Meet Before You Die
A House Fan Fiction
DISCLAIMER: House is not mine.
AN. I do love the story of the thousand paper cranes.
Chapter Seven
Cameron was pleasantly surprised when she entered Wilson's office the next morning after leaving Abby with Jess, to find House ready and waiting, albeit nervously.
Wilson sat them down, and smiled reassuringly. "Ok, I had a look at Abby's file this morning, and I think there's a really good prognosis."
Cameron exhaled deeply in relief and she smiled faintly. "You mean that?"
Wilson nodded. "Yeah, I do. Her white count is less than 50, 000, which is a really good sign. With ALL, typically, the higher the white count, the worse the prognosis. And she's young, which will work in our favour. So, I think our best shot for treatment is to start a round of chemo. That's three months, and we'll monitor her closely and check her blood count again at the end. A bone marrow transplant is our last resort, and I only want to consider radiation if the chemo doesn't have a big enough affect. Is that okay?"
Although he was speaking to both of them, both Wilson and House knew the question was directed to Cameron, who nodded.
"She'll lose her hair," she said wistfully, a sudden lump in her throat.
Wilson gave her a sympathetic glance. "It'll grow back, Allie," he said gently.
"Yeah, I know," she replied quietly, and Wilson pulled a wrapped package out of his desk drawer.
"I want to schedule Abby in for Monday to administer the chemo. That way, it's quick, but gives you guys the weekend to get your head around the idea and maybe explain it to Abby. And here, this is from Jess and I. It's not a lot, but Jess said it would mean a lot to you."
Frowning slightly, Cameron took it and opened the parcel to find two books; 101 origami for kids, and Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Cameron had tears in her eyes as she smiled up at Wilson, hugging the books to her chest.
"Thank you," she said faintly, and Wilson nodded.
House had told Cuddy he wouldn't be working today, and he and Cameron left Wilson's together, and transferred her and Abby's belongings from Wilson's car to his. House drove to his new townhouse in silence, increasingly nervous as he unlocked the door and allowed Cameron to enter.
"So... living room, obviously... kitchen, bathroom... this is the spare room, there's a futon in the study if Abby kicks or something," he offered but Cameron shook her head, laughing slightly.
"No, she's fine. Once she's down, she's down. Although she used to sing in her sleep."
House snorted. "Right."
"No, seriously. For about six months, when she was three," Cameron replied earnestly and House grinned.
"Oh yeah? What did she sing?"
"Disney mainly, although I think The Wizard of Oz made it into the program once or twice," she giggled. "I think I have it on camera somewhere."
Silence fell, and House, remembering the last silence they'd had, cleared his throat and moved into the kitchen entranceway.
"Uh, I don't think I have much food... I might make a list while you unpack before we pick Abby up?"
"Sure," she agreed.
"What does Abby eat?"
Cameron laughed. "Anything. Except seafood and pickles."
House grinned. "Really?"
She shrugged. "Like I said last night, she's your daughter," she smiled and then headed into the spare room to unpack.
House and Cameron went to the supermarket and bought groceries, and then picked Abby up from Jess and Wilson's house. Abby examined the townhouse carefully when she entered, as House and Cameron put the groceries away. Then House offered to cook dinner, while Cameron sat Abby down and gently explained to her about the chemo and then read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes to her.
Abby was wide eyed when the book was finished, and all through dinner, then as Cameron did the dishes and House turned on the TV, she asked questions about the legend.
"How long will it take to make a thousand, Mommy?" she asked excitedly, after insisting her mother read the story again.
Cameron sighed thoughtfully. "Well, we could try and make one or two a day, and maybe get Grandma and Grandpa to help, and Aunt Cassie and Uncle Drew. Then it wouldn't take long at all. What do you think?"
Abby nodded. "Can we start now?"
"Sure, chook."
Cameron had bought some construction paper at the supermarket and settled Abby on the floor to help her make a paper crane.
"Daddy, do you want to help?" Abby asked and Cameron paused.
"Abby, hon your Dad's busy," she began but House cut her off.
"Sure. It's a repeat anyway," he said, turning off the TV. Cameron smiled slightly, but her hands shook as she opened the origami book to the right page.
"You believe the legend?" House asked her, once she had put Abby to bed.
Cameron shrugged, gently fingering the paper figure that slightly resembled the picture in the book on the coffee table.
"It can't hurt, right?" she said lightly, but House knew it was a symbol of hope, not just for Abby but for her, that Abby would get well.
"Yeah, it can't hurt," he agreed.
Cameron hesitated, then decided to speak. "I called my parents when I was putting Abby to bed. Just to keep them up to date with everything... and my mom said something-"
"She really hates me, doesn't she?" House grimaced and Cameron laughed.
"She didn't say anything about you! She just asked what your parents had said about the situation, and I wondered if you were going to tell them?"
House's gut reaction was to say 'no' and change the subject, as he did whenever his parents came up. But he stopped on the verge of saying the word, knowing his parents would want to know about Abby.
"They should probably know," he said reluctantly. "Do I have to?"
Cameron snorted. "Well, I'm quite happy to, but it might come better from you," she grinned and House knew she would do it if he didn't.
"Yeah, I'll call them tonight," he sighed.
Cameron nodded and stood up. "Ok, I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."
"Right," House nodded and didn't look at her as she left the room.
When he called his parents, he explained the very complicated and long story to his mother, and then to his father, who actually asked if he had ordered a paternity test.
House was taken aback. "What? No. Dad... she's my kid. She has my eyes, exactly. I don't need a paternity test."
"I'm not sure I understand why she didn't tell you she was pregnant," Blythe said, puzzled and House sighed. That had been the one detail he'd skimmed over.
"Mom, it was... complicated. She worked for me, it was a one-night thing... she knows me. She knew if she told me, I'd panic and do something I might regret. She was protecting the baby."
Then he'd become frustrated. "Look, I know it sucks that you... that I missed the first five years of my daughter's life, but that's really not the point now. Leukaemia is serious, and I thought you might want to meet her."
There was a silence and then Blythe's voice relaxed. "Of course we do. When is a good time to come?"
House hesitated, not really wanting to see his parents, but knowing this was important for them, and probably for Abby too. "This weekend is probably best. Before the chemo starts, I don't know how she'll be for visitors after."
"That's fine, dear," Blythe said matter-of-factly. "We'll be there tomorrow afternoon then."
"Right. Uh, you'll have to make reservations in a hotel. Abby and- and Allison are in my spare room."
"Of course. Ok, dear. We'll see you then."
"Ok," House agreed and hung up. Already dreading his parents arrival, he went to bed.
When he awoke the next morning, he froze when he heard voices coming from the kitchen. It took him a moment to recall the events of the day before, that Cameron and Abby were staying with him. His daughter was staying with him. It was still a foreign thought to him, knowing he had fathered a child; and even more strange to now be thinking of Cameron as the mother of his child. Glancing at the clock, and seeing it was nearly eight-thirty, he made to get out of bed, but froze as he reached for his Vicodin.
It suddenly occurred to him, that this would be the first time he had seen Cameron in anything so... intimate as her pajamas since... well, since the night of Abby's conception. And it would certainly be the first time he had ever seen her as she was in the mornings, ever. Once again, he remembered waking up the morning after their night together to find her gone, although the sun had barely risen. He briefly considered getting dressed, but decided against it thinking it would make her seem uncomfortable if she thought he was changing his routine because of her presence. She may have changed in the past five years, but she was still Cameron.
Self-consciously, he opened his bedroom door and limped down the hallway hesitating only a moment outside the kitchen before stepping into the room. Abby was sitting patiently on one of the high stools House had placed at the island, swinging her bare legs merrily and chatting away a thousand miles a minute to her mother, who was at the stove, and dressed in pyjama pants and a t-shirt and a robe.
"Hi," Cameron said brightly, cutting off Abby's chatter as she noticed House in the doorway. She motioned to the stove behind her. "Want some pancakes?"
"Hi, Dad! Mommy makes pancakes in animal shapes!" Abby greeted him.
House paused then nodded, taking the stool beside Abby. "Sure, pancakes would be great."
He glanced sideways at Abby, who was sipping chocolate milk loudly through a crazy straw.
"How do you feel?"
"Good," she replied. Then she put her cup down and rolled up her pajamas sleeve."Look, I got another bruise."
House examined it carefully. "Does it hurt?"
She shook her head. "No. It's Billy."
House was confused. "Billy?"
"I name them," Abby told him.
Cameron cleared her throat and set down a plate of pancakes in front of her daughter. "Here you go, Abs."
She began to eat, and Cameron muttered under her breath to House, who still looked surprised. "My dad's idea. So she doesn't freak out."
House nodded in understanding. "Right. My parents are coming this afternoon."
Cameron's eyes widened slightly. "Ok."
House raised his voice to normal level and turned to Abby. "So, how do you know which bruises are boys and which bruises are girls?"
Abby's brow crinkled in thought. "DNA," she said finally, and House and Cameron exchanged small smiles.
Abby managed to eat three pancakes before she announced she was full, and Cameron didn't press the issue, letting her hurry off to play with her dolls. Cameron began cleaning the breakfast things, whilst House ate.
"What are you eating?" he asked her finally, and she jumped slightly before answering.
"Oh, I had some juice," she replied, and House raised an eyebrow.
"Great. I asked, what are you eating?"
She shrugged. "I'll have some yoghurt. That'll do me."
"Some yoghurt will do you," House repeated in disbelief and she turned around to face him, smiling slightly.
"Yes, it's fine. I have a small stomach, a yoghurt is plenty," she assured him but he didn't look convinced.
"What time do you think your parents will arrive?" she asked before he could say anything else.
House was distracted by Cameron's bizarre eating habits by the reminder of his parent's forthcoming arrival.
"Oh, sometime this afternoon. I didn't ask for details."
She nodded carefully. "Ok. I might go get Abby dressed before she unpacks Barbie's ten thousand accessories," she said, and House laughed, thinking she was exaggerating.
When Abby and herself had been dressed, Cameron began to tidy their bedroom and Abby brought out her Barbie suitcase to the living room. House was watching a Tivoed episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, and he watched her out of the corner of his eye as she settled down in a corner with her suitcase.
"What's in there?" he asked her.
"My Barbie," she replied.
House thought that it was an awfully big suitcase for one Barbie and began to say so, until she opened it to reveal one Barbie, one Ken, and a mountain of clothes and accessories. He gaped at it, and then Cameron entered and sat on the other end of the couch. She couldn't help but giggle at his expression.
"I told you Wilson spoils her. Most of those came from him or my parents."
"That's all for one Barbie doll?" he asked her.
She nodded, rolling her eyes. "I know. It's ridiculous. That's why I only bought her the Barbie and Ken. By the way, their names are not Barbie and Ken."
House was puzzled. "They're not?"
"Of course not. Who wants a Barbie and Ken, called Barbie and Ken?" Cameron demanded. "It's completely unoriginal."
"So what are their names?"
"Sophie and Sky," she replied, sighing a little. House frowned and she explained. "My mom and I took her to see Mamma Mia in the cinemas. It was the first movie she saw on the big screen, and she loved it so much, we saw it another three times."
House laughed, and Abby looked up from her playing in curiosity.
"What's so funny?" she demanded and Cameron smiled.
"Nothing hon. Grown up stuff," she answered and Abby nodded, accepting that answer.
That afternoon, Cameron was reading to Abby (Harry Potter, for the millionth time, Cameron had told House), and House was still watching television when there was a knock on the door.
Cameron paused and stopped reading, and House reluctantly got up to answer the door.
"Hi Mom, Dad," he greeted them and let them into the townhouse.
Cameron stood up nervously, her face slightly paler and the book still clutched in her hand, whilst Abby watched in silent interest.
"Abby, come here a sec," House gestured softly, and Abby cautiously approached her father as Blythe and John House stepped inside and laid eyes upon their granddaughter for the first time.
"Mom, Dad, this is Abby. Abby, these are... your grandparents."
Blythe had a soft smile on her face as she knelt down to talk to Abby. "Hello, Abby."
"Hi," Abby said uncertainly. "You're my grandmother?"
"Yes," Blythe nodded.
Abby's brow crinkled as she studied her and then tilted her head to the side. "So, what do I call you? I already have a grandma and grandpa."
Blythe smiled thoughtfully. "Well, what do you think about Nanna and Grandad?"
Abby considered it momentarily and nodded. "That's ok."
She then looked passed Blythe and saw John standing there. "So, you're my Grandad?"
John, who had been studying the child to see if she was indeed, his son's child, looked down and saw his son's bright blue eyes looking at him intensely from the face of this tiny little girl and his doubts wavered. Hesitantly, he too knelt down beside his wife to talk to Abby.
"Yes, I am," he said finally.
"Abby?" Cameron interrupted, her voice shaking slightly. "Sweetie, why don't you go play in the bedroom for a bit?"
Abby turned to her mother. "But you're not finished reading!" she complained.
"I'll read you some more tonight when I tuck you in, ok?" Cameron promised.
Abby sighed dramatically. "Fine," she huffed and left the room slowly, clearing wanting to hear what was going to be said once she left.
"Abby, go!" Cameron said firmly and Abby disappeared from view.
Blythe and John stood up and faced Cameron, who swallowed hard.
"So..." House began, but Cameron paused and held up her hand to stop him from continuing.
"Abby, I said play in the bedroom," she announced to the doorway, and the three other adults turned in confusion.
There was a pause, and then Abby's little figure re-entered the room from where she had been standing in the hall.
"I want to be included," she said mournfully, but Cameron was firm.
"Abigail," she said warningly, hands on her hips.
"Mommy!" Abby moaned.
"Go," she ordered, and Abby left again, and actually went to the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
House turned to Cameron, clearly impressed. "Wow... mom radar!"
Cameron chuckled and placed the book she was still holding on the coffee table. "It comes in handy."
Blythe smiled softly. "She's wonderful," she said sincerely to her son and House shrugged.
"That's all Allison."
Cameron startled slightly, that was the first time he had addressed her by her first name...ever. Blythe approached her and took her hand.
"It's so nice to properly meet you, Allison. You've done a wonderful job with Abby," she told her and Cameron relaxed.
"Thank you," she smiled.
House made them all coffee and then John suddenly turned to Cameron.
"Are you dating anyone?" he asked bluntly and Cameron was stunned by the question. House, next to her, stilled. He had never considered the fact Cameron might have moved on in the past five years, or that she dated at all.
But Cameron recovered from the question and shook her head. "No, I'm not. I haven't dated since... since I got pregnant," she replied awkwardly.
"What's going to happen now? With custody arrangements?"
Cameron's first thought was that Abby may not survive for them to worry about custody, but she felt so disgusted with herself for thinking those thoughts that she couldn't stop tears from springing to her eyes, and she knew she was about to breakdown for the first time since Abby had been diagnosed.
"Uh, excuse me-" she said hastily, and jumped up from the couch, leaving the room.
House, who had been forewarned about this from Jess, looked after her worriedly and then turned to his parents.
"Dad, our first priority right now is to get Abby past the cancer. When she's well, we can worry about custody. And I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to be involved in Abby's life," he told his father and Blythe placed a calming hand on her son's arm.
"Of course you will. We might go back to the hotel now, Greg. Maybe the five of us can have dinner tomorrow night?"
"Fine," House muttered, only wanting to go check on Cameron, and Blythe led John out of the townhouse.
When they had gone, House got up from the couch as fast as he could. His first stop was the spare room, where Abby watching a DVD on Cameron's laptop.
"You ok?" he asked her, and she nodded.
"I'm fine. Mommy's crying in the bathroom," she informed him casually and House nodded.
"Thanks."
The bathroom door was unlocked, and House entered to find Cameron sitting on the edge of the bathtub, crying desperately into her hands, in an attempt to stifle her sobs. He paused for only an instant before sitting beside her and pulling her into his arms. It was the most physical contact they'd had in five years, so it surprised him how comfortable it was for him to let her cry onto his chest.
"I- I can't let her die," she whispered through tears and House's heart broke as he rocked her back and forth.
"She won't," he said just as softly into her ear, and repeated it over and over again, a mantra, a promise, a desperate hope.