The bat fell to the floor with thud as she staggered back and into the exam table. It was all supposed to make her feel better, empowered. It didn't do that, it just brought everything she was running from, everything she was hiding, right back to the surface. Jessica went to great lengths to ensure she had everyone fooled, not letting them know she came from money and especially not letting them see how she truly felt. Looking down at her hand she winced when she saw the slow trickle of blood from her wrist.

One swing too many and that glass jar of tongue depressors made her regret her expression of anger. Holding up her wrist to examine it, she saw the small shard of glass in her wrist, tugging it gently before yelping as she turned her gaze to him. She didn't expect to get his sympathy. She didn't expect him to say anything other than it was her doing. It wasn't about expectations anymore. It was about realizing what they both were.

Who were they, exactly? They were a brilliant doctor with any number of personal shortcomings and a divorcee who had everything but direction in her life. She snapped back to attention when he grabbed at her wrist, tugging it closer for a look. No words were exchanged when he motioned her to sit on the exam table as he went to the cabinet, returning with a pair of tweezers as he leaned in to examine her wrist closely. She cried out in pain when he tugged the piece of glass out and set it in the metal pan next to where she sat.

Instinct moved her hand to her wrist, trying to hold the small piece of gauze he'd placed there in place as she waited for him to bandage it. When he finally got to bandaging it, it was nothing short of gentle, his movements were all with purpose and they held no flaw. House wasn't highly regarded because he knew every symptom in the world, he was highly regarded because he knew them and he knew how to fix people, strictly in the medical sense. She wanted that, she wanted to learn how to apply that knowledge. Jessica needed something to throw herself at, something to be good at. Saving Greg House and his ability to practice medicine was it.

The bandage was wrapped tightly around her wrist, she watched as he carefully snipped the length of the fabric before examining his work. She slid off the exam table, smirking briefly when she saw no blood had stained the perfect white coat he'd just put on her shoulders. Watching him put everything away and limp to the door, she stood there mouth agape when he gestured for her to follow. Smalltalk wasn't something they did so the walk to the elevator and the elevator ride were quiet. When he moved to pull the emergency stop on the elevator, she knew what was coming.

"House…"

He couldn't muster much force but when he pressed her against the wall of the elevator he leaned up to whisper in her ear. Instinct led her to lean her head against his, ready to listen to and believe anything he said. When he told her that she'd earned her spot on the team, she moved to brush her lips upon his. A sharp gasp sneaking past her lips as she felt his stubble brush against her cheek. Looking down to see his hand gripping her injured wrist firmly, she glanced up to meet his gaze, the one she knew would be there.

"Not here."

She could see the disappointment on his face, knowing what he wanted. It wasn't that she didn't want to let him have it. She'd earned her job and she was grateful to him but she didn't want it to happen this way. When he moved to slap his hand against the emergency stop to get the elevator going again, she leaned on the elevator wall, rubbing her forehead with the palm of her hand. All the doubt rushed back into her head, the feelings of inadequacy and not deserving that coat she now proudly wore. It was only when he took her hand and walked towards her car that she realized none of that mattered – at least for tonight, they were going home together.