Chapter 9 – Over the Hill

The next few weeks were almost happy at the PPTH.

"Son of a…!!" yelled House.

"What?" Wilson yipped, worried that House had done something really stupid.

"Do you know what day it is? It's December 5th! Stacy's birthday is next week! I'm an idiot." He muttered.

Wilson look at his friend and smiled that cheesy smile that showed the shining light of good in the world. "Here's your chance, big guy." After giving him a small punch in the arm, he walked about into his office.

House needed an idea and fast. Looking up to his ceiling he contemplated. After about 10 minutes, he grinned to himself. Perfect, he thought.

Stacy had be having a rough week. Work had been stressful lately, her neighbors got a new dog that became her four time a night alarm clock. Not to mention there were other things that were stressing her out too.

Finally settling down to the last half hour of her day, the secretary knocked politely on her door. "Excuse me, Ms. Parker, he would not take no for an answer". She was rudely bumped aside by non other than Gregory House. The secretary Marie looked back up to House and smiled, "You were right, she does make that face when she sees you!". He gave her a small pat on the back and walked into Stacy's office.

"Gosh, you never loose your charm on the seniors! That's probably the most contact that woman has had in 40 years." She charmed. She couldn't get the smile off her face. She knew exactly what face Greg had told Marie that she made.

"I have business to discuss with you, Parker." He liked using her maiden name again. Sounded a hell of a lot better that Warner.

"Which is?"

"The anniversary of your birth, of course. Now, if my calculations are correct, you're turning fif.." She did not let him finish that sentence. After her face softened so did his. "Okay, okay, over the hill. Does that sound better to you?" he chuckled.

It hit her only a week ago. I'm going to be fifty. Fifty! I do NOT look fifty. She came out of her little epiphany reflection and looked over at the man who could make her hands shake on a warm summer day. "What about my birthday?"

"Seeing that you haven't mentioned anything about it or gushed about one of your girlfriends taking you out, I will. I don't want any complaints from you either." He warned.

"Fine, Greg." That was the only thing she said. She gave a little reassuring smile, but something was missing. For weeks, he'd be trying to figure out this little anomaly. She was stressed about something but he knew it couldn't be just work. The woman was brilliant at what she did.

"You okay?" he asked with a hint of genuine concern.

"Yeah, why?" she replied rather quickly.

"Well, you've been a little off lately. Like something's really not right." He searched her face for any clue or indication of some sorts but found nothing. She made a 'don't worry' but he was not buying it. "It's not just the job. It's something else. It's Mark, isn't it?" He held his breath as he waiting for this awkward question.

"He's sent me an email everyday for about two weeks. I haven't responded to any of them because I don't know what to say. 'Hi, honey. Wait scratch that. Hi, Mark, how have you been since our divorce? Do I want to go out for coffee? Umm, no."

"Do you still love him?" Again he held his breath and squeezed his cane a bit.

"I did. But it's not the love that was made for a marriage. I really should not have married someone after dating only 5 months. Serves me right, I suppose."

Greg saw how uncomfortable she was becoming and quickly changed topics. "So Friday, I am picking you up at 5, and please do not wear a dress, before you ask, yes, we are taking the bike. Remember no complaints." She smiled and nodded. He got up and gave her a smile. Despite the Ketamine only working for about a week, his pain did decrease slightly and was a little more bearable. He left her stroking her bottom lip in thought of what this man had planned.