Chapter Three

Chase was standing at the nurse's station in the middle of the clinic. He placed a patient's file onto the counter and slid it across to the nurse who was sitting off to his left, giving her a smile as he did. He was just finishing off his clinic hours, which he was happy to do since they didn't have any cases at the moment.

"Chase!" he heard someone call out. He turned around and saw Max headed towards him.

"Ah, Hi," Chase replied. Despite himself, he couldn't help but smile.

Chase still had feelings for Max, and he still thought about that night they'd spent together…but he had tried to keep his distance from her. He knew that House was not happy about the fact that he and Max had been together, and Chase was…well, scared of his boss.

"Hi." Max smiled back. "Um, do you have a sec? to talk?"

Chase looked around nervously. He really was scared of House. Max tried hard not to smile at that fact because it was actually sweet. It was a bit pathetic, but still sweet.

"S-sure." Chase stammered with a quick nod.

Together, they took a few steps away from the nurse's station and out of earshot of any ease droppers. Once they were sure that they could have a private conversation, Max turned around to face Chase.

"Look, Chase, um, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry…again," Max began, keeping her voice soft. "For, you know, using you before. I don't usually do that." She paused and shook her head rapidly and chuckled. "Actually that's not true." She bit her bottom lip and tilted her head to the side before seriously saying, "But I am sorry. It wasn't fair to you. I was just…angry that night."

"That's ok," Chase said quickly.

He was starting to get really uncomfortable having this conversation in the hospital where his boss – where her Father worked. He had to keep focus so that he kept looking at Max's eyes instead of turning his head to look around for House.

"It's not," Max said with a sigh. "You're a good guy Chase. A really good guy actually. I haven't exactly had a 'good guy' in a while. So even though I used you that night, I really do appreciate you being there for me. So thank you."

Max gave him a genuine smile and placed a gentle hand on his forearm. Chase couldn't help but smile.

"Anytime," Chase said then his eyes grew wide as he realized what he had said.

Max lowered her hand and grinned.

"I thought you'd say that," She said as she stepped back and folded her arms over her chest happily. "How about lunch one day? Or dinner? Either is good."

"Oh, I ah…" Chase began but didn't really know what to say. He liked Max. He really liked Max but he knew she was 'off limits' now. "I don't think—"

"-What? That you should date me because House is my father?" Max asked, trying to keep the amusement out of her voice. "Seriously? That's ridiculous."

"N-no. I just think because we work together..." Chase tried to lie but he knew that Max saw right through him.

"Tell me," Max began softly. "If House wasn't my father, would you ask me out?"

Chase looked at her for a moment before he sighed and looked down slightly before nodding.

"I knew it!" Max said, almost loud enough to get attention from people walking past.

When Chase looked back up at Max, he was surprised to see that she was smirking.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"You're going to ask me out." She stated matter-of-factly.

"No I can't, I—" Chase began.

Max held a hand up to stop him from talking and then she leaned in ever so slightly. "Oh, you'll ask me out. And I'll tell you why – because I like you, and I know that you like me. And despite whoever my parent's are…eventually you will ask me out again."

"How do you know that?" He asked her. "How can you be so sure?"

Max smiled and leaned closer to him until she was a breath away from his ear. Then she whispered, "Because the power of boners is much stronger than the power of fear."

She then stepped back with a sly smile and a knowing look in her eyes.

"See you later, Chase."

Chase stared at her as he watched her walk away, her hips swinging slightly. His mouth was slightly opened. He licked his lips briefly and then looked around quickly. A few of the nurses looked at him but most likely because he was still standing there.

He carefully cleared his throat and then started walking towards the elevators.

**House MD**

Unbeknownst to the two young people down in the clinic, House was standing on the balcony of the floor above them and was looking down at them. A look of annoyance across his features. He did not like how close Max was standing to Chase.

"They look cozy." Came a voice from behind him.

House whipped his head around to see Wilson standing one step behind him. He narrowed his eyes at the other man as he watched Wilson move to stand beside him. He had a smile on his face.

"No, they don't." House snapped before turning his head back to look down at the clinic.

"I think they do," Wilson said with a knowing nod. He had to admit that seeing House get so annoyed and angry was actually kind of fun. He was gonna have some fun with it. "You think they're going to hook up again?"

"No!" House hissed. He paused before turning his attention to his friend. "What do you mean 'again'? Who told you?"

"Foreman," Wilson replied. "He thought it was pretty funny." He added with a slight chuckle. "So do I actually."

"It is not funny."

"It really is," Wilson said with amusement. He looked back down in time to see Max walk away from Chase with a broad smile on her face. "Hey!" He said suddenly, a wicked smirk on his face. "Maybe they'll start dating. Ooh maybe they'll get married, then Chase would be your son-in-law. He could start calling you dad! – OW!"

House had lifted his cane up and had used it to hit Wilson on the shoulder. House lowered his cane and narrowed his eyes angrily at his friend. Wilson began rubbing his shoulder but he was also finding it hard not to laugh.

"Hey," Wilson began with a shrug. "I'm just saying."

"You are so annoying!" House snapped before he turned around. "Don't you have somewhere else to be? A patient to tell that they are dying or something?"

"Nope," Wilson smirked. "I'd much rather continue our conversation."

House groaned loudly and tried to walk as quickly as he could away from Wilson. It didn't work of course as he had a limp and Wilson had two fully functioning legs.

As he walked, House did his best to ignore Wilson and his constant babbling about the relationship between Max and Chase. House didn't want to think about Max in a relationship, and he especially did not want to think about her in a relationship with Chase. Of all the people she could have chosen – why Chase?

He knew that for now, Chase was still getting used to the fact that Max was, in fact, his boss's daughter, and that had scared him off, but he knew that sooner or later Chase would get over it and would probably ask Max out again. If she didn't ask him out first.

House decided that the best thing he could do was to keep Chase as busy as possible with work. If he didn't have time for a social life then he wouldn't be able to date House's daughter.

To Be Continued…