Don't own Chuck
Igor sat at his desk mentally preparing himself for what he knew was storm that was about to blow in and Beckman didn't disappoint him. She went on about how his was interfering and putting the lives of her people at risk through his reckless behavior. Truthfully, Igor could've cared less it was only when she mentioned Chuck did his attention perk up.
"Can you hold your tirade for one moment and catch your breath," said Igor as he held up his hand. For a moment he felt like he was back in school again asking his teacher permission. "I've got someone at my door," he said then he yelled, "Come in."
"Your tea Sir," said his secretary as he brought it in then took it over to the Director. There were already two of Walker's finest waiting on the desk.
"Thank you," said Igor. The man looked at Director wondering what had come over him. Normally when he brought in something there was no exchange of pleasantries just a grunt every now and then. "What are you looking at? There are tea cakes outside and once your out get either Agent Metrohken or Mikhailovich on the phone for me. It doesn't matter which I just need to talk to one of them asap. Now you can go."
"Yes Sir, I'll get right on it," said the man as he glanced over at the American on the monitor then it dawned on him why his boss was being nice. If was for the American to see. He left closing the door behind him.
"Diane, I want you to know you're putting me in an awkward situation with your request. If I agree to this I'm going to have some serious explaining to do with the Kremlin if they get wind of this. You don't pull the hounds off when they've got the fox in sight. I'm going to need for you to guarantee that you will not allow Natasha to defect. If that happens after we were so close... well the next time you call you'll be speaking to my replacement."
"You don't have to worry about that there's no way we'd offer her sanctuary... not after everything she's done. But I would think this would be the last country she'd want to live in for the rest of her days..."
"Which I can tell you will be very few. I'm only agreeing to this because I don't want anything to happen to Chuck. I'd like to hope that one day he'd be in you seat that is naturally after you retire."
"That will be many years from now but I wonder if he's not politically savvy enough. There are a lot of slippery slopes in this job and people are quick to point fingers especially if it is away from them."
"That I know quite well and the Novorossiya isn't very different from the old one other than before you knew who was who. Now everyone is a grey cardinal waiting to stab you in the back to get ahead. But that's my world and why I need Chuck to succeed. It's good to be able to talk with someone across the table with a level head and someone who will bend the rules or not worry what the current inhabitant of your White house thinks..."
"And that will make his tenure short. Igor, we have our grey cardinals too. But if you can give me that four-eight hours I will appreciate it and the next one of your spies gets caught with his hands in the cookie jar he'll receive a 'get out of jail free card'."
"How I love you Americans with your idioms... so very picturesque but thinking about it we Russians have a proverb for just about every occasion. Well, so much for the chitchat I have work to do and so do you. I will talk to my people and tell them to stand down for forty-eight hours but not a minute more."
"I appreciate it Igor and thank you. I see you like Walker's cookies. I'll have a couple cases sent to you when I get back to DC."
"Those I will be waiting for with a smile that is if you don't get me fire first. If I get fired... well biscuits will be the last thing I'll be worrying about," said Igor then he hung up.
"Well that should give us a little breathing room," said Agent Stevens standing next to her. "Ma'am, General Thomas just called in and said they were leaving the city limits on their way to the objective. They expected to be on station in twenty mikes."
"Good, but I'm not that hopeful Igor will be able to do what he said he would do. Remember we haven't been able to raise anyone once they've neared the Plantation because of their jammer so what makes us think Igor will have any better luck? But the one bit of good news he gave me is we now know the agents we're dealing with which is good for Chuck."
But as they were talking another agent walked over and started whispering in Stevens' ear. Beckman raised her eyebrow and frowned.
"What is it man? You don't need to go to him before coming to me. Not when I'm standing right in front of you. It's not like we're back at Langley."
"Well Ma'am," said the man as he paused for a moment looking at Stevens who nodded back. "You see it's General Thomas. He just reported that they've had a small setback and that they're proceeding on foot."
"On foot? What the heck for? Why is he proceeding on foot? I know they left her in a hurry and were driving fast but he can't be that close this soon, or can he?"
"No... well yes... You see both their vehicles ran over an anti-vehicle spike strip that was laid across the road. Both vehicles are out of commission."
"Well, isn't that just great," said Beckman as she looked at the satellite feed. "We need to monitor what's going on in the compound and keep track of the team's position. I want comms maintained with them until they reach the dead zone. If we had a predator drone I'd make them eat that jammer."
But as she was watching the live feed there was a bright flash light from the backside of the plantation house. There was an explosion followed by a fire ball that blew away a section of wall leaving a gaping hole along with a small fire that bellowed out a black cloud. The saw men running in from all over the plantation to put it out.
"Don't everyone speak at once," said Beckman. "Come on folks I want to know what just happened... report."
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A few minutes before Sarah, Roan and Morgan waited in the pantry for Casey to return. They'd made it down from their room above through the cavities in between the walls and through the air duct. When they arrived at the pantry Casey found the vent cover had been screwed back on and there was a guard walking around below.
"This is going to be like old times," said John smiling as he waited for the man to walk into position. Casey gave the cover a strong kick making it fly off striking the guard in the face stunning him.
"And here's Johnny," yelled Casey as he leaped out of the duct on the man wrapping his arm around the man's neck like a boa. John tightened his hold until there was a loud audible crack after which the guard went limp. "Crap, I should've had one of you time me I bet that was a record."
Morgan just shook his head as Roan check labels to see if there was anything drinkable lying around. Sarah checked the door to make sure no one heard the commotion.
"It's all clear outside," she said as she looked down the hall then used a mirror from her back to check the other direction. "I don't see anyone coming."
"Good, Grimes get over here and help me," said John as he started to strip the man. Morgan gave him a disgusted look. "Oh, don't be a wimp and help me. I need to be quick about this before anyone misses him."
"Can't you just search his pockets," said Morgan as he took off the man's boots. "Geez, phew when did he last wash these during the last monsoon? This is disgusting almost as disgusting as going into the restroom after Jeff."
"I've been there and I hardly think so," said Casey as he started to take off his clothes. "Now that can make you Airwick curl up." John changed out of his clothes and put the guards on. He took the man's ballcap and pulled it down over his eyes.
"I'm going to do a little recon," said Casey to Sarah who was still by the door. "I'll be right back you stay here and watch these two. I'd tell you to try to keep them out of trouble but that's a lot to ask out of anyone."
"John be careful out there and hurry back. I don't have to tell you what they'll do to you if they catch you."
[That was over a half hour ago and Sarah was starting to get worried]
"I'm tired of waiting around for John to show back up. I'm going to go look and see if I can find out what's taking him so long."
"Why don't you wait a little bit longer?" said Morgan as he grabbed her by the arm. Sarah didn't say a word... she didn't have to, she just looked down at him and he immediately let go of her. "Geez, you need to show me how to do that look. You look like someone dangerous."
"Morgan that's because I am someone dangerous. John should've been back by now so I need to see what's holding him up."
"Wait a moment and let's think," he said as he caught her look. "All I'm saying is John was pretty adamant about us waiting here for him."
"Gimli's right," said Roan. "You know we need to stay here and wait for the Colonel. So you go looking for him looking like you do without a disguise how far do you think you're going to get before you're spotted. I'm guessing not very far. Then where does that leave the wo of us? We're still stuck in here without a decent bottle of anything to drink. With that being said and if you still decide to go look for the Colonel then how about bring back some gin and vermouth. At this point I don't care about the brand. I can even rough it and forgo the olives but with great personal sacrifice. You know sometimes you can't have everything you want?"
"I can see that and at great personal sacrifice," said Morgan then he turned back to Sarah. "How about giving the big guy another ten minutes or half an hour before you leave."
"Ten minutes it is and not a minute more," said Sarah then she went to the door opening it just a crack so she could peek out. The hallway looked clear. "Why are you waiting around when you know you should be taking action," she thought.
"Remember you said ten minutes and they haven't gone by yet," said Morgan almost as if he could read her mind.
"I know what I promised and I don't need you to remind me," she snapped back. "But what if John needs our... my help? What if he..."
"If he what?" said Casey as he slipped back inside. "Sorry, I took so long but I was getting a feel for what's where and time slipped away from me. Okay, this is the deal there's a comms room in the back part of this house. I was looking for their armory but it's not in this building but probably out back in what used to be the old slaves' quarters. They're using it now to billet their guards and if I'm right to house the armory."
"Is there anyway we can get to it? We could make a dash out back and try to reach it before anyone sees us?"
"I thought about that but from what I could see it looks too far. If we're seen before we reach it then we're between a rock and a hard place."
"A no man's land and royally screwed if we tried. Too bad we can't get everyone to look somewhere else just long enough to reach it. Colonel shoot 'em up could have at it with your... what is you have? Itchy scalp?"
"Trigger finger... I have an itchy trigger finger and you know that but keep it up and this time I will time it. After all records are made to be broken just like necks."
"But yes, that's what we need. Roan is absolutely right, we need to get everyone to be looking somewhere else so we can make it to their armory. It's quite simple actually if you think about it."
"I'm thinking about it and it doesn't seem so simple to me," said Morgan as he looked around at everyone.
"Of course you don't understand what do you expect after a life time of riding the short bus. You know what they say simple things for simple minds or in your case the simplest things for the simplest mind."
"Really? Okay then Einstein explain to me what she's talking about that is if you're so smart? I bet you haven't got a clue either."
"I would but I don't want to steal Sarah's thunder. It's only common courtesy that I let her explain her plan and yours to close that trap of yours so she can."
"It's easy actually. We need to make a homemade bomb with the supplies in here. All we need is some nitrogen and some phosphate..."
"I get it and we can use pack what we need in the tubes in the middle of the paper towels. I saw an electronic oven timer we can use as a detonator."
"Good, we toss it inside their communications room and it goes boom. If we're lucky that will take down their cell phone signal jammer too so we can call out for the cavalry."
"I'm going to have a talk too with Chuck. He drove in and drove out leaving us here. What's up with that?"
"John, you can't blame him. He didn't know we're here because if he did do you think he would've left. I'm kind of glad he doesn't because he'd probably do something stupid and get himself hurt."
"That's probably true. So, come on we've got a bomb to make. The fourth of July is coming early this year and let's make it a Yankee doodle dandy."
"You just had to say that, didn't you?" John just smiled back.
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Chuck drove like a maniac to get back to the compound. Something had told him he was forgetting something and now it turned out he had... Sarah. Natasha held onto an overhead strap to hang on but everyone in the back had to grab on to whatever they could find as they bounced around. It did no good to complain because Chuck had no intention of slowing down.
"You know what I said before about trying to avoid getting killed? Well now would be a good time to fill me in on the details of your plan," said Natasha but before Chuck could say anything they heard Luiz moan in the back as he started to come to.
"Qué pasa?" said Luiz as he started opening his eyes and looking around. Chuck hit another pothole and everyone went flying in the back which was enough to jar him out of it. "You... you drugged me? Where are you taking me?"
"Believe it or not we're heading back to Miguel's Plantation. Your people have something I want back," said Chuck as he looked at Luiz in the rearview.
"Miguel is going to kill you as soon as you step out of this vehicle and if he doesn't I will," hissed Luiz. "I demand you cut me lose this very instant if you know what's good for you?"
"You now I've always had a problem knowing that. Well Luiz, if you want to kill me you'll have to stand in line. There are a lot of people ahead of you but I'm afraid where you're going you'll have to wait a long time to take action on that threat. My suggestion is you do something more productive and talk with the man sitting next to you. You might recognize him if you look closely."
"Recognize this old man? Why should I know him," said Luiz as he looked closer at the man sitting next to him. "Who are you, old man and why does this idiot think I should know you?"
"Luiz, you don't recognize me? I know I went away before you were born but I didn't know she was... well you were going to be born. I swear had I known I wouldn't have gone away. I'm sorry it was just... well I couldn't put up with your mother anymore..."
"Wait a minute... no you can't be," said Luiz stopping short of pronouncing the man's name. "No, this is some sort of trick. You can't be him... you're dead."
"A man did die in my place and I disappeared into another life here. I've been living here under a new identity that my comrades provided," said Pablito. Chuck looked over at Natasha wanting her to realize that part of this mess was her own creation but she just looked away.
"You've been here all along and we've been on Saint Thomas? Did you even try to find out about how Mom was doing or how she was coping with your loss?"
"I'm sorry to say no. When I disappeared, I had to go and not look back. I was told that was the only way this would work and has worked up until now."
"I don't understand why have you come back now? Why didn't you stay gone? It would've been better for everyone..."
"Everyone except Colonel Casey or General Fry who you people killed. You're about to do the same thing to take revenge on something that never happened."
"Poor Juanita didn't have to die," said Luiz as it hit him. "You and Mom deserve each other. You've ruined my life and lives of everyone around you. Well, I have something to tell you. Miguel is making a play for Mom to make her his and she's falling for it... crap, I had a letter that I was supposed to deliver. I need to take it to the Americans or Mom will take her anger out on two hostages that we've taken."
"You already delivered it to the Americans if you haven't figured that out," said Chuck as the guard shack came in sight in the distance.
"Speak for yourself Dushka," said Natasha as she gripped her weapons tight looking at what was coming at them. "I need to know who's sitting next to me Chuck or Kolonel Sheshenkov."
"Who do you think tovarishch," said Chuck as he gave the Range Rover more gas. You people in the back might want to duck for cover because we're going in hot."
"Is there any other way," said Natasha as she smiled at him.
"Has anyone ever told you two that your both crazy? If you just stop the vehicle and let me out I might be able to talk some sense into Mom."
"Luiz, this might be hard for you to hear but Miguel sent men to where I've been hiding to try to kill me today. If he sees you with us he'll try to kill you too."
"Wait a minute. How did he know where you were hiding? I get it he's one of the people who helped you disappear. Am I right? You don't have to answer that I know I am. He wants to get rid of you because my mother will hate him if she finds out she married him and he knew you were still alive. My mother is devoted and this would be too much for her..."
"You said devoted," Chuck said as he looked up in the rearview at Luiz. "She certainly has a strange way of showing it..."
"Devoted to the memory of Pablito the bandito which I'm quickly discovering is a work of fiction or a myth."
"Like the Loch Ness monster," said Chuck as they started to come up on the guard shack and a small welcome committee standing here with weapons waiting to greet them.
"That's not what Russian scientist say and we've got the proof in our archives. You Americans think you're the smart guys."
"Excuse me, what are you saying?" said Chuck as he turned to look at her.
"I'm saying watch out for what's up ahead. Eyes on the road," said Natasha as she pointed at the men at the gate.
There was about ten men standing around the gate when they rolled through. Only one of them stepped out in front of the Rover and held out his hand for Chuck to stop. The other men were looking at the two guards Chuck had tranq'd before slapping them around trying to wake them up. The Rover bounced as it drove through the gate and Chuck heard screams behind him then there was small arms fire.
"That's strange," said Chuck as he glanced up in the mirror as bullets began whizzing by. But he held his course as he sped away as fast as he could heading for the plantation house. "I don't remember there being a speed bump at the gate before?"
"That wasn't a speed bump Chuck but one of the guards. Keep on driving I think you might've pissed them off."
"Really? Are you sure," said Chuck as he looked in the side mirror but a sudden bullet whizzing by took it off. "They are a little agitated back there."