Chuck vs The Wayward Legionnaire
Chapter 5: The Ice Queen returns.
23rd March 2009 Burbank. LAX Arrivals. 01.30pm.
The woman was in a hurry, she'd been flying for nearly fifteen hours with little sleep in a heightened state of anxiety, a large caffeine intake had only exacerbated that. She was still a spy though; she was fifty feet past the carousel after she collected her bag, when she noticed the first one.
She deliberately slowed her pace to look at the shops that lined the walkway, they were full of fashionable bric a brac and mirrors. She quickly spotted another above her on the first floor. Her first thought was Fulcrum. There was that agent vibe. There was no doubt they were government though, those military tight haircuts and generic clothing screamed NSA though, What the hell she thought, she needed answers. She stepped into a kiosk selling scarves.
NSA agent Hawkins blinked, one minute he was watching the tall blonde woman and then he wasn't, his earpiece vibrated, "Where the hell did, she go, Hawkins?" Shermer on the mezzanine above had also been following the CIA agent. "Damned if I know." Hawkins replied.
"I can't see into the back, see if you can get closer", Shermer advised.
"Wilco".
Watching through the Airport surveillance system, John Casey smiled, he knew Walker had already made the two, he wondered what she'd do about it, he didn't have long to wait!
Hawkins, walked slowly up the small kiosk, pretending to examine the scarves, his eyes looked furtively about the shop, a long soft arm trailing a scarf suddenly wrapped around his throat and he heard a woman's voice, "Say darling, what do you think of this one..." He went to turn when something very sharp pricked his throat. He gulped!
The next time the voice spoke it had changed, it was the kind of voice that promised oblivion to the listener, nothing human sounded like that, it dripped menace. "What the fuck is going on?" it demanded, "What are you clowns playing at? Where's Major Casey?"
Hawkins was turned slightly so he could now see cold blue eyes bereft of any humanity, they looked at him like he was an insect. He had the feeling he should answer…. Quickly!
Casey had heard everything. Hawkins was toast, he rang Walker's work mobile, they had monitored it being switched on as soon as she landed.
It answered, "Hello Casey, enjoying the show?" He wasn't surprised. "Alright Walker, let go of him and get here pronto." Walker tightened her grip and Casey could hear Hawkins's whimper. "What's going on John?", came more forcefully down the line this time.
Casey saw no way to say it easy, so he just said it, "Bartowski's gone Walker." There was a gasp and two things happened simultaneously, the line went dead, and Hawkins was spun into the stand holding the scarves. Walker walked briskly out of the kiosk and then started running.
Shit! Thought Casey, fire in the hole!
In record time the entry to the base shot open and there was a rapid tac tac of heels down the stairs as Walker arrived in, arrowing for the conference area, her momentum was halted by the image of General Beckman staring down at her from the screen, her face automatically set itself in agent mode as the ingrained response to a superior overcame her. The two women regarded each other, John Casey stepped out from behind a terminal and stood beside the younger woman.
The moment grew until Walker could bear it no longer, "What the hell is going on General, where is Chuck Bartowski? You told me he was…."
"Agent Walker!", snapped the General, "This is a briefing, kindly conduct yourself accordingly! Major Casey will now inform you of the situation, I will inform you both of any current additional information and my orders!"
Sarah's mind was reeling but her training started to assert itself, she needed to understand a lot and as of yet, she had nothing but the fact that the man she lov…. was protecting, she mentally corrected herself, was missing! She felt her nails bite into her palms, but her mouth snapped shut.
Casey began to update the General with what they knew so far, the events leading up to Chuck's escape, the steps he had put in place since the General's first orders. Things were proceeding fine until the 'Chuck-a-likes' were brought up, then they went downhill fast.
"….. so, you're telling me that despite the overnight incarceration that not one of them has shed on light on why they were impersonating the Asset?" asked an incredulous Beckman.
"Uh, no Ma'am, bear in mind they're civilians, they were carrying no ID of their own and their behaviour has been bizarre to say the least, if I didn't know better, I'd swear they are acting like this is all one big joke!".
His partner, up to now had been motionless, silently absorbing the information, but at the mention of the captives she activated a monitor to the holding cells, she gasped in shock!
She counted twenty plus men of various sizes in a white buy more shirt and black slacks with converse runners. Some were sitting on the benches, some lying on the few bunks that lined the walls, the rest were standing around a table in the centre that had a multitude of used coffee cups, grey Buy More ties and what looked like a pile of brown curly haired wigs.
"…. can't be Fulcrum, Ma'am, I don't think they're agents of any …", Casey was saying. Her eyes narrowed, and before Casey or Beckman could say another word, she snarled in anger, spun on her heels and headed for the holding cells.
"AGENT WALKER!". "Wallllkeerrrr!", came from behind her, she paid them no heed, her lips were set in a grim line. Fast steps followed her as Casey tried in vain to catch up.
NSA Agent Ted Billings first indication of the tempest that was Sarah Walker approaching, was the door into the holding area slamming open, the beautiful woman walked rapidly towards the cell door he was guarding. He raised an arm, "No one goes in there without the Maj…AAAHH!" His outstretched arm had been grabbed in a vice like grip, his wrist locked as his arm was bent into a S shape, the smallest pressure on his forearm had his elbow joint screaming in pain!
The woman took a step forward rotating him around her whilst maintaining the locks on Billing's arm, he went willingly to relieve the enormous pressure on both joints, Walker kept the momentum going until he shot loose just in time to meet Casey as he entered the area, both men went sprawling across the floor.
Casey pushed Billings off him and rolled to his feet just in time to see the cell door slam shut. Godammit! he thought as he raced over, he tried the access code, the door remained closed, walking to a monitor he switched it on to try and see what the hell Walker was up to when he realised that the screen before him showed nothing but static.
Inside he could heard a bunch of appreciative male voices, a couple of wolf whistles and a few cat calls. He could hear Walker's voice, suddenly there was a high-pitched scream that made even John Casey, a highly trained combat veteran and hardened agent wince. Billing's eyes looked like they were about to bug out of their sockets! There was absolute silence for a moment then there was a cacophony of terrified male voices all shouting something over and over again until an angry shout rang out and then a lone shaky voice repeated something.
It must have been good as the cell door shot open and Sarah Walker strode out, wiping one of her blades on a paper napkin, "I got a lead, we leave in 3 minutes Casey, if you're not ready I'm leaving without you!", she said heading in the direction of the armoury sheathing the blade as she went.
Casey and Billings poked their heads in the door to see a group of whitened faces huddled together in a corner, three men were unconscious on the floor, fainted probably, Casey thought, two more were bent over piles of vomit, a lone man stood in the centre of the cell, who probably looked quite handsome in normal conditions, but now cradled his forearm as drops of blood escaped around his fingers and landed on the floor, he looked with a pained, fearful face at the two agents and whimpered, "….help me….!"
Then the smell hit, Casey whipped his head back outside but not before he had noticed a few of the men had wet stains on their trouser fronts, he reckoned Walker's antics had probably filled a few shorts too! "Billings!", the other man's head turned and faced him, "get a medic...and a clean-up crew, tell 'em to bring some jumpsuits too!", he added as an afterthought.
He marched quickly to the armoury, Walker was already halfway through donning a tactical suit, there was an assortment of weapons sticking out of a large duffel bag. "Jesus Walker, he's probably going to sue!" She glared at him. "2 minutes Casey, and then I 'm going alone!". She did her hair up in a ponytail and then stuck a baseball cap on her head.
Throwing off his suit jacket he donned a Tac vest and grabbing a bag began stuffing it full of weapons himself, after a brief inventory, the two agents walked to the door, Walker did a U-turn back to cells, Shaeffer had turned up, but both he and Billings took an involuntary step back in the face of the Ice Queen as she approached the cell door.
She stood in the doorway prompting a fresh round of whimpering from the wounded man, there were sharp intakes of breath from the rest of the men huddled at the back of the room, one pitched forward unto his face in a dead faint at the sight of the war angel all clad in black. She surveyed them all, pulling a fresh knife from her Tac vest, their eyes widened, she growled, "I'm going, but if that information doesn't pan out, I'm coming back…." She smiled a feral grin and walked away.
Casey shook his head, but he had to give the skirt her due, no he amended, she was his partner. She was only back two hours and already she had a lead, Bartowski, he thought, Walker's gonna kick your ass!
23rd March 2009 West Hollywood 4.10pm.
Saul Goldman sat in his office and enjoyed a late lunch, he had his favourite pumpernickel bagel loaded with Liptauer cheese, mixed with tiny, pickled cornichons, capers and other assorted goodies, a hot cup of his favourite Turkish coffee was in his hand, he sipped and smiled, life was good.
True to his word, the enigmatic Mr. Dawson's extra one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars now rested in Goldman's bank account as his online enquiry revealed. He had tried to contact the man but so far, his calls hadn't been returned, mind you, none of his calls to any of his boys that had participated in yesterday's spot of work had been returned either. He wasn't unduly worried, this was Hollywood, there might have been a wrap up party after.
He hoped they had shone; at Dawson's request he had paid them well over the odds for a few days' work. It had been tough when Dawson first approached about the job, but strangely the man had arrived with a detailed list of sixty of his male artists. "We like to be prepared", was the answer he got, unusual answer, but the deposit of one hundred and seventy-five thousand plus expenses had calmed Goldman's misgivings. A hasty teleconference had followed where Dawson and some unseen casting people had whittled that down to twenty-five. All tall thin six footers or plus.
Aggie his wardrobe woman had been great, once she knew the work uniform type, she immediately rang a corporate apparel company who had the sizes delivered by the following day. He had a cousin in the wig industry and that was them set. A brief meeting with Mr. Dawson where he outlined his project went well, and the fact he paid Goldman's boys himself, made the whole thing quickly viable.
Goldman was just idling on a few holiday destinations on his screen, when it slowly dawned on him that the normally bustling building, was unusually quiet for this time of day, his office door suddenly exploded in a shower of splinters and glass! His hands shot to his ears, as his face grimaced.
The Benelli M-1 Shotgun is particularly designed to breach doors on buildings, the shells are better than standard buckshot and when used correctly, demolish door locks and hinges with precision blasts, in the hands of Sarah Walker it was almost surgical, it also made a very large noise. BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
As the booms dissipated and the shards of ruined door settled around him, Goldman's shock was overcome by his amazement at the blonde bombshell, who strode up to him, waving the enormous shiny weapon, she chambered a fresh round and now pointed it at his face and so close his eyes crossed as they watched the red glow fade from the opening in the end of the barrel.
Finally, coherence returned, and he bizarrely said, "We don't do cop show try outs here, my dear, that's Lyman down the corridor…" His lap felt rather wet and uncomfortable, looking down he saw the remains of his bagel and coffee. There was a humourless laugh from the doorway and a grim-faced giant looked back at him.
The woman spoke, "Where is he?", she hissed. Goldman was nonplussed. He had now entered some realm of insanity, he felt. Was this another part of the Dawson job? "What was the idea of the disguises?" came from the gravel voiced man this time. Goldman's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish as he looked from one to the other.
Whatever patience the two had, seemed to run out, as the blonde's hand came out of nowhere and slapped him back into reality, he responded with an outraged shout "What the HELL are you two idiots doing? I have rig…. OUCH!"
He looked down to see a small dart protruding from his chest area, glancing back up he saw an ugly looking handgun in the man's hand, suddenly he felt incredibly tired, his desk looked wonderfully inviting, but his keyboard was in the way, he wanted to move it, but his arms felt so heavy…. He hardly noticed as another two men had entered the office and now slipped a black bag on his head. His wrists were restrained and the last thoughts through his head were that Dawson's people certainly went all out on these things and somebody was going to pay for that door!
23rd March 2009 Castle. 8.00pm
"So, in conclusion, General, it appears a Hollywood agent was somehow contracted to stage a massive diversion whilst believing that his company and clientele were taking part in a new form of live Street Theatre for an impending TV show. The money that paid for all of this was sent to Goldman through EFT, however both our experts and the banks connected…."
"Excuse me? Banks connected? Just how many were there?" Beckman asked.
John Casey consulted his notes, "Upwards of twelve ma'am, not including the ones that had multiple branches that are still being checked", He finished. Beckman was still not seeing the picture, "Major, what exactly are you saying?"
Sarah Walker had had enough, "What he's saying, General, is that Goldman and each of his people were paid via EFT individually, the banks know they received the money, they transferred the amounts to all of their individual accounts and Goldman's company account but the record of where the money came from has disappeared."
The general looked in thought for a moment. While she did that, Sarah Walker started her own analysis, only now as they waited on Beckman to finish her processing, did she finally voice her own concerns.
"General, I still don't understand something, why the hell did Chuck run? Were you going to bunker him again?" She didn't mean the emphasis she placed on the last word, but dammit, her nerd was missing, and she wanted answers!
Beckman's head had snapped up at the query, but indeed that was the very question she had been asking herself and a room full of NSA/CIA analysists since this whole mess began. The last forty-eight hours had mentally and physically drained her, that damned Cyber-attack couldn't have happened at a worst time, if only Bartowski had of completed the assignments in the folders…. and then she knew.
She locked eyes with Casey through the monitor and she could see the scales dropping from his eyes too as they widened with the realization of just how badly they had underestimated the situation. He started across the room.
Sarah watched the two of them, they knew something, her hunger to know almost compelled her to scream out what, but the answers were coming, and she needed to know what they did. She watched as Casey went to a wall safe, they used for classified material. He quickly entered a code and opened the door, there was a white folder inside, he withdrew it and walked slowly back to the main conference room table, examining it as he went.
Sarah drew in a breath, the tension building as she looked from the General on the screen to her partner to the strange white folder he clutched in his hands.
"What's that, Casey?". He stole a quick glance at the General before he replied, "Intersect files, Walker" Her brow furrowed, "I don't recognise…."
"No Agent Walker", answered Beckman, "we started a new system just after you left..." Quickly the General explained it. "…but that's not what concerns me now, it's the contents of the white folder."
Sarah was puzzled, "I thought you said the white files were low priority, your personal projects..."
"And they are, but in this instance the white folder concerns issues the US and it's Intelligence allies have had with elite computer hackers, which as you know is a major component of my brief as Director of the NSA and coincidently, we just suffered a major Cyber-attack this weekend, Major Casey had noted that Bartowski was receiving help, that coupled with your new findings that indicate more hacking…"
"…. that leads you to believe that this is all connected….?", said Sarah. Casey and Beckman shared a glance again, well Sarah Walker wasn't the CIA's number one agent by being slow on the uptake.
Beckman acknowledged Walker's comments with a nod. "Precisely, although what concerns me now is just how they are all connected, as far as I'm aware, Bartowski never had the chance to review the white folder contents, correct Major Casey?"
John Casey grunted in the affirmative and placed the folder on the desk. "At the time of the attack because no further intel had been sent for the red and blue folders, I had prepared this for Bartowski to review that evening after work, unfortunately…"
"He disappeared." finished the General.
Sarah, her heart racing reached across the table to the folder to open it, she could feel answers were there, the mystery of why Chuck Bartowski had fled was at hand, Casey was beginning to see a connection too, his suspicions from the day before had been gnawing at him too, what had he missed that had made the moron run?
They both opened the folder, inadvertently they jostled for position, almost dislodging the contents, Casey managed to stop the printed sheets from falling but not the lone post-it from slipping out and heading for the floor, that is until the preternaturally swift reflexes of Sarah Walker snapped it from the air. She could see something on the far side of the note, already Beckman's face was crinkling in puzzlement as the writing was facing towards the screen, as Sarah's fingers moved around the small square for better purchase, Beckman could finally see what was written, she gasped in surprise.
Both Casey and Sarah were somewhat surprised themselves to see the General's reaction, Beckman's hand darted out to her desk phone and with a shaky voice, she asked for an Intersect Analysist called Salazar to report to her office.
Meanwhile both agents looked down at the writing to see the words CLEAN SWEEP and BITTER HARVEST, it didn't take more than a moment for either to realise they were looking at code names for something important, important enough to get a reaction like they had just witnessed from the normally taciturn General. If that was her reaction, the thought raced across both their minds, what reaction had Chuck Bartowski had?
"What is it General?", Sarah's apprehension grew, even Casey was interested in her response now. Just then the monitor screen split with a new incoming video connection. A slightly rotund Hispanic face joined the General, "Yes Ma'am, what can I….", the analyst stopped as he took in the fact that this was an open conversation instead of a dialogue with his boss.
He waited for direction from Beckman. "Agent Walker, would you be so good as to show the note you just found in the white folder…?", her voice was deceptively low. Salazar wasn't fooled for a second, he wasn't sure what was going on, but right now he realised he was between the proverbial rock and the hard place. He looked at the post it and read the four words there. He gulped. He looked back at his screen again.
Three very intimidating individuals were staring at him, he shivered, the beautiful blonde's blue eyes were streaming artic cold at him, he was glad of the fact that he was far away from their physical presence, he chose his next words carefully!
"Uhhh Ma'am, as you're aware they refer to the proposed operations currently awaiting the outcome of the review of the material by the Intersect…." Beckman cut in angrily, "Yes! I can see that, Mr. Salazar, what I don't understand is why they're in the bloody folder!"
Sarah Walker had a very disturbing thought. "General, what are BITTER HARVEST and CLEAN SWEEP?" In her experience, Operation names like that usually meant the removal of a threat by any or all means, she knew she wasn't going to like the answer from the sweating that broke out on Salazar's face.
Beckman still looking at Salazar with a look of outright disbelief and hostility, turned her attention to her agents; "Mr Salazar can explain…"
Salazar in a halting voice, explained to the two operatives what the operations were. There was a grunt of annoyance from John Casey, Walker's eyes went glassy, well now she knew. There was no way Chuck Bartowski would have been happy with this. It must have offended his sense of decency and moral code, she was still reading the assorted reports of the suspected hackers and their profiles, when a familiar logo reared its head., she groaned and pulled it out of the pile. Chuck Bartowski hadn't been as thorough as he had thought!
Three other pairs of eyes quickly focussed on the sheet of paper, a Buy More invoice. Casey swore and walked to a terminal screen and called up the surveillance video for his apartment for that night.
The General and agents watched the recording and saw Chuck cover the table with his satchel, to his credit it took several viewings and slo-mo repeats before Casey understood how Chuck had pulled the wool over his eyes. He sneered, maybe they could rig up some kind of eye-lid movement reading device. He was going to tear off the moron's arms and legs and beat him with the stumps!
Sarah was actually impressed, seems like her nerd had been paying attention on their missions. Oh Chuck, she thought, she'd never wanted him to know this side of their work. If only she'd have been here, she would have poured oil on troubled waters. Now Chuck was gone, he was naked without her or Casey, but especially her. She had sworn to protect him. She snorted to herself; hell, she couldn't even protect him from himself.
Beckman dismissed Salazar; she'd deal with him later. Right now, a large piece of the puzzle of the past few days had revealed itself, Bartowski had known! She cursed the luck. This was exactly why the Intersect had always been intended for trained agents not do-gooders like Chuck Bartowski. The Major's suspicions about the escape and assistance of unknown parties coupled with the timing of the attack obviously meant Bartowski had used the Intersect with the contents of the White folder to divine the identities of the unknown elite white hat hackers.
Had he had persuaded them to facilitate his escape with the information of the two operations her analysists had been careless enough to leave in the files? The idea of a loser like Chuck Bartowski forming an alliance was alien to her, he was undisciplined, and these people were habitually loners, there was no way they could prevail against the forces and resources she had at her command.
There was a ringing of a mobile phone that had John Casey reaching for his jacket pocket. Sarah and the General were smart enough to know a call answered in the middle of a briefing had to be important and it was.
FBI SAIC Wilson had had a tiring day, he had monitored the situation as per his Director's request, when the communications between his office and the Head Office had finally been re-established, his orders had been to render all assistance necessary to the NSA/CIA operation and keep a lid on the hunt for the missing government asset, this Bartowski. It had pissed him off no end to find spooks crawling around his city without so much as a by your leave, but worse was to follow, he'd managed to corral the L.A. detectives the sister's boyfriend had reached out to, unfortunately the boyfriend's father had some major influence with the Californian Governor and had called in a favour. He in turn, had started stirring things up at Federal level, Wilson had a feeling that telling the Governor to shut up was well above his pay grade!
He decided to inform the guy who dragged him into this mess of the current situation and let him and his shadowy bosses get their asses kicked for a change!
John Casey listened to all this and grunted softly under his breath, he thanked the federal agent and promised he'd take care of it. "Walker, have you switched on your mobile yet?", he asked as soon as he'd hung up. Sarah realised she hadn't. She pulled her Burbank burner from her bag and switched it on. The shock on her face as it erupted with missed message notifications and text messages was mirrored on Casey's and the General's… so many…she thought.
She saw they were nearly all Ellie! She groaned, she'd been so focused on Chuck she'd completely forgotten the other Bartowski, she must be frantic, Sarah thought. She quickly scanned through them, there was an odd one from Devon and Morgan as well as a number she figured was probably the L.A. detective Casey had mentioned in the briefing.
Beckman shook her head; this was turning into a clusterfuck of epic proportions! "Agent Walker, you're going to have to get a handle on the situation, I need you to go to Miss Bartowski's and calm her down, you can also check and see if there is anything that may indicate the Asset's plans or location."
Sarah Walker didn't think so, she could see John Casey wasn't buying it either, but an order was an order, she nodded. "Yes Ma'am, excuse me, I'll initiate contact and set up a meeting for the morning." She stepped away from the screen and began dialling Ellie's number.
Back on the screen, Beckman turned her attention to Casey, "Major, have an Agent attend that meeting with Walker, they can act as a representative of the FBI and smooth over any questions that may be asked, the main thing is to get Ellie Bartowski placated, we can't have her or her fiancé running around raising questions, we need to compartmentalize this quickly before Fulcrum take notice!"
Casey nodded too. They needed to regain control. In the corner he could hear Walker's voice, soothing Ellie. "…. I just got back and got your messages…. WHAATT! Chuck's gone...? When… yesterday… no, he left no message, but we hadn't been in contact since the ...break-up…." Casey noted the pain in the younger woman's voice. "I'll come by tomorrow morning Ellie, ok?" There was a pause as Walker listened to the response.
She hung up and re-entered the conference area. "General, I have a meeting arranged for tomorrow morning, what is the cover story for the time I was away?" She was all business again. Beckman quickly outlined the plan. There were a few follow-up orders and then she was gone.
Walker, still in shock, looked at Casey. "Do you think we'll find him?".
Casey had been there from the beginning of Chuck's running, the lack of evidence was jarring, Chuck's pals had been very thorough, however they were the top agents of their respective agencies and Beckman was very good at what she did too. The full might of the Federal government was now turned on the trail of Chuck Bartowski. It was only a matter of time he thought.
He looked at her, "Walker, we're the best the US government has, we haven't failed yet, so yes, we will." He said the words with perfect conviction. She searched his eyes for any doubt. There was none. She turned to return to her apartment to prepare for her meeting with Ellie. His voice stopped her, "You realise Walker, it's a bunker when we do?".
She paused at that, then resumed her steps. Chuck! What have you done! Her eyes watered as she made her way out of Castle. She had to find him first!
24th March 2009 Bartowski Residence. 9.30am
Sarah Walker slowly took a deep breath and collected herself as she stood outside the Echo Park apartment that she loved so well, she threw a last look at Casey's where she had just left, and knocked at the door to the Bartowski-Woodcomb residence, as if on cue the door shot open and she was immediately engulfed in an Ellie bearhug as the sobbing woman gave heartfelt thanks that Sarah had arrived. "Oh Sarah, Thank God you're here!"
"Ellie, please… a little breathing room...", she gasped. With a small, embarrassed gasp herself at her apparent over enthusiasm, Ellie relaxed her crushing grip. "Sorry, it's just so good to see you, come in!" She grabbed the young woman's wrist and dragged the Agent inside the apartment.
Inside the mood was subdued, the normal light happy energy had been replaced by loss and despair. At the dinner table Devon sat with Morgan Grimes, both men in conversation with a third man, as arranged, NSA Agent Hawkins had donned the guise and credentials of an FBI agent, he had a notebook in front of him that he jotted down the information that both men offered in answer to his questions.
At Sarah's appearance, both men gave a start of surprise and hurriedly stood up from the table, and made their way over to the two women, another round of bone crushing hugs ensued.
She turned to the table as Agent Hawkins stood up. "Special Agent David Morse", He introduced himself, "I'm dealing with the disappearance of Mr. Charles Bartowski, and you are his …girlfriend?"
She nodded, "Sarah Walker". He consulted his notebook as he motioned her to the table and an empty chair, they sat down facing each other. "So, my understanding is that you've been out of town the past week or so, Miss Walker, has Mr. Bartowski been in contact with you over that period?"
Ellie watched intently as Sarah shook her head in the negative, "No, I haven't spoken with Chuck since before I left, we had sort of broken up…." There was a catch in her voice that everybody caught. "No texts? Or emails?" enquired Hawkins/Morse. "No", she replied, His eyes met hers. "Sounds serious…", He noted.
"It's all my fault! I was taking things too slow, I'd had a bad relationship before I met Chuck, I was being unfair and I knew it, I... I…I thought if I had some time away back East with my uncle…"
"Uncle?", interrupted Ellie, like the others she was all ears, Sarah had never really opened up about her past or family, as Ellie recalled, conversations with Sarah about that sort of stuff tended to have her brother change the subject or Sarah would deflect the question in some manner, but now all she had was a need to know what the younger woman knew if it would help in the search for Chuck, she was worried sick!
Wiping her eyes, Sarah turned to the elder Bartowski, "My uncle Brian, he lives in D.C., when my parents split up, he was a great help to me, he sort of raised me, paid for my Harvard degree and then with a job in the State Department, he even paid for my car."
She paused, "After our last break up, I was upset and called him, he invited me to stay with him. I'm sorry Ellie, I didn't think about anything but myself, I should have tried harder…" She dropped her head, she found she didn't have to push herself to cry at all, the tears fell of their own accord. Ellie Bartowski had been feeling somewhat guilty herself given her role in advising Chuck to end the relationship, she had thought it might help the two lovebirds settle whatever issues that seemed to be complicating matters. It appeared her advice had backfired badly!
Watching on the monitor in his own apartment, Casey gave a grunt of approval, the skirt was selling it, as he watched Ellie made her way over to Walker and gathered her in her arms telling her not to worry. He wondered just how much of it was an act though.
The general was tied into his surveillance also watching, "She is truly gifted, I would believe her myself, Major Casey". He agreed, "The CIA's best…". They resumed watching.
Agent Hawkins stood and gathered his notebook, Sarah's sobs had slowed and Ellie, along with Devon accompanied the FBI agent to the door, he stopped to look back at Walker, Morgan had sat down beside her, offering a clean tissue from a box Ellie had been using herself.
He frowned, "Will she be, ok? She seems to be taking it pretty hard." Ellie Bartowski followed his gaze, "She loves him", she said simply. Looking at the scene Hawkins was in no doubt he was in the presence of one of the best spies in the business, even he believed the performance he was witnessing. "I'll check out her story, but it sounds good to me, I recognise the uncle, he's a big noise on the DC circuit". He produced his card, "If you can think of anything that may help the investigation, contact me at that number anytime."
Devon took the card as he held his fiancé close to him, supporting her. "What do you think the chances are, Agent Morse?" enquired the doctor. Hawkins looked in thought, "It's highly likely Mr. Bartowski left of his own accord, we found no evidence of anything untoward at 4sight, everybody we've spoken to noticed nothing unusual, he had isolated himself in work, perhaps this recent breakup with Miss Walker gave him time to ponder, your brother seems a complex man, Miss Bartowski. Are you sure you can't think of any place he may have mentioned, even in passing, that could help us?"
Ellie shook her head, "No, he's never done anything like this before, he's always come home." The Agent nodded in understanding, "Look, it's highly likely that he's just taken some time for himself, this is not that unusual, there are cases where young men just up and go, sometimes amid some emotional upheaval, no notice given, we've issued an APB to all our offices and local Law Enforcement. We'll keep you informed of all progress as soon as we hear anything. Ok?"
"Thank you, Agent Morse, we appreciate your assistance." Hawkins left. Ellie turned to find Morgan alone on the couch. "Where's Sarah?", she asked. Morgan indicated down the hall with his head, bathroom he mouthed. She nodded back and went to put a fresh brew of coffee on.
Sarah Walker stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes were red raw from her unforced tears. Casey had sent her a text message to let her know that her performance had been well received, the General was impressed. She felt disgusted with herself and looked away from her reflection, unable to meet her own damning eyes.
She cleaned up the counter and flushed the toilet, she did a minimal repair job on her makeup, not that she'd worn much that morning. There was nobody to impress. He was gone.
She left the bathroom and went into Chuck's bedroom, usually it was a place of shelter, where she could bask in the warmth of his presence, today, its emptiness mocked her. She quickly noticed that all of their cover relationship pictures where still in their places. That hurt her most of all, he hadn't even taken any mementoes of them, but then as far as he was concerned, they were fake, right? Chuck was all about truth.
Wherever he was, lies would not be a part of his life, the worse thing about that was the knowledge that that was the lie, she did love him, she was missing him terribly. She had blown it, too afraid to chance her heart, the strict dogma of the Agent had ruled her life and now ruined it.
She walked to his bed and sat down heavily. She could feel the sadness start to overwhelm her again and she lay down, pulling her long legs up under her as she burrowed into the sheets so she could capture any essence of him to ease her pain. His scent filled her nostrils, and she felt a shadow of his presence, it wasn't enough, her eyes filled with tears again and she sobbed quietly to herself...
Outside the bedroom door Ellie watched tearfully herself and she bit down on her hand so she wouldn't disturb the younger woman as her sorrow enveloped her. Her last conversation with her brother came back to her and she wished he could see the hurt that Sarah's love for him caused her. She wished she'd never suggested the breakup back then. She should never have doubted the feelings Sarah had for her brother.
She turned and walked back to the kitchen area, Morgan had left, he was due into the Buy More but promised he would call later. Devon was preparing some mugs of coffee for them. He stopped his preparations when he saw her and rushed over.
"Babe, what's happening?" There was concern in his voice as he searched Ellie's face. Ellie managed to catch herself, she looked back at him. He was her rock now and she needed him more than ever.
"Sarah", she said sadly, "It's really hitting her hard, she really loves him." Devon held her close again. He too had been feeling guilty over advising Chuck.
His future brother-in-law despite his nerd behaviours was a deep and intelligent young man, the agent had been right, Chuck Bartowski was a very complex man when you got down to it, he remembered the conversation between the siblings that Ellie had told him about, from their last night together.
He had read Walden at college and wondered if Chuck had pulled some kind of Henry Thoreau and disappeared to 'find' himself. This is not awesome Chuckster, he thought to himself, really not at all.
Back in Chuck's room, Sarah started to pull herself together, she quickly searched his room for any signs he may have left a clue, the strike team and Casey had already been here, but they didn't have her connection, it wasn't long before she found the hidden alcove, from the imprint in the dust she quickly realised he'd hidden a laptop there. There were other markings there as well, smaller. She snapped a few shots with her phone, the technicians at Meade or Langley could ponder their significance. She knew he'd taken his passport and Diploma, that gave her some hope, they were traceable, she needed any hope right now.
She looked around the room again, her eye caught the laundry basket. A T- shirt half hung outside the top, before she could stop herself, she had sweep it under her top, hiding it from view, as she exited the room.
She made her way to the kitchenette, Ellie and Devon gave her an encouraging smile as she sat down next to them, Devon stood and went to get her a coffee, Ellie took her hand, "Are you going to be, ok?" Sarah shook her head. "I just want him back, Ellie", she said in a quiet voice. "So do I", Ellie responded. The two women looked at each other, missing the man they both loved in their own way.
Eventually she took her leave of Ellie and Devon, staying there hurt too much and she had a report to make. She watched forlornly as Ellie shut the door on her, whispering their goodbyes, she steadied herself with a hand on the door as the agent in her waited for Ellie to return to Devon before she made her way to John Casey's apartment, the door already ajar.
She entered, the room was gloomy, Casey stood looking at her, he said nothing. They waited on the General.
The monitor pinged with an incoming call, and they squared their shoulders and watched as the screen changed to the visage of Beckman.
"Agents, that was good work Agent Walker, you seemed to have allayed Ms Bartowski's suspicions for now." Sarah nodded, "Thank you General, I have some pictures of a hidden alcove I discovered in Chu- the Asset's bedroom. I'll forward them on for analysis."
John Casey's eyebrows raised in surprise, he'd personally checked the room himself and found nothing, yet again the connection Walker and Bartowski shared had borne fruit. The General had been right, Walker was the key to finding Bartowski or at least understanding how they lost him.
The General pressed on, "Did you manage to get any idea of involvement from his sibling and her partner or his friend, Grimes?"
"No General, it looks like he told them nothing, especially Morgan, he wouldn't be able to contain himself." It was a smart move Sarah thought, whether by accident or design, and the involvement of the Governor by Woodcomb's parents effectively shielded them from the NSA/CIA.
The General voiced just that. "Major, maintain complete surveillance of them all, we've been warned off holding them by the DNI courtesy of a warning from the President's Chief of Staff. For now, we'll have to play it straight."
Casey grunted in the affirmative, he hated politicians, with the exception of his sainted Ronald Reagan of course!
"Agents, resume your covers for now, Agent Walker as you were supposed to be on vacation you can take over at Castle leading the hunt for the Asset. Major Casey, you can assist whenever your Buy More schedule permits. Beckman out." She disappeared off the screen.
The two agents looked at each other, Chuck had been missing for nearly three days now, the odds on them having a successful conclusion were shortening by the hour. Still, they had their duty, "Ok Casey, let's go over it again…."
23rd March 2009 Burbank. Espinosa Apartment. 08.00pm.
Maria nervously looked around her and Diego's apartment again, she was very house proud and now she had finally met her mysterious benefactor she was determined to show her gratitude, her cousins Javier and Eduardo sat on the couch talking with Diego, they had done a lot of catching up in the past 24 hours. The phone call had come earlier that day from the Voice, and she had finished work early at the saloon to return home to prepare.
She felt like a nervous teenager again, what was that all about? The truth was it had been a lonely existence, her and Diego had left a cocoon of family and friends in Culiacan, coming here had been freedom, but the freedom came with the price of constantly watching out for dangers, real or imaginary, the cholos had a wide reach. The addition of their two cousins was welcome. But she was also a woman, and she had her needs, the meeting with the Voice had started stirrings in her that she had not acknowledged in a long time.
The man's appearance had been to her liking, and he was good, a good man. She had seen that in him and his friend. Their eyes were warm, their glances at her had been respectful and their voices had been encouraging, unkind words were not welcome in their conversations with her or each other as she cut the younger man's hair. There had been an air of sadness about them both, but it had not soured them to life.
She wore her long beautiful dark hair down, she changed her blouse when she came in from the saloon, the fashionable low-cut top, was replaced with a modest, white cotton, near neck high one, it did little to hide her obvious charms much to the amusement of her brother Diego, who watched with amused eyes as did her cousins. She had kept her long skirt and boots on.
She checked the oven again, she had prepared some tapas, she shouted at Javier to take his feet of the small table, he hurried to comply!
There was a knock at the apartment door, Diego went to stand but a stern look from his sister sat him back down again. She paused briefly by the mirror at the door, assuring herself, she opened the door.
Mike Travers had been checking the corridor out of habit as the door opened, he turned to say hello when a vision of loveliness seized his brain. In his thirty-seven years of existence, he doubted he had seen a more beautiful woman than Maria Espinosa as she stood before him at that moment.
She smiled, she ushered him in, he entered still unable to tear his eyes away from her, a cough from behind him made his head spin and he took in the three younger men as they sat watching him.
He started breathing again and remembered why he was there. He walked over to the men and shook their hands; he felt a soft presence behind him and turned making sure he kept his eyes where he knew Maria's face would be. She met his gaze and offered to take his jacket.
How had he missed this the other day, he mused. He had been so focused on the plan that he realised he hadn't stopped to appreciate the woman that had helped him and Chuck. He felt a little ashamed of that.
As if sensing his discomfort, Maria extended her own hand which he took, he admired the softness of her skin.
"Hola, Senor Voice." She spoke. Finally, sense returned, "Voice...?", said Mike slowly, he started, "Yes. Of course, sorry, Maria, my name is Mike, Mike Travers." He inclined his head slowly as if tipping a hat.
"Mike…. I think I like that, Mike." She flashed a megawatt smile. He reddened but sat down on a small sofa. Maria was quick to sit down beside him. Her brother and her cousins shared a look and sat down on the larger sofa.
Maria's nearness was playing merry hell with his senses, but Mike gathered himself and pressed on.
"My friends, I am glad to see you here safe and well, I hope the crossing was comfortable?" The brothers nodded their heads, "Si, thank you for your help, things were getting a little difficult back in Mexico. Maria says you need our help. How can we possibly help the man who has done all this for us? You are like a magician." Said Eduardo.
"I wish that were true, but the truth is I am in need of your help, my friend, whom Maria and I recently helped, has family here that I need to watch over, and for that I need people I can trust…." Javier interjected, "…this sounds like something that may contain some risk, Mike."
Mike nodded, this family had suffered from the attention of the Mexican Sinola Cartel, now he was going to ask them to endanger themselves with a much more dangerous adversary, the United States Government and its minions.
"True, there is risk, Javier, but all I need for you to do is take employment near the family members, I do NOT want you to interact with them, other than pleasantries, they are under surveillance at all times, I just need you to watch and report any changes in their condition or any changes to those who watch them.", he paused, "For this, I have arranged some interviews for you both at the hospital where they work, Javier, your skills as an electrician will suit a handyman role that has opened up, and Eduardo, there is an Orderly role that you can make work for you."
The two brothers' eyes rose, they glanced at each other. "You are very presumptuous, Mike.", began Eduardo, there was a hiss of anger from Maria, she glared at her cousins and a stream of barrio Spanish flew from her mouth, they both looked ashamed.
Mike caught about half of it, she had reminded them of what Mike had done for their family, how could they now refuse him and his friend's family? Mike put a reassuring hand on her arm, she stopped and looked at his hand. She felt her pulse quicken.
Mike felt something pass between them also, but turned back to the brothers, "I asked you Eduardo, because there is a good history of trust between myself and your family, specifically your father. He has helped many people escape bad situations with me over the years." Mike indicated Diego and Maria. "This is why when they were in trouble, he was able to get them out."
The two brothers and their cousins sat straighter at the mention of their elder relation, their surprise and pride evident on their faces. They had had no idea. It turned things on their head, but Mike had more is store for them.
"This is why I am asking for this favour, but yes, there is risk and there is also reward. For taking this work, I am going to pay you an additional ten thousand dollars a month on top of the salaries you will be paid at the hospital, Westside Medical."
There was a low whistle from Diego. He had talked with his cousins about setting up a business now they had arrived, this would certainly help them. His boxing career was over, he knew that when he ran. His excitement was mirrored in his cousins faces. There was no more need for indecision.
"Ok Mike," said Javier, "We will help." Mike let go a sigh of relief, there was a comforting rub on his shoulder, he turned to face a beaming Maria. She was so proud of her family, her earlier annoyance lifted.
Mike then quickly showed the men pictures of Ellie and Devon that he had brought, he also showed them pictures of Sarah and John Casey, the brothers had scowled at Casey but wowed at Walker. Mike warned them.
"Please, be very careful, especially of these two, between them they have racked up more bodies than some of the sicarios in your homeland, they are the best, they see everything so give them no reason to even look at you, ok?"
At the mention of the word sicario, both men's faces showed fear, but they were not deterred. They had survived the rigours of their homeland. Watch a couple of doctors? That was no problem. They could do that.
Maria returned from the kitchen with some platters of food, Mike's stomach grumbled, he'd been on a diet of fast food since he arrived in L.A., the tapas smelt and tasted delicious. He handed the men some ID's and burner phones, they worked out a schedule for keeping in touch, Maria wanted to help so Mike had her act as the intermediary between himself and her cousins. She was thrilled, now she had a means of staying in contact with Mike.
Mike was no idiot, still, he was pleasantly surprised when she asked him if he had any plans for the weekend, he shot a glance at Diego, as if asking permission. Diego smiled and raised his hands as if to say I want no part of this. They settled on a restaurant and with a final confirmation with the brothers for the morning's arrangements, Mike took his leave.
As he put his jacket on, Diego moved next to him, "Don't hurt her". Mike looked at Diego, there was a serious look on his face. "I won't and thank you. I appreciate the honour, we'll be back early, I promise", replied Mike. Diego Espinosa smiled, truth was his sister would kick his ass good if she found out he'd interfered, Mike seemed a good sort, but Diego was her brother, no harm in reminding Travers of that.
Maria saw him to the door and kissed his cheek as he left. He mused, if it hadn't of been for the current situation, he may not have had a chance to meet someone like this, his occupation kept him mobile and busy, he gave silent thanks to Chuck Bartowski!
Castle. Later that night….
Sarah Walker sat alone in the main conference area of the hidden base, her frustrations had been mounting all day, she knew the odds for a successful hunt, and this was the third day, they were less than fifty percent now!
For the umpteen time that night she gathered the printed reports from the various agencies the General had co-ordinating the search for Chuck. Border reports, nothing! Vehicle stop and search reports. Nothing! Airline and public transportation passenger lists. Nothing!
Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!
She snarled and slammed her fists down on the tabletop making several NSA agents jump in surprise and find things to do in other parts of Castle. She felt incredibly useless. She got up and went in search of fresh coffee. Returning to the table she tried to calm her mind, there had to be something, Chuck wasn't a trained agent nor were any of his friends…. Weren't they? Dammit! There were so many unknowns.
They needed, no, she needed a break, some kind of slip up, she feared for an overzealous cop or agent, Beckman had had her way, the Executive Order had finally come. Dead or alive. The General was taking no half measures. Her eyes moistened again; please be safe Chuck she implored the universe.
…across the room a webcam was watching the scene, Akio Minoru was on duty for the Ghosts, he felt somewhat uncomfortable as he watched the young woman, he was a good reader of body language and everything about Agent Sarah Walker of the CIA said to him that this was no act, this was a woman desperately missing the man she loved. He pondered his options.
Chuck was on his way to Europe, this news would do no good and possibly weaken his resolve, Akio was under no illusions, Chuck Bartowski was going to need every bit of strength and resilience to make the selection process of the French Foreign Legion.
His computer bleeped, the latest Janus download of information on the search for Chuck was complete, he parsed it out into manageable bundles for review by all the others. He had other matters to attend to. The Cyber-attack had yielded a lot of Intersect information, if he was going to help Chuck find a release to his condition he needed to understand more. He took a last look at Sarah Walker; she had her head in her hands.
He wondered why the young suffered as they did at the misfortunes of fate. He sighed and cut the link, his shift was over, Mateo would be taking over.
Linz, Austria. Hotel Wolfinger 10.00pm.
The man making his way through the reception area of the Hotel Wolfinger was hailed by the Concierge, "Mr Reeves!". He approached the checking in area, the Concierge moved him away from the receptionist so they could speak privately. The man kept his eyes moving though, he cycled through the room, watching doors, entrances and exits.
"Sir, a message was left for you, as per your request I kept it until your return."
The man nodded, he took the envelope and passed the man a bundle of notes, "Danke Wilhelm, I appreciate your discretion." The Concierge beamed, "Very good Mein Herr, we aim to please our guests and accommodate all their requests." The man nodded again and headed to his room.
Once there he checked his security measures, the hairs he planted at various points in the room were undisturbed. He was relieved, they had nearly caught up to him in Milan, a lucky glance in a bar window and he recognised two of his pursuers. Fulcrum!
He had run. He just managed to get to the train station and took the first available outbound and ended up by way of a circuitous route at Linz.
He took his laptop from its hiding place, he logged into the external agency message board, the cipher in his hand was for the day code, He read it and found the code amid a meaningless message, as soon as he entered it the numbers and symbols on the webpage reformed into his latest updates. He prepared himself for new orders, he was stunned at what he saw.
Mission abort, return to Safe House Alpha and await instructions – Priority Omega 1
He sat down heavily on his bed. It was a message he had never thought he'd receive. He knew what it meant. Return to Langley. What the hell he wondered; something had happened in Burbank! He grabbed his suitcase; it was going to take a week or two to dismantle his cover operation to allay any Fulcrum suspicions, but he had some incentive. Bryce Larkin grinned to himself, He was going to see her again, Sarah….
