Title: A DreadfulMinute

Pairing: House/Chase

Episode: 97 Seconds

Summary: Chase whimpered, "It was the worst minute of my life." House/Chase

The door clicked open, and House inhaled the Aussie's musky scent. The man's breathing was uneven, almost choked.

"If you start crying, you're out," House whispered, and Chase swallowed, sitting down on the edge of the bed, pressing his palm to House's cheek, keeping his eyes away from the electrical burns on his lover's palm.

"You could have paged me, you know. I would have been able to help you."

"You would have panicked and cried. I couldn't have paged any of you, you or Cameron or Wilson…to Amber, I was just another patient…"

"Why did you do it, House?" Chase asked suddenly, a tortured look on his face as he looked into House's eyes.

"I just…" House winced momentarily and Chase added more pain meds to the IV in House's arm. House smiled up at him.

"I just wanted to know how it felt…" House finished, his eyelids growing heavy from the drugs.

"You wanted to know how if felt to have your arm shocked off?"

"No," House answered. "You know…what I mean…"

"I feared as much. Your heart stopped, you know. You were dead for an entire minute."

"Wilson explained that."

Chase whimpered, "It was the worst minute of my life." He squeezed his eyes closed to stop the tears that stung his blue eyes, but one slipped out. House gently wiped it away with his thumb and then pulled him down to lay next to him. Chase buried his face in House's chest as House gently ran his fingers through Chase's hair. It took him a few minutes to realize that his blond lover was crying.

"I would never leave you," House insisted, stopping at Chase's neck and drawing circles just below his hairline with his finger. Chase glanced up at him.

"But you did, you tried to."

"No, I didn't."

"So, what? You accidentally stuck a knife in an electrical socket?" Chase cried out, and then shook his head. "I should be so mad at you, but I can't bring myself to be…"

"You have no reason to be. I never intended my death to be permanent. If I did, I'd take some pills and die peacefully."

"Don't talk like that!" Chase wailed, resting his head on House's chest. "I've already had to come to terms with your dying once…don't make me think about it even more!"

"Chase, I would never leave you," House repeated. "Not forever. I just took a short trip."

"I didn't come back here for Cameron. She was a great excuse, but…"

"I know," House whispered. "Shh…baby, I know…"

"But I needed you," Chase continued, his voice rising in pitch. "I tried to go to Arizona, Cameron wanted to, but I couldn't. She said I said your name in my sleep every night…I would wake up in the middle of the night begging for you…" Chase was unable to finish, he burst into tears and buried his face in House's chest.

"It's okay. Baby, it's okay…I'm here now. I'll never leave you again."

"Do you mean it?" Chase queried, his face flush and wet with tears.

"I mean it," House answered. Chase threw his arms around House and kissed him on the mouth gently. House, who was never one for gentleness, pushed Chase's lips apart with his tongue, pushing his tongue against Chase's. They broke apart and Chase curled up against House's stomach.

"I've missed you so much," House told his blond lover. Chase rubbed the tears from his eyes and smiled.

"I love you, House."

"Love you too, wombat."

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This episode was on USA last night and I thought it was adorable. I wanted to see more of Chase, though.

I was listening to the song 'Pet' by A Perfect Circle and this popped into my head, so of course, I had to write it…