a/n: I rarely post on episode night, but one scene of Chase for less than thirty seconds didn't really do much for me. Hopefully the next update will help the Chasers out there that feel the same way. Oh, and the punch scene, I wrote that last week, before seeing tonight's episode. Anyway, enjoy chapter 2!

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Chase was too snug. He felt so warm and fuzzy. A sweet smelling, cozy body spooned him from the back, clutching onto him with deep urgency. In his arms was something soft and cushy, probably a large stuffed animal. Being sandwiched in between was like being enveloped in a cocoon. He snuggled tighter, never wanting the feeling to end.

"Robert, wake up."

Chase opened his eyes to see Cameron's lovely face right in front of him. His arms were wrapped around her as they curled up tightly in a twin hospital bed. It only took about five seconds for him to realize that Cameron was the large stuffed animal. So what was clutching onto him from behind?

"What's the matter?" Cameron asked when his rosy cheeks turned suddenly white.

"Something's holding onto me from behind."

"There's nothing there."

"Uh yes, there is." He jumped up, and the feeling of a presence instantly went away. "If I didn't know better, I think there's a ghost around here that's sweet on me."

Cameron laughed. "I don't blame her. At least I hope it's a she ghost. A guy might get a little awkward."

"I'm so glad you're amused by this." Chase said, unimpressed by her teasing. "Judging from the touch and smell, it's female." He looked around, not recognizing the room. "Where are we anyway?"

"Some hospital room. We were too tired and freaked out to think anymore last night."

Chase rubbed his face and sat down in a nearby chair. Their surreal situation was messing with his rational thought. "Where did we leave off?"

"Parallel universe."

"Oh, grand. Isn't that same thing as an alternative dimension?"

"It's all relative."

"Ha ha ha." Chase's sense of humor seemed to have escaped him. "Should I be concerned that you're up on your physics jokes?"

Cameron ignored him, going into full diagnostics mode. "I've been thinking. If we're in another universe, how is it we can see other people and they can't see us? How come we can open and close doors, touch objects and feel the floor under us, but no one notices it happening? If the universe we are in is an exact copy, why aren't there two of every person?"

"Sorry, I feel asleep when they were covering mechanics of matter in alternate realities class."

"Smart ass." She paced around a bit more, trying to work through the problem. "Parallel universes have been done and overdone in TV, books, and movies constantly. How did the people get back to their own realities?"

"It all depends what type of problem we're talking about. If we're ghosts and dead, going back isn't happening."

"Then I'm going on the assumption we're not dead. What's the most popular way to communicate?"

Chase's face lit up with the answer. "We need to find a child that can see more than what's there. Pets can too, but that makes communication tough."

"So, we need a kid that sees dead people?"

"If we were dead, wouldn't there be other dead people here too? Aside from horny Matilda that is." Chase felt something cuff him at the back of the head. "Oww!"

"Maybe we can't tell the dead from the living."

"Unless there was a nuclear explosion that took out the entire hospital, I'd assume everyone who can't see us is alive."

Cameron couldn't doubt that argument. At this point though, she couldn't doubt anything. "Okay follow me."

"Where are we going?"

"Where else do we find an extraordinary, clairvoyant child? To the children's cancer ward."

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Chase watched Cameron waive her hand in front of one kid after another, getting no response.

"Aren't you going to help?"

"Kids like you better," he said smiling, letting her know she was doing a great job.

"Not ten year old girls," she mocked.

"She was eleven." Chase defended, choosing to join the hand waving.

"Why do kids and pets see things that others don't see?" Cameron asked. "Was that written once in some book and accepted as canon for everything else?"

"No, it's because kids are less likely to add barriers to their minds." Cameron's eyes grew wide, realizing the soft and timid answer didn't come with an Australian accent. She looked all around her, trying to find the source.

"What?" Chase asked.

"Did you hear that?"

"The answer to your question, right?" Chase pointed under the bed Cameron was standing next to. Cameron looked under to see a little girl hiding there.

"What are you hiding from?"

"You," the girl whispered, not wanting to be heard by others.

"Why?"

"You aren't real."

"How can you tell?"

"No one else is seeing you."

Cameron crouched down, getting a good look at the child in front of her. She was the size of a twelve year old, bald, and had bright brown eyes. She felt horrible when the child gazed at her with complete fear. "It's okay. I won't hurt you. What's your name?"

"Francine! Get out from under there. It's time for your meds." A voice shouted from the other side of the room.

The girl frowned and let the nurse help her into bed. The nurse walked through Cameron, and noticed Francine looking over her shoulder.

"What are you looking at?" She asked.

"Nothing," the girl replied, still staring directly at Cameron. Her eyes then shifted to Chase. She swallowed her medication, and the nurse pulled the blankets over her. "Get some rest dear. I'll be back to check on you later."

Chase and Cameron watched the nurse leave, while Francine pretended to sleep.

"Why didn't you tell her about us?" Chase asked.

"She wouldn't believe me. No one ever has."

"Have you always seen people like us?" Cameron asked.

"You're different. Most of the people I see are souls crossing through. They don't stop to talk and I don't want to find out what happens if I make them. You're the first ones ever to talk to me."

"Look, Francine is it?"

The girl nodded.

"I'm Dr. Chase and this is Dr. Cameron. We're doctors in the hospital and we seem to have gotten lost."

"I overheard Dr. Wilson and someone else talking about two doctors that disappeared this morning. I'm good at pretending to sleep."

Chase and Cameron looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. "We need you to get Dr. Wilson for us. We want to give him a message."

"He'll never believe me."

"He will, because we're going to tell you what to say to him."

"What if he doesn't believe me?"

"Don't worry," Cameron said, trying to grab the girl's hand in support, but it swept through her. A frown draped on her face, showing her frustration over being unable to do something simple like console a little girl. It was a harsh reminder of how close yet how far away she and Chase were. This girl was their only hope. "We know Dr. Wilson. He won't think you're bad or crazy."

Francine considered what they were saying, and then nodded. She buzzed the nurse.

"Yes Francine?"

"I need to speak to Dr. Wilson. Now."

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Wilson responded to his page with deep concern. Francine had been his patient for the last year. He didn't know her that well, but he knew that she wasn't the type to page him out of the blue. It had to be important.

"What's the matter Francine? Feeling sick?"

"Who are Chase and Cameron?"

Wilson's eyes grew wide. "They're doctors here at the hospital."

"They're missing," she said.

Wilson took in a sharp breath, wondering how to approach the sensitive nature of this conversation. "I don't think we need to talk about this. Why are you asking about them?"

"Because they're standing next to you."

Wilson looked up and down at the empty space next to him. He didn't have time for the games, but always knew he had to indulge his younger patients. "Oh yes, I see them."

Francine folded her arms. "You're humoring me."

Wilson's guilty look confirmed her comment. "Why do you see Chase and Cameron there?"

"I see things."

"What sort of things?"

"Francine," Chase said, "we're wasting time here. Tell him, Beckett wanted to call his play 'Waiting for House' but found it to be too grim."

Francine's face turned sour. "I don't get it. Who's Beckett, and why would he call his play 'Waiting for House'?"

Wilson jumped. "Who told you that?"

"Dr. Chase, just a second ago."

Wilson was stunned, and then a smile crept on his face. He saw what was going on here. "Francine. Has Dr. House visited you at all?"

"Who's Dr. House?"

Wilson spun around and his hand drifted to the back of his head before he let out a small laugh. This was a good one. It was time for the yearly Halloween practical joke, and this time House got Chase and Cameron on it. The police in Cuddy's office was a great touch. He'll play along.

"Francine, it's my turn to ask questions, and hopefully you can get me some answers. Why are Chase and Cameron in the cancer ward talking to children?"

Francine turned toward the blank space, listening to the answer. "They're stuck somewhere. They don't know what happened, but were hoping to find a child that could see them."

He tried not to snicker. He had to play the part. "Have you seen spirits like this before?"

"Yes."

Wilson nodded, keeping his straight face. "Are they dead?"

Francine stopped to listen to Chase and Cameron.

"Great," Chase said, throwing his arms up into the air. "He doesn't believe her."

"You know how much trouble he and House go through with the practical jokes, especially this time of year." Cameron said. "Would you believe this?"

"We should probably answer the question. No Francine, we aren't dead."

"Wait a second," Cameron protested. "We don't know that."

"I thought we had been through this already! Even you didn't think we could be dead earlier."

"Francine?" Wilson asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Dr. Cameron says maybe, Dr. Chase says no. They're fighting over the possible answer."

That certainly sounded like Chase and Cameron, Wilson thought. Boy did House go for every detail. "Okay, I've got an idea. We'll all go tell Dr. House what's going on, and see if he can help. He has a gift for solving problems."

"I think that's a crappy idea, and if he doesn't believe a word you're saying, House won't either." Chase told her.

"Dr. Chase hates the idea, and says you don't believe me."

"Oh, I believe you." Wilson said.

Chase scoffed. "No he doesn't."

"No you don't," Francine said.

"Then we'll go to Dr. House. He'll set us straight."

Chase's face soured, while Cameron nodded in agreement. "Yes, we should see him."

"Okay." Francine went to get up, while Wilson lent his arm in support. "Let's go see Dr. House."

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Wilson entered the office with Francine in front of him. He had his hand on her shoulder, giving her encouragement against the mean doctor. After all, he had to play this right.

House didn't appreciate his game of Tetris being interrupted. He needed something to stimulate efficient brain activity, although he played really for the rush of the Tetris effect afterward. "I don't take personal referrals," House said, noticing them in the corner of his eye.

"Don't let Dr. House scare you Francine. Tell him what you told me."

Francine turned around to face him, hands on her hips. "I'm twelve. I know when people won't take me seriously."

"Listen to the little brat Wilson. She knows what she's talking about." House was still too engrossed in his game.

"It's okay Francine," Chase said. "I thought this was a waste of time too."

"I can see Chase and Cameron." Francine blurted.

That comment got House's attention. He turned to look at her, his menacing blue eyes scaring her a little. "Poor you. I usually pretend they're not there. That much prettiness makes me sick."

"They're standing right there and can hear you." Francine pointed to the other side of the office.

House looked where she was pointing. "So they're right there?"

Francine timidly nodded.

"Cuddy's going to fire you both for not showing up for work." He went back to his game.

"Why did we agree to this?" Chase said, throwing his arms up in the air. "Maybe we're just better off in this world. I'd rather be lost in wherever the hell I am then to put up with another minute of this miserable bastard."

"What are they saying Francine?" Wilson asked, noticing she was carefully listening.

"Dr. Chase is mad at Dr. House. He's thinks being in another world is better and called him a miserable bastard."

"In another world?" House looked up from his game again. "So, you're seeing their ghosts?"

"They say they're not dead." Francine clarified.

"Ghosts never think their dead," House replied.

Cameron gnashed her teeth. "For Christ sakes House, we're already past this! We aren't ghosts."

"Dr. Cameron says they're beyond the ghost thing and you're wasting their time."

House signaled Francine to move toward him closer. She did so cautiously. "Is Dr. Cameron naked?" House asked with low voice and evil grin.

"She's in a pixie costume."

"Too bad, I like my female ghosts naked. Is Chase carrying around a ball and chain?"

"He's a cowboy."

"I bet he is."

"That does it!" Chase shouted toward House. "If I am a ghost, I'm haunting you for all eternity."

"You and me both," Cameron said.

Chase took a deep calming breath, but it didn't help. "I've always wanted to do this." He walked over to House and swung a hard punch at him across the jaw. His fist ran through him without making any contact.

Cameron smiled with deep satisfaction. It was about time Chase was provoked into that. She was tickled to finally see him do it. "Feel better now?"

Chase nodded. It did feel great, even if it didn't amount in any pain for House.

Wilson noticed Francine's head move back and forth. "Let me guess, they're arguing again."

"No, Dr. Chase just tried to punch Dr. House. I guess he's wanted to do that for a while."

Wilson smiled, wishing he could have seen that. "House, they did disappear without a trace. What if they slipped into an alternate reality, or a different time zone, or went on to the other side?"

"The other side? You mean like in Poltergeist? You've been watching too many scary movies lately."

"You care to speculate what could be happening?"

House lowered his head, let out a deep breath and turned off the game. His concentration was lost now. He got up and grabbed his cane. "Fine, if you want me to come up with some theories, I'll need some help." He walked toward the office door.

Wilson shook his head. He had to admire House's superb acting job. He was really going all out for this prank. "Francine, why don't you come with me? There is someone I'd like you to meet."

"Francine, tell your imaginary friends to stay here." House shouted from the hallway.

Chase and Cameron scowled.

"I think I'll try to hit him next," Cameron angrily ran after him, but Chase held her back.