Birthday Boy [For House]

[dr_robchase]

Chase knew what day it was before he'd even woken up and he just clasped his pillow and used it to cover his head, burrowing into the bed a little deeper. He sighed, staring at the darkened linens of the bed. A year in this place. Two separate birthdays on this island, the first of which he didn't even tell anyone about.

He slowly turned and tossed again -- just in his ratty t-shirt and boxers -- and got comfortable on his side, trying to sneak in another few hours of sleep, at least before he had to wake up and face reality.

Maybe everyone would forget. It was a nice thought and a good possibility, but somehow, he doubted he was going to get off the hook, just like that.

He turned, lying facing the wall and tugging the sheets up a little higher. No birthday calls today to miss. Just an island to deal with.

Comments

[misanthrope_md]

"You're welcome," House said, biting back any apprehension he had about the wine.

It was a gift of trust.

And he had a feeling Chase knew just how pissed off he would be if he made him regret that gift.

[dr_robchase]

Chase would say it again and again and again until he was out of breath. He wasn't going to abuse anything like that again. He wasn't miserable like that anymore.

He slid down into a seat and gestured to the plates. "Seriously. Other people's hard work, going to waste."

[misanthrope_md]

So House sat, and gestured to the wine. "Go ahead, then. I can't vouch for it being any good, but beats whiskey after the hangover I had the other day."

[dr_robchase]

Chase glanced to the wine, biting back something about a special occasion because really, this beat most other things. He pushed himself to his feet to grab a couple of glasses, bringing them back and pouring wine for the both of them.

"I am not," he said, conversationally, "going to become a boozehound again." He looked up, meeting House's gaze. "That's a promise."

[misanthrope_md]

"I know," House said. Because he didn't put his trust in people often, and Chase knew the kind of hell there would be to pay if it was misplaced. He figured that was a better motivation than anything else could be.

"No need to drink to that then," he said. "Pick something else."

[dr_robchase]

Chase grinned a little and headed for the lights, debating shutting them off, but going against it and instead just closing the door to give some kind of privacy.

"How about to me getting older?" he saluted with a bit of a smirk.

[misanthrope_md]

"If only it meant I was getting younger," House sighed, and toasted him.

[dr_robchase]

"You never know with this place," Chase warned. "Careful what you wish for." He sat down again and took a sip of the wine. "Not bad," he evaluated. "I mean, for island-made."

[misanthrope_md]

House took a sip and nodded agreeably. "You know, maybe you should have been the one keeping me from drinking at that bonfire."

[dr_robchase]

Chase gave House a curious look in the middle of shoving food into his mouth. "Why?" he mumbled, mouth full of some form of meat.

[misanthrope_md]

"I was just pretty fucked up, that's all, got back here and had myself convinced I was hallucinating."

He realized at that point that perhaps he should have thought before starting this particular conversation.

[dr_robchase]

Chase was now more than curious and he was leaning forward a little. "Hallucinating what, exactly?" he asked, to clarify.

[misanthrope_md]

"Well." House cleared his throat. "That would be, ah, James."

[dr_robchase]

Chase let out a quiet 'oh', staring at House, a little surprised. "I uh, saw him at the bonfire, actually," he admitted. "It was an awkward conversation."

[misanthrope_md]

House frowned, putting down his fork. "You weren't going to say anything? What if I didn't know yet?"

[dr_robchase]

"Because he was drunk," Chase pointed out. "And it's only been like...two days," he protested. "I figured you two would settle things and do whatever," he finished quietly.

[misanthrope_md]

"Settle things?" House blinked. "It would have just been nice to know he was back instead of being blindsided by it. You know, a little warning, instead of stumbling in drunk and finding him in my bed."

[dr_robchase]

Chase's reaction wasn't what he was expecting -- wasn't really intending to feel so defensive about House, so horrible about sharing, even when he was. "In your bed?" he spat. "He..."

Chase had to keep remembering he had no right to be jealous. He exhaled and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry, okay?"

[misanthrope_md]

"Yeah, and for a minute I thought he actually thought that - " He suddenly remembered the feeling of Wilson's hands on his shoulders, and the way they'd ripped away when he'd mentioned Chase.

He snorted. "In any case I managed to convince him that completely smashed was not the best state of mind to be working out issues, and he took his drunk ass somewhere else. Hell, he might have been so drunk he doesn't even remember the conversation."

[dr_robchase]

Chase just stared at House, a bit solemn and quiet, but not saying much. "So, you two still have to actually have a proper talk," he clarified.

[misanthrope_md]

House snorted. "I don't know what there is to talk about. We hashed it out before he went off to play Castaway or whatever. He knows what happened."

[dr_robchase]

Chase shrugged. "Maybe he realized his mistake?" he pointed out, voice a little flatter. "Or he wants to woo you back."

[misanthrope_md]

House just looked at Chase like he was nuts. "Woo me back? Rob, this Wilson doesn't even remembering wooing me in the first place. And as far as he knows, no mistakes. I don't know, I just need to... ugh." It made his head hurt.

[dr_robchase]

Chase sighed a little, leaning over the table and touching House on the elbow, just lightly. "Greg, I don't want to bring this up to give you a migraine, I'm just pointing out what it might be," he said lightly.

[misanthrope_md]

"What, are you like, worried?" House blurted.

And then shook his head. "No, no we shouldn't be talking about this. You weren't trying to give me a migraine and I'm not trying to fuck up your birthday."