Don't own Chuck
Chuck hopped in the police car outside of the old gate then drove to the park as fast as he could. He hit the sirens and lights and put the pedal down nothing was going to slow him down. The patrol car went airborne every time it hit a speed bump then bang its undercarriage when it came back down sending sparks flying. A few of these and the suspension started to give but he had no intentions of letting up not even a second.
"Okay where did Sarah say they were going on their picnic," he said to himself. Why hadn't he listened more carefully but he was working on those photos for Beckman and hadn't been playing attention. "The park yes, the park," he remembered that was where they were going to eat lunch. As he drove cross the Scurda river he passed another patrol car and he saw the policeman inside give him a double take.
"Crap, it won't be long before I've got company," said Chuck. He glanced in the rearview and saw blue lights in the distance behind him. But he had no time to stop and explain. As he pulled into the parking lot for the park his phone began to ring. Caller ID said Mike.
"Mike, I really don't have time for a long chat right now buddy. Hold one," said Chuck as he jumped out of the car and at the same time he put in an earbud then sync'd. "Better, I'm now hands free. Just tell me that Razib and the kids made it back to you guys all right. I wanted to walk them back but..."
"Yes, they're here but everyone is asking what's going on. Margo is up in Jack's office with Razib and the other kids. Beckman has already called once. All hell's breaking loose here people are asking questions and we don't have any answers."
"Crap, I don't see them," said Chuck as he ran through the park. "I'm sorry what did you say? Right... It's Ettore... he sent a wet team to take us out. Tell Beckman thank you... no forget that... just tell her the man in the photo is here. She'll know what I mean. Right now I have to find Sarah and the rest before it's too late. I was told they'd sent a wet team after them too."
"Then I'll get off the line and let you hunt. But if you want I've got a bird overhead. I hate to tell you but I can see a lot of blue lights converging on your location. You don't have long I can guide you out if you want but you're going to have to go now."
"No... not without Sarah... and everyone else," said Chuck as a thought struck him. "Oh what an idiot I am. Mike, she took one of the company cars didn't she?"
"I assume so... wait. Yes, I've got them all accounted for… oh I see. You want me to isolate hers through the onboard GPS tracker. One moment," said Mike. Chuck could hear him typing away on a keyboard.
"I don't need to tell you to hurry," said Chuck touching his ear. "But Mike the sirens were getting closer and I've still got the two H&K MPs I took off my attackers. If the police, see me they'll shoot first then ask questions."
"I'm hurrying as fast as I can. But this is strange I've got all the vehicles up on the monitor but theirs... I don't understand I can't find it anywhere. It's like it fell into a hole somewhere."
"That's because it did. I understand what's going on whoever is after them is using a signal jammer. Look for a roving cell phone outage that will be where they are then use the satellite image to identify them from above."
"Here we go I'm locking in make and model... just a moment and Geez it worked... it actually worked. I've got them… I mean I see them. Wow that's a nifty trick. I'm going to have to remember that one."
"You can pat yourself on the back later. Just tell me where they are," said Chuck. The first blue lights were coming into sight and he knew he had to move. However, jumping back into the patrol car and taking off wasn't an option anymore. The police had all the exits blocked and were coming in all the entrances. He was facing them with his back to the bay.
"They're headed for the beach and they aren't that far from you. I'll stream you their position in real time on your phone but I don't know how you're going to get out of there."
"Just give me their location I'll take care of my own extraction plan," said Chuck as he ran to the small boat dock in the park. There was a big sign that read 'jet skis for rent'. "I want to rent a ski."
"That will be fifty euro an hour plus you need to leave some sort of ID," said the old man from his chair as he looked over Chuck. "You know how to ride one of these things?"
"This should cover my rental," said Chuck as he tossed the old man enough money to buy the ski. Chuck looked at it then flashed.
"I'll be right back," said Chuck as he jumped on one. The old man fell over trying to get out of his chair to stop Chuck but he was already on and gone.
"Okay where are you guys," said Chuck. According to the GPS coordinates the bird was sending him Sarah and the gang weren't that far away. He opened the throttle and kicked up a wake as he zipped past pleasure boat causing them to roll, pitch and yaw. He passed between them weaving in and out. There were a number of day skippers who complimented Chuck and his family.
"Sorry coming through," yelled Chuck. "Emergency coming through. Sorry about that. What did my mother ever do to you buddy?"
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Alex walked into Castle only to find her father staring into a blank monitor. She looked at him and wondered what was going on. She'd never seen him so pensive. If anything he was the exact opposite. A bull in a china shop breaking things was his specialty. Maybe he was just tired and Morgan was right he hadn't gotten over his jetlag yet. Whatever it was it was her job to find out what was the matter.
"Dad, what is it," asked Alex as she walked down the metal steps. She made sure she made enough noise that he could hear her coming. She didn't want to startle him. "Do you feel all right? You look a little strange," she said as she went over and felt his forehead. "No fever so what gives?"
"What? No, I'm fine. I just got off the horn with Beckman. She wants me to investigate a possible situation in Azerbaijan. It's really nothing and I'll only be gone for a few days."
"But you just got back and now you have to go off again. When are you going to be able to put your feet up and relax? What about Chuck and Sarah? They're a lot closer than we are here? Does this have to do with that phone call the other day?"
"Yes and no, and as far as Chuck is concerned. It seems he's dropped off the grid… at least for the moment. He's gotten himself mixed up with a group of assassins. My gut says they were sent by Ettore since he didn't have a chance to finish his business with Chuck in Nice."
"Maybe Chuck was right when he wanted to call in that drone strike. If Ettore had been taken out back then, he wouldn't be around to give orders now. Someone needs to do the world a favor and take him out."
"Now that's my daughter speaking I can recognize the Casey in you there. However, you know what they say hindsight is always 20/20. Two in the chest and one in the head then you don't have to worry about them coming back ever again. We should make that our family motto or something."
"Maybe you should get matching t-shirts with that written across the front or embroider some pillow cases that you can use on your sofa," said Morgan as he walked down the metal steps from the elevator.
"Maybe you should get one that says 'welcome to the shire' or 'I'm with stupid' and have the arrow pointing up," said John as he took a sip of coffee then made a face.
"I thought you were the one who said they were used to drinking cold coffee because that was what you used to do back in the day," said Morgan. Casey grunted then downed the rest.
"Did you come down here for a reason or did you just have a death wish you want fulfilled? If it's the latter today could be your lucky day," said John as he sat his coffee cup down on a coaster.
"We wouldn't want a water ring now would we?" said Morgan. Casey gave him a look. "Hey don't kill the messenger. Kat called me and asked me to remind you two that she expects everyone ready to sit down at the table at seven. She's timed her roast to the minute plus I was informed there's a peach cobbler waiting too."
"Sounds like Kat's done some serious cooking. We'd better not be late and you'd better eat up Grimes because it's MREs for you tomorrow. I've got to go to Azerbaijan and you're coming with me. We'll drive up to Travis to catch something out of there for dover then it's a C-17 across the Atlantic."
"I'm going out in the field… and you want me to come with you. Wait a minute what's the catch? Something isn't right here come on don't tease me like this."
"Dad, I thought you said the General told you to go. You didn't say she said anything about Morgan. Am I going too?"
"I'm taking Grimes because if he's going to pull his weight around here he needs to know what to do and he'll never learn that from behind a desk in the Buy More. I'm sorry I can only take one person with me and this time I'm taking Grimes. I'll make this up to you next time... I promise."
"You're really taking me? What do I need to take with me? Do I get a weapon and if I do are you going to give me bullets too?"
"We'll discuss all that later. For right now you're going and let's leave it like that," said John. He could tell from Alex's look she wasn't buying into it."
"Wait a minute I smell a rat. There's something else going on isn't there? There's something you're not telling us. What is it? Come on out with it?"
"Oh Alex please come on," said Morgan. "Didn't you hear the Big Guy. I'm in and you're out… just this time of course. Why can't you be happy for me?"
"I am Morgan… believe me I am but I don't think we know everything that's going on. Can't you see they want you for something…"
"Yeah, of course they do, they want the Cobra and I'm going to bring it on," said Morgan. Alex and Casey both rolled her eyes. "See that right there is what I'm talking about. I see it now you're jealous. You're jealous because I'm going and you're not... come on admit you know I'm right. I never said anything when you went," he said. Alex gave him a look. "Okay maybe I did a little. But come on just be happy for me."
"Oh Morgan, I'm not jealous and normally I'd be happy for you. You don't think I wouldn't like it if you and Dad bonded..."
"Fat chance of that," mumbled John. "Maybe my fist will bond with his head... a couple of times." Alex gave her dad a look but kept on talking to Morgan.
"It would make me very happy if the two men in my life would stop going at each other like cats and dogs. I'm not talking about becoming best friends but at last stop this going back and forth at each other."
"Oh but please Alex. This is my big shot and I promise I'll be careful. I'll be with John so what can happen to me. I'll even send you a postcard."
"A postcard... really Morgan, a postcard. Okay I give up. Morgan, I'm happy for you and I hope this mission is what it's supposed to be but I still have my doubts," said Alex as she looked over at Casey.
"You don't have to worry about the Troll I'll be looking out for him," said Casey. "Nothing is going to happen to him," said John as he patted Morgan on the shoulder hard he almost fell down.
"Easy there Big Guy. I have to be able to get on the plane with you... plane. Geez I have to fly... I forgot. There wouldn't happen to be a boat or a bus we could take? Maybe a camel caravan like Marco Polo?"
"Nope just a C-17 strapped against the bulkhead of the plane in a canvas seat and if you pester me up there we'll hang to out of the tailgate. You can keep on talking but being windy I won't have to listen."
"Dad nothing had better happen to him or you'll answer to me and you can take that to the bank," said Alex. In that moment Morgan could see the Casey in Alex come out.
"We need to run if we're going to be sitting at the table by seven," said John as he looked at his watch. "You're mother's been in the kitchen all day. We don't want to piss her off." Alex knew exactly what John was doing. He was changing the topic but she couldn't understand why.
"I don't know if I've got time now," said Morgan. "There's so much I need to put together and I need to get. I also have to call Big Mike he's got the Buy More while I'm gone."
"All that can wait," said Casey. "Let's go so you can get your last meal…" Morgan and Alex looked at him. "What? I meant last as in the sense of last home cooked meal until we come back home. Besides you want to call Big Mike at home right now... when he's with your mother, Mrs. Muy Caliente?"
"Now I've got that image branded on my brain. Thanks John. No, now I don't want to call it can wait until later when there's peace on the Serengeti."
"You just remember what I told you Dad," said Alex as they headed for the elevator. "I want him home just the way he is."
"You sure you want that I was thinking about making some improvements. First thing we could start with is litter training then go from there."
"Dad, come on please, Morgan is just fine the way he is or at least I think so," said Alex as they stepped inside.
"Yeah Casey come on. I'm just fine the way I am and Alex thinks so too," said Morgan then he stuck his tongue out at Casey.
"Why you little... okay I'm just saying it can't hurt and in some cases it just might help. Maybe shove a tracking device in him through some aperture. I'm just saying you cut him loose with all those people over there wearing beards like him... human matches. It might be hard to tell him from the rest of the people on the shire."
"Very funny John, tell him Alex no way... right tell him no way. What kind of aperture are we talking about?" Casey gave him a look. "Oh no way... no not while I'm alive."
"Well we can work on that too," said John as the elevator stopped in the breakroom.
"No way... Alex, why don't you say something. Come on say something?"
"Wait a minute I don't know. Maybe there some merits to this... I mean after all Dad does have some good points."
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The General was on the horn with the dungeon. Chuck was in the wind, crap was hitting the fan and she was in the dark. This was no way to run a clandestine agency nor a railroad and with everything happening she couldn't afford for her best agents to be out of pocket. The whole thing was intolerable and that was just what she was telling Mike.
"General, Chief Silverman is up in the casino now gathering information about the incident in town. If you'll wait a few minutes, I'll send someone to get her."
"She can brief me later I want to know about Chuck now. You said you talked with him. Well what did he have to say."
"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to get Chief Silverman ma'am? She's the Chief and she's the one who should be briefing you not me?"
"Will you stop beating about the bush and spit it out man or would you like to be modeling the latest in the world of hairnets for a living."
"Yes ma'am... I mean no... I mean I wouldn't. Chuck told me to say that the man that was with Ettore in the photo was here. I assume by here he meant the incident in the pub. He also said there was a wet team in play and he believed they were targeting Sarah... I mean Agent Carmichael... Sarah. I'm feeding him her location from our satellite.
"I want a relay of that feed patched into my office. Send out a response team to bring them back into the casino then I want Chuck on the horn. Naturally he believes Ettore sent them."
"That's affirmative ma'am he told me so. During the altercation earlier one of the assailants was killed. I have a recovery team going to the morgue to collect the body so we can examine it."
"Very good, I can see you're not much of a talker but you have good instinct about what needs to be done."
"About the sat feed we're tracking Agent Carmichael's Mercedes visually because there seems to be some sort of jammer which is disrupting the GPS signal from her vehicle..."
"And our ability to communicate with her. She doesn't know she's being targeted. You need to get that response team to her on the double before our friends have time to carry out their hit."
"Yes ma'am I'm on it," said Mike as he opened up a line with the response team they had already dispatched. In that moment Margo got off the elevator and walked over to Mike.
"Chief Silverman, it's nice of you to join us," said the General. "Your agent was just bringing me up to speed. Do you have anything to add?"
"I was able to find out what happened in the pub," said Margo as she went on to tell the General what she was told. "... so it looks like we've got two wet teams in play. Our response team in out and it's my advice that after we get them we bring them back here until we can sort things out."
"I need to talk to Chuck as soon as he's back in the dungeon," said Beckman. As the General was talking with Margo her Major came in signaled he needed to talk to her. "I have to run it looks like I've got another fire to put out. I'm still waiting on that relay. Beckman out."
"You'd better patch that feed into her or she's liable to send you to Iceland with me. At least I'll have you as company."
"Don't forget about the puffins they'll be there and we'll still have them as neighbors. I wonder what they're like?"
"You realize I still have those grenades in my pockets even if it would be a little over kill," said Margo. "What's taking our response team so long to get to our target?"
"It's the roads in that area. They're all congested with police vehicles that were converging on the park. They'll be out of the way soon and our people will get through.
"I just hope soon enough... Crap, hold on to something here we go," said Margo as she watched the assailants launch their attack from the monitor. Good I bet they didn't expect that. Where's Chuck at? I expected him to pop up like he usual does out of nowhere."
"He's right there coming in from the bay. Geez, can you really do that on a water ski? I know they've done it in the movies but I didn't think it was possible in real life."
"Well you've seen it now. Call a clean-up team they need to get down there asap. Then have the police notified that the suspect they're looking for is on the other side of the city. We'll clear out some of the police traffic in our area of interest. Once they're all loaded up in our vehicle I want a line with Chuck then be prepared to patch him through to the General."
"Don't you want to wait until they get back here before patching Chuck into the General," said Mike as he turned around in his chair. "At least give him some time to breath."
"Well let's look at this more carefully. I think the question you have to ask yourself is do I want to be reassigned to Iceland. But you said you wondered what Puffins are like. You just might get the opportunity to find out."
"You know sarcasm doesn't fit you very well," said Mike as he monitored the response team's progress.
"Wait what just happened?" said Margo. "Get me a close up of our response team. That's not one of our vehicles. We don't have Ranger Rovers. Where's our people and what's going on?"
"I don't know I just got a radio check and they said they were held up in traffic but it was starting to open up."
"Contact Chuck and Sarah we have to warn them."
"I'm trying but nothing is getting through."