Don't own Chuck
Chuck was talking with Sheila in the cockpit as they were flying through Mexico up the along the coast and into the middle of the Gulf of California. The flight had been uneventful and the weather perfect. With the effects of El Niño on the currents they were actually making good time. Although Chuck was intentionally taking his time flying back he wanted to save on fuel in case he had to revise his plans. They were halfway up the gulf when Chuck and Sheila began to talk about what got her into Interpol.
"I was working a dead end job with... well I don't know how much you know about the Gendarmerie nationale," said Sheila.
"I've worked with them and I have a few contacts in their ranks," said Chuck as he looked at her trying to picture her in uniform.
"I worked in the Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale in hostage rescue. I got into it because I thought there would be action and excitement but in the end I became the liaison with the news media. I was a glorified PR person then an opening came available in Interpol and I jumped on it. What about you? How'd you become a spy?"
"Me? Well my story isn't that great. I was recruited off the street so to speak from the Buy More of all places. I ran the Nerd Herd... a friend brought me in actually. He sent me information I downloaded it and the rest is history."
"I get it like a test for admission. You solve this problem then you can move on up to the next level which for me was a psychic eval."
"I did that too but like I said my recruitment was... well more an accident then a plan. Although in a certain sense considering my family it was inevitable." Chuck didn't get a chance to explain when the plane suddenly started to buck like a bronco and warning lights lit up on the console like a Christmas tree.
"Oxygen," yelled Chuck as he tried to control the plane. He put his mask on then tried to regain control of the plane as they descended. "We've lost cabin pressure," he yelled as he brought the plane down to a safe altitude then leveled off. As he was getting control they heard the sound of a gunshot that came from the aft section of the plane. They both looked at each other neither wanted to say Zondra's name.
"You stay here and don't move," said Chuck as he flipped on the autopilot. He grabbed his cane then went back into the passenger cabin.
"Hey you can't come back here the Boss wants to be left alone," said one of Ettore's men who tried to stop Chuck. That just added fuel to the fire.
"I'm sure he does," said Chuck. He knew Zondra was with Ettore and after the loss of cabin pressure and the sound of gunfire he wasn't going to let anything stand in his way.
"Out of my way or you'll regret it," said Chuck. He was in full-blown Carmichael mode. The man put his hand on Chuck's chest to stop him. Chuck brought the cane up driving it into the man's groin. When the man buckled over he shoved him back walking over the top of him.
"Hey you can't..." the second man started to say. Chuck twirled the cane like a cheerleader would a baton catching the man on the side of the face that knocked him across a row of seats and against the bulkhead. Hearing the noise Paolo came out looked around and smiled at Chuck.
"This could be fun," said Paolo as he pulled his switch-blade stabbing and slashing at Chuck. He blocked the stab with his cane then pivoted around Paolo pushing him past and landing a kidney blow. Paolo let out a muffled moan as he turned slashing back at Chuck.
Chuck backed up and they stared down at each other like two ancient warriors. Both fixed their eyes on the other but at the same time they played out various scenarios in their head. Their breathing lowed and their senses heightened to where Chuck could almost hear the sweat running off Paolo's forehead.
Then they were at each other again. Chuck drew his blade from his cane pressing it against Paolo's neck. Paolo switched his knife from one hand to the other slashing upwards holding it against Chuck's abdomen.
"Stop... Juri, no, I'm fine," yelled Zondra as both she and Ettore came out from behind the curtain. They heard the ruckus so they came to see what was going on and found both men at knife point.
"Paolo stand down. Sorry Kolonel, I guess we should've warned you about the loss of cabin pressure but I had to off load garbage." Chuck backed away from Paolo.
"Sorry about the nick you're might want to put something on that," said Chuck as he handed him a handkerchief. Paolo was bleeding from a small cut on his neck.
"Sorry about your shirt you might want to change it," said Paolo as pointed out that a couple of buttons were missing along with a small slash.
"Well you both got licks in. Good, again sorry for not giving you a head's up but none of them wanted to talk and that last one decided he wanted to go down swinging. Thank you my dear for that one."
"I need to get back up to the cockpit we're ready to amend our flight plan. So I'm going to need you up front," said Chuck to Natasha. "Oh and you might want to explain no hard feelings to your two men. They tried to stop me. One probably has a broken jaw and the other doesn't have to worry about having children. Now Natasha let's get to work."
"What was it?" asked Sheila when Chuck and Zondra walked back into the cockpit. "Is everything all right back there?"
"Yes and no," said Chuck as he looked over at Zondra. "Ettore lightened our payload and take my word for it you don't want to know."
"I guess I should say thank you. You came for me when you thought I was in trouble even if I wasn't so thanks."
"I should've known. A cat has nine lives and always lands on its feet, which is more than I can say for the men in the back."
"And when you catch mice alive then put them in a jar. What happens if you don't put holes in the lid? This is on you too."
"Yes , yes it is."
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When Kat arrived at the hospital with Sarah, Gwen was already there. She took her to get blood work done then while they were waiting on the ultrasound tech Gwen had an EKG, and an EEG done. After they got that finished she took Sarah back to another examination room where the tech was finally ready with the ultrasound. Gwen and Kat helped Sarah up on the examination table.
"I'm going apologize the gel might be a little cool," said Gwen as she squirted it on her abdomen then started moving the wand around.
"So what can you see? Is everything okay with Walnut," asked Sarah. She felt nervous and out of control neither feeling she was comfortable with.
"Humm," said Gwen then silence. Sarah waited and waited for more but Gwen was caught up in her thoughts. Finally she had to say something.
"'Humm' is not a word but an interjection that's usually followed with a reason that the person who said 'humm' said it so the person they said 'humm' to knows why they said 'humm'."
"Were you expecting to give birth to Shiva? Complete with two sets of arms and blue all over," said Gwen as she smiled at Sarah.
"Funny, very funny Gwen, do I need to remind you that I am armed and I have been known to shoot people for less."
"Your baby's fine," said Gwen and as far as I can tell you're fine but you haven't been taking your prenatal vitamins like I told you to. Your iron is a little low that could affect your mood swings which affects your baby's mood swings combine that with your stress and you have all the ingredients for a good panic attack."
"Oh you should see your baby," said Kat as she looked at the ultrasound image. "I forgot what it was like to wait for something this wonderful."
"But you were just told you'd lost... well John so I don't think it could've been that easy to do this alone."
"I won't lie to you. It wasn't but having Alex near to me was like having a part of him near me. I'm not saying it was wonderful because it wasn't but she made it easier for me. Enough of this talk Chuck will be home soon and everything will back to normal."
"If normal can be used to describe our lives," said Sarah. As they were talking Kat's phone rang the screen read 'Alex'.
"Speaking of the devil they must be in. How much longer should I say we're going to be?" asked Kat as she answered. "Alex, can you hold on for a minute?"
"There are a few other things I want to talk to Sarah about then I'm going to write another prescription for prenatal vitamins and an iron supplement."
"Why don't you give that to me I'll make sure she takes them," said Kat. "You know if Emma or Mary hear about this you're going to be in trouble."
"Please I've enough stress as it is and besides don't you have Alex hanging on the line there. She just got back from an ordeal you should be with her."
"Oh you're not wiggling out of this that easily. I'll talk with Alex outside but when I come back we're going to talk about your eating habits," said Kat as she walked out.
"I think I just got a second mother."
"You need one," said Gwen. "What are you doing still working? I thought we agreed that you'd be on maternity leave by now."
"I know and that's why I didn't go with the team this time," said Sarah but Gwen gave her a look like she didn't believe her. "Okay I couldn't go because our target had seen me and how am I supposed to hide this," she said as she rubbed her stomach.
"Do you think you could've felt a little resentment towards your baby because you couldn't go? Not that you resent her but it would only be natural after being excluded."
"No of course not... well maybe a little especially when I had to call a friend and send her with Chuck. I knew that neither liked the other but I matched them anyway. I didn't want them getting too friendly during the mission I think."
"And am I detecting that plan didn't work out the way you wanted it to."
"I don't know but I have a suspicion it didn't. I keep telling myself that's all in my head. Chuck is mine and mine alone."
"On that I think you're right," said Gwen as Sarah gave her a look. "Oh I mean about this being in your head. I don't think I've ever seen anyone as in love as Chuck is with you. There's nothing he wouldn't do for you. He kind of redeems his gender."
"And he's mine," said Sarah. Other woman could admire him from a distance but that was it. If they came too close there would be consequences even if they were a friend.
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In the Intensive Care Unit of the same hospital a man was rushed in after being found on the freeway. At first they though Marcus was a vagrant considering the condition of his clothes but the Rolex he sported on his wrist and the crocodile wallet with his driver's license led the police to a house in the hills. Marcus' wife immediately called Cassius after she was notified and he ran to the hospital to see his friend. Marcus was still in the ICU when he came to and standing beside his bed was Cassius is a white coat.
"What are you doing here," asked Marcus in a weak voice. "Can you give me some water, please? My throat feels dry. How long have I been out?"
"Not long the police came by your house and told your wife. She called me so I came down right away. I had to find out what happened. They say you were found on the freeway and it looked like you'd been tossed from a moving vehicle."
"That would be right. Mr. Big grabbed me when I left the office and questioned me about your plans to take over the council. Cassius, he knows your plan and he knows also you're trying to take Ettore out. Is it true your plan to get him in Chiapas failed?"
"Doesn't matter I've got a wet team following him as we speak. Mr. Big did me a favor flushing Ettore out now I'm going to take his prize."
"He said that you'd made a big mistake...," said Marcus but Cassius cut him off giving him more water.
"Drink up you must be pretty dry after your talk with Mr. Big. It sounds like the two of you had a nice little chat going. Did he know my plans or did he just think he knew them and you confirmed them?"
"I don't know what you're getting at. I think it must be the drugs or my ordeal but I'm still pretty tired I think I need to get some rest. Come back later there's more I need to tell you."
"You want me to go? Okay I can go for now then come back later," said Cassius. "You do look tired get some sleep then we can go at this again when you wake up. Don't worry, I'll warn our friends to keep an eye out in case Mr. Big comes after them but I think I'm his target now."
"He wouldn't dare go after you at least not without the council's approval and they're not going to give it. So you can rest easy."
"Yeah I can rest easy," said Cassius as he left the ICU walking to the elevator. "Yeah I can rest easy until Mr. Big takes a recording of you spilling your guts. But if I contest the authenticity of the recording but then he'd come back and strong arm Marcus again. No, I know what I need to do."
Cassius rode the elevator down then pushed the button to go back up. On the way he took out his Sig and attached a suppressor. When the elevator opened he tucked it under his coat then walked back down to the ICU. Looking around outside he made sure no one was around then he opened the door quietly Marcus was lying there with his eyes closed.
"Sweet dreams," Cassius said as he pumped Marcus with lead. An alarm went off then he heard a nurse over the intercom call away a code blue. He tucked the weapon under his coat then disappeared as a crash team showed up pushing a cart.
"You're going to need more than that to save him," thought Cassius as he hit the stairs then disappeared from the hospital. He was laughing when he got back in his car.
"You know if you played your cards right you could blame this on Mr. Big," said Cassius to himself. "Yes so when he plays that recording, and you know he will. You can come back with it was Mr. Big who had Marcus whacked to keep him from testifying that the recording was a fake. Oh you're so devious," said Cassius as he looked at himself in the rearview mirror and smiled.
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One of the guys from the down town office drove an Escalade out to the airport from their motor pool. John thanked them and promised to get it back the following day. After saying goodbye he loaded Alex and Morgan up then took out on the I-5 making their way over to the hospital. Traffic was light so they made it over in record time. What he didn't see was the black panel van that followed behind them. Keeping back far enough not to be seen but close enough so they wouldn't lose them.
"Be careful remember always leave a thirty yard cushion from your target on the tail," said the man in the passenger seat.
"I think I've done enough tailing to know how much of a cushion to leave," said the driver. "You guys just take care of your business and leave the driving to me."
"I don't want to say anything but I was always told it was a thirty meter cushion you were supposed to leave not a thirty yard cushion. Remember we're supposed to be switching to the metric system."
"That's not really true because there was no drop dead by date when the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 was passed."
"So what thirty yards or thirty feet it's all the same," said the driver as he dropped back a little hiding behind a U-Haul truck.
"Well technically there is because thirty yards would be around twenty seven meters which would be inside the comfort zone and making you more visible."
"Okay we keep the thirty yards and forget the metric system. There is no date when we have to convert over so we keep things like they are. Everyone in agreement back there," asked the driver. Not hearing anything. "Good now that we've got that nonsense sorted out."
"Well I've got something why does it have to be in yards? Who actually uses yards anyway to measure with? I mean if you had to show how long a yard is could you? I don't think I could. It would be like measuring in say a furlong…"
"Oh I can tell you how long that is. It's one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, or by what my horse lost the last race."
"No you're missing my point instead of giving a thirty yard cushion we should be giving a ninety foot cushion. You can see what that is, right?"
"The next time you drive you can leave a ninety foot cushion or whatever the equivalent is in rods or chains. I'm driving so it's a thirty yard cushion. Case closed."
"Now you're just being silly who even knows how long a rod or chain is and besides you just missed the exit our target took marked for Westside Memorial."
"Geez, I've got to turn off and go back. You guys with all your blabbering about meters and furlongs go me distracted."
"Well that sounds like an excuse to me," said one of the men in the back. "And I know why. You probably gave too much of a cushion."
"I swear if you don't shut up I'm going to pull over and shoot you all in the head."
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Ellie and Devon had a nice day at the beach with the girls who played on the seashore making sand castles and collected seashells. They stopped off at Lou's on the way and got sandwiches and make a picnic out of it. The whole day was wonderful but at one point Ellie noticed Sam was not acting her usual self.
"Devon, watch Clara for a moment," said Ellie. "Sam, honey, can you come with me I want to walk to the ice cream truck and get everyone an ice cream but I'm going to need help carrying them back."
"Sure," said Sam as she got up from the sand and went over to Ellie. Ellie took her hand and they went walking off.
"Sam you know when we were little, your father and I, our mother used go away a lot. Chuck might not remember it because he was too young but I do. I didn't like it and each time she went away it seemed as if she stayed away longer and longer."
"I don't like it either but there's nothing I can do about it. Mommy was supposed to talk to Chuck and find out when he was coming home last night. When she didn't say anything this morning I knew she didn't know so I didn't ask."
"You know you're pretty smart to be a munchkin," said Ellie as she kissed her. "I know you feel lonely but soon you'll have a baby sister to help take care of and I can tell you from experience being the oldest isn't always peaches and cream."
"Peaches and what?" said Sam as she looked up at Ellie. "I want Rocky Road not peaches and cream." Ellie laughed which made Sam turn red.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have... well peaches and cream is what people say when they mean something is nice... Well I do know that your father's trip got extended but I don't know for how long. And yes your mother was upset about it I stayed up part of the night with her and we talked grown up talk."
"I wish you lived here forever then I'd have someone to talk to," said Sam as she looked down at her feet.
"Sweetie just pick up the phone if you want to talk I'll always be there for you. Let's get this ice cream then get back I think I see Clara burying Devon. We need to get back before she covers his head."
"Thanks," said Sam as they walked back. "You're the best aunt in the whole wide world."
Ellie felt warm inside as they walked back. She looked at her watch and wondered why Sarah hadn't called yet. When they got back as everyone ate ice cream she took her phone and tried to call her. But when she called Sarah it went straight to voice mail. She was about to try Kay but remembered everyone was flying in and Kat was going to pick them up so she tried Morgan.
"Hey Morgan this is Ellie. ... You're heading to the hospital to see Sarah? Why is she in the hospital? … Gwen thinks she had a panic attack… Gwen as in Doctor Gwen Louis her Ob-Gyn? … Why didn't Sarah call me... us? Wait who's this they… Kat's with her… Yes put Alex on the line."