Don't own Chuck

Back at the lookout post Casey and Mary had about enough waiting around on their hands. They were like two wild animals in the same cage so it was only a matter of time before they snapped at each other. John was constantly looking at his watch which made Mary even more nervous and irritable. She was not one who liked sitting on the sidelines and this waiting was getting to her.

"Will you stop looking at your watch," snapped Mary. "You're not going to make time go by any quicker by staring at it and you're getting on my nerves."

"We'll get over it sister," snapped Casey back. "Something's not right Chuck should've contacted us somehow by now."

"If things had gone wrong Tien would've gotten word to us," said Anna as she kept watching the patch of shrubs that blocked the drain tunnel they'd escaped through.

"Tien... yeah remember he just recently joined our side and more because he had no other place to go then actually having an epiphany. Like I always say better dead than red."

"What does that even mean? We all know why you don't like Tien but is there any reason," said Mary as she looked over at Anna. "Do you see anything out there?" But Anna shook her head.

"I think my doubts about him are based on reality and I would think you of all people can see that. You've been in Club Med longer than any of us me included."

"I'll let you believe that. But I've met good people on the other side of the fence and some of them I would even call friends."

"Yeah I bet you would. I bet Alexei had some the crème de la crème around him. Who were they? Schoolmarms and choir boys?"

"You know I've had about all I can take from you," said Mary as fire came out of her eyes. If you weren't Chuck's friend, we'd be having at it right now."

"What's stopping you other than arthritis and old age? I'd even give you the first swing if you want," said John as he stuck out his cheek. Mary smiled as she reached in her bag and put her hand in a knuckle duster but Alex jumped in.

"Will you two stop it," said Alex as she got in between them. "Your bickering back and forth isn't helping anything. Chuck is still inside and we have to decide what we're going to do."

"Alex is right this isn't helping Chuck," said Anna. "We need be professional and this infighting isn't professional. Now what do we need to do?"

"I don't know about you but I'm tired of waiting. It's time to go back down there and try to make our way inside then find Chuck and Ellie."

"That's the first time I heard you say something sensible this since we got here," said John. He caught Alex's look. "Okay, what I meant to say is you're right. We should go down there and make our way inside the hospital, kick butt and take names."

"We need to take out those two guards they posted outside the tunnel and the sniper on top of the hospital. They don't intend for anyone else to come out of there."

"Or do they," said Anna as she zoomed in with her binoculars. "I've got movement in the brush outside the tunnel. The two guards are down. John, you and Mary need to get down there right now. Lin..."

"I'm on it," she said as she pulled the legs out on the Barrett clapped in the clip and housed the first round then lined up the sniper in her crosshairs.

"Let me help," said Alex as she became Lin's spotter calling off the distance to the target and wind direction.

"Crap, he sees them too." Lin could see the sniper looking down at the tunnel which meant if she was going to do something she had to do it now.

"Take him out now," yelled Casey as he and Mary ran out of the hut. They heard the sound of the Barret fire as they ran out the door. They looked at each other without saying a word as they jumped in the Nissan and took off. Each hoped that Lin had gotten the shot off in time.

"You know we're not going to be able to stay here... I mean in the hut. After this they'll be coming out to find our location," radioed Anna as Casey drove straight out of the brush.

"I know get everything together we'll pick you guys up on the way back then we sortie. We can fall back to the city then come back when the heat has died down," he radioed as he caught Mary's look. "I don't like it either but we don't have a choice or we'll all end up in a detention cell inside and that won't do anyone any good."

"You're right. No, it won't, but if this isn't Chuck and Ellie then you're going to drop me off. We'll make our way back and there will be no arguing this."

"Well, let's hope they're both there," said Casey as he cut down the access road that ran around the wall.

[Meanwhile inside the tunnel]

"Come on we need to go. I took out the two guards Jian had posted by the entrance," said Tien as he helped Ellie through the brush. "I just hope they saw us from their lookout post or we're going to have to make a run for it over open terrain."

"That doesn't sound like fun," said Ellie then she noticed the two guard on the ground. "I should look at those men. Maybe I can stabilize them until their companions can come and get them."

"They're beyond need of your help right now and let's think about getting ourselves to safety before we end up like them. Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" said Ellie as she looked around but didn't see anything. "What did you hear? I don't see anything?"

"Not see... hear... I thought I heard gunfire but no one is shooting at us," said Tien as he looked around for muzzle flash.

"See... hear... okay it's not the same. But you're more familiar with what gunfire sounds like. Why can't just be Chinese New Year."

"Because it's nowhere New Years and yes, I see something there's a SUV heading our way. Stay down until we can be sure if they are friendly," said Tien as he held his type 92 at the ready in case they weren't.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back in the Airport, Sarah was guiding Rebecca and the Ambassador through to the exit. They'd just past the first attempt in the baggage claim area and now they were arriving at customs. Sheng walked up to the customs officer showed the man his identification along with his passport. The man stepped aside saluted him then waved him through. Sheng just smiled at the man then continued through. Sheng paused on the other side for a moment waiting for Rebecca to clear.

"Geez, if someone was looking they'd have no problem see that," she said without thinking as she watched Mei walk through customs.

"Sarah, is there a problem," radioed Rebecca. "I'm stuck behind a group of people and I'm trying not to draw attention."

"No, I got this," she radioed. She'd forgotten her mic was open. "This was Chuck's fault," she told herself. She didn't use to be like this and for a lot of things she was better. "Head in the mission," she said to herself.

Ambassador, what are you doing standing there?" radioed Sarah. "You need to keep moving or you're going to leave yourself wide open. A standing target is a dead target."

"I need to wait for Rebecca," said Mei as he looked around for her. "She'll be here any moment then we can proceed for the exit."

"No time, I just spotted a guy in a light blue jacket wearing a brown ball cap. He's off to your ten o'clock. I haven't seen him before because he's been avoiding the cameras so I haven't been able to run him through facial recognition. However, he's up to something he's too interested in you and I don't think he wants to ask you out for a drink."

"I'm on my way there right now," radioed Rebecca. She pulled out her ID and yelled at the people ahead of her to get out of the way. The customs officer saw her and started to try to stop her until he read MSS on her ID and immediately he waved her through.

"Okay, I'm on the other side of customs. Okay I see him too now. He's wearing an earpiece and he's starting to look up now like he's... crap there's a shooter on the second level. The man is his spotter and he's seen Sheng.

"Ambassador don't panic," radioed Sarah. "There's a crowd of people clearing customs now. When I say go get in the middle of them then cross the floor. On the opposite side, you'll see an electronics store. Go inside and wait."

"Do as she says while I handle the situation out here. Maybe he is looking for someone to offer a drink," radioed Rebecca. She reached into the trash pulled out a magazine looked for the first ad she could find then plotted and intercept course.

"Hey mister, you look like someone who knows their way around this city," she said in a sultry voice. "Can you tell me how to get to this hotel?"

"Jump in a cab and show him that ad. He'll take you straight there and now if you don't mind I'm waiting for someone."

"Sorry to have bothered you but I'm looking for some place cheap to stay. You see I don't have a lot of money and I looking for someplace economical."

"Lady, go away before I call someone. If you want to find a hotel go to one of the info points and ask them that's their job not mine. Now, if you don't mind I need to go."

"I thought you were waiting for someone? Well, it doesn't matter I just need someplace to stay for the night. Maybe I could stay with you? I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement," said Rebecca. Her plan worked as she talked with Cong she got closer and closer until she was close enough to smell his cheap aftershave.

"What are you talking about spending the night? Lady, I'm not going to tell you again go away," said Cong then he touched his ear. "Where's the target? He's... crap I don't see him now either. Lady go away and I mean it this time," he said as he flashed her his pistol tucked in his shoulder holster. "Now do you get the picture?"

"Well, I guess it's only fair you showed me yours now I show you mine," said Rebecca as she smiled at him. Cong shook his head.

"What? No, I don't want to see anything," said Cong again as he touched his ear. "No, stop yelling in my ear. No, I'm not making out," he said as he turned his back to Rebecca to try to get away from her. That was her chance and she took it. She looked around first to make sure no one was looking then took out a long hair pin she had in her hair. It fell down loose to her shoulders as she shoved the pin into Cong's ear. He turned and looked at her wide eyed. He tried to talk but just moved his mouth then slummed on her as a trickle of blood came out of his ear.

"See I told you I've show you mine. Tells go someplace quiet where we can have a chat," said Rebecca into his mic as she sat him on a bench then she looked up at where a shooter might be. "Sarah, keep an eye on the Ambassador. Ambassador stay put until I get back I need to take care of our sniper then we're out of here."

Rebecca made her way to the stairs leading up to the second floor then up and around to where the shooter was crouched down. He was looking frantically back and forth across the floor searching for Mei but couldn't locate him. She crept on him silently. She could hear him talking with someone else.

"I tell you Cong went off with this girl and is making out as we speak. I've tried to raise him on coms but he's not answering. … Okay we can deal with Cong later. I've got the floor covered from my perch. The only thing I can think of is Sheng's in one of the shops. … Okay, sounds like a plan you flush him out and I'll take the shot," said Ming. He pulled out a set of binoculars after sitting aside his QBU-88 sniper rifle. The weapon was light but after a while it got heavy.

"Crap," he said as he paused. "What if Mei is being helped? Someone is guiding him through the airport and he went into one of the shops not to shop but to get away from us… from me. Then someone would know... crap," he said as he slowly sat the binoculars down then started to reach for pistol.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said a female voice behind him. "Hands where I can see them. Do as I say I won't repeat myself."

"The lady who was bothering Cong. I should've know he was too ugly to land someone like you," he said hissing as he held his hands out and turned around. "But you're here which means you've failed. My friend will find the Ambassador and that will be the end of him."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Sarah, I've got another shooter can you see anyone. He's probably going from shop to shop," radioed Rebecca but she got not reply. "Sarah, can you read me… Sarah come in."

"Is there something wrong with your coms. I always hate that when it happens and it always happens at the worst time."

"It doesn't matter because you're going to point your friend out to me," said Rebecca. "Now pick up those binoculars and point him out. Don't make me tell you again. You know you can stand on one leg which means there's one knee cap I can take out."

"You know what I just came to me. You won't dare fire that weapon up here because if you do all the airport security personnel will come running here and leave Sheng unprotected."

"If I were you I wouldn't take the risk," said Rebecca as she glanced down on the hall floor below them. "Don't do anything stupid."

"It's not me who's done something stupid," he said as he reached for his piece. In that moment, a dart came flying at him catching him square in the chest. He grunted at it hit home with a loud thud.

"I told you not to do anything stupid and by the way people call me the Red Lotus," said Rebecca as she pulled the dart out of his chest.

"But you're supposed to be on our side," he said as he dropped to his knees. The last thing he saw was the red tassel before he collapsed to the ground.

"I don't think we've ever been on the same side," she said as she picked up his sniper rifle and started scanning the floor below. She wondered what happened to her coms with Sarah but right now she had an assassin to find and find him quickly.

[A little bit before on the other side of the pacific]

Sarah was watching Mei making sure he was safe and at the same time alerting Rebecca to any threats. She'd found Fan for her and then Cong but now Rebecca had gone to take care of the sniper and the Ambassador was alone in the electronics store. Sarah watched him wandering around picking up things then setting the down. She checked the floor again and saw someone acting odd. He was going from shop to shop sticking his head in then coming almost immediately out again.

"Rebecca, you've got a bogey on the main floor," radioed Sarah but almost immediately everything went dead even the lights went out but before the emergency lighting kicked in everything rebooted.

"What the heck," she said as she heard the main frame starting to rattle and make noise. A fire alarm went off in Castle as the place started to smell like burnt rubber.

"Crap, I wish Chuck were here," she said as she did a quick system check. She found that a series of files had been transferred off the main frame and she didn't like their destination. Once the download was complete systems started coming back on line but before she could get Rebecca back the General appeared on her monitor.

"Can you explain to me what just happened? Agent Fitzroy just contacted me telling me you've sent classified data to China?"

"The son of the king," said Sarah but the look the General gave her said she was not amused. "Well to be honest I don't know what just happened. I was helping Rebecca… agent Wu the other Wu…"

"I know who she is. Just get on with it. I was told you sent files to an MSS facility in Guangzhou and I want to know if this was by design or was this cyber piracy?"

"Like I said before I'm not sure. Everything locked up, the system went into overload then everything reset. Slowly I'm getting control over everything but I won't be able to do an inventory and know what was sent where until the system completely reboots."

"And when will that be? I want to know does this have to do with Chuck and Ettore. More importantly, I need to know that Chuck hasn't given away the intersect in exchange for his sister."

"No Ma'am, Chuck would never do that," said Sarah. But even as the words left her lips she could see Chuck doing just that if Ellie's life were in danger. "Ma'am give me forty-eight hours and I can have you something certain."

"You have twenty-four and I'd better be impressed," said Beckman then she signed out. Sarah took a deep breath then tried to reconnect with Rebecca but she found whatever had happened in Castle it was worse in China. There were rolling system outages that affected specific communications equipment leaving most of the government servers down.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tien pulled up outside the American consulate in Hong Kong where he left Ellie, Alex and Morgan. As they walked inside to the Marine guard Tien drove away. He wanted them out of the vehicle when he made his call to his friend Henry Woo to turn himself in. He just hoped Chuck knew what he was doing as he pulled out his phone and call Henry on his private number.

In the meantime, Alex explained to the Marine guard who they were and why they didn't have passports. She gave him Morgan and her verification codes that they could cross reference with Langley.

"I need to verify this Ma'am," said the Marine. Then he dialed an internal number and talked with someone on the other end. "I've got three people down here at the front desk," said the Marine then he told the person on the other end what Alex had told him. Whatever he was told he looked over at them then out into the street. They're entrance into the consulate hadn't gone unnoticed two dark vans pulled up outside.

"Are those people looking for you outside," said a man who seemed to appear out of nowhere. "We need to get you inside right away. Follow me," said the man as he handed them badges. "They're with me. Follow me into the vault the General wants to talk with you. I don't suppose you heard that all the Chinese government computers have just gotten fried, or do you?" he said as he looked them over.

"Don't look at us," said Morgan as they had to move quickly to keep up. "I might like a little stir fry but that's about it."

"Funny, very funny but if I were you I wouldn't tell the General that she doesn't seem to be much in the mood for humor right now."

"Tell me when is she ever," said Morgan as they walked into the vault and found the General looking at them from the other side of a monitor.

"Well, I see the sister is back and so are you too Agent McHugh," said Beckman. Morgan jumped in interrupting her.

"I'm free too. I know you were worried about me but as you can see I… we were able to get them out safe and sound."

"That would mean more if the other half of your team were with you. Where is Chuck, Colonel Casey and Mary?" asked Beckman. She saw the way they looked at each other. "Oh, good grief, they're still back at Ettore's hideout, aren't they?"

"Well technically yes, but Chuck wanted us out of the way so he could implement his plan. And it's a really great plan… a really big plan... a really..."

"Agent Grimes... soon to be Mister Grimes if you don't stop using those hollow adjectives. I have enough of people here in DC bantering them about. I want to know exactly what happened and don't leave any details out then I want it written up in a report. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Ma'am, perfectly clear but when I write this up can I use them... the adjectives. You know it makes the story sound better…"

"I don't want bedtime reading. Now get on with the briefing and something tells me this won't be brief."