As the lights go down, a hush comes over the crowd and the performer steps onto the stage. The look upon his face is that of love for the craft behind crystal blue eyes. Despite this, the one defining characteristic about this man is the cane he carries with him like a wand.
"Who is he?" A girl in the crowd whispers to her friend. Her friend doesn't answer but continues to stare on intrigued at the performer. As they watch in silence, the man has a seat upon the piano bench and leans in towards the microphone.
"Thank you." Then the music starts. Each note caressed is done so with elegance and grace while the audience is transported into a different time and a different place. Suddenly, the concert ends, the lights come up and the audience disperses out into the lobby.
"So, did you like the show Joan?"
"Are you kidding? I loved it. Who was that musician? He was great."
"Yeah, he's been doing that for years. Sort of like a hobby when he's not working his other job."
That's when Joan stopped and looked at her friend straight in the eye. Gloria, the woman she had come with rolled her eyes for a moment before breathing in a sigh.
"What?"
"How do you know so much about this guy?"
"(sigh) We're friends."
Before Joan could respond to this, Gloria gestured towards the exit while uttering these few fateful words "Do you want to meet him?"
"I don't even know his name."
"Its House. Look, he doesn't usually hang around the dressing room too long after the show so if we're going to do this we better do it now."
This seemed like a reasonable request so Joan didn't hesitate while Gloria proceeded to pull her friend through the crowd and down a long corridor.
As they knocked on the door, Joan could feel the anticipation growing within the pit of her stomach as the seconds ticked on endlessly. Then, suddenly a low masculine voice could be heard from within.
"It's open."
As they made their way inside the small, cramped room Joan and Gloria exchanged a glance while laying eyes upon the sole occupant of this space who was busy wrapping up a phone call.
"How many times do I have to tell you Marty? I'm not interested in a long term contract. (Pause) Yeah, yeah, yeah I know the show's a hit, I know the crowd loves it but as I mentioned before…I'm a doctor not a lounge singer."
Watching the man as he hung up the phone Joan was perplexed. She wasn't sure if the term "doctor" meant something different in the music world then it did in the outside world but mentally Joan knew they were the same. However, the young woman was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of her friend's voice.
"Still giving your agent a run for his money huh?"
"He's an idiot." As this was said, Greg glared at Joan with a look that made her feel a bit uncomfortable. She was used to being around older men after all, she had lived with three older brothers growing up but neither of them had ever looked at their youngest sibling with such a mysterious glare.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth or does she just turn away?"
There was silence following this question as Gloria glared at Joan with a hint of playfulness in her eyes. However, what happened next came as an even bigger shock. House smirked to himself while looking over towards Gloria with laughter in his eyes.
"Guess you were right, she is the feisty one isn't she?"
"I told you."
Is some kind of practical joke that I'm not aware of? Joan could feel the anger welling up inside her as she moved towards her friend.
"You told him about me?"
"Of course, I tell him about all my friends."
This seemed like a reasonable explanation but still, something didn't add up. If Gloria and this guy had been friends for awhile why hadn't she ever mentioned him before? With this in mind, Joan crossed her arms over chest while beginning to cross examine the crippled musician.
"Well, since we're becoming so friendly here why don't I introduce myself. Hello, I'm Doctor Joan Cromwell Psychiatrist, it's a pleasure to meet you House."
By the end of this sentence, the curiosity in House's eyes had disappeared and he was now looking at this woman with pure hatred in his eyes while the two shook hands.
"The pleasure's all mine doctor but, as you can see I'm in no mood to be psychoanalyzed if that's alright with you."
My, isn't he the testy one. Bringing herself to her full height, Joan smiled coyly towards House while peering deep into his eyes.
"Not at all, but I must say it is fascinating meeting someone with such a high respect for what I do."
The sarcasm dripping off every word was met with delight as House began to be intrigued by the woman for which he was speaking.
"Impressive."