Yes, it's been ages on this one, too. My humble apologies. As always, don't own House.

# # #

House spent the remainder of the morning on the computer, hunting down information about transferring his medical license from New Jersey to Tennessee. From the looks of things, it might take longer than the three-month lease he had signed on the office and apartment.

He huffed in frustration. If he had known that, he might not have bothered. Perhaps he would have just hopped back on the bike and ridden back to Princeton. Sure, he might have had to beg for his job back, but he and Cuddy were used to that game. One more round wouldn't have hurt.

Except that he was tired of that game. House wanted to make a clean break, and he was already here and committed to staying, at least for a little while. He'd already sent his CV to Vanderbilt University. He could teach there without a medical license. It would be something to keep him occupied and keep the income rolling in until he could complete the licensing process.

This was turning out to be more difficult that he'd imagined. House was starting to wonder if it was worth the trouble.

The screen door banged open, followed by a loud bark as Baxter greeted Rob. He nodded at House as he limped through carrying a tool box. "Now what are you doin'?" He asked.

"Surfing for porn." House answered. "Your 'collection' isn't worth shit."

Rob merely chuckled and shook his head, and House let out a little huff. "While I was doing that…I was checking out licensing requirements."

Rob looked puzzled. "Your license ain't good in any state?"

"Nope." House shook his head. "Looks like I might be in a holding pattern for a while."

Rob looked thoughtful. "You know, I've seen some ads for the VA. They say your license is good everywhere."

"No thanks." House nearly shuddered at the thought. "Rather work at a real hospital with real doctors."

"Just a thought." Rob shrugged. "I know they've taken pretty damn good care of me."

"Yeah, I can see that." House threw Rob a skeptical look.

Rob rolled his eyes, eased himself onto the couch, and undid his prosthesis, letting it hit the floor. "Now, we all know I'm a special case. Don't mean nothin'."

House shook his head and closed the web browser. "How many interesting cases could I dig up in a VA hospital? 'Gee, this guy's arm got blown off. I wonder what caused that?'"

Rob's expression turned dark, and House winced internally. Once again his mouth had run ahead of his brain. "You know what I mean. At my old job, I got the cases no one else could figure out. Most cases aren't that complex. That's all I'm saying."

Before Rob could answer, the house phone started ringing. "Yeah?" Rob listened to whoever was on the other end. "Sure, kid, come on out. Somebody oughta be home. See ya later."

He hung up the phone and turned to House. "Tyler's comin' out to work on the bike."

House nodded, noting the tension that had suddenly developed between the two of them. "Maybe I'll give him a hand."

Rob nodded shortly. "Sounds like a good plan."

Within a few minutes there was a loud banging at the screen door, followed by the dogs barking. House left Rob behind and pushed himself out of the desk chair to answer.

"Hey, Doctor House." Tyler greeted him. "Rob said I could come out and work on the bike."

"So I heard." House answered. "Think I'll join you."

If Tyler questioned it, he didn't show it, almost immediately talking House's ear off as they got down to work.

"So my birthday's only, like, three weeks away." Tyler was chatting eagerly. "Think we'll have the old girl back together by then?"

"Maybe." House's mind was barely on the conversation, still running over his foot-in-mouth moment with Rob.

"Man, that'd be cool, huh?" Tyler continued. "Then maybe we can get out and get some ride time." He gave House a questioning look. "You're still gonna teach me, right?"

"Yeah, sure."

Tyler tilted his head at House. "You okay, Doctor House?"

"Fine." House snapped, sharper than he'd intended.

"You sure?" Tyler pressed. "'Cause you sure seem upset 'bout somethin'."

House huffed irritably. "I'm fine. You're just a damn kid, anyway. Mind your own business."

Tyler fixed House with a sullen glare. "That's the same crap my dad pulls on me. Man, I thought you were different. You're just like everyone else."

House returned Tyler's glare with one of his own. "Yeah, I'm an adult, too. Big surprise."

"You know what I mean." Tyler looked a little guilty as he let out a little sigh. "I mean, I know you're an adult. But you're different, you know? Out there ridin', doin' whatever you want, not carin' what anyone thinks."

"And you got that idea from where?" House was vaguely amused.

Tyler shrugged. "The bike, the leather jacket. You know, you just seem like some kind of rebel." He shook his head. "You probably think I'm bein' kinda dumb."

"You are." House agreed. "But you're a kid. You're supposed to be dumb. That's why you've got to have adults around to keep you from doing stupid things that you'll regret later. When you grow up, you'll do the same thing. And the circle of life will continue."

Tyler made a face. "I ain't never gonna be like that."

House let out a short laugh. "Yeah, you are."

"Ain't."

House shook his head. It wasn't so long ago that he was Tyler's age, making similar proclamations. Of course, Tyler probably didn't have the problematic relationship with his dad that House had with his. Tyler and his dad seemed close, loving even. House would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't a little jealous.

But there was nothing he could do about that. His dad had passed on, and any chance for repairing that relationship had been shot long before the man's death.

"Your dad seems like an okay guy." House finally told Tyler.

"He's alright, I guess." Tyler shrugged. "Rides my butt a little hard sometimes, but…" He shook his head. "Yeah, he's actually pretty cool. He don't drink much, he don't whoop on me, lets me do a lot."

"You're luckier than you know." House told him quietly.

"I know." Tyler's eyes flicked up to meet House's. "There's this friend of mine, Zach. He stays at our house a lot."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Tyler twisted his mouth. "Sometimes when he shows up…"

House didn't say anything, simply sitting back and waiting. Finally Tyler continued. "He and his stepdad don't get along. Actually, I don't think he's really Zach's stepdad. I think he's just his mom's boyfriend. She just tells folks that he's his stepdad. Anyway." Tyler's voice dropped a little. "Sometimes, when he's changin' clothes, you can see…marks. Not normal marks, either, like when we tear ourselves up ridin' dirt bikes or somethin'."

Something stabbed at House, and he almost dreaded hearing what he knew was coming next. "You think there's more going on."

"I think that son of a bitch is whoopin' on him." Tyler's eyes went hard, anger flashing through them. He fiddled with the tool in his hand, the tension obvious. "It ain't right, you know. Zach's a cool guy. He don't do nothin' wrong. I just don't get it." He clenched the tool hard. "I fuckin' hate the man."

House didn't have it in him to check Tyler's language. He was too busy dealing with his own emotional response. "You ever tell anyone about it?"

"Naw." Tyler shook his head. "Ain't my place to tell."

House started turning over an idea in his head. He wasn't entirely sure of the legalities of his idea, but then again, he'd never let that stop him before. "When is he coming to stay the night again?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Let me know." House found himself telling Tyler. "I'll check him over."

Tyler was baffled. "Why?"

"Because, as a doctor, I'm legally obligated to report signs of abuse." House explained.

"And then what?" Tyler's eyes went a little wide. "He goes to jail?"

"Varies from state to state." House told him. "Usually we report to the child protection agency, and they start an investigation. Doesn't guarantee legal action, but at least…someone knows."

Tyler's eyes seemed to shine, and the kid jumped up to round the front of the bike, suddenly grabbing House in an awkward hug, his whole body shaking as he unloaded on House's shoulder.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Tyler lifted his head and swiped a hand across his nose. "Sorry. It's just…you know."

"Yeah, I do." House glanced down, playing with his cane, trying to get a grip on his swirling thoughts. Finally he looked up at Tyler. "You're a good friend."

Tyler shrugged, brushing at his eyes. "So is he." He looked around awkwardly. "You gonna tell anyone?"

House sighed. "Not right now. Don't have anything to go on until I check him over."

"Cool." Tyler looked nervous. "I don't want him to get in trouble, you know?"

"I know."

There was a long silence until Tyler finally broke it. "So, hey, I guess we'd better get back to work on the bike, huh?"

House nodded, absorbed in his own thoughts as Tyler returned to his previous spot on the other side of the bike, getting back to work as though nothing had happened.

He couldn't help but think what might have happened if he'd had a friend like Tyler. Maybe things would have turned out differently.

It seemed unlikely. As part of a military family, they moved constantly. Even if House had been able to form friendships, he wouldn't have stuck around long enough to form the kind of bond Tyler and Zach obviously had.

And House had grown up in a very different time. The line between discipline and abuse was fuzzy, at best, and even House had trouble differentiating between the two in his own memory.

No, it probably wouldn't have made a damn bit of difference. House finally pushed his thoughts aside and set his cane aside to start working on the bike, falling back into conversation about anything but Zach. House decided he'd deal with that situation again when it came up.

# # #

They worked on the bike for a couple more hours before the sound of gravel crunching in the driveway made Tyler lift his head.

"I gotta go." Tyler told House. "My dad's here."

"I see that."

Tyler carefully packed up the tools and put them away before sticking a hand out to House. "Thanks. You know, for everythin'."

House nodded, shaking the kid's hand. "Let me know."

"I will."

With that he was gone, and House closed the shed before returning to the house, giving the dogs their requisite attention before crossing into the living room, where Rob was stretched out along the couch with a book.

He glanced up when House strode in. "Hey."

"Hey." House wasn't sure what to say, given the way he had left things earlier.

"How'd the bike work go?"

"Good." House nodded, thumping his cane on the floor. "We got a lot done. Talked a little, too."

Rob chuckled as he pushed himself into a sitting position. "Bet he did most of the talkin'. That boy'll talk your ear off if you let him."

"Oh, he did." House agreed, secretly glad the boy had been in a particularly chatty mood.

There was a brief silence before House spoke again. "Look, about earlier…"

"Forget it, man." Rob told him, lifting up his jeans leg to reattach his prosthesis.

"No, I won't." House pushed on, determined to get this one thing out. "Sometimes…okay, most of the time…my mouth runs ahead of my brain. Words just…come out, as if I don't have any control over them."

"I told you, it's okay." Rob huffed. "No hard feelin's."

"It's not okay!" House shouted, thumping his cane hard on the floor. "I do this shit all the time. Run my mouth, drive people away…" He shook his head. "You've got this idea that I'm this great guy, when the truth is, I'm not. I'm just…not."

An amused expression flashed across Rob's scarred face. "I don't know why the hell you got the need to prove what an asshole you are. It ain't workin', I can tell you that."

House let out a disgusted huff as Rob continued. "Sure, you're ornery, and you ain't always the nicest guy to deal with. But you know what?" House shook his head. "You always tell it like it is. You're a damn good reality check, and most folks need that, even if they don't think so at the time. I know I need it."

"So you're not mad at me?" House was baffled.

"I was, sure." Rob shrugged. "Don't do no good to get mad over that, though. Like you said, you were just shootin' off your mouth. You didn't mean nothin' by it."

House nodded. "I like a good medical mystery. Amputation isn't mysterious."

"Sure ain't." Rob agreed. "So maybe the VA ain't for you."

"It wasn't the worst suggestion, I guess." House shrugged.

"Don't sweat it." Rob told him. "So, how are you at darts?"

"Haven't played in years." House smiled a little. "Not since before…"

"The leg. Gotcha." Rob tilted his head curiously. "Seems like there's a whole lot you used to do before that thing."

"Yeah." House answered roughly.

Rob nodded as if he understood, which House supposed he probably did, better than anyone. "Why don't we head down to Dave's and see how rusty you've gotten. Loser buys the beer."

"Sounds good." House smirked.

They climbed into Rob's truck for the ride to town, pulling into a parking space and heading inside. Dave waved to them from the bar as they approached.

"Good to see y'all." The beefy man greeted them. "What'll it be?"

"Just need some darts." Rob told him. "Gotta decide who's buying the first round."

Dave laughed and handed them each a set, and they signed them out and headed for the dartboard.

They spent the game talking smack to each other, and House realized that not only was his game incredibly rusty, Rob had some mad darts skills. House groaned internally. His wallet was going to be a lot lighter if this kept up.

"And that's game." Rob told him as he pulled the darts out of the board. "I'll take a Bud."

"Asshole." House grumbled, limping toward the bar as the sound of Rob's chuckle echoed behind him.

Dave greeted him with a grin. "Well, surprise, surprise, surprise. Look who's buyin' the beer."

"Yeah, yeah." House grumbled, rolling his eyes. "A Bud and a Sam Adams, Gomer Pyle."

Dave chuckled and opened up the cooler to grab the two bottles, setting them on the counter. "See you next round."

House made his way back to the table near the dart board, where Rob was sitting, absentmindedly rubbing at his knee. "Up for another game?"

"In a minute." Rob answered. "Want to enjoy the taste of victory for a minute."

House huffed and rolled his eyes as he joined Rob at the table. "It damn sure doesn't taste like Butt Wiper."

Rob snorted, nearly choking on his beer. "It does this time around."

House couldn't help but let out a chuckle at Rob's response. He was oddly relieved that he hadn't managed to push Rob away. If anything, they'd managed to get a little closer.

He wasn't used to that, but for the moment, House didn't question it. Besides, he had a dart game to win. Damned if he'd pay for the beer all night.

# # #

After the third game and the third beer, House was feeling mellow in a way he hadn't in ages. He'd finally managed to win the third one, and he wondered to himself why hadn't played for so long.

"Hey, man, we should probably get goin'." Rob told him. "Me and Celia are supposed to get together tonight."

"Sure, just when I'm on a roll." House shot back.

"One game don't make a roll." Rob cracked.

House let out a 'hmph' as he left with Rob, climbing into the small truck for the ride back to the house. Almost as soon as they arrived, Rob grabbed the phone and disappeared down the hallway.

House couldn't help but be amused. The man had it bad for Celia. Good for him. Apparently it was something that had been a long time coming.

Rob leaving the house for the night meant that House had the place to himself. If he were back in Princeton, he wouldn't have minded, losing himself in bad takeout, TV, and bourbon. Since he was here, his entertainment options were a little more limited. He didn't even have a guitar with him.

"Guess I'm out of here." Rob appeared a short time later, running a hand over his hair. "Damn, I should have gotten a haircut today."

House rolled his eyes. "Just go. Have fun, stay out of trouble, all that good stuff."

"Same to you." Rob answered, an edge to his voice. "Don't burn down the place."

"Right." House snorted and started flipping through the channels.

The door slammed shut, and House suddenly found himself with a lap full of Baxter, who let out what sounded like a sigh as he plopped his head down.

"I know exactly what you mean, buddy." House told him, scratching him behind the ears. "Looks like it's just us tonight. Your human's out getting himself some."

Baxter whined a little, rolling over slightly, and House rubbed the dog's belly. This wasn't so bad, really. The beast was pretty good company, better than a lot of people he knew.

He channel surfed until he found a halfway decent movie, lifting his leg to rest on the coffee table while continuing to pet Baxter. It was all fine and well and good, but soon House started to feel antsy in a way he hadn't in a long time.

Usually he was fine with being alone, given that his choice of company was either Wilson or a hooker. Wilson tended to waste his time lecturing House instead of hanging out with him, and as for hookers, well, they tended to get expensive.

Part of the problem was lack of employment, but with any luck, that would be solved if Vanderbilt saw fit to take him on. There was still the matter of transferring his medical license, however. That would take time, more time than House had originally anticipated.

He huffed irritably, and Baxter seemed to snort in reply. There was nothing he could do about his job situation tonight. Might as well put it out of his mind for now.

The house phone started ringing, and House wasn't entirely sure he should answer it. The machine picked up before House could make that decision, clicking as it played the outgoing message.

"Hey, Greg." The familiar twang carried through. "It's Caroline."

She seemed to take a deep breath, and House quickly pushed Baxter off his lap to grab the phone.

He fumbled it briefly, cursing himself for his sudden fit of nerves. "Caroline?"

"Greg, hey." Caroline's voice seemed to carry a note of amusement. "I guess you're wonderin' why I'm callin'."

"Uh, yeah, a little." House couldn't figure out why his heart wouldn't slow down.

"Figured you'd be home by yourself since Rob and Celia went out." Caroline explained. "Mom wants to know if you'd like to come over."

"Your mom?" House was skeptical.

He heard Caroline take a little breath. "That was kind of a bad lie, wasn't it?"

House couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, it was."

"Okay, let me try that again." Caroline paused before speaking again. "Greg, would you like to come over and watch a movie tonight?"

"I…guess?" House was thoroughly baffled. "Any special reason?"

"I don't know." Caroline seemed to lose what little confidence she had. "I just like you, and…never mind. I suppose it's a little silly."

"It's not silly." House quickly assured her. "And…I wouldn't mind coming over. If you still want me to, that is."

Caroline let out a long breath. "I would. Really. I would."

"I'll see you in a few, then."

"Okay." Caroline answered. "Bye."

House hung up the phone and pushed play on the machine. Caroline's voice came out of the speaker again.

"Hey, Greg…it's Caroline."

House wasn't sure why his name sounded so sweet coming out of her mouth, but he knew he wanted to hear it again. He grabbed his helmet and jacket and left the house to mount his bike, still not entirely sure he should be doing this.

He snorted derisively as he put on his helmet and started the bike. It was just a movie, nothing more. There was nothing for him to get nervous about.

So why was his stomach knotting up as he flew down the roads that led to Marge's house? House couldn't come up with a rational explanation. None at all.

# # #

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