Don't own Chuck
Back at Langley Stanley Fitzroy was escorted back to the George Bush Center for Intelligence. But before he had been deep in dreamland when someone rang his doorbell. At first he tried to ignore it but Ginger rolled him over in bed to wake him as he tried desperately to sleep through it and probably be dragged off which was a premonition looking backwards. When he answered the door agents told him that he had to come with them the way he was. He was wanted right away back at Langley
"I'm lucky I sleep in a pajama or it could get really windy on the way in. Can you tell me what all the commotion is about?"
"We were just told to bring you in and that's it. We can wait while you get dressed if you make it fast. All we know is the General wants to see you right away in her office."
"She does, does she... well let's not keep her waiting that will only piss her off," he said. He went back to his bedroom changed and told Ginger to go back to sleep. "You can drive the car into work in the morning then I'll see you there for breakfast but if for some reason you don't see me then I'll catch you for lunch."
They both knew by now not to ask for too many details. Working for the agency there was always the possibility that someone would come knocking at the door late at night to call them in. However, for lab rats this was kind of rare which made Ginger a little worried. She followed him downstairs then saw them out the front door then watched the Escalade he got into disappear into the night.
That was twenty minutes earlier now Stanley was walking in the front doors as the George Busch Intelligence Center. He had his badge scanned then his hand followed lastly by a retinal scan.
"You know when you get the full body scanner up and working if you can print me off a copy it will save me from having to get an x-ray for my next physical."
"This way Dr. Fitzroy," said the General's aide. The Major had been called when they'd arrived and came down to escort him up as well as field any preliminary questions before he reached the General's office.
"So can you give me a heads up as to why I'm being called out in the middle of the night. The last time something like this happened Chuck was involved and the safety of the free world was at stake. Please tell me it's nothing like that."
"It's not that bad. It's just... well we need you to write an algorithm. The General will explain better but we're on a manhunt. We suspect he's being held in a hospital as a John Doe or under a false identity. What we need is someway of discerning which man is the one we're looking for from all the rest so we can go straight for him. If we go after the wrong target, we risk tipping our hand and these bad guys who are holding him will simply move our target. If they do that then we'll be back at to looking for our needle in a haystack."
"Sounds easy enough as long as you've gotten all the perimeters that I'll need to write the algorithm such as height, weight, general appearance as well as distinguishing features," said Stanley as they got off the elevator then they continued to talk as they walked down to the General's office.
"Good you're here now. Everything you need is here," said the General as she brought him into her office. He looked around at all the printed pieces of paper scatter about the room.
"I see," he said as he looked about. "Excuse me, but this will go a lot faster if I have the digital files these copies were printed from. Please tell me that's possible."
"Of course it is I can give you access," said the General. "But because of the sensitive nature of this mission you're going to have to work here in my office. I don't trust this to be done anywhere else."
"if those are your requirements then yes ma'am let me get right to it." Stanley rolled up his sleeve then sat down in front of the General's computer. She logged him on with her password then stood behind him. He worked through what was left of the night then into the morning before he was finished. As he was working he could feel the General's eyes as she stood behind him drilling holes into the back of his head.
"Okay there we are. It's done now the only thing we can do is wait for the main frame to process the data," said Stanley as he stood up, stretched, and yawned. "There's nothing more I can do here so if you don't mind General I'd like to go down to the cafeteria for a little bit of breakfast."
"Sure but don't go wandering off too far away we still might need your skill sets," said the General as she sipped on cold coffee. She made a disgusted look as she looked back at the cup.
"Don't take what I'm about to ask the wrong way but why did you call me in for this? Isn't Agent Carmichael your go to guy for this kind of work? Don't get me wrong I'm flattered that you thought of me but it begs the question is something wrong with Chuck?"
"Agent Carmichael is taking some personal time with his family," said the General as she looked over the monitor on her desk and at the wheel of death that was turning in circles.
"Do we get that?" said Stanley. Both the General and the Major gave him a look. "Sorry, but watching the monitor won't speed it up. There's a lot of data to crunch so it could be a while before you're going get any output."
"I thought you said you wanted to go grab something to eat and meet your girlfriend," said the General. Stanley stood there with his mouth open. "You should probably close that before flies fly in."
"How'd you know… I mean we've been careful and... am I in trouble?" said Stanley. He was half astonished and half scared wondering how much more of his personal life the General knew about. He quickly tried to remember back if he'd done anything that could get him in trouble.
"Remember I'm the director I know everything so shouldn't you be off? I don't want to be the reason you're late. Just remember not a word about what you did last night to anyone not even to your girlfriend when she asks where you were all night."
"Yes Ma'am," said Stanley as he quickly disappeared.
"That was impressive," said the Major as he moved over behind her. "How'd you know about Dr. Fitzroy and his girlfriend?"
"It was easy the team that picked him up called while you went down to get him. They told me they picked him up at his residence he shared with a woman. When he started looking at his watch and sweating about getting down to the cafeteria I put two and two together. I was an agent before I became the director... and a good one. Don't ever forget that."
"No ma'am I certainly won't."
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After the show the circus looked like a swarm of ants as everyone went about breaking down and packing away. Within hours of closing the circus was tents were pulled down and loaded up onto the back of a semi. The trailers too were pulled up on the back of trucks brought in to transport them and once they were all aboard the caravan headed south to Monaco leaving the campground the way they'd found it.
"Let's move out," yelled Giovanni. "The drivers are anxious to get on the road so we can get to Monte Carlo in time to set up for tonight. Remember time is money."
"But remember to have a good time or all this is just wasted effort," said Don Rodrigo behind him. "Rita my dear to you mind riding with us. Giovanni only wants to talk about money and it would make the drive so much more bearable with you being there. Your brothers can take their trailer down by themselves."
"Go ahead, Don Rodrigo is right we can take care of this ourselves," said Raul as he smiled at her and she knew exactly what he was thinking.
"I don't know I have some sewing to do on the way down and costumes to mend. I'm afraid I won't be much of a conversationalist."
"Doesn't matter just having you with us is enough to lift an old man's spirits," said Don Rodrigo. She could see he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Glancing over she saw Casey standing near the clown's trailer looking at her. She shook her head and he nodded.
"What is it?" asked Giovanni noticing a change had come over her. "Don't let my father pressure you into doing something you don't want to do. He's a bully like that... always having to get his way. But if you do decide to ride with us I will try to talk about something other than money. I promise," he said as he raised his right hand. She laughed.
"No... I mean yes of course I'll ride with you and your father. I think he's a sweet old man even if he reminds me a lot of my own with a one track mind for everything circus."
"Oh do I know that. Some people might consider us lucky but if the truth were known I think we're more cursed. Just think of it if we were normal people and others saw what we do with our children they'd be calling child protection services."
"I know it's crazy isn't it. Yet we're brought up with the show must go on and there's nothing more important than the show. I don't know how many times my father has told me to work through the pain. We perform with colds, fevers, sprains and even broken bones because..."
"The show must go on. I hear you there and it won't go on if those rigs don't get loaded. Go ahead and board while I go see what the holdup is." Giovanni left and Rita turned to climb up when she bumped into Casey.
"I was serious before we need to speak. I know more than you think I do and I have information you need to know before you brother goes to that drop in Monte Carlo."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Do you want me to scream? I will then we'll see what happens."
"Listen sister I'm only doing this because I think you were forced into this. If I'm wrong, you won't have to worry about the police grabbing you and your brothers. There will be men like me coming for you all and you won't like where they'll take you."
"Men like you... you mean clowns? What are they going to do tickle us for information or drop their pants until we die from laughter?
"You think this whole thing is a joke. I don't believe you think the same thing about Alfredo or the fact that he's blackmailing you by holding your father ransom."
"What do you know about that? If you do or say anything he'll hurt Papa and I... we can't have that. Okay so we need to talk. We can talk at the first rest stop which will be outside of Lyon."
"Very well but we need to talk things are not what they seem. You and your brothers are in danger... more danger than normal."
With that Casey ducked out as Giovanni came back. He saw Casey talking with Rita and was a little concerned.
"Is everything all right? I saw you talking with Casey the new clown. Is everything okay you had a look..."
"Look? What look? He just asked me if he had to ride with the other clowns and I told him there was no room anywhere else."
"That's the problem with clowns in a circus. You get a good one and they suddenly want to be the prima donna. I'm glad you put him in his place we can afford for him to get any ideas and it's better that this comes from you. If I tell him something he doesn't like he might walk away and with our financial situation we can't afford that."
"You see this is exactly the type of conversation your father doesn't want you having on the way down to Monaco."
"Just because we don't talk about it won't make it go away. But okay for a little while I'll table the talk about money.
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In Nice Chuck and Sarah spent the morning wandering around town. Emma and Sarah took in some galleries and little shops while Chuck took the girls. They wandered the boardwalk sampling croissants with various fillings and taking in all the street artist as they performed for tips under the watchful eye of the municipal police.
"It's about time to head back to the hotel. We've got to meet Sarah and Emmy back at the hotel so we can grab a bite to eat before we head out for Monte Carlo. We want to be there when the circus comes to town and starts setting up," said Chuck as they started walking back.
"Do you think they'll let us in to look around before the show starts?" asked Sam. "You know to get a preview of what's to come."
"Oh if they do I want to see the people on the trapeze but for that we need to wait until the show begins. You don't think they'll let us in to see rehearsal do you?"
"I don't know Molly but we can ask. We'll have to wait and see when we get there. Why do you want to see the trapeze artists? Do you want to become one when you grow up?"
"No... but I think it would be fun to do. The thrill of flying through the air like that," said Molly as she heaved a sigh. Chuck made a mental note to talk to Sarah afterwards.
"I want to see the clowns. They make me laugh," said Sam. Chuck knew Sarah wouldn't be laughing about this but he played along. "I want to see them do tricks..."
"You mean like this," said Chuck. He dropped twenty euro on the counter at a juice bar and grabbed three oranges. He looked at them then flashed and began juggling them as they walked along.
"Show off," said Sam. She took her hat off and no sooner had she when a passerby put change in it. She took it out then another person passed and did the same thing. "You keep that up and we might make enough to have those squeezed into fruit juice." But their way back was blocked when a policeman stepped out of a crowd.
"License and permit please," said a policeman as he stopped them. "You can't perform here on the boardwalk without a license or permit from the city."
"License, what license? Perform? ... No there's been a mistake I wasn't performing I was just showing my daughter and my sister-in-law that you don't have to be a clown to... oh never mind. I wasn't performing..."
"Yeah, yeah and the money those people gave you was just for your good looks. Be careful how you answer that because that type of activity is illegal too here."
"What's he talking about," asked Sam. Molly shrugged her shoulders and they both looked at Chuck who turned red.
"If you want to fine me go ahead, fine me. As a matter of fact, I want you to fine me so I can have your name and badge number. Then when I call my office in Paris and my assistant there has dinner with the minister of interior they can discuss what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior."
"Well, I'm letting you off with a warning this time and confiscating your earnings," said the officer as he took the change from Sam's hat.
"Why don't you take Chuck's oranges too," said Sam. "They'll make a nice glass of orange juice and if you use a straw... well you suck."
"Sam, is that any way to speak to an officer of the law," said Chuck. "Be nice, the officer is only doing his job and protecting the peace."
"What did I say?" said Sam as she put on her best innocent little face. "I was just telling him how to enjoy a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice freshly squeezed out of us."
"Whatever," said the policeman. At this point he didn't know what to think. "Just move along and refrain from any other illegal solicitation."
"Sam, put your hat back on and let's go to the hotel. Sarah and Emma should be waiting for us back there by now. Have a good day officer," said Chuck as he moved both girls along. A few minutes later they were back in the hotel and went to the restaurant for lunch as they had planned.
"So did the three of you have a good time today strolling down the boardwalk?" asked Sarah after they sat down at their table. "We bought some clothes for you two you need to try on when we get back to the room. So tell me did anything interesting happen to you guys?" Chuck started to shake his head but Sam spoke up.
"A policeman stopped Chuck for solicitation," said Sam. "I asked Molly what it was but she didn't know."
"I told her whatever it was it must be illegal or the policeman wouldn't have stopped us. I figured it had to do with the money people gave us for Chuck's performance..."
"My performance... No it wasn't a performance I was just juggling three oranges," said Chuck. "There was no solicitation involved by me or anyone else."
"I'm sure it was oranges," said Sarah as she smiled at him. Chuck looked funny as he tried to defend himself and she wasn't making it easier for him. "See I can't let you out of my sights for a second before you start walking the streets."
"I guess we could've caught a taxi but the idea was to walk the boardwalk so it seems kind of silly to take a cab," said Sam. Molly nodded as she took a drink of water.
"We'll talk more about this in the room later," said Sarah as she gave Chuck a coy smile. He shook his head realizing she was just giving him a hard time. "Now what does everyone want for lunch. I'm thinking about an octopus salad. I saw it on another table and it looked good."
"Ewe yuck," said Sam. "And what if it tries to climb back out? I'll have a hamburger... no a cheeseburger with extra pickles."
"Like mother, like daughter," said Chuck. "Emma, Molly what would you two like and don't let my daughter's limited culinary curiosity influence you."
"I remember seeing the octopuses in the aquarium," said Molly as she made a face. "I'll stick with Sam on this and play it safe with a cheeseburger."
"I'll delve in the deep end," said Emma. "I'll take the rice with seafood and a glass of white wine to wash it down with. So you were juggling?"
"Yes, people gave us money which for the record was what got us in trouble. I'll have the seafood salad and no Tony Curtis jokes." Sarah and Emma laughed while Sam and Molly looked at them all as if they were crazy.
"I think this is the onset of Alzheimer's," said Molly as she leaned over to whisper to Sam. "I hear it's something you get when you get old."
"Really how old do you have to be to get it," asked Sam. She wanted to do the math in her head but she remembered she didn't know how.
"I don't know but I think you need to be really old like thirty or forty."
"Really," said Sam as she looked at her parents and Emma. "That would explain a lot of things. What do we do?"
"Just keep on smiling and hope they remember you in the morning," said Molly as they both smiled at Sarah and Chuck.
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Back at Langley the main frame spat out three names all three men were in their early eighties and they fit the general physical description of the old man they were looking for. Further all three men had been admitted after suffering an apparent stroke but their recovery was being hampered by their advanced form of dementia.
"What do we do with this? Do we grab all three then sort them out back here? If there was just some way to sort them out there it would be better. Snatching old men out of the hospital... I don't know this could back fire on us if we get caught."
"Then the easy solution is not to get caught but that was probably what Hunt told Liddy before they organized the break in into the Watergate hotel."
"Well we wouldn't have to if we could send in an agent who was also a neurologist. He could visit the patients and tell us which one to grab."
"Your absolutely right why didn't we think about of that before. We don't need a he who we need is a she. Get me a plane ready for Chicago. I'm going to get our expert. I want our men watching the hospital for and suspicious movement. Tap into their CCTV and security feeds and put in cameras in their dark spots. No one gets in or out without us identifying them."
"Can I play devil's advocate for a moment? You don't think Dr. Woodcomb won't call her brother? Have you thought about what to tell him when he calls?"
"First it's not a given she'll call him but if she does I need her as an expert in her field. At no time will she be in harm's way and we suspect a man is being held against his will. Knowing both Ellie and Chuck neither will be able to say no."