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

A/N: 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.

ஐChapter 17

While Serena made that long walk back to Blair's room, still not sure just what to say to her best friend, Chuck was downstairs with his best friend, fighting the urge to wring Dan Humphrey's effing neck.

If only the idiot hadn't gone off half-cocked, Chuck might very well be upstairs, reconnecting with the mother of his children. That was all he really wanted. Time with Blair, the only woman who'd ever made him quite literally sit up and take notice. She'd danced for herself, for him that night at Victrola and finally made him see what had been staring him in the face during all those years that she and Nate had played at being boyfriend/girlfriend. Then there she'd been. All for him. More than once he'd managed to fuck things up. They both had. Over and over again.

Now here was a chance to start again and make things right, but instead of being with her…he was spending quality time with Dan Humphrey. His world was starting to veer from surreal and off-kilter into knee-deep insanity.

They were no closer to tracking down the arsonist and now he had his dear sister breathing down his fucking neck. The craziest part of it was that if Humphrey had somehow managed to not bungle the entire affair, Chuck might have commended him for such a ballsy solo act.

Damn it, he glared at the dark-haired man who was gingerly getting to his feet.

"So you're sure that you can find it?" Nate asked.

The other man nodded slowly, his frowning expression belying the affirmative motion. "Yes. Definitely." Dan rubbed at the discolored goose-egg marring his temple. "I mean…I think I could get us back there…"

"That's great. Just effing great, Humphrey." Chuck sighed impatiently, "All right, so which is it. Can you get us back to that house or not?"

Dan returned Chuck's hostile regard, "Would you back the hell off for a minute? My head only feels like someone decided that I'd make the perfect stand-in for a game of whiffle ball." He added rolling his eyes, "Oh, wait. Somebody did."

"And whose fault is that?" Chuck retorted, letting the full amount of his anger and frustration boil dangerously close to the surface, "If you had waited…just a few hours…or even called me. Called Nate. We might not even be having this conversation. You might not look like something they rolled in from the gutter."

"Wow, Chuck. You almost sound like you care…I didn't know."

"Guys." Nate said, starting to move between the glaring twosome.

They ignored him, bickering back and forth, moving in closer to one another in an almost weary and yet eager dance\. Both men looked at their wits end and seemed willing to blow off some of their shared frustration by picking back up again with their brawl of only days before.

Chuck turned a hostile glance on his best friend as Nate refused to just let them have at it.

"This isn't going to solve anything. Come on, guys, do I have to pull out my cuffs?"

The room fell silent as Chuck and Dan ceased passing insults back and forth and turned on Nate. They watched him in equal expressions of disbelief before glancing back at one another and laughing. And just like that the tension twisting them all up, seemed to loosen. Not completely. Chuck was still pissed beyond reason and Dan felt the fine edge of guilt that put him on the defensive.

"Fine, Nathaniel. We promise to behave." Chuck said, his mouth quirking into a half-smile. "Just do me a favor and never threaten to pull out the handcuffs on me again. Humphrey here might get the wrong idea." Suddenly, a light of intrigue flamed Chuck's amber eyes and he stroked his jaw thoughtfully, "Now if you were to loan them to me for say…"

"Can we talk about something else? Please." Dan interjected.

"Sure." Chuck's expression sobered, "Did you happen to remember the location for that house?"

"Dammit. Sort of. I could find it again. It's just that—I uh sort of got turned around a few times before I actually found the place yesterday and that was when I had the address at my disposal."

"Are you trying to make piss me off, Humphrey?"

"Naw, just god-given talent."

Chuck nodded, full on derision in his tone and expression, "I suppose there had to be some purpose for your existence."

Nate shook his head, falling back. "Enough guys. Save the pissing contests for later."

"Such a distasteful way of putting things but I suppose Nathaniel is correct." Chuck murmurred, "We called a truce, Brooklyn. I suppose it'll stand for now. So you got lost…carry on."

"I got turned around but I finally tracked down the house."

"In Jersey."

"Yea…I thought you weren't going to interrupt. Nevermind. Yes, in New Jersey." Dan said.

"Nathaniel, the lojack they used to locate Humphrey's rental. No way they could use it to backtrack where he'd been?" Chuck asked.

"I don't think so. Damn thing doesn't even start transmitting locations unless the station is notified of theft. Let me check with one of the techs. Guy owes me a favor." Nate said.

"Are you sure that's wise? What with your superiors paying you wake-up calls, you know?" Chuck inquired quietly.

His oldest friend shrugged, "Like I said, he owes me one."

"Are you sure they took everything, Nate?" Dan asked. "What about my laptop…?"

"I checked every inch of that hotel room…those files were long gone. As for your laptop." Nate shook his head, "The thing was in pieces."

Chuck frowned, "Maybe I could get one of my people to look at it. Try to retrieve something from the hard drive."

Nate shook his head, "God, I wish that was an option but whoever is doing this has thought of everything. The hard drive was just completely gone. The detectives last night wondered about that…probably what sent Miller and my lieutenant to my door this morning. They know we're working on something."

"You sure you didn't get a look at this guy, Humph…Dan?" Chuck asked.

"I really wish to hell that I had…"

Chuck added, "He left you for dead, you know. There's every chance that he's going to come back to finish the job…he might not want to take the risk that you did get a look at him."

"Fuck." Dan squeezed his eyes shut. Cursing again. The thought honestly hadn't occurred to him. He'd been so busy just trying to survive the night and make it to Vanessa and Nate's that he'd never even considered this new threat.

"We were thinking that you'd move into the Palace." Nate said.

Chuck nodded, "I'd have more control there and the Palace's security is far superior to that dump where you were staying."

"Of course it is." Dan rolled his eyes, but didn't argue Chuck's point. Upon waking, he'd learned from his sister that their father was picking up the rest of Dan's things that had been salvaged from his destroyed hotel room. He'd planned to join his father at the hotel Rufus had chosen, closer to St. Vincent's and Jenny, but now with this new awareness of the danger that was an impossibility.

The door opened behind them. "Mr. Humphrey. Gentlemen. I just need a few moments with my patient so we can get him cleared to go."

The two best friends wandered into hallway. Chuck glanced at his watch and grimaced. "I guess I should be heading back upstairs…Blair's probably wondering where the hell I am. You okay with getting Humphrey settled at the hotel?"

"Yeah," Nate nodded slowly, looking away from his friend and then back again. "Listen. I'm going to be moving into a suite myself."

"Nathaniel, you don't have to move out of the apartment."

The blond smiled sadly, "Actually, I do. I mean Blair's going to be coming to stay at the apartment once she's back on her feet, right?"

Chuck nodded without hesitation, "Of course, but that doesn't mean that you have to go. You're my best friend, man, and if you need someplace to stay then…"

"Then you'll put me up in the Palace…free of charge, of course. Look, when Blair gets home…you guys are going to have a lot to deal with…without me and my fucking problems constantly underfoot." Nate said. "Besides, I think I might need my own space for a while."

Chuck studied his best friend for a moment before clapping him on the shoulder, "If that's what you need. Go ahead and take a room. While you're there I'd suggest that you take full advantage of the…uh perks. It's been a while but Renee, she's on the kitchen staff…she has an excellent."

"Chuck, man come on."

"Hands. I was going to say hands, Nathaniel." Chuck grinned, his mouth curving in to a devilish grin. "The woman was a licensed masseuse before my father hired her. Beautiful woman and again…really knows what she's doing with those hands."

"Thanks but no thanks. Unlike you I have other commitments…" Nate's words trailed off and his smile fell away as he realized what he was saying. He was still so concerned with his commitments and the vows he'd made for a marriage that he'd all but declared dead in the early morning hours when he'd been on the edge of sleep.

"Look. I've given you some space with this but if you want talk about that faithless bitch then I'm here."

"Don't call her that." Nate glared but soon enough his expression was softening in apology. He said quietly, "It might be the truth. I just don't need to hear you saying it…okay?"

"Whatever, you say. Look. Do what you need to do? Get yourself moved into the Palace. Wallow in self-pity or a nice bout of meaningless sex…pleasurable distractions if you will. I don't care, but it pisses me off seeing you like this. Nathaniel. That's all."

"We'll see." Nate said, "You'd better get back upstairs before Blair sends a search party out for you."

Chuck could just picture the search party of two that would be on this tail, consisting of Roman and Cyrus. One who was an incorrigible flirt and the other came bearing a hug that could take down a fucking NFL linebacker. "You're probably right. Listen, maybe later I'll drop by the Palace and we can have a drink. S or Blair's parents will keep her company while I'm gone."

"You plan on spending the night here again?"

Chuck shrugged, "I suppose. I don't want to leave her alone here. Do me a favor though and unless it's life or death…don't call. My cover story to Blair about overseas business gets thinner every time…that or she thinks I'm turning into my father. A workaholic with almost no time for his offspring or the woman he married."

"Maybe you should tell her after all."

"God, not you too. Now you're starting to sound like Serena." Chuck groaned, exasperated. "And on that note…I'd better head back up. Keep an eye on Humphrey, would you? I'm afraid to even consider what idiotic stunt he might pull next."

"Damn. How'd I get stuck babysitting Humphrey?"

"Who says I need a babysitter?" Dan asked, coming up behind them. His doctor hurrying off in the opposite direction.

"Um, well yesterday kind of proved that you do, wouldn't you say?" Nate cleared his throat.

"I took a chance."

Chuck's mouth thinned, his expression void of all humor and sentiment of before. "Yes, you did and now we have nothing. Nice job." He turned back to Nate, "I'll text you later."

Dan shook his head and watched as Chuck turned on his heel, casting one last look of distaste in Dan's direction. Turning back to Nate he said, "I really hate that guy. I don't know how you've managed to stay friends with him for all these years."

"Chuck has his moments…but honestly…best friends aren't a subject that I think you or I need to be bringing up." Nate started to walk off, heading for the exit.

"Sorry, man. I wasn't thinking. Extracting foot from mouth now." Dan promised, "Subject dropped."

"Thanks." Nate slowed his pace, falling into step beside the other man. They walked outside, cold air and noise of midday Manhattan wrapping around them.

"Except."

Nate rolled his eyes heavenward, pausing in his attempt at flagging down a cab. "Too easy. It was too easy. What? Except what?"

"About Vanessa…" Dan said not looking away with Nate's eyes narrowed, threatening certain death if he didn't stop while he was ahead. "About what happened. Her cheating on you."

"Drop it. Not another word, Dan or you're on your own." Nate said, turning away, intent on ending the conversation and getting them the hell out of there.

"Just let me say one thing and then I promise that I won't say another word on the subject."

"I won't even talk to my best friend about this thing with Vanessa. Why the hell should I listen to what you have to say?" Nate came at him, expression dark, fists clenched at his sides.

People edged around them, some oblivious and stuck in the own heads while others cast looks with varying degrees of interest.

Dan stood unmoving in the face of the other man's barely leashed anger, "Why should you listen to me? Hmm, I don't know. Maybe because you look like you want to throw me in front of a bus…or at the very least knock my lights out…again. You remember that…don't you? Your fist. My jaw." He brought a hand to his bruised jaw. "I'd say you owe me a few seconds and then I'll butt out."

"I could just hit you again."

"You could but that wouldn't shut me up."

"Dammit. Say it then."

"Okay." Dan said, "Don't give up on her."

"Excuse me. Don't give u…that's all you got? Really?" Nate laughed darkly. "She cheated on me, broke vows that she made to me. You get that? She went off and fucked somebody else."

"I get it. I do. But why? Why would she…something's wrong and you're not asking the right questions."

"You know who it is, don't you?"

Automatically, Dan brought his hands up in mock surrender. "No, she didn't tell me his name. She did tell me how messed up she's been over the past few months."

"Oh, so this is my fault. She's been 'messed up' and that makes me the bad husband who didn't give a damn…fuck you Dan. I was there." Nate said.

"I didn't say you weren't and for the record, neither did she. Vanessa…"

"Can you not say her name to me? And you second's about up."

"Fine. But just hear me and remember that you've made mistakes in the past, too. We all have. Maybe it'd be a good idea for you guys to sit down and talk about what got you to this point."

"Well, thank you very much, Dr. Phil. Vanessa and I have said everything that needs to be said at this point…and so have you. Now we're done. Got it." Nate said.

"Don't just walk away. That's all I'm saying. Or years from now, you might find yourself regretting not sitting down and having that conversation. That's all I'm saying." Dan said, his mind going back to that long-ago day when he hadn't taken Blair's advice, "And now I'm done. Here's a cab."

He left Nate standing there.

"You coming or what, Archibald?" Dan climbed into the backseat and waited for the other man. Without a word, Nate followed, hoping that Dan would keep his mouth shut after offering up his unsolicited advice.

Nate started to give the cabbie the address for the Palace when Dan interrupted.

"Wait. I was thinking. Maybe we should take a ride over into Jersey. See what clicks." The reporter said, "Unless you need to check in with your other half before you make a move. Chuck might get pissy at you, too, for following a lead without his express permission."

"That's not what he meant and you know it. He's just worried about Blair and the girls."

Dan nodded and cleared his throat. Danger back on the menu as his thoughts drifted to the faceless man who'd almost killed him the night before. Quite possibly the same guy who was responsible for the fires and that horrible night at his sister's boutique. His sister could've died that night. They all could've if things had gone differently. He understood Chuck's fears and anger. And that made him even more intent to get back to that house in Jersey. With or without Nate Archibald in tow.

~ஐ~

Blair waited for Serena. Minutes crawling by since flirty Dr. Will had left her alone. Hmm, maybe he'd been too busy hitting on S to bother with giving her Blair's message. She cursed softly, wishing for the umpteenth time that she could just get up and hunt them all down.

God, it was only the second day and she was sick to death of the walls around her and not being able to get out of bed.

She wiggled her toes experimentally and moved her legs back and forth beneath the sheets. Her body still felt sore and heavy, but already she was starting to feel stronger. Blair chewed on her bottom lip, wondering. Before she could talk herself out of it, she gripped the metal rail at one side of her hospital bed and started to swing her legs ever so slowly to the side.

Once her feet were dangling over the edge, Blair politely told the voice in the back of her head to shut it and she scooted her hospital gown clad bottom across scratchy white sheets. Triumph and nerves warred in her belly until her bottom rested on the very edge of the hospital bed and her bare, unpainted toes were touching the cold floor. A thrill of excitement shot through her at getting even that far. She could do this. She'd breeze right through rehab and then she'd do what it took to get her life back…find her place in the world and in her daughters' lives.

To get started with that, she needed to literally be back on her own feet. Sighing, Blair supposed that she ought to be satisfied with just that bit of success and scoot her butt right back where she'd started before one of the nurses or Serena came in to give her an earful. Still she was so full of all the things that she wanted to do, the minute she truly had her life back and she didn't want to wait to get started in that endeavor. She wanted to have complete control of her own body and life now. She didn't want others making decisions that should be hers. And she didn't want to be stuck in that friggin bed any minute longer than absolutely necessary.

Making sure not to fiddle overmuch with the wires filtering back to the machines that tracked every fluctuation and tic of her heartbeat, Blair gripped the metal rail with both hands until her knuckles bleed white. Then she just pushed off, her body no longer supported by the bed, but instead on unsteady legs that shook. She waited her breath coming fast and hard as a smile grew.

She'd done it. She was doing it. Blair suddenly wished that she hadn't sent them all off…or that Chuck at least could be there to see her. She had time for that one thought before her wobbling knees buckled beneath her slight weight and she went crashing to the floor.

"Ow." Blair muttered after the initial shock of it. She rubbed at her stinging bottom and her arm where she'd accidently ripped the IV from her arm. And the heart monitor sounded in rapid succession, picking up not on the racing of her heart but absence of a heartbeat since she'd dislodged the sensor. "Well, that's just great."

The hospital door swung open. Instead of the army of doctors and audience that she'd been wishing for earlier to witness her triumph…it was only S.

Thank God. Her face still ran hot with her embarrassment, but she'd seen her best friend in far more humiliating circumstances. And her friend looked more worried than amused.

"Blair!" Serena rushed forward.

"Hey S." Blair blinked up at her, trying to appear non-chalant.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Waiting for the nurses to serve my tea…what does it look like I'm doing." Blair rolled her eyes and reached for her best friend with one hand, the other reaching for the hem of her hospital gown which had ridden up. "I fell, dammit. Help me up before someone comes in."

"What were you thinking about?" Serena maneuvered around the other woman, trying to get a grip on her but afraid to do something to hurt her friend.

"What was I thinking…I was wondering where you were…probably too busy flirting it up with Dr. Feelgood." Blair accused, holding onto Serena's arms and feeling as weak as a newborn. Her legs were completely useless and her arms vibrated with weakness and nerves as she held on to Serena.

"Dr. Feel who?"

"Will…my cute doctor who I sent looking for you not ten minutes ago." Blair told her.

Serena smiled, "Will, huh?"

"Don't change the subject…" Before she could further badger the blonde woman any further or get back into the hospital bed, two nurses and the handsome doctor himself were coming through the door.

The nurses regarded her in disapproval and hovered at Serena's back, trying to get around the blonde to get their wayward patient to bed themselves. It was Dr. Will who came to the rescue.

"Pardon me, Ms. Van der Woodsen." He lifted Blair up before she knew what he was up to. She was fighting with the hem of her hospital gown again, even as he deposited her back in the middle of her hospital gown.

Embarrassed at the entire situation she avoided the doctor's twinkling eyes and turned her attention to Serena who watched with sudden interest.

"Dr. Will, huh." Blair heard her best friend murmur softly.

Blair shot a warning glare.

"Ms. Waldorf, do we need to have another talk about the call button? When I said for you to stop pressing it every ten minutes I didn't mean to leave off with us at all. If you needed help with something you should have rung for one of us." One of the nurses chastised, reaching for Blair's sore arm so that she could get Blair hooked up to the IV once more.

"It's fine, Maddie." Will told the nurse. "I'll take care of that. I'm sure you have other patients to see to." He turned that charming smile on the older woman who'd gone toe-to-toe…sort of.. with Blair earlier on just what her duties did and did not consist of.

Not as if she'd asked the woman to cook her a full service breakfast. She'd just let her know that Waldorfs did not eat the crap that they'd brought to her and "yes" tea would've been nice as would a magazine or even the paper.

Blair didn't realize that she was glaring at the older woman until she turned back on Blair, the woman's frowning disapproval back in full force. Damn woman didn't know who she was dealing with…that look had nothing on Eleanor Waldorf on her worst days.

"Fine. She's all yours." The nurse muttered, dragging the younger nurse along with her.

"Don't mind Maddie. She's a sweetheart. Now I'd ask what you thought you were doing but I'm pretty sure that I have a good idea."

"She fell." Serena supplied.

"S." Blair rolled her eyes skyward. Her flush going redder than before. Of course she'd fallen. He'd have to be a complete idiot not to know that. Still, she didn't need Serena showcasing that fact.

He stepped back, his eyes studying her from the tip of her bare toes to the top of her head. It wasn't like before, he was in full-doctor mode, still Blair fought the urge to yank her hospital gown down even further though she was 'modestly' covered to just about her knees. "You hurting anywhere?"

"Just my pride." And my butt…but she wasn't about to tell him that.

"Sure?"

She offered a too bright smile, "Positive."

"I want to check your ankle for bruising or swelling. You weren't supposed to be on your feet yet. You're not body's not strong enough at this point."

"Oh, believe me. Message sent and received." Blair sighed as he moved to the bottom of the bed and cool hands, gingerly massaged and tested the smooth flesh of her ankles.

"You're going to need to take better care of yourself, Blair. You may be small but your body's still weak and you're bones are as fragile as a newborn baby's." Those gentle hands continued their probing.

She met Serena's eyes over his shoulder.

He said, "You need to remember that it's been five years almost and your body isn't used to the exertion and strain that you'll be putting it through."

"Well," Serena piped up, "Chuck and Harold did bring in that physical therapist for her at least once a week. That'll help for a quicker recovery, right?"

"Yes, Mr. Waldorf told me about that. Excellent thinking on his part." Will said, his eyes never looking up to meet Serena's, even as she came from behind him and moved to her best friend's side.

"Yeah, B." Serena said, "Your Dad and Chuck never gave up on you coming out of it. Chuck made sure you had the best of care."

Blair rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. What was going in that blonde head? Did she want Dr. Will's flirty attention? Blair's dark brows arched in question. As usual she was ignored. It was getting old. Really old.

"She okay?" Serena cleared her throat, glancing at Blair's foot. "Can't see any swelling from here."

"She's fine. But no more stunts like that." He said, turning back to Blair. "Not unless you want to extend the timetable on your recovery with healing up unnecessary broken bones and bruises. You'll be seeing a physical therapist here before I release your case…so just give it and yourself some time to get stronger. Okay?"

Blair sighed, her words given breezily, "Fine." He didn't move, but seemed to wait. "Okay. Okay. I promise."

"Good. Now if you ladies will excuse me." He turned and left them.

Both women watching as he left the room. Serena looked at Blair and demanded, "Okay. What was that all about?"

Blair frowned, "I don't know what you mean."

Serena shook her head, glancing back at the closed hospital door with incredulous eyes. "Dr. Feelgood, huh. You're lucky that Chuck didn't walk in on that little examination."

Opening her mouth with a quick retort, Blair cleared her throat, considering her words before she said softly. She might not be able to come right out and ask Chuck where they stood, but her best friend could give her some idea. "And so what if he did…you think he'd have a problem with it?"

"Um, yeah. I think that's a pretty mild way to put it. Yes, he would have something to say about you flirting with…Will." Serena said.

Trying not to smile, Blair said, "I wasn't flirting and I can't help it if the good doctor has excellent taste. So you think Chuck would've been jealous."

Serena smiled, "Oh my god. You are shameless, B. The idea of Chuck all green-eyed over the doctor's touchy-feely approach has you…giddy. Look at you."

"Does not." She tried to glare but instead found herself fighting smile curving her lips. Only half-feigning her impatience, she demanded. "Where is he anyway? Taking another call…I suppose." Now Blair was the one feeling the bite of the green-eyed monster, her mood suddenly crashing just as surely as she'd fallen to the floor minutes before. She turned to Serena, reaching for her hand. "S, I need to ask you something. I need to ask you something and you have to be completely honest with me…okay?"

Serena damn her didn't answer immediately as if she knew the bent of Blair's thoughts. She looked away before turning to B with resolution in her eyes, ready for the truth, Blair hoped. "Ask away."

"He's keeping secrets…already…he lied to me. There were these mysterious phone calls all night and he told me they were business but I don't think so….S, tell me the truth." Blair dragged in a fortifying breath, her nails digging into her palms. "Did he meet someone? When I was sleeping? I know I have no claim on him but did he fall in love with someone else…"

Serena looked at her…her expression one of complete disbelief and then her face cleared and the bitch actually laughed. Laughed in the face of Blair's fear and very valid concerns. Blair's reaction to her laughter must've shown in her darkening expression because Serena was immediately remorseful. "Oh God. I'm sorry." Serena said, trying to catch her breath enough to speak. "I didn't mean to laugh but B you have no idea how offbase you are…"

Okay, that was good, right. Still, she searched Serena's expression, looking for the lie that Serena had been prepared to give her just minutes ago. "Do you mean that?"

"Yes, B. Chuck is devoted to three things…his job…the girls…and you. And believe me when I say that it isn't in that order."

Blair nodded, "But wait. What about the phone calls…if that wasn't from some jealous girlfriend then who…"

"Nate!" Serena blurted and then covered her mouth as if she wished she could take it back.

"Nate?" Now she was confused. Nate had been calling all night. Why was he calling and why would Chuck lie about it. "Serena." Blair uttered the soft, familiar demand that called for answers.

"B…I shouldn't."

"Yes, you should. Now spill. What do you know?"

Serena looked torn.

"Serena?!"

The blonde looked toward the hospital door as she wanted to make a dash for it, or expected rescue to appear at any moment. "Serena Cecillia Van der Woodsen. Tell me. What do you know?"

What did she know? God the wealth of secrets that she knew were bogging her down and Serena was suddenly wishing that she didn't know any of them. Serena looked at her best friend and thought of all that they'd been through. And she thought of her promise to her brother. Dammit. What did she know? What plausible reason could Nate have for calling Chuck all damn night when he was with the woman he loved. Serena closed her eyes and let the truth spill forth, "Vanessa's cheating on Nate with Carter."

Blair's mouth dropped open. "Oh my effing God."

"I know!"

"What the hell is it with this guy? Oh wow. That's like the last thing I would've expected you to say."

You and me both, Serena thought, feeling better to at least have this one thing to share. "I found out last night and Nate doesn't know yet."

"Why the hell not?"

"She wants to tell him herself…so I'm giving her time to do it." Serena said.

"You're being far too nice about this."

"Blair. He shouldn't hear it from some third party."

Been there done that. Blair sighed, her expression thoughtful as she rested back against her pillows. "I suppose you have a point. He should hear the truth from her. So he's really been calling Chuck…poor Natie. He doesn't deserve that. I know we all messed up before, but nobody deserves that from the person they've married." She looked at Serena. "You sure Chuck's not seeing someone? Five years is a long time. Look what happened with Nate and Vanessa…wait. Nevermind. Forget I even started to think that comparison…"

"B, you've got nothing to worry about. You're his one and only, remember?"

"That was a long time ago." She said.

"Yeah, well the more some things change…the more others stay exactly the same."

"Like you and Dan." Blair smiled. "How is he by the way? Recovering from his mugging."

Serena smiled and shrugged, not wanting to lie to her best friend. Chuck had better find some answers and soon.

ஐTBCஐ

A/N: Okay I know some of you were waiting for more couply interactions. Hope this whetted your tastebuds a bit for what's coming next. This continues to be a C/B story of mystery and love, exploring CB's complicated relationship and reconnecting…as well as N/V & D/S trying to muddle their way through their own set of troubles. With Georgina, Eleanor, and a new flirty doctor thrown into the mix…promise things get very interesting. As always I want to know what you guys are thinking. Nothing but love…will update asap. Got a few things to hopefully keep us busy during this last long week until the hiatus is FINALLY over. :D

Courtneyஐ