A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing well, and that Covid hasn't made you too stir crazy. This is a story I've been working on for quite awhile. And since I have some time off after having a couple of my wisdom teeth out yesterday, I thought I'd post the first chapter and see how you like it. This won't be a long story. So sit back, grab a cold one (cuz I can't) and enjoy!

Beta'd by the lovely Hughville.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from House M.D.

Chapter One

House sat at the table at the back of the bar and nursed his Scotch. He had really been enjoying the live band, even though it wasn't the kind of music that usually played at that club. They played mostly cover tunes from the seventies and eighties and it was a four man band. Rather, three men, since the drummer was female. They were good, and he enjoyed listening to their songs. He couldn't miss the drummer, however. She seemed to be greatly enjoying herself and her drum kit was like a tribute to Neil Peart. He had never seen a kit with so many cymbals, and she seemed to use all of them.

When they finished, to a huge applause, he sat and watched them take down their set.

Allegra Harding could feel she was being watched and she glanced up and locked eyes with the most amazing pair of blue eyes she'd ever seen.

"Do you know that guy?" Rick, the bass player, inquired as he put his guitar into its case.

"Nope," she replied as she loosened the wingnuts on her cymbals and then put them into their bag.

"What is it with you and old guys?"

"He's not old."

"Your hubby is."

"Ex-hubby and so what? It's not a crime to prefer men over boys," she said with a sweet smile and carried on taking her kit apart.

"He's not your ex if you're still hanging around him."

Allegra sighed. "Beats being alone on a Saturday night."

"Yeah well this gig might be a regular thing so you won't have time to bother with him."

"Maybe. But that's just one night. What about Friday nights? Wednesday nights?"

"I thought you were teaching."

"Not those nights."

"You need to find a guy who will treat you the way you deserve. You wanna know what your problem is, Legs?"

"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me anyway."

"Damn right, I will. You're so hung up on taking care of your Mom and banging your ex that you don't take any time for yourself."

"That's not true. I do stuff."

"Like what?"

"I like teaching drums. And I like my day job."

"You work in a music store, and they pay you almost nothing."

"Yeah but I...wait, why am I even explaining myself to you? Just drop it."

"How is your Mom, by the way? She hasn't been in to see a show in months."

Allegra slammed her case shut and grabbed the handle to pick it up. "She's sick. G'night guys. See you next Saturday."

She got home and her Mom was still up, watching TV and dozing lightly. Allegra turned it off and gently nudged her. "Let's get you to bed. It's late."

Barb opened her eyes and looked around. "What time is it?"

"After one."

"Oh, I must have fallen asleep," she said as she let Allegra help her up.

"Yeah. Come on."

Once her Mom was in bed, Allegra poured herself a glass of wine and took it with her to the computer. There were several texts on her phone from her ex, Cec, but she ignored them.

Rick was right. She needed to move on. It was just that Cec was familiar and she could always count on him to be there.

As for her Mom, they were close, and their house was more than big enough for them to live together without tripping over each other.

She responded to emails, added new lessons to her schedule and then went to bed. Her Mom had an appointment in the morning with a new Oncologist, and it was early in the morning, so Allegra finished her wine and turned in.

Since the door was open, House let himself into Wilson's office and made himself at home on his couch while Wilson ended his phone conversation.

"Bad news?" House asked when his friend let out a long sigh and scrubbed his hands over his face.

"Laydee is retiring."

"Retiring? But she's not old."

"She's moving back home to take care of her sick Dad. She did give me a recommendation for someone else though so I guess I'll call her later."

"Or you could save yourself some money and clean the place yourself. It's not exactly dirty or messy to begin with."

"I like having someone else clean it. Knowing it'll be all nice and clean when I get home after a long day. Your place could definitely do with a cleaner."

House merely waved him away in dismissal. "I'd rather spend my money on hookers. At least I know I'll get a happy ending."

"Cleaning is a hell of a lot cheaper than one of your chippies."

"Well if you hire this new girl and she's as good as Laydee, send her my way."

"I will. Now get out. I have a meeting in five minutes."

House groaned and used his cane to help himself up. "I'll swing by at lunch."

"Fine."

XXX

Two hours later, as House approached Wilson's office, he saw two ladies come out. The expressions on their faces were stoic to say the least and as he stepped aside to let them pass, the younger of the two looked right at him and he realized he'd seen those light grey eyes before. Although he couldn't quite remember where.

Once they were gone, Wilson came out, closing the door behind him. "Ready to go?"

"Who was that?"

He shrugged. "A new patient."

"Which one?"

"The older one. You'd never believe she was in her late 60's, would you?"

"Wow. Was that her daughter?"

"Yeah. Cute, huh?"

"Yeah. I've seen her somewhere...I just can't remember where from."

Wilson shrugged. "She'll be here again next week, no doubt. Maybe by then you'll have enough courage to talk to her."

"Talk is cheap," he said with a grin. "Now let's eat. I'm hungry and you're buying."

"I always buy," Wilson muttered as he followed House to the elevators.

XXX

Allegra got to the club and set up her kit in half the time it usually took. They were doing blues and jazz cover tunes for a change so she brought her smaller jazz drum kit and her favorite fiber optic brushes that she used for showmanship. Since the club was dark, they lit up in various colors and people loved seeing them.

"Is that a different kit?" someone asked her. She glanced up to see the man with the blue eyes. It was then she also realized he was the same man she saw at the hospital earlier that week. He was talking to her Mom's Oncologist, which meant he was also most likely a doctor. And a fine looking one at that.

"Yeah, it's my bop kit."

"What's the difference?"

"Smaller kick drum, one tom and different cymbals."

"Interesting. I thought they were all the same," he said with a shrug.

"Not always. This is a mahogany kit. My other one is maple. Very different sounds. Do you play?"

"Piano and guitar," he said. "I'm Greg, by the way."

"Allegra," she said, and shook the hand he offered her. He had a nice, firm grip, but his hands were smooth. He also had long fingers. Musicians hands. "Nice to meet you. You were here last weekend, weren't you?"

"Yep. You guys are good."

"Thanks. And if you like blues and jazz, you're in for a treat tonight, Greg."

"Cool. Can I buy you a drink?"

"Sure," she nodded and gave him a dazzling smile, showing off perfectly white teeth. "I'll just have a beer."

He signaled to the server to bring them two beers. "So do you just play drums?" he asked.

"I played guitar growing up, but I was never that good at it, and I decided I liked the drums much better. They're great for relieving stress, and I can play by myself."

"I'm sure your neighbors must love you," he chuckled as their beers came.

"They don't hear a thing. I have a soundproof music room. so I can play anytime I want."

"Jeeze, how many kits do you have?"

"Just three," she grinned proudly and tapped her beer bottle against his. "Cheers."

"Cheers," he said and took a long sip. Then he chuckled, "just three, huh?"

"I'm always on the lookout for cool looking kits. It's an addiction."

The rest of the guys arrived and started to set up so House grabbed his beer. "I'll go and let you get set up. Have a good show."

"Thanks," she said and watched him go and take a seat off to the side near the back.

"Who was that?" Rick asked her as he took his guitar out of its case.

"A fan," she smiled back.

"Oooo don't tell Cec."

"Cec has no say in anything I do anymore. He can suck it."

"Speaking of sucking, here he comes."

"Huh?" Allegra looked over and saw Cec coming through the crowd. "Oh for the love of…." she muttered.

"Hey, Legs," Cec said, flashing her a ten thousand kilowatt smile.

"What do you want, Cec? I'm busy."

"I came to see you play. A little bird told me it was jazz night at Le Chat Noir and I automatically figured it would be you guys. And hot damn, I was right."

Although House couldn't hear the conversation, he could tell Allegra was none too happy with the man and he felt like stirring up some trouble. He signalled the bartender to send her over another beer and sat back to watch.

"From the gentleman," the girl said as she placed a fresh cold beer on the side table.

Allegra immediately found House in the crowd and gave him a wave and a smile.

"What gentleman?" Cec demanded.

"Oh, just a guy who comes in here regularly." She took a long sip and went back to setting up her kit. Meanwhile, Cec was still busy scanning the crowd for his competition. Allegra groaned and gave him a shove. "What's your problem? I can't have a life? You divorced me, remember?"

"You spent more time in your fucking drum studio than you did in our bed!"

"Makes you wonder, doesn't it?" she muttered before taking one more long sip of beer. "Now get outta here so we can set up."

How did you like chapter one? Let me know! Thanks for reading!