CHAPTER 3

Hola amigos! Here is another chapter that I somehow found time to write. Amongst all the work load I have at my office, I managed to make some time for this.

I sometimes wonder if Sarah is a bit out of character. But then I think, Sarah is the way she is in canon because of her past, working cons with her dad and joining the CIA. Those things really put a damper on her character. We got a glimpse of what she could be in season 4, when she put on a dress with wings to surprise Chuck for Valentine's Day. I intend to make Sarah a bit more cheerful, but also emotionally adept unlike canon.

And, here we go.

"Italics" – Russian Dialogue

-Break-

Podolsk, Russia

Chuck was not much of a cook. He was man enough to accept that. But seeing his daughter going around the supermarket picking up stuff to bake a cake, he wondered if his girl inherited any of his genes.

As if she heard him, she turned to him and shrugged.

He chuckled and shook his head. She was going to give him grey hairs very soon.

"I am going to get some stuff for myself. Wait for me at the billing counters after finishing with yours."

She just nodded and went about her search.

He went away in his pursuit of his requirements.

After about 15 minutes of getting the stuff he needed, he was on his way to the billing counter when he saw three men surrounding a girl who looked to be in her early twenties. She looked really uncomfortable. He could tell she wanted to run from there but was afraid of what the men would do.

He went up to them but hid behind a shelf. He took out his iPhone and took photos of all three men. He put his phone back in his pocket and walked up to them.

"Hey guys. What seems to be the issue here? Is this girl troubling you?" he asked cheerfully.

All four of them gave him incredulous looks. Even the guys were stumped. Was this guy blind?

One of them said, "Get lost kid. This doesn't concern you."

Chuck just smiled, "Come on. I just want to help. You seem to be having some troubles with her. Don't worry. I can help."

The men stared at him. Was he being for real?

The same guy walked up to him and put a hand on his chest and pushed him, "I said back off!"

Chuck gasped mockingly, "Woah! Calm down brother. Why the sudden violence?"

He then took out his iPhone and showed them the photos he took. The guys looked at it and laughed. Even the girl facepalmed.

"Hey idiot! You only have our faces. This does not prove anything"

Chuck just smiled calmly, "Yes, this is no proof of crime. But I don't need to prove your crime."

The men gave him confused looks. Was this guy right in the head?

Chuck continued, "You see, a friend of mine is a cop. And she hates bullies. I can just tell her that you three tried to manhandle my daughter, whom she loves so much. Trust me you don't want to know her wrath while protecting my girl."

The men gave him dubious looks. It seems they don't trust him. Well, that won't do.

Chuck raised an eyebrow, "A demo might suffice, I think."

He called Sofia on the speaker phone. She picked up on the third ring.

"What's up?"

He spoke to her in Russian, "What would you do if you find someone bullying Maya? Some friends of mine are curious to know."

She snarled, "Is someone causing her trouble?! Who is that bastard? Where are they? I will make them a bloody smear on the ground!"

The viciousness in her voice startled the guys. They looked at each other warily.

Chuck ignored their sweating looks and continued on, "Hey calm down. You can't kill them no matter how much you want to."

She scoffed, "No one will find their bodies. I'll make sure no one searches for them. Now tell me who they are?"

Chuck looked at them blankly with a raised eyebrow, as if saying it was their call.

They promptly ran off. But one of the guys looked at him weirdly before following the others. Chuck wondered what that was about. He sent the girl on her way after she thanked him profusely. He waved her off.

He spoke to Sofia, "Thanks for that. Were you busy?"

She snarked, "Heavens no! I have no job to do you see. I am just wiling away my time doing nothing."

He sheepishly chuckled, "Sorry. But there were three guys troubling a girl. She looked way too uncomfortable so I had to step in. I'll make it up to you."

"You better. I'll talk later. Bye" and she disconnected.

Just as he was putting away his phone, Maya came up to him.

"Since when did you become such a playboy?" she grinned cheekily.

Chuck blushed, "I am not! She just thanked me for helping her. That's all."

Maya laughed, "Yeah. Keep telling yourself that. Maybe you will believe it one day."

Chuck looked offended at that. Maya smiled mischievously.

"Go to the billing counter you goof. I need to use the washroom. I'll be back."

Maya shrugged and skipped away to the billing counter. Chuck shook his head at her antics and left.

With the guys

The man who stared at Chuck in the end walked away from the group saying he had to use the restroom. He took out his phone and called someone.

"Hello" said the male voice in English.

"I need to tell you something important."

"Calm down. Where are you?"

"I am in Russia right now. Listen…"

"Hey. Deep breaths first. What has got you in such a fussy mode?"

"You will not believe who I saw here."

"Who?"

Before he could reply, he heard a voice behind him.

"So that's why you looked at me like that? I thought you were attracted to me or something."

The man was startled and looked back. How did he sneak up on him like that?

Chuck smiled knowingly, "Yeah. I get that a lot."

His face turned into stone, "Now. Who is it on the other end?"

The man snarled, "Go to hell, you bastard."

He could hear someone speaking on the phone and before the man could speak, he put his arm around his shoulder and choked him. The man struggled to breathe and tried to free himself but it was of no use. He was too strong. Just as he was about to pass out, he let him go. The man fell to the ground holding his throat and trying to breathe in air desperately. Chuck knelt down next to him and picked up the phone. It said private number. He looked at the man still struggling for oxygen.

"Ready to tell me now?"

The man just nodded frantically.

Los Angeles, CA

He looked at his phone as it was disconnected. The guy on the other end sounded frantic. It was like he saw something that spooked him. He so wanted to know what happened to him, but the line was suddenly cut off. He tried calling him back but it was going straight to voicemail. His gut was telling him that something was really wrong, and he always trusted his gut.

He called someone he knew would find out what was happening.

"Hello?"

"I need a favor"

Chuck's home

After reaching home Chuck told Maya to set everything on the table. He then told her he was going to take a nap and not to disturb him. Maya raised an eyebrow but shrugged and sat on the couch, turning on the TV.

In the bedroom, Chuck reached under his bed and pulled out a package that was taped to the bottom. He opened it and tipped the contents on the bed. It was a burner phone which he assembled and made a call.

"Hey man."

"Hey Bryce. I need your help. Its urgent."

"Sure man. What's the issue?"

"I need you to…"

TBC

And that's a wrap. Sorry for the short chapter guys. But I thought this is a good place to leave it for now.

I hope you liked it.

Please do leave your reviews. Your support is precious to me.

See you soon.