Work Text:
Chase Has been acting weird recently. The others seemingly didnt notice, but of course house did. At first he ignored it, thinking he probably broke up with a random girl. After all he was really atractive, all the nurses thirsted over him, even some doctors did.
But days passed, even weeks, and Chase didnt come back to normal. Of course House, the perfect friend he is decided to get to the root of the problem. He could just ask Chase what's wrong, but wheres the fun in that?
The man started by analising his ,,symptoms" and writing them on his board. He wrote:
trouble focusing;
frequent stress;
hiding in the bathroom;
avoiding work
-House, what the hell are you doing, dont you have a case?
He heard a familiar voice behind him. Wilson. Great, now he will have to put his analising for later.
-Nice to see you too. Yes i did, It was a typical case of HIV, the guy just didnt want to confess about cheating on his wife.
-And... The other question?
-Chase is acting weirdly, i wanna find out why.
Wilson read the list and sighed.
-House, that's literally nothing. Maybe hes just having a worse period in his life, or hes burning out. Not everyone is made to be a doctor like you. You shouldnt analize private parts of others lifes just for your sick-
Wilson stopped talking as he saw house writing something on the board.
Burnout?
-Did you listen to ANYTHING that I said besides the part that plays into your game?
-Hmmm... Would you believe if i said yes?
Wilson sighed again and left the room, too tired to deal with houses weird plans.
The man went back to making assumptions about Chases life. He heard about the boys father. Loved around the world, a great doctor. But when any topic regarding him came up Chase instantly became more bitter and sarcastic. Sometimes he even didnt laugh at Houses jokes about the man, and he was the biggest kissass in the hospital.
Wait. Maybe that could be a symptom. Being a kissass, but only to house. That would make sense. Chase had a bad relationship with his father, developed daddy issuess, and after meeting house beginned to please him. That would make sense. But there was a problem. That would mean that chase saw house as his father figure, maybe not even realising it himself.
The Man didnt like it because hes not even close to being a good father figure. If he ever had a child he would probably taje them gambling or something. That was probably the first time he wanted to be wrong about his diagnosis. God, let him be wrong. Knowing his team would come back any minute, he got up from his chair to erase the words on the board. He wouldnt need them anymore.
Just as he predicted, the team came back the second house sat back on his chair. They started chatting carelessly, well, besides chase. Just like always for some time now, he only nodded putting on a fake smile. How was his team dumb enough to not notice this? Chase looked fishy from miles away.
The man sat down next to house, looking really tired.
-Rough day?
House started, hoping to confront chase about his most likely daddy issuess.
-yeah...
He answered, trying to laugh a little like he always liked to, but it lacked any real emotion.
-thats weird, we only had that HiV guy today, that was probably the easiest case we ever had.
-I just didnt sleep well...
- And why's that?
-Why do you care house.
Chase sounded like he was on the verge of snapping. That also wasnt like him. He often had times where he was sassy or just straight up mean, maybe even too often. But it was never this type. Something was really bugging him. But Chase asked a valid question, why did he care? That must be because he just doesnt want Chase to be distracted. Yeah, that must be it...
-Tired employees are distracted employees. And distracted employees cant do their work correctly, So i need to care. Expecialky since youve been like this for weeks now. If something happened for you to be like this, it must've been big.
-Its not your problem.
-As i said, it is because you're not doing your work properly because of it. How many times do i have to say that?
-I'll try to go to sleep earlier, it wont happen again.
-Okay. But if it happens again you're taking 5 hours of my clinic duty.
Chase nodded and the topic got dropped, much to Houses dismay. Of course he was already planning how to bring this up again, but he would rather find out already. They started talking about a new case. It was extremely boring and straight forward but Cuddy didnt understand that. They quickly got over the symptoms and got to work.
-Cameron, you do a MRI, Foreman, you do a blood test. Chase, you stay here, i need to talk about something with you.
All 3 of Houses ducklings looked confused.
-What do you need to talk about?
Chase asked, you could see he was scared. The other two were still standing in the doorway.
-Didnt you understand? Do you want to hear if i'm confessing my love to him? Come on, shoo!
They finally got out as Chase was sending them a pleading look to not leave him alone with House. Why was he so scared? Its not like he bites or something.
-Its your father. Right?
-What?
-You have daddy issuess. That's why you cant concentrate.
-No! Its just-
-Dont lie. It all fits. Your father did something bad to you in your childhood. Maybe he left you and came back to you recently but you cant forgive him. Why else would you always get all fussy when someone mentioned your father?
-You dont understand anything.
-What dont I understand? Explain to me whatever it is.
-Its just...
Chase sat down, hiding his face in his hands. He was trying not to cry. House observed him. He had a weird feeling in his stomach. Was that... Guilt? No. That cant be it.
-I... Was a kid... He hurt me and then he left me. With my mother. Sh- she was an alcoholic...
House listened intently. When he didnt respond Chase lifted his head, making eye contact, revealing his tear-stained face. That funny feeling came back again and he felt a weird urge to hug his employee.
-He reached out to me again... After all these years... I told him to leave me alone but he insisted... I had to agree...
Why was the Man so persistent to meet up with his son after all these years? After he himself left him? And how exacly did he hurt him before that? Did he...
-I didnt know what he was doing... I-i was just a kid...
Chase started sobbing in the chair he sat on before. Suddenly, he stood up and tried to leave but house stopped him. They looked in eachothers eyes. Chases blurry eyes...
House came up to the Man and hugged him tightly. Chase froze in his step, not sure what to do. Finally, he reciprocated the hug, but 10x stronger. He cried his heart out on Houses shoulder. Normally, he would push him away and make fun of him, but he couldnt now. He felt so bad for his employee.
They stayed in that position for a bit more before Chase pulled away a little, still having his arms around House.
-I'm... I'm sorry... I know you dont like touch but...
-Dont worry, kid.
He didnt mean to add the kid to his sentense but he could see that Chases eyes lighted up just the smallest bit and he was happy he did. He could almost feel his old mean heart physically soften up. How could someone do anything to this boy?
-Why arent you mad at me?
-I think i have a soft spot just for you.
Chase gave him a small smile and just then he thought, maybe being a father figure wasnt all that bad.