Title: Fight for the Future
Chapter 28 – Family Comes First
A/N: Another special thanks to those without accounts Bocco (ah okay yes RL got it but glad you're still with me!), Rei, Shooting2stars and another guest. I can't thank you all personally but I do so much appreciate your time to read and review so wanted you to know! And to the rest I also so much appreciate your reviews and am able to thank you personally due to your accounts. So all please do review the aftermath of Marcy!
Some would say it was highly uncharacteristic of the usually emotionally closed off and hard-hearted doctor to show such heartfelt emotion toward the younger man in a public setting, but after almost a year of having firmly cemented Robert Chase in his mind and heart as his very own flesh and blood, the public displays were almost a given; in fact he would have been called on his cold callousness if he merely allowed Robert Chase to lie on the floor, fighting for his life and not say or do anything.
"Bruno…where's Marcy?" House asks again as the medics try to bodily push him out of the way to tend to Chase.
"She…"
"Where!" House demands angrily, his mind wanting nothing more than to march right up to her and punch her in the face. And then he'd demand to be alone with her for a few minutes and…kill her? I know you want to but you're not a murderer. Think of Robert…you can't…she doesn't deserve to live! You still can't just outright kill her.
But before Bruno can answer, one of the medic's looks down at Chase's slightly convulsing frame and diverts all their attention downward.
"He's crashing!"
"Robert!"
"Sir…move!"
"Please…help my boy," House pleads almost rhetorically at the two medics tending to Chase. His hand remains clasped with Chase's, his frame refusing to move out of the way.
"House…" Wilson whispers as he tries to pull him back; House's eyes fixed back down on Chase as his lips start to gasp for air.
"He's going back into asphyxia!" House shouts as one of the medics look at him in shock. House quickly tells the two medics what Chase is allergic to and the fact he had to give him two shots.
"Okay…he's stabilizing," one of them utters with a small sigh of relief as he reaches for a breathing tube to keep his airways open for the ride back to the hospital.
"Sir, we need to get him ready for transport."
"Okay," House replies softly as he is finally forced to step back and watch the medics work on his boy; Chase's eyes closed but his chest slowly moving up and down, signaling to House that he would pull through – after some urgent and tender medical care.
"You take him to Princeton Plainsboro and only to Dr. Chan," House instructs as he pulls his phone and sends Dr. Chan an urgent text. After that he turns his attention back to Bruno. "Bruno…where the hell is Marcy?"
"She's uh…" Bruno starts with a brief stammer before he looks down at Chase's floundering frame and quickly swallows as he looks back up. "She's dead."
"What? How?"
"She um…she fell."
"Fell?"
"What do you mean fell?" Wilson chimes in as House turns back to Chase momentarily.
"Careful with his heart," House warns the medics. "He needs…oh damn did you take your meds today?" House asks Chase, hoping Chase will open his watery eyes and look at him. "Robert…can you hear me?"
Meds…did I take…my meds? Did I take…my meds?...did….no…no I didn't! Chase's brain forces his eyes to slowly open and he looks up at House and although he's unable to talk through the mask he shakes his head 'no'.
"No. He needs…Wilson…"
"I heard. I'll go to the apartment right now and meet you at the hospital. Someone better tell me about Marcy!" Wilson shouts as he hurries from the room; House looking at Bruno as the medics ready Chase for transport.
"Fell from where?" House asks with gritted teeth.
"The roof."
"What? What happened?"
"Well…" Bruno's mind thinks back to when he got the frantic call from Wilson about ten minutes ago.
'Bruno, Marcy's on her way down to you! Stop her and hold her for the police!' His mind recalls the urgent call. He had reached the lobby of the recording studio just as Marcy had bolted.
'HOLD IT!' He had called out to her. She had no gun or knife so turned and raced toward the back exit stairwell. But as soon as she had entered, she heard the voices of an officer at the bottom calling up; forcing Marcy to panic and race upward – toward the roof. She had figured there would be an outside metal fire escape or even a building close enough for her to jump across to and get away. That was her plan.
But despite his larger size, Bruno was driven on by his own personal revenge for Marcy staging an attack on his mother and making him leave his friend and his friend nearly dying. He reaches the top close on Marcy's heels and calls out to her. She nears the edge but stumbles just as Bruno had picked up something he found on the ground and thrown it at her feet. She let out a cry as she stumbled toward the ledge of the roof; Bruno closing ground just as she started to go over. His hand reached out and…
"And…she fell," he replies with a small frown. "I guess I didn't get to her in time. I'm sorry Dr. House. I know you wanted to talk to her or…she fell."
"Good riddance," House mutters under his breath just as Jeremy and Bruno's cousin show up. "Tell them what happened to her," he instructs Bruno; pausing as he turns to leave. "You're a good man Bruno," House whispers as his hand rests on his shoulder. "Thank you."
"For Robert," Bruno nods as House nods in return and then hurries after the stretcher as it's wheeled toward the waiting elevator.
House's eyes remain fixed on Chase's placid frame as the elevator slowly heads for the ground level and then into the waiting ambulance. On the ride to PPTH, House's hand once again grasps Chase's cool limb, his stomach tight and his mind racing that Chase's heart had already suffered so much and it might actually give way. Hurry Wilson…my boy needs those meds…he worries about giving him the med so soon after taking the shots of epinephrine and had already alerted Dr. Chan to their current plight.
House looks down at the strawberry stains on Chase's tee shirt and then tries to pluck a sticky piece from his matted hair and feels his teeth grit once more. Blood stains on his nose and mouth, dark circles under his baggy eyes and his skin still flushed but clammy. Shock…my precious boy is still in shock…from nearly DYING!
Chase's eyes slightly flutter and his body gently convulses as another painful shockwave traverses his system, forcing the monitors inside the ambulance to go wild.
House doesn't have to ask what's happening as he knows, his boy's weary frame is trying desperately to combat whatever else is in his system and wreaking havoc with his internal organs – especially his beleaguered heart.
"Hold on Robert," House whispers as his grasp around Chase's cool hand tightens, his eyes wanting to water when they don't get any desired response. As much as he wants to tend to Chase's personal grooming, House resigns himself to the fact that he can tend to that later; right now Chase needs his physical comfort and reassurance.
"His breathing is pretty labored. Was he hit in the chest with something?"
"The truth," House mutters as the medic arches his brows. "I think he might have been hit but I don't know with what," he adds quietly as his phone buzzes.
'Got the meds and waiting in the ER with our fave doc.-Wilson'
"Thank God," House whispers in earnest as the ambulance stops right outside the ER doors at PPTH. "Hurry up now!" House's tired voice snaps at the medics who merely shake their heads and carry on with their duties as normal. He hurries after the stretcher as fast as he can go; the medics not caring about waiting for the overly concerned doctor as the man in their grasp was still fighting for his life and House would have to wait outside.
"Dr. House…"
"Wilson told you what happened?"
"He did," Dr. Chan nods as he directs the medics. "You know I'll work best without you hovering over him or me."
"Just save my boy."
Dr. Chan nods and then turns and disappears into the ER operating room as Wilson hurries up to House's side.
"Wilson…"
"He's going to be okay. Dr. Chan is the best because you hand picked him to work on Robert and you wouldn't just entrust his life to anyone. He'll be okay. Now…what happened to Marcy?"
"She fell off the roof."
"Ouch," Wilson's face crunches as he looks at House in disbelief. "You…saw her fell?"
"Bruno told me. Police on the ground saw her fall. He didn't push her. She's gone and that's all that matters. She'll never hurt another human being," his voice pauses as he looks through the glass window into the busy ER operating area, "just for fun. I wish I had thrown her off!"
"At least she's gone. Now everyone can have peace. Did you tell Detective Secord?"
"Jeremy's still at the scene, I'm assuming he did," House replies with a heavy sigh.
"Okay, well I'll be back with another overnight bag."
House gives Wilson a nod and then watches him leave before he once again slips into the room and stands back to watch Dr. Chan working on Chase. After what seems like a small eternity, Dr. Chan walks up to House with a strained expression and some news.
"How's his heart?" House asks in haste as he looks at Dr. Chan's expression. "It's bad right? How bad?"
"His heart sustained some real strain. For a brief moment I thought there was a tear in the left ventricle but it was just some bruising. He's been through a lot and toxins from the strawberries and…" Dr. Chan's voice trails off as House slowly pulls away and heads back to Chase's bedside, looking down as Dr. Chan's nurse affixes the breathing apparatus in Chase's mouth.
"I know this is hard but with the care you'll give him, he should be back to…."
"Normal?"
"His heart will never be fully normal. You know that Dr. House. But if hearing me say it makes me the bad guy instead of you then so be it."
"You're not the bad guy. The real bad guy…or girl is dead," House whispers with a small huff. "And the allergens?"
"We'll need to flush his system for the next twenty-four hours. I'm not going to give him any further medication for at least twenty-four hours and then I'll give him a half dosage in liquid form. After twenty-four hours if there are no further internal complications he'll be back on his regular dosage."
"Will um…will he need new or more medication?"
"It won't be necessary. But who knows what'll be in a year's time."
"I just want so much for him. Tell me…will he surf again?"
"He'll have to be careful with any further adrenaline rushes for the rest of his life. And I'd say he'll have to wait a few months at least. I know he'll get the best care from you but you know as well as me that we can't work miracles."
"At least I have him. I'll make him take up shuffleboard," House lightly quips as Dr. Chan pats him on the back.
"I'll let you tend to his aftercare."
House watches Dr. Chan leave and then waits for the nurse to leave before he takes Chase's cool hand in his and grasps it tightly. He looks down at Chase's face and lets his mind drift back to the time when he came into Chase's room right after he was stabbed in the heart almost one year ago. When he first tended to Chase in the hospital and in his own home, it was mostly perfunctory at first. Now…it was personal.
"My boy," House whispers as he leans in closer. He looks at a cut on Chase's forehead as a frown of concern instantly grows. But as he lingers around the top of Chase's head, his senses start to pick up the odor of death – strawberries! Chase's usual musky smell was gone and the reminder of Marcy was still on him.
"Have to get that out of his hair," House talks to himself as he reaches for a pair of gloves and a soft washcloth. He wets it and then starts to very gently clean the sticky fruit gunk out of Chase's dirty blond locks. "Can't have my boy smelling like…that thing," House's words end with a slight hiss as he pauses in his actions. His fists tighten and he's not sure if Chase's body flinched at his firmer touch or it was something else.
"You just need to relax my boy," House's fingers trail down from the top of Chase's head and rest on his still clammy cheek. He notices the dark circles under Chase's eyes and the dried bits of blood seem to almost glow against his paler skin; his eyes lifting to look at the saline flushing solution. His mind hears Chase calling out to him in agony and his throat sizes as his own heart starts to ache.
"I'm glad she's dead," House states with contempt as his hand rests on Chase's head and gives it a gentle caress before he reaches for another damp cloth – this one a bit warmer and used to very tenderly clean away the dirty sweat bits and dried crimson spots around his mouth and nose.
He looks at the discarded tee-shirt in the waste bag and once again feels his jaw grit as his eyes linger on the strawberry stains and once again hears Chase calling out to him…father…at the scene a few hours earlier he thought he had heard Chase use that even more affectionate term; a lot more personal than just dad. But…maybe I just wanted to hear it…did he actually say it? Did Robert call me father?
House's attention turns back to Chase just as the monitor slightly jumps; something that Dr. Chan said would happen over the next few hours at least and to only panic if they didn't subside a few moments later. "Come back to me my boy."
Father…it's dark in here…I don't like the dark…help me! Chase's mind wages an inner battle forcing his monitors to jump and cause House more external anxiety. Am I safe? Father…tell me…am I safe? You're safe….chase's mind hears House trying to call back to him – the threat was gone and he was safe, really safe. You need to just rest now…House is here….father is here…you're in the best of care…relax and come back to him.
"Shhh now my boy," House tries to soothe Chase as the monitors jump once more. "She's gone and you're safe. Just relax now. Let your heart rest. Please…just let it rest."
My heart…was it damaged further?...will I be able to surf again? Will I….
House notices the monitors starting to jump once more and thinks about calling Dr. Chan just in case. "Robert, please hear my voice. You are fine. Everything is fine. You need to just relax now. Breathe…just breathe normally my boy," he pleads as Chase's eyes gently flutter but don't open; his body tensing before slumping back down.
I'm okay? …. I'm okay. House wouldn't lie…I just need to rest…rest…rest.
House's whole body exhales when the monitors settle, his hand still grasping Chase's. "That's it…just relax now. Your system needs to rest and let the saline flush out the allergens. Nearly lost you," his voice finally cracks as his eyes water and his tone drops. "But you're still here and you'll be okay. I promise."
Chase's mind settles with House's loving words and his body starts to untense in House's grasp; signaling to House that he was hearing his father's words and starting to believe them.
Not wanting to leave Chase's side for a second, House pulls up a chair and settles in beside his boy. He looks at the breathing tube in his mouth and had a first wanted to scold Dr. Chan for putting it in and further bruising Chase's lips but knows that Dr. Chan would only do what was in the best interests of Chase's internal healing; a few small cuts and bruises around the lips would heal without incident.
He looks up at the monitors; his gaze pulling away only when he sees a face appear.
"Hey Dr. House," Bruno enters with a soft whisper; heading toward House and giving him a slight hug. "How is he?"
"He's going to be fine."
"Why does he have the breathing tube?"
"It's only for a few hours. The anaphylaxia did a number on his throat so this will um…it'll hurt less."
"I gotta get home to my momma but I wanted to stop by and make sure Robert was okay. Can I come by tomorrow?"
"You don't have to ask."
"Dr. House if it wasn't for me…"
"No. Marcy was to blame. She knew what would make you leave him – attacking your mother. It was cold and calculated just like she was. It was a means to an end, nothing more. But you are not to blame. How is your mother?"
"She suffered a bruise to her leg from the flying brick but she's okay. Dr. House…"
"Bruno you're a good man and you're my boys best friend. You're not to blame here okay? We'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay," Bruno replies with a smile, giving House another small hug – this one mostly out of his personal relief. He had blamed himself the moment he got back to the hospital and knew Chase wasn't there. But all had thankfully been remedied in the end. Marcy was gone and in his mind…he'd sleep very well. Now…they all would. You messed with the wrong family bitch, is the last thought Bruno's mind leaves before he disappears outside and heads for home.
House ponders Bruno's words and Marcy's actions as he heads back to Chase's bedside and sits back down. He looks at his boy's pale and slightly discolored skin and frowns. It was all business to her…she only wanted the money…it wasn't personal…but that's where she was wrong – in the end dead wrong. It was personal. To House it was very personal. And it makes him sad to think that if he and Chase weren't as close as they were, Chase might have believed her lies and she'd have gotten away literally with murder.
"It was personal," House's lips mutter a few seconds before Chase's body gently convulses once more. He quickly grasps Chase's cool hand once more, this time relieved as he feels some warmth emanating from the skin as their touch lingers. "Just rest easy my boy…just rest easy."
Chase's eyes flutter but once again don't fully open and then his body goes quiet, signaling to House that he wasn't coming around just yet and therefore wouldn't start to choke on the breathing tube fixed into his mouth. Dr. Chan had told House that he gave Chase a mild sedative, one that was heart friendly and that would help his body just relax and give his racing heart a bit of a break; especially after all he'd been through.
"House."
House pulls himself from his thoughtful stupor and looks up as Wilson enters with a knapsack in his grasp.
"How is he?"
"Resting."
"What did Dr. Chan say?" Wilson asks as House stands up to take the bag.
"There was some…damage to his heart," House relates in a soft whisper as he leans in close.
"What?"
"He'll be okay," House pulls back with a nod as he takes the bag. "Bruno just left."
"How is he? I know he said he felt pretty guilty over what happened."
"He told me that too, but I reminded him it wasn't his fault. It was Marcy's."
"Boy…she was something else."
"And not in a good way," House retorts sourly.
"Secord called and so did Jeremy. I told them Chase would be okay and they could drop by tomorrow if they wanted. If you don't want…"
"I'll make sure my boy is presentable," House affirms as they both look down at Chase's sleeping frame. "He'll be off the tube tomorrow. Just tell them to come in the late afternoon."
"Got it," Wilson agrees.
The two of them talk a bit longer before its time for Wilson to take his leave; House alone with Chase once more. Since Chase was still had the breathing apparatus hooked up, he had to remain in the semi-private ER area. It was curtained off but with all the ER commotion going on outside the paper-thin walls. It was a wonder to House that Chase could even sleep with all that going on around him. He'd come off the breathing tube in hopefully a few hours, then remain in the hospital for at least a day until all the toxins were flushed from his system and then sent home to finish up the rest of his recovery in an environment more conducive to healing – home.
"Okay my boy," House whispers as he gently moves Chase's pillow a bit higher. "The nurses don't know you like your pillow a bit higher. I do. I've watched you at sleep. I hope you don't find that creepy but it brings me comfort when I see you at rest. So peaceful and somewhat vulnerable. Makes me want to protect you even more…like a father should," House mutters mostly to himself. He then puts on another blanket and pulls it up to Chase's shoulders, wanting to help his beleaguered body build and retain as much natural heat as possible.
After that he arranges the sleeping chair beside Chase's bed and tries to settle down. But as soon as he closes his eyes, he's taken back into that room where he found Chase helplessly in Marcy's clutches and his eyes widening in horror as she plunged the poison into his system. FATHER HELP ME! Chase's voice calls out, jerking him back fully awake.
He looks over at Chase's heart monitor and feels his own heart sink – he'll always have to be careful. I'm sorry. It wasn't the news he had wanted or even hoped for his boy but as he had told Dr. Chan in truth, it was better than the alternative – not having him at all.
House settles back down in the hopes of getting some rest but knows that his mind won't find too much peace and he doubts Chase's will either. And he'd be right.
Hope you said goodbye to House…he'll never find you in time…he failed to save you…FAILED! Chase's mind shows him distorted images of his kidnapping and capture. He hears Marcy's merciless taunts and how in his own mind he did fear that she'd get the last laugh and House would find him dead.
He watches himself tied to the chair, trying in vain to pull himself free before he's doused with deadly strawberry juice. He tries to call out to House but can't, words won't escape the tape over his mouth. He tries to get up and run but is once again prevented by the tight bonds. The fluids engulf him…smothering him…choking the life from him until he hears Marcy's last laugh and then plunges into darkness.
Told you Dr. House would FAIL!
"mmmmmmmmmmmph!"
This time Chase's thrashing pulls House from another morbid nightmare. He flips on the light to see Chase looking up with wide watery eyes – panic easily being displayed.
"mmmmmmmmmmph!"
"Shh hold on now my boy I'll remove the breathing tube," House tries to get Chase to settle as his throat starts to constrict from the feeling of the large breathing apparatus now currently gagging him.
House is here…just…try to calm down…relax…breathe in…out…shhh…relax…
Chase's frame settles as House gently pulls the tube from his lips and then deposits it into the waste receptacle. "Ne…ed…"
"Shhh now Robert," House instructs in a warm tone as he gently dabs a few would-be tears from the corners of Chase's eyes. "You need to calm down to give your heart a bit of a break."
"Wh…ere…is…"
"Marcy is dead. She can no longer hurt you or me or anyone. Now you need to just rest," House instructs once more as he pushes back some of Chase's matted hair and feels his forehead. "You're warm but now a bit too warm."
"My…hea…rt…"
"Hmm think you better stop talking or we'll both get in trouble," House lightly quips as he gently pushes his finger against Chase's flushed lips. "Shh now my boy. Your heart sustained some bruising and trauma but you'll be fine."
"Me…ds…"
"I know. Dr. Chan is the best there is and you know I'd never let just anyone tend to you. Except me of course. You're stuck with me."
"Good," Chase manages with one coherent breath, his whispered word making House smile.
"But now I need you to close those pretty blue eyes and just rest," House smirks as Chase tries to swallow and nod. "I'll get some fresh oxygen brought to you and that'll help keep your lungs moist and take some strain off your chest. I'm not leaving you okay? I'll be here until we go home together."
"Tired."
"I know you are bu…"
"No…you," Chase whispers hoarsely as he looks up with an adoring glance.
"I am tired but there is nowhere else I'd rather be right now than here tending to my son."
Son…the term was so full of affection and honest truth that in that moment his eyes flood with happy tears and his heart skips a painful but happy beat.
"Thank…you…" Chase starts just as House leans to whisper goodnight but pauses when Chase adds, "father."
A/N: So anyone really sorry that Marcy is gone? Her fate had been decided and well…while House did want to have one last go at her but I think Bruno won't lose any sleep over this. And poor House and Chase. But at least Chase woke up long enough for House to hear the affectionate sentiment from his boy. Please do review before you go and thanks so much!
