The hospital walls were plain and cold. The were an off white color with brown smudges here and there. They could use a coat of paint. What made them even worse were the feelings of helplessness that seemed to cry out through them. That is how Chuck saw it anyway.

He had been waiting in the intensive care lobby for hours without any word. He could not understand what was taking them so long. He sat there helpless.

"Charles!" Lily called out.

Chuck looked up and saw his step-mother coming.

"I got a call from Arthur. Why didn't you tell us?" Lily complained.

"I am sorry, Lily, but I have been a little preoccupied. Where are my kids?" Chuck asked.

"They are at home with Bart and Eric. Bart sent me because he said I am good at comforting," Lily laughed nervously.

Chuck gave her a blank stare.

Understanding the mood, Lily quickly changed the subject.

"How is she?" She asked.

"I don't know. I have been sitting here forever and I don't know. The doctor hasn't come out yet and they won't let me see her. She is my wife and I am not allowed to see her," Chuck's anger was rising. He balled his hands into fists.

"Charles," Lily said his name soothingly. She began massaging the back of his neck in a motherly fashion.

"Tell me how this happened," Lily said.

"The limo had a flat tire. We were waiting for the tire to be changed, when a car came speeding around the corner. The driver pulled out a gun, and shot my wife," Chuck stated. He anger was now coupled with exhaustion and sadness.

"Did you see who was driving the car?" Lily asked.

"No, I did not. All I saw was a gun," Chuck put his head in his hands.

"Charles, my daring, don't cry," Lily pleaded with tears in her eyes.

"She wanted to get a cab. I made her wait for the limo. She could be home and safe right now if I would have given her her way. Why didn't I give her her way?" Chuck held in his sobs, but his feelings of regret were evident.

"You should have called us, Charles. You should have. We are a family, and we all really need each other right now," Lily said.

"It's 4 am. We should be at home and in bed right now. She wanted the children to sleep with us tonight. I am usually against that. It was fine when they were newborns, but when dealing with small children its best to make them sleep in their own rooms. She wanted them with us, so I gave in. Why I didn't give in about the damn taxi?" Chuck's head was spinning and Lily could tell.

"Stop. You are going to drive yourself crazy. You could not have foreseen this," She took hold of his hand and interlaced their fingers.

"You know I had to sign a release when I walked in. I had to sign a release that stated that the doctors were allowed to save her by any means necessary. Save her, as in from death. She could die tonight, Lily. If she dies, will you take our children? I'm... I'm going with her," Chuck was sternly holding his resistance, but he was on the verge of cracking.

"DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!" Lily yelled, louder than she expected.

"If you say another word like that , I am going to have you committed and put on suicide watch. How could you even think of doing that to your children?! We have to believe in Blair, Charles. We have to believe that she has the strength to make it. How can she have any strength, if her husband has already given up on her?"

Chuck's face hardened and he tried to pull his hand away from Lily. She tightened her grip on him. Chuck gave up sat back in his seat.

"We have to have faith," Lily said. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Say it with me, Charles."

Chuck sighed, yet closed his eyes and covered their intertwined hands with his free hand.

"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," They chanted in unison. "Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

"Amen," Lily said.

Chuck could no longer hold it in. His face crumpled and the tears poured out.

Lily's heart broke in half. She held him tightly and tried to rock him. She remembered rocking Blair when she was about four-years-old. Blair was staying the night with Serena. The girls were playing hopscotch and Blair had tripped over her Mary Jane's scrapped her knee. Lily wished life could be that simple again.

"Charles, I think the Doctor is coming," Lily said.

"Finally," Chuck whispered. He dried his eyes and stood up. Lily stood up too and put her arm around her stepson's waist.

"Mr. Bass, I am Dr. Smith. I am sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce myself earlier. I am pleased to announce that your wife is out of surgery and for the time being is in stable condition," Dr. Smith said as he shook Chuck and Lily's hands.

Lily sighed in relief and smiled at Chuck. She gave him a mother-is-always-right look.

"What do you mean, for the time being?" Chuck asked.

"That is where the difficult news comes in," Dr. Smith looked down a little.

"Alright," Chuck stated coolly.

"We were very lucky that the first bullet only grazed her side. We were able to treat it as a deep cut. It has been cleaned and stitched," The doctor stated.

"Okay," Chuck said eager for the doctor to get to the point.

"The second bullet fractured her left, third rib. We were very lucky because the cage protected the bullet from piercing major arteries like the heart. The rib was fractured in half. Remarkably, the left side of the rib held the bullet in place," the doctor went on.

Chuck nodded but was becoming anxious.

"Unfortunately, the right side of the fracture punctured your wife's left lung, causing a collapse. We have set the fractured rib and inserted a chest tube to help the lung expand. Considering what happened, her breathing is stable." Dr. Smith explained. "The very unfortunate news is that your wife's brain was deprived of oxygen for approximately 15 seconds. We will not be able to assess the damage, if any, until she wakes up.

"Brain damage? Are you telling me my wife has brain damage?" Chuck asked, the blood began boiling in his veins.

"We don't know that. It is a possibility that all she will have when she wakes up is a headache. We just don't know," Dr. Smith nodded at Chuck.

"Can I see her?" Chuck asked.

"Yes. She is one floor up in the private suite you requested. Before you go Mr. Bass, We need your insurance information?" Dr. Smith requested.

"My mother will take care of that, Doctor, I am sorry for my earlier behavior," Chuck stated sincerely as he sped to the elevator.

"Your son is a very passionate young man," Dr. Smith said to Lily, who almost looked giddy.

Lily snapped backed into reality when she noticed Dr. Smith staring at her, "I'm sorry, but he just called me his mother. I love Charles like he's my own. He's my bonus baby. Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter-in-law. If you don't mind me asking what was his earlier behavior?"

"When the ambulance arrived, Mrs. Bass was still conscious. When we separated them she was screaming his name and telling him not to leave her. We do not allow visitors, including spouses, in the ER. Lets just say that your son took on 3 different security guards, until they tased him. That is pure passion," The doctor told Lily.

"Well thank you again. I am going to call my husband for the insurance info,"

xoxoxoxo

Chuck went into Blair's hospital room. He strode to her bed and studied her. She didn't look sick, she looked pretty healthy. That had to be a good sign. Her hospital gown covered her wounds. The only sign that she wasn't just sleeping were the breathing tube attached her her face, and the I.V. Chuck was terribly upset, but seeing her look so healthy made him feel a little bit better.

He studied her some more and noticed that her hair was very messy and her mascara was smudged all over her face. That was the first time during the evening that Chuck noticed that he had his wife's purse over his shoulder. He had been carrying it since they arrived at the hospital, but was too swept up in emotion to notice.

He pulled out her hair brush and softly ran the bristles though her hair. Then he pulled out the wet wipes, that she kept for the kids, and wiped her face. He knew her. He knew she wouldn't care if people saw the tubes or the I.V. She would, very much, care if people saw her with messy hair and make-up.

"Does that feel better?" Chuck asked after he put Blair belongings on the counter. He went back to the bed and took Blair's hand in both of his. He kissed it tenderly.

"I nearly lost it today. If Lily had not been here, I would have completely crashed into despair. I have never been that religious. Lily made me say The Lord's Prayer and then right after the doctor came out and told me you were stabilized. I will say a prayer for you everyday, if that is what it takes to make you better. I'll ask the Lord, I'll beg the Lord, to let you stay with me,"Chuck said as he caressed her hand.

"You can't leave me, Honey, you can't. I believe we can get through this. As long as we're together, we can get through anything," Chuck pleaded. He brought her hand up to his face and held it against his cheek.

"How is she?" Lily asked when she came into Blair's room.

"She's sleeping," Chuck answered.

"Charles, I know you don't want here this, but I think it would be best if you came home with me." Lily stated as she patted Chuck's back.

"I am not leaving until my wife is able to leave with me," Chuck stated, and kissed Blair's finger tips.

"That's going to be awhile. You cannot stay here that long. Come on." Lily held out her hand.

"I'm not going," Chuck pouted like a child.

"You need to go home, see the kids, and rest. You don't have to sleep, but you should rest," Lily insisted.

"I want to be the first thing she sees when she wakes. I can't be if I'm not here," Chuck argued.

"Charles, she is going to be out for at least the next 12 hours. It could be longer, but definitely not less than 12 hours. You need to rest and see your children. You can come back later," Lily held out her hand again.

"If she wakes up when I am gone, I am going to be very angry," Chuck hissed and slapped Lily's hand.

"She won't!" Lily took his arm and walked out of Blair's room.

xoxoxoxo

"LYDIA!!" Andrew yelled and burst into his daughter's room.

Lydia was lying on her bed stroking her gun.

"What did you do?!" Andrew seethed.

"I don't know what you mean," Lydia played dumb.

"I am being investigated for a shooting. Here you are stroking a gun. Explain yourself now!" Andrew yelled at his daughter.

"I told you I wanted Chuck. His wife came between us. She won't come between us again," Lydia smiled. She was clearly happy with herself.

"You shot her. Didn't you?" Andrew asked solemnly.

"Yes," Lydia cheered as if it was her greatest accomplishment.

Andrew shook his head. He knew his daughter had problems. He knew she was a drug addict. He believed she was a little eccentric. He never believed her to be insane or evil. She had proven him wrong.

"That's it girl, you're on your own," Andrew said and left her room.

"What do you mean?" Lydia asked completely confused. She followed her dad.

"I mean I have washed my hands of you. You are a legal adult. I will no longer help you or be involved with your intrigues," Andrew stated. Then he went to this bedroom and drug out a trunk. He began to place his stuff in it.

"You can't wash your hands of me, Daddy, I am your little girl," Lydia rolled her eyes.

"You are not a little girl anymore. I don't care what happens to you. I am leaving town. I will open my pet store somewhere else. And don't you follow me . You will not be welcome in my new home or in my new life," Andrew said sincerely.

"You don't mean that," Lydia stuck her tongue out at him.

"I am dead serious," Andrew said.

"Well it doesn't matter. I have Chuck Bass all to myself now," Lydia said.

"Yeah. Why don't you go tell him that," Andrew rolled his eyes.

xoxoxoxo

"Son," Bart greeted a solemn Chuck.

"Father," Chuck greeted back. He slumped towards his father.

"Son, you do not walk that way. You walk tall with your head up. When you enter a room you let every person in the room know that you are Charles, or Chuck, Bass. You have done so since you started toddling," Bart told his son.

"How am I supposed to walk tall when my life is falling apart?!" Chuck hissed.

"You just do it. You do it for Blair," Lily cut in.

Chuck shook his head and looked down. He was doing all he could to keep from completely losing it. He could not show weakness in front of his father.

"Lily, dear, would you give us a second?" Bart asked.

"Yes. I am going to move Adele into your old room, Charles. Ethan's asleep in there. Adele is sleeping in Serena's old room, but I think it would best if you are with both of your kids while you rest," Lily said. She kissed Chuck's cheek and left.

Chuck was still looking down. Bart could see the beads of water forming on his eye lashes.

"Awe, Son. It is hard thing to face," Bart said and pulled Chuck to him so that Chuck's head was on his shoulder.

"I will deny I ever said this if it's repeated, but I sobbed when your mother died. I cried for days," Bart whispered in Chuck's ear. "There is no shame in crying for a woman or a child."

Chuck felt weird having Bart hold him like this, but he didn't move away from him.

"To my understanding, she is going to be okay. Now you need to rest before you see her. Your children need you," Bart said.

"Do they know?" Chuck asked

"No," Bart answered.

Chuck nodded, and then left this father to go to his old bedroom.

As he entered, he found Ethan asleep in the bed, and Adele asleep in Lily's arms.

"I'll take her," He said as he kicked off his shoes.

" You should change. Bart had an attendant retrieve some pajamas and a clean outfit for later," Lily whispered.

"This is fine," Chuck whispered back.

"Charles, there is blood all over you," Lily pointed.

Chuck looked down and saw Blair's blood all over his shirt and pants. He hadn't even noticed.

"I'll change," he said.

Chuck went into his old bathroom, put on his pajama's and came back. Then he took Adele from Lily's arms and got into bed.

They were right: Lily, Bart, Dr. Smith. Resting in bed and holding his children did make him feel a little better. It was like he was able to soak in their pure innocence. His stomach, which had been in knots, was starting to loosen up and become settled.

xoxoxoxo

The window on the driver's side of the car was half way down. When Chuck turned around and glanced, he did not see a person, all he saw was a barrel of a gun. It was pointed at Blair.

The gun was fired. Once! Twice! Three Times! Four Times!

Chuck's head as moving back and forth on his pillow. He had managed to doze off and was now having nightmares.

"I love you too," Blair whispered.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Chuck was starting to grunt and fidget in his sleep.

"BLAIR! HONEY PLEASE! BABY PLEASE! LOOK AT ME!" Chuck yelled. He kept Blair's neck steady as he held her wound closed.

"Don't look at the wound, Look at me!" Chuck lifted her chin so she wouldn't look down.

"Chuh? Is thah you?" Blair asked. She was going into shock.

"Yes, its me! Keep your eyes on me! Come on, Baby! Stay with me, Baby!"

Now Adele and Ethan hand woken up to their father's movements and grunts.

"Daddy?" Ethan said.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bass, your wife is dead," Dr. smith stated.

Chuck jolted awake. He body was in a cold sweat. He took a deep breath when he saw his surroundings.

"That didn't happen," He said aloud.

"Are you okay, Daddy?" Ethan asked timidly.

Chuck looked right and left. He saw both of his children looking at him with wide eyes.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be okay?" Chuck lied.

"You were moving and saying Mommy's name," Adele informed her father.

"I'm sorry about that, Sweetheart. You're both my sweethearts," Chuck said. Then he pulled his children down so their heads were on his chest, and began to caress both of their faces.

Ethan and Adele looked a each other. They knew something was wrong.

"Where's Mommy?" Ethan inquired.

Chuck was not ready for that question.

"She is at the doctor," He answered. It was partially true.

"Why?" Adele asked.

Well this was just perfect. He had to figure out away to sugar coat this.

"Well, she has a great, big owie?" Chuck explained.

"Why did she buy another ugly dress?" Ethan asked in confusion.

"What?" Now Chuck was confused.

"Mommy said that the owie she got last time was because she tried on an ugly dress," Ethan stated.

"Oh, no she didn't try on anything," Chuck stated.

"How big is Mommy's owie?" Adele questioned.

"Big..." Chuck began, but was cut off.

"Did she scrape her knee?" Adele asked.

"No, Princess, she didn't scrape her knee," Chuck wished all she had was a scraped knee.

"Well then what's wrong with her and when will she come back?" Ethan questioned.

"I guess... I guess it's a... a stomach ache. I don't know when she will be back," Chuck tried his best to explain.

The kids seemed to be happy with his answer and stopped asking questions.

xoxoxoxo

"Chuck, why didn't you tell me?!" Serena scolded.

"I didn't know what to say," Chuck said.

Chuck, Serena and Bart were riding in the elevator down to the limo. Lily and Eric were taking the children to the movies. Eric was the one who had called Serena and told her what happened.

"You still should have told me," Serena complained.

"Chuck!" a woman called out.

"Great," Chuck scoffed when he saw Lydia.

"Who the hell is that?" Bart questioned.

"Some psycho?" Serena commented.

"Look, I don't have time for this. My wife is in the hospital," Chuck said as Lydia approached.

"She's alive?" Lydia questioned hesitantly.

"Yes," Chuck said.

Lydia's face began to turn red. But then she relaxed and smiled.

"Well that's no big deal. I can finish the job for us tonight," Lydia grinned at Chuck and nodded.

"Excuse me?" Chuck inquired. Bart and Serena looked each other.

" Well I was trying to get rid of her. I tried the dress, but that didn't work. I tried shooting her, but that didn't work. This girl just doesn't want to die," Lydia laughed.

"You did this?" Chuck asked. The anger and hatred began to rise from his toes to the top of his head.

"Well she was becoming such and obstacle for us. I kinda had no choice..."

"You're dead. I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" Chuck shouted very literally. His hands clamped around Lydia's neck.

"Serena, call the police!" Bart commanded. He put his arms around Chuck from behind.

Chuck squeezed Lydia's neck. He was taking great pleasure in watching her life slip away.

"Let her go," Bart whispered. " Give her to the police. If you kill this girl, it's still murder. Your children already have one parent in the hospital. They do not need their other parent in jail. Let her go. I will make sure she is handed over to the authorities. You and Serena will go see Blair."

Chuck released Lydia. She fainted and fell to the ground. It was a good thing that Bart was there. Chuck would have killed her.

"Come on, Chuck. Lets go see Blair," Serena held out her hand.

Chuck was about to grab Serena's hand when Lydia spoke.

"I only did it because we are meant to be together," She coughed.

Chuck turned around and kicked her as hard as he could in the stomach. He took Serena's hand and left Lydia keeling at Bart's feet.

xoxoxoxo

When Chuck and Serena arrived at Blair's hospital room, they were greeted Dr. Smith. He shook both of their hands.

"Mr. Bass and ?"

"Miss Van der Woodsen," Chuck told the doctor.

"Miss Van der Woodsen. I am pleased to say that your wife's heart rate has risen and so have her brain waves. She should be waking up shortly," The doctor explained.

Chuck nodded in relief and Serena smiled.

"Can we go in?" Serena asked.

Dr. Smith led them inside.

"Mr. Bass, you will be happy to know that Mrs. Bass has shifted in her sleep and her nurses have witnessed rapid eye movement. That means her brain is functioning properly," Dr. Smith said.

"How are her lungs?" Chuck inquired

"They are strong. The nurses have been monitoring her breathing. I am hopeful, that the chest tube can be removed without complications. Well I am going to see my other patients. Please call the nurse on the intercom if you notice any changes," Dr. smith requested and left.

"She looks healthy, Chuck. That has to be a good sign. The doctor sounds hopeful that she will pull through," Serena said. She ran her finger's through Blair's hair.

"I still wish she wasn't in here," Chuck sighed.

"Well of course. Who was that freak that confessed earlier?" Serena questioned.

"Her name is Lydia. Her father owns a pet store. She believes she is in love with me. I knew she was weird. I didn't see her as violent," Chuck told Serena and held Blair's hand.

"Was her father that perv?" Serena asked.

"Yes," Chuck answered through gritted teeth.

Serena shook her head, "You stay here with Blair. I am going to get us some coffee."

Chuck nodded.

He pulled up a chair to Blair's hospital bed and held her hand.

"Come on, Blair. It's time to get up, Sweetheart," Chuck breathed hard.

But then, he felt Blair's fingers move. They tightened around his hand.

"Blair?" Chuck studied his wife. She moved her head.

Chuck pushed the button on the intercom.

"Yes?" the nurse said.

"This is Chuck Bass. I think my wife is waking up," Chuck spoke into the intercom.

"Alright, sir. I will send the doctor in," the nurse said.

Chuck got closer to Blair's face. Her eyes blinked open. Chuck sighed in relief and smiled.

"I knew you'd come back to me," Chuck said and kissed her cheek and then her temple lightly.

"Who are you?" Blair asked in absolute confusion. She yanked her hand away from the strange man who just kissed her.

Chuck's face fell.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"Who are you?!" Blair demanded loudly.

"Blair, baby, its me," Chuck said and his mind exploded. Maybe she had gone blind. Maybe she was half deaf and couldn't make out his voice.

"That doesn't answer my question! Who's Blair?" She demanded again and began to excite herself.

"Baby, calm down!" Chuck tried to grab her hand, but she slapped his hand away.

"I will not calm down until you tell my who you are and who Blair is!" Blair snapped.

"Is my patient awake?" Dr. smith asked when he entered the room.

"I think she's delirious," Chuck told the doctor.

"Mrs. Bass, are you feeling okay? Are you experiencing any hot flashes?" Dr. Smith asked.

"I am not answering any questions until you tell me who you are, who he is, who Blair is, and who Mrs. Bass is," Blair hissed at the doctor.

"Oh dear," Dr. Smith said and he looked at Chuck.

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