Lucas climbed into the Mercedes and looked over at Simon.
"Well?" The lawyer prompted.
Lucas sighed. "Sorry man, she's like content about getting back to House," Simon looked disappointed. He pulled out his wallet and handed over a couple of hundreds. Lucas took them from his hand. "Cheers," Lucas said.
"You're an idiot," Simon said. "I thought you were smart when I hired you,"
"Well, I'm not," Lucas replied. "House figured that out when he hired me to spy on Wilson."
Simon turned. "You didn't mention that," He said.
"Didn't think you were interested," Lucas shrugged.
"Like I said," Simon sighed. "You're an idiot," He started the car and they drove off.
…
House sat beside Stacy, uncomfortable in his suit. To the other side of him; Wilson was seated. Foreman, Chase and Cameron also sat around. Cameron looked uncomfortable being seated next to her ex-husband, especially when she was showing her bump so proudly to the rest of the world. Aside from these recognizable faces, the table was filled to boiling point with lawyers and judges. Seated opposite House sat Simon and Lucas.
House pulled at his tie feeling suffocated. Stacy hit his hand.
"Sit still," She ordered.
He looked up at her. He didn't answer.
"Alright," Said one of the judges. "Let's get this over and done with. We are called here to review Dr. Gregory House's parentage status whether or not he is capable of continuing as a Doctor and as an adoptive father to one of Rachel House." She pulled her notes further. "This tribunal will determine whether this case moves to court." She sighed and opened her note book. "Seated at the chair," She dictated. "is Harriet Shearer. Mr Wells, can you please describe your distresses."
Simon sighed. "My daughter, Rachel Wells was taken from me when she was barely a month old. She was adopted by Dr Lisa Cuddy after her mother Natalie died. I was not permitted to see my daughter until she came of age and I could be held as a responsible adult."
"Rachel Wells?" Shearer asked. "In the paperwork it says 'Rachel House'."
"After Dr Cuddy died, she left guardianship with Greg House," Simon explained.
"If Dr Cuddy left her adoptive daughter in the care of Dr House, she must have had good reason," Shearer said.
"She did." Simon replied. "She loved House."
Shearer nodded. "Continue,"
"Dr House has previous against his name. I always wanted to remain within my daughters' life, but he never permitted me to," Simon said. "Then a few months ago he called me up to explain to me that he had told Rachel about her real parentage. He wanted to meet me."
"And you did?" Shearer asked.
"Yes, he was abusive and flaunted his drug addiction. He also provoked and angered me, and before he left, he assaulted me."
Shearer turned to House. "Is this true?" She asked.
Stacy spoke up. "Dr House wishes to express his regret at this. He admits to himself that what happened on May 28th was a mistake. He also wishes that his infarction be taken into consideration,"
Shearer held up her hand. "I've heard enough," She said, turning back to Simon. "Mr Wells,"
"Furthermore to this, I have been battling for years to have Dr House be taken from his post for his abusive nature in his practice," Simon said.
Shearer turned back to Stacy and Co. raising an eyebrow.
Foreman leaned forward. "Dr House's practice is under my charge. He does not pass anything until he has come to me. True, his methods may seem extreme, but he has saved more lives than hurt them. Though his brutally honest approach may be annoying, it gets the answers he needs to treat patients."
"So you acknowledge House's manner in his practice?" Shearer asked.
"Yes, but he is a valuable resource," Foreman said. "I'd trust him with my life,"
Shearer frowned, her lips pursed. She sighed and glanced towards Simon then towards her notes. "It also says that you accused Dr House of sexual and physical abuse. But it was cleared by a Dr Lauren Connor and Dr Robert Chase." She took off her glasses. "Now, one of you is lying."
Chase raised his hand timidly. "I'm Robert Chase," He said.
Shearer looked at him. "Yes dear, I kind of guessed."
Chase cleared his throat. "After a physical examination by Dr Connor, I reviewed the case notes and examined Rachel myself."
House shifted uncomfortable at this new piece of knowledge. Stacy looked over at him.
Chase paused watching his former boss. "It was concluded that Rachel had had no sexual experience of any kind."
"And this Dr Connor," Shearer said. "Is she a reliable source?"
Chase nodded. "She has been a part of my team for three years, she's very truthful and can only be described as a severe moral compass always pointing in the right direction."
Shearer looked at Stacy.
"A full psychological exam took place with Dr Elise Stone. She also concluded that though Rachel was slightly bizarre, she had no psychological damage and was in fact incredibly bright." Stacy said.
"Bizarre?" Shearer asked.
"Well, Rachel's not like other kids. She likes older music, books and she doesn't have much friends."
"No friends?"
"She describes that friends are 'a vain attempt to prove yourself worthy in the world… A boring and almost sinister thing to be influenced by their very presence'," Stacy smiled. "She is very much like her adoptive father in this sense."
"But children need friends," Shearer said. "That's how we survive in high school and eventually college."
"Oh she has friends," Stacy smiled. "She just doesn't make them her top priority."
"'She' has a name," House growled miserably under his breath.
"Okay, Dr House's drug abuse towards the substance known as vicodin?" Shearer asked.
"Dr House was addicted to the pills whilst treating Rachel's real mother Natalie," Simon said.
"Did you actually see him take the drug?" Shearer asked.
Simon looked at his feet. "Not exactly."
"Then how do you know he was addicted?" Shearer asked.
Simon rifled through his notes. "Dr House was admitted into rehab in early 2007 and then again when he entered Mayfield psychiatric hospital,"
"Whoa, Dr House you failed to mention that you had been admitted into a psychiatric hospital." Shearer said.
"A side effect of using vicodin along with the persistent torment on House's mind after his employee Lawrence Kutner's suicide is to begin to hallucinate. The stress also brought back memories of the bus crash in which Dr James Wilson's girlfriend Amber Volakis and gave Dr House tremendous guilt, though he had little to do with her passing." Foreman said.
Shearer nodded. "So, Dr House was admitted to Mayfield? Was he successfully weaned off the vicodin?"
"Yes," Cameron said. "But his pain had been increasing dramatically over the year. He is know back on the pills but he has limited himself to one a day,"
"This is ridiculous," Simon said. "How can you be sure that he is only taking one a day?"
"Because," Cameron said, turning a steely gaze to the 29-year-old. "I am the one who gives him his pills."
"And you work…" Shearer skipped a few pages. "At the Mayo clinic in New York?"
"That is correct," Cameron said. "But I have left to take on a new position alongside Dr Foreman as administrator to Princeton Plainsbro,"
House turned and looked at her. How come they never told him? Stacy was undeterred by this.
"I would also like to point out that Dr House has severe in his right leg due to an infraction he had in 1999." Stacy said.
"Yes, yes," Shearer said. "I have reviewed the notes. Mr Wells what is the real reason for you to accuse Dr House?"
Simon looked confused. "Haven't you been listening?" He asked.
"Oh," Shearer said. "I've been listening. I'm just trying not to think that all of what you said isn't bullshit."
"How dare you!" Simon raged.
"The truth, Mr Wells," Shearer prompted.
Simon folded his arms looking over at House. "Greg House took my daughter when I should have been passed guardianship. He took her away and corrupted her."
"Real reason, Mr Wells," Shearer said.
Simon looked over at her. "She is my daughter." He said finally. "I love her..." He smirked at House. "The money ain't that bad either," He said under his breath, so low that only House could hear him.
House looked at Simon. "What?" He asked.
Simon glared at him. "Don't look at me like that. You would have done exactly the same in my position."
"What?" House asked, his brow furrowed. Hadn't anyone else heard that? He looked around wildly at Stacy, who was staring intently at Shearer.
Shearer sighed. "My peers and I will convene. We will discuss whether or not this can go to full trail and let you know in a short while." She picked up her notes and left. House stood up and limped away. Stacy quickly gathered up her things and rushed after him.
As ever, appreciate your reviews!