Chapter 10: It Doesn't Rain, It Pours
"In my darkest state of mind I am riddled with despair. When I try and close my eyes your voice is all I hear. I will think of you tonight. I will hold back all my tears. I've waited all these years. Please don't go away. You're making a mistake. You and I were meant to be. You opened up my eyes and made me realize..." ~Don't Go Away, Buckcherry
Chase was depressed. He silently sat in the airport trying to think of how it had come to this. He looked at the ticket in his hand, it wasn't even real. It was real in that he had bought the ticket. However, he had no plan to go to Austin, Texas.
He had rushed through the airport to gate C17, but he had been too late. He couldn't do anything to stop it. Within a few moments, the plane was gone and with it, everything he cared for.
Chase got up and walked towards the ticket counter. He was able to get a reimbursement. If Chase needed a ticket in the next year, he would get it for a reduced price. Chase only did one thing: he went home and cried.
Earlier in the week, when everything began…The ducklings had had a long week. To blow off some steam they had come up with the idea of going out as a group. Somehow, they were all at a bar sitting around and having drinks.
"So the mouse says, Take it all bitch." Foreman said the punch line of the joke.
Cameron, Chase, and Kate all laughed. "That was actually a good one." Kate said. She looked at her empty glass and everyone else. "I'm going to get another. Anyone?"
"Sure, I'll take another beer." Foreman said.
"Can you order me another margarita with salt?" Cameron asked even though she probably didn't need another.
Kate looked at her boyfriend. "Do you want anything?"
"I'm good." Chase said.
"Okay, I'll be back." Kate said before going over to the bar and ordering a new round of drinks.
"This is fun." Cameron said.
"Yeah, it actually is." Foreman said.
"After the week we've had we deserve the night off." Chase said.
"I will drink to that." Foreman said before finishing off his drink. "I'm going to go help Harker."
Chase just laughed at Foreman's giddiness. He looked at Cameron. "I don't think I've ever see him so giddy before. We should have thought of this before."
"It's nice to see you smile."
"Thanks." Chase said awkwardly. He was suddenly feeling uncomfortable with Cameron leaning across the table so he could hear her.
"I've missed that." Chase just nodded his head. He looked over to the bar to see where Kate and Foreman were. Chase suddenly became aware that Cameron had shifted her seat so that she was right next to him. She let her hand run down his cheek.
Chase took her hand and placed it on the table. "Allison, you are drunk."
"Yes I am, but you've never been the good guy. You are still a bad boy Robert Chase." Cameron said before kissing Chase.
"Thanks for helping me with these even though it's not necessary." Kate said as Forman helped her with the drinks.
"It's no problem." Foreman said.
That's when they both saw it. "I'm not nearly drunk enough for this." Kate said. She looked at Foreman, who took the Cameron's drink from her. Kate took a twenty out of her wallet and handed it to Foreman. "That should cover me. I'll see you Monday."
"You kissed me back." Cameron said as her lips parted from Chase's before realizing that they had an audience.
Chase looked to see only Foreman. "Oh, God…"
"Yeah," Foreman said. "Go."
Chase bolted from his seat to outside the bar, but Kate was already gone.
Kate was stunned. Chase and Cameron had kissed. She caught them kissing. It wasn't like catching them in bed together but still it was something. Sure, a kiss didn't have to be personal, but he it was her boyfriend they were talking about. To Kate, it was personal.
Why didn't he run after her? Why didn't he try to explain? Why didn't he push Cameron off? Why was he kissing her? Why, that is what Kate's life was made of at the moment.
Kate lay on her living room couch with a CD playing on the stereo. She barely even heard the singer's voice over her thoughts. Kate lie on her couch holding a pillow but not crying. Kate sat up, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.
She waited as it rang and finally someone picked up. "Hi, this is Katherine Harker is Dr. Richmond available? Thank you." Kate waited as her phone call was transferred and finally connected. "Hi Alan, it's Kate Harker…I'm doing fine…I'm actually calling about my old job…Thank you… I will send my resume over now…Of course, again, thank you. No, I should be back in the area in about two weeks… Thank you. Okay, bye." Kate hung up the phone.
After faxing her resume, which was more of formality since she already had the job, Kate went into the closet and took out a cardboard box. Then she walked into her living room. She took the box and began to fill it with books. It was time to move on and go home
Kate walked into the hospital and straight for the elevator. She didn't even blink. She just kept walking. Once in the elevator, Kate thought everything was fine. Trouble was, she was wrong. The door was closing when Cameron slipped into the elevator at the last moment.
Someone got off at the second floor so that it was only Kate and Cameron in the elevator. It was an awkward silence.
Cameron looked at Kate and back at the floor. Kate looked straight ahead she didn't even acknowledge Cameron. "Look, it didn't mean anything. I was just stupid and had a lapse of judgment." Cameron said. Kate didn't say anything let alone react. "Look, I was drunk I am sorry."
Kate pulled the emergency stop button on the elevator and looked at Cameron. "You really want to have this conversation then fine. You kissed my boyfriend. You knew he was my boyfriend." Cameron tried to speak, but Kate stopped her. "No! You don't get to speak. Yes, you were drunk but that doesn't excuse you for anything. Now, inside this hospital we are coworkers. I will treat you with the respect that a coworker deserves meaning I will put aside all of our differences. However, outside this hospital you are still the bitch who kissed my boyfriend. Save your stupid, petty, ignorant apology for someone else. Is that clear Dr. Cameron?"
"Crystal." Cameron said. It was the first time that Kate had raised her voice let alone got mad at anyone in the hospital. It shocked and intimidated Cameron.
"Good." Kate said. She pushed the emergency button on the elevator. The alarm stopped and the elevator continued up to the third floor.
Kate walked out of the elevator and into the conference room where Foreman was. She put a smile on her face. "Good morning Foreman. How are you?"
"I'm fine." Kate's happiness worried Foreman. "How are you?"
"Fine." She went to get a cup of coffee. Foreman was going to ask Kate another question when Cameron walked into the room. He decided that it was best not ask any questions for the moment.
Kate slipped a needle into a patient's arm and waited as the tube filled with blood. She removed the tube and took the needle out of the patient's arm. She put a Band-Aid over the punctured skin before taking the blood to the lab.
As good of a front that Kate was putting up, underneath she was falling apart. She hated pretending. It hurt too much. Kate stopped in an abandoned hallway and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes and took in some deep breaths. After calming herself down, Kate continued her walk down to the lab.
She walked in and started the tests on the blood. She ignored the other person who was in the lab with her. "Kate…Kate, please acknowledge me." Robert Chase said as he stood behind her. Kate continued to ignore him. "Okay, I am sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't push Cameron away, but it didn't mean anything to me. Kate, when I told you I love you I wasn't joking. Those feelings don't go away over night. I still love you and it was an accident."
Kate stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Chase. "Why didn't you call? Why didn't you come after me?"
"I thought it was for the best." Chase said. "Now, I know it wasn't."
Kate looked like she was going to cry. Chase tried to comfort her. "Don't touch me! God, I am so glad I didn't sleep with you." He backed off right away and was hurt by Kate's words. "When you left the first time, did you think I just picked myself up and everything was okay? Well, it wasn't. I spent weeks, months crying myself to sleep over you. I am done crying over you. I don't have any more tears left for you, Robert Chase. I just can't…"
"Okay," Chase said before he walked out of the lab.
Kate sunk down into the chair. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. She felt a hand on her shoulder that didn't belong to Chase. "How are you?" Foreman asked.
"I'm fine." Kate said.
"You are lying."
"Will you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
Kate turned and looked at Foreman. "Take care of Robert for me."
Foreman didn't understand Kate but he ultimately said, "I will."
"Promise?"
"Yes," Foreman said.
Kate stood up and hugged Foreman. "Thank you for everything." Foreman awkwardly stood there. He wasn't used to giving or receiving hugs. Finally, he gave a hug to Kate.
On the next Friday afternoon, Kate sat across from House patiently waiting. He looked over the desk at her. "Your contract ends tomorrow and you haven't brought it up at all." House said. "I'm surprised."
"Why? We both knew this was only for six months."
"You like to have control. You have everything planned out in your life."
Kate smiled. "You have me confused with someone else. Although, I do like to have control I am also aware of the fact that I can't control everything."
"Like Chase."
"I'm not here to talk about Chase."
House took out a paper and put it in front of Kate. "Here. It is a renewal of your contract, if you want it."
Kate didn't even touch the paper. "That won't be necessary. I already have a job."
"You are supposed to give at least one week notice."
Kate looked at House intrigued. "I handed in my resignation to Cuddy two weeks ago, but you already know that." Kate slightly smiled to herself but it was quickly lost. "If you asked me a before I would have said yes. However, I have nothing to stay for. Plus, you don't really want me to stay. We both knew that this was temporary." Kate stood up and put out her hand. "Dr. House it has been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for opportunity."
House took Kate's hand and shook it. "Nice having you here Dr. Harker."
"Thanks." Kate said before walking out of House's office. One moment she was there and the next she was gone.
Chase couldn't take it. He tried calling Kate's cell phone but it must have been off because it kept going directly to voicemail. He tried calling Kate's apartment but it just kept ringing. It didn't make sense to Chase.
Well, if Kate was going to take his call, Chase was just going to go to her. Chase got into his car and drove to Kate's building. He knocked on her apartment door, but there was no answer. He was knocking for what was the tenth time when a woman in her twenties walked into the hall. She went to the apartment a door down from Kate's. She looked at Chase confused. "Excuse me, but are you looking for Kate?"
"Yeah," Chase said. "She must not be home."
"You know that she left, right?"
"What?"
"She moved. As in, she was shipping off all of her possessions." Chase sank against the hallway as if he needed support. "You didn't know." The woman said.
"No, thank you for the information."
"Yeah, uh, what's your name?"
"Robert. Why?"
"Well, Robert, she just took a cab to the airport about an hour ago."
"Thank you." Chase said before running to his car. He got in the car and drove as fast as he could to the airport. If Kate was going to leave he knew where she would go. Kate would go back to Australia. It just made sense. He got to Newark Airport and booked a ticket on the last flight to Austin.
Through some amazing flirting and a slight bribe, he was able to get the desk clerk to tell him that Kate had checked in. He was also able to get Kate's flight number. Chase ran to the gate but the plane was already backing up. He had to watch as Kate's plane took off and everything he cared for disappeared.
Chase laid in bed staring at the ceiling. He rolled over and looked at the picture on his bed table. It was of Kate and Chase from a couple of weeks ago. They were so happy then.
Chase couldn't look at the photo anymore. He closed his eyes but only Kate came to mind. Chase began to inspect Kate's face in his mind. First were Kate's eyes, which could always read him. Second was Kate's mouth a soft but firm fold of skin that would often encircle his mouth. Harsh and kind word could come out of Kate's mouth. Usually, the words were kind. Just like the words she spoke, Kate's hands were kind, soft, and delicate.
Chase always found Kate's neck and the small of her back to be sensuous. Okay, yes, Kate did have a nice rack but that didn't dictate their relationship. He was glad that she had them but he could survive if Kate didn't have a rack. Chase loved how small Kate's waist was. He loved how his arm could simply slip around it and pull her in close. Kate's hair used to fall at her waist. It was long, brown, and soft.
Chase loved how Kate would occasionally push her hips against him. He loved it when her body pressed against his. It was a comfort. Kate had great legs. They were toned and long. It drove Chase nuts, in the good way, when Kate wore a skirt or short dress that showed off her legs. Kate had small feet. They would have been perfect for dancing.
Kate's image was as much of a comfort and distraction as it was a torture to think about. He missed her. Of all the things he missed, Chase missed Kate's smell the most. It was a comfort and his missed it. Chase wiped the tears away from his eyes. He tightly kept his eyes shut. It made him feel a little better and eventually, Chase fell asleep.
Chase heard the shower running. It didn't make sense to him. Chase opened his eyes and sat up. This wasn't his apartment. Where was he? He was in his own clothes, well, they looked like his clothes. The shower stopped and Kate emerged from the bathroom in a towel. "Hey, I was just about to wake you up." Kate pushed him back down on the bed and sat directly on top of him. Kate's wet hair fell on Robert as she began kissing his neck. Chase lay still even as she removed his shirt. She stopped and looked at him confused. "What's wrong honey?" Kate asked. "Are you just not in the mood because I can help with that." Kate thrust her hips against him and received an instant reaction.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong." Chase said as he took Kate's face in his hands. He looked at her before kissing her. He flipped her over so he was on top of her. Chase took the cue and pulled the towel loose. Chase's hands began to explore Kate's body but then he stopped.
"Why did you stop?" Kate asked. Things were just starting to get good.
"Is this okay?" Chase asked.
"It's fine. The kids are at my parent's house for the weekend. Don't tell me you forgot that already?" Kate joked with him. "Relax babe it's just us. Think of it as a second honeymoon. Happy anniversary." Chase gave in and let himself steal kisses and touches for just a little longer. It was good to have an alternative life for the moment.
Chase woke up in bed. It was simply a dream. A good dream but still a dream. It wasn't the first time he had a dream like that. He used to have them frequently after he and Kate broke up the first time. The dreams were different. Sometimes, he would see kids running around the house. One time, Kate was pregnant. Another time, he was reading a bedtime story to a little boy. In the end, they were always dreams and nothing more. Nothing ever came of it.
Kate refused to cry. She was not going to cry over Robert Chase. She was not going to give him the pleasure of knowing that she cried over him. She was not going to let herself cry.
Kate stepped off the airplane and headed to baggage claim. She grabbed her bag and walked out to see her parents. "Hi mom. Dad." Kate said as she greeted her family.
"It's good to have you home." Her mother said.
"How is my girl?" Her father asked as he gave her a hug. Kate couldn't hold it in any longer. She began to cry. "Shh…" Kate's dad said as he rubbed her back. "It's going to be okay."
Just like that, Kate was crying over Robert Chase again. The next couple of days, Kate spent in bed crying.
A/N: Yes, I know that it was a bit harsh but it's all part of my plan. Once again, I would like to remind everyone that this story will be ending soon. Thanks for all the reviews and support. Oh, and if you haven't already heard Jennifer Morrison is leaving House.
Disclaimer: Would I really be writing fanfiction if I owned House M.D.? No.