"Are you insane?" Blair was furious. She shot Chuck and incredulous look. "You have the freakin' gun just give it up. This is Serena we're talking about."

Chuck shook his head. "I just need more time."

Nate got up suddenly. "We have NO time. If you won't hand it over then I'll look for it myself."

Chuck grabbed Nate by the shoulder to stop him. "They obviously want this gun badly. Don't you guys want to know why? Maybe there are fingerprints. We can find out who G is."

Blair shook her head. "Let's just get Serena back."

"Don't you want all this to end? Are we gonna have to live with this person every day for the rest of our lives…"

"G is a murderer and she has Serena. I'm not going to gamble with that. We will meet G where and when they want us to."

Chuck turned his back on his friends. "Just buy me twenty minutes. That will give me enough time to get my PI to scan the prints. He's on his way now."

Blair frowned. "We have to drop it off in 30!"

"Andrew is on his way now."

Nate frowned. "You have 10 minutes." He checked his watch. "Starting now."

Andrew walked in the door carrying a small black box. Chuck handed him the gun and he immediately got to work. After a few minutes he nodded at him. "All done."

Nate snatched it back and placed it back in the Barney's shopping back, just as they were instructed. "Let's go."

…

Serena woke up to someone shaking her away. Nate flashed his perfect smile. "Serena...are you alright?"

Serena sat up slowly and nodded. She felt...perfectly fine. She nodded. "Just a little tired. Where am I?"

Blair shrugged at her. "Let's go home."

Serena tried to keep her mind from spinning when they told her everything that happened. She crossed her arms across her chest tightly. "I got a note, I thought it was from Nate. You said you needed to talk to me, it sounded urgent. And your scarf…it was tied to a tree branch and I followed it and then…there was a figure in all black, with a hood and then I was so tired. I couldn't keep my eyes open."

Chuck looked out of the window. Blair and Nate avoided her gaze as well. They couldn't believe how vulnerable they each were. They sat in silence for the rest of the ride home.

Nate squeezed her hand tightly and was the only one to get off the car and walk Serena up to her room. "Are you sure your alright? I can call a doctor to come check on you. Just to be sure."

Serena shook her head. "I'm fine, just really sleepy."

Nate watched her carefully. Scanning every inch of her body to make sure there weren't any bruises or cuts. "Okay. If you're sure. I can stay here until you fall asleep."

She shook her head. "I'm still mad at you."

Nate bit his lip, not daring to look at her. He was ashamed for having hurt the girl he loved so much. "I don't know how else to say I'm sorry."

"I don't know how to forgive you. It's so hard to see you with her. It breaks my heart."

"You broke my heart first. And then again and again. How can I be with you when you keep running away?"

"I never meant to hurt you."

Nate hated being so vulnerable. But Serena just made him melt. He wanted to beg her to take him back. To tell her he'd do anything for her. But he couldn't keep being that pathetic. "But you didn't. I had to draw the line somewhere."

"But I'm back now."

Nate looked over at her. "Why did you come back so suddenly? You left Erik there and you finished the semester and bolted."

Serena looked away. "I'm really tired."

Nate frowned. Even though he didn't want to let it go he knew she'd had a long day. "Alright, get some rest."

…

Nate felt like his lungs were collapsing. He'd just ran 8 miles and doubled over to catch his breath. The Kanye playing from his iPhone was interrupted by an incoming call. "Hello?"

"Hey Nate. I haven't seen you in days. Where are you?"

Nate let out a loud sigh. "Jessica, hey. Sorry I've been MIA. Will you be home in half an hour? I'm gonna shower then head over."

"Perfect. See you soon!"

Nate clicked his phone and walked a block to his town house. He ripped his sweaty clothes off and jumped in the shower. He closed his eyes as the warm water hit his chest. He smiled to himself as he remembered when he'd be in the shower and Serena would sneak up on him. He blushed as he pictured her naked and felt immediately guilty. He hopped out of the shower and tied a towel around his waist, and then he walked back into the room to see the beautiful blonde sitting on the edge of his bed.

"I called but you didn't answer...probably because you were in the shower." Serena felt a little on edge.

Nate smiled at her. "I'm glad to see you. Just give me a sec." He grabbed boxers and shorts and quickly pulled them on. "Are you alright? You look –"

Serena interrupted. "Like crap? I know."

"No. I was gonna say you look a little anxious."

"I had like four cups of coffee this morning. You were right a couple nights ago. When you said I came back suddenly. It's because I got this package."

Nate wrinkled his forehead and cautiously reached out for the box she held out to him. Nate's face broke out into a smile. "They're just pictures of us…some are from when we were kids." He ignored that it was creepy that G even had all of these. "Why would G send this to you?"

"It was the only way to ensure I'd come back. If I thought I was losing you."

"Serena –"

"Wait, let me finish. I'm not trying to come between you and Jessica. I promise to back off. And I'm sorry for everything I put you through."

"Serena –"

"You don't have to say anything, Nate. I understand."

Nate was out of patience. "Can I say something!"

Serena was startled by him raising his voice. She nodded.

"I'm breaking up with Jessica."

"You are? Why?"

Nate shrugged. "Seems like the right thing to do. I actually need to go meet her now. But let's talk later, okay?"

Serena nodded and turned on her heel and left. She couldn't help but smile.