Chapter Sixteen

Evie sat in class the teacher was droning on, though she wasn't paying attention. She hadn't paid attention to anything in the past two weeks. All of a sudden California seemed very cold.

Aaron and a lot of her friends threw her a welcome home party but she had just gone to bed. She had been shopping, book hunting, clubbing with her friends nothing filled the whole in her.

She tried to ignore it, but it wouldn't go away. It was always there when she went to bed, and tried to sleep…it was there, that constant emptiness. Nothing was the same.

"When confronted with this scenario, I would suggest 60c.c.'s of…" the voice droned on and on. Evie just wanted to get up and scream, and scream until the hurting stopped.

"And…and, can I help you?" The abrupt stumble and halt of the droning brought Evie back to reality. She looked down at the pudgy professor who was staring at the door. She followed his line of sight.

Her breath caught in her throat. She thought her heart was going to burst. Chase was standing in the door.

"I am looking for Ms. Evelyn House." The teacher stared blankly back at Chase. Evie knew she should say that was her but she couldn't get her voice or hand to work. Chase scanned the class and then their eyes met.

He stopped doing everything for a second and then pointed up at her. The professor looked up at her.

'Please say I have to stay, please!' Her mental vibes obviously did reach the professor who said. "Oh, yes of course."

Everyone was looking at Evie now. She somehow managed to stand up and walk down to the floor were Chase signaled they should go out into the hall. They left and Evie could here the professor pick up where he had been interrupted.

If she thought it hurt before she knew nothing. Being so close to Chase but having such a distance between them was so painful. She just wanted to deteriorate to tears but something stopped her miraculously. She looked at Chase, he looked surprisingly tired.

"I…I," He honestly didn't seem to know what to say, Evie just stared at him. "I only ever let my self love two women in my entire life, Marilyn and you." He stopped seeming to think over what he was going to say. "Obviously I lost the first, and I threw you away." Every scar that even seemingly had healed opened up again with vengeance. "I suppose, I got subconsciously scared. I let you in, and I was afraid that you would reject me and when you didn't, I got even more scared." He stopped. Evie was barely holding back the tears.

"When you…got sick…I more scared then I have ever been in my life and even though it wasn't the same, I didn't want to feel that way again, whether caused by nature or by you. And then I saw him. And like this whole thing formed in my mind and it made so much sense because a girl like you couldn't be happy with just me." Evie looked at the floor the tears were slowly rolling down her cheeks. Why was he here? "When I realized that you still loved me, I wanted nothing more then to find you and tell you I was sorry, but you were gone." She looked up at him; he had tears in his eyes. He took a deep breath. "And I didn't deserve to have you back I know, but I can't live without you Evie, I am nothing without you." He stopped; Evie wished more then anything he would keep talking. She took a few deep breathes.

"I have never really had anyone close to me before," She said her voice choked with tears. "I mean I love Greg and I wouldn't want another brother but, my parents were never close with me or anyone." She gave a weak smile. "When they died I went off to boarding school and then university. And that was it." He was staring at her like he wanted to hold her but couldn't. "Then I met you." She looked at him. "And you loved me," Chase looked at the ground. "Like no one ever had before. And then I lost you. And when you arrived at the airport, I was scared. I loved my parents and they left and you loved me and you left, I didn't want to get you back again, I didn't want to love and then feel empty," They were staring at each other with such intensity Evie couldn't stand it. "Of course I am just as empty as I was-

Chase grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace. She slowly put her arms up around his neck. She never wanted to let go, ever. She was safe; the pain was slowly melting away. Everything was going to be okay now. Chase was here and she wasn't going to let him go.

"Excuse me; as much as I hate to breakup this little love fest but I would like my student back please." They slowly pulled apart to see Evie's professor staring at them scornfully. They laughed. She looked up at him.

"Do you know where I am staying?"

"I can find it." Chase said smiling.

"Okay, I will be home in about an hour, okay?"

"Great." He leaned forward and kissed her, it was better then the first kiss and even better because Evie knew, deep down it wouldn't be their last.

Evie walked out of the stuffy classroom and pulled her jacket around her self as she enter the chilly winter air of New Jersey. Everything was going really well again.

There had been no follow ups since her episode; it just seemed to be just a freak medical spasm.

It had been nine months since she was found by doctor Robert Chase in House's office. Everything had been going swimmingly since he came to California. They were closer then ever before. House had even blessed their engagement!

"Evie!" She looked up and saw Chase sitting in his truck waiting for her. She ran over and got in.

"You know you are going to have to get a better equipped vehicle then this when we start having kids!" She said teasing him.

"Whoa! Lets not rush; I mean we haven't even picked out an invitation yet!" He said pulling out of the parking lot.

"I dunno, I don't think I will be able to write any because of this enormous gem I have on my hand. I think you are going to have to write al the invites." She said in a matter of fact tone. He laughed.

"Ha, I know you are right handed but nice try."

"I thought it was worth a try." She smiled to her self. "So how do you feel about Mrs. Robert Chase-House?"

"Oh no! No House!"

"Oh come on! I love my name."

"I am not about to join into a clan of emotionally constipated ice people!" Evie couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay, but you are the one who gets to tell Greg!"