The Game of Love

As she had promised House, Thirteen pulled Foreman aside the next chance that she got. She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes as she spoke. "I know that we've been together for a while, but I don't feel like we're moving forward. I understand that you're busy and have your own stuff to deal with. I'm sorry, but I think I need to find a better support for myself." Her words were gentle and she tried to fill them with kindness and he realized that she wanted to remain on good terms.

Foreman thought for a few moments before speaking. "I understand. This won't change the friendship and it won't affect the work," he told her finally. She nodded, gave him a sad smile and joined Taub in the patient room. Foreman sighed, pressed his fists to his head for a moment, then accepted what had just happened and went back to his job. House had been watching from behind his blinds and smiled inwardly, knowing that Thirteen was now completely his to do with anything and everything he so desired.

For a moment House pondered whether or not to strut into Wilson's office and inform him of the recent events, but decided to hold off on giving his friend information for a while. He had been very annoyed by Wilson's words, but didn't understand why completely. Of course it was the fact that he had wanted Thirteen's body for himself, he rationalized. What he couldn't admit was his growing fondness for the young woman who had chosen to give herself to him and who had broken up with her boyfriend for him.

He popped into Cuddy's office after getting himself a slurpee from the cafeteria. "What are the rules exactly for employees dating in this hospital?" he asked her when she looked up from her work.

"You aren't breaking Foreman and Thirteen up by using these rules if that's what you're after," she told him, unaware that he already had, but with different reasoning. "The rules say that employees cannot bring relationships into the work place. And they can't work in the same department unless they're equals."

"Good. And it's not for'Foreteen'. Maybe I wanted to know cuz I wanted to date someone in the hospital," he pointed out innocently.

Cuddy snorted. "I'm not hiring a stripper to work as a candy striper, House. Don't even try to push that idea again."

"You have so little faith in my relationship skills," he said, taking a long slurp of his drink. "Which is hypocritical coming from you…"

"Did you need something or are you just here to distract me from my actual work?" she asked, cutting him off before he could fully insult her.

"Fine. I'm going. But the next time I need approval to do a procedure I'll remember this. I wouldn't want to bother you again."

"House?!? You'd better get approval for dangerous procedures. I mean it!" she yelled after him. Of course he ignored her. He would only get approval for procedures if there was no way around it, as per his usual behavior. Pleased about her answer to his question, he strode off toward the elevators, contented in his successful annoying of Cuddy, to gloat to Wilson.

Wilson was shocked that House had asked about hospital policy and started open-mouthed at his best friend for several moments before responding. "Well aren't you going to say anything?" House asked. "I thought you were sure that Thirteen would drag me into her breakup with Foreman and thus lose interest in her relationship with me."

"You really like her, don't you?" Wilson asked.

"Well obviously I like her: she's sexy, smart, and available. The only question is where to show her my sexual prowess next," House replied.

"No. You like her. As a person. It's probably not even related to the sex."

"Why wouldn't it be related to the sex? It's good sex."

"But you're interested in her in a deeper sense. It's not all about the sex. You want to be with her. House this is huge."

"You're being stupid," House said in a feeble attempt to distract Wilson from bringing feelings into the conversation. He wasn't even sure that Wilson was wrong, but he didn't want to discuss it.

"No, I'm not. You essentially asked Cuddy's permission to date one of your fellows."

"No I did not. I asked for the rules so I could break them. You might be a little confused here…I'm the evil half of us."

"You'll have to either transfer her to a different department or to a different hospital if you're serious. And if you're not the break up will be nasty."

"There is no transfer and no break up: We aren't dating."

"Just sleeping together, right?"

"Yes, just sleeping together."

"Right." Wilson was unconvinced and House stood up, indignant.

"I'm going to have to stop telling you details of my life if you're going to start assuming that I'm becoming a do-gooder," House said, walking out. Wilson smiled and returned to his patient file, happy that House was actually feeling something besides lust or resentment toward a woman.

As much as House hated to admit it, Wilson was right. He was feeling things for Thirteen that he hadn't thought possible after Stacy had left. He lay on his back in bed and tried to come up with another solution to why he was so drawn to the young doctor. She liked him, he realized. Perhaps was feeling the same things and didn't know how to say them. He shook that last thought out of his head and tightened up the defenses on his mind and heart.

Before he could fully get back into his hardened mindset again, the doorbell rang and he dragged himself out of bed to answer it, not bothering to put on pants, hoping that it was Wilson with a six pack and a pizza. He opened the door to find a scantily clad Thirteen, however, and couldn't say that he was disappointed. "Hi," she greeted him. "I heard that you like stripper-grams."

He was floored and stared at her for almost a full minute before letting her in. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I wanted to see you," she replied with a smile. "Besides, we haven't made love here yet." He paused taking in her wording: 'made love' she had said.

"Great," he said unsure of what to say. He allowed her to push him back into a chair and press play on the boom box that she was carrying. She spun around and moved her body seductively in front of him, teasing him by unbuttoning her half open shirt very slowly. She removed the garment after a moment and tossed it at his feet, swiveling her hips in time with the beat, and then starting to work on the zipper of her mini skirt.

House didn't speak at all as she let the skirt slide down her legs and stepped out of it, then turned around and bent over, unhooking the stockings she wore from the garters. He took in the sight of her round bottom and felt his lower portions stirring. She stepped out of her high heels and stockings and turned back around to face him, eyes glittering in excitement. She reached around her back to unhook her bra and let the flimsy material slide down her arms and fall to the floor, still dancing in front of him. She was now wearing only a g-string and House was beginning to think that he was never going to be able to speak again when she straddled his lap.

"Are you enjoying your private show?" she asked, pushing her breasts into his face and twining her fingers in his hair.

"Yes," he croaked and she stood once again and began sliding the only remaining scrap of material on her body down. She exposed the small amount of dark hair and stepped out of the under garments, then resumed her place on his lap. "Remy…"

She didn't pause but couldn't help but notice his use of her first name. She kissed him passionately, slipping her hand into his boxers and freeing his erection to bring it to her opening. He pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it onto the ground as she sat down, taking in his length. He moaned, grasping her hips as she started moving against him. They moved slow, savoring the feeling of being connected.

Thirteen wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let her head fall back as he began a gentle assault against her throat and chest. He marked her in several places before thrusting up hard into her. She clenched around him, feeling the first waves of orgasm washing over her, and clung to him as he heightened her pleasure with each stroke. They moved with increasing speed until he came into her tight body and rested his head against her chest, breathing hard.

"I love you," he murmured before he could stop himself. She opened her eyes and looked down at him curiously before swallowing her pride.

"I love you too, House."

He looked up at her, fear in his eyes, something she had never seen. "I suppose this means that we've changed this relationship."

"I hope so. Otherwise I'm going to be raising your child on my own," she told him.

"What?" After a moment her news sank in and he wrapped his arms around her. "I never wanted kids, but I've got to say that I'm pretty damned happy."

"Me too," she admitted. They sat together thinking about what had happened between them until House's leg wouldn't allow it any longer and then they moved their pondering to his bedroom. She stayed with him that night, and the next night, wondering what to do next. The game they had started was certainly not what either of them had expected.