Chapter 7: new chapter, things are slowly set up…
House enters the differential room.
-How is the patient? Did you find something?
-Well, all the tests came back negative. He still has difficulty to breathe and has hallucinations. But it's not because of any kind of drugs.
-It could be a brain tumor, says Foreman.
-Ok, so do an MRI, replies House and leaves.
-Where are you going?
-It's not your business. I'll be back in the afternoon. See ya.
-Where do you think he's going? Foreman asks.
-I would say to Cuddy but…, replies Taub.
-To Cuddy? Why? They're not any more together and in case you forgot it, he married Domenica yesterday, Foreman says.
-But he was looking for Cuddy all this morning.
-He wants maybe to apologize to her. Taub and Foreman look at Chase, puzzled. Why are you looking at me like this? Didn't you see her yesterday? She was devastated, she also cried in Wilson's arms! I don't know why she came, but… the fact is that she was heartbroken.
-Have you already seen House apologize to someone?
-Hem, nope. … Ok that was a stupid idea! Do you have a better one?
-No, Taub sighs.
House left the parking of the hospital but he didn't see a black car coming. The lady who gets out of it is pretty hot in her black suit, but she's a little too pale and looks very tired. She's also very late. To be exact, she's 3 hours late and annoyed. She has just passed the entrance doors that a nurse calls her.
-Doctor Cuddy, here you are! There is a supply problem at the pharmacy and they need your signature, and Mister Schmitt wants you to call him back about the charity gala, and…
-Ok, follow me in my office, I need to note it down or I'm going to forget everything.
-Doctor Cuddy, are you ok?
-Yes, I'm fine, I'm just very late because my nanny is sick and I have to find someone to look after Rachel today. And it wasn't easy, you can believe me.
Meanwhile, House arrives at Wilson's apartment. He knocks at the door, but no one answers him. He tries to hear some noise behind the door, but everything is quiet. He was about to leave when Wilson's neighbor comes.
-Doctor Wilson isn't here.
-Thank you, I see. Do you know where he is?
-He just told me that a lady needed his help when he left one hour ago.
-Do you know her name?
-No. But if you want my opinion, she means a lot to him because he was in a hurry to join her, the neighbor adds with a knowing smile.
Bip bip bip. House looks at his pager. Thank you, I have to go.
-So what happened?
-The patient convulsed and he doesn't feel his legs anymore.
-And? What do you think? Do you have a diagnostic?
-The symptoms fit with a brain tumor, Foreman begins.
-What shows the MRI?
-We couldn't do it, he convulsed when we arrived in the MRI room.
-So go back and do the MRI. Do you have any other ideas?
-MS?
-Autoimmune disease?
-Do the necessary tests to confirm your diagnostic and let me know the results. I'll be in my office.
-Oh, by the way, just in case you'd be interested, Cuddy is in her office, Chase adds before leaving. House looks at him and remains still for a while, thinking about what Chase just said. If Cuddy is there, that means at least that she's not with Wilson right now…, but it doesn't mean that they were not together before. And where is Wilson? Why did he take a day off? Who is this mysterious woman who needs Wilson's help? House sits down at his desk and calls one more time his friend. And once again, the answering machine sells him its monotonous litany. Wilson really needs a better message for his cell phone. A woman stands in front of House's office, she hesitates to knock at the door, the cynical doctor seems lost in thought and she wouldn't like to disturb him, but… she really needs to know.
-Hem, Doctor House?
-Hem, what? Don't you see I'm busy!
-I … I'm sorry to bother you, but I wanted to know if you found what my man has.
-Who's your man? Replies House abruptly. He hates to be disturbed for trivial things when he thinks. Especially when his thoughts concern a certain lady.
-Hey! You don't need to be rude! People told me you were the best doctor, but also a real jerk, I didn't want to believe it, but I must admit they were right! Who do you think you are to talk to people like you do!
-As you just said, I'm the best doctor, House replies grinning.
-So prove it and save my man's life! The woman says angry and walks toward House, as if she was about to hit him.
House stares at her, he's a little surprised, he wouldn't have thought she could get so angry in a so short time.
-What are the symptoms of your man?
-He hallucinates, he has difficulties to breathe and now he doesn't feel his legs anymore.
-Oh this guy is your man… Well my team works on his case and we have several possible diagnostics. So now, get out of my office and don't disturb me anymore if you want me to save your man because I was thinking about his case when you came, House lies and shows her the door. She leaves without a word.
-I see that you have met the "dragon", says Chase ironically.
-Any results?
-There's a shadow on the MRI, but we're not sure.
-So open his brain and look to find what it is!
-Hem…. Are you sure there's nothing else to do, Masters asks.
-Oh great, the little genius is back! Do you have another idea?
Marta remains still and looks at her shoes.
-No? So do what I said!
-But… we need Cuddy's agreement…
-And? You're not afraid of her, are you, Chase?
-No, no, but… usually for such a risky treatment, as head of the department, you have to ask for it.
House looks daggers at Chase, gets up and leaves his office without a word.
-Is it just an impression or was he upset? Marta finally says.
-He is upset and … probably hurt.
-But why? Did I do or say something wrong?
-Don't worry; you're not the reason of his anger.
-And what is it then?
-Well, I give you an advice: Stay out of House's way for some time and don't try to find why he's like this.
On the way to Cuddy's office, House tries to fight his feelings. All is so confused in his mind. He wants to trust Wilson, he wants to believe there's nothing between him and Cuddy, but… jealousy is strong, and his heart is weak when it comes to her. He knows he went too far this time. Of course he "let her down" when she needed him the most, but she broke his heart and he felt so hurt. He takes a deep breath and opens the door. Cuddy is sitting at her desk, she seems to read some papers but House knows that she's lost in thought. Her gray eyes are staring into space.
-Dreaming of me? He says jokingly but without conviction. She jumps a little.
-What do you want, House?
-Wow, it's icy here! Can you warm me up just a little?
-If you want something, then say it and leave. I have a lot of work.
House looks at her. A searing pain crosses his chest. What happened to us? Where is my beloved Cuddy? Where is this beautiful, smart and sassy woman I used to know? Where is the sexy boss ready to have banter with me, ready to flirt with me?
-House? Are you still with me or has a brilliant idea crossed your mind?
-I… My patient may have a tumor and we need to open his brain, I just came to inform you about this treatment and to get your agreement.
-Give me the file.
House gives it to her, she looks through it, nods and gives it House back. House can't move, he'd like to talk to her, he'd like her to get angry at him, to yell at him, he wants her to react, but she goes back to her work and seems to ignore his presence. We didn't have any kind of conversation; she didn't give me the tiniest explanation of why she broke up, she just left me in hell. She didn't give me time to try to get her back, she didn't take the time to fight for us! Why?
-Do you want anything else? She finally asks without looking at him. She just wants one thing: she wants him to get out of her office, to leave her alone. She tried the whole day to think about something else, about Rachel, about the hospital, but she can't help thinking about him, and she feels hurt, she never thought he would get so deep in her… She's angry at herself and at him. He never should have married this girl! He really went too far!
-No… no, he sighs and leaves. He waits a few minutes behind her door, expecting he doesn't know what. But he takes a decision: he will follow her when she'll leave tonight. He needs to know if she'll meet Wilson, or anyone else, he needs to know if she dates someone.
