Disclaimer: I own nothing except a great love for CB and the many inhabitants of the UES

A/N: Okay…I'm hoping the storm they're predicting actually happens so I can get more writing in tomorrow instead of stupid work…God but I can still be such a kid :D. Anyways. Weekend's just about out and didn't want to let it go without updating for you guys. Thanks as always for all the words and thoughts…they're always welcome. I know at times the pacing can be too too suspenseful but that's just how these things work…I'm merely the conduit for the story that wants to come out and yes this is a story of love but also danger and mystery. That being said, I'm still having a wonderful time writing about it and all of the different friendships and relationships within. Dorota is amazing isn't she and that Eleanor is a wily one to pin down…is she really there for B or finally ready to retake her career in New York? Serena knows the truth. And can't have a Chuck/Cyrus meeting without a hug…had to do. Had to ;). So here's the next chapter. Again your words and thoughts always mean a lot to me. Love you guys. Much love to my girls and big kiss to my Wifey, you're amazing bb and you so know that which of you speak…don't decipher just go with it. Read on people ;)

ஐChapter 16

Blair rolled her eyes as she found herself having to repeat herself for the third time in as many minutes. Now her best friend was off in the land of la once again, her brow puckered and the heavy burden of her thoughts clearly evident in her eyes. Blair snapped her fingers in front of those sightless, blue eyes trying to tempt them back into awareness. "Ok, enough. Spill."

"What?" The blonde blinked up at Blair, her expression losing that faraway look.

"You seem really distracted or something. Are you okay?" Blair demanded, sitting up straighter in her hospital bed.

"I'm fine. I'm good."

She studied the other woman through narrowed eyes. "You're lying. You've barely said two words since you came in here to 'visit with me'. And you look like hell."

"Gee. Thanks, B." Serena rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself.

"Sorry, sweetie. Now stop trying to distract me." Blair's expression softened and her eyes shone with concern.

"Fine. You caught me. I'm just tired I guess. I didn't exactly have the best night's sleep."

"Did the kids give you trouble getting them to bed?" Blair wondered, feeling pangs of envy that S had gotten a chance…countless chances to settle the girls for the night, while Blair wondered at even the simplest of their nighttime habits.

"No. Angels as usual. Though, Alex threw a fit when he didn't have his Robbie and that jerk Carter…" Serena held up her hand, shaking her head.

"Okay…his what and the wh…"

"Long story. Don't ask. Suffice it to say that Carter isn't exactly in the running for 'Father of the Year'."

"I'll bet. So the kids weren't running you through the night…what or" Blair smiled suddenly as a new thought emerged. "who was?"

"Blair…"

"Oh my god. You were totally with some guy. Who was it?" She made a face, more from habit than anything as one face came to mind. Humphrey. She rolled her eyes. "Nevermind. It was Brooklyn, wasn't it?"

Serena huffed out a sigh, "Yes, but it wasn't like that, B. Honestly. I was here with him."

"Here?" Dark brows arched in question.

The blonde chewed on her bottom lip, fear and worry telegraphing loud and clear from the way she held herself and the look in her eyes. For Blair, everything else was forgotten, everything beyond the need to hug her friend close and plan a proper takedown on whoever had put that expression on Serena's face. Was it Carter? She'd said something about him earlier…no what had she said about being at the hospital with Dan.

Quietly, Blair prodded for answers. "What exactly were you and Hum…Dan doing here? Did something happen?"

Serena looked away, her eyes focused on everything except Blair as she nodded. "Yeah. I guess you could say that."

Blair waited and when it seemed as if Serena wouldn't say anything else, she motioned impatiently, "Serena!"

"Dan got hurt last night."

"Oh, S. I'm really sorry." Blair said. "Why happened?"

Again her friend fell silent but just when the brunette looked ready to badger, Serena admitted, "I honestly…honestly don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know…how could you not?" Blair demanded, confused and her friend had that damn look in her eye again. Only she looked angry.

"I hate secrets, B. I hate knowing them. I hate things being kept from me…"

Finally!! A sentiment that Blair could get behind. "Great. I'm glad you feel that way because I'm getting damned tired of being left out of the loop as well. What secrets, S?" Secrets from her? Blair's eyes narrowed as suspicion took root.

Her best friend looked torn. What secrets were there to keep from Blair of all people? They'd been the best of friends for forever…well mostly…but throughout the breaches and cracks in their lifelong friendship they'd always been able to count on one another when it all came down to it.

"Serena, dear. Cyrus told us that you'd come." Eleanor smiled, greeting the younger woman as if they hadn't been at odds the day before.

Blair groaned as her mother and Cyrus let themselves in. God! Locks. These goddamn doors needed to be fitted with deadbolts. How did they expect anyone to recover from anything with people just barging in whenever they pleased? She was so busy cursing her mother's inopportune appearance that she almost missed Serena's reaction as Chuck came in behind the twosome. His eyes flashing first to Blair and then landing on the woman that he was bound to him in every way besides in blood.

She'd noticed the easy relationship between them yesterday. They acted as if they'd grown up their entire lives as siblings, snarking back and forth, joking and caring. Today, Serena watched him with a far different expression and he was considering her through narrowed eyes. Just what the hell was going on?

"A word, Sis." He hissed out.

Blair latched onto her friend's arm before she had the chance to get to her feet or tell her brother to go to hell, as her expression so clearly telegraphed for just the quickest of moments. "You can talk to Serena later, Bass. We were enjoying some nice girltalk." She shooed him, "Be gone. Why don't you go back and have another private chat with my doctor."

"Darling, we weren't trying to exclude you from the discussion. We just wanted to get some things ironed out…"

"Serena." Chuck said quietly, holding the door open.

"Blair." Serena tugged her arm free of the tight grasp binding her close. "There are a few things that Chuck and I need to discuss. We'll finish our talk right after. You have my word on it."

Blair watched them leave in disbelief. She'd woken up to pure insanity. Secrets. Serena was keeping secrets…something or someone that Bass didn't want Blair knowing about? The world was crazy. Pure and simple.

"What was that all about?" Eleanor questioned.

"I have no idea."

Out in the hall, Serena glared at the back of her brother's head as he walked purposefully away from Blair's room. She almost walked right into him as he screeched to a halt, turning on her with nostrils flaring and his expression livid. What the hell did he have to be pissed about? She was the one that everyone had left twisting in the wind last night. The one they'd lied to for a better part of the day.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked.

"Excuse me. Shouldn't that be my question?"

"What did you say to Blair?"

Serena crossed her arms, glaring at her brother. "Nothing yet, but maybe that's the problem. I should just march right back in there and tell her that you're up to something. Bet that would get you talking, now wouldn't it?"

He reached out latching on to her arm before she could take more than a step. "Don't even try it, S."

"You don't want me to say anything then clue me in on the big mystery." Her face softened and she let him see just how worried she'd been since first realizing that Dan was missing. The guys were keeping secrets and Nate had all but admitted that they were treading dangerous waters. "Talk to me. What kind of trouble are you in?" She was terrified and not just for Dan, but for Chuck and Nate, as well. Granted, she and Chuck didn't share quite the same relationship as the one she had with Eric, but he was her family. Even before Bart and her mom made things legal, cementing bonds forged through marriage and adoption, he'd had her back. More times than she cared to remember, Chuck Bass had watched out for her. "Chuck, come on."

His eyes bore into her and at first she was sure that he'd refuse to answer her again, but then he nodded. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he hissed out "Fine, I'll tell you, but not a word to Blair. Not one."

"Chuck."

"I'm serious."

"But you heard her yesterday." Serena said.

He sighed, "Yes, I did. And I plan on honoring her wishes in every other matter beyond this one."

"Well, I think lying to her like you idiots have been lying to me would be a supremely bad idea."

"If you can't promise not to say anything then this conversation is over." Chuck informed.

Arms crossed, and her shoe tapping out a steady beat it seemed like forever before Serena could form the words. She didn't want to keep anything from Blair but she could already see Chuck shutting down on her again. She wanted answers. Now. "Okay. I promise." She gave in. "Now tell me the truth. Something really bad is happening, isn't it?"

Chuck looked away, not meeting her eyes. But it was already too late. She'd glimpsed the truth in those dark depths. Serena was used to seeing a multitude of emotions ripple through her brother's eyes. Dark humor when he was highly irritated. True love whenever he beheld one of his daughters. Cunning and wit when he scented a deal needing just his touch for a profitable closing. So many things. But very few times did Serena ever recall glimpsing the stark fear in those dark eyes before lashes lowered, shielding them from her sight.

He said. "Fine, but not out here."

Back in her room, Blair heard almost nothing of the conversation going on between Eleanor and Cyrus. She nodded, every now and again, giving the same appearance of attentiveness that she'd employed earlier with Penelope and the others. She really did try to pay attention but her focus and thoughts eternally slipped to the one person who wasn't in the room. Well, technically Serena, as well. This time, though, instead of wondering about her future as it was being discussed without her even being in the room, she now racked her brain trying to figure out Chuck and Serena's curious departure mere minutes before.

So as it was, her mind was trying to wrap itself around everything from the most plausible to the highly unlikely of conclusions when she half-heard Cyrus' mention of her mother moving back to New York.

It took moments to sink. Move back to New York? She frowned, turning to her mother who was considering the little man with an usually exasperated expression. One that in the past she'd reserved mostly for her daughter. Her greatest disappointment…Blair mentally shook herself, feeling the old insecurities crowding too close.

Instead she demanded, "Wait, what do you mean move back? You left? You actually packed up everything and moved away?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that exactly." Eleanor shifted as if uncomfortable under the weight of her daughter's stare.

"Okay. Define 'moved.' What you both just quit your jobs and turned into friggin' gypsies…" She asked, offering a humorless smile.

"For godsakes would you stop being so overdramatic." Her mother turned to Cyrus who watched them both, full of nerves and looking to jump in and soothe. "Darling, would you mind giving us a few minutes alone?"

After a moment he nodded, patting Blair's hands that she'd unconsciously fisted at her sides and offering his wife a quick peck on the cheek, whispering words that erased the worry from her mother's eyes. At least for the split second before she met Blair's eyes. "I won't be far." He said, but his words were lost as everything else ceased to exist while mother and daughter sized one another up.

"Blair…"

"Mother."

"Look, Blair darling. Things were difficult in New York…" She could see her mother visibly searching for just the right words. "My business is and has always been quite a fickle one…there's always someone trying to take you down. Some fresh face, new design trying to replace what I spent years…sacrificed so much to establish…" Eleanor explained, telling her about moving Waldorf Designs from New York to Los Angeles. From LA to Paris and from there she'd settled in London and spoke more and more excitedly about the resurging interest that she'd drummed up with the move to Great Britain.

Listening to her mother, Blair didn't want to feel hurt that once again she'd ended up on being one of her mother's "sacrifices" when it came to her business. Granted now that Blair was awake, the woman was heading back to New York, despite her recent success overseas, but still a part of her hated the fact that her mother hadn't been there day in, day out watching over Blair's sickbed. She knew for a fact that Dorota had been. Chuck and Serena had told her as much, and Chuck brought the girls at least once a week, but as always Eleanor Waldorf showed a different set of priorities when it came to her daughter. Her comatose daughter.

Was she being selfish? Irrational to have wanted her mother to be there. Put her first in this instance.

Probably, she admitted to herself, her expression softening. "So what now, Mom? You're closing the London house and opening up the apartment…will I recognize any of the staff? I know Dorota's been with Chuck and the girls for the past few years. Did you keep a skeleton crew…wait what about Cyrus' practice?"

"Um, well. Actually, Cyrus' practice is still going strong here in New York." Eleanor said, making her daughter wonder suddenly if the former newlyweds she'd known them as, had drifted or if they were going through rough times. Despite her stepfather's ever jovial attitude, was there trouble brewing in her mother's marriage. Had her pursuits for her career destroyed another marriage…the first didn't really count. She supposed, taking her father and Roman into account. "We didn't keep the apartment, though." Her mother added, almost as if it were an afterthought.

Blair stared at her blankly, her words slipping around the surface of her brain, making no impact or sense. They hadn't kept the apartment. What apartment? Cyrus' old apartment on the Westside? Of course they would've gotten rid of that early on. Blair watched her mother's face color with guilt and the very fact that she wouldn't meet Blair's eyes, said more than enough.

Their apartment. Only the one home she'd ever had…ever. Memories. Birthdays. Break-ups. New passion. Friendships lost and found. So much had taken place in the Waldorf apartment during her first eighteen years of life. Now it was gone.

"I don't understand."

"You have to believe that it was the last thing that I wanted…but I lost everything. Everything, Blair. I sank all I could into trying to keep Waldorf Designs afloat here in New York." She told Blair, thinking bitterly on every countermeasure that young Charles had put into play in his effort to destroy her. He'd cost her everything. "It wasn't supposed to be permanent, Blair. I liquidated everything trying to keep the business solvent…"

"What about Cyrus or Daddy? I know they would've helped…" Blair pushed aside the resentment burning through her. As much as she hated her mother's utter devotion to her company, she wouldn't have wanted Eleanor to lose it. Not like that.

Eleanor shook her head. She had dared not appeal to Harold for help in her war with Charles. Not after their bitter court battle for guardianship of Blair.

And that damn boy had made it more than clear that he'd go after Cyrus as well if he played interference, putting even one cent into Waldorf Designs. Her sweetheart of a husband had offered nonetheless and she'd been tempted but hadn't chanced it…not with Charles' warning ringing in her ears. No instead she'd decided to take her company on the road. Start again, but she'd been fooling herself, thinking that mere distance would end the hostilities…at least from the angry young man that her daughter had so foolishly given her heart. In the end, she'd just been angry and without recourse. That more than anything had kept her from reaching out…from trying to make peace and meet her granddaughters. Over the years, she'd watched them grow, through the photographs surrounding her daughter's hospital bed.

As the years passed, she never thought that there was a chance of Blair coming back to her. If her little girl was so obviously upset over the lost of her childhood home then how would she greet the news of Eleanor's actions after she'd given birth? How would she take the news of Evie's adoption and the court battle between Eleanor and Harold?

Blair reached out and squeezed her mother's hand, "I'm really…I'm just sorry that happened to you, Mom. I really wish that I could've been here. Maybe I could've helped in some way."

"There was nothing you could've done…though I do appreciate the sentiment."

"But I could've…even if it meant tapping into my trust fund." Blair frowned, "Unless you did and that's gone as well." She noticed flushed cheeks. "Mother you didn't." Was that gone along with everything else? God, the hits just kept coming.

"No. I didn't. But it was tempting." Eleanor admitted. She'd considered it more than once. Harold would've gone through the roof and been done with her. Even Cyrus who'd thought her actions firmly in the wrong, might have deserted her. No. She'd left Blair's trust untouched, allowing Harold to act as administrator keeping it going for Blair or the twins.

Releasing a long, shaky sigh of relief, Blair squeezed her mother's hand again. They both fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Blair hated what had befallen her mother's loved career and she was devastated at the loss of the only home she'd ever know…well except for those last few weeks at the Van der Bass manse. Back then, she'd been so sure that her mother would come around to her way of thinking and that she'd be back in her old room, instead of Chuck's which she'd taken for her own, spending long nights in his bed. Maneuvering her hugely pregnant body from one side of the bed to the next, searching for unattainable comfort.

She'd lay there, one hand cradling her rounded belly and she'd talk to her girls. About her plans for their future. About Yale and how they'd find a way to make it all work. She'd defend their grandmother, telling them all the ways that Eleanor could disappoint but how much they would still love the woman. She made promises to be a different kind of mother. They were beautiful. She couldn't see them. Hadn't cradled them in her arms yet but she told them of her love. And Chuck. She told them about the father missing from their lives. All the things that drove her crazy about him…okay, well maybe not everything.

During those nights, she'd tell them about Thanksgiving and Christmas Waldorf-style and Grandpa Harold's pumpkin pies that they'd help her make when they were big enough. She'd pictured herself back home at the Waldorf apartment with Dorota cooing over the two bassinets. Blair had envisioned her mother's out and out adoration of the two babies, once she finally laid eyes on them and they were as real to her as they were to Blair.

Now the apartment, home was gone and she wondered if her babies had known it even a little.

"I'm sorry, Blair." Eleanor said, standing and pulling her daughter close. "You have no idea how incredibly sorry I am for the way things turned out." She framed Blair's face, searching for a sign of what…Blair couldn't really tell. Forgiveness. Redemption.

"It's okay. I'm back and you're coming home to New York…which…are you sure is the best idea? Didn't you say that business was booming back in Merry Ol' England?" Blair teased, adopting an accent with the last.

"Yes, but I can do just as much from here and fly out when necessary. I want to be here, though. I need to be here."

And that was all Blair had ever wanted to hear from her mother. All the rest could be forgiven. Except. "Mom. What happened to all of my things? Please don't tell me that there's some homeless woman slepping around in my favorite slingbacks."

Her mother gave a full-bodied laugh at that. "Slepping around…ha, be serious, darling."

Blair made a face, "Um, I am. Seriously. Where's are my things?"

"That question, my darling, you're going to have to pose to young Charles."

"Oh, you bet I will. Where in the world did he and Serena run off to…" She wondered aloud, apart of her still wondering what had the two so fired up. And wanting to know just what he'd done with her favorite Louboutins. Her clothes. Her headbands. It'd taken her years to settle on just the right combinations. Find her own look. Maybe none of it would fit her anymore. And it was all probably woefully out of style, but it was all hers. Damn but she wanted out of that bed. The sooner, the better.

"Mom, what'd the doctor say?" She demanded, determination in the set of her shoulders and tilt of her mouth. "When can I get out of here?"

~ஐ~

Her mother hadn't married a murderer. She hadn't, Serena assured herself as Chuck's words broke into the steady rhythm of silence and echoing steps outside of the empty hospital room that they'd ducked into, finding no privacy in crowded waiting rooms or hallways.

She listened attentively as, Chuck told her about the insurance scam and the man who'd perished in the blaze. For the most part, she understood his reluctance to share his father's misdeeds with the world. But Serena couldn't figure why the big secret was necessary when it came to Blair. Not like she'd run off spreading the Bass dirty laundry to the world at large.

Then her brother told her about the new fires that'd cropped up. Loosely connected to him and Bass industries and a chill crept through her as the truth finally settled in.

"You have to go to the police, Chuck." She said.

He shrugged and stared sightlessly from the window down to the streets below. "They already know."

Serena rolled her eyes, "Chuck, I don't mean Nate."

"He's the police…" He held up his hand before she could commence chewing him out. "Simmer down, Van der Woodsen. I've already spoken with the police on this matter and they're doing their part."

"So just what the hell are you and Nate…and Dan doing? And if you try feeding me that bullshit story about some mugging again you'll regret it."

"Didn't plan to. I want this over with as quickly as possibly. The police don't have as much invested as I do in seeing that done." Chuck said.

"Your father. You're protecting Bart." She finally understood.

"Among other things."

Serena sighed, not bothering to argue with him. She knew there'd be no getting him to budge in that respect. She frowned, "Do you think my mom knows? About the fire twenty years ago."

Chuck shook his head, "My father dealt in secrets. Delving into the past misdeeds of others."

"Yes, I think I recall that charming trait of his personality." Serena said sourly, making a face.

"Of course, you do. Interesting reading, Sis." He said.

"Chuck. Focus." Serena told him impatiently. "Do you think that my mother knows?"

He smiled almost bitterly at that, "My father…my father let someone in to know quite possibly his darkest sin? His dirty little secret. I don't think so and I don't want you running around asking her about it."

"Like I'd come right out and ask her." Serena countered. "I'm not an idiot."

"Most days I'm very confident in that fact but then you do the stupidest things like getting involved with Baizen."

"I really wish you wouldn't take every opportunity to remind me of that particular lapse." Especially with what she'd recently learned about that bastard and Vanessa.

Chuck watched the change in her expression, nothing escaping his careful scrutiny. "What's wrong? What'd Baizen do this time?"

"Nothing he hasn't done before. Now stop changing the subject. I want to help." She said.

"With what?"

"With the little investigation you boys are running. I want this over for our family, too."

"I don't think so. Not happening." His expression hardened.

"I could help. Same as Dan and Nate." She retorted.

"Nate's a police officer. He has access to the ongoing investigation and other resource. Dan, despite his recent coverage of that effing dogshow and this screwup going off on his own…the guy seems to have a knack for this investigative reporting deal he's settled on. He may be the same bungling fool that we knew in high school…"

"Chuck, that bungling idiot…"

"Fool."

"Whatever…according to you, Dan's tracked down more information than all of your PIs put together have been able to come up with in the past few days." Serena defended Dan, though she hadn't completely forgiven him for lying to her.

"I know. Which is why he's in on this…you, however, are going to back off now that you've got your precious answers. You're going to back off and not say a single word to Blair." Chuck said.

"You should tell her."

He groaned, closing his eyes. "God."

"I'm serious."

"Blair had a heart attack less than 48 hours ago. She's recovering from spending the last five years in a bed, missing out on her life. You really want to throw this at her right now. Really?" Chuck demanded quietly.

"Maybe…maybe not. Not yet anyway." Serena admitted, "She'll hate the idea that you're keeping something from her."

"Well, I suppose that you'd better not give her any reason to think I'm doing anything of the sort" Chuck said, "There's actually something that I'm thinking of doing. It's a surprise for B and I'll need your help."

"A surprise. Great another secret. Chuck."

"I know, but this one she'll like." He said, one side of his mouth quirking into a half-smile, "I'm still working on preliminaries, but I'll let you know."

"Fine." She said getting to her feet. "Anything else? Grand schemes. Bank heists?"

"No. Just be careful. You notice anything out of the ordinary and I want you calling me or Nate…or Dan." Chuck warned. "You notice anyone out of place or the same face popping up where it shouldn't be…"

"You think I'm being followed."

"I honestly don't know what to think." He told her, "I just need your help…this is how you can pitch in. By being careful. Vigilant."

"Now I'm scared."

"I don't want you to be. I just want to keep your eyes open. Especially around B and the girls. There's been no personal threat as of yet to me and mine but we need to be ready for anything." Chuck said, strolling from the window to the hospital. "So there you have it. You've got your answers. Happy?"

"Not even close."

~ஐ~

Gia walked purposefully down one hallway after the next, giving every appearance of belonging. She wasn't supposed to be here. Her assignment had been very clear from the onset. Meet up with Chuck Bass. Make herself obviously available and let nature do the rest.

Bass hadn't fallen in as he was supposed to, proving unbelievable resistant, despite his colorful history.

She'd been told to wait from Georgina. Wait for word when she was supposed to make her next move, but once she'd heard about Blair Waldorf's return to the land of the living, she couldn't resist the idea of getting a glimpse at sleeping beauty. The woman who had former playboy Bass knotted up and tied down so badly that even in a coma her hold was strong.

She'd dared two passes beyond Waldorf's hospital door but each time there was someone in the room. She'd spotted the pallid, dark-haired young woman. Pretty enough, Gia supposed, but nothing to merit all of the fuss being made. Surely not sufficient to hold the attention of someone like Bass. What hold did the girl have over him, other than the children their shared? How easy or how difficult would it be to diminish those bonds? Destroy them as surely as Georgina wanted her to.

"Excuse me. Are you lost, young lady? " She stepped back slowly, controlling her expression, not letting her panic too close to the surface. Shit. Shit. She wasn't supposed to be here. God, that Sparks bitch would have her head if she got caught so early into the game.

"Um, I was just looking for my sister." Gia turned, taking in the sight of the short, rosy cheeked fellow watching her with a helpful expression. "Could've sworn the nurse gave me this room number. I'm horrible with numbers. Guess I'd better head back and double check with her."

She hurried back in the direction she'd come, returning the quick wave that he sent her off with. Gia barreled around the corner and right into the none other than the man himself and the tall blonde she'd seen him with on more than one occasion.

"Remember. Not a word to Blair." He was saying just before Gia bumped into them.

She mumbled a hurried apology, ducking her head as she went on her way. She heard him curse behind her and then go back to his conversation with the blonde. Blair? That was sleeping beauty's given name. Blair. What exactly wasn't she supposed to know about? Hmm. God, but she wished she could stick around. She couldn't take the chance of Bass getting a look at her face though. Recognizing her. No way. She fucked things up right now and the bitch would have her goddamn head.

Later. She'd find out all that she needed later.

~ஐ~

"I need to talk to you. I'm a few minutes out from the hospital."

"What's up, Nathaniel." He said, motioning for Serena to follow Cyrus inside the hospital room. Chuck smiled as his eyes met curious brown eyes that locked on to the phone at his ear. "I need to take this. I'll be right back." He told her and then backpedaled as quickly as he could, ignoring the blond and brunette both now glaring at him.

"Chuck, you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here. What's going on?" He wandered away from the open doorway.

"Meet me down in Humphrey's hospital room. We all need to talk. My Lieu and Detective Miller were just at the apartment. We need to find out what Dan remembers from yesterday. If we can get back to that house, we could be that much closer to ending this thing.

"Good idea. I'll meet you downstairs." Chuck said, heading for the bank of elevators. His thoughts ran the woman he and Serena had bumped into. He hadn't gotten a good look at her and he'd been distracted by Serena's sudden relapse into "Blair should know" and "You can't just not say anything?"

He'd tell her. The moment he was forced to hired armed guards, he'd let her know of the possible dangers lurking around them. But he didn't want Blair panicking or god forbid Eleanor discovering the truth and deciding that she had leverage or using it to make trouble for him. And he didn't want to let his unknown enemy see just how afraid he was, he wouldn't show weakness. For all Chuck knew, hiring bodyguards at that point would be like point a huge sign at Blair and girls, telling his enemies to "aim here."

~ஐ~

And there he went. Again. God. Was it too much to ask for him to put the damn phone away for two seconds and for the world to step the hell off so that she could interrogate him in peace. For godsakes.

"Where is he going?" She turned on her best friend.

Serena shrugged, shaking her head. "I dunno.''

"I'll bet." Blair pursed her lips, letting the weight of her doubtful glance settle fully on her best friend. She turned to her mother and Cyrus, trying to figure the politest way to boot them from her room, so that she and Serena could have a little tête-à-tête. Before she could come up with even one flimsy excuse, her father was back with her doctor and Roman.

She got excited when her doctor immediately did what she'd wanted evicting everyone from the room but then everyone included Serena. Blair tried charming the man into letter her friend stay. He proved resistant.

"I promise that this won't take very long. Miss Waldorf. I just need to check a few things. You friend. And your family." His glance went from one face to the next before coming back around to Blair. "They won't be far away."

"But…"

Serena jumped in, "B, follow the doctor's orders."

"Listen to Serena." Her mother threw in her two cents.

Blair sighed and gave in, "Fine." Her expression cleared and she smiled at her parents, her gaze including Cyrus and Roman. "You guys have all been so great spending time so much time with me. Your day when I'm sure you've got tons of couplely things that you want to do."

"Blair-bear. I adore Roman but he understands that there's nowhere that I'd rather be that here with you." Her father said.

Roman nodded, "But of course."

Any other day, her father's words would've had her beaming but it wasn't what she needed to hear right then. "I've got the best idea. I think you all should go out and treat yourselves to a nice lunch. Maybe at Stefano's. They are still open, aren't they?" That restaurant had been in business for almost 40 years and it would be just her luck if the place decided to go under while she…was—well, under.

"It's still there, darling." Eleanor assured.

Blair nodded, "Good, then I insist that you four take off for the next few hours. You've been here all morning and then yesterday. Treat yourselves to some couple time. S'll keep me company. Won't you, sweetie?" She smiled at her best friend.

The blond rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as it she realized that she'd been deftly outmaneuvered. "Of course."

"Good. Great. Glad that's settled." She sighed, content to have her way.

The doctor walked over to the door holding it open as Blair's family filed out. He shut the door behind them and turned to Blair, flashing his pearly-whites. "Promise it won't take long at all, Miss Waldorf. Just want to check your vitals." He came to stand beside her, reaching for his stethoscope with one hand and the other reaching out to grip her wrist.

Blair frowned at him, "What are you…"

"Easy," He moved closer, his eyes focused on his wristwatch. "Just checking your pulse. I'm going to listen to your heart in a moment. We'll order another echo and an EKG in a day or so just to be sure."

She was quiet as he worked, trying not to focus on how nervous she was all of a sudden. And it seemed that the more she tried controlling her breathing, the more breathless she suddenly felt.

"Exciting past few days. Seems you're quite the popular girl. Non-stop visitors I'm told." He said, letting her hand fall back into her lap as he scribbled out a note to himself. She peeked at it but couldn't have deciphered it on the pain of death. "Oh, sorry." He apologized when she flinched, cold metal settling against her chest. "Just try to relax. Breathe normally. In…out…in…there you go."

Smiling green eyes latched on to hers, and she saw the interest flare in those depths. Automatically she studied him as he seemed to feel so free in his survey of her. He was handsome enough she supposed and seemed quite younger than she'd first believed. His sun-kissed blonde hair and tan features had her picturing him not in the white lab coat, currently adorning his lean form but in a pair of swim trunks on a white, sandy beach.

The beach. God, she wanted out of this hospital and the beach sounded heavenly. Or having lunch with her family at Romano's. Feeding the ducks with her girls. Just anywhere but that hospital room. "When can I get out of here?" Blair blurted out her demand.

"Wow, accommodations that bad, are they?" He teased.

Blair shrugged, returning his smile. "No, it's not that…well to be quite honest, not completely 'bad,' but this place would never be mistaken for the Waldorf-Astoria, now would it?...Sorry. I'm sorry. Let's just say that I have this thing about hospitals." She admitted.

"Funny. I've got a thing for them myself."

She shifted, offering a blank expression in the face of his continued regard. "Hmm."

"Sorry. Unfunny jokes. My friends say I very good or bad at coming up with them."

Blair only nodded, sure that he'd stopped talking if she didn't say very much. God, was he actually flirting? If Serena had stayed like a good best friend, she could've played buffer. She tried again, repeating her earlier question. "Do you think there's a chance I could be going home…" Wherever that might be. "in the next few days."

He frowned, "Well, I spoke at length with your parents and your…with Mr. Bass." He told her, "I told them that I thought you might thrive in the rehab program here at St. Vincent's, but they insist that you'd be happier…more apt to make a quicker recovery at the private facility where you've been for the past few years."

"You don't agree."

He shrugged, "I suppose it would be the best thing…quickest road to recovery. More of a concentrated effort with few patients. Guess I'd just be very disappointed to lose you as a patient. Yours is quite the interesting case."

"You say interesting…I say insane. It's all very…hmm…surreal."

"It's too be expected that you'd have so adjustment issues during your recovery. I'm suggesting that you speak with Dr. Cartwright before I sign off on the transfer. Once your echo and EKG come back clean and Cartwright gives the go ahead then you'll be own of here." He told her.

"I'm sorry, but you have no I idea how relieved I am to hear you say that, Dr. Chambers." She offered a genuine smile as a relieved sigh escaped.

"I think I've get the idea. And call me Will. Please."

"Will." She amended, meeting his gaze dead on. "Good. Now let's get on with the tests or whatever you need. I want out of this place and fast."

"Let me see what I can get scheduled for the next few days." He started to leave. "You just take it easy, okay."

"Yes. I will. Definitely. Thanks again." Blair beamed, excited at the prospect at getting out of there. "And if you see my friend…"

"The blonde?" She nodded, smiling sweetly as he guessed. "I'll send her right in."

The door shut behind him and Blair sank back against the pillows at her back. God, her day had just gotten that much better. Home was so much closer and maybe it wouldn't be the apartment where she'd grown up, but she could create a new place for herself in the world. Her mother had already offered to let her move into the new place that she and Cyrus had bought on the Upper East Side. Her mother said that it wasn't far from Chuck's apartment and the girls.

Eleanor offered it as just another option. Not sure what to say or think, Blair agreed to think about it, making no comment when her mother inquired as to what she and Chuck had decided on for the future. She couldn't very well tell the woman that she was taking her time before broaching that particular subject with Chuck Bass.

God, she was getting out of there.

She squealed, her giggle filling the room. No more white and blue walls or beeping machines. And clothes. She'd get actual clothes to wear instead of the disgusting polyester and cotton blend nightgown that'd been forced on her. Just a few more days….a few more tests, according to the truly handsome Dr. Chambers…Or Will. He'd insisted that she call him, Will.

ஐTBCஐ

A/N: Okay and got it out. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Lots of CS. Moments for Eleanor and Blair. Serena gets some answers about Bart and the fire and the boys' secrets and the why Chuck is so worried about Blair knowing the truth. Hmm though while Chuck is off chasing the mystery of fires and keeping secrets…young, flirty Dr. Chambers…or Dr. Will as he likes to be called puts in an appearance. As does Georginia's minion, wanting a look at her competition. Chuck's worried...S knows the truth...B wants answers. As always want to know what you guys are thinking. Nothing but love…will update asap. :D

Courtneyஐ