Chapter 3- Investigations

Note: The style of the paragraphs will be corrected soon!

Chase pushed in the front door of his flat, turning on the lights while chacking the brown wooden clock on the wall. It showed exactly 5:30. Even so it was starting to get dark outside and the chilly air created spots of dew on his window as he was peering through it. He threw his jacket messily onto the sofa and collapsed next to it. He closed his eyes and nearly went off to sleep right away, when he heared the phone ringing like the air-raid alarm.

"Who the hell is it?"- he said loudly, hesitating, whether to pick it up at all.

But whoever was calling, must have been a zealous jungle-fighter or either wanted something very important, because the phone just kept on ringing.

"Ok, Ok, I'm coming!"

"Robert Chase."

"I have to ask you two things. Don't you dare to put it down! It's very important!"

"House!"- he shouted in disbelief and he brought out his 'clearly annoyed face' as House called it.

"And what do you want to know? I'm feeling fine, thanks, before asking."

"I have no interest in your state of health. My questions will be aiming at your mother."

"At my mother?"

"Yes. Where was she born?"

"Are you kidding? Why is that important to you? You want to ask her on a date too?"

"If that would be possible, I won't waste my time on you. The annual checkup. Remember? I forgot to ask you. These were on the second page."

"Pittsburgh, USA"

"Date of Birth?"

"1956.02.15 Do you need the brand of her favourite drink too?"

"No. Keep her secrets. That's it."

"Bye." –Chase dumped the speaker before House could get the chance to say anything else. He hated when somebody brought up her mother. It was not House's fault, he shouldn't have to act like a pubescent teen, but he just couldn't help it. It was still a thorn in his flesh, the things she did, the thousand ways he tried to deal with the problems,one after another, watching the end…being there…being a part of it…all he wanted was to forget it utterly. 'What did House say?'…'Both of your parents are dead now, so there is no other reason to screw up this bad again…'

House was still beseting the speaker in his hand. If only Chase would know that he doesn't only know her favourite drink but her shoe size and the small birthmark on her back! He got his answer. It was easier than he first thought. But was this the thing he wanted to hear?His thoughts were pivoted on the dates. '1980.05.18….1979.09….the baby…Robert…9 months…she must have known Rowan before she left! Oh shit!' How could he know exactly what happened! It was not about a name any longer, not about a fact, that could have no role in his life now, it was about his pride, about the natural curiosity of human beings. It was selfish, pointless and unbecoming, he knew that, but just as vital and necessary as sleeping or drinking water. 'I have to get in touch with Lizzy!' Lizzy was Chloe's older sister. She has to know the answers. But how to find her? He can't ask Chase…or…what if…He picked up the phone again. 'The Wombat will be soooo mad!' -he laughed involuntarily.

"Chase!"

"It's House! Listen!..."

"What is it this time?"

"Family history!"

"Yeah? Are you going to write a book about us?"

"Your dad had lung cancer…"

"Yes. And than what?"

"In these cases the hospital requires a brief family history to be added to the final reports…indicating the person's closest relatives alive…in case…you know…Cuddy just called my attention to this."

"I have never heared about this before. It's very strange…"

"Strange, but useful in fact."

"What do you want to know?"

"Did your parents have any siblings? Are your grandparents alive?"

"All of my garanparents are dead now, in fact I have never known two out of them. My father was an only child, and my mother has an older sister. She is a sort of spinster, she never got married, so she has no children. And I…"

"What's her name?"

"Elisabeth Pike."

"She will be perfect."

"Perfect for what?"

"For your closest relative. I need her adress, phone number, anything you know."

"Couldn't this wait until Monday? I haven't met her since my mother's funeral. And that was a long time ago. Though I don't think she moved anywhere without telling me. She calls me occasionally, like she did on my dad's funeral…wait a sec…I have her number somewhere." –Chase had no idea why on earth had he became so cooperative all of a sudden.

"I'm dictating…"……

House was very surprised. Chase was more cooperative in the matter than he could ever imagine. He even came by his weak lie about the final report. 'What on earth? He must be very tired!' –he thought with a cynical smile. He had the number. What's next?Just as obsessively as he wanted to know Chloe's story, did he feel the fright of raking up the past, which he had obviously no right to know about after giving up on finding her, because of his pride was hurt, at the time when it actually made any sense. As for it did non now.

"Elizabeth Pike!"

"Lizzy?"

"Who's speaking?"

"It's Dr. Gregory House…I'm…"

"Greg? Oh God! But how…?"

"It's Chase…he did…"

"Jesus! Is something wrong with Robert?"

"…he…Oh no! No! He' fine. He gave me your number. Look, Lizzy, we have to talk…"

"So did Rowan tell you at least!"

"Told me what? Oh, no. I have just found out about Chloe…that Chase…I mean Robert is her son. I knew about Rowan Chase, he was the one who called me to employ his son, and yes, in fact he told me about his lung cancer, but never mentioned Chloe…did she tell him she knew me at all? It's such a coincident, I mean, I wanted to find her than, more than anything else, and now…it's just crazy."

"Forget it Greg! It doesn't matter now…she had her reasons and so do I to…"

"She did knew Rowan when she was with me, did she?"

"She loved him, she wanted to tell you, just didn't know how, it was more complicated than this…"

"Complicated? Disappearing was less complicated I suppose!"

"How do you make that out? You have no idea what she suffered because of you! You made the rest of her life a living misery!"

"I? She was the one who left me, remember!"

"You'd better forget her and her son and Rowan Chase utterly! You are too proud and blind to see what I'm pointing at! I'm done! Goodbye Greg! It's not my object to tell you!"

"To tell me what? Lizzy? Tell me what?" – House tried, but she have already dumped the speaker.

'Shit! Tell me what?... A living misery? …The rest of her life? …She loved him…forget her son…Chloe…the year after she left…for the rest of her life…she had her resons and so do I…Oh, good God! No! That's just sick! …Did Roan tell you?...not my object…too blind to see…9 months…CHASE!' –he shouted so loudly that Wilson, who was walking past the office looked in in surprise.

"He left about 2 hours ago! What on earth are you doing here? It's half past 6! Please don't tell me that you are working!"

"I was as it happens! And you?"

"I'm on duty…but I have told you that."

"You, Wilson! Now you could requite my kindness and do me a favour!"

"Wow! That's very tempting!"

"You suck up to everybody in here, so could you just find me a do-gooder who'd run a paternity test for me?" –glancing over at Chase's coffé mug, standing on the table.

"A paternity test? Why? Now?"

"Just find somebody! It's for one of my patients. That boy could die, and I can't start the treatment without knowing who's his father. The mommy is insecure…"

"I didn't know you have a new case!"

"Should we discuss my sexual life too?"

"Good lord! Anything but that House! Make ready the samples, in 10 minutes I'll be back!"

TBC…

So, did you like it? I hope so…:) Many thanks to those who reviewed my story and for those who try to help me out in certain paragraph and dialogue mark matters! ;) Keep on REVIEWING! It helps me a lot! ;)