Chapter 5

But House found cracking Julia's shell was harder than he thought. Over the next few weeks, they got into a comfortable routine, but he got no closer to his goal.

He was beginning to believe it was not going to happen, when there was finally a dent in her armor.

When he played the piano at night, sometimes Julia sat for a few minutes or a half an hour and listened to him. She'd sip a soda, then give him a wave and go home. She was always up much earlier than he was, so he knew she liked to go to bed early.

But one evening, he saw her sitting there and even though the drink still looked like a soda, she stayed there much later than normal. And when an hour had gone by and she was still sitting there, he knew something was up.

He watched as Tom went and sat beside her. He talked to her, but she just shook her head and after a while, he reluctantly rose and went back to the bar.

When he took his break, he went to the bar to get a drink and, inclining his head towards Julia, asked Tom, "What's up with her?"

Tom sighed. "I can't tell you. But I will say this: she could really use a friend tonight."

House walked to the table and sat down. "Hi."

"I'd rather be alone, Greg."

"Too bad. You're the only person worth sitting with in this bar, so deal with it."

She didn't look at him, just kept her eyes on her drink. But he could sense even more sadness in her than normal.

"You know, I'm a cool person to talk to. If there were, say, something bothering you."

"There's nothing you can do for me."

"You won't know that until you try me."

She just shook her head, but he saw her eyes and there were tears forming there. As soon as she realized it, she stood up.

"I need to get home."

She was out of the bar in seconds. House watched her, then went back to Tom.

"What the hell is up with her?"

"It's a bad night for her. Why don't you knock off early and go help her?"

"She doesn't want my help."

"Yeah, she does, she just doesn't realize how much. More than that, she needs it. She needs someone to reach her."

"I'm not the most sensitive guy on the planet."

"I can tell that. But for some reason she likes you."

"She likes everyone." House grumbled.

"She does, but she likes you differently. I can tell the way she looks at you. And you like her, so…"

"So?"

"So, maybe tonight would be a good time to take a shot at it."

House stared at him, speechless for a moment. "Are you telling me that you want me to sleep with her?"

The older man shrugged. "She hasn't had anyone in a long time. Everyone needs something now and then. And since she seems to like you, why not?"

House didn't know whether to be flattered that the man thought him worthy to be with Julia or insulted that he considered him not much more than a male hooker.

"Does she know that you're being a pimp for her?"

"No, but she knows I don't have a problem interfering if I think it's best for her. Go ahead, go to her. You want to and she needs you."

House didn't need to be told again. He picked up his cane and headed out.

When he got to the cabin, he didn't see her, so he assumed she'd gone to bed. He went into his cabin and got undressed and laid on his bed. He wasn't really sleepy, but he needed to think about things.

About twenty minutes later, he heard a sound outside and he sat up and looked out his window. She was sitting on the ground outside her cabin. She was wearing a short nightie and her legs were pulled up, with her arms around them. The sound he'd heard was her crying.

"Damn." He muttered, then pulled on his jeans and went outside.

"Hey." He said when he got to her.

She quickly wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were home."

"No problem. But you seem to have one."

"It's nothing."

"Julia, what's up? Someone do something to you?"

She let out a gruff laugh. "Lately, no. Really nothing anyone could do. My life was shot to shit a long time ago."

"Okay, I can appreciate that. But why is it bothering you now?"

She got up and walked towards the ocean. Even though he wasn't very steady on the sand, he followed her, afraid of what she might do.

"Julia, slow down, I can't walk fast."

She called over her shoulder. "I didn't ask you to follow me."

"Tough."

She turned around. "Greg, you really don't want to be around me tonight. I'm a mess."

"I'm kind of the king of messes."

She stopped and looked at him, then walked towards him. When she was right in front of him, he could see the tears falling.

"Greg, would you hold me?"

"If I have to." He quipped, then when he saw her face, he opened his arms and said, "Come here."

She went into his arms and put hers around him, while her head rested on his shoulder and the tears flowed.

He just held her, letting her cry it out. When she finally picked up her head, she said, "I'm sorry, I just…"

"It's okay."

She broke away and started walking back towards the cabin. Once again, he followed, wondering what she was thinking about.

When she got there, she said to him, "I really need someone to hold me tonight. Would you…?"

He nodded.

She went inside and he followed. She got into bed and he pulled off his jeans and got in beside her. He opened his arms again and she went into them, her face burrowed into his chest. He could feel the tears flowing freely.

They lay like that for a long time. Finally, the tears slowed and she lifted her head. "I've made you all wet."

"Oh, well, it's a hot night. I can handle it." He tightened his hold on her. "Any chance I'm gonna find out what caused the water works?"

She was silent for a long time and he thought she'd either fallen asleep or just didn't want to tell him. Then, very quietly, he heard her say, "My daughter died three years ago tonight."

"God. Sorry. Had she been sick?"

Silence again, then, "She killed herself."

"God." He said again. "That really sucks."

"I know. I'm pretty good most of the time, as you've seen, but on this date, it's just, well, hard."

"Sure."

"Thank you for being so understanding. And for letting me cry on you. If you want to go back to your cabin, that's fine."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

He snuggled in. "In that case, I'll stay."

She smiled and rested her head back on his chest. "Thank you." She whispered.

He just held her. Well, he thought, he was this far. He knew he could probably take it to the next step. Tom had practically given him permission to do it.

But he had a feeling that if he took advantage of her on the anniversary of her daughter's suicide, it might backfire on him.

On the other hand, if he was considerate now, she might be so grateful, he'd hit pay dirt later.

So he held her and whispered. "Go to sleep, Julia. I'll be here."