Chapter 26

Micah and Chase were standing at his door, her bags scattered by her feet. "I am going to miss you, my little Australian koala bear," she cooed, her arms circling his hips.

Chase pecked her on the nose. "Please don't call me that again," he laughed. Pulling her into a tight hug, he whispered, "Hurry back, Micah."

She kissed his slowly and enticingly as her promise that she would. "Thanks for letting Greg drive me to the airport," she said.

"It's probably better anyway," he replied with his devilishly toothy grin. "I really don't want to watch you cry over me."

They smiled at each other, passion over-filling their hearts. House knocked on the door. They said their goodbyes and she got into the car with House and Cameron. Casual conversation lasted only seconds. Micah asked, "So when are you do?"

Cameron turned around to look at her. "April," she said on a long breath. "We all have a long time to get to know each other before they come."

Micah pulled a piece of lint from her skirt. "Well, when they're old enough for allowances, I'll be demanding back payments," she said glibly.

House glanced over her through the rearview mirror, a smile dancing over his lips. "When are you coming back?" he asked.

Micah tried to hide her happiness. "There's a fall break at the beginning of October."

He steered into the airport parking lot. At the terminal, House gave her a hug. Tears stung at Micah's eyes as she told him, "I'm glad I found you."

House kissed her temple with fatherly care. "I am too," he whispered.

…………………………

Wilson looked around his apartment. Nothing seemed to have been touched or moved since he had left. Hearing the shower running, he took a deep breath. This was going to be the most difficult conversation he had ever had. He went into the bedroom and sat down on the bed.

Cuddy jumped as she stepped out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. They both flashed back to the morning that she had come back to bed after her shower when they had talked about their baby options.

Wilson's breath caught. "Hi," he said.

She stepped closer to him. "James, I am so sorry."

He looked down at his hands. "I know."

Cuddy dropped to her knees in front of him, crying. "I won't do it again. I promise."

Wilson caressed strands of her as he said, "I just want to know that you're okay."

Cuddy blinked. Her pale blue eyes were watery from tears. She had cheated on him, but he wanted to know about her well-being. Guilt washed over her again. "I'll be all right when you tell me that you forgive me."

He cupped her chin. "I never got true forgiveness when I screwed up. I always wanted it, but I can give that to you." He pulled her up and pecked light kisses all over her face.

…………………………

House was driving them back from the airport. Cameron flipped through the radio stations. He turned his head towards her, mock outrage covering his face. "Kill my patient, break my cane, but don't ever touch my radio!" he cried.

Cameron laughed softly. "Because out of all three, the latter is the most significant," she stated sarcastically.

"Damn straight," he added.

The car became quiet as they wandered through their own thoughts. After a while, Cameron said, "Maybe we should invite our parents over to dinner soon. They all are going to have to find out eventually."

His face scrunched. "Do we have to?" he asked. "Can't we just send them an invitation to their graduation?"

She smiled. "I know it won't be a pleasant meal, Greg, but we have to do it."

House nodded. Micah's words twisted their way into his head. He started to wonder if she was right. He had been thinking about it since their conversation at his apartment. House had a problem. Even though he was in pain, the Vicodin had wrapped around him like barbed wire. It was stuck to his skin. It was in his blood.

Without warning, House said bluntly, "I'm addicted to the pills."

Cameron's head whipped around to look at him. "What?"

He was so still although his eyes darted to scan the road. Cameron detected something in his face that she had never seen before. She thought it was pure fear and realization. He took a shaky breath. "I think I should get some help before the babies are born."

Cameron's jaw dropped. But she never had time to answer him.

"Greg!" she screamed, her eyes bulging as she stared at the large truck headed straight for House. Metal squealed. There was a loud crunch as the vehicles smacked. The last thing Cameron heard was House calling, "Alley," painfully before the world went black.

TBC