House was standing in front of the mirror in his own apartment. He had come home early in order to shower and change. He had convinced himself that he should be wearing his black shirt since it was fairly decent without making it seem like he was trying too hard. He couldn't help but to grin as he took a look at himself. Oh boy, he had really made an effort to look his best this time. It wasn't something he would usually care about, but then House thought that Chase deserved all the best after the way he had treated him earlier.

He remembered his own words and it made him feel shameful. He couldn't even begin to say how much he regretted his childish behaviour. But for some reason, House was convinced that Chase could find it in his heart to forgive him – at some point, at least. Because House was determined to bring his a-game tonight. He didn't only mean to charm Chase and make the kid fall even further in love with him, but he also meant to show him that he could be romantic and caring. And more importantly, tonight was the night when House was finally going to admit to his employee just how much he meant to him and for how long he had been hopelessly in love with him. There could never be anyone else in House's life.

House wanted Chase to know that the lonely days were over. He wasn't going to leave him ever again. Not voluntarily, anyway.

He picked up a bottle of red wine on his way over to Chase's apartment. He had to admit that he had no idea what to buy another man when he wanted to impress him. When he had been with Stacy, he would sometimes buy her flowers because he knew that girls liked those kinds of gestures. (And because it had been his only way of making peace with her whenever she was angry with him about something silly). But he had a feeling that Chase was different. The kid didn't seem to need these shallow gestures involving slightly expensive gifts. House had a feeling that his employee would rather appreciate his company instead.

He felt like the luckiest guy in the world as he parked his car outside the building. He couldn't believe that he had finally found someone who cared about him this much. He had forgotten that love could be such a powerful, thrilling emotion. Although, he didn't feel so lucky when he remembered that Chase's apartment was up on the third floor. Damn it, he had forgotten about all the stairs! This would probably cost him ten minutes. Still, it didn't matter. Nothing could break his spirit. He was going to see the person he was in love with, and no hindrances could possibly stop him.

As he reached the third floor, his heart was pounding with exhaustion and excitement. He ran a hand through his hair and also checked to see if his breath was still fresh and minty – it was. Damn it, Wilson would mock him silly if he knew that his friend had become so self-conscious about his own appearance. It was still worth it, though. It was proof that he cared.

He rang the doorbell. He couldn't wait to see the look on the Wombat's face when he realized that House had come to make it all up to him. He hoped that he would smile – or maybe even hug him. Either way he just wanted Chase to be happy again. He deserved it so much.

But the door wasn't answered. House waited half a minute. Then he rang the bell again. He knew that Chase was home. He had seen that the lights were turned on in his window as he was standing in the street. House knew better than to be fooled that easily.

So what did this mean? Was Chase ignoring him? He rang the bell one more time. He thought that maybe Chase was in the shower and he hadn't heard him. When that didn't work, he picked up his cell phone from his pocket. He decided that he should try and call Chase's cell. And even if this didn't work, he was determined to keep on ringing the bell until the door was answered. House knew that he could be stubborn at times, but there was no way that he was going to just give up and go home. He simply needed to see Chase. Even if the kid was still too upset to talk to him, he couldn't leave until he had at least seen him…

Inside the apartment, the Australian's cell phone was ringing, but it was ignored. Chase was lying on the couch, face-up and staring at the ceiling. He had no idea how long he'd been there. He had lost all track of time. He turned his head to glance at his phone. He saw that the caller was House and he figured that his boss was the one standing outside and ringing the doorbell as well. But it didn't matter. He wasn't going to open the door to anyone. He wasn't even going to get up from the couch. His vision was too blurry and he would probably just end up losing his balance anyway. He hadn't been this drunk in years. He looked at the half-empty bottle of vodka on the floor. Suddenly, he hated himself for being so pathetic. He was starting to turn into his own mother, and this was something which he had sworn to himself that he would never do. He didn't want to suffer the same fate as her. When she drank herself to death, it had all been so painful that Chase couldn't even think about her memory without feeling his stomach turn.

He didn't want to become that sort of person. He didn't want to be that weak and act so dramatically. But he couldn't help it. It was all becoming too much and this was his only way of forgetting, it seemed…

He thought back on the moment when Foreman had asked him for a kiss and he had tried to pull him closer. Chase had been so shocked, especially to hear that his team mate had had these secret feelings for him all these years. And now those feelings had turned into hate – or at least something similar to that. Chase genuinely felt hated by Foreman. It was a feeling that he wasn't used to at all. In a strange way, it made him feel guilty as hell. He must have done something wrong at some point, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Had he been ignorant? Arrogant? Had he been too blind and occupied with himself to notice it when other people were trying to make contact with him?

He didn't know. All these questions remained unanswered. All he was sure of was the guilt he was feeling. He figured that Foreman had probably been right about him. He had taken things for granted and he had taken advantage of his own popularity. He hadn't acted as humble as he ought to. He only deserved to pay for his own stupidity. But for some reason, the punishment which he had thought he was facing had never even taken place…

Chase remembered how terrified he had felt and how angry Foreman had been. He remembered Foreman lying on top of his back… And yet, the awful thing which had seemed bound to happen never did. Right now he could barely remember the incident in details, but he was certain that Foreman had been kissing his neck – and that he himself had started crying silently that very second. Chase felt ashamed of his own reaction, but now that he thought about it, the quiet tears had been brought on by his own angst, so maybe it was only natural. He assumed that that was the reason why Foreman had stopped all of a sudden. The tears. When Foreman saw how scared he was, he must have convinced himself that he couldn't go on.

Chase remembered Foreman's words: "I can't do this. God damn it, I can't do this!"

Foreman had moved off of him right away. He had gotten up from the floor in such haste as if the building had been set on fire and he needed to flee the room instantly. Chase hadn't dared to look up at him, but when he was certain that Foreman wouldn't try to touch him again, he had sat up and tried to wipe away the tears before he lost all control of himself. He had even felt himself shake with fear.

It was as though Foreman had been struggling to decide his next move. Chase guessed that he had felt angry and regretful at the same time, but that he had been afraid to reveal it. He never apologized for having floored Chase and scared him out of his wits. Instead, Foreman had said:

"The bet is officially off. You said no. But guess what? Nobody wins this time. Nobody's paying – it was never worth it, anyway."

Foreman left the basement and the building, driving back to the hospital alone. Chase had continued to sit on the floor for several minutes as he needed to recollect himself. He couldn't understand what had just happened. No, what had almost happened. He was relieved and upset at the same time. He wondered what Foreman had meant when he said that "it was never worth it, anyway". Had he meant that Chase wasn't worth all the trouble?

Chase had gone straight back to his apartment as he couldn't bear to face anyone. He felt guilty. He hated himself for getting himself into trouble. For disappointing people and being oblivious to other people's feelings.

He had been called a whore by House. And then by Foreman. What if they were right about him? Chase didn't feel worthy of anyone's love anymore. He wasn't even going to beg House to take him back. He didn't deserve it. He was no good – he hurt other people without even knowing it, and he didn't want House to get hurt and then hate him the way Foreman hated him.

Then he started thinking about his mother. When Chase's dad had left the family, she had been so lonely and depressed that she could see no way out of it. And then the drinking began. Chase had told himself that he needed to get drunk as well… His mother had taught him that it was an easy escape. That it would make everything seem easier. And so he decided to drink some of the vodka he had left from his birthday. But one glass turned into many. Too many…

And now… Now he found himself on the couch, unable to stand. And House was still ringing the doorbell. Why couldn't he just go away? Chase's head was spinning. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. He didn't want the world to know what a pathetic person he was.

Suddenly, House started hammering on the door with his fist instead. And he shouted: "Chase, I know you're in there! It's me – open up!"

How? How was he supposed to open the door? Chase closed his eyes shut. "Please, leave me alone!" He heard himself replying. "Just leave me alone!"

When House heard this, he shook his head irritably and whispered to himself: "Oh no way in hell! I'm not going anywhere!"

He rang the doorbell once again. "I just want to see you!" He yelled. "I really need to talk to you! Don't be such a child, Chase. Let me in, and I promise I'll behave this time!"

Chase didn't even answer him this time. House decided that enough was enough. He was ready to kick the door in, but then it hit him: He hadn't even checked if the door was locked. He took a hold of the door handle and just like that, he realized that he was able to push the door open.

"Oh good thinking!" House told himself proudly. And as he entered the apartment, he shouted: "Let this be a lesson to you, young man! If you leave your door unlocked, eventually a sexy man like myself will walk in the room - even without an invitation!"

House was expecting some kind of response from his employee, even an irritated one. But when he stopped to look at Chase on the couch, he paused and his mind went blank. He could instantly tell that something was wrong. Chase was lying there without even looking at him. He was just staring at the ceiling and his face revealed no emotions whatsoever. There was a bottle of vodka on the floor! House couldn't believe it. Had the kid lost his mind?

"What the hell!" He exclaimed and moved closer to the couch. "Did you start drinking? Chase, are you drunk?!"

Finally, Chase looked up at him. It took him a while before he could think of what to say. "House, this is not a good time. Please, just go away. I'm not in the mood for talking tonight."

But House wouldn't listen to that kind of talk. "How am I supposed to just walk away?" He cried out in frustration. "Chase, I can see that you're upset! I can't just leave you this way!"

Chase wanted to make a remark about House leaving him the other night, but he didn't. After all, he didn't want to blame House for anything. It wasn't House's fault. It was his own.

"It's not worth it," he whispered, repeating Foreman's words, "I'm not worth it!"

"What are you talking about?" House couldn't believe a word of this. Could it really be that Chase was acting this way because of the things he had said to him earlier in his office? Could he really have hurt the Wombat this badly? "Chase, look, I have to tell you something. No, please don't tell me to leave again, because this is something I have to get off my chest!"

Chase just sighed. He wasn't in the mood for listening, but he couldn't say no to House. "All right." He whispered.

"Can I take a seat?" House asked him, already fetching a chair from the kitchen so that he could sit next to Chase and look him in the eyes. He placed the chair next to the couch. "Sorry, I know that you want me to leave, but I really have to tell you this: Chase, I'm sorry. Please forgive me for the way I behaved today!"

Chase frowned. As House was sitting down and looking at him, it felt like the room had stopped spinning. He still wasn't sobering up, but he knew that he was more lucid now. Anyway, he hadn't seen this coming. "Wait, you're apologizing?" He said disbelievingly. "Why?"

"Because I was a jerk when I didn't believe you," House admitted, "Wilson told me everything. I'm so sorry, I should have trusted you. I should have known that you would never do something like that. But the thing is, Chase, that I'm crazy about you. You mean so much to me and the thought of losing you is scarier than anything else in this world! I think – no I know – that I have fallen in love with you. And I only asked Wilson to ask you out because I wanted to make sure that you felt the same way about me."

House paused. There were so many things to say, but now he wanted to allow Chase to reply to his apology. The Australian was more focused now. House knew that he had heard and understood every word.

"Are you really in love with me?" Chase's voice was calm, but his expression looked troubled. It looked like he was on the verge to tears.

"Yes I am." House couldn't help but to smile and he reached out to take a hold of Chase's hand. It felt cold, but House thought that he could warm it in between his own hands. "You should know that I'm deeply in love with you, even though I'm not one for discussing my feelings. Please forgive me. I never should have walked out on you the other night! It was so stupid and unnecessary. I promise you that it will never happen again. Or at least, I will try to act like an adult from now on. I know I can be difficult to deal with, but I will do my best…" House stopped himself when he saw that a tear had dropped from Chase's eye and down on the cushion. "Wait, what's wrong?" He asked. Suddenly, he felt extremely concerned.

And just like that, Chase burst out crying. He had been holding it in for so long now and the alcohol had made him extra sensitive.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed, nearly having to gasp for breath, "I'm so sorry, House! Please forgive me, I don't deserve you! You were right about me earlier. I am just a whore and you are too good for me!"

House felt absolutely horrified to hear this. How could Chase say that about himself? "No, no don't say that!" House begged him. "That's the alcohol talking. Trust me, Chase, you are not a whore! I was very wrong to call you that! I take it all back!"

"It's not the alcohol talking!" Chase objected. "It's true! I'm not worthy of you or anyone else. I don't deserve to be loved!"

House shook his head and tried to calm the Australian down by caressing his hand lightly. But then he noticed something which made his stomach turn and his body freeze. There were several bruises to be found on the kid's wrist. It looked like someone had been holding his hand captured, even to the extent of hurting the Wombat.

"Chase, what the hell is this?" He asked him and pointed to the marks on his wrist. "Who did this to you?"

Chase merely sniffled, but he didn't try to pull his hand away from House. "Something happened earlier," he finally admitted, "but I'm okay. It wasn't that bad. He only meant to scare me, I think."

"Who only meant to scare you?" House sputtered with outrage. "Chase, you need to tell me everything right now!"

Chase's cheeks were flushed and wet with tears. "There's something you should know first." He swallowed a couple of times, and then he looked up at House. "I ended the bet. It's all over now, House. I don't have to let people approach me anymore. Only you are allowed to do that from now on. If you still want me."

"Of course I still want you! Don't be silly, nothing could make me change my mind about that." House planted a quick kiss on Chase's hand. "But you have to tell me what happened, okay? Otherwise I won't be able to help you!"

Chase just nodded. He was silent for a moment, but then he started telling House everything that had happened with Foreman. He told him the reason why Foreman had been so angry. And why he had started the bet. And in the end, he also told House that Foreman had almost done something to Chase against his will, but that he had changed his mind the very last second. (House instantly knew what he meant by "something").

To be honest, House was boiling with rage. He wanted to hunt Foreman down and fire his sorry ass! He shouldn't get away with something like this! How dared he treat the Wombat this way? How dared he make him believe that he was a bad person who didn't deserve to be loved? But then, House had to tell himself that he would deal with Foreman later. He would get his punishment when the time was right. Because right now, he had to focus on comforting the Wombat. His Wombat.

Chase had started crying again when he told House that Foreman had pushed him to the floor. Even if he had stopped himself in time, Chase couldn't remember ever having been that terrified before.

"But I deserved it," he sniffled, "it was my own fault. Everything that happened this week was all my fault. I can see that now."

"What? Are you kidding me?" House exclaimed. "Chase, how could you possibly think that? Foreman had no right to do what he did! You didn't do anything wrong! How were you supposed to know that he liked you when he's always acted like he doesn't give a crap about you?"

Tears were streaming down Chase's cheeks again. He wondered if it was really the alcohol's doing, because he genuinely felt heart-broken. It was an awful feeling being disgusted with yourself.

"You don't understand, House," he said in a broken, defeated voice, "I did do something wrong. I never said no! I took the stupid bet too seriously. I should never have let all those people approach me. I'm so weak that it's pathetic!"

House wanted to tell Chase that he was wrong, but he could sense that the kid was in no mood for arguments. The best thing he could do was trying to understand what he meant by this. He caressed the Wombat's hand again, meaning to remind him that it was all going to be okay.

"So tell me," House said in a calm voice, "why is it so hard for you to tell people no? Has it always been a problem for you?"

Chase thought about it for a moment. "It started when my dad walked out on the family. After that, I could never tell my mum no or deny her anything. I was scared that if I said no, she would get mad and leave me too." He paused to think again. "But of course, she ended up leaving me anyway when she died and I was all alone."

House could see the pattern and it all came to make sense to him. "So let me get this straight," he said, "you can't say no to people because you're afraid that they will get mad and leave you just like your parents did? Am I right?"

He was. House knew that he was. Oh, how it all made sense now! That was why Chase had stayed with Cameron for so long, even if she had treated him like he wasn't good enough for her. The kid was scared to be on his own. He was scared that people would turn their backs on him and stop loving him all of a sudden if he objected too much. Chase was scared to be alone… And House knew all about loneliness.

"You don't understand," Chase defended himself as he feared that House wouldn't get it, "I've been abandoned by people all my life! Do you have any idea how awful it is when someone in your life tells you that they don't love you anymore and then walks away?"

Chase was overwhelmed by another flow of tears as he remembered all the people that had walked out on him. The memory of his dead parents would always be the worst. That was something he would never get over. He started crying violently this time, and that was enough to devastate House completely.

"My poor baby…" House whispered. He felt Chase's pain more than anyone would ever know. He told himself that the time had come for him to be the strong and comforting one. Chase needed his support more than ever.

He got up from the chair and he moved to the couch so that he could lie down next to Chase. There was barely enough space for the both of them, so House made sure to move underneath the Wombat so that he could rest his head on his chest. Chase was still sobbing and House embraced him, pulled him closer into a loving hug that was supposed to remind him that he wasn't alone anymore.

"It's okay," House whispered and ran his fingers through Chase's soft hair, "I'm here for you."

Chase sniffled and his body was shaking a little bit. He threw his arms around House's chest as soon as he knew that his boss would be all right with it. Resting his head on House's chest was such a relief to him. He could smell House and it reminded him of when he had fallen asleep in his chair… It was a smell that made him feel so safe and protected. He knew that House's shirt was becoming wet with his tears, but it didn't seem to bother him.

"It's okay, just let it all out." House encouraged him and hugged him even tighter. "I'm here, baby." He kissed Chase's forehead and he could sense that he was starting to calm down now.

Chase continued to sob for another minute or two. Then he became very quiet. He seemed exhausted and House couldn't blame him. He'd been through so much.

"Are you feeling better now?" House whispered in a soothing voice.

"I think so." Chase mumbled, his head still pressed against House's chest. He had closed his eyes now. House was so nice and warm; he couldn't resist snuggling closer and closer against him…

"Good." House pulled him closer once again. He wanted to make sure that Chase was comfortable. The kid could really use some sleep and he was aware of that. "Before you fall asleep, I want to share a few thoughts with you." He then said.

"'Kay." Chase sighed sleepily and he sounded much happier now. Relaxed.

"First of all, I want you to know that none of it was your fault. Foreman basically attacked you and that can never be justified. You did nothing wrong, I promise you that. Second of all, you should know that it's okay for you to say no to people from now on. Even to me. Because you are never going to be alone again, do you understand? I will never leave your side. Not in a million years! There is nothing you can do to chase me away. You mean the world to me and I am going to be here for you." House paused to check if the Wombat was still awake. He was. "I also figured out what we are going to do from here." He said.

Chase breathed heavily. "What are we going to do?" He asked in a drowsy, happy voice.

"We are both going to call in sick tomorrow. I hate to break this to you, but you might be in for a nasty hangover. Don't worry, though, I have a feeling that you will be keeping your hands off the vodka in the future. I'm going to make sure of it. So here is the plan – we will spend all day tomorrow together. We don't even have to get out of the apartment. I think that we could both use some time to ourselves, away from everyone else. If you feel sick in the morning, you just let me know and I will help you, okay? And if there's anything you need, you only have to ask for it. I'm going to take care of you until you're back to normal, is that understood?"

Chase was quiet for a moment or two. Then he snuggled closer against House and whispered: "Yes, understood."

And then he fell asleep. House held him close in his arms and listened to his breathing. He still couldn't believe all the things that had happened, but he knew that things would get better from now on. He was going to make sure of it.

A few minutes later, House had closed his eyes and joined his Wombat in his sleep.

To be continued…