It was around six thirty that House got home, and it took him a couple more minutes to realize that he only had about half an hour before Chase would arrive. He didn't even know why he told him to come over, the only person who had been to his apartment was Wilson, and even with him it was awkward and uncomfortable. He suddenly became self-conscious, worrying about his hygiene and his looks, and wondering if the living room was too messy. It was crazy; he never cared about what people thought. But this was Chase, the one person who actually made him feel something, whether he liked it or not. He began to pace around the room, glancing at the clock every few seconds, he hated waiting. Fifteen more minutes. He thought back to earlier, Chase said he wanted to help, he never figured anyone really cared about him before, but for some reason he felt like Chase was being sincere. Of course Wilson cared about him, but he was a friend, and just a friend. He couldn't help hoping that it could possibly be a bit more with Chase. He glanced at the clock again, five more minutes. It was getting close to the time so he decided to sit, staring at the clock and zoning out, trying to keep his anxiety at bay. Eventually his vision went blurry and it took him a while to realize he had zoned out completely. When he let his eyes refocus and he could read the clock again he was hit with a wave of disappointment, it was six past seven. So Chase was late, he probably wasn't even coming. Just from that notion alone House began to feel the pain in his leg worsen and he quickly clutched at it, massaging it. Groaning he stood and began walking to his bookshelf, why did he have such bad luck? Not only did Chase not show up, but now his leg was acting up. He refused to believe it had anything to do with him being upset; or feeling alone.

Once to the bookshelf he reached up to the highest shelf he could and pulled from it a box, he had purposely made it difficult to reach so that he wouldn't use this stuff often. Sitting back down in another seat he opened the box in his lap and promptly rolled up a sleeve and tied a band around his upper arm. Then he took from the box a syringe, holding it up to eye level. Morphine, oh lovely, pain numbing morphine. This was one of those times that he really needed it. He lined the tip of the needle up with his inner arm, ready to push it in, when he heard a knock at the door, causing him to glance up. There was only one person it could be, that person being Chase, which meant that he really did care about him. "Come in!" he called out to him, not letting another second go by. He quickly replaced the syringe within the box and pulled the band from his arm, but he wasn't able to close the box before Chase walked in and looked in his direction.

They stared at each other, frozen, for a couple seconds before Chase slowly shut the door behind him and set down some bags he had brought in, "Sorry I'm late... There were a few hold ups." He straightened up and nodded upward towards the box, "What's that?"

"Nothing," he answered quickly as he fumbled around with the contents.

Chase knew it wasn't 'nothing'. He went to stand in front of the older man, looking into the box and taking one of the syringes, his brow furrowed as he held it up to see what it was. "Morphine?" he asked softly before his eyes shifted to the other man, concern and worry on his features.

House kept looking downward, not wanting to look the younger doctor in the eye; he knew he had to explain, he just didn't know how to. He took a deep breath in and let it out before replying and acting like it was obvious and not a big deal, "Sometimes I need a little something more than just Vicodin." He snatched the syringe from Chase's hand, putting it back, and put the box back in its place, moving more calmly now.

All Chase did was nod, not sure if he really had anything to say about that, he didn't really want to have that kind of conversation right now anyway. As House put his box away he turned and went back to his bags, "Have you eaten? I got you Chinese."

House limped to his couch, sitting down, "What are you? My caretaker?"

Chase shrugged as he picked the bags up and pulled out the containers, "I just thought you might like something." He went to sit by House on the couch, handing the food to him along with a plastic fork. House took the small box without a word and quickly opened it before taking a bite, 'thank you's weren't really his thing. Chase watched him with a slightly amused smile before leaning forward and reaching for the remote, "You're welcome," he muttered under his breath. He turned on the television and leaned back, flipping through channels as his boss ate. He was about to ask House a question but when he turned his head to speak he was met with a fork being shoved in his face. He drew back a bit, his face scrunched up slightly in surprise; he figured he was offering him a bite but he wasn't entirely sure, "I.. had a burger on the way here."

House snorted, "Does that mean you can't have a bite? Come on," he urged, "it's yummy."

Chase shrugged, holding back a smile, "I suppose I could try it." He leaned in closer to the older man and opened his mouth, taking the forkful of food into it. Their eyes connected as he closed his lips around it and pulled back slowly, causing a weird butterfly feeling in the pit of the Australian's stomach. He closed his eyes briefly and hummed, "Mm… That is good."

House couldn't take his eyes off the younger man, that look of contentment was so precious on his soft features, but he knew that if he stared any longer it would become awkward, so he looked away sharply and blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "Do you watch The L Word?"

Chase tilted his head and thought for a moment, "Hmm… no.. what is it?"

House plucked the remote from the blonde's hand with an amused grin, "Lesbians." The young doctor made a face at that but decided it would be useless to make any kind of comment, if House wanted to watch this show they were going to watch it. Chase would be lying if he said he wasn't at least somewhat excited about a show featuring lesbians, he had always thought girl on girl was pretty hot, so when House finally got the show going he sat back and actually enjoyed it. He was worried watching TV, especially this kind of show, with House would be awkward, but he soon found out it was kind of fun, relaxing even.

They ended up having a marathon, and after a few episodes Chase came to a conclusion, "That Shane girl is pretty cute. I think she's my favorite."

House looked over at him with a smirk, "Figures a pretty boy like you would go for the boyish type."

He blushed slightly, "Is there really anything wrong with that?"

The diagnostician shook his head, "Nope. In fact, she's my favorite."

Chase barely held back a snicker, "Really? I figured it would be Helena," he said her name with playful femininity, then he finally snorted.

House tried to not let that annoy him too much, he did see the humor in it after all. His smirk grew, "Why? Does she remind you of Cuddy?" He rolled his eyes, "She really isn't my type."

Chase laughed, "What is your type?"

"Boyish," he admitted, though a bit mockingly, hoping it wasn't giving too much away.

All Chase did was shrug, "A bit surprising, but I can see it." He didn't think much of it.

House raised an eyebrow, feeling like this might be a good time to ask what's been on his mind, "If that nine year old girl had been a nine year old boy, would you have still agreed to the kiss?"

Chase frowned, allowing himself to ponder that question for a moment. Finally he nodded, "I think I would have, yes. It wasn't about the gender, or the age, it was about giving a dying person something that they may never get to have otherwise."

"So you are gay, I was right," he said bluntly, his teasing turned up full force.

Chase spluttered, turning his body to him and replying defensively, "I am not gay!" His face was hot and he felt that nervousness in the pit of his stomach again, he wasn't lying, he wasn't gay, but he felt like he wasn't being very convincing nonetheless.

By now their show had been forgotten and House stared at his Australian 'pet', contemplating how he should go about asking his next question, "So.. if someone wanted to kiss you, but they weren't dying, but they might not get another chance to, would you let them kiss you?" Chase was taken aback by this question, giving House a dumbfounded look, not sure he wanted to answer. "Hey, it's a legitimate question," he pushed.

Chase rolled his eyes and sighed, his body stiff due to how uncomfortable this made him, "Uh, yeah, yes, I would let them kiss me."

"Even if it's a man?"

He looked at the older man with an are-you-serious expression, he was getting tired of this, "Yes. Now what's with the interrogation?"

House bit his lip as the blond stared at him with a slightly widened gaze, his heart beating just a bit faster at the thought of actually doing what he was thinking. He swallowed and barely choked out, "Would you kiss me?"