Don't own Chuck

Cole was up early working with the Lord Chamberlain looking over the schedule of the day's events. When Carina woke up she found Cole gone so she got up so she got dressed and went downstairs looking for the kitchen. The house was big but still she expected to see someone but no one challenged her as she made her was down the hall and then down the stairs.

"I wonder if I'd kept the t-shirt I slept in on if then I'd get some attention. Where is everyone," she said to herself as she walked down the stairs. When she got to the bottom she wasn't sure where to go so she just started wandering around figuring she's find the kitchen sooner or later.

It was a stately old home filled with early American furniture restored to its antebellum glory. There were paintings hanging on the walls of life in early America before the civil war. In the Deep South cotton was king but not here. Here horses and tobacco were what brought in the cash flow. That wealth turned the Morgan house into a stately manor and the paintings on the wall reflected a past long gone.

"Interesting aren't they," said a man behind her dressed in black with an ear piece in. From the man's American accent or the lack of one she guessed he was Agent Worley.

"Yes, very much so but a little sad if you think most of the people depicted in these paintings were probably killed a few years later in the civil war. Agent Worley, is it? Are you looking for me?"

"Yes, it is and Chief Barker is looking for you. He's in the kitchen preparing to leave for the race track with the Queen. We need to get a move on it she's scheduled to leave in under an hour," he said as she looked at his watch."

"Then lead the way and take me to him," said Carina as she followed Worley through various sitting rooms, a dinning room then finally back into the kitchen.

"Oh, there you are," said Cole as he sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in his hand. "I went back up to the room after I met with the Lord Chamberlain but you were gone…"

"I got up and you were gone so I got dressed and decided to find the kitchen but I got distracted looking around on the ground floor," she said as she took his coffee cup from him then took a sip. "Do I have time for breakfast?"

"I can rustle you up something fast. How about eggs and soldiers? Or how about an egg-in-a-hole? Your choice."

"I'll go with an egg-in-a-hole but this time try not to burn the toast," said Carina as she smiled at him over his cup.

"Oh, ye of little faith… just watch and learn. You know one of these days you could learn how to cook. Your future husband might appreciate a good homecooked meal," said Cole as he took down one of the skillets then tossed in a nob of butter.

"You do realize we've got a chef and cooks here to do that," said Worley as he stood in the doorway looking at his watch trying to hint to Cole to hurry up.

"I realize that but when I can I prefer to do my own cooking. Now I need bread and something to make a hole with."

"Boss," said Jonesy as he walked in but he stopped for a moment admiring his boss in an apron next to the stove.

"Jonesy what do you want?" said Cole as he melted the butter in the skillet. You came in here for a reason so spit it out man."

"Sorry to interrupt but we just got a call from a bloke called Chuck. It seems they've got a small vehicular problem this morning and he called over asking for our assistance."

"He should've called me. I'm the agent in charge," said Worley. "Did they say what kind of problem they had? I'm getting short on vehicles."

"They said they needed a spare tire." Everyone looked at him with a puzzled expression. "They said they needed a second spare tire."

"I can take care of that I'll have it sent over," said Worley as he started to radio it in.

"You don't have to I've already gotten everything together in our vehicle and I was about to run it over. I just wanted to let my Chief know where I was off to in case he needs me to do something for him while I'm out."

"Well yes maybe be there is," said Cole then he turned to Carina. "Do you want to go back over with Jonesy or go with me to the track? If you want to hang around with me I'm sure they can get on without you."

"Well if it's all the same then I'll go to the track with you. But if we see Billy Bob or your friend Nigel then we need to pretend we don't know each other."

"Nigel, is it? Well he's certainly not my friend. Hey don't tell me you drank all my coffee?" said Cole. Carina turned the cup upside down to show him it was all gone. "That's going to cost you young lady."

"Sorry, I'll get more so we can share. Please mind the skillet I think my egg-in-a-hole at least from the smell is risking to become dark golden brown with emphasis on dark."

"Already on it. Plating it now," said Cole as he took the skillet off the flame then slid the toast with egg in the center onto a plate. As he was doing the operation Jonesy coughed to get his attention.

"Oh sorry, right, yes go ahead and go. I'd like to hear how they ended up needing two spare tires something tells me there's a good story in there. I'll be back for you," said Cole to Carina as he kissed her. Then he took a big sip from their communal coffee cup.

"Where are you off too?" asked Carina as she started cutting up her breakfast to open the egg and let the toast absorb the liquid from the egg.

"I need to make a quick round of the house clearing the way for her Majesty to come down and get into her Rover to make the dash for the track."

"Remember I'm riding with her to the track. Since outside of this compound her security is my responsibility," said Worley protecting his kingdom.

"Don't worry I haven't forgotten nor could I since you're constantly reminding me. Are you going to come with me and we'll make this round together?"

"I'll lead the way and you can follow," said Worley. Cole looked back at her and rolled his eyes then the two left. Carina continued with her breakfast wondering when Cole was going to get fed up with Worley and take him out.

"You know most accidents happen in the house," she said to herself. "And I'm sure most of them are accidents."

Cole and Worley had just walked past the dinning room and were in the sitting room when Worley stopped and turned to Cole.

"I think I should inform you that we're launching a preemptive strike on the farm that your friends identified as hosting a group of possible hostiles. My Director decided he didn't want to wait around and see if they're going to strike us and when."

"Hostiles? I love the way you throw words around like hostiles… but wait a minute that wouldn't be where a certain Nigel Bishop is boarding? I heard something about him last night when I went to pick Carina up."

"I believe so but not to worry this will be taken care of soon. Ther won't be anything to worry about… no from them at least."

"I just hope you know what you're doing. Sir Bishop is a slippery fish and he's a close chum with our Home Minister and other parliamentary officials. You strike and turn up with nothing… You can expect a phone call from Downing street."

"We're going on the intel that was provided to us and on the sat feeds we've been receiving through the NSA. I don't think there can me much doubt that these people aren't up to something."

"Up to something doesn't mean they are going to attack us. Does General Beckman know about this plan or Chuck for that matter?"

"I'm telling you out of courtesy because we need to work together. Other people will be told as the need arises that decision lies with my Director and him only. Don't make me regret bringing you into our circle."

"Circle? I just hope you people know what you're doing. Were you able to get that bomb dog on the front gate like I asked and are your guards searching vehicles?"

"I told the guards to start searching vehicles but the bomb dog hasn't arrived yet. I put in the request but I was told that it will be a couple of days before they can free one up for us."

"You know Lord Mountbatten, second cousin once removed of Elizabeth II, was killed by the IRA, who placed a bomb in his fishing boat in Ireland and you people treat her Majesty's visit as if it were your grandmother who's dropped in for tea and biscuits."

"You mean cookies... coffee and cookies."

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The time for the teleconference came. Natasha helped Nigel prepare applying makeup to make him look good for the camera. He walked over to a desk with a webcam sitting on it and a large monitor on the wall. Sitting to his right was Natasha and to his left was Billy Bob. Notable people missing was LeRoy and Major Moore. The monitor flickered without a picture all that Sir Bishop could see were ants in a snow storm.

"We're all present at this end I did a roll call and we can see you clearly. Some of the gentlemen here want to get this over with so they can get back to work. Can you kindly begin," said LeRoy's voice from the monitor.

"Very well… where do I begin? I could begin with my humble birth many years ago… well not that many years ago but some years ago on the wind swept Island of Man in the Irish sea but I'd risk boring you."

"Can you get on with," said one of the men. There was some mumbling and low voices but not loud enough to be understood.

"Okay… well I could tell you that when in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…"

"Mr. Bishop," said another man cutting him off again. "We are all too familiar with the Declaration of Independence and we'd like to know what this rambling is about. We expected to hear your reasons why we should join forces to make a name for our organization and yourself. But so far all we've heard is… well for a lack of a better word blabbering fit for the late King George."

"Well, let me try to explain better. You see in this endeavor there is a risk factor… a factor that has to be taken into consideration. I could succeed with ease and obtain what I want with little or no resistance. But the rub comes in if things don't go as planned… that's a problem because I will have shown my hand how do I go back to status quo. Do any of you have an answer for what I should do?"

"Sir, we are not here to answer your questions but you to explain to us why we need get involved with your folly and folly it is from what I've heard so far."

"That is a little harsh assessment of my plans. I think my plans are no more a 'folly' using your definition then a group of men who've hung in the shadows since 1783 waiting and watching. I bet your brotherhood got its hopes built up during the war of 1812 and sided with the south during the civil war but that didn't go well for you either. Now you're reduced to this a group of bankers and money lenders working behind the scenes trying to manipulate events. You my dear friends have become a paper tiger…"

"For someone who says they need our assistance you certainly are an arrogant so and so," said one of the men.

"Modesty has never really been one of my strong suits. You can ask my wife if you like but I think she'll agree with me," said Sir Bishop as his phone rang. "One second I need to take this," he said. There was a round of murmuring that could be heard over from the monitor.

"Speak and I hope you've got good news. … You're in position and ready to move in. …. That is good news. Go for it. You know what you need to do," said Nigel.

"Mr. Bishop, we were going to ask you about the American spy and how she got so close to you but I think we can all agree that further discussion is of no use so I'm afraid we're going to have to turn you…" But Nigel cut him off.

"You asked me what I was doing and why I was rambling. I can tell you now. It's called stalling and if you look out your window you will see men approaching your location… armed men… my men. Love," said Nigel as he looked over at Natasha. "How does the line go?"

"I think you're looking for 'resistance is futile'," said Natasha as she smiled back at him. Billy Bob started to get up but Nigel put his hand on his shoulder and pushed him back into his seat.

"Baron Thaddeus where are you going? Don't you want to see what you helped me achieve? Can we have a visual now," said Nigel. The monitor came on as the group of men looked at each other perplex and cowed in circle in the middle of the room as they heard the sound of small arms fire. "You don't look so powerful now."

"What have you done?" said Billy Bob aka Baron Thaddeus now. He looked at horror as the other members of the brotherhood were rounded up and those who resisted were immediately neutralized without any questions asked.

"What have I done? You mean what have we done? You helped me tremendously by setup the peer-to-peer connection. It wasn't difficult for my people to trace the connection back to the other end and you kindly had everyone gathered together for me in one place so the Major could take them in one quick move. See there's Major Moore now coming into the room. Major, what's your situation?"

"Our objectives have been met with no losses on our side. We have most of the brotherhood… that is we have all of the ones that are still alive. Some opted out but that was to be expected. We're beginning extraction and sanitizing. Once were done here we'll rendezvous at the new location."

"Roger that we'll see you there later. Well that was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Llater we'll go talk to our friends vis-à-vis. I want all this hardware dismantled and the hard drives destroyed."

"I'll supervise that," said Natasha. "You might want to offer your first baron a drink he's looking a little pale. But make sure he isn't about to heave.

"What have you done? They'll think I orchestrated their capture," said Billy Bob as he sunk into his seat with his head in his hands. They'll be coming after me when you let them go and even if you don't they have friends. It won't take them long to figure out I had a hand in this."

"Thaddeus… do you mind if I call you Thaddeus from now on Billy Bob as a baron just doesn't cut it," said Nigel as he led Thaddeus into an adjoining room.

"You can call me dead too because that's what I'll be soon. I can't believe you did this to me. LeRoy… I need to know if LeRoy is all right? Please tell me you didn't hurt him."

"We'll check on him later but he seemed like a sensible chap. I'm sure he could figure out it was better to surrender then try to fight it out."

"That's meager consolation considering the hole you dug for me," said Thaddeus as he took the glass of bourbon Nigel offered guzzling it down. Nigel filled it again.

"Thaddeus I hate to tell you this but you did orchestrate all this… now whether you knew what you were doing or not is another thing. However, for the brotherhood you were and are an accessory before and after the fact."

"Is that supposed make me feel better because if it is it's not working," said Thaddeus as Nigel poured him another drink. The third one started to take the edge off of things but no matter how much he drank he knew he was in it neck deep and drowning.

"I know it's early in the day but drink this," said Nigel as he passed him another glass. "You've got a decision to make. You can ride the current with us which mean a title and change of life style or you can go join your friends… you brothers but I can't guarantee what kind of welcome reception you'll receive."

"And you call that a choice. They'll tear me to spreads with their bare hands," said Thaddeus. He knew for better or worse his wagon was hitched to Bishop's tractor. "I have no desire to become pulled pork."

"A very interesting analogy. You people do like to do things with your hands and I guess that answers Natasha's question earlier."

"What are you talking about," said Thaddeus. Everything around him was a little foggy now. He even wondered if what had happened had really happened or if was actually asleep and this was some sort of nightmare. He'd wake up soon and it would all be gone.

"You might want to go easy on that," said Nigel as Thaddeus downed another glass. "You won't find any answers in the bottom of a bottle."

"No," said Thaddeus as he held the glass up to look at it. "But when I wake up all this will be over and things will go back the way they were. A dream is all this is… no a nightmare. It's got to be."

"Sorry my dear man but that isn't going to happen. The only thing that's going to happen if you keep up drinking like you are is you're going to have one very bad hangover but nothing else will change."

"I was afraid you were going to tell me that," said Thaddeus as he downed what was left then sat the glass down. Baron Thaddeus Mayfair the third does have a good ring to it doesn't it?"

"Yes it does and if the table was turned what decision would your brother chose. I don't think they would have any qualms about jumping onboard the boat."

"No, I don't think they would either. Well there is only one thing I can do and that is paddle. I certainly don't want to sink."

"See now you're talking. Who knows when we talk to your brothers maybe we'll be able to convert a few of them to our side. You know them better than anyone else so why don't you go and take pen and paper. Make me a list of names of the people who are most likely to jump ship and join us. Think you can do that for me?"

"Sure I can do that… yes that's good. I can show them I'm trying to barter a deal with you for them. It just might work. Thanks, I'll get right on it," said Thaddeus then he disappeared.

"What was that," asked Natasha. "You can't be serious. How can you trust any of them after you captured them. They'll say anything to get free."

"I know but once I have the list written by Thaddeus in his own handwriting who's to say that it wasn't written before we grabbed them. A list of brothers separated from the rest for some reason. They really will tear him apart afterwards."

"Like pulled pork," said Natasha. "I heard the analogy but it won't be much of an analogy when they get their hands on him."

"No it won't. How are things going in the other room? Are they done in there so we can leave? I want to go somewhere for some crepes."

"Let me go check," said Natasha then she left and went back into the other room where the technicians were still working.

"Sir we've got visitors," said one of his men running in from the outside. "They look like they're some sort of Federal agents."

"Natasha love, did you hear that? We've got guests coming. How is everything coming along in there?"

"We're drilling the last hard drive and the rest are sitting in acid so we're good to go. Why don't you go outside and meet them? You're good at stalling people."

"I think I will and I might give a wakeup call to the Home Minister. This is going to be even more than what we had before."