Don't own Chuck
Sarah was tired of waiting and it was time to take action. She walked back inside kissed Sam and told her she had to go out for a little while but when she came back she'd have Chuck with her. The only thing Sam had to tell her was to be careful and that she'd wait up. Sarah went into the bedroom pulled a case from the closet and dumped it on the bed inside was her H&K MP5KA4 she'd taken to Thailand.
"Hey where do you think you're you going with all that firepower?" asked Casey from the doorway. He and Alex had arrived in the meantime.
"Chuck is holed up at the cabin with Ettore. Mr. Big might be Ettore's brother and he knows where Chuck took Ettore. And Beckman is waiting on her hands to put an extraction team together for fear of tipping our hand."
"We could be ready and standing by… Oh I get it she's still pissed about Bogotá. So she's putting us aside in the doghouse."
"And letting Chuck hang out there because of it. I'm done waiting around it's time for me to do something. If you want to help you can carry my bags out to my car. I'm getting my husband and no one is getting in my way."
"And you're going to drive your Lotus in your condition on the roads back to the cabin. Let's think this through why don't you let me come with you. We can take the Escalade use one of the fire roads and come in unseen. We'll park a couple miles away you can stay with the vehicle and work comms while I hike in and take a peek with my Barret. If everything is cool we can just take up positions and wait for crap to go down."
"John, what are you saying? Are you telling me to wait in the van?" said Sarah as Morgan and Alex stuck their heads in.
"You're taking us too," said Morgan. "We're a part of the team. We want to help and besides you might need a bullet magnet."
That was a couple of hours ago. Now Chuck was standing over Casey with a large rock in his hands after he almost bashed John's brains in with it.
"No, no you can't be here. Oh please don't tell me Sarah's here too… of course she's here where is she? … No first John you need to leave and take her with you. You guys can't be here I'm expecting some very, very bad men here soon. Please tell me you didn't bring Morgan too."
"Chuck, take a deep breathe, breath in then let it out and relax. Stop freaking out or you're liable to bust a gasket. Here talk to Sarah; she's in an Escalade parked about two miles away." Casey gave him an earbud that sync'd with his watch.
"Sarah, oh Sarah you can't be here. You need to go Ettore's half-brother is behind the hit on him and he's sending in a wet team that will be…"
"Chuck, give it a rest and let her speak. You can start with putting that rock down," said Casey. "And just for FYI you'd better pick a bigger one next time. That would've just pissed me off like I'm getting right now if you don't take a chill."
"Listen," radioed Sarah. "Beckman isn't providing you with any backup so what do you expect me to do just sit back and do nothing? Why didn't you call me back after you asked me to look into Ettore's brother..."
"I didn't ask you to look into him. I asked you to tell Beckman to look into him and I didn't call back because I figured out you'd do something like this. If anyone sees Morgan here they're going to think he's Ettore. Please tell me you didn't bring him."
"And you think I'm going to let down my best friend down," said Morgan as he broke in. There's no way I was going to get left behind."
"Bogotá didn't teach you anything did it? You and Ettore can't be anywhere near each other. The guys coming here will take you both out to be on the safe side and they won't think anything about it. Worst think is, Morgan, as you endanger yourself you also endanger everyone around you and you didn't think anything about it."
"Chuck, Morgan just wanted to help. We all do that's why we're here so don't get angry with him or with us," said Sarah.
"I'm sorry you're right. It's just... well nothing has gone the way it was supposed to. But you guys need to stay out of sight and you need to put Morgan in the trunk."
"I'll second that decision," said Casey. "Now that sounds like a plan to me."
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Julius was pacing in his office back and forth. He normally was very cool when it came to business but now everything was finally coming to a head and this chapter of his life was finally drawing to a close. He remembered how his mother went on about how his father had turned his back on them and given everything to that tramp's son. She made other comments about Ettore's pedigree but finally he was going to get even for her.
"Mom is finally going to get what she wanted," he said to himself as he sipped on his Bourbon. "I'm removing that mark your slut mother put on our family. I just had to sell my soul to the devil but the deed will soon be done dear half-brother and you know what? It was worth it." Finally his phone rang and he put it on speaker as he refreshed his drink.
"What took you so long? Did you have to make your phone before you called?" asked Julius as he took a sip form his glass.
"We had to sabotage the vehicles before we left so they won't be going anywhere and we posted two men to keep an eye on the situation. I'm calling from our command vehicle. We're in the Angeles National forest," said the man as he gave Julius the GPS coordinates.
"Good I want you to monitor the situation and wait for backup. When the rest of the men get there I want you to move out and take the camp. There are to be no survivors."
"Does that go for the Russian? He was nice to everyone... I'm just saying it's kind of a shame that we have to take him out too."
"I don't want any witnesses. They all have to go and if they had a dog I'd order you to shoot it too. No one is to walk out who can testify to what happened. Do you understand or do I need to draw you a picture?"
"Yes sir... I mean no sir, we understand and we'll make it happen like you ordered," said the man. "Well if there's nothing else we need to get ready."
"There is after the hit is done have the boys regroup I may have another job for them. This hit will be easier because he won't expect it coming so it will be a soft target. You won't find any opposition so this should be a clean kill."
"Roger that. That's the way I like them. I'm going now to prepare for the arrival of the rest of the team."
Julius hung up then walked behind his desk and looked out the window. From his office he could see out over L.A. as it sprawled out all the way to the San Gabriel Mountains where his brother was laying low.
"Just think the bastard will be dead soon and I'll be the undisputed head of the council. No one will be able to oppose me. I'm the king of the world up here and no one can touch me. Look at all those puny little people down there running about," said Julius as he talked to himself. "If you wanted to you could squash anyone of them. If they knew you were up here looking down on them they'd walk by with their heads bowed," he said as he thought about getting someone in to make it so he could open the window then he could throw pennies out to see if he could hit anyone below. There was a knock on his door then his secretary came in carrying a small package.
"Oh just the person I want to see. Laura call building maintenance I want them to come up with a way I can open my window. Sometimes the air in here gets stale and it would be nice to be able to change it."
"I don't think it's possible something about building codes and wind pressure on these upper floors. It could also be so some idiot can't throw something out the window to see it go splat on some passerby."
"You don't think someone could be that stupid do you?" said Julius as he noticed she was holding a package in her hand. "What's that? Is it for me?"
"Yes a messenger just dropped it off. It doesn't say who it's from so I opened it to be safe. It's a cigar humidor and it fills full. The label says Costa Gravas double coronas…"
"Let me see those," said Julius as he took the humidor from his secretary. "Oh yes come to papa prerevolutionary double coronas rolled on the thighs of virgins. I think this calls for a celebration this is obviously Cassius trying to save his stinking hide. You can go Laura I'm about to contaminate the air in here. Soon you'll wish the windows opened."
"Yes sir," said his secretary as she exited closing the door behind her. He was probably right she thought and now would be a good time to go down to the end of the hall and grab a soft drink from the break room. She was about to go back in to tell Julius she was going to be gone for a seconds when there was a loud explosion. The doors to her boss' office blew outward knocking her off her feet. In the end they were what saved her falling on top of her shielding her from the blast and the fire ball the engulfed the rest of the floor.
[Out front of the building across the street]
"Good grief man it's all gone," said one of Cassius' men as they both got out of their car and looked up to see fire raging on the upper floor of a skyscraper. He and his partner were sitting in their car below monitoring the bug Cassius had placed in Julius' office.
"Boss you're not going to believe this," said the one man as he quickly pulled out his phone and called Cassius. "No the hit is still going down at the location we gave you but… well did you send some smokes over to Mr. Big? … You say no. We didn't think you did. … What does this have to do with anything? A lot actually... well you know how Mr. Big is called Mr. Big well he just got bigger. There are pieces of him spread over half of L.A. County and some in the next. … What am I talking about? Someone sent him a humidor filled with C-4 and he went boom. … Are we sure? Well we weren't there in person but I can tell you we heard him puffing away then we saw a fire ball shoot out of his office window. The fire department and paramedics are here now. But if you didn't send him that love package who did? Yes we've got everything recorded we'll bring it right over. … Oh okay," said the man as he hung up.
"What gives? So he says he didn't send him the Christmas package I take it," said the man's partner. "I suppose he wants to listen to what we recorded."
"Yeah he wants me to take it to him but he wants you to snoop around and see if you can find out if anyone survived. He may deny he had anything to do with this but Mr. Big thought he sent that package to him and we've got him on tape saying that."
"That's easy enough to erase," said the other man.
"But not if some survived who overheard him say it. You need to hurry up and get over there. If there are any survivors you need to be careful not to be seen hoovering around or that could be mistaken too."
"So what exactly am I supposed to do? You're not being very clear do I take the person out or do I just keep track of them?"
"For now just call it in and let the boss make the decision. I think that's the safest thing you can do for now without sticking your neck out."
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Cassius didn't know what to make of these latest change of events the only thing he knew was he had to press on to get Ettore before news of Mr. Big's demise got back to the council. There would be a free for all once the word got out like a twelve man tag team sudden death elimination contest. Everyone would be out for Mr. Big's seat at head of the table. Cassius just had to make sure that when the smoke cleared he came out on top. But now first things first Cassius called the wet team and spoke to their leader.
"Are your men in place," asked Cassius. He got himself a stiff drink as he put the call on speaker. He needed this drink right now.
"We're almost there but we're going to wait until after sunset to move in. Don't worry about the other team. We'll deal with them too."
"You're the expert but remember failure isn't an option. There are other things in play right now that make it imperative that your mission be successful."
"Roger that. Like you said I'm the expert. I'll get this done for you just remember for this kind of rush we get paid extra."
"You just come through with what you promised and I'll pay you double your going rate. How's that for an extra bonus?"
"I call it incentive and you've got yourself a deal. This other team, how to you want us to deal with them? They're not going to just stand by and let us take the prize."
"Do whatever you want but I'm not paying you any extra for them. In fact there's only one person I need taken out and that's Ettore. If you don't get him there's no payday so keep that in mind."
"Roger that all my men have been briefed and I've handed out photos. Are we sure that he's at this cabin? I don't need another incident like what we had in the supermarket."
"Don't worry he's there just after you take him down I'm going to need a proof of death photo. The people I have to deal with aren't as trusting as I am," said Cassius. The man on the other end laughed.
"Yeah, okay I hear you. Well if there's nothing else we're going to set up at the end of the canyon leading back to the cabin. From here we have control of who enters or leaves. Team leader out," said the man as he hung up.
"Good, good," said Cassius as he talked into his glass. "The only thing now is to call the council to a meeting. If I do this quick enough I can get everyone together before they all know about Mr. Big."
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Chuck walked back to the cabin through the underbrush making his way as quietly as possible. When he got almost at the cabin he saw something dart out from a bush then disappear into the woods. He jumped back and pulled his Makarov before he realized what it was. He'd disturbed a lone coyote that was feasting on a dead rabbit.
"Thank goodness Sam isn't here," said Chuck. He heard Sarah ask for an explanation in his ear then he described what he saw.
"Eww yuck, you're right. Sam would never watch the Road Runner show again if she saw that," radioed Sarah.
"Come on guys stick to proper radio etiquette," radioed Casey. "Remember you're talking into an open mic. Chuck, you'd better let them know it's you before you turn that door knob. I think the last time you tried something like that you got shot and you're no wearing a vest now."
"Funny John especially if memory services me right it was Kat who shot me. But you're right," said Chuck as he knocked on the door. "It's me I'm back don't shoot."
"Who's me?" asked Ettore on the other side of the door. "How do I know who you are?" he said as he went on to challenge Chuck.
"I don't know. Are you expecting the Avon lady to drop by? Might I point out that someone from a wet team would've probably just kicked the door in and be done with it? Also how many people do you know out here in the middle of nowhere?"
"Okay, okay come in Juri. It's all Paolo's fault he told me to give you a hard time," said Ettore as Paolo opened the door and shook his head as Chuck came in. He laid two H&K UMPs on the kitchen table.
"I found what I was looking for and the two scouts I took these from won't be needing them. I also grabbed this," said Chuck as he placed a radio he took in the middle of the table. "We can keep track of our would-be assassins using this along with our sensors…"
"I thought you were just going to look around," said Zondra. "What about when you said you weren't going to engage? This to me looks like more than engaging."
"I saw a window of opportunity and I took it. The first one was about to report in that he thought we were on to them but I took him out before he could finish his report. Then I pretended to be him and I convinced the people on the other end I was their scout. I told them it was a big mistake and because of a low battery I was going to have to keep the radio off."
"Okay and what about the second guy. What happened with him?" asked Zondra as she fiddled with the radio.
"Would you believe I found him unconscious? That's right I think he slipped on something and did all the work for me."
"You expect us to believe a cockamamie story like that," said Zondra looking up from the radio. Chuck gave her a look like whose side are you on?
"Come on," said Ettore. "It's so wild no one would invent a story like that and expect someone else to believe it. Juri your assistant isn't a very trusting soul. You know if you get tired of her you can always give her to me."
"Ettore if I did I'd have to live with the knowledge that one day she'll cut off something that you hold dear and personal."
"They do that to male horses to calm them down," said Paolo as he smiled. Then he went to the freezer pulled out the bottle of vodka and poured Zondra and himself a glass. They turned them up then tossed the glasses in the fireplace.
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Sarah was sitting in the front of the Escalade with Alex. They both were scouring the countryside with night vision binoculars. Morgan sat in the back bored trying to figure out ways to amuse himself. He started humming then he broke out singing ninety-nine cans of grape soda on the wall. That was almost as annoying as him asking every ten minutes what time it was.
"Fifty-seven cans of grape soda on the wall. Take one down pass it around, fifty-six cans of grape soda on the wall. Do either of you ladies have the correct time?"
"Morgan just add ten minutes from the last time we told you or add twenty to the time before that or thirty to the time before that."
"I'm sorry but you guys are the ones with the night vision binoculars. I'm just sitting back here in the dark trying to find something to do," said Morgan as he started to sing again. "Fifty-six…."
"Morgan, I have a pistol and I swear if you don't stop bugging the crap out of us I'm going to use it on you," said Sarah.
"At least you'd feel better like when you shot that guy in the restroom. But what I don't understand is why didn't you tell Chuck about you being seen in the hospital today. He should know that Gwen had you come in after your attack."
"You won't have to worry about being confuse with Ettore I'm going to shoot you right here right now," said Sarah. "Chuck sweetie, listen up it wasn't anything and I'll explain when this is done. Just keep your head in the game and think about who you want for your new best friend because I'm about to shoot this one."
"What did I do?" asked Morgan. He couldn't tell if Sarah was serious or joking. It was too dark for him to see inside the Escalade.
"What'd you do?" said Alex. "Morgan… well if Chuck didn't know before he does now. You just told everything over an open mic."
"Sush we've got movement on the road below. There's a surveillance van and it looks like it's heading back your way Chuck. Okay it's stopped now I see five men jumping out. They've got tactical gear on and they're double timing it towards you. Chuck, please don't listen to Morgan. Gwen checked me out everything is okay with me and the baby. Just please be careful I love you."
"I love you too," radioed Chuck back.
"Yuck, you guys and proper radio protocols just don't go together but considering what jabber jaws just let out of the bag I'll let it slid this time."
"Gee thanks John," said Sarah. "We're really relieved."
"Leave the quips to Bartowski and myself."