Part two: A few hours later…

After exiting the concert hall and making themselves comfortable in the back of a spacious automobile Joan and Gloria exchanged a glance while House stared out the window.

There was something in the way this man presented himself that made Joan a bit uneasy. Perhaps it was the fact that he was crippled. Should I ask him about it? What if he doesn't want to talk about it? Despite many years of being a professional woman their were times when Joan felt as though she was still a shy high school girl so shy to ask the most simple question.

However, before she could summon up the courage to ask what was on her mind Joan was interrupted by the sound of House's sigh.

"What are you staring at? it's just a damn leg. You've got two of them yourself you know."

"Ha..how did it happen?"

"Surprised Gloria didn't tell you. (Sigh) Well, I guess it wouldn't be so bad if you knew. Considering this may be the last time we ever see each other. Ah what the hell. (Sigh) I had an aneurysm that clotted which lead to an infarction. (Pause) I'm afraid that's all I'm willing to reveal without getting personal. No offense it's just how I roll."

Nodding her head at this comment, Joan decided to look out the window knowing for well she had nothing constructive to say at that moment in time.

Before long, the car came to a stop at the end of a long driveway while House began to unlock his safety belt.

"This is where we say goodnight. My driver will give you gals a lift home. Gloria check you later, Joan…(the look in his eyes depicted that of loss and concern) (sigh) damn shrinks."

As the car pulled away from the curb, Joan looked out the window at the shadowy figure of the man she had been so curious to meet but now wished she hadn't.

"So, what do you think of him?"

Arching an eye brow at this comment, Joan couldn't believe Gloria could ask such a thing. Didn't she realize what had just happened?

"House? Oh he's a prince, a real charmer. Come on, it's obvious he hates me."

"He hates everyone the first time around, don't worry he'll warm up to you eventually."

"Oh no he won't because I won't give him the chance. (Pause) Do me a favor, the next time you want to introduce me to anymore of your so called friends, forget it."

Gloria had expected this. She knew how Joan reacted when it came to meeting knew people but she had hoped that it would be different this time.

"How did you think it was going to go? I told you he was a very private person so bringing up his leg certainly didn't help anything."

"You didn't tell me anything about him. All you asked me is if I wanted to meet the talented musician we had seen earlier this evening. If I had known that man would turn out to be an ass I wouldn't have agreed. Why are you friends with him anyway? It's not like you have anything in common."

That's when Gloria softened her gaze while peering down at the ground a moment before making one thing perfectly clear.

"We grew up together,. His father was stationed at the same army base as mine for awhile when we were kids. Somehow, having someone my own age to hang out with helped a lot. In a weird way we helped each other deal with being in a military family."

"You mean he would actually open up to you on a personal level? That's a shock. Tonight, I couldn't get him to open up at all."

"(Sigh) Things were different then. He was a teenage boy I was a teenage girl. In a weird way we got each other and that's still true today."

Arching an eye brow at this comment, Joan couldn't help but be a little curious at the mention of "getting each other."

"You totally slept together didn't you?"

Gloria furrowed her brow at this moment while glaring at Joan in frustration.

"That's what you got from that story? My god Joan, if I didn't know better I'd say you were the one who needs to see a shrink not your patients. (sigh) Alright, you want to know the truth?"

"Yes."

"You really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Alright I'll tell you."

Gloria smiled mischievously towards her friend while leaning in so not even their driver could hear.

"No, we never did."

At that very moment the car pulled up to the curb and it was time to get out. Unlocking her belt Joan sighed while looking up towards her friend knowing far to well what she had done.

"Are you coming or not?"

The anger in Gloria's voice was understandable after all Joan had just implied that House and she had been nothing more then sex buddies and that was nowhere near true. Even it had been, the point is it was none of Joan's business to begin with.

Before getting out of the car Joan reached over and placed her hand over Gloria's as a sign of good faith.

"Look Glory, I'm sorry I should have…."

"Forget it, I don't want to talk about this anymore. Now get your ass in gear."

Meanwhile back at apartment 221B House had poured himself a glass of bourbon and was now drinking in silence on the couch. Who the hell was that with Gloria tonight? She seemed nice enough until she opened her mouth. What a talker, if I didn't know better I'd say she makes her living listening to other peoples problems so she can include some of her own. Shrinks, can't live with them.

Smirking to himself, the crippled physician got up from the couch and limped over to the piano bench just a few feet away. As he caressed the keys House tried to think about something else but his mind continued to drift back to the evening's events.

And what kind of a name is Joan? I can only imagine the teasing that must have gotten her at recess. Joan bone, home alone Joan, I'm going home with Joan. Wait, what kind of insults are those?

Looking down at his glass House rolled his eyes while breathing in a sigh. Jesus House, I think the liquor's finally gone to your head. There's a shocker, who would have thought that the drink that's supposed to make one become nasty makes me become civil? Snap out of it Greg, your scaring yourself.

Putting down the glass, the obviously drunken man made his way slowly towards the bedroom careful not to fall over on the way. Then moments later, House took off his jeans replaced them with sweats and slipped himself in between the covers.

As soon as his head hit the pillow it was time for a nice… long… alcohol induced sleep.

(More to come soon, I hope you all like it so far. Thanks to all who have reviewed.)