After leaving PPTH, Jess didn't get a chance to call House until Monday night. Her day had become difficult, dealing with the fallout from the Fox News story and managing the suspicion from her boss about her absence that morning. Jess insisted she'd had a doctor's appointment, but her boss was obviously unconvinced.
She'd been shocked to see House at the hospital, but glad in a way too. Now she had to come clean – there was no putting off dealing with it, even though they had far more serious things to talk about. He'd probably be annoyed that she'd kept it from him, but if he just gave her a chance to explain; she was sure he'd understand once he heard her side of the story. She'd tell him everything. Right from the first coffees she'd had with Dr Cuddy weeks before the conference in LA all the way through to the interview that day.
But he didn't pick up.
He came home very late that night, but Jess had waited up for him, desperate to talk and to sort things out. He walked in and frowned when he saw her waiting for him on the couch. She'd even poured him a drink, bringing out the old fifties housewife trick.
He sat down next to her, not touching, and downed the whisky in one gulp, letting her pour him another.
"Greg, I need to tell you about today."
He snorted, obviously having made up his mind that there was nothing she could say to explain. She watched him swallow the amber liquid and sighed. "God, I need a drink."
He frowned at her but didn't say anything. She didn't pour herself a drink.
"I applied for a job at Princeton Plainsboro—"
"When?" He wasn't going to make this easy. And why should he, she thought.
"Well, to be honest, I started thinking about it a few months ago. When we met at the conference."
"To be honest?" he mocked. "Just decided to start that now, have you?"
He wasn't looking at her, but Jess could feel the accusation in his eyes. Suddenly, she realised what must have happened.
"Cuddy told you," she said.
His eyes finally met hers, cold and hard. "Yes, Cuddy told me," he mocked. "Just when were you planning on dumping me? Once you'd done enough research to get you the job?"
"Greg, no, that's not it at all."
"Really." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, really. Okay, I'll admit that Cuddy advised me that it would be a good idea to get to know you—"
"I doubt she meant for you to get to know me this well," he said, taking an obvious glance at her lower abdomen.
"No. But I never intended that either."
"And you're not exactly thrilled that it's ruined everything for you, are you? Who's going to hire an unwed pregnant media spokesperson?"
As per usual, he hit the nail on the head. Jess closed her eyes slowly and realised that she had to face the truth. There was no way she could go any further with the job application. If she stayed pregnant, there was no way they'd hire her because she'd have to tell them the truth; they'd find out in her mandatory physical anyway. And if she didn't stay pregnant, there was no way she could work with him.
"Oh, Greg, I never meant for this to get so—"
"What? So complicated? So involved? I was just supposed to be homework. Cram up on the crabby doctor and improve your chances, huh? Didn't think you'd end up pregnant, though, bet you can't wait to get rid of that little complication. Looks like you screwed up everything."
"But…" Jess felt the tears pressing behind her eyes and forced herself to hold it together.
"You were so keen to keep us secret and I didn't mind. Except now I know the real reason. Knowing me would help you get the job. But 'knowing' me would hurt your chances. Cold, Jess, really cold. And that's saying something coming from a cold-hearted bastard like me."
Jess could only swallow hard. He was right. It wasn't quite like that but, for all intents and purposes, he was right.
She nodded and got up, leaving him on the sofa and heading for her own apartment.
--
"House." House rubbed his eyes, peering at the clock as he answered. He didn't bother checking to see who the caller was. Calls at three am were always the hospital, and generally meant having to get out of bed and deal with a new patient. He was surprised when Jess's voice answered him.
"Greg." It sounded like she was crying. He didn't think he'd ever seen her cry. A bit late now, he thought.
"Jess, can't round two wait until a decent hour?"
"No." She took a shuddery breath. "Greg, I'm bleeding. Not much, but I'm scared. Can you come over?"
House sighed and shook his head, even knowing she couldn't see him. Why would she be scared? Wasn't this exactly what she wanted?
But he also knew instantly what he was going to do.
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
Jess had debated about calling him. She was only spotting and that had happened last time too. She remembered that all the baby books had said it was often normal, especially this early, but she was terrified. Rationally she knew that if she miscarried it wouldn't be like before, it was far earlier and would therefore be less physically traumatic, but the physical and emotional pain of the last time still flooded her mind. It was too much to bear alone.
When she opened the door to him, he still looked sleepy, his hair mussed up from the motorbike helmet in his hands. She barely let him get in the door before she threw her arms around him, shivering at the cold of his leather jacket, her flimsy cotton nightgown no protection from the chill he'd gathered on the ride over.
"Hang on," he said grouchily. He wriggled out of her embrace and at first Jess was shocked, then embarrassed that she'd thrown herself at him, especially considering the words they'd shared earlier that night. But he stepped away just so he could shrug his jacket off and then pulled her back into his embrace, a fine-knit sweater giving her much-needed contact with his warmth.
"Are you having any cramps?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head against his chest. "No."
"It's probably nothing."
"I know, I remember what the baby books said. I feel fine, but after last time I…" she trailed off, not ready to go into all the details about last time, as much for her own sake as his.
"Let's go lie down."
They went into her bedroom and House stripped off his sweater, boots and jeans, climbing into bed next to her under the covers. He lifted his arm in offer for her to snuggle in next to him and she gratefully settled in next to him.
They lay together in silence for a long while.
"What do you want Jess?" he asked, his voice a whisper in the dark.
After their angry words, after the sudden fear that she was going to lose everything – again – all that was left was raw honesty.
"I want you," Jess whispered back. "I want our baby. I'm going to withdraw my application for the job at Princeton Plainsboro. I know I can't have everything, but this time you and a baby is everything."
She felt him nod. His arm tightened around her.
"Me too."
Jess couldn't decide if she wanted to cry or laugh. It still all seemed too good to be true and she didn't know what to think. So instead, she fell asleep.