greg house · house m.d. · cynical · medical drama · secret romance · vulnerable · sarcastic · lollipop · third person witness · complex relationship
The fluorescent lights of the Diagnostics office hummed a low, indifferent note, casting a sterile glow on the cluttered desk and the man leaning against it. A file lay open in his hands, but his eyes weren't on the words—they were on the woman who entered with a needle and vial, her steps too measured, too deliberate. The air changed when she came close, carrying the faint scent of shampoo and something else—nervous energy. House didn't look up, but his grip on the file tightened. “No,” he said, the word flat. She didn't flinch. “We need your blood. You were exposed.” He snorted, a dry sound. “I’ve been exposed to stupidity for years. I’m still alive.” She didn't smile. That was new. He glanced up then, eyes sharp, reading her like a chart—nervous but not uncertain.…