Chapter Text
House was in bed when the phone rang.
He grumbled and picked up the phone without even glancing at the caller ID.
"May I know why you decided that waking me up at 2 am was the right thing to do?" he asked annoyed at whoever was calling.
Technically he hadn't been sleeping when the phone called, but the caller didn't have to know that.
"Uh, hello, I'd like to report an emergency..."
Houe frowned. The voice was slurry, but familiar. And he could recognise this annoying accent everywhere. "... Chase?" He sighed. "I'm not 911 and you sound just high. Not worth the thousands of dollars you'll pay for the ambulance in the Land of the Free. Just enjoy the high" he said with a smirk.
That didn't seem to work. "Yeah, I think I need an ambulance here..."
"Chase, you seem high. Go to sleep and—"
"I think I'm burning up and I can't lower the fever"
That made House freeze. "You haven't taken anything?"
"Uh, paracetamol, ibuprofen..."
"No, I mean... God, you're useless... I'll be there in a while, just... just stay alive"
He hung up and immediately got out of bed. He didn't even change, just put on shoes and a jacket and grabbed the keys to his motorcycle. He rode fast. Not because he was worried or anything. He just liked riding fast. And also just wanted to be done fast so he could be back in the bed soon. At least that's what he told himself.
He didn't waste the time at proper parking. To be fair he never did. He just left the motorcycle closest to the building and walked inside, quickly finding the apartment and opening it. He had keys to his place, just in case.
He didn't wonder which room to go for a long because soon he heard sound of vomitin coming from the bathroom. He immediately headed there.
The sight that greeted him when he opened the door was truly pitiful. Chase was kneeling in front of the toilet bowl, vomiting into it harshly, his body shaking with each heave.
"Oh wow..." House muttered, before kneeling in front of him. "Hey hey hey, it's okay, I'm here..."
Chase glanced up at him with a frown. "House?" he asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?" he added.
"You called me, idiot"
"No, I didn't. I called 911"
"Yeah, I don't doubt that that's what you planned to call..." House, muttered before putting a back of his hand on the other's forehead. "Whoa, that's quite a high fever
Chase just groaned softly.
House sighed. "God, you're completely hopeless..." he muttered. Then he got him to stand up. "Come on, let's get you to bed. You'll be way more comfortable" he said softly, helping him to walk. "I'll get you a bucket, don't worry" he added immediately, sensing the way the other tensed at the idea of leaving the bathroom. He helped him lie down and passed him a bucket.
Chase immediately grabbed it and started vomiting inside.
House sighed. "Well, I was going to offer you something for the fever but I don't think it'd stay long enough to work anyway" he muttered. "Stay here" he added.
"Yeah, as if I planned to run..." Chase muttered, before vomiting again. Then, he set the bucket back on the
House smirked and left. Soon he was back with two cold compresses. He slid one to the back of his neck and set another one on his forehead. "There"
Chase just sighed contently. "God, that's nice"
House smiled. "Yeah, I bet"
He watched Chase for a while.
Oh, how miserable he looked...
He sighed. "You're in pain" he stated. Not asked; stated.
Chase sighed. "I'm fine" he muttered, but curled up a bit.
House rolled his eyes. "Sure you are" he muttered. Then, without hesitation, he got into the bed, lying down next to him.
Chase frowned, glancing at him. "What are you doin—" he froze as House suddenly put hand on his abdomen and started rubbing it soothingly. He relaxed a bit and closed his eyes. "Yeah, that helps, keep doing it" he mumbled, closing his eyes, soon falling asleep.
House just smiled warmly. "Idiot"
He was dozing off when a sudden gasp woke him up. He sighed and opened his eyes. "Please tell me you didn't puke in the be—"
He froze as he glanced at Chase.
The Australian doctor was asleep, but definitely not in a normal, calm bliss. He was shaking, his cheeks were wet and he was mumbling something.
Oh, and most importantly, he was thashing in the bed.
"Oh God" House sat up. "Chase?"
"No— No, please! Don't—! Mum— Mum, don't—!"
House immediately, grabbed him. "Hey, Chase?" He shook his shoulder gently. "Hey hey hey, it's okay, it's just a dream..." He pulled him closer. "God, you're burning up..." he muttered, shaking him more forcefully, but still softly. "Wake up"
Chase's eyes snapped open as he gasped. "No—" His eyes immediately set on House. "House?"
"Yes, idiot, it's me.. You're safe..." he muttered. "But next time you decid—"
Whatever teasing he had in mind was immediately forgotten as tears ran down the younger man's cheeks.
Chase started sobbing. "I'm sorry, I just thought— it was so realistic— I—" he sobbed, his accent getting a little thicker, which — if it wasn't for the current situation — House would've probably fund endearing.
"Hey, it's okay" he hugged him. "You're feverish. Makes everyone emotional. Well, not me, but I'm amazing" A total lie by the way. "Just take a deep breath, okay? You're safe"
Chase nodded, taking a shaky inhale.
"Good" House said, getting up. "I'm going to make you some tea and get you fresh compresses"
Chase grabbed his hand, stopping him. "Hand me the 'roo?" he asked, pointing his head to the corner of the room.
"What the hell is 'the r—" House was about to ask, but then he saw it. He grinned. "Can't believe you kept it" he said, before grabbing the big kangaroo plushie with red boxing gloves. "You sentimental idiot" he added, thrwoing it to him gently.
Chase just cuddled it. "It was the first time you acknowledged I'm actually Australian and not British" he muttered tiredly.
House scoffed. "Sentimental idiot" he repeated, smiling warmly.
He'd definitely tease him about it later.
He left the kitchen and soon he was back with new cold compressed and a mug of tea. "Chamomile and mint. Great for stomach" he said. Chase sat up and was about to grab it, but House stopped him. "You're too weak to hold it. You'll just drop it, get second degree burns and whine — not happening" he said, lifting it gently to his mouth.
Chase drank it quickly; the fever was making him awfully thirsty.
House set it down and gave him the compresses. "Now go back to sleep before I tease you for keeping that ridiculous plushie"
Chase just nodded and closed his eyes, immediately drifting off back to sleep.
It was afternoon when he woke up the next day. He felt much better. There was a small note at his nightstand.
Your temperature is back to normal and you seem fine, so congratulations — I've healed you. You better come to work today and not try to use this bug as an excuse to avoid that huge stack of paperwork.
Also, hydrate.
- House
Chase smiled wamly at that. He got out of the bed and grabbed the empty mug, about to take it back to the kitchen.
Suddenly the mug shattered on the floor.
"Agh, fuck!" Chase hissed.
But not because of the mug.
He was doubled over, his hands pressing on his abdomen, panting softly.