Chapter Text
‘Chase thinks you’re going to fire him’
Dr Gregory House sat in his office brooding over Cameron’s words, they ricocheted around his mind like a bug on a windshield. It wasn’t in House’s character to be easily touched or manipulated, maybe it was the damn book Cameron was reading that was setting everyone on edge. Foreman won’t let it go even if it didn’t necessarily cost the patient her leg, the prodigal son is too stubborn to admit when he makes a mistake. Whereas Chase was fragile, being the youngest of the ‘Ducklings’ as Wilson would say, I suppose it’s not easy, he still didn’t know about his father.
“Father” House muttered to himself, realising what could’ve caused Chase to screw up so badly, he doesn’t usually mess up on something as simple as a CT scan.
‘What would Wilson do?’ He asked himself as he reached for his pager.
“Aah damn” He realised Wilson was in a meeting with the new Don of the hospital, Edward Vogler, and he’d get really grumpy if House dragged him out of the meeting, again.
“I can’t stand it when he pouts at me” He grumbled, knocking his cane against his desk as he attempted to stand, wincing a little as he did so. Flinging the glass door open, he began making his way to where he’d exiled Chase to.
House entered the clinic to find the waiting room surprisingly empty, asides from the few people milling about the entrance that Cuddy was dealing with, her eyes quickly darting in his direction, he did his best to hobble off in a hurry. He made his way to the clinic’s examination room, as he put his hand on the well sanitised handle he heard the faint sound of sobbing coming from the other side.
‘Strange’ He thought, unlike the youngest duckling to upset people. He pulled the stethoscope from his jacket pocket, hooking it into his ears and placing the resonator on the wood so he could listen in, he came to the conclusion that Chase was alone. After further deduction he could suddenly sense a pair of prying blue eyes boring into the back of his skull. The resonator fell from his hand as he turned, the weight of it swinging into his stomach hurt his ears.
“Doctor House whatever are you doing here?” Doctor Cuddy asked, her arms folded across her bosom, waiting for him to explain himself. House screwed his face up as he pulled the stethoscope out of his ears.
"Sorry I didn't quite catch that?" House snarked, annoyed about his snooping being disturbed.
"I wanted to know what you were doing he-" Cuddy reiterated, getting more annoyed.
"Gosh, d'you know I thought I heard a woodworm" House parried, sarcastically.
"Doctor Robert Chase is perfectly capable of seeing patients on his own-"
"Actually…" House interrupted Cuddy's lecture, feeling rather protective over his youngest duckling.
"Bobby is in there by himself and he's having a breakdown so the doctor is going in whether you like it or not, besides shouldn’t you be at the meeting?" He added, rather defiantly as he opened the door wide enough for him to squeeze through before promptly shutting it, to prevent any more of Cuddy's interference. Sure enough he found Chase sat on the floor.
House waited until he heard Cuddy’s heels clattering down the corridor, then he moved away from the door and towards the young doctor. Chase was sat, crouched on the floor, his back to the wall, his knees tucked up, nearly under his chin, only the unfolded book in his lap prevented them. He let out a sniff as he at last looked up from his book towards the rather curious doctor.
“A-are you mm-mad at me?” Chase stuttered nervously, amidst anxious gasps. A wave of guilt washed over House, something he wasn’t used to feeling. There was also something about Chase’s manner and the way he was speaking, one could say it sounded almost childlike. House’s frown relaxed as he studied the pair of bloodshot eyes staring up at him through the mucky blond locks that hung over the young doctor’s forehead.
‘Age Regression’ He concluded, something he had heard Wilson talk about, briefly. Well, if he was being honest he didn’t always fully pay attention when Wilson was talking, living together and working together he had to conserve sanity where he could.
‘It’s an effective method of coping with anxiety’ He seemed to recall him mentioning. House finally reached some understanding of the situation and began to feel a sense of responsibility towards the young man in front of him.
Chase pulled a cuddly toy kangaroo from behind his book, and buried his face in the soft fluff. Wiping his snotty nose on the back of his hand, relieving a big snort as he did so. This confirmed House's hypothesis, nevertheless he was going to attempt to be tactful.
“No Bobby I’m not mad at you.” He finally answered in a soft, soothing voice. The bristles on his chin fanned out as he curled his lip.
‘Is this what it was like for him growing up? Locked in a room with a book, an absent father and a mother who might as well have been’ House realised, becoming determined to change that. It was in doubt whether he or Wilson could have a child of their own, himself being an addict and Wilson being unstable of income, he couldn’t honestly see his husband turning down an opportunity to raise a child, maybe this was their answer.
House applied pressure to his cane as he attempted to kneel down, Chase squeezed his Kangaroo tightly as House moved closer.
“And who’s this?” House asked gently, poking his finger into the kangaroo’s fur and wiggling it as if he was trying to tickle the soft fluff. To his surprise Chase released his grip and let House hold his toy safely, House examined the toy.
“Is Roo” Chase explained, staring nervously up at House, pouting slightly.
"Hmmm...well it looks like Mr Roo could do with some stitches, a belly rub and a wash" House diagnosed, feeling the chewed ear that was soaked through with saliva, this kangaroo was certainly well loved.
“Hehe silly Daddy...” Chase chuckled, pausing briefly realising what he had said; he’d never referred to House as Dad, Daddy or father out loud before. House didn’t seem to mind, he beamed at his son.
“Roo is a girl” Chase added, slightly flushed, grinning at his caregiver.
“Of course, silly me I forgot girl kangaroos have a front pocket.” House japed, blushing at the mistake he’d made. In his defense animals weren’t his field; people were his field but he didn’t really like them either.
“Would you like to listen to her heart beat? To make sure she’s not sick?” He offered, taking the book from Bobby’s lap and folding it shut, leaving it on a nearby table.
“Uh huh”
Chase nodded, after sucking on his thumb and thinking about it. House helped the little doctor up and sat him on the examination table. He handed Roo back to Bobby, who proceeded to bury his face in the soft fur. He grabbed one of her ears in a loose fist and rubbed it against his nose as he sucked his thumb. House retrieved the stethoscope from his jacket pocket, hooking the earpieces in Bobby’s ears and pausing briefly to wipe the resonator.
“I should warn you Mrs Roo that this may feel a little cold” He warned, addressing the stuffed toy. Chase smiled a little apprehensively. He then gently pressed the resonator against the soft fluff on the kangaroo’s chest.
“Can you hear it?” House asked softly. Chase nodded, screwing his face up a little.
“Ah fink she misses Joey” He sniffled sadly, as he poked the empty pouch.
“Hmmm” House grunted, realising part of the toy was missing. He gazed at the concerned green eyes with sympathy. He removed the stethoscope and replaced it, once again into his pocket.
“‘Kay tell you what we’ll do, we’ll go and get you something from the vending machine and then we’ll go and look for Joey” He explained, ruffling the young doctor’s hair. Chase began to grin sweetly and then he nodded.
“Alright” House said, holding out his hand in order to help Bobby off the examination table, which he took and then promptly hopped off. House tucked Roo back into Bobby’s breast pocket, her head still poking out.
“Safest place for a small Kangaroo” He added, wrapping his arm around the young doctor. Chase giggled as he picked up his book and led House out of the room as he hobbled after him.
He walked alongside House towards the vending machine that was en route to his office. He had his head bowed, trying to hide the fact he’d been crying, his arms folded, holding the book tight to his chest. He pouted as he tugged on the back of House’s jacket as the doctor bent down to look at what the vending machine had to offer and the young doctor let out a little audible whine, wanting attention.
“Oh, you want to pick?”
House realised upon seeing Bobby’s pout. Chase nodded and pressed his face against the glass and pointed at a bag of Cheetos. House yielded the money, typed in the numbers and they both watched the coil release the treat and fall down to the hatch. House pushed back the metal flap and grabbed the packet and handed it over to Bobby as they turned to walk away.
“Fank ooh” Chase said quietly as they headed to House’s office. When they got there Foreman was standing outside.
“Hey Chase, you still sulking?” He mocked. Chase didn’t say anything, kept his head bowed and attempted to hide behind his father.
“What’s up you not speaking to me?” Foreman continued, hitting Chase in the bicep in jest. Chase panicked and dashed into the office to hide.
“Now see what you’ve done” House explained, exasperated with Foreman, gesturing to his office and where he assumed Chase was hiding. Foreman attempted to go after Chase, House blocked his way by jabbing him in the chest with his cane.
“Chase is off the case, which means you’re now in charge, congratulations you’ve now been promoted” House ordered, rather sarcastically. Foreman was lost for words, baffled by the sudden change in the pecking order. By now House had lost interest and was heading into his office.
“Any advice?” Foreman called after him.
“Don’t screw it up” House grinned sarcastically as he turned to shut the door.
He hobbled over to his desk to find Chase curled up in his chair. House looked down at him and smiled.
“And I see you’ve found the comfiest seat in the entire hospital” House joked.
“S-s-sowy I’ll gets up” Chase stuttered as he attempted to get out of the chair to make room for House. House made full use of the invitation, sitting down quite comfortably in his chair. He then wrapped his arms around the young doctor’s waist, pulling him into his lap, wincing a little ash he rolled over his bad leg.
“Dats bettwer”
Chase admitted quietly as he curled into House’s lap and began sucking his thumb, finally being able to rescue Roo from his pocket, he snuggled her close to his chin.
“You comfy there?”
House inquired, combing the hair out of Chase’s eyes. Chase nodded eagerly. House opened the bag of cheetos and set it in Bobby’s lap. He soon dug his hand in and began chewing on the orange treat very loudly in House’s ear.
“Are they good?”
House asked hopefully, Chase nodded again as he briefly stopped chewing to swallow. He then offered a couple to his Daddy, House pretended to act surprised as he took the corn chips in his mouth, making them look like bright orange, dusty tusks which made Chase giggle as he bit into them they made an audible crunch.
“Now where did we get to, with your book?”
House asked rather rhetorically, picking up the red bound hardback book, upon opening it a small fragment of paper fell out with a childish doodle on it. Which he assumed Bobby was using as a bookmark. As he began to babble the words on the page he felt Chase slump down in his lap, the young Doctor then let out a yawn and began to rub his eyes, possibly from irritation or fatigue. House’s frown relaxed as he looked down at the tired morsel in his lap.
‘How could anyone refuse this?’
He asked himself, thinking about Chase’s absent, biological father and Wilson’s pleading to adopt, the hospital was cutting the funding for surrogacy so this was the only thing that made sense, it was all beginning to add up.