Dearest Readers,
"I'm gonna go buy some green bananas because by the time I get home, they'll be ripe."
*Aura reappears in this chapter, but I know I haven't made it clear about what she's been up to. Just work with me.
Read on, Cherubs.
Over and out.
Wombat Hunting
13 days.
That's how long it's been since Chase last spoken to him or even looked him in the eye.
The tension in the conference room was suffocating. Cameron and Foreman felt like gravity was pushing harder on them as they hoped and prayed that House and Chase would be able to work things out. Luckily, House and Chase were able to not allow their relationship problems interfere with their work. The team was still able to solve cases that they were given, despite the suffocating tension between Chase and House.
The team, as well as Cuddy and Wilson, noticed that House spoke to Chase much more carefully than usual. Whenever he wanted Chase to do something for the case, he made it appear like the blonde had a choice; but Chase did his assignment without comment.
House was more worried about the fact that Chase had reverted back to his old ways of being secretive and somewhat standoff-ish. He was also worried about Chase staying by himself in their apartment, worried that the blonde had turned back to old habits of starvation and self-injury.
But what House didn't realize was that Wilson was terrified about him. Primarily because Wilson thought that House was going to do something drastic...and permanent...soon.
HouseXChase
"How are you doing? Hanging in there?" Aura asked from across the table as House pushed his drink around aimlessly. They agreed to meet at the same bar they all went out together to when Aura first came to America.
"Not really." House admitted quietly, not meeting her eye. Aura felt sympathy swell within her. She knew that House loved Chase beyond words and that their current situation was killing him, but didn't know what to do.
"Have you..." House started, not wanting to finish his question. She knew what he was going to ask.
"I'm sure you've picked up on this by now, but it's usually best to not try talking to Robbie when he's like this." She paused, thinking about her next words carefully. "Whenever he's like this, he becomes very unpredictable. If you try to talk to him about what's making him like he is now, he'll either verbally or physically lash out...sometimes both." She said, looking down at her drink. House looked up at her to see her shoulders sag.
"Has Chase...hit you?" He asked tentatively. Aura tilted her head from side-to-side.
"The only 'major' incident of him hitting me was when his mom died." Aura said slowly, looking back up at him. "I still remember it vividly...it was scary. God, he was so angry. Even though I understood the reasoning behind it all, I was still upset that he attacked me like that; but that incident was the only real conflict we've had."
"Yea, it's understandable that Chase was upset about his mother, but that's not a good reason for him to hit you." Aura made a sound of agreement.
"True, but there are times when Robbie gets very volatile; he acts first and thinks later."
"But he only gets volatile in very emotional and difficult situations."
"Exactly, which is what happened in the situation of yours and his relationship, I'm sure." Brief silence fell between and Aura eyed House carefully.
"He regrets it in the end." House looked up at her.
"What?"
"When Robbie lashes out like he did to you and me, he ultimately regrets it in the end." She hesitated. "When I calmed down a bit after he hit me, which was about 2 weeks, I went to go see him and the first thing he said was that he was sorry; but," She eyed House deeply. "He won't start the conversation."
"That's usually how it works." House muttered, remembering how long it took to get used to the fact that it was him who usually had to start the conversations about something that really needed to be discussed.
"That's the case here." Aura said softly, refusing to break eye contact. "Robbie won't start the conversation in this situation, even though he was the one who lashed out—"
"Because he was volatile." Aura nodded. "I have to go see him if this is to be discussed and sorted out." Aura nodded again.
"Exactly, but you also have to be careful to not push him too much." House made a sound of agreement.
Silence fell between them as they each got lost in their own thoughts. House's mind drifted to the blonde and tried to think of ways to start the conversation that they desperately needed to have. After all this time, he couldn't allow their relationship to end this way. He couldn't allow something like this to end what they have. He knew how Chase worked and had adjusted to the blonde's habits, sometimes confusing behavior, and his occasional outbursts. That also worked visa versa: Chase had learned how he worked and had adjusted to him and his habits, etc.
He couldn't lose the blonde. He just couldn't. The blonde meant too much to him and there would be no way that he could continue on without Chase.A new sense of determination swept through him and he stood from the booth, looking down at Aura.
"I'm going to get him back." Aura's green eyes brightened as a smile spread across her face.
"You go get him, Mister!" House smirked as he walked out the door and drove towards the apartment that he and Chase shared.
It was time to go wombat hunting.
HouseXChase
He lay curled up in a corner of the couch, pulling his baggy black sweater tightly around him. He wiped tears from his face, his fingertips brushing against his cheekbones. He leaned against the back of the couch, listening to the silence of the apartment. Chase adjusted his position on the couch, tucking his legs closer to his chest. He felt hunger pains grip his body, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in about 13 days. Living off of water wasn't exactly the most filling thing to consume, but he wouldn't gain weight from it.
He sighed deeply and nestled against the couch, his eyes staring unfocusedly at the piano. It was quiet. So quiet, that Chase would've been able to hear a pin drop. He was dozing off to sleep, his mind filled with thoughts of a certain older doctor. His eyelids felt heavy and they began to droop slowly.
BANG! BANG!
Chase thought he had a heart attack when a loud banging came from the front door. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest and he breathed quickly. He focused on his breathing to calm himself down. There was another episode of loud banging. Chase tilted his head to the side and wondered who would come by the apartment at this hour. He stood and walked, barefoot, to the door. He brushed his sweater sleeve across his face to make sure that no evidence of tears was on his face. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
His heart stopped.
It was House
He stared at the older man as he stared back, hand in his pocket. Chase felt numb; he couldn't move or speak. Those eyes. He missed them terribly. He didn't look so good, Chase observed. Noting the look of tiredness and stress on his features. Chase stood awkwardly at the door, holding on to it and swinging it lightly, making it squeak slightly.
"We never did get stuff to make the door stop squeaking." Chase said as he looked at the door hinges. House felt a smile tug at his lips as he looked at Chase. He did look messy, he wasn't going to lie to himself about that. Chase moved away from the door to walk further into the apartment. He was a little ways from the door when he looked over his shoulder at House.
"You coming?" He asked and House felt like he was becoming high. He stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind him.
HouseXChase
Alright Gang,
As always, patience and reviews/PMs would be appreciated!
When-Rabbit-Howls
