Don't own Chuck
Chuck and Sarah were flying to the Mohawk with General Thomas onboard a Coast Guard SH-60 Seahawk. The Mohawk was operating a search and rescue mission off the coast of Saint John. Chuck had warned them they'd probably never see their missing Ranger again but any debris might help him figure out where the pirate boat with the General and Roan had been anchored and from that he might be able to calculate were they'd gone next. It was a long shot but he had other problems at hand such as an angry three-star General.
"I can't believe what you're telling me. So you're telling me these people in our day and age actually believe that there's this pirate ghost and his ghoulish band sailing around the Caribbean plundering and looting. Please don't tell me you believe this tale too?"
"I don't think I said ghoulish band but what can I say? Sailors are a superstitious lot. However, no I don't believe it. No, the people we're looking for are of this world and they are made of flesh and bones."
"Good, there for a moment I thought you'd lost it. But what I don't understand is how this is all connected. You haven't explained how this is related to Fry's murder or did the ghost of Davy Jones visit him in his hotel room and off him with that escort? What I see is a boondoggle pure and simple. Because I don't see a connection and your mother is down here on the tax payer's dime," said the General.
Chuck felt his face flush as he got angry. After everything his mother had done for the agency and her country to have to hear this said about her.
"I can assure you if that's what's bothering everyone then Carmichael Industries will foot the bill for all this," said Chuck as he snapped back. He felt Sarah squeeze his hand so he dialed it back. "But if you give us a chance I can assure you we'll show you results."
"You promised me answers and all I'm getting from you is the runaround. What kind of results? Results in what finding Fry's killer… killers or tracking down these pirates? The former is the job of the FBI and the later the Coast Guard. So, what are we talking about here? I feel you're giving me the runaround and I don't like it. You need to tell me right now or this is over. "
"You can't do that," said Chuck as he looked over at Sarah but she just shrugged her shoulders. "Really? You've got nothing?"
"We're in uncharted waters here Chuck. Maybe we need to explain… well better that is how everything is connected. You see General there is a link with the pirates' attack and General Fry's murder…"
"Yes, there is," said Chuck as he jumped in and gave Sarah a look. "Which we'll gladly share with you when we get to the Mohawk."
"I think you're stalling. Lieutenant," radioed Tank to the pilot. "How long before we reach the Mohawk?"
"It won't be much longer. You see sir, they're actually steaming away from us but we should overtake them in a half an hour. I've radioed ahead and they're expecting us but they can't break away from their search. Agent Carmichael, the XO asked me to pass on that they found debris where you said they'd find it."
"Good, and we know the ranger went missing this morning so if they found debris where I told them to look then calculating the currents. Lieutenant, you can radio them and tell them that the vessel we're looking for was anchored in a place called 'Pirate's cove'."
"Gee, what a name. How so appropriate," said Sarah as she looked out the window at the island below. They were following the coastline to rendezvous with the Mohawk when she saw a pillar of black smoke go up. "What was that?"
"What was what," said Chuck as he climbed over the General to have a look. "It looks like there was an explosion down there. Look at those two boats one is firing on the other."
"Don't get any ideas we can turn this over to the local authorities," said Tank. But Chuck was stuck the window.
"No, no we have to intervene," said Chuck. He had a gut feeling he knew what was going on. "Lieutenant bring us down behind those Zodiacs. Do you have any armament?"
"No, this is a rescue helicopter. I can radio the island police and have them send out a boat. If they send one now it should be here in an hour or two."
"No by then it will be too late," said Chuck as he strained and tried to make out who was in the lead boat being fired at.
"You heard the man we don't have any arms. How do you plan on dealing with them? Talk them to death like you've been trying to do to me."
"I've got an idea but you're not going to like it. Everyone buckle up, it could get a little windy in here," said Chuck then he opened the side hatch. Chuck grabbed the flare gun popped it open and dropped a canister inside then started to lean out the open hatch when he felt a tap on the shoulder.
"Why don't you let me do that? After all I am the better shot and you are using a flare gun. What I'm saying is this isn't what they're intended to be used for," said Sarah. He smiled back at her handing her the gun.
"Go ahead but you're only going to get one go at this," he said as he moved out of her way and she took up position. "Don't forget to lead them…"
"I think I know what I'm doing. Now if you don't mind," she said as she took aim. "Just like riding a bicycle."
"I'm not going to tell you how messed up that sounds," said Chuck. She relaxed her stanch and laughed then gave him a look. "Okay, I'm shutting up."
"Thank you, I need to concentrate," she said as she got ready again and took aim. She knew she had only one go at this and she flashed. Chuck grabbed hold of her as she steadied herself. Tank looked at both of them like they were crazy.
"I've got this," she said as he let go of her. She got back into position and got ready to fire. "There would only be one good shot because after that the men in the boat would be on to them and they'd lose the element of surprise.
"I hope you know what you're doing. If they turn and fire on us there's nothing we can do except try to put distance between us. You have any idea how much one of these birds cost?"
"I expect a lot of money but if I'm right you'll get the answers to all the questions you wanted to ask me very shortly so humor us for a little while longer."
The 12-gauge flare gun made a loud bang as Sarah fired at the one Zodiac. She quickly popped open the pistol pulled out the spent canister then grabbed a second flare and got ready to fire again if necessary. However, all this she did as she watched the first-round fly towards its target.
"Got you," she said. "Crap, the lead boat's losing distance. It's slowing down. They must've hit its engines."
"Yeah, I see it too but what if… No, crap, if they hit her gas tank then she's been losing... Geez the General's in deep kimchee," said Chuck. He knew what he had to do.
"General who?" said Tank. He'd heard Chuck well and wanted answers now. "Who's down in that boat? What's going on?"
"Sorry no time to talk," said Chuck. "Lieutenant, Catch up to that lead boat," radioed Chuck to the pilot as he grabbed two life vests. "Bring us down low."
"No, just wait a moment we can do something else," yelled Sarah but he kissed her then leaped out the hatch.
"Sorry, there's no time. I'll be right back and to think I'm afraid of heights," said Chuck as his voice vanished away drowned out by the sound of the helicopter.
"What kind of crazy is he?"
"The good kind," she said as she looked out the open hatch. "Grab that harness we need to attach it to the cable."
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Meanwhile back at the hospital things were going crazy. Alex found the doctor who'd been treating their man unconscious blocking the elevator doors. Inside she found four syringes lying on the floor. Alex immediately called Mary while Morgan wandered off looking around.
"You need to get down here in the basement right away with Marley. I think they've taken Dad," said Alex then she reported what she'd found. Shew as still talking to Mary when she heard Morgan scream.
"Holy crap," yelled Morgan that was when she noticed he was missing. "You need to see this right away," he yelled from someplace nearby.
"I need to go Morgan just found something," said Alex as she hung up. Afterwards she thought she probably should've kept Mary on the line but she wasn't thinking at the moment. "Morgan, where are you? You shouldn't have gone off by yourself we need to stay together."
"I'm in the room autopsy room... off to your left. Geez, I'm going to have nightmares about this tonight."
"I'm coming but don't move from there," said Alex. She couldn't help but pause before entering. Images flashed through her head about what might see on the other side of that door. "No don't go there," she said to herself. "Not until you see for yourself," she said as she opened it.
"Look over there," said Morgan as he pointed to the two bodies on the floor. "Isn't that our guy but I don't know who the other one is."
"I recognize him. He's... well was an orderly that was always hoovering around our man," said Alex then she punched Morgan in the shoulder. "I could kill you for bringing me in like this. You should've stayed with me."
"Ouch! What did I do? I just called you in here to see... oh, you thought that John was in here. I'm sorry I wasn't thinking... There's no sign of him here."
"That's because they took him. Mary's tiger trap worked except the tiger got the goat and we got squat. Oh Morgan, how am I going to explain this to Mom?"
"Don't say anything for now and don't worry we'll get him back," said Morgan as he put his arm around her and pulled her in close. "I know what we need to do. We need to call Chuck."
"You will do no such thing," they head from a voice over their shoulder. Turning around they saw Mary walk in with Marley. "Agent Marley, get some men in here and tear this place apart. Check with your men you posted outside the hospital and see if they saw anything. These people are getting on my nerves."
"We need Chuck here now," said Alex. "You're in over your head and this is the result. It's one thing to be out in the field on your own where you don't have to worry about anyone else getting hurt but we are a team and the team sticks together."
"I'm going to overlook that outburst of insubordination because I realize you're distressed over what just happened. I can reassure you we're doing everything we can do right now."
"Which is what? We lost Beckman and Roan and our only lead is lying in his own blood over there and now they've taken my father from right under our noses. With all due respect, I think your everything really and truthfully sucks."
"You two ought to step outside and get some fresh air," said Mary as she looked at her watch. "No, hold on I've got a better idea I need you two to go back to the Waldron and check in with the girls' babysitter. It's about time for her to leave so you two can take over."
"So, you're sidelining us too," said Alex as she turned beet red in her face and steam rolled out of her ears.
"Come on let's go," said Morgan as he pulled her away. "Come on before you make things worse. We can't do anymore here anyway."
"Don't worry we'll keep you posted on our progress," said Mary then she walked off with Marley undertow.
"I'm sure you will," said Alex as she shook Morgan's hand loose of her arm. "And thanks for the support. Just throw me under the bus will you. Sucking up doesn't make you a better agent."
"Okay, I get it... you're angry but I didn't throw you under any bus but that was a losing battle you were fighting. You were only going to get yourself in more trouble. Come on we can call Chuck on the way to the hotel and if Mary askes he called us."
"That's a good idea," said Alex. She turned to him and kissed him. "Thanks, and sorry for what I said before."
"Thanks for what? We haven't done anything yet but as Big Mike always says if life throws up roadblocks try to go around them or buy a tall ladder."
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A little while before off the coast of Saint John two Zodiacs were racing over open water. One was firing on the other and the other had nowhere to hide. In the beginning, both boats were evenly matched so it didn't seem like the trail boat would be able to catch up. However, because of a few well place shots the lead Zodiac was starting to lose speed and slow down as it's engines began to sputter and miss.
"I think we go her now," said the gunman to the pilot. "I must've punctured a fuel tank when she pulled out of the channel and now she's starting to run out of gas."
"Well stop standing there gawking and don't mess around with her. She's taken out some of our friends so put her down so we can go catch up with the boat."
"There's no need to rush this and besides we've got her were we want her. Just take a chill pill and let me do my job."
"Are you forgetting about Pedro and Toby as well as the guys in the other boat? Punch her ticket and send her to hell where she belongs or if you don't want to do it then take the helm and let me."
"I didn't say I wasn't going to do it I just want her to see it when it comes. Let her squirm a bit on the hook and realize there's nothing she can do to avoid this."
"What the heck," said the pilot as he saw the reflection of the chopper in the water and turned around.
"What are you doing? You're going off course," said the gunman. "Okay, I'll do it now. What are you looking at?" he said as he turned to look. "Holy crap." There near them following was a white CH-60 with Coast Guard written on the sides.
"Don't just stand there shoot at them," yelled the pilot as he turned back to the helm and opened up the throttle as wide as it would go. They made up the gap between them and Beckman's boat but they were too busy with the chopper to worry with her. The chopper pilot managed to keep them just out of range as the gunman opened up on them.
"Shoot her... Shoot her now," yelled the one man but as the gunman turned to fire on Diane a fireball came heading towards them from the chopper.
"Oh crap," said the one man as the magnesium flare hit aft near the two outboards. The flare immediately caught the Zodiac on fire catching the aluminum on fire.
"Throw it overboard. Throw it overboard now," yelled the one man frantically. "Just pick it up and toss it overboard."
"You pick it up and throw it over I'm not going to touch the thing. That crap is too hot to touch... it will burn off my fingers and probably my hand too."
"Idiot," yelled the pilot as he jumped up and started to dive overboard when the whole boat exploded in one huge fireball.
Diane heaved a sigh of relief as she watched the burning debris fall back down out of the sky dotting the surface of the water with burning bits and pieces. However, just when she thought she was home free the trail of fuel she'd been leaking behind her caught on fire. She saw the fiery trail race towards her and she had no choice but dive over the side just as it arrived at her fuel tanks.
"Oh this is going to hurt," she said as she hit the water. There was a second explosion as her boat went up like the first one. There was a burning slick above her so she dared not surface. The slick didn't look that wide from below but as she tried to swim past it, it seemed to grew and grew.
"You need to keep on going," she told herself but her legs and arms started aching and cramping. She felt tired and heavy. Her side ached and her lungs burned, she so desperately wanted to breath but she knew she couldn't.
"No, no you've come too far to give up now," she told herself but first her vision went blurry then she had tunnel vision followed by darkness. Somewhere in that darkness she felt something or someone grab a hold of her. At first, she thought it might have been sharks coming for light lunch but she felt nothing. There was no pain just a numbness she felt all over.
"You're not going to do this to me," said Chuck as he broke the surface with her. "General, snap out of it," he said as he got the life vest on her. "Talk to me," he said as he inflated it.
"I'm sorry but we've come too far to lose you like this now," he said then he tried to perform mouth to mouth while treading water. "Sorry, but this is for your own good," he said as he slapped her. "Now snap out of it soldier," he said then he started mouth to mouth again.
Suddenly she spat out water and started coughing then she started fighting him swinging wild. She managed to catch him with a couple of good licks.
"General, calm down... calm down it's me, Chuck. I've got you. You're safe now," said Chuck as the Seahawk hovered overhead and lowered a cable with a harness.
"What about Roan? Do you have any word on how he is? They were after him," she said as Chuck got the harness on her.
"I'm sorry we still don't know anything about him," said Chuck as hooked himself to the cable too then signaled for them to be brought up. "I should warn you General Thomas is in the chopper and he's going to be more than a little angry with me... with us."
"No one knew I was missing," she said as they were brought up. The noise of the chopper made it impossible to speak so Chuck just nodded.
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Luiz wasn't going to take any chances going to the villa. The two Ford Explorers split up then the one Luiz and Casey were in drove into a parking garage where they changed it out with a Range Rover and a new driver. The old driver drove the Explorer away to the outskirts of the city where he torched it, then he made his own way to the villa.
"It looks like we did it," said the man riding shotgun. "I'd like to see the look on their faces when they figure out we grabbed their man right out from under their noses."
"Don't get too cocky up there," said Luiz as he smiled. "However, you're right it would be something to see. But we can't get too confident, that's when people make mistakes and we're playing for keeps."
"Boss, we're here," said the driver as they pulled up to a wrought iron gate in the middle of a series of high walls covered with bougainvillea.
"I want a couple of guys to make sure our guest is safely locked away while I go check on Donna Rosenda and where our boat is. Once our guest is secured make sure everyone starts getting ready to leave."
"Boss, we made it here without being followed," said the driver as he pulled up outside the villa. "I'm sure of that so there's no reason to worry about the Feds."
"Worry? Don't you realize what's about to happen? We grabbed one of theirs not mention our other guest but they didn't know he was here. However, after grabbing this one they'll begin to suspect that their other agent is nearby too. You know what their next move will be..."
"No Boss," said the driver. Luiz gave him a look as the man's partner elbowed him and shook his head. "I'm sorry Boss..."
"That was a rhetorical question... the kind you're not supposed to answer. This time I'll let it slide but don't make a habit of interrupting me. But no, you wouldn't know what they're going to do next because you have to think like them which I can do and you can't. They're going to close this island down then they're going to start searching it from one end to the other. That's why we need to get out of here while the getting is good. Do what I told you to do then look for me inside the villa."
"Yes Boss," they said almost in unison. Luiz just shook his head as he got out of the Range Rover then went inside the villa. But nothing could've prepared him for what he found when he walked in the living room.