Summary:A doctor, imported from Germany, comes to join the House gang and changes dynamic with a bang. Love and jealousy arise, betrayal and anger as well.

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The Big Decision
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House brought Mari back to his house and brought her stuff into the house. He had no idea what he was really doing or why he was bringing her into his house, but he was doing it. Maybe he should have told her to go to Cuddy's which would be safer but something in him couldn't allow him to. He wanted to be there for her.

"You can sleep in my bed if you like."

"Oh no House I could not do that. I sleep on your sofa?" She asked and began to randomly look through her backpack for nothing in particular.

House nodded in agreement to her suggestion. He could understand how it might be awkward for her to sleep in his bed, even though he of course wouldn't be in it, it just seemed like the proper thing to do, the gentlemanly thing to do. House wobbled over to the kitchen to get a glass of water. "You want something?"

Mari looked up from where she was kneeling. "You have any juice?"

"Orange juice good?"

Orange juice was her favorite. She nodded, her sad eyes showing a bit of happiness. Back home, having orange juice meant that pa had gotten a few extra dollars. With nine children, they didn't have many luxuries, even though luxuries to them were things that were completely normal to other families. So, orange juice had a special place in her heart. "I love orange juice." She said and he poured her a large glass. Mari felt excited when she saw that large glass handed to her and she smiled, thanking him.

"You're welcome." Said House, not understanding the significance of the juice. Together they sat in silence as they looked off into the distance. Mari was watching the wind blow through the trees outside while House discretely observed Mari. She seemed deep in thought when suddenly he saw her beginning to choke up.

Watching the wind reminded her of when Chase and she would watch the storms or go for walks. Suddenly, she realized that a lot of things were going to remind her of Chase. Nearly everything had a little significance, a little link to their time together, to him.

"Are you okay, Mari?" House asked placing his hand on her shoulder. Mari couldn't bring herself to look at him. She closed her eyes as her lip began to quiver. One by one, tears dropped from her closed eyes. House watched her. The only move she made was bringing her hand up to her face to lean on. "Why did you leave?" He asked and moved closer so they were almost sitting right next to each other.

This time Mari looked up at House, her green eyes coated with a teary shine. "What made me walk away from Robert?" She asked and House nodded. Mari remained silent until House asked if it had anything to do with that one day when she was crying at work.

"Is it Jerry Fields?"

Mari was shocked and almost speechless. "How? You know about that? Oh, does everybody know?"

"No, no everybody doesn't know. I just know things."

Mari looked relieved as she looked at House silently for the longest time. They both just gazed at each other until Mari spoke, her eyes looking down at her hands in her lap. "It is her." She said, tearing up again. "It happened the first time and he swore he'd change that he would stay true, to me. Then I learn tonight that he was with her and I learn too that tonight wasn't the only night. I…" She began to whimper. "I thought that he would stay true to me, yeah? I love him. I still do. But I don't want him to keep doing this. I'm sorry." She said as she cried.

"It's okay. It'll be okay." He said and subconsciously took her in his arms as she cried. Oh how Chase would be angry seeing this. He would want to kill House. But Chase was the last thing on House's mind. All House was thinking about was Mari. Her silent sobs, her blonde hair soft against his arms. And then, he wondered what he could do for her. He didn't know how to comfort a crying woman, all he could think to do was let her cry. There wasn't much else he could do or say.

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After Mari left Chase, both of their lives were dramatically changed. Neither of them really knew what to do. It was so hard for both of them to see each other after that night. Certainly though, Chase had it worse. If anyone heard about it, they assumed that it was Mari who left him broken hearted. Maybe it was in the way he held himself, in his face, in his eyes. Whatever it was, if you had known Chase while he was with Mari, it was obvious that he was now hurt, broken and torn apart, not in love. He made the old House look like the happiest man in the entire world.

Mari on the other hand, was better at holding in her emotions. She also had more to distract herself. She had her studies and her other friends to spend time with. She still lived with House and they bonded much. However, every time that Mari saw Chase, she had to try desperately to convince herself that she did not love him. What he had done to her was unforgivable. Or at least that what she tried to convince herself. She knew that she should forgive him and, deep in her heart, she had. Many-a nights, she had dreamt that she forgave him and that they got back together. When she woke up though, she realized that that was just impossible. When she was awake she was still hurt, still unable to forgive.

At work, if they caught each other's glance, even for a second, their hearts would break. So they tried to avoid looking at each other. Conversations were uncomfortable as well. The only time they would speak was when they needed to discuss test results or during the differentials, during which they would sometimes find themselves arguing. If for some reason they spoke outside of those two situations, they would end up arguing again.

It was inescapable. Everyday they had to face each other and face the decisions they'd made.

As time passed, they dealt with it differently. Mari coped better with it than Chase did. Given though, Mari had people to lean on. She had House and Abhi and the other abroad students whom she had befriended. On the other hand, Chase had no one. He wasn't close enough friends with anyone to share his problems with. He wasn't really friends with Foreman or Cameron or Wilson. There wasn't even question about other people in the hospital; he couldn't allow himself to trust anyone.

On nights when Mari found herself not studying, she would be with her friends having coffee at someone's house or watching a movie. After parting, she would go back home to House. She didn't really understand the relationship that they had. It was almost more than friends, but yet not. She really enjoyed being with him and House, well, he loved her.

On Chase's side, he was unhappy. He couldn't find anything, or anyone, that could satisfy him. He was with woman after woman, but it was only a momentary pleasure, a momentary relief from his ongoing pain. He never really wanted to see the girls again. He had tried dating a few women, hoping that Mari might find out and be jealous, but it just didn't work out and he felt dumb for trying. He couldn't love them and they would together decide that it wouldn't work. These "relationships" lasted maybe two weeks max. He just couldn't stay committed. If he woke up next to a blonde woman, he would mistake her for Mari. Even though she hadn't been in his bed for weeks, every so often, he expected her to be by his side when he awoke. She never was. Chase was depressed and sad just about all the time. He ended up taking a lot of extra shifts at the NICU.

As if not having Mari wasn't enough pain to him, he had to watch her become closer and closer with House. No one else, save those who knew House feelings, knew nor detected anything between the two of them, but Chase could see it. He knew Mari very well and he could see little things that she had only done with him, she was now "subconsciously" doing with House. She was single now so that made her open to other men, but mostly House is how Chase saw it. For that, he hated his boss. How could he lose his girlfriend to his boss? To Dr. Gregory House?!

"Need a ride home Mari?" He heard House ask her and they both laughed.

Mari gazed up at him, a gaze that was previously only for Chase. "I suppose I do old man." She said and giggled before trotting away.

House threw his arms in the air, one holding his cane. "That's not fair! I can't chase you!" Mari just laughed after stopping and hanging onto a pole. She leaned, hanging off the pole with one arm and the other in the air. House hurried up a bit and caught up to her giving her a little push. "What are you doing tonight? Do you have to study?"

"Nope." She smiled largely. "I'm gonna have a talk with my roommate."

House raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"It's personal. Between him and I."

House sighed and shook his head as they walked to his car. As they drove home, House begged to know what she needed to talk about. He couldn't think of anything going wrong. Maybe she wanted to go and live with a girl. That would be understandable. Maybe she was beginning to feel uncomfortable living with her boss. That was very possible as well. He'd have to wait and see.

When they got home, Mari didn't know how to open their conversation so she decided she would have a shower because in the clinic, a few children had gotten sticky things on her and she hadn't had time to clean up. Maybe she would tell him over supper. She'd cook some dinner and then tell him. They had made up a "rule" that if Mari cooked dinner on Monday, then House would cook on Tuesday. Sometimes though, they cooked together.

As they ate their noodles and vegetables, House avoided questioning her on what she wanted to talk about, she would come out when she was ready. About half way through dinner Mari opened by telling House that she didn't know how to start this.

"We've been spending much time together and I wonder, oh House you should be the one saying this." She said and laughed. "Well, I… I enjoy spending time with you and… and I, never mind this is silly."

"No." He said holding her arm. "This isn't silly. I think I know what you're saying, but I'm not sure. Don't worry, go on." The supportive, loving look in his blue eyes gave her strength.

Mari was silent as she looked down at her food. "What is our relationship? I mean, do you like me? I like you." She added a whisper. She did, even though something in her still loved Chase, she wanted to exterminate those remaining feelings for him.

Suddenly, every protective wall that he had put up to protect himself from her was torn down at her last three words. For a moment, he wondered if he was dreaming. That couldn't be true. It had been about 3 weeks that they'd been living together. It was hard to believe actually, that she had split up with Chase only three weeks ago. In that time, Mari and House had spent a lot of time together and had grown close.

House couldn't even bring himself to speak. What was he to say? Should he just blurt it out? I've practically been in love with you for months? It seemed a little overwhelming as a statement. "Actually, I really like you. I really do."

A shy smile crept to the young woman's lips and her eyes glittered with a certain joy he'd never seen; likely only Chase had seen it.

"So what happen now?" Asked Mari.

House shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Do you go on a date? I don't know. I've never been in a situation like this."

Laughing Mari said, "Neither I have. I don't know what we do. Do we decide to date? Do you want to date me?"

"Yeah, I do."

"So, does it happen just like that? Do we become boyfriend, girlfriend just like that?"

"I'm not sure, we already live together. What changes now?"

"You can hold my hands." She said and was shocked at how she held his hands before kissing him. It felt so natural somehow, just as it had been with Chase. When Mari pulled back, she looked into House's eyes and suddenly it was like she knew him more than ever. She could read his eyes and she could feel what he felt. It was unexplainable the feeling that she had at that very moment. And House? He felt happy, very happy. It's like the pain that he had felt when she was with Chase and even when she wasn't, was wiped away at that very moment.

"Well, what do we want to do on this lovely Friday night? How about we go out to a movie?"

Mari thought for a moment. "Let's watch movie here." She said and they went to the video store. As she held hands with House, Mari talked with one of the fellows that worked there. Out of the corner of her eye, Mari caught sight of Chase with Foreman. Her heart began to race and she made a quick plan with House and the store fellow.

"Isn't that Mari?" Foreman asked to Chase. They had decided to have a movie night with another guy from Radiology, Ray who was going to meet them at Foreman's.

"Yeah I think it is." Chase said his heart sinking. She was with a guy. Of course she was with a guy. She probably got over Chase a couple weeks after they'd broke up.

"Let's go say hi." Said Foreman, not even thinking about the whole Chase and Mari thing. "Hey." Foreman greeted her. She stood closely with the tall blonde haired boy who worked at the store while House sat looking at a couple of movies.

"Oh hey guys." Mari said awkwardly, she really hated doing this. "What are you guys here for? Do you know what movie?"

"Die Hard." Said Chase, desperately wanting to leave. Seeing Mari standing closely with this guy made him angry. Mari nodded smiling before looking up at the guy.

"Popular action movies." He whispered and Mari nodded. She had never heard of Die Hard.

Chase went to turn around but Foreman didn't follow; he had to satisfy his curiosity. "Who's this?" He asked raising a suggestive brow.

"Harry."

"Boyfriend?" Foreman smiled as Mari nodded her head and looked up at him with love in her eyes, Harry looked down at her with the same convincing gaze. "Nice, well have a good night. What are you watching?" They both shrugged uncertainly and Foreman wished them a good night.

"Thank you so much, Harry." Mari said to him and smiled. "My twin brother's name is Harry. I haven't seen him in a long time actually."

"Oh yeah? When was the last time you saw him?" He asked smirking funnily.

"Hmm, wow, it must be 4 years now. He moved to the USA, here, 5 years ago. At first he went to Hollywood and was in a couple big movies then met a girl and moved somewhere. I've only written letters to him." Mari shook her head laughing. "You look so much like him."

"You miss me?" He asked holding out his hands and taking hers. Mari's jaw dropped and she gave a little scream.

"I can't believe it's you! Oh Harry! We missed you so much! I missed you, how did you end up here?"

"Karen, my wife," He showed Mari the golden ring on his finger. "Grew up here and wanted to make a family here. We have two kids they're 6 months old. Karen and I have been together for 4 years now, you must remember her, you came to the wedding. So this is your boyfriend?"

Mari looked over at House. "Yeah. This is House or, do I call you Greg now?" She asked aside to House who told her she could call him either one. "This is Greg, he is wonderful. He's very good to me. I can't believe you're here, wow."

"Mari, can I talk to you?" Asked House and he pulled her aside. "Would you like to spend tonight with your brother? We can watch your movie tomorrow."

"You would do that?"

"Of course I would, it's Titanic you want to see?" Mari nodded. "Okay, I'll get that and maybe I'll watch Die Hard tonight. You have a key? Good. Have a great night." He said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"What do you say we spend the night together Harry?"

"Ja, Ich möchte den tun!" He said in German. It was nice to be able to speak in German finally after speaking English for so long. (He said: Yes I would like to do that.)

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Please review, please. Smile.

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A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open

- Anonymous