Title: Time Will Tell

Author: RightSide

Disclaimer and Summary: See Chapter 1

About Characterization of Blair- Remember that at this point in the show Blair has no one. Then in comes Dean saving the day and rescuing her. I think she might make a small attempt at civility, no matter her prior history. Also, she's being more playful and carefree, which is just a quality I think Dean would bring out in her. I am going to explore it further. Until then, just roll with it please. Thanks…

Chapter 3-

"A party?" Dean's voice was questioning and clearly unhappy. They had sidestepped her parents and their prying. Fortunately her explanation had been enough for their inquisitive minds. She was safe, and after a thorough inspection by a doctor, as healthy as could be expected. Her body was still recovering, but the bandages were no longer required twenty-four seven. Blair was told to let the wounds breathe and that some of the tissue damage would never repair completely. Unlike what she had first thought, there would be scars.

The more she gazed upon her mutilated arms and legs, though, the more she wanted them to be seen. Let them attempt to mock her. Now, more than ever, Blair realized how little this world mattered. Down there, deep in the crevices of the Earth, she had been held captive. The monster had not cared that she was a Waldorf or how many zeroes were in her bank account. It had wanted her blood, plain and simple. A precious commodity every person on the planet possessed.

Then a man with nothing to his name, no fortune or hint of glamour, came to her aid. He cared for her; he slept on the floor beside her after she had offered him a place in her bed. "It's not that I'm not tempted," he had said, eyes sparkling, "But I like you too much for that."

However, her mother insisted on hosting a ball in celebration. Of what, exactly, Blair did not know. Was it because she had returned in one piece? Or was it because she had not run away, as everyone had thought, and bestowed shame on the family? No matter the reason, she still needed a date. Nate and Chuck would come to the gathering out of respect and inability to beat the vicious cycle of parties and meaningless nights involving drinking and pointless conversation.

Staring into Dean's uncertain gaze, Blair pouted her lips.

"You'd better not be expecting me to wear a top hat and coattails," he finally answered, making Blair jump up and wrap her arms around his neck, "And no dancing." Blair lifted an eyebrow.

"Why no dancing?" she asked, arms still on his shoulders. His hands had instinctively gone to her hips, thumbs rubbing circles into the bare skin between where her shirt and pants didn't quite meet. It felt right, somehow. Intimate in a way that she was not used to. Nate's motions with her were always anticipated. Everything seemed played out, as if they lived their lives to a script. With Chuck, it was all about sex.

Dean didn't answer her. He had attempted to for a moment, taking in a deep breath as if he was trying to form words. But by then she had kept up their eye contact for far too long. His motions on her sides stopped as they found themselves trapped by one another. Blair avoided people's stares in general. It always gave her an unnerving, naked feeling that made her shiver. Now, though, she was gazing into those wonderfully honey colored pools without fear. The intensity was striking. At some point after Blair began to analyze the exact shade of Dean's irises she noticed that his face had softened dramatically. The world held its breath for an immeasurable instant, during which both gradually drew the other nearer. Then time sped up, and Blair hardly had time to let out a startled gasp as Dean closed the remaining inches and pressed his lips against hers.

The kiss was not rushed in any way. Dean took his time, drawing out the very simplest movements with ease. His hands crept from her sides up higher so that his fingers splayed against her stomach. Blair's lips curled into a smile which was soon broken as he suddenly pushed his palm into the small of her back, making her sigh as their bodies came into full contact.

Yet he didn't take it any further. There was no pulling of clothing or guttural noises. As they parted, Blair kept her eyes closed tight. His lips hovered over hers for another minute, lightly touching at times, almost as if he was dancing around the idea of stealing another kiss but not daring to press his luck. Finally looking at Dean, she found something she had not expected. There was no lust or cocky smirk. Only a broad, charmingly boyish smile.

"Maybe one dance." he whispered, resting his forehead against hers before placing a chaste kiss on her cheek.

"How am I going to face them?" she took his hands into her own, "Why can't the world just stay like this? Everything with you seems so simple." Dean released one of her hands. She frowned at first, missing the feeling of his fingers intertwined with hers, but then she watched as he lightly stroked the skin next to one of the many slices in her arm.

"So, maybe you don't live your life like a Queen B anymore. Maybe you just stay off the grid. Do what makes you happy."

"That was a bold thing to say." her eyes began to twinkle as she formed a plan.

"Why?"

"Because there is only one thing that makes every girl happy," Dean groaned as Blair excitedly pulled him towards the door, "If you're a good boy, I might stop by the swimsuit section before we leave." At that, he picked up the pace slightly and struggled less, unaware of the fact that as soon as they stepped out of the building together someone snapped a close-up.

Blair's phone sounded unexpectedly from the text message she received. Opening it up, she laughed and showed Dean.

"What's this, Upper East Siders? B out and about with a new Prince Charming? Look out, N and C. The war is on for who will have the best arm candy at the upcoming ball, and it can't get much sweeter than B's latest accessory. You know you love me. XOXO. Gossip Girl." Attached was a picture of Blair and Dean hand in hand as they exited her home.

"Congratulations, Dean," Blair said as they took their seats in her limousine, "You've just become a lead in Manhattan's high society."

"You're serious? Gossip Girl?" Blair nodded gravely, "Man, you people need to get lives." Blair was going to take his comment very personal, but began laughing before she had the chance to give him the cold shoulder. He was right, of course. He had been right about everything so far.

Looking around, Dean raised his eyebrows, "I could definitely get used to this. Damn!" Pressing one of the many buttons on his armrest, he managed to get the sunroof open. Glancing down at the stereo controls, Blair smirked. Flipping open the i-Pod, she made sure the speakers would be blasting before she pushed play.

"Hey, hey, Mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove!" Dean's face lit at the sound of Led Zeppelin. Standing, Blair drug him up with her. He grinned and started playing an invisible drum set. Then he started singing, his cell phone playing the part of the pretend microphone. Finishing the chorus, he turned to Blair and shoved the antenna in her face. Taking the hint, she started belting the song into it, making dramatic, over the top gestures as the song ended. Realizing that her i-Pod was on shuffle, she dived back into the limo to save herself from sure embarrassment. The last thing she wanted was for Brittney Spears to come on.

Dean was quick, though, and grabbed hold of her waist. Dragging her back, he fell onto the floor when she wiggled enough to knock him off balance. Smirking with triumph, she turned back to the seat where her i-Pod sat untouched. As she turned, her high heel caught on Dean's pant leg, and she, too, was sent spiraling to the ground.

"Some people call me the Space Cowboy, yeah. Some call me the gangster of love." the stereo sounded, and Blair breathed a sigh of relief. Dean went into hysterics next to her, holding his stomach. Her entire predicament seemed to amuse him to no end. Straddling him on the ground, she frowned.

"Was that really worth the trouble?" he chuckled. Eyeing him for a moment, she scowled playfully and retreated back to her seat.

--

Nate held onto Jenny's arm tightly as he entered the ball. Stunned into amazement, he had to admit that even for a Waldorf's party it was more elegant than usual. However, there was an extra air about it this night that was lacking during all of the others. Comfort. The room itself was ravishing, the building set to perfection, and yet there was an odd sense of warmth about it.

The blond beside him gasped and pointed, still naïve to the customs of the wealthy. No one showed interest. It did not matter who it was, where it was, or how magnificent it seemed. Unless it was a direct remark to the hostess herself, it was seen as undignified to give praise.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked his date graciously. She nodded and headed over to a group of girls chatting pleasantly in the corner. Walking toward the punch fountain, he haphazardly noticed that it had already been spiked. Reaching for the cup closest to him, Nate collided with another hand reaching for the same one.

"Sorry, man. I didn't see you there." the stranger said. At first Nate was going to dismiss him completely with a smile and nod, but then he realized that he was the man from the photograph that was sent to his phone hours earlier. Interest peaked, he stretched out his hand, introducing himself.

"Oh! You're that guy!" the man shook his hand and continued, "Dean Winchester. Nice to meet you." Caught unawares by Dean's congenial attitude, Nate fumbled.

"What do you mean 'that guy'? Have we met before?" he asked Dean who had just shoved an amazingly large amount of food into his mouth at once. It seemed he was going to try to talk through the mass, but decided instead to chew and swallow first.

"No, we haven't met. But Blair's been telling me all about life here, you know, with the riches. She explained you guys to me today when we were shopping."

Nate clenched his jaw in an effort to remain calm. What happened between him and Blair was personal; it certainly was not entertainment to offer the first rebound to come her way. Upset about this recent development, he hardly noticed Jenny when she came to take her place on his arm. Remembering his manners, Nate introduced her to Dean and after another show of handshaking Jenny took her drink and fluttered off to join the others.

Nate didn't miss Dean's smirk.

"What?" he asked, taking his time to reevaluate his opponent. Dean wasn't from the Upper East side, of that he was sure. While the rest of the males in the room were in tuxedoes and making serious efforts to appear to be gentleman, it was obvious Dean was not cut from the same mold. He wore slacks and expensive new shoes, and his shirt was freshly pressed, but there were slight details that gave it away. He was not wearing a jacket and his collar was undone; his hair was not gelled into place and stuck out in all directions. Even his body language was nonchalant.

"Nothing, man," Dean set his mouth at a smirk, "I'm just here for Blair. Girl's been through Hell, you know? I'm not going to ruin her first night of fun just because I hate the idea of these things. Balls!" he laughed as if it was the most absurd thing he had ever heard of. "Seriously? Gossip Girl? People spying and taking pictures from the bushes? You guys are in need of help. Go see a doctor, a shrink, take some pills, whatever. But living life this way?" he took a swig from a flask he pulled out from somewhere in his trousers, "It's just plain wrong."

A pair of familiar hands wrapped around Dean's waist, and Nate watched as Blair kissed his cheek and pulled him close. She was standing before him, a goddess, in one of her mother's dresses. It had to have been specially made for tonight. In a smooth, silky, auburn, her gown fell past her knees in strips of fabric that either managed to hide her soon to be scars or accentuated them depending on the angle from which you looked. Her hair was pulled up and draped down her back in a soft bed of curls.

"I see you two have already met!" she said excitedly, standing in front of Dean, his hands at her waist in a very protective hold. Nate remembered doing that from time to time, first out of duty, then habit, and towards the end because he realized how easily he could lose her. Yet he lost her anyway, to this man with no history and no care or sense of where he was.

"He cleans up well, doesn't he?" Blair continued, unaware of the tension, "I tried to get him to wear a tie, but I was lucky he held still long enough to measure his pant size." Nate eyed her again, wondering what on Earth had Blair glowing so intensely. It couldn't all be because of this newcomer, could it?

"So, Dean Winchester, what do you do? You must be twenty? Twenty-one?" Blair froze in place, narrowing her eyes and giving him a look to kill.

"Nate, here," she said, turning back to Dean, "is just worried about me is all. Pay no attention to him. Let's go." And then Nate watched her walk away, the man beside her swaggering, whatever he had just said to the lovely lady making her burst into a fit of giggles.

--

"Is he still watching us?" Blair asked, still laughing at the sight of Dean's perfect waltz.

"No, but someone else is." Dean nodded over his shoulder at Chuck sulking in the shadows. Blair squinted to make sure he was person. Her suspicion was confirmed as he ducked as soon as he realized she was staring back.

"It's Chuck." Blair whispered, knowing Dean would understand her need to hide. Earlier that day she had explained everything down to the smallest detail. There was nothing she kept to herself. If he was to receive odd looks from her former allies, he deserved to know the real reasons why.

"Ah. Well, then," Dean's voice showed his amusement, "let's put the son of a bitch in his place." Once again, Blair didn't have time to retaliate. By the time she realized the full extent of the situation, she was already in the middle of one of the most heated kisses she had ever experienced. Dean's body was in complete contact with hers. There was no stopping the moan that escaped her lips as his teeth scraped her lips. When he released her mouth, he kept his hand on Blair's back to help her keep her balance as she tried to regain her bearings.

"What was…" analyzing him, she scoffed at his wolfish grin, "That will never happen again. You think you're allowed to pull off stunts like that whenever you want? I have appearances to keep, and I do not permit-" He cut her off with his lips.

"Don't do that," he whispered, knowing their close proximity would help his case as her judgment clouded, "Put the Queen B routine away for a while, because I really can't stand it. You're better than that."

"Better than what? This is who I am, Dean," she made sure she kept her voice low as they continued to dance in the center of the floor, "This is the world I live in, and just because you don't understand it doesn't mean you can dismiss it like it's trash. This life, it's all I have."

For a moment she thought he was going to do something reckless and stupid. She could see the glint in his eyes, the hint of change that showed something was about to happen. But then a sad smile came over his face as he spun her round.

"Then I'm sorry for you," he stopped, bowed, and kissed her right hand, "I'll keep watch and make sure you're safe. Enjoy your party, Ms. Waldorf."

Blair stared in disbelief as Dean gracefully dodged through crowds of people and exited the room. She was still standing there when the song ended, and didn't even notice Chuck following her as the next dance began.

AN: Reviews are much appreciated. :)