CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Dinner had gone smoothly, only because John was still sleeping. The medication the doctor had him on made him drowsy and House reassured Blythe that it was normal for patients to do so.

House enjoyed dinner with his mom, aunt and cousin tremendously. Debra just loved egging House on: when he would look at her, she would make sure she had a mouthful of food and open her mouth full of food (making sure there was a variety of color and 'grossness'), blocking the view of Blythe and Sharon. He would look at her disgustedly, but he really wasn't; he wouldn't smile, but he was smiling on the inside.

House even took pleasure in listening to his Aunt Sharon about her traveling with Uncle George after they'd retired. And intently listened to his mom talk about the gardening she'd be doing when the weather got just a tad bit warmer. He laughed and smiled practically through the entire meal. And he was happy, happy for the first time in years – too many years. It occurred to him that anything pleasurable would never last, but for this brief moment in his life, he hoped it would.

And, indeed it had. They finished eating and the ladies were getting started on cleaning the kitchen. House had mysteriously disappeared into the living room.

"Gregory John, get your tush in here and help us with these dishes!" Blythe fussed at her son.

He rolled his eyes. I'm in trouble now cuz she used my full name he thought. He whined his answer, "But my legggg huuuurtzzz."

"Pretend it doesn't and get in here!" Debra shot back, making him smile.

Okay, tonight's been great. Don't blow it now, Greg. He slowly stood and headed for the kitchen without his cane but limped more than his leg actually needed it. The pain – the pain was a manageable seven the whole time he helped in the kitchen. Oh, yeah, House was a happy camper.

Half an hour later they were done in the kitchen and all sitting in the living room. Blythe had pulled out the family photo album and shared them with everyone.

"Oh, look, Greg! You're what, 24 in this picture? Based on this full head of hair of yours, it seems that's not when you started to lose your hair." Debra teased with a laugh and a wink.

"Debra Lynn!" her mother scolded her.

"It's okay, Aunt Sharon. Baldness runs in the family, so watch out, lovely cousin! You're next."

"No way! I'll never lose my hair! I'll be beaut-ious for the rest of my life!"

"You will not!" House said.

"Will too," Debra answered.

"Will not!"

"Yes, I will!" she replied, and tried hard to hide her smile.

"Nuh-huh!"

"I refuse!! I won't lose my hair! I won't lose one hair on my head! I won't - infinity!" Debra persisted.

"Yes you will! Multiple infinity! "Wait, I thought we were fighting over whether you'll be gorgeous when you are 90?" House shot back, he, too, trying to hide his smile.

"Alright, you children, that's enough," Blythe said then couldn't contain her laughter and they all had a good laugh together.

"We're 40-ish-something, we're allowed to act like children," Debra said with a giggle.

After an hour or so, Blythe and Sharon went to bed, after Sharon insisted that she'd be woken up if John woke up so she could do what she could to help. Blythe was worried that he hadn't eaten since lunch, and again House reassured her it was normal.

All House was hoping for was that John would sleep throughout the night and into the morning, just until he had left for the airport. After he was in the air and on his way home, John could stay awake for the next 48 hours for all he cared.

It was almost 11:00 pm and House was ready to crash, leaving Debra alone in the living room. As tired as he was, he still had trouble falling to sleep, and after two hours he decided to go watch t.v. The bad news was the only t.v. was in the living room. Not bad news for him, but for Debra.

He quietly walked into the room and saw her asleep on the couch, covered with a blanket and her head nestled in a pillow, her head on her left arm holding the remote fragily in her hand.

Oh, this is gonna be good. He crept to her side, knelt slightly and gently pulled the remote out of her hand.

Within seconds she jerked awake. "Hey, I'm watching that," she said as she sat up a little.

"You watch t.v. in your sleep?" House asked as he tapped her knees to make room for him on the couch.

"Firstly, I sleep-watch, yes. And secondly, there are two empty chairs."

"But you've already made the cushion warm for me," he said as he sat down.

"Greg," she said as she sat up more and rested her back on the pillow against the arm rest. "Who's Cameron?"

House kept changing channels until he found something that interested him. Unfortunately there was nothing good to watch.

"Allison Cameron, she works for me, for the past three years."

"Was she in an accident?"

House rapidly gave her the details of the accident, but neglected to relay anything further.

"So, she'll be alright?"

House simply nodded his head.

"Greg, I know about Stacy and I'm sorry you two broke up. Believe me, I know how hard it is to let someone in. But you can't…"

"You know nothing about my relationship with Stacy."

"Was she the only woman you ever loved?" she asked as gently and softly as she could.

"What is your problem? Why do you care?"

Debra sighed heavily and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Because I can see it in your eyes - you seem so lonely and sad."

"I'm not in the mood for this right now," he snapped.

"Oh, come off it, Greg! Stop being this cold, heartless, 'I'm not gonna love anyone because, boo-hoo, I don't deserve it' man. Or 'I'm not good enough to be loved' whining crap!"

House stood up, walked to the bottom of the stairs and stood there; Debra stood up and met him in the hallway.

"Go ahead! Run away like you always do! I've been there! God, I'm not trying to be a bitch. I just want you to see you do deserve someone. Don't you get it? I've pushed men away for 20 years because of my father. You are in no way your father! And you shouldn't let that stop you from falling in love again."

House never turned around to look at her, but he felt tears welt up in his eyes. He tried to fight them back and felt his stomach churning.

"Have you been talking to my mom?" House whispered.

"I'll never reveal my source. But Greg, I'm serious," Debra said as she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder, forcing him to turn around and look at her. "Whoever this Cameron is, you need to figure out what you want from her, because she may just be 'the one' for you. Maybe kick you in the ass when you need it or keep you in line," she said with a smile.

'…Maybe kick you in the ass when you need it…'

Those were the last words on his mind, and the feeling of Debra in his arms when they said goodbye, as House drifted off to sleep on flight 0236 to Trenton, New Jersey.

And they were the words that changed his outlook on life…and love.