Disclaimer: I don't own House, or the beautiful Robert Chase.
AN: This is my first published piece of House work. It's also the first piece I've written primarily about Chase. Most everything House I write (albeit unfinished) is more Cameron-centric. It's actually pretty sad and left to your own interpretation. Oh yeah, and it's set anywhere in S3 during FWB.
Everyone thought it would be Cameron who got hurt. But he's known from the beginning that it would be him that would suffer. He's far more susceptible to heartbreak than she is. Ever since her husband's death she's put a brick wall around herself so that she wouldn't - couldn't - be hurt again.
He's vulnerable. She's guarded.
He's exposed. She's protected.
There are moments - although they are rare - that he see's behind her screen, when he see's the part of her that's jaded and broken. Those moments give him hope that maybe someday she'll come out of her facade and they can live happily ever after.
He's been hoping for three years, and even more in the last few months. He realizes now that that day won't come. She'll never have an epiphany and apprehend that she does want a future with him.
He wonders if she still has feelings for House. If maybe that's the reason she won't open up to him. Did she ever really get over House?
He's stopped imagining any kind of future with her. It will just make it harder when he leaves.
He puts in his resignation and Cuddy offers to write him a letter of recommendation. He declines.
When House finds out, he mocks him, as expected. Foreman doesn't have much of a reaction. Cameron's mouth opens into a little 'o' and her eyebrows crinkle together. But soon her mask is back and he can't tell if she wants to say something, or if she's happy that he's leaving.
She doesn't call him any more. They don't have any more closet rendezvous. In fact, they hardly speak during his two weeks. And House mentions more than once that they're arguing incessantly.
He's right.
On his last day, Foreman and himself have a stiff goodbye. Cameron gives him a harsh hug. House waves and offers a 'toodles'.
As he walks through the lobby, on his way out of this life, House calls out to him. He tells Chase that he knows why he's leaving - because of her. He asks where he's going.
"Home."
He's going back to Australia.
And back to the seminary. Hopefully, this time, he can pass his test of faith.
AN2: Just to let you know, I actually am a huge Chameron fan. This plot bunny was just floating around my head.