Title: The Touch – Chapter Nine – Girl Talk and Boo-Boos
Author: Linda/Brynna/Brynnamorgan
Rating: M for Adult Language
Categories: Romance/Supernatural/AU
Characters: H/OC
Spoilers: None

A/N: You guys have been absolutely wonderful. I never thought I'd geta reaction from an OC pairing like this. My beta-reader told me I would, but seeing is believing. I'm still in shock. If only the amount of people reading this equaled the amount of reviews! Please, lurkers, review it and make my day. Or, if you don't want a public review go to my profile page and pm me. :-)

This is, btw, a transitional chapter. The "good stuff" starts at the end of the next chapter (for those who live for that). Promise. ;-)

Summary: "If Wilson could see me sitting here, hay at my feet, cowboy hats everywhere, helping little girls with boo-boos, he'd say I'm going soft."

Lyrics Credit:

"When You Say Nothing At All" as sung by Alison Krauss and Union Station, 1994

"The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all"
Chapter Nine – Girl Talk and Boo-Boos

He was in love. A million thoughts raced through Greg as he continued to hold Sabrina tight against him. How had he let this happen? What was he going to do? What were they going to do? Did she love him in return? What if she didn't?

"Greg?"

In response to her puzzled query he pressed his lips firmly to her forehead and gentled his embrace. "Sorry. I just got all mushy and I'm not used to it." The break in his voice told otherwise and he could tell by the way she lifted her head to gaze searchingly into his eyes that she didn't believe him. Still, to his relief she didn't question him and instead pressed her lips against his before moving to stand up.

"Well, I'm glad to see you love my little gift so much," she said teasingly. "Come on, Doctor. Let's see if it fits."

Which it did. He took a few test steps out, then turned to face her, causing her heart to swell at the sight. Black tee-shirt outlining his biceps, jeans leading down long legs to Nike Shox, baseball cap, the five o'clock shadow that never went away, and those eyes, as vivid blue as the sky above him, he stood in the field, leaning on his cane and smiling at her. Behind him children were running and screaming, and he didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she marveled, he looked as though he didn't have a care in the world. Getting a nice farmer's tan, too, she thought with amusement.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," he teased, causing her to stick her tongue out at him.

"Okay, smart-ass, just for that…" She bent to her tote bag and pulled out her digital camera. "No, dammit," she muttered when he lifted his middle finger just as she pressed the button. "Just like before… Greg, behave. Please. Thank you. Just like a little kid," she added as she lowered the camera.

"Yeah." He looked all-too pleased with himself. "So, how did you get this at the right length?" He limped back over to the blanket and lowered himself to the ground again.

"I snuck away with your other cane and had the vendor trim the end off to match."

"Sneaky."

"Yup."

Suddenly a child's screams filled the air and they both whirled to see a little girl about three years old sit down and start crying. Another girl, perhaps twelve, Sabrina noted, bent to pick her up in her arms and looked around helplessly. She felt Greg tense next to her in anticipation as the doctor in him geared up.

"Over here!" she called out, beckoning the children to her. Kids were so trusting, she thought with a shake of her head as the girl hurried over and lowered the younger one to the blanket. Immediately Sabrina winced at the sight of the nail sticking out of the bottom of the girl's foot.

"It's okay, honey," she said softly, smoothing the little girl's forehead. "This nice man is Dr. Greg." She heard Greg rummaging around in his bag and was relieved to see him pull out a small plier-like instrument. "Greg, once you get the nail out…" She took a slow even breath, then bent to kiss the girl's forehead. "Easy, sweetheart. This will hurt but then it will be all better."

"Tetanus shot," Greg began, then stopped when she shook her head.

"Won't need one."

"No, wait, let me." The older girl brushed Sabrina's fingers aside. "Sissy, it's okay. Stop crying. Dr. Greg, can you get the nail out?"

"Yup."

"Honey, I can…" Suddenly Sabrina paused to gaze into the girl's eyes. "Greg, pull the nail," she said quietly.

As the nail slid out the older girl covered the wound with her fingers, bent over, blew on them, then removed her hand. Aside from a few drops of blood the injury had vanished.

"Now, Sissy, what do you always say when I fix your boo-boos?" the girl asked her sister.

"Jesus loves me."

"That's a good girl! Go and play now." As the toddler scampered out to the field the older girl shot the couple a nervous look. "I, um, hope you don't tell anyone. Um."

"Are you kidding me?" Sabrina noticed a small bruise on the girl's calf and caressed it with her fingertips. "May God go with you." Greg swallowed down the knot in his throat when she lifted her hand to reveal that the bruise had disappeared. The power she possessed was humbling, he realized, giving her a light squeeze around the shoulders.

"You too? Oh wow!" The preteen broke into a huge smile. "I always thought that..."

"I was the only one," they finished in unison, laughing and hugging.

"What's your name, hon?"

"Sebrina with an 'e.' My parents named me after you," the girl added slyly.

Sabrina pretended to pout, saying, "Is nothing sacred around here?" before letting go with a bigger smile. "When did it start for you?"

"A year ago, when I," her voice dropped to a whisper, "started my monthlies."

"Same thing happened to me too. Girls rock, don't we?"

"We sure do. Listen, I gotta go watch my sister, Sabrina. It was great meeting you!"

With that the younger Sebrina hurried off after her sister, leaving the two adults staring after her. After a moment Sabrina stirred, wiping quickly at her eyes. "Here I was worried, wondering..."

"They'll be fine. They'll all be fine." Then, because he couldn't find anything else to say, he bent his head to hers for a long, heartfelt kiss that he hoped conveyed what he was feeling inside. As soon as he sorted this out, he vowed silently, he was going to do more than just show her how he felt.

They wove their way through the lawnchairs and people up to the stage, with Sabrina hoping to see her friend Del McCoury before the concert started. If they hadn't been so busy sleeping under a tree they could have sat close, she thought with an inward sigh. Still, it had been worth it to see Greg relaxed again, leaning on the cane she'd given him.

"Mom!"

Suddenly Sabrina was engulfed by a large pair of arms and a broad chest. "Mike!" she exclaimed, tipping her head back to look up at her son, mischief shining in his eyes. "What brings you here? I thought you and your friend were going out of town..." She stopped, then grinned at him. "But this is out of town."

"Yup. Come to hear kick-ass music, drink good booze, score hot chicks."

"Sounds like my kind of night," Greg said easily, extending his hand to the younger man. "Greg House." The boy was about his height, at least seventy pounds heavier, short dark hair, goatee, and large brown eyes that were presently regarding him with curiousity.

"Michael Wallace," he finally said, accepting Greg's hand. "Call me Mike. And you are..."

"A friend of your mother's."

"Yeah, and bears don't go in the woods, either." Damn, the kid looked just like his mom when he lifted one brow that way.

"More than friends, then."

"Figured as much. Here." Mike indicated the two lawnchairs he'd been saving. "You two sit here. Bud and I will sit on the ground in front of you."

"What will Bud think?" Sabrina asked him as they sat down. Greg draped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her head against his shoulder. "Better?" she added softly to him.

He drank in her scent and nodded. "Uhm hm."

"Bud will get over it," Mike interjected, grinning at them. "Besides, this way he gets to meet my famous mom and hear kick-ass music, front row."

"No booze. It's not allowed in the park and you're underaged."

"That leaves hot chicks, then."

Sabrina snorted, then reached down to ruffle his hair. She was aware of Greg's amusement, his long, lean body against her side, the faint scent of his cologne, perspiration, and that underlying aura of maleness. Her hand came to rest on his knee and his grip tightened briefly, his lips brushing over her ear.

"I want you to know that I've really enjoyed myself today," she murmured. "You're... you're a good time, Greg House."

"I've had a good time, too," he admitted. "Although if Wilson could see me sitting here, hay at my feet, cowboy hats everywhere, helping little girls with boo-boos, he'd say I'm going soft."

"Something tells me that the last thing you are is soft." Her sultry gaze met his and he forced down the throb that started to form in his crotch.

"Care to find out later, bluegrass lady?" he said huskily in her ear. In return she traced her fingertip along his knee and thigh, making him shift more her direction. "Or now?"

"Uhm, now would be nice, but I prefer more privacy, don't you, cranky doctor?"

"Yeah." He dropped a kiss on the corner of her mouth, then blinked as a blond whirlwind stood in front of them, looked down at Mike, shrugged and sat on the ground in front of Greg.

"You're Bud, right?" Sabrina asked as the boy pushed a length of that wheat-blond hair back from his eyes.

"That's me. Lemme guess, you're his mom and we're now sitting on the ground." Bud shook her hand, then Greg's.

"Hey, we're young. They're old," Mike retorted.

Sabrina chuckled as Greg pretended to bend over his cane and totter. "That's right, sonny," he whined out in a shaky voice. "Just old and falling apart."

"Not quite, I hope," Sabrina whispered in his ear, causing Greg to burst out in laughter and pull him to her for a long heated embrace that left the boys coughing and nudging each other. Just then the lights went down and the couple shared another quick kiss before turning to the stage.