A/N – This story takes place in an alternate universe where children are identified as either dominant, submissive, or neutral at a young age. So this will eventually be a D/s story, probably with BDSM elements in later chapters. If I ever get that far, anyway.

Also, it's met to take place as an offshoot of the episode "The Mistake" in which Chase's license to practice medicine was revoked. But I probably made some mistakes with the canon, so sorry about that.

Chapter 1

The ruling had fallen hard upon both men on the unfortunate side of the long conference room table. The words hung heavy in the air... "gross incompetence"... "inexcusable"... "revocation of all privileges to practice medicine." House dared to look over at the man who had lost everything. Chase's mouth was hanging open and his suspiciously shinny eyes were blinking rapidly as they flicked from on solemn faced board member to the other.

Chase was in a daze as House led him back to the diagnostics office. Those dreadful words were still floating through his mind. House dismissed his other two fellows who were sitting at the conference room table with a gruff "go home." Foreman got up and began gathering his things but Cameron took one look at Chase's vacant gaze and began to protest. House cut her off though before she could really get started.

"NOW!" he bellowed. The sound reverberated though the glass conference room. House instantly regretting his reaction, even though it had the desired effect of causing Cameron to make a hasty exist. Chase's hitherto moist eyes finally spilled over into real tears. Only a drop or two fell, but the boy was visibly cowering, eyes on the floor and shoulders slumped even more than usual. House had Chase upset before, but his displeasure usually manifested as anger. In fact, thinking back, House could not remember ever seeing Chase cry.

House quickly shook off any sympathy he was feeling for Chase when he remembered that Chase was an idiot who deserved exactly what he got.

"What is wrong with you?" House asked, glaring at Chase with clear contempt in his eyes. "Your father's death was a mitigating factor. You probably would have gotten off with a suspension if you'd told them about the phone call."

Chase didn't respond. He was staring at the floor.

"Well? Now that you've forced me to hire and train a new fellow, you had better at least give me an explanation as to why you are being a self-destructive idiot." House said. He was crowding Chase's personal space now, forcing the Intensivist to press himself into the glass wall between House's office and the conference room. Chase's tears had dried up, but he was shaking from head to tow and folding into himself as much as he could.

"I... I just couldn't do it. I couldn't tell them."

"Why the hell not?" House said, ignoring Chase's discomfort.

"You said... the other day outside Dr. Cuddy's office you said it would be better for you if I went down in flames." Chase said squeezing his eyes shut and tensing his entire body.

"What?" House sounded genuinely bewildered. "I would have gotten a slap on the wrist. You lost your medical license Chase. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Chase didn't respond. Instead he took out his wallet. From one of the small inner pockets he produced a flat silver disk, similar to a dog's tag but made of fine mettle. He gave it to House and walked around him to take a seat at the table. House read the engraved words quickly and immediately retreated to his office.

******

House pulled at the tag gently while he considered the situation. Chase was a slave, he was still marveling at the thought. He turned his eyes once again to the little silver identifier in his hand.

Robert Johan Chase

Submissive: Level 10

Unowned

It didn't make any logical sense. First of all, how did an twenty-seven year old L10 as pretty as Chase go unowned for so long? How had House gone completely unaware of a fucking slave working right under his nose for four years? Technically a sub wasn't a slave until someone laid a claim on them and were accepted, but L10s (and L9s for that matter) were generally referred to as slaves or as good as. Even if they weren't owned high level subs were, as a rule, submissive to whomever had immediate authority over them. Parents, bosses, teachers, whatever. If there wasn't such a figure in the subs life, they almost always found someone to do the job and clung to the like lyme disease on a fifth grader.

House nearly laughed out laud at his own stupidity. Of course Chase was a sub. He'd always done what House told him without question or complaint. And when House was no longer the most powerful boss on the scene, the fucking boy had immediately latched on to the more powerful figure (Vogler).

House limped back into the conference room and eyed the dejected looking blond with interest.

"When did you get this?" House asked, holding up the silver disk.

"When I was sixteen. Twelve years ago."

"Mmmm. That's late, isn't it? I'm not sure how these things work in the land down under but over here kids generally get tagged as soon as they hit puberty. What took your parents so long?"

"My dad always hated that he had a submissive for a son. He refused to let them evaluate me and back then parents were still allowed to opt their children out. So I was just never evaluated even though everyone could tell I was a sub. My father tried to... beat it out of me. Make me more assertive. I couldn't do it though. Eventually he just left us. He couldn't stand to even look at me anymore." Chase paused to wipe some fresh tears from his eyes. "My mother died when I was sixteen. There was some dispute over who would have legal authority over her estate. I should have had legal authority, but my dad pulled some strings and the court ordered me to get reviewed. I think we were both surprised when it turned out I was a Level 10."

High level submissives were pretty rare. Only about thirty percent of children tested were placed into either of the extreme categories: dominant or submissive. The rest were considered neutrals. It was decided in the late sixties that subs should be rated on a scale of ten because it was becoming increasingly clear with time that people labeled as subs varied quite widely. It went without saying that Chase lost most of his adult legal rights when he was labeled an L10. Anything over 5 would have had the same result. Dominants, however, maintained their simple one word title. House couldn't keep his mind from wondering to his own silver tag most likely buried under a pile of crap in the junk drawer of his desk.

Deciding this monumental news could not go unshared for another moment, House left the room and headed towards Wilson's office. He spared only a brief "Stay," for the blond who still sat sulking at the table.

*****

That's all I got so far. Let me know what you think.