The next few days Chase was barely awake. He spend most of his time asleep as they were all waiting and hoping that the antibiotics would finally help him soon.
Even when he was awake, he was too weak to even. Every time Julie was not with him, Thirteen, House, Wilson, Foreman or even Taub sitting by his bedside. The latter two had never exactly been close to him, but since he was in such a bad shape they didn't want him to be alone.
Finally the tide seemed to turn, and Chase was getting a bit better. He wasn't making big leaps, but was slowly getting a bit better.
Every time Julie showed up by his bedside, he was almost surprised as their relationship had been so fresh, and he couldn't blame her if she could not deal with this.
Like clockwork, they always made sure that there was somebody by his bedside and he was grateful so many people were there for him all the time. The pain was really bad and not being able to do anything himself, he was grateful for all the people he could trust.
When he woke up again one evening Julie was sitting by his bedside, looking tired and in her scrubs and focused on her burrito on her lap and he figured she had just finished her shift.
''hey...'' he said and she looked up.
''Hey.'' She smiled and kissed him on his cheek.
''Still not done with my sick ass?'' Chase joked, grateful she was here.
''Not as long as you don't tell me again you just have a cold and I find you like that on the couch.'' She said as she put the food aside and took his hand.
''I thought I was going to die.'' Chase admitted. ''I still feel like you saved me.''
''You didn't think I was going to let you go did you?'' She smiled as she caressed over his jaw.
Looking down at his hands, he felt a bit bad about what he had asked House when he thought he wasn't going to survive.
''You back to work?'' He asked as she was looking so tired and was in her work attire.
''Couldn't swap my shift, hated every minute of it. Rather be here. You really worried me sick.''
''It's a good sign you went to work honestly, let's me know you aren't so worried about me anymore.''
''Your scans are looking good. Still would've rather been here.''
''So I could bore you by sleeping?'' He joked softly and she laughed.
''Doctor House says you can go home in a few days. I rescheduled my shifts so I can be with you the first few days – if you like.'' She smiled.
''I don't know.'' He admitted, immediately feeling bad as he saw her hurt expression.
''Sorry – I really do appreciate it. I am just not used having people that love me look after me.''
''It is alright – if you don't want-''
''I want to have you over if you don't mind looking after me.''
''Not at all.'' She smiled, caressing his hand.
''You should look after yourself and that burrito as well.'' He told her as he didn't want her to go hungry.
''I can't believe you are dealing with all of this so well.'' He admitted.
''Well, you are adorable, that makes it easier.'' She said with a cheeky smile.
''It is really selfless though.'' He told her and she shrugged.
''Knew what I was getting into right? Part of a relationship too.''
''I have been selfish.'' He admitted.
''Well you are not now. But you look tired, you should go back to sleep.'' She told him.
''You should finish that burrito. You are just picking it up and dropping it again.'' He told her and she laughed.
''True. Well you are no state to steal it from me anyway.'' She said, stuffing the last bit in her mouth. He was smiling, so grateful to have her. She was caressing his hand as he was falling asleep again. The next few days, he still spend a lot of time resting. The parts of his chest he did feel were still sore, but he started to feel a little better. He was even slowly eating again and the IV's were removed. Even though he was glad he had made it through he knew how touch and go it had been.
On the last day in the hospital, Yvon and her husband James came to say hi as well. Julie spend the evening with him as she had just finished her last shift for the week. Chase was a bit nervous about her taking care of him. But he knew he had to allow her closer to him if they wanted their relationship to work out.
''You excited to go home tomorrow?''
''Yeah, better being home than being here, half a year was enough.'' Chase said as he left dinner for what it was not, finishing half his plate but having enough then.
''That was after the shooting?''
''Yeah.''
''Right.'' Julie said, not sure what to say. He still seemed ill and tired and the last thing she wanted to upset him.
''You going to find out what a mess my body is now.'' He said softly. ''I can't blame you if you can't deal with it.''
''I knew what I was getting into.'' Julie told him as she held out some water for him.
''I am really glad you still want to be with me though.''
''Ofcourse.'' She kissed him and he yawned.
''Alright, I am going to go. Will be here tomorrow at 9 to take you home.'' She promised and kissed him. Smiling at her, he waved as she walked out. He was so tired after dinner now, but so glad to go home tomorrow. He felt guilty about what he had said to House when he had woken up during the worst bout with the pneumonia.
Napping for a bit, he woke up with House by his bedside again.
''Good to go home tomorrow?''
''I am feeling pretty decent.'' Chase answered his question, trying to sit up a bit more and House got up to help him. Sitting up a bit more, Chase felt a bit less out of breath. Even though he was feeling better, he felt short of breath still but he knew that could still take a few days – or even longer until he finally fully recovered.
''What about the thing you said to me when you felt so ill?'' House said concerned.
''I am still trying to come to terms with what happened, and how my life changed.'' He admitted. '' I don't think I meant what I said.''
''I know you didn't.'' House said. '' But you were in bad shape and in a lot of pain.''
''I am really happy with work and Julie but it is still hard to accep-''
''That is not weird. It is not nothing.'' House told him. ''I can tell you, you never fully accept it.''
''Thanks for looking after me, again.'' Chase thanked him as he knew House did everything he could to make him better.
''Better not scare us like that again.'' House said as he was getting up.
''Not planning on it.'' Robert mumbled as House left his room. Tired, but happy that he was going to go home tomorrow, he tried to fall back asleep. Even though he was a bit worried about having somebody close him looking after him, something he was not used to, he felt special finally somebody seemed to care.
Before, his mother and his father had never looked after him, but now he had people caring about him.
It was not even just Julie, but House and his other coworkers as well. Looking as House walked away, he regretted the words he had said. Even though he had lost a lot, enough people cared about him to make it feel it was all worth it.
Thank you so much for reading! Hope you liked the conversations in the chapter and it wasn't too much Julie! Please let me know what you thought. :)
