Chuck slumped into his dark bedroom, his head pounding and his eyelids heavy. He decided against changing out of his Buy More uniform, and fell on his bed, exhausted.
"Ah, this is so much better than standing." He yawned, kicking off his shoes and moving into the middle of the bed. Lying on his stomach, he let out a comfortable sigh. He knew Sarah would call, or Casey would come bursting in any minute, but he was just too tired to care. A quick cat nap would do him wonders.
He hadn't been able to sleep in the past three long, days. Ever since the team had gotten the assignment on Marcus Hampton, they've been going non-stop. Sarah was going threw old files on Hampton, checking his background and old living spaces, trying to see if she could find a clue to where he's hiding out now. Casey was out scouting most the time, seeing if he could spot the guy around town; maybe at a local restaurant or video store, and of course, Chuck had to tag along with Casey.
He would help out by asking people in different business if they had seen this man, showing a photo to them, and when they said no, he would give him their number and ask them to please give a call if they do.
Casey didn't like the idea, since it could give them away if Hampton knew some one was searching for them, especially if he realized it was Chuck. But they were running out of time, and they were desperate.
Chuck had actually asked Casey what would happen if we didn't find the terrorist in time. The agent gave him a hard stare, "They would do what I would do to you if I were unhappy with you."
That comment made Chuck search even harder.
The only break the three of him got was when their jobs came around. All of them would go, tired and the case still burning in there minds. It was a bit more annoying for Chuck, because the story going around the employee's lounge was that the day he had the flash, he had been sexually assaulted by Hampton. Chuck wanted to beat his head against a cold, cement wall.
Lester and Jeff would not quick laughing at him, Morgan would get defensive when ever a male customer got near him, and Anna was trying to talk him into a support group. Casey on the other hand, was enjoying the rumor immensely. Every time on of his friends would bring it up, he look over to see Casey giving him his famous smug smile. Chuck would have said something to him if he wasn't so terrified of the guy.
He pulled a blanket over his body, burying his face in his pillow. It was so good to be home and to be able to get some sleep for once. He just wanted this week to end, whether they found the guy or not.
Then his cell phone rang, bursting his happiness and waking him to his depressing reality.
Chuck threw off the blanket, and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. It was Casey. He thought about ignoring it, but his life would then be threatened more so he answered.
"Yeah,"
"We found him." Casey said excitement and relief heavy in his voice. Chuck immediately perked up.
"What?"
"A take out boy from pizza place called," he explained, "He said he had just delivered a pizza to the guy you came looking for yesterday. He said he wouldn't have even of recognized until he saw the guys eyes. The kid said that he lived in an old apartment complex across town; a very secluded place. Dammit Bartowski, your idea actually worked, I'm pretty impressed. I just thought that maybe Hampton would figure out it was you searching for him and come back the Buy More to kill you," you could hear a smile in his voice, "Guess will be coming to him now."
"I love how much faith you have in my ability to attract danger." Chuck said his voice hard.
"Just get over here." And he hung up.
Chuck sighed, pulled back on his shoes and left his room.
Sarah greeted Chuck as he came into Casey's apartment. He closed the door and walked towards the two, who were sitting by the agent's laptop.
"Hey Chuck," Sarah said closing the laptop and standing up from the desk. "We just finish talking to Beckman and Graham, and were going in for Hampton alone."
"What? Why?"
"Because if we come with more than one car, it will look suspicious. Besides me and Walker can take Hampton down, as long as he's not expecting it."
"Are you sure it's even him?" Chuck asked, starting to feel a little skeptic of their finding.
"We weren't at first." Sarah said walking towards a file and leafing threw it. "The man in question paid with a credit card with a different identity. After some digging it turns out…Joe Landing, who is renting from a man named Sam Rodes, who apparently has a slight similarity in his credit history as-"
"Marcus Hampton." Chuck breathed. "So you're saying he has several different identities."
"Yes. And to confirm this," She pulled out a slip of paper, "According to records, as a young child, he had lived in that same apartment complex. It all fits."
"I can't believe it. We actually found him."
"He screwed up." Casey said, loading his gun, "We were very, very lucky. You flashing on him have been his greatest down fall."
"I'm a little shocked that you're complementing me Casey," chuck said, a smile forming on his face.
"I'm not complementing you idiot." Casey glared at him. "I'm stating a fact. Whether it happens to make you look useful or not is your problem."
"You are a very angry person."
Casey gave him a cold stare.
"Alright boys," Sarah stated walking towards the door, "Are you two going to bicker or are we leaving?"
Chuck nodded, but Casey grabbed him by the arm. "One moment before we go. I want to set something straight."
"What?"
"Listen Bartowski," Casey said in a commanding tone, "I know you love to disobey me like crazy," Chuck looked away nervously, "But mark me, if you do not stay in the car when I tell you to, I will shoot you."
Chuck's mouth dropped open "Are You nuts?! You can't kill me!! Interest remember!!
"I didn't say it would be lethal." He let go of Chuck's arm and walked out the door. Chuck looked at Sarah.
"Will he really shoot me?"
"He said it wouldn't be lethal." She said and walked out. Chuck gaped after her.
"When did this become hurt Chuck whenever it seems necessary day?!"
In a half hour, the three were parked across the street from a withered down apartment building. The buildings surrounding it were in the same state. All store signs were worn down with age and vandalism, bars covering the windows. The streets were quite; not a person in sight.
"Okay, why would a billionaire bomb designer live in a piece of crap apartment?"
"Cover."
"Still could have picked a nicer apartment."
"Okay Chuck," Sarah turned around to face him. "Casey and I will go inside, get Hampton and the design, and get out. You just sit here, and no matter what you hear or see stay in the car, alright."
Chuck nodded. She gave him an encouraging smile before turning back towards the front. Casey shut off the car and got out. Sarah followed him, leaning back in to tell Chuck one last thing. "Call if you need us okay?"
"Or just let out another girlish scream, will probably be able to hear it from there."
"Thanks Casey, I'll be sure to do that."
"Remember," Sarah said closing the door. "Stay." As the both slammed the doors, Casey pulled out his keys and locked it. With one last look the two agents walked briskly towards the complex, hands close to their guns.
Chuck sighed and leaned his head back on to the seat. For once he was happy he had to stay in the car. Hampton scared the crap out of him, and could get catch up with some well deserved sleep.
As the minutes ticked slowly by, Chuck became more and more aware of his stomach growling. He tried to ignore it, but he hadn't eaten anything tonight, and it was catching up with him. He looked out of the back seat windows, trying to distract himself. It was foggy outside, so it was hard to make out anything. And the unnatural quietness of the neighborhood gave him the chills. He stomach growled louder. "Man I'm hungry." A quick memory popped into his head as head said that. He remembered as they were coming down the street, that on one of the corners was a vending machine. And if he was thinking correctly it wasn't far from where the car was parked.
Sarah's voice immediately came into his mind. He said it wouldn't be lethal. He shook his head. "Alright, the machine is far away from the apartment, so actually I'd be safer keeping my distance than staying in one place. And besides, I'll be back in the car before they realize I left." He nodded at his explanation. "Yeah, what could go wrong?" He didn't answer himself he shrugged on his jacket as he climbed out of the car. He shut the door, and jogged quickly down the street, away from the car, Sarah, and Casey.
It was a lot foggier than he had expected. As Chuck reached the old, but working machine, he noticed that it was a lot father from the parking lot than he realized. He couldn't even see the car from here, and only a section of Hampton's apartment. Chuck dug for some change in his coat pocket as he stood in front of the vending machine. While looking at his choices, he didn't notice a silhouette walk out of the alley a little ways beside him, and stop to stare at him.
Hampton couldn't believe what he was seeing. As he was walking back to his apartment from buying cigarettes, standing right under the street light in front of him was the kid from the Buy More. What was the he doing here? He knew he didn't live near by, or he would have seen him before. Hampton knitted his eyebrows together. Something wasn't right about this. He's had a bad feeling about the guy ever since that afternoon a few days ago. Hampton knew the boy recognized him; especially when he screamed for help. And this was no coincidence that he shows up here three days later. Hampton grounded his teeth in frustration. He should have killed him then and there.
Hampton walked silently towards Chuck, who still didn't realize that some one else was there. "Hello there." He said Chuck's back, making him jump sky high and dropping all his change.
Chuck whipped around, and nearly screamed when he saw Hampton standing behind him. He suppressed it though and answered back, "He-hello."
"Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Um….no," Chuck tried to keep his voice calm, not wanting to show his panic, "I don't think we have ever met before."
"You seem a little nervous,"
"Well, you would be too if some one snuck up behind you." Chuck said a little bit more defensively than he meant to.
Hampton step towards the younger male menacingly. He was wearing a white button up shirt and khaki pants under a black trench coat. He was only few inches taller than Chuck, but his age and body build was twice a big, making Chuck feel small beneath him.
"Then tell me then stranger, I've live in this neighborhood most of my life, and I've never seen you around before. And unlike you, I never forget a face."
Chuck felt heart take a small pause. "That's because I just stop to get a snack because I was hungry." Chuck looked him up and down, "And for some one who lives in this neighborhood you sure as hell don't dress like it."
Suddenly Hampton threw his arms out in front of him, slamming them into the machine and pinning Chuck between them. Chuck let out a small yelp, which caused a sadistic smile to form on Hampton's lips. Chuck braced himself against the vending machine, bending the front in, desperately trying to distance himself as much possible from the man standing in front of him. Hampton bent his head down, his face just a few inches from Chuck's.
"Don't get cute with me kid." He said dangerously calm, his confident smile still on his face, "I know you're lying to me. You were that kid at the Buy More a few days ago. The one that screamed like a little girl."
"Why does everyone have to throw that little tid-bit at my face?"
"Shut up," Hampton said in a low hiss. Chuck immediately clamped is mouth shut. "There's been a question poking me at the back of my mind for some time now, ever since our last encounter." His ice blue eyes burrowed into Chuck's, "And you're the only one who knows how to answer it." He leaned his closer, his eye telling Chuck that he already knew the answer." so why exactly, were you staring so intently at me that day?"
Oh Crap. "Because you were so stunning and I was thinking they didn't make men like that anymore." Anna's comment had jump into his head so fast he didn't even realized he had said it out loud, or that every single word was dripping in sarcasm. Oh he was so dead.
Hampton nostril's flared and his eyes filled with anger. He rammed his fist into the machine, making a huge dent an inch away from Chuck's head. "CUT THE CRAP BOY!!YOU THINK I'M PLAYING GAMES?! NOW OUT WITH IT!!!"
Chuck's cell phone rang at that exact moment. The two were silent for a moment. Hampton looked down and saw Chuck's coat right pocket light up. He reached roughly into the kid's coat and fished it out. He looked at the phone, then at Chuck, and then pushed the answer button.
"Chuck?" It was Sarah. He felt his stomach go hollow. "Chuck, listen. Hampton wasn't here, but we found the plans for the prototype. Were coming back to the car, just stay there okay….. Hello? Chuck? CHUCK!! Are you there?! Answer m-" He hung up. Hampton threw the phone down and step on it; smashing it to pieces. Chuck looked at his destroyed phone, crest fallen. "Hey! You didn't have to do tha-"
Chuck looked up at Hampton, rage contorting the older man's face. Chuck felt his throat close. His body was shaking slightly and his forehead was soaked with sweat. Hampton grabbed the young man by the shirt collar. "So that's it. You're helping the FBI…." He said in a deadly quiet voice.
"No! I'm…" Hampton fist squared with his cheek before he could protest. Chuck felt his body crash roughly onto the concrete sidewalk, stars erupting from his vision. His cheek was burning, and he felt tears weld up in his eyes. Then he felt a foot connect hard with his stomach, sending him up on his knees.
"You little bastard," He heard Hampton snarl, grabbing him by his curly brown hair, "You noticed me in that damn store and called the cops didn't you?" Chuck tried to shake his head, but movement was constricted by Hampton's hand. The larger man threw him back down onto the sidewalk, standing over him like an animal triumphantly catching his prey.
Chuck's vision was blurred, and his head was pounding. Where were Sarah and Casey?! They must know he's in danger, right? Sarah knew something was wrong on the phone, and both the agents know he can't just stay in the car. They'll be here any second, Chuck hoped, any second now.
But when Chuck heard the safety of a gun click off he wasn't sure if he had a second.
Why didn't I just stay in the car?
Hampton straddled him, his legs pinning Chuck's arms to his side. Chuck struggled underneath him, which only caused another sadistic smile to cross over Hampton's face. "No use boy." He said coldly, holding the gun an inch above Chuck's head. Chuck immediately went still. His heart was ramming against his chest, making it hard to breathe. Hampton laughed. "Not so smart now, are you?"
He cocked the gun back. "You have made a very fatal mistake. You have ruined everything for me! That design was my greatest ever, and your big mouth has just cost me millions! What did you think ratting me out would accomplish? A trophy? A big celebration on your be half? That people would call you a hero?! " The terrorist barked out a harsh laugh, starring daggers down at him "The only thing it's won you, was a bullet in your brain."
"You know, Chuck," he recalled the kid's name from the phone call, "It's been a while since I've actually killed some one myself. I'm not one to get my hands dirty." His face lit up with a sadistic delight, "But in this case, I think I may enjoy it."
Chuck's mind was blank. He was trapped. He knew they're no way in hell he could get out of this mess without Sarah or Casey. Where the hell were they?!
They don't know where I am. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. They didn't know that he went to the coke machine. Hell, they probably just realized that he left the car! So he would just have to inform them.
"HELP!! SARAH!!!!" he screamed so loud that it caught Hampton completely off guard, and his holds on him slackened. Chuck noticed this and took this chance to free his arms. With his arm free, he cocked it back and punched Hampton in his face as hard as he could, knocking him off his body, but hurting his hand as well. "SARAH!!! Ouch, wow that hurt…CASEY!!!! OVER HERE!" he screamed as he squirmed away from Hampton, sending his right foot into the older man's stomach in the process.
He heard Casey's muffled shout, which sent a warm relief throughout his entire body. Chuck tried to stand up, but his legs were too wobbly. He fell on his knee, scrapping it badly on the dirty ground. He let out a low hiss. He could here the agent's footsteps racing fast across the cement. "SAR-" He was cut off by a body tackling him to the ground, his bruised cheek smacking hard against the pavement.
Chuck tried to scream again, when he felt the barrel of the gun pushed violently to the roof off his mouth, silencing him. A strong arm wrapped around him, shoving him into the body of his captor. "Oh, yes," Hampton breathed into his ear, rage constricting his voice, "I am going to take great pleasure in killing you."
"Chuck!" He could hear Sarah's voice call him clearly now. He began to struggle, lurching himself forward and digging his elbows into Hampton's ribs. He heard the older man hiss in pain and then pushed the barrel hard into the roof of Chuck's mouth, making him gag at the taste of his own blood. "Stop squirming," Hampton hissed pulling Chuck to his feet.
"Bartowski! Where the hell are you!!" he heard Casey holler, his voice echoing down the street. In a last attempt to get his friends' attention, kicked his foot out, hoping to catch something loud. Luckily the thing he hit was an old car, whose alarm started blaring.
"Over there!!" Chuck saw Casey shadow race across the building's wall, follow by Sarah's. Thank God!!
Hampton growled, and tried to haul Chuck into the dark, abandon alleyway that he had appeared from. Chuck struggled furiously, trying to slow down the man as much as he could. They were so close! He couldn't just give up!
His heart soared when he saw Sarah bellow down the street corner, her eyes growing huge at the sight of Chuck and his captor. "CHUCK!!" she yelled, her panicked eyes narrowed in rage as she grabbed her gun and pointed it at Hampton, "FREEZE!"
"Try to shoot and he dies," Hampton snarled, smashing the cold metal against his hostage's teeth. Chuck winced in pain.
"Your outnumbered Hampton," Casey said stepping beside Sarah, his muscles tense and his gun trained on the man's head. Hampton froze. His grip on Chuck tightens to the point where he couldn't breath.
"You're surrounded," Sarah said moving towards the right, trapping Hampton to the wall, her voice hard with anger. "Take the gun out of his mouth, and throw it to the ground. Now."
Hampton was breathing hard into Chuck's ear. No one moved or said anything. Sarah and Casey kept their guns trained on Hampton, and the man kept his gun stuck to the roof Chuck's mouth. Finally, after what seemed like an hour to Chuck, he felt the gun being pulled out of his mouth. He let out a harsh cough, spitting out some blood that was gagging him. Hampton kept the gun in his hand, probing it into Chuck's back.
"I said, throw your gun down." Sarah growled, stepping towards them.
"Not until you put your guns down," Hampton snarled pressing it hard against Chuck, "How will I know you won't shoot me dead after I release him."
Casey laughed, "What? You think we won't shoot you dead even with the kid shielding you," he leveled his gun to Chuck's chest, "You're sadly mistaken."
"Thanks Casey," Chuck mumbled looking to Sarah for help.
"Just put the damn gun down Casey," Sarah hissed, setting her slowly down on the ground and raising her hands up to her head. Casey glared at Sarah, then back to Chuck. He let out an exasperated sigh, and then slowly put down his gun and repeated Sarah's motions.
Hampton sneered at them, and whispered into Chuck's ear. "Don't think that you've gotten away from me boy. I have many, many ways of finding you." He released his grip and pushed him towards the ground.
Sarah didn't even hesitate to help Chuck, relief washing over her. She ran towards him and picked him up by the elbow. "Thank god Chuck, are you alright?"
Chuck nodded, looking at her with fear and relief. That's when Sarah noticed the bruise on his cheek, and his bleeding mouth. She wanted right there and then to beat the living crap out of Hampton; but held her emotions in check as she help Chuck back towards Casey, not taking her eyes off the man who had injured him. Casey had quickly retrieved the gun he hidden in his back pocket, and aimed it at Hampton, who seemed remarkably calm for a man staring down a barrel of a gun. He grabbed Chuck by the arm and pulled him behind his back, shielding him. Sarah did the same.
"You okay?" Casey whispered to Chuck, not taking his eyes off the terrorist.
"Yeah," Chuck breathed shakily, so relieved that they had found him.
"Good, because after this is all over, I'm going to beat the living crap out of you."
Well, maybe not so relieved that Casey found him.
"Marcus Hampton," Casey stated, his attention on the other man now, "You are under arrest for-" he was interrupted by a small chuckle from Hampton.
"I'm sorry sir, but it seems you are mistaken about that. Because instead of arresting me, you're going to have to deal with something a… bit more pressing," As he said this, he pulled out a small, slim controller from his jacket, placing his thumb just above the button. "You see, I've made an escape plan for every one of my 'work places', just in case something like this would happen." He shot a quick glare at Chuck, "Too bad you found the one with my prototype plans, oh well." he smiled at them cruelly, "Hope you enjoy fireworks."
He pressed down.
Behind the team was a loud explosion that shook the very ground they were standing on. Screams eloped the night air, lights in apartments beside them turning on, people racing out of there home to look at the damage. Casey and Sarah looked around too, and couldn't believe what they saw. The apartment building in which Marcus Hampton lived went up in a fiery brilliance.
While the two agents were distracted, Hampton started to retreat into the dark alley. Before he could escape the scene and the two agents, he gave one last look at Chuck, who caught his stare. Though Hampton's face was calm, his eyes were filled with absolute hatred; sending a chill down his spine. He smiled at the younger man, "See you soon Chucky-boy," and then evaporated into the darkness.