Random

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: Sorry I haven't been back on this, but I've been so very busy! I got a writing commission, and it's been a little hectic. Hopefully I'll get this finished up fairly quickly. Then I might have another idea I could work on…that's if you guys haven't lost total faith in me to get anything done!

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"That structure is rife with temporal energy."

Peter was squinting at the house they were currently sitting out in front of. House wondered vaguely if anyone really used the word "rife" anymore.

House had managed to trigger the time disc, and – after a gut-wrenching trip through the time vortex – had arrived back on the Guardian's base somewhat worse for wear. Peter had been there to meet him; he'd listened to House's report intently, then had promptly called a meeting of all the other Time Guardians in the area.

That had been fun. Especially when Peter had confessed that they knew exactly who this "Chronos" bozo was.

Booth had a sour look on his face. The man was so obviously out of his depth, or else House was becoming way too jaded about all this shit. "How'd you find this place?" House asked.

The Feb grimaced. "We traced a call Allison made on her cell phone. Apparently this is her fiancé's house."

House's heart did something really odd, and he couldn't decide whether it was out of some sort of long-dead empathy or if he was really glad that this Allison's boyfriend had turned out to be involved. "Well, that's the place they held me in. Some guy calling himself Chronos. Although, unless Allison's got horrible taste, I don't think it was her soon-to-be ex."

"Alexander MacLean is quite a handsome man," Brennan answered, still looking somewhat surprised by Peter's existence.

"Yeah, I didn't think it was the taste thing."

"Just what are we facing here?" Booth demanded. "What the hell is going on?"

And now he was going to have to explain again. House stifled a sigh, then told them everything about his captivity, including the name that crazy bastard had called himself. He finished with his using the time disc, knowing that Peter would most likely tell the other two what he wanted them to know.

"So you know this Chronos guy," Booth said, turning to Peter after House was finished. "C'mon…spill."

Peter looked confused. "Spill what? I'm not holding anything that could possibly be spilled…"

"He means," Brennan answered, glancing at her partner, "that you should tell us what you know."

"Then why did he not say so?"

"Because…it's his way."

Booth rolled his eyes at his partner's response.

"I see." Peter paused. "No, I don't. However, it doesn't matter. I shall tell you what I know of Chronos, and you will know just how dangerous he is."

House leaned back in his seat, having heard the story before. He really wanted to see the Fed's and the Doctor's reactions to it, although he could probably imagine what it would be.

"We Time Guardians – Homo Superior Temporum – are the descendants of the Tomorrow People – Homo Superior," Peter began. "However, evolution can sometimes take blind paths to dead end mutations. As the Time Guardians were just beginning to emerge, another race branched off from ours – called Homo Superior Paradoxiem. They, too, were sensitive to time, as we are…however, instead of recognizing the order of time, this other race reveled in the chaos of the paradox."

"Is that what we're dealing with here?" Brennan asked. "Beings who create paradoxes?"

"Indeed, Dr. Brennan," Peter answered, smiling. "Dr. House said you were more intelligent than most Homo Sapiens."

"He's right, I am."

House grinned. No, no false modesty there at all. She almost reminded him of…him.

"The Randomers, is what we call them," Peter went on. "They travel the time lines, and randomly change small parts of history, in order to create a paradox."

"But this isn't doesn't seem like a random changes," Brennan argued. "Do these Randomers have a plan?"

"It's just one," House finally answered. "This Chronos jerk. He has help, from some sort of mechanical servant, but it's just him."

"We do not know his exact plan," Peter admitted. "However we can assume it's to cause as much havoc as he can, no matter the cost."

"Wait," Booth cut in, "are you saying this Chronos is the Incinerator Killer?"

"No," Peter answered. "He cannot kill, any more than I myself can."

"The robot thingy is the Killer," House said. "Chronos might not be able to kill, but he can send his little tin man out to do his dirty work for him. Plus, he's a coward."

"But what about Alexander MacLean?" Brennan wanted to know. "Where does he fit into this?"

"That, we do not know," the Time Guardian admitted. "All we do know is that Dr. House was held in that house, before he escaped using the time disc he'd been given."

That bothered House as well. That Allison's fiancé was somehow involved with Chronos and his creepy servant. And while he had this insane urge to laugh at the coincidence…no, wait. It couldn't be a coincidence.

"I think we're missing something," he spoke out loud.

That got all of them looking at him. And House always did like the attention.

"I'm willing to bet that this Alex chose Allison specifically…that he knew she was a Tomorrow Person."

Realization bloomed across Booth's face. "And he's the one who told Chronos where you were." Something flickered in his eyes, something that House thought might have been pain.

"Yeah, Allison probably mentioned it during pillow talk or something." That sounded a tad more spiteful than was warranted, but House didn't care.

"I seriously doubt that Allison would speak about you during the post-coital period – "

"Bones, that wasn't what he meant," Booth corrected her gently.

"Then why did he just say – "

"Did anyone ever tell you, you're way too literal?" House snapped.

"Well, there's no need to get snippy about it…"

"Bones!" Booth looked at her pointedly, and she snorted, crossing her arms across her chest.

"We should reconnoiter the house," Peter suggested, looking at all three as if expecting them to start up once more. "That way we may determine just how this Alexander MacLean is connected with Chronos."

"I do wonder one thing," Booth mused. "You said these Randomers usually change small things to create paradoxes, right?"

"I did, yes."

"Then just what is Chronos up to? Apparently he's creating super massive paradoxes…why?"

Peter frowned. "That is a valid question, Agent Booth. The paradoxes he is creating are causing the entire fabric of space/time to unravel. If another one happens while I'm here…I could very well vanish myself, and no one would know I even existed. As for Dr. House…he is the ultimate paradox, being dead and yet alive. It is something that the continuum cannot abide, and is constantly trying to reconcile."

"And I didn't do anything for it to not like me, either," House mock pouted. "But isn't it obvious? Chronos thinks he's some sort of god, so he can do whatever he wants. I think he gets a high off it, personally." He remembered how Chronos had been practically sniffing him.

"Like some sort of drug addict," Booth supposed.

"Like, that, yeah." That notion made House want to reach for his Vicodin, but he had no real idea how long he'd be traipsing about this alternate timeline and was running low. At least Peter and his friends had managed to find a replacement cane for him.

"It is possible, I suppose," Peter answered slowly. "Creating the paradoxes would stimulate the Randomer's brain, so yes…I could see where that would be a valid supposition."

"He was definitely interested in keeping me around," House said. "I must have been like the best fix in the universe to him."

"That is an apt analogy, Dr. House. Now, perhaps we should investigate the house, before its owner returns?"

All four got out of the vehicle. "The place is bound to be alarmed," Booth said as they walked up the driveway.

"I shall handle that," Peter said.

"Why did I know you were going to say that?"

Peter looked at him. "I don't know…why did you?"

The agent sighed. "Never mind. Let's just get this show on the road."

House had been certain Peter might comment about that as well, but the Time Guardian kept silent as they circled around the back of the large house. This MacLean guy must have been worth millions, he thought as they approached the back door. The place was practically a castle, with well-manicured grounds and kidney-shaped pool with its own water fountain…which was currently off with it being winter and all.

Peter made short work of the locks and alarm system, using his telekinesis. Seeing such a demonstration of power never ceased to amaze House, no matter how many times he'd witnessed it. He may have been jaded about a lot of things, but never that.

It made him miss his own timeline even more. House was determined to get it all back, and to do that they'd have to get this bastard Chronos and fix the damage done. If that were possible.

The interior of the house was just has palatial as the outside. The quartet found themselves in the kitchen, a large tile and chrome room with all the best amenities.

"The taint of the paradox is much stronger, now that we're inside," Peter reported, his pale eyes narrowing.

"Can you trace it?" Booth asked quietly. He had his gun drawn, held in both hands and pointed toward the ground.

"I believe I can…"

"I was being held somewhere dark and dank," House added. "By the looks of this place, it could've been a dungeon."

"Yes, the strongest emanations are coming from below us," the Time Guardian confirmed.

"Then…it's the basement." Booth took the lead, as they searched for the access to the home's basement.

Brennan found it, after a few minutes searching. It was a non-descript door, just off the laundry room, and once opened it led down some darkened stairs.

Booth took point, his weapon aimed down into the darkness. "I'm going to go and check it out. The rest of you stay up here."

"Not likely," House sorted. "Been down there before, remember?"

"I'm certainly not staying," Brennan added.

"And you may need me, Agent Booth," Peter said. "There could be temporal traps down there that I may be able to sense."

Booth let out a long suffering sigh. "Then you all just stay behind me, okay?"

He took the steps down, and the rest followed him. House was getting edgy, even though he'd been down there in the basement earlier. He honestly didn't think they'd find Chronos there; after all, if he had to judge he would've said the would-be "god" would have high-tailed it out of there once House had escaped. There had been that look in Chronos's eyes, the one that House had sworn had been fear.

Chronos was afraid of the Time Guardians. Of that, House had no doubt.

Booth flipped on the lights as soon as they all descended. In that brightness was revealed a finished basement, complete with pool table and wet bar. There was no sign of the dungeon-like area that House had been held in.

"Looks like a typical rich guy's basement to me," the Fed commented. But he didn't holster his gun.

Peter had a pinched look on his pale face. "There…is much disturbance here," he murmured. "The place is not what it seems."

"Why does this not surprise me?" Booth muttered. "Whatcha sensing, Edgar Cayce?"

"I don't know what that means," Brennan said.

Apparently, Peter did understand the reference to the infamous psychic, because he said, "I…believe this is some sort of illusion. We are meant to see this room as normal, when it is not."

"So…get out you magic wand and dispel the illusion!"

"I…cannot, Agent Booth. It is not within my power."

"So…what can you tell us?" House asked, trying to keep his own irritation in check.

Peter cast about the room, his fingers twitching as if he were trying to grab something. "The paradox in this room…it's almost overwhelming. It is as if…ah. Of course. This entire room is cloaked in paradox energy. That is why I'm having difficulty penetrating its defenses."

House had to admit, the room was making his own fingers tingle. There was something about it, something he couldn't figure out…oh, he was being stupid. "I'm a paradox, right?"

"That is correct…ah, I see what you're suggesting. It might work."

"Mind sharing with the regular humans here?" Booth requested sharply.

"What Dr. House has in mind," Peter answered, "is to use the power of his own paradox to short circuit the energy keeping this room intact."

"Problem is," House admitted, "I don't know how to tap into it."

"I may be able to help you with that," the Guardian replied.

Once again, Peter began to move about the basement, searching for something House couldn't see. Yet, he knew what it was; the nexus of the energy that permeated the room.

Eventually, Peter stopped before what looked like an air conditioner thermostat, attached to the wall. "I believe this is what we're looking for."

"Then let's do this." House limped over to join him.

"There is something you should know, before attempting this," the Time Guardian warned. "The very energy that is keeping you here, is what you are going to be using to disrupt the paradox of this room. There is a very real danger that, in doing so, your very existence will be disrupted as well."

House swallowed. His entire mission had been to bring back his own timeline; there had been the very real chance that he wouldn't be returning to it. He thought about all those gone now: John, and Tim, and James Wilson, and those he'd known in his life, the ones he could call friends. And then there was Allison: his own Cameron, the one he cared for and fought for and wanted back with everything within him. She was out there, somewhere…and he wanted to get back to her.

And here he was. About to risk his existence to do just that.

He realized he wasn't afraid. "Tell me what to do."

Peter looked at him closely, then nodded. "Place your hand on the spot. And Dr. House…thank you."

House shrugged. "It hasn't worked yet."

"However…thank you."

The thermostat felt cold under House's fingers, but there was a strange tingle that ran along his nerves as if his hand had fallen asleep. "Now what?"

He barely got the words out, when the tingling turned into a burning that ran down his arm and into his chest. House gasped, but kept his hand firmly on the fake thermostat.

The heat grew, and his heart began to beat out of rhythm. If House hadn't already been used to pain, he would have snatched his hand away as quickly as possible.

House couldn't breathe. The heat was almost intolerable. It was a supreme act of will to keep holding on, as his heart beat even more erratically.

A sudden snap threw him backward, and House hit the floor, hard. His vision was blurring as he went into cardiac arrest…