FAMILY COMPLICATIONS 2
CHAPTER 2: SAD PASTS, PROMISING FUTURES?
It came as a total and unexpected surprise to James Wilson when Blythe House entered his office without even knocking on the door.
He was used to Gregory House walking into his office and interrupting him every single time he tried to concentrate on his work, but this was on a whole new level.
"Just where is he, James?", Blythe was asking, her tone demonstrating she wanted an answer and wanted it now. "Normally, people greet each other with a good morning", Wilson remarked.
"Good morning, Dr. Wilson. Where is Greg?", she obliged him. Seeing the oncologist's uneasiness, she pressed her point, "I have been roaming the hospital, looking for him. I asked virtually the entire staff and they've told me he doesn't work here anymore. Is this true, James? If yes, where can I find him?".
"How long is it since you last talked to him?", Wilson asked. It just dawned on him that his friend's mother was totally unaware of House moving to Oregon. "Since John's funeral", she replied, adding, "but what does it have to do with his whereabouts?".
"Look, I don't know how to say it, but, it's been roughly one year since he quit his job here. At the same time Dr. Chase quit...", the oncologist started his response, only to be cut in mid-sentence. "And where can I find him?", she asked, in a manner only a mother could ask. "Why don't you call him?", Wilson suggested. "As if I didn't try. He's changed phone number", his friend's mother observed. Damn right, Wilson thought, but didn't say it aloud.
"OK, I'll tell you where you can find him, but, maybe...", he tried to complete the sentence, but he was again interrupted by the older lady, "It's my right as a mother to know where my son is".
"I'll tell you everything, but first I have to be present to a surgery. We have to remove a tumor before it's too late. You can wait for me here or in the hospital cafeteria, or stay here. Honestly, though, I'd prefer the first", Wilson said, trying to be as calm as possible. Blythe nodded and informed him that she'd wait for him in the cafeteria.
Indeed, some time later, Wilson headed for the cafeteria and noticed Blythe House waving at him. He hastened to join her and got seated opposite her.
"Where is he, James?", she repeated her earlier question. "Roughly one year ago, he quit his job here. Since last September, he's working in Oregon", the oncologist answered. Producing a piece of paper, he jotted down the name of the hospital his friend was working at. "Here's the hospital employing him", he clarified, handing the paper to Blythe.
"Why would he do that?", his friend's mother asked and Wilson struggled to formulate an answer. "Well, he got a good offer, with some benefits that...", the words had trouble leaving his throat. "He rejected a lot of offers all those years. It must be something deeper", Blythe insisted. "You know him better, I suppose", Wilson clumsily tried to deflect the question. "But it's you who is his best friend", she held on her edge of the conversation. The oncologist exhaled audibly and tried, once more, to steer the discussion elsewhere, suggesting, "Maybe it's something you should discuss with him, not me". "He surely told you why he decided to leave. He wouldn't leave without explaining his reasons to you", she pressed the point.
"He told me, when announcing his decision to leave, that he wanted to move on", he blurted out. "Move on from what?", she enquired, casting him a perplexed look. "A lot of things happened since your late husband died", Wilson started explaining. "One of his fellows committed suicide, he endured a tumultuous relationship and a dramatic breakup and...", he paused for a moment, before completing his sentence, "he got married".
This last piece of news caught Blythe by surprise. Not that it was easy for her to possess either of those things Wilson had enumerated. Wide-eyed, she just whispered, "What?".
"A glass of water, please", Wilson requested in a loud tone. When it was brought to him, he offered the glass to Blythe and held it as she drank from it. "Good, you look better now", he observed.
"Repeat what you told me before, James. You said Greg... my son... all this happened to him?", she said, still looking a bit pale. "And, something else I must tell you about him... For some time, he was committed into a mental hospital. After the suicide of his team member, Dr. Kutner", Wilson further informed her, increasing her astonishment. "And why was I kept in the dark?", she said, in utter bewilderment.
"You know him", the oncologist responded. "In any case, a lot of things happened to him and I don't fault him for deciding to move on", he added.
"And that part about him getting married?", Blythe was still in puzzlement. "Yes, yes. That happened shortly before he left. It's a very complicated story, however, and, honestly, I don't think you should hear it now", he replied.
"At least... Is he happy now? He's always been so complicated...", her voice trailed off. "From what I understand, he's a lot happier now than he's been for years", Wilson earnestly answered.
Turning the tables, it was now his turn to ask her, "What has made you look for him so urgently?". "I need to tell him something. Something very important. Which means that I'm not revealing this to you, James, yet, because if I did you would tell Greg immediately. And, this time, I need to see him", she said in a very serious tone.
"I don't know what you want to tell him, but, try not to upset him much. From your tone, I gather...", he began saying, and Blythe replied, "I know I haven't been the best mother in the world. I ought to stand up to John and stop him when he was mistreating Greg. Maybe I should have divorced him...", she mused, her expression being hard to read, although Wilson thought he could discern traces of remorse and a desire to make amends. "I'm sure you tried your best", he said, trying to console her, as if she were his own mother.
"I know I could have done a lot better", she admitted, breathing deeply and heavily. "But, in any case, I can't change the past. I guess I gotta be going. It's a long way to Oregon", she added.
"You mean you're still going to go to him?", Wilson asked. "Absolutely. I need to tell him something important, I've already told you. And, besides, it's my time to admit my mistakes and some other things to my son", she replied adamantly.
"Be that as it may, when he sees you are there, he's gonna try to avoid you", the oncologist reminded her. "I have a way to make him come to me", she said in an assuring tone.
As she was getting ready to leave, there was a loud hubbub. "What's going on?", Blythe asked. "The nurses are demanding a raise. Since your son left, the benefactors are especially stingy. The Board is putting a lot of pressure on Cuddy, too. Basically, it's me and Foreman who are running the hospital", Wilson explained, adding, "That's why I haven't quit my job here and joined him in Oregon. Every week he reminds me I would be much welcome to head the Oncology department there".
"Maybe you should reconsider his offer", she remarked, observing also, "you need his friendship and he needs your friendship". "I'm not sure I want to leave this place", he responded.
"Well, nonetheless, it's about time I go. Thank you, James", she said and got up to leave.
Wilson accompanied her to the hospital's main gate and then headed back to his office. The loud commotion was still going on. Treiber was trying to explain to the nurses that a raise was out of the question for the time being. The oncologist dialled his friend's phone number, deciding to inform him about Blythe's intentions to visit her son.
Meanwhile, in Oregon, the rest of the Diagnostics team was gathered in the conference room. House had left earlier, after finding out what their patient had, because of his appointment with his pain specialist, leaving Chase in charge of administering the meds.
"Once more, House was right", Chase stated matter-of-factly. "Given how well our patient is responding to the medication, his recovery is gonna be really speedy", Martha Masters concurred. "Then, there is nothing for us here now", Cheng piped in, adding, "I need to be going. I have an appointment with an old friend and...". "Fine, you can go. You, too, Masters. I'm gonna sit here for a while before leaving", Chase replied, giving her permission to do as she pleased.
Cheng thanked him and left, but Masters remained in the room, observing Chase. The surgeon seemed absorbed into some thought, which, judging by his expression, wasn't that pleasant.
"Penny for your thoughts?", Martha enquired. "Masters? You still here?", he said in a startled manner. "Obviously, I'm still here", she chuckled. "I already said you are free to go", he reminded her. "Which I heard", she answered with a slight giggle. "And I'm still waiting for an answer, what's bothering you?", she insisted.
"It's something personal, no need to worry", Chase shrugged. He turned his gaze away from Martha once more. The redhead prodigy, however, wasn't one to give up easily. "I know I'm weird sometimes, but you can really tell me. I know we're just coworkers, but...", she blurted out.
"Let's just say I don't want to discuss about it", he said, a little too abruptly, which he immediately regretted. "It's about my personal life", he clarified, suddenly deciding to open up about what was troubling him.
"It's been exactly two years since I signed my divorce papers", he confessed. "Oh, I see", Martha mumbled, her cheeks turning almost as red as her hair. "It's okay, I guess I feel better just by opening up", Chase reassured her, but his expression was still very serious. "I'm not leaving until I see you're better", Martha said and sat on her chair again.
"Knowing you're here for me is enough", the surgeon replied, adding, "you can go, really. Thanks for your interest". "Would you rather sit here or...", Martha began to say, but was interrupted in mid-sentence by the sound of a phone ringing.
"A call from House", Chase announced and answered. The two doctors talked briefly, while Martha tried (in vain) to understand what was being said. After a couple of minutes, Chase hanged up.
"What does he want?", the redhead asked. "He has to be out of town for a couple of days, but, whatever case we take, we can inform him via phone. He said he needs to be far from the hospital till coast is clear", the surgeon responded.
"They call me weird, but he, too, is weird", Martha mused. "House never called you weird, though", Chase countered. "My roommate in Princeton did. And all my fellow students. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm really weird beyond saving", she blurted out, her cheeks reddening again.
"Not weird, just... different from the masses", Chase reassured her. "Well, now, that's getting awkward. I gotta leave", she almost stammered, rising from her chair.
"House said I'm team leader until he's back", Chase stated, grabbing her wrist. "Ummm, yes, congratulations", she mumbled, trying to twist away from his grip. "And, I am throwing a congratulations dinner tonight, to celebrate the fact that I'm the boss, even temporarily", he declared, adding, "Attendance is obligatory. At least, for my team fellows".
"Isn't Cheng a team fellow too?", Martha asked, unsure where this was heading. "Cheng is occupied with another appointment. Besides, she wasn't there when House appointed me temporary leader", the blond Australian remarked.
"You're asking me out?", Martha enquired, wide-eyed and gulped audibly. "I'm inviting you to dinner. Are you coming or not?", he answered with a question. "Uh-huh, I can't decline, but...", for once, that brainiac was unable to complete a coherent sentence. "J-just lead the way", she whispered, and Chase smiled.
They left the hospital and got into his car, Martha remaining silent all the time. Just what the hell I'm doing?, Chase asked himself. He tried to think of nothing in particular and just enjoy himself. After all, nothing serious would ever occur between him and his colleague... Or not?, the thought formed itself.