By the time House and Robin saw each other again it was lunch time.
"I thought I'd find you here."
Looking up from her salad, Robin smiled at the sight of the crippled man before her while inviting him to sit down.
"Sorry, I can't stay long. Got a new case, but I thought I'd drop by to see how you were doing."
"Fine."
Arching an eye brow at this comment, House furrowed his brow while glaring at Robin with a look of pure mischief and intrigue.
"Really? I was sure by this time you'd be running for the nearest exists."
"Why would I do that?"
"(sigh) People talk, nurses talk."
The sincerity in the diagnostician's voice equally matched that of his eyes which held a deeper meaning behind the stunning blue glow.
"You heard about that huh?
"It's a small hospital. But I wouldn't worry about it, Nurse Previn is the biggest gossip in this place and from what I hear, she's retiring in three weeks."
"I don't mind if people know about us. In fact, I want them to."
"Why?"
How could he ask that?
Reaching across the table to embrace her new beau's hand, there was a glimmer of light shining in Robin's eyes as she finally spoke.
"Because, I see who you really are and that's who I want to be with."
"But, you barely know me."
"I know enough."
Before this conversation could continue, House's pager went off distracting him from any further reaction for the time being.
"Damn, I have to go. (sigh) See you tonight?"
"You can count on it."
This being said, House shot Robin a smile while limping away from the table and into the dark hallway. As he rode the elevator back up to his office House could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. She knows me? How is that possible? Nobody knows me, I don't even know me. Then a realization struck him and it took all of his strength not to fall against the wall. What if, he wanted this. Would that be so terrible? What if for once in his life House took a chance at happiness?
The department head had been so struck by this thought that he barely ran over Kutner who had been standing by the conference room door.
"Woe, slow down House where's the fire?"
"Get in the office and stop staring at me."
Meeting the eyes of his team and nodding a greeting to Foreman who stood by the wall, House remained calm and regained composure while starting the differential.
"What did the patient's test results show?"
Driving home that night was more strenuous then usual mainly because House couldn't get his mind off Robin. Their conversation at lunch really shook him up and there wasn't any way of getting past it other then dealing with it head on.
Okay, let's flip a coin. Heads I date Robin, tales I end it. No, that's cruel even for me but I've got to get a handle on this thing other wise it could blow up in my face and the relationship could be ruined.
Relationship? Had House actually said the R word? He thought of Robin sitting there earlier that day with a smile on her face while eating lunch. It was nice to see her, somehow their interaction had been a nice break from the endless stream of dealing with medical professionals and patients, especially clinic patients. Maybe this could work.
This was the last thought to cross his mind as House pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition. As he entered the small apartment and flicked on the lights the diagnostician was met with an interesting sight. There sitting on the couch with her feet up was Robin looking at the man before her with a smirk.
"I've been waiting for you."
"So, I see. Why didn't you turn on the lights?"
"I thought this way would be more dramatic. (sigh) We need to talk."
House cringed at this comment but was able to shrug it off while making his way over to the couch.
"I know what your going to say and before you go on I have something I need to get off my chest."
"Why don't we both say what's on our minds on a count of three?"
"Fair enough. (Pause) 1..2..3."
As they each spoke, there was a moment where House could have sworn he had been in this situation before but no matter now, was not the time for dejavu.
"I want this to work."
(Oh, don't worry this conversation is just beginning. More to come soon. )
