Chapter 27
Our reason co-exists with our insanity…
House contacted the doctor that had sublet his apartment and gave him notice. Actually, the timing was good, as the man had just decided to move in with his girlfriend, so he agreed to be out before the end of the week.
The next day when House went to work, he sought out Wilson.
"How do you feel about going shopping with me this weekend?"
"Shopping? What are you shopping for?"
"Baby stuff."
"But you've got loads of baby stuff."
"I don't have it at my apartment."
"At your…oh, damn, House, what did you do?"
House sat back on the sofa and sighed. "Jimmy, my boy, are you ready for a story?"
"A…what?"
House then began to tell him of his agreement with Victoria and why they got married.
Wilson looked confused. "But if you're getting that money to walk away from her and the baby, why do you need baby supplies?"
House thumped his cane of the floor a few times. "Because I broke the agreement."
Wilson considered this and quickly realized what he meant. "Oh, you can't give up the baby."
House shook his head.
"And she's still giving you the money?"
House gave him a withering look.
"Oh, you gave up the money to get the kid. Wow, House, that's amazing."
"So, are we on for shopping on Saturday?"
"Sure."
On Saturday morning, House and Wilson walked into Babies 'R' Us. Wilson immediately grabbed a cart and started looking at the aisle names, pulling out a list he had gotten from Cuddy of what they would need. House found a rocking chair and immediately sat down.
Wilson went up and down the aisles, selecting items. He came back to House to show him things and get his opinion, but after getting nods and grunts from his friend – and finding him asleep the fourth time he came back – he gave up and just made the decisions himself.
When he was finished, he brought the cart back to House and said, "I got everything that was on the list. You've been sitting here. Isn't there anything you want to get for your daughter?"
House leaned back and considered. "I like this rocker. Let's get this."
Wilson just shook his head. Finally, House rose from the chair and they moved to the cash register. When he saw all of the things that Wilson had picked out, his eyes widened.
"That's going to cost me a fortune!"
"Babies are expensive."
"Well, don't you think her godfather should help out?"
Wilson rolled his eyes. "I was planning on paying for the crib. Will that help?"
The crib was one of the higher priced items, so House liked that idea. "Yes, it will. Thanks, Uncle Jimmy."
He pulled out his credit card and paid for the rest of it. When they were finished, they transported it all to his now vacant apartment and dumped it. Wilson wanted to start setting it up, but House disagreed.
"I don't want to look at baby stuff anymore today. Let's go to the bar, get a beer and a sandwich and watch the game."
"What game?"
"Doesn't matter. There has to be SOME game on."
"You realize you're are going to be looking at and dealing with baby stuff and the baby herself every other weekend for the unforeseeable future."
"Yep. Which is why I want to go to the bar now."
Wilson smiled and nodded.
Over the course of the following week, with Wilson doing most of the work, they got all the baby equipment put together and set up in House's apartment. It was a bit crowded, but it fit.
"You know," Wilson told him. "Eventually, you're going to have to get a larger place."
"Why?"
"You can have her crib in your bedroom now, but what happens when she's older and needs a bed? She can't share with dad all her life."
"I'll think about that later."
"One of your life's mottos." Wilson grumbled.
House glared at him. Then he went back to Victoria's to wait for her to present him with a custody agreement.
