Recovering

"Nothing." Chase answered and leaned a little more into House finding the warmth of the man next to him comforting. He felt Houses arm tighten slightly around him as the other man resumed watching his show feigning disinterest. Together they sat through another several episodes, neither man really wanting to move and disturb their current peace."

But all too soon for either of their likings House got up and streched, "Ok babysitting time is over, time for you to head home." House secretly triumphed at the flash of dissappointment he saw in the blue green eyes in front of him. But Chase didn't protest, merely got up and nodded. "Bye House," he said softly.

"See you blondie," came House's gruff reply. Chase stopped at the door smiled thinly then dissappered. House sat their for a seconed then decid should call Cuddy and force her to let them come back to work. He'd go insane just twiddeling his thumbs all day and, of course, that annoying voice in the back of his head reminded him, he wanted to be able to see Chase everyday. Dialing the number from memory, he waited as the line rang.

"Cuddy here," came the official sounding voice from the other end of the phone.

"Hi, I'd like to set up an appointment for tonight, and I expect to see that mini skirt again; I want to get what I'm paying for." He could almost hear her rolling her eyes through the receiver.

"What do you want House I'm busy," she asked exsaperatedly.

"I want to come back to work."

"No absolutly not, House you've been shot and kicked around, you need to recover."

"Oh come on mommy its happened before, I'm a big boy I can handle it. And Chase is coming back too."

"You aren't, and over my dead body is Chase," Cuddy said, a note of finality in her voice. "He is definetly not ready, and I'm suprised he hasn't sued the hospital yet."

"Oh come on, if nothing else he needs something to distract him. Do you really think sitting at home and stewing is gonne help him? He needs to get back to normal," House argued, determined to get his way.

"You almost sound like you care," Cuddy sounded suspicious.

"Yes, I'm in love with him, haven't you heard? He's living with me now, and were moving to massachusets to get married next month."

Cuddy sighed over the phone. "Fine whatever you'll probably just come cause trouble if I say no. Just don't push Chase. Got it?"

"Yeah, yeah, I won't smash him up into any more tiny little pieces, promise."

"I'll see you tommorrow then; I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to have you back," she said sarcasticly.

"Ohh you, you were kidding weren't you. Now I'm hurt, look what you did," he replied.

"Goodbye House," she said in an overly sweet tone and hung up.

After he set down the phone, House suddenly felt restless. His thoughts began racing, jumping from one topic to the next, and he couldn't seem to find a comfortable positon on his couch. Finally after the constant change of postion annoyed him, he just got up and began to pace. As he walked back and forth, his brain decided to settle on the most annoying, but most frequent topic; Chase. He couldn't quite seem to get the blonde out of his mind, and it frustrated him.

He could deal with just lusting after him, if it was purely physical then it really meant nothing. But if it was just for sex, he probably would have already gotten what he wanted and moved on. No, he wanted Chase for something more. Something he'd tried to cut out of his life completly since Stacy, and that annoyed him to no end. Chase had effectivly managed to get past all the walls he'd set up, without even knowing it. He actually wanted to care for Chase, to have a real relationship, not just a night of fun, and he had no logical reason for it.

He knocked over a stack of papers in frustration, satisfied as they flew to the floor. Why did he suddenly feel the urge to be nicer, to care? He was supposed to be unemotional and unapprochable to everyone who wasn't Wilson. The universe really enjoyed messing with him, he had been fine with who he was and now he didn't think he could be content without the australian, which he probably had no hope of getting. This was why just not caring was easier, all this hurt was useless, he had enough pain from his knee he didnt need to add emotional pain to the list. Why was it that just the thought of the blonde made him happier; had he really gotten this weak?

He was he realized and he hated it. Frustrated he popped a vicodin and limped over to his piano, taking out his annoyance through the music. When his mind felt satisfactorialy blank, he went and crashed on his bed wishing and dreading the next day.

When he woke up the next morning he could already tell that it was going to be a bad day. His leg was aching more then usual, to a point where it was almost unbearable, House grimeced as he attempted to stand, falling back on to the bed twice before finally gaining stability. The sky outside his window was dark with clouds, a steady monotonous rain already falling. Great, he thought to himself this was going ot be a fun trip on his bike, since his car was still in the shop. He usually he loved the feel of the roaring wind but the rain made it unbeliavably uncomofrtable and slippery to use the motercycle, but it didnt look like he had any choice.

Slowly he got dressed and made some coffee; it was still early but he hoped to have some time before everyone else got in and started to bug him. Considering the mood he was in right now, he might just snap at them entirely, he needed some time to tone down his level of viciousness; hopefully the pain in his leg would subside some before things started to get busy.

He put on his jacket and made his way into the by now pouring rain, getting entirly soaked and cold on the way. As he rode on, his mood plummeted lower and lower, he hadn't had such a bad day in a while. All his drive was missing, he had slept restlessly all night, plagued with dreams he couldnt quite remember. Except for the ones where he had replayed kissing Chase over and over; ironically seeing what he wanted put him in a worse mood. The idea it might never happen again was weighing House down, despite his best efforts to convince himself he didn't care. He honestly didn't think Chase would want a relationship with him, and House prided himself on being very grounded. So he held little hope that anything he wanted to happen would actually happen.

He tried to shake the mood off, he couldnt afford to melt at the blonde's feet. They were going to go back to normal and these... feelings he was having would fade as well. Soon he pulled up at the nearly empty hospital, soaked to the core. He made his way as quickly as he could to his office and sat on his chair, his leg aching more then ever. He popped another vicodin into his mouth but that didnt seem to be working. This combined with the immense depression that suddenly overtook him made him feel incedibly tired. He slumped downinto his chair and put his head down on his desk, sitting motionlessly. He stayed like this for a little while until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"What?" He barked without looking up. He was met with silence and reluctantly straightened into a sitting position to see Chase hovering close to him looking uncertain.

"Oh..." House said slightly akwardly. "Hey..."

"Are you ok?" came the hesitant question.

"Just fine," House answered in a flat tone.

"You err... don't look so fine," Chase said carefully.

"Well my leg hurts like hell, I'm soaking wet, and I was up half the night," House answered scathingly, "so maybe I'm actually pretty crappy."

Chase pulled a chair up close to the one House was sitting in and hesitated slightly before laying a hand on Houses shoulder. House looked down at it but said nothing.

"I'm sorry, your feeling bad," he said, his eyes looked anxious and worried.

"Yeah well, you could kiss me. That would make me feel better," House dead panned, only slightly joking.

Chase considered for a moment then leaned in and kissed House straight on. Wasting no time in getting over his shock, House deepend the kiss, feeling a calm wash over him, and an immense pleasure at the sensation. He forgot all about the pain in his leg, and the cold the rain had caused. He was filled with an inexplicable warmth and... what, was that happiness? Chase tasted just as good as he remebered, sweet and pure; nothing House could ever hope to achive. He ran his hands through the silky blonde hair and pulled Chase closer to him, moving his hand down the man's back.

He heard a door open somewhere in the back of his mind, hazy through the feeling of the kiss but it didnt register until Wilson's voice seemed to thunder through the silence of the room, "House!!"

Chase jumped and hastily broke the kiss much to House's annoyance. He turned red and got up, quickly crossing the room mumbeling that he would be back before everyone got their.

"Now look what you did?" House snapped at Wilson. "You spooked the wombat, and just when things were getting good."

Wilson shook his head at House, "Have you thought this through at all? What if it had been Cuddy who walked in, or a patient? If you want to have a relationship with Chase, which is a terrible idea given his emotional state right now, I can't stop you. But you can't go and kiss in the middle of the hospital. You could get fired and so could he... and imagine if Cameron saw you."

"Oh come, on if Cuddy found us she would be so turned on she wouldn't know what do with herself. Cameron could be a problem; she might stab Chase or me, depending which broken boy she is trying to fix today. Never can tell with her."

Wilson sank into the chair next to House. "So your actually going for it huh?"

"Yeah, I think I will," House answered suddenly serious, "but don't worry hun, no one could ever replace you in my heart."

Wilson chuckled, "just lock the door next time will you, I do not need to see that again"

"Oh you know you loved it," House responded.

"Whatever you say," he smiled wanly at House, "I'm glad you found someone though."

"Now don't go getting all sentimental on me, you know how I hate sentimentality."

"Sorry; you have officially proven you are just a big softie inside," Wilson answered with a straight face, as House stuck his tongue out at him.

"Oh, very mature."

"I know, I pride my self on my maturity level. Everyone should aspire to be as grown up as I am," House answered leaning back in his chair.

Wilson just sighed then got up. "Well I have a meeting with a patient in five minutes, good luck with whatever it is you are scheming today."

"I'll see you at noon so you can buy me lunch!" House called after him as he left.

"Bye House," was the only answer he received. House just smiled, and leaned even farther back whisteling a songless tune.

An hour or two passed in which House through around his rubber ball, insulted Cuddy as she came to say that if he insisted on working he had better take a case, then finding the case somewhat interesting, agreed. Now he was just waiting for Chase and the rest of his ducklings to show up. Chase was the first one to appear which suited house just fine.

Chase smiled up at him akwardly and House said, "Oh don't worry Wilson isn't going to hurt you; hes very jealous and everything but honestly I think you could take him."

"Jealous about what?" Cameron's voice interrupted.

"The wild sex me and Chase just had on that table," House answered without missing a beat. "It was fantastic, you would have loved it."

Cameron just rolled her eyes, "I'm glad you two are back." She hesitlated then asked, "So what happened that night? I mean, theres lots of rumors flying around bu-"

"Is your nosieness genetic, or is it something you came up with all by yourself, because I have to tell you it really turns off guys you know," House cut her off has he saw Chase's eyes harden and gaze fall to the floor.

She opened and closed her mouth several times before saying, "whatever you say, House." She got up and started to make coffee. Behind her House made a gagging face at Chase who hid his grin behind his hand as Cameron turned back around.

"What?" She asked sensing she had missed something.

"Oh nothing; don't worry your pretty little head about it," House answered her, she just shook her head at him. Soon Foreman entered and House began the differential.

"Patient presents with vision loss, ataxia, and scaly skin; thoughts people?"

"Could be Retinal detachment," Foreman offered.

"Wouldn't explain anything but the vision loss," House cut him off.

"Lupus?" suggested Cameron.

House just gave her a look, "fine test for it, but its never lupus."

"Maybe,a transient ischemic attack?" Chase offered.

"That would explain, the clumsiness and the vison impairment; Chase get an MRI and Cameron redo the blood work up, Foreman go and get me a history."

They all nodded and rushed off to their various tasks and House resumed playing with his rubber ball wondering what the day would bring.

As Chase went to try and get a free MRI, Foreman went off to go and meet the patient. Inside he found a petite 9 year old girl and a burly father sitting protectivly at her bedside.

"Hello," he greeted. "My name is Dr. Foreman, why don't you tell me all about whats going on."

The dad immediatly took over, "Molly was fine, and then shes complaining she can't see and she keeps falling down and tripping."

"Any family history of diseases?"

"No nothing, her mom is perfectly healthy and so am I."

"When did this start?" Foreman continued questioning.

"About two weeks ago I think? Do you have any ideas yet on whats wrong with her? Can you cure her?" The dad, Jim, asked asked almost agressivly.

"Where not quite positive yet, we have to run a few tests first. I promise we will let you know as soon as we can."

He then addressed the girl lying in the bed, "Molly, I need you to tell me exactly what your feeling."

She turned to face him, "I woke up and I couldn't see one day, then it was like I couldnt make my body do what I wanted. It was scary and I didn't know what to do. I thought it would go away but it just got worse and worse." She explained nervously.

"Any other pains?" Formen pressed.

"Uhmmm," she bit her lip, "I get headaches sometimes but not like often just normal you know."

Forman nodded, "I know this is scary, but we are going to try our best to figure out whats wrong."

Jim nodded worriedly from his chair and began to drum his fingers nervously on the bedside as Foreman got up and left the room.

"MRI showed no sign of a stroke," Chase said as he entered the room with the results.

"Blood tested negative for lupus, but there was a little bit of an increase of phytanic acid," Cameron piped up from her corner.

"Gee, what a shocker? Its not Lupus, who woulda thunk. The acid is intresting though what would cause that?"

"Could be just she ate to much of a fat, but combined with her other symptoms shes a perfect match for Refsum disease," Foreman spoke, looking pleased that he had found the answer so quickly.

"Well thats dull," House said in a bored tone. "Thats such a simple answer, but I guess it fits. Get her the pills and the diet list, and Monitor her for the next few hours just in case. Let me know if anything changes."

All three nodded, and House held Chase's gaze slightly longer then neccessary and was disgusted at the fuzzy feelings he got when the blonde smiled back. Suddenly all of their pagers beeped, and they rushed off to Molly's room where her dad was yelling at the poor nurses as the girl screamed in pain.

"Molly, Molly?" Cameron rushed over, "Whats wrong honey?"

Through moans the child answered, " My head it hurts, it hurts so much. It feels like its going to crack open and I can barely see."

Cameron and Chase exchanged glances, this didn't match their diagnosis. Apperently it was back to the drawing board.

"Ok people, 9 year old screaming in agony, what did we miss?"

"Well for one, we can disreagard the flaky skin, shes been out in the sun lately and swimming every day. That combination is more then enough to cause the flakes she has." Cameron answered and then looked up as Chase rushed into the room looking highly annoyed.

"The lab gave us the wrong blood work her fatty acids are perfectly fine."

"Why is everyone so stupid? Well that takes away our original diagnosis now what?"

Chase hung up all the images of Molly's body, they all stared at everything until House called out, "Whats that?" and pointed at the MRI.

"Where?" Cameron asked,

"Right over there," House answered, pointing at a small darker spot, "between the occipital lobe and the cerebellum."

"Could be a shadow or a misprint," Foreman supplied.

"Or a tumor," House said bluntly, "hidden because its right between the two regions."

"It would explain the vision loss and the coordination issues..." Chase agreed.

"You realize it would be inoperable right?" Cameron asked, worry shining through her eyes at the thought.

"Then we'd better make certain, get a new MRI, now that the headache is intense it probably means its shown itself." House ordered.

A few hours later, the diagnosis was complete. "Its defiently a tumor," Foreman stated looking at the new MRI. They all sighed, knowing
what this diagnosis would mean.

"Time to tell the dad. Come on lets go," House announced, and they all followed him into Molly's room.

"Well?" the dad asked viciously, "have you figured it out?"

"Please come with us into another room so we can discuss the matter quietly," Foreman ushered Jim into a side room.

"We're afraid its not good," Chase spoke up when no one else did. "It seems your daughter has a tumor in her brain between her occipital lobe and her cerebellum. Its inoperable... theres nothing we can do."

The dad stood there for a moment before swearing loudly and grabbing Chase, slamming him into the wall. He punched him twice before yelling, "You have to do something!"

House angrily moved forward and grabbed Jim with incredible strength tossing him away from the collapsed Chase.

"Whats wrong with you, get a grip! Your daughter is dying and thats too bad, but you can't just take out anger on who ever you want. Other people have problems too and it is most definetly not his fault Molly is dying."

Jim glared and then moved out of the room, and House crouched near Chase, who was shaking and shivering.

He forcefully grabbed the blonde and made him meet his eyes, "Chase!" he said forcefully, "snap out of it." Chase swallowed but his eyes strengthened visibly and soon the shaking stopped.

Cameron and Foreman were watching the two of them with bewildered expressions on their faces.

"House... wha-" Cameron began to speak but the other man cut her off with a glare. "Go fill out all the paperwork and talk to the father."

They both looked like they wanted to protest but said nothing. After they left, House went and locked the door, then sat down next to Chase who had not yet gotten up.

"You ok?" he asked. Chase shrugged and then slowly laid his head on House's shoulder. In response House brought up his hand to stroke through the blonde hair, and then leaned in and kissed Chase gently.

"Good thing I'm tough enough for the both of us huh? I don't know how you would survive without me."

"Oh shut up House," Chase answered, but he was smiling.