Don't own Chuck

Chuck and Sarah pulled into the airport driving through the security checks until they arrived at their Lear. The weather was sunny and clear ideal for flying. Chuck met the ground crew the General had dispatched while Sarah took a call from Alex. She looked over at Chuck as he was helping the men unload the car and stow everything away. After they got everything put on board Chuck walked over to get her.

"Well, are you ready to get in the air? Everything is on board. Who was that on the phone," asked Chuck. He noticed Sarah had a look that said she wasn't happy. Naturally considering what had just happened at home he thought at first Sarah was having trouble leaving Sam. "We can make a video call from the plane once we get in the air."

"What? No, but thanks, that probably isn't a good idea. Sam would just get more confused than what she already is. No that was Alex. It looks like we've got two passengers we're supposed to wait for. Ryder is sending Julie and Roberta."

"Oh, I see now. You don't particularly like Roberta do you? Okay she had an affair but now she's back with her husband. He was a real tool and he did ignore her."

"You're quick to condemn him but it takes two to tango and it wasn't all his fault. Life is full of pretty faces but that doesn't mean you have to go chasing after them just because they smile. If she'll betray her husband how can I trust she won't betray her nation."

"You've got a good point," said Chuck. "We can't wait around all day for these people either. We're barely going to have time when we get there to make sure things are ready for the team. Does Beckman know about this?"

"Agent Carmichael," said one of the ground crew. They both turned to him. "Sorry, but well it doesn't matter which one answers I've got two women that were stopped at the gate. They say they're supposed to be flying with you. The guard stopped them because they weren't on any of his access lists nor were we told anything."

"Nor were we, but go ahead and let them through," said Sarah. Chuck shrugged his shoulders. "Sweetie, why don't you go and start our pre-flights while I greet our passengers?"

"Okay but don't throw them in the turbo. We still have to take off," said Chuck smiling. "I can see you're not in the mood. I'll be on board."

"I can't promise anything and I'm not in a mood," said Sarah. Chuck kissed her then climbed on board. As he disappeared inside a car pulled up and parked next to theirs.

"Sorry if we're late but we weren't sure what time you were planning to take off," said Roberta as one of the men from the ground crew took their bags out of the car then stowed them onboard.

"Well you're lucky we didn't know you were coming along until a little while ago. Whose idea was that?"

"Oh Ralph was told last night that you'd be going ahead of us and it seemed like a good idea. However, we realized there wasn't much time before the rest of the team arrived so he decided to send us along to help."

"Come along and let's go. I guess you two can work on logistics while we work on the security arrangements."

They boarded the Lear and took up seats. The 'fasten seat belt' signs came on as the turbos revved up and the jet began to move. Sarah was still standing as she looked over the two women making sure they were buckled in.

"You need to stay in your seats until we get in the air," said Sarah as the plane taxied out to the tarmac and got in line waiting their turn to take off. After making sure the women were set she turned to leave.

"But where's Chuck," asked Roberta looking around not seeing him.

"Who do you think is flying the plane? I'm going in the cockpit now. If you need anything we'll be in there. Just knock first. As an 'oh by the way', there's a full bar, snacks and sandwiches in the mini-bar. I hope you brought something to read because this is a long flight and we're not making any stops."

"Don't you need to refuel?" asked Julie. "I didn't know the Lear had that kind of range even with drop tanks."

"We'll be doing our refueling in mid-air. We've got a few appointments with some KC-135 Stratotankers," said Sarah. She could tell by the look on the woman's face she was worried. "Don't worry we've done this before."

"Sarah, I need you up here with me," radioed Chuck back to the cabin. "We've gotten permission to take off and we're next in line."

"You heard that ladies, I have to go. You can get up and move around as soon as the fasten seat belt sign goes off." With that Sarah left walking up forward disappearing behind the curtain.

"Are our paxs buckled in?" asked Chuck as Sarah climbed in. "We're up next. Do you want to take over?" asked Chuck as she smiled over at him.

"Do you have to ask," said Sarah. Chuck knew there was little that made Sarah feel better than flying and today she needed this. "Thank you," she said as she took hold of the yoke and pulled back on the throttle. The Lear responded by starting to roll down the runway picking up speed until she pulled back on the yoke and the plane lifted gently up gaining altitude. She banked right as Chuck put away the landing gear. Sarah communicated with the control tower who gave her final instructions then they were off across to the Dark Continent.

"Do you want me to turn off the fasten seat belt sign and let our paxs up," asked Chuck as he started to reach for the switch.

"I guess we could," said Sarah but Chuck stopped and left it on. "Why didn't you turn it off?"

"They kept us waiting to take off, we can keep them waiting to get up and move around," said Chuck as he smiled at her.

"You're mean but I like it."

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Alex wandered around the labs as the team prepared their equipment. Casey made another pass by the waterhole and scared away anyone who thought about shirking their work. She bumped into workers who were busy transport crates. One of the yelled 'make a hole' as he passed driving a forklift with a pallet. All was being piled on the heap that was to be trucked off later that evening to Travis where a Load Master would palletize and place it all on the giant C-17. As Alex was walking she came to a lab that was taped off curious she stopped a worker.

"Why's there security tape over that lab door? And isn't there anything inside that needs to be shipped?" asked Alex a worker who was pushing a palette on a dolly.

"I don't know we were just contracted to move loads. You need to ask someone who works here," said the man as he kept on pushing.

"He wouldn't know," said a man walking behind him. "Ross Jones," said the man as he shook Alex's hand. "That lab is taped off because that was where we lost two of our team. We lost two people in there to an accident… that place is kind of bad luck for us. There were plenty other labs so there was no need to ever use it again."

"No one's been in it since and you just left it the way it was?" said Alex. The building was large and even now there were empty rooms. "How long ago are we talking about?"

"A little less than a year but personally I think they left it like that so the government wouldn't have to pay to have it cleaned up. Some people have even talked about seeing ghosts."

"So what kind of accident are we talking about? You say two of your teammates were killed. That sounds kind of gruesome."

"There was no 'kind of' about it, it was. We were testing out a new theory about electromagnetic discharge when the charge suddenly rotated to the two men working in the lab. They were electrocuted immediately then the lab caught fire."

"I guess something like that devastated everyone and especially their families," said Alex. She didn't know why she was fishing but something piqued her interest.

"Well luckily they were single. The person who made out was Dr. Ryder," said Ross. Alex gave him a strange look so he clarified.

"One of the men killed was the original project head. When he was killed Ralph took his place with the blessing of Oscar. Oh you might not know him. Dr. Beech, he's our director and Ralph's school chum so as you can image he was Oscar's first choice even though technically he was the first in line anyway."

"You sound like you're trying to say he didn't really deserve the promotion."

"Well the truth is he's never managed anything in his life and he's part of the problem why we're behind on our data collecting. He's too busy trying to be every ones friend to tell them they need to get to work. But that's just me… You know I've never told anyone this. Please keep it to yourself I could get into trouble."

"Don't worry my lips are seal," said Alex as she crossed her heart. They both laughed.

"Well, I've got to get back to work or that other agent will threaten me with grave physical harm," said Ross as he laughed. "I bet he's a big teddy bear inside."

"You guessed it. He'd like nothing better than give you all a big bear hug," said Alex. And squeeze your guts out, she thought as Ross walked off.

Alex watched Ross disappear. Now she was dying with curiosity she had to take a look inside so she waited until everyone was gone or not looking. When the coast was clear she picked the lock and snuck into the sealed off lab.

The room had a musty stale odor of a place that had been closed for some time. She took out her flashlight and began looking around. On the floor were still the chalked outlines of the two men who were killed. Inside the outlines everything was black so Alex bent down and touched it, it felt like carbon. Then she noticed it. One of the shapes was a little different even odd. In what had to be the man's right hand was a white square. Whatever he had in his hand it didn't burn but left a white square.

"I wonder what that was," she said to herself as the lights came on in the room and security came running in with weapons drawn.

"Stand down," she heard her father yell as he pushed the rental cops out of his way with Dr. Ryder following in behind him.

"What are you doing in here? Wasn't the door locked? This lab is off limits to everyone and that means also to you people."

"Just give us some breathing room and step back," said Casey as he grabbed Dr. Ryder and pulled him away from Alex. "Give her a chance to talk."

"I'm sorry but I thought I saw someone inside and when I tried the door it opened. But when I came inside I found it empty. I thought it was probably just a rat or something at that point. But as I was leaving I noticed those chalked outlines then that strange square print in what must've been his hand."

"Well that was already looked into by campus security some time ago. You people are here to help get our gear shipped so I'd suggest we get back to it."

"Come on," said Casey as he ushered Alex out. "They've just about got their crap together and the NSA is sending in an eighteen wheeler to take it to Travis but it's not here yet so we have time for a coffee at the roach coach. I'm buying this time."

Casey led Alex out of the building and across the road to the roach coach. He got them both a black coffee so anyone watching wouldn't think anything. But he wanted to get her away from prying ears so he could find out what really was going on. He saw the same charred images on the floor and wondered what could reduce a man to ash.

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Mr. Robinson stepped off his African airlines flight into the capital city of Zamibia. The weather was hot and the sun bright. He had to immediately put on his sunglasses as he made his way to a bus that was waiting on the tarmac for international flights. Once the bus took off it ran him to the terminal where he waited in line to clear customs.

"Business or pleasure," said the customs agent as he checked Mr. Robinson's passport. The agent held it up next to him and looked at the picture.

"Pleasure," said Mr. Robinson as he noticed the agent fiddling with his passport. "That picture was taken a few years ago if that's what you're wondering."

"You should really get a new one. This picture is a little out of date," said the agent as he stamped it then passed it back.

"I will when I renew it as you can see it will be expiring soon," said Mr. Robinson as he took it back then moved along.

Old weatherworn passports didn't attract as much attention as new ones, especially if they had a number of stamps already in them which meant they'd already been checked numerous times before. The theory being if they'd already been checked why should I go to the trouble and if they were about to expire then they obviously had been around the block.

"Take me to the market," said Mr. Robinson as he got into a taxi. The taxi driver drove through town honking his horn at men on motorbikes to get them to move and at animals as they wandered across the road. There was no question in Mr. Robinson's head where he was but his home village in Iran wasn't much better. Poverty was the same worldwide.

"Stop here," said Mr. Robinson making the taxi driver pull over to the side of the road just a few yards from the market. "Keep the tip." He handed the driver a weeks' worth of money then got out.

Looking over his shoulder he cut through the market. At a certain point he doubled back and now sure he wasn't being followed he headed straight for their safe house. There he buzzed the door and gave the password. He was brought in then scanned for listening and tracking devices.

"We can't take any chances khosh amadid [welcome]," said a man who came down to meet him. "My name is Izad, Yousef.

"Merci, it's been so long since I've heard my name said that it sounds strange. So what's been going on while I've been in transit? Is everything still on track?"

"Follow me I've got tea in the other room. There we can sit down and talk in peace," said Izad. He led him into a room with a table and some chairs, the curtains were draw so the room was dark. "Please sit," said Izad as Yousef took a seat then he poured both of them jasmine tea.

"Very good," said Yousef as he sampled the tea. "Now brief me on what's been going on. Don't tell me Mr. Brown screwed things up?"

"No, no everything is on track; just the CIA is sending an advance party to the mission site. They should be landing soon so I've ordered everyone to pull back. The last thing we want is to spook them then they'll never bring us the chip."

"Very good, I concur," said Yousef as he sipped his tea. He could see right off the bat that Izad was going to be a problem and every opportunity he had he was going to challenge his authority.

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It was a twelve hour flight to Zamibia and it didn't seem like it was ever going to end. The rendezvouses with the KC-135s helped break up the monotony but anyway you looked at it, it was a long flight. Chuck and Sarah took turns dozing off. The person resting went back in the cabin but instead of sleeping the two women would start talking so sleeping became impossible.

"Are you asleep," asked Roberta as Chuck laid the seat back and closed his eyes. "I don't want to bother you but we were wondering if you could tell his how long before we land."

"We should be down in about three hours give or take a few minutes depending if the control tower puts us in a holding pattern. So now if you don't mind I'd like…" but Chuck never got out 'a little sleep'.

"Why do we have to land at Musaka and not go straight to the airfield outside of Yubala where we can go to the site."

"We have to stop so customs agents can clear our documents and the teams'. That way when they arrive they can go straight to the airfield in the North. We shouldn't be down for long then it's a short hop up."

Chuck laid there but now sleep wouldn't come. There was little point in just lying around so he grabbed two sandwiches then started to go back to the cockpit but as he was leaving he heard Julie tell Roberta.

"You know I ought to try and get some sleep before we land. But that Chuck kept me awake and now I don't feel sleepy." He held his tongue and left.

"You're back already," said Sarah as she took her sandwich from him. "Thanks. What's the matter you couldn't sleep?"

"Something like that," said Chuck as he put the 'fasten seat belt' sign on. 'That would teach them,' thought Chuck as he bit into his sandwich. "We can't depressurize the cabin can we?" Sarah smiled over at him. "It was just a thought."

They finished their sandwiches as the sun arched over the horizon. They were still a couple hours out and Chuck looked tired so Sarah volunteered to go make coffee.

"Let me put the Lear on autopilot. I'll go back and make us some coffee," said Sarah as she got up caressed his face then kissed him.

"That would be great," said Chuck as he took the seat belt sign off. "Make mine strong, I think I'm going to need it." He watched Sarah disappear back in the cabin just then General Beckman came on the monitor.

"General, I… I mean we weren't expecting you to call until after we landed. We're still a couple hours out. Sarah's back in the cabin I can call her up front.

"No, that's not necessary," said the General. "You can relay this. I'm going to brief Casey as soon as I'm done with you. I'm calling to give you a new development in that attack on you two."

"Have you been able to track Carlos and his gang? He's probably across the border by now. Maybe if we send a team into Mexico they could smoke him out?"

"No Chuck he's not in Mexico a few hours ago one of our agents leaving the downtown site was taken. A review of CCTV feeds shows Carlos and some of his men kidnapping the agent. I no longer think you were the target."

"If we weren't General then who was?" asked Chuck some things just didn't add up. "Why would Carlos target a random agent leaving the dark site?"

"Exactly, I think Carlos was targeting the agency not any specific agents. You two happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Well that's good," said Chuck as the General gave him a look. "I didn't mean it was good that the agent was taken but that it's good that we weren't targeted or not. General, I'm just a little tired I haven't been able to sleep so just ignore me."

"I try… right well keep me posted as you proceed. Ryder's team has their gear stowed on a C-17 and should be taking off momentarily. You have about a day to get everything lined up. Beckman out."

Back in the cabin….

Sarah went back in the cabin and as soon as she walked past the curtain the two women hushed up. Obviously they were talking about them. Sarah ignored them and went about her business but Chuck's idea about depressurizing the cabin was looking better and better. She took out bottled water and poured it into the coffee machine then dropped a capsule. She placed a cup under and soon one cup was done.

"Excuse me but when you get done could you show us how the coffee machine works," asked Julie. "I know it sounds funny with the jobs we do but coffee machines are just not my thing."

"You've got the same machine in your break room. I saw it," said Sarah. "Don't tell me you've never learned how to use it?"

"Well the truth is we've only been on the team for about a year," said Roberta. "We got brought on board after the accident."

This was new; no one had mentioned any accident before. Not that they had to but it would be interesting to find out more and maybe get to understand the group dynamics within the team.

"What accident? Tell me more," said Sarah as she passed Julie Chuck's coffee.