- 3 -
House was searching for a lunch date later that day, and it was then that he realized that Stacy and Wilson were both probably doing their jobs. After grabbing some fries and a Reuben, he scanned the cafeteria for possible choices. Well, Dr. Andrews was sitting alone, no surprise there. Nurse Brenda and Katie were chatting it up, and he really didn't care about the hospital's latest hotties. Speaking of hotties… Lisa was sitting alone at a table, and he hadn't talked to her for years. House ceased the opportunity and took a seat at the same table as her.
She nearly jumped as House sat down opposite her. "Oh my god… Greg?"
House smirked.
"Greg, oh my god. It's been like five years… oh my god."
"You can stop saying 'oh my god' if you want to."
Lisa rolled her eyes. He definitely hadn't changed much. "How have you been?"
"Same old, same old."
Lisa fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat. "So are you seeing anyone?"
"Do you honestly think that's appropriate to ask while you're wearing your wedding ring?"
"I was just trying to start a conversation," she said. "How did you find out about my wedding?"
"Friend of mine told me."
Lisa smiled. "Oh, you still keep in contact with a lot of your college buddies?" Wait, what college buddies? He had a band and he had her. That was about it.
"Nope."
Lisa was confused. "Well, then who—."
"So you work in Peds, huh? I always thought you were more interested in something a bit more challenging than crying children and runny noses."
Lisa laughed. "I'm actually an endocrinologist now."
House's eyebrows perked up. "Then why are you working here?"
Lisa shrugged. "It was the closest hospital to home."
"Then… why didn't you get a different home?"
"They have good schools here."
"Aw, you have a kid." House was just mocking her now.
"Look, if you're going to mock me, I'll find someone else to eat lunch with."
House rolled his eyes. "Like who? You were alone before I sat down."
Lisa frowned as she scanned the cafeteria. It was true; she didn't really know anyone. She was about to admit defeat, but then Wilson walked into the cafeteria. "I could have lunch with James."
"James?" House had a bad feeling now.
"Yes, James." She pointed to Wilson.
House snorted. "Good luck."
"What are you talking about?"
Teenage-girl mode. "Total player."
Lisa stared at House with narrow eyes. "You're lying just so I'll eat lunch with you."
"I am not."
"He seemed perfectly pleasant when I first met him."
"Yes, I'm sure he opened a door for you or offered to show you around the hospital."
"He helped me pick my files up…."
"Typical."
So many thoughts were rushing through her head at the same time. "What are you talking about, Greg?"
"Look, all I'm saying is you're married and he's married." House shrugged.
"You aren't telling me something."
House bobbed his head from side to side, deciding if he should tell her or not. He decided to. "Before he got married, he was able to pick up practically any woman he wanted to. He actually did pick up most of the women in this hospital."
Lisa sneered. "You're a pig."
"I'm telling you the truth!"
Lisa rolled her eyes as she sarcastically tried to describe Wilson's life. "But marriage saved him and he can't imagine how he ever lived without her, I suppose."
"Nope."
"No?"
"No."
"Well, then—."
"Word is that he's having marital problems."
"You're lying."
"I am not!"
"How could you possibly know all this about him?"
"We're buddies."
Lisa's jaw dropped. "You were selling out your friend?!"
"I was only trying to warn you!"
Lisa could see right through him, though. "You're an ass."
"Oh, don't act so surprised."
"I'm not surprised," she said. "Just disappointed." And that's when Lisa picked up the remaining food that she had on her tray and went to join Wilson at his table.
House watched the entire scene play out before him. He had a bad feeling about this; there was trouble on the horizon alright. He shook the thought away, though, when he realized that he was sitting at a table, alone, while observing two perfectly happy people at a table not too far from his. He definitely needed to find something better to do, so he threw the last of his fries away and got up to leave. Maybe he should be getting back to work. Hopefully the test results on Sebastian Charles were back by now.
House was on his way back to his department, but he paused as he saw a familiar face sitting in the chapel… alone. It was the young woman who he had seen with Sebastian earlier, but why was she alone? He didn't really care, but he was curious, so he went in to join her.
