After hours clinic duty

~~~With effort Chase turned his head towards House and nodded slightly. House swallowed, his throat having suddenly gone very dry, and steadying himself against the door, swung the cane down towards his duckling on the floor; now he felt guilty.~~~

Chase winced as the cane hit his back, this time by House's hand. The pain was more bearable this time though; House had aimed the cane so that it hit unbruised skin, and the impact was greatly lessened. He was relieved but remembered the gunman's words. 'Wanted a scream did he?' As the cane hit again, Chase moaned in agony, yea it hurt but definitely not enough to cause the level of pain his screams conveyed. He chanced a glance back at House and saw the the older man looked almost alarmed, Chase met his gaze and quirked his lips upward slightly, hoping to convey that pain was mostly just pretended. The situation was dire, but loosing their heads now would be even more disastrous. He saw House's face twist into a smirk of... 'was it pride?'

"What are you just standing around for?" Derrick yelled at them. House responded with a mocking salute, and the cane came down again, even lighter this time. Maybe there was some hope after all, Chase thought, as he faked another set of agonized groans. But then he looked up and met the hungry gaze of the insane man before him and his hope faltered slightly. They wouldn't let House control the situation for much longer, and when they took back the power there wouldn't be much House or he could do. God security was going to be revamped after this if they ever got out,this would not happen again.

He quickly brought himself out of his thoughts when he realized that Derrick was staring at him suspiciously, and realized by the throb on his back that House had hit him several times and he hadn't made a sound. 'Crap.' Derrick pulled Chase up to his feet and guided him under gunpoint to a spot several feet from the wall. Then he turned to House,"You know I'd hate to think you were playing me, but on the off chance... this next blow better send him reeling into the wall or it'll be worse for both of you." Then he pressed a finger onto a particularly painful spot on Chase's back causing the man to wince, " and I think the cane should fall right about here don't you?"

"Well you know, my head is still kind of spinning, all those punches- killed a lot of brain cells, can't be certain that I can remember all of your... instructions" The words were light but the tone was dangerous.

"I think you'll find a way to work through your pain," Derrick ordered in a tone that warned of pushing any farther.

Chase felt House's eyes on him and he half shrugged, they were back to just surviving. What had to be done had to be done; he had already more or less forgiven House for whatever would happen. Right now they needed each other, House would protest at the thought, but it was true. Without him House wouldn't be able to make it out of the room, and his boss's sarcasm added a sense of normalcy to this insane situation- he probably would have just broken by now if he were on his own.

"Well... he told you to do something didn't he," this time it was Mike who prompted, "Maybe you just need some more incentive," he continued. House watched as the man pulled a switchblade from his pocket and flicked it open and shut. "You people are the doctors, so tell me what will do more damage, your cane or my knife..."

House growled at the two, but raised his cane and brought it down on the blond's back. This time the blow had enough force to send Chase flying into the wall and the cries of pain were real now. House turned and raised his brows expectantly at the attackers, "There you go, Chase and the wall are now well acquainted, satisfied?"

"No not quite, do it again and we'll see" Derrick answered him. House pulled a disgusted face, "Aren't you two sick of this yet? Seriously why don't you two just go back to stealing kindergartener's lunch money, I'm sure that was much more satisfying." Derrick smiled condescendingly at the angry man, "If it makes you feel more in control to blather on, by all means. But don't forget we are the ones calling the shots. You and your buddy are trying to be strong, well good for you, but funny how you always end up doing what we say in the end. Like now for instance, fear of getting shot is a great influencer isn't it? But maybe you are right, this is getting slightly dull, so how about you hit him again, and then we'll ehm move on."

House narrowed his eyes not trusting the man's words but saw little choice but to comply,"Fine" he muttered, and winced as Chase went flying forward yet again.
"There he said now what..."

"Now," Derrick answered, "you can go sit next to your friend there while we figure out what exactly it is we want to do next."

"Fine, I hope you have fun scheming, "House replied and hobbled over to where Chase was struggling to sit up and slowly lowered himself to the floor next to the blonde. Carefully he reached over and steadied him, hoping he didn't jar the aggravated skin to much. Chase leaned back against the wall and tilted his face in House's direction. House glanced over at him, "you ok?"

"Peachy," Chase shrugged, then winced -"but I'll live." They were silent for a minute and then Chase spoke up, "Hey, House?"

"hmm" House turned to face the man next to him. "The next time you forget your damn gameboy somewhere wait until morning to go get it yeah," Chase sarcastically responded, but his lips were formed into a weak smile.

"Will do," House answered, "Or I'll send Forman to go get it, these are his type of people anyway, he can probably speak their language."

Chase snorted at that, "isn't that kind of talking what got us into this mess in the first place?"

House grinned and said half heartedly, "yea, maybe, I'll change," then his face turned more serious, and he met Chase's bright eyes. "I am sorry though, for this," he waved his hand at some of the bruises on Chase's torso. "And you know for this whole situation, can't seem to keep my mouth shut," he smiled wryly at his duckling.

"I don't blame you," Chase replied in a slightly shocked tone, "these people are lunatics, if every person you insulted came back with a gun there wouldn't be any guns left to buy in the city. This is their fault not ours." Chase moved slightly closer to House, and they sat there in silence, close but not touching, each one secretly glad they were not alone. A few more minutes passed, though they seemed to stretch for eternity, and then Derrick addressed them again, "Sorry to interrupt your bonding session, but I'd like to have one of my own if you don't mind."

House felt Chase tense up beside him and called back, "oh goodie, you can teach me how to throw a football then take me out for ice cream, sounds swell."

Derrick replied, "only if you are a really good boy who shuts up and looks the other way, while daddy has some fun, " At that Chase inched even closer to House, their shoulders now touching.

"Didn't we already establish that this whole shutting up thing doesn't work for me and I changed my mind I'll live without the ice cream, don't worry about it." House snarked back.

"Well thats really to bad, cause I intend on having fun either way, if you feel the need to watch thats your problem. See we wouldn't even be wasting our time with all this talking if it weren't for the highly amusing reactions blondie over here is having to my words. He's turning red from the slightest sexual suggestion. Imagine what would happen if I were to start going on about how much I want to bite down his back, or about how perfectly swollen his lips are right now. Perfect for kissing and other better activities. Wonder what would happen then, I wonder." Derrick shot back laughing.

Chase let out an almost inaudible moan and buried his face in House's shoulder. House looked down at his duckling, slightly shocked, but did nothing to make Chase move. He probably wouldn't be too thrilled if an ugly bozo kept threatening to rape him either.

"Aww look, I've embarrassed him," Derrick mocked, "and how sweet, he thinks you can protect him. But you can't really can you, I could just snatch him away right now and ravish him, right in front of you. I could make you do it too if I really wanted to." House felt Chase start to shake against him, he rolled his eyes and sighed then carefully maneuvered the blonde so that House's arm lay across his shoulders in an akward sort of half hug. Chase winced initially, the contact setting fire to all the welts and bruises on his back but then relaxed into the touch, glad to have some support.

Derrick looked at House suspiciously, but the latter simply stared back at him face blank. "What did I grow another head?" The sarcastic comment came, and Derrick chuckled. "No, but you seem to have attached another limb or two to your body, to bad I'm about to preform an amputation."

"Not sure you have that kind of license, come back in a few years," House answered, absentmindedly threading his fingers through Chase's hair.

Derrick smirked as he walked forward and grabbed Chase's arm- pulling him up off the floor and onto his feet; at the same time he also kicked House's cane out of reach, "wouldn't want you to try any more heroics, so just sit, relax, and maybe you'll make it out of this alive." Then he turned to Chase and ordered, "up against that wall," and pointed to the other side of the clinic.

Chase didn't move. "No," he replied.

"Are we playing the 'I'm not your plaything' game again? Because really I'm not a fan of that game. I'd much rather be playing the 'I've got my tongue down your throat game.'" Chase glared but still didn't move. "Haven't you learned yet? This doesn't work. I'm in control, like right now I'm going to magically convince you to go stand against that wall, ready?" He motioned to Mike who took out his switchblade, carefully still pointing the gun at House, and then knelt down and put the knife to House's throat. House glared at the man, but for once decided it was best to stay quite, as the knife pressed farther into his skin, he swallowed instinctivley and a droplet of blood appeared.

"Now have I made my point, or do we press on," The attacker chuckled at his own pun. Chase sighed, they needed to figure out some way to give themselves the upper-hand. Derrick was ultimately right, if he threatened to harm House then Chase would do what he wanted, if he threatened to hurt Chase then House would do what he wanted. Chase wasn't quite sure if House would do as he was told if he was threatened, but he wanted to think House at least cared a little. But for now there was no choice, "fine... fine" Chase heard himself replying as he crossed the room and stood up against the wall.

"Thank you," Derrick mocked, and House found the knife from his throat removed.

"Clever pun back there by the way," House said immediately, "the whole point and press word play thing, it was funny you know because I had a point knife pressed to my throat." Derrick turned and growled, and House fixed him with his 'innocent' smile, "yea I know, shut up, sorry; won't interrupt any more of your villan 'I'm taking over the world' speeches. Promise."

"Yea I think you will, annoy me enough and ill just stick medical tape across your mouth; you must really think I'm stupid,"

"Well.. now that you mentio-" House was cut off as Derrick started to speak again, "think if you keep talking for long enough, I'll concentrate on you- forget about blondie over there, well I have some bad news for you, won't work.

"You sure," House pushed, "cause we seem to have been talking for a fair few minutes here, and as you seem to have forgotten, you aren't on a clock, you are on an hour glass. Hospital starts up again in the morning, people will notice I'm missing; see, I'm just that important. I deflect, keep you talking for long enough, sand runs out. You go to jail and whala we all live happily ever after."

"Wow your right, lets just chat until I get carted off, good plan." Derrick answered with mock enthusiasm, "no I don't think so." With that he turned walked straight to Chase and kissed him hard on the lips. After he released the gasping blonde, he glanced quickly back at House and was pleased to see the man had looked away. After ensuring that Mike still had his gun trained on the doctor, he called back, "what not enjoying the show? You must feel like you are missing out, lets make you feel more included."

He turned his head and called back to Mike, "Why don't you convince House here that he really really wants to watch our delightful performance." House rolled his eyes as the knife was once again placed against his throat, though still far enough away that he could talk, "wow its like i have dejavu, like I have been in this exact situation before, oh wait I have, you guys are the most unoriginal baddies I have ever met, you totally wouldn't survive in a movie." At that the knife was placed closer and House sighed and had to content himself with glaring at Derrick. Unfortunately he now really had no choice but to look straight ahead at the scene before him, turning his head meant impaling himself on a knife, and that did not sound pleasant. Derrick's face was smug as he moved to kiss Chase again, if you could call it a kiss. It looked more like the man was trying to swallow the Aussie's face. House clenched his fists, and wondered how much jail time he would get for strangling the man.

Derrick was rather enjoying himself as he did what he had earlier threatened to do, and stuck his tongue down the man's throat. He pulled back enough to whisper in Chase's ear, "You like this don't you," Chase looked at him and angry, " shut up " he mumbled. Derrick laughed and motioned to Mike to put the knife away again then bent forward to kiss Chase, but was interrupted as House spoke, "you know maybe he would enjoy it more if you weren't such a failure at kissing. I mean, I know its not your fault since you have only ever kissed your mother, and thats not much space to perfect your technique. But still you look like you are eating his face."

Derrick turned around, "and you are suddenly an expert on kissing?"

"Oh yea, didn't you know, I'm like a kissing guru, everyone comes to me for advice, and let me tell you, I've never seen a case as bad as yours, but I think maybe if you, oh I don't know started flirting, wining and dining, that sort of thing, people might be more receptive." House answered with a sunny smile

"But you are the expert yes?" Derrick repeated with a smile.

House looked at him, slightly bewildered, "uhmm yea, thats what I just said remember, or you deaf as well as stupid?"

Derrick walked over and kicked House's cane towards him, "Get up," he commanded.

House looked searchingly at the man before replying, "No I think I'm comfortable right here thanks though."

"I said get up," Derrick growled.

"Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a bunch; crippled remember? I'm slow." With that House grabbed his cane and struggled to his feet.

"Ok, I'm standing. Does that make you really happy? Gonna shove me into the wall and start making out with me too?" House commented sarcastically.

"No, you are really ugly, but you were almost right. It's just not going to be me that is going to be doing the shoving or the kissing," Derrick answered his eyes glinting evilly.

"What gonna have your lackey here do it, well his breath is better then yours.."

Derrick started laughing harder, "no, actually, you will."

"I will be shoving myself into a wall and kissing me? Well that sounds just wrong." House smirked, and raised his eyebrows at Derrick.

"No," Derrick spoke slowly as if he were speaking to a petulant child, "YOU will be pushing Blondie here into the wall and then YOU will be kissing HIM. Get it now?"

"No, I'm not sure I do," House answered, searching out Chase's shocked eyes.

"Well, you said you were the kissing expert? Who better to show me how its done then the master? Besides you can't tell me you don't want to kiss hi-"

"I don't want to kiss him," House cut off Derrick, but wouldn't meet Chase's eyes

"Well, thats too bad isn't it, you don't really get to decide. Now move." Derrick replied.

Sighing, House crossed the room until he stood in front of Chase. Their eyes met and House leaned forward.