Hey it's me again!! Yeah, this took more time then I thought it would, because I really had to think this over and I had to watch the episodes Control and Babies & Bathwater again… Also, I got sick this weekend. You know, the kind of sick that makes your eyes burn in the light, and you can't stop coughing and stuff. Yeah… not fun.

Anyway, now I'm feeling a lot better and up to writing the next chapter; optimistically it'll be done in the next few days or so. So here ends my tales of affliction, and here begins the new chapter! Enjoy… hopefully.

Chapter Seven

Too Little Two Late (Part One)

And I could be good, and I would - If I knew I was understood
And it'll be great, just wait - Or is it too little too late?
One day, this embarrassment will fade behind me
And that day I could think of things that won't remind me
But these days it's unbearable for both of us
We can't discuss it this way

----

"What, you think I'm going to get fired?" Cameron scowled at Foreman, who shrugged; "It's not going to be me." He said knowingly, looking sideways at Chase.

"Hey, cut it out you two!" Chase exclaimed while Cameron and Foreman glared at each other. "Easy for you to say – you're not going to get fired!" Cameron told him. Chase sighed; "This is exactly what Voglar wants to see; us fighting and biting each others' head off…" The Australian reasoned, "We have to stick together." Foreman smirked, "You're still not the one getting fired."

"No, I think he's right Foreman. We shouldn't fight; it would be playing exactly into Voglar's expectations… I don't know about you, but I don't want to give him the satisfaction." Cameron said, posed. Foreman continued to look mad, but he stopped shouting. "Right. We still have to be careful though… House thinks someone ratted him out to Voglar about the Ipecac pills." He told them, straitening his tie nervously, "But I think it would be better that we stand strong together." They all nodded in agreement.

Chase felt a pang as he realized what Foreman was saying: Cuddy probably told Voglar he had helped House lie to the Transplant Committee, and now Voglar wanted Chase out of here. This was only a pretext. There wouldn't be a choice for House: it was Chase who had to go.

"We had better go take a look at the patient." Chase said to change the subject. House had gone to do some clinic hours as his punishment from Cuddy, who had realized he'd made his ducklings do all the ones he'd had to do last week.

----

"Why can't any of you doctors see past her weight?!" The patient's mother asked desperately. Cameron gulped and was at a loss of words. "If diet and exercise are the treatment; then the diagnosis is wrong." The woman concluded, and Cameron closed her eyes. "That might be. But the only way we'll know is if you let us do this test." The mother smirked, but nodded.

"Obesity isn't something you just grow out of." Chase stated as he and Foreman entered the conference room, having finished their tests on Jessica for the time being. "I take it you've never seen a baby?" Foreman retorted. Chase snorted; "She's not a baby, she's ten!" They saw Cameron working on her laptop when they entered. "So you figure making her feel like crap would do a world of good?!" Foreman asked snappily. "Yeah! If it gets her off the couch." There was a silence and Foreman sighed, turning his back on the Australian.

"You're contradicting yourself Chase, we have to stick together right?" Cameron said sadly, but before the blond could answer, Foreman spoke again; "Forget it Cameron, he's just cranky because he knows he's the one who's gonna get the axe." Cameron looked up at Chase, who simply glared – it seemed he'd figured it out too…

"What do you mean? I thought you kept saying I have nothing to worry about?" Chase asked defiantly.

"I know you're the one who told Voglar about the pills. Don't try and deny it – I can see right through your little game. You can try and make me believe you love House, but I just find it hard to believe the way that you –"

"What the hell do you know?" Chase shouted, insulted, "I love House. What more is there to say? I don't know how Voglar found out… The only thing I know is that we'll just look weak if we keep fighting –" He stopped talking, staring into space.

"What? Cat got your tongue? Suddenly realized what you're saying doesn't make any sense?" Foreman taunted. Chase shook his head slowly, then opened his eyes wide. If this had been a cartoon, there would be a light bulb over his head. "I've got it!" He cried out, "Listen… we can beat Voglar… If we just stop fighting over this! He's expecting us to rip each other's head off and everything. But if we just continue to get along, nothing bad'll happen. Trust me, we'll get out of this… I just know House will find a way."

"How do you expect us to get along with you right now? You say House is not going to fire anyone… Easy for you to say." Foreman retorted. Cameron exhaled noisily. "Chase is right, again, I think we should get along… even if it's just to prove Voglar wrong. Don't you have enough ego for that?" She asked Foreman, who seemed to suffer interiorly before finally sighing; "Okay then… whatever."

Their pagers all went off and they ran to see what was wrong with their patient.

----

"She's sedated," Foreman told Jessica's mother as they watched the girl through the glass. The mother looked at the three doctors in anger; "You were supposed to be monitoring her condition, instead you were bickering and placing bets!" Indeed, Foreman and Chase had rather lost their patience at each other while the exam, the former still skeptic of the blond's plan.

"Okay, I apologize if it looked like we weren't attentive to your daughter, but I assure you that we were." Chase told her in an attempt to justify himself, even if it was Foreman's fault. "Oh please, save your pathetic insincerity for your boyfriend." The mother told him smugly.

"That would be me." House said as he walked into the scene. Chase felt his face redden. "And you are?" The mom asked. House smiled; "I'm from the lab. What happened to you daughter wasn't caused by anything these doctors may or may not have done." He reassured her, glancing at his ducklings.

"Then what was it caused by?" She asked nervously, to which House told her, shrugging; "I have no idea. However, you'll be happy to hear it cannot be cured by diet or exercise." The mother stared, and the doctors followed their mentor as he limped away.

"I hardly need to remind you that this would be an extremely good time for one of you to distinguish yourselves with a brilliant idea." House told them, writing temporary psychosis as the new symptom on the whiteboard as soon as they got to the conference room. Nobody spoke, all in silent agreement that they wouldn't fight about this. House raised an eyebrow; "Nothing? Okay, all credit goes to me." Still, everyone stayed silent. "C'mon, just think! There's a whole universe of ridiculous obesity treatments that could cause this somehow! Anything – I don't care just give me something!"

House was obviously mad at their silence. Chase faintly thought of liposuction but he knew it would be turned down. "Diet pills?" Foreman suggested. House nodded. "Okay… anyone else?" Still no response. "You both agree with Foreman?" He asked them incredulously. Usually, someone would at least have given a comment or something of the sort. The only thing he got was a silent nod from them.

"Excellent then. You two go prevent further blood clots," he said to Foreman and Cameron, then turned to chase; "And you: you're good at finding pills – go find hers." Chase stopped in his tracks. His colleagues stared at him, Foreman with a face that just screamed 'I told you so'. Cameron looked disappointed. They both left hastily, leaving Chase alone with their boss, who popped a vicodin, breathing in relief. "Not diet pills." He affirmed, looking at the blond, "You may want to broaden the search a bit…"

"Stop fucking with us." Chase said, not bothering to hide his frustration.

"I believe you are the only one I'm fucking. Foreman's too unyielding and Cameron… she'd get attached to me, want to have kids –"

"JUST FIRE SOMEONE ALREADY!" Chase screamed, "I can't take this anymore! Seriously! Stop treating us like lab rats, trying to see when we'll crack and jump at each others' throats…" House looked at him sternly.

"You think this is fun for me? I don't want to fire anybody." Chase dropped onto a chair; "Then… try to find an arrangement… something?" House shook his head; "I don't have a choice."

"Then fire someone."

"Who would you fire?" House asked. Chase stared at him, gaping. He was about to say Foreman, still pissed at him, but decided to be honest. "I would fire me." He said quietly. House stared back. Clearly, whatever the older man had expected, it hadn't been that. "Why?" House asked, sounding sad. …Odd.

"Because… because, oh House I'm so sorry!" He cried out, trying to hold back the tears he knew were coming. This was over, House was going to find out and he would hate him for what he'd done. Sudden realization came over House's face. "What did you do?" He asked harshly.

"I had found the Ipecac and I was going to go put it in my locker. It… it was Cuddy. She intercepted me, and I must have looked guilty because she kept bugging me until she got the bottle. I didn't give it to her! It fell as I was trying to hide it and… well, she figured it out."

"Why didn't you tell me about this? We could have arranged something or…"

"She promised not to tell!" Chase retorted. House looked like he'd been slapped. "Why would Cuddy tell Voglar?" He questioned, frowning and looking just plain pissed off. Chase shrugged. He didn't know what was going to happen, but it couldn't be good. "I'll try to arrange something with Voglar." He heard his boss say. He looked up, but House spoke before he could; "Don't get too exited though – I said I'll try…"

"I'm… really sorry." Chase told him again, getting up and finally looking him in the eyes. "Don't be," House said, "its Cuddy who'll be sorry when I get hold of her." Chase smiled weakly; knowing House couldn't do anything to Cuddy, but he was grateful the House wasn't really mad at him and that he would try discussing the situation. Personally, Chase thought Voglar didn't look like the guy you'd want to cross.

----

"Did you make a decision?" Cuddy inquired, looking up from her stack of documents as House walked in. "17% across the board. If we cut all out salaries, we can stay for the same amount of money." House proposed. Voglar got up and went to the window; "No." He said plainly.

"If he can work it, and we don't lose money, what's the difference?" Cuddy protested.

"It's not about the money," Voglar stated, "It never was. I need to know that whatever I ask you to do, however distasteful you may find it, you'll do it. And – just as importantly – you need to know that." House glared, Voglar looked at him with superiority and Cuddy sighed when the cripple walked out without a word.

Chase was waiting outside; "How did it go?" House grunted. "He said no." The Aussie bowed his head and followed his boss into an elevator. They were silent for a second, then; "Who are you going to fire?" Chase asked slowly. House didn't answer, so he followed him out of the elevator and into a test lab. His two other colleagues were there doing tests on their patient's newest symptom: Warfirin Induced Skin Necrosis.

House went on ignoring Chase's inquiries as soon as they left Cameron and Foreman to work. He seemed to be trying to avoid looking at the younger doctor too as he strode away as fast as it was possible for him with his cane.

Suddenly, House stopped and turned to look at him sternly.

"Okay will you stop being such a fuss! I assure you that if I knew who I was going to fire, I would tell you. But I do not. Now, I think we would both be better off working on the ten-year old that is currently in danger of dying, leaving less pressing matters aside don't you?" House told him, voice full of impatience.

Chase bit his lip, feeling that he was being a bit selfish, after all, his job as a doctor required him to put his patient first on his priorities list. Much more so than if his obnoxious boss was mad at him or not. He bowed his head, muttering some sort of apology and went back down to the lab.

House sighed and went to his office, feeling he had had enough human contact today. He needed to think.

Which is where he was disappointed. Cameron entered his office the moment he sat down, disturbing the blissful silence he'd barely had the chance to enjoy two seconds earlier. He hissed and took a vicodin.

"What now?" He asked, though it sounded more like a statement.

"You. You're going to fire someone, and you're going to do it soon." Cameron told him, placing her hands on her hips as she walked her way up to his desk. House smirked; "Okay, you're fired. Now we all feel so much better! Good thing Voglar came along, phew! I was waiting for this opportunity since God-knows-when –"

"Maybe I should quit!" Cameron went on, ignoring his rambles, "And make it easier for everyone." House stopped immediately; "I don't want you to quit." He said, before he could even stop to reason about this.

"Why not? You're not going to fire Foreman, he's too good. You're not going to fire Chase, he's your pet! I know I'm the only one you could ever consider firing, so be it! I quit." She told him, sounding close to something like crying. Wow, Cameron crying, that would be the end of it.

"I don't want to fire anyone okay. But… don't quit. I need you here." House told her, standing up to face her. She looked up at him, narrowing her eyes; "Why? Give me a good reason." He shrugged, "You're a good doctor. What else?" She sighed.

"Not good enough. But I already know you hate me, so I guess that's the most I'll get." Cameron reasoned as she looked away, shoving her hands in her pockets. House emitted a low growl.

'Why does everyone have to force me into this? They know I hate saying stuff like this… Ah, well if it can get her to stay…' House thought as he bit his lip and fiddled with his cane. He grabbed Cameron's shoulders as she made to walk away; "I need you to stay. Please, because you're not only a good doctor, you're the only person who makes this team work. Without you, we'd always be fighting. You're the gooey heart-shaped thing – or whatever you want to call it – that keeps this team from falling apart."

He knew what he'd just said sounded really tacky, but it seemed to work. Girls just love this kind of stuff, right?

Cameron smiled weakly; "I'd rather you not compare me to a gummy piece of candy, but I'll take the hint anyway; I'll stay." She told him, suddenly serious again. House nodded and turned to sit. Before he could however, Cameron pulled him into a short-lived hug that only proved to make things more awkward.

She walked out of his office strait after, obviously noticing she'd probably gone too far with this. House sighed; maybe now he'd get to be alone?

----

Their patient was solved. A brilliant idea from Chase – of the girl's obesity being not the cause, but a symptom – led them to diagnose Jessica with Cushing's Syndrome.

House was altogether content about his day as he walked around trying to find Chase. The Australian wasn't in any of the exam rooms or in the conference room, whereas Cameron and Foreman had already left. Unless the three doctors were all hiding from him somewhere as some kind of bad joke.

House was thinking he might like for Chase to jump out and yell 'boo', opposed to not finding the Aussie anywhere, as he resigned to go look in his office; maybe the blond was waiting for him there. Chase couldn't have left could he? Maybe it was some sort of payback for House leaving him at the hospital that other time…

House was reasonably disappointed when he found not Chase sitting on his chair, but Cuddy, joined with Voglar who was sitting on his desk. House was about to remark that his desk wasn't meant to hold more than a thousand lbs, but thought better of it. Instead he winced and looked at Cuddy; "Why Cuddy! How charming of you to stop by –"

"It's been a week. Who is it?" Cuddy told him impatiently. House grumbled interiorly. "Has it been a week already? My, does time fly by when we have fun!" The cripple exclaimed, attempting to smile. Voglar didn't look amused.

"Actually, it's been over a week. So, who did you choose?" House recoiled; he wasn't ready yet!

"Foreman." He said decidedly. Voglar started playing with an elastic band as he replied lazily; "No… Foreman stays. Choose someone else." He told the doctor, grinning slightly. House frowned; "The deal was –"

"Deals change!" Voglar told him, turning around to sit more comfortably on the edge of the desk. "Choose someone else." He repeated, sounding dangerously impatient. House glared and looked at Cuddy, silently imploring her to do something. She shook her head uselessly, looking confused. So House did the only thing that made sense to him; he turned away and strode out of his office.

That's when he spotted Chase. The blond was walking to an elevator with his coat on, messenger bag hanging to his side. House fumed silently and marched up to his employee.

"Hey!" Chase turned, grimacing as he recognized the voice. His eyes widened as he was slammed backwards onto the wall. He groaned, as he was met with House's furious face.

"I know what you've done; you bastard… you back-stabbing jerk…" House growled at him while holding him firmly against the wall. Chase put on an incredulous face; "What are you talk –"

"Cut the crap! I know you were the one who went to Voglar, okay? You tried to feed me that ridiculous story about Cuddy finding out about the Ipecac to make me feel sorry for you. You thought I'd protect you. Well, I fell right into that…" House closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths, "I decided to fire Foreman." He told the blond, who frowned and gulped: this was definitely not good! House was supposed to stand up to Voglar! Not choose to fire someone...

"Okay, so… what's wrong with that? What happened?"

"Don't act like you don't know! Voglar said to choose someone else." Chase continued to frown, and House scowled; "Right, keep on playing the nice guy… I am not going to fire Cameron, or you for that matter. I only want to know the truth." House said, staring strait into Chase's eyes.

"Did you tell Voglar?" He asked. Chase shook his head and closed his eyes. "Look at me!" House added, "Did you?"

"No! House, I'd never… I…" But before he could finish, House was already gone, limping into an elevator. Chase sighed, shaking his head in frustration. The plan wasn't working out as he'd thought it would… But, he decided to let things go as they would; House would surely have to confront Voglar again tomorrow and everything would be clear. Because things were always solved in the end, weren't they?

He was snapped back to reality when he realized that House was gone.

He jumped, and decided on the stairs; if he was lucky, he could get downstairs before House. Indeed, no sooner had he jumped down the last few steps did he hear the characteristic ding of the elevator. He ran to it and nearly bumped into the older man, who looked annoyed.

"What now?! Haven't you ruined my day enough already?" He asked the blond, who took a moment to catch his breath before saying; "You don't have a lift remember?" House, as it seemed, had forgotten up until now judging by the look on his face, but it was quickly replaced by an unappreciative expression. He stepped around Chase and started to make his way to the front doors. The Australian followed, and without a word, House got into the car with him.

Chase knew how mad the older man was, and knowing House, it was most likely a hard blow to his ego to let Chase give him a ride. But he couldn't help but smile as they drove silently to House's apartment. Arrogance… It was a trait he had grown to like in House. However strange it sounded, it made him kind of… cute? He didn't know if House would like it if he knew what Chase had just thought so he kept silent, just glad to have time with him however short it was.

All too soon they were parked in front of House's place. As expected, the older doctor stepped out of the car without a second glance to his employee. Chase couldn't help but feel disappointed a little as he watched him walk away in the darkness.

Although he knew it would all have been worthwhile tomorrow.

Yeah, tomorrow, everything would work out.