Chapter 8


4 weeks later


Chase sitting up in his wheelchair, reading a book at the small table by the window. Even though he was not feeling great today, Michael had said he should sit up for a while. His back was really sore today but he also knew it was his spine also getting used to him sitting up again.

The last months he had mostly been laying down, and now it felt like a lot of pressure on his spine every time he sat up.

Thirteen came walking in, sighing deep as she threw her stuff on the bed.

''House has no case again?'' Chase said as she came walking in.

''No, figured I could come an annoy you.''

''never annoying, one of those weeks were clinic duties is just endless?''

''Already finished it.'' She said, not really wanting to talk about it. Even though he seemed to heal slowly, he was not talking about the shooting at all. He had not said a word about it. The last thing she wanted was to upset him by speaking about the clinic and doing clinic duty.

The last few weeks she had been around a lot and he liked it as it made the boring days a bit more likely.

On the table his lunch was still half uneaten. They tried to give him food that was easy to eat with one hand so he could eat himself again. Even though it went slowly, he wanted to do it himself and was glad they let them.

''You know you should eat that.''

''Not really hungry.''

''You look pretty bad you know.''

Chase looked down for a second, he knew he had lost a lot of weight and Thirteen felt bad about saying that now.

''You know I am not going to feed you, but I can do something about your hair if you like.'' Thirteen offered, feeling bad about what she had said and hoping it would make him feel a bit better.

In the bathroom he looked at how long his hair had become.

''I was partly joking.''

''I am not, just cut it.'' Chase said as he hated how he looked now.

''Or a manbun?'' She joked as she grabbed a bit of the hair.

''No, just cut it.'' He laughed.

Thirteen laughed and took the scissors.

''Worried to mess it up.'' She said as she wanted to start cutting it.

''Can't get any worse than currently.'' Chase just sighed. It was nice she was helping him and somehow, she was one of the few he figured kind of knew what he was going through. She had been through a life changing diagnosis.

Looking down, some of his hair was falling into the sink.

''You know I could've just taken you to the hairdresser.''

''I trust you.''

''You made a mistake.''

They laughed.

''Alright, this is about as good as I could do your hair.'' She showed him and he nodded.

''That is a lot better already!''

''Want a shave too?''

''That sounds good.''

Even though he hated needing help, he was really grateful she was helping him with this. It made him feel a lot better about himself again.

On the side of his neck he saw the large scar that the bullet and emergency surgery there had left.

''All good?''

''Yeah, thanks, this means a lot.'' Chase said and he meant it. Even with his right hand gaining a bit more power and mobility again, he was not able to do anything like this. He always knew he was good looking and put effort into looking his best. But he was not able to anything like that himself anymore.

With the help of thirteen and the nurses he got back on the bed and as dinner came soon, she left him be.

Trying to get comfortable, his back was hurting worse and worse. He felt the muscles spasming and even though he had taken the medication, it was not helping enough.

As the nurses came to bring dinner, he actually wasn't hungry at all, but wanted something else.

''Can you call doctor House?'' He asked.

It seemed like an eternity before House came walking in, his bike helmet under one arm as he hobbled in.

''Damnit this way I will never get through my DVR.'' He joked as he tossed his stuff aside, saw Chase's pained face then.

''Bad spasms?'' House said worried.

''Yeah, it is really bad.'' Chase said softly, House seeing the tears on his cheeks.

''What do you reckon?'' He asked Chase. Even though he was the physician, Chase was just as smart as him and he wanted to hear what he wanted.

''Ketamine worked for you.''

''Only temporarily.''

''I just want the pain to stop now.'' Chase said, House recognizing so much of himself in the young man now.

''Chase, we need to look at something that is not a quick fix.'' House said.

''Well, there is no way to fix my screwed-up spine and nerves without messing it up more, so we both know that is not going to happen.'' Chase snarled as he got annoyed by the pain and by House not coming up with a solution on the spot.

''How long ago did Foreman do the first injections?'' House asked as he grabbed his chart from the nightstand.

''House, you don't need to check, I can just tell you.''

''Because I don't chronic pain makes you do stupid stuff.'' House said rolling his eyes. ''I know.''

''4 weeks.'' Chase finally sighed.

''Means it is working out, want to try another round? I will go and inject the muscles and we can see if it works.''

''Sounds like an idea.'' Chase said softly, just hoping it would work. Together with the nurses, House put the bed down and they turned Chase on his stomach. He hated not being able to even turn around himself but tried to ignore how bad he felt about it.

House went to get some Botox from the pharmacy as the nurses were prepping him. He felt the muscles pulling in his back, and the was hoping that House would really give him some relief soon.

Being in so much pain and not being able to do much about it, he was getting so angry. The last few months, he was angry so much, not being able to change much about his situation.

House started injecting the spasming muscles and he slowly felt them spasming. It immediately lessened the pain, but also knew it was only for a while.

''You know we can try to fix up your spine.''

''And risk losing the little bit of progress I have made? No thanks.'' Chase said bitter. Even though House was pushing needles into his back, he barely felt it.

''This is no way to life. We need to look at something to up your quality of life.''

''This is, it got a lot better after the first round.'' He assured House.

''Done, you now have officially have enough Botox in your back to help out a whole block of housewife's.''

Chase let out a soft chuckle, feeling a little better now that the muscles around his vertebrae stopped spasming.

''Want to get back on your back?''

''Yeah.'' Chase said and House got some help from the hospital staff, turning him on his back. Putting the bed up a bit, he made sure Chase was comfortable.

''The tendon transfer still up for next week?''

''Yeah..'' Chase mumbled. Even though he was not looking forward to losing the little bit of use he had in his left hand for a while, he knew it could easily make his hand a lot better and give him a lot more freedom.

''So I heard you have not been doing your weekly talks with your therapist.'' House said as he looked down, not really wanting to bring it up, but knew he had to.''

''Because I don't want to.''

''It is part of your treatment plan.''

''Yeah, it was also in my treatment plan I would be able to move around now and I can't.''

''If you want to change your thera-''

''No, I don't want to talk a therapist.''

''Chas-''

''No, just shut up about the therapist.'' Chase said angry.

''You clearly have a lot of anger in you about the shooting.'' House said worried. Even though he knew it was Chase's choice if he wanted to talk to therapist or not, he hoped he would.

''Yeah, you'd figure after being shot for no good reason except trying to help a patient!'' Chase said even more upset.

''Which is exactly why we want to offer you help.''

''I just feel so angry. '' Chase admitted.

''That is not strange.'' House said as he sat down with Chase, hoping that they would find something soon for his pain, hoping that would make things a bit better for him.

''He can go to prison, I can sue him, the hospital, anybody, but nothing is going to help me!'' Chase said angry now, tears burning in his eyes.

''I know, and it really sucks. Believe me, I know.'' House said, glad Chase was at least letting some of that anger out.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Wilson carefully looked around the door.

''Can I come in?''

''Sure.'' Chase said, drying his tears.

''I think this little devil wanted to see you.'' Wilson said, lifting TimTam out of the carrier. TimTam was still trying to scratch him and he quickly put him on Chase's lap.

Chase wanted to caress his little head but TimTam grabbed his finger instead, softly biting and rolling around playfully then.

''Yeah, he still hates me.'' Chase said as he tried to wrap his hands around the cat. Looking at the cat he realized how different things were the last time he had seen the cat.

House and Wilson left the room, looking back through the window as Chase had his hand over the cat, sobbing as he was holding the cat.

''Think I shouldn't have brought him?'' Wilson asked his friend after being asked to take the cat here by House.

''No, I think Chase needs to work through a lot more than he likes to admit.'' House said as Chase was still holding the cat for dear life, like a last lifeline, while the sobbing didn't seem to stop.


Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!