A/N: Sorry it took so long to post! I am currently writing two unrelated stories and got distracted. I don't own House. Enjoy!
Chase and I were at dinner that night when I told him what had transpired in the break room.
"Hm," he said. "I was wondering why there was a sudden rash of rumors abound. Was he really begging?"
"You know how House is. It was over-dramatized."
Chase gave me a measured look as he pushed his bread around his plate. "You going to do it?" he asked in a clipped voice. House, apparently, still wasn't forgiven for abruptly firing him.
"I don't know," I answered honestly.
"You're considering this?" He was incredulous. "After the way we were treated?"
This had been a touchy subject in the past weeks since returning to Princeton-Plainsboro. I pushed my half-eaten plate aside. "Admittedly I was appalled at the way he treated you but he was fairly decent to me."
Robert placed his fork down decidedly. "'Fairly decent'? Allison, have you forgotten nearly everything that happened under House? His verbal attacks are horrendous. His mental games unjust. And his people skills are more than lacking."
I shrugged, unable to deny the truth. "There's still so much to learn from him."
Robert threw his hands up in frustration. "You said yourself there was no more he could teach you."
"I was mad when I said that and I was wrong."
"The only thing to be learned from that bastard is how to apologize to his victims for his mannerisms."
I tried to keep my temper down. "Chase, could you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Could you remember we aren't talking about you but me?"
"Well, I most certainly am not going to go running back," he said, cruelly.
"He wouldn't have you back," I snapped then rubbed my temples with my hands. "Could we finish this conversation later please?"
He threw his napkin in his plate. "As far as I'm concerned this conversation is over. It doesn't involve me, remember?"
I pushed my hair off my forehead and studied the angry man in front of me. "I don't know why you are so mad at me. I had nothing to do with House's actions towards you."
"Are you sure? House seems petty enough to get rid of the competition."
A laugh escaped from my mouth. "Is that what you thought it was all about? It couldn't be because House didn't like you as a doctor?"
Chase pouted. "No. Why? Is that what he said?"
"Chase!" I called him in my frustration. "He's always denounced you as a doctor. Why in the world would you think of yourself as competition? For what?"
"You."
"Me? Are you insane?"
He ran his fingers through his think blond hair. "House likes you. I stand by that."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, I don't believe this. Next, you're going to ask about my feelings."
"Well?" he asked.
I stood abruptly, nearly knocking the chair over in my haste. I dug in my purse and threw down some bills. "I'm going home. I'll see you tomorrow."
He looked like I had kicked his puppy. "Aren't you coming over tonight?"
I shook my head. "I've got things that need to be done."
He stood and leaned close to me. "Did I do something wrong, Allison?"
I felt a touch of impatient with him I thought was buried. "This is always going to be between us, Robert. And we've always known it. It's when it becomes a problem that things get sticky."
"I've got no problems. Not with you."
I simply nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow," I repeated and then headed into the cold night to walk the several blocks back to the hospital where my car was parked.
The wind was brisk and swept my fastened hair and tails of my scarf back almost with violence. I cinched the belt on my coat and buried my ungloved hands deep in my pockets to retain some of the heat from the restaurant. The cold cleared my anger and by the time I reached my car in its horrible parking spot from the late shift beginner I found myself looking forward to grabbing a book, a glass of wine and having a long steamy soak in my bathtub with just myself and some peace and quiet.
When I had first left the hospital after leaving the team, well leaving with the team, I was hesitant to give up my apartment. I knew I should have left the area but it was home now. Chase had wasted no time trying to make our relationship into something close and intimate and I let him lead the way. I only put up resistance when he pushed to move in together. He had mentioned marriage but I laughed at the idea. I was being true to my word and would try to make it work, but not at that high cost. It was too soon to go down that road again.
By the time I had reached home Chase had called me three times- all of which I ignored. Irritated, I made the decision to turn off my phone- something I had rarely done since adding the MD to my name. I still had my beeper for emergencies but I wasn't on call and I deserved a break too.
Then I proceeded to do everything I could to pamper myself for the night. I kept that selfish card way too hidden.
