Chapter 2

He rolled his eyes as he saw House standing at the door of his syphilis-patient. House simply smiled.

'I thought you were going to lock yourself in your office for the rest of the day?'

'I got kind of bored.'

'Cuddy came to see you, didn't she?' Chase asked sceptical.

'She took my key.' House pouted.

'And now you are going to punish us for that?' Chase asked.

'It's the circle of life,' House smiled, 'anyway; this guy's treatment isn't as effective as it should be. He says he doesn't use any other medication, but I don't believe him.'

'So you want me to break into Mr. Semel's house?' Chase asked as he now walked with House back to their office.

'I send Cameron but apparently she is unable to get in the house and Foreman is still very busy with the babies. So you get to be prince charming and help her out.'

'Great.' Chase sighed as he grabbed his jacket and searched for his car keys in his pockets. He found them and then headed of. House grinned as he saw the empty room. Though he had lost his key to Cuddy, this office would do just fine to prepare himself for his day off tomorrow. Chase rolled his eyes as he was walking away and couldn't believe what a child House was sometimes. He strolled down the stairs and walked into the big hallway of the hospital. There weren't much people and as Chase had expected it this morning, this day was a quiet and calm day.

Much to his surprise, Lauren stood at the entrance of the hospital, a bathrobe covering her pyjamas.

'What are you doing up?' he asked her in a surprised tone.

Lauren smiled and crossed her arms over her chest, holding her bathrobe more tightly together.

'Jack called, he is bringing Aaron here.'

'That's great!' Chase said truly happy for her, 'but you should wait in your room. It's cold outside and you might get sick.'

'It's not cold.' Lauren said as she pointed towards the blistering sun outside. 'It's spring.'

'Still, you could get a cold.'

'But I won't, I'm strong.' She laughed. 'Is your shift already done?'

'I wish. I got a job to do which I should be doing right now in stead of talking to you.'

'Then you better get going.'

'I'll see you around.' Chase smiled.

Lauren just smiled back and then Chase left the hospital.

Mr. Semel's house, the syphilis guy, wasn't far away from the hospital, just like Chase had expected. He saw Cameron standing against her car, relaxed and with closed eyes. She was obviously just enjoying the sun and Chase admired that about her. She could enjoy small things, something Chase wanted to be able to do. But he lacked the time. Maybe he needed a day off in the future.

Chase climbed out of the car and went standing next to Cameron.

'You're too late.' She said, still closed eyes and still enjoying the warmth of the sun.

'For what?' Chase asked, not understanding her.

'A neighbour spotted me and I told him I was a friend of Mr. Semel. He had a spare key and he was kind enough the let me in after I told him I needed to get him some clean shirts.'

'Nice cover.'

Cameron smiled and then opened her eyes. Her hand disappeared into one of her pockets and a small bottle of pills were visible in her hand not much later.

'House was right, he was on other pills as well.'

'Oh, great,' Chase sighed, 'now House won't shut up about this.'

'He'll go on about being a genius or about his brains being unique.' Cameron smiled.

Chase smiled along.

'You seem cheery today.' Cameron noticed.

'No, I'm not.'

'Yes, you are.' Cameron went on. 'You're smiling more then usual.'

Chase pushed himself away from the car and looked at Cameron. It was as if looking her straight in the eyes proved him right and Cameron wrong.

'So it's illegal to smile now?' he asked and he cursed himself as he felt his mouth twitch into another smile.

'Chase,' Cameron laughed, 'House saw you.'

His smile faded and a puzzled look now filled his face.

'He saw you with that woman in the hospital, brown curly hair, brown eyes, you know.'

'Lauren?'

'I don't know her name. But you know House; he probably got bored and wanted to bother someone else.'

'That sounds pretty much like House.' Chase laughed.

'We'd better get back to the hospital; Semel's medication has to be changed.'

Cameron now also pushed herself away from the car and putted the bottle of pills back into the pocket of her coat. They grabbed their car keys, said a short goodbye and left for their cars.

As Chase's car was parked a street away because of the lack of parking space, he had to walk a little further then Cameron. He heard her car start and drive away.

'Hey, you!' a voice suddenly called out.

Chase didn't know if it was meant for him or not, but he instinctively turned around and looked for the origin of the voice. A tall dark man came nearly running towards him, his hands deeply buried inside the pockets of his jeans. His shoulders were pulled up and it gave the made a nervous look. His hair was neatly though and his face was very young. He couldn't be much older then 32.

But the way the man walked, it gave Chase shivers running down his back. He instinctively backed away a little, but he hit a dead end as he reached his car. The man looked left and then right and Chase couldn't help but follow his gaze. There was no one, not even a car driving by and Chase felt his stomach turn into a knot. He didn't have much money with him and his car wasn't worth much. But Chase was willing to give it all up if it was that the man wanted.

The man started walking faster now and before Chase realised what his plan was, he felt a knee being planted in his stomach. He gasped for air as he fell onto his knees. He had lost his balance. He coughed loudly but a small towel was being pushed against his mouth and nose. Still gasping for air, he tasted something funny in his mouth. His breathed through his nose then, but the taste didn't disappear.

Chase kicked his legs, trying to connect with his attacker's legs, but it didn't work. He tried to push the hand of the attacker holding the towel away but he held Chase's arms down with his free hand.

And then Chase felt his surroundings fade and he started losing control over his limbs and not much later, he felt his eyelids grew heavier. Chase couldn't describe it as anything else; he was falling asleep.

Panic took over his mind and he tried, with all his power, to fight against the man. His heart bounced against his chest as if it was trying to break free. His breathing quickened even though he tried to stop breath at all. He didn't want to inhale that stuff in the towel anymore.

And then everything turned black and Chase felt his body slump towards the floor. The man loosened his grip on Chase. Chase senses then turned dark. He couldn't hear or see nor feel. And eventually, he fell into a dark dream, forgetting what had happened.