Alex, I'm so happy that you are continuing to enjoy the story. Thanks for the encouragement - Nicole
Abby, It's nice to know you liked it, and hopefully you'll like this one even better. Thanks for the review, - Nicole
HuddyGirl, well now that the new chapter is up you can see for yourself. Thanks you for your thoughts, - Nicole
Wicketforever, it's nice to have you join us and I'm very happy to know you are enjoying the story. I will try to post a chapter every 3 - 4 days so please check in for updates. Thanks for reading, - Nicole
Greg bravely walked in and saw the crowd of adults gathered in the living room. He swallowed and his eyes widened slightly but he kept his head level and took some hesitant steps into the room. Every eye was on him and he readied himself for whatever was to come.
Chase walked behind him and smiled warmly at Greg's bravery and unwillingness to back down, something he had always admired about House.
Cuddy let out a deep sigh of relief and her color started coming back as she finally saw the boy with her own eyes. She watched as he looked at everyone and then settled on her. It was then as his eyes searched her that she realized she didn't have the slightest idea of what to say. She chewed on her lip and decided it would be easier to talk to Chase first. "Thank you so much, Chase. Where did you find him?"
Chase smiled, "He was in the oak tree in the back yard."
Cuddy nodded just noticing the large wet spots on Chase's shirt. She looked up at him with questioning eyes and Chase's eyes saddened as he looked at Greg. It only took Cuddy a few seconds to put the two together. "Greg, come here sweetie."
Greg took a sniffled breath and closed his eyes for a second then he let his breath go in a deep sigh and opened his eyes. "Yes, ma'am," he said taking slow steady steps forward.
Now that he was in better light Cuddy could see his bloodshot eyes. Her heart ached to pull the boy in a hug but she was afraid that it would only scare him more if she did. "I need to feel of your head to make sure you didn't hurt yourself too bad, okay?"
Greg nodded watching her closely.
Cuddy slowly moved her hand to the back of his head and felt a huge bump under his hair. "How bad does it hurt?" She asked while rubbing it softly.
"I'm fine, Miss Dr. Cuddy, you don't need to concern yourself with me." Greg said watching her nervously.
Cuddy tilted her head as she watched him, "Your well-being is worth being concerned over, Greg. Now as big of a bump as you have it has to hurt some; on a scale from one to ten how bad does it hurt, I need to know?"
Greg couldn't understand why she was so concerned with the injury he sustained because of his own stupidity, then suddenly something clicked. She must be worried that his parents would get mad at her over the injury, he'd seen other parents make a big deal about their children getting hurt. "You don't need to worry he wont be mad at you, Dr. Cuddy. It was my fault and even if it hadn't been he wouldn't be mad at you, he'd probably say I deserved it." He said reassuringly with honest eyes.
Cuddy bent down so she was eye level with him, "I'm not worried about your parents, Greg. I am worried about you because I care about you, and please call me Lisa."
"Why would you care about me?" Greg asked with surprise.
Cuddy's frown deepened, "Because you're a sweet boy. Now will please tell me how bad the bump hurts."
Greg shrugged, "A two maybe," he said anxiously and then started hitting the knot with his hand some, "Yeah, a two's about right."
Greg was still knocking on the bump hard when Thirteen piped up, "Quit hitting yourself, Greg." He stopped and she looked relieved.
"You don't have to lie to us," Taub said eying Greg.
"I'm not lying, sir," Greg said obviously offended.
Taub scoffed, "Listen I get it, you're trying to act strong but I can see how big the bump is, it has to hurt more than what you are saying. So just be truthful."
Greg turned his whole body to face Taub with a very cold expression, the one that House got when he was about to lay into someone. "Sir, I'm not a baby, my father has taught me about the pain scale and I am saying it's a two because that's what it is. A one is like a descent size cut, a two is like getting your hand slammed in a door, a three is like breaking a toe, a four is like a good size burn, five is like breaking a leg, six is like getting shot, and so on. It's feels like a two, like getting your hand slammed in a door or a small burn, sir."
There was a cold bitterness to Greg's voice that wasn't missed by anyone. Taub frowned, "Then why are you acting like it's no big deal? Slamming your hand in a door hurts pretty bad, and you keep pretending its nothing."
Greg blinked rapidly confused by what the man was asking him, "Because it's just a two. I'm six now, I'm a big boy and big boys don't cry over two's. It's not acceptable."
Taub's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Really? Then what is worth getting worried about or crying over?"
"A good size burn, might be worth a small fuss. It's not too bad if you let a couple of tears slip by if you break your leg or something, you know... that kind of stuff, but big boys shouldn't make a big deal over hitting their head or getting bruised up... it's okay for girls but not boys and I'm a boy, sir." Greg tried to explain feeling odd as everyone was giving him worried looks.
"You think grown men don't cry over having their leg broken, really?" Kutner asked with worry.
Greg looked at the man, "Listen I don't know what's acceptable were you come from, but in America... no, especially if you're a soldier, sir."
Kutner was a little shocked that implication that he wouldn't understand because Greg thought he was foreigner.
"But you're not a soldier, Greg, you're just a boy," Thirteen said trying to get him to see reason.
"I will be a solder someday though," Greg said without hesitation.
"So tell me if someone took whip to your back what be the appropriate response to that?" Taub asked looking at the boy as if he was an idiot.
Greg stiffened at the idea, wondering if it was what they all had planned, maybe all of them were going to whip him bloody. He looked around them with worry and swallowed.
Cameron looked at Taub with fury, "Leave him alone."
Greg turned to face Cuddy again try not to let his fear show, "I'm sorry for walking in on you and I'm ready to accept my punishment, Lisa." He stated looking her in the eyes.
Cuddy shook her head, "Greg, sweetie it was an accident. I'm not going to punish you."
Greg looked at her with complete confusion, "No punishment isn't an option. I didn't knock. I was wrong and now I must get punished, that's how it goes, Lisa."
Cuddy could tell he wasn't going to change his mind on this. "Fine, and what do you think would be a fair punishment," she asked watching him.
Greg thought about it for a couple of seconds, "No meals tomorrow just a piece of toast, sleep in the backyard for tonight, and (swallow)..since I should have knocked... and I usually knock with my right hand, a punishment to it as well, Miss Lisa." Greg said looking at his hand as if it had betrayed him.
"Greg, you can't miss anymore meals. You're way too thin as it is, and I'm not going to have you sleep outside, you could get kidnapped or bitten by a rabid animal." Cuddy said worried by the punishments he had come up with.
Greg sighed and his eyes rolled slightly, "I'm just lean. I've had rabies shots before, and no one wants to steal me. You also need to come up with a punishment for my hand ma'am."
Cuddy bent down so she was eye level with Greg, "This is my house and I'm not going to have a child sleeping outside do you understand me," she said seriously.
Greg looked with worried eyes and nodded, "Yes, ma'am."
Cuddy sighed, "I'm also not letting you miss any meals. Your punishment will be that you have to stay in my office all day tomorrow and help me, you think you can handle that."
Greg blinked and frowned, "That's all?"
"That's all," Cuddy said with a smile, "now be a good boy and go wash yours hands then get into bed."
"Yes, Miss Lisa," he said and walked out slowly with confusion still all over his face.
Cuddy looked up at everyone, "Thank you for coming and, Chase, thank you for finding him."
Everyone said their goodbyes and left except Wilson, "I could stay if you want me to, I don't mind sleeping on the couch."
Cuddy wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight, "I was so afraid I'd lost him. Oh god, he was right I'm not ready to be a mother, one night and... I..."
Wilson swallowed and hugged her back tight, "Lisa, it's okay. We found him and he was fine, don't let this one incident define if you can handle being a mother." He heard her sniffle and then felt a slight nodding against his chest. "He likes you the best out of all of us; Greg trusts you Cuddy that's huge."
Cuddy pulled back from Wilson, "You jealous?"
Wilson shrugged and then looked up with a grimace, "Terribly so, but I'm happy for you and Greg."
Cuddy laughed, "Well you're the one that got to go shopping and buy him those adorable little clothes, I have to have something. It's probably just because he thinks I some sort of spy anyway. You should go home, Wilson, and get some sleep."
Wilson let out a sigh, "You mind if I just take a quick peek before I go?"
Cuddy smiled, "You really are enjoying this a little bit aren't you?"
"Well I feel like I'm his parent half the time anyway, so why not have the adorable well mannered kid instead of the grouchy sarcastic ass of a man he becomes," Wilson said with a smirk.
Cuddy grinned, "He is adorable isn't he. Okay, lets go look in on him."
They both walked over to the door and opened it looking on the bed but there was nothing there. "Greg!" Cuddy yelled and then something on the floor moved and Greg stood up. She took a deep breath, "Were you laying on the floor?"
Greg walked over to her, "Yes, Miss Lisa."
Cuddy frowned and let her hand caress his cheek, "Why, sweetie?"
Greg looked back at the bed and then at her, "It looked so pretty, I didn't want to mess it up and you were so light on the punishments."
Cuddy sighed as she looked down at him in the eyes, "Do you know what a promise is?"
Greg nodded, "It's a verbal contract binding someone to do or not do something specific."
Cuddy was a little surprised by his answer, it was so precise, so factual not at all something you would expect from and child. She smiled it was so House, "That's right," then swallowed, "Gregory, I need you to promise me you won't try to punish yourself anymore than I or anyone else asks you too."
Greg looked down, "But I'm bad, and if I don't act better you'll leave me somewhere too like my dad did, and the people you leave me with could... could..."
Cuddy picked him up and hugged him tight not wanting to hear how he had planned to end that sentence, "Listen to me okay, we all like you so much we are all keeping you one day of the week, but no one is going to just leave you somewhere okay, and if you get scared and want to stay with me you just let them know and they'll call me okay."
"Okay," Greg mumbled against her neck.
"Now promise me you'll be good and not punish yourself," Cuddy said.
"I promise, Lisa," Greg said hugging her neck.
Wilson watched with both a warmed heart and jealousy, which was an odd combination as Cuddy gave him a good squeeze and put him down on the bed. He looked at Greg, "Hey you think you still got a hug left for me?"
Greg looked slightly surprised by the question but made a quick recovery, "You said you are my friend, right, Jimmy?" he asked it in a way that let Wilson know Greg still was trying to wrap his mind around the idea of friends.
"Yes, I think we'll always be friends," Wilson answered with a smile.
Greg gave him a half smile, "Then why did you feel as if you had to ask?" he said with open arms.
Wilson laughed as he walked over and picked up the boy and hugged him. He wanted to squeeze Greg tightly but the bones he felt reminded him of how fragile the boy was so he was careful. He held him that way for a while and finally let the boy go. "I should get going, you two be good and don't stay up too late, I'll lock up behind me." Wilson said as he left.
Cuddy smiled and looked back at Greg who was still studying Wilson's exit with observant eyes. "Are you tired, Greg?" His eyes didn't loose focus as he shook his head no. "Alright, how about you come and sleep in my bed, that way you don't have to mess up the bed and I don't have a heart attack worrying about you."
Greg looked at her with studying eyes, "Okay, Lisa."
Cuddy smiled and picked him up caring him to her bed and put him down on the side farthermost from the door so she would hear him if he got up. She pulled back the covers and both of them laid on their backs. "You can talk if you'd like, I'm not really all that tired either." She said watching the fan.
"Why do you care about me, Lisa? We just met and you are acting like if something happens to me it'll greatly effect your life, why?" Greg asked one of the many questions that had been bugging him.
Cuddy frowned as she tried to come up with a reason, "You're a good kid, that's all. I don't want anything to happen to you because you're a sweet kid and I like you."
Greg thought about the answer, "You said I'm good but I scared you, both, by walking in the bathroom without knocking and by leaving the house without asking permission. So far that doesn't sound like a good kid. I'm not really that sweet of a kid either, my father says a I'm a smart-alec, my mom things I'm sweet but that's what all moms think of their kids. Ricky Garrett's mom thinks he's just the nicest, sweetest kid that was ever born on God's green earth and he's a nightmare. You know what I think. I think my mom would be better off without me and my dad would be happier if I were gone, then I couldn't disappoint him."
Cuddy looked over at Greg and sighed. "You are a good kid and I'm sure your mother would be more than upset if something happened to you and so would your dad. They would be devastated; anyone would be lucky to have you as their son, Greg."
Greg swallowed wishing what she said was true. He sighed and decided to try asking her something else that he'd been wondering about, "Lisa, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," she said softly.
"You're real pretty and smart, so why don't you have a husband?" He asked.
"My job keeps me busy, but if it's meant to happen, it'll happen right?" Cuddy said looking at the fan again.
Greg frowned, "That doesn't make any logical sense. Say you have a cat, but you really want a dog. Well if you don't change anything and keep doing the same routine, years later you will still have a cat and no dog, unless your cat dies. If you want something different, then you must make a change first, otherwise you are waiting for God to give unto you without you putting in the effort. Even then we don't always get what we want, but God will give us what we need."
Cuddy smiled his answer was such a House answer minus the God stuff. "You're a smart kid, Greg. So you really want to be a soldier someday?" The boy didn't answer and Cuddy looked over at him and could see he was struggling thinking about it. "You really are bright, you could be anything you want to be, Greg."
Greg hadn't really thought much about what he would like to do, it had always been made clear to him that his father planned for him to go into the Marines. "I want to make my parents proud and my dad has put a lot of time and effort into making sure I'll be a strong soldier, it would be disrespectful to not make use of it."
"What kind of things has he done to insure you'll be a good soldier?" Cuddy asked and swallowed.
Greg looked at her with narrowed eyes and smirk that said 'I know what you're doing.' "He takes my punishments as an opportunity to help me become stronger both physically and mentally. I've learned techniques to shut my mind off from pain, and I can survive off the land in case I ever am in a situation I need too. He wants me to be able to handle anything that comes my way, like being a POW or stranded without sufficient supplies. I know it looks like abuse, but it isn't, he's just trying to help me to a good soldier later."
Cuddy sighed, "I never said I thought it was abuse."
Greg was still wearing his smirk, "You didn't have too, I could tell by the way you looked at me."
Cuddy looked at the ceiling again, "You never answered my question, Greg, if you could be anything you wanted, what would you choose?"
Greg thought about it some more, "I think being a fireman would be fun, you get a chance to save people and I'm good at getting into tiny spots, but it might get boring. It's not really a job that challenges your mind is it. I'd love to be a musician but I'm not good enough to really be great. Being a doctor would let me save lives and challenge me mentally but I'm not really good with people."
She smiled at the idea of him doing any of those thing and because she already knew what his career would end up being, "You would be great at any of those."
Greg looked over at her, "Did you always want to be a doctor, Lisa?"
Cuddy shook her head, "No, when I was you're age I wanted to be a ballerina, but I as I got older I wanted to be a nurse and then a vet and by the time college came around I was set on being a doctor."
Greg sighed, "I bet you're a good doctor, Lisa. You're nice, smart and very pretty, I'd marry you if I was grown up."
Cuddy laughed, "You might want to watch what you say, I might hold you too it."
Greg grinned, "Thank you, Lisa."
"For what?" She asked looking over at him.
"For talking to me like I'm an adult. I don't really get to talk very much to adults and for some reason other kids and me don't get along. They want to talk about things that I really don't find interesting." Greg said looking at the ceiling.
"Come here," Cuddy said patting the space next to her and Greg crawled over. She gave him and hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Anytime you want to talk I'm here okay? But right now we need to try and get some sleep." She said softly.
Greg nodded and crawled back to his side of the bed, "Goodnight, Miss Lisa."
"Goodnight, Greg, and try to get some sleep okay," Cuddy said and then yawned, it had been a long day and who knew what tomorrow held... hopefully not nearly as many surprises as today.
Alright, so what did you think of Greg's sleepover at Cuddy's? Also I'm still looking for some ideas about interesting things Greg could do with the the team members when he stays with them, so please let me know of any idea that you might have. As always read, enjoy and review! :) Nicole
