Thank you all so much for the reviews, they made my morning. (Tough day today…lots of studying for an Anatomy test coming up. Blech.)

Went back and fixed some typos in last chapter. I seriously wrote that half asleep. I'm so glad it came out well. lol

That wonderful thing we call House….I don't own it.

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"I can't believe you're doing this."

House straightened his tie one last time in front of the mirror. "Neither can I."

Wilson stepped up behind him and fixed it for him, oblivious to House's scowl. "I mean, a date for you is huge under any circumstance but this…" His eyes narrowed. "You're sure Chase is ok with this? Are you ok with this? I know that Cameron-"

"God, will everyone stop saying I want to sleep with Cameron? It's getting annoying." He pulled away from Wilson, running his fingers through his hair before grabbing his cane.

"Alright. So, no sex with Cameron. You're not even interested. But you have to make her think you are. She wants-"

"My attention. And she'll get it. For however long I'm out to dinner with her. Then I'll come home."

"To Chase."

"Presumably."

Wilson nodded, slowly. "Good for you." Even that slight praise was given cautiously. Let House know he was heading in the right direction with his life and he might do something stupid just because.

House swiped the corsage off the counter and headed for the door.

"Good luck. Let me know how it goes." Wilson wasn't surprised when he heard no reply beyond the sound of the shutting door. Well…Hopefully, it'd go alright. In the meantime, he was going to do the pile of dishes in House's sink before he left and throw out everything in the freezer that was too ridiculously old. Then, he'd be out of here before Chase showed up. The two of them were going to have to talk about all this someday, he knew, but he wasn't ready to be the best friend talking to the lover yet. He was happy for House but at the same time… He had planned on being here when he got home.

Taking care of House had become such a huge part of life it was ingrained in him. Even if he wasn't losing House, after the past few years of not sharing him at all there'd be an adjustment to make.

HHHHHHHHH

Later that night

Chase had never known he could be relax and be put on edge all at the same time by one sound until he heard the key in the lock. He had let himself in about an hour before, using the key House had told him about over the doorframe. The hour had been spent aimlessly watching anything on House's Tivo that seemed interesting, though he couldn't seem to focus on anything for very long. He was nursing a glass of scotch when he heard that sound.

House was home. He looked back over his shoulder, breath catching when he saw him. He did look good in that blue shirt. For Cameron… He pushed that thought away. "Hey."

House nodded, dropping his coat on the table by the door.

"How was dinner?"

"Food. People. Nice restaurant. You know how that goes." He sat down on the couch, rubbing his leg absently.

Chase couldn't resist the urge to do the same and he moved in close to him. "What did you talk about?"

"Anything. Everything. You guys. Work." He closed his eyes, letting his head fall to Chase's shoulder. "She only likes me because I'm damaged."

Chase proceeded carefully. He knew this was a touchy subject, knew House was more hurt by it than he would have ever admitted. "Maybe she just wants to help you."

House pulled away from him. "That's exactly it. She wants to fix me, make me all better, thinks that I can somehow become this fluffy happy person and…." He shook his head. "That's all anyone ever wants. They think there's some magic cure for everything, like if they care enough my whole past will just disappear. For all I know, Wilson could be the same. Or you."

It hurt, but Chase wouldn't show it. "I'm not. I'm not…Trying to fix you. I know you're bitter and I know you're….You. I don't know half the things that have happened in your life. That doesn't mean I don't want to know but I'm not sure if you'll ever tell me. And that's….Ok. If I can make you happy, I will. Not everything can be…Fixed. And not everything needs to be." Tentativly, he took House's hand. "It doesn't make you broken."

"But I am." His voice was soft and agonized, something Chase would have never expected.

"That…Doesn't mean I think I have to fix you. It's alright. I don't want you to be anyone other than yourself. And if your leg was fine, I'd still feel the same."

House let him intertwine their fingers, let him pull him into an embrace but he was still strangely passive. At least he wasn't pulling away. Chase had known, going into this, that it wouldn't be easy. He ran his fingers through House's hair, following with a kiss. He didn't care if it was hard. He wouldn't have traded this for anything.

HHHHHHHHH

The following night

He had called House about five times before he drove by the apartment to find it dark. If he was going out, he was pretty sure he would have told him. Should have told him. Sometimes, though, he knew with House what 'should' happen and what did were two separate things. His cell phone was off. Curious, he called work. The phone picked up and clicked immediately back down. Right. So he was in the office.

Chase made it there around 11:30. He was in the dark, playing Dave Matthews, stretched out on the floor. He could see the tennis ball being tossed up and down from behind the desk. Chase crossed the room and sat down in the desk chair, pretty certain that House didn't notice him until then. He seemed lost in thought. "You weren't home."

"Obviously, I'm here."

"I know that, now. But I didn't." Chase caught the ball, directing House's attention from it to him. "I was worried."

House didn't answer for a moment, looked at the ceiling or the walls, anything but him. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, and this isn't weird at all."

"Actually it isn't. I've stayed here late before. Stayed here all night before."

That one he could believe. But that didn't mean it wasn't weird so much as it just meant House did weird things. "You alright?"

"Just thinking. Dave is such a muse."

Chase spun the chair around, eyes falling to the desk. And to a strip of pictures left on top of everything else. They were the photobooth kind of pictures, the kind couples took when they wanted something fun and funny but heartwarming all at the same time. Something random that many couples did but not something he had ever pictured House being up for. And there was her. She was very pretty, dark hair and dark eyes. In one middle picture, she was kissing his cheek. They both looked so happy. He picked it up as he would something dangerous, like a biting snake. "Who is she?"

"No one." That was a pathetic excuse, and Chase didn't even say anything. He knew House would continue when he realized that wouldn't cut it. "No one important. Forget it."

Chase fingered the picture, smoothing out an upturned corner. These had been carried a long time. Clearly, they meant enough to House to always keep them on him. "You look so happy."

"Yeah, well, looks can be deceiving." He held out his hand for the pictures.

Chase wasn't handing them over yet. "Was this before…" he didn't even have to finish that. He heard House give a deep sigh.

"Yeah. Look, it doesn't matter. Come on, we can go if you want."

Chase dropped the pictures into his hand and stood up, turned toward the door but watching House at an angle. He wasn't at all surprised to see House fold the strip and slip in into his wallet. "Do you love her?"

House stepped up behind him, hands on his waist. "Long time ago. I told you, forget it. It doesn't matter." He kissed him then, long, nipping carefully at Chase's lower lip before pulling away. All the same, Chase couldn't help but feel that he had felt somehow…Absent. Going through the motions. Like his mind was still on the woman in the photographs. Uneasy, Chase followed him out the door.

HHHHHHHHH

House sat up in bed, watching the moonlight hit the sleeping frame of the man beside him. Something about the date with Cameron, either that or his closeness with Chase. They weren't living together, but they spent most nights at House's apartment. Something about it had triggered the memories of Stacy, strong enough that he could feel his heart snapping all over again. Stacy. Looking at those pictures, he had missed her so much he could hardly breathe.

She was the first one he had loved, had fallen for heart and soul. She left him, but that didn't mean she gave it all back. Being honest with himself, now…. She would have had his heart, if she had asked it of him. She wouldn't even have to be sorry, and that was the sick thing about it. He'd take her back even to hurt himself even worse in the long run. He couldn't say no.

None of it mattered, of course. She was long gone. He hadn't even seen her in five years. Maybe she was happy. Maybe she never thought of him. Maybe she was asleep right now, dreaming good dreams. Maybe. Truthfully, it didn't matter anymore. He didn't want to put a label on it, but he felt things now, watching Chase sleep, that he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe he could just start over…

If he never told Chase about Stacy, he'd never know that he wasn't his first choice. If second choice was all you had, it would have to be good enough. For both of them.

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Big collective awwwwwwwww for Chase…

House's mental issues do, however, make for good drama. ::evil laughter::

Unfortunately, I have tutoring now for Calc and a huge test tomorrow. And social stuff tonight. So I'll barely fit it all in as is and won't be able to do any writing. Hopefully, tomorrow'll be different.