Don't own Chuck
Connie was sitting at her desk typing up correspondence that need to be sent out after the General added her signature. Already the day had started out busy first with the Major coming in with the hurt-dog look then things seemed to work out for him after their closed door meeting. He left then Roan left and now they were finally getting down to business as usual whatever that meant.
"Connie, can you send in those after action reports," yelled the General through her open door. "I especially want to read the ones Colonel Casey dropped off."
"I was just typing his up for you but I can bring it right in," said Connie. She closed the folder then brought it in to the General. She sat it down then picked up her empty coffee cup.
"Thanks, you don't need to do that I can clean up after myself and you don't need to type up the after action reports. These people should know how to write," said the General as she opened up the Colonel's report. "Although clearly some of these reports seem to contradict what I just said. Maybe I should start with Agent Carmichael's it will help me interpret the Colonels."
"You use his like the Rosetta stone," said a voice from the door then they heard a knock. They both looked over and there was General Thomas standing in her doorway. "Sorry for the intrusion but you paid me a courtesy visit so I thought I'd return the favor."
"Come on in and have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee? It's a little early in the morning for anything stronger."
"Not for Roan… I swear I don't know how he can do it. Somewhere along the line I think there's a story there and somehow I think you're the keeper of the secret."
"Maybe but the keeper of secrets is only as good as if she can keep the secret. I don't think you came all the way out here to talk in riddles."
"Excuse me," said Connie. "Was that a yes or no on the coffee? If it's yes, I'll go get it and get out of your hair."
"Yes, cream and sugar please," said Tank. "Thank you and you look as lovely as ever," he added making Connie blush.
"I'll take one too," said Beckman. Connie turned and left. "I hope she remembers to bring mine with the way she was eating you alive with her eyes," laughed Beckman. "Tank will you stop flirting with my secretary."
"Who me?" said Tank innocently as Connie came back with the coffee. She handed Tank his and smiled at him.
"And mine?" asked Diane. Connie turned red. "Oh Connie, don't tell me you forgot me," said Beckman as Tank laughed. "It's not funny."
"Oh I'm so sorry, I don't know how I forgot. I'll bring you in a cup right away," said Connie as she started to go.
"No wait never mind, I've had too much caffeine as it is this morning. Please just close the door on your way out. If anyone asks for me tell them I'm in a meeting and can't be disturbed."
Tank took a sip of his coffee waiting for Connie to leave and the door to close. He sat his coffee cup down then pause. Beckman didn't like this Tank had never been one at a loss for words yet now he seemed dumbstruck.
"Okay now you're making me worried," said Beckman. "You've always got something to say even if it is inappropriate."
"Listen, what I'm about to tell you has to stay within these four walls. What I'm giving you is a heads up and I want your people to keep their ears to the ground to anything strange they may happen to hear over the grapevine," said Tank then he paused.
"Okay so do you want to clue me in on this or are we going to play twenty questions before you drop the beans? I need a little more to go on."
"I wish I could joke about this but it's serious. Remember the uprising in Turkey and the political fallout. You know that the base in Incirlik is a joint base and the Turkish air force controls it as our NATO ally."
"Of course I do and you know it. You're beating about the bush get to it. What's going on that's got you so shaken up? I don't think I've ever seen you like this."
"And for good reason. Well as a part of the nuclear weapons deal with Russia and the Warsaw pact nations we pulled out most of our nuclear arsenal but our allies complained that we were leaving them unprotected so we came up with a plan."
"I know this too we left two stock piles one is Belgium and the other in… oh don't tell me," said Beckman as she realized where this was headed to.
"Yes, I am unfortunately and it had to happen on my watch. During the uprising our people were basically put under house arrest and for a few hours the arsenal was left unguarded."
"How bad a breech are we talking about? I assume that's where you're headed with this," said Beckman. Now she was thinking maybe it wasn't that early for a drink.
"Let me finish. As soon as everything went back to normal I was informed about what had happened and was assured all the locks and seals were still in place. But you know me I live up to my name sake and unless I see it then I just don't know so I order a secret inventory…"
"How many are missing?" said Beckman. Now she was actually eyeing what was in the liquor locker and mixing in her head.
"We're missing one but even one warhead missing is a disaster in the making and even worse because we can't admit it. That's why I need you to have your people listen to any chatter that could lead us back to whoever stole it."
"I know you've already thought about this but any luck with using the GPS tracker that's installed in each warhead?"
"That was the first thing I thought of but it's still registering the thing as if it were still in the arsenal in Incirlik. When you mentioned what Chuck suspects I went to my people and had them do some investigating. I wanted them to find out if it would be possible to arm an Iranian missile with our warhead."
"I'm not going to like the answer am I," said Beckman. "I think it's late enough. Do you want something for your coffee?"
"I'll take some bourbon. They said since the Iranians got their design spec from the North Koreans and they took them from us it would be child's play to slap it on top. I thought having the warhead stolen was bad enough then this. I don't know but my gut says it's going to get worse before it gets better."
"I think you're right. Chuck confirmed his suspicions the Iranians did have a missile stolen," said Beckman as she poured Bourbon into his coffee cup.
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Chuck checked the weapon he took off the boy one last time. It was a little dirty but none the worse for the wear and right now it was better than nothing which was what he had. Somehow a wet towel just wasn't going to cut it if this guy was sent by Ettore to do what he thought he was supposed to do. Chuck walked out of the restroom and met the man outside in the hallway.
"What to do," he said to himself. The man was between him and Razib. The last thing he wanted to do was take the man back inside. Chuck turned and went out the back door into the alley. Almost as soon as he stepped outside the man followed him.
"Here you are. I was afraid you were going to make a run for it and these shoes hurt my feet. But here you are waiting... good we can get this over with. Ettore told me you didn't like guns… They happen to be the tools of my trade."
"What would that be death? So how does one become member of the ḥashshāshīn? Do you have to eat hashish?"
"Hashshāshīn… now that's something I hadn't expected. So you know who I am and no we don't eat hashish that was just an old wife's tail that people who disliked us spread. We prefer to be called the fidā'iyyūn…"
"The faithful I know. I don't suppose you came all this way to talk. Although I'd like to hear about your people's history from their supposed demise in the middle ages to now. Not to mention your connection to Ettore. Is he one of you?"
"One of us? No, he's helping us rebuild our order and reclaim our state. Like the phoenix we will rise from the ashes and reclaim our former glory."
"I don't want to bust your balloon but assassins work is best done in the dark. Having a state that supports and carries out political assassinations won't fair too well on the world scene right now. We've progress since the middle ages. Then there's the other problem your home state is in the middle of Iran. I don't think they're just going to move aside and let you take over."
"They'll be made to see the light soon enough but I'm afraid not soon enough for you to see. You won't be leaving this alley unfortunately for you. Oh, and as a by the way, I have another piece of information you're not going to like."
"Boy, you're just full of good news today aren't you? You know for a silent killer you're awfully chatty or is this some sort of special killing technique? You talk your target to death."
"Funny, but you won't think it's so funny when you hear what I have to tell you. You weren't the only one I was sent here to kill. I've got men who are following your family as we speak. You know picnics can be hazardous?"
"You shouldn't have told me that now you're going to die," said Chuck as Charles Carmichael took hold. "I don't suppose you want to make this a fair fight and we lose the guns." As they talked Chuck slowly reached around under his jacket.
"I don't think so you with your dart pistol and me with my Beretta. No I like this just the way it is. It's nothing personal but to do otherwise just wouldn't be professional."
"No it wouldn't," said Chuck. In that moment Drago walked out of the pub. He came looking for Chuck to get his weapon back. He'd spent good money for it and he wanted it back.
"I need my pistol back," said Drago as he stumbled out the back door and in that moment both Chuck and the assassin drew. Chuck dove to the side and fired tagging the killer who fired but missed. Chuck rolled then came up grabbing Drago by the shoulder pushing him out of the way.
"Stay behind me if you want to live," said Chuck as he pushed Drago back into the pub. A round whizzed past them lodging in the doorframe. Chuck knew he'd clipped his killer but he had to go.
"What the heck was that," asked Drago shaking like a leaf. "Geez Mister are you some sort of agent 47?" But Chuck didn't answer he didn't have time to answer.
Chuck didn't have to ask himself if the killer had come to the pub alone. As soon as he walked back in the hallway he saw two men go for weapons under their jackets. Chuck grabbed the fire extinguisher off the wall spraying both in the face with CO2 then in the white fog Drago heard a metallic ping then he saw the men on the floor.
"Geez you are some sort of hitman?" asked Drago. Now everything started to make sense. The way Chuck out drew him, the thing in the bathroom and now. "I'm sorry mister I didn't know."
"Shut up Drago and listen. You need to get your friends out of here and take Razib with you. Go to the casino and tell Razibs mother I sent you. Now go," said Chuck as he took the H&K MP4s off the two men they had hidden under their coats along with extra clips.
"What's going on back here," yelled the bartender as he stormed back. "Drago, what are you up to? You want me to kick you out of here?"
"It's not Drago," said Chuck as he pushed Drago on. He saw the look of terror in Drago's face. "Go do like I told you. Get everyone to the casino. Chuck knew he had to get out of there but he couldn't go through the pub without a firefight so he doubled back and headed out the back alley. Going around the pub from behind Chuck came out at the same time as Razib with Drago and the rest.
"Good they're getting away," thought Chuck but then he felt a lump in his throat when he saw a man step out of the pub with a H&K MP4 like the ones' he'd taken off the two men. If there were any doubts about the man's intentions, they went away when Chuck saw standing next to him the man he had wounded.
"Run," yell Chuck as he saw the man raise his weapon at Razib. Chuck ran out of the alley past the kid with weapon the Zastava in hand pointed at the man. He emptied what was left in the clip in the man dropping him in the middle of the alley. Suddenly all hell broke loose in the alley with screams and cries.
"We still have unfinished business," yelled the assassin then he ducked into the crowd disappearing. Chuck didn't have time to go after him he heard sirens coming and he had to find Sarah before it was too late.
"You don't have time for police," said Chuck to himself as he looked around for a way out. He ran to a nearby house kicked the front door in then ran by a terrified family up the stairs to the roof top. From there he had a view of the whole area so he could get his bearings. He saw Razib looking back but running with his friends to the casino.
"Oh Margo is going to be so pissed at me," he said to himself as he tried to call Sarah. He called but his call went to voice mail.
"Crap, I can't wait around," he said as he pushed his emergency beacon so Margo would know crap was hitting the fan. Below Chuck could hear the family yelling loudly talking about a mad man who broke into their house with someone he figured was the police.
"Time to go," he said as he took off running. He leaped over to the roof top of the neighboring house. He hit the roof dropped into a ball then sprung up using his momentum to continue on to the next roof top. With the crowd and police in the street he knew he'd make better time this way. He continued on going from one roof top to another until he came to the end of the old quarter of the city.
On the last roof top, he eased his way down the stairs quietly inside the house. He slipped quietly past a family watching the breaking news in their living room. On the TV a news caster was going on about a shootout in old town. Chuck thought he was home free until he bumped into a little girl playing close to the door with her doll.
"Shush," said Chuck. "I've got two little girls who like dolls too." The little girls smiled back at him. Chuck caressed her face then was gone.
"Come on Sarah pick up," he said as she tried her number again but she still wasn't answering and his call went to voicemail.
"Of all the time to go dark," thought Chuck as looked for transportation. Policemen pulled up with sirens blaring. Chuck hid the weapons he took off the two men. But they raced passed him down the alley heading into old town leaving their patrol car parked.
"Thank you how so very kind," said Chuck as he hoped in after retrieving the two MP4s. "I need to give more to the police fund."
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Mike called Margo over as soon as Chuck's emergency beacon went off. It was all he could do to hold her back from running out of the casino armed to the teeth. She was already in the arsenal grabbing weapons and ammunition.
"Margo hold up you can't run out of the casino dressed up like Rambo. Wait a few minutes until we get a good picture of what's going on. I'm bringing a bird overhead now and Langley's already call for you. I covered once but the General's going to call back."
"You can tell everyone to screw off and that goes for the General too. I'm going and that's that," said Margo as she grabbed a couple of grenades slipped them in her pockets then started for the elevator. Mike stepped in front of her blocking her way. "You'd better move or I'm going to walk over you. Mike, I'm not joking."
"If I can't stop you at least let me come with you. You're jumping in with both feet without any sort of back up. The only thing you're going to do is get yourself killed."
"Which is why I have to do this alone. You need to stay here and run things while I'm gone. If I don't come back you're in charge."
"Chief," said one of her agents as he interrupted. He looked back and forth at the two of them arguing. "I'm sorry but this call is for you."
"I don't care who it is I'm not here or haven't you heard what I've been saying. I don't have time Mike you take it."
"Ma'am, I'm sorry but you'll want to take it. It's Jack he said to tell you he's got Razib and his friends up in his office. He said they're kind of shook up over what something that took place in old town."
"Tell him I'm on my way up. He didn't say if Chuck was with them?" The man shook his head. "Mike call Chuck and find out what the heck is going on I'm running upstairs."
"Ma'am I just got off the police band that there was some sort of shootout in old town that left one man dead. The police are combing it for an armed gunman. The gunman's description is rather vague but it could be Agent Carmichael."
"Of course it could be. Who else could it be if Langley calls tell them we don't know anything yet but we're working on it. Get me Sat images and have a clean-up team standing by. I'm going up to find out what I can find out and keep trying Chuck.
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John thought about turning around going back down to Castle and killing Morgan. But he remembered Alex was there and if he was going to kill Morgan it would be better if she wasn't around. John looked at the camera and made sure Morgan knew his death was impending by drawing a line across his throat with his thumb. Just to make sure Morgan understood he mouthed 'dead meat' nice and slow then he left.
He relaxed a little bit on the drive home as he sat behind the wheel of his Crown Vic and enjoyed the drive. Before he knew it he was pulling into the parking lot at Echo Park.
"Okay, first things first," said John as he walked into his apartment. He opened his suitcase took out his toothbrush then walked in the bathroom where he put it in a cup by the sink. "Unbacked. Now a shower then back to work and kill Grimes."
John got undressed then started running the water to warm it up for his shower. But before he could get in his phone started ringing.
"Crap," said John. He had to turn off the water wrap a towel around himself then went to the living room where he'd left his phone to answer the call. "Sorry Sir no disrespect," said Casey to his photo of Reagan as walk in the room. He laid the photo face down on the table.
"Hey Pete," he said recognizing the voice. "So have you been able to find out anything on that Ferry? ... Yeah, I'm sure it was the Skipper who called. Well the man on the phone said he was the Skipper. Why? ... Dead? How? When? ... Really heart attack. Isn't that convenient? That had to have happened right after the phone call. Crap, I knew I recognize that groan. He made a groan at the end just before the line dropped. ... Yes, I'm sure what I heard I've made enough people make it. He was dying ... What the First Mate was had an accident just before they pulled in? I need to run this by Beckman but in the meantime I'm going to need another favor. ... Okay I know I'm racking them up. Have someone look into the cargo and passengers the Red Star was carrying. ... No I'm not going to say anything corny like that. Yes, something does sound fishy. Now are you happy? Thanks," said John. Then he hung up.
"Geez, Chuck what are in the middle of," said John as he went back to the bathroom. Then he stopped in the doorway. "Hey, maybe I'll get to scratch my itchy trigger finger. Everything seems to be coming up roses. Who knows I might not kill Grimes after all."