Chapter 20

"Sorentis."

"How's it going up there?"

Angela sat up in bed, still a little disoriented as to why she was hearing House's voice.

"Huh? Oh, it's fine."

He chuckled. "Were you sleeping?"

"Yeah. It was a long day."

"I'll let you go then."

"No, it's okay. I'm glad you called. I wasn't expecting to hear from you until Friday. What's up?"

"I'm stuck at the hospital. New case."

"Oh. Are you still able to come out?"

"Oh yeah, it's a done deal. And if I don't have it wrapped up by then, my team can call me. What kind of room did ya get?"

"A suite. Jacuzzi tub. King sized bed."

"Nice."

"Yep. Only those giving presentations get the suites."

"Which hotel are you staying at?"

"Sutton Place Hotel. Downtown."

"Sounds good. So...what are you wearing?"

Angela giggled and House smiled, in spite of himself. She was so cute when she giggled, he couldn't help himself sometimes.

"Jammies."

"What kind of jammies?"

"Blue satin sleep shirt."

"Hmm, easy access. I can't wait to push that shirt up around your waist, exposing your..."

Angela blushed and almost dropped the phone. "House!"

"What? I've seen what's under there and I have to say I can't wait to see it again."

"Really?"

"What do you mean, really? Come on. You have to know that you're hot."

"I've...never thought about it. I know I'm not ugly..."

"You're going to make me say it, aren't you?"

She could hear the amusement in his voice under the guise of being put upon.

"Say what?"

"That I think you're beautiful and sexy with legs that don't quit."

She felt her entire body warm up from hearing that. "Thank you. Of course you know what I think of you."

"Enlighten me. Quid pro quo, Clarice," he said in his creepiest Hannibal Lector voice. "I compliment you, you compliment me. It's how it works."

"I love your blue eyes, the sound of your voice and the smile that nobody gets to see but me."

House smiled and Angela could almost imagine it.

"Go back to sleep. Call me tomorrow and let me know how your presentation went."

"Okay. G'night, House."

"G'night."

X X X

"So when do I get to meet loverboy?" Chad teased as he joined her in the elevator.

Angela grimaced. "If you're lucky, you won't."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that he won't like you and you're no match for him."

"How do you know?"

"Because he's smarter than you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to pick him up at the airport."

But Chad was relentless in his pursuit. "Come on, Ang. Why don't you forget the old guy and we give it another go?"

She laughed out loud as she walked outside and gave her valet ticket to the doorman. "Ha! Right!"

"Are you going to the dinner tonight?"

"Perhaps. He might want to stay in, though. We haven't seen each other all week. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Do you wanna know what I think?"

Angela sighed. "Not really, but I'm sure you'll tell me anyway."

"I think you're lying about this guy just to keep me away."

"Lying? Seriously, why would I have to do that?"

"Because you want to make me jealous. Or make yourself seem pathetic for being here alone. How sad that you have to invent someone."

She couldn't believe the audacity of the guy. He was relentless. "Whatever. Look, you and I, it was horrible and not something I care to repeat. Ever. I found someone else. He actually treats me with the respect I deserve. So please, just back off."

"What does he have that I don't?"

"I don't have time to list all the things." Her rental car pulled up and she tipped the valet before getting into the car. "Stay away from me this weekend, Chad. I mean it."

She tried not to let him get to her, but Chad was one of the few men who knew how to push her buttons. By the time she got to the airport, House was standing outside leaning against his cane, duffel bag slung over his shoulder. It made her temporarily forget about Chad when she pulled up and he waved at her.

She unlocked the doors and he tossed his bag into the back and climbed into the front seat.

"Nice ride," he said of the VW beetle she drove.

"Not bad for a rental."

She pulled away from the curb and they drove in silence for awhile. House looked out the window at the scenery. "It's freezing here. I was expecting it to be at least a little warmer."

"It's supposed to snow tomorrow," she snapped. Then she sighed and glanced over at him. He was observing her like a specimen under a microscope. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap like that."

"What's going on?"

"It's not a big deal. I just have a lot on my mind."

That was an understatement to say the least. She kept replaying that conversation with Chad

over and over in her head. Thinking of things she could and should've said to him. It pissed her off even more that he was still able to get to her after so long.

"Do you wanna know what I think? I think you're lying about this guy just to keep me away."

House watched her. She looked visibly pissed off, and it was giving him the creeps. Her lips were in a thin line, her jaw was clenched and her hands were gripping the steering wheel. Deciding to let that comment go, he thought for a minute before speaking again. "So how far from here were you born?"

"Not too far."

He looked over at her, noticing she still seemed pensive. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Everybody lies."

"Did it ever occur to you that I might not want to tell you every little thing?"

"No, not really," he shrugged. "But if you want this weekend to be good, you need to get that stick out of your ass."

Angela shut her eyes. "Just let me get us to the hotel and I'll tell you everything then, okay? I just need to drive."

House nodded. "Sure."

She felt horrible for snapping at him, and she blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. Damn Chad for pissing her off! She was so excited to see House, but he blasted that all to hell and ruined everything.

House was silent for the remainder of the drive, seeming perfectly content to look out the window, and for that she was grateful. By the time they pulled up to the hotel she had calmed down and managed a smile when he got out of the car and reached for her hand. "I never got a kiss hello," he whispered as they walked inside

With a quick glance around the lobby, she saw no sign of Chad and her mood lifted a little more.

"Are you hungry? They have a nice bar here."

"I could eat. Plane food was minimal. I did appreciate the free booze in business though."

She smiled and led him a quiet booth in the corner where they sat next to each other. The place was half empty but Angela's eyes were glued to the entrance, expecting Chad to walk in any minute.

"Come on, Ang. Why don't you forget the old guy and we give it another go?"

"Expecting someone?" House inquired cooly as he continued to observed her.

"I seriously hope not."

"What's going on?"

In that moment, with the way House was looking at her, and the quiet way he asked, she burst into tears and covered her eyes with her hands. House was totally at a loss for what to do next. He didn't have a very good track record with emotional women, but when it came to Angela, his defenses came down and he felt the undying need to stop her crying as soon as possible. He moved a little closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

She felt him stuff a napkin into her hand and she sniffled a thank you as she took it and wiped her eyes.

"I'll kill him, whoever he is," he muttered, causing her to choke out a laugh.

"With your cane? You could find it a new home."

"That bad, huh?"

"Yeah. Pretty bad. I ran into my ex, Chad, in the lobby last night and then again right before I had to come get you. It's been five years and he still manages to get to me. And not in a good way. He thinks I made you up just to make him jealous and keep him away. He's been trying to screw me since I arrived."

"Son of a..."

"I don't know what to do," she sniffed and wiped her eyes quickly as the waiter brought drinks to the table.

"We haven't ordered yet," House told the man.

"They're from the gentleman."

"Trust me, he's no gentleman," Angela snapped.

"Which one is he?" House inquired, his jaw clenched.

"At the bar, sir. I'll take these back and then I'll return to take your orders."

"Thank you."

Angela watched as the waiter spoke to Chad and he looked over at her, a smirk on his face. She glared back at him and reached for House's hand under the table. His fingers interlaced with hers and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Relax. I'll deal with this prick," he whispered.

Angela gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand back. "This will be interesting."

As expected, Chad made his way to their table, drink in hand. "You didn't tell me your father was in town, Ang."

Angela opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind but House was quick with a response. "Is that the best you can come up with?"

Chad smirked at her, ignoring House's comment. "Who's the old man?"

"Chad Michaels, Dr. Gregory House."

"You'll forgive me if I don't get up. Bum leg," House said with an air of annoyance as he held up his cane.

"No problem. Mind if I pull up a chair?"

"Actually yes, but if you insist..."

Chad went to sit down, not noticing that House used his cane to hook one of the legs and slid the chair out from under him. The next thing Chad knew, he was on his ass and House looked surprised.

"Okay, he's cut off," House shouted to the bartender as he pointed to Chad.

"You son of a..."

"Listen, you look like a smart kid. Don't talk to her, don't look at her, hell, don't even think about her! If I see you bothering her again, my cane will find a new home up your ass. Capiche?"

Chad glared at Angela and then looked smugly at House. "You're wasting your time, old man. Her legs are locked together at the knee, and she doesn't swallow."

Angela's mouth dropped open in horror and she wanted to crawl under the table and hide. House's reaction, however, was much more immediate and severe. He got up, nearly knocking the table over as he grabbed Chad by his lapels and slammed the younger man against the wall, using his cane to hold him there. He pressed it against Chad's trachea hard enough to make his face go bright red and tears to leak from his eyes.

"See, now that wasn't a nice thing to say in front of the lady. But that happens when you talk out of your ass like that. You start saying crap you don't mean. Never, ever, come near Angela again. Or I'll use my cane to give you a proctology exam. Are we clear?"

She could feel the tears prickling her eyes again and she had to get out of there. Fast.

She fumbled in her purse for the key card and handed one to House. "I'll meet you upstairs, okay?"

House leaned over to kiss her cheek but whispered, "You okay?"

"No," she whispered back, her voice shaky as she kissed his cheek. "Room 822."

He watched her as she hurried out of the bar like someone was chasing her. Then he turned his attention back to Chad, who looked very scared. And rightfully so.

He could tell House was furious, and even though he didn't know the man, he actually feared for his life.

House stood up to his full height, completely towering over the young man and his hand gripped the cane so hard that his knuckles were white. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and menacing, causing Chad to wince. "Take my advice. Stay out of my sight. I wasn't kidding about the proctology exam. Do we understand each other?"

Chad swallowed hard and nodded.

"I can't hear you. Do we understand each other?"

"Y-yes. We understand each other."

"Good."

And with that, he backed off, leaving Chad to catch his breath after having House's cane at his throat for the past several minutes. He was not looking forward to the state that Angela might be in, but he was prepared to do what was necessary. Adrenaline pulsing through his veins, he took the key card out of his pocket and headed toward the elevator.

A/N: I just wanna give a special thanks to my beta Iyimgrace who helped make this chapter MUCH better than it was.

Next stop: SmexVille ;)