A/N: I'm going to be wrapping this up sooner than planned. Only because I have another fic in mind that's begging to get written and I really can't do 3 fics at the same time. I don't want this one to suffer. So, that's a heads up. In the meantime...

Chapter 14

One month later...

"Need those files yesterday..." Greg called out over his shoulder as he limped into his office.

"I put them on your desk yesterday, House!" Lexi shouted from her desk. "What you did with them is not my problem."

"Oh yeah? If you put them on my desk then where are they?"

"Damned if I know. Your desk looks like a bomb went off half the time."

"It's your job to make sure it doesn't look like that."

"Riiiiight. The last time I tried to clean your desk you damn near bit my head off. No way am I going to attempt that again. Clean your own desk. If you do, you'll find the files."

Greg made a face when her back was turned and she called out. "I saw that."

"Like hell! Got eyes in the back of your head, woman?"

"One has to, to be able to deal with you. Cuddy and I talk, you know."

"Oh God...you've bonded," he groaned as he flopped down into his chair and went through his things.

Lexi watched him through the glass window as he sifted through the pile on his desk and smiled to herself when he located the files. He glanced up at her, saw her looking, and rolled his eyes. It was another usual day working for the great Dr. House.

All in all, things were good. Of course, they weren't in the beginning. Since she'd never worked in an office environment a day in her life, it was a very bumpy road. When it looked like Greg was at the end of his rope, Dr. Cuddy or Dr. Wilson stepped in to help her. Lexi had a new respect for both of them, and wondered how they dealt with him every single day.

He was always pulling something over on someone. Be it a radical procedure on a patient or breaking into a patient's home to find the answer because, as he put it so bluntly, "everybody lies."

The amazing thing was, that despite all that, he was almost always right, and it drove her insane. In fact, it was Lisa Cuddy's words of advice which stopped her from dropping everything and walking out of PPTH for good.

"He'll respect you a lot more if you stand up to him. Oh, and don't kiss his ass. That's what he expects you to do."

Lexi sighed and went back to work. Greg had given her the mundane task of transcribing his dictations and she astounded him by her whirlwind typing speed.

"Where did you learn to type that fast?"

"We might've been poor, but we did have a computer. And I took keyboarding in school."

"Well la-dee-dah," Greg said flippantly.

That was their work relationship. At home, it was an entirely different story. It was as if they were best friends and roommates, rather than the lovers she hoped they'd be. Unfortunately, she didn't know how to change the situation.

X X X

"Ya know, everyone at the hospital thinks we're sleeping together." Lexi's nonchalant way of delivering that sentence felt like a punch to House's gut. He almost didn't notice the light turning from orange to red, and he slammed on the brakes.

"What did you say?" he asked, turning to look at her.

"I said, everyone thinks we're sleeping together."

"Why would they think that? Did you say something?"

Lexi looked shocked, and then hurt. "No! I didn't. But come on, Greg. We live together, have been for the last month. Naturally people are going to come to those kinds of conclusions. And that hospital is a hotbed of sex and debauchery. Everyone is sleeping with everyone. It's worse than that stupid soap you watch every day."

"General Hospital is not stupid!"

She laughed. "Right. Okay. If you say so. My point is, it's not an unreasonable assumption."

"Just because a man and a woman live under the same roof, doesn't mean they're having sex."

"True, but people will still speculate. Of course it doesn't help our case when we have lunch together every other day and rarely argue. That just adds fuel to the fire."

"So what do you think we should do? Do you want me to pick fights with you?"

"Not particularly," she said dryly as he pulled up in front of his apartment building.

"Lexi," he said as they got out of the car. "I don't care what people say about me. If they want to believe that I'm giving you an extra bonus after hours, let them."

She went into the house and immediately went to the kitchen to start dinner. "Spaghetti okay for dinner?" she called out.

"Yeah it's fine. Don't forget the meatballs," Greg called back as he got changed. As he sat on the bed to take off his shoes, he stopped and smiled.

They'd gotten into quite a comfortable, domestic routine and he liked it. As suspected, she was very easy to live with, and she was a great cook.

Did he mind that people thought he was sleeping with her? Hell no! In fact, it made him wonder why he'd been putting it off. Sure, he was the one to suggest they wait, but apparently everyone else didn't seem to think it was platonic.

So what was he waiting for?

"Ouch! Fuck!" he heard Lexi shout from the kitchen. He quickly threw on another shirt as he limped down the hall.

"What happened?"

"I b-burned myself. I d-didn't think the pot handle w-would be s-so hot."

"You're stuttering. Deep breaths. Let me look at it," he said as he reached for her hand, but she wouldn't let him see.

"It'll be fine."

"Leave it to the doctor to decide."

"Greg," she whined as he took her hand forcefully and examined it.

"It's not bad. I'm going to get some Polysporin. Run it under cold water, I'll be right back."

House went and got his first-aid kit from the bathroom and returned. "Sit down."

Lexi winced as he put ointment on the burn, covered it with gauze and taped it. It amazed her how quick but gentle he was as he worked. When he was done, he gently kissed the bandage. "There."

Their eyes locked and he swallowed hard. "I'll get you some Tylenol for the pain," he said as he got up.

"No, I can get it," she said as she also got up and they collided with each other. House grabbed the nearby counter for support, trapping her between him as he fell against her, pressing her back against the ledge. "Oww," she hissed as her hip dug into the sharp corner.

House reached down and rubbed her hip. "Are you okay?"

"I think so." Her hands rested on his chest and their eyes met again. It had been happening between them a lot lately, at home and at the hospital. He'd patronize her, she'd mock him and then the stare down would begin until one of them looked away first.

But this time, neither of them had any intention of backing down or looking away.

"Y-you..."

House held his hand up to silence her. "Deep breath out..." he instructed, reminding her of her breathing techniques.

Lexi took a deep breath in and then let it out while she started again, earning a nod of encouragement. "You once said," she spoke, somewhat weakly, "that if things worked out at the hospital, and here, that we'd look into starting an actual relationship."

House arched an eyebrow. "Did I?"

"Yes. It's been a month now. Time to pay the piper, so to speak."

"You want to date? Fine," he shrugged. "After dinner we'll go out."

"Out where?"

"A movie? Bowling?"

Lexi laughed as she stirred the spaghetti sauce in the pot. "You bowl?"

"It's been a long time. Do you?"

"No."

"A movie then?"

"Sure. What's playing these days?"

"I guess we just go and take our chances. Ever been to a drive-in?"

"If all you want to do is make out while watching a movie we can do that here," Lexi grinned. The very idea of steaming up the car windows in his Galaxie was a turn-on in itself. He knew there was another reason he chose that car, other than the fact that it was made the year he was born. The front and back seats were very roomy.

"No, you want to go on a date, let's go on a date."

"Fine."

"Good."

X X X

It was a cold, but clear October night when House pulled up to the drive-in entrance and paid the admission. The only movie playing was Legally Blonde and House figured if it was lame, at least they could make out.

He pulled out his wallet and handed her a twenty. "Go get us some popcorn and Cokes."

Lexi rolled her eyes as she took the money and climbed out of the car. Ten minutes later she returned with a tray of popcorn and drinks.

"Where's your popcorn?" House asked her as he reached for the large tub and put it on his lap.

She arched her eyebrow at him. "Greg! You can't be serious. You're going to eat that whole thing yourself?"

"Uh..yeah."

"I got the big one so we could share it."

House tried to look put out but he shrugged and put the tub back inside the tray. "Fine. Have it your way."

"Smart man."

They watched the movie, and House had to admit that he was enjoying it. However, he wished that she'd sit closer. There was no console between the front seats so it wasn't like she couldn't. When the intermission came, they both used the rest room and House grabbed a bag of M&M's on his way back to the car, earning an excited squeal from Lexi.

"If you want some, you'll have to sit closer."

"Slick, Greg," she clicked her tongue but moved to sit next to him, curling her legs under her. When she reached to grab an M&M from the bag, House playfully slapped her hand away.

"Mine."

"What? You'll share popcorn but not M&M's?"

"I went and got them."

"So? I got the popcorn," she pointed out.

"Lexi?"

"What?"

"Shut up," he said before he kissed her. And it was no gentle kiss, either, but she seemed to have no problem giving as good as she got and before long, they were locked in a heated embrace. The M&M's were long forgotten as House had pulled her onto his lap so she was sitting on his good leg.

God, but he loved to kiss her, and it appeared she loved to kiss him just as much, if her exploring tongue was any indication.

The windows didn't take long to steam up. His hands were everywhere, exploring under her shirt, deftly unhooking her bra at the back so he had access to her breasts. "Oh God..." she moaned as he pushed her shirt up and began licking her already hardened nipple while his thumb teased the other one.

"Mmm, Lexi, so sexy," he chuckled between kisses and nibbles to her breasts.

She giggled and began unbuttoning his shirt. She pushed it off his shoulders and slid her hands under his T-shirt to feel his skin.

Their lips still locked, they didn't come up for air until a loud knock on the driver's side window jolted them out of their embrace.

"Get a room, will ya? There're kids here!" a gruff voice called out through the window.

House grunted his amusement and looked at Lexi. "He has the right idea."

"Yes he does. But the movie's not over yet. We can't just leave."

"Well I sure as hell can't drive like this," House said as he bucked his hips against her core, showing his very obvious arousal.

Lexi climbed off of his lap and he figured that their play time was over. That is, until she unzipped his jeans and his erection sprang free through the opening in his boxers. Before he knew what was happening, her lips were around his cock and her hand gripped its base.

"Ohhh...fuuuuuck," he groaned and threw his head back.

She was very good at it and he was already close to the finish line, moaning her name over and over as she took him deep in her throat, still stroking with her hand.

"Lexi...I'm...I'm gonna..."

She looked up at him, with his cock in her mouth, and he completely lost it. His hand buried in her hair as he gave a few thrusts and he let out a deep groan as she took all he had to give. When he was done, she sat up and helped him back into his pants without another word, leaving House to his own thoughts. He only had one thing on his mind. "Oh man...I'm in trouble."