For the Livejournal community free neutrality ficathon, prompt was Foreman, Chase friendship.

He watches the way the fading sunlight dances across the conference table and admires the kaleidoscope of colors that appears. In such a somber room, the light brings much needed warmth and he leans back in his chair to appreciate a quiet moment. Finally, it had been a long day.

He hears the door open and turns to watch Chase as he enters the conference room holding a stack of papers against his chest.

Chase asks him as he places them on the table, "Did everyone else leave for the night?"

"Cameron left about ten minutes ago and I have no idea where House is. I would guess he's long gone."

"I have to stay and catch up on some of this. You leaving?"

Foreman eyes the stack of papers and sighs, "I can help you for a bit."

Both men work silently, filling out the forms and signing where appropriate. The stack doesn't seem to be dwindling despite the fact that the sun has long since faded, darkness encroaching in on them. Foreman throws his pen down after a few more minutes, looking out the window.

"I didn't realize that it had gotten so late."

Chase never looks up, "You can go. I appreciate the help you've given me."

Foreman leans back in his chair, "Is this thing you have with Cameron over?"

Chase starts, "It wasn't a big deal, House made it into more than it should've been. It got out of hand, but yes, it's over."

"She's the one who ended it?"

"If you have to know, yeah. She thought that I had gotten too serious. About us, about her."

Foreman shakes his head, "I knew something like that was bound to happen. And I knew it was going to be you that got hurt in the end. Cameron looks sweet, acts innocent but I think she's tough as nails when she needs to be. That's why House can't shake whatever it is he feels for her."

At the mention of House's attraction to Cameron, Chase flushes brightly and resumes scanning the document in front of him. He knew at the beginning that he shouldn't have started the 'affair' but she is pretty and he really likes her. He naively thought that maybe he could change her feelings but the longer it drew out, the father away from her he became.

And he hates watching her with House. Hates it. It's just a daily reminder of why they would've never worked.

But he's too much his father's son to leave.

Foreman realizes that he might have gone too far; too personal and quickly tries to maneuver the conversation back to neutral territory. "Look, I'm sorry that things went the way they did. It seems like you're both being professional and things have been pretty much back to normal around here."

Chase looked back at Foreman and recognizes the escape he has been given, "Yeah, it's a good thing. Now we can get back to watching her watching House."

Foreman smiles at Chase and they both nod in silent understanding. Foreman isn't going to bring this up again.

"Do you want to go grab a sandwich? There's a new pub at the end of Langley Street that has these great seasonal beers." Foreman places his pen on the stack and reaches for his coat draped over the back of a chair. "I think these will be here in the morning. Maybe we'll get lucky and no cases tomorrow."

Chase nods his agreement, "Or maybe no House tomorrow. Wouldn't that just…"

Forman holds the door open and follows Chase through.

Time enough tomorrow.