Disclaimer: Yes, it is true! I own House and Once! Haha! *lands in jail* It was a joke! I could only ever wish to own these shows. Where's Rumpel when you need him?
A/N: Holy crap, reveiws! Thanks, guys! (= Every last one of them was wonderful!
To LiteraryMuffin: can I just say that your review made me almost burst out laughing? In a good way, of course. Yes, Mr Gold and House being in the same room would totally blow up the universe from awesomeness! You'll just have to wait and see how that goes (though Emma may not exactly enjoy it...hint hint).
Now, on with the show!
Chapter Seven
"Mary Margaret, this is Dr. House," Emma introduced the two as House sauntered into the room. "He's a colleague of mine and he's going to help you." Mary Margaret shyly studied him for a moment.
"Pleasure to meet you," she greeted him, but received no kind word in return. Instead, House watched her like a boring show that must be switched off instantly.
"You brought me up here to treat a nun?" The cropped black hair, name, and general air of purity fit the description rather well. Emma scowled at him. Religion was not a favorite topic of House's, and he often poked endlessly at it.
"I'm a teacher," Mary Margaret hesitantly told him, smiling gently.
House limped over to the plastic chair and sat down. He propped his leg up on the bed, inches from Mary Margaret's legs, and rested his cane on the bedside table beside him.
"As if that's any improvement," he retorted, causing Mary Margaret's smile to slip away. Emma crossed the room and forced House's legs off the bed. Honestly, would it kill him not to act so rude to patients?
As he examined Mary Margaret-nun, he repeated in his head-House's mind wandered off track. Specifically, he was recalling the pieces of a memory he had forgotten a long time ago.
The first night he met Cameron, ten years ago.
It was before she was ever hired to work for him, at the milestone age of eighteen. It was clear to him that she had never retained any memory of that erratic night, but then she'd downed four alcoholic drinks.
The timeline fit-the kid couldn't be more than ten years old. House observed the boy as he flipped through the pages of his fairy tale book. Still, assumption did not always coincide with cold-hard fact.
The slamming of the door forced House to return to the present.
A smartly dressed, business-type woman was standing in the doorway, an unpleasant frown pinching her flawless ruby lips.
The way she carried herself, cloaked in confidence and authority, reminded House of Cuddy, especially those moments when she was fuming at him. This woman was most certainly fuming.
"Which one of you is House?"
"He is," House pointed to Chase accusingly, whose mouth fell open in disbelief. Ever since he got shot, House felt it was a regrettable decision, alerting others to his identity when summoned. Better Chase than him, anyway.
The woman detected his lie; her cold eyes shifted to House without a second thought.
"Judging by your lack of honesty, I'd say otherwise," she replied haughtily, folding her hands and glaring down at him.
"Takes a good liar to recognize another equally good liar." This implication upset her. Those pursed lips became more of a pout.
House noticed with increasing interest that Cameron-Emma-did not seem fond of the woman, either. Her figure had grown tense since the woman's appearance and her green eyes were guarded.
"Dr. House, presume?" The woman's face was blank, but her fierce eyes warned him: don't play games with me. It was a pity-House lived for games.
"That depends. Who's asking?" House was evasive as ever, all the while twirling his cane through his fingers. The woman strode forward and snatched it away. "I need that. Bum leg."
"I happen to be the mayor of this town. And as the mayor, I demand you leave my town," she declared, darts shooting from her eyes.
"There is no law that prevents strangers from visiting Storybrooke," Emma advised the mayor confidently. The mayor swiveled to Emma, smirking.
"You will stay out of this, Miss Swan." The mayor noticed Henry watching the scene unfold. "And what is my son doing here so late at night? Seems to me you're becoming more and more a bad influence."
"Madam Mayor, Henry was worried about me," Mary Margaret explained hastily. She always hated seeing Henry so miserable around Regina. Emma's bold look dared the mayor to object.
The mayor tossed her a look that simply read: we'll deal with this situation later.
"Dr. House, I want you and your team out of here by tonight. No exceptions." It was an order, not a suggestion or request. The mayor was clearly bothered by their presence, which motivated House to stay all the more.
"Madame Mayor, are you saying you would not prefer Mary Margaret being treated by one of the world's best doctors? You would deny her that care?"
Emma had successfully backed the mayor into a corner. If the mayor suggested she opposed the idea, it would prove she did not truly care enough for the safety and health of her citizens.
"Just what are you implying, Miss Swan? Are you accusing me of neglecting what is best for this town?"
"You tell me, Regina. How often do you do what's best?" Emma's tone contradicted Regina, challenging her morals as only Cameron could.
Regina stepped forward until her face was an inch from Emma, eyes gleaming dangerously.
"How dare you question my authority, Sheriff. Learn your place." Turning back to House, Regina's lips stretched into a smile that lacked emotion. "Dr. House, I will give you a generous three days to treat Ms. Blanchard. After that, you are to leave Storybrooke and never come back." Regina gripped Henry's shoulder and the two departed from the room. Regina flung his cane at him before disappearing.
"Wasn't she a ray of sunshine," House commented, hobbling closer to his team. "I want one of you to remain here and keep an eye on the patient." Not one of his team members volunteered. "That wasn't a question."
"I'll stay with Mary Margaret," Emma offered, sinking into the plastic chair that House recently vacated. Mary Margaret appeared ready to protest, but Emma refused to hear it.
"Thank you, Cameron." House deliberately glared at his team. "We'll start on the difficult part tomorrow."
...
"I'm sorry, but there are absolutely no rooms available," Granny insisted, empty hands spread wide in apology.
The team was hassling for a place to spend the night-the only possible hospitality was Granny's bed and breakfast.
Ruby leaned against the wall, filing her long red nails and watching the exchange glumly. It was a pity they had to turn the strangers away-it would have brought in some decent money. God knows we need every cent, she thought bitterly, a certain pawnbroker hovering on the fringes of her mind.
House shuffled around the foyer, occasionally picking up an object for further scrutiny. Dust had settled over everything and the entire place was silent as a tomb. It was also stuffy; sweat collected on House's brow though he made no move to swipe it away.
"There must be some space. We can always share rooms," Thirteen argued with the elderly woman. Again, Granny refused to budge, eyes avoiding the team altogether.
"I am sorry. We're all full."
"She's lying," House objected, approaching the narrow, wooden registry desk. Granny's frail hands gripped the edges. "There's dust everywhere because she's had no reason to keep the place presentable. Ruby also works all day, so I'm assuming you're barely making ends meet on your rent."
The solemn downset of Granny's eyes confirmed House's words.
"Why would she lie if she desperately needs the money?" Chase fired the question at House, arms folded across his chest.
"I'm guessing you recently received a phone call from the mayor telling you not ot give us hospitality."
House noticed Granny's body grow tense. Sweeping his eyes to Ruby, she conveniently lowered her gaze, pretending to be absorbed with her nails.
"I'm sorry," Granny repeated softly. "The mayor's word is law." House disagreed. Granny and Ruby were simply afraid of Regina's wrath.
"Kind of a double-edged sword don't you think?" House eyed Granny intently, laying his hands on the top of the desk to lean towards her.
"House, drop it," Taub advised him as the team visibly gave up their efforts. Fortunately, House had developed the ability to block out his team when necessary.
"If you do give us hospitality, you'll be able to pay your rent much easier. Of course, it also means you'll anger the mayor." House chose his words carefully, allowing them to sink in.
"House, we'll find someplace else to stay," Thirteen urged him, the team already opening the door and letting in a cool night breeze. House wasn't finished...yet.
"On the other hand, if you don't give us hospitality, then you'll have satisfied the mayor's request. But you might not be able to pay your rent, therefore angering the person who collects every month."
"House-" Chase started again, but House ignored him.
"The question here is: which one are you more afraid of?" Digging in his pockets, House revealed a handful of cash. "This should cover the rent on your pathetic inn. Now, how about those rooms?"
Ruby's frustrated nail-filing screeched to a halt, her eyes flying wide at the sight of the money in House's hand. Granny never made a move to accept it.
"Forgive me...but no." Granny turned her back on House and nervously rummaged through a few items.
Ruby was astounded. There was a good deal of money there; she could see it from where she stood. What was Granny thinking, rejecting an offer like that?
"Oh, hell. If you're not going to take it, then I am," she exclaimed, rushign forward to take the money. Instantly, she flipped through the bills, counting.
"Ruby," Granny chastised with a piercing stare. Ruby was far past hearing anything but the crisp flutter of money through her fingers. Every passing second, her mouth dropped wider.
"Granny...there's enough money here to cover two months' rent!" Ruby shrieked, face ashen with awe.
"Ruby, we can't-"
"Two months!" Ruby repeated, waving the money closer to Granny's face. "You're willing to pass up two months' worth of rent when we can barely scrape up one for that manipulative-"
"Ruby," Granny warned her sternly, silencing her complaints.
"As I said, how about those rooms?" House encouraged her, tapping his cane rapidly on the wooden floors. Granny glanced back at the wad of cash in Ruby's hand and considered it longingly.
Opening a drawer, the woman retrieved two silver keys.
"I'm afraid you'll have to share rooms as there's very limited space for all four of you," she said, the keys dangling from her shaky fingers.
"I call Chase," Taub announced, reaching forward for one of the keys. That only left-
"Looks like it's you and me, darling," House told Thirteen, briskly accepting the remaining key and twirling it before her face. Thirteen rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Oh, and perhaps one of you should inform Wilson of his good deed so he can go to sleep feeling happy. Maybe then he'll wake up feeling miserable." Thirteen followed House up the rickety stairs. Swiftly, he leaned down to whisper something to her. "I have a feeling this road trip's going to be fun already."
...