A Week in Texas, Chapter 7

By HotlipsPierce

A/N: Okay, kiddies. Just a little mini-chapter that popped into my head during class today. I wrestled with whether or not to make it a part of a longer regular chapter, but then just decided to make it its own little vignette. By the way, thank you for the reviews so far on the last chapter! They really do make my day.

Enjoy.

"Greg." He couldn't help but smile. He just loved the way she said his name, and he couldn't believe that he was going to get to hear her say it for the rest of his life. "Greg," she murmured once more.

"Yes, Lisa?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Always love me."

"Always."

"Never hurt me."

"Never, baby, never."

"Always protect me."

"You have my word."

"Greg."

"Lisa."

"You broke your promises."

"What? I would never…"

"You lie to me, you tell me I would suck at being a mom, you embarrass me in public. You're a drug-addled old man. How could I ever love someone as damaged, as crippled as you?"

"Lisa, I…" He stopped as all of her suddenly came into focus. She was pulling off her engagement ring – his ring – and throwing it into the lake. "NO!"

House shot up in a cold sweat. Just a dream. He ran his palm over his face, encountering wetness, and wasn't able to decide whether it was just sweat or tears. He surveyed his surroundings. The room was dark, and he could just make out Chase's still sleeping figure in the other bed. Good. The last thing he needed was for the stupid wombat to witness what he was about to do.

House shuffled as best he could out of bed and grabbed his cane. He quietly limped over to his bag and opened one of the front pockets. Clenching his fingers around a small velvet box, House let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Good. Just a dream. Pulling the box out, he gently opened it. It creaked slightly, as older objects have a tendency of doing. The object on the inside, however, still looked as luminous as the day he'd picked it out. House smiled ever so subtly. Sometimes he couldn't believe he kept the ring at all, much less brought it with him just about everywhere he went. Obsessed much? Stacy had found the case once, but he'd been able to grab it out of her hands before she could open it and get the wrong idea. What was it I told her? Oh, yeah…Christmas present. Needless to say, she soon had a new pair of earrings housed in a box not that dissimilar to this one. House shot one last glare Chase's way, making one hundred percent sure he was asleep, before he gently picked the ring out of its holding place and placed the barest of kisses on it. He then quickly replaced it and shut the box, not caring too much about the noise it made. Jumping back into bed, House quietly resigned himself to spending the rest of the night as an insomniac. As long as I don't have to dream that again.