Don't own Chuck
Morgan climbed back in the car after he made his stealthily pass around the house or so he thought he had. The only problem was although there was no one in the house he failed to realize that he was being observed from nearby. Dark figures hiding in the shadows watched him as he circled the house peeping in the windows. Afterwards the same figures followed him as he went back to their car.
"Why didn't you tell me you were on the phone with Sarah? I wouldn't have said anything. I'm not stupid," said Morgan. Sam coughed out loud from the back.
"Enough back there from the peanut gallery I put up with it from Casey but I don't have to put up with it from you. Anyway this was a bust there's no one at home. Are you sure this is the address your overheard the man say?"
"Absolutely Farsi is my second or third language after Arabic then English so I guess third," said Samaa. "Anyway I'm sure."
"I don't know what to tell you the house is empty. You know those languages can be kind of funny. You put the dot in the wrong place and you have a whole different word." Samaa leaned over and whispered something to Sam.
"I don't know you have to ask him," said Sam. Morgan was waiting for it this was becoming worse than going into the Buy More and putting up with Big Mike.
"Okay what is it? By now you should know you can talk to me," said Morgan. "What do you want to know?"
"Just you seem such and expert linguist I was just wondering what languages you know? Sam told me you didn't know any but I told her you had to know at least one, English."
"He's learning. You've got to give him time, but he'll get the hang of it," said Alex. Sam and Samaa began laughing. "Sorry I couldn't resist."
"You know I don't have to take this from you guys I could walk home," said Morgan but before they could apologize the doors came open and arms reached in pulling Morgan and Alex out. Bright lights were flashed in the car blinding Sam and Samaa. Sam held her doll up over to her face to block the light. She felt a hand come in to grab her but she bit it as hard as she could. The man pulled it back scream and yelling insults in Persian at her.
"Get off me," yelled Alex as she punched, scratched and fought back. She felt one of her assailants take her weapon before she could get at it. "Morgan, the girls! Protect the girls."
"Wait, wait hold up," yelled a man in Farsi. "Let them up," said the man switching to English. The same man came over wearing a ski mask and looked in the car.
"Hey get out of there and leave those kids alone or so help me you'll regret," said Alex as she tried to break free from the men restraining her.
"I'm sorry," said the man as he looked in the back. He saw their frightened faces. "Oh I forgot about the mask," he said as he took it off. "You're Sam I recognize you from your photos. Did you like my present?" said Banai as he picked it up and handed it back to Sam. "I'm a friend of your father's. Miss McHugh can you explain to me what you're doing here screwing up my op?"
"Banai is that you? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be on the other side of the border. If you're caught here you'll be in big trouble."
"Again why have you brought children on an op and who is the other girl? You don't have any…" said Banai when Samaa spoke up speaking Farsi.
"My name is Samaa Al-Bayati and my father's name is Jamil Al-Bayati. He and my mother were taking hostage by a man who calls himself the Commandant and we're going to rescue them."
"You're Farsi is too good for someone who isn't Persian. Al-Bayati is an Iraqi name. Who is your mother?"
"Noora Nariman, her family comes from Northern Iran," said Samaa. Banai looked at her for a while studying her but before he could say anything Sam interrupted.
"So if you're a friend of my father's then why did you treat us the way you did? My father doesn't have friends who are bad people and you weren't very nice you know."
"No I wasn't and I'm sorry but we saw your friend looking around that house we were watching and we got suspicious. We thought you were bad people."
"You were the man that was on the phone with the restaurant manger. The one we overheard him talking to."
"Boy, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Yes it was me now I've got a problem. I could let you go but you risk blowing this mission of mine and worse you could also risk getting hurt. Your father would never forgive me. No, you need to come with me," said Banai. He opened the back of the car then led them to a surveillance van they had parked down the street.
"Miss Carmichael where are your parents? I bet they don't know you're here do they? I don't see Chuck approving of any of this. We should contact him and let him know you're okay. Children shouldn't worry their parents."
"My father's in the hospital and no one will let me see him. Alex and Morgan are babysitting us until my Aunt gets here," said Sam as she yawned. Samaa on seeing her followed suit and let out a big yawn too.
"There's a foldout cot in the back. You girls go lay down while I talk with your so-called babysitters outside," said Banai. He motioned to one of his men and he prepared it for them. Banai took Alex and Morgan outside away from the van to find out exactly what was going on.
"I can't get over the fact that you brought them here. Are you two crazy? What's wrong with Chuck?" said Banai then it struck him why Chuck would be in the hospital. "Don't tell me he got contaminated? Yes that's why you won't take her to him. But how's he even still alive? I've seen what the Commandant's gas can do first hand and it's not pretty but it's efficient as well as fast."
"We've got sort of a vaccine that slows it up by supercharging the immune system or that's what I was told when we got our injections. It seems to be working but when we last talked with the hospital Chuck was still in critical condition."
"Then you'll understand what I've got to do. The Commandant... I'm not even going to try to take him alive. In fact whatever way this ends one of us won't walk away and I have every intention to make it him. That being said I will help you free the girl's mother. I owe her that."
"But the Commandant wasn't at the house so we're back to square one," said Morgan. "That is unless you've figured out something."
"You don't get takeaway delivered to your safe house or in your case you might," said Banai looking at Morgan.
"Geez now I got you making fun of me," said Morgan. Banai gave him a look. "Okay there might have been a time or two when I might've called in for food but only because my sugar level was low and it was for the critical for the mission."
"Right, well anyway, as I was saying you never get takeaway delivered to your safe house but to a location nearby then you head the delivery boy off and pick it up on the fly. He doesn't care if he's paid at the doorstep or the front lawn as long as he gets paid so throw in a good tip and he happily leaves none the wiser."
"That's exactly what I did," said Morgan as Banai and Alex looked at him. "Oh come on you know I did. A little help here would be appreciated."
"So that's why the surveillance van," asked Alex as she turned the attention back on topic. "You're monitoring activity in the neighborhood looking for some place suspicious and I'm guessing you found it."
"Down the street actually. We were just about to go down and kick in the front door. You're more than welcome to come and join us. Don't worry about the girls my men will protect them."
"If it gets Samaa her mother back I'm all in," said Alex. She looked over at Morgan who nodded saying he was in too.
"Good come on and get suited up. You'll be one of the first inside with me since you've both been inoculated and my men haven't."
"Sneaky," said Morgan. "That's the reason for the invitation. You must really hate this guy to risk being contaminated."
"You have no idea."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ellie walked into the atrium of the hospital pulling her trolley behind her. She was greeted as soon as she entered by some of the hospital staff who immediately recognized her. One of the nurses took her bag then put it away for her to pick up when she left. Then the resident neurologist who took her job when she left came and shook her hand taking her under his arm to escort her up to the quarantine ward.
"Not much has changed since you left," said the man as Ellie rode up in the elevator with him. "We're still under paid and understaffed. You know as a matter of fact I've still got some of your old patients. If you want and have the time we might sit down and have a cup of coffee. I'd like to talk to you about what I've done with them. You might even give me some insight that I'm missing or explain what's missing."
"Missing I guess is the operative word here. You're talking about some of the patient records I took with me for my research."
"Well now that you mention it there are a couple things I noticed and it's odd that your brother who's in quarantine has never been seen here before today well at least on paper he hasn't. Normally a doctor would bring her relatives to the facility she was working at to guarantee quality of treatment. However, as far as our records show none of your family has ever been seen by you or your husband here. Then there's your research which is missing..."
"What can I say? We're a healthy family at least until now and as far as my research goes it was mine so it went with me."
"But it was funded by this hospital so it belongs to this hospital," said the doctor. Ellie was beginning to feel like she was being interrogated. All she need was a spot light shining on her and the good doctor whack her a few times with a telephone book. But she understood where this was coming from the man obviously needed to publish and what better way than to find something already done so he just had to put his name to it. But she wasn't going to bow to intimidation.
"I hate to correct you but my research was funded by the government through the hospital and as such is mine and the governments. If you'd talked with the hospital administrator she will gladly explain that it is none of your business. But if you've got something written that I can read we could co-author," said Ellie as the bell rang and the elevator doors opened up announcing they had reached their floor and this round of the boxing match was over with Ellie coming out on top in points.
"Thank you but I can find my way from here," said Ellie as she stepped off the elevator leaving the doctor behind and scoring a TKO at the beginning of the second round. She walked down the hall to isolation where she knew they'd set up the quarantine zone. There she found Kat waiting.
"Ellie you made it," said Kat. "If you'd let someone know your flight number and arrival time we could've arranged for someone to be at the airport to meet you."
"It's okay I didn't know what I was flying on until I got to the airport at O'Hare. Sarah called me on the way here she said she's been trying to call but no one is patching her through. I promised her I'd find out something so when she calls me back I can tell her something. She was a little vague about what happened. Where was John going in such as hurry? He blew by me and didn't even stop when I yelled at him. I guess he didn't hear me when I called to him. Is he going to get Sam?"
"Ellie you're freaking out let's just sit down and take this one step at a time. First John got a call from Alex about a break in the case they were working. She has a lead to bring in the man responsible for what happened to Chuck."
"Okay that's good. This VHF is a nasty virus I saw what it can do in Africa. Who is the CDC doctor treating Chuck? I should talk to him I know a little bit about what they're dealing with here."
"His name is Dr. McCoy some bigshot doctor from Atlanta. The CDC flew him in special to deal with this," said Kay but she could see Ellie seemed to know him.
"His first name wouldn't be Leonard?" asked Ellie and Kat nodded. "I know him or better I know his reputation. He was on the frontline with the Ebola outbreak and he has written papers on Marburg virus. If he's here then this is serious. I really need to talk to him."
"He's in the quarantine room right now but you could wait here with me or we could get a cup of coffee down below in the cafeteria."
"No I'm going to go get suited up and go in. Let them try to stop me and when I get out I need to talk to Morgan. I have to find out what he's doing with my niece. Sam has got to be worried I'll try and sit her down and talk this out with her in words she can understand like I did in Africa."
"Morgan, right... yes he's watching Sam but she's not alone. I guess Sarah didn't have time to tell you. There was this couple that was kidnapped they have a little girl a little older than Sam. Her name is Samaa and well Sam has kind of adopted her as a sister. That's part of what happened and how this happened to Chuck. They were trying to rescue the parents and from what I understand partially successful. Sarah has the father secured."
"That sounds like my little brother. Now I can understand why he'd charge into a hot zone and risk everything. I was worried Sarah got him in trouble again. Oh I shouldn't have said that I know that's bad of me so please don't tell anybody that I said it. Let me go in and check on Chuck then we can meet up later in the cafeteria but I don't want to eat down there. I just met a doctor I'd like to avoid."
"Let's go to Lou's for sandwiches and a chat. I want to hear about Chicago I kind of miss the east back where they have four seasons. Don't get me wrong I don't miss the bitter winters; however, the snow wasn't that bad to look at. But when they told me John was gone there was just too much there that reminded me of him so I came out here to start anew. Oh look at me babbling on you need to go check on Chuck."
"Yes I need to go but I really want to do that sandwich and talk. I could always touch bases with Morgan on the phone if he'd ever answer it. I've been trying but all my calls keep going to voice mail. He must have it turned off or on vibrate so the girls can sleep."
"I'd like that," said Kat. "And yes you're probably right. You know Morgan so go on it and I'll wait for you here."
"It could be a while I don't want you to get bored. If you're not here I'll come look for you in the cafeteria," said Ellie as she walked away.
Kat watched Ellie disappear inside then she heard her arguing with someone. Kat knew that Ellie was one of the forces of nature not to be taken likely and that one way or another Ellie was going to suit up and see Chuck come hell or high water. She took out her phone and called John to give him a heads up.
"John, listen you need to get Morgan near his phone. Ellie's going to be calling him soon to find out how Sam is doing. She's better be fine or Morgan had better have his burial expenses covered because if they did take the girls with them Ellie will kill them both starting with Morgan.
"Roger that," said Casey. He drove as fast as he could to the location Alex left for him. Blowing through red lights and as he drove he called into their downtown office asking them to have a tac team on standby.
"What the crap," he said as he pulled up. He found Alex's car parked by the road outside the residence. Looking inside it was empty so he drew his Sig then made his way to the house.
"Grimes has been here," said Casey to himself. He saw what he called dwarf foot prints in the flower gardens where Morgan had stopped to look inside.
"Nothing," said Casey as he peeked in too. There was no one home the house was probably owned by someone who only used it when they were in town.
"What's this," he said as he noticed other foot prints around the shrubs. They seemed to double around Morgan's then followed him back to the car.
"Idiot why didn't you leave bread crumbs," said Casey as he realized what happened. Going back to the car he looked around it better that was when he realized Morgan and Alex had been taken. There were spots on the pavement cleaned like someone struggled to get up moving the dirt around.
"I'm going to have to kill someone," said John then he heard gunfire coming from nearby. He didn't hesitate he just ran in the direction of the shots.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Commandant was getting tired of sitting on his hands walking around the house. This was a big improvement over their last house but he was looking for action not comfort. He particularly didn't like the fact that his new boss took the canisters. Now he only had the hostage and soon from what he understood he wouldn't have her either.
"Commandant what is it? You keep pacing and looking outside is something wrong?" asked Zaid. "If you want I can make a round if it'll make you feel better."
"No, no just the jitters is all. The last time I had them I was trying to get out of Bagdad when the Americans invaded."
"That sounds like a story I'd like to hear. You never told us how you got out without being caught when they started rounding everyone up."
"Shush," said Gabir. He knew how the Commandant got out. They'd hooked up on the outskirts then drive with the caravan to the border with Syria.
"It's all right Gabir I don't mind telling him. This should also be a lesson for you how people can turn on you," said the Commandant as Gabir nodded his head.
"I'm sorry if I asked something I shouldn't have but I just thought that it would be a nice story to hear and pass the time."
"No you're right. It was the Brigadier who got me out... got us out. He had contacts on the border and had worked his way into the American command. He found a blind alley in their surveillance and we used it. We basically just drove over the border and once across the American discovered us too late."
"Yes we just drove over in broad daylight," said Gabir. "I would've liked to have seen the faces of their Generals."
"Yes that would've been some sight to see but they couldn't admit that they let us get away so the whole thing was buried along with who we were so once we were out we were free. From time to time the Iranians have tried to come after me but I've always been one step ahead."
"How have you managed that if you don't mind me asking," said Zaid. He looked over at Gabir to see if he wasn't being too invasive with his questioning but he'd already opened his mouth so there was no taking it back."
"That would be the Brigadier again he with his contacts have always directed me and told me when to run. I don't know why he changed the way he did. I guess living in this country made him soft and caused him to lose his way," said the Commandant. He looked around at his men and saw the look on their faces.
"But we don't have to worry about that. We're true to the cause to the bitter end. I'm going to check on the hostage. We should order something else from that place it wasn't that bad."
The Commandant was almost at the door where Noora was when he saw movement outside through the window in the shrubs. He knew immediately knew what was about to go down.
"Crap," he yelled. "Grab your weapons we've got guests." Then all hell broke loose.