Don't own Chuck
Marco rode the morning commuter train into work or as close as he could get to by land. He was given an apartment in Mestre, the mainland city off the Venetian lagoon. At the train station he fought with the other early morning office workers for a water taxi which he caught at the piers out front. Riding the taxi to the Merchant's building stepping off the taxi he noticed signs that work had been done outside the building on the sidewalk. The masegno pavement stones were 75cmx25cm rectangulars either roughened by hand the old ones or by machine the new ones, looking at the stones now they were jumbled out of order old mixed with new.
"Chuck what are you up to," mumbled Marco as he walked into work. A man handed him a folder as soon as he got off the elevator at the main office level. He wasn't the only one who believed in getting into the office before the boss. An hour later Mr. Mišović came walking in seeing Marco already at his desk he smiled then frowned when he notice Stan hadn't made it in yet.
"Stan isn't in yet so come in and impress me. I want my morning briefing on what's going on in Montenegro."
"Well sir there's nothing much to say," said Marco following him inside. "I got word back from our agents and it seems as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening. However, I've got extra men posted at the airport just in case they decide to make a run for it and I beefed up the people we have at the marina."
"Good idea," said the boss as Stan stuck his head in the door. "Better late than never."
"Sorry sir but I don't know what happened I went home then fell asleep and woke up late for work. This has never happened to me before."
"Well it better not happen again. Marco was just doing your job for you. Go get me my newspapers then come back and call the bar find out what's taking so long for them to bring me my coffee. Did everyone but us decide to sleep in Marco?"
"I don't know sir," said Marco. "Let me go check on our people one more time in Montenegro. We don't want anything to slip through the cracks."
"No we don't. You know Stan, you could learn from him," said Mišović as he sat down in his chair and turned to look outside at the Gran Canal.
Stan was trying to figure out where his sleeping attack came from but he couldn't figure out for the life of him. All he knew was his mouth felt like he had swallowed his pillow and his head was spinning. Looking over at Marco he wondered if he'd been drugged. Could it be him Stan asked himself as he left the boss's office? But it couldn't have been he hadn't seen Marco since he left the building last night. Maybe he was still tired from their ordeal in Serbia he told himself. The only thing he could remember were some rowdy Americans on the vaporetto.
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Chuck was sitting in the Bank in one of the detention cells in front of the monitor with a peer to peer connection with Casey. It wasn't that Chuck was becoming paranoid but the operation had moved into a delicate phase where everything had to go as planned or all their work would go down the tubes or into the septic tank were Casey was going to have to operate.
"Chuck can't we just go get this done? I mean this is this the fourth night this week and we're up to our necks in… well you know what."
"I feel for you big guy. I won't even remind you about what you said back in the Ševo's castle about everyone being Nancys."
"I think you just did," said Casey in between grunts for emphasis.
"I guess you're right, I'm sorry but this is essential and soon Mišović will be up the same creek. You'll need to have Stan's cloned pass card and that gift handy. Your night work should be over now and I expect you'll receive a call for help soon."
"Why couldn't we just ask Marco for his? He's on our side right? Don't get me wrong I like the snatch and grab just like anyone else but it would've been easier and not run the risks we did with Stan.
"There's just something wrong with what you just said. But no if things go south we'll still have Marco in play close to Mišović and probably even closer. I don't think Dejan will have Stan around after that. Our guy could use a few sessions of anger management. John if it's any consolation this thing is about over. Plant the final charges and everything will be in place then the dominoes will start to drop. I'll talk to you tomorrow say thanks to everyone and I owe you."
"Yes you do and one of these days I'll collect. Casey out.
Chuck signed out then took the cell off of lock down it was time to find a cup of coffee. He found Sarah with Sam in the conference area with Mike and Mary. Margo was standing off to the side observing everything as if she was trying to decide what to do. He caught Margo's look and went over to her.
"How long have they been down here," asked Chuck before going over to Sarah. "Don't tell me all morning?"
"You really want to know? She seems to have moved in down here since you guys came back. Is there some reason she doesn't want to go topside? I've noticed she hasn't said two words to her father since then too."
"There's a reason you're the Station Chief. Okay I hear what you're saying and I'll handle it right now," said Chuck as he walked over and put his arm around Sarah kissing her on the neck.
"You're done I was waiting here to see if you wanted to go grab something eat with us," said Sarah as she turned and kissed him. It didn't escape him that this was the time when Jack routinely did slot harvests so he'd be too busy to join them.
"Sure I'm done for now but I'd appreciate if you looked at my shoulder. It's really bothering me today. Mom can you take Sam up to the restaurant and feed her while we run up to our room?"
"Gladly that will give me some alone time to be with my granddaughter. She's so cute when she clears a room with Mr. Rabbit. Come on darling," said Mary as she picked Sam up. "Na-na will show you how to frisk Mr. Rabbit for concealed weapons."
"Na-na," said Sam as she put her arms around Mary looking back at Chuck and Sarah. Sam giggled then started playing peek-a-boo hiding her face in Mary's shoulder.
"You're a mess," said Mary as she laughed kissing her on the forehead. They all got into the elevator. "Yes you are. Come on let's see what we find for you to eat. Your father always wanted to wear his food and if you look at his tie you'll see that hasn't changed much."
"Gee thanks Mom," said Chuck as he looked at his tie. The elevator stopped at the lobby letting Mary and Sam off.
"Mary, make sure she doesn't make too big a mess the dress is new. But she should have fun too," said Sarah as she caressed Sam's face. Chuck tried to read into that cryptic remark to try to figure out what Sarah was thinking. He wrapped his arm around her waist kissed her on the neck then pushed the button to go up.
"Is this some sort of intervention," asked Sarah as she turned around and kissed him as the elevator went up. "You know I can tell when something is going on around me. I am a spy after all."
"Intervention? What?.. No…" he started to say but looking into her eyes. "Okay sort of you could say. How did you know?"
"Your shoulder didn't bother you enough to keep you from wrapping your arm around me and beside Chuck I know you and this is just like you. I hope Jack isn't waiting for me in our room or I'll…."
"Hold on and don't freak out. No Jack isn't waiting for you I wouldn't do that to you. I learnt my lesson with the CAT squad. However, I do want to talk to you about Jack."
"Oh Chuck why?" said Sarah as the elevator stopped and he took her by the hand and lead her to their room. He opened the door and invited her to sit on the bed as he sat down next to her reaching over he took her hands.
"You ask me why because you told me to never stop helping you. You said there were a thousand ways that you need my help every single day. I hope you remember saying that."
"I do and I also remember telling you, you're perfect," she said as she leaned over and kissed him. "Okay, I'm ready, talk to me."
"Sarah, Love, Jack's your father like it or not and there's nothing you can do to change that," said Chuck as he looked into her eyes.
"I know that and I accept Jack as Jack and my family… Well, there's no misunderstanding to straighten out, really."
"Then what is it? I noticed and Margo noticed you haven't said two words to Jack since we've gotten back. I know people sometimes put their parents on pedestals then get disappointed when they don't measure up."
No it's not that at all Sweetie," said Sarah. "Besides if we were honest neither you nor I have ever done that for obvious reasons. No it's me; the problem is all in me. Remember what I was afraid would happen between us."
"What that I'd look at you differently if I knew your past? Is that what this is all about? You can't help but look at Jack differently now?"
"That woman died because of us and we ruined that kid's life. We created a monster and for what Chuck? All for what so I could have an adventure with my father, some adventure with Dad."
"I hear what you're saying but he's not a kid anymore," said Chuck as he squeezed her hands. "But Jack didn't make that man kill his wife and as screwed up as our lives have been there has never been even once I've thought about harming you."
"I wish I could say the same," said Sarah as her eyes started to well up.
"That was Quinn's fault not yours. What I'm saying is the man was obviously mentally unbalanced because you just don't do that not for any reason and certainly not for money."
"But Jack…"
"I know and I'm not saying he's innocent but the seeds of hate were already sown. Yes he might've added some water that made the pant grow. Remember what I told you that your father's sins are his and not yours. In this case the sin was Mišović's father's not yours or Jack's."
"I'm lucky I married such an articulate schnook," she said as he caressed her face. She felt his warm hand against her cheek. "Chuck, thank you, thank you for everything and above all thank you for never giving up on me when you should've."
"My father never gave up on my mother and I'll never give up on you, on us. What I'm saying it that it's kind of a Bartowski trait; like penguins we mate for life so like it or not you're stuck with me."
"I guess I can put with you," said Sarah as she gave him a coy smile then grabbing him by his jacket pulling down on the bed. Rolling over on top of him she kissed him on the lips then on the forehead, nose, and bit his neck. She was about to rip open his shirt when he stopped her.
"I'm probably going to hate myself for this but before we proceed why don't you go down and talk with Jack."
"Excuse me? You want us to stop so I can go make peace with my father. Are you absolutely sure that's what you want?" said Sarah looking down at him amazed.
"I know what it sounds like, and I'm going to hate myself for it, but it's important for you and Jack. You shouldn't put it off… and now I'm really the schnook."
"No not at all you're my partner, my husband, my lover and the father of my daughter as well as being the most sensitive and caring man I have ever known. Okay I'll go talk to him," said Sarah as she climbed off him then went out the door.
"But come back afterwards please." Chuck said but she left before she could hear him. "Me and my big mouth." Chuck's phone rang. He looked at the phone it to see a text message from Casey, 'operation over flow underway'.
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Under the waterline outside the Merchants small robots became active. Some were like little puffer fish with CO2 canisters causing them to blow up and in expanding blocking the drainage from the building's sceptic tank into the canal. Another series crawled back up into the building then with micro charges cleared the way to create a back flow. Toilet after toilet overflowed each like a little Vesuvius soon the Pompeii red restroom floors were covered in brown. Waste material flooded out into the hallways and offices.
"Jesus what's that smell," said Marco as he looked over at Stan who shook his head then began looking around too.
"Christ the floor," said Stan as Mišović came running out of his office almost slipping and falling. The irony didn't escape Marco if the Merchant had fallen right he'd broken his head and his mission would've been over just not for the better.
"What's going on? What that smell Jesus! Is something wrong with the plumbing? Call someone and get them in here to fix it. Crap!"
Stan and Marco went and got out their Wellies. Venice with its frequent bouts of 'acqua alta' high water, boots were kept in every office almost like umbrellas in London.
"Run down to security and find out what's going on," said Stan. Standing in the hallway they found the whole building was being flooded. "I need to talk with our Boss."
Marco walked into the security office and found they were flooded too. Some guys were trying to shovel it out the window into the canal but people outside were yelling back at them from the sidewalk and passing boats as they risked being hit.
"Hey the boss wants to know what happened. I need to tell him something have there been any workers around the building?"
"Oh crap," said one of the guards. "There have been people from the public works office repairing the canal walls at night. It's in the pass down. You don't think they could've screwed up the drainage? I remember talking to one of them and he told me they had hired extracomunitari. I bet they did it."
"Terron'," said one of the security guards with a shovel.
"I'll check into it," said Marco as he smiled leaving. He couldn't help but wonder if this wasn't some plan of Chuck's so he'd played along. He went back to the boss's office knocked on the door then went in. Inside Stan was standing next to Mišović each with a key in their hand.
"I'm sorry," said Marco as he started to turn and leave.
"No stay you're a part of the inner circle now," said Dejan. Stan began to protest but Mišović shut him down. "This is the fail safe for the computerized vault system I have that protects all my secrets. It takes two keys to operate now I'm putting it in standby. We can't afford for all this water to short out the system. It will be in standby until this mess is straightened out. What did you find out?"
"But aren't you afraid with the system being off line you'll be vulnerable? I mean if Carmichael, the CIA or FSB find out then they could try to excuse the word 'eliminate' you."
"Sir should you really be discussing this with him," said Stan. "I mean this is your safety and the heart of your, our organization."
"Our! There's no our here there is me and the rest of you work for me that's the extent of 'our' and as far as safety Marco has proven himself. Don't forget Carmichael tortured him. What have you done to protect me other than getting a paper cut? Marco, I'm glad to see you're concerned but don't worry under this building is a water tight vault that has the originals of everything. All the dirty little secrets that would rock the world if they were released, now what did you find out?"
"Public works had people repairing the canal walls outside the building. They worked at night so as not to disrupt our activities and we can see how well that went. I'll call someone up and get this taken care of. I suggest we close all the offices until this mess is cleaned up."
"I agree, go and make it happen. Crap, I'm going I'll go to la Giudecca" said Dejan. "I can at least get a Bellini maybe that will take this smell away. Have our people keep an extra sharp eye out in Montenegro I don't trust them. This had better not have been their doing because if it was the month is over."
The boss sloshed out of the office slamming the door on the way out. Stan closed the panel on the desk then motioned for Marco to leave. The queen bee was separated from the hive but she still had a stinger in reserve was what Marco thought.
"How can I get this intel to Chuck," said Marco to himself. But Chuck had to know what he was doing and what the results would be but he wished there was some way to be sure. Can I risk a call he thought but with the extra men he put in Montenegro what would happen if it were intercepted.
"No Marco for now don't freak out," he said to himself. For now he had to be cool and wait. Somehow he knew Chuck would be contracting him soon.
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Sarah left their room then walked back down the hall getting back on the elevator. She rehearsed different scenarios in her head as the lights on the panel indicated the floors she was passing. How was she supposed to engage the subject she caught herself asking? Engage the subject, the subject was her father, and engage was just a conversation but this was the sum total of her training; to reduce everyone down to agents, assets, marks and targets. Chuck was teaching her to be human something she wondered if she truly ever had been. The bell rang and she stepped out still not knowing what to say or even how to start.
"Wing it," she told herself as she walked across the casino floor heading straight for Jack's door. She knocked then went in. However, Jack wasn't alone Emma was sitting across from his desk laughing with him.
"Angel, come in a pull up a chair," said Jack as he got up walking around from behind. Hearing her father call her that after what she was told in Serbia made her cringe.
"I'm sorry you're busy I'm intruding. You and Mom should finish I'll just come back later," said Sarah as she started to turn and leave.
"No we're done," said Emma as she got up. "I think you two have something to discuss besides Molly and Razib will be done with lessons soon and I need to keep an eye on them. They're up to something I just haven't figured out what yet."
"Do you want Chuck or me to talk to them," asked Sarah. "Just let us know it's no problem we don't mind."
"No not yet I can't bring in the heavy cannons every time I think something is up," said Emma as she looked over at Jack. There was something she was missing. "Well I've got to go." Emma left leaving Sarah standing.
"Sit down," said Jack as he pulled a chair next to hers. "You don't remember the heavy cannons do you?" Sarah shook her head no. "That's what granny used to threaten me with every time I brought you home after an adventure. The difference was she actually had a cannon, a Mauser broomhandle she got off an enemy she killed in the war or that's how the story goes. But that's not why you're here or is it?"
"No Jack and you know why I'm here."