Don't own Chuck
Casey and Sarah got in his Crown Vic and the first thing they did was to put the flash drive into the player. As they drove to Morgan's they listened to Chuck's conservation with Jill. Sarah tried to hold back the tears when she heard what Chuck said about her but that proved to be impossible.
"I hope you're not saying you don't trust me," said Jill.
"No more lies, no more deception you said then I found a 9mm pushed in my face. Trust is earned and so far all I've heard from you is how life is complicated. I know complicated. I live complicated. If you're here to tell me the same thing I'm out of here. Jill I told you we're over and I meant it. You ruined our relationship not me and if there's one thing I can never forgive you for it's that. You betrayed me, your family, your friends and your country. I don't even know why I came. I have a woman at home who loves and trusts me. She's going to have our baby and I'm here with you I must be stupid."
"Chuck, I'm not here to try to win you back or to rekindle some dead flame. I need your help. There's a package in my room I need delivered for me? I'd do it myself but I'm sorry the only word that comes to mind is complicated. No wait, there are bad people looking for me. People who want to kill me. I need to make sure the package is safe."
"What kind of package is it?"
"You'll understand when you see. It has to go to my parents. Please come up to my floor and I'll give it to you in the hall no string attached then I'll disappear. You won't see me again I promise. Please, I can't trust anyone else. I'm begging."
"Hear that," Sarah said as she wiped her face. "Jill's crying. Chuck can't stand to hear a woman cry. That's why he went up to her floor for this package."
"What kind of package are we talking about? Is it a bomb like the bio-bomb that LaFleur was involved in or something even worse?"
"I don't think so Chuck wouldn't take anything like that to Jill's parents. Package? Hey, what's that red glow up ahead? It looks like it's coming from Alex and Morgan's"
Casey recognized it for what it was. He'd seen too many in his military career, the glow of vehicles burning in the night after a rocket attack or blown up by an IED left along the roadside. Looking over he realized Sarah knew what it was also and he could read the desperation in her eyes.
"Step on it Casey, God please don't let us be too late," said Sarah.
"Don't worry it's not Chuck's."
"You don't know that," she snapped wanting desperately for hope.
"I just do," and when they arrived they found Casey was right. Across from Morgan's house was a chard and still burning hulk of a SUV. But as they were pulling up a red and white Toyota Matrix sped past.
"Crap, Casey I thought I saw Chuck."
"Are you sure?"
"No probably not but I thought I saw a herder zip by out of the corner of my eye but I was too distracted to be sure." She could kick herself she had never been like this in her whole career.
"Well, let's see what we've got first. I'll call it in we need our people to take over the recovery operation before the police or FBI screw it up. Looks like Chuck got into my party pack," Casey grunted and Sarah swore she saw a smile. They canvassed the scene and only found two betas in the back next to a garage one tranq'd and the other knock unconscious.
"Casey you might want to call Alex and tell her to bring home a broom from work."
"I wouldn't want to be Grimes when she gets a hold of him. You know if Chuck keeps up the Wolf is going to run out of cubs pretty soon. This one isn't going to be doing too much talking with a broken jaw. Well at least we know where they're going but the question is do we tell Beckman?"
"Do we have to Casey? I mean I'm just surprised that you would suggest it that's all. She doesn't have to know we deciphered the file yet, does she?"
"No she doesn't and Chuck has served this nation with honor. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. If there's one thing for certain there are no traitors in the Bartowski family and I'm having a hard time being played myself."
"I miss Chuck too." Casey responded with a grunt. "What's this?" said Sarah as she bent down and picked up some baby pictures from the glass covered living room floor.
"Those are Alex's when she was little. She was going to have copies made for me. She wants to give me a collage for Christmas, a kind of Alex through the years so I can see her grow."
"I think that's nice Casey. Wait what did Chuck say about Budapest? And on the audio the word 'package' my God I think I know what the package is. If I'm right all this makes sense. Casey we can't call Beckman, not yet. We have to get to the Roberts' home as soon as possible."
"We can't leave until the clean-up crew arrives but I'll call and get them to hurry up."
"Good," she said as she dialed operator assistance. "Yes, I need the current address of Dr. Wallace Roberts. Thanks." Remarkably she didn't have to give an excuse or badge number. "They haven't moved," Sarah said to Casey, "I'll explain to you once we're on the road. If that was Chuck I saw and the crew gets here in the next ten minutes we might be able to beat them."
"I'm on the phone with them now." Finally a break but Sarah wonder could the package be what she thought it was and if that were the case then how did Chuck fit in. She was brought back out of her thoughts by Casey.
"There here let's go."
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A MOTORCADE DEPARTED LAX ON ITS WAY DOWNTOWN
The presidential Zamibian jet arrived in Los Angeles just before sunrise holding up daily traffic and causing a major disruption in the local air space. A group of diplomats disembarked and after clearing customs left for vehicles that were waiting to form a motorcade. In the middle of this group of cars, limos and SUVs was a white stretch limousine with Zamibian flags flying on both sides. Inside two men were in a heated discussion over recent failures and the inability to produce desired results.
"Mr. Wolf I'm paying you for results and now all I'm hearing are excuses. Our mutual employers are not happy, not happy at all. You know they get cranky when they don't get their way and then people disappear."
"Dr. Kowambe I can assure you that the situation will be taken care of to our mutual satisfaction momentarily. We are tracking the doctor now."
"I don't have to remind you how much I've got at stake here not to mention the resources and money I have tied up."
"My dear Dr. Kowambe, I'm the one who has lost friends on this mission."
"If you don't want to lose something more personal you'd better come through soon."
"Threatening me won't help."
"But it doesn't discourage either. Besides I'm only clarifying our friends' position. There's a cage with hungry lions in it and their choice of meat is up to you. Now brief me on the situation."
"Dr. Roberts seems to have the assistance of an Agent. We don't have an ID on him yet but we're working on it. He has something to do with the CIA or the CIA is looking into him. He has a standard government GLG-20 on him. You see we've hijacked the signal and are tracking it."
"Good at least one thing you've done right. I want to be kept in the loop for all further developments."
"There's one thing else."
"Yes, and what's that?"
"Listen, I get paid to eliminate human waste and I've got no problems with that. I get paid people get killed. That's the great circle of life but me and my guys we don't like to do kids, if you know what I mean?"
"You're paid to do a job and I expect it done. If you're having a moral or a spiritual crisis, deal with it on your own time. Let me give you a little more clarification. You know I like to go big game hunting. I've hunted all over the world. It's quite exciting as a sport and really gets the blood pumping. Tracking down the prey then going in for the kill and in my study back home I have the heads of every animal I've killed mounted on the wall."
"I guess you've got quite the collection then," said Wolf already realizing the direction the conversation was going.
"Yes but I'm missing a Wolf."
The Motorcade entered the Consulate compound and stopped. The driver go out and ran back to open the door and waited for the doctor to get out. The Wolf opened his own door and got out the opposite side. "Are we clear?" asked Kowambe
"Yes, I'll take care of it."
"See to it you do. No more mistakes," said the doctor as he wondered who this man was that was helping Jill. Just the thought of her name caused him to make a fist. Years of work she had destroyed. She had to pay and that kid too JUG had to die. Both knew too much.
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ON THE RUN AGAIN
Chuck drove through the night tired and sleepy but he kept on going with his mind on the goal. Morgan and Skye were fast asleep in the back seat. Skype was stretched out with her head in Morgan's lap and he was asleep against the door with his mouth wide open snoring so loudly Chuck wondered how anyone could sleep. Jill was in the front next to him asleep against her door. She had tried to sleep on him but that made him feel uncomfortable so when she dozed off he moved her over. Now from here until dawn he was all alone searching in the distance for the first rays of a new day.
"Hey guys, we're almost there," said Chuck waking every one up. "Morgan are you awake back there?"
"What? Who? Yeah I can't believe I dozed off. Chuck can we stop and get something to drink or eat. My mouth feels like I ate cotton."
"That's probably from the taste of that big moth you ate while you were asleep."
"No, really," said Morgan making a face of disgust.
"Yeah I heard her screaming oh no help, help me then she was gone. You know like in that movie 'the fly'."
"Funny Chuck, very funny you know I couldn't sleep a week after I saw it and what are you laughing at?" said Morgan as he tickled Skye and she shrieked in laughter.
"Okay guys, there's a rest stop ahead. We can stretch, fill the car up and fill us up. My caffeine tank is running on fumes. But let's make it quick that goes doubt for you Morgan."
"Did you hear that Skye he called me slow, can you believe that? What nerve?" Skye just giggled so Morgan tickled her some more.
"Jill, what are you going to tell your parents?"
"I don't know they still think I'm in Helsinki getting over you. I never really thought I'd see them again." There was another moment of uncomfortable silence.
"Well, while we're filling up take some time and think. If you ask me don't you think it's about time they know the truth, no lies no deceptions."
"Chuck, I don't know if they can handle the truth."
"Jill, they're your parents and no matter what you've done you are their little girl. Remember who you're talking to. I know both Wally and Judy love you. If I were you I'd start from the beginning and just let it all come out."
"You don't know how much I want to. I feel like I've got all this bottled up inside and it wants to come out but I don't know."
"Then let it out. It's a little late to have second thoughts. I mean what have you got to loose and this could be your last chance. They love you and they'll understand. I won't promise you that they'll understand right away but with time they will. Don't you think they deserve that?"
"No lies, no deceptions."
"No lies, no deceptions just let it come out and what will be, will be."
"Yeah Chuck and che sarà, sarà but the future is easy to see as long as these goons are searching for her. We've got to do something about them."
"Good idea Captain Morgan and what's your plan?"
"Hold on Chuck, you forget my role on our team. I'm the arrow that points in the direction but it's your job to come up with the plan."
"Arrow huh, well mister pointy stick in which direction are you indicating and might I add what barn yard animal is usual depicted on a weathervane?"
"A rooster," said Morgan all happy and proud.
"I was thinking more of a chicken. So what direction are you pointing in my little fowl friend?"
"Well Mr. John Casey, I'd think about what's his name Kowambe. Maybe send in a Ninja assassin and take him out with a poison shuriken."
"You know Morgan that's not a bad idea."
"What the Ninja?"
"You have Ninja assassins," asked Jill.
"No and no. There are no Ninja assassins. We really did play too much EverQuest. Don't listen to Morgan and please don't encourage him. No Morgan, I'm not talking about Ninjas but the idea about Kowambe is good. If we take Kowambe out of the equation then the Wolf and the Den go away to." Finally Chuck could see a ray of hope as the sun burst over the road ahead and he pulled over feeling much lighter than before but he needed a plan.
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OUTSIDE JUDY AND WALLY ROBERT'S HOME
Sarah and Casey pull up outside Jill's house and sit in Casey's Crown Vic looking up at the house wondering on the best way to approach her parents. However, as they were about to step out of the car Casey's phone rang and on the screen was a picture of General Beckman.
"You'd better take that or she'll call me and you know if we both don't answer she's liable to send in the cavalry literally."
"Yes, General. … She's right here … We're outside the Robert's house," said Casey as Sarah made a face but Casey was right with the GPS in the phone the General knew exactly where they were. "One second let me put you on speaker."
"Good I have both of you. I wanted to pass this latest intel on. Our experts have analyzed the artwork that you discovered back at the Waldron and they were most impressed. You correctly identified the one as being a copy of the Two Sister by Pierre-Auguste Renoir in crayon. The others in pencil have been identified as belonging to the Birds of America series by John Audubon."
"Do we know what birds they were?"
"Is that important? Let me check. I'm not sure they told me," said the General rustling through papers. "Yes, here we go they seemed to be Larks, meadow and shore." Changing the topic, "I assume you're there because you think Dr. Roberts might show up at her family home?"
"Yes, General," crap thought Casey as he pointed to the flash drive and Sarah nodded. "We deciphered the audio file we recovered from the hotel which indicated they would be coming here."
"Very well, I think later on we need to have a talk about sharing with the rest of the class but for now-"
"General did you find out anything about what Chuck spoke about that you should know?" There was a prolonged silence.
"Continue with what you're doing right now. Make contact with the Roberts and see if they know the whereabouts of their daughter but I doubt if she shows up there. More likely she might have said that to throw off anyone who was listening but no stone must go unturned. If there are any changes let me know immediately. Beckman out.
"What was that?" asked Sarah. "She never answered my question."
"I don't know and I don't like it. She sure seemed like she was in a hurry to get off the line."
"I have to hand it to you that was a smart move telling her about the flash drive without telling her about the package."
"I think we need to tread lightly until things become clearer. I don't know if I totally agree with what you think the package is but I don't have any better ideas either."
"So what do you want to do?"
"Well, anyway you look at it we're going to have to go in and ruin their day?"
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ON THE FREEWAY
Three black SUVs formed a line taking the exit for North Burbank then made their way through the city in the early hours just before dawn. Driving past the new construction site where the former Bartowski family house stood. The city fire department ruled that it was a gas leak that had destroyed the residence.
Three men huddled together in the lead SUV going over a city map.
"Okay we had them at this rest stop less than fifteen minutes ago and now they should be right ahead of us. We're having difficulty tracking them down to a particular residence."
"We could just go door to door?"
"Yeah and offer to sell Girl Scout cookies while we're at it. This is covert not overt. We can't just High Noon it out in the middle of the street. How long do you think it would be before the police arrived? No wonder you're a Beta."
"You don't have to be nasty about it. I was just suggesting."
"No Alpha's right. If we go walking around in this neighborhood we'd stick out like a sore thumb and it wouldn't be long before someone from a citizen's watch would call the police. Then we'd have to kill a cop and things would seriously go sideways. And our patron is starting to get a little tired of poor results."
"Hey don't look at me," said Alpha. "You're the one who hired these light weights and besides that guy the doctor picked up to help her out is good."
"On that I'd agree," said the Wolf. "I almost feel sorry that I've got to kill him."
The vehicles stopped and two men got out and made their way back to each of their teams. After they boarded their respective SUVs the convoy started up again.
"Impress me," said Wolf to his tech working on the triangulation. "Turn left on the next block it's the fourth house on the right."
"You learned all that from the GPS?"
"That and the telephone directory, the phone is listed to a Dr. Wallace Roberts, Dr. Jill Roberts' father."
"I knew there was a reason why I paid you good money."