Hero/Heroine and another Hero

Chapter 1. Damsel in Distress

Why'd she agreed to go on a date with this guy? She barely knew him, no scratch that, she didn't know him at all. And yet here she was at Déjà vu, the hottest new club in Manhattan. He seemed so nice, offering to pick her up and drive her back home. He was such a gentleman. Rare to find here in New York. Men had become so violent and un-manly over the years. They'd turned into gorilla's. And not the good kind that is. He was different from others, grown up perhaps? Jenny didn't know what it was, but he was special.

"Come on, dance with me!" he tried to overcompensate to noise in the club

"I'm not much of a dancer" Jenny lied, she was an amazing dancer, she just wasn't into it tonight.

"Oh come on!," Jenny shook her head "no?", he pouted, "Then let's go somewhere to talk." He offered. Talking? Jenny could handle that, nothing to worry about. "Sure" she agreed, wanting to get away from the scruffy club, it wasn't at all as great as it'd been rumoured to be. They walked out onto the streets of Manhattan into the blowing wind and biting cold. He led the way, figures. They talked about all kinds of things like the weather, his dislike of Cats (the musical), Brad Pitt oh and church. These amongst others. By the time they'd made it Brooklyn Jenny was stiff from the cold surrounding her. Along the way he'd offered his coat a few times, but every time he did she politely declined. 2 more blocks to go and she'd be home, jumping in her PJ's, eating ice cream and being in bed. It wasn't his company that was tiring her though. Suddenly he stopped walking. He thrust her to the wall like she was just air, not heavy (okay she wasn't heavy but still…).

"What are you doing?" she asked, inhaling deeply

"Shh…" he soothed her. Unlike a minute ago he wasn't serene at all, he seemed angry, furious, anxious for something, Jenny just didn't know for what exactly. All she knew was that it was time for her to be worried.

"Let go of me!", she yelled, he didn't respond, "let go!, Let,… Le… Let go of me!!" she screamed even harder then before.

She didn't know where he came from, all she knew was that he was here. He abruptly hit him in the face so he fell down on the floor, hitting his face hard. "She said to let go." Chuck then took her arm, leading her out of the alley and onto the boardwalk again. "Stay the hell away punk" he yelled but they were probably already to far away for Carter to hear him. "Are you alright?" he asked, sounding really worried, grabbing her arms with his cold hands, pointing her tiny body towards him. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine" she snapped, pulling herself loose out of his tight grip. She started to walk away, he followed "Oh, you're fine, you're fine? Well that's a relief", he sounded sarcastic, "What were you thinking?"

"What was I thinking?"

"Yes, tell me 'cause I'm dying to know"

"I was just looking for some fun, a date" she lied (again)

"Yeah, rape is my idea of fun" he snapped

"I'm not surprised by that" she snapped right back, her words biting his thoughts. He looked down, clearly avoiding eyecontact with her. He had reason to, it had been just a year since his famous humiliation only after trying to rape Little J. Suddenly not so little anymore; knocking Chuck off his socks.

"I'm sorry I said that, I didn't mean to"

"No you did, but it's okay" she grinned a little, because she actually did meant to hurt him, "Are you going anywhere?" he then asked

"Uhm, home I guess" she answered

"Unless," he smirked thinking about the idea, but then quickly re-structured his face into a serious line," Can I buy you some coffee?"

"I'd like that" Jenny said

He called for his cab and they hit it uptown once again. Ah Manhattan, his natural habitat. He pulled the car to a stop in front of one of the many Starbucks in NYC. They entered, Chuck holding the door of course, he was a gentleman after all.

He ordered: "One double latté and a cappuccino please?" Jenny's head snapped up

"How did you know what I wanted?" she asked, stunned

"I know things"

"You picked my favourite" she smiled

"I'm observant"

"Well good observing, Bass"

"Why thank you, Humphrey" he grinned

"There you go" the saleswoman said. He offered her his money as she returned his money with their orders. He took the cups out of her hands, handing one to Jenny, "Be careful," he quickly said, "it's hot". "Thanks" she replied. They walked out of the shop, Chuck holding the door for her again. To Jenny's surprise Chuck dismissed his driver for the night and decided to walk.

"I got a few questions" Jenny said while taking the lid off her cup and blowing on the hot coffee.

"Sure, fire away" he said

"For one, how did you find me?"

"Simple, I was passing by"

"I'll believe you," she said drinking her latté, "Why did you think he was raping me, for all you knew I could've been enjoying it"

"You need to think of harder question J, you were yelling to let go"

"Alright, why? Why me? Why did you save me?"

"Always, Why, why this? Why that? Can't you just thank me?"

"Thank you"

"Now wasn't that easy?"

"Oh yeah and amusing to boot" they smiled, both stopping as soon as their eyes met, an uncomfortable silence followed.

"How are things with Blair?" Jenny finally broke the silence

"Good, she's been good" Chuck said desperately trying to keep the conversation alive.

"Good to hear that"

"Yeah, how's things with Nate?" Chuck knew what he had asked right after the words had left his mouth. "I'm sorry, wrong question." She looked down to the ground, "Let's just forget I asked that, and let me walk you home, okay?"

"Okay" she agreed

For the next hour and a half they walked slowly, talked about everything and nothing, they must've stopped at 4 more starbucks shops along the way, Chuck holding the door for her each time. When she'd asked him how he got so mannered, he'd answered saying that his family was very old-fashioned. They were standing outside of the Humphrey loft. She returned his coat, which he'd insisted she'd wore for the cold, and turned to face him. They glared at each other for a few moments, Jenny decided to take matters into her own hands and jumped up to him, hugging him tightly. "Thanks" she mouthed as she let go.

"Yeah coffee was great" he smiled

"You know what I mean" she corrected him.

"I know what you mean" he corrected himself.

"Good," she hugged him again, "I had a nice night" she said

"Me too…" he replied, letting her go.

That's where they went their own way; Jenny safely in Brooklyn, Chuck walking back to Manhattan. Both of them on their own right side of the tracks.