Don't own Chuck

Sarah rolled over to her left as she fired with her right taking out two attackers then she got to her feet and tried to make it back to the tree line. However, she found her retreat was cut off by more men advancing. They engaged her and she returned fired. Running out of ammo she grabbed one of the men's Type 56 and returned fire. Quickly she realized they were trying to circle her but in the rain and dark they were having as much of a problem as she was trying to see. She kept running until her sides ached and then it happened she slipped in the mud falling down. When she tried to get back up she found one of her assailants standing over her smiling as he pointed his Chinese knock-off type 56 at her. She felt around in the mud for a rock.

"One last act of defiance," she thought but as she was about to throw it there was whooshing sound that came through the rain. The man looked up in time to see a mallet fly at him catching him square in the face knocking him off his feet and to the ground. He made a loud splash when he hit. Sarah scrambled to her feet to grab the man's weapon.

"Chuck," she said in a low voice not wanting to be heard. It had to be him she thought. "Chuck, are you there?" But he didn't answer he didn't have to around her she heard men moan and cry one after one the circle around her was broken. Then as the rain began to let up she saw a figure move towards her out of darkness but she couldn't make it out. She raised her weapon putting her finger in the trigger guard placing her it on the trigger but something told her not to pull. Chuck staggered towards her.

"You aren't going to shoot me are you," he said as he tossed the machete on the ground. "I lost Casey's rifle. We can go… the path is…." Sarah slapped him as hard as she could knocking him to the ground.

"I thought I killed you. Never… never make me do that again or the next time I will shoot you," she yelled then fell down next to him and kissed him as she cried.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I deserved that," said Chuck as he hugged her. Sarah pulled away she noticed he was acting odd then there was a lightning flash and she saw the whole front of his shirt was crimson red. She started to spiral.

"O my God! You're covered in blood. Are you oaky? Are you hurt? Where did you get shot? I'm sorry I shouldn't have slapped you," she said as she tried to examine him but he grabbed her and held her.

"Yes you should've. I'm okay. It's not my blood. I couldn't let them hurt you," said Chuck as he pulled her back and held her close caressing her wet hair. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I didn't have a choice."

"It's okay," she whispered in his ear. "You're here with me that's all that matters. Let's go there's nothing left here."

"Wait let's take this," he said as he grabbed a radio off of one the soldiers then they headed back to find the women. Along the way they heard a lot of chatter when they found their men slaughtered. Chuck had an idea.

"Whoever's out there," radioed Chuck, "know that the chiyang'a is alive and well while your men are not."

"Who's this?" radioed a voice back. "If you're a chiyang'a then you shouldn't be afraid to tell me who you are?" Chuck's man had taken the bait.

"You show me yours before I show you mine. If you're not afraid of the chiyang'a then you shouldn't mind telling me," Chuck was trying to stall so he could move around to try to locate the man's position. He did this by walking with the radio listening to the man's voice as it came in stronger and clearer he knew he was closer. His idea was to antagonize the man as much as possible so he wouldn't realize he was actually getting closer.

"Okay, I'll play your game. Some people call me Izad, Izad…" said the voice on the radio. Chuck flashed then cut him off.

"Nazafi… yes Izad Nazafi I know you. You've moved up in the world from being a low-life thug to a spy for the VAJA but something tells me you've gone where the money is greener and more pleasurable to spend. When did you start working for Hydra? I bet your bosses at the VAJA don't know, do they? But they will now."

"They might but I really don't care. You saw what I did to that idiot they sent to be in charge. Impressive wasn't it?"

"I was thinking more pathetic. But that's just me I think anyone who betrays their country for money is a sorry excuse and so far you seem to fit that bill, nothing personal."

"Well you seem to know a lot about me but I don't know anything about you other than you're a medicine man," said Izad with a laugh.

"Chuck, keep him talking we're getting close," said Sarah. "Up there on that knoll I see a Range Rover and they're men sitting inside."

"Can you see enough to take a shot?" asked Chuck but Sarah shook her head no. Then he had an idea. "I'll talk to him again, the man you see move his hands has to be him."

"Okay good idea," said Sarah as she got ready. "Go for it I'm ready."

"You want to know who I am; well I'm your worst nightmare. I'm the one who will be always in the shadows. I will be in your bedroom at night when you go to sleep. I'll be the one over your shoulder but when you turn around you won't see. Then when you least expect it I'll do to you what I did to your men. Dr. Ryder, I know you're there with Izad. How many pieces of silver did they promise you to betray your country? Doctors, I'll be coming for you each and every one of you. If I were you I'd sleep light and with one eye open."

"That's Chuck," said Ryder. "He and his wife came with us for security. Who is he?" Just then one of the Izad's men sitting in the back received a phone call.

"What do you want, we're… Really, how long and from what direction? … I tell them," he said as he hung up. "Boss that was our guy back at camp they heard chatter over the net about incoming cruise missiles being sighted heading our way…" They heard the window crack then the man suddenly slumped sideways over Ryder and Holter bleeding on both.

"Get us out of here," they both yelled. "Now! Hurry!" General General who was sitting opposite them began to laugh.

"Looks like your Chuck has pretty good aim, one head over and one of you two would've had your ears cleaned," said the General as he continued to laugh.

A few minutes before….

"I got movement," said Sarah as she squeezed the trigger. The weapon exploded a round; she felt the recoil as the brass casing was ejected out the side. Hissing as it flew out the side hot metal against the rain. When the Range Rover moved to drive away Sarah could see she didn't hit Izad or any of the team. "Crap I missed," said Sarah as she set up for another shot.

"There's something wrong here," said Chuck. "Why haven't we seen any of Izad's troops come to his rescue."

"Not now I've got to concentrate," said Sarah as she flashed lining up the sights. "Good bye traitors," she said as she flipped to fully automatic and was about to pull the trigger. Just then Chuck saw the trail of the first cruise as it zeroed in.

"Oh crap down," yelled Chuck as he dove on top of Sarah making her miss but as they fell, the ground beneath them shook then a fire ball passed over them. Chuck grabbed her by the arm and ran for cover before the second one slammed into the site knocking them off their feet and covering them with mud. This time Sarah grabbed Chuck pulling him to his feet and they ran.

"Chuck I had them. I could've taken them out. Why? Why did they do this? Idiots! Now they've gotten away what do we do?"

"First thing is to get washed up second we need to contact Beckman. I've got a few things I'd like to tell her. But for right now I just want to hold you."

The day broke and the sun came out as the monsoon rains began to dissipate. They trudged back to the village where Sarah had left the women. They were greeted like heroes by the villagers as they walked in covered with mud from head to toe but they didn't feel much like heroes.

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Izad was laughing in the front seat as they were driving break neck speeds down slippery muddy roads heading back to base camp. Both Ryder and Holter were looking at Izad wondering if he was mad but they didn't dare say a word. The General who was sitting in front of the doctors opened the door and shove the body of his dead man out without them slowing down.

"Your new friends back here Izad are worried if you've gone mad," said the General. "To tell you the truth I was wondering the same thing."

"No I was just thinking the Americans killed their own people trying to kill us. Don't you see the irony in that? Chuck had us in his sights then his own people screw it up. They even took him out too. You have to admit that's kind of funny." The General started laughing.

"I see your point. Come on doctors you can't see how funny that is? Izad, they aren't laughing," said the General. "I don't trust people who don't laugh."

"Oh I see now," said Holter as he elbowed Ryder and they pretended to laugh which made the General laugh even more.

"I want you to shoot him," said the General as he handed Ryder a revolver. "I want you to take this and point it at his head then shoot him."

"What! I can't do that. Izad we need Holter for the project. I can't kill him I'm sorry," said Ryder handing the pistol back to the General."

"Then we don't need you. Here," said the General as he handed the gun to Holter. I want you to shoot him in the head right now or I'll shoot you." The General took out his CZ 75 and placed the barrel in Holter's lap. "I don't have to kill you. If you understand what I mean."

"Ralph I'm sorry," said Holter as he pointed then pulled the trigger. Ralph cringed and closed his eyes but the gun just made a click.

"Crap look at that I forgot to load it," said the General as he laughed. "I guess you two know who your friends are but I don't blame you Doctor if I got threatened like that I would've shot my own mother. Izad, I think we need to stop and get some clothes, one of your guests had an accident."

"Will you stop screwing around with them," said Izad as he turned around in his seat. "My friend, the General had a troubled childhood. You have to forgive him."

"Ralph, you have to believe me I knew the gun wasn't loaded," said Holter trying to justify why he'd pulled the trigger.

"I'm sure you did," said Ryder as he was beginning to re-evaluate their partnership in crime. A hundred percent was a lot better than fifty-fifty and the next time he was asked to make a life or death decision he knew which way he'd choose. "Yes Holter don't worry about it I believe you."

"We're here," said Izad as they pulled into a small cove. "There's a seaplane waiting for us and from here we head north to Somalia. There we'll set up a factory. On the flight I need for you two to put together a list of things we'll need then you'll supervise mass production. Dictators and assassins around the world will line up outside for our doors. We'll all make a fortune and then some."

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Chuck and Sarah were led to the Roberta and Julie. They found them sitting by a fire drying out. Afterwards Chuck was taken to a different house and Sarah led to another to wash up and get cleaned as the women from the village took their clothes to wash and dry. The villagers piecemeal put together clothes for them to wear while theirs were drying. They had just about every color one could imagine on but at least they were dry.

"Sorry chiyang'a," said the boy as he took him by the hand to where Sarah was waiting. She stifled a laugh seeing his get up.

"Go ahead get it out of your system," said Chuck as the girls looked him over. They tried to be polite but he looked like a walking abstract with pants that looked like he was expecting the next great flood.

"Well what you wore to go to Los Vegas was worse but I probably look just as bad," said Sarah. Without a mirror it was hard for her to tell how she looked but she did her best with what they gave her.

"Love, I appreciate you trying to make me feel better but the truth is you could make a potato sack look good," said Chuck and indeed she did.

After they were all changed and settled the mother of the boy Chuck saved came in bringing them hot nshima.

"Thank you chiyang'a for saving my son, my family is forever in your debt," she said as she waved for her son to come in and thank Chuck again.

"No, I should be thanking him. He saved us this evening and if weren't for him I don't know where we'd be so thank you both."

"Please accept this gift and our best wishes for you," said the woman as she handed Sarah a clay pot with water in it.

"They're here," said a woman running to the door. "They've come back. There are people looking for you."

"Where are they," asked Sarah thinking in her head how to organize a defense. "Are they in the village?"

"They're just coming through the forest and they're carrying guns. Chiyang'a you need to leave and hide we'll deal with them."

"No you've done enough for us. I'll go out and face them," said Chuck then he turned to Sarah. "I'd prefer if you stayed…."

"No Chuck, I'm not waiting in the van so you can get that idea out of your head. Besides weren't you the one who always said it's never safe in the van."

"Girls, stay here until we come for you," said Sarah as she took Chuck's hand. Then they walked outside. The ground was sandy so even after the deluged of the night before the ground already was beginning to dry up. The bright sun and heat reminded them where they were.

"Are you ready for this?" asked Sarah as she kissed Chuck for good luck.

"I was born ready… Well, no, actually, no, I wasn't born ready, but I am ready now," said Chuck as he held her hand and walked out of the hut. But as they walked to the end of the village they spotted the intruders. Chuck smiled to Sarah as she smiled back.

"Gertrude, what are you doing back here? You're about the last person I would've expected. We thought you'd stay with Adama in the hospital."

"Beckman was worried about you so here I am. Nice clothes, is that some sort of new fashion statement. The last time I saw someone dressed like that he was pushing a shopping cart with all his worldly possessions in it and sleeping in a cardboard box under an overpass."

"I miss your quips," said Chuck. "But we need to put everything on hold right now. We need to get word to Beckman ASAP."

"I've got a chopper waiting in the clearing along with a half sick crew," said Gertrude as they gave her a look. "Let's just say it was bumpy ride getting here."

"I need your compass," said Chuck as Verbanski handed it to him but gave him a strange look. "No I'm not lost I just need it." The boy that saved them came bringing Julie and Roberta. "Here I want you to have this," said Chuck as he gave the boy the compass. "This shows us the direction we're traveling in but this," said Chuck as he laid his hand on boy's heart. "This tells us if the direction is right or wrong. You have a good heart, listen to it and you'll never go wrong."

A little while later they were in the air headed to the landing strip. On the way back Sarah sat with Gertrude at the controls of her chopper as she flew them to their Lear that they had left parked at the airstrip. She wasn't sure how to bring it up but Verbanski guessed what she wanted to ask.

"Go ahead you want to ask," said Gertrude. "How is Adama? Well Adama is doing fine I had him arrested after the surgeon saved his life. He admitted that he'd been working for the PLA on the side and that they had him hire members to get in position to steal the chip but something changed. He said he couldn't go through with it because… well he said he had feelings for me. Can you believe that?"

"Yes I can. You were vulnerable and he took advantage of that but then his cover became reality. I of all people can understand that. John is a hard man to forget."

"That he is," said Gertrude as she suddenly got the sniffles. "Stupid allergy acting up again, listen up back there," yelled Verbanski. "My orders are to drop off Ward and June. Beaver and Wally, you're to come with me back to the capital. There's a charter waiting for you to take you home."

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General Beckman was finding out that a lifetime of service to her nation could be put into one cardboard box. Sorting through the relics of her life of dedication turned out to be easier then she thought. She racked everything off her desk into the trash can then sat down pour herself a drink then threw her feet up on her desk.

"It's a little early in the day, don't you think," said Roan as he dropped by to see how she was doing and see what he could do to help cheer her up.

"Roan you're the last person I thought I hear that from. Pour yourself a glass and pull up a chair," she said as she slid the bottle towards him. He took the top off and poured himself a drink then sat down next to her but as he was about to speak General Thomas walked in.

"Roan, your new boss is here," said Beckman as she took a drink. "He might not be as accommodating as I was toward your proclivities."

"I don't really care I turned my resignation in right before I came here. So bottoms up old girl now we can talk about the rest of our lives."

"Roan you did that for me," she said surprised and happy.

"That and more," said Roan as the new General stood there being ignored. "So Tank, pull up a glass or pull out a tape measure.

"I didn't come up here for either. I want both of you idiots to reconsider, what are you two going to do with the rest of your lives?"

"I can think of a few things," said Roan as he smiled then reached over and took Diane's hand. "Can't you my sweet?"

"General the monitor, you've got an incoming call from Africa on the line," said Connie as she stuck her head in.

"Tank that would be for you," said Diane as she got up. "Here you can sit here but I think you're going to have to get a new chair I don't think this one raises anymore."

"Don't worry you'll shrink into it. The weight of the office and everything, Diane was over six foot tall when she started."

"How much have you two had to drink?" asked Tank as he held up the bottle.

"No nearly enough, but we're going to get there," said Roan. "Cheers my pet," he said as they clinked glasses.

"General," said Chuck as he came on the monitor. "Who are you? I need to talk to my General as soon as possible. I have a priority one."

"Chuck," said Diane as she came into view. "You're talking to my relief. General Thomas is taking over."

"That's right you work for me," said Tank but Chuck cut him short.

"I don't think so. Diane what the … well what's going on? Listen Ryder got away with a man named Izad Nazafi. Sarah had then dead to rights then you guys almost got us killed with that cruise attack."

"So they got away," said Thomas. "Do you know where they went?"

"They got away because you guys back there pushed a button and let them get away," said Chuck already he didn't like the new guy.

"You are hovering close to insubordination, Agent Carmichael."

"I can do even better that if you want. Listen if they still have them on, I hid GLG-4000s on all the team members. The how is not important right now. Use a satellite and you should be able to track them. This is all contingent on if they still have them on. Please verify your targets if you decide to press another button. Julie and Roberta, the two women from the team, are in chopper heading towards the Capital don't fire on them. See I told you I could do better. You can send us the coordinates we'll be in the air soon."

"No stand down. The JCOS want Delta force to handle this so you're part in this is over. I've another mission for you in Montenegro."

"You're yanking us off this just like that, well you can…" but before Chuck could say anything Sarah put her hand over his mouth.

"Send us the mission details, and like my husband said we'll be in the air soon. Carmichael out."

"I've never been talked to like that by a subordinate. Mr. Carmichael and I are going to have a nice sit down."

"You can try, but it won't do any good. What Chuck said about him not working for you is right. He's the one agent that has POTUS authorization and so far he's chosen not to use it. But don't push him in a corner. The guy before me did and well you know what happened to him."

"You mean he can actually pick and choose his missions? Diane who is he?"

"He's your greatest asset. Now if you don't mind we still have a half a bottle to pack up before we're done."

"Oh no you don't, you two aren't dumping this on me. You're both coming with me to Montenegro and we're all going to have a sit down together. The spy convention is about to meet and I want you both with me so I don't screw up. Roan, don't say I already have."

"I was going to say count me in, the Martinis are cheap there."

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Continued in Chuck vs Brick and Mortar