A/N: Wow, you guys are awesome! I'm so glad you're enjoying this, and HI to my new readers :) It makes me squeeee every time I see someone new has added this to their alerts/favorites AND leaves a comment. You have NO idea :)

Chapter 12

"Are you coming home for July 4th?" Angela's father inquired, his voice hopeful.

"That's the plan. I'm not working right now. So unless something comes up that desperately requires my attention, I'll be there. On the other hand, why are you even celebrating? We're Canadian," she laughed.

"Correction, you are now legally a U.S. citizen as of this past March. It wouldn't be very patriotic of you to skip out."

"Uh-huh. I never celebrate Canada Day either. This is no different."

"You've been spending too much time around House."

"What? I haven't seen the man in months, and we haven't spoken, either."

"Why not?"

"We've exchanged a few emails but that's it."

"I thought you liked him. What's with the lack of communication?"

"I've been busy. When I actually got up the nerve to call him, I either reached his voicemail or if I called his office, some doctor tells me he's not in, or he's with a patient. Which I'm sure is crap."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because House doesn't see patients. Besides, the doctor who tells me this is female...and I think she likes him. A lot."

"So what if she does?"

"You haven't seen her, Dad. She's really pretty. Hell, she might even be my age. So if House does like 'em that young, he's probably screwing her."

"Angela..." her dad's voice took on a warning tone. He hated it when she talked like that, but she couldn't help it.

"Sorry. It's just...how can I compete with that?"

"Beauty isn't everything, hon," he assured her. "Besides, you've been on a date with him. She hasn't."

"How do you know?"

"I have an informant. Your uncle. He gives me updates."

"Uncle Jim doesn't know everything. House is a very private person. If he were secretly dating her, nobody would know."

"You seem pretty sure of yourself."

"Reasonably sure. Dad, House is good looking, brilliant and arrogant beyond belief. What could he possibly see in someone like me? Other than the gawky fifteen year old I used to be. Sometimes, when he looks at me, I got the feeling that's all he sees."

"Then you need to change his mind."

"You sound like Mom," Angela sighed. However, she knew he was right. She glanced at herself in the mirror across the room.

"So I'll see you in a few weeks?"

"Maybe sooner if I get things tied up here."

"I miss you, hon."

"I miss you too Dad. See you soon."

X X X

The phone rang early, waking Angela from a sound sleep. As usual, her hand reached out and hit the speaker phone button. "Sorentis."

"Morning, bitch. Remember me?"

She didn't recognize the voice at all and she groaned. "Nope. Why don't you tell me who you are so I can get back to sleep."

"Three years ago. You arrested me."

"I arrested a lot of people three years ago. What else ya got?"

"You shot me in the leg. Now, whenever it gets cold my leg aches like a bugger. Why didn't you just kill me?"

"Professional courtesy. What did you say your name was, again?"

"I didn't. You don't remember me?"

"No, sorry. I don't go to bed each night and think about the freaks I put away. Don't take it personally."

"You're a bitch."

"Tell me something I don't know. Now, if you don't tell me why you're calling me so early, I'm just going to hang up. Sleep is more important than you right now."

"You'd better watch it, bitch...or I'll..."
"You'll what? Kill me?"

"Eventually." Then the line went dead.

Angela stared at the phone in confusion but shrugged it off and fell back into a deep sleep.

A few hours later, there was a loud knock on the door, followed by shouting. It was Jenn.

"Alright..hang on..." Angela dragged herself to the door, checked the peep hole and then unlocked the door. Jenn came barging in. "Are you okay?"

"Huh? Yeah. Why?"

"Did you hear?"

"I've been asleep, so I guess I didn't. What's going on?"

"Does the name Albert O'Reilly ring a bell?"

"Yeah. He's the guy who stalked and raped those girls. I put him away."

"Not indefinitely, it would seem."

"What do you mean?"

"He's out."

"What?" Angela shouted. "How?"

"Good behaviour."

"Good behaviour?" Angela shouted. "The man's a psychopath! You saw what he did to those girls!"

"Yeah. But that's not the worst of it."

"It gets worse?"

"He's coming after you."

Surprisingly, Angela remained calm. "Well, that would explain the call I got this morning."

"What call?"

"Someone called me this morning and threatened me. I didn't recognize or care who it was."

"You have to get out of here. He's not dumb, he's highly intelligent."

"I know how smart he is. I put him away, remember?"

"Yeah well if you don't get out of here, he's going to put you away."

"Relax. He's not going to kill a cop."

"Why not? What's stopping him from coming over right now and shooting you?"

"Just for putting him in jail?"

"Well if he called you here, he knows where you are."

Angela refused to get worried. Yeah, the guy had her phone number, so what? He would have to get past the security downstairs first. And any new guest had to be announced.

"Please..get out of here," Jenn pleaded her best friend. "Just...get on a plane and go back to Jersey or something."

"Like that's going to stop him. If he's going to get me, he's going to get me."

"Please..."

Angela sighed. "Fine. I'll pack my stuff and go tonight. Happy?"

"Very."

"Good. While I pack, you can book me a flight out of here."

"Gotcha."

While she packed, she called her dad on her cell phone. "Dad? I'm catching a flight out tonight."

"What? Why?"

"I have some time off. If I don't leave now, I'll never get out of here." Truer words have never been spoken.

"Do you want me to come pick you up at the airport?"

"No, thanks. It'll be late. I'll just catch a cab."

"If you're sure."

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Angela, is everything okay? You sound...nervous."

Leave it to her dad to sense that. "I'm fine. I'll see you when I get in tonight."

"Okay. Have a safe trip. I'll wait up."

"You don't have to. I don't know how late I'll be. Jenn is booking me a flight right now."

"This all sounds very urgent...what's really going on?"

"Dad, I don't have time to explain. I gotta finish packing. See you tonight."

She ended the call and tossed her cell on her bed as she zipped her suitcase closed.

"Your flight leaves at five," Jenn informed her as she sat on her bed and watched Angela pack.

"Good. Thanks."

"Are you sure you're going to be ok?"

"Yeah. I've got a few cop friends in New York. I have my dad, my uncle..."

"House," Jenn added.

"Yeah..he'll be more of a pleasant distraction than anything else."

"Whatever you say. Come on, get some more stuff together and then I'll drive you to the airport. We can have lunch before you go."

X X X

House tore into his reuben like a man who hadn't eaten in years. Wilson watched him and arched his eyebrow. "Did you miss breakfast?"

"Yep. Had to come in early. At least Cameron was nice enough to have the coffee ready when I got here. I knew I hired her for a reason."

"Other than the fact that she's beautiful?"

"That's just the icing on the cake. She's smart, too."

"Are you going to do anything about her?"

"Cameron? God, no. That insane moral compass of hers is kind of a turn off. Besides, I prefer to pay attention to women who might actually want me. Speaking of which, heard from Angela lately?"

Wilson smirked. "Actually, I have. She's in town. Staying with her father."

House cocked his head to one side. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. Dave seemed kind of worried about her. She wasn't supposed to come out until the long weekend but then all of a sudden she changed her mind and came out."

"When was this?"

"Last week."

"Huh. She hasn't called me."

"Does she have your number?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe she's waiting for you to call her."

"What would I possibly call her about?"

"Gee, I dunno, House. Maybe you could ask her out this time."

"And do what?"

Wilson reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out some tickets. "A patient gave me these the other day. I can't use 'em, I have a dinner meeting."

House took the tickets and examined them. "Hockey? Devils vs. Canucks. Huh," House chuckled. "Think she likes hockey?"

Wilson shrugged. "I have no idea. Why don't you call her up and ask her?"

"I don't have her number."

"She didn't give it to you?"

"She did, but I shoved it in my pants and then washed my jeans. All gone."

Wilson took out a pen and scrawled a phone number on a napkin. "This is her cell. Call her. Now."

House looked put out. "Right now?"

"Right now."

House rolled his eyes and grumbled something incoherent as he reached into his pocket for his phone and dialed the number.

Angela's phone vibrated in her pocket and she checked the caller ID before answering. It was a local number but it didn't have a name. Hesitating, she flipped open the phone and answered the call anyway.

"Sorentis."

"It's me."

That voice was unmistakable and Angela smiled.

"Hmm..I don't know anyone by that name. Could you please elaborate?"

She could almost hear him smirking. "It's House."

"Ohhh...it's coming back to me. Tall, very nice eyes but arrogant as hell. Never called."

"That's me. Listen...Wilson gave me some tickets. Since you're a Canuck I thought you might want to see them play tomorrow night."

"Hockey?"

"Yes. Do you know of any other team that calls themselves the Canucks?"

"Good point. Sure. I mean, if you have nobody else to go with you."

"Who else could I ask?"

"Hmm..that's a tough one. Maybe...Uncle James? Ya know, the guy who gave you the tickets in the first place," she laughed.

"He's conveniently busy."

"Lucky me. What time's the game?"

"Seven."

"Are we...doing dinner first?"

"We can eat there. I'll pick you up at six. Dress warm, I'm bringing the bike."

"Fun. I'll see you tomorrow night then. Bye."

"Cya," he said and then flipped his phone shut. "Done and done."

Wilson just chuckled. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it? At least this way you can find out why she's here and didn't let anyone know."

House rolled his eyes as he took another bite of his sandwich. "I can't believe I'm being set up by my best friend...and that the girl he's setting me up with is...his own flesh and blood niece."

"Hey, it could be worse."

"Yeah, you could be trying to give me condoms."