A/N: Wow I'll admit i was hesitent about publishing this story because it was such a terrible event and i didn't think I would get a single review! Thank you guys so much for your reviews and support! It means the world to me!
Rating: T for teen
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or any of its characters
"Blair Waldorf and Serena Van Der Woodsen, you are wanted in Mrs. Queller's office immediately."
That's strange, Blair thought. Blair didn't remember doing anything wrong. Serena gave her a confused expression and both girls shuffled out of the classroom.
"Serena what did you do?"
"Why are you asking me for? I didn't do anything!"
Blair gave her a knowing look," I'm serious!" Serena exclaimed. Blair thought about it. Maybe it could be an early acceptance into Yale! They were probably going to beg her to enroll into their school. Blair had the film rolling in her mind when her thoughts were interrupted and to see her dream wash away. Inside Mrs. Queller's office was Big Bart Bass and a clearly confused Nate.
"Have a seat," Mrs. Queller's sharp tone bounced off the silent walls. Blair could hear the faint sound of sirens in the background of the silent room.
"Mrs. Queller I can assure you-"
"Please be quiet Ms. Waldorf this has nothing to do with your grades." Blair followed her orders.
"What's going on?" Nate asked breaking the silence.
"Mr. Bass why don't you tell them."
"Well there seems to be a terrorist attack." Bart said coldly.
"So what does that have to do with any of us?" Blair asked confused.
"Well those terrorists crashed two planes in the world trade center this morning and they collapsed. So..." Bart was unable to continue.
"So..." Blair encouraged.
"I asked Charles to deliver a package there at that time so there is a great chance that he is dead." Bart's face was full of remorse and for once emotion was expressed on it.
Blair felt her body freeze. Not possible. "You must be joking. I thought Chuck was probably in Europe by now."
"No he came to my office this morning."
"Then what are we still doing here? We have to find him."
"Mrs. Waldorf we've all been ordered to stay indoors due to the heavy amount of dust and debris."
"I don't care about that. Chuck could be-be… we're wasting time now lets go!" Blair was on the verge of tears. Hold it together, she kept telling herself. Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly.
Bart, Blair, Serena and Nate entered Bart's limo and rode in silence. Blair could only imagine what Bart was thinking right now. What was life going to be like without Chuck? Blair's eyes were brimmed with tears, when finally a single tear slid down her porcelain face.
"Don't cry B, everything is going to be okay," Serena gave Blair a hug trying to calm her down. They finally got to the scene to see emergency vehicles everywhere hauling out injured people on stretchers. Blair stepped out of the limo to see the awful sight before her. There was literally a layer of dust covering the streets like snow and it was raining- ashes. Emergency workers kept pulling out the wounded and the dead from the building. Where was Chuck? Blair wondered. Sirens blarred loudly as she scanned around looking for him to see innocent bystanders completely shocked and paralyzed for what they just witnessed.
Tears dripped down her face freely as Blair walked around looking for him. Blair was fearing the worst. She could hear Serena and Nate's voices asking her to come back but she didn't listen. She needs Chuck, she couldn't live without him. She walked back to Bart and asks, "Have they found him?"
"Not yet."
They stood there for a long time when finally she saw him- On a stretcher. Blair felt her heart break at the sight of him. His eyes were closed his face cover with ashes and dirt. His body lay limp on the stretcher-motionless.
"No, NO!" Blair sobbed trying to convince herself. She tried to break free from Nate and Serena but they restrained her, trying to get closer to Chuck. She hated to see him suffer. Hated that they fought over the stupidest little things. Hated those terrorists that started this whole mess. Hated that she loved him and was going to lose him.
Blair saw through her blurry vision of Bart walking towards the stretcher and knew he must be having a hard time like she was. She continued to sob into Serena's shoulder and knew she has lost him forever.
Bart stood outside his son's hospital room waiting until he saw the doctor exit the room. "Is he?"
"No, but he is in critical condition. We have him on life support right now but it doesn't look good. I'm very sorry."
Bart clenched his jaw holding back the lump that was forming in his throat and nodded. There was nothing he could say.
"May I see him?"
"Yes but only one visitor at a time."
Bart nodded and twisted the knob of the door to see his son. There lying on a hospital bed was his son. He had a mask over his mouth and nose to feed oxygen into him. Bart walked slowly towards the bed and sat down on the stool next to him. He studied his son. His pale face reminded him of her and was full of dirt and ashes and minor cuts remained all around his face, probably from debris and glass.
Bart sat there in silence listening to the steady beat of his son's heart through the machine and reflected. He knew he was a terrible father. He should have showed Charles his rights from his wrongs, stayed home instead of traveling all the time, talked about girls, try to get him involved with school. But he was a terrible father and he did none of those things. Instead he gave him entirely too much freedom and not much responsibility and now he is messed up because of it. He shouldn't have made him deliver that package. Just like his mother he was the reason Charles was going to end up dead. Bart took his sons hand and held it in his. His soft young hand in his calloused aged one.
"You'll get through this son, because you're a Bass and we can get through anything," Bart whispered and finally let out all his built up emotion from 17 years out. Before he knew it he was sobbing uncontrollably. For the first time in years, Bart Bass let his emotions show and cared about his son.
Listen to the sound of my voice,
Can you feel the beat of my heart?
Listen to the questions I have, Listen to me,
It's all very simple, to see what we need,
Blair Waldorf sat on the edge of her seat feeling like a train wreck. So he wasn't completely gone forever. Blair found herself having hope. Hope that he'll get through this, hope that they can be happy together, hope that they will be together forever. But it wasn't looking good.
Give us hope, my voice is calling,
Can you see? Look in my eyes,
Can you feel? My hand is reaching,
Give us hope and we'll show you the way,
They sat outside Chuck's hospital room. Serena also was an emotional mess and Nate sat there like a statue, unable to believe what had just happened in the past twelve hours. Bart was inside for what felt like forever now and Blair couldn't wait any longer. Blair got up when Serena asked," B, where are you going?"
Listen to the sound of my voice,
Can you feel the beat of my heart,
Listen to the questions I have, listen to me,
We are the future, help us believe,
"I'm not waiting any longer,"
"But B-"
"I don't care about the rules S, they'll have to drag me out if it's such a big deal," before Serena could protest Blair opened the door to see him. Blair's hands were shaking at the sight of him. She immediately saw Bart sobbing and walked over to him and gave him a hug. They were both suffering.
Give us hope, my voice is calling,
Can you see? Look in my eyes,
Can you feel? My hand is reaching,
Give us hope and we'll show you the way,
"Blair I didn't know you where in here," Bart spoke his back to her and voice broken.
"Yes I couldn't wait any longer. How is he?"
"Hanging in there," Bart replied quietly.
"I'm sorry Mr. Bass-"
"Please call me Bart."
"Are you okay?" Blair asked with genuine concern.
"I will be," Bart replied. There was silence between them for a moment all eyes were on Chuck.
"You know he loves you," Bart said.
"Yes, but he would never admit to that," Blair said quietly.
"He's a true Bass then. We're not big on showing our emotions," Bart chuckled sadly.
"It's not your fault Bart," Blair spoke eyes fixated on Chuck.
"Yes it is- it's been my fault the whole time."Blair had a feeling he wasn't talking about they twin tower collapse anymore.
"What do you mean?"Blair asked.
"I've been a terrible father. I've put the company always before my family and it's not right. It's too late now to fix things."
Take my hand now look in my eyes,
Tell me what you see,
Blair didn't know what to say and they sat in silence. Bart stood up and said," I'm going for a coffee run would you like anything? I just need some air, to think."
"No thank you," Blair replied politely.
Bart nodded and said he would be back shortly leaving Blair by Chuck's bedside.
Give us hope, my voice is calling,
Can you see? Look in my eyes,
Can you feel? My hand is reaching,
Give us hope and we'll show you the way,
Blair sat by his bedside for over an hour in silence. Her eyes were fixated on his face for so long she noticed his features in a different way. His sharp jaw bone- defiantly a Bass trait- his thin yet somewhat plum lips and his closed hazel eyes, which she would love to see open and full of mischief. Blair put her small hand in his large one and stood up and kissed his cheek. She patted down his brown hair and couldn't take her eyes off him.
My voice is calling,
Show you the way
My voice is calling
Show you the way.
She sat back down and remained by his side like she always would. No matter how hard he would push her away, she would push back. The worst thing he's ever done, the darkest thought he's ever had she would stand by him through anything because she loves him and she would do anything to have him back in her life again. Reality set in when Blair realized that he is slipping away from her with each breath he takes.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: The song used in this chapter is called "Give us Hope" by James Papoutsis. Thoughts? Opinions? PLEASE REVIEW!
