"Where is everyone?" House complained. "I'm hot and hungry and they're late." He sat on the couch looking grumpy.
"Chase was finishing up a late surgery, Remy is with him. Eric called to say they were on their way. No one made you wear that you know," Wilson reprimanded him while doing last minute checks on all the food cooking in the kitchen. As talented as he was, even Wilson was a bit overwhelmed orchestrating Thanksgiving dinner for six.
"Is Angel feeling okay?" House's voice changed to that of concern. "And I like my outfit. What else should I have worn on Thanksgiving?" Wilson just sighed in response, more concerned with the consistency of the mashed potatoes than engaging House.
"She's fine House. She was just getting the pies out of the oven when he called. Spent all morning on them." He smiled when the doorbell rang. "See? Told you."
Wilson wiped his hands on his apron, and went to the door. It was Foreman and Angel, but all Wilson could say was "Happy….your hair is pink!"
"Huh?" called out House, who got up and stepped over to the doorway. Even he could not suppress a smile, though he himself caused Angel and Foreman to laugh heartily.
There they stood: Angel in a hot pink wig, grinning at House, who was dressed like a pilgrim. Foreman and Wilson looked at each other, slightly amused and dazed.
"Cool," House said, nodding his approval.
"Thanks, pretty rockin' yourself," Angel replied, brushing a pink curl from her cheek.
"Um, did we miss the part about this being a costume party?" Chase asked behind them. As the door was still open, he and Hadley walked in, huge grins on their faces.
Hugs and greetings were exchanged all around. "Eric gave me the idea that I could have whatever color hair I wanted, so I hit a costume shop online, they have every color and type of wig imaginable…pirate wench, Goth—"
"How about Lady Godiva?" House asked, getting a dirty look from Foreman and Chase.
"House, behave," Hadley teased.
"I think you're mixed up-naughty and nice is Christmas. Today is Thanksgiving." House sat, resolute.
Angel came and sat beside him while Foreman took a photo, before House could scowl at the camera. "You better be nice, or no pie for you," Angel reminded him, giving his hand a friendly squeeze. He couldn't help smiling a little; the twinkle in her eye was back, even if she did look pale and tired.
"We're almost ready to eat," called Wilson from the kitchen. Angel hopped up and set out the name place holders she and Sadie had worked on—little pinecones made to look like turkeys. Chase and House were stumped at how everyone else cooed over their cuteness. Even Wilson thought they were neat.
"You are such a girl," House mocked him, garnering a glare from Angel.
"Watch it, mister, I have a hot glue gun and I know how to use it," she growled before giggling.
They sat around the table, Wilson and House on each end, so that House was flanked by Angel and Hadley. Angel timidly cleared her throat. "I…know we all differ in what we believe but…I think it would be nice for maybe a moment of silence?" Everyone murmured their agreement. Angel looked at House and took his hand; he couldn't roll his eyes, just simply nodded.
Angel thought of Connor, Eric, her cancer but her most fervent prayer was God, please let House want me to be a part of his life. She lifted her head, opened her eyes, and found House looking at her kindly. His look changed to annoyance when Wilson suggested they go around and mention what they were thankful for and asked Hadley to go first.
"Of course I'm thankful for Robert, but I'm also thankful to be here, sharing dinner with friends." Hadley smiled, with her green eyes sparkling. She squeezed Chase's hand. Now House rolled his eyes.
"We don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I am likewise thankful for Remy, and for the skills that helped me save a person's life so he could be with his family today." He earned a kiss from Hadley for that. House grumbled something about the potatoes getting cold.
"I'm thankful to have the room to have you all here, and for my best friend, even when he dresses in costumes," Wilson grinned and raised his glass to House who gave him a hint of a smile.
"I'm thankful that Remy is with Chase so that I could be with Angel," Foreman began, making everyone laugh. "I'm also thankful to be a part of this team." House let out a long loud sigh.
Angel sat for a moment, overcome. Quietly, eyes downward, she began, "A year ago, I didn't know any of you. I'd never had dinner with friends like this, or celebrated Thanksgiving with family. I'm so grateful to be here with so many people who care about me, who love me." Everyone was silent. "And I'm thankful that Remy is dating Chase so I could have Eric." Even House grinned at her.
"I'm thankful that we can eat now!" House said, reaching for the carving knife. Angel gave him a look. "Okay okay. I'm thankful for the team we've become, especially with Angel. Even if she hasn't worked in ages," he said, with a wink in her direction. "Can we eat now?"
It wasn't hard to notice how little Angel ate. Everything smelled so heavenly but she knew she would be humiliated if she got sick. Everyone tried not to pay attention but even House looked a bit worried. Angel could feel everyone's' eyes on her, so she raised a toast to Taub and his wife. After, she closed her eyes for a moment, listening to everyone chattering and felt, for once, part of a family.
House touched her arm gently. "You okay?" His blue eyes radiated concern, but she patted his hand and smiled.
"I'm better than okay. Thank you for this." House began to protest. "I know you're going to say this was all Wilson's doing, but you didn't dress up for nothing. And, I have a little surprise for you after dinner."
His eyebrows went up. "You're going to make me wait for dessert?" She just smiled and laughed.
Wilson firmly insisted that he'd take in plates while they hung out in the family room. "Angel said she had a surprise for me," House loudly announced to everyone. Angel gave him a playful swat, her cheeks bright red.
When Wilson joined them, Angel got up her courage. "If House would so kindly allow me to use his piano, I'd like to play the only song I know that even remotely has to do with Thanksgiving." Everyone clapped, with House nodding his approval.
She sat on the bench, swallowing hard, feeling the old shake come back to her hands. Then she took a deep breath and began to play "Linus and Lucy" from Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. The laughs and giggles encouraged her, so she really got into it. She didn't see House get up and stand next to the piano until she got to the bridge and he began playing his electric guitar with her. She looked up with a gleeful surprised smile on her face as they riffed together. They took turns with the melody, and got a standing ovation when they were done. Angel couldn't help herself; she hugged House tightly, kissing him on the cheek.
"House, play for us, please?" She gave him the smile he could not refuse. First he took off his pilgrim's cap. Then he sat and began playing a jazzy version of "Over the Meadow and Thru the Woods".
Everyone was still on their feet from the ovation. Angel stood against Foreman, his arms wrapped around her. She felt so happy, she thought her heart would burst. Angel closed her eyes, but thought it odd that the music seemed to be getting farther away, and she was feeling warm.
House happened to look over, saw the ghostly pallor as color drained from her face and her legs started to crumble. "Foreman!" he shouted. Foreman had his arms around her already but she very nearly slipped through them as she collapsed.
House snapped at everyone to back up and give her some air. "Take her to my room, let's set her up with some fluids." Foreman gently picked her up and put her on the bed. He took off her wig and loosened the top of her blouse.
When House rolled up her sleeve to do the IV, he let out a violent "What the fuck…" Her arm was covered in black and blue patches from all the IVs she'd needed. "Does that nurse know a damn thing about inserting IVs?" he hissed. "And she needs to eat more, she's too thin."
"Her veins aren't….doing too well. Even I'm having trouble with them." House snorted until he realized Foreman and the nurse weren't inept. Reluctantly he had to move to her right arm and managed to get a vein and hung a bag.
"Stay with her. I need to talk to Wilson." He looked for a moment at Angel then limped out to the other room.
House was back soon and shooed Foreman out. His nervous energy was making House irritable. House was relieved her temperature was fine and that her blood pressure wasn't too low. He was taking off the cuff when she started to come around. "Welcome back," House said quietly.
Angel sighed. "I'm so sorry House," she began.
"Oh hush. It's fine. It's you I'm worried about. Talked to Wilson. We're going to need to insert a PICC line for the rest of your treatments. Your arm looks like you've gone ten rounds with a vampire."
"What does that mean?" Her eyes were dull, muted.
"It means we're going to insert a permanent IV access that stays there. Then when it comes time for chemo, or fluids or nutrition, we just hook the connectors. But you're going to have to be diligent about keeping it clean because it increases your risk of infection. But less needle sticks, and you can have 3 bags running at once. Which you will. You're not eating enough Angel." House looked stern like he was going to scold her.
"I...I try but I just throw up. I'm really not all that hungry anymore." House just glowered at her. "I just got tired today making pies and—"
"You need to take care of yourself! Buy the damn pies next time." He noticed the hurt look on her face and touched her hand. "Look. I know this day was important. But you're more important than dessert." He paused. "I can't believe I just said that." He gave her a small smile and she let out a weak giggle.
"Maybe we can find something else to help with the nausea. I'll talk to Wilson." She nodded and closed her eyes for a moment.
Without opening her eyes, she murmured, "I'm only one month in. How am I going to do this for three more months? Knowing I'm just going to get….worse." She opened her eyes. He knew she wanted the truth but he wished he could tell her anything than that.
"I don't know Angel. But you will. We're with you." He squeezed her hand. "How's Foreman treating you?"
"Well, you know him better than I do but…he's wonderful, really." The light came back in her eyes. That was encouraging.
"Good. He's a good doctor. Not so lucky with the ladies. Screwed up pretty badly with Thirteen." He looked at her. "But he's better with you. It's good you're not alone. Being alone sucks."
Angel propped herself up and gently touched House's cheek. "House, you're not alone, you know that right?"
Her hand felt warm on his cheek. It felt nice, but he had to look away. "Sure." He swallowed the lump in his throat. He could feel Angel's gaze and turned back to her, plastering a smile on his face. "Looks like you're done; are you feeling dizzy or faint?"
"No, much better now." She sat up carefully. Everything stayed in focus. House removed the IV and escorted her back to the family room, directly to the couch and ordered her to sit. Everyone had grown silent, making her feel quite awkward.
"Hey, how about dessert already?" House griped, with a private wink to Angel. But even that didn't change the somber mood. Angel realized she wasn't wearing her wig, and House could see she was about to cry. "I think those with the least amount of hair get first dibs, even if it does mean Foreman," House continued, seeing a hint of a smile on her face now.
Everyone had been expecting pies, but was tickled by what Angel had brought—mini pies, so that everyone could get a taste of each pie: pumpkin, sweet potato with a meringue topping, and chocolate pecan. No wonder she wore herself out, doing all this, House thought.
"Oh my gosh, this is way better than the local bakery," Hadley gushed. "Is there anything you're not good at Angel?"
Angel just blushed from the compliments. She declined any pie, saying there were more at home, and she'd been sampling a bit all day. House gave her a look; she couldn't quite meet his eyes. She distracted the attention away from herself by handing Wilson the DVD for the Peanuts Thanksgiving special. She did accept some sparkling cider to sip which seemed to ease her stomach.
Quietly, Foreman told her she'd have the PICC line inserted tomorrow. Her face fell, but he assured her it would be a quick procedure and she'd get to go home after. At least she'd have the weekend at home before checking back into the hospital for chemo on Monday.
Angel snuggled deeper into his arms, noticing Hadley and Chase cuddling on the other couch. Wilson was laughing at Snoopy, but she could sense the loneliness House felt, sitting beside her. She moved her hand over so it was touching his. He looked at her, surprised at first, but the gesture was not unwelcome. His eyes finally had a twinkle in them, something Angel had been searching for all evening.