A/N: SO sorry for the delay in getting this chapter posted. I didn't realize how long it's been since the last chapter. I'll try to post more regularly, although this isn't going to be a long story. I'm currently still working on one with Hughville so stay tuned for that in the near future. Thanks as always for reading :)

Chapter Three

"I knew it!" House murmured out loud as he sat at his desk in front of his laptop.

"You knew what?" Wilson inquired as he came into his friend's office to see what House was looking at. Somehow, he wished he hadn't. "What...are you watching?"

"Two hot, young, aspiring models doing a casting call at some rando's house."

Wilson's eyes widened. "Cuddy better not catch you watching porn in your office…"

"Oh calm down. I'm not watching it for the happy ending."

"Why are you watching it?"

"Let's say I have a personal interest in one of those fine "models," House said with air quotes.

"Uh-huh," Wilson said as he rubbed the back of his neck, the way he usually did when he was flustered. "I know I'm going to regret asking this but...which one?"

"The brunette."

Wilson took another look and nodded. "She's cute. So who is she and why are you so obsessed with her?"

"She's a cop."

Wilson's eyes widened again, as if a lightbulb had just gone on over his head. "That cop?"

"Yep."

"No way!"

"Yes way. Hot, huh?"

"Why is she…"

"I don't know, but I intend to find out."

"Think she's still doing it?"

"I highly doubt it. This video is ten years old now. She probably only did it for the money. Look...you can tell she's not even really into it."

They both heard Cuddy's heels clicking down the hallway and she came through the doorway just as House snapped his laptop shut.

"What's going on?" Cuddy asked.

"Nothing," House and Wilson said in unison.

"Riiiight. House, that pepper spray patient can be released today. She's fine."

"Good. I'll go do that."

"Please do, and then you can stop in at the clinic and do your hours."

And before House could snark back, she was gone.

"That was close," Wilson said. "So are you going to call her?"

"Cuddy?"

Wilson rolled his eyes. "No, not Cuddy. The cop."

"Oh, yeah at some point. But first I gotta go spring her partner. Cya."

"Lunch at one?"

"Sure."

XXX

House's cell rang and he answered it on the second ring. He usually didn't answer unknown numbers but he had a feeling he knew who it might be.

"Is this House?" a female voice inquired.

"That depends," he said as he sat back in his office chair, "did you call a certain number on a business card you got?"

"Yes…"

"Then yeah, it's me. Your partner get home alright the other day?"

"Yeah, she's fine. But that's not why I'm calling."

"Okay so why are you calling?"

"I wanted to ask you when you wanted to do that jam session."

"I'm free on Saturday."

"I was hoping you'd say that. I am, too."

"Your place or mine?"

"Yours. Mine is way too small."

"Cool. Come at six. Bring pizza. I've got beer," he said and hung up.

XXX

There was a knock at the door and House opened it to find Nicola standing there holding a large pizza and a guitar case slung over one shoulder.

"Pizza pizza," she said.

"Delivery, delivery," he replied with a smirk as he took the pizza from her. She gently set her guitar down in the corner and followed him to the kitchen for a beer. He tossed her one over his shoulder which she caught and popped it open.

"Nice catch," House said he limped back into the living room and sat down on the couch, grabbing a slice from the box.

"Plates are in the kitchen."

"Plates are for sissies," Nicola said as she grabbed a slice. "So is eating pizza with utensils."

House laughed between bites. "There should be a law against that."

Once they finished, and the leftovers were put away, House gestured to her guitar. "So bring it out. Let's see whatcha got."

She went and took her bass out of the soft sided bag and right away House was impressed. "You can play fretless? Nice?"

Nicola nodded. "I learned on an upright double bass but I don't have room for one anymore so this is the next best thing. I have a regular fretted bass as well but I thought if we play some jazz or blues that this might be better."

"Cool. What songs do you like?"

"Any. Pick one. Start playing and I'll join in."

After playing together for an hour, they cracked open another beer. "You're pretty good," House said, and he meant it. She was a very good bass player, and the fretless bass wasn't an easy instrument.

"For a girl?" she snarked.

"I never said that. Just making an observation. Not too many female upright bass players. None that I know of, so it's kinda cool. And you had no problem keeping up with me. How long have you been playing?"

"Since I was six. I wanted to be a ballerina, but my mom said I was too short, so she gave me cello lessons, but I didn't like it as much and kept wanting to play it like a bass so they let me learn the upright bass."

"That's cool. I'm guessing you played in the school band, too."

"Yep. It was okay but I hated being told what to play. I just wanted to play my own stuff."

"I get that. My dad had issues with my playing the piano. Said it was sissy, but my Mom gave lessons to the kids in the neighborhood so he let it go after she put her foot down on that. But with all the moving around we did, I picked up the guitar cuz it was easy to take with me anywhere."

"Makes sense."

They played a few more songs and then Nicola decided to call it a night.

"I hope we can do this again," she said as she put her bass back in the case.

"Anytime you want. I'm always up for an impromptu jam session. I don't have any other friends who play."

"Too bad, because you're really good on the piano. Maybe next time you can play the guitar."

"Sure," he said as he followed her to the door. It was the first time she really noticed the limp.

"And maybe you can tell me about your leg."

House cocked his head to one side. "Perhaps. And then maybe you can tell me why you got into the porn biz."

All the color seemed to drain from her face and he wished he could take it back, but it was too late.

"What?" she almost whispered.

"Look," he said as he handed her her jacket, "don't worry about it. I'm not going to tell anyone. It's not a big deal."

"Then why bring it up?"

"I was curious how someone as young as you are, made it to Lieutenant."

"I'm not as young as you think I am, House. I was in my early twenties when I made those movies. If you can even call them that since they're less than thirty minutes."

"Porn is porn, no matter how long it is."

She sighed. "I like you, House. And maybe you can't help being a jerk, but I've got my share of those in my life already. If you want to see me again, check your attitude."

"What jerks?"

"At work. I'm the youngest Lieutenant in the precinct and I worked my ass off to get there. And there are some who don't think I deserve it so they treat me like I don't know how to run my own department. Well, let me tell you something, I can and I do."

"You don't have to defend yourself to me. I have no doubt that you're a good cop. Did I ever say anything to the contrary?"

She had to admit, he hadn't. "No. Not yet anyway. But if you want me to talk about my porn days, then I expect you to tell me about your leg. Quid pro quo, House," she said with a wicked grin, which made him grin in return as he watched her let herself out.