A/N: Thanks to all that have taken the time to review this. I'm so glad people are enjoying the story so far.
Thanks again to CharmingCharles2896 for the much appreciated beta of this story. It was a great help.
So, Chuck continues to flee, but his pursuers are getting closer…
Elusive Intersect
Chapter 3: Finding?
Sarah arrived where Chuck, she was sure it was him, had gotten off the bus. It was on the edge of a small town south of Los Angeles. Interestingly, the next bus stop was in the center of the town, which made her more convinced it was him. He wouldn't want to be seen by many people and may even worry about traffic cameras and the like.
It was possible that Chuck would have waited and caught another bus, but Sarah suspected not. He'd want to find somewhere to sleep. She smiled at that thought. Chuck had not led the life she had, so wouldn't be used to sleeping outside.
Sarah drove into the town looking for motels. She was tired now and wanted to start fresh in the morning, so when she found one, and there was only one, she stopped there. Of course, she made her usual enquiries, but was told that no one had checked in during the last twenty-four hours.
Sarah checked in and took her key. She was surprised just how exhausted she was. She'd hardly done anything, apart from stress about Chuck. He really had gotten to her. She grabbed some snacks from the vending machine downstairs as she really didn't feel like a meal and sat with her laptop to pull up a map and look at the town layout.
She called Graham with an update. "We still have no idea where he's gotten to," she lied. "But I think he may have gotten on a bus out of LA. Casey's following routes north and I'm doing the same south." She was aware that her car may be getting traced, so couldn't lie about that. "We'll find him."
"The general is considering sending in more men, perhaps bringing the police in to catch this terrorist," Graham told her. Her chest tightened. A terrorist would be approached with an increased expectation of threat. Chuck might make a mistake and get shot.
"I'm sure we'll find him, so that will not be required," Sarah said as she worried her lip.
"I've told her that would be a mistake. Bartowski might talk. Regardless, find him in the next forty-eight hours or that will be the next step," he answered.
Sarah had lost all appetite after that. She lay back on the bed, hoping against hope that she or Bryce could find Chuck in the next day.
Don't reject me, Chuck, she thought, not quite sure whether that was about keeping him safe or accepting her as a girlfriend.
Sarah woke with a start, not sure where she was for a moment. She'd fallen asleep in her clothes from the day before, just passed out on top of the bed. Quickly stripping off her clothes, she made for the bathroom to shower, before dressing in fresh clothes.
She was going to have breakfast before she left, but decided to hold off and go out for that later and start her enquiries.
As Sarah walked into the small coffee shop, all eyes turned to her. However, she knew this wasn't because she herself was that much of a draw to these people, just that she was an outsider, not a local. As most looked away, she took that as a good sign.
She walked to the counter and asked if a tall guy had been seen here the day before, she had to stop herself from adding, "Another stranger." The guy behind the counter shrugged. He was obviously not going to be any help.
Sarah turned and surveyed the others. Most were now back to minding their own business, however the older man at the nearest table was watching her. She raised an eyebrow at him. He waved her over.
Sarah asked for a latte and took it to join the old man.
"What did your boy look like?" The man asked.
She took a sip of her coffee before answering. Not bad, she thought.
"Tall, nearly 6'4", black hair, trying to look goth," she replied.
He barked out a laugh. "Trying?" Sarah reused her story from the day before. The man looked sympathetically at her. "Sad tale."
She wasn't sure if that meant he thought it to be a fabrication. She was going to ask if he'd seen Chuck, but he piped up, "Sounds like the boy that Guy told me had bought his old Ford."
"Really?" She leaned forward. "Where can I find Guy?"
"He'll be sitting pretty on his new found wealth. The cash that man gave him was the first thing that perked him up since his Lana died."
"Where would that be?" she asked, a bit irritated at not getting a straight answer.
He looked at Sarah for a moment. "I hope your guy appreciates how much you want to be with him. Trailing after him like this."
"I love him," she replied, keeping up the act.
He told her Guy's home address and his business one. "He could be at either. Tell him Jack sent you. He'll thank me. Pretty girls don't often talk to him."
Sarah smiled. "Thanks for the compliment. I don't feel pretty at the moment. More anxious and shredded."
Jack smiled back. "It shines through."
She took one more drink of her coffee and stood. "Thanks, Jack," she said.
"Good luck. I hope you find him."
She headed out to find Guy. As it was still early, Sarah decided to head straight to Guy's residence rather than wait at the store where he worked.
The slightly run down house was nearer to the bus stop at which Chuck had arrived. An old gray-haired man was sitting on the porch with a coffee in his hand. He watched her park her car and walk toward him.
"Fancy car, Miss," Guy said.
I really must change that, she thought.
"I hear you sold a car yesterday," she said.
He narrowed his eyes. "Who told you that?"
"Jack," she replied.
He relaxed a bit, but not completely. "Is he a criminal? Are you some sort of detective after him?"
She looked down at the t-shirt and jogging pants she'd put on. "Do I look like one?"
Guy quickly glanced at her. "I guess not."
Sarah repeated her story. It was becoming more and more real to her, particularly the boyfriend/girlfriend bit and their relationship not being popular. Guy chuckled at the comment that Chuck was pretending to be goth.
"I don't know what goths look like, but he didn't look right. However, the cash he gave me was great."
Sarah asked for the car details and he even slipped inside and brought a photo of the car. "Of course, that was when I first bought her thirty years ago, so she doesn't look so good now." Sarah could have kissed him.
"Your boyfriend has a tattoo on his cheek. Is that part of the disguise?" he suddenly said. That was news to Sarah. Pedro hadn't mentioned that the day before. She grabbed her phone and brought up a photo of Chuck and her. One of her favorite photos. She had ones with just him, but this seemed to confirm her story.
Guy looked at it. "That's him. He looks much better like that," he said. He looked a little longer. "The two of you look very happy and do look in love," he commented.
Sarah looked at the photo when he handed her the phone. It was one of the CIA created ones with him standing behind her with his arms around her. She was leaning back into him, so their faces were close. They both looked very happy and were smiling into the camera. She loved that photo, even though it was fake.
"I do love him," she quietly said… for the cover.
Sarah had the motel room until noon, so she headed back to her room, taking her laptop in with her. She used the limited traffic cameras available to search for the car, starting at the time Guy told her Chuck would have left him.
It didn't take long to find him, initially continuing south. Chuck obviously wouldn't be aware that she knew the car he was in, so didn't avoid the traffic cameras. She hoped that continued or she might lose him again.
Interestingly enough, Chuck turned east at Oceanside, obviously not wanting to continue to San Diego. Sarah suspected he was heading for the border crossing further inland, near Mexicali, but the route he was taking was convoluted.
She kept tracking him, sometimes missing him turning on different routes and having to backtrack. Eventually, she discovered that Chuck had stopped at an inn near Manzanita.
She told Bryce and they agreed to meet there.
Feeling more hopeful, Sarah set off.
Chuck was exhausted. The stress associated with all this, combined with the amount of driving and with the internet work, was taking a toll on him. He struggled to get up in the morning, but knew he couldn't rest. He just caught the last breakfast and sat, eating it silently.
His next task was to decide whether or not to try to cross into Mexico. Chuck knew he was close to the border now, but would he be able to fool the men at the border that he really was who he was pretending to be?
If he didn't do that, what could he do? Could he find some really small town where he could live and not be questioned or found? What could he do to support himself?
He was beginning to realize just how big a challenge he'd taken on. Once again, he wished that Sarah was with him. She'd know what to do.
Thinking about the woman he was in love with was hard. He was missing her more than his sister, which surprised him. Part of him wanted her to find him, whatever that resulted in. He'd at least see her again. Maybe then he could admit his love for her, maybe even get to kiss her one last time before she cuffed him and dragged him back to LA and his death.
He was pretty sure she wouldn't do it herself. The desperation with which she kissed him in front of the Bryce bomb must have meant something.
Setting those thoughts aside, Chuck staggered back to his room and took the shower he needed.
He was still undecided on what to do, but needed to make that decision before noon when he'd have to move on.
Bryce was much closer to their suspected lead than Sarah, so he got to the inn quicker. The car she'd mentioned wasn't here, so Chuck had likely continued on. Still, he may get some information here. He wondered about waiting for her, so he called.
"No, you might be right. He might trust you more than me. See if you can catch up with him," she replied. He could hear the sadness in her voice. He'd come to terms with the fact that her affection was reserved for Chuck now. He actually thought the two of them would be good for each other. Chuck might bring Sarah out of her shell, and she might help Chuck out of the self-doubt that he and Jill had caused.
He tried to sound positive, "He'll come around, but you will have to tell him how you really feel about him."
"But will he believe that or just think I'm trying to manipulate him?" The anguish was very clear in her voice.
"Sarah, snap out of it! That's the sort of spiraling Chuck does. You know as well as I do that it won't help, so get your head in the game." He knew that was harsh, but she needed the kick right now.
"Thanks for the encouragement," she snarked.
"I'll go in and see what I can find," Bryce replied before hanging up.
He was dressed in a t-shirt and long shorts. It fit the part he was going to play. He sauntered in and wandered up to the desk.
The girl on the other side couldn't be more than twenty. She smiled at him and he knew he wouldn't have to lay on much charm. "Hi, My friend and I are playing a game of hide and seek. I know he came here but don't know where to go next."
She continued smiling. "And what's your friend's name?"
He laughed. "That's part of the game. He's in disguise and will have used a false name. I can tell you the car he arrived in and what he probably looked like, based on what I found before."
"Sounds fun. What was the car?"
He told her and she looked up the records. "Oh yes. I remember him. Jackson Pike was his name." She thought for a moment. "Tall, black hair?" she asked.
"Again, a disguise to throw me off," he replied.
"He left about fifteen minutes ago," she said. "You've nearly caught up with him."
"Do you know which way he went?" he asked.
"He headed east." She grinned. "He might be trying to cross the border to get away from you."
Bryce grinned back. "Thanks…"
"Jane," she replied, glad he'd asked. "I'd love to know if you catch him."
"I might come back with him," Bryce replied over his shoulder as he headed out.
As he set off, he called Sarah and reported what he'd found. Sarah groaned, "It'll be harder to track him in Mexico."
"He's only about fifteen minutes ahead of me. The line at the border will slow him down."
"Whatever you do, don't hurt him," she replied.
He chuckled. "Don't you want to kiss him better?" She didn't reply, so he added, "You know I don't want him hurt, Sarah."
"Good." She ended the call.
Bryce set off again.
A/N: I know there are no small towns south-east of Los Angeles, but for the story, I needed one! Similarly, I know traffic cameras weren't as widespread in 2008 as they are today. I wondered about shifting the time for the whole story, and hence what happened in the show, to current times, but decided to just stick with this being in 2008, so please just accept the increase in cameras, okay?
As always, I'd love to read your thoughts on the chase, and what you think will happen going forward. Reviews are so important to a writer.