Chapter 4: Story time

Wilson shows Kate around his apartment. He makes the tour quick because Kate appears to be exhausted. He shows her the kitchen, the living room, the balcony and the spare bedroom and bathroom that she will be using. Kate attempts to stifle another yawn.

"Kate, why don't you get some sleep now? You are obviously exhausted."

Kate smiles sadly. "You know when you have been awake for far too long and you know you are tired, but you also know that if you go to bed at that very minute, you won't be able to sleep?" Wilson nods. "Uh huh, that's me right now."

Wilson sighs. "How about you get ready for bed while I make you a nice cup of chamomile tea? Then I will tell you a bedtime story." His eyes twinkle at her.

Kate smiles at Wilson. "I would rather have peppermint tea with milk, if you have it. My allergies are starting up and the plane ride gave me a nasty case of post-nasal drip."

Wilson grins. "It's a deal." He starts to walk to the kitchen and then stops to ask: "Did anyone ever tell you that a woman talking about her post-nasal drip is not a turn-on for most men?"

Kate snorts. "Ha! Lucky for me I have given up on trying to be a turn-on for men." Wilson rolls his eyes and heads for the kitchen. Kate turns to her suitcase and fishes out some pajama pants and a tank top. She goes in the bathroom to change. Once she has changed, she throws her dirty clothes on the floor and climbs into bed.

Wilson returns with a steaming tea cup. He carefully hands it to her and asks "Are you hungry?"

Kate shakes her head and pats the side of the bed. "I have my tea. Now I am ready for my bedtime story."

Wilson sits on the side of the bed. "Any bedtime story requests?"

Kate sips her tea. "How about the story of House and his ex-girlfriend Stacy, part two?"

"Well, obviously Cuddy told you something if you are asking. What do you know?"

"Lisa told me about Stacy asking for Greg to diagnose her husband. I knew they dated before his infarction. Lisa seemed to hint that Greg slept with Stacy right before she left the hospital."

"He did. Stacy was prepared to leave her husband for him, but he shot her down."

"What, the lure of free sex wasn't enough for him?"

"Stacy would have expected him to change for her at some point and he wasn't willing to change for her."

Kate shakes her head. "I am glad to see his still has that stubborn streak. Forgive me Wilson, but I was wrong. I don't really want to talk about the women Greg has been with since we divorced. Tell me a different story, like something about his staff."

"Which ones have you met so far?"

"I met Chase and Cameron. Is all of his staff pretty?"

Wilson laughs. "Pretty? That is an interesting way to put it. I don't think they are all 'pretty', but they are all attractive and intelligent people. The first person House hired was Robert Chase, an intensivist. House claims the only reason he hired Chase was that Chase's father asked him to. You may have heard of his dad: Rowan Chase."

Kate nods. "Of course. He recently passed away from cancer, didn't he?"

Wilson nods. "Chase and House had some friction last year, but I think they have gotten past it now. Then you have Eric Foreman. Foreman is a neurologist. He is extremely bright and probably the most like House, personality-wise. And finally, you have Allison Cameron, an immunologist. She is also a very talented doctor. Oh, you'll get a kick out of this: she made House take her on a date."

Kate chuckles. "Is that why she didn't seem to care for me?"

Wilson shrugs. "Cameron tends to see things in black and white. She seems to consider most things cut and dry and does not seem receptive to the gray areas. House is constantly telling her everybody lies."

Kate digests this information. "Greg doesn't tell people he was married, does he?"

Wilson rolls his eyes. "Well, duh. Why do you ask?"

"Cameron seemed really shocked that Greg was once married to me."

"Well, I don't see House bringing it up in conversation. Actually, come to think of it, I am pretty sure he told her he was never married."

"Well, like he always says, everybody lies and that most certainly includes him."

Wilson nods in agreement. They sit silently for a few minutes. Wilson finally speaks. "Honestly, what do you expect to come out of this? I mean, really, why did you come?"

Kate plucks at invisible fuzz balls on the blanket. "I was curious as to why my ex-husband was asking for me after he was shot. I haven't spoken to Greg since the day the divorce was finalized in court. It doesn't make sense why he asked for me, Jimmy. I had a lot of vacation time accrued, so I figured 'what the hell?' and came out here. I figured I would come, make sure the source of my additional income was still alive and well and visit with my close friends. I haven't seen Lisa in a few months and the last time I saw you was when you were out west for that oncology conference three years ago." Kate smothers another yawn.

Wilson stands up and says "I am going to go watch TV. Get some sleep. If I hear any news about Greg waking up, I will wake you up."

"Ok." Wilson leaves the bedroom. Kate tries to find a comfortable position on the crappy IKEA bed. She quickly falls asleep.