Don't own Chuck
Chuck finally got to a place where he could sleep and rest. At least for a little while all the fires seemed to be out so he could relax. His brain told him it could go into standby mode and he slept. Ellie went in and found him cutting some serious zees. Her eyes watered up but through her hazmat suit no one could see. She smiled at him for her Chuck was still her little brother to protect. Yes he was right they both had families now but for a long time, maybe too long, it had been just the two of them against the world.
Dr. Greg finished with his last patient and was about to leave for the day. He wanted to get home to make a phone call to Atlanta. When he called earlier his friend was out but he was told his friend would be working late. After his run in with Ellie his sixth sense told him calling from home would be the most prudent move. The last thing he wanted was to get caught snooping which shortly would be justified.
"Doctor you have a visitor," said his nurse and secretary but as she was telling him the hospital administrator pushed past her then dismissed her to have a private talk.
"I'll take it from here Anna," said the Administrator. "Remember you work for me too so be a dear go on home and make sure the outer door is locked when you close it behind you. I don't want anyone waking in."
"Yes ma'am," said the nurse as she glanced over at the Doctor. She was trying to figure out what he kind of trouble he had gotten himself into but the Administrator didn't care for curiosity.
"Remember what I said. You work for me not for him so run along or you'll be looking in the want ads for a new place of employment." With that Anna hurried up got her things then left. They heard the click of the lock as she departed.
"Barbara, are you done intimidating my staff," said Greg. "I suppose this has to do with Eleanor Woodcomb. What did she tell you that I was nosing around on her ward? It is her ward isn't it?"
"She and I had words I won't deny it. We're friends and I'm also friends with her husband. You remember what those are don't you? Plus I had words with the General that was here. Greg, do you know how much of our money comes from the Federal government?"
"I don't know and I really don't care. I'm a physician not a glorified admin clerk trying to bean count. My work is curing people."
"Then I suggest you do it and leave patients who are not yours to their own doctors. Your curiosity could cost this hospital more than you're worth."
"If that's a veiled threat to fire me I want to remind you I have a three year contract so you're stuck with me for the next three years."
"For what you could cost us in Federal funding I'll send you home and bar you from this hospital for the rest of your contract. Explain that hole in your resume when you're asked why you haven't seen a patient in three years. The only places you'll be able to work at will be in the middle of nowhere where half your patients will be livestock."
"I was just trying to figure out what was going on?" said Greg realizing he'd back himself into a corner. Now he needed a way out.
"Your job is here on this floor. What goes on in the quarantine ward is for the CDC to worry about. Furthermore, with what the government is paying us for the floor I can afford to buy you bright shiny new equipment. So the moral of the story is don't bite the hand that feeds you."
"Okay, okay I'm sorry... I hear what you're saying," said the Doctor as he took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack.
"Go home and let's forget this ever took place," said Barbara. She followed him out and saw him to the elevator. "Remember tomorrow is a new day. Let's start over."
He nodded back then the elevator doors closed and he went down the lobby. When he got to the lobby he left the hospital making his way across the street to the car park where the staff kept their vehicles. Every doctor had a designated spot and he had his. He was still milling over in his head what had just happened and what he ought to do when he got to his car.
"What the..." he said. There was a dark panel van parked in the spot next to his so close he couldn't get in.
"No, this can't be happening," said the Doctor. He walked around to the driver's side and banged on the dark tinted window. "Hey buddy you need to move this. You're parked too close to my car and you're not even supposed to be parked here. Hey is anyone in there?" But as he was banging a black hood went over his head and he felt two men grab him. The next thing he knew he was being thrown in the back of the van then felt it start up.
"Let go of me," yelled the Doctor as he felt the vehicle pulling out and his hands being bound behind him. "You can't do this. What's going on?" But his yelling and struggling fell on deaf ears. "I demand to know what's going on." His demanding got him a syringe in the back of the neck then lights out.
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Back at Echo Park Noora and Samaa came back after Mosque and dinning with some people Banai knew. They were an Iranian couple who had children and lived in the L.A. area. Both worked in a Persian emporium in the import export business. It was a pleasant afternoon but she realized why Banai had arranged it.
"Go inside Samaa and play with Sam while I talk with our cousin," said Noora. She sent Samaa off so she could talk to her cousin alone. She watched Samaa and waited for her to go inside before she turned to Banai.
"I appreciate you introducing me to your friends Banai," said Noora. "But what are you really up to? Are you trying to show me what life would be like if we opt to live here?"
"I won't lie that was part of my reasoning. Living here for us is not easy. There aren't that many people like Chuck. Don't get me wrong I'm not telling you to come home with me either. You and Jamil have to find the path that's right for you and Samaa. You're my favorite cousin and I'd hate to lose you again but you have to do what's right for your family. I want you to know I understand that but I want you to have as much knowledge as possible going into a decision like this. "
"You know us talking about this without Jamil being here isn't very orthodox. Time has changed you cousin you're not as headstrong as you once were."
"In somethings I am but in others I guess time has worn of the rough edges off. It's not that I feel differently it's just I can see other perspectives."
"You're quickly risking becoming my favorite cousin too. Come inside and let's share some peach nectar. I found Sunich in Chuck's fridge."
"I was the one who first had him try it when we met in Khoy," said Banai. "People like Chuck are one in a million."
"I assume you two met to talk about greeting cards," said Noora. Banai laughed and nodded his head but before he could answer Samaa came running out.
"Bâbâ, it's Bâbâ he's on the computer and he wants to talk to you," said Samaa as she ran to Noora pulling her inside.
Noora went in to the apartment being herded in by Samaa. Once inside there Jamil was on the monitor waiting for her. Her eyes teared up on seeing him standing there. She wiped her eyes and got composed as she sat down.
"Noora I had to call to make sure you were well. Sarah tells me we owe our rescue to your cousin Banai. I didn't know you had a cousin with so much influence."
"A greeting cards salesman in Teheran, we met him here by accident and I told him what happened. I guess he sold greeting cards to the right people."
"I guess so but somehow I think it's more than that. Well I also called to tell you that I'll be on the returning flight with Sarah. We should be arriving late tomorrow your time. I don't want to upset you but they're telling me we're going to have to leave England permanently."
"I've been told the same thing here. We can talk more when you get here. I'd like to thank Sarah is she around?"
"She was very tired and since we have to get up early she went sleep," said Jamil. He wanted for Noora to get scandalized that he was sleeping in the same... well barge as a married woman but she didn't. "Did you hear what I said? We're sleeping on this kind of barge together and that doesn't bother you?"
"I heard you so she's asleep. She's probably very tired with all this running around and being pregnant too. She's quite a remarkable woman and I think we owe her a lot."
"Well I'll be home tomorrow and we can talk about how to return our lives to normal. I'm looking forward to meeting your cousin. Well until tomorrow," said Jamil as he signed off.
He had to get his life back to something that resembled normal but he didn't know how. Hopefully this cousin of Noora's could offer some advice even if he was a colonel in the greeting card business.
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Morgan was sitting at the kitchen table while Sam and Samaa examined him. Doctor Sam was conducting the examination while her assistant, Samaa, was recording her findings on a clipboard. Samaa got to carry the clipboard because she could write.
"What do you think Doctor? Will our patient live," asked Samaa as she took a pen out and got ready write. Sam started making Casey like grunts as she walked around him shaking her head.
"I don't know it could be touch and go," said Sam as she took out her stethoscope and listened to his heart beat.
"I've got a question," said Morgan. "Why do you always have to examine me? There are other people here you can examine besides me."
"Shush," said Sam. "We're doing something serious here. I want you to breath out normally… Okay now cough. Good how many fingers to you see?" she asked as climbed up on the step ladder and held her hand up in front of his face.
"Five Doc so am I fine? I'd like go now?" said Morgan. But Sam just shook her head as she stroked her chin with a serious look.
"This is grave. You're suffering from delusions Mr. Grimes," said Sam. "I held up four fingers and a thumb but you counted five."
"No fair that was a trick question," protested Morgan. Just then Casey walked in giving Noora a look while she was still on the horn with Jamil.
"John's here ask him the same question," said Morgan as Casey growled. "Go ahead and let's see if he gets it right."
"Ask Uncle Casey what? Girls, is the Troll misbehaving? I could lend you a cattle prod to tune him up with. A little electric shock could do him wonders."
"Uncle Casey how many fingers am I holding up," asked Sam as she repeated the test she gave Morgan by holding up her hand.
"What? Four fingers and one thumb only an idiot or a near sighted wombat could miss that. Oh I forgot or a Grimes. Watch this," said John. He took a flashlight and shined it in Morgan's ear. "You can see the light on the other side."
"No you can't," said Morgan as he tried to get up. But Sam stood in front of him and pushed him back down.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your game but I need to take the bearded wonder I've got the General on the horn. She wants to talk to us."
"One last test then I'm done," said Sam. She turned to Samaa. "Assistant, write down that the patient is suffer from chronic pain."
"I've got to go... Hey wait what chronic pain? I think you've… Ouch!" said Morgan when Sam cracked him on the knee with the reflex hammer Ellie gave her. "Come back here I'm going to take that hammer." Morgan tied to catch her but he was limping. She and Samaa ran to her room where they locked themselves in. But not before Sam stuck her tongue out at Morgan giggled then went inside.
"You should've seen that one coming," said Casey laughing. He grabbed Morgan by the collar and pulled him along. "Come on Beckman is waiting. Girls I've got the Troll so it's safe to come out."
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In Regina Coeli, a Roman prison, located in the Trastevere borough of the capital Italian capital Ettore La Barba stood looking out his cell window. In the distance from a nearby apartment building he saw a series of flashing lights. This was the signal that things were in motion and he knew what he needed to do.
"Guard, Guard," yelled La Barba from his cell. "Anyone out there or are all you turnkeys on coffee break or out smoking?"
"I hear you," said the guard who was walking the floor. "Stop your screaming and belly aching. "What do you want? Maybe you'd like some champagne and caviar?"
"Go find my magistrate and tell him I'm willing to talk. I'll tell him everything but just not here. I'll give him my statement in court then I'm going to need protection or I'll never see the inside of a courtroom to testify."
The guard hurried off to make the call over to the magistrate in charge of La Barba's case. This was big and he knew it. If he played his cards right there would be some glory in this for him too.
"Magistrate Giusti, this is Ispettore Michaele Arno," said the guard over the phone. "I want you to know that I'm the guard on the floor of Ettore La Barba and well I convinced him to talk but he's got some stipulations."
"You got him to talk? How? No, I don't want to know because if you got him to talk through threats or coercion then I won't be able to use it in court. Okay, tell me what his demands are?"
"He wants to give his sworn statement in the courthouse and then he wants witness protection. I think both are reasonable..." said Michaele but he magistrate snapped back to put him in his palce.
"I'm glad you do… Okay bring him to the courthouse in half an hour I'll grab a court recorder and meet you there. After we're done I'll arrange for a safe house. Since you've got this special relationship I want you to bring him to me. If there are any questions have them call me."
"Yes," said Michaele as he ran back to La Barba's cell to tell him the news and to escort him out. He shackled La Barba's hands then led him off the floor as the other inmates yelled and taunted him calling him a 'stoolie' and a 'snitch'. But La Barba didn't care he just followed the guard out smiling.
"Goodbye boys," he said. "I hope you all rot in here and in hell. Buonasera e arrivederci."
Once off the floor and down in the holding area Michaele coordinated transport with a prison van. He loaded La Barba in the back then they headed for the courthouse.
"I need to ride with him," said Michaele. "It was the deal I cut with Magistrate Giusti. If you have any questions you can ask him but the prisoner needs to be in the courthouse in half an hour." La Barba smiled like the cat who ate the canary at Michaele as they rode together through the city.
"What is it? You're not going to back out now and leave me with egg on my face? I swear if you do I'll personally make life hell for you in prison." La Barba just laughed and sat back. "I mean it don't screw around with me."
"I promise you'll get everything you deserve," said La Barba. "Don't worry I'll see that you're compensated properly."
The drive to the courthouse was relatively fast considering the time of day and traffic. They drove into the prisoner receiving area where La Barba was unloaded then he and Michaele were taken into the magistrate's office where he was already waiting with a court recorder.
"So Signore La Barba you've decided to play ball. It's for the best so let me explain to you how this is going to work," said the Magistrate as he began to explain but Ettore cut him off.
"Thank you but let me explain to you how this is going to work," said Ettore. The recorder pulled out a stiletto and stabbed Michele in the throat then held it to the magistrate's throat.
"Shush," he said putting his finger to his lips telling Giusti to keep quiet. Ettore looked down at Michaele as he gurgled voiceless in his own blood.
"Sorry turnkey but I guess you're not going to get the chance to make my life hell but it looks like I'm sending you on a way one trip there. Arrivederci e buonanotte," said Ettore as he bent over Michaele. He took his keys then unlocked his shackles.
"What have you done? This was a trick so you can escape," said the Magistrate. "La Barba this isn't going to work so you might as well give up. You'll never make it out of this building."
"Oh that's where you're wrong my dear Dottore Giusti because it looks like to me like I already did. Now strip and don't do anything stupid. My man here has already demonstrated he'll do whatever is necessary for us to leave here. I actually admire you and I'd hate to have to hurt you. However, don't think you can give me puppy dog eyes and I'll let you get away with it."
A half an hour later Ettore was walking out of the courthouse in the magistrate's clothes. He left him in the office shacked to a radiator in his underwear. Taking out the magistrate's keys he used the car alarm remote on the key fob to find Giusti's BMW.
"We've got a jet waiting for us at Ciampino," said La Barba's assistant as he got in the car with his boss. They sped out of town through Garbatella then onto the SS7 and the airport at Ciampino. There they boarded a private jet and within an hour they were out of Italian air space.
"Thank you Paolo for springing me. You know prison is such a drag but I have to say I didn't know you were also a court recorder."
"I simply talked with the one call by the magistrate and pointed out why I should go instead of him," said Paolo as he cleaned his stiletto. "Believe me when I say he got my point. The pilot wants to know where you want to go."
"Tell him to lay in a course for L.A. I was invited to an arms auction. I need to generate a little cash flow and make up for some lost time. But I'm afraid we might get in a little late," said Ettore as he put his Rolex back on and checked the time. "We might have to rent a boat and go out to meet them. Did I tell you the auction is going to be held on a ship in the Pacific?"
"I think that detail you might've forgotten to share. Geez, you know I get seasick," said Paolo as he put his knife away. "You sure you can't handle this on your own? But considering what happened last time I left you by yourself I probably should come along."
"How was I supposed to know she was an Interpol agent? Her body certainly didn't look like something from Interpol. I still haven't figured out where she was hiding her badge."
"You sure there wasn't anything that could've given her away? Maybe the fact that she carried handcuffs and was packing serious heat."
"I just thought things were headed in the right direction. I was even game when she slapped cuffs on me. I thought she was just a little kinky and she was about to spice up things."
"And the men with her?"
"The more the merrier."
"There's something wrong with you. No, I can't let you go by yourself. There's no telling what kind of trouble you'll get yourself into. Looks like I'm going to have to stop off at a pharmacy and get some Dramamine."
"And God bless you," said Ettore. Paolo just shook his head then he got up to talk with the pilot. When he was done he came back but stopped off at the bar and poured them both a single malt Scotch.
"Here I bet they didn't give you this where you were at," said Paolo as he handed him a glass. "Now tell me what are they auctioning off? Enriched uranium?"
"No my friend, gas, the weaponized form of VHF," said Ettore. He could tell from Paolo's look he didn't understand. "VHF is like Ebola and similar but weaponized. And soon it will be all ours."