(no subject)

[numbered_doctor]

Today was supposed to have been a lazy sort of day. Thirteen had already taken the time off of work, and she and Sunshine had had plans on strolling around the neighborhood while the young doctor showed her friends the sites.

That changed, however, when her cell phone rang.

"Help us thirty-one, you're our only hope."

"House, I'm on vacation."

"You're still home, and you haven't gone anywhere, that's not vacation."

"I have company."

"The more the merrier! We'll be happy to meet your newest sexual conquest."

"She's not-"

"Ah-ah! Don't go denying it, she's the reason you've been in such wonderful moods lately."

"Fine, whatever."

"See you when you get here, Bubbles!"

Groaning, Thirteen hangs up the phone, turning to her erstwhile companion.

"Well, change of plans. How do you feel about seeing where I work?"

Comments

[sunbaked_baker]

A peace offering? Sunshine smiles slightly, accepting and sipping the (oh hey, it's actually pretty good) tea.

"Not too busy," she says. There's not much for a squeamish visitor to do at a hospital, unless they can go visit someone they know there. "What about you?"

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

House's motives are never pure. His own cup, filled with coffee is sipped as he puts on a bit of a smile.

"Just the usual," he says, more modest than he means. "Saving patients one weird diagnoses at a time."

His cane rests next to him; the very picture of just a relaxed doctor, talking with a visitor.


[ooc: Thirteen-mun? PM check? :D]

[sunbaked_baker]

"Well, the usual is still new to me, apart from what Thirteen tells me," Sunshine says, breathing in the fragrant steam of the tea. "This is the first time I've ever even been in a hospital."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

"Those scars on your hands didn't merit a trip to the ER at the very least?" he asks, a little surprised.

Interesting. Very, very interesting.

"Sorry, I notice things like that," again with the politeness he doesn't really mean, but has a good enough time faking.

[sunbaked_baker]

"They weren't nearly as bad as they look," she says into her cup of tea.

Nor was the just-visible sickle-curved scar across her upper chest that was definitely caused by a knife and most assuredly would need stitches to heal up as cleanly as it did.

Apparently.

"Well, it'd be your job to notice such things, I'd think. But at least you can take a break every so often," she smiles, with only slightly more sincerity than his politeness in her request that he stop seeking answers he's not going to get.

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

Oh, but dogged resolve is what House does best. It's nearing time to set subtlety aside.

"You been in Princeton long, or just visiting for a while?"

Or, have you been sleeping with my fellow for long, is the alternate question.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine doesn't know how long Thirteen and Lisa have been together. And doesn't know how long they will be.

"Not too long," she says, sipping her tea. She watches his face, almost seeking to read it rather than meeting his gaze. He's completely human, this one, but he's starting to remind her of her SOFs.

And breaking down crying and saying I don't remember isn't going to work here.

"It's been good to have someone to help me settle in, though I still need to find a job. Know any good bakeries around here?"

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

The timing doesn't fit. Doesn't fit at all. But the smile stays on his face, getting slightly more real, but he'll let it go for now. She's not the droid we're looking for. And this time, it's not Jedi mind-tricks.

"There's a decent one about four blocks from here. Could use someone that has the ability to make a person need some alone time with their baked goods."

Yes Sunshine, that is a compliment. Don't expect it often.

[sunbaked_baker]

'Not too long' is subjective at the best of times, spanning from a few weeks up to a year. And it's been nearly a year since Sunshine started sending a bag of goodies home with Thirteen every so often.

So Sunshine doesn't look worried at the change in the smile.

"You just want there to be Bitter Chocolate Death and Lemon Lechery available more often than the few times Remy decides to share," she smirks at him. "I might have to bake extra soon, since she and I've known each other nearly a year, now. She talked me into moving."

"Well, not talked, necessarily."

Though her smile's still there, her words are very much in the line of You remember those nearly orgasmic desserts you were hoping to enjoy ever again?

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He listens intently to her words, vaguely wondering why she decided to include how long she's known Thirteen in with the shuffle of making more baked goods.

Are the two related? How are they related? A celebratory batch of baked deliciousness? Pondersome.

Another long drink of coffee.

"Moving to the area, or in with her specifically? Wilson's ex-wife is a realtor, if you're looking for a place." Because Thirteen is so not going to be able to claim "company" because she's got someone living with her.

Pushing him isn't the way to deal with House. Thirteen should have warned her.

[sunbaked_baker]

"That's kind of you," no it isn't. "But I found an place I liked, no problem."

"I prefer living alone, but it does make interruptions to Remy's vacation time doubly annoying."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He shrugs. "She's got a fellowship under one of the best diagnosticians in the country. Some may argue the world. It's the price you pay as a doctor; you give up socializing time. Don't you worry your pretty little head, she's getting paid for coming in."

Ah, people not in the business. Gotta love 'em.

[sunbaked_baker]

"I'm not," she says, eyebrow raised. "And I was enjoying myself much more before we had to come in."

She feels she deserves to be paid for dealing with this guy. It's almost as bad as Mr. Cagney.

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He chuckles, "Why did you come in, then? Just because I told her she had to? You could have done some exploring around the city, gone to a movie...hell, found the job you're looking for. But instead, you've sat in the cafeteria all day."

Cutting through the meat of things is what he does.

"Though, if you've been friends with Thirteen for a year, you should be used to her having to come in to save people's lives at all hours."

[sunbaked_baker]

"I didn't have my car today; it's getting repaired," she says, rolling her eyes at him. "That's the only reason it's such an annoyance, today of all days, other than you."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He chuckles some more, leaning back a little in his chair. "I'm supposed to be here, as is Thirteen. You've got legs, right?"

He looks under the table.

"And look! No need for a cane either! There's plenty of very interesting things within walking distance of both her apartment and this fine institution. When she's done running the tests, to save a patient's life you can have her back."

[sunbaked_baker]

"You invited me here, anyway, from what I heard," she says coolly, only idly entertaining the idea of kicking him.

In his good leg, of course. She's not so far gone as to kick him in his bag leg, she'd argue, though it would be something a bad blood-cross would do.

Maybe it'd just be living up to what's expected of her.

Or giving in.

"Your 'happy to meet' me isn't exactly that."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

"I'd have invited the entire Princeton football team in if it meant getting all my team to do their work," he says as he stands.

He sighs and chuckles again. "And they tell me I'm a self-centered ass."

And there he goes, to check on his little ducklings, and the patient.

[sunbaked_baker]

"The wisdom of the collective is greater than that of just one," she says to his back.

She read that somewhere.

And she agrees with them.

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

He turns around, smiling again.

"I told you there was a place looking to hire. Instead, you sit on your ass and whine about how I'm making Thirteen do her job. Jesus, how much more pathetically annoying can you get?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"I could be you," she says, calmly sipping her tea . "Pretending all the decency in the world as if you could pull it off convincingly, poking and prying where you aren't wanted when there's no need to, quibbling over any answer you get simply for the attention and the opportunity to make yourself feel better, to reassure yourself again that you're better than anyone else."

"That is pathetic," Rae says. "And annoying."

"And pathetically annoying."

Sunshine sets her empty cup of tea down, and stands. "Whatever they're paying Remy to put up with you, it's not enough."

What's the fine for unhealthy working conditions, in this world?

[numbered_doctor]

There's the sound of throat clearing from the doorway as Thirteen catches the tail end of Sunshine's rant. She gives the woman a fond smile before turning her attention to her boss.

"House, the results are in, and you have to come see this."

[useslatin.livejournal.com]

"Don't bring her back here," he says looking at his fine young doctor. "She's way too uppity. Don't need guests causing a scene. What would Cuddy think?"

He starts walking, not waiting for Thirteen to follow, just expecting her to.

"You're very welcome for the tea; it was lovely seeing you," he calls over his shoulder.

His attention is turned back to the case. "What is it?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"It was nice to finally meet you too! Thanks for the tea and company," Sunshine says to House, cheerfully.

Ass.

Sunshine waves to Thirteen, wry.

[numbered_doctor]

Sunshine gets one last wave before she moves to fall into step beside House as he walks, handing House the file and pointing out what has the rest of the duckings and herself all aflutter.