10
Damaged
(or Thirteen's Head)
"Does this area—" Kutner leaned forward in his seat and across Thirteen to reach the monitor and traced an irregular shape on the screen with his index finger. "—seem a little too big to you?"
"Mm…" Thirteen pondered as she brought her face a little closer to the monitor. "Looks just the right size to me," she said, her eyes squinted as she examined the brightly colored structures displayed on the screen in front of her.
Kutner sat back on his seat and let out a small sigh.
"So, I'm leaving early today," Thirteen said while she punched a few buttons on the medical equipment. "Do you mind going to the lab and doing a couple of tests for me?" she said, casually changing the subject. "You still owe me that one hour."
"I don't mind," Kutner replied before switching the intercom on and saying, "We're almost done, Emma. We're getting you out of there in a while. Just try and be still for now."
"Okay," a woman's voice replied from the bigger room that was partitioned from the area where Kutner and Thirteen were sitting.
"Hot date?" Kutner asked casually, mostly kidding.
"It's not a date," Thirteen answered too quickly.
Kutner scowled and looked at her. "Oo-kay."
Thirteen clenched her jaw in trepidation and mentally chastised herself, realizing she must have sounded defensive. "All lobes are clean, optic nerve is intact and lesion-free." She picked up a pen and started twirling and fiddling it with her fingers. "There's nothing there," she declared.
"We still don't know what she's got." Kutner sighed. "We should do a full body scan, see if there're any tumors or enlarged nodes."
Thirteen nodded in agreement. "House will probably think that's unnecessary, but I think you're right."
A faint clink was heard when the pen in her hand dropped and hit the floor. Kutner watched her as she rolled some inches away from the desk and bent down to pick up the short piece of metal.
"Are you okay?" Kutner asked. "You seem a little… jumpy… today."
"I'm fine, I'm just…" Thirteen trailed off, shrugging.
"Pre-first date jitters?" Thirteen and Kutner swivelled to face the doorway and saw House just entering. "Oh, wait, that would be pre-second first date jitters, wouldn't it?"
Thirteen sighed, rubbing her forehead with her fingers. Oh, God, not again.
"It's either that or your funeral's going to be a decade or so too early," House said. "What did the MRI show?" he changed the subject as he looked at the MRI monitor.
"No tumors, all clean," Kutner replied.
"We should do a full body scan," said Thirteen.
House nodded. "It won't be very helpful, but it should be enough to move us at least a baby step forward in the differential." He turned to Thirteen. "You go do it. The earlier we figure out what's causing all of her symptoms, the earlier you get to go and tend to your flagging social life and maybe even save yourself from another eight years of meaningless sex." He walked out the door and left the room.
"So you do have a date," Kutner said once House was gone.
"It's not a date," Thirteen said again. "We're done, Emma. You can move now. We're coming to help you up," she said into the intercom, and then she turned it off before saying to Kutner, "We're catching up over coffee and that's it."
"Well she must be thrilled. She looked pretty devastated earlier when she saw me instead of you."
"You told Ryan where I was, so it's actually technically your fault I'm going to have to go." Thirteen stood up and walked to the MRI machine and pulled the patient out of it.
Kutner stood up as well and followed her, smirking.
"What?" Thirteen asked when she saw Kutner smirking.
"You're welcome," was his response before he placed the patient's arm around his shoulder and helped her to get up.
"Thank you," Thirteen said to the nurse before she handed her back the employees' log book she had just signed. She walked to the elevators and pushed the button to the ground floor.
She tugged nervously on her collar as she stepped out of the elevators and stood at the middle of the hospital's lobby. She looked around and soon she found Marissa sitting on the bench near the entrance. Thirteen stood amidst the continuous rush of people going in and out of the hospital and watched Marissa roll the sleeve of her tan leather jacket a few centimeters up to take a look at her wristwatch. The girl's neck, which had a purple scarf wrapped hastily but still stylishly around it, craned in search for, Thirteen was sure, her.
Marissa's big green doe eyes instantly lit up when they met Thirteen's stormy blue ones. Thirteen cleared her throat and smiled as walked towards Marissa, who stood up and smiled as well.
"Hey." The cheerful breathy greeting made Thirteen all the more nervous and ambivalent about the whole getting-back-in-touch thing with Marissa.
"Hi," she greeted back. "Did you wait too long?"
"Not at all. You're actually just in time."
Thirteen nodded. "So, do you have any particular place you wanna go to or any particular thing you want to do?"
"No, not really. Anything and anywhere with you sounds great," she replied casually and without much thought.
Thirteen's insides fluttered at the comment. Marissa seemed unfazed. "Okay, well, how does coffee sound?"
Marissa smiled. "Coffee sounds great."
"Blueberry cheesecake and caramel macchiato for the lovely miss," the handsome middle-aged dark-haired waiter said as he placed the cake and a steaming mug of coffee in front of Marissa.
"Thank you," Marissa said.
"…and chocolate cake and decaf for the other lovely lady," the waiter said, setting Thirteen's drink in front of her.
Thirteen gave him a small polite smile.
"Anything else I can help you with, ma'am?" he asked her chamingly.
"Nothing else, thanks," the brunette replied.
The waiter bowed down, and flashed both Marissa and Thirteen his million-dollar smile before leaving.
"That waiter was totally hitting on you," Marissa mumbled faintly before bringing her mug to her lips and taking a sip of her drink.
"That waiter what?" Thirteen asked, not being able to catch what Marissa said in its entirety.
Marissa brought the mug back down. "The waiter was hitting on you," she repeated impassively.
"What?" Thirteen chuckled. "No, he wasn't."
"He totally was," Marissa said.
"You were the one he was hitting on."
"Okay, well, maybe he was hitting on both of us," Marissa said. "All the more I find it wrong and annoying. It's rude and inappropriate." She picked up her fork and bit into a piece of her cheesecake.
Thirteen watched Marissa with a curious expression for some moment before she herself took her own fork and started to eat. Both women settled into a relatively comfortable silence as they ate.
"This is nice," Marissa said after a while, after she had swallowed her food.
"Yeah, it is. They make really good desserts here," replied Thirteen.
"No, it's not just the cake. I mean this. This whole thing… is nice," she said with a soft smile. "Thanks for asking me out."
Thirteen just smiled at Marissa, and then took another bite of her own cake.
Thirteen and Marissa were walking side by side. Thirteen's hands were inside the pockets of her double-breasted white trench coat, while Marissa had her arms wrapped around her own body and her hands tucked against her sides. The two were on their way to Thirteen's car.
"You really didn't have to do that. I could have paid for my own food," Marissa said.
"No, it's okay," replied Thirteen.
"You were also the one who paid the last time."
"It's really okay. Don't mention it."
It was cold, and Marissa knew her teeth would be chattering uncontrollably had she not just loaded up on sugar and carbs and hot coffee just a few minutes earlier, but still she walked slowly, as did Thirteen; neither of them were in a hurry to call it a night though both of them, especially the latter girl, wasn't planning on saying that out loud.
"So you still haven't told me how you ended up prescribing people drugs instead of serving them cocktails," Marissa told Thirteen.
"Didn't I?"
Marissa shook her head. "You told me how you realized you wanted to do it, why you did it, what your motivations were…"
No, I didn't really even tell you that, Thirteen thought.
"…But you haven't told me how you actually did it yet," said Marissa.
"Mm, well… It's kind of a long story."
"I've got time."
Thirteen smiled. "It's not really that interesting."
"Try me."
The brunette smiled even more at Marissa's persistence. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
"Um… everything?"
"No," Thirteen chuckled. "Everything's kinda fuzzy to me now," she lied; she remembered everything fully. "I don't even know where to start."
"The beginning is usually a good enough place."
Thirteen shot her a playful glare. "You'll have to tell me what exactly you want to know," she insisted.
"Okay…" Marissa nodded once and took a deep breath. "The day after we… that night, after the bonfire… I went to your apartment… but you were already gone…" She kept her eyes on the pavement as she spoke. "Where did you go? And why did you leave so soon?"
They had already reached Thirteen's car, and the brunette didn't answer right away but instead opened the door and got in. She slid into the driver's seat and motioned for Marissa to do the same. It was not until she had already moved the car off the small parking lot that she spoke up again.
"LA," she said. She could see Marissa watching her out of the corner of her eye. "I hadn't had the chance to tell you, or anyone, that I was leaving… But you know… I figured it was better that way…" Marissa nodded empathically, letting Thirteen know she understood. "So yeah, I went to LA after moving out of the apartment."
"To your parents'?" Marissa asked.
Thirteen shook her head. "Not initially, no," she answered. "I first moved in with Jodie."
"Jodie. Oh."
"You remember her? We went to her apartment in LA that one time, remember? When we went to get my stuff back?" When you stole my heart.
"Yeah... Yeah, I remember." How can I forget? That was when you gave me your heart.
"So you guys got back together?" Marissa asked as impassively as she could while she picked nonexistent lint off her sweater.
"Oh, no, we didn't. We were already smart enough to know that that could never happen again. But we were friends, so… She was nice enough to let me stay at her place the first three months or so," she explained. "With rent, of course," she added with a smile.
Marissa nodded. "And then what happened? You said you didn't move back in with you parents 'initially'. Does that mean you did later on?"
"Yeah," Thirteen replied. "My dad called me up one day and told me that I needed to come home."
"Wow," Marissa said softly. "But… wasn't he the one who… made you want to get emancipated and basically, um…"
"Kicked me out?"
"Well… yeah…" Marissa said cautiously. "…What made him change his mind?"
"My mom…" answered Thirteen. "She… She was sick."
"Oh…" Marissa felt a sudden wave of sorrow fill her. By the tone of the Thirteen's voice and the way her jaw was clenched and her hands were very tightly gripping the wheel, somehow she could already tell what happened next.
"My parents divorced shortly after my mom's diagnosis." Thirteen paused before going on. "My dad… He was a cop… but he had to give up his career to take care of my mom… She had a progressive debilitating disease, and we weren't exactly well-off, so he couldn't afford to keep her in the hospital or hire somebody to take care of her… So he called me up and said he needed help." Thirteen paused for some time as she unwillingly relived the memories of her mother and her screwed-up family.
"He left her… He left me to fend for my self and for my mom."
Marissa watched as Thirteen's hand became white and taut from gripping the wheel so hard. "My mom was… dying… and he even had the face to tell her he wanted a frigging divorce," she said, smiling bitterly and shaking her head.
Thirteen surprised herself by saying everything out loud to somebody for the first time in years. She had never planned on telling anybody her story, but she had an inexplicable urge to do so now, she noted with extreme discomfort. And to Marissa, too, of all people.
"I…" Marissa could tell that Thirteen was hurting. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
Thirteen nodded slightly. She slowed down the car a little and commanded her self not to break down. "So I accepted the surfing scholarship I was offered… I studied during the day and worked my ass off at a bar during the night. Luckily, I had saved some money back in Newport so I was able to send my mom to a caregiving institution while I was in class or bartending…"
"…She died," she said after a long pregnant pause. Her voice was shaking just a little bit, and she had to grasp on the steering wheel even tighter to prevent herself from doing the same. "I was in my last year of pre-med… I did it for her and she didn't even see me graduate," she said with a small laugh that was filled with regret rather than happiness or amusement.
"My name," she continued. "I had it changed after I graduated from college… It's my mom's name… I grew so ashamed and disgusted to use my father's name… I… couldn't imagine having to sign his name on the prescriptions I'd be writing all my life," she explained. "I just had to change it."
Marissa nodded gently.
"They were divorced after all…" Thirteen said. "He walked away… So I figured, if he didn't want to be my father, then so be it."
"Alex…" Marissa lifted her left hand and placed it gingerly on Thirteen's right thigh.
Thirteen stiffened initially at the contact. Marissa noticed her muscles instantly tense up, but instead of backing down and withdrawing her hand, she took a chance by gently rubbed the muscle of Alex's mid-thigh with her thumb. She was relieved when she Alex's muscles eventually relax beneath her hand.
"I'm sorry…" Marissa said again in a soft voice.
Thirteen gave her a sidelong glance and a soft appreciative smile, which Marissa readily returned.
"We're here," Thirteen said once they reached Marissa's apartment and she had pulled over a few lots away.
"Marissa?" she said when Marissa didn't respond.
Marissa woke up from the semi-trance she fell in as she stroked Thirteen's thigh absently all throughout the rest of their trip and left herself be engulfed in the sweet fragrance of the car. It smelled too much like its owner. She turned her head and saw Thirteen looking at her with an expression that could only be described as one of concern.
"Are you okay?" Thirteen asked gently.
How could Alex ask her if she was okay? She wasn't the one who was basically orphaned by a negligent father and a dead mother. Granted, her own father wasn't there as she grew up and her mother practically wasn't either, but they were alive and well, and though Jimmy was in Hawaii and Julie was in Newport, both of them with new families of their own, they had always attended to her needs, even just the physical ones at the very least. She practically never really had to work a day in her life.
Marissa could see the sadness behind the beautiful blue eyes of the woman before her, and she can't help but feel sorry and, at the same time, guilty for her pain. She wished she was there, even just as a friend, when Alex was going through all of those things that nobody, especially not somebody as kind-hearted, as hardworking, and as beautiful as her deserved.
"Marissa, are you—"
"I'm sorry," Marissa suddenly blurted out.
Thirteen let go of the wheel and twisted her body slightly to face Marissa. "Stop saying you're sorry. None of it was your fault," Thirteen impatiently, but gently, told her.
"No, but… I could've been there for you…" Marissa insisted in a soft, sad voice. "You should've called, and I would've been there for you."
Thirteen didn't say anything right away. She faced front, not meeting Marissa's gaze and grasped the wheel once more. "I was in school, and I'm pretty sure you were busy with you own life, too." With Ryan, no doubt. "I didn't think you'd want me to call since we weren't exactly friends anymore."
"What? Of course we were!" Marissa objected. "I know things didn't go too well with us, but Alex… I never stopped caring for you… I just… I just wish I was there for you. You shouldn't have gone through all of that alone."
How could Marissa say all of these to her? It's not like keeping in touch her was really an option. Did she really expect her to call after she sent her back her heart? Besides, if she was there, that would mean Ryan was, too, so that really wouldn't have made things any better or easier. Thirteen's head was filled with bitter thoughts and angry accusations, but she kept mum. Talking about all of that now was pointless. Also, Marissa's hand on her thigh was making her thought processes all muddled and hazy.
"My mom, she… If she didn't… If things had been different, I wouldn't have been where I am right now. In a way, she had made me all that my father had always wanted me to be… all that I never saw my self I'd be." She felt Marissa's hand tighten on her thigh.
There are times that walk from you like some passing afternoon,
Summer warmed the open window of her honeymoon…
"If she didn't… go… I never would have learned to fly a plane… I never would have gone to Africa to go mountain climbing… I never would have gotten out of my way to work for and put up with the most mind-bogglingly brilliant, most insufferable curmudgeon in the history of mankind," she joked gently and Marissa couldn't help but chuckle. "If it wasn't for her, I'd probably be wasted and throwing up in a dark back alley of some dingy bar right now."
And she chose a yard to burn, but the ground remembers her,
Wooden spoons, her children stir her bougainvillea blooms…
Marissa was rubbing Thirteen's thigh with her thumb again. Thirteen wished she'd never stop. Unfortunately however, she knew she had to. She turned to Marissa and smiled. "It's late."
"It is," Marissa agreed, but still did not take away her hand.
"Come on, I'll walk you to the door," Thirteen offered.
"Okay," Marissa said with a pleased smile. Her hand was still firmly attached to Thirteen's thigh, like she had no intention of letting go anytime soon.
"Okay, but um… your, uh…" Thirteen motioned to Marissa's hand with her eyes.
"Oh… Oh!" Marissa quickly withdrew her hand. "I—Sorry…" she chuckled embarrassedly, wishing it was dark enough to hide her blush.
Thirteen smiled, and then she unbuckled her seat belt and she was holding Marissa's door open before the girl was able to recover from her embarrassment.
"Thanks," Marissa said to Thirteen as she got out of the car.
There are things that drift away, like our endless numbered days,
Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made…
Side by side, the two women walked close but not touching through the cold dark night. The expressions on their faces were melancholy but serene—something their minds were anything but.
"It's cold," Thirteen said the obvious, mostly to herself, as both she and Marissa trudged up the hill leading to Marissa's apartment.
While walking, Marissa uncrossed her hands and untied her purple scarf from her neck and wrapped it around Thirteen's.
"No," Thirteen took out her hands from her pockets and brought them up to her neck to remove the cloth while Marissa was in the middle of tying it. "No, stop. This is yours," she protested, pushing back the scarf to Marissa.
And she's chosen to believe in the hymns her mother sings,
Sunday pulls its children from their piles of fallen leaves…
"You're cold," Marissa said firmly. She got a hold of the ends of the scarf and threw it around Thirteen's head, encircling it around her neck once more. "Stop being so stubborn." The determined look on Marissa's face that resembled a wife scolding her stubborn spouse was the last straw. Thirteen let her hands hang limply and awkwardly at her sides in surrender. A scowl appeared on Marissa's face as she secured the scarf.
"My house is right there. I'm gonna be warm in a minute," Marissa argued as she did the scarf loosely and let the ends fall along the length of Thirteen's torso.
The corner of Thirteen's lips tightened into a smile.
There are sailing ships that pass, all our bodies in the grass,
Springtime calls her children till she lets them go at last…
After a beat, Marissa reached out again and loosened the scarf a little, brushing the skin of Thirteen's neck as well as her chin and jaws with her fingers, and letting them linger just a teeny bit too long in the process. The two girl locked eyes and Thirteen's breath hitched a notch faster as she felt Marissa's breath warmed her otherwise cold face.
And she's chosen where to be, though she's lost her wedding ring,
Somewhere near her misplaced jar of bougainvillea seeds…
Thirteen felt the hairs in the nape of her neck stand up, and she was reluctant and irked to admit that it had nothing to do with the temperature.
After fixing the scarf and Marissa was satisfied that Thirteen was now all warm and comfy, she let go and moved back a few steps. "There. Perfect." She smiled before carrying on the short journey to her house. Thirteen jogged to catch up with her.
As they journeyed the rest of the short walk to Marissa's home, nostalgia stirred up inside Thirteen as she remembered the walks she and Marissa used to take together, either during sunny days at the beach, or under the same umbrella when it's raining and she had to go to the Bait Shop to work. Her ego shrank a little when it crossed her mind that she must have spent the same amount of energy to power a small town just to forget; the vivid memories that this ongoing barely meaningful walk was provoking had "you failed" written all over them. This time was just like those walks Thirteen thought they'd never have again—slow, peaceful and comfortably silent. Except that they weren't holding hands, or walking impossibly close to each other. They weren't even just together.
There are things we can't recall, blind as night that finds as all,
Winter tucks her children in her fragile china dolls…
Soon they were standing right on the foot of the steps that were leading to the building's main door.
"So we're here," Marissa stated.
Thirteen stopped and shoved her hands into her pockets.
"I had fun tonight," Marissa told her.
"Yeah, me too."
"Thanks for the coffee."
"You're welcome."
"We should do this again some time."
"Yeah. Sure."
Marissa nodded slightly, a small smile of contentment on her face.
"So, I should go," Thirteen stated.
"Yeah, okay…" Thirteen wondered if that was disappointment she heard there. "Goodnight."
"G'night."
Thirteen did not move until Marissa turned around and climbed up the short stairway of the apartment building. The girl was already on the topmost step when she herself turned around and walked to the direction of her car, across the small, empty street.
Hardly noticing the series of sounds of footsteps approaching her from behind, Thirteen had already stepped down the curb when she felt a long, bare hand grab her gloved one and gently turned her around and pulled her into a soft, warm embrace. Completely caught off guard, Thirteen stood frozen with one of Marissa's arms around her neck and another looped over her arm and shoulder for a long moment.
But my hands remember hers, rolling 'round the shaded ferns,
Naked arms are secrets still like songs I never learned…
"I missed you, Alex," Marissa whispered into her hair.
Thirteen's eyes were wide, her heart was thumping wildly against her rib cage, and her hands were held up in the air and hovering over Marissa's fragile body.
There are names across the sea, only now I do believe,
Sometimes with the windows closed, you sit and think of me…
"I miss you," Marissa said near Thirteen's ear. It was almost just a sigh, and Thirteen was sure she had heard the tense wrong.
Slowly and gently, Thirteen placed her open palms on Marissa's mid-back and eased herself into the embrace. She closed her eyes and inhaled the light, fresh scent of Marissa's hair and neck.
Neither of them kept track of how long they were standing there wrapped around each other, but it soon became too long for Thirteen as unsolicited images of an angry woman and a wooden horse standing tall amidst a fiery blaze flitted across her mind.
But she'll mend his tattered clothes, and they'll kiss as if they know,
A baby sleeps in all our bones, so scared to be alone.
She opened her eyes and slid her palms down to Marissa's waist and whispered, "We're right in the middle of the street."
"The middle of the empty street," Marissa mumbled against Thirteen's shoulder.
"It's not going to stay empty forever." That was how long Thirteen wanted them to stay in the moment they were in.
Marissa gently pulled herself away. "I just said I missed you and here you are talking about the street," she said, giving Thirteen a look of mock disbelief. "Way to ruin the moment, Alex."
Thirteen chuckled softly, not letting go of Marissa's waist. "Sorry."
Marissa grinned widely, loving being back in Thirteen's arms again.
"Marissa, I…" Thirteen cleared her throat. "I really need to go. You know, early morning tomorrow." Her heart secretly fluttered when she saw the disappointment in Marissa's face. "I'll see you around at the hospital?"
Marissa smiled weakly and nodded. She let go of Thirteen completely.
Thirteen, too, took her hands off Marissa's waist. "I promise to try and not give you any more reasons to miss me again," Thirteen told her genially.
Marissa smiled and bit her lower lip. "I'll count on it."
Thirteen smiled back.
"'Night," said Marissa.
"'Night," replied Thirteen.
Marissa turned and Thirteen watched her walk the half of the street's width back to the front walk of her apartment.
"I'll wash your scarf and get it back to you tomorrow," Thirteen called after her.
Marissa turned to face her again. "No, it's okay. You don't have to do that."
"I will get it back to you tomorrow," Thirteen promised.
"No need," Marissa insisted. "I have lots of scarves. And it's late. You're tired. I don't wanna risk you accidentally pouring beer instead of detergent into your washing machine or anything."
"I know how to do laundry, thank you very much."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that."
"Hah! Says the girl who once turned half my wardrobe pink."
Marissa laughed.
"Don't worry. I'm not looking to get you back," Thirteen said with a devious smile. "Yet."
Marissa grinned and bit her lower lip. "Bye, Alex."
"Bye, Marissa."
"Alex. Hi," Summer greeted a freshly showered and smiling Thirteen, who was clutching a small manila envelope in one hand and had a white coat hanging on her other arm.
"Hey," the doctor cheerfully greeted back.
"Hi," Sarah chirpily greeted her as well.
"Hey, Sarah." Thirteen stood near the bed, across Summer.
"You're not wearing your coat," Summer noticed. Thirteen was wearing a simple red sleeveless blouse and blue jeans that fitted her very well. Summer thought she looked great.
"Nope," Thirteen said.
"You look great. I never thought I'd say this, but we should go shop together some time."
Thirteen grinned. "What would Marissa think if she hears you saying that?"
"She'll think I'm a genius, because we'd be taking her with us."
Thirteen chuckled. "Alright, well, I'll think about it."
"Good. So why are you here so early?" It was a little before six and Summer knew the doctors don't usually visit their patients so early unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Actually, I came in just now and thought I'd drop in to see my favorite patient," she said as she walked to the bed and gently ruffled Sarah's hair. "You look so much better now, kiddo," Thirteen told a grinning Sarah. Summer watched them fondly.
"I do?"
"Absolutely."
"When can I go home?"
"Very soon, sweetie."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Thirteen smiled at the obviously pleased little girl. "I know you're getting bored here, so," she held up the envelope in front of her chest. "…in the meantime, while we're waiting for you to get completely healthy… I got you something I thought you'd like."
"What is it?" Sarah asked, eyeing the envelope curiously.
Thirteen handed it to her and she accepted it excitedly. "Open it and see for yourself."
Sarah did as she was told. Her eyes widened and her face noticeably brightened up at the sight of a crisp and glossy brand new The Amazing Spider-Man comic book.
"Wooow!" Sarah held the comic with intense care and with a look of great fascination on her face. "This is for me?"
"Yes. Didn't I just say you're my favorite patient?" She lowered her voice and added, "But don't tell the other patients that."
Sarah grinned.
"D'you like it?"
"Yes!"
Sarah placed the comic book on the bed side table where it would be safe before looking up at a smiling Thirteen and lifting her arms. Thirteen's smile widened and she bent down to accept the hug.
"How did you know I like Spider-Man?"
Thirteen chuckled and caught Summer looking at her with a warm smile as she was bent down and hugging Sarah. "Well, it wasn't really hard to know what you liked. It's kinda obvious who you took after on the most. I think your love for designer clothes and shoes will appear later on."
Summer grinned.
"Thank you, Dr. Alex," Sarah said and she let go of Thirteen.
"Didn't I already tell you to just call me Alex?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I forgot," Sarah said. "Thank you, Alex."
"You are absolutely welcome," Thirteen said, grinning.
"You're the coolest doctor ever!"
Thirteen laughed. "Really?"
"Yes, really!" Sarah nodded earnestly and Thirteen laughed some more, glad that Sarah was better and happier.
Unbeknownst to the three occupants of the room, Marissa and Seth were watching them from outside and saw almost the whole exchange.
"Isn't she adorable?" Seth asked Marissa as he watched his daughter giggling over a comic book.
"She's so cute," Marissa agreed with a dreamy sigh. She was donning a big smile on her face.
Seth looked at her and then to Thirteen and Sarah, back to Marissa, and back again to Sarah. He smiled and shook his head a little, and then placed his arm around Marissa's shoulder. "My ex, who is also your ex, and my daughter, who is also your goddaughter, getting along so well. Did you ever see that happening?"
Marissa looked at Seth and let out a small laugh. "No."
"I didn't either," agreed Seth.
Marissa chuckled and turned back to watching Thirteen and Sarah (Or probably mostly just Thirteen, in Seth's mind).
"Shall we make our presence known and join the festivities inside?"
Marissa smiled. "Okay."
And that's what they did.
"Alex!" Seth said loudly as he let himself and Marissa in. "How is my favorite doctor this lovely morning?"
"Hey, Seth," was only Alex's response to that. Turning to Marissa, she said, "Hi."
"Hi," Marissa greeted back with a huge grin.
"Daddy! Guess what Alex gave me!" Sarah exclaimed.
"An injection?"
"No, daddy. Look!" She held up the comic book to show her dad.
"Oh. My. Gosh," Seth walked over to his daughter and sat on the bed beside her. "Is that the special issue of Spider-Man #583?"
Sarah nodded eagerly.
"Wow," Seth let out as he placed an arm around Sarah and flipped open the comic book's first page with his other hand. "That, is sweet."
"This is the one I was telling you about, Daddy."
"I know, honey." He looked up at Alex. "This is so cool, Alex."
Thirteen smiled and crossed her arms on her chest. "I got it for Sarah, Seth."
Summer and Marissa giggled.
Seth looked up and removed his hand on the comic book, bringing it and his other hand up to show his submission. "Of course you did."
Thirteen chuckled.
Seth turned to Sarah. "Baby, have you thanked Alex yet?"
"Of course I did, Daddy."
Seth pulled the girl towards him and kissed the top of her head. "That's my girl."
A beeping sound coming from Thirteen's pocket interrupted the light-hearted conversation that mostly centered Sarah's present. The doctor pulled out her pager and saw that the page was from Foreman.
"I need to go," she told the people in the room. "I'll see you guys later."
"Bye, Alex," Sarah said. "Please come visit me again soon."
"Count on it," Thirteen promised.
"See you later," said Seth.
"You, me, Coop, and Coco," Summer reminded Thirteen, who nodded her understanding.
"Bye, guys." Thirteen walked out of the room and immediately felt Marissa following her.
"Alex."
"Hey." Thirteen stepped into the almost empty elevator and Marissa entered after her. "What's up?"
"Nothing much." Marissa shrugged. "Hey, do you want to have lunch with me at the cafeteria later?"
"Yeah, okay."
Marissa smiled widely. "Great."
"Sick of me yet? We've been hanging out every single day this week."
"Mm, yeah, a little bit," Marissa replied.
Thirteen arched a brow. "And you're still hanging out with me because?"
"Well, you treat sick people, right?"
Thirteen laughed. "Okay, that is probably the lamest line I've ever heard."
"Hey!" Marissa gently slapped Thirteen's arm.
"Well it is," Thirteen chuckled. Her grin faded when she noticed Marissa stop and look strangely at her side. She scowled and looked down, trying to figure out what exactly caught Marissa's attention. Then she looked up again and said, "What is it?"
Instead of replying, Marissa brought a hand to her bare right upper arm and delicately brushed the skin there with her fingertips.
"What?" Thirteen asked again.
"Your tattoo…" Marissa finally said. "It's gone."
"Oh, that."
Marissa frowned. "I didn't notice that before."
"I had it removed."
"Why?"
"You aren't supposed to have one if you want people to take you seriously and respect you for real," Thirteen answered.
"Did it hurt?"
"Like hell," Thirteen replied nonchalantly. Marissa winced. "But you know me. I'm a toughie," Thirteen joked lightly. "I still have the one on my back though."
Marissa's frown slowly turned into a lopsided smile that awoke the butterflies inside Thirteen's stomach so easily and effortlessly for the nth time since she had known her.
"Good," she said, smiling. "I still have mine, too."
A quick scan of the cafeteria told Thirteen that she came before Marissa did. She grabbed a tray and fell in line, deciding she should just get something for the girl.
A hand suddenly stretched in front of her and hastily grabbed a bag of chips from the food rack, almost knocking down the glass of orange juice in her tray and making her scowl in annoyance. She turned around to see the rude guy, and sure enough, she found out that she should not at all be surprised, considering who it was.
"House," Thirteen said. "And Lucas."
"Hi." Lucas raised a hand in a small hi gesture.
"Hi," Thirteen said flatly, then turned her back on the duo again and grabbed a sandwich, a fruit cup and a bowl of caesar salad off the counter.
Lucas, who himself was holding a tray that contained a bowl of vegetable salad and another of soup, reached for his wallet on his back pocket but he was stopped by House.
"What, you're buying?" Lucas asked, puzzled, but sure that House would never pay for his food.
"No, Thirteen is," he said in a voice loud enough for Thirteen to hear.
Thirteen sighed and without bothering to turn around and tell House off, she reached for her wallet, took out a couple of bills and handed it to the lady. "I'll take care of theirs, too."
House turned to Lucas. "See?"
"Thanks, Thirteen," Lucas said.
Thirteen picked up her tray and faced House and Lucas. House caught a glance at her tray before looking at her and returning her fake smile.
"You are so very welcome," she said, and then walked past them to find a table.
"We know!" House called after her.
Thirteen sat down and set the food down on the table. She sighed when she noticed House and Lucas approaching and moving to sit on the two free chairs on her table. She shook her head a little, deciding to ignore them and went on setting down the food. Then she sat down to wait for Marissa.
"What are we doing?" Lucas quietly asked House, who was carefully eyeing Thirteen.
"She bought food for two," House said simply. "And no one in the team likes too much greens."
Before Lucas could ask what that meant, Marissa came striding in towards the table, frowning when she saw the two men sitting with Thirteen.
"Wow," Lucas whispered to himself as Marissa came nearer.
"Hi," Marissa said to Thirteen with a questioning look.
"Hey," Thirteen greeted back. "I got you a salad," she said casually, as if there was nothing weird going on.
Marissa scowled in confusion. "Thanks." She glanced at House and at the guy she didn't recognize before turning back to Thirteen. "Are you guys still in a conference or something?"
"No," House said, flashing Marissa a smile. "We thought we'd join you for lunch."
Marissa caught Thirteen's eye. The brunette just shrugged helplessly, so she took the last empty seat. "Okay…"
"Hi. Lucas Douglas." Lucas held out his hand and Marissa politely shook it.
"Marissa."
"Marissa," Lucas repeated. "That's a beautiful name."
Both House and Thirteen looked at him. House's expression was one of amazement, while Thirteen's was of displeasure.
"I like your jeans," Lucas ventured as he looked on, seemingly mesmerized by the newcomer. House expression turned to amusement as he looked between him and Thirteen. Thirteen's scowl only deepened.
"Thanks… I guess," Marissa replied, unsure.
"What—" Thirteen let out in an even and low voice but obviously annoyed manner as she glared at Lucas, "—did you just say?"
Her sharp tone immediately drew Lucas' attention from Marissa and to her.
"He said he likes her jeans," House answered for Lucas. "It's less creepy if you say jeans instead of legs," he explained matter-of-factly.
Thirteen glared at Lucas. "Of course it is."
"Wait," Lucas said, finally coming out of his trance. "She's that Marissa?" he asked House.
"Does the menacing glare Thirteen is giving you right now really still makes you think otherwise?"
A smile appeared and played on Marissa's lips, but she hid it well.
Lucas looked back at Thirteen. "I should go."
"That's too bad," Thirteen said, not really meaning it.
"Those philanderers and grief-stricken best friends aren't going to investigate themselves," Lucas continued. "But thanks a lot for letting us share the table. And for lunch."
"You're welcome," Thirteen said with a small insincere smile.
Lucas nodded once and stood up. "Nice meeting you," he addressed Marissa. "Catch you later, House."
"Told you it sounds more gay when you say it that way!" House called after Lucas before he was gone. He caught the sharp look Thirteen was giving him. "Not that I have anything against..." he trailed off, gesturing vaguely with his hand.
Clearly. Thirteen rolled her eyes before averting her gaze from House and stabbing a chunk of apple from her fruit cup with her fork.
"No way," Marissa said incredulously. She and Thirteen were now by the clinics, happy and well-fed. The former had tagged along with the latter as they lost themselves into a cheerful conversation that revolved around House and his weird ways. "He really kidnapped Evan Greer?"
"Kidnapped and drugged him so that we could do tests for a condition that he was so convinced he had, based on symptoms he observed while watching… that soap of his."
"Prescription Passion," Marissa supplied.
"Yeah, that."
"That guy's a big celebrity. I'm surprised House isn't behind bars yet."
"Well, fortunately for House, Evan Greer did have something wrong with him, and he actually did save his life."
"House was actually right?"
"Yeah. He often is."
"Wow. He's crazy, but he's good."
"Huh, yeah. But more emphasis on crazy."
Marissa laughed. "But you know, I actually kind of like him."
Thirteen stopped. "You did not just say that," she said seriously.
Marissa chuckled and then shrugged. "He's sarcastic and a complete jerk, but he's funny. And really intelligent."
"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."
"You say that like you never use it."
"Of course I do use it, but not in ridiculously excessive amounts and not when it is unnecessary or uncalled for. House, however, practically eats sarcasm for breakfast."
"You do realize he's like that for a reason, right?"
"I'm quite convinced that's really just the way he is."
Marissa chuckled and stood closer to Thirteen, slightly leaning onto her side and unknowingly making Thirteen feel those familiar little electric bolts run up her spine again. "He loves watching you squirm. He obviously likes you."
"No," Thirteen said, slightly shakily, as she was still bothered by Marissa's weight against her side. "He likes making me uncomfortable."
"Because he likes you," Marissa repeated. "He doesn't only think you're attractive, but thinks you're also smart and funny and cool."
Thirteen stiffened. If Marissa's bare arm completely pressed against her own didn't bother her, that comment surely did.
"And you're saying that's something I should be happy about?" Thirteen said, secretly struggling to make her tone seem nonchalant.
"No," Marissa said without hesitation. "But, well," she shrugged, "can't really blame him. I kind of share the same sentiments," she said blithely before walking off and continuing towards their destination.
The fluttering that Thirteen felt in her stomach was strange and familiar at the same time. She was pretty sure the last time she felt that was when she was a burgeoning seventeen-year-old with a reputation as a toughie and a secret weakness for pretty green-eyed girls in pink. She gulped, but Marissa didn't notice.
"Oh, hey, it's Dr. Kutner," Marissa said as a guy in white approached them. "Hi," she cheerfully greeted the newcomer.
"Hi," Kutner greeted back. "Hey, Thirteen."
Thirteen snapped out of her thoughts and gave Kutner a nod. "Hey," she finally said.
"It's nice to see you two are friends again."
Marissa just smiled and Thirteen looked away, uncomfortable.
"So anyway, I'm thinking a proper introduction is in order now that you two are back to being friends."
Thirteen glared at him, but she eventually backed down and turned to Marissa. "Marissa, Kutner," she gestured to each of them with her hand as she said their names, not even bothering with the formalities. "Kutner, Marissa."
"Hi," said Kutner and he held out a hand. "Call me Lawrence."
Thirteen rolled her eyes. Kutner either didn't notice or didn't care to do or say anything about it.
Marissa smiled, and then took his hand and shook it. "You can call me Marissa."
"Nice to meet you, Marissa."
Kutner and Marissa let go of each other's hands.
"So," Kutner said as he turned to his co-worker. "Cameron, Chase and Foreman are asking if we want to go out for drinks tonight. Taub's already said yes."
"Um…" Thirteen shrugged indifferently. "Okay."
"Great." Kutner smiled. "You know, you should go, too," he declared as he turned to Marissa.
"Oh, um, are you sure? I mean, it would be you and people from work, right? I really don't want to intrude."
"No, you won't be intruding anything at all. It's just a little get-together, detoxification from work. I promise it won't have anything to do with doctor stuff. Anyway, you're Thirteen's friend, so… We don't mind."
Marissa looked at Thirteen, silently asking what she thought.
"Come on," Kutner urged. "The more the merrier."
Thirteen shrugged. "If you want to go…" she said to Marissa.
Marissa smiled. "If you're going to be there…"
Thirteen treaded between the tables and the people that, like her and her companions waiting for her and Marissa, have taken a break from work and gone out to enjoy Friday night at the bar. Marissa was following behind, her hand gently gripping Thirteen's forearm.
"Hi there," greeted Cameron as she noticed the two girls approach their table. Chase looked up behind him and saw Thirteen and Marissa. He stood up to let them slide into the booth. Then he walked over to an empty table, pulled out a chair for himself and carried it over to their booth before sitting down on it.
"Everyone, this is Marissa," Thirteen introduced her to the people sitting in the booth.
"Hi," Marissa said with a smile.
"…Marissa, this is Cameron, Chase," Thirteen pointed at them as she said their names, "You know Foreman and Kutner… and that's Taub."
A series of hellos were said and Marissa gladly returned them with her own set of hi's and a friendly smile.
The night went on as the group drank and engaged into friendly chatter.
"You think House is upset by her decision?" Foreman asked no one in particular after the subject of House, Cuddy, and her upcoming motherhood came up. "He's been deflecting even more than he usually does ever since he learned that Cuddy's adopting a kid."
"'Course he's upset," Chase commented in a bored tone before popping some nuts into his mouth. "Even I can see that and I couldn't care less about House's personal life."
"I actually feel a little bad for him," Cameron said as she played with a nearly empty glass on the table, her chin cradled in her hand. "He probably thought he'd always have Cuddy where he wants her and now that she's decided to give motherhood a try… Now it wouldn't just be the hospital and House she's going to have to pay attention to…"
"House doesn't like Cuddy paying attention to him," Kutner pointed out.
"Yes, he does," Cameron said. "He just acts the opposite of what he feels."
"You're saying House isn't really a total ass?" Taub asked in a bored voice.
"He is, most of the time," agreed Cameron. "But it's his way of protecting himself. He's in pain."
"And he's jaded," said Kutner.
"And crazy," said Foreman.
"And a total ass," said Taub.
They all chuckled.
"So anyway, enough about House," said Chase. "Why don't we talk about Marissa here?" he suggested.
Marissa smiled. "I'm not as interesting to talk about as House is."
"House doesn't seem to think so," Taub said.
"Yeah. Care to share why that is?" Chase said.
Marissa shrugged. "It's not really me he's interested in," she said, glancing at Thirteen, who was staring blankly at the table in front of her.
Everybody looked Thirteen's way.
"Who are you really, Thirteen?" Chase asked after a short moment of silence among the group.
Thirteen sighed, wishing they wouldn't make so much fuss about her. There already was House for that.
"You're never going to tell us, are you?" asked Kutner.
"No, but look at the bright side: you could always just hire a PI," Thirteen said.
"So isn't Dr. House coming?" Marissa asked suddenly and Thirteen was thankful to Marissa for taking the spotlight away from her.
Kutner shrugged. "He said he's going to be here."
"He's probably waiting for Wilson to finish his duty," Cameron replied before picking up her martini glass and drinking from it.
"Yeah, 'cause he'd be totally outnumbered with all of us here," Chase said.
"All of us never stopped him before," said Foreman.
"Not when we're at work and he gets to act like the boss."
"Which he is," Taub pointed out.
Chase nodded. "Yeah, exactly. But this isn't work so he won't be the boss here. And that's why he needs Wilson to keep him company around us. Otherwise, we are so getting him whipped."
"Who's Wilson?" Marissa asked Thirteen curiously as she tried to keep on with the subject.
"His best friend," Thirteen replied. "He works at the hospital, too."
"Wilson is like, the Serena to House's Blair," Kutner told Marissa.
"Hey!" a loud voice boomed, making all of them turn their heads to the door where the voice came from. "Why does Wilson get to be the gorgeous, leggy blonde while I get to be the manipulative, scheming bitch?"
"Well, that's really kind of obvious, isn't it?" Cameron said, smirking.
Wilson appeared from behind House. "I guess I'm supposed to take that as a compliment," he deadpanned.
"We thought you weren't coming anymore," Kutner said to the two men.
"And miss this?" House pulled a chair and sat. Wilson followed suit. "Are you kidding? We wouldn't miss this for the world," said House.
A waiter immediately approached their table to take the orders of the newly-arrived men.
"Two tequilas," House said, not bothering to ask Wilson what he wanted.
"I got to leave work early…" Wilson told the other people on the table. "Thought this could be fun."
Kutner opened his mouth but House immediately interrupted.
"How could someone be a fan of Star Trek and Gossip Girl at the same time?" House asked Kutner.
"I'm not a fan of Star Trek or Gossip Girl," Kutner replied.
"Yeah right, closet sci-fi/schoolgirl-drama fan boy," House said. He turned to the other doctors before Kutner could say anything else. "So tell me, guys, what did we miss?" Nobody replied. "Has there been any girl-on-girl action yet?"
Everybody except Thirteen, Marissa, and Kutner looked confused.
"Who are you—" Chase began.
"No, Chase, I wasn't talking about you and Cameron," House said before Chase could finish his sentence.
Chase scowled, Cameron rolled her eyes, Foreman shook his head, and Kutner and Taub both stifled a laugh.
"So much for us doing the whipping," Taub muttered before downing the last few of his beer.
House looked at him. "Whipping? There were whips involved?"
Thirteen let out an exasperated sigh.
House turned to Wilson. "I told you we should've come earlier."
"What are you talking about?" asked Foreman.
"You don't know?" House asked them. "Didn't Thirteen—"
"No, I didn't," Thirteen immediately cut him off. "Can we not talk about me here, please?" she said, frustrated now that House opened up the topic about her and Marissa again. She didn't want thing to get awkward between the two of them again.
"Now there's the answer to your question, Chase," House said.
Everybody on the table, except Marissa, looked at Thirteen again.
"Do you not have anything better to do than screw with me again tonight?" Thirteen asked House bluntly.
"No, sorry," House replied. "It's Friday."
Thirteen arched a brow at him.
"The L Word isn't on."
Thirteen rolled her eyes, and then stood up. "I'm gonna go get a drink." She went off to the bar, not wanting to participate in House's game all night.
"So." House turned to Marissa. "Do you like brunettes who turned blonde, too, or do you just like blondes who turned brunette?"
"I'm going with her," announced Cameron as she, too, stood up and then followed Thirteen.
A waiter carrying a tray came to their table and placed two shot glasses in front of House and Wilson. House picked one up and raised it in front of him in a toast. "To a Friday night full of fun and lots of tequila." House downed the drink in one gulp.
Everybody else raised their glasses wordlessly and followed House's lead.
"Ah," House breathed out. "More tequila here, please!" he called on to the bartender.
Some minutes and more empty shot glasses later, Thirteen and Cameron still weren't back and Marissa was getting bored and worried. Foreman, Chase, and Wilson were engrossed in a conversation she didn't know, nor did she care, what was about, and Taub and Kutner were also involved in their own discussion that initially included her, but she gradually lost interest in.
House only half-listened to a comment Wilson had made about the Super Bowl as he watched Marissa looking around as if in search of something or someone. For several minutes he just kept on watching Marissa as he drank more liquor and made sporadic remarks throughout their little sports chatter.
A large and rowdy group of customers soon stood up and left the table near the bar, allowing Marissa a view of Thirteen and Cameron sitting beside each other on the high bar stools at the other side of the bar, facing her.
House saw Marissa visibly tense up and her expression slightly but still noticeably soured at whatever she was seeing. House slightly turned around in his seat, to see Cameron leaning towards Thirteen and saying something into her ear. Marissa's scowl only deepened even further when she saw Thirteen chuckle at whatever Cameron had said.
House turned to Marissa again, and lowered his voice a little as he asked, "Jealous?"
Marissa, not taking her eyes off the two women at the other side of the bar, who were both smiling broadly at each other, replied, "Why would I be?" She blindly reached for the glass of vodka that she had only sipped out off for a couple of times and downed it in a single, quick gulp. She slammed the glass on the table and eyed the House's still-full glass of liquor. "Are you gonna drink that?"
"No, go on, I don't—"
Marissa didn't wait for House to finish. She grabbed the drink and guzzled down the liquid. The substance burned her throat, but it soon warmed her body pleasantly. She slammed her second glassful of alcohol on the table and breathed out.
"More?"
She nodded and House waved a waiter over.
Roughly an hour later, Marissa had drunk about as much as House did, which was really saying a lot.
She scrunched her face as she downed yet another shot of vodka.
"Wow," said Wilson. "I've never even dreamed that a young woman like her could hold down her alcohol as well as House does."
Kutner looked at Marissa. "Hey, haven't you already had enough?" he asked House, his eyes on a heavy-lidded, flushed Marissa.
"I haven't." House shrugged. "Have you?" he asked Marissa.
"No," Marissa said.
House's lip curled up into a small smirk. "I like you."
A lazy smile was all Marissa offered as a response.
"Some more vodka?" He picked up the bottle of vodka, which Marissa had helped pick, and then poured some of its contents into Marissa's glass.
Marissa grinned. "The feeling is mutual."
"Okay, she has had enough," Foreman said as he stood up. "Nobody sober or in their right mind is going to say what she just said." He walked off towards the bar and found Thirteen.
"You're friend said she likes House," Foreman told her.
Cameron let out a small laugh. "Better get her now."
Thirteen stood up and went over to the group's table. "Marissa, what are you doing?"
"Drinking," Marissa stated the obvious before she drank yet another glass of vodka.
"Bottom's up," House said as he raised his glass in a toast and then quickly downed some himself.
"That's enough," Thirteen said. "I'm calling Summer." She dug into Marissa's purse and took her phone before turning to Foreman and saying, "Would you mind looking after her for a minute? I'm just going to call her friend and ask her to bring her home."
Foreman shook his head. "Go on."
"Don't let her drink another sip," Thirteen instructed him before walking off and dialling Summer.
"Hello?" Thirteen's voice came into the phone. "Alex?" Summer asked.
"Yeah, it's me."
"Couldn't you have waited a few more hours to call and accept my invitation to go shopping? I mean, I love shopping, Alex, but it's like—" Summer glanced at the clock of Ryan's car, "—almost an hour past midnight."
Thirteen smiled despite herself. "I'm calling about Marissa."
"Why? Something happened with Coop?" Summer asked, on the verge of panic that Thirteen called her at one in the morning about her best friend. Ryan, who was beside her driving, instantly perked up and looked at her with unmistakable concern etched in his face.
"No, no, it's just… things got a little out of control and she… got drunk."
Summer sighed in relief. "Oh, I thought something awful happened."
Ryan relaxed and looked back to the road, relieved that Marissa was alright.
Thirteen's brow quirked at that comment. Summer had said that as if it was nothing out of the ordinary, like it was something that happened more than occasionally. "Do you think you could come here and pick her up? I mean, I know where she lives and I could take her home myself, but I'd really rather not leave her home alone in her condition."
"Oh…" Summer paused and shot Ryan a sidelong glance.
"Summer?"
"Um, Alex, I actually can't," Summer said slowly.
"Oh, are you in the hospital right now? Maybe you could send Seth?"
"No, um…" Summer said slowly, acutely aware that Ryan's attention was divided between the road and her phone conversation. "Seth's publisher called up and he had to go to an emergency meeting. And I promised Sarah that I won't leave her alone, so…"
"Oh."
"Yeah," Summer said. "Listen, could you please take Coop home? I'd really, really appreciate if you do that for me," she said. "Or maybe it'd be safer for Coop and more convenient for you if you just, let her sleep it off at your place?" she casually suggested.
Thirteen moistened her lips and glanced at Marissa, who was scowling at something House had said. "Um… I…"
"Hey, I need to go now. But thank you so much, Alex!" Summer said hurriedly and flipped her phone shut before Thirteen could protest.
"No, Summer, wait!" Thirteen looked at her phone, annoyed that Summer had hung up on her. She ran a hand through her hair and paced a couple of steps back and forth once. She sighed loudly, hating that she had to do what she was going to do.
"What was that about?" Ryan asked the girl in the passenger seat. "Is Marissa okay?"
"Yeah, she is," Summer assured him. "She just got drunk. Again."
"And what did you tell Alex that you were in the hospital for?"
"Well, I…" She paused. Ryan was her friend, too, and she didn't want to hurt his feelings.
Summer was saved from having to answer when Ryan's phone rang. With one hand still on the steering wheel, he picked up the phone that was lying on his car's dashboard.
"Marissa?" he uttered the name that appeared on his phone's screen shortly before he brought it to his ear. "Where are—?"
"Ryan, it's Alex."
"Alex," he repeated, confused. Summer looked at him and listened carefully. "Um… What's up?" he said slowly. "Is everything okay?"
"Actually, no. Marissa kind of drank too much, and… I was wondering if you could come here at the bar and pick her up and take her to her apartment."
"Um…" Ryan looked at Summer, who was looking at her curiously. "I…" He looked away from Summer and swallowed. "…can't."
"I'm at my office right now and I really can't get away," he explained when he didn't get a response from the woman at the other end of the line. "Sorry."
"Oh…" Thirteen frowned. Ryan? Really?
"But, I mean, she's okay, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, she's alright."
Ryan nodded. "Good, well…" He swallowed again. "But, Alex, um… You'll take care of her, won't you?"
It took Thirteen some time to answer. "Yeah," she said finally.
Ryan nodded, knowing she will. "Good… Thanks."
"…Yeah." Thirteen shut her phone and turned to face her inevitable demise.
In Ryan's car, Summer was looking at his friend, who was driving silently through the near-empty road back to her and Seth's home. "Why did you do that?" Summer asked softly.
Not looking at Summer, Ryan clenched his jaw and willed himself to focus on the road, which wasn't really necessary considering that the road was virtually empty.
He took time as he thought it over. Finally, he voiced out his answer. "I have no idea."
Back at the bar, Thirteen grabbed Marissa's elbows and pulled her up. "Come on, I'm taking you to your apartment."
"But we're not done drinking," protested Marissa.
"Yes—" Thirteen heaved "—you are." When Marissa finally gave up trying to wriggle off her grasp, she placed an arm around the girl's waist and led her out of the club. "We're leaving," she said to her colleagues.
"Drive safely," Cameron called after the two women. Everybody else bid them goodbye.
"Have fun," House said, smirking to himself before taking a swig right out of the liquor bottle.
"Marissa?" Thirteen shook the girl who was passed out on her passenger seat. "Marissa, we're here."
"Mmm…" Marissa grumbled groggily.
Thirteen sighed, debating her next actions. She sat silently inside her car for a long moment before she finally arrived to her decision.
Sighing, she turned the key on her ignition and stepped on the engine.
"Oomph." Thirteen caught Marissa just in time before she fell off sideways to the pavement as she unbuckled the girl's seatbelt and opened the door of her car. "Come on, Marissa." She pulled Marissa up, slung her arm around her neck and held her by the waist.
The two girls finally reached the door to Thirteen's apartment. Thirteen let go of Marissa's hand, keeping Marissa stable by holding her by the waist, and fished inside her jacket's pocket for her keys. Marissa was not heavy at all, but Thirteen had a terribly difficult time looking for her keys considering the girl was now collapsed in her arms, her face buried on her shoulder.
"She's not damaged," Marissa slurred against Thirteen's shoulder and dangerously close to her neck. Or at least that was what Thirteen managed to comprehend. Thirteen had absolutely no idea what that meant, if it was even indeed what Marissa had said.
Finally, Thirteen found her keys and managed to open the door. She half-carried, half-dragged Marissa across her living room and into her bedroom. With some difficulty, she was able to release herself from Marissa's strong hold and lay the girl down on her bed, but not before Marissa murmured something barely intelligible against her neck. She shook her head slightly in an attempt to shake off the fluttering feeling that she immediately felt in her stomach once Marissa's lips grazed the skin of her neck and said something that sounded an awful lot like "I love you." She took one deep breath and decided not too dwell on it too much; she herself was slightly buzzed from the alcohol she also had after all.
She removed Marissa's jacket and gently laid her down. Once she finally settled Marissa down on her bed and made sure she was warm and comfortable under her covers, she ran a hand through her hair and went to the bathroom to change.
After changing into her comfortable clothes and brushing her teeth, she grabbed the pillow that Marissa's wasn't using from the bed and went to the living room. She placed the pillow on the couch and fluffed it, and then walked to the corner to turn on the heater.
Her hand abruptly stopped in mid-air when she remembered something. She closed her eyes.
Oh, shit.
*Song lyrics by Sam Beam ("Passing Afternoon")