"He's been running the hospital more efficiently than Lisa ever did," Chase mutters quietly, thumbing through patient files before then adding a third pile — cases he suspects might raise House's interest. Maybe because Chase still wants House around. Maybe because he's chasing after some form of normalcy that he didn't think he'd ever have the right to again. Either way, he leaves it there for House to decide upon, because the decisions between them have always, always fallen to House.

With one key exception.

"So tell me, are you or aren't you here for a job? Because I still need to get to work at some point, and I need to figure out exactly how much favor I'm supposed to curry with the staff here now that you've arrived," Chase says, lips held thin and even. "Mind giving me a hint?"