(no subject)
Title: Me and Emily
Author: nomoretearsAS
Rating: K+/PG
Summary: When House discovers that Chase has a kid, he decides to find out more about both of them. House/Chase friendship.
Disclaimer: I don't own House, Chase, or any characters that you recognize.
Chapter: 15/?
This chapter is going to start off by backing up a little. Basically, it’s what House is doing while Chase talks to Lauren. Enjoy!
Chase had headed into the bar to confront Lauren. House hadn’t seen Emily with her, so he turned to the hotel manager. “The police are on their way. Which room did they check in to?” he asked.
“Why?” The manager asked.
“Because she left his five year old daughter alone in a room. I want to go find her and get her.” House practically yelled. What little patience he had was gone. The manager flustered, found the room, and got him a key card.
As soon as he had the card in his hand, he headed to the elevators, hoping that the confrontation between Chase and Lauren would give him enough time to get the girl. He exited the elevator on the fifth floor and glanced at the directional sign. He moved as quickly as his leg would allow. He found the room and inserted the key card, opening the door slowly.
For the rest of his life, he would never forget the sight that met his eyes. Emily had gasped and jumped off the bed, hiding in the corner as the door opened. “Emily, Em, it’s me. It’s Uncle House.” he said.
Her tear stained face peaked up and when she realized he was alone, she ran to him. It was clear that she had been crying for a long time. She flung herself into his arms and, in years to come, he would never figure out how he managed to catch her. “W-w-where’s D-d-d-d-daddy?” she sobbed, as he held her close.
“He’s downstairs. Don’t worry, we’re taking you home. Aunt Lisa and Wilson are at your house, waiting for you to come home.” he told her.
“I w-w-want Daddy!” she cried, clinging to him like a lifeline.
“We’re going to get him.” he promised her. “Emily, I need you to walk because Uncle House’s leg is bad and he can’t carry you. But he’ll hold your hand and he won’t let you go, okay?” he promised. Holding her hand, he stepped into the bathroom and grabbed a tissue. He handed it to her. “Blow your nose.” he instructed.
She nodded and blew her runny nose. Then he wet a washcloth and let her rub it over her face. When she was done, they left the cold, empty hotel room. They headed back downstairs and the first thing House saw was a bunch of cops questioning the hotel manager. One of the cops saw him and hurried over to them. Emily panicked and held House’s hand tighter.
“Are they going to take me away from Daddy?” she asked him, fearfully. House looked at her in surprise.
“No, they’re here to help you.” House tried to assure her.
“The lady said if we saw police they would take me away from Daddy.” House noted that she was now referring to Lauren as ‘the lady’. The policeman had reached them by now. He was a jovial looking man, and he knelt down so he was on her level.
“Are you Emily Chase?” he asked her. She never let go of House’s hand, but she nodded.
“Where’s my daddy?” she asked him.
“Are you hurt at all?” he asked. She shook her head.
“Where’s daddy?” she asked again. This time, she pulled on House’s hand and looked up at him with her bright, innocent eyes.
“Your daddy is in the other room, talking to your mommy...” the cop said. That was all she needed to hear. She let go of House’s hand and followed the police men who were rushing into the room. As she entered, Lauren fired a shot at Chase and he fell. Emily screamed as loud as she could, “DADDY!”
House was behind her in an instant and picking her up, making sure she couldn’t see anything. “Emily, it’s okay. Don’t look, baby.” he said.
House sat down on a bench in the lobby, keeping Emily in his lap. She sobbed against his chest, soaking his shirt with her tears. House fought with himself between staying with Emily and going to check on Chase himself. He hadn’t seen where he had been hit. He grabbed a cop who was running past and gave him a meaningful look, glancing down at the sobbing child in his arms.
The cop shrugged and House fought back a retort. Useless. Suddenly, he realized that Emily was looking up at him. He brushed a stray tear off her face. “Is Daddy dead?” she asked him. He could lie to her and tell her no, but the truth was he didn’t know.
“I don’t know. If you can sit here for a minute, I’ll go find out.” Lauren had been arrested and was out of the hotel. She nodded and he motioned for a cop to come over. “Sit with her.” he directed. The cop looked at him like he was crazy, but House was already across the room. He ducked under the police tape and looked around the room. He felt immediate relief when he saw that Chase was awake. He was demanding to see his daughter.
House pushed the paramedic out of the way. “House!” Chase said. “Where’s Emily? Is she okay?”
“She’s better than you are.” House quipped. Chase’s leg was bandaged. Apparently the liquor had affected her aim and had missed any essential parts. He gestured to his leg. “What’s going on?”
“Bullet’s lodged in the leg, hurts like hell, but I wouldn’t let them take me until I can see Emily.” Chase said, glaring at the attendant.
House turned to the paramedic. “Have him airlifted to Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital.” He turned back to Chase. “Just think for a minute, you don’t want to scare her.”
“House, you don’t understand. I HAVE to see her. Please.” Chase pleaded. House nodded and turned and left the room. He headed back to the lobby, where Emily was sitting quietly.
“Em, come with me.” He called. Emily jumped up and ran to him.
“Daddy?” she asked.
“Your daddy is hurt, but he’s okay. He’s going to live and he wants to see you. I need you to be a brave girl when we go in and see him.” She nodded seriously and grabbed House’s hand and let him lead her inside the room where she had seen her daddy fall.
When House opened the door and Emily saw her father laying on the floor, she balked. “It’s okay.” he whispered. “Be brave.” She nodded and Chase looked up. House could see him fighting back the tears.
“Emily.” he said and the one word was all it took. She ran to him and threw herself into his arms. He winced slightly but hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry Emily.”
“Daddy!” She was sobbing again. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, Emily. I promise, we’ll never be apart again.” he held her close to him. House let them have a moment and then stepped over.
“Emily, they need to take your daddy to the hospital so he can get all better. They’re going to take him in a helicopter and you and I are going to drive back, okay?” he asked her.
“No! I wanna stay with Daddy!” she cried, clinging tightly to his neck. Chase gently smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead.
“It’s okay, princess. I want you to go for a drive with Uncle House.” he nodded at her and she loosened her grip and gave him one last kiss, before leaving with House. The helicopter was there and House got Emily to the car as the paramedics got Chase to the helicopter. House stayed and let Emily watch the copter take off and then started the car. He pulled out his cell phone. “You want to call Aunt Lisa and let her know you’re okay?” he asked. She shook her head, she was so tired and she only wanted her daddy.
House got her settled in the car and she was asleep within moments. House called Wilson and Cuddy and let them know what was going on. Wilson was going to head to the hospital to observe the surgery and call and let them know what was going on. Cuddy was planning on staying at Chase’s and waiting for them to get home. But Emily had woken up and demanded to be taken to the hospital. So he called her back and they all met at the hospital. By the time House and Emily got there, Chase was already in surgery.
House, Cuddy, and a sleeping Emily waited in House’s office. House and Cuddy spent a little time in the conference room and House filled her in on what had happened. Now, they were just waiting for Wilson to come and give them an update. House was playing on his gameboy and Cuddy had picked up the sleeping Emily and now held her on her lap.
Finally, Wilson entered the room and both Cuddy and House looked up anxiously. “He’s out of surgery and doing fine. They expect him to make a full recovery.” Cuddy breathed a sigh of relief and the movement woke Emily.
“Daddy?” she asked, blinking and looking around. House moved to her.
“Emily, do you remember what happened?” he asked. She thought for a moment, then a scared look crossed her face and she nodded. Her eyes wide and filling with tears, she looked to the adults in the room.
“Is Daddy okay?” she asked.
“Yes. He’s going to be fine.” House assured her.
“Can I see him?” she asked, yawning. House looked to Wilson, who nodded.
“He’s pretty sleepy, Em, but we can go see him.” Wilson told her. He reached out to pick her up and carry her, but House took her hand first.
“Let’s go.” he said, leading the child from the room. Both Wilson and Cuddy exchanged a look. When they entered the room, Chase’s eyes were closed but House could tell he wasn’t sleeping, his breathing was too rapid. “Daddy?” Emily called, quietly.
Chase blinked heavily against the drugs currently pumping through his system. When he saw Emily, he smiled widely, a lopsided smile. “Hi baby.” He slurred. Emily didn’t seem to care.
“Are you okay, Daddy?” she asked him, glancing at his bandaged leg.
“I’m perfect, now that you’re here.” he told her and this time, she smiled widely. She walked over to his bed and Chase tried to pat the bed. She climbed up, being careful of his leg and snuggled herself into his chest. Chase sighed contentedly, clearly unable to keep his eyes open even a second longer. Within seconds, both of them were asleep.
House started to leave the room, when a nurse came in. Seeing Emily in his bed, she frowned and moved over to the bed. House caught her wrist. “Wake either one of them and I’ll have you assigned to Diagnostics.” he threatened.
The nurse glared at him, but left the two of them in peace. House left them alone and headed back to his office. He’d get Cuddy to make sure that Emily could stay with her father.
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