A/N: I was having some issues getting into this site with my laptop so that explains the delay in posting. That also explains why I haven't been able to reply to any reviews from the last chapter. My laptop email and my desktop email are having some kind of spat ;) Sorry if I missed some of you. I'll get you next time, I promise :)

The saga continues...

Chapter Ten

I was a dark and stormy night when House drove up to his apartment building. But that would be nothing compared to the storm that was awaiting him inside. He turned the key in the lock and opened the door. Once it was closed and his bag tossed aside, he was met with a hard slap across his face before he even had a chance to turn the lights on.

"You son of a bitch!" Kat's voice hissed before she slapped him again even harder, causing him to lose his balance and grab the nearby table to steady himself. Then he flipped on the light.

"Kat? What the fuck is your problem?" he shouted back at her as he rubbed his swollen cheek. He was sure there was probably a hand print there now.

"How did you even get in here?"

"That's not important. What is, is that Joely is totally upset and humiliated over what you did to her today."

"What I did? Would you care to enlighten me as to what that was?"

"She said you had your hand up her skirt."

He almost laughed. "She came in for a routine physical! So yes, I did. That's not a lie, but only because I had to! You know what physicals are about. You're a big girl now. As for Joely, I think she did this on purpose."

"Why?"

"To break us up. She likes me."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Kat laughed. "You're old enough to be..."

"Her father? Go on, say it."

"I don't have to. You just did, and it's true, you know."

"One of my fellows had a crush on me years ago. It didn't end well. I'll be sure to tell Joely that next time I see her."

"If there is a next time," Kat murmured as she rubbed her hands over her arms. "Damn, it's cold in here. Don't you ever put the heat on?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's freezing in here!"

House groaned and shook his head. "No, not that. What you said before. You're actually going to take her word over mine? Did you come here to break it off?"

"Well what am I supposed to think, Greg? She came to me literally in tears over it. She's never come apart like that. Guys hit on her all the time and she ignores them but you...what the hell did you say to her anyway?"

House sighed and went to the kitchen to pour himself a stiff drink. He poured one for Kat too and gestured for her to sit down. He also turned the heat up a little. It was rather chilly from leaving his bedroom window open while it rained all day.

"Why she came to our clinic is still a mystery to me. She could've gone anywhere. Doesn't she have health insurance? If she doesn't, you're clearly not paying her enough."

"Yes she has health insurance. But she wanted to come to the hospital with me today and didn't say why."

"You didn't ask?"

"No, why would I? I figured she wanted to get something from the deli down the street after she heard you rave about their sandwiches. Come to think of it, why were you even there today? You hate the clinic," she pointed out.

"It's part of my contract to do so many hours a week. And since I had some time to kill, Foreman sent me there." He paused and rubbed his hands over his face. "It wasn't like it was just her and myself in the room. There's always a female nurse to assist so if you want a witness, ask her." He gulped the last couple of sips and got up to pour himself another. "UN-fucking-believable," he muttered. "And you didn't answer my question as to how you got in here."

"I talked nice to the building manager. Didn't take much to convince him to let me in."

"So is that all you came for? To slap my face and accuse me of putting my hand where it doesn't belong? Wow! Possessive much?"

"I came because I cared! And since I'm not seeing anyone else, damn right I'll be possessive!"

"I'm not some toy that you can clutch to your chest and not share with anyone! We never said we were exclusive. You're the one charging me for something I didn't do. Not technically anyway. And you know what? Even if she threw herself at me I still wouldn't have done anything because she's a virgin. I'm not into that."

Kat was about to say something back but stopped. Disbelief was evident on her face. "She is not."

"Yes she is. I should know, being the one to have my hand up her skirt. The bottom line is this: Joely totally blew things out of proportion. I'll talk to her if you want me to but I don't know what you expect me to say. I'm sure as hell not going to apologize because I did nothing wrong!" he snapped as he rubbed his cheek again. "Damnit. You must do a lot of slapping cuz it's still stinging." He got up and went to the kitchen for a frozen gel pack. When he turned around, he saw her standing in the kitchen doorway with her arms folded tightly.

"What about all the personal questions you asked her? And the breast exam. Were they really necessary?" she glared.

"I asked her if there was a history of heart attacks or strokes, and the breast exam is simply part of the check-up. Again, I don't know why she's making such a big deal out of it. You didn't seem to mind when you came into the clinic pretending to be in desperate need of my care."

"That was different!" she shouted back.

"A pelvic is still a pelvic. She even asked for a different doctor but she would've been made to wait another hour and it seemed ridiculous when I was there already. So I did the exams, asked her a few routine questions..."

"Asking her when the last time she had sex is routine?"

House shrugged, a smile tugging one corner of his mouth. "I was curious as to what she'd say, having clearly been untouched."

"Wow."

"What?"

"You really are an ass."

"You're actually starting to believe it now? Finally! Now I can stop pretending to be the nice guy you claim I am."

"I don't want to fight anymore." Her voice was quiet and there was a vulnerability to her that House picked up on and used it to his advantage. Because that's what he did best.

He laughed. "That's it? You're backing down already? I was just getting started."

"There's nothing more to say."

"Wow. You're going soft in your old age, Kat."

Her eyes widened and she looked like she might slap him again, but instead she turned, grabbed her purse and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

"And that's that," House muttered to himself as he stared at his full glass. Somehow, he didn't feel like drinking anymore.

X X X

"Are you seeing Kat this weekend?" Wilson inquired.

House simply shrugged as he kept his eyes on the game they were watching. "We're not seeing each other anymore."

Wilson blinked and his jaw dropped. "What? Why not? What happened?"

"Joely is what happened. Now shut up and watch the game."

But Wilson grabbed the remote and hit the pause button. "You didn't..."

House rolled his eyes. "Of course not, genius! Kat and I had words and she left. I haven't heard from her since, and that was over a week ago. Put the game back on."

"Well...that would certainly explain things."

"What things?"

"Why she's been so down all week. I thought maybe working with the kids was finally getting to her. But she's so good with them. Now I know. Oh well," Wilson sighs as he puts the game back on. "Wilson to the rescue."

"Huh?"

"Well, she's sad right? Who better than me to offer a shoulder to cry on? Besides, I saw her first. And since you're not sleeping with her anymore, that makes her fair game."

House growled at Wilson but didn't say anything more. He seethed quietly for the rest of the night and after he left, House called Kat but there was no answer. Admitting defeat, he poured himself a Scotch and went to bed early.

X X X

Monday morning came and House was more miserable than ever. He stayed put in his office and didn't even look up when he heard someone knock and clear their throat. "Dr. House?" a small, shy voice said. "Greg?"

He glanced up to see Joely standing there looking very scared. Well good! He thought as he gestured for her to sit down. "Lucy, you have some 'splainin to do," he said in a false Cuban accent.

"I know. I feel terrible."

"Rightly so. What the hell? Do you take everything anyone says personally, or just men you have a crush on?"

"Please Dr. House..."

"What? You made the mess, you clean it up. Did you even consider the consequences of your actions? Did you purposely set out to hurt Kat? Because that's exactly what you did. And if you came here looking for an apology you can forget it. I'm not apologizing because I did nothing wrong."

"You were...rude...and lewd..."

He looked at her as if to say 'so?' and she sighed. "You humiliated and embarrassed me."

"Oh please. Did I touch you inappropriately at any time?"

"Well...no..."

"Did I look at you the wrong way?"

"No..."

"Then the problem isn't me. It's you." He sat forward in his chair and took his reading glasses off. "You like me. God only knows why, and I don't get it either but...you like who you like. I get that. But I'm old enough to be your father. Kat and I...we had something good, and you fucked it up. Do you want to do right by me?"

"Yes," she said in a small voice.

"Then tell Kat the truth. That you completely over-reacted and you were stupid. Whether or not she believes you is anyone's guess."

"She's been moping around the house for days."

House suppressed a smile, glad to hear that and glad that he wasn't the only one feeling miserable.

"And it's your fault."

"You should call her."

"I did. No answer."

"Then just...come to the house," she said, still staring at the floor. "She misses you. I know she does. I know you weren't together very long but I've never seen her like this, Dr. House. You made her happy. Now she's just a mess." She glanced up at him. "Come over tonight. She'll be home."

He nodded. "This doesn't mean you're off the hook," he said, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "You better talk to her because I'll be pissed if I come all the way out there and she doesn't want to see me. Now get outta here. Shoo!" Joely made a quick exit and House pinched the bridge of his nose. Great. Now he had a headache. He popped the cap off the top of his vial and popped two Vicodins and sat back in his chair.

He had no idea if Kat would agree to see him or not, even after Joely talked to her. It was worth a gamble taking the drive out to see her though. If he was honest with himself, he missed her. A lot. They got along well, the sex was amazing and she had a calming effect on him.

The more he thought about her, the more he wanted to see her, but he didn't want to seem too eager. He just hoped she'd see his side of things once Joely explained everything. IF she did. As far as House was concerned, she wasn't off the hook. If she had some kind of a schoolgirl crush on him he was going to have to nip that in the bud by showing her how much of an ass he could be. He smiled to himself as the Vicodin began doing its thing. That was going to be fun.

A/N: Thanks for reading and hello to some of my new readers :) I appreciate you taking the time to read my story. I hope you're all still enjoying it. Luv you guys!