Bang Bang You're Dead... extended version!
Title: Bang Bang, You're Dead
Characters: Chase, House, Wilson, Cameron, Foreman, Cuddy
Summary: This is an expansion on the one shot I wrote a long time ago about the aftermath of the shooting in 'No Reason'. It's AU but may still contain spoilers. Chase centric.
Word Count: 1224
Rating: M
Warnings: Violence, language and sex in later chapters
Disclaimer: House MD - not mine. I'm just playing with the characters.
Author's note: Sooo, it's been a while... I suspect it's far too late to hope that anyone might still be around to even read this but I promised myself I would post once it was done and I'm actually quite proud of this (which is unusual for me...). This was actually written as my 2016 NaNo project and I'm only just getting around to editing, so I'll post chapters as and when they're done!
The diagnostics team at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital are getting ready to leave, having cured their latest patient and sent them home, and none of them are paying much attention when the gun man walks into the room. Foreman is virtually out of the door and Cameron and Chase are just packing up their bits before following suit.
"Which one of you is Dr House?"
Chase jumps at the voice and turns to see House watching the intruder, one eyebrow raised.
"Skinny brunette," House tells him.
The man grins though there's not a trace of real mirth in his smile. "No, that's Dr Cameron."
"I'm skinny. How do you know her name?" House asks, his tone a little sharp though he's clearly trying to play it cool.
"I was a patient of yours."
"Oh well if you want to leave the chocolates downstairs-"
The first gunshot is the loudest thing that Chase can ever remember hearing. His ears are ringing slightly, partly from shock and his eyes are wide as he stares at House, who is now on the ground with blood pooling around the wound in his stomach. At almost exactly the same time the three fellows make a move to rush over to House but the gun man waves his weapon in their direction.
"Stay! Stay away from him!" he shouts, looking crazed now.
Chase falters but then lunges forwards again and is stopped by his two colleagues grabbing his arms.
“Don't be an idiot, Chase,” Foreman says in his ear, his hand vice like around Chase's bicep. Cameron seems to holding on almost as tightly and Chase doesn't try to struggle away.
The man looks down at House, sneering at him. "Shocking, isn't it? Who'd want to hurt you?"
The sound of the second gunshot cuts through Chase and for a brief, ridiculous moment he thinks it's him that's been shot, but as the man starts to run Chase pulls himself together and hurries over to House. He gets there first, falling painfully to his knees and pressing his hands to the second wound in House's neck. Cameron is there a second later, trying to stem the flow of blood from House's stomach and Foreman is bellowing out the door of the office for help.
It feels like years could have passed by the time there are voices behind Chase, asking him and Cameron to move out of the way. Cameron does as she's asked but Chase can't move. He can't take his hands off the wound, can't look away from House's unconscious body.
"Dr Chase! You need to step back!" one of the new arrivals shouts at him but Chase still physically can't move. He feels as though he's been paralysed and the only thing he can do it press his hands against House's neck. A moment later there's hands under Chases arms and he's being lifted away; he struggles, shouting something but the person is stronger and pulls him right over to the sofa, sitting him down and keeping firm hands on his shoulders.
"Chase, calm down man!"
Chase recognises Foreman's voice and he looks up at his colleague.
“Jesus, I didn't think you even liked the man!” Foreman says though his attempt at being light hearted is undermined by the very slight wobble in his voice.
Chase looks down at his hands, bright red and still wet with House's blood and feels sick. “He shot him,” Chase says stupidly, his stomach turning.
Foreman looks worriedly at Chase. “You're in shock. You should get a drink and just... sit for a bit. I'll get you some water.” Foreman goes over to the sink and fills a glass from the tap.
“He shot him!” Chase says a little louder, and he stands, swaying before someone grabs his arm - it's Wilson, but Chase hadn't even noticed anyone coming into the room.
“What happened?” Wilson asks in a hoarse voice, gently guiding Chase back into a seat.
“House was shot. Twice, once in the stomach once in the neck,” Foreman says, telling him quickly and efficiently exactly what had happened as he passes Chase the glass of water he'd got him.
“Jesus. Do you know who it was?”
“Patient of ours apparently. I don't know, it all happened so fast I didn't really recognise him.”
“House told his wife he was cheating on her,” Chase says dully after a few sips of the water. He can remember the man - he has a surprisingly good memory for all of their patients. “I need to go help, they might need me,” Chase says, trying again to stand but he's stopped once more by Wilson.
“Chase, you're shaking like a damn leaf. You're not going to be any help to anyone in this state,” Wilson tells him. “Sit.”
Chase tries to pull away from Wilson but the oncologist has a strong grip on his arm. “Get off me!” Chase exclaims, struggling against him. “I need to go, House is... I need to help, he's, they shot him, House got shot he might die - he could be dying!” Chase is aware that he's becoming hysterical but he can't seem to help it. His breathing is getting ragged and uneven and far too fast and he keeps on talking, not even sure what he's saying any longer. “Let me go, please - I need to go and find House, please let me go I need to go he could be dying and-”
“Chase!” Wilson shouts trying to snap the younger doctor out of whatever this is. “You need to calm down!”
Chase shakes his head and struggles harder. “Let me go! Please, I need to go and help House.” He's crying now, great big sobs that are wracking his body and make breathing even more difficult.
“Chase,” Wilson says more softly. “You're hyperventilating. Come on - calm down and just breathe. Take a long, deep breath and hold it.” Wilson has managed to push Chase back into a sitting position now but Chase either can't hear him or won't listen.
“I'll get a sedative,” Foreman says quietly, watching his colleague falling apart with a sick feeling in his stomach. He's never seen Chase like this - he's usually so calm and collected and this is just... scary. It's freaking Foreman out more than House getting shot did.
Wilson nods and continues talking to Chase trying to get him calm. “It's okay Chase. House is going to be okay. But you need to calm down or we're going to have to sedate you. You're in shock, I get it but you're hyperventilating. Just breathe - come on, try to breathe with me. In-”
Nothing Wilson says can get through to Chase, and despite feeling that it's wrong, they have to sedate him. He barely seems to notice as Foreman sticks him with the needle while Wilson holds him as still as possible but slowly his words start to quieten and slur together and the fight goes out of him. Wilson lies him gently down on the couch once he's out and the two doctors just stare at him for a few long moments.
“I'll get a gurney,” Foreman says. “We'll find him a room then go and see how House is doing.”