I'm Still Standing (Open)

[Dr. Chris Taub]

Taub wasn't one to frequent bars that often. But he felt that tonight he was completely justified in doing so. His wife and him had been trying their hardest to work things out, but there were nights like tonight where he felt instead of taking two steps forward they had taken two back. Of course, if she found out that Taub had wandered out to a bar after this latest disagreement that wouldn't make matters any better.

He sat down at the bar counter and ordered a bottle of Budweiser, which he was now sipping at. The bar wasn't that crowded, being a Tuesday night, so the odds of someone he knew coming in were astronomical. Taub was well aware of his bad luck, though.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel decided that after work she was going to the bar. Why? Because after dealing with House, and throwing a book at him, she deserved a drink. She could have brought Wilson with her, but she knew he wasn't much of the drinking type. Entering the bar, she looked around. Ah, the place that started it all so to speak. If she hadn't offered House a drink that night, none of the events that were currently unrolling would have happened. Not that she was complaining. Out of everything that had happened, she had managed to land herself a good doctor boyfriend, made some of her best friends (even though some of them drove her to drink on occasions) and was now a proud soon to be godmother.

Making her way to the bar, she signaled the bar tender. "Gimme a Corona." She said, settling herself down next to a man drinking Bud. "With lemon." She added, before the bar tender simply nodded and went off to get the drink. She looked around, noting it was pretty empty. She then looked over at the man sitting next to her. He looked familiar but she couldn't quite place where she knew him from.

[Dr. Chris Taub]

Taub set down his beer and, out of the corner of his eye, glanced over at the lady who had just set down next to him. He knew he knew her from somewhere. His eyes went back to his beer bottle, as he took a minute to think about it.

It wasn't long before it came to Taub, She was the woman he always saw hanging around Wilson. It wasn't a secret that the two of them were dating. Why anyone would want to date Wilson who had such a checkered past when it came to relationships was beyond Taub. But, then again, why his wife stayed with him, even though he cheated on her, was beyond Taub too.

Taub turned toward Angel. "You work at Princeton Plainsboro, don't you?" he inquired.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

"Head of cardiology..." She replied instinctively, turning to look at the man. Alright, so she'd probably seen him around the hospital if that's where he recognized her from. Looking him over again, it suddenly clicked. He was one of House's team. The bar tender slid her her Corona and she nodded in thanks. "You work with Dr House right?" She said, picking up her drink. Taking a sip, she waited for his response. She'd only met one of House's team, Dr. Kutner, but she'd seen him with the others around his office.

[Dr. Chris Taub]

He nodded his head. "Unfortunately," he muttered under his breath. "Chris Taub," he said, this time for Angel to hear. He extended a hand to her. The fact that she was head of the department of Cardiology didn't make Taub feel any better. He had to be twice her age (and so did Wilson, now that he thought about it), and he had no prospect of ever being the head of any department in his future.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

"Angel Fraser." She said, shaking his hand. She released it and took another sip of her Corona. "So what brings you to a place like this?" She inquired, making small talk. From the looks of the man, he probably wasn't one for small talk, but she figured she'd make some anyways, rather than awkward silence.

[Dr. Chris Taub]

"Nice to meet you," he said, smiling politely. Taub wasn't one to share his personal affairs with other people, especially not with people he had just met. But he could tell Angel what also played a small part in his decision to come to the bar tonight. "I work for House," he chuckled, as if that explained everything. She had to know House if she was dating his best friend.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel let out a soft chuckle. "I think just knowing House warrants a need to drink." She grumbled. "Don't get me wrong, he can be a great guy, when he wants to be, but most of the time his ego and loud mouth gets in the way and he pushes everyone away." She added, chugging part of her drink back. Ok, so she hadn't aimed to get plastered, but it seemed like a good idea at the moment.

[Dr. Chris Taub]

"He can be a great guy?!" Taub asked, shocked by that statement. "I won't believe that until I see it for myself." He picked up his beer and chugged the rest of it down. Taub ordered another one, which was promptly brought to him.

"Well, I guess he can't be all that bad if Cuddy's willing to be with him," he said, subtly. Maybe Taub could squeeze some pertinent information out of Angel tonight. Angel was dating Wilson. Wilson is House's friend. House was, without a doubt, dating Cuddy. They were all connected.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

"I didn't believe it until I saw it myself." Angel agreed. "I mean he has that bad boy image to maintain, make sure everyone's afraid of him." She shrugged. Finishing off her Corona, she signaled for another one.

Raising an eyebrow, Angel studied Taub. She wasn't sure whether he was bluffing and fishing for information or whether it was common knowledge. "Who told ya that?" She inquired innocently. If everyone knew, she'd definitely need to address that with Cuddy and House.

[Dr. Chris Taub]

"You'd have to be blind not to see it. Now that I think about it, House does act differently when Cuddy's in the room...He's almost nice when he's around her." If they were dating, what reason did House have to act nice around her? "It's almost as if he's practicing for something," Taub added, not knowing that he was getting dangerously close to the fact that House was going to be a father soon.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

"Maybe he's sweet on her, I don't know. I mean be seeing his best friend, but that hardly makes me a candidate to know what goes on between those two." Angel commented, hoping that he would drop the questions. She didn't want to spill any information that could get her in trouble. Sighing, she took a sip of her new drink, then began picking at the label. "Are you married?"

[Dr. Chris Taub]

If he was going to get anything out of Angel, he had to be careful. Taub would have to get back to his questions but, for now, he'd let Angel ask him whatever she wanted to. "I am married," he replied, looking down at his left hand, which was ringless. He hadn't worn his wedding ring for a long time. Taub told himself it was because he didn't want to lose it but it was really because he didn't feel like what he had going with his wife was a marriage.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

"Yet you don't wear a ring." She noted, an eyebrow raised. "I suppose it's because you don't want to lose it. I wouldn't want to lose a wedding band. Not with the prices they are today." She commented, shrugging. Her head was starting to spin a little, so she signaled the bar tender. "Glass of water." She commented. She could normally take her booze, but considering she hadn't eaten anything since lunch, it was taking a much quicker hold. "Not that I would know about being married."

[Dr. Chris Taub]

"I suppose so," he said, agreeing with her. "Marriage isn't all that great." Taub took a sip of his beer. "I sometimes wonder if things would be different if we had children. Kids change everyone, you know. Even, believe it or not, House would be changed if he had a kid." Taub chuckled at that thought. House a father...That was never going to happen.