Howdy! Did everybody have a nice holiday season? A happy New Year? I got a bottle of expensive conditioner that popped in my bag, and now I'll have split ends around mid February. The horror. I feel that I should send a special shoutout to a resourceful reader who came up with the idea of posting a review for my other chaptered fic with something along the lines of "This is good, but update Checkmate next, please." Very creative and it seems to have worked, so hats off to Cherry. Here we go…

The back of Dan's head once again slammed off the elevator panel it rested against, making Vanessa and the police officers riding up with him cringe. Dan was not in an enviable position. He'd lost Chuck Bass' only child, the heir to a large fortune, and one of the two things Bass would consider most valuable in his life. This was not going to be pretty. Dan and Vanessa had called the police and Chuck from the fair grounds, and while the police were combing the grounds and the surrounding neighbourhood, Chuck's apartment had been set up as master control. The police were following all legitimate routes, and Dan was sure Chuck was also utilizing all illegitimate methods as well. After giving their statements to the police, they'd been taken in a squad car directly to Chuck's.

"So he didn't say anything?" Vanessa asked for the millionth time.

"No." Dan repeated again.

"Seriously, nothing?"

"Nope." Dan said, pulling at his collar.

"You must be freaking out…"

"Vanessa!"

"Okay! Sorry! But, come on… I'm gonna miss visiting your grave, because you know he'll see to it the body is never found…" Vanessa mused. "Then again, it might be better he kills you before Blair gets her hands on you…"

Blair. Dan doubled over and put his head between his knees. He'd tried to call her, but there was no reception on the helicopter. She'd get his messages when she landed, and then probably find him, looking for blood. Dan suddenly wished the elevator would plummet to the basement.

"You should try breathing. Not breathing makes you look more guilty."

"I'm going to have to give him my first born… and the worst part is he won't even keep it. He'll give it to a Madoff because he knows that would hurt more." Dan stressed rubbing his eyes till they saw stars. "Losing any kid, let alone my godson is bad enough, but losing Chuck and Blair's kid?"

"You're right. Stop breathing. This might be easier if you're dead."

The elevator doors opened to no less than two dozen people moving around the apartment, some in uniform, and some looking sketchy and uncomfortable at being surrounded by those in uniform. Through the chaos Chuck's butler appeared and led Dan and Vanessa into Chuck's home office. When the door shut behind them, the silence seemed to envelop them like a dead weight. Neither of them moved as they looked at Chuck who sat at his desk. He didn't speak. He didn't even look at them as he took another deep drink from his glass. Frozen they waited until he made a slight indication with his head towards the couch. As the hurried to sit, they finally noticed that Chuck hadn't been alone, and Nate was also sitting and drinking in the quiet of the room.

"I suggest neither of you make any sudden moves." Nate whispered to them under his breath. "Blair's on her way here."

"So this is what the last moments of my life feel like?" Dan commented. "Huh… It really does pass right before your eyes. Jenny was right. I have worn too many vests. Do you think I have time to say goodbye to my dad?"

Like a glass shattering, the silence of the room was broken as the office door was thrown open.

"WHERE IS HE?!" Blair's voice echoed off the walls and announced her presence.

Chuck stood at her arrival and made his way around the desk. She stormed over to him, her fists slamming into his shoulders, knocking him back a step.

"Blai—" He started.

"ENOUGH of the games. This isn't funny! I want to know where you have him hidden, and I want him back! Do you understand me?!" Her hands had fisted into his lapels and she shook him with every word.

"I don't hav—" Chuck tried to break in again.

"YOU HAVE HIM!" Blair practically screamed.

Chuck looked deep into her eyes, as only he could and didn't move. Blair's hysteria rose as her worst fear began to take hold. Since she'd learned of Charlie's disappearance a part of her had clung to the belief that Chuck had him, because that would mean she would only have to kill his father, but Charlie would be safe. The idea of not knowing if her son was safe was like a black hole opening up under her feet.

"You have him…" She begged sagging into his arms that wrapped around her and pulled her against him.

Keeping his gaze locked to hers, he promised. "We'll get him back. Whatever it takes, even if it bankrupts me, we'll get him back."

For an instant her eyes filled with tears and her lip quivered, but then her iron will returned, and she pulled her emotions back under tight control. She nodded slightly, pulling out of his arms to take a seat in the silent vigil of waiting.

The afternoon stretched into dusk with still no word. Police came and went, asking questions, asking about any enemies the two parents might have. The list was long. Dorota brought Blair tea she didn't drink. Nate poured Chuck drinks that he did. Word of the missing Bass heir hit the media, and Dan turned of the TV at the mention of Lindberg baby comparisons, hoping that this story would not end the same way. The phone rang constantly with friends, colleagues, and enemies offering support, but the still the kidnapper did not call.

Night came and so did the answer.

Within an hour of the call Chuck and Blair were on his private jet, headed to Buffalo and the boarder into Canada. This news had not come from the police, but from a contact Chuck had within the Canadian boarder crossing guards. While it had been first reported to Chuck alone, the kidnapper was now being held by the proper authorities. He had however, been assured a private audience for a short time.

The last minute flight meant there were no attendants in the cabin of the plane, and Chuck and Blair sat still as statues side by side on the couch, the hum of the engines the only sound. The tension of the day and the anticipation of getting their son back in their arms began to crackle between them. The energy pulling off of each of them wrapped around the other and had a pulse beat all of its own. It was like the tightened string of a cello, and as their eyes met, it snapped.

His hand slipped around her nape, pulling her in, just as she slammed her mouth onto his. The kiss was full of rage and desperation, and it yanked from them all the feelings they had pent up. Emotion shot through them and dragged their twisting, grasping bodies to the floor of the cabin.

TaHDaH! I know that was short, but it was the natural break in the story. Now that the holidays are over, I'll try to have a new chapter up quickly. Once again, I'm sorry it's been a while. Blame my family and friends. Stupid family and friends who wanted to spend time with me and take me away from my writing. Blame them. I'm innocent. (bats eyes at her lovely readers) Come on! You can't be mad at me! I'm giving you all CB sex… I was going to say Chair sex, but that just sounds wrong in this context.