A/N: Since you guys are being so awesome with reviewing, you get not one but TWO chapters today :) Hopefully this will give my new readers some incentive as well. I love reviews. Even if it's just to say "hey! Love this story!" that's good enough for me! They are my crack cocaine. Just like looking at pics of Hugh Laurie is like crack for me. I can't get enough of that man! MROWWW. Which is obvious isn't it? Since it's all I write about Haha. Anyway, on with the story...

Chapter 10

Three days went by and Angela felt like a complete idiot. "What was I thinking, putting him on the spot like that?" she cursed out loud as she packed her suitcase. She was heading back to L.A. the next morning. One of her clients requested her protection against another psycho stalker and she had to go. She didn't want to admit it, but she hoped House would have taken her up on that drink she offered. When he didn't call, she wasn't surprised, but it did take the wind out of her sails a little.

She was almost tempted to either call her uncle and ask him what she should do, or even just turn up at the hospital to say goodbye to him and to House. It seemed like a good idea. House would probably see right through her plan but she didn't care.

"I can't believe I'm getting this jazzed over a man. And he's not even nice!" she muttered as she finished applying some lip gloss, gave her hair one last glance in the mirror and then out the door she went.

Her uncle was alone in his office when she knocked, and he was surprised to see her. "What's up?"

"I have to go home tomorrow. One of my clients. So I just wanted to say goodbye before I left. I'm going first thing in the morning."

"That's too bad. I thought you were going to stay at least until Easter."

"That was the plan. But Dad's got things under control now with Mom's stuff."

"Have you heard from House?"

Angela looked at him. "Why would I hear from him?"

Wilson actually looked sheepish. "Well, he kind of..."

"He told you I asked him out, didn't he? That son of a..."

Just then, the door to the patio opened and House wandered in. "My ears were burning." He pretended that he suddenly just noticed Angela in the room with them, and she stifled a giggle. "Oh, it's you."

"Yeah. Just me. Try not to get too excited."

"I'll try. So what are you doing here?"

"Actually you saved me a trip down the hall. I was coming to see you next."

"Whatever it was, I didn't do it. Unless I was supposed to do it. Then in that case, I did it brilliantly."

Angela felt herself blush under his gaze, but she straightened herself up and didn't let him intimidate her. "I was just coming to say goodbye. I have to leave tomorrow."

"Another celebrity client?"

"Something like that."

"Who's the client?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"It's classified."

"Oooh..sounds like a big fish. Just don't let him go alone to any parties."

Angela's jaw dropped. Even though she wasn't surprised. He certainly could be insensitive. "You're a jerk."

"Sticks and stones. When are you coming back?"

"I don't know."

"I haven't had a chance to take you up on that drink."

Angela was floored. "You...you're still interested?"

"Sure. I never turn down booze."

"Why don't you two go out for dinner before she leaves?" Wilson suggested.

House glanced at her. "For once the boy wonder has a good idea. Are you otherwise engaged?"

Angela shook her head. "I think I can swing that. Where and when? You know this city better than I do."

"I'll come pick you up on the bike. Say...seven? You're staying at your dad's, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Well, I have to get back." House looked at her one last time before leaving through the door in which he came. "See you at seven."

When he was gone, Angela just stood there. "Did that really just happen?"

Wilson chuckled and went back to writing in a file. "Yep. You officially have a date with Greg House."

"Any words of advice before throwing me to the wolves?"

"You'll be fine. Just be yourself. You've already got him wrapped around your finger, you know."

"I do?"

"Oh yeah. Sit down, I want to tell you something. But you have to promise not to say anything to House. He'd kill me if he knew."

Angela sat across from her uncle and listened expectantly.

"The day you were shot, you coded on the table. I've never seen House so...what's the word...unhinged. When the other doctors were telling him to give up and let you go, he wouldn't. He must've shocked your heart several times before you finally came back. It's amazing you didn't suffer any brain damage. Someone was looking out for you that day."

Angela looked down at her feet. "Mom was. I saw her."

Wilson narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean you saw her?"

"I have a confession to make too, just between us though, right?"

"Of course."

"I had an out of body experience. I could see myself lying on the clinic room floor and House was trying to get my shirt off to see where the blood was coming from. Then I somehow ended up in a field and Mom was there and she told me I had to go back. And she sort of told me something else."

"What did she tell you?"

"That she wanted me to be with House."

Wilson's eyebrows raised so high that Angela had to laugh. "Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction too. Dad thinks I'm nuts for even liking him."

"You've always liked him, though."

"Yeah. But does he still see me as a fifteen year-old tomboy? Is he only going out with me to appease me and then I'll never hear from him again?"

"I honestly don't know. I guess you'll have to find out for yourself tonight. Have a good time, and just play it cool. If you come off as pushy or clingy, he'll lose interest. You want to make him think you're not waiting for him to call. You know?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Thanks Uncle Jim. I gotta get going. I have some stuff to help dad with and then I have to change."

"Have fun tonight, and a good flight home tomorrow. Keep in touch okay?"

"I will. And I will," she smiled as she walked around the desk, kissed her uncle lightly on the cheek, and left his office.

X X X

Angela heard the roar of House's motorcycle as he pulled up the driveway of her father's house. "House's here!" David called to her from downstairs.

"Can you answer the door? I'm just about ready."

"If I must."

"Oh please, I know you like House, Dad. Stop pretending."

The doorbell rang and David opened the door to find House standing on the doorstep carrying a helmet in each hand along with his cane.

"Hey, Dave."

"House," David stepped aside to let him in. "Angela will be right down. You know...women."

House rolled his eyes. "Yep."

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Angela called out as she came down the stairs while throwing her leather jacket on.

House took in her appearance and liked what he saw. She wasn't over dressed, but she looked very nice in a burgundy turtleneck, slim grey jeans and knee high black shiny boots. He never really noticed before just how slim she was, but he was impressed at how well she took care of herself.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

House tossed her a helmet and David opened the door. "Have fun, kids," he teased.

"Dad..."

When the door closed behind them, Angela groaned. "My dad's been acting weird all day."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It's like he's never seen me go on a date before."

"I'll try to have you home at a decent hour," House snarked as they climbed onto the bike and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

He took them to a steakhouse just outside of town and Angela was pleased. She didn't want any romantic overtures and it seemed obvious that House didn't either. Once they were seated, House looked over the wine list and chose a bottle of merlot from California.

"Hope you're having steak," he said. "Red wine goes better with it."

Angela nodded. "Definitely. I love steak."

"How does a Mountie like her steak cooked?" he smirked.

"Medium, medium well."

"Good choice. Any more, you might as well be eating leather."

Angela chuckled as the server brought the wine to the table. He uncorked the bottle, poured some into House's glass and she watched as he sniffed and tasted it. Then he nodded to the waiter that it was good, and he poured some into her glass before topping off House's. Then he took their orders.

She opened her mouth to order but House began speaking."The lady will have the tenderloin, medium, with..." he arched his eyebrow at her, "you strike me as a garlic mashed potatoes kinda girl."

She giggled, but nodded just the same, shocked that he was actually ordering for her. Nobody ever did that anymore, it seemed.

The waiter nodded. "Very good. And you sir?"

"I'll have the filet, medium, with a baked potato."

"Thank you. Enjoy your wine. I'll bring out some bread in a moment."

When he was gone, Angela smiled. "I never knew you could be such a gentleman."

House looked a little embarrassed by the compliment but recovered quickly. "I have my moments. So, how long are you going to be in L.A.?"

She cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean? I live there."

"Ever thought about moving back to the east coast?"

"The thought has crossed my mind a few times. I can get just as much work over here as I can there, and I'd be closer to my father. Although if I did, it would be in New York. More action there."

"You like the nightlife?"

"Yeah. It's exciting. L.A. and Hollywood are fun too, but I don't know. The people there drive me crazy sometimes. Although I know what winters are like over here so I would miss the mild winters over there. I don't know. I'd have to think about it. Why, House? Do you want me to move out here so you can torment me?"

He smiled innocently. "You know me too well, I think."

"I'm certain of that, too," she said coyly as she took a long sip of her wine. She hadn't had a lot to eat that day and the alcohol was going to her head. She was grateful when the server brought out some warm fresh bread because she was famished.

"Hungry?"

"Starving! I didn't eat much today. Been too busy."

"Do you like to eat?"

She nodded, her mouth full, and she chewed quickly so she could resume talking. "I love food. I love to cook."

"Is that right? Well, if you're as good a cook as your mother, I'd love to get a sample of that."

"We'll see. If you're good."

House smiled back at her. He was enjoying their playful banter, and her company. It had been a long time since he'd been out on an actual date. He and Stacy didn't go out much when they were together, and that had been awhile ago.

"I never heard much from Wilson way back when. How was Mountie school?"

Angela giggled, the wine clearly getting to her. "It was long, tedious but amazingly fun, too. The only part of it I didn't like was being sent to remote locations."

"Like where?"

"Hmm, I was sent to Ft. Simpson, which is basically like the arctic. I was there for six months. And then they sent me back to Saskatoon for a year, and then to Montreal where I was able to use French again. I had forgotten plenty."

"So you can speak it fluently?"

She nodded. "My accent leaves little to be desired but I get along alright. I find Spanish is much more useful in L.A."

"You speak Spanish too?"

"Yeah. I was kind of a language geek in school. I took whatever one I could because it came easy for me and I liked being able to tell people off in another language. What about you?"

"What about me?"

"How many languages can you speak?"

"Many. Let's just leave it at that. If I told you, it wouldn't be as much fun."

"Oh boy. Sounds ominous."

House looked at Angela from across the table and she felt her face flush. When he looked at her that way, it did things to her that she hadn't experienced in a long time. She felt a stirring deep down that both worried and excited her. After all, it had been over a year since she'd been with anyone, and even that was nothing terribly exciting. Angela had a feeling that House would prove to be very exciting.

If she could only figure out what made him tick. He was definitely a different person since she'd last seen him, and although he hadn't changed for the better, he was still House to her.

A hand waving in front of her face brought her out of her thoughts and she blinked twice. "Sorry."

"Daydreaming about me again?"

"You wish."

House pretended to look wounded. "You mean you don't?"

"Maybe if there was something worth dreaming about," she grinned as she took another long sip of her wine.

"Hmm..feisty with a wine buzz. It's going to be a fun night."

"That depends what else you have planned for us."

"Well, depending on what time we get out of here, I thought we could check out the latest scary movie."

"Which one?"

"Final Destination. Sounds scary."

"I think you just like the idea of me grabbing onto you during the scary parts."

"Do you scare easily?"

"Not usually. I'm sure you've seen worse things than I have."

"Just when I think I've seen it all, I haven't."

"I know the feeling."

A/N: You know what you have to do. And I know what I have to do. The gym is calling my name! I'll have the next chapter up tonight sometime. Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear how liked their 'date' :)