Chapter 28
The Siege
Maria Lopez was met at the airport by a barrage of press, several sober members of the State Department and the Board of Directors from the hospital. The press, looking for Finley, was hungry to find out what had happened between the surgeon and her patient in the operating room. When Finley failed to emerge from the plane speculation went wild and internet rumors began to spread that the Paraguayan government had arrested Finley for murder.
Maria was taken for 'debriefing' at the brick seventies' Federal Building in downtown San Diego. Maria swore that Dr. Doyle had done nothing wrong ; that Finley had worked longer than necessary on the President after his massive heart failure. More importantly, she had proof. "I managed to take the surgical theater video. It was our film from our equipment anyway. They removed it ; but while they were talking, I took it back."
Everyone looked at each other as Maria pulled the digital tape from her purse and handed it over to Dana Krier, the State Department's senior officer.
Dana smiled, "Oh, boy…I can make a lot out of this." She handed it to a junior officer across the table. "Get this to the lab and have a dozen copies made. Send it to the Surgeon General and once he agrees that Dr. Doyle did nothing wrong, send the remainder to cardiac surgeons at Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic, Cedars Sinai, UCLA, and Mass General. Also send one to London and ask them to have their best cardiologist review it. The remainder of the tapes bring back to me and I'll release them to the U.N. and the press once we have cardiologist all over the country claiming she did nothing wrong."
Maria spent five hours being debriefed before she was allowed to make a call back to Susan Friday. "Dr. Friday?"
"Yes?" Susan was sitting in her living room eating a fruit salad. She was waiting for House to call her and had thought the call was from him.
"My name is Maria Lopez. I'm a nurse and I work with Dr. Doyle."
"Oh, Christ. What's happened?"
Maria spent the next fifteen minutes explaining to Susan what the problem was and what Finley had said. By the time Maria hung up, Susan had already started packing. She called her father and ordered the family jet and within two hours was on her way to California with her power of attorney and all of the Friday's family power behind her.
I was taken back to the hotel and reinstated back in the same room, but before I went up, they took my cell phone and warned me not to make any international calls. My phone was restricted by the operator to local calls only. I asked to talk to the U.S. Ambassador, but that request seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. A couple of guards were stationed outside my room and instructed to follow me wherever I went. I didn't have the stomach to order any food, so I crawled up on the bed and sat staring into space praying that Susan would step up and take care of Brennon.
I was kept in the hotel, allowed to go out to the balcony and to the pool, but I was escorted everywhere I went and told not to leave the hotel. I read the newspapers which seem to indicate that I was to be indicted for murder. CNN reported that I was being held and denied access to the American Ambassador who had apparently been trying to meet with me since day one. It was a little more than two weeks into my "captivity," as CNN was calling it, that I finally saw Jack and Susan Friday at a press conference in Princeton calling for my release. My heart was beating so fast, I was praying that Susan had custody of Brennon and might hold him up for me to see, but the press conference was interrupted by a news bulletin from the State Department indicating that the American Ambassador had been cleared to see me and would be meeting with me within the hour. I turned the television off and heard a knock on the hotel door. I quickly made the bed and picked up a little, then answered. Standing in front of me was Rodrigo Chavez, our ambassador to Paraguay.
"The court hereby grants temporary custody to Susan Friday and grants permission for Ms. Friday to take Brennon Doyle back to Princeton until his mother is released and reclaims custody."
Susan clutched Brennon to her chest as she shook her lawyer's hand. There was a car waiting to take her and Brennon to the airport where the family jet waited to take them to Princeton. There was nothing more Susan could do in San Diego; she had to go back to work and it was actually more feasible for her to work for Finley's release in Princeton, nearer to Washington D.C. and the U.N. than in San Diego. Jack Friday had already started putting pressure on his sources, but for some reason, Paraguay was insisting on keeping Finley until their investigation was over. The Paraguayans now had a copy of the surgical tape that had been played on CNN and had been seen by the entire English speaking world, showing everything that had led up to the President's death. Surgeons all over the world supported Finley and expressed outrage that she was being held, but the Paraguyan government, now backed into a corner, decided that they would draw out the 'investigation' just to show the population of Paraguay that the United States couldn't browbeat them.
Susan arrived back in Princeton with baby in tow. Furniture had been purchased and had arrived at the loft before Susan had returned. It sat waiting in the hall outside her loft. She called Wilson and Paul to help her move it inside. She figured House wouldn't be much use moving furniture. After an hour and a half, everything was assembled and in place.
Over pizza the two men and Susan discussed Finley's case and then Wilson went over to the crib to take a look at the sleeping ten month old. He turned and gave Susan a strange look. "I didn't even know she was pregnant."
"It happened after she moved to San Diego. A one night stand."
"You're kidding!"
"No, but isn't he adorable?"
"I have to admit, he's a nice looking baby. I don't remember you saying anything about her being pregnant or having a baby."
"I didn't. She didn't want anyone back here to know. I think she was a little embarrassed and didn't want to give House any fodder for torture. But, in reality, it doesn't matter; she never comes back here to see me anyway."
Paul frowned at the mention of House. "House is an ass. He probably hates kids."
"No, actually House likes kids, especially babies. It's when they learn how to talk that he has problems. But, surprisingly, kids seem to like him." Wilson said.
Susan nodded as she poured herself another glass of wine. "That's true. Whenever we're around kids he seems to relate to them."
"That's because he's a big kid himself." Paul remarked.
Wilson shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "Well, that's one cute kid. I hope his mother gets to hold him soon." Yawning, Wilson walked back to gather his things. "I need to get some sleep. If you need anything, let me know."
Wilson left. Paul turned and looked Susan in the eyes. "What if she doesn't come back? What if they find her guilty of murder?"
"I'm his guardian until she returns. He's mine until then. If something happens to her I'm going to raise him."
"You'd raise someone else's kid?"
"I'd raise Brennon."
"Hmm."
"You don't sound enthusiastic. You know, I'm not asking you to help." Susan said.
"I want kids, but not someone else's."
"I didn't want any kids! But, he's different. He's Brennon and I can't abandon him."
"Don't get me wrong; I agree with you. He needs someone who loves him. It's just a little rattling." Paul said, holding up a hand to indicate she didn't have to say anything more.
"Tell me about it."
"You know, we need to talk. Talk about you, me and House. I don't think I can handle this threesome anymore."
"It's a foursome. You forgot Brennon."
"If you come with Brennon, that's fine. If you come with House…well that has two connotations doesn't it? Anyway, you get the drift."
"Yeah, I get it--no House." Susan said, her heart sinking with the realization that moment had come where she needed to make a decision.
"Yes, no House. I want all of you. If you don't want to commit then let me know and I'll be out of your life."
Susan sighed. She had expected this sooner than it had come. Surprisingly it wasn't House that had given her the ultimatum. In fact, he hadn't given her any flack about Paul. He had seemingly accepted that she had two boyfriends, two lovers, that he shared her with another man. Paul had thrown in the occasional dig, but Susan was adamant that if he wasn't ready to commit, then neither was she and he would have to accept that House was in her life. She also made it clear that she didn't expect him to be monogamous. For over a year Paul had accepted it and had dated other women, but he had slowly come to realize that he was in love with Susan and the thought of her sharing House's bed was more than he could take now.
"Paul. Right now I can't think of you or House. Brennon is my main focus and until he and I get some type of routine, it's going to be like that. So if you're expecting answers, I can't give them to you."
Paul knew that to push her now would just push her away, so he nodded. "I understand. I think I should go now so that you and Brennon can start settling in. He's a good baby, very quiet."
Smiling, Susan turned to look at Brennon asleep in the portable crib in the corner of the living room. "He's had a long day. He isn't always this quiet."
Paul smiled with his perfectly formed lips and crinkling blue eyes. Leaning in he gave her a kiss before grabbing his keys and taking off.
Susan could tell that Brennon missed his mother. After thirty straight minutes of inconsolable crying on his part and Susan trying a bottle, changing his diaper and rocking him, she finally took him into her room, laid him on the bed and crawled in beside the little creature, rubbing his tummy until he finally calmed down and fell asleep. Emotionally exhausted, she fell asleep a few minutes later.
The next morning, Susan bundled Brennon up against the cold January morning and managed to get them to PPTH without running off the icy roads. Getting out of the car she was met by Lisa Cuddy.
"Is that a baby?" Lisa asked.
Susan burst out laughing. "Uh, yeah… " She got the stroller out and pulled Brennon from the car seat, strapping him into the stroller.
"Whose?"
"Finley's."
Her jaw dropped. "Finley Doyle has a child?"
"Yes and I'm his guardian. That's why I needed the time off. I'm going to drop him off at the daycare while I make rounds and see a few patients. Luckily, I haven't been that busy."
Lisa stood staring at the baby. "What's his name?"
"Brennon."
She bent over and smiled at Brennon. "Brennon, how are you sweetie? Do you miss Mommy?"
"He does, believe me."
"Need any help?"
Susan shook her head. "I can't believe how much gear goes with having one of them."
"No shit Sherlock. If you need anything, just ask. I've got a lot of stuff up in the attic. I keep meaning to bring it in for the pediatrics' ward, to give to indigent families, but I keep forgetting."
"Thanks."
Crossing the parking lot, Susan took Brennon straight to the day care center and then went on rounds. At noon she was making her way down to see Brennon when House caught her.
"Hey, you ran off to San Diego without saying goodbye. Any news on Finley?"
"Gee Greg, if I didn't know you, I'd swear you almost sound concerned."
"I am damn it. How is she?"
Susan was nonplussed. From the wild look in his eyes, he clearly did care desperately how she was. "I don't really know. They wouldn't let the Ambassador in at first, but now I think they've met, but he's working on it."
"This is ridiculous."
"Greg, you sound really upset. It's nice to know that deep down you do care about Finley."
"She saved my life, twice. Of course I care."
"Well, if it's any consolation; I have guardianship of her son."
House reacted as if he had just been hit by a blow dart. "What?"
"She never wanted you to know because you're so cruel to her. But, since you're willing to admit that you do care, I don't think she'd mind you knowing."
House stared intensely at her. "Where's this baby?"
The fact that he had to control his voice scared Susan. "Down in day care…why?"
House took off as fast as his legs could take him. Susan, who was already headed in that direction followed behind. Bursting through doors of the daycare, House searched and found the babies, all ten of them. His eyes landed on a little boy with the beginnings of brown hair and the most dazzling blue eyes he had ever seen. The shape of his face reminded him of Finley, but the knot in his stomach told him the eyes were his.
"Crap!"
"Greg, what's going on?"
"How old is he?" House asked as he went over and leaned down into the cradle to pick the baby up.
"He was born March 6th, a little over ten months ago."
House could feel his breath catch and his heart race.
"Greg! What is going on?"
"Who's his father?"
"George something. He was a one night stand that Finley had when she got to California. She doesn't even know his last name."
"Yeah, right." House picked the baby up and held him, admiring his perfect little face, the face of a baby you'd expect on the cover of a baby cereal box. He had a look of intelligence and affability rolled into one tiny package.
"No, seriously. She doesn't know."
House plunged his nose in the neck of the child he held in his arms and smiled. He smelled like Johnson's baby powder and formula. He smelled like a healthy little baby. House turned to put him in the crib and as he did, pulled a strand of hair out of his head causing the baby to scrunch his face and cry out.
Susan, who hadn't seen what he had done, pushed House away from the crib. "What happened?"
"I think I may have pinched his finger between my leg and the crib.
The baby calmed down immediately.
House continued to stare for over a minute, saying nothing. The baby stared back, arms waving up in the air. He turned over, crawled to the crib rail and pulled himself up to have a look at House. Susan took him out of the crib and held him. House turned and left, leaving Susan wondering what was going on in his brain.
The following evening while Susan made herself a salad, the door opened causing her to jump. Holding the knife up as protection, she started towards the door. Then she heard the cane and knew it was House. He walked past her and sat down on the couch staring at the playpen as the baby played, putting rattles and toys in his mouth and pulling himself up to stand. Brennon stopped and stared back. Blue eyes meeting blue eyes.
"Greg? What's going on? Why are you acting so strange?"
House said nothing for several minutes, but continued to watch the playpen. Susan stood by the kitchen island and watched him, not sure what she should do and feeling very uneasy.
House finally turned and looked at her. "What's his name?"
"Brennon Aidan Doyle."
He nodded.
"Greg, please tell me what's going on?"
"I'm going to be taking him."
Susan started laughing. "You had me going! Whew. That was freaky."
"Susan, I'm going to file for custody tomorrow."
Surprisingly, his demeanor was dead serious. Susan started to protest, to tell him he was absurd and then the truth behind his words started to seep in. "Are you saying that Brennon is your child?"
"Yes. I have the DNA results. I pulled a hair from his head yesterday and had it checked."
"You slept with Finley?" Her voice started to rise causing the baby to look over to see what was wrong.
"Once, just once. It was just before she left—literally the day before she left."
Susan could feel the room spinning around her. She grabbed a stool and sat down. "You and Finley slept together behind my back? All that pretending to hate each other was to throw me off?"
He shook his head, but smiled to himself. "All that was me trying to deny what I was feeling for her. I didn't want to hurt you and Finley didn't either. Her move back to California was so she could get away from me. She felt guilty. While she was here we weren't lovers or anything close to it, but there had been something between us ever since you were stabbed. Both of us tried not to give into what we were feeling and we didn't until I found out she was leaving. And there's the result of our one day of carnal knowledge."
Susan looked at Brennon again. The eyes, the fucking blue eyes. How did she miss it? "So you're the married man." She said rather than asked. House looked perplexed, but Susan ignored him. "Do you love her?"
He put his hand to his forehead and bent over, resting his elbow on his knee. "I have feelings for both of you. But, I'm not going to deny it; I love Finley."
The words pierced her like a knife through her heart. House had never said he loved her, yet he could say it about Finley. "So that's why it never bothered you that I was dating Paul?"
He shrugged. "I guess. I wanted you to be happy and if Paul could make you happy then I was okay with sharing you."
"And to think I felt guilty about my affair."
"I told you it didn't really matter, that I had been unfaithful too."
"And this is what you meant?"
"Yes."
"How could Finley have your son and not tell you?"
"I think she didn't want you to know he was mine. I'm trying to tell you that Finley has been trying to keep you and I together out of her guilt and love for you."
"Some love." Susan said sarcastically. They looked over and saw that Brennon had fallen asleep.
"Susan, watch it, you live in a glass house. Finley was a good friend who made one mistake. When she realized how she felt about me, she made arrangements to leave Princeton to avoid what happened that last day. She's not perfect, but she really is a good friend."
Susan shook her head. "Christ, now I can't even look at him without feeling anger and hurt."
"Brennon?"
"Yes."
"Fine then. I'll take him now."
"No, I'm his legal guardian."
"But, you can't take care of a baby you resent. He deserves to be with someone who wants him."
"You want him?"
House let out a laugh. "Well, there's wanting and then there's wanting. I never wanted kids, you know that. But, I see her in him and I know he's mine. I can't explain it, but he seems to make what we felt for each other seem real. Yeah, I want him."
Susan broke down crying, her face smothered in her fingers. House held back but then stood up and went to her, holding his arms out. Undecided, she hesitated, but then she took a few steps forward into his arms.
"I'm sorry that we hurt you. Obviously, Finley loves you enough to give you her son in case something like this happened; she loves you that much."
"I'm sorry if I'm not exactly feeling the same right now."
House hugged her tightly. "I understand. But try not to focus on what happened that one afternoon…focus on the fact that she abandoned her life and moved back to California to try and protect you."
"You and I are over, aren't we?"
He chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't mind a quickie now and then, but I have a feeling that Paul might not approve. I had a visit from him today and he told me that I needed to make some decisions."
"Greg, I don't know if I can give you up. I've tried before. I've told myself how much I want to be with Paul, but I keep showing up at your door, don't I?"
"Maybe this will give you the push you need. I love Finley. I don't know what I'm going to do about it."
"Oh, God. It's real. You really love her. I never thought that the decision on whether to leave you would be taken out of my hands."
"It's not as if you don't have someone who loves you waiting in the wings, even if he is a Pommy."
"Oh, I know. But, you have to realize there's a reason I haven't been able to give you up. I do love you, Greg. I doubt that I could live with you for the rest of my life, but it's hard to imagine you not in my life."
He gave her a kiss on her head. "I think I understand more than you know. You're not the first woman to say that to me."
"I hate to admit this, but I can see Finley keeping you in line. When she puts her mind to something, there's no moving her."
"Yeah, I know that too."
"I'm not giving you Brennon tonight. He's content and all this moving around without his mother has been hard on the little tyke. Tomorrow you can take him for awhile, but you have to bring him back. We'll work out a way for you to have all the time you want with him. But he's my responsibility and I can't just hand him over. If you want to spend the night, you can."
"I think I'd like that."
They talked for another hour and then Brennon woke up crying. Susan made a bottle and handed it to House. "He's your son, you can feed him."
House rolled his eyes but went to the crib and picked the crying creature up. Sitting on the couch he fed Brennon while the baby gave him a stern look of suspicion. "I'm your Dad so you can relax. I'm not going to throw you out the window." He watched as Brennon sucked the bottle in earnest. "You're heavier than I thought you'd be." There was a rumble in Brennon's diaper as the boy's face turned slightly red and then relaxed. "That little shit. He just dropped a load in his diaper!"
"I've discovered that his favorite time to do that is when he's taking a bottle. There a diaper and wipes back in the guest room. When he's done with his bottle you can take him back and change him."
"Me?"
"Yes, you who claimed you were taking your son!"
"Yeah, I forgot about dirty diapers."
Despite protests and a screwed up face while he undid the diaper, House wiped and changed him, even managing not to get peed on. After snapping the onesy closed, House tickled the baby and brought out a smile revealing eight teeth.
House yelled out from the guest room. "Does Fin still breast feed him?"
"I think she said she had to stop a few months ago. Why?"
"I was just looking at these teeth and well, you know."
Susan laughed. "Yeah, I've had similar thoughts."
Eyes wide open, Brennon waved his arms around in the air.
"Is he supposed to be this awake?" House asked as he carried the baby into the living room.
"Sometimes he wakes up at night and wants to party. Kinda like you." She walked over and gave Brennon a smile. "Damn, it's hard to stay mad at him. He's such a beautiful baby. I don't believe I didn't see the resemblance."
"He is a handsome kid, isn't he?"
Susan shook her head and rolled her eyes.
