Outside the Box

House wasn’t sure how it had happened, but he was staring at a very wet Robert Chase just outside of his door on a Friday night and feeling slightly turned on.

“Are you going to let me in?”

“Not likely.”

Chase frowned. “Look, my date dumped me and this was the closest place I could think of.”

“You don’t make that little. I’m pretty sure a cell phone is within your price range.”

“It broke.” Chase’s eyes dashed to the side and House could tell there was more to the story, but before he could interrogate him, he noticed the slight tremor to his lip.

It was then that House really took inventory of his young fellow. Chase’s eyes were a bit red and swollen and it was quite possible there were tear tracks mixed in with the water from the rainstorm Chase had mercilessly been caught in. Then again, maybe he was just cold, but House didn’t want to take the chance of having the wombat fall apart on his doorstep.

He stepped aside to allow Chase to enter. After carefully closing the door, he leaned against it and watched as Chase looked around, obviously uncomfortable.

House sighed. “I suppose you’ll want something dry to wear.”

“If it’s not too much trouble...”

“Maybe you should just walk around naked. It certainly would brighten the place up.”

Chase frowned at House as if he were a little boy who had just sworn. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

House smiled just a bit. “I’m serious. I don’t want you dragging water through the place. I have to be careful about tripping. Just start stripping down. I’ll get something for you.”

Chase’s mouth dropped open and he had a hard time arguing with the man because, he realized there was no way to prove he wasn’t being a jerk. Maybe he really was worried about slipping on the wet floor.

Chase watched House’s retreating form and grimaced. “Where do I put this stuff?”

House turned around and gestured toward a worn rug. “Stand on that and drop your clothes there. It’s seen worse.”

Chase pulled off his jacket, grateful House wasn’t there to see the wince of pain and then tossed it on the rug. His shoes and socks followed.

House walked back in and smiled sarcastically. “It’s a wonder you ever get to work in the morning with how slow you are at changing.” He handed the younger man a pair of black sweat pants that would probably be a good size too long.

“Um…a shirt?”

“You’re awfully demanding for a dripping wet wombat. I suppose next you’ll be demanding use of my hairdryer so you don’t frizz…Forget it. Do what I do. Use the oven.”

Chase rolled his eyes and fumbled with the buttons to his shirt.

House realized the buttons were uneven and sighed. “How’d you get out somewhere looking like that? Guess mommy Cameron will have to dress you from now on.”

He regretted the words as they came out of his mouth for two reasons. First, he should never wish Cameron on anybody. Second, he knew Chase’s mom was a bitch and he was certain the younger man didn’t need to think of her.

Not surprisingly, Chase just shrugged the comment off.

Obviously something more pressing on your mind, huh?

The answer came as Chase was pulling his shirt off and then his tee shirt.

The marks were fresh, possibly only an hour old at most. The red had become dark and would probably bruise.

House didn’t need to be a deductive man to see the clear shape of a hand wrapped around the blonde’s upper arm.

The older man was distracted as Chase sucked in his stomach a bit to be able to look down at the slippery button to his slacks. The toned body in front of him was a bit too much to take and House quickly left to find a shirt for his young guest.

He found an old KISS shirt and quirked an eyebrow. He wasn’t sure when he’d seen the shirt before and figured it was one of those gifts he’d been given that he’d just tossed aside. He shrugged and took a few deep breaths to calm down his erection. Just when he thought he had it under control, he caught the scent of sandalwood and a slight bit of hazelnut.

He slowly turned to look down into the piercing eyes of Robert Chase.

“I didn’t invite you into my room.”

Chase had his arms across his chest, using his hand to hide the bruise. “I was cold.”

“So you decided snooping would warm you up?”

“I wasn’t snooping. I just wanted to find out what was taking you so long.” Chase glanced down to the shirt now stretched oddly because House had a tight grip on it and was twisting it in his grasp.

Chase’s innocent bored look shifted suddenly to the concerned look he gave to patients. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

The change was so quick that House didn’t have time to stop himself. Here he was, WorkChase was here and in his bedroom and for a moment, it was just another fantasy.

“How do you walk around that hot and not get mauled on a regular basis?”

Chase blinked once and then again. He was speechless because he was pretty sure he’d just crossed into a real twilight zone. “Uh…”

House sighed. “Shit.” He shoved the shirt at Chase’s chest. “Put it on and then I’ll call you a cab.”

He headed out to the living room to figure out just how he was going to explain that little comment away.

Chase watched him leave and then pulled the shirt on and sat down on the bed. He closed his eyes and tried to tell himself not to think too hard or he’d be forced to face what had happened on his ‘date’.

He still wasn’t sure what had exactly happened. He had a reason to be upset, but something had unsettled him a great deal more than he would have thought.

He wasn’t aware of it when he leaned back so he was lying across the bed with his legs dangling off the sides. He just kept thinking and searching for why he was so jittery.

Meanwhile, House was wishing his leg would allow him to pace because he was certain that would feel really good to him at the moment. He kept glancing back to his room and was beginning to feel annoyed with the Aussie.

Shouldn’t he be finished by now?

Five minutes passed and he finally walked back to the room hoping, with a quick pang of lust, that Chase had suddenly become homosexual and was lying naked on his bed.

When he walked into his room, his heart skipped a beat. Damn close…

Chase was breathing deep and steady, obviously asleep, and spread across his bed.

House moved closer and noticed the shirt had ridden up just enough so he could see the soft expanse of skin between Chase’s navel and his pubic hair. He was tempted to reach out and caress it, but he was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to snark his way out of that.

The lower end of the bruise peeked out just a bit on Chase’s right arm below the tee shirt and House found he was frowning.

That bitch must have had some guy manhandle him because that’s definitely a big hand.

For a moment, he let himself think maybe the blonde’s date was a man. It would certainly make his fantasies more real to him.

House sighed, knowing he couldn’t let Chase stay that way. There was no way House’s leg would handle sleeping on the couch and he had to move his young fellow.

He sat down next to Chase and stared at the slight bulge hidden by the black fabric of the sweats. His urge to caress and stroke the flesh underneath was overwhelming and he had to bite his lip to keep him grounded in reality.

House was acutely aware that every naughty fantasy he’d had about the blonde paled in comparison to actually having him here.

Chase’s hair had dried a bit and a lock of hair had fallen over his eyes. House couldn’t stop himself and brushed it aside.

House sighed and got some things together for Chase to sleep on the couch. He hadn’t called the cab and something told him he shouldn’t send the boy home alone on a weekend. He’d probably just get himself in trouble with another date. Plus, he liked the idea of the woman, who was stupid enough to let him go, calling Chase and continuously getting no answer.

He went into the bathroom and got ready for bed. He had been dressed for bed when Chase had arrived, but he decided to brush his teeth just one more time. Deep down he knew it was because he still harbored this pointless idea he might get a kiss, even if it was just Chase sleepkissing.

The angelic form of his intensivist was no longer quite so angelic when he walked back into the room.

Chase was moving and he didn’t seem to be happy about it. His head thrashed back and forth erratically and his limbs jerked as if responding to painful stimuli.

House moved as quickly as possible to the young man’s side and touched his shoulder.

“Chase. Chase, wake up!” House shook him gently.

Chase’s eyes snapped open and House caught a look of fear that was faded before he was sure he’d seen it to be replaced by confusion.

“Where….”

“Right now you’re in my bed and you’re being a cover hog.”

Chase sat up and stretched before rubbing his eyes. House couldn’t help but smirk at the sight. Chase looked like a sweet little boy, ruffled and innocent.

“Sorry…I’ll get going.”

“You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying.”

Chase seemed intrigued. “I am?”

“Yes.”

“I…I don’t know what to say. I always thought…”

“Don’t get sappy. I just want to make sure you clean up that mess out there tomorrow. I don’t want you keeping me awake tonight to do it.”

“Oh.” He stood and sighed. “I’ll be out on the couch.”

“Yes. You will.”

House frowned as Chase walked out to the living room and without thought to the consequences, called him back.

“What?”

“Since you’re here, you could make yourself useful. Get into bed and you can help rub out the muscle in my leg if it cramps up.”

Chase’s look was pure confusion, but he finally shrugged and got into the bed.

House settled in and stared at the ceiling, aware Chase was doing the same thing. “G’night Brit.”

“Australian…”

“Whatever.”

House closed his eyes, never able to prepare himself for the wake up he’d receive only a few hours later.

TBC…