CHAPTER 14

BRRRRRIIIINNNNNNGGG! House yanked his phone from his belt. "WHAT?"

SILENCE. "House? Why are you yelling? Did you meet Drea?"

"Yeah."

"…and? Tell me about her. Is she hot?"

"Oh God yes."

PAUSE. "…and? Would you have sex with her?"

"Oh God YES."

PAUSE. "…and? Where are you now?"

"I'm leaving the hotel."

PAUSE. "Why? Hotels are full of beds, some even vibrate. Can't you just use one of those?"

"No."

PAUSE. "House. Would you cooperate here? How'd it go?"

"I was wondering when you'd get to that. Not too good there Jimmy my boy."

"Why is that?"

"Remember that little problem of mine?"

"Narrow it down; there are so many to choose from."

"Choosing between LGB and Simons?"

"Yes?"

"Not a problem anymore."

"What's the problem? You'd do LGB; she's hot."

"You know her."

"I know her…"

"Oh God, Jimmy, are you really that thick? LGB IS SIMONS!" House screamed into the phone as he pulled away from the hotel parking lot.

"Whoa."

"Yeah."

"Ok, then, I'll ask again. What's the problem? I thought it was a good thing."

"Normally it would be but this PROBLEM is that she knew I was ONR before I knew she was LGB."

"How'd she know that?" After House whipped into Parkway traffic he explained the situation. "Damn! She could put you to shame with her sleuthing skills."

House rolled his eyes. "She knew about me before we agreed to meet! She did all of this to humiliate me!"

PAUSE. "House, are you smoking something?"

"Just a bit of hashish I bought from my 5th grade dealer. No biggie. If anything it has a Big League Chew bubble gum after taste but nothing that would…"

House could hear Wilson's eye roll. "HOUSE! You are an idiot."

"Hey now, don't be slinging names around like…"

"You said she found out BEFORE she set up the meeting?"

"Yeah but…"

"When you met was she in disguise? Did you know it was her when you saw her?"

"Not at first. She was sitting on a sofa, hiding behind a newspaper."

"Was she wearing a disguise?"

"No but…"

"Did anybody you know from the hospital jump out from behind a potted tree in the lobby with a camera? Did someone catch you surprised, wide-eyed and humiliated?"

"No but…"

"That's right, no buts. She wasn't there to humiliate you; she was there because she REALLY likes you! Think about it House. She had the perfect opportunity to blow you off when she found out it was you but she took the risk because she wants to be with you! She wants a relationship! You're just royally pissed off because she gave you the slip. She got to you before you could get to her. My suggestion House: hold on and don't let this one go. She's a keeper."

House wasn't saying anything, just digesting the information as he sped north along the Parkway. Suddenly the realization hit him like the proverbial ton of bricks and he saw Wilson's logic. A sudden deep yearning for that logic to be correct overtook him and he almost slammed on the brakes in the middle of the Parkway. He had enough sense to just speed to the nearest turnoff and jump back on the Parkway.

"What's going on House?"

"I'm turning around."

"It's about time. Let's just hope your wounded pride in being mastered didn't make you lose her. Even as you two fought in the hallway I knew she was perfect for you. If anyone makes you this flustered… you two are going to be very happy indeed."

House agreed with Wilson though he would certainly never tell him that. He should've never left, especially when he saw that outfit. He ached to see her again.

And if it was the last thing he did he was going to make her his as soon as possible, if it would mean relief for his mid-section.

HOUSEMD!HOUSEMD!

Eileen contained herself enough to flee to her room. She debated about whether going home or not but decided to stay. She didn't want to see Princeton just yet. With a sigh she sat on the edge of the bed and thought about the meeting. The look of realization was classic…then the desire was certainly encouraging…then the rapid switch to anger was disturbing. When he forced her to remove her coat was humiliating enough… and the look on his face when he saw her? It was painful to think of his outright rejection.

Flinging herself back so she lain on the bed, her eyes closed and she drifted towards a disturbed sleep when she heard a pounding at the door. At first she hoped it was just her head; she wasn't in the mood to talk to someone. As the door pounded louder she realized it wasn't her head. She sighed and yelled, "Hold on!"

Eileen stepped to the door and looked out the window… to the beautiful baby blues of Gregory House. Her breath caught. She should tell him no; she really should. Her head screamed for a "NO! GO AWAY!" response.

Her heart won out.

She sighed, unlocked the door and yanked it open. House's eyes immediately went to her breasts in that corset top and she could see he'd made a sudden decision. He hobbled towards her, determined, and slammed the door shut as she was stepping back to avoid him. His long legs caught up with her. House grabbed her wrist, pulled her toward him, wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to hers.

Eileen wanted to fight; her mind, pissed off at her heart for opening the door in the first place, was pleading with her to fight him.

Strike two against the head.

Eileen moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. He grabbed her rear end, pulled her hips roughly to his growing erection and licked her lips as he ended the kiss and pulled his head back long enough to murmur, "Nice to meet you Drea."