A/N: We are winding down. There is just the epilogue after this. Thank you all for the read and the reviews. Hopefully there won't be a long wait before I get something new out to you. I also take requests. Can't promise to do them justice, but I'm always looking for insperation
Chase's POV
"Chase?" House comes back in to the room. I hope he doesn't start with me about the sandwich. I ate all that I wanted. I haven't been hungry, I don't know what the deal is.
"That was Wilson." He takes the plate from my lap. So it was Wilson, I normally don't get all excited over the fact that he calls. Actually I try and keep my distance when it comes to Wilson.
"They found Wimmer." I don't hear anything else that House says. They found him. He's going to tell them everything. Maybe I can still get out of this. Get away. Go back to Australia. Seminary is sounding quite nice again.
I push the blankets back and move to the edge of the bed. "Whoa. Where do you think you're going?" House puts his hand on my shoulder to keep me in the bed.
I'm actually quiet thankful. It helps steady the world that's spinning around me. "Away. Back home. Before anything else happens."
"You're not going anyplace yet. You can barely sit up."
"Need to leave. Need to start new. Before he can tell what happened." I try to stand up. House's hand keeps me on the bed.
"Did you hear anything that I said?" He tilts my chin up. Wow, those are damn blue eyes. "He's dead. He isn't going to tell what happened."
"But they are going to know. I need to get out of here." They can't know. I'm going to loose my job. I don't know how much Wilson told House or Cuddy. Did they know? Does Cameron or Foreman know? Does the whole hospital?
"Chase, you have to breathe. Come, lay back down." He maneuvers my body to lean against the pillows. "It's going to be okay. No one has to know. I promise. Breathe and I'll tell you what's going on."
I close my eyes and try and catch my breath. House hands me a cup and I take a drink. The juice feels good on my throat. What does he mean, tell me what's going on? Is there something that I don't know? What did Wilson tell him? What did the tests show?
"You ready?" I nod. "What was the last thing you remember before you woke up here?"
"I was shot. Wimmer, held me hostage. Put a gun to my head. Wilson was there." House nods. "I don't know how I got to the hospital."
"You called in sick. I didn't believe you."
"You found me?" I can't believe that House would go to my place. That he would bring me back. That he would treat me. That he would care.
"You were tied up in your bathtub. Unconscious. I brought Wilson with me. We brought you back to the hospital. The only one who knew was Cuddy."
"Foreman? Cameron?"
"Didn't even know you were there till the shooting."
"I was in a hospital gown."
"You were sick, bad case of the flu. You came in for treatment. Afraid of being dehydrated."
I look up at House at that comment. I'm confused.
"The police got reports from other people that you had called in sick. And we needed a reason as to why you were in the hospital. The flu was the easiest. Cuddy came up with all the paper work. I was treating you as a favor. You are still contagious, and I am now too, that's why I haven't been at work either. Also keeps the police from you for the moment."
I don't know what has me in shock more. That Cuddy and House both know what Wilson saw, or the lengths that they are going to keep it quiet. "Why?"
"Why what?"
How come House always has to make it so hard. "Why are you doing this? Why are you protecting me?"
"Wilson told me what Wimmer said. That you were doing this to protect us. Think of is as an even exchange."
I can't work for them anymore. I'm done. I've been thinking about this since all this started. And being he can't do anything to hurt me I'm free to do this. "Then I'd like to tender my resignation affective immediately."
"I'm sorry I can't accept that."
"Bull shit." Like hell he can't. I don't want to work here anymore. It's time to go back home.
"You aren't going to run away. There is no reason. There are only three people left on this earth who know the truth as to what happened. And we aren't going to tell anyone."
"I can't stay. I don't want to." I'm scared. I know he's gone but will I be able to ever go back to my place, knowing what happened there? Can I walk into work knowing what he did to me there?
"You're scared."
I hate that he knows me that well. I nod.
"You have every right. But listen. Cuddy, Wilson and even me, will be there. You aren't ready to come back to work yet. So you still have a few more days to think about it. And you can't be left alone yet. You're too weak to be by yourself, so you'll be here for a few more days. When you're ready, you'll be ready. Any questions?"
"What did you do with the rape kit?" I need to know. There are still so many questions that I need answers to.
"Destroyed. The paperwork and everything associated with it has been destroyed. You knew about it?"
"I was awake. I knew that it was Wilson and you working on me. Thank you by the way." I really am thankful. "What do Cameron and Foreman know?"
"That you have the flu and were taken hostage and shot by Wimmer."
"Was anyone else hurt?"
"He killed the guard and a nurse. There were two others that were shot besides you. All superficial." Two more people were killed because of me. I really made a mess of things this time.
"Can I ask you something?" I nod. It's the least that I owe him. "Why did you do it?"
"He threatened you. All of you. Get rid of you, Wilson, Cuddy, Foreman, and Cameron. I couldn't let that happen again. I got Wilson fired last time. I didn't want to do it again."
"You could have come to us and told us or quit."
"Said if I quit he would make sure that no hospital would hire me."
"Chase, Robert, they don't call the board of directors when they look for recommendations on doctors. They would call me, Cuddy, maybe you're co-workers. But they would have never contacted Wimmer."
"Why am I in your bed?" This has been bothering me since I woke up.
"Cause I don't have another bed and you're too injured to sleep on my couch."
"And you've been sleeping here too." I thought that there was something next to me at night. But most of the time I'm too out of it to care or think much of it.
"I can't sleep on my couch. I'm too tall." Hmm, that makes sense, sort of. It's also probably painful for his leg. "Does it bother you?"
I think for a moment or two. Does the thought of sharing my boss's bed bother me? Does it bother me that my boss is male? I know my sexual orientation and I'm quite comfortable with being bi. "No, it doesn't."
"So, we'll keep the sleeping arrangements for the moment?"
I nod. "Good, now finish your sandwich and take some more pain killers. Wilson is going to come over later and we'll talk more." I don't think that House wants to change the sleeping arrangements either.
