Don't own Chuck

Sarah took everyone to Orange Orange after playing in the park. They stopped off for ice cream and this would give Sarah a chance to check in to see what was going on. She kept preaching to Devon to hold it together but she was finding this stay at home and waiting not her cup of tea. Calls from China weren't as frequent as she would've liked but they were working a hostile environment so she had to make certain concessions or that's what she told herself.

"Okay, you guys eat up. Devon watched them and make sure Sam doesn't eat too fast. We wouldn't like another brain freeze."

"You don't have to tell him that. I was a little kid when I used to do that but I'm almost grown up now so I know better."

"That was like two weeks ago if I remember correctly. But okay eat up," said Sarah as she smiled and gave Sam a kiss. "Oh and Devon keep an eye on Bunny for me too. I'm just going to run over to the Buy More then I'll be right back."

"Sure, no problem and see if they know anything about..." Devon started to say but then he caught Clara's look of concern. "Well you know who."

"Okay, I will do," said Sarah as she walked out of Orange Orange almost bumping into two Asian looking men as they walked in. They walked over and took a table just behind Devon and the girls on the opposite side of the room.

"What can I get you guys," said a waitress. "You know we have to pay for the lights and air conditioning so you have to order something or move along. We get a lot of bums who want to suck up our air conditioning after they've spent the day at the Buy More or the Large Mart."

"Geez lady, I'm lactose intolerant so I'll have to pass but my friend here will have a frozen yoghurt with strawberries..."

"How about I make that blueberries. We're out of strawberries at the moment and we do have a selection of lactose free yoghurts."

"No, I'll just steal some on his blueberries. So, we're going to need two spoons," said the one man as they looked over at Devon and the girls.

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry so, you're a couple out celebrating your whatever you're celebrating. I think that's marvelous."

"No, it's nothing like that. Can you just go and bring us our yoghurt please without all the questions and attitude?" said the man as he got flustered.

"I see so you must be the female in the couple. You don't have anything to worry about in here. I want you to know I feel your pain and suffering so you don't have to pretend with me. I'll be sure to put a rainbow flag in your order to show you we're with you."

"Thank you that would be kind," said the other man as he put his hand on his partner's hand. The man immediately pulled it away. "You have to forgive him. He's having troubles come to grips with our reality."

"I understand completely," said the woman then she walked off.

"What was all that about? I'm not gay. Are you? I thought you were looking at me funny the other night during the stake out."

"Of course not, but you're bickering with the waitress was drawing attention and the last thing we need is to be kicked out of here," said the one then he started speaking in his sleeve. "We're in place and we have the targets in sight. Awaiting further instruction."

"Shush, don't look now but our yoghurt is on its way here with a rainbow flag in it. I hope the guys in the van can't see this."

"They don't have to, you're speaking into an open mic."

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Chuck still dressed as a beggar walked away from the MSS building but not before catching sight of one of their men in black. He looked the person over then started following him as he went towards a noodle stand. The man in the stand saw Chuck coming and came out to meet him halfway.

"You can't come here dressed like that and smelling like a brewery. You're going to scare away my customers," said the man as he welded a meat cleaver in his hand.

"I just want a bowl of noodles and I'm willing to pay," said Chuck as he held out a fist full of money. "Here take this and give a bowel."

"You probably stole that money," said the man. "I told you to go and I mean it." He threatened Chuck with the cleaver but Chuck stepped on his foot and when he yelled Chuck poured some of his rice wine down the man's throat.

"There, have a drink. I think you're a little too worked up probably from cooking noodles all day. You have noodles on the brain."

"Why you! I'm going to each you," said the noodle man as he spit out the wine then rolled up his sleeves. "You messed with the wrong noodle man." The man charged Chuck swinging but Chuck just moved backwards starting out of the man's reach.

"Will you stand still so I can beat you into a pulp?" The man tried to land a high kick but Chuck dropped and swept his supporting foot out from under him. The man went down making a loud thud.

"Here, try this," said Chuck as he gave him another swig. "Think of it as a pain killer. You know you're going to be really sore tomorrow."

"Why you old bastard I'm not done yet," said the man as he spit out Chuck's rice wine. "I'm going to teach you a lesson you want soon forget," said the man as he started going through a whole series of exercises breathing in and out.

"I don't know if that is supposed to be Qi Gong or if you're having an asthma attack," said Chuck. The man turned red I his face then attacked Chuck again.

"These are my tiger claws and they're going to rip you apart old man," said the noodle man attacking Chuck with his fingers curled like claws.

"You know what a tiger is, don't you? Just a big pussy cat. Here kitty kitty," said Chuck then he took a big swig of his wine. When the man attack Chuck spit it in his face. "Have some milk kitty."

"I'm blind! I'm blind I can't see," said the noodle man as he dried his face on his apron. "What have you done to me?"

"Don't be a big baby," said Chuck. "It's the alcohol that's burning your eyes. Give it a few minutes and you'll be back to your old nasty self."

"Just give me a few minutes then I'll kick your butt," said the noodle man as he shook his fist at a tree. "You just wait and see."

"I'd like to watch this play out but I've got to get back to work," said the man in black. He'd finished his noodles then was getting ready to leave.

"I'm done here too. If Tien wants noodle he can get them for himself," said Chuck loud enough for the man to hear him. "I don't know why he sent me for them anyway."

"Wait a minute," said the man in black. "It's not fair the way you were treated. Here take this," he said as he made Chuck a bowel noodles from the man's stand. "Here take these. On the house, no charge for your troubles."

"Xièxie thanks," said Chuck. He took the bowel then went off. Every now and then Chuck looked over his shoulder to make sure the man in black was following him just like he hoped. After leading him around for a while he ducked into a public bathroom.

"If I can capture Tien, the Minister will reward me with my choice of postings," said the man to himself. He drew his service weapon then made his way to the outside of the restroom.

"This is it," he said to himself. He took a deep breath then entered with his weapon at the ready. The inside was dimly lit but he saw a man in black looking back at him. He fired two quick rounds smiling. "They said dead or alive... I guess it's going to be dead."

"What the heck," he said as the smoke cleared and he found himself looking at a mirror with two bullet holes.

"That's seven years bad luck," said Chuck as he came out of a stall eating the bowl of noodles. "A little heavy with the oyster sauce but you know these aren't half bad."

"Where's Tien? And what have you done... done with him," said the man as things started to go in and out of focus.

"That would be the tranquilizer taking effect. I tagged you when you came in and don't worry you'll be all right," said Chuck as he finished his noodles. The man in black collapsed on the floor.

A little while later a police car pulled up. They'd received an anonymous tip about a drunken bum passed out in a public bathroom. They came and hauled the man away.

"Come on buddy. You need to help us here," said one of the cops. "Geez, he's dead weight. How much has he drunk?"

"I don't know. There's an empty jug in the corner and judging by the way this guy smells he must've drunk most of it. Come on dude let's get you into a cell where you can sleep it off."

"Watch out, the last thing we need is for this guy to heave up in our car. We'll never get this smell out of it."

"Whatever you do don't light a cigarette up near him. He's liable to go up like a match," said the one cop as they got the man up off the floor.

"Where am I? Who are you guys? I need to go back to work," said the man as they tossed him in the back of their patrol car.

"Go back to work? What kind of work do you do? Taste testing your way all the way down to the bottom of the bottle?"

"No... no, I shouldn't tell you this but you need to keep this a secret. I'm a spy... yeap that's what I am. I'm a spy with the MSSSSSSSS," said the man then he was out again.

"A spy? Yeah, I'm sure you are. Remind me after we get him locked up we need to see about getting our friend a psych eval. Someone's not playing with a full deck."

"It's the alcohol. It's rotted his brain," said the one officer. They both nodded as they drove back to the police station.

Chuck watched from a distance as the police arrived then departed with his friend. He'd gotten what he needed from him namely his clothes and security badge. He needed a second badge. The first one he'd lifted off the front desk agent when they'd made contact. Phase one was over and now it was time to implement phase two.

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Sarah was crossing the Buy More parking lot heading for the Buy More. The front doors were in sight but she was thinking about what to do if Chuck hadn't reported in yet. She didn't want to be the worried spouse left behind not knowing what was going on but she didn't have very many other alternatives. As she was turning different options over in her head a man suddenly appeared blocking her way with his hand in his pocket.

"Mister, if this is a stick up I don't have time for this. Believe me when I tell you it would be in your own best interest if you stepped aside."

"I need you to come with me," said the man. She felt a pistol barrel shoved into her side by a man standing behind her.

"Lead the way but don't say I didn't warn you," said Sarah as they went over to a van. The man opened the door and had her sit in a chair in the back they had bolted to the floor then handcuffed her hands behind her.

"Give me her purse and watch," said the one man in Mandarin and the other obeyed handing him what he'd asked for. She pretended she didn't understand them as they talked to each other.

"Get the Minister on the horn and let him know we have the woman and the watch," said the one man who acted like he was in charge. He turned back to her and smirked. "Let's see what you've got in your bag, shall we?"

"I hate smirkers. You know it's not polite to go through a woman's bag," said Sarah as she looked around the inside of the van. "You never know what you might find in there. Is this a rental van?"

"I don't see how that's of any concern to you," said the man as he started pulling things out. "Now this is a very big gun for a little lady to carry…"

"Smith and Wesson 5906 9x19mm Weights 1.75 pounds or for you guys who are into the metric scale 0.79 kg. It's length: 7.5 inches and the Barrel length is 4 inches which fits perfectly in my bag where it belongs. However, if you want me to show how well it shoots just hand it to me."

"What's this a tube of lipstick and a throwing knife? You should really carry nail clippers. There's less of a chance that you might take off a finger."

"Now where's the fun in that. Did you find anything else? I'm missing a piece of hard candy I took away from my daughter… the little one. You have to keep an eye out for choking hazards with babies."

"Funny, Sarah Carmichael," read the man as he held up her ID from her wallet. "It says you're with the Department of Homeland. But we know what agency you work for and their headquarters is in Langley. Now that I've got you where I want you and I have your undivided attention. My boss wants to know how this thing works?" he said as he held up her watch.

"It's really difficult but if you listen up I'll try to make it as simple as possible so you can understand. If you look closely you'll see there are two hands for a lack of a better word. Well that little hand tells the hour and the big one tells you the minutes then if you put them together you'll know what time it is. And now you'll know it's time for you to go do something yourself and the horse you rode in on."

"Funny, very funny. Now let's see if you still want to laugh after I tell you that I've got two men inside that yoghurt shop watching your family. One word from me and they'll make a mess inside the shop."

"Well my dear Huan, how's that working for you? When's the last time they radioed in with you? I bet it hasn't been recent. Keep looking in my purse you haven't found everything else yet."

"What's this," said Huan. He thought it was a bookmark of some kind but now his hand began to shake when he pulled it out.

"You know what that is. If you don't that's a jade dart with a red tassel and you know who's calling card that is, don't you? Have you been able to reach your people in Orange Orange. Darn communications equipment always goes out when you need it the most. But then again it might not be out... hard to say from here. What were you saying about a mess?"

"Shut up," said Huan. "Get those people back up now. I want to hear their voices. I swear if you've done anything to them, I'll…"

"You'll do what? You're the one who poked the bear... momma bear."

[A little bit before inside Orange Orange]

The two men sat in their booth keeping an eye on Devon and the girls. Sam looked up and saw the woman behind the counter. She smiled looking at her but the woman signaled Sam to keep quiet then she nodded over at the two men. Sam looked over at Devon and Clara.

"Clara, don't you have to go use the restroom?" said Sam. "I think I do but I don't' want to go first. Uncle Devon why don't you take Clara?"

"I don't need to go to the restroom and I certainly don't need Dad to escort me. I can go to the restroom on my own. Which is if I had to go but I don't."

"Really and look at your hands. They're covered with ice cream. You should really go and wash them before you get everything all sticky."

"I only have one little drop of ice cream on them. You on the other hand look like you took a bath in it. If anyone should go get cleaned up it should be you."

"You're absolutely right I should but I need you two to go first and… and run the hot water. It takes a while to warm up and I'm going to need hot water to get this off me. Come on you don't mind doing me this little favor, do you? Listen you do this for me and I'll do you favor. You just name it and it's yours."

"Is everything okay? You're acting weird," said Clara as she finished her ice cream. "Okay, I'll do this for you but I don't need Dad to come with me."

"You're probably right but I say probably… what if some of Ettore's men are back there waiting to grab you and we're all here? Who's going to hear you? It doesn't have to be Ettore's men it might be… I don't know some kind of fiend or troll that feeds on little girls. He'd make a sandwich out of you and have you eaten by the time we've missed you."

"Sounds like someone has been watching the wrong television programs. There's a reason for parental guidance on television and the internet."

"What? Have you read Hansel and Gretel? They get captured by a witch who wants to eat Hansel. That story is pretty messed up and you call it a kids' story? And that's not the only one."

"Okay I get your point. Maybe no one should go anywhere and we just wait for Sarah to come back," said Devon as he started looking around. Sam had to think fast so she accidently knocked over Devon's water in his lap.

"Ops look what I did. I'm so sorry," said Sam. "You should go into the restroom and get dried right away before it stains. Clara go with him your Dad he'll need your help."

"Geez, it's only water," said Devon as he got up. "I think I can handle this but afterwards I want to know why you're acting weird."

"Clara, go with him. I said the same thing but I ended up ruining one of my best sundresses and Mommy was not happy with me at all. I can watch Bunny while you two are gone." Clara and Devon looked back at her as they disappeared in the back.

Rebecca brought over another scoop of ice cream for her. Sam smiled and took it happily. She was never one to turn down free ice cream.

"So, can I get you two something else," said Rebecca as she walked over to the two men watching Sam. "We have a flavor of yoghurt you might like, Tutti-frutti." This time the man made sure their mics were off before talking.

"Listen lady, we aren't a couple and although I work with this gentleman that's where my interest ends. Do you understand me?"

"I'm sorry if you're not ready to come out yet. But I can tell you it's better than hiding in the dark. You just have to embrace your true nature and set yourself free."

The one man started cursing in Mandarin as the veins in his neck bulged out while his friend held him back. But the man was fit to be tied and it was all his partner could do to hold him.

"Bunny, don't listen to him," said Sam as she ate her ice cream. "It sounds to me like someone has a serious case of potty mouth."

"Get a grip on yourself," said the other one. "You're making a spectacle of yourself and we're not supposed to draw attention. I'm sorry my friend is just a little sensitive… not that that is a problem."

"I understand and jiu' hao mung', sweet dreams," said Rebecca as she jabbed both with syringes pushing the plungers. The men tried to get up reaching under their jackets but collapsed on the table.

"You won't be needing these," she said as reached in their jackets taking their weapons then slipping them into her belt behind her back. "Now sit up straight," she said as she propped them up.

"Okay, now can you tell us what's gotten into you," said Devon as he walked back finding her eating another ice cream. "Oh, I get it. This was your way of getting rid of us long enough for you to get the woman to give you another ice cream. I'm afraid I'm going to have to tell your Mommy about this."

"You caught me, what can I say," said Sam as she got up to go wash her hands. But as she got up the two men sitting across from the fell over on each other.

"Geez, dudes there are children present. You should go find a room. I never," said Devon. Sam just laughed as she winked at Rebecca then went in the back to wash up.

"I'll be out in a minute or maybe longer," said Sam as she looked herself over. "This is the sundress incident all over again."

"I wonder what's taking Sarah so long. I hope she's getting some good news," said Cara as she looked across the table at Devon.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Chuck's got everything under control. We just need to be patient for a little bit longer. This is what your mother would want us to do."

"You're right," said Clara as she looked down at her feet. "It's just sometimes I worry. I can't help myself I just do."

"I do too," said Devon as he reached across the table and took her hand. "I do too. It's only natural to care for the ones you love."

"Here you go another scoop of ice cream on the house for everyone," said Rebecca as she set the two of them up. As she was serving them another girl came in wearing an Orange Orange uniform.

"Excuse me who are you? I thought this was Gloria's turn."

"It was but Gloria over slept and I got called to fill in until you got here. And now that you're here I have to run, there's a van I have to catch... I mean bus."