They had a plan for how to act on the first day of work. At least, Park thought they had a plan. Chase had a different one; one he knew would work. He sat down across from her and looked his longtime boss straight in the eyes.

"I slept with Park last night," he said flat as he could, "No, I don't know what it means. We don't have any idea where this is going or if it will happen again. Yes, we had been drinking, but I was close to sober."

He waited, judging his fellow doctor's reactions. Taub was leaning back, hands linked over his stomach and a tight grin on his lips. He neither seemed to disapprove or approve, which wasn't what Chase had been expecting. He met Chase's eyes and wagged his eyebrows. Adams' brow was drawn together and she was staring at the folder in front of her as if it had suddenly grown two heads. She didn't look at up at him, but instead over at Park. Park was trying to hide behind her hair and it wasn't working. She took a deep breath then organized the papers in front of her.

"Well, now that's out of the way..." she said trying to get them back on track, "Cystic fibrosis explains our patient's-"

"How was it?" House demanded his attention on Park. Chase wished he'd been the one asked instead. Park was mortified and had completely stopped trying to hide her fidgeting.

"Amazing," she told him sharply.

"No, it wasn't," House interpreted, "You didn't enjoy it."

"Did too," she argued, but even Chase caught the hesitation in her voice.

"You used one word to describe it, a word you didn't delay in uttering. You had your answer planned out, simple as it was. You haven't looked at Chase since I asked you, not even a side glance. In fact you've been hyper focusing on me."

"She didn't orgasm," Chase told him, sacrificing his own reputation to put Park out of the spotlight. House didn't respond right away and Chase could almost hear the cogs in his mind working. He didn't want to know what House was contemplating.

"Interesting," he said tapping his fingers. Chase had a feeling he wasn't talking about the lack of orgasm, but he couldn't tell what House was prying into either.

"We-I'd been drinking," Park said tossing herself back on the cross, "It wasn't like we were trying...It didn't really hurt or anything..."

"New topic, please god, new topic" Adams said putting her hands over her ears for a moment, "We do have a patient to take care of."

"Adams, Park, go do a round of allergy tests and a tox screen. Taub, Chase go do an environmental check. Can't have the love birds getting in a session on the clock," he said his eyes going between Chase and Park slowly.

"Hilarious House," Chase said leaving the room feeling like he'd been pulled through the ringer. The worst part was knowing that Park really hadn't enjoyed last night. He knew she hadn't had that great of a time, but he hadn't known how bad it was. It hadn't really hurt? He'd never gotten such a bad review before.

She left with Adams, but gave him a glare as she passed. They had spent the whole car ride over a detailed plan of action against House's suspicions. She'd even drawn out a pie chart. Where she'd gotten the protractor was still a mystery.

"Park huh?" Taub said walking in stride besides him.

"Yes. Is that so unusual?" he demanded half annoyed.

"I'm happy for you," he said and Chase waited for the backhanded compliment, but none came.

"We had sex, it's not that big of a deal," Chase told him although it felt like it might be a big deal.

"Understood," Taub said smiling mischievously, but he did Chase a big favor and he didn't mention it for the rest of the day.

He felt like himself as he searched through a stranger's house. They found a few clues that pointed to heavy metal poisoning and they headed back to the hospital with the evidence. Chase went upstairs, not heading to diagnostics first. He headed towards the lab subconsciously hoping he'd catch Park alone so they could talk. He stood outside of the door to the lap and listened. He could definitely hear Adams talking and decided to listen for a moment.

"I don't want you to get hurt," Adams told her.

"Why do you think I'll be the one getting hurt?" Park asked her voice oddly confident.

"He uses girls. That's the sort of guy he is. I'm only saying that you shouldn't get attached. He's not sticking around," Adams said a little too point of fact. Did she really think Chase was that bad? Maybe he was.

"Is that why you asked him out? You don't seem the type that goes for a one night stand with a coworker."

"How did you know about that?"

"We talk," Park said as if it was obvious, "If it helps, he didn't seem upset by it, but he was glad he said no."

"He was? Why?"

"You're still interested," Park said giving a heavy sigh, "If it helps your oh so low self-esteem the odds were far better on you sleeping with him."

"I'm not even surprised that people were betting on that. I think I've been working here too long," Adams said than after a pause asked, "How did it all...you know...get started?"

"I have no idea," Park said her voice full of confusion, "Absolutely none. I was drunk and making a fool of myself one moment and bam." Chase could picture her making firework movements with her hands. The mental image made him smile.

"It's too bad you didn't really enjoy it. It was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity," Adams said in that absent minded way that could be hurtful.

"It could happen again," Park snapped.

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, I just...I don't know," Park said her voice oddly sad, "I guess I'd just figured it would, but you're right. If it was you two then maybe, but it's not going to happen with me is it?"

He'd heard enough. Park's self-pity was almost embarrassing him. He had a feeling Adams wasn't about to give comforting advice, so he'd stop the conversation before it got worse.

Chase opened up the folder he had in his hand and pretended to be reading it as the doors opened. He gave the girls a charming smile as he came over. At first Park's face was as tense and sad as her voice had been, but she gave him an overly enthusiastic smile when he came into the room.

"There is evidence of heavy metal exposure in his apartment," he said leaning on the counter a bit too close to Park.

"The tox screen should be back any moment," Adams told him, "So far his blood hadn't shown any abnormalities."

"Too bad," Chase said, but he was facing Park, "Hey, Park, do you want to stay at my place tonight?"

The younger woman's mouth hung open and she stammered for a response.

"Kay," was all she got out, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Good, I can't wait. Still got your key?" he asked and she nodded. He gave Adams a look that he hoped said 'see I can do more than a one night stand'. Although was a two night stand all that better?

Park was staring into a microscope to avoid looking at him again. In her attempt to avoid social humiliation she found a clue in the blood sample. After five more hours and one heart attack later, the patient was diagnosed and on the road to recovery.

He ran into Park at the elevator and waited beside her. He felt far too aware of her presence, of her closeness. He felt an odd shiver go down his spine when his arm brushed hers.

"I've got clinic hours, about three of them," he told her smoothly, "Just head to my place and I'll meet up with you later tonight."

"Okay," she croaked and got into the elevator, he followed quietly.

He went to the clinic as she left out the front doors. He watched her go with an odd eagerness to follow her. He didn't have clinic hours. House had asked them both to come to his office and Chase wanted to make sure Park was nowhere in the building. He'd even gone so far to take her pager out of her lab coat so House couldn't call her back.

He walked back to the melding man's office ten minutes later. House was sitting with his feet up on the desk making something out of string that he held between his hands.

"I'd ask where Park is but I already know she isn't coming," House told him, moving the strings and Chase realized he was playing cat's cradle.

"Then why did you ask for her?" he asked putting his hands into his pockets. Why had he come for that matter?

"Testing a theory," he said unraveling his fingers and putting the mess of yarn down on his desk.

"About what?" he asked not expecting a straight answer.

"About how protective you are of her. You were more than happy to fall on the sword early and you came here alone to spare her feelings. It's endearing."

"Don't read too much into it, we're just friends."

"Who sleep together," House said and gave a thoughtful look, "I think there is a term for that."

"We're not..." he said and paused realizing how easy it was to interrupt what they were doing as dating, "Involved like that."

"Of course not," House said with a dry chuckle, "You're just having sex with her...and dinner...and you work together. Hm, seems pretty normal for two...friends."

"What are you getting at House?" Chase demanded tired of in chasing his tail.

"I like her better than Cameron," he said and Chase knew that was a lie, but he also knew what House was saying.

"That's far enough, House," Chase said and turned to leave. As he expected House stopped him as he was almost out of hearing wrong.

"It must be nice to have a surrogate," House called after him and Chasse slowly turned, "No one expects you to marry her or even get involved. No one will blame you when you leave without a reason. Sounds cushy."

"I can't leave if nothing is going on," Chase said as he finally let the door close behind him.

That had been as bad as he'd been expecting and this twisted feeling in his gut was not uncommon after he had to deal with House. It's normally there, because the bastard was right. Not this time. Chase wouldn't let him be right. He could be objective and distant when it came to this fling with Park. A fling? That was exactly what it was, two friends working out some primal aggression on each other. Park wanted him because he was handsome and he wanted her because, like she said, she made him feel safe. It was a one time thing that they had somewhat enjoyed and wouldn't let it happen again. That way it wouldn't get complicated. He'd talk to her about it and make sure she knew it was nothing like Adams had suggested. He wasn't the bad guy here; he was the level headed adult.

He made it home in record time. He was quiet as he opened the door, listening intently for Park. He was curious what the girl might do when she was alone in his place.

It didn't take him long to hear, well, something. There was moaning coming from his bedroom, loud and passionate. He thought for a moment that she'd turned on some porn until he recognized the voice. Was she getting off in his bed?

He snuck down the hallway then poked his head into the doorway of his room. He felt like he'd spent a lot of time spying on her today, but this was much more interesting than watching her talk to Adams.

Park was under the covers her body writhing as one hand was clearly between her legs. Her face was twisted with pleasure and she kept making grunts and moans as she was clearly enjoying herself. His blood ran hot with the sounds, that was exactly what had been missing from last night.

He watched the show until he couldn't take anymore. He stepped into the room and at the creak of a floorboard her eyes shot open. She sat straight up, holding the blanket up to her chin. A peak of bare shoulder told him she might very well be naked under those covers.

"I should be the only one giving you an orgasm in that bed or do you think I'm incapable?" he found himself asking before he really thought his words over. So much for his onetime fling idea.

"Yes, I mean no, maybe," she said too flustered to think up a simple answer. It was cute when she stumbled like that.

"You're going to have to wash those sheets," he told her, although they had gotten a lot dirtier last night.

"I didn't get them that dirty. I'm sure it's less damage than they get on an average night with you skanks," she said, her wit coming back to her slowly. He couldn't figure out which he liked better the blushing awkward version or the straightforward insultive one. He was leaning towards the latter.

"I think they need a wash," he said taking the edge of the blanket and tugging. She held on so tightly her knuckles went white. She was definitely naked under there.

"No," she said sharply, "Just leave and I'll bring them out. Believe me, you don't want to take these off right now."

"Why not?" he demanded a bit annoyed.

"See these socks," she said poking her pink and grey striped socks out from under the blankets, "That's all I'm wearing."

Chase couldn't help but laugh.

"You do remember the part where we had sex last night right?" he asked lightly still amused by this sudden shyness.

"At night with the lights off and my shirt on," she reminded him. Right, he hadn't exactly gotten to see much last night, nothing in fact.

"Wasn't my idea," he said calmly, giving them another tug, but this one gentle, "Let's change that."

"You don't want to see that," she told him firmly.

"I'm a doctor for christ's sake. I've seen worse than you before," he reminded her.

"Thanks for the confidence buster. I guess I'll get on a stripper pole and give you a show now," she said rolling her eyes and he realized how that had sounded. He went over to her and sat beside her on the bed. She had her back against the headboard and her chin on her knees. He moved so she had to look at him.

"Let me decide what I want," he said and something changed in her expression. He'd pressed one too many times and she was annoyed now.

"Fine. You want to see. Here," she said, pushing past him and got off the bed. She stood before him in all her glory, eyes burning holes of contempt into his skull, daring him to say something, daring him to lie.

She wasn't the prettiest girl he'd seen naked. Her skin was clear, dark yet paler than he'd expected. Her breasts were small to medium, B cup if he had to guess, with dark puffy nipples. She was a touch pudgy around the waist with a bit of sagging skin from when she'd gained all that weight. She'd shaved since last night and Chase wondered if she'd done it at work or at his place. The mental image wasn't bad either way.

He went to say something and found himself at a loss for words. How could he express the fact that he was pleasantly surprised by how decent she looked? He must have been staring because she bashfully covered herself with her hands and started to look for her clothing.

"You can be a real dick sometimes," she told him, her tone bitter, but still hurting.

"Park," he said taking her arm for a moment and stopping her. For the second time words failed him and he decided that actions would be better off.

His was undoing his tie before he had time to think. He stripped for her, exposing himself bit by bit. He wasn't nearly as bashful as she was. His shirt slid down to the floor and he pushed his pants down, stepping out of them. He didn't keep his underwear on this time.

Park was staring at him not nearly as shocked as he thought she might be. He must have looked puzzled, because she mentioned it.

"What? Did you forget I'm a doctor too? I see guys naked all the time, even good looking ones like you. It's not that amazing," she explained. That was all she was thinking about right now? She definitely knew how to ruin the mood.

"Do you know what makes me different than those other guys?"

"What?" she asked giving him an incredulous look.

"You can touch me," he said taking her hand and pulling it to his chest. He was so very aware that they were both naked right now.

"Technically, I can touch them too," Park told him, but her resolve was weakening. Her comebacks weren't as snappy and her eyes were having trouble staying on his face.

"But do they touch you back?" he asked his hand running down her arm and then placed it smoothly on her side.

"Not normally," she said her voice shaking.

"Or kiss your skin?" he asked leaning over and kissing her shoulder. He easily got down to his knees and sat in front of her. His hands ran over her skin, his lips making a trail up her arm.. She let out a little surprised gasp and he couldn't have been more proud of himself.

"Chase," she said still a bit unsure.

"Still think I'm just like any other patient?" he asked glancing up at her and he swore he could see her melt.

"Better than the average exam, more interesting" she told him a shaking hand going up and stroking his hair. Her eyes closed as he took one of her perky nipples into his mouth. Her gasp was music to his ears and the moan a few moments later thrilled him from head to toes.

"Bed," he whispered mocking her words from yesterday.

She took the few steps back until her legs hit the bed. She sat down and her legs slightly parted. He ran his hand on the inside of her thighs and they opened up for him. She was silently as he kissed the path between her legs and up. When his tongue touched her clit she couldn't keep quiet anymore. When his tongue worked over her most sensitive nerves she cried out for him, moaning and her back arched. He slipped two fingers inside of her, finding her g-spot and massaging it with deft fingers. At some point she fell back and started wiggling on the bed. Her face was scrunched up in a way that could only be called cute, but the sounds she was making were absolutely sexy.

It took longer than he expected, but he had a feeling she was holding back. The moment she orgasmed, she started crying out and he wondered for a moment if his neighbors could hear it. He was surprised she was so vocal, but not in a bad way, it worked for him.

"Chase," she said as he moved to lay beside her.

"Don't you think you should call me Robert now?" he asked.

"Okay," she said and hesitated before adding, "Robert."

"Alright, Chi," he said, but the name sounded wrong.

"I like Park better," she admitted.

"It feels more natural to say," Chase told her, "Let's stick with last names then."

The laid in silence for a moment, Park still breathing hard from her orgasm. He was tempted to turn and cuddle her, to hold her close while stroking her hair, but that made it less of a fling. She turned to him putting a hand on his chest. She paused, her hands hitting his still fresh scar. She traced it with her fingers before letting them fall away. His accident had had a profound effect on her, one both of them had addressed during their talks.

"What did House want to talk about?" she asked out of the blue.

"What? When?" he asked, but the lie was only half assed.

"After work," she told him giving him a knowing look. She still had her glasses on he realized and reached over, slipping them off. The changes to her face were subtle, but they were nice. He put the glasses on the bedside table.

"He was being an ass," Chase told her, his own arousal completely gone now. He sighed in frustration and sat up.

"I know what we're doing and I'm going to be okay with it," she said staring up at the ceiling instead of looking at him.

"That's," he hesitated, "great. What are we doing?" Maybe she understood it better than he did.

"Having sex on a regular basis while keeping our relationship at a friendship level for as long as possible," she explained to him like she was exploring a possible diagnosis, "It's the best arrangement for both of us. You're emotionally unavailable, but bored of bed hopping and I've, well, I've got my own issues."

"Yeah," he said so glad she understood. He laid beside her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her, "That's it. It's exactly what I was thinking. Wait, did you say on a regular basis?"

Park was flustered by that comment and pushed a hair out of her face before saying, "If you're interested."

"Okay," he said giving her a soft kiss, "I could handle that."

"Chase," she said her arms linking her arms around his neck, "Can that regular basis get started now?"

"Right now?" he asked a bit over eager.

"Yeah," she said pushing his shoulder until he rolled onto his back. She straddled him and put one hand on his chest. What came next was a scene right out of his dreams.