Chapter 4
Michael was able to handle House. Of course, the gruff older doctor called him a moron on a daily basis and tried to break him, but Michael stood firm. He wasn't afraid to admit when he was wrong, but he was right more often than not. Even though House pretended otherwise, he was secretly very impressed with the young man.
The next six weeks flew by. House kept trying to outwit Michael and Michael kept trying to one up House. It became a contest between the two, with Cameron in the middle. She got fed up with their constant challenges to each other and decided to set up a contest.
"Alright, how about this? For the next month, we keep track of who comes up with the most correct answers. The winner gets…I don't know what do you want if you win?"
Michael spoke first. "My friend from college is getting married and we need to go to Lancaster for the weekend. If I win, Allison and I get the weekend off, even if there is a patient."
House said, "And if I win, Newman does a month of my clinic duty."
"Wait a minute! I get a weekend, you get a month?"
"I'm bigger than you."
"No, you're not."
"Well, I'm older."
"Big deal."
"How about this? I'm your boss and I can make you do the clinic duty anyway?"
Michael sighed, "Okay, okay! It's a deal. But you're not going to renege if I win, are you?"
"You're not going to win."
"But if I do?"
"I won't renege. But you're not going to win."
"You promise? You give your word?" Michael asked him.
"Yes. But you're not going to win."
Cameron looked at both men. "Why don't you two shake hands on it?"
Michael held out his hand. House took it and blue eyes stared into blue eyes as they shook hands.
"You're not going to win." House said.
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Michael won. House was livid. But there was no disputing the fact that Michael had made more right guesses than House had. Of course, House had ended up solving more of the cases in the end, but that wasn't the contest. Michael had come up with ideas that had panned out and had led to the next idea that had led to House ultimately curing the patient. But for right ideas, Michael won. So he and Allison were getting the entire weekend off, no matter if there was a patient.
And of course, there was a patient. But true to his word, House agreed to work the weekend and care for her while they went away. He realized that he really needed to hire another fellow. If he had, there would have been someone else to work the weekend. Still, he stayed with the patient. By Saturday morning, she was mostly stable, but House knew there was something he was missing. He also knew that Newman and Cameron were leaving by ten a.m. They had turned off their cell phones to avoid his call. He had heard them talking the day before and knew that they were leaving from Michael's house, so he got into his car and drove there.
When Michael opened the door, he groaned. "Come on, you promised!"
"Ten minutes," House said, "I need ten minutes of your time. Then you can go."
Michael sighed, and then went to get Allison, leaving the door open slightly and House on the step. She looked at his face when he entered the kitchen.
"Oh, no, it can't be!"
"He said ten minutes only. I'm holding him to that."
"What's gong on?' Marianne asked.
"It's our boss. He needs to talk to us for ten minutes only."
Marianne looked past him into the living room, but didn't see anyone there. However, she did see the open door. "Where is he?"
"Outside."
House could hear only murmured voices, until a woman's voice said, "Michael! You were raised better than that. How could you leave the poor man outside in the cold?"
More murmurs. "I don't care. We don't leave guests standing on the doorstep. Invite him in, give him a cup of coffee."
Murmur, murmur, and then Michael appeared at the door.
"Come in. Would you like some coffee?"
House chuckled. Newman sounded like a little boy who had just been chastised by Mommy. Which he had. "Yeah, thanks."
He was anxious to meet the woman who could reduce the arrogant Dr. Newman to a misbehaving child.
Michael led him into the dining room, where Cameron was bringing out a cup of coffee the way he liked it. There was a plate of muffins on the table. He eyed them greedily.
"Have one." Michael said. "They're homemade. My mother baked them this morning."
"Where is you mother?" House asked as he reached for a muffin.
"In the kitchen. She hates medical talk. You can meet her when we're done."
House nodded as he munched on the delicious muffin. No wonder Newman lived with his mom. Between chewing, he proceeded to tell them his idea. They listened, then offered opinions and suggestions. For the next fifteen minutes, they worked out some ideas. Finally, Michael looked at his watch.
"We have to leave."
"Okay," House said. "I'll let you know what happens.
"Mom," Michael called out. "We're leaving."
Marianne came out of the kitchen with a box full of snacks for their trip. She was looking at the box and telling them what she'd packed. House was picking up his cane and putting on his coat when Michael said, "House, this is my mother. Mom, this is Dr. House."
House and Marianne looked up at the same time and their eyes met. Both were shocked into silence.
It took a few moments before either regained their voice. Marianne recovered first. "Hello, Greg." She whispered.
"Hello, Marianne." He replied quietly.
Michael looked at both of them. "Do you know each other?"
"From a long time ago." Marianne said. "And I didn't know Greg was your boss."
"Yeah, I didn't know…" House looked at Michael, then back at Marianne. "You're his mother?"
She nodded, then looked down.
Cameron broke the mood. "Michael, we really have to leave."
"Yeah, right, let's go."
"I have to go back to the hospital." House said. He looked once more at Marianne. "I'll see you."
She nodded again and they all left, leaving her alone. She stood where she was for several minutes, then moved to the sofa where she sat and closed her eyes. She didn't sleep, but she did dream. Thoughts and images passed through her mind.
House drove back to the hospital. He had to begin the new treatment on the patient, but he needed a little time. He went to his office and sat in his chair. He closed his eyes. He didn't sleep either, but he also dreamt, seeing the same images that Marianne saw.