Don't own Chuck

Beckman didn't like the silence coming out of China but silence also was good. No one was asking what was going on or what her team was up to. No one that is except Ambassador Sheng but he had the common sense only to direct his questions to the General. Like her he wanted this to all stay below the radar.

"So, you expect me to believe you don't know anything," said Mei as he took a sip of his chai tea. "Please I know better."

"I'm sorry but that's the truth no one has reported in so I don't know anything. We did pick up some backdoor chatter that one of your people went rogue but you can ask your own on that just don't quote me as a source."

"Well, I don't know if I should be sharing this with you but I was told the same thing. I'm out of the loop here but they think he was operating with one of your operatives and I'll give you a guess who they say it was."

"Chuck? Well, anything is possible. Ettore has his sister so Chuck's going to pull out all the stops to get her back. That's something that stays between us but Chuck… well he's going to go full on Charles Carmichael."

"What's that supposed to mean," said the Ambassador as he rubbed his stomach. From the look on his face he seemed as though he was in pain.

"Well if you've studied our Civil War it would look something like Sherman's march to the sea. What's the matter you don't look so well? Is your stomach bothering you?"

"Yes, like a lot of my people I'm lactose in tolerant and the chai bothers my stomach sometimes and gives me cramps."

"If it bothers you then why do you get it?" said Beckman as she took a sip of her Irish coffee. "You should try this next time?"

"No, I'll stick to this. I'm hoping if I keep on drinking milk and milk produces that I will desensitize my system. I really need the vitamin D."

"You know they sell vitamin D as a supplement and I don't think that's the way lactose intolerance works. I think you've got an enzyme missing that keeps you from digesting the lactose so you can drink all the milk you want but I don't think it's going to make a difference."

"We if it does it does and if it doesn't so be it. I just like chai tea so I'm not going to give it up. So what if I feel a little physical discomfort. I make up for it in the pleasure of having the cup."

"You know you crack me up sometimes. Well Mei, I need to get back to Langley and see if I can put my ear to the ground and hear something. If I find out anything I can pass on to you I'll be in touch. We can rendezvous back here and you can get another tummy ache."

"Funny, I wish it were only a tummy ache but I can put up with it. But likewise, if I find out something I can pass along I'll be in touch and the other pays for the drinks."

"That seems like a fair deal. I'll cover todays," said the General as the Ambassador got up and left. She gave him a half hour head start so no one would see them leave together.

"Did you find out anything," said Roan as he walked in from the shadows, pulled out a chair and sat down. "That looks pretty good, do you mind?"

"Yes, I do as a matter of fact. If you want a cup order one yourself and don't think you pulled anything slipping in from the back. I saw you when you first came in. You know when I go on these meets I want to go alone. If Sheng had seen you he would've clamed up and the next time I wanted to talk with him it would be when they hand out ice water some place very warm."

"Connie didn't know where you went and I couldn't find the Major so I thought you might need backup. You've been known to go to meets that turned out to be less than hospitable. Remember what happened in Algiers?"

"You promised you'd never bring that up. Okay, I might've gotten myself in a little hot water but nothing I couldn't shoot my way out of and you're one to talk."

"All right I'll drop it but what's gotten you all fires up? Is it because Chuck's in China or that Ettore is going to sell all our secrets to the People's Republic?"

"How about all of the above? If I'd fired that missile at Ettore's boat in the Med like Chuck wanted then none of this would be happening right now."

"Since when do you look back? What did you say about regrets being unprofessional," said Roan as he caught the attention of the waitress.

"I think you're getting me confused with a James Bond movie. But yes, I did say it too and I do believe it. It wasn't the right thing to do back then but if I get his beady little eyes in my crosshairs now I will end him without an ounce of mercy."

"Ettore took Ellie so that means Chuck will be gunning for him. You might not get a chance to pull that trigger yourself before Chuck beats you to it or is that the plan," said Roan as the waitress brought him an Irish coffee.

"It's not just Chuck who's after him. Ettore's managed to piss off just about everyone over there. The truth is I don't know how he's been able to dodge the bullet so far."

"That means he's got a friend or friends in high places that are covering for him. If you want to take him out you need to find out who they are then start removing them out of the game. You know you're right his is good stuff," said Roan as he smiled at her with a Bailey's moustache.

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Sarah and Devon took the girls to the park for the afternoon. Sam and Clara had fun with the other kids while Sarah kept Bunny close to her. Devon sat on a bench next to her with his head in his hands as he watched Clara. Devon could tell Clara was as concerned as he was about Ellie just she hid it better.

"I can't believe we haven't heard anything from Chuck or Casey yet. I thought they were going to check in daily?"

"They just got there so you need to give them time to set up before they become operational. Besides I never thought they'd be checking in daily. They'll check in when they can."

"I can't believe how cool you are. My stomach is in knots and I don't feel like eating. Clara feels the same way… I know because I can read her."

"I'm sure you can. Think of it like this you can't help Clara if she sees you're anxious. As well as you can read her she can read you. You need to bury those feelings you have down deep. Take my word for it, it's the only way you'll be able to help Clara. She needs someone she can lean on and that's you."

"Is this something they teach you in spy school? Some sort of whacked up version of group training and trust? I can't see Casey as they guy I'd want to catch me."

"That's for sure but no this was more a life lesson," said Sarah. She didn't let Devon that this was what she would've liked but that she'd never gotten from anyone before Chuck and this calm she showed on the outside hid the mess that was happening on the inside. "Let's get the girls and have lunch then we can stay a little longer before we head back home."

"Don't forget about ice cream. I think someone will let you know very quickly that you made a promise," said Devon as he waved for Clara and Sam to come over.

"How could I forget that and you're right, Sam will say something on the way home especially if it looks like I'd forgotten," said Sarah as the girls came over. Sarah took out wipes and cleaned Sam's hands and face handing some to Clara at the same time. Then they all got their sandwiches and sat on the bench together to eat. Sam sat there eating with her feet dangled down looking around.

"Sam, stop looking for squirrels and eat your sandwich," said Sarah. She knew exactly what Sam was up to. "Remember the deal if you want ice cream?"

"Oh, come on. It's just a little piece of bread. What can it hurt and look at them don't they look hungry?"

"A deal is a deal," said Sarah as she tore off a piece of crust then tossed it to a squirrel who immediately grabbed it then scurried up a tree to hang upside down to eat. "Now eat yours."

Sam made a face but continued eating. Not far from them sat a man with a book in his hand. He held it up pretending to be reading as he watched them. As he was sitting there his partner showed up and handed him a sandwich.

"What's this? I wanted a pork bun not this," said the man as he put away his book then took the sub. He looked at it with disgust.

"Suck it up. Ming, look around you how many people do you see eating Char siu bao? You want to draw attention to us? I got you sweet teriyaki."

"Tong, you know teriyaki is an American sauce," said Ming as he inspected his sub. "This is right up there with chow mein and egg foo yong…"

"Well, if you don't want it you can give it back to me," said Tong as he reached over but Ming moved the sandwich away.

"I never said I wasn't going to eat it. A person has to keep up his strength and besides I'm hungry. We've been at this stakeout since this morning. Any word yet what the boss wants us to do?"

"No, nothing yet," said Tong as he started eating his. "The Philly steak isn't bad. You want to split half-half?"

"No, I'm lactose intolerant and the last thing I need is all that cheese. If I ate that we'd need to park near a restroom. I'll stick with my American-Asian lunch. I wish our people would hurry up and make a decision. We can't keep tailing them forever sooner or later they're going to catch on to us."

"You're right about that. I think when they leave we ought to go straight to their apartment and wait for them there."

"That's a good idea," said Ming as a squirrel came up to them then stood on his hind legs looking at them. "I know there's an economic crisis but even the animals are begging for handouts. Here little friend," he said as he tossed the squirrel some of his bread.

"If you don't want it I'll eat it," said Tong wondering why his partner was wasting food giving it to wild animals.

"No, it's nothing like what you're thinking, but the way I figure it with the work we do I could use a little good Karma to offset the bad."

"That actually makes sense," said Tong. He tore off a piece of bread and tossed it to another hungry rodent. "Come on they're leaving so we drive back to the apartment?"

"That's what you said and it makes sense too."

[Meanwhile Sarah got everyone in her car]

They drove to Orange orange to get ice cream but while they were driving there Sarah kept looking up in the rear-view until Devon noticed.

"Is something wrong," whispered Devon then to make sure he turned and looked out the back window but all he saw was traffic.

"You know we can hear you whispering back here," said Sam. "Then turning around to look is not the coolest of moves if you're going for discreet."

"No, there's nothing I was just checking. The same car kept popping up this morning but it was nothing. The car's gone now so it was probably just my imagination plying tricks on me," she said as she looked up in the mirror one last time. An agent survives on their instinct and hers told her that they had been followed but whoever it was wasn't there now.

"Devon, when we get to Orange orange I want you to watch the girls for a little while so I can go down to Castle and get a progress report."

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Alex and Ellie ate lunch in their room which was all right by them. The less they had to deal with Ettore the better. A cart was wheeled in with finger foods which included dim sum: small steamed buns with various fillings, as well as fried wonton along with both fried spring and egg rolls. They ate not only to keep their strength up but also because everything was good.

"I'm not going to tell Ettore but that was one of the best Chinese takeaways I've ever had," said Ellie. But she could tell Alex was distracted. "Don't worry Morgan will be all right."

"What can Ettore be up to with that Chinese minister? Why does he want to connect their server here? You can't download the secrets from his brain, can you?"

"Not that I know of you can't. But that doesn't mean Ettore couldn't come up with some new method that would make that possible. Although I think that's highly unlikely."

"Then what is he up to? None of this makes sense and Ettore isn't the type of person to do anything without a reason."

"I don't know. I just hope this isn't to trap Chuck. He knows Chuck will come for us plus he feels he needs to take revenge on Chuck. However, how does the minister play into this and you're right why connect to their server?"

"I think we're missing some pieces from the puzzle and until we know what they are we're just guessing at what Ettore's up to," said Alex as she went back to the window. "Come here and look at this," she said. "Look over there," said Alex as she pointed out the window.

"What am I looking at," asked Ellie. "You want me to see there are two more guards? I don't get it what do you want me to see?"

"Yes, there are two new guards there. Plus, there are two more at the wall," said Alex but she saw Ellie's puzzled look. "Don't you see? Before there was only one but now he's double his guards. It's the buddy system if something happens to the one the other one gets the word out that there are intruders on the grounds. Ettore is preparing for someone and I think we know who that someone might be."

"Chuck," whispered Ellie. "I wish I had some way of contacting him and telling him to stay away. I don't want him to get hurt and I don't want Ettore to take him."

"I'm sure Chuck has figured out this is trap. I just wish there was something we could do from here to help. As they were talking the door opened and a man walked in. He pointed at Ellie then motioned for her to come with him.

"Be careful," said Alex as she watched the man close the door after Ellie then she heard it lock. Now she was alone and she'd never felt this alone before. She went back to the window and as she was looking out she saw three Nissan SUVs pull up. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Morgan get out of one.

"Morgan, Morgan, up here! I'm up here," she yelled as she banged on the glass but there was no way he could hear her. She watched as they marched him inside and out of sight. She went back to the same heat duct and listened hoping she could hear something.

[Meanwhile down below]

"Hey, I told you before easy on the threads," said Morgan as he got shoved inside. Jian will you tell your boy here to go easy? I'm about to get pissed off."

Jian said something to the man behind him. The man just smiled then shoved Morgan even harder almost pushing him down.

"Buddy, you asked for it. I didn't put up with this crap in elementary school and I won't put up with it now. You know what it's like to get pushed while you're in line for lunch? No on second thought I bet you don't because you were the one doing the pushing."

Morgan waited until he felt the man's hand on his shoulder about to push him again but instead of stepping forward he stepped backwards stepping on the man's foot. He put his full weight on his heel until he heard bones crack.

"You should really invest in steel toed-shoes in your line of work," said Morgan as the man dropped to the ground in pain. The other men guarding him got angry and one grabbed him by the collar. Jian had to intercede by pulling the man off and getting between them and Morgan.

"That was a very stupid thing to do," said Jian as he talked the men down trying to get them under control. Morgan didn't understand a word but heard the anger in their tone and that made him with what he'd done.

"That's called the revenge of the nerd. I did tell Jian to tell him to stop but you didn't so part of this is on your head. Never underestimate the little guy that will bite you every time. This time it was the foot who know what can happen in the future or where you'll get bitten?"

"Then I'm lucky you don't have much of a future left," said Jian as the doors to Ettore's study opened up and he walking out with Ellie along with a couple more goons.

"If you hurt him I won't be responsible for anything that might happen to you under my care and you know I mean it."

"Take him upstairs with the girl and for heaven's sake get your man under control then clean this mess up and take out the trash. Someone could slip on it."

"What are you talking about? There's no mess on the floor," said Jian as she looked around but as Jian was taking Ettore pulled a Beretta nine and put two rounds in the chest of the guy Morgan had broken his toes then finished him off putting one to the head.

"There is now," said Ettore as he holstered his weapon. "I thought I was clear with you guys. Grimes is mine and no one touches him unless I give my consent. Morgan don't think this means I'm letting you off. I want to be the one who puts the bullet in your head."

"And who says you don't care, you old softy you," said Morgan. Jian said something to the other two then took Morgan away. This time he made sure there was a safety distance between him and Morgan.

"Get him out of here. We were headed for an MRI," said Ettore as he motioned his goons to move Ellie along.

"Was that really necessary back there," said Ellie as they walked down a long corridor. "You people don't believe in verbal warns or written reprimands, do you?"

"You make me laugh Doctor. These people only follow someone they fear so I have no choice but every now and then showing them what happens if they step out of line. There's a Chinese proverb that says a man who rides a tiger's back is afraid to dismount."

"Then why did you choose this type of career to being with if you can call it a career," said Ellie as she walked into the MRI room. "You're going to have to remove all mental objects which includes your prosthetic leg."

"I'm a lot like your brother my dear doctor," said Ettore as he got up on the table. "This is the world I was born into so truthfully, I never really had a choice but simply followed in the family business."

"I don't know that sounds more like an excuse than a reason to me," said Ellie as she got helped him with his leg off then situated him on the table under the watchful eyes of his goods.

"Those are strange words for someone on your General Beckman's speed dial but it's easy to criticise when you're on the outside looking in but are you really on the outside?"

"What's that supposed to mean? Don't answer that just lay still and follow the instructions," said Ellie as she motioned for the goons to follow her out into the control room. Inside was a tech that operate the machine while she stood over the man's shoulder. She was supposed to be watching but instead she was turning over in her head what Ettore had said.

Some of what he'd told her actually struck home, and as the doughnut passed over Ettore, Ellie couldn't help but think. She couldn't help wondering if Ettore wasn't at least partly right. Had she and Chuck been caught up in this from birth. If that were true would there ever be a way out for them or were they like the man on the tiger's back too.

"Doctor, we're done," said the tech. "Doctor?"

"What? Oh yes. Okay let me look at the results."