Don't own Chuck

Sheila woke up slowly every part of her body ached even her eyebrows hurt. When she opened her eyes everything was out of focus and there was a low drumming sound in her ear. She wondered at first if something hadn't damaged her hearing but as things came in focus she realized she was onboard a plane. She tried to get up but found herself handcuff to her seat.

"What's going on? Where am I? Where's that low life scum Ettore La Barba," yelled Sheila. "Take these things off me," she said to the men sitting next to her. They just laughed then one got up and left. A few minutes later Ettore came back with Paolo following behind him.

"Good Morning Ms Swanson... Sheila," said Ettore but she cut him off in a fit of rage. He smiled as he let her yell at him.

"How dare you kidnap me. My people will be looking for me and when they find me you're going to be in a world of hurt."

"Somehow I doubt that and you can say thank you if you want. Oh I should tell you why you're thanking me. The house we were in exploded and it was blown to pieces. Everyone that was left inside is dead and you are alive only because I brought you with us."

"Then my people think..." said Sheila as she thought out loud. "They think I'm dead. I need to contact them right away."

"Sorry but that won't be possible right now. We're running on radio silence right now to avoid being detected."

"So what does that make me? Am I your prisoner?" asked Sheila as she held up her hands handcuffed to the chair.

"I'd prefer to call you my guest. If you promise to behave yourself I'll have the cuffs removed but I warn you if you act up they go back on."

"Do you think that's such a good idea," said Paolo. "We're not out of the woods yet and you're going to let her roam around the plane."

"Roam around, no there have to be boundaries but where is she going to go? What's she going to do jump out at thirty thousand feet without a parachute? Take off the cuffs I'm going to the galley to see what we have to eat would you like to come with me?" said Ettore as Paolo rolled his eyes.

"Maybe you'd like to offer Juri and Natasha a bite too while you're at it," said Paolo. "You wanted to chat with Natasha if I'm not mistaken."

"They're on this plane too," said Sheila as she looked around but she didn't see them. "Where are they? I have a thing or two to say to that Russian."

"We had a small problem taking off. My pilot and copilot didn't make it but luckily for us Juri was able to fly this plane. I never thought I'd meet someone I could admire more than myself but I have to say if there was someone like that it would be him. Let's go in the galley together see what's available then tell them what they have to choose from."

Ettore offered Sheila his hand then led her back to the galley with Paolo walking behind them with one of their men.

"Paolo I can feel you rolling your eyes in the back of my head," said Ettore. "You have to forgive him he's very protective normally. Paolo there is one thing you can do for me I want you to look into how our escape plan was compromised."

"What do you mean compromised," said Paolo as he watched Sheila and Ettore looked through the sandwiches in the chiller.

"If our escape plan was so secret how did our friends in the back beat us here. Someone had to have tipped them off or do you think one of them is clairvoyant?" said Ettore then he turned back to Sheila. "Well these aren't exactly Subway but they'll hold us over until we arrive at our destination."

"Which is?" asked Sheila trying to get as much intel as she could.

"For that you'll have to ask Juri."

[In the meantime in the cockpit]

Chuck was trying to come up with a way to get them into L.A. without getting them shot down. He couldn't use the radio and tell everyone who he was because one way or another that would get back to Ettore so that left him with only a few options. However, with everything going on he was having a hard time concentrating.

"So Juri," said Zondra as she looked back behind them to make sure they were alone. "What's your plan for getting us in country without getting us shot out of the sky?"

"What did you say? I'm sorry did you say something?" said Chuck as he glanced over at her seeing her disappointed look. "Can you repeat your question?"

"Earth to Chuck, come on head in the game Juri," said Zondra. "Are you on some other planet? Personally I'd like to avoid being blasted to crap by some rookie pilot."

"What are you talking about?" said Chuck as he looked over at her. "What rookie pilot is going to blast the crap out of us?"

"Where are you right now because your body might be here but your head isn't? Listen, one mistake when you're in deep cover and it's over. When I say it's over mean it's over for good."

"You're right I'm sorry I was just thinking about Sarah. She was waiting to hear from me and considering the way we left she might be thinking the worst."

"You need to put those thoughts out of your head or you're going to get us both killed. I can understand you not wanting Sarah to worry but if you slip up her worries will be based on reality.

"Okay, okay this is what we're going to do we modify out flight plan from Mexicali to Bob Hope. Then when we hit Irvine we set down at El Toro. It's a deactivated Marine Corps Air Base."

"I know what it is. Didn't they turn that into an amusement park or something," said Zondra. She looked over at Chuck and he nodded back.

"The city council voted to approve it a few years ago but it's still under construction. At least one runway should still be intact..."

"You said should be intact? What do you mean 'should be'? Is or isn't it? When we drop down out of the sky it's the wrong time to find out it's gone."

"Well then I guess we'll find out won't we," said Chuck as he looked back over at Zondra. "I need to send a message to Sarah watch the door for me."

"Chuck that's not a good idea," said Zondra. "What are you going to do if Ettore confiscates everyone's telephone and theirs a call on yours you can't explain?"

"I need to contact..."

"Who," asked Ettore as he walked in with Sheila. "If you tell me who you need to contact I can do it for you. I've got a secure phone in the back." Sheila looked at him. "I know I lied before you have to forgive me."

"I need to contact a friend and have vehicles waiting for us when we land. This is the plan we're going to modify our flight plan and tell the authorities we're flying into Burbank then when we get over Irvine we're going to set down at a closed Marine Corps Air Station."

"You haven't told them that it's been repurposed as an amusement park. We're risking setting down in the middle of a bunch of kids and their parents."

"Not if we call in a bomb scare right before we arrive. Park security will evacuate everyone then we set down run over and grab the vehicles we've prepositioned then we're out of there before anyone knows what happened. There should be a second group of vehicles waiting not too far away so we switch again just in case."

"I'll arrange for the vehicles and the bomb scare. You worry about bringing the plane in," said Ettore. "There are sandwiches in the chiller in the galley. Natasha maybe you'd like to come back and choose something for you two?"

"I don't know if I should leave the Kolonel alone at the controls. You know at his age his heart might give out at any moment."

"After seeing him in action I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon," said Ettore. She could tell he wasn't going to take no for an answer looking over at Chuck he nodded for her to go.

"Do you have any preference or do you want me to surprise you?" said Zondra as she got up and brushed past Sheila.

"Anything but borscht but I don't think you can put that on a sandwich. Blinis with caviar would be lovely but somehow I don't think that's happening... oh just surprise me."

"Well while you two are being chummy I'll stay up here with the Kolonel," said Sheila. "You did say I was your guest right? And besides three's a crowd."

"Or it could be interesting but okay," said Ettore. He leaned in over Chuck and whispered. "Oh this is good. This is my day I've got two hot women fighting over me." In that moment Ettore sounded so much like Morgan he had to do a double take.

"Well Ms. Swanson you might be bored up here with me. There's not a lot of action going on," said Chuck but he could see in her eyes she wanted to get away from Ettore. "Well don't say I didn't warn you."

"Good then come on," said Ettore as he offered Zondra his hand. "Juri, I hope you're not too hungry because we might not be back for a while. There are a lot of sandwiches to look over."

"I think that's optimism talking," said Chuck after they were gone. Chuck held up his finger to tell her to be quiet. He flipped the toggle for autopilot then went to check at the door.

"Okay they're gone," said Chuck as he came back and sat down in his seat. "Listen you need to play along or you're going to get us all killed."

"What am I playing along with that you're a FSB Kolonel pretending to be with the CIA or a CIA agent pretending to be in the FSB?"

"Maybe a third option would be more appropriate. No just joking although me credentials within the FSB are real. I did a favor to their director and this was his way of paying me back."

"So what does that mean? You can't be the real Sheshenov? My friend in Paris said he was some sort of super-agent with ties in the KGB and the Bratva."

"But I am," said Chuck. He could tell from her look she was having a hard time wrapping her head around what he was telling her. "I'm not telling you this to boast because I'm not proud of everything I've done just that at the time I did them they were necessary."

"Like what happened with Martin? Do you take responsibility for that too," asked Sheila as she studied him. "I need to know."

"This is my mission and so anything that happens I'm responsible but let me ask you this do you take responsibility for your agent being corrupt? He worked for you and you were in charge so shouldn't his guilt fall back on you?"

"I don't see how they are the same," said Sheila. "I just arrived and was sorting myself out so I couldn't know everyone..."

"But he wasn't just anyone was he? He was your own vice? I would think that would be the first person you'd want to clear. It's easy to sling mud and tear people down but there's a saying about the pot and kettle that fits our situation."

"Okay, say I agree with your argument where does that leave us friends or enemies? Don't answer that. What I really want to know is where do we go from here?"

"We pool our forces together and take down Ettore La Barba once and for all. That is if you're game for it. He's hurt too many people to be left roaming freely."

"You know Martin told me the last time we talked that when I went to take down Ettore I should plant two in the chest and one in the head then worry about justifying it in my report afterwards. Actually he told me he'd write it up the way I wanted it written."

"It sounds like your man, Martin, was complicated," said Chuck as glanced over at her. He smiled as he made a small course correction.

"He was in an impossible position and made the best of it," said Sheila as she sighed. "I wouldn't want to have been in his shoes."

"Sometimes that's all we can do. You asked me before what we are friends or enemies. Well if you want to know my opinion I think we can be friends."

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Since they left Bogotá and even before there was friction between Morgan and Alex. Morgan wanted an explanation that Alex didn't know how to give. This rift between them seemed to be opening wider and wider as neither wanted to give in. Finally Alex got up the courage and was getting ready to go talk to Morgan. This talk couldn't be put off any longer and after some encouragement for Casey she was about to get it over with or so she thought.

"What's that alarm," asked Alex as she got up to leave. There was a loud alarm and a light lit up in front of Casey.

"Sit back down the Troll will have to wait someone just locked onto us with fire control radar. Launch chaff and standby for evasive maneuver." Casey put on the fasten seat belt light then Morgan walked back into the cockpit.

"What's going on are we expecting turbulence," said Morgan as Casey banked right circling the chaff to see if he could shake the radar lock. Morgan went flying crashing into the bulkhead.

"Fasten seatbelts means park your but in a seat and don't move idiot. Now you're going to have to hang onto something."

"Dad up ahead do you see him?" said Alex but Casey already spotted him.

"Yes I got him. He's a Pilatus PC-9 the Mexican Air Force has them in their inventory but I don't see any markings."

"And what does he want," asked Morgan but as he was asking a stream of smoke shot out from under the wing headed in their direction.

"He wants to ask us out. Look out in coming," Casey yelled as pulled the throttle back dove under the chaff then circled back up around it causing the hardpoint missile to fly through it. Morgan bounced up and down between the deck and the overhead until he finally landed on the deck.

"Augh, how about a little heads up next time," said Morgan. There was a violent explosion that threw the Lear sideways.

"I was a little bit busy idiot and what does 'look out incoming' mean in troll? Alex, watch the engines lights they can't fail now," yelled Casey as he pointed the Lear upwards trying to put altitude and distance between him and the PC-9.

"Dad," yelled Alex. The alarm came back on and the light lit up again. "I see a column of smoke coming up from the ground."

"There's no out running that," said Casey. He dove at the PC-9 at maximum speed and as he guessed the pilot didn't have time to react. He was on top of him too close to effective deploy another hardpoint without doing damage to himself. Casey performed a roll and blew past him then shut down his engines and deployed chaff around the PC-9. As he hoped the steep descent cool him off enough making the PC-9 a warmer target for the missile's IR radar.

"John what are you doing," yelled Morgan as the Lear took a nose dive and began to drop out of the sky.

"Cross your fingers moron and pray my little trick worked," said Casey. There was a loud explosion behind them that sent the Lear into a tail spin.

"Come on baby start," said Casey. "Began start up procedures," he said to Alex. But nothing the engines didn't want to start. "Again," yelled Casey.

"John, I don't need to tell you that we're falling," said Morgan as he looked terrified out the window and saw the ground coming up rapidly closer.

"You're right you don't. Okay come on baby let me hear you purr." This time the engines started to putter then finally they kicked in. Casey pulled back on the throttle giving it full power as he pulled back on the yoke. They kicked up dust as they scooted across the surface before gaining altitude then they were gone.

"That was a close one," said John. "Grimes, now this was something to write home about and we didn't need the intersect to do it. You know not many people could've pulled that one out."

"I think I'm going to be sick," said Morgan as he picked himself up off the deck. "My stomach feels like it's coming out of my mouth."

"Take it to the lavatory. Don't you dare heave in here or I swear I'll clean it up with you," said Casey. Alex went and helped Morgan up.

"Come on let me help you to the lavatory," said Alex as she gave him her hand and pulled him up. "Maybe we can talk now."

"You can talk but I think I might be busy," said Morgan. He suddenly turned a shade of green then dashed out of the cockpit and into the restroom.

"Morgan, are you okay in there?" asked Alex as she heard strange noises coming from inside. "Do you want me to come in?"

"No! No stay where you're at I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to be in here with me right now. If you want to talk go ahead I can hear you."

"Okay here it goes," said Alex. She took a deep breath before starting. "Morgan you're right to be mad. I do understand but you have to know I didn't have any reason to doubt Ettore wasn't you. He did everything you'd do so I'm sorry. I feel bad this happened and I guess what I'm saying is I screwed up but I don't know how to unscrew this. Just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it."

"I don't know what to tell you. I love you and I don't want you to feel bad. I guess I was hoping we had the same kind of love as Chuck and Sarah. Chuck knew that fake Sarah was a fake with just one kiss..."

"First of all I don't know if you can compare relationships but in defense Chuck and Sarah have always had a more intimate relationship. Maybe that's how he could tell... not to mention the intersect..."

"That's what Chuck said. Casey told me that I should let it go and Sarah basically said the same thing. Your mother didn't say much of anything..."

"Now I'm going to get mad. You talked to everyone about this. How about waiting until we could talk about it together?"

"I didn't talk to everyone. I didn't mention it to Big Mike or my mother. Who do you think I am a blabbermouth who can't keep his trap shut?"

"I don't want to get into this with you or we'll go off on a tangent. What I'm saying is I'm sorry it happened but maybe moving forward if we had a more intimate relationship then this could be avoided." Morgan threw open the bathroom door.

"What are you trying to say? And define what you mean about 'intimate'?"

"Well to start with this," said Alex as she kissed him on the forehead. "If you want it moved down to your lips you need to brush your teeth. You vomit breath is a mood killer."

"Right hold that thought and I'll be right back," said Morgan as he ran into the cabin to dig out his toothbrush from his trusty rucksack. But it was nowhere to be found.

"No, no please this can't be happening to me," said Morgan as he searched through all the bins and storage compartments but his rucksack was nowhere to be found. Morgan ran back up to the cockpit.

"John, have you seen my rucksack? I had it in the hotel then I loaded it in the back of the Escalade. You brought all the gear onboard the plane..."

"Are you talking about that oversized backpack of yours with that stupid maple leaf patch on the back? Nope can't say I do."

"John, every world traveler knows that he should own a sturdy rucksack and every American also knows to act Canadian as to be well-liked."

"And like I told you before that's a cliché... so Alex won't kiss you until you brush your teeth?" said Casey with a smile.

"Why you... you... you hid it didn't you. Come on confess. No, you got rid of it didn't you but how'd you know..."

"That you'd get sick... well we would've hit a patch of air turbulence if our friend hadn't shown up so you can thank him for the smooth flight all the way back now."

"Why you big jerk... admit it you left my rucksack in the Escalade didn't you. And why? I'll tell you why because you don't want Alex to kiss me."

"You'd better take that base out of your voice. Big jerk? You're going to call me a jerk. What would you call someone who is going to take advantage of my daughter's sense of guilt to get a kiss and maybe more? I think as her father I have an obligation to look out and protect her from predator lowlife scum who want to capitalize on her momentary vulnerability."

"John, I would hope by now you'd know me better. I'm in love with Alex and I only want what's best for her..."

"Then you should want to do the honorable thing and wait or do the dishonorable thing that will get you six months in traction and I won't have to worry about grandchildren."

"Morgan, have you found your toothbrush yet," asked Alex as she walked into the cockpit carrying two cups of coffee. She handed one to Casey.

"It seems to have been left behind in Bogotá but really I've been thinking... I love you the way you are and I don't want you to feel obligated to do anything to make me love you because the truth is I love you, I've always loved you and will always love you. I don't want to push you into doing something you're not ready for... what I'm saying is I'm willing to wait."

"Morgan you're the best fiancé ever," said Alex as she kissed him.

"But what about brushing my teeth?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"Yuck now I think I'm going to be sick," said Casey.

"If I were you I'd wait a bit before going into the lavatory," said Morgan. Then he turned back to Alex and kissed her again.