Chapter 7 – I Need Your Help

House arrives work late as usual this morning.

He finds Wilson on his way.

H: "Hello Jimmy."

W: "Hi House. How are thing?"

H: "Good."

W: "What's that new pal you have on your bag?"

A teddy bear with a heart in his hands is coming down Houses' bag.

H: "Rachel."

Wilson smiles: "How do you fell in Dads' pants?"

H: "Good. She never obeys me and she's becoming a Cuddy killer more than I ever was."

W: "Poor Cuddy." He smirks.

H: "Finally, instead, I have someone at my side. I can't do everything alone, you know. Where's my darling Cuddles by the way? She came to work earlier than usual today. You think she's seeing on other man?"

W: "No one else than you could be in her heart. And you know it. Anyway I haven't seen her jet."

H: "I will check around."

He finds Thirteen and asks: "You know where Cuddy is?"

T: "In her office. There where some persons talking with her early this morning."

H: "Is still morning…………"

T: "Is almost 11 House." She goes back to her clinic duty.

House enters in her office and says: "Morning my beloved …………………… Stacey!?!?!?!?!"

Cuddy is at her desk, in front of her are sitting Mark and Stacey Warner. Stacey doesn't look so good it seems she hasn't slept for days! Dark grey circles are under her eyes. From what he remembers she never was in such a state. Mark by his side seams always an idiot to him.

What the hell…………………………………

H: "I'm…………… I'm……………………… I'm sorry. I thought you were alone. I will be back later."

C: "House wait! Close the door and have a seat. I need you to be here."

H: "Mmmmmmmh. It must be serious."

C: "House please, not now."

H: "Ok, ok. I'm coming. Just wanted to loose a bit of tension." He takes a seat on the sofa and adjusts his bad leg on the table in front of him.

S: "Thank you Lisa."

Cuddy stares at her with an angry look.

C: "There's nothing to thank me about. Now let him know why you are here!"

There's a lot of anger in her voice.

H: "I'm so curious." He tries to look indifferent.

S: "Lisa……………… I'm sorry………………… Don't make me the things much more difficult……………"

C: "I don't understand how you could ever think this could be simple. Now please, let him know everything."

Stacey sighs.

H: "May I be informed what's going on here before you two kill each other?"

C: "Stacey?"

S: "Greg……………… Mark and I didn't come here alone…………… there's our son…………"

M: "Your son."

S: "Shut up! Yeah, our son……………"

H: "Oh, you had a son? Congratulations!!!!!"

S: "Thanks…………… Eeeeeeehhhhh…………………… Well……………… Richard is ill now and……………"

H: "What's wrong with him?"

S: "Stomachache, vomit, high fever and convulsions."

H: "And why are you here?"

S: "We already have been to over ten different hospitals in the past four months and no more came through Richard's problem."

H: "So when the affair is getting bigger you always come back to the old cripple. Yeah?"

S: "Greg, please, I tried everything I could not to come here."

H: "How fair. Well this time I wouldn't help you. I'm sorry you made such a big journey for nothing. So if you excuse us my fiancé and I have a lot of things to plan. Like our wedding."

S: "What? You are engaged? Lisa why didn't you tell me?"

C; "This is not the moment and the place to talk about it. House, there's something more you need to know about this case."

H: "Actually………………… I have a case?"

C: "I believe yes."

H: "So, what else?"

S: "The last doctor we went told me he believes Richards' disease comes from a genetic problem."

H: "Anything much more simple than that. Make a genetic map on you, your husband and your son. Mix all the three parts and the final cocktail is the diagnose. You see? You always make things much more complicated than what they are in reality. Now go."

S: "Greg…………………… I couldn't make a genetic map for my son."

H: "Why? The exam room was broken?"

S: "No. I……………… I……………… I ……………………" she starts crying and covers her eyes with a hand.

House is getting bored by this entire situation.

Stacey calms herself down, sniffs then continues.

S: "I couldn't make them do a genetic map because……………… Mark is not the father."

House heart bit stops for a moment.

H: "Can you say it again, please?"

S: "Mark is not the father."

H: "Please, tell me that all I'm thinking is completely wrong!!!!!!"

S: "As always you are right. Richard is your son."

H: "I don't want to be right this time."

S: "But it's the true."

H: "I don't' believe you."

S: "You have to."

H: "Tell me you are kidding."

S: "I'm not."

H: "How could you have done this to me?"

S: "To you?"

H: "Keep for yourself the fact we had a son."

S: "I didn't have any other choice."

H: "What are you talking about?"

S: "I remember you, my Mr I know everything, that you were the one who left me last time!!!!!"

H: "Thanks for trying, really nice from you."

S: "What I was supposed to do? Slam in front of your face my growing belly? At least Mark accepted Richard."

H: "What a Saint man, I admit."

M: "The Saint just gives up."

H: "What do you mean?"

M: "I can't manage him anymore."

H: "Bad guy?"

M: "No, on the contrary, an angel."

H: "So? What's wrong with you and him?"

M: "He looks precisely like you. I just can't do it. I'm out."

House looks at Stacey.

H: "So in a while you are getting divorced and your son is dying. How are you felling?"

S: "You mean you are not going to help me?"

House stares at her, a concerned look in his eyes.

He looks at Cuddy and says:

H: "What do you want me to do?"

Cuddy is shocked. Does he trust her so much? Than understand.

C: "Are you asking this to Cuddy or to Lisa?"

H: "Both." He smiles because she has understood but still looks serious.

C: "Just follow your instinct."

H: "Fine. Give me the file. I need all my team old and new in my office together with you and Wilson in my office in three minutes. Ah, Stacey, you go with us. The Saint is free to go home." Before exit Cuddy's office he asks:

H: "Stacey?"

S: "Yeah?"

H: "Does the little brat know anything about me?"

S: "No."

H: "Good. Don't tell him anything yet."

In House Office –

They are all there Cuddy, Wilson, Foreman, Thirteen, Taub, Kutner, Chase and Cameron.

What's all that hurry for?

House comes closer to the blackboard and starts to form the puzzle writing character and symptoms.

H: "Good morning everybody. For the once who don't know her yet this smitten kitten is Stacey Warner, lawyer, my ex lover. We are going to treat our son."

Kutner: "You actually have a son?"

H: "Beep. Bad answer. Rules of the game. The file is top secrets. The first one of you who let slips out that you are treating my son will be dead before having time to finish to say 'I'm sorry.' Was I clear?"

Foreman: "Transparent."

H: "Good. Point B keep your mouth shut with the little brat."

Cameron: "You mean he doesn't know he is your son?"

H: "Precisely."

Cam: "Oh my God!"

H: "You get the point sis! Mow let's go further, the last doctor they saw talked about some genetic problems. Lets starts from this. Cuddy and Wilson I need your help to write my medical history. Fourteen focus yourself on the mother, blood and everything you could have in mind included. Chase, Cameron, Kutner and Taub start to pop up ideas, I will write down. Than we'll go to the kid."

Before exit the room with Thirteen and Foreman Stacey looks back at House.

S: "Greg?"

H: "What do you want?" He doesn't look at her and continue to write everything down.

S: "Thanks."

H: "Just go. We are wasting time."

That evening –

House was sitting in his office, thinking.

Not able to solve the case, tired, and still shocked from the news of being a father.

Cuddy enters in.

C: "Hey!"

H: "Hey! Why aren't you home? Is late. Rachel is waiting for you?"

C: "I asked Wilson to baby-sit her." She looks at the blackboard. "Did you come through anything?"

H: "Nothing."

C: "You will find out, it always happens."

H: "What if I fail this time???"

C: "Why are you supposed to fail?"

H: "Because this time is personal."

She caresses his hair gently then kisses his cheek softly.

C: "I know."

He embraces her.

H: "How long did you know?"

C: "Just one day. Was Stacey that phoned me yesterday when you find me upset."

H: "Why didn't you tell me."

C: "You want to know the truth."

H: "I prefer it."

C: "I would like you to keep your good mood for another day. I'm sorry. I was selfish."

He kisses her forehead.

H: "That's ok." He thinks for a moment than says "Lisa?"

C: "Tel me."

H: "I don't know what's the right thing to do."

C: "You mean tell him he's your son?"

H: "Yeah! What do you suggest me? Could this be a problem for you?"

C: "What do you mean?"

H: "Suppose I will tell him, suppose he will enters in my life, our life. Could this affect our relationship?"

Cuddy looks at him, was these the moments when she realises how much he has changed, when he shows how he cares.

She kisses him on his lips.

C: "Greg, I love you. Everything you will decide will be fine for me. If you think in your conscience that this is the right decision to make I'm at your side and always will be. We will manage this together."

It's his turn to kiss her back now.

H: "I love you too Lisa. Now go home I'm sure my Chip and Dale is missing you."

C: "No. If you stay here I will stay with you or we go back home together."

H: "Why want you do it? It doesn't make sense."

C: "I can't live you alone in this moment. You are tired. Please, just listen to me for once. Let's go home now. Get rested. Tomorrow you will think better."

H: "Ok, fine."

C: "Good. House?"

H: "Yeah?"

C: "Did you see him yet?"

H: "No."

C: "Do you want me to come with you tomorrow?"

H: "Yes, please."

C: "You are welcome."

Before leaving House gives an other look at the blackboard.

Symptoms and characters…………

The sketch of a cripple, a woman and a skinny boy with poppy eyes on it…………………

House is sure there are some other lies in between………………

Tomorrow he will now better.