PART 2

I looked at him dumbfounded. Regaining my usual flawless composure, I said, "I'm not sure, I barely even know who you are."

"This is true, but I don't even know who you are, and here I am offering you a gig and the once in a lifetime chance to straddle my delectable body. Both are amazing offers," he said looking at me with those eyes of his.

For a second, I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. I could barely pump blood through my body. Those amazing blue eyes are dangerous to all women and quite a few men as well.

"Ummm…" I thought it over. A chance to sing in front of people? That sounded like fun. As long as I didn't know them I was usually fine. But should I go with him? I barely knew who he was! But what I've heard, is that he's an abrasive bastard to his patients and coworkers. I hadn't heard a thing about him being a kidnapper or rapist. Finally, I decided, to throw caution to the wind. "What the hell, what have I got to lose?"

"OK, good. Get on. There's an ATM in the lobby if you want to get smaller bills. So, if she doesn't give you the job, at least you'll be able to buy hot dogs… and pay me back."

"I thought I was paying you back by going to see your boss?" I asked teasingly.

"Just get on the bike before I change my mind."

As soon as I was situated, he put the thing in gear and we shot off into the horizon… causing me to fling my arms around his waist more firmly. I swear I could feel his laughter rumble through his body.

The ride itself was like a roller coaster. Luckily for him and his expensive looking leather jacket, I happen to enjoy roller coasters. I got over the initial spastic need to have a death grip on something, so I let him breathe again, but still held on… (because I liked the feeling)… I mean… because I didn't want to fly off the back of the hog… yep. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

When we got to the hospital, he led me to an office and told me to wait there while he berated his underlings and fixed a patient. (His words, not mine.)

When he came back he was tailed by three ragged looking doctors. They looked as if they hadn't had any sleep in about three days. He barked some orders at them and sent them on their way, ignoring the odd looks they were sending us.

He came into the adjoining office where I was and motioned for me to follow him. Even with his cane I had to work to keep up with him. "Alright, we're going to say that you were singing and I heard you and immediately thought of having you for the benefit."

"That is what happened, Dr. House," I said confused.

"Oh, cool. Then you won't have to worry about making your story jive with mine," he said, looking surprised that he didn't have to BS his way out of this.

We made our way downstairs to an office labeled: Lisa Cuddy, MD Dean of Medicine. HOLD THE PHONE!! THIS IS MY NEW BOSS!!!!!!

He opened the door and pushed me inside. "CUDDY!!!! NO MORE SEX CITES!! YOU'RE THE DEAN OF MEDICINE FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. I seriously wondered if I had made the right decision in coming here, I mean, this woman was my new boss and here this man was vouching for me and accusing her of looking at porn… a sinking feeling started at the pit of my stomach.

The woman at the desk hung up the phone and turned around in her chair so that she was facing House. I was behind him slightly so she didn't notice me at first. "House, what do you want? That was the last chance I had at entertainment for the benefit this weekend. Now, what do you propose I do?"

"Well, let's see, you could do the entertaining yourself, but, you're not that great a singer, so I'm gunna say that you would have to dance… I'm sure we could find a pole somewhere…" He looked around as if he actually thought he'd find said pole behind her coat rack.

"House," the woman I presumed to be Dr. Lisa Cuddy said as a demand to shut up.

"Or… you could hire this young lady," he said, gesturing towards me. "I heard her singing and immediately thought of having her sing for the benefit… for a price."

"House, she's right here. I can just hire her without having to give you anything."

"Yes, but as you said, I just ruined your last chance at hiring a band, and this lovely lady, as beautiful as she does sing, does not have a band, or anything besides her voice to entertain. Therefore, you need some kind of instrumentals."

"Um… actually, I do play some instruments, just none that I can play while singing at the same time," I speak up for the first time since entering the room.

Dr. Cuddy looked at me. "You do? What instruments do you play?"

"Uh, yeah. Flute, piccolo, I fake trombone… badly, and I can play piano… just not well enough to perform.

House looked shocked. "Well, since you can't sing and play any of those at the same time, you will be needing someone to accompany you. Enter yours truly. So, Cuddy, here is my proposal. You give me two full months off of clinic duty and I will accompany the lovely… I'll accompany her."

"House, do you even know her name?" Dr. Cuddy asked.

"She told me, but well… you know, bum leg and all," he said seemingly self deprecatingly, although I couldn't exactly see how a bum leg had anything to do with his memory.

"What's your name, miss?" Dr. Cuddy asked me.

"Angela Sorrenta. And, Dr. Cuddy, I'm supposed to start my residency here in a few days… I don't know if this will affect that… I'm just kind of confused." Liar. You have no idea what the hell is going on."

She considered my plight. "Normally, it would, but I'm beyond desperate, so I'll make an exception, as long as you're with Dr. House, I'll consider that time towards your residency requirements." She turned to House. "Alright, House, here's what I'll give you. You accompany Angela, here, for two hours, four 30 minute sets with 15 minutes in between, AND help her with her residency requirements until this is over… and I'll will give you three two weeks off of clinic duty."

"2 months."

"2 weeks."

"Month and a half."

"3 weeks."

"1 month final offer. Take it or lose Annie's voice."

"Um… it's Angela," I corrected quietly, not wanting to get on my new boss' bad side, seeing as how I didn't know how bad her bad side could get.

"Sorry, 1 month. Take it or lose Angela's voice."

House screwed his face up as if he was considering turning it down. "Ugh. Fiiiiine."

She looked resigned. "Fine, one month, but it starts after the play for her at the benefit. Angela, what would you like for playing?"

"She would like for me to have another month off of clinic duty." House said, interrupting me.

"No, she wouldn't. She would like something that she can have. Probably money." Cuddy said, cutting him off. "So, what seems fair to you, Angela? $500?"

Wow… payment in addition to keeping (if not speeding up) my residency? With help from THE Dr. House, no less?

"Uh… sure. For two hours? I'm not sure what the norm is. I've never done this before."

"What? House, there is no way I can let you do this. She doesn't have any experience."

"Cuddy, I wouldn't complement someone unless I thought they were incredibly good… actually I normally don't complement people period… but that just goes to show how good she is."

"I need to hear her."

"Okay, we'll take your car," House said after a moment of thought.

"House- What? What do you mean?"

"Let's take your car to my house so that we can hear her sing while I play my piano," House said very slowly and deliberately.

Cuddy rolled her eyes and glanced at her clock. "Fine. It's past lunch anyway." We started making our way outside when Dr. Cuddy spoke again, "Angela, you said that you play flute?"

"Yes, I do."

"Ok, hang on," she said as a warning as she cut across 3 lanes to turn right.

"Cuddy! My house is the other way!! What are you doing?" House yelled.

"She plays flute, I figure we can add some flute pieces as well as vocal. I used to play flute, so we're making a pit-stop at my place to pick it up."

Ok, fine, I had no plans anyway.

AN: YAH HAH!!! Okay, class, can anyone tell the teacher what is a "rolls your eyes at the author" moment? Yes, Billy? "The girl is gunna play flute and the authors penname is 'fluteskickbrass'! Is that it? Do I get to roll my eyes at the author? Hunh? Can I? PLEASE?!?!" Yes, Billy, you may.

So yea. In case you missed it, whispers I'm kinda a band geek… who plays flute… go figure.

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