Don't own Chuck
Molly got up early to have breakfast in the bar downstairs with Razhib. She knew he had gone out to see a girl named Miriam and if the truth were known she felt a little jealous. However, she told herself she was over it now but it wasn't that easy. Razhib had always been hers from the time he came to live with them after he had been rescued from the Toy Maker. She always thought there was a little bit of sadness behind his big dark eye.
"Well, if Miriam makes you happy then I'm happy too," she said to herself as she got dressed. She quietly slipped out of the apartment but she noticed Jack's bedroom was open and his bed was made. It registered to her as being strange but with Jack strange was the new normal.
"Okay, good so far," she said as closed the door behind her gently so it wouldn't make any sound. It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong but if she'd told Emma where she was going there would be a series of questions she'd prefer not to answer at least not now until she got the truth from the horses' mouth.
"Down we go," she said as she pressed the button on the elevator. The doors opened then she pressed "G" for the ground floor.
"People gossip too much here. I hope Raz had a good time just not a too good a time," said Molly as the elevator went down. She looked at her watch and realized she was a little early.
"Well, this will be a good gauge as to how things went. If he's there waiting that means he got in early so things didn't go that great and if he's on time then things went all right but not too right. However, if he shows up late then... well let's not think about that," she said to her reflection in the back of the elevator.
"I thought you said you were cool with him seeing Miriam? The way you're talking now it certainly doesn't seem that way."
"Who asked your opinion? Raz is like a brother to me and anything else would just be creepy. I'm glad he's found someone... I am. Why are you looking at me that way?"
"You know why. It's one thing to lie to others but another when you lie to yourself. If you want my opinion this isn't going to end well."
"Well I didn't, so you can buzz off and stay out of this. This is between Raz and me," she said as the elevator stopped and an elderly couple stepped inside. They both looked around wondering where the voices they'd heard had come from.
"It's the elevator," said Molly thinking quickly. "It's a conduit for voices from the upper floors. They sound like they're right next to you. It can be really spooky sometimes when you're inside."
"Right, I can see that" said the man. "I... we could've sworn we heard you talking to someone but what you said makes sense and good to know in case it happens to us. I'd hate to think this place was haunted."
"Yeah, good to know," said the woman. From her look she didn't seem convinced. "I bet if this elevator could talk no telling how many stories it'd have to say. It's difficult being the third wheel but they say confession is good for the soul." Molly was saved from any more embarrassing conversation when the bell rang and the doors opened.
"Right, I'm sure... Well I've got to go" said Molly as she darted across the lobby towards the bar. She walked in then looked around for Razhib and her heart dropped in her chest when she realized he wasn't there.
"Crap, well I'm still early so there's still hope," said Molly as she grabbed a corner booth. Michele the morning waitress and one of the biggest gossips in the casino walked over with a menu in her hand then laid it in front of her. She and Molly had an on-going gag.
"I'll have a Martini... no make it a double with three olives and make dry. Don't forget I want it stirred not shaken. I don't want it watered down."
"I want to keep my job. But mice try and one of these days I'm going to give it to you just to see your reaction. So instead why don't we start with a freshly squeezed orange juice and leave the hard liquor for the adults?"
"Oh, Michele, you're no fun. All right, I'll go with the orange juice but I'll wait on the rest until Raz shows up. We're supposed to have breakfast together this morning." Molly knew that would be enough to set Michele off.
"You're waiting for that boy? Well you might have a wait. You want to know about his date last night? You know there are somethings a gentleman never talks about that's why it's left up to us ladies."
"You know about his date? How? Why?" said Molly as she looked around to make sure no one was within earshot to hear them.
"Are you kidding? Of course, I know... we all know. Everyone knows everyone's business here. According to Sammy at reception Raz came in late last night and by late really late. He tried to sneak in but Margot caught him at the elevator so if I were you I'd go ahead and eat something because you could be waiting for a long time Sweetie."
"Wait a minute that's it? What about the rest of the story? What did Margot say and when you say really late how late is really late?"
"I don't know I didn't ask all I was told was it was just late. I'm not a busybody," said Michele. "I'll be right back with your orange juice," she said then she disappeared.
Molly was beginning to think that Michele was starting to lose it when she looked over and saw Mike walking in. His bloodshot eyes and the bags hanging under them told her he'd been up all night. He saw her sitting in the booth so he came over and sat down.
"Geez, did you stay up all night? Wait a minute," she said as things started to register. "Does the way you look have anything to do with Jack," she asked as Michele walked back with her juice.
"Can I get a couple of orange juices to go along with a couple of chocolate muffins, and four egg and cheese on English Muffins. Oh plus, I'll take about a half dozen plain croissants and all that to go," said Mike. Molly started to ask again but he signaled for her to wait until Michele was gone.
"That woman is about one of the biggest busybodies we have here and also a good source of intel. Too bad she doesn't even know it."
"Maybe it's better she doesn't. So, spill it, what's up with Jack I need to look out for Mom? You look like you haven't slept all night and I noticed when I left the apartment his bedroom door was open and his bed didn't look like it had been slept in so out with it. Whatever's happened has to be either to do with Jack or Raz. I know Raz came in really late last night and got caught by Margo."
"You know there are seasoned agents who are less on the ball than you. But really I can't say a word. I will tell you that it has nothing to do with Raz."
"Then it's Jack," said Molly as she felt mixed emotions she was relieved and concerned at the same time.
"I've already said too much," said Mike as Michele brought him back his takeaway order. "Here you go," said Mike as he handed money. "This will cover my order and her orange juice."
"Thanks, but hers is free here. Her father manages this place remember but I'll keep it as a tip," said Michele as Mike just shook his head and walked away with his order. Michele stood there waiting for Mike to disappear and she thought the coast was clear.
"So what did you find out? It's Raz isn't it? The boys in it deep now with Margo. I feel sorry for the boy living here with his aunt."
"Really, I can't say. Need to know and all that," said Molly. Then she took a drank from her orange juice. "I'll have a highball after this."
"How about an English Muffin with blackberry jam and butter on the side?"
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Mary was sitting in Jim Henson's office under the U.S. Embassy in Berlin when he walked in holding a cup of coffee and the latest edition of "Berliner Morgenpost". He frowned at her sitting behind his desk and felt a knot in the bottom of his stomach. He knew why she was here but even with that knowledge there was no way to prepare himself for what was to come.
"If you don't mind that's my chair your sitting in and how did you get in here? I haven't put your name on the access list for this area."
"That's why it's good to have friends in high places. I don't need you to give me access because I already have it. Do you want to talk about what happened to me at the airport?"
"The only thing I want right now from you is my chair so if you don't mind," he said as he walked over behind his desk and waited for her to vacate it.
"You know if you were nice you'd offer to share that coffee with me. I've had a long night," she said as she got up and moved to the other side of his desk.
"By long night I suppose you're responsible for this," said Jim as he dropped the newspaper on his desk with a frontpage photo article and photos of a fiery van reduced to twisted metal after an explosion.
"My German is a little rusty but I believe the article says it was a terrorist attack. I wonder who the BND are going to blame? Do you have any idea from your vast network Jim?"
"I don't know what you're implying but this has your handwriting all over it. And what about the body in the apartment that we had to clean up? The cleaners almost got caught trying to get out of the building or are you going to try to tell me you don't know anything about that either?"
"No, because I called them in and secondly this is the weapon I used to tap him with," said Mary as she laid an H&K P8 on his desk. "There was another one but he got away."
"Geez, what are you doing with that thing in here and how'd you get that thing in here past our security," said Jim as he moved backwards in his chair not realizing how much force he'd used and ended up bumping into the wall.
"Don't worry if I were going to use it on you, you'd already be dead. However, I almost did when you didn't share your coffee. That wasn't very nice but that's neither here nor there. That's Fritz's piece but I don't think he'll want it back. The agency should provide him with another one... a clean one but with the same serial number."
"I don't take orders from you," snapped Jim. "How dare you come into my city and start shooting the place up. I have to live here with these people and what am I supposed to tell the Ambassador when she asks?"
"Why should she? The newspaper says terrorism and soon the BND will lay the blame on some fringe organization so if she asks run with that. I would refrain from any further speculation... well the word interference comes to mind and career ending."
"I knew you were going to be trouble the moment I read that you were coming. I don't know why the General let you return to the fold after your... well let's call it prolonged absence."
"If you want I can get her on the horn and you can ask her yourself. There are people who cause problems and there are people like me who resolve problems. Jim, are you going to be a problem? You don't have to answer that I just need for you to take me up and introduce me to Mark Talebort. He and I need to have a chat."
"I don't know why I'm telling you this but you should really meet the Ambassador and ask her permission before you go grilling her embassy staff."
"Yes, I should but that would give Talebort a heads up that I'm coming and give him time to skip out of Dodge."
"I've already interviewed him and he's got nothing to hide. I did a background check on him as well as financials and he's as clean as a whistle. He doesn't even have any parking tickets, which is a miracle in this town."
"I don't believe in miracles or people being that squeaky clean. If I saw someone that clean it would be a red flag for me but this is your house and I can play by your rules... at least for now."
"I'm glad you decided to listen to reason," said Jim. He picked up the phone and called up to the Ambassador's secretary to tell them they would be right up. "I need to see the Ambassador for a few minutes I have someone she needs to meet. ... Okay, we'll be right up."
Jim didn't understand that the 'at least for now' was in reference to this being his house not that Mary was going to play by his rules. If she was right she'd already set into motion a plan to root out the mole she thought was lose in the Embassy.
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Mark Talebort got up late... very late. Just how late it was he didn't notice until he rolled over and looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table. He jumped up out of bed searching around the bedroom for his clothes. When he took them off he hadn't exactly worried about where they landed. Then it struck him where was Gina.
"Gina, why did you turn off my alarm? I'm going to be late and I'm already in the doghouse. I can't afford this," he yelled but there was no answer.
"Crap, where are you," he said as he stumbled out of the bedroom trying to put his legs through his trousers and walking at the same time. "Gina, where are you?"
He knew this thing they had going was a poor decision on both their parts but they couldn't help themselves. Gina worked down below with her boss, Jim Henson or as she described herself one of his muppets. She didn't talk much about what went on down there and he never really asked but he felt what they had was special... too special to give up or that's how he felt.
"Crap, she's already gone to work," he said as he walked over to the kitchenette. There was a note on the counter and the smell of freshly made coffee. He picked up the note she'd left him on the counter and read it.
"I made coffee for you and there's a takeaway cup next to the pot. This is about the extent of my culinary skills. I thought you might want to sleep in this morning after the work out you got last night, so don't worry about work. I'll cover for you at the Embassy. Love Gina."
"Geez, she signed this love. What does that mean? Does it mean we're serious? Crap, I know I like her but do I love her? I don't know," he mumbled to himself as he filled his cup, put the cap on it then switched off the pot.
"She was the one who wanted to keep our relationship a secret at work. She said that Henson and her people wouldn't understand which had been cool with him. Friends with benefits was how she described what they had and now it seemed to be more." He was confused as he closed the apartment door behind him.
"I don't even have a key to her apartment so what's this 'love Gina' mean anyway," he said as he thought back to see if he could recall her ever telling him before that she loved him.
"Crap, I can't think of even one time," he said to himself as he got into his car. He took a sip of coffee then switched on the ignition then drove out of the parking garage under Gina's building.
"I thought we were getting closer and I didn't rat her out when they asked me about turning that man away. She was the one who told me he was a bum. Then after the crap storm came she told me you can take the hit but I'll get sacked if anyone finds out I told you to turn him away. I was her shinning knight and she was my damsel in distress," he said to himself as he was starting to feel a little heart burn.
"Crap this is the result of you over thinking this. Your mother always told you black coffee on an empty stomach would lead to ulcers," he said as he heard his mother's voice in his head. Glancing at his watch he was really late and there was only so much Gina could cover for so he accelerated.
"Stop thinking about this and just concentrate on getting to work. You can clear this up with Gina tonight," he said to himself as his heartburn got worse.
Mark was just past the free university and about to turn left on Löhleinstraße off Habelschwerdter Allee when he had a stabbing pain in his stomach. The pain made his muscles go into spasms and his foot floored the accelerator. The last thing he saw was the backend of a slow moving tuck in front of him as he rammed right into its back.
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Chuck and Sarah were seen into the Principal's office while Sam was asked to wait outside with Harry. She took a seat on the bench outside and sat there with her feet dangling down almost touching the ground. She looked around but there was nothing to do except get bored. She wondered if they realized this was cutting into her time to learn to read. She had plans and sitting on a bench wasn't one of them.
"Hi," said Marty timidly as he sat down on the bench next to her after his parents were escorted into the principal's office too.
"Hi," said Sam as she leaned back against the bench looking around the office then picked Harry up. "I don't know what's taking them so long. I'm tired of sitting out here too."
"His name is George and he belongs to a friend of mine named Alvin. Buddy stole him to pull a joke on you but I guess the joke was on him."
"Buddy stole him from your friend and you knew about it? It doesn't sound like you were much of a friend. I bet Alvin's worried about Harry... I mean George."
"Yeah, I called him and told him what we'd done and... well he wasn't very happy with me. I need to give him George back."
"Sure, I understand. Here," said Sam as she handed Marty the box. "He belongs to your friend and I was just taking care of him until I could find him a home."
"Alvin will appreciate it and if you want I can introduce you to him so you can check up on George from time to time. You know to make sure George's okay. Alvina has other tarantulas. He's even got an Albino from Australia."
"Wow, I'd like that but I need to ask my parents first. Can I ask you something," said Sam as she looked down at her feet. "Why don't you like me?"
"I do like you. It's just... well I'm Buddy's friend and he blames your father for what happened to his but I told him he was wrong then... well one thing led to another and I got pulled into this;" said Marty in one breath as his eyes watered. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry accepted. I wish they'd hurry up in there I need to get to class. At this rate I'll never learn to read and how am I going to become a doctor," she said as the door opened and Marty's parents came out with Marleen Buchmiller who didn't look very happy.
"Marty, my secretary will give you a note then you can go on to class. Sam, I need you to come inside so I can talk with you and your parents together. Harry, can stay here with me for the day."
"His name is George and Marty needs to take him back to his friend Alvin who they borrowed him from," said Sam as she glanced over at Marty who looked down at his feet. "It was supposed to be a joke."
"I see you two have been talking. Well, for Nancy's sake and to avoid a lawsuit with the teacher's union I'll keep George here for now. At the end of the day Marty you can come and get him from me. Now go on to class. Sam, this way," said Kathy as she brought Sam inside and had her sit next to Chuck and Sarah.
"Am I in trouble?" said Sam as she looked around the room. "Because if I'm should I have an attorney present?"