Chapter 6

It was beginning get dark in the park, yet she was still cuddled up to him. They
stared up at the stars, aware of each other's presence but both unwilling to break the beautiful silence.

"Wilson will be back from work soon," said House finally. "Are you going out dressed like that?"
"Course I'm not!" laughed Katrina. "I look like shit! I'll get a cab from here to the hotel and
get ready and come over to yours" She paused, seeing a flaw in her plan. "Well... I would, except I don't know where your place is."

House turned his head to look at her, features hardened with concentration.
"Why don't I come to the hotel with you and we get a cab back to mine?" he
offered.

Katrina could see no other way but the thought of what he was going to do at
the hotel worried her a bit. Should she invite him up, or should she leave him
waiting in the foyer? If he came up to her room, where would he wait? All the
questions buzzed around her skull, interrupted only when he said simply; "I'll wait for you in the cab, just to make sure he doesn't drive off."
Her features softened into a smile as she looked back at him. How did he always know what to do?

They arrived at hotel at half past six and Katrina was ready in no time. She
wore a plain green t-shirt and a black skirt which touched the bottom of
her kneecaps, along with high heels. Even though she secretly despised the shoes, it wasn't everyday she was in America, and besides, her friends were treating her. She felt she ought to make the effort, even if her feet suffered for it.
Her long hair was swept up gracefully and held in place
with a green clip to match her t-shirt, and the most minimal amount of make-up was upon
her face - noticeable only with a magnifying glass.

House had just gotten out the cab to greet her when Katrina suddenly stumbled and fell to the floor. "Stupid heels!" she hissed, rubbing her now-throbbing ankle.
"Kat," said House flatly. "In all my years of knowing you, not once have you ever worn heels.
Why tonight?"
"I'm fine, thanks" she said, hauling herself off of the floor. She had been going
for graceful, but that never happened around House. With him nearby, the clown in her was always there to be
seen.
"Your ankle looks a little swollen," House pointed out. "Try and stand on it."
"I AM standing on it" she replied tersely.
"No, actually put some pressure on it," House ordered in a firm yet friendly tone.
"Ow!" she whimpered as she did what she was told. She leaned over and removed the shoe from her right foot.
House gave her an I-told-you-so look. "When we get to mine you can put a support sock on it."

They bundled into the back of the taxi together in which Katrina took up two seats for her
leg. She didn't like the thought of her feet facing House, so she sat in the
middle seat and rested her ankle against the door.
They were at House's by ten to seven and Wilson was waiting at the door.
He frowned when, instead of one hobbling figure coming towards him, he saw two, and quickly paced toward his friends. House explained Katrina had twisted her ankle, and when they reached the inside of the flat, Katrina was commanded by both of them to rest on the couch.

Wilson brought in some ice wrapped in a stripy kitchen towel to stop the
swelling. House had gone into his room and Wilson seated himself next to her
on the sofa.
"I don't think we'll be going out tonight then," mused Wilson, carefully
peeling back the kitchen towel to check on the swelling.
"I always seem to ruin things, don't I?" mumbled Katrina, sighing.
Wilson smiled. "Don't worry, I'll order some Chinese instead. You want anything in
particular?"
"No, I'll eat whatever you order."
As House entered the front room and saw Wilson and Katrina sitting together on the couch,
the green-eyed monster surfaced for a second. He walked past Wilson's feet
and stabbed his cane into Wilson's left foot.
"Ow!" cried Wilson, wincing and reaching down to grip the sore part of his foot.
"Sorry Jimmy!" House smirked as he sat down on a different sofa. "So, what are
we doing?"
"We've decided on some Chinese," Wilson replied, still rubbing his toes.

House rose from the sofa silently and walked into the kitchen, staring at the array of Chinese
restaurant menus stuck on the fridge door wondering which to choose. He
finally decided on the rather old looking pink menu from "Woo's Noodles".
He only bought from there on very special occasions, and tonight he saw it as
one of those times.