Don't own Chuck
Sarah took Ellie back to the Palace compound but when they walked in through the main gate the guards looked them over as they passed through. There was something about their stares that Sarah didn't like but she kept it to herself. She had other things to think about if she dared. Tití Hortencia was entertaining the girls with Juanita. Both women knew with all the sugar the girls had eaten there would be no way they were going to touch a bite of lunch.
"Sarah, what are you going to do?" asked Ellie as they walked out on the balcony. Sarah had no idea how to answer that question.
"About what? Am I going to tell Chuck? He's on that expedition with the Premier so he's probably already told him which is going to set him off thinking about possibilities."
"Is that so bad? I mean Chuck's made no secret he'd like a large family so if you are it seems to me this is a non-problem or am I missing something?"
"You don't get it. And what if I'm not? I risk disappointing him and that's something I don't want to do. I know what it's like to hope for something and then not get it. I used to believe if you have no expectations than you'll never be disappointed."
"Chuck won't see it that way," said Ellie as Sarah gave her a look. "Okay so he'll be a little disappointed but that's only natural in a case like this but I know my brother he's not like that. He won't blame you if that's what you're worried about."
"Then it becomes even worse he'll feel sorry for me and so will everyone else. I've already gone through this once... poor Sarah who lost her mind. The truth you all were sorry for the wrong one. I couldn't remember so I really didn't know what I lost but Chuck did."
"Is that what you're talking about when you say you don't want to disappoint him? Because I don't think this is really comparable and the truth is this is out of your hands. Either you are or you aren't that's it and whether you use that test or not nothing will change."
"I will one way or another. The way Chuck looks at me will. Even the way you look at me will change. If you say it won't then you're lying to yourself. I'll go back to being Sarah damaged goods..."
"We never said anything like that..." Ellie started to say but Sarah cut her off.
"You don't have to just the looks you guys gave me was enough but it was okay I guess. For once I actually felt like someone really cared about me which made me happy and angry too," said Sarah catching Ellie's look. "What I mean is I'd never felt that way before and it was then I realized what I'd lost and how much I hurt Chuck. I swore then I'd never hurt him again."
"Sarah," said Ellie as she put her arms around her. "I think you're making a lot out of nothing. If my brother were here he'd tell you that you're freaking out. But like I said before there are only two choices here... Well not really choices either because either you are or you aren't and only by doing that test will you either put this behind you or... What's the matter you're not listening to me?"
And Sarah had stopped listening to her. Out front of the palace the political rally had begun with people hurling defamatory comments about the Premier and his current programs for democracy. However, what caught her attention were the guards. They opened the front gates then abandoned their posts walking back towards the palace.
"Oh crap, this is really bad. We need to run," said Sarah as she realized what was about to happen the handwriting was on the wall and in this case it was literal as guy with a can of spray paint started to go to town. This wasn't just a political rally but a coup.
"No, Sarah this isn't something you can't run from. You need to stand firm like the woman you are and take the test then everything will be okay..."
"No it won't... I mean... that's not what I'm talking about. The guards are gone and the gate is open."
"So maybe they stepped out for a cup of coffee or a cigarette. Sarah you can't change the topic and hope it will go away."
"If I didn't love you like a sister I'd punch your lights out right now. Go to your room and grab the things you need. We need to get Hortencia and the girls then get out of here," said Sarah as she ran back into her room. As she was walking across the room one of the guards came charging inside with his weapon drawn. She knew she didn't like his look before and she didn't like it now as he smiled at her with tobacco stain teeth.
"Come with me Chiquita," said the man motioning her with his 47. Sarah smiled back then as she passed the fruit tray in one move she grabbed the knife and with an underhanded throw caught the unsuspecting man square chest. He dropped his weapon and stared down at the knife handle then looked up at her with a bewildered face before dropping to the ground.
"I guess next time you'll knock," said Sarah. Then she heard a scream from Ellie's room. She grabbed the knife from the man's chest and her purse as she ran next door.
The scene was much the same as what had just happened to her but the man had pushed Ellie to the floor and was standing over her. Sarah signaled Ellie to be quiet and as she slipped up behind the man then reached around slitting his throat with one stroke. He turned and sprayed her with blood but with this vocal chords cut he couldn't scream or yell. The only sound he made was a gurgling noise as he dropped bleeding out on the floor.
"Come on we need to go," said Sarah as she grabbed the man's gun belt and a couple grenades. "El snap out of it. We need to get the girls."
"But you're covered in that guy's blood," said Ellie still in shock. But they didn't have time for this so Sarah slapped her.
"Get yourself together so you've been covered in blood too when you operate. If it makes you feel better just say in your head I slaughtered a pig. Think of Clara we've got to move."
"My God Clara, we need to find the girls" said Ellie as things started to sink in. She jumped up and started running.
"Maybe wait for me would be nice," said Sarah. She didn't know why but she grabbed the pregnancy test and shove it into the gun belt then ran after her.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Earlier in Pedro's Parrot El Comandante paced up and down the floor. It was almost 'X' hour and things were falling into place. His friends had most of the palace garrison swapped out with their people. Now he would go out throw gasoline on the pyre and Casey would be the match to light the fire that would burn Alejandro's reforms and government to ash.
"Luis go load the Doctor and the Angel de la Muerte in the vehicle," said Turrini as his phone rang. It was Frank he smiled. "Go ahead I'll be right there and close the door on your way out."
"Yes El Comandante, I'll make sure everyone is ready to roll," said Luis as he left pulling the door closed behind him.
"Señor Frank I'm kind of busy here with the rally about to begin so I've got you on speaker. I hope you don't mind. Are you calling to wish me good luck?"
"I'm calling to tell you not to do anything stupid like try a coup. You're supposed to take control legitimately through the elections or have you forgotten our arrangement?"
"No I haven't forgotten, but I'm going to have to bow to vox populi Señor Frank and if my citizens want me to take over who am I to argue with them. I am just a humble servant or the people."
"Yeah humble servant I've heard that before. Vox populi, do you even know what that means? Getting a few of your cronies to overrun the palace isn't the will of the people and once you take control you have to keep it. Or don't you realize that?"
"Of course I do and I have every intention of doing just that. With my lightning strike I'll cut the head off the snake and the rest will fall in behind me because they'll have no one else to lead."
"You'd better be right because one mistake and you're done. We won't be able to pull your bacon out of the fire this time. To be clear Hydra won't go to war with the Americans to save you even if we could."
"We might have to re-negotiate our agreement afterwards. I think as the head of state I should be made a full partner in your organization and take a seat on the council of elders."
"I'm sure you do but right now I see you putting the cart in front of the horse. Call me back after your little putsch is successful then we might come to an agreement but one dictated by our needs."
"We'll see. Hasta La revolución," said Turrini as Frank just hung up. Frank made the call he was obliged to and got the answer he expected. El Comandante was living in an era that had past and he refused to see what was about to bite him.
Meanwhile down the hall...
"Doc we need to load you and your patient up for the trip," said Luis as he walked in the room. "Juan you stay and help the Doc get the guy up." With that Luis went down the hall to get everyone and everything else loaded up.
"Hold up let me prepare him so it will be easier," said the Doctor. He got a shot ready of Benzedrine and gave it to John. John felt his heart accelerate it pounded in his chest like it wanted to come out but he still had to pretend and put on a good show.
"There that should bring him around enough so we can move him," said the Doctor and much to his amazement Casey sat up in bed. He acted groggy but he did it on his own. "Well that was odd."
"Was he supposed to do that?" asked Juan looking back at the Doctor who shook his head no then Casey tried to get up but collapsed back down.
"Now that yeah, he tried to move too quickly," explained the Doctor but what John really did was to get his hand on the pistol he hid under the mattress and slip it in under his shirt in his belt.
"Doc, you grab one side and I'll grab the other then we walk him outside." They got John out of the bar and loaded in the dark Mercedes SUV. When Turrini came out they all started out.
"Here pull off here," said Luis to the driver. Casey recognized the place as being close to the palace. Maybe only a couple blocks away. "This is good," said Luis as they got out. "Let's take him over to that bench. Juan you stay with the Doc here and wait until you hear gunshots. You know what to do then?" Juan nodded his head yes.
"But I don't need to stay," protested the Doctor. "Once we put him on that bench I should be able to go like Turrini promised."
"You mean El Comandante and yes you will but just wait a little bit longer. If Juan says he saw the Colonel shoot El Comandante everyone is going to say it was a setup because Juan is his man but if you testify with him then people will have to believe."
The Doctor wanted to argue but Scar Face had a good point even though the Doctor felt he was the one being set up. So Juan and the Doctor pulled a groggy Colonel out of the vehicle while Luis disappeared carrying a gun case. They sat him on the bench placing beside him his pack and the Remington that Juan made sure was empty first.
"Don't worry this will be over soon," said Juan then he slapped the Colonel hard. "Boy that felt good I've always wanted to do that to the Angel de la Muerte. I just wish you were more conscious. You might not remember me but you killed my father in one of your failed attempts on the Premier." Juan slapped John again even harder knocking him over on the bench
"Hey leave him alone," yelled the Doctor but instead Juan punched the Doctor in the face knocking him down then he reached for his pistol.
"And who's going to make me?"
"I am," said Casey and as Juan turned around he felt a blade go into his throat and a large hand go over his mouth. "Consider this a family tradition," whispered Casey in the man's ear then he cut the man's carotid artery.
"But you're..." said the Doctor looking at Casey like Dr. Frankenstein must've on his creation when he first stood up.
"Yes I am. Where did Scar Face go? I need to stop him."
"I don't know he went off in that direction but I don't know. You're in no shape to stop anybody. You need to go right away." Suddenly they heard a gunshot.
"No we do," said Casey as he grabbed up his pack and shoved the doctor along. They heard an angry crowd behind them drawing near but John wasn't able to run very fast. They made it back to the Mercedes to find driver was smoking a cigarette next to it.
"What the... Oh crap" he said as he let dropped the cigarette and reached back inside for his gun but Casey dropped him with his .38 special one shot in the head.
"Over there," they heard someone yell in the distance. But Casey and the Doctor got in the Mercedes and drove off as fast as they could putting distance between them and the angry crowd.
"Where are we going now? They're going to be looking for us or at least you," said the Doctor wondering if he wouldn't have been better off on his own. He'd already been a prisoner once and didn't know if he wanted to be one again.
"I know where to go but if you want I can put you out but I can tell you Turrini and Luis are going to find Juan's body and figure you either helped me escape or that you were a material witness. Either way they're going to think you know too much and you know what that means. But if you want out be my guest."
"No, no I'll go with you. It seems I have no choice," said the Doctor as he slumped back into his car seat. This was never going to end.
"Good, I'm glad we've got that settled now reach into my pack and give me my phone," said Casey as drove as fast as he could, trying to make a circle around the crowd. He called Sarah instinctively first. There were a couple clicking sounds then he heard her come on the line so he put her on speaker. "Listen; don't talk if you're in the palace you need to run there's a mob about to break in."
"It's nice to hear from you too John but you're a little late. Some have already gotten in I've already taken out two. We're heading down to the cellars right now."
"Good get into the tunnels and I'll meet you then we can regroup. Tell Chuck I don't want to hear any crap about stinking hellholes. I've spent the past few days in one," said John but he heard the silence on the other side. "Wait a minute Chuck is with you isn't he?"
"I can't go in to it now. I've got hostiles breathing down our necks and I've got the girls. But Chuck went looking for you in the jungle with the Premier."
"You just worry about your group and get them to safety. Let me contact Chuck, he'll be fine Chuck can take care of himself."
"I've got to go," said Sarah. John heard the sound of gunfire then the line dropped.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Turrini took center stage getting up in front of his crowd of cronies and people his supporters pulled out of the barracks and bars to fill the square. Before he began speaking booze was handed out like water to get the crowd fired up. Then he started yelling from center stage accusing the Premier of everything from world hunger to global warming. He even amazed himself how well he laid it on then he look in the direction of Luis and gave the signal he tapped his campaign button. A shot rang out and he dropped only to get up again bloodied from an apparent shoulder wound.
"See the Premier and his Americans are trying to silence me," he yelled. "This is the way Alejandro Goya answers those who oppose him. He sends an assassin. I will not be silenced... We will not be silenced... We will be heard..."
"I saw him," yelled Luis from the back of the crowd blending in now. "It was the Angel de la Muerte, John Casey. I saw the American pig run that away." The crowd started to move in the direction Luis pointed to but Turrini stopped them.
"Wait... Wait listen to me," he yelled. "Do we punish the dog that bites or the master who ordered him to attack? The master is there in the palace what are we waiting for or do you want to wait until the dog comes and visits your home?"
There was a loud roar from the crowd then one of Turrini's agitators began to scream and ran towards the palace gates. The rest of the crowd saw he met not resistance so they followed moving against the symbol of oppression, the palace. Turrini smiled as he watched his plan unfold. Everything was proceeding as planned.
"El Comandante I'm sorry. Does it hurt? We should get you to a doctor right away," said Luis. But Turrini pushed him way.
"Idiot do you really think I'd let you shoot me. This is a blood pack I had under my shirt when I tapped the pin a small charge went off and it just looked like I got shot."
"I don't understand why have me pretend to shoot you unless you wanted people to think I did it but we had the Colonel for that."
"That's right we did so everything is proceeding as planned. Go inside the palace and see if they've captured and executed Hortencia along with the Americans." Luis ran off into the palace still wondering why the Turrini had him shoot him. The truth was if no one believed Casey had done it then he would've blamed Luis saying Alejandro had turned him with a bribe.
"El Comandante we've got a problem," said one of his men as he ran up on stage. The man stopped for a moment looking at his fake wound.
"What is it? Speak up man you said it was important. If you don't start talking soon I'm going to put a bullet in your head."
"Sorry but we just found Juan's body by a park bench with his throat cut. There's no sign of Casey or the Doctor and the man who was one of the drivers was found dead too."
"They took one of the SUVs," said Turrini. His man nodded in agreement. "Contact our people in the police and have them look for on the SUV. Just tell them to make sure everyone knows Casey and the Doctor don't have to be taken alive."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Casey was driving hard the Benzedrine had all his cylinders firing now but he fought off the euphoria. He had to be both alert and attentive there was no margin for distraction. He knew where he needed to go but suddenly blue lights came on behind him but he chose to ignore them.
"How much you want to bet these guys are in Turrini's pocket," said Casey as he accelerate then when he reached a spot wide enough in the road he grabbed the hand bake tapped the brakes down shifted and counter steered doing a 180.
"Gez, are you trying to get us killed," yelled the Doctor but Casey just rolled down the window and charged the patrol car firing at the radiator and engine block. Steam and smoke came bellowing out as they drove back by.
"Now give me my phone," barked Casey as he looked in the rearview mirror as the policemen got out. "I need to make a call hurry up." The Doctor found the phone and handed it to him. He dialed star sixty seven before Chuck's number then put it on the dash. Casey heard the line click then Chuck's voice.
"Shut up and don't say my name. Turrini has organized a coup, the palace has been overrun but Sarah' gotten everyone to safety in the tunnels."
"Then why isn't she calling me?" said Chuck as he paused. "If the General wants a souvenir she can come and get her own."
"Oh, I've got one for her back in the palace" said the Premier. "It's a new line of toys I was thinking about making here in Costa Grava. It's called the Angel de la Muerte action figure and there's a special doll house like the palace but he fits inside the walls. You push on his stomach and he says 'stinking lousy commie hellhole'."
"I heard that," said Casey as he grunted. "Be careful some of your guards if not all are probably..." Suddenly the line went dead.