Don't own Chuck

That night in the Pedro's Parrot all as we quiet nothing was stirring except for the rats and cucarachas who were dancing about. Casey mustered up his strength reaching over he undid his IV leaving the needle in but stopped the flow. He slowly forced himself up, sitting upright. The Doctor was asleep in his chair when Casey stood up. He felt dizzy and lightheaded so he just stood there waiting a few moments for it to pass before trying to navigate. First he stuck his head out in the hall making sure the coast was clear then he walked down to the bar then into the kitchen.

"Yuck, what a garbage pit and they cook back here," he said to himself looking around he shook his head. Saying the place was filthy was an understatement but he didn't worry about that he was looking for food. He had to build his strength.

"This place has to have something edible," he said as he looked around seeing how fat the things that scurried about were. In the back he found the pantry once inside he turned on the light. The light was bright he had to shield his eyes but he could see a pair looking back at him. A rat abandoned his midnight meal but not before protesting.

"Sorry but I need this more than you do," said John as he grabbed the loaf of bread it was gnawing on. John broke off what the rat had chewed on then ate the rest. He was now steadier on his feet but his head was still throbbing. He grabbed anything that looked easily digestible that could give him strength. Finally full he walked back out.

"This could come in handy," he said to himself picking up a paring knife that was left lying about. He grabbed the knife and slipped it in his belt.

"Casey you ought to run," he told himself more to see if he could and his body answered back no way. What was he thinking, if he made it out into the street he had no idea where he was so he had no idea where to go. He could just as easily end up running to the people that took him in the first place. That would land him right back here and in a worse situation because then they would know he was conscious.

"Double crap," said Casey under his breath. The doors were alarmed there was no way he could get out them without someone knowing. Under normal conditions he'd just disarm them but in his condition and as shaky as his hands were he'd never be able to without setting it off accidentally which would result in him getting caught.

"What the," Casey heard someone say in the corner as he detected movement. Muscle memory kicked in Casey grabbed the paring knife and in one move drew it from his belt and threw it across the room. He heard a slight moan then silence. He quietly went over to the dark corner and found one of El Comandante's man with his paring knife stuck in his forehead sitting back in back booth next to another man still passed out.

"Crap," he said as he realized he had to do something so no one knew he'd been there. He pulled the knife from the man's forehead then gently pulled out the knife the passed out man had in his boot. John took it and drove it into the dead man's head.

"You won't even remember tomorrow what happened," said Casey seeing how drunk the man was as he dripped blood on the drunk's hands. "Tomorrow you're going to have a rude awakening." Then John turned his attention to the dead man after he slipping the paring knife into his sock.

"Bingo," he found a .38 special. But by now he'd been out of his room for too long so he hobbled back. He was extremely tired when he got to his room. The Doctor was still sound asleep when he sat down on his bed. He slipped the knife in his sock then put the pistol where he could reach it under the mattress. Using the last bit of his strength he reattached the IV after he laid down. He felt the flow again in his arm then he felt sleep start to overtake him. His last thoughts before falling was of Kat. How unfair he'd been to her and selfish to bring her into this world of his.

A few hours later Luis came out of his backroom bedroom walking out to the bar in his underwear. He went to the master control security panel and deactivated the alarms. Then went over to rouse Reyes and Gonzales they were sleeping it off when he called it a night.

"What the..." yelled Luis. "Romero what have you done." Luis grabbed Romero up and slapped him until he woke up.

"What's the matter? What do you want? I didn't do anything," yelled Gonzales as he tried to break free but Luis wasn't letting him go. The man's yelling was loud enough to wake up the Doctor who came running.

"You didn't do anything look at Reyes and tell me if that isn't your knife in his face," said Luis as the Doctor ran in. "Good Doctor, look at Reyes here and tell me if what I'm see isn't real."

"What?" said the Doctor as he came over. Luis pushed Gonzales out of the way to give the Doctor room to see. He lifted Reyes head then with a grimy napkin he removed the knife. The blood had already started to coagulate and he pulled out tissue that stuck to the blade.

"I don't know what you want me to do? He's dead and it looks like this knife was used to kill him. Just ball parking the time of death I'd place it somewhere this morning. But without a close examination I can't be more precise."

"That's okay what you said is good enough. Go back to your patient and leave this to me to handle. Oh by the way breakfast might be a little late but I'll get you something soon," said Luis as the Doctor disappeared going back to Casey.

"I swear I don't know what happened to Reyes. He and I had an argument sure so we decided to settle it in a drinking contest and Reyes won..."

"Looks like he lost to me," said Luis as he held up the knife the Doctor took out of Reyes. "This is your knife isn't it?"

"Yes but I don't remember anything after we started drinking. I remember turning up a bottle of tequila and watching the bubbles then nothing."

"Looks like Reyes got the worm. I'm going to have to take this to El Comandante later on but there's a lot going on today so you might even get to slide on this one. But you made the mess now you clean it up," said Luis as he threw Gonzales his knife sticking it in the floor between his feet.

"But what do I do with the body?" He asked. His head was still a little groggy from all the alcohol he had drunk the night before.

"Do I look like I work for waste management and disposal? Toss him in the freezer then afterwards take him out into the jungle. There's always something hungry there or would you prefer I put him on the menu."

"Would you?"

"Get out of here before I hurt you."

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Chuck woke up before Sarah, he had dreams about having other children and he woke up when they had enough to form a basketball team. Sam was center and they all had his all-stars Converse shoes. He woke up as they were all about to go professional and organize their own NBA franchise. Smiling he rolled over but she was still asleep. He wanted to tell her about his dream but given what she said the night before she went to sleep he thought it better if he forgot the whole thing. It was a silly dream anyway.

"Okay Chuck time to get up," he said to himself as he got up quietly and got dressed then he check on the girls. They were sleeping as sound as rocks. Sam was usually an early riser but with Clara around she played hard and so she was starting to sleep in like her mother. There was a tray of fruit in the room so he grabbed a banana then went out on the balcony.

"This is breath taking," he said as he walked over to the railing and looked out over the sleepy city below. The street lights were still on but being almost daybreak there was plenty of light out to see. The traffic below was sparse. The only manmade noise was the distant sound of fishing boats heading out to sea. Chuck could hear from the jungle the sounds of waking birds as they began to call on the rising sun.

"There you are," he heard a familiar voice behind him. "What are you doing out here all alone," said Sarah as she came out and curled up with him on the rattan sofa. She took the banana from his hand and started to break off half.

"No go ahead and eat it if you want," said Chuck. "You look like you could use it. Are you feeling okay? You look... well you know."

"I'm fine it's just the food last night disagreed with me but when you're in someone else's home you have to eat what's served or it's rude."

"Unless it's poisoned," said Chuck smiling at her then caressed her face.

"That's why you let your husband try it first," said Sarah as she pinched a piece of the banana and ate it smiling back at him.

"Funny, very funny," he said laughing then he looked into her eyes and kissed her as he caressed her face. She tasted like banana.

A couple of things happened at the same time. The first as they were kissing they heard the sound of little feet running inside behind them then the French window opened next door on Ellie and Devon's suite. Simultaneously they were assaulted on two fronts. Sam came running out climbing over the back of the sofa with Clara being more ladylike, walking around as Ellie and Devon came out. Ellie was in her housecoat and Devon had just his pajama bottom on.

"Looks like you guys are kind of crowded there," said Devon as Sarah fed Sam a bit of banana then offered Clara some.

"There's more fruit inside," said Chuck. "Clara, if you want, help yourself. Sam you can go with her." But Sam shook her head she was nestled up close to Sarah and had no intention of moving. There was a knock on the suite door and a man in a uniform wheeled a cart inside then came out on the balcony.

"Would you like to take your breakfast out here," asked the man and they all nodded yes. "Very well I'll prepare it for you."

"That's not necessary if you leave everything we can take care of it ourselves," said Ellie. She didn't like the idea of being waited on.

"I just want toast and some juice, preferably nothing with acid in it. My stomach is acting up this morning," said Sarah as everyone gave her a look.

"I'll bring some apple juice up. Señora Goya is having a similar problem and she finds it sits better. I'll also bring up more bananas and in the meantime you might try some melon. She finds that sets well too."

"Thank you but she and I don't have the same thing," said Sarah as the man just shrugged his shoulders and left. "What is it with everyone here?"

"Devon, grab something fast then get ready. We're going to have to leave soon we don't want to waste too much sunlight." Chuck was careful not to mention anything about Casey around the girls. He didn't want to upset them. "And make sure you take plenty of DEET. Oh and no cologne..."

"Guys, come on. This isn't my first walk in the jungle so to speak. Remember we did Doctors without borders in Africa," said Devon. Ellie gave him a look.

"I remember I almost got bit by a snake the first night because we set our tent up to far from the rest of camp and let's not talk about how you came down with malaria. This is supposed to make me feel better about letting you go?"

"Devon, Ellie if you guys want Devon you can stay here I can go alone with the Premier. It's no problem for me."

"Not for you but for the cover story it would be," said Sarah. "Devon is the one who saved the Premier's life so he's the one the Premier needs to show around. We're just a plus one for everyone else."

"I don't care about all that," said Chuck. "Devon, I don't want you to feel pressured into this. If you want to come you can but if you don't want to you don't have to. No one is going to force you."

"No, I want to come," said Devon as he looked over at Ellie. "Let me go get changed and I'll be right back with my rucksack ready. This is just a walk in the jungle right?"

"As far as I know," said Chuck as he tried to get himself disentangled before getting up. "I guess I need to get ready too."

"Guys come with me," said Sarah as she took the girls inside to the carte to get them something to eat. Then as they ate she nibbled on a piece of toast which was about all she could get down as queasy as her stomach felt.

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The beloved Premier was up early too looking over the preparations for the jungle expedition. Everything was organized in three Range Rovers. All the supplies and provisions he had loaded into one. He and his friends along with a couple guards would ride in the middle and the lead vehicle would carry the rest of his men. He had asked for ten handpicked men, men he knew as well as their families. Men whose loyalties could never be called into question or those were the ones he asked for.

"Excuse me Capitan who are these men? These are not all the men I requested," said the Premier pulling the senior officer aside. "I gave a list of specific names. I see only about half of the men I asked for."

"I'm sorry Sir but Colonel Toledano informed me that General Monastario has them on the other side of the country in a field operation and to pull them would compromise the training exercise."

"Very well but they forget I'm still the Commander and Chief. They work for me," said the Premier as he caught himself. "I'm sorry I'm not mad at you. I'll deal with them when I get back. Have everyone mount up I'll talk to the new men when we stop to set up camp."

"That will be very good and just let me say this is such an honor to be on this expedition with you Sir. I know each man here feels the same."

"Thank you, now get everyone on board," said Alejandro as Hortenica and his guests came down to the courtyard. "Good you're here," said the Premier. "My Captain here will take your gear and stow it."

"I thought we'd be walking," said Devon as he looked over at the vehicles. "So much for roughing it I guess."

"Don't worry my friend these will take us out to our first camp site then we'll proceed from there on foot. In the jungle it's not about speed - speed, being in a hurry, are your enemies. They make you careless and you make mistakes. Now get your things put away so we can pull out," said Alejandro as Hortencia pulled him aside.

"What's the matter you look concerned? Is something wrong?" asked Hortencia. She knew her husband well and had seen this type of nervousness in him when they lived in the jungle many times before a mission.

"Toledano and Monastario substituted half the men I asked for and sent word to me that my choices were busy in a training exercise."

"So they're training, what's the big deal? Our military organizes training sessions all the time it's what keeps them sharp."

"No you don't understand I called old Carlo and told him I was going to ask his son to come along as a kind of favour. He was happy because his son was tired of sitting about in the barracks doing nothing."

"What are you saying? They pulled the men you wanted as some sort of disrespect towards you. Those SOBs you can't let this slide."

"I know and I'll deal with it and them when I get back but I was thinking they're friends of Turrini's too. Half the men with us I don't know if I can trust."

"You don't think they'd be as bold as to try something do you?" said Hortencia as she looked over at the men who were to accompany her husband and their friends.

"I don't think so. It doesn't make much sense elections are near and if anything they have their candidate in the running now. I probably only seeing ghosts. Just promise me you'll be careful while I'm gone."

"I promise and don't worry I've got an American bodyguard," said Hortencia as she looked over at Sarah. "I think I'm well protected."

"Without a doubt and you might wish her congratulations," said Alejandro. Then he placed his hand on her stomach. "You behave and keep your mother safe."

"Sir, beloved Premier," said the Captain. "Everything is loaded. We're ready to pull out when you are."

"Vámonos my friends the sooner we go the sooner we get back."

Chuck kissed Sarah and Sam then boarded. Devon did the same with Ellie and Clara then they pulled out of the compound and headed off through town then into the jungle. A lookout posted outside the palace phoned Pedro's Parrot to tell El Comandante the expedition was on its way.

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Frank was sitting have breakfast with Dr. Martin and Marcus. She was giving her morning briefing as usual. Going over the things that had been done and what still needed to be finished. Then she laid out for him a timetable she had established to finish them in. But as she talked she had the feeling he wasn't listening to her and that in fact his mind was a thousand miles away.

"Excuse me but am I boring you," said Silvia as she dropped her tablet on the table. "You haven't heard a work I said. You were the one who wanted these briefings the least you can do is to try to pay attention."

"I'm sorry and you're absolutely right, I'm sorry," he said. That took them both aback so far Frank had never said he was sorry or even pretended to act human. "No I was thinking today is the day El Comandante is organizing his little rally."

"And so? You two talked this over and you agreed to it. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts. I told you I didn't trust him."

"I believe I told you that first when you told me I inherited him from Mr. Johannsson. But that's not important right now. I don't want that idiot doing anything that can screw up our project. His idea wasn't bad..."

"There's a 'but' coming isn't there," said Marcus as he looked over at Silvia. "What is it that's bothering you?"

"Guys don't look at me," said Silvia. "I never met the man but from what you're saying he's someone that needs to be watched. If you want my recommendation I'd send someone to keep an eye on him and report back."

"That's exactly what I was thinking, especially this rally he's got planned for this evening. Marcus, do we have anyone in the capital loyal to us?"

"Yes I've got a couple of contacts I can call on. Just give me the word and I'll make it happen."

"Then do it. I want him watched like a hawk and tell them to report back if he starts doing anything strange. No if you tell them that they'll be calling all the time. Tell them if he acts odd. No, they'll do the same thing. Just tell them to watch him and report in every couple of hours. I think we're done here. Dr. Martin, just leave me your report I'll look it over but I like the way you're holding you people accountable."

"So you were listening I'm sorry if I doubted you," said Silvia as looked back at him.

"You'll find I can chew chew gum and walk at the same time," said Frank then he dismissed his assistant and the Doctor. He had a decision to make and it was a hard one.

"He seems really concerned about this guy in the capital," said Silvia after they got away. "Frank didn't seem this nervous when he first got here."

"I don't blame him considering what happened to his predecessor and the fact that Frank never really has trusted El Comandante. If this guy does anything stupid he could ruin everything for us here. If that happens, the person who'll get the short straw is Frank and he knows it."

Frank sat sipping on his coffee as he opened the Doctor's report and began thumbing through it. However, he couldn't help but think about Turrini and what he should do. In the end he felt there was only one thing he could do. He went over to his desk then logged into his Hydra account and was patch into the man who had given him this project.

"Sir, there's a situation I think you need to be made aware of…" said Frank trying to find the words but the man cut him off.

"Frank, you aren't going to disappointment me again, are you?"