Save Your Lies

Chuck was stunned. He couldn't believe that Eric could be so angry at him. Well maybe he should have seen it coming. It's just he never imagined he could hurt Eric so much.

"Chuck!" Chuck turned his head to see Blair coming into the room.

"I was looking everywhere for you. Where'd you go? Where's Eric"

Chuck took a deep breath, "Eric was a little mad at me. It's all taken care of."

Blair was confused, "Wait what happened?"

"Eric was mad about what happened with Jenny and wanted to get me back." Chuck said He wasn't sure why he wasn't telling Blair what was going on, but he had sensed something off about Eric. He had spent a lot of time with him and he could tell Eric wasn't just mad at him. There was more, but he couldn't seem to figure out what.

Before Blair could respond, Dan came into the room. "Chuck, Blair, where's Eric?" he said accusingly.

"Calm down, Humphrey. Eric's fine. He went home." Chuck said tiredly.

"What the hell were you thinking Humphrey? Dragging Eric into your pathetic scheme to help your sister? Leave him out of it!" Blair snarled.

"It wasn't..." Dan started but Chuck interrupted

"It wasn't his fault." Blair gaped at him. "Know if you both don't mind I'm going to go find my little brother." It had been the first time in a while that Chuck had referred to Eric as such, but he knew it was true. No matter what Eric was his little brother, and as such it was his job to protect him.

He walked away from the two gaping people in the room and got into his limo. He directed the driver to the Van der Woodsen penthouse.

Eric was furious. Who the hell did Chuck think he was anyway? That he could do that to him! To Jenny! To everyone Eric loved! Eric punched the counter in fury. Sharp pain shot through Eric's hand causing him to howl. Bleed started to cover his hand, so he went to the bathroom to whip it off.

Eric searched through the cabinets trying to find a bandage when he happened upon his old blade. Without thinking he picked up the blade, rolled up his shirt sleeve and made a little cut. Eric winced at the pain and curled up against the bathroom wall where he made another cut.

Eric wasn't sure exactly when he had gotten back into this old habit. I might have been after Jenny dumped the yogurt on his head, or when Jonathan dumped him, or when Jenny left town. But if he was honest with himself, which he refused to be, He knew it was when Chuck disowned him that he started up again. He was back exactly where he was four years ago. No friends, no family, all alone. So he picked up the knife and cut again.

When he got out of the elevator Eric was no where in sight. Chuck opened the door to Eric's room, but there was no one in sight. Chuck was just wondering where Eric might be when he heard a moan coming from the bathroom.

Chuck slowly pushed open the door and was not prepared for the sight which greeted him. Eric was curled up on the floor, blade in hand, making a cut across his already scarred arm.

Without even thinking Chuck crossed the room and grabbed the blade out of Eric's hand. When Eric looked up and saw Chuck standing over him he scramble to his feet, which was made difficult by his bleeding arm.

"Chuck! What are you doing here!"

"No Eric. The real question is what the hell are you doing!" Chuck yelled. Eric was surprised . He had never seen Chuck so furious.

"I...I...I..." Eric stuttered, not knowing what to say.

Chuck grabbed Eric's arm to examine it. He was shocked at what he found there. Layer upon layer of cuts and scars some fresh, some looked to be years old. He grabbed Eric's other arm and pulled back the sleeve, preparing himself for the worst. The other arm was in the same condition as the first minus the fresh cuts, it looked as if Eric had only cut one arm so far.

"Eric," Chuck said, softer than the first time, "What have you done?"

"Nothing Chuck! Let go!" With that Eric yanked his arms out of Chuck's hands.

"Chuck! Leave! Go away and don't come back!" Eric yelled. He needed Chuck to get out of there. No one could know what he did. Especially not Chuck.

Chuck ignored him. He grabbed the bandages out of the cabinet and began to bandage Eric's arm. At first Eric struggled but after Chuck gave him a stern look he gave up and let Chuck finish.

As soon as he was done Chuck opened the door to the bathroom. "Come on, Eric."

Eric sat down again and refused to move.

"Eric. Come. Now." Eric still refused to move. Unwilling to wait any longer, Chuck bent down and picked Eric up. Eric began to squirm and kick and hit at Chuck, but Chuck ignored him and carried Eric back into his room. He lay Eric down on his bed and sat next to him.

"Okay, Eric. Talk. I want to know everything." Chuck said.

"I don't need to tell you anything!" Eric spat.

"Well," Chuck said, "I'd talk if I were you. I'm sure you wouldn't want me going to Lily or Rufus or Serena now would you? I'm sure they'd send you right back to Ostroff. Now I'll give you two options. Either talk to me and never do this again or I go call Lily and we can have a little talk."

Eric froze. This was like his own personal hell come to life. "Well Eric? I'm waiting."

Eric sneered, "Well Chuck. That might work. But I kind of doubt they would believe you now would they?"

"Well you do have the marks."

"Yes. But they'll think it was from before Chuck." Eric smirked.

They heard the door open and heard two male voices enter the house.

Eric smirked wider then before, "Let's go find out shall we." And before Chuck could stop him, Eric jumped up and ran out into the hall, making sure to cover his arm first.

Eric spotted Dan and Rufus walk out of the elevator. They saw Eric and immediately rushed over.

"Eric, what's wrong" Rufus asked when he saw the look on Eric's face.

"I think I know," growled Dan as he saw Chuck appear in the hall.

"He won't...go away..." Eric pretended to sob, "He said...I better stop trying to help Jenny or he'll turn everyone against me...he...he" Eric admired his genius. Now that he'd planted that seed of doubt in their minds, they would never expect Chuck was telling the truth.

Rufus glared at Chuck, "I think you should leave. Now."

"Look," Chuck tried to say, "Eric is lying. I never said any of that."

Dan snorted, "So what? Eric just made it up?"

"Yes!" Chuck said.

Just then, Lily walked through the door. She look for Dan and Rufus's angry faces to Chuck indignant face and finally settled on her son's tear-streaked face. She ran over to Eric. "Eric, darling what's wrong? Rufus what is going on?"

"Chuck was harassing Eric," Dan answered.

Lily looked surprised, "What? Why? Charles would never do that!"

"I didn't, Lily, No one them will hear me out." Chuck tried to explain.

"Well by all means, Charles, explain." Lily said.

"Eric made that up."

Lily was confused, "Why would he do that?"

"I wouldn't!" Eric yelled, "Chuck's made because I sent put the Gossip Girl blast. He said he's going to ruin my life.

"No," Chuck interrupted, "I walked into the house and came across Eric cutting himself. He's trying to get you to believe him over me. Check his arm."

Lily grabbed Eric's right arm and pulled back the sleeve. "Charles, all there is is old scars from years ago."

"It's the other arm, Lily."

"Look," Rufus cut in, "Stop putting Eric through this. Chuck is making this up to get back at Eric."

"It's not true." Eric sobbed.

"I know, Eric" Rufus said as he put an arm around Eric's shoulders. "Come on. Let's get you out of here." He lead Eric out of the room.

When they were gone Lily spoke again, "Chuck is what you said true?"

Before he could answer Dan spoke up, "Of course not, Lily. Chuck just wanted revenge so badly he would hurt Eric."

That got Chuck mad, "Humphrey, you know nothing. I would never hurt Eric. I love him!"

"Well you sure have a funny way of showing it." Dan shot back.

"Boys!" Lily yelled, "I don't know what's going on, and I don't want to. But this is your fight and I want you to leave Eric out of it. Both of you." With that Lily turned and left.

"Chuck. Leave Eric alone! Don't ever come near him again. If Eric ever says anything about you trying to hurt him, you will pay."

Chuck smirked, "How will you do that Humphrey? And yes Eric will probably complain. He won't stop until I leave him to hurt himself in peace. And I won't. Eric is mentally unstable. He will try to make sure that you never find out and it will kill him. He will lie to everyone. If t had been you who found him, he would have said the same thing about you."

"Just save your lies for someone who believes them." Dan said and he too left Chuck standing alone.

Authors note: Thanks to everyone who is already reading! You all rock! And if anyone has any ideas for the story I'm all ears. In my story I wanted to give Eric a badder side. He's a little too good in my opinion. Review!

-Lydia