Don't own Chuck
Dr. Greg went to work with one of the worse hangovers he's ever had. The whole events of the night before were a blur and he almost convinced himself that the incident in the parking garage was nothing but a figment of his imagination. But almost because when he went to transfer things from one jacket to another he found the syringe in it along with a burner phone. That was when everything came back to him and the reality of what happened slapped him in the face.
"What are you going to do?" He asked himself as he drove in work. He still didn't have an answer when he pulled into the parking garage. However, today he parked in a visitor spot instead of his assigned slot. When he got out the sunlight hurt his eyes so he put on sunglasses then continued walking over to the hospital.
"Good morning doctor," he was greeted as he walked into the atrium. He wanted to ask what was so good about it but he didn't.
"Morning," he said which was more an affirmation of the time than how he felt. He hurried to the elevator and got on. On the elevator there happened to be two CDC physicians going back to the quarantine ward with coffee in their hands. He understood they were talking about things on their floor that piques his interest so he eased behind then pretending to be busy working with his phone.
"Well we should be out of here soon," said the one physician. "I can't wait to get back to Atlanta and my family. I called home last night to find out I missed my son losing his first tooth."
"Yeah if I had known this was what it was going to be like working for Dr. McCoy I think I would've tried working with someone else like Genghis Khan."
"I know what you mean but you can't have Scottie beam you up from this," said the one as the other one laughed.
"You'd better not let him catch you joking like that or suffer the 'wrath of Khan'. I thought he was going to bite off that poor nurse's head when he said 'damn it I'm a nurse not a doctor'. It was all in good jest but you'd thought the man said I don't know what. "
"Well if you ask me he kind of had it coming but I hear you. Why are we still here anyway? The patient has recovered and his last lab results showed he was clear of the infection, so why is he still in quarantine? This is okay for McCoy, he doesn't have a family, but for the rest of us… Well this is a burden especially when there's no real reason."
"I hear you believe me I do but it's something the Doctor's working on. He brought in that other outsider to look over his work. I don't know about you but that rubbed me the wrong way. We're just his staff, the people who have indentured ourselves as his bonded servants for who knows how long then he grabs someone else to publish. That's not right."
"She was in Africa at the same time he was or that's what I overheard. Her specialty is neurology and she's supposed to be some sort of hotshot in the field…written papers and the likes. But you probably haven't read any of them they don't have pictures or call out boxes."
"Funny but how much longer can this keep on going?" said the one as the doors opened up on the ward. The other just shook his head as they got out. Greg walked forward and pressed his number again then watched them walk off before the doors closed.
"Geez, yes how much longer?" He told himself. If Chuck was doing as well as they seemed to say then he might not have an IV in anymore for him to inject the syringe into. He'd have to inject Chuck or get it to him some other way. Then something else hit him.
"So that's why Ellie's here," he said to himself. The elevator doors opened then he walked off. "I see now," he mumbled to himself as he walked down to his office. "You're here to co-publish with McCoy. I see how this is going and why you got mad at me. You want to hog all the credit for yourself well sister I'm going to throw a monkey wrench into that plan."
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Beckman was sitting in her downtown office getting some last minute things done before she went on mission. She already had a small row with Roan. He was concerned if it was appropriate or prudent for the director of clandestine services to put herself in harm's way.
"Diane you're not listening to me," said Roan. "This mission is too dangerous and there are too many variables. Your job is here behind this desk in Langley not in the field anymore."
"At least you didn't throw my age up in my face. I hear what you're saying but the director's job is whatever the director makes of it and I say I'm going on this mission."
"I just want to point out Diane you're going to be on a boat full of cutthroats and unsavory types almost like Capitol Hill. However, with one big exception their bite is much worse than their bark."
"Roan I appreciate the concern but I've got this under control there's no need to worry. Besides nothing is going to happen to me if anything they need the Consul and me as window dressing to make this whole thing look legit."
"Diane I realize that you want to get back out in the field and get your feet wet again. However, can't we find something that we can do together so I can cover your six in suntan lotion on a nice tropical beach somewhere while drinking Martinis."
"Maybe next time but for right now I need for you to watch my desk for me and by watching my desk I don't mean watching my liquor cabinet. I've had the lock changed on it just to keep you honest."
"Yes I found that out and a bit bothersome as well as useless. I called down to R&D you know as acting director people are very helpful and they have all sorts of neat toys. Now I'm looking a very good bottle of Hennessy. I never understood how people can drink cognac? To me it tastes like cough syrup. Oh here we go Dewar's Signature…"
"Leave that alone it was a gift and I'm saving it for a special occasion. When this is done I'm going to need proof of life…"
"Okay then I'll have to offer solace to your absence to your gin and vermouth. Both seem lonely and distraught without you. Maybe I can make it a party?"
"I sure they do. Roan, I've got to go just don't get me in trouble while I'm gone and stay out of the secretarial pool."
"Oh but I like walking through my garden of daisies."
"Roan, I have a gun." There was a knock on her door. "Roan, I have real work to do now. Just remember what I told you." With that she hung up then told her Aide to come in.
"General, we've got a problem. The Interpol raid to grab La Barba was a bust. When they boarded the plane he was nowhere to be found. The Colombians are up in arms accusing Interpol of violating their national sovereignty and Interpol is yelling at us for providing them with bad Intel. Worse, we have no idea where La Barba is."
"Is anyone happy? There's nothing precise in this line of work or don't they realize that. You know what this is don't you? This is a cover your six and I'm not talking about with suntan lotion…"
"What? You lost me on that? Is that code for something" said the Major as he looked at her perplexed. "Am I supposed to pack that for our trip on the ship?"
"No… I mean yes… Oh I mean these people are trying to cover up the fact that they screwed up pointing the finger elsewhere away from themselves."
"Should we notify the team that La Barba wasn't taken and have them keep an eye out for him in case he shows up onboard."
"If he shows up on board it will be too late to tell anyone. No we don't have to pass that along we just need to beef up our people at the airports and the train station. He might try to slip past us but if we keep our nets taught then I think we'll be good."
"But General, don't you think the team has a right to know what they could be getting themselves in to if he shows up? This could go south in a hurry."
"And that's why we have to make sure he doesn't get through. This is the closest we've been to grabbing those canisters and finding out who's behind it. We can't afford for Grimes to get cold feet.
Now we need to get everything ready for us to embark and to be ready for the unexpected. Do we have the schematics for the ship yet? I want a copy forwarded to the Colonel with all the places they could hide those canisters at highlighted. I just hope Grimes is up to this it all depends on him."
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Morgan was walking back and forth in front of Sam and Samaa trying out his phony Italian accent but the only thing he was accomplishing was making them laugh. Casey just stood off to the side and shook his head as he watched the floor show. Samaa leaned over and whispered something into Sam's ear. She responded by shrugging her shoulders then raising her hand like in school.
"Come on you two need to get with the program here. I'm supposed to make you scared. Aren't you a little terrified?" said Morgan. "Yes, you can put your hand down we're not in school."
"Morgan, Samaa wants to know why you're talking funny. And maybe if we know why we're supposed to be scared we could pretend to be if that's what you want."
"We're going to go play make-up and I'm supposed to be a big scary bad Italian gangster so you're supposed to be afraid of me," said Morgan but as he was explaining Samaa leaned over and whispered again in Sam's ear and again she nodded.
"Okay let me have it. What is it this time? You know you could just ask me directly inside of going through your mouthpiece."
"Now where's the fun in that," said Sam as she smiled. Casey nodded from the corner. "Samaa says she's been to Italy and the people there don't sound like you. Uncle Casey have I been to Italy?"
"When you were little you did. That's where Razhib found his Aunt Margo before she was moved to Montenegro."
"There you go Uncle Casey would make a better gangster. Morgan, I don't want to make you feel bad but you're more a Red Riding Hood while Uncle Casey would be a better wolf."
"Now that's what I've been saying all along and it took Goldilocks to see who's the baby bear of the team," said John. Sam gave him a menacing look. "No offense intended."
"Well these are the covers Beckman gave us and this is what we've got to run with. Okay say I'm the big bad wolf and I come to huff and puff then say I'm going to eat your bunny. What would you do then? Wouldn't you be a least a little scared?"
"You really truly want to know," said Sam. Casey moved in behind her taking out his phone. This was something worth recording for posterity and blackmail material.
"Yes I want to know go ahead and show me, it's okay. You can scream and cry as much as you want," Morgan said as he got close to her. She jumped down off her chair then kicked him as hard as she could in one chin. Then as he bent down to hold it she kicked him in the other. Morgan dropped to the floor in pain. Casey caught her in midair as she was about to jump up and down on him.
"Yeah go ahead scream and cry it's okay," said Casey as he laughed. "Come on half pint I think he gets the idea. I need him viably sound for this mission or I'd let you finished your Mexican hat dance on him," said John. He threw her over his shoulder and took her into the kitchen.
"You did ask," said Samaa as she stood over Morgan rolling in pain. "Morgan, if I were you'd stick with something a little easier like chasing butter flies."
"Samaa come on," yelled Noora from the kitchen. "You and Sam need to get ready to go to the airport to meet Sam's mother and your father. You want to go with them don't you?" Noora didn't have to say another word Samaa came running leaving Morgan suffering on the floor.
"Morgan what are you doing on the floor," asked Alex as she and Kat came in from doing the shopping. "When you get up there are other bags to be brought in. Do you know where Ellie and Noora are I want to bounce some ideas for supper off them?"
"They're getting Sam and Samaa ready to come with me to Pendleton to pick up Sarah and Jamil. Morgan, have you found your brain down there yet?"
"I'm still looking give me a moment and I'll be right there," said Morgan as he rolled over and got up slowly.
"Don't look at me I didn't do anything," said Casey as both Alex and Kat gave him a look. "Just see if one of you can do something with him before he gets us all in trouble."
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Hamid was a busy getting the final touches ready for the excursion doing all the leg work making sure everything was ready. He was surprised how easy the operation was to put together just the mention of children and hospitals in the same sentence and doors opened up. The only curve ball that got thrown his way was when he discovered there had been a survivor at the crack house when the Commandant took care of the Brigadier. That was unacceptable he was packaging his gas as the world's most deadly virus so there couldn't be any survivors. If the word got out it would affect his profits and Hamid couldn't have that. But he had Doctor Greg taking care of that and looking at his watch it was about time to give him a nudge.
Dr. Greg was sitting pondering different plans of attack when his phone rang. He answered the call as he continued to play around with the syringe wondering what to do with it now.
"Doctor there's a man on the line who wants to talk you about some sort of health plan. He said you and he had business to work out together."
"Patch him through," said the Doctor. He put the call on speaker so he could let his eyes and ears rest. He'd really over done himself and now he was paying for it. "If you're calling to tell me to hurry up it might already be too late."
"That would be extremely unfortunate for you if that's the case. Are you trying to tell me that I need to go to plan B?"
"I'm telling you that Chuck has already recovered and they are keeping him in quarantine for observation but there's nothing wrong with him anymore. However, I've got another idea."
"Okay let me hear your plan. Never let it be said that I'm not a reasonable man," said Hamid. He was beginning to wonder if the doctor wasn't looking for a way out. "What's your plan? And it had better be a good one."
"First if it is true that Chuck's that much better then it would be highly suspicious if he had a sudden relapse now. Maybe the key isn't in eliminating the donor but the people who are working on the cure."
"I don't understand how does that help me," asked Hamid. He was really starting to wonder if the doctor was the right man for this job. If not he'd have to go with plan B.
"If the people working on the cure suddenly went away then so would the cure. The man in charge is so worried about his ideas being stolen that he's given only one person access to his notes."
"Okay so the man who knows how to make the cure goes away the donor is still around to make the cure from."
"What do you care once you've sold the virus? You just need that the cure not be on the market before you sell your product."
"You sound like you've got something personal against the person working up this cure. Okay you're right I don't care if this cure is invented just as long as it's invented after the virus is sold, which will be in a few days."
"If you agree then I'm going to need for you to give me a small canister of the gas. Something I can introduce into the quarantine ward. They'll be letting their guards down now thinking everything is over and walking around without their hazmat suits. This is when I gas the whole ward. It will be as if the virus got loose and they accidentally contaminated themselves. The blame will naturally fall on the people making the cure slowing down the whole process until things can be verified."
"Dastardly and despicable but I like it. I'll send a colleague to your office with a canister but I don't have to warn you how dangerous it is."
"Just get me the gas and I'll handle the rest," said the Doctor. The line dropped then Greg leaned back in his chair looking at the wall.
"This will teach Dr. Woodcomb to cut me out of her research. I'll show her who's who around here. Go cry to the administrator and get me in trouble now I'm going to get even. What was that about the guy who laughs last laughs the loudest? Well Ellie Woodcomb I hope you laughed enough at my expense because it's my turn now." There was a knock on his door then his secretary stuck her head in looking around.
"Yes, what is it? You came in for a reason I presume?"
"I heard you talking and I thought you had a patient in… well never mind," she said realizing he was talking with himself. "Your next patient is here. Shall I send her in?"
"Yes have her come in. Oh and by the way I'm expecting a man to come by with a package for me. Interrupt me when he gets here it's important that I see him."
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The drive down to Camp Pendleton from Echo Park was relatively quiet. The girls sat in the back of the Crown Vic looking out the windows at the other cars on the road. The traffic was flowing and they were making good time. It was wasn't long before they were pulling into the main gate at Camp Pendleton.
"Welcome back Colonel," said the Corporal on gate as he saluted Casey. "I see you've got ladies with you. The C.O. told me to tell you to drive over to hangar four."
"Roger that they've only asked me five times are we there yet. Oh and I was told by one that her mommy drives faster than I do."
"Well it's true," said Sam as she crossed her arms. "Can we please hurry up? Mommy will be here and you're going to make her wait."
"Cute grandkids," said the other Marine on the gate. "It's nice to have grandparents to help out with the kids."
"Hey, how old do you think I am? I'm not their grandfather. They're not even…" Casey started to say but Sam interrupted him.
"Come on granddad Mommy will be waiting soon. You know how she hates to wait," said Sam as she smiled in the back.
"Colonel, I hate to hurry you along but the General is coming in so we need to clear the gate. Thanks for understanding and that's a nice family you've got there."
Casey grunted as he drove through as he looked back at Sam giggling. Samaa really was lost she hadn't understood a word the guard said coming through the gate so Sam explained as they drove over to the hangar. By the time they got there they both was laughing. Casey just shook his head as he drove on over to the hangar.
"Okay we're here you girls need to come with me and don't go wandering off. Whatever you do don't get lost and keep up. Follow me inside but keep you mouths shut and let me do the talking especially you half pint." Sam pointed at herself with a who me face. "Yes you."
"Oh Colonel Casey," said the Base Commander. "It's always a pleasure to have an old devil dog visit his roots. Your aircraft called in a little while ago and should be here soon. And who are these two young women? I didn't know you had grandkids? Your daughter is…."
"No these two are here to meet their parents coming in on the X plane. I just gave them a ride down. This one's mother is my partner so it's kind of a favor."
"I see well like I said the X plane should be here any time now. We can't track it on our radar so we clear a path for it until we can get visual." As the C.O. was explaining his radio squawked it was Tower control saying they had the bird in sight.
"Colonel, you need ear protection for you women and keep them out of the way. The bird is on its way to the nest," said the C.O. Casey led them out of the way and put headsets on both then he had them hold his hand as they watched the plane roll in with its rotating red beacon shining underneath the nose. He held their hands until the plane powered down.