"Dr. Cuddy!" Elsa yelled as Cuddy headed to the elevator
"Oh, hi Elsa!" Cuddy said as she held doors for her.
"How are you?" Elsa didn't reply. "These things happen" Elsa nodded.
"Um, Lisa, are you still looking for lecturers?"
"Yes, there's still one spot left because Dr. Auster has dumped us. Why?"
"Well, a friend of mine is coming and she'll be lecturing at the Mount Sinai in New York and I thought it could be nice if she can lecture here too"
"Oh, sure. What's her speciality?"
"Neurosurgery"
"Whoa! I like it. Send me her résumé"
"You'll have it tomorrow morning. Thank you"
"Not a problem. Going home?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna change and then Alex and I will go and pick up Greg and Ally at the airport"
"Cool, James and I will come along to see them tomorrow"
"Good, um, Lisa, did you finally go to see Stacey at the hotel?" Elsa said as they reached their cars.
"No, I called her though" Elsa nodded.
"I see you on Monday. Have a nice weekend" Elsa said as she got in her car.
"Elsa! Stop worrying, she's gone for good" Lisa reassured her.
"I know" Elsa said and finally smiled at her.
"See you on Monday, honey" Lisa said.
At the airport, Alex and Elsa were waiting for Ally and Greg. Elsa was seated on Alex's lap while he was caressing her back.
"You are tense, honey" Alex said.
"I'm so tired today"
"What about a nice warm bath and a massage when we get home?" Alex suggested.
"I'd love that" Elsa said and kissed him.
"You'll see you'll feel better" He paused. "Are you gonna tell Greg about Stacey?"
"Yes, but I'm gonna wait a little. Oh, here they are"
Greg and Allison House came out from the arrivals door pushing a luggage carrier, holding hands and sporting a huge smile. They looked so cute and relaxed.
"Greg! Ally!!" Elsa yelled in order to get their attention and Alex and she approached them running.
"There, honey" Ally said pointing them.
"Welcome back!!" Elsa said as she hugged Ally tightly and kissed her. "You look great!!!"
"Alex, come here, baby!" And both siblings hugged each other.
"Well, well, well, how's my Elsa?" House said with a huge grin. "Come here" And uncle and niece kissed and hugged.
"I missed you" Elsa said.
"I missed you too"
"Come on, let's go home" Elsa said and all four headed to the parking lot. Greg and Elsa were in the front holding hands and behind Ally and Alex holding hands and pushing the baggage carrier.
"Is everything alright between you and Elsa?" Ally asked. "She looks pale and worried"
"We are fine, we couldn't be better. She lost a patient this morning"
"Oh! That's so bad"
"But don't worry, she is gonna be alright. I'm gonna spoil her a little bit tonight so she'll feel better. She's had a very rough week" Alex said.
"It's always tough when you lose a patient. Elsa is strong and I'm sure she'll get used. Sometimes is inevitable losing a patient"
"I know. Well, what about you? How was Italy?"
"Oh, it was Heaven"
"So, how things are in the hospital?" Greg asked.
"We've had a rough week"
"Really? What happened?"
"Aren't you more interested in knowing what is that great surprise I promised you?"
"Elsa, what happened?"
"I lost a patient this morning. I know I have to get used to it and that I don't have to let my feelings get altered with that but..." Greg cut her by squeezing her and kissing her forehead.
"You are gonna be fine, ok? I'm gonna cheer you up with my tale about the trip"
"It was Amiloidosis type AA"
"There's nothing you could do then"
"I know, so tell me about the trip"
"Well, lots of sex with my gorgeous wife" Elsa closed her eyes at that comment and hit him playfully.
"Greg!! Stop it!" And both chuckled.
"Why, it's true and..."
"Too much information!! Shut up" And Elsa covered his mouth.
"Ok, we have taken a lot of pics and we recorded all, so you'll have to suffer all the video. We have gifts but I don't remember if I bought something for you. Oh, I'm getting old, I forget things" And Elsa hit him again.
"You are not old, you hear me? You look so great, so cute and so relaxed. Don't look at me like that; you are the reflection of happiness. Marriage suits you"
"That's all bla, bla, bla!"
"Alex, doesn't he look great?" Elsa asked
"I know I should disagree but you look great, man" Alex answered
"Yes, he does" Ally said and winked her husband and all entered the car and headed home.
"So, what is that surprise?" Greg said
"Your paperwork is up to date"
"Great!"
"Now, you have to sign it, that is more than 100 pages"
"What?? Oh, damn it, how come Ally didn't tell you how to do that loopy "g"?"
"You'll have to think again you are a rock star and you are signing autographs" And all laughed.
Days were passing by and there were only three days left for Elsa and Alex's wedding...
Knock, knock...
"Do I interrupt?" Elsa asked. Wilson and Cuddy were talking about the conferences.
"Come in, come in" Cuddy said.
"I wanted to be here when Dr. Pons arrives" Elsa said. "How's your speech, James?"
"I've been rehearsing a lot" Wilson said.
"I'm sure you'll do great this afternoon" Elsa said.
"He will. By the way, have you already told Greg about Stacey?"
"No" Elsa said shyly.
"You must tell him as soon as possible" Wilson said.
"I know, I know. It's just that I don't know how to introduce it. He's so happy now that if I mention Stacey, he'll start to worry and think about it" Elsa said
"Or maybe he won't react at all." Lisa said. "And he will even be happier to know that she's very far away from here and won't come back"
"I don't know" Elsa said unsecured.
"It's gonna be okay, you'll see" James said.
Knock, knock...
"Come in" Lisa said.
"Good morning, I'm Dr. Andrea Pons, you are expecting me"
"Andrea!!" Elsa said as she stood up.
"Elsa!" Andrea said and both hugged for a moment. "It's so great to see you"
"Same. Andrea, let me introduce you the Dean of Medicine of the hospital, Dr. Lisa Cuddy and the head of Oncology, Dr. James Wilson. Dr. Wilson is also lecturing this afternoon"
"Very nice to meet you" Andrea said and shook hands with both.
"Well, if you excuse me I have a meeting with a patient in two minutes. Dr. Pons, It's been a pleasure to meet you. See you later"
"My pleasure, too. See you" Andrea said.
"Bye girls" And Wilson left the room.
"Well, Dr. Pons" Cuddy started.
"Call me Andrea, please"
"Andrea, your resume is excellent. When Elsa proposed your name, I knew it was going to be a good doctor but this is impressive"
"Thank you" Andrea said and blushed a little.
"How long have you been working in this research?"
"Since I graduated, two years ago"
"Do you come to the States usually?"
"Every now and then, for conferences or collaborations"
"I see, will you apply for head of department in Barcelona?"
"Definitely, my boss, Dr. Garcia is retiring in three years, so I'll work hard for that position"
"Very determined, and just 26. I like it" And the three women laughed. "Are you gonna stay around for a while?"
"I'll be in Princeton for Elsa's wedding and then I'll travel to LA, I have two more conferences there"
"Very well"
"I was thinking that maybe Dr. Foreman will be very interested in meeting Andrea" Elsa suggested.
"Yeah, I've thought about that. Dr. Foreman is a neurologist and I'm sure he'll be in the first row at the conference"
"I better be going or my boss will kill me" Elsa said.
"Yeah, go with Andrea. I'll see you both in the conference then"
"It's been a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Cuddy"
"Lisa, please, the same to you, Andrea" And Elsa and Andrea left the room.
"That was a great meeting" Elsa said.
"Yeah, she's very nice"
"She is, she's a great boss, always looking for new talents"
"What do you mean?"
"She liked you, impress her with a good conference and she'll propose you collaboration or something"
"Really?"
"That's Lisa Cuddy, she has a good nose for talent, she wants the best doctors of the world in her hospital and if they are women, better." Andrea laughed. "And talking about one of the best doctors in the world, here we are, Diagnostics Section. Good morning!!" Elsa saluted.
"You're late!" House said sipping a cup of coffee that Cameron made for him.
"I was with Cuddy"
"Ok. Hey, is that you? Andrea?" House said.
"Dr. House" Andrea saluted him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I've come for the wedding and..."
"She'll be lecturing this afternoon. Guys, meet Dr. Andrea Pons, neurosurgeon at the Hospital Del Mar Hospital in Barcelona. She's presenting her latest research this afternoon after Dr. Wilson's lecture. Andrea, this is Greg's wife and Alex's sister, Dr. Allison Cameron-House"
"Hi" Ally said.
"Finally we meet, Elsa has told me about you" Andrea said and Ally smiled.
"Dr. Robert Chase, Intensivist, and Dr. Eric Foreman, neurologist"
"Oh, someone of the same branch. Well, I think you have work to do and I don't want disturb, I'll be around"
"Have lunch with us at 1 in the cafeteria" Ally suggested.
"Ok, see you then. Nice to meet you all"
