Chapter II
"Oh Mac Taylor, I missed you," she spoke up, a tinge of British accent in her voice.
"Peyton…what are you doing here?" Mac asked his smile wide. Stella could only afford a grin and a nod of her head.
"A cousin of mine has been admitted into this hospital and she called to say she was lonely so I came over." Peyton finished beaming at Mac.
"You came here just because she said she was lonely?" Mac, however glad he was to see her, raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Yes." It came out quick. Peyton seemed uncomfortable. She paused for a while before continuing. "So, are you going to help me get settled in?" she lifted up her bags and flashed him a smile.
It was at this moment that Mac suddenly remembered Stella standing there all this time listening to him and Peyton, waiting for him because heasked her out for dinner. Mac looked to Stella uncertainly but she just shook her head and waved a hand. "It's ok. You two lovebirds go get settled in." Although she wanted to be happy for them she couldn't help but hope that her voice didn't come out strained.
Mac sent her an apologetic smile and said, "Tomorrow, I promise."
Stella smiled, "Ok. But if it's another hotdog stand you're taking me to, you can keep your promises."
"How will I ever live that down?"
Mac gave Stella a smile and she returned it. For a moment, it seemed as though nothing else existed to them. There was no Peyton, no hospital, no America, no nothing, just them. And as quick as it came, it was over. Mac turned to Peyton, took her bag and with one last nod to Stella, left with Peyton following him.
Stella watched them go and only when the end of Peyton's coat left her sight that she looked down at her feet and sighed. "So is this the part of the soap where you find out he's been married all along and he leaves you for her?" Stella felt her ear hurt as a sarcastic buzz hit it.
"Care to elaborate on that Doctor House?" Stella looked sharply at House, who was all ready to head home before anyone else, as usual.
House considered her for a moment. "Are you really happy and alright that she's ruined yours and Mac's dinner plans?"
"Peyton's his girlfriend! Of course I understand he would choose her over his friend!" Stella defended sharply.
"Aha! I didn't ask if you understood him picking someone like her over you. I asked if you were really, sincerely happy for him." House smirked in triumph.
Stella stared at him, "For a moment you strongly resembled a smirking jackass...but you probably always looks like that."
"Touché" House pretended to wince at her sharp tone. Boy, she was a sharp one.
"So," House broke the silence that had taken over, "wanna go get a drink and pour out your sorrows to a handsome attentive compassionate listener?" House looked at her.
Stella took a moment to compose herself and digest what he had just asked her. "You're asking me out for a drink and spend more time with me when I obviously don't seem to be getting along well with you?"
House shrugged. "Everyone lies. I know that deep down, you really like me and really want to have that drink."
Stella considered it for a moment before smiling her first smile since Mac left. "What the heck. Anyway if I say I enjoyed your company, just remember that everyone lies."
House snorted at that and directed Stella to the car park. Little did they know that Mac was just around the corner collecting a file he left behind. He had heard every word and even with all the willpower he had in him was unable to stop the jealousy that was clawing and twisting itself inside him. He was glad that no one was around with he let out a barely audible growl that had been suppressed for quite a while. He should be happy for Stella, he knew that. She was finally moving on after Frankie. Yet somehow, it seemed impossible for him to find their conversation pleasant to his ears. After wrestling with these unwanted green monsters, he put it down to him having a bad start with Dr House. After all, he did sincerely want Stella to not get hurt again. Especially by a bastard like House!
Sunlight was trying its best to peek in to their hotel room when morning came. Mac turned over on his bed, twisting the sheets with him as he turned to look at Peyton in the other bed. Alright, so even though they were finally officially seeing each other it didn't mean that they were ready to take a big step into a real relationship. Though Peyton did seem a bit disappointed when she saw two beds in the new room Mac got for them last night.
Mac took a deep breath and got out of bed to get himself ready for the day and worst of all, to face Stella and House. After he'd finish he's daily routine for getting ready, he went back into the room to find Peyton still in bed. Better tell her I'm going. Mac reached over to tap her on the shoulder when he noticed that she was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Strange. The rooms seem cool enough. "Peyton. Peyton!" Mac started to shake Peyton by the shoulders with he noticed that she was starting to tremble.
Suddenly, Peyton's eyes snapped open, her eyes wide already.
"Mac?" she looked at Mac's eyes. "Mac…I think I'm going crazy! I DON'T WANT TO GO CRAZY, MAC! I'M NOT TURNING CRAZY! I'M NOT!"
Peyton was screaming now, clutching her head in her hands and rocking back and forth on the bed. Mac could only just stand there stunned at her sudden outburst. Why would she think she's going crazy? Unless someone told her she was but Peyton's smart enough to just brush it off. Soon, Peyton's breathing started to become shallower by the second; soon she was hyperventilating, gasping for sweet oxygen.
"Peyton? Peyton hold on, I'm calling for an ambulance!" Mac was more than convinced this wasn't just some phase of life women go through. Mac whipped out his cell, fumbling to open it, his sweating palms not making it any better.
Someone was banging against the door now, "MAC! PEYTON! IS EVERYTHING OK?" It was Flack. Concern flooded his voice. Finally, the damn phone opened. "Get me an ambulance now - it's an emergency! We're at the Premier Hotel Princeton. Room 076." Mac practically shouted into his cell. "MAC! OPEN UP!" Flack's voice came again. "MAC!" that was Stella's voice. Mac didn't know what to do. Everything was just so chaotic. Peyton was rocking on the bed, head in her hands still, sweat making her shine under what ever sunlight got past the curtains. "MAC! I'M GONNA BRAK THE DAMN DOOR DOWN SO IF -" Flack was cut off as Mac flung open the door.
"Oh my God Mac, what's going on?! We heard Peyton screaming. And you weren't answering," Stella nearly threw herself at Mac when he opened the door. The damn man. Why didn't he answer them?!
"There's something wrong with Peyton." Mac answered, trying very hard to calm down.
The relief that was on their faces was immediately exchanged with horror and concern. "Let me check on her." Hawkes was the first to get his act together and ran past everyone and into the room.
"Mac, are you ok?" Aiden reached out to touch Mac's arm.
"I'm fine." Mac pulled away subtly, not wanting to show that he was vulnerable.
"Ya sure Mac? 'Cause-" Danny was cut off by the arriving paramedics who rushed to the scene.
"Where's the victim?"
"In there."
The paramedics rushed in…
What a morning! Stella thought to herself as she slumped into a chair in the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's cafeteria less graceful than a former dancer should but she didn't care. She brought a steaming mug of coffee to her lips. What a morning…
Meanwhile at Cuddy's office….
"WE SPECIFICALLY TOLD YOU TO NOT RUN ANY TESTS OR GIVE HER ANY NEW MEDICINE WITHOUT OUR CONSENT!" Mac was shouting at House. Normally, he might have been able to keep his cool but after a morning like today's being told this was really it.
"WELL MAYBE IF WE COULD CONTACT YOU THEN WE WOULD HAVE!" House was raising his voice as well. "Where were you anyway? You don't look like the type who turns off the alarm clock and turns back to sleep. Someone keep you awake last night?"
Mac could have punched House square in the face at the moment. To heck with everything else. He just wanted to hit him hard. And he probably would have if Cuddy hadn't stepped in, physically.
"House." She warned. Even though she knew it wasn't House's fault that he didn't ask for consent, he couldn't and Mac was really stressed after what happened this morning. But the last comment was really unnecessary and Mac wanting to get physically wasn't ethically as well.
"It's not my fault that I didn't kill your eye-witness. Why are you defending him anyway? For once, even I think I haven't done anything wrong - UNLESS YOU COUNT SAVING HER LIFE WRONG!" House practically spat out the last part at Mac.
"House…" Cuddy began. Mac was glaring at House from behind Cuddy.
"But you know, come to think of it, you came to work early today as well. Could it be you had a business affair to attended to?" House's eyes were flashing. He was beyond reason now.
"What? House-" Cuddy began.
"Forget it. Gang up on the cripple! Defend yourMac!" and with that House stormed out the office, taking care to slam the door hard, trying to knock it off its hinges, leaving a stunned Cuddy and a fuming Mac in his trail of furry.
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