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Today had felt like it was never going to end, and Chase still had hours left of his shift before he could go home. He’d been on his feet since early morning, first helping with their patient, and then at the clinic, not having time to take a break, other than to fill himself with coffee.
Now, he was on his way back up to the office, the once faint pressure in his abdomen now becoming strong and unforgettable. He told himself he would go when the elevator reached his floor, there was no point getting out just to go to the bathroom.
Right as the doors began to shut, they faltered and opened again, stuttering worryingly. House limped in, cane back at his side after stopping the doors.
“The patient has presented with new symptoms. They need both of us up in his room.” House didn’t seem too worried, and Chase wondered if he’d be able to make a quick stop first.
His leg bounced, tapping against the floor in an even pattern. Was the elevator taking longer than usual? House turned slightly, his gaze meeting Chase’s tapping foot. He stopped it instantly, not wanting House to work out how desperate he was getting.
A harsh grating sound echoed through the elevator before it came to a halt, the jolt sending pangs through Chase’s already painful bladder. He bit back a hiss, not noticing the look House shot him.
“Are we stuck?” Chase said through gritted teeth, trying to subtly squeeze his thighs together.
“How should I know; I’m in here with you.” House’s voice dripped with his usual sarcasm, but there was something else as well, but in Chase’s desperation he couldn’t place it.
It was just his luck, of all the times the elevator had to break, it had to be when he desperately had to pee. He quickly pushed that thought away, thinking about literally anything else.
Chase forced a smile, trying to hide his discomfort. “Well, what do we do?”
House sighed, leaning back against the wall. “Nothing we can do but wait.”
Chase stayed stood next to the wall, not leaning so his bladder wouldn’t stretch. He shifted lightly from foot to foot, hoping that he could pass off his desperation as boredom, or maybe even claustrophobia. He hoped, for both their sake, that they wouldn’t be waiting too long.
After what felt like hours but had only been 10 minutes – House had been updating him from his watch – Chase had begun to bounce on the spot, thighs squeezing together and then loosening in a rhythm. He was barely resisting grabbing himself, but he knew if he did that House would definitely know what was wrong, if he didn’t already.
At that thought, House sighed, straightening from where he was leaning against the wall. “You need to pee, don’t you.”
It wasn’t a question, but Chase still forced himself to stand still, only lasting for a couple seconds as he clenched his fists, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’m fine.”
House raised his eyebrows, a small smirk on his face. “Really? Because it looks like to me that you’ve needed to pee this whole time.”
He crossed his arms tightly against his chest, trying and failing to hide his fidgeting.
“I’m fine.” He repeated, swallowing hard.
“I really don’t care if you go in the corner or whatever.” House’s smirk had faded, and his usual sarcasm had almost been replaced by concern.
Chase shook his head, though his legs were beginning to shake from the effort of clenching to keep control. “I can wait.”
He refused to embarrass himself in that way, let alone in front of his boss. House just sighed, returning to leaning against the wall. “Have it your way then.”
It didn’t take long for the pressure to become unbearable, and Chase could feel his resolve slipping with every second. He shifted again, trying to relieve some of the pain, but just then he felt a sharp wave of urgency that almost made him double over. Chase clenched his muscles harder, failing to hold back a low whimper as tears sprung to his eyes. He couldn’t believe this was happening, right here in front of House.
The other man had stood again, moving away from the wall to put a comforting hand on Chase’s shoulder. “Chase, kid, just go in the corner.”
Chase shook his head again, tears starting to fall down his face, even as one of his hands made its way to his crotch, squeezing tight and providing some relief, just for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was small and filled with shame. “That’s embarrassing.”
Sighing again, House gently turned him to be facing the corner, still trying to urge him to go. “You think I care? You’re in pain, just go.”
Just then he felt a warm, mortifying trickle escape, and panic surged through him. He knew now that he only had too options, go in the corner, or go in his trousers. He brought his other hand to his groin and pulled on the zipper.
“House! My zipper’s stuck, I can’t-”
As he moved his other hand away to yank at it harder, his resolve crumbled and the floodgates open. His face burnt with humiliation as the warmth spread, soaking through his trousers to form a puddle at his feet.
“Chase...” House’s voice was tinted with sympathy and concern as he moved his hand to his shoulder again.
“I’m sorry.” He mumbled, facing the floor with his eyes shut tight. The elevator seemed to close in around him, until all he was aware off was House’s hand rubbing soothing circles on his arm.
“It’s alright, little wombat. It’s their fault for keeping us in here for so long.” The other man’s voice was gentle, and if Chase wasn’t so overcome with embarrassment, he would have been in wonder of this hidden, softer side to house.
They stood there for a few moments more, until House led him to sit against the wall opposite them, with the excuse of his leg hurting. Sometime after that, they began to hear the elevator powering up again, and Chase felt a whole new wave of embarrassment flood through him, knowing that he’d have to face all the people outside the elevator now as well.
He felt his hands begin to shake, but before he could say anything, he noticed a quiet hissing sound. He turned to the other man, eyes wide with confusion. “House?”
House just shrugged. “What? Now you’re not the only one with wet pants. Besides, they can’t say anything about the cripple pissing himself.”
Chase took a shaky breath in, a wave of gratitude washing over him. The silent support from House helped, in its own weird way.