Chapter 4 The Aftermath

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It was 8:30 when House entered their penthouse apartment. When Wilson notice him House's expression was sullen and Chase had been crying, earlier. They smelled like alcohol. They went to a bar, Wilson had surmised. It meant their patient died, House didn't want their son to see him like that. "Greg, What happened? He asked when the two men had sat in the couch. When House didn't answer, Chase answered for him.

"Abraham," Chase said in silent prayer. "He was having seizures earlier this afternoon, the CPS personnel got there at five, So he left." He gestured towards House. "The seizure never stopped it just increased. Then his meeting ended because the kid coded. He practically ran he tried to bring him four times and I need to call it at 5:57 pm. He told me that he can't come back here because Grayson is still awake, so we left and went to a bar."

"Did he at least eat?" Wilson asked knowing that House just had a bag of candy all day long. "Yeah, he ate a burger." Wilson notice House's shiver. He got his old couch blanket from Baker Street the one he uses when he slept there and put it on him.

"Is it really AIDS, did you get it to confirm?" Wilson asked knowing that they hadn't done any blood test on the child.

"Yes, his CD4 is down to 10 earlier today," Chase confirm, Wilson, whistled. "Damm." He muttered. Knowing that they couldn't save the kid even if House is the best doctor in the state of New Jersey.

"I called Nolan earlier today," House spoke out loud. "Damm, this is hard." But his words were flat.

"Can I hug you?" Wilson asked knowing that House doesn't do touch in situations pretty well. House gave him a non-committal shrug, which scared Wilson more. Wilson hugged him close. "I wanna go to bed." He said into Wilson's ears. "Okay, will go to bed." House stood up walking slowly to their bedroom.

"Chase, you can sleep on the couch."

"Thanks, Wilson."

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House was seated in the bed hunch over, his prosthetic leg in his arms when Wilson got inside the bedroom. His expression was crestfallen, Wilson got a glimpse of that little boy. Wilson knew House, he doesn't like showing emotion but his heart was as fragile as glass. The younger man sat in the bed and gave him a reassuring smile that conveyed a love for him.

"I… I hate losing patients," House said his walls down. "especially kids." He finished in a soft whisper. That was Wilson's cue to comfort him, The younger man held House in his arms, they just lay in bed hugging and kissing each other. They cuddled each other Until they fall asleep.

The ringing of the phone woke at 8:30. It was House's phone. The ringtone was the regular ring. Wilson got the phone. "Hello?" He said sleepily. "This is Child protective services, is this Doctor House?"

"Uh…No, Its Doctor Wilson, I will get him." He said, "Just wait for a minute." He put the phone down, then wake House. "Greg, Its CPS." House stood up abruptly. "Hello, this is Doctor Greg House….Uh…..I can't come…No….No means NO."

When House got off the phone he put his leg on and stood up. "Greg, What is the phone call about?" Wilson asked softly.

"That's CPS, they asked if I want to come and watch the autopsy on Abraham, and I said no," House said getting up and sighing sadly. "Do you think I am a coward for—

Wilson cut him off. "I will say its pretty courageous of you to say no, you know your limits emotionally, and you can't handle seeing a kid the same age as Gray, so no." Wilson cut himself realization dawning. "House, Are you hearing John in your head?"

"Yes. I am not hallucinating, it is just memories." House said going to their bathroom to change for the day. Wilson followed him to the bathroom.

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When the two men walk into the living room it was to Chase and Grayson watching Disney Channel. Grayson saw House and ran towards him, House picked him up. Wilson was all smiles.

Grayson gave his father a peck on the cheek. "I love you, Daddy, I wanna go to papa." House put him down. He ran to Wilson. "I love you, Papa."

Chase was watching Grayson from the corner of his eye. House is happy with his family, this family isn't built on lies, Grayson is safe with a loving family, not a traditional family, but a loving one. "You wanna come to see Doctor Nolan, Gray?" House said and Wilson is incredulous. "I don't want to leave him with the nanny, and I can't drive, so call Cuddy and tell her that you were taking a personal day off." Wilson got it and if he will be honest to himself he was touch by how much trust and love House put for him and their son.

"Yes, I will, that's a great idea." Wilson dialed Cuddy's number. "You know what happened yesterday, right?" Wilson said. "Greg's patient died, Lisa." I am coming with him to see Nolan….. No! Greg wants Grayson to come….. Yes, I will tell him."

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Chase left after breakfast saying that he had clinic duty to deal with. After Chase left House and Wilson left the penthouse after lunch they need to get something so they stop at the mall. House and Wilson, and their son were at the mall near Nolan's private office. House was pushing Grayson in the stroller and Wilson following closely. They killed time in buying Grayson a Halloween costume which is a suit just like the Beatles.

House walked into Nolan's outer office at four thirty, Grayson and James were seated Grayson with the electric guitar and Wilson with his computer and charts. When the psychiatrist smiled at Wilson and the boy, Grayson gave him a smile back. House was proud of his son he ruffled Grayson's hair before he went into the inner office. " Take a sit," Nolan said smiling slightly. House sat down. "So, What happened yesterday? start with the very beginning."

House took a deep breath, "James had an early appointment yesterday morning so we went in at nine. I knew I had a case because Cuddy called earlier that day." He took a deep breath. "I ran from Cuddy's office through my office." He couldn't smile at that thought. "When I got to my office and wrote every symptom in the whiteboard.

"And what are those? Nolan spoke after a bit of silence.

This is it, House thought, Nolan will know his failure as a Doctor. "Fever, Waisting, Bruising, neuropathy, skin lesions. The skin lesions aren't visible because the kid had it in his back.

"What did you do?" Nolan said Probing around.

"I ordered the test, I went to Jamey's office to ask if it's Cancer, he said he isn't sure but probably not, then at 10 o'clock Chase came into Wilson's office. And told me that there is a problem." "What is it?' Nolan asked.

"The stepfather didn't want to do any test, on the kid, And I knew something is up." "I agree, Continue."

"Abraham became Tachy, his heart rate was 120. It was him from Cuddy's wedding with a different woman. Chase told me that he wanted to leave AMA and that the kid has lesions." House sighed standing and pacing. Nolan was fascinated, to say the least. "How'd you know that it was the same guy?"

"He made an impression on me," House said slightly defensive. "Okay, House, Go on!"

"I went to find Wilson because he had lesions, I told him that it was Kaposi Sarcoma."

"As in AIDS?" Nolan was getting the point now.

"Yeah, anyways Wilson talked the mother down and Dr. Hadley talked to Peter Anderson. I talk to the kid. Wilson convinced the mother that the boy needs some blood work, an MRI and a Biopsy."

"How was the boy's demeanor?"

"He looks withdrawn, sad and a little small for his age. He is just like me when I was that age." House said sitting down. "When Dr. Hadley and Anderson got into an altercation outside the boy's room he didn't even panic as if he knew all along."

"Wilson and I went outside, to look at Thirteen, he punched Wilson, it was good he didn't hit him. Then Cuddy was there She sent us to our office. This is what happened according to Thirteen: She told him that it was KS then they had an argument, he punched her."

"Then I started having a panic attack in the elevators, Cuddy went to Wilson's office and probe at us then I decided that I can't deal with the personal nature of this case so I called CPS. I—- chicken out, I took the cowards way out." "No. You didn't, It's pretty admirable of you to do that, House. But continue?" "My team and I had a discussion about the kid, I lost it and shouted at them." House was pacing the length of Nolan's office.

"House, sit, please," Nolan said sighing when House sat down Nolan prompted again. "Why did you shouted at them." "I was angry, they, because called me on the fact that I never do full body scans. After that Chase called me and my bullshit, He now knows I have been abused. Later the CPS personnel arrived, I explain to them what happened."

"I hadn't had time to sit down when my pager went off and I walk as fast as I can to the kid's room." House closed his eyes. "I couldn't erase in my mind the last image of him." Nolan notice's how House changes from simply stating the facts to stating his emotion. "He died at 17:57, After that, I and Chase just went to a bar, because I didn't want Grayson to see me like that," House said sighing.

"House." Nolan needed to call him three times. "What are you thinking?"

House wasn't sure whether to bring this up or not. So he just blurted it out. "I'm glad that I can't have a child our own but I felt guilty because James wants another one. I am glad I was with a man and not with a woman. because of Anderson's actions." There, he said it alright.

Nolan's reaction was a phony shock because he had heard that statement every single time something bad happened on the news. "House, that isn't new, you have a rational fear every parent had regardless of sexuality." Nolan glanced at his watch and sighed. "Time's up, House, I have one last suggestion for you think of giving money, to either an LGBT rights organization focusing on the prevention of HIV and AIDS or a Society for Child Abuse, just think of it, and also talk to Wilson about the fear, okay. Goodbye, House."

The family left Nolan's office as soon as they can. On the way home, Grayson was sleeping haven't had the time to nap today. So they had time to talk. House went first. "Wilson, you really love kids?" House asked but before Wilson had a chance to speak he cut him off. "I am so glad I can't have another one, that I am glad that I am with a man, not with a woman, no accidental pregnancy, don't get me wrong I love him so much but it was hard to see a kid died like that."

"Yeah, that is a rational thing to say, you saw a four-year-old boy died, House, a four-year-old kid, like your own. You didn't have that thought. That was my thought when I first heard about what happened." House smiled and Wilson interlaced their hands in the console.

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The CPS personnel called Wednesday morning and told House that even if the child had AIDS their search had been inconclusive. The first few days were hard since Tuesday was hard on House. Wilson had known that from the very beginning. House was quieter at home, Thursday he had a case and it wasn't a kid or an abuse case but rather a teenager who lied to his mother, a case of hypochondriasis. House was glad for the case.

All is well for a month.

End of Chapter 4