Epilogue Part 1

Whoop, it's the epilogue! There's going to be two parts to this.

Disclaimer: Don't own it, you know the drill.

Please read and review.

Enjoy!

Sat at his desk, he studies the document closer. His eyes dreary with exhaustion and minimal sleep.

"House, get your backside in here." He groans with annoyance and he steadily stands, his leg unwilling to co-operate with him when his body is so exhausted.

"What do you want Jumbley? I haven't got time for your shit today." He leans on the side of the dining room table. He yearned for his bed. Then at least he would be more functional tomorrow. At least he could go for a run and try and clear his head.

"Some guy on the phone asking for you. Don't know why he doesn't just call your cell." Jumbley grumbled before half swaying, half stumbling back to the living room.

"House. What do you want?" He let out, frustrated.

"That name has already been copy righted years before you were even born." The gruff voice replied. The younger man straightened up, the voice sending a jolt through his body as if to waken him.

"Your House senior old man. House junior is ready to take your place." He heard the other man chuckle slightly at the comment down the phone but it more sounded like a coughing fit.

"That was if you were actually becoming a Doctor but you betrayed the family tradition and not following in your fathers footsteps." The gruff voice replied.

He scoffed at the comment. "I do want I life you know and bioengineering is a very important job. Why are you ringing anyway? Isn't James keeping you company or is he off galavanting with Mark?"

There was a pause before House senior answered. He stiffened up.

"It's your mum, Dan. You need to come home. Wilson is on his way to pick you up."

Daniel nodded, unable to convey his words. They had been expecting this soon. It sadly wasn't unexpected news.

"Okay dad. I could of driven." He replied quietly, so the rest of the rowdy housemates couldn't hear.

"I didn't want you driving and you sound dead so you can get some sleep on the way, that's if Wilson doesn't chat your head off. I'll see you later." His dad put down the phone and so did Dan, letting it dangle from the cord.

"Jumbley, I'm going away for a few days. Don't let anyone touch my stuff and don't even think about selling any of it!" He shouted through to the living room before making his way upstairs and to his room, packing all the essentials. Before leaving to catch Wilson, he grabbed one thing out of his dresser.

—

The room was eerily quiet and at the same time peaceful. The beeping of the heart monitor was the only thing to break the silence.

House sat next to Jen, her hand in his, watching her sleep. The love still there and in full view. He felt the same for this woman as he felt the first time he saw her on the stage. Her features might of sagged slightly and her hair now salt and peppered, but the love was still there.

He wasn't a spring chicken anymore either. Now in his mid 60s, time hadn't been kind to him. His boyish good looks had now withered away and left an old cripple behind. But he still internally smiled when he received a compliment on his blue eyes, which still burnt with the same fire and passion they held 40 years ago.

He tried to blame Dan for his rapid ageing. The sweet little boy he had turned into a fiery, stubborn teenager; recking havoc on everything he touched. He hadn't of been surprised however and was slightly proud of his sons ability to cause trouble. Especially when he kept getting called into the high school and getting told that he had managed to burn down half of a science lab. House had tried to suppress a grin before telling the teacher that he was bored and already knew about the properties of limestone.

But that troubled, bored teen had turned into a respectable man. At the age of 22, Dan was already on his Doctorate and making massive strides in the area of bioengineering. He had published his first journal at 20 and finishing his 2nd; all on prosthetics. As House had been many years ago, Dan was the rising star in his field and had job offers already piling up at his feet.

"Eggg... Dannnn"

House turned around to face Jen, hearing the soft, but panicked voice.

"Hey, I'm here. Dans on his way. He'll be here soon, I promise." He tried to calm her, running his hand through her hair and humming tuneless tunes and melodies.

Jen slowly settled down, falling back to sleep. Her frail body sinking heavily into the mattress.

House let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Just hold on Jen. Please hold on."

—

Driving up the highway, Wilson eyes drooped with tiredness and the weight of the situation. It had been a long few days. House had delayed telling Dan for as long as possible. But tonight was the night and he had managed to convince House to call his son.

He pulled up his car outside the student halls and saw Dan waiting, sat on his bag. He rose to his full height of 6ft 4 and walked over to the car, shoving his stuff in the back.

"Hey Unc." He gracefully situated himself in the car.

"When did you get so bloody tall Daniel?" Wilson grinned, trying to lighten up the situation.

"Blame my father. His lanky build."

"Did you bring a ... suit" Wilson mumbled.

"My suits at Dads." He replied in the same tone.

They drove in silence, the constant rumble of the engine was the only sound that greeted his ears.

"So, how are you and Mark? Dad tells me you've been galavanting." Dan tried to break the silence.

"I'm not getting any younger Danny. I'm 60 next year so we thought I'd take early retirement and we would go travelling."

"As much travelling as an old ass can do." Dan scoffed and Wilson wacked him on the arm.

"Look young man, I changed your nappy's and took you to school."

"I know Unc." 'And saved my life' Dan added. He looked out of the window and gazed at the countryside. He had always loved the view. The sharp contrast to the cities he had found himself in.

"Are you ... happy?"

Wilson looked over to Dan who stared right back, uncertainty in his eyes.

"Weird question. Why do you ask?" Wilson frowned, refocusing back on the road.

"You and dad haven't had the best lives." He scratched his head, trying to figure out what to say next. "But youve always made sure that I've been happy. I know Dad will never truly be happy. Not without ..." He took a minute to compose himself. "Not without mum, but you deserve to have some happiness. Especially having such a sucky job."

Wilson chuckled lightly. He let a smile show and replied.

"Yes Dan, I think I am." Wilson replied, a form of peace and content showing in his voice.

"So when can I be Page boy then?"

—

It was too hot for her liking. The sun hadn't given her a break and sweat was pouring from every pore she had on her body.

She parked the car in the lot and turned off the engine. She took a quick glance in the mirror, wiping the sweat of her brow before stepping out.

It was only a few times that she had visited. Those were only really when Wilson wasn't around. But it had been a good few years since she had stepped through these doors.

She twisted the door handle open and stepped in. The room was the same as it was the last she visited. Quiet and peaceful. She walked over to the man who sat staring distantly and squeezed his shoulder.

"Cuddy? What you doing here?" House turned round, slightly startled by her sudden appearance.

"Wilson called me. He thought you might want some company." She took a seat near House, dropping her hand bag to the floor.

"I'm fine." Was the blunt response.

"Liar." Cuddy Deadpanned.

"Yep"

"Now you've established I'm not going to leave, how are you?" Cuddy broached again.

"My wife's dying, how do you think I am Cuddy? Doesn't take Einstein to work that out." He grunted, turning back around to face Jen.

Cuddy sighed, opting for another technique.

"How's Dan doing at Harvard? I read his latest publication. It's superb."

House smiled.

"Of course it is. He's my, no, our kid" he looked over to Jen and squeezed her hand.

"Dannnnn, 'egggg. Mine." Jen whispered, reaching out slightly with her hand.

"Yup, have been for 30 years dear." He smirked, stroking her hair.

"Have you tried his prototype leg? People have been raving about it for almost wiping out phantom limb pain." Cuddy chirped on.

House pulled up his trouser leg to reveal the metal contraption.

"Specially designed for his dad. The benefits of having a son in that area." He smirked before dropping his pant leg again. He let his focus drop back to his wife.

"House, she's swallowing." Cuddy said sadly.

"I know, it's a seizure. She has them regularly. Especially the last few days. There's nothing we can do."

Despite the informative tone, there was pain in his voice that even Cuddy could hear.

"How's Rachel?" House tried to distract Cuddys attention from Jen. She didn't like people staring. Just like himself.

"Oh, she's okay. We had a few issues at the start of college. She had a bit of a breakdown but she's doing okay now." Cuddy sighed. It had been a hard few months battling with mental health professionals but they'd managed to get her help. Eventually.

"Isn't it anthropology she's doing?"

"Architecture House."

"Same thing." He scoffed.

"You're not really interested are you?"

"It's small talk which is your favourite." House simpered.

"Not my job anymore. Thank goodness. You should consider this thing called retirement. It's truly wonderful."

House looked at his shoes and fiddled with his leg.

"I don't want to. My jobs a distraction. I should of spent it with Jen. We had plans. To move to the middle of nowhere in England. Just me and Jen together. But now ... "

Cuddy laid her hand on his shoulder, squeezing his shoulder.

"I don't need sympathy Cuddy. Life is shit. Get used to it." Cuddy quickly removed her hand from his shoulder. Resting it uneasily on her lap again.

—

"So anyone new on the scene?" Wilson casually brought up.

Dan smiled smuggley. He sat up straighter, looking ahead on the road. They had swapped after Wilson's back started to cramp.

"Well... yes there is."

Wilson laughed.

"Such a good looking man should have a woman. So, who is she?"

The guilty look on Dans face gave everything away.

"You naughty boy. It's Rachel isn't it?"

"I will not confirm nor deny this allegation." But the wide beam on his face gave it all away.

"I knew you were a ladies man. Taking after your dad are you then, having a thing for the Cuddy women?"

Dan looked confused at Wilson but Wilson just replied with a grin.

"When you're dad was in med school, him and Lisa had a somewhat summer romance."

"God, really?" Dan replied, outraged.

"Your dad was a very attractive man in the day. Women couldn't keep their hands of him. Quiet literally, so I've heard."

"Too much information Unc. Didn't need to know that." Dan said with a disgusted look plastered on his face.

"You're just like your dad. You're the version of House that didn't have such a crappy childhood. Still a pain in the ass, but he wouldn't of been full of such hatred." He looked on towards the distance, trying to stretch out the knot in his back.

"Am I like my mum?" He changed gear, slowing down for the junction.

"Oh god yes. You're so bloody stubborn and determined. Your mum wore the trousers in the relationship. House would just give up trying to suggest anything. She was the only person that was able to convince your dad against stupid decisions or able to control his impulsive actions. Once your mum had something in her head, that was it. She was going to do it. No matter what other people said."

Dan kept his gaze in the dimly lit road. He allows a small smile to creep on his face.

"She would be proud if you. Your dad is as well, although he's a little less forthcoming with those words."

"He shows me, in his own weird way. He shows me."

—

House and Cuddy sat in silence for a while, the iPod shuffling. The songs have been calming and offered many sweet memories of better times which he shared with Cuddy.

Unchained melody drifted into his ears and Cuddy noticed the twitch of his lips.

"This was our first dance at our wedding." House murmured.

"A bit cliche for you."

"It was Jens favourite movie. She used to cry at the end and I would end up making some sarcastic comment." House smiled wistfully. "She would drag my ass up from the couch and we would dance around the living room. We would sway to the music. She would wrap her arms around my neck and burry her head in my shoulder." A tear cracked free from his eye and he let it run free, not caring if the world and it's mother saw. "I held her tightly in my arms."

'Oh, my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch'

"Letting her take me where she went. Letting her lead me." He held out his hands, letting his brain imagine. The feeling of her body intwined in his. Her scent. Her soft voice singing the lyrics into his ear. It was heavenly.

The tears fell freely. Falling onto his lap. The sobs escaping his his throat uncontrollably.

"Greg. I'm so sorry." Cuddy whispered, trying to fight the shared tears of sorrow. But she knew deep down, these tears were his only and they were well over due. She let him mourn. Mourn the past lose and what will become his future loss.

He swallowed hard, and clasped Jens hand between his own two larger ones.

'A long, lonely time

Time goes by so slowly

And time can do so much

Are you still mine?'

"No one has ever been able to change me like you did you know. You made me into a better man. A kinder man. No one replace you. I will miss you everyday." He took a deep breath before whispering. "I will never stop loving you." He kissed her forehead and he was sure he saw a twitch of her lips up before she closed her eyes once more.

'I need your love,

I need your love.'