Brand new chapter, please review-desperate woman here.

Buffy waved happily as she moved past Cuddy's office, the dean of medicine smiling back at her. It had been three gloriously normal-by her standards-months. No visits from the Bleached and the Brooding, no phone calls from the Scooby Gang, no misdirected demons, no slayer dreams.

Cuddy had hired her on as House's assistant-to everyone's pleasure-so three days a week she "worked" at the hospital. She didn't mind, she got to spend time with her boyfriend. They were taking it slow, the honeymoon phase still casting a pretty red glow on everything.

Upstairs she slipped inside of Greg's dark office. She made to turn the lights on when a hiss from the far end stopped her, "Don't! Lock the door and come over here."

Rolling her eyes she flipped the lock and easily mad her way towards House's form, draped in his chair. Buffy couldn't help but be thankful for good old slayer sight.

She dropped onto the cushy footstool next to the chair, then it hit her, House wasn't doing anything, "What did you do now?"

She watched him shrug, "Don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, and I'm the Dali Lama. Now try it again, here you are, a hottie and you have the lights off-call me crazy but it doesn't scream innocence."

Again he shrugged. About to speak he was cut off by a rattling bang on the glass door,

"House! House, get out here right now!"

The voice was familiar, "What did you do to Wilson now?"

Her boyfriend sunk even lower in his chair as the noise grew louder, "I might have super glued Barbie heads to the top of his computer."

House knew she wouldn't be mad, amused most definitely. Three months of dates and he still wasn't bored of her, quite the opposite, he was nearly insufferable when she wasn't around. Reaching over, he laid his hand on her shoulder and twirled one blonde lock of hair around his finger.

"Barbie? Really? Should have guessed, please tell me you got some photos."

Grinning in the dark the man moved his hand to cup the side of his girlfriend's head stroking her jaw gently with his thumb, "Yep, I also stole twenty bucks from his desk to pay for them too."

She laughed, "You're kind of evil, good to know I'm staying true to character with my men."

He was smiling but his voice was all seriousness, "Oh, about that, I'm Chase's man-whore."

She scowled, "That bitch!"

Their laughter filled the unnoticed silence before a colossal thump made the pair jump. Buffy's gaze snapped to the door behind them, Wilson was plastered against the sliding glass door the blinds doing little to shield the sight.

"You have a big bird stuck to your window, Babe," House twisted in his chair to see.

He shuddered, "Luckily, I have clinic in ten minutes, let's have my employer clean up that."

Stretching as she rose, Buffy smiled, "Cuddy?"

Turning the light on, he shook his head and enjoyed the smooth expanse of skin that the limber woman in front of him was displaying, "Chase."

Moving past the doctor she unlocked the door and strode into the hallway, "Apparently that collar is always at the forefront of your mind."

"You know it. I'm just glad I found an assistant that looked so god in leather. Cameron just can't pull it off,"

"You are so lucky," putting a little extra sway into her walk she heard house groan.

Leaning heavily on his cane, House moved quickly to come level with her before speaking, "Why exactly am I lucky?"

Looking at the scruffy man the slayer quirked an eyebrow, "That cute ass is the only thing saving you."

He smiled cutely, "Ooh, sweet, sweet leverage."

Continuing towards the clinic in silence, the pair threw playful glares and smirks at each other. Greg trying to cop a feel the entire time-not that Buffy minded. Shoving the door to the clinic open he held it so his girl could enter.

Turning to the nurse he looked at his watch, "Dr. House checking in, 8:55."

He seemed really proud of himself, Buffy just covered her grin when the nurse rolled her eyes and handed her the first chart, "Room five."

The slayer tucked her arm around the Doctors and headed toward the room, "Come on Mr. Responsible. Time to go save the world, wouldn't want your nemesis Mr. Irresponsible to make a comeback."

"Of course not," he whipped the exam room door open and he smiled just a bit evilly, "What seems to be the problem?"

The plastic blonde in the room looked at them and put down the nail polish she was using, "Are you the doctor?"

Buffy opened the file and resisted the urge to laugh. House didn't stop smiling, "No, I just wandered in from the deli. My wife is upstairs giving birth."

The bottle blonde's mouth was open in confusion. The natural blonde slapped the back of his head as she walked past him, "This is Dr. House, Anna, right?"

She nodded, "If he's the doctor who are you?"

"Assistant," Buffy supplied.

Smirking, House leaned against the counter and started to fiddle with his cane, "What seems to be the problem?"

Capping the polish, she pulled her shirt up to expose her stomach. Both Doctor and Assistant wanted to flinch.

The girl seemed almost scared, "What's wrong with me?"

Her navel was a green gray color and in spots it had crusted over, underneath the swollen discolored flesh a silver ring peeked out.

House opened the drawer he was standing next to and pulled out the prescription pad. His ever famous are-you-really-that-dumb look had spread across his face as he wrote, "Your piercing, is infected. This is for a cleanser, follow the directions on it. He handed her the paper and started to limp for the door, "And for the love of god, tell your boyfriend to stop doing whatever it is he's doing to your stomach!"

He closed the door behind Buffy and slung his free hand around her waist, "What's next Nurse Buffy?"

It was her turn to smirk, "Dirty little secret?"

"Only if you're going to dress up, Baby."

"Mm, aren't you optimistic, room seven now, Buster."

Two hours and twenty-three patients later found Buffy and House taking a "well" deserved break for lunch in exam room three. General Hospital played out before them. They spoke along with the television. Making faces and acting out exclamations.

Cuddy and House's ducklings were headed up to talk to a potential patient, Cuddy being the deciding factor because House was no where to be found supposedly. The chart was being passed between the four as they passed a large group at the front desk. The woman manning the desk was on her feet trying to get her point across to the rather unruly group.

Telling Chase, Cameron, and Foreman to hold on a minute she moved over to the group, "Is there a problem here?"

Five of the six heads whipped to face her. The older gentleman stepped forward and removed his glasses, "Yes. We're here to see Buffy Summers. I'm afraid we were only just informed she was in the hospital."

Folding her arms across her chest Lisa frowned, she didn't like these people, "I fail to see why the phone wouldn't do."

The redheaded woman glared at her, "These are visiting hours, do you, or don't you have a Buffy Summers registered?"

Slipping behind the desk she motioned for the attendant to take a break, looking at the screen for a moment she started to think, "No."

A man with an eye patch put his hand roughly on a stack of papers, "Check all of the Jane Does."

Having no intention of doing anything she stood and frowned at the group, "Who are you people?"

The man who first spoke step forward again, "We're friends of Buffy."

Over the past three months she and Buffy had become closer, and Lisa didn't believe these were the type of people Buffy was friends with. The protective side of her kicked in and she swallowed before writing a note, "What are your names?"

A tall, silent brunette stepped forward, "I'm Buffy's sister Dawn. That's Xander, Willow, Giles, Kennedy, oh, and Andrew."

Motioning the security guard and the ducklings over she turned to the threesome first, "I forgot, I need you three to go see the patient in exam room three," she grabbed a file and paper clipped the note to the front before handing it to chase and turning back to the security guard, "These six are to remain here until further notice."

Sitting back down she waited for whatever signal Buffy gave her.

A soft knock on the door caused House to groan and pull away from the warm kiss, "Come in."

His response was sharp, but when one had a gorgeous blonde pressed flush against oneself on and exam table one gets a little leeway.

The door cracked open and three people marched in, House whimpered and Buffy smothered her laughter in House's chest.

Chase arched an eyebrow at the pair, "Cuddy is playing covert ops now she sent us here with a message. "Buffy-Six people claiming to be your friends are here. Dawn, Xander, Willow, Giles, Kennedy, and Andrew. They believe you to be hospitalized. I have them at the main desk." Did we know about these people?"

House had tightened his grip around Buffy's waist as soon as she tensed. He recognized the names-Andrew in particular. From what she had said about these people they weren't exactly saints.

Sighing heavily, the slayer stretched in preparation for battle. Her bones popped as she rolled her neck and twisted her torso. Hopping off the table she bit the inside of her cheek, creating hollows that filled with shadows. A warm hand on her back eased some of the tension that was curling in her gut. A warm calm surged through her.

She gave the four weak smile she went to face the wolves. She had a bit of distance on the four when they decided to follow.

Reaching the lobby the slayer sidled up to the group and cleared her throat, "Can I help you?"

All of them turned to look at her and Cuddy raised an eyebrow, Giles stepped forward, "Thank goodness, are you alright?"

Buffy just tilted her head to the side, not happy at the sight of her past, "Why wouldn't I be? How did you find out I was here?"

Willow gave her perky tight lipped smile, "Your neighbor said you were at the hospital."

Buffy put her hands on her hips, "Yeah, key word "at" not "in"," her voice was scathing in an any-idiot way.

Kennedy made a half snort half choking noise before scowling at the oldest slayer, "Why else would you be in a hospital."

Cameron, Chase, Foreman, and House appeared in the lobby. Buffy just stood there and glared at her friends, but it seemed lost on them.

House started towards them, trying not to lean on his cane, "Miss Summers is my assistant."

The brunette with the upturned nose eyed him disgustedly, "Who asked you, cripple," the last bit was said under her breath but both House and Buffy had heard it."

Giles frowned at the girl before turning back to House, "And who, may I ask, are you?"

"Dr. House, and no, even I can't cure the rat in that one's ass," he shoved his towards Kennedy's chest.

Gile's face clouded in confusion and then amazement, "Dr. Gregory House? You're unparalleled in your field. Even in Europe."

He spun on his heel to face Cuddy, "You see, now can I have a big screen TV in my office?"

She scowled, "Keep doing your clinic hours and we'll talk."

Still staring at the group Buffy frowned, "He has enough of an ego already. What are you doing here?"

Xander looked at her with his one eye, "The geek said he was moving to New Jersey."

Andrew half whimpered, "I'm sorry, Buffy. I tried to stop them but I couldn't."

"Its okay, Andrew," she shrugged. She didn't blame her friend, "Why is Andrew moving out here an issue?"

Silence descended. Apparently none of the geniuses could come up with a reason that wouldn't blow their cover.

Stepping towards her again, Giles cleared his throat, "Dear girl, you should have talked to us before you made this decision."

"Why did you really come?"

He was wiping his glasses again, "There is a threat. You have to come back to England.

Dawn touched her arm, "Buffy we're your friends, your family."

A slow smile spread across her lips and she was suddenly very thankful for the silent support of Greg, Cuddy, Foreman, Cameron, and Chase.

"Oh, you guys…," her voice was soft, sweet, "You haven't been my friends or family since the night you kicked me out. If things are so bad, Kennedy can deal with it, she seems to think she's "The One". I'm out. When I get a direct message, then I'll help. I won't be your scapegoat anymore," her voice was ruthless, "Andrew is staying here as my friend. That's all I have to say to. Leave. Come on Andrew, I want to introduce you to some people," tucking her arm around the Star Wars fan she grabbed House and led the pair over to her three other friends.

Behind her the group was in chaos. She could hear Xander, Willow, and Giles half cursing her half calling her back. Kennedy was silent but for calling Buffy several unsavory things under her breath. Dawn on the other hand was trying the good old guilt trip, "You owe me, Buffy. You can't just walk away from this, you owe me, us!"

Buffy closed her eyes. She didn't owe that ball of green anything. She died for memories, for her so called sister. She had two sets of memories, ones with Dawn, and ones without, Buffy favored her unaltered ones. They were real. Dawn was dead to her.

It wasn't blood or memories that made family. It was love, loyalty, trust. Things her sister had conveniently forgotten that night.

"I think it's time you left. Ms. Summers clearly didn't want to see you. Security, if you would please escort them off the premises. I strongly suggest you do not contact Ms. Summers again, or return to this hospital," Cuddy's voice had a steely quality she usually reserved especially for House.

As soon as she felt them leave the hospital, Buffy's smile broadened, "Everyone this is Andrew Wells, my absolute best friend. Andrew, this is Allison Cameron, Robert Chase, Eric Foreman, and over there we have Lisa Cuddy."

Andrew shyly waved hello to her friends, the short blonde couldn't help but smile.

A jab to her side made her squeal, "Hey, what was that for?"

House narrowed his eyes, "Forget someone?"

"Andrew, this is my boss/neighbor/boyfriend, Gregory House. But we just call him House, or the Ass," Buffy smirked.

House sighed and wrapped his arm around Buffy, "Hey Ducklings, go take Andrew to meet Wilson. Oh, yeah, Chase, he may be plastered to my window," he told them using Buffy's nickname for the threesome.

In his extremely Australian surfer boy way he brushed his bangs out of his eyes and frowned like he had smelled rotten eggs, "I don't want to know do I?"

He turned and Cameron and Foreman joined him in leading Andrew away.

Buffy leaned into House, wrapping her own arm around his waist, "I could sleep for a million years after today."

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and inhaled her distinctly vanilla and almost sweet citrus scent, "Speaking of sleeping, where is the kid staying?"

"My place," even her voice sounded tired.

"You know," he gave her a squeeze, "Maybe you should move in with me that way Andrew can just take your apartment and he'll be nearby."

"Mhm," she practically moaned as her eyes slipped closed in exhaustion, "Is that your only reason."

"Well that and I kind of got attached to you. You know, love and all that stuff," he shrugged it off."

She stiffened slightly, "No, I don't know. It's been a really long day you should just tell me."

"I'm in love with you, Buffy," his confidence had plummeted, something he had never really experienced.

Relaxing even more she snuggled her head into his chest, "I love you too," gathering herself she straightened and walked off towards the elevator, "Oh, and fine I'll move in with you, but only because I don't want to live in Nerd-Central."

He laughed and limped after her.

Mmm, sorry for the wait. I got a huge case of writers block and I couldn't figure out a way to fix it. Luckily I'm doing a marathon tomorrow and I decided to pull an all nighter. So here we go. One extra long chappie. Please review. It really helps me see what I can do to make it better plot and characterization wise.

I'd also like to thank all of my many reviewers. I never thought this would have such a following, but it does. SO thanks to al of you.