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They had a new case.
And Chase’s diagnosis was „aliens.”
From a well-known, talented head diagnostician with an astonishingly low death-ratio, you’d expect something a little more conclusive.
”Aliens.” Chase repeated, looking at the whiteboard.
The room went dead silent.
A fly buzzed through the diagnostic office, but no one really cared.
”Okay…” finally spoke up Taub. „What about something we can treat?”
”Tox screen was clear, right?” Chase started rhytmically bumping the marker against the board.
”Right.” Taub spoke after another moment of silence.
”Then continue treating the bruises, and after the physical damage is healed, he should be okay. Keep him in the hospital for a while. To be safe. Aliens tend to strike once.”
”Based on your long history with aliens?”
Chase didn’t care who said that, all he could hear was the mocking voice of House.
„Go.” He only responded, still bumping the marker.
After a moment, he turned around, and the room was empty.
***
„Eric!” Thirteen rushed through the hallway. She didn’t really need to; did so anyway. Thankfully she wore more comfortable shoes that day. „Eric!” The dean of medicine finally turned around.
”Remy.” He acknowledged. „What’s going on?”
”Good and bad news,” she took a deep breath, „The patient’s fine with no after-effects. The symptoms all gone.”
Foreman raised an eyebrow at that, visibly confused. „That doesn’t ma-„
”Bad news” she continued „Chase didn’t come to work today. No one saw him leaving yesterday. His office looks like a tornado passed by.” She returned to her usual, mild demeanor, but she still looked distraught.
„Have you called him?” That was a stupid question, but worth asking notheneless.
”Yes.” She cocked her head. „Repeatedly.”
”I’ll call him. Maybe he got drunk.”
”That doesn’t sound like him.”
„I know” he sighed.
Maybe he’s proving a point. He kept that idea to himself.
”Check with the nurses, maybe they have a case.” Foreman resumed walking.
***
Robert Chase appeared a week later in his office, unconcious.
Investigation found small bruises, a non-impressive amount of alcohol in his blood as well as what could resemble effects of a dosage of sleeping pills. The subject himself refused to say anything, denying any problems with his memory due to amnesia or blackouts.
He was eventually let go with no lasting effects on his condition.
There were multiple theories, among the nurses and the diagnostic team. They decided to continue questioning neither his immediate diagnosis upon hearing their latest ‚unsolvable’ case, nor his smile any time someone mentioned his disappearance, nor his following regular trips outside the town.
Because „Aliens”, he answered playfully everytime.