Chapter 8: When Did You Fall?

"They will see us waving from such great heights, 'come down now,' they'll say. But everything looks perfect from far away, 'come down now,' but we'll stay..." ~Such Great Heights, The Postal Service

I wake up curled up on my side. In the night, I pulled the sheet up to my chin and it now covers my naked body. I roll over and look at the man laying next to me. He is my fiancée and is in a deep sleep. He looks so peaceful that I can't wake him up.

Without waking him, I carefully get out of bed. Our clothes, except for the ones downstairs, are scattered on the floor. I go into the room across the hall to find my suitcase. Then I grab a book with a green cover and a black pen out of my bag. I also grab a blanket off the bed and wrap myself up in it.

I go back into Robert's room and out onto the balcony. It overlooks the backyard. I sit in one of the chairs for a long time not really thinking. A part of me just wants to go back to sleep, but I can't. Not now… So, I write. I don't keep a daily journal but sometimes I need to write to clear my head or to just process…

I jumped in my seat when Robert gives me a kiss on my cheek. I didn't hear him wake up let alone come out on the balcony. "Sorry. Morning." He said before sitting on the balcony railing. He is wearing blue boxers and a white t-shirt.

"Good morning." I say with a smile. I pull the blanket tighter around me. My shoulders are still exposed but they aren't as chilly as the rest of my body.

"Did you sleep well?" I nod my head. There is an awkward silence before Robert asks. "Last night…did I hurt you?" He is genuinely worried that he had hurt me the night before.

"It hurt..." I say. He looks upset with himself. "…but it got better." His face instantly changes. "It was good for me. What about you?"

A smirk appeared on Robert's face. "It was better than good." I know it was true from the way Robert reacted to my question. "I'm going to go downstairs and make breakfast I'll call you when it's ready."

"Okay," I say before going back to writing and Robert goes downstairs.

Sooner than later, I close the journal I am writing in. I start to go downstairs when I see the towel. There is blood on it from the night before. I stop and pick it up. I lay down on the bed. I want to cry but I can't help but smile. It was better than good.

Kate paced outside an operating room while Becky was having surgery. She had no doubts about the surgery or the surgeons' abilities. She had complete faith in that. No, what she was worried about was her job. Yes, she was self-centered right now. It was scary to wonder whether she would have a job in a few hours let alone minutes.

As one of the surgeons came out of the operating room Kate looks at her watch. It's too early for the surgery to be over. It's either a really good or bad sign. "Is everything okay?" Kate asked the surgeon.

"Everything is fine. The surgery was straight forward and was simpler than we expected." The surgeon responded as he starts washing his hands.

"Good."

"Do you know what caused the aneurism yet?"

"Not yet, but I have a theory." Kate said leaning back against the wall with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "How long will it be until the tape and report of the surgery are ready?"

The surgeon looked at her. He knew that Cuddy had signed for the surgery forms instead of House. He added one and one together and realized there was more to the story than appeared. "Taking the referral into consideration, I'll take it that you need a rush." Kate nodded her head. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you." Kate said. She knew that it would be a couple hours with or without the rush. She was going to have to find something to do for a couple of hours. She didn't feel like hiding from House at the moment. She figured that she had been hiding enough for one day. It was time to stop pacing and face the truth.

Kate walked up to House's office and went in. House was sitting in his office watching a soap. House looked at her and back at the television. "I could fire you."

"I know." She didn't know what to do. Should she sit, lean against the wall, or just stand still? Therefore, she did nothing.

House turned off the television set and went over to his side of the desk. He motioned for Kate to sit in the chair on the other side of the desk. "Sit." Kate cautiously sat down while House took out a folder and began to flip through the pages. "You were the top of your class. Then you got a prestige internship… I could go on forever. It's an impressive record. Too bad you tainted it."

"I get what you are trying to do. The thing is I wouldn't change anything I did even if it meant going behind your back so that I could get Becky her surgery again. No matter what the politics are, my patient always comes first. If you are going to fire me just do it. Otherwise, I quit."

House leaned back in his chair. "Now, this is interesting. I never said I was going to fire you. I said I could fire you and yet you quit. What you did was right for the patient. Your tactics were…interesting. Just don't make it a habit." House said.

"So…I'm not fired." Kate said stunned. It was unbelievable.

"Didn't you hear me the first time: no. Now, get out of my office before I change my mind." House said with a grin. "I'll see you Monday."

"I still have to figure out why she had the aneurism."

"Becky is a cheerleader. She fell in practice and hit her head. It's good you found it now verse later when she was dead."

Kate nodded her head. "I'll see you on Monday House."

I try to plan out what I am going to say in my mind. I come up with several plans but nothing sounds right. Everything is revolving around last night… I did not plan to have sex with Kate last night. I know she didn't planned it either. It just…happened. I was planning to save that for the wedding night. I guess not.

I am happy that I insisted on going shopping yesterday before we showed up at the house. Stuart, the ground's keeper and butler, still keeps an eye on everything. The house is stocked pretty well but my supplies were needed.

I decide to make pancakes. They always make things better and lighter. Although Kate acted as if everything was okay I still doubt her. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I'm just about done cooking when Kate comes downstairs. She still has the blanket wrapped around her. "Can I do anything to help?" She asks.

"No but thank you for offering." She hops up on the counter next to me and relaxes. She leans against the cupboards behind her. I notice one of her legs is exposed. The blanket ends just above her knee. There is something so tempting and attractive about her skin. Even though last night happened, I still want to jump her as soon as possible. I clear my head and get it out of the gutter.

I turn off the stove and move to get two plates out of the cupboard. As I am moving past Kate, she suddenly stops me. Her leg is stretched out to block me from moving. I turn around her other leg blocks me. I look at Kate she is grinning at me. She grabs at my t-shirt and pulls me closer.

"Morning." Kate says before giving me a kiss.

I don't know what to think but I can't refuse Kate. I kiss her back slow, long, and hard. Her legs wrap around me and pull me in even tighter so that her body is pressed against mine hard. My hand lands on her thigh. "Morning." I barely breathe out.

Kate kisses me slowly. It is as if she is concentrating extra hard. She stops and looks at me. "Thank you for last night."

I'm a bit surprised but I say it anyways. "Your welcome." Kate wraps her arms around me and rests her head on my shoulder. I hold onto her tightly. "How are you really?" She is shaking. I pick her up and carry her to the couch. We lay there and I hold her as she cries into my shoulder.

"I'm sorry." Kate says through tears.

"You don't need to apologize to me. I'm the one who should be apologizing to you."

She looks at me stunned. "Why? You didn't do anything wrong. I basically forced myself on you." I can't help but laugh. Kate laughs a little.

"You didn't completely force yourself on me. I didn't exactly keep my cool either. Sometimes, it just happens. It's just another to add to our wedding night." I give her a kiss and somehow I am able to get Kate to smile for the rest of the day.

Before Kate went home for the weekend, she checked up on Becky who has been out of surgery for a couple of hours. She looked over the chart before Becky wakes. "How are you feeling?" Kate asked.

"My head hurts." Becky said.

Kate checked the stitches and said. "It looks pretty good. It will be sore for a couple of days."

"Okay," Becky said. She was more tired than anything.

Kate had to get it off her chest before the chance went away. She sat in the chair next to the bed. "The other day you asked a question and I gave you an untruthful answer. I did make a promise to not have pre-marital sex. I fell in love with a guy who was…amazing. We were going to get married. Somewhere between planning the wedding and the actual day I slipped and broke my promise."

"Oh…"

"Yeah…" Kate took a deep breath to figure out how to say what she needed next. "At first, I regretted it. A part of me still does to this day."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm telling you this because from what I have observed, you are strong. You need to stay strong and keep to your morals. Don't ever let yourself slip."

"Dr. Harker may I ask what happened to your fiancée."

Kate stood up. "We broke up."

"Why?"

The question stumped Kate. She didn't know what to answer. "It happens…a nurse will check on you later." With that, Kate was out the door.

Chase was walking towards his car when he saw Kate. "I heard you almost quit."

"For a moment, I thought I was going to." Kate said. She leaned back against her car. She looked exhausted. "What are you doing tonight?"

"I don't have anything planned yet…"

"Good. Why don't you come over tonight?"

"Is six okay?"

"Perfect." Kate gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I'll see you tonight."

"Okay," Chase said before Kate got in her car and drove away. As Chase walked to his car, he couldn't help but smile. For the first time in a long time he had a feeling that could only be named as in love. Yes, he was falling and hard.

Chase showed up at Kate's apartment promptly at six. He had brought a nice bottle of wine that they had with dinner. Now, they were sitting on the couch relaxing. Kate was stretched out on the couch with her head on Chase's chest and her body pressed close to his. Chase had his arms wrapped around Kate. He loved feeling her body against his right now.

Chase looked down at Kate. She was starting to drift off to sleep. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Kate…" He whispered into her ear.

"Hmm…" Kate mumbled.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." He tried to move but his body was pinned not that he really minded.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes." He said with a smile.

Kate let out a deep breath and sat up. Without warning, Chase picked her up and carried her to the bed. She was already changed into a t-shirt and yoga pants so Chase just removed Kate's shoes and socks. He tucked her into bed and turned off the light. He was closing the door when Kate said: "Stay... Don't go."

Chase smiled. He kept his t-shirt on and stripped down to his boxers. He climbed into bed and laid down. He wrapped his arm around Kate and started to fall asleep. "Kate…" her breathing was steady and deep so he figured that she was asleep. "Kate…" He gently nudged her. "Kate…"

"Huh…" Kate sleepily muttered.

"I think I am falling in love with you." He gently whispered.

Kate's eyes shot open. She turned on the lamp on the side table and sat up. She looked at Chase. "Well… which is it?"

"Well, what?" He asked confused.

"Are you thinking about falling or are you in love with me?"

"I am in love with." He said the words slowly so that each one sunk in deeply. "I love you Katherine Harker." Without any sign, Kate pressed her lips to Chase's mouth. The kiss was deep, sweet, wet, and intense. Chase was not sure if gratitude or happiness that made the kiss that much better. All he knew was that the kiss left him breathless.

"I love you too Robert Chase." Kate said.

He was stunned but happy all at the same time. He kissed her back. "You don't know how happy that makes me."

Kate smiled. "I think I might have an idea." She yawned.

Chase turned off the light before pulling Kate in tight to hold her. "Let's go to sleep."

Kate turned over to look at Chase. "Rob…"

"Yes Kate."

"When did you know?"

"The first day that I saw you in the clinic. You made me catch my breath. What about you?"

"The night you dropped me off at my apartment. I realized that I still had feelings for you. I was just in denial for awhile after." Her hand gently stroked the side of his face and she looked deep into his eyes. "Kiss me."

"My pleasure." He did just that.

A/N: Warning! The story will be ending in a few chapters...I'm still unsure of how many. :)