Don't own Chuck
Sarah and Harry disembarked together with Marg in tow. They were greeted by Cole and Carina along with a couple of his men from MI6 as soon as they stepped off the plane. They handed Marg off then Sarah waved to Harry as he said his goodbyes before heading off to find Lynda. Sarah then tried to pass Jamil off to Cole.
"You can't stay with me until after I get rid of this box," said Jamil as he held up the now empty box with replica in it of the mask of the Lady of Uruk. "I'd feel a lot safer and better about this if you were here with me."
"And my husband is in the hospital back in L.A. because I boarded this plane to help you. As a friend of mine would say I think it's time for you to put on your big boy pants."
"Well about that," said Cole. "There's been a slight hitch for your return. You're supposed to take the hypersonic back to L.A."
"Yeah Beckman laid it on especially for you," said Carina. "The only problem is because of prior commitments it won't be here until tomorrow but it still would beat back this airplane."
"So you're saying I'm stuck here until tomorrow," said Sarah. "Well if I'm stuck here then I might as well see this through. I did promise Samaa but I have to talk to Chuck and Sam. Everything else will have to fall in after that. Geez I need to swing by the barge to get some clothes and things."
"I'll take Jamil to his home then you ladies can come later on. We're set up in the apartment next door. Keep an eye on the street when you come in my people have already spotted one suspicious vehicle parked on the curb." They split up with Carina taking Sarah under wing and Cole escorting Jamil walking behind him out of sight.
"So tell me everything," said Carina. "I want to know all the gossip she said as they got in the car. What happened to Chuck? Why is he in the hospital again? I bet you have something to do with it. You said it had to do with you getting on the plane. Did he pull a neuron trying to deactivate the bomb or was it a brain sprain?"
"I dearly love you but you're like a dog with a bone when you get started," said Sarah but as she started to tell her about Chuck her phone started to ring it was a video call from Chuck.
"That's not fair. I bet he's got a bug in my car somewhere," said Carina as she smiled over at Sarah. "Well go ahead and answer it? You aren't going to let that thing keep on ringing are you?"
"Sweetie you look so tired. How are you feeling and don't tell me fine because I'm not buying it. You should be resting."
"I'll admit I've felt better and I'm a little tired but seeing you is making me feel a lot better. How did your flight go? Were you able to find out anything else?"
"No just what I passed on. I talked with Sam and Samaa. She was able to talk to her father that was really nice…"
"They won't let me see Sam and I don't think I want her to see me like this but I'm afraid she doesn't understand why. Am I good father or am I as crazy as my dad?"
"No Sweetie I don't think you're crazy. Listen I won't be able to get out of here until tomorrow. The General is laying on the hypersonic for me but it won't be here until tomorrow…"
"But you'll be back before the other plane I understand the principal. I'm guessing Cole and Carina are asking you to participate in their sting operation..."
"Way to go Nancy Drew," said Carina as she turned Sarah's phone to her. "Yuck Chuck, you look like something the dog dragged in."
"Thank you Carina," said Chuck. "Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your bedside manner? If I did I didn't mean it. Sarah please be careful and knowing you're with Carina doesn't reassure me much so take care."
"Oh Chuck don't be a party pooper tonight is going to be ladies night out. We're going to stake out your friend then after we arrest the perp we're off to the pub where she's going to watch me get hammered."
"I might go with you to the pub for dinner but I'm beat. There will be no out all night for this gal. You try carrying around a bowling ball all day and let me know how you feel. The next fool that talks to me about the joys of pregnancy I'm going to shoot them right between the eyes."
"Let's just leave the evening TBD then see how it goes. We've got to play at least one game of darts or why go to the pub? Here we are," said Carina as she pulled up on the quay wall. "We need to hurry up Cole thinks this meet will go down soon so we need to be in place. There has been a lot of chatter about something big going down on the street."
"Sweetie, I'm going to have to let you go we're here. I just hope there's something onboard I can get into. I don't remember what I have."
"When I saw you get on that plane I figured you didn't take anything so I sent a text message to Hannah before we left Castle to get you a few things. You should find them on the deck."
"You're the greatest. You know you spoil me. I don't know what I'd do without you and the truth is I don't even what to try."
"I don't either... I mean I don't know what I'd do without you not that you... oh you know what I mean. I love you."
"I love you too," said Sarah.
"Yuck I'm glad Cole isn't that sweet or I'd have diabetes," said Carina as she looked at her watch. "You need to move it."
"I've got to go. I promise I'll call you from the plane. You need to get rest so turn off the tablet and go to sleep... that's an order. I love you," said Sarah then she hung up.
Chuck took a deep breath then looked around to see where everyone was. When he was sure no one was watching he hacked into the security camera feed around Jamil's apartment building then he hacked into the Wi-Fi connection inside the apartment building activating the computer cameras. He had a full view of Jamil's flat from his webcam plus he had various views and angles covered.
"Chuck you know in some places that's called stalking," he said to himself. "But I prefer to call in concerned observation. You really are as nutty as your old man you're holding a conversation with yourself."
"At least I'm not answering!"
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Casey was standing in front of his monitor in Echo Park briefing the General on the current situation. She was not happy that the Commandant had been terminated. He was to be their conduit of intel to the canisters of gas but now they had no way of locating them nor were they any closer to finding out who was behind this.
"Colonel Casey when you were shooting through the bathroom wall didn't it once occur to you that we needed the man alive to interrogate. Dead he isn't going to be doing much talking unless you've got the telephone number for hell."
"You might try calling the Buy More," he mumbled. The General raised her eyebrow. "Ma'am it's like I said I was shooting at a man who was shooting at me. I missed and my rounds went through the bathroom wall. How was I supposed to know the Commandant was standing on the other side? It was just bad luck."
"Yes, I'm sure bad luck. How were you supposed to know, right? Yet you fired a full clip what is that ten or fifteen rounds that's what ballistics said and all the rounds hit the target. Now that's some luck."
"Isn't it? I don't think I could do better on purpose," said John. "What's important is we rescued Noora and now she's here with her daughter. A little worse for the wear but a least she's alive and they're together."
"I guess you're right one good thing came from this misadventure but we've lost those canisters of death which is what the White House is calling them among other things that are not very nice towards us."
"'Maybe if we milk Sarah's perp a little more we can come up with another lead. I'd be more than willing to go over and chat with her."
"I'm sure you would but another corpse does us no good. Chuck is supposed to be trying to find this website on the dark net where they are auctioning the canisters. If he can work it I'm going to need you to take the rest of your team to infiltrate this next auction."
"I thought they were doing blind bids over the internet now the auctions are being held in the open. Our perp has become cocky this will be the time he's going to slip up."
"We can only hope so but I think it's more so he can ante up the bids and make more money. This has nothing to do with religion now. This is about pure unadulterated greed. You and the rest need to be ready at a moment's notice we may not get a second chance and for Pete's sake don't kill everyone before we can talk to them."
"I'll try General but if they're shooting at me I'm going to be shooting back. It's not my fault if they run into a headshot. People should learn to duck."
"Right, well I have the hypersonic picking Sarah up tomorrow morning their time which will get her in late afternoon your time. Try not to kill anyone until then" said the General as she shook her head wishing Chuck was out of the hospital.
"With all due respect General, Sarah's pregnant and by rights should be on or about on maternity leave. She can't take the vaccine so it seems a great risk to have her involved on this mission."
"Chuck's in the hospital so I can't put him in the field. Sarah took her perp alive and extracted intel without putting lead in her..."
"But she had a hostess to deal with while my perp was a hardened war veteran. They can hardly be compared."
"I hope you're not saying just because Marg was woman. And getting back to the Commandant are you sure you didn't see any Iranians at the crime scene? Intel put them across the border heading you way," as she was speaking her Major passed her a piece of paper. "Belay my last this is a report from our guys across the border and they say the Iranians were just seen in Mexicali."
"See your previous reports were probably wrong. Things like that happen when people do a lot of staring and waiting. They start to see the thing they want to see. General, if there's nothing else I need to run Ellie back to the hospital then pick up Kat."
"Roger that no I'm finished. Keep a go bag nearby. Beckman out."
"Really where does Becky get off comparing the Commandant to Marg the hostess with the mostest," said Morgan from Casey's kitchen.
"Well if someone had called me and let me know what was going on instead of taking off like that from the restaurant then maybe I would've been able to do something different. I wouldn't be in Beckman's doghouse right now. Somewhere out there is our man with those canisters and I intend to find him."
"How do you plan on doing that? Why don't you leave it up to Chuck like Beckman said John before you get yourself into trouble?"
"Trouble? The only trouble I get in is usually generated from somewhere else. No I got by before the intersect and I'll get by after it," said John. He saw Morgan's look. "What you think Chuck and Sarah are going to hang around forever holding your hand? They've already got their hands filled with one runt now they're about to have another. We need to learn to do things on our own starting with this search. The way I see it if we find Pete's van that will give us place to begin."
"So if we go to the DMV get his license plate number that will also give us the VIN number and then what?"
"A good start but now we take that and cross reference if with parking tickets issued and then we look at the impound lots. There you go," said Casey as an address came up on his monitor.
"Oh no not him that's the repo man," said Morgan as John looked at him. "He appreciates good Chinese food. Never mind it's a long story but he's liable to shoot me on sight."
"Finally some good news."
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Inside the Iraqi consulate there was a flurry of activity as they tried to distance themselves from the Commandant. The Consul himself went to the morgue to identify the man that was being called Ali Al-Najaf aka the Commandant. General Beckman flew in on the hypersonic to arrive in time to be there when he walked in.
"General, I was told by my ambassador you'd be here," said a tall slender gentleman with a rather large moustache. His British accent betrayed his Oxford education.
"Mr. Al-Anah it's a pleasure to meet you even under these circumstances," said the General as she offered him her hand. He hesitated a moment simply because she was a woman. "I thought your time in England would've gotten you over certain prejudices."
"Old habits are hard to break," said the consul as he shook her hand. "But I also have to worry about perception that you don't. I want you to know my government abhors what this man has grown to represent. This is his medical record," said the man as he motioned for his aide to turn over a file folder to the General's Major.
"Thank you this will help us be sure the man we have is in fact Ali Al-Najaf. As soon as we have verification we will forward you a copy."
"Good so I can communicate it back to Baghdad. The Commandant had quite the following and the last thing we need if for others to hold him up as some sort of folk hero. His atrocities were heinous but some people believe they were justified to protect the nation."
"This is not the place to get into an ethical debate," said the General. "On behalf of my government I thank you for your cooperation."
"It is the least I could do after your kind assistance in rebuilding our nation. I must ask that these bodies be turned over to us as soon as possible for burial as intact as possible. It is not for us to pass judgment they will be judged soon enough," said the Consul. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to call my Ambassador then Baghdad to report in."
The Consul departed taking with him the staff of people he brought with him. Beckman studied them as they left wondering if that thanks for assistance was real or not. From his tone of voice it left her pondering.
"What is it?" asked the Major. But the General just shook her head. "I'll call and get this folder picked up and sent to our lab."
"Good they can meet us at the Westside Memorial I want to go check on Chuck and see how long he's going to be out. I also want to talk with this doctor who's treating him. Chuck sent me an e-mail saying he might be a problem. I want to talk with him first hand before taking action."
[Outside the Morgue]
"Okay that's done now let's go back to the consul I need to get ready for my next appointment," said the consul as he climbed into his limo.
"If it's all right with you Mr. Al-Anan I need to meet some local people who are interested in donating to a relief fund for the construction of schools."
"How can I say no? Just keep me informed Hamid. Oh by the way while I've got you here I just want to tell you I liked the wording of your communique but next time tone it down a little. I don't want to come off like some lap dog. But keep up the good work and some day you might even become the Cultural Affairs Officer." The current one took note looking back and forth at both.
"Yes sir I'll keep that in mind," said Hamid. He stood there and watched the Consul leave in his nice limo with his driver. "But isn't that what you are," he said as it disappeared.
He went to the street where he took out his phone and called a number. Soon a black Land Rover Discovery pulled up and he got in.
"How are things proceeding with getting our ship ready to sail?" asked Hamid as he got situated in the back."
"The Captain told us everything is proceeding and we should be able to put out to sea for the auction like you wanted. Our special cargo is secured down in his hold."
"Good, I can start getting our players together then fully vet them before we embark them on our pleasure cruise," said Hamid as he thought about how much money this was going to earn him especially now that he didn't have to split it with anyone. Using his diplomatic contacts he was able to out maneuver everyone. Only the brigadier was the true threat but playing the Commandant against him was a stroke of luck that now had eliminated both players from the board. There was no one in sight who could stop him now.
"Would you like to run down to the pier and talk to the Captain yourself," asked the driver as they drove around in a circle.
"No if you say he says it will be ready then that's fine by me. No take me back to the consulate I need to get our auction website up on the dark site."
"Yes sir," said the driver then headed towards the consulate. Traffic was brisk but moving Hamid leaned back in his seat and relaxed.
"Our IRA friends should be taking possession of their sample soon. The money we made off that sale has given us the cash we needed to continue with this next phase."
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Sarah and Carina pulled up outside Jamil's brownstone. They gave a quick look up and down the block before going inside. Inside they met the cleaning lady who was mopping the steps so they took the elevator up to the fifth floor. Not that after everything Sarah had any intention of taking them.
"Geez are we sure we want to take this," said Carina as the got on the elevator. "This thing was probably built the same time as the building... at the turn of the century."
"No guts, no glory," said Sarah as she closed the door behind them but the elevator wouldn't move. "What the heck?"
"Ladies you need to close the door all the way if you want it to move," said the cleaning lady as she yanked the door closed. They heard the lock click and a piece of rust fell off the cage. "There you go scream if you get stuck someone will come and get you out."
Sarah pushed the button and this time it began to move just when it started up it gave a jerk then proceeded.
"I don't care if I have to carry you down. When we leave we're talking the steps," said Carina. Sarah was going to argue but when the elevator stopped it felt like it was settling and slowly dropped below the floor making them step up to get off.
"Make sure you close the door or the elevator won't go down for the next bloke that comes in," said Cole as he stepped out of the apartment to meet them. "Follow me."
He took them into the apartment next to Jamil's inside they had a whole surveillance array set up with cameras in every room and cameras outside watching the street.
"This guy is on holiday in Spain so we took over his flat," said Cole. "There's stuff in the fridge if you want to make a sandwich and there's bottled water. I got some sparkling because I remembered that's what you liked. I also got a lemon that's in the basket on the table if you want a twist with that."
"Thanks what's the status," asked Sarah as she looked over the monitor. "That guy there in the white Fiat can you zoom in. Look he keeps touching his ear, is he one of your?"
"Unfortunately he is. Hey, Mike call down to him and tell the idiot to keep his hand down. Tell him our American friend spotted him right off the bat. I'm interested in that black cargo it's been parked there since this morning. Heat signals had five bodies inside.
"A little over kill for Jamil," said Sarah. She kept looking at her watch then went to the kitchen and pulled out the water. Cole followed her in.
"What's the matter? You keep looking at your watch. Carina told me you talked with Chuck so you're what? Waiting for a decent time to call and talk to Sam?"
"It's something like that, I tried before but there was no answer. I guess they turned off the phones so the girls could sleep." But they were interrupted before Sarah could go into detail.
"Boss you need to come we've got movement."