"Daddy," a small voice whined early one morning. Chase rolled over to peer at the alarm clock on his bedside table. 3:00am.

"What is it baby?" Chase groaned.

"Where's mummy?" asked the little 4 year old standing next to his bed.

"Mummy's at a conference, remember?" he told his daughter, cracking an eye open to look at her. He saw her bottom lip begin to tremble; a sure sign of a teary tantrum. "Want to sleep with daddy?" he asked, resigned. It was so much easier to give in, especially at 3 in the morning.

His daughter gave a happy nod, and climbed into the bed. Chase felt the little warm body of his daughter curl up next to him, and he put a protective arm around her before falling back into a deep slumber.

-----------------------------

Beep beep. Beep beep. Chase was woken by the alarm clock the next morning. Rolling over, he smiled. Skylar was still sleeping, looking completely at peace.

"Skylar?" he said softly, stroking her cheek softly. "Time to wake up."

Skylar opened her eyes slowly, giving a little yawn. Then she smiled. "Morning daddy," she said, sitting up and holding her arms out. Chase picked her up and walked downstairs to the kitchen.

Chase got his daughter set up in her high chair before he reached for the phone in the kitchen. He dialed his girlfriend's number as he got Skylar some breakfast.

"Hello?" he heard the voice of Allison Cameron say.

"Morning," he said, smiling.

"Is that mummy?!" Skylar exclaimed excitedly.

"Hang on, the rascal wants to talk to you," Chase said, giving the phone to his daughter.

Chase buzzed around the kitchen, making himself coffee as he listened to Skylar chatting to her mother. She had a strong Aussie accent, and blue eyes and blond hair to match his. She was a daddy's girl through and through.

"Daddy, you can talk to her now!" Skylar said a few minutes later, holding the phone out.

"Hi," Chase said once he had the phone back. "How was the conference?"

-Fine. How are you guys doing?

"Good," Chase answered, sitting down at the table. "About to get Skylar ready for school and then we're off. When are you coming home?"

-Plane leaves at 3, so I'll be back around 7 tonight.

"Okay," Chase nodded. "I'll see you then?"

-Yeah. Love you. Give Sky a kiss for me.

"We love you too. See you later." Chase said, hanging up. "Alright Skylar, time to get ready for school."

-----------------------------

"Chase, you're late," House said later that morning when Chase rushed in.

"Sorry," he panted. "Got held up at Skylar's daycare."

"Oh tell someone who cares," House said dismissively. "I was just stating a fact."

Chase rolled his eyes and sat down. "What've we got?"

"10 year old girl with acute abdominal pain, hasn't eaten in four days." Foreman answered, handing him a file.

"Gastritis?" Chase asked. "Has she been tested at all?"

"Yep. It's not gastritis. Oh, she can't take any water either. She's being fed by her IV line."

And thus, Chase's day began.

-----------------------------

Chase was driving towards the daycare centre that afternoon, thinking. He was considering proposing to Cameron; after all, their child was 4, and they'd been together for 7 years.

Reaching the daycare centre, Chase got out of the car and walked to the front door.

"Daddy!" he heard Skylar squeal the second he walked in the door. He turned around just in time to brace himself as she flew into his arms.

"Hi baby," he said, smiling at her as she hugged him around the neck tightly.

"Guess what?" she said as Chase picked up her school bag and carried her out to the car.

"What?" he asked her.

"Today, I was playing with the blocks, and Harry came over and stole the blue block I was playing with, and it tore my whole tower down!" she exclaimed angrily.

"Well that wasn't very nice of him," Chase said, hiding a smile. "Why did he do that?"

"I think he has a crush on me. That's what Sally said her sister said when James stole her block. And Sally's sister knows everything." Skylar blabbered on.

Chase kept nodding and smiling along, but slowly tuned out. He was thinking about Cameron; he missed his girlfriend.

"Okay Sky, we're home," Chase said, parking outside the house.

Once inside, Chase helped Skylar hang up her jacket and take her shoes off, then went into the kitchen to make dinner.