Chase stood in the corner of the room, a cold glass of champagne gripped in his hand. He had already downed one and this one was nearly gone as well, but he had promised himself he would cut himself off when he was done. He didn't need to get drunk and embarrass himself in front of a crowd of people, especially this one, filled with his employers.

He took another slow sip and scanned the room carefully. Everyone was dressed in head to toe formal wear, waiting to bid on the donations for the new physical therapy equipment. He spotted Taub and his wife, Rachel, chatting with another couple he didn't recognize, and Lucas and Cuddy talking softly to each other. It was events like this that depressed Chase a little; he wasn't used to being newly single again and felt awkward in a room where everyone seemed to be paired up. He searched for some sign of Foreman or maybe House, but he hadn't had any luck in finding either of them.

He looked around again and his eyes caught a tall brunette standing with her back turned towards him, chatting with an older man. She was wearing a dark red strapless dress that showed off her slender shoulders, her hair cascading down her back in dark curls, and the short skirt gave way to sexy legs that seemed to trail for miles down to her simple black heels. Chase admired her for a moment. She reminded him of a younger version of Cameron, but she was different. She was much taller for one thing, and she had more curves to her, in all the right places of course. He found himself wondering how this woman would feel pulled close against his own toned exterior.

Unconsciously, he stepped towards her slowly, he hand clenched into a fist at his side, almost nervous to approach this woman who may be far out of his league. He casually brushed against her as he passed, pretending to go for another refill of his drink. He set his glass on the bar and motioned for the man to take it away. He turned slowly to lean up against the table and catch a look at the face of the woman he had just admired from behind, hoping she was just as beautiful from the front as she was from the back. He lifted his head and surprised himself as he stared into the piercing blue eyes of his colleague, Thirteen.