Disclaimed.
House was standing in front of the mirror fiddling with his clothes. Wilson was in the doorway pestering like always.
"So what are you going to play?"
"Stop asking."
"Tell me. I'm curious...it's not every day you do...well...anything to help out Cuddy. I want to know what you're going to play. Do you even know or will you just wing it?"
"I haven't decided. Now go away or I won't let you come."
"Are you nervous?" House just gave Wilson a pointed look at that.
"Never." Always.
Wilson walked up to House and straightened his tie. They were at House's place getting ready to leave for the benefit. Everyone was going. Ever since the news had been leaked about House playing, that was all anyone ever talked about. It was a shock to many that a man as crass and loutish as Greg House could ever do anything so delicate as playing the piano. And well enough to be invited by the Dean of Medicine herself, Lisa Cuddy! Of course really that wasn't much of a shock. Everyone knew who wore the pants in THAT relationship. House's own team had bugged him to the point of complete insanity with questions. None of which had gotten a straight answer out of the man. But the night was tonight and all would be answered. The room would be packed and out the door, all to see him play. The only part that bothered him was that they weren't there for the music, they were there for the spectacle. House would never admit that though.
"Stop playing with my tie Wilson, you are completely bursting my personal bubble."
Wilson rolled his eyes and let House fix it himself. A few minutes later, House turned to Wilson.
"Look ok?"
"You look fine. Cuddy's going to be amazed to see you shaved."
"I didn't shave for this! I'm trying out a new look."
"Sure...anyway. I called your parents. They can't make it down but your mother want me to film your little 'piano recital' for them so she can show it to her friends and brag about her son; the brilliant doctor piano man."
"You don't have a camera."
"Don't need one. I'm sure someone there will make us a copy off their recording. I know for a fact, at least 6 people are bringing cameras. Two of them are on your team actually. And Cuddy."
House rolled his eyes.
"Let's get this over with..."
Off they drove to have House shatter his well-built reputation as a misanthropic bastard.
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"And now it is my deepest honor to introduce our very own, Dr. Gregory House, who will be gracing us with his lovely piano playing." Cuddy motioned to the wings and begrudgingly, House limped out onto the hot stage. For the first time, cold tendrils of nerves danced across his skin as he noticed just how many people were there. He hadn't played for a crowd this big since high school. Polite applause drizzled from the crowd. He nodded deeply once before taking the microphone.
"I uh...I'm not really the nicest guy in the room. And quite frankly I couldn't care less. If I did it's quite possible that I would just die on the spot. Which I know many of you would be perfectly ok with...some of you more than others. But I would just like to ask you not to take out your grudges against me on the music." With that he nodded once more and took his seat, replacing the mic on the stand fixed to classic black grand piano. He thought a moment before touching the keys lightly. Suddenly a melody that wasn't slow or fast, nor happy or sad flowed from the beautiful instrument. From the moment the first note was played, it was clear man and piano had become one and to separate one from the other would surely cause the demise of both. Then, he began to sing.
"All
day staring at the ceiling
Making friends with shadows on my
wall
All night hearing voices telling me
That I should get some
sleep
Because tomorrow might be good for something
Hold
on
Feeling like I'm headed for a breakdown
And I don't know
why"
His
voice was smoother than most would have expected. But it still had
the gruff quality of House. "But
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell I'm talking to myself in public
I know right now you can't
tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side
of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right
now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And
how I used to be...me
Dodging
glances on the train
And I know, I know they've all been talking
about me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there
must be something wrong with me
Out of all the hours
thinking
Somehow I've lost my mind"
House's
team was sharing a table with Cuddy and Wilson. None of the five had
wanted to bring dates, hoping to focus all their attention on their
boss and friend. Although the song wasn't completely out of
character for the man, they had all been expecting something
different. Perhaps songs that took personal jabs at his co-workers.
Not this song that seemed to almost show that House could possibly,
maybe, halfway have a hint of emotion and a heart buried somewhere
underneath years of vicodin and gripping pain. "But
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't
tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side
of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right
now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And
how I used to be"
Perhaps
it was only Wilson and Cuddy who truly grasped the meaning behind the
lyrics "How I used to be" but it didn't cheapen the song
for the rest of those listening. I've
been talking in my sleep But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little
unwell
Pretty soon they'll come to get me
Yeah,
they're taking me away
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and
maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm
just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon
enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be"
No
one in the audience quite knew what to say. The ones who knew House
were astonished at this display of humanity. The ones who didn't
were clearly captivated by the man's grace with the piano, and
passion for music in general. "Yeah,
how I used to be
How I used to be
Well, I'm just a little
unwell
How I used to be
How I used to be"
Applause poured from all sides and swirled around the man on stage. But it was as though he were a rock in the middle of a rushing river, completely oblivious to the water rushing around him. He was lost in his own thoughts as he softly sang the last words of the song.
"I'm just a little unwell"
