Last Christmas- Chapter 11

Famous Last Words

"...............hmm..........i think theres only 1 chap or two after this. Please R&R!"

Chase's condition was getting worse. At the best, he had another day left in him. He couldn't talk, move, eat or breathe by himself, and he was barely even conscious. His time was limited- to say the least.

Chase's friends from Australia had flown in to say their last words to him, and had left the hospital just minutes before Cameron stopped in. She didn't want to say good bye, but knew that it had to be done. She stroked his hair as he listened to her voice. She talked about anything and everything- trying to buy time. "I remember when that kid punched you because he thought that I was your girlfriend. And, for a while, I DID think that I loved you. But when you said you wanted something more, I realized that I couldn't give you that. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't fall in love with you." By this point, Cameron was in tears. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I'll miss you so much, Chase. You have no idea just how much. Goodbye Chase- I'll love you forever." Before she left Chase's room, she kissed his cheek.

Foreman stood in Chase's room- just staring. Finally, he sighed, and figured out something to say to him. "You never liked me- and I never liked you. But don't you go out and think that will mean I won't miss you, man. No matter how annoying I thought you were, you were always a great doctor. I'm sorry that you're...........well, you know. But hopefully, you'll be in less pain when you're................gone." he said, "I'll miss you, yes- I admit it. Bye Chase- and sweet dreams." With that, he left the room.

Cuddy looked over the young Australian doctor, and cried. He was so young, and had so much left to experience. Chase had always been an outstanding doctor- even if he was more like House than she'd like him to be. But that was one of the few things that made him Chase. Cuddy wiped away her tears as she thought that Chase was irreplaceable, and that there would never be a doctor quite like him.

Wilson touched Chase's face for what he knew would be the last time. The last few months had been an emotional rollercoaster for everyone-especially Chase. Between April and Isabelle, the lung cancer and the deathbed, he knew that there was no way that Chase was happy right now. He was alone, and in serious pain. And although he could hear just fine, he couldn't talk. When Wilson diagnosed Chase with lung cancer, he had tried everything in his power not to tell House. But then he realized that he had to know, and finally gave him the news. Although Wilson was never known to be a friend of Chase, he was going to miss him, and knew that the toll his death would take on House would be something that he would have to deal with. "Hey Chase. I'll miss you. I know- you're probably sick of hearing that by now, but I don't know what else to say. I never knew you that well. But, there is something I want you to know before.....well...........you die. House- no matter what he tells you- does care for you, and is proud to be your father. He loves you like a son, too, and you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Trust me- I've known House for a while- I would know."

House walked into Chase's room. He studied Chase's still form. He looked younger than his real age, and he looked peaceful. His hair was tussled, and his face had sweat running down it. House looked around the room for something he could wipe it off on, and settled for the paper towel. He turned down the furnace,and saw Chase smile. "Hey Chase. I would ask you if you were okay, but I think that would be redundant." he said. Chase's hand twitched as he tried to get House's attention. He wanted to tell him that he would miss him when he died, and that he loved him. "Chase? Are you trying o tell me something?" House asked. He watched as Chase's hand 'nodded.'

"What are you trying to say?" he asked. Chase's hand motioned a pen writing on paper. "Do you want paper?" The hand nodded again. House reached over to the paper opposite of them, and grabbed a pen from a nearby drawer. He put the pen in his hand, and sat the paper beneath it. Chase's hand scribbled back and forth for a few minutes. Writing was a hard task for him due to his current condition. When he finally finished, Chase put the pen down, and House took the paper. It read:

House- Thanks for being here for me. I love you, dad. And I'll miss you

That was all House needed to know. He wiped away tears from his eyes as he took Chase's hand. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. There was nothing that I could do. I love you so much, son. I love you." House cried.

House looked back at Chase, and realized he had fallen to sleep. He stroked Chase's hair, then left the room so he could sleep peacefully.........

Dr. Robert Chase wiped the tears from his eyes. House had said it- he had told him that he loved him. Those simple words seemed to have changed everything for both doctors, and they knew that their lives would be forever different.

Chase thought about the things and people he would miss after he passed. He would miss this hospital- which had given him so many opportunities. He would miss Cameron, Foreman, Cuddy, Wilson, House, and the rest of his friends and colleagues. He would miss Isabelle- even if he knew that she had long gone, and that they would never love each other the way they had a lifetime ago. He would miss the snow that New Jersey had shown him, the streets filled with crowds. He would miss the patents that his team had saved, and he would miss saving them- making a difference that not enough people had made.

He was dying- that he had accepted. But he didn't think it was fair that he would die just days after discovering his real father. He would never get to do all those father-son trips, and he wouldn't get to talk to him. Instead, he would leave him to mourn over his passing, and hope he survived. Chase remembered when April died- he had just barely survived that. He wished that he could stay- he wished he had more time with his father.

A knock on the door broke Chase out of his thoughts, andd he turned around. "Hey,Robert." the woman said with a smile. Chase nodded, and gestured for her to come in. She sat down next to Chase.

"What brings you here?" he asked.

"You're dying."

"Dying changes nothing." he mumbled.

"You know that's not true." she said with a sigh.

"I know that you wouldn't be here without wanting something. So, what do you want? 'Cause I don't have time to play your silly games." he shot back- getting annoyed.

"Well, I just came by to see if my husband's son was alright. You are dying, you know." his step mom said innocently.

"You don't give a damn about me- you made that clear the day we met. Now, either tell me what you want,or get the hell out of here." Chase growled.

"Fine! I don't need anything from you anyways! I have your father's money, and that's all I need!"

"No, you don't have my father's money. My father is alive and well."

"Rowan's dead,sweetie. What the hell are you talking about?" she asked-dropping the innocent act.

"My father is a doctor here. So, technically, you're not my step-mom. Now,get the hell out of here before I call security." With that, she stormed out of the room- slamming the door behind her.

She was one of the few people he wouldn't miss. Also on that list, was Tritter, Volgler,Rowan, and the plastic surgeon on the fifth floor.

Chase yawned, and realized that he was exhausted. He tried his best to stay awake, but despite all his efforts, he fell back to sleep............

House paced the hallways of the hospital- waiting for Chase to wake up.

"Hey, you're going to ware a groove, you know." Wilson said as he walked to House.

"Chase awake?" House asked. Wilson nodded.

"Just be careful- he's extremely tired. A good thing ,though, is that the medicine from the surgery wore off a bit, and he can talk again. But, we'll have to put some more on soon. I thought you would want to talk to him before,though............." Wilson said. House nodded.

"Thanks." he said as he walked away from Wilson, and back to Chase's room..............

House looked at his young colleague, and frowned. He looked like death. His blond hair was tossled, his eyelids were purple, and he was completely still. "Chase? You awake?" he asked.

"Yeah, House." he said with a smile. He opened his eyes, and House smiled,too.

"How are you feeling?" House said as he sat down next to Chase, and began running his hand through his hair.

"I've been better."

"I love you." House said.

"I love you too." Chase lifted his hand, and placed it on top of House's. "Thank you." he whispered.

"Don't. I'm the reason you're dying. I couldn't save you." House whispered back. Chase took his other hand, and put it on House's cheek.

"Don't say that. We both know its not true. And please don't argue with me, because I don't have time to."

"Okay." House agreed.

For hours, the two men stayed in silence- just taking in each other's presence. There were no words to be spoken, and they both knew just how limited their time together now was. House curled up next to Chase, and wrapped himself around him. Chase buried his head in House's chest as House counted every breath Chase took.

A few miinutes later, Wilson knocked on the door. Chase and House both looked up. "It's time." Wilson said. House nodded, and let go of Chase. Wilson walked towards Chase with the medium-sized needle in his hand.

"House? " Chase asked. House looked at Chase.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you,too." House smiled.

Wilson instructed Chase to sit up straight, and positioned the needle on his arms. He injected the brown-ish colored liquid, and Chase winced as it traveled through his body. Wilson pulled the needle out, and frowned. "Sorry."

"That's okay- it wasn't your fault." Chase reassured. Wilson nodded towards House, and left the room- signaling him to follow.

"What?" House asked. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm sorry, but Chase.........Chase is going to die in the next 3 hours."

"Oh." House said.

"House, I'm so sorry-" House cut him off.

"Don't be. This wasn't your fault- it wasn't antibody's." he sighed.

"What now?" Wilson asked.

"No clue." House mumbled as he walked back into Chase's room.

"I take it Wilson told you?" Chase asked.

"Told me what?"

"I'm dying- and soon." House nodded, and plopped down next to Chase again. Chase involuntarily crawled up on House's chest like he had so many times before, and House stroked Chase's side. Chase fluttered his eyes, and he yawned.

"You should get some sleep." House said. Chase nodded, and closed his eyes.

Chase?" House whispered. When he didn't respond, he smiled knowing Chase had finally fallen to sleep. But his smile son faded as he realized his son was as good as dead. Tears silently rolled down his eyes as he held his son close to him- never wanting to let go..............

"............aw...............chase is dying!!! how sad!!! ok, so theres gonna be another chap, then an epilouge. Please R&R!"