A/N: Sorry for the delay. These chapters are hard to write, but I think I'm on target with them. Of course, I would be faster if I wasn't constantly being distracted by everyone else's wonderful stories...

Chapter 26: Needing Someone

House was sitting in his office, looking up an article on his computer when Wilson came in, out of breath.

"Training for the marathon, Wilson? Or has the latest lady love made you breathless?"

Wilson stopped a minute to catch his breath, then said, "I'm not supposed to be telling you this, but, dammit, you should know."

"Sorry, Jimmy, I've told you before, I like women. There's no future for us."

"House, Kate is here."

House turned back to the computer. "She's allowed to come here. After all, Emily is …"

Wilson interrupted him. "No, I mean she's here as a patient."

House looked up quickly. "What are you talking about?"

"She had me paged to ER. Seems she wouldn't let them treat her."

House smiled briefly. "Yeah, that's definitely her." Then he sobered, realizing that she called his best friend instead of him. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, just a mild concussion. But she's going to need you."

"She doesn't want me."

"House, she's your wife. She's been hurt. You need to go to her." When House still didn't move, he yelled, "NOW!"

Finally, House rose from the chair, took his cane and indicated that Wilson should lead the way.

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Kate waited in the exam room for Wilson to return. He had said he needed some supplies and would be right back. She hadn't wanted to come here, but she was bleeding and would probably need stitches. Since she knew James, she felt it was better than going to a stranger. But she wanted this over with as soon as possible. She started to breath a sigh of relief when she saw the door begin to open, then froze when she heard the familiar thump of a cane.

House looked at Kate sitting on the exam table. There was blood on her head and her eye was swollen. His heart lurched, so many emotions swimming in him at the same time. He was happy to see her, angry that she was hurt, worried that she would reject him, longing to hold her in his arms. He didn't know how to address any of those feelings, let alone which to address first. He just stood silently, staring at her.

Finally, deciding to cover his nerves with humor, he said, "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but bloody isn't a good look for you."

"You don't think I look good in red?"

"Nope, doesn't match your eyes." he replied. "What happened?"

She hesitated. "Where's James?"

"Probably comforting some little bald kids. Kate, what happened."

"Stupid, idiotic rookie. My fault for trusting that he knew how to restrain a perp. I told him to put the cuffs on the guy, but did he? No. Next thing I know, the guy's taking a swing at me. I didn't expect it, so he caught me off guard. Gave me this shiner and knocked me down. I cut my head when I fell. Stupid, stupid!"

He wasn't sure who she was calling stupid, the rookie cop, the bad guy or herself, but in any case, it amused him to see her worked up about her work. She was always so quiet and distant when he saw her on Sundays.

"Well, Rocky, let's get you stitched up."

The next few minutes were spent in silence as House cleaned her up and made careful stitches on her forehead. Next he examined her for possible concussion. He found that she had blacked out for a few minutes.

"Okay, you're all stitched up. But there is a chance for concussion, especially since you blacked out."

"I feel fine."

"That's because I just gave you a shot for the infection and for pain. You'll need to be monitored for concussion tonight."

She looked at him. "I know about concussions. I'll set the alarm to wake myself up every two hours."

"Yeah, that'll work. Oh, wait, if you are concussed, you won't wake up. Hmmm, that could be a problem."

"I don't have a concussion."

"Wow, a cop, a prizefighter and a doctor."

She stared at him, trying to figure out what he was trying to do. "I'm fine."

"The other problem is Emily."

"Emily is never a problem."

"I know." He said quietly. "But she could be tonight. If you can't wake up because of the concussion or you're out of it because of pain, who's taking care of her?"

"I'll be fine." She said again

"No, you won't. And she won't. No matter what you think of me, you're my wife and she's my daughter and I'm taking care of both of you tonight."

"Greg…"

"Don't worry, I'll sleep in the guest room. This isn't a trick to get back ..." he trailed off. "I just want to take care of you."

She looked at his blue eyes full of concern. "Alright." She said.

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House took her home and despite her protests, he convinced her to lay down. Within minutes she was asleep. When the nanny arrived with Emily, House sent her home early and settled down to amuse the baby. He ordered food for dinner and prepared Emily's baby food. He was feeding her when Kate came into the kitchen.

She stopped and looked at them. He was trying to convince Emily to eat as she played with Cheerios. Kate's eyes filled up. She so wanted to have him back in their lives, spending time like this with their daughter.

He looked up when he heard her enter.

"There's pizza on the counter. I haven't had any yet, because someone doesn't want to eat her strained peas." He stated with a hard look at the baby, who just smiled and cooed at him.

"Have you ever tasted strained peas? I can't really blame her."

"Guess not. But since pizza is not an option yet, the peas will have to do."

Kate picked up a slice of pizza and took a small bite. She wasn't really hungry, but she needed to do something or she would continue to stare at him.

"It was nice of you to do this." She said quietly.

"I don't do nice." He replied, still struggling to get the spoon in the baby's mouth.

"I know that. It was still nice."

He shrugged. "Someone had to do it. Easier if it was me."

She stopped talking, realizing that she wasn't getting anywhere with this.

Eventually he got the baby fed, bathed and put to bed. Kate looked like she was about to drop, so he bullied her into going to bed as well, after giving her the pain medication.

Not being sleepy himself, he sat at the piano and played softly until it was time to wake Kate up for the first time. He went into the bedroom and shook her gently.

"Kate. Wake up, have to see if you're still with us."

She groaned and buried her head further into the pillow.

"C'mon, Kate, you have to wake up and actually talk to me."

She groaned again and said in a sleepy voice, "Leave me alone, I want to sleep."

He chuckled. "I guess that's good enough. Good night. We'll do this again in two hours."

Two hours later, he was repeating the action and waking her up again. This time she seemed to wake up a little faster. He was just about to leave, when she reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Don't leave." She said in a sleepy voice.

He sat on the bed beside her, thinking she needed him there until she fell back to sleep. But instead, she reached up and pulled his head down to her and kissed him on the mouth. He was surprised, but he kissed her back. She continued to kiss him, moving her hands over his body. He didn't want her to stop, but felt he had to say something before it went any further.

"Kate, are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes," she breathed. "I want you. I always want you."

That was enough for him. He stretched out on the bed and took her into his arms.