Part 4

Diego Mandros was a towering and heavily built man, with broad shoulders and well-muscled arms. The highly-trained martial artist and weapons expert had an icy, cold stare. Chuck observed as Diego paced around the car, stroking the rough spikes of hair growing around his mouth. Beside him was Ricardo Sandre. Ricardo appeared much shorter and skinnier than Diego. He may not be as strong, but he is probably a lot more agile, thought Chuck, mentally analysing his observations. Chuck didn't possess an awful lot of knowledge on the strategies and plans of agents, but he did know a lot about superheroes. In most of the comics he'd read as a child, the strong, bold, daring hero had an agile, quick-thinking side-kick. So, perhaps Ricardo is Diego "side-kick", so to speak…

The sudden clatter of the car window being shattered and the ear-piercing beeping of the car security alarm practically made Chuck jump out of his skin. Cursing under his breath, he peered out again from behind the car, eager to find out just what it was Diego and Ricardo planned to do. Ricardo slid cautiously through the now open window and into the passenger seat of the car. He reached forward, fiddling with some of the car's controls until the sound of the alarm died. Diego stood gawking at the window.

"What's the matter? Hurry up and get in!" Ricardo whispered harshly to his partner.

"I'm not gonna fit through the window," grumbled Diego, looking sheepishly at the ground, his face slowly reddening.

They're going to use it as a getaway car, Chuck realised. He couldn't help but laugh watching the large, buff man try to squeeze through the window. He could hear Diego cringing as the remaining glass from the window sliced against his rough skin.

"Haha! Phew, it's time's like this I'm glad I'm not a gym junkie," Chuck said to himself, perhaps a little too loud. Deigo and Ricardo turned their heads sharply in Chuck's direction. Diego slid himself back out of the window and began stomping towards the car Chuck was hiding behind. He seized Chuck by the collar and pulled him off the ground.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Diego snarled, his bloodthirsty eyes staring into Chuck's soul.

"Please! I… I don't want any trouble. I'm just a humble clown. A nobody! A poor innocent little fool! No need to waste your precious time with me. I can see that you're very busy…" Chuck stammered, screwing his face up in fear. He knew this chain of events was not going to conclude nicely at all.

oOo

Sarah gasped as was shoved forcefully to the ground; all the air was knocked out of her lungs. She thrashed from side to side, desperate to free herself from Julia's iron grasp. As soon as their performance had concluded, Julia had dragged Sarah out of the circus tent to the car-park, holding a gun to her back.

"You're so pathetic, Agent Walker. Just like the rest of the CIA," Julia chuckled menacingly.

Sarah smiled and dug her sharp fingernails into Julia's wrists. As Julia shrieked in agony, Sarah took the opportunity to fight back, and punched Julia powerfully in the side of the head. One hit, and the Fulcrum agent was lying unconscious, sprawled on the gravel-covered ground.

"Sarah to Casey," she spoke into her intercom, "I've taken care of Julia."

"Dead or alive," Casey responded.

"Alive… I think."

oOo

"Please don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me!" Chuck begged repeatedly, his pleas sounding like that of a child. He could not control his shaking limbs, as Diego pressed the gun to the side of his head. Chuck pressed his eyes closed, bracing himself for the split second of pain followed by an eternity of darkness. If I hear the shot, I'm alive, he assured himself. If I don't hear the shot, I'm dead… maybe he's already shot me! Maybe I'm already dead!

Chuck did not hear any gunshots, but he felt Diego's grip on his neck loosen as he let Chuck's body descend to the ground.

I'm dead, thought Chuck. I'm dead… wait, if I'm dead, how am I thinking? And breathing? And talking to myself like a deranged lunatic?

Chuck opened his eyes and smiled at the wonderful sight. Casey beating the crap out of Diego, Sarah pinning Ricardo to the ground and Julia still lying unconscious on the ground.

"Bartowski!" Casey barked at Chuck, snapping him back into reality. "Stop lying there with that dopey smile on your face and actually help. Damn it!"

oOo

"Excellent work agents!" General Beckman exclaimed, a smile lighting up across her dull, placid face. "And Chuck," she added, leaving Chuck feeling just a tad insignificant and rejected. "The three Fulcrum associates were transported back to their jail cells."

"Thank you, General," Casey and Sarah said politely, before disconnecting the video conversation.

Once Casey had left the room, Chuck approached Sarah. "Hi… um… I was wondering… you see, I bought tickets to the circus and I was wondering if maybe you wanted to possibly go there tonight?" he asked nervously, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Sarah smiled and moved closer to Chuck, placing her gentle hands on his shoulders. "I'd love to."

This is the final part of the story. Thank you to those who read and reviewed this story. Your feedback is much appreciated. :)

JasmineHoran