Don't own Chuck

The weather was brisk in DC with a little early morning fog coming in off the Potomac. Senator Greene was picked up early and driven into her new office at the Capitol. She felt butterflies in her stomach waiting for word from her private secretary Ms. Bloom since the early morning hours and getting none. She had tried a few times to call her but all her calls went to straight to voice mail which was not a good sign.

"Good Morning Senator," said her Chief of Staff greeting her as she got out of her limo then walked with her to the elevator riding it up to their floor. "We need to talk; Senator Daniels called to say he was mixing up the hearings for the sub-committee. Friday won't work for him to have the Director deposed. He's moving it up to tomorrow."

"Can he do that without asking and why," asked Agnes. She was always used to getting her way. Now she had someone changing her schedule on her and she didn't like it compounded with the fact that she couldn't get in touch with Miss Bloom. Her stress factor was high.

"Yes he can. He's the Chairman of the sub-committee so he decides who to hear and when. He did us a favor by agreeing to your… I think he used the term fishing expedition only because if you nail the Director it looks good for the whole committee which translates to him."

"Fishing expedition was that what he called it. Well we'll see about that okay tomorrow is fine by me. Call the Director to notify him the day change in the afternoon. I suppose if I fall on my face then it's on me."

"Naturally but that isn't going to happen, right but this change of date won't give the Director much time to prepare," said her Chief of Staff as he caught her look. "Oh, I see that's the intention. I'll see to it. Oh you asked why he moved the date. Well, word has it that there's some big party meeting he had to attend."

"And why wasn't I invited, he and I are in the same party. Look into it and see if my invitation didn't get lost in the mail."

"Yes Ma'am I will," said the man as he began to write notes for himself on his tablet. As he sync'd the schedule with the rest of her staff they walked in. The first thing she noticed her secretary's empty desk.

"What time is it? Am I really early or is Ms Bloom late?" She said in a sarcastic tone of voice. Everyone in the office just kept their heads down.

"No Ma'am, you're on time according to your schedule. Ms. Bloom is late but you know she's not used to this office yet and getting here isn't like driving to the Pentagon where they've got parking. The first few days are a bear but I'm sure she'll be in soon. On your desk you'll find a cup of coffee and the Washington Post."

"Thanks, let me know as soon as Ms. Bloom gets in I have some private correspondence I need to get out and I need to talk to her about punctuality new office or not."

"Yes Ma'am but I can assist you if it's sensitive or I can send Frank our intern in if you don't want to wait."

"No this is something she's handled for me before so she knows what needs to be done and who to contact. Thanks just the same now you can go and close the door behind you." She smiled and waited for him to close the door then as soon as he was gone she pulled out her phone.

"Crap Bloom where are you," she said as the call when to voice mail again. She hung up then dropped the phone back in her purse. Bloom had all the contact numbers in Hydra so she was in the dark until she could reach her.

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Casey and Roan had finished up searching Bloom's residence and as he thought she had another one across the road under the alias Alicia Flowers to stay within the floral theme. But she was long gone by the time they found it and was in the wind. Now they were headed back to Chuck's Georgetown townhouse.

"This is ridiculous, absolutely absurd," said Casey talking to himself. Roan looked over at him like he was crazy.

"I agree with you even if I don't know what's ridiculous, absolutely absurd. John, do you want to clue me in?"

"Sarah, sitting back in Burbank mad at Chuck for going off and leaving her. The man did it for his family she ought to appreciate that. He did what he was supposed to do. I was there with him in the mountains and it was no cake walk."

"Well, if you look at from her perceptive he could've found the time to call and tell her he was alive and okay. I think it's only natural for her to be angry."

"Alive yes but okay, I don't know about that. No this has gone on too long," said Casey as he pulled out his phone and dialed putting it on speaker. The phone rang then went to voice mail. "Sarah this is John get your butt on a plane and get here or I'm on the next plane to drag you back. Have a nice day."

"You know if ever I need to prepare speech I'll call you for help. Your command of the English language is amazing."

"Shut up," said Casey as his phone rang. It was Sarah calling him back. "See that's how you get results. Did you get my message?"

"Yes John, I'm here with Sam. We just landed in Dulles can you swing by and pick us up? I can rent a car if can't."

"No we'll be there in half an hour. Does Chuck know you're here or are you planning on surprising him?"

"I haven't decided yet… I don't know what we're doing. I was thinking about getting a hotel room actually..."

"Don't be stupid. Hydra made a move against Chuck this morning and if they find out you're here they'll come after the both of you. No stay put we'll get you and take you to the safe house."

"Maybe you're right I've waited long enough Chuck and I need to talk this out. We'll be waiting in the Starbucks here."

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As tired a Chuck was he couldn't sleep in the bed so he got up and went downstairs. Morgan left to get some groceries at a nearby market. Chuck drew him a map to avoid cameras, he didn't want to take any risks that Hydra find out about where he was staying. The house was owned by a Carmichael Industries shell cooperation for executives who visited the capital on business. Chuck put some music on. He found a CD by Nina Simone then laid down on the sofa and was soon fast asleep.

"Where am I," asked Chuck realizing that he was probably dreaming then Banai appeared walking up to him waving for him to follow.

"Hurry up or you'll be late. Follow me we need to get to the butcher's before he sells out. If you're late you'll have to stand in the back.

"Stand in the back? Butcher's? Banai this is the airport there's no butcher's shop in the airport. Where are you taking me?"

"Of course there is, don't you remember I promised you ten minutes with the rabbits before… well you know what."

"No I don't. I can't take Sam back a real rabbit she's too little. We travel too much to keep up with pets and it wouldn't be right."

"Here we are. What do you think?" said Banai as he handed Chuck one. It was all white with big eyes, cuddly and warm. In the cage was another one completely black that looked at him and twitched its nose.

"Okay they're cute and everything but I can't take them with me," said Chuck as he handed Banai back the rabbit. "Like I said I can't take it back with me."

"Too bad," said Banai as he handed it to a man with a bloody apron. The man had a bloody cleaver in the one hand carrying the cage with both rabbits in the other.

"Wait, what's he going to do with them?" asked Chuck realizing this was the butcher. The man turned to walk away.

"What do you care? You had your ten minutes," said Banai as Chuck watched the man with the rabbits disappear into darkness.

"No Banai I changed my mind I'll take them. I'll take both of them," pleaded Chuck but instead he heard the sound of the cleaver. Two loud whacks then there was a low voice that got louder. At first he couldn't make it out then it got louder. It was a Russian lullaby. Baby, baby, rock-a-bye / on the edge you mustn't lie / or the little grey wolf will come / and will nip you on the tum, / tug you off into the woods.

While Chuck slept Morgan went out to get groceries. On the way back he stopped and grabbed some Chinese takeaway. He walked back to the brownstone to find Chuck fast asleep on the sofa so he let him sleep while he put things away. An alarm went off when the garage door opened so he quickly went to turn it off before it woke Chuck up.

"Casey you could've given us a head's up you were going to be late our Chinese is a little cold," Morgan said into the intercom. Casey just made a fist. Then he saw Sarah get out with Sam in the monitor.

"Chuck wake up," yelled Morgan. He ran over to shake him as Sarah came in with Casey holding Sam and Roan bringing up the rear. "Hey Buddy wake up." Morgan started to shake Chuck but he startled him.

"Bayu-bayushki-bayu, Nye lozhisya na krayu, Pridyot serenkiy volchok I ukhvatit za bochok. On ukhvatit za bochok I potashchit vo lesok, Pod rakitovyi kustok," said Chuck as he pulled a boot knife throwing Morgan to the floor he held it to his throat.

"Stoj! Stop," yelled Sarah. Chuck looked over at her then looked down at Morgan who was shaking like a leaf. Then he realized what he was about to do.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Morgan but you startled me and I guess I just over reacted," said Chuck as he put the knife away then helped Morgan up.

"Morgan, are you okay," said Sarah as she went over to look at him. She took a paper handkerchief from her purse and put it on the small cut he had on his neck. "Here hold this here and put pressure until it stops bleeding."

"I'm so sorry Morgan," said Chuck. "I don't know what came over me."

"Dude, you cut me that's so not cool," said Morgan as Sarah looked at his wound. Chuck went over to Casey and Roan but he really wanted to hold Sam.

"Hey it's me. I'm back Sam like I promised do you want me to hold you?" asked Chuck as he held his arms out.

"No, you're bad you hurt Morgan," said Sam as she turned away from him.

"We were playing and it was an accident. Will you look at me?" asked Chuck. Sam had buried her face in Casey's shoulder. "I've missed you a lot did you miss me?" He got no answer and for him it was like someone shoved a knife through his heart.

"Is there a first aid kit here," asked Sarah. "Morgan wants his wound disinfected. Well he can explain."

"Gez Chuck you could've killed me. How do I know what you've done with that thing? How many other people have you…"

"Grimes pipe down. Chuck, you should've slash the throat first cutting the voice box so you don't have to hear them complain afterwards."

"There should be something in the downstairs bathroom off the living room on the right. Roan the bar is in the living room and it's fully stocked."

"You're a gentleman and a scholar. Amazing you can read my mind."

"It's not that hard," said Casey as Roan and Morgan walked away then he turned to Chuck and Sarah. "Why don't you two go upstairs? I'll handle everything down here. Come on squirt let's go back out to the car and get your rabbits." The mention of the word rabbit made Chuck nauseous. He grabbed his stomach and leaned against the table.

"Are you okay," asked Sarah as she put her hand on his head to see if he had a fever. The nausea went away with her touch.

"I'm all good. It's nothing I'm still just a little jetlagged. I have no idea what time it is anymore." Sarah wasn't buying it so she took him upstairs where they could be by themselves.

"Chuck sit," she said as she pushed him to sit on the edge of the bed. "I know your 'all goods' and that was not a real 'all good'."

"Okay, it was a fake 'all good'. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do. I'm flying blind here I love you but I feel I'm drowning and I don't know how to swim in these waters."

"I'm sorry but Chuck I'm mad at you. I won't lie to you this hasn't been easy you did exactly what your father did and what you said you'd never do. Didn't you tell me you never wanted to be like him?"

"I had to or don't you get that? There was no other choice. I had to keep you safe and if the price of keeping you safe was you getting mad at me… well at least you'd be safe."

"But we're married Chuck. You don't get to decide what's good for me without talking to me. We talk these things over and decide together not you running off leaving me to worry if you're alive or dead. I understand why you did it and I'm mad at myself for being mad at you but I can't help it."

"I understand…"

"No you don't because I don't understand and I really wish you'd stop being so… well understanding it makes me even madder. I want to scream, I want to yell but that won't help and what's with the Russian," said Sarah as she noticed his scar.

"I don't know, just I've been speaking it a lot lately," said Chuck as she examined it. "I know Morgan already made a comment about it."

"Chuck, when this is over you need another physical. There's no way taking a blow that left this and falling off that balcony that you didn't hurt yourself."

"I'll do whatever you want but first we have to finish this. You and Sam can have this bedroom. Casey and Morgan can have the guest bedroom. Roan will probably go over to Diane's later. I can camp out on the sofa," said Chuck but Sarah didn't disagree. "Well then I'll give Casey a hand down below."

"Chuck, I'm sorry…"

"Why? You've got nothing to be sorry about," he said as he left wiping his tears before he headed down below.

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It was late afternoon and Ms. Bloom hadn't shown for work. Greene wanted to call down to the Sergeant of Arms office to see if the mission that morning had gone as planned but to do that would mean tipping her hand. The senator spent the whole day walking around in her office trying to read different law proposals she was supposed to vote on but she was having difficulty in reading so she just set everything aside.

"It's late so I think I'm going to call it a day," said the Senator as she walked past the empty desk where her secretary was supposed to be sitting.

"I'll call and get you a driver to come to take you home," said the Chief of Staff as he picked up the phone.

"No, I'll catch a cab from out front. There are a few places I want to go to before I go home and the limo sticks out like a sore thumb."

"Oh I get it… But might I advise you to be careful. This town lives for gossip and the last thing you need right now are any rumors flying around about you. Especially, since you're an appointee and not an elected official yet."

"What's that supposed to mean? I'm a senator just like every other senator out on the floor and my vote is as good as theirs."

"Don't get angry with me but some senators look down on appointees until they've run the gauntlet as they put it in a general election."

"Let me guess my Chairman, Senator Daniels is one of them."

"I think if it were up to him you'd all have 'appointee' placed before your title just to make him and people like him feel superior."

"I'm sure he does," she said as she left. As she took the elevator down, she considered having Bloom call Hydra. Daniels was becoming an obstruction to her career that needed to be removed.

She walked out of the Capitol building then down to the taxi stand. There she grabbed one and took it over to Bloom's apartment but as she pulled up she noticed a car parked across the street with two men in it.

"I changed my mind can you just run me home," said the Admiral as she lean back in the seat trying not to be seen. She didn't know who the two men were but she didn't want to take any risks remembering the advice of her Chief of Staff. She gave the cab driver her address and he took her home. On the way she pulled out her phone and called her office.

"Senator Greene's office, how may I be of assistance," said her intern Frank. He sounded perky and bright considering how late it was getting.

"This is your Boss is my Chief of Staff still in?" she asked half expecting him to have gone home by now.

"One second Ma'am and I'll patch you through," said Frank the line clicked and her Chief of Staff came on the line.

"I'm impressed," said the Senator. "At my last job as soon as I hit the door everyone else filed out in order of rank."

"What can I say ma'am we aim to please," said the man but the truth was he was at home. Frank the intern slave was left to man the office and forward all calls to his home. "What can I do for you?"

"Did you notify the Director about tomorrow and how did he take the fact that the date was moved up on him?"

"Well, I talked with his secretary Connie who said she'd relay the message. I asked for confirmation which I got in the form of an e-mail which I thought was just rude."

"Well he's probably just pissed which is good that's how I want him to be tomorrow when he's testifying. Thanks and tell everyone to go home," she said as she hung up. "Good, good those men outside were probably Hydra people but why?" The only thing she could think of scared her.

"Crap, what if she's been turned?" she mumbled to herself. "If that were the case Hydra would take care of her or would they cut their losses by taking them both out."

"Ma'am, we're here," announced the Cab driver as he pulled off to the side of the street to let her out.

"Sorry I was just thinking. How much do I owe?"

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Now outside the Admiral/Senator Greene's Washington two story townhouse. It was late and the weather was turning nasty as a cold front moved through and it began to rain. Chuck and Sarah sat in a dark sedan down an alleyway where they could keep an eye on everyone coming and going. Casey had the back covered from a roof top perch looking down through the scope of his rifle.

"How's it going up there John," radioed Chuck. They heard the first crack of thunder. "Do you see anything yet?

"No nothing, I hope you're right. I'd hate to think we stayed up all night for nothing. You should be asleep tomorrow is your big day."

"John, I'm fine and I'll be fine tomorrow. Just try to stay dry up there," said Chuck as a joke. He looked over at Sarah and she shook her head.

"You keep saying you're fine but you're not and we both know it. What's up with carrying a knife now anyway?"

"Almost every male carries a knife where I was and I guess I just forgot to get rid of it. I should get out and have a look around."

"So I guess you got your ten minutes," asked Sarah realizing what Chuck was trying to do. "What else did you and your new friend do?"

"New friend I think is an exaggeration but he yes he gave me my ten minutes then he showed me around the airport. They had a butcher's shop in the airport can you believe it and there was a dead pig that someone shot and two rabbits they hung. It was disgusting. They hung them then yanked on them to break their necks. It's something I don't want to ever see again. Then we had jasmine tea. The tea was excellent I brought some back for you. Banai had to leave me with one of his men because he got recalled. He executed Ryder and Shepherd without authorization so you can imagine his people weren't too happy with him."

"Did you see the execution," asked Sarah. "You were there when they were… How did they execute them? Firing squad?"

"They were hung but I wasn't there… I… I saw them in the morgue. Yes that's where I must've seen them. I know they're dead if that's what you're asking. I need to make that run," said Chuck as he got out in a down pour. Sarah watched him walk away.

"Casey, I've got us on a private channel. Did you just hear what Chuck told me about the butcher shop in the airport?"

"Yes, I did and I hate to tell you this but when we picked him up I met that man Banai left him with, Aron. He took me on a tour of the airport after I told him I had been there before and… well… there's no butcher's shop."

"I was afraid of that. Casey switch back Chuck's coming we need to talk later I want to hear what you know about what happened in Iran."

"Is something wrong with your radios?" said Chuck as he got into the car. "I've been trying to raise both of you. We've got a problem there's a van of Hydra agents parked at the end of the street. It looks like they're waiting too."