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

A/N: Next chapter as promised. Glad you guys enjoyed the last installment and thanks for all of your wonder words. It always helps. So here it is…I won't make you wait any longer than necessary. Love you guys to pieces. Kisses to Wifey and my girls.

ஐChapter 30

"Damn. I said I was leaving." Dan repeated but found himself talking to dead air. That asshole had hung up on him. First he'd called asking sfor a favor and then had the nerve to hang up in Dan's ear. Typical Chuck Bass move.

Despite his less than favorable thoughts, Dan was on his feet. He was shrugging on his coat when Jenny came back from giving Vanessa the grand tour of her new apartment.

It was one of those rare times when Jenny seemed to have forgotten the fire and the looming pall of uncertainty when it came to her career in fashion. She was actually excited about something and that more than anything cured him of any ancient resentments left over from his days at St. Jude's. Well, most of them.

Though it was the reason her shop had been targeted, Chuck had helped her make her long held dream a reality. Chuck Bass had his faults, but he wasn't a bad guy. Not by a longshot. Dan had learned that well enough years ago after a little male bonding that could only be the product of bar fights and incarceration.

Sure, he and Bass would probably never be best friends but he couldn't hate the guy. never be best friends but he couldn't hate the man. Because he'd helped Jenny get her start and amidst her devastation, she'd brightened, reminding him of the sweet, innocent kid she'd been in their younger years. Before all the broken hearts and turf wars for status among the mean girls.

He'd seen it in her eyes. That light and her smile when they'd walked into the apartment Chuck had arranged for. It was, of course, in one of the many Bass properties in the city, but this building was a far cry from the charred remains of Jennifer's. Except it was completely different. The address upscale. Security and elegance on par with that of the Palace.

Dan didn't envy the other man. Not the sense of guilt he tried cover up with that "go to hell" bravado. Not the uncertainty of never knowing if this was the moment when his personal menace would strike out …against some or someone of infinitely more value to the young billionaire.

"Hey, where do you think you're going, mister?" Vanessa demanded, her tone light and playful despite the dark circles under her eyes.

"I—uh. There's an errand I need to take care of…" Dan said.

"What errand? You don't even live here anymore and I swear you've been constantly on the run." Vanessa said

"He has, hasn't he?" His sister jumped in, her words teasing. "Errand wouldn't be code for hot date with a certain leggy blonde you dated eons past. Would it?"

Dan rolled his eyes. God, he wished. He'd been back for almost two weeks and he'd spent far too few of those hours in the company of his former girlfriend. The night before couldn't really be counted either. They'd been too preoccupied with searching for Nate to have an actual conversation. When that is, she wasn't dozing in the back of the cab, city lights dancing across her pale skin.

More than once, he'd found himself wishing that they'd been forced into that enclosed space under a different set of circumstances. Wasn't it just as well though, that they had no room to push the boundaries of their…renewed friendship further?

Hell, if not for the fire, he'd have already been back in Chicago. Neck-deep in obits and society pages. Only now that he was back in New York and far away from the mind-numbing demands of his job and dream of making a name for himself, only could he acknowledge just how much he missed…home. New York. Papaya's and Jenny only a cab ride away. Hell even trading barbs with Chuck Bass.

How different would life have been for those closest to him, if he'd actually been around? Would his best friend have imploded her life if he'd been close enough to see what was happening and to really listen to what she had to say. To push her into talking to Nate before Baizen's sorry ass even got near her.

And Serena. What if he'd listened to Blair that long ago day and stuck around to say goodbye.

Thinking back, Dan knew that there was a very good chance that he might not have made it to Berkeley after all. And on some subconscious level, he'd known that. He'd been aware. And so he'd played the coward and left without saying a word to Serena.

He'd done the college thing. Had more than one relationship. Some more serious than others but no one had gotten to him in quite the same way as Serena van der Woodsen. One of his college girlfriends had even joked about the blonde who'd ruined him for them all.

Only sometimes she'd seemed deadly seriously in that pronouncement. As if sentencing him to a lifetime of pining after the one who'd gotten away. Serena. During a drunken heart-to-heart, he'd confided all that'd gone wrong in their relationship. The shit they just couldn't get right even when all the feelings were there. When they were so much more together.

Of course, he'd broken up with that girlfriend, not long after their little night of true confessions. Or rather she stopped returning his phone calls.

There were so many reasons why he and Serena couldn't go back. Shouldn't go back. Discussions they'd never had. Old heartache that didn't bear revisiting. Why dredge up the past if he was just heading back to Chicago when all was said and done?

Thinking of watching Serena sleeping and having breakfast with her, Dan wanted more. Suddenly, he was very much looking forward to the coming party at Chuck's. Sure it was Jenny who'd gotten the invite but Serena expected him to be there nonetheless. She'd asked him that morning, sleep-eyed and languid when he'd dropped her off back at the hospital.

Unbidden, his conversation with Blair came back to him. Their last words before her coma, when she confided in him of all people about the phone call from Chuck on graduation night.

"He didn't say anything. There was some weird music in the background…and I could hear him breathing, but he wouldn't say anything. Not even after I called him a 'coward'. He didn't say anything." She'd fumbled for the remote and switched off the movie. "I'm going upstairs. You can wait down here for Serena or not."

But he hadn't waited. He'd played it safe. Leaving Blair likely lumping him in with Chuck as a coward. Now years later, Dan couldn't help feel that he was doing the same thing. Running away from Serena. He didn't want to do it. Be that. Not anymore.

"Jen, I'll be back to pick you up in a few hours. Vanessa, can you make sure she takes a nap."

"I'm not a baby, Dan. I don't need a nap."

"Sorry, Jen. Nap or no party."

"What are you going to do? Rat me out to dad and get me grounded. Oh wait. I forgot. I'm not sixteen or five anymore." Jenny said. "Darn."

Dan turned to his best friend. "I'll handle it," she assured.

"Thanks," he kissed them both and left to do Chuck Bass' bidding. Which sounded wrong on so many levels.

It wasn't a big deal. He was just supposed to keep an eye on some doctor. Chuck hadn't really said how the guy might be connected to the fires. Actually he hadn't said much at all. He wondered why Nate hadn't been called in on the impromptu stakeout, but then he remembered that the other man was supposed to be working.

Dan wondered just how Archibald was faring after his night on the town. Twice already, he'd started to call the other man, but figured that right about now, he was one of the last people that Nate might want to hear from. An unwelcome reminder of what'd gone down between he and Vanessa.

He figured that there would be more than enough opportunity for awkward moments later.

The apartment was quiet after Dan rushed out and despite what she'd told her brother, Jenny felt exhausted. From inside out.

She'd taken pain pills earlier, which made her sleepy but just the effort of keeping up pretenses for her big brother was a pain unto itself. Jenny felt positively drained after spending most of the morning and early afternoon hours with her family and Vanessa. Her father had left an hour before and now Dan was off on yet another mystery errand.

Jenny wished that he'd have taken Vanessa along with him. She loved the other woman. Vanessa was pretty much one of the family but Jenny didn't feel up to dealing with anyone right then. All morning she'd been playing around with the idea of not going to Blair's surprise party but she couldn't.

Dan was beyond excited. Sure he'd tried to play it cool but Jenny knew that his good mood had everything to do Serena. Many things in their lives had changed but this was not one of them.

So she'd go tonight. She'd go and smile and make light conversation, even if it had little to do with what she was feeling.

Jenny looked around her new apartment and felt a measure of her old enthusiasm return. What it felt like when a new idea for a design was just coming to her or that twinge of uncertainty and excitement that hit square in the belly when you met someone new. She felt that same almost joy try to kindle but then the pain in her right side would remind her just why the world was all wrong.

It was a beautiful apartment really. Everything that she'd always wanted. There was even a room that could be transformed into the perfect studio when she was ready. If she was ever ready to begin again.

She glanced down at her right hand.

Shaking herself, as if from a dream. A nightmare.

Jenny glanced down the other end of the sofa and found Vanessa gone. She saw the other woman standing at the window. Looking out at the picturesque view of the city.

The young blondes hadn't even felt the shift in the air, telling her that Vanessa had moved across the room. It seemed that she wasn't the only one distracted. That was fine. One less person to hover and ask how she was feeling.

She played around with the idea of excusing herself and claiming to take that nap Dan had been trying to push on her. Not that Vanessa would even notice if she tried slipping from the room.

The other girl was just as out of it as she was. Going through the motions. Her own scars unseen and self-inflicted.

Jenny sighed. She'd only heard bits and pieces of all that had gone down the night before. She opened her mouth, but snapped it shut. The inadequate query of "are you okay?" frozen on her tongue. Instead she heard herself squeak out, "I'm all ears if you feel like talking."

Vanessa turned, frowning at her, "What?"

Her body might've been tired and feeling pain but she wasn't the least bit sleepy. No need to run off and lay in her bedroom, trapped in her own head. She repeated her words.

"You don't want to hear about my problems, Jenny."

"Oh, you have no idea. Dan told me about Carter and Nate flipping out."

The dark-haired girl looked away, her arms wrapped about her body. At first Jenny was sure that she wouldn't speak again. "It was horrible. You should've seen how he looked at me. Not just like he hated me but exactly that."

"He doesn't hate you, Vanessa."

"You didn't see his face. Yes, he does." She wandered away from the window to bounce down at Jenny side. "Do you want to know the worse thing?"

"What?"

"I think a part of me…some part that blamed him for everything going wrong, set out to hurt him. Wanted to cause him pain."

"I don't believe that. I think you were hurting and made some horrible mistakes." Jenny said. "You need to forgive yourself."

"Jenny. You don't get it and thanks for trying to be my friend and make me feel better but…"

The blonde shook her head, "I'm not telling you this as your friend. This isn't me taking sides. Yes, you've been a part of my family for about far back as I can remember but Nate's been a really good friend to me over the years. And I hate what you did to him. But the only thing you can do now is move on with your life and that can't happen until you forgive yourself."

"How can I? He'll never…"

"Vanessa, I'm saying forget about him for a minute. You said he asked for a divorce. Do you think he really meant it?"

The other woman avoided her eyes and Jenny almost began to wonder if she'd get an answer at all. Then Vanessa nodded, her head bobbing in one jerky motion.

"Then you need to start letting go. Trust me. Burying your head in the sand will only make things worse." Jenny revealed, offering something of her troubles. Vanessa needed to accept that her marriage was over and Jenny needed to master the same acceptance when it came to the loss of her career. Or rather her career as it had been. She didn't want to lose that part of her life. Shut herself off from her designs.

So that meant finding a way to accept the change and adapt.

"You're right. I know this. But knowing and doing are two different things." Vanessa said.

Blue eyes darted to the older girl's face, searching out some hidden meaning. Wondering if this was Vanessa way of nudging her to practice what she was preaching, but no. Her friend was still too wrapped up in her own problems to actually pick up on anything else.

Days before, Chuck had insisted that she let him know when she was ready to get back to work. At first, she'd honestly thought he was either joking or being an insensitive jackass, but his expression had been deadly serious.

Obviously he was fully aware that her hand would be an issue and it'd seemed as if maybe Chuck had something up his sleeve.

Tonight. She'd ask him what he intended.

"God, Jenny. I don't know how I'm going to do this."

The blonde smiled, reaching out with her uninjured hand, "I'll help you."

~ஐ~

"No one actually drives in New York, you know."

Hands loosely gripping the steering wheel, Will glanced around, as if drinking everything in. "Hmm. Wow. You could've fooled me. I thought we were stuck in traffic. Oh, wait. That was your point, right. Little joke."

Blair sighed, "No. I meant that no one actually drives in the city."

"You don't drive. Others who can't afford their own personal drivers don't have much choice in the matter."

She frowned, watching as he checked his wristwatch. Again. "You really didn't have to chauffer me around. I could've called Chuck's driver or gotten a cab."

"It's no problem. I wanted to see this place anyway." the doctor assured, "Make sure my patient will be in good hands."

"Well, where is this place? It feels like we've been driving forever."

"And that would be the problem with traffic." He teased, his expression sobering as he studied her troubled expression. "So…"

She glanced his way when he drifted off with that. He seemed to be puzzling over something. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I was just—really surprised that you didn't wait for Bass." Will admitted.

"I needed to get out of there."

"Did you two have a fight?" Will cleared his throat, glancing at her now and again. "You seemed pretty upset back at the hospital."

Blair stared at him, before shaking her head with a smile.

"What?"

"Nothing." She shook her head, but felt the fine edge of hysteria creeping into her words as she spoke. "It's nothing really. You just sound entirely too hopeful."

"Hmm. Really? Sorry, about that." He looked away from her with a guilty smile. A split second later he was watching her again, his expression alluding to nothing more than friendly concern. "How's that?"

"Better."

"Good. So. If not Bass. Are you going to tell me just what had you so upset?"

"You are really nosey."

"Let's call it professional curiosity. Your health is of the utmost importance to me. Mental…emotional…physical."

"Don't you people take an oath or something that keeps you from flirting with your patients?" Blair questioned.

"That's leans to more physical activities. Everything else is fair game," he said.

"Of course."

"Though. Officially. You aren't my patient anymore." Will reminded her.

Blair rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. "Quit it. I may not be another chart in your stack of rounds but I'm not fair game."

"You were never just a chart." He teased, but quickly added. "So it's Bass, huh?"

"Sorry to break it to you, Doc, but you never stood a chance."

He shrugged at that, "A guy can hope."

They went on like that. Joking back in forth. Dancing around the true reason for her upset earlier and she let him play at distracting her. Anything not to think about Eleanor.

She wondered if her mother had arrived at the hospital yet. Intent on stating her case and wearing Blair down. Finding nothing more than an empty room and the rest of Blair's bags.

Her doctor teased and flirted but he didn't push her. He didn't bring up Chuck again either. Traffic crawled along and more than once, she looked over in time to catch him checking his time or glancing down at his cell phone.

After the fifth time she finally called him on it. "Who was that?"

"What?"

"On your phone. Who was that calling?" Blair asked, "You keep checking your watch like every five minutes. Do you…do you have a hot date or something?"

"Well…"

"You do, don't you? Why didn't you just say something before?" She demanded, not really upset or angry. For the most part, Blair felt slightly curious over some of his actions and words since they'd left St. Vincent's.

"It's not really a date, per se. I am supposed to be meeting someone and it's not all that far from here. Would you mind if we stopped?" Will asked, checking his watch. Again.

Was handsome Dr. Will actually nervous about something? Blind date? Old girlfriend?

She couldn't see him ever needing to be set up and figured it was likely the latter.

Blair motioned for him to lead on. All the while, wondering at the kind of woman who could make cocky, Dr. Will as nervous as a school boy.

~ஐ~

He was a patient man. A calm and reasonable man.

He didn't flip out or go into panic mode when he called her phone and got no answer or even when a call to her room netted him the same results.

Did he jump down the nurse's throat when she'd confided that Blair had left the premises with Chambers almost an hour before? No. Because, he was calm and reasonable, goddamn it.

He was polite. Thanking the woman and hanging up in her ear, disappointing any expectations that he would react as before, calling them all incompetent fools who shouldn't even been entrusted with the care of a fucking hamster.

Not this time. No, he'd played it cool, tamping down on the anger and frustration, twining in his chest. Instead, Chuck called Joseph. This was why he'd called in the professional, wasn't it? Keeping an eye on Blair. Make sure that his enemies. His father's enemies couldn't touch her.

When the bodyguard assured him that she was safe and sound, Chuck trusted the man. He wanted to wring that bastard Chambers neck but the fucking doctor wasn't the one who'd instigated the escapade.

Of that Chuck was certain. Despite her promises not to pursue this thing with Eleanor and to wait for him before she confronted her mother, she was doing it. Chuck had miscalculated earlier, forgetting that patience had never been one of Blair's virtues.

His plane was still hours out and he'd make it back to New York as promised but not in time to stop Blair from confronting her mother. She'd probably flirted and sweet talked the doctor, using his obvious attraction against him to get the fucker to do her bidding. Get her to Eleanor, so that she could demand her precious answers.

What would Eleanor say? How would she try to deflect and deny her crimes? And God. Blair.

The truth would devastate. She wouldn't be all too happy with him for keeping it from her either. Not if her explosive reaction on Christmas day was anything to go by. She'd been pissed to find that Eleanor and company had held back the fact that rather than five months, five years had been lost.

What the hell was going to happen when Blair discovered that had Eleanor gotten what she'd wanted five years ago that they'd have missed even more than that time with their little girls? That besides missing first steps, first words, and first days of school, Eleanor had intended that they miss Evie and Kat's entire lives.

Fuck. The thought of never hearing them call him "Daddy" still had the power to drive him crazy. That alone had fueled him during their little war over the years.

"Blair, you should've waited for me. You have no idea what you're walking into." And that was on him.

~ஐ~

Juggling her keys and her purse, Vanessa cursed softly. She'd left Jenny's apartment, the blonde knocked out on her couch and leaving Vanessa with a lot to think about.

The younger woman had been right. She needed to let go. Start moving on with her life, but she wasn't sure how to get started.

"Need some help?"

Vanessa frowned, her body going stock-still. She was sure that she'd imagined the words spoken. That voice. Because no way in hell would he even…

Footfalls sounded, padding lightly up the steps and a hand settled on the curve of her hip.

God. Who was she kidding? The bastard would dare much and she'd slept with him. Far too many times.

"Hello, Vanessa." Carter smiled down at her.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Playing the gentleman," he snagged the keys from her nerveless fingers. "allow me."

"Hey, give those back." She darted in his way, holding out her hand. "I don't want or need your help. You shouldn't even be here."

Carter started to drop them into her palm, only to snatch them away when she reached up for them. "What's wrong? Afraid good ol' Natie'll come home early and find me here."

"Carter. I can't deal with you right now."

"Too bad. We need to talk."

"There's nothing to say." Hadn't she made that clear enough by not returning any of his calls? And why the hell was he still calling anyway? She knew guys like Carter Baizen. Indulging in the chase only long enough to get what he wanted.

He couldn't possibly have feelings for her, could he? God, that was the last thing she needed right now.

"Oh. I think we have a lot to talk about. You should probably ask me inside before your nosey neighbor comes out to investigate. Wouldn't want her to call Natie, would we? He might get suspicious." Carter whispered the last, full of secrets and conspiracy but then his expression changed, "Oh, wait. He already knows."

Vanessa stared at him, not quite sure she understood the triumph in his eyes.

"You told him. I didn't think you would actually do it." Carter said, "I was so sure that I'd have to look into other means of making that happen. You were so insistent that he never know about me. About us."

"Oh..." She shook her head, wanting to deny the gloating in his tone. "Oh my god."

"It was so much easier getting information circulated when you people were back in high school."

The truth finally clicked and she understood, "You wanted him to find out. You—you seduced me to get at Nate."

Carter held up his hands in, "Hey, I was the one getting used. Why shouldn't I have gotten something out of our time together, as well? Nate and I had a few old scores to settled. Bass, too, but his time will come."

"You son-of-a-bitch." She tried to strikeout, her hand slashing for his face but he latched on. Tugging her close, his mouth brushing a kiss against her ear.

He held her struggling form immobile against his, one arm clamped about her waist. "Couldn't have done it without you, babe."

"You used me." She murmured, thinking of all the times she betrayed Nate. Needing to strike out against him. A part of her wanting to cause him pain and now Carter was telling her that he'd been acting with the same intent.

"I saw your better half earlier, you know. Man, if looks could kill."

"Wait. You saw Nate. Where? What'd you say to him?" She shoved at him.

Carter laughed, "What did I say. Oh, sorry but I wasn't stopping to chitchat with the man. He looked like he wanted to shoot me and I don't have to remind you that the guy carries a gun for a living, do I?"

"Get your hands off of me." Vanessa managed to get distance between them, snatching her keys at the last moment. "Nate would never…"

"Oh. You wouldn't imagine the things that some people could do with just the right provocation. I'm thinking I'll be taking a little trip after tonight." Carter stepped back, leaning negligently against the baluster. "I could use the company if you were considering getting away yourself."

"Go to hell."

"Nope. Sorry, not on the itinerary." He said, "No, I was thinking the Maldives or the South of France, even. Beautiful this time of year. Sure you don't want to come?"

"If you don't get the hell away from my home, I'm going to call the fucking police." She reached into her purse again.

"That should go over well. How long before you think Natie would find out that I was here. Standing outside his house. With his wife. Bet you didn't tell him everything that you and I did together. Forget the cops, maybe I should just give him a call myself."

"I ha…"

"hate me." Carter finished for her. "Yeah, I'm getting that one loud and clear. Oh, well. I'm sure that I can find someone else who wouldn't mind lazying the day away with me in some exotic locale."

Vanessa looked ready to throw something, but there was nothing lighter than the stone planter at her elbow and she wasn't relinquishing her keys again. But he was right. She also didn't want to call in the police. Didn't want Nate to know how she'd let herself be used by this bastard. Still she took out her cell phone and dialed three digits, her finger hovering over the "send" key.

"I'm going. Maybe I'll drop you a line when I get back in town."

"I'll be sure to change my number." Again.

He backed down the stairs and waved, a jaunt to his step as he walked away that made her want to heave that damn plantar at his arrogant head.

She didn't turn away, snapping her phone shut before the digital voice could Not until he was out of sight. Her hands shaking and breath coming in pants, Vanessa turned back to the door. Stabbing blindly at the lock, only to have her key skitter away uselessly.

Focus, she ordered eyes that blurred, seeing double. No reason to cry. She'd done this. She'd let it happen. God help them, but she'd begged for this to happen.

One hand gripping the doorknob, Vanessa forced herself to just breathe and brought her hand up again. Slipping the key home. She twisted her wrist or attempted it but the damn key wouldn't budge.

She yanked it out and stared blankly. Wondering how she could've gotten it wrong. But she hadn't, so she tried again but the damn thing still wouldn't budge. She tried the deadbolt and came up with the same result.

Her keys didn't work.

Vanessa stared at the key and door, cursing. "You changed the locks." She whispered. Great. That was just fucking great.

She turned away, catching sight of the elderly woman next door. The old lady hadn't come out to after Vanessa's little conversation with Carter but she was willing to bet that the woman had seen the whole damn thing. She watched Vanessa now. Something knowing and pitying in her wrinkled visage. Sad.

Seemed that even the old lady knew that the Archibalds were done.

~ஐ~

Dr. Felix McCarty was living the life. A sumptuous suite and the entire Palace staff at his beck and call.

As expected, Bass had been grateful to him. It'd been a gamble. Administering the drug to Blair Waldorf without Bass' consent. Without his knowledge. But it'd paid off in the end and the boy billionaire owed him big-time. Years of research and experiments, netting the desired breakthrough.

Any resentments that Bass might have harbored were forgotten in the face of the results. The mother of his children, back among the world of the living. No more coma or beside vigils.

And it was all due to him and his work. God, he was going to be fucking famous and Bass would make him a rich man for holding up his end of their bargain.

Why not throw Olivia George into the mix. Georgina Sparks. If he had money of his own, he didn't have to run anymore. He could fund his own protection against the crazy bitch.

He could easily set Bass on her trail. Give her something to worry about.

McCarty switched on the stereo, in the mood to celebrate. He cranked it up. Uncaring of the other occupants around him. He was Mr. Bass' special guest. If people didn't like it then they could kiss his ass.

He scanned through the menu for room service. He had a taste for something exotic and obscenely expensive. And champagne. Nothing but the best to celebrate his success.

Giddy and riding high on success that had alluded the army of specialists, called in by the girl's parents and lover, McCarty decided that he deserved a chance to let loose.

He had everything he could want and more only a phone call away. This was how his life was meant to be. Yeah, buddy.

Across the hall, his hands clamped over his ears, Dan wondered for the billionth time how he'd gotten roped into babysitting McCarty.

The guy was indulging in a party of one, Beyonce's "Get Me Bodied" loud enough to make the walls vibrate and set Dan's teeth on edge.

He glanced at his silent phone. Willing it to ring, signaling Bass' return. Despite the fact that he'd spoken to Chuck once already, letting the other man know that he'd arrived at the hotel. Bass was still at least two hours out. A relatively short amount of time. In theory.

Right about now, those hours felt more like days stretching into oblivion. He reached for the new laptop he'd picked up and attempted distracting himself with work. He gave up almost immediately. Shoving the thing away in disgust.

He tried to watch television but nothing held his attention. Not with Beyonce giving way to Shakira and then Al Green.

Almost twenty minutes passed before he was granted some relief, the sound of a door opening and muted voices bringing him to his feet. He'd left the door to his borrowed suite cracked open so that he could hear everything beyond the room.

His cheek pressed against the door and eye squinting through the discreetly placed peephole, Dan listened to the quick exchange.

Room service. It was just room service.

Dan's belly's roared out a reminder that he wasn't free to do the same. Order in. Guess it was time to raid the mini-fridge.

~ஐ~

Georgina settled back, kicking her feet up. She smiled sweetly at the flight attendant who was so solicitous in seeing to her every need. The woman refilled Georgie's champagne for a second time.

"Is there anything else I can get for you, Miss Evans?"

As far as the world was concerned, Georgina Sparks was still back in that sanitarium in Prague and Olivia George no longer existed. Instead, it was Gigi Evans enjoying the fruits of first class living. She had a passport and everything that she could possibly need to slip back into the States.

"No, thank you. I'll let you know if that changes, though." The brunette told her, taking another sip of champagne. It was going straight to her head but she could afford to indulge.

Alone again, she glanced at the blank screen of her cell. He was supposed to text her. Let her know when it finally happened.

Poor Chuck. So close to getting what he wanted.

What had been the smug bastard's words before he'd walked away? Assured that she wasn't a threat to him after all. No friends. No family.

"…it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person. You did this to yourself." Georgina murmured, his words catching in her throat. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

Eyes alight, she raised her flute in silent toast.

"Here's looking at you, Bass."

~ஐ~

Staring and incredulous, Blair surveyed the building where she and Will had ended up. After getting through traffic that moved no quicker than a crawl for block after block. Then spending the better part of an hour looking for somewhere to park. Blair might've reminded him again the reason why no one really drove in New York, except she couldn't get over just where they'd ended up. "You're meeting your date here?"

"It's not a date, remember?"

She amended, "Sorry. Your old friend."

"Acquaintance." Will murmured.

"Are you gay?"

That stopped him in his tracks, he gave a considering look before offering that flirty smile that she'd come to know very well. "Very much no. Would you like to me to prove it to you."

She smiled acidly, "Very much no."

"Anyone ever tell you that you're a hard woman?"

"So charming. It's a wonder that I haven't fallen under your spell." Blair shook her head.

"Yet."

"Don't hold your breath."

"Admit it. You think I'm adorable," he said, holding the door open for her.

"My children are adorable." Blair hesitated. "Um. Are you sure this was a good idea. Maybe your date would appreciate you arriving alone. I can take a cab from here. I just need an address to this facility."

"Abandoning me now. Nice try." His reached out with a light hand and pulled her inside.

"Fine. But word of advice. You wouldn't have to flirt with your patients, if you added a little more wooing to your dates than ice cream socials."

He glanced at his watch again and this time when his phone rang, he answered.

Blair considered looking away and giving him even the semblance of privacy but his suddenly grave expression stopped her.

"We're here." Will said into the phone.

Not I'm here. But 'we." As if she'd been expected.

"What…"

"Sorry, Blair."

He'd brought her to this place on purpose. She accused, "You set me up."

"Yes."

ஐTBCஐ

A/N: Uh-oh so Good old Dr. Feelgood wasn't on the up and up after all. Hmm wonder what he's up to and who could they be meeting. Vanessa finds out that not only has she ruined her marriage but she got played by Carter. Lil J is done with her pity party and ready to find out get back to living. While McCarty is certainly living the life and making Dan suffer through every single second of it. Don't think Brooklyn will be doing Bass too many favors in the future. Will try to update this weekend. Wouldn't want to leave you hanging because dude I hate that too ;). So what'd you think of this one…as always let me know. Kisses all around :D

ஐCourtneyஐ