Don't own Chuck
It was getting late and Ettore's guests were starting to arrive. There were a couple of sheiks from the Middle East, two Africa Warlords, a representative from a neighboring Latin American country and Chief Hernandez all in Ettore's study. One of his men came and whispered in his ear that the Russian delegate had arrived with an uninvited guest. In the meantime Paolo had mustered up some men to help him look for Alex. The first place they went was out to the gardens where there they found a ladder against the wall.
"Crap she's over the wall that means she's in the jungle," said one of his men. Paolo wanted to slap him in the head for stating the obvious but he was more angry with himself that with anyone else.
"Get some men together then take one of the vehicles and drive around the perimeter and see if you can track down where she went in then follow her."
"But it's dark out and I don't think there'll be enough light out for us to see where she went to. Besides between the animals in the jungle and FARC she won't get far."
"Oh really," said Paolo. He pulled his weapon and put a bullet in the man's head. Everyone cleared out around him as he dropped. "I didn't ask you what you thought I told you what I wanted done. Anyone else want to do some thinking?" They all shook their heads no.
"Good now take this trash and feed it to the pigs then the rest of you get around the wall," said Paolo. As he was sending his men out he received a call from Ettore via radio.
"Any luck yet finding Alex? I'm going to be nice and not tell you I told you so but hey I think I just did. Well leave that for the men to handle I need you here. That guy from Chicago is here at the main gate along with that Russian…"
"Can't you handle handshaking? I really need to supervise this search. It looks like she got over the wall and is in the jungle."
"Crap, now I know what she was looking at from our window. I saw it too but didn't think about it there was a ladder the workers left near the grapes. Well I still need you, the Russians brought Sheila with them and Emilio is here."
"Oh double crap, well it seems all your hens have come home to roost," said Paolo. He couldn't help smiling as he said it.
"Somehow I don't think the saying has hens in it but I'll let you have your moment. If you're done laughing can you get your butt in here and head her off. You can take her to the dining room or the game room any room but here. I'll tell Emilio and have him slip out the side."
"Okay and speaking of any other uninvited guests any word on the other two? I was told they were seen leaving the hotel this afternoon."
"No but that's good I expect they'll make a dramatic entrance at dinner. I did want them to find Alex's body but it looks like you've ruined that plan."
"You're not going to let me forget this are you? Okay I made a mistake but it really wasn't a mistake because I can't do anything about the fact that I'm allergic to peanuts."
"This is just payback for all the times you've made fun about my proclivities so to answer your question no I'm not going to let you forget it."
"Well while I can't do anything about my allergy you can do something about your so-called proclivities which is keep your pants zipped. I'm heading down to the main gate now to bring the Russians up.
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Chuck's party was waved over to the side they pulled in behind Bob's. Chuck got out of the Escalade and looked over at Bob who recognized him. Chuck wondered what had taken Bob so long to get here since he had left way before them then he saw the men with him getting out of their vehicle. He had to prop himself against the Escalade as he flashed on every one of them.
"Oh boy," said Chuck as he pulled out his flask and too a quick hit. "Hey Bob isn't it," said Chuck. "This is a really small world to find you here. I guess we have similar business."
"I was going to say the same thing," said Bob as she watched Zondra and Sheila get out of the Escalade. Chuck could see he was trying to figure out why he was there.
"I think you need to rethink your eye candy. Ladies, if you don't mind helping an old man to our shuttle ride."
"Kolonel," said one of the security men. "I'm sorry but Señor Paolo is on his way to personally escort you to the ranch. Mr. Scoglione can you and your associate follow me. The rest of your security detail will have to wait here with the vehicle. Only one guest is allowed in the Ranch house with an invitee."
"And what about the Russian? Why does he get to bring two people with him," protested Bob. "This hardly seems fair."
"My dear friend, look at your people and look at my two daughters. There is no comparison that can be made. You have mud while I have Aphrodite and Venus."
Whatever the reason, Bob was ushered off with his associate who didn't look like he liked being compared to mud. But soon they were by themselves when Bob's men drove their vehicle into the parking area.
"You do realize they are the same goddess," said Zondra as she came up to him. "I'm not sure I like the comparison with that one."
"Just take the compliment and be quiet I think you've done enough," said Chuck. He then walked over to the Escalade and talk to Casey through the window. "John, you're going to have to drive this over to the designated parking area but be careful about using Morgan's face to move around."
"How'd you know that was my plan?" said John as he looked up at him from behind the wheel. "What'd you do flash or something."
"No John, because that's what I would do but that doesn't matter what matters is Bob brought some pretty vicious mercs with him plus that torpedo by his side. I have a feeling they're up to something so be careful. Remember keep your earbuds in and comms open. Once you guys secure Alex leave and go back to the plane. It won't be safe to stay here after that. Don't worry about us we'll make our own way out.
"Chuck I can't leave you behind Sarah will kill me and it goes against everything I believe it," said John as he looked over at Zondra and Sheila. "Are you sure you can work with those two? I looks like you're about to have another cat fight."
"That I'm not sure about but I appreciate what you said John and I just want you to know I love you too," said Chuck as he laid his hand on John's shoulder.
"Move it or lose it and keep it in your pants Bartowski. Okay we'll secure Alex then make our way back to the Escalade. We'll give you fifteen minutes to get back then we high tail it out of here." With that Casey started to drive over to where the other vehicles were parked but as he pulled out he saw Paolo coming down in a golf cart.
"Down Moron," said Casey as he pushed Morgan's head down below the dash just in time as Paolo passed. Casey turned on his bright lights as if by accident then dimmed them but he temporarily blinded Paolo.
"Sorry about that," said Chuck as he walked over to meet Paolo. "Good help is hard to find these days. I was told you wanted to escort us up to the ranch?"
"Yes but… well Ms. Swanson, Ettore wasn't expecting to see you here tonight. He asked me to stay with you while he meets with his guests then you may join him and the rest for dinner."
"Sure I understand but I was hoping to get a little alone time with him. There are some things I'd like to discuss with him."
"We'll see but I can't promise anything. If you'll all climb aboard then we can go. Kolonel Sheshenov your reputation is quite impressive I have to say."
"Thank you but reality it something different" said Chuck. Paolo nodded his head as he loaded everyone on the golf cart and took off heading up towards the ranch house.
"I know people like to exaggerate but what can you do? Besides it helps build a larger than life reputation which makes people reluctant to screw with you.
"Really I was going to say people often underestimate me. I don't know what it is they just do like Alex Volkoff when I gunned him down in L.A. or when I took down Pakhan I think you call him the Godfather. Neither of them saw it coming. I tricked a warlord into charging into a trap in the Caucasian Mountains then I slaughtered ever one of his men that's how I brought Boris to power and why he owes me."
"I don't understand. With your contacts I would think you could get anything we have to offer cheaper and better from somewhere else?"
"True but with Cuba becoming friendly with the U.S. some of my friends and I want to keep a country here in the area akin to our political ideas. The main problem is we can't afford to be linked with a coup that might or might not happen or the U.S. will enforce the Monroe doctrine and intervene. We want to be the invisible hand behind the scene guiding our friends to a socialist paradise."
"Yuck I think I'm going to be sick," radioed Casey. He heard Chuck's spiel in his open mic. "Give me a fricking break I want to heave."
"Do you have any mosquito repellent I think I heard one buzzing around by head," said Chuck as he rubbed his ear.
"I can get you some as soon as we get to the ranch house and we're almost there," said Paolo. Chuck noticed all the guards were walking around with AK 47s and there seem to be a lot of unusual activity going on.
"Is there something wrong," asked Chuck seeing all the guards were armed and seemed to be looking in the bushes and flower beds around the house. "Did Ettore lose a contact lens?"
"No nothing like that just a little security exercise is all. Kolonel can you and your assistant follow my man he'll take you to see Ettore. Ms. Swanson can you please follow me to the game room. Maybe you'd like a drink or something?"
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Alex escaped through the house and finally made it outside. She ran to the ladder next to the wall then realized that it had to be some distance to the city and that she had no idea in which direction to run. She was risking running away from civilization or running into people worse than Ettore. She didn't have time for indecision so she propped the ladder against the wall then took one of her shoes and threw it over so if anyone looked they'd think she went off into the jungle.
"Okay now I'll double back and hide in the house," she said to herself as she ran back inside and just in time. From her hiding spot she saw Paolo come out with a group of men. He looked up at the ladder and pointed up. Her plan was working then she saw him shoot one of the men. Afterwards some of the men carried off the body while Paolo and the rest disappeared around front.
"Good my plan is working. Now I've got to get to a phone. If I can get to a phone I can call someone for help," she thought to herself. "Crap if only Dad were still around he'd come for me. Geez where's Morgan," she thought. If Ettore and Paolo made it off the ship then did Morgan make it? That was a question she didn't want to ask herself.
"The surveillance room, that's where you need to go there should be something that you can use to phone home with," said Alex. Talking to herself seemed to help her calm her nerves. She backtracked her way back to the surveillance room. Inside she found monitors receiving CCTV feeds from the room she'd been locked up in. She also found a radio and an earpiece she used to keep track of her pursuers who were looking for her.
"We're outside the wall on the other side of the ladder and we found the girl's shoe. We're going into the jungle in pursuit."
"Roger that we'll send you some back up for assistance," radioed a man back. Alex knew this was good because as long as they look away from the house she could move about. She just had to be careful to the servants. Looking up at the monitor the man she'd stabbed with the syringe his body was still on the floor of her room.
"I wonder if he's got a phone," said Alex. She slipped around and gave him a quick pat down. "Yes, here we go." It was an IPhone six but it was locked. "What to do now?" she said to herself as she looked at the body then she got an idea. She took the man's thumb put it on the home button and it opened.
"Good, now who can I call? I don't want to call Mom because I'll scare her and after what happened to Dad I can't put her through this.
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Sarah was at home with everyone. They'd ordered Chinese but Sarah wasn't much in the mood to eat. She kept moving food around in her plate and looking at the clock trying to imagine what everyone was doing. Ellie looked over at her catching her looking at the clock then at the monitor in the living room.
"Maybe we shouldn't have come over tonight," said Ellie. "Are we getting in the way? If we are just tell us we can take everyone and go home."
"What? No, not at all... if the truth were known I'm glad you're here or I'd be a basket case by now. It's a lot easier when you're on the op then when you're sitting back waiting for things to develop. Thanks for being here especially this evening I really appreciate it."
"What's so special about tonight," asked Sam. "Is Chuck coming home? I want to go to the airport and pick him up. Please, please, please."
"No, Chuck isn't coming home this evening but he should know when he'll be coming home after tonight. I'm waiting for his phone call that should be sometime soon or at least I hope so and no you're not waiting up."
"Oh why?" said Sam but she could tell tonight was not the night to try to get her way. "Okay but you should do the laundry before he gets home or you'll have to stay up like Aunt Ellie and Uncle Awesome did the other night."
"Where did you put the clothes you washed," asked Clara as she looked at them across the table. "I didn't see anything in the dryer?"
"That's because…. That's because… well we put them away," said Ellie as she turned red. "Yes that's right we put them away so they wouldn't get all wrinkled." As they were talking Sarah's phone rang she ran to get it but the number read anonymous.
"Is that Chuck," asked Devon. Ellie gave him a look but he just shrugged his shoulders back. "If it is you might want to step outside in the courtyard for some privacy."
"No, I don't know who it is," said Sarah as she answered it. "Hello, who is this and how did you get this number?" Sarah's eyes widened when she heard Alex's voice on the other end.
"Alex hold on I'm routing your call through Castle so I can pinpoint your location. You should know the guys are in the ranch house looking for you. It's too long and complicated for me to explain how they got there."
"So Morgan and Chuck are looking for me," said Alex as she felt relieved. "Morgan's still alive I was so worried after I figured out Ettore was posing as Morgan. I was afraid... well I was afraid," she said as her voice started to break up.
"Just hold it together of a little longer. John is with Morgan looking for you too. Chuck is running interference with Ettore. You need to stay hidden and out of sight I've locked on to your phone's signal and I'm sending the team your GPS coordinates. You just need to stay hidden and let them come to you but in a few hours Alex you'll be free."
"I need to go before someone hears me," said Alex. She could already hear the sound of footsteps coming towards her. "I really need to go."
"Alex remember whatever you do don't turn off that phone."
"Roger that Alex out," she said then hung up.
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Sarah quickly typed up a text message and sent it to the team. Chuck and Zondra received it as they entered the study looking around at the who's who of bad guys. Casey and Morgan received it as they snuck out of the parking area commandeering a golf cart.
"Hey you can't take this..." said one of the guards as he tried to stop them. Morgan turned to him and looked at him. He froze in panic.
"Are you telling me what I can and can't do with my own toys?" said Morgan. The man shook his head and broke out in a sweat. "Good I'd hate to have to kill you while I've got all my house guests here."
"But we thought you were in the study addressing your friends," said one of the other guard as he came over to see what was going on.
"Well if I'm here I'm not there I can't be in two places at once. Do you have a problem with me being here? I came to see how my guests were being greeted and if this is the way they are then I'm not happy."
"Shush," said the first guard. "Don't pay any attention to him he's a little cross because he was supposed to be off but got called in at the last minute."
"Well I'm sorry work interferes with your personal life. Maybe I can take care of that and fire you right here right now on the spot," said Morgan as he looked the man in the eyes.
"No sir... I mean please don't. I'm sorry I didn't mean anything by my remark," said the second guard realizing what 'fired' meant for Ettore.
"Good then you won't mind if we take this golf cart now. You can use the one you have left to shuttle any late stragglers up for now we're going to keep this one," said Morgan. He and Casey quickly got on and disappeared in the dark heading towards the house.
"Hey I just got a text from Sarah," said Casey. Alex has freed herself now we need to go and extract her. I've got her GPS coordinates. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Way to go daughter of mine."
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Alex felt so relieved and happy Casey was safe and so was Morgan now she had new hope. The footsteps outside the room got closer and now she could hear female voices. She ducked into the bathroom and closed the door. She put the phone in her pocket quickly then pulled out the two weapons she had taken before. She took the safeties off then held them down by her side.
"Come on let's get to work Carmella," said one of the women. "We need to clean this room for Señor Ettore."
"I just cleaned this room this morning. Now I've got to clean it again," Alex heard Carmella say then she heard the sound of plastic being rolled out.
"You grab his shoulders and I'll take his feet let's get him on the plastic. Phew he is heavier than he looks. Why couldn't they send one of the men to help us?"
"They're all out looking for that chica that got away. Let's try rolling him instead that should get him on the plastic then we can drag him out."
"Okay," said Carmella then Alex heard them making effort then there was silence. Now was the time to move Alex though but as soon as she opened the door she heard the women coming back in so she had to retreat.
"I know I left my purse here. I had it with me when I came in," said Carmella. Alex heard the women looking around and moving things.
"Maybe you left it in the bathroom," said the one. Alex took a deep breath she didn't want to waste the two ladies. It wasn't their fault they cleaned house for a bad guy but it was them or her. Alex saw the knob turn she brought her weapons to the ready.
"Madre de Dios," said Carmella. "I remember where it is I laid it on the plastic. We wrapped it up with Julio."
"We need to run or they'll feed it to the pigs," said the one woman. Alex heard them run out the door.