Dearest Readers,

There's a bit HouseXChase moment in this chapter. I don't think it's really mushy-gushy, but House is a bit OOC.

This chapter has LOTS of editing, but doesn't really change the story in general.

Read on, Cherubs.

Over and out.

Chapter 2

Chase sat on the ledge of the roof, legs dangling over the edge as he looked up at the sky, lost in thought. House watched him from his place by the door, leaning against it as he tapped his cane lightly against his shoe. He just stood there and stared fondly and thoughtfully at the blonde. It took him a long time to process the thoughts and feelings associated with Chase; he's never really understood those kinds of things because he never truly allowed them to enter him. These thoughts and feelings had made themselves known since he first laid eyes on Chase. Even though he told people that he hired Chase because of his father, which was honestly true to an extent, he knew that hiring Chase was one of the best decisions he's made since he's been at PPTH.

He quietly walked forward, careful to not scare his duckling. He smiled slightly at the realization that he was becoming possessive of the blonde. Chase briefly darted his eyes to his right as he heard someone approach, but turned his gaze back up to the clear blue sky, which had always reminded him of his boss's eyes. He felt his cheeks gain a little warmth as he thought fondly of the older doctor.

House sat on the ledge to Chase's right and gingerly lifted his legs to dangle on the ledge. He leaned his cane against the ledge near him, folded his hands on his laps, and turned his gaze up towards the sky as well. Silence fell between them for a few moments as House gathered his thoughts and Chase wondered why House was sitting with him.

Why had House bothered to go out of his way to come to the roof? He knew that House couldn't exactly use the stairs in the first place, so why had he climbed the many steps just to sit next to him? This was extremely unlike House, so what the hell was going on? But he honestly didn't mind having House with him. Unlike many people, he enjoyed House's company. Sure the older man could be a pain in the ass, it's what he's known for, but he's noticed that House had moments (even though there were few of them) that the older doctor would soften up…very slightly, but he noticed them.

"Dr. Matthews came to see me today." House started, still staring at the sky as he felt Chase stiffen next to him.

So Matthews was right.

"Oh? What did he want from you?" Chase's voice was steady and calm; he had a feeling where this conversation was going. House thought a moment.

Even though he got much enjoyment in pushing other peoples' buttons, he didn't like making Chase upset. Chase wasn't open about his personal life, so he honestly didn't know what his personal life was like. But he thought that since Chase was so tight-lipped about his personal life, then Chase has had experiences in his past that still haunt him and that not many people around have experienced. At that point, he did something that he never does:

He chose his words carefully. He knew that he was entering very dangerous territory and he didn't want Chase to clam up.

"He's worried about you…and so am I." Chase moved his eyes towards him.

House is worried? Why? House…worried…about me? House doesn't "do" worry.

"He wouldn't tell me what he was worried about because of the damn patient confidentiality thing. However," He turned towards Chase, clear blue eyes locking with green-blue ones, "I've always noticed something about you since you first came here." Chase looked steadily at him, keeping his emotions in check.

"Oh? And what would this something be?" House noticed Chase's tone of voice, knowing that he was entering further into dangerous territory. Chase felt his heart clenched painfully and pressure built behind his eyes as he stared back into House's eyes, knowing that he was trying to get passed his defenses.

House began to see a look in Chase's eyes that he's never seen before began to shine: the look of absolute misery. Chase started to focus more on his breathing as he felt his emotions rise through his throat, threatening to flow from his lips and express themselves to House. A burning question floated to the forefront of his mind, wanted to be asked. Chase eyed House carefully, pushing emotions out of his eyes. House kept his face calm, but his heart fell as he saw the look of misery retreat back into green-blue depths, knowing that Chase was retreating into himself again.

"What do you truly think of me? Be honest." Chase asked it quietly, House barely able to hear him. The question surprised House a great deal, not seeing the question coming.

Where did that come from?

"What do I truly think of you?" House repeated quietly; again, knowing that he was very deep in dangerous territory, even though Chase was emotionally distancing himself. Chase broke eye contact, finding his hands more interesting.

"Chase," House said, trying to get the blonde to look up. He waited, knowing that Chase wouldn't look back up at him. Carefully, House reached over and gently grabbed Chase's upper right arm, instantly noticing the thinness of his arm. Chase tilted his head towards him, eventually looking up at him.

"I think that you're the most interesting person I've ever met." House started quietly, causing Chase's eyes to widen briefly. "That's one of the reasons I hired you: you're a puzzle. You're very difficult to figure out. You've been here for a few years and no one knows barely anything about you." He paused.

"I don't like talking about myself." Chase said softly.

"Why's that?"

"Does it matter?" Chase countered quickly, throwing House off with his automatic response.

Don't push too hard, you ass.

"I guess it doesn't." House said. "You like to keep everything involved with your personal life to yourself. That's an interesting thing to me." Chase quirked an eyebrow.

"Why? A lot of people are like that."

"You're more tight-lipped than most people…and I'm curious as to why that is." Chase broke eye contact again and turned his gaze towards the sky.

Back off, Greg, back off. Don't make him shut down.

"You don't give yourself enough credit." House continued after a few moments of silence. "You've very hard on yourself." Chase turned towards him again slowly.

"I believe you have to be your own harshest critic." Chase said smoothly. House nodded.

"Granted, but you're a brutal critic of yourself." Chase shrugged his shoulders slightly and turned towards the sky again. House sighed quietly.

He has more defenses than I thought.

"You're the best member on the team in my opinion and I'm not saying that to boost your ego." Chase's body stiffen as he turned towards him, surprise on his face.

"What?"

"You're the best member I have on the team. You catch the small details and can break through the patients the best." Chase felt his face heat up slightly at House's compliment.

I've never seen this side of House before. He never gives compliments.

"People say that I'm hard to figure out, but I don't really think so." Chase tilted his head, blonde hair falling into his dull green-blue eyes. "I think you're much harder to figure out than I am." Chase felt his face warm up again.

"I just don't like talking about myself."

"I know it doesn't really matter why that is, even though I am curious about your reasoning. If someone doesn't want to talk about their personal life, I don't push them about it unless it pertains to the case…or if I just want to piss them off, I do push them." Chase chuckled lightly as they locked eyes again. "But," House continued seriously. "If someone I care about is keeping something to themselves that is hurting them to the point that another doctor becomes concerned, that's when I become worried and do what I can to help them." Chase's eyes widened as he felt his breath get caught in his throat.

What…did he just say? Did he say…someone he cares about? He…House caress about me?

"You…you care about me?" Chase asked tentatively, feeling his emotions climb through his throat again. House's eyes softened more at Chase's tone of voice. He's never said anything like that to anyone before. He just admitted to Chase that he cares about him.

"Yeah…yeah, I care about you, Chase." He paused, letting his words sink in as he felt his heart hammer in his chest. "If you hurt, I hurt too." Chase tried to push back the emotion that threatened to leak into his eyes, but realized that he was failing. He's never seen this side of House, not knowing that this side of him actually existed.

Where did this side of him come from?

House felt his heart beat even faster as he saw strong emotion leak into Chase's eyes, knowing that he had at least put a crack in the blonde's defenses. Despite being in dangerous territory, he felt a huge sense of relief as he realized that Chase dropped his defenses, no matter how small. Chase broke eye contact with him again, but House wouldn't allow that to happen again. He carefully reached forward and placed a finger on the side of Chase's face, making the blonde turn towards him again.

"Dr. Matthews told me earlier today that something is seriously wrong with you and like I just said, that makes me worried and I'll do anything I can to help you…even if you won't let me. I'm notorious for my stubbornness."

Chase processed House's worried, realizing in that moment just how close he was sitting to House. He felt the older man's body heat against him and the gentleness of his finger against his skin, surprised that he could be this gentle and soft. His eyes closed slightly as his eyes dropped to House's left shoulder, not truly seeing it as he continued to process his words.

House was worried about him.

House was going to try to help him, even though he didn't know what he needed help with.

House cared about him.

House…was trying to break through his defenses.

He directed his eyes back up at House, hating the fact that emotion was now flooding his eyes, making them appear glassy. House felt his heart clench as he saw Chase's green-blue eyes flooded with the emotion that the blonde tried desperately to repress. They continued to stare at each other, House trying to see pass the blonde's defenses and into his thoughts, as Chase tried to figure out this new side of his boss. Silence few between them for a couple minutes.

"I don't want to talk about it." Chase said quietly, breaking the silence. House hid his disappointment, even though he highly doubted that Chase was actually going to open up in the first place.

"I know."

"Here." House's brow furrowed slightly, confused at Chase's statement.

"Here?" Chase nodded slightly.

"I don't want to talk about why Dr. Matthews is worried about me here." House then understood what Chase meant.

So he is willing to open up…

"Where then?" Chase hesitated, his face heating up once again. He turned away from House again, causing House's finger to slip away from his face.

"My place?" House's eyes wandered over Chase, surprised at Chase's suggestion.

"We'll leave at 9-ish, sound good?" Chase turned back towards him, locking eyes, slightly surprised at House's agreement. A small smile slipped onto his face as negative emotion left his eyes again; he nodded.

"Sounds good." They turned back towards the sky, comfortable silence falling between them. House carefully draped an arm around Chase's shoulders…his unusually bony shoulders.

HouseXChase

Alright Gang,

Reviews would be wonderful!

When-Rabbit-Howls