AN: Hello all my royal subjects! Today we're going to be starting a new story called Betrayal. I'm one of those people who always wondered whether House was really going to fire Chase. One day while I was thinking about this the thought struck me-what if Chase had really gotten fired? At first I was horrified at the thought, but then the idea began to grow on me. And so here we are. This takes place during Heavy, so you may recognize some of the quotes.

There will be NO pairings in this story.

Disclaimer: Heck yeah, I own House. That is why I am a nobody writing fanfiction, while David Shore is busy getting his episodes on tv. Man am I getting ripped off...

Authors note 5/3/06: The new chapter probably won't be up 'till the next couple of days, but in the mean time I'm going to do some minor editing.

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"All clear?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"No. I think I see Vogler over near the desk, but I can't be sure. He's so inconspicious."

Dr. James Wilson tapped his foot impatiently as Dr. House rounded the corner and started down the hallway. Wilson reluctantly followed, not wanting to have to reach another turn. Ever since Vogler had told House he had to fire one of his fellows the crippled doctor had avoided Vogler like the plague. Wilson sympathized with his friend but found his method of dodging Cuddy and Vogler exasperating. House was bound to run into one of them eventually, and constantly having to check corners for them was really starting to get on Wilson's nerves.

However, Wilson understood why his friend was going to such lengths to avoid Vogler. (He was merely steering clear of Cuddy to get out of clinic duty.) House had gone through dozens of fellows before he had found a special handful that had stayed on past the average month the others had lasted. They had held on, earned a sort of right of passage, and didn't deserve to be fired just because a maniacal business tycoon/big donor wanted to prove a point to House. Besides, who wanted to go through interviews again?

House's voice broke his thoughts. "I know who ratted me out to Vogler."

Wilson looked at his friend curiously. This was news. "Who?"

House stopped and Wilson looked at him, waiting eagerly. "Who?" he asked again.

House gave him a pointed look. "Corner," he muttered.

Wilson groaned and turned down the next hallway, scanning for Cuddy or Vogler. When he saw neither of them, he turned toward House and signaled for him to follow. As they fell in step together, Wilson asked him once more. "Who House?"

The older doctor sighed. "Chase."

"Really? Are you sure?" Wilson was shocked; Chase was one of the last people he thought House would suspect. Chase was a bit like an abused dog-getting the Aussie to trust you was hard, but once you did he stuck to you.

"I asked him about it. He says he didn't tell Vogler."

"Well obviously he wouldn't tell you."

"I know. He did look really uncomfortable, though. Guilty almost."

"So what are you going to do?"

Another sigh. "Inadvertently he has bought me some time."

Wilson internally moaned. He didn't have time to translate. "You're going to have to explain that one."

"Vogler wants me to fire someone right? So I'll fire Chase."

"Do you really think he'll let you fire him? He has to get his information from somebody."

"That's what I'm counting on."

Ah. It made sense now. "So when you can't fire Chase you'll get a few more weeks to choose between Foreman and Cameron. In a roundabout, naive way you're trying to do something nice for them."

By this time they had reached House's office. The three ducklings were inside: Cameron was reading over a medical journal, Chase was staring at a crossword with a pencil stuffed in his mouth, and Foreman was fumbling with a pot of coffee. House stared at them a moment before turning back to Wilson.

"Yeah, something like that."

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Foreman was the first one to speak as the ducklings strode down the hall. "It's some kind of game, House's own version of 'Punk'd'."

Cameron glared at him. She knew House was infamous for his cruel jokes, but this was something even he wouldn't kid about.Vogler just wanted tothem squirm."It's not House, it's Vogler. We can't let it get to us, we've got to stick together."

"Why," Chase asked.

She turned to him, giving him a more ferocious, serious version of the look that she had given Foreman. "What are you suggesting, we start slashing each other's throats?"

"I'm suggesting it's a zero-sum game. Your loss is my win. That's not conducive to team play."

"Which is what House seems to want. Come with Cameron. May be a bad strategy, but I don't want to give House his satisfaction. Come on, sick kid, remember?" Good ol' Foreman, trying to ease tension. Chase nodded though, Foreman was right. About the patient anyway.

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House leaned back in his chair, twirling his cane between his legs. He was bored now that he had reached a decision. Maybe he would go see Cameron and try to subtly hint that he didn't think she screwed up. He believed she hadn't made a mistake; hehad merely wanted to see if Chase would stick up for her. His youngest duckling's behavior puzzled him. Part of him was angry at Chase for betraying him. Part of him was confused-did Chase really think that by doing this it would help him? He would save his job, but House would make it hell for him. Then there was the part of House that was almost . . . proud. Cameron ignored the situation, Foreman was (or was until House talked to him) indifferent, but Chase wasn't going down without a fight.

If only he could have found an other way to fight back.

TBC

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