Chapter 9: When It Rains…

"It's time to makeup my mind and I can't really tell you what I'm going to do. There are so many thoughts in my head. There are two roads to walk down and one road to choose. So I'm thinking over the things that you said." Thinking Over, Dana Glover

Kate woke up to the sound of rain hitting her bedroom window. Outside, it was dark and cold. All that Kate wanted to do was curl up and stay in bed. She didn't know why but her stomach was twisting in knots. She had a bad feeling about today.

Kate rolled over in bed and stretched. She sat up and got out of bed before recoiling her feet under the blankets. The floor was cold. She wrapped the blanket around her and got out of bed. It was freezing in her apartment.

She jumped in the shower and her day began. Out of the shower and dressed, Kate went into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee into a cup to go. She couldn't eat her stomach was still twisted. She may not have wanted to face the day but she had to.

At work, everything was normal. There were no horrific emergencies or accidents. She didn't understand why her stomach kept curling and twisting into knots. She wasn't sick. The feeling wasn't that of a need to throw up she just had a bad feeling.

"Hey, are you okay?" Cameron asked Kate.

Kate poked at her lunch. "I've had a bad feeling all day and I can't get it out of my system."

"Oh…"

"It's probably just the weather getting on my nerves."

"Not a big fan of rain?"

"I don't mind rain but when it's bleak outside I do mind."

"Well, you could always be pregnant."

Kate nearly choked on her drink. She hadn't expected that out of Cameron's mouth at all. "Uh, that's not a possibility."

"You never know."

"Believe me, I know."

"Did you take a test?""

Kate was intrigued by Cameron's theory. "I can't be pregnant because I'm not having sex with Robert."

Cameron looked at Kate shocked. "You and Chase aren't…?"

"No."

"Wow." Kate gave Cameron a confused look. "He just has a strong sex drive. Plus, he is Chase."

Kate had heard about Cameron and Chase's arrangement however, she had never actually talked to her boyfriend about it. She didn't feel completely comfortable talking about it now either. The Robert she knew was very different from the one Cameron knew. "Do you miss him?"

"No. We weren't involved like you two were." Cameron said but Kate felt there might be more to the story.

"So, how are things with you and Kate going?" Foreman asked Chase as they were in the lab waiting for test results. Ever since Foreman had figured out what Kate meant to Chase he had made an effort to be nice. If it was possible, Foreman and Chase were actually starting to become friends.

"They are good." Chase said.

"Great."

"Yeah," Chase grabbed the test results and started to look at them. "Nothing. Everything is clean."

Foreman took the paper and studied it. "That doesn't make any sense."

"I know." Chase was quiet for a few seconds. "Have you ever been remotely close to getting married?"

"No. What about you?"

"Yes, Kate and I were engaged before. It's ancient history."

It took Foreman a few moments to process but he finally asked, "What happened?"

"I was stupid and threw it away."

"It's amazing that Kate even considered dating you again."

"I know."

"You can't screw it up this time."

"I'm not planning to."

"Well, what is it then?" Chase did not respond. "Come on. You opened this door."

"I told Kate that I love her and she said it back to me."

"Then what is the problem?"

"That's it. There is no problem." Foreman looked confused so Chase continued on. "After I ended the engagement, I didn't go out for…well, a long time. When I finally went to confront her it was too late she was gone."

"What do you mean by gone?"

"She had moved and changed jobs. When I found her, she looked so happy and I couldn't destroy that…not after the way I ended things."

"I'm confused. What are we even talking about?"

"Nothing. I don't even know. Never mind."

Kate knocked on Cuddy's door before opening it. Cuddy motioned for her to come in and sit down all the while on the phone. "Yes. Well, thank you and we'll be in touch." Cuddy hung up the phone and looked at Kate. "Sorry about that."

"It's okay. What did you want to see me about?" Kate asked apprehensively. She was, without any real reason, worried about what would happen next.

"Your contract."

"Oh," Kate let out her breath, which she had been holding.

Cuddy looked at her and smiled. "Dr. Harker, it has been a pleasure having you work here. However, your contract was for six months."

"Let me guess, House hasn't renewed it."

Cuddy let out a sigh. "As of yet…no."

"So, what are my options?" Kate asked.

"Well, one House does renew your option. Two, your contract isn't renewed and I can move you into a new department. Three, you leave PPTH but I doubt that you want that."

"No, I don't want to leave."

"Good we would hate to loose you here."

"Where would you put me?"

"ER, ICU, Pediatrics, or I could always put you on the surgical staff." Cuddy said.

With each option, it sounded worst and worst. Kate finally said, "Wow, that's…"

"I know it isn't great."

"No, it's fine. It's just…a little unexpected."

"I'll see if there is anything else I can find for you."

"I'd appreciate it." Kate said.

"I don't know how this sounds to you but I know that Mercy does have some openings."

"Hmm… Yeah, we will see. I still have two weeks to figure everything out."

"Right and things can always change."

Kate nodded her head and walked into the clinic. She grabbed a file and took her new patient to an examination room. It was an easy distraction.

"Hey," Chase said to Kate as she walked out of the hospital.

"Hi," Kate leaned over and gave Chase a kiss once outside the building. She refused to kiss him while inside the building, but outside it was okay.

"How are you doing? I haven't seen you all day."

"I'm okay. What about you?"

"Just okay?"

"It has just been a long day. I'm beat. You never answered my question."

"I'm better now that I've had a chance to see you."

Kate couldn't help but blush and smile. She stopped by her car. "Wow, you must have missed me."

"You better believe I did." He took Kate's hand and pulled her close. "You know what else?"

"What?"

"You have very kissable lips as well." He gently pecked her lips. He placed his hand behind her neck, pulled her body tightly against his, and lightly kissed Kate.

"You aren't too bad yourself." Kate said breathlessly and pushed her hips against him hard.

Chase's hand slipped down to Kate hips and around the back. Kate released a pleasurable moan into his mouth. Chase smiled and leaned Kate back against the car. He suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Kate asked.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Kate gave him a curious and confused look. He just held her tightly. His grasp felt desperate and it scared Kate.

She tightly held him and ran her fingers through his thick blonde hair. "Babe…"

"Shh…" So, she just held him.

She opened her mouth but decided not to ruin the moment.

"Kate,"

"Yeah,"

"I'm sorry that I never came by."

"What are you talking about?"

Chase looked Kate in the eyes. "I found you at Melbourne Health."

"What? Why didn't you come and see me?"

"You looked happy and I didn't want to ruin it. I figured I had messed things up enough why mess them up more."

"You should have talked to me."

"I know that now and I am sorry."

"Robert, you might find this strange but I don't remember why we broke up."

"I was an idiot. That's why." He gave Kate a kiss.

It was a normal day for Chase. He went to work and came home. It was one of the few nights he actually wasn't with Kate. It was strange to him. He spent so much of his free time with her that he missed her. It was probably had something to do with the fact that he couldn't wait to be married to her.

Chase saw that his answering machine had two new messages on it. He pressed play. The first was from Kate telling him that she wouldn't be able to see tomorrow night as well as tonight. He was sad but okay with it. The second message was a complete surprise. He had to repeat it to make sure it was even real.

"Hello Robert, this is your father. I heard that you are getting married. Congratulations." Something in Rowan's voice gave away for disapproval. Right on the dot, Rowan Chase went on disapproving of Robert's decision. "I think you are a bit young to get married but it might teach you a thing or two. Katherine Harker comes from a very respectable family. I'd hate to see you ruin her reputation. Why she even agreed to marry you is beyond me…" Chase shook his head in disgust. Some things never changed. He couldn't take it anymore so he deleted the message. He couldn't listen to it.

Robert Chase tried his best not be effected by his father's remarks but he couldn't help it. Rowan Chase was still his father. No matter how hard he tried, a part of Robert would still listen to his father.

Chase started to ask himself questions that he'd never asked before. Why is Kate marrying me? Is she just taking pity on me? Does she really even love me?

It drove him insane for the entire night and next day. So, the next day he drove to Kate's parent's house. He knew she was over there picking up some stuff. He walked up to her room where she was packing and leaned against the wall.

"Hey." Kate said. She gave him a peck on the cheek, His coldness, caught her off guard. "Are you okay?" He just nodded his head. "Robert, you are scarring me."

"Sorry."

Kate went over to Robert. She let her lips barely brush his but he didn't return the kiss. He didn't even engage her. "Wow…" she said with a shaky voice. "You must really hate me or something."

"I don't hate you."

"Well, you don't appear to like me at the moment."

"Katherine—"

"You never call me Katherine."

"Yes I do."

"Not in that way."

"What do you mean?" Now he was confused.

"You only call me Katherine when you are extremely happy, but you're not happy…"

"I'm ending it." Kate froze where she was standing. Her eyes were wide and all the blood rushed from her face. "Kate…" Robert tried to touch her but she pushed him away.

"Don't touch me."

"Okay,"

"Was it the sex? Was I really that bad?"

"No!"

"Then what is it?"

"I just think it is for the best."

Kate sank down on her bed in disbelief. "What have you done with my fiancé?" She had tears streaming down her face. "Get out." When Chase didn't move she yelled. "GET OUT! NOW!!"

"Kate, I'm sorry."

"Don't ever talk to me again." Robert was gone. Kate heard the front door open and close. Kate curled up into the fetal position on the bed. She couldn't do anything but cry. She cried and cried until she fell asleep. The next morning, she cried some more. For months, Kate just cried herself to sleep. Her love, Robert, was gone now.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything.