Don't own Chuck

The chopper ferried everyone over to Saint Thomas taking off from near Cruz and then across to Red Hook. Halfway over Roan started coming to and when he finally did he found his head was in some sort of white hood. He found his hands were ties together but in front of him so he reached up and pulled off the hood. There he found sitting next to him the woman he'd met before in the hotel and the same woman he thought he'd dreamed about.

"Mr. Roan, I see you're with us," said Donna Rosenda. Roan looked at her then at a younger man on his other side. From facial similarities he had no doubt the man was a relative.

"You know if you wanted me to go away with you, you only had to wait a couple of weeks and I would've come along without a fuss. But I'm here with Diane so I'm afraid this isn't possible."

"And just what do you think this is? If you don't remember then let me remind you. You killed my Pablito and now I'm going to kill you, that woman you were with and a man named John Casey."

"You really are ambitious, aren't you? I'm sorry but Pablito doesn't strike any bells with me? You're going to have to give me a hint who he was. If you cut me lose we could play a quick game of charades. I'm pretty good at that. So, this Pablito that you say I killed, what was he? I take it he was a communist or left affiliated... or maybe he worked for Amway? Although I don't remember doing any of them in. I certainly would've liked to but I don't think I did. I know maybe he worked for Avon."

"Pablito was a guerrilla captain and don't make fun of him. We worked under the umbrella of the People's Liberation Front. He was also my man and you took him from me and Luiz, his son. Now you're going to pay with your life."

"I don't know what the going rate is these days but the dollar is strong again. You might owe me some change back."

"If you keep up talking like that I'll have you tossed out right now. I know you were the one who got my Pablito killed..."

"Wait a minute, first you said I killed him and now you say I got him killed which one is it? It can't be both... or maybe it doesn't translate well. From your accent I have to ask but is English your first language? Something is getting lost in the translation. You know that could be the source of your problem."

"I don't have a problem... you do and that problem is me. Are you muy loco or something? You think you can just waltz in and waltz out and no one is going to touch you? If that's what you thought you were wrong. There are consequences for your actions."

"Well waltz in no... at the most maybe a rumba or a cha-cha even a bachata but definitely no waltz. If you've got the music we can burn up the dance floor?"

"I don't know if that's some sort of scheme of yours to make a run for it but I should remind you that we have your friend safely hidden away. If you do anything cute like trying to get away I can promise you I'll take it out on her."

"I don't know... I don't want to sound too self-conceded but maybe cute is the wrong word. I like to think I do everything with a certain style or savoir faire..."

"Shut up and don't take this off until I tell you," said Luiz as he put the hood back over Roan's head. "I mean it or I'll dope you up again."

"Well if it's necessary but I do suffer from a little claustrophobic under here," said Roan as he felt a bee sting to the back of his neck then it was lights out.

"Now that's much better," said Luiz as he put the syringe away then pulled out his phone. "I don't know why you let he rattle on like that. I was getting a headache," said Luiz as he dialed a number. "If it had been anyone else they'd have taken a nose dive and be chum for the sharks."

"I have my reasons and I've waited a long time for this so let me do what I have to do. Who are you calling? Does this have to do with why you sat in the car and kept me waiting before we took off?"

"Shush, I can't hear," said Luiz as he held the phone closer to his ear. Between the noise of the chopper and his mother going on he couldn't hear his man.

"Don't you shush me," said Donna Rosenda as she got mad at Luiz. "Remember I brought you into this world and I can take you out so don't you go shushing me."

"You're going to have to speak up I can barely hear you. ... Yes, I know I called you. I need for you to get some guys together and head to the Lockhurt Elementary School. You should find Rocco waiting there. He called me and told me he was following the guy we're looking for. He also said there were other players on the field. ... That's right but don't use any names over an unsecured line. You know what you've got to do so go do it. We should be at the villa within the hour so you can call me and let me know what happened. ... Yes, better, do that. We'll see you back at the villa and bring Rocco along too. I promised him a reward," said Luiz then he hung up.

"I assume you were talking about Spud. I hope you told them to take him and bring him safely to us? I don't want him hurt."

"That may not be possible. It seems the Feds are on to him too. If they grab him everything will be over so we have to make sure he doesn't talk."

"I've known Spud a long time. This isn't the first time he's been in a tight spot and he's never talked so I don't expect he will this time either."

"If anything, you've taught me that everyone talks sooner or later and if you want to take your revenge we can't take the risk."

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Meanwhile things were beginning to heat up for the Major back at Langley. He'd been doing his best to avoid General Thomas' phone calls and returning them only when he was sure he wasn't in but he knew he couldn't keep that up forever. His time was quickly running out but he had to keep up the front at all costs.

"I've got General Thomas on the line for you," said Connie as she held her hand over the receiver. "What excuse do you want me to use this time?"

"Tell him I just stepped out but you'll pass the word on to me that he's called and you'll make sure I get in touch with him as soon as I come back to the office."

"Which you're not going to do?" said Connie as she looked at him. "How long do you think you can keep this up? One of these days he's just going to come over and that will be that."

"Just tell him what I told you," said the Major. He watched as Connie lied for him but what she said was true and then it would be judgement day for him. "Well what did he say? I bet he was pissed," he asked as she hung up.

"Well, he said never mind me passing the word to you. He was downstairs and is coming up to wait for you here."

"Geez and what am I supposed to say to him? I can't tell him what's going on and nothing new has developed that I can share. I'm screwed. I'll be lucky if I get a posting as a missile officer in some silo in the middle of some cornfield in Nebraska."

"I think that's probably the best-case scenario," said Connie. He gave her a look but she just shrugged her shoulders. Unfortunately, he knew she was probably right again.

"I'm out of here for the rest of the day. Tell him I called in and I said I had to be somewhere... anywhere. I'm going off the grid. If you need to contact me urgently send me a test message then call otherwise you won't be able to reach me."

"Do you think that's the smart thing to do? I mean it sounds like you're running and that just makes you look like you're trying to hide something."

"Maybe because I am," said the Major as he darted out the door then down to the hallway to the elevators. He pushed the button to go down but then he realized the General might be coming up at the same time.

"That's all you need the doors open up and there he is. You two stand there looking at each other in the eyes. No, you take the stairs," he said to himself. He hit the stairs and the door was just about to close behind him when he heard the chime of the bell that indicated the elevator had just arrived.

"Okay, feet don't fail me now," he said as he ran down the stairwell all the way down to the basement.

"You're almost home free," he said as he saw his car just ahead of him. He took out his keys fumbling with them as he switched off the car alarm using his key fob then got inside. Sitting behind the steering wheel, he heaved a sigh of relief then put the key in the ignition.

"I've got touch start myself," said a voice from the back seat. "It just makes it easier to start and I don't have to mess around with keys," said General Thomas as he leaned forward out of the shadows.

"How did you know... I mean how did you get in here? Sir, I'd like to talk with you but I'm late for an important meeting across town."

"I sure you are. I used to work Spec For Anti-Terrorism so I know my way around infiltration and renditioning. You know if I didn't know better I'd say you're trying to avoid me."

"Avoid you? Who me? No, I'm just really busy with the General being on vacation and the Acting Directory being out of pocket. I've just got a lot on my plate right now. I think you can understand."

"I see. Well this won't take long. Maybe you can enlighten me about this boondoggle the Acting Director is on in Saint Thomas? What is she doing down there with company assets? I hear from the NSA they repositioned a satellite for Chuck."

"You're going to have to take that up with her or Agent Carmichael. I know there were reports of piracy in the waters around there but again you really ought to be talking with her or to him."

"Piracy? Isn't that more the responsibility of the Coast Guard and Navy to police than yours? Since when does your office get involved with something like this... unless they are related to international terrorism? But then I'd think you'd want to brief the JCOS."

"Again, I would urge you to contact the Acting Director and talk to her about this. I really can't tell you her reasoning behind her decisions."

"That's fair enough but I can't help but wonder if this doesn't have to do with the vacation Diane and Roan went on. I've done some checking and found out they flew down to Saint Thomas then chartered a boat... the Annabel Lee. Now that wouldn't be the same boat the Coast Guard cutter Mohawk towed into port this morning?"

"If you say they charted a boat then I assume you've checked your source? However, if you're asking me to confirm it for you I'm sorry but that's not possible... You see I'm not privy to all the details of the General and Agent Montgomery's vacation plans."

"No, but the Acting Director should be and is why I've been trying to contact her. However, I'm finding it harder to get her to return my phone calls than you."

"She is very busy down there and I can assure you what she's doing isn't a boondoggle as you called it," said the Major as he looked at Tank in the rearview.

"Now Major, how would you know that after you told me you didn't know what she was up to? You don't have to answer that it was a rhetorical question. I admire your loyalty I just hope your boss appreciates it. I can see you people have left me only one option," said Tank as he started to get out of the Major's car.

"And what would that be," asked the Major as he turned to face the General. He was afraid to know what that option was.

"I'm going to have to go down there and see for myself. You should really invest in a car with push start. It really does make a difference."

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Rocco pulled up on his scooter on the other side of the street from the school. He trailed the van all the way back to the school compound then watched as the driver, a tall slender man with nappy black hair got out. The man went to the side door opened it up then pulled out a package and afterwards closed it. He had just disappeared inside when the van opened one more time. This time Spud got out then ran inside the school.

"Got you," said Rocco as he leaned back on his scooter waiting for Luiz's men to show up. He was already counting dollars in his head and think about what he was going to buy. "This first thing I'm going to buy is a new scooter," he said as he smiled

[Meanwhile inside the school]

"Roxy, my love, I'm back," said Jesus as he walked in the office. "I'm sorry darling but it took me longer than I expected. There were people in the post office but in the end I got my package."

"And a drink from the smell of your breath. Don't let Dr. Dunham know you went off to take care of personal business on school time. I don't think Kathy will like that very much especially if she gets up close to you."

"I don't know what you're talking about. And who is this little princess," said Jesus as he noticed Sam standing there with a stapler in her hand. "I'm Jesus and around here I'm the jack of all trades but master of none."

"My name is Sam and I just started today," said Sam smiling at Jesus. There was something about him that reminded her of Jack and she instantly liked him.

"You're awfully young to work in the office with us. I think there are laws against that," said Jesus as Sam laughed.

"Come on I need to take you to class before you spend your whole first day in her with me and a crazy man," said Roxy. "You need to watch the phones until I get back. Think you can manage that?"

"Oh, woman who do you think I am? Don't worry about things here I've got them covered," said Jesus as he rattled his box. "Momma sends me care packages from Puerto Rico. I wonder what she sent me this time?"

"If you open it you'll find out. I'm going to need to tell Marie Gonzalez that she's going to have to stay after school with us. Her grandmother called and said her mother was delivering in the hospital."

"How did you speak with her? Her granny doesn't speak English," said Jesus. "Don't tell me you had to call that Spanish teacher, Ms Martinez to translate? That woman has it out for me. You know she had the nerve to say I don't speak Spanish."

"No te preocupes, I did for you," said Sam. "And I interpreted not translated. Translated is written and interpreting is spoken."

"Well then muchas gracia chica bonita," said Jesus shook Sam's hand.

"De nada," said Sam as she smiled back glowing. "It was nothing... any time."

"Come on, I need to get you to your classroom before Kathy comes out and has us all fired for keeping you here all day," said Roxy as she pulled Sam away.

"Fue un placer conocerte... it was nice meeting you," said Sam as she waved goodbye to Jesus as she was whisked out. Roxy walked Sam out into the hallway then down towards her classroom. Sam liked her new school so far and she was really going to miss this when they had to leave.

"I can still come and help you after lessons, can't I? I mean you might need someone to interpret for you when Marie's grandmother comes to picker her up if Jesus isn't around."

"We'll see. That depends when your parents come to pick you up. From what I understood you won't be taking the bus home so you're going to have to hang around the office with us too."

"I can do that," said Sam as she smiled from ear to ear. She was really liking school so far. Now she just had to buckle down and learn to read then everything would be all right. She was going to miss this when she went to medical school. "I'm going to be a doctor when I grow up."

"That's good you want to know what you want to do when you're so young. But you know to be a doctor you have to study hard and for a long time."

"My aunt and my uncle are doctors and I've seen what they do. I like helping people and I don't mind hard work. I just need to learn to read. I figure that will take me about a week or less then I can go to university."

"I think it might take a little longer than that," said Roxy but before she could say anything else she noticed a strange man walking the hallways.

"Hey, you mister," said Roxy. The man looked up and down the hallway then pointed at himself. Yeah, you," she said as she immediately went on the offensive. "Who are you? I don't recognize you. Look you can't be walking around here. You need to go to the office and get assistance. We can't have strange people walking around here."

"I'm sorry but I must've gotten turned around. I just drove up... with... for... to deliver paper. Yes, I came here to deliver some boxes of paper... you know for your photocopiers."

"Strange I would've ordered that and you aren't our regular supplier," said Roxy. "What happened to Rusty? They guy who usually delivers it?"

"Oh, Rusty... right Rusty... what happened to him. He's out today... that's right he's out today because he's sick. Yes, he caught a bug and was heaving over the phone and our boss told me to make the delivery for him."

"Strange he told me he never gets sick but I guess there's a first time for everything. You're still going to have to go to the office. You'll find Jesus there he'll show you where to put it," said Roxy. But as she was talking with the man Sam looked him over. She noticed the bulge under his shirt and immediately knew what was under it.

"Oh, look what time it is. I really need to get to class. Mister, why don't you go check your paperwork in your van then go to the office. I'm sure this can all be straightened out there."

"Or you can come with us. I need to drop this kid off in her classroom then I can walk you to the office and we can get this all worked out."

"No," said Sam as she blurted it out sounding more forceful than she wanted. "I'm sorry I was just thinking since you're delivering paper and you didn't order it then you might be at the wrong school. You know you took over for this Rusty and you don't know his route."

"You're right," said Roxy. "That would be a good idea but I can't have you walking around the hallways by yourself. No, you still need to come with me then we can straighten this out." Sam just rolled her eyes. "What's wrong with you?"

"The problem is the kid's smart. Maybe too smart for her own good," said the man as he pulled a Beretta from his belt. "You stared too much kid. Now let's go to that office," said the man. "I've been made," said the man into his sleeve. "The rest of you turn this place upside down our guy is in there somewhere," he heard in his ear.

"What's the meaning of this? This is a school what are you doing in here with that thing," said Roxy as she looked indignant.

"Just keep it down and let's start moving. We're looking for someone who's hiding in here. The sooner we find him the sooner we'll be out of here."

"Come on," said Sam. "Just do as the man says and try to stay calm."

"Listen to the kid and no one will get hurt. Well no one but Spud that is. Kid you act like you've done this before."

"I just watch a lot of television."