor above then take the stairs down. We'll regroup outside the door then make our incursion. From there we confirm the patient's identity and you two come up with a way we can transport. Is this clear?"
"Yes, but I was thinking," said Devon. "Dr. Schweitzer here isn't really a doctor… no hard feelings buddy just stating a truth…"
"We all know that," said the General. "Dr. Woodcomb can you get to your point we're on a tight schedule here if you haven't figured that out."
"I get that General and that's why I think I ought to go with Dr. Schweitzer. I could look over the chart better. There were a couple of things I… we couldn't see clearly from the camera image that I'd like to look at again. It would be helpful also if in the meantime you could have Dr. Merriweather brought around so we could consult. The man is a physician after all we took the same oath so he should still have his patients care at heart."
"I think that's a little naïve," said the General but Ellie broke into the conversation. She was angry and wasn't about to keep quiet.
"And stupid as well as risky… what happened to this wasn't safe and that you didn't want me in harm's way? It's okay for you to go off and get yourself hurt or worse but not for me?"
"Hon this is right thing to do. You can examine the man's brain when we get in but the rest of the body is my specialty. I've worked more in the ER than you have so this part is my call."
"I hate you when you're right," said Ellie. "You just stay behind Dr. Schweitzer and keep your head down. I swear if you get yourself killed I'll shoot you."
"With what gun?" said Devon as he laughed. Ellie gave him a look. "Okay I should be joking about this. So, Dr. Schweitzer I need to be you colleague so we should be on a first name basis. What's your first name?"
"Albert," said the man as the doors opened. They all looked at him. "What? It really is. Come on we've got a target to neutralize."
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The man's head was beginning to turn beet red from the blood flowing to it. Chuck knew if he did slip loose soon and drop the man would soon pass out then he would have a hard time hoisting the dead weight around.
"Stay with me," yelled Chuck as he took off his shoes and socks. Dropping them to the tent floor. They made a low thud when they hit.
"Oh my God I'm going to die," yelled the man as he started to freak out. Chuck knew he had to work fast or the man in his panic was going to loosen his foot then plummet to the tent floor.
"Here I come," said Chuck. He fashioned a loop like a lasso then twirled it over his head. He flashed on the stanchion next to where the man was hanging and caught it then tied his end off. "I'm on my way for you," said Chuck. "Just hang in there... sorry no pun intended. Well, here I come."
"He's not going to walk over and get him is he," said Don Rodrigo. But that was exactly what Chuck was doing. He put his hands out to get his balance then started walking out to get the man. Every one took a deep breath when the man started to slip loose. But Chuck was on it, he ran across the roped then dropped catching the man with this legs and holding onto the rope at the same time.
"Oh God don't let me fall," yelled the man as Chuck held him in a scissor hold. He started back across to the scaffolding hand over hand. Everyone started breathing again when he got back to the platform.
"There you go I told you I had you." The man just nodded he was still too scared and weak to speak. "Don't worry I'll have you down soon just one moment."
"Sarah, can you shoot me a line," yelled Chuck down pointing to a Clown shotgun and another coil of cord left on the tent floor.
"That thing is just a stage prop you know," said Alfredo as he'd came back out of the woodwork to off his two cents worth. "Jenny, you picked a winner there now we've got two to get down."
"Two people who are alive and did I ask your opinion?" she said as she picked up the stage prop. "I need more than hot air I need a compressed air cartridge for this thing. Chuck knows what he's doing more than I can say about some or shall we revisit the sad clown scenario." Alfredo walked off as John came over.
"You sure Chuck knows what he's doing up there?" asked John as he handed her a cartridge and looked over at Alfredo. Sarah gave him a look. "What? ... Okay, so you already know my perp."
"I hope Chuck does. Perp, who Alfredo?" said Sarah. What Casey said just sank in. "I wish he was but he doesn't have the skill set to be the cat. Your high wire team does though," said Sarah as she charged the blunderbuss. She loaded it with a bean bag and an umbrella then attached the chord to it.
"Let me shoot that thing. You're a little behind on your intel," said John as he took aim. "I don't know who this cat is but leave him, her, them or it alone," said Casey as he shouldered the hand cannon. "Look out up there, fire in the hole."
"Bring it on," yelled Chuck as he waved. What no one else saw was Alfredo. He disappeared to a dark corner. He skulked off mad and angry with everyone but then he realizes this was his chance to get even with Johann and Jenny... to get even with everyone. He pulled out a blowgun from his jacket and a dart.
"I warned you not to mess with bull," he mumbled to himself as he got ready. "Two birds with one dart. After all this time… Jenny this is for you to…"
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Ellie watched them both get off the elevator. Devon looked back at her worried face as the doors closed then he turned back around and started down the hall towards the man sitting outside the door. He looked back down at the two of them coming towards him. Jones recognized Dr. Schweitzer as he got up. He sat his paper down on the chair with giving his back to them and as they got close he turned around with a Glock nine in his hand.
"Look out weapon," yelled Albert as he pushed Devon out of the line of fire. There was a loud deafening explosion. Devon fell backwards he looked over and Albert was down too blood was running from under him.
"You must think I'm an idiot. I called the front desk and there's no Albert Schweitzer working here in the hospital," said Jones as he stood over Devon.
"Idiot… You are an idiot. Albert didn't work in this hospital you fool. He and I were asked by Dr. Merriweather to consult. I was here from Chicago memorial and I knew Merriweather from a conference we attended together on ER medicine. He called me to discuss the pros and cons of using an experimental therapy on his stroke victim. Dr. Schweitzer and I were supposed to meet Dr. Merriweather here. I bet you didn't talk to him, did you?" said Devon as he went over to check on Albert. "What kind of FBI agent are you? Shoot first and ask questions later."
"Wait how do you know I'm FBI? I never showed you my badge," said Jones as Devon rolled Albert over. Albert rolled over with his weapon in hand and put two rounds in Jones one in the chest and one in the head to make sure.
"That's some fast talking Doc. I know a lot of people who would've locked up but you talked your way out of it."
"Let's just say I've been in this situation before and with a brother-in-law like mine this won't be the last time either I'm afraid. Now hold still and let me look at you."
"I'm fine this isn't my first rodeo either. Look at that chart so we know what we've gotten ourselves into. If he called down to check on me, he might've called his people too which means we need to get out of here as quickly as possible."
Devon took the chart off the door then sat down next to Albert and started looking through it. He heard Ellie yell then saw her and the General's men running towards them.
"What happened," asked the General as she stood over the top of both of them. Jones body laid a little way from them.
"That's kind of an asinine question," said Devon. "Jones knew we weren't who we said we were and came up shooting. Albert saved my life and took a round meant for me…"
"Then with the doctor's help," said Albert, "we got the drop on him and I took him out. But I'm afraid he might've alerted his people so we need to hurry and get out of here. Ma'am you should leave the rest up to us and go. You can monitor our progress from the van."
"I'm not leaving my men behind. So doctors Woodcomb come with me," Beckmann said as she took them into the room. "Can we move the patient?"
Inside the room was an elderly man connect to tubes to a life support machine. He had an IV running and there was the constant beep of his heart monitor. Ellie found his latest EKG and EEG printouts.
"This isn't good," Ellie said as she looked them over then she handed them to Devon. "I'm not comfortable with moving him. He's just barely stable. I don't know if we unhook him then have to load him in an ambulance and transport him… Well he might not survive the trip."
"Then we keep him here and defend this floor," said the General as she started mapping out a defensive perimeter. "But don't worry we'll get you two out first."
"Hold up there General this is a hospital not a war zone. There are a lot of other patients and medical staff that will get caught up in your crossfire."
"I don't see an alternative here," said the General. "If you've got a rabbit up your sleeve now would be a good time to pull it out or we go with the firefight."
"Well there is one thing... an alternative that we haven't considered," said Devon. "I know this is out there but we could try Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment HBOT for short."
"Is that a proven thing? Do you want to risk this guy's life on that," asked Ellie. The General looked over at her.
"You two need to put your heads together and come up with a plan. What is this and what do I need to make it happen?"
"We're going to need a personal hyperbaric chamber, like the ones divers use to avoid decompression sickness... that is the bends..."
"I know what that is and I guess we could use the helideck on the roof to fly one in but how is that going to help us transport this guy out of here."
"In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased to three times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your lungs can gather more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. Your blood carries this oxygen throughout your body. This helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing. It has been used with stroke victims with remarkable success..."
"But it's not been recognized yet so you're even suggesting it is highly unethical," said Ellie. "I'm sorry I can't go along with you on this."
"El, you have to look at the individual patient. Not all protocols and therapies work on everyone. You saw what I saw in his charts the man is slowly slipping. This could not only allow us to transport him but might be what he needs to pull him back."
"You convinced me," said the General. "I want a chopper in the air with a hyperbaric oxygen chamber onboard now. Dr. Woodcomb... Devon I'd like you to supervise the patient's transfer."
"I hope you know what you're doing," said Ellie.
"I'm sorry El you disagree but this is this guy's only chance."
"Let's just hope the chopper gets here before Jone's friends get here or we'll still have that firefight," said the General. "I want a constant status report on that chopper. I also want our people down stairs to stay out of sight and keep an eye out for incoming hostiles. This could be close."