Title: Fortune Cookies

Pairing: House/Chase & hints of Chase/OC

Warning: mild slash

Disclaimer: All publicly known characters and names belong to their respective affiliates. I make no money in writing this.

Fortune Cookies

House loved Chinese food it was as simple as that. The best part was the fortune cookies. It wasn't until quite recently that he put much stock into the little scraps of paper inside the cookies.

Doing things changes things.

That certainly made him stop and think. There were plenty of things in House's life that he wanted to change. On was, although he was loathed to admit it to anyone other than Steve McQueen, that he was tired of waking up alone. He was tired of having on one to come home to. This was never mentioned to Steve in case it hurt the poor rat's feelings.

A string of meaningless one-night-stands later House found himself sitting in one of his favorite bars nursing a beer. He was quite shocked to see his youngest ducking sitting further on down the bar knocking back a shot with practiced ease. Chase was wearing, not his usual hideous work clothes, but a form fitting vintage tee and dark grey jeans slung low over his narrow hips.

Making up his mind, House limped over to the young intensive and asked if Chase minded some company. Chase, if he had been shocked, hid it well. "It's a free country," he said sullenly.

House found himself staring at red rimmed green eyes. "What's the story, Morning Glory? You look like your boyfriend just broke up with you."

In stead of answering, Chase flagged down the bartender and asked for another shot and a beer. House prodded his underling with his cane, trying to get him to continue talking. "Stop it, House. Isn't it enough for you to degrade me about everything else? Why should I add fuel to the fire by telling you that I'm an overly emotional, heartbroken flamer?"

House shrugged and drank another sip of his beer. "His loss," he said, not bothering to tell Chase that he had just admitted to being in a relationship with another man even though that seemed to be the exact thing Chase didn't want him to know. "So what happened?"

"Got dumped. He was sick of me never being home. I think he didn't miss me as much as he did the sex. But apparently, he was getting that on the side as well." Chase slammed his fist down onto the counter and rested his head on his arm.

He visibly flinched and watched as Chase lifted his head up and drained the dark amber liquid from his glass. "I think you've had enough. I'm driving you home," House said, waving to the bartender and paid for both his and Chase's tabs.

"Thanks," Chase said meekly.

"Don't mention it," House replied. "No, seriously. Don't mention it. Ever."

Chase smiled as House led him out to his car and House drove him back to his house with a promise to pick him up in the morning so that he could get his car.

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.

House tossed the fortune in the trash along with the empty take out containers before deciding to go for a walk. It wasn't too late yet and it was the perfect evening to go for a walk and sit in the park.

By the time he got to his favorite bench it was nearing twilight. He didn't seem to be the only one with the same idea about the park. He wasn't there fifteen minutes before Chase ran by in a pair of Bond University* track pants and t-shirt, headphones in his ears. To anyone who didn't know the Australian, it would seem the blonde was just enjoying an evening run in the park. House, however, knew better. Chase was completely open with his emotions no matter what he was doing. From here, it looked like Chase was running from something. And, unless his eyes were becoming as useless as his leg, there were tears mixing with the beads of sweat tracing salty lines down the blonde's cheeks.

On Chase's third time around the large pond House was sitting by he stopped at the bench House was occupying. "Done running from your problems?" House asked sagely once the younger had removed the earbuds from his ears.

Chase leaned over, resting his forearms on his thighs. He turned his head towards his boss. The few stars in the New Jersey night sky were reflecting in Chase's sea-green eyes. "I'm not running anymore."

"No, you're not," House agreed, reaching his hand out to brush Chase's hair away from his eyes. A part of his mind recalled 'land among the stars' as he closed the distance between their mouths. He smiled slightly when he was met with no resistance.

You should get a cat.

House was confused but, nevertheless, he pulled Chase up off the couch and made his blonde lover put his shoes on. Chase pouted and whined a bit but still smiled when House said that he could pick out the cat.

"I'll never take a fortune cookie lightly again," House said, pocketing the small piece of paper next to all the others he had started collecting. "After all, they've given me good advice so far."

*Bond University is a university on the Gold Coast of Australia – it's in Queensland, Australia (that's up north). Chase is, I believe, supposed to be from Melbourne, Australia which is in Victoria (that's down south). It's plausible that he could have gone there. I don't remember if it ever says in the series where Chase went to school so I'm taking a few liberties.