Chapter 2 No Return

"Hell." Dan's head came up off the bed as he pushed Laura off his body. Blair could see the horror on his face when he saw her standing at the door. He'd been caught mid-act - very mid-act. Laura scrambled across the bed, pulling a blanket over herself. Her face was filled with shock, showing her cousin hadn't known Blair was there. The expression she wore was incredibly real and impossible to fake.

"No thanks. Looks like Laura has taken care of that for you." Blair was surprised by how calm she sounded. When all she truly wanted to do was scream and shout and throw things. But what would it accomplish? She would still have a broken relationship.

"Blair! What are you doing home today?" Dan's voice cracked. He grabbed at the sheet, trying to cover himself, suddenly remembering modesty existed.

Blair lifted an eyebrow. "That's what you're worried about? Might be an idea to cover up."

Blair watched him with narrowed eyes. She had loved him, but the person she saw now was ugly to her. It didn't matter anymore that he was very attractive. To her, he was ugly. No one should cheat on someone they claimed to love. Even if someone had held a gun to her head, she would have refused. It was a shame Dan hadn't felt the same. From the sounds she'd heard, Laura hadn't needed to force him into anything.

Blair put the bat down, resting it against the wall near the door. Just in case. She told herself she wouldn't use it, but who knew? Crimes of passion had to come from somewhere. Normal everyday people snapping in the heat of betrayal. So it was safer if she put it down. Blair then crossed her arms across her chest, looking back to see Dan had gotten off the bed and was pulling up his suit pants.

She flicked her eyes to Laura. The bitch now had a smug look on her face. It had replaced the shock. Why?

Blood roared in Blair's ears as she came to terms with the total destruction of her personal life. She never wanted to see him again, but she and Dan both worked for Kingston. She had applied first. Dan hadn't joined until a year later.

Blair decided then and there she would not be leaving her job. It was the only concrete thing she could hold on to, so she was keeping it. It wasn't like they worked directly together.

Dan took a step toward her, reaching out his hand. "Baby..."

Blair stepped back. "Don't you dare touch me." She couldn't stomach it. She didn't even want his shadow near her.

The venom in her voice brought him up short. He turned to look at Laura before returning his eyes to Blair's pale face. Who wouldn't be pale?

"You have to believe me. This was a one-time thing. It will never happen again. It meant nothing." Dan pleaded.

Blair saw the look on Laura's face. Even before seeing it, she knew he was lying. Dan had a tell - his right eyebrow always went up. Before today, the lies had never been a big deal, just small stupid things. Had she noticed it when he'd talked about Laura? She wasn't sure. Sometimes the mind protected you from what you didn't want to see.

"You know what, Dan? It doesn't matter." Blair angled her chin up as her nails dug into her palms. "This one time was all it took."

"What? No, Blair, baby please, I love you." Dan tried to take her in his arms.

Blair moved quickly, picked up the bat, and pressed the end of it to his chest, pushing him back. "Don't even think about it."

Dan looked down at the bat, raising his hands in surrender. "Please, she lured me. You know what she's like. I was missing you."

They both heard the gasp from the bed. Laura snapped, "He's lying, Blair. This has been going on for months. Soon after he moved in."

"Shut up, Laura!" Dan barked at her before turning back to Blair. "She's lying."

Blair shrugged. "Doesn't matter. It only took the one time, Dan." She nudged him with the bat. "And don't call Laura names. I may never forgive her for this, but you were the one in a relationship, not her." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Laura sliding off the bed, scrambling for her clothes while still clutching the sheet. "If you think she's everything you just said, what does that make you?"

Blair knew she wouldn't feel clean even if she had ten showers. This was going to take time.

She couldn't deal with any more right now. She needed to leave before they were both dressed. She needed to think. To breathe. To not fall apart in front of them.

Turning on her heel, she ran down the stairs. She grabbed her suitcase and handbag. Blair only just remembered the briefcase as she reached the front door.

"You stupid- why did you have to say anything?" Dan's angry voice echoed from upstairs.

Blair rushed to her desk, scooped up the briefcase, and stood at the front door, ready to leave. Knowing that once she stepped through it, she wasn't coming back. She had no idea where she was going, but anywhere was better than here.

Following Dan's insult came Laura's sharp reply. "I'm not what you just called me, Dan."

"You and your big mouth. You wanted this to happen, didn't you?" Dan accused.

Blair could hear the tears in Laura's voice. "You didn't mind my mouth before, Dan!"

"Shh!" Dan hissed, suddenly worried she was hearing everything. "You set me up, didn't you? You knew she was coming home."

"Dan, I didn't know!" Laura cried.

If Blair stayed any longer, they would come downstairs, and she couldn't handle another confrontation.

Taking a deep breath, Blair stepped through the front door, not looking back even as she heard Dan calling her name.