Don't own Chuck

Casey just wanted Morgan to go away so he could study Roan's service record and maybe glean something from it. However, everything he wanted to know he'd already knew. All he did by reading Roan's file was to confirm what Chuck had told him and add a little more detail. However, what was missing from it that he wanted to see was a copy of the letter that had gotten him fired. That the agency had conveniently lost or misfiled.

"Look, I'm going to tell you this one more time and don't make me repeat myself. Grimes take a hike. I don't know go play in traffic or chase cars or something."

"John, I know what's going on and it's not healthy for you and maybe me too," said Grimes as Casey grunted. "You're mad at Roan and you're taking it out on me. I understand that but don't you think there's someone else you should be mad at too?"

"And who's that wise guy? Fry or Keller but they're both dead so as much as I'd like to kill them they're both molding in graves. However, if I could dig them up and kill them again I would so if you don't mind buzz off."

"No Big Guy, I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the person who's really at fault here. The one who caused all of your pain and grief."

"And who's that? The only one who's causing me grief is standing right in front of me wasting my time. But if you're volunteering for me to strangle you just keep it up and I'll accommodate you."

"No John, it's not me either. The person you should really be blaming is yourself. You made the choice to take off with Keller and abandon Kat. He didn't force you to go with him, you did it because you wanted to become... well what you became even if you didn't know at the time what you were leaving behind."

"Why you... I ought to," said Casey as he moved towards Morgan. Morgan took a big gulp and moved back away from him.

"John, you know I'm right. You could've gotten on that plane with the rest of your men and returned home but you chose not to. You left Kat with Alex without even so much as a second thought."

"I did it for my country and to become the Marine I was meant to be. My work saved a lot of American lives and kept this country safe."

"But at a cost to you. You shouldn't be going around pointing the finger at Roan or Keller or even French Fry for the choices you made. The truth is you made them and now you've got to live with them."

"Yes, I made my own bed. But if I had known about Alex at the time... well I don't know what I would've done. I was pretty full of myself back then."

"And not just back then," said Morgan. Casey gave him a look as he cracked his knuckles. "What did I say? I was just agreeing."

"Gee thanks, but don't take advantage of the situation. You know I could still strangle you by accident and watch your eyeballs pop out."

"Okay, okay I'm going... I'm going," said Morgan but as he started to leave but Casey stopped him and handed him the printout of Roan's file. "What do you want me to do with this?"

"I want you to run that through the shredder," said John but as he was talking the plotter jumped to life and paper started rolling out.

"It looks like Chuck's algor-whatever- you-call-it has finished doing whatever it was supposed to be doing and this is the result," said Morgan as he tried to look over Casey's shoulder.

"Will you back up and stop breathing down my neck. Al Gore did what? No, idiot it's called an algorithm not Al Gore. I swear if you had a brain you'd be dangerous," said Casey as he looked over the printout.

"I see its business as usual," said Morgan as he heaved a sigh. "It was good while it lasted." Casey glanced over at him then looked back at the printout that was rolling out of the plotter.

"Chuck was right, it does look like a spider web and yes, here it the phone call to... to Saint Thomas with a return call right after Fry was whacked. I wish this could give us a name then I'd slip inside the consulate and return the favor."

"But how can that be right? It doesn't make sense. Didn't the company guy down there say there were no foreign intelligence agents afoot on the island?"

"What it means is he was wrong or that if there were they flew in under the radar. It could also mean they weren't foreign. Wait a minute... Geez, no, no, crap," said John as he grabbed a highlighter and marked a line on the paper.

"What is it John? You look like you've seen a ghost and I hate to think what that ghost has to look like to rattle your cage."

"What are you yapping about? There was another call down there a couple of days before Beckman and Roan arrived. Crap, I think they're after Beckman and Roan too and I know why," said Casey as grabbed Roan's service record back from Morgan and started flipping through pages. "I know I read it in here somewhere but where was it."

"Just calm down Big Guy, I know you want Roan whacked but that call could've been about anything. Why do you think they want to whack Roan? You don't think you might be projecting a little, do you?"

"The only thing I'm going to project is my fist down your throat if you don't shut up. Your yapping is giving me a headache. Here it is, I knew I read this," said John as pointed at the page. "It says Roan was pulled out of Central America and reassigned to Berlin on the request of a Colonel Diane Beckman. There's the link with Roan, Beckman and French Fry. That's your smoking gun and it will be smoking if we don't get word to them."

"Who are you going to call? Are you going to call Becky directly and go around the Acting Director? If you do be prepared to suffer under Typhon Mary."

"More like Typhoid Mary, a pain in my backside, but you're right. I need to talk to the Acting Director first or she'll have my butt for violating the Chain of Command."

"John in a case like this I would use the WWCD method or more commonly known as what would Chuck do. If you were Chuck, you'd just go ahead and call the General and worry about violating the Chain of Command later."

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission. Crap, I've got no idea how much time we have left before they strike. I don't even know if it is a they or a he or a she," said John as he pulled out his phone. "You do realize you just argued both sides just now?"

"I just wanted you to be aware that no matter which way you go you're going to be screwed," said Morgan as he started to sit his cup down. Casey gave him a look as he tried to call Beckman.

"There's no answer and if sit that cup down on that piece of furniture after I told you to go get coasters I'm going to make you eat it," said John as he tried Roan. "Neither number seems to be working. They must be too far away from land to get a signal."

"Well, that's good, isn't it? I mean if they're in the middle of the Caribbean then no one is going to whack them in their hotel room like French Fry."

"Do you remember the first Bourne movie and how he was going to whack that guy on his boat? Not to mention that boats can go boom in the middle of the night. I need to contact Chuck and Mary."

"I'll call Chuck and you can call Mary or would you prefer to call Chuck and let me call Mary. I mean she does like me and we both know how she feels about you. I do like her Rice Krispy treats."

"I can get you a box of Milk-Bones. Proper protocol dictates that I call her because she's the Acting Director."

"I hate to tell you this but if anything happens to Becky, she could become the new Director and our permanent boss."

"Don't remind me," said Casey as dialed Mary. "Geez, please tell me they wouldn't make her the permanent director. But she was picked by Beckman to stand in for her. No, no the higher ups have to have more intelligence than that."

"John, you have been watching TV lately, haven't you? You've seen who's working in D.C. right now, right?"

"Crap, we're all screwed," said John as he heard a voice on the other end. "Major, no I wasn't talking to you but in a sense, you're in this too. I need to talk to the Acting Director ASAP. ... What do you mean she can't be disturbed? You need to disturb her now because we've got a problem.

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A little while before at Barnum Memorial Elementary School on Bailey street the parents and staff met in the library where the Principal gave her talk about her vision as an educator which was more for the parents than for the kids. After boring everyone for a half an hour she dismissed the children to go with their teacher who took them out to the playground while the Principal took the parents on a short tour of the school which was supposed to end with a Q and A in the First grade classroom.

"Okay children, I want you to go out with your teacher, Mrs. Martin. She'll take you out to the playground where you can play while I talk with your parents. However, come Monday things will change and playtime will be over."

"You heard your Principal. Go with your teacher and we'll meet up afterwards," said Sarah as she walked Sam over to where the other children were lining up.

"Okay children, I want you to hold the hand of the child in front of you so we don't lose anyone along the way," said Mrs. Martin. She pulled out her phone glanced down at it then looked up. "All right, now follow me and I'll take you to the playground."

"She'll be all right," said Chuck as his eyes watered up. Then they waved as the children marched out of the room.

"Good grief," said Mary. "It's not like you're seeing her off to war. She's going to the playground to play," she said as the Principal called everyone back to order.

"Did you see those tall kids at the end of the line who straggling behind everyone? What's up with them? They seemed awfully tall to be in the first grade," said Chuck as he wiped his eyes. Sarah put her arm around him.

"I saw them too and one was that kid who got out of that Jaguar. Maybe it's like you said they were held back or they're brothers of some of the kids in the first grade. Their parents couldn't leave them at home by themselves so they brought them."

"Excuses me, can I have your attention. We've got a lot to go over and a short time to do it in. Please follow me and try to keep up. You in the back can you hear me? I see your mouth moving so I don't think so." Chuck looked around but didn't see anyone then pointed at himself. "Yes you, please pay attention."

"I just stepped into this school and I'm already in trouble with the Principal," said Chuck as he shook his head. The Principal gave him a look. "Yes, I can hear you. Please continue," yelled Chuck.

"Yes, I can hear you Principal Dean or Doctor Dean, please. We need to be professional. Now follow me, please and let me show you our new computer lab."

"D & D Dungeons and Dragons... I could have a good time here," said Chuck. The Principal turned back and looked at him. He raised his hands and looked innocent.

"Chuck please, you don't want to get Sam in trouble on her first day. Even though technically this isn't her first day."

"Shush, can you two hold it down. I'm trying to listen to what Doctor Dean has to say," said the woman in the fur stole. Sarah found her right in front of them. "I'm sorry Principal Dean, can you please repeat? I'm having a hard time hearing over other conversations."

"Why you..." said Sarah as she turned red. Her first thought was to grab the stole around her neck and strangle her with it but Chuck stepped in between.

"Oh, it's you again," said Principal Dean as she looked at Chuck. He just smiled and waved back as she frowned. "As I was saying we have to thank Marleen Buckmiller for her family's kind donation that made the purchase of these computers possible."

"It was nothing," said the woman in the stole as she basked in the spotlight. "Really, it was nothing worthy of mentioning. Afterwards, you can thank me individually if you like. It was a large sum of money but I convinced Daddy we needed to help the poor children."

"You and his tax lawyers that was a sizable deduction and helping the poor children... you mean like your own kid who's attending school here. And that's a nice fur lady. Oh, I'm sorry, I was just thinking out loud. D & D you were saying?"

"Thank you," whispered Sarah in Chuck's ear.

[Like father like daughter meanwhile on the playground]

Sam went outside to the playground with the other children. Once outside Mrs. Martin turned them loose to play while she took a seat on a bench under a tree in the shade.

"You kids go play and stay out of trouble while I stay here," she said as she checked her watch then pulled out her phone.

"My name is Maria, do you want to play with me," said a little Latino girl. Sam nodded then they headed over to the slides.

"Sure, my name is Sam. I guess we're in class together," said Sam as they headed over together. At the slides was another little boy standing by himself.

"I'm Sam and this is Maria. Do you want to play with us?" The boy nodded but didn't say a word. They started sliding and playing when the older kids came over.

"Hey, you half pints," said one of the boys. "If you want to play on the equipment you have to pay a usage toll." Sam had seen them going from group to group of kids before and now they were here bothering them.

"Look, we don't want any trouble so just leave us alone," said Sam. "If you don't, I'll go tell the teacher what you just told us."

"Oh, you are, are you? You have to be able to reach her before you can report us," said the one boy as he got in front of Sam.

"Le… ave h…er a…lone," said the little boy stuttering who had been playing with them as he shoved the older boy away from Sam. "G…o a…way."

"Wh…at do…o we have here," said the one boy as he mocked the little boy. "Come on let's here you speak some more. Listen to him isn't he funny."

"You leave him alone," said Sam. She'd had about as much as she could take and then some. "I'm warning you now. Leave us alone or…"

"Or what half pint," said another one of the boys as he grabbed her by the blouse. "I think we're going to have to teach you a lesson."

"Not before I teach you one," said Sam. She followed Casey's instruction covering the boy's hand with her right hand then turned extending the boy's arm and twisted it locking it at the elbow. She continued around taking the boy to the ground in an Aikido move.

"Why you little…," said the other boy as he grabbed her from behind in a bear hug. Sam stomped his foot breaking his hold then raise her leg up landing a chicken kick where it hurt. Then as he doubled over she delivered an elbow in his face. His nose made a cracking sound as it started to bleed.

The last boy came straight at her but she was ready and didn't hesitate landing a kick square following the 'V' between his legs straight up. The boy double over and dropped on the ground rolling in pain.

Mrs. Martin looked over at the group near the slides but was too busy with her phone to care. She believed that the kids should learn to take care of their own problems and that would help them learn how to resolve their future problems. However, when she saw Sam take out the three older boys in short work. She knew she was going to be challenged to justify why she hadn't done anything.

"All of you come with me right now," she yelled. "Come with me right now. We're going to the Principal's office and you little girl are going to have to explain yourself."

"It..t wa…sn't her…r fault. Th…ey st…arted it," said the little boy as he shuttered even more. But Mrs. Martin called on one of the teacher aids then marched them down to the offices.

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The Major got off the phone with Casey then tried to reach the General himself. But he got the same thing an automatic message that said, 'The number you're trying to reach is unreachable at this time. Please try again later.' He could kick himself for not making sure the General took a sat phone with her but Roan had talked him out of it.

"Crap," said the Major as he dialed Agent Marley putting him on speaker while he tried to use the General's GPS signal to track her down. "This is the Director's office calling Agent Marley. I'm trying to contact the General but I'm not getting through."

"If you're using her cellphone you're not going to reach her. The boat she's on with Agent Roan set sail at dawn this morning local and by now they're too far from any cell tower to be reached."

"We have a creditable threat risk assessment that says the General and Roan are in imminent danger. I need for you to secure both of them. I'm trying to ping her GPS chip in her phone to locate her current position," said the Major as one of the men in the van shook his head. "But that doesn't seem to be working either."

"I'll contact the coast guard here then we can send out a search party but since the Navy closed down Roosevelt Roads we don't have many ships in the vicinity. I'll try to get a chopper up too but the Caribbean is a big sea and then there's..."

"I don't want to hear anything about the Bermuda triangle. Just get hot on this and have something for the Acting Director when she calls. I'm going to brief her now so you'd better have something ready because she'll be calling you shortly wanting to know what you've done."

"I'll be on this as soon as I get off the horn with you but I can't manufacture data. I'll do what I can do but they've got a good jump on us."

"Well unless you want to join the Wailers and brush off your rendition of 'No Woman, No Cry', you'd better get hot because she'll want results and believe me she'll get rid of anyone she doesn't think is producing."

"Then I need to get off this line," said Marley. He hung up leaving the Major holding his phone in his hand and just when he was about to call Marley back he got another bit of bad news.

"Sir, the NSA just called and said they couldn't get the bird we wanted into position until late this evening or early tomorrow. The bird they have in the area is down for maintenance for the next twenty-four hours so they're going to have to move another one over and that will take time."

"Don't they realize we may not have time. Okay, keep me abreast of what's going on I'm going inside and grab the Acting Director and Agent Carmichael. I've got my earbud in so I want to be kept abreast as situations develop," said the Major. He didn't wait for the men to answer he just stepped out of the van and walked into the school.

He walked to the school directory posted at the entrance and looked for the First Grade. He remembered on the intel he'd gathered for Mary that was where they were supposed to end the tour. Once he got his bearings he set off for it. Cold chills passed down his spine as he walked towards the classroom. It reminded him of the Air Force Academy and the hazing he'd suffered through.

"So much for becoming a jet jockey," he said to himself as walked down the dark hallways. Finally, he heard voices as he approached a closed door. Opening it he found a classroom full of adults talking to each other but looking around he didn't see Mary, Chuck or Sarah.

"Excuse me," he said. "I'm looking for... Mary Bartowski or Chuck... I mean Charles Bartowski. Has anyone seen them?"

"Why are they wanted by the government too? I knew there was something wrong with them," said one of the women which started tongues wagging again.

"No, I just need to talk to them. It's important... a matter of national security."

"They're all in the Principal's office if you want them. You wouldn't tell us the truth anyway, would you?" said one woman. The Major just turned and left. "See, I told you something was off with them."

"Geez, school hasn't even begun and they're already in the Principal's office," said the Major as his phone rang. It was Casey. "Colonel, I haven't gotten to the Acting Director yet. I'm on my way right now. ... I know and Chuck is with her. They're all in the Principal's office. I'll call you back I've got to go," said the Major as he saw people standing outside the offices up ahead of him.