Title: Rewriting Destiny
Chapter 25 – Uprooting the Family Tree

On his way back from delivering the lab results, Chase makes a detour to the staff lounge and then quickly glances at the introduction to the driving manual; his mind starting to race as he looks at the first section and the documentation required.

"Non-US Citizen…" he huffs as he slowly closes the brochure and then feels his lips purse. He had gotten so excited by House offering to teach him how to drive that he had for a few blissful moments forgotten his own future plans. I need to get my citizenship…Chase tries to argue back with himself as he shoves the brochure back into his locker and then heads for the door to go back out. You can do both, his mind reminds him in truth.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you," Park warns as Chase approaches House's office; his dirty blond brows arching at the petite Asian doctor before him.

"He seemed in a good mood this morning."

"I saw Foreman enter with a budget folder."

"Budget…great," Chase groans as Park nods in agreement. He mutters thanks as he decides to walk past; glancing into House's office to see him and Foreman embroiled in a very heated discussion.

As soon as Chase walks past, House's mind shifts from the boring budget drivel that Foreman is spouting off about to his brief search into Rowan Chase's family situation. As soon as Wilson had left that morning he had turned to his computer and typed in the words 'Rowan Chase, rheumatologist and family,' and then held his breath and waited. He didn't have to wait too long as within seconds the internet search engine had returned thousands of articles the world-renowned doctor, but he'd have to hunt for something on his personal life.

And then just as his eyes rested upon the heading, 'Dr. Chase and family attend make rare appearance at fundraiser,' Foreman entered and his mood instantly soured. Park had come in with a question and he nearly snapped her head off and it was all he could do to hold back from telling Foreman to just screw the auditors and he had other important work to do.

"Since you're not really here…I'll leave this with you to look over when you have a minute," Foreman tells House as he drops the file onto his desk and then takes his leave.

House barely notices, his mind silently acknowledging the deadline but not in a hurry to honor it right now – other things were pressing. But this time Taub enters and his quest to confirm Robert Chase's parental heritage is put on hold once more as the matter at hand is far more pressing.

Chase watches House and Taub enter the room where he's waiting with the comatose patient and once again can't help but notice House's clipped tone and tight stance. Was it just Foreman or something else? After another medical suggestion, House takes his leave and Chase and Taub exchange firm nods and then get back to work. Once the next medical trial is started, Chase leaves the room and then stops when he hears his name being called.

"Heard you had a great time at the beach yesterday," Wilson tells Chase as he approaches.

"We did," Chase answers with a grin as he pauses in his walking. "House told you already? Was he happy when he told you?" He gently smirks.

"Yeah he can blow hot and cold pretty fast," Wilson gently shrugs. "But yes he did, that's great."

The two of them talk a bit longer about the fun beach outing as House heads back to his office to continue his search into Rowan Chase's personal affairs.

House pulls his chair closer to the computer screen and then clicks on the article about his family.

"Rowan Chase attended a fundraiser with his wife and…blah blah blah…young son was…wait…young son Robert…Robert…oh no…not Robert," House groans as he saves the article and then clicks the back button and continues his search; wanting to find a picture.

"Robert's a common name…maybe…maybe it's a coincidence. It has to be!" House's voice hisses as he finds another article. "Rowan Chase and son Robert make rare appearance at…children's hospital."

House's eyes fix on the small picture and his heart rate automatically starts to pick up the pace. "Oh no…it's true," he sighs as he looks at the young blond man…probably in his early teens standing almost morosely by his father with no smile on his face. He looks at the sad face and instantly his heart droops once more.

"Why didn't he ever tell me who his father is?" House can't help but wonder out loud. What does he have to hide? Not exactly a family legacy to be ashamed of…what's going on?

He saves that page and then goes in search of others. "Hmm nothing when he's an older teen or…young adult," House muses as continues to search. The young boy is blond…it might just be an odd coincidence…but as House's finger hovers over another link, he knows inside that it's not just a coincidence – Robert Chase is the biological son of Rowan Chase.

"What the hell happened? He leaves the home of a millionaire to come here and live…on the streets? Homeless…penniless…" House's voice trails off as he looks at the picture of him and Chase once more. "Why? What's the real story? Is it all an act?" Maybe he has money and is just mooching off whoever…lying for sympathy? Attention? House's mind starts to spiral downward. But he catches himself as he knows if it was just an act and Robert Chase really did have money he wouldn't have risked his own life with some lowlife and then just gone to a shelter and collapsed under a stranger's care.

What's the real story? House's mind muses as he looks at another article. "So much praise for Dr. Rowan Chase…is it real or all…false?" He can't help but wonder.

'Dr. Rowan Chase praised for his generous donation to…'

'Dr. Rowan Chase guest of honor to speak at medical conference…'

'World renowned rheumatologist Dr. Rowan Chase…'

House finally stops his reading and then looks away with a small growl. He leaves home on his own and his father gives him nothing? Not possible…doesn't seem like the kind of man in those articles…House's mind swirls around and around as he gets up from his desk and slowly limps toward the window and looks out with a stony gaze. He seems generous with his time and money to others…surely he would for his own family…his only son. Of course what House doesn't know is he hadn't stumbled upon the articles that would debunk the myth of Rowan Chase as the doting family man. But he would.

"My boy…what is the truth."

But as soon as he utters those words he realizes that he has no claim to them anymore. My boy…but…he's not mine…his father is still very much alive…so…what happens now?

XXXXXXXX

During his break, Chase takes his lunch and then heads outside into the sun; taking a seat at a small bench and then closing his eyes for a few seconds. His confidence was a lot higher this morning as the dark circle below his eye had almost subsided and although he and House were bombarded with questions from the team about the "accident" that they were able to say it was mostly nothing, of course not telling them the real story with Carl and the confrontation.

"Seat taken?"

Chase looks up with a friendly smile as Jimmy approaches and gestures for him to sit down. "Did you have lunch?" He asks, about to offer up part of his.

"BLT at Bonnie's. It was pretty good," Jimmy replies and then looks at Chase with a frown. "Have you been in a fight?"

"Small accident, nothing major. What's going on?"

"Was next door doing a run for some office supplies and saw you sitting here and thought I'd say hi," Jimmy tells him in truth. "How was your weekend?"

"Went to the beach. Just for lunch and stuff but it was great."

"The beach wow, I was stuck inside all weekend."

"By choice?" Chase retorts lightly as Jimmy nods and then shakes his head.

"I know…I know I should have said no. Did you get to surf?"

"Not this time," Chase answers with a soft pout. "I wanted to but um…my legs were still a bit shaky after the accident. I think House was worried I'd have a heart attack or something. Hopefully next time. If you ever want to come just let me know."

"Yeah…that'd be fun. I could be…the board waxer or something," Jimmy replies and both of them laugh. "Or I could ask for a few pointers."

"You could. Would be a lot more fun," Chase agrees eagerly. Chase goes on to tell Jimmy more about his exciting beach outing, omitting of course the ending part with him taking his first driving lesson. It wouldn't be fair for me to always expect him to drive everywhere…maybe I can meet him there?

They talk a bit longer before it's time for both to get back to work; parting ways but promising to meet up for a casual dinner at the end of the week. He heads back inside, hoping that House's mood has changed and wanting to ask if he'd have some time to help him with a few more driving lessons after work.

But as he nears House's office he hears the older man growl at someone for a seemingly harmless request and internally recoils – today wasn't going well at all.

XXXXXXXX

House had neared the entrance to his office, yelling a reply to someone who had asked a rather innocent question and then looked up to see Chase stop and then slowly back away. He can only inwardly curse his actions but at the same time is conflicted. He comes from a wealthy family and yet has the audacity to plead poverty! Making me feel sorry for him and want to buy him…everything! Ah damn it…but as his mind continues to argue back…maybe they parted on bad terms and Chase wants nothing to do with his father?

"He still should have told me," House mutters with a small hiss as his brain inwardly chuckles. Yes because you are the very essence of sense and reason. Oh shut up! He commands the inner Wilson-like voice inside his head. The trouble is, by his own admission, he's so used to having Robert Chase in his life that he can't…he doesn't want to imagine it without him.

He knows he has to ask but at the same time fears the outcome as he knows Chase is already so on edge when it comes to mistrust or displeasing the older man.

"What have I gotten myself into," he groans as he turns and heads back to his desk.

"Anything I can help with?"

The endearing tone instantly tugs at his heart and he turns around to see Robert Chase standing in his office with an inquisitive glance. He was young but medically brilliant…at lease in House's mind. Robert Chase, when it came to medical knowledge and diagnosis was confident and for the most part self-assured; sometimes too much. But that came with a young ego and was something that could be molded. But his personal life…that's where the real Robert Chase's inner persona came to the fore. The young child inside wanting…begging for some fatherly love and attention; starved of the affection and adoration that he so craved from a young age. He was as conflicted as House. But as he looks at the younger man before him his heart warms. The warm pleading in his eyes yearns to help make the day better, a small gesture of gratitude for the tender concern and attention shown on the weekend.

"Coffee run?"

"Everybody lies right?" House just blurts out. His lips purse when he sees Chase's eager expression droop and he has to mentally slap the back of his head.

"Coffee…it was just for coffee…no hidden meaning."

"No I just…too late in the day for coffee," House stammers as Chase's shoulder gently shrug. "Did you see the patient in 3C yet?"

"Taub's patient?"

"I need a second opinion."

"Of course," Chase replies eagerly; once again displaying the eager smile that House can't help but admire.

Damn…kid is just so eager to please that…I can't help but admire it…I need to know the truth.

"So your reference earlier, to everybody lies…was about them?"

"Yes…and in general."

"Ok-ay," Chase huffs as he remains in place. "Is…something else going on?"

House looks at Chase, his mind racing whether or not to press him for some honest family confessions or wait. In the end he decides to wait, shooing Chase away and then heading back to his desk to finish off the financial report for Foreman. On the way back from his errand run, House heads for the patient's room, lingering outside and listening to Chase's suggested diagnosis.

How could he just send his boy away with nothing? It doesn't make sense from what I saw…something's wrong here…someone's lying…but who?

He listens a bit longer, inwardly praising the younger man 'damn he's good' before he pulls away and heads back to his office to continue his searching into the private family life of Rowan Chase. Once again his search turns up nothing really conclusive.

"So…he's wealthy…private…very private…too private!" House grumbles as he continues down the listing on the internet search page results. "Doesn't he take his family…anywhere?"

'Dr. Chase when asked why he doesn't bring his family to charity events or public functions, simply replied "that's my business," and carried on his way.'

"What the hell does that mean?" House mutters as he continues to read a society write-up on a very upscale charity event in Melbourne. House looks at the date and tells himself that Robert would have been a mature teen and not exactly a nuisance for his father. Why didn't he just bring him? And what about his….

'Mary Chase, wife of Dr. Rowan Chase pounced dead at…home. Battled severe depression and some suspect had a drinking problem. Results to be confirmed later.'

"No wonder he doesn't want to talk about his family. So Robert was…damn he was young when she died. So if it was just him and his father…why didn't they draw closer? What happened to make them pull apart?" House continues his one-sided musing.

'Times were tight?'

'He was just too busy.'

Too busy…always working? But he never made time to teach his son to drive or go surfing or even to a stuffy medical conference? They wouldn't even have to talk. Something's not adding up. "What's the real story?"

"On his diagnosis?"

House looks up to see Wilson looking at him in wonder.

"The real story on why Rowan Chase never took his son with him in public or even talked about his family."

"Maybe like you he's private about his personal life?" Wilson tosses back.

"You're a lot of help," House chirps sourly.

"What?" Wilson shrugs with a slight snicker as he nears House's desk. "Mr. Jones file as requested. You know your digging always makes you…agitated. Maybe Robert and his father didn't see eye to eye and he left. Not exactly a unique situation he'd have if he and his father didn't get along."

"Rowan Chase is a millionaire and he sends his only son to America, literally penniless? I don't buy it. To live on the streets? In the gutter? Sleep in a homeless shelter?"

"Okay then…"

"Maybe I'll ask him why myself," House suddenly states, looking at another internet web page heading that's caught his attention.

"What? You're going to fly to Melbourne just to ask why he didn't give his son spending money?"

"No. He's coming here," House declares triumphantly. But then his gaze darkens as he ponders how Robert's going to react.

"So…you'll facilitate a family reunion?"

Wait…what? No…if Robert left on bad terms I don't want to put him back into…oh damn…why'd I even start looking at this…now…what if they do reunite and he'd rather be with…his birth father?

"House?"

"I wonder if Robert knows."

Wilson looks at the expression on House's face and for the first time in day's notices – uncertainty? He's worried? "House…"

"I need to get back to…you know forget I mentioned it."

"I can, but can you?" Wilson retorts as House's brow furrows.

House watches Wilson take his leave and then leans back in his chair, his eyes drifting back to the open computer screen and reading the words 'guest speaker at the annual world-wide Rheumatologist conference – Dr. Rowan Chase.' "I don't know you personally and for some reason I feel I already hate you," House states bitterly as he saves the page and then closes the internet web browser. But Wilson's rhetorical question still rings in his head – 'can you forget?' He knows he can't. Now that he's opened a small emotional can of worms, he can't help but wonder if, when reunited father and son would want to be together. Or worse…Robert might want to move back to Melbourne!

"I just won't tell Robert his father's in town," House whispers in an undertone. With that determined thought in his head, he pushes himself away from his desk and goes to check on his patient once more before heading for home.

XXXXXXXX

"Is it now safe to enter?" Chase asks with a relaxed smile at the end of their long Monday.

"It is if we're leaving," House retorts as he gathers up his jacket and slowly shuffles toward the front door. "How's Mrs. Weatherly."

"The new treatment is working and she's showing positive signs. I think she'll pull through."

"Comforting. She's leaving behind a young son. Children need their parents, don't you think?"

"Sure," Chase answers slowly, his brow gently furrowing. After a few weeks of living in close quarters with the younger man, House had come to know what little facial expressions, even silent ones, might mean. His jaw's tight, brow furrowed and breathing shallow…he doesn't agree.

"You said your mother passed when you were young. So…then it would be just you and your father. I know you said there were some rough times but all families have their ups and downs but were you two close?"

"No…we weren't close," Chase replies simply. "Jimmy stopped by at lunch today."

Very guarded…even now he's still so secretive about his past and his family. From what he's told me his father was unkind and sometimes uncaring in his words but…but that couldn't have been all the time. Could it? Every. Single. Day? That's…that's just wrong. He'll open up, but on his terms, House's brain further reminds him. Don't press the issue right now.

"How's Jimmy?"

"Good. He had to work on the weekend. I told him about the beach and he said he'd like to go sometime."

"Well maybe tonight we can go down into the parking lot and practice a few driving moves."

"That'd be great. Is insurance expensive?"

"Depends on the car and…and how many years of driving you have under your…belt. Right…you know, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. So what do you feel like for supper?"

"Pizza?" Chase retorts happily as they enter the elevator to go down.

"Didn't we have that last night?" House counters as Chase smiles and nods.

As they exit the elevator and head for the car, Chase can't help but wonder about House's question and then the silence when he answered briefly and then abruptly changed the subject. I have to learn to be better at that…Chase sighs as they get into the car. I…I don't want to talk about my family but maybe my short answers just arouse more suspicion. I hated my father…he hated me…I was a burden…something that just came along.

"It hurts to talk about the past," Chase mentions as they head for home.

House looks over with gently arched brows and then frowns.

"It um…wasn't happy and we weren't close, even after my mother passed away…especially after she passed."

"Okay. I didn't want to hurt you."

"You didn't," Chase replies in haste. He did…he adds silently as they near the apartment; but he wasn't about to add that to House, as far as Robert Chase was concerned as long as his father stays on the other side of the world they're as good as strangers. "Do you think Jimmy knows Kung-Fu?"

The rather amicable question makes House smirk and once again he knows Chase is changing the subject away from himself to deflect incoming or existing pain. So he plays along, asking if he's playing up to an Asian stereotype with them all being expert martial artists or Bruce Lee fans.

But as they exit the elevator and head for their apartment door, House's mind races with a new dilemma. He knows when Rowan Chase will be in town. He knows his curiosity about Robert Chase's sordid past won't just subside so easily. And he knows…almost for certain that he'll find his way over to that conference. However…the biggest dilemma would be – does he or does he not tell Robert. And he didn't tell him and the younger man finds out – would that destroy their fledging bond? Would he be the one responsible for destroying their would-be family destiny just to satisfy his own morbid curiosity?

Why the hell did I start digging into the past? What have I done?

A/N: Oh poor conflicted House! but lots of angsty fatherly/son moments, some happy and of course angsty. Had to get some Jimmy in there and of course some House/Wilson. But Wilson's right…House won't be able to just let Rowan go. So will House actually seek him out and will Chase find out? And what will happen once all worlds collide? Please let me know your thoughts via a review before you go and thanks so much!