Don't own Chuck

Beckman was sitting behind her desk in her office with her Major watching the events unfold in Montenegro. She was compulsively playing with her pen as she was trying to understand what was happening. Then when she saw Chuck get in the Rover with Ettore's man she became perplexed and livid wondering what was going on in Chuck's head. She just couldn't comprehend and that was exactly what she needed... she needed answers but right now all she had were questions and now more than ever she was determined to get some come hell or high water.

"Major what just happened?" said Beckman as she dropped her pen on the floor. "Why did Chuck get in that vehicle with that guy? He knows the man was sent by Ettore to kill him and his family yet he got in instead of stalling or shooting it out. Did he suddenly become stupid? This isn't like him."

"Stupid no ma'am, I don't think so. He was protecting his family leading the killers away from them. For Chuck," said the Major as he reached down and picked up her pen and handed it back to her catching her look. "I mean Agent Carmichael there's nothing more important. It was predictable."

"Predictable maybe but I've got a missing Iranian missile and… well something else in the wind that I can't talk about I don't have time for personal drama."

"But Agents Carmichael don't know that," said the Major. The General gave him a look. "Well not all of that. I'll get on the horn and contact Montenegro…"

"Then I want them patched through to me. I want to know what's going on before someone like the President or the Chief of Staff asks and I have to say I don't know..."

"So what's going on," asked Roan as he walked in. They both turned and gave him the look of death. "Sorry, don't kill the messenger. I just stopped by to see if I could interest you into going out for a bit of lunch."

"I appreciate it but I've got work to do. As usual crap is hitting the fan and I haven't got a clue what's going on. Where did the good old days go to where agents checked in and filed after action reports or waited to receive orders before traipsing off to who knows where. Doing whatever they please leaving me to clean up their mess."

"Sounds like Charles is up to it again. Well I'm sure he knows what he's doing... doing whatever it is he's doing."

"Roan, I've only got one thing to say about that..." the General started to say when Connie stepped into her office."

"Ma'am Agent McHugh is on line one. She says she has information she needs to pass on to you," said Connie. The first thing she noticed when she walked in was how high the tension was. It was almost thick enough to cut with a knife."

"Patch her through to the squawk box on my desk. Did she happen to say what it was about?" asked the General but her secretary shook her head. "I ask only because the Major was just about to patch Montenegro through to me on the monitor."

"Yes Ma'am I'll get right on it," said the Major. He glanced over at Roan on his way out. As he left there was a crackly on the speaker box the General had on her desk. Then they could Alex's voice.

"Agent McHugh, I can hear you. Speak up," said the General. "My secretary told me you had something to tell me."

"Yes, I wanted to pass on something strange. I passed this on to my Dad through Morgan but I was thinking that I should report this to you too."

"Agent McHugh, if every agent thought they could call me directly instead of following the chain of command I would be inundated with useless telephone calls and I would get nothing done. Now is what you have to tell me urgent or can it wait and you forward it to me in a written report?"

"I'm not sure I received a telephone call here in Castle from Banai. I don't know if you know who he is," said Alex but the General cut her off.

"Of course I know who he is. He's VAJA and works for the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran. You said he called you, what did he want?" Now the General's interest was piqued.

"He asked for Chuck but naturally I told him he wasn't in. But while I had him on the line I traced his call back to the port of Baku near the ferry staging area. I used Sat feed and discovered he was calling from a ferry... the Red Star. I'm sorry if I wasted your time but I just thought..."

"No you did well. Keep it up I want to know the movements of other foreign agents especially when they risk coming into contact with our own. You said you passed this intel on to Colonel Casey?"

"Yes I did. I thought he needed to know he might run into other operatives when he reached his destination in Baku."

"And rightfully so... you did the right thing. I think Banai was trying to see if we fielded a response team into his op. I think he and Casey have the same objective. I know for certain Banai knows Chuck is in Montenegro because they talked just a little while ago."

"I don't understand," said Alex wondering even more what was going on. "So what was he doing with me?"

"I think he was on a fishing expedition seeing what he could land. But you did good so don't worry you didn't tell him anything he didn't already know. I see I'm going to have to contact the Colonel and give him some guidelines on how to deal with Banai and his group..."

"General," said the Major as he came running in. "I've got Agent Carmichael, Sarah on the horn from Montenegro and they are tracking Chuck with our person of interest. They were last seen in the airport in Tivat where they charted a flight for Tbilisi."

"It would be interesting to see if they actually fly to Tbilisi. Thank you Agent McHugh maybe we can get ahead of the Iranians thanks to your quick thinking. Beckman out."

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Sarah was in the interrogation room waiting for Beckman to come on the line. She started pacing around the room like a caged animal. She didn't like being kept waiting when she knew she needed to be out tracking Chuck or didn't the General realize that. Already she was going to have a hard time explaining to Sam why she had to go and then there was Bunny too. But there was no one else she trusted enough to leave this mission with. Chuck was her husband and she took this on the day she said I do.

"General, there you are I've been waiting," said Sarah as the monitor flickered then Beckman appeared. "I need to hurry this briefing along then go after Chuck. He's been taken and I..."

"It didn't look like taken from where I was. We were watching from above and it seemed like he got into that Rover of his own free will. He knew that man was Ettore's associate and he had come to kill you guys yet he does this? I have to ask myself what kind of deal did he cut with the devil."

"Oh you're so way off track and out of line for even insinuating that. You want to know what Abu told Chuck to get him in the Rover. By the way the man's name is Bin Abu I picked it up off Chuck's transmitter before he went out of range."

"I don't care much for your tone Agent. You've been around your husband a little too long. I put up with it from him because he's the intersect but you are dangerously skirting on the edge of insubordination."

"Maybe I am but tell me this does Lima-Foxtrot-Kilo-8-9-3-Bravo-Zulu-Echo-1-3-7-Tango sound familiar," said Sarah. Beckman looked at her puzzled.

"Is that supposed to mean something to me because I don't have a clue," said Beckman. "Maybe you guys need a longer vacation. Can you be a little clearer?"

"You don't have a clue? Really you don't recognize it because Chuck and I both did when Abu told Chuck and it was the main reason he got in the vehicle. Are you still going to tell me you don't have any idea what I mean?"

"I'm sorry but that's my answer," said Beckman as she looked over at Roan and her Major. They both shrugged their shoulders.

"Well then General, I recommend you close your door," said Sarah. She gave her a few minutes for her to have it closed. "Well that is the first access code to our nuclear stock pile in Turkey. He was telling Chuck he had access but I'm will to bet he had more than access now that I see that look on your face. How many nukes are missing? Do we have a broken arrow situation?"

"Geez, keep that to yourself," said Beckman as she snapped the pen in her hand. "How many people are there who can hear you? This is highly classified."

"The only person who's with me in Chief Silverman who's guaranteeing that this conversation stays private. As soon as Chuck heard that code he knew he had to go and see if Abu and his people had our nuclear stock pile."

"That's why Tank came over and talked to you, isn't?" said Roan. "I was starting to get jealous because you didn't tell me he came over or why even. But then if you didn't tell me he came over there was no need to tell my why because…"

"Roan please this isn't the time. Yes, we have a broken arrow situation. Currently we have one warhead unaccounted for. It went missing after the unrest in Turkey when we momentarily lost control of the stockpile. General Thomas confided this to me short after we found out about the missing Iranian missile and according to his experts their missile can be adapted to house our warhead."

"Do we have any idea where the missing missile might be? Obviously not or we would've sent in a team to secure it."

"Yes but Chuck being taken might give us an idea where to look. The pilot filed a flight plan for Tbilisi and even though I don't think he will land there it has given me an idea. We know the missile was off-loaded in Baku and we assumed they trucked it out but what if they didn't truck it at all. What if..."

"Yes there's a train head in Baku that goes to Tiblisi. They could load it on a train and transport it there. Abu and his people have to realize we're looking for it along with Iranians and we'll be checking all vehicular movement going in and out of Baku."

"They probably had a couple of decoys traveling the road right now hoping we'll waste our time with them while they bring the missile in by rail. I want you to go after Chuck. I've got Colonel Casey and Morgan flying in on a C-17 I'm having diverted to Georgia. They can look for the missile."

"You think Chuck is where the warhead is and if we miss the missile in Tiblisi he will be right there when they put the two together."

"We need to know what these people want and what their intentions are. I highly doubt if it is good given what they've done so far. We need to located the missile and warhead then neutralize both."

"If there's nothing else I need to get ready. I have to go up above and talk to my daughters and promise to bring their father home."

"Well there is one last thing you need to know. It seems the VAJA are hot on the trail too and in it seems Banai is leading the group."

"I can understand why. He's one of their best agents and he can move through western society without being noticed for being who he is. He is as good as he is dedicated to his country. If Casey runs into him he needs to know Banai's loyalty is unquestionable and he will do whatever he has to do to get his mission accomplished... I mean whatever so he shouldn't underestimate him."

"I appreciate your frankness and I'll be sure to pass the intel along. If there's nothing else good hunting. Beckman out."

Sarah looked back at the mirrored glass. She could only think what Margo had running through her mind right now. The same thing she did when she heard Abu... thinking about people she knew back home and the horror of a nuclear holocaust.

"Well not on my watch," Sarah said as she went to the door.

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Chuck walked through the air terminal in Tivat looking up at the cameras that lined the wall. He figured if he offered a good frontal view then when Mike or whoever operated the facial recognition software it wouldn't have any problem identifying him. He was sure Sarah had heard what his new friend Mr. Bin Abu had said to get him in the Rover and he was sure she'd flashed like he had. These were all big assumptions but he was sure of them.

"So still no clues yet where we're going?" said Chuck as they walked up to the charter window in the airport. The woman looked at Chuck and smiled she'd recognized him.

"Oh, Mr. Carmichael you're back again. How can I help you today? Your business helps keep this window open," said the woman as she continued to smile.

"I'm here with my friends today," said Chuck. "Make sure they get they get the good Lear. They don't need a pilot I can fly for them."

"No not today but thank you for offering," said Abu then he turned back to the woman. "I think you have a reservation for us and we have our own pilot who's supposed to be waiting for us on the plane," he said as he slid the woman his business card.

"Oh yes, I remember the reservation and your pilot is ready. We have a Lear waiting for you to take you to Tbilisi. If you follow me I'll walk you out to the plane," she said and a few minutes later they were loaded up. Chuck looked out the window as the plane began to roll onto the tarmac then got in the take-off queue."

"So we're heading for Tbilisi in Georgia. I've been there before not that I have any desire to go back but I can imagine what you people are doing there. What do you want to do there… bring it into the Iranian orbit? I think the Russians would have something to say about that."

"I don't know about that. They could be too busy worrying about other enemies to care about what happens to one of their break away states. Remember the dominoes have to be all in place before the first one drops or all your efforts are of no avail… patience my friend patience."

"And what is it you hope to accomplish when all the dominoes have fallen? Do you want your state back like you said or is there something more you want?"

"If I tell you where's the fun in that? You need to discover what our end game is to fully comprehended the time and effort that has gone into making this day come true."

"Be careful you're dangerously close to breaking your arm patting yourself on the back. A little modesty can go a long way."

"Yes you're probably right but it can't be wrong to be proud about one's accomplishments. Not many people could have been able to pull off what I've done..."

"Stealing a missile from under the noses of the Iranians... I don't know if that was such a great deed worthy to be remembered by. I have a feeling that the Iranians are hot on your trail now to get it back."

"I'm sure they are too but that's all right. By the time they find out they've been dubbed I'll have married it up with the warhead we took from your arsenal in Turkey. Now that was a feat worthy of being proud of."

"I don't suppose the mess in Turkey was your fault but I'm guessing not," said Chuck as he sat there studying Abu who was sitting across from him.

"Maybe not but why look a gift horse in the mouth. The uprising took place and we took advantage of it. That doesn't mean the accomplishment was any less great. Let me get us some tea," said Abu as he waved for one of his men to come then talked to him in old Farsi. "Bring us a couple cups of tea from my private stock."

"We aren't going to Tbilisi are we," said Chuck. "That's what you meant when you talked about people being duped. You people say one thing but do another."

"You're catching on very quickly. No we're not going to Tbilisi but we are going to Georgia and we will be working with the missile and the warhead. Ettore should be there by the time we get there. He has this idea about making super spies with this gizmo he says he can make. You wouldn't know anything about it, would you? He says he stole it from you."

"Don't believe everything he says. I hear the thing is full of bugs and I wouldn't trust Ettore. He reminds me of a used car salesman I once knew who tried to sell me a used car with no piston rings and a broken motor mount. When the motor ran it would try to jump out from under the hood, but according to salesman it was a good buy."

"I'll take your advice under consideration. See that you're sharing with me and I'm sharing with you just like friends and colleagues."

"Let's not push it too far okay. You want to be my friend a good start would be delivering me Ettore's head on a platter."

"Some of our oldest records seem to indicate that Salome was one of us but you have to take stories like that with a grain of salt. But what better way to overthrow a government."

"Sorry but you need to check your dates and your facts. That dog won't hunt even if it does make for a good story. Well if we're not going to Tbilisi then where are we going to... my guess is Batumi."

"Excuse me how did you come up with that from what I told you? You know I'm going to have to learn to keep my mouth shut around you," said Abu. As they were talking his man came back with a tray and two cups of tea. The man put Chuck's cup in front of him.

"I'll take one sugar cube, please," said Chuck in old Farsi. The man looked back at Abu then back at Chuck before he put the one cube in.

"Yes Chuck you are a mystery to me," said Abu. He sat back in his chair with his cup in hand and took a sip savoring the taste. "Yes, you are quite the mystery."

"Where would all the fun be if we all were open books," said Chuck as he took a sip looking over the top of his cup at Abu look back at him.

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For a little while it looked as if all the fires had been put out and now she could take a breather. Roan made his offer again to take her out for a late lunch and she told herself why not. She told Connie she'd be back in an hour but she had her phone with her the she and Roan took off.

"Crap," said Diane as she got off the elevator. "I forgot my badge up in the office. I'll run back up and get it. Wait here it won't take me long."

"Forget it you don't need it. The guys on watch know you and none of them would dare stop you," said Roan as he looked at his watch.

"They'd better not let me back in. I'm no better than anyone else. No badge an escort is required those are the rules. If I make them then break them what example am I setting. Just wait here I'll be right back.

Roan wanted to argue with her but she was right so he pushed the button on the elevator and saw her off.

"You'd better be quick or I'll send out a search party and stay away from your Major. He's good at bringing work to you at the last minute." Roan watched the doors closed but something in his gut told him he didn't like this and the longer he waited the louder his inner voice became.

"This is taking way too long," said Roan as he looked at his watch. He got in the elevator and rode back up thinking to himself that this was all her aide's fault. He probably brought her work at the last minute. He wasn't prepared for what he found when the doors opened up.