fandomtownies | Saturday Afternoon, The Park

Saturday Afternoon, The Park

He'd spent a restless night, tossing and turning in the bed for a few hours before he dragged himself, and Cash, out to the couch. He didn't sleep any better on the leather sofa, but he was able to settle down at least. He finally pulled himself out of bed around ten, and took a long hot shower after letting Cash out in the court yard.

The clinic on call light was on, and even though he knew he should probably open the doors, he wasn't in the mood to deal with petty injuries. Once classes started up again, he wouldn't have the luxury of ignoring his clinic duty, but for now? The kids could find their own band aids and apirin.

House downed his meds, and headed out the door toward town. His leg was starting to ache, he thought he might stop by he book shopp and see if Aziraphale was around. Or maybe he'd go up to the clinic and see Wilson. He thought about going to Chaucer's shop, maybe. In the end, he ended up on a park ench over looking the small lake.

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Justin was there, he always comes to this place to just sit and think, which he should really do in his own backyard because it's so beautiful this time of the year but this place always seemed the best. It calmed him, that's all that mattered.

He saw House, the man looked in pain, as in physical pain, not like Justin's emotional pain. He edged his way over to House and took a seat next to the man, "Lovely day, is it not?" his British accent touching each word as he leaned back against the bench.

"Could be a little warmer." House looked up at the sun. It was a lovely day. he knew it was. He just tended to focus on the negative.

When Justin sat down, Cash pounced on his feet. House didn't discourage him.

A small chuckle came from Justin as the puppy pounced on his feet, he scratched behind the puppys' ears for a while before patting him on his head an turning back to House.

"It could be but it's lovely this time of the year. Frost on the leaves, the flowers, just amazing." he caught himself rambling again about something that might be boring to this man, "Wonderful puppy you have. What is his name?" Justin inquires lightly, a free hand going to pat the puppy on his head a few times.

"Cash. Named after Johnny Cash." House said, possibly beaming just a little. he was proud of his puppy. And more than a little fond of him.

"Guess I don't really pay attention to that kind of stuff. Greg House, by the way. I work at the clinic up at the school." He held the leash in his left hand to offer his right.

"Justin Quayle. Washed up Cultivation and Gardening teacher up at the school." he shook Greg's hand firmly, a business shake if you will, the British High Commission had drilled the aspects of business into Justin's head and he'd be damned to forget his manners.

Justin smiled at Greg and then at the dog, "Great name. He'll be a legend, I'm sure." he scratched under the dogs chin, letting him get a lick on Justin's chin.

House laughed. "Yeah, that's what I'm hoping." His shake was as firm as Justin's.

He reached over to pat Cash, and the dog nuzzled his hand, attention only momentarily distracted from his new friend. House clicked his tongue. "He's also shameless." Another laugh.

"Cultivation and gardening, that sounds interesting. Guess that's why you'd notice the frost on the flowers."

Justin nods as he looks back up at Greg, a hand still patting the dog on his head, "I tend to notice those things when others overlook them. It's only a hobby but I do enjoy it." a smile.

He was just glad that he was actually socializing with someone, Ghita always complained about his anti-social ways and he figured he should try and make some friends. Greg seemed like a nice guy, so it wouldn't be hard for Justin to be friendly, as if he's ever really mean.

Greg had a bit of a mean streak in him, though he was actively trying to control it. Most of the time. And especially with Cash around. He'd scared Cash when he threw his answering machine, and that hadn't set well with him. Upsetting Cash was almost more traumatic for House than being upset himself.

"Must be more than a hobby if you're teaching kids about it."

A shrug, "I figured that they would be more interested in flowers than politics, but alas, I only ended up with three students in the end. It was nearly heartbreaking." Justin's face looks soft and solemn, he had always thought his classes would become popular but that never happened and it was disappointing.

"But, I enjoy doing it in my spare time more than teaching it. You should really come see my garden, just lovely." a small nod with a smile now, he was more than happy to have someone over to show them his life work.

"I wouldn't think you'd have much of a garden this time of year." Gardening was one thing he hadn't ever really followed. He could appreciate a pretty flower arrangement, but that was about the extent off his knowledge.

"But in any case, I'd love to see it." Thinking about a garden in the middle of winter was actually a good way to distract his mind from other things.

"There are a variety of 'winter' flowers this time of the year, some may be in hibernation at the moment but these winter ones bloom. Infact, since the sun is at the right angle, they've just about bloomed." a smile, "Would you like to join me for lunch, Greg? As well as little Cash here, I'm sure I can whip something up for all three of us."

Justin was practically beaming right now, he was utterly delighted to have guests.

"He's already eaten." House looked poinedly at Cash. "Don't let him tell you otherwise. As for me, I would be delighted to join you for lunch, Mr Quayle." House nudged Cash off the bench and took hold of his cane.

Justin chuckled, "I'll be sure to remember that." he ran a hand over Cash's head before standing up next to Greg, he hadn't noticed the cane before and felt embarrassed that he had invited this man to his house which was a while away.

"Ready for a walk then?" he asked Cash more than Greg, the small puppy was bouncing around and Justin laughed a bit lightly at the puppys' attitude.

The puppy barked his excited answer. "Here, you wanna hold him?" Hosue offered Justin the leash. That would make things a little easier for him. Cash was still so little, even when he tugged on the leash he didn't have enough weight or strength to pull House. Yet. But still.

His limp might have been a little more pronounced than usual, but Justin wouldn't really know that. He really needed to see Aziraphale, but it could wait. It had only been ten days. He wanted to try to make it two weeks without a healing.

Taking the dogs leash, Justin's fingers brushed against Gregs ever so lightly, it made the hair on the back of Justin's neck stand straight up. He loved the little puppy, he had never owned an animal before so this was all new to him, as well as Greg's limp.

He didn't want to ask about it, it would see too rude to inquire about an injury, so he just directed Greg and Cash to his house (http://www.livejournal.com/users/jquayle/7303.html) on the edge of town.

Only two more days until classes started, and although Geoff didn't have an official roster yet, he had at least a fair idea of how many students had enrolled. And although it wasn't as many as he'd hoped, still...he was looking forward to beginning.

He decided to get out of the shop for a while and take in some fresh air, maybe do a little reading or class prep out in the park instead of inside his shop -- which was still in serious need of a coat of paint and some decorating. So, with a journal and his copy of To Kill a Mockingbird tucked under his arm, he walked through town toward the park. Spotting the doctor and his dog at the bench, however, his plans changed a bit and he headed over to say hello.

"Afternoon, House! Mind if I join you for a minute?"

House looked up at Geoff, and Cash bounded toward him, nipping at his pant legs.

"I don't know. I might have to report you for stalking." He laughed. Being out of his apartment had made quite a difference in his attitude. "Have a seat, my friend. What brings yu out here today?"

Kneeling to pet Cash with his free hand, Geoff laughed. "Sorry, boy, didn't mean to leave you out of my greeting." He looked up and grinned at House.

"If you don't want to be stalked, you shouldn't sit out in such a public place." He rose and took a seat on the bench, dropping the books next to him. "Looking for someplace that isn't my shop to pretend to work. You?"

As soon as Geoff was seated, Cash was in his lap.

House turned his neck to crack it. "About the same," he shrugged, and his eyes scanned the books. "But then I'm infamous for avoiding clinic duty, especially when my leg is acting up." He could feel the nerves twitching under his skin.

Geoff ruffled Cash's fur with both hands, apparently not at all perturbed to have the puppy in his lap. He glances sympathetically at House's leg, and nods.

"I'm mostly prepared to begin. Last term was my 'getting broken in' period, so to speak, so I have a better idea of what to expect this time. Not as many students enrolled for my classes as I'd hoped, but mine aren't among the ones that seem to really interest the students here, so that's understandable."

He cocks his head at the books. "Have you read that one? It's on my course syallabus. Pretty interesting, actually. I've getting quite the education myself, teaching here."

"Seems to me, these kids are more focused on their on immediate gratification, and learning, really learning something, interferes with their personal agendas." Hosue gave a casual look back toward the school.

"I've read it. Long time ago. There's a lot to be learned from a book like this." He nods, fingering the cover. "I read a lot of the classics when I was laid up."

"Oh, I don't know. Some of them are, certainly. But there are some good kids here, too. It's just that, put literature up against something like, oh, quantum physics or magic theory, and literature's going to lose."

He shrugged. "I don't mind. I didn't come here specifically to teach, so my feeling aren't hurt that much." Grinning as House fingered the book, he added, "Have anything you'd recommend?"

House nodded. That much was true. He'd take any sort of science over literature himself, and he liked to read. he wanted to read everything he could get his hands on.

"You ever consider Dickens? Great Expectations is my favorite." House shrugged. "Or Conrads Heart Of Darkness."

Geoff shook his head. "No, haven't read either of those, but I'll put them on my list now. This is the one on my list of required readings for the class," he tapped the book next to him, "so from here on out I'm in the clear and can read whatever I want."

Grinning broadly, his eyes lighting up a little, he said, "I checked out my new classroom the other day. I've got a bookcase that covers one entire wall of the classroom, and a closet full of texts for the class itself. You should come and see it."

"I'm going to see it, make no mistake." House smiled. "I'm going to drop in on you when you least expect it. Unless you wanted to take me there now?" House raised a brow in question. Going back to campus would distract him from going to the book shop or the clinic, looking for Aziraphale. It had only been ten days. he wanted to get to two weeks before he went around begging for a healing.

"You want to go up there now? I've got to post a notice on my office door anyway, we can do that if you like."

Geoff grinned, his interest piqued by the opportunity to show off his new classroom facilities.

House nodded. "That sounds like a plan. Fair warning, I'm moving slow on this leg today." House untangled Cash's leash and used the cane to pull himself up. "Probaly a good idea to walk back with someone, anyway." He added with a shrug.

"I'm in no hurry and the weather's clear," Geoff answered, shrugging. He stood, gathering his books back under his arm, and leaned down again to pat Cash. Then he gave House a serious look.

"Are you feeling unwell today, or just having trouble with your leg?"

"Just the leg." House answered quickly. "I had a rough night last night. A lot of tossing and turning." He shrugged.

"Do you know Aziraphale? He has the book shop in town? He helps me a bit with my leg, I was thinking of going to see him today, but I want to wait a little longer. We're working on a new age treatment, you could say."

Shaking his head and frowning just a little, he replied, "No -- I mean, I've heard of him, that he runs the bookshop, but I've never met him. I've been getting my books from the library mostly."

Pausing a moment, he added, "It's all right, I've been told what he is. I can't say I'm very comfortable with the idea of...angels and devils running around town, but..." He shrugged. "I'm sure he's very nice, and it's good of him to help you out."

Geoff turned toward the school, and turned the conversation back to literature, and they walked slowly back to school (http://www.livejournal.com/users/geoff_chaucer/22120.html).

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Saturday Afternoon, The Park

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