CHAPTER TWENTY – Everything To Do With Fate

"Okay, by your silence I guess you talked to Stacy. And I'm sorry you did because whatever she said is a total lie and you shouldn't believe her because she's a pathological liar and …" House rambled before Kathi interrupted him.

"Greg, would you shut up?" she said with a laugh. "We didn't talk about you. The thing is…"

"Wanna get something to eat? I'm starving. I'll pay, even though I'm sure Stacy said I never paid for any meal in my life."

House had to interrupt her because he figured if he changed the subject and had just a few more minutes to win her over he'd have a better chance of winning. It suddenly hit him that his leg was throbbing and he grimaced in pain. He rubbed his leg hard and looked at the nearest chair, which was only feet away but too far for him, as far as he was concerned.

Kathi shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I told you, we didn't talk about you. Since when does the world revolve around you anyway?"

"Uh, touché. I'm hungry for Italian. What about you?" House asked.

"I don't have time. See, the thing is I'm moving and have to get home and finished packing. My brother got me a job as Admin As't to Norland Music Company in Baltimore. This trial has set me back more than a week."

House was dumbfounded. He wasn't expecting that. Stacy telling Kathi he was a loser and a poor excuse for a man he was expecting. But her moving? 'That's why Stacy said 'good luck.''

The baliff stuck his head in the door to see if the room was clear, and when he saw the two standing alone he ordered them out. House was limping badly and concern crossed Kathi's face as they walked out into the cool, crisp air of the late autumn day.

"Really, I can't. I've got to be there in three days."

House's heart sank. He didn't stand a chance. It had nothing to do with Stacy; nothing to do with his attitude because Kathi always had a comeback. But it did have everything to do with fate.

"Okay," House said. He turned and took a few steps, painful steps, but steps away from her, nonetheless.

"You're gonna give up just like that? No begging? No frenzied tantrum you're going to throw? Come on, Greg. I thought you were more of a fighter than that."

At first he ignored her but then stopped, turned around and walked back to her. "I don't have to beg. Usually the woman begs, if you know what I mean?" he said seriously but flirtatiously.

"Uh, right. Begs you to stop asking them out or to get off of them?"

"Okay, ok, enough already. You win! I asked, you said no. 'Nuf said." House said, a bit of anger in his voice.

"Damn," Kathi said, brushing the hair away from her eyes from the wind picking up a bit. "Look, this isn't turning out the way I thought. It's getting cold. We're both tired and hungry. Let's get something to eat and call it a day, huh? I'm sorry. I guess you aren't the type to play games."

House looked at her and considered what she'd said. "No, I don't like games. The games I like are the ones that I can win."

"Come on. Let's go," Kathi said with a sheepish grin on her face. She watched him carefully. 'What a pig-headed man! Just the way I like 'em.'

"No, I'm not hungry now."

"Yes, you are," Kathi argued.

"Am not."

"Are to! Oh, wait, I get it. You just want to drive. Fine, drive."

House finally gave it. He'd won after all. He had it in the bag the whole time. Kathi just didn't know what hit her.

The two walked to the parking garage where his car was parked while Kathi talked the whole way. "…I can't believe you knew she was innocent by the light signals. I must say I am very impressed, as was the rest of the juror."

"Yeah, well, I'm an observer."

That was the truth. There are two types of people: 'Watchees,' ones that throw themselves into the action without thinking anything of it, while the 'Watchers' stand back and watch for a long time, not even wanting to get in the center of attention. They thrived on knowing their opponents' next move, and the first step in that was to observe.

And Dr. Gregory House was the Master of Observation.

"Oh, and it's 57," Kathi said out of the blue.

House stopped and looked at her, confusion written on his face. 'The dream. We were…debating whether it was Heinz 57 or Heinz 58, which it is 58. How in the hell…'

They continued walking as House fished in his pocket for the keys to his car, still thinking.

What they didn't know was there were footsteps behind them that neither one of them heard.

When they did hear them, it was too late.

Both were down on the ground seconds later. One had blood running from their ear and the other was moaning loudly and writhing in pain, holding their stomach and feeling the blood coarse through their fingers.

"No…no…don't do this…" moaned the one holding their stomach.

"Oh, shut UP!" the attacker said as he kicked the one that protested in the small of the back.

A yelp echoed through the garage, which was almost vacant on this particular floor.

'Cameras…there has to be cameras…' they thought. 'It'll be fine…fine…someone here soon.'

Darkness overcame the one just beaten as the last words they heard were, "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"