Disclaimer: House does not belong to me. Nor does anything else you recognise. This applies to the whole story.

Now, here's the prologue. I hope you enjoy it.

Excuses.

Prologue.

"You don't understand."

"Well, explain it to me then."

"I'm doing it for you, Allison. Not for me. I don't want to do it but I'm doing it for you. You aren't happy. I want you to be happy."

Allison Cameron brushed her hair out of her eyes impatiently and stared at Robert Chase in bewilderment.

He had spent weeks, months, asking her out, telling her he wanted to be with her, practically begging her to be with him. And now he was what? Dumping her?

"Chase, what the hell are you talking about? Our relationship is fine so you're breaking it off because…?" she trailed off, waiting for him to finish her sentence.

"Of you. I'm breaking it off because of you. I know you want to want to be with me but you can't. You're still in love with House. No, don't argue," he said, raising his hand to stem Cameron's objections as she opened her mouth to interrupt. Obediently, she closed it again and watched him in silence, waiting for him to continue.

"Thank you. You are in love with him. I can see it in your eyes when you look at him. You don't look at me that way.

"Allison you're great, and I do want you. But if you stay with me while pining after him, that's not going to make either of us happy. I'd hate to feel you were settling for me.

"So, let's just take a break, let you sort things out in your head and if you do decide it's me you want, fantastic. But if it's him, that's okay too. And if it is him, fight for him. You deserve to be with whoever you want, Allison."

With that Chase gave her a small smile and turned, walking out of her apartment, closing the door behind him. Allison Cameron was left alone with her very confused thoughts.