After two hours sitting on the stairs, waiting for House he still hadn't heard anything. He had cleaned up the apartment as much as he could, although he didn't know if House would be mad for touching his stuff. His headache seemed to get a little bit better. Suddenly his phone went off. ''This is Robert.'' He nearly prayed it wasn't his father in law again. ''Robbie, I am still waiting for you. I already visited the museum in time.''
''Museum? House, where are you?''
''Greg for you. I Amsterdam.'' He hung up the phone. Chase sighed, he really wasn't up for more puzzles. He walked down the stairs, locking the door behind him and walking back onto the Damrak, no idea to where he had to go. He just walked to the FEBO, pulled another Hamburger out of the wall and looked around. A T-shirt in the souvenir shop pulled his attention away from his snack. IAMSTERDAM was on the T-shirt. He walked into the shop. ''No food allowed!'' The guy behind the counter brawled. ''Sorry, I just wanted to ask if Iamsterdam means something, is it a restaurant?'' He said, holding up his hands. ''No, it is the monument at the Museumplein, you idiot.'' The guy rolled his eyes. Chase walked out, pulling out his phone and looking for the museumplein. He sighed when he saw how far it was and called a cab, his legs tired from the walk from the hotel all the way to the centrum. He nearly fell asleep in the cab.
The car stopped and he paid, worried that he didn't have a lot of euros in his pockets. Immediately he crossed the field, walking to the big letters spelling I Amsterdam on the other side of the field. Suddenly he saw a cane being waved up by somebody lying down in the grass. He walked up to House and sat dow on the field next to him, fell down a few seconds later. ''Hangover?'' He asked to Chase, looking aside. Chase shook his head. ''No, it is not that bad.'' It was, even in his student time he hadn't felt like this.
''Good, we have a few more nights to go.''
''I hope you are enjoying yourself. I came here because I was worried about you but I am more worried that I am never going to end back in Princeton, but dead in a gracht.''
''Don't worry, I look after you and I think I did very well last night. You didn't wake up in an alley.''
''No I woke up in a strange hotel.'' House pouted. ''I thought you would like it more than my tiny box with a bed.''
''I am not sure if I can pay you back.'' Having a bay wasn't cheap.
''You don't have to; just have fun for a while. Enjoy yourself. Now, let's go see some culture, little wombat.'' House stumbled up. ''Or can't you remember that we would go to museum today? I still have the idea you didn't, since you had no idea where I was.''
Chase stood up. ''No, I remember, we agreed on seeing the Nachtwacht, right?'' He absolutely didn't remember, but he remembered that the painting was in there, since Emily had bought the bought the mug with the painting on it, although he had treated he would 'accidently' drop the mug if she would ever put his coffee in there, as ugly as the thing was. In the end it wasn't him who had killed the mug, but the cat they had at the time, Peanut. At least, that was what his wife believed.
He walked behind House into the museum, looking at the art pieces. Somehow, he had always liked art, but the hangover made it nearly impossible for him to concentrate. He looked at the painting from the mug, remembering the first time he saw it. Suddenly he somebody knocked against his shoulder, a short apologize. He looked at the face. The older man walked away, Chase following him.
House stood in the room before the nachtwacht, looking at another painting. He knew Chase was one room farther, but he just needed to look a little longer, the painting amused him. Interested him. He walked on after a few minutes, to catch up with Chase again. To his surprise, he wasn't in the next room. He looked around, but walked to the next room, hoping to see Chase there, but his wombat also wasn't there. He reached the museumshop, looking around. Getting a strange feeling in his stomach, he walked into the big hall again, looking around, walking into the men's room. ''Robert?'' Suddenly he saw him sitting on the floor, behind the sinks, sobbing.
''Hey, what is wrong?'' House said, worried. He carefully moved Chase's hands away from his eyes. Chase didn't say anything but closed his eyes. ''I thought it was my dad. He looked like my dad.'' He mumbled then, wiping away his tears. ''My dad has been dead for over a decade.'' He said, more to himself than to House.
''I am sorry, Chase.''
''Don't be.'' Chase turned his head away, standing up, walking to the sink and throwing some water in his face.
''Chase, I am so sorry that you feel awful because of your father. He isn't worth to feel awful about. He was an ass, just like me.''
''You are not an ass.'' Chase said, while wiping the water out of his face with a paper towel.
''Í know how awful you have been doing last few weeks. I am sorry that I knew, but didn't tell you I knew. Emily called me, telling you needed to get out of Princeton for some time, to get you out of your own mind. ''
''Thank you.'' Chase looked up to House, red eyes. ''Thank you for doing this for me.''
House nodded. ''You are my little nephew, remember?''
Chase smiled. ''True.'' They walked out together.
''Just a second.'' Chase ran back into the museum shop, walking out with a wrapped present.
''What is it?''
Chase shrugged. ''The mug I dropped and always blamed the cat for.'' He finished the sentence with a small smile, knowing this week was what he needed.
….
''Again, I am very thankful that you are going this for me.''
House shrugged. ''There is also something in it for me, I get to share my life here.''
They looked over the Amstel, sitting outside at the Amstel Hotel.
''So, another rough night for tonight?'' he said, taking a sip from his beer.
''Only if you want, I know you didn't have much of a choice yesterday. I hope you don't feel bad about it.''
Chase frowned. ''I don't remember much, was it that awful?''
''Do you remember Karlien?''
Chase shook his head. ''Don't even tell, I think it is better if I don't know.
They ate their food in silence, enjoying the view and the still hot evening weather of June.
''Are you excited for Charlotte to arrive by the baby express?'' House said, when they had finished their meal.
''of course, I can't wait to hold her in my arms.
''Oh how sappy.''
Chase shrugged. ''You shouldn't have asked me if you didn't want to know, you could have expected a cliché coming.''
The men stood up, both to full for dessert.
….
They entered a café, as always, the screens were filled with soccer, which seemed to be the case in every café here. Soccer nearly seemed to be a religion in this city. After one day back, he already remembered the soccer clubs name and he could even say most of the team players names.
House ordered him a beer. ''No shots for tonight.'' Chase nodded, looking at the screen. ''Why is it so important here.'' House shrugged; ''People like it, even I start to like it.'' Chase looked back at the screen. When Ajax scored, he started to cheer with the other people in the bar. ''Hey Andre, give the Aussie guy a beer, he is even cheering for the right team!'' A younger boy at the bar smiled, handing Chase another beer.
''Thank you.'' Chase said a little surprised. ''We like it when tourists have no idea what they are yelling for, but think it is awesome when they cheer for the right team. I am Jim.'He said, shaking Chase's hand. ''Robert, nice to meet you, you are not Dutch, are you?'' He frowned, hearing Jim's perfect English. ''No, I am from the UK. Have been living here for four years now, though. But I see you know Greg.''
''Yeah, he is my uncle.'' Chase nodded. '' I thought Greg was American.'' Jim frowned.
''My family history is a bit complicated. Doesn't really matter anyway.'' His phone went off, showing Emily's picture. He walked outside, sat down on the edge of the gracht.
''Hey Ems.''
''Hey Robs. I am sorry my dad called you.''
''It doesn't matter , he was right. But I am thankful you called House.''
''I hope it helps you. Had to give you a kiss from Jensen, he is to the zoo with his grandparents.''
''Lucky guy. Give him a kiss back.''
''Go back to what you were doing before I called, I just wanted to hear how you were. Bye.''
''Bye.''
He walked back into the café, seeing the match had finished and the supporters were cheering and parting. ''Did they win?'' He said, grabbing his beer back from the bar and joining Jim and House again. ''Sure, they usually do.'' House frowned. ''Or did you think they were happy because they lost?''
Chase shrugged. ''Just asking.'' House handed him a cigarette, also offering Jim one. ''Greg, I told you I wasn't going to do drugs. '' House showed him the package. ''Just normal Marlboro. Did you think I was going to share my joints with you?''
Chase chuckled, House lighting the cigarette. He honestly hadn't smoked in months and only occasionally in the years before that. The only time he actually had smoked everyday was when he had just started as the head of diagnostics , because somehow it released his stress. One time he had been standing outside of his office on the balcony and the new head of oncology ran outside, in total hysteria; ''You are not allowed to smoke in the hospital!''
''That is why I am standing outside.'' He had shrugged. The woman had been looking at him for a few seconds. ''I am going to tell the dean!'' Just to annoy the woman even more, he had offered her one. ''Go ahead.'' When she pulled a very mad face and stomped back inside. Rolling his eyes, he had dropped the cigarette in a cup with water, to clean it inside. After that he hadn't smoked outside on the balcony anymore. Knowing he was wrong that he had been doing so.
But the relation with the head of oncology had never been better than that. One time, when a heat wave had hit Princeton in the summer and he had been sitting outside with his team when they did didn't have a case, reading books, she had been furious that Taub had been sitting on the low wall that separated their balconies, which was a part of her balcony too! He went to her office later that day, apologizing for all the wrong he had done, just to be kicked out with the message that he should make less coffee in the morning, because the sound of the coffee machine annoyed her. In protest, his team had been sitting on her side of the balcony for the rest of the summer. Since then she never had said anything to him in the past four years and even in the board meetings she ignored him. Nobody really seemed to like her though.
''You know, the head of oncology, she is a real bitch. '' He said to House. ''Everybody is secretly still missing you in the hospital, they would love to see you dealing with her.'' House chuckled. ''Did you use the balconies yet to annoy her?'' Chase laughed. ''That is where the war started about.''
''My dear young Wombat, I am sure I shared the wonderful art with you of shooting dye-filled waterbaloons to the door.''
''No, you didn't, but thanks for the idea.''
''I am sorry, I didn't think before I started talking about the new head of oncology.''
''Like I care, Wilson is gone. Somebody else has to care for the little bald kids now he is gone. I just hope she is nicer to them than she is to you.'' When House said the first sentence, pain could see the pain in his eyes.
''So, why did you go to Amsterdam?'' He said to change the subject.
''Blackjack and hookers!'' House said, with a big smile.
''Blackjack? That's more Vegas.''
''True, Weed and Hookers then.''
Chase got another beer for both of them at the bar. ''Cheers, on five more good days.''
''Cheers. By the way, did you hit Allison Cameron in the face at my funeral?'' Chase frowned. ''of course not.''
House pulled a funny face. ''To bad, I wanted to go out in style, I would have loved you punching her in the face after all she did.''
''Na, I am not that low to the ground. She said asked me how I was doing, standing next to her new husband.''
House nodded. ''Anyway, do you have anything in particular in mind for tonight?''
''Surprise me.''
…
He woke up from his phone shaking under his head. He pulled it away and threw it aside, slowly turning on his back. It probably was his in-laws again. Somehow, they seemed to be unable to get over the fact that he stayed a week longer in Amsterdam. After waking up like wreck for the past fourteen days, it became fairly easy now. He was actually glad that the room in House's apartment didn't have any windows, so he was sure he didn't get blinded by the sun right away. He stumbled to the kitchen, starting to fry some eggs.
''Morning'' He mumbled when House entered the kitchen.
''Robert, we need to talk, right now, before you start your usual day again. It was my intention to clear your mind of the stress you have had for the weeks before you got here, not to turn you into a 37 year old without any responsibility. Do you even have any idea how long you are here already? I bet you don't, since you don't even take your families calls anymore.''
Chase nearly dropped the frying pan on the floor. ''I am sorry if I am such a burden. I have only been here for 14 days and I am leaving Saturday, that makes 21 days.''
''Wrong. It makes 28 days.''
Chase frowned. ''No, it makes 21 days.''
''Counting the days you weren't too drunk or stoned to spell your own name, sure that makes 21. I book the first ticket I can find to your real home and you get your ass over there, right now!''
Chase smashed a plate on the floor. ''Who are you to say what I should do? That I should be responsible? You don't even know the word. You are not my dad''
House seemed to explode; ''No, I don't. I don't have that right, but I also don't have family who have nearly given up hope to see you return. I am not married to a girl who is 33 weeks pregnant and still waiting for her husband to return. Do you even remember who she is? I am not your father, but you are turning in your father.''
Chase moved his jaw, seemed like he wanted to punch House for a second, grabbed his suitcase and pulled some clothes on, putting it over his underwear and throwing everything else in the suitcase.
''Did I do it? Did I fill in your puzzle of what would happen if you would give me freedom? Are you pleased with the result? You were the person to push that joint in my hands the second night. Are you pleased that I can't care for my family, just like my dad, does it fit your theory and puzzles?'' He yelled, walking out, down the stairs. ''Robert, get back inside here, we need to talk, like I said.''
''No, you go back to your hookers and drugs. I don't even want to share this world with you anymore. I bet you got interested when you saw that I was broken, when you saw me at the museum, crying. Suddenly you were caring House, instead of the one who tried to destroy me in the first place with shots and hookers.''
''And you are damn right! All I wanted you to do was that you could walk away from this to take care of your family and you couldn't, just like your dad. Now please fill in my other puzzle, which shows that you don't have to be like your dad.''
''Don't worry, I will!'' He yelled, then turning around and walking away from House, who slowly closed the door.
I am sorry, Robert, it had to be this way. But I know I am not like your dad. My intention this week was to show you this life was nothing for you anymore, that you have a lovely family and you are perfect for your job. I am sorry it went to wrong way. Emily told me that you seemed to be missing your student life; without your family and your demanding job, where you could drink and do drugs to forget your own crappy family. I tried to show you it wasn't your life anymore. I am sorry I failed. I know you can care for your family. Uncle Greg.
He would find the note in his suitcase, one day. House thought, walking down the streets, all alone again.
…..
Chase ran as fast as he could to the terminal where the airplane to New York was ready to depart. He was just in time at the check in and left his suitcase there, but the security took him so long. Tears were running down his face when he saw the 18 messages he hadn't opened this morning while sprinting, pushing people aside. Had House known that everything was going wrong in Princeton? Is that why Foreman had also called him 5 times? Was Emily in Princeton or Trenton?
''I need to get on this plane, my wife is having her baby too early!'' he yelled when they closed the gate.
''that's probably the most used pretext.'' The KLM guy rolled his eyes. Chase could see it in his eyes; you are the shitty husband, you are the ass not being there. You should have been there. She is your wife. Why are you even here?
Another guy popped up behind him: ''Guus, er is een probleem met de bagage. Code 18. Het vliegtuig moet wachten.''
''You are one hell of a lucky bastard.'' The KLM guy mumbled annoyed when they escorted Chase to the plane, while he didn't even have the slightest idea what was going on, he just needed to get to Princeton as fast as he could.
…..
Did Chase cross the line? Can he even make this up or House make it up for him, just for once? Will they even make up?
Please leave your feedback! 10 followers and only 13 reviews, c'mon you can do better! J
The story won't be much longer anymore, probably 2-3 chapters, but I would love to know if you still want me to end it or just leave it.