Don't own Chuck
Casey and Sarah pulled into the farm and drove over the shed where they parked. They were beat when they got out but they still had to report into Langley about what they'd seen. Casey looked at his watch it was late but it was still early enough for him to contact his friend back at Fort Meade. They walked into the back door into the kitchen. Jack was sitting at the table watching Bunny in her play pen.
"Where is everyone," asked Sarah as she looked around and only saw Jack and Bunny. Casey came in behind her and noticed the same thing.
"Chuck's up in your room giving Sam a bath then getting her ready for bed. She looked like Pigpen from Charlie Brown and needed a good scrub down. I don't know where she got all that dirt from. It almost looked like she'd been rooting. Reminds me of someone else her age I used to know."
"Please tell me you guys saved us something to eat," said John as he went to the fridge and got a beer. "You want one?" he asked looking at Sarah.
"Yeah, I could use one," she said. John popped the cap off of one then passed it to her. "So where is everyone else?"
"Carina never came back with the Schnook. I don't know what the story is there. Morgan, Willy and Joe went to the bunkhouse. Sean brought back Buffalo wings so they're all there. Clive, his daughter and Roscoe are still in the stable. They said something about bedding down the horses."
"There'd better be some wings left when I get down there or someone isn't going to be happy," said John. "I wouldn't be so hungry if someone hadn't eaten my apples."
"We don't want to get into why I ate them do we? Check the oven. I'm sure Chuck saved us something if Morgan didn't get into it first."
"That's one of the reasons I'm here. The Schnook asked me to make sure no one grabbed the plates he made for you two." John opened the oven.
"It looks like cold pasta with some sort of meat sauce. I wonder if this was made by that world renown Chef… Boyardee?"
"Funny, let's go report in then come back down warm this up then I'm going to have a bath and go to sleep."
"At least you got in your five portions of fruit and vegetables today," said Casey as they turned to go upstairs.
"You're not going to let go the fact that I ate your apples, are you? Need I remind you the reason we had to stay this late was because you couldn't stay put and almost blew the mission."
"I didn't almost blow anything. I took a calculated risk and then I extracted myself. I had everything under control the whole time."
"Really, well if what you did was well calculated you need a new calculator because I saw someone lying in tall grass with their posterior exposed waiting for it to be kicked. If I hadn't provided you with a signal you'd still be lying there trying to act like a ground hog who'd seen his shadow."
"Very funny, and for your information I was lying there waiting for an opportunity to move. I saw it clear as day and I didn't need you to signal me when to move."
"Oh really, it was kind of hard to see where all the sentinels were at with your face buried in the grass or do you have eyes in the back of your head now too?"
"We need to get our stories straight before we contact the General," said Casey as they walked into Sarah and Chuck's room.
"Let me guess things didn't go as planned," said Chuck as he was passing Sam clothes through the door. Sarah gave him a puzzled look. "I washed her hair in the sink but she took her own bath. I wasn't allowed in because I'm a boy."
"Well that's debatable," said Casey as he finished his beer. Chuck gave him a look back but just shook it off. Obviously there was more going on he didn't know about.
"When did this start? Give me her clothes. John, I'm listening from the other side of this door so don't lie when you brief the General."
"It's not lying," yelled Sam from the bathroom. "It's called providing alterative facts. You can come in but boys have to stay out." Chuck started to say something but Casey shut him down.
"Not one word Bartowski or you won't be a boy anymore. If you understand what I'm telling you. Now log me on I need to get this briefing done quickly…."
"Before Sarah can come out and contradict you. I think you mean to say," said Chuck as he sat down in front of the tablet and logged on. He felt Casey's grunt on the back of his neck.
"Do you know your wife goes around and steals other people's apples?" said Casey. Chuck waited for the pun but none came. He gave Casey a look as the screen flickered then the General came on in an evening dress all made up for a night on the town.
"I knew you'd been in service a long-time Colonel but I didn't know your first mission was in the garden of Eden," said Beckman. Chuck just smiled trying not to laugh. "I was just on my way out so please can we move this along. I'm in a hurry."
"Yes Ma'am," said Casey. "We were able to infiltrate one of the Black holes and we found something interesting," he said as he went on to describe the weapons and munition he'd discovered. "… but the only problem Ma'am is they moved it while I was there. I'm going to contact friends of mine in Fort Meade to try the have them track the vehicle that was used to the new location."
"No don't do that. We traced the mole who we think contacted Bishop about the Secret Service's raid to Fort Meade. If you contact them and the mole finds out then he or she will call Bishop warning him that we're on to his location. One agency with egg on their face is enough."
"Well, maybe we don't have to raid them. Jack is going to meet up with Bishop and Billy Bob tomorrow to play poker. Jack can be our eyes inside the farmhouse. That was the only building you couldn't get into," said Chuck. "Maybe we'll find out more and give us some reason to raid the place."
"If we do raid we need to make sure ours is more successful than the Secret Service's. Chuck, I should tell you I got a glimpse of the preliminary write up about the Bishop incident and it is as you thought. They're laying the blame on Worley. If have nothing more for me I'm done. I hate to run but I need to go. I'm late as it is."
"And what does a General do when she hangs up her stars in the evening," said Chuck smiling like the cat who ate the canary.
"Chuck, that's none of your business," said Casey as he growled. "I'm sorry Ma'am, request permission to slap Chuck."
"Permission denied. Stand down Colonel. If you have to know I'm meeting Roan and we're going to watch Hamilton. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. If there's nothing else Beckman out."
"Did you hear that John… stand down Colonel."
"Why you…."
[Meanwhile in the bathroom]
"So what is this about not letting your father give you a bath," said Sarah as she helped Sam out of the tub. "You know you could slip and fall while you're in the tub. Then what would happen?"
"I could get a concussion or contusion which could lead to internal cranial swelling which then could cause unconsciousness… but somehow I don't think that's what you wanted me to say."
"You could've simply said an opsey but you are your father's daughter. Sam this is serious you are still too little to take a bath by yourself even if you don't think you are. I won't always be around to give you one so you're going to have to put up with your father being with you."
"But we worked out a deal that was good as well as fun. We had a sing along he sat outside and sang with me while I was in the tub."
"Okay but next time you can close the curtains and he can sit inside while you have your sing along. I like that option better and what is this about you becoming a dust bunny?"
"You talked to Jack. I was playing in the stable with Sir Winston… and I really wasn't that dirty just a little dirty."
"Well looking at the bath water I'd say more than a little. Are you bored staying here all the time? Would you like to come with us tomorrow to the auction? I don't see why you couldn't"
"No… no," said Sam as she had to think quickly. "No that would be boring. No, I'll just stay here. Alicia is going to be here tomorrow and she and I are going to take care of the horses."
"What horses? They're supposed to auction off Lord Nelson tomorrow or that was the plan before we left this morning."
"No that's changed. There's a new plan now. They aren't auctioning him off anymore. Alicia thinks it has to do with something she said to Chuck but I don't know."
"To do with your father you say? Why would she think that? You're going to have to tell me everything she said. I want you to start at the very beginning and don't leave anything out," said Sarah as she started combing Sam's hair.
"Well there's not much to say," said Sam as she told Sarah everything that happened and what Chuck said.
"Humm that is strange," said Sarah. She would interrogate him afterwards and get to the bottom of this.
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Sean was in the bunkhouse talking with the guys telling how great it was to have a girlfriend and how wonderful she was. Morgan was sipping on a grape soda listening to Sean and trying not to laugh at Willy and Joe. They were still chowing down on Buffalo wings sweating as they ate.
"It's getting a little warm in here, isn't it? Maybe you should have them dial back the heat on the wings," said Morgan. But they showed no sign of slowing up if anything the exact opposite.
"No, that's what makes them good. Bring on the heat," said Willy as he wiped his forehead with what he thought was the clean part of the back of his hand but smeared Buffalo sauce across it.
"You look like the Buffalo wing commando now. I wonder if this was how Rambo started out," said Morgan as he handed Willy a napkin to clean his forehead.
"Come on guys haven't you been listening," said Sean. He was beginning to wonder if anyone was paying attention him. "Come on I need a little help here. Did I screw up royal by not going home with her tonight?"
"Well it's hard to say," said Morgan. "Love is a fickle thing and sometimes women are a mystery. Take my friend Chuck for example he and Sarah had this on and off again relationship for a long time. They saw other people but none of that ever lasted. Either they broke up or the other person got killed," said Morgan. He saw Sean's look. "But what's important to take away from this is that they always came back to each other so I guess I'm saying is if it's love you'll be able to tell by the bloom."
"But he who dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose," said Joe. Everyone turned and looked at him.
"Joe, you're a man of few words but when you speak people listen," said Morgan as he took a sip from his grape soda. "That was really deep man."
"Deep? What? I read that one time on a chocolate wrapper," said Joe as he let out a loud belch. "Oh, that one burnt all the way up. Can I get a sip of your grape soda?"
"And I share your backwash I don't think so. Geez I thing you've wilted whatever bloom was on the plant. If not the plant too," said Morgan as he fanned but there was nothing that could be done other than run outside for fresh air. All this talk about girlfriends was making him miss Alex. He thought about calling her and even had his phone out in his hand but as he started to call he saw Casey coming down from the house.
"Who are you calling? What's going on inside and why are you out here? Don't tell me you had an urge to howl at the moon and they kicked you out?"
"Funny but no Joe and Willy are eating Buffalo wings and Joe just belched. The air inside is heavy with hot sauce so heavy that I had to leave to get some relief."
"Yeah, that's the problem with hot wings they're deadly the second time around. It's almost like tear gas. Is Sean in there? I need to talk with him."
"Yeah, but take it easy on him. He thinks he's found the love of his life and now he thinks he might've screwed things up. She wanted him to go home with her but he wanted to slow the romance down and came back here instead. Now he's wondering if he made the right decision."
"Looks like I might not need to talk to him then. I hope you told him he did," said Casey. Morgan looked back at him like he was crazy. "Oh, you didn't' did you? Listen up you can't make a real decision if your with a woman. They'll get their claws into you and you'll do whatever they want you to do. The only way to break free is…"
"Shoot them… is that where you were going with this?"
"Sometimes you're smarter than you look. I was going to say leave them but shooting them… preferably in the head will work too. I leave or they die it's all the same."
"I won't even comment on how messed up that is but thanks for the compliment I think."
"Don't mention it," said Casey then he went inside. "Geez someone open a window or something in here. You guys are animals."
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[Meanwhile back in town]
"I can't believe you let him go like that," said Louise. "You should've tried harder to get him to come back here. Like this what happens if his friends talk him out of seeing you again or he gets cold feet?"
"He isn't going to get cold feet and everything is under control. When you go fishing you don't beat the fish in the head with the bait. You dangle it in front of him then lure him to the bait."
"That's why I like meat instead… yes a nice steak any day. You just knock the cow in the head then gut it. No dancing with my meal for me."
"Well whatever the deed is done. We're meeting tomorrow at the arboretum near the University and having a picnic then talk about going to the Gala."
"Here look at this. This is a map of the area and here is their farm," said Louise as she pointed it out. "Everyone will be busy at the Gala which will mean that they'll have their guard down and give us an open window. I should be able to get to the farm without being detected. Then when you arrive with Sean we'll make our move. You look apprehensive. Is something wrong?"
"No everything looks good to me. I can't wait to get this over with," said Gladys as she went over and poured herself a drink. "This whole affair is getting old."
"Just a little while longer love," said Louise as she walked over and took the drink from Gladys' hand then took a sip from it before handing it back to her. "Yes, just a little bit longer then we'll find some nice sunny place to relax by the ocean. It's not the plan that's bothering you but who's involved, isn't it?"
"I just wish there was some way out that didn't involve killing Sean. He's a nice guy and… well really doesn't deserve to die… not like this."
"I figured this was going to be a problem for you. If you want, I'll do it for you. But love, you have to remember we're black widows and this is what we do. We eat our mates."
"I know that and no I don't want you to do Sean for me. This is something I have to do. He's my asset and I need to be the one to terminate him."
"Now that's my girl. Come to bed it's late and we need to get up tomorrow and pack your picnic basket. I was thinking about marmite."
"You either love it or you don't. I don't."
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Sarah finished getting Sam ready for bed then once she got her under the covers tucked in Sam asked Chuck to tell her a bedtime story. Chuck had been rocking Bunny in his arms to get her to go to sleep but she'd slept too much during the day and now wasn't showing any signs of wanting to close her eyes.
"Give Bunny to me and you can tell Sam her story," said Sarah as she took Bunny from him then went to their bedroom.
"So what do you want me to tell you tonight. Do you want to hear the one about the one about Snow White and the Seven Morgans or Cinderella - secret agent undercover… master of disguises?"
"No," laughed Sam but as she was laughing her laugh turned into a yawn. "No, how about Little Red Riding Hood and the misunderstood wolf or Goldilocks and the three bears… a case of breaking and entering."
"Well once upon a time there was a little girl who was walking through the woods and she'd been walking for a long time when she came upon a cottage in the middle of the forest…"
"I know… I know she was tired and wanted to sit down but her mother told her not to get her clothes dirty. And this little girl always obeyed her parents so…"
"So after ringing the doorbell and no one answering she decided she needed to sit down. She pulled out a set of lock picks and opened the door then she walked inside. What did she do next?"
"She yelled out 'is there anyone home'," said Sam as she yawned halfway through her answer. Her eyelids started to close. "Go on I'm listening. Go to where she found pizzas on the table."
"One pizza was a combination with everything. Goldilocks took a bite but she didn't like it. Then she went over to the next one and tried it…
"But it had anchovies on it and she snarled up her nose then passed on to the last one. It was a vegetarian with no olives. She ate it all up," said Sam as she drifted off to sleep. Chuck got up kissed her on the forehead then started to leave.
"Hey I was waiting for the end," said Sarah as she stood in the doorway. "I feel cheated somehow," she said as she kissed him.
"The story doesn't have an end because she's never lasted to the finish," said Chuck as he kissed her back. "I see you had better luck with Bunny than I did."
"I guess she just wanted her mother," said Sarah as they went back to their bedroom. Chuck went over and looked at Bunny all snuggled up sound asleep.
"Doesn't she look like a little angel," said Chuck as Sarah came up behind him and rubbed his back. "I guess you had quite the adventure today with Casey or at least that's what I got from listening to his after-action to the General."
"I don't know if I would call it an adventure… more a misadventure. And what's this about the Queen deciding not to auction off Lord Nelson. Sam says Alicia thinks you had something to do with it," said Sarah. She saw the look on Chuck's face. "Chuck, tell me you didn't have anything to do with changing the Queen's mind and before you answer remember our promise."
"Well I might've had something to do with it," said Chuck as he yawned. "You know it's getting late and we really need to go to sleep. Tomorrow will be here before you know it. Didn't you say you were tired?"
"Chuck, what did you do?" said Sarah but all she got back from Chuck was a low snoring sound. "Okay we can put this off until tomorrow but I'll have your intel one way or another."
"Her Majesty and I did a nice chat today over tea," said Chuck. Sarah jumped on him and started tickling him.
"I knew you were faking. Come here I'm going to make you pay," she said as she wrestled him on the bed.
"Okay, okay I give but we need to hold it down or we'll wake Bunny. Let's get some sleep and I'll explain everything in the morning."
"You're up to something but I guess it can wait," she said as she yawned. "Until tomorrow. I love you," she said as she laid her head on his chest.
"I love you too," he said as he reached and switched off the lights.
