Chapter 16: Don't Give Up Hope
A/N: Another update! Thank you for the reviews! They really do keep me motivated!
-Huddy-
Cuddy and House sat in a patient room waiting for Dr. Kraydel. It had been over a week since her incident. The whole time she was confined to bed rest and reluctantly obeyed the Doctor's orders, with much supervision from House. The days of inactivity nearly drove her crazy! Her mind was so full of projects that needed to be done she could hardly keep her mind on the books she attempted to read. Rachel, of course, didn't understand why her mommy couldn't hold her. She hoped Dr. Kraydel would take her off bed rest and allow her to return to the hospital for a few hours a week.
House, on the other hand, hoped that Kraydel would know that if he gave Cuddy an inch, she would take a mile. If Cuddy returned to work, no one would be able to pry her away. She would overestimate herself again and they would end up in the same place, or worse. He shuddered to think about it.
When Dr. Kraydel entered he was startled by the stark difference of expressions the two held. Cuddy, a hopeful expression, while House's was formidable and stern. He wasn't there to be fed any sort of bullshit. He was going to protect Cuddy and his baby no matter what. Kraydel took a deep breath, put on a smile, and began.
"Hello, Doctors. I've brought you some good news! Dr. Cuddy, it seems that the time off has helped stabilize your condition. Your levels are all within an acceptable range. I am willing to take you off bed rest, but I do not want you to start work again for at least another two weeks, I'll reevaluate you then."
"Alright Doc, before you let us go, explain to her in more precise terms what you mean by off bed rest but not returning to work," House demanded
"House!" Cuddy slapped his arm. "I know what he meant! I care about this baby too believe it or not!"
Fury shot across House's face. "Yeah? You mean the baby you're carrying or the hospital? I think you made it pretty clear which you want to protect more!"
The shock and hurt on Cuddy's face struck Kraydel's heartstrings.
"Now Dr. House, we all can overestimate ourselves at times and we both know how worried Dr. Cuddy was at the hospital. There are also underlying conditions that put her at a greater risk than the average population."
"All the more reason for her to listen to me when I ask her to take it easy." House retorted bitterly.
"You know what, I'm not going to listen to this. YOU are stressing me out. I'm going home." Tears strained her eyes and her tense voice strained at the words as she left.
-Huddy-
House finally settled in his office, after checking for Cuddy around the hospital and receiving a text from Marina assuring that Cuddy had made it home. Her text also included some very choice words for House for causing Lisa to come home so distressed, but she'll get over it.
It was one of the most frightening times in his life. Wilson's call had him so startled that he missed half of what he said. All he caught was Cuddy taken to hospital, extreme pain, and fainting. Other than his fight with Rachel the rest was a blur. He finally got her loaded and took off speeding down the road to the hospital. Of course, this was a night the cops were out and he got pulled over.
*Flashback*
His hands shook as he pilfered through his glove box for his papers when he found a familiar orange bottle. His heart slowed for a moment at the thought of peace that lay just inside. He could push all this away until it had passed. He could be there for her if only he could take some pills. It was then a flashlight shined in his face.
"License and registration please."
It was enough to stir him from his temptation and he quickly handed him the documents and offered his explanation. He wasn't in the mood to fight with the officer, he had to get to the hospital. It seemed though that luck was on his side today. The officer escorted him to the hospital.
When he got to the hospital he met Wilson at the door.
"They are okay, they're stable."
"What the hell happened?" House asked frantically as he held Rachel and tried to look past Wilson into the room.
"We were sitting in the dining hall when the first contraction it. She thought she could just walk it off so I went with her. It happened again and again, then she passed out. I called 911 and the ambulance came."
It was then that two little brown eyes began to blink awake. "What? Is mommy okay?"
"Yes, sweetie," Wilson assured, patting her little back, and hoping it would ward off tears.
"But you said…you said…" She sniffed.
"Here will you take her? I have to go see Lisa." House offered Wilson the child, impatiently.
"Dad! No! Daddy!" She pleaded from Wilson's arms.
"He's only going in the room to see your mommy. She is really tired and they have lots of things on her to keep track of things. She wouldn't want to scare you. She'll be okay, so don't you worry."
-Huddy-
In the room, Cuddy was asleep, no doubt as a result of a drug they had her on. A fetal heart monitor was hooked around her belly and other wires tracking her heart. All levels seemed fine. She was also receiving IV fluids.
She looked so pale, you could see the bags under her eyes, but she was alive. For the first time since the ominous call, he allowed himself to take a deep breath. His hands were beginning to stop shaking as he sat near her bedside.
How stupid is it to sit near a sick person's bedside…If they are asleep or unconscious you aren't helping them. If they are awake you might be keeping them from boredom but they still feel guilty for chaining you to their bedside, to begin with. Nobody wants to be stuck in a hospital room. As a doctor, you could at least be working on a cure or treatment plan.
If Nolan was here he would tell him that was Dr. Kraydel's job, not his. He would tell him that his job is to stay with Lisa and to be there when she wakes up. He was right, she would want him there when she woke up. It was going to be a long night.
Some hair had worked its way loose and fallen in her face, so he gently pushed it away. His anger came and went. If she had only listened to him if he had only used his full powers to keep her from overworking herself… She never wanted this. The look on her face the night she lost Joy flashed through his mind, she was heartbroken. But damn it, she knew this would be a difficult pregnancy! His mind tired with his repeated arguments.
Nolan's advice yet again slipped past the tornado of worry, "if you can't tell her, tell the baby." He placed his hand on her swollen stomach.
"You have no hope kid. Your parents are two of the most stubborn people on this Earth. I give you permission to kick your mom really hard when she's working too much."
-Huddy-
Hours passed and Wilson had long since made it back to their place with Rachel when Cuddy's eye's fluttered open.
"House? Oh, House I'm so sorry." She pleaded as tears streamed her face.
"Look who's awake. Do you remember what happened?" His eyes held as hard as stone against her tears.
"I had a few huge contractions and then everything went black. I only have flashes after that."
It was unlike her to be this timid, of course…it was unlike her to be this wrong too. She was the responsible one, the one everyone could count on… He was too mad to keep his seat next to her bedside.
"You and the baby are stable for now. But you worked yourself into that bed Lisa! You were worried I wasn't ready for this when it was you who wasn't. Is your job still this damn important to you?"
"Greg, you know it's not! Please just-" She pleaded as she reached for him, hoping he would sit back down next to her.
"You're awake now. I did my part. I'm going back home with Rachel."
His tone was enough to split her open. It felt as if her heart was going to burst like a thrown water balloon. She sat alone and in her hospital room, haunted by the result of her carelessness, and the continuous forgiving beat of her baby's heart.
-Huddy-
Before House could make his way out the front doors he was met by Goff.
"Dr. House, I heard what happened. Are Dr. Cuddy and the baby okay?"
He really wasn't up for this conversation at the moment. If one thing could have gone right today it would have been not running into Mrs. Believes in the Fairy Godfather in the Sky.
"I really don't have time for this."
"Oh, are you getting the car to take her home?" Her eyes held nothing but honest curiosity. He could find no intent for manipulation for information in them.
"Why are you here so early?"
"So that's not why you're leaving. I suppose you are pretty mad. I know you've been worried about her working so much."
He looked exhausted. They had worked many late-night cases but she had never seen House look so worn. Bags hung under his eyes and the slump in his back had multiplied over what seemed to be a very long night.
"I'm really not up for one of our little talks right now."
"Okay, that's fair…just remember don't give up hope. Love is the best motivator."
*End of Flashback*
"We got the results back…" Taub announced, barging into his office. "…it was positive; I was going to start the treatment. Is everything okay?"
"I was just daydreaming of the great sex me and Cuddy had last night."
Taub knew he was distracting from the real issue but he also knew that he shy from elaborating with details if pushed.
"I'll just go…"
Was everything okay? He couldn't stop thinking about those pills he found in his glove box. His body ached for the release they gave. They lay in his pocket now, burning a hole through the material. He had to get rid of them. He couldn't stand them being this close. If it had been any other time any time before his relationship with Cuddy…they would have long since been enjoyed. Maybe Goff was right, love is a great motivator to do what needs to be done.
