Author's Note: I would have had this up awhile ago, but I was having issues to trying to upload new chapters. Still don't own House. Personally, this is not the most exciting chapter to me, but I think the next one is better.


Chapter 9: Awkward

Kate slowly drags herself out of the crappy Ikea bed at Wilson's apartment. She takes a quick shower and then double checks to make sure she packed her belongings. She brings her suitcase and laptop bag into the living room of the apartment. Wilson is cooking pancakes.

Kate sniffs and smiles. "Oh wow, are those apple cinnamon pancakes?"

Wilson says "They are." He sets a plate down on the kitchen bar. "Help yourself."

Kate sets her bags down and sits at the bar. She takes a bite of the pancakes and blissfully sighs. Once she is done chewing, she says "Oh my god, they're delicious. If you ever want to quit doctoring, I'll hire you as my cook. Granted, if I ate like this everyday, I would need to hire a personal trainer too."

Wilson sets his plate next to Kate's and turns the stove top off. He sits next to her and says "I'm flattered."

"You must not cook for your wives. I'd never divorce a man that cooks."

Wilson chuckles. "You just confirmed what I suspected: House never cooks."

Kate rolls her eyes as she chews. She then says "Oh please. Beanie Weenies are a challenge for the man. His idea of cooking is picking up the phone and calling for take out. Although, he can make a mean chili. That is about all he can cook."

Wilson says "If I remember correctly, you are a decent cook too."

"I suppose. But I hate cooking. Maybe if it wasn't just me I would enjoy it more. It just seems so tedious to cook for one."

They finish their breakfast. Kate insists upon doing the dishes while Wilson finishes getting ready for work. Kate is just putting away the last pan when Wilson emerges from his bedroom, ready to head to the hospital.

Wilson drives them to the hospital. He helps her bring her luggage to Cuddy's office. He gives her a quick hug and tells her that he will see her when she gets back from Seattle. He leaves Kate sitting in Cuddy's office.

Kate thumbs through some medical journals on the table next to the couch. Just as she starts to get overwhelmingly bored, Cuddy walks in.

"Good morning, Kate. You're here bright and early."

"I suppose. Do you have my boarding pass?"

Cuddy hands Kate some papers. "Have you been to House's office to meet his staff?"

"Nope. I wasn't sure if you wanted to be the one who did introductions."

Cuddy nods. "That would be probably be a good idea." She glances at her watch. "They ought to be here by now. Let's go get you introduced. You can leave your luggage here. I was going to drive you the airport."

Cuddy and Kate walk down to House's office. The ducklings have arrived for work. Cameron is diligently working on the mail pile, Chase is working a crossword puzzle, and Foreman is reading a journal article. The three young doctors look up when Cuddy leads Kate in the conference room.

Cuddy briskly says "This is Dr. Katherine Kowal. While House is recuperating, she will fill in for him and be your boss. She comes to us from the University of Washington Medical Center Rheumatology Clinic. Dr. Kowal, this is Dr. Eric Foreman, Dr. Robert Chase and Dr. Allison Cameron. I will leave it to you to get acquainted."

Kate smiles warmly at the ducklings. "Sounds good. What time are we leaving for the airport?"

Cuddy glances at her watch. "Meet me in my office at 10:45."

Kate cheerfully says "Will do." The four doctors watch Cuddy hurry off. Kate sits down at the head of the table and says "So, now that you know the bare minimum about me, let me learn the bare minimum about you. Who wants to start?"

Foreman pipes up. "My specialty is neurology."

Kate chuckles. "That was barely the minimum. What about you, Chase?"

"I'm an intensivist. And yes, I am originally from Australia."

Kate nods and looks to Cameron. Cameron says "I'm an immunologist."

Kate says "And I know all of you are very good at what you do. House wouldn't suffer fools willingly." She studies the ducklings for a moment. "Do you have any cases you are working on?"

Foreman shakes his head. "Not right now."

Kate nods. "We will need to drum up some business then." Chase casts a knowing look at Cameron. Kate sees the look but doesn't acknowledge it. "What questions do the three of you have for me?"

Chase asks the first question. "How long will House be gone?"

Kate shrugs. "I have no idea. Go look at his chart and talk to his attending. Next question."

Foreman asks the million dollar question. "Were you really married to House?"

Kate smirks. "I was. It built a lot of character. I'll leave it to you decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing." Chase snorts.

Cameron asks "Why did you get divorced?"

Kate shrugs and twirls the pen on the table in front of her. "We were making each other miserable. It just didn't work out. Now seriously, come up with a good question instead of trying to learn more about your boss' past."

Chase asks "Do we still have to do Clinic hours?"

Kate nods. "Yup. But you don't have to cover any of House's. Just do your normally assigned hours."

Cameron slightly glares at Foreman. "Can you approve journal submissions?"

Kate is curious about the glare but decides to ask about it later. "I can. And as an added bonus, I actually read them before I sign off." Kate catches the look Cameron shoots Foreman and watches him roll his eyes at her. "Is that seriously all the questions you guys have for me?"

The ducklings stare at her and she sighs as she stands up. "Ok, fine. I'm going to Seattle to take care of a few things and will be back in a few days. I expect to have some cases ready to go when I get back. Better yet, some cases in progress would be good too. Keep up with your clinic hours. If you have any journal submissions you want me to review, have them ready for me when I get back. If you don't have enough to do, go see Cuddy and she'll find you something to do. My cell phone is 206-555-7382. Call if you need anything. I need to go take care of a few things before I head out for Seattle."

Kate heads up to House's room. She looks in his room and sees that he is awake and playing Gameboy, so she walks in. He doesn't look up at her when she stops at his bedside, so she snatches the Gameboy from his hands.

"HEY! What are you doing!" House grabs for the Gameboy, but she steps away from the bed. She looks down at the game and pauses it. "Give it back!"

"Nope. We need to talk."

House shakes his head. "No, we don't." He grabs for the Gameboy again and Kate sets it on the side table, out of his reach. He groans in frustration. "Fine. What do you want?"

"You need to understand from that I'm not doing this because you want me to. I'm doing it to further my career and also so I can spend some time with some very good friends that I hardly ever get to see."

"Ok, fine whatever. Give me the Gameboy back."

Kate ignores his request and keeps talking. "I'm not going to hook back up with you and I'm not going to nurse you back to health."

House leers at her. "Are you sure you can resist me? I'm quite the sex machine, you know."

Kate snorts. "Right. Cripples are such a turn on for me. Especially, bitter, self-centered, pompous jackasses such as yourself."

"I knew you wanted me."

Kate gives House an earnest look. "Greg, I'm serious. Don't be entertaining ideas of us getting back together. Lisa told me what you did to Stacy Warner. It's not going to work on me."

House rolls his eyes at her. "Don't flatter yourself. I'd have to be out of my mind to want to get back together with you."

"You aren't known for your rational, logical behavior."

"And if I remember correctly, neither are you, Dr. Kowal."

They stare each other down. Neither one will look away. House makes a face at Kate. She continues to stare at him. He finally says "Ok, I will steer clear of you and you'll steer clear of me and everything will be copacetic."

Kate shakes her head. "Why do I feel like I am making a huge mistake?"

"Because you think too much. Pretty girls like you shouldn't fill their heads with big thoughts."

Kate hands him the Gameboy. "Wow, you must impress all the girls with that misogynic attitude."

House snatches the Gameboy from her hands. "Go away. I need to finish my physical therapy."

Kate laughs as she heads for the door. "Yup, it's important to keep those hand muscles strong when your personal skills keep you from getting laid."

House gets in one last word. "Oh Katie, that hurts!" Kate is out the door. House listens to her shoes click on the linoleum. He smiles to himself and then goes back to his game.