Disclaimer: I own nothing except a great love for CB and the many inhabitants of the UES
A/N: Hey guys. Hope everyone enjoyed their New Year's. I loved hearing all the thoughts and good words for the last chapter, as well as the various "Save Nate"s that popped up. Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you thought. Also very happy that everyone seems to be enjoying all the different relationships. They're all fun and variously frustrating to write. Okay, I know some of you were waiting anxiously to find out what happened in the fire with your various favorites. Here's what happened next. Hope you enjoy it as much as the last. As always thanks for the show of support from my fellow CBers, fanforum buddies, and reviewers. Thanks again to Lynnie for helping me out and being my other set of eyes. Kisses, hon. Love you all and just keep reading.
Chapter 7
"Morning, ladies." Georgina was all sunshine and smiles as she entered the lunchroom the next morning. She'd resolved not to worry about her aching feet, tiresome patients, or annoying co-workers. Or the fact that instead of lounging in her warm, comfortable bed, she was outside at the buttcrack of dawn. No, instead of letting her mood go right into the toilet, she focused on her endgame, cheered by the mere thought of it all.
A chorus of "good mornings" and "hello, Olivia," came her way, sounding distracted and half-hearted. Damn, she hadn't been that much of a bitch to the old biddies…not yet, anyway. Had she? Fuck, she'd have to make an effort to appear nicer. She'd still be with them for while not. No point in alienating them all at once.
She stepped closer to the huddled group, realizing for the first time that they weren't sitting in their usual spot—chattering non-stop, all the while saying nothing at all. No today the lunchroom was empty of their inane conversations. They were gathered around the small television sitting on top of the refrigerator. "What happened?" Georgina demanded.
Carol answered without tearing her eyes from the news coverage. "There was a fire last night at this really nice boutique. Jennifer's. The girls and I have been by there a few times. Well the place burned to the ground."
"My granddaughter dragged in there searching for a dress for her Homecoming dance. The clothes weren't insanely expensive but not my taste at all. My granddaughter loved them, though. Plus we got to meet the owner. Sweet girl." One of the Biddies sighed, shaking her head.
"This is Graciela Dominguez coming to you live once again with this breaking story. Firefighters say that they now have the four-alarm blaze under control. Multiple crews arrived on the scene shortly after 3 am, confronted by the blazing inferno that has completely destroyed the building, as you can see behind me. 911 Operators received multiple calls from party-goers trapped on the upper floors of the building. We still have no firm number of the injured. The more seriously injured were transported to surrounding hospitals, while sources tell us that at this time there were at least three known fatalities, with numerous others still unaccounted for." The dark-haired woman onscreen paused, allowing the camera time to focus in on her somber expression and then the ongoing activity of the firefighters behind her. "Names of the victims have not been released at this time, pending notification of family and next of kin."
The camera switched to the male anchor in the studio. He wore an equally saddened expression, "Have firefighters given you any details or implications as to what may have ignited the blaze?"
She shook her head, "No, they have not made any definitive statements at this time, but I'm told that arson is not being ruled out. Back to you, James."
"Thank you, Graciela. We also have Bert Emo standing by live with one of the survivors. Bert."
"Thanks, James. I'm here at St. Vincent's Hospital with Miss Sophie Braga." The scene cut to yet another reporter, bundled up against the cold and at his side, a tall blonde, whose hair had dull and stringy, her face was smudged with soot and eyes red-rimmed. "Miss Braga, you were able to escape with minor injuries and smoke inhalation. What can you tell us?"
Sophie's already tear-stained cheeks suffered another bout of fresh tears.
Oh, brother. Georgina managed to bite back a groan. She waited for sympathy and felt none. The chick was alive and well. What the fuck was she crying for? Bimbette reminded her of S…Maybe that was the problem.
"…of nowhere there just seemed to be all this smoke and people were running and fighting each of to get out. My best friend is all banged up. Some {bleep} broke her rib trying to get downstairs. The flames were so unreal…they were just everywhere and it got big so fast. We were close to the door so we—we got out. Some people, couldn't…"
All right, enough was enough. She looked around. Her co-workers appeared entranced, hugging themselves as if they'd experienced the fear and loss. Good, they'd be occupied for a bit.
"Tragic," Georgina murmured, feigning sympathy. She backed away from the group still watching the interview onscreen. "I can't watch anymore. I'm going to start my rounds. Check on the patients."
Starting with you, B. She thought, biting back a smile. Georgina walked from the room trying not to hurry her step. She hadn't had much chance to be alone with Blair the day before. First the damn maid had stopped by and then Serena's mom and later Georgina's old pal had finally shown her face. It'd been a close thing. Really. She'd been in Blair's room when she'd heard Carol joking with the blonde.
She glanced at the nurse's station, letting a devious smile curve when she saw that for once no one was there. Georgina let herself into Blair's room, shutting the door softly as if the other girl could magically awaken at the slamming of a door. Well she didn't want anyone else walking by and interrupting.
"Miss me, Waldorf. I've got your next dose." She walked over to Blair's bed, checking the monitor's as McCarty had instructed. Georgina uncapped the syringe she'd brought from the dwindling supply the good doctor had provided. Full and ready to use. All she had to do was push.
This would make be Blair's fourth dose. That first night, her pulse had spiked and the monitors went crazy. McCarty's dire words had come back to Georgina...ticking off all the possible results of shooting Blair up with his little cure-all.
"I always thought Chuck Bass was fearless, but not when it comes to you, huh, B." She said, toying with the syringe. "I bet you'd like my way better. You wouldn't have wanted to spend the rest of your days lying in this bed. You and Bass should be grateful that I decided to come back."
Stroke. Cardiac Arrest. Liver failure. Brain damage. McCarty had warned of all the possibilities. B's body could immediately revolt against the drug as evidenced by his trials. He'd given her the same exactly warning that he'd given Chuck before having his ass handed to him for suggesting Bass take a chance.
Georgina grinned at that, not quite the rich boy she remembered. The Bass she'd known had given knew meaning to the old saying, "I'm a lover not a fighter." He'd scheme utter destruction before resorting to the physical. At least until it came to Blair Waldorf it seemed. Bass wasn't taking any chances with his sleeping Queen.
Georgina, on the other hand, had no such qualms. "Awake or dead. Either way serves my purposes just fine." Peeking over her shoulder again, she injected Blair's IV bag. That done, she stepped back, watching her in much the same way she'd seen Bass do on his visits. As if expecting the brunette to suddenly pop up.
Fuck! She cursed, becoming more and more frustrated with each day that passed showing no results. Goddamn, motherfucker McCarty. Incompetent, swindling bastard. Shit. Shit. For all she knew, that asshole was taking her money and supplying her with fucking tap water to "resurrect" or kill the bitch lying in front of her.
Fists clenched against the urge to grab B's shit and start breaking everything, Georgina dragged in a deep breath. Calm down. Breathe. Minor setback. No guarantees.
It wasn't cool. Days had passed since she'd first injected B and she got absolutely nothing for all her efforts and good deeds.
She wanted to play goddammit and B wasn't cooperating. Georgina reached out touching Blair's beautiful brown curls, and stroking the soft pillow beneath B's head. She could always finish things now. Who knew for sure what McCarty's little experimental drug would result in, but Georgina could always put B out of her misery and send Chuck Bass into a different type of hell.
"Come on, B." After a moment, her lips compressed in pout mode, Georgina stepped away. "Not yet, I suppose." Thoughts of her other plans brought the smile back to her face. "That's okay. I've got more than enough to keep me occupied for now. And quite a few things in store for your guy." Fingers clenching and unclenching in B's hair, Georgina leaned forward to press a soft kiss to the sleeping woman's forehead.
Still if she found out that McCarty was playing her. He'd wind up dead right alongside B. "See you in bit, sweetie. Work calls."
~ஐ~
He didn't seem to hear her approach until she was almost on top of him, or in front of him. Not sure what to say she held out the bottle of water and aspirin that she'd gotten from the nurse.
He looked up, his eyes not focusing on her at first. He seemed oblivious to it all, the noise and bustle in the crowded waiting room. As others awaited word on their loved ones. Things started to click for him and he stopped staring at the water bottle as if it were a bomb or some alien thing.
"Thanks." He mumbled.
"Still no word."
"Nope."
She sank down into the hard, uncomfortable looking chair at his side. Tipping her chin at his balled up fist. "That works better if you take it."
"What?"
"The aspirin."
"Oh. Right. Yeah," Movements mechanical, he twisted the cap off the water and took the aspirin. He didn't really need it. He was actually kind of numb already. Oblivious to the scrapes and abrasions covering his face and arms. He glanced down at his bandaged arm, waiting for the singed flesh to sting but he wasn't feeling that either.
"Have the doctor's been out at all?" She asked, getting only a terse shake of the head in answer.
Silence stretched between them after that. Ten minutes later he looked up blinking as if he'd just realized that she'd sat down beside him. He cleared his throat, drinking back another long swallow of water. "Nate?"
This time she shook her head in the negative.
"FUCK!" He cursed, tossing the bottle aside and gaining the attention of half the room, while the other half were still as numb and lost as he had been just moments before.
He buried his head in his hands, "I can't. I can't. Not like this. She can't leave me like this."
"Dan." Tears in her eyes, the blonde at his side leaned her head against his, taking his hand in hers.
"It's not right." He said. "I can't lose her. What the fuck is happening? Shit."
~ஐ~
This time she waited for him to get into the shower before she slipped from Carter's bed. When Vanessa had started to do the same hours before, he'd just pulled her back, kissing her again, making her forget all the ways she was fucking up her life. At least for a little while. But dawn had come, bringing another morning after and she found it just as difficult to face him or her actions in the light of day.
Feeling disgusted with herself, she dressed slowly. Her hair flying in every direction, she pulled it back into a hasty ponytail. She let herself out.
Her mind whirled. No longer distracted by the illicit pleasure she'd experience throughout the night with her lover, but what was to come now. Nate. She'd have to face him. Look into his eyes as they both acknowledged that it was well and truly over.
She wouldn't cry. She'd been practical. Falling apart could come later. When she saw him moving on with her. Replacing her with someone who his family adored and fit into his world.
Vanessa ordered herself not to cry and promptly burst into tears the moment she slid in the backseat of a cab. Fine. She'd cry now and get it all out. Exhaust the tears, so that there would be nothing left when she reached their brownstone.
"You okay, Miss?" the Cabbie asked her.
She ignored him and he didn't ask again. By the time the cab pulled in front of their house, she expected a fresh spring of tears to come, but she was oddly dry-eyed. Ready. Squaring her shoulders she avoided the eyes of their elderly neighbor as she took in Vanessa's appearance and guilty expression.
Vanessa had expected many things but not the empty house that greeted her. Where in the hell was he? She got angry and felt justified in all of her suspicions.
So it'd been true. He'd found someone else. It was over. They were done. The same litany of thoughts played in her head as it had for weeks. Months before. Even with that playing steadily in her mind, she still found herself going from room to room…looking for him to suddenly pop out at her. But the house was quiet. Not the comfortable silence she'd loved. Where they'd just sit together saying nothing. It sounded empty.
Walking slowly down the stairs, her head shot up as the front door crashed open. And there he was, his eyes darting around anxiously. "Vanessa?!"
Giddy relief shot through her, but she didn't let it show. "I'm right here. Why are you yelling? And what happened to your cloth…" He cut off her string of questions, rushing over and grabbing her close.
"Nate, what are you doing I can't breath? What's that smell?" She pulled back from his bear-hug, taking in his formerly white dress shirt that was now all but black, his face was smudged as well. "What happened?"
"I thought you were dead. I couldn't find you." He told her. "I thought you were gone."
Nate started to smile, relief making him shake. He'd waited outside the burned remains of Jennifer's. At first, wondering when his wife would be found and regretting that he'd been so out of it that he hadn't been able to go back in to look for her himself. Then real fear seeped in the longer time passed and the hotter the fire burned. No one could've possibly survived being in there. And he hadn't spotted her face among the rest of the injured. No one matching her description had been spotted among the patients rushed to the hospital or those routed to the morgue. He hadn't been sure what to think.
Shit, he'd promised to call Dan as soon as he knew for sure what had become of Vanessa. But he couldn't make himself let go of her long enough to reach for his phone.
He opened his mouth still smiling not sure what he was saying, when all the things he'd been too angry to notice the morning before pierced his euphoria. Her swollen mouth. Her redden cheeks and neck. Her clothes were disheveled as if she'd slipped them on in haste. They were the same as she'd worn the night before. Hell, even her purse still hung off her shoulder.
Beyond the pervading smell of smoke coming off his clothes, he smelled hint of cologne in the air that wasn't like anything he'd ever worn. And sex. Her body reeked of musk and another man.
Eyes narrowed, he met her eyes. She looked away unable to hold his gaze, but not before he saw the guilt in her eyes.
"No way. No fucking way, Vanessa."
"Nate. Listen."
"The movies, huh, Vanessa. Friends? What friends? Who is he?" He stopped her before she could answer. "Forget it. I don't want to know."
Nate backed away from her. His expression one of repugnance, as if she were something disgusting and beneath him. The same expression she'd expected and feared, she realized, since the very beginning of their relationship. Only now was she willing to accept the truth for what it was.
"Nate, where are you going?" Vanessa couldn't resist calling out to his retreating back. "Nate?!"
He slammed out of the house without answering her.
Vanessa stood there, looking after him, hands gripping the baluster…keeping herself from falling flat on her face.
~ஐ~
A smile curving his lips, Chuck dragged in New York air, feeling relief settle inside him. It felt easier to breathe somehow. Each homecoming was the same, no matter how short or long the business trip. He wondered if it was the knowledge that B was only a short drive away. Or the way his girls' lit up, as if without him around, their worlds hadn't been quite right
His driver was waiting for him, "Arthur, my good man. Take me home." He'd worked for most of the plane ride home, take a short nap that had left him feeling restless.
"Of course, sir."
Kat and Evie would be with Eric until later that evening. Chuck figured that he could squeeze in few more hours of sleep in his own damn bed. Go see B. Check up on Nate, make sure his old friend was recovering from last night's festivities.
Chuck slipped into the familiar confines of his limo, his phone ringing even then.
"Well, speak of the devil. Nathaniel, I was just thinking about you. How's the head?"
"It's been better."
He frowned. Something sounding off in his best friend's tone. "No doubt. You were pretty out of it last night."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Yea. Something was definitely wrong. "Nathaniel, what's up? You're not sounding quite yourself."
Nate's laugh was bitter. "Let's just say that a lot's happened. Do you have any idea when you're going to be back? I need to see you. The sooner the better."
"I'm in the car now. Headed home."
"I need you to get to St. Vincent's." Nate said, causing his friend a moment of panic before he clarified. "The girls. Your family's fine, but there was a fire last night. Jenny's building is gone."
A fire? The party. Shit. Shit. Nate wanted him to come to the hospital. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Yea. A lot of injuries. Three confirmed dead. Jenny got hurt. Serena's with Dan now, waiting to hear just how bad." Nate told him.
"Damn. Poor bastard." Even after all these years, he wasn't exactly Dan Humphrey's biggest fan, but Chuck understood family and what it meant to lose. Fuck. He had a soft spot for little Humphrey. He honestly hoped that she pulled through. "How's Vanessa dealing with it?"
Nate cleared his throat. "Vanessa…is actually the last person that I want to talk about right now." Each word grated out.
Fuck. Well at least Chuck had his answer. Whatever had his best friend fuming had Vanessa "Fucking" Abrams written all over it. What had the bitch done now? Later. He'd find out later. For now Nate wanted him at the hospital. Chuck's brows furrowed, his expression perplexed. Why exactly was he being summoned there?
As if he'd read Chuck's mind, Nate suggested. "Do me a favor? I need to know who might want to strike out at you. Who might bear a grudge?"
"That's quite a list, Nathaniel. As you know very well."
"I had a feeling you'd say that."
Chuck asked, "You wanna tell me just what the hell is going on?"
"Get here. And we'll talk. But just try and narrow that list down for me."
"I need something now." Chuck wasn't letting his friend off that easily. After days of cryptic messages and inebriated Nathaniel last night, he wanted answers and he wanted them yesterday.
"It's not official yet. But the fire was no accident. They think it arson." Nate told him.
"Son of a bitch."
"And it's not the first, either."
"Jennifer's got hit by a firebug?" Running a hand through his hair, Chuck's voice dropped as he demanded, "What am I missing here? What's the connection that's got you so worked up?"
At first he was worried that Nate would clam up on him again and insist he wait until they were face-to-face. No such luck. Nate answered him, "It's you."
"Pardon?" Chuck asked, not really needing the confirmation for what his gut was telling him. But he damn well asked anyway.
"All the fires have one link. And that's you, Chuck."
"I'll see you in 20." Chuck snapped his phone shut, reaching for the intercom button. "Arthur. Slight change in plans. We're going to St. Vincent's."
Suddenly sleep and Blair were the furthest things from his mind, and he almost wished that he'd stayed airborne just a while longer.
Pulling himself together his thoughts turned to Nate's request. Enemies. Of those there were plenty. Between business and some of the shit he'd pulled, gaining a new hater was incidental to the cause. Now some crazy asshole was out there setting shit on fire? Just fucking great.
Chuck pulled out his phone and hit speed dial for his PI.
~ஐ~
"And you're certain that you're all right, Serena." Her mother asked for what had to be the fifteenth time since Serena gave her the news. Not wanting to make her mother panic by calling her in the middle of the night, Serena had decided against calling until now. With everything that was going on she was suddenly glad that she'd waited.
"I'm fine, Mom. Just a few bumps and cuts. It was more scary than anything." Closing her eyes against the images from the night before, she leaned forward. "We couldn't find Nate and then he was trying to come up while everyone else was intent on getting out."
The fire had gotten so big so fast and they could barely see through the thick, black smoke, hanging around them—chocking them. And the press of bodies around her had all been focused on the same thing. Getting out first.
Beyond her own fear and the people screaming out in horror and because they were hurting, Serena's thoughts had kept going back to Alex. She'd pulled a protesting Dan along with the crowd as he called out for his sister, her name lost in the noise of the crowd.
"Well find her." She'd told him. "Jenny's probably trying to get out like everybody else."
And her words had been true. Jenny hadn't been found on the second floor but downstairs collapsed outside her office. She must have gone down, backtracking to the office, instead of heading out the side door along with everyone else. The younger woman couldn't have known that Nate had stumbled upstairs, looking for the rest of them, trying to warn of the fire. Worried about his wife.
Serena's eyes darted to the corner where Dan had secluded himself as he called his parents again.
"So about Jenny. How bad is it, Serena?" Lily asked.
"She's listed as critical. Second—third degree burns." She told her mother, "They're still working on her."
"Oh, honey."
"Listen. Dan's coming back. I'll call you back later." Serena said, disconnecting as. "Hey. Did your Dad book his flight?"
"Yeah, he's getting ready to board just now." Dan said quietly, "My Mom couldn't get a flight, though. At least nothing sooner than tomorrow morning. No direct flights to New York and everything else coming isn't until tonight and has at least three layovers. Damnit."
Serena reached out a comforting hand. It seemed that except for Jenny, the entire Humphrey family had deserted New York. Dan in Chicago. Alison in Seattle. And Rufus bumming around Canada, playing small clubs with his band. "Let me check on a few things. Make some calls and I'll see what we can do for your mom."
He made a face, confusion blending into realization. He started to protest and then nodded. "Thanks. I'd appreciate that."
Serena stood, ready to give him space and quiet while she made her phone calls. Remembering the call she'd gotten before she'd called her mother, Serena turned back. "Oh, yeah. Nate called. He said Vanessa was at the house so we shouldn't worry."
"Thank God."
"He and Chuck should be here soon."
With those words she was gone. Leaving before her words sank in. Before he had a good chance to wonder why the hell Chuck Bass was headed to the hospital.
He didn't call her back. Or think back on it any longer than a few seconds because when he next looked up. He saw Jenny's surgeon coming out. The woman's expression could only be described as grim.
Dan wanted to call Serena back but instead he somehow made it to his feet and meet the doctor halfway.
~ஐ~
On the elevator ride up to St. Vincent's Critical Burn Unit, Nate filled Detective Miller in on the details of last night's blaze. He saw no reason to tell the Detective exactly how drunk off his ass he'd been.
"You should've called me sooner, Archibald."
Nate nodded, "Sorry. There was a lot going on. I was worried about my friends. My wife."
"She okay?"
He offered a tight-lipped nod in answer. Clearing his throat, Nate changed the subject. "I spoke with Chuck Bass. He's on his way here, actually."
"Good. Good." They stepped off elevator. Walking right into Chuck.
"Damn, you beat me here." Nate byway of greeting.
Chuck clapped his old friend on the shoulder, his expression as grim as Nate's. "Let's just say that I was highly motivated, Nathaniel. Who's your friend?"
"This is Detective Miller. Detective, this is Ch…"
"Chuck Bass." Yeah, I know. The older man's expression was indecipherable as he studied Chuck. Shaking the offered hand, stiffly.
After a moment, Chuck cleared his throat. "Well, Nathaniel. Detective. Somebody want to fill me in. Tell me what the hell's been going on."
The detective looked around the crowded hallway. "Come on. Let's go find some place quiet, where we can talk."
~ஐ~
Darkness. Black and unrelenting. It made up her world. Holding her down and yet making her head float. She tried to move but had no arms. No head.
That was silly. What was that noise? God it was annoying. She would reach over to smack it away but no arms, meant hands. Where was Dorota?
Searing pain filled her. Piercing where her chest should've been and the noise came louder and faster before fading away completely, as the darkness took her under again. Taking her away from the pain and the noise and welcoming her into the gentle arms of oblivion.
TBC
A/N: Nate knows just what his wifey has been up to. Finally Chuck learns of his connection to those fires. And looks like among the dead and injured Dan's little sis was hurt and Serena was at his side. Of course Georgina Sparks has been up to no good and shows herself a quite the threat to poor B. Hope you enjoyed this, and let me know what you're thinking. Will be updating as soon as possible.
Courtney :)