AN: Wow! Third House fic within the week! I feel like I'm on a roll or something. Anyway, I hope you guys like this one. I went a different direction with the pairing, obviously. I wasn't initially into the Chase/House relationship thing, but I've warmed up to it a bit. I just can't stand those House/Cameron, House/Cuddy pairings. Ugh. No offense. I mean, I enjoy a good het pairing as well as the next person . . . when it's written decently. Okay, I'll stop rambling and let you kids get to it. Enjoy, yea?
Disclaimer: I do not own the television series House. I do not own the characters of the television series House.
The Man I've Yet to Know:
Chase stood in the center of the apartment bedroom like a deer caught in headlights, still clutching a few articles of clothing in his trembling hands. The intense blue eyes trained on him from the doorway bored imaginary holes into his skull, emanating a look of curiosity and bewilderment.
"Going somewhere?" House's deep, husky voice inquired innocently. His chin was lowered slightly, giving him the advantage of looking at the younger man through his eyelashes -- a sinisterly sexy look he had practiced many times in the mirror that guaranteed any and all cooperation from a given person, namely Chase.
"Home," Chase managed past the lump in his throat, his voice barely audible as it cracked. Dry tears lay in flaky streams on his face, framing the curves of his cheeks, and he sniffled, breaking eye contact with the man and returning to the task of placing his clothing in a nearly-full suitcase on their bed. He wiped his runny nose precariously, like a child with a cold might, and House was vaguely aware of how childlike Chase really was.
"I thought . . ." The older man could not finish, the two words hanging in the air like a heavy dust, choking the rest of the sentence from his memory. He thumped the bottom of his cane against the floor a few times uncomfortably, averting his gaze to the floor at Chase's feet. "I mean, I know I'm a prick sometimes . . . most of the time . . . all the time . . . but you don't have to . . ."
Chase, suddenly aware of how the situation must look to the other man, was quick to fix the misunderstanding, his red, tear-deprived eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and worry.
"No!"
House looked up at the exclamation, his eyebrows raised questioningly. Chase had one hand raised in his direction, as if reaching out would allow him to see what was really happening.
"I-I mean, I'm not leaving . . . I just . . ." The younger man sighed, his arm dropping to his side and his head lowering as he slowly slumped to sit on the bed. "My dad died."
House's teeth clenched, the grip on the cane in his right hand tightening. His shoulders sagged in sympathy and relief, a twinge of guilt causing him to grimace -- something that Chase, thankfully, missed. He carefully made his way across the room, plopping down next to the younger man. Placing the cane upright between his legs, he put both hands, left over right, on top of it, staring down at Chase's knee before building up the courage to sneak a peek at his face.
What he found almost surprised him, but at the same time, he realized he had almost expected it. Fresh tears leaked from Chase's eyes, but the look on his face was blank -- the look of someone who mourned not for the loss of a father, but for a man that he had not been able to know, for a man that he thought he had time to get to know.
But there was no more time left. No more time to learn of what his mother had been like before he was born, what he and his father could have fixed now that their relationship had been repaired to the point of being able to speak to one another without malice.
"I'm sorry," House said quietly, cautiously and awkwardly placing a lanky arm around the other man's shoulders. He squeezed Chase to him slightly, and the young doctor immediately turned into his hold, wrapping his arms around House's chest tightly and burying his face in the crook of his neck. Sobs wracked his body violently, and the older man wondered for a moment how the death of someone Chase barely knew could affect him as much as it did.
As if in answer to his silent question, Chase's muffled voice said in shuddered gasps, "I didn't know. I hugged him, and I told him I'd see him in August. He didn't say anything. He knew, and I didn't, and it's not . . . fair."
"Yea," House whispered into his ear, rubbing soothing circles on the younger man's back. "Yea, I know." Chase, suddenly, pulled away, staring up at him with soggy, red-rimmed eyes.
"He didn't say anything to you, did he?" He asked desperately, searching the older man's eyes for any sign that he might have known something about his father's condition. "He didn't show any symptoms? You didn't notice anything?"
House was quiet for a moment, and he bit the inside of his cheek before replying, "No, I didn't notice. We didn't have any time to talk while he was here." Chase nodded, lowering his head to House's chest and concentrating on breathing in the other man's scent It was soothing, a warm and familiar spicy tang -- a mixture of aftershave and cologne. "I'm sorry, Robbie. I really am. Is there anything I can do? Do you want me to come to Australia with you?"
The younger man shook his head, pulling away from him and wiping furiously at his eyes with his finger tips.
"No," he responded softly, resting his face in his hands. "Thank you, but I'll be fine on my own. Could you just confirm the ticket with the airport, please?"
"Sure," House said, spotting the airline ticket on the bureau and standing stiffly. He snatched the thin, folded paper and made his way from the room, giving one last glance at the sullen young man before heading towards the telephone in the den.
0 o 0 o 0
"You're absolutely sure? I can still catch a later flight if you want me to," House stated suggestively, studying his young lover carefully. He could see the longing in the other man's eyes.
They screamed Yes, please come with me! I can't do this without you! I need someone there with me!
But what came from Chase's mouth was, "For the last time, Greg, I'll be fine." He smiled unconvincingly. "I can do this on my own. It's not like I haven't made funeral arrangements before." House winced, guilt springing to his chest, but he quickly covered for it.
"Funeral? Hell, I'm just looking for a week off of work."
Chase gave a smirk, knowing that this was just House's twisted way of lightening the mood. Strangely, it always seemed to work. The young man found himself leaning forward onto his toes to give him a bit of heighth, and House immediately lowered his head slightly to meet him half way. Their lips brushed gently at first and then pressed a little harder for a warm, lingering kiss. The announcement that Chase's flight was boarding pulled them apart reluctantly, and they leaned their foreheads together for a moment before the younger man began to back away, locking eyes with House for as long as possible before he turned and quickly made his way towards the gate.
House stayed until the plane took off, his phone conversation with the airline attendant coming to mind as he watched it disappear.
//"Yes, I'm calling to confirm a plane ticket for Mister Robert Chase."
"One moment, please." The young woman's voice was much more chipper than should be possible and caused House to wince and pull the phone away from his ear for a moment. The sound of the clacking of a keyboard filled the silence. "Yes, Sir, Mr. Chase's plane leaves at six p.m."
"Great," House said unenthusiastically.
"Is there anything else I can do for you, Sir?"
House looked at the closed bedroom door of his and Chase's apartment, before responding, "When is your next flight to Mr. Chase's destination?"
More clacking.
"Another flight leaves tomorrow at eight a.m."
"Fantastic. I'd like to book one ticket, please."//
House turned, then, making his way out of the airport and to his car. He would have some packing to do before his flight.
AN: Questions? Comments? Vague disregard for any or all words written and established in the mind of one who has no sanity?
Aw, it just makes me all tingly inside when stories have a happy ending. /Sigh/ Gotta love it. :) Later, Gators! Hope you liked. House and Chase are just so dern cute together, neh? Heh heh!