Author's note: Sorry! It took me forever to update. I hope everybody is still there. I was very busy with my novel and work. And I was going through some personal stuff.

This will be a long chapter, to make up for the lack of updates.

Thanks for your support! Reviews are always welcome! I love hearing from you.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story, except the ones that'll appear in Argentina. Jack and Renee belong to the people who made 24. I'm not making any money with using them.

Chapter 5:

Welcome to your life

DECEMBER 1st 2022

B'Dar, Kamistan

6.30 AM

Renee was reading the news on the internet, while Jack made their suitcases. They had to be at the airport at seven AM, since their plane to Sao Pablo left at nine.

While checking a Russian newspaper, she saw a headline which said: The North-American Butcher Presumed Dead.

She closed the window in the computer before Jack could see such offensive nickname. She was sure he knew about it, but she didn't want to rub it on his face.

"They found the body", she announced gravely. She was talking about the body that had been planted to fool the Russians. "They are still investigating to confirm that it's you".

Jack took a seat next to her and grabbed her hand, with a somber expression on his face.

"Renee, if everything goes south, I won't let them take me alive"

She took her eyes from the computer and stared at him with anguish written in her face. She swallowed, knowing it'd be pointless to argue.

"Jack…", she whispered, shaking her head.

"The people I care about won't be safe until I'm dead for real"

She couldn't truthfully refute that argument, no matter how badly she wanted to. Wishing to avoid the issue, she gently placed a finger on his lips.

"Let's not talk about this now. Everybody is safe at this point. Okay?"

"Okay"

A few minutes later, his friend Belcheck joined them. Jack handed him a digital camera he had bought the day before.

"Would you help me out?", Jack asked. "I changed my mind about telling Kim. I decided to make a video for her"

"Of course, I'll do it", the Serbian agreed.

"Are you sure, Jack?", Renee asked with concern.

"Yeah", Jack replied, nodding and pressing his lips together. "The last time I faked my death she was truly devastated. I don't want her to be sad"

"Okay", Renee accepted.

As she observed quietly behind the camera and Belcheck recorded, Jack took a seat and began speaking.

"Hi, Kim. I want you to know that I'm alive. Once again I was forced to fake my own death. I'm so sorry, sweetheart", Jack said with his eyes clouded by tears. "This time I wanted to tell you the truth, because I don't want you to feel sad". He gestured for Renee to sit next to him. She awkwardly sat next to Jack. "Renee Walker is alive too. So, I'm not alone. Don't worry about me. I can't tell you where we'll be, but we'll be okay". He gave the camera a tiny smile and squeezed Renee's hand. "Sweetheart, I don't need to tell you that nobody can know about this. You can only tell Steve, because keeping a secret from your husband can destroy your marriage. I know a lot about that". He swallowed his angst as the memories of his wife flooded his mind. He had been dishonest with Teri, and it made him feel guilty. "I want you and your family to be happy. I love you more than anything, and I miss you so much. I'll always miss you. Hug your beautiful kids for me"

Knowing Jack was done talking, Belcheck turned the camera off.

Jack had tears in his eyes. He couldn't prevent them. His family meant everything to him, and now he'd never see them again. He'd never meet his grandson. He'd never go to the zoo with little Teri again.

Renee could see Jack's sadness, but didn't know what to do about it. Finally, she held him in a tight embrace.

At the airport, Jack and Renee said goodbye to Belcheck and thanked him profusely once again for everything he had done. Afterwards, they boarded the plane that would take them to Brazil.

A pretty stewardess led them to their seats. They had decided to flight in first class, to have more privacy. Emirates Airlines provided luxurious private suits. They were relieved they could book one, for they had a lot to talk about and it was paramount that nobody overheard them.

"This is amazing. With my dad we traveled first class, but it was nothing like this" Jack commented, feeling dazed, and slightly uncomfortable. His entire life had been about rejecting the comforts and luxuries his rich family provided. However, he understood Renee and him needed privacy. Besides, nobody would look for him in first class.

"I know", Renee said, also in awe. She wasn't stranger to first class either. But this was, by far, the most luxurious plane she had ever seen.

The plane took off, and Kamistan became a distant land.

"People will ask us why we moved to Argentina", Renee pointed out. "We have to think of an answer"

"True", Jack agreed. He bit his lower lip, trying to figure out an answer. Why would a couple of Americans choose to live in Argentina? After a few minutes of pondering, the answer came to him. "We could say that we want a less stressful way of life, and we like a society that's centered around friends and family, rather than just work"

"Good", she approved, with a smile. "It'll actually be nice, having time for each other"

Jack smiled back at her and caressed her cheek.

"All my life, I've put work before my family. Now you are all the family I have. I want you to be my priority"

"I'm glad. Because you have been my priority since the moment I saw you in New York", Renee admitted, with her voice full of emotion.

He pulled her closer to him, for a very passionate kiss.

"I want you here and now", Jack whispered.

"Me too", she said. "But there are people, right outside"

"They can't see us. This is a private booth", he reminded her, brushing her bare shoulder with his lips. "Don't you wanna join the mile high club?"

"I'm already a member", Renee whispered in his ear, caressing his tight. She had, several years ago, made love with Larry Moss in an airplane's bathroom, when they had to travel together for work.

Jack widened his eyes, feeling surprised and aroused at the same time. He liked how Renee had a fun, crazy side.

"It'd be a first for me", he admitted.

With a mischievous grin, Renee locked the door of their booth and removed her shoes and pants. Then, she slowly took off Jack's pants while they kissed. They turned his seat into a bed and she positioned herself on top of him. Pretty soon, they were both ready to join their bodies with consuming hunger.

Thirteen hours later, the plane landed safely in Sao Pablo. It was ten PM in Kamistan, but eleven AM in Brazil. It was twelve PM in Mar del Plata, their final destination.

"Our flight to Buenos Aires leaves in four hours", Renee said, adjusting her watch to the new time zone.

"I'm exhausted", Jack commented, yawning, as he put their two suitcases in a cart. He had very few things, since he had spent the last six months in a Russian prison. He had lost most of his things when he turned himself in. His suitcase only had some clothes and toiletries they bought in Kamistan. His carry-on had a new laptop and a cellphone. Renee didn't have much with her either, which surprised him. "I know why I'm traveling light", he said. "But, why are you?"

"I didn't know I would move to another country with you", she replied. "I figured we'd talk and then I'd go back to Santa Barbara"

Jack put his arms around her waist.

"You really thought I'd let you go?"

"I was hoping you wouldn't. But I'm not presumptuous", she said. "Things can change after four years apart"

"My feelings for you never changed. Not one bit", he affirmed.

Feeling moved, she pulled him closer to her for a tender kiss.

The flight to Buenos Aires went smoothly. They arrived to their destination at three PM, Argentina time. They were welcomed by a very large city with many tall buildings and packed highways. A black taxi, with a yellow ceiling, took them to their hotel.

Jack and Renee were immensely relieved when they entered their hotel room, which had air conditioner. Buenos Aires was unbearably hot in December. The city could reach 108 F°.

"We have to meet Sergio Mendoza tomorrow", Renee reminded him, while checking the mini-fridge in the room for a cold drink. She was glad to see a pepsi cola.

"Yeah", Jack said, grabbing a chocolate from the mini-fridge and taking a bite. "I think I'll go to bed now"

Renee checked her watch. They were still in Kamistan time, which meant it was one am for them.

"We should adjust to Argentina time"

"Maybe just a nap"

"All right. But I'll take a shower first. I feel gross", she said, realizing that her t-shirt was damped with sweat.

"Can I join you?", he asked, with a mischievous grin.

Renee smiled and undressed herself, while Jack removed his own clothes. While kissing with hunger, they headed to the shower. As the warm water run through their bodies, he rubbed a soapy sponge all over her body. She did the same to him. They also washed each other's hair, very gently. Once they couldn't restrain themselves anymore, he got inside of her and they climaxed together.

Later, they were relaxing in bed, together. She was resting her head on his chest as he caressed her long hair.

"Do you realize that we had sex ten times in the last three days?", she asked, feeling impressed. She couldn't remember the last time she was in a relationship with such passion. It probably was with her late fiancé, Jimmy, back in the year 2000. Or, maybe, with her married lover Parker, around eight years after Jimmy was killed on 9-11.

"Yeah", he replied, chuckling. "We are a naughty couple"

"We should make a sex video", she joked.

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"You'd like that?"

"No way! I was kidding", Renee said, hitting him playfully on the chest.

"Okay", Jack chuckled. "I'm a grandpa anyway. I should probably behave", he joked. They laughed together. He then caressed her cheek. "I haven't laughed like this in many years. Thanks for being here, sweetheart".

"Thank you for letting me be here", she said.

They woke up from a long nap at seven thirty PM. The moonlight shined through a window.

Jack headed to the bathroom, washed his face, and looked at himself on the mirror. He didn't like his beard. He hadn't shaved in six months, since he had spent that time in a Russian prison. His hair was, also, pretty long.

"Is something wrong, honey?", Renee asked, since Jack was looking at the mirror with a frown. She put her arms around his waist, from behind.

"Nah. I'm just thinking about shaving", he said.

"You shouldn't", she said, with a somber expression on her face. "It'd be easier for people to recognize you"

"That's true", Jack conceded, with a deep sigh. "It's just… I only let my beard grow when I'm in prison or when I'm seriously depressed. After my wife died, I didn't shave for a year. When I thought you were dead, I also spent a long-long time without shaving". He took Renee's hand and kissed it. "But now I'm free and feeling good".

"I'm glad", Renee said, with a smile. Her face, then, grew serious. "But you have to keep your beard anyway. It's important"

"I know", he agreed, reluctantly.

"If it makes you feel better, I like it", she assured him, brushing his beard with her fingers.

After giving his beard a short-boxed shape and getting dressed, they headed to the hotel's dining room, for diner. While they waited for their orders, Jack grabbed a newspaper with a picture of himself on the cover. The headline said: The North-American Butcher is still at large. Under the headline, it said: Russian government offers millionaire reward for his apprehension.

He showed Renee the newspaper. She frowned.

"I hate that nickname", Jack muttered. It hurt him more than he wanted to admit.

"I know, honey", Renee said, holding his hand. "Try to ignore it. You don't deserve to be called that. I know you, and I know you have a good heart"

"But I killed all those people", he reminded her, looking away from her, with a somber expression on his face.

"You are way better than your worst actions", she affirmed, in an attempt to comfort him.

On another table, three tourists from Spain were also having diner. They looked at Jack with surprise. He looked familiar to them.

"Renee, I don't like the way those people are looking at me", Jack whispered in her ear. "We have to go"

They headed rapidly to their rooms. Jack sat on the edge of the bed and held his head with frustration.

"This isn't going to work", he said. "Even with the beard, someone will figure out I'm the North-American butcher"

Renee sat next to him and held his hand.

"You're not a butcher", she assured him, with a firm tone. "And this will work. There were Nazis who hid here, without getting caught, for decades. You just need a make-over". She stood up and kissed his lips. "Wait here. I'll be right back".

He watched the news while waiting. The media showed a picture of him with very short, blonde, hair and without a beard.

After several minutes, Renee came back, carrying hair dye.

"I brought several colors, so you can choose one", she said. "What about black?"

"I don't know", he replied, examining the box. The guy on the box looked good with ebony hair. But Jack didn't like it for himself. "Let me see the others".

After a lot of thinking, he chose a carroty-red tint. He had to dye his beard and eyebrows as well, so it'd look more natural.

"Great choice", Renee said, as her lips curbed in a tiny smile. "Now we'll both be red-haired".

Jack pulled her closer to him.

"People will think we are related and our relationship is incestuous", he joked, with a mischievous grin. He kissed the spot behind her ear.

Reluctantly, Renee stepped back.

"We can't do this now, Jack. We need to give you a make-over".

Jack didn't argue. After coloring his hair, they had to cut it. It hadn't been cut in six months.

"You could leave it long", she suggested, brushing Jack's long damped hair with her fingers. "Like Brad Pitt on Legends Of the Fall"

"I'm too old for that, sweetheart", he stated, with a chuckle. "Would you settle for Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise?"

"That's so hot", she agreed, with a smile full of excitement. An idea suddenly flew inside her mind. "I should cut my hair too"

"As long as you don't change your color", Jack replied. Her hair now looked exactly like it did the first time he saw her. Her auburn hair had always fascinated him. He'd never forget the way it shined when he waltzed into the senate hearings. It was a shade of red that had been stuck in his mind ever since.

Renee looked at herself in the mirror for a long time, trying to figure out what would be the best style for her. She wanted something edgy and completely different.

"I think I want my hair like Robin Wright's in House Of Cards", she stated. "Have you ever watched that show?"

"Yeah", Jack replied, looking away, a bit awkwardly. He used to watch that TV show with his Ukrainian girlfriend, Sofiya. Renee knew nothing about her, yet. He chose to keep the information to himself, for the moment. He was afraid it'd hurt her.

The next morning, it was time to meet Sergio Mendoza. Jack and Renee sat down in a coffee house, to wait for him. He was running late, so they ordered coffee and pastries with Dulce De Leche.

"Sweetheart, you must try this", he told Renee, handing her a pastry stuffed with dulce de leche. "The brown thing is dulce the leche, made with milk and sugar".

She took a bite and tasted the dolce. An extreme sweet sensation took over her mouth. She had never tasted anything similar.

"Oh my God, this is amazing"

Then, a tall man walked through the door and approached them. His skin was pale and his eyes were blue. He was wearing an expensive-looking suit and sunglasses. He was a real "porteño", term used to describe people born in Buenos Aires City. Literally translated, the world meant "From the port".

"Are you Jake Gueller and Alexia Jones?", he asked them.

"That's right", Jack replied. His back tensed. He didn't know if he could trust the man before him. "Mr. Mendoza, I presume?"

"Yes", he confirmed, sitting down.

Sergio ordered coffee and flirted shamelessly with the waitress. Then, he addressed Jack and Renee.

"So, Belcheck told me you two are moving to Mar del Plata and need a job"

"Yes", Jack said. "Can you help us with that?"

"I think so", Sergio replied, with a nod, as the waitress gave them their coffees. "I own several nightclubs and a couple of gyms, one of those gyms is in Mar del Plata, but I need to sell it"

"Why?", Jack asked, with some distrust in his eyes.

"I want to focus on my nightclubs", Sergio replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "To be honest, Jake, the gym is no longer making as much money as I'd want. But, with dedication, it could be profitable again. You two could own it, and run it. Also, Belcheck told me you two have skills. You could teach self-defense classes there, and such"

Jack and Renee exchanged a look. The idea tempted them.

"Sounds good", Jack said, standing up. "Now, if you excuse me, I need to use the restroom"

Once Jack left, Renee looked around awkwardly. There was a delicate subject she needed to discuss with Sergio alone.

"Mr. Mendoza, Belcheck told me that you….", she cleared her throat, feeling uncomfortable. "That you provide certain products"

"You want to sell the as well?", Sergio asked.

"No", she replied, firmly. "But there's something I need for myself"

"Vicodin or Percocet?", he guessed, whispering.

"How did you know?", she asked, with her eyes widened with surprise.

"I've been doing this for a long time", he admitted. "Your teeth are white, so you don't smoke meth. Your fingers and lips don't look burnt, so you don't use a pipe. You don't have marks on your arms, which rules out heroin. And you don't have runny nose or look overexcited, so you are hooked on cocaine".

"You're right", Renee said, looking around anxiously. "Please, how can I get some vicodin?"

"I have people in Mar del Plata. I'll give you the number", Sergio said, writing a phone number on a napkin and handing it to her.

"Thank you", she whispered quickly, as Jack returned to the table. Sergio smiled.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?", the argentine man asked, takinga sip of his coffee.

"Actually, yes", Jack replied, eating a cookie that came with the coffee. "We are gonna need weapons"

"Of course", Sergio said, unsurprised. "Belcheck mentioned you two are in serious danger. But he refused to give me details"

"The details are not important", Jack groaned.

"Owning a weapon here is tricky", Sergio warned. "You must register it, of course. Regular individuals like yourselves are only allowed to own them for hunting, or sport-shooting. When you're not using it, you must keep it unloaded and away from the ammo. And you are not allowed to carry it loaded".

"Which makes the weapon useless", Renee complained. She bit her lower lip.

"You can always buy a small weapon and keep it hidden", Sergio suggested. "Unless you give the police reason to search you, you won't get caught". He wrote down a name and a number on a piece of paper, and gave it to Jake. "This is a guy who sells unregistered weapons. I recommend that for your situation. So if you end up using the gun, it won't be traced back to you". He, then, gave them a business card. "Here's the number of a lady who has a real state agency. She'll get you an apartment for a good price". He looked at his watch and stood up. "Sorry. I have to go now"

The three of them shook hands.

"Thank you, we appreciate all your help", Jack said.

"You are welcome. Belcheck's friends are my friends. Call me if you need anything"

After lunch, Jack and Renee decided to take a walk around Los Bosques de Palermo, or Palermo Woods. It was the largest urban park in Argentina, fashioned after Paris' Bois de Boulogne. Its lush meadows, flowerbeds and groves were very peaceful. They did the Rose Garden walk. Under the strong sun, they wandered around those breathtaking manicure gardens.

"Beautiful, isn't it?", she commented.

"Wonderful", Jack said, while they walked, holding hands.

"So, sweetie, do you want to stay in Buenos Aires for a few more days and see the city?"

"No. I think we should go to Mar del Plata now. It's time to go home"

They looked at each other's eyes silently for a moment. She understood exactly what he meant. Jack had spent the last four years traveling around the world, without a home. And then he had spent six months in prison. Now, he was itching to settle down in his new home, with her. He wanted to start the rest of their lives as soon as possible. So did she.

"I couldn't agree more", she said, and kissed his lips. "Let's go home"

So, they headed to their next adventure, to the unknown.

What was waiting for them there?