The Ghosts of Our Past

Disclaimer: House, MD and its entities are the property of David Shore, FOX and Universal Media Corporation. This story is for sole entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER ONE:

A ray of light from the window touched House's eyes, as he lay in bed in a room as big as a jail cell. It was a familiar place-a place where his inner demons were unleashed and his desires exposed. As he lay there staring at the ceiling, he wondered how he could have fallen so far as to end up back in the place that essentially saved his life and started him on a new path. He never thought he'd see the light of day of this place again. Yet, here he was back in Mayfield-embarrassed by his actions and brokenhearted that he was in such a lonely place again with nothing to look forward to, or so he felt. In reality, he knew how he'd gotten here again. Funny thing how crashing a car into your ex-girlfriend's house and the impending death of your best friend play games with your mind, heart and overall emotions. Was he remorseful for the things he'd done? Everyday. Did he show it? No. He reverted to things he knew best-inner turmoil, booze, hookers and Vicodin. Deep in his heart he wished that he could have made better choices. He figured if he had, then Cuddy would still be in his life and dealing with Wilson's cancer would've been a whole helluva lot easier. Unfortunately, that's all in the past and what's done is done. There is no going back. Cuddy is gone and Wilson soon will be. So, what's left really?

Thanks to his childish behavior of stuffing paper down a drain and causing damage to the MRI room, House reflected on how he almost found himself in jail again. Thankfully, due to some good attorneys and testimony by Dr. Nolan, the court felt House acted under duress, triggered by Foreman's gesture of buying tickets to a hockey game in which he and House could attend together, suggesting that Foreman was trying to become a replacement for Wilson upon Wilson's demise. This emotional trigger along with the fact that detectives could not find fingerprints on the paper caused the court to suggest House be placed in Mayfield again to deal with his emotional issues, addiction relapse, and to prevent further imprisonment. House was content with this ruling, because it gave him time to be with his thoughts alone and in somewhat of a peaceful environment without people chiding him or pushing him to talk. He just wanted to be away from all of it. Yet, he was feeling guilty that he couldn't be there for Wilson right now. The positive angle to all of this was that Wilson could come and see him to spend time with him in the open rather than visiting him in a jail cell.

Now, House just lays and waits. For what he doesn't know. He doesn't care. He's just happy to be alone.

House's solitude is broken by the annoying sound of his high-strung obsessive compulsive British roommate, Cy, as he bellowed, "Greg, it is now time for group therapy. If you don't get up now you will be late and it will be terribly annoying to the rest of the group."

"Kind of like you?" House retorts.

"If you wish to continue this childish behavior then so be it. I don't want to bear witness to anymore of your insubordination. Brood all you want, I have therapy to attend."

Before Cy exits, House calls out to him, "Cy, is that a wrinkle I see on your bedspread?"

Cy glances over to see a minuscule wrinkle on the bed. He acknowledges House's question, "Indeed it is."

Holding back a bit of a grin House asks, "Aren't you going to fix it?"

"There is no need. It's just a wrinkle. The world is full of them." Cy answers.

"But you want to?" House goads him.

"Wrinkles are but a part of life. No need to focus on them." Cy recites clearly trying to resist the urge to fix it.

"And yet here it is calling to you 'fix me' fix me'." House notes.

Unable to resist the urge any longer, Cy goes over to smooth out the wrinkled bedspread. Looking over at House he says annoyed, "You're an ass, Greg." He then exits. House lays back in the bed for a minute with a smile on his face to bask in his evilness. Then, he's hit with the realization that in order to get out of here, he'd better get his ass up and go to group therapy.

House steps into familiar territory, as he sees Beasley taking the group therapy lead. Upon seeing her he says, "Can't stop torturing yourself, can you?"

"I would say the same about you, Greg." She answers back.

Just then Doug, an African-American gentleman in his early forties, scratching his arm, announces, "I'm itchy and I think I have a fever. I think it could be malaria."

House looks at him and says, " I doubt you're a world traveler, and since you're here and not doubled over somewhere I doubt you have malaria either. I would, however, peg you as a hypochondriac." He looks over at Beasley and asks, "Am I close?"

"Five dollars says you're right?" Chimes in Larry, a heavy man in his mid fifties with a thick Brooklyn accent. House looks over at him, and the man tells him, "Okay twenty."

"Gambler, got it." House notes.

A woman in her mid twenties, Beatrice, jumps up from her chair and exclaims, "Why is everyone looking at him?! " She points to House. "I need to talk about MY problems! I think I've found a way to really turn my life around." Then she turns to House. "Please don't be offended." She sticks her finger in her mouth seductively, then says to him, "Perhaps we can make up later. I bet I can make it worth your while."

"I would but this whole histrionic personality is a major turn off. Talk to Larry though. Seems you're in his territory." Turning to Beasley he says, "I believe I'm three for four right now."

Amy, a mousy looking blonde with glasses in her late thirties, interrupts in a childlike voice, "Hey stink head! Sit down! I want to go out and play!" Then her voice changes to what would sound like a stoned out man. "Come on Lucy. Peace, love and happiness. Just feel it." Then the woman puts her hands on her ears and yells, "Both of you be quiet!"

Pointing his cane at the woman he says, "Now she's interesting. DID patients are always entertaining." He turns to Beasley and smiles.

"If you are finished, Greg. Can you please sit down, so we can start?"

Cy moves the chair next to him so it's in line with the others and gestures for House to sit, but House doesn't. His attention is drawn to a woman with her back turned to him, sitting on the window sill. Her knees are drawn to her, as she stares out the window.

Staring at the back of the woman, House asks no one in particular, "What's her deal?"

Beasley answers him, "It's none of your concern. Sit."

Not having it, House turns to Beasley and tells her, "No way. If I have to sit here and torture myself, so does she." House turns back to the woman and yells, "Hey you! Why don't you come here and sit with the rest of the group? I'm bored and want to know your story."

Still staring out the window the woman answers him, "Why don't you shut up?"

Upon hearing her voice he stands there in shock over its familiarity. He begins thinking to himself that it can't be. There's no reason for her to be here.

However, his fears are confirmed when she turns around to face him saying stoically, "You know damn well what part of my story is, you son of a bitch."

With his eyes wide, he softly mutters, "Cuddy."