I'll be away for two long weekends in a row so I probably won't have another chapter for you lovely people for another three weeks. Meanwhile, enjoy this:
Chapter 87.
She and House stayed at Pamela's party a lot longer than Cameron wanted. So many people were eager to talk to her, either to congratulate her or to request she look into an issue the council would be deciding.
She thought she'd been exhausted before, but by ten thirty, she could barely stand up without the support of a wall. "Can we go?" she asked House.
"I was ready to leave two hours ago. All these people who want to get up close and personal with the man and woman of the hour. Bet Will feels the same way you do."
Cameron looked for Will among the crowd, and found him drooping against another wall not far away. She nodded. Their way to the front door was blocked with people. She and House headed for the kitchen and the back door. It was relatively quiet in the rear of the house. Cameron managed to smile at the people there then excuse herself and leave through the back door. House followed.
"Tell me again why I agreed to run for this office," Cameron groaned.
"You're past the worst. Now it'll just be boring meetings with even more boring people."
"I don't consider Pamela, Anna and Will boring."
"Well, maybe not all boring."
They drove back home together. For once they'd only taken one car that morning.
It was quiet until Cameron asked, "Did Jess do or say something to you today that has you worried?"
"Not worried." He didn't go on.
"Do I have to pull it out of you?" She exhaled.
He shrugged. "She implied she and Wilson are looking for land out our way to build a house."
"What's wrong with that?" But it wasn't long before she added, "You'd have to find new tenants, of course."
"Wilson never said anything."
"Oh. That's what you're upset about?"
"Who's upset?" His mouth worked.
"House, there are things you and I tell each other that neither of us tells Wilson. He and Jess must be the same." She smiled. "It'll be great having them as neighbors."
After a couple of minutes, he said, "She said it was because she wanted a backyard for Bruno."
"And it wasn't Wilson's desire to live near us. Yeah, I get it." She bit her lower lip. "You wouldn't have minded that scenario. Are you sure there aren't other reasons she wants a house?"
He pulled into their lane. "What other reasons could there be?"
"Yes, what others?"
Wilson and Jessica saw House and Cameron leave the party. "Let's take that as a cue to leave," he said.
She nodded her agreement. "It's been a long day."
He smiled. "At least you didn't have anyone threaten you today."
"True." She smiled. "And now, we can go home to our apartment and our dog, and relax."
Wilson opened the car doors and they got in. "Care to tell me what happened between you and House this morning?"
"My fault, actually. I think I started by asking about building a house out their way." She stopped and bit her lip. "You and I never talked about it, so I don't know why I brought it up with House."
"You wanted his approval." Wilson raised an eyebrow.
"Did I? I suppose so." She didn't sound sure.
"What made you think it would be good to have a house?" His brows drew together.
"Oh, attending House and Cameron's party at their new place and the one tonight's at Pamela's. The prospect of adopting Bruno." She stopped and looked into his brown eyes. "I know we haven't talked about it before, but…" She took a breath and let it out slowly. Swallowed. "… what do you think about having a kid?"
"One or are we talking about many? Wait, are you trying to tell me you're…" Those brown eyes grew larger.
"… pregnant. Yeah. At least I think so."
He stopped at the traffic light where the highway crossed Park. "This is huge." His body shook with excitement. Then he narrowed his shining eyes. "What do you mean, you think so?"
"Haven't taken a pregnancy test. I was kinda waiting for next week, after the hearing about Rocco." She ran her fingers through her hair. "So, what do you think?"
"Isn't it a little late to be asking that question?"
"You don't like the idea." She sounded disappointed.
He took one hand off the wheel to squeeze her fingers. "We will definitely need a house." The light turned green and he drove on, turning into Hanbury Street before long.
They parked and got out. He pulled her into his arms. "Have I told you recently how much I love you?"
She smiled up at him.
"What did House say? You didn't tell him you were pregnant did you? Before me?"
"Would I do that? No, I said I wanted a yard for Bruno. Of course, he said the house here has a yard."
"Some yard. If he wants to rent our apartment to someone else, he'll have to do something about the weeds and uneven ground." They went inside. "So that's what the two of you argued about?"
She smirked. "He doesn't want us to leave, not so much because he values us as tenants, but because he'd have to replace us."
"Or not."
"Yeah, that's another possibility."
"To Cameron." Hadley held up her glass of beer.
Sitting next to her on their couch, Anita clinked hers against it. "To Cameron. And Will."
"Was there ever any doubt?"
"Not in my mind, but I've been wrong about politics before."
Hadley grinned. "To think. Now we'll have the ear of the mayor and a member of the council."
"That's even better than my boss, the chief of police." Anita chuckled.
"And all of that and two bucks can buy you a cup of coffee at Mo's."
"True."
They both laughed and drank their beers.
"I've had an idea," Anita said.
"About what?"
"Finding Steve. I haven't heard back from Steve, but if I call him and he answers, maybe there's a way to trace the call."
"I know they can do that if someone calls you, but I never heard of the reverse."
Anita shrugged. "Worth a try." She dug her phone out and tapped on Steve's number. The call went to voicemail. She frowned, didn't leave a message. "Guess I'll have to come up with another way."
"Tons of people have an eye out for him and his car. He'll turn up."
"Yeah, but how long will I have to wait?"
The next morning, House leaned over and kissed Cameron. "Good morning, Madam Councilwoman."
"I think they just say councilor these days. Gender neutral."
He grinned. "Either way, time to uppy uppy. The day will get away from you before you know it."
"What's got you so chipper and wide-eyed this morning?" She smirked. "You aren't usually a morning person."
"Things to do, places to go, people to see, not necessarily in that order."
She latched on to the last. "What people?"
But he was out of bed and heading to the bathroom, leaving her wondering what lit a spark under him. Did it have something to do with what they'd been talking about the night before? Would he help Wilson and Jessica or find roadblocks to their efforts to build a house?
"I've decided to have Cameron run the test rather than use one of those less accurate home kits," Jessica announced as Wilson zipped up her dress.
"Good idea." He finished and put his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe I should contact the real estate agent House used to find this place and see if there's anything available."
"Last time we used her too, we had to fight with House."
"Well, that won't be an issue this time." He smiled at her. "If we can't find anything in a couple of weeks, I'll talk to Will about available properties and have him build one."
"You've been thinking about it."
"Of course." He smiled. "It turned out for the best. If we'd gotten this house, it really wouldn't fit our needs."
"True."
"Let's not say anything at breakfast today," Jessica said.
"No need." He kissed her. "When the time comes to tell the world, we'll start with the gang."
She nodded.
The phone rang. It was someone from Animal Humane. "The hearing about Bruno's future is now scheduled for Thursday afternoon. I hope you can be there."
"Yes, I will," Jessica said.
Wilson pointed to himself and nodded.
She smiled. "And my partner will be with me."
"We'll see you then."
Jessica put her phone away. "It's really going to happen." Her eyes were open as wide as possible.
Wilson grinned. "You're more excited about Bruno than about our possible offspring."
"Maybe not more excited."
They'd reached the diner and noticed House and Cameron were already there. The shared smiles and entered. When they reached the booth, Cameron arranged to have Jessica sit next to her.
"Morning, Madam Councilor." Wilson greeted Cameron.
She laughed. "Better than what House called me. Goodmorning."
But House stared at Jessica. "Something's got you more bubbly than usual."
Jess wasn't ready to tell him yet, but had another reason ready. "They called just before we arrived to tell us the hearing about Bruno is scheduled for Thursday. That's tomorrow."
"I know what day it is." House turned to Wilson. "You're grinning too. That can't be good."
"Because you don't know how much that dog means to Jessica. To me too. And those people who had him don't deserve to get him back."
Anita arrived, followed quickly by Hadley. In his mind, House tabled the discussion with Wilson and Jessica, but vowed to revisit it before the day was over. He could tell from Anita's glum face that she hadn't found Steve.
They all ordered their customary breakfast choices, and the team arrived, adding their picks.
"Good, you're all here," Simpson said. "We heard this morning that the owner of the house we're renting is selling it. We won't have to move out for a month or two, since he can't break our lease without reimbursing us, but we're starting to look for somewhere else to live."
Cameron frowned. "Edna already rented my old place."
"Wilson's apartment may be available before long," House said.
Everyone else looked at Wilson to explain. He grimaced. "We've just started looking for a larger place. And anyway, it's much smaller than the house you're in."
"Are you saying we shouldn't rent it?" Jacobs looked from Wilson to Jess.
"Don't I get a say in this? Seeing as I'm you're landlord?" House glared at Wilson more than anyone else.
"Two bedrooms, right?" Magnani asked.
Jessica nodded. "And a kitchen and living room."
"Only one bathroom, though," Wilson added.
"Are you trying to dissuade them?" House's glare became even fiercer.
Jacobs brought the discussion back to particulars. "Will you build or buy?"
"If we can find a place, we'll buy. Building would take a while."
"Ours took a few months, that's all," Cameron said.
"We'll talk to Diane Bancroft, see if she can find something for us."
"I imagine you want a yard for the dog."
"He's not ours yet. But there's a good chance he will be after tomorrow."
Cameron smiled at Jess. "Good luck."
"You'll need it," House said.
