Title: Fight for the Future
Chapter 21 – Closer to Despair

Marcy nears House's bedside with the needle ready. She narrows her gaze at the sleeping doctor and would like nothing more than to pull out one of her icy daggers and swiftly end his life by a simple stab wound to the heart. However, that would instantly destroy her chances of getting Robert Chase's vast inheritance so she has to settle for the next best thing; a quiet death.

Her heart rate slightly blips as she pulls the needle and then takes part of the plastic tubing in her grasp. She looks back once more and then prepares the needle with her right hand to push it into the tubing, disrupting the airflow and giving the good doctor an air bubble to contend with.

However, destiny wasn't about to let that happen, so just before the tip of the needle connects with the open mouth of the plastic tubing, the curtain pulls back and Chase enters.

"Marcy?"

DAMN YOU ROBERT! Her mind inwardly growls as she quickly turns and pastes on a fake smile, her fingers slipping the unused needle into the side of her jacket before it can be seen by her unsuspecting prey. "I've never seen him before. I couldn't resist sneaking a peak," she offers her lie in a soft whisper. "No one else came in. Everything okay?" She asks as she pulls away and gently pulls him with her.

"Yeah the call was looking for another doctor actually. How is he?"

"Still…sleeping soundly," she replies with a heavy sigh as they exit the curtain again. "Maybe I can bring something up? You know you have to eat," she reminds him firmly.

"Okay," he finally gives in as he watches her turn and leave. But just as Marcy rounds the corner, Wilson appears and hurries up to him.

"Sorry that took forever," Wilson apologizes with a huff.

"It's okay."

"Was that…Marcy?"

"Yeah she wanted to get me some lunch but…"

"Go. I'll stay with House."

Chase gives Wilson a nod before he hurries after her. "Marcy!" He calls, making her turn around with an icy smile. "Wilson's back so I figured I better take advantage of it. We just don't like to leave House alone."

"I understand," she replies with a strained tone, her mind still reeling at the fact that this assignment was taking longer than expected and her targets weren't falling as easily as some others. Failure had never been an option she liked to entertain.

"So how much longer is Dr. House expected to stay here?"

"Longer than he wants," Chase answers with a heavy sigh. "How's work?"

"Boring," she replies with a nervous chuckle. "At least Dr. House isn't incapacitated right?"

"That is a very good thing. When I was a patient it was bad enough but having him here…I do feel sorry for some of the staff," Chase tells her with a friendly smile as they near the cafeteria. "But I remember when I was in here things changed for me for good."

"How's that? I remember you said before you were stabbed in the heart."

"Yes and it was because of that incident that House really showed his true colors toward me and we've drawn closer ever since."

"Was your father still alive? What did he think of nearly losing his only son? You've only ever told me how Dr. House acted."

"He…" Chase pauses as his mind reminds him when his father tricked him, drugged him and then took him to the gilded prison to be isolated and treated by a bunch of cold strangers. "He did what he did best, spent money."

"I'm sure he just wanted the best care for his son."

"It wasn't," Chase replies sourly.

Marcy looks at his set jaw as her brow furrows. Okay so Robert is stabbed…in the heart no less. His father comes, wants to pay for the best of care and it sounds like House's free care was better? What am I not seeing here? House is his boss. Rowan was his father. Rowan was a millionaire and House is…just a regular doctor. Did I miss something here?

"I don't know what I'd do without House," Chase mentions as they take their lunch trays and head for a quiet table.

"So what is it that makes you two connect? I guess I'm just curious."

"It's funny because at first I thought he hated me," Chase answers with a small smile as he takes a sip of his energy drink, his body feeling somewhat depleted of strength. "But our friendship has sort of strengthened and then when I was injured…it was House who took me in and took care of me. It's hard to explain."

"I see," Marcy answers slowly as she gives him a strained smile. "So did you ever find out from House why he was shot? I mean…what happened?"

Talking about his relationship with House wasn't something he had to hide or lie about because it was very clear, even to others like Dr. Chan that the once emotionally stunted Dr. House, had taken the younger doctor Chase into his home and heart, treating him like his very own son. But when it comes to the details of the current case and after learning what House had told him about the shooting and Jeremy he didn't quite want to divulge everything. Plus House doesn't trust her, you trust House so that means…I know he's wearing off on me!

"He um…he was shopping. For me," Chase replies as Marcy's eyes slightly narrow.

LIAR! Her mind inwardly yells! I know he was meeting with that private investigator because I shot him! And the man that was with him! I shot him too! Where is the damn private investigator!her mind djddd

"Shopping? For what? Stolen goods?" She tosses out lightly. "Was he shot for the item?"

"He wasn't sure. And no," Chase gently smiles as he pulls out the little dented metal box. "He bought them in a store but…"

"Wow what happened to that?"

"It saved his life," Chase tells her, showing her box but not letting her touch it – yet.

"That was it? Wow, what is it?"

"Here take a look," he offers. "I need a new box but the items inside are just fine. Well one of them but I want to keep both."

Without really thinking about what important piece of evidence she was leaving behind, Marcy's nimble fingers reach out and grab the box, slowly pushing the lid open to reveal little silver cuff links in the shape of ducks.

"Duck…cufflinks? I don't get it but I take it you do?"

"Very much," Chase replies fondly as he takes the box back and puts it right away into his pocket for safe keeping. "So yeah…he's like my father. I call him dad."

"You…do?"

"I do," Chase smiles and nods. "Trust me, you'll like him. A year from now you might even call him dad."

A YEAR? I WON'T BE HERE IN A YEAR AND NEITHER WILL YOU! Her mind shouts in frustration.

"Ah well…" she starts in a strained tone.

"Oh sorry…didn't mean to put you on the spot. So…I was wondering about the DNA results."

"I don't have them with me sorry. I left them at home," Marcy answers in haste.

"No. I went there to ask them why they…"

"You went back on your own?" Marcy nervously interjects and then quickly backs down. Careful…he might be a smarter opponent than you credited him with…either that or House is pushing his nervous paranoia!

"Yes I wanted to know why they forgot their logo. Most labs wouldn't so I wanted to know. Guess I'm a curious sort of guy."

Don't you know what curiosity did to the cat! Marcy's mind spews in anger.

"And? What did they tell you?"

"Well first off that there's no lab worker there named Ian and so they didn't know why. Who's Ian? I thought you said he was a friend."

"No. If I used the term loosely I was maybe nervous. But they said he doesn't work there? At all?" Marcy tries to play dumb. Oh I'll kill Ian! And House! And Chase! Damn this is adding up too much and too fast! It was only supposed to be Robert Chase!

"I uh…Robert I don't know. I was referred by someone…"

"Don?"

CAREFUL!

"Who?" She asks weakly as his expression strains. "I don't know who that is. I was told to go and ask for Ian and we went there and he ran the tests. Does…a logo really matter? Sorry I'm not up to date on all this medical stuff. It just stresses me out a bit."

Chase looks at her fake distressed expression and frowns; her inner devious Cheshire cat like smile staring straight at him as he's once again in danger of being sucked into her emotional mire. "I didn't want to stress you out."

"I um…I don't know why anyone would lie about…that. Robert…" her voices trails off as she looks away, giving the space around her a little eye roll before she looks back with a tense expression. "I think I'll go over there myself and see what's going on."

"You don't have to. I didn't mean to cause stress."

"Well you're stressed over this and this was basically my suggestion and I picked the place so it stresses me also. I don't mind. Maybe they just forgot or something."

"Maybe," Chase replies slowly. "So how is your friend with cancer recovering?" Chase asks suddenly.

Okay so you need to get back in control of the conversation! But Chase doesn't give up. "Because Wilson said…"

"Wilson?" Marcy's brows arch.

"Oh yes sorry. Dr. Wilson. You met him remember? Well he's the Chief oncologist here and House's best friend but anyways he was talking to me about some new home aftercare ideas that I thought you might want to pass on."

"Oh…sure," Marcy once again states with a weak tone. That brown haired doctor I met is House's best friend and the head of the ward you put a make-believe friend! DAMN! "Is there…a hand out or something?"

"I'll check and I can email it to you. So is she doing okay?"

"Bit by bit. You know how these things are. I gotta get back to work so…"

"I think its Bruno's turn to sit with House for a while this afternoon so how about I come by your place of work and take you for dinner? Just to give you a break…or something," Chase suggests with a casual shrug.

Careful…ah damn I need to leave now!

"I'll let you know okay? These damn sales meetings can sometimes run overtime depending on which loud mouth client you get at the table. I hope House recovers quickly. Not a fan of hospitals. No offense."

"No, I get it," Chase states as they both stand up after lunch is done and head for the exit doors to go back into the belly of PPTH.

"I'll call you later and see how you are. Let me know when I can bring you both dinner. You know…when House is able to take something into his system without…sustaining further harm," she replies, her brain scolding her for sounding somewhat clipped at the end.

"Okay," Chase replies as he watches her take her leave. Without wasting a second, Chase turns and hurries back toward House's room, arriving just as Taub and Adams leave.

"He's a terrible patient," Taub mutters as Chase looks at him in sympathy before he enters House's room.

"Wilson left me at their mercy," House grumbles.

"They're your staff," Chase reminds him with a small sigh as he approaches House's bedside. "You look flushed."

"So what did Marcy say?" House asks, at first ignoring Chase's comment of concern. But when Chase's expression droops, House's lips slightly purse and he gestures for Chase to sit. "My boy it will just take some time for me to get used to being…here and hopefully by the time I get used to it, I'll be out of here."

"I just worry," Chase admits softly.

"Not a fan of role reversal," House admits as his hand rests on Chase's for a few seconds, prompting the younger man's eyes to lift.

"Marcy asked what made us draw close and I thought back to the time I was stuck in that bed…unable to walk or…and you surprised me."

"Surprised myself to be honest," House confesses candidly. "What else did she confess to you?"

"She was in here earlier."

"When? I must have been asleep. What did she say?"

"Well she was here a few seconds alone but…"

"What? You let her come in here alone?" House asks with a small growl.

"I didn't think there was any harm. I know you don't like…"

"I don't trust her. You know that."

"I had an urgent call," Chase argues back. "It was only a few minutes."

"It only takes seconds to kill!" House snaps. Chase's eyes widen as he sits back and House shakes his head.

"House? What…"

"When can I get out of this damn bed?"

"You think Marcy is to blame for…I don't know for what. Why would she want to hurt you? She's only been interested in your welfare and mine."

"And the lab? Did you ask her about that?"

"Matter of fact I did and she was just as surprised as I was."

"And Don?"

"Didn't know anything about him."

"Huh."

"House come on, what would be her motive?"

"She's bored?" House retorts in sarcasm as Chase just rolls his eyes.

"She liked the cufflinks though."

"You showed them to her?"

"Yup and the dented box. Told her that's how your life was saved. I think she liked them," Chase relates with a smile.

"Did she touch them?"

"House…"

"Did she?"

"Yes. So what. It's not like she could put a curse on them," Chase replies with a sigh.

"You have her fingerprints!"

"You need to just rest now. Poor Dr. Chan I don't know how he puts up with you."

"He's cynical just like me. Why do you think we get along?" House retorts, arching his brows to punctuate his statement.

"I sometimes wonder," Chase mutters under his breath. Chase goes on to relate a few more things about their lunch meeting but House's mind fixates on the fact that Chase has Marcy's fingerprints and could use them to run a DNA comparison. It depends on how long she touched them and if she left anything behind, his inner thoughts in Wilson's voice reminds him. Oh shut up I know that!

Chase finally gets House to get some sleep and then pulls out the laptop that Wilson had brought him and starts to type up a medical document. But as his mind starts to wander and his eyes lift to look up the little beeping lights on the heart monitor, his thoughts drift toward House's last statement about Marcy's fingerprints. Should I? What if I find out where not related? Then I could ask how the DNA results from the lab…unless the lab screwed up and gave us the wrong results? Why would they? This makes no sense.

He rubs his face and then looks at House's peaceful expression and frowns. Of course House was concerned but then…Jeremy was also shot also…he was meeting with House…remembering the address that Jeremy had given his friend Detective Secord, Chase pulls his phone and texts Bruno.

'Did your cousin hear back from Detective Secord?-Chase'

'Hey man! Yeah in fact the Detective asked the Chief to put my cousin on the case with him specifically. That's cool.-Bruno'

'That's great! Did he check out that address yet?-Chase'

'Not yet.'

'How is Jeremy? Did he get to an ER?-Chase'

'Yeah. Somewhere upstate that Secord knew about. Apparently he's still out of it but my cousin is working on a few leads for him. Trying to track down some guy that knew Carlton Jones. Nothing so far. But Secord said that Jeremy will call House as soon as he's fully awake. I'll be up a bit later.-Bruno'

'Okay thanks. I'm glad that Jeremy was able to get some help. TTYL-Chase'

"Marcy?"

Chase looks up to see House watching him and shakes his head. "No, it was Bruno. He said that Detective Secord took Jeremy to a hospital upstate and he's still there but will be okay."

"That's good news," House breathes a sigh of relief.

"He said Jeremy would call when he wakes up. Bruno's cousin is also happy because he gets to help the Detective out. But so far nothing more conclusive on Jones."

"Okay. You need to rest now. You look tired."

"I am tired," Chase admits with a small yawn as he presses the send button and then puts the laptop to the side. "I hate seeing you like this. It's so…"

"Pathetic?"

"Is that how everyone thought me?" Chase wonders as House nods and his lips purse.

"Don't pout little duckling, everyone in a hospital bed is pathetic. Your pout just made…"

"Me more pathetic than others?" Chase retorts with a small smirk as House nods once more.

"Close your eyes and rest now. I know you only got a few hours of sleep last night. I am okay as you can see."

Chase hesitates for a minute but then at House's insistent prodding, puts the laptop away and arranges the sleeping bed next to House's bed. He pulls the blanket over him and within minutes his eyes close and soft snores start to escape his slightly parted lips.

House looks at the younger man with fatherly affection before his expression clouds. Fingerprints…prove she's not his sister…then what? Then confront her and ask her sick game at messing with my boys emotions! If she did it because she was bored or as a prank, she will be sorry. He hears Chase mumble in his sleep and can't help but smile once more.

He settles in his bed a bit and lets his mind wander back to the time he purposely went into Chase's hospital room after he had been told he might never walk again. House remembers looking down at the young man as he looked up in utter fright and despair. He felt sorry for him from the start but it wasn't until his creep of a father came and basically treated him worse than some impersonal patient that his heart went out to the young man and he actually took him into his home.

After that something inside of him started to stir and for the first time ever in his life he actually wanted to take care of someone and look after them without any prodding at all. And over time those feelings started to grow until now he can't imagine his life without Robert Chase in it or the young man calling him dad. That's why it was hard to explain to Chase why he was so protective of him with regards to Marcy and her intentions toward him. After witnessing Rowan hurt his son the way he did, he had vowed after he rescued Chase from Rowan's lair of doom that he'd do whatever he had to to keep his son safe.

He hears Chase mutters a soft but angry curse in his sleep and looks over to watch Chase's face scrunch up and his brow furrows. "Shhh my boy," House whispers; his mind settling when he watches Chase's facial expression settle and the muttering stop.

About half hour later, Wilson steps into the room; House's finger automatically rising to his lips to make sure Wilson knows not to make any noise and wake his boy from his needed rest. Wilson nods and settles himself onto the chair and pulls out some files. After he's done, he pulls close to House's bed and the two of them talk in low tones until it's House's turn to get some rest.

Bruno arrives and he and Wilson play a few friendly games of poker until House awakens and then Chase.

"Gang's all here," House states as he looks up at the three other men in the room with a smile. "It'll make the rest of this day bearable. Any word on Jeremy?"

"My cousin said that Secord got a call today and he's okay and awake but then he was called to help with a rowdy collar and Secord left without him seeing. Sorry that's all I know right now. But he's on it."

"I believe you," House replies with a firm smile. "I need to talk to Jeremy."

"I told him to call you as soon as he could," Chase tells House as House looks at him and nods.

The four of them talk a bit longer until Wilson orders in some dinner for them, House not happy that he could only have something soft. After that Wilson remains as Chase and Bruno walk down to the staff parking lot.

"I hope your cousin finds out something soon," Chase mentions as they linger by the elevator. "How's your mom?"

"She's good. I've been staying a bit later than usual and it worries her but I told her that it's for a friend so she's okay."

"Thank you for that. Tell her I'll make it up to her after all this is done," Chase promises. "And the hearing's in a few weeks still right?"

"Yeah. I try to change the subject when she brings it up but I know when I tell her the day it comes up she'll insist on coming. If I don't tell her and just go, she'll be angry. Yeah…" his voice trails off as he offers Chase a nervous smile. "I just keep telling myself in another month it'll be over, dad will be hopefully getting the help he needs and life returns to normal."

"I hope so too. We'll be okay now. You just go home and be with her okay? If your cousin needs help, you can ask me."

"Robert…"

"I'm serious. Let me know."

"Thanks man," Bruno gives Chase a brief hug and then pulls back and heads for his car.

XXXXXXXX

Upstairs, House hands Wilson back his book just as his phone rings. "Jeremy?"

"Dr. House. Can you hear me?"

"This stupid phone was damaged in the fall but I can hear you. Are you okay?"

"Robert saved my life. Literally. Well okay so maybe the bullet going right through. But I owe him one. How are you?"

"My boy saved my life too," House refers to his cufflinks. "What did you find?"

"Okay so still working on this Marcy Renard angle. Secord just checked out the final ABC Graphics Company address. No one's heard of or has ever seen Marcy Renard. Next he'll check on that other address I gave him. Now I'm still working on an international angle. Don from Starr Labs is officially missing and I have a bad feeling we'll find him either six feet under or we won't find him at all. Damn House, I have just so many questions and no tangible answers on this Marcy Renard."

"Fine. What does that mean?"

"Well if you're asking for my professional opinion, I'd say stay as far away from Marcy Renard right now. There's something about her and this whole thing that isn't adding up."

"Like?"

"Like I don't think she is who she says she is and I can't prove anything about her that is true that I can tell you."

"Damn," House curses under his breath.

"Do you know where she is right now?"

"No," House replies with a heavy sigh. "Thankfully not here or near my boy," House states, not knowing that Marcy was closer than any of them might think.

XXXXXXXX

Chase watches before he slowly turns and heads back toward the elevator to go up. As soon as he gets to the top of the floor, the elevator doors open and he looks in surprise as Marcy stands there waiting for him.

"Marcy? Everything okay?"

"Work is done. Late again," she sighs as she heads toward him. "How's House?" She asks, deep inside hoping he'll tell her he's taken a turn for the worst. No such luck.

"I think with all of us there today looking after him, he's going to have a faster recovery."

"That's…great," she answers through gritted teeth. "Can House eat food right now?"

"Not yet. I think his doctor will wait one more day and then when he can go home, he'll be able to have something to eat. Did you…bring him food?"

"Actually…I came to see you. I have something for you."

A/N: Okay so you know I'd never kill House but had to get Marcy in there to build a bit more mistrust in Chase's mind. What will Det Secord find at the final address? Will House get Marcy's fingerprints? And what surprise does Marcy have for Chase? Would love your thoughts on this update and just when you think Marcy's world is going to collapse and she's going to go ballistic! Please do review before you go and thanks so much!