Later that day, House was sitting outside on one of the benches with Logan in his arms. It was a nice day out and Logan was feeling a little better, so he figured he could do with some fresh air.
Logan was looking up at the sky where a bunch of birds passed by flying. "Look, Daddy. Birdies!"
"I see," House said with a yawn. He was exhausted. He hadn't slept great since Logan began chemo.
"They've been gone a long time," Logan said.
"That's because it was winter and they don't like the winter, kind of like you," House said. Logan hated the winter. He hated to be cold. While every other kid in the world liked to play outside when it snowed, Logan preferred to be inside where it was warm. It was something House was grateful for because he didn't like the winter either. His leg always hurt more in bad weather.
"Too cold," Logan said.
"The birds agree. They don't like the cold, so they fly to where it's warm," House said.
"We should do that when it's cold," Logan said.
House chuckled. "It's a little harder for people to go away than it is for birds."
"Daddy? Do we live here now?" Logan asked.
"At the hospital? No. People don't live in the hospital, well, not usually anyway," House said.
"How come we're staying here all the time then?" Logan asked.
"Well, hospitals are where people stay when they're sick so they can get better. You're sick and we need Doctor Wilson's help to make you better," House explained the best he could.
"Why am I sick?" Logan asked innocently.
House sighed. "I don't know why. Sometimes people get sick and we don't know why. Right now we just have to make sure you get better," House said.
"Will I get better soon? I don't like it here," Logan said. He missed being in his own bed and having all his toys. He wanted to go home.
House didn't speak. He just held his son tighter. He didn't know how to tell the little boy that it would be a very long time before he got better, if he ever did. No, he would get better. There was no other possibility in House's mind. Logan had to get better.
House soon felt something hit his leg. He reached down and picked up a small ball. He looked over to see where it came from and locked eyes with a little girl headed his way.
"Sorry," the girl said as she made her way over to them.
House quirked an eyebrow at her. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that you shouldn't play ball in a hospital."
"Yeah, but we're not in the hospital. We're outside it," the girl said with a smirk.
"Huh. A loophole. Nice. Still, the mean old lady who runs this place won't like it. You don't wanna get on her bad side," House said.
The little girl laughed. "Yeah, I know."
"Ah, so you do this often. I'm guessing you belong to someone who works here. Shouldn't you be in daycare then? Or better yet, shouldn't you be in school?" House asked.
"It's a half day," she said before turning her attention to Logan. "Is he sick?"
"Well, he is in a hospital. Oh, sorry, outside the hospital," House said good naturedly.
"Daddy says Doctor Wilson's gonna make me better," Logan spoke.
"Oh," the little girl said wide-eyed. She obviously knew who Wilson was and somewhat how serious it was.
"Where are your parents, kid? Shouldn't someone be paying attention to you?" House asked. The little girl looked like she couldn't be older than seven or eight, not old enough to be wondering around a hospital by herself.
"My mom's working. My babysitter brought me here, but…"
"But you gave her the slip," House said with a knowing smirk.
She blushed. "Yeah, I guess. She has to go somewhere, so she brought me here. She's gonna bring me to Daycare with those little kids. It's so boring."
"So you're making her chase you. Good for you," House said.
"What's his name?" she asked as she looked at Logan.
"My name's Logan," Logan chimed in.
"Hi. I'm Rachel," the girl said.
House froze. This was Cuddy's kid. Cuddy was going to flip her lid she found her daughter talking to him. "Maybe you should go find your mom, kid. I don't think she'd want you talking to… a stranger."
Rachel shrugged. "Mom says strangers can steal kids, but you're not gonna steal me. You've got your own kid."
House rolled his eyes at the seven-year-old's logic. "Yeah, well, you never know."
Just then, a woman who looked to be in her mid to late twenties came their way. "Rachel, what did I tell you about running off? I'm so sorry, sir. I hope she wasn't bothering you, sir."
House didn't answer her one way or another.
"Come on, Rachel. I have to get going soon," the woman said.
Rachel sighed unhappily. "Bye. I hope you get better, Logan."
"Thank you," Logan said.
"Rachel," House called out just as they started towards the entrance to the hospital. He waited for her to turn around and then tossed her, her ball. "I thought you might want that back."
"Thanks. Bye," Rachel said before being led inside by her babysitter.
"You know, anyone listening might think you're nice."
House turned around to see Wilson there. "Eavesdropping like a little girl again I see."
Wilson walked closer to them. "Hi, Logan."
"Hi, Doctor Wilson," Logan said before yawning and snuggling against his father's shoulder.
Wilson sat down next to House. "You know Cuddy's not gonna be happy."
"When is she ever happy? The kid approached me. When she told me who she was, I tried to get her to leave," House said.
Wilson chuckled. "You never were any good at that. That little girl was always on you like glue, even though it made no sense whatsoever. You just couldn't shake her.
"I could sure shake her mother though," House said under his breath.
Wilson heard him, but decided not to comment. Instead, he looked at Logan. The little boy had fallen asleep in his father's arms. "Looks like someone was tired.
House looked down at his son. "Yeah, I know how he feels."
Wilson sighed. "You really need to get some sleep, House."
"Yeah, well, that doesn't seem to be in the cards right now, does it?" House asked dryly.
"Well, you need to put it in the cards. You can't help your son if you're exhausted," Wilson said before pulling a set of keys out of his pocket. "Look, he's asleep now. Why don't you go to my place and get a few hours."
"I'm not leaving my son," House said immediately.
"House, you need to sleep, and not in some cot in a hospital room. Look, I'll keep an eye out for Logan. I don't have much to do right now. Please, House, go. Your son needs you at full strength," Wilson said.
House was very reluctant. "If I'm not here when he wakes up…"
"If you're not and he gets upset, I can call you," Wilson said.
House still wasn't sure, but he really was exhausted and the need for sleep was getting the better of him. Finally, he took the keys. "Alright. I'll bring him back to his room and then I'll go.
"I'll do it. With how you slept last night, you shouldn't be lifting him anyway," Wilson said before standing up and holding his arm out for the little boy.
House moved his arms to allow Wilson to take him. "Careful."
Wilson carefully took the boy into his arms and headed for the entrance.
