Hmm… okay now, this is totally unrelated to this chapter, but do any of you know how big House's shower is? I think they showed his bathroom in one of the episodes, but… Well, if nobody knows, I'll just make up the size of his shower. This information is for the sequel I hope to post for this story.

So if you want a sequel, keep reviewing!! (This story is eight chapters long)

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Chapter Five: Lunch

House wasn't the kind of person to mull over things, and yet he had found himself doing so. In need of a distraction, he wandered down to the cafeteria for lunch.

He had hoped to find Wilson and nick some of his food, but the serious doctor was no where in sight, so House was forced to buy a sandwich.

"I said no pickles," he muttered when he got back to his table. But for once in his life, he decided not to make a scene.

This was about the time when Chase came bounding up. He stood right beside House, so that the older man couldn't ignore him.

"What?" House asked through a mouthful of beef and bread. Chase shuffled his feet.

"I know I was angry before, but… can I sit with you?" House stared, sandwich forgotten.

"Who are you, a starry eyed junior high girl with a crush?" Chase tried his very best to ignore the comment, but he still turned a shade redder.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'" Chase replied a little stiffly, plopping down into the seat beside House.

"What, did Cameron and Foreman skip lunch or something? Why are you sitting with me?"

Chase shrugged. "You looked lonely."

"Like hell I did!" House exclaimed. Looking around, he spied the other two ducklings sitting at a table a good distance away, talking, and glancing over now and then.

"Are you an idiot?!" he asked Chase harshly.

"No," Chase retorted defensively.

"Attracting needless attention," House mumbled into his sandwich. Chase frowned.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Oh no, not at all. In fact, I think I might faint." House held his hand to his head in mock distress.

"You never really accepted or rejected me," Chase stated out of the blue. House made a face.

"And you never answered my question." The blonde looked flustered.

"And what was that?" he asked, feigning ignorance. House leaned in close. He could practically feel Cameron's eyebrows raising halfway across the room.

Chase could feel House's breath on his face. "What was it about me?" Chase was left dazed by the close contact.

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be so confused," he stammered. House pulled away smoothly. His attention seemed to be lost already, so Chase made a desperate attempt.

"Remember that time I hugged you?" House snapped back to attention at this, but didn't respond.

Chase continued nervously. "And before, you said 'don't do anything unless you're ready to follow through with it'? Well," he concluded, "I'm ready."

"Prepared for all the consequences?" asked House softly. Chase had never heard him like this.

"Absolutely," he said uncertainly. House's eyes were going out of focus.

"No, you're not. You're just a… a kid…" His voice peetered out. His eyes rolled back in his head.

"House? House?!" House toppled over in a faint, and Chase leapt forwards to catch him.

"Cameron! Foreman! Help me out here! Something's wrong!!"