Chase walked into the classroom and looked around. There were about 20 students in the room. All eyes fixed on the door. "Good Morning. I'm Dr. Robert Chase. Yes my father is Rowan Chase and mentioning anything about him will not get you a good grade in this class. Whatever Dr. Ferruso taught you before, I am not going to use. As you will learn soon enough, always do your own tests."
All eyes still were on him. So far so good. "Now, take out a piece of paper. I want your name, where you are from, state, country, and what you are specializing in and why. And your e mail address." He paused giving the students a moment to take out a piece of paper.
"Why am I qualified to teach a class on diagnosis?" Chase made his way into the room slowly, putting his messenger bag down on the desk in the front of the room. The prosthesis was bothering him today. Probably had something to do with the weather. But he tried not to let that bother him. "I've spent the past three years working with Dr. House here at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. I studied in Melbourne, Australia as an intesivist. I've been in the US for about 4 years now.
"This class meets once a week. Each week I will present a case. Throughout the week you will e mail me tests you would want to do. And I will answer you. Every week you will hand in a paper of what tests you did and why you came up with the diagnosis you did. My e mail is ." Chase paused again, this time turning around to write down his name and e mail on the white board behind him. He smiled as he uncapped the marker and started to write. This was his white board, and no one could touch his markers, he thought to himself.
"I still consult with Dr. House from time to time. If class is canceled I will e mail you." He turned back to the class.
"You will not be graded on correct diagnosis. You are going to be graded on how you go about diagnosing. I will e mail extra credit once in a while. There are 6 weeks left to the class so that is six cases. Any questions?"
Chase took a deep breath. Cuddy didn't call him for a reprimand yesterday, but to let him know they needed a teacher for a pre med class on diagnosing.
"What about House?" Was his first question.
"The class meets once a week on Mondays at 2:30 for 2 hours. House can learn to deal without you for 2 hours on that day."
"And what if we have a case?"
"That would be up to you. You could cancel class, or House will deal."
"Is this the class you were going to offer me before the accident?"
"No. But this might give you a chance to make your own name for yourself in the medical community. You have three years under Dr. House. That is more of a qualification in my book that being a doctor for 20 years. This seems like a good fit at a good time."
Cuddy paused and got up from her chair to sit in the chair next to Chase. "This is a really good opportunity. The school wants to start a program for diagnosing. If this class works out, there can be a chance for you to head the program. And if that is the case you would continue to work closely with House and this hospital.
"Besides, it would give you something to do, during downtime other than have to deal with Dr. Cameron. I think the two of you need some air, especially after what happened earlier."
"I am sorry about loosing my cool like that." Chase immediately said. "Can I think it over for a day and get back to you tomorrow?"
"That shouldn't be a problem." Cuddy answered, handing him a folder. "This will detail some of the benefits you will receive for teaching."
Chase had decided he needed to talk to someone to get their opinion on the matter. Not knowing who else to call, he called the Robertson's. They had been the ones who took him to the airport the night he left for Nevada. He invited them over for dinner that night with baby Chase.
Dinner was a nice simple affair with Bill basically telling him to take the job. As a middle school teacher, he loved working with students. "You'll be great with them. You were caring and calm during the accident, when all hell broke loose. Just use the same techniques in the classroom." He said.
"Besides its just for six weeks. You don't like it you don't have to do it again." Mary finished the point.
Chase nodded and continued to play with the baby, who wanted nothing but to be held by Chase all night.
He still hadn't spoken to Allison about last week. And if he didn't then it was okay too. Chase was sure that he would live a very happy life if he didn't speak to her again. He didn't need her to be happy. In therapy he had learned that if he wanted to live a happy life he needed to worry about himself and seek out people who wanted him to be happy, not wanted to use him to make themselves happy.
He broke out of his daze and looked around the room.
There was one hand raised. "Yes Miss?"
"Gilbert."
"Miss Gilbert?"
"I'm sorry to be so bold, but are you the doctor who was injured during the car accident 5 months ago with the school bus?"
Chase nodded, unsure of where this was going. Bill had warned him that sometimes students, no matter how old, ask odd questions.
"I want to thank you. My son was on that school bus. You saved his life."
"You will find as a doctor you will eventually just react to situations without putting too much thought into it. Especially during an emergency." He paused to get his bearings again. "Any other questions?"
This time no hands were raised. "Okay then. 16 year old male presents with a leg twitch and night terrors after being hit in the head in a lacrosse game. Where would you start?" Chase uncapped the dry erase marker in his hand again and turned to the white board behind him.
A/N: Well thats it. The last chapter. Thanks to everyone who read, and even more thanks to those who reviewed. Just a little history about this story. Originally Chase and Cameron were going to make up. One of the children from the car accident's parents worked in the catering hall that Chase and Cameron were going to marry. But after some comments from you great readers I realized it was too cliche and out of character with everything that was happening. So a very special thanks to all those reviewers who remarked on what a 'wonderful person' (sarcastic is me) Cameron was and how she should be taken care of. As for new work, no idea at the moment. I have studying in Italy in the summer, Student Teaching in the Fall, and a wedding to plan for next summer. But keep your eyes peeled, there are some started pieces in my 'Work in Progress' folder.