[Chase/Foreman AU]

[dr_robchase]

Chase knew that Foreman needed help with the Vicodin and that it would probably be time for another go -- seeing as he was getting accustomed to Vicodin cycles, what with House around -- and headed for the back room, checking to see if Foreman was still dozing.

He lingered in the doorway, just watching him. He seemed just so peaceful and he wondered how much had happened between them, how much Foreman knew about Chase that he didn't even know about himself.

Eventually, he cleared his throat quietly. "Foreman?"

Comments

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

Foreman rolled over and mumbled a little.

"Is it time for meds again? Anti-parasitics twice a..."

[dr_robchase]

Chase closed the door behind him, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, meds," he confirmed, digging out the bag. "You want me to pop 'em open?"

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

Foreman hated admitting weakness, but he nodded.

"Yeah. I'll spill them everywhere if you don't."

[dr_robchase]

Chase smiled as warmly as he could. "Yeah, well, I'm not the best at pills normally." He remembered Kayla sadly, and busied himself with opening the pills. It still felt strange to see his hand devoid of that ring on his ring finger.

He held out the proper dose for Foreman of painkillers and treatment pills.

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

Foreman took the pills from his hand, carefully picking them up and touching his skin for a while. He wanted to make sure he had a good grip on them. At least he was controlling the proper hand.

"I feel like shit, Chase. Thanks for helping."

[dr_robchase]

Chase just gave Foreman another sympathetic look -- it felt like those were becoming all-too-constant. "What happened?" he finally asked.

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"We had a case, a cop. Started out as euphoric, just plain out of it. House gives us the history, what little of it there was, and sent me to the house."

Foreman dry popped the pills again, wondering if he'd ever get a glass a water around this place.

[dr_robchase]

Chase watched carefully, putting the lid back on the pills. "And then?"

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"It was...atrocious. Mold everywhere. Didn't even know where to begin swabbing, so I swabbed everywhere. Went back to House and then I started acting strange. Presenting like our patient."

Foreman paused.

"I laughed hysterically when a bullet lodged in his body got ripped out by the MRI. And you know that's not me."

[dr_robchase]

Chase nodded, tucking away the pills into a place where House wouldn't find them. "And things got so bad we had to biopsy your brain?"

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I started going blind, excruciating pain...I was dying. Turned out it was a parasite in the water. You were there, during the biopsy. I trusted you to do the mental status exam during."

Foreman gave him a weak smile.

[dr_robchase]

Chase smiled back, closing his eyes tightly. Foreman had been dying. But he hadn't and he was okay. "You're fine now, though," he insisted, like he was trying to convince himself. "You're here."

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," he said weakly.

"I hate being sick. Doctors make horrible patients."

[dr_robchase]

Chase smiled widely at that. "Yeah, you would have made a terrible patient," he teased.

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"I'm currently making a terrible patient."

Foreman looked in his eyes.

"I'm glad you found me and not House."

[dr_robchase]

Chase smiled at that. "Yeah? You didn't suddenly decide in eight months that you like House better?"

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"He's good, but I don't know. We're friends, Chase."

Foreman didn't expect someone from eight months earlier to understand.

[dr_robchase]

Chase smiled at that. "I know we are," he assured. He'd considered Foreman a friend just months after he was hired, though he bet he ruined all that with Vogler.

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"What's happened since you've been here? With House and everyone?"

Foreman tilted his head a little in indication that Chase should pull up a chair or something.

[dr_robchase]

Chase grasped a chair and took a seat. "A lot has happened," he admitted. "You sure you want to hear it at once?"

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

Foreman shrugged.

"If I fall asleep, don't get offended. Just start wherever."

[dr_robchase]

Chase nodded. "Okay, I know most about myself, Wilson, or House. So, take your pick." He grabbed one of the pillows and set it on his lap, leaning forward on it.

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"Hmm. Start with you. What's been going on with you?"

Foreman propped up on his elbow and watched, waiting on Chase to begin.

[dr_robchase]

Chase figured that Foreman would pick the hard option. "Well. Like I said, been here seven months. Been with...a lot of people since. Had some not so great things happen. Well, a lot of not so great things," he admitted.

[the-neurologist.livejournal.com]

"Sleeping around?"

Foreman wasn't judging, just trying to get Chase to cut to the point and stop trying to skirt around it for his benefit.