Hello again. I'm sure a lot of you are watching the Lost finale right now, but I'll have to catch up on those on DVD when I get a chance. Gotta love NetFlix, right? I have to admit being a bit apprehensive about the Chuck finale tomorrow night. I saw the previews, and it looks awesome. But I try to keep my stories within as much of the canon of the show as possible, and I have this sinking fear a lot of what I have written is about to go AU in a hurry. But then, the episodes since April 5th have been great, so I should just get over it, right?
This chapter pushes the "T" rating a bit, but I've certainly done racier stories than this before. Things really start to get going in this story, and obviously we're leading up to some of the remaining parts of the title.
Enjoy, and please leave reviews. I promise not to ruin the ending to Lost if you do! :-)
Echo Park
April 23, 2011
12:30 AM PDT
Casey shut off the surveillance system in disgust and walked to his TV. He popped in the DVD regarding the Korean War and sat back with a bottle of scotch. He had been meaning to catch up on the battles and the people involved in that war, since they never got to it in his history classes. They always ran out of time in the school year before they could cover it.
He wasn't even sure why he still listened in on Chuck's apartment. Sarah was right there. Casey knew a lot about Chuck, but obviously Sarah had the advantage when it came to hands-on experience. He only made the occasional check these days in case something happened to the both of them. But nothing ever happened, apart from nocturnal activities he was too disgusted to eavesdrop on.
Things felt a lot different these days. Devon's and Sarah's conversations with him about what he would do next were still stuck in his head. He always assumed he would have to protect Chuck until he got the Intersect out of his head. He never expected Chuck to keep it. In fact, Chuck got an upgrade. One that made him into something Casey never expected. Chuck was…a spy. And a damn good one. Casey may have found Chuck's attitude and personality beyond infuriating, but he could never question Chuck's loyalty and integrity. As far as he knew, no asset had done what Chuck did over the last four years. He thought back to the time when he was ordered to kill Chuck when the new Intersect computer was to be brought online. It wouldn't have been the first time Casey had been called to perform such a duty, but he felt complete remorse about ever having contemplated it. Thankfully it never occurred, and there was no way in hell he would eliminate Chuck now, orders or otherwise. Not after what Chuck did for his country…and for him.
But now Chuck and Sarah were leaving the field, and someone else would take their place. He had a lot of respect for Slade to be doing this for Chuck and Sarah, but it was a different situation. Beckman might keep him alone in the field, like he is now, or she may assign him a partner. However, he didn't see himself partnering with Slade. Casey would go on to…what?
That was the question, wasn't it? Even though Beckman would surely give him his choice of assignments, he couldn't think of a single one that had any appeal at this point of his life. He wasn't a young cadet full of piss and vinegar anymore. He actually sat in front of a TV with his parents and watched Armstrong and Aldrin walk on the moon. He remembered climbing on the roof of his house and waving an American flag when the Iranian hostages were released and when the U.S. beat the Soviets in hockey in Lake Placid. But now he watched as so many of the people who had surrounded him the last four years going on to bigger and better things. Devon and Ellie were starting a family, Morgan actually grew up and got married, Slade dropped 200 pounds and turned into James Bond, and Chuck and Sarah were finally going to stop the relationship dance and do what everybody thought they should have done long ago. And he would do…what?
He didn't have an answer. He didn't know any other life than the life he chose to lead. And that life had consequences, as he had to rescue the fiancé and daughter he left behind. Now that life was starting to wind down, and it never provided Casey a path to go down next. He didn't want to fade away, like the ballad Douglas MacArthur quoted about old soldiers. He still wanted to be a part of something, even if that something wasn't in the NSA. In the grand scheme of things, one person didn't matter to the Agency. They got along fine before he arrived, and they'd get along fine after he left.
He heard a beeping sound coming from his mobile phone. He reached over to check it, and an email was waiting for him on his private account. It was an email address very few people had. Only Chuck and Sarah, his mother, and a few others had it. Nobody ever contacted him on it unless it was something important. He went to his computer and brought up the email service on his Web browser.
It was her.
He stared in shock at the short message. It was a message she never would have sent unless she needed him. But clearly she was in trouble and wanted to meet with him face-to-face. She was in trouble, as the location "Rick's Place" would indicate. "Watch the parade two days early" must have meant a date. Casey gave it some thought.
April 29th. Two days before the May Day parades.
He knew he had to do this alone, because she had no other outlets. Presumably, she was flying under the radar and was in grave danger. But Casey was well aware of what had happened before. He didn't want to put Chuck and Sarah in a bad situation. He could use their help, but telling them he was doing this would get them in trouble. If they knew, Beckman would surely arrest them for not stopping him. He couldn't do that to them, but he also had to make sure they knew where he was. From there, it would be up to them to decide to join him, arrest him, or pretend they didn't know anything at all. His gut instinct told him they would join him if given the chance. God knows Casey never met two people more loyal to him than Chuck and Sarah, and it was the part of this assignment he would never forget. But he didn't want them risking their careers or lives for him. It wasn't right.
He printed the email and left it under his keyboard. Chuck would be smart enough to figure it out what it meant. He then set forth to pack what he needed to find Ilsa Trinchina.
Buy More
April 23, 2011
10:30 AM PDT
Jill Roberts walked into the Buy More. She couldn't believe how many of the same people still worked here two years later. However, the person she needed to talk to wasn't in the store. It was Saturday, and perhaps he had the day off. She wasn't sure if he still lived in Echo Park. In fact, she wasn't sure if Walker and Casey were still around, although she hadn't see either one thus far. She saw Big Mike walking near his office. Of all the people she could talk to, she figured he may not remember her, especially now that her hair was shorter and lighter. She was also trying to avoid anybody at the Nerd Herd desk, as anybody in that group not named Chuck was…a little scary.
She walked up to Big Mike, who looked like he was heading off on a fishing trip. "Excuse me. I was wondering if you could tell me if Chuck Bartowski was working today."
"It's his day off," Big Mike replied in a hurry, and Jill felt a bit relieved he didn't recognize her. "If you have a computer problem, just talk to Jeff and Lester at the Nerd Herd desk. Now if you'll excuse me, the fish don't catch themselves."
"Can I leave a phone number for…"
"Leave it with them, ma'am. I'm already two hours late and I gotta find a good spot on the lake."
Jill watched Big Mike walk quickly out of the store. She glanced over at Jeff and Lester, who appeared to be surfing for video of auto accident victims. She visibly shuddered and walked quickly out of the store. She got out her keys to unlock her car. The Orange Orange was still across the parking lot from the Buy More. Perhaps Agent Walker was there. She might be willing to listen, although Jill had to contemplate the possibility Walker was just as likely to put a bullet through her head. But she had to chance it. Chuck might be in danger because of what happened to her.
She froze in place as a gun was pointed at her head.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 23, 2011
3:00 PM EDT
Jimmy Slade stayed around his hotel for the last 24 hours. He completed a few reports he fell behind on and checked in with Stephen Bartowski. The plans for the new Intersect were going as scheduled, and Jimmy wouldn't be needed for at least two weeks. There were only a few more tests, and then Stephen would set up the program to get the Intersect out of Chuck's head. He told Stephen about visiting the grave of Alex's father, but he had not found Alex yet. He was still a bit hesitant, but Stephen told him not to give up. He told Jimmy to just find her and let the chips fall where they may. It would be far from the first time someone had more confidence in Jimmy than he had in himself, but Jimmy was still apprehensive about tracking down Alex when she never called him back. He wasn't sure if she felt the same way about him that he felt about her. Wouldn't she have called him back if she did? He was not an expert on matters of the heart. Actually, he was surprised he even had one. But everybody thought he deserved someone. Even he had given the possibility some thought. Was that someone Alex?
His mobile phone indicated a message. He went to look at it and fell onto the bed in horror. The message showed a picture of Alex Forrest tied to a chair and blindfolded. Jimmy read the text that accompanied the photo.
I know who you are, Mr. Slade. 1344 Frankford. 7 PM.
A cold shiver ran through Jimmy. How did anyone find out about him? Did they torture Alex? It didn't make sense. She didn't know he used to be an Intersect, and everybody else thought he was Roger Murdock. He couldn't figure it out.
Perhaps he would find out, but at the moment he was growing more and more upset. He was sick and tired of other people being killed or captured because of him. Right now, he didn't give a damn if he made it through the night. Getting Alex from whoever did this was becoming his only thought. He ran through a few possible scenarios in his head.
He checked the time. He had just less than four hours. It might be enough.
Buy More
April 23, 2011
10:50 AM PDT
Jill slowly put her hands up. She glanced back at the person with the gun. Truthfully, she had a better chance if she had found Chuck first. But she had to hope Sarah would be reasonable.
"I need to talk to Chuck," Jill said softly.
"After everything you did to him, give me one good reason why I shouldn't pull this trigger right now," Sarah replied in barely-contained fury.
"Chuck might be in trouble. Please let me tell him what happened to me, and after that you can arrest me, shoot me, whatever you want. I won't try anything."
Sarah contemplated Jill's words. There was no way in hell Jill would be stupid enough to pull some kind of trick right now, as even trying to locate Chuck meant putting herself at risk for arrest. She also had to concede the CIA was never going to keep their promise to let her go the last time, even with the information she gave Chuck. Yet Jill was willing to go back to jail just to tell Chuck something. A few more minutes wouldn't hurt.
"Let's go," Sarah said, pointing her gun in the direction of the Orange Orange. "And keep your hands in sight."
"OK," Jill quietly replied, keeping her hands out in front of her where Sarah could see them. The two walked over to the Orange Orange. Sarah kept her gun aimed at Jill while she called Chuck and asked him to get over there quickly.
Los Angeles International Airport
April 23, 2011
11:00 AM PDT
Casey walked through the terminal with a determined look on his face. He quickly went over his list. He had five days to get to Ilsa, but he knew that it wouldn't take long for his disappearance to raise red flags everywhere. He had to take a very indirect approach to finding her. He carried a minimum of clothing and supplies for the moment, as getting from Los Angeles to Europe would not be the problem. The problem would be going to several different places along the way to throw anyone off the trail who attempted to follow him. He would need to obtain more weapons and transportation once he got over there, but he had a few contacts on that side of the ocean he could rely on for such things. For right now, it was a matter of finding a flight and determining the route.
He wasn't sure what Chuck and Sarah were doing. Knowing them, they were probably still in bed on a Saturday. He hoped they would figure out what he was doing. He didn't want to worry them, but he didn't want to involve them, either. What he was doing would at least end his career, if not his life. He couldn't see Beckman absolving him of this. But he couldn't leave Ilsa out there to die without at least trying to help her. He hoped Chuck and Sarah would understand. Even though he didn't want them to risk their careers or lives for him, a part of him hoped they would. He never worked with two better people in his life, and he could use them now more than ever.
Orange Orange
April 23, 2011
11:15 AM PDT
Chuck walked into the Orange Orange and stopped short when he saw Sarah with her gun out.
"What's going on?" He turned to the person staring down the barrel of Sarah's Sig Sauer pistol. His eyes went wide. He never thought he would see Jill Roberts again.
"Hi Chuck," Jill said completely devoid of anger or conceit.
"What's…what's going on?"
Jill exhaled deeply. "I'm not sure, but I think someone was trying to find out about you, and they drugged me to tell them."
Chuck slowly sat down at the same table as Jill. Sarah lowered her gun but kept a wary eye on Jill.
"They drugged you?"
"It must have been some sort of truth serum. It wasn't one I had built a tolerance to when I was working with Fulcrum. Whoever this person was, they knew I was working at a bar in Arizona. He started going to the bar the previous week. He never said much, but he always listened when I talked about work. He must have slipped something in my drink at the end of my shift. I can't remember what we talked about, but I swear going to college was mentioned somehow. The next thing I remember is waking up in the middle of Mexico two days later with no wallet or phone. I hitchhiked my way to the nearest town to call the people at the bar. As soon as I figured out what he did, I knew I had to find you and warn you."
Chuck and Sarah looked at each other, and both were thinking the exact same thing. It felt like far too much of a coincidence that Cole Barker would be killed and Jill Roberts would be drugged for information soon afterward. Something was not right.
"We'll contact the CIA and relay the information," Sarah replied in a neutral tone, attempting to mask her contempt for Jill. "It will be their decision what to do with you."
"Sarah," Chuck quickly spoke. "Jill came all this way to warn us and she didn't have to…"
"Chuck, it's OK," Jill replied. "Truthfully, the time I've been away was far more than I deserved. There's no need to ask for leniency."
"I'll tell the CIA you cooperated, Jill," Sarah told her. To some extent, she could sympathize with Chuck for wanting to show Jill some compassion. It wasn't something she would have ever contemplated before meeting Chuck. But it was amazing how she had changed in these last four years. And he was the reason why.
1344 Frankford, Philadelphia
April 23, 2011
7:00 PM EDT
Alex Forrest sat in the same chair where she had been for the last six hours. She wasn't entirely certain how long she had been out, but the blindfold had been removed only a few minutes ago. She took a look at the people surrounding her. She dismissed most of them as hired help. They were insignificant. Her eyes focused on the person who appeared to be the leader.
Mr. Diaz looked at her with no expression on his face whatsoever. It was a little odd. Typically, someone who captured you either had considerable anger boiling under the surface or had a self-satisfied gaze, as if they owned you. His expression was as neutral as Alex had ever seen out of someone who captured her.
"It won't be long now, Agent Forrest. If the rumors are true about Jimmy Slade, he'll be prompt."
"Who's Jimmy Slade?" Alex asked out of reflex more than anything else.
Mr. Diaz took a knife and dragged the blade along Alex's face and throat. "Please do not give me a reason to prolong your death. Once I have Slade, you will no longer be of use. But I promise to end it quickly and painlessly if you don't try anything stupid."
He paced around Alex. "Yes, I know all about him, just like I know all about you. Alexandra Caroline Forrest, born August 24, 1977; B.S. in Criminology from Temple University, 1999; mother died of breast cancer, 2006; your father died ten days ago from complications following a stroke in early January…my condolences, by the way…you have a brother, 32 years old, prominent attorney in Philadelphia; you donate $20,000 of your paltry salary every year to the Susan G. Komen for The Cure Foundation anonymously in your mother's name. Doesn't really make up for missing her funeral, but an 'A' for effort, Agent Forrest."
Forrest kept a blank expression on her face, but she felt complete rage inside. Had it not been for her hands being tied to the chair, the only thing stopping her from using one of the dozens of methods she knew to kill someone with her bare hands would be selecting the one that inflicted the most pain.
"I'm sure you asked yourself why I didn't interrogate you," Diaz continued. "Since I know everything about Slade, there's really no need to ask you any questions. I just need you to lure him here. He seems to have a soft spot for certain people, and you're one of them. I'm sure he's more than willing to cooperate if he thinks it will keep you alive. And from there, once I have the other two pieces of the puzzle, I can retire with my big payday. Perhaps buy a nice place along the beach, far away from the world."
Mr. Diaz turned when he heard the footsteps. Jimmy Slade entered the warehouse from the opposite end and walked in his direction. Mr. Diaz took out his gun, and the men with them pointed theirs at Jimmy.
"That's far enough, Mr. Slade," Mr. Diaz said. Jimmy stopped 30 feet away from them. "As you can see, she has not been harmed…significantly. Whether she stays that way is up to you."
Alex studied Jimmy's face. Something didn't look right. It was almost as if someone else controlled him. She had absolutely no clue what he might attempt. He could easily give in like Mr. Diaz wanted or he could shoot every person in the room, maybe even her. There was no way to know for certain.
"I'll give you once chance. Let her go," Jimmy replied in a tone completely foreign to Alex.
Mr. Diaz smiled. "Bravery was certainly in your file, so I credit you for not caving with your girlfriend right in front of you. But it's obvious I have the advantage here. So I'll have to turn you down on that offer."
Jimmy gave a slight smirk. "Clearly you don't know me well enough."
Jimmy opened his coat and dropped it to the ground. He immediately grabbed a button wired to the vest he was wearing.
"Fifty pounds of C-4 explosives. More than enough to turn the entire Warehouse District into a tax write-off in seconds. And I would suggest the sniper you have placed behind me lower his weapon. Because I can either push the button on this detonator or let go of it and the trigger is released. Either way…boom. So unless one of your thugs is Usain Bolt, I'd say you have no chance of running over here and grabbing the detonator before everybody gets to know everybody else REALLY well."
Mr. Diaz stepped back and Alex was shaking. This was one of the things that Jimmy could have tried, since she read the report from when he worked the first time with Bartowski, Walker, and Casey. He had threatened suicide to get The Ring to release Colonel Casey. She shouldn't have been surprised by this.
"Ten seconds."
The men with Mr. Diaz looked at him apprehensively, but Mr. Diaz looked content to let Jimmy do it. Alex stared at Jimmy and suddenly noticed something.
Jimmy was humming a tune.
Good God, he is insane, she thought. He was actually going to hum a tune as he took everyone out, including her?
Wait, what song is that? I've heard it before.
Alex tried to figure out the tune Jimmy was humming. It was getting close to the ten seconds.
Isn't that 867-530…
Alex's eyes went wide. She spun herself in the chair and fell to the ground, facing away from Jimmy, and shut her eyes tightly in the process. Jimmy reached behind him and threw two objects towards Mr. Diaz and his men. He turned and ducked down. The two flash grenade canisters he threw exploded. Everybody was blinded and staggered about. He pulled out two guns and charged the group, firing indiscriminately at Diaz's men. He got to Alex and pulled out a knife to cut the ropes holding her to the chair. He pulled her up, and the two sprinted out of the warehouse. He guided her towards his car, firing behind him at anyone in pursuit. Nobody followed them out. He helped her into the car and then got in the driver's seat. He floored it and the car peeled away from the area.
Echo Park
April 23, 2011
2:00 PM PDT
Chuck and Sarah talked to General Beckman over videoconference regarding the information Jill provided them.
"The Ring must be making a move on you and the Intersect computer, Chuck. Someone stole the plans for the Cipher from a vault in the DNI yesterday afternoon. Three technicians were killed. Given that whoever did this was able to use the access codes of someone who was at lunch and knew to disable the cameras and sensors, it has to be someone on this inside. The good news is, they didn't get the most vital pieces. Those are locked away here at the DNI. Most of the information that was stolen from the lab is useless without it."
"Do you think they know about the plans for a new Intersect, General?" Sarah asked.
"We're not certain, Agent Walker. However, we have been trying to contact anybody else who would know about Castle or you."
"I don't understand. Why not go after us directly?" Chuck asked.
"Whoever is doing this must know that every attempt that Fulcrum and The Ring ever made against Castle failed. We think that's why they haven't tried to go after Dr. Woodcomb or Mr. Grimes. They're going after anybody not in Burbank. Everybody whom you can't protect."
"Carina Miller is in Europe right now on an assignment, so I think that would rule her out for now," Sarah answered.
"And it isn't likely they would go after Stephen Bartowski, since we don't even know where he is right now. That leaves only two other targets."
"Alex and Jimmy," Chuck replied with a growing fear.
Beckman's mood turned somber. "We haven't been able to contact either of them for several hours. We have to assume the worst. I want the two of you on lockdown. Stay away from Castle, and come up with some excuse for not working at the Buy More. We'll send someone to work for you at the Orange Orange, Agent Walker. Contact Colonel Casey and update him on your status. As long as Chuck has the Intersect, he is our only priority. Agent Walker, you and Colonel Casey guard him with your lives."
"Yes, General," Sarah replied. General Beckman disconnected the link. Chuck and Sarah looked at each other, both in fear of what was happening and concern that nobody knew where Alex and Jimmy were.
"Chuck, are you OK?" Sarah asked him gently.
"Yeah, it's just…I wasn't expecting this. Things had been going so well and now…"
She took his hands. "We'll be fine. Your father is safe if they don't know where to look for him. And Jimmy and Alex are two of the best agents the CIA has. They can take care of themselves."
Chuck looked down. "No, I know. I just got a sense of cold dread the way Beckman told you to guard me with your life. That doesn't seem right. Like your expendable and I'm not."
"But she's right, Chuck. It doesn't matter how good of an agent you've become or whether you can defend yourself. You still have all the secrets of the government in your head, and I don't. She can't afford to think otherwise, and I have to think the same way, too. From a CIA perspective, you're far more valuable than me."
Chuck looked down at the ground. "I guess I'll never be a good agent, then. I'll never be able to think of myself as being more valuable than you. I just can't. Nobody is more beautiful or amazing than you are. I'd do anything to keep you safe from harm."
Sarah shut her eyes, trying not to be overcome with emotion. She pulled Chuck's face to hers and kissed him. She held him tightly as she pressed her cheek against his.
"I love you, Chuck. I always will," she whispered in his ear as her grip on him increased exponentially. They held each other in their apartment.
Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia
April 23, 2011
9:30 PM EDT
This was part of the strategy for Jimmy Slade. When you just foiled the plans of someone who tried to capture you, the logical strategy would be to run like hell and put some distance between you and them. Jimmy decided to do the opposite. He hid in the last place he thought they would look: in the Presidential Suite in one of the best hotels in Philadelphia. Of course, he registered under a fake name nobody ever heard of and told the desk clerk nobody was to disturb them. Given that he was paying $3,000 for the room, certainly the hotel management would give him some distance. Hopefully, that would also mean the man who captured Alex to get to him wouldn't think a government agent would live in the lap of luxury while they were on the run.
Jimmy guided Alex into the hotel room and showed her to the couch. He carefully removed the vest of C-4 and placed it gently on the table. He went to the bar and poured a glass of water from one of the bottles in the refrigerator. He handed it to Alex and walked back to the bar. Alex watched him as he took another glass, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, and poured more than a few ounces in the glass. He gulped it down in one shot. Obviously Jimmy was trying to calm some very frayed nerves.
It didn't help. He whipped the glass against the opposite wall, and it shattered into pieces. He leaned against the bar and buried his face in his hands.
"Son of a bitch. What the hell have I done? Ellie almost gets killed because of me, Chuck, Sarah, and Casey have to bail my ass out in Vegas because I can't stop some asshole from stealing a memory stick, and now I almost lose you! What the hell was I thinking? Why the hell did I ever think I could be an agent? I should have just died in that explosion."
Jimmy fell back against the wall. He was shaking his head. "God, I am so sorry for this. You didn't deserve to have this happen. You put up with my BS and this is the thanks you get. Worse, this happens to you when your father just passed away…I didn't want you caught up in this. You shouldn't have to suffer because of me. You…"
Alex lunged at Jimmy and kissed him with every fiber in her being. She held his head in her hands as she kissed him like she had never kissed anybody in her life. It was a desire and emotion she never felt from anyone before, not even her fiancé. She pressed up tightly against him, threatening to break his ribs from how fiercely she gripped him.
"Wait, wait," Jimmy protested, trying to break away. "This isn't the time. You've been through hell, you need to rest, and…"
Alex grabbed him by the lapels of his shirt and slammed him into the wall. She looked into his eyes with a fury in her that matched the intensity of her passion.
"TAKE…YOUR GODDAMN…CLOTHES OFF!"
Jimmy was too scared to not listen. He started returning her kisses as she ripped his shirt open. A powerful moan escaped her lips as Jimmy started feasting on that one spot behind her ear that drove her crazy. She quickly tore off his pants and slid her hand inside his boxers. He pulled her shirt off and made quick work of her bra. She screamed in pleasure as he caressed and teased her breasts with his lips and tongue. She quickly pulled her pants and underwear off and tore Jimmy's boxers away from him. She leaped into his arms, kissing him hard and snaking her tongue deep inside of his mouth. He quickly carried her to the bedroom.
Echo Park
April 23, 2011
10:00 PM PDT
Sarah quietly approached the door to Casey's apartment with her gun drawn. Casey hadn't responded to any of their calls, and they were worried. She didn't want Chuck with her if something bad happened, but there was little choice right now. At least he didn't have quite the aversion to carrying a gun he used to have. He kept an eye on the courtyard as she unlocked Casey's door. She pushed the door open and peeked in with her gun pointed. There was nobody around. She slowly entered the apartment with Chuck close on her heels. Chuck turned around and checked the security keypad on the wall. Fortunately, he found Casey's code recently. He quickly disarmed the system so he and Sarah wouldn't fall victim to any of the traps the apartment's security had.
"Where is he?" Sarah asked.
Chuck went to Casey's bedroom and checked in the closets. "He must have left on his own. Several bags are missing."
Sarah checked the small weapons cabinet in Casey's apartment, which was actually the size of one you'd find in a hunting lodge. "He took several guns and plenty of ammunition. The guns he took can't be picked up by x-ray machines or metal detectors."
"So he flew somewhere," Chuck concluded. He went by Casey's computer and saw the piece of paper under it. "He left us a clue."
Sarah looked at the piece of paper. "Vous aime means 'love you' in French. But SB? Rick's Place?"
Chuck had a flash, as several images of Casey went through his mind, along with several handwritten letters.
"It's a rendezvous in Prague. A café Casey always frequented in order to meet contacts."
Chuck turned to her and grinned. "And guess what SB means?"
Sarah looked at him for a moment. Suddenly she had the same grin on her face.
"Sugar Bear. This is from Ilsa."
"Casey went to Prague. But why?"
"Ilsa must be in some sort of trouble. Perhaps she needed him because she couldn't contact anyone else. That's why he left this out. Because he knew we'd figure out where he was."
"Wait," Chuck replied. "Does that mean he wants us to find him?"
"He doesn't want us to get into trouble. Think about it: if he told us he was going rogue, we'd be arrested for not stopping him or reporting him. He wants us to have full deniability."
"Given what's going on, the logical thing to do would be to stay locked down and leave him on his own, right?"
"Correct." Chuck and Sarah looked at each other. The same decision passed through their minds.
"On the other hand, if someone is looking for you and knows where to find you…"
"Be somewhere else," Sarah replied with a smile.
Charles DeGaulle International Airport, Paris
April 24, 2011
2:00 PM
Casey quickly made his way through the terminal, although he wasn't sure why. He had a couple of hours before his flight to Munich. The anticipation was starting to seep in. He had been through his fair share of missions over the last 23 years, but something felt different about this. Maybe it was feeling his youth coming back to him. He knew he was defying standing orders by doing this. Maybe it was the thought of seeing Ilsa again.
Most likely, it was about him. He thought about what he had left behind to protect this country. He never thought of himself first his entire life, even as a child. He was a choir boy in school because his mother wanted him to be. He took the job with Colonel Keller because he thought it was the best way to protect the country from its enemies. He put up with Chuck's foibles, Sarah's lady feelings, and the Buy Morons because he thought he was protecting something vital to the country. But tracking down Ilsa was something he was doing for himself. True, rescuing her was important. But there was no "greater good" that could come of this, as far as he knew. This was about helping someone important to him…and only him.
He checked the time again as he took a seat in a bar near the gate. He would drive from Munich to Prague tomorrow. It wasn't a long trip. Only four hours, give or take. But he was going to take his time. He would get to Prague by the end of the day, and he would do some surveillance. He wanted a good idea of his surroundings before attempting to put himself out in the public eye waiting for Ilsa. If he was her only chance, he had to be prepared for anything.
Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia
April 24, 2011
9:00 AM EDT
Jimmy lay on the bed in their hotel room with Alex curled up on top of him. He couldn't move an inch. He was fairly certain body parts were broken after Alex spent the entire night letting him know how much she appreciated being rescued. If there were any doubts how Alex felt about him, she put those to rest. Again, and again, and again.
And judging by how she was grinding against his body and kissing his neck, she wasn't done yet.
She playfully licked at his earlobe and gently pulled at it with her fingers. She began to laugh.
"What are you doing?"
She moved up to gaze into his eyes. "I was just looking in your ear. Wow. I really did screw your brains out last night."
Jimmy started laughing. "OK, that was a good one." Alex smiled and kissed him deeply.
"Mmm, I like this attitude better than your attitude last night. You have a penchant for thinking everything is your fault. You probably blame yourself for global warming. Well, at least you're not one of those overly-sensitive guys who insists on bringing his girlfriend breakfast in bed.
Jimmy shut his eyes in embarrassment. "Aaaah, hell."
"What?"
Jimmy tilted his head. Alex looked behind her to see a large room service cart filled with pastries, croissants, muffins, juice, coffee, and even a bouquet of roses. She turned back to him and smiled.
"OK, I'll forgive you this once. Besides, it's time I ate something else, right?"
Jimmy laughed. "I'm sure I'll be the only moron on this planet to say it, but I'd appreciate that."
Alex wiggled her eyebrows and tickled Jimmy's lips with the tip of her tongue. "Oh, come on. I wasn't that insane last night, was I? It's still attached, isn't it?"
"Next time, I want that guaranteed in writing."
She laughed as she sat up and poured a cup of coffee. She took a long sip and lay back in the bed, snuggling against Jimmy as she handed him the cup. He took a sip as well.
"Thank you for what you did last night," Alex said softly as she kissed him.
Jimmy gently ran his hand along her arm. "I did what I had to do. I'm just glad you picked up on my hint quickly. That detonator wasn't actually connected to the C-4. Thank God you remembered that from Las Vegas."
Alex gave a gentle laugh. "I think you've gotten more out of that Tommy Tutone song than Tommy Tutone ever did."
"Probably true. He had to go back to teaching science to sixth-graders." Jimmy paused and gave her a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm so sorry to hear about your father."
Alex wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. "Thank you. It's…it's been very difficult for me these last three months. I knew it would eventually happen, but I still don't know what to feel right now. My brother and I are back on speaking terms. I think we've gotten at least to the point where we can still be a family. But now, my parents are gone. I've always looked up to them. They helped me get to where I am today. Without them, it feels like…I don't know…"
"Like you're out there alone? Just floating around and you're not sure which way to go?"
Alex squeezed him tightly as she felt a few tears. "Yes, exactly. Like I don't know what supposed to happen next. I'm scared. I guess I should have asked you about it. I mean, your parents aren't around anymore, correct?"
Jimmy exhaled deeply. "Perhaps, but I don't know if I'm really a good source for that. My mom and my sister died when I was 8. What 8-year-old knows how to deal with something like that? My father was a full-blown alcoholic by that point, but he stopped parenting long before that day. And then I find out he was responsible for killing my mom and Joanna. I wasn't exactly crying a river when he dropped dead of a heart attack. It…sorry, I'm not helping much."
Alex's hand moved up to caress Jimmy's face. "You're listening to me. That's everything. And I'm so sorry I didn't call you. I don't know what was wrong with me. Things have felt so out of control. You've been the only constant I could rely on. Maybe that's why I was like I was last night. It was as if…I couldn't get enough of you. I was desperate. I needed you."
Jimmy looked away, even more upset about Alex being kidnapped. "What you needed is to not have to worry about some son of a bitch taking you just to get to my sorry ass. It's just driving me nuts…"
"Enough of that," Alex sharply replied, sliding on top of Jimmy to look him in the eye. "There are plenty of people out there who want me dead because of what I do. Any one of them could have gotten me before now. And there's probably just as many who want you dead, too. And it's nothing you did or didn't do. It's who you are. You're an agent. You're supposed to protect this country against threats. That means there are people who want to kill you because it's your job to keep them from harming someone else. Either of us could easily be captured by some South American dictator while we're spying on them or get tortured by some al-Qaeda cell who's about to commit a terrorist act and doesn't want us getting in their way. Those bastards in New York wanted us dead, but we stopped them. Everybody who's seen you in action thinks you're a good agent, including me. Just stop trying to think every problem in this world is your responsibility. That doesn't matter now."
She gave him a long hard kiss and wrapped her legs around him. "Because right now, I want to take a shower. So guess what?"
Jimmy exhaled and smiled. "Somehow I knew that two-person shower would come in handy."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah. Because lathering up a hot, naked woman is such a chore to you, right?"
Jimmy gave her a gentle growl. "Sheesh, that's all you ever think about."
Alex kissed him and flttted her tongue inside his mouth. Her hand slid down between them.
"Look who's talking, Mr. 90 Degrees. Shower, now."
Jimmy relented and walked to the bathroom with Alex firmly wrapped around him.
Echo Park
April 24, 2011
8:00 AM PDT
Chuck and Sarah didn't get much sleep last night. So many things were happening right now. They hadn't felt danger like this for a long time. They were starting to put the pieces together regarding what was going on, but so much was still up in the air. The only thing they could do at this point was track down Casey and hope Jimmy and Alex had some luck.
They sat at the kitchen table, where thankfully Sarah had bought the premium coffee the other day and brewed a pot for both of them. It wasn't much, but any little bit of help was welcome at this hour.
Sarah's iPhone began to ring. She looked at it and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank God," she replied, showing Chuck Jimmy's picture and number on the Caller ID.
"Jimmy, are you OK?"
"We are now, yes. What is going on? Someone tried to capture Alex."
"They did? Is she OK?"
"She's fine. I got her out of there. I've never seen this person before."
"What did he look like?"
"5'8" medium build, mid-40's. Brown hair, slightly balding. Wait." There was silence for a moment. "Alex said he was trying very hard to not look distinctive in any way. Very professional demeanor. He was working for someone, presumably The Ring."
Sarah looked at Chuck. "There's a lot more going on, Jimmy. It's related to Cole Barker being killed. Someone who used to date Chuck was drugged into giving information within the last two weeks. She gave the same description of her assailant you just did. General Beckman also told us that someone broke into the DNI and stole the plans for the Cipher."
Jimmy was silent for a moment. "So, what's the game plan?"
"Beckman ordered Chuck and I to stay on lockdown. But Casey disappeared. We think he's in Prague, attempting to find an old flame of his. Ilsa Trinchina."
"He went AWOL on you?"
"No, we didn't find out about all of this until after he left. He left us a message about leaving, but he kept it vague, just so we have deniability."
"OK, Chuck's the priority here. I'll get Casey. You keep an eye on your future husband."
"But…"
"No buts, Sarah. If you two try to do anything except stay hidden, Beckman will toss the lot of you into Leavenworth and throw away the key. I'll bring Casey and Ilsa back."
"Be careful."
"I will. Bye."
Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia
April 24, 2011
11:15 AM EDT
Jimmy was setting his computer to videoconference with General Beckman.
"General?"
"Agent Slade, Agent Forrest. It is good to see you again," Beckman replied with an impassive tone that made both of them wonder if she actually was glad to see them.
"We just talked to Chuck and Sarah. We updated them on what happened to us. Whoever made a play for Chuck's ex tried to kidnap Alex in order to get to me. Obviously their plans failed."
"Our theory is The Ring is attempting to steal the plans for the Intersect computer and possibly Chuck," Beckman replied.
General, something isn't right," Alex interjected. "Whoever this man is, he wanted Jimmy specifically. What makes him special?"
"Agent Forrest, are you returning to duty?"
Alex nodded. "I want in. I want to know who the hell is behind this. I don't take well to someone who kidnaps me."
"Report at 0800 hours tomorrow. I'll explain everything then. I have a special assignment for you, if you're sure you are up to playing no-holds-barred."
Alex smiled. "You don't have to ask a Flyers fan if they want the gloves to come off."
"Agent Slade, you'll report to Burbank and further assist with securing Chuck. If necessary, you'll also secure Orion."
"General, if I may. Chuck and Sarah have been unable to locate Colonel Casey. They're trying to come up with clues as to what happened to him. Request permission to find him."
"Was he kidnapped?"
"They don't know. They were going to inform me of anything they find. Better I try to find him than risk Chuck, right?"
"You're an equal risk at this point, Agent Slade. But I have little choice. Find Colonel Casey."
"Consider it done."
"Good luck to both of you. And Agent Forrest? It's good to have you back."
The monitor went blank. Jimmy turned to Alex. "Are you sure you want to do this? You won't jeopardize anything with your family?"
Alex turned to Jimmy with a look of determination in her eyes. "They captured me, and they went after you. They could easily go after my family, too. I want them stopped. You're damn right I want to do this."
Jimmy ran his hand along Alex's cheek and gave her a kiss. "You be careful."
They stared at each other for a long moment. Both of them wanted to say what was in their hearts. But for some reason, it never came to the surface. They held each other and kissed for a long time. They broke the kiss and quietly left the hotel. Jimmy took a taxi back to his original hotel to gather his clothes. Alex took the car Jimmy drove to her brother's house to say goodbye.
Heathrow Airport, London
April 25, 2011
9:00 AM
Jimmy exited the plane in the international terminal and walked towards the shuttles for his connecting flight to Prague. In front of him was the last thing he wanted to see.
"Aaah, hell."