A/N: College is again to blame for my extreme lack of punctuality but the war is nearly over and soon I will be free to write as I please, to please you guys. This is my holiday gift to you all before I leave to go visit my Chuck.

Chapter 7

Blair was released a day later. Eleanor's orders, not the doctor's.

She'd called Dorota to set up a driver to pick Blair up from the hospital, but Chuck was already waiting outside her hospital room. He tucked a few Benjamin's into the driver's breast pocket and vouched to take "Ms. Blair" home himself considering he was "practically family."

He slid back into the room and buttoned up his jacket as his scarf stuck out like a red beacon from the collar. Blair was sound asleep under sedation, also Eleanor's orders. She had originally meant to pick Blair up herself and didn't want to deal with her moodiness. Mrs. Waldorf may not be tuned into her daughter's life, but she did know her daughter's mind, ergo, she knew Blair did not eat any bad sushi. Sedated was Eleanor's preferred state for Blair at a time like this. She would deal with her later when she returned from her emergency jet to Paris.

His finger found its way around one of her ringlets as she slept peacefully. Angel was not a term best used to describe Blair Waldorf, but as she slept, there was no better metaphor. With her eyes fallen shut and her lips slightly parted, oh so kissable, and not a single wrinkle of angst on her forehead.

Chuck swore he didn't have a single parental bone in his body, given the sad excuse for a parental figure he had, so this desire to take care of this last shred of innocence Blair had managed to retain must be love. He had felt this way about her for a while, but it must have augmented tremendously because he couldn't recall a time before this that he wanted to stroke her cheek with the pad of his thumb for hours and hours. Well, that may be exaggerating a bit, or was it? No. Now was not the time to delve into this new territory inside of himself that he wasn't that welcoming towards. Back to business.

Blair. Right. He was supposed to take her home. To her home, unfortunately. Dorota was sure to be anticipating Blair's arrival and she wouldn't hesitate to call Mrs. Waldorf the instant she suspected anything.

Unfolding a wheelchair, he slid his hands underneath her limbs and around her back, lifting her like a feather and positioning her in the chair. Maybe it was her impeccable posture that kept her sitting upright. It certainly made their departure easier. Pushing the wheelchair down the hall like an awkward nurse, Chuck signed her out at the desk and wheeled her to freedom through the sterile automatic doors.

He was almost in the home stretch as he wheeled across the sidewalk towards the open limo door when he pushed the chair over an unprecedented bump and Blair jolted forwards. He gently grasped her shoulder to hold her in place, but she'd woken up, if you could call it that. It was more of a blank stare at her unfamiliar surroundings. Her head turned left and right as she limply gripped the arm rests.

Chuck moved to kneel before her and her eyes rested stoically on him.

"Blair. Blair can you…? Forget it, look, just hold onto me, okay? I'm going to lift you into the car," he ordered. Blair gave something resembling a nod and Chuck's hands slid into place under her knees and around her small back but this time, her arms wrapped around his neck and her head rested on his shoulder instead of flopping around. When her finger's locked together, he lifted her and slid sideways into the limo. It was there he realized that he was stuck. It was a sweet picture, though. She was securely fastened onto him and she had fallen asleep again. Great. Really it was.

When the pulled up to her building, Chuck felt the ride wasn't long enough. The elevator ride disappointed him as well with its efficiency and Dorota was none the happier to see him carrying Blair up the stairs. Still, everyone kept their mouths shut as he disappeared onto the second floor landing and kicked open her bedroom door, the room he'd come to see as more of a home that goddamn hotel suite ever was. He laid her down on the bed and pulled the covers up over her; letting his fingers linger on her arms a little longer than he normally would. He contemplated leaving a kiss on her forehead…or her lips, but he heard a creak on the landing and on instinct backed away from the sleeping beauty.

He didn't turn around to make his presence more natural. God how he wished he had.

"So it was you."

No mistaking that raspy voice.

"I know you're capable of allot of things, Chuck, but taking advantage of her, that's a new low…"

Chuck whirled around and sent daggers towards the intruder, "I hardly think you have any room to judge, here, Nathanial."

"Oh, and you do?"

"She came to me. Just like Serena came to you…"

"Just get out, Chuck. I'm not going to have this showdown in her bedroom."

Chuck scoffed, "Is that what you came here for? Well, you are mistaken then because there is nothing to fight over here. The battle is already won."

Nate shifted his jaw and clenched his fist.

"Nathanial, do you honestly think that she'll take you back after you emotionally ripped her apart in this very room? Let's not get deranged, here. Well, you did refuse her, twice so your sanity is most definitely in question," Chuck continued. Nate's face turned a vicious shade of crimson. "Have I pinched a nerve? I hope so, because it will cushion the pain when I tell you those three little words she's reserved for you for nearly twelve years have been redirected."

Nate looked at his former best friend incredulously and uttered, "She told you she loves you?"

Chuck couldn't help but break out into a soft grin at those words, or maybe it was the look on Nate's face.

"I wouldn't say she 'told' me. It was more like she purred it in my ear while we…"

"Fuck you, Chuck. Oh, wait, Blair's already got that covered," Nate spat. Chuck raised his eyebrows at what could have been Nate's first attempt at fighting for what he wanted. "I hope you two are happy together. You obviously deserve each other," Nate spat. Chuck put his hand over his heart.

"Why, Nathanial, that might have been the first sincere compliment you've ever given her," he said, with faux astonishment. Nate seemd about to advance.

"You get out, Nate," Chuck barked, calling him Nate for the first time since as long as he can remember. Best friend habits were just formalities now. Nate shook his head with his jaw clenched as his blue eyes flashed with lightning. He stormed from the Waldorf abode and Chuck had to admit; he did admire Nate's ambition. He'd actually come into her room expecting Chuck to back down with a few cut-throat sentiments. Chuck thought his best friend knew him better than that. Nothing could rip Blair from his arms, as long as she wished to remain there.

Nate plucked his phone from his pocket and pressed speed dial 2.

"Hey, dad. I couldn't do it. She's moved on…yes for real this time," Nate said calmly. His gave an exasperated sigh. "Yeah, Dad, I…yeah I know how important this is. No, you don't have to put mom on, okay, I'll figure something out. Okay bye."

He pressed end and pulled up a picture he'd snapped on his phone as he neared the corner of the intersection. It was of Chuck being so un-Chuck as he tucked Blair into her bed. Both people were easily discernable and he had to commend himself on such a smooth move. Scrolling down the contacts list, his thumb hovered over the "ok" button as the name remained highlighted. He knows he shouldn't do it, it would be such a low blow, but he had a family that was depending on him.

Reluctantly, he let his finger drop heavily on the send button and the picture zipped off into cyberspace. He looked up to cross the street when the walk signal flashed and looked down again one last time to see two words he'd never think to be so lethal.

Message Sent