Chuck vs The Bracelet
Chapter 3: The Devil I Know
Team B rush over to Chuck's house. Casey is the one driving and he pushes the car to full speed.
"She's not picking up." says Chuck as he tries to call Sarah.
"Try the house phone." says Morgan.
"I did. I think the line's been cut. And she's not picking up her cell either." says Chuck.
They finally reach the house and bust inside. As soon as they enter, they see a body of a man at the bottom of the stairs. "Sarah!" yells Chuck.
"Over here!" says Sarah.
They all run over to find Sarah, with the baby in her arms, in the living room. "Oh my god are you okay?" Chuck says as he hugs both Sarah and the baby in relief.
While that is going on, Casey looks over to the other side of the living room and see's two more bodies. Both dead with knives stuck in them. "Wow, Walker. Looks like motherhood hasn't slowed you down any. Taking down three goons with a baby."
"I didn't..." says Sarah.
"What?" asks Chuck.
"I mean I got the guy over by the stairs because I heard him coming up. But I didn't get those two."
"Then who did?" asks Chuck.
Sarah turns, and looks over to the kitchen. Everybody else does the same, and they all see a man standing against the counter drinking a beer.
"Wow. That's nasty. Do you have anything else to drink beside this grocery store brand crap?" says The Man.
"... Laz?" says a surprised Chuck.
"Hello again, Mr. Carmichael."
"I heard you were dead." says Chuck.
"He's gonna be!" says Casey as he pulls his gun.
Sarah quickly stops him by angrily, but quietly, saying. "Casey! No! The baby."
"Oh sorry." He begins to say. "I think I have a silencer here somewhere..."
"No!" says Sarah. "No shooting."
"Hello, Casey, Morgan. Good to see two again. How's Alex? Still looking as hot as ever I'd imagine. Congratulations on the engagement by the way." says Laz.
"How'd you hear about that?" asks Morgan.
"What don't I know... is the better question." says Laz. "And why would you think I was dead?"
"The Government reports." says Chuck.
"Ha! Those things get a lot more wrong than they do right. Let me tell you something. I, 'die', every other month. How do you think I got the name, 'Lazarus'? It gets those who are after me off my back. Even if it is just for a short while. I even fake blood reports and other things to make it look like I really have died. I'm good like that. But... seriously. Do you have anything else to drink besides this crappy beer?"
"Laz... tell us what you're doing here before I let Casey shoot you." says Sarah.
"You know, telling me what to do only makes me like you more." Jokes Laz. "I told you that bracelet was important."
"That's the second time I've heard someone mention that charm bracelet. What's so important about it." says Chuck.
"What? This thing?" says Sarah as she points out the charm bracelet on her wrist. "And what do you mean, 'second time'?"
"Some guy in a helmet and dressed in all black broke into Castle and jumped me asking for it."
"Doesn't surprise me. The security you have in that place is terrible. I pretty much just walked in after breaking a few codes." says Laz.
"Oh my god. Are you okay?" asks Sarah.
"I'm fine. We fought him off." says Chuck.
"Well, me and Chuck did anyway. Grimes just laid there." says Casey.
"I was kicked against a wall. It really hurt." says Morgan.
"Do you know anything about that, Laz?" asks Chuck.
Laz is rummaging through some cabinets as he hears that. "Dude, do you have any descent liquor in this house?"
"Laz." says Chuck once again.
Laz stops and says. "Fine. Did the guy have a spider tattoo by any chance?"
"Yeah. He did." says Chuck. "How do you know that?"
"Oh. That's uh... 'Spider'. Not really an original name I know."
"Who's, Spider?" asks Chuck.
Before Laz can answer, a beeping sound is heard.
"Sarah, that bottle you wanted me to make for little Stephen is ready." says Laz.
"Oh. Thanks. He's really hungry." She says.
"Uh huh." says Laz. "That's right. I kill thugs then make babies their bottles." He jokes. "By the way, nice move naming the kid after your dad. I'm sure he would've appreciated that."
"Well thank you. Now can you tell me who Spider is!" says Chuck in a frustrated tone.
"He's a gun for hire. Dressing in all black, wearing masks... guy stole my thing if you ask me." says Laz.
"Who's he working for?" asks Casey.
"Edgar. Spider is his... 'problem solver'. Basically his right hand." says Laz.
"Who's, Edgar?" asks Chuck.
"Edgar is... the new leader of Fulcrum. They're back by the way." says Laz.
Chuck, very surprised to hear this, says. "What?! No, no, no. We took them down. They're done."
"No. You took down their leaders. But some of the under-bosses were never caught. Like Edgar. He was Roark's main guy. I think you might have met him before, Sarah. On the plane when you went after, Quinn. Ringing any bells?" says Laz.
Sarah is feeding the baby. But does manage to give an answer. "That guy?"
"We took down Fulcrum before, we'll do it again." says Casey.
"This isn't the Fulcrum you knew. There's no Ring, no Elders telling him what to do. He isn't a clown, like Ted Roark was. Edgar is unremorseful and he'll do whatever he has to do to get what he wants." says Laz.
"How do you know all this? How'd you even know that they were gonna attack us." asks Chuck.
"I have ears everywhere, my friend. Plus... I've been staked out in front of your house the past couple of days. Didn't you see my car? The gray one?" says Laz.
"Everything that is going on... is because of this bracelet?" Sarah begins to say. "Why?"
"I'm glad you asked. And I will tell you... later. Right now, we all need to go." says Laz.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute." Quickly says Chuck. "What do you mean?"
"Do you think these guys were it? Edgar, is gonna send more people after you and, he knows were you live, and were you work." says Laz.
"We're not just gonna go. Why should we even believe what you say? The last time we saw each other you kidnapped me and almost made me go brain-dead." says Chuck.
"Why do you have to bring up the past?" Jokes Laz. "I knew you were gonna say that. So..." He goes on to pull his phone out. "Hey! Hey! You old hag, I'm here." He says. He then gives it to Chuck. "Maybe you'll believe her."
Chuck takes the phone and is surprised to see who is on the other end, video chatting. "Mom?"
"Chuck." Mary begins to say. "I can't talk for very long. Everything Laz has told you is true. The parts about Fulcrum anyway are true. Anything else he's said... you can pretty much take with a grain of salt."
"Mom? Where are you?" asks Chuck.
"I'll tell you everything soon. Right now I have to go. Just trust me... by trusting Laz. See you soon, sweetheart." As Mary hangs-up, Laz takes his phone back.
"If I may?" Laz says as he takes it. "Okay, so... shall we go?"
"Wait!" says Morgan. "What about, Beckman? Maybe she can help."
"No." says Laz.
"And why is that?" asks Casey.
"Fulcrum has operatives in every government agency. Especially the CIA and NSA. And they know that Beckman is your main contact. Do you really think they don't have her under close watch? Her secretary is more than likely Fulcrum." says Laz. He then pulls out some keys and a piece of paper. "These are the keys and directions to a house that I own in Malibu. Haven't been there in years, but no one knows about. You'll be safe."
"Why are you doing this? Why help us? What's in it for you." asks Chuck.
"You're right to have suspensions about me. But all I can say is... all in good time." says Laz.
"Wait." says Chuck. What about the bodies?"
"I'll take care of the bodies." says Laz.
Chuck, takes a moment. Then says. "I don't know."
"What?" asks Laz.
"You just come in here, and drop this big news on us. Then you ask us to go with you?" says Chuck.
"Yes. That's pretty much whats happening." says Laz.
"We're gonna have to talk this over among ourselves." says Chuck.
"Fine. I'll wait outside for your answer." says Laz.
When he leaves, Team B talk about what they should do. "So... what do you guys think?" asks Chuck.
"If this is only the beginning than we have act fast. We don't really have that many options right now." says Sarah. "Choice is up to you Chuck. We go where you go." Refereeing to herself and the baby.
"Us too, Dude." says Morgan. Talking about him and Casey.
"These guys are probably gonna come after us too anyway. We got your back." says Casey.
"So... whats it going to be, Chuck?" asks Sarah.
Chuck looks to his friends, thinking hard on the situation. "I trust my Mom. And with everything being so uncertain. I say... we go with the Devil we know..."
End of Chapter
Next Chapter to be called, "Secrets"
Author's note: Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what your thoughts are. Thank you for reading.