managed to skip into the library before closing... here's a new chapter, just for you... it's not the last, though the end is coming near... :-)
Chapter 19: Unexpected News
„Guess who I ran into yesterday." Wilson said to House over lunch a few days later.
„Mhh," House mused, stroking his chin exageratingly, „Angelina Jolie?" he offered.
„Nope!" Wilson grinned.
„Penelope Cruz!"
„Wrong again!"
„Oh, I know! That old woman -whatshername- plays that old lady-writer who always kills people and later pretends to solve the murders..."
„You talking about Angela Lansbury and 'Murder she wrote'? - she doesn't kill people..."
House interupted him impatiently „Oh yeah? And people just happen to die where ever she turns up, how convenient." House argued, jabbing his finger at Wilson.
„Whatever" Wilson gave up, „It wasn't her, who I met, I mean. I met Julie."
„Your ex-wife-Julie?"
„Do we know another one?" Wilson raised his eyebrows.
„So what'd she say? She miss you yet? Does she want her precious Jamie back?" House's tone was light, but his sharp eyes, searching Wilsons face, gave away his underlying seriousness.
„She never called me 'Jamie'. And: No, she doesn't miss me and she doesn't want me back. And just for the record" he raised his hands for emphasis, „Neither do I. No, in fact, she's getting married again."
„Really?! Who's the lucky one? The guy she cheated on you with?" House seemed really interested.
Wilson frowned at the memories. „Yeah him. I'm just glad I won't have to pay her alimony anymore." he sighed.
„Oh, does that mean I'm going to get my money back anytime soon?"
„I... well... I thought..." Wilson looked a bit crestfallen.
„Calm down! I'm just kidding. I told you, as long as you don't get married again, I'm never going to want it back. If you change your mind however..." House surveyed the ceiling, as if pondering something. Then he looked back at his friend and continued „But I'm happy for you, honestly. At least one of your ex-wifes seems to have forgiven you."
Wilson smiled weakly and decided not to prolong the discussion. Instead he asked „So, are you and Chris going to do one of your 'family-evenings' again tonight?"
„Yup. And your still not invited, because that privilege is only for people who share my DNA."
„Thanks a lot." Wilson absentmindedly rubbed the back of his nose. „I might as well stay longer at the office and try to catch up on my paperwork."
„That sounds like a very exciting prospect." House remarked and got up. „You get the dishes!" he ordered and waved his cane, as explanation. „Be nice to your crippled not-father-in-law."
Without a backwards glance, he walked away.
House had decided, he felt like going out that evening, so he had reserved a table at his favourite restaurant. It wasn't his favourite because of the food or the embiente, but because it seemed to be the one place where all the couples went to and that gave him the opportunity to play one of his beloved games. He had dubbed it 'not-married – married – cheating' and Chris was almost as good at it than he was.
Say sat at a table in the middle of the restaurant, where they had a good view of the place. They were eating, chatting and casually playing the game.
„What about them?" House asked and jerked his chin in the direction of a couple two tables to their left.
Chris watched them for a while. „Cheating. But not him, her." she said finally.
House quirked an eybrow. „Really, why?" he asked curiously.
„She keeps touching her ringfinger with her thumb, as if something is missing there and she's watching everyone who comes into the restaurant." Chris explained.
„Could be divorced." House interjected.
„No. Too nervous. And not looking disillusioned enough. She's cheating on her husband. He's probably out of town or something. And the guy doesn't know she's married."
„Mmmhh" House watched the couple too, out of the corners of his eyes. „I think your right. Good call. My turn!"
„The one over there, at the window." Chris pointed discreetly to the couple in question.
„That's easy! Not married, but he's going to propose tonight." House said immediatly. „He keeps fumbling at his trouser-pocket and he's at his fourth glas of wine."
Chris didn't argue. They kept going like that, untill they had sorted through the whole restaurant. They finished their meal, House payed and they got up to leave. They were almost at the door, when it opened and a new couple entered.
House stopped midstep and stared. Chris caught the sudden movement and stopped. She looked at the couple and noticed they had stopped too. They all stared at each other for a few seconds, then House caught himself.
„Hi, Stacy. Mark." he said casually.
„Hi Greg." Stacy answered, not as casually. Mark only nodded.
Stacys eyes moved over to Chris, taking in the bulging-nine-months-belly.
„Hi, I'm Chris. Nice to meet you." Chris introduced herself, smiling. She knew very well, who she was talking to and judging from House's reaction, everything Wilson had told her was true. He still wasn't over her.
„Yeah, you too." Stacy said, obviously trying to figure out, how to react and what the belly meant. They shook hands. „Are you...?" she didn't finish the sentence.
Chris glanced over at House and saw the familiar, devious smile spreading on his face. Normally she wouldn't mind playing along, but this time she decided to keep to the truth.
„Oh, it's not his." she pointed at her belly, „but he definetly got some of Gregs DNA." she added, seeing House's face fall. Stacy and Mark looked confused.
House gave a small sigh and decided to resolve the issue. „Chris is my daughter." he said flatly.
„Oh!... I never knew..." Stacy started.
„Neither did I. We only met about 16 months ago. It was love at first sight." House stated laconically.
„Wow! I guess I should say 'Congratulations'." Stacy smiled.
„Thanks." it came from both Chris and House.
„Well, good luck, then." it was the first thing Mark had said so far. He motioned for Stacy to walk along. The others got the point and started moving to.
„Well, I'll see you around then." House said noncommittaly. „Have a nice evening." Chris added.
„Yeah, you too." Stacy waved a goodbye.
They where almost out the door, when House turned around again and said, loud enough for them to hear. „It's Wilson's baby." Without another word he left.
„You always have to have the last word." Chris admonished.
„You know me..." House's mind was clearly somewhere else.
„Ok. I'm going home, I'm tired." she kissed House on the cheek for goodbye and headed towards her old and battered FIAT. „I guess I'll see you soon."
„Yeah, sure." House muttered. „Be carefull!" he added as an afterthought,when she was almost in her car. Chris waved, closed the door and drove off.
Twenty minutes later House stood in his appartment. He was angry, although he wasn't quite sure if he was angry at Stacy for ruining an otherwise perfect evening, or if he was angry at himself for being angry at Stacy. He shook his head and decided to drown his anger, whatever the cause for it, in half a bottle of scotch. He had already poured the first glass, when the phone rang.
„Damn it!" House cursed. He was close to ignoring it, but then grabbed it anyway.
„What?" he barked, expecting one of his team to be the caller.
„Greg, it's me." it was Chris; and something in her voice told House that something was wrong.
„Are you ok?" House's tone had changed completely from anger to worry.
„I'm fine, it's just... is James at your place?"
„Wilson? No, why would he be here?" House looked around his appartment as if to make sure Wilson didn't hide behind the curtains.
„I don't know. He isn't home and I thought maybe..." her voice trailed off.
„Maybe he's still at the office. He said he would work late." House remembered.
„No. I called the hospital. The nurse from the nightshift said he left two hours ago.That's when I got worried." House could almost see the frown on her face, while she was trying to think of another place where Wilson could be at this time. „Where do you think he could be?" she asked him.
„I'm not sure." House admitted, silently daring Wilson to be out with some nurse from pedes. He'd have hell to pay, if he was. „I'm coming over. We can wait for him together, maybe we'll come up with some other place to call."
„You don't have to come over. He'll probably turn up any minute."
„Yeah, and I want to be there, when he explains what he's been up to at 11pm!" House grabbed his keys. „See you in ten." he hung up and headed for his bike.
Ten minutes later he showed up at Chris' doorstep, but there was still no sign of Wilson. She ushered him inside, looking more worried, than House liked to see. It made him worry too, not just about Wilson but also about Chris and the baby.
„Did you call anyone else?" he asked, flopping down onto the sofa.
„I called his cellphone and office phone again. He still doesn't answer. It's not like him. I didn't want to call his parents, it'll only upset them and he would have left a message if he was going to see them." Chris sat down in an armchair and ran a hand over her face.
„I thought about calling the police, but that would be stupid, wouldn't it?" she looked hopefully at her father.
„Yes!" House said firmly. „I'm sure he's alright." he reached over and patted her hand. „He'll turn up."