Chapter 9

They arrived back at his office and Foreman asked how everything went.

"Okay," Nicky replied, "Dr Wilson is going to find me when he's got the results in."

"Listen, we're going to the park tomorrow, do you want to come with us?" Foreman asked. "We're just going to throw a Frisbee about and grab a bar meal, nothing fancy."

Nicky looked from one expectant face to another, "Are you coming, Dr House?"

House then looked around his surprised team before nodding. There was no way he was missing out on an opportunity to spend time with her, even if he had to share.

It was getting late, Nicky was still working on the team's notes but she was feeling tired. She debated whether or not to call it a day and start afresh tomorrow morning, or give it another hour. House and his team were dealing with an emergency, so they still hadn't left either. She decided to work another hour, although she knew she'd be back tomorrow.

"Friday night, date night," House popped his head around the door and startled her. He walked in, obviously on a high and perched on the edge of her desk, then he noticed how tired she was looking.

She smiled at him, her eyes still had that sparkle no matter how tired she looked. "Date night?"

"Yeah, have you realised that we haven't actually been on a date yet?"

"Where do you want to go?" Nicky brightened.

"We can either go for dinner, or a drive-in movie," House grinned at her wickedly. "We can make out in the back seat."

"I thought you had a two seater sports car," Nicky laughed.

"Oh yeah, that might be a problem." He pretended to think, suddenly he brightened, "we'll have dinner then."

"But you won't get to make out with me if we do that," Nicky said all innocently.

"A-ha, not a problem," House replied pretending to have thought of everything, "we can do that tomorrow night. We'll take your car to the movies instead."

She rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, "Okay, you win, dinner it is."

House's beeper went off.

"Or maybe not," Nicky smiled at him.

"Won't be long," House said, "wait here for me?"

She nodded and settled back down again. She had files to finish up and figured she might as well do them while she waited.

House hurried to Oncology as fast as his limp would allow and walked straight into Wilson's office.

"What is it?" he asked, catching his breath. "The results are back aren't they?"

Wilson nodded. "House, I really shouldn't be telling you this first, but I'm telling you this as a friend. If we don't get her started on chemo soon, she's going to lose her breast."

House was stunned, he thought for a while, then said, "When do you want her in?"

Wilson raised his eyebrows in a sooner rather than later gesture.

"Can we just have one weekend together?" House asked quietly.

"Of course," Wilson replied, "I'll tell her on Monday and get her in on Tuesday. I'm not leaving it later than that."

House nodded, agreeing. "It's so unfair, she's only thirty two."

"Life's a bitch," Wilson echoed his friend's sentiments.

House walked back to his office deep in thought. He mustn't betray what he knew, he wanted her to have a truly special weekend and he was going to make sure she got it. God knows when she'd be able to walk out in the sunshine feeling as well as she was feeling right now.

"Ready?" he said, smiling at Nicky as she grabbed her bag and walked towards him.

They both picked at their dinner, neither of them having the appetite to eat after all, although their conversation wasn't at all strained. They chatted, laughed, talked deeply and held hands. They were made for each other they both felt it. Damn this cancer.

"Wanna to come back to my place?" House asked. "I've got some good music we could dance to."

She grinned at him, entwining her hand in his, "I'd love to."

The drive seemed to take no time at all and they were soon walking through the door of his apartment.

Nicky watched as he turned the stereo on, it was state of the art, House loved his gadgets. He walked over to her and slowly took her in his arms, as he did, she felt once more, the stick bumping her gently on the back of her leg.

"Your eyes sparkle," he murmured.

"So do yours," Nicky replied.

His hand reached her face and he traced her cheek with infinite gentleness. Nicky closed her eyes to his touch and pulled him tighter to him.

"Greg," she whispered, "do you think I'll come through this?"

He pulled away slightly and looked deep into her eyes, she looked scared. "Of course," he said, "you've got the best doctors in the country looking out for you." He smiled, hoping he was reassuring her.

He brushed her hair out of face and kissed her, she responded by touching him in that special way of hers, her fingertips working their magic, easing the tension from his neck and he felt his legs give way. While he could still walk, he led her gently into the bedroom, flicking the dimmer switch so that it gave a soft glow to the room.

He laid her gently on the bed, kissing her with more passion by the moment. Nicky's hands went to his face and she smiled at him, giving him a look that he would remember for the rest of his days. She was as besotted with him as he was with her. Yes, everything would be all right.

She sat up, unbuttoning her blouse, letting it fall, then undid her bra, he noted that it wasn't the bra that was giving her shape, it was the silicone insert that she wore. She could just slip it between her skin and any bra she choose, giving her some control over whatever she fancied wearing.

She turned and lay down next to him once more and he couldn't resist touching her body. Nicky's hand roamed over his as they kissed again, passion mounting once more. Yet he knew that he couldn't take it any further, he was scared of hurting her too much. She felt delicate beneath his touch.

He wanted to pull back but yet couldn't stop himself her touch was magical. He felt as though he was drowning and he gasped for breath. She started pulling off his clothes, her passion growing, he had no choice but to help her, he needed to feel his skin against hers. She sat astride him and he saw the wanton look in her eyes, still he knew he should pull back but couldn't.

He reached into the top drawer of his bedside cabinet and pulled out a box of condoms.

Putting one on he whispered hoarsely that he couldn't take the risk of getting her pregnant. "Now isn't the right time to get pregnant," he whispered.

She smiled, understanding his concern. He knew her well enough to know that if she did, she would stop the treatment to have his child, it was a risk he wasn't prepared to take, selfishly or not.

"You have to be on top," House said almost apologetically, "my leg won't hold me."

They slowly and sweetly made love, their bodies connecting in a way neither of them thought possible, both of them unselfishly wanting the other to enjoy the experience.

They slept entwined with each other until dawn and only woke then when House screamed out in pain after Nicky had unintentionally shoved her leg against his withered thigh.

"Oh shit," Nicky flew out of bed and stood next to it all wide eyed whilst House rolled around the bed in agony. "Tell me what to do."

"Just grab my Vicodin, quick," House gasped.

She flew into the living room and grabbed the bottle from the top of the piano, then ran into the kitchen to get some water.

"Never mind the bloody water," House screamed, when he realised what she was doing. "Just bring the pills."

Nicky turned tail and ran back into the bedroom, shoving the bottle in his hands. "I'm so sorry," she said, panic written all over her face.

She watched House swallow them dry then rub his leg as the pain eased, after that his face slowly untwisted as the pain subsided. He reached his hand out to her and pulled her back onto the bed.

"I'm sorry I scared you," he said.

She smiled, relaxing and she snuggled in to him once more.

"And there was me terrified of hurting you," House whispered ironically.

"How could you hurt me, Greg?" Nicky said huskily.

House pulled away so that he could see her face, she was crying softly.

"What's the matter?"

"I really hurt you then, didn't I?" Nicky said quietly.

He pulled her into his arms and held her tight, "It's okay," he whispered, "it's okay."