Sorry for the delay, folks. RL has been kicking my butt this week. As usual, I don't own any of them.

# # #

The ringing of the bell over the door jerked Anthony's attention away from his book. He could feel his heart beat a little quicker when he spotted House's figure limp through, the light snow dusting his shoulders.

House caught his eye, and made his way over to the booth with a slight smile. The older man took off his coat and shoved it into the booth before sliding into the booth, absentmindedly rubbing his thigh as he did so. If Anthony didn't know better, he'd almost think House was nervous. Not quite as nervous as their very first meeting here, but definitely a little edgy.

Anthony set his book aside and reached across the table with an open hand, palm up, and House paused briefly before taking it, curving his long fingers around it and squeezing lightly. The tension seemed to dissolve between them, and Anthony could almost see House relax ever so slightly as he brushed his thumb over Anthony's hand.

"Hey you." Anthony smiled warmly. "Glad you made it."

"Yep." House smiled back ever so slightly. "Thought my case was going to hold me up, we managed to wrap it up."

"That's good." Anthony studied House's face, trying to read the older man's nearly unreadable expression. "Everything okay?"

"Fine." House averted his eyes and concentrated on caressing Anthony's hand.

"Is that right?" Anthony regarded House skeptically. "I've been kind of on pins and needles all day, if you want to know the truth."

"What the hell for?" House looked baffled. "I've been..." He caught himself, suddenly reluctant to fully express himself. He had been looking forward to this lunch all morning, even as Jake's kiss still remained in the back of his mind.

The waitress breezed up to their table to take their orders, breezing out nearly as quickly as she had shown up. House leaned back against the booth and stretched out his right leg, his calf touching Anthony's. The younger man jumped slightly at the touch, glancing up to see a slightly teasing expression on House's face.

"You did that on purpose." Anthony flashed a quick smile at House.

House shrugged as he stretched out his other leg to hook it around Anthony's. "Maybe so, maybe not. I'll never tell."

Anthony chuckled and placed his chin on one hand, leaning on his elbow to look intently at House. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were flirting with me."

Anthony's stance briefly reminded House of Jake in the Chinese restaurant just the night before. House was starting to feel like the biggest man-whore on Earth, right behind Wilson...and possibly Anthony.

He sighed and pulled back his left leg, moving his right so that it no longer contacted Anthony's. Anthony's brow crinkled in concern as he watched the older man shift uncomfortably and drum

his fingertips on the table in front of him, glancing off into the distance. Finally he shifted his focus to Anthony, meeting his eyes. "If I tell you something, will you get upset?"

Anthony looked briefly alarmed. "Depends on what it is."

House twisted his mouth thoughtfully before answering. "I didn't plan on seeing you last night. I never planned on seeing you ever again."

"Kind of figured it was an impulse move on your part." Anthony started to reach out, but thought better of it. "Most people don't plan on midnight reunions, unless they actually work the night shift, which neither one of us do. Anyway. I assume there's more to the story?"

House nodded, encouraged by Anthony's response so far. "Jake and I went to dinner, and I kind of invited him back to my place instead of going back to his hotel room like we normally would have." That part made Anthony wince a bit, but he tried to keep a neutral face as House continued. "Once we got there, I guess I kind of...froze. We ended up playing music for a couple hours. The kid's one hell of a guitar player."

"Kid?" Anthony's curiosity was piqued. "How old is he?"

"He's never come out and said. Guess it didn't really matter at the time." House shrugged. "Early thirties, by my best guess."

Anthony looked briefly amused. "So you landed yourself an even younger hottie after me? Go you."

House rolled his eyes, and Anthony could see a tinge of pink in his cheeks. "Anyway. Afterwards, he kind of put a move on me, and I kind of froze, again." He reached out to lightly stroke Anthony's hand. "If I let him in my bed...it would have only been a matter of time before I let him in...elsewhere. I didn't want that."

Anthony turned his hand over to catch House's fingers, running his thumb along them. He released them when the waitress brought their food, and they started to work their way through their lunch while House continued his story. "He was really cool about the whole thing. Told me that what I wanted was what mattered, and if I didn't want...whatever, then what he wanted was irrelevant. Kind of reminded me of something a certain someone said a while back." House gave Anthony a pointed look, and the younger man laughed a little and shook his head. "So I told him all about you, and he gave me the kick in the ass I needed. The rest, as they say, is history. Or something like that."

Anthony swallowed the bite he'd been chewing to throw House a puzzled look. "You might want to tell me when I'm supposed to get upset, because I'm not really sure."

House huffed in exasperation. "The part where I was going to do either him or you. Doesn't that bother you? And what about the part where I was with him the night before, you know, in the biblical sense?"

Anthony merely regarded House coolly from across the table. "Are you trying to get a reaction out of me? Because it's not really working."

"He kissed me this morning when we met for coffee." House blurted out. "I kissed him back, and not some chaste little peck, either. Full on lip lock, tongue and everything."

Anthony continued his steady gaze. "So are we even now?" House looked baffled as Anthony once again reached for his hand. "Look, this starting over thing puts us in an odd place. What you were doing last night, two nights ago, hell, two months ago is none of my business. Even this morning is kind of borderline." He tilted his head at House as he continued. "Why do you think I didn't want to go with you this morning? I had some idea how it would go."

A suspicious expression crossed House's face. "How did you know?"

"You know how I told you Simon and I made better friends than lovers?" House nodded as he took a few bites of his sandwich. "Well...we kind of decided that in bed one night."

House stopped mid-bite and regarded Anthony quizzically. "Before or after?"

"After." Anthony answered almost casually. "The physical part was there but the other...was kind of dying, and we both knew it. We figured it was better to end it before we started hating each other."

"And now you're BFFs. Interesting."

"You're missing the point, Greg." Anthony set his plate aside and squarely faced House. "The point is...you and Jake needed some kind of closure. You might not have known that, but I did. That's why I didn't want to tag along, and that's why I'm not bothered now."

House frowned thoughtfully for a moment before tilting his head at Anthony. "So you don't think I'm a man-slut?"

Anthony shrugged. "I don't think it really matters right now, do you?"

"It might matter later."

Anthony reached out and covered House's hand with his own. "Do you honestly think I would hold any of your past behavior against you?" The waitress dropped off the bill, and House quickly moved to pick it up.

"I would if it were me." House answered as he grabbed his coat and made his way to the cash register, Anthony close behind him. He paid the bill and strode out of the deli, pausing just outside, suddenly deep in thought. "If I remember correctly, I did hold it against you."

Anthony moved so that he faced House and gently wrapped his arms around him. House stiffened slightly, but didn't try to pull away. "Hey, clean slate, remember? It doesn't matter now."

"Right." House slowly placed his arms around the younger man and dropped a quick kiss on his forehead. "So...busy tomorrow?"

"I don't think so. Why?"

"Thought maybe we could do dinner...get things moving in the right direction again."

Anthony squeezed House a little tighter. "I'd like that. I know a great little place. Totally private, and we can hang out all night if we want."

House nodded and briefly squeezed Anthony in return before releasing him and stepping away. "Guess it's a date, then."

Anthony smiled a little as the older man turned and made his way down the sidewalk to his car. Things were definitely a little strange and awkward for them right now, especially in the light of House's confession. Anthony had long suspected that others found House attractive, but being faced with the reality of another person in House's life who obviously had some attachment to him was another thing entirely.

He sighed to himself as he turned and returned to his car. He climbed in and sat deep in thought as the vehicle warmed up, trying to wrap his mind around things.

Anthony had never considered himself a jealous man, but the idea that there might be someone waiting in the wings for him to screw things up with House again bothered him. He and Simon had managed to stay friends after their relationship ended, but the circumstances were somewhat different. Their relationship had stretched out over several years. House had known this Jake guy only a couple of weeks.

Anthony huffed in irritation and pulled out of his parking spot. This reconciliation was going to be a little more difficult than he had bargained for, that was for sure. He only hoped that it would be worth it, eventually.

# # #

House returned to the hospital after his lunch with Anthony, his mind riddled with doubt. He hadn't anticipated Anthony's reaction to his distinctly whorish behavior, and he couldn't help but wonder if the younger man was keeping some of his feelings about the matter to himself. House wouldn't blame him if he did.

He sighed in frustration as he hung up his coat and dumped his backpack before sliding into his desk chair to check his e-mail and sort through a few things on his desk. This reconciliation thing wasn't quite going the way he thought it would. What was he expecting, anyway? That they would be able to push a reset button on their relationship, wiping out whatever had come before? House knew now that was impossible, but now he was less sure than ever about how to handle things. Now that the initial euphoria had passed, it was less clear where he and Anthony stood.

Then there was the matter of Jake. Jake and that damned kiss that still worked at House's mind. It was just as well that Jake had decided to wait to contact him. House wasn't even sure he could handle being around him right now while he was trying to get things back on track with Anthony.

He loved Anthony, that much he knew for sure. But even though House had tried to keep things between he and Jake purely physical, there was some connection there, and House wasn't sure that it would translate into friendship so easily. It was a strange situation House found himself in, no question.

He shook off his thoughts and pushed himself out of his desk chair to poke his head into the conference room. Taub was poring over potential case files, and Foreman was deep into research on the laptop. "Find anything yet?"

Taub shook his head, clearly disappointed. "Nothing."

"I'll be down in the clinic. Page me if you find something."

House made his way down to the clinic, letting the parade of patients take his mind off things for a couple of hours. He ran into Thirteen several times throughout the afternoon as she worked her own clinic hours, occasionally chatting as they passed each other.

Thirteen carefully studied the older doctor as they rode back up to the fourth floor after the clinic slowed down. He seemed more subdued than he had this morning, and she wondered if his lunch 'date' had anything to do with it.

"Have a good lunch date?" She ventured.

House glanced at her with a slight frown. "Maybe. Why?"

"Just wondering. You seem a bit..." Thirteen shrugged. "I don't know. Never mind. Forget I asked."

They stepped off the elevator and headed back to Diagnostics, House entering his office as Thirteen entered through the conference room. He couldn't help but wonder why Thirteen had asked him about his lunch date at all. Maybe she had only been making conversation, but maybe there was more to it.

He shook off the thought as he picked up his backpack and coat and left his office. If he got a move on, he'd have time for a workout before going over to Wilson's. House had promised his very lovely physical therapist that he would maintain his progress between sessions, and it was a promise he intended to keep. He suspected that the young woman wouldn't hesitate to kick his ass around the block if he fell through on that promise. As enticing as that thought was...he liked the way things were progressing for him so far. House's pain levels had been dropping as his strength improved, though the nerve pain stayed with him, and mostly likely always would. All the PT in the world wouldn't take that away, but it was making the muscle pain far more manageable. That alone was worth a hell of a lot, and took away a few physical limitations. One never knew when that might come in handy.

House smirked a little to himself at the memory of he and Anthony in the hallway. There was no way in hell he could have managed that before. House supposed the PT was already coming in handy, in ways he hadn't anticipated before. He hoped to put a little more of that to good use in times to come, if there were any more times to come with Anthony. House wasn't so sure of that right now.

It didn't matter just then, House decided as he rode the elevator downstairs and crossed the lobby to the sliding double doors. His quality of life had greatly improved, and that would come in handy no matter who came along, whether that was Anthony or someone else. House still hoped Anthony would be that someone, despite the awkwardness of their earlier lunch date. Perhaps dinner would work out better. If for some reason it didn't...no, there was no point in obsessing over something that hadn't even happened yet. It was another bridge House would cross when he got to it.

# # #

Wilson rolled himself off the couch when he heard the distinct sound of wood on wood at his door. "It's open!"

House entered, limping slowly into the apartment, bearing the aforementioned beer and handing it off to Wilson. Wilson's brows crinkled in concern. "Everything okay?"

"Fine." House responded as he slowly took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack near the door. "Pushed myself a little hard at the gym tonight, that's all."

Wilson grinned slowly. House was taking this PT thing more seriously than he let on. "So PT's going well, I take it?"

"You could say that." House took the beer that Wilson offered and plopped down heavily on the couch. "Maybe if I push myself, she'll be a little easier on me when I see her next."

"Yeah, that'll happen." Wilson rolled his eyes as he took the six pack into the kitchen and put it in the refrigerator. "So, I assume she's...attractive?"

"She's freaking HOT." House grinned wolfishly and took a long drink of his beer.

Wilson snorted in response. "Careful now. Wouldn't want Tony to get jealous." He shook his head at his own words. "Didn't think I'd ever say something like that."

House twisted his mouth in response, a darker expression taking over his rough features. Wilson didn't miss the change, and squinted his eyes at the older man. "Did I say something wrong?"

House shook his head. "Forget it. It's nothing."

"Which means it's something." Wilson picked up the phone and the take out menu. "What do you want?"

House pushed himself off the couch to take the menu out of Wilson's hand, perusing it briefly. "Number seven works for me."

Wilson placed the order, and inside of half an hour, the two friends were on the couch, drinking beer and eating their Chinese food as if nothing had ever changed between them. Eventually they set the containers aside, sharing the gossip of the day as Wilson found the telenovela on his TiVo.

House barely listened to the dialogue, his mind occupied by Wilson's earlier comment. Wilson seemed to notice House's distraction, and finally shut off the television. "Something's on your mind."

"Something's always on my mind." House answered quietly, draining the remains of his beer. "Doesn't mean I always need to share it."

Wilson nodded and started cleaning up containers and beer bottles. House either would speak up or wouldn't, and there was nothing Wilson could do to hurry that along.

House followed him into the kitchen, carrying a pair of empty beer bottles with him. He watched as Wilson threw away containers and tossed chopsticks and silverware into the sink, leaning against the counter and tapping his cane on the floor. "So I had lunch with Tony today."

"I know." Wilson answered. "How'd that go?"

House shrugged. "I don't know. Good, I guess." He glanced at the floor as he continued to tap his cane in a steady rhythm. "Kind of weird and awkward."

Wilson finished his clean up and leaned against the counter next to the sink. "I can imagine. Are you going to...go out again?"

"Yeah." House looked a little pensive. "If we don't work out...I'm not sure what I'm going to do."

"You really think that's possible?"

House's mouth twisted in an ironic smile. "Anything's possible."

"House." Wilson crossed his arms over his chest and gave his oldest friend a hard stare. "Do you really think Tony would have gotten together with you if he didn't feel something for you?"

"I know he wouldn't have. I'm not an idiot." House snapped, thumping his cane on the floor. "I just...I wish I knew what the hell to do."

"What is there to do?" Wilson was puzzled by the line of conversation. "You had this incredibly intense...relationship with him before. You can't expect either one of you to erase that and just start over."

There was a long silence as House absorbed Wilson's words. He lifted his eyes to meet Wilson's. "I kind of want to go see him."

"Is that what you really want?" Wilson questioned him. "Seems like that goes against what you're trying to do."

"I said I wanted to see him. I never said I was actually going to do it." House pushed himself off the counter and leaned on his cane. "I am capable of an ounce of self-control."

"I know that." Wilson sounded a little resigned, cursing himself for drawing such a quick conclusion. "I guess I kind of jumped to conclusions. Sorry."

"Not your fault." House shrugged as he returned to the living room, sitting down on the couch to put on his shoes. "It's not like you don't have your reasons."

Wilson put his hands in his pants pockets, watching House. "You've come a long way since you guys broke up. Sometimes I forget that." He shrugged thoughtfully. "I wouldn't worry too much about you and Tony. It's going to be weird and awkward for a while, but I think you'll work it out."

House looked up, puzzled. "You really think so?"

"I do." Wilson nodded. "You two just kind of...work."

House allowed a small smile then, nodding in response. "Maybe you're right. And even if it doesn't work out..."

"It won't be the end of the world." Wilson finished the statement as House rose to his feet.

"Something like that." House limped over to where his coat hung near the door, picking it up and putting it on, noting the odd mix of scents that floated off it. He paused briefly, leaning on his cane before looking Wilson in the eye. "Thanks. You know, for the food and stuff."

"Of course." Wilson answered, still surprised that House bothered to thank him. "See you at work tomorrow?"

House nodded, turning and exiting the apartment, quietly pulling the door closed behind him. Wilson could just hear House's car chirp as he unlocked the doors and started it. He was relieved and pleasantly surprised that House had finally replaced the ancient beast he had been rattling around in for the better part of fifteen years with something a little more reliable. More importantly, House seemed pleased with his choice, driving anywhere and everywhere he had an opportunity to.

Wilson hoped like hell that House and Anthony could work things out between them. Not that Jake didn't seem like a decent sort of guy from the little contact Wilson had with him, but House and Anthony just seemed to work, as he had told House. Things had changed for House in the couple of months that the two men had been apart, and he hoped that Anthony would be able to roll with those changes. If he could, they had a good chance of making it, of that Wilson was sure. If he couldn't, for some reason, Wilson felt more sure that House would still be okay. The man that had hung out with him here tonight was nothing like the human train wreck he and Chase had scraped up off the floor just a couple of months before, and for that Wilson was fundamentally grateful.

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