-Ch 5-

Chase gnawed on his thumb nervously, bouncing his leg up and down as he sat on the hospital bed waiting for the doctor to come back.

He jumped slightly as a nurse came in and smiled comfortingly at him while she started grabbing things and moved to his side.

"What are you doing?" Chase asked keeping a nervous eye on her.

"Just starting a IV."

"IV? What for?" Chase asked gritting his teeth slightly as she used an alcohol pad to clean off a spot on her arm. He slammed his free hand down over his arm, guarding it from the needle in her hand.

"The doctor thought you were a bit...eh excited and wants to start a low dose of Ativan. Not a lot, just enough to calm you down a little." She gently nudged his hand, making him clamp down harder.

"But IV? Why not orally?" Chase asked frowning.

The nurse blinked at him startled. "I'm a doctor." Chase snapped. He realized that wasn't the best way to win the woman over and attempted to smile apologetically, though he was sure it came out more as a grimace.

The nurse laughed lightly. "Oh well I'm just following Dr. Gray's orders. But I'd assume it's because by IV it takes a few minutes to take affect and orally it takes 30 to 45 minutes. And the doctor probably wants you calm faster."

Chase scowled. "No Meds."

"Excuse me?"

"No Meds." Chase continued to watch the IV needle cautiously.

"But Dr. Gray-"

"I don't care. I came for a physical, not to take drugs."

"But it's just a little something to help you relax."

Chase gave her a hard look.

She sighed. "You have to take it!"

"No I don't!"

The nurse clenched her jaw, but was saved from having to try and reason with her reluctant patient as the door swung open again. She turned to Dr. Gray.

"He's refusing medication!" she accused.

Chase glared at her. "I don't need anything. She's trying to knock me out!"

Dr. Gray looked as if he was considering leaving the room, instead he took the IV from the nurse and peeled back Chase's hand.

"Fine. No Ativan. But only if you let me hook up the Saline. You're dehydrated and it will help."

"No Ativan?" Chase asked.

"No Ativan."

Chase sighed and held out his arm, flinching and turning his head as the needle slid in.

"Doctor!" Chase's head snapped back around at the Nurse's horrified exclamation. He felt the blood rush out of his face as he saw Dr. Gray toss an empty syringe into the orange hazard can. The doctor capped the IV line, and smiled apologetically.

"Dr. House gave me permission to take any steps necessary to finish the exam." He patted Chase's shoulder, trying not to feel guilty as he assured the younger man, frozen with fear. "By the time you wake up it'll all be over, and you'll see that there was nothing to worry about."

Dr. Gray smiles sympathetically, if not a bit condescendingly. It seemed to have no effect on his patient and he jumped back quickly, away from the knee aimed for his groin