-Ch 19-

Chase grinned as he walked back down the familiar hallways. He had finally been pronounced healed enough to get back to work, and he was thoroughly enjoying it. If only he could get Cameron to stop staring at him. She walked beside him, throwing quick glances as if afraid he was going to run off.

He dismissed he worries with another smile and held open the door for her as they walked into the room of their newest patient. A six-year-old boy, who had so far, baffled the team of Diagnosticians. House had sent them to get a blood sample, hoping that would help.

"Hiya Cory. Feeling any better?" He asked the young boy as he automatically scanned the monitors checking the readings, before looking at him.

The young boy mutely shook his head no.

"Where's your mum and dad?"

"Had to go fill out more forms." Cory muttered softly.

"Aww well I'm sure they'll be back as soon as they can!" Cameron tried comfortingly. The small child glared pitifully at her, looking remarkably like Chase when he had been a patient.

Chase snickered and moved to Cory's bedside. "Cory you want to feel better right? Well we need to take some blood so we can see what's making you sick and get you all better."

"I don't want my blood taken!" He screamed.

"I know you're scared but there's nothing to be frightened of. It's quick and painless. You won't even feel a thing and then we'll get you feeling better and you can go home."

Cory looked distrusting on the tray full of needles, tubes, and other scary looking things. "You go first."

It was Chase's turn to glare. He hurriedly turned it into a reassuring smile. "er…"

"See!" Corey latched on to his hesitancy. "It is going to hurt!"

Chase sighed and shrugged off his lab coat, throwing it on the chair next to the bed. He began rolling up his shirtsleeve. "Was I this annoying when I was a patient?" He murmured to Cameron out of the side of his mouth.

"You were worse." She whispered back, grinning slightly.

"Serves me right then."

Chase shot her a quick smile then grinned at Cory. "See? Nothing to worry about! " He said as Cameron wrapped the rubber tourniquet around his arm. He continued to walk through the steps as Cameron drew his blood. "It's just a bit tight, like wrapping a rubber band around your finger, then she's cleaning a spot off with the alcohol pad, then a tiny pinch, you barely feel, and..." He looked over to where his blood was running into the glass tube and made a quick face, which made Cory giggle. "...in a minute we have the blood sample we need." Chase finished as Cameron reached for a piece of gauze to press over the small hole where the needle had gone in. Chase pressed down on the gauze for a second before lifting it back up and presenting his arm to the small boy.

"See? Nothing to it." Cory inched closer to inspect the small hole, as if expecting it to start spurting geysers of blood any second.

"It's not too bad… I guess." He said doubtfully.

"Good. So you'll let Dr. Cameron take your blood now?" Cory nodded and Chase sighed in relief, beginning to unroll his shirtsleeve.

"What's that?" the little boy asked suddenly, pointing to the piece of jewelry safety pinned to the inside of Chase's cuff.

"It's pretty...that looks like my mommy's ring, but it's bigger..." He tried to get a closer look at the gaudy ring, with its large fake diamond.

"Errr it's a long story." He looked up at Cameron, who was watching him with raised eyebrows and coughed. "A very long story. And anyway now it's your turn Cory!" Chase said, hurriedly handing Cameron another collection kit, just as House strolled in, knocking the door against the wall.

"...What's going on?" House asked eyes firmly glued to the piece of gauze Chase was holding to the crook of his arm, and the vial of blood on the table.

"Oh Cory here was just a little nervous about getting his blood taken so we're showing him how easy it is." Chase said holding the gauze in place while Cameron opened a band-aid and taped the square down, his eyes very clearly telling House 'He's calm right now. If you upset him I will kill you.'

House gave him a look that assured him the conversation wasn't over and then glanced at Cameron and Cory. "Need Chase for a consult. Cameron finish up here then get started on the tests in the lab. Wombat, heel!"

Chase rolled his eyes in amusement and glanced at Cameron then Cory. "Gonna be ok with Dr. Cameron if I go?"

The boy nodded and Chase grabbed his lab coat and followed House out of the room, buttoning his shirt cuff as he left.