Chapter 7 – Oblivion
Note – In my story, Chuck and Nate don't live together. I find Nate boring and have a hard time writing him - which I would have to do if they lived together. SO. They don't live together because I say so. There will be some Chuck/Nate bromance, though.
Louis wasn't aware of how much time had passed as he stood in Blair's bedroom, staring at the photos of himself and Estee that Chuck had sent him, mouth still ajar. How had everything fallen apart so quickly, he wondered. A day earlier, he had a fiancée and his mistress, a place to live. Now, he had no fiancée, had been ordered to leave the penthouse by Harold Waldorf himself, and Blair was in the hospital with broken ribs. Why was she being so dramatic anyways? Broken ribs weren't even that serious. Louis had broken a rib as a teenager after taking a tumble from one of his thoroughbreds. It had been painful, sure, but not a big deal.
Truthfully, Louis didn't even really care about the specifics of why Blair was in the hospital, he just knew he had to find her – he needed to clean up this mess that she had single-handedly created. There was, however, the small problem that he was currently still holding in his hands: Chuck Bass' blackmail.
At the beginning of their relationship, Blair warned that Louis that Chuck Bass was the most manipulative person she knew – someone who would do anything to get what he wanted, and usually won whatever game he played. Louis had laughed at the time, but reassessing himself in his currently situation, Louis realized that Blair had not exaggerated one bit when it came to the manipulations of Chuck Bass, and here he was, seemingly at the losing end of the game.
Chuck Bass, however, had underestimated one very important thing. Everyone in the royal family has an affair. It's practically a birthright. Louis smirked at this realization. Louis' feelings for Blair had changed the night he found out Blair had cheated on him. She had shown up to the gala with Chuck, hours late, and he, ever the gentleman, had waited for her patiently. He had believed Chuck when he said he had given Blair his blessing, and Louis was more than happy to step out publically with the girl he had convinced himself he was in love with. He knew that Chuck and Blair had a complicated history, and he understood that. He believed her, and he trusted her. Hours later, while they laid in bed, Louis began to piece together the truth of what had actually transpired that night. Blair wouldn't let him touch her, feigning exhaustion. But he could feel something crackling in the air, unseen. Electricity. It was then that Louis had knew she was lying about something, he just couldn't put his finger on what. Unable to fall asleep, he had gotten up to get a glass of water, and it was then he spotted her discarded La Perlas. They were soaking wet from the shimmering mixture of body fluids. It was then that Louis knew that she had fucked Chuck Bass.
The next day was the first day he hit Blair Waldorf.
Blair had been unfaithful to Louis first, and as far as Louis was concerned, Chuck Bass did not have a leg to stand on. Louis picked up his phone to call his personal assistant. "Estee, call every hospital in the tri-state area. I need you to find Blair Waldorf, immediately."
Louis had to find her, and when he did, Blair Waldorf was in for it.
Xoxo.
"You really don't mind if I go home and rest, B?" Serena asked her best friend imploringly.
"No, S. You all need to go home and get some rest," Blair looked pointedly at Chuck. "I'm fine. I will be fine by myself, I don't need you both acting like my personal guard dogs. Besides, Daddy's hotel is right down the street if I need anything. Now go home and get some sleep - both of you."
"I'd give you a hug, B, but I'm pretty sure that would hurt."
Blair dismissed Serena with a wave of her hand. "Goodbye, S."
"Bye, B," replied Serena, blowing her a kiss instead.
Chuck made absolutely no movement to leave.
"Go home, Chuck," she said in a low voice. "I know you still haven't slept."
Chuck looked to Blair with a small smile. "You know me so well, Waldorf." He paused, looking down at the floor briefly before meeting her eyes. "You really want me to leave?"
"It's not really a matter of want, Bass. It's a matter of need. I don't want you dropping dead on me from sleep deprivation," she reasoned.
Blair had a point and Chuck knew it. "Fine. I'll go home. I'll shower. I'll try to take a nap. But then I'm coming right back, deal?"
She smiled at him. "Stop worrying so much, Chuck. I'm not going to croak before you get back, you know. You, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about." Blair watched Chuck for a moment, she saw the fear in his eyes, the fear he could normally hide, but she could tell in his sleepless state that he was struggling. She saw the way he nervously wrung his hands. "I know why you don't want to leave," she said softly.
Chuck stilled his hands and looked up to her. "Do you?"
"You can't protect me 24/7, Chuck."
"I want to," he replied quietly.
She smiled and took his hand in hers. "I know that. But it's humanly impossible. You're cracking right in front me, Bass. Stop killing yourself and go home. Just for a little bit. I'm not going anywhere," Blair promised.
"I'm going, ok?" he said standing to leave, but made no movement towards the door.
"Doesn't look like it to me, Bass," Blair said shortly.
"Fine. Fine," he relented, bending down to place a kiss on her cheek. "If you need anything. And I mean anything. Text me, call me. I'll come back, ok?" he said softly.
"I already knew that, Chuck," she responded. "Now go home."
Once Chuck left, Blair realized how completely alone she felt. In truth, she hadn't sent them both home simply because she thought they both needed to sleep. Well, in Chuck's case, at least, it was beyond true. She needed to think. Chuck and Serena had tried and successfully distracted her from the mess that was currently her life. When Chuck held her hand, or went toe-to-toe with her, or when Serena laughed, or said something silly - stupid, it was easy to pretend that she wasn't sitting in a hospital bed, broken and missing an organ. It was in the silence, when Serena was passed out or Chuck was lost in his own head, that the reality of where she really was came crashing down around her. And right as she was starting to get her thoughts together, the silence was broken.
She needed to be alone and she needed to think. Chuck had been right when he said that she didn't want to face reality. Instead, reality came to face her – Reality was forcing her to make a choice. While Harold had taken her engagement ring, she didn't know if she and Louis were truly over. Harold hadn't even asked her what she wanted, he had simply demanded. Blair understood Harold's reasoning, but she wanted to dictate her own life. She was sick of everyone telling her what to do and being expected just to follow
But Chuck had been right – she needed to face reality. So she didn't try to lie to herself, she didn't push it down, for once. I, Blair Cornelia Waldorf, am in a hospital bed right now because the man I'm engaged to broke my ribs. I made myself sick and punctured my spleen. I had an organ removed from my body because of said broken rib. If I hadn't called Chuck, I would have most likely died from internal bleeding. At her last thought, she felt herself tremble. She had told Chuck she was afraid Louis would kill her. And he very nearly had. This won't stop, she thought. This won't be the last time in the hospital. Chuck can't save you every single time.
Chuck. The realization hit her like a train, like being punched in the face. His face, his dark eyes, the dark circles, the tight jaw, the torment evident on every plane of his face. You can't do this to Chuck. His words from the other night rang in her ears, "If not for you, then for me." Raw, aching, pleading. She couldn't go back to Louis, not because of the abuse, she knew, because she had briefly considered running back to her fiancée like a wounded animal even in the face of a hospital stay. She couldn't go back because she never again wanted to see the look on Chuck Bass' face that had resided there since the night he had found out Louis hurt her.
She was resolute in her decision. She was absolutely sure. She pulled out the phone she had made her father buy for her – hers apparently lost - and texted him quickly, For you.
"A penny for your thoughts, darling?"
Blair looked up, not entirely surprised at who she saw.
Xoxo.
Chuck hadn't wanted to leave Blair. In fact, every nerve ending in his body had begged him to stay. But she had a point, and the concern he saw evident on her face made him give in. If it would make her happy, he would do it. He would shower, he would try to sleep. For her, he would at least try.
Stepping out of the shower, he had to admit he felt a bit better. If not rejuvenated, then on the path towards it. A towel wrapped around his waist, he walked into the living room of his sweat as he shook the drops of water from his hair with another towel. He poured himself two fingers of scotch and took a long gulp, savoring the burn. He wanted to stay at least somewhat sober, but he knew there was no way he'd be able to sleep a wink without some alcohol.
Chuck knew he was exhausted. He could feel it in every muscle of his body, he could feel it in his head, his brain moving sluggishly. But still, he felt wired. Like he was ready to pounce at any moment. He was on high alert and he wasn't even sure why. Exhaustion and tension, juxtaposed within him.
Something's wrong, the thought flashed through and he winced. What the fuck? You really do need to get some sleep, Bass," he chided himself, but he couldn't shake the eerie feeling that had currently settled within him.
As he tried to gather his wits, he heard his phone chirp from where it laid on the coffee table. Blair Waldorf. He felt the panic rise build in his gut, and immediately opened it. The text simply read, For you. Chuck furrowed his brow, unsure of what the text meant. Goddamn his brain, lack of sleep really was fucking with him. He knew there was significance to the text, there had to be. Despite his abysmal grades throughout school, Chuck actually had a photographic memory. Only a few people were aware of it, Blair Waldorf being one of them. He remembered everything, and everyone. He often pretended he didn't – But simple truth was, Chuck Bass remembered everything, down to the last little detail, save for the nights he blacked out. And well, this, apparently. Dammit.
The panicked feeling in his gut kept growing and he couldn't ignore it. He said he'd try to sleep, not that he actually would. He had to go to her now. The feeling in his gut was unfamiliar and unwelcome, and he just had to see her, make sure she was alright. Dressing quickly, Chuck rushed from his suite and back towards Blair. She could be mad if she wanted to be.
Xoxo.
"Louis," Blair replied calmly. "What are you doing here?"
"I had to see you, darling. Heard you were in the hospital," Louis replied, moving closer to Blair.
The memory washed over her in an instant: I won't let her be right about me. I will not be weak anymore.
"You had something to do with that, Louis, did you not?" she spat.
Louis shrugged. "It's just a broken rib, Blair. No need for the melodrama."
"I almost DIED!" She seethed. "If not for Chuck—"
Louis rushed to her side and took a handful of her curls in his hands and pulled forcefully. "Don't you ever say his name again," he whispered dangerously.
"Get your hands off of me, Louis," she replied, coldly.
Louis didn't listen, instead tightening his hold. She winced and he smiled. "You've created quite a mess for me, darling."
"You made your own bed, now lie in it," she seethed. A hand was around her throat in an instant, squeezing, tightening. Blair felt the shiver run down her spine. I'm afraid he's going to kill me, Chuck. Here it was, here was the moment.
You don't get nearly enough credit for your wit.
Are you sure?
We're inevitable, Waldorf.
I love you, too.
I'm not Chuck Bass without you.
The lack of oxygen had clearly gone to her head, because she could see him clear as day in front of her. She wanted so badly to reach out for him, feel his fingers against hers, one more time, but the dark spots in her vision were clouding her vision, she saw nothing else, could feel nothing. She just saw Chuck Bass.
Suddenly she could breathe. Air rushed into her lungs and she coughed and sputtered, trying to normalize her breathing. She looked up and realized he wasn't a mirage. He was there, for real. Blair watched as Chuck slammed Louis' body against a wall and punched squarely against the face. "You fucking BASTARD."
Chuck got in two more hits before hospital security barged in and pulled Chuck away from Louis. Two men held Chuck's hands behind his back as a nurse rushed in to check Louis and Blair realized what was happening.
"No," Blair spoke hoarsely. Her throat ached, and the words stung coming out of her mouth. She caught Chuck's eyes and they were wild, fierce, like a rabid animal.
"Miss, it's alright. We'll take care of it."
"No," she spoke again, her voice slightly clearer. "Let him go," she said, motioning to Chuck's restrained hands. "He was protecting me. That scum on the floor tried to strangle me to death. He's the one who needs to be arrested," she spoke forcefully. "And yes, Louis, I am pressing charges. I have a witness, this time." Blair motioned to Chuck, whose arms were still restrained. "Let him go!" Blair screamed, before breaking into a fit of coughing.
The security guards dropped Chuck's arms at her order, obviously confused. Chuck was immediately at her side. "Are you ok?" he whispered, a warm hand laid gently across her face, his eyes still wild, bright.
As her coughing subsided, she felt tears stream down her face of their own volition. She nodded despite them, and felt the pad of Chuck's thumb wipe them away.
Minutes went by without either of them speaking, before Chuck broke the silence. "There's a cop here, Blair," he whispered in her ear. "Do you want to talk to him? Or do you want me to pay him off?" Chuck placed a gentle kiss on the hairline near her ear.
Blair sniffled and tried the best to pull herself together. "I want to talk to them," she answered, weakly.
"You sure?" he whispered back.
"I will not be weak anymore," she responded.
"She's all yours," Chuck spoke, moving away from her.
Blair began to panic. He was leaving, he was moving towards the door. Then she saw Chuck take the seat right near the door, and her fears quelled. Chuck's eyes stared back at her and she read the message he was sending her immediately: I am not leaving you.
"Miss Waldorf?"
The voice jolted Blair away from Chuck and his gaze. "Y-yes?"
"Can you tell me what happened tonight?"
She met Chuck's eyes, he was studying her. She immediately realized why – he was waiting for her to lie and protect Louis. "My ex-fiancée showed up, unannounced. We got into a fight, and I don't know…He strangled me. Chuck," she motioned to Chuck, "he saved me."
"Has your fiancée—"
Chuck interrupted, "Ex."
The cop glared at Chuck. "Has your ex-fiancée ever hurt you before?" he asked, turning his attention back to Blair.
Blair bit her lip. "Many times. I have a broken rib right now, and another one is fractured. Because of him," she said quietly.
"Do you want to press charges?"
Blair didn't even think before responding, "Yes."
Satisfied, the cop thanked her and left the room. Then it was just her and Chuck. She looked up and met his eyes – still bright and fixed on her. "Chuck," she said softly, she could feel the tears building.
In an instant, he was back at her side, kneeling against her bed. "I'm sorry," he whispered to her.
"Why?"
He ran his fingers across her throat, where bruises were starting to develop. "For this," she whispered.
"You didn't do this, Chuck."
"I know that…But I left you. I knew I shouldn't. Even when I got home I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I shouldn't have left."
"I made you leave, Chuck."
"And I should have stayed."
"Stay now," she replied.
"I plan on it."
Blair patted the small space on her bed. "Come here."
Chuck climbed onto the bed slowly, and laid next to her. He wanted to hold her, tightly. But he knew that would hurt her. "I don't want to hurt you," his whispered.
"Lay on your back." As he did so she sidled up next to him, laying her head next to his neck. "I can only sleep on my back right now, it's pure torture." She gently kissed his pulse point and laced her fingers with his.
"Blair?" he asked, uncertain.
"Yes?"
"Your text earlier…What did it mean?" he asked quietly.
"You don't remember?"
"I really don't," he answered. "I haven't slept in days….my brain is a bit sluggish. I know it means something, but I don't know what. I should remember," he responded apologetically.
"Relax, Chuck," she kissed his pulse point again. "The other day. Before all of this. You begged me to leave him. If not for myself, then for you."
Chuck turned to look at her, his dark eyes piercing. "For me?"
"Well, no. Not just for you. But you were the ultimate deciding factor."
"Explain," he whispered.
"You were right. I didn't want to face reality. Being in the hospital makes that kind of difficult, to be honest. I realized that this wouldn't be the only time I'd be here if I stayed with him. I know Daddy ended things for me. But—"
"You needed to make that decision for yourself," Chuck offered.
Blair nodded, continuing, "It was the look on your face, Chuck," she said softly.
"What?"
"The look you've had your face since you found out about Louis…I probably would've denied everything, pretended nothing had even happened. But the look on your face, Chuck. I couldn't – I can't stand it."
"What look?" he asked her.
"I can't describe it. It's the look of a man completely falling apart while pretending he's strong. It's the look of a man who hasn't sleep in many days…" Blair rested her hand on his cheek. "It's the look of a man who's being tortured to death, slowly. And that look was because of me, I know it was."
Chuck kissed her hand softly. "Blair -"
"Let me finish. I can't stand that look on your face anymore. It hurts. I didn't decide to leave him for you. I decided to leave him for me. But also because of you," she finished softly.
Chuck let out the breath he was holding. He moved to kiss her forehead, where he lingered for a moment, pensive. Then he moved his face away from hers briefly, before using his nose to gently nudge her face to tilt up towards his. He kissed her, gently, softly. He didn't need anything else, just her lips on his. It was a chaste kiss as far as Chuck Bass was concerned, but it was more than enough for him. He rested his forehead against hers, licking his lips so he could memorize the taste of her lips.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"You saved me. I'd be dead without you…"
He couldn't talk about it, he couldn't think about the possibility, so he kissed her again, to quiet her, to feel her against him again. He had to know she was still alive, that she was still next to him. "I love you," he murmured against her lips.
"I love you, too, Chuck," she whispered, squeezing his hand.
They were quiet for the remainder of the night, exchanging a soft kiss every so often. Eventually Blair saw Chuck drift off into sleep for the first time in many days. She smiled as his face relaxed and he began to snore softly next her. She placed her hand on his chest softly. At the beat of his heart, she smiled and closed her own eyes.
Xoxo.
When he woke up he didn't know where he was. Stark white walls, stark white ceilings, incessant beeping. Jesus, how much did I drink last night? It was then that he felt the slim fingers interlaced with his own, and it all rushed back to him. He turned to face her and planted a kiss in her curls.
"You finally slept," she whispered.
"I woke you up, I'm sorry," he murmured.
"It's 3 in the afternoon, Bass. I've been awake for hours," Blair replied.
"You should've woken me up."
Blair shook her head. "Absolutely not."
"Your concern is adorable, Waldorf," he smirked, bringing her intertwined hand to his lips and kissing the top of her hand.
Blair didn't pull away, but simply rolled her eyes at him. "You ready to break me from this joint, Bass?"
Chuck stilled. "Is that a good idea?"
"I'm ready to go home. I'm not going to break, Bass."
"I know that, Blair. You're a force of nature. Where's home?" he asked quietly, meeting her eyes.
She flinched. "I'm not in the mood for your games."
Chuck squeezed her hand, and ran gentle circles over her thumb. "I'm not playing games, Blair. I'm asking you an actual question," he replied gently.
Blair regarded him for a moment before deciding he was being earnest. "I still don't really know."
"Maybe it's time you found a new one," he suggested.
Blair regarded him suspiciously.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Eleanor's penthouse clearly doesn't feel like your home anymore. Maybe you should find a new home."
"Like where? Your suite?" she asked sardonically.
Chuck smirked. "That, I would not mind. You said it, not me. And if you want to move into my suite, I have zero objections. But that's not exactly what I was proposing."
Blair swallowed the lump in her throat. Of course he's not asking you to move in with him, you idiot.
"Blair? Where'd you go?" he asked, bring her back out of her thoughts.
"Sorry, I'm here." She smiled brightly.
Chuck, of course, saw right through her change in expression. But for once, he wasn't sure what she was thinking. "Come stay with me, while you look for an apartment," he offered.
"I couldn't," she answered, even as she felt her heart speed up.
"You can," he responded, kissing her forehead. "And you will."
"So that's a yes? You'll break me out?" she smiled up at him.
His heart swelled. "Let me go work my magic, Waldorf."
Blair scowled at him.
"I only have eyes for you, baby," he said a smirk. "So jealous."
Chuck sauntered up to the nurses' station, prepared to bribe any and everyone to get Blair out of the hospital. He was met with Cassidy. He didn't know the woman well, but his gut instinct told him that she was one of the few he couldn't bribe. "Hello, Cassidy," he greeted.
She didn't even look up from her computer screen. "Hello, Mr. Bass."
Chuck narrowed his eyes at her. He hadn't told her his last name, had he?
"Relax, I used to read Gossip Girl. What can I do for you?"
"How do I get her out of here, Cassidy?" he asked.
"Mr. Bass, all she has to do is poop and she's free to leave," replied Cassidy with a roll of her eyes.
Goddammit, Blair. "Really, that's it?"
"That's it. It's a common requisite after surgery. Anesthesia affects everyone differently."
Chuck rolled his eyes. "She wanted me to break her out of a hospital so she didn't have to poop here. She's absolutely insane."
Cassidy just chuckled.
Chuck returned to Blair's room. Closing the door behind him he crossed his arms across his chest.
"Well?" She smiled brightly.
"Blair, I don't have to bribe anyone to get you out of here, you just have to poop."
Blair flinched slightly. "Don't be crass, Chuck."
"I'm not being crass. The hospital requires it before you leave. I think you're being ridiculous right now," he responded.
"It's embarrassing," she whispered.
"Oh my god, Blair. It really isn't," he whispered. "And you know how I snore in my sleep? You fart in yours. So can you please shit so we can go home?"
Blair looked at him, hard. "I do not do that thing you just said."
Chuck smirked. "You absolutely do, darling."
Color flushed in Blair's cheeks as the embarrassment rose within her.
Chuck ignored it. "You're being insane. Go poop, Blair. So I can get you out of here."
"Fine," she said quietly. "Just...go out to the waiting room."
"Oh my god, Waldorf. "
"Just do it!"
Chuck held up his hands in defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll be back in twenty."
Leaving her, Chuck sauntered back up to the nurse's station. "She kicked me out. So check on her in twenty minutes? Can you tell if she's lying?"
Cassidy let out a giggle. "Yes, I can tell if she's lying."
"Good, because she's not above it."
"You guys make an interesting couple," responded.
"We're not…" he trailed off.
Cassidy gave Chuck a strange look. "Seems pretty couple-y to me."
Chuck sighed. "It's complicated."
"Ah, were you two the commotion I heard about from last night?"
Chuck's face darkened. "Yes and no."
Cassidy tilted her head questioningly.
"As a nurse, aren't you supposed to mind your own business?"
Cassidy chuckled. "Yes. But sue me, I get bored."
"You really should really read Gossip Girl, then."
Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Complicated or not, I can tell you one thing."
"What's that?"
"You love her," Cassidy replied.
"That I do, Cassidy. Quite astute."
"So what's the problem?"
"Until very recently, a prince of a small principality."
Cassidy's mouth formed a small O at his admission. "Until recently. Well, go get your girl, Mr. Bass."
"Oh, I intend to, Cassidy. Now can you do me favor and check to see if she's pooped? I'm anxious to get her out of here."
"I'll get right on that, Mr. Bass." Cassidy rolled her eyes but stood to leave anyways. "Come on," she said with a wave of her hand.
Blair was in bed, fashion magazine in hand, at the intrusion of Chuck and Cassidy, she looked up nonchalantly.
"Ok, Ms. Waldorf," Cassidy started, "I heard you want go home. And you can, as soon as you poop. So, have you pooped today?"
Blair reddened and looked to Chuck.
"You know I've seen you naked, right?" he asked with a smirk.
Blair flushed a bright shade of fuschia. "CHUCK!"
Cassidy chuckled, still amused by the "complicated" relationship that was Chuck and Blair. "Answer me and maybe you can leave, Ms. Waldorf."
"Yes," Blair replied quietly, avoiding Chuck's eyes.
"Mr. Bass advised me that you might lie to me, so just to let you know, I can tell."
Motherchucker.
"You can check, I'm not lying," Blair mumbled.
"She's not," offered Chuck, who received daggers from Blair's eyes.
"Then it looks like you're going home today, Ms. Waldorf," answered Cassidy with a smile.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Let me go get the paperwork started," Cassidy responded, smiling at Blair before sharing a glance with Chuck.
Blair noticed and seethed internally. Once Cassidy had left the room, she turned to Chuck. "Something you need to tell me?" she asked lowly.
"Come on, Waldorf. She's been your nurse most of the time you've been here."
"You would know."
Chuck's eyes met hers. "Yes, I would know, Blair. I've been here night and day with you. Forgive me for being friendly with one of the people who took care of you. Who kept you alive." His voice was strangled and harsh.
"Are you planning to sleep with her?"
"You're joking, right?"
"No," she responded.
Chuck shook his head at her. "You really think that lowly of me? I haven't been like that in a while, Waldorf. She's been your nurse and I like her – she's cool. But no, I don't want to sleep with her." Chuck took her hand, before continuing softly, "You're all I want, Blair. All I've ever wanted. So stop being jealous of your nurse."
Blair laced their fingers together and bit her lip. "Is that still true, after all of this?" she whispered.
"It's always been true and it will always be true."
"Chuck, I need—"
"Time, I know. I'm not a fool, Blair. I'm willing to wait. Doesn't mean it's any less true."
Blair smiled up at him. "How do you always know what I'm thinking?"
"I just know you too well, Waldorf." Chuck smirked.
Cassidy returned with Blair's discharge papers. "You're officially free, Ms. Waldorf. As soon as someone's free, I'll send someone up with a wheelchair."
Blair scoffed. "I don't need a wheelchair. I am perfectly capable of walking on my own."
"Hospital policy, Ms. Waldorf."
"Chuck!" Blair demanded.
Chuck just laughed. "I'm not bribing anyone, Waldorf. You'll be out soon."
Blair glared at Chuck and then at Cassidy. "Traitor," she hissed at him.
Cassidy chuckled before leaving them alone.
"I can still go back to my penthouse, you know."
"Do you want to?" he asked, surprised.
"Maybe."
"You're doing that thing where your eyes don't match your mouth."
Her eyes flashed to him. "I'm scared, Chuck."
Chuck found her hand and squeezed it. "Of what? Of me?"
"No…Well, yes."
"If you don't want to stay with me, that's fine - I'll get you your own suite," he replied, his heart falling in his chest. Chuck didn't want to push her, but the idea of having her near him every day had made his heart beat like a drum.
Blair saw the disappointment in his eyes. "Do you want me to have my own suite?" she questioned.
"I want you to be happy, however that's achieved," he replied, an echo of times past.
"You didn't answer my question," she responded.
"No. I want you with me."
"Because?" she asked innocently.
Chuck recognized the look on her face. "I'm not in the mood for games, Blair," he replied wearily. "I want you to stay with me because I love you. Because I don't want you out of my sight. Because the fact that Louis is still in this country scares the living hell out of me. The fact that you've been making yourself sick…No, I don't want you in your own suite. I want you in mine."
"You have that face again," she responded quietly.
"What face?"
"That face. The one I told you about," she answered.
Chuck's eyes met hers. "I can't not worry about you, Blair. Especially not after last night. If I hadn't—"
Blair raised a finger to his lips, and felt electricity rocket through her body. "Shh. Don't talk, don't think about 'what if.' You did."
Chuck gently kissed the finger on his lips. "Love you," he murmured against her hand.
Xoxo.
Blair fought the wheelchair all the way. She refused to be seen as weak and incapable. She was Blair Waldorf, goddammit. Even more frustrating, Chuck had smirked at her the whole time. She couldn't believe she had agreed to stay with him until she found her own place. "I hate you," she seethed.
"Stop lying," he responded with a smirk. "Oh, look, here's my limo."
Basstard.
Chuck offered her his hand which she reluctantly took. Within moments, Blair was safely in the limo, and she rested her body against the soft leather seats, inhaling the familiar scent of polished leather and scotch that came with Chuck Bass' limo. "I've missed this," she whispered.
"Missed what?"
"Your limo. It feels safe," she answered quietly, suddenly exhausted.
Chuck had left several feet of space between the two of them. He moved closer, closing the empty space between them, and put his arm around her shoulder. "It is safe," he replied, with a quick kiss to her forehead. "You're safe."
"I'm tired, Bass," she whispered.
"So sleep," he whispered back.
"Wake me when we get there?" she asked, stifling a yawn.
"Sure," he said softly, knowing he had absolutely no intention of waking her up.
Hours later, Blair opened her eyes to a ceiling that didn't belong to Chuck Bass' limo. She felt silky sheets on her back, and the soft weight of a down comforter on top of her. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton balls and her ribs ached. "Chuck?" she said quietly without moving. She knew moving would hurt too much.
Silence.
"Chuck?" she said a bit louder, starting to feel herself panic internally. What if she was entirely alone?
She heard the pad of footsteps from beyond the closed door of the bedroom. The door opened and Blair was relieved to see Chuck's face. "Hey, you're awake."
Blair squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to hold back the fresh tears that were welling in her eyes.
Chuck was immediately at the side of the bed. "Hey, Waldorf? What's wrong?" he asked, a tinge of worry in his voice.
"It hurts, Chuck," she whispered. "And I thought I was alone."
Chuck pushed a lock of hair from her face. "You're not alone. You'll never be alone, ok? And I picked up your prescription at the hospital. I'll be right back, ok?"
Blair nodded, even though she didn't want him out of her sight. But she needed this pain to end. Moments later, Chuck returned with a pill and a full glass of water, which she gratefully took. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but she felt the pain in her ribs dull slightly within minutes. Able to think clearly without the pain, she realized something. "Oh God, Chuck. Nate."
Chuck's head snapped up at their shared realization. "We never called him."
"Call him now, Chuck? I feel terrible. Everyone knows but him," she said softly.
Chuck nodded solemnly. "I feel pretty terrible myself, actually. Fuck."
Blair took Chuck's hand. "He'll understand. A lot was going on. Just call him now, Chuck."
Chuck nodded with a small smile, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "I'll be back, Waldorf."
"You better be."
Chuck left her, closing the French doors of his bedroom behind him. Between the exhaustion and Louis, Chuck had completely forgotten about Nate, and had inadvertently left his best friend in the dark about what had happened to Blair. Running his hand across his jaw, Chuck swallowed and called Nate, who picked up after a few rings. "Nathaniel," he immediately said as soon as he heard Nate answer his phone.
"Chuck? What's up, man? Haven't heard from you – figured you were bombed out somewhere."
"Not quite. I have something I have to tell you, Nathaniel."
Nate simply chuckled into the phone. "Did you get a call girl pregnant, Chuck? I've been waiting for that, honestly."
"No," replied Chuck soberly. "It's about Blair."
"Blair? Man, you have got to let her go. She's engaged, dude."
"Not anymore. Nate, the reason you haven't heard from me – Blair's been in the hospital."
There was a long pause, before Nate responded. "Is she ok?"
"She will be," Chuck replied, honestly.
"What happened?"
Chuck sighed, unsure if he should tell Nate the full story. Making a quick decision, he replied, "I think she'd like to tell you herself. Short story is, she has a broken rib and a fractured rib. The broken one punctured her spleen and she had to have it removed."
Another long pause. "How did she break a rib, Chuck?"
"Like I said, I think she'd rather tell you on her own."
"Where is she?" Nate asked.
"She's with me, at The Empire, for now."
"Chuck…" Nate's voice contained a note of disapproval.
Why are you also so dense, Nathaniel? "Like I said, she's not with Louis anymore. She's in pain and doesn't want to be alone, so she's with me. Any further questions should be directed to Blair Waldorf. I was going to call you earlier…But some stuff happened."
"Can I see her?"
"Of course, Nathaniel. I think she needs her rest today, though. I'll let you know when she's up for visitors."
"It was Louis, wasn't it?" Nate asked quietly, after a moment.
"Nathaniel, let's just say, if you ever find yourself alone with Louis Grimaldi, I give you permission to kill him. And I'll pay for the best attorney money can buy."
"Chuck—"
"I've already said too much. Goodbye, Nathaniel." With that, Chuck hung up the phone quickly and made his way back to Blair.
She was sitting up, clearly waiting. It was clear to Chuck that she had gotten up and applied a bit of concealer and styled her hair. He smirked in spite of himself. Even with broken ribs, Blair Waldorf was Blair Waldorf. God forbid he see her without makeup on, without her hair perfectly styled. "So?" she asked nonchalantly.
"I didn't tell him everything, but for once, Nathaniel was able to put the pieces together. He wants to see you."
"What did you say?"
"That you were tired and I'd let him know when you were ready."
Blair let out a heavy sigh. "Thank you. I just…I need to be alone for a little bit."
Chuck gave her sad smile. "I'll be in the guest room if you need me, Waldorf."
Blair grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards her. "I didn't mean from you, Bass."
"No?"
"No," she sighed. "You saved me…more than once, Chuck. Without you, I –"
Chuck interrupted her, "Don't think about 'what if.'"
Blair nodded solemnly. "When I say I want to be alone – you don't count."
Chuck couldn't help his smirk. "So you want to be alone, with me?" he asked.
"I'm going to ignore the lecherous smirk on your face right now. Just come lay next to me and keep your mouth shut."
"I love it when you're bossy, Blair."
"Seriously, Bass. Shut up," she returned, exasperated.
Chuck conceded, crawling into bed with her. "Sorry," he muttered. "You know how I am." She nodded and he sidled up next to her, as much as he wanted to touch her, to hold her, Chuck resisted.
"You act like I'm going to break."
"You're a little broken already, Waldorf. I'm just trying not to break you anymore."
Blair nodded slightly before lying her head on his chest, closing her eyes.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and the king's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again.
Maybe a king – or prince – couldn't put her broken self back together again – But maybe a Chuck Bass could.
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