Downstairs, Jenny's recovering from the experience, and Serena and Dan climb into a cab to take her home. That Angels & Airwaves song plays again, only this time it's about protecting Jenny and not Eric, but also about Dan's huge crush on Serena blooming full, which is kind of nice if you think about it, because what you've got are two freshman types whose innocence is endangered by these shitty people's shitty lives in the most graphic ways, and you've got our two kids, basically in loco parentis, bonding over protecting that innocence, while trying to maintain/recover their own. All linked by this song. It's interesting that beyond some yogurt jokes and the occasional thrown platter, the only people who pay for anything in this entire episode are the two people whose only crimes were to themselves, because they didn't know any better. I wasn't buying Serena-as-hero through most of it, because I am in love with Blair Waldorf, but thematically I think it's so, so awesome that she's part of the only actively protective duo in the whole place. Saving Jenny, she saves herself, and by saving Eric, she saves her family, which is inextricably tied to Dan's in all kinds of interesting ways. Anyway, neat song. Blair's not impressed by any of this.

Out on the street, Dan asks if he's got a shot at another date, and since she has no other prospects and doesn't actually care about Nate that much, plus Dan is smart and cute, she giggles. "I don't think you could top this one!" He points out that he punched somebody, and did this without also making love with Adam Brody, so they're about even. While Nate drinks lonesomely, Blair and Chuck and Gossip Girl are all going wild about how "She better not show her face again!" and "I'm actually hoping she will," from Chuck, earning Blair's approval as a pawn. In the cab, Dan and Serena and Jenny have a sweet moment; Serena stares out the window of the cab, bookending her ride into Grand Central, somewhat happy that she has friends. Even poor ones. Gossip Girl dorks out about how no matter what, school's going to suck on Monday for old Serena, and how you know you love her, and you know you love her stock phrases.

Next up: Blair begins the slutty reeducation of Jenny, Nate's hair's still cute, Blair tells Serena she knows about the champagne supernova last year, and Chuck gets into a threesome with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.