Don't own Chuck
Sarah pulled behind Casey in the parking lot then they agreed to each go a different way into Castle. Plus this way Sarah didn't have to go through the Buy More and have to answer questions. Morgan on the other hand wasn't that lucky and when Casey saw Big Mike circling the wounded gazelle he knew it was time for him to head to the break room. Morgan wasn't so fortunate.
"Didn't I just see you out in the parking lot with Chuck's wife, Sarah? I thought they were visiting her parents overseas in Sweden or someplace like that?"
"Montenegro actually but… but…" Morgan was trying to come up with an excuse but nothing came to mind.
"I get it say no more trouble in paradise. It's not easy dealing with your wife's crazy relatives and sometimes you might slip, say something that was misunderstood or taken the wrong way that'll land you in the doghouse and on the couch faster than… I don't know but fast.
"You mean faster than you can say Jack Robinson. The saying goes faster than you can say Jack Robinson."
"I don't know any Jack Robinson. How am I supposed to know how fast he is? Now there was "Jackie" Robinson now he could play ball. Anyway getting back to your friend Chuck and crazy relatives," said Big Mike looking at Morgan. "When is Chuck coming in?"
"I don't know Buy More cooperates sent him on another…" Morgan started to say 'install' but changed the story. "They asked him to help set up their nerd herd division in Tbilisi."
"Where's that," asked Big Mike. "I never heard of it and we're opening a store there? I hope old man Moses Finkelstein knows what he's doing."
"Tbilisi, that's in Kansas," said Fernando as he gave his nasal laugh. "I was the best in geography in my class. I can even spell Mississippi backwards; do you want to hear?"
"I'd hate to think who was the worst," said Morgan as he shook his head Skip walked by. "Or maybe I know. No, I think I'll pass on that pleasure. So Tbilisi's in Kansas you say? Well Dorothy, why don't you click your Ruby slippers and go back to work?"
"Isn't that supposed to be home?" said Fernando proving he wasn't completely brain dead and at least a couple neurons were firing.
"Fool, what do you think the Buy More is for you," said Big Mike. "Son just tell your boy, Chuck to see me when he can. I'll give him some advice to get him off the coach and back in the bed. Your momma never stays mad at me and you know why?"
"I'm afraid to ask why. Okay I'll play along but I know I'm going to regret it. Why does my mom never stay mad at you?"
"Because she knows she's the woman of my life. I love and respect her and treat her like she deserves to be treated."
"Wow that was actually nice. I thought for a moment you were going to say something about her being muy caliente."
"And she's that too."
"I've got to go to work," said Morgan as he walked off heading for the break room. Big Mike came running after him. He forgot to tell him that there was a lady from Buy More cooperate walking around the store, but when he got to the break room no one was there. He just shrugged his shoulders then looked at the clock.
"Oh well it's close enough," said Big Mike as he pulled out from his locker a Danielle Steel novel 'Rogue' and turned to page he marked.
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Morgan made his way as quickly as he could. He knew he was late but it couldn't be helped with the idiots he had to deal with. Casey gave him the evil eye as he walked into the conference room with the General standing in front of a monitor. Alex passed him a cup of coffee as he sat down.
"Thanks, I can really use this," said Morgan. Both the General and Casey gave him an evil stare. "Sorry please carry on you were saying."
"Yes, well Agent Grimes it's kind of you to join us. I hope you're not too busy to participate. Now if we can get back on topic. It seems the lightning device was deployed again."
"Who'd Izad target this time? Do we have a list of casualties?" asked Sarah as Sam fought to get down.
"Sarah, Agent Carmichael," said Beckman trying to be understanding which she normally wasn't but these were strange times. "I don't want to say anything but Castle is not a nursery and no place for children to play."
"There's a lunatic who's targeted my family. As far as I know my daughter has a bull's eye on her back so she isn't leaving my sight until he gets put in a body bag."
"It's okay," said Casey. "I locked the armory and the conference room is infant proof. I let Morgan play in here so it's all right to let Sam loose." Sarah put Sam down and she ran straight to Morgan. He picked her up and she was quiet.
"Right to get back to the briefing, the intel coming out of Chechnya is that the device was used to destroy a convoy. We believe it was Chuck who deployed it destroying a shipment of chips in the Roki tunnel which effectively blocked traffic from and to Nikolai and his new PLA. None of this has been confirmed because of cloud density in the target area which is making it difficult to see with our spy satellites.
"Have we asked the Russians? What are they saying? Is someone monitoring the chatter coming out? There has to be some talk going on?"
"Agent Carmichael everything that is possible is being done. We're going to get Chuck back."
"How long do we sit around and talk about this before someone does something. I can go Igor wouldn't dare stop me and I can count on Stefan and Anatoly I'm sure."
"No, Agent Carmichael you have your daughter to think of right now," said the General. Sarah thought that was a cheap shot. Now that they wanted to stop her they brought up her daughter but before when they needed for her to go Sam wasn't a problem.
"Are you sure it's my daughter everyone's worried about or are you people concerned about losing your last intersect."
"I won't lie. That was a concern and I told the Director that before you go and do something stupid like running off to get Chuck we should send in a team. He agreed and has gotten the State Department and the JCOS to make a concession. We're going to send one person in…"
"I've got stock coming in the day after tomorrow but Big Mike can sign for it," said Morgan. "I can be ready to go in an hour." Casey looked at him and growled.
"While we all appreciate your enthusiasm Agent Grimes this is a mission where we need a seasoned operative. Colonel Casey you're to leave within the hour. You'll be flying over on a B-2 and doing a high altitude jump. Do you have any problems with that?"
"No problems ma'am I'm ready. Let me call Kat and tell her I won't be able to meet her for lunch then I'm ready to go."
"Very well go make your call and the rest of you are dismissed. Agent McHugh I need for you and Agent Grimes to watch Sam this morning. Agent Carmichael you and I are going to take a drive to Pasadena."
"General, I could just as well stay here with Sam and you could take both Morgan and Alex with you. They know the people and layout better than I do."
"No, I need you to get on campus since I'm no longer the director questions might be raised why I'm snooping around the labs. I should've told you Dr. Dreyfus has set up an office there to provide support and therapy for the staff and personnel in light of recent events. I called and told him you wanted to talk to him."
"Me? Well yes about Chuck. That is what you told him that I wanted to talk to him about Chuck. I don't need to be checked out."
"What you two talk about is between you two. I just need a couple of hours to wander around and check things out. Can you do that for me?"
"Sure and I've got something in the car I want to give to him. Let's take my car it drives better than the herders and is more comfortable…"
"Comfortable, I don't know, faster, yes," said the General. "Okay I need to have a quick word with the Colonel and I'll meet you in the Manager's Office."
The General walked with Casey to the armory then when they were alone inside she put it in lockdown killing the video from inside.
"I could tell there was something else you weren't telling us," said Casey. "The cloud cover couldn't have been that dense all the time that we couldn't have gotten something. How am I guessing?"
"What I didn't say wouldn't do the team or Sarah any good to hear. There was a moment when the clouds cleared and we saw a man being carried off. People at Langley think Chuck might've been captured but it's hard to say. Borz Maribek took credit for the attack although after Nikolai's attack on the council this Borz doesn't seem to have the manpower or powerbase to pull something like this off."
"Not unless he's got help. Help like Chuck. So I should look for Chuck first there do we know where he holed up at?"
"Not exactly on the border with Ossetia but we hope to learn more before you jump. The Director has asked to speak to the Russians but they are reluctant to speak about this on the phone so they arranged for their Military Attaché to meet with the Director over dinner. I'll keep you posted."
"Roger that," said Casey as he began putting together firepower starting with the Barrett along with some .50 caliber Raufoss rounds.
"Oh one last thing when you're over there you're on your own. It might be in Russian territory but they don't own it in that this Nikolai is just one of a hundred other little warlords. That council he destroyed really was their hope for peace turned to ash. I don't want to say last but it's close to the last."
"I pity you General. I swear I'll take this mission any day over going back to those labs. I'd prefer to risk frostbite or being taken by mountain tribes over having to deal with those eggheads. If I went back… well how many eggheads does it take to make an omelet?"
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Chuck could feel himself coming too then going out as he was being transported away. His first instinct was the fight but he had no fight in him. His strength and body seemed to fail him as he was being transported away. He had no choice but let them take him all his efforts and to end like this. Then he came to in a tent there were people around him talking he heard one person mention blood poisoning.
"Sepsis, I need a broad spectrum antibiotic," Chuck fought to say. The man standing next to him nodded his head then showed him a needle. His heart already felt like it wanted to jump out of his chest then this guy had to show him a needle. The man turned his head giving him the injection in the neck.
"You haven't been taking care of yourself," said the man with the syringe. "This should make you better. Rest then our Commander wants to speak to you."
"Where am I? I can't," said Chuck as he tried to get up but fell back down. "What was in that shot you gave me?"
"I gave you the antibiotic you needed along with a sedative. You need to rest so close your eyes and we'll take care of you."
"Why?" was all Chuck could get out as he looked up at the man standing over the top of him. Things started to go out of focus as he felt himself slipping out.
"You helped us, now we'll help you Kolonel Sheshenkov," said the Doctor. Another man came into the field tent the Doctor moved away as he walked over to look at Juri.
"How is he Doctor? I need to make a call and give a report and the first thing the people I talk to will want to know is what his condition is."
"Considering he let this infection go rampant, his condition is good. The antibiotic I gave him will help his body fight it off and the sedative will let him sleep. Somehow I don't think he's done a lot of that lately. The medicine I gave him should make his fever break soon. He's lucky we found him when we did."
"I wish I could've been there when Nikolai showed up and saw what our friend did to his precious convoy. I bet he's beside himself. I'll send Deshi in here to help look after him I've got men coming in wounded that need your attention."
"He hit us again? How does he keep finding us? Let me get my things together bring them to the medical tent."
Chuck opened his eyes everything was out of focus but he could tell someone was sitting next to him. He felt a cool towel being placed on his warm head. Looking up he saw a blonde figure.
"Sarah? I love you," he said but his sight came into focus. "Who are you?" he asked the blonde headed girl sitting next to him then he faded out again.
The Doctor came in taking a break from treating the wounded to see how Chuck was doing. He checked on his vitals as he talked to Deshi.
"It looks like our patient is going to pull through. His fever is finally starting to go down the antibiotic has taken effect."
"He was speaking before in his sleep. You said he's Russian, right? But before, he was speaking English. He said a name - Sarah. Do we have any idea who she is?"
"No, your father's on the phone with Moscow I could tell him but I don't think it's that important. We need medical supplies and a miracle."
"Don't you every wish we were still in Grozny? You back in your practice at the hospital and me back in my dance class. This stupid war has taken everything from us. Does anyone even remember why it started? Maybe if my father talks with Nikolai we can go home?"
"In a casket maybe, those are all fanciful dreams. We almost had it when the council met but Nikolai took that away. Maybe your children will be able to go home but for now this is what we have. Keep an eye on our patient I'll be back soon," said the Doctor as he left. Deshi went to the entrance looked out before ducking back inside then she pulled out a phone and called a number.
"Emin, I miss you. Tell me you love me. … I just want to hear you say it, please. I love you. … My father's in his tent talking with people in Moscow about our guest. … Yes some of our people picked him up outside the tunnel. … That's what his identification says but my father's on the phone now verifying it. … I don't know he was speaking English. I've got to go I think he's coming around," said Deshi as she hid her phone.
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Sarah wasn't happy that she was going to have to leave Sam with Morgan and Alex. But she didn't want to take her out someplace where she couldn't protect her either. The labs in Pasadena had proven to be a hot bed for maleficent activity so the General was right in insisting that she leave her at the Buy More.
"Okay Momma's going to have to go away for work for a few hours but I promise I'll be right back. Uncle Morgan and Aunt Alex will watch you until I get back. Don't go anywhere without them," said Sarah as she hugged and kissed her. "Morgan can I talk with you outside," said Sarah leaving Alex sitting with Sam in Morgan's office.
"So you've got a new bunny?" said Alex trying to think of something to do to pass the time away. "What's his name?"
"Sarah, bunny's a girl," said Sam as she pointed out the pink head band with a yellow flower looking at Alex like she was silly for calling to it a boy.
"Right I see that now," said Alex wondering where the sudden increase in vocabulary came from. "So is this one a boy?"
"Yeah, this is Chuck," said Sam as she held it up.
On the other side of the door Sarah went over some last minute instructions with Morgan on what he could do with Sam while she was gone.
"Morgan if you want you or Alex or both of you can take Sam to Orange orange but go through Castle. That way you won't be exposed crossing the parking lot. Under no circumstances is she to be left alone. If the pizza guy brings the wrong pizza you knock the topping off you don't want but you do not and I underline this you do not go running after him leaving Sam by herself."
"Casey had to tell you about this morning, didn't he? He just couldn't keep his mouth shut. Okay it was a momentarily lapse of reasoning. I'm sorry."
"Morgan, I'm not asking you to be sorry. I'm asking you to watch my daughter, do you understand me? Morgan, do you understand."
"Yes, I understand. Don't worry we've got this piece of cake."
"Good because if anything happens to Sam you will be permanently dead. Morgan look at me, I'm trusting my daughter with you. Casey may joke about killing you, but anything happens to Sam and I won't be kidding." Just them General Beckman showed up and Sarah had to go but she gave Morgan the eye before leaving.
"Gez, is everyone's favorite pastime threatening Morgan or something. People ought to take up a hobby like curling."
"I agree twelve and sixteen ounce. Son, I forgot to tell you that lady was here from Buy More Cooperate. Why is she leaving with Blondie?" asked Big Mike watching them get into Sarah's car.
"She's Sarah's aunt from back east and she'll be staying with her for a few days. She's moved into Ellie and Devon's old apartment."
"Chuck never mentioned he knew any of the higher ups and she's family too. Now I see how he gets all those good gigs. Things make sense now. You better tell your boy that's a knife that cuts backwards and forwards…"
"I think you mean 'both ways' a knife cuts both ways."
"Both ways, backwards and forwards it still cuts and there's a lot of blood. If your boy gets her aunt mad at him that's the end of his nice installs and travel on the cooperate dime. Sometimes you have to put up with relatives especially when they're always trying to correct you and tell you what they think you're trying to say."
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Igor was sitting behind his desk signing off on reports. His work never ceased and even though Chuck was important he wasn't the only thing Igor had going on. Starting with trying to get some sort of action taken in the south to deal with this new attempt to form a breakaway Republic within a breakaway Republic. His problem was since the coup he had no idea who was still alive and what power they had. This new Czar had come out fighting and most everyone that he knew that he could talk to was either dead or on the run. He was making a list on names when Anatoly came in with news that there had been an explosion in the Roki tunnel.
"What? When did this happen? That tunnel is supposed to be closed this time of year why was it open? Do we have anyone on scene?
"The only reports we've received are from the Georgian side our side is in rebel hands, and yes it was supposed to be closed but that idiot Nikolai had it opened to ship merchandise through. It seems his cargo was volatile. It incinerated and caused a chain reaction of explosions that devastated the inside of the tunnel. It will take weeks if not months to reopen or that's the official explanation." Igor threw his pen on his desk.
"Now tell me the unofficial version. Don't tell me it was this energy beam thing again," said Igor as something clicked he reached up looking through stacks of report pulling out one. "Listen to this, this is what our guy heard Chuck tell the Iranian, he said when he was describing this weapon that it was one no good Muslim would ever use. Did you know Islam is one of the few religions that forbid cremation?"
"What are you saying that these people have some sort of energy beam that they stole from the Americans? If you take this to the Kremlin they'll send you to a Psikhushka then lock you up and throw away the key."
"Well we know from that walk-in at Tbilisi said that Chuck crossed the border nearby so it's not improbable that he had something to do with this. We need more information see if our people can offer the Georgians or Ossetians assistance in opening the tunnel," said Igor as his secretary stuck his head into his office. "Sir I've got the American Director on line one."
"Tell him I don't want to talk about this over the phone our Ambassador will be contacting him and arrange for a meeting. That's all we need is for this to get leaked out on a social network. No it's better if they do a face to face and make it the Military Attaché not the Ambassador." Igor got up and went to the map he had in his office of Russia and began to study it. "I'd feel better if I knew where Chuck was."
"Sir, there is a Borz Maribek on the phone for you," said the secretary. "He says he's got Kolonel Sheshenkov in his camp."
"I should've wished to be rich," said Igor. "It looks like someone's listening."