Chuck was having drinks with Blair and Nate when he saw Serena was calling. "Hello?"
Serena's voice was quiet. "Chuck…can you come get me?"
He excused himself. "Serena. Where are you? I'm hopping in my car now."
She was breathing hard. "I locked myself in the bathroom in a bar. Please come get me." Her voice was cracking now.
"Serena. Calm down. Look for anything that says the bar's name. Soap…anything."
Serena mumbled the name just clear enough for Chuck to hear. "Okay. I'm only a few doors down. I'll be there in less than a minute!"
Chuck ran back to the table where Nate and Blair waiting. "I gotta go. Bye." Chuck ran out of the bar he was in and ran a few doors down. Serena had barricaded herself in the girl's bathroom. He banged on the door. "Serena! It's me. Chuck."
He banged a little longer until Serena opened the door and stumbled into his arms. He half-carried her out to the car. He was glad there weren't any photographers around.
He looked around and saw Blair walking towards them. "Is that Serena? Oh my God." Blair grabbed her other arm and helped get her in the car. She climbed in after Chuck.
"Chuck. What the hell is going on?"
"I'll explain later." Blair grabbed her phone and Chuck snatched it. "Don't tell Nate."
Serena was practically passed out by then. Chuck and Blair both carried her to the elevator and held her up until they reached Blair's penthouse. Blair took Serena's shoes off and tucked her into bed.
She walked out of the room. "Chuck, what the hell?"
"She called me to go get her." He looked down. "A week ago I walked in on her doing lines off her coffee table. It was 9 in the morning. She promised it was nothing and told me not to tell anyone. I didn't think it was a big deal."
Blair paced the room. "I am not letting her go down this path again. We have to tell Nate."
"I don't want to worry him. Look, we can handle this. Okay? This is just like before."
Blair nodded. "Can you spend the night? Please?"
Chuck kissed her and followed her to her bedroom.
…
Serena woke up and ran to the bathroom. When she was done vomiting the room was still spinning. She had no recollection of how she got to Blair's house. She splashed water in her face and brushed her teeth and changed clothes. She was at Blair's house enough to have her own things there.
She walked downstairs where Chuck and Blair were having breakfast.
Blair gave her a stern look. "Serena…we had to carry you home last night. You were practically unconscious. Chuck had to pick you up from a bar. You were hysterical. What the hell is going on?"
Serena swallowed hard. "Things got a little out of control last night. It was a one-time thing. I promise." They didn't look convinced so she continued. "I've been down that road before and I'm not going back. Trust me." They were still silent. "You didn't tell my mom anything? Or Nate?"
They shook their heads. Chuck cleared his throat. "Let's just eat."
Blair sat down. "A one time thing?"
Serena nodded. "Now let's get some food. I have a photo shoot to get to in an hour."
…
Blair walked into Serena's apartment. Her and Serena had planned out a whole day to go shopping. "S? Hello?"
There was no response. She looked around the apartment. She wasn't in the living room or the kitchen or in her room. She saw the bathroom door was slightly open.
Serena sat on the bathroom floor curled up in a little ball and took quick short breaths. Blair kneeled in front of her. The blank look in Serena's face scared her. "Serena! Look at me." Serena turned her head in Blair's direction but her eyes were unable to focus. She took Serena's face in her arms. "What did you take?" She was shaking her now. "Serena! What did you do! I'm calling 911." Blair whipped out her phone and Serena took it from her and started shaking her head violently.
"Okay. I won't call. Just let me get you some help. Please. Serena. Please." Blair was begging now. "Okay I'll go get you water. I'll be right back. I'll leave my phone here." She ran to the kitchen and her hands were shaking at she grabbed water.
She went back to the bathroom and held Serena while she tried to get her to drink water. "Serena. Breathe with me. Calmly. In and out. Slowly. There you go." She repeated that until Serena's breathing slowed. "There you go. Come on. Let's get you some rest."
Blair was on the verge of a breakdown when she burst into Chuck's apartment. She tried to hold it in when she saw that Nate was there. "Chuck. Bedroom now." Chuck quickly followed her into his room.
As soon as she heard the door close behind him she ran into her arms and started sobbing. She managed to tell Chuck the story between sobs. "I was so scared."
Chuck stroked her hair. "She needs professional help. We can't help her anymore."
Blair shook her head. "That would ruin her image. Her career is so important to her."
"I'd rather save her life."
Blair took a deep breath. "It was a silly mistake. She has it under control. She just forgot about some pills she had taken earlier. I was just scared."
Chuck shook his head. "Whatever, Blair."
They walked out of the room. Nate had a concern look on his face. "What's going on? Are you okay?"
Blair nodded. "Just fine." She sat next to him on the couch. "What are we watching?"
…
Serena met up with Chuck, Blair and Nate for brunch. She hadn't touched drugs since her incident in the bathroom. At first she felt a bit jumpy but she was starting to feel normal again. "Hey guys!"
They all smiled at her. Nate's smile was the only genuine one. "Serena, hey. It's been a while. I know your famous now but you need to make time for us little people."
She smiled. "Sorry, I've been so busy."
Blair rolled her eyes. "She's been extremely busy."
Nate wondered what was going on between them. He tried to ease the tension. "Have you guys had the carrot pancakes? They sound good."
Chuck gave Blair a look that told her to behave herself. "You're right, Nathaniel. They do sound good."
Blair cleared her throat. "I'll have the blueberry."
Serena smiled. "I'm sticking to chocolate chip."
…
Sam was staying at Serena's again. They went to a party and Serena promised her self she would have 2 drinks and nothing else. Sam handed her a glass of champagne.
Within a few minutes the room was spinning. And Sam took a couple pills and handed a couple to Serena. Serena took the pills. She hoped they would make her feel better.
Everyone's face was getting distorted. Her heart was beating so loudly that it hurt her ears. She pulled out her phone and called Blair. She just wanted to go home. She woke up the next morning in Blair's bedroom. She walked downstairs where Chuck was on the phone and Blair sat silently. Blair looked at her "Stay here, okay? Chuck and I are going to be right back."
Serena nodded. Blair and Chuck went downstairs and waited in the lobby. Nate ran inside. "Where is she?"
"Upstairs. Wait. We're waiting for the doctors to get here."
Nate looked at Chuck. "They can't take her against their will."
"I called in a favor. We're getting her help whether she wants in or not. No one has to find out. The press will think she's on vacation."
Nate paced around the lobby until the doctors got there.
Serena sat in the dining room table. She still felt nervous. Her heart was still beating too rapidly. She saw Blair and Chuck walk in with a couple of men in white coats. Nate was following close behind them. "What's going on?"
Blair looked down. "We think you should get some help. These doctors are going to give you help. No one will know. Not Lily, not the public."
Serena shook her head. "I'm fine. I don't need help."
Chuck stepped forward. "Serena. You do need help. This is going to make you better. Like it helped you before."
"I'm not like I was before." She looked at Nate pleadingly. "Tell them I'm fine."
Nate felt like his heart was breaking. "Serena…" He managed to look at her. "You need to go with them."
"No. Natie. Please don't let them take me." There were tears in her eyes and she desperately tried to convince them that they were mistaken.
A doctor stepped forward. "I'm just going to give you this shot. It's just an IV. It'll take the edge off."
Serena was literally against a wall. "No. I don't need it. I'm fine. Nate! Nate! Tell them I'm fine! Please."
Nate ran to her. "Don't touch her! Just let me talk to her." He took her face in his hands. "Serena. I believe you. I –" The doctors used that moment to inject her and her body went limp.
Nate was furious. "What the fuck?" He shoved the doctor away.
Chuck grabbed Nate's arm. "I gave them strict orders. You didn't see her like we did. She was like before. It was bad."
Nate buried his face in his hands. "Why didn't you tell me?"
…