anunluckypenny | IC Contact

Better. Kitchen it is.

[He leads the way, backing through the door with fingers crossed that the room will be empty. Getting the box down on the counter (there will be a grease stain, sorry) is a simple move.

When he turns to look back at her something in his expression has changed to something more serious, and maybe it's a clue that the smile was a front all along.]

[It's empty. In fact, the whole place is empty; with no boarders, there's no reason for anyone but Penny to stick around after dinner.

She isn't sure she likes the seriousness.]

What is it?

[The hand that settles on her shoulder is, as he warned her, warm.]

I'm sorry, Penny. Wilson's picture's in the hall.

[Geez, Chase. Don't burn yourself delivering pizza.

This isn't entirely unexpected, but confirmation of a fear is worse than a suspicion that can still be denied.]

You checked today?

Yesterday. I didn't want to let you know in a call.

Thank you.

[She gets out some napkins and a pair of paper plates, but makes no move to eat.]

Sorry. I mean, you two're friends... coworkers. Whatever.

Better friends than he really knows about. Margherita wasn't a bad choice, was it?

No, it's good, but what do you mean?

Well, that's the pizza I bought.

[The innocent act is a tease, but he smiles again.]

I mean, everyone here from my world comes from three years in the past, to me.

[Smartass.]

Oh. Does that ever get confusing? Like, do you ever forget and bring up something that hasn't happened yet for them?

I try not to. So far House knows I'm not working for him anymore, and Wilson knows - [Knew] - a couple of things. It's hard to keep everything to yourself when you've got curses acting as a public broadcasting system.

That's... yeah, the curses wouldn't help that. I'm glad I don't have anything to hide from anyone here.

[Except for the stuff she's hiding, that is.]

[Of course. Though the phrasing makes Chase a little uncomfortable, a wince he distracts from by opening the Pizza box and offering her a slice.]

It's not hiding exactly. Think about trying to explain the decisions people are going to make in their future when they haven't lived through the experiences that motivated them, and you'll see why it's difficult.

[She bypasses the pizza entirely and grabs his other hand.]

No, I--I'm sorry, Chase. That you have to deal with that.

[Well it leaves him looking a little silly with his slice, but he catches his fingers in hers.]

Hey. I'm fine. I came over to make you feel better. Who knows, maybe Wilson will come back with some idea of what I'm talking about.

[It's a vain hope - and an unfair one, considering what that would mean for the other doctor.]

Maybe trying to make you feel better makes me feel better.

[She gives his hand a brief squeeze before relieving him of that slice of pizza.]

Maybe he will. People come back all the time.

[This smile? Very forced and wholly for Chase's benefit.]

And he's had a long run of it. Someone told me that if you last out the first six months, your chances of making it out for good get less and less.

[And somehow he doesn't seem like that concerns him. But he has taken his own slice, carefully (theatrically) examining it.]

Hang on...

[That's comforting, but Chase is up to something.]

What?

[It's all right Penny, this is still just an attempt to cheer you up. He frowns at the pizza.]

Just trying to figure out if I can eat my pizza meat-free while still claiming to be a) Australian and b) a man.

[It's working. Penny laughs and tries her pizza.]

I'm sure your manliness'll stay intact. Not so sure about the Australian part.

You'll have to let me know if the accent slips.

[That laugh has to count as a point to him. And the etiquette which dictates one shouldn't speak with ones mouth full means that he can watch her as he chews.]

I will.

[She picks at her pizza a bit, occasionally glancing at Chase.]

Maybe it's too early to tell, but I don't think eating something without meat is making you less manly. I mean, I don't want to jump to conclusions.

[He's finished a slice in the time it takes her to pick - definitely still eating like a bloke.]

Maybe the pizza's a stabilising factor. I could have been in trouble if it was quiche. [He exhales a laugh, leaning back against the table beside her.] I don't think we need to take it to clinical trials. Checking my voice is still broken every couple of hours would be no way to spend your night.

You're right, and I'm pretty confident in your masculinity.

[She shoots him a look that could be interpreted as... coy? Is that even possible?] I wouldn't say no if you wanted to stick around for a while.

[Whatever that look is, it's one he hasn't seen before.]

I'm here as long as you want me. [Because of mission missing Wilson. Of course.] To be honest I was hoping you wouldn't just grab the box and kick me out.

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