Don't own Chuck
"Chuck, the General was just here and she wants me to go to Baltimore with her," said Ellie. Chuck and Sarah listened as she went on to describe what the Beckman wanted his sister to do. How there were three men and that she was going to determine which two really had suffered strokes and who the third one was... the man being held against his will. Then she told him how the General assured her that she would be in no harm and that it was only a day over and back.
"It sounds pretty straightforward," said Chuck. "But expect the unexpected and nothing is that simple. There's something else isn't there."
"Well yes... I'm not sure if she said this or I just read it in but Chuck, she hinted this this could be how they're holding our father if he's still alive... he could be in some hospital as a John Doe in a drug induced coma. Can't we use the way they found this man to help locate our father?" Chuck turned gray and sat on the bed. Sarah noticed the change in him and came over to be near him.
"El, who is this they and you don't think I haven't thought about this? I have but you know how massive a search it would have to be. It's worse than looking for a needle in a haystack... no it would be like looking for a needle in a group of haystacks that fill an area like... I don't know Chicago."
"You know what it sounds like to me... it sounds to me like you've given up. I for one haven't given up on our crazy old Dad and I plan on doing something about it. I'm going to go on this trip with the General but she's going to give me something in return. She's going to use this same Algorithm to look for Dad."
"El, I told you why it won't work and I'd advice caution against making deals with the devil," said Chuck. Sarah caressed his face.
"I've got to and I think I know what I'm going. I don't know why I called you. Enjoy your vacation," snapped El. "I'm sorry I didn't mean for the way that came out."
"El, I understand but... but... he died in my arms and... well you've got to do what you've got to do. However, do not tell Mom about this."
"And why not? She has a right to know. Little brother this so doesn't sound like you. I don't understand where this negativity is coming from you're no quitter."
"No I'm not but it's because I know how this program would have to work. Ellie, you realize for the algorithm to run and run properly you're going to have to set parameters?"
"Of course I do. I'm not an idiot I know basically how this would work... Maybe not as well as you but I have a general knowledge."
"And what do you want it to hit on fifty percent match, sixty maybe even eighty then someone is going to have to go to that hospital to check out the identity to make sure he is or isn't our father. Every time there's a hit you're going to get Mom's hopes up only to slam her back down when you find out it isn't him. Do you want to send our mother on an emotional roller coaster like that?"
"Of course not... okay so we don't tell her but that doesn't mean we can't try. Stop being a negative Nancy and work with me on this will you? There has to be something we can do. It did work to find this guy after all."
"One guy in one hospital... okay I guess you could divide the world in grids then use the algorithm in each grid once you've cleared one you move on to the next which would take nothing short of two life times to accomplish. Then that's not taking into account the hospitals that don't have an electronic database to tap into. Those would have to visited and cleared individually by a human asset but if they had the equipment to sustain a long term coma patient and not have an electronic database that would be suspicious..."
"See now you're working with me," said Ellie. "Why don't you take my idea and run with it? I'm sure you and the intersect can come up with something. All I ask is you keep me in the loop as to any developments. I need to get off the phone and make arrangements for Clara to stay with one of her friends while we're gone."
"Oh and where is Captain Awesome? He isn't keeping the home fire going while you're off playing spy for the General."
"I'm not playing spy," snapped Ellie. Chuck could feel Sarah hand squeeze on his hand then she shook her head but before she could tell him to let it go Devon jumped in.
"No Chuck Bro, I'm going along that was a part of the deal for me to sign off on this mission. I'm going too."
"It's not like the General to play let's make a deal," said Sarah. She'd be quiet up until then. "Devon are you sure it was your idea you came along? Beckman is good at her job that's nothing against you but are you sure?"
"I know you guys think you're looking out for us but I did this. I told the General what if all three men really had suffered strokes. Ellie would only be able to verify that then what? But I could examine them too and look for the specific injures that would occur in our guys like of work. You know like tells in poker..."
"Poker tells," said Chuck remembering how badly Devon played poker. But Sara broke into the conversation.
"Line of work?" she said. "You never mention that this guy had a specific line of work and what kind of work did he do that would leave a mark on him..."
"Roman galley slave?" said Chuck as he broke back in. She just gave him a look and shook her head. He just shrugged his shoulders.
"Funny dude, no he's supposed to have worked in a circus all his life as some sort of high wire and trapeze artist. I'm going to be examining the soles his feet calluses and the muscles as well as joints in his hands, elbows, shoulders and knees. Everything I need to know I'll find there from repetitive stress injury."
"The General didn't mention to guy's name or the circus he worked for did she?" asked Chuck as he looked over at Sarah. She shrugged her shoulders but she was wondering the same thing.
"No, just that she thinks he's being held to blackmail his family into doing some sort of criminal activity. I don't know some sort of leverage I guess."
"Devon, you realize if he's being held there will be a guard or guards posted on him so you need to be careful."
"Of course we will be. This is going to be a cake walk. In and out... down and dirty... nothing to worry about."
"Okay I get it and now you sound like Morgan," said Chuck. Sarah held up her watch and pointed at it. "Well we need to run we're leaving for Monte Carlo..."
"Place a bet for me and keep an eye out for Devon's tell," said Ellie. "I love you little brother and you too Sarah keep him safe."
"I will try," she said. "And Chuck's right about everything. This may not be as safe or easy as the General led you to believe. Let the General's men clear the room before you two enter and remember to keep your heads down."
"El one last thing before we have to go," said Chuck. "I expect you to call me and at least leave a voice message saying everything is done and you're on your way back home. Until then I'll be worrying about you."
"Of course, now go you've got gambling to do and I've got to arrange a pajama party for Clara," said Ellie. Chuck hung up the phone then sat on the bed looking at it for a bit before he put it down. Sarah watched him and could tell there was something else going on inside his head.
"So you told Ellie you knew about that algorithm and you certainly did seem to know a lot about how it would work. I guess the question I have was that information all theoretical or was that information from a practical application?"
"I might've written one and what I told her might've been the result of my program," said Chuck in a thin voice. "Look, I know what I did and you don't have to remind me about the no secrets no lies. However, in my defense it was neither."
"Okay I'm not judging," said Sarah. "I can see this bothers you but tell me more. Did you find out anything?"
"Nothing... I only lost sleep and wasted time. I had it running in the background through the Castle mainframe and I check it from time to time. I didn't want to talk about it because if I did then the possibility would become real and with that reality there'd be hope..."
"And you don't think there's any hope or are you just trying to protect yourself from the pain of disappointment. I get that and I've been there but you should've shared this with me. I'm here for you"
"Like I said then I would've put a voice to it and it just hurts too much to talk about. Then he's dead again in my arms all over again."
"Come on then let's go. Let's go see the clowns maybe they can cheer you up if I don't shoot them first."
"You know I can't get one thing out of my head. If the General is asking Ellie and Devon to do this for her why didn't she call Casey in too? Put a team together of people who know each other."
"I don't know. You're right and maybe she has. He's in flight now on his way to meet them in Baltimore. We could call Casey to see where he's at," said Sarah as she leaned over and kissed him. Suddenly the door opened to their bedroom suite and Sam came in.
"Ewe yuck, I think I'm going to be sick. You two at it again. Everyone is downstairs in the lobby ready to go and you two are up here dillydallying..."
"No, I don't think I want to call him... junior Casey is enough," said Chuck as he changed out his jacket. Sam gave him a look. "Come on let's go. The monkeys are getting restless."
"Who are you calling a monkey?" said Sam. "If you want a banana buster there's one in the fruit basket."
"What happened to behaving so we'll take you two to the circus?" asked Sarah as she turned Sam around and scooted her out the door.
"Well... well he started it," she answered pointing at Chuck.
"Did not... did too... did not... did too" went back and forth in the elevator down to the lobby. Sarah turned and kissed Chuck.
"There maybe that will break the cycle and as for you miss don't think I won't do the same to you to get you to shut up."
"Yuck not on the lips," said Sam as she made a face.
"Maybe not but I can tickle," said Sarah. Sam Started to say something. "I swear one word and I will tickle you. You know I will."
Chuck smiled at Sam so she stuck her tongue out at him. Sarah gave her a look.
"What? I didn't say a word."
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Hours later outside a hospital room in Baltimore a doctor or a man in a white coat wearing glasses got off the elevator on the intensive care ward. He looked down the hall and outside a door was a man sitting in a chair reading the newspaper. The man sitting looked up over his newspaper and observed the man in a white coat walking to him. The doctor removed the clipboard off the back of the door then glanced through the chart and as he looked it over he grabbed the doorknob.
"Hold up a minute," said the man putting away his newspaper. The man sitting outside the door challenged him. "I need to see some ID before I can let you go inside doctor. Sorry but those are the rules." The man flashed a badge. "Agent Tom Jones FBI and the man inside is under witness protection. I'm sorry doctor..."
"My name is Doctor... Doctor Albert Schweitzer. What do you mean I can't just go in? This is highly irregular."
"I'm sorry those are my orders and but unless you're on my list I can't let you go in. His regular doctor was just here."
"I know Doctor Merriweather ask for a consultation and that's why I'm here," said the Doctor Schweitzer. "I think I need to get in touch with Dr. Merriweather and get this straightened out. Just looking at the man's chart I have some questions about his course of treatment... highly irregular."
"I wouldn't know anything about that I'm not a doctor and if you go down to the nurse's station in the lobby one of them will know where the doctor is or how to page him. If he comes up here and vouches for you that would be good enough for me."
"I'll do that and while I'm at it I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. Not only am I doing him a favor but this is on my time you'd think the guy would hang around a little longer."
"I hear you but you really need to take that up with him," said Agent Jones. He watched the doctor put the chart back on the door then turn around and walk away. Doctor Schweitzer got back in the elevator then pressed down. Once the doors closed the man took off his glasses and touched his ear.
"Did you get a good view of the chart? Do you want me to go back and engage the target?" said the man who called himself Schweitzer. But as he was getting orders in his earbud the doors suddenly opened up and a man in a white coat stepped on the elevator. Schweitzer looked him over and above his pocket Merriweather was embroidered. The agent took his glasses back out and put them on. Merriweather looked at him.
"The darnedest thing," said Schweitzer breaking the ice. "I can't stand them but I can't live without them."
"What? Oh you're talking to me," said Merriweather as Schweitzer received new orders in his ear as he nodded.
"Yes, my glasses... they are a pain. I really only need them to read but if I go without them for too long I get headaches. Usually I lay them down and lose them."
"I know exactly what you're talking about," said Merriweather as he pulled pair out of his pocket. "You should try contacts but if you can't deal with putting them in your eyes you could try corrective surgery. I know a guy who had it done now he sees just fine."
"Really? Well... I have a confession to make I know this is going to sound funny given my... our profession but I don't like to be put under the knife," said Schweitzer. They both laughed.
"I don't know if that's so strange. Once you've been around a while and seen some of our colleagues operate… well that just might be a healthy attitude to adopt," said Merriweather. He looked at Schweitzer. "Somehow I think I ought to know your name but I can't place it. Do I know you?"
"I don't think so I'm new here. I moved here from Atlantic city and before you ask there's less temptation here..."
But before Schweitzer could say any more the doors opened up and an orderly came in pushing a gurney. He almost hit Merriweather as he shoved the stretcher inside.
"Hey watch out buddy! Where are you going with that thing," said Dr. Merriweather. But the gurney was a distraction from the syringe Schweitzer gave him. One moment he was complaining the next he was out cold. He placed him on top then covered him with a sheet. In less than a minute he was being wheel away.
[Down below in the basement parking area]
"Please tell me you didn't just whack Glenn," said Devon as he and Ellie watched the doctor being wheel by then put in the back of a van. "I know him and he seemed like a real stand-up guy. What are you going to do to him?"
"That depends on his degree of involvement," said the General. "Looks like we didn't need for you to tell us which one is our prize. That man up on the door who said he was agent Tom Jones FBI is as bogus as that badge he tried to wave around."
"General, he might be bogus but if what was written in that chart is true the man inside is really sick. He's on blood thinners and other medication that seem to indicate that he did indeed suffer from a stroke" said Ellie. "Devon, can I get your read on this?"
"I concur and it makes me wonder if Dr. Merriweather might not be involved after all. He could just be the poor sap that got stuck treating your man."
"How's that possible? And if he's ill how ill are we talking? What I'm asking is can he be moved to one of our facilities?" This was quickly becoming more complicated than what she'd bargained for.
"How's it possible? Easy," said Captain Awesome. "The man came into the ER in a coma and remained in one. The only thing the ER staff has to go on to identify the patient is any ID he might have on him or what the paramedics or family might tell them who came in with the patient. Their job is to try and save the patient not conduct an inquiry.
"Okay I can kind of see how this could happen," said the General. "What I really need to know now is can we move him?"
"As far as how ill is he and if he can be moved… I know you're not going to like this but all we have to go on is his chart but if it is right you could risk killing him."
"I concur with my husband," said Ellie as they watched the van doors close with Glenn inside. "I'm sorry but the chart could've been doctored. We won't be able to give a clear diagnosis until we see the patient."
"Then we need to go up," said the General.
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Chuck was quiet as the drove to Monte Carlo. Sarah could tell that Chuck was worried about Ellie and Devon but she didn't know if Chuck wanted to let everyone know what was going on so she opted to say nothing but at the first stop she reached over and took his hand. Sam too could tell something was wrong but she thought he was upset with her.
"Okay I'm sorry," Sam said. "I shouldn't have walked in on you. I'm sorry but I won't promise I won't do it again because we all know I probably will."
"Out of the mouth of babes... How does the quote go? Squirt, why do you think I'm mad at you? Just because you walked in on us?" he asked as he turned around and looked at her. Sam nodded. "No Sweet Pea I've just got other thoughts on my mind."
"Like what? Is something wrong?" asked Sam. Chuck looked over at Sarah for help so she looked up in the mirror.
"Nothing is wrong just... Well you know we can't stay on vacation forever. Sooner or later we're going to have to go back to work catching bad guys."
"I thought that was the reason you agreed to the circus... Don't tell me this is work," said Sam. Molly broke in
"Shush, if it's work it's okay," said Molly leaning over whispering to Sam. "Be quiet if this is work it could be fun and we'll get to tag along."
"That would be a first," Sam whispered back.
"Now we're really in trouble," said Sarah as she glanced back at the two girls huddling and whispering in the back. "Don't worry Sweetie Ellie and Devon will be all right. The General won't take civilians in harm's way."
"I appreciate you trying to cheer me up but this is Beckman we're talking about. I just can't understand why the General didn't call us."
"Well maybe it has to do with us being on vacation," said Sarah but she caught Chuck's look. "Yeah I knew it sound stupid the moment I said it."
"No she probably didn't call us because there's nothing really to do and we're out of pocket."
"Do you really believe that?" said Sarah as they drove up to where the circus hands were busy setting up.
"Not a word and as soon as we're done here I'm going to call Diane to find out what's going on," said Chuck. But their conversation was interrupted by Molly and Sam's screams.
"Look over there that's Casey in the clown suit."
"No it can't be him... Can it?" said Chuck as he took a second and third look the rubbed his eyes. "Geez, let's say hi."
"No Chuck, we'll blow his cover," said Sarah. Chuck was already gone but she grabbed Molly and Sam. "You have to pretend you don't know him." They gave her a look. "Just do it and they'll be ice cream when you get home."
"Who's that strange clown? Do you know him?" asked Molly
"Never seen him before in my whole life... Wait maybe he was on television or something. Yes, grumpy the clown I think." Sarah and Emma laughed.