Chapter 38

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"What!" An irate House opened the door to see Chase standing before him

"How come you're not with Dr Wilson?" Chase asked curtly

"As my employee that is none of your business"

House went to slam the door in Chase's face. However, Chase refused to be got rid of that easily. He slipped his foot in between the gap in the doorway. Infuriated House stamped his cane on it. He winced but still didn't move.

House gave up and led Chase inside.

"I take it there are rumours going around?" House handed Chase a beer

"Nothing I didn't already know"

It felt weird talking to House in such a casual fashion. House never spent any social time with any of his lackeys. Actually, Chase was willing to bet that, other than Wilson (and possibly a few hookers); he was the first person to actually set foot inside House's home since Stacey.

"What do you mean nothing you didn't already know?"

The little aussie turned a bright pink that highlighted his blonde hair. It was confession time and House wasn't going to like what Chase was about to say. Still at least it would be harder to fire him.

"Three weeks ago you bet me four hours of clinic duty that you could fix our patient by the end of the day. I lost the bet and sleepy girl lived. When I came down to do my time I heard you in there with Wilson..."

He was fortunately interrupted by a white aging scruff ball jumping up at House's legs. House lifted the scruff ball onto his lap and gave it a vicodin. His rough fingers stroking it affectionately.

"What's that?" Chase cast a wary eye at the thing on House's lap

"Hector. He's Wilson's child" House's voice was only partially mocking

"Right...are you going to see Wilson?" Chase asked quietly

"I'll have to. For the time being we still work together" House focused his eyes on Hector

"What do you mean, for the time being?" Chase tensed

"You know the rules"

Chase couldn't believe what he was hearing. House and Wilson were the two best doctors in the hospital. They were outstanding Heads of department as their traits worked perfectly for their speciality. Wilson was kind and knew how to soothe people who were feeling frightened and alone. House was ruthless and thought out of the box to reveal even the sneakiest disease.

"They can't fire you!" Chase hissed outraged

"They can. Most of them can't wait for the chance to get rid of me. Honestly if it weren't for my annoying habit of saving lives I'd be long gone" he laughed without humour

"Exactly. You save lives no one wants you gone!" Chase countered

"Is that coming from sex with Cameron or pity from you?" House smirked

Crap! How did House no he was sleeping with Cameron? Maybe she was right, maybe House was in denial of his true feelings for her. But House didn't look jealous. He was just giving Chase a look of enjoyment as the young doctor became sufficiently embarrassed.

"How did you know I'm sleeping with Cameron?" Chase stared blankly

"I didn't think it was a coincidence that you started smelling of Cameron's strawberry scented soap since last month"

Chase had thought they'd been really careful. He had been proud that he was keeping something private and House didn't know. He should have known better than to think he could pull the wool over House's eyes.

"You can't go. We need you here to help us with this case and the next one and the next one. You're needed" Chase pushed forcefully

He refused to give up on his boss. House kept a distance from everyone and drove the world crazy, just with his existence. Chase was pretty sure that even God puzzled over what made him tick. However, after working for just over a year with House you were forced to warm to him. You couldn't help it.

"Our current patient is from Montana. He hunted foxes. Those masses in his chest are not tumours. They're parasitic cysts from a bug called equinococosis. Touch a dead fox, they jump aboard, they can hunker down for decades - growing, spawning, shopping, putting on plays, you get the idea. The cysts isolated the parasites, keeping them from showing up in stool samples and blood tests. That's why we nearly missed it"

Even in the middle of his own drama House could still solve even the most impossible cases. Despite his constant complaints about meeting patients because they were only a puzzle, Chase knew it was a lie. House genuinely cared. It was impossible to be as good as he was and not care.

"That's exactly why we need you here. Do you think we could have figured that out?" Chase persisted

"Probably not but the cold hard truth is that even if they don't fire Wilson, they will fire me" House smiled bitterly

"It will always be your department whether you're there or not. That's not coming out of pity or sex with Cameron. This is coming out of respect and admiration for everything you have done and are willing to do for people. You can't let people slip through the cracks. You're someone who will always do the right thing. I am honoured to work for you"