A/N: I know by the numbers I have alot of happy readers. Stop being so mysterious and tell me what you think! Lengthy praises not necessary. Like it or no, opinions and thoughts, please? Love to hear from you. Thanks!

House made his escape from work early, but he knew it wouldn't matter. The lot of them was happy to see him these days. And maybe the new group Jack had put together would be rehearsing. House wanted to hear more after the impressive bits and pieces he'd heard earlier. They were excellent.

And he wasn't disappointed. When he opened the door the first thing that hit him was the music. Jack was at the piano with his group and only one twin was beside Jesse when they came into his line of sight. Head to head in the booth, there was a smattering of objects scattered on the table, crystals and gems of various sizes and shapes on chains. House chose to remain standing. There was a ouija board resting at the end of the booth and although he didn't believe in them…it was there, on the table staring up at him and it looked rather old and important.

"No, no, no, idiot. You're trying to make the thing move. There's a difference. Watch." House smiled, listening to her chastising whichever one…House looked at her fingernails as they tapped impatiently on the table…it was Coral. House moved a little closer so he could see over the top of the booth. Jesse scooped up the largest item on the table and held the chain lightly between her index and middle finger. "Receptive hand when you want to receive. Dominant hand when you want to give it some exercise." She stopped in mid sentence, as she was about to switch hands and turned around to look at House. "When did you wander in? Have a seat!" Jesse smiled up at him.

House nodded and inched toward the booth behind them, propping his leg on the seat. He leaned on the back of the seat and made himself at home there. Jesse gave him an odd look. "I've got a good view from here."

"House! Pendulums don't bite. Sit, like you always tell me." Jesse motioned to the other side of the booth and he grudgingly slid past the object of his disdain and made himself at home in the corner. Jesse and Coral watched and said nothing. H realized they were staring and suddenly felt uncomfortable as hell. "What?" He snapped, glaring at Jesse. "I don't want to disturb anything you ladies are working on."

Jesse laughed. "The only thing at this table that qualifies as disturbed is Coral." They both laughed. House gave her a receptive nod and she knowingly wiggled her fingers at him so he could make note of the nails.

"I remembered."

"I knew you would." Coral smiled.

"Coral, eyes on!" Jesse snapped. "Your other half will be back with supper soon enough. Now, what did I tell you before House got here?"

"Receptive pull, dominant push."

"No. Receptive is to receive…not pull. You don't want extraneous information. You want correct information." Jesse put the pendulum in her other hand.

"But Teach, you're ambidextrous."

"I write with this one. I will also box your ears with this one if you don't shut up and listen." Jesse was starting to sound impatient. House couldn't help but laugh. Jesse glanced in his direction and winked. "Eyes on, Coral." Jesse did her snapping fingers routine and held the pendulum's chain lightly between her fingers. "Okay Sophia, swing for me." Coral and House watched as the pendulum began with small circles that grew till it was making fast frantic circles. Coral had a look of sheer delight on her face. House said nothing. He stared at the object in Jesse's hand. Her elbow rested on the table and it was obvious she hadn't moved a muscle. "Whenever you're done." Jesse whispered, and the pendulum slowed to a stop. She switched hands. "Sophia? Please show me yes." The pendulum started again in small circles and finished at a large and even pace. Jesse thanked it and then asked for no. The pendulum swung from front to back, all the while House stared at her hand. It never moved

"Queenie! Cell o phone." Jack interrupted from center stage.

"Busy."

"Brother."

"Excuse me." Jesse slid out on Coral's side of the table. "Back in a few." She left House sitting across from Coral. He watched her pick up one of the pendulums on the table. Coral fussed with it a bit and tried to get it to do as Jesse had done. There was a small spin, but nothing fantastic. House smiled as she fussed with it some more. Coral caught him staring and leaned back in the seat with a pouting huff.

"You try one."

"Pass."

"Why? They're fun."

"Monster trucks are fun."

"Yes they are but you can't fit them on the table." She surprised House with her answer.

"You like monster trucks?" House stared at her. Coral started to nod, but stopped. She held out the pendulum.

"Do I like monster trucks?" She whispered. The pendulum started swinging back and forth. Coral watched House's eyebrows raise. Coral thanked it and it crawled to a stop. "Does House like monster trucks?" The pendulum started swinging back and forth again. Coral giggled and it slowed to a stop. She frowned a little but thanked it anyhow. A squeal of delight from an ecstatic Jesse interrupted them. They both stared at Jesse for a moment. House's fingers idly pushed at some of the gemstones. Coral watched his attention turn to the items in front of him as the phone call continued. She watched as he focused on one in particular and turning it over on the table once or twice. Coral smiled.

"Pick it up. It won't bite."

"But you do." House said, giving her a dirty look.

"Jimmy wasn't complaining. You're funny. Do you always change the subject when you're afraid to deal with it?"

"Afraid?" House raised an eyebrow.

"Then pick it up. They're lovely to look at. That one's a particular beauty. Lapis lazuli with an apache tear accent." House gingerly took the crystal in his hand. It was a large stone, beautifully cut and polished to a faceted point. "Indigo is the color of royalty and the gold veins speak for themselves. You have excellent taste." She watched him admiring the colors as he turned it over in his hand. "It has many positive attributes such as stress relief and attunement between the physical and spiritual levels. It's said to attract the higher faculties of the mind. Not so odd you would like that one."

"And the other one?" House asked, looking at the shiny black object on the other end of the chain.

"Apache tears are beautiful." She saw Jesse hang up the phone and kept talking as she neared the booth. "They absorb negativity and protect the auric field around the body. It's also considered a stone of the analytical mind." Jesse was leaning on the corner of the booth watching. "It's also said to dispel personal distress and grief."

"Like that one do you?" Her voice startled House and he looked up at her smiling.

"Nice. Nice color." House started to set it down but Jesse reached down and took his hand. She glanced at Coral and winked. "What?"

"Take it for a test drive."

"What?" House half laughed. Jesse set the phone down on the back of the booth and slid in beside him. She never let go of his hand. "Jesse." House started to protest. She would have none of it. She carefully slipped the chain between his fingers, the apache tear resting on top of them. House let her position his elbow on the table without too much protest, but she saw the look she was getting. He thought it was silly.

"Now don't move." Jesse instructed. "And stop looking at me like that."

"This is ridiculous."

"So are you when you're being obstinant. Ask it to spin for you."

"You're asking me to talk to a rock." House protested. Jesse laughed. So did Coral.

"I'm asking you to think outside the box. Dispense with the dimensional block."

"I thought you said the dominant hand was for pushing."

"Humor me. I'm curious if it'll work for someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"Someone dense." Coral interrupted.

"Coral!" Jesse snapped. House glared at her.

"Sorry." She giggled.

"House isn't dense. He's untutored in such things, that's all. Come on, quit being a stick in the mud." Jesse coaxed.

House wiggled the chain and gave it a funny look. "Speak." All three of them burst into laughter. House laid it on the table.

"You're impossible."

"You're asking me to talk to a rock."

"I'm asking you to quit being difficult. Try something new?" Jesse coaxed. House stared at her. "Afraid it might work?"

"Afraid?"

"We did that earlier." Coral interrupted again.

"And?" Jesse asked.

"He is."

"Am not." House protested.

"Are too or you'd pick it up and try it." Coral folded her arms across her chest and waited.

House was outnumbered. They both said he was afraid. He grudgingly picked the pendulum back up and put it in his hand as Jesse instructed and held it up. Jesse put her hand on his for a second. "Elbow on the table. It steadies your hand so you don't make any extraneous movements of your own. It's all about that other ninety percent." Jesse positioned his arm gently. "Once it's perfectly still, ask it to spin for you or show you what it can do. Something that your comfortable with."

"I'm not comfortable talking to a rock!" House said. Jesse and Coral were both shaking their heads. "Okay, I give up. Just this once." House stared at the pendulum. It was perfectly still. "Show me what you can do." House coaxed. "Don't be shy. The girls are waiting." His tone was less than serious. House blinked several times and stared transfixed as the pendulum began to move in small circles as it hung suspended from his fingers. It was moving…at his request. House froze.

Coral and Jesse were both smiling. Jesse glanced at her. Coral knew better than to move. "Okay my warm lover. "Jesse's voice was a whisper. "You have its attention. Now give it a push." Jesse knew that look. The kid in the candy store was peeking out.

House stared at it a few moments longer. The circles were small but deliberate. He dared to wonder for a moment, dared to dispense with the dimensional block as Jesse called it. "Show me." House whispered. He watched in utter disbelief as the pendulum's circle grew wider and wider. He was somewhere between amazed and paralyzed as he could feel the momentum of its spins vibrating up the chain against his fingertips. He knew he hadn't moved a muscle. "Where are the brakes?" House asked.

"It's in your right hand. You're in the driver's seat."

"Stop." House whispered. He watched it slow considerably and finally come to rest. He was quick to put it down as Coral burst into applause and Jesse gave him a kiss on the cheek and some genuine praise.

"That was amazing for a first attempt. You're a natural!

"What's all the fuss about?" Jack leaned over the back of the booth as House leaned back in the seat, trying to mull over what he'd apparently just done by his own hand. "Coral finally get the hang of it?"

"No, but House is good at it." Coral laughed, pointing at their unwilling participant.

"House?" He and Jack glanced at one another. "Congratulations! And just the other day who was making fun of all the candles and broomsticks crap?" Jack grinned. House gave him a look.

"Wise-ass!" House snarked.

Chapter 51