Chapter Thirteen:

Evie's throat felt raw, it was so painful and she couldn't remember why. Her head hurt as well. She could hear the scrapping of a pen.

"Mmmm," She moaned.

"Shh," The answer made Evie open her eyes. Dr. Lisa Cuddy was standing at the end of her bed smiling at her looking over a chart that was hanging on the end of her bed. Lisa made a pointing motion and Evie followed the line of sight and saw Chase's head on his arms on the side of her bed. He was fast asleep.

Suddenly it all came flooding back to her in massive waves of emotion. She couldn't breathe, it was after the wing ceremony, and she had been outside with Chase. She was sneezing then she couldn't breathe. She had blacked out…

She looked up at Cuddy as she moved closer to the side of Evie's bed.

"What happened?" Evie whispered hurriedly. "Last thing I remember was not being able to breathe…" She stared up at Dr. Cuddy.

"We actually aren't quite sure. We managed to keep you breathing using forceful CPR until the ambulance arrived. Nothing was blocking your airway that we could find," She looked at the chart. "We have run some tests to see if it was some sort of severe allergic reaction but currently we aren't finding anything." Cuddy looked back at Evie.

"My throat is really sore," Evie rubbed her neck wishing that it helped the pain. "Does that have something to do with it?"

"No, the paramedics checked to see it you were chocking and they couldn't find anything so the inserted and artificial airway." Evie stared blackly up at Cuddy. "A… a big plastic tube." Evie shivered involuntarily.

"And I was out cold through all of this?" She asked.

"We put you into a medicated coma before we attempted to insert the airway; it has been removed when you seemed capable to breathe on your own again."

"How did you know I could breathe again?" Evie asked uncertainly hoping they hadn't just guessed.

"You started coughing due to the airway." Cuddy said nodding. "You are here for another twenty four hours for observation, other wise all your vitals are good, and you seem perfectly healthy." Evie raised an eyebrow. "I know it seems just as strange to me."

"Where is Greg?" Evie asked.

"He just went to get some coffee; he has been here the whole time as well as him." Cuddy pointed a disapproving finger at him. "Adult patients technically aren't allowed visitors for overnight stays usually, but House called in some favors…" She smiled warmly. "I will go tell him you have woken up; he will want to see you."

Evie watched Dr. Cuddy leave. She sighed and leaned back on her pillows. She looked down at Chase. She felt a lot better knowing that he had been there all night…or for how ever long it had been, she glanced at Chase's watch…oh good it had only been a night. She gently moved her hand and very carefully moved his hair that had fallen into his eyes. He raised his eyebrow and sat up stretching. He glanced over at her and then looked back startled.

"You're awake!" He said smiling.

"Yup," She smiled weakly at him. He let out a long steady breathe. They just sat smiling at each other for a while not really knowing what to say. She could tell he was worried, he didn't need to say. "Um, could you please get me something to drink, my mouth is really dry."

"Sure!" He practically shot out of his seat. "I will be right back." He kissed her on the cheek and dashed out of the room. She got out of bed and stretched. She had noticed her leather back pack was on the ground next to the bathroom. She went over and picked it up. She went into the bathroom and started to look through her bag.

It was obvious House wasn't paying much attention when he threw together this make shift over night bag. She couldn't blame him he must have been very worried. But her stiletto's? Why on earth would she need them? Meh, she pulled out her clean p.j.'s which consisted of a pair of House's old sweat pants and Chase's old college tee shirt, and pulled them on. They were much more comfortable then the paper like Hospital issue robes. She washed her face and brushed her teeth and hair. She would just have to wait to go home to have her shower.

Chase was walking back to the room with a bottle of water in his hand. She was okay, it was a miracle. He had never felt more scared then he had felt that night, now everything was okay again. Then tomorrow at nine o'clock she would go home and everything would be back to normal.

He turned the corner to go back to Evie's room and he stopped. He could see through the windows of her room.

She was up…out of bed, in her normal p.j.'s talking to someone. Chase had never met him before, or even seen him before. He was tall and dark haired, it was longish and curly. Chase couldn't have been more different from this guy, unlike Chase's jeans, tee shirt and track jacket this guy was wearing a shirt and suit. He wasn't a doctor or he would have a lab coat. Evie was laughing. It was making Chase uneasily mad. Why was she laughing with this guy? Maybe he was bothering her!

She wasn't supposed to have visitors, Chase though this was bit rich coming from himself who had stayed with her all night breaking a lot of rules, but that didn't matter, he was her boyfriend. Who was this guy?

OH MY GOD! She was touching his arm; Chase seemed to lose all feeling in his legs. The guy was leaning down and he kissed Evie on the cheek! Evie hadn't screamed or pushed him off her. Chase started to feel rather ill, maybe he should sit down. The guy left Evie's room.

"So call me!" He shouted through the window. He walked right by Chase without looking at him. Evie was getting back into bed; she looked up and saw Chase standing there. A smile spread across her face and she waved at him.

He walked over to the room and stood in the doorway.

"Hey Hun thanks for the water." She smiled and reached for it. Chase didn't budge.

"Who was that?" He asked coldly pointing down the hall. Evie laughed, nothing was funny though.

"Oh, just a friend from Cali." She smiled still reaching for the water "Hun are you okay? You look a little... off." She asked her smile failing a little.

"A friend?" There was something in Chase's voice that made Evie slightly uneasy, he and never used that tone before, at least not with her.

"Yes, a friend." She tried to sound final but her voice shook a little, why was he looking at her like that?

"I don't kiss my old school friends!" He shouted Evie jumped her eyes widening. What was he saying?

"Look I can explain, we went to school together, he-

She couldn't finish her sentence because Chase cut her off.

"So now you want to explain?" Chase yelled. What was happening? Who was this person? This wasn't the Chase she knew. He wouldn't yell at her like this.

"It isn't like that Chase, please listen to me!" She could feel the tears in the back of her eyes.

"Who is he?"

"AN OLD FRIEND!" screamed Evie, not only was she trying to fight off tears of emotion but now her eyes watered because of pain. She shouldn't have screamed like that. Her hand went to her throat.

Chase's stomach lurched when he saw her grab her throat. He was making her hurt he could see it. Why wasn't he by her side apologizing? He was being ridiculous. This was the first girl he had opened up to in a long time and he was blowing it up right in front of his face but he couldn't stop…if he hurt her, she couldn't hurt him.