CHAPTER 20
Later that evening, after the doctors got all the samples they needed to run their tests, Leah, Jaymie and Billy were leaving the hospital when Dr. Wilson suddenly came out of nowhere. "Dr. Rogan!!" She turned and smiled when she saw him bounding over to her. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"I mean…" He pointed to the young couple who were watching them. Wilson leaned forward and whispered, "…in private."
"Is everything alright?"
"Of course, of course. I didn't mean to alarm you."
Leah looked at the couple then nodded. "I'll meet you guys outside." They nodded and left them standing by the doors in the lobby, outside the clinic. "What's up?"
"I was wondering if…maybe…" Wilson fidgeted just enough to catch Leah's attention. "…if you had a date for the fundraiser. If not do you want to go with me?"
Leah was completely taken aback. That was not what she was expecting. "Ummm…that was very sweet of you to ask…"
"…buuuut…??" Wilson prompted, his face showing the beginning of disappointment.
"…ummm…" Why are you stalling?? Here's an idea: if you want to annoy House then I would suggest going with Wilson…and make it look official. Leah suddenly stood tall and resolute. "Ok Dr. Wilson. I'll go to the fundraiser with you."
This also threw Wilson for a bit…but only a bit. He suddenly smiled all of his pearly whites and nodded. "Excellent! Good. Then it's settled. Cuddy said the party starts at 7:00; how about I pick you up at 6:30??"
Leah nodded. "I'm staying at Lisa's."
"Great. I'll be there with the best tux money can rent."
She laughed. "Ok. Will I see you before then?"
"Probably."
"Umm…" Leah began then stopped.
"What?"
"Should we tell Dr. House? Or wait until we get there?"
"Well…" Wilson certainly didn't want to tell her he'd already told House he was going to ask her; that would make it sound like he was bragging. Which he wasn't. Right? "…why don't we wait until we get there?"
"And what if he asks me?"
Wilson shook his head. "He won't. He's got way too much pride and he's still furious with you."
Leah didn't know why but that really hurt her feelings. Ok, maybe she DID know why; she just didn't want to admit it to anyone, especially herself: she wanted House to want to ask her. She wanted that traditional stuff from him. Leah wanted House to pine for her. Silly woman; she should already know traditional won't happen. And that House doesn't pine. "Ok. So…I'll see you later?"
Wilson smiled, his deep dimples infecting Leah with their joy. "It's a deal."
*****
That next morning Cuddy and Leah took a taxi to Jaymie and Billy's hotel to pick them up, which would take all of them to the train station. "What do you think it could be?" Leah asked Cuddy as they rode in the back.
"Whatever it is House will find it. You can trust him."
And she did. "I know I can. And I do…from a medical standpoint anyway. I know he's brilliant and will take care of her. But…what if it's something serious? What if it means I'll lose her just like I lost Jake?" Cuddy didn't have an answer for her. Leah paused. "Lise, what really happened to Greg's leg? I know that…"
"Wait, you just called him Greg. Was that endearment?"
She shook her head. "Hardly. At the clinic we call each other by their first names. I just slipped into that habit I guess. I know his leg was an infarction but did his old girlfriend really order the procedure while he was in a coma?"
Cuddy nodded. "But how did you know?"
"House, like I've said before, is a legend in the medical community. Information about his leg has spread far and wide. And I'm going to assume that he hasn't forgiven her, just like he will forever stay mad at me."
"Not forever…" Leah gave Cuddy a doubtful look. "…ok, fine. He will stay mad at you but if you make it up to him…"
Fortunately for Leah they pulled up to the hotel at that moment and Lisa didn't finish the rest of that statement. It didn't mean she wasn't thinking about what she knew was the answer. Leah knew exactly what Cuddy meant. She just didn't want to think about it.
*****
"Lisa, why did I agree to go to this??" Leah asked as they settled in the train that would take them to Penn Station in New York City. "I mean, going to New York for a dress for an event in three days? And there's something wrong with Jaymie…"
"I'm feeling ok Mom," Jaymie whined from her seat beside Billy. They were across the aisle from Leah and Cuddy. "The doctors said I could come with you. Besides, I've got two top rate doctors with me. I'm fine. I wouldn't miss New York for the world!" She squealed and looked at Billy. "Who'd have thought that we'd end up in New York City, the city that never sleeps?? It's just too wild! OH! I've gotta call Stacy! She'll FLIP OUT!!"
Billy rolled his eyes. If he hadn't really, really wanted to see New York, he wouldn't have gone. This was a shopping trip and he was never too keen on watching his wife hand over the credit card. It really didn't matter that they were loaded; it was the principle of the thing. "Didn't you already call Stacy last night??"
"I tried Stacy but she wasn't home."
"Oh brother," He muttered underneath his voice.
Leah, for all her problems of late, had to laugh at the couple. Oh to be young again. "I'm surprised Dr. Wilson asked me to be his date. I don't need a date; the fundraiser's in my clinic's honor. I'm even more surprised I agreed." No you aren't; you aren't surprised. You did it on purpose just to piss House off. You're becoming just like him.
"Did you expect House to?" Cuddy asked as they pulled into the long-term parking of the train station.
"No; I didn't expect to be asked at all. I mean, I wasn't expecting anything. It's just that I don't know Dr. Wilson. We meet once then suddenly he shows up and wants me to go with him?? I mean, how was I supposed to take that?"
"Like the drop-dead gorgeous, available woman that you are." Cuddy smiled and they sat back as the train pulled from the Princeton Junction station. "Relax, have fun. We're going to some of the best shopping on the face of the earth; why quibble over details?"
"Details?!?!" Leah exclaimed as she looked at Cuddy. "These aren't just 'details'; the best friend of the man I screwed over…"
"Literally!"
"Thank you Jaymie!!" Leah rolled her eyes. "…just asked me to this fundraiser." Leah thought for a moment then her eyes widened. "I bet he asked me just to get even with Dr. House! I knew there was an alternative motive!"
"Leah…" Cuddy closed her eyes and sighed. "…I will say this as nicely as I can: shut up and enjoy the ride. We aren't talking about it anymore."
But Leah couldn't get her mind OFF of it…
*****
"Now," Cuddy began as they grabbed their gear and stepped off the train at Penn Station. "The key is to stay with me. I come to New York many times and am very familiar with the city. We can go to Bloomies if we want but my favorite is still Saks Fifth Avenue. And this location is the best; how do you think it got its name?"
"What's Bloomies Aunt Lise??"
"That's Bloomingdales. They're a New York staple."
Leah looked a bit worried as they boarded the escalator to take them to street level. "Saks is expensive. Remember we'd go in there when we were in high school in Chicago and just dream about the outfits we could buy?"
"Yes, but you are very important now and this is a very important moment for you and the clinic. You need to look smart, sophisticated and incredibly sexy. For that you need an expensive, designer dress."
"Mom, you don't spend money on yourself; it's time you bought yourself something very nice."
"Exactly; just listen to your daughter. Now…" they arrived on the street level and Cuddy, handing her bag to Leah, easily found them a cab as they were waiting by the curb for those brave enough to handle the ride. "4th and Greenwich please." Cuddy looked at Leah. "Becky lives in Tribeca."
"Oh, you mean where Robert DeNiro lives??"
"Well Billy…she's never mentioned him. But she makes great money as an architect and she only works blocks from her apartment. It's a few miles from Saks so I thought we could drop our stuff off then go. How does that sound?"
"YAY!"
Billy sighed. "Well, no complaints from Jaymie."
*****