Your Wife    The House Fan Fiction Archive	 Home

 Quicksearch
 Search Engine
 Random Story

 Upload Story

      	

  Your Wife 
 by gorblimey2	

 Your Wife

Wilson heard the piano and knew he was in. He knocked on the door and the
old familiar voice yelled, "I know that knock, come in..."

House looked up from the piano, took a drink of his Grey Goose, and asked
"I don't remember inviting you for a slumber party, so why are you here?"

"Golf Clubs. My ex sold mine. I'm playing in the hospital tournament
tomorrow and need a set. I figured since yours were getting dusty and
moldy in that closet you could loan them to me." Wilson said.

"Is it the tournament already?"

"Yep, it's always the last Friday in May...you do remember, don't you? The
last time you played in it you were caught throwing Cuddy's ball into the
rough. Remember?" Wilson laughed.

"Ah, yes. That was the first time she kicked me and threatened to rip
those walnuts off that you call balls'." House nodded in the direction of
the closet and Wilson went over to it.

As Wilson opened the door he tried to back up to avoid the shower of boxes
and other items that were free-falling towards him. The impact on his head
was painful and he received a small cut on his cheek. He looked for the
clubs and had to literally crawl through a mass of clothes, books,
appliances, posters, shoes and other items to get to the back where he
could barely see the golf bag peaking out from several jackets draped over
it.

"Jesus House, don't you EVER clean up?" 

House just continued to play, "A Man of Constant Sorrow."

It took Wilson ten minutes to dig the clubs out and another five to put
everything back in the closet. He didn't take the time to organize the
closet, it would have meant actually sorting through things and getting
rid of half of it.

"Since you fired the housekeeper your apartment is looking like a frat
house. You need to get a new housekeeper." Wilson looked around and
realized there were dirty dishes in the sink from at least four days; ants
running down the counter towards a...well, he wasn't sure if it was a food
source or not; bills that weren't open; towels and clothes strewn on the
hall and bathroom floor; caps off the toothpaste, shampoo and other
personal products; no roll of toilet paper on the holder - it was sitting
on top of the stack of Hustlers; in short, the place was a pig sty.

"You know, not even frat boys live like this. What's gotten into you? Even
you didn't use to be this bad?"

"I'm bored and cleaning bores me even more." House had stopped to watch
Wilson dive through the closet. It amused him.

Wilson knew that it was true, the diagnostic team hadn't had a case in a
week and House was sinking fast into his own misery. "Well, find a
conference in Fiji or Brazil and go take a holiday."

"My passport has expired. You know I'm not big on travel."

Wilson did know this. House had traveled around so much as a military brat
that travel was old hat to him. Occasionally he enjoyed the odd trip, if
it had something novel about it. Once he dragged Wilson on a Star Trek
cruise, mostly because House wanted to torment the Trekkies. He kept
telling everyone that Janeway was the best Captain; Jean Luc was still a
Borg; Spock was gay; Bones was a drunk; Kirk was suffering from syphilis;
and a whole list of insults that created dissension all over the ship.
They were asked by the sponsors not to come back, and it was suggested
that they try the Battlestar Gallactica cruise that was taking place the
next month.

Wilson came out of the kitchen and House handed him a short glass of Grey
Goose. Wilson wasn't sure about the cleanliness of the glass it was in,
but he figured the alcohol would kill whatever might be on the glass.
Wilson and House spent the next half hour dishing the dirt and talking
shop. They were both plugged into the hospital gossip and enjoyed swapping
stories. They were like two girls, occasionally relishing in the downfall
of one of the doctors or laughing at the antics of the staff.

"Well, I'm afraid if I stay here the roaches will carry me off to their
lair under your bed, so I'm off. I'll get these back to you soon." With
that, Wilson got up and grabbed the clubs.

"You can keep them. I'm not using them." House started playing Chopin.

"Come on House, you could still play if you'd keep up with that physical
therapy. You know, with a cart and lessons they could teach you to play
even with your bad leg."

"Scoot."

Wilson knew he was being dismissed so he left House to enjoy languishing
in his self- pity. ***

It was 8:00 a.m. on June 2nd and Wilson was surprised to see that the
entire Diagnostic Team was in, including House. They must have gotten a
case the night before. Wilson popped his head in, "Any bagels?"

House nodded towards his office and Wilson rambled over to find a bag of
bagels on House's credenza. He walked back to where the team was sitting
and looked at the white board, it was filled with symptoms. Wilson waved
goodbye and toddled off to his own office with his strawberry bagel.

"Come on folks, you're suppose to be earning your paycheck. Work with me."
House was baiting his team. "High fever, arthralgia, purpuric lesions on
the legs, headache, anorexia and conjunctivitis."

"Sounds like garden variety influenza." Foreman said with a dismissive
air.

"How do you explain the lesions?" House asked.

"An allergy, people CAN have two illnesses at one time." he replied. "Why
are we wasting our time on her? Her GP could take care of this."

House tilted his head and squinted his eyes, "I don't think so. This
smells different...I don't think we have the flu here. She had a flu shot
in January. I know it doesn't necessarily cover all the influenzas
floating around out there, but she was very healthy prior to this. Chase?"

"Malaria? Encephalitis? It says that she just got back from the
Seychelles. Boy, I wish she had taken me with her, she's hot...AND
SINGLE." 

"Calm down Johnny Holmes, she's a patient." Cameron admonished.

Foreman had arrived later than the rest of them and hadn't been able to
examine the patient. Now it was making sense to him why House took a case
of influenza, House had a weakness for hot women. Sometimes, although
rarely, he would take a case just based on how hot the patient was. 

 Well, Malaria might be it so get a spinal tap and a CT, run a PR for West
Nile and Herpatic Encephalitis and check for Malaria."

The team wandered off down the hall. House went over to his desk to review
the current JAMA and the WHO online newsletter. He could feel the black
lifting as he started to work on diagnosing the patient. He hadn't seen
her yet, but he would make an appearance just to see how hot she really
was. He hadn't known she was hot when he had accepted the case, he just
knew he needed a patient, even an easy to diagnose patient, to get him out
of his hole.

At one, Wilson and House took the elevator to the first floor where the
cafeteria was. House was in the mood for a cheeseburger and fries. When
they got in line, House purposefully left his cane at the beginning of the
line. When he and Wilson got to the cashier, he abruptly excused himself
to go get the cane, leaving Wilson with the two trays. Wilson turned
around to see the glare of everyone waiting for him to pay. Embarrassed
for holding up the line, Wilson begrudgingly paid for both lunches. House
magically reappeared and said, "Oh, has this been paid for?" Wilson gave
him a disgusted look and turned to find a table.

"House, your birthday is not until next week but I am going to give you
your gift early. So, I want to take you out to dinner tomorrow night to
celebrate." Wilson offered.

"Not really excited about birthdays." House warned.

"I know, but it's "futile to resist." You know you always moan, I always
take you out, you always complain about singing Happy Birthday" and we
always have a good time. So I will pick you up at 7:00 p.m. and we'll go
to your favorite restaurant."

"Hooters?"

"Yep." Wilson smiled. They ate lunch and then went back to their offices.

House had been sitting at his computer working on "MySpace", when his
pager went off. He looked at it and it referred him to the 3rd floor, room
341, the room of his patient. House quickly finished his new profile he
had just created, he had put up fuzzy photos of Wilson and marked that he
was gay and looking for a relationship. House had already set up a hotmail
email address, JimmyW@hotmail.co and had it forwarded to Wilson's hospital
email. He then invited everyone on the phoney myspace who wanted to get to
know him to send him a private message. House snickered and then grabbed
his cane and took off.

Outside of the room House could see his team administering drugs and
applying an oxygen mask indicating that the patient was in respiratory
distress. Cameron stepped out to talk to House. "Her Osats dropped below
95, so we've started her on oxygen. Looks like encephalitis."

"Do we have any blood-work back?"

"Not yet."

"Well, let's start her on acyclovir just in case it is herpatic
encephalitis and ampicillin just in case it is bacterial ." House told
her.

Cameron nodded and went back in the room.

The next day the patient's fever had reached 104 F and most of her
symptoms had gotten worse. Her CSF was 400, with a predominance of
lymphocytes indicating a form of viral encephalitis. But House was
convinced that the encephalitis was secondary and not primary. The blood
tests for malaria came back negative. House decided it was time that he
examined the patient. He grabbed his cane and made his way to room 341.

She was incredibly gorgeous. Dark brown hair, brown eyes, tall, thin and
large breasts. House was pretty sure the breasts weren't designed by God
but more likely by Dupont, but still, she was a knockout. 

"I'm Doctor House, I'm in charge of your case. I need to examine you." He
was terse and abrupt. She looked up, obviously in pain. The conjuctivitis
in her eyes was getting worse and it appeared to him that there was slight
bleeding of the eyes. He put on gloves and then took his stethoscope and
listened to her lungs. She had rhales and rhonci, indicating that she now
had secondary pneumonia. He realized they better get a test of her sputum
to see what type of pneumonia they were dealing with since it was not
responding to Ampicillin. Her heart sounded healthy but he could feel by
touch that her fever had not abated with medication. This was not good. 

Cameron, Chase and Foreman came into the room. House looked up, "Get a
sputum test, let's see what we are up against." Chase handed him the
latest x-ray showing that the lungs were cloudy and the liver appeared
enlarged, a new symptom.

House continued with the exam and removed the sheet, she had her hand
resting on the saline line and so House picked her arm up by the wrist to
move it. She screamed in agony. House set her hand back down gingerly. He
then picked up the other wrist and again the patient screamed. House
manipulated the other joints. The patient expressed pain but nothing like
the pain in her wrists. House abandoned the examination and hobbled as
fast as he could back to his computer. Cameron, Foreman and Chase looked
at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They took a sample of her
sputum and sent it to the lab to test for bacteria.

House called down to the Team, "Test for hemorrhagic dengue fever.
Cameron, I need for you to come up to my office, there's a new test I want
you to run and you're going to need the protocol."

Cameron walked into the office and House handed her a printout from the
Institute of Medical Microbiology. It was a reverse
transcription-polymerase chain test with a special RT-PCR assay. The test
was for Chikungunya and this test provided results in 48 hours rather than
seven days with the old test. Cameron immediately went to the lab to get
started.

House called down to Chase and Foreman who were done with taking the
samples for hemorrhagic dengue fever. "Take her off antibiotics until we
get the sputum test back. Start her on 250 mg. per diem of Chloroquine
Phosphate for the arthralgia and arthritic symptoms. Give her ibuprofen
for the fever and inflamation. Keep her on the acyclovir for the
encephalitis. I think she'll test positive for Chikungunya. But we have to
make sure it's not hemorrhagic dengue fever. Once the test is back, if
it's positive, report it to the CDC. In some cases meningoencephalitis,
hepatitis and pneumonia are a complication of the virus and can result in
death, but I think we caught this in time."

"How did you know it was CHVK?" Foreman asked.

"I've been reading about it in the journals. It's an emerging zoonotic
disease in the islands off of India including the Seychelles. It presents
with extreme pain in the wrists. The disease usually self-resolves if
there are no complications like here, but even if it resolves, it can take
up to a year before the joint pain subsides. However, the chloroquine has
been shown to help resolve residual joint pain. Get her started on those
meds." 

"Ok, we're on it." Foreman hung up. 

House was hoping the team didn't tell Cuddy about his examination of the
patient. He'd hate it if Cuddy found out that he had actually solved the
case by a direct examination.

 ***

House took a shower, trimmed his beard and brushed his teeth. He slipped
on a pair of levis and a blue rumpled shirt. While looking in his closet
it dawned on him that most of his shirts were blue. He wondered if that
had any psychological meaning?

He had a quick single malt whiskey while he waited for Wilson to pick him
up. There was a knock on the door and House got up, grabbed his keys and
opened the door. Without a word he closed the door locked it and they
walked to Wilson's car.

"No singing." He admonished.

"Singing and embarrassing you is half the fun of taking you out for your
birthday... besides, do you really want to miss ten Hooter girls bending
over to give you a song and a kiss?"

"I'll think about it." House hated to admit it, but Wilson was right.
Hooter birthdays were sweet.

As they sat drinking beers out of the bucket, Wilson cleared his throat,"
Here's your present." He handed House an envelope.

Inside was a card with a picture of a guru on the front. It said, "I was
channeling Swami Nahani who lived 1200 years ago and he wanted to
know...." House opened the card, "If you remembered him from high school."
House grinned and said, "Ha, ha."

There was another, smaller envelope inside the card and House opened it.
The card was plain except it said, "One month trial...Your Wife. (609)
258-3444." House looked at Wilson, "What is this suppose to mean?"

"Ok, hang in there. It's a one month trial of a service called, Your
Wife'. I heard about at a party from some of the faculty at Princeton.
This woman comes in and organizes your life. She cleans your house, makes
your meals, takes the dry cleaning to the dry cleaners, does your laundry,
irons, buys your sundries...in essence for this month you will have a wife
except for the carnal pleasures and wiping your butt. It's not cheap, but
I figure, even if you don't continue to use her services after the month
is up, she'll be able to get your place in shape during the trial period."
Wilson said optimistically.

House gave Wilson a look of disapproval, "You are joking, right?"

"Nope, she's coming by early tomorrow to see you and to set up the
schedule and plan. So expect her at 8:00 a.m." Wilson smiled.

"No, I don't think so." House said sternly.

"Too late, I gave her the key you gave me when you were in the hospital
and I've already paid the first month. It's non-refundable." Wilson said.

"Well, instead of me doing this, why don't you use the service and I'll
even reimburse you. How much was it.?"

"$1600" Wilson said.

House just stared at him with a look of disbelief. "You paid $1600 for a
gift for me? Are you trying to get in my pants?"

"It's worth it, if you are well fed and happy at home, maybe you'll be
easier to deal with...you've been crabbier than usual. Cuddy is starting
to get fed up with the black cloud that's been following you. Come
on...try it for one month, just one month. It actually works out to be
four days...you can handle that." Wilson didn't want him to know that the
first month was half price or he be more tempted to turn it down.

"You are going to pay for this." House shook his head

"I already have."

House was unsure of all this. He was very private and it had taken a lot
out of him to let a maid touch and clean his things. He wasn't sure if
this was a good idea. But, as long as she stuck to cleaning and cooking it
might work.

 *** House was dreaming of Carmen Electra when he felt the hand on his
shoulder. "Dr. House? Dr. House?" The female voice pierced his reverie.

He opened one eye.

"I've been knocking and ringing your doorbell for the last ten minutes. I
let myself in with the key Dr. Wilson gave me."

"House rolled over onto his stomach away from her and closed his eyes."

"I tell you what, I'll go out and start cleaning up while you figure out
how to put both feet on the floor and join me." She chuckled and turned to
leave.

As she was leaving, House lifted his head and snuck a peak. From the back
she didn't look very formidable, whoever she was. In his waking state he
was trying to remember if she was a hooker, a neighbor or what she was.
Then he remembered Wilson, the key and the birthday gift. "Crap." He got
up, put on a t-shirt and went to the bathroom to take a leak. He could
hear dishes clinking in the sink.

House was a little hung over from the Hooters birthday celebration. He
managed to bring home Tiffany, a very buxom Hooters girl, and have his own
private party. He then got a her a cab back to her place around 1:00 a.m.
Looking at the clock on the desk, he saw that it was 8:20 a.m. He could
kill Wilson.

House walked out to the kitchen, his hair was tussled and he was in his
boxers and the t-shirt. Her back was to him as she rinsed the dishes to
put in the dishwasher. He went over to the refrigerator, pulled out the
milk and chugged it from the carton. He noticed numerous cartons in the
refrigerator with markings on them, the one on top read "sauce for
chicken, 2 min, pour over chicken." 

She turned around when she heard the refrigerator door open. He looked
back at her while he continued to chug. 

"Hi. My name is Jordan Morgan, but my clients call me Danny." She was
talking while she dried her hands on the dishtowel. She extended her hand
to House who shook it while looking at her disdainfully. "Would you like
me to explain how this works?"

"How this works?" He asked incredulously. 

"I do and don't do certain things so I usually go over this with clients
at the beginning. Shall I begin or do you want to get dressed first?"

He sat down on a stool and pretended as if he was an overeager student
ready to listen. He looked at her and noted everything he could. She was
in her thirties. She was blonde, she was petite, she was pretty and she
looked very perky. And she was giving him a cheerleader smile.

"Ok, your day, Dr. House, is Thursday. Each of my clients has an exclusive
day except for when they have an emergency or special event that requires
my attention. If you need a different day, I will arrange to switch a day
with another of my clients. I just ask that you give me as much notice as
possible.

I will prepare your meals for five days because I assume that you will be
eating out on the weekends. I will put your meals in colored disposable
containers. Each color will be for a specific day. So, for example, all
containers with a blue lid will be for a specific day. Each individual
container will be labeled as to what it is and how long you should
microwave or prepare it. I will leave you a list of your meals and if you
find that you don't like one or you really like another, you can make a
note of it and I will work around it. Since you will get your food on
Thursday, I will freeze three of them. The other two will be in the
refrigerator and should be eaten first.

I noticed you keep your dirty clothes in a pile in your bedroom, hall and
bathroom. I will buy you a hamper and you can then reimburse me. In fact,
I will make an inventory of your home and determine what, if anything, you
need or should replace. I will leave you the list to approve. Once you
approve it, I will buy the items and then give you a receipt for
reimbursement. 

All my clients so far have asked me to make out the checks for their
bills. If you want this as part of your service, leave the bills and the
checkbook. I will make out the check, address the envelope, put the stamp
on the envelope and all you have to do is sign the check and mail it. If
you don't want to mail it, leave it for me and I will do it the following
Thursday.

If you have any dry cleaning, leave it on the couch Thursday morning and I
will pick it up, take it in and pick it up the following week. I will
leave the receipt to be reimbursed. If you need any mending, leave it on
the couch with a note and I will mend it or have a tailor do it. If you
have pornography, marital aids or anything of a private nature that you do
not want me to see or touch please place them in a drawer or cabinet and
mark it with a sticky note and I will not open the cabinet or drawer while
I am providing my service.

If you have a dinner party and need for me to cook, please give me a
week's notice so I can do the shopping and make arrangements for the
afternoon and night off. As part of the service I will cook the meal and
serve it for you to your guests provided you do not have a dinner party
more than once a month at which you need my services. I do not work on
Saturday nights. However, if you need service on a Saturday night, I will
arrange for it for an additional $100.

I will clean, cook, organize, wait for service vendors and provide any
service a stay at home wife would provide except of course, I will not be
having sex with you. I need to make that clear because I have had clients
who thought different. 

Do you have any questions so far?" She stopped her spiel to address him.

"No...I'm just taking it all in." He smiled widely.

"Now, do you have any allergies to cleaning solutions or food?" she asked
seriously.

"No."

"Well, is there any service you want performed today?" She asked. 

House thought about asking for a service but then she said she did not
provide that.

" I can see that it may take the entire trial period to get your home
organized. I'll make sure your wash gets done and the apartment cleaned up
today, but I won't have time to do all that really needs to be done." She
stopped.

"You do what you want to do today, I have no special requests. Now this is
only for the month of June, right? Then you're gone, right?" He asked
adamantly.

"It will depend, you may find you want to continue the service, it is
$1600 a month. I take a two week vacation but I will have someone cover
the cleaning and food while I am gone. I have only five clients so my
service is fairly exclusive. If you need anything before Thursday, you
just need to call my number to speak with me or leave a message. Ok?"

"How many of the people have continued the service after the trial
period?" He asked.

"All of them." She smiled. "The only reason I had an opening was because
one of my clients got married last week. I only work for bachelors. But
all of my trial months have resulted in permanent clients. Not one has
stopped the service."

He wasn't expecting that, "Well, there's always a first time."

"Yes, that's true." She smiled confidently.

House found her annoyingly happy and chirpy. It was too early in the
morning to be this awake.

"Here are cards for your wallet, your office and for here at home. Call me
if you need anything. Now, I'm going to get back to work, please leave me
all the clothes that you want washed in the hall. I assume the washer and
dryer for the building is in the basement?"

He nodded yes and looked at the cards. They simply said "Your Wife" and
the phone number. "Ok, then, if you don't have any questions, I need to
get to work."

House grabbed the dirty clothes from around the apartment and put them in
a pile in the hall. He grabbed some clean ones and took a shower. When he
got out of the bathroom he noticed that she was not in the apartment and
the dirty clothes were gone. He grabbed his keys, his cane and he was
gone. 

He confronted Wilson in his office. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?"

Wilson gave him a look and said, "What are you talking about?"

"Your birthday present."

"Oh, you mean Your Wife? Is she ugly, old ... I heard she was very
pleasant."

"Yeah, if you want Debbie Reynolds, Katie Couric and Pollyanna all rolled
up in an early morning enema, then she's pleasant. You have to stop
this...I won't last long and I'm afraid of what I'm going to do to that
woman if she smiles one more time." 

"Just give it a chance."

House shook his head. " You have no compassion for what you are putting me
through! Ahhhhggg." He threw his hands up in the air and walked out.

 ***

Chase and Foreman were studying the file of the newest case when Cameron
came in and confirmed House's diagnosis of CHVK in the previous patient.

"I'll call the CDC." Cameron said.

House turned to the new case, "Folks we need to move on this. I don't like
how fast this patient is deteriorating. A previously healthy single woman
aged 52 years with no children, no pets, who visited our emergency
department last night with a 2-day history of headache, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, lethargy, right axillary lymphadenopathy, progressive myalgias,
and pain in her distal extremities. She was admitted last night and at ten
o'clock this morning she was transferred to intensive care. They handed
the case off to us at noon."

"The chart says that on physical examination, she was afebrile and
hypotensive with a blood pressure of 82/40 with left-sided abdominal
tenderness and scleral icterus; no rash was noted. She did have mild
thrombocytopenia. She's disoriented now and in and out of consciousness.
Let's get our own bloodwork. Get a CBC, a CB4 and run the other tests
again, stat. Let's check both the alanine and asparte transferase levels.
In the meantime, anyone have any ideas?" House asked.

"This sounds zoonotic again. It's moving so fast, that's usually the
result of a tick or flea borne disease. Something bites and someone gets
sick real fast." Chase opined.

"I'd have to agree. Check her for bites again and don't forget her special
flower..." House raised his eyebrows up and down to indicate a
gynecological exam. He then indicated with the toss of his head that they
could all leave. 

Within four hours they were back and worried. "She's going downhill
quick." Chase said. 

Foreman complained, "Her Osats are falling fast. Her fever is 104 F. She
has an elevated white count, elevated alanine and aspartate
aminotransferase, elevated bilirubin, elevated blood urea nitrogen of 55,
and elevated creatinine of 2.9."

"On top of it she now has marked anemia and increasingly severe
thrombocytopenia." Chase added.

"What do you suggest minions? Come on, ideas." House snapped his fingers.

"Sarcoidosis?" Cameron suggested.

House thought about it for a few minutes, not all the symptoms fit, but
enough did to at least rule it out, "Alright, check for Sarcoidosis and
throw in Scepticimic Plague, it would also explain most of the symptoms." 

Two hours later the Team was in the lab and looking at negative results
for each of the diseases.

"Well children, this one is going fast, we need to make a decision. Let's
look at her history again. She's a substitute teacher. No husband, no
children. No pets. No pets. No pets. ... She was brought in by a friend.
She's allergic to Penicillin and was put on a prophylactic sulfur based
antibiotic which obviously hasn't worked. She's had mammograms, pap
smears, this woman obviously takes care of herself. We need more
information. What about bites?"

"None, all three of us looked. Remember, no pets?" Cameron volunteered.

"If it isn't responding to the Sulfur based antibiotic, it is probably
viral." Foreman said.

"Not necessarily, they don't always have the same efficacy." Chase
retorted.

House shook his head and looked down in thought. This one was going too
fast. "Do you have her friend's phone number?"

"Yes, here it is." Cameron gave him the sheet with the phone number.

House dialed. A woman answered, "Hello?"

"Hello, this is Doctor House, I'm treating Charlotte Churchill and I need
some answers about her history."

"Well, I'll try Doctor, but I don't know if I'll know."

"Your friend's life may just rely on your answers." House threatened.

"Oh my God, is it that bad?"

"Yes, it is. Now has she had a substitute job in the last week?"

"I don't know, but her friend, Janet, is a teacher in the same school
district, she would probably know. Just a minute and I will get her
number."

The woman gave him the number and he dialed it. "Hello."

"Janet, Doctor House, did Charlotte Churchill have a substitute job this
last week?" He asked quickly.

"Who?"

House sighed impatiently, "Charlotte's doctor, Doctor House, please
answer."

"Yes, she had one. It was Candy Whitaker's fifth grade class."

"Does Candy have animals in the classroom?"

"Yes, a Gerbil. How is...." Click, House had hung up on her in
mid-sentence.

"Gerbil...she's got Rat Bite Fever - let's get her on Penicillin."

"She's allergic to Penicillin." Chase reminded him.

"Damn, that's why she's sinking so fast. The antibiotic she is on doesn't
work well on Tularemia. Get her on chloramphenicol at 100 mg
intramuscularly. Monitor and if it isn't working in an hour, let's go with
clindamycin." House barked orders to his Team.

House waited for an hour, it was touch and go. Charlotte's organs had
started to shut down. Foreman popped his head into House's office, "Good
news, her fever is down and her transferase levels are close to normal.
Her blood pressure is 100/65. She's turning around."

House shook his head in acknowledgment. Around 7:00 p.m., House was on his
way home. He was still thinking about the cases this week when he opened
the door to his apartment. He looked up and stepped backwards. The smell
was what he first noticed. It was baked cookies. The living room was
straight out of Architectural Digest, the leather couch was clean and
conditioned, the piano was gleaming, the books on the bookshelves were
stacked in horizontal and vertical piles that were aesthetically pleasing,
not to mention that the dust bunnies were all gone and the windows were
clean. His artwork actually looked like art and not coat hangers. He heard
a sound from down the hall. It sounded like drawers being opened and
closed. He looked into his bedroom.

There she was, folding and putting his clothes away neatly into drawers
that were now organized and color coded. On the floor was a pile of
clothes.

"Oh, Doctor House! Is it that late? Gosh, sometimes when I get started the
time just flies. The pile on the floor are clothes that are out of style,
torn, worn, stained or faded. I've culled them out and will give them to
charity or throw them out unless there is something in the pile you really
want." There was that smile again.

He looked down and there was nothing in the pile he was attached to so he
shook his head no. 

"Great. Well, I left you the list. I'll go get it and we can go over it
while I heat up your dinner. I might as well do it while I am still here.
Normally, I won't be here when you get back, but sometimes during the
first month it takes me a little longer to get everything done." She
almost skipped out to the living room.

Ugh...he just wanted to kick back, have a bite to eat and be by himself.
He followed her into the kitchen. "Look , its great that you want to "fix
me" but right now I'd like to just be alone." He told her.

"Doctor House, just let me go over this and I will be out of your hair,
ok?"

He acquiesced mostly because he could smell the cookies and he was afraid
if he said no, she would pack them up and take them.

"I need to buy you new towels and sheets. Your towels are frayed and your
sheets are polyester blend 180s. Who in the world bought you 180s? You're
a doctor, you should be sleeping on 600 Egyptian Cotton at the very least.
You need your sleep."

"What has Egyptian Cotton have to do with sleep?" he gave her a look like
he didn't believe her.

"You know, it's better for me to just buy the sheets, put them on your bed
and then you tell me the next week if you want me to take them back. Ok?

"Ok, whatever makes you happy." House shook his head.

While she had been talking to him, she took out all the blue containers
from the refrigerator. She grabbed a bowl and a plate off the shelf. She
took the container with the long grain rice and put it on the plate. She
began to heat it. Then she took out the second blue container marked
Chicken Tikka Masala and poured it into the bowl. She began to heat it
too. All the time she was doing this she was talking to House who was now
seated at the table on the kitchen stool. 

"I need a new scrubber, toilet bowl cleaner, hamper and vacuum. Your
vacuum is not only full, but the bearings are bad. You need a hepa vacuum.
I also need to buy you new socks and boxers and some food."

The smell of the dinner heating up was incredible. He tried to concentrate
on what she was saying but his stomach was starting to gurgle in
anticipation. House could only think of the last time he had Indian food.
It must have been more than a year. It had been too long, he loved Indian
food. He heard someone talking to him...

"...Dr. House?? Did you hear me? I wanted to know if you approved the
list. It's going to be about $600-700, ok?"

"Yes, ok..." He watched her pull down another bowl and start heating a
vegetable biryani. He would have approved anything as long as she promised
him that the dinner and the cookies would remain when she left.

She dished out the dinner and it looked as if it had come from a five star
restaurant. She pulled out a fork from the drawer and grabbed him a beer
out of the refrigerator. She gave him a kind, sweet smile, handed him the
dinner and said, "Bon appetite Dr. House."

He tucked into the meal. As he ate he stared at her but he didn't really
see her, he was concentrating on the smell and taste of the food as he
chewed it. The chicken was not mild but it wasn't a vindaloo, it was just
right. The rice was perfect and the vegetable biryani had lentils,
potatoes and string beans. The only thing that was missing was some nan.
Danny snapped her fingers, "Oh, I forgot. She pulled a large nan out of a
paper bag and handed it to him. What's Indian food without nan?"

He took a swig of beer and almost let out a belch. He allowed a small one
to escape and apologized. "It's very good. You can mark this on your list
as one I like."

"Good, I love Indian food too. I'll remember that." She patted his hand
and said, "Well, I am off. Please feel free to call Your Wife' if you need
anything. Good night Doctor House." She picked up the charity clothes, her
cleaning equipment and was out the door.

House finished the meal and rinsed his plate, finished his beer and then
sat down on his couch. He looked around and admitted it was nice to come
home to a clean house. He thought about Jordan Morgan and wondered how she
got into the business. He walked back into the kitchen, grabbed the plate
of cookies, grabbed the carton of milk and sat back down to watch "Faulty
Towers." The chocolate chip cookies and milk reminded him of being a kid
again. He smiled to himself and relaxed. He was going to enjoy his month
while it lasted. 

 *** Wilson came over the next night to pick House up for the first night
of the Princeton Film Festival. When he walked in he was impressed.
House's apartment was squeaky clean except for an empty plate on the arm
of the sofa and an empty milk carton.

"Wow. This looks great. What did you think of her?" Wilson asked.

"If I could get her to shut up, not smile and work in a teddy, I'd marry
her."

Wilson laughed out loud. "Well that's a good recommendation. Are you going
to keep her?"

"No, but she makes excellent Indian food! Her chocolate chip cookies were
delicious too. And as if she knew what was important to a man, she served
it to me with a beer and Nan. The only thing she forgot was the blow job."

"Well, there's always Paula." Wilson offered

"Do you know how she got into this business?" House asked.

"I know that two of her clients are physicist from the Institute for
Advanced Studies at Princeton. They were at the party the other night and
someone was teasing them about Your Wife'. Since most of us hadn't heard
of it they gave us some background. They've known her for years and one of
them was her first client. When their friends saw what she did and tasted
her food, the word got out and she had people lined up for her services.
The only reason she put you at the head of the list is that I had treated
another physicist at the Institute for cancer and she was grateful. The
physicist I treated was either her best friend or her boyfriend, I'm not
sure. If you don't keep her service, the next person in line is the Dean
of Computer Sciences at Princeton."

House picked up his keys and started to turn out some of the lights.
"Well, the food is good, but it is still disturbing to have someone come
in and go through your drawers."

"She went through your drawers?" Wilson was amused.

"My drawers are now color coordinated." He winced. "It's rather sad, I
don't know if I can live with white socks all staring at me from one side
of the drawer. They keep saying...we're lonely for our brown brothers. But
the brown brothers have been banished to the second drawer. The only thing
that has not been cleaned out is the hall closet and the linen closet, but
I think she is going to do that next week because she is buying me new
linens." House opened the door for Wilson and they exited.

"She buys you new linens?"

"Yes and apparently I have been sleeping on the wrong sheets."

"Really?"

"Really."

They spent the night going to the film festival and listening to the
various directors and producers talk about the process. House was actually
interested in what the second director had to say because she happened to
be Brooke Shields, a Princeton alumni and still great looking for her age.

 *** DANNY'S TURN

I'm 36 and I got my first gray hairs last month. I am 5'4" and I weigh
118. So I'm not fat but I'm no longer the 104 I weighed when I was in
University. I was too skinny then. I've found that, despite Vogue and
People, my men have like me better when I have more meat on my bones. I
read somewhere that it has to do with looking fertile. Children are
skinny, boney, but when a woman goes through puberty she fleshes out and
it signals fertility. Men are hard wired to look for flesh, round bottoms,
round pert breasts, any thing that signals, "I can have your babies."

If men really knew what went through our heads they would go back to bed
and never get up. They say men have a sexual thought every five minutes or
less. They seem to be very proud of this feat But a study just came out
that says women have sexual thoughts just as often. Hell, I knew that.
We're just suppose to keep shut about it. 

When Dr. Wilson called me, and boy does he have a kind, sexy voice, he
begged for me to take on his friend. I mean begged. If he hadn't saved my
ex boyfriend's life, I probably would have said no. But, I still remember
how kind he was to me when my boyfriend was sick. What is it with men?
They get a second chance at life and they decide to dip their wick in
everything with two legs, including my now ex-best friend.

I had already heard about Dr. Gregory House. At Princeton, it's hard not
to. He's been a legend here for quite awhile and after he was shot last
year, his reputation for being incorrigible just grew. From what they
said, I wasn't sure I wanted to take on the man who was known for hiring
young prostitutes, popping vicodin and creating havoc wherever he went. It
didn't bode well that it was one of his own patients that had shot him.
But, I must admit, I'm a curious creature and love adventure. Besides, I
could always quit since I had several prospective clients waiting in his
place for my services.

When I couldn't get him to answer the door I figured he would turn out to
be one of my late sleepers. I get a few of them and I just have to work
around it. I opened the door, called out his name but got no reply. I
wasn't surprised, I hadn't been gentle when I banged on the door and rang
the doorbell a dozen times. If he hadn't answered after that, I knew I was
probably going to have to physically wake him.

I went into his bedroom and there he was. I could smell sex in the room
and knew right away that he had probably had a late night. There was a
glass on both nightstands but I didn't see the woman so it meant that he
was the kind that liked to get rid of you rather than face you in the
morning. He was prostrate on his back with no sheet or blanket over him.
His arms were off to his sides and I could see a small portion of a scar
peeking out of the leg of his boxers on his right leg. It looked pretty
bad. He had a man's face and a man's smell. But luckily, it was pungent,
just musky. His beard was closely cropped and going gray, as was his brown
hair. His hair was also thinning so I figured he was close to fifty.

I had a chance to observe him closely because there was no way this guy
was going to wake up without help. I liked his nose, it was aquiline. His
lips were wide enough, but not thick. His body was thin but not skinny and
he had some muscle but he wasn't what I call "buff". Frankly, "buff" turns
me off. He also had some hair on his chest, most of which was gray. I like
a little hair on a man's chest, it says, "I'm male, you're not." I liked
his long, beautiful hands. But then, when I saw the baby grand I knew he
would have beautiful hands, they always do. He was snoring a little, but
what man doesn't? Especially after a heavy night of booze and sex. 

Now, and this is what I mean about women and sex, I stood there and
couldn't help but stare, he had a nice morning salute. I thought of how
many ways there are to wake a man. You could turn the alarm on, you could
physically shake him, or you could put your warm hand down his boxers and
trace the little strip of hair from his belly button to his penis and
stroke it until he woke up. All these options seemed equally available to
me, but being the consummate professional, I shook him to wake him up. I
don't regret it, I don't like sloppy seconds. But I was tempted. The only
problem is that I have a strict policy that I can fantasize but I can't
jump my clients.

When he opened his right eye and looked up I knew he was having trouble
focusing. I was shocked by how blue that eye was. I am a sucker for men
with dark hair and blue eyes. 

He made it clear from his body language that I wasn't really welcomed.
Well, that's happened before. I had parents hire me for their thirty year
old son so that they could get him to move out on his own. He was not
happy about being on his own. He didn't want me around so that his mother
would feel sorry for him and let him move back home. Well, I was with him
for two years and he adjusted nicely to living on his own. I eventually
weaned him off of me and he functions as a real adult now. Every now and
then he calls me up and begs my for beef stroganoff. I take it to him and
we sit and talk, he's a great guy.

I just made sure that I ignored all of Dr. House's non-verbal messages and
kept on track with my speech. Dr. House is sure that he is going to let me
go at the end of the month, but after he ate my Chicken Tikka Massala, I
knew that the Dean of Computer Science was going to have to wait for my
services until another opening came up. I usually lose one client every
six to eight months to either marriage, live-in girlfriend or they move.
No one has ever fired me.

Before I let you go, I want to let you in on a secret about the name of my
company. I thought hard about it but I finally settled on "Your Wife" for
one reason. Can you imagine the confusion when someone takes a message for
one of my bachelor clients and they have to tell him, "Your Wife called?"
I get a secret little pleasure out of that each time it happens. *** It
was a bright, sunny Thursday. Chase was in the office when the phone rang,
"Dr. Chase."

"Is Doctor House in?" Danny asked.

"No, I am afraid he went to lunch, may I take a message?" He asked.

"Tell him Your Wife called."

"I don't have a wife." Chase said innocently.

"That's nice, but just tell him that "Your Wife" called anyway, he has my
number, ok?" Danny smiled and hung up.

The Team was around the office table when House and Wilson came back from
lunch. Wilson was still arguing with House about the meaning of "V for
Vendetta" when Chase butted in.

"Your Wife called." everyone paused to see what House would say. Wilson
just chuckled.

"What did she want?" House asked without batting an eye.

"She wants you to call her." Now everyone was confused.

House took out his wallet, grabbed the card and started dialing the
number. He turned around and saw three very stunned doctors and one
laughing his butt off. "Whaaat??? Haven't you ever seen anyone return a
call?" 

She saw the caller I.D. for Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital, "Hello Doctor
House, thanks for calling back. I wouldn't normally bother you for
something so trivial, but this is special so I had to ask. Do you prefer
chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or banana?"

"Chocolate."

"Do you like Coconut?" she asked as she wielded the cart down the aisles
of the grocery store.

"Yes. "

"I'm at the grocery store, is there anything you want or need?" She asked.

"I need shaving cream." he said.

"I already have that in the cart. Anything else?" 

"I am having some guys over tonight to play poker, could you pick up some
snacks?" 

"Ok, take care." Danny hung up.

House put the receiver down and looked up. You could hear a pin drop. They
stared at House as if he had just announced he was quitting to become a
monk. House went into his own office and started working on the computer.
Wilson left to go to his office.

Cameron immediately jumped up and followed House, "Are you...."

House cut her off, "I don't want to talk about it, end of subject. Go back
and run those tests I asked you for two hours ago."

Cameron was like a puppy with her tail between her legs. She made her way
to the lab but not without first stopping into Wilson's office. "What was
that about?"

"What did House tell you ?" Wilson asked.

"He wouldn't say anything."

"Oh, it was a birthday present. I won't say anymore, but don't worry, he's
not married." Wilson said.

Cameron was obviously relieved. She started thinking about the cd she had
given House this morning for his birthday. It was Muddy Waters and he
seemed to really appreciate it. It was hard buying for him, he didn't need
or seem to want anything except maybe a bottle of single malt whiskey and
a hooker.

 ***

House walked in around 4:30 pm and came up behind Danny. She had her IPOD
on and was dancing about. He asked in a very loud voice, "Did you get the
snacks?"

He had taken her by surprise and she jumped a foot and screamed a blood
curdling scream that frightened even House. When they both gathered their
wits, House apologized between gales of laughter. Danny's heart was racing
so hard that she had to sit down.

"Oh Lord, you scared me....Yes, I got the snacks, bought some extra beer
and a new bottle of your favorite whiskey...oh, man...I think I just aged
a decade."

House admitted to himself that she was good. She even got the booze. Wow.
"What was the chocolate, coconut about?"

She grabbed his hand and took him into the kitchen. Her hand was tiny in
his, like a child's. She pointed to the counter and there was a homemade
German chocolate cake with Happy Birthday G.H. on it. Next to it was a
wrapped gift. "Happy Birthday Doctor House."

He was embarrassed, but touched. He wasn't sure what he was suppose to do.
He really didn't know this woman so he didn't know what was expected of
him. 

"Open it."

House could feel that it was a book. It was a signed first edition of the
British author, Terry Pratchett's "Going Postal." He enjoyed reading Terry
Pratchett and found him to be extremely funny. He was touched. She must
have noticed that he had several of his books but not this one. The fact
that it was a signed first edition just made it evident that she had taken
time out of her day to hunt one down for him. He looked down sheepishly,
"This is too much. Thank you, thanks for the cake too."

"I figure you can share it with your poker buddies. I made some snacks,
some are there on the counter and the rest are in the oven on warm. Is Dr.
Wilson coming tonight?"

"As a matter of fact, I gave him a special invitation and he said he would
come. " House didn't want to go into details about what happened the last
time Wilson came over to play poker.

"Well, please tell him hello for me. Before I go, do you want me to heat
up your dinner?"

"I'll do it."

"I bought the new sheets and they are on your bed, if you don't want them
just leave them on the sofa next week. I got around to your ironing today
and the closets are cleaned out. I left the receipts on the counter. Well,
I'm sure you want some time to get ready so I will skidaddle. Happy
Birthday again." She reached over and pecked his cheek and grabbed her
things to leave. 

"Good bye and thanks again for the gift." He watched her disappear out the
door. She hadn't been nearly as annoying as last time. He spent some time
setting up the poker table and then went in to the frig to find the orange
colored containers. Tonight's meal was a delicious beef stew with homemade
biscuits and a salad. All of the meals had been great and he was starting
to put on weight. He had lost a lot when he was bored and depressed so he
was happy to see he was gaining again.

He went into his bedroom and on the way stopped to look in the closet. He
had never seen it so organized. He looked up and on the shelf was the
photo album he had been looking for a few months ago. In addition, there
was a new vacuum sitting there. He peeked into the linen closet and saw
new, earthy green towels with the Christy of England Logo. It said they
were 100% combed Egyptian Cotton 800 GSM. Huh? He also saw a set of new
sheets, the tag said Frette, 100% combed Egyptian Cotton 640 threads per
inch. He wondered what the big deal was.

The night was a success. House shared his birthday cake with everyone and
it was a hit. Wilson won some money and so did House. While everyone was
expecting the Fritos, dip and pretzels that House usually put out, they
were shocked when two trays of Fried Mozarella, Buffalo Wings and various
pizza bites were placed on the table along with chips and a delicious
chipotle dip. Wilson could see Danny's hand in all of this. After the
others left, Wilson and House kicked back on the sofa. "Happy Birthday."
Wilson raised his beer in salute to House. House raised his back.

"You know, after having that cake and food and seeing how clean this place
is, I wish I had taken you up on your offer to let me use her services. I
can't believe what a difference a week has made. I'd really like to meet
her again. I don't remember what she looks like" He said.

"Well show up on Thursdays and you can. Maybe you can talk her into
wearing that Teddy for me." House took a swig of beer and belched loudly.
"Ahhhh, I needed that." 

Of course, being male, Wilson reciprocated which led to a belching contest
between the two.

House let Wilson out and locked the door. He dragged his butt to the
bathroom, brushed his teeth, had a pee and took his levis off. He threw
them on the floor and then spied the new hamper. He almost left the Levis
where they were but instead he picked them up and put them squarely in the
hamper like dunking a basketball. He did the same with his T-shirt. He
even took off his boxers and threw them in. It was a warm night and he
liked sleeping Commando.

He sat down in bed and set the alarm for 8:30 a.m. He shut off the light
and laid back. When he pulled the covers over him he felt a ticklish
feeling go through his body. The sheet below him was smooth and gentle.
The sheet above floated like a cloud and hovered lightly on his body like
a feather. He started to get arouse, the feeling was delicious. When he
moved in bed it was like a gentle kiss going all over his body. He enjoyed
rubbing his foot back and forth against the fitted sheet to feel it. It
was so soft, so smooth. He was never going to change his sheets
again...ever. 

The next day he went into his drawer to get clean underwear and discovered
not only did he have new boxers but there were jersey boxers, silk boxers
and cotton boxers. He had a choice. Sitting on top of all of the boxers
was a note, "You have now slept on 100% Fine Combed Egyptian Cotton
sheets, milled at 640 threads per inch. Welcome to heaven." Yours
Sincerely, Danny.

He smiled. She had been right about the sheets. After he used the long
double looped towels he also realized he couldn't part with them. He
wondered why he hadn't discovered this before. *** DANNY'S TURN

Dr. Chase sure was cute on the phone. I loved when he said so sweetly that
he didn't have a wife. And Dr. House played it so straight when he called
me back. It was funny. 

 I knew it was his birthday only because when I first go into a client's
house I do a little snooping. I need to if I'm going to make sure he has
everything he needs. I was surprised to find that he was turning 48 the
very week after I started. I also found several bills that had not been
paid, a couple of parking tickets, a warrant for his arrest (because of
the unpaid parking tickets) and several vials of Vicodin and something
that I am sure was morphine, among other personal things, especially these
photo albums, but I'll tell you about them later.

Drugs don't surprise me. I once found a very large baggy of cocaine in one
of my bachelor's apartment, which explained how he could afford me.
Besides, I couldn't have gotten through grad school without Ritalin. I had
to work, go to school and do all the projects I was assigned. I found a
little stimulant helped me concentrate. Ok, maybe it helped me concentrate
because I probably have ADHD...but still, I didn't have a prescription for
it.

But I digress. When Dr. House got home and came up behind me I had just
been thinking about the campus rapist that had been terrorizing the town.
When he yelled I thought for sure I was being attacked. I'm pretty sure I
had a wet spot on my knickers. I have a pretty good scream and I could
tell Dr. House had been frightened because he turned white and his eyes
grew huge. Should I tell you once again how damn blue those eyes are?
Whew. Thank God he found it so funny. Otherwise I think I would have been
calling a cardiologist for him.

When I took him to get his birthday gift and cake, I impulsively grabbed
his hand. I try not to have too much physical contact with my clients but
I couldn't resist those lovely fingers. His fingers were so long that they
wrapped completely around mine with some left over. More importantly, he
actually HELD my hand. He didn't grip it like a wet fish. He applied a
firm pressure. You can tell a lot about the way someone takes your hand.
He had confidence and knew what he was doing, even if he didn't know where
I was taking him.

As soon as I saw his collection of Terry Pratchett books, I knew what to
get him. I have a book dealer that I work with to buy special books. When
one of my clients needs a special gift to give, I always suggest a first
edition book. They become more valuable as time goes by and a gift of
literature is special because you are acknowledging not only the likes of
the person, but the intelligence it takes to read and comprehend
literature. He seemed very touched and I was surprised by that, especially
after my less than warm welcome the week before.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when he crawled in bed (or
better yet a bed bug.) The Frette 640s are some of my favorite sheets for
daily use. Of course, I have Frette 1000s but they cost well over $600 and
that's too much to spend for a males and their bedroom activities. The 640
Frettes cost $250 a set through my wholesaler. I went way over budget this
week, but I saw House's bank account statements and the guy is flush with
money. So, I spent $1,112 on everything over the last week. I know I won't
be taking back those sheets. They're better than sex. Well, almost. And if
there is one thing that I can tell Dr. House likes, it is decadent
pleasures.

I can also tell he still thinks I'm some sort of Doris Day figure. But I
always let them think that at first, it makes the journey more
interesting.

 *** The Team had worked hard all Wednesday and into Thursday on a case
involving a little boy. By 9:00 a.m. the boy was starting to get better
and House's work was done. He packed up to go home and get some sleep. He
knew that it was his day for Danny to come but he was beat and needed some
sleep. He'd just have to interrupt her.

When he walked through the door he could smell something cooking and he
found Danny sitting at the table filling out checks for bills. "Dr. House?
Did you forget something or can I do something for you?"

Every time she asked him if she could do something for him, he wanted to
suggest something lewd and lascivious. But she was so clean and squeaky
that he didn't want to embarrass her. Plus he was too tired to be funny.

"I worked all night so I came home to get some sleep." He said. He could
tell that this bothered her so he asked, "Is that a problem?"

"No, of course not, it just means that I need to get in gear and change
your bed and make sure I don't disturb you today. I was going to vacuum
your room thoroughly, but I can do that later or next time. I am cooking
tonight's meal, Chicken Korma, so that it will be fresh for tonight. Is
there anything I can get you for breakfast?"

"I am a little hungry, how about a bowl of cereal." he said.

"Oh, we can do better than that. I can whip up an omelet. I already have
the vegetables chopped for Friday's quiche lorraine so it won't take long.
What do you say?"

"Sure, sounds good."

"Well then, go take your shower and I'll get it started."

He grabbed his things and went into the bathroom. It had already been
clean and was shining. He was getting used to a clean home and a good
meal. He realized that he was being seduced by all of this. He had to
admit, it was working. He was finding it harder each day to think of going
back to a dirty house and peanut butter sandwiches.

He was very tired. He dragged himself out to the kitchen and sat on the
stool. She gave him a cheerleader smile and handed him a plate with a
fluffy cheese and vegetable omelet and a large glass of mango-orange
juice. He started to eat.

"I'll go change those sheets." She started to leave but he put his hand on
her elbow to stop her.

"Stay and talk to me."

Boy, he was tired. He was letting his guard down. "Ok, what do you want to
talk about?"

"Why do you do this?"

She chuckled. "I guess because I don't have to think too much while I'm
doing it. I just react to the needs of five men and then go home at night.
I don't have to worry if I'm doing it right or if I am letting a team down
or if I am bright enough. I just see what people need and I make sure they
have it. Plus, I see results by the end of the day."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Immensely. I mean, look at you. I came in and you had huge bags under
your eyes, you're clothes were starting to hang on you. You had peanut
butter jars all over the refrigerator, but nothing else. You're a
brilliant and important doctor, you save lives, you should be taking care
of yourself. We both know that the fuel you put into your body dictates
what your body and your mind can do. Crap in, crap out, in more ways than
one. You look much healthier now. The bags are clearing up, your clothes
are fitting better. That's what I like to see. I also enjoy making sure
you look good and have nice things because you...hell...everybody deserves
a little TLC."

"Who gives you TLC?"

She gave a nervous giggle, "Well, lately its all been self-gratification."

"Really? I thought Wilson said you had a boyfriend."

"Oh, that was last year. We had been together four years, he got cancer,
he got better, he got a new girlfriend, I got screwed."

House gave a nod of acknowledgment but didn't offer any words of
encouragement of sympathy. She saw he was almost done with breakfast.

"I'll go change those sheets now. Today you get the light blue ones,
aren't you special?" They both smiled.

He followed her into the bedroom and he watched her strip the dirty sheets
and start to put on the clean fitted sheet. He was horny and watching a he
make his bed was slightly erotic. He decided he better do something to get
his mind off of the image of her bending over to tuck in the sheets, so he
helped her. The bed was made and ready for him to go to sleep. She closed
the drapes to darken the room and turned down the left side of the bed for
him to get in.

"Before I leave you, do you want some water or anything else? I'll try to
be quiet but I'm going to have to run the vacuum in the living room,
unless you don't want me to..."

"Water would be nice, but don't worry about the vacuum, I'm a deep
sleeper, it won't bother me once I get to sleep."

They were looking at each other across the bed and she felt awkward. It
was so suggestive, so sensual.

She went to get the water. When she got back he was sitting on the edge of
the left side of the bed. She came over and put the water on the
nightstand. She turned and found herself directly in front of him. He
looked up and for a few seconds they just stared at each other. She turned
and left. He followed her with his eyes until she closed the door. 

He smiled to himself. There was something about her. He couldn't help but
feel there was a whole other side to her. He didn't know, right now he was
so tired he just wanted to sleep.

She finished the meals, dusted, cleaned the windows, ran the vacuum, went
out to pick him up some toilet paper and paper towels and then came back
to finish up the clothes. They were ready to be folded and put away. She
took his folded clothes into his room, it was 4:30 p.m She tip-toed in and
saw him laying in bed with just the sheet over him. She saw his boxers on
the floor and new he must be naked. She opened up the drawers and started
putting the clothes away. When she was done she turned around to have one
last look at him only to discover that he was up on his elbows watching
her. When she saw his blue eyes in the semi-dark room, it shocked her.

 Oh! I see you are awake. Did I wake you?" she sounded apologetic.

"No, I was drifting in and out. What time is it?" he asked looking towards
the alarm clock, "Hmm, 4:30 p.m. that's good, I didn't want to sleep too
late because then I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight." He looked at her
again and this time it was primal. Nervously, she transferred her weight
to the left foot and then back again. He wanted her and she wanted him. 

"Like the sheets?" She managed to say.

"I haven't slept in my boxers for a week, I can't get over how cool and
smooth they feel." He started to sit up on the edge of the bed and so she
figured it was her cue to get out before they both got in trouble.

"Are you hungry?"

"Just a little. I could really use some coffee."

She laughed out loud. "You've just discovered my Achilles heel. I make a
lousy cup of coffee. I've tried but I only seem to do well when I have to
make it in large batches for groups or parties. I've lost all confidence
in my coffee making abilities for one."

He briefly shook his head in disbelief. "Well, I can make it. Don't
worry."

"I mean, I can make it, but you'll probably wish I didn't." she
backtracked.

"Well, why don't you go ahead and I'll get dressed. Who knows, maybe
you'll surprise us both." He started to get up and the sheet started to
fall away. Danny bolted out of the room. House smiled to himself.

When he got to the kitchen there was a sandwich sitting on a plate and
Danny was looking nervously at the coffee pot. "Do you like drinking
coffee?" She asked.

"Isn't it a little obvious, I just asked your for some? Is it ready yet?"

"I just wondered if you were addicted to it, my ex used to say that you
know you're addicted when instant coffee takes too long." She tried a
feeble smile.

He watched her closely, she was nervous. How bizarre, she was afraid of
failing at making coffee. He couldn't help but find it amusing that anyone
would be that nervous over making the perfect cup of coffee. She handed
him the cup and he added his milk and sugar. He took a tiny drink and then
scrunched his face and spit it out. Her face crumbled and he could see she
was on the brink of crying.

"IT WAS A JOKE...THE COFFEE IS FINE. See." And he took several big drinks.
Actually the coffee was fine, neither bad nor excellent, but definitely
drinkable.

She ran out of the kitchen and into the bathroom. He got down from the
stool, grabbed his cane and went down the hall. He could hear the faucet
running. "For God Sakes, it was a joke...do you really think the universe
revolves around your coffee? Get ahold of yourself." He had no sympathy
for something so trivial.

"I KNOW what the universe revolves around. I just wish people wouldn't
tease me about my coffee. I feel like everyone in the world can make
coffee but me." and then she opened the door. She gave him a defiant look.

"Ok, just come back into the kitchen...no coffee jokes."

She followed him back into the kitchen. He ate the sandwich and finished
the coffee. "Can I have another cup?"

"You're just being nice."

"No, I really want another cup. I need to wake up, Wilson is coming over
tonight to go to a movie." He said.

She poured it for him and he gave her a look of thanks. She rinsed the
dishes and put them in the dishwasher. 

"Is your house this clean?" He asked.

"Oh, hell no. I'm a slob. I just don't have the energy to go home and
clean. I have a maid that comes in every week to clean." She paused for a
second, "Well, your bills are made out and ready for you to sign and mail.
You have that outstanding warrant. I went down and they said that if you
pay the tickets and a $50 fine, the warrant will go away, so that's why
the check for the parking tickets is for $50 extra. The check on top is to
reimburse me for the vacuum, sheets, etc. All of the receipts are
attached. The rest are just normal bills."

He took the one for her, signed it and handed it back. She thanked him. He
asked her more questions and was surprised to find that she had lived in
Cambridge, England for four years. They talked about traveling around. She
had been a Navy brat and had also moved around as a kid. But unlike House,
she still enjoyed travel. They talked for an hour about Terry Pratchett,
Clint Eastwood, soap operas and family. He learned that her parents were
both dead and she was an only child like him. Eventually, she said her
goodbyes, picked up her things and left. He was sorry to see her go.

 *** Wilson got the call Friday afternoon. It was up to him to tell House
and he was dreading it. House was starting to act normal, for House. He
was sarcastic, mean and witty but he was no longer downright cruel and
depressed. Wilson knew that House would not take this news well and he
wondered if it was going to set him back.

"Hey, are you up for a drink after work?" Wilson asked spritely.

House gave him a look that said he knew something was up, "What is it?"

"Just thought we'd get a drink...but if you don't want to..."

"I can see I won't get it out of you until we go for a drink' that neither
of us wants, so, stop by and get me at 8:00 p.m. I have some errands to
run after work."

They went to the Tiger's Tale and sat at one of their favorite tables near
the bar. They liked it because when the barmaid had to bend over to get
extra napkins they always got a good view of her breasts, it was sweet.
Wilson noticed that House's shirts were ironed these days, making him
actually look like a professional. Cuddy had asked Wilson about it and
Wilson warned her that in another two weeks it might all go back to the
way it was. When Cuddy asked why, he just said, "It depends on whether he
gets a divorce or not." and then walked away. Cuddy was completely
baffled.

"You know, I keep getting the strangest spam. It seems personal but I'm
getting too many so it must be some spam service. They are coming from
these gay guys who claim they want to hook up with me and see if we will
hit it off. Some of them claim to like my looks and the cute smile. It's
really bizarre, I don't know how to block them, they keep getting
through."

"Realllly? House asked sincerely. They sat for a few moments in silence.

"Well, are you going to keep her? This is your last Thursday coming up."

House winced, "Oh, it is tempting. I still don't like someone pawing my
stuff, but I love the food. She cooks better than you. And she was right,
I was sleeping on the wrong sheets. Since she got me the right ones' I've
been sleeping like a baby."

"Well that's great, you always did have trouble sleeping straight through
unless, of course, you were drunk, drugged or laid."

"Well these sheets are almost as good as sex. Almost."

"Ooh, I need these sheets..." Wilson said eagerly.

"How do women figure these things out? I mean, who would know that nice
sheets could improve your entire outlook on life?" He said with an air of
incredulity. "Well, enough of the small talk, why have you dragged me
here."

Wilson paused, knowing this would hurt his friend, "Stacy's pregnant. I
got a call from her yesterday and she told me. She wanted me to tell you."

House was visibly shaken. But he tried to put a brave face on it. "Well,
I'm surprised her old eggs are going to hatch."

"It was IVF, they've been trying for a year now." Wilson said.

House shook his head in acknowledgment and watched as the barmaid bent
over for napkins. Wilson just kept quiet, he knew that House needed a
moment to digest this. House immediately changed the subject and Wilson
decided to humor him. After an hour House went home.

 *** It was Saturday night and Danny was going to go to a barbeque at John
Tarkington's house. John and Danny knew each other when they were in the
doctorate program at Cambridge. John had fallen in love with Danny but it
was never reciprocated. Eventually he moved on and found the real love of
his life, Carol, but he had managed to salvage the friendship with Danny.
They were close friends, having suffered together under Stephen Hawkings.

A party at John and Carol's was always fun. John was pretty much a
straight arrow but Carol was a wild card. She loved to stir things up.
Danny knew there would be a lot of grad students, faculty and townies from
Princeton at the barbeque which meant a lot of single guys. She picked out
a very pretty halter dress and cute slings. She styled her hair and even
put on makeup, something she didn't do during the week. She thought she
looked ok as she got in her Classic 1964 Plymouth Belvedere Max Wedge with
the beautiful red interior and bench seat and left for the party at about
6:00 p.m. It was suppose to have started at 5 p.m. so Danny would get
there just about the time the party really got started. 

She pulled into the long drive and parked where she could easily get out
if she wanted to go home. She could hear the music and voices in the back
yard so she went around the side and saw John talking to another very
attractive man who was about forty or so.

"Well, speak of the devil. Chris, meet the beautiful Danny, my very best
friend." John was slightly tipsy and grabbed Danny by the shoulders to
give her a hug. "Danny, this is Dr. Chris Parkington. He just arrived at
the Institute."

"It's an honor to meet you Dr. Morgan. I wish you were still at the
Institute, I would have loved to have worked with you." He said politely.

"Well, thanks, that's very kind. Luckily you will have the privilege of
working with John so you won't miss me." She shook his hand.

"Can I get you a drink?" He motioned to the tubs of beers, sodas and the
table with the hard liquor.

"Sure, it looks like they have a blender of Margaritas, I'd love one of
those."

He went to get her one and she gave John a mean look. "John, please stop
trying to hook me up with another physicist. I'm burned out on them." 

John laughed. "Give Chris a chance, he's a good guy."

"Ok, but in the future...."

Chris came back and they talked for at least an hour before getting their
food. John had been right, Chris was a nice guy and not as nerdy as most
physicist. He could actually hold a conversation on movies, books and
music. He had even seen Donny Darko and had loved it. That was plus in her
book.

It was about 7:15 p.m. when she got the call on her cell. "Hello?"

"Hello, excuse me but are you Gregory House's wife?"

"Who is this?" She asked.

"I'm the bartender at Bayside Bar' in Long Beach, New Jersey. Mr. House is
down here and let's just say I can't let him drive. He's pretty drunk and
he's starting to cause some problems. I took his wallet and found a card
in it that just said, "Your Wife" and this number. I assume you are his
wife?"

Danny was shaking her head, she knew where this was going. "I take it you
want someone to come down and pick him up."

"It's that or I call the police. I'd prefer not to get the police
involved. Some of the people in the fight are my best customers."

"Is he hurt?" She started to get alarmed.

"He's more drunk than hurt, but he does have a bloody nose. Are you going
to come and get him?"

"Yes, but it's going to take me a couple of hours, I'm up here in
Princeton."

"Oh, I didn't realize you were so far away. Well, I can put him on the
couch in the office until you get here."

"Fine, I'm on my way." She hung up and made her excuses to Chris. "Sorry,
but one of my clients needs my assistance, I have to go. But, here's my
telephone number, give me a call sometime." 

He promised to call and Danny started her two hour journey to the New
Jersey shore to get the drunk Dr. House. When she arrived at the seaside
bar she saw his motorcycle parked outside. She went inside and spoke to
the bartender who unlocked the office and flipped on the light. There was
House on the couch passed out with blood caked around his nose. She went
to the bathroom and got a paper towel and cleaned off his nose. He woke up
while she was doing this.

"DANNNNYY."

He was still drunk. She wondered how drunk he had been three hours ago
when he got into the fight. "Yes Dr. House. Let's get you home." 

"Did you come to drink with me?"

"No, I came to take you home." She smiled at him and he smiled broadly
back.

His cane was missing and so she had to have him lean on her. She poured
him into the car and then went back into the bar. She asked the bartender,
"I'm going to give you $100 to make sure nothing happens to that
motorcycle out there. The Honda. We'll pick it up tomorrow or the next
day. I'll give you $50 now and $50 when we pick it up. Do you think you
can do that?"

"Sure, I'll move it to the gated area next door, it will be safe. Oh,
here's his helmet and his bar bill is $327.00. He was buying a lot of
rounds for everyone."

She handed him her credit card and after settling the bill, went out to
the car. She asked about his cane and discovered it was in pieces. House
was snoring in the front seat. She buckled him in and then started the
trip home. About fifteen minutes into the drive his snoring woke him up.
He sat up and looked around. 

"DANNNNYY." He smiled sweetly at her.

"Yes Dr. House?"

"Have my babies."

"Excuse me?"

He took his seatbelt off and scooted into the middle next to Danny. "Have
my babies."

"Uh, sure Dr. House, as soon as we get back to Princeton."

He was drunk. "You think I'm joking, but I'm not. I've got great genes,
I'm educated and I have money. You've got a nice body and even if you
aren't educated, well you seem smart. I'm good in bed so I could make sure
you had a good time." His head was weaving.

"Well, that's quite enticing. A girl would find that hard to turn down.
Let me think about it." She looked at him and he was fast asleep again.
She couldn't help but think something must have precipitated this. She
wish she had Dr. Wilson's phone number so she could call him."

Fifteen minutes later his head popped up and he looked around again.
"Well?"

She started laughing, "Well what?"

"Babies. Are you going to have my babies?" he asked.

"Like I said, just let me get you home and then we can get started, ok?"
she said.

"No. Let's get started now."

"Kinda hard with me driving..." She turned to look at him and his face was
about six inches from hers with a sweet, sweet, sad little smile. 

The next thing she knew there was a hand going up her right thigh and a
face nuzzling and kissing her ear. "This is all very pleasant Dr.
House..."she said as she removed his hand, "...but I have to concentrate
on driving."

"Pull over and concentrate on this." he said as he stuck his hand into the
left side of her halter and fondled her breast.

"Whoaaaaa." She pulled over to the side of the road. She grabbed his hand
and forcefully put it in his lap. "Ok, that's it. Do NOT touch me. Get
back over to the other side and buckle up. NOW." She was very stern.

But he didn't move. She looked at him and said, "Dr. House, we're never
going to get home if you don't behave."

"Ok." He put both of his hands in his lap and sat up. She put the car in
gear and continued down the road. 

Ten minutes later she felt the hand going up her dress again. She had to
admit, the way he caressed her thigh she knew he was probably right. He
probably was good in bed. She was making a turn and couldn't grab his hand
until he had already breached the panty line. She pulled over again. "Dr.
House, I know you think you want this. But you REALLY DON'T want this.
You're drunk and well, you've obviously had something happen and you want
to forget it, but this isn't the way to do that."

"I'll stop if you give me one kiss. I've wanted to kiss you ever since I
saw the back of you leaving my bedroom. Just one kiss." He said and
crossed his heart.

"I hope you're too drunk to remember this tomorrow. Just one LITTLE kiss.
No tongue."

She stopped the engine and turned towards him. Amazingly, he was very
steady and very serious. He took her chin on his finger and then leaned
in. His lips parted and so did hers. She could feel his warm breath in her
mouth and the warm tongue as it darted between her lips. His hand came
down and went into her halter and caressed her breast again. This time she
was too paralyzed to stop him. She wanted this. When he pulled back she
still had her eyes closed. She could feel the kiss all the way down deep
in her groin and she ached. She opened her eyes and grabbed his hand and
pulled it out of her halter. 

"Oh boy, that was better than it should have been. Now will you please get
over to your side and buckle in?" He did as she asked and they drove back
to Princeton in silence. House slept most of the way.

 *** DANNY'S TURN

When the bartender called I was really pissed. Chris had been the first
good prospect in over a year since I broke up with my cheating ex. He was
good looking, like an American Collin Firth. He was obviously bright. You
don't get to the Institute if you're dumb. And he was funny. I was having
a great time. 

I was so tempted to tell the bartender that I couldn't help him. After
all, it was Saturday night and I DON'T WORK ON SATURDAYS. But I just
couldn't leave Dr. House in that predicament. I could just see the police
hauling his butt to jail and me having to go down on Monday and bail him
out. It was better to avoid all of that. I knew one thing, I was going to
charge him for my gas and my services. I figure the drive down and back
was worth $400, another day's wages.

When I got there about half a dozen very buff looking guys gave me the
evil eye when they found out I was there to pick him up. The bartender
told me that they were still itching to take a piece out of him. The
bartender had locked Dr. House up to keep these guys from tearing him a
new orifice. He said that he had to use Dr. House's cane to get them off
of him and it broke into pieces. Apparently, Dr. House was asking several
of their girlfriends to have his babies.

I felt sorry for him. He looked so adorable and vulnerable laying on that
couch. He gave me such a happy smile when he woke up and saw me. I managed
to get him cleaned up and pay that bar bill. I wish I could have stayed
and given those jerks a taste of their own medicine. I mean, six against
one? How manly is that?

That car ride home was horrible. It was horrible because I was having a
hard time saying no. After that kiss if he had asked me to have his babies
again I would have said, Let's jump in the back and get started.' Luckily,
he behaved and I was able to cool down. I don't know what caused this, but
I do know when a guy is trying to forget something that's painful. I wish
I knew what it was. 

I am concerned. He has to let me know this Thursday if he is going to
continue my services. I'm afraid he may feel too embarrassed to keep me
on. I hope he keeps me on. He's a challenge and I love a challenge.

 ***

House hadn't blacked out, he remembered everything about the ride home
including the feel of her breast in his hand and the warmth of her tongue
in his mouth. Even now it made him hot to think about it. It took the
sting out of the news about Stacy. But he was left with a dilemma, should
he or shouldn't he keep her services? 

Danny had left him a bill for $900 for the trip to the beach. It included
a bar bill that he was pretty sure wasn't really his, but how could he
argue? Wilson had driven him down the next day to get his motorcycle.
Wilson was more than amused at what the bartender had to say. Especially
the, "...have my babies" part.

Thursday morning Danny arrived at House's apartment at 8:00 a.m. as usual.
He had already left for work. She didn't know if he had gone in early
because he had to or because he wanted to avoid her. She felt a sinking
feeling, there was nothing in the apartment to inform her as to whether he
was keeping her services or not. She fixed the meals for the upcoming week
and stripped the bed. She continued her work and tried to focus on what it
would be like to work for the Dean of Computer Science. He seemed kind and
he held a very important position. Princeton was promoting their computer
science department throughout the USA and the Dean had informed her he
needed someone to help give frequent dinner parties. It would mean extra
money so that would come in handy. 

The day dragged. She spent the afternoon in his bedroom cleaning it. She
washed the walls, windows and mirrors. She dusted and vacuumed everything.
She straightened his drawers and she cleaned out the air conditioning
duct. She went to hang a jacket in the hall closet. She saw the photo
albums and pulled them down from the shelf. She opened them and saw photos
of House with his parents in Egypt, Italy, California, and several other
locations. House looked comfortable with his mother but not with his Dad.
There was always a gap between them in the photos, no arm around the
shoulder, no closeness. It made her sad. The boy in the photos with his
Dad was angry and miserable. She wondered why.

The next set of photos were of friends, university, med school and various
trips. The last set was clearly taken before House's problem with his leg.
In one of the photos he was golfing with Wilson; the next he was swimming
in the ocean; in another he was rock climbing; and still another he was
rafting. She felt so sad and so angry over his leg. It wasn't fair. He
looked healthy and happy in these photos. 

It was the second photo album that she was most interested in. It showed
him with a woman about his age and very beautiful. Danny thought about how
plain she must look to him in her standard uniform of black slacks and
white shirt. She looked back at the album. The woman's name written on the
back of the photos was Stacy and she wondered why Stacy wasn't still with
Dr. House? Dr. House and Stacy looked very much in love. The photos
spanned several years. What happened to them?

She heard the front door open and she jumped up to put the photo album
away. She just managed to get it on the shelf of the closet when Dr. House
came up behind her. "Hello Dr. House, how are you today?"

"Fine." He handed her his jacket and helmet which she hung up in the
closet. 

"Can I get you something?" she asked.

There was that question again. He held his tongue and said, "No, I think
I'll grab myself a drink and maybe watch a little television. I need to
relax, we had a rough day today."

"Well, I'm almost done, so I will be out of your hair soon."

He said nothing. He grabbed a whiskey and decided to play the piano for
awhile. He sat down and started playing some tunes from the fifties. When
she was about ready to go he motioned to the desk.

"I signed the checks and they are on the desk. Can you mail them?" 

"Sure."

She picked up the stack of mail. She noticed two checks on top was made
out to her, one was for $900 and the other was for $1600. It said, July,
in the memo section. She smiled at him but he kept a poker face. "See you
next Thursday."

"Next Thursday." and he held up his whiskey glass in a toast.

 *** It was Friday night and Chris had asked her out for drinks and dinner
at the Tiger's Tale. She needed to get her mind off of Gregory House and
that kiss. She decided that tonight she was going to get laid. She put on
a short skirt that showed off her very shapely legs and a top that was low
cut and clung to her figure. There was a built in bra that helped create
cleavage. She swept her hair back behind her ears and put on just enough
makeup to make her look young and bright. She put on some strappy high
heels and was ready for bear.

Chris showed up looking good enough to eat. He was dressed in nice slacks
and a lovely silk shirt that showed off his lovely blue eyes. What was it
with all these men and their lovely blue eyes? He brought her flowers and
she put them in a vase. He opened the door to the new corvette stingray
and she slipped inside. The car was a masterpiece. 

The conversation on the way to the restaurant was flirtatious and fun.
They arrived at the Tiger's Tale in good spirits. The restaurant was full
and their reservation wasn't for another half hour. They checked in and
went to the bar for a drink. They were sharing a joke when she saw them.
Dr. House was standing at a table near the bar with Dr. Wilson and two
others. One was a woman with dark hair and an air of authority and the
other was a young man with blonde hair. Danny didn't know what to do.
Chris chose chairs just two tables away from the group. House, had not yet
spotted her. She thought if she had her back to him, he wouldn't see her. 

House, Wilson, Cuddy and Chase were all celebrating Cuddy's birthday. They
were on their second round of drinks and were sharing stories about med
school. Wilson saw a woman at another table that looked vaguely familiar.
She was gorgeous and she kept sneaking glances his way. 

Wilson couldn't figure it out. He leaned into House who had his back to
the woman's table. "I know that woman, but I can't figure out from where."

"What woman?" House asked and then turned around. He looked over to the
table where she sat. House smiled. She snuck a glance back and their eyes
met. He was amused. Who was she with?

"That Wilson, is "Your Wife." He smiled at her.

"Really, that's Your Wife?" Wilson said it loud enough that Cuddy and
Chase heard it.

"Yes."

"Ok you guys, what the hell are you talking about?" Cuddy asked.

"The woman at that table is the woman who is responsible for House looking
like he does. She's been doing his wash and ironing and she's been feeding
him. In essence, she's been like a wife to him." Wilson told them.

"You mean a housekeeper?" Chase asked.

"Yes and no. She does the housework, she cooks AND she organizes his
life." Wilson said.

House was ignoring the conversation and was watching Danny and Chris.

Danny was trying to be charming and witty, but she could feel House's eyes
on her. She finally broke down and told Chris, "I'm sorry if I seem a
little jumpy, one of my clients is sitting behind me and it's a little
awkward if I don't go over and say hello. Would you mind?"

"By all means."

Danny got up and turned around. House was facing her. She walked directly
to him and the table. "Good evening Dr. House, Dr. Wilson." She smiled at
the other two. Chase was trying desperately not to drool. She was hot. He
couldn't imagine her cleaning house. But then, leave it to House to hire
the hottest maid in town.

"Danny Morgan, it's good to see you again." Wilson put out his hand to
shake hers. Since House was doing the introductions, Wilson took over,
"Danny, let me introduce you to Dr. Lisa Cuddy and Dr. Robert Chase."

"Oh, Dr. Chase, I spoke to you on the phone."

"Yes, I remember! You said you were my wife." he laughed.

"I guess you could look at it that way." She smiled back.

Lisa cut in, "Did you say Danny Morgan? That name sounds so familiar. Have
we met?"

"I don't remember meeting you, but maybe we have met. I've lived in
Princeton for ten years now."

House said nothing but he was staring at her with great interest. He
finally broke his silence, "Are you going to sleep with him tonight?" The
whole table went quiet. Danny turned bright red. House noticed all the
stares, "Whaaat?" He stared back at them and then turned to Danny, "I just
ask because you're dressed like someone who wants to get laid."

"Well, good night Dr. House, I'll see you next week. It was nice meeting
all of you." She turned around and went back to the table.

"Are you an idiot?" Cuddy said, "Why would you want to insult her like
that?"

"He doesn't want to insult her, he wants to screw her." Chase said matter
of factly.

The whole table turned and looked at Chase, including House who started to
smirk. "Out of the mouth of babes...you may not be as blonde as we
thought."

"Come on House, you're kidding, right? Please don't screw the help, we
want her to keep working for you...you're so much better when she's taking
care of you." Wilson was pleading.

"She's over there with the sexiest guy here, I don't think you have to
worry." Cuddy said. "I know if I was with him I wouldn't be thinking of
anyone else."

House thought about what it all meant. Why did he even care that she was
going to go home with that guy tonight?

Danny was even more determined to go home with Chris. She needed to get
laid, she needed to get over that kiss, she needed to re-establish the
client relationship with House. She needed to have something else to think
about.

Danny didn't have to try too hard. The minute Chris saw her he was
dreading having to spend two hours in a restaurant. He would have rather
have spent the two hours in bed. While they were in the booth, he started
making his moves. He held her hand, played with her hair and kissed her
neck. House was watching this from the bar and decided to make his move.
He took out his cell phone and dialed his wife. 

 *** Danny's Turn

I like Corvettes, but they say something about the guy who drives one. It
almost screams, "I'm insecure, if you can't love me for me, love me for my
car." But I tried to put that out of my mind as we drove to the Tiger's
Tale. I was going to nail him tonight even if his car did scream, "I'm
insecure." Chris himself was attentive and funny.

Isn't it just my luck that the very b@stard I was trying to forget turns
out to be standing at the table ten feet away. I couldn't believe it. I
almost got away with it, but then Dr. Wilson recognized me.

I thought I could diffuse the situation by going to his table and saying
hello, but he just stood there and undressed me with those blue eyes. I
tried hard to be professional and meet his colleagues, but it was next to
impossible when there he was obviously imagining me naked. I couldn't
believe what he said to me about going home with Chris. I wanted to beat
the living crap out of him, not because he said it in front of others, but
because he actually read me like a book.

I thought I could erase it all by letting Chris maul me in the booth. I
just wanted a man to want me and Chris was doing a great job at that. Then
my cell phone went off indicating a text message. I politely apologized to
Chris about the interruption and pulled out my cell. There was the
message, "Go Home With Me, Greg." My stomach knotted and I started to
sweat. I couldn't breath. Chris asked me if I was ok. I told him I just
got a message that there was an emergency and I needed to reply to it.
Would he mind if I went outside and made a call. I got up, grabbed my
purse and went outside as if I was going to make a call, but really I was
really going out to get some air.

I was standing out in grass area by the parking lot with my hands on my
knees to try and get some blood to my head when I felt his hands on my
waist. I turned around and my knees buckled. He held me up and I grabbed
onto him just to keep from falling down. I only remember that his lips
were warm and his arms were steady and I was in trouble.

It was several minutes of deep kissing before we said anything to each
other. "This isn't going to end well." I told him. 

"You don't know that." He answered. He then kissed me on my neck and then
down to my cleavage. I tried to pull away but it was no use. He wasn't
letting me go so I stopped fighting it. 

"Let's go." He said. 

"Where?" I asked.

"I know this place where they have great sheets that feel like clouds
floating on your body. I want to wrap you in them after I devour every
inch of your body."

"I should go back in and explain things to Chris."

"Don't worry, in about five minutes Wilson is going to go over to him and
tell him that you got called away on an emergency."

"You're pretty confident that I am going to go home with you."

"Here's the helmet, you wear it."

I put the damn thing on like a child being told what to do. We took off
and when we got to his apartment I took the damn thing off. 

 *** He held her against the wall and started to give her deep, intense
kisses. He then grabbed her hand and lead her down the hall to his
bedroom. He sat down on the bed and pulled her down next to him. He kissed
her and pushed her down so that she was laying on her back looking up at
him. He put his hand under her blouse and started to feel her stomach and
then up towards her breasts. He laid his right leg over hers pinning her
under his weight. He continued to give her deep kisses and then gently
kissed down her neck and into her cleavage. Her hands were equally busy,
going up the back of his shirt and tracing the spine down his back. He
rolled back, reached up and took his shirt off over his head rather than
unbutton it. She felt his chest hair and he helped pull her top off. It
came off easily over her head. He looked down at her breasts and kissed
her gently. Then he stood up and unbuckled his pants. The pants dropped to
the floor. He then lifted her skirt and grabbed one side of her panties
with a firm hand. He yanked them quickly and they tore off in one swift
motion. She inhaled deeply. The boxers dropped and he lowered himself back
down. When he entered her she was ready for him. 

The sex was exhausting. They had several rounds before they fell asleep in
each other's arms. Sometime during the night she rolled away from him and
his arm reached out and pulled her back, close to his naked body. The
sheets caressed them both. It felt like heaven.

She was still asleep, tucked in the spoon position when he wanted her
again, waking her. It was easy lovemaking, no athletics. After it was over
he just held her for a few minutes. She got up to take a shower. Her
panties lay ripped and useless on the floor. So she picked up her skirt
and top and went into the bathroom, House followed her into the shower.
They kissed and washed each other, enjoying the discovery of each other's
body.

She went into the kitchen and made them breakfast. He ate voraciously,
enjoying every bite of his meal. She ate sparingly, enjoying watching him
tuck into the eggs and bacon.

"Well, I guess I better write you a check for the $1600." She said.

He tilted his head and said, "What do you mean?"

"Well obviously I can't work for you." she said.

"Why not?" he seemed surprised.

"How do you think I am going to feel if I come in on a Thursday and you
have a girl over or I find evidence of you being with someone else? It
would be very awkward." She said.

"Who said I was going to have another girl over? Why would I?" He asked.

"Well, I don't like to read anything into the first...God, I wouldn't call
it a date...what would you call this?"

"The start of something nice?" He offered.

She shook her head. "Look, what happened last night was unprofessional of
me and I just don't think I could continue to work for you and remain
objective about what I am doing for you. "

"I'm not asking you to be objective, but I don't see why you need to quit.
If it gets too awkward, we can make adjustments or you can quit then.
Look, I don't have any plans for bringing other women home right now."

"But I know you like your hookers."

He laughed, "Who told you that?"

"Campus gossip. I actually know a few of the girls who work Princeton.
There's Meghan, Paula and Chelsea. I think all three of them have rotated
through your bedroom if I remember correctly." Danny looked up at him.

"That doesn't mean they are going to continue to rotate through. Sometimes
it is easier to pay for it than to go out, pretend that you are interested
in someone and then deal with their emotions afterwards."

"Is that what this is?" she asked delicately.

"No, I would have sent you home last night if I didn't want to deal with
your emotions. I don't want you to stop working for me. I hate to admit it
but, I really enjoy having you around. Sounds pathetic when I say it, but
it just makes my whole life easier. Now how do you know Meghan, Paula and
Chelsea?"

"Oh, you aren't the only one of my clients they service. The other clients
actually let them stay until morning. I told Paula I had baked a birthday
cake for you, she mentioned that she knew you well as did her
co-hookers..."

"So much for privacy." He said with a grin.

"Oh, she keeps it a secret except from me. She knows that I can grease the
wheel for her at times and sometimes she helps me out with things, so we
talk." 

She cleaned up the kitchen and turned to him, "I either need a ride or a
cab."

 I'll take you home." He offered.

"Ok, but before we go, I need to tell you about my past..." But her
confession was interrupted by a telephone call. House didn't pick it up
but listened to the machine when it picked up.

"House , Cuddy here. We have a 32 year old male who has blood coming out
of every orifice but no fever. We need you to get down here stat to tell
us what it is and whether we need to call in the CDC." The voice sounded
panicky.

House gave Danny a look of annoyance and said, "Sorry, but she doesn't
sound like that very often, I better go in. Here's $20 for a cab, will
that be enough? I don't know where you live."

"Yes, and I'll write down my address for you." She took out a folded piece
of paper from her purse and wrote down the address. He stuck it in his
pocket.

 ***

Later during the day as he was waiting for lab results, he started
thinking about what had happened that morning. He thought maybe he could
go by her house this afternoon when he was done here. He pulled out the
paper and noticed that there was writing on both sides. On one side was an
address, on the other was:

Dear John, 

Hawking showed that you can assign a finite 'temperature' to a BH due to
the fact that it emits particles and radiation by the quantum tunneling
process. 

That 'temperature' is given by: T = h(kappa)/2pi(k)(c), where 'kappa' is
the surface gravity and the others are the usual constants... Planck's,
Boltzmann's, and c. In terms of mass the 'temperature' (in *K) of a
spherical BH of mass M is: T = 10^-7[M(s)/M] *K , (where M(s) is a solar
mass). Quite low.

Hope this helps. Yours, Danny

At first he didn't know what it meant. But he could tell it was her
handwriting because it both matched the address handwriting and the
handwriting on the checks. He called Lisa Cuddy.

"Lisa Cuddy." She answered.

"Hey, does your cousin still work in the physics department?" House
inquired.

"Yes, why?" she asked, skeptical.

"I have something that looks like a physics formula that Danny wrote and I
was wondering if he could decipher it?"

"Danny, you mean, Danny Morgan, the woman that we met last night? The one
you left us for?" She accused.

"Yes, yes, yes. Come on, you were headed out to your party anyway.
Well..."

"I can give you his phone number...OH WAIT! That's where I met
her...Jesus, House, your maid is Dr. Jordan Morgan. THEEE Dr. Jordan
Morgan." Cuddy was obviously excited, "What is she doing working as your
maid?"

 You've lost me. Dr. Jordan Morgan?"

"She's a famous physicist. She once held the Lucasian Fellowship and was
employed in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
in Cambridge...you know, the next step is chair, Stephen Hawking's chair,
the one held by Isaac Newton. But she left the Fellowship and Hawkings and
came back to the USA to the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton.
My cousin said it created a huge rift between Cambridge and Princeton. It
got so heated and derisive that she quit under the pressure about five
years ago. That created even more problems because the rest of the physics
world held Cambridge and Princeton responsible for losing one of the best
Astrophysicists in the world. She just walked away. I knew I had met her,
she came to one of my cousins parties about six years ago."

House was stunned into silence. It started to make sense. She told him
that she liked doing something where she wasn't letting the team down,
didn't have to worry if she was smart enough and could see immediate
results. He chuckled recalling that he told her that the world doesn't
turn on whether she made coffee and she had replied, "I KNOW how the world
turns." By God, she did. It also explained her physics contacts and her
anxiety over having everyone in the world criticize her for her coffee.
She equated making coffee with everything that had happened to her. 

House didn't know if he should be angry for being duped or sympathetic for
everything that she had gone through. Imagine having the whole world
weighing in on where you should work, who you should work for and how good
you were? He certainly understood the pressure of being at the top of your
game, but turning down the steps leading to the chair that Newton held,
that's weighty stuff. He wanted to know more.

"Can I have your cousins phone number?" He asked.

She gave it to him, but before he dialed it he looked up Jordan Morgan on
Google. Her biography came up on Wikipedia. She had graduated from Cornell
with a Bachelor of Science, MIT with her Masters and Princeton with her
Doctorate. Her honors included:

MacArthur Fellowship, 1992 Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
1994 Einstein Medal, Einstein Society of Berne, Switzerland, 1995 Dirac
Medal, International Center for Theoretical Physics, 1995 Invited Address,
International Congress of Mathematicians, 1996 and 2000 Colloquium
Lecturer, American Mathematical Society, 1997 Fellow National Academy of
Sciences, 1998 Fields Medal, International Union of Mathematicians, 1999
Madison Medal, Princeton University, 2001 Klein Medal, Stockholm
University, March 1998 Lucasian Fellowship 1995 Fellow Department of
Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge 1995

He felt so strange. He had assumed that, because she was a glorified maid,
she wasn't educated or very smart. It made his heart sink to think he had
probably implied at least more than once that she was ignorant or
uneducated or less intelligent than him. He also implied that his genes
were superior to hers. What a joke. Still she wasn't what you expect from
a physicist. He had expected all physicists to be nerdy and to look like a
pocket protector. Danny was neither. His whole thought process was in
chaos.

House called Cuddy's cousin and got an earful. He called Danny and left a
voice message, "I'm coming over this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. to talk."

 *** DANNY'S TURN

I screwed up. I let my desires get in the way of logic. It wasn't logical
to give into Greg House. Once you do, you are forever in his power. Since
you cannot create energy, he had to have taken that power from somewhere
and that somewhere was from me...if you get my drift. 

I must admit, the sex with Greg was everything I wanted it to be. We
taught each other some new tricks and it kept the evening quite exciting.
I found it interesting that he doesn't close his eyes when he climaxes. He
keeps his eyes focused on yours even though they squint with that
pleasure-pain feeling of an orgasm. It was entrancing each time it
happened. It makes you think you are the center of his whole sexual
universe. But I really think it comes down to the fact that Greg House is
an observer and he wants to see your reaction to everything, even to his
pleasure. 

I give him this, he knows how to make a girl wriggle. My toes ached all
night from curling so often. I think I gave as good as I got because he
finally threw in the towel the fourth time I started to make my moves. He
just said, "You're going to kill me" and then kissed my mouth and turned
me over to spoon with him.

The actual act of sleeping with a man can be so comforting. Having their
arms around you or just having their bodies within reach is a wonderful
feeling of being connected with each other. He is much more affectionate
than I would have imagined, especially from all I had heard. The call
girls had told me he was a slam, bam, thank you m'am' kind of guy. Once he
was done, he wanted you gone. I didn't find that at all. He wanted me
close and then closer. I slept with him breathing on my neck all night. I
loved it, except when he would shift, it would tickle. I had to orientate
my neck so that it wouldn't hit that one spot that caused chills down my
body. 

After breakfast, I thought it was time I told him about my background. Of
course, I had just screwed my courage to the bedpost and was ready to
spill my guts when he gets that damn call and he's out the door. 

He thinks I'm a simpleton that just cleans his apartment. I guess the fact
that we have discussed Sartre, the mathematics of Mozart, the works of
Seutonius, Caesar and Plutarch never made a dent in that impression. It
just goes to show you how ingrained labels are in our society. To Greg
House I was a maid so I must not be too bright or educated. 

When I was fourteen I was already in University. I didn't want to be, I
was still pretty fragile from having lost my parents two years before to a
truck driver who fell asleep trying to beat a deadline on a long haul. But
my aunt and the counselors thought I had just sailed through their deaths
and was dealing "really well" with it. I was good at giving people what
they wanted. So I gave them the brave, brilliant girl with the head for
math. 

By the time I was at Princeton I was being groomed for the Institute. It
was what I had wanted. I had always hero-worshiped Einstein and so I was
hoping I would follow in his path. But the whole world of physics was
stunned when Stephen Hawkings invited me to be his Fellow. The British
still don't believe that women have brains. Or at least they make them
work twice as hard as men to prove that they do. The Fellowship had always
gone to a male, a British male. But Stephen wanted me and who am I to turn
down the greatest living cosmologist in the world? I spent four years with
him and the Brits working on various theories and feeling like no one
believed I was worthy. It really started to take its toll. Every where I
went I was made to feel that the only reason I was there was that Stephen
liked looking at me. Well, Stephen is a flirt, always has been, but he's
also a smart man. He couldn't have gotten the committees to approve hiring
me if he hadn't demonstrated to them what I brought to the table.

John had been with me in Cambridge and he had given me the boost in
confidence I desperately needed. He had a Fellowship at Gonville, a very
prestigious one. It brought him within the umbrella of Hawkings so we
often worked together. But his fellowship was up after three years and
then I was stuck in Cambridge alone. 

Don't get me wrong, Cambridge is gorgeous. The river Cam runs behind the
backs of the colleges (hence "the Backs") and punters go up and down
drinking champagne and eating strawberries in the summer. It is terribly
romantic. I loved Cambridge itself. I loved the marketplace, King's Parade
with all the book stores, St. John's gardens, the outdoor Shakespeare
theater and the May balls. I always went to Trinity's May ball in June
(why it is the May ball, I don't know) and usually I made it to the
survivor's photo taken on the front lawn at 5:30 a.m the next morning when
the ball was officially over. It was the best fun one could have but it
didn't take the sting out of the old male guard who hovered over my every
move, theory or postulate that I came up with. 

I know I let Stephen down but even he could see what a toll it was taking
on me. When I told him I was going back to Princeton he encouraged me to
stay, but I was worn down. I wanted to go back to a place where women
were, although still second class, given more credibility in my field than
in England. I didn't realize what a maelstrom I was creating. As soon as I
arrived the fur began to fly. Stephen supported me but the old guard in
Cambridge made claims about how incompetent I was. Of course, it didn't
make sense that the genius himself was telling the world that I was the
next best thing to Newton, the old guard was more than happy to rub in the
fact that I couldn't stick it out.

I had been at Princeton about a year when I came up with the beginnings of
the theory on the black hole information paradox. It has now been adopted
by Hawkings, Peskille and Thorne. I didn't work on it very long because I
was put in a tug of war between two prestigious bodies that both claimed
it was their influence that had enabled me to come up with the theory.
Stephen called me and told me to hang in there, but I finally snapped. 

I apparently wandered around Princeton for three days in a daze. The
Institute didn't want to call in the police to find me because they didn't
want my new theory jeopardized. John was going nuts. He and several of my
friends at the Institute spent their days and nights looking for me. John
and Carol caught up to me one morning. Someone had seen me wandering near
the lake. They found me at the bottom of a racing shell curled into the
fetal position just floating on Carnegie lake.

I had to walk away. My life was at stake. I had no way to make a living
other than physics but I wasn't even able to teach it. I was too fragile.
I wanted order back in my life, I needed some control. I went to live with
one of the bachelors at the Institute, Edward. We didn't have an intimate
relationship, he just cared enough about me to give me a place to live. I
started to take care of him, started to organize him. I cleaned for him, I
cooked for him, I did everything for him and when our friend Nathan came
over and saw what I was doing, he offered me a job doing the same for him.
Edward didn't want to lose me so he also agreed to pay me and the rest is
history. Edward and Nathan are still my clients.

Sometimes I get a call from the guys and they beg me to come down to the
Institute. I go down, sneak in and help them out. When they hit a block
wall, it helps to have a fresh mind work through it with them. Lately, I
have been working secretly on several black hole theories. It is quite
exciting and there's no pressure when I do because I'm not officially
working on it. As long as I don't have to deal with the politics of the
August bodies of Cambridge and Princeton, I enjoy it. But Nathan and
Edward have expressed concern that I am contributing so much that they
will have to acknowledge me on the write up. I try to tell them it isn't
necessary but these guys are two of the honest guys I know.

So, you see, I had a lot to tell House. And he had a lot to digest.

 *** Danny had caught a cab home and spent the morning doing her own
laundry and planning the week's menus. Then she decided to get the grocery
shopping out of the way. It was a very hot day and she was thinking that
some ice cream would be great. She had just arrived home and noticed that
it was 2:40 pm. She got out of the car and she could see someone sitting
on the porch of her brick row house. The person was sitting on the chair
in the shadow. "Hello? Can I help you?" She was trying to balance the four
bags in her hand as she made her way up the steps to the front door. 

He came out of the shadow. "Do you need some help?" It was Chris and he
was coming down the stairs to help with the bags.

"Oh Chris, if you can take these, I'll go back and get the last four." He
did and she went back to the car and grabbed the last of the bags. "What
are you doing here?" She asked cheerfully as she balanced one bag and got
out her keys to open the door.

"Well they told me you had an emergency last night and I wanted to make
sure you were ok." he smiled.

"Oh, you are so sweet. Yes, I'm ok." The door was open and she led him
into the kitchen where he put down the bags. She started putting the cold
stuff in the refrigerator. 

"What was the problem?" He asked.

She thought about lying to him but after what happened last night she
decided she better be honest...ok, maybe not completely honest, but
somewhat honest. "I received a text message from my client, the one in the
bar. He wanted to talk to me and I wanted to talk to him about some issues
and so we left and well...I'm sorry, but I should have come back in and
talked to you." 

She continued to put away the groceries. He was quiet for a few minutes.

"You had issues to discuss?" He sounded sarcastic "So you had to talk to
that guy, the one who met you in the parking lot, the one who kissed you
and then left with you on the back of a motorcycle?" he looked like he was
sweating even thought the A/C was on.

"Oh God, you saw that? I'm sorry. I know you must hate me, I didn't mean
for that to happen. It even surprised me, I hadn't expected to see him and
I hadn't expected him to behave like he did. I really am sorry." She said
sincerely.

"You see that's the problem. I expected behavior like that out of the
others. They were all sluts who like to parade themselves through the
campus half dressed. But you, you were the great Jordan Morgan, physicist,
astrophysicist, mathematician, Stephan Hawkings' darling. You were suppose
to be above the others." He started to pace.

"I don't really understand Chris. You seem upset, I get that, but what has
this got to do with anyone else on campus?" She asked but he just kept
pacing, "Look, I think you better leave. We can meet and have a soda and
talk about this some other time. But I'm feeling uncomfortable. And ..."
she turned and saw his eyes first, they had no humanity in them at all,
they were void of anything remotely comprised of compassion. It was then
that she saw the five inch knife, "OH GOD."

Chris whipped around and stepped towards her and put the knife up under
her right breast. "Yeah, I bet you would love it if I just left, got out
of your hair so you could go screw anyone who rides up on a motorcycle and
wants a piece of you. But, you and all the others need to be taught a
lesson. This time I'm not going to be Mr. Nice guy. I let all the rest of
them go. I even made sure they hadn't seen me so I could let them go. But
you, you're different, you have to be the one that teaches the sluts what
will happen if they keep parading their bodies around campus, teasing and
laughing at us men. You, the great Jordan Morgan are going to sacrifice
yourself. Maybe then they will understand that if you act like a slut, you
get treated like a slut."

He grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. She fought and tried to
twist away. He threw her to the ground and kicked her in the ribs hard and
fast several times. Jordan felt her ribs crack as she tried to crawl away.
She grabbed his leg the next time he tried to kick her and yanked it as
hard as she could in an upward position. It had the effect she wanted.
Chris fell backwards, knocking over the kitchen chairs and some of the
bags of groceries. She grabbed her ribs and tried to get up. It was not
easy but she started to stumble from the kitchen to the living room so she
could get out the front door. He scrambled up and leapt at her, bringing
her down with him onto an end table and causing her ribs to crack further.
They knocked over lamps and other pieces set out for decoration. She was
in excruciating pain. He stood up and grabbed her by the ankles. He
dragged her across the floor and into her bedroom where he picked her up
by an arm and a leg and threw her onto the bed. 

She was kicking and scratching, which angered him. "You sluts just don't
know how to behave. You should take your punishment gracefully...STOP
FIGHTING." he screamed at her. He hit her in her ribs and she screamed as
the white searing pain swept through her. He took the knife and stabbed
her through the fourth rib, piercing her lung. The wind escaped into the
space around her lung as it collapsed. She had trouble breathing, she was
passing out from the pain and lack of oxygen. Then he took the knife and
quickly stabbed it under her right arm. The blood started to drain down
her arm and off of her fingers to the floor. She realized he had her skirt
and panties off and he was raping her. She could no longer feel anything,
not the pain in her ribs, not the blood running down her arm, not the pain
in her chest and not him pounding inside her. She was losing consciousness
as a song played in her head: Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow No
tomorrow No tomorrow And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The
dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had I find it hard to
tell you I find it hard to take When people run in circles it's a very
very Mad world Mad world 

He got off the motorcycle and checked to make sure he was at the right
address. House went to the door and it was partially opened. He heard
someone say something but couldn't make it out. He knocked at the door but
no one came to answer it. House opened the door and looked inside and saw
some of the furniture turned over and several broken items on the floor.
He again heard some sound coming from down a hallway. It was obvious that
there had been a struggle in the house so he continued towards the back.
He raised his cane as a weapon. Then he saw Chris, ranting and screaming
at someone on the bed. It was then that he saw Jordan, the blood draining
down her arm. House didn't hesitate, he took a swing at Chris' head and
landed a direct blow to his temple. Chris fell back, dazed and unsteady.
He then got back up, lunged forward and swung around at House with the
knife which cut a thin line down through his t-shirt and his chest. House
took another swing with the cane, this time hitting his shoulder. House
knew he had to take Chris out soon or Jordan would be dead from bleeding
out. House took a huge swing and it landed right at Chris' abdomen,
causing Chris to crumple over. He didn't want to take any chances so House
took one last swing at Chris's head and heard a heavy thump. House was
hoping he was dead.

House immediately took out his cell and dialed 911. "We need an ambulance
at 2499 Adler Drive. I have a 36 year old woman with knife wounds and a
loss of at least two units of blood. I also have a male with multiple
blunt traumas to the head and torso. We're losing the woman. We need the
police too." The dispatcher repeated the address and House confirmed it,
without waiting for any instructions, House hung up. He had been applying
pressure to Danny's arm while he spoke on the phone. He noticed she had
labored breathing and then noticed the wound near her fourth rib. He took
a t-shirt lying on the floor and used it to bind her arm to stop the
bleeding. House put his head to her chest and could hear that the labored
breathing was coming from the right. He then left the room to find
something he could use. He saw the display of dried flowers and reeds and
grabbed one of the reeds out of the vase. He broke the reed in half and
rushed back to the bedroom. He checked the knife wound in her chest but it
had coagulated. So he grabbed the knife off of the floor and slowly cut a
one inch incision under her rib cage. He inserted the reed and he could
hear the air exit through it. As the air surrounding her collapsed lung
escaped, her lung inflated again but he could hear gurggling sounds which
meant her lungs and surrounding areas were filling with blood. He needed
that damn ambulance. Where was it? As if by cue, he heard the wail of the
sirens as they turned onto her street.

Within minutes the police were in the house with their guns aimed at
House. At first they thought he was the perp, he had the knife and he was
bent over Danny. But one of the paramedics recognized House and told the
police that he was a jerk but not a criminal. The paramedics took Jordan
first. When they checked for vitals on Chris, they had a weak pulse and so
he was loaded in the same ambulance.

House demanded that he go to the hospital with Jordan. The police put him
in the back of the cruiser and they drove to Princeton General's emergency
room. House kept telling the cops to radio the bus to take Jordan to
Princeton Plainsboro but they told him that they had protocols, the victim
was to be rushed to the first available emergency room and that was
Princeton General.

Within minutes of arriving at Princeton General House was kicked out of
the Emergency Room by the doctors. Most of them knew House and most of
them took great joy in the fact that he was on their turf now. They
stabilized Danny, did the rape kit and then she went to the OR for surgery
on her lung. Most of the doctors wanted to keep House in the dark, but one
of the young female doctors took pity on him and went out to give him an
update. He was calm except for the fact that he kept rubbing his chin back
and forth while he stared at the floor. Several police hovered around, one
of them looked at her and said, "Can you tell us if she is going to make
it?" House looked up and just then noticed the doctor in front of him.

"We aren't sure, between the blood loss and the collapsed lung, she is in
real trouble. Are you Dr. House?" When House nodded she began, "Obviously
she suffered from pneumothorax but the puncture of the lung was only about
one inch so the lung tissue damage wasn't that bad. She underwent an
emergency thoractomy, which revealed hemorrhage in the lingular segment of
the right lung. We found the bleeding point and controlled the hemorrhage
using pulmonary tractotomy by inserting a linear stapler into the stab
wound in the pulmonary parenchyma. We did not have to do a lung resection.
We've replaced most of the blood she lost and repaired the puncture to her
artery. She's in recovery now and should be out for the rest of the day. I
suggest you go home, there's nothing you can do right now." She smiled.

"Here's my cell number, would you call me if anything changes or if she
wakes up?" He asked.

"Sure."

It was one thing to wait around to see if she would make it, it was
another thing to wait until she woke from surgery. He knew the surgeon was
right. She would be out most of the day and it would be useless for him to
just sit there. He was going to accompany the police to the station to
give a statement. As they left there were dozens of reporters outside of
the hospital. House looked fairly heroic with the slashed bloody t-shirt.
As he was leaving he saw Wilson trying to get through the crowd. 

"Hey." House motioned to the police, "Let him through, he's my lawyer."

They let him through. "How is she?"

House gave him the update and Wilson asked if he was ok. "Fine." He turned
to one of the policeman and said, "I'll meet you down at the station in an
hour, I'd like to go home and clean up."

Since the cops had already photographed House from every angle, they just
said, "Bring those clothes with you in a bag, don't wash them."

House nodded in the affirmative. When he got into Wilsons car, he gave a
deep sigh. As they drove to his house they talked about the events. Wilson
knew more about what had happened from the news than House.

"He apparently had raped a string of women near CalTech when he was there
but when he was hauled in for questioning, he stopped. He was one of over
a hundred suspects so he went under the radar when he left to come to the
Institute. He had a shrine to Jordan in his room, as if she was some
physics Goddess. Did you know that Jordan is a world famous physicist? She
studied under Hawkings and she...."

"Yeah, yeah I know all that, now can you just get on with the story."

"Well, in short, he moved here to get close to her but he couldn't control
his need to punish women so he started raping again. They don't know what
set him off with Jordan. But it quickly escalated from rape to mayhem. If
she makes it, you stopped it from being murder. They say he is the campus
rapist that raped those three women over the last four months. The doctors
on the news said he's not in good shape, probably won't make it."

"I wanted him dead. He kept getting back up and I needed to get to Danny,
she was bleeding out."

"Well, he's in surgery. I haven't heard anymore but I put in a call to a
friend at the hospital, if he hears anything, he'll call me." he paused.
"Why didn't you tell me about Danny and Hawkings?"

"I just found out myself."

"Did he...well, did he rape her?"

House nodded yes.

"Damn. Poor Danny."

Chris died Monday morning of massive hemorrhaging in his brain. House
stayed home with Cuddy's blessing to avoid a media sensation at the
hospital where television satellite trucks took up most of the parking
lot. 

He occasionally snuck out to visit Danny at Princeton General. She was
still in and out of consciousness. She was on morphine for the pain and
she looked pretty beat up. House walked in Monday afternoon to find
several men standing around her bed. The room was filled with flowers and
plants. Cards covered every nook and cranny. They all looked at him. 

"Dr. House? I'm Edward Gaines, this is Nathan Cohen, John Tarkington,
William Davidson, Gary Richards and Jeff Joplin. We're friends of Danny's
and we want to thank you for saving her life. She's very special to all of
us." He was so sincere that House was embarrassed. "Danny works for both
Nathan and myself. I'm Monday, Nathan is Friday. The rest are just friends
from the Institute. Danny told us about you. You're Thursday, right? She
said you were very brilliant, caustic and witty. Danny seemed to find that
very attractive. She kept saying that if you weren't such an egotist she
might introduce you to some of her single girlfriends." They all started
laughing except House. "Sorry Dr. House, it's an inside joke. Most of
Danny's single girlfriends are hookers. She's lived so long in the world
of Physics that she doesn't have a lot of female friends."

"Are you talking about me again?" A soft and raspy voice came from Jordan.

Immediately there was a cacophony of voices directed at Danny all wanting
to know if she was ok, was she in pain, did she need anything? Except
House, who stayed over by the wall as he watched these brilliant men fall
all over themselves to take care of Danny. He smiled when she turned her
heads towards him. She smiled back and held out her hand. He walked over
and took it in his. It was small, like a child's.

"What happened? I don't remember." she squeezed his hand and then dropped
it.

The room went quiet and all the eyes were on him. "You're new client
didn't like the Chicken Korma." His attempt at humor didn't go down well
with the physicists but Danny was laughing.

"Greg, don't make me laugh, the ribs hurt so bad."

"Ok, I'm sorry. You were attacked by Chris Parkington. He stabbed you
under your arm and severed an artery, he broke three ribs and stabbed you
in the lungs. It collapsed and you hemorrhaged. You've been in the
hospital for two days."

She looked at him and could tell there was more but he just looked down at
the floor to avoid her eyes. She looked at John, Nathan and Edward. "What
are you guys doing here, shouldn't you be at work?"

They all laughed. John pointed to an obnoxiously large bouquet of flowers.
"Guess who those are from?"

She smiled, "Stephen." 

He nodded yes. They both shook their heads and Danny started to snicker
although the pain went through her face as she did.

"Sorry Danny. Didn't mean to make you laugh." John said.

"It's ok, it's just hard not to laugh when you have a gaggle of nerds in
your room."

They all laughed. The nerds stayed for another twenty minutes and then
left. House stayed behind. He grabbed Danny's hand again. 

"Ok, tell me what really happened." she said sweetly to him.

He sat down in a chair and told her the unvarnished facts and observed
that she listened as if he was telling her a story about someone else. She
had disassociated from the events. It was to be expected, she needed that
distance to heal.

"What about the police? Are you ok?" She asked, obviously worried.

"It was ruled self-defense and defense of others...I get a free pass." He
squeezed her hand to let her know he was ok.

"Greg, why did he want to kill me and not the others?" 

"I'm not a shrink but the talking heads all say that it was because you
were his ideal woman and when you ditched him at the restaurant it
triggered a psychotic break."

"What happened in the restaurant?" she asked sincerely.

"You don't remember the restaurant?" he asked, surprised. "Do you recall
anything about the night you went to the restaurant with him?"

"Vaguely, I remember getting ready, I remember his Corvette, but that's
it. Why did I leave him in the restaurant?" She looked him straight in the
eyes.

He was flustered and had a hard time answering this. If she didn't
remember the night, then she didn't remember what happened between them.
He paused so long looking for the words that he didn't notice the smile at
first.

"Was it because I went home and screwed your brains out and left him
crying in his beer?"

She had him...she had played him so well. He let out a breath and started
shaking his head and finger at her. "You are a minx." 

"I know, I just couldn't resist. You looked like a little boy just then,
like I had told you there was no Santa Claus." 

"Well, if you hadn't remembered it, then all my fancy footwork and special
moves would have gone unacknowledged.

"I know this sounds corny, but how could I ever forget that tongue?" she
smiled suggestively.

He raised his eyebrows up and down.

"You know, I am so tired. I think I may drift off. Please don't go until
I'm all the way out. I woke up before and you weren't here, I was scared,
I thought that he had hurt you."

"Do you remember what happened in your house?" he asked tenderly.

"No, I really don't. I bet the doctors have some fancy diagnosis for
that."

"Yes, us doctors do. Dissociative amnesia and maybe some traumatic
amnesia. One is psychological, your psyche is protecting you from an
unpleasant event, the other is the physical disruption of the memory
transfer process during a trauma to the brain. You could have one or the
other or both." He looked away, intently staring ahead. She knew he was
thinking, "Of course it is also Lacunar amnesia because you can't recall a
singular event." He looked at her and realized that he was causing her
distress. "Don't worry, you may or may not get your memory back of the
event, but it won't effect the rest of your memories."

"Well, I was just thinking that I've had a type of amnesia before. They
said I was once in a fugue state...I wandered around Princeton for several
days...I was going to tell you when you got that call from Cuddy ..."

"You don't have to talk about it. I know about Cambridge, Princeton,
Hawkings, the Institute, your breakdown...I was on my way over to discuss
it with you when I interrupted the attack. That's why I was there, to let
you know how sorry I was. I was such an @ss, anyone with half a brain
should have been able to pick up on how smart you are. I can only think my
ego got in the way of my perception." he was obviously upset, more with
his lack of observation than with the error in judgment.

She looked up at his blue eyes and he saw that her eyes had pools of tears
forming. He hated when women cried. It was a secret weapon of theirs, it
was so disarming, and so unfair. The tears began to fall down the sides of
her face and onto the pillow."

"Tsk. Ohhh, damn. Please don't do this." He begged her.

"I'm, (sniff,sniff) sorry. I've made a mess of things again. I can't seem
to stay in control of my life. It seems to be going fine and then it's
like a meteor that takes a whole different trajectory and, (sniff, sniff)
I don't have the formula to figure out where it is going. It's so
frustrating not to have the right formula."

"Sorry, boo hoo, they call that life. I think we all wish we could control
our lives. But as the great philosopher Jerry Springer says, "Sh!t
happens." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Greg, who's Stacy?" She asked out of the blue.

House was taken aback. He drew in a deep breath and wondered where that
had come from...who had she been talking to...and why did she want to know
now? "You know, that's a discussion that we need to have at another time.
Right now you need to get some sleep. I'll stay until you fall asleep and
then I'll come back around dinner, ok?"

"Ok." 

He bent down and gently kissed her cracked lips and then her forehead. She
looked so small in the bed, so vulnerable. He realized from the last few
days that he hardly knew this woman, but despite that he knew he wanted to
make her world safe for her.

 ***

Jordan was about to get out of the hospital and return home but Edward and
Nathan refused to let her move back into her place. They had hired a
professional team to come and work on getting the blood out of the
hardwood floors in her bedroom but there was still a pretty obvious stain.
They decided that she should sell the place and move in with Edward again.


House, on the other hand, did not know that all of this was taking place.
He was worried about Danny. He knew that she shouldn't be alone but he was
not sure if it was too soon for her to move in with him. They obviously
shared something between them, but there was a lot they didn't know about
each other. Still, he had spent the last two weeks visiting her in the
hospital and they had talked quite a bit. She was a very popular person
with people from all walks of life coming to see her. He was shocked one
day to find Paula in her room. It was very awkward.

"Hello Dr. House." Paula gave him that expensive smile of hers. 

House sheepishly smiled back at her and then looked at Danny to see what
her reaction was going to be. She was amused. He was embarrassed. 

"I haven't seen you for awhile, how have you been?" Paula asked.

"Fine. Thanks. And you?" 

"It's been a little lonely." She said suggestively.

House blushed. Danny and Paula laughed. Danny was holding her ribs. 

Paula got up to leave. She motioned for House to join her in the hall,
"Dr. House, you have a very special person in there. You don't deserve her
but for some reason she really likes you. Don't hurt her. If you can't be
the stability she needs right now, then you need to back off while you
can. Good day Dr. House."

House watched her nice, tight body walk away. He shook the thought of her
out of his head and went back into Danny's room. He smiled at Danny who
was giving him a look of curiosity. "Don't ask." He said to her. 

House went home and thought about what Paula had said. He knew that Danny
was going to need a lot of emotional support to get past all of this. He
was surprised that she functioned as well as she did considering she lost
her parents at a young age, went to college when she should have been
going to proms, had the problems with Cambridge. He didn't know how she
would deal with all of this, especially if the memories came back. He
wasn't sure he was the one who could do it. Stacy always complained that
he was distant and cold at times. Even Wilson had looked to him for
emotional support and he hadn't been able to give it. Would he be up to
the task now?

When it was time to check out of the hospital, Edward, Nathan, John and
House were all present. Edward told House of their plans for Danny and
House wasn't sure if he was relieved or annoyed. "I assumed she would come
stay with me." House told them.

"You don't have anyone to take care of her until she completely recovers.
We've all chipped in and hired a caretaker. It seems the most logical
thing to do. She is comfortable at my house and we can make sure she's
doing her rehab."

House looked at Danny who just shrugged her shoulders. She didn't want to
say anything because she didn't want to put House on the spot. Danny owed
the nerds a lot. They had called her other clients, including House and
each of them agreed to pay her half of her salary for the next two months.
This meant she would have an income to support herself. It was bad enough
that her medical insurance was going to charge her a $10,000 deductible
for her stay. 

House quickly acquiesced and Danny went home with Edward. He was right
about her being comfortable. Edward's home felt like an old shoe to Danny.
She had not only lived in it for almost a year, but she was used to
cleaning it every week. She knew it well and she knew Edward. He was a
quiet and kind man. A little milk-toast but pleasant to talk to about many
things. 

Days went by and she was surprised when she didn't hear from House. It
hurt quite a bit that he didn't at least try to call to check up on her.

"How's Danny?" Wilson asked.

"Don't know, I haven't talked to her for a few weeks." House was reading a
JAMA article in his chair with his feet up.

"What? Why? I thought you two were...close?"

"I've been busy. She's ok, she's with her friends. If something was wrong
they would have called me."

"That's crap and you know it. You're pulling away. Why?"

House looked up from his journal and looked annoyed. "How am I going to
help her cope with what happened? Remember, we are talking about ME. It
will be ok for awhile but then I'd probably say something cruel and then
wonder why she's crying. Don't you think it's better that I back out now
before we are so entrenched that we have to divide household stuff if we
break up?" He was remembering what Paula had said.

"So you think the nicest thing you could do for her is to kick her in the
teeth now rather than later. Do I need to remind you that she just went
through a terrible ordeal and the logical action is "support" not
"abandon"???"

"Look, if I stay in the relationship everyone worries that I'm going to
hurt her. If I get out before there is a real relationship everyone is
upset because I've hurt her. I can't make a right move here...so I made
the one that made the most sense to me."

"Oh, you're a real saint." And Wilson stormed out of the office.

Jordan started going downhill fast. She moped around and wouldn't get up
to do her exercises. The physical therapist kept warning that if she
didn't start moving she'd get pneumonia in the right lung. She didn't
care. What was there to look forward to? Within a month she was in the
Princeton Plainsboro clinic with a cough. It was killing her. The cough
itself was painful enough, but it also aggravated the broken ribs. She was
running a fever.

Nurse Brenda recognized her right away from all of the news accounts. She
wondered if Dr. House knew she was here? She called Dr. Cuddy. 

"Dr. Cuddy, Dr. Morgan is here in the clinic, she's not looking very good.
She pasty, coughing and has a fever." 

"Dr. Morgan? I don't know a Dr. Morgan."

"Jordan Morgan."

"OHHH, that Dr. Morgan. Really? Put her in an exam room, I'll be right
out." Cuddy tried to call House but couldn't get him to answer his page so
she paged Wilson.

"Hello, you paged me?" Wilson asked.

"Jordan Morgan is in the clinic with a fever and cough. Where's House?"

"Probably watching his soap somewhere. Doesn't matter anyway, he stopped
seeing her."

"Did they have a fight?" Cuddy asked.

"No, he just thought it was best for her if he backed out of the
relationship."

"Oh, how wise and generous of him. What a jerk. Ok, got to go. I'm going
to go examine her."

"Let me know how she is." Wilson hung up

Cuddy caught up with Danny in exam room 2. She was definitely ill. Her
fever was 102.5 F., she had rhonci and rhales, she was white and pasty,
and her blood pressure was elevated. Cuddy was sure that she had pneumonia
and that wasn't good when you were trying to heal from lung surgery and
broken ribs. 

"Danny, we need to admit you and get some xrays and start you on
antibiotics quickly. Why didn't you come in sooner?"

"Money, I'm drowning in hospital bills right now." she was sullen. 

That would explain why she came to the free clinic instead of going to
Princeton General. Cuddy thought that Danny seemed depressed. She wondered
if House had anything to do with it.

"Well, if you had come in sooner we might have been able to handle this on
an outpatient basis, now we're going to have to admit you. This is pretty
serious. Is there anyone you want us to call?" Cuddy asked.

She shook her head no. She didn't want the nerds to be worried and well,
House didn't care.

"Before we do the x-rays, I need to know when your last period was?" 

"Over two months ago." She said.

Cuddy was alarmed, but considering the trauma she had been through, it
wasn't unusual that her cycle would be off. In fact, it would be unusual
if it wasn't off.

"Were you on any birth control when it happened?" Cuddy was surprised when
Danny answered no. "Didn't they give you the morning after pill when you
were admitted to Princeton General?" Cuddy thought that it was standard
procedure to offer it to all rape victims.

"I don't think so, but that time in the hospital was pretty much a blur."
Danny said.

"Ok, I'll call Princeton General and find out if you were given the
morning after pill and in the meantime we need to get pregnancy test."
Cuddy patted Danny on the shoulder. She felt sorry for her.

Cuddy had the nurses admit Danny and administer the pregnancy test while
she called Princeton General. She spoke with her doctor and discovered
that, with all the emergency procedures and blood loss, the morning after
pill was never administered. Cuddy asked the doctor to email her all of
the files as soon as possible. The doctor asked that she be kept informed.

Wilson came down to see Danny. He picked up the chart and read it. "How do
you feel now Danny?"

"Hot. Tired. Like I could go to sleep and not wake up." Danny was pleased
to see Wilson, he had always been nice to her.

"Well, as soon as they can get those x-rays, they decide what to do. Are
you still living with your friend?"

"Yes, I keep trying to move back home but he keeps nagging me about not
being ready."

"Well, it looks like he has reason to worry. How did you get pneumonia?
Weren't you doing your exercises?"

"Sure, but I guess I just caught something."

Wilson thought about House's favorite adage, "Everybody Lies." It went
quiet. After a brief pause Wilson felt obligated to say something, "Danny,
I don't know what to say about House except to apologize for his
behavior."

"It's not your position to apologize."

"I know, but I want you to know that I'm very upset with him."

"Did he tell you why he did it?" She asked.

"I think it's best if he tells you." Wilson hung his head.

"That would be great but he's not talking to me." She looked away. It
didn't matter, it was done so why worry about it? "You know, I would
prefer Dr. Wilson if you don't let him know that I'm here. I don't need
any drama right now."

"Well, it's very possible that he'll find out. He's pretty plugged into
the gossip and you are front page gossip."

"Well, if he finds out on his own then it won't be your fault, but please
don't tell him."

"Ok." Wilson shook his head in sympathy.

Cuddy went to the nurses station before going into see Danny. The results
of the pregnancy test were in...

 *** DANNY'S TURN

Sorry that I haven't kept you apprized but so much has happened and I've
been busy. You know about the assault...ok, the shrinks says I have to
start calling it, "The Rape" so that I deal with it. I frankly haven't
started to remember any of it yet. I don't think my psyche is ready. 

When I was checking out of the hospital I had hoped House would put his
foot down and demand that I go with him. When he didn't I knew something
had clicked inside of him. I haven't seen him since. That was a few months
ago. I think I'm dealing with it well. After all, we only had one night
together. Sure we had some great conversations in the hospital, but they
were just conversations and obviously he must not have been impressed! 

My friends all say I am depressed because he stopped coming to see me.
Well, I'm pragmatic. A relationship can only move as fast as the slowest
person...and well, House has ground the progress and the relationship to a
halt. So that's it. I can't push him or cajole him into liking me. He
either wants to be with me or not and obviously, he doesn't. I wish he had
the balls to tell me why he doesn't want anything to do with me. But then,
I am damaged goods. I mean between my breakdown five years ago and the
taint of being a rape victim, no wonder he doesn't want to be in a
relationship with me. I wouldn't either. 

I wish my parents were alive. They loved me unconditionally. I remember
when I was sick my mom would get a cool wash cloth and put it on my
forehead. It's funny, I can remember that, but I don't remember what she
looks like without looking at a photo. How can that be? Someone you love
so much and their face slips away until one morning you can't remember it?

But thank God for my friends. Edward came to me the other night and
offered to marry me and support me. He knows I am not in love with him but
he still offered. Isn't that sweet? I turned him down. He doesn't need to
be saddled with me.

I think I am handling all of this well. I know my physical therapist keeps
complaining about me laying around, but I just don't have the energy to
get up and move. Come on, if you had lost two pints of blood, had to have
your lung stapled together and had three killer ribs...you wouldn't want
to move around either.

When I started to get the cough, Edward was upset. He kept nagging me to
go in and see my doctors. But if Edward had been getting my bills, he'd
understand. I didn't want him to know that on top of the $10,000
deductible, I just got the surgeon's bill, the anesthesia bill, the
physical therapy bill and the bill for the medicine...the only was of
digging myself out is to sell my house and my car to pay them off. I don't
want to think about it right now.

Ok, so I waited longer than I should have to go in and get checked. But I
was still walking when I went to the free clinic (held on Tuesdays and
Thursdays). I thought that was a good sign. Lisa Cuddy looked pretty
upset. All that talk about pregnancy made me nervous. With all that was
going on I had forgotten all about my period. I don't know what to do if
they find out I'm pregnant from a rapist. Makes my stomach sick to think
about it. I don't believe in abortion. I'm not a right to life advocate,
it's just a personal decision. I couldn't do it.

Still, I think I'm doing ok for all that's happened, don't you?

 ***

Lisa saw Wilson when she walked into Danny's room. She was very somber and
asked Wilson to leave. 

"Danny, you're pregnant. I'm sorry, I know this isn't what you wanted to
hear. We need to get the pneumonia under control, so I am going to have
them check your sputum and then put you on a wide spectrum antibiotic to
start until we get the results. Would you like to discuss your options now
with regards to the pregnancy or wait until you've had time to digest it
all?"

"I guess I know my options. I need some time, thanks."

Wilson was waiting for Lisa when she came out, "You've cancelled the x-ray
order? Christ, don't tell me that on top of everything she's pregnant?"

"You know that with HIPPA I can't share that information with you but
let's just say I wouldn't want to be in her shoes."

Wilson understood and debated whether he should notify House. It turned
out that he didn't have to notify him that she had been admitted. House's
newest patient was put in the room next to Danny. He was waiting for
Cameron to come out of the room when he spotted the nurses' chart, "Jordan
Morgan, 322." He walked over to the door of her room and looked in...she
was in bad shape. He read the nurse's chart and figured from the meds that
she had pneumonia. Not good for a lung patient. 

Wilson came up behind him. "I see you've found out."

House turned around and saw Wilson with a bouquet of flowers ready to
enter Danny's room. 

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"She asked me not to. Well are you going to go in and see her? Wilson
nodded towards the room. House backed away. "Coward." Wilson whispered to
House.

Wilson went into the room smiling and handed the flowers to Danny. She was
chuffed to see him and the flowers. While he stayed to talk to her she had
several other deliveries of flowers. The nerds were calling and telling
her that they'd be in after work.

"They really care about you." He was impressed with how many friends she
had and how devoted they were to Danny.

"I don't know why. I put them through a lot."

"Well, that doesn't seem to faze them. How are you doing?"

"I guess the fever is down from the Tylenol. So that's good. Did Dr. Cuddy
tell you I'm pregnant?" She asked with trepidation.

"No, she's not allowed to give me personal information because I'm not
your treating physician. So, how do you feel about it?" He wanted to know
what she was going to do.

"I wish I was pregnant under different circumstances. The hospital
counselor was in here to talk to me about my options. I can have the baby,
put it up for adoption or terminate it. I'm 36 years old. I'm not going to
give a baby away and I'm not going to terminate it. So now I have to wrap
my brain around the idea that it's father almost killed me. What's a girl
to do?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, the other two options aren't really options for me." She chuckled,
"The only options I see in my future are natural or epideral?"

They both smiled. After a few more minutes of light conversation, Wilson
left the room. He wanted to head straight down to tell House, but he
couldn't breach Danny's trust. So he went to his office. There was House
sitting at his desk.

"Well? What's wrong with her?" He asked.

"What, having a hard time hacking into her file?"

 "It's more difficult now to break into the hospital records since HIPPA
was passed. All I get is the fact that she's been admitted."

"Well, she has pneumonia in her right lung. She was admitted with a 102.5
fever and an elevated blood pressure. That's about all I know."

House looked Wilson over, "I don't think that's all you know. What is it
that you are not telling me? Has she grown a second head?"

"Funny. Well that's all I can tell you, so if you are so concerned, why
don't you go up and see her? She keeps asking why you don't have the
courage to face her."

House was silent for once. He looked away rather than connect with
Wilson's knowing eyes. He knew he owed Danny an explanation, but he also
knew that if he saw her he might not have the courage to walk away.

During her time in the hospital she did not see House. He did not come
into the room and she never saw him go by. Wilson admitted to her that
House knew she was in the hospital. Of course this caused her to cry but
she held her tears until after Wilson was gone. There was no getting
around the fact that House must have felt nothing for her. Even friends
stop by to wish you well in the hospital.

Controlling the pneumonia proved difficult to Cuddy. The best thing for
clearing up bacterial pneumonia, other than antibiotics, is to cough or
exercise the lungs. Unfortunately, every time Danny went into spasms of
coughing she would almost pass out from the pain in her ribs. So they had
to give her mild pain relievers in the day so that she would cough and
then heavier drugs at night so she could sleep and the bones could knit.
On top of it, they had to give her drugs that wouldn't interfere with her
pregnancy.

They couldn't give her morphine because of the pregnancy so they gave her
Oxycontin. Within minutes of her 10:00 p.m. dose, Danny was out until they
woke her at 4:00 a.m. to give her additional meds. By the end of the week
they had the pneumonia under control enough that she could go home. Nurse
Boiselle came by to help her get ready to go. She removed the intravenous
feed and was helping her with the exit forms.

"I thought you only worked nights?" Danny asked. 

"Oh, I switched shifts with Linda, her kid was in the softball finals and
she wanted to go to the game. Well, happy to be going home?"

"Yes, it will be nice to get out of here." Danny sighed.

"Well, I guess this means that Dr. House is going to have to find some
other place to watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report." Nurse
Boiselle chuckled.

"What are you talking about?" Danny asked.

"Each night after you get your meds and fall asleep, Dr. House comes in,
sits down and watches television in your room. After the Colbert Report is
over he leaves."

"You're joking."

"No, really, every night for the last four nights, like clockwork. He
comes in, reads your chart, checks your vitals, tucks you in and sits down
to watch tv. It's kind of sweet."

She felt her stomach churn. This was almost worse than him not coming in
at all to see her. What did it mean? Why would he do this to her?

"Oh, have I upset you?" The nurse asked.

"No, it's ok...I just didn't realize he was doing this."

"Doesn't he come by during the day to see you?" She asked.

"No."

"That's odd, he's so attentive at night. Well, you're ready, is your ride
here?" She asked.

"Yes, he's just gone down to fill my prescription."

Within minutes Jordan was in a wheelchair being wheeled by John to his
car. Jordan kept looking around hoping to see House as she was leaving,
but she didn't. ***

Jordan handed the realtor the keys. She looked back at the row house and
decided it was a good thing to be leaving. She hadn't been attached to the
house anyway, it had always seemed a little lonely. She felt good about
the fact that she was out of debt. She didn't owe any money to Princeton
General or Princeton-Plainsboro. She had even used the equity to pay back
her clients for their generous support when she was recuperating. She felt
a little sadness when she wrote the check to Gregory House, M.D. for
$3,200. She reimbursed him for the July payment and then for the $1600 he
had "donated" for August and September. Now she owed him nothing.

She spent the last night at Edward's house. They had a little farewell
party and gave her an umbrella and a nice raincoat. The guys had been
great about the pregnancy and had pitched in to give her a $500 gift
certificate to a website for baby things. They supported her keeping the
baby and even pointed out that, even though he was a psychotic, Chris was
a brilliant Physicist! They kept joking that the child's IQ would be so
high that they would all seem like knuckle scrappers next to it. 

The next day she took a shuttle to the Trenton airport and caught a flight
to JFK where she transferred to her flight to Heathrow. At Heathrow she
waited an hour to go through the passport check. Her passport and work
visa were both in order. She grabbed the train into Victoria Station,
pulled her luggage to the curb, took a cab to Liverpool Street Station and
started the last leg of the trip on the train to Cambridge. 

It was the first week of the new year and Cambridge was brisk. A light
fleece of snow lay on the ground. Jordan was booked to stay in a bedsit
for the first month until she found accommodations. The bedsit was on the
edge of Downing College in a lovely Victorian home. She had the downstairs
room which used to be the parlor. It was close to the downstair bathroom. 

She was just starting the sixth month of her pregnancy and from behind you
couldn't tell she was pregnant. It was the 24th week and the doctor had
said that her baby was "viable." She was being kicked a lot and sometimes
it was her bad ribs that got hammered. When that happened, Danny would let
out a yelp that would make everyone stop and stare. 

She was relaxing by the fire with a cuppa when there was a knock on her
door

"Jordan, it is so good to see you again." the plain middle aged woman gave
Jordan an air kiss.

"Gemma, good to see you. Why are you here to see me?" Jordan asked.

"Stephen wants you to come by tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Here's your new
mobile phone, it comes with the job. I've programed in some important
numbers including Stephen's and mine. I was so glad you took this
position. Stephen is usually a Wally when he changes assistants but since
it's you, I feel sure the transition will be easier."

Jordan smiled, Stephen was a pain when anything out of the ordinary
changed. He liked things to be a certain way at all times. When she
received his offer of the position she wasn't sure she wanted to take it.
But it gave her a chance to start over and work for someone she liked. 

The offer had come at the beginning of November. She originally turned it
down because of the pregnancy. She didn't want to tell him that she was
pregnant, she didn't want to have to discuss the paternity of the child.
Stephen suspected the pregnancy was the reason she turned him down so he
arranged for a weblink call. When 8:30 a.m. showed on the clock, her
screen lit up and there was Stephen in his wheelchair staring into the
screen. The computer was speaking for him. 

"If you are turning me down because you do not want to come back to
Cambridge, that is acceptable. If you are turning me down because you are
pregnant, that is not." the mechanized voice echoed over the web. It was
said rather quickly which indicated that he had already typed this in
before he called. Stephen didn't type with his hands, they were useless,
he typed with his eyes. The program followed his eye movements across a
keyboard on the screen.

"Stephen, how did you know I was pregnant?" She asked.

"A very large bird with glasses told me." It took a few minutes for this
to be understood and relayed by the computer

"I see." She would have to have a talk with John. "Well, yes, I figured
they wouldn't let me have a work visa if I was pregnant. The last thing
they would want me to do is get over there and have a baby on British
soil."

"Let me take care of that. Then it is settled, you start January 5th. Make
your arrangements, we will have a plane ticket waiting for you in
Trenton."

She should have known, whatever Stephen wants, Britain gives. If Stephen
wants Jordan, Stephen gets Jordan. Jordan and Stephen spoke for another
five minutes about the terms of the engagement and then Jordan ended the
transmission.

She was going over this time as an assistant, not a Fellow. She would not
be expected to do any research, simply assist Stephen in translating his
own work. Of course, it required an understanding of physics, but it
didn't require any original work on her own.

She received an email that outlined what she would be doing:

Managing Professor Hawking's national and international travel. Expect to
spend around 3 months out of the UK Preparation of lecture graphics and
public speaking Dealing with the media and press Development of Professor
Hawking's computer systems Maintenance of computer and medical equipment
Answering inquiries from the public and maintaining the website
Departmental and administrative roles 

The role of 'Assistant to Professor Hawking' is funded as a research post
at the University of Cambridge. Normally it is under a 12 month contract,
although sometimes the contract is extended to up to 2 years. Jordan had
already been informed that her 12 month contract would be extended if she
elected to do so.

She would receive 32,000 pounds a year. Not a huge amount, but it was more
than most of his assistants and she could certainly live comfortably in
Cambridge. 

It was interesting to see the Old Guard. They were as obnoxious as ever
but this time Jordan could care less. After what she had been through,
they seemed petty and trivial. Stephen found Jordan's attitude amusing and
entertaining. One of the famed physicist who was incredibly jealous of
Stephen cornered Jordan and Stephen at a reception. He was hoping for a
quick jab at Jordan in the hopes of stinging Stephen so in front of
everyone he asked, "Well, Dr. Morgan, what does the father of your child
have to say about you taking this position?" A clear jab at the
illegitimacy of the baby.

"I don't know, let's ask him. Stephen what do you think about me taking
this position?" Jordan asked loudly for everyone to hear.

"I am delighted." He said through his computer.

Stephen was clearly enjoying this. Obviously, no one would seriously
believe he was the father but it certainly stopped all discussions about
paternity.

 ***

When Jordan was in the hospital, House tried to get the radiologist to
show him the x- rays of Danny's lungs. The Radiologist hated it when House
harangued him so he usually did what House wanted just to get him off his
back. But this time he couldn't help him. "There are no x-rays."

House looked at him skeptically. This could only mean one thing with a
pneumonia patient. She couldn't get an x-ray because she was pregnant.
House went to Wilson, he would know.

"I just discovered something very interesting." House told Wilson. "I
discovered that Danny had pneumonia but no x-rays."

Wilson started to wilt, House knew. "Alright, so you know. What about it."

"She's pregnant. When did it happen?"

"It's pretty obvious isn't it? When she was raped." Wilson said quietly.

House cocked his head to one side and squinted his eyes. "How do you know
that?"

"Princeton General didn't give her the morning after pill."

"Was she on birth control?" House asked.

"I don't know, but wouldn't you know that? I mean, you were intimate with
her, right?"

"Yes, I was." House sat down and stared ahead.

"House, is there a chance that the baby is yours?" Wilson asked.

"Obviously not or Jordan would have thought of that and mentioned it to
you or Cuddy. And you two would have confronted me." he said. 

It was in September that House heard that Stacy had her baby. Wilson was
worried about him. House was surly and didn't want to go anywhere. He
didn't seem to care about anything except work. Even at work he was mean
and angry. Wilson knew that Stacy was only a part of the problem. House
had been spiraling down ever since he had stopped seeing Danny.

House saw Danny once from a distance. It was close to Thanksgiving. She
was at a restaurant with one of her nerds. She was sitting, laughing,
obviously pregnant. She looked like she was in good spirits. He was
actually comforted by the thought that she looked happy. He ordered his
food to go and took one more look at her and left. 

Paula "visited" him shortly after that and on the way out asked him what
had happened. He told her he would have just made a "balls up" of the
whole thing so he took her advice and backed off. Paula turned a little
pale. 

"I didn't mean for you to dump her, I just wanted you to be careful with
her feelings."

"That WAS being careful with her feelings."

"Well, you sure messed with her mind." Paula shook her head and slipped
through the door.

On January 4th House received a check in the mail. It was for $3200 and it
was signed by Jordan. On it she had written, "Thank you for everything
you've done, I hope you are well." He felt terrible. It was such a nice
note considering what he had done. He would have felt better if she had
just written, "Screw You."

He didn't want the money so he didn't cash the check. He got on his
motorcycle and went over to her house to give it back. When he got there
he saw a for sale sign on the front lawn with a "Sold" sign attached above
it. He went up on the porch and looked inside, it was empty. She was gone.

Over the next few days he called Edward but he didn't return the call. He
left a message for Nathan, but it went unanswered. He finally hunted down
John Tarkington at his house. He wasn't home but his wife Carol was. 

"Oh my God, you are Dr. House, right? I kind of expected you to come with
a forked tongue, horns and a tail. Come in... sit down."

"I just want to know where Jordan Morgan is."

"She's with Stephen Hawkings. She went over to Cambridge about three days
ago, you just missed her. Aren't you showing an interest a little late?
Didn't you have your chance and you blew it?"

House liked Carol, she was blunt and up front. "Yes, I did."

"Well isn't that just too bad?" She said sarcastically. 

"I need to talk to Danny, do you have an address?"

"Not one that I can give you without getting in trouble with her and my
husband. I've told you enough. Actually, you better get out of here before
John gets home. You are person non gratis around here...he is not a fan of
yours."

"If you talk to Jordan, please tell her I was asking about her and would
like to speak with her."

"Right, you really think I'm going to be the one to open that wound
again...sorry, doctor but you are on your own." *** Danny was assigned a
midwife by her GP and the midwife made several visits to her in her bedsit
and then later in her new leased flat. The flat was small, it had two
bedrooms although she wasn't sure you could call the other room a bedroom.
It was more like a large closet with a window. She could barely squeeze in
the crib and chest of drawers that she had purchased from Mothercare.

Danny was excited about the fact that she would be having her child at
"The Rosie", the maternity hospital at Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge.
The Rosie was known for its great medical care. In fact, each mother had
the opportunity to stay in the Rosie for up to ten days after the baby
came. The mother made the decision, not the doctor. However, they always
advised that the mother and baby stay in at least three days so that the
staff could monitor when the mother's milk came in and see if she was
breastfeeding properly. Danny advised her midwife that she would stay 5
days and then come home. The baby was due April 4th . Danny's aunt was
going to come over to help her with the baby so she made arrangements for
her to fly in on April 3rd. 

On March 12th Danny went into labor. She was by herself when she had the
"show" the night before. By the time she dilated enough to be considered
in hard labor, she had already spent six hours on the maternity ward. She
was wheeled into the delivery room at 4:00 pm. The labor was hard on
Jordan, especially with the newly healed lung and fragile ribs. The first
midwife was a sweet older woman. When her shift was up at 8:00 pm, the new
midwife came in with a young man. He turned out to be a doctor doing his
internship rotation in obstetrics. He was there to observe. Jordan thought
he was funny. He was a doctor, but as soon as he saw Jordan's privates he
turned his face to the wall as if he was embarrassed. Jordan could care
less at this point. She was in pain and exhausted. The USC marching band
could have come in for a look and she wouldn't have cared.

 At 11:32 p.m. she delivered a healthy baby boy. Danny felt so happy and
so sad at the same time. She had never felt so alone as when she was left
by herself with her new born son. She named him Stephen Isaac Morgan. He
weighed in at 6lbs.8 oz. He had lovely blue eyes, but then so did his
father. Luckily, she couldn't remember what Chris looked like so she
couldn't see any of him in the baby. She did know that it didn't matter
what his father was like, she loved her baby dearly.

Danny was placed on a ward with three other mothers. It created quite a
stir when Stephen Hawkings came to see her in the Rosie. People kept
sticking their heads in to get a glimpse of him. Stephen was a pretty
common fixture in Cambridge around King's Parade but still many of the
hospital staff didn't live in Cambridge but came from surrounding
villages. 

Stephen was honored to find that Danny had named the baby after him.
"Well, I figure it will help feed the gossip about us." Danny told him.
Stephen grinned widely.

On the fifth day, Danny took Stephen home and they began their journey as
a family.

 *** House was busy. JAMA had asked that he do the peer review on several
articles. He said no at first until Cuddy brought him his contract and
showed him that he was required to do certain things including peer review
when asked by the Dean. Well, she was asking.

House actually enjoyed it because he loved sending back articles with
questions to the authors that made their heads spin. Sometimes he would
send them riddles. If they solved the riddle then they understood what was
wrong with the article. In one case, House actually proved that the final
analysis of the data by the authors was wrong. But the case was still
unique so they simply changed the analysis and submitted the corrected
paper which House approved for publication.

Cuddy came into his office, "Good news House, the AMA is going to hold
their annual conference in London this year and they have invited you,
Chester and Wilson to present."

"I don't have a paper to present." He said calmly.

"Yes, that is a problem which is why they want you to talk about peer
review and the steps you take to analyze a paper. So you just have to
figure out what to say for an hour. I have our tickets, the conference is
in late August."

House looked at her like she was demented. "We are talking about me,
right?"

"House, we need to boost the revenues in your department and the best way
to do that is to present in front of other doctors. Your department always
has been in the red, but lately it's getting to be deep red. You have been
exceptionally mean lately. It's chased away a lot of doctors who don't
want to deal with you so they refer to other hospitals." House argued with
her but he lost the battle. He knew that his reputation for being
irascible was stronger than ever.

Wilson came in later and reminded him that his passport had expired. "I
know this is painful, considering the thinning of your hair since your
last passport photo, but you need to have your picture taken. I do too, my
passport is going to expire next month. Cuddy has suggested I take you to
get one...ok, maybe she had demanded I take you to get one. She doesn't
want any excuses from you."

The Passports came just in time. House was annoyed when Homeland Security
found the vial of Tomatin Single Malt Whiskey in the hollowed stem of his
cane. Luckily, Wilson smoothed it over with the officials, telling them
that House had just been in a bad accident and had brain-stem trouble
remembering things like "rules."

House got on board and immediately pulled out a plastic vial of Grey Goose
from a secret pocket in his jacket. He offered a shot to Wilson who just
shook his head in disbelief. They shared a drink and then settled in for a
long flight. House took the aisle seat so he could get up and move his bad
leg.

"Are you going to go see Jordan?" Wilson was curious.

"No. Single mothers don't do it for me. I hate it when the kid gets more
breast than I do." House shrugged.

 You know Cambridge is only an hour by train from London?"

"Yes and in one hour I could hire a hooker and get laid."

"Ok, I'll shut up." Wilson raised his hands in surrender.

A few minutes later House asked Wilson, "Do you have her address over
here?"

"No, but it shouldn't be too hard to find STEPHEN HAWKINGS ASSISTANT!"
Wilson emphasized it.

 What makes you think she would want to see me?" House asked.

"She wouldn't...the question is whether you want to see her?"

House kept quiet until the movie came on and then he said, "Oh great,
Brokeback Mountain, I finally get to see it with my boyfriend." 

 *** "There are extra nappies in the cupboard and his binky is in the pan
on the stove. If he gets cranky you can give him some gripe water. You
have my mobile number, I also left you Anne's number. She'll come over if
you get overwhelmed. Oh, and I left his National Health Card on the
table." Jordan was nervous about leaving Newt at home for the first time.
Normally he traveled with her. But Stephen had suggested that an overnight
trip to London was a good place to test the waters and see how he would do
without her when they had to go on longer trips. 

Stephen had been great and had made numerous accommodations for Jordan and
Newt. He enjoyed Newt even though he wasn't that fond of babies. The only
other baby he actually enjoyed was his grandchild. Newt was very observant
of everything and everyone and Stephen warned Jordan that this was a sign
of things to come. Even though she was now a new mom, Jordan had still
performed her job above and beyond the call of duty, just like Stephen
knew she would. She had even snuck in at night and corrected some of his
work. No other assistant would have dared to have done that, but he
trusted Jordan and knew that her corrections would save him valuable
months in time.

"Stephen and I will be staying at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in
Knightsbridge near the Albert Hall. If you need to contact me, our code
name will be Bradalina. Yes, Stephen picked it. Yes, Brad Pitt, Angelina
Jolie...glad you got it." Jordan was on the telephone with Gemma.

Jordan teared up when she said goodbye to her little baby. Newt was
sleeping in his nanny's arms when she gave him a goodbye kiss on his
little pink lips. Stephen had given him his nickname. He started calling
him Newt because of his middle name, Isaac. Being named after two great
physicist was quite a load for such a little man to bear so Stephen
shortened it to Newt.

They took Stephen's van into London and arrived in the early afternoon. It
was a gorgeous, sunny day in London with no sign of rain.

 *** House and Wilson were already checked in and ready to go to the
orientation cocktail party at The Imperial College Science Museum which
started at seven p.m.. 

"Let's take the shuttle over."

"I need to walk some. How far is it?" House's leg was acting up.

"About ten blocks. We could take the shuttle to the Victoria and Albert
Museum and then walk to the Science Museum from there. They're about four
blocks apart."

"That sounds better." They dressed in their suits, grabbed their
portfolios and went to the lobby to catch the V shuttle. It was still
bright and sunny out. 

"It's unsettling that it doesn't get dark until 10:00 pm." Wilson
observed. "I'm going to leave a message for Cuddy, let her know we'll meet
her there." Wilson nodded for House to sit down.

Wilson left for the front desk and House looked around. It was an
incredible lobby, very ornate, very Victorian, it reminded him of some of
the hotels he had seen in Italy as a child.

"Ok, let's go." They started walking to the shuttle. "You know, I was
writing the message when there was a delivery of a huge fruit basket...the
guy told the deskman that it was for, Bradalina'!"

"You're joking."

"Kid you not. Bradalina. Do you think maybe they're here?"

"Well, it is a five star hotel. You couldn't get more ostentatious. Keep
your eyes open, maybe our dream of a threesome with Angelina will come
true..." House smiled.

"Threesome, what makes you thing I'm going to share her?"

"Oh, come on, I saw how you kept looking at me out of the corner of your
eye during Brokeback Mountain. Who are you kidding?" They laughed like
teenagers. 

The reception was over at 9:00 pm, Cuddy, Wilson and House took the
shuttle back to the Mandarin. On the way House suggested they grab a drink
in the bar at the hotel. Everyone was up for it so when they got into the
lobby they made their way to the bar. They were seated so that they could
all see who traveling through the lobby. Wilson had shared the "Bradalina"
secret with Cuddy and they were all secretly hoping Brad Pitt and Angelina
Jolie had checked into the hotel.

For awhile they kept a vigilant eye on the lobby but then they soon forgot
about their prey and concentrated on their gin and tonics. The friends
were having a good time "taking the Mickey" out of each other when Cuddy,
who was now quite tipsy, raised an excited finger towards the lobby. "THAT
is Stephen Hawkings!" She cried out.

House and Wilson looked and there he was, dressed in a tuxedo and sitting
in his mechanical wheelchair waiting with two other men who were talking.
The men turned around and looked towards the elevator as a beautiful
blonde woman, hair pinned up and dressed in a long ball gown floated
across the lobby towards the men. Her dress was made entirely out of a
powder silver satin and silk with thin straps that came down and barely
covered her round breasts. The gown was an empire shape, making her seem
even more slim than she was. The way that the dress hung from her waist
and hips made it seem like she glided everywhere she went. Everyone in the
lobby stopped to stare at her but she appeared oblivious. She went to
Hawkings' side and bent down to tell him something. Now the whole lobby
was standing and staring as they recognized the famous physicist with the
beautiful blonde. Cell phones came out and dozens of amateur photos were
taken.

House knocked over his empty glass when he saw her. Wilson looked at him.
He could see that House was pale and taken off guard. It was Cuddy who
acted. "It's Jordan!" She jumped up and made her way to the lobby. There
were hugs between Jordan and Cuddy along with introductions to Stephen
Hawkings and the other two physicists. Jordan looked up and into the bar,
following Cuddy's pointing finger. She made eye contact with Dr. Wilson
and then with House.

Cuddy had Jordan by the hand and was dragging her to the bar. House drew
in a breath and simply said, "Sh!t."

As she got closer, House was overwhelmed by how beautiful she looked. Her
breasts and hips were fuller and inviting, a result of motherhood, but
more important she looked confident and in control.

Wilson stood up and as he hugged her he whispered, "You look stunning."

"Thank You." She turned to face House.

"Cor..." House gave her the British expression for "wow" and emphasized it
with a look of amazement. "I'm gobsmacked." He stood politely to give the
requisite hug of recognition. She leaned in to hug him and he placed his
hands gingerly on both sides of her waist which sent chills down her. His
breath was warm on her neck as they quickly hugged.

"It's good to see you...all of you. What are you doing here?" She asked
with all the confidence she could muster. Inside her stomach was cramping
and her heart was racing.

"AMA convention. What about you?" Cuddy asked

"We've just gotten back from the OBE awards dinner. Stephen always gets
invited because he has one." They looked confused. "He has an OBE, Order
of the British Empire. They're given out by the Queen. We were just coming
to the bar for a drink. Ah, here he comes." Stephen Hawkings and the other
two men were making their way into the bar.

"Stephen, I would like you to meet my friends, Drs. Greg House, James
Wilson and you met Lisa. Lisa was my doctor when I got pneumonia. Greg is
a former client. And James is just a good friend."

The mechanized voice said, "She has a lot of good friends. Pleasure to
meet you."

They all grabbed a table with more comfortable leather chairs. House sat
across from her giving them both a birdseye view of each other. She tried
to avoid his stare but she couldn't help but connect with his eyes. She
gave him a sad sweet smile and then turned back to the conversation. She
knew that his eyes were still on her.

"Jordan, you must have had your baby...what did you have?" Lisa asked.

"A boy. Stephen Isaac. He's very cute and very observant. He's in
Cambridge with his nanny and I already miss him." With that she gave a
little pout to emphasize that she missed him. She gave them all a
thumbnail sketch of Newt's personality and accomplishments as a four month
old.

"Well, I'm glad everything worked out for you." Lisa was tipsy and she
started telling tales of funny patients she had encountered in the clinic.
The whole table was laughing. Danny could tell that Stephen was enjoying
her stories but he was also getting tired. 

"Stephen, we need to be up for the OBE breakfast. Do you want me to take
you up to your room?" She stood knowing what the answer would be.

"Yes if you would excuse us..." and the mechanical voice trailed off.

Lisa announced, "I've had enough of waiting for Bradalina..."

Stephen and Danny's eyes met and they both smiled, "Bradalina?" Danny
asked.

Wilson cut in, I was at the desk and they delivered a fruit basket for
Bradalina. You know how celebrities give hotels a code word, well we
thought it was a code word for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pit."

"Dr. Wilson, you are looking at Bradalina." Stephen announced. "It's our
codeword we used for the hotel staff. I picked it because I think I look a
lot like Brad Pitt."

"I guess that makes me Angelina Jolie." Danny mused.

When Cuddy, Wilson and House realized that they had been waiting for
Stephen Hawkings, they had a good laugh. 

They all said their goodnights and, in light of the fact that Jordan was
going back to Cambridge the next day, their goodbyes. Jordan hugged her
friends while the other two men steered Stephen's wheelchair towards the
elevator. House gave her a kiss on her right cheek and she could smell his
aftershave and feel the warm temperature of his skin against hers. She had
to swallow hard to keep from getting emotional. She wanted desperately to
stay in control. She backed away from them, held up a hand and said,
"Goodbye, enjoy your stay and please say hello to everyone at the
hospital. Goodnight."

And she was gone.

Wilson looked over at House who gave him a sideways glance and then House
stared at the elevator door as it closed. Lisa looked at the two of them,
grinned and said, "How cool was that? I just had drinks with Stephen
Hawkings? Isn't that cosmic?"

Wilson and House both said together, "She's drunk."

Jordan rolled Stephen into his room on the tenth floor and saw that the
bed had been turned down. She called Geoff in from the next room. Geoff
was Hawking's personal caretaker and would get him ready for bed.

Jordan, lowered herself to Stephen's level, "Ok, I'll be here at 8:30
a.m., be ready, ok? I want to get back to Cambridge by 1:00 p.m."

"You and Dr. House have something between you?" he asked.

"No. Well, not anymore." she corrected herself, Stephen was too observant
to be fooled.

"I am not so sure. He looks at you like he still cares." Stephen said.

"Oh, that's probably just polite concern. He was the one who killed my
attacker." She smiled, gave him a peck on the cheek and said, "Goodnight
Stephen. By the way, you look great in a tux!"

She closed the door and sighed. She was tired and she felt like she would
break down crying any minute. She walked down the hall to 1020, her room.
She took out her card and put it through the card reader. She looked
around the hallway, in a foolish way she was hoping House would be lurking
nearby, ready to grab her. But there was no sign of him.

She entered the room and stepped quickly towards the bed when she caught a
glimpse of his leg in the corner chair. She immediately started to give
off one of her bloodcurdling screams but House put his hand over her
mouth. "It's me, it's me..." She stopped in mid-scream. He looked down,
removed his hand and then covered her mouth with his. 

The kiss was warm and long. She could feel his hands going down her back
and pulling her into him. She dropped all pretense of being in control and
grabbed the back of his neck to pull him closer to her. When they finally
came up for air she looked at him and said, "You mother f%%king B@st@rd
... is this a game to you? "

He pulled his head back and looked at her with a surprised look. "You can
pretend to be mad at me but that kiss said, I surrender Greg.'"

"Everything is about Greg House. What happened when I needed you to be
there for me? You ran. You know... just get out. Get out." She pointed to
the door.

House laughed and sat down on the bed. "Sit down and talk to me."

"No, if I do that, I might do something foolish like actually forgive you.
I can't afford to forgive you and let you back in my life. You're a
selfish jerk."

"Sorry, you'll have to do better, I hear that pejorative a lot. Try
something with a little more emphasis on my sunny disposition or my aging
looks." 

She started laughing. "Greg, don't do this. I've just gotten to the point
where I will actually allow a single man to talk to me. This game of yours
could put me back quite a bit. I'd like to get back in the game, I don't
want to end up alone all my life."

He looked at her seriously. "I'm not sorry that I backed away. I did what
I thought was best for you. Someone warned me that if I couldn't be there
for you through all that you were going to have to deal with, I should get
out. You know that I'm not warm and fuzzy. You asked about Stacy, well we
lived together for five years. The first two were great, the last three
consisted of "me being me" and Stacy complaining constantly about my
coldness, by aloofness, my failure to connect to her feelings...I couldn't
give her what she needed, so I wasn't sure I could give it to anyone. Am I
making sense?"

"I'm an adult Greg, you could have talked to me about it. At least let me
make a decision for myself on whether I wanted to take a chance with you.
Besides, I didn't want someone who would coddle me, I wanted someone who
would hold me when I needed it and then tell me to get a grip and get back
in the game. I respond better when someone doesn't patronize me." She
sighed and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. "We had our chance
Greg. I had to do a lot to get to a place where I didn't hurt when I
thought about you. I don't want to go back." 

"I don't want to go back either, I want to go forward. I can't make up for
the past, I can tell you that I have missed you, my apartment looks like
crap and I've lost ten pounds. "

She giggled. He reached over and put his hand over hers. She stared at it
and the gesture melted her heart. He scooted over and put both of his
hands on her cheeks and turned her face to look at him. He held her face
in his hands and looked at her, really looked at her. His blue eyes were
reading every inch of her and it made her feel uneasy. He had to be able
to read how much she wanted him. He leaned in and kissed her softly on her
lips and then dragged his lips across her cheek, kissed her earlobe and
then he traced her neck with his lips down to her clavicle. He took the
strap off of her shoulder and kissed her shoulder. Then he kissed her neck
and back to her lips where he gave her a deep penetrating kiss. His tongue
encircled hers. She leaned closer to him and he pulled the strap down
further until he could cup her breast in his hand and then he encircled it
with his fingers. She began to untie his tie and then unbutton his shirt.
He reached down and kissed her body. 

They made love cautiously, treating each other gently and delicately.
House had never made love to a woman who had given birth only a few months
before and who was still breast feeding. He wanted to be tender and loving
with her. The sex was sweet and slow and for the first time in a long time
she felt safe, she felt that he cared.

The next morning, Danny was up and gone by 8:30 a.m. House joined Cuddy
and Wilson for breakfast.

"After the conference, I'm going to stay over for a few weeks." House told
Cuddy.

"Well, you have enough vacation time, but I'm surprised. I thought you
didn't like to travel?"

"Does this have anything to do with the fact that I knocked on your door
this morning and you weren't in your room?" Wilson smiled suggestively.

"I don't have the faintest idea what you mean."

"Did you hook up with Jordan last night?" Wilson was dogging him.

"Maybe."

"I don't believe it. House, she has a baby now. Babies come first with
women. You're going to have to compete with a baby for her attention. You
don't like to be second...at anything." Cuddy reminded him.

"Maybe it's a good thing if I'm not the sole focus in a relationship." 

"Well, I have to hand it to you, not many men would start a relationship
with a woman and a newborn baby. I really hope for Danny's sake that it
works out. She deserves a break. How is this going to work with the two of
you being separated by the "Big Pond?""

"Look, I'm just staying over to visit for two weeks. It's not like we've
picked out the announcements or china patterns. We aren't even sure where
to take it from here." 

He looked up and saw Danny cross through the lobby with Stephen and Geoff.
They were checking out and going back to Cambridge. He got up, grabbed his
cane and went out to the front of the hotel where Stephen was being loaded
into the van. 

"I'll see you Wednesday evening." House put his hand on her upper arm. 

"I'll pick you up at the train station at 6:30ish. The train is usually a
few minutes late. Stand outside by the newspaper stand and I won't have to
park, the car park is usually full." She kissed him quickly on the cheek.
He grabbed her and gave her a longer kiss on the mouth. Stephen was
smiling in the van.

When she climbed in she saw the smirk on Stephen's face. "I think I am
going to lose my assistant in January." He said to Geoff.

"Don't count your chickens Mr. Hawkings." Danny told him. *** Danny was
worried about House meeting Newt. House didn't seem to be the baby loving
type. She just hoped he didn't flat out ignore Newt since Newt was the
most important person in her life.

On Wednesday, she put Newt in his cute little cricket outfit and strapped
him in the car- seat to go meet House at the train station. House was
already standing by the newspaper stand when she got there. He put his
luggage in the back and got in. As Danny pulled out into the traffic House
turned around to get a look at Stephen Isaac. 

Stephen Isaac was staring straight back at House. House chuckled. "Well,
hello. You sure are alert. You remind me of someone. House made a silly
face at Newt and Newt simply stared at him, but Danny laughed.

"What are you doing?" she chuckled.

"Haven't you taught him that staring is impolite? He's staring at me."

"Can you blame him, he usually doesn't see men with scraggly beards or
someone as silly looking as you!"

House reached back and grabbed the binky that had fallen on the seat and
put it in his own mouth. "Does this make me more attractive to you?" 

"It would if it were my breast and not a pacifier."

"Oooh mama, let's get home quick." 

House enjoyed Cambridge. He seemed to fit in better with the British, who
had thicker skins than Americans. When they had dinner with her friends
they all teased each other with biting sarcasm and innuendo. He loved the
witty humor and the fact that they felt comfortable saying anything, no
topics were taboo. If someone was fat, they teased them about being fat.
If someone had glasses, then they were called "four- eyes." House felt
right at home.

On Friday House and Danny rented a punt while Newt slept at home under the
watchful eye of his nanny. Danny warned House, "I don't care if you do
have a bad leg, you're going to have to punt. It requires some upper arm
strength that I just don't have. So don't think you are just going to sit
there on your butt."

House found it easy to punt because he could use the punt itself for
balance. Jordan had insisted he wear a boater while he punted. House
looked quite handsome in it and Jordan asked him if he would wear it to
bed. "Only if you lay back and think of England!"

They punted up to Grantchester where they pulled over and had lunch. After
the sandwiches, Danny pulled out the Mumms, two glasses and strawberries.
She had also brought a container of clotted cream.

"I take it Newt is going to have his first glass of Mumms' milk tonight?" 

"I have some frozen breast milk, I'll just pump this out...besides I can't
punt without champagne and strawberries."

They sat on the grass and ate the strawberries. She would take a
strawberry, bite the tip off and then hold it to House's mouth for him to
eat the rest. She fed him strawberries this way until they both had their
fill. Occasionally she would dip the strawberry in the clotted cream for
an extra treat. House found this very sensual and wanted to take her on
the lawn, but of course he couldn't, there were people punting along the
Cam and it would be quite a show for them. 

After lunch they laid back on the lawn and fell asleep. After a short nap,
they got back in the punt and started back down the river Cam. Jordan was
the tour guide, giving him tidbits about the Backs. She explained the
Trinity College court, which was where the famous midnight race against
the bells was supposedly held in Chariot's of Fire. She talked about the
history of the Bridge of Sighs, an enclosed bridge that was very
comfortable to travel in the winter. And then she talked about the
Mathematical Bridge, designed and built by Sir Isaac Newton. When he built
it, no bolts or hardware were used. He had calculated all the stresses so
precisely that the bridge functioned without them. In the nineteenth
century some structural engineers wanted to figure out how he did it and
so they took the bridge apart piece by piece. It was never the same. The
bridge now has bolts to secure it. Stephen and Jordan had talked many
times about trying to reconstruct the bridge in its original
configuration, without bolts.

He was fascinated by the history of Cambridge and how many of the famous
had passed through it. His favorite story was of John Cleese who had
attended Downing College. Cleese had studied law there but after joining
the famous "Footlights" theater group, his fate was sealed. Most of the
Pythons came out of that Footlights group. He was now one of England's
beloved comedians.

House was even more enchanted by his tour guide. He knew he was falling in
love, he had felt similar feelings with Stacy. This time he had more to
think about. Jordan came with a baby. 

On Saturday they took a hike through the meadows and fields that lined the
outskirts of Cambridge. Jordan had the lunch in a knapsack on her back.
House had chosen to take Newt on his back. He had observed that Newt liked
to look at things and House thought that by being higher, on House's 6'2"
frame, Newt would have a better view. House marveled at the fact that
English law required that the public have an easement through parcels that
were privately owned. To access the easements over the stone walls they
had "stiles" Short wooden steps with a pole that you would walk up and
then down over the wall. 

To the outside world they looked like a family. They stopped at the lock
on the river Cam to watch boats make their way through. When they did, a
middle aged woman came up and played with Newt. "He looks just like his
Dad." She said. House didn't correct her and neither did Jordan. They just
said, "Thank You" and kept going.

House was surprised that his leg was in pretty good shape after the walk.
He was even able to get down on the floor and play with Newt while Jordan
fixed them "high tea." To House, high tea' was just a nice way of saying,
light supper.' House liked to watch Newt watch him. They frequently had
staring contests and it was usually House that finally looked away. 

"I've never seen any baby as curious as yours." House told Danny. "I'm not
sure what it means, but he's got an uncanny ability to focus."

Danny was relieved that House had at least found Newt interesting to
observe. He had genuinely enjoyed playing with him and carrying him all
over Cambridge on his back. She wondered how long that would last.

The sex became more athletic, more like the first time they made love.
House would initiate sex as soon as Newt went down for his nap, making it
difficult for Jordan to get anything done, including the mounting laundry.
The nanny had been given most of the week off but now Danny had wished she
had kept the nanny around just so the laundry and flat would get cleaned.
Still it was nice to have a man want her, constantly.

House was content, he was being fed and he had sex on demand. What more
could he ask for? He did notice that Danny was tired most of the time. It
must be the breastfeeding.

"I have to go in to work today and help with some press releases. Do you
want me to call in the nanny to take care of Newt?" she asked him.

"No, I can take care of him as long as he doesn't give me the evil eye and
vaporize me."

Jordan wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but if she ever wanted to see
if House was ready for a baby being around, this would be a good test.
"Ok, I'll get dressed and then I'm off."

Stephen was happy to see Jordan. She made his life so much easier. He was
also amused by the fact that she had left Greg House minding the baby.
"Are you sure you will have a flat to go back to?" He asked her.

At 3:00 p.m. she opened the door to the flat. She looked around and they
weren't there, neither was the buggy. House had left his cane behind. The
kitchen looked as if there had been a split pea and carrot explosion. At
least she knew what Newt had for lunch. 

She could tell that House had also given Newt a bath...judging from the
kitchen she could understand why. She put on the kettle for tea and
started to clean up. A few minutes later, House and a sleeping Newt came
through the door. He took Newt out of the stroller and put him in his
crib. She could hear House come home but was in the middle of cooking
something and couldn't leave the stove.

"I feel as if I've done my first honest day's work in years." House looked
exhausted.

"Uh-oh. You look knackered. Sit down and I'll make you tea." Danny smiled,
"They are a lot of work, aren't they? Where is he?"

"Sleeping in his crib. I changed his diaper five times! He managed to tag
me the first time I did it. Little squirt. He had fun spitting most of his
lunch out at me and the walls. I gave him a much needed bath. He didn't
want to go to sleep so we went out for a walk so that he could STARE at
half of Cambridge. He finally fell asleep on the way home. I need a nap."
"Gee, I thought we could have sex. I mean, Newt IS asleep..."

He gave her a silly look of recognition and said, "Oh, I see... you're
making a point. Ok, I understand now why you're so tired. So if I only
jump you every other day, does that work for you?" He managed a weak
smile.

"That would be better. We need to do laundry, including yours or you're
going to have to start wearing my clothes and somehow I don't think you'll
look good in a bra. The laundromat is a few blocks away. Can you watch
Newt while I go do a couple of loads?"

"Oh, no, no, no. YOU watch Newt. I'll do the laundry, you stay here. Just
point me in the right direction."

She loaded the laundry trolley for House to push, gave him soap and
softener and several 50p. to put in the washers and dryers. He grabbed
some newspapers to read and left the flat. Jordan had a few minutes to
herself until Newt woke up. She sat down and fell asleep where she sat.

The rest of the two weeks went fast, too fast. They had gotten into a
rhythm. Since House was a night owl, he took care of Newt during the late
shift, after the last breastfeeding. This allowed Jordan to get some extra
sleep. In return, Jordan made sure that Newt didn't wake House in the
morning. House turned out to be really good with Newt. Newt seemed to
trust House and House had a way of making Newt laugh with his silly looks
and funny sounds. 

When it came time for House to leave, Danny was both sad and relieved. It
had been hard splitting herself between being a tour guide and sex slave
to House; a mom to Newt and an assistant to Stephen. However, she admitted
that House had done a lot to help out and if the flat had been larger she
could have brought in the nanny and she would have had more energy for all
of them.

She drove House to the train station and let him off while she tried to
find a parking spot. She found one out in the back 40 and then hiked to
the station to say the final goodbyes. She had Newt with her. They barely
spoke as they stood waiting for the train to Liverpool Street Station.
Jordan knew that she would start crying if she did talk. They went into
the small sundries store on the platform and bought House a Soduku puzzle
book. 

He finally broke the silence, "Are you coming back to Princeton in
January?"

Only House would ask such an important question two minutes before using
his ticket out of here. "No. I'm going to stay on another year with
Stephen. I owe it to him. He's been there at every turn for me. Why?"

"I want you to come back...soon. I'd like for us to find a place
together."

She was frustrated, "You jackass, why are you starting this conversation
now?" 

If on cue the stationmaster announced the arrival of the 11:33 to
Liverpool Street Station, stopping at Audley End.

"Are you sure you want to take on the responsibility of raising a baby?"
she asked.

"I can't promise I will be good at it, but I kind of thought you might
want to keep him. I thought you two came as a pair. He is rather
entertaining, in a Jackson Pollock way."

"Well, its hard to make decisions like this on the spot. But I don't think
I'll be back for another year. I want to do what I can for Stephen. He
does have ALS and this may be my last chance to spend time with him. I get
a month's vacation. I could come over and stay for a month in the spring."

He got out his ticket and nodded yes. He smiled at her and then gave her a
long kiss on her lips and then a kiss on Newt's cheek. He took one last
look at her and Newt, as if he was trying to memorize their faces and got
on the train with his luggage. Once more, he was gone. 

 *** "Want some company for Christmas?" House asked Danny over the phone.

"Yes, yes, yes!!!"

"Well baby, get out the KY jelly. I'm buying my ticket today."

This time House hired a cab to drive him from Heathrow to Cambridge, it
was much easier. House was surprised at how big Newt had gotten. He
actually had a personality now that he was eight months old. And he was
grabbing onto everything, pulling himself up and trying to walk. The
Christmas tree was his first line of attack. House and Jordan had put it
up the night House arrived. By late afternoon the next day they had taken
all the ornaments off of the bottom and out of reach of a curious little
boy. House had shipped over presents so that he didn't have to drag them.
They were also put up so that Newt wouldn't pry them open.

Lovemaking was much more difficult now that Newt was older. He didn't
sleep quite as much and he frequently woke at inopportune times. This
amused House. On one afternoon House was in the final throes of ecstacy
when Newt started to wail. Jordan found it hard to concentrate on pleasure
when she could hear Newt howling like a banshee. When House finished, she
jumped up and went to Newt's room. House went to sleep. She brought Newt
in and laid him between them. They all went down for a nap.

"Well you look handsome." Jordan looked at House in his dark suit and
Christmas tie. "Let's just stay home and shag."

"I'm up for it."

"Yeah, you always are. No, we are all expected for Christmas Eve dinner,
so behave." The entire faculty and staff always rented the pub at
Grantchester for their Christmas Eve meal. It was traditional fare. Goose,
duck, roast and turkey. Neeps, parsnips and brussle sprouts. Taties, gravy
and Yorkshire pudding. Sherry Trifle for desert. It was always delicious.

Newt looked so cute in his Christmas outfit. He had that wavy light brown
hair, the long face, the lovely blue eyes. Everyone wanted to hold him.
They also wanted to know all about House. Anyone who wasn't a physicist
was of interest to them. 

By the end of the night Jordan was feeling a little uncomfortable.
Everyone kept remarking to House how much Newt looked like him, right down
to the dark blue ring around his outer cornea. It was true, Newt's eyes
weren't Chris' light blue but the darker blue eyes of House. People had
been saying the same thing all week long whenever they went out. It wasn't
until this party that she started to consider the possibility that she had
it all wrong about Chris and Newt.

She didn't know how to approach House. She wanted to know if it was true.
After they got home they were laying in bed with Newt between them,
enjoying watching him sleep. House turned over and looked at her, "I think
I'm Newt's father." He said it as if it was a factor in an equation and
not a life altering fact.

She smiled and said, "After tonight I was thinking the same thing. Would
you mind being tested?"

"If I get tested and he's mine, will you come home?"

"We'll see."

On Christmas they opened presents and laughed at Newt's reaction to the
talking bear. He kept staring at it as it talked to him. Then he started
spewing jabber as if he was talking back to it. Danny gave House an
Italian leather motorcycle jacket. It was gorgeous. House gave Danny
diamond earrings. Huge, one carat each, diamond earrings.

That afternoon they joined Stephen and his family for Christmas dinner.
Stephen as usual was blunt. "Greg, that baby has to be yours. He doesn't
look a bit like Jordan, but he does look just like you. What are you going
to do about it?"

The table went quiet. Danny saw Stephen's son shake his head in dismay.
House didn't seem to mind at all. "I was thinking of hiring him out to
childless couples."

They were at Addenbrooks. The simplest test was the old fashion blood
test. It could give them results in a few days. DNA testing was the most
conclusive but it took two weeks to get results. House took both tests. 

"Greg, I want a serious answer. Are you going to be alright if it is
positive?"

"I never wanted to be a father, but then I never wanted to grow up either.
It is what it is. Most of the time I enjoy being with Newt. Sometimes I
wish I could just be alone with you. I have a feeling most parents feel
the same way. How would you feel about it? It means that, no matter what,
we will be connected for the rest of our lives."

"Uugh....now that you put it that way. I'm joking. You actually make a
good Dad, at least so far. I'm afraid of what you'll be like when he is
older. I can see you finding a stash of pot and smoking it yourself...or
asking if his girlfriend is up for a threesome, but he could do worse, a
lot worse. I hope that he's yours."

Newt was officially the son of Gregory House. Jordan and House went down
to the American Embassy with the results and had Newt's birth certificate
amended to show House as the father. They did the same at the British
Office of Registrations. Stephen Isaac was a dual citizen with both an
American and European passports.

"Well, it's official, now will you come home?" House was demanding.

"I can't. I need to find a replacement first and train them. It isn't easy
to find a physics assistant for Stephen Hawkings, he is very picky."

"Jordan, this isn't fair to Newt or me. If I'm going to be a father, I
need to start being one. Does it help if I admit I love you?"

"It certainly does help, but please don't make me leave Stephen when he
has done some much for me. I will be over in the spring, hopefully I will
have a replacement by then and we can look for a place. I should be home
by summer, ok? And for the record, I've loved you ever since I saw you
laying in bed that very first day. 

 *** Danny got to the airport the obligatory two hours in advance and
showed them their passports. Newt looked so cute in his. He was now a year
old and walking. The doctor had given her children's Benedryl for Newt to
take. It was to help Newt sleep on the trip.

Security in Britain was incredible. The Brits had been pros at it long
before 9/11. They had to be because of the IRA. Jordan had to practically
strip Newt and his stroller before they would accept it through the
security check point. 

On the plane Newt started to fuss when they took off. Sitting next to
Danny was an Indian woman who was very kind. She helped Danny with Newt
whenever Danny had to get something or use the bathroom. It was on one of
these excursions that Danny noticed some activity in the back. People were
whispering and it appeared that a man was having a heated conversation
with one of the stewards. Danny did her business and went back to her seat
as soon as possible. 

A few minutes later an announcement was made over the speaker. "Ladies and
Gentlemen, we are turning around and making an emergency landing at
Shannon airport in Ireland. Please return to your seats and buckled your
seatbelts."

There was a lot of mumbling among the passengers as they did as told.
Jordan saw the same man that had been having a heated conversation move
towards the front of the plane where he was met by another man. The plane
was starting to descend into Shannon airport. After arriving, nothing
happened. The doors remained shut and the plane started to heat up because
the air conditioning was off to conserve fuel. After an hour, several
passengers started to get heated and there was a lot of loud voices
throughout the cabin. Jordan didn't like it, she was scared. She sat and
nursed Newt but he was having trouble getting milk because the stress was
holding her milk back.

After a few minutes, Jordan took out a bottle and gave it to Newt. She had
packed one just in case it was needed. There was a lot of commotion and a
Mid-eastern man came to the back of the cabin to talk to the economy class
passengers.

"We want all Americans to stay on board with their passports. The rest of
you will be getting off in a minute. Get ready to move when we tell you.
We will be checking your passport so don't think you can leave if you are
an American."

Jordan went white and sweaty. She immediately grabbed Newt's European
passport and turned to the Indian woman sitting next to her. "Will you
take him with you? He has a European passport...please get him off of this
plane, I'm begging you, please." she was shaking and scared.

The woman hesitated but eventually she nodded yes and took Newt from
Jordan. The signal was given and the woman stood up with Newt ,his diaper
bag and his European Passport. Jordan took Newt's American passport and
stuffed it under her seat cushion.

Jordan cried as she watched her son go down the aisle in another woman's
arms. She prayed that they would let Newt off the plane. She watched as
the woman was stopped at the door and the passports were reviewed. They
barely looked at Newt's passport and allowed the woman to leave. Jordan
was relieved. She started to breath again.

About one third of the plane's passengers had stayed behind. Jordan
wondered if they should rush the men and try to take the plane back. The
hijackers came back and took everyone's cell phones. They were not going
to allow contact with the outside.

They finally announced, "We have a bomb. It was snuck aboard by a
sympathetic airport employee so please do not think you can do anything
about it. It is not on our persons, but we have the detonator. If any of
you think you can overtake us, we will blow this plane up."

No one moved. 

House and Wilson were just coming into work when they saw some people
around the television watching CNN's "Breaking News." House wasn't too
interested because CNN always had some "Breaking News." But Wilson stopped
to see what it was. House continued to the elevator until Wilson yelled
for him to come over. 

House walked over and Wilson asked, "What airlines is Jordan coming over
on?"

"American."

"House, an American Airlines plane out of Heathrow was hijacked. It's
landed at Shannon airport. Do you think it could be Danny's?" House
watched the screen as it displayed the flight and contact information.

House tried not to panic. He immediately hobbled to the elevator and took
it to the second floor and hobbled to his office. He went into his email
and found her itinerary. Flight 105 from Heathrow to JFK. Wilson walked in
and took one look at House's face and knew.

"Oh Christ, I'm sorry House."

House turned on the television. The flight number and the number to call
American Airlines was on the screen again. House dialed it. He waited for
thirty minutes and finally got through. They wanted information from him,
at first they didn't want to give him information because he wasn't
legally related to Jordan. But he managed to convince them that his son
was also on the plane. They asked him to fax a copy of Newt's birth
certificate. House had it at work because he was adding Newt to his
medical insurance and making him the beneficiary of his 401K. He faxed it
to them. 

The television showed earlier footage of the passengers exiting the plane.
It was a short clip. "I didn't see her, did you see her?" House sounded
desperate. Wilson shook his head no.

The phone rang and the spokesperson informed House that the hijackers had
prevented all Americans from exiting the plane and that they did have
confirmation that Jordan had boarded with Stephen at Heathrow so it was
assumed that they were still on the plane.

House's heart sank. The spokesperson informed him that they would make
travel arrangements for him to JFK or Shannon if he wanted to go. He told
them to make the arrangements for Shannon. They called back and said that
because Shannon was closed due to the hostage situation, they would be
flying him into Dublin and then they would bus him to Shannon. His flight
was taking off in less than two hours from Trenton. He was to check into
the American Airlines first class desk.

House didn't have his passport with him so he had to rush home. He took a
short shower, grabbed extra clothes threw them in his backpack along with
Newt's birth certificates and Jordan's itinerary. Wilson drove him to
Trenton.

House was on his cell phone the whole time with Cuddy who talked to him
about his case and kept him posted on the updates from CNN. The hijackers
were demanding the release of Mustafa Setmarian, an Al-Qaeda leader,
accused of being involved in September 11 and planning the 2004 Madrid
train bombings. It was alleged that he was being kept in a secret prison,
but since the USA couldn't publicize that they actually had a secret
prison, the USA kept denying that they had him at all. The terrorists were
getting angry.

When House got to Dublin, the bus was already half full with family
members who were being bussed to Shannon. He got on the bus and sat
quietly waiting for the bus to get going. It filled quickly and they left.
It took several hours before the bus driver's beautiful Irish lilt
announced they were pulling into Shannon. He pointed to the tarmac and
about a quarter of a mile away they could all see the plane, just sitting
there.

House and the other family members were kept separated from the passengers
who had been let go. They were each being interviewed before being
reunited with their families. House envied the mothers, fathers, husbands
and wives who ran for joy when one of the passengers showed up at the
barricade, ready to be reunited.

He kept a vigilant eye on everything around him. Something caught the
corner of his eye. It was an airline employee with a baby. She was walking
quickly towards a door. House jumped up, grabbed his cane and ran towards
the woman. He was stopped by the guard about fifty feet from the woman.

"THAT'S MY SON, THAT WOMAN HAS MY SON. I WANT MY SON." He was banging his
cane on the floor. House knew how to make a scene. The woman could hear
the commotion behind her and turned around to see House pointing madly at
her and the baby. "YOU HAVE MY SON. I WANT MY SON. YOU HAVE STEPHEN ISAAC
MORGAN IN YOUR ARMS. I WANT MY SON." 

The woman looked at the passport she had been given for the baby. It said,
"Stephen Isaac Morgan."

"Let him through. Excuse me Mr. Morgan, could you come with me?" She
yelled at him across the terminal. House grabbed his things and then
walked as fast as his leg would let him to the woman holding Newt. Newt
held out his arms for House. House grabbed Newt, buried his head in Newts
little body and started to cry.

"Mr. Morgan, please, can you follow me?"

House composed himself and followed the woman. "My name is Dr. Gregory
House, my girlfriend is Jordan Morgan. Where is she?"

"We'll cover that in a moment, please just come in here. We have baby food
, diapers and clothing. I think your son is hungry, he hasn't eaten for
six hours." They walked into a makeshift room where other mothers and
fathers were caring for their children. The woman helped House feed and
change Newt. They were then escorted into another room with officials.

"Dr. House? I'm George Johnson, FAA, this is Carrie Mason, Homeland
Security and that ugly guy down there is Daniel Wentworth, also with
Homeland Security. "

"Where is my girlfriend, Jordan Morgan?"

"Dr. Morgan is still on the plane."

"What?" House couldn't believe it.

"Apparently when Dr. Morgan found out that Americans were going to be
singled out she convinced an Indian woman to take your son. She gave her
his European passport and she was able to get him off the plane. Your
girlfriend did a very smart thing, but then from what we understand, she's
a very bright woman. The British government has been making inquiries on
her behalf. Apparently Stephen Hawkings is making pleas to the terrorist
that she be released. I understand she was his assistant?"

"She still is...unless you're not telling me something."

"No, we believe that they are still alive. The men who took the food
aboard the plane say that it is about a third full and no signs of anyone
dead."

House relaxed a little. 

"Dr. House, do you have any identification that would identify you as
Stephen's father?"

House gave them the documentation and they seemed content with it. "Well,
you are more than welcome to take your son and relax in the lounge or back
out in the terminal. When we have more information, we'll share it with
you."

House stood up, took his bags and asked if he could meet the woman that
snuck Newt off the plane. They located her and she came over. House was
sitting, holding his sleeping baby.

"Your wife was very brave. She didn't hesitate to take action. She begged
me to get her son safely off the plane. I couldn't say no, she looked so
worried for his safety."

"Was she ok otherwise?"

"Yes, they didn't do anything to us physically. They just seemed to want
Americans. Why did your son have a European passport if you and your wife
are Americans?"

House didn't correct her, "He was born in Britain and so his mother
decided to get him a European passport along with an American one."

"Well, it saved his life. Is there anything....." But before she could
finish, the percussion of the plane exploding could be felt throughout the
terminal. The terminal was filled with screaming family members. House had
fallen out of his seat with Newt safely under him. The terminal windows
spewed glass at everyone. Luckily, House and Newt were in the back, next
to the door to the lounge. Little of the glass made it back to them.

House got up and looked out on the tarmac. There was no plane, just chards
of metal. He picked his son up, helped the Indian woman to her feet and
then stood, unable to move or do anything. 

"I am so sorry, so sorry..." The Indian woman kept saying over and over. 

There was no plane, there was no Jordan. *** When House returned to
Trenton, both Cuddy and Wilson met him and Newt at the airport. Cuddy took
the baby and Wilson grabbed what little luggage they had. Cuddy had
brought a car seat from the hospital. The hospital kept some on hand to
give out to the indigent parents in the free clinic. Everyone was silent
on the way home. 

When they arrived at House's apartment Cuddy asked him if he needed
anything? 

"Not right now."

"I'll come over and we can go shopping for baby things, get you diapers, a
crib, a stroller, you know the routine. I picked up some formula, bottles
and baby food. It's in the kitchen. I had your house cleaned, it was a
mess...." She paused and started crying, "House, I'm so sorry." She hugged
him and for once he hugged her back.

Wilson patted House on the back, "Whatever I can do, you know I'm here."

House nodded in acknowledgment.

When the door closed and he was alone with his son, he looked down and
said to Newt, "It is a wise father that knows his own child." Newt smiled
at him.

 *** DANNY'S TURN

I had finally found a replacement for Stephen and he seemed resigned to
letting me go. He liked House and because he was so fond of Newt, he knew
it was the best thing for us.

House told me that he loved me. It was said like it was a given. He didn't
give me flowers, candy or hold me tight and announce it, it was just a
quick statement of fact. But it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was hoping
he would say it some day, but I wasn't counting my chickens. 

House had started looking for a house (sounds funny, huh?) for all of us.
He wasn't having any luck finding what he wanted so he decided to have one
built. He sent me an email with the plans and told me to make whatever
changes I wanted and get back to him. I didn't change much, the house was
going to be beautiful. It was all one story except for a basement. It had
three bedrooms and an office/media room. It was a great layout and the
photos he sent me of the lot were beautiful. He has been sending me photos
of the progress and it is almost done. 

The day before I got on the plane he called and said, "Have you seen any
china patterns that you like?" It was his stupid way of letting me know he
wanted to marry me. I suspect that there is a ring waiting for me at his
apartment. He actually asked me my ring size a few weeks ago.

Newt loves him. Whenever he is around, Newt holds his arms out for him.
House is a natural with Newt, they relate on some level that I don't. I'm
very happy about this. If anything happens to me, I know Newt will have
someone in his life that loves him dearly. I can't wait for Newt to meet
his grandparents, I bet they are going to love him too.

I got on the plane and was grateful that the person in the seat next to
mine was a mother herself. It's always painful to sit next to a man. They
always give you the evil eye and make sure you know that they want you to
keep that kid's mouth shut. The woman was from Maipur and was going to
America to see her oldest daughter. We talked about children and she
helped me out when I had to get up and get something out of the overhead
bin. She also watched Newt when I went to the bathroom. 

I really didn't like the looks of the guy in the back. The steward was
trying too hard to remain calm. I was worried that we were under some kind
of attack when the announcement came over that we were turning around. As
soon as we landed and they said everyone but Americans could get off, I
knew I had to get Newt off the plane. I am so happy that I got his
European passport and I will be forever grateful to the woman next to me
for risking her own life to get Newt off the plane. Seeing him go down
that aisle killed me, I didn't know if I was sending him to his death or
not. When he got past the terrorists and I looked out the window and saw
him crossing the tarmac to a bus guarded by police, I was calm. I didn't
really care what happened to me. 

My life is now in God's hands. I've been lucky, I've been loved by my
parents, I have walked with giants in their fields, I have loved and been
loved by an incorrigible but wonderful man and I have given birth to a
beautiful child. That child is safely on his way to his father's arms. So
I ask, what more could I ask for myself? I consider myself lucky. 

 The End.

  
   Please post a comment on this story.  


Legal Disclaimer: The authors published here make no claims on the
ownership of Dr. Gregory House and the other fictional residents of
Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Like the television show House
(and quite possibly Dr. Wilson's pocket protector), they are the property
of NBC/Universal, David Shore and undoubtedly other individuals of whom I
am only peripherally aware. The fan fiction authors published here receive
no monetary benefit from their work and intend no copyright infringement
nor slight to the actual owners. We love the characters and we love the
show, otherwise we wouldn't be here.