Don't own Chuck

Tien was talking and almost didn't see Lee was pulling a pistol from his bag. Lee turned his back to Tien and Tien saw the weapon in a reflection from one of the server glass doors. He was lucky, he caught Lee at the last-minute checking Lee's hand while landing a palm strike to his chest knocking him backwards. Lee dropped the weapon back into the bag as flew backwards falling on his back but he sprang back up then dropped into a fighting stance.

"What's going on? What's the meaning of this? Don't tell me you're in on this too," said Tien but Lee didn't answer him he just charged with a barrage of punches and low kicks. Tien backed up defending himself until there was nowhere to go.

"Karate… Shotokan," said Tien. "I guess you lied when you said you know anything?" Lee landed two blows to the chest then backed up smiling as Tien rubbed his chest.

"That's right I was my neighbourhood champion. This wasn't supposed to end like this but you know too much and now you're going to have to die. They'll find you tomorrow along with your confession where you'll admit you were in league with the American. Then he'll be shot and everything will be as it should."

"Anyone ever tell you not to count your chickens before they hatch but if you keep up talking you might bore me to death," said Tien. Lee turned red then charged him again.

Tien brush blocked Lee's punches. Lee's karate training cause him to use a lineal attack that he countered with circular motions. Lee drove at him with punches and low kicks but Tien blocked the kicks and punches setting Lee up. He threw a punch and Tien side stepped landing two quick blows to Lee's kidneys. Lee grabbed his side and the retreated.

"Augh, you were lucky that time," said Lee as he turned to face Tien. "I set a record in my dojo for the number of boards broken with a single punch."

"That nice but you should remember what your namesake had to say, 'boards don't fight back'," said Tien. Lee got even madder.

"I'll have you yet," he said as he tried to land a low roundhouse kick to Tien's knee but Tien shuffled back then forward countering with a high side thrust kick to Lee's face. Lee staggered back in a daze trying to shake it off but before he could Tien delivered an outward crescent that took down his hands followed up by a spinning heel kick. There was a loud crack when his heel made contact and Lee let out a howl as his jaw shattered.

"I wasn't a champion in my neighbourhood. I just know as being crazy. Now, you're going to answer my questions one way or another… oh right a broken jaw. Well you can write the answers for me but I will have them. The first thing I want to know is what is the minister's involvement.

Lee picked himself up off the floor and looked at Tien. He pulled a knife out from his sleeve then charged Tien.

"Oh come on, you just don't know when to give up," said Tien as he stepped backwards staying just out of Lee's reach. He slashed and stabbed but the only thing he was cutting was air. Tien waited and when Lee slash at him he stepped in instead of out catching the arm in a scissor block.

"You know what's next don't you," said Tien. The arm made a snapping noise as Tien broke the forearm.

"Augh," screamed Lee as he dropped the knife and held his limp hand. He reached down grabbing the knife with his one good arm then backed up holding it out in front of him.

"Give it up. Look at yourself this fight is over and you lost. Now I want to know what's going on and how high up does this conspiracy go? You will tell me… everyone talks in the end."

Lee said something or tried to say something. It sounded like an insult or he was giving road directions. Either way with his broken jaw Tien couldn't understand him but he didn't have to to understand the meaning.

"Come on put that thing down. It's over and you know it," said Tien but Lee looked at him and laughed or tried to then he stabbed himself in the chest. He collapsed to the floor and started bleeding.

"What's going on in here," said a man as a group of people poured in. "We heard the racked below and came to see what was going on. Crap, is he dead?"

But as Tien was trying to explain what had happened. Lee with his last minutes of life wrote the ideogram for 'murder' then pointed at Tien before passing.

"Lee's lying. He's… was a traitor. I didn't even stab him he stabbed himself," said Tien but he could read the looks on everyone's face. He noticed some men leaving in a hurry and he didn't need to be a genius to know they'd gone to get internal security. If the minister was involved his finger prints would magically appear on the knife. No, he had to get out of there.

"I don't answer to you people. Out of my way," said Tien as he started to push his way through but no one was moving for him.

"Maybe it would be better if we waited until security to get here and let them do an investigation," said one man. There was a lot of mumbling and head nodding.

"And I say get out of my way," said Tien. He reached inside Lee's bag and pulled out his type-92 and fired two rounds into the overhead. "I said get out of my way and I'm not going to repeat myself."

Tien ran out of the vault down to the stairs then started down. When he got to the lobby he noticed the guard at the front desk was on the phone then looked right at him. The man reached for something beneath the desk put Tien was quicker.

"Both hands on the counter where I can see them and when you bring them out there'd better be nothing in them. No one try anything… I'm innocent and I'll prove it…"

"You're not acting innocent," said the Guard. Tien couldn't argue with him but he had no choice. The cards were stacked against him.

"I don't have time to argue. Please, I don't want any of you on my conscience. But I'm not going to let any of you from stopping me from leaving here. Don't be a hero."

Tien turned around and walked backwards out the doors keeping an eye on everyone. Once outside he made a run for it. Running for the parking lot he jumped in the first car that was unlocked. He hot-wired it then took off.

"Crap, the magnetic tape," said Tien realizing he should've grabbed it back in the vault before he left. "Someone is going to find my fingerprints on it then they're going to think I was in cahoots with Chuck. I'm going to be shot on sight. Crap," he said as he pounded on the steering wheel.

Tien drove straight for a parking garage he knew in the area. There he drove down below then ditched the car he'd stolen. By now they'd be looking for the car he'd grabbed so by ditching it he'd have a little more breathing room. He walked back up to the surface then hopped on a passing bus. He got off a few stops later then looked for another parking garage where he grabbed another car.

"Okay, now let's go find Chuck," he said to himself looking in the rear-view for lights and listening for sirens. "Oh, Chuck, you'd better have something good to say or I swear I'll put a round right through your head. At least I'll get you before they get me," he said as signs for the park came in sight

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Devon waited until he was sure Kat was in before he went over to Sarah's. He turned over and over in his head what he was going to say to Clara to explain why he'd gone for the run but nothing seemed good. So, he did the only thing he could do. He mustered up his courage finished his liquid kale then walked over stopping only to ring the doorbell.

"Hey dudes," said Devon as he walked in. Sarah and Kat were standing by the sink each with a cup of coffee in their hands while the girls were sitting at the table eating cereal.

"Dad, do I have to point out to you that there are no dudes here and please don't call us dudettes like Morgan does," said Clara as Sam looked up and nodded then they started eating again.

"Devon, if you want a cup of coffee you know where everything is. Help yourself and Clara if you want another bowl of cereal go for it. Sam knows to check cereal on the shopping list when we run low. And if you want something different… another kind just tell me or write it on the list."

"I've got a suggestion," said Sam as she smile with a milk moustache at everyone. Sarah didn't need to be a mind reader to know what was she wanted.

"Okay, but before you say anything I've already told you no ice cream for breakfast," said Sarah as she took a sip from her coffee. Sam made a face.

"You could've at least heard me out before busting… I mean bursting my bubble." Sarah gave her a look. "What? I said bursting. But you know ice cream is nothing more than frozen milk and everyone knows milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium. I saw that on television the other day."

"Sarah's right," said Devon. "You think ice cream would be good for you but there's sugar, preservatives, chocolate, walnuts and marshmallows in your Rocky Road. There's more to it than just milk." Sam just gave them both a look heaved a sigh then finished her cereal.

"I just want to say I'm sorry about the confusion I caused this morning," said Devon as he talked into his coffee cup. "It won't happen again."

"Okay," said Clara like it was nothing then she turned to Sarah. "Are we still going to the park for lunch? You said we were last night or was it this morning." Devon caught what she was saying.

"That's right you did," said Sam as she pointed her spoon Sarah. "I heard you too and you even mention ice cream if I'm not mistaken."

"Which you are. I didn't say anything about ice cream and you were sound asleep so don't give me that. Yes, I said I would take you to the park. I can put Bunny in her stroller while you two play where I can see you and depending on how well you behave there might be ice cream at the end. But only after you've eaten all your lunch and I mean all of it."

"Okay, it's a deal after we eat everything," said Sam as she got up and put her bowl in the sink. "But when we get sandwiches can we get six inch subs. I need to save room for ice cream."

"I think that's an acceptable compromise but no feeding your food to the squirrels. They can forage for their own. Now let's find you girls something to wear. We're going to stop off at the Buy More for a quick pit stop so I can check in."

"I'd like to hear what's going on too," said Devon. "That is if it's all right for me to come down with you to Castle?"

"Kat, do you mind coming and watching the girls while we're in the Buy More. That will free me up so I can go down below and check in?"

"Sure, why not then I can come back here and get dinner ready. I was thinking about a beef stroganoff if that's good for everyone?"

"Kat, you don't have to worry about feeding us. We can order out just as easily and you don't have to go through all that bother and mess."

"Bother? It's no bother and it beats sitting around worrying about John and Alex. It keeps my mind busy. Then it's stroganoff tonight so you need to save some room and there just might be a dessert too," said Kat as she smiled at Sam.

"You're spoiling me. You know, I could get used to this. Someone pinch me I must be still asleep," said Sam. Clara started to reach over. "Hold up, that's something people say but then don't mean for you to actually do it."

"Then let's see about a tickle," said Sarah as she grabbed Sam and started tickling Sam. Sam yelled and fought.

"Stop, stop," she yelled until she finally broke free. "Not fair, now stop that," she said as she ran into the living room trying to catch her breath. "You're wasting my day… our day like this. Now cut it out."

Outside of Echo Park two Asian looking men sat in a parked rental car. The vehicle was non-descript so it wouldn't attract attention. They'd been there sitting for most of the morning arriving just after Devon returned from his run.

"We're here on station," said the one into his phone. "What do I have to report? Well, everything seems quiet. If you want us to grab the target now would be a good time. There's not a sould around. … All right we'll stay put and keep an eye on the situation."

"I take it we need to stay put. If we don't act soon we're going to lose the advantage of surprise or don't they realize that. You know it's easy for them back there. They don't have to sit here in this sweat box. You could've sprung for a car with air conditioning that works."

"Will you stop your complaining. They know what's going on here but the boss is there yet. He's arriving today and they need to get him to sign off on this before we take any action."

"I hope they know what they're doing. We can't stay here all day someone is going to notice us then what do we do?"

"What we'll do is I'll let you out then I'll drive around the block then double back parking in a different spot then we'll start waiting again. It's not a perfect plan but it will have to do until the people back home can talk with the boss and they tell us what to do."

"I hope they hurry up and get a move on it. I hate this place. I don't see how these people can live like this. It's so… I don't know so…"

"American, I know. But they probably say the same thing about us. I'll give you they're wasteful. Thye don't realize how much they throw away."

"I know they throw away the best parts of the chicken."

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Three black Nissans pulled up to what looked like an abandoned hospital on the outskirts of town. This was a spot Ettore had picked out before and where he wanted Ellie to treat him. His men had been working around the clock inside to make sure it would be ready for him on his return. However, both Ellie and Alex thought it looked like something from a B-rate horror film from the outside.

"What kind of place is this," said Alex as she got out of the Nissan. "This place looks like where Doctor Frankenstein's laboratory might be. I hope you didn't pay much for this."

"This used to be a sanitarium, didn't it?" said Ellie. "This looks like something we used to have in the twenties and thirties. I've seen pictures of them… a place people sent their relatives to die because they had some sort of embarrassing or incurable illness."

"You've hit the nail on the head," said Ettore. "This used to be a hospital for the criminally insane and where you're going to fix me."

"And you don't see the irony in this," said Ellie as they were shoved to move along. "And you picked this place?"

"Come along the inside will be better than the outside. The outside is to keep people away but the inside," said Ettore as he opened the doors. "Well take a look."

"What's this supposed to be… a TARDIS. The inside is bigger than the outside," said Alex remembering something Morgan said.

They walked in and the first thing that hit them was the smell of fresh paint. The walls were all redone and there were plants as well as people in white smocks running about. Alex hear the humming of a lot electronic equipment.

"That must be some server you've got if I can hear it in lobby," said Alex. "You built all this just so Ellie can open your hood up and take a look inside? It seems a little over kill to me."

"It's not like we can run down to the local People's Palace or as you call it the mall and grab something if we find something is missing. My men will show you to your rooms upstairs. You can get cleaned up then we can have lunch after that we can start work."

"You mentioned your people had picked up Morgan," said Alex. "I want to see him. That is if what you said wasn't a lie."

"Very good, you're trying to get under my skin. Oh, I've got some special plans for him. There's a ward here where they practiced electric shock therapy on the psychotic. I've been dying to try out my new toys."

"Won't that be a reversal, a psychopathy using the equipment it was intended to be used on," said Ellie as two men came to take them away.

"Oh, but I won't be at the dials you will. After all medical equipment should only be used by a trained professional," said Ettore. But as he was talking one of his men came and whispered something in his ear.

"He's here already? You told him I just arrived… of course he knows I just arrived he sent the bloody submarine. Ladies please follow my men to your rooms. I'm sorry but it looks like we'll have to dine separately. I have a guest who just popped in that I have to deal with so if you'll excuse me. I'll send for you after lunch and we can start by running a MRI and a CT. I'll have my blood work up results sent to you so we can get a jump on that."

"Sounds good to me," said Ellie. Then they were taken away. One man walked in from of them and another behind them. Alex looked at Ellie but she signalled to say nothing. They walked up two flights of stairs then were taking to two adjoining room with a shared bathroom in the middle.

"Thanks, you might want to work on your manners," Alex said as they were pushed inside then they heard the door lock. Alex went to the window but it was barred and the glass looked shatter proof.

"Those tests… the CT and MRI are okay… the MRI might be of some use but the CT is going to be a waste of time. He really needs an EEG if I'm going to see what's going on, but he should know that. Do you think he's testing me?" said Ellie but Alex was stuck to the glass looking out the window. "Alex, did you hear me? Do you think he's testing me?"

"What? Testing you? He could be," she said as she looked outside. "I'm sorry but someone is pulling up. This must be that guest Ettore was talking about. Geez, I recognize him. He's one of their top ministers and a big wig in the MSS. So that's how Ettore could pull all this off."

"He expects us to be here for a while. Just look at this," said Ellie as she checked out the wardrobe and found it filled with clothes. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing good for us I'm afraid. I understand how he knows my size but yours," said Alex as she looked in Ellie's wardrobe. "It's really creepy."

"Yeah it is. It's an intersect thing I believe. You need to be careful to him. Don't think of him as the Ettore who fell head over heels over you. Remember what it did to Morgan."

"Do I ever. It was one of the worst periods of my life. I kept thinking I must've done something but I hadn't… he hadn't. It was this."

"That's right it was the intersect and the same way it made him… well unpleasant. It's done the same to Ettore. Not that he was ever pleasant. It's amplified the villain in him and with it he's extremely dangerous. What I'm telling you is don't go poking the bear because he might not react the way you expect."

"I wish I was downstairs or had some way of listening in on the conversation that Ettore was having with the Minister. They're two floors straight below us."

"You know there might be. Look around for a heat duct. If I'm right we might be able to hear them but that won't do us any good if they're speaking Mandarin."

"They won't be. If they're plotting like I think they are, the Minister won't want to speak a language his people could understand."