House looked across the table at Addison. He had been right when he had told Cuddy that he would miss the science surrounding Addison. But there was something else there. Something that had creeped in without him meaning or wanting it to. He was too scared to put a label on it. Putting a label on something made it more concrete, more real. It would float around in his mind, unnamed and then it could just be some strange feeling and nothing more. The science of this day was fascinating, he would focus on that. He was able to fully observe Addy without any distractions, Howard, Cuddy or the leering eyes of the hospital staff, like Wilson, how wanted to label the strange feeling he was having more than anything and pigeon hold him with it. Today was just as much for his scientific curiosity as it was for Addison.

Reggie began to bring another round of beers, House took one for himself and issued a,

"I think she's all set." Addison was getting tipsy and he could tell it. She was holding her face up and dopely grinning as more people came into the bar. He smirked at her, taking another long draw from his beer and then it happened. Reggie turned the music on. The bar was filled with the sounds of Moby and Addison's eyes got huge as "South Side" blasted from the overhead speakers. She laughed and her foot once again found the beat. House polished off his beer and stood. He crossed around the table, Addison drunkenly following him with her eyes. He took her hand and pulled her up from the table. She laughed. He set her hand on his shoulder and put his on her waist. It was painful, but slowly, very slowly he started to turn her, dancing in place. She watched their feet for a moment and her mind was spinning. Before they both knew it her head was on his chest. She closed her eyes, same dopey grin on her face and he slowly turned her. It was the first time anyone had asked her to dance and House figured, it might be the only time in her life anyone would. He knew what it was like to be different, disabled in some way, looked on with different eyes than the rest of the world received. Addison, no matter where she ended up would never be able to live out a normal life. She would probably never find love, never understand love even and for that reason he didn't want this dance in a run down old bar in downtown New Jersey to ever end. Because right now, two misfits weren't alone and suddenly it became clear that the feeling needed to be labeled. The feeling of recognition in Addison's path and wanting everything to go in the opposite direction for her, but knowing down deep inside that probably was never meant to be. She was broken, even more than he was, the sad truth was that he knew he was and Addison would never fully be capable of knowing she was.

The song ended and but House continued to slowly turn Addison in place. The noise of the bar filling his ears again. Addison was hanging limper in his arms, the effects of the alcohol taking a stronger hold. He stopped spinning and closed his eyes, holding her for just one moment, like a parent holds their small child and hopes that they will never get older. Then he breathed in and said,

"Come on Addy, let's get some air." He took his cane off the chair he had hooked it on and, putting an arm around her waist, steaded her out of the bar to the cheer of Reggie and several other bar flies yelling,

"Wild Child!"

"Where would he have taken her?" Cuddy was pacing around her office.

"Lisa, she's fine. She's with House." Wilson said and then tried to reassure himself that she would be okay after what he had just said.

"He didn't call. He should have called."

"He probably will."

"He probably will? Are we talking about the same person here?"

"Okay, you're right, he won't. But you just have to trust that she's fine."

"I can't and I can't believe you can either."

"You are about to hand her over to a family that you will only have known a few days, Lisa. If you can't handle trusting House to take care of her, how are you going to be able to do that?" She stopped pacing and turned to face Wilson, not knowing what to say. Damn, he had a good point.

They were sitting in the park at a picnic table, eating lunch. Addison was attacking her sandwich like a ravenous wolf.

"Take it easy, Addy. No one's going to take it from you." House said. It was something they were all trying to work with her on. One time she had eaten so quickly she had vomited all over Chase. House remembered the tactic they had taken and broken the sandwich up into small pieces giving them to her one at a time to slow her down. It worked a little bit, at least enough to keep her food down. He handed her another small piece and it was gone within a few seconds. He broke off another piece and handed it to her, gone in another few seconds. Would the new family know to do this? They would tell them he supposed. There would be a book, a novel, given to them when the adoption went through off all of the things they had learned in five months time. He began thinking of them as he handed her another piece of sandwich.

One, break up her food into small pieces so she doesn't inhale it.
Two, she will resist sleep at every possible chance. Bedtime needs to be taken slowly to wind her down enough.

Three, she's smart and gets bored easily if not challenged. If she gets bored, she tends to wander off.

Four, she's very good at wandering off. There were so many others. Little things. Things that would even seem silly to put in the book to begin with.

"Okay, so you picked the first place. I get to pick the next place." Addison looked up at him quizzically, mind still swimming slightly in alcohol.

She had no clue what was going on. All she knew was that it looked amazing. She was in line with House and all around her was the sound of motors whizzing around a track. She winced slightly from the sound of engines. She had never been in a place so loud.

"Are you okay?" House shouted over the sound of the engines and throwing her a thumbs up. She had begun to learn that signal and issued it back to him. "Good." He yelled down at her. She held tight to his hand though, and hugged in a little closer to his leg.

They moved up to the front of the line and were met by a fifty something year old man with an enormous beer gut, glasses and mustache.

"You need two cars?"

"Nope, she's riding with me." The man nodded and handed House two helmets.

"Okay, Addison, you got to wear this." He started putting the helmet over her head and she flew behind his back.

"You gotta wear it Sweetie or you can't ride. Park rules."

"Addison, look, see? It's fine." House put his on over his head and she watched him intently from behind his back. Then she was able to see down into the pit where all of the noise was coming from. There were cars. Cars without roofs or doors flying around a track and people driving them with huge red seat belts. They were going fast, really fast and without a moment's continued thought, she grabbed the helmet from House and slowly put it over her head.

"Atta girl." He said as he helped her with the chin strap and they made their way to the nearest go kart that was free. "Okay, you sit here." He showed Addison the passenger seat, but to his surprise she ignored him completely and climbed right in behind the wheel. Three, she's smart. "Oh no you don't, over here." House pointed to the passenger seat again. But Addison stared at him through her helmet and didn't move. "Okay, okay." House sighed and made his way to the passenger seat. He reached over and buckled her in. She jumped up and down in the seat with excitement. "Okay, so
Addison, watch me." He clapped to get her attention and painfully moved his foot over to the petal. "This is reverse." He hit the pedal with his foot, the car backed up and he helped her turn the wheel so that they were heading in the right direction. "And this is…" Without any warning Addison stamped full force onto the gas and the car flew forward down the track. House jerked the wheel to avoid slamming into another car. Addison began to laugh from inside her helmet. Her foot was all the way on the gas and although her hands were on the wheel, House from his passenger seat was doing most, if not all of the steering. His heart was up in his throat on some of the turns. This was a horrible idea.

Addison was laughing so hard that tears were starting to come down her face. This was incredible. She had never known how amazing something could be. She watched the other drivers whiz past her and let House move the wheel. It was the best feeling she had ever had in her entire life. They went around over and over and over. House kept paying for another trip around and another trip around and another trip around. Finally, Addison seemed like she was growing tired of it. The sun was starting to sink outside the windows of the go kart park and she was anxious to be back outside again.

When they left the park the college kid turnover was happening. Cars were pulling up and college freshman and sophomores were filling out and clambering to get inside. House was happy to be leaving. Addison was sobering up. Her gait was becoming more steady as he held onto her hand to cross the street. When they got to the other side something caught Addison's eye. In the quickening darkness of the city, all of the businesses neon signs were beginning to light up and there was one in particular that was drawing Addison. She let go of House's hand and walked over to it, staring up at it. It's flashing pink glow reflecting off her face, making her skin flash pink every other second. She was staring up at a half naked neon woman. The neon woman was moving back and forth to the pulsing beat of the music inside. One set of lights lit up one side of her hips and the other set of lights lit up the other. The effect made the woman look like she was shaking her hips and it captivated Addison. It was magical this pink woman. She was so bright and beautiful. House smirked watching Addy take in the sign and thought of the many nights he had walked underneath her and relaxed at the bar. But before he knew it, he was the only one looking up at it as he saw Addison disappear inside the bar. Four, she's very good at wandering off.

House dashed inside and found Addison up against the wall in the dim halogen bulb lighting, eyes wide and awe struck and the women on stage as half naked as the pink neon lady, but swinging their hips in a far more realistic fashion. She watched as men close to the stage whistled and stuck folded one dollar bills into the dancer's g-strings.

"Greg! Haven't seen you here in awhile. How the hell are you?" A small man with slicked back hair was crossing the floor as the bump and grind music pumped over head.

"I'm fine, Vinny. Not staying long, just collecting someone and heading out."

"Nonsense. You should stay. We got a couple new girls since you last been here. Real good ones too, all from a professional outfit in Boston." Then Vinny saw Addison and sidled up to her. "What about you Honey? You looking for work? I ain't got one that looks like you. Ain't got any short haired ones. Some of the guys might like that." House instinctively put an arm around her.

"She's with me Vinny." Addison shied away from Vinny and hugged close to House.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were seeing anyone. She seems a little young for you, but man, who am I to judge."

"That's right Vinny, who are you to judge." House snapped back. Wishing the man would just go away. Vinny laughed, not really getting the hint.

"Well, there's no place better for a date night, I can guarantee you. Like I said got some real professional girls and new poles. They don't make that squeaking sound like the old ones did. Real nice ones, had 'um put in over the summer." Vinny looked over at Addison again, pushed into House's side, "You sure you don't need a job, Honey. Good money. Good work environment. You keep your hair short you'd probably get your own clients for the back room."

"She's doesn't need a job. She just needs to get out of here." House pulled Addison toward the door.

"Well, let me know if you change your mind, Honey. I'll be right here." Vinny called after them.