Must admit, there isn't a lot of House in this one. Bear with me. It's still important. :) Once again, I don't own House.
# # #
Rob pulled into Marge's driveway and shut off the small truck, House's words of wisdom rattling around in his head. He knew the other man was right, but it didn't make this any easier.
The thing was, Rob wasn't even sure he wanted to go through with this. Celia was leaving soon, going back to her life in Memphis. Rob was pretty sure it would be a long damned time before he saw her again, if ever.
On the other hand, the chances that he would meet another woman like Celia were pretty damned slim. Rob didn't leave the house much, and even before Iraq, he hadn't exactly been a ladies' man. It was a wonder he had even managed to snag his wife.
The thought of her pained him, and Rob immediately pushed her out of his mind. The divorce was bad enough. Discovering that he hadn't been their child's father had just pushed him deeper into depression. Good riddance to the manipulative bitch, Rob figured, although the thought that he'd never see the child again hurt deeply.
Rob let out a short sigh of irritation. He was just putting things off, and he knew it.
He eased out of the truck, wincing as he landed on the prosthesis. It was long past time to either get the damn thing adjusted or get a different one. Even if the VA wouldn't pay for a fancy one built for running, surely he could get one that fit better. The way this one was tearing him up just wasn't working.
Finally he made his way up to the porch, taking a deep breath before tapping on the door. No one answered, and Rob paused before knocking again.
He could hear voices just inside, and the door finally opened, revealing Celia. Her eyes went wide briefly before a bright smile lit her face. "Hey."
"I'm a mess." Rob blurted out.
Celia looked a little baffled. "Okay…"
Rob took another breath, running his hand over his head. "I don't sleep hardly at all. When I do sleep, I have nothin' but nightmares. I damn near lose my mind every Fourth of July when folks start shootin' off fireworks." He sighed heavily. "You could do a hell of a lot better than me. Probably will once you go back to Memphis. I don't even know why you're botherin' with me."
Celia opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. "You know why I'm 'botherin'' with you?" She took Rob's hands in hers, lightly stroking the back of them with her thumbs. "Because I know you're still in there. The same smart, sweet, passionate boy you were in high school."
Rob merely shook his head. "That was a long damned time ago. Pretty sure that boy got blown up in Iraq."
"I don't think so." Celia pushed herself up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to Rob's. Rob stiffened at the move initially, resisting the urge to pull back.
He broke the kiss, his heart pounding in his chest, reaching up to cup her face in his hand. "Don't do this to me unless you mean it. I don't think I can take all that."
"I do mean it." Celia insisted softly. She took him by the hand and gestured him to follow her.
Rob could hear Caroline and Kieran in the kitchen. Kieran was chattering about something or other that Rob couldn't quite catch.
Celia tugged at Rob's hand, putting a finger to her lips as she led him through the living room down a short hallway, opening the door on a bedroom.
She closed it gently behind her, leading Rob to the bed and easing him down to lie across it.
"Hold on, hold on." Rob held out a hand to stop Celia, sitting up and pulling up the leg of his jeans to undo the prosthesis. "Got a little prep work here first."
"Right." Celia smiled a little, rubbing his shoulder. "I always forget."
Rob didn't see how that was possible. He fumbled with the buckles, cursing himself for his fit of nerves. Finally he got it undone, and it hit the floor with a loud 'clunk'.
He winced at the sound as Celia giggled. Rob couldn't help smiling a little in response. "You think that's funny, girl?"
"Not funny, exactly…" An uncertain expression crossed Celia's face as she leaned on his shoulder.
"It's alright." Rob wrapped an arm around Celia's waist. "Not like I've had a whole lot of practice at this."
Celia's mouth curved into a warm smile. "Maybe I can help you out with that part?"
"Maybe." Rob answered softly. His doubts started rearing their ugly head again. "I gotta know somethin' first."
"What's that?"
Rob took a deep breath, letting his fingers trail slightly along Celia's waist. "How the hell is this gonna work? You're gonna be there, I'm gonna be here…I just don't see it."
Celia's arms snaked around Rob's shoulders. "I get every other weekend off for sure. Usually I get a day off durin' the week, too." She pressed a kiss to Rob's neck. "And I've been doin' some job huntin'. I'm thinkin' I can find somethin' a little closer to home."
Rob was baffled. "Ain't Memphis home?"
"The only thing there is my job." Celia answered. "Everythin' else I care about is here." Her voice dropped to a near-whisper. "I didn't realize how much I missed it 'til I came back."
"I'm glad you did." Rob answered quietly, daring to pull her in closer.
"Me too." Celia moved in to press a soft, lingering kiss to Rob's lips.
Rob could almost feel something unlock inside him, and he deepened the kiss, pushing both of them back onto the bed. His hand curved around her waist, sliding up the back of her shirt to feel the smooth skin underneath.
She responded in kind, and Rob almost immediately froze. He broke away from Celia's mouth, pulling back slightly to grasp her wrist. "Hold up, girl."
Celia looked a little puzzled at first before her expression smoothed out. "Take your time."
Rob huffed irritably, thinking back to what House had told him. Finally he sat up and whipped off his t-shirt.
Celia sat up to join him, her eyes going wide at first as she looked over him. She started to reach out with one hand, stopping just short of touching him. "Is it alright if I…"
"Go for it." Rob answered quickly. "If you ain't…you know…"
"It don't bother me." Celia told him.
"You must be the only one." Rob replied with a nervous laugh. "Bothers the hell out of me."
Celia traced the line that separated Rob's scarring from his unmarred skin, a ragged line that ran along his chest and stomach, dividing it almost in half. She spread her fingers out across the middle of his chest, gently pushing him back down to the bed.
Rob let out the shaky breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. The sensation in the scarred area was limited, but he could still feel Celia's hand smoothing over him, and he could definitely feel Celia's lips press into his stomach, moving up his chest, neck, chin, ending on his own lips.
"Aw, hell." Rob's voice sounded rough to his own ears.
"What?" Celia wore a concerned expression as she leaned over him.
"Nothin'. It's…" Rob shook his head, furious at the emotion that threatened to overwhelm him. There was no way in hell he was going to break down in front of this woman, not just because she had touched him in places no one had touched him in years. "…nothin'."
Celia shifted so that she lay next to him, continuing to lightly caress him. "You want me to stop?"
"Not…stop." Rob quickly rubbed at his eyes, taking a deep breath in an attempt to get his emotions under control. "Couldn't hurt to…I don't know…"
"Slow it down a little?"
Rob let out a little sigh of relief. "Yeah. That."
"Alright." Celia gave him a warm smile, leaning over him for a brief kiss.
Rob wrapped an arm around her before she could roll away. "Feel free to keep on doin' that."
Celia giggled girlishly and kissed him again. "You mean that?"
Rob slid a hand around the back of Celia's neck and pulled her down to him, kissing her deeply while pushing her over to her back. Her hands spread out over his back, seeming to make no differentiation between the scarred and smooth parts of him, as if the parts were all one.
Suddenly he didn't want to slow down. He wanted to push on, go further, break through the pain and isolation that had defined him for so long.
"Thought you wanted to slow down." Celia gasped out as Rob threaded his fingers through her hair.
"Changed my mind." He murmured, starting a line of kisses down her neck. "You alright with that?"
"Sure." She answered softly, running her hands over his back.
Celia's hands moved down to the waistline of Rob's jeans, sliding around until they reached the button. A flash of panic went through Rob, and he quickly moved to stop her.
"That's far enough, girl." Rob tried to affect a light tone, but he was fairly certain Celia wouldn't be fooled. "I ain't ready for all that."
Celia shifted slightly so that both of them lay on their sides facing each other. "Then we'll just keep doin' this 'til you are."
"I can work with that." Rob leaned in again and kissed Celia hard, evoking a girlish laugh from her.
They were nearly lost in each other again when there was a loud knock at the bedroom door. "Auntie Cee Cee? Mama says come eat."
"Be right out, darlin'." Celia called out. She quickly kissed Rob and pressed her hand to his face. "You want to stay?"
"Nah." Rob covered Celia's hand with his own. "I should get goin'. Got a few things to do today."
"Then I'll see you later." Celia told him.
Rob felt an odd warmth spread through him. "Yeah. Guess you will."
He quickly pulled his t-shirt back on and fastened his prosthesis, following Celia out of the room and back to the front door. Along the way they met up with Caroline, who was gingerly padding across the living room, a slightly surprised look on her face.
"Oh!" She covered her mouth. "Didn't know you were here, Rob. You want somethin' to eat?"
"Uh, no, thanks though." Rob quickly answered, slightly embarrassed at having been caught. "Like I told Celia, I got some things to do."
A slight smile curved across the younger woman's face as she turned back toward the kitchen, calling for Kieran as she went.
Soon he and Celia were alone again. Rob shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, suddenly feeling awkward. "I…I guess this is where I take off."
"Guess so." Celia moved toward him, slipping her arms around his waist and reaching up on tiptoe to give him a soft kiss. "I'm glad you stopped by."
"Yeah. Me too." Rob pulled his hands out and gingerly placed them at Celia's waist. "So…what's this mean? Are we datin' or…is this somethin' else? 'Cause I don't buy that whole 'friends with benefits' thing. Seems kinda dumb to me."
Celia smiled and squeezed him. "Yes, I'd say we're datin'."
Rob nodded, feeling a slow smile curve onto his face as he squeezed her in response, leaning down to kiss her again. The kiss almost automatically deepened, their tongues meeting and tangling sweetly, and Rob didn't want it to end.
Finally they broke apart, both of them letting out a nervous laugh. "Alright, I'm leavin'. I mean it this time." Rob told her, slowly stepping away. "Stop by the house later. We'll figure somethin' to do."
"Sounds good."
Rob slowly made his way down the porch steps and heaved himself into the truck. He sat behind the wheel for the longest time, lost in thought.
Celia had touched his scars and not been repulsed by them. No, not just touched them. Caressed them, as if they were as normal as any other part of him. It hadn't been nearly as frightening as Rob thought it would be, and he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened had House not all but pushed him out the door.
It didn't matter now, Rob decided as he started the truck and backed out of the driveway. Today was a new day, and he had the promise of something good with Celia. Better to look forward than behind. Far better.
# # #
House was still deep in thought over his phone call with Wilson when he heard the screen door bang open. Rob all but bounced in, softly humming something as he passed through, seemingly oblivious to House's presence.
Something had happened to the younger man. Something good. House pushed himself out of his chair and followed Rob into the living room.
Rob spotted him as he entered, fixing House with a quick smile. "Hey, man."
House merely nodded in response. "So…?"
Rob shrugged casually, though his expression was anything but. "So you were right. I laid it all out there, and…stuff happened."
House studied Rob closely. "From the stupid grin you can't seem to wipe off your face, I'd say it was good stuff."
"Yep." Rob rose from the couch, nodding as he passed House and returned to the kitchen.
House huffed irritably and followed. "'Yep'? That's all you've got to say?"
"Well, hell, I ain't gonna give you details." Rob snorted. "All I'm gonna say is that you were a real big help. Gave me a good solid kick in the ass." His expression turned more serious. "I needed that. So…thanks."
House was stunned. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had thanked him for much of anything before he had come here. Suddenly the gratitude was coming in left and right. He wondered what Wilson would have to say about that. "So I take it she didn't run away screaming in terror."
"Kinda the opposite." That slightly dopey smile crept back onto Rob's scarred face.
"And I suppose you two are a 'thing' now." House couldn't help the slightly sarcastic tone.
"Guess you could say that." Rob nodded. "She's doin' some job huntin'. Says she wants to be closer to home."
A little pang of something went through House, even as he was mostly happy for Rob. The young man had succeeded where House had failed. Wasn't that what House had wanted?
Finally House nodded firmly. "Good for you."
"Yeah." Rob answered, a thoughtful tone to his voice. "Guess we'll see where it goes."
The two men were silent for a long moment, the sound of House's cane thumping on the floor the only sound in the room. Finally House broke the silence with a huff. "What are you doing next week?"
"Not much." Rob shrugged. "Got an appointment at the VA clinic Monday mornin' to see about this leg. Guess that's about it. Why?"
"Well…" House was suddenly nervous. "I was wondering if you might be on board for a road trip."
"Where to?"
"Back to Jersey." House answered. "Since it looks like I'm going to stick around, I should get back up to Princeton, pack up my apartment, and start moving everything down here. I can get movers arranged for the furniture, but there's more…personal stuff that I'd rather take care of myself." He purposely avoided eye contact with Rob. Just because House had been crashing here for the last couple of weeks didn't make them great friends, and it didn't mean Rob would be willing to make this trip with him.
"I ain't left this state since I came back from Germany." Rob told him. "Couldn't hurt for me to get the hell out of here for a while, especially with Celia goin' back to Memphis and all."
"Thought she was hanging around."
Rob let out a short sigh. "She ain't found nothin' around here yet. Until she does…we're kind of doin' the long distance thing. She gets every other weekend off and a day or two durin' the week. Guess I'll see her then."
"Sounds like a custody agreement." House snarked.
Rob laughed. "Guess it kinda does. Whatever works though, right?"
"Right." House rolled his eyes. "So are you tagging along or not?"
"Yeah, I'll come with you." Rob nodded. "No sense goin' alone if you don't have to."
House nodded in response. He hadn't expected Rob to come along, but now that he was, he suddenly felt less apprehensive about going back to Princeton. "So Monday, after you see about getting that lame excuse for a fake leg replaced, we hit the road."
"Sounds good." Rob pushed himself away from the counter. "I got a few jobs to work on today, but I'll be back later. Maybe we can go hang out for a while before me and Celia get together."
For some odd reason, House liked that idea. "I'll manage to keep myself out of trouble in the meantime."
"You do that." Rob laughed. "See you around."
The screen door banged closed behind Rob, and House sat back in the kitchen chair. Maybe he and Rob were getting closer than he thought. Maybe, possibly, in time, he could come to call Rob a friend. He supposed he would find out over the course of the few days they would spend on the road.
Suddenly, House couldn't wait to hit the road for Princeton.
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