darkdreamer

Hi, all :) Here's the next chapter of Losing It :) Hope you enjoy it :) *Hugs* DoS

Chapter 29
Breach of Trust

Chase was still fuming as he left the OR a couple of hours later. The operation had been a simple gall bladder removal, and he had performed the entire surgery on auto-pilot. The entire time, House’s situation was circling in the back of his mind, consuming his thoughts whenever his mind was free to allow it – which happened to be the moment he left the OR.

Unaware of his quick, angry gait or the way his jaw was set with frustration, he made his way to the clinic, where he was scheduled to spend the next few hours.

“Dr. Chase.”

Just past Cuddy’s office, he turned to see her standing in the doorway. She beckoned him into her office, not waiting to see if he would follow. By the time Chase crossed the threshold, his palms were damp and his mouth was dry. He felt like a high school student who had just been called to the principal’s office.

The expression on Cuddy’s face as she silently nodded for him to sit did nothing to alleviate that feeling. He complied, his hands nervously folded in his lap as he waited for her to speak.

“The police found blood on Wilson’s carpet.”

Chase frowned as if confused, all innocence. “House’s blood?”

“No. Presumably Wilson’s.” Cuddy’s eyes were focused on him with a calm scrutiny that made him even more nervous. “House’s father disappeared for a while this afternoon. In fact, no one seems to have seen him at all between the hours of one and three.”

“You’re thinking… he went after Wilson?” Chase guessed, mentally congratulating himself on the calm, even tone of his voice. “Payback for his son?” He let out a quiet huff of approval when Cuddy was silent. “Good on him, then.”

Cuddy smiled coolly, and Chase’s stomach lurched. “I’m just wondering… how he knew it was Wilson at all.”

Chase’s frown deepened. “House didn’t tell him?”

Cuddy shook her head. “Also,” she continued softly, “I don’t know how he would have found his way to Wilson’s apartment. Even if he’s been to visit Wilson before… he wasn’t living with Amber the last time House’s parents were in town.”

Chase shrugged slightly, pretending to consider that. “And… you need me to… help you figure it out?” he guessed, his tone leading, uncertain, as he bravely met her eyes.

Cuddy was silent a moment before clarifying. “I need you to help me figure out… where you were between one and three. Because… no one seems to remember seeing you during those times, either.”

“I… had an operation…”

“Not until 3:30.”

Chase let out a nervous, dismissive laugh. “Just ‘cause no one happened to see me…”

“You are the only one besides me and House’s parents who knows about Wilson,” Cuddy stated. “Therefore, I can only conclude that either you drove to Wilson’s apartment this afternoon and administered a little payback – or you helped the one who did.”

“So what if I told him?” Chase relented a bit, realizing he was trapped. “The man’s his father. He’s got a right to know.”

Cuddy’s gaze darkened with anger, and Chase recognized the reason for it immediately. He could see the same outrage in Cuddy’s eyes he had felt in Wilson’s apartment, in the moment when he had realized who had been the first to abuse House. “No, he really hasn’t.”

“You’re right,” Chase agreed after a moment’s hesitation. “He hasn’t.”

Cuddy’s expression shifted to one of alarm. “Why would you say that?”

Slightly flustered, Chase retorted, “Because you said that. I was just… agreeing with you.”

Cuddy’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you agree unless you knew what you were agreeing with?”

“I just… assumed you knew what you were… talking about…” Chase’s voice trailed off as he recognized the weakness of his argument – that he, in fact, had no argument. His mind raced as he tried to come up with an explanation. Cuddy’s eyebrows were raised expectantly, and she tapped her fingers on her desk impatiently as she waited for an explanation.

Trapped, Chase closed his eyes and let out a defeated sigh.

“Okay, so I told the man where to find the bastard who nearly killed his son. Is that a crime?”

“That depends on how much damage was done.” Cuddy sighed, her expression solemn and uncertain as she regarded the quietly defiant young doctor across from her. “Not to mention the fact that any sympathy Wilson can gain from visible injuries will not help House’s case.” When Chase gave her a look of surprise, she added, “House changed his mind, told the police what happened. How badly did Colonel House hurt Wilson?”

“Not badly,” Chase replied with a shrug. “He’ll be sore in the morning, but he was still conscious when we left.” He smirked as he added, “Probably just softened him up a bit for the cops when they show up.”

“They already did, and Wilson wasn’t there,” Cuddy informed him, irritation rising in her voice at Chase’s careless tone. “And I’m fairly certain he would’ve been if he hadn’t just been attacked there.”

Chase’s face paled at that, his eyes widening slightly as he realized the implications of his actions. Cuddy felt her resolve weakening, but kept her tone cool and severe as she continued.

“You instigated a physical assault that without your input would have been impossible. You’ve caused possible complications in a legal case that’s going to be difficult enough to prove as it is. And you shared confidential information with the family of a patient without that patient’s consent…”

Alarmed, Chase spoke up. “House isn’t my patient…”

“It doesn’t matter. You had no right to tell Colonel House…”

“And you had no right to tell me!” Chase was defensive.

Cuddy rolled her eyes. “Wilson basically told you, with his behavior in House’s room and out in the hallway. I just filled in the gaps.” A slight smile formed on her lips as she added, “And I can just call that a medical consult. You, on the other hand, haven’t a leg to stand on.”

Chase stared at her, fearful, beginning to think for the first time that he might actually be in trouble.

At last, Cuddy softened, her shoulders falling slightly as she relented. “However. I happen to be somewhat pleased with the results of your actions, although I’m not sure if I should be yet. If all Colonel House did was just rough him up a little, Wilson deserved everything he got and more. Did he fight back?”

Chase nodded, still too unsettled to speak.

Cuddy nodded, too, in satisfaction. “Then as long as there were no weapons involved, you should be legally clear. The timing was very bad,” she sighed, shaking her head, “because now Wilson’s on the run, apparently. But… but I can understand why you did it. I just needed to find out from you exactly what happened.” As Chase visibly relaxed, Cuddy allowed a smile to show on her face, meeting his eyes. “I just wish I could have been there to see it.”

*****************************

Within a couple of days, House was well enough to go home.

Blythe wanted to go with him, to be sure he was safe and settled and comfortable, but John insisted that they had to get going. He didn’t enter House’s room again after their altercation, on occasion calling Blythe out into the hall to speak with her.

House tried not to appear disappointed. He hadn’t exactly expected an apology, but he had expected – something.

That’s what I get for hoping. What was I thinking? He’ll never change…

As Blythe said goodbye to her son, with John waiting impatiently for her in the hall, she couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes drifted wistfully toward the door, in spite of his resolve. She took his hands in hers, drawing his attention back to her with a warm smile.

“Give him time, honey,” she advised softly. “It’s a lot for him to take in all at once. It’s a start that you mentioned it to him at all.”

House nodded, not trusting his voice.

“If you… want to come home this Christmas,” Blythe continued hesitantly, “you’d be more than welcome, dear. I’d… I’d love it if you would.”

House grimaced, looking up at her apologetically. “I’m… not sure that’s such a good idea, Mom…”

“Actually,” Blythe gently interrupted, “I think the timing might be just right. It’ll give him time to cool down, and… and maybe if you still want to… to talk about some of these things…”

“He won’t want to let me…”

“I’ll want to let you.” House glanced up again in surprise, as she continued with determination in her voice. “Things are going to change, sweetheart. I’m… not going to just sit back and watch him talk to you with less respect than he’d give a stranger. Not anymore. If… if you do decide to come… and want to try to work some of these things out… I want you to know that I’ll… I’ll support you, son. I will.”

House stared at her in wonder for a long moment. At last, he nodded slowly. “I’ll… think about it,” he conceded softly, the barest hint of a thoughtful smile on his lips. After a moment, he repeated more certainly, “I’ll think about it. I… I just might do that.”

Half an hour after his parents left for the airport, it was time for House to go home. Despite his protests, Cuddy insisted that an armed guard accompany him, and be posted outside the door of his apartment, paying for the assignment out of her own personal account.

They still had no idea where Wilson might be, and Cuddy knew that Wilson still had a key to House’s apartment. House was getting the locks changed the next day, but until then, Cuddy wanted to be sure that he was safe.

Despite the fact that it was the middle of her work day, Cuddy left the hospital to drive him home, the guard assigned to House’s apartment following behind in his own vehicle. Much to House’s annoyance and frustration, she refused to simply drop him off at his door, choosing instead to accompany him inside.

When she saw the state of his apartment, she immediately set to work straightening up, much to House’s embarrassment. He tried to stop her, but when he realized she would not be stopped, he finally gave up and left her to her self-appointed task.

She removed at least a dozen dirty dishes from his living room, stacking them in the sink, before washing them all, drying them and putting them away. She wiped down the kitchen counters and table, then the coffee table. Finally finished cleaning, Cuddy checked the refrigerator to be sure House had something to eat for lunch. Fortunately, he had cheese and lunchmeat and bread that was not quite stale.

Satisfied that she could return to the hospital and know that he would be all right, Cuddy prepared to leave. It was only then she noticed that House was not in the living room. She approached his partially closed bedroom door with caution, a puzzled frown forming on her face when she saw that he was not inside.

She finally found him in the bathroom.

The door was open, and he was standing inside… just staring blankly at the empty bathtub.

Cuddy felt a dull ache begin in her chest as she cautiously approached him, taking the open door as a sign that it was all right to enter. House didn’t even seem to notice as she stood beside him, looking down for a moment at the ordinary object that had so arrested his attention.

Cautiously, she reached out a hand and slipped it gently into his, without a word. Much to her relief, he did not pull his hand away.

“He knew just what to do,” he said softly at last. “What to say. To… to… bring it all back. I trusted him. I told him things I’d… never told anyone. Probably never will again. And… and he… used it against me.”

“Not everyone’s going to do that, House,” Cuddy reminded him gently, squeezing his hand lightly. She looked up at him, waiting until he reluctantly met her eyes to continue softly, earnestly, “I will always be here for you. You can trust me.”

He stared back at her for a moment, studying her face, before replying with quiet, honest regret.

“I… I want to. I’m just… not sure I can right now.” He was quiet for a moment, looking back at the empty tub. “Stacey… then… then Wilson… I just… It’s not as if trust comes that easily to me to begin with, and… right now… trusting anyone at all seems like the heighth of stupidity.”

Cuddy tried to hide the unreasonable disappointment she felt. She was not really surprised. “I know,” she replied simply.

She was surprised to feel his hand tighten around hers, and looked back up at him to find him giving her a little half-smile. Beneath the teasing surface of his tone, Cuddy could hear honesty and affection, as he added, “But for what it’s worth… if there was anyone I would be stupid enough to trust… it’d be you.”

That simple confession meant a lot to Cuddy, who knew House well enough to know how much it would take for him to trust again, in the wake of Wilson’s betrayal. She felt her throat tighten, and a suspicious prickling warmth behind her eyes, and had to look away from the intensity of his gaze.

“I… I guess I need to get back,” she regretfully admitted, reluctantly withdrawing her hand from his. “I’ve still got several hours worth of work to do.”

House nodded, following her as she walked out of the bathroom, walking with her toward the door. Just before she opened it, he reached out a hand to still hers, and she looked up at him, calmly expectant.

“Cuddy,” he said softly, hesitating. “Thank you.”

She nodded quietly, a little uncomfortable with his gratitude for something she felt she owed him. “You’re welcome.”

He moved his hand, but she stood there a moment longer, indecisive, before making up her mind and turning to face him.

“I’ll be off work by six tonight,” she informed him. “Would you like to… maybe have dinner with me tonight?” When he raised his eyebrows at the suggestion, she shrugged casually, explaining, “I don’t think either of us is going to feel like being alone tonight. So… how about we be ‘not alone’… together?”

She held her breath, not sure what to expect. A part of her was certain that House would behave as House always had in the past, and reject the offer as a gesture of pity. Another part of her sensed that something had changed between them in the last few days, and that her offer of company was one he would gladly accept.

After a moment’s hesitation, House nodded, giving her a tentative smile.

“Yes. I think I’d like that very much.”

TBC...