Disclaimer: Same as before…..please don't sue me!
A.H.Smith: Hopefully, you'll love her more this chapter too. Thanks for the kind words – still think I need to work on House's sarcasm though…I just don't feel it's biting enough. What do you think?
The Lilac Elf of Lothlorien: I know, aren't they though! LOL There isn't one this time. Glad you liked it, but still not sure about House though – I think he should be more caustic, what do you think?
Calliann: You won't know yet….well, not this chapter anyway. But I'll let you know in the next one. Molly is a darling and is in this chapter too. (In the next one I'm going to have her at home with House. Hehehehehe…should be fun! Grouchy, sarcastic Doctor and sarcastic, smart-ass kid much amusement –hopefully, but I'm still having trouble getting his real sarcasm across; my House isn't as sharp as the one on TV….) Ah, Can't take credit for the Molly line – that happened to Beth last weekend and her friend next door (not after 4 chocolate bars though I might add, but 2 glasses of soda) and I laughed so much I knew I had to winkle it in here somehow (and apparently she got it from Sandra Bullock in a film called 'Miss Congeniality'!) Yeah, shame she hit him though as he shot her! (Ouch!) God, knee-capping took some research…..but I never knew that in a whopping 40 of cases the peripheral injuries can be so bad it results in amputation. Well, I had to bash Chase after I found a 'House' site with spoilers and found out the truth about him! What a weasel! So there will be more…….and then he will grovel, oh yes he will! They certainly do and we are they:O)
WARNING: POSSIBLE BAD LANGUAGE, SO READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.
'—' signifies thoughts.
"—" signifies speech.
Anyway…chapter six!
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Kindred Spirits
Chapter Six – Knowledge
As House grabbed his stick and started making for the door, the other two fell into step with him. He glared at them "Leave me alone, she's my friend…"
"Yeah and now she's ours too" Said Wilson quietly "So are you, and we're not letting you go alone."
As the lift arrived, House almost collided with a worried looking Cuddy "House…it's Jessica, she's been shot…I…."
House glared at her so hard she moved out of his way "Would it kill you to call her Jess? You know she hates Jessica….."
Cuddy stepped back into the elevator just as the doors closed. "She's on her way to ER now; I'd go there if I were you."
"Why'd you come?" Foreman asked.
"Stan found her and called me, I went straight down – she was still holding her mobile, I just assumed she'd called you; he said all she kept saying was…." There was a pause "Greg…I want Greg…."
House didn't look up or speak, but they all saw him viciously grind the end of his cane into the floor of the lift.
"How bad is it?" Wilson asked, staring at the anxious but restrained doctor next to him.
"He hit her with something; she's got a fractured cheekbone. He also shot her in the knee….."
"He knee-capped her?" a horrified Foreman butted in "Which he, as if I didn't know?"
"Seamus Mulholland…..yes; it was all caught on the hospital CCTV - that's why Stan was able to get to her so quickly, and also identify him.
The police are looking for him right now. It seems he went home only long enough to fetch his gun." Another pause "I suppose its good he didn't kill her."
She turned her attention back to Wilson and House; the latter staring at his feet. "But the shot shattered her kneecap; it's fairly bad - she won't lose the leg….." she hesitated.
"But? I sense a but……" House levelled a withering look at her.
"We think there's significant damage – it's likely she'll be left with…" another hesitation "a severe limp…." She sighed "like you House; she'll be just like you…."
There was a pained, bitter laugh from the older doctor "Two cripples together - cute." he tipped his head and dropped Cuddy's gaze, before returning to stare at the floor.
"Does she know?" Foreman asked.
"Not yet..." Cuddy shook her head "But she's an excellent doctor, she'll have joined the dots by now. I know we don't get on, but I respect her a lot – I'll tell her if you'd rather; it might be better coming from an 'enemy' that she can rant at rather than a friend - even one as close you House."
"I told her she was brain damaged, and I even told her that her fiancé was dead; I think I can handle telling her she'll be a cripple for the rest of her life, don't you?" the cold blue eyes were on Cuddy once more, before returning to study the floor again.
"Alright, alright - you might be right." She stopped and then almost unconsciously continued "She…she held my hand…." Cuddy looked almost shocked as well as saddened "she said 'get Greg for me, please Cuddy…. Get Greg for me….' I've never felt sorrier for someone in my life."
House's head shot up at that "She doesn't need your damn pity Cuddy….. She never will; she doesn't need anyone's fucking pity! Don't you dare pity her!"
Wilson shook his head at a shocked Cuddy as they exited the elevator, and House hobbled away as fast as he could with Foreman in hot pursuit, he took her arm "he thinks a lot more of her than he's letting on - I think this might make him realise it."
"I doubt it" she shook her head at Wilson "I've watched him dance round his feelings for her. Hell, I've watched them both dance round their feelings for the last 8 years….his even longer than that – her partner was still alive when I think he realised how much he cared for her.
His feelings for her changed when Stacy left him. Up until then I think they'd merely become very close friends; but then he realised how much she meant to him - and he to her, when she came straight back from Ethiopia and never left his side for two weeks straight….
She took a lot crap from him for a long time - he was even more bitter then than he is now. But she never once condemned or judged him, she just supported him and let him know she cared - when anyone else would have told him to go to hell.
They're so close now I doubt you'd see daylight between them - they just won't admit it."
She sighed "Their relationship is very complicated Wilson; you'll see…." She squeezed his arm "I don't hate her you know, and I don't think she hates me……we just love to dislike each other, score points off each other." she walked off "call me if you need me."
As Wilson stood shocked for a moment Cameron came up "I heard she'd been shot – is it true?"
"Yeah - the Mulholland woman's husband knee-capped her."
"What!"
"Yup – they think she's going to be crippled, just like House; they doubt she'll lose the leg, but it's likely she's going to be left with a permanently severe limp like his."
"Jesus! Why?"
"Who knows – who cares? I just hope the bastard resists arrest and they shoot his sorry ass!"
He looked at where House was swiftly hobbling away with Foreman "he's losing the plot on this rapidly – we need to stay with him until we're sure she's okay.
I hope whatever happens they do not bring the asshole here - I could just about rein in my temper; he, on the other hand, will kill him." He ran to catch up with House, Cameron following slowly behind.
0-0-0-0-0
House limped quickly into where the treatment rooms were, but couldn't see her – staff were rushing around and he couldn't get anyone to help; he finally lost it and started raging "Where the fuck is she!"
"I'll ask…" Foreman placated, grabbing a passing nurse "Hey, we're looking for a gunshot wound to the knee, late 30's, red-headed female goes by the name of Jessica Montgomery?"
"Oh yeah, she's in there…." The nurse smiled, pointing to a trauma room and hurried off.
As they neared the door they heard her "I want……Greg….. I want……his opinion…."
"You'll damn well bleed to death to before he gets here!" an exasperated doctor all but shouted at her.
House was in there in seconds, swallowing his shock that her mangled leg was the same as his – the right one "Why are you wailing woman? Good God, I could hear you in my office." His voice took on his usual sarcastic tone; but his other three companions noted the soft look in his eye, and that he took one of her blood stained hands in his and held it.
This was something House would not normally have dreamt of doing - particularly in front of the others; Wilson, Foreman and Cameron were all hovering nearby.
Jess' first relieved word, and the way her face lit up on seeing him was nearly his undoing "Greg….."
"I'm here Jess…."
"I've been…shot….." He could tell she was in shock, her intermittent speech proved that – her brain was not functioning properly once more, stress causing her brain damage to kick in.
"No shit, Sherlock - good Lord, your powers of deduction never cease to amaze me…"
Wilson and Foreman were surprised at what happened next – she laughed. Despite the pain and shock she must be in, she laughed.
She was trying to regain control; not to be scared, not to be a disappointment to him. He could see, and squeezed her hand – shaking his head slightly and holding her gaze so she knew he couldn't have been more proud of the way she was handling it; that she could never disappoint him.
She smiled "These bozos…won't tell me….anything…." She gestured to the doctors working on her leg "He knee-capped me…….House………..it's bad…..I……..I know that…..will I lose……the leg? I trust you……tell me the truth……" She looked at him, locking her gaze with his.
"We've got to get her to surgery now…." The attending doctor, Moorcroft, muttered to House.
He nodded at the man and then turned to Jess "I don't think so Monty…..but they think that you might be like me" he gestured to his leg "you know a hop-along - think you can stand that?"
They were wheeling her out; she gripped his hand tighter "Oh, that I can handle….being like you is a……..good thing House, on every level." House did a very un-House like thing……..he leant down and kissed her cheek.
"Don't you go anywhere okay? Who would I torment if you shuffle off?"
"You think……I would leave……..you to run amok….here on your…….own?" then she suddenly said "Molly!"
"I'll have her with me…..but just until you're better – don't you damn well die and leave me stuck with the ankle biter, Monty! I'll bloody kill you!"
"Thanks; thanks House…thanks….I….won't….I…..couldn't…..leave you…." They wheeled her away. Wilson walked along with her for a little, smiling "Hey…..don't go anywhere okay…..he'll be unbearable without you to keep him in check."
She nodded "Don't let him…..fret too much…." She said as she passed and then waved to Foreman and Cameron.
As they wheeled her through the doors Foreman saw her face crumple, and realised how much she had controlled her fear and pain. "She's one tough cookie…." He said with respect.
House grabbed Moorcroft's arm "Don't let anything happen to her, right?"
"I won't House; she's lost a lot of blood, but I think she'll be fine. Did Cuddy tell you?"
"That she'll have a limp like mine? Yeah, she doesn't mind…." He looked at where she'd disappeared "She's a fighter, Moorcroft….she'll be fine so long as you do your damn job."
I won't be offended – you're worried…." He smirked; glad to see House being the one to sweat for a change.
"I never worry – she's just a friend, that's all. Jesus…what is it with you people and all the touchy-feelies today! It's so twee!"
"Sure House…sure…" Moorcroft followed Jess through the double doors "Lord the guy's got it bad!" he chuckled to himself.
0-0-0-0-0
"What about Molly?" Wilson asked.
"What about her?"
"Shouldn't you phone her cousin up, or her parents and tell them – go fetch Molly?"
"Nope, not until I have something to tell them. The midget would be fine – as long as there's no more chocolate. But her family….." he shuddered "they talk constantly about nothing! " He made chattering movements with his hand.
"I swear they would drive even you, kind sweet little Cameron, to cut off your ears and perforate your own ear drums just to stop the noise - I am not putting up with it again for the next God knows how many hours. I'll call them when it's over…."
Cameron glared at him "You can't do that! They have a right to know…."
"Then I will call them and you can entertain them…" he marched over to a phone.
"Cam? Cut him some slack, okay? "Wilson touched her arm "he doesn't handle chattery types well, you know that - and if they are as bad as he says…"
"Yeah but it's their daughter and they have a right to know; her daughter has a right to be here!"
"I know, I know - but cut him some slack; he's really worried."
"Well, maybe he should have told her he loved her before she went - maybe she should have told him too! I saw the way they looked at each other!
He drives me crazy – he loves her and just won't damn well admit it; not even to himself!" Foreman and Wilson looked shocked at her quiet outburst.
"Well apparently, according to Cuddy who has, she says, watched them dance around each other, for the last 8 years in Jess' case and even longer is House's, it's complicated…… and I believe her." He sighed.
"Well they should uncomplicate it – what would he do if she died?" she stalked off.
"Umm…why do I get the feeling I'm out of the loop here? Though I think I got the gist of it." Foreman asked.
"Because you are, and it is not for me to tell…." Wilson shrugged.
"You know, I'm not even sure I want to know."
House appeared "Well, that was fun….." Wilson looked enquiringly at him "have you ever tried to talk sense to a woman that alternates between shrieks and tears, or a father that just gibbers rubbish?" He rubbed a hand over his face "I've said it before and I'll say it again – Monty must be adopted."
He looked around and scowled "where did Cameron go?"
"She…" Wilson hesitated "Ummm, I don't know…"
"Right, well I'll take the ankle biter when they get here; you are now the official cheerleader for the 'Montgomery family glee club'…"
"What!"
"Cameron's gone and I won't deal with them; so - that now makes them your problem. You know it's at times like this I love being the boss – delegation is just so much fun!" his tone was it's usual sarcastic self, but both men saw the worry and abject loneliness in his eyes as he wandered off.
Foreman looked at Wilson "If she dies, I'm leaving….."
