TUESDAYS WITH GREGORY

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the House characters orsongs featured. This story is loosely based after Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitchell Albom.

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

CHAPTER ONE: Introspection

It was a clear, crisp, early morning. There I was, sitting in my car, parked on the side of the street, looking out through freshly washed windows at the beautiful, glowing city of Princeton. Princeton. The very name stabbed at my heart. This city that I lived and worked in for so many years. This city where I found myself, only to lose myself once again.

And so I sat there, doing nothing but gazing out and thinking. What went wrong with me? What was always wrong with me? Why did I leave this city, anyway? And why am I back?

Introspective thoughts can be perilous if not in one's own favor. If you have to admit to yourself that you did something wrong, or that your not as good as you thought you'd be, or that you never will be…well…that can be very dangerous to your mental and emotional health. Trust me, I know. I've been through the process more than enough times. And I learned two things. Yes, introspection can be dangerous, but it can also be necessary; it can be enlightening.

So I looked for enlightenment again. However, this time, as I asked myself these questions that had been plaguing me for some time, I found nothing but desperation and self-hatred. I kept repeating to myself, 'Necessary. Enlightening. Necessary. Enlightening..." It didn't work. It just kept getting hard to say.

I inhaled a deep breath of Jersey air. It calmed me a bit. It always did. Princeton, how I missed you. How I missed everything and everybody here. But I left, and it was necessary. Enlightening? I wasn't so sure.

All I knew was that this trip back to Princeton was sure to be both, but I was terribly nervous. I hadn't seen the man in years. 'And now all of a sudden, I'm going to knock on his door?' I thought. 'What ever will he think of me?' But then I realized it didn't matter. He never thought much of me anyway. And now he was dying. After so many years of pain, only now was his long life coming to a close.

That's what I needed. Closure. I regretted never saying goodbye to him. He taught me so much, and I just left without a thank you. Now was my chance to thank him. To say goodbye like I didn't before. 'But what if he just slams the door on me? What if he can't forgive me for leaving like I did?' I thought. 'You fool. He doesn't even care about you. He probably didn't even notice you left, and if he did, why would he give a hoot? You weren't friends. You weren't anything more to him than an underling.'

I sighed and got out of my car. It was now or never. All I had to do was knock on the door and say thank you. It was for me, not him. I had to know that I thanked him. I just had to. He might just slam the door or make an abrasive comment before doing it, but none of that mattered. I was doing it for me.

Knock. Knock. Knock. I stood outside the door, waiting, still nervous about his reaction, trying to convince myself it didn't matter what he thought. Ah, but I was no good at telling myself anything anymore. I couldn't trust myself to make good decisions. I couldn't trust my mind to tell me what was right. And when you can't trust your own self, than whom else can you trust?

Suddenly, a woman opened the door. She was tan, tall, and blonde, with radiant emerald eyes. She looked and me and asked, "Can I help you?"
"Um…yes. Does Gregory House live here?" I asked.

She replied, "Yes…"
"I'm an old friend of his and I heard about…well, may I come in and see him?"

She nodded and let me in. She led me through the corridor, and knocked on House's bedroom door. "Mr. House, you have a visitor."

I shuddered at the comment. Like he was in jail or a hospital, even though he was right in his own home.

"Ugh. Not now. General Hospital is on and this is the one where Tony and Tania find out they are going to have a baby! I haven't seen it in ages. So whoever you are, go away. Come back later. Like in five months, when I'll be dead and won't have to listen to any petty condolences," House said through the door.

'Same old House,' I thought and smiled to myself.

Despite what House requested, I knew that I wouldn't be staying in Princeton for long, and I had to have closure. I opened the door and saw him, lying on the bed watching his soap. He didn't look much different than he did when I saw him years ago. His hair was thinner, more wrinkles, he looked aged, of course. Not old. Aged. But he still had his same eyes that could see through anyone and everyone.

"Dr. House…" I said, as he turned to me.

Shock was apparent on his face. For once in his life, House didn't know what to say. He couldn't think of a witty comment, nor a deprecating remark. All he could say was, "Dr. Chase…"