Sharing a Breath

House knew Chase had a thing for babies so he took off to the NICU floor. After a quick glance into the unit confirming the blonde wasn’t there, he logically went to the dressing area. Chase hadn’t been in scrubs earlier and if there was something that required his medical attention, he’d change first.

Like a sign from above, the nurse who had stolen his fellow away stood at the door to the dressing area.

He walked to the door and then looked down at her with a fake scowl on his face. “Pervert.”

Her eyes widened and she only paused a moment before remembering who he was. “Cripple.”

“I like you.”

Her eyebrows rose. “You don’t like anyone.”

“You might be the first.” He left her smirking while he went in to check on Chase. He had caught Chase doing some interesting things over the years, but this was new.

Chase had just shrugged out of his shirt and his scrub pants were tied loose as if he hadn’t gotten the chance to tighten them yet. The soft swell of his stomach peeked above the material and House couldn’t help but lick his lips before clearing his throat.

Chase turned as he grabbed the scrub shirt. “I can’t help you right now. I’ll get to you as soon as I can.”

“I was going to offer to help you.”

Chase’s eyes widened, but he didn’t dare stop changing. There wasn’t any time.

“Not even a hesitation…it must be important.”

“It usually is, Dr. House.” Chase shoved his shoes on and tied the pants as he ran out to meet up with the nurse.

House groaned. “Running…okay, that’s just not fair.” He limped back toward the unit and heard Chase yelling orders. He’s the only person I know who can yell that loudly and not sound mean.

There was a tiny infant in an open incubator with a little pink rabbit pasted to the side in a useless gesture.

House opened the door and closed it softly, standing off to the side to observe.

Chase was intubating the child and he looked so calm despite the slight tremor in his voice and the beads of sweat coming off of him. Once it was done, Chase turned and ripped off the gloves, throwing them out and then resting his head against a wall.

House watched him, wondering why he was so still. He seemed to be counting.

“Dr. Chase…levels are returning to normal.” The nurse’s voice rang out with relief and Chase finally relaxed and let himself breathe.

House continued to watch, feeling an odd sensation creeping up his spine. It was as if he was witnessing something private. Sacred among Chase and the nurses and doctors on this floor with these patients.

Chase walked to the child and reached through the holes in the side. The nurses worked around him, but it seemed to House that everything had stopped. Chase and that child were the only people who really registered and he was certain that at that moment Chase only saw her and she, in turn, only felt him.

“It’s alright now. Just relax, sweetheart.”

House smiled. The accent made ‘heart’ sound like ‘hawrt’ and for some reason he liked the slight drawn out sound.

Chase soothed the baby a bit longer and then removed his hand before turning a level eye to the nurse who had summoned him. “Where?”

She took a deep breath. “Dr. Chase, the crisis has passed. I think we-“

“Where?”

House even jumped that time. It wasn’t a sound he’d heard from Chase often. It was…demanding and yet somehow still kind. House narrowed his eyes. He had never known anybody to convey his feelings so accurately while not making anyone feel it was directed toward them. He was certain Cameron hated it because she couldn’t act victimized all the time if Chase had a bad day.

The nurse sighed. “Robert, I’m not letting you get yourself in trouble over-“

“Fine. I’ll look for him myself.” He started to leave and then turned around, pointing a finger at the nurse. “And you find out who in hell let him in here!” He stormed out and headed toward the waiting area reserved for single families.

As soon as the nurse saw the direction he was going, she swore and started after him.

House held up his hand then, making his presence known. “I got it.” He was still reeling from seeing a very angry chase and even more off balance by the fact that even at that order he yelled at the nurse he made it seem like he and the nurse were on the same side and that he hadn’t just yelled and pointed at her. It’s a fucking gift…I need to learn that. Would get me in a lot less trouble with Cuddy…

He was in sight of the room when Chase slammed open the door and stomped out, looking around frantically. He stopped when he saw House and closed his eyes, trying to compose himself. “Dr. House. Just give me a bit longer. I have something to deal with here.”

“I told you…I don’t need you for anything, but something has you-“

He stopped abruptly as Chase’s eyes changed from patient listening to barely controlled rage and focused behind House a bit.

House made the mistake of turning and seeing a very large man walking out of the bathroom, letting Chase get away.

House did his best running impersonation and got there just as Chase started yelling.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you brain damaged or just stupid? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

The man, who looked like he came straight out of a slasher film, straightened up and scowled down at Chase. “It’s my kid. I can see her when I want.”

“You intimidated someone to get in there and you practically killed her. You may be the sperm donor, but that gives you no right to come in with a child just taken off her ventilator while you’re drenched in tobacco you sonuvabitch!” Chase had begun to turn red and now looked like he might get physical with the man.

House realized Chase was easily half a foot smaller than the brute glaring at the young intensivist, but for a moment he thought Chase might be able to take him.

“You know what, pretty boy? You can’t stop me from taking my kid out of here when she’s ready.”

“You think not? Guess again.” He shoved House backward just enough to send him landing on his ass a bit unceremoniously. “There. You just assaulted a doctor.”

House frowned, having noticed Chase also nodded to the nurse who had followed and just watched, knowing that would be hard to prove with no physical injury and wondered what Chase was up to.

“You pushed him.” The man’s bloodshot eyes were starting to match the rest of his face.

House carefully stood, but kept his distance. He wasn’t about to let Chase get used to pushing him around. He usually would have interfered by now, but Chase was really angry and House wasn’t sure what to do with an angry wombat.

“You can’t prove you didn’t push him, though, and they’ll take my word over yours. You’re nothing but a wife beating piece of shit who surprised everyone when you got someone pregnant with that bit of nothing between your legs.”

House’s mouth dropped open just as the brute’s first punch fell.

Chase had his arms up to protect his face and his knees pulled up to protect his organs if possible, but he wasn’t fighting back.

House was yelling for security and hadn’t finished his first bellow when they were there, along with a few police officers who happened to be in the hospital security office on another matter when the call came through, pulling the monster off.

As the man was thrown to the floor and cuffed, House made his way over to Chase who was just getting to his feet. He wiped away the blood that trickled from his lip and smiled, face to face with the guy who he’d just pushed into a fight. “See? Assaulted a doctor…”

“Bastard!”

Chase didn’t move as the guy lunged again, powerless against the pull of the officers.

It wasn’t until after the man had been removed and statements had been taken that Chase allowed himself to slump into the nearest chair and drop his head into his hands, his blonde hair covering his face.

House sat down and didn’t say anything at first. He didn’t know what to say exactly. Chase had acted every bit as scandalous as House did on an every day basis. Finally he just cleared his throat.

Chase looked up. “Yeah?”

“Your lip is still bleeding.”

“Feels good.” The blonde put his head back down.

“Feels good? You’re serious? That guy could have killed you and then…stepped on you to get to me to kill me. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I wanted him in jail and away from Emma.”

“New girlfriend?”

“New baby.”

House nodded. He’d already assumed that, but it bothered him for some reason to hear Chase call her by her first name. It was too personal and that meant Chase was letting himself get too close.

“What’s wrong with her that makes you want him in jail? Or do your daddy issues just run that deep?”

Chase’s shoulders started to shake and House smiled. He knew he’d get Chase to the point of laughter or at least amusement, but Chase seemed to be really cracking up. It wasn’t until he saw the clear drops mixing with the red ones that alerted him to the fact Chase wasn’t laughing. He was crying.

Chase looked up then and then leaned back, keeping his hands to his face for a moment before sitting up and losing it just a bit more.

House’s smile turned into a look of concerned worry as Chase managed to mix hysterical laughter with wrenching sobs. House could deal with a lot, but he was at a loss as to what to do with this perfect mix. He’d managed to push Chase so far over the edge of depression that the other side of mania had looped around to have a go at the young doctor as well.

Chase let his emotions carry him for a few more moments and then let them slowly subside. “Sorry…sorry…but I was thinking that my father was a far cry better than that moron and it struck me as amusing because he’s dead now so who cares, right?” He sighed and it sounded to House like he had the weight of three worlds on his shoulders.

“There’s always someone who has it worse than you. Just usually it’s me.”

Chase nodded. “Yeah well…that man is Byron Douglas and he happens to be Emma’s father. His daughter was ten weeks premature and she had a bitch of a time breathing on her own. I just got her off the ventilator this morning.”

“I could smell the smoke when he came out of the bathroom. Thought I smelled more than just nicotine…”

“I’m sure you did. Anyway, the D.A. is looking for enough evidence to put him away, but they don’t have it yet. This assault just bought them some time.” He looked at House briefly. “Sorry about pushing you. I just wanted you out of the way if he became violent. I didn’t expect it to work so well into my plan.”

“Some plan. You’re lucky you weren’t killed and then I would have been really pissed off.”

Chase didn’t say anything. He just stared at House.

“Aren’t you going to say anything about how sweet I am that I care about you?”

“No, because you don’t care about me.”

House frowned. This wasn’t how the conversation was supposed to go. He was supposed to think House cared and then House would dash his silly hopes. “You think I was lying?”

“No, I think you would have been pissed off, but only because you’d have to interview people to replace me.” Chase smiled.

House grinned. “You little…you’re just a chip off the old block, aren’t you?” When he saw Chase flinch, he corrected himself. “Mine, not…his.”

Chase nodded. “Thanks…I think. Anyway, Douglas beat his wife and put her in here. She didn’t make it and I was forced to take care of the baby when they took Emma out of her. She’s a fighter. He already killed her mother. I’m not going to let him kill her, too.”

“So you’ve doomed her to a life of foster care.”

Chase looked at House then, really looked at him. “I guess I have.”

For once Chase seemed to be serious. Nothing House said had ever fazed him, but in that moment, House knew he had succeeded in making Robert Chase feel like total shit, and for once that wasn’t his intention. “Chase…”

Chase held his hand out. “It’s fine. You’re right. I don’t…I need some air.” He took off trying to get as far away from his traveling conscience with a cane as he could by taking the stairs.

House cursed and stood, heading to the elevator. He pushed the button and waited, whistling a tune he could only hear in his head.

As the doors opened he stepped in, only aware of the person walking in behind him after he felt the needle pierce the flesh on his neck. He thought he heard a familiar laugh just as everything went dark.

TBC…