Thanks for the reviews so far keep reviewing please! And big shout out to mynamemattersnot! Thanks for all the support and harassing to get me to actually update! :P
Anddd I read my last chapter and noticed obvious mistakes, I'm so sorry, I'll try proof reading next time!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except plot
Anddd really sorry it may be a while till my next update as I have two exams this week and going away for a few days so that's why I put this chapter up as quickly as possible! Really sorry I will update when I have the chance and please don't despair!
Chapter 10 – Hand in hand
Kids ran screaming everywhere. Rainbow coloured streamers hung from the ceiling and the constant buzz of chat and laughter hummed in the air. It was enough to give you a headache and in this case It gave me one. I sat on a table with Cuddy, Chase, Forearm and Cameron as we stooped at a crowded both. I noticed how all of us were carefully eyeing the large jungle jim at the end of the restaurant where all the kids played, looking out for Greg. We all saw him whooshing down the large slide and kept our protective eye on him. Greg, although annoying, had truly won everyone over.
"How's it going with him?" Forearm asked as we watched him run back to the spongy stairs to climb up to the slide again.
"Well his ok mostly. His still House really, difficult at time especially stubbornness wise and god when it gets to bath time…"
"Yeh my cousin doesn't like bathtime, prefers dirt and grime" Cameron piped in
"No its not that…" I hesitated
This was House's story to tell not mine but I knew the real House would never tell anyone, I mean I had no clue and I was his best friend!
"What is it Wilson?" Chase asked suspiciously, diagnostics side kicking in as he solved the latest puzzle.
"Nothing, it's really up to House to tell you"
"It is obviously not nothing" Cameron stating, crossing her arms
"and do you really think House would tell us?" Forearm added
"Well…"
"It's alright Wilson, we won't say any thing to Greg, or House when his back" Cuddy reassured me
That was true, really I should tell them, they did deserve them and it could explain some of House's behavior…
"Look, this stays here and here only. House seemed really scared when it was bath time and kept asking if it was cold…and then he got really scared when I told him off and kept saying he was really sorry and not to punish him…" I paused trying to catch my breath
"Oh god"!" Cuddy and Cameron gasped as it clicked it everyone's mind
"Are you saying House was abused?" Chase muttered, staring down at the table
"I don't know to what extent but yes. I assume it was ice baths and other things"
The table was silent. Each individual trying to process the information. It was reaching five minutes when a loud shout interrupted them:
"Wow you guys are boring!'
Greg stood at the end of the table, smirking, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Greg!" I yelped in surprise, snapping all of us out of our internal emotions
"No, the tooth fairy!" he said sarcastically rolling his eyes
Everyone gave a lighthearted smile and he budged his way onto the bench, grabbing a menu
"Can I have the peperoni passion?" he asked, eyes wide and pleading
"You can have whatever you like Greg" Chase answered before I could, a determined look on his face as gazed steadily at Greg
"Cool! In that case can I have the brownie? And ice cream? And oh the chocolate fudge sundae!"
"Woah there, lets just see how you go" I chuckled but none of us denied him anything.
It wouldn't exactly make up for his past but right now, it was the best we could do.
"That was yummy!" Greg cried, licking the spoon of his sundae.
Most of his face was currently covered in chocolate sauce and his top in no better condition. We all sat, full of greasy pizza, hands on bellies and we watched Greg in amusement. It had been a good night, with Greg making us laugh, especially when he had flicked a piece of peperoni onto the unsuspecting Foreman's forehead, claiming he was too grumpy.
"How can you tell? You're wearing half of it on your face" Cameron joked causing Greg to stick his tounge out at her
"I'm going to play!" he called, jumping down from the table and running off to the jungle jim before I could protest.
"Just don't be sick!" I called after him
"Its nice to see him like this…so relaxed and just enjoying himself" Cuddy commented
"And now popping vicodin every couple of minutes!" Foreman added gruffly
"Its nice for him just to be carefree for a while" I added taking a sip of my coke
"and not in pain" Chase said soberly and everyone's smiles faded at this, yes it was nice for House to finally be pain free just for a while.
"Hey look at Greg!" Cameron called, pulling us out of our wilting moods
We all looked to see Greg, standing in the ball pit whilst a young girl talked to him. She was dressed in a bright pink t-shirt and denim shorts with her hair in bunchies and tied up with little pink ribbons. She talked to Greg animatedly whilst beaming brightly. Greg stared at her, unsure and looking a bit grumpy and having been interrupted.
"Looks like Greg is popular with the ladies" Cameron jokes as we all stared in disbelief
"Should we tell her his actually a crippled, middle aged, pill popping genius?" Cuddy asked
"I don't think his really interested anyway, I think his rather angry she interrupted him" Forearm said whilst we watched Greg expression turn more sour
We watched as she continued to encourage him to play with her, it looked like she wanted to play mummy's and daddy's much to Greg's disgust. Too our amusement, Greg just rolled his eyes and began to walk off, until the girl grabbed his arm and yanked him back. Greg started to become angry at them and I knew that I would need to intervene soon. Greg tried to walk away again but the persistent girl ran in front of him. It looked as though Greg said something mean to the girl as her face suddenly flushed bright red and abruptly, before anyone of us could react, she shoved Greg and ran off. Greg toppled backwards, taken my surprise and fell down into the ball pit. I immediately jumped up and the rest of the table tensed at the ready. We didn't have to wait long though, as Greg's head popped out from beneath the sea of balls and he blinked. I couldn't really see if he was crying from here but he abruptly stood up and made his way over to our table. He wasn't limping or holding any limbs, but as he approached I could see his eyes were watery and his lip was trembling. It must be the shock of being pushed over.
"Hey big guy" I greet him softly as he comes to stand next to me
He just stand there, close enough so our knees are touching but waiting for my permission and comfort.
"Did you get hurt?" I ask whilst the table watch in silent expectation
He holds hold's out his elbow, which shows a small carpet burn from the bottom of the ball pit. I hold out my arms to him and when he moves in, swiftly pull him onto my lap, wrapping my arms around him. He buries his face into my shirt, letting out small sniffles. He isn't crying just upset and I comfort him the best I can.
"Hey you want us to beat her up for you?" Chase asks comfortingly to which he nods his head into my shirt
'Which one is she?" Foreman asks playing along
"P-pink top…p-p-igtails" Greg mumbles
"Don't trust any women, their all trouble" Chase adds to which Cameron and Cuddy reply with small snorts
"Hey you want some ice cream?" I ask, nuzzling his hair slightly
Greg looks up at me with this and nods eagerly.
"T-that sounds g-good"
"Ice cream for everyone then!" I shout loudly, met by a series of cheers.
Full of goodies and content, we head out from the quieting restaurant and into the car pack, all holding our bellies, except Chase who is giving a piggy back to a very full very sleepy Greg. I was surprised when after we had finally finished with our deserts, Greg and gone over to Chase who had bent down so he could jump on his back. This Greg was starting to trust people and I hoped House remembered that when he turned back.
"Ill see you guys tomorrow" Foreman said, heading towards his car in the car park
Cameron walked with us for a while then turned to go to hers but luckily Chase Cuddy and mine were all within a couple of spaces of each other.
"Bye Greg" Cuddy mumbled, ruffling his hair to which he replied with a sleepy grumble
Chase came to my car with me and I opened the passenger side for him.
"Sorry mate, your going to have to get off now" Chase told Greg, craning his neck around slightly to where Greg was resting his chin on his shoulder
"Nooo I'm comfy…" he whined with drooping eyelids, nuzzling in deeper into Chase's shoulder
Chase lowered himself down towards the open door and gently maneuvered Greg into the seat and gently lowered him on to the soft material. Greg gave a high pitched whine, reaching his arms out after Chase
"Hey, I'll see you tomorrow, if you are good we will go to the park again?"
Greg nodded, "If you want to get beat on the swings again"
"Oh you won't beat me again"
"Don't bet on it old man"
"Wilsonn" a sleepy mumble interrupted me from my train of thought and I glanced over quickly to Greg in the passenger seat, instead of staring out the wrong window
I was surprised he was awake, I felt for sure he would have drifted off to sleep in the soothing motion of the car.
"Yes?"
"I don't like girls…"
I snorted
"Join the club Greg, join the club"
"COME HERE YOU LITTLE KID!"
I snapped to attention at these words. Something in my gut told me it had to do with Greg, it was trouble, of course it was. I was currently sitting in my office, enjoying the couple of hours when the team were looking after Greg. I had done my duties, he was washed, dressed, fed, rested and now it was their turn but it looked as If they were having trouble, great.
I trudged out of my office and into the corridor and was instantly surprised with the sight that greeted me. There was Greg, running full pelt down the corridor whilst a large security guard from the front lobby ran after him. Upon seeing me Greg ran straight too me and scampered around the back of my leg, using it as a shield between him and the angry giant. He peeked his head out behind my trousers and glanced at the security guard apprehensively.
"Is this your kid" he panted, clambering to a halt in front of me
"Erm, kind of"
"Well can you please keep him under control, we found him in the clinic, terrosing patients and getting in the way"
"I only wanted a lolly pop!" Greg piped up, sticking his head around my leg
The security guard rolled his eyes and turned towards me
"He tried to climb the desk to reach the jar, ended up knocking it on the floor causing a patient to slip up and fall and then he tried to ran away and knocked over countless objects and generally made a nuisance of himself"
"Is this true Greg?" I asked turning around to him
He looked up at me biting his lip and I noticed he looked quite pale
"If your going to bring your kid in you need to keep an eye on him or leave him at home"
"Someone was meant to be keeping an eye on him" I grumbled
"Greg? Did you do this?" I asked
Greg looked at me frantically, breaking out into a sweat
"Greg?"
"His probably just trying to get out of trouble-" the security guard began
Suddenly Greg howled. Not a quiet exclamation but a loud pain filled howl that echoed through the entire corridor and made me jump. He then clutched desperately at his right thigh, bending over in pain whilst his face screwed up and continued to scream and scream and scream.
"Greg!"
"What's wrong with that kid" the security guard yelled, struggling to be heard over Greg's yells
The screams brought out curious spectators into the corridor. Greg fell onto his knees on the floor and then continued to fall onto his side, curling up into a fetal position and clutching his leg, knuckles turning white. I dived down onto my knees and ran my hands over Greg's trembling body.
"Come on buddy what's…"
It clicked and I almost hit myself for being so stupid. His memories could come back it fluctuations, like when he diagnosed that patient and now he was remembering…his leg, oh god.
"Greg I need you to relax, just breathe it will be over soon"
Greg clenched his teeth and let rip and high pitched keen. At that moment the elevator opened and a very flustered looking team stepped out but when they spotted what all the commotion was about they sprinted over
"What on earth?" Cameron yelled
"His leg! His remembering his leg and at this age he can't handle the pain!" I screamed back feeling like pulling out my hair
Foreman darted away quickly and within two minutes he was back, holding a needle.
"No needles!" I cried
"We need to get this under control!" he cried back and as I glanced at Greg whimpering and keening and sweating buckets, still clutching at his leg desperately I knew he was right.
I grabbed the needle off him and squeezed out the air bubble then I rolled up his shirt sleeve.
"Greg, this will sting a bit but it will make you feel better"
I injected the morphine quickly and efficiently, pushing down the plunger quickly and efficiently. Greg's keening died down almost immediately and his grip loosened on his leg. His eyes, which had been squeezed shut, fluttered open and his eyeballs rolled upwards to look at me weakly with glazed drugged look to them.
"Is that better Greg?" I ask
He nods weakly, head flopping.
" 'ilson"
"Yes big guy?" I say softly, stroking his damp hair from his face
" I k-know I h-had my n-ap but-t im r-really t-t-tired" he mumbles
"It's okay, don't worry just rest" I assure him smiling
He doesn't need any more encouragement and immediately goes limp on the floor, the drugs taking their effect and I catch his head and guide it down before it hits the hard ground.
"Lets get a gurney" I say without bothering to turn around, knowing the team are standing behind me "He will need monitoring until the drugs are out his system"
The team scurries off to do their bidding and I stay with Greg, clasping his hand in mine and just keeping an eye on him. Eventually the gurney comes, the staff lift him carefully from the floor and strap him in, they wheel it towards the elevator and towards his room, connect him to a stats machine to keep an eye on his heart rate, they check him over quickly, tell me they will be back later and leave the room quietly.
And then it's just me and him left in the room and I haven't let go off his hand once.