This is a work of fantasy. We don't own Chuck or any of its characters.

Content Warning: There is talk of non-consensual acts in this chapter. Nothing happens but if you're sensitive to that topic, you might want to give this one a pass.

This takes place a couple months after the end of the series. Sarah has regained almost all of her memories and they are about to begin their new lives together outside the spy life. They say it was a happy ending. Maybe… Eventually.

One Mission at a Time

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Sarah was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. The timing sucked. Too bad because she was having a good time being Darcy's mentor. The spy's motto was 'one mission at a time'. It was an unbreakable rule… okay so Mark's lesson would have to be put on hold for a few days to concentrate on… this. This what? You'd have to call it a mission. Okay but what a mission. At least she finally had a few minutes by herself to think. So far, it had been a mixed first day, albeit a very long one. It started with getting to fly her beloved jet to Chicago. It was a little earlier in the morning than she was used too… but she didn't get to fly it nearly as much as she wanted… so that was always fun. Chicago was a surprise. She expected to be going to Washington. Apparently, the Intersect team had moved to the Chicago offices. She also got to see Ellie, was floored to find out that her sister-in-law was a part-time member of the new team. Other than a quick hug, they didn't get a chance to talk… but Sarah was dying to find out how she got talked into participating.

Then it was time to meet her new temporary partner. Carina was right about the new Intersect. They had picked an absolute stud. On a professional level, Fred Jones left Cole Barker standing in the dust as the most impressive agent she had ever heard of. If he was this decorated, Sarah was surprised that she had never heard of him. Of course, she had no idea that the file she was given to review had been substantially padded and was almost all fake. Regardless, what she was reading told the story of everything that she admired in an agent, a true hero among heroes, had a list of commendations longer than her arm.

On a personal level, she would have been blind to not notice how amazingly good-looking he was. Of course, he knew it too. In fact, the main reason he was chosen for this assignment was because he was so good looking. And even if she had been struck tragically blind, Carina was right there to make very sure to point it out. Carina's constant teasing in the jet about Agent Jones being exactly her type was getting a little old, especially in front of Chuck. She no longer had a type… especially someone like Jones… whose arrogance surrounded him like a cloud of bad cologne. Not to say that Carina didn't have a point. Could this guy have gotten Agent Walker into bed all on his own in her CATs days? Maybe. Historically, the odds were poor. Most who tried tasted defeat… and sometimes her left foot. Only a few times had she allowed herself to become a conquest… and make no mistake. A conquest was what they all were after.

Then again, in the attributes she once admired, Agent Jones was head and shoulders above the other proud few who had claimed victory. Even Sarah had to admit that ten years ago it was likely that she would have talked herself into believing this might be the one… and flashed that special smile designed to let a man know she was available. After that, the results would have been predictable. She would have listened to his suggestive flirting, encouraged him while they were dancing, and ended up in his hotel room for some torrid sex, at least for a couple of nights. Then, once he had his conquest, he'd disappear, and she'd never hear from him again. The pattern was also predictable.

Sarah was telling Chuck the truth about not wanting to be Agent Walker again or needing closure… wasn't even sure why he would think that. That part of her life was over. She loved everything about her new life. On the other hand, she did have to admit that she got a small thrill when they handed her the mission packet which included her new CIA Id, and especially her gun. It made up a little for the awful feeling when she was forced to take off her wedding ring. The weapon felt odd in her hand… familiar yet different. It was a little fun to pretend to be a CIA badass again for a few days. Normally, Agent Walker would have headed directly to the range to break in any new weapon. There was no time for that today, so she made a mental note to schedule some range time later. She didn't know that the gun had been modified so it wouldn't shoot and was basically a prop.

This was an important assignment, and she couldn't deny the pride at being the best agent to perform it. Getting a new Intersect up to speed would be huge for the world… and, even better, good for Chuck. Speaking of her husband, thank goodness he wasn't in the briefing… so he didn't have to listen to Jones' full court press that began the instant they were introduced. Of course, like any mission, it wouldn't be easy. It was sorta like old times. The brass threw them right into the fire. It was sink or swim.

The mission didn't go that well. In fact, she was starting to think that Agent Jones was going to be a bust as an Intersect. Then again, Chuck was shaky at first too. The situation was looking pretty hopeless. Without a functioning Intersect, they quickly found themselves captured by twenty or so drug cartel creeps. Chuck and Carina were out there someplace monitoring, but they would have no hope of getting to them in time.

Sarah knew full well what happened to female agents in this situation. It was well documented in training. The 'experts' told you the best thing would be to just go passive, let them lower their guard thinking you had surrendered, and look for an opening… but that wasn't Agent Walker. Normally, she would have fought to the death. She tried her best. She even got a few really good shots in… but this time there was no way to fight. There were too many of them. After only a few seconds, she was tackled and overwhelmed. Had the brass really thought this through? Sending her with a busted Intersect just to see her get gang raped to death?

Thankfully Jones had come through when her life was on the line. His Intersect finally kicked in and proved to be fatal just in the nick of time. Her job was to observe. Unfortunately, she had no idea what made him flash. When it happened, she was in another room fighting for her life… and losing. He didn't know either, so that was a wasted opportunity. Of course, she had no way of knowing that everything about this mission had been carefully staged and designed to prove to her that Jones was honestly an Intersect. At least she got the expected high that always came with a successful fight.

Chuck was also right about something else. Agent Jones was going to make every effort to butter her muffin tonight. She could feel his eyes undressing her about ten seconds after they met. Of course, Sarah was used to that. It happened with most men. They had tried hard not to say it so plainly… but they had to admit, it was very possible that the promise of sex was one of those things that made the Intersect controllable. In the briefing, they stopped just short of going there… but Chuck had already pointed out the obvious. There was only one real way to find out. Thankfully Chuck had learned control well before they started having sex… so she was able to point that out. In fact, it had happened at the very lowest point of their relationship. It was Ellie who pointed out the massive amount of UST during that time and maybe that was a factor. Thanks a lot, sis. Hopefully they could keep it Unresolved.

There was zero doubt Jones wasn't thinking along the lines of Unresolved. He was confident that Unresolved wasn't in play. Then again, confidence with the ladies was plainly his main attribute. All day she had to listen to the borderline crude double entendre that settled for flirting in the CIA world. The second she stepped into the hotel room… she noticed the beautiful gardenias. Someone had clearly briefed him because her favorite champagne was chilling next to the room service huge lobster. At least she got to avoid any conversation for a while as she kept her mouth full with her favorite meal.

All in all, it was a decent day. What kept it from being a great day was that nagging feeling that wouldn't go away. Sure, she desperately missed her husband, but it was more than that. She hadn't seen him. She knew that Carina had him in the same hotel, about three floors down. They were monitoring the situation, but they had stayed out of sight. If Sarah had been in a better mood, she would have snickered at the idea of Chuck being stuck with Carina for the night. It was definitely something to tease him about after this was over. Hopefully she would get to see him on tomorrow's mission.

It was odd. Sure, he was smiling as he kissed her goodbye, but did he really think that she couldn't see his eyes? Did Chuck truly want her to give in to this guy? That sure didn't sound like him. Or did he just misinterpret what an undercover couple meant, assume it was going to happen, and wanted her to not have guilt? That did sound like him. He wanted her to learn something. Did that mean learn something about sex? She had no idea that Chuck was just making sure that whatever happened with the suggestion, she should have no guilt giving into it. Of course, Jones was thinking along those same lines and would be happy to teach her anything about sex with an Intersect that she wanted to know… just in case her husband had dropped that particular ball. The CIA had established rigid rules about being undercover as a couple. They said it was to protect the female agent… but who were they kidding? The rules were very clear… and also universally ignored. To stay professional there was no question that they were already at the point where she was going to have to cause a tense scene that could affect the rest of the assignment.

It was beyond odd. She had been pleading with Chuck to open up more about sex. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? Why was this so different?

The problem was obvious. Agent Jones was an alpha male. He was going to be the aggressor. He was going to attempt to set the terms. The question was how far should she let him go without getting harsh… while still not committing to the dozen or so rounds on her back that he clearly had planned? The negligee in her mission bag was basically standard issue for an agent under cover as a couple. It was pretty sheer but with the accessory bra and panties it was really not that revealing. It actually didn't show as much skin as a bikini. What message would wearing it send? Then she answered her own question. Showing that negligee to someone like Jones would be like ringing the dinner bell. Unresolved would be out the window. She'd be telling him that he was in charge and watch him very quickly engage in the process of trying to get her naked. She immediately threw it back in the bag. Fortunately, she had planned ahead and packed far more conservative pajamas.

Chuck told her to find out about herself. Okay, but what exactly did that mean? Flirting with Mark had been fun. Even that was understatement. She looked forward to the battle of wills and the challenge it represented more than she thought she would. Even the times when she strategically had to let Mark think he was winning a little was fun… because Chuck was on board and waiting to hear all about it. Most important… she was driving the process… and it was never going to get anywhere close to sex. Tonight? Fun? Not so much. That in itself was telling.

Chuck had made his opinion very clear. In fact, he had emphasized it. Things happened on missions. You had to depend on your instincts… with more things than sex. It was part of the deal. Anything less made you less safe. Whatever happened she shouldn't have any guilt. It sounded pretty much like the lectures she used to deliver to him. That was sweet, but she also wasn't buying it. It was pure Chuck… but it also didn't solve her problem. She couldn't pretend that this was for him. Chuck wasn't here. What to do was completely her decision. Tonight whatever happened would be for her alone.

The truth was plain. She really, really didn't want to go out there. But what would Chuck say? What wasn't he saying here? He was being so odd. Did he really want her to do it? After all, she was the one who put other people on the table. Maybe he wanted to explore it more fully. Maybe he was making a point to her. Maybe this was a test… for him. She had worked overtime to make sure he knew that he could ask for anything and she'd smile and deliver. If this was a test, she sure didn't want to disappoint him. That would negate the progress she had been making with him. How would going back to square one with Chuck be finding out anything about herself? Whatever was going to happen, she had stalled long enough. Her voyage of discovery was imminent, so she opened the door.

It was sink or swim time.

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Fred Jones was sitting on the bed waiting. If this suggestion was as powerful as the higher ups feared, he halfway expected her to be naked. That disappeared like a puff of smoke on a windy day when he saw her step out of the bathroom. Flannel pajamas? Naturally, he recognized the look right away… and what it meant.

This was the moment he had been waiting for ever since he was briefed on this assignment. Of course, he had been with plenty of beautiful agents. They seemed to be forming a line. This one was different. She was world class sexy. He had resisted the strong temptation to grab her several times today… but they told him to be patient and she would come to him… so he waited until tonight. Normally, he would have turned on the charm to seduce her out of her panties. That plainly would be a challenge. He'd have several layers to work through before he even got close to her panties. Huh? She had already put a pillow on the couch. Was she really going to sleep on the couch?

His assignment was to see how far she could be pushed knowing that she was basically conditioned to worship him and obey his commands. It was a dream assignment. Time to push. He beckoned her to stand before him with a flick of his finger. "I've been told that you have a very creative way to thank a partner for saving your life," he said. "I'm looking forward to it. You can strip for me now. Do you want to call me master?"

Huh? Sarah took a moment to decide if she heard him correctly. Yeah, they all expected sex… but at least it usually started off as a request. Was he really expecting to be able to demand kinky sex? On the first day of being partners? Even Bryce waited for a few weeks before suggesting anything wild. Who had briefed this guy? Okay, yeah. It was a running joke with the CATs that it was an unofficial custom to reward your partner with sex whenever he saved your life. It was akin to a maiden rewarding a knight in medieval times. Bryce certainly knew about the custom. Playing the game and making it a 'reward' actually made sex with Bryce a little less awkward. How would Jones know that? Why in the world would she want to call him master? Strip? Most definitely not happening. Why would he even ask that? She just stared at him.

Jones looked at her standing there. Even in those ridiculous pajamas, he had just hit the jackpot. He checked her out from head to toe and back again, pausing on each trip at her chest. "Let's understand each other," he said. "I'm in charge tonight. You can get started. Make it slow and sexy."

Again, huh? At least that answered her question about his expectations. Yeah, these guys always thought they were in charge, but they hardly ever said it that plainly. Slow and sexy? That was as arrogant as it got. Fred Jones had just ended any chance he would have ever had with her… even before Chuck. She seriously was tempted to end this right now… but what would Chuck say if she bailed so quickly. After all, she had come this far. She was standing there in his hotel room. He deserved the chance to save this. "We need to stay professional," she said.

Sarah could see the surprised look on his face. Was this guy really expecting her to strip for him? Really?

He just grinned. "There's no reason to be nervous," he said. "We both know where this is heading. I understand your conflict. You're married… but we also both know that you're anxious to submit to my Intersect. I'll help get us started. I was saving the rape fantasy for later, but okay. We can start there so you can honestly tell him that you had no choice. I'm going to control you. You're currently my captive. You will smile and immediately obey me. We both know that you can't begin to fight. This can be easy and painless, or it can be hard. Surrender and save yourself some pain. This is the point where you get started. Make it slow and sexy."

Sarah couldn't hide the shock from her face. This was quickly getting out of control. Rape fantasy? Was this guy really about to use an excuse to rape her? As a favor so she wouldn't have guilt with her husband? Really? What planet was this guy from? At least her learning had been completed. She quickly assessed the situation. Even under normal circumstances she would probably eventually lose a fight with Agent Jones. He was just as trained and experienced, was in better game shape, and he had a hundred and fifty pounds on her. Her fighting advantage was always quickness. She was out of spy shape so that probably wouldn't be much of an advantage. Any other time, her main goal would have been to inflict enough damage so that, even if he won, his mind wouldn't be on sex. Except this wasn't a normal circumstance.

She had already learned from her playful sparring with Chuck that he was right. She was defenseless against an Intersect. Chuck didn't ever hurt her, not that he would. The Intersect just made him far too quick to offer any resistance. Agent Walker had been fully trained in all of the martial arts. It didn't help. Even trying her hardest, whatever move she made, he was there waiting for her. Chuck had her cuffed, hogtied, and helpless before she knew what was happening and stood there grinning. If he wanted, Jones could do the same… except his grin would be more of a gloat… and he wouldn't stop there… or be reluctant to deliver pain. Once she was helpless… well she'd be helpless. What would come next wasn't in doubt.

Sarah tried to keep her voice calm. "Agent Jones," she said. "Let's be very clear. You're right in the sense that I have no way to fight you… but here is my one and only warning. If you so much as touch me inappropriately against my will, I'm going to wait until you're sleeping, take my brand new CIA issue weapon, and blow your fucking brains out." Hopefully that would get through to him.

Unfortunately, Jones just grinned. She was bluffing. Even if she wasn't bluffing, he knew that the CIA had planned ahead. Her new weapon didn't have a firing pin and was basically a prop. "Of course you are," he said mockingly. "It wouldn't be a real fantasy without some protest, now, would it? You most definitely will be blowing something tonight… but it won't be my brains. This is the last time I'm going to tell you. Get started. Slow and sexy."

The spy's worst enemy was panic. If you panicked, you stopped thinking rationally… and you died. Sarah knew that she had to fight the urge to panic and think clearly… but she could see the look in his eyes. Talking about delivering pain didn't sound like he was in a mood to listen to reason. In training, you were taught that fighting a battle when you were hopelessly overmatched wasn't heroic, it was stupid. That's when she considered running. Unfortunately, she didn't have a clear path to the door. The smart thing would be to negotiate. What could she offer that she could live with and he'd accept? There probably wasn't anything. Fighting would just piss him off. Maybe she could let him think she was giving in… smile and slowly take off some clothes while dancing her way close enough to the door to make a run for it. Even that was a long shot. He was too quick. He'd catch her before she could get the door open.

Except it hit her. Chuck had changed her… but for today anyway, she was Agent Walker. Training about negotiating notwithstanding, surrender wasn't an Agent Walker characteristic. If he was going to take something from her, he'd have to take it. If it happened, she'd be very sure to follow through on her threat, take her new weapon, and exact her revenge later. Maybe it was a new weapon… she hadn't shot it yet… but at the point-blank range she had in mind it wouldn't matter.

Out of instinct more than anything, she launched her left foot. It was symbolic. She knew that she had no hope of fighting him. Trying was actually stupid. It would give him an excuse to get physical. It's just that her outfit made it perfect for throwing a kick. Her rage had her fully intending to knock his head off of his shoulders and send it rolling across the room. At least this would tell him that she wasn't going to give up without a fight. His sitting in front of her leaning forward made his jaw a perfect target. Even so, she was stunned that she landed it. After all, practicing in the gym wasn't the same. It had been a year since she had thrown it in anger. Maybe it was like riding a bike. It didn't knock his head off… but it did land flush on his jaw with a thud. Like so many unfortunate adversaries before him, Fred Jones fell to the floor in a semi-conscious heap.

Sarah didn't give him time to recover or think about how easy her victory was. She was already reaching for her robe. "This mission is over," she spat, knowing he couldn't hear her. "After I make my report so will be your career. Even look like you're going to touch me again, and I'm going to get my amazing husband to teach you how much pain an experienced pissed off Intersect can deliver. Don't worry… you'll be able to claim that you had no choice." Sarah slammed the door with a single thought.

At least she had learned something.

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Carina was surprised at the pounding at the door. Who could that be? This mission was already turning into a major cluster fuck on the first day. Before Sarah met Chuck, Carina would have been all over the idea of her wanting to sleep with some super stud… had picked out the specific super stud and suggested it only a thousand times over the years. It would have been good for her and be something to tease her about. The difference was that she wanted it to be her idea… not Quinn's. Chuck had been borderline catatonic all day and was currently in the bedroom drinking while probably imagining what his wife was currently doing.

Sarah didn't give her time to react. She had Carina pinned against the wall with her forearm across her throat. "Tell me what the fuck is really going on here!" she growled. "This isn't a real mission. This asshole 'ordered' me to strip. When I refused, he tried to rape me."

This was really bad news. The test didn't work. They were quickly running out of options. Carina didn't try to fight and just went limp. Sarah's rage would have made fighting futile anyway. "Relax," she said. "Okay, you're right. We were afraid to tell you… but we have no choice. This is something that should come from your husband."

"He's… um, he's not having a good day."

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