F/N1 from AC: Thank you for the continuing reading and support of this story despite the many glitches of this site. And continued thanks to Captainrick944 for his efforts to edit and enhance the readability of the story content.

Still not owning Chuck. I don't see that changing.

Chuck and Sarah vs The Makeover

CHAPTER 17: Hit the Beach

May 3, 2004

Saturday: Day 6 of Los Angeles Mission

Everyone had slept in following last night's dancing and drinking. Since Chuck and Sarah had drunk the least, they were the ones who felt the best this morning. They cooked some frozen hash browns and scrambled up some eggs with various chopped vegetables mixed in. They also prepared coffee and orange juice to help everyone kick-start their brains.

Over breakfast, Devon suggested that spending the day at the beach would be an excellent way to recover. Ellie liked that idea as long as she could nap there.

Carina was hyped to go check out the beach.

Sarah decided it would be nice to have Chuck show her around the beach.

Chuck enjoyed going to the beach. Chuck and Morgan weren't athletic, but they weren't anti-athletic. Living near the beach in Southern California, you are drawn outside and into activities. So, Chuck and Morgan had ridden bikes and skateboards, swam and surfed in the ocean, and played soccer and volleyball on the beach. In Junior high, they participated in youth sports; Chuck swam, and Morgan wrestled. So, they weren't inept. They just weren't very passionate about participating in athletics, preferring video games, movies and reading.

Chuck did however have some concerns about going to a public place such as the beach with the bad guys still looking for the girls. On the beach there would be no natural cover to hide them, no crowds to slip into and they would be exposed with no back up in sight. Chuck shook his head as he wondered where these thoughts were coming from. The good thing about the situation was that the bad guys only found them when the device was with them and opened. So Chuck knew that wouldn't be an issue at the beach since the device would not be with them. And since everyone else was comfortable going to the beach, he didn't want to be the one spoiling the idea. So he agreed with the group on that day's plans.

Ellie and the girls went swimsuit shopping. Sarah and Carina each ended up with a one-piece sports-style suit. The suits had a full bottom and high collar, with a teardrop cutout in the back. Sarah's was dark blue, and Carina's was lime green.

Sarah took her bathing suit into the dressing room and tried it on. The bottom part was cut a little smaller than her underwear. She adjusted everything, looked down, and let out a squeak.

In the next stall over, Carina snorted out a laugh. "You too, huh?" She said, with a low voice. She opened her privacy door and knocked on Sarah's door so she could open it. When Sarah opened her door, Carina stepped inside.

They each looked down at each other's groin as they learned the meaning of "bikini line." They both had patches of hair puffed out of their suit bottoms. "It looks like I am accurate when I call you Blondie," Carina teased.

Sarah blushed, then retorted, "I guess I should call you Red."

They laughed, and both called out for Ellie.

Ellie checked things out and laughed with them about their obliviousness to that aspect of personal grooming. They decided to stop at a drugstore and pick up a couple of razors and personal grooming kits.

When Sarah put on the suit, she felt super exposed. Carina did, too, but it kind of excited her.

Neither of them had ever worn anything so form-fitting. It was like standing around in your underwear. And Sarah wasn't used to her legs being bare and exposed. She could consciously feel every inch of her legs.

To a lesser extent, it was the same for her arms. She felt fully exposed when she was used to being hidden under flannels and trench coats. It was unsettling. She added a pair of shorts and a short robe to go with it. Her legs were still out there, but the extra layers felt comforting.

Carina felt awkward but excited. She bought a knee-length wrap to go around her waist. Her swimsuit may have been modest compared to all the bikinis, but it was still very form-fitting. It really showed off her figure. As she did with the clothes, hair, and makeup, she decided that she would own it. This was her figure, regardless of whether anyone liked it. And when she cocked her hips to the side, it was like "Bam!"

They finished their purchases with some sandals, headed to the drugstore, and finally went home to finish getting ready.

After handling their personal grooming, Sarah and Carina were excited to get back into their swimsuits and cover-ups in anticipation of a fun day at the beach. The group had to take both Ellie's car and Devon's SUVs to fit everything and everyone. Fortunately, traffic wasn't too bad, and they made it safely and rather quickly to their destination.

Devon had lugged a couple of reclining beach chairs and an umbrella, so he set those up for Ellie and him.

Chuck brought a variety of beach blankets while Morgan carried the towels. They showed the beach newbies how to scoop the sand into a chair and cover it with a blanket. They also smoothed out the sand next to them for when they wanted to stretch out. Soon, they had a cozy space set up.

After a quick survey of the area, they decided to play beach volleyball. Carina suggested she and Morgan team against Sarah and Chuck since Chuck and Morgan had played together. Carina had played backyard volleyball, but Sarah had no experience.

It went okay once Sarah got used to holding her hand and hitting it correctly. Sarah was fast enough that she could get under the ball and loft it for Chuck. He would use his height to spike the ball or keep it in play for Sarah to place a strategic shot across the net. That was the plan, at least. And they pulled it off reasonably well.

On the other side of the net, Morgan was the digger, and Carina was the spiker. Morgan's experience allowed him to give Carina better sets, keeping them competitive.

After several games, they decided to take a break. The girls offered to buy shaved ice, and after getting everyone's orders, they walked over to the vendor. On the way there, they were intercepted by some young guys. They chit-chatted pleasantly, then said goodbye. When they returned with the ices, they explained that a group of college guys from USC had invited them to a party that night.

Devon quietly let out a "Boo" at the mention of USC.

The girls had declined but said they might join the boys for Frisbee later since the USC group was nearby.

After finishing their treats, everyone wanted to relax and soak up the sun.

Carina had removed her wrap, and Sarah her robe for the volleyball game, but Sarah kept on her shorts. Sarah had been a little nervous ever since they got to the beach. And her thoughts were running in several different directions. I know that my swimsuit is relatively modest compared to other girls at the beach, but I still feel very exposed. So many of the guys on the beach were staring at me with their mouths hanging open. Sure, they're looking at Carina and Ellie too, but they don't seem to mind the ogling much. Dad, you trained me to avoid being noticed and to blend in. But last night at the dance club and here on the beach, I know that I am being noticed and probably remembered. I don't think I like how they are looking at me. I think there is only one guy I want to look at me with that kind of interest.

Carina was applying more suntan lotion to her legs, which drove Morgan slightly crazy. That feeling escalated into complete shock when Carina had him help by rubbing it on her back through the teardrop cut out in the suit. He somehow managed to apply the lotion without passing out.

Sarah was putting suntan lotion on her lower legs. She watched Carina and Morgan's playful flirting and looked at Chuck, who was applying his own lotion. She wondered what it felt like to be touched and looked at like that. Can you be looked at with desire and not have it feel creepy?

She decided with a nervous, shy, and a little sly smile on her face. Acting on her impulse, she quickly stood and removed her shorts. She quickly sat back down and stretched her legs out, exposing herself to Chuck in a way she had never done with anyone. And it didn't feel wrong or creepy. It excited her to her core—a core she never noticed she had before.

She asked him to apply some lotion to her back. Chuck was in a little bit of shock, but he gave Sarah a frozen smile and said he'd be glad to help. It felt amazing to Sarah. His touch was warm, while the lotion was cool. A slow tingle, which followed a spark's shock, lingered, making her aware of exactly where his fingers were.

Chuck felt a physical excitement as he rubbed her back. He tried to focus his attention on his fingertips, not on her scent, not on how soft her skin was, not on how he was feeling in other parts of his body.

When he finished, Sarah stretched her legs back out and started applying lotion to the entire length of them. She had watched Morgan and Carina apply suntan lotion to each other's legs, and she wanted Chuck to do the same, but wasn't comfortable asking Chuck to touch her upper legs yet.

Even so, the touch of her own hands felt good. She imagined how it would feel if it were Chuck applying the lotion…..It would feel sensual. That feeling in her core seemed to be getting stronger.

Chuck's gaze managed to be attentive but not creepy. And she realized she was looking at his shirtless body the same way. While they played volleyball, she had taken many opportunities to stare at his back, shoulders, chest, and those long arms that seemed to be able to reach for the sun. She suddenly wondered if that appeared creepy. Did she have a double standard? Was this something that most people didn't have to think about, and they just learned it from their parents and friends? It struck her again how skewed her father's perspective was.

She suddenly realized that she trusted Chuck, and she knew for sure that he wouldn't take advantage of any situation. Still, she wasn't comfortable asking him to help apply lotion to the backside of her upper legs. She didn't want to expose her backside to the public, so she rolled towards the outside and rolled her rear towards Chuck, lifting it so she could rub lotion on the backside of her upper legs.

Chuck let out an "Eep!", and rolled over on his stomach, turning his head towards the Carina and Morgan show. He could barely be heard listing off the names of super-villains.

Sarah was surprised to feel pleased about getting that reaction from him. It was reassuring that he was apparently feeling the same excitement she was feeling. It was unfamiliar to her, but if he was feeling the same things, then it must be normal.

She had intellectually accepted that she was attracted to Chuck. Now, she felt the manifestation of the mental into a physical expression of attraction. She was open to experiencing, for the first time, the feelings of arousal that she had read about and seen on T.V. and in movies. She tried to sit quietly and take it all in.

Chuck was attracted to many things about Sarah, but this was the first time he had been fully exposed to her physical beauty. Exercise had given her a lithe, toned look. When she turned her rear to him, he couldn't control his body's reaction, so he rolled onto his stomach and tried to distract himself with unsexy thoughts.

Morgan and Carina, having settled themselves in, watched their friends with amusement.

Devon and Ellie napped.

After relaxing for a while, Carina and Sarah felt the need to stretch their legs.

Carina wanted to jog, so she talked Morgan into jogging along the water's edge to the lifeguard tower and back.

Sarah wanted to take it more slowly, so she asked Chuck to walk with her. Fortunately, by that time Chuck's physical reaction to Sarah was under control. Chuck and Sarah chatted as they walked hand in hand. Sarah was still hesitant to talk about her past. She definitely didn't bring up the subject.

Chuck understood and could relate, so he didn't push her for anything. He kept the conversation light and focused on what they were doing and experiencing at the moment.

As Sarah learned that she could trust Chuck to not try to pry for more than she was willing to share, she relaxed and enjoyed the day.

Even though the day was hot, the water was cold, so the only people in the water out past their ankles were the surfers in wetsuits. Chuck stood quietly watching them, along with Sarah, Carina, and Morgan. Chuck had an idea. He rented a surfboard. Morgan was confused because they had never gone out when the water was this cold.

The young women were confused and excited, unsure of what would happen, but it involved surfing, and surfing was cool.

Chuck brought the surfboard over by their blankets and laid it on some towels in the sand. He then helped Sarah onto the board and showed her the basic positions. He had her stand, kneel, and lie flat on her stomach. He spent most of the time having her practice the pop-up move, where the surfer pushes up with their arms while pulling their legs underneath, allowing them to push up and stand.

Morgan and Carina looked on, and after a while, they switched. Sarah and Chuck watched Morgan teach Carina.

As they wrapped up the training, Carina announced that she was going to go for a walk to explore the beach area. She clearly didn't want Morgan to go with her. Carina headed off, but she wasn't really alone. Sarah was always her shadow.

Chuck told Sarah that he would catch up with her. He went back to return the surfboard and to let Ellie know what was happening.

Morgan was lost without Carina, so he tagged along with Sarah. He couldn't help but question her. "Sarah, it didn't sound like Carina dated much in high school."

Sarah laughed. "Well, since she was home-schooled with her brothers, that would have been awkward."

Morgan blushed and dropped his head, "Yeah, but I mean in her small town."

"She told you about growing up the other day. Those are her stories to tell, Morgan, and I really don't feel comfortable adding more than that."

"Oh. Okay." Morgan replied, dejected.

Chuck rejoined them.

Sarah looked over at Carina, who had stopped amongst a group of surfers and was chatting with one of them. He was nice-looking, with shoulder-length, sun-bleached hair. His broad shoulders were exposed by his partially rolled-down wetsuit.

After a moment, Morgan couldn't help but try again. "So, does she date a lot now? Do you guys go out a lot?"

Sarah now found it a little awkward. He was now asking about her, too. And with Chuck listening, she didn't want it to seem like she was hiding something. So, she tried being open. "Back home, we've been studious homebodies. We both have jobs and classes, so it doesn't leave us much spare time. Carina likes to get out and do things, so on the weekends, we'll often go out and see the monuments and the sights."

The surfer started leading Carina through the same exercises she had done before, having her stand, kneel, and lay on his board.

"But now….I just don't know. This week, it's been like Carina has really come out of her shell, with more confidence. We both kind of have. So now, I don't know what she will do when we get back." Sarah put her hand on Morgan's shoulder. "I do know that she isn't looking to settle down with one guy. She plans on traveling, maybe all the way around the world."

Morgan nodded, slowly accepting that reality, as they watched Carina and the surfer.

The surfer zipped up his wetsuit and led Carina carefully into the water. When they were calf to knee deep, he helped her mount the board and into a kneeling position. Her core conditioning from horseback riding helped her stay balanced.

He steadied her and towed her until he was waist-deep. He stopped and took advantage of their now-matched height by pulling her close and leaning in for a kiss. After he pulled away, she pulled him back for another, deeper kiss.

The surfer shifted so he could hold her steady as she repositioned herself to lie flat on her stomach. She lay there for a moment, and then she practiced paddling. He was standing behind her so he could restrain her forward motion. Suddenly, Carina shrieked, flailed around, and fell off the surfboard.

Sarah was immediately moving towards her, and Morgan was close behind.

Chuck started to follow after, then decided to go back for towels. Devon met him halfway, and they both ran to provide assistance.

Carina's teeth chattered. She was soaked and sputtering after her unexpected dunking in the cold water. "You jerk!" she yelled back at the surfer, who was now paddling away on his board.

Everyone congregated at the shoreline, where Sarah helped her dry off. "He grabbed my butt," she announced, just loud enough for her friends to hear. Then, she leaned in close to Sarah, and in a quiet, shocked voice that only they could hear, she explained, "He was trying to put his hand up, under my swimsuit." Her eyes were wide, and her cheeks were red at the scandal of it.

The boys huffed and puffed, looking out at the ocean, but the surfer was lost in the waves.

Sarah led Carina back to Ellie, who rubbed her back and listened to her story. "I'm sorry that happened to you. And because other girls will do the same thing, hoping for him to grab their butt, his bad behavior won't be punished. You have to be on guard against the guys who act like being crude is no big deal. And you need to look for the good guys who reject the crudeness as abnormal." She stopped momentarily to rub Devon's arm in appreciation.

"It's the little things that add up. How do they treat servers? How do they treat kids and pets? How do they treat you? With a million little compliments or a million little insults." She raised her eyebrows, adding emphasis to her statements.

The girls nodded along. It's the same story: filter, filter, filter. Only one of them wondered if they had already found a good one.

Chuck, Morgan, and Ellie had to work that night, so it was time to leave.

Chuck had an idea that would hopefully lighten the mood. He had Ellie take them to one of the many taco shops in L.A. As they pulled into the park, Chuck explained that they had eaten some nice Mexican food, good enchiladas, and smothered burritos. But now, they needed to try some CaliMex junk food.

So he ordered three staples; rolled taquitos, a large quesadilla, and carne asada fries with guacamole. The rolled taquitos were covered in a sour cream and avocado mix and topped with shredded cheese, lettuce, and chopped tomatoes. The quesadilla was a tortilla the size of a pizza covered with an insane amount of cheese, folded over, and griddle fried until gooey and crispy. Guacamole, sour cream, and a mix of diced chiles, tomatoes, and onions (pico de gallo) came on the side. Then, there was the king of the artery cloggers. A basket full of French fries was covered with chopped carne asada steak, cheese, Guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. These were the best midnight munchies but also gave cardiologists nightmares.

Devon couldn't condone this meal, so he ordered a shrimp burrito, and Ellie got a grilled fish taco, but she couldn't help but nibble on some of the fries. So bad.

The others dig into the last meal they will need for the rest of the day. Sarah and Carina will be in a food coma for the rest of the night.

F/N2 from AC: The next chapter brings us back into the spy plot. I will try to post that soon as we roll on towards the conclusion of this story.