Since Saturday, one of the many things weighing on Jess's mind was whether or not to go to her interview at Princeton Plainsboro. The events of the weekend had almost wiped it from her mind, but not quite. The appointment, ten am on Monday, had been written into her diary for almost a week now and she still hadn't got around to telling Greg about it.

As far as she was aware, it was illegal not to hire someone because they were pregnant, but she felt ethically dubious about going along without revealing her status – not that she even really knew what that was yet. Still if she got the job, they'd find out once they did the medical. It might also be relevant to disclose personal relationships with other PPTH employees, but as she'd been doing all along, she was able to rationalise that as being private – this was about her professional life and she'd deal with it after she'd signed the contract. But it was all way, way messier than she'd planned. In the end, she convinced herself it was just an interview and not her dream job that she'd been working on getting for months.

She needed to tell him. The background to it all, as well as the simple fact of the interview. But now they had so much bigger things to think about.

After their unexpectedly abbreviated breakfast, Jess had ended up spending most of the day at the hospital. She'd sent him a text message in the evening – knowing it was cowardly – saying that she'd been held up and would call him the next day. She needed a little more time to herself and she needed time to prepare for the interview.

Thankfully she got a better night's sleep and didn't look quite so pale and sickly as she got ready for the day ahead. She put on her best suit and spent a long time on her hair and make-up. Her job meant she was part TV journalist, part ambassador, part doctor and part peacemaker. She had to be prepared to step into any of those roles at a moment's notice: stand in front of a camera and give a statement, meet and greet wealthy donors, explain complex medical procedures in everyday language to journalists, resolve complaints and crises between the hospital and the world.

She loved every minute of it.

And Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital was the pinnacle of the medical PR profession in the state, if not the country. They were on the cutting edge of medicine: new procedures, the most critical patients, experimental surgeries and drug trials; it was all happening at PPTH. The gnarled but incredibly experienced Julie Walters had been clinging to her post there for years. Jess wanted the job with every fibre of her being. And she'd done what was required to be the top candidate when it came to the interviews.

She rested a hand lightly on her stomach. Only that hadn't gone quite as she'd expected.

--

House had been about to burst into Cuddy's office with a complaint about his latest patient, but he stopped short when he saw who was in there. Who he thought was in there.

He peered in through the windows none-too-discreetly to double-check and discovered he was right, it was Jess.

Why would Jess be in his boss's office? All sorts of ideas went through House's head, including that she was there to rat on him, to tell Cuddy that she was pregnant and he wasn't being supportive enough. Or that there was something wrong with Jess and Cuddy was her doctor. Or that Cuddy had found out about them and ordered Jess to see her.

None of them made sense.

Cuddy saw him and waved him away, and House disappeared behind a pot plant before Jess could turn around and see him too.

He waited around the corner, listening intently for the sound of Cuddy's door opening, and sure enough about fifteen minutes later he heard the mute sounds of the women's goodbyes.

Rounding the corner again he was quick enough for Jess to just spot him as she shook Cuddy's hand in farewell. Her eyes widened when they met his and he was about to pounce on them both when the look in Jess's eyes stopped him. It was pleading, warning, and sorrowful all at once. He gave a short nod and halted his steps, waiting until the women parted and Jess headed for the main doors, not looking back.

He startled Cuddy by walking up right behind her.

"Who was that?"

Cuddy jumped and then sighed. "House," she said, the one word somehow conveying her annoyance, frustration and resignation to his mere presence.

"It was Jessica Mitchell. Currently head of PR and media for St Mary's. I was interviewing her for our PR role. Julie's retiring."

A job interview? It didn't make sense. Why wouldn't Jess tell him that she was applying for a job in the same place he worked?

Cuddy glared at him again. "Did you know that you are a question in my candidate interviews? Whenever I have to hire lawyers or PR people I have to mention you – because half their job is going to be about defending you, protecting you, or explaining you. All the candidates for this job have been scoping you out. They're all doing their research on you. As hospital PR jobs go, this is the best one in the state. You're part of the reason for that."

"And how did Jessica Mitchell do?" House asked, deceptively casual.

"Well she has your number," Cuddy said with relish. "Her answers were perfect and she's the only one I've interviewed who's given any indication she could handle the special requirements that come from having you as a hospital employee. She's obviously done her research, just like I suggested."

Suddenly the pieces fell into place. Exactly why a beautiful young woman would approach a damaged old doctor at a conference after he'd tried to embarrass her with annoying questions…She was studying. Studying up for her next job.

"You don't want to hire her Cuddy, she's pregnant." The words came out of his mouth almost automatically. Life had taught House to strike back; that a good offence was the best defence.

"How do you know?" Cuddy's hands were on her hips, the perfect aggressive stance. Then she slumped. "Oh God, of course you know."

At first House thought Jess must have let something slip, because he was sure Cuddy didn't know anything about the connection between them. But then he gave a crooked smile as she continued.

"I don't know how you do it, but you have some kind of insane sixth sense for these things. What, can you smell the hCG or something? Damn. She's the best candidate. I wanted her to be the one all along."

Despite his anger and wounded pride, House felt a bizarre sense of pride on Jess's behalf.

"Thanks House." Cuddy seemed even more annoyed with him. "Now I just have to hope that there just might be a better candidate out there." She turned on her heel and marched back into her office, slamming the door behind her.

House stood in the corridor for a while, thinking. Feeling a sick sense of pleasure that he'd cost Jess a new job in return for her betrayal. But the glee was muted by his hurt and sadness. If he'd been a piece of research to her, a stepping stone to her next job, then there was no way she was going to keep their baby. He realised he'd better start preparing himself for that outcome right away.

--

As soon as Jess got out of sight of both Dr Cuddy and House, she leant up against a wall and took a deep steadying breath.

She'd never wanted House to find out that way. Knew the conclusions he'd jump to – the conclusions he had every right to jump to.

She swore under her breath at her own cowardice. If she'd only told him at the start. He might have found it amusing, might even have found way to turn the scheming back on Dr Cuddy – now that she knew a little more about their relationship.

But after seeking him out at the conference, just as Dr Cuddy had somehow arranged, Jess hadn't expected to actually like the guy. Hadn't expected the dinner they'd had to end up in her hotel room, hot and sweaty and naked. Hadn't expected to join the mile-high club on plane on the way home. Hadn't expected to be practically living with him a week later.

And she certainly hadn't expected to find herself pregnant with his baby.

Life had been going so well, but it had just taken a sudden swerve and suddenly things were messy. Very, very messy.