Don't own Chuck

Casey and Roan quietly crawled over to the other side of the shack through the shared loft before Donna Rosenda and Miguel entered. Below them was a man tied to a chair with a hood over his head. Next to him was a man on each side and two more near the door. Casey motion Roan to keep quiet and still as the door opened. John pointed at Donna Rosenda who was the first through the door followed by Miguel.

"Keep your trap shut and your ears open. Just pretend we're wall flowers," whispered John as he pulled out his weapon and took off the safety.

"What's that for? I thought you said you weren't going to try to take her out? We're sitting up here like roosting chickens. We'll never be able to get out alive."

"I'm not this is just in case you can't keep quiet and get us caught like you're trying to do now. Shush, I can hear them coming now. They're just outside the door so keep it zipped."

[Meanwhile down below]

"Right this way," said Miguel as he opened the door for Donna Rosenda and held it for her. "Our man is waiting for us in here."

"I thought the way you talked he was in a cellar or basement under the house and now we're here. What is this place anyway?" she asked as she had to pause just inside the door to let her eyes get used to the darkness.

"This used to be a drying shed where tobacco was brought in and hung to cure on the stalk. After drying, the leaves would be stripped off, tied into bundles then taken to market. However, the market for tobacco has like the leaves dried up. Now we use this in our pot production, but that is just one of our little adventures."

"I'd like to hear more about it later but for right now let's take care of the task at hand and that is finding our missing prisoners."

"Yes, yes of course," said Miguel as he motioned for his man to remove the hood off his head and the gag from the man's mouth.

"Por favor Señor El Jefe, I've told you everything I know please don't kill me," begged the man. "I have a dog… yes a nice little dog… Oh and I have a mujer… a wife… Yes, I have a wife and niños, lots of niños who all depend on me. Even the dog, Señor he depends on me… well not as much but yes he depends on me too."

"You see I have a problem with that. You see Roberto I don't think you've told us everything. You say you were unconscious the whole time but you've obviously been pistol whipped. I think you can understand my perplexity because why would our friends pistol whip you if you were unconscious?"

"I don't know… no really I don't know. It must've been that big one. I knew he was going to be trouble as soon as I saw him. I don't mind telling you he was one mean hombre. People like him belong on his side of the border…"

"If you knew he was as you say 'a mean hombre' how did you let him get the drop on you and the rest of the men in the Defender?"

"I was sitting up front when that big guy bolted into the back seat and fought the men back there. I was drawing my weapon when a shot went off hitting the driver. The vehicle went off the road then the next thing I knew I was being brought here. I swear on my mother's grave that I'm telling the truth."

"But your mother isn't dead yet," said Miguel. "Donna Rosenda, what do you think? Do you think Roberto here is telling the truth?"

"I think he'd say anything to save his hide so whatever he says we can't believe," she said as she walked up to him. He started to beg again but she planted a knife in his chest. His face was covered in fear as he looked down at the blade protruding from his chest then up at her. His mouth moved but no words came out then his eyes went blank.

"I heard you had problems with feral pigs. Feed him to them and let everyone know this is the price of failure," she said as her phone rang. "Speaking of failure and disappointment, it's Luiz. Luiz, I hope you've got good news… okay but you should stay… oh, I see. Never let it be said that I wasn't a good hostess. Yes, okay come home," she said then she hung up and put away her phone.

"What did Luiz want? Did they find out missing friends?" said Miguel as he tried to understand the look on Donna Rosenda's face.

"Well, no, not them but he found a couple of people…friends he called them. If you can believe that and he wants to feed and house for the night. I couldn't say no."

"I shouldn't be telling you this but is that wise considering everything we've got going on right now? He should know this too and not put you in this position."

"Miguel, don't worry. I was thinking the same thing but then I thought we can use these two friends of Luiz's as hostages. We'll tell the Americans if they want these people back alive they need to give me Colonel Casey."

"And what about the other man… Roan? Don't you want him now or have you changed your mind. He's as much responsible as the other one is."

"Not really and besides I've gotten what I need from him and Luiz is putting together his testimony. He can deny it as much as he likes but the voice will be his. When we play it, everyone will hear how he says that the Colonel murdered my poor Pablito. You don't look convinced?"

"No… no I'm convinced. This is your plan and your decisions to make. Look, my man will take you back to the house and help you can get everything ready for these quests. I need to stay here and have this mess cleaned up."

Miguel kissed her on the hand then nodded for his man to take her away. He stood there watching until she was gone before turning to his men.

"I want a couple of you guys to go into town and visit the dead parrot. When you get to El Cotoro Muerto you need to take care of something or better someone for me and you know who it is. I don't want you to get caught but it needs to be done right away. When you're done with that check on the guys who are taking care of that Russian woman. You can all come back together. As for you other guys I want this mess cleaned up but don't feed the pigs in the compound. That just encourages them to come foraging here for food."

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As Natasha turned the man who was running towards them from behind fired. But he was running and shooting which made him miss his mark. However, Natasha didn't have that problem, she fired catching the man square in center mass. He moaned dropping to the alleyway floor. When she turned around she found another man had grabbed Monique and was holding a gun to her head using her as a human shield.

"Drop your weapon or I'll…" was all he got out. She fired straight at his face. The bullet grazed Monique's cheek as it flew past her hitting home. Blood and tissue splattered all over her as she stood there immobile. The slowly she brought her hand up to touch her cheek shaking all the time in pure fear.

"You could've shot me," Monique said as anger took over from fear. "What were you thinking? And if you'd missed? I'd be dead too."

"Shut up and start talking or you will be," said Natasha as she pointed her Makarov at Monique. "Who are you working for?"

"Well, what is it? You told me to shut up then you told me to talk? If I shut up I can't very well talk, now can I? So, which one is it shut up or talk?"

"I ought to shoot you right here on this spot and be done with you," said Natasha as she waved her weapon at her.

"Then go ahead and shoot," said Monique smiling at her. She was over her fear and ready to push back because she had a sudden realization. If Natasha had wanted to kill her she'd had plenty of opportunity to do so before now which meant she wanted something from her that she couldn't get if she were dead."

"Don't get cute with me. There are plenty of ways of getting information out of someone without killing them. However, I don't have the time to take any of the easy ways so if you don't want to experience pain. I'd tell me what I want to know," said Natasha but Monique gave her a puzzled look. "Good grief! I asked you who you were working for and the next time I ask the same question I'm going to shoot something off like a foot or a hand."

"I told you who I work for I work for the woman that was behind the counter when you bought that piece of clothing. Although I should've jack the price up on you with everything considered now."

"I warned you," said Natasha as she pointed the Makarov at Monique's foot. "This is going to end your dancing career."

"Hold up a minute. You're not asking the right question," said Monique. Natasha stopped and looked at her wondering what she'd meant. "Oh, come on, isn't' it obvious?"

"You do realize I'm the one with the gun here," said Natasha as she was quickly getting tired of this bantering back and forth. "Okay, you tell me what I should be asking."

"Well, I told you I work for Angela, the woman behind the counter but you never asked me who she works for? She works for a guy by the name of Miguel. I don't know his last name but he sends goons over once a month to drop off money. Angela takes the money and pays our suppliers or should I say the suppliers that Miguel tells her to pay…"

"Money laundering… Miguel always was one of the brightest one in the litter," said Natasha as Monique gave her a look.

"So, you know this Miguel who sends his goons to visit Angela? Can I ask how you know him and why is he involved with her?"

"You ask too many questions and the answers of which you're better off not knowing. But think of it like this the 'revolución' needs more than rhetoric and propaganda or there'll be no 'hasta siempre'. Yes, I know Miguel and other men like him… heck, I trained them to be what they are now because that was my job in a younger life. But how did he know that I was in your shop?"

"Angela called him after you left then he sent men and they told me I was to take you down this alleyway. I swear I didn't know they were going to hurt you but I had no choice. Now I'm supposed to go back to Angela and report in."

"I'm the one who trained Miguel," said Natasha as she thought for a moment. "I need to go to the El Cotoro and then I'll find Miguel. If he's sent men after me I need to know why."

"Rumor has it that he lives on the outskirts of town in a big house that used to be a part of a banana plantation. You can't miss it because there are armed guards that patrol the grounds and the compound is fenced off with 'no trespassing' signs."

"Good, that's all I need to know. You can go now just take the long way back to your shop," said Natasha as she slipped her weapon in her belt under her jacket.

"I can't go back now… it's too early and if I take the long way back to the shop, Angela will find out. Then I'll be in trouble with Miguel and he's liable to send men after me."

"Well, you can come with me to the Dead Parrot but that's as far as we go together. After that we part company because if you stay with me beyond that I can't guarantee your safety. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes, of course," said Monique but Natasha knew she didn't. There was no way someone not in the game could understand what was going down and even those who were players probably didn't understand. The man on the bus being a case in point.

"Good," said Natasha as she motioned Monique to lead on. "Show me the way so I can get this over with."

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Sarah and Morgan drove with Luiz to meet up with other men. When they pulled up Sarah and Morgan saw the other Rover turned over on its side next to the road. Morgan looked concerned at Sarah but she shook her head. They had to keep to their act together and play their parts in order to maintain their covers.

"That looks like a bad accident," said Sarah as Luiz started to get out. "I know a little first aid if you need me to help."

"An ambulance has already been here and took the people away. The driver was going too fast for this road and lost control but it's nothing you need to worry about," said Luiz. "I'll be right back," he said as he closed his door behind him. The driver got out too and for a moment they were left alone inside the vehicle.

"Crap, what if Casey's hurt. I can't believe this is happening. We need to get word to Beckman and have her search the local hospitals for the Big Guy and Roan."

"Morgan, I don't want to make you feel worse but look at that thing and the blood on the windows. Whoever was in that wasn't taken to the hospital or if they were they were taken to no floor above the basement."

"Are you telling me this is the curtain call for the Big Guy? How am I supposed to break this kind of news to Alex? She'll be heartbroken not to mention Kat."

"We don't know he was a causality and considering Luiz has men frantically looking around I'd say either John or Roan or both made it out alive. I'd even go so far to say he caused this as a means to escape. But that begs the question, where are they?"

"You don't think John would run back into town and look for help? That's what I'd do if I were him," said Morgan as he watched Luiz waving his hands at his men.

"But you're not John and this is his environment. He spent a lot of time in these jungles and if anything, this has got to be like going home for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't decide to go on the offensive. The plantation isn't that far from here."

"But that's only as good as if he knows that Luiz and his mother are there and how to get there. Look Luiz is on his phone and he doesn't look too happy. I don't know maybe you're right. You should try to call someone and let them know where we are."

"I am. Keep an eye on Luiz and tell me when he starts heading back," said Sarah as she tried to dial Chuck but it rang and rang then went to voice mail. "Crap, Chuck isn't picking up I need to call Beckman."

"No time Luiz's on his way back," said Morgan. Sarah frantically dialed the General then put her phone away leaving it on hoping the General would pick up and track them.

"Put that thing away now. He's almost here," said Morgan and she did just in time. Luiz opened the door then climbed inside.

"I was just on the phone with my mother and Miguel. Dinner will be waiting for us when we arrive and she's arranged for two rooms in the house for you both. She also said if you wanted to stay long there wouldn't be a problem."

"I don't know I can't speak for Morgan but I wouldn't want to inconvenience you," said Sarah. "I have a flight out in a couple of days but I don't want to put you out."

"I'm the same. I've got a trekking expedition that leaves the day after tomorrow in the hinterlands. I've waited a lifetime for this opportunity."

"Well wait until you've seen what there is to see around the plantation then we can revisit this," said Luiz as his driver got back inside. "Juan, take us back to the plantation mother is waiting."

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Chuck looked up at the man standing over the top of him looking down trying to intimidate him. The man looked down at Chuck drooling out of the corner of his mouth. The man had a scar that ran the left side of his face and probably hadn't taken a shower since the last rain fall. The man, to emphasis his, planted a fourteen-inch bowie knife in the middle of their table.

"Mister, you're going to have to answer to the barkeep for any damages done and I think you need to apologize to my friend."

"Your girl would be better off being with a real man who'll look out for her and protect her from…" the man started to say but Alex cut him off.

"You mean like men like you? I've already got a fiancé but I don't need any man taking care of me. I can take care of myself just fine. Now, if you don't mind you can scurry back into the same hole you came from."

"Why you…" the man started to say but Alex whipped out a collapsible baton and in one move extended it and brought it down on the man's knee cap. He made a loud howling noise over the cracking sound of bones being broken. As he dropped to the floor Alex grabbed his knife from the table along with a clump of hair pulling his head back and held the knife to his throat.

"I thought I was clear when I told you to go away or do I need to give you a shave you'll never forget," she said as she let him go kicking him to the floor. The man hobbled away back to his friends at the bar giving her the look of death from the safety of his friends.

"I think we need to lighten the mood in here," said Chuck. He walked over to the wall and took a guitar down that was hanging there then tuned it the best he could. Looking at it he flashed. He began playing and singing…

Soy un hombre muy honrado
Que me gusta lo mejor
Las mujeres no me faltan, ni el dinero, ni el amor

Jineteando en mi caballo
Por la sierra yo me voy
Las estrellas y la luna, ellas me dicen donde voy

Ay, ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay mi amor
Ay mi morena de mi corazón

Me gusta tocar la guitarra
Me gusta cantar el sol
Mariachi me acompaña cuando canto mi canción

Me gusta tomar mis copas
Aguardiente es lo mejor
También el tequila blanco con su sal le da sabor

Ay, ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay mi amor
Ay mi morena de mi corazón

Me gusta tocar la guitarra
Me gusta cantar el sol
El mariachi…

There was a round of applause that came from the men at the bar and the prior incident was quickly forgotten as Chuck continued to play. From a backroom another man came out with a guitar and he joined Chuck as they played classical Santana together. The musical jam last for a good half-hour ending with the guy waving for Chuck and Alex to join him in the backroom.

"That Chuck is something," said Stefan. "You have to admire him even if he's on the other side. We knew he could dance but also sing and play the guitar?"

"I know what you mean. You have to ask yourself if there isn't anything he can't do. But did you see who took them in the backroom? He's looking terrible healthy, isn't he?"

"I was thinking the very same thing, especially for a dead guy. What do you make of this and does it change our plans in anyway?"

"I don't think so," said Anatoly but as he was talking two men walked through the front doors carrying brief cases. There was something about them that said trouble. "Crap, what's this?"

"What's up with the cases? They don't look like businessmen and if they were why would they come into a dive like this?"

"I'll give you guess and it's not for their health or better not for the health of someone in here," said Anatoly as they watched the two men sit down at a table in the corner.

"Look they've motioned for the bartender to come over. He looks like someone walking to the gallous and knows the rope is for him." They noticed how reluctantly the bartender walked over to the men and at one point one of the men got angry and motion for him to hurry up.

"I wish we were closer to hear what they're saying. But judging from looks and gestures we really don't need to be."

The men sitting never offered to get up but stayed seated and the bartender remained standing as they talked. Whatever was said the conversation didn't last long and the bartender kept pointing at the backroom. After they were done the bartender turned and made his way as quickly as he could back behind the safety of his bar.

"I think crap is about to hit the fan," said Anatoly as the men picked up their cases and opened them so no one could see what they were getting out. In that moment Chuck, Alex and the guitar player came out of the backroom.

"When it rain, it pours," said Stefan as he pointed at the door. Natasha came walking in with another girl.