Don't own Chuck

Sarah had just finished making pancakes for everyone. She looked around the table to see some perplexed faces. They ate but they looked like they were eating Casey's bran muffins. Even Sam who had been enthusiastic about them to begin with was toying with hers. Sarah bit into hers and yes it was a pancake but there was just something missing. There was something off at first she thought maybe it was the milk so she checked it but it was still good. Then she wondered about the eggs true they had sat for a while in the fridge but she didn't think that was the problem. The problem was they weren't made by Chuck.

"I'm sorry guys I tried," said Sarah. "You don't have to eat them if you don't want to. Don't think you'll hurt my feelings if you leave them. We can do something else."

"It's not that they're bad," said Morgan doing his best to cheer her up. "It's just we've been spoiled and besides Chuck's been making them for years almost ever since… Well a long time." Morgan changed what he was going to say but it was too late. His mouth moved faster than his brain.

"I know Morgan almost since his father left. But Chuck is coming back we just have to wait and to have faith. Who wants cereal instead?"

"Yes, please," said Sam smiling as she handed Sarah back her plate. She couldn't help but laugh the same as everyone else did. All of a sudden Sam acting like a little adult was too cute. Sarah took her plate then gave her a kiss on the forehead but as she was about to set it in the sink the monitor flickered in the living room.

"Chuck!" yelled Sam as she jumped from her seat and ran. Everyone follow her in but instead of Chuck there was Casey. Sam sat down in the middle of the floor pouting obviously disappointed.

"Sorry if you were expecting someone else, but I have good news Chuck is alive and well. Well he is until I get a hold of him. Roan and I are flying down to pick him up and bring him home.

"Home!" yelled Sam as she jumped up and ran to Sarah throwing herself at her. Sarah caught her on the fly with one arm still holding her plate in the other.

"You ought to try out for a professional baseball team. If you can throw a ball like you throw knives you'll get picked up straightaway," said Morgan as Alex held her finger up for him to be quiet.

"So John, you said you were going down to pick Chuck up, he's no longer there? I assume Izad and the scientists ran and he went after them. Where did they go?"

"That's why I'm calling. Chuck's in Iran. Do you know why he'd go there of all the places to take these people. He picks the one country in the region we don't have diplomatic coverage?" said Casey. Sarah flashed. She dropped the plate in her hand but Morgan grabbed it before it hit the floor and she had to put Sam down she felt light headed.

"Are you feeling okay," asked Kat as she helped her sit down. Alex and Sam stood around her while Morgan took the plate into the kitchen then brought back a glass of water.

"Thanks, I'm just tired that's all. I think Kat you can understand neither of us got any sleep last night. John, where in Iran is he and please don't tell me Khoy county?"

"Yes, we're picking him up at the airport. He's supposed to be waiting for us with a VAJA agent who's supposed to turn him over to us. It sounds like their giving him the bums rush out the door."

"I don't know about that the Agent's name wouldn't happen to be Banai. If it is Izad killed his cousin in Zamibia and both were from Khoy county. When you see Chuck ask him if he got his ten minutes."

"Is that code for something? We were just told an agent no names were given. The official version is Chuck commandeered a MiG 29 from Vladikavkaz and was pursuing fugitives who escaped in a Lear when two Iranian MiGs 29s appeared. They forced them to land in Khoy."

"And you're not buying it, are you? I don't blame you I wouldn't either. Two to one are good odds and it would take only one Vympel missile or a short burst from his 30 mm cannon to bring down the Lear."

"That's exactly what I thought and that's why I'm calling you to see if Chuck had any unfinished business there. Like with this Banana guy."

"Banai, John Banai please don't cause an incident before you get Chuck out. John, if it is Banai he and Chuck have met, they met outside the Iranian Embassy in Montenegro. Roan was there he should remember the conversation." The picture began to flicker. "Casey, you're losing the satellite. Once you start back can you have…"

"I'll sit him in front of the monitor myself if I have to and please take…." He wanted to tell her to take care and get some rest but they lost the bird.

"So Roan you've been holding out on me. What happened at this meeting Sarah was talking about," asked Casey as Roan sipped his Martini. "Speak up or I'll show you how to kill someone with a toothpick and olive."

"What finesse? I wasn't the only one there Diane and Tank were there too. We had just arrived and Chuck was driving us back from the airport with a small detour..." Casey cut him off.

"That was when they had their first big run in the new General and Chuck," said Casey as Roan gave him a look. "What I've got sources too you know. I heard about that so what's this about needing ten minutes?"

"Chuck told Banai where Izad was hiding. You can imagine what Tank said about that so there was an exchange of compliments. However, Chuck asked Banai for a favor for the information. He asked for ten minutes if Banai happened to capture Izad and the scientists which it seems he did."

"Everything's clear now. I know exactly what Chuck was doing. He was beat the drums and the tiger ran to the hunter, Banai, who bagged the prey. I hope he got his ten minutes because Iranian justice is swift and not too kind especially to traitors and assassins." Roan gave him a look. "Well to one that aren't their own."

"We just make them a Colonel," said Roan as he lifted his glass. Casey grunted.

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Chuck was sitting outside in the sun with a man Banai left to escort him. Banai was recalled back to Tehran to make a full report to his VAJA director so he left Chuck with his man. They were drinking tea waiting for Casey to arrive. Chuck liked the feel of the sun on his skin it was warm even though the air was arid and cool but for him this was the first time he felt warm since he'd arrived in this area.

"Your name is Aron, right?" said Chuck the man grunted and nodded his head. "Aron was the name of an old province of Persia now in Azerbaijan. Does that mean you're from around here?"

"You know your history. Yes, we all are," said the man as he sipped his tea. Chuck realized the executions were also a public display for the families that these men had killed but that didn't make the sight any easier to digest.

"Do you think I could call home to talk to my wife? She's probably worried about me. I've been on these guys trail for some time. The truth is she doesn't even know if I'm alive."

"I don't see anything wrong with it. Just leave it on speaker and just so you know I understand English," said the man. Chuck had been flashing from one language to another he hadn't realized he was speaking Farsi.

"It's okay my wife speaks Farsi too. Aron do you have a family?" asked Chuck as he took his phone out of his pocket.

"Yes, I have a wife Sarina and a daughter Shab Ahang, and you? You have a wife but do you have any children."

"Yes, I have a daughter too. My wife's name is Sarah and my daughter's name is Sam," said Chuck. He noticed the man's look. "It's a family name on my wife's side. Shab Ahang means morning star but also nightingale that's nice."

"Yes it does. I'm impressed with your knowledge of Farsi. You wouldn't be part Persian would you?" Chuck shook his head no and laughed which made Aron laughed with him. "You know what Sarah means in Persian? It would be Sara which translates to Princess or noble woman."

"She's the queen of my heart," said Chuck as he called then he sat the phone on the table. It rang then there was a click and silence. "Sarah love, it's me."

"Chuck…" There was a long pause. Chuck was about to hang up and dial again. "I've been worried sick about you. I just talked with Casey and he said he's on his way to pick you up."

"Good, I'm ready to come home," said Chuck but judging from her voice and tone he had to ask. "You do want me to come home?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I do, but we're going to have to have a sit down now that everything is over."

"I wish it were. The problem here is taken care of but there's still a situation I need to take care of back there. By back there I mean in Washington. I called General Thomas and his Aide, the Major, is putting together somethings for me…"

"You could talk to him but you couldn't call home? Chuck, I'm trying to be understanding but it's hard. I'm sorry this isn't the time and I don't want to do this over the phone. What do you need?"

"I'm sending you GPS coordinates I need a vehicle parked there and I'd like for you and Sam to be in it. However, if you can't I understand. General Beckman should be there though…. There I just sent them to you."

"Wait one… Here we go I'm getting it now." Sara checked the file and flashed. "Chuck, that's in the middle of a corn field, how are you going to land a jet there?"

"We're not. Just have a car parked there with Beckman in it. I'll explain everything when I see you. I love you."

"And I love you but tell me one thing did you meet Banai in Khoy?" He took a deep breath because he knew if he said yes she'd know what happened. "Chuck, remember our pact."

"Yes… yes he was here waiting for me when I landed. Can we talk about all this when I get home? I told you a long time ago if I have to choose I'd always choose you and that's what I did. I love you."

"Oh Chuck, what have you done? I love you too but we still need to talk. There will be a vehicle waiting for you. I still have to decide who'll be there to meet you."

"Roger that I understand. I really do," said Chuck as he took another deep breath and cleared his throat. "I see Casey's plane it's landing now. I've got to run, please tell Sam I love her too."

"I will," she said as she hung up."

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In a dark pub close to Capitol Hill two women were sitting in a booth away from everyone. They were intentionally talking low. Neither wanted their conversation overheard. They stopped talking only long enough for the waitress to come take their orders then bring them back.

"Listen Carmichael is coming in early morning in Dulles on a charter jet from Iran. It shouldn't be hard to find out the arrival time and meet it."

"That's a bold move. I don't know have you thought this through? You don't think someone will say something if he goes missing?

"I've got some people who owe me and we can make this happen. I got word that Izad and the two scientists were sentenced to death in Iran but Carmichael talked to them before they were executed. I can't, we can't take any risks. There's no telling what they confessed."

"It's just their words against ours. But I can see how it could be damaging to you and we've worked hard to get you into your position. While we're talking what do we do about his family? Is the hit still in play?"

"Give me some time to think about. For now let's take it one step at a time and the first is Chuck. You know if you hadn't jumped the gun with that drone strike Riccardo would've taken them out."

"I thought you told me he was captured. Anyway he was a loose end that needed to be tied up. So we place the hit on his family on hold as long as they don't come snooping. If they do everything goes back in play."

"Agreed but Chuck can't be allowed to step off that plane. And what was this about a hit on Roan? Your girlfriend was taken by the Russians. I hope she knows to keep her mouth shut."

"Don't worry about her she knows what to do and knowing her she won't be in custody for long. Don't look now but here comes the barmaid."

"Ladies may I," said the woman and she cleared their table. "Would you like another round or would you like something else?"

"Yes, bring us another round," said the one woman. The waitress walked away but did a double take. "I think she recognized you. There's no one in here go to the restroom. Stay put don't come out until I come and get you."

"Crap, is this really necessary? I knew we should've driven out of town. You know good bars are getting hard to find."

"Stop your crying. You were the one in a panic and said we had to meet. Go and do what I told you to do," said the woman. The other woman got up and headed to the restroom but as she was walking away she heard the barmaid talking behind her.

"This is yours and this one's the Admiral's," said the Barmaid. That is Admiral Greene I heard she was a Senator now. Do you think she'd mind if we took her picture and put it up on our celebrates board?"

That was all she needed to hear as she hurried to the restroom. Once inside she turned the water on and let it run. Afterwards she wiped down the facets to remover her fingerprints. It wasn't long before there was a loud knock on the door and her accomplice stuck her head inside.

"Come on let's go. I'll call you when Carmichael is taken care of." Greene walked out to find the bar was in total disarray with chairs and tables overturned. All the glass behind the bar was broken and the cashier laid in a pool of his own blood. Next to him was their waitress, she was down with a GSW to the chest and to the head. The till was open and all the money gone. It looked like some dopey high on crack broke in asked the owner for money. When he refused the junkie went ballistic killing the two to get money for a fix.

"I'll head north you head south and we'll meet back in the office." The two women split heading in opposite directions.

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Ten hours later Casey was getting permission to land from Dulles tower control. He was given a priority one status because the flight was labelled a diplomatic mission therefore he had precedence over civilian aircraft. Roan sat next to him sipping slowly on a Martini. This was his last one because he'd finished off the gin. In a pinch he could make a Manhattan but he had the wrong vermouth and cherries. Everyone knew there was only one place to get proper cherries for a Manhattan.

"Roan I didn't stock the bar and I don't think the Russians have ready access to the Grand Ambassador to buy Marasca Cherries. Gez, I'm going to shoot Chuck the next time he gets the bright idea of leaving you up here with me."

"What can I say Colonel Shoot 'em up I'm used to caviar you're used to… well whatever it is you always get then supersize it for a buck extra."

"Shush, I'm getting special instructions from tower control," said Casey as he listened. "Roger tower control will comply," radioed back Casey.

"They want us to follow directions once we land. They're taking us to a special hangar. Roan finish your drink, I'm taking us in. The FAA frowns on alcohol in the cockpit."

"Well they're no fun. You know I might be able to find enough vodka for a vodka Martini. One should never look a gift Martini in the glass."

"Your cirrhosis must have cirrhosis. You're absolutely incredible," said Casey as he shook his head wondering how he managed to survive this long.

"I know I surprise myself sometimes," said Roan as he straighten his cuffs then adjusted his tie. "Think you can handle it from here?"

"I think I can manage," said Casey as Roan disappeared in the back. He let the plane drop abruptly then he heard a loud bang then Roan moan. "Everyone okay back there."

"I know you did that on purpose Casey."

"Who me? Air turbulence or something. Probably too much alcohol Roan."

"Probably not enough.

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Two Black SUVs with DC license plates waited off the tarmac between two hangars just out of sight. Inside the lead vehicle had a radio that was tuned to the Control Tower so they could monitor communications between them and incoming aircraft. In particular they were following Chuck's and they already had in place that the plane was to be direct into the hanger next to them.

"Boss, are we sure about this," asked one of the men in the back. "I'm not saying anything but the guys they sent to Langley are still walking funny."

"We got the call so we run with the ball. Besides those guys were idiots breaking into Langley like that they were just asking for what they got. If they'd waited and served him in the parking lot then nothing would've happened."

"This is different and you know it, we're not just serving papers but we're taking a guy and a dangerous one at that from what I hear."

"If you're scared Martin you can get out and walk home but be careful to muggers. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

"I didn't say I was scared I said he was dangerous. What I meant by that was that we need to be careful. This guy won't go down easy. Do the guys in the other vehicle know what we're supposed to do afterwards?"

"No and no one opens their trap about that. They think this is a snatch and grab. You're right Carmichael is supposed to be a hotshot so he'll take out a few of our guys before we take him down."

"What are you planning on doing? Gun down our own people to make it look like he was busting out and we had to take him down?"

"Martin, you got a problem with that? If you do I need to know now before we begin," said the lead agent as he slipped his hand inside his jacket.

"No, no better them then us anyway. Well it's just that Pete back there owes me fifty bucks from the poker game the other night." Everyone in the vehicle laughed. "What? I need the money this little extra we make on the side doesn't cover all my expenses. I can't help it if my girlfriend has needs."

"Here take this," said the Agent as he pulled out his wallet and took out fifty bucks. "Here I'll cover Pete's poker debt for him considering everything it's the least I can do." Afterwards the rest of the guys started in on Martin about his girlfriend but suddenly their Boss told everyone to be quiet.

"Pipe down girls. The Tower just gave them permission to land on runway one. Everyone one look alive," said the Boss then he radioed the vehicle behind them to do the same. They all piled out of the cars and lined up by the hangar out of sight.

"Okay listen up this is the plan; the plane will be brought over to this hangar. Once the Lear is inside and powers down we go in. Make sure the bay doors are closed that way no one can get out without us seeing them. I will take the first group and board the plane."

"What do we do if he resists?" asked Pete and the men around him nodded their heads. "Does our mandate cover the use of deadly force?"

"We do what we have to do to take him in. But with the element of surprise on our side that won't happen just be prepared if it does and I've got your backs." Martin looked at the Boss as he lied through his teeth.

They watched the jet touch down coming in out of the dark. At first all they could see were its running lights then suddenly the bird appeared screaming down the runway. The plane followed the directional lighting towards a man in a yellow reflective vest who then directed them with illuminated directional batons. He led the bird into the nest.

"Okay here we go," said the lead agent. "I want the plane surrounded and get that ladder up beside on my mark we breech."

"Boss shouldn't we leave someone outside to cover the bay doors. Our flank is exposed?"

"No we need everyone we've got inside besides the prize is on the plane. Okay, on me now!"