Slowly Thirteen walked into the empty apartment. She knew that House had brought Chase's stuff here that had been in his hospital room. The apartment was so cold and empty and to her, it was too clean and it hurt her because she knew that Chase would never make a mess here again. That this stuff was no longer his and that he would never go home.
Two days ago there had been Chase's cremation and she knew it was time to do what he had asked her. She wondered if he had been able to write the last chapter, but if not, hopefully it would have a good ending, because she felt it would be bad to add a chapter without him telling her how it should be.
She got his laptop from the table and started it up. For a second she doubted by the password and typed password, chuckling for a second as it was good. Every password was password to Chase.
Opening the file she scrolled down, only to find that the last chapter was only finished half. She read the title, going home, but in his story, wallaby Linda and wombat Robert were still in Florida. But he had asked her to finish it if he wouldn't make it. For a moment she hesitated, but then she started to type.
''It's time to go home.'' Robert said to Linda and the young wallaby nodded; ''Yeah, it's time to go home.''
Two days later, she walked to the publishing office with the manuscript. She has spent another two days thinking about the ending being right, but she was sure that this was the answer she had imagine and she felt good that she could still fulfill his wish and that the book would be published, for his niece, in his legacy.
''I am here because of the manuscript somebody send you and you were interested in. It's finished.'' Thirteen said as she laid handed it to the man.
''It's the manuscript of Robert Chase. Why is he not here?'' The man asked as the manuscript should have bene in a few weeks ago, but it hadn't been here and he had been afraid that Mr. Chase would not send it in anymore and it seemed like a story that could be so good for a children's book.
''He passed away…last week.'' Remy said. ''I don't know if you know about his situation.''
''No, but I am sorry to hear that.'' The man said remorseful, holding the manuscript. Almost shocked.
''He was sick and knew he wouldn't have long to live. It is written for his niece. It's on the first page and that has to be in the book, for Linda. Other than that, she is leaving to Australia again in two weeks.'' Remy said and she looked at the mom, trying to give him the message that the first copy had to be printed fast.
''Not a problem. We will try to get the illustrator working this week, maybe we can get at least one copy for her.''
''Good.'' Remy said grateful and she tried to not cry, just being happy that this book would be her forever and it was not just for Linda. It was something for them all to hold onto.
Wilson was sitting in his office, looking at the picture on his desk. It was the last picture of him, House and Chase together. They had made it in the restaurant they had been eating, barely two weeks before his death. The day after Christmas.
Suddenly the door burst open and he looked up, Chase's sister walking in.
''Where is Gregory House?'' She asked angry and Wilson looked up. If he would get a dollar for every time somebody asked him that he could buy a ticket to Australia now…which he could only guess Gregory House had done.
''And why is that important?'' Wilson asked fearful.
''Because somebody took my brother's ashes.'' Judith said.
Wilson nodded. ''Well, meet Gregory House.'' Was all he could say.
House walked onto the beach, close to Melbourne. Chase's favorite beach, the beach they had talked about angels in bikinis, when he still had been hopeful, praying. House sat down in the sand and looked at the sun setting. It was so hot in January in Australia that most people seemed to have fled from the beach and House was glad, because he didn't want any people around this. It had been enough effort to get his ashes here and now he wanted a worthy goodbye for Chase. A way to come home.
''You know, your book will be in the shops in a month, but Linda will get her copy before she goes back to Australia. So she will take another piece of you home.'' House said as tears started to fill his eyes again and he felt stupid for talking against the ocean. But even against this beliefs, he hoped that somehow, Chase could still hear what he was saying.
House then put the urn on a surfboard and with his legs almost giving in, he pushed it into the water and got on the board himself, trying to get farther and farther in the sea. When it wasn't working, he got off and pushed the board again.
''You are making it hard on me and my limp.'' House complained and he sat down on the surfboard, nearly falling off and looking at the urn in his hands.
''Guess this is the time to bring you home.'' House said then and he remembered the time they had been here when Chase had just gotten his diagnosis and he had still been surfing. It wasn't even that long ago, now he was holding his ashes in his hands.
Slowly he opened the urn and looking at the sunset, floating on the surf board and he let the ash go, letting it slide in the ocean.
''Angels in bikinis, remember?'' House said and he looked as the ash began to spread through the waves. He could surf now forever, he was finally home.
House got out of the water, walking off the beach again, through the sand as the sun was setting behind him and he realized that this was where one road ended. But Chase was home. He was home after all.
''And finally, after a beautiful journey through the United states, Linda and Robert boarded the plane, going home after all. They had seen beautiful views and big cities, small towns. Everything wombat Robert had seen before. He had showed it all to Linda now. But now they were going home together. Because there was no place like home.''
NOTE: House brought Chase home, even without his sister knowing, but it was probably the was that Chase would have wanted. The book gets published and Linda already has the book.
There is going to be a small epilogue after this and that will be the end of the story.
I hope you like the story and you still want to read the epilogue. Thank you for reading this chapter and please leave a review with what you thought. It would mean a lot if you did.
