Chapter 36

"Just what do you think you're doing?" House couldn't choose a specific person to get mad at; at the moment he hated them both. They were the reason his leg hurt; THEY caused the stewing and pacing in his apartment, his mind wandering to what they were doing. Alone. By themselves. Without a chaperone. House pictured Wilson's hands moving down, down, down to those breasts, so perky, so ripe for the plucking…where only HIS hands belonged.

Romoly's next words broke him from his fanciful daydreaming. "We're kissing. It was a very good kiss, as a matter of fact. And now you've interrupted it." She looked at Wilson. Smiling devilishly, she asked, "Think we should start over?"

House held up his hand and cane, waving it between them. "Oh no you don't. I pay rent here too and I don't want such lewd behavior out in the hall."

"Get used to it House," Wilson said, looking at Romoly with a grin. "Rom's agreed to go on another date with me. Isn't that right?"

God bless him, she thought, grateful he was playing up their dating act. "Yes it is Jimmy."

"ROM? DATE? JIMMY?" House was flabbergasted at the sudden turn of events. This wasn't what he wanted when he planned the prank. What he'd planned for that very moment was very different than that conversation: he'd planned on being in naked ecstasy with her. This just wasn't how it was supposed to be; House always won one way or the other. It was the natural order of things and how it was always meant to be. "You mean…you two are DATING?"

"Well," she looked at Wilson for confirmation who simply smiled, the second time that night, like a Cheshire cat. Things seemed to be going his way against House…for once. Romoly continued. "I guess we are. I'm really excited. Jimmy's taking me to a lecture at the University."

House rolled his eyes; he could top that. "Do you like monster trucks? I got season tickets."

"Wow…as tempting as that sounds, from what Jimmy says, the lecture sounds really exciting. It's called "How Post-Modern Industrialism, A Zoo Cage and Macy's Put Together Have Become Our Culture's Prison." It should really make you think."

"Yeah…about how you want to be with me and not Jimmy." House muttered. He stopped and quietly asked, "You two are really dating, huh?"

"It would seem," Romoly slowly said, intentionally vague with her answer.

House looked down at his cane. "But wasn't I enough?" Unfortunately neither Romoly nor Wilson caught the slight smirk on his face. It was an act, one that House was very good at.

Romoly opened then closed her mouth. She had no idea what to say or do. Turning to Wilson for guidance, she was surprised to see the conflict on Wilson's face; it was obvious he was fighting to believe that House was sincere. He just didn't know what to believe either. So she decided to make light of the situation. "No. You just aren't needy enough for me. Besides," she looked at Wilson, "Jimmy's got the dimples; you don't. I'm a sucker for dimples." Romoly studied House and her heart ached. She didn't want to hurt him and she could see he wasn't happy about this. Moving forward, she stopped in front of him. "We'll always have…um…" Romoly searched for…something…they had in common.

"…this…" House finished, grabbing Romoly by the waist and pulling her to him. Taking a brief moment to study her mouth and eyes, he brought his mouth to hers and sucked all the air out, burning the image in his brain. She responded immediately and with a fervor she didn't have with Wilson. She couldn't help it; it had, and always would be, that way with House. And with each dance of their tongues, each slow, deep caress, she lost herself more to him.

Releasing her, House backed away, threw one last, lingering look at Romoly, then turned to his apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Romoly quietly studied the closed door for a moment, desperately trying to regain her senses. "So how do you think that went?"

Wilson studied the door, his eyebrows rising in surprise. "Better than I'd have expected; he wasn't yelling. The kiss sure threw me though. But it could've been worse; he usually yells at this stage. I couldn't tell you what to expect since I don't know what's going to come next. I do know that he's gonna make our lives a living hell until we either give in and you go to him, or he finds another distraction."

That second possibility wasn't something she particularly wanted. "What should we do?"

Wilson didn't know why he was suggesting what he was about to suggest but it came out anyway: "Let's keep dating." He stepped closer so that House, who they knew was listening, couldn't hear. "Let's even have him catch us in bed."

Romoly wasn't so sure about that; she didn't want House thinking she was sleeping with someone else. "I don't think that's a good idea." And she briefly relayed what happened with Bobby. "It wasn't pretty. I couldn't do that to him again."

"We wouldn't actually have to be having sex; it just needs to appear that way. But don't you see? It doesn't matter what you do; he's always going to meddle in your life but he won't commit. Besides, you've got to show him you've moved on and that he really does need to make a commitment."

Romoly didn't appreciate that deceit; it was one thing to prank, like they were doing, but to take it that far wasn't what she wanted to do. No matter how House was, she couldn't bring herself to sink to that level of deceit. She shook her head. "Let's not think that far right now, ok? Let's just date then see if he breaks. I don't want to use that card unless it becomes absolutely necessary." Wilson nodded. "But I did want to invite both you and Greg to a library party. Wanda, the woman that House sent to the hospital, is retiring. Her last day is this Friday and we're introducing her replacement. I wanted you two to meet the rest of the library. What do you say?"

"That sounds good. House won't want to go."

"Let's just ask him." Romoly trooped over to his door and banged loudly. "Greg, come on out and play!"

"NOOO!" the muffled reply answered her.

"Why not?"

"I don't play with girls who tease."

"I'll let you look up my dress…and I'm not wearing any underwear."

The door flew open. "But won't Jimmy tattle to the playground teacher?"

"Probably but you've gotta be sneaky about it."

House fought back the tiny smile sneaking up on him. "What do you want? Why aren't you sucking the face off Jimmy, now that you're dating and all?"

Romoly caught the slight hurtful whining in his voice. "We're having a party at the library this Friday."

House laughed sarcastically. "And why do you think I'd be interested in that?"

"Because Wanda's leaving us. You've sent her into early retirement."

House's mouth slipped into a grin but he shook his head. "No. Have fun with Jimmy." He slammed the door in her face, leaving her staring at the door with dejection.

Wilson took her hand and they went back to her open door. "I told you Romoly. He won't go to the party." Wilson sighed. "It's late; why don't you go to bed. I'll call you tomorrow?" She nodded and he kissed her cheek. "Good night Romoly."

"Good night James. Thank you." He nodded and she shut the door.

HOUSEMD…HOUSEMD…HOUSEMD…

KNOCK KNOCK. House was slumped on the couch, depressed. "GO AWAY!"

"I've got a key!"

House sighed and got up. Opening the door, House pointed to her apartment and asked, "Why aren't you over there, banging your hearts out?"

"Because she doesn't want to sleep with me…" Wilson paused and House visibly relaxed. "…right now. But I'm working on her and she'll be begging for me."

House narrowed his eyes. "Just go away." He moved to slam the door but Wilson put his hand on it to stop it.

Wilson was getting ready to do something he didn't know if he was prepared to do: he was going to help House. But he wasn't doing it for House, especially after the events of that night. No, Wilson was tired of trying to help House. Wilson was doing it for Romoly. He wanted her to be genuinely happy and Wilson knew she wasn't happy with him and that she wouldn't happy with him. He saw it in the kiss in the hallway; that was NOT how they'd kissed just earlier. He simply couldn't understand why her happiness had to be with House and not someone…saner. But he wasn't about to question it. He felt the need to make Romoly happy, even if he wasn't to be the source of her happiness. "She was upset you didn't want to go. If you really want a chance with her you'd better show up. You do know you wouldn't be in this position if you'd have just told her how much you wanted her from the beginning. You opened your big yap and told her it was physical. The poor thing probably thinks she was just one in a long line of lays but nothing else. No wonder she's moving on."

House knew this but had to have things HIS way and giving in easily wasn't his way. "Then what am I supposed to do?"

"First try to figure out what's going on in your mind. Then go to the party. You just might meet someone who only wants sex. Hopefully she'll be a good distraction." Wilson watched House and was surprised at the amount of fidgeting House exhibited. House was usually stoic as he, on those rare occasions, listened to people. "Because if things don't work out with between you and Romoly, you'll be even more miserable than you are right now and you'll need that distraction."

And Wilson slammed the door shut as he left, leaving House to his thoughts.