House

[more_flexible]

November

Jack had to talk to House. He'd been putting it off because he wasn't exactly sure how to ask. But it was important and it needed to be done and it needed to be done now, well before the baby was born.

So Jack found himself at House's door. Fucker went nuts, barking and jumping on him.

"Hey, boy. Is he home?" Jack asked, as if the dog could answer. The dog wasn't helpful so Jack knocked on the door.

Comments

[misanthrope_md]

House heard the dog barking before he heard the knock.

"Yeah, yeah, keep your pants on..." he muttered, climbing out of bed where he'd been napping. He didn't bother with a shirt, just climbed out of bed in pajama bottoms and bare feet.

When he opened the door, he scrubbed his hand through his bed-messy hair.

"Hi."

[more_flexible]

Jack had to steel himself to remain where he was.

"Hi," he said...then he promptly lost his words. He couldn't think of anything to say until Fucker came up and shoved a wet, cold nose right into Jack's crotch.

"Hey, knock it off," he said, pushing the dog away.

"I, um, need to talk to you, House. It's important."

[misanthrope_md]

House scrubbed his hand over his face and pushed the door open wider before padding back into the hut. Limping, foot dragging a little, since he didn't have his cane.

"Come in. You can leave Fucker outside if you want, I know how annoying it must be, everyone always trying to get in your pants."

[more_flexible]

Jack let the quip slide. He was too nervous about what he wanted to ask to think up a comeback. He just left Fucker outside and followed House in.

"I have something to ask you and it would mean a lot if you'd say yes," he said, his stomach one tight nervous knot.

[misanthrope_md]

House sat down on the edge of his bed and turned his head in the hopes that Jack wouldn't see him wince from pain, his hand going to his thigh, rubbing.

Then he looked up. "I think you're supposed to get down on one knee or something."

[more_flexible]

"I will...if that's what it takes," he said. It took him a second to gether the courage, then he began to pace.

"Logan and I have been talking about things. The future. The baby. Important things. And this was his idea but I absolutely agree. We'd like you to be the baby's godfather, Greg. You're the only one we want. Would you? Would you be our baby's godfather?"

It all came out in one long rush because he was sure if he didn't say it all at once he would flub the whole thing.

[misanthrope_md]

House just stared at him.

"You have got to be shitting me. What, is this like... a dare or something? Someone put you up to this."

[more_flexible]

"No. No, Greg, I'm serious," Jack replied. He rubbed his hands together nervously.

"You're honest. You care about me. You're the only doctor Logan trusts. If anything happened to the baby you're the most qualified person to take care of it. You're a genius and you could teach it things. We talked about it...more than once. We want you."

[misanthrope_md]

House really felt like he needed to be more awake for this.

"You do realize how fucking nuts that sounds, right? Why would... Logan doesn't seem to even like it when I so much as look at you, why would he want me more in your lives? It was his idea?"

[more_flexible]

"It was his idea," Jack said. "And we're serious. It's no joke, Greg. You're the best choice. You're the one we want."

Jack hesitated and then he did drop to one knee before House.

"Please," he said quietly. "This is really important to me. To him. To both of us. Please say yes."

[misanthrope_md]

House had been starting to say something else, but his jaw dropped again when Jack got down on his knees. "You've lost your goddamn mind," he said. "Jack, I don't even like kids. You know that. You want a doctor, not a godfather. What if something happened to you? I'd be a terrible fucking parent."

[more_flexible]

"Then you'd find someone who'd be good. If you won't raise the baby that's fine, but we want you in it's life. It's important to us, Greg. It's important to me," Jack said with raw honesty.

[misanthrope_md]

"You don't even like me," House said, a little clipped.

[more_flexible]

"I lo...I like you, Greg. Logan does too. And more important than that? We trust you. You're the only one we want. There's not a list. We want you to be the godfather and Anne the godmother. I'm absolutely serious...we want you."

[misanthrope_md]

Like House wouldn't catch that slip at the beginning. He listened to the rest of the statement and then said, quietly, "Just say it, Jack."

[more_flexible]

"Look, just because it all went to shit and I am a huge ass doesn't mean I don't love you, Greg. And I trust you more than anyone else. You'll be honest and you always do the right thing in the end. Logan and I want you. We want you to be part of...part of our family," Jack said. He couldn't believe he was on his knees begging...and yet he'd kind of had an idea this was where he'd wind up.

[misanthrope_md]

House opened his mouth, then closed it again. He was afraid he was beginning to look like a fish.

Logan and I want you?

"We are just talking about the kid here, right?"

[more_flexible]

Jack rolled his eyes.

"Yes, Greg. Just the kid. It's important to have family, here especially. And god knows the pool of family members shrinks all the time. SO...will you be the baby's godfather?"

[misanthrope_md]

"I think it's a terrible choice," said House. "But if you're so insistent, then okay. But I want to make one thing clear - I am not responsible for the child if you disappear. I want you to work out ahead of time who would take them."

[more_flexible]

"Anne," Jack said immediately. "We already made that arrangement. We'd never saddle you with a child, Greg. I know you wouldn't want that."

[misanthrope_md]

House had no idea who Anne was, but it wasn't really relevant.

"Then fine," he said. "If that's really what you want... now for fuck's sake, Jack, get up."

[more_flexible]

Jack got up off the floor and brushed his knees off. He was positively beaming.

"Logan is going to be thrilled," he said.

[misanthrope_md]

House was still kind of looking at him like he was crazy. "Uh, okay. Good."

[more_flexible]

Jack hesitated for aminute and then he moved in fast to wrap his arms around House and pull him into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Greg," he said softly. "Really...thank you."

[misanthrope_md]

House stiffened at first in the embrace. But then he relaxed, and allowed himself, for just the briefest moment, to enjoy it.

He still smelled the same.

"You're welcome."