Chapter 6

It was Sunday, and once again, Cameron and Cuddy were wielding their cameras. This time they stood in House's front lawn, both in casual dresses and sandals, waiting for House, Wilson and Tony to join them from where they were supposed to be helping the boy get ready. Or, in reality, they were giving him the "no drinking at the party tonight after graduation" talk–or in House's case–"don't drink too much at the party" talk.

Cameron looked at their daughters who were lying together in the grass, looking for four-leaf clovers as House had suggested to them–although they had no idea what a four-leaf clover was, they were told they were lucky, so they were determined to find one.

"I'm glad Jessica is feeling better today," Cameron told Cuddy. "James told Greg it was a rough night, the night of the prom."

"It was evidently only a virus–but it hit quickly and rather violently. And then she spiked a fever, but by last night, she was all cleared up."

"Don't you hate it when they're throwing up like that? I feel so helpless when Dee gets sick. Thank God she didn't catch it. I don't want anything to interfere with Tony's graduation tonight. Not that I wasn't a little happy that he didn't go out with Miss Tara Becker the other night," Cameron added snidely.

"Why? What's the problem with her?"

"She acts just like her mother," Cameron told her, then when Cuddy wasn't quite following her, she added. "Her mother–Dr. Fleming?"

"Amanda Fleming?" Cuddy asked with raised brows. "That's right–she kept her maiden name. Her husband owns Becker's Auto World down on Fourth."

"And that's only one of several. He's got about four more, stretching from New York to Philly."

"So, what is it, exactly, that makes you not fond of Amanda Fleming?" Cuddy laughed at her friend.

"Oh, I don't know. It could be the way she comes into the Diagnostic's Department for help diagnosing her Nephrology patients."

"Ah, the green-eyed monster strikes again. When are you ever going to accept the fact that you're stuck with House? He's not going to be chasing after other women."

"Then, you wouldn't mind my telling you that during these consultations, they tend to go into James' office more often than not."

"They what?" Cuddy looked up at her sharply. "What the hell does she need a consultation with an oncologist for?"

"A little bit of green eyes in those big blue eyes of yours as well, huh?" Cameron laughed at her.

"Listen, if that little bleached blonde thinks she's going to be getting some scratching from "my" husband–she's got another thing coming! I'll fire her ass so damn fast she won't know what hit her!"

"I'm sure she's only doing consultations–like you said, Lisa."

"Well, just so it stays that way," Lisa gave her a knowing smile. "So, how long does it take for those two to lecture Tony on the dangers of drinking and driving? I would have thought you had that drilled into his head long ago."

"I did–but it doesn't hurt to have his father and his father's best friend telling him, as well."

"Right, as they're both probably drinking from their very own bottles of beer throughout their speeches."

"Alright, James! I get it–no drinking. And yes, Dad, if I do drink, no driving. I get it!" Tony came through the door with the two men following them–James without a beer bottle, but House had one in hand. "Mom! Can you fix this? They can't do it."

"Yes," she told him as she handed her camera to Lisa. "Come here."

"Good Lord!" Lisa looked at the boy with the navy blue graduation gown that showed all signs of being lopsided and perhaps even backward, then she looked at her husband and House. "What were you doing in there? You were supposed to be helping him put on his cap and gown."

"Nobody told us we were supposed to be helping him," Wilson said as he put his hands on his hips and watched Allison readjusting the gown, then taking the large white sash that indicated he had been on the distinguished honor roll all four years throughout high school.

"Well, what exactly were you doing in there all this time?"

"I made a turkey and swiss sandwich, and House had a corned beef, and Tony was eating some leftover spaghetti from the refrigerator."

"Honey?" Allison was looking at her son's feet. "What are you wearing under your gown?"

"Def Leopard t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Why?"

"Don't you think that's a bit casual?" She started buttoning the sash at the back of his neck.

"Are you wearing my Def Leopard shirt?" House called from the front door.

"Yeah," Tony answered as he looked back at him, only to have Allison pull him to face her as she continued straightening his clothes. "So?"

"So–don't forget where you got it," House told him.

"Anyway, Mom, you should hear what some of the guys are going to wear under their gowns–they're only wearing their underwear." He paused when his mother pulled his face toward her again and placed his cap on his head. "It's going to be over ninety degrees out here today–then with all of us crowded together on that field, I can't blame them. I'm thinking of taking my shorts and t-shirt off too."

"You will not!" Cameron held onto his face until he was looking straight at her, even though he towered over her by about eight inches. "I will not have my son graduating in his underwear. Greg! Tell him!"

"Don't graduate in your underwear," House repeated dully, clearly unimpressed with the conversation.

"Fine–I won't take off my shorts. But if it gets too hot waiting to walk to the field–the shirt's coming off."

"Just don't lose the damn shirt."

"I won't lose your damn shirt," Tony mimicked his father, then looked back at his mother when she turned his face back to her again. She was eying him very closely. "What?"

"Are you feeling alright? Your face is all pink."

"I'm fine, Mom. I just shaved, it's probably irritated. Now, take your pictures so I can leave. Bob and Ryan are waiting for me at Dean's. We're all going over to Steve's after we get our diplomas."

"Well, alright," Allison said doubtfully as she released his face. "And where are you going after Steve's?"

"Don't know–don't care! We're going to celebrate!" He smiled at his mother and wiggled his eyebrows a little too much like his father in her opinion.

So in a matter of five minutes, Tony was photographed with everyone numerous times and was in his Mustang and on his way to Dean's house where he was to pick up three of his friends and then meet Steve at the school cafeteria.

The Houses and Wilsons waited a little while longer as they went back into the house and Wilson finished his sandwich and House finished his beer. With a few words of encouragement, Allison managed to talk House into at least wearing a pair of jeans and button-down shirt instead of the worn cut-offs and t-shirt he had been wearing.

Once parked at the high school football field, they slowly made their way to the bleachers where they climbed the ten steps to the bottom row of the elevated seats. Allison and Lisa both pulled cold drinks out of their bags as soon as they sat with their daughters on their laps, allowing the little girls to replenish their fluid as the sun beat heavily upon them. They were glad they had put suntan lotion on them before they left, otherwise they would be dealing with two little sunburned toddlers by night's end.

"Dr. House! Dr. Wilson! Imagine meeting you here." The woman's voice turned Allison's and Lisa's attention to her as she stood on the gravel entrance to the bleachers below them. Her blue eyes shown from a face that was slim and a bit severe. Allison looked closely at the woman's hair, wondering if there was much gray under that bottle of Loreal. Although the woman looked even younger than Allison, she knew very well that she was actually closer to House's age.

"Yes, imagine that," Lisa smiled at her, turning the woman's attention to her.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Dr. Fleming smiled stiffly at Lisa. "I keep forgetting there are two Dr. Wilson's at the hospital."

"Yes, well, that happens on occasion. But once the people realize that the other Wilson is the Dean of Medicine, that mistake rarely happens again. Funny, how that happens." Lisa turned to look at Allison. "Don't you find that funny? Oh, but then you must run into the same situation, seeing as how there are "two" Dr. Houses at the hospital. People just forget sometimes, I guess."

"I'll try to keep that in mind," Dr. Fleming said, losing her smile as she moved closer to the steps that would bring her up into the bleachers. "Victor, are you coming?"

The Houses and Wilsons looked at the man standing behind Amanda Fleming, noticing how he was watching Allison and Dee. He looked to be in his mid to late forties and held a physic that was outstanding. His hair was dark, as were his eyes, and he didn't hide the interest he felt as he looked at the "feminine" Dr. House.

"Dr. House," he said warmly as he looked at Allison. "I had the pleasure of meeting your son over the past few weeks. He's quite a young man."

"Thank you Mr. Becker," Allison smiled gently at the man. "And I'm really Dr. Cameron-House–Dr. House is my husband."

"I know he had an unfortunate evening the night of the prom–but I was quite impressed when he called to let me know what had happened, and asked what I wanted done with Tara. It was very responsible of him. You've taught him very well."

"Yeah, well," House spoke up. "We're thinking about getting a collie when we send Tony to college. She did such a good job training our son–the dog ought to be a cinch."

Victor Becker turned his attention to House as if he hadn't noticed him until that moment, then he looked back at Allison. "I hope we have a chance to talk farther after the ceremony. Perhaps we could go out for dinner afterward, since Tara and Tony didn't have the prom they were counting on–we can try to make it up to them."

"Victor! Are you coming?" Dr. Fleming repeated.

"Victor," House leaned forward on his cane from where he was sitting. "Mamma's calling. You better run home now."

Tony sat on the edge of one of the tables in the cafeteria as his friends stood around him. They were almost ready to line up alphabetically, and then they were to walk the quarter of a mile over the parking areas of the school until they came to the football field where the graduation was going to take place. So far, numerous girls brought their yearbooks up for his signature, then giggled as they would walk away to show their girlfriends who were waiting for them. He was amused by their antics, but at the moment he was more concerned with his buddies and their plans they were making for after the ceremony. They were definitely heading out to a party, and the fact that the people having the party was the mayor's twin granddaughters, Shelby and Morgan, made the plan all the more inviting. Shelby and Morgan was having several of their friends over, and made it very clear that their parents were on vacation in Paris for the next five days.

"Okay–okay–everyone–quiet!" The principal of the school called over the speakers. "Let's get started. You know who you're supposed to stand behind. Let's get in line, just as we went over it last week. Steve–Steve Shaffer–you're the valedictorian, you're first, then class officers, then we'll start with the A's. Okay–people–line up!"

Tony's friend, Steve, went to the front of the line, prepared to give his detailed speech before everyone, grab his diploma, then run for the nearest twin for an incredible make-out session. Tony watched a good portion of his two hundred and eighty classmates line up as directed the week before, then he stood up and went to his position.

Damn, but it as getting hot in the cafeteria. He only wished he had the courage to strip down to his underwear. He knew it was only going to get worse when they were all seated together on chairs in the middle of the football field.

They were nearly halfway between the school and the field when a sweat broke out on Tony's forehead and he wiped his upper lip. He couldn't imagine it getting much hotter than it was right then.

They proceeded through the fences, and were equal with the end of the bleachers when he started to look for his family, but suddenly the effort to actually focus on the people was becoming a chore, so he simply looked ahead of himself. Man, this heat was getting the best of him. Another thirty seconds and they were moving onto the field and he was heading to his chair–great–it's right in the middle of the whole damn class. He couldn't get an end seat so he could get a little bit of a breeze–if there happened to be a breeze.

He felt the first cramp hit when Steve was starting his speech and he knit his brows together in confusion. "Uh-oh," he thought to himself. "This can't be good. It must have been that cold spaghetti I ate before I left the house." A few more minutes into the speech and he was wondering how he never realized how long-winded his friend could be. Damn, he wished he'd just shut up and get away from the damn podium.

Finally–he's done! Tony waited his turn until his row got to their feet and started toward the stage where they were to shake hands with the principal, guidance counselor, and a state senator that was doing some publicity for his campaign.

Another cramp hit Tony as he neared the steps to the outside stage and he placed his hand on his stomach. "Oh, please, let me get through this–and I promise–I'll never eat cold, leftover spaghetti straight from the refrigerator again."

There, he made it to the bottom of the steps. Man, is it hot! Tony wiped the sweat from his forehead. What the hell is this stupid cap doing on my head. Do I have the tassel in the right position? He swore his hair was completely soaked with sweat beneath the hat.

Okay, three more students ahead of him. He was going to make it. He could almost feel the cool air that was going to hit his head as soon as he was allowed to pull this damn cap off. Two more students and he wiped his sweaty hands on his gown. He knew his mom wasn't going to approve of that, but what the hell–better the gown than the principal's hand. One more student, and Tony couldn't believe the heat. He blew out a puff of air, and made his way when he heard "Anthony House, son of Dr. Gregory House and Dr. Allison Cameron-House." There–take the damn diploma, shake the principal's hand, move to the guidance counselor, shake his hand, move to the senator–shake, move tassel. Done! Get the hell down off this stage and get some fresh air!

He moved down the few steps to the grass below and managed to get all the way to the edge of the students who were back in their seats, then just as he was turning to head back to his row–everything got blurry–then everything went black. He woke briefly to feel the coolness of the grass beneath his face. Well, he thought hazily, at least he passed out in the shade–and he quickly went back under again.