You all know the drill by now. Don't own House, wish I did, all that good stuff.
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House pulled into Marge's driveway, spotting an unfamiliar vehicle along with Celia's SUV. He assumed it was Marge's, but he knew how dangerous assumptions could be.
He dismounted the bike and took the carnations out of the storage compartment. They had wilted slightly, but seemed relatively undamaged, a bit like the woman House was getting ready to give them to. He quickly dismissed the uncharacteristically romantic thought and limped up the steps to the front door.
Music mixed with the sounds of laughter greeted House as he rapped on the door with his cane.
"Hold your horses!" Marge's voice called out shortly before she appeared at the door. She greeted House with a bright smile. "Well, hello there, Greg. Come on in."
He followed Marge inside and glanced over to see Caroline curled up on the couch with her eyes closed. Marge leaned over her and gently squeezed her shoulder. "Caroline, honey, you've got company."
"Let her sleep." House quickly told her. "I'll just…come back later."
"Don't be silly." Marge chirped. "You're already here, and besides, she'll want to see you."
The slight figure stirred on the couch, and Caroline slowly pushed herself to a sitting position, blinking sleepily as she did so. House couldn't help but notice that she still wore the t-shirt he had given her.
"I'll just be in the kitchen if y'all need anythin'." Marge informed him. "Just holler."
House huffed as he eased himself into a nearby armchair. "I tried to tell her I'd come back, but…"
"It's fine." Caroline quickly answered. "'Bout time I got up and around anyway."
"You just got the shit beat out of you a couple of days ago." House snapped. "I think you're entitled to lounge around a little."
Caroline's expression turned a little dark, and House immediately regretted the words. "You know they picked him up, right?" House spoke, a little gentler this time.
Caroline nodded, a slight smile gracing her delicate features. "Mom and Celia were bustin' at the seams to tell me." She took in a shaky breath. "I just hope they can hold him this time. I got the paperwork started for a restrainin' order, and I'm talkin' to a lawyer in town to start divorce papers."
"You've been busy." House noted with a bit of surprise.
Caroline let out a short laugh. "Got to stay a step ahead of that man. I've had enough trouble with him. I don't want no more than I have to have. He's gonna be trouble enough when he gets out." She shuddered a little. "He's gonna be mad as hell when he gets those divorce papers."
"Too bad for him." House leaned forward slightly, playing with the grocery bag he had brought in with him. "Guess he should have treated you a little better."
"Got that right." Caroline smiled a little wider and sat up straighter. Suddenly she seemed a little tougher than House had given her credit for. "Mom and Celia are doin' a little cookout thing. Sort of like a celebration, I guess. You're welcome to stay."
"Seems like they're celebrating a little early. I mean, the son of a bitch hasn't even been arraigned yet."
Caroline's eyes flicked toward House in surprise. "How do you know?"
House cursed himself for his big mouth. "I've…got a little experience with the legal system. My ex-girlfriend is a lawyer." An almost-lie and a near-truth all in one. House thought to himself. Well done.
"Oh." Caroline's eyes strayed back to the fingers that were twisting in her lap. "You two must have been quite a pair."
"We had our moments." House didn't want to think about Stacy, not now. "That was a long time ago."
"How long?"
"Almost ten years ago." House answered quietly. He hadn't even realized how quickly the time had slipped away.
"And you ain't had no one else since?" Caroline seemed incredulous. "Why?"
House chuckled derisively. "I think we've had some version of this conversation before."
"I don't think you ever answered the question." Caroline countered.
House huffed and looked down at his hands. "There have been…a couple others since. Nothing serious. Just never wanted to bother with it. It's easier that way."
"Don't you get lonely?" Caroline asked him gently.
Something about the tone of Caroline's voice cut him to the quick, unleashing some unknown emotion. "I suppose. But you can be lonely with someone, too. My ex-girlfriend used to say that about me."
"I suppose you're right." Caroline demurred. "Folks have a way of makin' you feel alone. It ain't right, but it's the truth."
House lifted his eyes, studying Caroline carefully. "You were lonely with Kevin."
"Sure, when he wasn't whoopin' on me." Caroline laughed bitterly. "We were supposed to be a couple, but somehow he was always out without me, even before Kieran. It ain't how it's supposed to be."
There was a brief silence before House continued. "With Stacy, I would get so lost in my work that I'd almost forget she was there."
"At least you were doin' somethin' useful." Caroline replied. "All Kevin was doin' was messin' around with his buddies down at the bar."
"It amounts to the same thing." House argued. "Either way, the other person gets abandoned. As you say, it's not as it should be." He shook his head. "All the more reason I'm better off alone."
"I don't believe that for a second." Caroline suddenly reached out and curled her delicate hand over his rough one.
"Well, believe it." The words came out rougher than he intended as he jerked his hand away and pushed himself out of the chair.
House cursed himself all the way out the door and down to his bike. This was stupid. He never should have come. Matter of fact, he should just get on the bike and just ride out of here, lease be damned.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he almost didn't hear the rattle of the small pickup truck pull up beside him. House turned to see Rob hopping down from the driver's seat, gingerly making his way toward the steps on that rickety antique of a leg.
Rob spotted House immediately. "You just get here, man?"
"I was just leaving." House answered sharply.
"What?" Rob looked baffled. "Why?"
"Because I'm an idiot, I screwed up, and she can do better than me." House told him as he started the bike.
"Rob!" Marge called from the porch. "Is Greg still out there?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Tell him to get in here. Food's ready."
House glared at Rob as the other man let out a low chuckle. "You'd better get back in there. Marge'll have your hide if you don't."
"Bullshit." House snapped. "I'm not going back in there. I've made a big enough fool of myself for one day."
"Go on in and enjoy some of Marge's cookin'." Rob told him. "It'll all be forgotten in the time it takes to say grace."
After a few moments thought, House finally shut off the bike and dismounted. "This had better be worth it." He grumbled.
"It will be." Rob laughed a little. "Don't you worry."
The two men entered the house and started through the living room. House spotted the grocery bag he had abandoned in his rush to leave, and waved Rob on.
He picked up the bag and pulled out the flowers, discouraged at their condition. Maybe if he could find something to put them in, he could salvage them.
When he entered the kitchen, he realized that he didn't have the faintest idea of where to start looking for anything resembling a vase.
"Lookin' for somethin'?" Caroline had managed to sneak up on him again.
House took a deep breath and turned around, holding the carnations out to Caroline. "I've got these flowers, and I was going to give them to this lovely woman I know, but…I kind of ran out before I got the chance."
A wide smile crossed Caroline's delicate features. "I'm sure I can find somethin' to put them in. A little fresh water and they should perk right up."
She opened the cabinet above the counter and immediately found a vase, dropping the carnations inside and filling it with water.
House watched her carefully. Her movements were slow, obviously hampered by the pain in her side and other body parts he didn't want to think about just then.
She took a deep whiff of the carnations before turning to set them in the middle of the kitchen table. "See? The little buggers came right back to life, like nothin' ever happened." Caroline looked House square in the eye. "They're beautiful. Thank you."
House shrugged. "They were a fundraiser thing. Not even sure why I bought them."
"Right." Caroline let out a short laugh and threw House a skeptical look. "Come on out and eat. We're settin' up on the deck."
House followed Caroline outside, where an older man was working the grill while Marge and Celia arranged condiments and side dishes on the table nearby.
"Charley, you got them burgers ready yet?" Marge called over her shoulder. "These boys'll be chewin' their own arms off pretty soon."
"Just about there, Margie." Charley answered with a laugh. "Just keep your britches on."
"Charley's our neighbor." Caroline explained. "He and Mom have been friends forever. Looked out for us after Mom put our dad out. They've been gettin' kind of close ever since his wife died a couple years ago."
"Who's that there, girlie?" Charley called out. "Better not be that damn Yankee doc everyone in town's been yappin' about."
"The one and the same." Caroline led House over to the grill. "Charley, this here's Doctor Greg House. Greg, Charley Anderson."
"Good to meet you, Doctor House." Charley reached over and gripped House's hand with surprising strength for his slender build. "Don't mind all that Yankee crap. I'm just joshin' with ya."
"Nice to meet you." House wasn't quite sure how to take Charley. "And you can call me Greg. Everyone else seems to."
"Alright then, Greg." Charley nodded, handing him a platter loaded down with burgers. "You mind takin' that over to the table?"
House hooked his cane over his arm and carefully crossed the short distance to the table. Marge beamed in approval. "Think that's everythin'. Charley, would you lead us in grace?"
"My pleasure."
House groaned internally as everyone gathered around the table and took each other's hands. He calmed only slightly as he felt Caroline's hand grasp him on one side, while Rob's rough hand grasped the other. Rob gave him a sharp look, but said nothing.
He closed his eyes as Charley led grace and the others let out a murmured 'Amen'. Caroline gave his hand a quick squeeze before releasing it and moving on to fix her plate.
Soon everyone had a full plate and a beverage of some kind and were seated in chairs scattered around the large deck. Silence fell over them as everyone started eating.
Charley was the first to break the silence. "So, Greg, what brings you down this way?"
House swallowed his bite before answering. "Decided to go out on a road trip up in Jersey, and my bike died on the side of the road. Rob picked me up."
"Really?" Charley seemed surprised. "You on vacation?"
"Nope." House decided to go for the unbridled truth. "I quit my old job. Kind of felt like I'd been there long enough."
"Huh." Charley frowned thoughtfully. "So you decided to stick around."
"Charley, let the man eat before you go givin' him the third degree." Marge chided him. "Don't you pay him no mind, Greg. He's nosier than I am."
"And we know that's sayin' a lot." Celia teased, evoking laughter from the small group.
House blew out a silent sigh of relief. He almost felt as if he were being interviewed. Next thing he knew the man would be asking about his intentions toward Caroline.
The thought startled him. Hell, he wasn't even sure what his intentions were toward Caroline. She was lovely, sure, but getting involved with her would be a messy proposition right now.
The conversation veered toward more general topics, and House found himself relaxing as the evening wore on, observing more than he participated. From what he could tell, Marge and her daughters were close, and Marge was happy to welcome whoever happened along into their fold. For the time being that seemed to include himself, Rob, and Charley. Oddly enough, House was almost comfortable with that.
As the sun started to set, Marge and Celia started to clean up what remained of their feast. Caroline started to join them, but Marge immediately chided her. "You just stay put, young lady. We've got this."
"I help too, Granny." Kieran piped up.
"Sure thing, baby." Marge ruffled his hair and directed him in the clean up.
By the time the clean up was finished, the sun had disappeared behind the trees, leaving House alone in the dark with his thoughts.
"Hey man." Rob's hand clapped him on the shoulder. "Me and Celia are headin' down to Dave's. You wanna come with?"
"No, thanks." House answered quietly. "Maybe another time."
"Right." Rob flashed him a quick grin before releasing him and leaving the deck.
"Don't wanna go to bed…" Kieran's sleepy voice carried out from the kitchen.
"You've got to, baby." Marge told him as she brought him outside. "Auntie Cee-Cee done wore you out today. Say good night to your mom."
Kieran wriggled out of Marge's arms and raced into Caroline's. "Night, Mama. Feel better."
"Already do, baby boy." Caroline laughed gently and hugged him tight, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Suddenly the little boy trotted over to House, climbing onto his lap and wrapping his tiny arms around his neck. "Night, Greg."
House was stunned as the little boy proceeded to give him a quick peck on the cheek. He slowly placed his hands on Kieran's back and rubbed lightly. "Night."
Kieran scurried off House's lap and took Marge's hand to go into the house. As soon as they were gone, Caroline let out a short laugh. "He's such a funny little thing."
"How so?"
"He don't normally warm up to men." Caroline explained. "But he sure likes you. Talks about you all the time."
"It was the Spongebob Squarepants." House told her. "Gets them every time."
"I'm sure it's more than that."
"No, I'm pretty sure that's it." House shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Kids and cartoons are a match made in heaven."
Caroline simply laughed gently, reaching out to stroke House's hand. He could feel his heart beat a little faster at the touch as the silence seemed to stretch out between them.
Marge suddenly stuck her head out the door, startling him, and Caroline quickly pulled her hand away. "Y'all alright out here?"
"Fine, Mom." Caroline answered.
"I'll just be in the livin' room." Marge responded. "Holler if you need somethin'."
"I will." Caroline called back before turning to House with a sigh. "She worries too much."
"She's your mom. I think that's supposed to be part of the job description."
"She's been hoverin' over me ever since she got home from the café." Caroline replied. "It's makin' me crazy. You know she even thinks I should move back here? I like my house. I ain't leavin' just 'cause she thinks I should." She let out a sigh and placed her hand over House's again. "Sorry. Guess I got a little carried away."
"No problem." House willed his heart to slow down, turning over his hand to lightly grasp hers. She squeezed back in response, and he could finally feel himself relax a little bit, surrounded by the silence and the darkness.
"So…I've rented the doctor's office and the apartment over it." House was the first to break the silence. "But I guess you've already heard that."
"'Course I did." Caroline laughed, her thumb trailing over House's hand. "I'm glad to hear it. How long you stayin'?"
"It's a three-month lease. Guess I'll kind of see how things go."
"You excited?" Caroline shifted so that she faced House.
"I'm moving from Jersey to BFE Tennessee." House answered with an edge in his voice. "Not sure excited is quite the word I'd use."
"Then why not go back?"
"Nothing to go back to." House replied. "I managed to burn my bridges before I left."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah, me too." House sighed a little. "Oh well, nothing I can do now. What's done is done. Guess I'm kind of stuck now."
"It ain't so bad here." Caroline sounded a little defensive.
"No, it's not." House agreed. "It's just…you know, different. It's taking some getting used to."
"Oh, I'm sure." Caroline shifted to sit back in the chair, still lightly holding on to House's hand.
"You okay over there?"
"Yeah." Caroline answered sleepily. "I think the drugs are wearin' off."
"Where are they?" House was already rising from the chair. "I'll get them."
"You don't have to do that." Caroline told him. "I can do that myself."
"Stay put." House told her firmly.
He limped toward the patio door and slid it open, searching for the switch for the overhead light. The light suddenly went on before he could find it, making House jump a mile.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Marge seemed as startled as he felt. "I was just goin' to bed. Everythin' okay?"
"Fine." House told her. "Just drugging up your daughter."
"Oh, really." Marge scoffed. "Be sure and lock up behind you when you go. G'night."
"Night." House found a glass and filled it with water before searching for the prescription bottle. Before he could find it, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist.
He turned around with a sigh. "Thought I told you to stay put."
"I'm fine. Just a little sore." Caroline told him. "I wish everyone would quit actin' like I'm made of glass."
"You've been through a lot." House answered, gently folding his arms around her. "And that's just the physical trauma. That's nothing compared to the psychological trauma."
"I already know all that." Caroline snapped. "You ain't tellin' me nothin' new."
"What do you want me to tell you?" House was getting exasperated.
"You don't have to tell me anythin'." Caroline replied. "Just…do what you're doin' right now."
"Don't tell me." House mocked her. "You just want to be held."
"That'd be nice." Caroline answered softly, laying her head on House's chest.
Something in House softened as he gently pulled her in closer, stroking her hair. There was something oddly comforting about just holding someone. It was a simple pleasure he had foregone long ago, casting it aside in favor of the pure physical release from one night stands and the occasional hooker.
"Not hurting you, am I?" House dared to break the silence.
"Not at all."
"Good." House could feel his leg starting to give out under him. "Any chance we could do this holding thing somewhere that doesn't involve standing? My leg's just about had enough."
"Oh, of course." Caroline answered quickly. "Come on."
She led him to a bedroom just off the living room, and he could hear someone softly snoring off to one side.
"Who's that?" House whispered.
"Kieran." Caroline whispered back. "Don't worry. He's a sound sleeper. He'll sleep 'til at least seven."
"Good to know." House was still wary of the situation. "I…I probably shouldn't stay all night."
"I don't recall askin' you to." Caroline countered.
"Then why am I here?"
"You remember when I first pulled up after…you know, everythin'?"
"Yeah."
"You wrapped me up in that blanket and just held me." Caroline's voice cracked a little. "I don't know why, but I just had a feelin' everythin' would be okay, just as long as you were there."
"So it's a comfort thing."
"Exactly."
House turned over the idea in his mind. The idea that anyone could draw comfort from him was laughable, to say the least.
Finally he huffed and sat down on the bed, toeing off his shoes and laying on his side. He patted the other side of the bed. "Come on and get comfortable."
Caroline slid in beside him, curling into his chest with a soft sigh. He gently draped his arm over her side, drawing her in close and taking in her scent. "Now, you've got to tell me if I'm hurting you."
"You ain't hurtin' me."
"Good, because…" House's voice dropped to a whisper. "…that's the last thing I want to do."
He thought he heard a slightly choked sound. "You're a good man, Greg. I don't think you could hurt anyone if you tried."
She fell asleep almost instantly before House could argue the point. Just as well, House thought. He was sure she would find out soon enough just how much hurt he was capable of causing. No sense bursting her bubble just yet.
He sighed and shifted slightly, and she curled even closer to him. She felt so good against him that he was reluctant to leave. And why should he? They were both adults, they weren't doing anything wrong, per se. They were just…cuddling. That was all. If there were any consequences, House felt as if he could damn well face them in the morning.
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And now I turn it over to you, dear readers. Read and review.
