A/N: Wow, it's been a long time. Sorry about that. I've had a serious case of writer's block with this story, so I worked on The Return with Hughville in the meantime. This story was still nagging me so I'm working at giving it another go now that real life seems to have calmed down for now. I don't have an end in sight for it yet so sit back and enjoy the ride, and thanks for reading :)

Chapter Five

They got to his bike and he gave her the helmet to put on. Then, once she was situated behind him, the engine roared to life and he took off towards Trenton where she lived.

The trailer park was quiet. When he pulled up to her mobile home, she got off and gave him back the helmet. "That was fun, thanks."

"No problem. So this is your place, huh? Doesn't look too bad."

She shrugged. "Want to come in?"

"Sure."

"I think I have a beer or two in the fridge."

"Sweet."

The first thing he noticed when he came in was that the place was immaculate. He then noticed the rack of bass guitars in the corner of the room and a very large amp.

"Wow. You don't mess around," he said as he looked over her selection of basses. "How many do you need?"

"They all sound different in their own way. Why do you have more than one guitar?"

"Touche," he grinned and took the bottle of beer she offered him and sank down on the couch. She turned on her stereo and opened a window. Sinking down beside him, she took a long sip.

"So what's the deal?" he asked her.

"With what?"

"Becoming a porn star?"

She shook her head and drank more of her beer as she contemplated what she wanted to say.

"When I told my parents I was joining the police academy, they made it clear that they were disappointed. They had higher hopes for me and being a cop didn't fit in with the perfect image they had of me. My brother is a high priced lawyer in Manhattan. He's their golden child. I'm the rogue daughter who ran off to join the police academy."

"You're not just a beat cop. You're a Lieutenant. Isn't that just one step away from Captain?"

"Yeah but they don't care. All they see is a cop. Anyway, they cut me off so I had to pay for college myself. I had a friend of the family and he got me some work. I can't deny that it paid really well and I did need the money but I hated it. I only did enough to put myself through school and then I was done."

"So some of your videos...are you bi?"

"Nope. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But money is money, and it could have been worse."

"Pity," House said and ducked when she attempted to smack him on the head. "What?"

"Perv. Don't be thinking that I'm into all that kinky shit because I'm not."

"Not even just a little?"

"And here I thought you were different," she sighed.

"What do you mean?"

"Look, I don't tell many people about my past because when I do, they all think I'm easy or that I'm into all this freaky deaky stuff. I don't even like sex."

"Did I say anything like that?" he asked with a serious expression.

"No, but it's what you're probably thinking."

"You have no idea what I'm thinking."

"Why don't you tell me?"

House shifted and reached for his beer. He sensed it was time to change the topic. "So your parents won't talk to you at all?"

"Nope. Although my brother, Mike, told me that my dad has cancer. It was my mom's idea to cut me out of the will and he never could stand up to her. It sounds like he doesn't have a lot of time left. I want to go home and at least see him, but…"

"But what?"

"I don't think they'll welcome me with open arms."

"They might if you don't go alone," he told her.

"What do you mean?"

"I could go with you. What do you think they'd say if they thought you were dating a world renowned diagnostician?"

Nicola narrowed her eyes. "Is that your official title?"

"That's the word on the street. I am very well known. If your parents were to Google me, that's what they'd see. And if you were with me, maybe they'd think you're leaving the force and settling down. I might not have millions but I make a hell of a decent salary."

She shook her head. "This is nuts. You want to go back to Colorado with me and meet my family, let them think I'm with you so they'll write me back into the will?"

"If they're as shallow as you make them out to be, yes."

"What's in it for you? What do you get out of it?" she asked as she looked into his eyes. She seemed to be searching for something.

"Vacation time. I need to get out of town for a while. Your family live in a McMansion?"

"It's more like a ranch, but it's pretty big. But seriously, why do you care whether my parents cut me off or not?"

He shrugged. "I hate snobbery. Also you're far from destitute so why are you living in a trailer park when you could be in a nice condo somewhere?"

She had to admit he had a point. "And if my parents still banish me?"

"Well, then at least you could say you tried. And you wouldn't have lost anything."

"Just my self respect. Mike did say Dad has mellowed quite a bit over the last few years so you might be onto something. My mom? She's shallow and materialistic and I'm sure she'd just love telling her society cliques that I'm dating a doctor."

"Now that's the spirit!"

She chuckled and shook her head. "You don't even know me."

"We can change that," he said.

"I do like you, House. How is it that you don't have a girlfriend?"

"Women see me, see the limp and the cane, and turn the other way."

"I don't see how," she said as she gently stroked his cheek. His whiskers were surprisingly soft and she figured his lips would be even softer. God, but she would love to find out. "You're a very good looking guy."

"Better than porn guys, anyway. I could grow a porn 'stache if you want."

Nicola laughed. "No, thank you. Besides, not all guys in porn are ugly. There are some hotties."

"I guess that makes it easier."

"Very. Too bad you weren't in porn. I'd jump you in a second," she giggled. "Damn, that beer hit me pretty fast," she said as she got up to put away her empty beer bottle.

"Nothing wrong with that," he said.

"Will you be able to get time off to go with me?"

"Oh yeah. I have tons of time saved up that I need to use. The department can run itself while I'm gone. If not, I can do conference calls. Not a big deal."

"Okay well, I guess I'll email my parents tomorrow and see what's what."

"That sounds like a dismissal," House said and finished off his beer. "So I'm going to take off. I have a patient and I gotta be up early," he said and stood up.

Nicola followed him to the door and handed him his jacket. "I don't want you to think I'm pushing you out. But it is getting late and I have work tomorrow, too."

"It's fine. We're both busy."

"That's another thing guys could never understand. My schedule. I can't always be there when you want me to be."

"When I have a patient, that's my top priority. I get it."

"So we understand each other on that. Maybe we should seal the deal."

House leaned on his cane and grinned at her. "Did you have something in mind? Swapping spit, perhaps?"

Nicola laughed as she placed her hands on his chest. "Swapping spit sounds rather crass but I'm game." Standing on her tiptoes, she aimed to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head at the last second and her lips ended up on his in a very soft kiss. He let his cane fall to the floor as he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss, tasting her, and enjoying the way her body pressed against his. Her arms linked around his neck and her fingers buried in his hair until the need to breathe won out and she slowly pulled back. "Wow," she whispered. Her lips were red and burning from his whiskers and she loved it.

"Still want to go away with me?" he teased, making no move to let go of her.

"I think we'd better," she giggled and gave him one more quick kiss before stepping back and handing him his cane. "I'll call you and let you know what's going on."

"Sounds good."

"Night, House. It was fun tonight."

"Call me Greg. I think your family would think it odd if you keep calling me House."

"Good point. Greg it is. I like that name."

He gave her a sexy grin. "I can't wait to hear you shouting it."

"If you're lucky, you just might."

House looked doubtful. "Never took you for a screamer. In those movies I saw, you were quite the shy little girl."

"Well, that's the mystery of porn. It's all acting."

XXX

When Nicola called her Dad, he was very excited to hear from her, and was more than happy to fly her out to see him. Since House was still working on a case, he would join her in a few days.

When she entered the busy terminal of the Denver airport, she looked around for a familiar face. Joseph, her father's driver, bodyguard, and all-around personal assistant was standing there at baggage claim waiting for her. She immediately walked over to him and he smiled when he saw her.

"Hey, kiddo!"

"Joseph!" she giggled as he picked her up and swung her around.

"Wow, you've gotten heavy," he teased.

When he set her back down, he grabbed her bag from the luggage carousel when she pointed it out.

"Must be all that working out in the force."

"Must be," she said as she followed him out to the car.

Joseph opened the door of the Mercedes sedan and she got in. "Your father has been anxiously waiting to see you. He's very happy you're coming to visit."

"I'm glad. It's been a long time."

"And you're living in Princeton now?"

"Trenton, but it's near Princeton and I work at the precinct there."

"Nice."

They made small talk on the way to the house and when they pulled up to the front gates, Nicola sighed. "It looks just as I remember it."

"Not much has changed."

"That's because Dad hates change."

"True. I thought I heard you were bringing a friend."

"He's coming later. He has a case."

"Is he a cop too?"

"No, he's a doctor at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital."

"Wow. That will make your mother happy."

"Sad, isn't it?"

"Is it?"

"Yeah. She doesn't give a crap about me. She never has. But when I bring home a doctor…"

"It'll be interesting to see."