Well, we're beginning to wind things down. There should only be a couple more chapters after this. I'm going to try to update sooner, but I'm having trouble getting this thing the way I want it to end. I will finish, though, I promise. This chapter is not as good as it could be, but do my guilt of not posting for a month, and my frustration of not being able to word this right, I'm posting it anyway.

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't own House M.D. and neither do you. (Unless you are David Shore and if you are, whoa. I am honored.)

To Sagga Bott, my awesome anonymous reviewer: Glad you didn't see it coming. It's all about the surprise.;)

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Wilson looked over at House. If it wasn't that their situation was already awkward, Wilson would have laughed. Chase had left him stunned. "So, . . . what now?" Wilson asked.

"Superintendent Marks" cleared his throat. "Leave," he barked.

House shook his head, finally seeming to recover. "Not yet." With that, House dug through his pockets and pulled out a large key ring. Selecting one, he slid it into the lock on Chase's door and turned the key.

Wilson looked at him. "You have a key to Chase's apartment?"

"And to Cameron's, and to Foreman's, and one to Cuddy's, and one to yours."

"That's. . .sort of stalker-ish, don't you think? Not to mention illegal."

"What makes you think they didn't give me these keys?"

"Because no one in their right mind would give you a key to their house."

"You did."

"For emerg-"

"It's like yousaid. 'No one in their right minds.'Now come on."

At this point Marks began outright yelling, tired of being ignored by the two doctors. "GENTLEMEN, I MUST REQUEST YOU LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! IF YOU DO NOT DO SO, YOU WILL PERSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW!"

Wilson, heading into the apartment behind House, turned around to face Marks. "Oh, shut up."

Then he slammed the door in the exact same fashion Chase had done earlier.

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"Whoa." Wilson looked around at the apartment in surprise. "Whoa."

"You said that already."

"I know, but. . ." Wilson trailed off as his eyes roamed the apartment. For one thing, it was incredibly small, and nothing like the home he had expected for the old-money Dr. Chase. There was no grand decor, no lavish paint colors, just a small leather sofa and some boxes. "I guess he's moving."

"I'm going back to Melbourne."

House and Wilson turned to face Chase, who had come from a room within the apartment. If he was surprised to his boss and his boss's best friend in his apartment, he didn't show it. As he approached the two men, Wilson looked closer at Chase. The younger man had deep circles under his eyes and seemed thinner than the last time Wilson had seen him.

House seemed to be taking in Chase's appearance as well. "When?" he asked.

"Friday. I have to get rid some of the bigger stuff I can't take back with me, and settle some bank accounts."

Friday. Today was Wednesday. With a sudden pang, Wilson wondered if Chase had found out about his dad. It sounded if Chase would be gone for good.

"So, why the rush?" House asked.

"There's no reason to stay any longer."

"Does Papa Chase know that you're coming home?"

Chase furrowed his brow. "I've called him a couple times, but he hasn't called me back. I'll probably stay with my mum's sister, anyway."

"If you could come back to work, would you stay?" House stared at Chase, preparing to gauge his reaction.

"What? Vogler-"

"Forget about Vogler. Answer the question."

"Yeah, but I don't think-"

"Fine, then. Cancel your flight. I'll let you know in the next week."

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It wasn't until they were pulling into the PPTH parking lot that Wilson finally spoke. "House, how exactly do you plan to give Chase his job back? Even he knows Vogler won't allow it."

House sighed. "I guess he doesn't know about his dad, does he?"

"He said Rowan never bothered to call him back, so I guess not. Is that why you offered his job back, so he wouldn't find out about his dad?"

House stepped out of the car, ignoring Wilson's question. "House!" he called.

House didn't stop, but instead called over his shoulder, "What?"

Wilson jumped out of the car and began to follow House. "How are you going to do this?"

"Why, are you gonna go tell Vogler my plans? Is that why you want to know? So you can sell me out and keep your job?"

"I told you, I was-"

"Save it for somebody who cares." House was already in the elevator, waiting for the doors to slide shut. "Oh, and by the way, you never said you were sorry to Chase. Or me." Before Wilson could respond, the doors slid shut.

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Vicoden is to House as reviews are to Tears of Melpomene. They make me a heck of a lot happier.