I've got three chapters for you this evening.

Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 10.

"When I was in rehab, I met a woman named Helen Auerbach. Nice lady, but, like me, she's an alcoholic," Marty began, hoping it would get easier as he told the story. "Once we got out we lived together for a while, but I couldn't handle the responsibility of taking care of her and myself, and I left."

Nancy and Audra were listening intently, wondering why he was bringing this up now, but willing to hear him out.

"She came to the clinic this week. I guess she'd been sick. She saw Jimmy's name on the directory and went to his office to ask him about me," Marty went on. "She...she has a son and she told Jimmy the boy is mine. I guess she wants me to take him now that she's sick."

"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Nancy asked. "About the boy, I mean."

Marty sighed. "It's possible. The timing's right."

"But you'll demand a paternity test, won't you?" Nancy prompted.

"Yeah, I guess I should."

"Marty, I get that you want to help them, that you feel some kind of obligation to this woman." She watched his face and saw guilt, pity, and something else. "You want it to be true, don't you?"

He looked her in the eyes, and saw that she needed some kind of reassurance. "Nancy, my relationship with Helen was years ago. I don't think it was ever really love, just mutual dependence. It certainly wasn't anything like what I feel for you."

"But?"

"But I guess I still feel some sort of responsibility for her and for the boy, whether he's mine or not. If his mother is too sick to take care of him, he'll need someone to do that."

"I understand that," she said.

"And I won't want to do it alone," Marty continued. "I'd want you to help too."

Neither of them had noticed Audra. She'd been very quiet throughout their conversation. Finally she spoke. "I think I'll go do my homework now," she said in a funny kind of voice, and stood up to walk away.

"Audra," Nancy called after her.

The girl had her lips pursed. She was trying with all her might to hold back her tears.

"Audey, what's wrong?" Marty asked.

She shrugged her slim shoulders, and in a small voice said "I guess you won't want me anymore."

Nancy looked at Marty with alarm.

"Audey, why would you think that?" Marty said, walking to her and taking the teen in his arms. "You're our girl. Of course we want you. Do you think any other child would take your place in our hearts?"

Audra couldn't hold back the tears any longer. That was exactly what she had been thinking. Why would they need her when they had their own child?

Nancy put her arms around them both. "We're a family, honey. Maybe a strange one," Nancy told her. "And with Steven added, an even stranger one, I guess. He's gonna need you just as much as he'll need us. Who wouldn't love to have a big sister like you?"

"Really?" Audra wanted to believe them.

"We love you honey. We're adopting you because you're a part of our lives and we never want that to change."

Audra sniffed back her tears. Now that she had their reassurances, she began to think about the little boy. "I'm being silly, I know. This isn't about me. It's about Steven, right?"

Nancy nodded at her.

"Helen will be at the hospital tomorrow to see Dr. Bartlett. Jimmy will bring her to see me and we'll arrange to meet Steven," Marty said. "Do you both want to come with me when I meet him for the first time?"

"Oh, yes!" Audra said. Then she noticed Nancy's hesitation. "Well, maybe it'll be easier for him if it's just you the first time."

,

"Audra's right" Nancy said. Then something else occurred to her. "Did your brother see the boy? Does he... does he show any signs of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?"

"None that Jimmy saw. He was quiet, polite. Helen said that he does well in school," Marty sighed. "I suppose we should have him checked for FAS."

"How sick is his mother?" Audra wanted to know.

"Jimmy couldn't tell me."

"Bartlett's a liver specialist. Cirrhosis would not be surprising if she's an alcoholic" Nancy said.

"I guess we'll find out more tomorrow," Marty said. Then he looked at Nancy and Audra. "I am so lucky to have both of you!"

Chapter 11.

House was surprised to see a woman standing outside Wilson's office, knocking tentatively on the door, and looking a little lost. She was slight, almost frail-looking, but he didn't think she was one of Wilson's patients.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

It seemed to startle her. "Oh, no. Dr. Wilson told me to meet him here."

"You're not a patient, are you?"

"No. At least not...No." Helen didn't know what to make of this man who was interrogating her.

"House, don't you have somewhere else to me?" Wilson demanded as he strode towards them.

House puffed out his lips as he pretended to think about that. "Nope."

Wilson looked annoyed, but turned to the woman. "Why don't you wait inside. I'll be right with you." He opened the door and let Helen in.

"So, who is she? Doesn't look like your type," House said. "Although maybe she's needy enough."

Wilson quickly counted to ten in his head. His wife had told him that when he didn't want House poking his nose into something, he should make it sound as boring as possible. "OK. You wanna know who she is? She's a friend of the family and I've gotten stuck with taking her to lunch today. Wanna join us?"

House knew Wilson was lying. For one thing, what 'friend of the family' would call Jimmy 'Dr. Wilson'? "I've got a date with a gorgeous woman," House said, shaking his head and waking away. In truth he did, with his wife, as well as his son. Let Wilson think he was rid of him.

Cameron and Alex were waiting for him. After they got their food, he insisted on taking a table where he had a good view of the entrance and most of the other tables. Sure enough, it wasn't long before Wilson and the woman showed up. And then Marty joined them. Could she really be a family friend? Curiouser and curiouser.

"Who's that woman with the brothers Wilson?" Cameron asked.

"Wilson the Boy Wonder Oncologist says she's a family friend," House told his wife. "I don't know what lie Marty's using."

"Can I go over and say 'Hi' to Uncle Jimmy and Uncle Marty?" Alex asked.

House smiled. "Remind me to give you a raise in your allowance."

"Huh?" Alex said.

"Sure, little buddy, why don't you go over and talk to them," his father told the boy.

So Alex headed over to the table where the Wilsons and Helen were sitting. As he arrived he heard the woman say, "Marty, you're looking good."

"Hi, Uncle Jimmy," Alex said. "How are you Uncle Marty?"

"Hey, buddy. You having lunch here today?" Marty said.

"Yeah. We still didn't find a new school for me," he said.

Wilson looked at the boy and then over to where his parents sat, pretending to be deep in conversation.

"Do you know this child?" Helen asked Marty.

"Yes, he's the son of friends of ours," Marty replied.

"I have a son, too," Helen told Alex. "He's older than you, but not by too much."

"Oh, cool. What's his name? Can I meet him?" Alex asked.

"His name's Steven." Her face softened when she said the name.

Alex laughed and the adults looked puzzled. "That's the name of the school I may go to. Steven's Institute. Well, I'd better get back to our table and eat my lunch before my Dad eats it for me. Bye. Nice to meet you," he told Helen.

"What a strange little boy," Helen said.

"So, tell me about Steven," Marty said, trying to get her to refocus.

"Oh, he's a very good boy, and smart, too. After what Dr. Bartlett

told me today, I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of him much longer."

"How bad is it?" Marty couldn't help asking.

"The damage to my liver is irreversible. They'll try medication to prevent any complications, but I may need a transplant," she said.

Wilson didn't want to have to tell her that alcoholics, even recovering alcoholics, were usually turned down as transplant recipients. He could see that Helen's plight was really getting to his brother.

"Just let me know if there's anything I can do," Marty said. "And I'd like to meet Steven sometime soon."

"Oh, that would be wonderful," Helen said. "He wants to meet you too."

Back at the House table, Alex munched on his hot dog and fries.

"So who is that lady?" his father asked.

"I dunno. No one said her name. But, guess what. She has a boy too, and his name is Steven!" Alex said.

"Really," House said. He wondered how he was going to find out more.

"Greg," Cameron said. "Let it alone. I'm sure Jimmy or Marty will tell you in their own time."

House worked his lips back and forth, thinking. "OK. You're right. So, when are we going to this other pre-school?" he asked to change the subject.

But Cameron knew he wasn't going to let this go that easily. She just hoped he wouldn't cause anyone any grief.

Chapter 12.

"You can come see Steven tonight," Helen suggested. "Or...or we can visit you."

"I'll come by your place," Marty said. He wasn't ready yet to tell Helen where he lived and that he was married and adopting a fourteen-year-old girl. "Um, can I bring Steven anything?"

"Oh, how sweet of you!" Helen gushed. "But really, you don't need to bring him anything."

Marty looked at his brother. How was he going to bring up the paternity test?

"Helen, we'd also like you to bring Steven in sometime this week," Wilson said. "Just for some...simple tests."

'Thank you Jimmy!' Marty thought.

"You don't believe me?" Helen asked, looking from one brother to the other. "You don't believe Steven is your son?" she accused Marty.

"Of course I believe you," Marty said. "And I want to help you. I would even if he wasn't mine. But what's wrong with confirming it?"

"You really want to help us?" she asked.

"I said so, didn't I? Yes, Helen, you can count on me," Marty said.

Across the cafeteria, House and Cameron continued to watch the drama unfolding at the other table. They couldn't, of course, hear what was being said, but from the expressions on Wilson's, Marty's and the woman's faces, it was obviously intense.

Alex was completely oblivious to it all. Or was he? "Why doesn't Uncle Jimmy trust that lady?" he asked.

Cameron stared at him. She wasn't surprised, though, that he was as observant as his father. "I don't know, Sweetheart."

"Really?" Alex thought his parents knew everything.

"But we'll find out," his father told him.

The boy nodded. They'd finished their food and didn't have a reason to linger in the cafeteria. House thought about stopping at the Wilsons' table on their way out, but decided it wouldn't answer any of his questions. He did wonder, however, where Cuddy and Lloyd were, and whether they knew about this woman.

So when they left the cafeteria, he was happy to see Lloyd walking towards it. Maybe she was meeting her husband, his brother and the woman, but getting there late.

"Hi, Aunt Nancy," Alex said with a smile.

"Hi Alex." She smiled back at the little boy.

"Marty and Jimmy are already in the cafeteria with their guest," House said.

Nancy nodded, but didn't say anything. It was hard to read her face.

"She has a boy, too," Alex said.

Now Nancy smiled again. "Steven," was all she said.

House's eyebrows went up, while his wife's eyes narrowed.

"Well, I'll see you all later," Nancy told them, and walked into the cafeteria.

House would have loved to stay and watch what happened when she reached her husband, but Forbes chose that moment to be looking for him. He was wanted in his conference room. They had a new patient. So he didn't see Nancy grab a tray and some food and sit some distance from Marty, Wilson and Helen.

She watched as Jimmy and Helen got up to leave. Once they were out of the cafeteria, Marty came over to her table and sat down with a sigh.

"So?" Nancy asked.

"I'm going to meet the boy tonight," Marty told her. "I promised Helen that no matter what the paternity test shows, I will still help her and Steven."

Nancy nodded, than put her left hand on Marty's right one. "I wouldn't expect you to do any less."