Wilson opened the door. "House, it's time to get up. You want me to pick you up, then you have to be up and ready when I get here."
House mumbled something and dragged his pillow over his head. Chase carefully moved his legs to the side, and sat on the edge of the bed. He'd not taken the brace off, so at least he had that going for him.
But sitting on the side of the bed, he felt slightly dizzy. "Whoa... Chase?" Wilson had his hands on his shoulders. "You doing all right there?"
He'd been listing to the side and Chase gave a slight nod. "Yeah yeah... just... light-headed."
"It's a side effect of one of the medications. His blood pressure is lowered, when he sat up..." House was speaking from under the pillow. "It'll go away, eventually. What time is it?"
"Time for us to get to work. And to drop him off at Rehab." Wilson said.
"Mummmmm..." Chase whined. "I dun't wanna go to school today. I wanna stay home and make biscuits with you."
House snorted and chuckled under the pillow. "Damn you. You beat me to it."
"Being up-right and more awake does that for your timing." Chase told him while Wilson grabbed Chase some clean clothes.
"You didn't even put him in PJs?" Wilson asked.
House uncovered himself, revealing he was still fully dressed as well. Wilson sighed. "Why do I bother?"
"We have no idea." House grabbed his cane and grabbed a clean shirt. "But you wouldn't be you, if you didn't try."
He pulled off the old shirt, and almost threw it on the floor, but at the last moment went into the bathroom and threw it into a hamper there. He returned with the new shirt on and said. "I'm ready."
Wilson groaned and shook his head while Chase chuckled. He pulled off his own shirt, put the clean one on, and then ran into a problem with the jeans. House came over and asked, "Are you able to bear weight yet? Or do you fold like a slinky?"
"I... bear weight for a moment and then I fold like a slinky." Chase admitted reluctantly.
"Well then, we work with the moment. Wilson, play statue. Chase, pull yourself up gently... Wilson you make sure he doesn't fall and then slip them off your hips, sit back down, slide them all the way off. Slide the other up to about your thighs, get up again... pull them up... sit down and then fasten them. A few more times, you'll master your timing. If you don't... you're going to have a lot of bruises on your ass that, I'm just not going to be the one to explain."
Chase rolled his eyes, but did as House instructed only having a couple of false starts in accomplishing it. It was surprisingly easy, doing it as he'd described. He found he actually had time to spare before his legs gave up on him.
Then the transfer to the chair, and then the shoes slipped on. Velcro was currently his friend. Wilson brought Chase his coat and House rolled his eyes and shook his head a little before walking ahead of them to the car. He looked from one side to the other, then went around the edge of the building. Chase was in the chair watching Wilson try to figure out how to get him down without dropping him out of the chair when he saw House come back, holding a large thick metal lid. He threw it down with a loud clang on the stoop and then lowered himself to sit on the edge of it. Wilson hesitated a moment and then he eased down the makeshift ramp. Once he was down, House stood up, picked it up and disappeared around the side of the building once more.
"What was that?" Wilson asked.
"A ramp. We learn about those in High School. Did you sleep during that class?" House asked, opening the door and the sitting down.
"No, I meant where did it come from and what was it before it was a ramp." Wilson said, folding up the chair and then putting it in the trunk.
"It is multi-purpose. By night it is a dumpster lid. By day a ramp! It's a superhero! Have some respect! We'll paint a giant S on it later." House yawned. "Coffee."
Wilson agreed, and silently so did Chase. But when they got to the drive thru, House ordered for him. Fruit salad? Not that Chase didn't like it. But he didn't like that House didn't ask. "What if I had wanted a breakfast burrito? Or pancakes? And you ordered me orange juice?"
"Not my fault. It was the only thing on the menu that is compliant with your diet." House handed the things back to him, and then opened the medicine bottles, handing him back the pills he had to take. Chase blinked at him and tilted his chin up. "Maybe I wasn't hungry and just wanted tea?"
"Maybe you can dry swallow those and starve." House told him, turning around.
Chase used the juice, but only ate half the fruit salad. House's backpack was in the back with him, so he quietly slid pieces of melon into one of the smaller pockets. He put the garbage in the bag they all came with and smiled to himself.
At the hospital, House hung a small sign on Wilson's mirror so he could park in his spot and then got out.
"Dr. Chase, Dr. House... Dr. Wilson." Cuddy greeted. "You're all, almost, on time. Or rather House and Wilson are. Dr. Chase, you're not supposed to be here, are you?"
"Rehabilitation." Wilson explained. "We're just going to drop him off, and then get to work. I have clinic this morning. House this afternoon."
Chase took on a little boy voice and said. "And deen dey come pick me up at Daycare and we get ta make bisccies and choco." He batted his eyes. "And if I'm a good boy, I get a sticker!"
She looked down at Chase and raised a brow. "You have been around House far too long."
"There people go again, blaming me. The man is a smart ass on his own. He doesn't need my help." House assured. "Now, run him up to Daycare before the teacher gives him a demerit for being late. Otherwise, he won't get any milk and cookies after naptime."
With that, House turned and made his way to a different elevator, his bag over his shoulder. Chase smiled to himself again, knowing that... the pocket he put the melon in was the same pocket he kept his gameboy.
With him gone, Cuddy turned back to Wilson and Chase, shoulders squared and a forced smile on her face. "I... wasn't aware you'd be returning to House's apartment."
"He is such good company, I couldn't resist his offer." Chase dead-panned. "I didn't want to go to an Assisted Living facility or a center or whatever else they are calling it these days. Nor did I want to go upstairs to live on the long-term care floor. I don't dare ask anyone I know. They may read too much into it, or I might strangle them."
"Meaning Dr. Cameron or Foreman?" Cuddy gave a small delicate wince.
"Pretty much, yes. She might read too much into it. Foreman I might strangle if exposed for too long. Or he might strangle me. It's kind of a toss up." He admitted. "He's not exactly the 'helper' type. Beyond work, that is."
She nodded and put a hand on his shoulder as she passed. "Well, if you need anything, please let me know. Even if it is to torture House with more Clinic hours for him being a..." She smiled and nodded her head, chuckling.
"I think I can handle myself." Chase said with a smile.
Wilson's phone rang. "Just a... hm... House?"
Chase could hear his name and House's raised voice on the other end, and he put his chin to his chest, trying not to laugh.
"Chase? Did you put... slimy melon in House's backpack?" Wilson asked incredulously.
"Maaaaybe... I might have confused the bag for the garbage and his backpack... in a moment of..." He smiled and shook his head. "Maybe."
Cuddy chuckled low in her throat. "I think I get what you mean, Dr. Chase. I shall leave you to it then!" She walked away, laughing quietly.
"House? Just wash the case off a little bit. It's fine." Wilson sighed. "Yes I will tell him." He shut the lid on the phone and looked down at Chase. "He says, I will get you for that! The war is on."
Chase grinned and was happy the entire elevator ride to Rehab.
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