A GAME OF TWO HALVES

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters

Chapter One: Good Times, Bad Times

Gregory House rolled over in his bed and glanced at the clock. 6:00AM. Damn, he thought. He had wanted to sleep in today, the more he slept the later he had to go to work. In theory. Pushing the thought of work out of his mind, he rolled over to his other side and swung his arm over the sleeping figure next to him., causing her to mumble and wake.

"Hi there stranger"

Gregory leaned in and kissed her, breathing in the scent of her hair and skin, before getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom. The sound of running water could be heard from the bedroom.

Twenty minutes later Gregory came out of the shower, searching in vain for some fresh towels. Finding none, he called out to the expectant figure in bed,

"The towels Stacy! Where do you keep putting them!"

Stacy sighed, got out of bed, and brought Gregory a set of fresh towels from the closet.

"They're in the closet Greg, they always have been and they always will be."

"You know, the point of having towels in to hang them in the bathroom to make them accessible, a concept you have yet to learn." Gregory replied, every sarcastic but the affection evident in his voice.

"Turn around" Stacey demanded.

"Yes sir"

Stacy began to dry Gregory from his shoulders down, paying special attention to his stomach, back and thighs. It had become an early morning routine for the couple and Stacy realized this as she absentmindedly moved the towel back and forth.

"Stacy."

"Yes?"

"I think my back's dry enough now."

"Oh, right. Sorry."

She stood up and with an expert eye looked Gregory up and down, scanning his lean body.

"You still have some rough spots on you. I think you may need to take another shower, this time with the shower gel."

Gregory sighed and replied "I did use it, mother. Look. I even cleaned behind my ears, aren't you proud? Just because I'm a doctor doesn't mean I can't have my bad days."

Stacy shot a reproachful glance at Gregory and said "Greg, every day for you is a bad day. Fine, forget the shower gel. You'll just have to submit to a scrub from me, Doctor House."

"Why Miss Warner, are you deliberately making me late for work?"

Stacy stepped out of her robe. "Just get into the shower"

The sound of running water echoed throughout the bedroom.

An hour later, Gregory got into his car, a Mercedes Benz C180 Kompressor, ready for some fast driving. He had been due at the hospital 30minutes ago. Cuddy was not going to be happy, but then agan, she never is, Gregory thought. He put his car into gear and sped out into the street, failing to see the oncoming car. The last things he heard were the beeping of the horn and the screeching of tires before the impact hit him. His world went black.

House awoke and sat bolt upright in his bed with a startled yelp. Gradually gaining his composure, he glanced at the clock 6:00AM. Damn. He swung his legs over the bed and reached for the this that brought him the most comfort in his life.

"God dammit where are my painkillers?"

A split second of terror seized him but ceased when he found them where he left them last night: the bedside table. He popped the cap open and an unknowing amount of pills was poured into his mouth.

It had been a while since House had dreamt about Stacy. The memories came flooding back to him, despite his unwillingness to relive those chapters of his life. Pushing the thoughts out of his head in disregard, House hobbled into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The sound of running water could be heard from the bedroom, and a white towel was visible, hanging on the hook, ready for use when House got out.

An hour later, he was making his way to the hospital. It had not been a good start to the day for him, as he parked his car, grabbed his cane and checked his pocket for his painkillers. Approaching the hospital, House's attitude grew lighter as he thought of his team, Wilson and the numerous patients he would be able to torment. Then, there was Allison. All thoughts of Stacy were forgotten as House, slowly yet purposefully, pushed through the entrance doors into Princeton Hospital.