Don't own Chuck

The flight North was long both Anatoly and Stefan told Sarah she should try to sleep a little because they didn't know what they'd find when they got there. But she didn't want to and tried her best not to. However, after sitting there for hours listening to the constant droning sound of the engines she slowly started to close her eyes. Then suddenly she found herself standing in the courtyard at Echo Park.

"How'd I get here," she said to herself looking around. She reached for the door knob but it was locked then she tried her keys but for some reason they didn't work. "This is great I've got to ring the doorbell at my own apartment to get in," she said to herself as she pushed the button then she heard female voices coming from inside.

"There had better be a good explanation," she said as the door opened. There in front of her was a perky blonde headed girl standing in her doorway. Sarah looked at her for a few minutes there was something familiar about the girl.

"I got it," yelled the blonde as she opened the door. "Lady, if you're looking for handouts you've come to the wrong place." Sarah shook off the feeling she had.

"Excuse me? Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment? Where's Chuck?" said Sarah as she pushed by the girl.

"We've got a live one here, a real looney tune," yelled the girl. "There's a crazy lady asking for Chuck. You need to get out here I might need your professional assistance."

"I'm getting ready to go to the hospital. I don't have time for this my shift starts soon. Can't you just kick her out," yelled a voice from the bathroom. "Pretend you're on your pole or something."

"What have you done to my place," said Sarah as she looked around at all the new furniture. "Where are my things? Someone needs to start explaining now. If this is some sort of joke it's not funny. Did Morgan put you up to this because Chuck knows I hate surprises?"

"Lady, how do you know uncle Morgan? Who are you? Do I know you?" said the girl as another girl hearing all the commotion came walking down the hall with a cup of coffee in her hand. She stopped suddenly when she saw Sarah and the cup slipped out of her hand. It fell as if in slow motion shattering on the floor.

"Mom! Is that really you? You don't recognize me I guess not it's been a long time… I'm Sam and this is Bunny. Where the hell have you been? Why haven't you aged? Everyone thinks you're dead."

"No, no this can't be," said Sarah as she plopped down. "No, the last thing I remember I was going to bring your grandmother home then I found myself outside here. Oh don't tell me I lost my memory again. No, this can't be happening. My governor where's my governor?"

"Lost your memory again? Chuck always blamed bloody Mary," said Bunny with a laugh. Sam gave her a look. "What? He said she killed you then got rid of your body at the North Pole. He thought she might have fed you to a polar bear or something like that. But here you are in the flesh boy will he be surprised."

"Where is your father? Doesn't he live here with you? Please don't tell me something happened to him while I was gone," asked Sarah. She noticed all of Chuck's things were missing.

"Well Chuck... How to explain what happened to him. Well Chuck... Crazy old dad... He promised us pancakes one day then disappeared. He kept sending cards for a while but even that lately stopped. The truth is we haven't got a clue where he is."

"No, this can't be he's become his father... I know where he is or at least I think I do but I need a car," said Sarah. The girls looked at each other. "What is it? Don't you want to find him?"

"The last time I talked with Chuck he wasn't happy with my career choices. We had a small argument then he said he was going to make pancakes then he left and... well we've told you the rest of the story."

"What are you doing? It can't be any worse than working at the Buy More. Chuck was working there that was where we first met and that was a dead end job. I doubt if it can be worse."

"We know Morgan's told us the story over and over again," said Bunny as she rolled her eyes. "You came in with a broken cellphone and he fixed it. I'll drive you I don't have to go to work until this evening."

"Good, I really need to get to the hospital. I'm interning at Westside Memorial. Cryogenics that must be it," said Sam. She went over and looked at Sarah's eyes. "Yes you were put on ice somewhere then reanimated. I wonder if this has something to do with global warming. Well I don't have time now but I'd like to run some labs on your later on."

Sarah and Bunny started off in her old Honda Accord and as they drove Bunny kept looking over at her like there was something she wanted to ask.

"What is it? If you've got something you want to ask just say it. I know this has got to be weird for you because it's really weird for me too."

"No… well yes… I was just thinking that when we get to wherever it is we're going I should probably wait in the car. You can tell me I won't tell Dad but Sam and I had a different idea about what happened to you. We came up with the idea that you looked around at the crazy house we lived in and cut your losses. I can't blame you if you did. The truth is if Dad hadn't left I would've."

"No, never, I love you father very much and also you two. I can't explain what happened to me… to us but that wasn't the reason. It's just up ahead. I found this place before when Chuck's father was hiding out here. There it is," said Sarah as the airstream came in view.

"I'll wait here while you go up and see if he's here," said Bunny. "I really haven't got anything to tell him but I'm sure he's got something he wants to tell me. Was he always so judgmental?"

"No, never in fact there were times when I wished he had said something about what I did. What are you doing that has him so angry with you? I have a hard time believing Chuck is that angry with you. If he was I'm sure he's over it by now."

"I wouldn't count on it. Do you want to know what our argument was about? Well I work as an exotic dancer and I make good money at it," said Bunny. She must've understood Sarah's look. "You guys were the ones who gave me a stripper's name."

"No," said Sarah as she jumped up but found herself buckled into her seat on their C-130. She heard the right engine sputtering and misfiring. "What's going on," said Sarah.

"We don't know," said Stefan. "The Sergeant said the pilot was having trouble with one of the engines. But that's all we know."

"I want to go find out," said Sarah. She unbuckled then walked up to the cockpit after her dream sitting and falling back asleep wasn't an option. "What's going on with your starboard engine?"

"What are you doing out of your seat lady? Can't you read the sign?" said the Pilot. "Get her out of here. Okay lady it looks like we might have to sit the bird down on the ice."

"The name is Carmichael, Agent Carmichael not lady Commander. That's for your future reference and can you sit this thing down on the ice?"

"Well it might not be a question of if I can but I have to. My port engine was acting up too earlier and ditching in the ocean up here isn't an option."

"We could try to make it to Resolute Bay then grab something from there to make it to our destination. It's not ideal but we could make it work."

"No… no it won't because… because there's a strong head wind which will aggravate the engines' condition… yes and will… besides it's too far away. No, we continue on to our destination then play it by ear. Now agent if you don't mind I've got a plane to fly," said the Pilot as he looked over at the Co-pilot.

"Please, we need you to go back to your seat," said the Co-pilot as he got up and saw her out of the cockpit then locked the door behind her.

"Did you find out something," asked Stefan as she sat back down. He noticed the look on her face. "Is something wrong?"

"Everything is wrong. The pilot is going to land on the ice near the submarine or that's what he's afraid he's going to have to do."

"But we can't trust the Skipper or the submarine crew," said Anatoly. "The pilot's mission is to get us over the target site then we jump. Not that we land in the middle of the fire."

"Guys listen up he's making the engines act up. I can fly this plane and I saw his engine gauges. He's faking the engine problem or better he's causing it. I can only guess he's doing it so he'll justify having to land."

"That would mean that flight crew and the submarine people are both in on this... whatever this is."

"Yes and you know what we are, don't you?" said Sarah as she looked around for the Loadmaster. "I think we're their exit strategy. Stay here and keep an eye out for the Loadmaster. I want to go check on something."

Sarah slipped past the Sergeant. He was looking over the pallets he had strapped down in the middle of the bay making sure they were still secured. She made her way around him by ducking past on the opposite side from where he was inspecting. She made her way to where their chutes were stored then she did a quick check. The lines inside were hopelessly tangled up on all of them.

"These things would never open properly or was that the idea," she thought as she put the last one back. She got another idea as she looked them over. It was a just in case as she finished she heard the starboard engine begin to sputter again. The pilot was reducing the fuel intake making it seem like the engine was about to fail. She was sure he'd be telling them soon they'd have to land.

She was on her way back up when she met the Loadmaster. Judging from his look the pilot must've talked to him about her.

"What are you doing back here? Can't you see the pilot's got the fasten seat belt light on? That means find a seat and stay in it."

"Sorry, I was hungry so I came back and grabbed some MREs for my friends and me," said Sarah as she held up three green pouches. "I have a friend who really likes the Chicken a'la King."

"You need to get to your seat and I don't know how you're going to warm that up," said the Loadmaster. He followed her all the way back to her seat and only when she buckled in did he resume whatever it was he was doing.

"Here I brought you guys something to eat," said Sarah. "It's as I thought it was. The aircrew is in on this as you said whatever it is. Our chutes were sabotage so they'd never open up."

"This is okay," said Anatoly as he played around with his food. "This is what you people feed your troops in the field?"

"Well they've got better rats than this and ones that taste a lot better. But there's nothing wrong with these. They serve their purpose providing the necessary calories to continue on with the mission. We need to come up with a game plan for when we land."

"But has that decision been made yet?" said Stefan. The Loadmaster reappeared and walked up towards them. "Shush, here comes that Sergeant again."

"I was just call up to the cockpit and the pilot told me to tell you guys that we're going to have to set down on the ice. It can't be helped."

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Mr. Perkins walked into the office to find Chuck sitting there. He knew Ettore had talked about his plan to meet with Chuck and what the outcome was going to be. Yet here he was and the only reason he could come up with for why Chuck wasn't fish food was he'd never gone to meet as Ettore. Maybe he'd get some sort of reward if he took him out now.

"Sit down," said Chuck. "We need to talk. First thing you need to know is the people here are under my protection. You touch them and you touch me."

"Is that supposed to scare me? Because if it was I'm afraid you underestimated me," said Mr. Perkins as he sat down with two goons standing behind him.

"No it's not a threat just an affirmation and something you should keep in the back of your mind as we talk. Have you heard from your boss lately?"

"Which boss are you talking about? I've been in touch with one of them and as a matter of fact he offered me a promotion."

"I bet he did," said Chuck as he reached down and sat a bag on the desk. "I'm going to pull something out doing get nervous it won't hurt you."

"If you don't mind I'd like my man to pull it out," said Mr. Perkin. Chuck pushed to package his way. One of the men behind him walked up and pulled out a plastic bag with a shoe in it.

"I don't get it," said the man as he sat the shoe on the desk. Perkins looked at him and shrugged his shoulders then the man moved back behind his boss.

"So are you going to tell me what's so important about that shoe or are you going to make me guess. I could say I'm waiting for the other one to drop."

"See now that was funny," said Chuck as he looked across the desk at Mr. Perkins. "But no one's noticed that there's still a foot inside it. I think you owe me a thank you because if you were offered a promotion I think I might have created the vacancy."

"Ewe yuck," said Morgan as he stepped away from the desk. "I want to pick it up and say alas poor Ettore you got what you deserved but I don't want to touch it."

"Those are the breaks in this game I guess. You can never be on the top all the time, sooner or later your luck runs out. So far I'm not hearing anything of any importance to me. I still want Jasmine and the ledgers and I want them now. I could just as easily end this now by having one of my men shoot you in the head or maybe I should shoot your little friend."

Just then one of Mr. Perkins men whispered something in his ear then he stared at Morgan like he was trying to see something. He started shaking his head.

"Okay you finally figured out I look like someone you know. Is that it? Okay you're right we are related. I'm his long lost brother so you guys need to just pack it in here and leave."

"Why should we do that? Just because you're the long lost brother of Gimli the dwarf in 'the Lord of the Rings' I don't think so.

"No not him… Ettore La Barba, don't you see the resemblance. He and I look like two drops of water or used to at least," said Morgan as he looked at the shoe on the desk.

"Sorry I don't see it," said Mr. Perkins. "How about you guys? Any of you see what he's talking about?" But they both shook their heads. "Sorry Gimli but maybe you've been working here too long and if I don't see Jasmine or the ledgers soon I'm about to end that."

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Mr. Perkins and his goons in the office didn't realize what Chuck was actually doing. He was stalling for time because what they didn't know was that Casey and Imma came into the Buy More through the loading bay. They worked together clearing room after room. Casey had his suppressed Sig and Imma she had her suppressed PYa. They took out Mr. Perkins men one by one until they got to the breakroom.

"What are we doing in here," asked Imma as she looked around. "Is it your break time or do you need a snack? Come on we've got more bad guys to take out."

"One moment I need to check on something first," said Casey as he opened the secret passage behind the lockers then took Imma to the elevator and down to Castle. When they got there John found Alex sprawled out on the floor in front of the monitors unconscious.

"Alex! Geez," he said as he ran to her. "Are you okay," he said as he knelt next to her. She slowly came around. He helped her up and into a chair.

"Here put this behind your head and hold it in place," said Imma after she took a handkerchief out of her purse and got it wet. "Let me look for a second. You've got quite the goose egg there."

"What happened," asked Casey. "Where's Jasmine at? I thought you and Morgan were guarding her down here. Tell me she's back in detention."

"No she was up here with us. We'd gotten her amnesty papers and she was about to sign them when these Mercs broke in. They had the guys from the Buy More hostage in the breakroom… then Morgan went up to stall. I was monitored activity from down here then nothing I was out."

"Jasmine… this has got to be Jasmine's doing. I'm going to kill her this time and no one's going to stop me," said Casey as he huddled over Alex.

"Isn't that her on the monitor," said Imma. They saw Jasmine making her way through the store towards the manager's office taking out the rest of Perkins men. "What's she up to? If she goes in there doesn't she realize they'll kill her?"

"No they won't. They'll want her to give back the ledgers first so when she goes is they'll hesitate which will give her the edge. Oh crap I know what she's up to. She's finishing her contract. Chuck, this is Casey can you hear me? Look out Jasmine's outside the office door and I think she means to kill you."

"John, I've got this. You stay with Alex I'll go take care of Jasmine," said Imma as she ran to the elevator then disappeared inside.

"What's going on," said Alex. "Why would she go gunning for Chuck that will throw her amnesty deal out the window? What's she thinking?"

"She's thinking like a scorpion. Her amnesty deal goes into place when she signs the paperwork so if she shoots Chuck now then signs the paperwork she gets away with murder… literally and there's nothing anyone can do."

"So what was all this? Just someway she could get revenge on Chuck for some wrong she felt he did to her? It seems a little contorted to me. What kind of person thinks like this?"

"A scorpion does. Alex, Chuck is a blemish on her record of perfect kills. She's thinking about clearing her slate before she moves on. In the world of hired killers reputation is everything. No one wants to hire an assassin that's only partially successful. If you hire a hitman you want to make sure that he or she does the job they're paid to do because if the job isn't or it's done poorly you might be the next person with a price on their head."

"I'm fine. You should go help Imma," said Alex as she tried to get up but the room started to spin and she flopped back down in her chair.

"No, I can monitor the situation from here and I'm getting a medic in here to look at you. I'm so going kill her for this but first I need to see where our back up is."

"Look," said Alex as she pointed to the monitor. "Jasmine's making her move."

"Oh tell me those aren't my weapons from the armory?" said Casey. Alex got quiet. "Oh am I going to have to have a sit down with you and Morgan about prisoner protocols. Why didn't you make her some hot coco too?"

"Dad that's not fair. No one could've figured out what was going on in her head."

"Alex, this isn't your fault. It's the person who went traipsing off heading North like the rush was still on. Looking for someone who for all we know doesn't want to be found."

"Dad the mic is open. Chuck can hear you." And he did but he couldn't say John was wrong. Chuck got up from behind the desk then turned to look at the wall.

"You know turning your back to me won't stop me from having you shot," said Mr. Perkins. "So you might as well turn around and face the music. Mr. Carmichael, I think your luck has finally run out. You don't want to turn around fine. Your little friend, who thinks he looks like Ettore, has what I need so I don't know why I'm talking to you. Kill him," said Mr. Perkins. Morgan closed his eyes hard then heard the sound of gunfire.