House hadn't pulled him into this. Chase couldn't blame this on anyone else. But, it wasn't like he wanted to. He didn't need to blame this on someone. He knew this was his choice. Right now even more than back in the bar. He was just incapable of choosing Cameron over House, if he was honest with himself, which he wasn't always. She'd pushed him away, and Chase had clung on to her in reaction like he was incapable of letting go. The problem was that Cameron was too, and that she held on to him just barely tight enough to keep him from giving up. Chase was blind to the reality, but he felt it, even if he couldn't face it.

House isn't some tempter, isn't taking advantage of him, isn't some devil at the crossroads leading him into temptation. House isn't offering anything Chase isn't choosing for himself. Chase doesn't need a vessel for his guilt. He just needs someone to make him suffer for it. He can't walk away from this. And even if he could have, that moment quickly vanishes in smoke.

It's the way that House smiles, predatory, dangerous, and worst of all, is that flash of pride. Even Wilson harassed him about his need for House's approval, which was how you knew it was bad. And now they're standing by his car, he's asking House to hurt him on the tailend of murdering their patient, and he can almost taste it. There's nothing to say and so he smiles, and there's a sly sort of warmth to it that hasn't been there in weeks.

He gets in the car.