[A/N] - Hello reader, who you are currently reading this. This is my first, one-shot/short story about the famous TV Series, House. M.D.
Fair warning, I wrote that long time ago when I finished the 2nd season, so some things might have been inaccurate. If that is the case, I ask your forgiveness. Same about the language and grammar, English is not my mother tongue.
The reason behind this story: I love House and I truly believe that his team doesn't exactly understand him or his character to be more precise. To me, I see a very good reason why he is (forgive me for the language) such an A** but that might not be true for the character or for everyone.
Read the story, see and tell me in the comments what you thought about it. Was I correct? Did u also have the same idea? Did u had/have a different one?
P.S. I don't own House. M. D., unfortunately, .
An unusual visitor
Prologue:
House's behavior has once again angered his team but this time, he passed the line. As they discuss and more specifically argue about their "boss", an unusual visitor; a stranger walks in and changes their mind
How and most importantly why? Why would she defend the most antisocial doctor in Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital and what is her connection with the so famous Dr. Gregory House?
One-shot/chapter (short) story about what is really driving the famous doctor to act this way to the trio.
Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, the place where "miraculous" recoveries have happened and where most complains also go to. Famous in this hospital, is Dr. Gregory House; a genius doctor but also the most mysterious one.
However, despite his social behavior and the way he treats most if not all of the people he knows or meets, he and his team of specialists have saved many lives.
Their relationship is quite complicated and no one can really understand their hate-love bond the four of them had. House tends to scold them and always reply back to them with sarcasm; testing their patience.
One day, though, he managed to pass the line and everything ended up with house exiting the room irritated, while his trio stayed in the room angry and confused. Of course, it didn't take them long before they started arguing with each other.
"That's it, he just crossed the line!", Dr. Eric Foreman, the neurologist of the team, shouted as he banged his fist on the table.
House always seemed to "favor" the black doctor but his way of showing it… wasn't exactly the best or the most understandable.
"Eric, you need to calm down", Dr. Allison Cameron, the immunologist, said.
"I can't! I have turned the blind eye long enough! I mean, come on now! After what he did today, you cannot be angry with him", he continued and looked at the duo, hoping to see the same reaction as his.
The incident he was referring to wasn't something that had never happened before… a patient with specific symptoms, many false treatments until they find the right cause and then cure it. However, this time House had overdone it with his rude behavior.
"Look, I am grateful that everything turned out good in the end", Dr. Robert Chase, the intensivist, said in his attempt to stay neutral and not to take sides.
"Turned out good in the end? … Only because of us! If we hadn't done what we did, that patient would be six feet under!"
"Still, we saved the patient's life and it wasn't exactly House'-"
"Don't take his side Allison! His false diagnoses almost killed a patient and you were about to help him! If I hadn't manage to put you some doubt and work behind his back… then we wouldn't be here arguing, would be?"
"Hey, hey! We 'weren't about to help him' you know. We trusted house, still do"
"Yeah, plus you know that this is his way of thinking. I mean, he makes accusations based on nothing and experiments. Many times if not almost all the times he had used this technique and he was always right", Allison continued for Robert.
"Which meant that some point you would make a mistake… and yet you continued following blindly without questioning him not even once?! I mean come on guys, I saw your faces. You weren't agreeing with him in the first place yet you didn't argue"
"That's not the point Eric"
"Then what's the point Robert?! Admit it, all those time we had corrected him, we had brilliant ideas and correct assumptions… he always ignored us, found a way to reply sarcastically without even letting us finish until the end… And when we are right, then what? He simply acts like nothing ever happened!, Dr. Foreman said as he started to pace up and down the room.
"In other words, you are simply angry that House didn't gave you any credits for your work? For questioning and actually acting behind his back?", Dr. Cameron argued back.
"No! I am angry at him for almost killing a patient with his irrational thinking!"
"But deep down, you are simply want to take the credits for your work, don't you?", Dr. Chase, said and his female colleague agreed with a nod of her head.
"Maybe yes, maybe I do but what about you guys? Don't tell me you don't want this? We do everything for him, Allison you even check his mail…. We are humiliated by him and even though we are supposed to help him treat patients; he see us as nothing more than inexperienced kids and makes us do his biddings"
"Technically, those biddings most of the time help to treat a patient-"
"Yeah Robert, you are right. We treat a patient by breaking into houses; digging graves and helping him take his overdose of vicotine! Then what? He never praises us for that; he only knows how to bring us down by scolding us! Tell me guys, how many times has he even congratulated or praised you for ideas that saved lives? Or for all the help, the illegal tests and lies we did and said for him? I will tell you guys, never!"
"And why you should care?", a female voice said and the trio turned their attention to the glass door of their office.
It was open and in the entrance stood a dark brown haired woman with stunning blue eyes. She was quite tall around 5.6 and seemed to be on her late thirties. Slimmed but also fit, it was obvious that she exercised and staying active.
She wore a simple pair of blue jeans, a red tight t-shirt and black trainers. Her hair was half up-half down by a nice braid while a black long coat was hanging by her left arm.
"Excuse me ma'am, can I help you with something?", Eric said as he stopped pacing up and down.
"Yeah, maybe you could stop shouting, not all the hospital cared about your argument but most importantly, maybe you should try to reconsider what you just said", she replied as she closed the door and walked towards the brown desk at the back of the room.
She placed her coat on the desk before leaning on it while the trio followed her every move; suspiciousness and curiosity visible on their faces.
"Who are you?", Allison asked.
"Does it matter right now? I mean, you only going to see me once maybe twice in the rest of your life? The same counts for me of course, but now let's focus on something more important. You see, I was passing by and couldn't help but to overhear your conversation or better say; argument. Look guys, I get it, you are young and each of you sees the world differently but you don't see the big picture; especially you Dr. Foreman"
"Excuse me?", the said doctor exclaimed.
"You argue about house's behavior and the treatment that he is giving you guys. I understand that the feeling of being praised or acknowledged for your actions but be… perfect, the best in the world… what matters in life? Well it is not"
"What are you trying to say?", Dr. Chase asked, confused along with the rest of the team.
"I mean that this is not how real life is. You are not going to be praised or acknowledged by any one and you shouldn't have that as your goal in general. Yes, as doctors you are going to save more lives than the animals in Noah's ark and yes, you will be congratulated by friends and colleagues but you will also be scolded, accused and even hated by patients or and their families. House knows that and therefore tries to prepare you guys and teach you this important lesson along with many others"
"I am sorry but you confuse me here", Allison said.
"I understand… let me make it more specific… As doctors, if your only aim to be successful, have lots of money and fame, being always praised and recognized for all your hard work… you are not real doctors. Better become actors; you will save more time and achieve all that I mentioned just a second ago. Doctors aren't supposed to aim for that but for the health of the people around them. When a sick person is under your care, you don't treat him to take the credits but you treat him because you want to cure him; to help him continue his life, return to his family and most importantly save his life"
"Isn't this what House is doing most of the times? I mean he tends to ignore most patients or tried to get rid of them. He will only take a case if in his weird mind find it 'interesting' and then he will also take it a as chance to start experimenting on the patient"
"Yeah, House is known to do that", Dr. Chase said, agreeing with the neurologist.
"Yeah but tell me honestly, does house ever goes for the fame and recognition?", the mystery woman asked and the trio was left speechless; their minds trying to find the answer. "Let me answer it for you guys, no… no, he doesn't. You said it yourself, he takes cases that he finds interesting, cases that he wants to solve for himself; For no one else and you know why? Because he doesn't care what the others will say and that is what he has been trying to teach you guys… well in his own, sadistic way"
"Well, she has a point on that", Allison said.
"Okay, let's say that he indeed wants to teach us to do things for ourselves but why? And most importantly what is he going to earn by that? And why doesn't he say that in the first place or at least try explaining to us why he treat us like dirt?", Eric asked.
"Because he wants u to understand that by yourselves… You are not kids anymore, you are not in first grade where you need everything to be explained and spelled. The real world is nothing like you think it is, and nothing is going to come on a silver plate. What he earns you ask? Well, maybe he just wants to make sure that when he will stop being around you guys, literally and metaphorically, he wants to know that he left back a group of clever, correct and smart doctors to continue for him. So, when your turn comes might teach that to others and for once, hospitals can have more… thinking outside of the box doctors. Something that they currently, don't have", she left out a sigh and pushed herself off the desk before grabbing her coat. "And before u ask me why again, just think of his past and what he has been trough. What he faces and what he realized. That will be more than enough to answer all of your question"
"Hey, who are you?", Chase asked as she opened the door.
"Just someone who hopes to have enlighten you guys on what really is happening and might help you see House with a different eye", and with those words, she exited the room.
Leaving the trio stunned and deep in thoughts, her words echoing and repeating in their minds; answering their question and deeply in their hearts; knowing that she was right.
House was sitting in the lounge of the birth section, watching his favorite series in his small portable TV. He sat comfortable on the black leather armchair, his legs on the table with one ankle above the other.
He took some of the yogurt with his silver spoon but the moment the diary product entered his mouth, the door behind him opened. He turned his head, spoon trapped by his two lips, expecting to find one of the nurses or even his "boss", but instead, the same woman that had visited the trio, was standing.
"Thought I would find you here", she said as she closed the door and hanged her coat on the hunger before walking towards him.
"How?", he simply asked after he swallowed his yogurt and pulled the spoon off his mouth.
"Checked the hospital schedule, the birth section is quite busy this week which meant that the lounge would be empty, plus they are known for all the snacks they hide in their fridge", she said as she sat on the arm of the armchair, much to House's dismay.
"Why do u have to be so smart? Actually…why more people couldn't be that smart?"
"Bitch me. By the way, I talked with your team"
"And let me guess, you hugged them and told them everything to be alright?"
"Actually, I stopped them from shouting their anger for you and talked to them a little. You really have confused them, you know"
"Well, they are not kids are they? About time to learn, the hard way", House said as both turned their attention to the series.
"*sigh* You just sounded so much like dad", the woman said and for a moment, there was a different and almost extinct emotion on his face. Sadness
"Well, someone sooner or later would have copied his behavior. Even though, a certain businesswoman should actually done that instead of me"
"I guess she was too late", she said with a faint smile as she grabbed the yogurt from his hands and ate some.
"Hey!", House complained/whined like a small child and tried to grab his snack back but she held it away from his grasp.
"Don't be a baby, I bet there is plenty more in the fridge", she said and with her head gestured at the small fridge in the corner of the room.
House looked between the fridge, the yogurt and his series before leaving out some curses and made himself comfortable.
"After the commercials", he said as the two focused their attention back at the small tv. "I hate you, the doctor added after a minute of silence.
"You never change big brother, you never change", the woman said with a smile as she filled her mouth with the white yogurt.