Coming home with House was hell. Chase couldn't do anything by himself anymore. Everything sharp was locked away and was to be used only if House was there to supervise. Chase hated all of this, and House knew it. It amused House to watch Chase's frustration grow at everything.
"You know," Chase said one morning before work, "you don't have to watch my every move."
"Actually, I'm just watching you get dressed. Internet's been slow lately. And you're wrong." House turned to walk out of the door.
"I'm not suicidal."
"Fine." House sighed. "I'll give you that. But you are still an alcoholic." Chase cringed.
"No I'm not. I know when enough is enough." House laughed and Chase glared at him.
"I do, too."
"Yeah. And Cameron doesn't love dying patients." He shook his head. Chase followed House out of the room when something caught his eye: House forgot the liquor cabinet key. Chase slowly averted his eyes to House, who seemed to of forgotten it.
"Erm, I'll catch up to you later." Chase called to a departing House. "I, um, forgot to do something." House was about to turn around, but Chase stopped him.
"No! No, don't stay. I'm fine. Really." House gave him a skeptical look, but conceded.
"Fine. But I expect you at work. I don't need hell from Cuddy because of you." And left. Chase waited ten minutes and dashed for the key. It looked much more shiny then he remembered. He opened it and smiled. Everything looked so colorful and potent! He didn't know where to begin. Screw that. A little of this, a lot more of that, and pretty soon, Chase was piss-your-pants-drunk.
"Where's Chase?" Cuddy asked, and House closed his eyes and sighed.
"I'm not his keep-oh wait, I am." Twirling his cane, he simply stated "Still at home, I presume. He said he had things to take care of."
"He does have things to do. At his job."
"I'm sure whatever he's doing at home is just as important." His cane clattered to the floor and he stared blankly in front of him.
"House...what's the matter?" Cuddy's concern grew.
"It's just...." House reached into his jeans pockets and searched for it. It wasn't there. He got up to look in his bag.
"Are you alright, House?" Cuddy bent to meet House's eye.
"The key. Fuck." House turned away before Cuddy could ask anymore. Cameron saw House rush by, but she needed him.
"House, the patient is showing signs of-"
"Not now." he dismissed her. By the time he got home, the cabinet door was wide open. Half of the bottles were rolling on the floor, completely empty. Chase was hanging onto the toilet for dear life. He saw House standing at the doorjamb, watching him curiously. House came over and sat next to Chase, who fell on House's lap and wept.
