Don't own Chuck
When Igor left Lubyanka it was already late, but this couldn't wait until the morning. There was a tiger he needed to grab by the tail before it was too late. Getting into his car he had his driver take him over the MinistryofDefense at 19 Znamenka. Some of the answers he was looking for were there. The trip over from Lubyanka was relatively short but for the director it was even shorter as he played various scenarios out in his head about what could be going on. None of them had a happily ever after ending.
"We're here sir," said his driver after he pulled up out front. Igor was momentarily distracted lost in his thoughts. "Director we're here," repeated the driver.
"What? Oh yes. I really don't know how long I'm going to be inside. You can go on home for the night. I'll make my own way home from here."
"If you want me to wait I can sir. It's no problem I don't have anything going on or anywhere else to be. That is if you don't mind."
"Very well but you're under no obligation to stay," said Igor as he got out. The air was crisp cool making him turn up his collar as he walked in. The guard at the entrance stepped out in front of him.
"Sir, most of our offices are closed at this hour. If you want to come back during regular office hours," said the guard standing in front of him.
"Not for me son. I think you should go look at your picture board of people not to piss off," said the Director as he turned down his collar. It happened that as he was entering an Army Major was leaving. He immediately recognized the director and disarmed a bomb that was about to explode.
"Stand down corporal don't you recognize the Director. Lubyanka isn't that far away. Sir who are you here to see? I'll escort you in."
"Siberia can be even closer. I was just made aware there are posts free in Yatuska," said the director as he looked over the corporal. "Don't worry son I'd never slight a man for doing his job."
"Major Sergenov, I'm here to see your boss actually. If he's home he needs to come in now. This is an urgent matter that I need him to clear up."
"You're in luck follow me," said the Major as he led him to the elevator. "He's still at work. We're in the middle of budget review. I'm on a blini run. It looks like it's going to be a long night."
"Been there done that. Bean counters rule the world. Maybe you can tell me this as we go up do you know what operations you have going on right now," asked the Director he had an idea but he hoped he was wrong.
"I don't know. Actually we don't have much going on we're about out of funding and we don't have new money yet. There are joint maneuvers going on in the Black Sea but tensions in the region aren't as high as they used to be," said the Major. As he was speaking the doors opened and they walked down to the General's office. Making their way into the office they heard the sound of the General's voice barking.
"Neyt, neyt, neyt, why don't you balance? If I give you an order will you balance then," he said. He turned red when he looked up and saw his Major standing there with Igor Trotski.
"General, I have the director here. He needs to talk to you he says it's important," said the Major. But the General ignored him and continued to try to strong arm the computer.
"Aleyev you can't force your computer to give the information you want. But as I remember math was never your strong subject in elementary school."
"Why did you come over here Igor? Did you come over to tease me like you used to do in school. You know the last time your kind was here it was to arrest one of my predecessors."
"Well to arrest you no but maybe someone. However first I need some answers," said Igor as he dropped photos of the submarine the Foreign Minister had given him.
"What am I supposed to do with this? It's a submarine... Probably one of ours but that would be impossible because this looks like the Dmitri Donskoy (TK-208) or a sister boat. Crap and it's damaged. I hope the Admiral doesn't expect me to pay for his broken toy," said the General as he took out a magnifying glass. "No comments on old age by the way because we're the same age. Humm it looks like it hit a mine or something similar. Where did you get this photo?"
The Foreign Minister dropped them off. They were a present from the U.S. State Department but these had to have been taken by one of their spy satellites."
"I concur but as of this morning the Navy reported all their subs we nested in port. I don't understand where this one came from."
"Well I think you can see from this that's not true. I also need someone to look at these to tell me to what extent this thing is fixable."
"Let's go ask the Navy. I asked Admiral Borisnov to come for this budget review meeting. He's getting his ducks in a row next door," said Aleyev. "You know you could've called before coming over."
"Maybe next time when I come to arrest you," said Igor. He smiled as they laughed walking out in the hallway. However, as they started to walk over they bump into the Admiral in the hallway. He quickly walked straight past them heading for the elevator.
"Oh Admiral, can you wait a minute the Director wants to...," said the General but before he could say anything else the Admiral drew his service weapon turned and opened fire. Igor shoved the General and the Major back into an office.
"You're not taking me alive. I'm not going to Lubyanka alive," said the Admiral as he fired two more round in their direction then he ran for the stairs.
"What the hell is going on," yelled the General. Bullets whizzed past them as Igor kept them down and out of the line of fire.
"I don't have time right now to explain. Call down below and have them cut him off. I'm going after him," yelled Igor as he ran down the ladder. As soon as he entered the stairwell two more bullets whizzed past his ears. This time he returned fire.
"Give it up Admiral you've got no place to go tell me what you've done. The crew of that sub is trapped on the ice what do I tell their families?"
"Tell them they followed orders. In the end we all follow orders," he yelled up. They heard voices coming up from below them. "This was a great nation now what are we?"
"Admiral give it up you've go nowhere to go," yelled Igor. "You don't want to hurt your own people do you? Come on this can't continue. Help me understand what's going on."
"You're right this ends with me right now," said the Admiral. Igor heard a click then saw the spoon off a grenade come flying out falling down the stairwell. Everything started to play out in slow motion.
"Look out grenade," he heard himself yell but it was like the words came from someone else. He was there as an observer when the grenade blew. There was a loud explosion that reverberated in the ladder well. The sound was so loud he dropped to the ground holding his ears but he refused to lose consciousness. Instead he fought through it getting up running down the steps. He met the men coming up where the Admiral had set off the grenade. He held up his ID as the men pointed their weapons at him. He couldn't hear a word they said he just saw their mouths move. Putting away his weapon he pointed at his ears. Behind the military men Igor saw his driver making his way up. He smiled at the Director when he saw went to him. Igor waved for him to come over.
"I can't hear but call my office I want our people to investigate this," he yelled. Touching his ears he noticed they were bleeding. "Crap I need to see a medic too."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sarah got Sam and Bunny ready for the beach. Sam did not want to go because she had medical responsibility for Anatoly and Stefan. It was only after they promised they wouldn't budge from the apartment that she agreed she would go. However, because of her procrastination that meant when Alex and Kat came Sam still wasn't ready.
"Sam, please hurry up," said Sarah. "Alex and Kat are waiting on us. Bunny is ready so we're all waiting on you." She was trying to be understanding but Sam wasn't. She wondered if this was what she was going to be like on her first date.
"I'm almost ready. I only have to do one last thing then I'll be good to go. You can go on to the car I'll be right there," said Sam as she ran out.
"No Sam, where are you going," yelled Sarah. "We need to go now." But Sam was already out the door before anyone could grab her.
"I'll get her," said Alex. She went next door to find Sam with Anatoly and Stefan. She was leaving her… Chuck's tablet with them.
"Here you go you can watch Masha and the Bear while I'm gone. Drink plenty of liquids and get lots of rest. I'll look in on you when I get back."
"Sam, we need to go. Baby Bunny needs to go the beach in the mornings. The sun is too strong for her in the afternoon."
Thank you Sam but you need to obey your mother. Go now and we'll see you this evening," said Anatoly. "Spah-see-boh, Thank you". Sam stopped in the doorway and turned back.
"Pozhaluysta," said Sam. Alex took her by the hand then pulled her away and left. Leaving both the men with puzzled expressions.
"Did she just say what I think she said? Pozhaluysta, you're welcome," asked Stefan. "I wonder if this is the result of watching Masha and the Bear. Her pronunciation was better than yours."
"Unfortunately I agree with you. But both Chuck and Sarah speak very good Russian even if it's too good," said Anatoly as he warmed water up for tea.
"You're just trying to justify why you speak it so poorly. You know you could ask her to give you a few lessons."
"And so speaks Miss Grammar. Be quiet now I want to watch Masha and the Bear go fishing. This is actually not a bad program."
"For children Anatoly... For children," said Stefan as Anatoly waved him to keep quiet. It wasn't long before Stefan started moving his chair closer and close until he was behind him watching over his shoulder. Then suddenly the low battery light came on.
"Crap, call Sarah and ask her were the charger is," said Stefan. Anatoly looked at him with a big grin. "Oh shut up and call her."
[On the way to the Beach]
In the meantime, as Sarah was trying to get everyone to the beach she stopped on the way for sunscreen and she put it on Sam and Bunny right outside the store. Bunny giggled when Sarah rubbed her that was a first. She naturally turned to tell Chuck but then she remembered he was gone.
"Don't worry honey we can show him," said Kat. She understood Sarah's gesture and how she felt better than anyone else. It had happened to her a million times when Alex was little. "Don't worry I got it all on my phone. You can show Chuck when he comes home."
"Thanks Kat I really appreciate it and I'm sure he will too," said Sarah. Sarah was getting everyone back in the Escalade when she noticed a Ford pickup truck speed away. At the time she didn't think anything about it. She only caught a glimpse of the driver but she could tell it was a woman. They got everyone together then drove down to Malibu beach were they all got out then picked a spot to claim for as their own. It was during the week so there was plenty of room and there was no problem with claim jumpers.
"I was missing this in Chicago," said Sarah as she laid back on her blanket next to the stroller with baby Bunny asleep in it. Sam, don't wander away far and make sure someone can see you at all times."
"I won't go far just down to the shoreline and pick up some shells. I won't go into the water I promise I just want to collect some shells."
"You could give some to Anatoly and Stefan to take back with them to Russia for their families and friends. I think that would be a nice thing to do."
"Yes an excellent idea I'll do that," said Sam as she rounded up her little bucket then took off to the seaside to start her harvesting.
"Can you believe she's starting school next year? Soon after that she'll be going away for University then she'll be getting married. Before we know it she'll be moving out then what? I wonder if Chuck can invent something to slow down the growth process and I can keep Bunny little."
"You know you don't really want that," said Alex. "It's only natural that Bunny and Sam grow up and develop their own personalities."
"Says the one person here without children," said Kat. "I'm sorry but if there was this miracle drug on the market you'd still have pigtails and both your front teeth missing. I'm with Sarah on this one you kids grow up too fast. You turn around and they're all grown up. Alex, sweetie, you'll find out about this when you have your own."
As they were talking Sarah's phone rang she checked the number it was from home. She answered, "Anatoly how are things going back at home. Do you want us to pick you up anything?"
"No… well I think it would be too much to ask for if you could get us some chicken soup. My grandmother, mother and wife all swear by it as a cure all."
"I'll see what I can do. I'm looking at Kat and she is giving a thumbs up. She said she'll make you guys some chicken and noodles. But I'm sure this wasn't the only reason you called."
"Well yes I also called because… well you know Sam lent us her tablet and… well the battery is almost dead so we were wondering where you keep the charger."
"Don't tell me you've been binge watching Masha and the Bear since we left. You know that program is addictive. I caught Chuck watching it. The charger is in our bedroom on Chuck's desk go help yourselves and Sam will quiz you when we get home," said Sarah as she looked towards the seaside but suddenly she couldn't see Sam anymore. "Crap I told her not to wander off. Look I need to go Anatoly if you need it go get it. I have to run." Sarah hung up then ran down to the shoreline looking up and down
"Sarah, Sarah," yelled Alex from the parking lot waving. "I've got Sam here. We're up here in the parking lot."
"What the heck are you two doing up there? You almost gave me a heart attack," said Sarah as she ran up to get Sam while Kat kept an eye on Bunny. "Sam, what did I tell you not to wander off. You'd better have a good excuse young lady for being up here."
"I'm sorry but I met a lady on the beach and she promised me some pretty shells if I came up to the parking lot to meet her. You told me not to wander off so I came and got Alex to come with me because you were on the phone. But when we got here the woman was gone and she didn't leave any shells just these stupid flowers."
"Let me see those," said Sarah. She looked them over then looked over at Alex. "This are jasmine blooms. Sam can you describe the woman you met on the beach?"
Sam began describing the woman and soon it became apparent she was describing the Jasmine they thought Ettore had eliminated.
"Crap we need to get home and circle the wagons," said Sarah.
"Are you going to call Chuck and tell him?"
"No he's got his mission and this could just be just a distraction. Let's wait until we know what it is. But Jasmine is messing with the wrong momma bear this time."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
At the First international Savings and Loans Joe Clarke walked in dressed like he'd just broken the ground on the south forty getting it ready for planting. More than one head turned in his direction when he walked into the bank. The bank manager motioned for the guard to do something so he intercepted Joe then pulled him off to the side where he discreetly asked him what his business was.
"Howdy partner," said Joe as he took his western hat off with a sweat stain around the headband. The guard looked him over wondering if he wasn't some sort of movie extra from a western. "I've got business with your manager."
"Well people can't just come in off the street and ask to see the manager and expect to see him right away. Normally people have an appointment. Do you have an appointment?"
"No, I don't got no appointment but I didn't think I needed one. I just need access to my safety deposit box. See I've got my key and everything."
"You've got your key. Well that changes things. Follow me and I'll take you to see Mr. Burton," said the guard as he walked him over to the manager's office. Burton was more than a little puzzled since he'd asked the guard to head him off not bring him over to him. There was no way he was going to give the guy a loan.
"Excuse me Mr. Burton but this gentleman has business with you. He says he wants access to his safety deposit box. He has a key…"
"I don't remember anyone looking like him opening a box here. And I've opened up all the boxes we have personally. If he's got a key he must've stolen it."
"You both realize I'm standing right here. Well here's my key and I want access to the box it goes to," said Joe as he held up the key Jasmine gave him. The manager suddenly stopped talking when he saw the key.
"I see yes now I remember you. You were dressed differently back then. Please follow me," said the manager as he took him into the vault. "Please insert your key," said Mr. Burton. Then the manager inserted his key turning both together the door opened and the manager pulled out a strong box from inside.
"I'd like a little privacy if you don't mind," said Joe. "Me and my things we need a little us time together if you know what I mean."
"Certainly follow me," said Mr. Burton as he handed Joe the strong box. He waved for him to follow. He took Joe into a small cubical. "You can close the curtain behind me when I leave but take your time and when you're ready to go just push the button on the table and I will send someone."
"Thank you there slick. I've got this from here," Joe said as he closed the curtain behind him then turned back to the box.
"Now let's see what you've got for papa," said Joe. He opened it up and it was filled with money… all kinds of money. There was an even distribution of dollars, euros and rubles. There were also some virgin passports without pictures, two fully loaded Glocks with suppressors and a sat phone. He dumped everything in a shoulder bag he brought. Then he stood there looking at the cash it was a lot more money than he'd ever seen and he had it in his bag.
In the meantime Mr. Burton ran back to his office where he took a burner phone from his desk drawer and hit speed dial. He put the call on speaker so he could dig out the bottle of Jack he kept in his bottom desk drawer. As he waited for someone to pick up he took a hit from the bottle then poured himself a glass. Suddenly the line clicked and there was someone on the other end. He didn't give them a chance to speak he just started talking.
"Listen we have a problem. Someone is here a Joe Clarke he's got Mr. La Barba's safety deposit box key and he's looking through the box as we speak. I couldn't stop him if I did it would've raise suspicion."
"Jasmine… Okay I'm sending some people over. Try to hold him there as long as you can. Do you still have that GPS tracker that was given to you? I want you to slip that in his pocket if he tries to leave. We'll handle this. You did the right thing calling this in I'll make sure you get taken care of... I mean rewarded."
