Sorry it has taken me so long to update again! Life at home has been keeping me busy enough I just haven't had the time. Darn that having to keep my house in running order! Anyway, thanks to some bad weather here is chapter 37, with chap 38 to follow soonly! Hope everyone is still enjoying the story! I have finally figured out how I am going to end this one so...be prepared for that if you are still interested! Enjoy and people that review are awesome!
"The zoo is a very interesting choice for a hospital benefit." Wilson smiled at Cuddy. "Did the animals offer to donate as well?"
"I got a great deal on renting the place for the day." Cuddy rolled her eyes as she pushed Rachel along in her stroller. "Greg seems to be enjoying himself."
House sat comfortably in his new wheel chair eating cotton candy with one hand and griping tightly to a stuffed tiger with the other. He had on a new pair of sunglasses and a brand new orange baseball cap with a lion on it that Wilson had purchased at the zoo store along with the tiger and the cotton candy. Rusty trotted alongside House's chair sporting a new zoo themed bandanna. "Nom!" House said excitedly as they approached a cart selling ice cream cones.
"One small vanilla." Wilson paid for the cone and handed it to Greg. "No more sugar for the rest of the day. That is your second ice cream cone."
"You're the one that keeps buying them for him." Cuddy pointed out. She eyeballed House's new chair. "Where did you find a wheel chair with flames on it?"
"Chase found it in a catalog. It reminded him of one of House's old canes. I couldn't see making him walk around the zoo on his bad leg and it was one of the only models with a sunshade."
"Ducks!" House motioned at a display of small penguins. "Wilson! Ducks!"
"Those are penguins, buddy. Kind of like ducks in tuxedos. You want to check them out?" Wilson pushed House closer to the pen containing the black and white creatures. Greg grinned as the small animals leaped in and out of the water in pursuit of fish. Rusty put his front paws on the side of the enclosure to get a closer look.
"Ice cream and cotton candy. Very healthy." A voice came from behind Wilson. "Does he have some sugary soda to wash that down with?"
Wilson spun around quickly. "Jennie. I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Well, what can I say? Who could turn down a five hundred dollar minimum donation trip to the zoo? Especially when the trip includes a free lunch." She smiled at House. "Hi Greg."
"Bad." House pouted. Rusty gave a low growl and tucked his tail between his legs.
"Nice to see you too." She turned back to Wilson. "Actually part of the reason I came was because I was hoping to run into you two. I wanted to apologize for all of the stuff I said earlier this week. It is pretty obvious that you really care about your friend. Even if I happen to think some of that caring is well…I'll shut my mouth now. I am really sorry. I understand if you don't want me to come back."
"I'm sorry too." Wilson said simply. "Maybe you were right about some of those things. Greg and I want you to come back. Just do me a huge favor and never put him in the corner again. I know how frustrating he can get but next time please just bring him to my office."
Jennie raised an eyebrow. "Rewarding bad behavior?"
Wilson rolled his eyes. "I'll be sure to put on a really dull movie every time you bring him in."
Jennie shook her head. "Has anyone ever called you a push over Dr. Wilson?"
"No actually. See you on Monday." House turned around and stuck out his tongue as Wilson pushed him towards the next exhibit.
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"I need to leave early." Wilson announced as he led Greg into Cuddy's office.
"Going to the beach?" Cuddy raised an eyebrow. Greg stood next to Wilson dressed in swim trunks, a water resistant swim shirt, flip-flops and the sunglasses Wilson had bought him at the zoo. The overall cool surfer-boy effect was ruined by the goofy grin on House's face and Rusty prancing happily at his side. "Or is this your way of telling me you just won a trip to the Bahamas?"
"Swim lessons for Greg." Wilson held up the flyer that House's music teacher had given him. "I was just going to have Jennie take him but it is his first day and…"
"Go." Cuddy waved a hand at the door. "Next time skip the goofy outfit and just ask."
"The outfit isn't goofy." Wilson said defensively. "I ordered it from a surf shop online. It's the brand worn by…"
"Relax." Cuddy shook her head. "He looks cute. Just remember to take off the glasses before he goes in the pool."
"He felt guilty for not being able to take Greg to his first lesson and over compensated by buying very expensive swimwear. And yes, he does look cute." Jennie leaned in the doorway. Rusty greeted her with his customary growl. "I'll see you two tomorrow."
"I'm still not sure about her." Wilson said as soon as the babysitter was out of earshot. "Rusty doesn't like her."
"So get rid of her."
"I don't know. She does seem to really care about Greg."
"So keep her. Don't you three have a swim lesson to get to?"
"See you tomorrow Lisa." Wilson led Greg and Rusty out to the car.
The ride to the public pool where the swimming lessons were held was uneventful. Wilson warily pulled into the parking lot of the building and led House and his furry companion inside. Wilson had never been to a public pool before and was surprised at how nice the place was. The locker room was just as clean as the one at the gym where he and House had been members many years before. "You've got to take a shower before you go in buddy." Wilson removed House's sunglasses and put them in his front pocket.
"No." House whined as the cold water hit the top of his head. His whiny demeanor quickly changed as Wilson led him out of the locker room and down to the edge of the pool. He turned to Wilson with a quizzical look on his face. "Wilson?"
"It's like a big bathtub." Wilson assured. "Only without the soap." Rusty whimpered uneasily at the sight of his master so close to the water's edge. "Easy Rusty. It's okay." A few of people who Wilson guessed were House's fellow classmates were already in the water.
"Is he here for lessons?" An older lady swam to the side of the pool. Wilson nodded. "Okay well you just need to get a life vest and some water wings on him and he can come in the pool." She paused and eyeballed Wilson. "I take it you aren't planning on swimming with him today."
"No. I didn't realize…"
"That's okay. The vests and water wings are over there. Come pick him up in an hour. Oh and if you wouldn't mind taking the dog with you? We wouldn't want him jumping in the pool."
"Is it okay if we stay? I can put the dog on a leash." Wilson struggled to get House into a life vest.
"No problem." The lady smiled. "I am guessing this is Greg?"
"No." House clutched to Wilson's arm as they got the pool's stairs.
Wilson laughed. "Yes, despite what he just said this is Greg. He hasn't been in a pool in a long time. I think he's a little nervous."
"Don't worry. I'll take it from here." The older woman smiled at Wilson. Wilson carefully detached his nervous friend from his arm and watched as House hesitantly made his way into the pool. As soon as the water was up to his waist he turned around and gave Wilson a huge smile. The oncologist gave a small sigh of relief as he clipped a very anxious Rusty to a leash and sat down on a bench.
House slashed around in the pool for a few minutes before spotting a small beach ball in the water. He quickly snatched the ball and tried to balance it under his arm. Wilson failed to see how floating around in the pool on water wings counted as swim lessons but decided that as long as Greg was having fun it was worth the extra twenty dollars a week for the time in the pool. House maneuvered himself over to the pool's edge. "Wilson!"
"What is it buddy?" Wilson tied Rusty to the bench and carefully made his way to the edge of the pool, trying not to get his loafers wet.
House held up the ball. "Red, blue, green!" House recited happily as he pointed to the corresponding colors on the ball. "Red, blue, green!"
"Wow, buddy. That is quite impressive. You got them all right."
"Wilson!" House splashed his friend before tossing the ball at Wilson's head.
"Thanks Greg." Wilson wiped the water from his face and tossed the ball back into the pool. "I'll remember to wear my swimsuit next time."