Chase and Julie looked at the limited choice the airport coffeeshop offered for their lunch. They had just had an early morning flight from Princeton to Los Angeles and were now waiting for their connecting flight to Melbourne.
''Can you get me one of those.'' Chase pointed at some of the sandwiches, but his hand was shacking so bad she was not sure which one he meant.
''Which?''
''The – whatever, just any.'' He sighed annoyed.
''Tomato or chicken?'' Julie reached out.
''Tomato.'' He sighed.
''Got it.'' She mumbled as he was getting impatient. Putting it on the tray at that was on his lap, they ordered coffee and checked out.
''You sound a bit annoyed? Anything wrong? You okay for the long flight?''
''I just survived a four hour flight, we can't really turn back now.'' He told her as they made it to a table by the window, Julie moving the chair there aside for him.
''I just wanted to check.'' She said as she sat down, grabbing her cappuccino and panini from the tray.
''I am tired, but I am fine. Sorry about earlier.'' He assured her as he grabbed his plate as well.
For the first time in months, he was really looking forward to something. Even though he was scared about meeting up with his sisters and his friends – mostly about how they would react when they saw his wheelchair, and how much he had changed. But besides that, he was looking forward spending time with Julie away from both their jobs.
Looking at the planes landing through the window, she noticed him reading something long on his phone.
''House about a case?''
''Yeah.''
''You are on holiday –''
''I got a theory, it might help 'm'' Chase said as he started typing, his hands still shaking.
''You look really hot when you are this passionate about a theory.'' She laughed as he was furiously typing.
''Yeah, well, I just wanna be right and help.'' Chase smiled. ''Bet I hear what an idiot when we are land.''
''I'm sure you will be right.''
Two hours later, they were the first to board the plane. Having booked the front row seat with a bit more leg space, she wanted to give him a hand getting into the seat, but he shook his head.
''Could you fold it before we take it?'' The gate agent told them.
''We can.'' Chase told the agent.
''We can't keep it here?'' Julie asked, on their last flight they had been able to keep it folded in the galley, as they had been in business class.
''No, we are going to put it in the hold.'' The agent told them.
''It's fine Jules.'' He said as he lifted himself into the chair by the window. Julie put their bags away and sat down beside him.
Caressing her hand, they looked up as other people came into the plane.
''I see hope I am right – or at least helped.'' He said as she
Waking up after a few hours, his back hurt from sitting up in an awkwardly and he tried to stretch, but Julie noticed he could barely sit up and move.
''Jules, my back is really bad.'' He told her as she looked concerned. The flight was still another eight hours and he was not sure if he was going to make it.
''Want some painkillers?''
''Well yeah I don't think I can walk it off.'' He said more cynical then he meant. She rolled her eyes as she rummaged through the bag and grabbed the bottle then. Handing one of the pills to him, she looked as he laid back and she hoped it would get better for him. Even though it was bit mean from his side, she knew how bad the pain could get and tried not to mind.
''Sor-''
''It okay.'' She said as she went back her book.
''No I shouldn't have said that.''
''It's okay.'' She told him again. It was silent for a few minutes and she hoped he had been able to fall asleep.
''Jules?''
''Yeah?'' She put the book down.
''I'm buying you frozen yoghurt in Melbourne.'' He said with a cheesy smile and she started smiling again.
''Go to sleep you druggie.'' She joked as she kissed him on his forehead.
He only woke up Julie woke him up because they were landing and he had to sit up again.
''How are you feeling?''
''I'm fine.'' He assured her as she got up to put her bag away in the overhead compartment.
''If you are sure.''
''I am.''
At the airport, they were the last to leave the plane and even though Robert was cleared through customs within a wink because of his Australian passport, it took a lot longer for Julie. It took nearly another hour before they were finally at the hotel.
Checking into the hotel, Chase took a moment on the bed to realize he was really back in the city he had grown up.
Walking back from the shower, wrapped in a towel, Julie sat down on the bed beside him.
''You should take a bath, should help a bit with your back.''
''Yeah, I know, will do so soon, we can go out for a bit for dinner and ice cream.'' He smiled as he caressed her hand.
''I am not that hungry honestly – but you did promise me that ice cream.''
''I know, you are getting it.'' He laughed as he sat up, pulling the wheelchair closer. Getting to the bathtub, he struggled to get in, but glad the flight was behind them, he sunk down into the bath tub.
Months ago, he hadn't been able to do anything himself, not even move his hand, but now he was in Australia with a woman that cared so much about him. The shooting had been horrible, but at least some good things had come from it.
''And – did House tell you are an idiot?'' Julie came walking into the bathroom to do her hair.
''No – I wasn't fully right but I did put them on the right track.'' Chase answered as she sat down on the edge of the bathtub.
''You know – you already promised me ice cream but if you hadn't I might have had cause you solved a case, by text, in an airport – across the country may I add.'' She laughed. ''That is amazing.''
'''I didn't solve it –''
''You did, and you are such a great doctor, I am really proud of you.'' She smiled, caressing his jaw. Sharing a kiss, he was glad he had never lost the passion of being a doctor either after being shot.
As they made their way by the boardwalk, Julie suddenly noticed Robert was crying, looking at the sun setting into the sea.
''What is wrong?'' She asked concerned as she stopped walking.
''I just – it's stupid.''
''It's not stupid if you are crying.'' She said concerned.
''I used to walk here every day after high school to go surfing and now I can't even get on the beach.''
Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him on his head.
''See, that is not stupid.'' She told him concerned.
''I don't even know how I am going to face my friends tomorrow-''
''They are your friend's, they won't care as long as they see you.'' Julie said compassionate as she kissed him again.
''I know, I know.''
He dried his tears and they looked at the last bit of the sunset together.
''Now, how about that frozen yoghurt you promised me?'' She said as he wanted to continue his way.
''I didn't forget about that.'' He said with a small smile again, glad she knew how to cheer him up.
They made their way to the frozen yoghurt shop and he let her get as much as he wanted. He had always thought House was a bit of an ass for getting so mad with people, but now he was in pain a lot of the time as well, he started to understand it.
Back outside, she sat down on a bench and together they looked over the boulevard and the water.
''Thank you so much for taking me here. I am really grateful to be here with you.''
''Thank you for coming with me – and I am really glad you told me to contact my sister.''
Sharing a kiss, they looked at the sunset, hoping the weeks here and reconnecting with his family would help Chase – and they would have a nice time together.
But honestly, Chase as mostly nervous.
It has been a while! But I hope you still enjoyed the latest update in this story. I hope you are still interested in this story. Thank you so much for reading and hopefully till next chapter!
