Through Sickness and in Health

Author's Note: Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm happy with this one or not, so please let me know if it is a good continuation from the last chapter. If it's not, I shall rewrite it. Enjoy.

Talk to Me: Part 2

Chase wiped his mouth as he slouched against the toilet bowl. He and House had just gotten back from dinner, having eaten at a local Italian restaurant, and even though he only managed to eat half of his vegetable risotto, he felt horribly bloated and fat. House decided to play on his piano when they came back, and Chase had excused himself to go do some laundry, using the noise of his boyfriend's instrument and the washing machine to vomit the food before it had time to make a difference to his weight. He still hadn't spoken, and they were leaving for Australia in two days. Chase wanted to feel comfortable and confident with his body – especially his stomach – for when he went back home. He wanted to be able to walk about in just his board shorts and flip-flops, instead of having to wearing a tank top. He wanted House to feel proud to be walking around the hot city with him. He wiped a shaking hand across his face, wiping stray tears away. 'I can't keep doing this.' Chase thought to himself as he flushed the toilet and went to brush his teeth. 'I'm a doctor; I know the risks of this!' Of course, it was also easier for him to lose weight as a doctor, as he often pulled long shifts, and it was easy to forget about eating regularly as the patients always came first. He took a deep breath as he stepped on the scales for the first time in 4 days. He was 123lbs last time he checked. He looked down at the blinking numbers, grinning when he saw that he now weight 115lbs. He knew he was now underweight, but he didn't care. 120lbs had been his goal weight, and the fact the he lost more made him very happy. What worried him was that he knew it would be hard for him to stop purging after every meal. It had been hard enough the first time round when he was 16, he knew it would be harder second time. He knew he would need the help of his lover, but he didn't know how to ask. He really wanted to tell House, but he was scared that he would be mad at him. He rubbed his face as his stood up, flushing the toilet. He turned towards the sink and froze as he caught his reflection in the mirror. He had circles under his eyes, and his cheeks sunken. Tears came to his eyes as his reflection reminded him of his mother, and he couldn't stop them from falling. 'This has to stop.' He slowly made his way back down to House, not bothering to try to stop the tears. The quiet sound of his lover playing Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi instantly calmed him a little. House looked up as he heard the quiet footsteps stop at the threshold of the living room. His fingers stilled instantly as his eyes landed on his upset lover.

"Rob? What's the matter?" Chase opened his mouth to respond, but instead, a new set of tears started, and he started sobbing into his hands. House, scared slightly about what was making his Aussie so upset, was quick to get up from his piano bench and limp over quickly, pulling Chase into his chest. "Robbie? What happened?" he asked, rubbing soothing circles on the younger man's back. Chase shook his head in response and continued to bawl into House, clutching at his shirt. "Shh baby, it's okay." House tried to sooth his hysterical boyfriend. "Whatever it is, it'll be okay." His comforting words just made Chase cry harder.

'Maybe he cut himself?' House thought to himself as he held Chase tighter, but he quickly dismissed the idea as the younger man had never acted like this when he cut himself (aside from the first time). House gently led Chase to the couch, making him sit as his sobs started to subside. "Baby, what's wrong?" he asked softly once the sobbing had turned into quiet sniffles. Chase gazed up at him, biting his lip.

"You'll be mad." He whispered, voice hoarse from no usage.

'He spoke!' House cried in his mind. 'Wait, why would I be mad? I'm never mad at him?'
"Why would I be mad, baby? I could never mad at you." Chase looked down to his lap nervously.

"If you don't get mad at me, you'll just get mad at yourself." He whispered. "I don't like it when you get mad at yourself." He confessed. House could feel his heart breaking. He gently pulled Chase's chin up to look at him.

"I will never be mad at you." House assured him. "And I can't help it if I get mad at myself, but, I can promise that I'll try not to." Chase bit his lip again, looking unsure. "I love you no matter what, Robbie. You know that. Now, what's got my little wombat all upset?" Chase sniffed, taking a shaky breath.

"I…uh…I need your…um…help." He whispered, wringing his hands together. House frowned slightly. He placed a comforting hand over his young lover's shaking ones.

"Help with what, babe?" House asked quietly. Chase shook his head, not wanting to admit it. "Baby, I can't help you if I don't know what you need help with." That sentence alone had telling House everything; from when he was 16, to when he first stopped talking a few weeks ago. He was once again in tears as he finished, and even House had tears in his eyes as he pulled his duckling into his chest, pressing a kiss on top of the blonde locks. "Oh, baby." He breathed, head spinning. How could he have missed this? Why didn't he notice that Robert was losing weight? Looking at his face now, it was obvious. As if he could sense House's inner-anger, Chase pulled away frantically.

"I knew you would be mad! I didn't want to make you mad." Chase cried, trying to pull out of House's grasp.

"I'm not mad, Robbie!" House tried to sooth him. "I'm upset that I didn't notice, but I'm not mad." The older man placed his forehead against the younger's. "I'm so proud of you for telling me, you know that?" he whispered. He pressed their lips gently together for a moment. "We will get through this together." Chase flung his arms around House's neck suddenly.

"I love you so much." And the pair stayed like that until they eventually fell asleep, nervously awaiting the future that they knew would be difficult.