Chase checked out Emily's room and saw that there was nothing wrong with it. So he let Emily go play and looked around his apartment. It really could have been a lot worse, Chase thought. The walls were smoky, he'd have to wash them. He picked up a table than had fallen over. There were dishes in the sink so he went and put them in the dishwasher.
Chase didn't really expect Maddie to clean the place, but she usually cleaned up before he came home. However, since they had rushed out there was basic cleaning that had to be done. Chase was a bit of a neat freak. He picked up Emily's toys and her blankie. He dusted the tables and the bookshelf. He ran the vacuum around and checked on Emily. She had fallen asleep on the floor and Chase smiled. She still had a Barbie doll in her hand.
Chase pulled the toy away and set it in her dollhouse and picked up the little girl. He kissed her forehead tenderly and placed her in her bed, covering her up. She must have been really tired because she didn't even move when Chase picked her up.
He watched her sleep for a few minutes before quietly leaving the room. Normally, he didn't like her sleeping a lot during the day. She would take a short nap during the afternoon, but if she slept during the day, she wouldn't sleep at night. But Chase knew that the previous day had really scared her and sleeping in a hotel room probably didn't help.
He went out to the livingroom and poured himself a glass of juice. He brought it into the livingroom and settled on a chair, pulling out a photo album. It was one he hadn't looked at in a very long time. But the reminder that the fire could have wiped it out had shaken him up a little. They were the only pictures he had of Emily's mother. And while he didn't really want any reminders of that woman, he knew that one day Emily would have questions about her. And he wanted to be able to show her pictures when she asked.
He flipped through the books and saw the early pictures of the two of them. When he got to the back of the album he saw the one picture that always made him sad. It was the only picture of Emily with her mother. He sighed deeply and was putting the album away when his beeper went off. He checked it and saw it was House.
He decided to call him, he knew in the long run it would just be easier. He peeked in Emily's room and saw that she was still asleep. He closed her door partway and went to the phone. The number House had left was his office number so he called.
"House." he said, picking up the phone.
"It's Chase, what do you want?" Chase said. House grinned, he loved irritated Chase. And he was so easy to rile.
"I want to meet your daughter."
"You already met her."
"I want to really meet her...and her mother. And I have some questions for you."
"You really met her, her mother doesn't live with us. And I already told you I'd let you ask questions, just not today." House grinned. It really was easy to stir him up!
"Fine, I'll be by for dinner. I like chicken. And potatoes." House said, hanging up the phone before Chase had time to protest. Chase growled and hung up the phone. Damn him! He was too curious for his own good.
He checked the clock and decided to wake up Emily. He hated doing that, but he knew that she would NEVER sleep tonight unless he did. He brushed her bangs off her face gently. "Emily? Baby wake up, sweetheart." he said. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
"Sleepy, Daddy." she told him. He smiled down at her.
"I know, but you've got to get up. One of daddy's...friends...is coming over for dinner tonight. We've got to go to the store and get something to make. Maybe you can make your special brownies for him, okay?" That seemed to perk her up.
"Okay!" she climbed out of bed. Chase went into her dresser and got some clean clothes for her and helped her change. Then he brushed her hair up and off her face and they headed out. They went to the supermarket and just to be obstinate, Chase bought the stuff to make hamburgers. He also got green beans and the stuff for Emily to make brownies. He just bought the boxes that you just had to add eggs, water, and oil to. He also picked up a two liter of coke because he didn't keep pop in the house.
When they got home, Emily went off to watch TV. Chase set her up with a movie and headed into the kitchen. He put the groceries away and started to make the hamburger patties. He made one for Emily first, with no extra spices, and then made four more - two for each of them - with some ground pepper and Mrs. Dash spice. Then he put them on a tray and put the tray in the fridge.
He washed his hands and headed out to watch the movie with Emily. He had heard that you can never understand how much you love your kids until you have one, and he understood. He would have gladly given his own life for Emily, he simply adored her. He sat down on the couch and pulled Emily onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the head.
"Look Daddy! Ariel is singing with Flounder!" she said with the excitement of a three year old.
"I see!" he said. They finished watching the movie and when it was over Chase took her into the kitchen to make the brownies. He got everything out of the cabinets and onto the table. He knew that she loved to help, so he let her pour the powder into the bowl, helped her pour the water and oil in, and he cracked the eggs, but let her help him.
Then he gave her a big fork and let her stir up the mix. She stirred for a couple of minutes and then turned to her father. "Daddy! I finished stirring! Didn't I do a good job?" she asked. He peered in the bowl and saw the mostly mixed brownie batter. He suppressed a smile.
"Wow! You did a great job! Go to the bathroom and wash your hands then we'll pour it into the pan and put it in the oven, okay?" He encouraged. She grinned and flew out of the room and into the bathroom. "Use soap!" he shouted to her. Quickly, while she was in the bathroom he finished mixing the batter.
She came back, holding her hands up for her daddy to inspect. "Good job! Now, let's pour it into the pan, okay?" he asked. She nodded and held the bowl (with Chase's help) and they got it into the pan. "Can you open up the oven for Daddy?" he asked.
She opened up the door and stepped back. Chase placed the pan into the oven and Emily closed the door. Then Chase set an egg timer and then he smiled at Emily. "You want to lick the spoon?" he offered.
"Yay!" she cheered, holding out her hands for the chocolate covered spoon. He chuckled and handed her the spoon. He knew they would have to wash her up again after this, but that was okay. It was part of having a kid, sometimes she got messy. He had to learn long ago that, that was okay. He took another spoon from the drawer and scooped up what was left in the bowl and ate it. "I'm done, Daddy!" she said and he turned to look at her. He couldn't help the laugh that escaped. Her entire mouth and hands were both covered in chocolate.
"Was it good?" he asked her and she nodded vigorously. He pulled the camera out of the drawer and turned to her. "Hold up the fork and smile at me, Em." he said. She did, lighting up the room with her million watt grin. He snapped a picture and then put the camera back. "Okay, baby girl, go wash up again. You're a mess!"
She laughed and ran out of the room. She was almost at the bathroom when there was a knock at the door. Chase looked at the clock. It was five, but he really hadn't expected House before six. He sighed. "I'll get it Daddy!" she cried, running to the front door.
"Emily!" he called sharply, just as she pulled the door open. "Emily, what have I told you about opening the door to strangers. You let Daddy or Maddie open the door!" He came up behind her to see House standing there. Emily turned to Chase with a pout.
"Sorry, Daddy." she said.
"It's okay, just be more careful next time." he said, and then acknowledged his guest. "If you're going to open the door, you have to be polite. You say 'hello'." he instructed.
"Hello!" she said, brightly to House. House stared down at her.
"You're covered in mud?" he asked.
"Chocolate! Are you daddy's friend who's coming for dinner?" she asked him. Chase decided to just let his daughter interact with House for a few minutes.
"Uh...yes." he said.
"I made you my special brownies! And then Daddy let me lick the spoon." she told him. Chase covered his mouth to hide his laughter as House looked at her as if she were an alien.
"And then you went swimming in the batter?" he asked. Emily turned to Chase.
"Huh?" she asked. Chase shook his head.
"Never mind, Emmy, please go wash up." Chase told her. She flashed them both a smile and ran off to the bathroom. Chase stepped back and let House into the apartment. As he went to close the door, he realized there was chocolate on it from Emily's hands. He rolled his eyes. "House, go ahead and have a seat. I need to wipe off the door handle." he said.
House went to the couch and sat down, looking around the apartment. Chase went into the kitchen, checked on the brownies, and grabbed a Clorox wipe. He went and wiped off the door handle and then threw away the wipe. Emily had come out of the bathroom and had joined House on the couch.
Chase was about to join them when the timer for the brownies went off. They would just have to entertain each other for a few minutes, Chase thought as he headed back into the kitchen. Emily sat down right next to House and examined him.
"You're Daddy's friend?" she asked him. He looked her over. "Daddy said his friend was coming over and we had to go to the grocery store to get something for dinner. He woke me up cause I was sleeping, but I was sleeping during the day and Daddy doesn't like that. And then he told me I could make my special brownies. And then we came home and Daddy let me watch the Little Mermaid. And he watched part of it with me. And then we made the brownies. And Daddy let me lick the spoon and then you came!" she told him.
Chase chuckled as he heard his daughter prattling on. Like any only child, she could talk even if no one was talking back to her. House was still staring at her. Emily turned to call into the kitchen. "Daddy, does your friend talk?" she asked.
Chase set the brownies to cool and headed into the livingroom. "Usually, he's like you, he never stops talking!" he teased her and she giggled. "Maybe you should give him a chance to speak." She turned and looked at him, sitting patiently.
"You look like your dad." he finally said. And Emily broke into hysterical laughter.
"He's funny, Daddy!" she said, as House looked at her, bewildered at why that was so funny. Chase wasn't really sure either, but it was so funny to see House at a loss for words that he laughed, too. "How do you know my Daddy?" she asked him.
"Dr. House was Daddy's boss. Remember, I've told you about him, he's the one Daddy used to work for before he worked in ICU." he told her patiently. She nodded.
"What should I call him?" she asked her father.
"Why don't you ask him?" Chase suggested. She turned her big, blue-green eyes to House.
"What should I call you?" she asked him. Chase hid another grin.
"You can call me...House." she giggled. "What?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"That's a silly name!" she said.
"Don't be rude, Emily." Chase admonished. "Why don't you ask House if he would like anything to drink?" he suggested.
"Would you like anything to drink?" she asked, obediently.
"What do you have?" he asked. Emily turned to her father.
"Daddy, what do we have?" she asked. He chuckled again.
"We have water, coke, apple juice, orange juice, and grape juice." He told her.
"We have water, coke, apple juice, orange juice, and grape juice." she repeated diligently. Even House couldn't hide his own smile this time. He was warming to the little girl.
"I'll have some water." he told her. She smiled, pleased that she was able to 'help' their guest.
Chase got up from the couch. "Would you like bottled water or tap water?" he asked.
"Bottled." he said. Chase turned to Emily, she could get that for him. But before he could even say anything, she had jumped up and ran into the kitchen. She pulled open the refrigerator door and grabbed a bottle of water. She rushed in and handed it to him, beaming. "Thank you." he said to her.
She turned to Chase and whispered (albeit loudly) "Did I do a good job?" she asked.
He picked her up, hugged her, and have her a big kiss. "You did a wonderful job!" he praised her.
"Daddy, when is dinner?" she asked him. House smiled.
"Yeah, when is dinner?" he asked.
"Okay, okay, I see you both are hungry. I'll go start the cooking. Emily, why don't you get Candy Land out and ask House to play with you?" he suggested, sending an evil grin House's way. Emily lit up.
"Will you?" She asked. "Candy Land is my most favorite game EVER!" she cried, already running for her room. House shot Chase a look that could kill, but Emily was already back, game in hand.
"Set it up on the coffee table, House can't sit on the floor." Chase called from the kitchen. Emily pulled the pieces out of the game as Chase pulled the hamburger's out of the fridge. He could see into the livingroom from the kitchen and kept an eye on the two of them as he started to make dinner.
