A few days later


Unfortunately, his hope had been misplaced. The CAT scan showed severe damage to his spinal cord and now that Chase was off the epidural and hard painkillers, they found that he barely had any feeling at all anywhere under his shoulders.

Now that the surgery was done and he was stable, he had been moved to the rehab unit.

Even though the surgery was days ago, he was still constantly groggy from the painkillers they were giving him. Even though his spinal cord was damaged, the top of his back was hurting really bad from the surgery.

After most of the painkillers had worked out, it had been so bad he had almost been crying. Worst part was that was the exact moment the team had decided to drop in.

The ICU had been so close to the diagnostics department, he was glad he was out of their way a bit now. He liked it to get them as visitors, but they walked by so often when he was in the ICU it was starting to annoy him. After the bad night after the surgery, the last thing he wanted was for them to see him so sick again.

Especially since he could not move a muscle, the last thing he wanted was for them looking how the nurses had to help him with everything.

He got his own room as well and even though there was not a lot he could do, he was glad he could just rest up.

It was not just all of the medical procedures he had to get done almost every hour and the therapists that kept barging in, it was also that he was still so tired from the blood loss.

House dropped by multiple times a day to check on him. He was glad that House looked after him. The man could be an ass from time to time, but Chase knew he was one of the best.

He had tried to let the anger go of them missing the bullet in his back and even though he was still upset about it, he knew they had done everything they could.

If it wasn't medical staff barging in, it was the police or a lawyer to question him. He had stayed out of the prosecution so far, but he knew Cuddy and the hospital's legal staff were trying their best to keep that burden away from him and he really appreciated that.

It had been two weeks now since they had fixed his back and in the rehab unit, his life started to get a schedule again. Every morning he was helped get ready for the day by the nurses and that was followed by multiple types of therapy. He had physical therapy twice a day.

As he couldn't move any of his limbs right now, it was mostly just the therapist stretching is limbs and trying to keep the muscle loss to a minimum.

After that he also met with an occupational therapist about how to approach life with his newfound disability. Everything that seemed so easy now, suddenly was very hard.

The therapist was with him this morning as well, trying to help him sit up so he could hopefully sit up in a wheelchair soon, but his back was still way to fragile and sore now.

He saw Thirteen walk in, and she wanted to walk back out seeing he was busy, but their eyes met then.

''Don't want to interrupt your work out.''

''Believe me, I am not doing much.'' He said as the therapist put his leg back on the bed.

''Is it okay if I come in?''

''Yeah, sure.'' Chase said as he knew he was done for now. The therapist left after making sure he was okay before leaving and Thirteen pulled a chair beside the bed.

''Don't need to ask how you are feeling.''

''Still pretty crappy.'' Chase said with a wry smile.

''Can I do anything?''

''No, but is nice you came to see me.'' He assured her.

She was glad to see him dressed up in his own clothes now. In the sweatpants and his own t-shirt, he looked just slightly less worse.

But she did notice that he was looking a bit skinnier already after these weeks.

''Wanted to come in yesterday but you were talking a policeman.'' She said as she had wanted to come in yesterday.

''Yeah about the shooting ofcourse. Getting really annoyed talking about it.''

''Don't worry I don't came to talk about that.'' Thirteen assured him.

''I know.''

They had always been friendly at work and he liked to have people visit him. As he didn't have friends or family beside o the team, even though he did not want them to barge in, it did make him happy to receive visitors during the right hours.

''I wanted to tell you as well that even though I know things may seem bleak, they could still be okay.''

''What do you mean?''

''I know what is like getting a bad diagnosis…I still have Huntington's but the deterioration has been stable. You might still gain function in your arms and legs as well.''

''But I try to not get my hopes up for nothing. This might be my life.''

''I know. But you are a fighter Chase, and I know you still improve so much.''

''Thanks.''

''Alright...I also took you the sandwich from the cafeteria.'' Thirteen said, hoping to cheer him up.

''I can't eat that'' Chase said as he was on a feeding tube, unable to eat himself now.

''Well I talked to your doctor and he said it is fine.''

''You mean House.''

''Yeah.'' Thirteen laughed a bit.

''I want to, but I can't use my arms…and I really don't want to be fed. I know you mean well Remy.''

''Okay.'' She just nodded, not sure what to say. She wanted to help, but just like the rest of the team, they had no idea how to help Chase right now. They all wanted to help the man, but nobody had any clue how to do it.


Later in the evening, House knocked on the door and walked in. Chase was sitting upright thanks to the pillows in the bed, looking a bit tired and House was not sure if his timing had been wrong.

'''Want me to leave you be?''

''No please come in.'' Chase asked House in.

''Tought you might like to hear about our case.'' House said ashe waved the file. Chase was in no way forced, but they figured he was getting bored in here. Thirteen had come back not sure how to help him and they had thought making him a part of the team again might help him.

''I like that.'' Chase said and House put it on the small bed table the nurses used for administering his medication and he opened the file for him.

''Besides, Cuddy said you can consult for us if you want, and that way you are still a part of the team and don't have worry about your green card.''

''Once I can sit up in a wheelchair I could at least be of use in the office –''

''You don't need to worry about that now. The hospital is going to keep your employment going for the time being and you need to focus on your recovery first. Then we will look what is the best thing to do.''

''But I want to make myself of use.'' Chase said as House sat down beside him so he could flip the pages of the file when necessary.

''Chase-''

''I know. Alright I will read the file.''

He started reading and House flipped the pages for him every now and then.

''Could be epste-''

''Chase!''

Chase looked up at House, startled.

''What?''

''Look at your hand.'' House said.

Chase looked down at the hand was that one the pillows beside him. His left hand was still motionless.

''The other one.''

Looking at his right hand, he looked as it was shaking a bit on the pillow.

''I am not doing that.'' Chase sighed, shocked.

''Not yet, but it means the muscles in your hands might be starting to work again.'' House smiled.

Chase let out a relieved sigh, hoping that meant he might regain some function in his body after all.


The next chapter again. This one was more of an intermittend one, but I hope you liked it nonetheless. I have a lot more written for the story! Thank you so mcuh for reading and please let me know what you thought my leaving a review. Thank you!