DISLCAIMER: I don't own House…
THX again to my beautiful beta ponks19
Chapter 9
Evi gazed into House's eyes, "It's not my secret to tell. It's Allison's but it's also none of your business to know."
House was silent, then nodded and she continued, "We all have secrets that we don't want others to know. That's why we lie…everybody lies." House couldn't help but smirk for he was far too familiar with that line. Evi continued, "It makes the people around us believe that everything in our life is perfect and nothing's wrong."
Evi watched House's face for some kind of reaction to what she was saying but his face had gone back to a blank expression, so she pressed on.
"I'm gonna tell you everything that I know. But you can't let her know that you know. It's all about the trust. A secret like this, like me is one of the biggest things you can keep from people. So when Allison feels that she can trust you with one of her deepest secrets that probably no one else knows, she'll tell you. Promise you won't say anything?"
House sat in silence for a while thinking about what Evi said. He hated to admit that she was one smart kid. But why didn't Cameron trust him? She was practically throwing herself at him, so why wouldn't she tell? His eyes finally met with Evi's and he nodded.
"Ok then," Evi stared, "Yes, I'm her daughter. I've been living in Chicago for almost 14 years with people who I'm actually not related to. Just a few months ago I found a picture and a birth certificate with my birth mother's name. I looked her up and came to see her. I don't know who my father is and I don't think Allis-Mum does either. Now that's all I know. The rest she'll tell you herself….when she's ready. But whatever you do, don't say a word. She's already handling too much with me turning up and then you showing up her door and seeing me. If she finds out I told, she might hate me, and it will probably push her over the edge. She won't have anyone to lean on. No boyfriend or anyone's shoulder that she can cry on. So now, you could do the one thing that a friend or in your case her boss would do and that's respect her and her secret."
Evi had turned away from House and was fighting back tears. She had already begun to regret telling House; her and Allison were getting along quite well and now she may have ruined everything. She recomposed, turned around and looked back up at House's face. This time when she looked in his eyes she could see that he had taken in every word that she said and was taking time to process all of the information.
Finally after what seemed like years, Cameron walked back into the room. She sensed the tension and looked back and forth between House and Evi.
"What's going on here?" she asked
House opened his mouth to say something but Evi got in first.
"Nothing. Dr. House was just complimenting me on my drawing." Evi said held up her sketchpad which now had a picture of House, who was staring blankly on it. House's eyes widened in surprise at how good the drawing actually was.
Cameron looked a bit puzzeled and asked "House doesn't give compliments…he doesn't do nice. How did you strongarm him into saying something nice about your drawing?" A strong hint of sarcasm, mixed with confusion, in her voice.
Evi, unsure of what to say next, looked down defeated, but then she heard House speak.
"Well I didn't actually comment on the drawing moreso of the subject. I mean look at me…I'm gorgeous!" He said flicking his head back for any effect. And with that he stood up and walked into his office. Evi watched him go and when Cameron turned her back to look at the file, Evi saw House sitting in his chair watching TV. He must of sensed her watching him, because he looked up and when he saw Cameron wasn't watching, he winked at Evi. Evi smiled softly and winked back, then House saw that Chase and Foreman were coming so he looked back down at the TV.
The other ducklings who had now just enter the room, were talking about the current patient.
"Well it could be because of the medication," Forman said as he held the door open.
"Yeah but it wouldn't explain why her white-Whoa!" Chase said as he stepped behind Evi.
"What-Jeez" said Forman as he saw what Chase was looking at.
"Well I thought it looked good," Evi said, slightly embarrassed, as she turned around in her chair.
"No… that's not….. what we meant," stumbled Chase, "It's fantastic, it's just that it makes House seem almost….kind…and nice"
"I'm right here…I can hear you, you know," a voice called from the other room. Everyone in the room including Evi rolled their eyes.
Foreman and Chase moved around the table and sat down. Chase picked up the paper and stared on a crossword. Foreman gave Chase a dirty look for 'slacking off' while he looked through the patient's cart. Cameron attempted to review the chart as well, to find an answer for the latest symptoms, but she ended up just staring out the window.
A sudden sound of the door opening made everyone jump.
"Why…do people…lie?" House's voice drawled out slowly.
"To avoid the truth," Cameron said finally turning her attention back to the rest of the room.
"Yes and no," House said pacing around the room. "Someone once told me, that people lie because they don't want others to know secrets about them. She also said that secrets belong to individuals, and are only for that individual to tell,"
Evi looked up and saw that House was looking at her.
House continued, "We keep secrets because we want other people to think that there's nothing wrong in our lives, that everything's perfect. So what if the patient lied about sleeping around. Maybe the bruise wasn't from her falling down the stairs."
"What? Are you saying that she gave herself the bruises?" Forman asked..
"No, but I'm saying she lied. Maybe it was her husband. Maybe it was a guy who she slept with. Chase, go talk to her. Foreman, keep the husband out of the room."
They both nodded and walked out of the room. That left Cameron, Evi and House.
Evi looked at Cameron who now had tears in her eyes.
"House," Cameron started in barely a whisper. "Maybe people lie because they think that if they tell someone, that person will be angry or mock them."
"Cameron.." House started
"I don't tell you anything because I know you'll find a way rub it in my face. I opened up to you about some of the deepest secrets in my heart." Tears were now falling down her face and she angrily brushed them away. "You told me you won't crush me, so I opened up to you about my husband. I opened up about my feelings for you. And what did you do? You shut me down, you call me pathetic, you call me a stuffed animal made by grandma!." Her last words filled with anger.
House was actually starting to feel guilty. Why had he rubbed them in her face? Was it to protect himself from opening up or just something that he did because he was scared of getting hurt?
"Now, on account of you're going to find out anyway, I'm going to tell you something that is just as deep as those other things" Cameron made her way and sat down at the table. House followed and sat down next to her.
"Evi's my daughter. My husband wasn't her father. I don't know who is. I gave her away because I couldn't lie to him and say he was the father. When my husband died, I moved to Jersey to star over…to wipe my slate clean. I figured that if no one else knew about my past, that I would be able to hid from it, that I wouldn't have to deal with the pain. But I was wrong. I had to deal with it everyday. Then I met you. You changed my life because you gave me other things to be upset about, like how you always boss me around. And it kinda helped. It took away some pain. But just like the pain in your leg, I carry it around everyday."
Cameron stopped, eventually breaking down into tears. Evi, who had been silent for the most part, now got up and went around to the side of the table. She passed Cameron a tissue and gave her a hug.
House, who much to Cameron's surprise had stayed silent the whole time, now spoke up.
"Cameron, take the day off. We'll manage without you…you should spend it with Evi." And with one final look at Cameron and Evi he got up and walked back into his office.
"I'll grab your bag and let's go," Evi said giving a weak smile as she moved over towards the desk. She could see that House's eyes were on her and she turned around to meet his gaze.
"Thank-you" she mouthed silently. He nodded and went back to watching TV.
Evi grabbed Cameron's things and walked over to a now, calmer Cameron.
"Let's go," Cameron said grabbing her bag off Evi and they both walked out the door, House's eyes watching them the whole time.
PLEASE R&R and if you have any suggestions or something let me know cause it would be greatly appreciated.
