Title: Reminiscence

Author: MissMouseMD

Rating: T, language

Disclaimer: I don't own House, M.D., yadda yadda yadda, you get the picture.

Robert Chase

Age 7

He sat under the bed, covering his ears. No matter what anyone said, words did hurt. Every hurtful word that came out of his parents' mouth was like a slap across the face.

"He's your son, too!"

"Are you making the money? No, I don't think so!"

"It was Donuts with Dad at Robbie's school today, and he was the only one who didn't bring his father! You spend more time with your patients then you do with your own son. I don't even know why I put up with it!"

"Jesus, what do you want me to do? Pay for his school, or eat lunch there! I can't do both!"

"You know what, I'm done with this. Just done."

Robbie cringed as he heard a door slam, followed by profound swearing. He strained his ears to discern if they were finished, and once he assured himself that it was all clear, he crawled out from his hiding space and climbed back onto the bed. He was just getting used to the silence when a sharp knock on the door made him jump.

"Robbie, honey, are you in there? It's Mummy."

He remained mute, but she still opened the door.

"Robbie sweetie, Mummy and Daddy are fighting right now, but you know we'll always love you. You know that, right?"

He nodded, eyes wide, clutching Snuggles the bear.

"Well Daddy is going to go away for a while, but he'll be back soon. He just needs to think about things. Do you understand?"

He wanted to scream that no, he didn't understand. But he knew that would just make Mummy tired, so all he did was nod his head, and hold Snuggles even closer, keeping a stranglehold around his neck.

"You're such a good little boy. I don't know what I would do without you. Give your Mummy a hug, then, and go to sleep now."

Robbie allowed himself to be kissed and tucked into bed before he finally spoke.

"Good night, Mummy."

It came out as a whisper, and she just smiled and replied,

"Good night, Robbie."

8 years later

The second time his father left, it was much quieter. His mother was passed out on the couch, reeking of cheap alcohol and snoring softly. He was sitting at the kitchen table, steadily working his way through his Chemistry homework. He wasn't a little boy anymore; he didn't need to hide.

Rowan Chase didn't even say good-bye; he just walked right out of his own family. Robert could tell himself that he would come back, that he just needed to think, but deep down he knew that wasn't the case.

His mother stirred on the couch.

"Robbie, honey what's going on?"

Her words came out in a slurred mumble.

"Nothing, Mum. Nothing's wrong."

But somewhere in his head a voice was telling him that it was all his fault. That if he had just been a better son, his father wouldn't have left him. And that was when he decided to become a doctor, to make his dad proud of him.