Chapter 6:
"I don't get why we didn't see it before," Chase said later that afternoon over a hamburger and fries in the hospital cafeteria. "I mean, it explains everything: the afternoon we got off, the day he took off... even his mood."
"I just can't believe House has a girlfriend," Chuckled Foreman.
"Me neither," Cameron sighed. She looked slightly depressed, her eyes staring at the floor. "I can't believe any girl would fall for him." She looked up from the floor, her eyes once again smiling.
"You're not..." started Chase. "You're not jealous, are you?"
"Of course not!" Cameron laughed. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"Yeah..." Wondered Foreman. "Can you imagine... you and House..."
"Yes, completely ridiculous," Chase laughed along with Cameron and Forman.
"Totally." Cameron was still laughing, though her smile seemed fake, her girlish giggle less hearty.
"I wonder what she's like, though..." Foreman speculated. "Exactly what can thins girl be like."
"Stupid... she must be stupid," Chase said, thinking hard. "Who else but a stupid, horny girl would fall for House?"
"Hey—!" Cameron started, but was cut off by a strong voice in the distance.
"We've got another case," Said the voice. "Finish up your tea party and get to it. NOW!"
House limped to the table, throwing a file down on the table.
"We've got a twenty-one year old, male, with hair loss, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, excessive urination, and bloody vomit," said House, staring at each of his employees in the eyes.
"Sounds very interesting," said Foreman, very annoyed. "But we're in the middle of lunch right now. Can't we get back to you in twenty minutes?"
"Twenty minutes?" House said, feigning astonishment. "In twenty minutes, our patient may be dead. What will I tell his poor, weeping mother? His life couldn't be saved because his doctors just had to eat their burgers and fries?"
"Fine," Foreman sighed, standing up. "We're on it."
House stayed behind in the cafeteria, waiting for his employees to leave. Once they had rounded the corner, House sank into his chair, covering his head in his hands. In his opinion, he had acted quite normal around the other doctors; they wouldn't suspect a thing.
House had given himself a couple of hours to think about it, and now, he was almost sure about it: Katie had to live with him. It wasn't an easy decision to make, and once he realized there were no more options, he made his choice. There would be a lot of preparations to make, the most important cleaning the house. And he would have to get ready emotionally... yes, it was going to take a lot of work. He was ready to call Karen to tell her that he wanted Katie to move in with him. He reached for his cell phone, alarmed when he could not find it. He thought about it for a moment, remembering that he had left it on the conference table. Cursing, he limped back upstairs.
"Have any of you guys seen my cell phone?" House asked as he walked into the room.
"Yeah," Chase replied, picking it up from the table and handing it to House.
All three doctors looked at House, hiding smiles behind their hands.
"What is it?" House bellowed, noticing the snickers.
"We know," Chase laughed.
"Know about who?" Demanded House.
"About her!" Chase chuckled lightly. "We think it's wonderful."
"Oh, you do." House thought he would be angry that they had found out about Katie, but instead, he felt relieved. He was no longer alone. He could confide in someone. This was something he never did, but he knew talking would feel good.
"I'm thinking about asking her to move in with me," House sighed as he looked at his employees. "Do you think it's a good idea?"
The three doctors looked at their boss with surprise written on their faces. Was this the Gregory House having a conversation? About his personal life?
"Yeah," Chase finally spat out, recovering from the surprise. "If you really love each other, then it's a great idea."
"Well..." House drifted off. "I have to admit, we really don't know each other that well, but I think it'll be good for both of us."
"To each his own," Foreman muttered, turning away from his boss.
"Let's not talk about this right now," Cameron said, not wanting to hear more about House's girlfriend. "Can we get back to the patient?"
"Sure," House said, surprised that he hadn't been the one to make that suggestion.
Later, back in his office, Foreman, Chase, and Cameron gone running tests, House picked up his cell phone, and dialed Karen's number. This was it. This was here his life would end and his new one would start. He wasn't particularly happy that this was the choice he chose, but now that he made the decision, he knew he couldn't go back on it.
"Hello?" Karen asked on the first ring.
"Hi, is this Karen?" House replied.
"Yes."
"Hi, this is Gregory House... I'm calling about my daughter, Katie." House would never get used to using the word daughter. "I have something to ask."
"No," Karen sighed.
"What!" House exclaimed. "I haven't even asked the question."
"You know what?" Karen asked. "I don't even have to know the question to know the answer is no. All you are is a jerk. Here you are, a man physically, mentally, and financially able to take care of his daughter, who won't. You are a selfish, mean man."
"Yes," said House. "I know that... but I think you're going to say yes to this particular question.
"What is it?"
"Can Katie... I mean, I think... I want... Can Katie live me?" House managed to spit out.
"Of... of course. " Karen was obviously shocked by the question. She hadn't thought that this man could care for anyone beside himself. "Are you sure? This is a big decision!"
"First," House grumbled, "you tell me I'm a selfish man for not letting Katie live me, and then you're asking me if I'm sure."
"I just want to make sure you're not being pressured into this by me, or someone else. This should be carefully thought through... I mean, it's not like you can give her back or anything."
"What!" House gasped. "You mean if this doesn't work out, I can't, like, return her, or something?
"Only if she's being hurt in some way, or if you are physically, mentally, or financially unable to take care of her," Karen replied. "Besides that, there's a no return policy. She's not a pair of jeans you can take back to the store when you realize they don't fit right."
"Can I try them on first?" House asked, liking the metaphor.
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're asking. What do you mean try them on?"
"Could she just stay with me for one night. If I like it, she can stay. If I don't, she can go."
"That seems a little unfair for Katie, don't you think?" Karen asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I guess," House said, realizing that he was being selfish once more.
"If you want Katie to live with you, make the decision. Otherwise, stay out of her life."
It was so tempting for House to say he wanted Katie out of his life, but he knew that he couldn't. He felt responsible for her. If she killed herself, or something, then House would feel miserable.
"I've made my decision," House said confidently. "Katie is going to live with me."
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