Thanks Jackie c2. Yes, I have seen the spoilers…can't wait for Monday. Actually, I really can't wait for the finale. And then ugh…nothing new for all of summer. All I know is that I have never wished a weekend would go by as fast as I wish this one would (that's a lot of "w's" in one sentence!). As always, thanks for reading and reviewing! Incredibly, the stats on the first chapter hit the 10,000 mark yesterday. Holy cow.
Chapter 29
House paced outside the boardroom, waiting for word on his fate. Some time prior, Cuddy poked her head out and asked Brian to step inside, not giving House any indication as to how the meeting was going. He was tempted to wait it out with Mia, but he knew Cuddy would have a conniption if he was no where to be found the next time she checked the hallway.
He stopped pacing and thought about the whirlwind his life had become in the past two months. House wasn't quite sure how he had gone from his usual every day self to falling in love with an infant who was not his own (not that he ever wanted children, he still thought they were a nuisance, messy, noisy, smelly…Mia was the exception of course), to willingly visiting one of Wilson's patients and the biggest shock of all, this…thing…with Cuddy. House paced again, though now not because of what might be going on behind that closed door, but because he suddenly realized that he had no idea what he was doing with Cuddy, or Mia, or Sean when it came down to it. Sure, he was content at the moment; maybe not happy in the truest sense of the word, but content. House knew his contentedness couldn't possibly last, it never had. For a faint second, he argued with himself, imagining what might happen should he accept his contented state, accept that Cuddy did love him, accept that he might be a good thing for Mia and Mia for him, accept that Sean would die but that his life was meaningful. But experience had taught him that life doesn't throw lemons at you, it pelts them and the best thing to do is throw them right back. Lemonade as a euphemism sucked and there in that hallway, the ravages of doubt slowly began eating away at the edges of his content.
"House?" Cuddy asked for the third time, "House, the board is ready for you."
House brought his attention back to the present and looked her in the eye before following her into the board room. House passed Brian at the threshold, and the two nodded slightly in passing.
"Dr. House please, take a seat. We are here to discuss your disciplinary action regarding Mr. Brian Peterson, in regards to the incident yesterday. Would you care to give us your version of the story?"
"I hit him." House said annoyed.
The proctor looked at him, expecting a more detailed response and when he didn't receive one he continued, "Very well. Fortunately for you, Mr. Peterson will not press charges and has specifically informed us that it was a simple misunderstanding. He requested that no punishment be given." House visibly relaxed. "However, according to hospital policy, we cannot allow such an unprovoked attack to go unpunished. It is the opinion of this board that you shall be suspended for the remainder of this week and all of next. At the request of Dr. Cuddy, you will be allowed to visit the NICU and the NICU only. You are not to treat patients during this time, nor loiter in this hospital in any capacity. Upon your return, you will be placed under probation until this board is satisfied that your actions no longer pose a threat to any person who walks into this hospital."
House sat stock still, with an heir of disinterest.
"It has also been brought to our attention that you are dating Dr. Cuddy, and while we do not prohibit relations between staff members here at Princeton Plainsboro, we do require that it not affect your daily responsibilities to this hospital. Do you have any questions?"
"No."
A short while later, House stood alone in the NICU, watching Mia sleep somewhat restlessly, after having scrubbed in and performed a basic exam.
A nurse approached him, "Dr. House? The phone is for you, it's Dr. Wilson."
He nodded, rubbed Mia's foot and walked over to the nurse's station, picking up the phone, "Ya?"
"Thought you'd like to know Sean's going home today instead of tomorrow."
"Why?"
"His dad couldn't get tomorrow off, so he's coming today. I thought you might like to meet him."
"Not really."
"I'm sure Sean would like to see you."
With a sigh House said, "I said goodbye to him yesterday."
"It's up to you."
"I can't, I'm only allowed in the NICU, remember?" House said, anger creeping into his voice.
"I don't think they included the outside entrance, did they?" Wilson paused while thinking before saying, "It's probably best if you don't push it. Lunch later?" Wilson asked.
"You buying?"
"You eating?"
Despite his growing frustration with the day, House smiled at his friend's words, "How about the deli around the corner?"
"See you at noon House."
"So, what are you going to do for the next week?"
"Catch up on my soaps."
"How's Mia?"
" Her O2 stats are still down, fever. No better, no worse."
Wilson sighed, shaking his head, "When it rains it pours."
"What?"
"You really have no clue, do you?"
"Sorry, haven't exercised my telepathic muscles in a while."
"Cuddy's hands shook the entire time at the board meeting. Her stress levels must be through the roof."
House leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. He hadn't noticed. He had been so deep within his own thoughts that he hadn't seen anyone else in that room, least of all the woman he was supposed to love, the woman who relied on him, who needed him. He shook his head, not knowing what he was supposed to do or how he was supposed to feel.
"House?"
"Can you give you give me a ride?"
"Did you even hear what I just said?"
"What do you want me to say? No, I didn't notice. Now will you take me back to my place? I would walk you know, but my cripple card states friends can act as chauffeur."
"What friends?" Wilson quipped, hoping his playful attitude would bring House out of his mood.
"You're not my only friend. Kutner, Thirteen or Taub would drive me if I asked." House said, recognizing the lack of validity in his words.
"We both know you wouldn't ask, you'd demand and they'd only comply because you employ them." Wilson said, egging House on.
"Harsh." House said with a hint of a smile touching the corners of his mouth.
Hoping his mood had lifted somewhat, Wilson tried again, "She's worried about you, Mia, the hospital."
"Jeez, I haul off and hit some guy once and everyone thinks I've lost my mind. It won't happen again. I know she's stressed, okay?"
Not wanting to push it further, Wilson quietly said, "Okay."
House sat on his couch, head back, snoring lightly with the television turned off. The screen on the laptop was dark after the battery died hours earlier, an empty beer bottle lay haphazardly on the floor next to the couch and an array of medical journals and magazines were scattered on the couch, coffee table and floor. Half an afternoon into his solitary confinement, House was already bored.
The knocking at the door made him wake with a start, "It's open."
"You shouldn't leave your front door unlocked." She said.
"I'm a big boy." House said, not opening his eyes.
Cuddy walked around the couch and sat next to him, placing one hand on his bad thigh and her head on his chest. Flinching initially at her touch, House settled back into the couch and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Do you know how much I worry about you?"
"You shouldn't."
"I can't help it."
"I don't want you worrying about me."
"House, you punched out a patient yesterday. Why won't you talk to me?"
"We are not having this conversation."
"Why? Why not? I'm good enough for you to sleep with, but not good enough for you to talk to?"
He took in a deep breath, "You know you mean more than that."
"I don't know that I do."
House pulled her in closer, "I don't know how to make this work."
"You don't have to make this work, just let it happen."
The two sat together, arm in arm for nearly an hour before House felt Cuddy begin to shake. Her trembling grew into a stifled cry, which evolved into choking sobs. House knew what was coming next.
"Dammit Cuddy, you stopped taking the lorazepam, didn't you? Didn't you?" He received no response. She was moments away from holding her breath, which House knew preceded the faint. He eased her onto the couch as he stood, storming over to where Cuddy had thrown her purse and he rummaged around in it, pulling out the full prescription bottle he had given her.
Walking back over to the couch he held up the bottle, "Why? Why would you do this? You're having a panic attack, come on breathe, calm down." He tried to get a hold of his own angered voice. It didn't work.
"No, don't hold your breath." He said, pinching her cheeks to force the air out of her mouth but it was too late, he watched Cuddy faint yet again. He placed her head on the couch and lifted her legs onto the opposite end, propping them up with a pillow and sitting down on the coffee table, waiting for her to regain consciousness.
"House? It's late."
"Do you have Bob Cranson's number?" House half whispered into the phone.
"I uh…why?" Wilson said, groggily.
"Cuddy let him off the hook and is trying to work and keep an eye on Mia. She stopped taking the lorazepam."
With a sigh Wilson said, "She fainted again?"
"Yes."
"Ya, I have it here somewhere. Give me a minute."
"You lied to me."
"They were giving me migraines." She said, trying to focus her eyes.
Mocking her, he said, "So what, am I only good for sex? I'm not good enough for you to talk to?"
Raising a hand to her forehead, she closed her eyes, "Please, don't do this."
"Come on." He said, standing up and extending a hand to her.
"No."
"You need to sleep."
"Not here."
"No. Now you don't do this. Get up off your double wide administrator backside, put this on," he said, handing her one of his t-shirts, "And get into bed."
Cuddy stood and walked towards the bedroom, and turned back to see House sitting on the couch, "What are you doing?"
"Sleeping out here."
"Shut up and get in here. I'm not sleeping in your bed alone."
"I could call Wilson." He said with a smirk.
"You could, but your bed isn't big enough for three." She said, smirking back at him.
They sat down on either side of the bed, House on the right, Cuddy on the left and they stared at each other briefly before lying down.
"No funny business, and I don't want to cuddle." She said, lying on her side, her back facing him.
Inching up next to her, mirroring her body with his, he wrapped his arm around her waist, "I don't either."
"Just as long as we have that straight." She said, placing her arm on top of his and interlacing her fingers in his hand.
"Go to sleep." He said, yawning.
"You first." She said, unable to keep her eyes open.
"What time is it?"
"Ten."
"You let me sleep in that long?"
"Lay back down, I'll drive you in after lunch."
"I have a meeting in thirty minutes."
House propped an elbow over his pillow and rested his head in his hand as he looked at her, "No you don't."
"Yes I do." Cuddy said, refusing to look at him.
"No. You don't."
"What did you do?"
"Bob Cranson's got it covered."
"I told you already, I sent him home."
"And last night I told him that you decided to take the time off to be with Mia and he was more than happy to fill in for you."
Cuddy sighed, "You had no right."
"The second you fainted on my couch, gave me every right."
"I'm fine."
"I want a CT scan of your brain."
"My brain is just fine."
"That's questionable."
"Funny. I'm having panic attacks, can't imagine why after nearly losing my child, having an egotistical, maniacal, sarcastic, manipulative, annoying…"
"Hey, who says I'm annoying?"
"And the most aggravating boyfriend who can't keep his fists to himself…"
"That would be singular, only one fist."
"Is it any wonder I've had more panic attacks in the last two months then I've had in the last ten years?"
"I still want the scan."
"I don't…." Cuddy was cut short by the phone ringing.
"House." He answered, "No, scan his gut and run a tox screen….No, use Cuddy's cell to reach me. Bye."
Cuddy looked at him sharply, "And just what was that about?"
"Nothing."
"Are you….treating patients?"
"Again with the singular thing. Just one patient."
"You're suspended."
"Would you rather my patient die?"
Cuddy pulled her chin back, pausing. "Well, no but if you get caught…"
"It isn't inconceivable that Foreman could come up with the tests on his own. No one will know."
"And why didn't he then?"
"He's looking in the wrong place."
"I…oh fine. Don't tell me, I don't want to know."
"Go get ready, your brain has an appointment with Wilson and I've got a date with Mia." Cuddy looked at him clearly annoyed.
"Do I have to drag you there?"
"Kicking and screaming."
"Oooh, so can we do the caveman thing when we get back home? You woman, me man."
She stood up from the bed and looking over her shoulder, she said, "In your dreams, neaderthal."
