Chapter 21
House's favorite nurse's aide showed up as his chauffeur, much to his chagrin. Wilson had gotten him dressed and ready as he wouldn't allow any of the nursing staff to touch him. The aide parked the wheelchair next to the bed, waiting for her cue to help him up.
"Dr. Wilson's got it," House grumbled.
"I could use some help. You're not the waif you used to be."
House realized soon enough that he was pretty unsteady. "Since you're my right hand man, you get that side. You, short woman, come over here and let me use you for balance."
The aide offered to place her shoulder under his, but House had to do it his way. He placed his palm on the crown of her head, turning himself into the chair. Wilson practically dropped him into the seat.
"You were a great help," House glared at his friend. He turned to the aide, who was rubbing the back of her neck. "You…were pivotal."
She snarled at him.
Wilson cocked an eyebrow.
"She's hot for me," House explained.
The aide unlocked the wheels and started rolling him at a brisk pace.
Wilson had to hustle to keep up. "Uh, that thing doesn't have a seat belt," he called out.
"All the better to dump him out once we hit the parking lot," she teased.
"You're just a ray of sunshine, aren't you?"
"Compared to the storm cloud that's you, I am a rainbow."
"I bet you stayed on just to torture me."
"Nope. Went home and had a good night's sleep. Then, unfortunately, I drew the short straw this morning."
Wilson snorted with laughter.
"Not funny," House shot him a warning look.
"Yep, I'm missing out on your big going away party the nursing staff is throwing."
Wilson had to cover his mouth with his hand to hide his laughter.
House took a deep breath of fresh air as they approached the passenger side of Wilson's car. "This is where I get off. I wish I could say it was a pleasure."
Together Wilson and the aide maneuvered him into the passenger seat. The aide shut the door and waited for Dr. Wilson to get in. She motioned for him to roll down House's window.
"You haven't told him, have you," she smiled evilly at House. Before Wilson could react, she finished. "Who do you think is going to be taking care of you at home? See you there," she winked and blew him a kiss.
Wilson covered his laughter with a fake coughing spell.
"You didn't," House looked desperate.
"I bet Arkham's looking good right about now," James said as he drove off.
Roz waited on hold for Detective Taylor to answer her call. Another sleepless night forced her to take action, even if it was only from the safety of her own home.
"Taylor," a gruff male voice answered.
"Sorry to bother you, detective. It's Roz Alonza."
"Is everything okay," he jumped in sounding a little anxious.
"Yes, yes. I was just wondering-"
"Miss Alonza, we are doing everything poss-"
"So he's still out there." She didn't want his admission to catch her off guard.
"We're still following some leads," he tried to sound hopeful. "I heard you were released from the hospital."
"Yeah," her voice betrayed her uncertainty.
"Try not to worry so much. We've beefed up patrols in your neighborhood and around the hospitals."
"I'm sure you're doing everything you can," Roz tried to sound optimistic.
"You sound anxious. It's to be expected, I suppose. I wish I could say something that would allay your fears, but aside from him being in custody or dead; I don't think there's anything that would work." Detective Taylor understood her better than she would realize.
"Thank-you," she nodded absently.
"You can't be too careful. Even if the assailant seems to have fled, you should still be aware of your surroundings. Keep the doors locked, the dog close and stay with groups of people. If you absolutely have to walk alone, carry pepper spray."
"Thanks for the advice," she said somberly, even though she felt like the edges of her world were folding in on itself.
"Home at last, home at last. Thank God I am home at last."
"Curb your enthusiasm, Dr. King." Wilson was trying to pry House out of the car when Mabel came out to help.
"Great the whole gang's here," Greg grumbled.
"I wanted to have things set so you could come home and rest."
"Once we get you settled in, I'll be out of your way," Mabel offered.
House stood at the bottom of the stoop and stared up the stairs steeling himself against what he knew would be torturous and humiliating.
"No sense standing out in the cold. I've got some hot soup waiting for you if you're hungry."
"Great…soup," he muttered.
"Be nice," James hissed.
House shuffled across the threshold into the apartment feeling the full weight of his injuries. "I gotta sit," he confessed.
Mabel kept one hand on him while hooking a chair with her foot to bring it closer. "You catch your breath."
"You look like hell," Wilson admitted.
"Good, I look better than I feel." He felt his sore ribs. "What moron released me?"
"You threatened everybody involved. So technically, you released you. They marked your file AMA."
"That was smart of them."
Roz stopped off at the corner store and found herself buying a pack of cigarettes. "You got any matches," she asked as the cashier changed her twenty. She pocketed both in her jacket and left. She wasn't really sure why she had bought the smokes. She had quit a long time ago. Maybe it was just something to do: her mind telling her to get out and live a little. When she got home, she tossed them in a junk drawer in the kitchen.
House was finally settled into bed when Mabel brought him soup. He was quite surprised to see that it was not a clear, boring broth. She had pureed a variety of vegetables into a hearty meal that made him feel full faster than he thought possible.
"Yummy," he smiled.
"I'm glad you like it," Mabel took the tray away and tucked him in. "You should get some rest."
"I like you will you be my new mommy," he mumbled, stifling a yawn.