Don't own Chuck

Casey sat down opposite Mary as Chuck stepped out. Chuck went about making coffee but if his mother wanted some she'd have to come and get it herself. He was standing there watching the coffee drip down into the pot but as it dripped he suddenly felt very tired. The weight of his last mission combined with the lack of sleep was catching up with him. He was about to doze off in his chair when the Major came to join him.

"Do you mind if I get a cup of that and from the look on your face I should pour you one too," said the Major as he grabbed two cups setting one in front of Chuck. "You might want to cut the Colonel a little slack these next few days."

"Really why? What's going on?" said Chuck as his attention piqued and he suddenly was wide awake again as the intersect kicked in. "Does this have to do with why my Mom called him in?"

"Yes, I don't know if I should be telling you this but you need to know. A man called Fry, the Colonel served with was murdered this night in Port Saint Thomas…"

"That's where Beckman and Roan are going on vacation. Are they in trouble? Is there any connection with our General, this Fry and Casey? I don't seem to have anything in the intersect."

"I had the same thought and did a quick check myself down in the vault before I left but as far as I could find out there's no connection among those three. As far as I can tell General Fry went there on vacation too just his was permanent. He'd just retired and left the Pentagon for a much-deserved holiday. He wanted to relax and blow off a little steam but unfortunately for him that's what got him killed."

"I don't understand," said Chuck as he took a sip of his coffee. "What killed him? A heart attack? But you said it was a murder? Are you sure foul play was involved?"

"Of that there can be no doubt you see the body of an escort was found in his room with him. Let's say the General was found in a compromising position in bed. He had a Colt .45 in his hand and she was killed with a .45 slug through the head… Not a pretty sight. However, before she was shot she threw a knife that landed in the General's chest. It was dusted for prints and came back positive for her. It's being called a robbery gone wrong."

"I don't know why I'm asking this but are there any crime scene photos I can look at. Not that I really want to but something doesn't sound right?"

"Like what," said Mary as she and Casey walked up behind him. "I came to see what was taking so long with my coffee?"

"It's still in the pot if you want it. Like you said before about things Beckman never did… I never fetched coffee for her. But getting back to our dead General, I don't see why kill someone over a wallet? There's nothing inside it that can't be replaced and certainly not worth taking a life for. The General probably has seen his fill of senseless killings."

"He was special forces and things could've spiraled out of hand. He caught the girl with his wallet in her hands, she pulled the knife then he drew his pistol."

"From where? From what I was told he was found in a compromising position which translates without clothes on. I guess he could've had it under his pillow but the dynamics don't add up. She pulls a knife, he goes fishing for his pistol under the pillow then what? If she waits for him to get it then throws the knife. No, if she panicked she would've thrown the knife. The question is would he've had time to get a shot off and hit her?"

"Actually, from the report there were two shots that were discharged," said the Major. Mary gave the Major a look. "I'm sorry ma'am but it's in the report."

"Okay then something definitely that doesn't add up. She pulls the knife, he reaches for his weapon supposedly under his pillow he fires as she throws. That's one shot accounted for but the other? Are we even sure the weapon is his? He just retired and yet he still goes around packing."

"I would've," said Casey. "I see where you're going with this but the General... well the General wasn't my favorite person. He's the one who kept me out of Spec For and how I got tied up with Keller and his Black Op missions. I have no regrets but my life would've been a lot different if he'd chosen me. Starting with my relationship with Kat and Alex, I would've been a real father to her. We can't undo the past and maybe it's that past that finally caught up with the General."

"That being said I think we should look a little deeper into his death. We could send in a team from Roosevelt Roads and have them look into. The first thing we'd need is a preliminary autopsy then get his body back to Langley where we can run a more extensive one and see if everything adds up."

"Thank you, Charles, for your advice but I'm the one who has to make that call," said Mary as she looked at him but he stared right back at her. She paused as she thought.

"Major, you heard the agent. Make it happen and route me the report right away. The only thing I want different is I'd like the autopsy done here so we're going to have to have the body brought to L.A. After that I want it turned over to his family. There's no reason to put them through any undue hardship. I understand he had a daughter and an ex-wife."

"That's right Ma'am. They live near Camp Pendleton but I'm afraid they haven't been notified that the General is dead yet. This happened only a little while ago and I'm afraid that detail has fallen through the crack. I'll contact the base immediately and have them send a CACO officer along with the base Chaplain to pay a visit and do the notification."

"Like hell you will," said Casey. "I may not have liked the man but he was a Marine and I worked for him even if it was just for a little while. I'll go make that visit after all it's the least I can do from one Marine to another. I'll go home and pulled out my dress uniform from mothballs then head out... it seems only proper."

"Big Guy, do you mind if I go with you," said Chuck. "I know what it's like to lose your father and maybe I can help them."

"I think that's a good idea," said Mary. "Here's the address we have on file for them. You can tell them it will be a few days before we release the body and you might not want to give them the full story about how the General died. If you know what I mean."

"You mean in his underwear with a dead hooker in the room?"

"Yeah, that one."

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Diane had just finished packing while Roan was sitting in her living room when her phone rang. Roan didn't like the look on her face and he tried to listen in as much as he could. However, he could only pick up bites and pieces none of which were good. He understood that their trip might have to be put on hold depending on the outcome of her call. He tried to read her face but she read his before he read hers. She pointed towards her bar and made a gesture like she wanted a drink.

"You want me to mix us Martins?" She nodded back as she continued to talk on the phone. Now he was really confused. "You cry into your beer," he said to himself. "And you celebrate with champagne but what does a Martini mean? … no Martini no party? But that was a George Clooney commercial. I don't know if that works in this case."

He went about mixing the Martini…

"Four parts gin to two parts vermouth for two Martinis," he mumbled to himself as he poured in each over ice. "You can make this in your sleep," he said as he stirred.

"Never shake… no one wants their Martini watered down no matter what James Bond says." Then he poured it out into two short glasses and finishing them off with a garnish of green olives. By the time he'd finished and was handing Diane her drink she was hanging up.

"Here you go," he said as he put the glass in her hand. "Just what the doctor order. So, tell me are we a go or do I need a beer to go with this to cry into?"

"Well, Agent Carmichael pointed out some things that are unclear about the General's," said Diane as she took a sip of her Martini. "Hum, not bad but you've made better."

"I did the best I could but your gin isn't top shelf. So, why are you trying to kill me? Are we a go or not? Of course, Charles pointed out some things were unclear. He wouldn't be himself if he didn't but that doesn't mean we should investigate it. The man was retired so we should let the local police handle it… at the most since he was a Marine this should be turned over to NCIS."

"Don't worry, we're still leaving," said Diane as she took another sip. "I left this up to Mary to handle. She's the Acting Director so I told her to act. People bite it all the time and it's not up to me to supervise all the investigations into suspicious deaths."

"I couldn't have put it better," said Roan as he downed his Martini and started eating the olives.

"I'm kind of sorry for old French Fry," said Roan as he mixed another round.

"French Fry? That's kind of cold to call someone whose dead. His first name was Frank according to his service jacket."

"That's what we called when he wasn't around in Honduras," said Roan as he poured himself a fresh Martini. "Don't you remember, I told you about him."

"He was the guy you said screwed up your op into the jungle. The one where you were trying to put a face on that rebel leader?"

"Yeah, that was the guy. I was about to meet her and his team went all killer elite taking out the people who were supposed to take me to her."

"Why am I not surprised that there was a 'her' involved. Listen up on this trip I'd better not catch any wander eyes mister or we're going to have trouble."

"No wandering eyes on this trip. But to be clear, we didn't know there was a she in charge at the time. I found that out when one of her men let that slip right. He said her name was Rosenda that was his last words before a .50 caliber round passed through his head. If only I'd been able to talk to him a little more."

"At least the rebels were equal opportunity employers. I had to work my butt off to get where I'm at today," said Beckman as she started eating her olives.

"I wonder what happened to her. You got me transferred to Berlin and I lost track of French Fry. I remember I was kind of hard on him and his men in my after-action report but they deserved it."

"Well, not every mystery needs to be solved and whatever happened to this Rosenda is one of them. Remember what I said about wandering eyes."

"Diane my eyes and the rest of me are all yours on this holiday. Let's finish our drinks then we can call a cab for the airport. I've arranged for a charter to fly us down."

"Don't we need to run by your place to get your bag," said Diane. She had two by the door and Roan had none.

"I travel light everything I need is right here," he said as he tapped the pocket of his jacket. "I've got my toothbrush right here. Anything else I might need I can get once we arrive. So it's a go… shall we pull the trigger on this vacation."

"I'd like that. Yes, let's pull the trigger."

A few hours later and they were sitting on their charter jet looking out the window as they rolled out on the tarmac at Dulles. A half hour later they were in the sky heading down the Atlantic seaboard. Roan got up as soon as the 'fasten seat belt' sign went off. He went forward then came back with two glasses of champagne.

"Here's to our much-deserved vacation," said Roan as he handed her one of the glasses. "This is to the beginning of a holiday you won't soon forget."

They both drank up then Roan went got the bottle then came back and sat down next to her smiling. He filled her glass again.

"Drink up. There's more where this came from."

"That's what I'm worried about."

[Meantime in Port Saint Thomas]

Luiz rode in the van with Donna Rosenda back to the villa on the outskirts of town located near the water. They'd just pulled into garage when his phone rang. He checked the number before answering it. He didn't say anything he just listen and looked over at Donna Rosenda. She could tell he was being told something she should know so she waited for him to get off the line.

"Thanks, keep me informed… don't worry you'll be taken care of. I want to know as soon as they land got that? … All right, then later," he said then hung up.

"What is it? I only want good news so be careful what you say," she said. She'd waited next to the van while he was on the phone but not patiently.

"The people you're waiting for are in the air. They're on a chartered flight out of Dulles that's due in here late this afternoon."

"Good make sure we have people at the airport ready to follow them in case they make any last-minute stops or changes. I don't want any surprises."

"Certainly, but why don't we just grab them after they leave the airport. They won't be expecting it and we'll have the element of surprise..."

"Then they don't show up on the cruise boat and the alarm is sounded. G-men while descend on the island like flocks of crows. We won't get two steps off before they grab us. No, we stick with the plan. Just have faith, it's a good one."

"Very well but speaking of G-men, I heard from a friend in the police that they've been ordered to turn over their files on the General's death to a special field agent. It seems your little robbery gone wrong didn't fly or at least they've decided to take a second look."

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that our guests arrive and then they go sailing. Once we grab them this special agent can investigate as much as he likes because we won't be here. Make sure your people following our guests aren't seen. And remind them what I said about failure."

"Everyone knows," said Luiz. He wondered if Rosenda applied that rule to herself. They could've come up with another method of taking the General out but she had to do it herself. Now there was this special agent and Juanita was dead too. The whole thing seemed so senseless.

"I'm going to go up to my room and get some rest. I feel a little sleepy after staying up all night but when I get up I will want a full briefing."

"I may not be here when you wake up. I'm going to run out to the airport and supervise the following of our targets personally. You pointed out that there's no margin for error."

"That's a good idea. Okay, just try to keep me posted where you are Luiz and remember why we're doing this. Your father would be proud of you."

"Thank you, mother," said Luiz as they parted. He stood there for a moment and watched her disappear into the house before he got back into the van. "Run me to the airport," he told the driver as he sat looking out the window from the passenger's seat.

He was getting revenge for a man he never knew. She reminded him constantly about what happened to his father until the point that his father became more a myth than a real person. She even had what he jokingly called her altar too him complete with a photo, candles and flowers.

"This was no way to raise a child, he said looking at the children playing in the street.

"They're only playing ball?" said the driver thinking that Luiz was talking about the kids. "It's harmless enough and they are careful to the cars."

"What? No... just drive. Once we get there you can drop me off. I'll find our men and ride back with them. Hang around the villa until I get back and make sure no one bothers Donna Rosenda while she's resting. She wouldn't like if she's disturbed without good cause."

"Yes sir, I'll make it happen and sorry if I overstepped before about what I said about the children. I meant no..."

"No problem, don't worry about it... besides kids need to play. They shouldn't be cooped up inside the house. We live in a paradise and they should enjoy it," he said thinking he wished he'd been able too. But that hadn't been possible, not for him… Not for the son of Pablito the rebel and Donna Rosenda.

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Sam was in her room doing a quick inventory of what she had and what she still needed when Chuck came home. This gave him the opportunity to tell Sarah everything about what had happened and what they were going to do while Sam was out of earshot. In the meantime, Casey had gone next door to change into his dress uniform. Chuck was just finishing explaining when both Casey and Sam walked in.

"This pesky dress uniform must've shrunk. They do that when you don't use them for a while. Are you ready to go? I want to be on the road before the traffic gets bad."

"You're not going to come with us to get my school stuff?" said Sam. "I was hoping we could all go together."

"Sorry Sweet Pea, but I've got something to do with Casey. I tell you what you can show me everything you got when I come home this evening."

"It's not the same. You make shopping fun… you play with all the toys and the people in the store look at you like you're crazy until Mommy tells you to behave. What is it you always tell him," said Sam as she deepened her voice. "It's like having a third child with us."

"My voice does not sound like that but what you said is true. But Chuck has something important to do so you're going to have to put up with just me."

"Oh, I almost forgot my Mom said she'll be joining you guys and not to worry about telling her where you're at she'll track you down."

"Gee that's just wonderful," said Sarah as she rolled her eyes. "I look forward to her help," she said then she mumbled "like a bullet in the head."

"Don't worry, this too will pass like kidney stones," he whispered to her then gave her a kiss. She smiled back at him.

"At least you understand how I feel. You just hurry up and get home as soon as you can," she said then she kissed him back.

"Yuck, I think I'm going to be sick. Come on Bartowski we've got work to do and you're burning daylight gallivanting around."

"If I'm going gallivanting with whom better to gallivanting with other than my wife."

"Oh just shut up and come on before I have to hurt you," said John as he grabbed Chuck by the arm and they were gone.

"Okay let me see that list. Twelve number two pencils, is that for the whole year? It can't be for just the first day."

"And the twenty-four Crayons, common senses says twenty-four different colors but it doesn't say that. I could show up with twenty-four Crayons of the same color."

"Now you're sounding like your father. How are you doing on all this other stuff? The Fiskar Scissors, I know you don't have those. You know just to make sure let's just get everything on the list. I'll get Bunny ready then we can go."

"There's no need to get the box of tissues that's on the list. I'm not going to cry when you guys dump me off and then leave."

"Firstly, no one is going to dump you off. We're going to take you to school and secondly the box of tissues is for us when we cry seeing you fly the nest. Boo-hoo, boo-hoo," she said as she pretended to cry as she tickled Sam.

"Stop, stop, not fair. Those are crocodile tears. Stop, I say."

"Okay, let's get Bunny ready then head out. Who knows there might be a stop for ice cream at the end."