Chapter 6 Part 2 -RATS

The next day I got up early and started the laundry. I checked on 101 and 102, the identification numbers I gave to my rats. I cleaned their cage and then fed and watered them. I went upstairs and heard the shower. Greg was up.

He came out to the living room. "Good morning. Would you like me to make some coffee or breakfast?"

"No, I need to get going." He grabbed his keys and took off.

I couldn't help but think that his whole demeanor had been brusque and cold to me. He usually asked me what I was going to do for the day, but hadn't.

I walked into the kitchen and realized that Greg had forgotten the lunch I had packed for him. I looked outside and the weather was reasonably warm for the beginning of March. I desperately wanted to get out of the house so I decided that I would take him his lunch.

Once the wash was done, I ran down and put the clothes in the dryer. I wanted to dry my new track suit so that I wouldn't have to wear the paint stained sweat pants. I rushed back up and got cleaned up. I combed my hair and looked in the mirror. I didn't have any makeup, so my eyes were rather blah. Still, I waited a few minutes and then rushed downstairs to get the dry clothes. I got dressed and realized that my shoes were still the cardboard slippers from the hospital. They were in very sorry shape and I thought that maybe I could pick up a new pair when I got there. I put on a pair of Greg's white socks, ten sizes too big and was ready to go. I grabbed his lunch and took off in the direction of the hospital.

I had to continually ask people along the road where the hospital was. I got a few odd looks because of my shoes and the fact that I didn't have a coat. I was in my track suit and I had grabbed one of Greg's throws from off the couch and was wearing it to keep warm.

I arrived at the hospital and went up the stairs to the second floor where Greg's office was located. I looked inside but the only person around was a young woman eating her lunch at the table in the adjacent office.

"Hello?" I smiled broadly.

She looked me up and down. "Uh, clinic is downstairs."

"No, I'm looking for Dr. House."

She looked back at her food and reading materials, "Dr. House doesn't see patients directly."

"Oh, I'm not a patient, I live with him." I said confidently.

Her head jerked back and she looked at me with round eyes and her mouth wide open. She eventually asked, "You live with him?"

"Yes. Do you know where I can find him, I have his lunch."

"He went down to the cafeteria with Dr. Wilson and Cuddy."

"Oh dear. I'm too late. Well, I'll drop it off and he can eat it tomorrow."

I asked where the cafeteria was and then made my way to the first floor. I walked in and looked around. I saw Jim first. He had already recognized me and was waving me over. Greg turned around and I saw him close his eyes in disappointment. There was a woman at his table too.

I went over to the table, "Hi."

Jim stood up to let me into the booth. "Marie, have a seat. Let me get you something to eat. How did you get here?"

"I walked."

I recognized the woman as the Mater, Lisa Cuddy, "You walked eight miles in those shoes and without a jacket?"

"It was fine."

Lisa smiled at me, clearly unnerved by my presence, "Last time I saw you, you were a patient. How are you doing?"

"I'm better, thank you."

"Where are you staying?" she asked.

I saw some hand movements from Greg, but I ignored them, "With Greg."

Her mouth dropped and she looked scathingly at Greg. "You're staying with Dr. House? In his apartment?"

"Yes. He did take me to a shelter, but he was kind enough not to leave me there. I try to earn my keep by cleaning house and cooking."

"Well, I'm sure it's been quite an education, living with House." she was shooting stern looks at Greg.

I saw a look of horror go through his face as he anticipated my reply, "Well, I guess I have learned a lot. He gave me different alcohol drinks to try and then he had sex with me, but it wasn't very pleasant. He informed me that it was because it was my first time, but I'm not sure."

His shoulders collapsed and he closed his eyes, waiting for something to happen. Lisa Cuddy turned to him, "House, can I speak with you?"

House looked over at me and gave me a look of disappointment. He left the room with Cuddy.

I turned to Jim, "Did I say something wrong?"

Jim looked like he was in pain, his mouth taught and his forehead wrinkled, "We don't normally talk about having sex in front of a group. Plus, House really shouldn't be having sex with you."

"Why? I was the one who suggested it? I'm an adult."

"Yes, but a doctor shouldn't take advantage of someone who's sick."

I shook my head, "I'm a doctor, I'm not sick. I'm not a patient."

He looked repentant, "Oh, I didn't mean to suggest..."

Greg came back into the room and said nothing.

I looked at House, "Let me explain to the Mater that I was the one who suggested the sex."

He sighed, "Please, you've done enough. Why are you even here?"

"I brought you your lunch." I held up the bag.

Jim looked at House and then back to me, "You walked eight miles to bring House his lunch?"

I shrugged. It did sound silly.

"House, why don't you buy her some shoes?" Jim asked.

House looked at him like he was a total idiot and then got up and left. Jim was embarrassed. He turned and gave me a sweet smile.

"Let me give you a ride home."

"Thank you. But I'd rather walk, could you please give him his lunch?"

He said very softly, "Sure."

I walked through Plainsboro towards Princeton, I had pinched a new pair of slippers before I left the hospital. These had a back to them and looked more like shoes. It had turned chilly and I rushed back to the apartment as fast as I could. I made dinner, but Greg didn't come home. I was tired from my sixteen mile hike and finally went to bed at 10:00 pm. I'm not sure when he finally got home because I didn't hear him come in. The alarm went off and I could feel him get up. I forced myself to get up and go out to the kitchen to see if he wanted anything.

Greg looked at me up and down, "You need to get a shower and get dressed."

"Are we going somewhere?"

"To the hospital."

I had a bad feeling about this, a very bad feeling. "Ok, I need to go downstairs and see if I left a pair of panties in the dryer. I'll be right back up."

I went down and took care of my rats, leaving them some extra food and water. I came back up, took a shower and dressed in the sweats since my new track suit was dirty and back in the dirty clothes hamper.

He drove us to the hospital in the sedan without saying a word. He was sullen, his brow slightly furred, his eyes slightly narrowed. We arrived at the hospital and he walked inside to his office without saying a word or acknowledging anyone. He picked up the phone and dialed someone. "This is House. We're here." He hung up, met my eyes briefly and then looked back down at his desk.

"Greg. Why am I here?" I asked.

The young woman that had been in the outside office opened the door, "House, Mr. Johnson was transferred to Dr. Jefferson's care this morning. His wife was down here wanting to thank you."

"Great." He said it facetiously.

The phone rang and House answered. He had a short conversation and hung up. He looked at me, "Come on, we're going upstairs."

I followed him as he pushed a button and waited for the doors to open. The two mechanical doors opened and Jim was inside. He looked surprised to see us.

"Where are you two going?"

Greg pointed up and then took his thumb and made a line across his throat.

Jim's face dropped. "I'll go with you. Good morning Marie, how are you today?"

I was starting to tear up. I was very afraid, but Greg wouldn't talk to me. I grabbed his sleeve, "Greg, why am I here? Where are we going?"

The doors closed and I realized I was in a transporter of some kind. We ended up on the fourth floor where we all got out of the transporter. I looked at the sign and saw, "Rehabilitation" with an arrow going to the right and "Psychiatric Ward" with an arrow to the left. We went to the left.

He finally said something, "The Mater says you need a psych evaluation."

He stopped. Jim and I followed both stopped too. We were all standing in front of two locked doors when two men opened them with a card. They were both rather large males and dressed in a green tunic and pants. They came out and, at first, gently took my arms. I turned to Greg, "Please Greg, why are men touching me? Please don't let them touch me." My voice started to waiver and I tried to not cry.

"Calm down. They're really teddy bears. They won't hurt you."he said.

I started to struggle, which I guess was the wrong thing to do because then they grabbed me tightly and started to drag me through the thick metal doors. I was terrified and kept crying out for Greg's help. He said and did nothing but watch as they dragged me through the locked doors and down the corridor. We went through another set of doors and I lost sight of him.