Hi again. So, so far we've been inside Chase's head. It was nice. But now we journey into the mind of someone much more intresting. I hope I did it justice. If I didn't please be nice when you say so. I promise to let you know when I switch POV's again.


House's POV (be afraid, be very afraid)

Something's wrong. I can tell. There's this feeling in the back of my mind. A puzzle trying to be solved.

Chase called in sick. Here's the puzzle, Chase never calls in sick. Even when he had the flu a few months ago he showed up.

Going over the past few weeks I try and think about the way that Chase has been acting. He's been jumpier than usual. Holding himself oddly. The silence, the offers to stay over night to work on patients. The offers to work his clinic hours.

It isn't right. Something's wrong.

I push off from my desk and go in search of my partner in crime.

"House. I'm with a patient."

"Dr. Wilson, I need a consult."

"Five minutes."

I sigh extravagantly. "Fine, but if something happens between now and then it'll be on your head."

I'm so good at the guilt. Less than two minutes later the person in his office walks out. I barge right in. "Get your coat." I was smart enough to bring mine.

"Where we going?"

Does he think I'm actually going to tell him the truth? He's known me how long? "Second star to the right and straight on till morning."

He shakes his head at me, but folds none the less. "What if someone needs us?"

Ah, the goody too shoes. "They'll page us, and we call in the beta team to cover."

"Is that what you call them now?"

"You have a better name for the miscreants?"

Jimmy is thankfully quiet as we get into my car. But knowing him it's not going to last long.

"Seriously." Did I not call it? "Where are we heading? Normally you send Foreman to do the B & E."

"Visiting a sick friend."

"You have no friends but me. And you don't do the whole visiting thing."

"Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf." As more images of Chase over the past few weeks run through my mind the more trouble I foresee. No good can come of this.

"Doesn't Chase live near here?" Wilson is looking around now. We've only been driving for about seven minutes. Chase is basically around the corner.

It's what makes him the perfect one to call to run to the hospital to do some test in the middle of the night.

I just nod as I park the car outside of Chase's building. "Let's go."

"House, what's going on?"

"He called in sick."

"So? You going to bother him when he's sick?"

God, Jimmy. You can't be that dumb. "This is Chase we're talking about. Remember the 103 fever and the hallucinations?"

We're waiting for the elevator. Part of me is debating the stairs.

"Maybe he wants a day away from you."

I know, that he knows, that I know that he's reaching on that one. He glances at me and then down at my cane, which I'm taping impatiently on the floor.

The elevator dings before I have to respond.

I start to fish the keys out of my pocket and search for the right one. Again Jimmy looks at me.

"For emergencies." I comment.

Fourth floor the elevator opens. We both walk down the hall, third door on the right. Jimmy knocks as I put the keys in the door.

There's no answer so I turn the key. I don't bother looking at him, I can feel his eyes on me.

The door opens into a living room. No one's around. "Dr. Chase?" I call. If he's really sick he might be asleep in the bedroom.

Wilson follows me as I head to the back. The doors to all the rooms are closed, which I find very odd. Sure, Chase is a bit anal at times but to close all the doors, that doesn't seem like him.

"May-"

"Shh, be very, very quiet. We're hunting wombats." I tell him as I open a door. Seems to be the bathroom. The shower curtain is closed. This is just too bizarre.

"He's not in there." Jimmy moves further down the hall.

"It bothers me." I call out to him as I move into the bathroom. This bathroom curtain is killing me. I move it back. The body there surprises me. "I think you're wrong." I call out again.