Don't own Chuck
Morgan and Casey walked into McDonalds and got lunch then looked around for a table to sit down to eat. Suddenly the whole dining area cleared so they picked a table in the corner to eat. Casey sipped on beer as Morgan chowed down on his Big Mac but as he was eating some of the secret sauce got on his beard.
"Now that's disgusting," said Casey as he handed Morgan napkins. "I get you dressed up and take you out then you go and do this. Maybe you should bring a bib?"
"Funny John, what can I say these things should come with handles," said Morgan as he dabbed his beard trying to clean it but in the end he resigned himself that he needed a mirror. "I'm going to the restroom but I've counted my fries and I expect to see the same number when I get back."
"Yeah, yeah just go and get back here. We need to think about getting back to the hotel and getting our things together. It's going to be a long night," said Casey as Morgan got up then left walking down a short hallway to the restrooms.
John grabbed a couple of fried as soon as Morgan disappeared. As he was eating them he noticed two men walk in dressed in leather with motorcycle helmets on and dark visors. They both walked back towards the rest room. In the meantime Morgan went in and checked himself out in the mirror.
"Crap what a mess," said Morgan as he took a paper towel got it wet and tried to clean out the sauce. "It might be secret but at least they should tell what to use as a solvent to clean it with," said Morgan as he was cleaning. One of the men in leather walked in and stood behind him.
"Whatever you do don't spill any sauce on you I can tell you that from experience," said Morgan. "One second here and I'll be out of you way." Morgan turned around and got his paper towel wet again. He looked up in the mirror to see the man draw a Steyr SPP from the inside of his leather jacket.
"Holy crap if you can't wait just say it," said Morgan as he dropped to the floor. The man sprayed the mirror with lead. The sound of the machine pistol was deafening. Morgan laid on the floor with his hands over his ears until he felt a kick.
"You know how many germs there are down there," said Casey as he kicked him to get up. "I think you need to change your pants when we get back to the hotel."
"John what happened," said Morgan as he got up brushing himself off. "And for you information the floor was wet."
"Come on let's got. Lucky for you I figured out something was wrong and when I came to see Mister Personality standing guard. He made the mistake of door pulling his weapon and I shoved a plastic knife down his throat," said Casey. As Morgan walked by the man he saw the handle sticking out the man's mouth.
"Yuck, John I think I'm going to be sick," said Morgan as Casey got back in line to order. "I thought you said we had to go?"
"We do that's why I'm getting this to go," said John. "I want a short stack with bacon on the side. You want something?" Morgan didn't know what to say. "Give my friend a happy meal."
"Right up one moment please," said the kid behind the counter. There was no way the kid was going to tell John they weren't serving breakfast anymore.
"Oh you might want to send someone to clean the men's restroom someone made a mess," said John.
A few minutes later they were walking out of McDonald's with a short stack and a happy meal to go. Morgan looked around for a cab but there was nothing and the crowd cleared around them as soon as they stepped out.
"How are we getting back to the hotel," asked Morgan. But Casey just spun him around and put their food in his ruck pack then showed Morgan the bike keys he took off one of the assassins. Parked outside of McDonald's was a Honda 250cc dirt bike. John hopped on and started it up.
"Grimes hop on and let's go," said Casey as he revved the engine. Morgan was more than a little perplexed. "Come on or I'll leave you here. You have to wonder if your two friends in the restroom don't have friends."
"Oh what the heck you've got to go sooner or later. I'd just like it later, a lot later," said Morgan. He hoped on the back then Casey took off. They'd just left when a car load of thugs for hire pulled up.
"John, I think we have got company," said Grimes as they took off. One of the thugs pointed at them then took off after them.
"You sure they're after us? They could be just tourists," said Casey. But as he was talking one of the men leaned out of the window and fired at them. The bulled whizzed by breaking a clay pot at one of the street vendor's booths.
"Yeah I think I'm pretty sure," said Morgan. Casey opened up the throttle and slipped down a narrow back alley with the Escalade following them. The alley was strategic; it was too narrow for the SUV so they couldn't lean out the window as it was they took off both side mirrors.
"Watch out for my short stack," yelled Casey as he laid the bike down on its side. They slid down the alley then as he came to a stop, John jumped up.
"Grimes get the bike up now," yelled Casey as pulled the Steyr SPP he took off one of the men in the restroom emptying the clip into the Escalade's windshield. "Let's get out of here," he said as they jumped back on and zipped out as the Escalade kept on coming straight ploughing into a wall.
"I hope my short stack is still good back there," yelled Casey.
"Everything is okay but if I didn't have to change my pants I do now."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chuck went and saw Ellie and Devon. They were wrapping up with the team from the CDC and would be leaving soon to go back to Chicago. Chuck apologized but he couldn't hang around and wait for them. He explained what was going on with Alex and that he had to go. Sarah was quiet as she listened to him talk to Ellie but she was not happy with this mission. He silence underlined how unhappy she was.
"Can I stay with Aunt Ellie and Uncle Awesome," asked Sam. "I promise I'll behave. Can I please, please, please. Pretty please."
"You know I'm taking your father to the airport and he's going to be gone for a little while," said Sarah. "Are you sure you want to stay with Devon and Ellie? What are you and Clara going to do? You're going to get bored and what do we tell Kat? She's expecting you two."
"If she wants to stay with us it's all right by us," said Ellie. "I can call Kat and explain. Clara could use the company and I think I owe someone a tour of the hospital."
"Yes, yes, oh please," asked Sam with the most pitiful face she could muster. "I'll be good I promise and do everything I'm told."
"Very well," said Chuck. Then he hugged and kissed her. "I'm going to gone for a few days so you need to take care of your mother while I'm gone."
"Come on I need to get you to Bob Hope," said Sarah. "I'll see you guys back at Echo Park this evening after work."
A few minutes later Sarah was driving Chuck to the airport to take their Learjet to Bogotá. She was quiet as she drove but her silence spoke louder than words. Chuck couldn't leave like this so after waiting for her to initiate a conversation and her not he spoke up.
"Okay I know you don't like me going as Juri again but this is different. If Ettore checks out my cover it will check out."
"I don't like you going in without back up and in the blind. You don't know what you're going to find when you get there. Chuck, there are too many variables and things that can go wrong."
"Then why didn't you tell the General this when we talked with her this morning? You told her it was a good plan and that she should let me run with it or was that someone else who looked like you?"
"I know I did you don't have to remind me but that was because I didn't see any other option but I still don't like the fact that you don't have back up that's why I've gotten you assistance."
"You got me what?" said Chuck. "Sarah, we've been over this. I can't take you with me because Ettore has seen you and no amount of makeup is going to hide the fact that you're pregnant. I'm sorry but those are the facts."
"I know we have and reluctantly I agreed but it's not me I'm talking about," said Sarah as they pulled up next to the hangar. The ground crew already had the plane out and next to the gangway stood a familiar figure.
"Oh crap not her," said Chuck. His stomach knotted up as soon as she saw who it was. "Not Zondra. Why her of all people you know she hates me."
"She doesn't hate you and I realize she takes a little getting used to but we used to be very good friends. Think of her like Morgan. I got used to being around Morgan because he's your friend so can't you do me the same favor." They parked then got out walking over to the plane.
"Okay I'll try but this is my mission and she needs to follow my lead," said Chuck as they walked over to Zondra.
"Yeah like that's going to happen," said Zondra. "Nice to see you again Loverboy I heard your team abandoned you."
"Casey and Morgan jumped the gun and went down on their own. But once I'm in cover you're going to have to follow my lead. I hope your Russian is good because you're going to be my interpreter Natasha."
"Yeah, yeah you can debrief me on the way down," said Zondra as she started to go onboard. "I'm going to run through our pre-flights so can you hurry up out here." Zondra disappeared up the gangway
"I'm going to miss you," said Chuck. "I'll try to keep you in the loop. When you get back to Castle can you try to contact Casey and Morgan and let them know I'm on my way."
"I'm sorry about Zondra but I feel a lot better knowing you've got someone with you who can watch your six for you."
"If it makes you feel better then I'm okay with it. I'll make Zondra work," said Chuck then he kissed her. She put her arms around him and pulled him in close kissing him back. "Come back to me," she whispered in his ear.
"Yuck," said Zondra from the top of the gangway. "We're all ready to go so get a move on it and climb up so we can take off. They won't hold our takeoff window forever you know."
"Just hold your horses I'll be right there," yelled Chuck. "Please tell me I can't give her a parachute and put her out mid-flight." Sarah smiled at him. "I know I said I'll make her work and I will. I love you," said Chuck. He kissed her then ran up to the top of the gangway.
"I love you too," said Sarah as she watched him disappear inside then closed the hatch. One of the men from grounds control pushed the ladder away then the plane rolled out to get in line for takeoff. Sarah waited watching the Lear line up on the runway then lifted off banked and was gone.
Onboard the plane Chuck sat in the co-pilot's seat as Zondra flew the plane. They were just crossing into Mexican airspace when the General came on the monitor.
"General did you call to wish us good luck," asked Chuck as Beckman came on the monitor. She raised her eyebrow and gave him a look. "Or maybe not."
"I'm calling to let you know there are other players on the field in Bogotá besides yourselves. We just got good intel that said a new organization that's going by the name Terror Inc has fielded agents to eliminate Ettore…"
"But if they see Morgan they could easily get the two confused," said Chuck. "We need to pull Morgan and Casey out ASAP."
"Easier said than done. I've got feelers out in the Columbian capital but so far nothing. It seems the Colonel has gone underground. There were two incidents reported not too long ago but I haven't been able to confirm either yet. Rumor has it that a man fitting Ettore's description was involved in both. The first was inside a McDonald's in the middle of Bogotá. Two gunmen were found dead inside a restroom then nearby there was a shootout in town that left a group of thugs for hire dead. But like I said I don't have any confirmation but it seems either Grimes or Ettore could have been involved."
"Is there any way to get word out to this group to let them know that Morgan is Morgan and Ettore is Ettore?" said Chuck. Zondra gave him a look but kept on flying and didn't say anything.
"We've thought about that but not without blowing Grimes' cover and even then it probably wouldn't do any good. They'd eliminate both of them just to make sure they got the right one. I'm sending you Casey's dossier from when he worked black ops in Columbia…."
"Fighting in a stinking commie hellhole," said Chuck as the General raised her eyebrows. "What it's one of the things he goes on about. I keep telling him one of these days he needs to sit down and write his memoirs. If Ollie North can do it so can Casey."
"Well when he was in Bogotá he used to stay in the El Presidente hotel located in the city center. It's one of the best in the city so stinking... I don't see it."
"Thanks General that gives me a place to start," said Chuck.
"Well, if there's nothing else Beckman out."
"So Chuck tell me about this guy we're going after what's he like?" asked Zondra. "I'm just having trouble picturing your little friend as this gun running killer elite type."
"Well you'd better because I saw him take out three ETA henchmen in seconds and he brought a knife to a gunfight. Do you want anything before I start getting into costume?"
"I could use a cup of coffee black, spasibo. [Thanks]"
"Né za što, [Don't mention it]"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sarah drove back to Orange orange. There she entered said hello to their workers then passed into the back as quickly as she could. The girls watched her blow by them before going into the back where she pulled her magic act disappearing from sight. The workers out front were so used to this by now no one batted an eye when they saw she was gone. Down in Castle Sarah arrived in time to receive the same briefing from Beckman that she'd given to Chuck and Sarah had the same idea as he did.
"Hola, El Presidente Hotel," said Sarah as she called them up on speaker. "I need to talk with a John Casey or a Morgan Grimes they should've checked into your hotel this morning."
"I'm sorry but we don't have anyone by those names registered here as guests. If there's nothing else buenos dias," said the operator then he started to hang up.
"Un minuto por favor," said Sarah. She realized she was going about this all wrong. "I was just testing you I need to speak to Ettore La Barba. He's expecting my call and if you don't patch me through… well he won't be happy and I don't think either of us would like it."
"Wait one who should I tell him is calling?" he asked with a little trepidation in his voice which told her she'd hit the bull's eye.
"Tell him Sarah Carmichael is on the line and that it is urgent that she talk with him," said Sarah. She didn't know what to do if John didn't take her call she just hoped he wasn't that pigheaded. She waited a few minutes then the line clicked but all she heard was breathing on the side. The longer this silence went on the madder she got until finally no more.
"John, Morgan you've got thirty seconds to start talking or I'm going to call Beckman and tell her I found you. I'm not kidding."
"Sarah you're wasting your time if you think you're going to talk us out of this," said Casey. "We're going to rescue Alex and that's that."
"All you two are going to do is get yourselves killed. There's a new group Terror Inc that is out gunning for Ettore and guess what if they see Morgan they aren't going to take his finger prints or DNA to see if he is or isn't Ettore. Did you run into trouble today in a McDonald's then in an alley afterwards?"
"It was nothing I couldn't handle," grunted Casey. "Like I said before you're not going to talk us out of this. We're going to use that to make a pass at Ettore and do a little recon then we'll make our move. We don't need any help so you can butt out."
"John don't be like this. We're a team. Listen Chuck's going to be there late tonight. He's getting an invitation to Ettore's compound as we speak so stand down. I'll tell him you're there and he can make contact with you. But stay away from Ettore are you sure you're not playing into his hand?"
"I think I know what I'm doing this isn't my first dance. Tell me this what would you do if it was Chuck that was being held captive? You and I both know you'd be storming the walls right now so don't lecture me."
"I'm not lecturing you. John I can understand how you feel but don't do anything rash please. Let Chuck try first then if he can't get her out you can storm the walls and he can help."
"What part of butt out didn't you understand," said John. "Listen I've got a stack of pancakes waiting for me so I'm going to have to let you go. Report me to Beckman if you want to partner…"
"Oh that's so unfair. John, please wait for Chuck and no, I won't say anything to Beckman but you've got to promise me you're not going to get yourself or Morgan in trouble down there. Please listen to reason."
"Like I said I've got to go," said John then he hung up on her.
"What did Sarah have to say?" asked Morgan as he came out of the bedroom after a shower with a towel wrapped around him and one on his head.
"Nothing important Gandhi, you should get try to get some sleep we're going to bug out of here as soon as the sunsets. We'll leave the city and head out towards Ettore's compound. If I'm right no one will try to stop us," said Casey as he studied a map of the area.
"Oh that's good but what happens if you're wrong? Not that I think you are but just if perchance you are," asked Morgan as he towel dried his hair.
"We'll probably get killed." Morgan paused in his tracks stopping drying his hair.
"Excuse me I'm sorry, I was drying my hair and I think I didn't hear you too well but I think you said 'we'll probably be killed'?"
"No you heard correctly. We'll probably die a slow agonizing painful death," said John as he continued looking over the map. "But what the heck anyway right? Why do you want to live forever? This is Alex we're talking about rescuing."
"No you're right but I was just wondering is there a third option out there. Maybe one out of the box that wasn't as permanent?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As soon as Sarah got off the phone with Casey she called Chuck to tell him she got through and what Casey told her. He was halfway putting his Juri makeup on so when she rang he had grey hair and sideburns.
"I have a hard time talking to your face looking like that," said Sarah. "You've got a kind of Einstein look going on that's in all honesty a little creepy. Well I told you what I told John and what he told me what do you think I ought to do? Should I call Beckman?"
"I don't know. You told him you wouldn't call her and I think you need to keep your word even if he's doing something stupid. It would be like running to mommy and tattling on him."
"I know and I see that but he's taking Morgan with him."
"Morgan isn't innocent in all this. He's the one who found Ettore's plane and instead of coming to us he went to Casey because he knew John would do what he did. No if anything Morgan's more to blame that John. He pointed John in the right direction then gave him the shove following along with him."
"But they had good intentions."
"And there's a road paved with those but we all know the destination."