Cameron avoided this trip for one reason. She didn't think it would do any good. Chase always had been so distant and never opened up. Even when he revealed his feelings to her, she still had a hard time knowing who the real Robert Chase was. He had a layer underneath that no one could reach. Maybe that is why he had gone into hiding. Althea probably got to that layer. All these thoughts were running through her mind as she got closer to Chase's apartment.
Cameron first knocked and got no response. She then opened the door with the key they kept for emergencies. After Foreman's illness the team decided to keep a key to each other's place in case a search was needed.
She found Chase sitting on the couch, looking haggard and in another world. He was in a deeply depressed state and didn't say anything to Cameron.
"Chase?" She asked with deep concern. He didn't respond. She walked over to him and looked him in the eye. "Robert?"
He looked at her and said, "I need sometime to myself."
"You shouldn't be alone. You are near catatonic."
"I'm not that bad."
"You didn't hear me come in." she said.
"I heard. I just ignored you." he replied knowing he was lying.
"We need to get you back to the hospital. Something has gone wrong inside of you."
"I'm fine." he replied in a weary voice.
"You are not fine. You need a therapist. You need professional help."
"It won't work. I am failing here just like did before. No one can help."
"You have to open up someone. You have kept yourself isolated since I have known you. I suspect you have had issues like this before."
Chase nodded with an utterly despondent expression and tears welled up in his eyes. "I don't know where to get help, but I know it won't be from a therapist. I have never met one with a good success rate."
"How about the church?" Cameron asked.
"We have been here before. The results weren't very pretty last time."
"You are going to have to trust someone."
"I trust you." Chase said, looking at her with very tired eyes.
Cameron was shocked to hear that statement from Chase. Does he really want to open up to her, or is he playing games? She was not prepared to hear his list of anxieties, scandals, fears or whatever could be bothering him, but he was extremely vulnerable right now and she wasn't sure who else could help him.
"Chase," she said, "I don't think I'm the best person to help you."
He looked at her knowing she wouldn't go for the idea. "Then I will work it out myself." he said with a resigned voice. "Please go now." he pleaded.
Cameron looked at him with pleading eyes hoping he would do the right thing and come with her back to the hospital. When she saw the look in his eyes was 'no' she said, "Okay, I'll leave for now but I'm coming back. You can't go through this alone."
Chase stared at her again with his hopeless glare and said nothing. He knew she wasn't going to change her mind, but he wasn't going to accept her resolve either.
"Take care of yourself and please get some sleep." She walked out slowly gazing at Chase as he sat unresponsive on the couch. She opened the apartment door and left. Chase continued to sit on the couch as tears started streaming down his face.
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Cameron arrived at the hospital visibly upset. What has she done? She left poor Chase alone at a time where he could actually hurt himself. No one else can help him right now. Why did she leave him alone?
As Cameron got in the elevator, so did Wilson. "What is wrong?" he asked with deep concern.
"Chase is not good. I left him alone anyway."
"He is a big boy. I'm sure he will work it out." replied Wilson.
"This isn't like normal. He is really down. He won't talk with anyone. I have seen people that emotionally low before. They were on suicide watch."
"Then, I think it is time for a team consult." Wilson said.
"But how? We don't have a team right now."
"Getting hold of House is my job. You get Foreman. I'll be there too."
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Later, in the conference room, Wilson delivered by putting House on the speaker phone. ''Sure," said House, "don't respect my healing time. Involve me in trivial cases just to torture me."
"This is hardly trivial." Cameron said.
"Emotional breakdowns are as boring as they get. It's not my problem the he won't take medical advice." an unimpressed House replied.
"House," Wilson replied seriously. "Cameron thinks he might be suicidal."
The line grew quiet. "It has gone that far again, huh?
"Again?" exclaimed Cameron, "This has happened before?"
"When I first met Chase I could tell he had some baggage. The deep hurtful look in his eyes, the avoidance of personal questions, anger toward his dad who got him the interview and I knew from looking at him he had never been involved in a close relationship. He had all the signs that he came from a home of an alcoholic. When I found out he dropped out of the seminary to become a doctor I did some snooping."
"Where are you going with this House?" Foreman asked.
"Come on, don't you see the pattern? Children of alcoholics usually suffer from depression and isolation, which can result in thoughts of suicide."
"That's all you've got?" asked Cameron.
"No. I got hold of his old medical records. He was on anti-depressants until he went into the seminary. What is the greatest sin a Catholic could possibly commit?"
"Suicide." said Wilson. "You have to admit, it fits."
"Catholics will tolerate drug use, pregnant nuns, and priests getting busy with alter boys, but not suicide. No wonder he is so screwed up."
"Do you have proof of this?" asked Cameron. "Did Chase actually admit this? Did the seminary say anything?"
"No, but I'm never wrong about these things." replied House.
Cameron and Foreman both exclaimed disbelief.
"Look," said House, "are you going to argue with me or are you going to help the patient?"
"Doctor." said Cameron
"Whatever." replied House. "Cameron, get an ambulance right now and go get Chase. If anyone can find a way to get him to go willingly, you can. If you can't, force and trickery are okay too. Once he arrives get him in a private room and invent some physical problem."
"That way we can do suicide watch without involving the nuthouse." said Foreman.
"I'm glad somebody gets it. Now go!" said House.
As Cameron and Foreman left the room, House and Wilson were left to chat. "Was that you caring there Dr. House?" mocked Wilson.
"Just wait until you finally crack up." said House. "You better hope Cuddy is paying attention. Besides, this might finally be my opportunity to solve one of my biggest unsolved mysteries."
"Goodbye, Dr. House." Wilson said as he hung up the phone in absolute delight. If only, that ability to cut him off worked when House was here.
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Chase was strapped to the gurney as he was wheeled into the ER by the paramedics. "This isn't right." he said. "I'm not sick."
Cameron was behind him. "In here.'' she said and quickly showed them to a room. The ER nurse stopped Cameron after the others entered the room.
"Is that Dr. Chase?" she asked.
"Yes." said Cameron hoping to get rid of her quickly. "He has high fever and hallucinations. Keep this quiet as we don't want patients to notice sick doctors."
"Yes, of course." the nurse replied.
"Thanks." said Cameron.
Cameron went into the room and told the paramedics, "Thanks, I can handle it from here." They left Cameron and Chase alone.
"You don't need to do this." Chase said. "I will be fine."
"Quiet!" Cameron said. "I'm admitting you."
"Why?"
"House thinks you are better off here."
"Tell him it is none of his damn business." Chase angrily responded.
"I agree with him, otherwise I wouldn't have went along with the plan. We are putting you in a private room and you won't see any visitors."
"I'm a prisoner?" Chase asked incredulously.
Cameron decided she needed to try a different approach. ''Robert" she said seriously and grabbed his hand, "We are very worried. We aren't stupid and can see warning signs. House seems to think you have tried suicide before and might again."
"He's wrong. I am not suicidal." Chase said in a pleading tone.
"Now or ever?" Cameron asked.
Chase avoided eye contact and didn't answer the question.
"You did try to kill yourself once!" Cameron said in a high voice. "When?"
Chase was reluctant, but couldn't avoid the question. "At the seminary, I was 19."
"Didn't they try to help? You left shortly after that, didn't you?"
"Why should they have tried? How does it look to respond to a faith vs. fear test by attempting suicide? I would say I failed that one. I think all parties involved agreed I wasn't cut out for that job."
"How did it happen?" Cameron asked now with prodding curiosity.
"It doesn't matter. It just did."
"I'm no psychologist but I know enough that you need to talk about this. You can talk to me if you can't open up to anyone else."
"I'm not ready to talk." Chase said stubbornly.
"Then you stay here until you do." Cameron said showing her stubborn side as well.
Chase sighed and decided he should just sit there quietly for a while.
"Okay." said Cameron. "We will get you to your room."
Just then she got a page. "I'm waiting. H." She had an orderly take Chase to his room, went to House's office and called him.
"Well?" House asked impatiently waiting for her to speak.
"You were right. He tried suicide at the seminary. He won't talk about it though." Cameron replied.
"Don't worry. I have ways of making people talk." he said as he gave a ghoulish laugh. Cameron hung up on him. "That felt really good" she thought.
