The sight of her took his breath away. Jesse was a vision of burgundy red silk and tiny sequins all the way down to her shoes. It was another low cut V-neck, a style that perfectly framed her curvaceous figure, with the flutter sleeves draping into a small cape that flowed to the middle of her back. Her Victorian ruby necklace and earrings looked to be worth a fortune. Jessica all but floated down the stairs toward him…

"Pass inspection?" Jesse said, doing a quick turn and waiting. "You certainly do. You clean up beautifully! Oh bat those baby blues all you want, you know it's true."

House's mouth opened but the words wouldn't come. He could think of nothing to compare her to. "Is it my birthday?" Was all he could think of to say.

"I'll take that as a yes. Not overdressed?" House was having evil thoughts about the level of dressed he would have preferred at this point but no…no. How many times had he told himself to behave on the way over. House could only shake his head. So we have time?" She pointed to his beer.

"I'm not big about arriving early."

"Fashionably late is good." Jesse snapped her fingers and pointed at the receptionist. "So how do you like it?" She asked, motioning to their surroundings.

"Nice. Dark." The receptionist brought her drink.

"It's the bat cave." Jesse laughed. "No need for lights. The tables have candles." So…Dr. House…Greg…This was rather spur of the moment."

"That's all we had. You were trying to escape." House reminded her.

Jesse laughed. "Busy day."

"I have lots of them. You too, I take it."

"I try." Jesse said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He was staring. Those blue eyes were boring in to her.

"I don't. It end's up that way." House took another drink and thought for a moment. "But this evening was open and then you showed up."

"You make that sound like it's a bad thing."

"Not at all. Maybe long overdue? Have you always been here…?"

"No. I came back late last year after a long absence…been everywhere but here.

"What brings you back…home?" House was fishing. Jesse stopped to think.

"I needed to come in for a landing. It was time. Here I am."

"You'll be staying?" House asked.

"Off and on. I'm used to traveling, but getting tired of it."

"What do you do?" House asked. He saw something in her eyes. There was a momentary blank. He cautioned himself, everybody lies.

"I sit at the heads of many tables. And right now I'm sitting with you."

"Big secret?" House tried again.

"No. I'm in between…this and wherever the day takes me. I teach and lecture. I'm big on music and digital everything. Digital photography. Digital art. Computers. I'm a freelance pain in the ass, basically. I'm considering retiring from that and doing this." she motioned to the club. "I've had it since the beginning of the year and it's doing very well. Good enough to call home for now."

"Freelance pain in the ass." House echoed.

"People like you…call people like me…" Jesse stammered.

"People like me? What are people like me?" House felt a little defensive.

"You work. You have a 9 to 5 and a daily destination. You have social circles and 'annual charity events' and coffee breaks. That's a mystery to me. Thought I'd try it for a while. I needed a change."

"Doesn't look like you've fared badly doing whatever it is you do."

"I am very fortunate. Repeat as necessary." Jesse took a long drink without batting an eye. House caught a familiar whiff as he admired her jeweled fingers, a ring on each one.

"Bacardi 151?" He asked. Jesse nodded. "You drink it straight?"

"You're stating the obvious." She laughed, echoing their earlier conversation.

"That's not normally a woman's drink." House countered.

Jesse raised her glass. "If I sipped white wine and sat in a cubicle all day we wouldn't be sitting here together sharing this moment now would we?

"No. We wouldn't." House didn't hesitate.

"Here's to one of my favorite t-shirts." Jesse raised her glass. "Well-behaved women rarely make history." Housed raised his glass to hers. "Ready to go light up the tires?"

It was a short drive and there wasn't much time for conversation, but House tried. He realized as he opened the car door for Jesse that he didn't know much more than her name and that she was educated, well traveled and beautiful beyond compare. "I don't want to lose you to the band all night. What do you like to do? We play poker most of the night…" House asked, trying to get some idea of what to do with Jesse now that he had her. Had her…Jesse was his for the night, he thought. She wasn't getting away.

"I can play poker, euchre, and a host of others. I said I'd go with you…I have no intention of hiding behind a microphone all night." You asked me for a reason."

"I don't dance." House said, trying for a laugh.

"I won't dance with anyone else if you don't want me to." House said nothing. "You asked me for a reason…Greg, you don't know me or anything about me."

House said nothing for a moment. "I guess we start out even. I won't ask if you won't."

"You asked me for a reason." Jesse tried again. There was silence. "Okay. So what's the game plan for this evening's performance?"

"I liked the part about lighting up the tires." House laughed. "I haven't brought…anyone to…I'm not seeing anyone."

"That's good to know." More silence.

"Are you?" House coaxed.

"No." Jesse smiled. "Is it just sinking in that you asked a complete stranger to your annual work party where you're known? Where you may have to answer questions?"

"I don't give a damn what any of them think."

"I bet you do, just a little." Jesse coaxed. "I'll be good." She promised.

"I probably won't so I hope you can make up for both of us. Did it occur to you you're going out with a complete stranger?"

Jesse nodded. "It did when I accepted. I don't have to walk in the next day to all the gossip." House laughed. "Unless that's what you wanted." House suddenly realized why she was asking for a reason earlier.

"No. It wouldn't matter what I wanted along those lines anyhow. The idiots are going to talk because they have nothing better to do. They talk about other people because they have nothing to talk about in their own miserable lives. I asked you because…I…wanted more than the memory of you this afternoon." House stammered. He really hadn't been able to put it in words until she pressed him for it. "You were everyone else's memory too. From eight until we say goodnight, you're mine."

Jesse could tell she'd made him uncomfortable. Asking a man for a reason…for anything. She was out of practice. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's said to me in a very long time. I'll do my best for you." Jesse said, doing her best to make amends.

House turned to look at her. Everything in her expression said she was telling the truth. He couldn't imagine she'd been alone forever. But they'd agreed not to ask. It was his idea and with good reason. Better than to explain how he'd fumbled along the last several years. He simply extended his hand and Jessica gently took it. Neither said a word the last few blocks. House savored the moment, the feeling of her delicate hand wrapped in his. He almost hated to pull in and park. Jesse reached for the door handle.

"Sit." Was all House said, getting out of the car. Jesse stifled a laugh as he gallantly opened the door for her. "It's show time." He smiled at her, extending his arm. She was already on his left…she made everything easy. House stopped her just short of the entrance. The hallway was dimly lit and he wanted one last moment alone with her.

"What?" Jesse softly asked.

House shook his head, drinking in the sight of her. His arm slipped around her waist and he pulled her toward him, never taking his eyes from hers. "You're beautiful." He whispered in her ear, Jesse's skin was so soft; it felt so good to him. House lingered a moment longer, mustering up a little courage. His lips softly brushed against hers. Jesse was silent. There was no hint of her pulling away; only her sweet face smiling up at him when he let go of her. House extended his arm again, and they were on their way.

House had guessed right. The ducklings had wasted no time telling everyone that mattered of House's "big date." House could see from a distance that Cuddy and Wilson had saved two places at the poker table. Cuddy was already waving. Wilson was on his feet making his way over. "I tried calling when my flight got in…"

"It was off the hook." House was positively beaming as he watched his friend eyeing Jesse. "So how was the big Oncology convention?"

"Oh…big…boring. And what have you been up to?" Wilson asked, staring at Jesse.

"Oh you know, parties, socialites…if I don't have to sit by the phone and wait for you to call and show up at all hours of the night I can actually get out and have a life." House grinned, leading Jesse to the bar. Jesse laughed, giving House a look. "Actually, I've been working overtime trying to keep everyone in line while you were gone. Oh and in the meantime, I met Jesse. Jesse, this is my good friend, little Jimmy Wilson, the big time Oncologist."

"Jesse Amarantha." Jesse extended her hand. Wilson seemed afraid to touch her she was so exquisite. He nervously took her hand and gave House an evil look.

"Dr. James Wilson. I'm pleased to meet you. Cuddy and I saved you a spot…"

"I see you saved two. Already heard I was bringing someone? Now let me think…"

"I guess we made quite the impression earlier." Jesse chimed in.

The evening progressed without incident for a change. No emergency calls; no one got a page from anywhere in the hospital. House was impressed that Jesse made herself so comfortable in a room full of strangers. But they weren't all strangers. Some of the audience from earlier that afternoon wandered up for encore requests. Foreman shook her hand, thanking her for the show earlier that day.

"So these are your students?" Wilson asked, attempting some minor conversation.

"In a manner of speaking. Work-study program. Most are mine for a term."

"Where do I sign up?" Wilson joked.

"Forget it. She's all booked up." House interrupted. Jesse only smiled…at Cuddy in particular.

"House…where do you find these women?" Cuddy said, the innuendo more than a little thick. She inhaled the drink in front of her.

"This one was right here earlier this afternoon. You hired her, I believe." House grinned, not backing down an inch from the fun he was having. "I'll have to send you a thank you note later, maybe even flowers, remind me?" His tone was the height of sarcasm.

"So…is it poker or knives and daggers?" Jesse sweetly asked, glancing around the table.

House lit a cigar and reached for the cards. "Where we start and where we finish are usually dealer's choice." They exchanged a look that was nothing short of evil. Jesse knew…it was time to light up the tires.

Jesse put her fingers to her temples like she was receiving a premonition. "I see pointy objects in our future."

Chapter 4