A/N: Well, I have so much angsty tension built up from being unable to get that horrific promo out of my head…*shudders* I simply must write more of this today. Lol. I may even have to update again, since I'm not planning on having the CBJD confrontation until next chapter. *sigh* Sad. Oh, and I've outlined the majority of this fic and it's already up to 6 chapters, but I'm pretty sure it's not gonna go on much farther than that. I don't intend to attach more hidden SLs. Heh. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I wasn't sure how much attention this fic was gonna get. XD You're all wonderful. Please continue to review. =)

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Ch.2—Shudder Shock

"Jenny," he said casually, taking in her appearance. Her undergarments were still on, thank God. But the only other garment she wore was the white button down shirt he'd laid beside her on the small table by the bed. "I see you found my shirt."

Her face turned a very light shade of pink. Normally he'd be smirking at this. Back in the days when… well, it had only really been Blair that he'd dared to flirt with the morning after. The lump revived itself in his stomach.

"Chuck—" she began, walking towards him. He held up a hand and she stopped instantly. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He could have sworn she was leaning forward just a bit like she had been ready to take the next step and had halted half-way.

"Last night," he said, trying to keep his voice at a neutral level. She hadn't forced him into anything. There would be no point in getting mad at her. He did care about her on some level, and what they did had been a mutual decision. They had both been lost and needy. A flash of memory crossed his eyes as he remembered her small hands frantically moving all over his body. He shook his head to erase the image.

"It didn't mean anything," he finished. She nodded, and he immediately could tell she felt uncomfortable, like she didn't know what to do next. She went for supposed assumptions.

"Of course not," she shrugged. "You were just here, Chuck. It was just coincidence."

He nodded, analyzing her face and how she moved. She was a little agitated, a little anxious. There was so much fire and emotional trauma underlining her casual language. He didn't want to talk about it, but he couldn't ignore it. He looked away from her, afraid of seeing some blatant vulnerability – the same that had been in their eyes the night before, before they'd…

He blinked away the images again, completely and utterly disgusted with himself.

"Right, well, I'm about to meet up with Blair, so—"

"Oh my God!" her excitement got the best of her and she rushed towards him. "Are you guys back together?! That's so great, oh my gosh!" She was nearly jumping and it severely irritated him. He moved his head around in some effort to calm her.

"Okay, okay, Jenny!" he finally shouted, his eyes dead-set pinned on hers. He was glaring at her now and she recoiled, almost as if burned.

"S-sorry," she managed, looking down. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Then, without thinking he placed a hand on her shoulder to reassure her.

"I didn't mean to snap at you," he said softly. She nodded slowly.

"I know." Then, she looked up at him, a small smile playing on her lips, and he realized that his hand was still on her shoulder. Immediately, he took it off and stepped away.

"So, I uh," he cleared his throat and moved across the room, "I need you to go."

She nodded. "Oh yeah, of course," she said, nodding cheerfully, as if it were obvious. Truly, it was obvious. But outside of that suite lay the real world. While Chuck may have possibilities and everyone didn't directly hate him for what he'd done, she had no one. All she'd had was Chuck. She should've known it was only for one night. Right now he was the only person she felt safe with, comfortable to be around. Though obviously the morning had brought awkwardness.

"And I'll be needing my shirt back," he said. The last thing he wanted to see was Blair eyeing his shirt in Jenny's closet.

The blonde looked down at the shirt and started unbuttoning it. Chuck made a disapproving sound and she looked up at him, shocked and scared it looked like.

"What?" she asked, though she knew full well what he was reacting to. She wasn't even going to try and be playful that he'd already seen her naked, and definitely seen plenty of girls undressing before him. She was sure he hadn't found the sight so appalling then.

Nonetheless, she buttoned it back up and smiled awkwardly at him.

"Sorry, I'll just uh…get dressed in your room," she said, awkwardly moving away from him and only turning around towards the bedroom once she'd gotten out of his line of vision. She by no means wanted him to think she was trying to seduce him by showing him her backside. She didn't want him like that. She'd just needed him last night. In that moment, she knew he was the only one that'd understand. Their emotions just crumbled into passion without warning. Now she just wanted the brotherly companionship she'd had with him, because the brothers, friends and anyone else that she'd had, she'd lost. It was impossible to get that back with him though after what they'd done. Soon Blair would know, and then everyone would, and then she'd be lucky if she got out alive.

Chuck sighed and crossed the room, collapsing on the couch. He placed his head in his hands and tried very desperately to come up with a scheme to keep Blair from finding out, perhaps indefinitely. Maybe after they'd been together for awhile, it would just be a little fight that would be forgiven in a matter of weeks. Now, the sparks would start a wildfire and he would never get her back. This was his last chance.

A part of him thought he wasn't giving himself enough credit and that since Blair came around this time, she would do so in the future just because she loved him so much. But that part of him was overruled by the scolding chip-on-his-shoulder conscience that told him not to kid himself. Blair had admitted she still loved him, but the probability of that changing when she found out about Jenny was considerably high. He wondered if there was a point to trying to reconcile things with her in what was probably ten minutes now.

He groaned and dug his nails into the sides of his face. He should just tell her. He should just tell her and accept the misery that was going to be the rest of his life. He didn't have as big of a moral conscience as Nathaniel who'd been stupid enough to tell Blair he'd cheated on her. He could avoid the topic…until it gnawed at him that lying was almost worse than repeating the act, except this time when they were together. He sighed. He could never do that to her. But God, she had tasted so good when he'd kissed her not too long ago. It'd been so long since he'd felt her lips pressed against his and their tongues twisting together. He had when she been standing in his elevator. Tingles had shot through him and he almost cried, wondering how long it would last. What he wouldn't give to hold her in his arms forever.

The clicking of heels was heard from the hallway and he looked up to see Jenny's form re-entering the room she'd just left. She was wearing the dress she'd worn the night before, a few rumples were spotted across the fabric.

"I uh…folded and," she swallowed hard, unable to keep her eyes on his for more than a couple spare seconds, "put your shirt back on your side of the bed," she said.

He just nodded, accepting the fact. A million little other facts shot through his head though. There was the fact that his button down shirts were always hung up, not folded and put in drawers. Blair always hung up his things when she was done with them. Ache. The offense he'd taken but not shown to her pointing out his side of the bed like the other side was hers. It was not hers. It was, and always would be, Blair's. These were probably insignificant things, but he couldn't help thinking them.

"Bye," she waved awkwardly, approaching the elevator. She didn't want to say thanks because it was clear what they had done was a mistake. She wasn't about to ask him how he was doing, because the almost sympathy from the night before had led to their mistake of a life time. So, she just left, and he let her because he was too consumed in Blair Waldorf to think how Jenny Humphrey would survive the outside world alone, and without him.

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"Dan?"

"Bl-Blair?" he asked, clearly confused. She looked pretty confused as well, but she stepped further outside of the elevator and walked towards him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously. Maybe she had been a little absent from The Empire since everything that had blown up with Chuck, but Dan was never there. She couldn't remember a single time, except maybe when Chuck had thrown his first big party in the fall.

"I could ask you the same question, couldn't I?"

She smirked.

"I mean, aren't things with…?"

"I'm friends with Nate too," she said, "but yes, I did come here on account with Chuck."

Dan's eyes widened suddenly. "W-wait, you…you two…are you two backed together?" he asked, almost gaping. She was amused.

"Well, nothing's for certain," she said, smiling like an idiot, "but I think we're making progress."

"That's great, Blair," he said. "I'm glad you've been able to work everything out."

"Yes, well, like I said, there are still some kinks, but Chuck and Blair, Blair and Chuck, kind of a package deal."

He laughed. "Yes, I have observed this in action."

She was amused. "All right, I told you my story. Now how about you? Last I recall, The Empire isn't really your playground." She raised her eyebrows. It suddenly brought him crashing back to reality.

"I was looking for Jenny," he admitted. Her eyebrows furrowed together.

"Jenny," she said neutrally.

"Yeah, have you seen her? I mean, up in Chuck's suite? By any chance?"

She laughed a little uncomfortably and raised her eyebrows again. "No, should I have?" She'd hardly been able to think straight with the tense conversation she'd shared with Chuck. And since he'd kissed her in the elevator she'd been up in the sky, day dreaming of when it'd next happen again.

He sighed and pursed his lips. "No, I uh…she just, well, she was spending time with Nate, but…maybe that was bad…" he shook his head, "I don't really know, I just…I'm worried about her…"

"You're rambling," she cut him off. He looked up at her, close to smiling just a little but not quite there. He sighed in resignation. "Come on, Humphrey," she turned him around and directed him towards the exit. "I'm 99.9999% sure that Jenny isn't up in that suite, but if she is, I'm sure she just crashed and I know you don't want a cranky sixteen year old on your hands."

He laughed lightly. "Yeah, that would probably be…unfortunate for me."

She smirked. "Why don't you tell me what's all been going on?" she said once they'd gotten outside and started walking down the sidewalk. "I don't have to meet up with Chuck for twenty minutes."

He blanched at her. "Blair Waldorf is throwing extra time to the wind to walk and talk with Dan Humphrey?" he looked at her in mock-surprise, though clearly very suspicious of her decision.

"Chuck has always found me beautiful, Humphrey. Besides," she sighed. He detected the note of sadness in it. "I don't even know if we're back together yet…officially."

He pursed his lips and looked at her. When the silence became unbearable, Blair turned her head to look at him. "You sure you don't just wanna get ready for your date?"

She rolled her eyes. "It's not a date, Humphrey."

He looked like he was about to say something but held his tongue. "Blair—"

"No!" she silenced him with wide eyes and a trying tongue. "Tell me about Jenny. Then maybe I'll let you in on my fears and anxiety regarding Chuck," she joked, but he knew underneath that witty layer was some sort of vulnerability. Something deep inside him wanted to discover that and make it go away, give her some peace. He'd never been overly fond of Blair Waldorf over the years, but he had found some contentment and even pride in making her feel better on occasion.

He looked up at the mildly populated New York streets and smiled softly to himself. He'd been running around all morning looking for Jenny. Things were a bit tense at home because no one knew where she was. Rufus was frantic, even if it had been only for one night. Her and there Dan had heard about some things she'd gotten into, but it wasn't until Nate and Serena confirmed the rumors that he began to truly worry. He hadn't been real connected to his younger sister lately, and now he wished he was. He disapproved of what she was doing, and he let her know it too, before he'd even really had any real proof. She hadn't defended herself too much and so he suspected it was true. Now all he wanted to do was hold her.

He sighed and parted his lips, ready to begin the long tale, with Blair Waldorf of all people. "Jenny was into drugs awhile back," he said. Blair was unaffected, probably because she'd spent most of her life around Chuck or Nate, but it actually meant something to him. "She wasn't taking any herself, but…she was aiding in the dealing."

Blair raised her eyebrows. "Go on."

"Well, she put a wedge between Serena and Nate. She deliberately tried to steal him away, and in the most manipulative ways." He shook his head, in disbelief as he recalled all the incidents where he'd learned of her clever schemes. "I should have known when she'd showed up with drinks for Chuck and Nate some weeks ago that it couldn't have been good." He chuckled in his own misery. "She was hardly wearing anything!" He sighed, putting a hand to his forehead and kneading the skin roughly.

"When was this…drinking night?" she asked cautiously. She was about to tell him that none of it was his fault and sometimes these things can't be helped, that in the end it is up to the individual what he or she actually does. But she couldn't help her curiosity. She suddenly had a very sick feeling in her stomach.

"Oh, uh," he sighed, his mind running ramped trying to remember. He was so frustrated by it all that he'd hardly thought to hold on to details. "Oh!" he said, suddenly remembering. He turned to her and pointed his finger in what she guessed was almost excitement and what he'd found. "It was that night you insisted on me taking you to a party where you could make Chuck jealous by kissing some guy?" he raised his eyebrows, hoping to get a playful rise in return.

She gasped though and her eyes widened.

"What is it?" he asked, worried. She shook her head, scolding herself for feeling so ridiculous. There was no connection between Chuck and Jenny. The last time they'd been 'intimate', he'd almost raped her. Nate had obviously stayed faithful to Serena or they wouldn't still be on such lovey-dovey terms with each other.

"Nothing," she said. He did not look convinced. "I'm serious! Nothing!" she insisted. Her fierce tone and volume told Dan he'd better quit while he was ahead, so he just forced himself to ignore the warning signs of a Blair Waldorf meltdown and resumed talking about the innocent little sister he used to know.

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40 minutes.

He'd been waiting forty minutes.

The last time she'd been late, he'd been left heartbroken and screwing Jenny Humphrey just to erase the pain, to numb the death that had decided to finally take over him at the confirmation of Blair's absent love. He had no one else, and his only strength was in Bass Industries. He was just like his father. It was worse than not succeeding in the corporate world. He had never felt so broken in his entire life as he did when midnight came and Blair had failed to show at their designated location.

He would not repeat his mistake with Jenny Humphrey, or any other girl for that matter. But he couldn't help the fact that he was breaking inside. He was already beginning to lose the memory of her lips on his. He wanted to force himself back to an hour earlier when he'd held her in his arms. For that split second the world had been perfect, or nearly so. Now it threatened to break into a million pieces all over again.

He'd texted her, five minutes before the twenty he'd suggested. The classy restaurant recently installed on the top of the Empire State building, just where he'd wanted to take her the night before after they'd sufficiently admired the city and swayed together to the warming breeze and buzz of excitable children. His eyes closed in mourning. There was so much he'd had planned. How could it have all gotten so screwed up?

"You have no one to blame but yourself."

He sighed shakily and ran a hand through his hair. Her return - be there - text was simple enough but it sent his heart racing. He didn't know what to do or how to act or even exactly how to go about doing what he wasn't even sure he was supposed to do. He was so unbelievably torn and half-contemplated calling up Nate and asking him what to do. He wondered if he'd felt so completely pained when he'd told Blair he cheated on her, or if he just did it with the intention of possibly hooking up with Serena after Blair broke up with him, which she didn't. None of them did, but it didn't stop Nate's possibly sly motivations.

His throat felt incredibly tight but he dared not loosen his tie. He had cleaned himself up well and all for Blair. All he wanted was to do this right, but he couldn't help thinking that it would be all a waste once she found out about Jenny. They weren't in high school anymore. The gossip and secrets was always going to come out, they'd realized. There was no point in trying to hide it. He was so torn up. He just wished he could have taken back the last twenty-four hours. Maybe he could go back in time and tell his past self not to sleep with Jenny Humphrey, because in the morning one night of almost not-loneliness would lead to further destruction than he could have ever imagined.

"Mr. Bass?"

He looked up at the waiter that had annoyingly stopped by every five to ten minutes to ask if his party was still going to arrive. Quite frankly, Chuck had grown sick of it. With every reoccurrence of the question, he found himself growing more impatient, both with the waiter and with himself.

"She's coming," he spat, his eyes narrowing. The waiter's eyes went wide and he straightened himself before quickly scurrying off with nothing but a – "yes, Mr. Bass" – left in his wake.

Maybe he should have called her or asked what was keeping her, but he still wanted her to come, and while there was a possibility she might come to her senses or overhear what had happened in his suite the night before by some unknown spy, he decided not to push her. He had swallowed hard more than a few times, and occasionally broke into a sweat, dabbing his forehead with the exquisite napkin placed formally along the side of his plate.

His eyes grazing the horizon hardly became aware of his phone lighting up. He felt the vibration emanating off the table where he'd set it and after a few moments he immediately sprung forward and eagerly checked to see who it was. He'd been so anxious to hear from her. He only hoped something was not wrong with them, or wrong with her. If she was physically hurt it would only be one more boulder to the huge burden he was carrying.

It was not Blair.

A feeling he could not explain filled him to the brim. It was not just fear or anger or panic. It was all of them combined in one with shame and guilt treading their feet along the edges of this feeling he could not explain. He tried his very best not to lose his cool, but his hands began to shake. He cursed everything. His life, the whole world, his stupid mistakes, and the fact that he'd been thinking with his head instead of his heart for the last month. It had all led down to this. This was his fate. To be parted forever from Blair Waldorf.

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This just in, Upper East Siders. Apparently last night was not all fire and flames. Two lonely souls united as one. As it appears Chuck Bass never lets his potential conquests go without a fight. Two years later and he finally claimed Little J. Watch out, ladies. The Bass name's not one to meddle with.

-Gossip Girl

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The more he looked at it, the more he gaped, and the more the sick feeling overwhelmed him. For a brief second he wondered if Jenny knew, and if she was okay. Only for a brief second.

"Sir?"

The waiter came around again. Damn him. It hadn't even been five minutes this time. He looked up at him quickly with sharp angry eyes.

"Check, please," he almost growled. The man looked horrified but scampered off to retrieve the check for the constant refill of scotch Chuck had practically been breathing in for the last forty-five minutes. His glass was empty now and his shaking was becoming almost visible. No more than two minutes in Blair's arms and his chances were gone.

Was it worth it to fight for her? Did he have a choice? When it came to Blair Waldorf: absolutely not. If she was going to kill him, it would be to his face with her screaming anguish echoing in his ears forever.

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed. =) Please review! CB confrontation next chapter, promise. ;) No more updates tonight though. This one took me forever. Lol.