"Care to tell me why are we starting the day with a cop in our house?" House asked loudly after letting Antonio out. It took some time for him to recall the whole incident to the cop and Casey was still nowhere to be seen.

No answer.

"Okay, that's just childish. Are you going to pout at me for the whole day?" He continued entering Casey's bedroom but it was empty.

"Hide-and-seek. I love games." House muttered now a little worried. After the whole incident the boy was in no condition to run away, especially with someone out there trying to kill him.

After few minutes of search the house was officially called empty of firefighters. That meant that idiot did think that go out was a good idea. The only place House hadn't checked yet was the back yard. And if he wasn't there House swore he would kick his sorry ass back to the bed the moment he got him.

"Ready or not I'm coming" House said now with a deep frown.

At the first sight the yard was empty but then House noticed his lost host kneeling in the far corner.

"Got you. Now it's your turn." He announced cheerfully but Casey didn't react.

Not that House did expect him to play that game but some angry reaction should have been there.

House looked at him more closely now. The position the younger man was in wasn't the world most comfortable. It was obvious now that Casey simply couldn't hold himself upright through the pain and considering all tools lying on the ground near him House had a very good idea of what had happened here.

"Wonderful, just the way I wanted to spend my day." He mumbled maneuvering himself to get Casey while not losing his own footing.

"I could use some help. Remember, cripple here." House grumbled lifting Casey from the ground.

He felt how the boy tensed trying to make his legs working, a fighter till the end no matter the pain. House wasn't used to that side of people most of them seeking for attention and pain management with such simple things like splinter in a finger.

"Here we are. Easier cowboy." He told while helping Casey on the couch. Then he got his medicine and water to wash them down.

"Now we talk." House said finally sitting on the chair in front of Casey.

"You're suddenly ready to talk with me, great." Casey snapped not at all happy to have House prepared him right here and now.

"What other choice do I have when you're going out and trying to make repairs the next day after you have been discharged from the hospital?"

"And of course you had nothing to do with that. You're living here as if it's your own house, is if I owe you everything. I didn't ask you anything, didn't force you out of my house and all I needed in return from you was just to talk to Antonio, to tell him what you saw but even that you couldn't give me. So now don't sit there pretending to be my guardian 'cause you aren't. I'm fine all by myself and I don't need anyone especially you to lecture me, House. After all I don't even know your name." Casey finished bitterly.

House sat there frozen with unseeing eyes recalling the same conversation he had had a few years ago.

"Why does everybody need to know my business?"

"People like talking about people, make us feel superior, make us feel in control, and sometimes for some people knowing some things makes them care."

"I tell you my dad left and my mum drank herself to death, you gonna care about me now?"

"Cameron would. I just like knowing stuff."

"Now you know. What's next?"

"I know you hate him."

"I'm gonna tell you something. I don't hate him. I loved him until I figured out that it hurts a lot less to just not care. People won't disappoint you if you're not relying on them. It's better to be alone. I'm well all by myself. I don't need anyone."

"Of course why should you even answer me?!" Casey laughed humorlessly before turning away from House.

"What?!" House asked with confused expression. Looked like the boy was talking to him the whole time and now thought that House wasn't interested. Shit! That meant now he had to make some speech about him caring and all that crap and there was no way he was going to do that.

"I don't know what are you mumbling about? Because if you were less moronic and didn't try to kill yourself out there you'd know that we had a wonderful long talk with your cop friend." House yelled at him angrily.

That outburst at least made Casey turn back to him. But House still could see fury in his green eyes. Maybe offending him wasn't the best course of action right now.

"Do you want to call that Banderas guy to verify my words?" He asked in a little calmer tone.

For a moment House thought that Casey was going to ask him what the hell he meant by that but he just sighed in defeat and asked him tiredly "What do you want from me?" once again reminding the older man that Casey wasn't in his best condition.

"For starters for you to use your head properly. What the hell were you thinking trying to work out there?" House said but there was no edge in his voice.

"I thought that either I would finish with a fence or I would choke you to death. Would you really prefer the second option?" Casey answered leaning heavily on cushions and trying to be as still as possible.

He was obviously still in pain and House didn't like to watch it. It was enough to feel it every day without any further reminders and he certainly didn't want to see it on that face. He knew it wasn't Chase. But each time the boy winced his mind showed him all those pictures with him on the floor after House's punch or in that room trying to force his legs to work again.

"No fun" House muttered to himself.

But it was loud enough for Casey to catch.

"Really? That would be your answer?!" He smiled a little at the ridiculous conversation they had, bringing House back from his reverie.

"Yeah, you're no fun in that state. Let's change it." With that House stood up and disappeared in the kitchen.

"Don't even think to get up from the couch" He yelled back the moment Casey shifted his position.

He returned few minutes later with a cup of hot tea.

"Drink it."

"What is it?" Casey looked at the cup suspiciously.

"Just a tea." House shrugged.

"With?"

"With, oh surprise, a tea" House chuckled. "Now drink. You rare species need to be well cared of."

"I don't even want to ask why you're referring to me as some kind of animal." Casey mumbled though obediently sipping the tea.

"Then don't"

Few more minutes and Casey would be in a perfect state for interrogation, House thought to himself. It shouldn't take more than one pill for him to relax.

"Now about you answering some of my questions." House smiled predatorily but Casey wasn't in any state to notice that.

"Don't want to." He mumbled closing his eyes. He was so tired and that tea made him feel more relaxed, the feeling he didn't want to lose.

"No, no. Don't you dare sleep on me." House yelled. He didn't expect for him to not tolerate drugs at all.

"Why?" Casey whined. "First you wake me up with that stupid song of yours and now you don't let me rest like my doctor advised."

"Your doctor is an idiot if for you to be asleep was the advice."

"Hey, don't offend my fiancée." Casey yelled and tried to get up, drugs numbing his pain.

"Your fiancée is a doctor, huh?! Guess some things never change. " House laughed forcing him back down. Not that it was hard enough in Casey's condition.

"What about we make a deal?" House tried to bargain. "I let you sleep all you want after you answer a few of my questions. It isn't that hard, really."

"Okay." Casey nodded after some thinking. "If they are any of your business"

House laughed to himself even now the boy tried to protect his private life and let House only where was necessary.

"Fair." He agreed. All this mess was his business right now and everything else could wait for another opportunity.

"Why were those goons attacking you? Did you not save one of them from the fire?" House joked.

"I wish that was the case"

A/N: I didn't want to short up their conversation about Voight so you have to wait for the next chapter to read it. Instead I decided that you were right and we needed some of House doctoring Casey even if he had some hidden motives, lol. Hope you like it so far. Read, enjoy and don't forget to review. It means a lot to me.

Me, there is a very strong possibility for this to really happen. AND it's always good to have readers understand some inside jokes about characters. :)