A/N: Hi all - thanks so much to everyone who has left reviews. This story ends at Chapter 21, so for those of you lurking, time is running out to leave me some love!

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Jen hadn't wanted to come out, but Sarah had whined and pleaded until Jen decided to do it just to shut her up. It had been almost three weeks since she'd last seen Greg, with no word from him at all. Jen missed him to the point that it was a physical ache. When he didn't call, and made no attempts to contact her in any other way, she began to realise that it really was the end of things between them. He didn't care enough about her to say sorry or to make a real attempt to work together on their relationship.

But she'd also realised that the blame was just as much hers as his. She'd never had a chance to work out who Jennifer Edwards was when she wasn't part of Matt-and-Jen. And if she didn't know, how could she expect Greg to? She had all these expectations about how he should treat her…but she'd never let him know how she wanted to be treated.

Her only relationship experience was with one person she'd lived with for a long time, so it had felt natural to take care of Greg the way she had with Matt. But Matt had, for all intents and purposes, been her husband. Greg was someone she'd been sleeping with for a couple of months. The two relationships should have been different. She was the fool that did his laundry and made him lunch and took care of him, he just…let her.

And, now, she was the one that had said she loved him, and he didn't seem to return those feelings. At least, it seemed that way.

Fiona arrived and started loudly pushing the girls toward the door, telling them what a great night they were going to have. At Jen's unenthusiastic shrug, she turned on her.

"You're not still moaning about that limpy doctor are you?"

"Yes, she is," Sarah supplied. Sarah had already had a couple of wines and was quite happily on her way to drunk.

"Oh, forget about him. Plenty of fish and all that. You know, I tried him out, but he turned me down," she said.

Jen gave her a look of horror and even Sarah cringed, Jen could see she thought that Fiona had gone too far.

"Oh, don't worry," Fiona said airily. "It was when you were just starting out sleeping together."

"Right. Thanks Fiona, that makes me feel so much better," Jen said sarcastically and puffed out a breath in irritation. She didn't want to go out, but she didn't want to stay in for yet another night, lying on the couch and feeling sorry for herself. "Where's that wine?"

Sarah picked up the bottle of chardonnay and smiled brightly. "This wine?"

"Yes, that wine. Give it here." Jen held the bottle up to her mouth and took several gulps.

"Right. So where are we going?"

"Let's go to Macy's, that's the place where you met the doctor. It brought you luck once, might do it again!" Fiona said brightly.

"No…" Jen hesitated, not wanting to go anywhere near a bar that Greg might frequent.

"Don't worry," Sarah said, immediately picking up on Jen's hesitation. "We've been there every Friday night for the past couple of weeks and we haven't seen him at all."

"Okay." Jen hiccupped and gulped some more wine straight from the bottle. "It's gonna be a big night girls, a big night."


--

House did not want to go out drinking, but Wilson had insisted. They were back in the original bar where he'd met Jen, some masochistic part of him choosing it on purpose.

He was already drunk and Wilson was already disapproving. Seeing as it wasn't even nine o'clock, that didn't make for a promising evening.

"…so I heard that he's going to be charged with two counts of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter," Wilson said.

"What guy?" House asked, not keeping up with the conversation. He would never admit it to anyone, let alone himself, but he was watching the door, every time it opened waiting to see if it was Jen.

"The father of the twins," Wilson said, irritated. "You haven't been listening to a thing I've been saying have you?"

"Yes, I have. Jessica and Taylor may have a chance of getting justice." He sighed. But they wouldn't really, their lives were already over. Neither would the dad who didn't want to be a dad in the first place. Or the mom who was probably in some institution by now. It was a completely fucked up situation and no one would win. Much like the one he found himself in.

"Who?" Now it was Wilson's turn to be confused.

"The twins," House said exasperatedly.

Wilson narrowed his eyes. "That's their names?"

"Yes." House said, taking a gulp of his drink to avoid Wilson's interrogatory glance. He knew Wilson would pick on the fact that he knew their names. He'd only let them slip because he was drunk. But Wilson chose a different subject to quiz him on.

"So have you heard from Jen?"

"I think," House said evenly, "that falls fairly and squarely into the folder marked 'none of your fucking business'."

"Right."

House could see Wilson was a little taken aback by the comment, but he was trying not to let it show. Wilson had tried to get him to talk about what had happened a number of times now – and House was annoyed that he hadn't yet got the message that it wasn't going to happen.

House hated failing – it wasn't something he wanted to even admit to, let alone discuss and dissect with his best friend. More than anything, that's what he felt had happened with Jen. He'd failed. There were many things he'd do differently if he had the chance. But life didn't come with a rewind button.

"I got some new porn movies if you want to borrow them," Wilson said quickly, changing the subject. "Well, Amber bought them…"

House sighed. Wilson managed to bring that blonde harlot into every conversation he had these days.

"No thanks, I'm not into bondage."

Wilson blushed, House had obviously correctly guessed the content.

"Well, there's one you might like, it's a rip-off of Edward Scissorhands called…"

"Shit." House was looking at the door when he swore viciously and Wilson turned to follow his gaze.

"Oh," Wilson said.

"Yeah, oh." House added. Jen had just walked in with her sister Sarah and that girl whose name House had forgotten, the one who'd propositioned him from the sofa.

"Well, we'll just go somewhere else," Wilson said brightly. "Come on, finish up your drink and we'll go."

"No." House said darkly. "She's not going to chase me out of my favourite bar."

"This is your favourite bar?"

"Tonight it is."

He continued to watch the girls until they moved over to the bar. Before they were lost from his sight in the crowd of other Friday night drinkers he saw Sarah notice him. Her eyes widened when their glances met and she frowned at him, then turned away. He could just guess what was going to happen next.

Wilson kept talking, but House paid no attention. He was waiting for the three girls to turn around and walk out, perhaps even stop by their table for a bit of verbal abuse. But the minutes ticked on and all he saw was the three of them collect their drinks and disappear further into the throng of revellers.

"House, why are you being so stubborn?"

"What?" He pulled his attention back to Wilson.

"You obviously like, if not love, the girl. She said she loves you – and lets face it, that's almost a miracle. Why not apologise and try again?"

House bristled at the suggestion that he was impossible to love. It might be true, but it didn't need to be said aloud. He'd been just starting to feel settled with Jen, in a way he hadn't in years, not since Stacy, but Jen didn't want him. Not in the way he wanted her. Failed.

"No point. She was lousy in bed anyway."

He saw Wilson roll his eyes. "I doubt that." He gave another of his patented House-suffering sighs. "Another drink then?"

"Absolutely," House replied. "Another two, I think."


--

Jen couldn't believe the science geek was back. Sarah had found him and practically pushed Jen into his arms. It was like déjà vu, only this time she doubted she'd end up in the bathrooms with Greg pressed against her. And the sadness of that thought actually made her throat ache with unshed tears.

She hadn't cried. Not once. She'd wasted enough tears on Matt and he barely even deserved them. She knew now that she'd never loved anyone the way she'd loved Greg. Probably never would again.

She knew that it was half her fault. She'd done exactly what Sarah had warned her against. Made herself useful and then been hurt that she was being used.

"Earth to Jen, Earth to Jen," Nick said jokingly.

"Sorry Nick, I was lost in thought. These cocktails are lethal," she said, adding a drunken giggle to boost her case.

"Do you want another one? I wouldn't mind getting it for you."

"Thanks, that'd be great." Jen smiled gratefully. She'd been on a massive money-saving exercise since she'd stopped paying for all that pizza at Greg's place and anywhere she could save a few extra dollars was good. It was time for her to get her own place and with the college loans no longer hanging over her head, it was a real possibility.

Sarah came over from where she and Fiona were talking to two sailors.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Sure. A bit drunk, but okay. I'm glad I came out tonight."

"I'm glad you did too. It's nice to see you smile again."

Jen smiled extra-wide for her sister and they laughed together.

"How's the geek?"

Jen sucked in a breath. "Yeah, geeky. But, nice. Easy company."

"Any chance of action tonight?" Sarah asked slyly.

"The only action he's likely to see is me vomiting on his shoes after this next cocktail," Jen laughed.

"Well, keep yourself nice." Sarah waggled a finger at her. "Give me a yell if you want to grab a cab. The sailors are hot, but I'm ready to go when you are."

"Thanks Sarah." Jen gave her sister's arm a squeeze as Nick returned with her cocktail.

"Here you go," Nick said, handing her the sticky pink drink.

"Thanks Nick. I really appreciate it." She took a quick sip. "If you don't mind, I'm just going to the bathroom – I'll be back soon."

"Not like last time," he said. Jen wasn't sure if it was a warning tone or a joking tone in his voice.

"No, not like last time. I can promise you that."

Jen made her way to the bathroom and after a couple of wavering steps realised she was really very drunk. She was entirely grateful for the feeling. It was great to leave herself behind, to forget about her tattered feelings, to forget about her sudden and terrible loneliness.


--

House watched Jen stagger slightly as she made her way to the bathroom. It brought back the memory of the first night she'd spent at his place – she'd got drunk on whisky and gone to sleep in his bed.

He also remembered pouncing on her in the corridor just outside that bathroom, feeling her up when he'd been just as drunk as she was now. But no, he wouldn't be doing that this time.

Without warning he rose from the table and made his way over to the geek-boy Jen had been talking to. He felt Wilson rise and follow him, but paid no attention.

House leaned drunkenly on the short, bespectacled guy. "She won't put out. Not on the first night. So be prepared for disappointment."

"What?" The guy turned to House looking half scared, half annoyed.

"Just so you know. Wouldn't want you getting your hopes up."

The geek gave him an intense look. "Hey, aren't you that guy…"

Wilson interrupted at that point. "I'm sorry, my friend's a little drunk."

"I broke her in, you know. I ploughed that field, if you know what I mean," House confided with a leering wink. "Taught her everything she knows. And let me tell you – she knows a lot. Now, anyway."

"House," Wilson said warningly. "I think it's time we left other people to enjoy their night."

House nodded. "Yes, enjoy. Enjoy." He gave an evil, maniacal laugh, just because he could, and because he knew it would scare the pants off the kid.

"Now, House." Wilson physically dragged him away from the bar and back to the little table in the corner where they'd been sitting.

"What was that about?" Wilson asked, still casting glances over his shoulder to the guy House had accosted. "You're lucky he didn't hit you."

"Ha! Like to see him try," House said, bravado running as high as his blood alcohol level.

"House. You have to decide. If you don't want Jen, you need to let her find someone new. If you do want her, then, for God's sake tell her."

"Pff." House tossed his arm to indicate just how much credence he gave to Wilson's opinion. "More drinks."

Wilson rolled his eyes and House knew he was calculating what to do. Trying to make him leave now would cause a scene. Letting him get drunker would result in two possible outcomes: one, an even bigger scene, two, House passing out and Wilson dragging his sorry ass home. House bet Wilson would take his chances on the "no scene" option.

"Okay, one more."

House nodded and smiled, absurdly pleased with how well he knew his friend. "Yes, please Mr Music," he said, using his best little-boy voice.


--

Jen looked at Nick's floating face and realised she couldn't focus properly. She'd suddenly tipped the scales from being very drunk to being incredibly-can't-stand-up-straight drunk. And from long-ago experience she knew that was quickly followed by throwing-up-drunk and then passed-out drunk. And the morning…well, that didn't even bare thinking about.

She wasn't quite sure how it had happened, but it wasn't the first time she'd gotten drunk without realising it. She tried to count how many drinks she'd had and she was pretty sure it was only two or three cocktails since she'd got to the bar. Not enough, surely, to get her to this point? But then if she didn't know if it was two or three, then perhaps it could just as easily be four…or five…

"Are you okay, Jen?"

Nick was so sweet. She had to remember that she should count herself lucky that any man was interested in her. She should be being more appreciative of his attention.

"I'm sorry, Nick. I'm really drunk." Jen could hear the slur in her own words.

"Do you want to get some fresh air? Go outside for a bit?"

Jen thought about it. All her thoughts were taking a long time to process. Fresh. Air. Yes. That sounded. Good.

"Yes please."

Nick put an arm around her waist and helped her stand from the bar stool and then led her out the bar. As they walked toward the door, Jen had a flash of Greg's face, but by the time she looked around it was gone and she couldn't focus properly to find him again. She decided it was her imagination, and concentrated instead on putting one foot in front of the other and get herself out of the noisy and suddenly claustrophobic bar.


--

Wilson had been betting House would get drunk reasonably fast, but he was still annoyingly sober enough to keep up a conversation. Wilson just wanted him to get to the point where he'd be malleable enough to shove into a cab and take home, then his responsibilities would be discharged for the night.

He sighed as House started up a new thread of conversation about parenthood being punishment for sins. It had been a familiar theme for House recently. Wilson knew that the deaths of the twin babies had been hard on House – harder than he'd let anyone see – but it had been almost a month ago and it was time for him to move on.

Just as Wilson was despairing at ever getting home in time to have a little fun with Amber, House jumped up from his seat again.

Wilson sighed. Not again.

But this time House headed for the door and went outside. Wilson shook his head. He looked up at the ceiling, futilely hoping to find strength there and then rose to follow.

By the time Wilson caught up, House was standing at the corner of the bar, looking down into the alleyway that ran down the side of the building.

"What is it House?" Wilson called, walking up to him.

House put a finger to his lips in an exaggerated, absurd pantomime shush.

"Look," he said quietly, pointing into the alley. "Seems like I taught her well."

Wilson looked down into the darkness and saw two bodies writhing together against the wall.

Jen's voice, slurringly drunk but unmistakable, wafted through the darkness toward them.

"Nick…I…ooh…"

Disgusted, Wilson grabbed House's arm and pulled him away from the alley.

"House, why do you insist on torturing yourself like this?"

One arm around House, Wilson propelled them both back inside the bar. Just inside the door, House stopped in front of another blonde woman.

Wilson looked at her closely – the resemblance to Jen meant she had to be her sister Sarah.

"Where's Jen?" Sarah demanded.

"She's getting what she wants," House said baldly.

"What?" Sarah was clearly insulted and Wilson wondered if she might hit House. Yet again, he intervened to save the day.

"She's in the alley with a…a friend. You might want to check on her, she seemed pretty drunk."

"Thanks," Sarah said abruptly to Wilson, turning again to House and sneering at him before marching away from them and heading outside.

"Come on House, it's time to go home."

"No. No." House shook his head.

Wilson knew from the stubborn tone there was no way he was getting House to do anything he didn't want to.

"One more drink, then." Maybe the next one would be the magical one that turned stubborn House into I'll-do-anything-you-want House. Yeah right, and he was the pope and would lead mass on Sunday.

"Yes, more drink. More lovely whisky."