Don't own Chuck

It was difficult to get both kids in bed after Rice Crispy Treats, ice cream then news about the trip. Saying there were hyper about the trip was an understatement but with great effort they finally got them in bed. Sarah stayed with them until they finally nodded off watching Sam sleep until it got late. Chuck in the meantime volunteered to clear the table and do the dishes since El and Awesome still had to get things together and they hadn't even started packing. Mary came over and helped Chuck grabbing the dish towel she dried as he washed.

"You know Mom if you wanted you could come with us. One more isn't going to make a difference on the plane. I know the kids would like you to come along."

"No, I appreciate the offer and I'd like to but I need to get back to DC. Diane called and asked me to look into something for her. I've got a flight out tomorrow evening from O'Hare."

"Did she call you or did you call her? I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that but it's just every time you show up it's like you're all ready to leave. I think you're afraid if you stay too long because you'll find you actually like it."

"That may be true," said Mary as Chuck passed her a plate. "But I also don't like watching you risk your life. It was right for your father and me but it's something we never wanted for you. I need you to do me a favor and don't take this the wrong way..."

"If I can," said Chuck as he passed her another plate. He noticed her look and tone changed. "You sound serious what is it?"

"Layoff bugging Sarah about being pregnant if she says she isn't then let it go. She knows her body better than anyone else. The last thing she needs is you guys pressing her. Be cool about it."

"Being cool is kind of new territory for me I'm not pressing her and like I told her if she is I'll be happy but if she isn't I'm happy the way we are right now. I think that's pretty cool but this really isn't anyone's business but ours."

"Good and keep it that way," said Mary as they finished. She folded her dish towel and started to walk away but Chuck stopped her.

"Wait a minute, just hold up there's more you aren't telling me. What's going on? You telling me this about Sarah, you know something I don't. She doesn't have any terminal disease I don't know about? Is it cancer?"

"No, you're spiraling. It's nothing to do with that and no she doesn't... well not that I know of but there's something and I shouldn't be the one telling you this. If nothing else this is embarrassing... but okay. You're an adult now so..." Mary pause she saw the little boy she left so long ago now a man.

"Go ahead I'm waiting. This has something to do with her not being pregnant? We were already told that the intersect could interfere."

"I assume you know a little about female physiology while men continual produce what they produce," said Mary as she felt herself blush. "We women are different we have only so many eggs and when they're gone, they're gone. When Sarah was captured and tortured she was subjected to a great number of flashes which caused her body to ovulate."

"Some of her eggs where harvested we know about that experiment in Japan... we met her... well that's a different story. So what are you saying she has none left?" said Chuck as he realized this meant that she couldn't have any more children even if she wanted to. "Quinn robbed us again. Does she know?"

"I don't know Diane showed me her medical report as a courtesy in case Sarah should want to talk to someone in the agency."

"This is a lot to digest," said Chuck as he leaned back on the counter top. "It doesn't change what I feel for her. I still love her."

"I believe she's guessed and that's the reason she's so adamant she's not pregnant. Chuck, I can't even imagine how she feels. This is a very personal private thing if she wants she'll talk to you about it. However, if she does it will be when she feels the time is right and she can deal with it."

"What do I do? How do I help her? She has to know that this won't change the way I feel. I'll always choose her."

"You just have to be cool. Charles you just be you and understand. The intersect can do wonders but it can't change the laws of nature."

"There's nothing that can be done?" asked Chuck. But just then Sarah appeared looking at the two of them they seemed so serious.

"Nothing can be done about what?" asked Sarah. Chuck started to get a cup of coffee trying to think what to say but he didn't have to Mary spoke up.

"Nothing could be done to change my mission. Charles wants me to come with you guys tomorrow but I've got to catch a flight tomorrow evening. Diane beckoned."

"I like that," said Chuck as he passed Sarah a cup of coffee. "I'll have to remember that the next time I get mad at the General which will probably be soon. You know she was behind Devon's wanting to go to Costa Gravas. It seems the Premier wanted his favorite doctor couple at all costs. I don't know exactly what she offered Devon or threatened him with but it was no accident she was coming down the elevator as Colonel Panza was coming in the front doors."

"I thought that was too much of a coincidence and I really wasn't buying her story either. Whatever it was she offered, it was probably hospital related. The Hospital administrator cut Devon and Ellie loose too easily without any argument even though it was dropped in her lap at the last minute. My guess she was in on it," said Sarah as she sipped her coffee. "Chuck, you talked to the General is there anything I need to worry about with the kids? If there's an op going down I don't want them in the middle."

"Not that I know of, everything else is as it was stated. The Premier wants them to be his guests for their celebration. Actually it sounds like an honor. Oh and Casey's supposed to be there too."

"What as the Angel del la Muerte or la Vida. I bet he'll love this mission a chance to reminisce about life inside the walls of the palace," said Sarah as they laughed.

"Whatever he supposed to do the General is having a tux delivered to the plane for him. I'm supposed to take it to him. She texted me earlier but he's already in country."

"Yes, he's looking for a satellite that crashed in the jungles there," said Mary as Chuck and Sarah looked at her. "What I can babysit and keep abreast of what's going on too you know, like I can chew gum and walk. From what I was told the thing malfunctioned during a course correction. It over compensated with a port nacelle thruster and went sideways in orbit which put the solar panels out of sync. This cause a loss of power and a system failure then when they tried to fire thrusters again to right it some lab rat fired the wrong one hurling it back into the atmosphere."

"I wouldn't want to be that guy I bet the minimum is he lost his job if he didn't get sent to Supermax," said Sarah as she sipped on her coffee.

"Probably but you know how these things go. There has to be an official board of inquiry so that's why the General needs to recover the remains of the satellite."

"Well talking about things crashing and burning, I think that's what we ought to be thinking about doing," said Chuck. "Wakeup call tomorrow morning will be going down early."

"You're probably right," said Sarah as she sat their coffee cups in the sink. Chuck came up behind her and hugged her kissing her on the neck.

"Have I told you I love you," said Chuck whispering in her ear holding her close.

"I think I've heard that rumor somewhere," she said as she turned smiling at him and kissed him. "Let's go to bed. Good night Mary." They all said good night then she led Chuck by the hand to the bedroom closing the door after they got inside.

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Casey set up his hammock and pulled out his mosquito net getting ready to bed down of the night. He took his boots off so his feet could breathe then he hung his socks close to the fire so they could dry out. The last thing he wanted was foot rot and since the only way in or out was on foot he needed to be extra careful with his. After hosing himself down with DEET he turned in for the night. As he laid there trying to doze off he found himself thinking what Kat was doing back home. He felt something he never felt before, homesick.

"Nancy," he called himself as he rolled over trying to go to sleep. It was funny he never noticed it before but the Jungle was teaming with activity making it hard for him to go to sleep.

"This is your fault Bartowski," he mumbled to himself. "Too much easy living John this is what the good life does to you, it makes you soft."

Suddenly he heard the branches shake above his head then his pill bottle with his quinine medicine for malaria dropped from the tree top onto his hammock. Then he saw two little green eyes glowing in the dark then a high pitch squeal.

"Am I supposed to say thank you for bringing me back my own stuff," said Casey as Morgan sat on a limb watching him. "Shouldn't you be with your other little friends looking for a place for the night?" Morgan just looked at him then huddled down like he was trying to make himself small.

"What's put the fear of God in you? I've already eaten," he said as the jungle suddenly got quiet. This was strange because the jungle was never really quiet. There was always something making noise trying to attract attention and it usually had to do with a dispute over food or sex. Everything could be reduced down to those two causes, food or sex. Not that in the so-called civilized world it was much different just that it was hidden better.

But this sudden silence set him off. His senses heightened and he eased out his weapon then he saw it break into the clearing. He had his hand on his weapon when a large male Jaguar walked in inspecting his camp nosing his gear passing underneath him. Casey breathed a sigh of relief as the big cat went over to a tree marked it with his scent them went off, disappearing as quickly as a he appeared.

"Tiger, tiger burning bright in the forests of the night," said Casey as the noise in the jungle resumed and Morgan began to chatter.

"I wasn't hatched you know. I've read books without pictures which is more than I can say for your name sake. Now pipe down and let me get a little shut eye. You're as chatty as the other Morgan."

Morgan turned his head sideways then found himself a spot high in the tree in a fork in the branch then bedded down for the night.

"Gez, I wonder if I can give you to Alex too," said Casey as he drifted off to sleep. He hadn't been asleep for long before he started dreaming. He was with Kathleen in the hospital she was sitting while he was up in the waiting room.

"We've been here for what seems forever. How long is this supposed to take?" said Casey as he paced the floor. "I'm going to find someone and see what's going on."

"No you're not, just sit down and relax. It takes what it takes besides Morgan's in with her," said Kat as she got up and took his hand. "I was in labor for six hours by myself."

"And not a moment goes by that I don't regret that but Morgan being in there doesn't give me any warm fuzzies. At least you should be in there with her she needs her mother."

"No her husband is with her and that's enough. They're making a family together and this is one of the steps. You never were very patient."

"I'm more the action type, this sitting on my hands is just not for me. Hold up I think someone is coming," said Casey as Morgan came in smiling ear to ear radiant. It looked like he had given birth.

"Well he's born. If you follow me I'll take you to visit John Casey, Jr.," said Morgan. Casey looked at him; he couldn't believe what Morgan had said they named their son after him. "That's right Big Guy, Alex insisted and well my father ran away so it was either John, Jr. or Morgan, Jr. and John won out. Alex said one Morgan in the world was enough."

"Sometimes too much," said Casey. "Enough of this babbling I want to go see little John and no quips about the merry men."

"Who me Sir Casey," said Morgan smiling. "Follow me. They have him in the nursery for now so Alex can rest. Her labor was long, but wait until you see the result."

"Lead the way," said Kat as she took Casey by the hand and they followed Morgan through the hospital to the nursery. They stood in front of the glass and waited. Morgan went inside and brought the baby up to the glass so they could see. He was adorable but then things started becoming kind of odd.

"Here it's time for feeding," said the nurse handing Morgan a banana. He just smiled and took it then started giving it to little John who ate with a ravenous appetite.

"What the heck," said Casey when a long prehensile tail came out of the swaddle they had the baby wrapped up in. "No, no this can't be happening."

"What's the matter John? You don't look so well. You sure you feel okay," said Kat. Just then the baby got away from Morgan climbing up on his head jumping on a low light fixture hanging by his tail oscillating back and forth screaming like a spider monkey.

"No, no," yelled John as he woke up the find monkey Morgan looking at him like he was crazy. It was now daylight and time to break camp.

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The General left Chicago and headed back to Dulles after landing she was met by her Major and headed into the office. On her way she called the Secretary of State to get him off her back then she placed a video call to Costa Gravas. She wanted to tell the beloved Premier the next time he pulled a stunt like that she'd have his men arrested then deported.

"I don't know what you're so angry about I took the bull by the horns and we both got what we wanted, no? Although if you want to split the expenses, I won't say no there is an economic crisis going on."

"I've refueled you plane and I've had you men put up in hotels so I think I've done my fair share. If you want more funding talk to State. You still haven't found that missing satellite."

"You mean we haven't, don't you? My understanding is that John Casey crossed into our country yesterday heading towards one of our interior provinces not far from where my men have been searching."

"I won't deny that I sent him to try on his own. I expect you'll allow him to continue without interference."

"Then I will pull my men back. We wouldn't want to have misunderstandings in the jungle, although the Colonel seems more accustomed to living in the walls here than in the wild. I hope he doesn't end up some jaguar's take out."

"Alejandro..."

"Just joking... well not that I'd hope or I wouldn't hope that on him. Oh you know what I mean anyway my wife will be happy to hear the Woodcombs will be here tomorrow. She has something to discuss with them, something we both need to share with them."

"You aren't ill are you? You would tell me if it was something terminal? This isn't going to be a problem for the installation of your new constitution is it? I've got the Secretary of State and the President both breathing down my throat on this."

"I'm glad to see everyone is so concerned about my health but I fine," said the Premier. "Everything is underway for the first of May. We're going to have a grand kick off. I hope you will be able to attend."

"I'm trying but there's a conference I have to attend in Europe. If everything works out and we can wrap up in time I will try to make it but I can't promise anything."

"Do what you can do but you'll miss one hell of a party. I must go now and check on Mi Amor I don't want her to tire herself. ¡Hasta la Victoria Siempre!" said the Premier catching the look on the General's face. "Sorry old habits you know are hard to break."

"I understand that. Well if I can get away I'll see you on the first but if I can't good luck on your endeavor down this path. I'm sure your people will remember you for your courage and generosity." With that the General closed her comms with Costa Gravas.

"General, I need to show you this. It's an analysis of the data from the satellite that went down. The NSA has run a preliminary check and the port side nacelle thruster malfunctioned as we thought it's thrust lasted five seconds longer than it was supposed to and the starboard thruster couldn't compensate. But the mystery is why it fell. According to the data we have the correct firing sequence was sent to the bird to right it but before it could maneuver it fell from the sky."

"What's that supposed to mean? If it didn't fall out of the sky then what happened to it? Do we know if the Russian or Chinese Satellite killers were close by?"

"No it was on its own, the only thing nearby was one of the GPS satellites. Luckily it didn't get taken out when it fell or part of the Atlantic would've been without navigational service."

"Maybe if the Colonel can recover the data core we might be able to find out something more definitive but we won't hear from him until tomorrow.

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Chuck and Sarah prepared for bed they didn't have any luggage to get ready because there bags and Sam's were already packed. They had been planning on leaving the next day anyway just their destination got changed. This wasn't a big deal to them but it was to others who were expecting them.

Did you call Morgan and tell him about the change in plans," asked Sarah as she climbed in bed. "I know he'll be disappointed."

"Yes I did and yes he was. I don't know if he was disappointed because I wasn't going to Burbank or because he wasn't coming on mission with us. I told him we need him to standby for support from Castle which in a sense is true," said Chuck then he rolled over kissed her goodnight then reached back over to turn off the light.

"Wait, don't you want to talk about anything else. Maybe something you guys were pestering me about all day?"

"No, you said you weren't pregnant and that's good enough for me. You know your own body and after having Sam I assume you'd know if you were."

"That's right I would," said Sarah looking over at him. "You're being awfully cool about this. You kind of scare me. I don't know what to think. Are you sure you're Chuck Bartowski?"

"Funny, and I'd better be or I'll be jealous of myself," he said as she laughed. "I know that sounded silly. But like I said I'm cool if you're cool."

"It's not that I wouldn't like to be. I really would I see you and Ellie and I see Sam. I don't want her to grow up like me…"

"I don't know you didn't come out so bad," said Chuck as he pulled her in close to him. "But I don't think we have any worry about me becoming like Jack.

"That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about us being gone. We can drag her along with us when it's like this but once she starts school all this ends. She even asked me the other day when she could start school."

"A kid that wants to go to school, are we sure she's our kid and some alien has substituted her," said Chuck but he could see Sarah was being serious. "Sorry, did she say why she wanted to go to school?"

"Clara took Sam to meet some of her school friends and she wants to have friends too. Are we doing right by her? Can I have another baby just so Sam can have a playmate? It just doesn't seem right."

"Love if we had another child it wouldn't be to give Sam a brother or sister even if that is the result. But because we love each other and that child would get the same love we give Sam."

"But is that enough Chuck… is it enough?"

"I think we have to believe it is," said Chuck then he kissed her.

"Chuck hold me," she said as he pulled her close.