Don't own Chuck

Tank sat across from Chuck and Beckman in the SH-60 staring at them both had emergency blankets wrapped around them to stay warm. He didn't know if he should be pissed at Chuck and Sarah for giving him the runaround or if he should commend them on their loyalty to Beckman. So, until he could figure which way he was going to go he decided to sit there and listen.

"General, you really need to see a doctor and make sure you're ready to resume your duties," said Sarah. "Mary's been doing a good job so why don't you leave everything with her until you get a fit for duty."

"Bull, I'm back and I'm pissed. I don't need a fit for duty I need a loaded weapon and those butt holes who took us in my crosshairs. Where are we with tracking down that boat and finding those people?"

"Well, I've got the Mohawk steaming towards us but they won't be here for another twenty to thirty minutes. I've got the Coast Guard alerted back on Saint Thomas but I think we can assume they have some secret base that they've been operating out of."

"I want that port where they were tied up at raided. These people know these waters like the back of their hands which means they are from here. They have to have people either helping them or looking the other way. What do we know about who these people are and why they wanted Roan?"

"You mean after all this and you weren't the target," said Tank. "I think this is where you brief us both about what's going on?"

"General, you should listen to Sarah," said Chuck. "Mom's got a plan to smoke them out but we don't think they're from here. Remember right before you went missing General Fry was murdered here. Well, we believe that he, Roan and Casey have been targeted for their part in an operation that took place in Honduras in 1989."

"That would've been right before I got Roan transferred to me in Berlin. As I remember there was an operation to flush out some rebel leader."

"Yes, but the mission went sideways when the rebel band started executing hostages. Against orders a young hotshot sniper by the name of Alex Coburn took out the whole rebel band and for saving a certain CIA operative he was given a letter of reprimand."

"Does Casey know this?" asked Beckman. Tank looked at her wondering why she cared and what all this had to do with anything.

"I know you like Roan… why I've never understood but why do you care about his connection with this Coburn? Is Coburn one of the pirates?"

"No General," said Chuck as he looked over at Beckman who nodded for him to go ahead and speak. "You see Coburn and Casey are the same person. He was forced to assume a new identity when he asked to join Colonel Kellers' Black Op team. That letter of reprimand closed one door and opened another."

"But he can't blame Roan for that," said Beckman. But Chuck just looked away. "What's going on with the Colonel that you're not tell me?"

"They've been doing a lot of that lately," said Tank as he joined in. Chuck just gave him a look but it was Sarah who spoke up.

"Well ma'am, it's just that John's been doing some soul-searching thinking about how things might've been different."

"Self-awareness in a blunt object is never a good thing. Where is the Colonel right now?"

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Natasha as soon as she was out of the FSB building in Lubyanka square she made straight for the subway station. She knew she didn't have long to vanish so she needed to be smart about it. That being the case going by the subway with its CCTV everywhere and facial recognition wasn't a smart move but she needed to put distance between her and the Director.

"Excuse me," said Natasha as she pushed her way up to the turnstile then passed her ticket through. She was trying to make it to Paveletsky station. Her plan was to catch the Aeroexpress train for Domodedovo Airport.

She made her way to the platform and got on as soon as the last passenger got off. She was almost sure by the time they found her on CCTV she'd be long gone. She stood facing the window and stare out trying to avoid eye contact with anyone while being aware of her surroundings. When the train arrived at Paveletsky she was one of the first ones off then she found the Aeroexpress train and got on.

The first leg of her trip went without a hitch and she let out her breath when the doors closed. They pulled away from the station and headed towards the Domodedovo Airport. However, she was confident she could pull this off. The subway in Moscow is one of the busiest in the world moving seven million passengers a day and even more on peak days. All that meant there were a lot of faces to be looked at before they came to hers.

"Eez-vee-NEE-tyeh, excuse me," she said as she pushed her way through the crowd that got off the train then made her way up into the airport. Once there she made sure she was picked up on their cameras as she approached the ticket counter. However, before she had to walk up to one of the attendants she ducked out of line and then out of the airport when the cameras were pointed away from her.

"Now to get out of her," she said to herself as she made her way to the parking garage. She made her way from floor to floor looking for a late model to car jack. The newer cars had security features that made this more difficult and without her bag of tools it was impossible to take one without anyone knowing she was there.

"Here we go," said Natasha as she found a late model Lada and a ticket stub the owner had graciously left on the windshield. She looked around to make sure no one was around then broke the passenger's window out with her elbow. Once inside it was just a matter of hotwiring and then driving out.

"It's four hundred and fifty miles to Saint Petersburg," she said to herself as she looked up in the rearview to made sure she wasn't being followed. "This is going to be a nine to ten-hour drive so you might as well relax."

That was easier said then done. She knew somewhere along the drive she was going to have to change vehicles again but for now she just relaxed behind the wheel.

"I certainly hope what I'm doing this for is worth it," she said to herself as she kept a watchful eye out for cops and the FSB. "This has been almost too easy," she thought to herself and checked in the mirror again but didn't see anything.

"Well maybe I deserve a break every now and then. You know what you should've done," she said to her reflection in the mirror. "You should've capped Marta and Nina a long time ago. If you had none of this would be happening now."

"Well hindsight is always crystal clear," she said as she answered herself. "This is going to be a long drive so I don't want you giving me any grief."

"Maybe you do belong on a funny farm with all the crazies," she said to her reflection. "Okay remember one step at a time, first thing clean passports then next thing we get out of this country. I think it's time to find a warmer climate."

"And I know the perfect spot," she said as she answered herself. "Geez, who knows maybe I am off my rocker."

[Meanwhile some miles behind her]

"Shouldn't we try to get another visual on her," said Stefan as Anatoly drove their Lada on the M11 heading for Saint Petersburg.

"No, if she sees us she'll know something is up and she almost saw us when she grabbed the car in the parking garage. Besides, we shouldn't even be this close after all that trouble she went to trying to throw us off her scent and we would've if it weren't for those nanobots."

"I don't know I don't like her being that far ahead. It doesn't give us much time to react if she tries something even with the nanobots."

Well, if you feel that way why don't you could call back to Lubyanka and have them look for her using the traffic cams. Wouldn't that be just as good as us getting a visual on her ourselves?"

"Not a bad idea," said Stefan pulling out his phone. "I wonder what she's got planned in Saint Petersburg? I think we need to be ready for anything. No not you, Marcus I was talking with Anatoly," said Stefan as he went on to explain what he needed. "Give us a call when you have something."

"I wish I knew what she was up to also. I really don't feel like driving into a trap but she doesn't know we're behind her but that doesn't mean she might not try something when she gets to wherever she's going to make sure she doesn't have a tail."

"We'll just have to play it by ear and be flexible I guess," said Stefan as he looked through the glove box until he found what he was looking for.

"Hey, what are you doing? That's my thermos," said Anatoly as he watched Stefan pour himself a cup of hot tea. "I brought that for me."

"You mean for us," said Stefan as he took a sip. "No one makes tea like your wife. She should open up a tea room. I bet people would pay for a cup of this."

"I'm glad you like it. Now put it away while there's still a cup left for me," said Anatoly as he looked over at Stefan still holding his thermos. "I mean it put it away."

"Okay, okay I'm putting it away but you know what this is missing? I wonder if I look better in the glove box will I find some tea biscuits?"

"No, but there are a couple slices of cake. You can have one but only as long as you tell my wife in person how much you liked it. She lives for your compliments."

"It's a deal," said Stefan as he looked back in the glove box and took out a small bundle of fabric. He didn't know how he hadn't seen or smelt it before. Taking it out the car was filled with the scent of cinnamon and cloves with a hint of orange.

"I don't know what you did to deserve your wife," said Stefan as he unwrapped the cloth and took a bite. Not only was there cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg but there were also walnuts as well as a layer of marmalade in the middle. "Take woman is a saint," he said as he took a bite.

"Hey just remember while you're eating over there that one of those pieces is for me," said Anatoly as Stefan's phone rang.

"It's Marcus that was quick," said Stefan with his mouthful. He had to try to swallow quickly so he used the last of his tea to get it down. "Sorry," said Stefan as he answered. "I was a bit occupied with Anatoly's wife."

"What'd you say," said Anatoly as he looked over at Stefan.

"No, not like that she sent cake and tea with him... yeah Anatoly is definitely the person to be with when you have to go on a stake out or run-down prisoners. So, what do you have for me? ... Thanks, good to know, keep an eye on her and on us. I got to run I still have half a slice of cake to finish just keep us posted," said Stefan then he hung up.

"So, what'd Marcus have to say," said Anatoly as he looked over at Stefan pulling out his thermos again. "Hey, I told you not to drink it all."

"Sorry but I need it to go with the cake. But don't worry we need to pull into a bar and grill a few miles up. Natasha pulled in and swapped-out vehicles. She's in a dark blue Discovery now still heading for Saint Petersburg. Marcus is following her with the traffic cams."

"Okay but you're going to pay to have it re-filled and I swear if you eat that other slice of cake I will shoot you through the head. Don't you dare me if you know what's good for you," said Anatoly as Stefan laughed. He laughed so hard he almost spilt his tea on himself.

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Alex and Morgan drove back to the Waldron from the school and on the way Morgan tried to reach Chuck but he kept getting a recorded message that Chuck's phone was either turned off or out of reach. Given they knew he was in a helicopter heading for the Mohawk with General Thomas in tow it was probably the latter.

"You know someone ought to invent floating cell towers that could be position around the oceans so you'd always be able to reach someone one."

"They've tried with balloons to get cell signals into isolated places but they do have what you're talking about already. It's called a Sat phone," said Alex as they pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. "You go on up and let the babysitter go. I want to stop off in the gift shop first."

"Is this really the time to be buying souvenirs?" said Morgan wondering what had come over Alex. "But I'm sure John would appreciate a bottle of locally made rum and while you're there you can get something for Kat from me."

"I'm not doing that kind of shopping but I appreciate that you thought about Mom. However, I am not… Oh, never mind just go up and I'll meet you there in a bit."

They separated in the lobby. Alex going into the gift shop where she picked up all the maps she could find of the island. She especially wanted ones that were particularly detailed. Then she grabbed all the books they had on island folklore. She wanted to know as much about this Black Bart as possible. Laden down with her purchases she went back up to Chuck and Sarah's room.

"What's going on here," said Alex as she walked in. Sam was sitting on the floor in front of the television watching Animal Planet with a bowl of ice cream, rocky road from the looks of it, and a chocolate smile that went from ear to ear.

"It's called room service. Wait a moment," said Sam as she put her hand up to hide her eyes as a lion pounced on a gazelle. "Phew, I know they need to eat but do they have to eat at the same time I'm trying to?"

"Oh, Morgan, how could you let her call room service? And don't say you didn't standing there with that grape soda in your hand. How many bowls of ice cream have you had little lady?"

"If I told you it would only make this situation worse so I think I'm going to go with the fifth and not incriminate myself. But I will say I was obliged to do so because I was just being a good hostess."

"Can you believe they have grape soda… and it's the good kind," said Morgan as he offered Alex a sip but she shook her head.

"No thanks, okay I don't have time for this or to mess around with you two. I don't have to know what you were up to before I got here," said Alex as she laid out the maps she bought. Sam was curious so she switched off the television and came over to see what they were doing.

"If I could make a suggestion," said Sam as she raised her finger. "I'd tape your map on the television so you'd see it better and not be huddled over it. What are you looking for anyway?"

"You know Sam's right, that's a good idea," said Morgan. "There's tape on the counter. We're looking to see if we can find where they took Casey."

"Morgan! We can't get into that with you and she wants the map tapped up so she can see too. You should've been called George," said Alex but she still took the map over and taped it up. "But yes, they took Dad today."

"Nana Mary must be pissed then," said Sam. Alex cleared her throat. "Oh, okay she's upset. So that's why you two are here, you screwed up."

"I think someone needs to moderate their language and no we didn't 'mess up'. It wasn't our fault that Dad got taken but someone else's," said Alex as she studied the map.

"What are all the books for," said Sam as she looked at them while finishing her bowl of ice cream. "I could almost use another bowl."

"Oh no you don't, that was your last one and please don't drip ice cream on them. I'm hoping to return them and get my money back or exchange them for real souvenirs."

"So, what are they about? I'm guessing about pirates judging by the pirate flags on the covers. Does this have to do with that pirate ghost who haunts around here."

"You mean Black Bart?" said Alex. She thought about all the money she'd spent on books only to find out now that Sam knew everything there was to know. "So, tell me what do you know about him?"

"Shush, I know you're not supposed to mention his name. It's supposed to be bad luck. Jesus told me about him when I was working in the office at school and so did the girl who was watching us."

"You worked in the office? More likely you were sent to the office?" said Morgan as he smiled over the top of his grape soda.

"Funny, but unlike you, I go to school to learn not to occupy a seat and yes, I worked. I operated the stapler for Jesus so I have a tick for my resume… Knows how to operate office equipment."

"Okay, okay I want to know about Black…" said Alex but before she could say the rest of the name Sam put her chocolate covered finger up to Alex's lips.

"The skill is telling the story without mentioning his name. This man was a very mean man who lived a long time ago…" began Sam as she told Alex the story of Black Bart.

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Casey had his hands around Roan's throat thinking just a little harder and then this would all be over. No one could blame him. It was the effects of the sedative… he didn't recognize him until it was too late. It would be easy… really easy. This is what they had made him into after all.

"Diane, Diane," said Roan as he tried to break John's hold. "Do you know where she's at?" he said as he started turning blue.

"What did you say," said Casey as he let Roan go. "Where's Beckman?" he said as he looked around the room. He'd forgotten for a moment that she was missing too.

"I don't know," said Roan as he coughed and rubbed his neck. "They left her on the boat that took us or that's what I was told. They say they won't hurt her as long as we cooperate."

"And you trust they'll keep their word? If you believe that I have got some swampland for sale," said Casey as he got up on his feet and started looking around the room. "I know this has to do with Honduras and Pablito the bandito. What do you know about the people who are holding us?"

"It seems Pablito had a wife and a son, who want revenge for your killing him. If you'd done as I told you none of this would be happening now."

"That's true you'd be in a grave somewhere with your throat slashed open and the world's gin reserve would be healthier than now. So, what about our current situation? What can you tell me about the guards outside? Have you figured anyway to get out of here?"

"Truthfully, you've been in here longer than I have. Until the son, Luiz, came home I was upstairs in the living room with his mother, Donna Rosenda having a drink or two…"

"Or three or four and of course you were with her. I bet you two were having a grand old time chatting away about what?"

"Oh, this and that… nothing of any importance. I was trying to gain her confidence and I almost had it when her son came home."

"What did he do? Did he break up your little tryst you had going," said Casey as he walked around the room knocking on the walls looking for a soft spot but finding none.

"It didn't get that far but who knows maybe there might be another opportunity. She asked me about Pablito and we talked about Honduras."

"Nothing like talking to the man who killed your husband. I'd like to know how you were able to spin that one," said John. Roan became quiet. "Oh no, don't tell me, you didn't."

"I didn't intend to but she accused me and what was I supposed to do after all. I simply set the record straight that…"

"You didn't kill Pablito but I did and you threw me under the bus. I knew I should've gone for that new record. We need to get out of here and get help."

"And what about Diane? They'll hurt her."

"She's probably shark food by now anyway which puts Mary in charge. Boy, this day just keeps getting better by the moment."