So, pretty much, almost everything that has to do with Alex is from Degrassi: The Next Generation, but that is where it ends. I just love the character, and I felt the urge to work her into a House fic. People, places, and events mentioned are from the show, but that's all. The rest is based around House and the characters from House.
Also, I don't understand the whole 'Foreman/Thirteen' pairing; it doesn't make much sense to me, ergo, none of that. This will take place a few years after Alex leaves Degrassi, and only a little after the episode Lucky Thirteen.
And I am working on Cannonball, I just need a bit of time to organize where I want to go with it next. I figured getting this idea out of my head may help a bit. I apologize for any typos, I only checked it over two or three times, and I always have such a hard time checking my own work, because I don't look at it as closely as I should.
Alex looked down at the slip of paper in her hand, checking the street signs and building number again before looking up.
This is the right place, she decided in her mind. She re-slung the large bag over her shoulder and made her way up the stairs. She looked at the plaque of resident names, finding the right one after a moment.
"Five-oh-six," she muttered to herself.
She walked over to the elevator, pushing the button for the fifth floor once the doors opened for her.
She waited.
Doctor Lisa Cuddy skimmed the file in front of her before studying the woman who sat on the other side of her desk. She looked fairly young, perhaps her mid-twenties, with dark brown hair that was simply styled, falling to her shoulder blades in slight waves, and chocolate brown eyes that were studying the other doctor just as intently.
Her posture was the only indication that she was nervous at all.
"So, Miss. Nuñez, what got you interested in Physical Therapy?"
With a slight shake of her head, Alex flipped a lock of her dark hair out of her face.
"Well, that's a complicated story. The sort version is… I have a friend," she paused. Friend was pushing the term a bit. "Back in high school he got hurt. Badly. He went from captain and MVP of the school's basketball team to a wheelchair."
Lisa Cuddy did not say anything, though Alex's tone suggested that there was more to the story than she let on.
"He could of had a full athletic scholarship to any college he wanted, and just like that it was all gone. It was a while later; a long while, but he learned how to walk again. He has crutches but he's walking. I don't know him recovering … walking just gave him back a part of himself that he had lost."
Alex was looking down at her lap, but her eye's rose to meet the Dean's.
"And after seeing that, I always thought if I had the chance to do that for someone, why not?"
Cuddy was nodding her head slowly as Alex finished.
"You're very passionate about this."
"You could say that," Alex agreed.
Alex's trainers scuffed against the polished, tiled floor beneath her as she made her way passed the plethora of doors.
Her destination was a simple, oak finished door that matched the other dozen on the hallway. She bit the inside of her lips as she studied the brass numbers that decorated it.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, raising her hand to rap loudly on the wood.
"So, your resume says you're from Canada. What brings you all the way to New Jersey?"
Alex grinned slightly, her white teeth contrasting with her light olive-toned skin.
"Well, I was born in the States, but I've lived in Ontario almost my whole life; I have citizenship in both countries. I guess I just… wanted a change. I got into a lot of trouble when I was younger, and I felt like I would never escape it as long as I stayed there."
"So further away the better?"
Alex nodded.
"Something like that. I was job searching for a few weeks, and there were a few places I found that were looking for a physical therapist, but then I found the one for here and… it really interested me."
"Why more than the others?"
"I wanted to get away, but I didn't want to be someplace where I was completely alone, you know? And I recognized the name of the hospital; my uncle works here."
"Your uncle?"
Alex nodded again.
"Yeah, I don't know… he and my mom didn't keep in touch too much when I was younger, but I never disliked him or anything. I just felt that having someone nearby would be better than not. I wish I could have caught up with him while I was here, but I think he said he was away at a conference this week."
"Your uncle?"
Alex's mouth curved into a confused smile.
"Yeah, my mom says I was a lot like him when I was younger, but I grew out of it a bit after I graduated high school. I'm pretty sure that's a good thing, because I was downright awful back in grade school."
"What's his name?"
"Gregory."
Cuddy's mind supplied her mouth with the first Gregory she knew.
"House?"
"Yeah, that would be him. He's my mom's older brother."
It was nearly a minute later when Alex heard the click of the door being opened.
"Oh God, you really are here," the gray-haired man said, leaning his tall frame against the doorway as he took in her appearance. She had a large army-duffel bag at her side, as well as a suitcase and a backpack. A red sweater was zipped over the black tank top she had on.
"I said I was coming," she replied, not fazed at his curt tone.
He pushed the door open further, stepping back out of the way.
"And I said you have the couch for two weeks. If you need longer, we can negotiate, but I guarantee nothing."
"It should be plenty," she replied, accepting his silent invite into the apartment.
Cuddy thought over the whole interview at the revelation. Alex did hold a similar air that her uncle had, and that alone made her hesitate. At the same time, the hospital Dean saw many differences between the two.
"Is my uncle really that bad?" Alex asked, accurately reading into her silence. Cuddy looked at her in surprise before nodding.
"I can't even begin to describe."
"I guess I won't be thanking him if I get the job," she said lightly.
Cuddy graced her with a small smile.
"When would be the soonest?"
"Pardon?"
"You're able to start working."
Alex blinked at the hospital head before glancing at a calendar hanging on the wall. It was Monday.
"Mid next-week, I could do. A few things to wrap up back in Canada, but definitely next week."
"You could do Wednesday?"
"Sure. That would be perfect."
Cuddy nodded, studying the girl a moment longer.
"Personality aside, and a few other details, your uncle is a good doctor."
Alex blinked at the statement.
"And don't tell him I said that."
"Tell him, but-"
"Does 8:30 work?"
"Pardon?"
"8:30 on Wednesday. Is that a decent time? You can meet me here, we can go over paperwork and I'll give you a tour of the place. Meet up with some of the other specialists you'd be working with."
"Just like that?"
"You graduated in the top 3 percentile of your university class; you had an internship in a sports rehab office for two years, and you have a decent source of… stability, for lack of a better term, to be here."
"He doesn't even know I'm in the area."
"Details," the older doctor waved it off. "You have experience, you have drive, and you are more than able."
Cuddy let the declaration hang in the air.
"So, Wednesday at 8:30," Alex repeated finally.
Alex let her army duffel drop at the end of the couch, putting her suitcase and backpack next to it.
"You're apartment searching," her uncle stated, not sounding particularly interested.
"Yep."
"How's Emily?"
"Last I heard she was sober; making it okay on her own."
House 'hmmed' not turning towards her.
"Two weeks."
Alex nodded, even though he did not see it, as he made his way from the room.
"Thanks Uncle Greg."
There was a moment of silence before the bedroom door clicked shut. Alex sunk into the couch, looking around with interest.
What have I gotten myself into?
Just in case you haven't seen Degrassi before (it really isn't necessary to know much about the show):
www . flickr . com/photos/deanna1645/2209975152/
Remove the spaces, and there you have the wonderful Deanna Casaluce, a.k.a. the actress who plays Alex. Whatcha think… Alex Nuñez = Remy Hadley worthy? I think so.