CHAPTER THREE: The First Tuesday, We Talk About the World

Driving back to House's house the following Tuesday felt particularly strange. I just kept thinking that the whole thing was some kind of joke. And House always had an eccentric sense of humor.

I parked on the side of the street, got of the car, and approached the door. Ring. Ring. Ring. The beautiful woman answered again and looked very surprised to see me.

"Mr. Chase, was it? What are you doing back?" Then as if to correct a mistake, she quickly added, "Not like I don't want you back or something! I just was curious because I thought House…"

"It's okay. Actually, the surprise is not just yours. I'm pretty shocked to be here myself. The really weird part is…House invited me," I told her.

With a gaping mouth and astonished green eyes, she said, "He did? Really? That's very…uncharacteristic of him. He must really like you."

I shrugged. "Nah, I don't think so. I'm not really sure why he asked me back, but I doubt it's 'cause he likes me."

"Well, it's a good thing anyway. He could use some company."

I smiled and headed for House's bedroom door. Knock.

"Come in," said House.

I walked in and saw him sitting at a small, round table, a thick book opened on top of it. House was staring at it, not even noticing I walked in. I waited for his eyes to look up. He turned one more page and then closed the book.

"Dr. Chase. I see you made it," he said.

I nodded. "What are you reading?"
"'Serendipities: Language and Lunacy' by Umberto Eco."

"That's a great book. You'll love it," I commented.

House smirked. "I know. It's my fifth time reading it. So I understand it better than you, so I appreciate it more, and love it more. So I win."

"Who said it was a competition?" I asked.
"Who said it wasn't?" He pushed out a chair and motioned for me to sit. I ambled over to the table and sat.

"So…" I started, uncomfortably. "I've been good."

House leaned in, with a mock-confused expression on his face. "Hmmm? Oh, I'm sorry, do you think I care about how you've been?"

I sighed. "Well, you asked me back here for a reason. If you don't care, then why did you tell me to come back?"

"I wanted to talk to you. Not necessarily about you. Gosh, you Australians never lose your egos, no matter how long you've lived in the land where the eagle flies," House answered.

I got up from the table and started out the room.
"Where do you think you're going?" House questioned.

"Look, you obviously have nothing to say to me except disparaging remarks, and I have no time for them. So…" I responded.

"So you're just going to run away like you did before. Like you did last week and like you did ten years ago. You can't take the heat, so you go out in the cold again," House said. "And believe me, that leather jacket you always wear is not enough to keep you safe and warm."

I stopped in my tracks and lowered my head. House continued, "You're a coward, Chase. And if you're scared of me, then how are you going to deal with the real scary things in the world? Self-hatred, loneliness, pain?"

"Fine, House. I'm a coward. But you know what? I deal with those things every day of my life. Unlike some people, who don't actually DEAL with their pain. Instead, they decide to take it all out on others," I riposted.

Our eyes met, followed by a long awkward silence. Finally, House spoke up. "I hate awkward silences. Kind of like how I hate the color pink, Simple Plan, and brussel sprouts."

I chuckled as he smiled and patted my empty chair with his cane. I sat back down. "So, House, what did you want to talk about?"
"The world," House said, staring into space like a philosopher.

"The world?"

"Yeah, it's this planet that's the third from the sun and the fifth largest of all," House explained, leaning in closer as if to tell me a secret. "And rumor has it that love makes it go round,"

"Okay, okay. What about the world do you want to talk about?" I asked.

House twirled his cane in the air. "I don't know. Well, let's see. In 'Serendipities', Eco uncovers several mistakes that have shaped human history, one of them being Columbus's assumption that the world was much smaller than it is. It got me thinking. Everything looks small to one person, when it's compared with something bigger."

"Having trouble with your girlfriend, House?" I said, laughing to myself.

"For once, I'm being serious, Chase. Everything that's bad for one person would be good for another. Don't you agree?"

I thought about it, then shook my head. "No. I mean, what about famine and disease and the like? How could that be good to someone?"

House asked, "Would you rather starve to death or be murdered?"

"Starve."

"See. That's my point."

I counter argued, "But then what about the person getting murdered? How can that option be good to someone else?"
"Let's see if you can figure it out," House said, waiting for a response.

It felt like old times. House already knowing the answer, but wanting me to figure it out anyway. "Someone might choose being murdered over someone they love being murdered?"

"Very good. That's one possibility. And so you see how the cycle repeats?"
"Yeah. So?"

"So! So, me and you…we really don't have it so bad, do we?" House asked, but I wasn't sure if he was asking him or me.
I shrugged. "I guess not, but then again, I think that self-inflicted pain is worse than others causing you pain."

"Self-inflicted? Chase, have you been hanging out with that dominatrix again?"

I rolled my eyes. He'd never let me live that down. Even twenty years later. "No, what I meant was emotional and mental pain. No one can cause that but yourself, right? You create and destroy your own happiness?"

House nodded thoughtfully. "Most of the time."

Another silence. Finally, I said, "Well, House, if there is nothing else, I ought to be going."

"You just got here," House said, almost pleadingly. I was shocked. He really did want my company.

"Y-yeah, I know, but…" I trailed off, not knowing what to say. He nodded understandingly.

"It's okay. Go, do what you have to. Will you come and see me again next Tuesday?"

I was taken aback, but managed to say, "Yeah, of course."

House explained, "The world is a big place. There's a lot more to discuss about it. Not all of the world is pain, you know." House opened his book again and started reading. I watched him for a moment before heading out.