Chasing Hearts (Robert Chase x Reader)

Chapter 18

Chapter 18
Bloom

Chapter song: Bloom by The Paper Kites

The morning was unhurried, a rare luxury you weren't about to waste. With one hand, you spread peanut butter over a slice of bread, the dull scrape of the knife filling the quiet kitchen. It wasn't much, but at least you'd have something to snack on during House's lecture—a small reprieve from whatever chaos the day had in store.

You glanced at the clock. It had only been a few hours since Chase came by. The memory was fresh—his knock at your door, the soft exchange of words in the quiet of the night. He hadn't stayed long, but the look in his eyes lingered.

Sliding the sandwich into a container, you grabbed your coat and headed out. The hospital was stirring to life, the hum of conversations and distant beeps filling the air.

You passed a few familiar faces in the corridor, exchanging polite nods, but your mind was elsewhere. Chase was here. You could feel it, the way the air seemed different when he was around. You hadn't seen him yet, but the soft flutter of nerves in your chest told you it was only a matter of time.

By the time you reached the lecture hall, the turnout was sparse, just as you expected. House was already at the podium, fiddling with a laser pointer and muttering about the inadequacies of modern technology.

Cameron sat near the front, her pen poised over a notebook, while Foreman leaned back in his chair, arms crossed and eyes half-closed. He looked like he regretted every drink he'd had the night before.

You slipped into a seat near the middle, pulling out the sandwich container and placing it discreetly on the desk. A voice beside you made you glance up.

"Starting early?"

Chase slid into the seat next to you, his smile faint but warm. His tie was slightly askew, and there was a tiredness in his eyes that made you wonder if he'd slept at all.

"I figured I'd need sustenance to survive this," you replied lightly, gesturing to the front where House was now pretending to wield the laser pointer like a sword.

Chase chuckled softly, the sound low and familiar. "Good call."

You turned to him, keeping your voice quiet. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

"Not much," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I was sorting through some stuff at home. Trying to make sense of it all."

You tilted your head, studying him. There was something vulnerable about the way he spoke, like he wasn't used to sharing these pieces of himself. "And? Did you manage to fix anything?"

He smiled faintly, his knee brushing against yours under the table. "Not everything. But it's a start."

The contact lingered, subtle but deliberate. You thought about moving your leg, but the warmth was grounding, comforting.

House's voice cut through the low murmur of the room. "Ah, look who decided to grace us with his presence," he announced, his gaze zeroing in on Chase. "Dr. Chase, how kind of you to join us. Rested from your little escapade at the conference?"

A ripple of amusement moved through the room, though most of the interns were too intimidated to laugh outright.

Chase didn't miss a beat. "Good to see you too, House."

House's eyes flicked to you, his smirk widening. "And you brought a friend. How sweet. Did you two carpool?"

You rolled your eyes, your cheeks warming under his gaze. "Just here for the lecture, House."