Don't own Chuck

Rocco had been sitting outside watching the exit when two SUVs pulled up behind his scooter. The men who got out look like their pictures belong in the post office under the FBIs most wanted. The team leader walked over and talked with Rocco while the rest check their weapons.

"Are you sure Spud went inside and hasn't come out since," said the man as he looked across at the school.

"Yeah, I saw him get out of that white van," said Rocco as he pointed over at it. "Then made his way in that side door. He's holding up there I think until night fall when he'll make his move."

"Makes sense to stay off the streets... that's what I'd do if I were him. Okay get in one of the SUVs and wait for us. You're coming with us when we roll."

"But that's not necessary, I trust Luiz. He can catch me later. I know he's a man of his word so if it's all the same with you..."

"Well, it's not. I was told to bring you with us and that's what I'm going to do. You can ride in the front or in the truck that's your choice."

"Then I guess I'm getting in the SUV," said Rocco. He didn't like this but he didn't see any way out. "But I'm going to hold Luiz responsible if anything happens to my scooter."

"You do that and make sure you tell him that just like you told me," said the Lieutenant. Then he walked back to his men. By then they had the blueprint of the school and were looking over places Spud could be hiding.

"Okay, I'm going to stay here and coordinate. I want you guys to go into the school and quietly look around. You each have different sections to clear so as soon as you've gotten your section done I want you to radio in then I'll give you a new place to look."

[That was earlier...]

Now Roxy and Sam were walked under gunpoint to the offices. As soon as they walked in Jesus looked up puzzled then he saw the weapon. He slowly leaned back and started for the alarm under the counter.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said the gunman. "Let's just all take a nice long deep breath and no one be a hero. At the end of the day everyone will be able to go home and live to see another day."

"I just got off the phone and the authorities want us to run a fire drill," said the principal as she walked out of her office unaware of what was going on outside her door. She was greeted with the barrel of a Berretta pointed at her face.

"Oh, they do? And why is that," said the gunman. Kathy looked around at Roxy, Jesus and Sam. She knew she needed to stay calm and hold it together. "I'm waiting for an answer? Does anyone know we're here?"

"I certainly didn't," said Kathy as she looked over at the everyone again. The man looked angry. "It was the fire department. They called and told me we were delinquent in have our monthly fire drills."

"That's right," said Roxy. "I'm sorry it's my fault I kept meaning to schedule it but instead I put it off until now that it's too late. You know we could still do a test," said Roxy as she started for the fire alarm.

"You touch that and you won't be going home tonight. Just sit back down there and keep your mouth shut. Like I said before, we're here looking for someone as soon as we find him we'll be out of your hair."

"Well, if that's the case," said Sam as she picked up a deck of cards off Jesus' desk. "Maybe I can interest you in a little five card stud... aces and one-eyed jacks wild or a game of Texas hold 'em. You name your game if you like," she said as she started to shuffle. "And to make this a little more interesting let's make a small wager."

"What have you got to bet with," said the gunman as he laughed. "I don't want take your lunch money kid."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about taking my lunch money," said Sam. She smiled as she fanned the deck then put on one of her best shuffling displays. "What do you say? Or are you a fraidy cat? Scared that a little girl will take you to the cleaners?"

"Okay, deal me a hand. You asked for this," said the gunman. "I'm watching the staff in the office," said the man in his sleeve. "What are we doing? We're just playing a few hands to pass the time.

"Here we go," said Sam as she tossed a twenty out she had in her backpack. "Time to ante up," she said. "Talking time is over."

"Here's my twenty so deal," said the gunman as he watched her hand out the cards. Sam dealt out three down then two up.

"Look at the you. Looks like todays your lucky day mister... three tens and what have I got showing a queen, and two kings. This is against my better judgement but I'm the dealer so I'll bet twenty and raise you another twenty."

"I hate to take your money but this is a school and it's time someone teaches you a lesson kid. I'll call and I'll stand on this," said the man as he fanned his cards and smiled showing he had two rotten teeth.

"Dealer takes one," said Sam as she tossed in the one king then drew another card. The man looked at her puzzled.

"You sure you know how to play this game? Read them and weep... a full house, duces and tens. I'll just take this," said the gunman as he reached for the pot.

"Just hold on there a moment cowboy," said Sam. "Straight flush king high which makes this pot mine. You know if you want to turn tail now and pack it in no on one would blame you. Some people just are cut out for playing cards."

"Beginner's luck, that was all that was," yelled the gunman in his sleeve. "Let's play another hand and I want to see those cards on the table this time. And no dealing off the bottom either."

"Whatever you want mister. You're the man in charge. Mister... mister, what's your name again?" asked Sam as she shuffled the cards.

"That's because I didn't tell you and you don't need to know. Just deal and keep the cards up where I can see them. Oh, and I want to cut this time."

"It sounds almost like you don't trust me," said Sam as she shuffled. "I hope you brought enough money with you because in God we trust but everyone else pays in cash."

"Just deal and let me worry about that," said the Gunman as he cut the deck then passed the cards back to her.

"I hope this wasn't money you'd put aside for the dentist."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mary and Sarah were watching the school from overhead from the satellite they had repositioned before. They'd called the principal to evacuate the school but it didn't happen they had to assume Spud had taken them hostage. They dared not pull into the parking lot with lights flashing and sirens blaring so they opted for a subtler approach.

"I want to set up here," said Mary as they pulled up two blocks away. "Tell the police to set up a perimeter about three blocks from here and to stay out of sight. If we're right and he's got hostages inside then the last thing we want is to get him nervous around a bunch of kids."

"I'm going in," said Sarah. "I've got the perfect excuse I'm just a mother dropping in to pick up on her daughter early. If things go well I will be able to secure the office and have a look around too."

"And if he doesn't buy that excuse?" said Morgan. "I don't believe I'm saying this but one of us should come with you as backup and I think it ought to be me."

"I appreciate the concern but I've got this. Morgan, you won't be able to wear a vest and... well you're kind of a bullet magnet. Besides if I take someone with me it will just get awkward and I might have to move quickly. I can't take care of you and Sam at the same time."

"I don't like this but it seems like our best course of action. Be careful in there, if Marley is right he's working with the people who grabbed Beckman and Roan... what I'm saying is he might've contacted his people to come and pick him up."

"That would be stupid, he has to realize he's a loose end for them," said Alex. "If he contacts them they have more to gain by making him disappear permanently then in helping him getaway. Especially now that we know who he is."

"We can only hope he's smart enough to figure that out. But it's been my experience that perps are never as intelligent as they think they are. Be careful, I don't want to have to explain to Chuck how I let you go get yourself hurt."

"You don't have to worry about me," said Sarah as she started to get out of the SUV. She'd just put her hand on the door handle when her phone started to ring. "Crap, it's Chuck," she said as she looked at the caller ID.

"You'd better take that before he figures out something is going down. He's liable to jump off that boat if it isn't tied up and swim ashore to get here."

"What do I do I can't lie to him?" she said as she looked at it but she knew Mary was right so she mustered up courage and answered.

"Hi, how are things going on the boat? Look, I'm kind of busy here so I can't stay on the line long. ... What's going on with Morgan and Alex? We picked them up and they're right here with us. We've been following Spud's escape route and hopefully we'll have him in custody soon. That's why I have to go," she said trying to cut the call but Chuck wouldn't let her go and she couldn't hang up on him.

"Lunch? I don't know about lunch at the Marina. Like I said we're on Spud's trail. I really need to run but I'll call you back as soon as I can. ... Sure, maybe a late lunch at the hotel. Sorry, I've got to run I love you," she said then she hung up.

"His father was like that... a sixth sense when crap was about to hit the fan. The only time he didn't listen to his gut was when they made Volkoff. Listen, I want you to leave your mic open when you go inside."

Sarah nodded then got out of the Ford Explorer and headed down the street to the school. Mary sat there watching her until she disappeared around a corner.

"I hear you're as good a shot as you father," said Mary as continued to follow Sarah from above. "In the back you'll find a Barrett .50. I want you to go find yourself as nest and cover the front for the school. I'd do it myself but I need to stay here and coordinate."

"Sure, I can do that but it sounds like you're expecting trouble," said Alex as she glanced over at Morgan. "Can I get a quick peek at that tablet to get the lay of the land?"

"Sure, but about trouble well after what happened to me I've learned to respect gut feelings. If Chuck called then something isn't right and I want to be prepared for everything. Just remember we need Spud alive."

"But he's not as important as our people," said Alex. Mary looked at her. "That's not saying Beckman or Roan aren't... it's just well it just is... I think I need to go get into that nest."

"I think you're right," said Mary. Alex got out then went into back to get what she needed. She glanced up at Morgan then headed off carrying a large case in the direction of a nearby tall building.

"Okay, so everyone's got something their doing. Now, what do you want me to do," said Morgan. "I know it's going to be special whatever it is that's the reason you waited for everyone to leave."

"Well yes Morgan as a matter of fact there is. I figure in about ten minutes or less you're going to get a call from Chuck. He's going to ask you if everything is all right and you're going to have to lie to him by telling him everything is peachy here."

"Augh no, why do I have to lie to him? I can't do that Chuck's my friend... my BFF and I'm bad at lying. Besides he knows when I'm lying."

"Morgan, Chuck has got his job to do and we've got ours. He can't just drop what he's doing and come running every time he thinks something is wrong with Sarah or the girls. Listen what I'm about to tell you, you can't tell a soul. I certainly will never tell Sarah this but she is a good agent and she knows what she's doing. She's trained for this and she can do it. Chuck needs to respect that and let her do what she has to do."

"Okay, I'll try but I'm not sure he'll buy it. He's always known when I was lying but then again I was able to keep the secret about what happen to Peaches from him when Ellie asked me... but come to think of it I did end up telling him Peaches got run over. How was I supposed to know that was his favorite ball or that he'd chase it when I threw it out the window and it went under that concrete mixer? No, not a pretty sight," said Morgan as he heaved a sigh.

"Morgan, look what I brought you," said Mary as she pulled out of a bag some Rice Krispy treats and a grape soda.

"For me," said Morgan as his eyes lit up. "And the soda is cold just like I like it."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back on the boat Chuck was looking at his phone. He couldn't lay his finger on it but there was something in Sarah's voice. He played back in his head what she'd said word for word and when he asked if everything was 'all right' he realized she'd never answered him. She'd sidetracked the question by telling him they were after Spud. He looked up at Casey who was talking to Marley but he just couldn't shake the feeling he had that something didn't feel right.

"Hey, do you want to get over here and help out," said Casey as he looked at Chuck standing there looking at his phone. "What's the matter with you? You look like someone who got their toys taken away from them."

"It's nothing… it's just Sarah didn't say everything was 'all right' when I asked. Instead, she said they were busy and hot on the trail after Spud. Oh, and she also said they picked up Morgan and Alex… but she didn't say everything was 'all right'."

"Because they were hot on the trail after Spud. Don't you get sidetracked and get your head in the game here. Don't read too much into things. Besides we've got enough here to work on as it is. Here, stick your nose in this bag and tell me if Beckman and Roan were drugged," said Casey as he grabbed Chuck by the back of the neck and shoved his nose into the evidence bag with the shards of glass.

"Can you really do that? Just smell the bag and tell what was used? It would save us sometime but I think I'd feel better if we used our lab."

"Gee, thanks there John. What do you think I am your blood hound or something," said Chuck as he shook off Casey's hand but continued to smell inside the bag.

"Well McGruff what do you have?" said John as Marley continued to look at the two of them. He wondered how they worked together.

"Well, it smells like rum, grenadine and fruit juice... a hurricane but what you should have the shards tested for is cone snail venom. In large amounts it can be toxic but I think only a small about was used to incapacitate them."

"Wow, that was amazing and I wouldn't have believed it possible if I hadn't seen it. You got all that from just smelling the shards and smelling the content," said Marley as he took the bag back.

"Not really that amazing. There's an aquarium over on the counter with cone snails in it. I also noticed some broken shells around the edge of the counter near where the liquor is stored. The rum and the grenadine are in the front and look like they've just been used. In the trash is a bottle of fruit juice and all added together make the base for a hurricane."

"I hate it when you show off like that," said Casey. "Don't worry about it. He does that to me all the time. It makes you want to slap him in the back of the head sometimes."

"Who was calling me McGruff? I really think I ought to call Sarah back," said Chuck as he started to pull out his phone.

"Don't go bothering her," said Casey as he pushed Chuck's hand away. "You're going to piss her off and she'd be right to be. She knows what she's doing. You do trust her don't you. As her partner I do."

"See I knew you cared. You big softy, you," said Chuck. Casey looked at him and growled. "Okay, you're right and I do trust her... I don't know about my mother. But I trust Sarah."

"Good now can we get back to business here. Okay so we've got a how and we know this guy Spud was involved but we're still missing who and where. They couldn't just have vanished into smoke and I don't want to hear anything about ghosts. Don't you dare say, 'I ain't afraid of no ghosts'."

"Of course not, ghosts don't exist but they haven't been scientifically disproved yet," said Chuck. Casey grunted. "Okay how do you disprove something that doesn't exist?"

"You can't," said Marley. Casey was looking at both of them as if they were crazy. "I get it. Yes, it's ingenious, isn't it?"

"Okay, I guess I'm the slow learner here. Can one of you geniuses tell me what's so ingenious about this, because I'm not seeing it."

"Sorry John," said Chuck as he looked over at Marley. "Casey gets cranky like this when I use big words so I have to dumb it down."

"I'm going to dumb you down in about five minutes if you don't start explaining. Dumb down... yeah Mister Potato head and I can make you look like him if you keep it up."

"That's his way of showing affection," said Chuck. Casey turned red and gave him a death stare. "Okay, okay, put your eyes back in your head and watch out for your blood pressure. You see the genius thing here is by using the legend of Black Bart. Even if you people get seen every now and then as real people the legend lives on."

"They just say that wasn't the real Black Bart so the next time when you get away with it that starts the cycle again. You can't disprove it because it never existed to begin with."

"Yes, and the harder you try to disprove it the more credence you give to the legend as being true. It's like trying to put out a fire by adding gasoline."

"You two are giving me a headache. So where does that put us? We still don't know where Roan and Beckman are?

I don't know about that. We need to look at those charts again and try to figure out where these pirates disappeared to," said Chuck.

By then they were pier side so Marley took them topside then to the bridge to see the Skipper who was finishing up reports.

"I'm sorry to bother you but my colleges want to have a look at your charts one more time," said Marley. "We're trying to figure out where your pirates could've disappeared to."

"You're more than welcome but most of the people around here will tell you they went back to hell where they came from," said the Skipper as he laid out the charts. "Personally, I'd certainly like to send them there but on a one-way trip this time."

"I second that," said Spike as he walked in on their conversation. "I swear they looked like the real deal when they boarded us. Now, I have to wonder if I wasn't just too gullible."

"See here's your first convert," said Casey. "So much for you Brainiac's theory that the legend would self-perpetuate itself."

"One oak does not a forest make," said Chuck. Everyone looked at him for a moment.