Chapter Text
Chase continues even harder his diet habits through the week. He spends all of his free time on exercise. Even during his working hours he seems to think about nothing more than his weight. His mind wonders around the circumstances that he hates to admit but is forced to- he is getting fat. However there seems to be no outcome in his efforts. As another week passes no sign of weight loss has been seen. Only his diets and absent mind at work. House and the whole team are bothered as this affects everyone's work and one brain less working on their cases,especially Chase´s brain really leaves a gasping hole in their cases.
The team gathers around the room as usual. New case on the board.
Chase -hair slicked back,his dress shirt collar buttons unbuttoned and tie half tied,eyes only half open leaning weakly against chair and is unable to focus on anything. His mind seems completely numb,neatly tucked in a dress shirt more tighter than ever,face flushed.
“Chase!” yells House and bangs his cane against the table to draw his attention.
“W..what?You say something?” asks Chase weakly.
House replies angrily “Yeah! I did! In fact I have been for the last few minutes! Where were you,wombat ? at the wonderland?” he mocks
“I was just” he replies barely keeping his eyes open and face covered in sweat
“Going for a run” he says and collapses on the floor.
Instant panic erupts. House runs to Chase,it seems like had fainted.
“Get him to the nurses immediately!” says House checking for his pulse.
Cameron runs for help as Foreman holds Chase´s head up. Doctor House feels Chase´s forehead, it's burning.
“High fever.Quick,get him cooling blankets” House tells the nurses that arrive with Cameron.
Gladly it seems like they were able to get Chase´s fever down. He sleeps in his bed. House finally tries to help Chase so he gathers everyone back to the office,everyone except Chase,who is now their newest case.
House marks on his board the following: high fever,rapid weight gain,weakness,aussie and ?.
He puts down his marker and asks “So? What do we know?”
Foreman replies” We know that he has been actively trying to lose weight.”
House replies “But has failed.”
Foreman nods “ It also seems like the cause of his collapse was because of dehydration, which means it is unrelated to his weight.”
House replies sarcastically “Okay, tell me something that requires more than a 4th grade diploma.”
Cameron replies “ There are certain rare conditions like Rohhad syndrome and Prader-Willi that cause rapid weight gain.”
Foreman replies “But it can't be Prader-Willi, since its main symptom is a constant need to eat. I haven't seen Chase eat anything in the past 2 weeks.”
House sighs “And it is highly unlikely it is Rohhad since it's a disease for babies. Last time I checked,Chase is not a baby. Behaving like a little girl doesn´t qualify him as one.”
Everyone thinks for a moment. House scribbles Prader-Willi on the whiteboard.
House comments “It´s a maybe, we don't really know what Chase does when he is home. He could be hogging vegemite sandwiches left and right when we aren´t looking.”
Cameron replies “I really don't think that, he wouldn't had collapsed if he -”
House interrupts her "Let's not make assumptions! What do we know? What are the god damn stats?”
Foreman replies “He has had high glucose levels in his blood. Which could explain his fatigue."
Cameron continues “ Diabetes and other thyroid issues can cause fatigue.”
House replies “Great, go test him for Hashimoto's disease and check his thyroid. Foreman, you are coming with me. We are going on a route trip.”
Cameron looks puzzled. “What?”
House replies “You are staying here,investigating him, maybe he will confess that he is secretly transgender,PCOS would explain it all. Me and Foreman and going to dig around in his cave, who knows what kind of treats lie around in the dark tunnels of the wombat's home.”
Cameron comments irritated “That's not something to joke about, PCOS is very serious..” she stops and comments "Wombat's don't live in caves!”
House frowns his eyebrows “They don`t ? Ah well we will find out soon enough anyways.”
Foreman just sighs and puts on his jacket and taps Cameron's shoulder. "It's best that you stay here when he wakes up,he needs your support.”
Cameron nods and watches House and Foreman leave, poor Chase, he had no idea that House was going to raid his home uninvited.
Cameron goes to Chase and sits beside his bed. With compassion she looks at Chase and feels his forehead, it still feels warm. Poor Chase, she thinks to herself.
Chase opens his eyes and looks confused, eyeing around the room until he notices Cameron and smiles.
“Oh hey you..” he says softly
Cameron smiles and sits on his bed “How are you feeling?” she asks gently.
“Uhh..I don't even know. My head is killing me. How did I get here?” he asks
Cameron replies “You fainted.”
She puts her hand on his hand “Look I'm worried about you,you were pushing yourself so hard chasing calories,look where it got you.”
Chase sighs sadly ” Looks like it still wasn't enough.”
Cameron replies “Look House,Foreman and I are working on the case, we will figure out what's wrong sooner or later.” She smiles, “ You are not going to die.”
Cameron sighs “Yeah I guess not. I just hope they figure it out soon,before my whole body turns into butter.”
Cameron puts her hand on his shoulder for comfort “Chase…It really isn't that bad.”
Chase replies “Just…whole my life. I have made sure I'm perfect,in school,by looks,health. All of it. Yet here I am.”
Cameron replies “It doesn't really make you any less perfect.”
Chase replies almost teary eyed as he removes his blanket that covered him “Look at me,I'm repulsive.”
Cameron´s eyes lower ,Chase still in his work clothes is sitting on his bed. His dress shirt tight,buttons holding on for its dare life,tie sitting on top.His stomach spills over his pants,sitting over his belt looking plushy. But Cameron is not repulsed,not in the slightest. She finally got a good look at his belly, before she had avoided her rude glances to not upset Chase but now that Chase was inviting her to look she did look very carefully. Unbelievable that this man has a gut,his face is slim as ever,nothing about his appearance would indicate that he would have a soft gut. Cameron feels her face heating up.
Caught up in a moment she blurts “Irresistable”
Chase raises his gaze at her and his eyebrows “Say what now?” he asks
Cameron covers her mouth “Shit” she says shocked and pauses.
“Forget what I said.” She continues and backs away from Chase.
Chase clings quickly onto her uniforms sleeve “No. Do tell.”
Cameron has now no escape, she slowly turns her face to Chase and looks him timidly in his eyes.
She says “I don't know what's gotten into me but….I don't find your weight repulsive…in fact” she pauses “I find it…charming.” she gulps
Chase's face is full of confusion and slight disgust. Just what the hell did Cameron say? How could anyone find a blubber belly attractive, especially a gorgeous girl like Cameron. She must be comforting me out of pity, thinks Chase to himself. He needs to push her, Chase hates when Cameron lies. He doesn't need anyone's pity.
With a cocky attitude he invites Cameron “Oh yeah? Well, all yours then.”
“What ?” asks Cameron
Chase says smugly “If you find me this charming then why won´t you just show it.”
Cameron blushes but quickly throws a witty response “Oh yeah? Are you sure you can take it?”
Chase replies with a smirk “Come on,ain't nothing under this sun that could scare me. What you got?”
Cameron takes a short breath,her hands shake as they are aiming to touch Chase's gut.Before her hands reach ,she stands up quickly,looks around and pulls a curtain to cover them from a possible praying eye. She brushes her skirt before she sits back down now closer to Chase.
Chase laughs and smirks “Getting frisky in the hospital room,wow Cameron!”
Cameron rolls her eyes "Don't even think that I'll have sex with you here, I'm not an exhibitionist.”
Chase smiles “Of course not. I'm just curious what the curtain is for.”
Cameron smiles "You'll find out soon enough”.
Cameron leans closer now,Chase looks excited but also kind of nervous. He has no idea what Cameron is going to do. Whatever it is,Chase is ready. Cameron's hands lower,she is aimed right at Chase's gut. She grips onto it softly and her hands sink in.
Her voice shakes “If I found you repulsive would I do this?” she asks
Chase doesn't seem to grasp Cameron´s ideas. He shrugs. Cameron isn't satisfied by this response. She sinks her nails softly onto his skin,she twirls her finger around his belly button,his shirt is tight so you can see his fat peeking behind the window that the ill fitting buttons form. Effortlessly she unbuttons one of the tight buttons. She looks nervously up. Chase is confused but curious.
Cameron asks “Should I continue?”
Chase answers “I'll give you free hands. Do how you please.” he smirks.
Cameron doesn't wait for long,she has full permission now. She squeezes the exposed part and unbuttons the next button above his belly button. She places both of her hands more up,just below his armpits and feels with both of her hands his figure. Everything feels soft. Chase feels embarrassed but stays quiet. His curves have filled out nicely,he even has a little muffin top now,which is especially noticeable because of his tight pants. Cameron gently caresses her fingers on his curves. She is clearly enjoying every minute of this. She unbuttons more of his buttons until the whole row is open,leaving only a tie covering his chest and stomach. Chase feels embarrassed. Cameron presses her lips against his stomach and gives a gentle kiss. Her face burns up and so does Chase's, somehow this all feels very indimate.
She asks “Still don't believe me?”
Chase replies “I..I do but what exactly is so nice about this. I just don´t get it.”
Cameron tugs her collar ,sighs and starts rambling “What is there not to like. It's so soft and warm. “ She grabs his stomach with both of her arms.
She places her hands on his stomach gently that was half still hidden behind his belt and pants and cups it with both of her hands.
“W..What are you doing?” Chase stutters nervously.
Cameron smiles "Wouldn't you like to be a bit more comfortable?These pants are tight.”
Chase denies “My washer must had fucked them up,well…as I said Im not stopping you.” he says
Cameron holding his gut with both of her hands nods and lets his belly go,letting it droop. Belly fills his lap soon and covers his belt. Chase blushes,there's no denying it no matter what,that is a proper fat blubber,Chase knew it was not the fault of his washer even though that thought would have comforted him more. Cameron lifts his belly softly,first she unbuttons his pants that were holding on tightly and then unbuckles his belt. The belly droops and jiggles Cameron gently kisses it with affection.
Cameron jokes “Sure sure. the washer did all that.”
Chase admits “Okay maybe not.” he continues “You know Cameron,I must admit,I was never really secure with my weight growing up…”
She asks “What? you use to be a chubby kid?”
Chase replies “Not really, I just always had very strict rules about health. Growing up with doctor does that.“
Cameron squeezes his belly, her hands are all over him and reaches to his back. Grabbing his ass lightly. She has let go and fully given in her desires, she enjoys Chase like this. She never really cared about the appearance or someone's body figure. Chase sure got a beautiful appearance and kind personality,he even used to have tight abs,that had now been buried under a layer of soft fat. Cameron found him really adorable with his new figure,it somehow even suited him more in her opinion. Or maybe she secretly enjoyed Chase being this vulnerable with her. Whatever it was she knew one thing,Chase was not just fling,she was falling in love with him. She places one of her hands on Chase´s face and looks him in the eye.
Cameron says “I must say the weight doesn't look bad on you. Not at all”
Chase stares at her back feeling her delicate hand on his cheek and he smiles with his eyes. Chemistry between these two was undeniable, there was tension and desire in the air. Suddenly Cameron grabs his tie and kisses him. Chase kisses back and feels her soft lips, Cameron runs her fingers across his silky blonde hair ,other hand gropes his side tightly pulling him closer. They kiss passionately.
Meanwhile Foreman and House have gotten into Chase's apartment. House opens his fridge with full of hope but is met with disappointment ,it has vegetables and celery.
He makes a disgusted face “Blarghh. Not even yogurt here? Does celery make you fat?” he asks Foreman
Foreman is digging Chase´s trash “Not that I'm aware of,looks like we got nothing here either. No take outs,no nothing. Just vegetables.”
House looks around the apartment carefully. Everything is neatly clean and organized. He even had a diet plan on his fridge that he had been following strictly for the past weeks without results. House snoops around his bedroom too, he opens drawers and notices the classic white underwear with red hearts. Chase also has many ties, even an “silly” one with ducks,everything else however is extremely formal. House is bored.
“This is like the most NORMAL guy apartment ever. How boring” he whines
Foreman replies “Maybe there isn't really anything to be found here.”
Suddenly House eyes alert a door.
He asks deep in thought “Where does that lead to?”
Foreman shrugs.
House steps closer with curiosity and his eyes widen as he opens it with excitement. The door however is a backdoor that has wooden stairs that lead to a dark alleyway.
“Spooky” he says as he closes the door.
When he closed the door he noticed something on the ground and picks it up. It's a chocolate bar wrapper. He waves it in his hand and shows it to Foreman.
“Looks like Charlie has been to the chocolate factory,at least once.” he mocks
Foreman rolls his eyes “That's one chocolate bar, that hardly proves anything.”
House says “One is more than nothing. I think our work here is done.”
Foreman grabs the sample bag he collected from trash and asks “Really? But we didn´t find anything.”
House replies “Head back and run tests on the samples,let me know what the test results at the hospital say. I will be right back.”
Foreman nods and heads back to the hospital. House stays at Chase´s apartment, he eyes his backdoor.
Few hours pass. All the results came back negative and Chase feels a bit better already. He is sleeping. House arrives finally and bangs the door open with his cane waking both Chase and Cameron who had fell asleep with a book in her hand on the chair across the room. Foreman was just passing by the hallway as well.
“Okay! Time to go home” says House
Chase asks “What? So am I going to be alright? What's wrong?”
House replies “I diagnose you with” he looks at Chase's unbuttoned shirt that he had forgotten to close after a smooching session with Cameron “fat.”
Chase covers himself quickly and is embarrassed. Cameron giggles at his reaction.
Foreman now asks “So? What did you find out? I assume there was a reason you stayed longer at Chase´s apartment.”
Chase raises his voice “You guys went to my house? But how did you-”
House interrupts and throws keys onto his bed “ Yeah I went there and sniffed your heart pattern panties.”
Chase looks irritated and flushed. Cameron giggles and Foreman smirks.
House says "Don't worry I didn't take them, just like I didn't take this.” he places a candy wrapper on Chase's bed.
Chase looks at it with confusion “Timtams? I haven't seen those for years. This must have been there for ages.”
House raises his eyebrows and swings his cane “Great! Then there is nothing to worry about! Must be the old calories catching up. Everybody lets go home.”
Chase blurts “But you must have found something out! There's gotta be a reason for all of this. There always is.”
House lowers his body and gets closer to Chase “Go home!” he says
Chase grunts and sighs.
House gestures Cameron and Foreman “Rest of you! Come with me, only Chase gets to laze off today.” he says
Confused, Foreman and Cameron follow House to his office.
House says “Tonight we strike at midnight” he jingles keys.
Foreman asks “What? Didn´t you just-”
House interrupts “I made copies.”
Cameron asks impatiently “Just what exactly do you have in mind?”
House smiles “We are going to play Spy Kids tonight, at Chase's house”
Cameron blurts “What ? You just sent him home!”
House replies “And not a beep about this to anyone. “
The night arrives,Cameron,Foreman and House are all on the street spying on Chase´s window. His lights had been off for a while now in his apartment. The air is cold and the streets are wet and covered in autumn leaves. Foreman rubs his gloved hands together. Cameron nudges House´s shoulder who is spying Chase´s window with binocles.
She whispers angrily “Just what the hell are we doing here?”
House shushes her “Just patience, the beast will come out soon.”
Foreman also whispers angrily “It's cold! I'm freezing here! I'm getting out of here. This is insane.”
House grabs Foreman by his jacket collar and says “Checkmate ! At 3´o clock” he points.
Everyone looks,shadowy figure in dark walks in Chase's apartment. House moves further down the street, Cameron and Foreman confused right behind him. They see Chase who opens the backdoor.
“Chase!” yells Cameron
House nudges her and shushes her,he says “He can't hear you.”
Chase in fact did not see her. Foreman and Cameron look at each other confused. Chase walks like some sort of zombie down the stairs. They follow House, who follows Chase from further away.
Cameron pants “What's wrong with him?”
House replies “Sleepwalking”
Suddenly House stops, the spies named Cameron and Foreman almost fall onto House's back.
House says “Foreman,get the camera.”
Foreman takes out his camera and zooms in where House points. It is a green 24/7 corner shop where Chase had walked it. He spends a minute inside.
Foreman asks “What is he doing there?”
As Chase steps out the door, House replies “Getting his midnight snack.”
House was indeed correct. Chase steps out,bag full of something. As soon as he steps out he takes something inside of the bag. It is chocolate bars,more specifically Timtams, an Australian delicacy. Chase rips the package and shoves the bar into his mouth,then another and another. He must have had 20. Foreman,House and Cameron all look in awe as Chase is caught red handed. Like a zombie he trashes his mess to the outdoor trash can and climbs back upstairs, most likely into his bed.
Next morning Chase shows up to work,at the office everyone looks with a smug look. Chase looks confused.
He says “What's this all about?”
House says “The Scooby gang solved the mystery. Velma,show the evidence.” he tells to Foreman who is holding a home video camera.
Foreman opens the camera´s slap and shows Chase the video. He lowers his look to see better. A video zooms to Chase walking down the stairs with zombie look in his eyes.
He says “What the hell? When was this ?I don't remember..”
House replies and shushes him” Last night, just wait, we are getting to the best part.”
Chase continues watching,he sees himself walking into the cornershop ,coming out and hogging timtams. His face goes pale.
Foreman smiles and closes the camera slap “Mystery solved!”
Cameron also smiles and comments "Isn't it great news. You aren´t sick!”
House mocks “Maybe just home sick… Mmm yum those Australian biscuits really got you porked up fast.”
Chase looks pale and confused “But how ? I don´t remember any of this.”
House replies “You were sleepwalking, and eating. Which is likely triggered by your daddy issues”
Cameron corrects him “What House is saying that you were sleepwalking to get treats, maybe because the taste reminds you of your home.”
Chase sighs and thinks to himself, few weeks ago he did discover that the cornershop near him sold Timtams,he didn't get one then but it did bring him back memories from his childhood.
He asks House “But how did you know?”
House replies “That creepy backdoor of yours gave me a hint, I simply followed the leads and well I asked the cornershop guy if he had seen a blondie creeping buying any sweets,to which he replied that a handsome young man had come here every night exclusively to buy timtams.”
Chase laughs and sighs of relief “Well looks like they have to put me on blacklist for a while.”
Foreman comments “And House should get blacklisted from local locksmiths and spy wear stores.”
Everyone laughs and smiles. It was a rare moment when the whole group laughed like this in union. This case had a humorous ending. Chase felt embarrassed about it. This made him think about the times he had humiliated his fat patients,he himself had so foolishly also became chubby by accident. He felt like this was his karma. Chase had a lot to think about beliefs and his figure. But it wasn't all bad,besides the embarrassment he had also found something- love. He stares into Cameron's eyes and smiles. Everyone leaves the office except for Cameron and Chase.
Chase smiles and turns to Cameron “Looks like I'll be back to my old self in no time.”
Cameron steps closer to him,pulls him closer by his tie and says softly “I didn't really mind this version of you either.” She touches his belly gently.
House who had stepped back to his office to grab something mocks “Uh oh looks like Cameron is an “chubby Chase-r”
Chase and Cameron and caught red handed,they blush Cameron kicks House's cane face flushed. House just smirks and limps out of the office.
He says as he goes “And no smooching in my office,let's get back to work!”
Cameron and Chase look at each other and laugh. Cameron touches Chase´s hand softly for a brief second and Chase smiles. They rush out together of the office walking neatly next to each other, faces filled with smile.