Quality Time
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A/N: This is set in the Saving Grace universe though it's vague enough that you don't actually need any of that background to enjoy the story.
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Unnecessary disclaimer: None of the characters or storylines appearing in the TV show "House, M. D." belong to me.
Abstract: A surprisingly tender moment—House is caught in the act.
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He often paced at night.
Allison was used to finding him out of bed late. He knew it worried her, but he couldn't help it. The pain in his leg had been significantly reduced by the procedure he'd undergone years ago, but sometimes it still cramped at night.
After all, most of his thigh muscle was gone.
The tiny cry startled him. It was only the second night their granddaughter was staying with them. It was hard to get used to this again, after so many years since his own children had grown up.
When the cry persisted, he wondered why his wife hadn't gone to the child. He sighed, turning his lopsided paces towards the nursery.
Yes, they had a nursery. More of a grandchildren's play-room, but seeing as this was the only grandchild they had on this side of the Atlantic, it had been transformed into a nursery during the past few months.
He reached the nursery slowly, a room which he always thought looked like someone had vomited up a rainbow of pastel colors. But after he told them he wanted the nursery theme to be Gravedigger, his wife and daughter had ignored his protestations.
The child was waving her tiny fists, her face contorted and red. "Angry isn't a very good look for you," he said softly, lifting the girl out of the crib carefully.
"You're never going to get any boyfriends like that," he continued, looking down at the girl wailing in his arms. "On second though," he added, "stay mad."
A couple minutes of rocking did the trick, and the child began to calm down. "Just playing with my emotions, then?" he said. "Not hungry, don't need a diaper… you enjoy having me at your beck and call, don't you?"
Of course, the child did not answer.
He smiled, just slightly. "That's okay. You just wanted to spend some quality time with me, I bet."
He lowered his voice. "Don't tell anyone, but I don't mind." He looked down. The girl was asleep.
Slowly, he lowered her back into the crib, being careful not to jostle her. He stared down at her for a moment, admiring the tiny perfection of this miniature human's features.
He turned away, realizing he was becoming sentimental. In any case, his leg had stopped cramping, and he was ready to head for bed.
He slowly made his way out of the room, only to nearly run directly into his wife, standing just outside the door.
He gave her a look, then fell into step comfortably beside her, heading back to the bedroom. "You know, eavesdroppers go to hell," he said matter-of-factly.
Cameron just shrugged. "Worth it."
House closed the door behind them as they entered the room. "Looks like I'll have to kill you," he stated, keeping a straight face, though his eyes were mirthful.
"Oh, really?" his wife asked as she climbed into bed, trying to hide her smile. "Why's that?"
He lowered himself down beside her, shifting comfortably under the covers before he spoke. "I have a reputation to protect," he stated firmly.
The last thing he saw before he turned out the light was the smirk on her face. "I'll keep that in mind."
Soon, he fell into a dreamless sleep. His leg didn't hurt at all.
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