This is my first attempt at a House fanfiction. It's only a one-shot, I may or may not continue it depending on the response… It's merely a result of me watching my first season DVDs. So, before I start… I DO NOT own House, M.D. or any of the characters! Plus, spoilers for Cursed, although shame on you if you haven't seen it. Oh the shame.

Chapter One

Falling for the First Time

I'm so sane, it's driving me crazy
It's so strange, I can't believe it
Feels just like I'm falling for the first time

"I've given him enough hugs; he's given me enough disappointments." Chase said, seething, staring strait into House's eyes whilst trying his best at an unruffled expression that in House's opinion, really did not suit him. He wondered where the emotional, fun, Chase was as the latter got up and went through the door, keeping his composure until he opened the door with more force than necessary and walked out furiously.

House remained seated for a moment, thinking it was best to leave Chase alone until the subject was cleared – at least until his father went back to Australia. Another moment passed however, one in which House did not feel as compassionate and his final decision was the one he had come up with earlier: to heat things up a bit. See if Chase would crack somehow.

As he had assumed, Chase was with their patient, Gabe, who was currently recovering from his leprosy. House waited patiently outside the room, twirling his cane and shooting suggestive glances at passing nurses, just to annoy them. As if they would have the guts to tell him to stop… Getting bored, he looked around just in time to see Chase exit the room. The Aussie stopped in his tracks, shot him a defiant stare and walked away quickly. House followed him as fast as he could with his cane, which was pretty fast considering the fact people were jumping out of their way as they walked to the conference room.

At least, House had thought they were going to the conference room, but they passed the elevators and the stairs. He was about to ask when Chase unexpectedly stopped, nearly causing the cripple to fall over as they collided.

"That's not nice; I could have hurt myself!" House said in a concerned-grandmother tone of voice. Chase didn't answer but opened the door to Exam room four, who's blinds were closed, and shut the door after House had stepped in too, flicking the light on. The door was then locked with a click and Chase sat on the patient bad, rubbing his forehead and sighing.

"Who are you and what have you done with Robert Chase?" House asked, sounding dramatically cliché on purpose. Chase looked up at him slowly, with another fierce stare.

"What is your problem? I told you everything you wanted to know, don't you have someone else to annoy now?" House bit his lip, cocked his head to the side and glanced at the ceiling, mimicking a thoughtful look.

"I couldn't find Wilson, so I thought you would be perfect to inflict my sinful woes upon!" He said sarcastically.

"Oh come on… Even if Wilson wasn't in his office, you would have found him somehow. So why'd you come to annoy boring old Chase?" There was a silence, and Chase cleared his throat, "Unless you care now? Aww, and here I thought you didn't have feelings."

"Shut up," House snapped, losing his temper. He sat down on the chair in front of the bed and glared back at Chase, who suddenly looked really miserable. "I… are you okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Chase avoided his piercing stare though, he seemed anxious.

"Because of your father." House answered him seriously, simply, to which Chase promptly looked angry. "Will you drop it already! What more do you want to know! The color of my underwear?!" He exclaimed, shacking his head unbelievingly. House smirked as an image of a boxer-clad Chase formed in his mind. He shook it away and looked at Chase with what he hoped was a look filled with pity and compassion. Heh, as if!

"I just want to know if you're okay…" Chase raised a skeptic eyebrow at his words but didn't interrupt, "And, yes, I do care." The Australian stared blankly at his boss, who looked at him with a scrutinizing look.

"Yeah, right." Chase snorted. House didn't flinch, "I know how you feel Chase. But I also know you love your father, don't try to deny it."

"He loves you." Chase told Gabe, who quickly looked away and retorted, "Yeah, well I don't love him." Chase chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. "Yeah you do…" He said, looking at the kid with a smile.

Chase continued to look at House and felt his eyes tingle. As he blinked, a tear came rolling down his cheek. He lifted up his arm to wipe it away but didn't get to – House did it for him. He felt House's finger gently wipe away the tear and saw those blue eyes bear into his own, getting suddenly closer. He knew what was going to happen, but he didn't try to stop it. In fact, Chase grabbed the sides of House's head just as he felt his boss' lips press against his own.

The intention of the kiss must have been comforting at first because it felt slow and delicate but Chase needed to feel more. He loved this warmth more than anything; he just didn't care about anything else now. It was peaceful, it was beautiful.

Until House suddenly roughened up and Chase pulled at his boss' clothes, silently demanding more. They stumbled and Chase knocked some glass phials over with his elbow, causing House to pull away in alarm, staring at him. It struck Chase at that moment – he was kissing his boss! His male boss! House, of all people! The latter bent down to pick up his fallen cane and looked back at his employee who was looking troubled, shuffling his feet, back against the counter.

"I guess what I was trying to say," House started, as if nothing had happened, "Is that I think you should go see your father before he leaves. Ask him if he wants a drink or whatever." Chase nodded, still silent. After a moment, or it may have been a whole minute, in which they just looked at each other, the blond looked away and headed for the door.

Before he left, he turned, and smiled faintly.

"Thanks, House."

And House just shrugged, as if he didn't care.

But Chase knew he did.

He knew that he cared now, too.