Outside the Box

The pounding was enough to wake the dead, but House barely registered it. He did notice the bed moving and saw the shadow move across the room and slip out. Sleep wanted to claim him again and he almost let it as the pounding stopped. But then he remembered his dream. Chase was talking on his phone and telling someone he was okay. The mood of the conversation changed until Chase was giving the person House’s address.

He realized Chase had called for a ride and the ride had just shown up.

Chase’s voice, although agitated, caressed him through the inky blackness of his room and his pain and he felt himself fighting the urge to sleep again. Then there was fear. It was slight and barely noticeable in Chase’s voice, but it was there.

That woke House up fully. He’d intimidated Chase enough times to know how he sounded and it was never fearful. He almost flipped on the light, but thought that might alert the night time visitor to what was going on. He’d gotten a couple pills down and was standing just as the door opened again. Chase’s form was illuminated by the living room light and House waited a moment for him to speak.

“House...”

It sounded like a plea, but House was too groggy to figure out what was behind it, knowing the visitor was someone Chase had called to his house anyway without his permission. “Chase, would you like to explain why you’re repaying my hospitality by waking me up in the middle of the night just to tell me I’m finally rid of you?”

Chase just stood there and didn’t say a word and House wondered why there was no witty comeback. Finally, the younger man mumbled an apology and then a thank you and something about returning the clothes later.

The door closed and there was more mumbling and some sounds like cleaning.

House groaned, realizing Chase was cleaning up any water from when he’d changed. There was anger again and House started to move. The medicine had kicked in and stood, heading toward his bedroom door.

That’s when he started to make out what the voices were saying.

“You know I’m not mad at you, Robert, but you have to admit this looks bad.” The voice was deep and gravelly as if he had smoked too many cigarettes and there was something ominous in his tone that almost sounded natural, as if he was just an ominous man.

“He’s my boss. He was just helping me out of a tough situation.” There was that pleading sound again. Nothing about it sounded like the Chase that House knew.

There was the sound of a startled gasp and then the deep voice once more. “Is that what I am? A tough situation?”

“No. No, that’s not what I meant. Please…please, Nick. Don’t be like this. Not here.” The last two words were whispered so softly that House could barely make them out, but it was enough to let him know that Chase wouldn’t fight this type of behavior from ‘Nick’ elsewhere.

He hobbled out of his room then, needing to know who was in his home who could get away with talking to Chase that way. He stopped short when he saw a very beefy looking guy holding onto Chase’s arm with a death grip. House would have winced because the man was holding him right on the bruise from earlier, but he was too distracted by the kissing.

Chase was leaning against the man with his head thrown back as the larger raven haired man seemed to be fucking Chase’s mouth with his tongue. Chase’s free hand was gripping Nick’s shoulder as if holding on for dear life.

House ducked into the bathroom as his erection jumped to attention, closing the door without latching it. He had just been engaging in some wishful thinking earlier when he had hoped Chase was homosexual, or at least bisexual, but it never occurred to him the man actually was open to a relationship with a man.

He smiled then, realizing he had a lot more reason to make fun remarks to the blonde now. He’d have to watch for the blushing a bit better to determine what it really meant.

Wait wait wait…Get it together. Who’s the guy in my living room and why is Chase acting so…beneath him? Okay, time to change into snarly old guy.

He closed his eyes and willed the evidence of his arousal to disappear for awhile. When it finally listened, Chase and Nick were gone.

***********

The weekend didn’t pass quickly enough for House and he managed to get to work on time for once on Monday morning. Finding no new patients made him happy, but seeing the neatly stacked clothes on his chair caused him pause.

He glanced out into the other room. Cameron and Foreman were talking about something that probably didn’t interest him and Chase…Chase was nowhere to be seen.

He opened the door and discovered he was wrong. Cameron and Foreman’s conversation was very interesting.

“You have to stop this. It was an accident. You heard him. Shit happens.” Foreman looked as if he was only talking to Cameron to irritate her a little.

“Maybe, but it still bothers me.”

“What bothers you?”

The two looked up casually as House entered the conversation.

Cameron shrugged. “Something’s off with Chase.”

Foreman snorted. “I think you have to be more specific than that.”

Cameron glared at her colleague before addressing House again with that determined look that meant she was in the frame of mind that a simple conversation meant she had to recruit people to be on her side.

“Chase was in here before us and when we came in, he walked out, but he was stiff and I’m sure I saw a bruise on his face, but his hair kept getting in the way.”

House frowned. “Cameron…just let it go. We all know Foreman and Chase play rough.”

Foreman coughed. “Uh thanks, but no. He’s not my type.”

House’s eyebrows rose. “White?”

“Male.” Foreman rolled his eyes.

“Something wrong with being gay?” Cameron seemed ready to wear a rainbow flag if she had to just to find a debate.

“No, I’m just…not.” Foreman shrugged. “Look, I don’t have a problem with Chase. I admire him really.”

At this, House fell silent. He had a feeling there was something going on here that wouldn’t make him too happy.

“Admire him? For what?”

House loved when Cameron did his interrogating for him.

“For being so comfortable with his sexuality.”

Cameron nearly choked. “He’s not gay!”

House couldn’t help it. “Now who has problems with gay people?”

Cameron started to sputter. “I don’t, but Chase isn’t gay. I slept with him, remember?”

Foreman smiled. “Yeah, well I wouldn’t call it that. I heard what you did and honestly…it sounded pretty cruel.”

House sat down and studied Cameron. He had known they’d slept together, but Foreman seemed to know more about the situation. “How would you know? Petty crime finally advanced to peeping?”

Foreman just looked at him as if he were forced to tolerate him and dealing with it. “No, but Chase and I…we talk sometimes.”

“Since when?” Cameron was indignant.

“We just do. It’s not a big deal. And I never said Chase was gay. He just seems to appreciate both sexes. I kinda envy him. I wish I could be so comfortable with the idea of sex.”

House leaned foreward. “Cameron. Leave.”

“Why?”

“I have a theory. Go cover my clinic hours and keep an eye out for Chase. Watch the pharmacy counter like a hawk and page me if he shows up.”

Feeling like she had a mission, she sighed and left.

“Talk to me now, Foreman.”

Foreman shook his head. “No way. I’m not betraying his trust just because you’re my boss.”

“Do it because I’m worried.”

“About what?”

House sighed and chose to forget being difficult for a moment. “Chase showed up at my place Friday and said his date dumped him. Then he calls someone for a ride and this guy shows up and he was slightly intimidating.” House didn’t think the other man needed all the details.

“Intimidating…to you?” Foreman seemed to think that was pretty hilarious.

“And while they thought I was in the bathroom, the guy who is even bigger than you manhandled Chase and kissed him.” House tried not to smile as he saw that wipe the smile off of Foreman’s face.

“Shit…his name wasn’t Nick, was it?”

Okay, so I shock Foreman and he shocks me right back. “And if it was?”

“It would explain what’s wrong with Chase today.”

“How so?”

Foreman leaned back in his chair and studied House. “Why?”

“Because I want to know.”

“There’s got to be more to it than that.” Foreman shook his head. “No, I’ll take care of this. I’m not letting you use me to get information to use against-“

House slammed his cane down on the table. “What is this? I’m asking you for help. I finally crack to show my true feelings and everyone…” He frowned at Foreman’s unimpressed look. “…everyone sees right through me…” He sighs. “Alright, take care of it how you want, but I want Chase in my office in an hour.”

Foreman nodded. “Fair enough.” He took off then and House tried not to worry too much about the fact the other man seemed just a bit panicked as he left.

TBC… when Foreman talks to Chase and House talks to Wilson. :)