Don't own Chuck
In a dark smoke filled backroom a group of men sat around a table discussing business at hand. There was a heated debate going on inside about why it was taking so long to carry out what was sold as an easy hit. Yet the target seemed to be doing the same thing he'd become famous for, dodging bullets. However, everyone became silent when Mr. Big walked in the room.
"I know you've all got questions for me about what's taking so long and wondering why I've had the same lack of success as all of you after I promised something different. The truth is that my failures have been strategic to get our target lulled into a false sense of security before I drop the hammer down on him."
"So you're saying that you've sacrificed all these men for what to make Ettore feel like he was safe when he's not?" But he seems pretty safe to us."
"He only thinks he is. There will be a big dinner and meeting at his ranch tomorrow that will be my window of opportunity. He's so secure in his own personal safety that I'll be able to get men into his inner sanctum without anyone questioning."
"You're just going to drive in with a truck full of mercs and no one is going to say anything? I don't see how you're going to get in enough men that it will make a difference."
"You just leave that up to me. Ettore doesn't know it but he's living on borrowed time," said Mr. Big as he picked up his glass. "To our little joint venture"
"Hear hear," said one of the men at the table as they all stood up and raised their glass drinking to the toast.
"Okay," said Mr. Big as he got on with the rest of the business of the day. They hashed through all the points they had agree to talk about then they adjourned so everyone could get back to their own personal fiefdom.
"Bob can you hang around afterwards," asked Mr. Big. Bob was in no position to say no so he hung behind. Once everyone was gone he invited Bob to come near him to talk.
"Crap," said Bob as he looked around at everyone one else. He tried to figure out what he'd done and if Mr. Big was calling him out on it. Sure he'd disagree with some of the things Mr. Big preached but he wasn't any more vocal that some of the others.
"Bob I've got a job for you," said Mr. Big as he leaned into Bob smiling. "I want you to grab a flight and go down to Bogota. I want you to head up our incursion team…"
"What do you want me to do? Lead a what?" asked Bob. Bob wanted to ask him if he was on some sort of cheap drug but he managed to keep his mouth shut.
"Yes I want you to head up the incursion team and to do that you need to leave now. Don't worry I'll have one of my men meet you at the airport and escort you over to El Presidente where you'll meet up with the rest of the team then proceed. They'll debrief you on your way to the party."
"I appreciate the faith you're putting in me and I promise I'll do my best not to screw it up. Okay I've got this but what are we going to do about the American."
"Not we… but you, the question is what are you going to do about him. I know what I'd do if I were you but you are you," said Mr. Big. He held up his glass signaling to the man behind the bar he wanted a refill. "I'll take another and so will my friend here," said Mr. Big.
"I guess I'd get rid of him," said Bob as he looked at Mr. Big to see if his answer was satisfying. "But when you're talking about incursion team you're not talking about me jumping over walls and crawling through grass," asked Bob and with good reason. The middle age spread hit him hard and he was huffing now going up just one flight of stairs.
"No, of course not," said Mr. Big. "I'd never do that to you. Although I could feel your negativity during the meeting but I'm not holding that against you. The fact is there are others in our little circle who think worse than you do but are afraid to say anything. No, I've gotten you an invitation to this dinner and meeting with Ettore tomorrow. Your entourage will be made up of our wet team…"
"So I'm how you're getting your people inside," said Bob as he picked up his Scotch and took a sip. "I guess I don't need to ask what will happen to me if your people are found out."
"Well that would depend on Ettore's mood but the end would always be the same; however, whether that end came quickly or was dragged out would be up to the way Ettore feels in that moment. But look at this from another angle if we pull this off you'll be able to see me finally take Ettore down."
"Now that's something I could drink to," said Bob as he lifted his glass up and clinked it with Mr. Big's. They both laughed.
"Well I think it's time I let you go get ready. My people will run you to the airport and put you on a chartered jet for Bogotá. Like I said before there you'll be met and taken straight to Ettore's ranch…"
"La Vecchia Fattoria, I know what it's called. Okay I'll go," said Bob as he got up and shook Mr. Big's hand. "Wish me luck."
"I don't have to wish you luck because everything has been planned out in detail. Just go along with the plan and you'll succeed as well as guaranteeing yourself a place in this organization for a long time to come."
With that the two men parted. Bob left and was escorted out to a waiting car that whisked him off to the airport. He had more than a few reservations about this mission but he didn't dare disagree or say no. If he had Mr. Big would've done to him what he did to their one eyed friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chuck told the hitmen that he and Casey were riding up to the penthouse which told the killers that they had been burned. There was an awkward silence as everyone sized each other up. Five against two thought the mercs were good odds. Even if they thought it they kept looking at each other waiting for someone to start.
"Well do I need to ask you if I can hold your hand to start this dance," asked Casey as he cracked his knuckles. "Chuck, I'm going to like this."
Finally one got courage and tried to pull his weapon. Chuck checked the hand pushing the weapon back in the holster and delivering a leopard punch to the man's throat. He dropped to the ground gasping for breath holding his throat. One man grabbed Chuck in a bear hug while another pulled a knife on Casey.
"Die," he yelled as he tried to stab him but John side stepped the stab check the arm with the knife. He then brought the arm back around in a circular motion so the man stabbed himself. John grabbed the handle and pulled up opening the man's abdomen.
The one man held Chuck in a bear hug while his partner punched him. He got one punch in but Chuck shook it off so when he tried to punch him again. Chuck delivered a groin kick that buckled his attacker then he shifted his weight and stomped the foot of the man that had him in a bear hug and he landed a spur kick to the groin followed up by an elbow to the face. The man staggered back into Casey who quickly snapped his neck. The last one pulled his weapon before they could get to him but when it looked like he was going to take one of them out the doors of the elevator opened. Zondra was standing there with her suppressed Beretta Cougar. She put one in the back of his head splattering blood and gray matter over Chuck.
"I know you did that on purpose," said Chuck as he walked past her heading for their room.
"Most people would say thank you," said Zondra. Then she turned back to Casey. "John you want to come in for a nightcap."
"Thanks but I should get back up to Grimes and make sure he's okay. I'll take a rain check for when this mission is over with."
"You mean rogue mission" said Chuck as he came out with his tablet. "I'm deleting all the video coverage. It won't be pretty I could do better back in Castle but no one will be able to see what happened in the elevator. There it's done. Well John we'll be leaving here tomorrow at eight. I can get you two in then you can search to ranch for Alex. You do have a map of the ranch house don't you?"
"Well I thought we'd start from the basement then work our way up floor by floor. But no I don't have the blueprints. But this can't be that hard."
"John! You know how big that ranch house is? Do you know how many servants he's got in that house? You go start whacking them and you won't get very far. Here I put a layout for you on your cloud account you'll be able to look it over. I'd start in the far end looking for her. That area seems to be the most secure but if I were going to put money on it. I'd look on the second floor. There are some guest rooms up there and since he seemed to like Alex I would think he'd like to keep her comfortable."
"Thanks Chuck, now I really need to get back and check on the Troll" said Casey as he started to walk towards the fire escape.
"Wait John," said Chuck as he grabbed him by the arm. Casey looked down at Chuck's arm and growled. "Sorry," he said as he let go. "But don't tell Morgan what I just told you about Ettore wanting to keep Alex comfortable. Thinking about this wouldn't be good for him and there's no reason to set him off for no reason."
"I agree Mum's the word. I can tell you when I get my hands on Ettore there's going to be some serious payback coming. Who knows I might set a new personal record when I get my hands around his neck. I need to go thanks for the fun date Chuck," said John as he disappeared in the stairwell.
"Thanks to you I need to go take a shower get cleaned up then call Sarah."
"How does Sarah put up with your constant whining?"
"Maybe I don't have anything to complain about with her," said Chuck as they walked back into their room. He remembered his promise to make this work to Sarah so he took a deep breath then turned around to Zondra.
"Okay let's do this," he said. "Clean slate let's start over again. I promise to put everything behind us and from this moment on we move forward. What's done is done."
"Sounds good to me Loverboy," said Zondra as she smiled at Chuck. He gave her a look back. "Okay, okay I was just kidding. Geez you can't take a joke can you?"
"Okay, clean slate," said Chuck as he sat down his tablet then went into his bedroom to take a shower. Zondra went to their bar and got herself a drink. As she sipped she pulled Martin's badge out of her pocket and played with it as she looked it over.
"Clean slate that would nice if it were possible. Sorry Martin but it was me or you and you lost out," she said as stashed it away hearing Chuck moving about in his room.
[Later on in the Lobby]
One of the hotel's guests called for room service and the delivery boy was tired and didn't feel like waiting for the service elevator so he took the guest elevator. He pushed the button looking over his shoulder at the Manager making sure he was in his office. He was still looking when the bell rang telling him the elevator was there. When he heard the doors open he pushed his cart in but it wouldn't move something was blocking it.
"What the… madre de Dios," said the boy as he made the sign of the cross. In the elevator lying on the floor were five dead men.
"What are you doing using this elevator," said the Manager hearing the boy. "You know this elevator is reserved for… Oh crap not again." The Manager wasn't shocked like the boy instead he was thinking about what he was going to have to do to get rid of the bodies and clean the mess up as quickly as he could before one of their civil guests saw it.
"Get yourself together and take the service elevator like you're supposed to," said the Manager to get rid of the boy. They he used his manager key to secure the elevator shutting it down then placing an out of order sign in front of it. He walked back to his office and called housekeeping.
"I've got five though stains to remove from the guest elevator and I need this taken care of ASAP. Thank you," said the Manager. He hung up then poured himself a rum neat.
"You're getting too old for this crap," he said to his reflection in the glass then downed it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sarah got Sam and Clara off to bed. Ellie was finally released from quarantine so she and Devon along with Clara spent the evening with Sarah and Sam having dinner together and trying to get Sarah's mind off Chuck being gone. However, Sarah had a little side mission of her own going on. She watched Devon and Ellie as they made eyes at each other then there were some exchanges of kisses enough for Clara to shake her head and quote Casey. There wasn't much privacy in the quarantine zone and now they were finally out.
"Guys why doesn't Clara sleep here tonight with Sam," said Sarah. "I've already got her bed ready and she's got her stuff in the bathroom. I just think that would be one less hassle for you guys to deal with tonight. We can worry about that tomorrow."
"I don't know," said Ellie as she looked at the girls. "I don't want to inconvenience you and I know you've got a lot on your mind right now."
"Well I know what to say, thanks," said Devon. "It sounds like a great idea. I don't think the girls mind and this will give up some time to get caught up."
"Caught up on what?" asked Sam. "You've been together all this time in the hospital. What have you gotten behind on?"
"I'm not touching this one," said Sarah as she laughed. "I think the person who brought it up ought to explain it." But before Captain Awesome could say anything Clara pulled Sam over and whispered in her ear. Sam made a disgusted looking face.
"Yuck I think I'm going to be sick. Mommy if we hurry up and get changed can you tell Clara and me a bedtime story."
"Sure," said Sarah as she started clearing the table and putting the dirty dishes in the sink. "What would you like me to read to you?"
"Can you tell us the one about how the prince deactivated the thermal nuclear device using nothing but fruit juice? Clara hasn't heard that one all the way to the end."
"Whatever happened to Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty?" asked Ellie as she went over to help Sarah with the dishes.
"They didn't work for the agency," said Sarah. "Besides if I were you I'd be more concerned about what they're teaching my daughter in that school of hers."
They finished the dishes then Ellie and Devon took off after they said good night to Clara and Sam. They were giggling as they slipped down the hall way then were gone. Both Clara and Sam shook their heads.
"What are they giggling and laughing at," asked Sam. "You never seem to be that happy to go do the laundry?"
"Do the laundry?" said Sarah as she looked at the two girls. "What do you mean? Oh you think they're going to go do the laundry?"
"Yes that's what Clara told me they had to get caught up on. Being in the hospital in quarantine they couldn't do their laundry so now they've got to get it caught up." Clara nodded her head.
"That's what they're doing right? It's seems kind of late but I guess you can put it in and let it run then in the morning finish it."
"No you're absolutely right they have to do a load, maybe even two. So let's do this story before the people who want to hear it falls asleep."
Sarah told them the story of the Prince and the Thermal Nuclear device and like last time they got a little bit over halfway when they both dozed off. She smiled at them kissed them both on the forehead and made sure they were tucked in then went back to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Looking at the clock on the wall I was later than she expected.
"Well he must be caught up in something and can't call home," she said to herself as she poured herself a glass of water from the fridge and add a twist of lemon. "Walnut, it's nights like this mamma could use something stronger but we'll have to make do." She was sipping on her water when the monitor flickered in the living room then Chuck appeared on screen.
"Oh Sweetie I'd given up on you calling this evening. Sam and Clara are in bed asleep. Ellie and Devon are next door doing the laundry..."
"Doing the laundry? Isn't it kind of late to be doing laundry although we Bartowski's clean when we're stressed..."
"Right, I'll let you think that. Well never mind I'll explain it to you when you get back. How are things going down there? Have you been able to talk to Casey and Morgan yet?"
"I talked with Casey earlier but to no avail. Although I might have talked him into going along with my plan at least in part that is but I'll hash that out tomorrow. Juri got his invitation to participate in a dinner and meeting at Ettore's ranch tomorrow," said Chuck but as he moved his stomach muscle reminded him that he'd gotten punched.
"What's the matter? Why are you in pain?" said Sarah as she noticed him cringe. Then Zondra came on the screen dressed in a robe half open and handed him some ice.
"It's nothing I just pulled a muscle working out," said Chuck as he took the ice and put it inside his robe. Sarah noticed quickly they had matching robes.
"Pulled a muscle working out," said Sarah as she raised an eyebrow. If she didn't trust him and that she knew he didn't like Zondra she would be reading between the lines. "Chuck, you two need to be very careful tomorrow at Ettore's. Remember Chuck he's not Morgan and you need to keep that in mind."
"Believe me I do," said Chuck as he looked around to see where Zondra was then he whispered. "Your friend is living up to her reputation and don't worry I remember my promise but never again. When I say never, that means from now on."
"I'm glad to hear that when I saw you two in matching robes well my imagination started to get away from me..."
"What? Yuck no... well I guess my pulling a muscle while working out didn't fly and we have our pact. There was a small altercation in the elevator Casey and I against a five man wet team. I got tagged in the stomach that's the reason I'm sore but Zondra took one out with a head shot that left me covered. That's the reason I'm late calling I had to wash the blood and gore off first. As for the robes they belong to the hotel."
"My poor Chuck," said Sarah. "Now tell me what I'm supposed to report to Beckman when she calls because we both know she will. I guess I need to omit the fact that you've made contact with Casey and Morgan?"
"Yes she can't know they're here or she'll send in her own team to extract them and Casey won't go without a fight. Just tell her we've made contact with Ettore and Juri has been invited over tomorrow. Tell her as I find out more I'll pass it on and leave it like that," said Chuck.
They continued talking until they both were yawning and dozing off on the other. Neither wanted to give up and go to sleep but they weren't the only ones who didn't want to give up. Sitting in the hotel bar was Sheila Swanson. She was drinking and boiling inside, going over and over in her head how Ettore used her for his alibi so he could eliminate Martin. Sure they weren't close but that was beside the point. Ettore used her and now she was determined to do something about it.
"I'll have another glass of courage," said Sheila when the cocktail waitress came by to tell her this was the last call. The waitress came back put her drink on the table then took her empty. Sheila sipped on her drink as she stared at the Beretta Bobcat in her clutch.