Don't own Chuck

Per Roan's instructions he sent men to Chicago to whisk Devon out and bring him to Bethesda to perform the surgery on Diane. With everything going on at the moment Devon was the only one Roan had absolute faith in. However, Devon was oblivious to all this and he started his day like any other day with a run then a power shake. He took Clara to school dropping her off before going on to work. He's morning was hectic with consultations but he was looking forward to his luncheon appointment with Ellie then an afternoon filled with hospital rounds. But all that ended when two men in black showed up walking into his office unannounced. Devon went on the offensive as soon as he saw them.

"You can tell the General we gave at the office or we don't need any or you can tell her I don't want to talk to her about changing my religion…"

"Dr. Woodcomb, please calm down you don't understand why we're here. Let me explain there's been an incident…," said the one agent. Immediately Devon switched gears in his head.

"My God, something's happened to Chuck or Sarah or both. You want us to come with you to take care of the kids. That's it isn't it? How's Sam doing? Bunny's too little to understand but this has got to be hard on Sam…"

"No, it doesn't have to do with them I've no word on them so you can relax and take a deep breath. You keep this up and you'll have a heart attack," said the Agent. The irony did not escape Devon being a cardiac surgeon and suffering a heart attack.

"You mean a myocardial infarction," said Devon. The agent looked at him puzzle. "It's the medical term for a heart attack.

"I have someone who can clear this up for you and help you understand why we need you doctor," he said as he handed Devon a tablet with Roan on it.

"Roan, what's going on? Don't tell me the General's put you up to doing her own dirty work. Listen I'm busy and so is Ellie…"

"Devon," said Roan from the tablet. "I know I'm asking a lot from you but I need you here in Bethesda right now. It's the General… she's been shot. The surgeon here says the bullet is lodged next to the coronary artery and he's afraid to touch it. He said if he tried to remove it he'd risk rupturing the artery and possibly compromising Diane's heart. I need the best cardio surgeon there is and that's you."

"I don't understand what happened. Oh I'm so sorry for what I said before. If only I had known," said Devon as he looked up at the agent then back at Roan in disbelieve. "But how?… I mean I always assumed she was bulletproof."

"I'll explain everything when you get here. I just need for you to say you'll come and help me out. I'm begging Devon I can't lose her."

"Of course I'll come, she's like family... the surly old aunt everyone puts up with," said Devon as Roan gave him a look but both agents nodded. "Well, this is what I do for a living just let me tell Ellie and then we can get on the road."

"You can call Ellie from the car. I have a charter waiting for you at Midway that will bring you straight here. Right now time is of the essence," said Roan then the screen went blank.

"I still need to tell my wife not to expect me for lunch... or dinner for that matter and she'll have to pick up our daughter from school," said Devon as tried to remember everything he was supposed to do and who was going to have to do it for him.

"Don't worry everything will be taken care of for you here at the hospital and I thought you might feel that way so I sent a man to your wife's office and told him to bring her down below. She'll be riding with us to the airport."

"I hope your man was wearing body armor when he went to get her because he'll probably needed it. One look at you guys and she'll shoot first ask questions later."

"I just got word got back that the asset's wife is in our SUV outside waiting," said the second man in black as he touched his ear.

"Then we need to roll. I'd like you to call ahead to Bethesda and have them send me the doctor's write up along with all the x-rays and scans they took," said Devon as they head towards the elevator.

"Is there anything else you'd like Doctor," asked the agent as he took out a notepad and began taking notes in the elevator on the way down.

"I'd like a team standing by to go into the OR along with plenty of her blood type standing by. From the sound of it we need to go in and pull that slug out before sepsis sets in. Believe me that's the last thing we want. We could end up winning the battle but losing the war to put it in terms you can understand."

"Roger that I'll make sure everyone is standing by," said the Agent. He finished writing as the doors opened up. They whisked Devon across the lobby, out the door and into a waiting vehicle then took off.

"Devon, what's going on? I was told they need you in Bethesda for an operation. Is it true Beckman's been shot?"

"That's what Roan told me when I video chatted with him earlier. I don't have any of the details but from the sound of it they need me. I'll call you from DC when I can but when we land I'll probably go straight into surgery so I don't know when I'll be able to get in touch with you."

"I'll be standing by the phone you can reach me whenever you can. This whole thing is scary. I tried to reach out to Chuck and Sarah but Chuck's phone goes straight to voice mail and Sarah isn't picking up."

"What can they do? They're all the way in Montenegro what do you expect them to do from there? If I were you I'd leave them alone and let them enjoy their vacation before they get recalled because of this… whatever this is."

"Maybe you're right," said Ellie as she took Devon's hand. "Just do what you have to do there then come back home to me."

"I hear you hun loud and clear. Wild horses couldn't keep me from coming back to you."

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The news about the hit on Beckman was bad. If the General was attacked in her own building no one was safe anymore. Who were these people and why hadn't anyone heard of them before? Could an organization like this exist in the dark and no one know about them? What was their end game? And why now? Banai was turning this all over in his head as sipped his tea. Well enough sitting on your hands Banai it's time to get back to work.

"Who's this," he said to himself as he caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the video then he hit rewind then play again. "There you are my dear traitor," Banai said as he saw Abram talking to the train conduct before boarding for Tbilisi.

"I wonder," he said he had an idea. He began typing at the console trying to get the information he needed. The hunt was on and now he could smell his quarry. "Crap, this would be a lot easier if I had my team with me. There finally got you." On the screen came a list of the cargo manifested on the train.

"Now where can you be," he said as he scrolled down the list. "And there you are," he said as he looked at the screen. On the cargo manifest there were two containers that were listed as agricultural equipment with the port of origin Astara.

"But if you're there then what's on the trucks," said Banai. A cold chill ran up his spine as he grabbed hold of the radio. "Habib come in, come in Habib, this is Banai come in over." But he got nothing.

"Crap they're maintaining radio silence. Habib if you can hear me break off and come back to the base. The items we're looking for were shipped out by rail to Tblisis. Listen to me you're walking into a trap, over. Do you copy." Again there was silence.

"Habib, please you're going to get yourself and your men killed for nothing. Break off and regroup with me you idiot. Don't presume I'm wrong or you know more than I do. Pick up the damn mic and talked to me, over." Again there was silence. "Nothing heard and may Allah have mercy on your souls Banai out."

"Crap, crap, crap, I knew I should've kicked his butt when he making those wisecracks before. Sure he would've gotten pissed at me but he'd be alive to talk about me behind my back," said Banai as he took out his phone. At this point the only thing he could do and that was to call his director and have him expedite his team's clearance. They could meet him in Tbilisi but he had to get on the next flight.

[Meantime near the Mingechevir Reservoir]

"Habib, you heard agent Banai on the radio," said the man sitting next to him as they hid by the side of the road waiting. "Why are we still going through with this? What we're looking for isn't in the back of the trucks."

"Ali, that's what Banai wants us to believe. You don't understand how this game is played. I bet he's got his own team on the other side of the Red Bridge waiting to hit the trucks."

"Why would he do that? You're not making any sense to me after all we're on the same side and he did give you permission to put this team together."

"Only to pull me back at the last minute when the prize is in sight. Don't you see? If I pull this off and retrieve the missile I'll get the glory not him. He can't have some upstart like me showing him up. It wouldn't look good for him and I heard from my father that there are people in Tehran who'd like to put him out to pasture along with the director..."

"You talked about this with your father? You know this mission is classified even if he works for the internal ministry he doesn't have need to know. He's the one who got you this posting isn't he?"

"Yes the youngest station chief in the VAJA and with this feather in my cap who knows what he'll be able to do for me," said Habib as he looked through his binoculars. "There they are I see them coming. Signal the guys that this is it. They know what to do I want the road blocked ahead of the truck then we'll come in from behind cutting off their retreat. Once we have them boxed in we'll take them out quickly with minimal risk to our cargo."

"Roger that," said Ali. "I hope you know what you're doing," he said as he took out a mirror and signaled the other team further down the road to go.

"Of course I do, just signal the other guys to move out. If everyone does what they're supposed to do, we'll be heading home in a little while."

On the road in front of the trucks around a bend some of Habib's men laid spike strips across the road then turn their SUV around in the middle taking cover on the other side of it. As the trucks came around the curve they found the road blocked. The lead truck slammed on its brakes coming to a screeching halt.

"Take them but try not to damage the trucks," yelled Habib breaking radio silence as he drove up behind the trucks from cover in another SUV blocking their retreat. There was the sound of small arms fire as they shot into the cab. But as they were shooting the canvas came off the rear truck and under it here came out an Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon. It zeroed down on Habib's SUV. The last thing they saw was a flash of light and a warm sensation. The SUV went up in a ball of flame. Men jumped out of the lead truck dressed in full tactical gear cutting down the rest of Habib's men. Habib was right about one thing it was over before it began.

[On the train to Tbilisi]

The train was pulling into the station when Abram checked his watch. He smiled they were on time but he was also smiling thinking that he had outsmarted his old boss and that seemed to be confirmed by a phone call he received. As instructed he called Abu as soon as the trail pulled into the station and after he made contact with their man waiting for him.

"I'm reporting in like we agreed," said Abram as he touched his ear. "Can you repeat I'm having a hard time hearing you over the crowd. Our man is taking care of the off-loading as we speak."

"I wanted to know if you had any trouble with dealing with your people. Was everything done according to my orders?"

"To the letter and I just got confirmation that they fell head first into our trap. I don't know if my old boss was one of the people that were eliminated because there wasn't much left for our people to identify..."

"I like that you are saying 'our people'. I was worried you'd been undercover for too long but I can see I've nothing to worry about there."

"None whatsoever, I was and am one of the faithful. We're off-loading here in Tbilisi onto trucks now then we'll be heading for Batumi within the hour."

"Good work, I need to get off this phone they just announced we're about to land. I'll meet you at the warehouse in port when you get in. I have someone I want you to meet."

"Roger that I need to get off this phone too and go check and see how the off-loading is coming. You'd think moving a box from point A to point B would be easy but not here."

"I so know what you mean," said Abu. "Well I'll see you soon," he said then hung up.

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Abu hung up his phone and leaned back in his chair. The pilot had already announced their descent into the port of Batumi and from what Chuck heard on the phone they were supposed to meet someone at a warehouse. He hoped this little cat and mouse game he had going on with Abu was about over because their dueling back and forth with words was becoming tiring.

"I take that was your man who's transporting the missile here for you. You must trust him a lot to task him with something so important to your mission."

"I might've had my doubts about him in the beginning. You heard that in my conversation but he has proven his loyalty to us and the cause if that's what you are hinting at. He was our man in the VAJA up until a few days ago and he helped us remove the missile from right under the Iranian's nose. He just organized a trap for his former boss..."

"You mean Banai? I know him quiet well. He's a friend of mine and I can tell you if your man told you he set a trap for Banai and he fell in it... well I would have second thoughts about his loyalty. Or the man is an idiot. But one doesn't necessarily preclude the other now does it?"

"Those are strong words about a man you haven't met yet," said Abu. "He did say the bodies weren't all identified so I guess it's possible your friend escaped."

"Well we can settle that once and for all. If you give me your phone I can call him. If he answers then we'll know who's right and if he doesn't... well it might mean your man is right. What do you say? You said you have absolute trust in your man so do you want to see if he's telling the truth."

"Even if this Banai answers it doesn't mean anything. Abram said that they weren't able to identify all the bodies so what you're saying doesn't really matter one way or another."

"Sounds to me like you've got a little doubt or are you afraid of the answer? How long was he working for your people in the VAJA? You know the longer your undercover the harder it is to distinguish between sides. I can tell you that from experience that's why in the Caucasus mountains I'm known as Kolonel Juri Sheshenko, FSB."

"You're Sheshenko? Yes, I've heard that name. Is it true what you did for Borz? I heard about a massacre in a mountain pass where you turned certain defeat for him into a resounding victory."

"I did what I had to do. I'm not proud of it and it has given me many sleepless nights but it was necessary. I offered them a way out. They just had to lay down their weapons but they didn't then Borz wanted to make an example... well that's something I'd prefer to forget."

"All right, I'll let you call your friend but on a couple of conditions. The first being the call has to be made on speaker so I can listen in and secondly you can't give away our location to him. Do I have your word?"

"Okay I'll give you my word but what makes you so sure I'll keep it," said Chuck as he looked at his dueling partner sitting across from him.

"You're here aren't you," said Abu as he handed Chuck his phone. Chuck took it and dialed Banai putting the call on speaker. The phone rang for a while then there was a click.

"Banai, I know your caller ID says anonymous but it's me, Chuck. I'm calling because I got word that said you were taken out in some sort of trap but I can see... hear my source was wrong."

"You mean the one that Abram set. So that was for me? That will be the day that he gets one over on me. There was an agent here that... well he was young and stupid. You know the type he just wouldn't listen. I tried to recall him but he charged in head first. He took some good men with him I'm afraid. But how did you find out so fast? Don't tell me you were watching again from above?"

"No, I heard it from the grapevine," said Chuck as he looked over at Abu. Abu nodded then signaled he needed to cut the conversation short. "Well I just wanted to make sure you were all right..."

"Oh before you go I should send you my sympathy," said Banai. "I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your General. You're just never safe anywhere anymore..."

"Hold up a minute," said Chuck as he looked over at Abu. "What are you talking about? What happened to Beckman?"

"Where are you at? You must really be out of the loop not to have heard. Two assassins tried to kill her today. The word I got was she's seriously wounded and in surgery. The two assassins who tried to kill her were wounded and taken out to a black site for enhanced interrogation. I hate to be the one to tell you but it happened right outside of her office in Langley."

"Are you responsible for this?" said Chuck. "Forget our deal although technically I haven't broken it yet. But tell me you haven't been doing all this to me so you could get at Beckman?"

"Chuck, who are you with? You're with Bin Abu aren't you?" said Banai. "Well, I want him to know there's a rope hanging from a lamppost in Tehran waiting for him and another one for Abram. Chuck remember Khoy. You owe me a favor and I'm calling it in so when this is all over they're mine."

"It looks like you're making friends everywhere," said Chuck as Abu reached over and grabbed the phone from him.

"Well you survived this time that just means I need to try harder the next time," said Abu as he looked over at Chuck.

"All I can tell you is bring it on," said Banai. Abu hung up then looked up at Chuck again. He was red in his face with anger.

"Before you go all ballistic on me might I remind you that the deal was I not tell him where we were and to keep the call on speaker phone. Both of which I did."

"Yes, you did," said Abu regaining his composure. "The problem was mine I should've been more precise. But to answer your question. Yes, we sent two of our people to take out your General. She was getting too close for comfort and we wanted to send a message."

"I don't know what kind of message you thought you sent but every company man will be gunning for you now. I would recommend you bag up your operation and go dark. I'm sure you can find a rock to hide under after all that's where you crawled out from under."

"You'd like that wouldn't you but that's not going to happen. We're moving forward and soon it won't matter. Just wait and see."

"Well, Abram missed Banai and now it sounds like your two men missed my General plus got themselves caught so I don't know about you but from where I'm sitting you're not doing so good so far."

Well, then it looks like I'll just have to try harder," said Abu as he gave Chuck a strange look. Chuck didn't like the sound of what Abu said nor did he like his stare but he had no choice but to keep up appearances at least for now.