→FIC | COMPASSION, CONSOLATION, COMPANY

[cushylife]

[Very vaguely sprung off by justprompts 'Here For You Now' (title only). A totally gen Chase and Wilson fic, set approximately during Season Five, episode 2-3. No warnings. 1765 words.]He's hunched over a table in a bar across town from his apartment, staring glumly into a basket of fries soaked in oil that tastes re-used and won't settle properly in his

Comments

[tigriswolf]

Oh, I like this.

[cushylife]

Thank you.

[enemyfrigate]

Nice. You don't often see these two written togethe.

[cushylife]

They're barely ever shown together. I was just rewatching early season 5, and House's private detective's comment that Cameron visits Wilson to talk about Death and losing people, but no one ever mentions House at all. And I wondered what Chase was doing during that time, and suspected he wouldn't be so tactful.

Thank you!

[talktidy]

I enjoyed this. Bravo.

[cushylife]

I'm glad! Thank you.

[blackmare]

Here via the rec at House's House of Whining. This is really, really good -- a very in-character exchange, for both of them.

I particularly enjoy the way that Chase reflects House without quite realizing how similar they are; the way Wilson wants his company and Chase convinces himself (just as House would) that it'll be okay because it's not emotions, just beer and TV.

You've portrayed Chase's reserve in much the same way I see it, and his edge of bitterness and disappointment that contrasts with the patience he displays toward Cameron. Not to mention his surprising insight, toward the end, telling Wilson to give it up now. Oh, and the echoes of Chase's own father in the things he says to Wilson? That just feels so right.

And oh, Wilson. Running away from the only person who could seriously help him heal.

[cushylife]

This got recced? Seriously?

Thank you for the detailed review, you've picked out a few things I was particularly trying to get across, and a few that were quite below the surface, and I'm really pleased about that. Thanks very very much!

[blackmare]

Oh, I see so many echoes of House in Chase; I didn't mention the scruffy-rebellion kick he's been on, but you caught onto the similarity there, too. I wondered if I was the only one who'd noticed, and was pleased to see that I wasn't.

There's a great feeling of Chase's pragmatism here, and it's one of the qualities I most enjoy about him. Things happen, he says; move on. And Wilson -- one gets the feeling he's decided he needs that, but isn't ready to take the full-strength dose of it that House would offer. All the same, he isn't sad to be free of the company of Cameron; all the 'unburdening' has itself become a burden, and he's done. There's a feeling in this story that there will be no more of these "play dates." Well -- not with Cameron, anyway.

I love it when a story gives me so many layers and subtle things.

ETA that yes, this seriously got recced, by talktidy. And I read it, seconded the rec and added one for Approval. :-)

[cushylife]

The scruffy thing I've been hating so much I physically had to find a reason for. And it kills me that in their different manners of rebelling against House, both Foreman and Chase have in their own ways been echoing him.

Foreman is regularly presented as House-lite, while Chase gets the daddy issues comparison and becomes (temporarily) House's surrogate Wilson on their own bowling playdate. I think his way of sitting back and analysing people without claiming to actually give a shit is very Housian, though he doesn't use the information in quite the same way. He just doesn't sugar the pill. Which, yes, makes him a much milder dose than the real thing.

He's a lot more... hopeful than House, despite himself. And then you see moments where House almost gives up the job because he can be pain-free and happy and remember there's hope lurking under there, too. Kicked hard whenever it tries to creep out.

And the pragmatism is a giant lie. Or, it isn't, but shoving something down and denying it is a terrible personal coping mechanism for

[charmywater]

This was such a lovely moment between Wilson and Chase; so many things bubbling under the surface. I think these two would make for an interesting friendship-it's nice that you explored the beginnings of that here. Thanks!

I liked this exchange: Finally he replies, quiet but firm. "I don't need things to be easy."

"I know." Chase shrugs and smiles, "You were friends too damn long for anyone to think that."

[cushylife]

Thank you! I'm very glad you liked it.