So...we've hit 100 reviews with this thing! Thank you so much for all your support. It means a lot to me. You know the deal...don't own House, and therefore don't make a dime off him. I only own the O/Cs, but I don't make any money off them, either.

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House wasn't sure how long he stared at the door before he heard Rob huff impatiently behind him. "Why don't you just knock on the damn door instead of tryin' to send her some psychic message?"

"She might be psychic." House told him. "You never know."

Rob started making clucking sounds behind him, and House fixed him with a sharp glare as he banged on the screen door with his cane.

No one answered at first. "Oh, darn." House sighed. "Nobody's home. Guess we'll have to come back later."

Before Rob could answer, a small voice rang out inside the house. "I get the door, Mama!"

"Kieran, no!" Caroline was suddenly right behind Kieran, a startled expression crossing her face. Her light brown hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail, and her pajama pants pooled around her feet. "Sorry 'bout that. He's a little ball of fire this mornin'."

House couldn't help but feel a little amused. "I guess he's feeling better."

Caroline looked relieved. "Yes, he is. Thanks again…you know…for everythin'."

Rob snorted behind him, and Caroline flushed a bright pink. "There's coffee if y'all want some." She murmured.

House was about to decline when Rob spoke up. "Love some, girl. Thanks."

House huffed irritably to himself as he followed Rob inside. "Sure, now you decide to grow a pair." He grumbled.

"Hush." Rob snapped softly. "I ain't the one who was tryin' to will the door to answer itself."

"Look what I found out on the porch, Sis." Caroline called out to the kitchen. House didn't miss the slightly wide-eyed look on Rob's face at the comment.

"Yeah, who's the chicken shit now?" House muttered as both men entered the kitchen.

"Hey, Rob." Celia cheerfully greeted Rob, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear. "Nice to see you again, Greg."

House nodded briefly at Celia while Caroline took two mugs out of the dish drainer and moved toward the coffeemaker. "How do y'all take your coffee?"

"I'll make my own, thanks." House strode across the kitchen to meet Caroline.

"Actually…uh, I'm good." Rob spoke quickly, and House could hear the sound of the other man's crutches as he left the room. The scraping of a chair against the floor told House that Celia wasn't far behind him.

"Did ya eat yet?" Caroline asked House.

House hadn't realized how deep in thought he was, and he had almost missed the question. "What?"

"I'm fixin' Kieran some breakfast." Caroline explained patiently. "You want some?"

"Sure." House stirred sugar into his coffee and eased himself into a chair next to Kieran. He reached out to press his palm to the child's forehead. "Fever seems to be gone."

Caroline smiled a little as she stirred the pan of scrambled eggs. "Yep, he came bouncin' into my room at six this mornin' wantin' to watch 'Wonder Pets'." Her shoulders seemed to sag a little. "'Course, he asked where his daddy was. Didn't know how to answer him."

"Daddy was bad." Kieran informed House while he scribbled in his coloring book. "That's what Granny says."

"Kieran!" Caroline scolded him. "Daddy wasn't bad. He just needed…a time out."

House barely contained a snort while he took a sip of his coffee. "Yeah, a nice long time out."

Caroline sighed heavily. "Don't start. You don't know the whole story."

"I know enough." House rose from the table and limped toward Caroline, daring to place his hands on her shoulders. He could feel her tremble ever so slightly.

"Don't." She spoke softly, furiously stirring the eggs.

"Don't what?"

Caroline turned off the stove and dumped the eggs onto a waiting plate. "I don't wanna talk about this right now."

House huffed in frustration as Caroline slipped away to place the plate in front of Kieran. As if nothing had happened, she regarded him calmly. "How do you like your eggs?"

"Scrambled is good." House returned to the table and sat down to sip his coffee, choosing to observe Kieran to distract himself from his thoughts.

The boy wore a serious expression as he carefully loaded his fork and brought the eggs to his mouth. Suddenly Kieran seemed old for his age, and House could imagine why.

"Are you sure he's only three?" House asked innocently.

"Of course." Caroline threw him a puzzled look. "Why do you ask?"

"I know adults who don't have those table manners." House alternated between studying Kieran and studying Caroline.

Caroline pressed her lips together and turned back to the stove. "Kevin is very…particular."

"I'm sure."

Caroline turned her head, her eyes going wide. "Not like you think. He ain't never laid a hand on Kieran."

"Probably doesn't need to." House answered sharply. "Not while he's got you as his personal punching bag."

Caroline set the plate of eggs down on the table with a hard thump. "You want toast?"

"Sure." House finished the rest of his coffee and rose to refill his cup. Caroline met him nearly halfway.

"I'll get that." She suddenly seemed nervous. "Sugar, right?"

She moved to take his coffee cup, but House didn't let go. "I'm not him. You don't have to wait on me."

Caroline averted her eyes and released the cup. "Sorry. Old habit, I guess."

"A habit you need to break."

Caroline let out a short breath as she put four slices of bread in the toaster. "You're sure full of opinions."

House shrugged while he poured his coffee, filling the other empty cup as well. "Just call it like I see it. You put anything in your coffee?"

She gave him a curious look. "No."

House handed her the cup, and Caroline took it reluctantly. "Thank you." She murmured.

"Sit." House told her firmly. He gestured toward Kieran. "Any toast for the rugrat?"

"Kieran, baby." Caroline reached out to stroke the young child's head. "You want some toast?"

Kieran shook his head. "Wanna watch 'Wonder Pets'."

"Alright." Caroline laughed gently and took his plate. "Go on."

The toaster popped, and House looked around the counter. "Plates?"

"Right above you."

House pulled out two plates and dropped two slices of toast on each. "What have you got to put on this?"

Caroline nearly leapt up to go to the refrigerator. "Looks like grape jelly, butter, and some peach jam."

"Bring it all."

Caroline brought two Mason jars and a butter dish to the table while House brought both plates of toast. She no sooner sat down than she jumped up again, returning with spoons and knives.

House glanced at the Mason jars with great interest. "Homemade?"

"My mom makes it." Caroline explained. "I never got the hang of it."

House nodded and opened the jar of peach jam, spreading a generous portion on his toast. He pushed the other plate at Caroline. "You're allowed to eat too, you know."

She silently brought the plate closer, and House could feel her eyes on him. They sat in silence, the clinking of silverware and the sound of the television in the living room the only sounds.

Suddenly the silence was broken by quiet, choked sobs. House groaned internally as he glanced up to see Caroline's eyes scrunched closed, her hands pressed to her face, tears leaking out despite her obvious efforts to hold them back.

"Okay, I'll bite." House huffed. "What's wrong?"

Caroline shook her head and brushed the tears away. "I just don't…why are you doin' this?"

"Doing what?"

Caroline gestured to the table. "The toast…the coffee…everythin'."

"You act like no one's ever done that for you." The realization dawned on House before the words finished tumbling out of his mouth. "Oh. Damn."

"Right." Caroline laughed faintly, with a hint of sadness. "I know it's dumb to cry over somethin' like this. Guess I'm just not used to it." She glanced down and twisted the wedding band on her left hand. "Guess after a while you can get used to anythin'."

A pang of something like sympathy shot through House. "Guess so."

Caroline glanced back up at House. "You okay? You need some more coffee…"

"For God's sake, just stop." House let out an exasperated sigh. "Listen to yourself. No wonder that man uses you as his doormat."

They were silent again, and House thought Caroline would cry again. He hadn't meant to be so hard on her. He huffed irritably as he toyed with his coffee cup. "Sorry." He muttered. "That came out a little…harsh."

A tiny smile crept onto Caroline's face as she rose from the table and started clearing dishes. Her small hand brushed across the back of House's shoulders as she passed by. "You'd sure make a good man for someone."

"Don't tell me again how 'sweet' I am." House nearly growled. "You'll give me a big head."

"Fine, I won't." Caroline laughed as she started to run dish water. "But you are…in a rough kind of way."

House couldn't help smiling at that, just a little. He drained the remains of his cup and rose from the table, slipping it into the running water and taking up residence at the other sink.

A surprised expression crossed Caroline's face, but it quickly disappeared. She took off her ring and set it on the ledge above the sink before switching the water from the wash sink to the rinse sink.

Soon they were working side by side in comfortable silence. The rain had finally stopped, and weak sunshine started to stream in. Caroline briefly crossed the room to open the curtains that gave a view of the front porch.

She returned to nudge at House. "Look out the window."

House turned to see two figures seated on the porch swing. Rob had his arm around Celia, and Celia's head was resting on Rob's shoulder.

Rob suddenly turned his head and pressed a firm kiss to the top of Celia's head, and House had to turn away. He returned to the sink, scrubbing at the pan that had been used to cook the scrambled eggs.

"Easy on that thing." Caroline was suddenly beside him. "Mom'll kill me if I tear up her pans."

"Stuff's stuck to it." House muttered, not daring to look up from the sink.

A hand pressed against House's upper arm. "It's non-stick. Don't think anythin's really stuck to it."

House barely glanced at Caroline, tensing under her touch. She fixed him with a concerned look. "You're upset."

"And you're a fucking genius." House snapped, almost immediately cursing himself.

Caroline sighed softly, gently rubbing House's arm. If she was affected by his harsh words, it didn't show. "There's somebody for everybody. You'll find yours, too."

"Seems pretty unlikely." House found himself calming at her soothing words and touch.

"A guy like you?" Caroline looked baffled. "You should have no trouble findin' someone."

House let out a hollow laugh. Caroline had no idea what she was dealing with. He was a mess, inside and out. There wasn't enough therapy in the world to make him right again, whatever the hell that meant. He wasn't sure he was ever right to begin with.

"I'm serious." Caroline told him firmly. "Underneath all that rough and tough, you've got a heart of gold. I can tell."

"Yeah, because you're such a good judge of character." House responded. "Look what you married."

Caroline pressed her lips together in a thin line as she pulled back her hand, letting out a short sigh before nodding. "You're right. I made a mistake, and I've been payin' for it ever since." She tilted her head at him. "Don't mean I'm wrong about everythin'."

House let out the dish water and rinsed out the sink, wiping his hands on a nearby towel. "Think I'd better go. I wouldn't want to be responsible for you making another mistake."

Caroline looked briefly puzzled before realization seemed to dawn on her. "You talkin' about last night?"

House shrugged. "Maybe."

Caroline moved closer, taking House's hand in hers. "I wouldn't call it a mistake. Maybe a little…lapse in judgement, but…not a mistake." She smiled ever so slightly. "If it was a mistake, it sure was a nice one."

House silently agreed with that assessment. He lightly caressed Caroline's hand with his thumb, his heart thumping a little in his chest. The desire to make that mistake again was almost overwhelming, and House couldn't figure out where the desire was coming from.

He inched closer, finally daring to look her in the eyes. His other hand moved to her delicate face, lightly stroking her temple as his barely formed thoughts churned inside him.

Finally he bent down, tentatively touching his lips to hers. He pulled away briefly, studying her, looking for any clue as to her response.

She glanced down, moving even closer and wrapping an arm around House's waist before pressing her head against his chest. The other arm soon followed, and she sighed softly.

"You're a good man, Greg." She told him. "Don't never let anyone tell you different."

The simple words touched something deep down in House, something that he was sure had been long dead and buried. A lump rose in his throat as he wrapped his arms around Caroline and set his chin on top of her head.

Caroline squeezed House gently and rubbed his back. "Somethin' wrong?"

"Nope." House's voice sounded rough to his own ears. He only hoped Caroline didn't catch it.

Caroline backed away slightly, a puzzled expression on her face. "Sounds like somethin's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong." House answered in an exasperated tone, releasing Caroline and grabbing his cane from where it rested against the table.

He was just starting to stalk out of the kitchen when Caroline's voice stopped him. "It's too bad you're not stickin' around."

"Why's that?"

"This town could use someone like you." Caroline responded. "We ain't had a doctor around here since last year. It'd be nice if folks didn't have to go twenty miles just for a little check-up."

House merely snorted and shook his head. "I'm not that kind of doctor."

"You could be." Caroline insisted. "You were real good with Kieran last night."

"That was different."

"You should think about it." Caroline told him firmly. "I don't know what else you've got goin' on, but…"

House thumped his cane against the floor. It wasn't as if he had anything to return to back in Princeton. Still, the idea of setting up shop as a 'simple country doctor', as Wilson had once jokingly called him, was almost ridiculous. Where was the challenge in that? House couldn't see it.

He didn't acknowledge Caroline, simply limping across the living room to the door and stepping outside. Rob and Celia were still on the porch swing, deep in conversation, his arm still slung around her shoulders.

"Hey, loverboy." House called out. "You ready to go?"

Rob slowly removed his arm and reached for his crutches, speaking some final words to Celia. Celia fixed him with a warm smile, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

"Looks like you got over whatever was bugging you." House commented as they made their way to Rob's truck.

Rob shrugged as he climbed in on the passenger side. "Guess so." He took a deep breath. "She convinced me to go see a movie tonight."

House snorted as he started the truck and slammed the gearshift into reverse. "I'm sure that took a lot of convincing."

"Hey, take it easy on the old girl." Rob glared at House.

House backed out of the driveway and shifted into first gear, a little more carefully this time. "So what changed your mind about her?"

"Don't know." Rob answered, shaking his head. "Guess it don't seem like such a bad idea, you know, just to hang out with her."

"It's a good start." House offered.

"Probably won't go nowhere." Rob chuckled.

"Never know." House answered quietly as he pulled into Rob's driveway.

Rob glanced over at House. "You alright, man?"

"Fine." House spoke sharply.

"Right." Rob was clearly skeptical as he followed House inside.

The phone was ringing, and Rob quickly crossed the kitchen into the living room to answer it. He soon returned, passing the phone to House.

"Hey, Doctor House." The unfamiliar voice greeted him. "It's Mike from down at the repair shop."

"Oh, hey." House tucked the phone between his ear and his shoulder while he dug out a couple of Milk-Bones for the dogs. "Something going on with my bike?"

"Think I've got some good news."

"Yeah?"

"Yep." Mike told him. "Part came in sooner than we expected. Tyler should be able to work on it this afternoon. You might be back on the road by tomorrow."

Suddenly House wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. "That's good. Give me a call when it's done."

"Will do."

House hung up, feeling oddly conflicted. Just a couple of days before he couldn't wait to get out of this backwards town. Now, he wasn't so sure. He was starting to feel a connection here that he hadn't felt in a long time. If he were honest with himself, he almost felt at home here.

He sighed heavily and sat down at the kitchen table, scratching behind Baxter's ear when the dog eagerly approached him. "What do you think? Should I stay or should I go?"

Baxter didn't have an answer, simply thumping his tail against the floor in response to the attention House was giving him. "Yeah, should have known that you'd think that way."

"Talkin' to yourself?" Rob returned to the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"Talking to your dog." House responded.

Rob tilted his head. "So what'd he say?"

"The dog?"

"No." Rob snorted. "Mike. What'd he say?"

"Oh…" House drummed his fingers on the table. "Said my bike might be ready tomorrow."

"Really." Rob looked thoughtful.

"Yep."

"That's good, right?"

"I guess." House shifted awkwardly in his chair. "Good thing I didn't get too comfortable here."

"Yeah. Real good thing." Rob's voice seemed to hold a note of sadness as he rose from the table.

"Hey..." House ventured. "Just because my bike's getting fixed doesn't mean I have to leave right away."

Rob paused, tilting his head in thought. "That's true." He glanced over at House. "You thinkin' about hangin' around?"

House shrugged casually. "Maybe."

Rob nodded. "Well, just so you know…if you do decide to hang around, you're more than welcome to stay here."

"For how long?"

"As long as you need to." Rob told him.

House chuckled dryly. "You might regret telling me that."

Rob smiled slightly. "Kinda doubt it."

House leaned back in the chair as Rob left the room, reaching down to pet Baxter. The dog let out a short bark in response. "Yeah, I can't believe it, either."

The wheels were turning in House's head. He still didn't have a plan, but the idea of staying here was becoming more and more appealing. Maybe he could make this work after all.

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