Chapter 2
Greg House's career didn't start out so well. Going through med school Greg was known as the jerk genius. No one ever wanted to have the misfortune of being paired with him for a project, or bumping into him in the hallway. Greg House was an arrogant jerk who snapped at everyone who spoke to him and embarrassed people who tried to befriend him. He was a loner. But his brilliance got him through school and got him in with the ladies. It was fine, if a girl wanted a one night stand Greg House was the man to see. For a long term relationship however, Greg House was not even close to being a good choice.
Greg's professors were astounded; he always seemed to amaze them. He was becoming infamous and already in his second year of med school he was getting job offers. When he had finally graduated med school, he began applying at hospitals and had no problem getting jobs. It was keeping them that was the problem.
People had a hard time working with House. He was rude, blunt, sarcastic, and did not listen to rules or ethics. His independence and reluctance to work well with others got him fired so often and yet, there was always another job offer. His reputation was fantastic and doctors jumped at the chance to work with him. After being fired from his fourth or fifth job, he checked out some offers and decided to go to an interview with Lisa Cuddy at Princeton Plainsborough Teaching Hospital.
Lisa Cuddy had been prepared for her interview with doctor House. She had been to med school with him though they had never communicated for he was older then she but she had heard all about him. With what she knew from med school and the research she had done recently she had a little idea of what to expect. However, she wasn't totally prepared.
Greg House walked through the halls of Princeton Plainsborough looking around. He was fairly confident that he was going to get this job, and he had done some research of his own on Ms. Lisa Cuddy. It seemed the woman, was the second woman to become dean of medicine, was determined, independent, and hard working. House hoped she wouldn't be a pain in his ass, and yet, he had a feeling a woman of this caliber would be.
When Gregory House walked in Lisa Cuddy smiled. She introduced herself and then he sat down.
"Well, welcome to Princeton Plainsborough Teaching Hospital doctor House." Cuddy put on her best smile.
"Yeah" House wasn't one for chatter.
"Well, both of us know you're not the ordinary doctor Doctor House. We both know you're rude, abrasive, and sarcastic. But, you are an amazing doctor from what I've heard and I think this hospital can use a doctor like you. I want to open a diagnostics department, with you as the head. You will have several doctors working under you, and I can give you the applicants. You're an ass, I know that. I also know I'm not superwoman and aren't going to change you. However, I expect you to follow the rules I give you for I would be your boss. That's the job take it or leave it?" Lisa Cuddy held House's resume and sat back waiting for his reaction.
House was mildly surprised. He liked this woman already and thought of how fun it would be when she got the rude awakening that was coming to her. She thought she knew him, but she had no idea. He was going to make her rip out her hair, and he couldn't wait.
"I'll take it, when do I start?" House just looked at Cuddy with no trace of emotion.
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So, a week later Gregory House moved into an apartment nearby and began his job at PPTH. Which brings us back to the present…
House got up and threw his gameboy and Ipod into his packsack. He put on his jacket and walked out to the parking lot getting into his car. As he limped out he saw James Wilson, the oncologist and his best friend, walking out to his car.
"House, heard it's you're special day" Wilson smirked slightly.
"Shut up idiot" House snapped. Wilson's look of shock didn't faze him and House continued limping angrily.
"Hey, what's up with you? Is you're birthday really that big a deal?" Wilson asked now following House to his car much to House's displeasure.
"Yes, actually it is. Now, I'm going home. Good riddance" House got into his car, started the ignition and drove off. Wilson just stared at the car wondering what the big deal was with his friend's birthday. He intended to find out.
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Gregory House got home, threw his jacket on the top of the couch and limped to the kitchen. He fixed himself a sandwich, ate it, and then sat down at his piano. After playing for a moment or two, unable to get her out of his mind House limped to his bedroom and took out his only photo of Sarah. It was a picture of the two of them on their fourth birthday both smiling and sitting in the middle of a big pile of presents. Greg had taken it from his parents without them knowing when he moved out and now brought the picture onto his piano and began to play the birthday song as the little memories of her that he had filled his mind.
An hour or two later he sat with a bottle of scotch on the coffee table, a glass of it in his hand, the picture in the other hand, and an angry expression on his face. His sister's death was like a puzzle to him. A puzzle he had never put together, never solved. If there was one thing Greg House hated, it was an unsolved puzzle. And, with that in mind, he finally passed out the empty scotch glass falling to the floor.
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James Wilson was sitting in Cuddy's office waiting for her to get out of a meeting. It was getting fairly late and he wanted to get home. Unfortunately, curiosity over his friends anger got the better of him and he needed to speak to the only person he could think of who knew Greg longer than him. Lisa Cuddy.
It was another twenty minutes before the dean herself made an appearance. She was tired, and drained and just wanted to go home. So, seeing James Wilson in her office wasn't exactly the answer to her prayers.
"James, what are you doing here?"
"We need to talk, about Greg"
"What about him?" Cuddy sat down knowing this could take a while.
"His birthday, did you give him that card?"
"No, I couldn't do it, I threw it out"
"Good, I mentioned his birthday in the parking lot today and he bit my head off, he was furious. I was wondering if you knew anything that could help us figure out why Greg hates his birthday so much?" Wilson was desperate; he needed something, anything that could help him figure out what was going on with his friend. He wanted so to be able to figure out Greg House.
"I don't know the whole story here Wilson, but I have a theory. You are to tell no one of this, not even House. Its patient doctor confidentiality and he would be furious if he found out I told you. Promise me you won't say anything.
"I promise"
"Very well. When Greg got his infarction, I needed a complete family history, and I learned that he had a sister."
"House had a sister? Wow that's something. What happened to her?"
"She died when they were seven, she had Wilms tumor. They were twins James" Cuddy stared hard at Wilson praying to god he wouldn't say a word of this to House.
"TWINS? Are you serious? Oh my god. Well, that explains a whole lot. In fact, it kind of explains why he hates his birthday, though you'd think he'd mourn more the day she died not the day she was born." Wilson stared straight ahead wondering how things would have been different had Sarah House not died. How Greg House, would have been different.
