-Ch 9-

Chase's grip on House's arm tightened as the ambulance turned. Despite the rules Chase wasn't strapped down on the gurney. One look at the black straps and Chase had nearly bolted, planting an elbow into House's rib in the process. The wombat was awfully feisty for a trauma patient House had decided ruefully.

He had managed to convince the EMTS they weren't necessary after failing to convince his intensivist that they were. House was sure the bondage crack would've won him over, but he only succeeded in earning himself a drugged glare.

House focused on the EMT near the back who was beginning to fidget. He was obviously thinking about trying to get near Chase again. "If you so much as twitch, you're fired" House warned casually, not wanting to alarm Chase by screaming at the personnel they were riding with.

The EMT frowned. "We should be monitoring him."

"I'm his doctor, I'm taking care of him, now get still."

The EMTs sank back looking more then slightly scared and suddenly found their shoes fascinating. Chase smiled in faint amusement, but kept his eyes on their folded hands.

The ambulance came to a halt and Chase's grip on House got tighter and the slight amusement he'd gained disappeared.

The EMTs wisely stayed where they were as the doors opened revealing Cuddy, Wilson, Cameron and Foreman. House had asked them to meet the ambulance. None of them were wearing their lab coats. House figured it might make things a little less stressful.

Chase looked balefully at House. "This isn't home." He accused quietly.

"I never said I was taking you home." House argued.

"Said, we were going someplace safe."

House rolled his eyes. Aussie logic.

"Trust me, this is safe."

"hmph." Chase didn't sound convinced.

He gestured to the other doctors, standing at the doors. "Come on lets get him inside."

Chase yelped as the gurney moved and he let go of House's arm in surprise. He began to panic as the gurney slid out of the ambulance, taking him further away from his boss.

Foreman and Cameron jumped as the monitors squalled, pushing in close to the patient "What is it? Does something hurt!"

"Oh God he's bleeding! His stitches"

House, using Wilson as a crutch scrambled out of the ambulance a bit ungracefully and pushed his employees out of the way.

He grabbed Chase's shoulder. "Right here. I'm here." He reassured him. "It's fine, back off! Just keep moving before he has a coronary here in the ambulance bay. Try not to hover so much. Cuddy, tell me you have a private room." House's voice threatened violence if she didn't.

"Yes I have everything set up. Let move out people!" Cuddy said shortly.

Cameron looked hurt and Foreman annoyed but they backed off as Wilson started pushing the gurney into the hospital.

Chase for his part latched on to House again and tried to stay as still as possible. He vaguely remembered that t-rexes couldn't see you if you stayed still, and part of his morphine fogged brain wondered if the same principle worked with doctors. God, he hoped so.