This is the first thing I've written in a long time. Please accept my apology if it's awful but I really only wrote it to entertain myself. It's an episode tag to 3x18. I think it works as a oneshot but if inspiration strikes me I might continue. Needless to say I don't own Gossip Girl.
As the evening winds down Dan spots Blair sitting alone in the corner of the room with a forlorn expression on her face. For some reason tonight he has been at her side more than he ever has before and she almost seems like a friend. He knows it can't be easy for her. He also doesn't think the shots she's been partaking of all evening are helping, and he's feels more than a little responsible for getting her started on that path. The alcohol just seems to have made her miserable.
He isn't sure when her happiness, or lack of it, even made it onto his radar but somehow tonight it has. Several times he's gone out of his way to make her feel better. So now he takes a seat beside her and tries to work out exactly how drunk she is.
When she lays her head on his shoulder he has his answer. A sober Blair Waldorf would never even consider doing that.
"Humphrey, I can't do this," she mumbles into his side.
"Can't do what?"
"Be on my own. I've lost Chuck. Dorota's starting her own life. Serena and Nate are sickeningly happy. Even you've got Vanessa."
He works hard to ignore the thinly veiled insult in her last comment.
"You know I wouldn't exactly call Chuck much of a loss and Dorota will always be around if you need her," he gently reassures her.
"Hmm," is all he gets in response and he feels her growing heavy against his side. He sees that her eyes have started to droop and hauls her to her feet.
"Come on Waldorf, time to get you home. Is there anyone still here who can take you?"
She staggers against him and he holds her up.
"Did we not just discuss this? I'm all alone. Just put me in a cab Humphrey," she demands.
They make it to the door and he hails a taxi but once he manages to get her into the backseat he crawls in after her. As if he would even consider sending her home alone in her current state. He silently curses his inner gentleman.
She tries to protest his presence but she really is flagging now and before he knows it she's slumped against his side once more while he gives the directions to the cab driver and then they're on the move.
Suddenly in the back of the darkened cab it's as if something breaks and he hears her start to quietly sob. Now he realises why she didn't want him with her. She had barely been holding it together. In that moment he could kick Chuck's ass because you can say a lot of things about Blair but when she loves, she loves with every ounce of her being, and how dare he break her like this.
He takes a deep breath, because who knows how this one will pan out, and pulls him to her, holding her while she silently shakes. She doesn't even fight him and somehow that breaks his heart just a little.
It's at this moment that she starts to mumble into his chest about not wanting her Mom and Cyrus to see her like this. He makes a split second decision and re-directs the cab driver to Brooklyn. He holds her all the way, and the fact that she doesn't object to their new destination says more about the state she is currently in than anything else would have done.
By the time they reach the loft she has dosed off against him and he gently nudges her awake.
Somehow they make it up the stairs and to the couch with her leaning heavily on him. She sinks down and then she's looking up at him tearfully and mumbling something about how she doesn't want to be 'that person' anymore.
He immediately makes the connection to their previous conversation and wonders at how easily he's able to follow her train of thought.
"You were never that person," and he's surprised by how much he means it.
"Humphrey, I'm the, better dressed, female version of Chuck Bass"
He sits beside her and looks her straight in the eyes.
"Blair, God knows I've had my issues with you over the last few years, but you never were, and never will be, Chuck Bass." He pores every ounce of sincerity he has into that statement because for some reason, in this moment, he really needs her to believe that about herself.
She gives him a watery half-smile.
"You don't know what I've become but thanks Humphrey."
And there in his Brooklyn loft he finds himself listening to the whole sordid tale of the demise of Blair and Chuck. Once again he finds himself truly despising Chuck Bass.
"So now do you see why I'm such a terrible person Humphrey?" she finishes sadly.
He sighs, "All I see is someone who's been horribly manipulated by Chuck. You aren't exactly the first person to find themselves in that position."
He sees her relax slightly. Obviously the very act of sharing her story has lightened the load a little. Once again she looks tired however and the night has started to wear him down too. He rubs his hand over his eyes, then grabs her hand and pulls her to her feet.
"Come on you can take my bed," he says and doesn't even stop to think about the fact that neither of them have suggested that she goes home.
"I'll take the couch. I don't think my Dad and Jenny will be home tonight by the way but I can't be sure"
She seems to have sobered up considerably now but in her tired state she still leans against him as he guides her to his bedroom. He can't believe it when she even silently accepts one of his shirts to sleep in and turns his back while she changes.
He thinks what a surreal night this has been as he watches Blair Waldorf climb into his bed and wonders how he will ever explain it to Vanessa. Maybe he just won't bother trying.
"Goodnight Blair" he says softly and turns to make for the door but she grabs his hand and pulls him back towards her.
"Can you just stay?" she asks softly, looking almost terrified at the thought of him leaving.
And in that moment when he looks at her tear-stained face he would do anything to mend her, just a little, so he climbs in beside her.
She snuggles into his chest and he chuckles when she softly says, "This doesn't make us friends Humphrey," while moving even closer.
He doesn't know what this makes them.