Clash
Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.
Irene Peter
Don't think and talk and don't breathe and it won't be real. It was Chase's new mantra. Something to help him forget a major mistake. Complete denial… So far it wasn't working.
Cameron shifted and straightened her blouse, pulling at material that was already the epitome of pristine. Chase brushed a stray strand behind his ear and looked back down at the notepad he was currently doodling on. Thick black lines clashed with thin papery ones.
"Its good to see you're earning your pay." Chase jumped a slight jerking of his shoulders. He puffed out a breath and turned to glare at the other, about to snap that if House didn't want them all sitting around then he shouldn't call a meeting and then not show up for half an hour. But House isn't talking out the listlessness and scribbles. Couldn't be because his face is buried in a patient file.
"I try." Chase breezes because he's so past it.
"You are… try-ing." House says clicking his tongue.
"And what did I do now?" Chase bites back because House has no right to judge even his medical skills. House closes the patient file and drops it into Chase's lap. His eyes skim over the name and heat flushes his cheeks.
"What the hell are you doing with my patient's files?" The tone sounds violated and House would smile, would revel in the fact that it's now so easy to rile the Australian if it weren't for the fact that he now matched. Every word from Chase's lips was prickling, like a wire brush up and down his back. Every action like fingernails on a chalkboard. Knowing that he was causing the other a similar type of pain merely levelled the field.
"Why did you admit her?" House asked brushing aside the question. It rubbed harder than it usually would have and Chase knew it.
"None of your damn business, that being punctuated by the fact that she's my patient and not yours!" Chase spits.
"Actually I'm your boss; your patients are my patients." House was still standing beside Chase's chair, standing over him and the blonde moved to stand. House placed the tip of his cane over the centre of his chest, putting enough weigh on to hurt. Chase wincing quickly and falling back a bit.
"Like hell they are!" Chase growled; face bright red, almost feverish. House pressed a little harder… wondered briefly how much it would take to crack something.
"Get that thing off of me." Chase hisses and Foreman and Cameron are simply staring. Watching some horrific train-wreck which will crush them too if they try'en help stop even a little section of it.
"Sorry Chase forgot you liked being on top." House tosses casually making a callous jest about a thorn in both their sides. Chase glares, gives House killing looks that clearly say he wouldn't mind if the other were a month old corpse. House wonders almost giddily if he'll be brazen and add his own little patented insult.
"What is your problem?" Chase practically grinds off of his teeth. House doesn't know whether its disappointment he's feeling or just that onset of numbness.
"Just checking your work…" He slides casually.
"Mistakes are your specialty after-all." House digs and Chase fumes.
"Yeah well I have made a couple of huge ones." Chase snaps.
"Leave my patients out of it House." It's a skewed comment that only he and House actually get. Foreman and Cameron are left wondering; still staring at the morbid little play for control that's unfolding before them.
"Speaking of patience- you're testing mine- Bobby." House grates the way only he can and Chase hisses, actually hisses at him, hitting the piece of wood off of his chest. Oh how he hates that name… House plants it back on the floor. Sticking it back on the other right now would be like tossing pebbles at an uncaged tiger.
"Blow me House." He snarls, jerking free of the chair.
"Sorry don't do too well with public performances." House pushes back and he'd laugh at the expressions the other two are now wearing if he weren't so preoccupied. Chase scoffs and heads for the door.
"Chase you'll tell me why you admitted that patient or I'll fire you." House threatens because he's can't resist rattling the cage one more time.
Chase pauses in the door; his back leaned against one, while the other rests against his knee.
"Blackmails cheap House… even for you… As unbelievable as that is." Then he's gone stepping off down the corridor, to where House can only guess.