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Chapter 29.

On Monday, Dee began to prepare some of the food for Saturday, things that she could freeze and then defrost or reheat just before the dinner. This meant that House, Colin and Addie were treated to tastes of samosas, moussaka, and key lime pie along with their dinner every night that week.

Wilson was doing the same, and brought samples to the hospital for House, Cuddy and Dee to try. House was rather enjoying being a taste tester.

He decided that he also had preparations of his own to make for the event. He needed some good (read scathing) material to use as MC for the contest. For the preliminary rounds, he'd had little information to go on to prepare for his comments on each act. He'd trusted his usual spontaneity. But now he knew pretty well what to expect. Acts like Brenda's flamenco and Thirteen's French horn just called out to be mocked. His eyes smiled as he thought about what he could say.

But this enjoyable planning activity was rudely interrupted on Wednesday by Cuddy, who slapped a file onto his desk and demanded that he and his team treat the man, then turned on her stilettos and left.

House's displeasure was evident. He just hoped it was one of those easy cases, but chances of that were low. If it were, Cuddy wouldn't have brought it to him.

Taub and Kutner were in the conference room. He saw Foreman join them. He took a quick look at the file. The obvious diagnosis was gonorrhea, but if that were the case, the Levaquin or the cephalosporin, prescribed by the man's own doctor, would have worked.

He walked into the conference room and began to list the symptoms on the whiteboard:

burning upon urination

a milky discharge

inflammation

He told the others that gonorrhea had been ruled out. "So, whadda we got?"

"Urethritis, Kutner was sure.

"Or it could be an adenocarcinoma," Taub suggested, and House listed both of those on the board.

Foreman just stared at what he'd written.

"OK, test his urine and get some swabs."

Kutner and Taub rushed out, passing Thirteen who was entering. She about-faced and went with them. House went back to his office but not before he saw Foreman take out a sheet of paper and list the symptoms and suggestions down the right side of the page. It didn't take House long before he realized that Foreman was creating another rap song, or maybe additions to the one he'd 'sung' during the preliminaries. House smiled to himself. Oh, was he gonna have fun with the contestants!

The tests that House's team did were all negative. "So what are we missing?" he demanded, but got nothing but head shakes and blank stares.

"Taub and Thirteen, go check out his home. Kutner, find out where he's been during the past year, no, make that five years."

House went back to thinking up zingers for each of the competitors. He'd thought of some one-liners for Foreman and Chase but knew that they weren't enough.

By five they were no closer to diagnosing the patient. He hadn't left New Jersey in almost ten years, choosing to spend his vacations sunbathing and swimming at a club he belonged to. House left the team working on the case and drove home.

Dee had made one of Addie's favorites, chicken parmigiana, for dinner. She'd also made some samosas for the benefit, but wasn't sure they'd freeze well.

"I can eat them all and you can make a fresh batch on Saturday," House offered.

"Very funny!" She let him have four. Colin and Addie weren't sure they liked them, but they each ate one. "I hope the donors at the party will like them," Dee said.

"They'll love all the food. Beats rubber chicken and dried out roast beef any day," House said.

He played Sims with the kids while Dee cleaned up, but before long it was Addie's bedtime.

"Can you read me 'Little Red Hen'?" the little girl asked House.

He looked at Dee with a 'do-I-have-to' expression, then sighed and said, "All right." Dee had been reading the same story to Addie every night for over a week. He figured that, for once, he could manage it.

He soon had Addie giggling uncontrollably at the voices he used for each of the animals in the story. But when he was done, it occurred to him that now she'd demand that HE read it to her every night.

"Goodnight, Uncle Greg. Thank you!" she said, settling into her bed with Marble and Pebble, then impulsively pushing herself up to kiss his bristly cheek before lying back down again.

He turned out her light and made his way back downstairs, thinking about how connected he was becoming with Dee's kids. He knew that the relationship with Dee would likely end someday and, with that, his part in Colin and Addie's lives. Why did that sadden him? How could he ease the pain they'd feel? On the other hand, why was he even worried about their emotions? What did he care?

"Uncle Greg, can you check the sentences for my spelling words?" Colin requested when he reached the family room. Colin's voice brought him back to the here-and-now.

"What? Yeah, sure kid." It only added to his unease, but after looking at the boy's work he told him "Not bad." The sentences were longer than the ones Colin had been writing and better captured the meaning of the spelling words. "Test tube is two words, and separate is spelled s-e-p-a-r-a-t-e. It's got 'a rat' in the middle." They weren't spelling words, so House wasn't surprised that he'd made the mistakes he did.

Colin thanked him and made the corrections. It was time for him to go to bed too.

When Dee returned from saying goodnight to him, she found House working on his MC lines.

"I thought I could come up with some really snarky ones," he said. "These are all lame. Telling the audience that the closest Brenda ever came to Spain was the Spanish omelet she ate last week, or that Chase liked pulling strings, just won't do."

Dee chuckled. "You're trying too hard. You'll be so good, I bet the donors will want to vote for you instead of the contestants."

He grimaced. That was all he needed. He decided they both needed a distraction from their apprehensions about Saturday night. Not that he was really worried, he told himself.

"Enough about the benefit." He reached for her and pulled her close. She was as eager as he was to lose herself in passion. And lose themselves they did. Neither knew how they ended up in their bed, bare arms and legs entangled, bodies tingling with excitement.

Their lovemaking raised the temperature of the room several degrees. Their hunger for each other seemed to grow with every kiss, every caress and stroke. House thought his body never felt as alive as when he was with Dee. He wished this could go on forever. As they both reached the pinnacle, he heard her cry out his name, then whisper 'I love you', but he couldn't let himself say the same.

Afterwards, she snuggled against him. He rubbed her bare shoulder and kissed the top of her head. But his earlier thoughts resurfaced.

"I don't know how long this can last," he said. "I've never been one for long-term relationships."

"Greg, can't we just enjoy what we have now?"

"If it was just the two of us, I'd agree. But how will the kids handle it when it ends?"

"The fact that you can ask that means that you really care about all three of us," she told him. "You don't want it to end, and that's a good thing."

"Maybe." he said.

"I'm sure of it," she said, then kissed him. "Goodnight, Greg."

He sighed. "Goodnight."

Hours later, Dee woke at the sound of her alarm to find that she was alone. Where was Greg? He wasn't in the bathroom. She heard the children getting up to get ready for school.

Dee pulled a kimono around her otherwise naked body and headed downstairs. She was amazed to find House typing away on his laptop.

Letting out a breath that she didn't know she was holding, she asked, "Did you think of some really good comments to make?"

He looked up, smiled, but shook his head. "I think I know what's wrong with our patient. Just wanted to confirm what I thought I'd read. He has Trichomoniasis. It's caused by parasites, transmitted by sex or even from shared swimsuits and towels."

He looked so much more relaxed than he had the previous night. He'd solved his puzzle, and now his other concerns would disappear, or so she hoped.

Saturday finally came. After lunch, the kids and even House helped Dee load the food from her chest freezer into the SUV. When she was ready to leave for the hospital, she told Colin and Addie, "Be good and listen to Uncle Greg, OK? And when your dad comes, listen to him, too."

They both nodded.

"I won't be home until after you're asleep, so I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Addie hugged her, and Colin insisted, "You'll tell us all about the party tomorrow?"

"Sure," she said. She got in, started the engine and drove off as the children waved goodbye.

Dee arrived to find that the kitchen for the hospital cafeteria was chaotic. Wilson and Regina had each also brought in many previously prepared dishes. They were attempting to organize them into appetizers, soups, main courses and side dishes, and at the same time to begin to prepare the rest of the food for the event.

There were ten appetizers, ranging from crostini with dried tomato and feta cheese to sushi and sashimi to spinach phyllo triangles and more. The four soups were the vichyssoise and gazpacho that they'd planned plus a hot and sour soup that one of the cafeteria cooks had prepared and a posole that Wilson had discovered at a Mexican restaurant and worked all week to duplicate.

Half of the ten main courses were ready. They'd gotten out pots and pans, turned on stove burners and ovens to make the rest, along with a few of the six side dishes. And Regina still had to bake her peach cobbler. They had only six more hours to be completely ready.

After his mother left, Colin turned to House. "Can we play Sims again?"

He shrugged, but agreed. Super Doc was teaching the kids in the game to play poker. Colin had gotten it right away, but the big surprise was Addie. It hadn't taken long for her to understand some of the strategy of the game.

As they played, House wondered how he could prepare the kids for the inevitable time when he'd be out of their lives. They were still so young and needed both a mother and a father to guide them through the next ten or fifteen years of their lives. Dee was a great mother but she couldn't do it alone. Colin would need a male role model, but he didn't think he'd fit the bill.

"Uncle Greg? You're not paying attention!" Addie chided.

They both needed someone who would pay attention to them. He'd have to do it for now. "Super Doc had to leave to tend to a patient," he said. "He's back now."

"Well, now the kids are getting hungry for an afternoon snack," Colin said.

House chuckled. "You just had lunch." But he was happy to find them something as long as he could have a snack too.

While they ate their pudding pops, Addie asked, "What's wrong, Uncle Greg?"

She was a perceptive little thing, wasn't she? How could he answer her? Maybe it was better to be blunt now, rather than to wait until he actually left. "I'm just thinking about how much longer I can play daddy to you two rugrats."

The girl frowned. Now her brother chimed in, "You're not going to leave like our dad did, are you?"

House shrugged. "Not immediately, but someday." He watched the kids' reactions, curious to see what they'd say, what they'd do.

Addie's eyes filled with tears. "We love you, and I thought you loved us too!"

"Think again." Pause. "Your father loves you and he left."

Colin shook his head. "I don't know if he ever loved us. He just pretends to be a dad. You talk to us and play with us."

House explained, "I like to play games. You like to play games. It's been fun."

Addie burst into tears and ran off to the family room where she curled up in an armchair with her bunnies.

"Did you have to make her cry?" Colin asked before going to comfort his sister.

House should have felt relieved. Instead he felt a sudden loss.

Colin patted his sister's shoulder. He didn't know how to console anyone but wanted to try. "Don't cry, Addie. We did fine without him. We can again."

"He can't really mean it, can he Colin?" she asked him through her sobs. "I don't want him to leave, even if he doesn't play with us or read stories to me or teach us piano."

"Maybe we can do something to get him to stay forever."

"But what?" she asked.

The boy thought for a while. "I don't know, but could you pretend to be sick? Make believe your tummy hurts."

"I don't think I'd have to pretend. I really don't feel so good," she said.

"Really? OK. Wait right here." He returned to the kitchen. "Dr. House, Addie is feeling sick," he said in his most grown-up voice.

House studied the boy, trying to decide if he was telling the truth. "OK." He got up, grabbed his cane. "Let's see what's wrong with Addison Anne."

-.

Colin followed House back to the family room. The doctor examined the little girl. Other than her stomach and head hurting, the only thing wrong with her was a case of hiccups. House smirked. "That's what happens when you cry," he stated. The crying had caused her pain and the hiccups. She must really be distressed about the prospect that he might leave 'someday'. He didn't want to feel the guilt that stirred in him, because it would mean that he already cared more for these kids than he'd planned.

"C'mon," he urged. "We've got a game to finish." But first he went back to the kitchen for some ginger ale for Addie, then he helped her up. "Your stomach will be better very soon," he told her. But he wasn't so sure about her emotions.

Their game continued even though there was suddenly something lacking. They were all less enthusiastic. Colin continued to try to think of ways to keep House from leaving. Addie's stomach and head aches eased gradually, but she had trouble smiling.

After an hour or so, House said, "OK, I think we all have had enough Sims for one afternoon. Let's go play the piano."

"I don't think I want to right now," Colin replied. "Can I go to my room?"

House shrugged. "Go ahead."

"Addie, you want to come with me?" the boy asked.

She looked at House and back at her brother. It wasn't often that he invited her into his room. She nodded, took Marble and Pebble, and went upstairs with Colin.

House watched them go. His mouth twitched as he went to the piano bench and sat down. He didn't start to play at first. Instead, he tried to convince himself that he'd done the right thing by telling the kids that he wouldn't be around forever. Finally, he began to play.

You've gotta be
Cruel to be kind in the right measure,
Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign,
Cruel to be kind means that I love you,
Baby, you've gotta be cruel to be kind.

But he wasn't convinced. A half hour later, the kids joined him. They'd agreed that they wouldn't beg him to stay. Maybe if they acted like he hadn't said anything, if things continued the way they had been, he'd forget about leaving. It was the best they could come up with.

"Will you teach us to play 'The Flight of the Bumblebee'?" Colin requested. They'd been fascinated when House had played it for them the week before.

House nodded and began to teach them a scaled-down version. They were both pretty good, although they played it slower than it should be played. He finally smiled at them. "Maybe you two should have entered the contest."

Addie giggled and Colin laughed.

They were still playing the piano when they heard someone at the front door. House looked at his watch. It was 5:45 already, probably Jerk, here to take over kid-sitting duty.

Jack walked into the room and three pairs of eyes looked up at him as if he was interrupting something.

House sighed. "Guess I'll go get dressed now that your father's here," he told the kids. "Worthington, Dee left a casserole in the refrigerator for supper." He headed up the stairs.

"Hi, Dad," Colin said.

"When did you learn to play that?" Jack asked him.

"Uncle Greg taught us," Addie said. "Would you like to hear 'Heart and Soul'?"

"Uh, not right now. C'mon. I'll heat up supper for you." He glanced at his watch and then led the way to the kitchen. He found the pan in the refrigerator and then looked around for instructions. Was he supposed to put it in the oven or the microwave? For how long?

"You have to nuke it," Colin told him.

"Huh?"

"Reheat it in the microwave," Addie replied. "Press the reheat button."

"Oh, sure." Jack did as they said. Before it was done, House returned to say he was leaving. He'd thought about slipping out without saying goodbye, but decided he wanted to make sure Jack was taking care of the kids.

"You look dreamy!" Addie said, smiling at him, all dressed up in a tux.

"I was going for debonair," House retorted and she laughed.

"I've got everything under control," Jack stated.

"I can see that. Well, goodnight." House walked out to his car, got in, and drove off, but as he did, he could have sworn that he saw a car drive up and park in front of the house. The woman and two kids that got out looked like the threesome they'd met at Great Adventure.

When the doorbell rang, Addie thought that it was House coming back and she smiled and ran to open the door. But before she got there, she realized that he had a key. She slowed down and waited for her father to join her before she opened the door.

Lynnette, Lainey, and Lila stood on the front porch. The woman was all dressed up and looked beautiful, but the girls wore jeans and T-shirts and carried small backpacks.

"You found it," Jack said. "Come on in."

They entered the house and looked around as Addie and Colin studied them, puzzled.

"Why are they here?" Colin asked his father.

"Lyn and I are going to the fundraiser at the hospital," Jack explained. "The girls will be staying with you."

"But who's going to watch us?" Addie still didn't understand.

"You remember my friend Stu. His daughter will be here soon to stay with you all," he replied. Colin and Addie exchanged a look of annoyance that Jack either didn't see or ignored. "Why don't you show...uh..." He'd forgotten Lyn's daughters' names but made a stab "Lacey and Linda where the kitchen is?"

"That's Lainey and Lila," Colin remembered.

"Right." Jack turned to Lynnette. "I just made the kids' supper. Did your girls eat yet?"

"Oh, yes. I thought I'd better give them something. They're, uh, not very adventurous with food."

Colin rolled his eyes but he and Addie led the two other girls into the kitchen.

"Mom left us her chicken enchilada casserole," Addie told them.

Colin carefully removed the hot glass pan from the microwave. "Wanna try some?" he asked, despite what their mother said.

Both girls shook their heads.

"It's really good!" Addie said.

But Colin decided, "If you don't want any, there's more for us." He put a few scoops on plates for his sister and himself.

When Lyn entered the kitchen, she found Colin and Addie eating. "Your father went to get ready," she reported.

Lainey and Lila had been watching them. "Mom, do you think we can try some of what they're eating?" the older of the two asked.

Lyn was surprised, but said, "I don't know why not." She'd hoped that getting to know Jack's kids would be good for her girls and was glad to see that she had been right.