A/N: Happy Hump Day! This chapter is going to speed up the story quite a bit. Get ready for big changes in their journey, as we fast forward a few days. Enjoy.
As always, thanks for the great reviews. They keep me motivated.
Italics in Quotations represent dialogue spoken in Spanish.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck.
Peruvian/Chilean Border. Atacama Desert.
"Bienvenidos a Chile," the border official told Sarah as he handed back their cover passports. They had been in line at the border crossing for over an hour, watching the stringent procedures they were taking. Nervous about possibly having their bag searched, Sarah once again hopped in the driver's seat, using her ample skills to distract the guard.
"Gracias," Sarah responded as they pulled away. Chuck was freaking out. Sarah could tell because he was gripping her hand tight, and she could feel the clamminess. She reassured him by lightly stroking his hand with her thumb, reinforcing the contact. As soon as they were back on the highway after the crossing, Chuck relaxed considerably.
They had gotten an early start, and made it to the border well before midday. From Ilo, they drove south-southeast, into the famous Atacama Desert. The Atacama is the single driest location on earth, seeing almost no rain in its recorded history. They made sure to stock up on water before they left Peru, buying an entire palette and keeping it in the cab with them. They feared if they kept it in the bed, under the sun, they'd be drinking sauna water. It was entirely too hot already, and the sun wasn't even at its apex. They were driving with the windows down, and both of them were still sweating. They had been cuddling, but it soon became far too warm to have their bodies in such close proximity. They settled for holding hands, Sarah fingering Chuck's wedding band.
They had used yet another cover to get through the border. They were American passports, that claimed Charles and Sarah Brookings were from Rumson, New Jersey. Sarah explained to the border official that they were driving across South America and that both of them were on extended leave from their jobs on Wall Street. It was another one-off cover that they would never use after the border. Now, Chuck dug around in the bag and pulled out the covers they would use to get all the way home. They were Chilean passports, the only ones they had from Chile. According to the documents Chuck produced, they were ex-patriots from Michigan who had moved to Chile three years ago after they had cashed out on their business, which explained their wealth. If anyone asked, their cover would be that they tired of the fast paced life of North America, and decided to take it easy down in Chile.
"So, we're Chilean?" Sarah asked, eyeing the passports.
"Yup. Well, we're American ex-pats, but we're naturalized Chileans according to the documents I forged," Chuck explained.
"Good work, Chuck," she said happily. He had done an absolutely spectacular job of creating flawless undetectable covers, a fact she had relayed to him repeatedly on this trip. She had been amazed at how thorough Chuck had been, even creating a paper trail that showed them emigrating from the States. She had the upmost confidence in their cover, and it was close enough to the truth that it would be easy to maintain.
"Thanks, honey," Chuck replied, thumbing through the papers. He had spent a good deal of money making sure their covers were airtight, and it was paying off greatly.
"So, that was the last border crossing?" Sarah asked, citing Chuck's comment from the previous night.
"Yeah," Chuck said, careful to not clue Sarah in too much. It was still a surprise.
"Okay. So we're going to live somewhere in Chile. That's saying something, however, considering we are currently at the very northern tip of the country, and it extends for more than 3,000 miles south. So, we could end up anywhere."
"Yep," Chuck agreed. "But that's all you're getting for now, super sleuth Sarah."
She stuck out her tongue at him, and he just shook his head in defiance, his arms crossed across his chest. They looked like two children fighting over the remote.
The drive through the Atacama was scenic, but repetitive. Chuck pointed out that they drove very near where the famous Chilean mine accident had occurred, where a number of men survived underground for over seventy days. He had been intrigued by the story, and watched the rescue live like most of the world.
Chile is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world. From the dry Atacama in the north to wet Patagonia in the south, with the high Andes serving as the country's backbone. There are jungles and glaciers, mountains and oceans. There are a number of species endemic to Chilean forests and jungles, long cut off from the rest of the world by the Andes, the Atacama, and the Pacific. One of those is the Pudu, the smallest species of deer in the world, about the size of a small dog like a terrier, complete with antlers. Chile also owns numerous islands in the Pacific, like Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as it is known to its natives. Rapa Nui is famous for the giant stone heads spread out all over the island.
Chile is also a country that has a history of tumultuous politics, from the assassination of Salvador Allende to the brutal reign of Augusto Pinochet. Today, Chile is vastly more stable, and has one of the highest standard of living on the continent. However, remnants of Pinochet's time as military dictator are still visible all over the country, from public works initiated in his name to the many survivors and victims of murder and torture by his government. One such survivor, Michele Bachelet, became the first female President of Chile.
Sarah had been to Chile once before, on a mission. It had only lasted two days, and she hadn't even left Santiago, the capital. Now, she would get to see the countryside in full, snuggled up next to her husband. This is how she wanted to see life, through his eyes rather than a spy's. With her hand firmly in Chuck's grip, she was leaning her head out the window to see as much as she could, to take in everything using all her senses. Chuck could feel her overwhelming
Chuck had never before been to Chile, but felt he had after the hundreds of hours he'd spent working on designing, building, and maintaining their future home. He had enough money that he never actually had to go there, relying on well-paid contractors. Chuck made sure they were paid well enough to guarantee their discretion, which they were more than happy to do. Through intermediaries, he had successfully contacted foreign contractors that don't ask questions. The kind that build hideaways for Kings, Presidents, Dictators, and crimes bosses who have an understanding of the repercussions of betrayal. Chuck never had to even speak directly to any of them, relying on proxies, always with his face hidden and voice digitally altered. He had offshore accounts set up all the world, his hacking skills allowing him to make sure they were completely untraceable. Sarah would eventually ask him where all that money came from. He knew he would tell Sarah all this in time, when she asked, but he had a feeling she'd probably figure it out when she saw the house.
As they drove south, Sarah was getting more and more excited about what the future held. Her main source of excitement came from the deal she and Chuck had made to start trying to conceive. She was also ecstatic to find out what extravagant kind of home Chuck had waiting for them. Knowing her nerd, she knew it was going to be spectacular, a place for them to live, love, and raise a family.
The next few days were repetitious. They drove, found a spot to set up the hammock, then woke up and drove some more. They found that everyone they encountered was pleasant, and both of them were enjoying the easygoing, laid back vibe. The old Ford pickup was lasting surprisingly long, and the only problems they'd had with it had been minor issues that Chuck and sometimes Sarah managed to fix. They truly were getting their money's worth with their hammock, both of them preferring it to finding a motel. Not only was it more comfortable, they were able to not risk showing up in public. All the bigger cities in Chile have numerous CCTV cameras, and they knew all too well how accurate facial recognition software is.
Four Days Later. Puerto Aysen, Chilean Patagonia.
Puerto Aysen is a small port town located at the end of the aptly named Aysen fjord. Chuck and Sarah had taken the Carraterra Austral, or Souther Road, to Coyhaique, then drove west to Aysen. The Carraterra Austral is Augusto Pinochet's crowning achievement. In reality, his 'superhighway' is, mostly, barely a one-lane dirt road. When Chuck and Sarah met trucks head on, they had to pull off to the side to let them by. They were happy they had purchased a truck, or they would have gotten stuck in mud four separate times. They truly were descending into wilderness, the towns few and far between. Sarah was riveted by the natural beauty of the surrounding jungles, telling Chuck she'd never been to a more beautiful place. Chuck chuckled internally, knowing she'd amend that statement as soon as they reached home.
They had stopped in Coyhaique for a night, staying at a small hostel just outside of the town. They had joined some of the other people staying at the hostel for a swim in the Rio Simpson, enjoying the fresh glacial water. While they were sunbathing and swimming, they saw numerous whitewater rafting groups passing by, a popular activity in the area.
When they reached Aysen, Sarah felt that they were close to their destination. Chuck was getting more nervous and excited all at the same time, confirming her suspicions.
Chuck drove the truck through the town, stopping near the harbor in front of a nondescript building that looked like an old warehouse.
"We're here," he said as he put the gear into park.
"Where's here?" She asked.
"We need to pick something up," he replied as he got out, grabbing the backpack and slinging it over his shoulder. Sarah joined him and they walked to the door together.
Chuck knocked a few times and waited patiently. After a minute, they heard locks being undone and the door finally creaked open, revealing a short man.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Hello, my name is Charles and I believe you have a package for me," Chuck replied, per their pre-arranged deal.
"Password?"
"Baby blue eyes," Chuck said, glancing at Sarah who was smiling at his choice of password.
"Welcome, Jefe!" The man exclaimed. "I am Jose, and I have your package."
They shook hands with Jose and followed him inside. They walked through the building towards the back. Jose opened another door and led Chuck and Sarah trough it.
There, in an indoor slip, was a brand new forty foot SeaRay cabin cruiser. Sarah gasped as her hand shot to her mouth. Jose had already launched into a speech detailing all the amenities, from the dual motors to the well appointed cabin. Chuck just grinned, watching his wife's reaction. If this was any indication of things to come, she was going to be gasping a lot in the near future.
Jose handed Chuck the boat's keys, and Chuck gave him the keys to the Ford along with a hefty compensation in addition to what he'd already paid him. Sarah had boarded the boat, looking around wide-eyed at their new toy, silently wondering how fast she could get it to go.
Chuck followed her soon after, stowing the backpack below decks and starting the engines. The boat roared to life, Sarah already impressed with the horsepower. Chuck slowly backed the boat out of the slip and into the harbor, making sure to keep his wake nonexistent. Soon they were out of the harbor and into the fjord, and Chuck was able to speed up a little. Sarah was next to him, marveling at the picturesque setting all around them. On both sides of the fjord, the jungle extended almost right up to the water. Besides the town they'd just left, there was almost no civilization to speak of.
They steamed north-northwest through the fjord, Chuck using the GPS to guide them through the channels. Sarah didn't ask where they were going, but she figured this was probably the last leg of their journey. She knew Chuck probably had their destination programmed into the GPS, but she refrained from looking, keeping her promise to Chuck to let him surprise her.
After a while, they exited the fjord. All Sarah could see in any direction were islands, jungle, and the ocean. She couldn't imagine a more pristine place to spend her days. She was letting herself relax, purposely avoiding any stressing thoughts. They were almost there, so close she could taste it. She knew Chuck still was anxious, and he probably wouldn't fully relax until they were safe.
Chuck headed west out of the fjord towards all the islands that Sarah had noted earlier. Some were so small they barely had any trees, and others were miles and miles wide. Chuck darted through the islands' channels like a seasoned pro, obviously on a predetermined course.
"Are we there yet?" Sarah joked.
"Almost, honey," he replied with a smile. She could see the tension leaving his body by the minute.
Sarah felt like a kid about to open their birthday present. She was more excited than she could remember being. They were so incredibly close to ending their hectic journey and starting their new life. Her heart swelled at the thought of not having to run anymore, having a place to call home again. Even though she considered Chuck to be her home, it was nice to have a physical abode as well.
Sarah noticed that most of the island around them now were smaller. She could see off in the distance a larger one surrounded by the small ones. Chuck seemed to be heading straight for it. She felt butterflies in her stomach, her spy training telling her they were near their destination.
Chuck looked over at Sarah, still in disbelief he'd been able to keep this secret from her for this long. He was grateful that she let him surprise her. He had really gone all out to make sure their home had everything they'd ever need. He knew he'd probably gone overboard, but in his mind, it was better to overcompensate than to get there and realize something important's missing.
They were now almost to the larger island, and Sarah couldn't see anything or anyone on it. In fact, she hadn't seen a single soul since they'd left Puerto Aysen roughly four hours prior. Chuck slowed the boat down as they neared the island, following the coast around it.
They turned the last corner and a small cove came into view. That's when Sarah caught sight of it.
The home.
Their home.
"CHUCK!" She yelled. "Are you kidding!"
Chuck had an uneasy smile on his face. Maybe he had overdone it.
The house was huge. It was made out of giant logs, with huge floor to ceiling windows facing the water. It was essentially hidden from view until you were inside the cove. Sarah could make out large covered and uncovered decks all over the three floors, as well as distinctly recognizing a jacuzzi on the second floor balcony. Tearing her eyes away from the house momentarily, she saw the large boathouse, complete with makeshift garage doors to prevent the indoor slips from the elements. It looked too big for just the boat they were in. She wondered what Chuck had hidden inside. She noticed that the thick jungle helped protect the cove, creating a rare sandy beach in front of the house. She knew that in this part of the world, most beaches were rocky, so the fact they had a sandy beach put a smile on her already happy face. The house itself was beautiful, a perfect blend of modern and old building techniques. She could only dream about what the inside was like.
Chuck slowly made his way towards the boathouse. Pressing a button on the dashboard of the boat, the left garage door raised. He pulled the boat into the slip, careful to watch the sides.
As soon as they were in the boathouse, Sarah saw four sea kayaks. Three were singles and one was a double. She also saw a rubber-bottomed zodiac and a Hobie Cat pontoon sailboat. The last thing, and the biggest thing, she saw was what was in the other indoor slip, which, from the outside, was much wider than the boat's slip.
"Chuck," she waited until she had his attention. "You bought us a plane?"
"Yup. A float plane, obviously," he said with a smirk.
Sarah was speechless. Chuck had really outdone himself, and she hadn't even stepped foot inside the house yet. It was a four seater, painted dark blue. The pontoons were yellow for visibility.
"You'll teach me how to fly?" Chuck pleaded.
"Of course, sweetheart. Whenever you want to go up."
They tied the boat up securely, and Chuck grabbed their backpack. It seemed so insignificant now compared to everything they had, but it still held many important things.
They hopped off the boat, and as Chuck bent down to pick the backpack up off the dock, he hard the very distinct sound of his wife chambering a round.
"Sarah," he said in a calm tone.
"Yes, Chuck?"
"We're alone," he reassured.
"How do you know that?"
"I just do."
"Chuck…," she warned.
They stood there for a moment, and Chuck quickly lost the battle of wills. It probably had nothing to do with the pistol in Sarah's right hand, and everything to do with the tone of her voice.
"Okay. I kind of…bought every island in a ten mile radius," he admitted, looking at his feet.
"Chuck!" She wasn't mad, she was stunned. "Chuck," she said, calmer. "You're telling me we're the only people in a ten mile radius."
"Well, yeah, technically. And if anyone is inside that circle, we know about it. There's infrared, thermal, and high resolution sensors and cameras on every island. I'll explain more about the security when we get inside, but trust me, we're safe."
She had returned her pistol to the small of her back, and even that felt excessive. It was an odd feeling - she had worn her gun daily for almost a decade. It was a perpetual member of her wardrobe, on or off her person directly.
"And now that you've gotten me thinking about it, there's probably not really many people in like a hundred mile radius, because all the land around us besides the ocean is owned by the government as preserves."
"You were serious when you said we were alone."
"Didn't I tell you we wouldn't have to worry about neighbors?"
"But Chuck, what about food? And water? And electricity? And-"
He cut her off with a quick kiss that shut her up. It was a bold move, one that he rarely used, but he was cashing in.
"Baby, listen to me," he calmed. "We have a pantry big enough to last us a year if we want. We have solar panels and geothermal power. My satellites give us just about every channel in the world and high speed internet. So, yeah, I kind of went overboard, but, it's me. I figured if we ever had to run, I didn't want to keep running, so I set us up for life if need be. Here. I know I didn't consult you about the location, but it's so perfect."
"Yes, it's perfect Chuck," she agreed, considerably more confident about their situation, and a little peeved at herself for not trusting him. "Chuck, it's beautiful here. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It's perfect, sweetheart. Absolutely perfect." She was overcompensating a bit, but it was the truth.
He smiled back at her, his happiness always hinging on hers. He had done all this for them - so they wouldn't have to endure a life on the run, looking over their shoulders. Now, he figured, if they came, they came, but at least they would know in advance and they now had a base. He hadn't yet told her about their very own secret bunker, he wanted to surprise her with that one.
They walked out of the boathouse onto a path leading along the water towards the house.
There was a good amount of land around the house that had been cleared of trees, creating a yard. Sarah smiled, knowing that Chuck knew she always wanted a yard. There was no white picket fence and the door wasn't red, but natural wood, but those would have been out of place here. In Sarah's opinion, the house fit right in, even if it was pretty huge.
They walked up to the front door, which was actually on the side, up a few stone steps onto a wide wrap around covered porch that went all the way around the house. Chuck reached up and pressed in a knot on the log next to the door, and a small door opened, revealing a keypad.
"Go ahead," Chuck told Sarah, motioning towards the keypad.
"I don't know the code," she iterated.
"Sure you do, honey. It's your birthday. Your real birthday."
"I love you." Sarah beamed. Of course he would make the code to their house her birthday, this was Chuck we're talking about.
"I love you too, Sarah. Can we go inside now?" He joked.
She happily strode up to the keypad and typed in 7, 2, 2, 8, 2. They heard an airlock releasing, then the handle clicked. Chuck swung the door open, and they walked into the small foyer, which would serve as a coat room during the winter. They stepped forward to the last door, and Chuck opened that one revealing the first floor of their new home to Sarah.
The first floor consisted of a large living area, obviously the main room of the house. It was two stories high, and the second floor ringed around it. The stairs were on the left, leading up to the second floor, and a railing that ran around the room. The decor was homey, with big comfy leather couches, and a large wood burning fireplace.
Sarah looked around the room, astonished at how spectacular their new home was. Then, she remembered something. A promise.
"Take off the backpack," she softly asked Chuck.
"Oookay," he replied, confused, as he complied.
She took it from him and set it in front of her. She opened it up from the middle, digging around with her hand for something. She came up after a moment with a plastic waterproof case. She unlocked it and handed it to Chuck.
Chuck opened it and there was Sarah's charm bracelet. He hadn't seen her wear it since a few days before they left Burbank. She'd promised him she'd put it on as soon as they got home. He picked it up out of the case and looked up.
Sarah was standing there with a beautiful smile, a tear her in eye, and her right wrist extended, waiting for him.
Chuck reached out just like he did the first time he put it on her, shivering at her touch, and clasped it around her wrist.
He brought her hand up for a quick kiss and then looked back up at her.
"Welcome home, Sarah."
"Welcome home, Chuck."
A/N: And there it is! Patagonia! What do you guys think? I've been there, that's one of the reasons I picked it, and it truly is one of the most spectacular places on earth. Did I go too overboard, like our main man Chuck? Let me know what you guys think, you know I love PMs and reviews. Thanks, as always, for reading.