Don't own Chuck
Mary sat through the night by the fire staring out into the dark as the rain changed to snow. As the snow came down the temperature seemed to rise a bit. At first it fell silently then like in some opera there was a crescendo and the noise became almost deafening. She was forced to put more dung on the fire to stay warm. She found a can in the shelter probably trash from the meal the last shepherd who stayed there left but it was good for her. She filled it with snow then melted it by sitting it close to the fire and got something warm in her.
"Not much like hot chocolate," she said to herself remembering making it for Chuck and Ellie when they were little. She could hear their little voices begging her to make them some. That was long ago she said as she walked to the entrance and looked out into the night. She heard waves crashing against the coast not far in the distance and she could smell the salt mist so she knew the road ran close to the coastline.
"How did you get here Mary," she said to herself as the first timid rays of day break stared to come through the clouds as the night's storm dissipated. "Some questions were best left alone."
She heard the cry of Johnny Rooks close by when she looked out she saw a group circling a spot nearby. It was still too cold for the vultures too soon for them to be out but if it was what she thought it was her food situation would be taken care of. She made her way carefully across the new snow and ice not now wasn't the time to twist an ankle or break something.
It didn't take her long to find it half buried in the snow. A lone sheep probably got separated from the flock and was wandering about when the storm hit then fell in the small crevice and died.
"Well Mary, never look a gift sheep in the mouth," she said as she shooed away the rooks who didn't like sharing their meal not with her nor with themselves. They made a squabble as they moved over to the side watching and waiting for her to go away.
"Don't worry I'll leave you guys plenty. I just need a little," she said as she cut away the hind legs. The internal organs probably would've given her more sustenance and energy but she couldn't risk it. In the fall all that could've been contaminated so it was best to play it safe and only take which should be safe.
As soon as she was done and was far enough away from the carcass the Rooks descended again and started their bickering over who should get what.
"You are a greedy lot," she said as she made it back to the shelter. The weather was still cold and she'd been out too long. Her hands felt stiff but she had to force herself to go on. One leg she buried in the snow next to the shelter making sure it was well covered. The snow would act like nature's ice box and keep the meat from going bad. The other she cut in strips and hunks then she put it in her can with snow boiling it on the fire.
"Well not exactly an Easter Sunday roast," she said as she gnawed at the tough meat and drank the broth. "Maybe with a little rosemary, sage, and bay leaves you'd be better. Oh Mary, don't forget juniper berries. They'd help take away that sheep taste and smell but if Sarah's pregnant you can't use them. Sarah... I wonder how that all played out."
Suddenly she saw the truck drive back from the night before. She jumped into action grabbing her Beretta and took aim. She was about to fire when she saw the driver was alone inside so she held her fire and let it pass.
"Stand down," she told herself the Tooth Fairy wasn't inside and she needed to wait for her so she went back to her meal of boiled mutton. Luckily she had the other leg in the ice box for later because it looked like it was going to be a long wait.
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Frank stood in the hangar doors looking out as the snow fell. The wind whipped it in from outside blowing it inside but he stood there staring looking up in the sky. The workers inside dismantling the Hypersonic probably would've appreciated if he closed the bay doors. It was freezing inside and they had to work through the night to get their part of the job done on time. The rest were asleep in makeshift barracks trying to fight off the cold but until the trucks returned there was little they could do.
"Frank here you are," said Marcus. "I just got word one of our trucks is on its way back. The road has been cleared so it was able to make it through. The other truck won't be ready until tomorrow. They had to order a new fuel pump from Port Stanley and it won't be delivered before then."
"Well if that's the case we need to double our runs to make up for it. I keep looking up in the sky wondering if someone is looking down. The longer we're out here in the open the more likely we'll get caught. Send for Petr I need to talk to him."
"But it's kind of late," said Marcus pointing at his watch. "Why don't you wait a couple of hours? It will be dawn soon then..."
"Marcus, I'll tell you this only once don't ever question me again. I know what I want and want what I want. Right now I want Petr and your answer should be yes sir. Marcus, we both know how Silvia escaped and it wasn't through an emergency exit."
"But Frank I swear I..." Marcus started to say but Frank raised his hand and cut him off. He didn't want to hear the lie.
"Just do as you're told this time. You've put us both at risk and if this blows back... well I won't go down by myself but you should've thought about that before."
Marcus left and Frank went back to staring out the door at the snow fall. It wasn't long before Petr came walking in from outside through the snow to face him. The two met face to face in the bay doorway.
"I was told you wanted to talk to me," said Petr as he walked up to him. "Do you want to talk here or do we need to go someplace quiet?"
"We can talk here there's nothing secret about this. I need for your people to offload the truck when it arrives at the pier. The workers here can on load it and I can have someone at the pier to off load on the pier but I need your people to take it down below to store."
"We've talked about this or I did with those other two idiots..." Petr started to say but Frank cut him off.
"Those two have been terminated for cause. I don't want to hear what you can't do or what you won't do. I'm telling you what has to be done. The longer we're here the more likely we'll get caught. It won't be long before they call off their hunt for you in the North Sea if they haven't already. Then they will turn their attention to finding the General's plane, that plane," said Frank as he pointed at it. "Back in Hydra they think that phony transponder signal is going to keep us safe here and for a certain time it probably will. But sooner or later the team they have in Costa Gavas will look here and you know what they'll see when they look down on us with their spy satellite?"
"Nothing, my submarine is under camouflaged netting," said Petr confident that they were safe and hidden in the sound.
"And your radiation signal? Do you have camouflage netting for that? The answer is no and what do you think they're going to do when they see netting over a boat in the sound at an ex-whaling station?"
"I see your point," said Petr as he started to understand the gravity of their situation.
"I don't think you do. There is something called the Omega protocol which basically states that if the Director is in a position where he or she could be compromised then he or she is to be terminated with extreme prejudice. You know what I've been looking for staring up in the sky? You don't have to answer that it was a rhetorical question. I've been waiting to see the Tomahawk missile that will come flying through these doors... right in here and destroy everything, killing us all."
"Then why don't we just load everyone up and leave? Why aren't we leaving?"
"I've got orders to get that plane onboard your boat," said Frank as he pointed again to the hulk that once was the plane. "Then I'm waiting for another guest that won't be here until tomorrow. If I fail to do either someone will get an order to put a bullet in my head. And the people back home don't care about Tomahawk or Cruise missiles. They only care about results. This is Frank being frank so I don't really care about any agreement you had before. If you want a boat to sail you need to load it up or I'll have this conversation with the new next officer in command."
"You wouldn't dare," said the Captain Lieutenant but Frank looked away staring back out as the snow fell.
"You know looking out at the snow this reminds me of a quote from 'the Dubliner' by James Joyce when he wrote, 'His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.'"
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Mike made the mistake of smirking which pissed off Sarah even more. She raised her weapon pointing it at the team leader and as they were about to engage they heard a loud voice behind them yelling "no". They turned around in time for Chuck to dart one then checked the other merc's weapon arm then head-butting him. He staggered back trying to shake it off but Chuck landed a spinning back knocking him into the team leader. They both went down with a loud thud then scrabbled to try and get to their feet.
"Oh no you don't," said Sarah as she pistol whipped a stunned Mike then cold cocked the Team leader as he tried to get up while Chuck drop-kicked the other guy's head for two points across the goal posts of oblivion.
"You guys are never any fun you were supposed to let me scratch my itch," said Casey as he ran on scene with the Marine security detail.
"Oh I don't know John, Mike here I think deserves a bullet," said Sarah as she grabbed him up by the collar. "He smirked and I hate smirkers. Sweetie you came back but how?"
"Wet-dog," moaned the team leader as he worked his jaw then rubbed it. It felt like Sarah might've fractured it
"Well yeah," said Chuck as he darted the team leader. The man let out a low moan then dropped. "Actually, I wanted one more kiss for good luck."
"I think you deserve more than one," she said as she put her arms around him and kissed him. "But we need to take care of trash.
"I was thinking about that. Mike, you're going to make a call for me. You're going to confirm the kill," said Chuck as Mike let out a laugh as Casey cuffed him. "You think what I said was funny just wait and see what happens if you don't. John, how fast can Mike's diplomatic immunity be revoked?"
"As fast as I can call Langley and they call the State Department. You know I think they'll love you in prison here in Costa Gravas."
"What? No, you need to send me to Supermax or a dark site or someplace else... I know secrets. But that doesn't mean I'm going to give them away easily. You need to send me to the States."
"I don't think you have anything we need and right now the General isn't around to make that call. You know whose shoulders that falls on here? I'll give you one guess and he's telling you to make that phone call."
"Oh they'll love you in prison here a nice soft American spy. If it's true you know secrets well like you came after Silvia there will be someone they'll send for you. You know I just can't understand how that Columbian necktie thing works. Maybe when I see your autopsy photos I'll be able to figure it out."
"No Sarah, they won't do that to him that would be too merciful. They'd look for something that sends a message to everyone. They'd want to underling the price of screwing up. You don't have any dietary restrictions do you? Well not that your friends will really care."
"Okay, okay I'll send the message," said Mike as he gave in. He saw he had no choice. "But you have to promise me you'll get me out of this God forsaken country."
"That can be arranged," said Chuck as he handed him his phone. "Before you think about trying anything the Colonel is dying to scratch his itchy trigger finger."
"Please try something," said Casey in Mike's ear. "Go ahead I dare you. Just try something, anything scumbag, make my day."
"I said okay already so let me do it. I'm the one they're going to be pissed at. I'm going to need protection," said Mike as he typed a text message then took a photo of Silvia playing dead then send it. "Okay it's done. Now hold up your part."
"Gunny, they're all yours. Lock them up in detention until Langley can get someone in to escort them to Supermax."
"Oh Chuck just an update," said Mike. "Word is your mother never made it to the op site. I was told she tried to parachute and became a grease spot... anyway she wasn't on the flight when it landed. And since I'm feeling chatty Hydra is sending in the Tooth Fairy to deal with the General."
"Take him away from me before I hurt him," said Chuck. The Marines snatched them all up then led them away.
"Chuck, you can't believe a word he said. You can't let him get to you, that's what he wants. Mary is fine and she's waiting for you and Casey." Sarah caressed his face with her hands then turned it so he had to look her in the eyes. "Hey listen to me Chuck you can do this. Trust me I know you can and so does your mother."
"You're right I have to believe she's all right and my mother is my mother. She's been in worse spots and made it out. Thank you," said Chuck as he kissed her. "I love you."
"And I love you. Now go bring Mary and the General home. We'll have that satellite on line for you when you need it."
"If you're waiting for me to say I love you it will be a cold day some place warm. Come on Chuck," said Casey as he grabbed Chuck pulling him along. "We need to pick up our packs then get to the airport."
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The Hi Fly flight from Gatwick to AmÃlcar Cabral Airport on the island of Sal had to overnight before continuing on its final leg to RAF Mount Pleasant Complex located on the East Falklands. Passengers had to come back to the airport early, go through security, then board once more. The flight attendants boarded the previous passengers before boarding the new ones. Once everyone was situated they took off. This part of the journey was just as long as the previous one with the exception that they all knew each other by now.
"Norma, I hope you had a pleasant night's sleep in Capo Verde," said Jane. "Did you get out any to see the island? It's quite nice but arriving in the evening and taking off early the next day there's not much time to enjoy it."
"I'm afraid I was tired when I got to my hotel and I just went straight to bed. I need some information I need to get to the West Falklands..." Norma started to say when Paul spoke up.
"We've got a charter that's going to take us from Port Stanley to Fox Bay where we're picking up a car that's been left for us. We've got an extra seat now that we don't have George with us. That is if you can put up with Larry and me." They looked behind at Larry, he just smiled nodding his head with his headset on.
"Okay but are you sure you can put up with an old woman coming along with you? I wouldn't want to impose."
"No, it'll be fun and if your need a ride after we land we can run you wherever you want as long as it's close by."
"Oh this is so kind of you how can I ever repay you? I know, I'll knit you a scarf while we're flying. I'll have it done by the time we get to Fox Bay. Do you have a favorite color? I'm sorry but your choices are limited to what I've got with me."
"How about black and white if that's okay? We're studying King Penguins in their habitat. They're actually amazing birds."
"Then black and white it is," said Norma as she sat back in her seat and started knitting. Jane left her so she could work and went into the aft galley where Jim was preparing the inflight meal.
"I wish all our passengers could be as nice as that old lady," said Jim as he pulled the hot trays out and placed them on the serving cart.
"She makes me think of my granny a lot. She reminds me how busy I've been and how long it's been since I last visited. I want to go see her when we get back."
"Me too," said Jim then he laughed. "I mean to see mine not yours but you know what I meant. But if you want you can come and see mine. She's suffering from Alzheimer's so you could tell her you where her granddaughter and she wouldn't know any better."
"That's just not right," she said as she laughed. "You don't want to do that with mine. She'll hit you over the head with a frying pan. The woman is as sharp as tack. That's how I want to be when I get to her age."
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Flying over Argentina heading towards the Falkland Islands a lone C-130 with a Costa Gravas flag painted on the tall began crossing the southern Atlantic. Chuck wanted the pilot to fly over West Falkland before flying over East and landing at Mount Pleasant. His plan was to jump near Hill Cove then they could make their way back on foot.
"Can you please explain to me why we've got to jump so far from the target site? It's going to take time to hoof it all the way back."
"John, the terrain is rugged and there are no trees to provide cover. If we came in any closer to the target we'd be exposed. Remember when we arrive we've got thirty-six hours to get everyone and get out."
"Do you want to tell me why you didn't bring Sarah along? I've got my theory but I want to hear it from you."
"Sarah and Silvia are working on a project that will assist us," said Chuck as Casey gave him a look. "Okay that might assist us."
"Yeah that's kind of what I thought. But you realize you've got your wife working with your ex. You know that isn't going to turn out pretty."
"As I've said for the hundredth time she's not my ex anything and I really don't care what happens to Silvia as long as they give me control of that satellite."
"You might not care about her but what does she feel about you? I notice when she started bawling yours where the first arms she jumped into."
"What was she supposed to do, jump in yours? John you've got a lot of good qualities but empathy and sympathy aren't among them. Besides she wants me to try and save this Marcus. I told her I would and I will if I can but I'm not going out of my way to save him. He might've saved her but he let everyone else die when Hydra pulled their plug."
"At Supermax they can ask for his and her adjoining cells then if they get married they could get conjugal visits. But let's face it Chuck you didn't bring Sarah along because you think she's in a family way."
"In what way? Okay there are some things that seem to indicate that possibility starting from the one coming now," said Chuck as the Premier entered the back with them.
"I don't know why you wanted me to take this plane? We'd been more comfortable in my jet," said the Premier as he walked back with a bottle of rum and three glasses. "Here you're going to need some antifreeze before you jump. The pilot tells me there's a snow storm over the target area so you need to use your altimeter to know when to pull the chord. Use your GPS to maintain position because any mistake and you end up in the sound."
"You realize the irony in telling us to rely on our GPS," said Chuck as he took a glass of rum from the Premier.
"Hasta la victoria siempre," said the Premier as he raised his glass.
"To scratching my itch," said Casey as they all clinked glass. Now that was something Casey could toast.
"To family," said Chuck and on that both the Premier and Casey could toast.