Don't own Chuck

It was late afternoon when Sarah got everyone together outside and into the waiting Embassy vehicle. Then they sped off through the busy streets of the capital. The city had returned to what it was before a cacophony of sounds but locked away in his sound proof office the Ambassador watched from above. He observed their departure from Embassy grounds for behind his double paneled glass window and in the comfort of his air conditioned office. He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"They're gone now I'll move into phase two," said the Ambassador. On the other end he just heard a click that was his confirmation to proceed. He grabbed a key from his desk drawer then hurried down to the vault.

"Okay I need her code," mumbled the Ambassador to himself. He used his key then pulled out a piece of paper with Sarah's authorization code for the vault and entered it. The computer would register her as entering. Once inside he found what he was looking for her gun. Slipping it behind in his belt he left locking up afterwards like no one had ever been there.

He started back to his office with what felt like ten pounds of extra drag when he was stopped on the steps by the Gunny.

"I removed the Carmichaels like you ordered sir and on your desk you'll find my request for transfer. I've sent a copy already to Quantico."

"I'm sorry you feel that way but if that's what you want I'll sign off on it," said the Ambassador as he tried to get away. The weapon in his belt was beginning to feel hot.

"Sir, request to speak freely," said the Gunny and since the Ambassador didn't object he told him what he thought. "There was no reason to put the Carmichaels out in the middle of the street like that. We have no visiting VIPs coming or I would've been notified. What we do have or had was a crooked RSO that's been apprehended and a city that is still sprawling with revenge violence over the last coup."

"Gunny, this is my Embassy to run and when Agent Carmichael was suspended she lost her right to be here. As for the rest of her family, they're civilian tourists just like anyone else who visits this God forsaken country, and guests of the beloved Premier. They can stay with him on his dime but not here on the American taxpayers. When is Carver due to be picked up?"

"There was supposed to be a transport coming for him and his team tomorrow morning but it's been delayed by twenty-four hours. There seems to be a high value detainee being brought in from the Falklands. That operation is winding down and the other Agent Carmichael will be coming for his wife."

"Is that supposed to mean something to me? I'm only doing my duty and I work for the Secretary of State so he'd better remember that."

"Who's a long ways away," mumbled the Gunny remembering how Chuck and Sarah took out that wet team. Wondering now if he'd have to defend this clown.

"What was that? I didn't hear you, did you say something?"

"I said who's got your back? Are you sure about that? Because that Agent Carmichael just rescued his General, recovered a sensitive piece of classified material and located a missing Russian submarine. And while he was saving the world you put his family on the curb."

"Well I don't expect a blunt instrument to understand the intricate details of running a foreign mission..."

"If I were you I'd pack my bags because I think you'll be leaving before I will," said the Gunny and he could tell he'd pushed too much.

"We'll see about that I'll push your request for transfer through personally. Good afternoon Gunnery Sergeant," said the Ambassador as he turned and walked away.

Gunny realized he probably said too much but he certainly felt better.

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Sarah got everyone to the airport where they were greeted my Alejandro and Hortencia. They didn't want them to leave but Sarah explained they needed to get home. The girls said good bye to their newly adopted aunt while the Premier had their luggage stowed away on the plane.

"Well, I won't hold you up any more," said Alejandro. "Although if you wanted to spend the night with us in the penthouse it might be a little tight but we can manage."

"No, we appreciate the offer but we really need to go. Clara needs to get back to school. Ellie and Devon have patients to see," said Sarah.

"We will be forever in your debt," said Alejandro as he took her hand and kissed it. "Consider our little country your home if ever you need a second one."

"I expect you all to visit when our little Alejandro Fulgencio Goya Junior is born," said Hortencia as they all hugged.

"Guys, I don't want to rain on anyone's parade," said Devon. "But what if it's a girl? Are you going to call her Hortencia, Junior?"

"Don't be silly, of course I know. I can prove it I can tell you what your child is going to be," said Alejandro to Sarah. "But no that's something you and Chuck need to find out on your own. But you have my best wishes."

As they were talking two men walked up in Costa Gravan Air Force uniforms they stood behind them then one pointed to his watch and the Premier nodded his head.

"Well your flight crew wants to get up in the air and I... we've got a county to run. I hope to see you soon," said the Premier as he and Hortencia said their goodbyes. The aircrew took them out and put them on an Ilyushin Il-62.

"Wow," said Devon as he boarded the plane bringing up the rear. "What is this the equivalent to? It's got to be a 707. Sarah, this plane is enormous."

"Yeah, I think so," said Sarah not really paying him any attention as she buckled Sam in next to Clara so they could be together. Then she took an aisle seat across from them so she could reach over and hold Sam's hand. "Remember you two you have to stay buckled and in your seats until that light goes off. But when you're in your seat I want you both to stay buckled."

"Boy, I don't think we'll be complaining about leg room," said Devon as he stood up and looked at all the empty seats behind them. "Actually it's kind of spooky like one of those 'day after' movies. Guys, we could get lost on board."

"Will you sit down and buckle in," said Ellie then she looked back at Sarah and noticed she looked pale. "Do you feel okay? I don't like the way you look."

"I'm fine just tired... tired and worried about Chuck. What's he going to think when he finds out we left? But I... we couldn't stay that was out of the question."

"Do you want my phone to call him," said Ellie as she offered Sarah her phone. "It will make you feel better if you talk to him. Go ahead, its okay."

"I can't call him I don't know what he's in the middle of. It could be covert and my call could blow his cover. No, I need to let him contact me first." They heard the engines rev up and the plane began to roll.

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Casey followed Frank as he drove as fast as he could down the gravel road towards Fox Bay. The road was muddy and slushy but as the day progressed the temperatures dropped. The half melted snow became ice and there were a couple of time that it looked like Frank was going to go sideways. They could only image what was going on in Frank's Mercedes SUV.

"Crap Frank, hold it on the road," he told himself as he drove on the slippery road. "This is just like the Washington belt when it snows." Or that was what he tried to convince himself. He reached over and picked up his phone. He took a deep breath then hit autodial and put it on speaker so he could keep both hands on the wheel.

"Frank, why are you calling me," said a voice over the phone. It sounded as cold as the temperatures outside. "Report what's going on down there? I got some disturbing news can you confirm." Frank needed to tell him something that wouldn't get himself in trouble.

"It was that crazy Russian, Ivan or Boris I forget his name. It was all his fault, he pulled out without waiting for me or anyone else. But it's not all a bust I still have the General and am heading to the Fox bay landing strip for extraction."

"Before we talk about extraction there's something I'd like you explain to me. Can you tell me how the whole constellation was brought on line if the host was set in sleep mode?"

"What?" said Frank as he tried to drive on ice and talk on the phone at the same time. "I don't ... oh crap I do know. Marcus my assistant went AWOL right before all hell broke loose. It had to be him. I know he and Silvia, I mean Dr. Martin had a thing going. She could've passed to him information I guess. You said she was taken care of so it couldn't be her. That's what you told me, right?"

"I'm not so sure. The man we sent to deal with her initially confirmed the kill. But we've lost contact with him since and I just got word from one of our other contacts that said he and our team were captured. The status of Dr. Martin is unknown."

"Good… well I didn't mean good as in good but… oh you understand. There's your culprit now can we talk about an extradition plan. We're getting close to the air strip. I need a way off this rock."

"There's a C-130 waiting on the flight line with orders to fly you and the General out. We will radio you the destination coordinates once you're in the air until then maintain silence," said the man as the line dropped.

"Crap," he said to himself. He knew he was skating on thin ice now. This was supposed to be his big mission. The one that was going to give him a seat at the table but suddenly he discovered his seat only had three legs. He drove past the shed they used as a terminal and straight out onto the flight line, making a beeline heading for the parked C-130. He stopped behind the tailgate; it was down like they were expecting him.

"Wait here and let me make sure everything is okay," yelled Frank as Mary got out. Frank turned and ran up the back not noticing Casey getting out of the driving's side. He ran straight on board.

"We need to run and grab him while we can," yelled Casey as he got out and started to run. "The fool might get away."

"Stand down Colonel," said the General. "All that's been taken care of and I need help with my other Colonel." She went into the back. Greg was a mess with a broken jaw and a few fractured ribs. "Mary, see if they have a medic to look at our hero?"

"Hey is anyone home," yelled Frank as he ran up the back into the hold. He saw men he assumed were the pilot and crew sitting on webbed seats attached to the bulkhead. "I'm here. We can get ready to go."

"Yes you are," said a man dressed in a Royal Marine Commando uniform pointing a SA80a2 assault rifle at him then another came up and disarmed him. Frank smiled as he watched Mary coming up behind them thinking she would get the drop on them, but that didn't last long.

"Do you have a medic Captain? One of our team is down," asked Mary as she came up then went to Frank and put handcuffs on him. "Let's make sure these are tight," she said. "I wouldn't want you to break your thumbs to get out but somehow you don't impress me as the type."

They got everyone situated on board and thanked the Brits for the assist. Once everything was done and Frank with his men were situated Casey looked the C-130 up and set a heading back to Byron Sound. They had no idea what they were flying into.

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Chuck was pacing the pier like a caged animal. He couldn't get through to either Sarah or Casey. Worse now he tried Ellie at first her phone rang busy and now nothing everything was going to voice mail. Even though he was in the middle of people he felt alone and helpless. His first thoughts were to reassemble the Hypersonic. He could do it but it would take about a month if everything was there. Then he thought about using the comms off the Hypersonic to rig up a radio he could contact Langley with and if necessary have them act as a bridge with Sarah.

"Chuck you idiot," he said as he looked up at the Alexandria outboard the Russian. "Why build a radio when you've got one." Chuck ran across the Russian but was stopped on the Quarterdeck of the Alexandria.

"Sir, I know who you are but I can't allow you to come onboard you're not on our access list," said the OOD.

"Call you XO here I need a favor and I don't think your CO wants to be pulled away from his grand tour," said Chuck as he began to pace. The OOD nodded to the POOW to make the announcement over the 1MC.

"Executive Officer, your presence is requested on the Quarterdeck," was the announcement made and in a little bit the XO appeared.

"What's the problem," said the man seeing Chuck standing on the Quarter Deck. "OOD, do you mind filling me in?"

"I need to contact my people back in Langley and my comms is down or isn't working. I don't know which I need to report in and find out the status of the rest of my team."

"All that section is classified..." The XO started to say but Chuck cut him off.

"And so am I. I know every inch of this boat. I know your payload I know what you have and what you're not supposed to have. I can tell you your radio frequencies and we can talk about ELF transmissions too..."

"That won't be necessary especially sitting here next to the Russians. Okay, you can follow me to comms but I'm going to have to stay with you as an escort."

"That's fine by me just can we hurry it up," said Chuck. The XO grabbed a visitors badge then they were off.

Chuck led the way with the XO following him. If there was ever a doubt that he didn't know his way around this dispelled it. Chuck sat down at the console and within a few minutes he was talking with the Major.

"I'm calling to report my mission is done. I need a status on Casey and... Well my Mom," said Chuck as he caught the look from the XO. "Do they have the General?"

"The General has a trap set for Frank and he should be in custody soon. I'll be able to tell you more in a little while."

"Very good Major, I haven't been able to contact Sarah. Do you have any word about what's going on back at Costa Gravas? Don't tell there's another coup." There was silence on the line. "No, we just ended one there."

"No that's not it... Well Agent Carmichael, S. was suspended from service because of the harpoon incident pending investigation."

"Suspended! What for? Because she kept me and that Russian sub from being destroyed, the same sub the President announced on TV that he would find for the Russian people. Why can't I reach her? If you've people done anything to her I swear I've got a sub next to me with ICBMs and I'll rain holy wrath down on you," said Chuck. The XO looked at him. Chuck put the mic on mute. "Not really, they don't have any on board but he doesn't know that."

"Agent Carmichael, you need to calm down. There really wasn't anything that anyone could do. The JCS and the Secretary of Navy wanted an investigation. I called the General and she gave me the green light."

"Did you tell her you intended to suspend Sarah or just that a bunch of pencil pushers wanted an investigation into why their million dollar toys missed the mark?"

"The two are the same but no maybe that was left out but protocol dictates that all the parties involved are to be suspended."

"You know what you can do with your protocol and if I were there with you right now I'd shove it. You'd better hope nothing's happened to my wife because you don't want me coming looking for you. You know what I've done and what I'm capable of so I suggest you find some way to but me in touch with her."

"I don't know why you can't contact her. She was just suspended; she should still be in the Embassy at Costa Gravas."

"And for your sake that had better be where she's at safe and sound with everyone else. You know I just thought of something. El Comandante's Yak-40 disappeared in the Antarctic. We should put together a team to look for it. Yes Major, we're going to need a team leader and guess who I'm going to recommend leading it. I need to get off this line before I say what I really think. You know I left her behind because I thought she'd be safe and that my agency would watch my back but I guess I was wrong. Agent Carmichael out." Chuck sat there for a moment shaking with rage.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" said the XO seeing the state Chuck was in.

"No unless you've got a plane I can borrow or a Tardis."

"Sir, we've got a vehicle coming in. It's an unscheduled C-130; the pilot is a Colonel John Casey, NSA. He's asking for permission to land.

"John," said Chuck. "Give him permission but tell him to keep the props turning. Then contact RAF Mount Pleasant and tell them I'm going to need a mid-air refueling ASAP. Here is an authorization code they'll want and if they give you any grief tell them to give my name to the Home Secretary or the head of MI6. They will sort things out.

Chuck ran off the boat then to the flight line in time to watch Casey bring the big bird down on the runway. As soon as he came to a stop he started to lower the back but Chuck jumped onboard before it got all the way down. Then Chuck saw Greg and the RAF physician.

"Crap, is he stable? Can he hold out for another four or five hours?" asked Chuck and the Doctor nodded yes. "Good, Casey get the tailgate up we're heading home."

"What's the matter Chuck? Is something wrong at home," snickered Frank. Chuck punched him. His head made a metallic ping as it bounced off the bulkhead.

"If I find out you had anything to do with this you're dead. I might not like guns but for you I'll make an exception. John, get us out of here now," said Chuck as he climbed up in the co-pilot's seat. "I've arranged for the RAF to top us off as soon as we start heading north. They won't like it because it's getting dark but they'll have to do it. If you're not comfortable about doing it pass the controls to me."

"Okay Chuck, but what's going on you're moving ninety miles an hour can you slow down a moment. Sit and relax take a deep breath and tell us what's wrong."

"She's what's wrong," said Chuck pointing at the General. "You think a person would be a little grateful after you come and rescue them but what do you do you kick them in the teeth."

"What did I do," said the General. "I've been out of my office, a prisoner. I only just talked with the Major and... oh."

"Yes and oh. He asked you about an investigation and you said they should go for it but he failed to explain, although you should've known, that protocol required all parties involved in the incident be suspended until the findings are in. You had Sarah suspended while we were on mission, idiot."

"Chuck, that's no way to talk to a General," said Casey as he glanced over at him. "Even though that's what you feel like saying."

"I wasn't calling the General an idiot. I was calling myself one. I left her behind because I thought she'd be safe and if she was... well what she says she isn't then both of them would be safe. The safest place for her is by my side and I swear when we get back that's where she'll stay."

"What does that mean no more solo missions?"

"I don't know if there will be anymore missions," said Chuck. "There's the Voyager KC just ahead of us. Let's get topped off then head on to Costa Gravas." As they were lining up Chuck's phone rang he had Mary get it out of his pocket.

"It's Ellie," said Mary as he put her on speaker. "Eleanor we've been worried about. Your brother is beside himself. I've got you on speaker can you tell us what's going on?"

"I'm calling from the lavatory right now because everyone is asleep. I guess we were too far out in the Atlantic before but this is the first signal I got."

"Are you guys on a plane?" asked Chuck. "I'm about three hours out of Costa Gravas. Why aren't you still there waiting for us?"

"We were basically kicked out of the Embassy after Sarah got into trouble. I don't know what happened and she won't tell me but the way things went it must've been big."

"I know all about it and... well I'll handle it or the General will but she shouldn't worry about it. You're headed where, Burbank or Chicago?"

"Chicago... Chuck, don't be mad at Sarah. She was right with the girls we couldn't stay in Costa Gravas and wait for you to show up."

"I'm not mad at her or you guys. This isn't your fault. I'm mad at other people. We can stop in Costa Gravas refuel then..."

"Oh no we won't," said Mary. "There's a reason commercial pilots can only fly eight to nine hours straight. Chuck, how long has it been since you've had sleep? We night over in Costa Gravas then proceed the next day and that's that."

"Little brother, listen to Mom. I'll have Sarah call you as soon as she wakes up so you two can talk. She's just really tired right now. Well I should go."

"Please remember to have her call me," said Chuck.

"I will," said Ellie and with that she hung up.