A woman with raven black hair, cut to about her chin, smiled as she completed her job. She slipped her hand in her coat pocket making sure she had what she had come for. She did. It was nearly ten o'clock at night and she couldn't wait to get home and relax. She headed through the crowd of people towards the nearest bathroom. Her wig was killing her head and she wanted it off now. She stood in front of the mirror and gently removed the wig trying not to pull her own hair. She got it off and quickly stuffed it in her purse. She shook out her dirty blonde hair, glad that it still had a little volume to it after being confined in the awful wig for a few hours. An older woman came out of a stall behind the woman taking her by surprise. The older woman narrowed her eyes a bit and she walked up to the sink, washed her hands quickly and was on her way. The woman breathed a sigh of relief thankful that the older woman didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

The newly blonde woman nearly jumped when her cell phone went off. She rummaged through her purse and pulled it out. Her heart pounded in her chest as she answered, she wasn't in the mood for more surprises tonight.

"Hello?"

"It's Anna."

"I thought I told you never to call me at work Anna." The woman sighed just wanting to get home.

"Well you said you would be done by ten. And it's ten and there's something I need to tell you." Anna said and grew more excited by the second.

"Can it wait till tomorrow I'm just heading home and James has been waiting all day-"

"Trust me James can wait!" she giggled over the phone.

"Fine. What is it?"

"Well I don't know if I should be laughing because it's rather tragic but-"

"Tell me now or I'm hanging up." The woman said now frustrated with her friend.

"It's one of your exes. A very rich one. Well he's back in town."

"You'll have to be a little more specific Anna."

"It's Chuck Bass; the one from New York. You remember him don't you?"

"How could I forget." She whispered to herself "You said it was tragic, why?"

"Well he's currently on the brink of death at a local hospital and I thought you would want to know."

"What happened to him?"

"He was shot by someone and they robbed him of some jewelry. That's all I know."

"Robbed? Oh my goodness." The woman breathed as she started to put the pieces together. "Have they found the person responsible?"

"Not yet and probably not ever. It was probably just some random bloke who happened to be drunk enough to shoot someone."

"Yeah probably. Look I have to go Anna but please don't say anything to James about this." The woman pleaded. She heard her friend pause over the phone.

"Ever since you've started dating James you've been so secretive."

"I'm sorry Anna but I have to go. Please don't tell anyone."

"Alright I won't. But Elle please be careful." Anna said softly.

"I will." Elle said quickly and hung up. She gathered her purse and flung it over her shoulder as she left the bathroom. She walked to the street hailed a cab and told the driver to drive as fast as he could to the nearest hospital.

xoxoxoxo

Chuck woke feeling groggy. His whole body felt heavy and numb. He tried to pull himself up into a sitting position but failed and settled back in the bed. He observed his surroundings. White walls, Gray chairs, blue blankets… he must be in the hospital. He looked over to the bedside table beside him and saw a cup of water. He drank it quickly as he tried to rid his mouth of its cotton like feel.

Also on the table were a few of his personal belongings one of them being his cell phone. He thought about reaching for it but decided to wait a little while longer to do anything further. He put his hands softly on his abdomen, just enough so he could feel the bandages beneath the hospital gown.

It didn't hurt as bad as he thought it would when he moved his fingers around testing his pain, but that was probably because he was on pain medication. And Chuck was certainly fine with that.

So this really is happening, Chuck thought as the small sting in his abdomen brought him out of his trance. And that small sting brought reality crashing down on him once again as he realized everything had happened. That this wasn't just a dream like he constantly wished it was, that he had betrayed Blair and broken her heart.

But she had broken his too. That's why right now he could barely breathe at the realization that Blair was somewhere in Paris trying to erase every memory of him and not in a chair beside him holding his hand, comforting him. He ran his hand through his hair as he tried to calm himself.

He needed to get out of here. He was suffocating in this stale room. He needed to find… the ring. He looked over at the bedside table and saw no trace of it. So they really had taken it.

"Damn." He whispered. He had paid a lot for that ring and it was supposed to be Blair's. Not that it mattered much anymore, she didn't want it. But Chuck wanted it and he was determined to find it. But at the moment that was a little difficult to do with him lying in a hospital bed hooked up to IV's.

He reached for his phone and decided it was time to let someone know what had happened. If only one person.

"Hello?"

"Nathaniel, its Chuck."

"Hey man what's up? Are you enjoying yourself in Prague?"

"Well I wouldn't say I've had a great time in the past few hours. More like searing and immobilizing pain, if you must know." He said slowly.

"What do you mean? Are you hurt?" Nate asked and Chuck was glad that at least one person was concerned for his wellbeing.

"I got mugged and shot. They took…the ring." He said and pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to erase the image from his mind.

"The ring?" Nate asked obviously confused since Chuck had neglected to tell him about his plan on proposing to Blair.

"Blair's engagement ring." He said and waited for Nate to respond. A few seconds later Nate's voice could be heard once again.

"Oh my god!" Nate exclaimed surprised and chuckled a bit. But his voice quickly became stern. "Oh my god, you didn't tell me. How long have you had this planned?"

"A few months but it doesn't matter anymore…"

"Yeah, I um…I heard about you and…Jenny." Nate struggled to get the words out. If Chuck could kill someone with a thought he would kill Nate right now. He didn't want to talk about any of what happened between him and Jenny.

"I just-" Nate started but stopped himself. Anger was boiling in Chuck right now and he was prepared for a fight.

"If you have something to say Nathaniel, say it." He said tersely.

"I just can't believe after everything you and Blair have been through you would go and hurt her again. I mean the stuff with Jack was bad enough but now you sleep with Jenny!" Nate exclaimed through the phone.

"Thank you for reminding of my past transgressions Nathaniel but Blair and I were working through it. We were broken up when I slept with Jenny, I thought I would never see her again."

"I thought you knew Blair, you really think she would walk away from you that easily?"

"I gave her an ultimatum the night before. She was to meet me at the top of the Empire State building or I would close my heart to her forever. She didn't show."

"Oh." Nate said softly not sure of what else to say. "Well when you two get back to the city you should talk."

"While that does sound lovely and civil which is so unlike Blair and I, I don't think that will work."

"Why not?"

"I'm not coming back Nathaniel." Chuck said and heard his friend laugh softly over the phone.

"Well not now but in a few weeks." Nate said.

"It might be longer than that."

"Why?"

"I'm not leaving Prague until I find my ring."

"Your ring? Isn't it Blair's ring?"

"Not anymore. I paid a fortune for that ring and I want it back."

"Are you sure that's the only reason? Not because it has sentimental value or anything?" Nate said and knew Chuck would deny it.

"That's the only reason." Chuck said firmly. Nate could sense that Chuck was done with the subject so he moved the conversation along.

"Do you want me to come out there for a few days?" Nate asked.

"No, I'll be fine."

"Okay. But you can always call me if you change your mind."

"Thanks man. Just one more thing." Chuck paused and slid his gaze over the chairs along the wall still empty just as they had been when he had woken up. "Don't tell Blair where I am. Don't tell her I got shot. Don't tell her anything. Understand?"

"Chuck, don't ask me to do this. She'll kill me if she finds out I'm keeping this from her."

"I'm asking you to have some willpower Nate and keep your mouth shut for once. She can't know." He said softly.

"Am I the only one who does know?"

"Yes." Chuck whispered. It should have been Blair on the phone. But it wasn't. And it wouldn't be ever again.

xoxoxoxoxo

Elle made her way to the hospital finding the nurse's station. She brushed some hair away from her face and smiled at the young nurse sitting at her desk.

"Do you know where Chuck Bass is staying?" Elle asked. The young girl looked up at her and then quickly ruffled through some papers on the desk. She pulled out a piece of paper and scanned for the room number.

"Room 112."

"Thank you." Elle said quickly and turned to leave before the girl stopped her.

"Wait! Miss, are you a relative?" the young nurse called after her. Elle stopped and turned around and looked the nurse in the eyes.

"Of course darling. I'm his sister." She smiled sweetly and the girl nodded and went back to work. Stupid girl didn't even ask for my I.D, Elle thought as she made her way down the empty hallway.

She found room 112 and opened the door still not sure of what she would say.

xoxoxoxo

AN: Yes this is the Elle from the episode in Season 2. I think she had dark blonde hair but does it really matter? If you like it I will continue but please review! :)