Don't own Chuck

It got late and Chuck wanted to get some sleep because the next day was going to come early. Part of his plan had changed. Now that Beckman was onboard with him going to Mexico he changed his means of transportation. Chartering a chopper out of Bob Hope they'd fly down then he and Alex would meet up with Beckman's team in Mexicali. Sarah wasn't sure if she was happy with the fact that the General seemed to go along with this plan but at least Chuck would have backup.

"Chuck please be careful just because Beckman says she approves doesn't mean she really approves. She's telling you go ahead and stick your head out but if it gets chopped off it's your fault."

"I prefer to think of it as plausible deniability. I hope I don't have any nightmares after I had that flash about Ali. He's a bad man and needs to be taken down. What I didn't tell the General is Banai was, for a long time, the one after Ali. Banai, I think, has some sort of personal grudge against him and that's part of what he wants."

"What do you think he wants... that if we arrest him we turn him over to him... to the Iranians? We don't have an extradition treaty with the Republic but I could see how this would help relations. But they will never ask us and we'll never turn him over."

"Never say never, this is all just conjecture right now we have to wait until I talk to him. But I could see a scenario where we herd Ali across the border and Banai takes him. A win-win but there's just one problem I need face time with Ali."

"Remember what happened in Khoy, your nightmares and therapy with Dr. Dreyfus. Do you really need to talk with Ali?"

"I'm afraid I do. He's just the tip of the iceberg. To ship those canisters in those fake statues took an organization we know nothing about. No, I need to talk to him to get names and intel about his group. This won't be the first nor last time we face them. We need to be better prepared," he said as he climbed into bed.

"I just want you to be careful," said Sarah as she climbed in bed too. "You know what you're saying about the organization makes sense. What if they weren't found by accident? You know we've been going on the assumption that their find in the port was accidental what if it wasn't? What better way to smuggle contraband into country than through artifacts."

"Especially ones stolen as soon as they were found they'd be impounded and brought into country where they'd be held until restitution..."

"Unless they were famous enough to draw immediate attention and in that case they'd be restituted with honors like a Gala."

"This whole thing has been carefully planned out to the smallest detail and we've fallen for it hook, line and sinker."

"I think tomorrow morning John and I are going to go down to the pier and talk with this customs inspector who accidently found them. They say accidents never happen."

"And I think in this case they are especially correct. Now it's my turn to tell you to be careful. Please ask Sam not to play connect the dots on Morgan."

"I think I'm going to drop her off with Kat I don't like the fact that Morgan fell asleep while he was watching Sam. If something had happened to her he'd have some black and blue to go with the green."

"Joking aside," said Chuck but Sarah gave him a look. "Or not, I don't want you taking any risks when you're out with Casey. This VHF has no cure and the only thing that can be done after exposure is to supercharge your anti-immune system. If you have to do that you risk losing baby Walnut. Please don't put me in a position that I have to choose."

"Chuck, you know what I want," said Sarah as she caressed his face then kissed him. "Sometimes there are things more important than you or me..."

"I don't want to have this conversation. I just ask you to be careful and not to put me in a place where I have to choose because you know I'll always choose you," he said then kissed her back.

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Banai was up before dawn with the rest of his men as they prepared for Fajir then after morning prayer they broke bread together. There was nothing fancy because it was difficult to find foods that were halal so they had some freshly baked bread, tea and yoghurt. Once breakfast was over Banai changed and went out with his men to the meeting site. As they were driving to the ranch outside the city one of Banai's men kept glancing at him.

"If you've something to say just say it," said Banai as he put the man on the spot. "This peek-a-boo thing you've got going just isn't right at your age."

"You set this meeting for noon, right? Well what about Dhuhr the noon time prayer. You act pious but then you schedule a meeting in the middle of a prayer time."

"First I'll overlook the attitude this time but this time only. Secondly, this is to show you the type of man Chuck is. I said noon but he'll show up at a half past twelve to give us time to pray because that's the kind of guy he is."

Banai looked out the window as they continued on out to the safe house. The landscape reminded him of home and if this was morning back there he'd be washing his hands after buying two zoolbias. It had become a tradition when he was home to take his son to school but on the way to stop and grab pastries which always made him late for work.

"If this had been any other man," mumbled Banai. What he wanted to say was that if this had been any other man he wouldn't have travelled half the world to kill him. It was still etched in his head. The battle was fierce then someone yelled gas attack. Banai quickly put on his gas mask and gloves but his friend wasn't so fast.

"Help me," begged the man as Banai tried to get the man's gas mask but his Major came by. He looked at the man then drew his service pistol and put a round in the man's head.

"Believe me this is the most humane thing that could've been done for your friend. He could've hung on for a few days maybe a week or two but all the time his insides wouldn't been on fire as his internal orders went into necrosis. Now get back up there and shoot at the people responsible."

A few days later he was called into his Major's tent. He wondered what he'd done because his Major never mingled with his men. He must've done something but he had no idea what it could've been.

"Major you called for me," said Banai as he report in. The Major waved him over and invited him to sit down.

"Peach nectar," asked the Major. He accepted not wanting to sound rude. "I bet your confused now aren't you? Why did the Major call for me has to be racing through your head," he said as he handed Banai his glass.

"Well yes sir," said Banai as he took it then waited for the Major to drink before he sampled his. The Major started laughing.

"You'll go far Banai. So did you wait for me to drink because you were polite or did you want to see if it was poisoned?"

"No Sir I'd never make an accusation like that. Not against someone such as yourself. Everyone says what a great man you are."

"They do but no one has ever asked why I don't associate with them. Do you know why?" said the Major. "Because I don't want to get to know you guys. If I get to know you and I like you then the next time Command calls and says take that hill I'll have to send a friend in harm's way. Like this I don't know you and when you drop like flower petals I won't grieve you."

"If that's the case then why am I here? Why did you choose me over all the other people in the regiment to call in?"

"Because I saw your face when I shot your friend and from then on I couldn't get it out of my head. So here's the deal I don't want to see you become one of my flower petals so I'm recommending you for VAJA. They're looking for people and with my signature you'll be accepted. I have one favor to ask you and I think you're going to like it," said the Major as dropped in front of him a folder.

"What's this," asked Banai as he picked it up and started looking through it. Everything inside was classified Top Secret.

"That's a man I want you to kill. He's the man responsible for the gas attacks on our troops and the death of your friend. Look through that I can't let you take it with you but anytime you want to look at it you can come here and read it. Once you're in the VAJA they'll issue you a clearance that will allow you access to this folder."

"This is the man responsible, Commandant Ali Al-Najaf, Republican guard and you want me to kill him in cold blood."

"I know what I'm asking of you might sound difficult for you to understand but once you're in the VAJA they'll teach you that to kill one to save a thousand is not only acceptable but just to do. That man likes to kill for the sake of killing and he won't stop for any reason other than death."

"Death," he said out loud. All his men turned and looked at him. But he played it off. "How long before we're there? There's a big private courtyard in the back where we can set up for prayer but we need to hurry. It's almost noon and time for Dhuhr."

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Sarah and Sam saw Chuck and Alex off from Echo Park then afterwards Sarah took Sam over to stay with Morgan until Kat arrived. Sarah told her to behave until she got back and Sam's response was to point at herself with a who me face. But as Sarah was leaving with John he handed Sam a green marker.

"You know what to do if he falls asleep," said John. Sam smiled nodding her head and giggled as she looked over at Morgan.

"Morgan, do you want me to read you a bedtime story," said Sam as she yawned. "Do you feel sleepy?"

"Something tells me I'm being set up," he said but as he looked at her she yawed and his reaction was to yawn back.

[Outside in the car]

"John, I saw you give Sam that marker. She doesn't need you to help her to get into trouble she can do quite well on her own. Morgan already looks like he's got the Martian pox as it is."

"Yeah and speaking about keeping people from getting into trouble what's up with you approving Chuck's missions. He's a big boy wearing big boy pants now." They got in Casey's Crown Vic then backed out getting on the 110 North heading for the port.

"John, don't take this the wrong way but I don't think this is any of your business. It's between Chuck and me. I know you guys talked about it yesterday behind my back but..."

"Hold up there a moment sister," said Casey as he glanced over at her. "First of all I think this is part of my business since this affects the team and lastly if you wanted to know what we said all you had to do was ask. I'd be just as happy to tell you this to your face I think you need to let him do what he does best but that's not the problem is it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Sarah. "Look out or you'll miss the exit. It's the next one coming up."

"I can read contrary to popular opinion. I see what all this about you're jealous. You're jealous that Chuck can go on these dangerous missions that you want to be on."

"That's ridiculous I'm not jealous and certainly not because he can go on mission. I understand because I'm pregnant there are things I can't do."

"You could've fooled me starting from you trying to do recon. Unless the Goodyear blimp was hoovering in front of you you'd be hard to miss."

"Thank you John for that colorful description. Okay so I might be a little gung-ho and have a tendency to go the extra mile..."

"But it's not just you going the extra mile, it's Walnut too. Good grief the kid's almost here and you two haven't come up with a name yet."

"We're deadlocked right now if you have to know. I want Stefania after Chuck's father and he's pushing Emily for my Mom. I told him you're not supposed to name your kids after living relatives because it's bad luck but that's that. Oh I almost forgot Sam wants Bunny."

"Bunny sounds like a striper's name," said John as he smiled looking over at her.

"I know but I can't tell her that. Then she'll ask me what a striper is and what am I supposed to say? A striper is someone who makes money by taking off their clothes."

"That's pretty much it except there's a pole involved and maybe a lap dance," he said as she gave him a look that could kill.

"But I'm not jealous I'm... well I'm not sure what I am. I got pissed... well pissed is a strong word. I got upset after the Gala and it's been festering since when I found out that Noora, Jamil's wife speaks almost perfect English..."

"She does? She refused to speak English to me. In fact she used her husband as an interpreter but his isn't anything to write home about."

"That's it. That's what I'm talking about. She hides it so she won't embarrass her husband by being more intelligent than he is. I don't understand her. You should've seen how quiet they got in the car when I drove everyone home. She's an intelligent woman who's sacrificing her intelligence for her family and her husband's career."

"We're here," said John as he parked in a visitor spot. "So you got mad at Chuck because you saw him treating you like Jamil treats Noora? You know that's all in your head."

"I know and I felt badly about the way I acted as soon as he went out and sat in the courtyard yesterday but I had to let myself calm down before I went out to get him."

"I wouldn't sweat it if I were you. That just gives the nerd something to wring his hands about and to second and third guess himself as the poor sap tries to figure out what he did wrong because for Chuck you can do no wrong."

"I don't hardly think so. He knows me and my defects but he chooses to overlook them which makes me love him even more because he accepts me the way I am," she said as she go out of his car.

"What part of I don't care don't you understand? I will say after the series of losers you've gone to bed with Chuck is by far the best."

"I know you meant that as a compliment," said Sarah. Casey just grunted as he led the way to the Customs Inspector's Office.

"We're here from homeland and we need to talk with the inspector who hit the jackpot the other day and found all those Iraqi treasures."

"You would," said a balding middle ages man. He looked at their badges. "Well so would I. His name is Carlos, Carlos Santos. The guys said they saw him show up for work then he disappeared before I handed out duty assignments. This is one of the busiest ports in the States and he pulls a vanishing act on me when he knows I've got three inspectors out. I put him on the pad for this so when you find him tell him he's got some explaining to do."

"Do you have a detailed map of the port handy," asked Casey. The man nodded his head then went back and returned with one rolled up.

"Here you go we're in the process of converting everything over to digital but seeing how busy we are that could take a while but I think this is what you're looking for."

"Thanks," said John as he unrolled. "This is perfect, exactly what I was looking for." He began to study it while Sarah asked a few questions.

"Can I ask you something did you notice a difference in Carlos before and after the find? Did he act differently or did he do anything different?"

"Well come to think of it he did. The day after the find he brought in pastries for the office. That might not mean anything but he's always been thrifty..."

"Thrifty," said one of his colleagues as he butted into the conversation. "The man's tight he's so tight he squeaks when he walks. We took up a collection for a baby gift for one of our own who's out on maternity and first he wanted to know what everyone gave then he complained that we strong armed him into chipping in."

"That's right I'm his supervisor and he came and complained to me then after he found that Iraqi loot he came to me offering to match the money we've collected."

"What did you think about that?" asked Sarah. She was starting to get a picture of someone they needed to look deeper into.

"If I were to speculate... well I didn't like what I saw. He was wearing new clothes, a new watch and shoes. I asked him about the watch and he told me his girlfriend gave it to him. The problem was he was gay and everyone knew it."

"Well his boyfriend could've given it to him," said Sarah. But she could tell his super wasn't buying it. "He was just trying to be private about it."

"What I thought was he lifted somethings from that Iraqi loot and pawned them but I couldn't prove it. The brass liked the publicity so I was ordered to sit on my investigation but I think he's crooked. Can you believe the union rep called me in yesterday and told me to back off or they were going to slap me with a sexual harassment charge? If they find out I told you this I'll probably get a letter of reprimand."

"Don't worry what you've told us is between us and no one else. Our report will be confidential and we're definitely going to have a looking into Carlos' activities."

"Here we go we need to go here," said Casey as he pointed out a spot on the map. "Look this is a blind spot from all the CCTV cams. This is an ideal spot for a meet if you didn't want to be seen."

"I know that spot. You can even drive down to it if you wanted to. There are a series of cameras out on this street," said the Super as he pointed them out. "Follow me I know short cut there. If you think he's up to something I want to be there when he gets caught red handed. I'm on the radio," yelled the Super as he went out with Casey and Sarah.

[A little bit earlier]

Carlos was pacing up and down at the meet site wringing his hands then checking his watch. His Super was already on his case and if he was late that would just add fuel to the fire. Finally after what seemed an eternity a black Mercedes pulled up. His man got out with a couple of other men then they walked over to him.

"I'm glad you're here because I was getting worried. I need to get back to the office for morning muster so what is it you want to tell me? Do you have another ship coming in? I'd like to help but I need to keep my head down for a while my Super is on my back. You don't have anyone else you can use?"

"You don't have to worry about your Supervisor. After this you'll be set for life," said the Brigadier as he nodded to one of the men with him.

"Set for life? What are we talking about gold, diamonds or something else? Set for life would make it worthwhile," said Carlos as he hashed it out in his head.

"I want you to know I appreciate your service and the good work you've done for us," said the Brigadier. "However, there's just one problem but I'm sure we can work this out."

"Problem? What problem? First you talk about set for life now you're talking about problems. I'm sure we can come up with a solution. What's the problem?"

"You are," said the Brigadier as one of his men slipped a garrote over Carlos' head while the other held his hands. It was over before it started with the Brigadier looking down at the body. "Take his phone then dump the rest in the bay. Let's get out of here I've got a phone call to make."