Chapter VI

"The Dream"

Okay, thanks goes to all of you who reviewed. Keep it up!!! Even one review makes me smile. The more I get, the more motivated I am to write more. Anyway, thanks to bethypage97 for being such a loyal (and estatic) fan. If any of you have any ideas, let me know. I am runnig out. Review please!

Jessica threw the keys on the table and turned the light on. She looked around the room, and other than the apartment change, everything looked the same. Books were stacked on the bookshelf. They looked like they were there for show. There were dirty magazines, empty glasses, and leftover takeout boxes strewn everywhere. Jessica found an empty spot on the couch and set what little possessions she owned downed. She decided it was time for some hunting.

It has to be here somewhere. Jessica thought as she ransacked the apartment. She found a box of VCRs stashed behind the television—along with a stash of Vicodin. Jessica searched more for the one she wanted.

There were only five tapes in the box: "Medical Mysteries", "The Truth about God", "The Life and Times of Gregory House", "Princess Di's Funeral", and "Girls Next Door Marathon". After long speculation, Jessica chose the lost one and stuck it in the player.

There was a lit Christmas Tree and presents all around it. The date at the bottom was 12/25. It was Jessica's last Christmas with her parents.

Jessica was seven at the time and sitting on her father's lap. Her mother narrated what was going on from behind the camera.

"Alright," said an all-too-familiar voice. "Time for another present!" Uncle Greg stooped down to pick up a small box. "Here you go." He gave the box to his niece.

"What's inside it?" Jessica's dad asked.

"Open it, Jessie," her mother said in a sugary-sweet tone.

Jessica tore open the gift and smiled the widest smile. It was a brown, fuzzy teddy bear.

"What are you going to name it?" her dad asked.

"Gey," Jessica said, clutching the bear. She could not pronounce her uncle's name yet. No matter how hard House tried, "Greg" always came out "Gey". "I love you Uncle Gey."

House laughed. "I love you too, Jessica."

Jessica shut off the television. She tried desperately to compose herself. She dug in her suitcase and pulled out the bear.

It's name had changed slightly to Grey to make it less embarrassing. She went back to the couch and quickly fell asleep.

"…Happy birthday to you!" they all sang to Jessica on one snowy evening. In front of her was a strawberry cake with eight candles on top.

"Make a wish," her mother said.

I wish we could be a happy family forever. Jessica silently wished. She blew out all of her candles.

Jessica, her mother and father, and House all dined until it was time to go home.

"You know," House slurred as he picked up his keys. "I think it's time for me to go." He began to walk out the door.

"No, Greg. Let me drive you," Jessica's father said. "Janice, where are the keys?"

"Right here, George. Jessica and I will come too. She wants to say goodbye to her uncle."
The group squeezed in the tiny car and was on their way.

"I can drive by myself. I don't need this," House whined from the backseat, his breath reeking of alcohol.

"Not tonight. You're drunk," George's voice said from the front.

Jessica looked out the window trying to ignore everything.

"Greg, George," Janice pleaded, "please don't argue in front of—George, look out!"

Tires screeched and the car swerved. The next thing Jessica knew, the car was turned over, the windows and windshield were broken in, and worst of all, everyone was silent.

"Mom? Dad? Uncle Greg?" She frantically wiggled out of her seat. She went to the front.

"Mom? Mommy!" Jessica shook her mother—nothing.

Jessica turned to her father. "Daddy? Daddy, please no!" There was no response.

Half-heartedly, Jessica looked at her uncle. "Uncle Greg?" she whispered between sobs. She crawled over to him and shook his arm. "No, please. No," Jessica cried. "No! No!"

Sirens wailed and Jessica heard people talking.

"No! No!" Jessica sobbed. "Mom! Dad! No! Please!"

"Jessica, wake up. Wake up. It's just a dream."

Jessica woke up to find her uncle sitting beside her with a cold washrag on her forehead. "I had the dream. I saw it all over again."

That was hard for me to write. I get emotional when bad things happen to characters-especially mine. Yeah, I'm crazy.