House

[im_torchwood]

Jack couldn't just leave well enough alone. When he had free time, he found himself haunting the hospital, driving past Greg's building, spying on him as he got coffee. He even lo-jacked his bike.

But actually talk to the man? That wasn't in the plan.

He was actually in the hallway outside the clinic when his phone rang. He stopped to look at it, but it was just his boss so he swiped the call away.

Comments

[im_torchwood]

"Lucky for me," he replied. He hit the fob and the SUV chirped and unlocked. "Get in."

[drfeelbad]

House hesitated. "This feels like the part of the movie where you scream 'are you an idiot, don't get into the car with the guy who's been stalking you'."

[im_torchwood]

"Good thing it's not a movie, huh?" Jack replied, flashing a dazzling smile. "Go on. Get in."

[drfeelbad]

It wasn't like House had ever been one to heed caution. "Sure," he said, shrugged, and climbed on in.

[im_torchwood]

Jack gunned it to life and pulled out into traffic.

"Where do you like to drink?" he asked, sure House would name the bar he had seen the man drinking at before.

[drfeelbad]

House did indeed name that bar - it was the one that tended to have American sports on at least one of the televisions. He didn't say anything else though, not for the time being. He was just paying attention to Jack, and the car, wondering if he could work anything out.

[im_torchwood]

Jack took them straight there. The SUV was decked out in amazing tech, screens for thee passenger, and also in the back seat. Overall, it was quite tidy.

"Here we are," he said as he parked.

[drfeelbad]

"Are you a cop?" House asked as he got out of the car.

[im_torchwood]

"Not exactly," he answered. Jack got out and checked his pocket to make sure he had some retcon just in case this all went bad.

[drfeelbad]

"CIA?" House guessed next as they walked in.

[im_torchwood]

"Definitely not CIA," he chuckled, gesturing toward a table in the back.

[drfeelbad]

"High class escort?" was his next guess as House leaned his cane against the wall and slid into a seat.

[im_torchwood]

"You wish, Greg," Jack laughed lightly. "What are you drinking? Scotch?"

[drfeelbad]

"Yes," said House, somehow not surprised that the guy knew what he drank. "So why've you been stalking me?"

[im_torchwood]

"I'm not stalking you," he insisted.

[drfeelbad]

"So why were you at the hospital today?" House asked. "You sick? You don't look sick."

[im_torchwood]

"I was visiting a sick friend," he lied. The bartender came over and Jack ordered a scotch for House and a water for himself.

[drfeelbad]

He was lying, of course. "Why don't you drink?" House asked.

[im_torchwood]

"It's a waste of money," he replied simply. "Sometimes I like port."

[drfeelbad]

"So what's your vice of choice?" House asked, clearly just probing to work out more about him now. "Drugs? Sex? Danger?"

[im_torchwood]

"I like heights and I drive too fast," he answered. He waited just a beat. "You think you're really going to puzzle it out with twenty questions?"

[drfeelbad]

"No," said House honestly. And he leaned across the table a little, his unblinking blue eyes looking at Jack as if they could see straight into his soul. "But for whatever reason, you seem to know me, so does this behavior really surprise you?"

[im_torchwood]

"It never does," he smiled. "I love watching your mind work."

[drfeelbad]

"Do you," House said, still staring at him. "Tell me your favorite story about how awesome my mind is."

[im_torchwood]

"Okay," he replied. He turned his back to the bar so he could face House.

"One time I went in the ocean. I got really sick. No one could figure it out. And then you...wouldn't give up. You figured out it was an Irukonji jellyfish and I would either die or get better."

He paused, then shrugged.

"But you don't remember. "