Disclaimer: I own nothing except a great love for CB and the many inhabitants of the UES
A/N: Wow, guys seriously busiest week on the planet. Like everything I needed to do was suddenly due at the same time and then overtime. Who needs sleep anyway…but hey I just figured out a nifty new feature on my IPod, I can write now when I'm supposed to be working *snoopydance* Okay, okay. Onward with the good stuff. Glad you guys all got a kick out of CB's little date night in the previous chapter. It was seriously fun to write, as was this next one that you're about to read. Oh, I did this without my beta and I ran through it a few more times myself so bear with my for my possibly many grammatic infractions. The story's what count's though, right. I'll leave you to it. Love always for Wifey and the girls.
Chapter 22ஐ
Rather than the hovering gloom and threat of snow that'd been poised over the Northeast for days, dawn arrived with a gentle sweep of brilliant light.
Unmoving, he'd lain watching as the first fingers of light stretched inside, through half close blinds and crept further and further into room.
The alarm would probably go off in a few more minutes, but they were both awake. He could tell. She kept holding her breath and every now and again, body would tense up. As if she were waiting, bracing herself for what was to come next. Over the past few days, he'd been setting the pace for whatever this was. Whatever they were now. The one and only time she'd attempted to take the initiative and invite him to dinner, he'd shot her down.
Time to get the hell out of here, he tried rousing himself from the bed. It was past time, but he couldn't seem to make himself get up to leave. He didn't have to be in to the station until late that afternoon. Months before he'd have spent the morning lazying in bed. Sort of like now, except they would've been making love. No. That was past. Now they just laid there, waiting for the other person to speak.
Chuck's words outside the hospital came back to him. Telling him to be careful, but wasn't it already too late for that. After dropped the twins at their grandmother's apartment, he'd considered heading straight for the Palace but instead he'd ended up here.
And Vanessa damn her. She'd known that he'd come. She'd gone ahead and made the dinner that he'd warned her not to bother with. A dinner that Nate still hadn't touched. His negligent and hunger sent his belly roiling in protest, breaking into the unnatural silence. Lifting whatever strange lethargy that had held them both paralyzed.
"Guess someone's hungry after all." Vanessa cleared her throat. Turning slowly until they were facing one another. "I could whip up something for breakfast, while you shower."
There it was again. The olive branch extended with that nervous smile. Not actual peace and forgiveness but a place to start. He should just leave. That would be better for them both. "I don't have any clean clothes here, remember?" He told her, rather than goodbye caught in his throat.
She wrapped herself in a sheet and made a beeline for the armoire. Only once she'd yanked open his drawer, did she see that it wasn't quite as empty as he'd left it when he'd packed his bags, "You didn't take everything. I found these when I was doing the wash the other night."
"Thanks." Nate padded over to her, lifting out a clean t-shirt and sweats. "You use the main bath. I'll use the one downstairs."
He started from the room, wondering at wisdom of change of heart.
"Wait." She called out. "So are you staying? For breakfast I mean?"
Nate gave a careless shrug as if it didn't matter either way. "Yea, I guess so."
He left the room before she could start asking the really hard questions. The ones running through Nate's brain now. First their nights. Now breakfast. There wasn't much room for conversation when he came to her during the late hours.
Hell, the conversation they'd just had was about as much as he'd said to her in days. Face-to-face, at least.
Breakfast was certain to be an experience. Either they were going to both just sit there looking like idiots or she was going to ask him that question again. She was going to bring up her affair and wonder if he was ready to forgive and forget.
Nate still didn't have an answer for that one.
~ஐ~
"Chuck." Blair breathed his name, in the midst of a very very happy dream that picked up things right where they'd left off before dinner. Except they weren't back in her hospital room, they were in his old room at the Van der Bass apartment. He smiled down at her, his hands in her hair and bare toes, tickling the soles of her feet. "Quit it," she smiled, taking the sting from her half-hearted protest as her fingers gripped fistfuls of the sheets and he trailed kisses along her neck, his teeth nipping at her ear
Her eyes squeezed tightly shut, she murmured his name again.
Something tickled her foot again and then moved upward, skimming along. She smiled as the same delicate something brushed against her cheeks, stopping to tickle her nose and tease her sense with a delicate perfume.
"Rise and shine, Waldorf."
Why was he talking? He was supposed to be kissing her dammit or better yet, making love to her, but instead he teased her. Same ol' Basshole.
"Stop talking, Bass." She ordered, her eyes fluttering open. Blair saw him standing over her. It took a moment for the truth of her surroundings to sink into her sleep and lust muddled brain. Most definitely not his old bedroom. She squinted looking around, as a matter of fact, it didn't even feel like the same cozy haven that she'd fallen asleep in.
The remnants of their "date" had been cleared away with only one of the screens remaining near the door, barring a clear view of her in bed to anyone who might glance through the glass panel. The table was gone, as were the dozens upon dozens of tealights that had brightened the room during the night.
"Morning" Chuck whispered, "Sweet dreams?"
There was something knowing in his expression. Despite the fact that he'd seen her naked flesh multiple times and that she'd borne him children, Blair felt her face run hot at the thought that he might have heard her. That she might've moaned or called out to him in her sleep with him standing right there was still enough to make her want to toss the sheets over her head. Or pull him in with her.
"What time is it?" She sat up instead. "Nevermind that. What are you hiding behind your back?"
"Well, I'd tell you to close your eyes again, but I'd better keep you focused on the here and now." Chuck murmured, studying every nuance of her expression. The laughter and curiosity in those eyes. "Then again, if you'll tell me just what put that smile on your face a few moments ago…"
"The part of the tease was never for you. Now, what is it?" She pulled him down beside her, reaching around him to get to whatever he was hiding there. Only he thwarted her every effort, "Chuck!!"
Smiling, he leaned forward to steal a quick kiss from her pouting mouth. "Close your eyes."
"Not a chance."
"Okay." He started to get up
Blair gave in, "Fine. But this had better be good."
"Are they closed?"
She glared at him through lids squeezed tightly shut, the flat line of her mouth leaving no room for confusion over her displeasure. "Beyond good."
"It will be. Now promise not to open them until I say so." He waited for a moment, wondering if her displeasure was on the verge of all out mutiny. "B?"
"Promise." Blair hissed through gritted teeth, "Now get on with it."
He smirked, his eyes watching her closely, "Hold out your hands."
Slowly she did as he asked. Her eyelids twitched but never slitting to cheat and steal a quick peek. Excited and frustrated, Blair was cursing him in her head when he laid something across her open palms. The soft flesh of the petals tickled her palms and she realized that she hadn't been dreaming entirely. Her fingers closed around the hard stem and she started to open her eyes, but he reached out and covered them with one hand. Her lashes fluttering against the smooth flesh of his palm.
"Not yet."
His fingers didn't leave her face immediately. Instead his fingers trailed her cheeks. A soft sigh escaping her lips as he brushed his thumb across, making her smile for him again. She wanted to protest when his fingers fell away.
Her wait wasn't long when she heard, felt him moving. She jumped, her eyes almost flying open when something cold brushed her mouth.
"What is th…"
"Open." Chuck told her.
Her mouth and eyes opened at once. She would've spoken if not for the cold, sweetness that melted on her tongue. Her eyes widened. Ice cream. He'd brought her ice cream.
Chuck's mouth quirked as he fed her another spoonful. "Good?"
"About time."
"Not the appreciation I was expecting. Think I'll take myself and this ice cream and be on my way."
"Try it and lose a limb." She moaned, savoring her treat. If Chuck thought he'd make it even one step, then he'd obviously forgotten a thing or two in her absence.
"Good?"
"Heavenly."
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Do me a favor, though. Don't mention this to your daughters." He warned, "Not unless you want to start a lecture for which there is no end from those tyrants."
"My children are not tyrants, Bass."
"Oh, they're most especially your daughters when they're feeling indignant or slighted." Chuck told her.
"Ha!" Blair scoffed, "Like they've ever needed to be. Evie and Kat have you wrapped around their little fingers and you know it."
He leaned in close, a finger to his lips. "Ssh. It's a secret."
"Worst kept."
As had become their routine in those mornings, Chuck filled her in on the meetings he had lined up for the morning. "I can probably get back here after two, if I move a few things. You've got an appointment with the psychologist later, right?"
Blair frowned, "Yes. Why?" She tried to catch his eye but he seemed suddenly engrossed pilfering the rest of her ice cream for himself. "Hey. Mine, Bass. Get your own."
"Rather selfish especially when I went to so much trouble to get that for you."
"Did you call poor Arthur last night or this morning?" She smirked. Yes, so much trouble to send poor Arthur running at the crack of dawn, with but a phone call. She'd done the same with Dorota too many times to count so she thought better of acting calling him on it, opting for a change of subject instead. "So why were you asking about my session."
He shrugged, clearly not intent on giving her any answers.
"Were you thinking of joining us? It's really all terribly boring. She just sits there and I do all of the talking…which is usually fine except, she looks at you like she's trying to piece you together from the inside out. It's not the least bit relaxing or helpful." Blair revealed.
Remembering his conversation with Chambers the night before, Chuck couldn't help feeling pleased. The very fact that the good doctor was pushing for it, made him want to hate the sessions, which made him feel guilty and as unsupportive as the bastard had been implying he was for not being more involved with B's psychobabble hours.
"Seriously, I just talk about nothing and everything the whole time. Mostly the girls." And you, she added silently. "If you want…I'm sure she wouldn't mind having you sit in."
"Nah," he shook his head. "I think I'll leave that mental torture to you. I'd better get going. Oh, Eric's planning on stopping by and the girls will be by with Dorota after their playdate."
"I know what you're doing." She said softly, watching as he started across the room, already gone from her though he hadn't set foot from the room yet.
Obviously distracted, Chuck reached for his overcoat and briefcase. "Hmm, what'd you say?" He murmured, forcing his mind back from the million and one things already clamoring for his attention. The various back-to-back meetings that he had lined up for that entire morning. The fact that he still hadn't heard from Mike about Georgina. Getting last minute details lined up for Blair's surprise. He really should've left an hour ago, but after the incredible night she'd planned for them, Chuck had wanted to do something.
After numerous failed attempts at romancing the woman with flowers, he knew that he was taking his own life in his hands, waking her up with that single pink rose but he wanted no ill omens or bad luck charms looming in their future. Ghosts of the past had no place in their lives. That included the entire situation with the Franklins and the fires.
"I said that I know what you're up to, Chuck Bass." She repeated.
He tensed at her words, but schooled his features and stance even before glancing in her direction, "Oh, really? Care to enlighten me."
"Don't play innocent. It doesn't suit you, either."
"Touché."
"I don't need babysitters. So just call them all off and let everyone get back to their lives. I'm sure that Eric has much better things to do with his day than sit here and keep me company." Blair climbed from the bed, her leg steadier beneath her than the day before and even more so than the one before that. Still the trembled, her body still languid and relaxed from sleep.
"So, let me get this straight. You complaining…having a hard time believing that everyone missed you and just wants to spend time with you." Chuck walked over and held a hand to her forehead. "Hmm, no fever. What've you done with Blair Waldorf and who are you?"
"Stop being an ass and trying to distract me." She slapped lightly at his hand. "You don't have to worry about me."
Chuck's eyes raked her over with a searching look, "Why would you think I am?"
"I'm not stupid. Look. Go to work. Let everyone lead their lives…business as usual. I don't need to be coddled or babysat."
"That's what you think this is about?"
"Yes. I know it is. I'll be fine on my own. I've got the session with my shrink later and my workouts. I've walked so many circles around this ward that I get dizzy just thinking about it, but I know how to keep myself occupied."
"They want to spend time with you." He told her. "That's all."
"And you're lying." She accused, her eyes narrowing. Five years may have gone by but she could still tell when the Basshole was up to something. "Spill it."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I need to go or I'll be late for my meeting." Chuck started for the door, suddenly feeling very anxious to get out of there. He stopped short when she grabbed hold of his briefcase with both hands.
"It's your company," she reminded, her tone saccharine sweet. "I'm sure that they won't start without you."
"Blair, come on."
"You're jealous, aren't you?"
Now that hadn't been what he was expecting. The very last thing actually. "Of whom?"
"Oh, spare me. You get no end of pleasure tormenting my doctor whenever he comes in to…"
"Socialize." Chuck provided, the one word hissed in his displeasure. "He comes in to socialize with you when he should be checking on his other patients."
"Exhibit A." With a flourish, she motioned to him, "green-eyed monster."
He took in her self-satisfied grin and wanted to lock the world away just as they'd done the night before. Chuck played around with the idea of calling his secretary and having her clear his schedule, but knew immediately that he wouldn't…couldn't.
"No defense?" she queried.
"You are enjoying this entirely too much, Waldorf."
That didn't kill that smile even a little, "And that wasn't even close to an answer, Bass."
"It's all you're getting," he tugged gently until she let go of his briefcase. "I wish I didn't have to go."
"Then don't. You're in charge."
"Yes. I'm in charge and expected…" he frowned down at this watch, "at the office in another twenty minutes. Can't cancel now, but look. Tomorrow's New Years Eve…I've already made sure that nothing's scheduled. Not for tomorrow or the next few days, but I can't reschedule today's lineup…not again at any rate. Tomorrow, though it'll be you, me, the girls…"
"And every last one of my babysitters…oops friends."
"Be good. And don't overdo it." Chuck left her with a quick kiss before he could change his mind again. Or have it changed for him.
~ஐ~
"Late night?"
Nate barely had his foot inside the suite when the door across the hall swung inward. He cursed softly as he looked over his shoulder and saw the last person he was expecting or wanted to see at that point.
He felt that same fleeting panic as when they'd all been much younger and had been replacing the scotch in Bart's liquor cabinet. His own father never seemed to notice the pre-pubescent foursome's indulgence, but Chuck's old man had been a different story. Nate had never been able to understand why his best friend insisted on raiding the elder Bass' liquor cabinet. Not only did he have the Captain's at his disposal but Lily Van der Woodsen was usually in town only for birthdays and major holidays. Still Chuck insisted that there was a thrill in getting one over the great Bart Bass.
Nate had both hated and loved their missions to somehow replace what they'd taken. He'd always been so sure that at any moment Bart would suddenly swoop in, despite the fact that he was halfway across the world. Terrifying, but exciting. Wrong, but he couldn't have convinced his best friend to do anything else. Hell, he couldn't have convinced himself.
So, it was that same terrifying thrill that Nate felt shoot up his spine as he turned to face the woman studying him as if she didn't know what to make of him. He almost wished that it was Bart Bass and not the blonde watching him with growing impatience. He couldn't exactly tell her where he'd spent the night and who he'd spent it with.
Revealing his lapse to Chuck was one thing, since for the most part, his best friend's reaction had been nothing that he hadn't expected, but Serena. She could go either way. He couldn't exactly blurt of that he was "fucking" his wife or that he was indulging in never-ending breakup sex with the woman he still had every intention of divorcing. She wouldn't understand. No more than he did himself, at any rate.
"I could ask you the same," he motioned to the open door of Humphrey's hotel suite.
"I just stopped by before work. Breakfast with Dan." Serena stepped aside and motioned to the remnants of their morning fare spread out on the table.
Nate saw it well enough but he kept his expression doubtful. Instead his eyes slid over her, taking in all from head-to-toe. Not a blonde strand was out of place and she looked too well put together to have just indulged in a bout of quickie sex with an old boyfriend.
Motioning to his sweats, Nate started to lie outright and tell her that he'd left for an early run. Of course he'd taken that damn shower back at the brownstone so he barely looked as if he'd sprinted from the cab.
She didn't call him on it, "Dan told me about the late hours that you've been keeping."
"Of course, he did." Nate shook his head, didn't they have anything better to do than discussing his fucking nocturnal habits. He could just imagine the uproar if he admitted to spending the night at the brownstone. He couldn't help the next words that came out with more force than he intended. "If you and Humphrey can't find something better to talk about then I'd say that if you guys are trying to rekindle things, then you've got definite problems."
"I'm worried about you, Nate."
"There's nothing to worry over," he insisted, "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"Oh, jeez. Not you, too." Nate turned on his heel and stormed into his own suite, not bothering to shut the door. Wouldn't do him much good, anyway.
She didn't disappoint, following in his wake.
"Shouldn't you be over there with Humphrey, enjoying your breakfast?"
"He's on the phone with his editor." Serena told him, "And I wanted to talk to you. Stop being a jerk and wait a minute. Yes, I came over to spend time with Dan, but I've been wanting to talk to you. You were supposed to be in there with us."
"A threesome. How romantic." He found himself mimicking the words of the cabbie they'd met in Jersey. "Sorry. Just not my thing."
"Nate, be serious." She was running short on patience.
That was fine by him. He'd rather have Serena annoyed rather than "aw"ing and clucking over him like Dorota with the twins.
"I know you weren't at the station this early. Dressed like that. I know you didn't spend the night here."
"Why is Humphrey so invested in where I spent the night? It's none of his business and none of yours."
"We've been friends forever. More than that at one time or another." Serena cleared her throat, glancing away from him. "Don't push me away. I can only guess what genius advice Chuck could've given you. Just listen to me when I say that sex with some anonymous woman won't make the hurt you're feeling go away."
"What about with someone I do know?" He asked, his expression deadly serious.
No way could Serena know that he was referring to his backsliding with Vanessa. Serena studied his intent expression and could find nothing to tell her that he might be joking. Or striking out, goading her with their past. She really hoped he wasn't suggesting that they hop into bed just so he could forget about Vanessa cheating on him. Wasn't exactly how she'd ever thought they'd end up rekindling things better left in the past? Not that she'd ever thought about it. Dammit. "Nate, can we not go there. I'd hate to ruin our friendship and your life is complicated enough without adding revenge sex into the mix."
Nate wished that was truly the case. Unfortunately, life had seemed anything but complicated over the past few nights. Regrets and second guessing his lapses only came with the morning.
Maybe he should just sleep with someone else. Let Vanessa feel the burn of it and see where things stood between them when it was all said and done. He hadn't exactly been a saint in the past. But that had been high school, before everything with the Captain. Nate had grown up from the boy he'd been, building a life for himself with Vanessa.
"Look, I need to leave for work. Would you mind turning your phone on? Chuck tried you earlier and I called you at least a half dozen times before you got back." Serena decided that retreat didn't sound like such a bad idea. Nate was okay. Distracted by his problems with Vanessa no doubt.
She couldn't resist the urge to keep checking up on him. Blair had relayed Vanessa's promise, but from what she could tell, Nate still didn't know about his wife and Carter.
She'd been completely serious about bringing breakfast for both Nate and Dan. For the latter, since he suddenly had such a problem with being seen out in public with her and Nate because she'd been thinking about him the night before and again that morning. Wondering if Vanessa had finally done it.
Apart of her didn't want Nate to find out the truth, but it was bound to come out. The best thing would be for it to come from Vanessa but if the other woman continued skirting the issue, then Serena couldn't see how she'd have any other choice than to tell her old friend the truth.
"Remember that you can call me no matter what." Serena reminded, "Or please call Chuck at least. He's worried about you, too." Serena insisted.
Nate frowned, watching her go. She and Chuck had tried to call him. He hadn't turned his ringer off. He reached for it, trying to remember if he'd thought to charge the damn thing.
Across the Hall…
Dan found himself pacing back and forth, trying not to compare the size of the bathroom to his much smaller living room. The freaking walk-in shower was about as huge as his postage-stamp kitchen. Bass would never hear him utter the words but Dan was suddenly glad that he'd let himself be talked into staying at the Palace.
"Humphrey, say something. Have you heard a single word that I've said in the past five minutes?"
Not really, he rolled his eyes skyward but refrained from admitting that truth. "Of course, I heard you."
"Well, can it with the grunts and noncommittal bullshit. You can do better than that. I wouldn't have hired you otherwise."
"Sorry, Suz." Dan found himself apologizing, the same way he was always blanketing her with apologizes and promises to do better. The woman always had a way of making him feel like an inept ass that couldn't even be trusted to write an obit.
When his editor had first called, he'd tried playing it cool with Serena in the room, but as usual, the longer they spoke the louder Suz would get. She didn't have a problem letting him and the world in general know when he'd fucked up beyond belief. Instead of firing him though, she kept giving him shit assignments.
He'd still been sitting at the table with Serena, with Suz calling him ever type of incompetent fool. No way Serena hadn't heard that. Hell the people in the next room couldn't have helped overhearing that.
"Listen, I know you're upset."
"You begged me for this chance. Begged me, Humphrey." Suz reminded. "I know it's not glamorous like features or the crime beat but you've got a lot more ground to cover before you get anywhere near either one of those.."
"I know."
"And you begged me for Josie's spot while she's on maternity leave. You're supposed to be writing obits, running copy and getting coffee for the others…not taking over the society page. Temporarily."
The only reason he'd been able to get that on top of all the begging was talking up his vast knowledge of the UESers that he'd gone to school with. She'd been impressed, knowing exactly who Chuck Bass was, who didn't? And Serena? She was making a name for herself at that upstart fashion magazine. It'd taken months of convincing both Suz and Josie to give him a chance but he'd done it.
Now he couldn't be there. Damn. He was screwed. Dan didn't want to lose this chance and end up doing the shit work for another year and a half. But he didn't have a choice. "Ronald Breyer would probably make a good fit until Josie gets back." He heard the words and felt his mouth moving but couldn't believe what he was saying.
Apparently, neither could Suz. She was quiet. Not for long though, "You listen to me. I run things here. If I wanted Breyer writing about some socialite forgetting to poop and scoop after her fucking toy poodle I'd have chosen him and not you."
"I'm sorry. But this thing with my sister. She's getting out of the hospital tomorrow." Jenny was a large part of the reason he was staying, why he wanted to help Chuck and Nate in their investigation. Certainly, he admitted to himself, the truth that the blonde waiting for him in the next room factored into his desire to stick around New York for a while yet.
"Listen, kid." Finally, Suz softened. "I haven't forgotten what happened with your sister. We're pulling for a full recovery for her. Girl's got some real talent. I'm sorry."
"Thanks." Dan shifted, uncomfortable with the woman's display of sensitivity, softening to the hardcore exterior that she presented to the world.
She cleared her throat, as if as uncomfortable as he. "Yeah, well. Wish I could allow you more time but I've got a paper to run. You're needed here."
"But…"
"No excuses. You've got another week. After that, you'd better be flying home. Or else find yourself another job. I'd hate to lose you. You've got a lot of potential but you're not doing anything with it in New York. At least not for the paper." And there she was. The slave driver who'd given him a chance and made his life a living hell. Warning before the rug could be pulled out from under him.
Dan said his goodbyes, wondering how in the hell he could pull it off. Maintain the life that he'd started to build for himself in Chicago and deal with the responsibilities that he'd made his own. Chuck's priority was as much keeping his father's "good" name untarnished as it was catching the maniac starting the fires. Dan wanted justice for his sister. He wanted to make sure that no one else he cared about could be hurt by old grudges and vengeance.
He tipped his head, listening for movement on the other side of the bathroom and could find none. God, how was he going to face Serena? Granted she knew that he job at the paper wasn't the glitz and glam that she might be used to at her magazine, but that did nothing for his uncontrollable urge to impress. One that he'd thought he'd left behind the last time they'd broken up in high school.
He walked out of the bathroom and found the suite empty. Their breakfast had been cleared from the table and a note left in Serena's lazy scrawl.
"Had to go. Talk to you later. S." it said simply enough.
Well, that solved his sudden case of nerves. He knew that that he'd planned to stay away from her, but breakfast in the suite had seemed safe enough. Despite his embarrassment, Dan wished that she hadn't left without saying goodbye. He started to reach for the new cell phone that he'd been forced to buy after "losing" the other.
He didn't want to seem over eager. He could play it could. Lines rehearsed themselves in his head, each sounding lamer than the last. Maybe he should wait. Give her a chance to get to work and forget what she might've overheard.
Back and forth he went with all the reasons to wait, being crowded out by all reasons that he couldn't. In the end it was decided for him when his cell phone rang.
Dan smiled. He guessed that he wasn't the only one who'd had a good time that morning. His good humor was short-lived. Dan answered, his words coming out more ill-tempered than he intended. "Yeah?"
The woman on the other end of the line didn't seem to notice or care about his mood, "Thank god. Where are you? Are you at the Palace?"
"Uh, yeah. Good Morning to you, too. "
"Have you seen Nate?" She demanded, ignoring all pretenses of manners and pleasantries. Her panic came through loud and clear, unmistakable even if he hadn't known her all of his life.
Had his best friend somehow discovered the fact that Nate hadn't spent the past few nights in his suite? Dan wondered, feeling bad for the spiraling couple. He hadn't told his best friend about her husband's late night activities figuring that they'd both been hurt enough. "No, I haven't seen him." Not the truth of what he knew, but definitely not a lie.
"Oh my God. I have to find him. I need to find him."
Her worry and fear were infectious things, scratching at him with deep nails until panic etched its way down his spine. "What's wrong? Has someone called from the station?"
Fuck. Had the arsonist gone after Nate this time? Who was he supposed to call first? The cops? Chuck? Godammit…. Dread filled him. They'd been kind of friends in high school except those times when they weren't. During that period when they'd both loved Serena. When Dan had resented Nate for the ease with which things seemed to come to him. Then that next year Dan had learned that Nate and those of the UES had it just as bad if not worse than the rest of them. He didn't want anything bad to happen to the guy.
"No. My phone. He picked up my phone this morning by mistake."
Dan latched on to her words immediately, understanding suddenly flooding through, erasing his own worries. "This morning? So that's where he's been going."
"Dammit. Dan, would you just listen to what I'm saying? Nate has my phone. He has my phone and if he looks at it." She sounded on the verge of tears, if not full-on hysteria. He had to get her calmed down.
"Calm down."
"Oh my god…oh my god."
"You need to take a deep breath."
"Could you not use that tone with me? Stop handling me…"
"I'm trying to be your friend here. You need to sit down and breathe before you pass out." He retorted.
"You want to be my friend." The laughter that grated his ears was wretched and inhuman. "Then help me. Find Nate. Find him and take my phone before he looks at it."
"What the hell have you done now?" Friend or no, Dan couldn't help the words that came out. Couldn't help wonder what new way his best friend had found to self-destruct her marriage.
"Please. I promise that I'll explain everything later. Right now. I need you to find him."
"And then what?" Dan demanded, "Walk up to the guy and say, 'Nate before you search your wife's phone, I really need to ask you to hand it over'."
"Ask to borrow it or pick his pocket. Please, Dan. If you care about me…"
She'd said it again. Of course, he cared about her. He'd always loved Vanessa in his own way. Maybe not the way that they'd both wanted once upon a time, but he didn't want to see her hurting or scared.
"Are you sure that it's not a good idea to just let him see whatever it is and get it out of the way?"
Vanessa made a sound of disbelief, "This isn't how I wanted him to know…I need to tell him."
"About what?" Dan demanded, still uncertain what the hell they were talking about. Was she still running around with her boyfriend?
"Nate first and then I promise, I'll tell you everything."
"Fine. I'll try. But I'm going to hold you to your word. You tell Nate the big secret and then let your old friend in on it, too."
She was quiet and he would've thought that she'd hung up if not for the puffs of air coming from her side of the phone. He rolled his eyes. "Vanessa, sit down and put your head through your knees."
"I'll be fine. Just go find Nate. Now!"
The line ended abruptly with that.
Dan stood there, his marching orders received and not sure what the hell to do with them. He couldn't exactly call Nate. Vanessa had his phone and if he called Vanessa's number then Nate would answer and know that the phone in his possession wasn't his own and then look at whatever and the hell Vanessa didn't want him seeing. Shit. Chuck. Maybe Chuck knew how to track down his best friend, but then he'd want to know why Dan was looking for him. Maybe Serena knew.
He silently thanked his best friend for pulling him into her mess, his mouth twisted into a bitter parody of a smile. He didn't need this. Goddamn Vanessa. He really didn't need this.
~ஐ~
Out of sight but definitely not completely out of mind, Chuck mused. He'd been pulled in, despite himself. Losing hours and relaxing in the throes of success. A high that he'd chased early on in life, trying to emulate his father. Make the old man proud of him. All of his efforts hadn't amounted to much but he'd gotten an insatiable taste for business. It was sort of like what he felt for Blair sometimes, satisfied and yet never quite assuaged.
The usual thrill was present as he updated his team of executives with highlights his successful business lunch from the day before, but she was there too. In his mind and thoughts. Being with her last night. Just….together had made him beyond happy.
Chuck didn't realize he was smiling until the lull in conversation around him became to evident to ignore. He cleared his throat, smile falling away as if it had never been, he shut down his expression as he'd seen his father do in the past. A parody that never failed to send his younger brother into hysterics. He tried not to smile as his executives reacted quite differently as they squirmed in their seats, looking away from him.
His secretary saved them all as she stuck her head through the door, "Mr. Bass."
She'd been with him for years and he could read her face as easily as she could decipher his moods. She said him name and nothing more, signaling him almost inconspicuously.
He cleared his throat and made a show of glancing at his watch. "We've been at this for a while. Let's say we take a break. Grab some coffee. We can reconvene in about twenty."
The room cleared rather quickly after that, but he heard more than one grumble and he almost called them all back inside when he heard Blair's name coupled with his own. One of his people nursing the fantasy that Chuck was becoming too distracted and losing his edge. Not for the first time, he wondered if the arsonist was closer than he'd first believed.
"Mr. Bass, your call." His secretary reminded from the doorway.
Right. "Of course. Thanks again. Please hold all my calls and clear my schedule for the rest of the day if you can. Unless it's…"
"Miss Waldorf or your family." The woman sighed, rolling her eyes. "I remember."
He would've tried his father's "Ironman" impersonation on her but she was about as unfazed by it as Eric.
"I'll take care of it. Did you want me to make your excuses to the others, as well?"
"Would you?"
"Consider it done," she started from the room.
Chuck adored the woman but he waited until the door shut firmly behind her before picking up the call that he'd been expecting. "Mike. What do you have for me?"
"The same. My guy talked to the nurse again. She identified Miss Sparks without hesitation." Mike told him.
The relief that he'd felt that first time, hearing confirmation of Whoregina's whereabouts, didn't touch him now. It was third party. Mike's guy hadn't gotten eyes on confirmation for himself. Chuck couldn't shed himself of the aching suspicion that that bitch had something to do with what was happening.
Olivia George. It was too much. Too coincidental.
"And he can't get in there." Chuck murmured more to himself than the private investigator. It wasn't long before he realized the truth, that he'd get no satisfaction from second-hand information.
"He didn't try. What do you want him to make a go for it?" Mike was saying.
Chuck shook his head. That wasn't what he wanted. Only one way now to figure out if Whoregina was behind his troubles. "That won't be necessary. I would, however, like an address for the sanitarium."
"I'll do you one better." Mike didn't argue, understanding immediately what Chuck intended. "I'll have my guy meet you at the airport."
"Private airfield, actually. I'll be taking the jet, of course."
He'd need to call the pilot. The girls would be taken care of for the night. But what the hell was he supposed to do about Blair? They hadn't spent an entire night away from one another since she'd woken up.
Chuck considered and quickly rejected the idea of sending either Nate or Dan in his place to confirm Georgina's location. He wouldn't be satisfied until he saw that crazy bitch in a padded cell with his own eyes. He needed to go, but what about Blair?
~ஐ~
"Gay. He's gay."
Blair glared at the old woman who'd been keeping pace with her. So what if the old bird was only repeating Blair's assessment of decades' past.
"Dan is not gay, B." Serena grumbled through the Bluetooth clipped to Blair's ear. "And why are you discussing my personal business with a perfect strange."
Sighing, Blair rolled her eyes, "Estelle's not a stranger. She's just a nosey old lady who enjoys horning in on other peoples' conversations. It's rude. Rude."
The Golden Girls Reject ignored the pointed jab aimed in her direction. Her wrinkled visage was thoughtful as she pushed along behind her own walker. "Hmm, did she ask him about the woman?"
"What woman?" Both Blair and Serena sputtered.
"The one he was on the phone with." Estelle explained as if they were both too slow to be bothered with. She motioned for them to catch up.
"What? Who?" Her best friend's demand for answers rang in Blair's ears.
Trying not to cringe, she started to lower the volume from ear-splitting to tolerable. "That was his editor, Estelle." She explained, for the moment turning a deaf ear on her friend's questions.
Estelle nodded sagely, "Or so he told your blonde friend there. I say it's a girlfriend. Why else would he leave the room? Fella thinks he's a smooth one."
"Oh, trust me. That is the last word anyone will ever use to describe Dan Humphrey."
"I suppose you maybe have a point…from what you've told me at least, young lady." Estelle nodded. "Speaking of smooth, though, where's that cheeky, young devil that's usually joined at the hip with you."
"He's at work." She'd told the old woman the same at least twice already in the past half hour since her permanent shadow had intruded on her walk.
"B!" Serena cried out. "I call you for help and suddenly I get completely kicked out of the conversation…about my love life, for godsakes."
"Sorry, S. Estelle and I got distracted." Blair admitted. She glanced off to the side at the old lady who didn't look the least bit winded from their exertions. Blair really wanted to take a break. Her legs and arms felt achy but she'd damned if she'd get shown up by the eighty-two-year-old woman.
"I should probably get back to work. I just wanted to talk to you about all the mixed signals that I keep getting from him. Tell Estelle that he's most certainly not gay and I'm pretty sure that there's no one else."
"Then it's you." Blair informed.
Serena was quiet, letting that sink into her shocked-addled brain. "Me?"
"You know what I mean."
"Um, actually I don't. What' do you mean it's me?" Serena demanded, not shy about her indignation or disbelief.
"I didn't mean it like that, S. Maybe he's intimidated by the past. You guys don't exactly have the best track record and it's not like he's back in New York to stay." Blair reminded. "Maybe there isn't a girlfriend back in Chicago but he has a life. Work. Maybe he doesn't see a point in starting things up again when he'll just be leaving for home…his new home in a few weeks."
"I guess that makes sense."
"Of course it does. I'm always right." She smiled. The thrill of being dead on never quite got old and she was only a little disturbed at having a peek into good ol' Brooklyn's psyche.
"We'll talk later. Tell Estelle that I said thanks for all her advice. Even if she was dead wrong with half of it."
"I will most certainly not. It might encourage her." Blair glared at the old woman again. She was fairly certain that the old bat had heard every single word, despite Blair having turned down the volume on the Bluetooth. Maybe Estelle had super-human hearing or a really amazing hearing aid. "Love you, sweetie."
Blair said goodbye to her best friend and turned back to the old woman keeping pace with her. Or who she was keeping up with. Barely. Definitely time for a break. "Okay, Estelle. Entertainment hour is over. You want to play voyeur and get your sex and drama for the day, then do it like all the other geriatrics and find a Soap."
"But you kids are so much more fun to watch." Estelle sighed, dreamily. "Blondie chasing after her gay ex. Skanky Vanessa sleeping with Carter."
"Ssh!!!!" Blair looked around as if expecting Nate to pop up around the corner.
"Oops. Sorry."
"And this is why you should stick to fiction." Blair said, "Okay, here's your room. Go eat your lunch and maybe I'll consider letting you tag along with me in a few hours."
"Fine, but you'll have to promise to fill me in on your little date. I heard the nurses talking about it earlier."
Her mouth wanted to twitch into an easy smile but Blair pressed her lips together in a flat line. "We'll see."
"Hot damn." Estelle started for her own room, "Good girl. Now be nice and I might fill you in on Ellen and her interview with that yummy fella from those vampire pictures."
Shaking her head, Blair hurried as quickly as she could away from the woman's room before she changed her mind. Or insisted that Blair come sit with her. It wasn't that she really minded the old woman's company. She just didn't want to embarrass herself.
She'd overdone it. Despite all of her promises to take it easy, she'd pushed herself a little harder than she'd meant to and if she were to go and there and sit with Estelle for even a minute then Blair knew without a doubt that she wouldn't make it back to her feet under her own steam.
She wasn't that far from her own room. Blair would go back and lie down for a while and if she couldn't move for a few hours than who would know. She could play the bitch card and exile any visitors impinging on her personal time.
"Blair."
No. No. So close, she tried not to pout. The voice registered and she bit back a groaned. Great, not him. Bring back Estelle. The old lady was a pain but she wouldn't rat Blair out.
Granted, Will couldn't exactly rat her out to himself.
She pasted a too bright smile on her face and turned in the direction where she'd heard his voice. "Hey." That smile dropped a little and suspicion flared in her eyes when she saw him coming at her, pushing that empty wheelchair.
No way could the old lady have called him that first. No, but he'd clearly been waiting to ambush her. She didn't need that thing. She could make it another few hundred yards or so to her room.
"Just the lady I was looking for."
"And for what might I ask," Blair questioned lightly, her eyes never leaving the chair that he pushed and her feet itching to keep moving. She really shouldn't stand still too much longer or her knees might get ideas about the nature of gravity. Ideas that wouldn't factor in things like Blair's dignity.
"I thought you might be up for a field trip."
She didn't mind his company but she really did want to get back to her room. Time for just herself didn't sound bad at all. They could walk the halls of the hospital another time. Walk being the operative word.
"I don't know. Maybe a little later."
"Oh, come on. After all the complaints about being stuck inside, I change my mind and give you the green light for some fresh air…the sun on your face I believe you mentioned."
Her wobbling knees stiffened and Blair felt herself standing taller, straighter. Outside? As in no more blue walls and endless beeping and squeaking shoes?
"What do you say, Blair? You up for some fresh air? Beautiful day out." Chambers smiled, "Come on. I'll let you in on a bit of good news on the way."
She perked up even more at this new tidbit he dangled before her. "What kind of news?"
"Come with me and find out." He held out his hand, waiting.
ஐTBCஐ
A/N: So a little something, something thrown in there along with more CB goodness. Hope it makes up for that first scene which…and yes that scene was necessary. I'm going somewhere with that…believe me and think will offer an interesting development. That being said, I truly hope that you guys enjoyed this one and as always let me know what you're thinking. I'll definitely be updating within the next day or two. *rubs hands together relishing all those hours opened up with being able to write at work* Yay for technology. Later. ;)
Courtneyஐ