"Chuck, Chuck! Wake up, please!" Sarah's pleading voice finally got through to the nerd who was crying in his sleep.

"What? Why… Sarah?" He asked in shock, his eyes opening but seeing nothing in the darkness.

"It's okay, Chuck. You're safe, you're warm, I'm here," Sarah assured him, turning on the lamp by his bed, casting a soft creamy glow on the walls of the beach house guest room.

"Sarah," Chuck sighed, raking his hands down his beleaguered and sweaty face.

"What's going on, Chuck? Talk to me," Sarah told him, sitting on the edge of the bed, a hand going into his sweat damped curls in an attempt to calm him.

"I had a nightmare, that's it," Chuck said weakly, turning into Sarah's touch but pulling the covers over him further.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Sarah asked, her voice as soothing as the lamp light.

Chuck took a moment to steady himself, to collect. "I was reliving my first storm outside," Chuck began. "It was cold one night, and I pulled my blanket over my head, and I fell asleep." Chuck inhaled deeply and continued. "While I was sleeping, it started to rain, and my blanket got soaked, sticking to my face so I couldn't breathe."

"Oh my God, Chuck," Sarah gasped, reaching a hand into the blankets to find his and hold it while he recounted the tale.

"Because I was sleeping, it took me a while to realize what was going on and wake up. I almost suffocated, drowned, whatever. It was the worst storm I can remember, and it almost killed me, Sarah. The thunder was so loud and the lightning was so intense," Chuck said and shivered, sweat still wet on his face, giving him the look of having just survived that ordeal.

"Scootch," Sarah ordered, and snuck under the covers with her nerd to hold him tight. "I'm here, Chuck. I have you in my arms. You're soaked with sweat, not storm water. It's a clear night, not a cloud in the sky.

"Hear that? That's the sound of the ocean out there, Chuck, not a storm downpour. You are so safe," she promised him, and began mimicking the sound of the waves outside that were hitting the shore just meters from the open window.

"I feel safe now," Chuck said, burying his face in the crook of Sarah's neck. "I feel so safe now," he said again as he wrapped his fists in the hem of Sarah's tank top.

"Good, that's good. Because you are safe. You'll always be safe with me. You never have to sleep in the rain again, Chuck. It's okay," she smoothed him, her chin on his head and his faced pressed against the tight pull of her shirt.

In this moment of assurance and safety, the two held each other tight and rocked back and forth with Sarah acting as a wave machine until Chuck's breathing came back down.

"I'm sorry, Sarah," Chuck began. "This was supposed to be a warm and happy, relaxing weekend for us, and I'm fucking it all up," Chuck ground out between gritted teeth.

"Hey, no you are not. Stop that," Sarah urged him, pressing quick kisses to his hair. "It's okay. Nothing is ruined. Nothing is. We're fine, we're both fine," she pressed, trying to keep him from a full panic attack. "You're safe and I am so happy you're here, Chuck. I'm so happy we're together in this moment. You need someone to catch you, and I am so damn glad it's me."

Chuck pulled harder on Sarah's shirt and openly cried now, Sarah's strong but tender words soaking in. "God, Sarah. You are such an angel," Chuck told her as he cried. "That's the only explanation. Thank you."

Sarah giggled as she tried to hold back her own tears. "Thank you for saying so, Chuck. Us angels are often underappreciated," she said only half joking. "You deserve to be caught, Chuck. You don't have to freefall anymore."

Chuck took yet another deep breath and let out a strangled grunt.

"What is it, Chuck?" Sarah asked against his curls, one leg thrown over his hip, pulling him into her body so he could feel how growled he was, how real and there she was.

"I want to tell you I love you, so bad, but how much of it is just a fleeting emotion?"

Sarah sighed and took her time choosing her words. "Love is an emotion, Chuck. If you feel like you love me, you probably do. Is it fleeting? Maybe. Is it situational? Possibly. But in this moment right now, are you infatuated with me, or is it deep and real? I can't tell you that," she said sadly.

Chuck sniffed and peaked over Sarah's shoulder. "The sun is just starting to come up," Chuck mumbled.

"C'mon," Sarah said, releasing Chuck's body. "Take a shower and rinse the sweat off. By the time you're out I can have coffee on and we can watch the sunrise."

"That sounds really nice," Chuck nodded and gulped, but didn't make to move very fast.

"Is everything okay, Chuck?" Sarah asked as she sat up in bed and looked over her shoulder at him, her hair tangled with bedhead.

"Yeah, I'm just, well, I'm only in my boxers."

Sarah laughed. "I'm in a tank and panties, so should either of us really feel embarrassed? Not to mention, we're adults and don't have to be blushing teenagers," she added.

"This is true," Chuck said and fully sat up to join Sarah, the downsizing blanket exposing his narrow shoulders and nearly bare ribs. "Plus if we do spend time on the beach, we'll be seeing each other in this level of clothing anyway, right?"

"Even less if I wear a bikini," Sarah said with an even tone, but knowingly watched Chuck from the corner of her eye.

He swallowed roughly but didn't say anything about that comment. He was definitely picturing the blonde officer in a two piece now, and Sarah looked straight ahead to hide her mischievous, playful smirk.

They rose out of bed together, and Chuck rummaged around for a clean pair of boxers and a t-shirt.

Sarah watched him, and was unaware of the frown on her face.

"Sarah?" Chuck asked. "You look upset…." he said awkwardly, really not knowing what was wrong.

Sarah stepped closer to him and brushed her fingers down his visible ribs. "God, you're skinny, Chuck," she whispered.

"Hey" Chuck whispered just as softly, raising her chin with his fingers so she could meet his eyes. "I'll be okay now. I can afford food. I can get to a healthy physicality. We don't have to worry about me starving, okay? I'm not much to look at now, bit give me time to fill out, okay?"

Sarah closed her eyes and touched Chuck's hand that cradled her chin. "I'm not bodyshaming you, Chuck. It's not about your appearance. It's just… how much longer could you have made it before you faded away?"

Chuck sighed and kept brushing a thumb over her chin. "I don't know, but we don't have to worry about that anymore, right? After this sunset, we'll make breakfast, and you can see for yourself that I'm eating, okay?"

"Okay," Sarah agreed, and without even thinking with her head, tilted her face so slightly, allowing her to kiss the heel of Chuck's hand. "I just need you to be okay; for me, for yourself, and for Ellie."

Chuck nodded and bit back a dry sob. "I'm going to be okay for the three of us. And for Morgan. What would he do without me now?" Chuck said, making them both laugh and bringing some light back into the room.

XxX

Chuck stepped out of the shower and dried himself, happy to be rid of the cooling, clammy sweat he woke up with.

The morning was a rough start that ended sweet and with a bit of laugh. If Chuck could pride himself on one thing, it was that he could still laugh, make others laugh, even after all this.

As Chuck was about to leave the bathroom, he realized that he had failed to grab something more than a shirt and boxers to put on, but shrugged. Sarah had already seen him in just his boxers, so she could live seeing it one more time.

Passing the kitchen to reach his room, he saw that Sarah hadn't put on any extra clothing, either, as she filled two mugs from a large French press.

With a mug in each hand, she smiled at him and headed for the sliding door that led to the back deck, overlooking the beach and ocean.

Chuck just shrugged and followed his gorgeous host, but quickly stepped in front of her long enough to grab the door and slide it open.

"Thank you," Sarah said with a smile as she handed Chuck a cup, both of them settling down into matching white lounge chairs.

"Just in time for the sunrise, too," Chuck said softly as he inhaled the fragrance from his cup. "I've had coffee almost on command for a few weeks now, but I'm still not over it."

Sarah looked at him thoughtfully, watched how he savored such a small thing. "You don't realize how much something small like that matters until you go a long time without it."

A few moments of comfortable silence passed between the pair as they sat in the morning sun, watching the colors roll in and paint the sea, the gentle breeze washing over them.

Chuck eventually asked, "So what's our actual plan today, Sergeant?"

Sarah laughed. "Please note references to work today, Chuck. But to answer your question, I figured we'd get dressed, go into town, we can have breakfast somewhere as a treat. We can get some groceries, get you some swim drunks, and we can come back and hit the beach."

Chuck was on board until she mentioned the beach. He obviously stiffened, and Sarah's observant eye caught it.

"What's wrong, Chuck?" she asked, taking his hand.

Chuck squeezed and sighed. "I have been honest the entire short time we've known each other. Sarah, and you've not made me regret it yet." He looked her right in the eyes. "I uh, I'm comfortable with people seeing me like this, Sarah. I don't want people to stare and see how skinny I am, emaciated."

Sarah put her coffee down and took both of Chuck's hands I'm hers. "We don't have to go to a public beach, Chuck. It can just be the two of us. No judgement, no scornful or shocked looks. Just me seeing you, and Chuck, no matter your weight, no matter what's on your bones, you are not ugly to me."

Chuck swallowed and licked his lips, looking down at his hands. "Sarah… it's… thank you," was all he could find to say. "I don't have words other than thank you."

Sarah smiled at him, let go of one of his hands, and grabbed her coffee. She didn't release his other hand until they had finished their coffee.

XxX

Once back at the beach house, Chuck put down the shopping bags and plopped himself down on the living room couch.

"You okay, Chuck?" Sarah asked after depositing a few bags in the kitchen.

"Yeah, I just ate too much at breakfast," Chuck admitted. "My stomach hurts now."

"You're not used to that kind of food, let alone that much, huh?" Sarah put together, joining him on the couch. "Just take a minute to let everything settle, okay? I can handle putting the groceries away," she said and patted Chuck's belly before getting up.

"You're the best, Sarah. And thanks for lunch," Chuck said as he leaned his head on the back of the couch.

"You're welcome, Chuck."

Chuck was totally relaxed, but decided to tip himself over and lay out on the couch. He was all too happy to close his eyes and listen to Sarah hum as she worked in the kitchen.

She soon appeared in the doorway and looked at him with a genuine, warm smile. "A nap does sound kinda good right now," she said and joined him on the couch, lifting his arm up long enough to slip under it. "Comfy?"

"Mhmm," Chuck confirmed, already halfway asleep. He nuzzled into Sarah's neck and soon after fell asleep, Sarah not too far behind him.

Sarah was first to wake up, given that she hadn't put herself in a food coma. This gave her time to change into beach gear, a white bikini with a matching sarong.

When Chuck did wake up, Sarah was in the recliner, quietly reading. His eyes slowly opened and he just saw ceiling at first, but heard Sarah turn a page.

He rolled his head over like he had just woken from surgery, and he drank in Sarah's relaxed positioning, being perfectly at ease around him.

Her guard was completely down, she was showing off more than a little skin, and she looked completely calm.

"Hey," Chuck said, a light smile on his face.

"Hey there, sleepy head," Sarah smiled back, speaking softly. "Have a good nap?"

"Yeah I did," he confirmed as he he pulled himself up and rested on his elbows. "I didn't sleep the whole day away, did I?"

"Hardly," Sarah said, putting her book down. "I only woke up 15 minutes before you, and you were only out for an hour and a half."

"Well that's good," Chuck said with an awkward laugh, sitting up and trying not to ogle the beach-ready blonde.

"Chuck, it's okay to look at me. You're not creeping me out, and I trust you to be respectful," Sarah said, addressing the elephant.

"Sorry, Sarah," Chuck said sheepishly. "You're really pretty, and you take great care of your body, and you're just… you know I think you're beautiful. I'm just trying not to stare."

"If I had a problem with you seeing my body, I wouldn't wear a bikini around you, Chuck," Sarah said as she stood up and set her book down before walking over to Chuck and holding her hand out. "Now come on, switch into your swim trunks and let's go swimming. It'll just be us. No one but me will see you, okay?"

"Okay," Chuck nodded, rising to his feet, Sarah's hand still in his. "We can still have fun. I don't have to be a downer."

"That's right," Sarah said with a smile.

It didn't take Chuck long to change, and once he had, he and Sarah were walking down the stairs of the back deck and down onto the warm sand.

"This feels so nice on my feet," Chuck said with a boyish smile as he dug his toes in.

"Doesn't it?" Sarah asked with a pleased. Almost ethereal voice as she laid down a towel. "I love the beach, and I'm so glad we're doing this."

"Me too," Chuck agreed, crouching low and sifting his hands through the fine grains. "I haven't been to the beach since me and Ellie were little kids. I don't remember it well, but our parents used to take us on day trips during the summers when we still had both of them."

"I hope we can make new and happy memories for you here as well, Chuck," Sarah said, joining him as he absent-mindedly pushed two ridges of sand together with his hands.

"So far so good," Chuck said looking at her, a warm smile and genuine light in his eyes. "This will be my favorite weekend for some time to come, I'm sure."

The two sat on the sand and just looked at each other, both smiling, feeling the sun and enjoying the way looking at each other made the other feel.

"What do you say we go for that swim, Chuck?" Sarah asked, standing up and removing her sarong to fully show off her shapely legs in her white two-piece bikini.

"That sounds good," Chuck agreed, also getting to his feet and shedding his t-shirt. He looked down at his feet, not looking Sarah in the eyes.

"Hey Chuck, look at me," Sarah said softly, cupping his shaved chin in her hand. "There's nothing for you to be ashamed of. Don't hate yourself, and don't hate your body. I don't hate you, and I don't hate your body. I like you and your body, okay?"

Chuck nodded and held her free hand, squeezing it. "Thankcyou, Sarah. Thank you for helping me build confidence. And you don't need me to tell you, but uh, I like you and your body, too," Chuck finished, a blush clear on his face.

"Good," Sarah whispered, their faces so close. She closed that distance and softly placed her lips on his. "And let's go enjoy the ocean."

XxX

A/N: I understand it's been months, but I feel like I've had enough mulling time and a reread of everything so far, that I know where to go.

I think we're done with a lot of the angst (we will be touching on Chuck's PTSD and body imahe issues, if that counts as angst?) and the chasing. I think we're to a recovery and a building point, so much fluff, and the "pursuit of happiness" part of the story. We're going to be seeing some tug-of-war, but they're quickly pulling into romantic waters now. That's not even a spoiler anymore.

-SP96