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Chapter 4

Karen spent the next day much as she had the previous one, but she got home earlier and made dinner for them. However, she insisted that they do some packing before any fun and games.

House grumbled and complained, but Karen ignored him and lined up some boxes she had brought home. She got on the ladder and starting handing him down books for him to put in the boxes.

At first he refused to work, but she told him, "There will be no more sex around here unless things get packed."

He saw the determination in her eyes and decided to play along – on his own terms. He took the pile she handed him and threw them in the box, then sat down again.

"There." He said. "Did some packing."

She got down from the ladder and sat beside him. She spoke quietly, but with determination. "Greg, if you don't want to move in with us, just tell me now and we'll cancel the house."

"I didn't say that."

"Well, how do you intend to move in with me if you don't actually MOVE anything?"

He shrugged.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No. I've just …lived here a long time. Change is hard for me."

"I understand. Change is hard for me too. But this change will be good. For both of us. But we both have to make the effort. Come on, let's fill up five boxes tonight with books and stuff and see where we are tomorrow. How does that sound?"

He shrugged again, then asked, "Five?"

She nodded.

"Can we have sex when we're done? Right here amid the boxes?"

"I don't see why not."

"Cool."

He got up and helped her fill the boxes. She talked and joked with him while they worked and they ended up filling eight boxes. When he realized that, he stopped immediately.

"Whoa, that's more than the deal! Come here, woman. I am owed three boxes more sex than before."

She laughed, but joined him on the sofa for eight boxes worth of sex.

On Thursday, she had one last appointment with an employment agency. She went through the usual battery of interviews and tests. It was just after noon when she finished and this was the appointment that was across the street from PPTH. She decided to stop in and see if House wanted to go to lunch.

Remembering her last visit there, she dialed his cell phone number, but it went straight to voice mail. She shrugged and decided to stop in anyway. She wouldn't be surprised by Doctor Cuddy this time.

She approached his office and saw it was empty. There were people in the conference room, but not Greg.

Chase saw the woman he had seen with House before peeking in the window. He went to the door, opened it and smiled at her.

"Hi. I'm Dr. Chase. Are you looking for House?"

"Hi, yes, I'm Karen. I was hoping Greg was free for lunch."

"I think he just went to Wilson's office." He pointed down the hall to the door with the oncologist's name on it.

"Oh, thank you!"

She walked away and Chase watched her go, thinking, boy, House can really get the beautiful women.

When she got to Wilson's door, she knocked tentatively. She heard a voice call out, "Come in."

She opened the door and smiled when she saw House and Wilson sitting there.

House looked at her nervously, but Wilson greeted her warmly.

"Karen. It's good to see you. What are you doing here on a Thursday?"

"Job hunting among other things. Though, of course…"

House cut her off, by greeting her with a kiss. "Hey. Everything okay?"

"Yes. I just had that appointment across the street and thought I'd take a chance that you could do lunch. But if you're busy, that's fine."

"We were just about to go." Wilson said. "Let's eat together. You can tell me about the job hunting. You're looking for positions in Princeton?

"Well, of course I am…"

House cut her off again. "Actually, I have to get back to the office. I think the team needs me."

"You just said you didn't have a patient." Wilson protested.

"Yeah, well, there are other things I do besides treat patients."

"Really? Since when?"

House just glared at him, then said, "So, no, we can't do lunch today. I'll see you later."

"Well, if you can't go to lunch, I'll eat with James."

"That'd be great!" Wilson said enthusiastically.

"No, it wouldn't!" House exclaimed quickly.

The other two both looked at him suspiciously.

"What are you hiding?" Wilson asked.

"Greg, haven't you told James?"

"Told me what?"

She looked at the floor, not really sure what to say. If he hadn't told his best friend that they were moving in together, what did it say about his feelings on the subject.

She felt like she was going to cry. "Maybe I'd better just leave." She said thickly.

He heard that little hitch in her voice and knew she was upset. Shit, he thought, this wasn't what he wanted.

"No, Karen, don't. I just never got around to telling him."

"To telling me what?"

House sighed. "We, uh, rented a house. We're moving in together."

"That's terrific. Why wouldn't you tell me that?"

"Just never got around to it."

Karen still didn't look at him. "Look, I think it's best if I just leave. I'll see you later."

She headed quickly down the hall. Wilson gave House a pointed look.

House muttered, "Shit."

He followed her, calling out, "Karen!"

She knew it was unfair to keep walking when he had no chance to catch up with her. She stopped and turned around. Her face was pitiful, as if she was about to burst into tears.

Aware that they were in a public place, she looked around and tried to keep her voice low. "Greg, I've told you before, if you don't want…"

"I DO want! I want very much."

"It doesn't look like it to me."

"Just because I didn't tell Wilson…"

"I told my friends about this."

"You said you didn't have friends."

"No, I said I didn't have friends in Lancaster. I have two very close friends. And I told them as soon as we decided this."

"Who-?"

"Never mind that now. Why are you not telling Wilson?"

"I don't know. He just gets all lecture-y sometimes. He'll start telling me how I shouldn't screw this up and shit. I'm already aware that I'll probably screw it up."

She put her hand on his cheek. "Give yourself a break."

"I want this, Karen. I really do."

"It's just…you're reluctant to pack-"

"I'm just lazy!"

"You don't want to tell anyone."

"I do. Okay, I'll show you." He took her hand and pulled her into his conference room, where his team was finishing up their lunch.

"Everyone, this is Karen. Karen, this is…everyone. Karen is here because she and I rented a house and we're moving in together. Me and her and her two kids."

He looked at Karen. "Okay?"

She nodded and squeezed his hand.

Chase was smiling. "That's great! Congratulations."

"Hmmph." Foreman said, shaking his head.

"Wow, good going, House. She's hot." Thirteen said with a grin.

"This is wonderful." Taub said. "Really wonderful."

House stared at him. "Why are you so happy?"

"Because maybe now that you have a relationship of your own, you'll stay out of mine."

"Don't count on it." House told him.