Chapter 10: Fisticuffs, Jail, and Chuck Bass

Serena finished putting her jeans on and wrapped her arms about Dan's waist and said, "who was that?"

"Just Chuck."

"As in Bass? My stepbrother? The slimmest man to grace the Upper East Side since I don't know when?"

Dan turned to face her and said, "the one and only. He's not so bad."

"Yeah, I guess so. I just don't understand this strange bond you guys have."

"It's a long story. Let's just say he's gotten me out of my fair share of scrapes."

"It's still weird. Anyways, that reminds me. I have to call Blair."

"Okay I'll wait for you in the living room," he said.

Serena stopped him as he started to walk away. "I have a better idea," she said as she started to remove her clothes on her way to the bedroom.

"I love your brain waves," he replied as he removed his shirt and followed her.

By the time they reached the bedroom, Serena was clad only in her panties. She released her hair from its elastic band and Dan watched as the long tendrils cascaded down her back. Her beauty left him awestruck. He wondered what he'd done to deserve the love this amazing woman. She was more than he could ask for. He looked up at her and said, "You take my breath away."

Later they lay wrapped in each other's arms neither of them saying a word. They were enjoying the tranquility of the moment. Eventually Dan spoke up. "You could have come to me."

Serena furrowed her brow and said, "What?"

"When you were with that guy."

"Oh Dan, I was too scared. I believed it was what I deserved."

He held her tightly and said, "But that's crazy. You deserve the best. I just wish we hadn't fallen apart so easily."

"We were young. Maybe too young too handle all that we mean to each other. Anyways it doesn't matter anymore."

"I feel like I failed you though."

Serena turned to face him and said, "Oh Dan, you could never fail me." He touched his forehead to hers and simply said, "I love you."

"I love you too, Dan."

Dan was standing in the middle of Chuck's foyer waiting for him to come. He hated waiting around for people like this. He wondered if she could go ahead into the living room or simply stay standing here like some sort of miscreant. He heard footsteps coming down the hall, but they were of the distinctly female kind.

"Blair, how are you?" he said with small smirk. Dan had grown to love her as a sister.

"Well, well if it isn't my little cabbage patch," she said as she embraced him tightly.

"Stop trying to steal my girl," Chuck said.

"She's all yours."

"Ugh, what would I do with Humphrey? You have nothing to fear, Chuck."

"Humphrey, I'll meet you in the other room and next time just go ahead. You look an idiot just standing there."

Dan simply nodded and headed over to the other room. A few minutes later, Chuck joined him and he had a thick file with him. "Is that it?" Dan asked.

"Yup, this is it."

Dan sat down and looked through the file that Chuck's private investigator had compiled. This David guy was nothing short of a monster. Five different women filed complaints about how he had abused them. Knowing he had done the same to Serena drove him insane. According to the dates of these restraining orders he had also been with two of them while he was still living with Serena. "Mother fucker!" he screamed.

"Humphrey, I agree this creature is horrid, but you need to calm the hell down."

"Calm down! How can I calm down when this guy nearly killed her? She was hospitalized."

"Yes, I know. I just didn't know his name at the time. She refused to talk about it."

"I'm going to find the bastard and when I do he is a dead man."

"Now don't be rash. Let me take care of this."

"You can't stop me Bass, I'm going over there now."

"At least let me come with you."

Chuck and Dan arrived at David's downtown apartment a little over an hour later. Chuck still thought the whole thing was a bad idea, but Dan had insisted he was going with or without Chuck. He had feeling that this was not going to go well. So, he sent a text to his lawyer just in case. He could sense the tension coming from his shoulders and new that this was not going to end well. When they arrived at the guy's door, Chuck turned to Dan and said, "Humphrey let me do the talking."

"Why?"

"You're too wound up to handle this properly."

"I can handle this Chuck. You don't need to be here."

"Trust me, my little Humphrey I do."

Dan watched him wearily as he straightened his tie and knocked on the door as if the cheap wood was going to give him a rash. Chuck often left Dan baffled. He had this very feminine quality to him, but he was still very much a guy. He was definitely an odd guy, but also a surprisingly good friend. Although they weren't they type of people to hang out all the time, he knew that Chuck would have his back and the same was true for him.

"David Petreas?"

"Yes. Who are you?"

"I have a business proposition for you. Actually we have a proposition for you."

"What kind of business proposition."

"Why don't we discuss it inside," said Chuck.

He was a tall angular man. He was currently wearing a dirty t-shirt that showed off his toned arms. He wasn't a big guy, but he was strong enough to man handle a woman. Dan was fuming inside. What kind of man beat up on a woman? In his head this guy was nothing more than a pathetic loser.

"Come in," David said as he opened the door wide enough for him to enter.

He offered them a seat in the living room which at best could be described as unkempt. Dan looked around him in disgust. This was the guy who maltreated Serena. He was the reason they broke up. This disgusting piece of shit?

"We're here about Serena van der Woodsen," Chuck drawled.

"Ahh Ms. van der Fine Ass."

"That's it asshole," Dan muttered before laying a punch on him that knocked him out.

Chuck sighed and said, "You really have to stop doing this."

Blair was in the middle of finishing up her brief for Bass Industries when she received a call on her cell phone.

"Chuck where are you?"

"I'm downtown."

"Why?"

"Dan and I are in jail. I texted my lawyer earlier, but I need you to tell him where we are."

"What happened?"

"I'll explain later."

"It better be good," she said before hanging up and twisting her engagement ring. She had a feeling it had something to do with Dan. Blair knew that Chuck had been investigating Serena's ex-boyfriend and there was only reason for him to do that—Dan had asked him to.

She knew exactly what she needed to do. Blair made a stop at her house and asked the driver to wait for her as she went to fetch her best friend.

"Blair? What are you doing here?"

"Get dressed S, there's a place we need to go."

Serena looked at her friend in confusion. It was late at night and she was already worried about Dan. She hadn't heard from him hours and didn't know where he was. "What's going on B?"

"Its Dan and Chuck."

Serena looked at her friend in concern. This was not good. It meant that something was seriously wrong. "Give me five minutes."

Blair decided to roam the apartment as she waited for Serena to get ready. She remembered getting the call that Dan was back in her life and a big part of Blair was relieved for her friend. Ever since they'd split, Serena had been spiralling. She looked around the place and noticed that the bookshelves were now jam-packed and that there were still some boxes in the corners. Dan was obviously making his mark on the apartment. Blair just regretted not having been able to do more for Serena. She simply wouldn't let her help and that saddened Blair.

"Let's go. Do you know if they are okay?"

"They will be S."

Dan and Chuck sat in 4X4 cell waiting for someone to bail them out. Dan had let Chuck take over because he couldn't live with the idea of Serena knowing where he was. He just couldn't control himself. Dan knew he had trouble controlling his anger at times, but the asshole deserved it. He wasn't sorry for what he had done.

"Next time, let me handle it Humphrey," Chuck said through gritted teeth.

"The jerk had it coming."

"Yes, but there are other ways to enact your vengeance."

Dan looked at Chuck curiously and suddenly things seemed to be coming together. "I'm not sorry I did it. You knew about him didn't you?"

"Yes, I knew."

Dan clenched his jaw and stared at the wall. He was too tense to speak. He felt like an idiot.

"Now, now, Humphrey. Don't be upset. We promised not to tell."

Dan simply glared at Chuck. He was about to say something when he heard the clang of heels on the floor. They both looked up and saw Serena and Blair standing before them. Serena ran to the cell and said, "Dan what did you do?"

"I'm sorry Serena, he was just a jerk."

"God, couldn't you just let it drop. It's the past."

Dan hung his head low and said, "I'm sorry. I just couldn't I felt so helpless. I just needed to see him."

"And punch him out? Dan come on? This isn't you."

Chuck laughed and said, "Actually sis it is him."

Serena simply glanced at him and said, "We're just filling out the paper work. You two will be out of here in a few minutes."

Dan reached out to touch her hand through the cell bars, "I'm sorry."

"I know," she said sadly.