Sunday morning brought the coffee ritual again. House was careful to keep up the Vicodin intake while Jesse wasn't looking. She was already rattling off a dozen places she could go shopping. House realized half way through the conversation at times Jesse reminded him of a parakeet chattering away at itself in a mirror, nothing important, just something to do. He listened to her for several more minutes before he set down his coffee cup, leaned over and kissed her.

"What was that for?" Jesse grinned.

"Listen. Do you hear it?" House asked, smiling. Jesse stopped to listen for a bit.

"I don't hear a thing." Jesse said, turning her head to carefully tune in. House started laughing. Jesse turned to stare at him wide-eyed. She playfully smacked him on the arm.

"Barbarian!" House only laughed harder. Jesse started laughing in spite of herself. "So…let's hear an idea from you."

"I was waiting."

"For what?"

"To see if you could list every mall in the state of New Jersey before noon." They both burst out laughing.

"Am I that bad?" Jesse asked. House could only nod, trying to stop laughing.

"What do you do on your days off besides shop?"

Jesse had to stop and think. "I sleep. I clean a little. Dishes. I do dishes."

"Clean? Jesse, you live in one room of the apartment."

"We party up here sometimes."

"And then you break out the endust and the vacuum…" She looked at him horrified.

"That's what the staff is for." House stared at her. "There are people that do that for a living…we should let them do their job." House started to laugh. "How are they to earn a living if we don't let them do their job? Should we pay them for sitting around waiting for something to clean? I don't understand what's so funny." Jesse started laughing. "Why are you laughing at me? It's not funny!" House couldn't stop himself. He could only manage one word, nodding his head as she started rattling on again.

"Queenie." Jesse leaned back against the pillows, faking a pout and sipping her coffee.

"Well, you just let me know when you get that out of your system…barbarian."

Once House had made all of his "forgive me" faces and made Jesse laugh even more, they decided to regroup on plans for the day.

"Well, apparently shopping is out. So what do you do on days off?"

"I like the park. Have you ever been to one?" House asked. Jesse nodded.

"So what do you do there?"

"Well, you pull up a bench and you park. Fresh air, sunshine, all those things you like to avoid are at the park."

"I like fresh air and sunshine." Jesse thought for a moment. "But you go there all the time…"

"On my days off. Sometimes for lunch." House could tell Jesse's wheels were turning.

"Okay. I have an idea. Well…" She hesitated rolling it over in her head.

"What?"

"Fresh air and sunshine…just in the park or anywhere?"

"What did you have in mind?" This was a new look, one House hadn't seen before. Jesse looked excited about doing something besides shopping.

"Do you…like the ocean?"

"I used to. Haven't been there in a long time." House listened. Even with the bad leg he knew he could at least try whatever she was so excited about.

"Me either. We…I have a home in Asbury Park." Jesse caught herself. "I haven't been there in a very long time but I keep track of it. I called about three weeks ago actually. I asked the staff…now don't start."

"I'm not. I'm listening. This sounds better than 'parade of malls.'"

"I asked them if it was ready to live in for the spring. I was going to stay there off and on through the summer. It was my favorite."

"Just yours?" House hoped he wasn't digging too much, yet. Jesse only nodded.

"It was too small and secluded for William's tastes. But I loved it. It's beautiful out there, right on the coast. It's not that far?" Jesse asked. Her eyes were practically begging. I haven't been there since…it's been almost a year."

House didn't say anything at first. So this was where she came to heal after…it was obviously something special in her life. But careful not to spook her, House thought to himself. If he was going to be given this rare glimpse inside her personal space it was time to show some enthusiasm. "So do we send someone for food?" He tried for a little humor. Jesse laughed.

"There's food there. I called middle of this week. I told them I'd be there this weekend or the next. They said it was ready."

"So there'll be someone there?"

"No. We…" Jesse stopped herself again. Her frustration was evident. "I can't get used that. I'm sorry. It doesn't come up in conversation around here and when I talk about some things."

"I understand." House didn't say anything else. Better to let her keep talking about this.

"I have an estate in Long Island. Some of the staff comes down to take care of the summer home whenever it's required."

"So you weren't going to be here this weekend?" She'd rearranged her schedule for him.

"I have a chauffeur. He gets paid to drive. We don't even need…"

"I think we can make the drive ourselves." House suggested.

"I think you're right." Jesse smiled. "You'll need something warmer. Have to stop by your place first." Jesse said, hopping out of bed and heading for her closet. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." She laughed, daring just a little. House winced. No maid service there. May as well break her in quick and get it over with.

House insisted on driving. "I can drive. I've never driven one of these."

"It doesn't handle like a normal Rolls. They're heavy by nature but this one's a tank."

"I remember." House surveyed the dash. "Where's the secret artillery button?"

"Oh stop already." Jesse laughed. "It doesn't accelerate well is all I'm saying."

"I can imagine." House felt the weight of the door when he got in. One could only imagine what the behemoth weighed in at. But House liked it. "It handles fine. I think we'll manage." He reassured Jesse. She was busy looking out the passenger window and busying herself with the radio. "You act like you've never been in the thing." House commented. Watching her play. Amazing, he thought, shaking his head, even to watch, in a vehicle, let alone on stage. Jesse was absolutely amazing.

"I'm not used to seeing it from this side of the car." She said to almost to herself while gazing out the window again. House laughed. "I'm usually in the back or sitting there." She eyed the driver's seat.

"First stop my place and you can point the way from there, Queenie. Stop worrying. I can drive the damn Rolls."

"I'm not worrying. I'm just not driving and I'm not used to it." House patted the seat, coaxing her to move over. He put his arm around her and she settled in nicely. "This is better. I can get used to this." House smiled. So could he.

House felt his own agitation at opening his front door and showing Jesse in. But he couldn't leave her sitting in the car. "Welcome to how the other half lives." Jesse wandered in and took a good look around, like he knew she would. He hung his cane on the doorway entrance like always. Jesse stopped and looked up.

"That's cute. I like that." She inched a little farther in the living room and surveyed everything. "This is very nice. You'll have to invite me over here some time."

"I think I can fit that in to my daily planner." House said. "Let me check my messages and get cleaned up. Make yourself at home. Sit." House pointed to the couch but Jesse was already heading for the piano. Now he knew what she meant about sitting in the passenger seat of her own car. It seemed odd as he did his morning routine to hear his piano being played, and very well, from the other room.

House was just about ready when he realized he hadn't heard the piano for a while. He wandered in to the living room and didn't see Jesse. He saw a shadow from the kitchen and was just about to walk in when he stopped in the doorway.

Jesse was opening the door to the refrigerator. House stood perfectly still, waiting for the scream. Nope, it didn't faze her. House watched her head turn from side to side, marveling at the things that regular people have in their refrigerators. It was all he could do to keep from laughing. And then she saw something that made her gasp with pleasure. House watched, amazed as she pulled his jar of peanut butter out of the refrigerator door. She held it as if she was clutching the Hope Diamond and reverently removed the lid. A manicured fingernail dipped into the nearly empty jar and Jesse sampled it like it was the finest caviar. "Oh, you're exquisite." She whispered to the jar, putting the lid back on.

"I have bread too." House said from the doorway. Jesse jumped at the sound of his voice. The jar hit the floor. House couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh I'm so sorry. I couldn't help myself. It popped into my head that you mentioned it last night and I thought you might have some."

"Jesse, Jesse, stop. It's alright." House was grinning form ear to ear.

"Oh thank you, and it was so very good."

"Would you like a sandwich?"

"Oh would you? Jesse picked up the jar and handed it to him." House started laughing.

"What?"

"Nothing…nothing. Whole wheat or rye, Queenie?"

They left for Asbury Park shortly thereafter. It wasn't a long drive. Nothing in Jersey was a long drive. House had forgotten how the scenery changed the closer one got to the shore. Asbury had its own unique style and Jesse gave him the tourist's lecture on all of the best places to see and eat…and shop. They stopped in a store and picked up a few snacks that Jesse was rattling on about. Several people said hello. Jesse was her gracious self and House watched her interact with her sometimes neighbors. She was well liked, respected. People smiled when they saw her. For all of his teasing earlier, House had to admit he loved the sound of her voice. The sandwich had taken some of the edge off the caffeine and that helped too, he thought to himself. Going to have to limit her intake.

Jesse gave directions once they were well out of Asbury. The last leg of the drive was beautiful. House was admiring the coastal scenery when she said they were there. "This lane to the right and all the way up. She pointed to a lot of trees, but House could just barely see the balcony peeking out from behind them facing the sea. The Rolls kicked in to low the last part of the distance. And when they followed the circular drive around its last turn, there it was. House stared at the towering log and glass A-frame. It had a huge balcony and wrap around porch. It was accented with gold lights everywhere and glistened in the morning sun.

House was about to park in front but Jesse motioned him around to the side. "There's a garage…" House nodded, the car didn't move. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Jesse's voice was a whisper. "I've missed it so."

"I bet you live in more than one room." When House glanced to his side. He saw Jesse brushing a tear from under her sunglasses. "Jesse? Hey, you're home." House tightened his arm around her. "Day off, remember?" Jesse sniffled a little. House put the car in park and shut it off. House hugged her, kissing her gently. "We'll make a fun day of it, a fresh start. It's okay, Jesse. You're home." House tried again.

"Yes, I am. Just leave the car here. Come on!" Jesse was about to grab the bags they had and House took the larger of the two before her fingers reached it.

It was every bit as magnificent inside as out. House scanned the lower floor after they stepped through the large foyer. The lower floor had no walls and a huge fireplace in the middle. The vaulted ceiling had fans and a chandelier. "So, this is your summer cabin on the lake?" House snarked. He couldn't imagine.

"What?" Jesse had emptied her bag in the kitchen and came back for the one he was carrying. "You don't like it?" She asked. House stared at her in disbelief.

"It's magnificent. I'm speechless. That's rare." He was impressed. Jesse was ecstatic.

"This one's a keeper." It's a little tricky in the winter but it makes up for it once the snow is done. That's why I have the apartment over the bar. Want to see the rest?"

"In a minute." House walked over to the huge glass windows and took in the view. Jesse followed and stood beside him. The view was fantastic and they both stood in silence staring out at the ocean. There was a pier at the edge of the shore and an expanse of shoreline with trees surrounding it. "And you were coming here this weekend before I showed up? All by yourself?" The beauty was undeniable, but it stood in contrast to the stark desolation. Painfully secluded were the only words that described it.

"Typical Sunday. That's all there was until you showed up. Jesse's arms slipped around his waist. House put his arm around her, looking into those sad beautiful eyes.

"I was thinking the very same thing."

"Thank you for coming with me. I hope you like it."

"Thank you for inviting me." House kissed her.

"Do you like it?" Jesse asked again, to make sure.

House laughed. "Oh, it'll take some getting used to but I think I can live with it."

Jesse gave House the tour. He could tell she was so proud of it. Jesse had found it on one of her shopping excursions. One of the Scheulling's acquaintances had told them of this lovely summer getaway they were tiring of. William had found it confining, but Jesse had fallen in love with it. Over the years it had become her place of healing, a sanctuary between travels and terrors. There wasn't much to show downstairs. You could see all of it from anyplace on the first floor.

House liked the piano in the far corner. "Do you have one of these in all of your houses?" He snarked.

"As a matter of fact I do. I find solace in music. No reason I shouldn't have it with me particularly in the places I call home. You have one in yours."

"You're stating the obvious again."

"You're being catty again. What I'm stating is the similarity in lifestyles, different though we may be. You're trying to make fun of me. I don't make fun of you." Jesse wandered on; taking particular care to point out that the kitchen was used for eating here. There was a particularly cozy table with upholstered chairs and a warm carpet underneath. House was thinking about what Jesse had said. He had been poking fun at her all morning. His teeth were showing and he hadn't wanted them to. It was hard to tone down his daily existence even in her presence for very long.

Jesse was simply being Jesse. This was how she lived. This was her life and her lifestyle. She was only being honest with him. House listened to her as they went upstairs. The stairs weren't that bad. And he made note of how Jesse slowed down to talk on them and point out a few things on the way up. She was delicate to a fault about his leg. And she wasn't poking fun. She had tact. House reigned in the attitude. The upstairs was every bit as beautiful as the first floor; two full bedrooms each with its own bath and the same magnificent view from upstairs.

House looked around while Jesse pointed everything out. It was beautiful. She was beautiful. House found himself wondering what the hell he was doing there. Then Jesse plopped down on the bed. "So do we get to stay the night or do you need to get back to the hospital early Monday?"

"I don't do early any day." House sat beside her. It was obvious the leg was bothering him. "You just wander around here all by yourself?"

"There's a lot to wander around. It's beautiful down by the shore. Maybe we can wander down there later after you give that a rest."

"It's alright. Nothing a couple of these can't fix." He decided to take a chance and be at least that honest with Jesse. He popped some Vicodin. "It'll be fine in a bit."

"Why don't you stretch out and relax for a while then…"

"I didn't come all this way to take a nap. I have you all to myself today…all day. I was hoping we might shut our respective links to the known world off and let everyone leave a message." House put his arms around Jesse and stared into those beautiful eyes. "And then we might have a chance to talk…about everything. Me, too if you want to hear, I have a few stories that would probably bore you to tears, but I'll give it a try…for you."

"I asked you to read Jack's bio." Jesse protested.

House tightened his grip on her just a bit. "I already did. A lot of it I read three or four times, maybe more." Jesse didn't say anything. "You came back here to heal afterward, didn't you?" Jesse nodded. House took a long look around. "This place must be very special to you." Silence. "It means a lot to me that you invited me to spend the day here with you. Let's make the most of it. We can walk…you slow down for me a lot." Jesse started to shake her head. "Yes you do. And we can take a walk outside if you want. It may not be as long as you'd like but we can. Do you like to sit on that balcony?"

Chapter 14