What do we do now…go on waiting

This story is the follow-on to the Chuck vs the Plan Series

Still don't own Chuck. Normal disclaimers apply. Characters and events are fictitious.

"Sometimes it helps to know that you got something to lose."

-Agent Walker, Episode 3.4

Chapter 11—Separated

Flight to El Dorado International Airport, Bogota

Chuck was still in a daze. He wasn't with Sarah. He wasn't with any of the teams. While he was surprised that Casey finally said he could handle himself, he could tell Sarah was deeply concerned. Looking back, he could not remember when they were not together.

Getting on the flight was easy as it was a specially equipped C-17A aircraft. Casey had it sent out to pick up Chuck and take him to his destination. There had been a small debate about using first class on one of the commercial flights, but Casey said that unless they bought the seats around Chuck, he would not approve. That ended the discussion as everyone realized with a full flight, Chuck really would stick out with empty seats all around him. As it turned out the C-17 was not empty either. It had a full load of military supplies for the US to Columbia assistance program.

Chuck had his laptop out and was connected through the aircrafts avionics to all systems on the plane. It also came with full connection to the communications system and back to Castle and the apartments. And most especially useful was the link to Sarah. She was on a separate flight, another C-17, with Casey, Mary and Carina. They were headed to Paris to investigate the circumstances around the death of Agent Shaw.

While basically in constant contact with Sarah, Chuck began building his folders with information about Marcos, the known MS, Ring and Sion activity in Columbia, and Special Agent Rizzo. Actually, he had flashed on her but was disturbed that it was obvious some information was redacted, especially something to do with the Clandestine Attack Team or CAT Squad. He knew he would have to look into the CAT thing at sometime, but at the moment he was concentrated on the MS activity and some rabbit holes that had links to the Senator.

After going through the connections and missing connections time and again, Chuck finally drifted off. He came awake as the plane was in descent. His laptop showed the plane's displays and he watched the descent as if he was in the cockpit. He heard the pilot come on over the speakers saying, "It's 7:30 here and 67 degrees."

As the plane pulled to a stop, Chuck got his bags and exited the plane. Zondra Rizzo and her entourage met him at the bottom of the platform. She was waving at him as he walked toward her.

"DEA Special Agent Rizzo, how are you doing? Welcome to Bogota, you alright?"She held out her hand to shake Chuck's.

Now that he saw her, he was processing some residual flashes. Most of it was still redacted, but it did show her successes. He managed to get out a, "Yeah," and held out his hand.

"Well, let's not stand around and be a target. Someone could take a shot at you. Come on let's get in the car." She motioned to the black SUV.

Chuck climbed in the open door and it was closed by one of the escorts. Zondra got in the other side and sat next to him in the middle seat of the van.

Chuck opened his laptop and established his connections. Looking over at Zondra, who was watching every click Chuck had made, he asked, "So, what contacts and leads have you been able to put together?"

"I was told to bring you everything we had and pictures if we had them. We do have quite a stack. Do you want to go through them now? Or wait till we get to the embassy grounds?" She held up two large stacks.

Chuck smiled at the thought. He was better than the last times they were running through the Ring or MS photos and videos. He could control his flashes now. With a little effort he could get the initial pieces of information without being drug down the rabbit hole and crashing into all the grizzly facts. And he was very happy about that, as the MS files tended to contain a little too much information about some very, very unpleasant things.

Zondra started, "Well, okay. This will be a little like a family photo album. And as a matter of fact the first few are families. Let's begin with Carlos Abetta. He is the father of the next four, cousin to the fifth picture and Uncle of several that follow. He runs the CAF, the Carlos Abetta Family. It holds swag over the northeast corner."

Chuck did not have to ask. The flash was full of the description. Carlos controlled the northeast part of Columbia. Through his extended family, and there were at least fifty names in the Intersect, he had his fingers in every pocket of the cities under his area of control. Chuck watched as Zondra went through that first stack.

It was getting hot. Even though he could control the flashes, it was still taking a toll. Having made it through another two families, Chuck turned and started to roll down his window.

"Wait. Ah, don't do that. Greg, can you get a little more air back here please." She smiled at Chuck, "Bullet proof."

Chuck nodded and continued. After another set of pictures, he was looking at one with the outline of a man. He pointed to the silhouette.

Zondra face turned a bit icy. It was indeed a sore spot. "That's Gaez's intelligence officer. We know that he exists and is likely a former Fulcrum Agent with possible ties to Cuban intelligence. But nothing on him."

It bothered Chuck that something was off. There was something about Gaez that seemed to bring pieces of a puzzle together but they were not sharp enough to link the pieces. Then this intelligence officer, the image even haunted him. Chuck had heard of operatives like this, "A ghost, huh?"

Zondra smiled at that, "I thought that's what you were. The ghost that swept Sarah off her feet." Her eyes danced at the confused face Chuck had on. "Carina told me a little about what happened. But not the whole story. So, Director Bartowski spill. What have you done with my ex-partner?"

"Wha…what?" Chuck was still in a daze. The redacted sections of Carina, Sarah and Zondra were now colliding in his mind. Full reports were matching up. "The three of you? What?"

"She didn't tell you?"

"No, we were in a bit of a rush when I found out I was coming here and she and Carina were going out on a separate investigation. You three know each other?"

She shook her head, "You first."

Chuck's eyebrows when up in surprise. He had not expected this and had not really thought about answering this kind of a question. He remembered Sarah's old explanation of how to get around Ellie. Tell as much of the story as the truth and hide the rest in plain sight. "Sarah came out to California on the job. She came to where I was working. And I know this sounds corny, but when we first saw each other we knew there was something there. It took a long time and several adventures. One of those was with Carina and since you're in the DEA now you might have heard of it."

She chuckled, "Yes, it did come up. Something about a Wookiee."

Chuck knew that if that was the part that Zondra remembered, she'd be okay. "Yes, well, if you're a friend of Carina's then you can image the turmoil surrounding that little bit of crystal." He was relieved that they were finally at the Embassy and had to be processed through the gates. This line of questioning could be put off for a while until he had time to talk with Sarah.

But first it was a quick trip to see the Ambassador and then get over to the Café Mendes.

Chuck was happy with the quick meeting with the Ambassador but it was a speedy trip over to the Café. Chuck noticed how crowed the streets were and the time. He was going to be late. Chuck hurriedly walked into the shop and saw Marcos seated at a table with an empty chair. Walking up to the table, Chuck asked, "May I join you?"

"Mister Bartowski?"

"Marcos?" shaking his hand, "Sorry I'm late." It was already 10:35.

"Certainly. I have only ten minutes. And the coffee is already cold."

Chuck waved at the waiter and called out, "Una taza de café y un recambio para él."

Marcos was impressed with a new cup of coffee in front of him and one for Chuck, "So, what brings you down here?"

"First, please call me Chuck. I am investigating the death of the Senator." Chuck saw Marcos nod and continued, "We are positive that the Senator was tied into the Cartels and likely MS and possibly more."

"But you can't prove it?" Marcos surmised.

Chuck nodded, "So far." Chuck was expecting to get some explanation from Marcos. From the information he got from the DNI and then all those reports, even those that were redacted, showed he was very connected. He likely had his own network down here.

Marcos wondered, "Mind if a ask you a question?"

Chuck was a little surprised, "Sure."

"Why are you telling me all this? I've been out of the game for a long time."

Chuck knew better and decided on an approach, "Oh, well I was told to contact you. Quote, 'Marcos Sanchez is an interesting man. I'll set up a meet for you the day after tomorrow. It will be 10:00 in Bogota at the Café Mendes. He does not like to have coffee past 10:30.' Unquote. Like I said, I am sorry I was late. But the information I have is that you are wired in down here and know the territory and people well." Chuck looked for a reaction.

"Who told you that?" Marcos was smiling and nodding his head in recognition of the quote. That was typical of the man he remembered.

"The Honorable John H. Wabash, now the DNI."

"Right, how is he?"

"Fine, we just had dinner with him." Chuck announced. He flinched a bit thinking he gave a up a little information by saying 'we.'

"He's a good man. Take care of him." Marcos looked at his watch and began to get up.

"Wait, there is one other item. You may have heard of the Ring?" Marcos nodded. "There are reports of a major Ring figure operating in the area. We don't have a name or picture yet. And oddly enough the DEA Special Agent down here showed me a blank picture of Gaez's intelligence officer. But they have nothing on him. Do you know of either or are they the same?"

Marcos got up anyway, "So Director Bartowski do you like coffee?"

Once again surprised at Marcos, the switch of being called Director, Chuck answered, "Sure, I like coffee."

"Try the Lindo brand," he held out his hand to shake Chuck's. "I think you'll like it."

A/N A little more on the new operation and stories collide. Hope you enjoy.