"Rise and shine." House said as he stuck a bowl of warm cornflakes on a tray before her. She sat up and looked at him irritated. "That's as far as my cooking skill will go today."

"It's fine. It's my favorite food anyway." After a pause, she said a quiet "Thank you."

"I think you should move around a little bit. You have the right color."

"Okay."

"I took the banana bag. You have to eat now."

"I know." She ate the whole bowl in a few grand gulps and put the tray aside. She got up and he watched her make every move. He was rejecting the idea that he was attracted to her. But being a doctor, he couldn't help but be obsessed with bodies. With hers in particular at the moment. It didn't have to be her. It could be any other beautiful woman and he'd still be enjoying the sight of her pale skin. The touch of her hand. The sweet smell of her hair and the perfectly constructed lines of her face. The color of her eyes as she looked up at him. He remembered.

"By the way," she said as she was putting on her pants, "you dressed me."

"Yes and I saw everything. I also had to give you a sponge bath and dry you off with a towel because you literally bathed in blood. I didn't do any funny stuff with you."

"And how can I believe that?"

"I like women conscious, so they can scream how awesome I am."

"I figured." She laughed a little. "Are you going to leave now?" She was a little scared. She would be alone again.

"I want you to come downstairs."

"Why?"

"Because I can watch you better there… And there's TV."

"I…"

"I'm not discussing it. You're coming." He looked into her eyes as he was in close proximity to her. She looked up into his. She was a bit scared. Or not. She didn't understand her feeling at the moment. She just knew her chest was shivering, her hands were sweating and her mind was still unclear as to what she feels towards this man. He saved her life. He helped her to avoid a huge bill from the hospital. He looked after her for three days. She should trust him for that. On the other hand, his motivation is unknown. Who knows what he can do to her. What if he enjoys tormenting people? What if he never lets me leave?

She entered his apartment and looked around curiously when she closed the door behind her. It was dark, gloomy and a little dirty. The piano was in a brilliant state, majestically appearing in the corner. She noticed it immediately.

"I see you play the piano…and guitar…Are you any good?"¨

"I am the alfa and omega of good, if you haven't noticed. Do you play?"

"I always wanted to learn the piano. But I was so stubborn and couldn't go through with it. I kept lashing out at the keys. I was angry at them… I love the sound of it, though."

"What do you listen to the most?"

"Chopin, Debussy, Satie and the classics…" House thought for a second and sat at the piano. After some time, a luscious noise started to come out of the instrument and it was so delicate and pleasing. Every key created a new dimension. Each sound made her sway gently from side to side. It was one of her favorite pieces from Satie, Gymnopedie n.1. It was simple, easy, and yet it had such a body of sound, such a rich voice and emotion. She started to dance to it slightly, closed her eyes and smiled widely. It was the most pleasurable experience of the last week. Before she had no interest in hearing it again. Now was the time to hear it. After finishing one, he played another and another. She kept swaying in a haze. It was like a stroke over her hair. Like a caress on her skin. House didn't watch her being busy with the keys. He could see her softened face and her light smile full of gentle ecstasy and he continued. It was like a dance between the two of them, slow and delicate… When he couldn't remember the notes anymore he stopped. He noticed she was tearing up again. But it was a tear of joy.

"Thank you…"

"For what?"

"That you shared this moment with me. I could've just gone to my cell and play it into my earphones. This way it had more meaning." He nodded. "You really do justice to Satie."

"Thanks…it's not that hard…"

"And yet I never got around to learn. I kept putting it off. Doesn't matter anymore." She turned to leave. She felt she had nothing to do there.

"Don't go…" He said with a slightly raised voice. She stopped for a second. "I'll teach you," he panicked. It was the last way he knew how to keep her there.

"I can't pay you."

"I know."

"I might be good for nothing."

"Doesn't matter. You can still try. You can use my piano to practice anytime you want." She didn't understand why he would want to do this for her. Why did he do so much for her already? What is he trying to make up for? She thought there is no harm in trying. She can put her suicidal thoughts aside for a few days, to see if she can still make it.

"Okay," she said quietly.

From then on, they were practicing every day together. And she wasn't half bad. A fast learner. After a month, she tried to actually play, instead of training her fingers. Her scars were healed nicely. She learned a couple of short songs and life was beginning to feel good again. The whole time, as he persuaded her, she stayed in his apartment. She didn't protest much anyway. She slept on the couch and didn't mind it. They never discussed their relationship. They were just roommates, apparently. She even decorated his living room with her sketches. He was on some of them. One was where he was thinking, his look distant, his brow crinkled and focused. It was made while he was reading, while he barely noticed her drawing him. Another one when he was playing the piano for her. She listened and sketched. He had such a smile on his face, she never seen before. It was warm and absorbed. She understood that.

"There was supposed to be a G there," he mentioned while she played a simpler tune.

"I know."

"Try again." The keys are far away from each other.

"I can't do it. It's too far from my hands."

"Just practice," he said. She stopped playing.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm cleaning out the closet."

"Why?"

"Why do you keep asking why? I'm just making some room for your things, I keep tripping over them here."

"I knew it," she stood up and uttered.

"Then, why didn't you do it yourself?" He looked at her confused.

"I knew, that you would keep me here and wouldn't let me leave."

"I you wanna leave, that's fine,"

"Why are you installing me here permanently?"

"Because you are here, all the time!"

"You didn't say you minded."

"I don't care."

"You protect me for days. You keep checking on me at night. Yeah, I've noticed. You let me stay here and use your things, you teach me to play and you say you don't care?" He didn't answer and left everything the way it was. He just went to the bedroom and slammed the door. She wanted to leave but couldn't. The feeling of being close to someone was too strong now. Leave it and she will die. She lied on the couch and thought about what he said. But sleep was too far away from her mind so she got up again after midnight. She went straight to his room. She opened the door, came in and stood watching him there for a while. He was sleeping soundly. She was rejecting him the whole time. He was very clear about his feeling too. Is it just her imagination? Is their connection real? And is it safe? She went and did the only thing she knew how to show him her appreciation. She sat on the bed and carefully crawled under the covers.

"If you're looking for House, he's currently out of town, can I take a message?" House said half asleep. She laughed at her pointless attempt, lied down and faced him. "What are you doing here?"

"The couch was getting boring."

"Are you sure you wanna risk your innocence in here with me?"

"Can't be all bad, can it?" They smiled at each other. "I needed to see you. To ask you why, once again." House sighed and sat up on the bed, putting his feet on the floor and turning away from her. "Why did you save me that night?"

"We've been over this."

"And yet I never got a straight answer from you."

"I didn't want your death to be my fault," he said truthfully.

"And why did you take me her? What's in it for you?"

"I watch you in the shower."

"No, you don't."

"Then what do you want to hear?"

"I just want to know if you feel sorry for me, or if you care!" She sat up and crawled to sit beside him. "Alright, you want to hear it first? Meeting you, you bastard who saved my wretched life when I didn't want it, was the best thing that ever happened to me." She laid a hand on his cheek and watched him. His face intently followed each word she uttered of the last sentence. He was completely caught off guard. "Now tell me, why did you save me?" He was hesitant for a while.

"Because…" he started. "Because I felt that if I can save you, you can save me."

She looked into his eyes and smiled. She put her other hand on his neck and kissed him gently on the cheek. He took her onto his lap and run his fingers through her hair and he caressed her for some time, her neck, her chest, her back. She leaned in and held him tightly. She put all her energy in that hug, all her gratitude and love. They both did. Holding each other was what they needed more than anything. More than sex. More than passion. They needed to be open and their heart naked in front of each other. They needed the attention of the other, to understand and see themselves. This way, they felt they both existed.