Chapter 35

And a good captain can't fall asleep…

House decided to stop by to see Victoria on his way home from work. He wasn't sure why, but it seemed right.

Victoria was in her home office, but she came out as soon as she heard him, Lucy - her new assistant since Nathan had been promoted – trailing behind.

"Greg, I'm so happy you stopped by. I was going to call you. Lucy, you can finish those in the morning, but we'll be starting early, okay?"

"No problem, Victoria."

The girl left and Victoria poured a drink for House, then motioned him to sit on the sofa.

"I've been thinking a lot about Grace and the whole situation and I've made a decision. I'm going to go and stay with Grace until the end."

"You are? Wow."

"You don't approve?"

"It's not up to me to approve. I'm just amazed. What about your job?"

"I'm taking a leave of absence. I called my father and told him. He understands. Although he'd prefer me working, he believes it looks good for the family PR if I do this."

He gave her an odd look.

"No," she said, "That's not why I'm doing it. I've wasted a lot of time that I should have spent with Grace. I'll never make that up, but I can spend what time is left with her."

He nodded. "What about the Android?"

"I've decided it would be too much for Grace, so I'm leaving her here. Anita will take care of her. If you wouldn't mind, perhaps you can take her a little more often to give Anita some time. By the way, it turns out she has a boyfriend."

"I know."

Victoria was flabbergasted. "How did you know that?"

"I'm clairvoyant. How did you think I know? She told me."

She nodded. She really was out of touch with the people in her life. "Well, if you wouldn't mind helping her."

He was silent, considering it. "You know, the kid should have a parent living with her. As much as Anita cares about her, she's not her mother."

"I know, but I can't…"

"I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about me. I could take her full time while you're gone."

"You wouldn't mind?"

"She's my kid. Why should I mind?"

Victoria breathed a sigh of relief. She'd been uncomfortable thinking about her daughter being in the sole care of employees, no matter how wonderful Anita was. It was too reminiscent of her own childhood. Having Greg with her would be so much better.

"It would probably be easier for you if you stayed here. Then you wouldn't have to drive her here everyday or pick her up. Plus if you get called in to work, Anita would be here."

He thought about that. "Good idea."

"Greg, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this."

"When do you leave?"

"I need about two weeks to get some projects reassigned and such. Then I'll be gone."

"Okay, let me know the day and I'll be here."

Two weeks later, Victoria was packed and ready to drive to Philadelphia. House had arrived a little earlier and moved his stuff into the guest room. She wanted to tell him that he could stay in her room, but she didn't want to seem presumptuous.

House's plan – for as soon as she left – was to move into her bedroom. It was much more comfortable and had a TV.

She picked up Andra and hugged and kissed her.

"Mommy's going to miss you, sweetheart. But Daddy will be here with you. Okay?"

Andra hugged her back and Victoria reluctantly put her down.

She looked at House. "I really am going to miss her. I don't know how I'm going to handle not being with her everyday."

"It'll be okay. You'll see each other on the web cam every day. She won't forget you. I won't let her."

Victoria's eyes started to fill up. She went to House and hugged him.

"Thank you so much, Greg." She whispered.

He held her briefly, then as she started to break away, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

It was a kiss like that other one that had rocked them. The sort of kiss you share in the beginning of a relationship. The sort of kiss that holds a promise of so much more to come. The sort of kiss new lovers share.

It confused them both as they broke apart. Victoria stared at him for a long moment, before picking up her purse and walking out of the door.

When she got in her car and headed south, she couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. What was going on? Why was she feeling so strange when she was with a man she'd known for over two years?

"So what exactly are you doing?" Wilson asked him.

"Taking care of my family." House replied.

"Victoria's not your family. You're divorced."

"The Android's my family. My daughter, remember?"

"You could have taken her to your place. Why choose to stay at your ex-wife's home?"

"It was just easier."

"I'll bet."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Have you slept with her?"

"Yes, Jimmy, 'cause that's where babies come from."

"I mean lately."

House didn't answer.

Wilson chose his words carefully. "House, you're taking care of Andra and that's great, it's what you should do. But if you're trying to reconnect with your ex, you need to be careful. She's a cold, manipulative woman and she'll use you to get what she wants. Don't let her."

"I'm doing what I have to do. What I should do. You're the one who's always telling me that I should reach out and help people! What is it, everyone except women I used to be married to?"

"I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know what I'm doing."

Dripping with sarcasm, Wilson said, "Yeah, you always do, don't you?"