Don't won Chuck

Jack was trying every way to he could think of to get out of his office but nothing worked so he had to stay and listen to Sarah's badgering as she asked him the same questions over and over again. It didn't matter if he continued to deny knowing anything. She wasn't buying it which made it that much more frustrating for him. However, he took it because in his heart of hearts he knew that it was his fault if she didn't trust him.

"Jack, what do you mean you don't know why these people want to kill you? Surely you can take a stab in the dark and no that wasn't a pun but a statement of facts," said Sarah as Jack got up and went over to the bar.

"I need a drink. Look Angel, I've already gone over and over this in my head but I really don't know why. You have to believe me," said Jack as he poured himself a drink. "I'm sorry where are my manners. Do you want one?"

"No and this isn't the time to start drinking. You need to keep a clear head," said Sarah as Casey started to say he'd take one.

"Colonel, do you want one," said Jack as he smiled at him. They both caught Sarah's look. "Come on I don't want to drink alone and one isn't going to kill you."

"In your case Jack, it just might," said Sarah. John walked over and picked up a glass Jack had poured from him.

"I guess one can't hurt," said John. He avoided eye contact with Sarah but felt them burning two holes in the back of his head.

"Well, if you two are done," said Sarah as she turned back to Jack. "It's not what I believe that matters here. It's what the people gunning for you believe and they believe you screwed them over. If you've done something just admit it and let me deal with it. I've bailed you out before and I can bail you out again but I need to know what I'm up against."

"How many times I supposed to tell you I don't know? I haven't got a clue as to what's going on. I really don't and if it's from my past... well, there are a lot of people that would like to get their hands on me but if it was one of them they would've gotten to me a long time ago and not waited around for so long."

"Jack, what am I going to do with you? If you continue denying the obvious then there's nothing I can do for you or don't you realize that and worse is you're putting me and my family at risk too. A wet team came for me while I was coming here."

"And what happened to them? Don't tell me the schnook took care of them? I would never tell him this but you've got a real keeper there so don't go and screw it up... not again."

"You're a good one to be handing out advice telling me not to go and screw it up? That's a good one because you're the one who put me and them in harm's way or hasn't that sunk into that thick skull of yours yet."

"First of all, let's set things straight. I didn't ask for your help and secondly for the thousandth time I don't know what I'm accused of doing. Yes, I know or knew who 'not-so' Honest Abe is or was. I think just about everyone did in the circles I used to run in but I've never been involved with him for the obvious reasons... being I knew the scum that were behind him. And if you're wondering why I called them scum you just have to look at what his so-called friends did to him."

"And if this is what his friends did to him think about what they'll do to someone who isn't their friend. Someone like you for instance... what do you think they'll do to you?"

"You don't think I don't know that? But that doesn't change my situation the least bit, I still don't know the who or the why? And that's all I've got to say on the subject."

"The General thinks it has to do with Abe's ledger. Does that jog anything lose," said John as he walked over and refilled his glass."

"Then she knows more about this then I do. Maybe you should be talking to her and not to me," said Jack as he walked over and held out his glass for John to pour.

"Jack, I don't care what happens to Beckman. I care about you," said Sarah as she put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't you understand that?"

"I know you do Darling and I wish I could give you something to help you out. But I'm not lying, I don't know anything."

"Well, I need to go talk to Mary and see what she wants. I don't want you walking around unescorted and I mean that. I heard about what you did with your other security detail."

"Having people watching over my shoulder just isn't my style. The magic is only as good as if the audience doesn't see how it's done."

"We aren't talking about magic here but murder and I'd like you to avoid getting a third eye. Please, can you do this for me and cooperate for once."

"Okay Darling for you I'll try but I need a little breathing room when I'm on the Casino floor. Surely you can give me that?"

"John will watch you until I get back from talking with Mary," said Sarah. Jack made a disgusted look. "I'm serious or I'll lock you in here or better in detention down below for duration."

"I'd like to see you try. Beckman is still waiting for my final draft of the seating chart for the tournament and she's not going to let anything get in the way of that."

"Don't press your luck on that," said John. "You just need your hands for that. I can still break both your legs and have you put in a chair. If you want to see if I won't just try to ditch me... please do," said Casey as he cracked his knuckles.

"Jack, if I were you I'd listen to John," said Sarah as she smiled at John. "Thanks, I'll be right back after I finish with Mary."

"If you're not back soon I'll have them dredge that bay." The sad part was she didn't know if he was joking or not.

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Chuck had delivered Sam to school, taken Kathy to her hotel, then waited for her to change. He then took her to school and only after all that was done could he go to Castle. With everyone out he had no one to leave Bunny with so he brought her with him until Kat could get free. She and Alex had an appointment to get their hair done that they'd made two weeks before.

"I can cancel," said Kat. "You don't have anyone to leave Bunny with and I can always do this another day."

"No, you already made the appointment and besides you need to have a little mother-daughter time with Alex. I'll just take Bunny with me into work. I can bring her portable playpen and she can stay in it. If she gets hungry I know what to do and we can have a little father-daughter time too."

"Only if you think you can manage," said Kat.

...And that was the night before and now he was trying to get into the Buy More with Bunny in a front baby carrier, with her bag in one hand and the folded-up play pen in the other.

"Chuck... dude, you look like you've got your hands full," said Morgan as he came and met him at the front doors. "You know you could always make two trips."

"Not my style. But you mean like taking Bunny down to castle and leaving her there alone then coming back for the rest. Do you think that's such a good idea?"

"I never said it was the perfect plan. You need to hurry up and get down below and talk with Becky. She's already called looking for you and she didn't seem to like it when I told her you weren't in yet."

"Then here," said Chuck as he handed Morgan the play pen. "You can carry this down and come with me to get it setup so I can call Langley."

"What's this," said Skip as he materialized from behind an aisle with Fernando right behind. "Is it bring your kid to work day? I don't think I got that memo."

"Neither did I," said Fernando. "Maybe we should go get Big Mike and see if he got one. But you know we don't have kids so that's probably why they didn't send it to us."

"Just shut up you idiot," said Skip. "There wasn't a memo and I'm sure corporate Buy More would like to hear about what one of their managers let's slide on his watch."

"Come on Dudes," said Chuck. "Bunny needs to stay with me until her baby sitter can come and pick her up. Try to be cool for once in your life. Come on Morgan we need to go to the breakroom." Chuck and Morgan left leaving Skip and Fernando standing there plotting.

"So, we're going to be cool about this, aren't we?" said Fernando as he looked at Skip. He could see the squirrel running around the wheel inside Skip's head. "We're going to be cool, right?"

"I'm thinking just give me a little breathing room. Now what if we rat Chuck out to Big Mike maybe we could get a day off out of this. We're working extra to make up for him while he slacks off watching his kid in the breakroom."

"I don't know that sounds pretty low even for us and it's just to get a day off. There are easier ways to get the day off and still be cool. We could always tell Big Mike your grandfather passed away and we need to go to the funeral."

"We've used that three times already and the last time I had to tell Big Mike my granddad's name was Lazarus. That's not going to fly anymore and besides I'm talking about time off with pay. We had to work for Chuck so while he's working for us we still get paid."

"With pay! I've suddenly become less cool. Okay let's go for it," said Fernando as they looked around for Big Mike only to meet him as he came walking in carrying a Subway bag in his hand.

"Back off you two and don't come anywhere near me. This is my pre-mid-morning snack... bacon and egg on whole wheat flatbread with gooey melted American cheese. You know a nation is great when they name a cheese after it. You can look but you can't touch."

"You know a juice and a couple of cookies and you'd have a meal," said Fernando as he drew near to the bag but Big Mike pulled it away.

"Back Tantor, unk Tantor unk... back off," said Big Mike as he held the bag close to him. "What do you two dummies want anyway. I know for certain you two clowns weren't looking for me to ask what you needed to do."

"Well that's sort of it. You see we've been working hard and far be it for us to point fingers at people who are slacking off or who the Manager is covering for. But it just isn't right that we're busting our tushies while others are powdering theirs."

"What are you talking about? Powdering what? You know I don't have time for this or you. I'm going to put this in the fridge and Lord have mercy on the person who touches it. To be clear I'm looking at you two."

"Let's all go to the breakroom then together. I hate to rat Chuck out but he brought his kid into work. They're in the breakroom and that can't be hygienic... think of your sandwich. You put it in the fridge and the kid's mushy peas gets all over it."

"Would you like mushy peas?" said Fernando as he parroted Skip and nodded his head making a disgusting look.

"Well with bangers and mash maybe but not on my breakfast order. The whole beans for breakfast thing I never could understand."

"Bangers and what," said Fernando as he gave Big Mike a perplexed look and turned his head sideways looking like an oversized puzzled Chihuahua.

"You guys need to broaden your horizons and watch a little BBC. I've got it on cable... I had to. It's one of the few places you don't have to listen to constant stories about tweets from a twit. So, what are you two idiots talking about?"

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Mr. Black was getting settled into his room. It wasn't what he'd hoped for at the Casino Royale but he'd make do. He'd brought up all his bags and unpacked then pulled out his rifle scope. He used it to discreetly scout out the area from his windows and look into the neighboring buildings. There was no sign of the Major and he knew it would be difficult for him to find him but that presented another problem.

"Being here is all fine and dandy but that won't help you when you have to get to your mark. The Major knows where I have to go and it will be there he'll be waiting," said Mr. Black as he went and took out his stiletto from his case along with a whetstone.

"I need you to be ready," he said to the knife as he sharpened it. "All I need do is get near the target and then one jab. It will all be over and I can move on."

"Ah, but that's the problem," he said as he heaved a sigh. "I need to get close enough and for that I need to know my target's habits." As he was thinking about how to get himself in the Casino without being detected there was a knock at his door.

"Who is it," he yelled as he instinctively went for the Makarov 9 he had in his waist as he got up going over to the door.

"It's Miriam... my mother sent me up with some food for you. If I'm bothering you I can come back later but she wanted you to get it while it was still hot."

"That was very kind of her," said Mr. Black as he opened the door slipping his piece in his belt behind his back. He greeted Miriam at the door.

"Here's your tray. I can come back later for the dishes," she said as she peeked around him into the apartment. "Are you all settled in? My mother wanted to know if you needed anything like extra linens or pillows?"

"I'm fine thank you," said Black as he took the tray from her. "I'd invite you in but the place is a mess with things still hanging out of my suitcases. However, I don't think your father would like that too much nor your boyfriend."

"Oh you mean Razhib, he isn't like my father. He's more understanding and less strict when it comes to things than my father is. The man is stuck in the last century."

"He's still your father," said Mr. Black as he made a face. "I know to you young people we older people look like dinosaurs but there are reasons we tell you things even if you don't like them."

"Now I know why my mother told me to chat with you. I hope you like your meal. My mother put a lot of effort into it," said Miriam as she started to turn and walk away.

"I'm sorry if you think I insulted you but my father was a lot like yours and somehow I think if he saw me today... well let's just say I don't know if he'd be happy."

"Why?" said Miriam as she turned back around. She was curious now. "My mother said you were a good Muslim. I think your father would be happy with that."

"Life isn't only that. Is your boyfriend a good Muslim?" asked Mr. Black and Miriam nodded. "And still your father isn't happy with him."

"Because he lives in the Casino with his step-mother who isn't Muslim even if she has raised him as one of us... I don't want to bore you. It's a long story and you need to eat your meal. If it gets cold because you're talking to me my mother will kill me."

"We can't have that. Your boyfriend... Razhib is it?" he said and Miriam nodded. "He sounds like an interesting person. I'm a freelance writer and I'd like to interview him. It sounds like there's a story there a paper would like to publish."

"You think so... I mean I'd have to ask him first. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I ask him to talk to you."

"And maybe once I get his story out your father will understand him better. Who knows he might even come out of the dark ages?"

"That would be really great if that happened. I'll see Razhib later this evening we meet at Alibaba's it's a pub not far from here around nine. I'll draw you a map and bring it up when I pick up your dishes if that's okay with you?"

"That's fine and I can come in around nine thirty after you've talked with him to do the interview. What is it exactly his mother does in the Casino?"

"She's some sort of assistant manager in charge of personnel. But I don't know how much he'll want to talk about her."

"Well, we'll see. I just need to get his story," said Mr. Black. They said their goodbyes and Mr. Black went back inside with his tray of food that did smell quite good. But finding this kid answered how he was going to get the intel he needed on his target without being seen.

"This might be easier that you thought," said Black as he sampled the grilled vegetables then tasked the lamb. "I don't think I would've eaten this well in the hotel. It's going to be a shame when I have to kill the cook and her family, but I can't leave any lose ends," he said to himself as he started to eat.

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Skip, Fernando and Big Mike walked through the Buy More. Big Mike was sure that if what they saying about Chuck was true they weren't telling him this so he could save Morgan from going down the wrong path or being led astray. He was sure they had some other reason in mind and it had to do with getting out of work.

"You know if you two nincompoops worked as hard as you do to get out of work you'd be the best workers in all of Buy More."

"Why thank you for the compliment," said Fernando. "Skip say thanks, that's the best thing Big Mike has ever said about us."

"I don't think he meant it as a compliment," said Skip as they turned the corner in the corridor and the breakroom door came in sight.

"Sure he did... he said we were the best and he's never said that before. You need to learn how to hear between the lines to understand."

"I think you need to go back to taking your classes in English as a second language. Then you can tell me about what hearing between the lines means. You might try that on ICE when they pick you up."

"Why would ICE pick me up? I was born in this country. You aren't saying I could be targeted? Why? For all we know they just might run you in"

"Yeah, like that's going to happen. He's tall pale read-headed... maybe if they have a quota of Irish or Scotches. But if you really want to be safe then dye your hair orange and say Stormy Daniels is your Momma. Now that would through them for a loop," said Big Mike as he laughed.

"Well, here we are," said Skip as he opened the door. "Now is today bring your kid to work day. What do you see?"

"I see and empty room," said Big Mike as walked past Skip. "Is this some scheme you two cooked up to get out of work? Is that it?"

"I don't understand they were right in front of us. It couldn't have been but a few minutes. Where could they have disappeared to?" said Skip as he started to look through lockers.

"Yeah like they're going to hide in there... well Morgan maybe but I know you're not looking through other people's things. I was missing my power bar the other day and now I think I know where it went."

"I don't know anything about a power bar. But you have to believe me Chuck and Morgan came in here with Chuck's kid. We both saw them... isn't that right Fernando?"

"I think this is a case of hearing between the lines," said Big Mike. "I want all the stock in the back inventoried then put on the shelves today and if it isn't, you won't have to worry about reading between the lines. Do you understand me?"

"But I swear that..." Skip started to say but Big Mike raised his hand and cut him off.

"I don't want to hear it and I putting my flatbread sub in the fridge. If anyone touches it... well I'll know who to come to talk to and it won't be a polite conversation. Now get back to work."

"But..."

"Not another word or your next will be spoken in the unemployment line. Now get while the getting is good. What am I going to do with you two idiots," said Big Mike as he shook his head and put his Subway bag in the fridge.