Author's Note: I wasn't sure I'd get through this chapter. My Colts tried to give me a heart attack this afternoon but they pulled it off and so did I! Many thanks for the reviews and alert sign-ups. I will confess - I am a review junkie! Also, thanks to my husband for serving as my beta on the last few chapters and for not getting too jealous of all the time I'm spending with House. :) As always, I do not own the man with the cane - just the lady and her dog!
Sarah spent most of the afternoon on her couch, alternating between napping and watching old movies. Greg had returned from his shopping trip with several bags. He'd checked her temperature and blood-pressure before going into her kitchen to start cooking. It didn't take long before delicious smells were wafting out, making her mouth water and her stomach rumble.
Greg checked on her throughout the afternoon, sitting with her part of the time. He'd found an apron and put it on. It was a plain white apron but it still amused Sarah to see him wearing it.
"Keep laughing and I'm not giving you any ragú," he told her when she started giggling for the third time.
When dinner time came around, Sarah was glad that Greg hadn't followed through with his no ragú threat. The sauce was delicious. He'd made garlic bread to go along with the pasta and sauce. Sarah was ravenous and Greg had watched her eat with obvious pleasure and amusement.
"Looks like you are feeling better," he said.
"I am," Sarah agreed, sitting back from the table. "I think I just made up for all the calories I didn't consume yesterday."
"Good." Greg got up, wincing, and Sarah knew his leg was hurting. He'd been on his feet for a good part of the afternoon, preparing the meal she'd just demolished.
"Thank you," she said. She got up to help clear the table, finding the iv frustrating. She could only use one hand to carry things as she had to have the other free to move the iv pole.
"You've fed me several times," Greg said, taking the plate she carried from her.
"No, not for the food. I mean, not just for the food." Sarah flushed. This wasn't coming out right.
"I think we can unhook that iv tonight," Greg said. Sarah wasn't surprised that he was ignoring her thanks.
"I should be fine on my own tonight," she said and he looked at her sharply. "You need to spend the night in your bed, not on my couch. You're hurting."
House had worked all afternoon, trying to recreate the ragú with carmelized onions and star anise that had impressed Wilson so much. Sarah had found the sight of him in her apron amusing, giggling each time he entered the living room to check on her. She'd spent the afternoon on the couch, napping and watching old movies. House had sat with her whenever he could. His leg was really throbbing now and putting it up on the ottoman helped. It had all been worth it when Sarah devoured the meal he'd prepared.
She'd thanked him as they'd cleared the table. He'd felt awkward accepting her gratitude. Watching over her had seemed like a minor thing compared to the help she'd offered him over the past week. He'd changed the subject, telling her that they could unhook her iv.
"I should be fine on my own tonight," she'd said. "You need to spend the night in your bed, not on my couch. You're hurting."
"I'm fine," he said.
"I'll make sure I have the phone with me. You'll be right across the hall; I'll give you my spare key." Her tone was gentle but her eyes were firm. After a moment he nodded his agreement.
"Ok. Let's get rid of that contraption."
It wasn't until House returned to his apartment that night that he realized that his piano tuner had never turned up. So much, he thought, for paying the guy extra. He took a warm bath, trying to relax his leg, before going to bed. In spite of hurting, he was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Sarah felt almost her old self when she woke up on Sunday. Her headache was gone and she didn't feel flushed. All that remained was a lingering tiredness. She hoped Greg was feeling better too; she'd known he hadn't liked her insistence that he go home last night but it had been obvious that his leg was hurting.
Sarah was grateful for Greg's presence over the past few days. Feeling so weak on Friday had frightened her and knowing that he was there to help had been very reassuring. Watching him fuss over her yesterday had made her feel special. She didn't think this was a side of himself that Greg showed to others very often and she felt privileged to have seen it.
Sarah was just pulling on some sweats to take Maggie outside when she heard a knock on her door. The door swung open as she made her way into the living room and Greg came in.
"Hi," he said. "I was just coming to get Maggie for you."
"How's your leg this morning?" she asked. She appreciated the offer of help but she didn't want Greg to hurt himself helping her.
"It's better," he said. She reached out to take the leash and harness from him and he stopped her, reaching out to touch her face.
"I think the fever's gone," she told him.
"Good," he replied. His hand lingered a second longer. When he moved it away, Sarah busied herself with getting Maggie into her harness, not wanting him to see her face flush. Her heart had sped up at his touch and her cheek still tingled where his hand had been.
House had intended to slip quietly into Sarah's apartment to get the dog for her morning walk. He changed his mind and knocked at the last minute, afraid of startling Sarah. He unlocked the door with the spare key she'd given him the night before. She came in to the living room just as he opened the door.
"Hi," he said, studying her carefully. "I was just coming to get Maggie for you." She was dressed in sweats. Her color was better and the flush was gone from her cheeks.
"How's your leg this morning?" she'd asked. The leg was feeling better than it had the previous day. The warm bath followed by his own bed had been what he'd needed.
"It's better," he admitted. He'd taken the dog's leash and harness down from the hook by the door and Sarah had reached out to take them. He reached out to touch her face and confirm that her fever was gone.
"I think the fever's gone," she said softly. Her cheek felt soft and smooth under his hand. She'd gone very still and House realized that his hand was lingering.
"Good," he said, pulling away reluctantly. Sarah knelt down to get Maggie into her harness and House stood there, feeling his heart pound. The hand that had touched Sarah's face felt different – almost hyper-sensitive. When he took the leash from Sarah, he could feel each detail of the weave of the nylon material.
On the walk back from the park, House pulled out his cell phone to call Nolan. He was supposed to meet the psychiatrist again today but he didn't want to leave Sarah. The psychiatrist answered on the third ring and House explained that he didn't want to meet today.
"My neighbor's just recovering from the flu," he said. He went on to explain about finding her dehydrated on Friday, keeping her on the iv yesterday, and the fact that her fever seemed to be gone this morning. Nolan just listened, waiting for House to finish.
"I think, under the circumstances, we can miss our meeting today," he said calmly when House stopped.
"That's it? No arguing that I need to take care of myself?"
"I think you're doing exactly what you need to be doing. I'll see you next week, House." Nolan hung up and House stared at his phone. He'd expected to have to argue with Nolan. He'd mentally prepared himself to make his argument and now that he hadn't had to, he felt deflated.
Sarah had taken a quick shower once Greg left the apartment. She'd just gone in to the kitchen to start breakfast when she heard him come in. Maggie ran in to the kitchen and jumped on Sarah's legs. She knelt to pat her and heard the thump of Greg's cane as he came to join them.
"I was going to make bacon and eggs," she told him, standing up. "Sound good?"
"Sure." He moved to the cabinet with the dog food and got Maggie her breakfast while Sarah washed her hands.
"How do you like your eggs?" she asked, getting the bacon from the fridge.
"However you like them will be fine," Greg said, taking a seat at her table. He seemed lost in thought.
"How was your walk?" Sarah put the first batch of bacon into the microwave and pulled the cartons of eggs and milk from the fridge; she'd decided on scrambled eggs.
"Fine." Greg looked at her. "I called my shrink."
"Ok." Sarah wasn't sure what to say about that. She cracked several eggs into a mixing bowl and added the milk. She started to whisk them all together when the microwave beeped. The first batch of bacon was ready. Greg moved to take the bowl and whisk from her while she got the tray out of the microwave.
"I told him that you'd been sick and I wanted to stay here." Sarah almost dropped the bacon tray. She set it on the counter and turned to face him.
"Greg…"
"He said it was fine." He looked up from the mixing bowl. "I think these are ready."
"Alright," Sarah said. She got a skillet out and left the eggs to Greg. She kept shooting glances at him while she prepared the second batch of bacon. He whistled softly while he stirred the eggs in the skillet. His shrink might not have a problem with him missing a session but Sarah didn't like to be the cause of it. She appreciated his help but she didn't want him sacrificing his health on her behalf.
House felt Sarah watching him as he cooked the eggs. It was obvious that she was concerned about him missing his appointment today. Once he'd gotten over his initial surprise at Nolan's reaction, he felt pleased. Nolan's biggest concern about him returning to his apartment had been that he would be isolated. Instead, he was in a beautiful woman's apartment, cooking breakfast with her.
When breakfast was over, they spent the rest of the morning doing laundry. The elevator was working again, much to their relief. House hadn't even called the landlord; with all that had happened that week, laundry had been the last thing on his mind.
By mid-afternoon, Sarah was tired. They settled on her couch, feet up on the ottomans, and put in a movie. Half-way through, Sarah fell asleep. She slumped on the couch, her head coming to rest on House's shoulder. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to put his arm around her shoulders.
The movie finished and House reached for the remote, turning off the television. He tried not to jostle Sarah but she stirred anyway. She lifted her head to look at him, blinking sleepily. Her face was just inches from his. He felt his heart start to race even as everything else seemed to move in slow motion. He cupped her cheek, tilting her head up, and leaned forward to kiss her.
