➹BEEPER

[intheblanks]

"It had better be an emergency."
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[intheblanks]

Birthday girl's choice. Now that part is traditional.

[He's dressed, save the jacket, and smoothing himself down as if she'd have given the thing to him with new-suit folds still in place.]

[synanthrope]

[She gets up and fixes his tie - of course - and while her hands are still there, she pulls him close and kisses him on the mouth. It's not common for her to show affection like this without sex following, it's not common for her kisses to mean nothing.]

Thank you.

[intheblanks]

[In the list of his favourite uses for a tie, that one places highly. He'd looked down while she was fixing it, though, and so he keeps her from pulling back too far after the kiss.]

Am I allowed to admire your heels early? Because I might be ahead of schedule.

[synanthrope]

You can. I got them today.

[She likes them, they're Brian Atwood, even though they're a little subdued for what she normally straps to her feet]

You can admire any part of me you like.

[Still close, she takes out a pair of tiny silver cufflinks from her purse and busies herself putting them on him]

[intheblanks]

[The line makes him grin, and he leans around to look over the contour of her calf with her feet kept practically en-pointe. If she weren't in the business of dressing him he'd try pulling one of her legs up to run his hand down it.

But, the effect won't be lost in the car.

He looks back to the detail work at his cuffs, and her focus on it.]

This is great. Perfect.

[synanthrope]

[The cuffs are delicate, intricate, by no spider to match one of her rings and a pin in her hair.]

Do you think so? I'm always looking for that.

[intheblanks]

[He notices the match, both the cufflinks and the colours. It's interesting that it's part of her design.

When she's done with the cuffs he lifts the jacket and slips it on, the lining gliding easily over his shirt, smooth enough to hang perfectly. He has a distinctive build, strong but slight, not tall, narrow at the waist. Most off the peg jackets make him look like a kid in his dad's gear. He stands still for her.]

Your verdict's the important one.

[synanthrope]

I knew this would settle well on you.

[She knows just how to tailor it, it make him look well built, not like a boy. She tugs just a bit, helping everything look right.]

The nurses will talk.

[intheblanks]

I'll tell them you came to pick up the rent.

[He offers a hand.]

[synanthrope]

[She takes his hand, hers tiny and hot but dry in his grip]

Is that a euphemism?

[intheblanks]

I think I'd come out of it badly if it was.

[synanthrope]

Well, that would be troublesome.

[The second they're out of his office, someone is staring. He looks really good in that suit.]

[intheblanks]

[And he's still a little blind to that reasoning but, so far as hospital gossip is concerned, he's learned to just keep walking.]

House would enjoy it. Is the car outside?

[synanthrope]

House enjoys pain in general.

Yes.

[intheblanks]

It makes him feel like people are on a level pegging.

[No it doesn't - House doesn't do equals (and Chase doesn't know it, but he's the closest there'll be)]

[synanthrope]

They never are.

[intheblanks]

All the people he's seen suffering, I haven't seen him decide one has suffered enough.

[As long as there's a puzzle, there is no enough.

Chase steps ahead just enough to hold the lobby door.]

[synanthrope]

[She tilts her head]

Why are there levels of suffering? Who decides on them?

[intheblanks]

In general terms, the person experiencing it is the only one who gets to judge. There's a reason we ask patients for their own pain scale - suffering is subjective.

[synanthrope]

Then why does House get to choose?

[Saya hands him the keys. He gets to drive.]

[intheblanks]

He doesn't. He gets to subjectively decide his suffering is worse.

[Even given the topic, Chase can't help raise his eyebrows at the offer of the keys.]

Whose birthday was this again?

[synanthrope]

[She just looks at him, her smile sharp]

I can drive everyday. You can drive.

[intheblanks]

I have to put some money into a car.

[His own keys would be a nice thing. He gets her door.]

[synanthrope]

[She slips inside, one bare leg slipping up the side of his leg]

If you find something, I'll fix it for you.

[intheblanks]

I'll look forward to your face when I bring in the battered RV.

[He says this to her knees before blinking and refocusing.]