A BIG thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! I'm glad that you're liking it! Here's the next chapter, I still don't own anything!!


As Chase and House sat down at a table, Chase thought he might actually pass out from nerves. He had never 'dated' a guy, in this manner before. Chase had admitted to Jamie that he was gay, but he hadn't yet told his other best friend, Josh. He had a crush on Josh for two years, so when they were playing a very drunken game of strip poker one night, he was pleasantly pleased to be allowed to look at his friend. After everyone (except Jamie, who managed to win the game and was still wearing her bra and panties) was naked, Chase, being very drunk, had kissed Josh. When he broke the kiss, Josh had asked him, incredulously, if he was gay. Chase had nodded and seconds later, Josh was back on top of him.

Sometime during their make out session, Jamie had left the two boys alone. They didn't sleep together that night, but they decided that they were 'official' the next morning. He wasn't quite sure how to handle this situation. Before they even had time to try and make any awkward conversation, a waiter had come to their table.

"Good evening, sirs, can I get you something to drink?" He said, smiling at the two men. House and Chase looked at each other nervously.

"Do you prefer red or white wine?" House asked him. Chase licked his lips nervously.

"Umm, either one, doesn't matter to me." He said, not wanting to pick a wine that House didn't like. He could feel his hands start to shake again. House nodded at him, understanding that he needed to become a little more dominant to make Chase comfortable. He selected a red wine, quickly verified that it was okay with Chase and then ordered. He watched Chase look around the restaurant. "This place is beautiful, House." Then he felt stupid for saying something that made him sound like such a girl.

House nodded and smiled, pleased that Chase liked the place he picked out. "When Wilson married Julie, I threw them a reception here." Chase looked up, astounded and House chuckled. "Don't look so shocked. Wilson's my best friend, I'd do pretty much anything for him. Even throw him a reception when he married a woman I truly detest."

"How long have you and Wilson known each other?" Chase asked, curious about his boss and date.

House smiled. It was a smile that Chase had never seen before, almost sentimental. "I met Wilson when I was eight years old. I pushed him in the mud and he didn't tell on me to the teacher when she asked him who did it. He told her that he had fallen. Then he came up to me and told me that the next time that happened, I wouldn't be so lucky." He chuckled lightly and Chase grinned from ear to ear. The sight was practically breathtaking. "We've been friends ever since." He looked up at the blond man across from him.

"How long have you and Jamie known each other?" He asked her. Chase was so floored that House was taking an actual interest in him. He had learned how to deal with House, with his moods, with his teasing, but nice House, kind House, he didn't quite know how to deal with yet.

"I met Jamie in high school. We ended up going to the same college. We were acquaintances in high school, we both ran with the same crowd, but we became close in college. We lived in the same dorm our first year, she was a floor below me. I was really shy and so, since we knew each other, she began dragging me places with her." Chase took a breath as he divulged another piece of the mystery surrounding his life. He had worked very hard to distinguish two separate lives, however sharing this tonight, with this House, didn't seem quite so bad. "She was the first person I came out to. It took me nearly an hour. I was so terrified she'd abandon me and I'd lose my best friend."

House nodded his agreement. "Wilson's the only person, besides you, I've ever told. I remember feeling the same way, even though our approaches were probably quite different." Chase laughed and House felt his heart soar at the sound. Chase nodded his agreement. The waiter was back with the wine and took their orders.

House and Chase both began to relax slightly. House had been on a lot of first dates, thanks to Wilson, but Chase was still new at a first date. And considering how his FIRST, first date went this wasn't surprising. They talked a little about work, but quickly trashed the subject when they realized all they ever had talked about was work. House shared a few of Wilson's embarrassing stories, each of which made Chase laugh. Chase told House a couple stories about him and Jamie. He didn't bring up Josh and flushed a deep red when House did.

"So, Jamie mentioned that you've only been with one other guy." He said, taking a bite of his pasta. "Was there REALLY only one other guy, or only one other guy that Jamie knows about?" He asked. Chase turned a dark red and he almost regretted asking the question.

"There's only been one other guy." Chase admitted, his voice soft. He was staring intently at his chicken and picking it apart with his fork.

"What was his name?" House pressed on. He gathered that even if the ex-boyfriend wasn't the reason that Chase left Australia, he was one of the reasons he kept his life pretty private. Chase refused to look up at him as he answered the question.

"Josh." House could see the tips of Chase's ears getting pink through the blond hair and fought down a laugh. Damn, if he wasn't adorable when he blushed...not that he'd let Chase know that, of course.

House almost told Chase to tell him about Josh, but noticing that the blond wasn't just blushing because he knew about him, but was blushing because he was truly embarrassed, he decided against it. He remembered Jamie saying something about the guy treating him badly and wished that his leg was good so that he could kick himself. He'd brought up an abusive boyfriend on a first date. House changed the subject. "Food's good."

The blush eased on Chase's face and he looked up gratefully. "Very good." They continued to eat in a companionable silence, making small, first date chit chat. What's your favorite movie? Band? TV Show? Chase admitted he had a deep affinity for musical theater and House admitted that he did, too. When the bill came, they both reached for it, their hands brushing and it caused each of them to jump slightly.

Chase protested as House quickly grabbed up the bill. "Why don't we split it?" He asked, taking out his wallet. House gave him a look.

"I asked you out, that means I pay." He said. Very reluctantly, after five more minutes of arguing, Chase put his wallet away, murmuring his thanks to House. As they headed to Chase's car (he had driven because House came on his bike and Chase was not riding that thing) the air became embarrassed once again. What did they do in this kind of a situation? Chase knew he had to drive back to his place because House's bike was there. Did he invite House up? Was that basically asking for sex? Did he even want sex?

Well, he knew the answer to that one, but did he want sex from House and so soon? House played with the buttons on his radio and found a station playing soft classic music. The music seemed to soothe both men and they arrived home quickly. If it hadn't been so completely awkward, it would have been incredibly amusing to watch two grown men stand outside an apartment complex, both looking like scared teenage girls.

"Well, umm..." Chase began to stammer. House looked up into his blue green eyes. "Thanks for dinner." He stated lamely.

House nodded. "Yeah, yeah, dinner was good. We..." He choked on his words and had to clear his throat before starting again. "We should do it again, sometime." He mumbled. Chase decided to be brave and look into House's eyes.

"You promise me that you're not screwing around with me. That you really like me?" He asked. House nodded, unable to process words when his wombat became so take-charge. "Would you like to come up for a drink?" He asked, his voice filled with false bravado. House smiled, hearing through the terror underneath.

"Yeah, I'd like that." He said, turning and following Chase up the stairs.