Don't own Chuck

Chuck and Sarah made their way down to Castle through Orange Orange doing the magic act as the workers in the yoghurt shop had come to call it. But the pay was better than most fast food joints plus they had health benefits so it paid to look the other way. No other yoghurt place though required a full background check before getting hired. The workers were told this was necessary to keep trade secrets safe. Whatever the reason the money and hours were good for part-time high school students and Sarah was always on the lookout for girls who came from difficult families to hire.

"Did you hire another girl," asked Chuck as they walked down to Castle. "We have too many workers as it is. How are you going to work in a new one?"

"You're talking about Joan. Mindy came to me telling me about Joan and when I checked her out I found out she needed the job. But I thought you told me I could run Orange Orange on my own which means if I want to over hire it's my problem."

"No you're right I said that. I'm sorry if I butted in I was just concerned that you weren't being taken advantage of."

"Chuck, Sweetie, who do you think you're talking to? Once you know all the cons you'll never be a sucker. I'm still Jack Burton's daughter."

"Yes you are," said the General from the monitor. Sarah put away her ice cream sliding it behind the monitor as Chuck took a napkin and handed it to her pointing at the corner of her mouth. "I hope you two remember our deal because I'm going to have to call it in."

"I had no doubt this day would come so what have you got? We're ready for anything. Well when I say anything I don't mean anything I mean there are some things we're not ready for but in general, General we're ready," said Chuck as Beckman raised her eyebrow. "Okay now would be a good time to shut up."

"Yes it would. As I was saying I have a mission I believe you two are uniquely qualified for. You made a good impression of Director Beech…"

"Well we aim to please General," said Chuck interrupting the General. She started thumping on her desk giving him a look. "Right, shutting up again."

"Hopefully we can finish today if you don't mind Chuck. Well as I was saying you made a good impression in Pasadena, less with me right now… anyway they want you two to join a team they have going to Zamibia. I won't lie to you, this is a babysitting mission. Your job is to escort the team in country, make sure they're safe and return them to Pasadena hopefully in the same condition they were in when they left."

"What kind of mission are they going on and is it dangerous or do I need to bring some of Sam's extra diapers along?"

"Very funny Sarah, a remark like that I would've expected from Chuck but not a seasoned operative such as yourself," said the General. "Need I remind you why we made this deal to begin with?"

"No General, Sarah didn't mean anything by that. What she was trying to say or better what we were trying to say was should we bring Sam along or leave her with Emma?"

"Oh I'm sorry I thought… well I can't tell you what to do with your daughter but no I wouldn't recommend bringing her. She'd need an injection for yellow fever and then she'd have to take an antimalarial all of which you two have already been inoculated against."

"General, you still haven't told us what this team is supposed to be doing in Africa and when are we supposed to leave?"

"All that you can find out when you drive down to meet Dr. Ryker today. He's the project head and is expecting you. He'll introduce you to the rest of the team so if there are no other questions?"

"One quick one, will it just be the two of us going or will we be able to take the rest of the team," asked Chuck. Casey was shaking his head no from behind the monitor waving his hand across his throat telling them he didn't want to go.

"No they asked for just you two so that's who I'm sending, Grimes needs to stay close to the Buy More to maintain both his and your covers and the Colonel, well the Colonel I think would scare the natives if you know what I mean. Beckman out."

"Scare the natives? What was up with that? And Big Guy? Since when don't you want to go on mission especially to Africa, the land of big game hunting?"

"Are you crazy? This is a mission from hell. Think about it having to baby sit a group of eggheads in the jungle. You know one of them is going to wander off and get lost. There will be at least two who will be constantly asking are we there yet. Then at least half will go skinny dipping in crocodile infested waters. I'd end up having to hurt one of them."

"Sounds like my summer camp. Well without the crocodiles but the guys went skinny dipping then used leaves to dry off… just the leaves turned out to be poison Ivy."

"Need I say more," said Casey as he walked away shaking his head.

"Sweetie Casey's right these are your people. That's why they wanted you because you speak their language, nerd. Think of this like nerd herding but at the doctorate level."

"Oh you guys are exaggerating it won't be that bad. Anyway I guess we'll find out. We should be going the I-5 could still be a bear at this time of day."

Sarah and Chuck left out the back grabbing Sarah's Lotus. She figured she could make better time and she just preferred driving it. But as Chuck thought, the traffic was still backed up due to construction and the morning rush. As they were driving, Sarah looked over at Chuck as he stared out the windshield.

"Thanks for the save back with the General. You knew I was being… well sarcastic when I mentioned the diapers."

"I realized that. If nothing else, Sam is potty trained and I get that babysitting a group of nerds isn't going to be much fun especially for you."

"What does that mean? I'm sorry that came out too harsh. You have to know I left the Secret Service not just because of that incident but also I'm not much of a babysitter."

"You could've fooled me. You did a good job with me and if I'm still here in one piece it's because of you," he said as she put his arm around her.

"Well with you, Chuck it was never really like babysitting. It was like we formed our team right from the beginning you, Casey and me then we added Morgan then Alex but it's… I don't know how to describe it."

"I can. It's called family."

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An old Buick Estate station wagon made its way up through Angeles National Forest taking Angeles Crest highway then turned driving up Mount Lukens Truck trail until it reached the Paul Little picnic area. It pulled over beside a black four wheel Range Rover, a vehicle more at home in this terrain. A nervous man got out looked around he acted much like the squirrels that scurried about. Satisfied the coast was clear he opened the door of the Range Rover and got inside.

"What news do you have," asked the man inside with a heavy Middle Eastern accent. "I was surprised you called after everything that happened with your colleague. I was about to leave town, our operation here is being shut down. If you're worried about Kasper he knows to keep his mouth shut."

"Good, that had been bothering me but I thought you would want to know we got approval to do our testing today."

"Well congratulations professor that should be good for you," said the man as he gave a weak round of applause. "But I don't see how that will do us any good we still have to get the chip out of country and as I said we're being recalled."

"You don't understand Mr. Robinson," Robinson was a made up name the same as when Mr. Robinson called him professor. It was a way to avoid using names. But the professor was about to drop the bombshell.

"Mr. Robinson, we're going to test in Zamibia. You don't have to worry about how to smuggle the chip out because it will be shipped out of country for you."

"I knew you were a smart boy," said Mr. Robinson as he patted the nervous scientist on the cheek. "Yes that changes everything. Here take this," said the man as he handed the professor a burner phone. "As soon as you know the details call me. I'll find some way to contact you in Africa I just need details."

"Well one thing I can tell you is my boss has asked for special security. They're sending the same ones two people who smoked out Nash. Rumor has it they're with Blackwater so you need to be careful. Speaking of being careful, I need to get back because we're supposed to all have lunch together to get to know one another."

"Then you need to get back," said Mr. Robinson but the professor sat there then cleared his throat making a sign with his hand. "Oh I understand but I didn't bring much with me. All I have is two grand."

"That will be enough until you can get me more. Your Vet friend cost me a lot of money I have to pay back and my creditors don't like late payments."

"I understand. Well one thing good about going to Africa, they won't be able to get at you and when everything is done your position will change. They won't touch you then."

"No they won't. I'll call you with the details as soon as I know them," said the professor. He got out then got back into his Buick and drove off. Testing the suspension of the old car as it bounced down the truck trail. As soon as he was gone Mr. Robinson leaned forward to talk to his driver.

"You can put your piece back in the glove box. Call back and have them take the hit off on the professor. We don't want him killed just yet. At least not until we get the information he promised us."

"And that deal you made with him," said the man as he put the Beretta he had lying on the passenger seat away. "What about the money he'll make off this deal and how he'll be safe afterwards?"

"What deal? What promise? I told him his position would change and it will. He'll go from vertical to horizontal and these people he owes money to won't be able to touch him when he's dead. The professor has no idea how this game is played. Now let's drive to Mexico the shop is almost set up on the other side of the border."

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After everyone cleared out of Castle, Casey went back to the Armory and began pulling out weapons he wanted to take to the range. With Chuck and Sarah out for the day and Morgan upstairs he was going to take Alex out to the range to do a little practice fire. He promised her they'd work on her sniper skills. Then afterwards Kat was supposed to meet them for a nice picnic almost like a real family. But as he was packing things up General Beckman came on the monitor.

"Colonel Casey, are you by yourself in Castle. I called you in the armory so we could have a private conversation." Already he didn't like this. It was never good when she wanted to talk alone.

"Yes General, I am but not for long. Alex is supposed to meet me and we're going out to work on her firearms qualification."

"I see but isn't she already small arms qualified? I thought I remember reading that in one of your reports," said the General as she started sifting through stacks of paper.

"Yes ma'am she is but we're working on her sniper qualifications today. That is unless you have something you'd rather for me to do? In that case we can put it off," said Casey although he really didn't want to but duty was duty and when duty calls.

"Yes I'm afraid you're going to have to. You see we've got Kasper Mokri at our downtown black ops site but he's not being very cooperative."

"I see you want me to go down and have a chat with him. I can tell Alex we can do this a little later. It's not a problem and I don't think it'll take long," said Casey as he cracked his knuckles

"I want Agent McHugh to go the black ops site," said the General. This changed everything for Casey and sat him afloat in a sea of doubt.

"General with all due respect I'd prefer to handle this alone. There's no reason Agent McHugh need come with me." Casey really didn't want Alex to see what he'd have to do to Kasper. It was something a daughter shouldn't see her father do."

"No Colonel you don't understand I want her to interrogate him not you. That's a qualification I believe you've over looked in her training and as of right now Kasper isn't talking. Our people have been quite persuasive but he has continued to refuse to cooperate so I'm willing to think out of the box on this one."

"If you don't want me then why don't we wait until Chuck and Sarah come back from Pasadena and let Chuck try to get him to talk? He found the mole and he's good at crawling up in your head," Casey added under his breath, "and making you want to kill him."

"What did you say; the audio here went low for a second? Major I think my monitor is going out. You need to get a tech in here."

"I said 'it would be thrill for him'. You know Chuck has this natural knack for interrogation," said Casey while he thought, 'yeah natural alright, natural knack for pissing you off'.

"No they're in Pasadena for the day and then they have to get ready for mission. There's just not enough time. If you want you can escort her to the site and observe but I'm giving this task to her. My mind is made up so if there's nothing else. Beckman out."

Casey thought about calling Sarah to ask her how she felt the first time she had to extract intel. But the old Sarah was a sociopath and snipping off appendages… well there was a reason she was Langston Graham's enforcer. Plus she was with Chuck and might not want to get into it with him next to her.

"Dad, are you ready? I called Mom and she's packing extra sandwiches. I kind of invited Morgan along too I hope you don't mind and for once try not to threaten to kill him."

"Sure no problem," said John still distracted in his thoughts. "I'm glad you invited him. Alex we need to talk."

"Are feeling okay? You're kind of freaking me out right now what's going on. I was sure you'd come up with some excuse why I couldn't invite Morgan starting with it wouldn't be safe for him at the firing range because he's a bullet magnet."

"That's true but I can always use the lead for sinkers," said John. Now that was the quip she expected. But there was something else.

"Dad what is it? Is there something wrong you don't want to tell me? Are you leaving on mission with Chuck and Sarah? Morgan told me they had some sort of secret operation going on?"

"Grimes, has a big mouth. No, I'm not but we're going to have to put off our trip to the firing range. That Iranian terrorist we captured, Beckman wants us to get him to talk."

"By getting him to talk you mean… get him to talk. Okay I can deal with this I'd just prefer not to watch you talk with him. If you know what I mean."

"No you don't understand, Beckman wants you to talk with him. Listen I'll be with you and help walk you through this. Afterwards we can go do that picnic with your mother and Morgan."

"Just like any other normal American family."

"Just like anyone else."

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Chuck and Sarah drove on Campus. They knew their way around from their previous visit. Driving over to the same windowless building they pulled into the visitor parking lot. There outside were two men waiting for them. The one man they knew Dr. Beech and the other one they could only guess was Dr. Ryder. They pulled in and Dr. Beech did the introductions.

"Nice car," said Ryder as he admired Sarah's Lotus. Chuck hoped that was all he admired or he'd have to tell Diane he couldn't promise he'd return everyone in the same condition.

"Right," said Chuck. "So what can you tell us about this mission? Our boss was a little vague as to the details. All we know is we're supposed to go to Africa with you guys."

"Yes to Zamibia with Dr. Ryder and his team. I'll leave you three to talk over the details. I've lined up a C-130 out of Travis for the day after tomorrow. Ralph knows he needs to get his equipment ready and at the staging area by tomorrow. If you need me I'll be in my office if not have a safe trip."

"Thanks Oscar," said Ralph as he led Chuck and Sarah through campus to another non-descript building. Once inside they could see everyone was scurrying about. "Well my people are working right now so they don't have much free time to socialize. I've organized a late lunch or early dinner at Roy's. I'd like for you two to come so I can introduce you to everyone."

"Who did you tell everyone we were? Do they know us from the last time we were here," asked Sarah but in a place like this it would be difficult to keep that kind of information quiet.

"I told them you two would come along as security consultants. I didn't think you'd want me to banter about the organization you work for. But yes everyone knows you were the people who flushed out Harvey. Too bad about him though, he owed me fifty bucks."

"Yes, well if anyone asks we're with Carmichael Industries security consultants contracted by the government."

"You mean like Blackwater? I don't know some of our people might have a problem with that. How to put it…" But Sarah cut him off.

"They'll get over it and besides it might just give us credibility so when we tell them to jump they jump. In what part of Zamibia are we going to set up shop?"

"Here we are," said Dr. Ryder as he opened the door to a large storeroom already filled with crates and more being added by the minute.

"I think you're going to need a bigger plane," said Sarah. The C-130 was a big plane but they had way too much stuff. "You need to tell Dr. Beech he needs to ask for a C-17 and you still haven't told me were in Zamibia we'll be operating."

"Oh yes you asked where we'd be operating out of. There's a facility on the edge of Whsumbu National Park close to Lake Victoria near Yubala. There's an airstrip the Zamibian Air Force used to use we'll set do there. Oscar will have vehicles waiting then we'll move to the test site. Sarah flashed but Chuck didn't.

Chuck wasn't listening, his attention was grabbed when he began reading the labels on the crates. As he read them he walked around the pile not noticing he was wandering off. Now he was standing on the other side with Sarah and Dr. Ryder on the opposite.

"Hey you can't be here," said a man as he walked in escorting some workers with another crate. "This is a restricted area. Who let you in?" Chuck didn't answer because he flashed looking at the label on the crate the man brought in. "Hey buddy I'm talking to you," said the man as one of the workers grabbed Chuck… mistake. Chuck flashed again. He rotated his arm under then over the worker's arm popping it off his shoulder like he just shrugged. Both workers started for him but Chuck did a low sweep taking the first man's legs out from under him sending him down on the ground with a loud thud. Then the other worker tripped falling on top of his friend.

"What's going on," yelled Ralph as he and Sarah came running around to see two of their workers lying on top of each other trying to get up.

"Chuck stand down. Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

"No I'm sorry but I kind of reacted when your guys grabbed me. You could call it a tick I have. I'm truly sorry," said Chuck as he helped the men up. "I hope you're both okay."

"Holter these are our security consultants," said Dr. Ryder as he gave the other man a look. "This is Dr. Shepherd a member of our team. You'll get to know him better at Roy's. You are going to join us?"

"Yes and I'm sorry about the misunderstanding but after that thing with Harvey… Well I've been… I guess we've all been a little paranoid about our work here. So you guys are our Blackwater?"

"No I'm the one who should apologize," said Chuck being polite but the jury was still out on how he felt about Dr. Shepherd. "I should've answered you when you challenged me but I was lost in my thoughts. I was trying to figure out what you're doing with all this stuff. Blackwater? No, we're not with them."

"Well that's the rumor floating around. You have to excuse me but I've got to get back to work to meet our deadline and Ralph just to let you know I don't know if everyone is going to make to Roy's. I heard some of guys and gals complain about either making your dinner or finishing packing."

"We still don't know what you guys are going to Africa to do?" said Sarah wondering what all the secrecy was about then she caught Chuck's signal. He knew something.

"I'll explain at dinner," said Ralph. With that Chuck and Sarah left, there was no use in hanging around watching Dr. Ryder's team work. They had the rest of the morning and afternoon to kill so they called Emma and Jack making arrangements to meet up with everyone in the Zoo for lunch.

"Chuck, now that we're out of there we need to compare notes," said Sarah as she got on the I-5 heading towards the Orange County Zoo.

"Yes I flashed in the warehouse."

"So did I."