Don't own Chuck

Chuck and the Major went to see Nina for the password for Marta's phone. Nina had followed Chuck and Casey into a non-descript government building. There was no name outside nor was there an office directory in the lobby. All there was inside were men in black with earbuds who screened people as they walked in then had them go through a full body scanner. She was about to be turned out when Chuck appeared and had her accompanied to a waiting room. But that had been over two hours ago and with the passing of time her anxiety level grew and grew then she saw Chuck.

"There you are," she said as she tried to run out to meet him but a man in black stepped out and blocked her. "Let go of me I want to know what you've done with my mother. You can't hold us here."

"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong. Your mother has confessed to being a Russian spy and operating here illegally.

"I heard you accuse her of that at home and I didn't believe you then so I certainly don't believe you now. You think I wouldn't have known if my mother was some sort of Mata Hari."

"That's what you'd like to believe but unfortunately what we know and what's real are two different things. You can believe me when I tell you I know how you feel."

"I don't have to believe a thing you say. For all I know you have coerced that confession out of her using torture. I've read about your waterboarding and the things that went on at Guantanamo Bay or Abu Ghraib prison."

"What are you talking about? No, never would I… look we're getting off the topic. Your mother wasn't coerced and she's got a good deal which will keep her out of prison. There is an American in a Russian prison who is accused of spying…"

"You mean just like my mother," said Nina as she interrupted Chuck. He could see she was upset but her anger wasn't helping anything.

"There is a difference… a big difference. Your mother is sitting in a detention cell down below in a comfortable room with air conditioning. This guy is being held in solitary in a Russian prison filled with cold blood killers just waiting to get a piece of him. The deal is we trade your mother for him but the goods must be delivered intact."

"What does that mean, 'the goods must be delivered intact'," she started to go on another tirade but Chuck just held up his hand to cut her off.

"What it means is no one will lay a hand on your mother as long as the Russians don't lay a hand on our man. I personally talked with their Director of Clandestine Operations to arrange this. However, there is only one small thing that's holding everything up," said Chuck as he held up Marta's phone.

"You need to make a phone call and you need to use my mother's phone because yours is out of minutes? I can lend you mine if that's the case."

"Very funny but no that's not what I need. I need some way to corroborate what she's written in her statement and the only way to do that in a hurry is to gain access to her phone. The longer this drags out the more likely something will happen to our guy then the whole deal goes out the window. And worse is it leaves your mother to bear the brunt of any retaliation."

"You can't let anything happen to her. You're responsible and it's not right… it's not allowed in the Geneva conventions."

"You should be aware that although we signed the conventions we haven't ratified protocols two or three. However, that's international law and if you get a lawyer, file a law suit then find a judge who will hear the case that will that months if not longer. This deal is the best option your mother has but you're letting it slip through your fingers and your mother won't budge. She'd rather suffer the consequences than give me what I need to get her out of here."

"I don't see why you need me to give you the pin? Don't you have people who can unlock it. I don't know if I should if she won't give it to you."

"Yes, I can send it up to our techs and have them run a program that will rotate through until it finds the right combination but that will take time… time we don't have. Your mother is content to wait and hope nothing happens, but are you? It's not like you aren't giving me anything I can't get on my own just that it will be quicker. However, if you're willing to roll the dice then I'll have the Major take this upstairs."

"And you won't let me see her until you get the phone unlocked," said Nina as she took a deep breath.

"That's right. We can't take the risk that she'll tell you to do something that will compromise the investigation we've got going into your mother's activities. She says they ended when she divorced your father but we can't take the chance. However, if you give me the pin it will speed up the process that will get you down to see her."

"I'm still not sure. I'm just so confused about what I should do. I just don't know. What would you do if you were me?"

"I'd probably be as confused as you are," said Chuck. The Major standing next to him coughed. "He expected me to tell you to give me the pin."

"To tell you the truth I expected you to tell me that too. So, you'd be confused as I am and what way out do you see for me?"

"Well, first of all you have to decide if you're going to stay here or go with your mother back to Russia? It won't be easy for you there. You'll have to learn Russian but it's not the end of the world. If you want you can go to the university there. Considering who and what your mother was it should be free for you. Believe me, it won't all be blinis and caviar but you can make a life there."

"If I stay here when the word breaks about my mother people will start staring at me and talking behind my back. There goes Mata Hari's daughter."

"If the truth were known they probably won't just talk behind your back. It's in no one's interest that the story about your mother gets out. But as soon as the press finds out our guy is released they'll smell some sort of deal was cut and then it will only be a matter of time before some journalist lands the scoop of his career."

"Then my name will get out and what we talked about will happen. I'm screwed royally either way I go and there's nothing I can do about it."

"You can decide the lesser of two evils. Choosing one negates the other and you cut that snake's head off. So, what will it be? I can guarantee you a seat on the plane with you Mom."

"Okay, her pin is the name of our first dog, sobaka," said Nina as Chuck started laughing. "She said it was the name of her dog when she was little. I don't see what's so funny."

"I'm sorry but 'sobaka' means dog in Russian," said Chuck as he entered the pin and the phone unlocked. "Good, it's unlocked," he said as he showed the phone to the Major.

"So now that you have that, when can I see my mother?"

"I should have you with your mother soon. Come on Major we've got some work to do. Nina, I keep my promises you just need to be patient a little bit longer."

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A little while later up in Mary's temporary office she and Casey were having a brisk exchange of words. He wanted access to personnel files and she wouldn't give them to him. He wanted to know the name of the agent that had gotten him fired but she knew if he went down that rabbit hole where it would lead… it would go straight to murder.

"John, isn't it bad enough we have one homicide on our hands. If I give you that access we'll have another then it will be go straight to jail. Do not collect two hundred dollars and do not do past go."

"I think this organization owes me this after all the crap I've done for it. If that… that gentleman although I have other names I'd like to call him, hadn't filed that report. My life would've been completely different and Alex would've had a father."

"Believe me I know how you feel. I'm probably the one person in this whole organization who can say they do. But this will do you no good. Don't look in the past but build on the future. I can't and I won't let you do anything rash that will jeopardize your future."

"Because you need me the way I am, as Grimes calls me the G-man assassin. You need to keep me around for the next kill."

"I don't hardly think so. If that needed to be done I'd do it myself. No, John as Acting Director I'm protecting you from yourself. I know where this road for revenge goes and it's not a good path to walk."

"If only that guy had turned around I would've seen him. You save a guy's life and this is the thanks you get. The rebel lieutenant had a knife to his throat and he'd just offed a hostage. What was I supposed to do? Yes, I capped him and his whole crew."

"If those were the circumstances I probably would've done the same thing. People are strange and just when you think you're doing them a favour they kick you in the teeth. But as much as I agree with you I can't give you that access."

"I guess the guy got a little squeamish when I capped that guy through the head and he got covered with brain matter. He probably got mad because this dry cleaner couldn't get the stain out of his shirt."

"John, this kind of thinking isn't helping you any. You just need to calm down. There's nothing left for you to do here so why don't you take the rest of the day off and go home? I'd tell you to go for a walk along the beach to clear your head but you don't impress me as the beach walking type."

"I guess I'll just have to wait for Beckman to get back," he said as he started for the door. But Mary stopped him.

"John, go home and hug Alex. You might not have been there for her in the past but you're here now in her present. Try to keep that in your mind."

"Sure, I will," said John as he almost ran over Chuck and the Major as they came in. "Will you two watch out where you're going," he grunted pushing past them.

"You might want to stay to hear what we found. We got the pin for the phone then I ran the numbers through the main frame in Castle."

"Can I scratch my trigger finger? If not I'm out of here, I've got some personal matter to attend to at home."

"We'll contact you if we need you to scratch that itch," said Mary as she waved him to leave. "You go on and keep what I told you in mind." Chuck looked back and forth at them. He'd obviously interrupted something.

"This must be what it was like for Ellie when she came in after I'd been sent to bed," said Chuck as he watched John leave.

"Can we get back to work? You two said you had something for me and this is where you impress me. What were you able to get off her phone?"

"Well, we ran the numbers through the main frame isolating the numbers she called after she was contacted by the General. Most of them were just normal calls to people with no links to Moscow or Russia. However, one number went to a cell phone that was unlisted…"

"A burner phone… So, have you tried to dial the number to see who answers?" she asked then she saw Chuck and the Major look at each other. "Okay, drop the other shoe. What's up?"

"Well, of course we did we're not idiots but the man on the other end asked for us for a verification code which naturally we didn't have."

"So, this is shot. It probably doesn't matter because by now Moscow has told her handler she's been taken. It's a wonder he even answer to begin with."

"Hey, don't give up on the home team just yet," said Chuck. "I… we figured this might happen so we were ready. I put a tracer on the call as soon as the guy picked up. I started with the cell towers near Marta's house. I figured there had to have been a reason other than the close proximity to base for her to stay there. We both agreed on that didn't we Major," said Chuck and he nodded back.

"Okay, this is where Beckman probably gets very upset. When you brief someone they just want to know what you found out not how you found it out. That can be put in your write up afterwards."

"You did tell us to impress you and I think this is a part of it. Wouldn't you agree Major?" But the Major was quiet. "Gee, thanks for the support."

"Just get on with it. What did you find out? Do we have a name to the voice?"

"Well not yet. You see the call went to the Russian consulate's annex. He didn't stay on the line long enough to track it down to a specific office. However, I'm using voice recognition to see if I can't figure out who our mystery man was."

"With just a few words it's going to be next to impossible and even if we do all those people over there have diplomatic immunity. The most we can hope for is to put another person on the plane with your spy."

"Speaking about putting another person on the plane. I kind of promised Nina she could go with her mother. I also promised her she could see Marta… it was the only way to get the pin. Right Major? Help me out here?" But the Major was silent. "Again nothing. Do you lose your voice when you come into the Director's office?"

"Leave the Major alone," said Mary as she looked at Chuck from the other side of the desk and thought it over. Chuck could see the cogs turning inside her head. "I guess at this point it can't hurt. Major make all the arrangements and Chuck you're coming with me."

"Where are we going?" asked Chuck. He figured she wanted to take him someplace to yell at him for getting her in this mess while she was left in charge.

"We're going home. I want to see what Sarah's bought for Sam and see if she followed my orders. I just know she screwed it up."

"Mom, Sarah's only doing what she thinks is best for Sam. You two need to try to get along better if nothing else for the sake of Sam and me. You never give Ellie any hassle about Devon. I think it's because you see yourself in Sarah."

"Don't be ridiculous and besides look at me. Would you wish this on Sarah? Don't answer that. Come on let's go."

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Sarah arrived back at Echo Park with Sam and Bunny in tow. They'd shopped and they had ice cream so Sam was happy and content even if she was wearing part of her ice cream. Sarah was putting Bunny in her stroller as she was coming up with a strategy on how to get the bags and Sam into the apartment when Casey pulled up.

"John, what are you doing here? I thought you'd be hard at work trying to impress the new Acting Director."

"Acting is the right word," said Casey as he got out of his Crown Vic. "I don't want to get into it with but you look like you could use a hand. Let me grab those bags for you."

"I appreciate it. You don't have to tell me how Mary can be. We had a good discussion today about what clothes I should buy for Sam," said Sarah as they went through the courtyard and into the apartment. Walking in the apartment Sarah found a letter on the floor the mailman had dropped through the mail slot.

"I know you do and here's a heads up… she's going to be doing an inspection when she gets here to see what you bought and she already thinks you screwed it up," said John as she picked up the letter and opened it.

"I could care less about what she thinks and that's all I have to say on the matter," said Sarah as she glanced over at Sam then continued reading.

"What's that? Bad news. I thought you got all your mail at the Buy More. You shouldn't have opened that without having it checked out first."

"No, it's from Sam's school. There's and open house tomorrow so we can get to meet her teachers and she can meet some of her classmates. The kids will go off and play together while we're briefed about the school and the programs for this year. I guess this is like orientation."

"That sounds like so much fun and I bet you can hardly contain yourself with joy," said John as he smiled at Sarah.

"Sarcasm doesn't become you John. Besides, you were talking about how much you missed out about not being there for Alex when she was little. Well this is a part of that." said Sarah as Casey just grunted then she turned to Sam.

"Kiddo, I need to give Bunny her bath then feed her. You can play in your room until I can change you and clean you up."

"Since I'm already dirty can I play outside? I've been in shops all day and I'd like to be outside for a moment. Uncle Casey can watch me."

"Only if it's all right with John. He's a busy man and you can't impose on him. He might have something important to do like cleaning one of his weapons or sharpening his knives."

"No, I don't mind and I can just as well sharpen my knives outside as well as inside. We can catch a squirrel then I can show you how to gut it. You can pretend you're operating on it."

"John, she's only six and no operations for you little lady until you have your medical degree and then only after you've passed your boards. John, don't make me regret this."

"I was only joking. Gee, talking about not having a sense of humor. Come on short stuff maybe we can go play catch. But your Dad is going to pay for any broken windows."

"I don't know about this," said Sarah as she waved to them taking Bunny into their bedroom to get her ready for her bath. Sam and Casey walked out into the courtyard.

"Hold up here for a second," said John as he ducked inside his apartment and came out with a baseball. "We can toss this back and forth for a bit." He threw the ball to her she caught it then threw it back.

"You're pretty good for a girl," said John. He could see he'd ruffled her feathers with that remark. "Sorry, you're pretty good. This is something I wished I'd been able to do with Alex when she was little."

"I'm sorry if this is making you sad. If you want we can stop," said Sam as she threw the ball back to him.

"Maybe there's something else you'd like to do? I don't know what little girls like to do. I missed out on all that with Alex because I was away for work."

"I understand. I hear Chuck talk to Mommy about it too when Nana Mary was away. I guess she must feel like you."

"You'd think," said John then he corrected himself remembering who he was talking to. "I mean I think you're right. So, what can I teach you?"

"Well, I'm starting school next week and I've seen on TV that older kids sometimes pick on younger kids so I want to know what do I do about it? Mommy isn't going to let me take my hammer so that option is out the window…"

"You are your mother's daughter. I think I can teach you a thing or two that will be good for you now and when you get older. First of all, if they're boys who are bothering you there is one sure fire way to get them to leave you alone."

"Really and how do I do that?"

"I'll teach you that and a few hand to hand techniques but you have to promise me you'll only use them if they are necessary and above all you have to promise to tell no one I taught you these techniques."

"We can pinky swear if you want," said Sam as she smiled at him and held up her little finger. John wondered if this could've been what it would've been like with Alex.

"Well, we could spit in our hands and shake on it? Would you prefer that?"

"What? Sorry, no that's all right I trust you. Just use better judgement than your Mom. Now stand in front of me. I want to see how you make a fist," said John as he inspected them. "Good but keep your thumb tucked in or you'll risk breaking them. Now I want you to punch me in the stomach as hard as you can."

"But I don't want to hurt you."

"Don't worry, you won't. Come on give me a little girlie slap," said John. Sam turned beet red and landed a solid right followed by a left both made a good pop. "That's good," said John as he rubbed his stomach.

"I'm sorry did I hurt you. Is this what you were telling me about boys?"

"No, that's later and a little lower. Let's continue."