I woke up early the next morning and stretched happily in bed. I didn't want to move from that position but my beeper chose that moment to vibrate on my nightstand.

1 new message: Where is my coffee?- H

I smiled and quickly text back: In the cabinet.- C

Where R U?

Still N bed

Can I join?

Pervert!

Lazy-azz!

I chuckled and waited a few minutes but he never wrote anything else, probably already bored with the game. I then got out of my warm cocoon and made my way to the shower to get started on my day.

As soon as I walked in the door of the ER Chase made a bee-line for me. "Allison, are you ok?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes and kept walking towards the small locker room to change into my scrubs. "Of course. Why would you ask that?"

"I tried calling you all last night but you never answered."

"Did you ever think I wasn't answering your calls because I wanted to be alone?"

He looked confused. "No."

I stopped and faced him. "Look, Chase. Just back off and give me room to breathe."

He watched me for a minute before taking a step back. "Ok."

"Thank you."

Car accident. Drunk driver. At 12:30 in the afternoon! People never ceased to amaze me. We were able to stabilize the driver. The passenger was not so lucky. The drunk, of course, was fine. He was able to walk out of the hospital with only minor cuts as the police escorted him to an awaiting car.

A 3 year old coming in for stitches. A classic example of why it wasn't a good idea to run with scissors. The mother was in more danger of hyperventilation than the toddler was of the cut. I hoped I would not be that frantic but I've seen doctors forget all medical knowledge when it came to someone they cared about.

Chest pains that turned out to be acid reflux.

Chest pains that were, in actuality, muscle spasms.

Severe chest pains caused by a myocardial infraction. It was the man's third heart attack. He was a pro, it seemed, telling us he knew the routine.

Robert came to me after our shift to see if I needed a distraction.

"Let's see a movie," I impulsively suggested.

"Anything," he agreed, his Australian accent stronger since he was tired.

He immediately regretted letting me choose when I picked Alvin & the Chipmunks. "I need something light and funny," I defended.

He shrugged as he shelled out the money. "I didn't say anything."

I playfully shook my finger at him with a smile. "No, but you made a face!"

He chuckled. "You can read my looks now?"

"And your mind. Don't forget that."

"Right."

Robert wanted to pay for overpriced popcorn so I made him feel better by letting him buy me an overpriced diet coke. "Why don't you want to see it?" I asked curiously.

"They look like creepy little midgets," was Chase's response.

"I think they're cute."

"Is that why you want to see it?"

I laughed. "That and I don't want to have to think about the movie." And I was a die hard closet case Jason Lee stalker. But Chase didn't need to know about that obsession.

He paid for his box of cholesterol covered corn and I happily took my coke to enjoy the minutes of nothingness.

After the movie we sat in the theatre waiting for the lights to come up. Chase squeezed my hand before releasing it. "Well, that was ninety minutes I will never get back."

"Aw, I thought it was cute."

Robert snorted. "You would. The chipmunks looked like stuffed animals."

I pretended to be horrified. "What exactly are you saying, Robert Chase?"

He gave me a grin. "You are such a girly-girl."

"I'll have you know I was very much a tom-boy growing up and could beat your ass in several sports."

"Don't tell me. You played softball."

"Volleyball and basketball. And I dominate at yard football."

"Tag?"

It was my turn to snort. "I had a houseful of brothers. Tackle football was the only way in our game."

"I wouldn't mind playing football with you."

I laughed. "I play rough and dirty."

His was a roguish grin. "I like it rough and dirty."

I felt obligated to slap him lightly on his arm.


"How was your movie?"

I took a second from bandaging a cut to glare at my interrupter. "I'm a little busy here."

"I was just being social. It's no reason to be bitchy."

I ignored him and cut the sterie tape to close up the gauze. I smiled at the twenty-something girl. "Next time be careful when chopping vegetables."

"Yeah," House added, "they make finger guards, ya know."

I waited until the patient was gone to round on the misanthropistic man. "I am far from being a bitch." Then I thought about his question and crossed my arms while I frowned at him. "How did you know I went to the movies?"

"Stop clinching. You can't convince me you aren't a bitch when you're making a face like that."

"House!"

He lifted his scruffy chin in a show of stubbornness. "I have eyes everywhere."

"Are you following me?"

"Negative."

"Are you having me followed?"

He smirked. "Wrong again."

I bit my lip as I tried to think as devious as House. "If you're so interested in what I'm doing then maybe you should try asking me out."

"Uh, been there. No, thanks. And I'm not so much interested as I am not deaf. You should tell that boy-toy of yours to keep his private life just that."

"Was he talking to Foreman?" I asked, slightly irritated.

"Spewing gossip like a 13 year old girl scout."

"I used to be a girl scout."

His smirk turned wider. "He would make you proud."

I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and relaxed my arms against my chest. "What is your excuse for harassing me today?"

"I need a reason?"

"If you are bored you can help clear the ER waiting area."

To my surprise he hobbled in that direction. I quickly followed. He stopped so suddenly in the entrance of the area I ran into his arm and his hand flashed out to stop my forward progress, spanning my stomach while I grabbed his upper bicep to keep from falling. Then he completely ignored me while he made an announcement. "Ladies and gentleman, due to lack of interest in the personnel we will now be implementing a new policy. As this is an emergency room we will only be treating true emergencies."

"What are you doing?" I hissed at him.

Robert walked up, unable to hide his curiosity at the noise. His gaze glanced down at House's hand and then back up at me with raised eyebrows. I blushed, let go of my grip and moved slightly away from his for my own personal space once more.

House continued. "For non-emergencies I will now be charging a fee of $500 for wasting my time."

The people stayed seated, staring at the tall man.

"Five hundred big ones, people. If you aren't in danger of dying within the next ten minutes you better have some cash."

"House," I said, trying to stop him.

One woman spoke up. "Where should we go?"

"There's a clinic through that door. Ask for Dr. Foreman, he's the best. Tell them Dr. Chase sent you." He turned to me as the patients started to stand, a trademark smirk on his face. "Done."

Chase made a face at him. "You're an ass."

"What's that?" House asked, looking at him. "I don't seem to be able to understand your clipped British accent."

I looked past the rivals to see there was no one left in the waiting area. "House, why did you do that?"

I was graced with the cerulean gaze once more. "You asked me to."

"Allison!" Chase exclaimed in surprise. "Why?"

"Yeah, Allison," House mocked, my name sounding strange from his lips, "why would you do such a thing? Someone could die."

"It was their choice to stay or leave," I told House, who suddenly looked mighty proud in that instant. My God, I thought, I completely validated what he did. Disturbed, I turned to Robert. "I didn't tell him to do that, Chase. I asked for his help."

"I did help," House said with a pout.

Chase put his hands on his hips. "You didn't help. You just shifted people from one area to another."

House looked around. "Seems you aren't busy here. They might need help in the clinic."

Chase curled up his lip in distaste. "Do you know how much I despise you?"

"Then I succeeded being your perfect father figure."

Chase took a step closer while the older man stood his ground. "You leave him out of this."

"He's always been in this since he forced you on me by dangling money for Cuddy's breast implants."

"You, guys," I tried to interrupt.

They both ignored me. "So you never liked me. Was it because you think I didn't earn my way on your team or because you were never given a choice?"

House smiled. "I hate it when my veto power gets taken away but then you never tried to endear yourself to me."

"I worked my ass off for you!"

"By selling me out the first chance you got."

Chase's face grew slightly red but I was powerless to stop them now. "It was your friend, Wilson, not me who talked to Tritter."

House's eyes turned flinty. "How about Vogler? How convenient you forgot about that betrayal."

"That's what it's been about?"

"Payback is a bitch."

Chase took a step back. "I tried to make it up to you."

House snorted. "Kissing my ass only works if you're cute and female. And you ain't that pretty."

"I was securing my job. I thought you of all people would appreciate that."

"Securing your job. How'd that work out for you?"

"My boss is more forgiving these days."

"I can't believe someone else is tolerant of your sloppiness. How many people have you killed?"

I had had enough. I put my hand on House's chest and pushed him slightly back. "Would you two grow up? Or at least go some place else? I'm tired of listening to it."

House stuck his bottom lip out at me. "You always take his side."

"I'm on no one's side," I told him. "I'm sick of you both. Go away."

Luckily, Chase was paged at that time to clinic. He glared at House while the other man grinned. But he left as he was bid.

"Alone at last," House said as he turned to me.

"House."

"Fine. You know where I'll be."

"Hiding from Cuddy, I'm sure."

He nodded. "How right you are. Holla!"