Don't own Chuck
It was late evening everyone was bedded down for the night. Sam was back to her cheerful self and had played hard with Chuck and Molly. Sam was dozing off in her chair as she was eating dinner until finally Sarah went over and took her in her arms before she fell face first in her plate. Sarah let Sam sleep in her lap while she finished eating then she carried her back to bed.
"So Morgan what have you two got planned for your big day in Acapulco? Are you going sightseeing or relaxing by the ocean taking in the rays?"
"I'm going to be drinking some of those fruity drinks with the little umbrellas while I lie on a beach lounge with my feet up."
"So if you put an umbrella in a grape soda Morgan you've got what you do here. You two ought to explore the sights. Maybe you should try cliff jumping?"
"The only cliff I'm going to be diving over is if Casey throws me over and to do that he'll have to catch me first."
"I won't even try. I've got Herr Sauer right here," said Casey as he tapped the shoulder holster. "He's got nine little friends that can outrun anyone."
"That's not true. I can name two people they can't out run. They can't out run the Flash or Superman," said Morgan.
"What's worst is he said it with a straight face," said John. "You're not going to go loafing around there like you do here. You don't go on vacation and do the same crap you can do at home. Chuck, what do you think?"
"Yeah Chuck, what do you think? Would you go sightseeing under the scorching sun or kick back with a drink in your hand?"
"Why am I involved in your petty differences? Can't you two for once try and work things out on your own. The truth is your both petty. Work out your own crap for once and Morgan before you think I agree with you. I didn't put off us going on vacation so you could prop your feet up and ignore Alex. Ditto for you, you're supposed to make Kat feel special."
"Hey take a chill Chuck," said Morgan. "There's no reason to get bent out of shape over this. We were just asking you your opinion."
"Yeah Bartowski take a chill pill. This is why we shouldn't ask him his opinion because he all ways has one whether it's the right one or not."
"Chuck is cranky because he needs his nightie-night," said Morgan. "John, let's move over to your place so Chuck can go to sleep."
"I'm just saying…" But by the time Chuck started to say what he thought everyone was out the door. "Hey so unfair… come back here guys." But by then they were all gone.
"Where'd everyone go to," asked Sarah. "I just got Sam to bed then I checked on Bunny. Was I gone that long?"
"No I think they were mad at me but I'm not sure. I simply told Morgan that lying around under the umbrella isn't much different from what he does here and that the trip to Acapulco should be about him and Alex. Then I told Casey the same thing so they all got up and left. They're next door at Casey's planning their trip."
"So are you going to practice what you preach," said Sarah as she got close to him putting her arms around him.
"Naturally, this trip is about us and the girls and no one else. This will be our time together and I don't want anyone to get in the middle of it."
"Then let's leave tomorrow evening. We can have the Lear serviced tomorrow morning then we can stop off at Gander for refueling then make the crossing stopping again in Ireland for more fuel before we continue on across France to Nice."
"Wow, it sounds like you've already thought this trip through. You don't think Beckman won't get pissed if she calls and doesn't find anyone."
"You were the one who said you didn't want anyone to get in the middle of anything. So now it's time to step up Chuck. What's it going to be?"
"Will that be coffee, tea or me," he said as he kissed her holding her tight. "Fly air Chuck our motto is we aim to please."
"As long as the person you're pleasing is me. I don't want you servicing any other women," said Sarah as she kissed him back. "You're mine buster I have a ring and a piece of paper to prove it."
"I love you so very much," said Chuck as he kissed her again.
"I love you too. You know Sam and Bunny are both asleep. Emma and Molly are next door in their apartment and I don't expect them back this evening."
"What are you hinting at," said Chuck as she ran her hand inside his shirt and bit his earlobe. "I think you've figured it out."
"Well let's turn off the lights and see if you've got it," she said as the lights when off followed by giggling and laughter. "By Jove I think you've got it."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Moving day was there and the everyone had to pitch in to get the circus boxed up for shipment. Everyone had to pitch in and there were no exceptions if they were going to meet their deadline. Each day waiting at the docks was a penalty so everything had to go like clockwork and everyone was helping out except one person.
Rita was helping people move crates using the elephants as fork lifts while Raul and Marco helped move the crates around on the truck.
"Hey has anyone seen Alfredo," said Giovanni. "I don't know if he's got his crap together or not. I don't want to have to pay a penalty for the idiot because he was late packing his oversized shoes or red noses."
"Let me go look for him," said Raul. "I might know where to look. I can encourage him to get his butt in gear."
"No then he really would be a sad clown and I'd have a lawsuit. Rita can you go look for him? Let the animal handlers work the elephants. I trust you to handle him."
"Sure Giovanni," said Rita. She caught the looks her brothers gave her. But she chose to ignore it. "I've got an idea I know where he's at too." The brothers didn't like her going looking for the pig but there was little they could do except watch her make her way to their trailer.
[Meanwhile inside]
Alfredo was turning their trailer upside down looking for the data download device. This was his chance to search for it while everyone was busy but he couldn't find it. However, that made him even angrier and he was making a real mess of things. Rita came by peaked in the window before she entered and saw he was there so she picked up the biggest rock she could manage. She held it behind her then threw open the door.
"What's this? Why are you in our trailer," she yelled out loud. "Get your hands off me," she yelled again. Alfredo tried to grab her and put his hand over her mouth but she took the rock and whacked him hard across the face. He went down moaning.
"Why you…," he started to say as he tried to get up but she whacked him again. This time he wasn't very fast getting up again.
"We want papa back and this is only going to get worse for you. If you want that device, then you need to give us out father…." Suddenly the door to the trailer opened and Giovanni came in with Rita's brothers not far behind.
"What's going on here? Alfredo what are you doing in here and not outside working. What was going on in here?" asked Giovanni seeing the condition of the place with everything thrown about.
"There was a thief in here… yes that's what happened. I was walking past I heard a strange noise coming from inside," said Alfredo as he got up slowly. "I opened the door and came inside to investigate because I knew the Zorros were working loading the truck. I guess in my overzealous attempt to capture the criminal he got the better of me hitting me with the rock Rita has in her hand."
"It was probably someone who visited the circus looking for a souvenir. You look even sadder than before," said Raul. "Whoever it was really worked you over with that rock. You should go see a doctor before we leave."
"Hold up it doesn't look that bad. Use some spray to dull the pain and some disinfectant then get your crap loaded on the truck. Your stuff should've already been loaded and if we get a fine it's coming out of everyone's pay because the circus can't afford it. I also want you guys thinking about some new routines. The old ones have been over seen I want new life breathed into the acts."
"I think our act is perfectly fine," said Rita as she looked at her brothers. "The traffic jam has people on the edge of their chair."
"Your act is good and I'm glad you mentioned that to me. Has everyone seen their traffic jam? If you haven't I want, you all to see it. Watch them in rehearsal. Their performance was nothing short of stellar. But that's what I'm talking about. This is the way the rest of you'll should be acting. Alfredo I want you to get your clowns in gear and come up with something that's new and exciting. You could have yourself shot out of a cannon and into the crowd."
"I'm not David Copperfield after all nor do I pull rabbits out of my hat so there you go. I don't know what else you want out of me."
"I want the truck packed right now then on its way across the Atlantic I want you each to come up with a new act then when we hit port you can show it to me and I will critic to see if we can incorporate it into the show. Now everyone get back to work and let's get out of here."
Alfredo climbed out of the back of the Zorro's trailer not moving very fast. Raul and Marco stood there waiting for him to get out.
"You pull another stunt like the other night and this you'll never see that device or if you do it will be in pieces," said Marco. "If our papa isn't returned to us soon what you got from our sister will be nothing compared to the what we'll do to you."
"You touch me and you'll never see your father again. I want the device but we can wait until we get to Europe. That is if you can get it through customs," said Alfredo as the two brothers looked at each other. "Oh you hadn't thought about that problem, hadn't you? Well you should and if they find it in France when we arrive… well I wonder what kind of French delicacies they serve in jail over there."
"You just deliver our Papa to us and we'll worry about everything else. Remember if you call the cops on us you'll never see your toy."
"And you'll never see your father."
"Something tells me the person who's pulling your strings won't be too happy Mr. Marionette and he's liable to cut them. Just to be clear we may lose our Papa but you'll lose your life," said Rita.
"What are you people still doing standing around," yelled Giovanni. "Things don't jump in boxes by themselves. Let's get a move on it but that would be a good act if anyone of you can use the idea. Now let's get things moving or we're going to get hit with a penalty."
"Don't worry Giovanni I'll help you get everyone to work," said Rita. He smiled at her as she smiled back. Both Raul and Marco looked at her.
"What? We're just good friends and I feel sorry for him. He's a lot like me cursed with a family that has circus in their blood."
"You aren't going to start that crap again about how you want out of the business. You know Papa will never approve. We need you for the act."
"No you need me for the heists and that's what landed us in this situation to begin with. I told you guys before. We get Papa back then I'm out of here. You two can continue on as cat burglars but for me it's over."
"But you like the extra income it provides and so far we've never been caught. The police don't even know we exist."
"Raul, our luck can't last forever and sooner or later you are going to get caught… we all will get caught and then what? There will be some serious prison time. I want a family and to settle down without have to look over my shoulder. Papa will understand that it's what he had with Mamma…"
"And you know how he generated extra income for our family and Mamma did too but she never complained."
"Not in front of us but I heard them argue at night and Mamma wasn't that happy about how Papa… well when he did what he did. And if you don't think your luck won't run out… well you just have to remember that Papa is being held by that pig Alfredo and whoever his friend is."
"Those are nice words but they won't put food on the table or fancy clothes on your back," said Raul. "I need… we need to get back to work before your boyfriend gets angry with us."
"He's not my boyfriend and yes you need to get you butts in gear. I'll stay here and straighten up the mess that Alfredo made. Raul please think about what we talked about if not for yourself for Marco. He's still a boy…"
"I am not. I'm a man," said Marco finally speaking up. "I'm as much a man as Raul and I can think for myself and both of you should remember that."
"Well man, we need to go," said Raul as he put his arm around Marco and led him away back to the loading area for the truck. Rita watched her two brothers walk away. She couldn't help but worry for them and especially Marco. She remembered when he was a little boy following around their Papa. She couldn't bear the thought of him going to prison as a boy and getting out as an old man.
"Raul I won't let that happen," she whispered to herself. "I won't not if I can help it." She heaved a sigh then turned back to work.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[Back in Alexandria]
Paul was making his rounds and decided to go check out the roof while Teddy was doing his magic with the mainframe. Paul took the elevator up walking past all the science project that the various nutjobs here performing. The scientists that were working there were in fact all very gifted in their respective fields. However, for Paul and the other men in black assigned to secret project laboratories building X the scientists who worked there were all nutjobs.
"Hey Harvey, can I borrow your prototype the cloak of invisibility for a few minutes? I promise to give it back," said Paul.
"I told you that was Harry Potter, a kid's story. My device isn't the same because it doesn't rely on magic. It depends on pure science so by bends light rays it effectively camouflages the wearer to the naked eye."
"That's nice so what are you going to call your thing when you get it to work… light bendy kind of cape thing."
"Funny no, it's going to be called the cloak of invisibility. What can I say the name sounds trendy so why reinvent the wheel?"
"So Harvey can I borrow it for about a half an hour. I promise to bring it right back and I won't leave the building."
"I guess so just don't damage it and no eating with it on. Larry next door borrowed it so he could go down to grab food from the buffet line to bring it up here. But when I got it back there was a mustard stain on it."
"I guess you can't send it out to the cleaners can you," said Paul but Harvey wasn't laughing. He just gave him a look.
"Watch this," said Harvey as he activated the cloak and a big yellow stain appeared as the rest of the cloak disappeared. "You know what they're calling this yellow stain now. Do you want to take a guess?"
"Does it have to do with something that hits the fan around here quite often," said Paul. Harvey just shook his head as he deactivated it.
"Bring it right back," he said as he took it off the hanger and gave it to him. The switch is on the inside and whatever you do don't get any stains on it."
"Roger that," said Paul. He disappeared in the elevator with it. But then he thought to himself it was strange that Harvey hadn't asked him what he needed it for. But then again like this Harvey had plausible deniability which was what you needed when facing a lie detector.
"Well here goes nothing," he said to himself. He put the cloak on as the elevator doors opened on the top floor. He put the cloak on activated it then walked past all his colleagues and the CCTV room to head for the roof doo. He punched in his command code then walked out on the roof.
"Good you made it he told himself." He was on the roof and Mark didn't know it was what he wanted to do. If Mark found out, he was running his little rogue investigation he would shut him down.
"He'd already been up there before but now he could take his time. First thing he did was take the some of the metal filings from the hole in the wall he'd discovered along with samples of the cord that had been attached to something. He need to find out what kind of rope the fibers came from. Then he started looking for signs of forced entry.
"Nothing here," he said as he examined the door frame around the door that led to the roof. But really didn't expect to find anything. The people who broke in if they did were obviously professionals and only amateur would leave behind signs that a pry bar had been used.
"So if you didn't use the door how did you get inside the building," Paul said to himself. He looked around the roof top and saw the vent tops. "Derrick said that it was the whole cleaning crew."
He walked over and started checking them out and there it was. One of the ventilation shafts the screw heads had signs of resent use. That was when Paul knew he'd found his smoking gun. He took a penny out of his pocket then tossed it down the shaft. Now he just had to visit the laboratories until he found the one with the penny on the floor.
Paul returned the cloak to it's owner then proceeded down to the server room to find out if Teddy had discovered anything. He entered his passcode did a retinal scan then he was in. But already when he entered he could hear voices and they didn't sound very happy. He found Mark yelling at Teddy about what he was up to.
"Hey, hey don't get mad at him I had him look into what went on because you obviously weren't going to do it," said Paul as walked over to the two men.
"Under who's authorization did you run this little cloak and dagger investigation. Yes, I know about the cloak too. I was on my way to you. I thought I told you to leave it alone."
"Well we've got a problem because I found signs of forced entry on the roof. I don't know how whoever did this but they ran some sort of rope or cord between our building and the one next door gaining access to our roof then from there they removed one of the ventilation covers. My guess is they lowered someone down. I was about to go check out which laboratory they broke into but first I wanted to see what Teddy found out."
"What I found out isn't good," said Teddy. "Mark's got the results in his hand. I can tell you which laboratory they broke into. According to the server records there was a massive download from the intersect room. Someone and I don't know how brought a device capable of downloading all out secrets on it."
"Geez," said Paul as he looked at Mark. He wanted to tell him I told you so but there was no use in kicking a man already down. "Mark, you've got to report this to higher authority. There's no way to hid or brush this under the rug not with that data now being out in the wild."
"I know. I'm just thinking about how to do this but there is no way to avoid this bullet." Paul didn't understand what Mark meant until it was too late. Mark pulled his service weapon and put it to his head."
In Langley General Beckman's aid received a coded message from the situation room that read:
'Crystal palace compromised caretaker opted for the Hemingway solution.'