Don't own Chuck

Previous Chuck stories and order: 1 Chuck vs Charles, 2 Chuck vs the Love Boat, 3 Chuck vs The Rock, 4 Chuck vs Amtrak, 5 Chuck vs The Dictator, 6 Chuck vs The Name, 7 Chuck vs The Volcano, 8 Chuck vs The Ghost, 9 Chuck vs The Shooter, 10 Chuck vs The Package, 11 Chuck vs The Jade Dragon, 12 Chuck vs Jai-Alai, 13 Chuck vs The Greek, 14 Chuck vs The Suitcase, 15 Chuck vs The Pirate, 16 Chuck vs The Toy Maker, 17 Chuck vs The Sibyl, 18 Chuck vs The House, 19 Chuck vs The Heist, 20 Chuck vs The A-Bomb, 21 Chuck vs The Snowman, 22 Chuck vs The Tin Man, 23 Chuck vs The Baguette, 24 Chuck vs The Black Knight, 25 Chuck vs The Merchant of Venice, 26 Chuck vs Electric Sheep, 27 Chuck vs The Band

The Christmas tree was finally decorated in the Bartowski household and as Christmas is about family and tradition so was it for Chuck and Sarah. Mary and Ellie prepared eggnog one batch for children and another for adults. Then they all got changed into onesies. Chuck had ordered theirs months ago. They were a family of deer complete with cotton tails and antlers although Sam refused to wear her red nose.

"Guys you'd better not go walking around in the woods like that, especially if Casey's around. You might end up on the table and that really would be a Chuck roast," said Devon. He and Ellie along with Clara were an elf family.

"Awesome, have you guys seen Gwandor, aa' lasser en lle coia orn n'omenta gurtha [May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown]. I'm sorry, don't you speak Elfish?" said Chuck returning the pun.

"Tanya farnuva, that's enough this is Christmas not the shire so no Hobbit jokes," said Mary dressed in her Mrs. Claus onesie complete with white hair. "Chuck I don't won't the sound ungrateful but next year I'll get my own pajama."

"I wanted Ma Barker but I couldn't find it," said Chuck as he got up and went to get some adult eggnog then came back and shared with Sarah. "Well El this year no fake fireplace but we do have… can you guess?"

"No, no not the Twilight Zone not this year," protested Ellie. "Sarah what do you think? Miracle on 34th Street."

"Original or remake?" asked Chuck.

"I have both Little Brother and the girls need to build their own traditions. Watching the Twilight Zone on Christmas Eve isn't much of a tradition. Right Sarah?"

"Ellie, Christmas in the Burton household meant the annual Salvation Army con job. I'll leave it to your imagination but right now I'm… well I'm just happy to be here with you guys and you Sweetie," said Sarah as she kissed him.

"Hey you're supposed to stand under the mistletoe and do that," said Clara as she yawned. Sam had already crawled up on Sarah's lap and went to sleep.

"I think the Christmas police are sleepy," said Chuck as Clara nodded off them woke up then fell back asleep this time there wasn't any waking up again.

"Sarah let's take our sleepy kids and put them to bed. Chuck, I'd better see Maureen O'Hare and little Natalie Woods on the TV when I come back or I won't be a good little girl."

"Oh Babe, Santa will have to cross you off his list," said Devon. "How's that bro?"

"Awesome," said Ellie, "do you remember this song, 'Baby it's cold outside'? Well keep it up and you might experience it."

Sarah and Ellie went into the backroom with their sleepy children. Clara was moving but Ellie had to guide her so she wouldn't bump into things. Sarah had Sam in her arms with her head buried in her chest. From behind Chuck could see Sam's little antlers stick up over Sarah's shoulder. He hoped Sarah was being sufficiently heart-warmed like he promised years ago but now he was there with Mary and Devon alone.

"Awesome, Devon I have to ask you this," said Chuck putting joking aside and becoming serious. "Are we cool? I can understand after everything if… well things were different between us. Not that they have to be. I mean if they were I would understand. Am I making sense?"

"Yeah you are and I have to admit I was for a lack of a better word, disturbed. But I understand you did what you had to do and you save me as well as Morgan but to say we're where we were before… No I'm not there. I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear but I'm being honest."

"That's what I wanted. If I didn't I wouldn't have asked but do you think we'll ever get back to where we were?"

"I don't know dude I'd say let's just take it easy and see how everything plays out. We're going to have to go back to Chicago the day after tomorrow. We took extra time off to stay here before Christmas. Hey, why don't you guys come stay with us for New Years? We can all go down to the Navy Pier; there will be a huge celebration and fireworks."

"Let me talk to Sarah about it and I'll get back to you but it sounds like fun."

"Talk to Sarah about what," asked Sarah as she and Ellie walked back into the room. The mood in the room had changed and they both could feel it.

"I left the kids presents outside in the car outside until they went to sleep," said Chuck. "Sarah can you put on a jacket and help me."

"Devon, help me," said Ellie. "I hid ours in the bedroom under the bed so we need to be extra quiet not to wake Clara so it's going to take two. Can you be Awesome for me?"

"Always babe. Who's your daddy?"

"No Devon we don't do that whatever that is so just stop and lay off the eggnog. The last time you drank too much was at your bachelor party and we know how that went."

Chuck and Sarah went outside then walked away from the cabin far enough that they couldn't be heard then he told Sarah what had happen. He told her what he had said, Devon's reaction and how Awesome replied.

"All in all it wasn't that bad," she said as she put her arm around him. "Devon is civilian. I know I keep saying that but it's something you have to keep in mind. What we do and how we have to be, it's strange for them. I think the offer to go stay with them for New Year's is a foot in the door. He could've closed it all together but he didn't."

"So what are you saying? You want to go to Chicago and freeze to death on the Navy Pier, suffering frost bite and the winter winds off Lake Michigan to watch fireworks."

"I'm risking frost bite now," said Sarah as she rubbed her cold nose next to his face. "Let's go get these gifts and tell them we'd be glad to go stay with them for New Year's."

"Sexy, beautiful, smart you're all the gift I need for Christmas."

"So I don't need to give you a present… I love you," she said as they kissed under an oak tree with mistletoe hanging above their heads.

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Three days later and halfway around the world in Sevastopol a black team drove down Revyakina Street stopping in front of a rundown apartment complex then quickly deploying. After recent events tensions were running high between the locals and people they now considered as foreigners. Anatoly had to be careful how he used the Spetsnaz, they weren't famous for having the best of manners but if the intel the FSB received was true this grab was of vital importance.

"Anatoly, I don't know why I let you drag me along on this mission," complained Stefan. "The weather in the Crimean isn't as great as people say it is."

"We all can't run off to California when we want. You're here also because if this thing goes aboard the SVR will have to run with it that is unless you want to share some of your budget money with me."

"Anatoly, I promised my family I'd always celebrate Svyatki with them. If you make me break my promise you're going to have to face my wife and kids."

"Tell that to Professor Tuberg or whatever his name really is," said Anatoly as he got radio confirmation that his men were inside the apartment but found it empty. "Come along if we stand around here we're liable to get lynched. Let's go have a look."

"What are you doing here?" yelled an old woman who greeted them armed with a broom as they came walking up the steps. She looked belligerent until Anatoly waved his badge in front of her.

"FSB get back inside and close your door," he said and the woman immediately cowered retreating to the safety of her apartment. They heard her close the door then turn the lock.

"She remembers the old days," said Stefan. Anatoly wasn't sure if Stefan meant that in a positive or negative way but that was the way to survive in the KGB to be enigmatic and even more so now in its step children.

"Here we are," said Anatoly as they walked past men leaving wearing hazmat suits looking like they just returned from outer space. "How is it in there?"

"It's clear," said one of the men with his mask hanging down his back. "We scanned the place using biosensors and they came back negative which means is clean but I still wouldn't go kicking up a lot of dust until we do a full sweep."

"Thanks but we don't have time to wait," said Anatoly as he began to enter but the man grabbed him by the arm.

"Wait, okay go in, but if you see anything that looks like it's impregnated with sand leave it alone then come and get one of us."

"I understand but it would be easier if you told me what it is this guy took. If nothing else we can know better how to deal with him."

"I'm sorry you know as much as I can tell you," said the man as he turned and disappeared in a group of other spacemen then they walked back out of the apartment building.

"Okay Anatoly what haven't you told me?" said Stefan as he started going through the waste can looking at waded up receipts.

"All I know is Dr. Tuberg made an unauthorized visit to Vozrozhdeniya Island and since then my life has been hell trying to track him down."

"Jesus I thought all that stuff had been destroyed… You don't think he… Well everything was removed from there after Aralsk-7 was shut down, right?"

"Those are all questions I prefer not to think about. Here I got something," said Anatoly. "This is the ferry schedule from Swallow's nest to Istanbul."

"Swallow's nest you say? Wait I've got receipts here from Magazin produktov on Alupkins'ke highway that's on the way there. That's how your guy is coming and going from country, he's taking the ferry." "Well if this is right he just left this morning. It's a thirty hour ferry ride but Turkey is outside my jurisdiction." "I see where this is leading. Okay, I'll take a few guys and we'll head for the airport. You take the rest and go to the ferry landing. If I don't hear from you we'll board a plane cut off your Dr. Tuberg in Istanbul." "Remember the Turks don't know what's going on so if they catch you, you'll be missing more than Svyatki so you need to be careful." "Mother this isn't the first time I've had to operate abroad. First you call me into your mess then you tell me not to step in it," said Stefan as she shook his head. "In this game we play there are so few people I really trust that to lose even one would be a tragedy so my friend please be careful. Besides I don't want your wife mad at me she's liable to call my wife then I'll have to sleep in my office until I can get you home."

The two split the team, Stefan taking his SVR agents and heading off to the Belbek International Airport where they got the first flight available for Istanbul. Anatoly headed for Swallow's Nest an hour and half drive from Sevastopol. By the time he arrived he already had confirmation from Stefan that said they were in the air. Anatoly went straight to the customs agents demanding to speak to the head agent.

"FSB I want to talk to whoever's in charge," said Anatoly as he walked into the small building. One of the men pointed to an office in the back. "You two stand here by the door and don't let anyone out."

"You're looking for me," said a rather heavy set man walking up from with a clipboard full of papers. "Can I ask the meaning of this?"

"We suspect a man has been operating a smuggling ring out of here. He goes by the name Dr. Marcus Tuberg. This is his photo," said Anatoly as he held his photo out. "This man has taken something very dangerous and we need to find him."

"I've never seen him," said the man as he looked at the photo. "Tuberg you say, well that shouldn't be hard to track down. Everyone that comes through here is register in the computer… Hum, I got him and these are the dates. Yes, I see what you mean he seems to have been a regular. Now let's cross reference that with the duty roster and here. Vasily was on duty all those times."

"Where can I find this Vasily?" asked Anatoly. "Is he here today?"

"Yes he cleared the passengers for the ferry today but I haven't seen him since. Guys anyone seen Vasily," asked the Boss but everyone just shook their heads. They all agreed they'd seen him right before the ferry left but no one had seen him since. Anatoly called Stefan and informed him about the latest in this mystery, confirming that Tuberg was indeed on the ferry.

"When we land I'll make arrangements for the night then be at the ferry landing to meet it as it pulls in. We'll get him alone grab him then run straight to the consulate for extraction."

"Sounds good I wish I could be there with you. Be careful."

"Yes mother, don't worry what can go wrong. I need to go before I run my battery down."

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Chuck and Sarah were at the airport with Sam waiting with Mary. Casey and Kat were flying out the following day with Alex and Morgan. They were heading to Buffalo. It was Kat's idea she wanted to show Alex where Casey had first proposed then run to Niagara Falls to the motel where well she was conceived. Chuck told Morgan that it was Kat's way of telling him to hurry up but Morgan refused to listen. He was building up to it but something like this takes time or that was what he said. Anyway Chuck and Sarah were in the waiting area when Mary's flight was called.

"Mom you sure you don't want to come with us. Our flight leaves in an hour you could come with us I'm sure there'd be room at Ellie's and if there isn't we can get a hotel room so you can stay with El."

"No I think you guys have things you need to talk out without me brooding over the top of you. I love you all but this is something you guys have to work out on your own. Besides Diane wants to take a week off with Roan so I promised to cover the office."

"Well if you change your mind you know where we will be. Happy New Year's Mom, said Chuck as they hugged. Then Mary kissed Sarah and Sam goodbye before boarding her plane.

"Nana," said Sam with a little perplexed look not understanding why her grandmother couldn't come with them. But she seemed resigned. They stood next to the gate and watched the plane pull away then disappear from view.

"Are you all right," asked Sarah as she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He bent down and picked Sam up.

"Thanks, yes I believe so just… Well it's Awesome. He really hasn't been the same around me. It's like he's walking on glass and I'm sorry but it bothers me."

"You've got nothing to be sorry about and like I said he's a civilian. Just give it time. I've got an idea what would make it better," said Sarah with a smile.

"I think I do to, does it come crescent shaped and is sometimes chocolate filled? I could use some coffee too there's a Starbucks close by. We've got the time," said Chuck as he kissed her then Sam had to kiss her too. "You lead the way we'll follow."

Sarah led them threw the airport to the Starbucks. Already the pedestrian traffic in the airport was brisk. Christmas was over and one wave of travelers were going home, those who couldn't stay through the beginning of the year. Then there were the new arrivals those who had to divide the holidays. All this meant airports around the nation were packed and so was Starbucks.

"You grab a table while I get our order. You sure you only want coffee?" asked Sarah. Chuck nodded his head then laid claim to a recently vacated table. Sarah too was lucky, getting the last chocolate filled croissant. Fighting her way back she sat his coffee in from of him then put a straw in a box of fruit juice handing it to Sam.

"Your father uses this to disarm nuclear weapons," said Sarah as she handed Sam the box. Sam giggled so Sarah waited until she finished laughing before putting the straw in her mouth. After Sam drank a bit it until it was safe to let her hold the box. "You're awfully quiet," said Sarah as she pinched off some of her pastry and ate it.

"I was just thinking about what you said about the fruit juice. I can disarm a nuclear weapon with fruit juice but I haven't got a clue what to do with Devon."

"Will you stop beating yourself up over this. What's done is done and personally I happy with what you did and I don't even want to think about what the other outcome could've been. Here open up," she said as she shoved a bit of her croissant in his mouth then took a napkin and cleaned his mouth.

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Under the crescent moon Stefan arrived at the Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Turkey. He got out of the airport as fast as he could. Traveling on false passports with forged visas was a quick way to end up in a Turkish prison and there wasn't much time. Stefan led his men to a SVR safe house in the city where they geared up. They had munitions and weapons stored plus the embassy left regular vehicles for ground transportation in the parking garage below.

"Okay the ferry will pull into here, Beşıktaş," said Stefan as he talked his men through the mission pointing at a map in the middle of the table. We can go here, Genç Café and wait for the ferry to arrive. Then we divide up, you two," said Stefan as he pointed to two of his men. "You go to this park, Barbaros Park the rest of us will go to the landing. Once we identify him, we try to herd him through the park. There we tag and bag then we get him to the consulate. From there he gets a new identity and a trip to Lubyanka square where he can celebrate Svyatki." Stefan's men laughed. "Any questions… Now's the time, not while we're in the field."

"Are we authorized to terminate if it looks like this guy is going to get away," asked one of the men. "I'm not saying he will, your plan is good but…"

"You don't have to justify your question. This isn't like in the old days when you had to worry about what the commissar would think. We can't let this guy get away so if it looks like he might and you've got a shot take it. Just remember we're in a foreign country with no support. Good now if there are no other questions the night is going to be long."

Stefan took his men to the coffee shop located off İskele Avenue. He divided time inside rotating men in the café with those at the landing and ones remaining in the vehicles. This was so people wouldn't notice them and they could operate undercover while in plain sight. Their night vigil paid off in the early morning hours of the next day when the ferry came into sight.

"Okay everyone look alive the ferry's here," said Stefan as customs agents set up a barricade around the landing then slowly passengers began to file off. Customs officers inspected passports, stamped them then handed them back pulling over a few for random checks but for the most part it was orderly. Over an hour went by and nothing, no sign of this Dr. Tuberg.

"Anatoly I'm here and he hasn't come off the boat yet," said Stefan calling into Russia. "Are you sure he was even on board?... Listen I'm going to try something but if I end up in jail you've got to get me out. … Just hold on."

Stefan went up to one of the cabin officers of the ferry. A man in a white uniform his name tag seemed to indicate he was Russian. Stefan just hoped he wasn't Ukrainian because now that would have spelt a problem.

"Can you help me? I'm looking for my uncle Marcus Tuberg. He was supposed to be on this ferry but everyone has debarked and I can't find him. I have my elderly father on the line who desperately wants to talk to him. You know how old people are. Would it be possible to find out what cabin he was staying in and check to see if he's still there? It's an emergency," said Stefan as he slipped the man a hundred dollars US.

"I don't see what the problem would be. Everyone is gone and I remember Dr. Tuberg," said the man. "Follow me I'll take you to his cabin. It's just right up here off the main deck." The man led Stefan to the cabin where he knocked on the door and it swung open. Inside the cabin was completely empty or it seemed that way. "See he's gone."

"Do you mind if I look in the bathroom?" said Stefan as he pushed by. There was a distinctive smell in the cabin that Stefan immediately recognized, decaying flesh. In the bathroom he found two bodies, one was Dr. Tuberg and the other probably was the missing customs agent.

"Oh my God!" said the man as he started for the door but Stefan grabbed him throwing him on the bed.

"I don't have much time I need to know if Dr. Tuberg was traveling with someone. Listen up," said Stefan as he slapped the man to get his attention. "You've probably figured out I'm not his nephew." Stefan said in Russian. "Now was he traveling with someone?"

"Yes his daughter, she was a small petit woman dark hair and glasses with big hat. I saw her get off about a half hour ago that's why I thought it was strange when you asked."

"Here's another hundred dollars wait an hour then call this in until then keep the door closed and you never saw me. Got it," said Stefan as the man nodded his head. Stefan ran off the boat and radioed his men in the park to see if they had seen any woman matching that description.

"I got one here now that sounds like that woman. She's getting into a taxi carrying a canvas back with a peace sign on the side."

"Crap that's her," said Stefan he remembered seeing the bag in one of the photos in the apartment they had raided. Get the number off the taxi then follow her, we're on out way."