29

"So what did you and dad talk about earlier, I got the impression that I had interrupted something." Maddy asked Chase as they ate lunch at a local cafe.

"You know, the usual."

"He's not met that many of my boyfriends, due to the fact I was away for 5 years, and he certainly didn't employ any of them. I'm curious."

"He just warned me not to hurt you." Chase told her, "Which I told him I had no intention of doing, and that I really liked you."

"Really?" Maddy teased, "Would never have guessed."

"He was surprisingly cool about the whole thing." Chase commented, frowning.

"Told you he was ok." Maddy laughed, "Probably helps that he already knows you." Chase smiled and nodded in agreement. He was definitely seeing a new side to House.

"You have plans for tonight?" Chase asked, paying for lunch.

"Tonight is Monster Truck night, once a month special, I promised dad I'd watch it with him." She explained, apologetically. "You could join us if you like, Wilson will be there too."

"No, it's ok, you watch trucks and stuff with House."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, have fun." Chase smiled, holding the door open for Maddy. "I'll see you Monday?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded, "See you then." She gave Chase a kiss and hug, then left to head back to the apartment for a night of trucking. She let herself into the apartment, "Hey James." She greeted Wilson who sat on the couch, watching some soap opera and frowning.

"Hey Maddy." He still watched the TV frowning. "How can your father watch this?"

"I don't know, I can't follow who's marrying who, who's cheating with who and who's dying." Maddy told him, sitting beside him, frowning herself. "Where is he anyway?" She asked, looking around the lounge. "I blew off a night with Robert to come back and watch Monster Truck Mayhem with him."

"Buying chips for tonight." Wilson explained, "Call him and tell him you need chips too. He thought you'd forgotten about tonight."

"Is he annoyed about, you know, Robert and I?"

"No, no. But he knows about Nathan..."

"James! I thought-" She exclaimed, turning to face him.

"It slipped out, I'm sorry!" He defended himself.

"He was mad?" She asked, squirming.

"At me, not you." Wilson explained, "He's ok now."

"Yeah, right." Maddy sighed, "Which is why he's out shopping, when normally he'd just get you to buy the chips."

"If it makes any difference, I was telling him how good Chase was for you, and that you could do a lot worse."

"You were defending Robert?" Maddy asked, open mouthed.

"Yeah." He told her, "Don't look so shocked, I'm sorry about what I said last night. Chase is good for you, you're happy." He smiled at her. "House and I just want you to be happy."

"I am, James, really." She hugged him, "Thank you."

They were only alone for another 5 minutes when House returned. "Got chips!" He called, opening the door.

"Enough for 3?" Maddy asked him, "You thought I'd forget Mayhem, I'm hurt."

"Not forget, have other plans." House clarified, dumping the chips in the kitchen. "No Chase lovin' tonight?"

"I told him I already had plans with you."

"I'm flattered." House answered, smiling. "Wilson can get his own chips."

"Thanks House!" Wilson called from the couch, "After all the times, I've bought you lunch..."

"Rent free accommodation..." House reminded Wilson in a sing song voice.

"Ok, I'll go and get my own chips." Wilson muttered, noticing a silent thank you in House's eyes, House and Maddy had some talking to do. Wilson picked up his jacket, "Any requests?"

House and Maddy both shook their heads, no. "Ok, I'll be back in a bit."

"Maddy, sit down, I want to talk to you." House adopted his serious tone, and sat down at the kitchen table, as Maddy joined him.

"Look, if this is about Nathan-"Maddy started.

"You think I'd just let it go?"

"I was kinda hoping you would."

"Not a chance." House told her, opening a bottle of beer, and taking a long swig. "He hit you." Maddy opened her mouth to answer, "You didn't tell me."

"How could I dad?" Maddy answered, "I felt stupid for not seeing him for what he was."

"You can talk to me about anything, after all we've been through, I thought-"

"Dad, I was 21, an adult. I made a mistake, I learned from it." Maddy told him, standing up. "Don't feel bad because I didn't tell you, ok?"

House looked up at Maddy, "Promise you'll never keep anything from me like that again?"

"Yeah, of course." She smiled, hoping that the situation would never arise.

"Good, I'm glad we sorted that." House told her, standing too. "Remember Chase puts one foot out of line, I'll be on him like..." He thought for a moment, Maddy laughed.

"I know, dad, I don't think he will, but thank you."

"Ok, I now have my own food!" Wilson called, walking through the door, announcing his presence to House and Maddy. House emerged from the kitchen, "Everything ok?" Wilson asked quietly, House smiled lightly and nodded.

"Are we watching this or not?" Maddy asked, carrying bowls of chips from the kitchen.

House and Wilson both nodded and joined her on the couch.