Thanks for the reviews! I love them, I love them, I love them, as always. I'm sensing a lot of happiness about the House/Cam thing? I'm glad I could make you all happy. :P LOL, that one's always been a little weird for me, but I wanted to see if I could make it work. I kind of like it now too; in fact, I started a new story that is House/Cam from chapter one if you're interested. (Come on, you know you want to give it a read! It's called "In The Name of Love." The first chapter's pretty boring, in my humble opinion, but if you get to the end of the second chapter, I think you might find that you're hooked. Haha, sorry, I just thought it was interesting idea, but this isn't the place to start propaganda for a different story…) Anyways…
Reitashnehelena: Glad you liked it, my fave #1 fan! LOL! That was for you (and about a hundred million other House/Cam fans, but mostly for you)!
Amber Chase: Haha, yes, Chase and Julia belong together. I read it over and I was like, "If it was me, I might have fainted." She's a strong one, that Julia. Glad you liked it!
L'il-Miss-Blondie: Glad you enjoyed the Truth or Dare thing. House/Cam was harder than I thought it would be; I'm glad you think I did the couple justice! I think it'll take a few seasons for me to be comfortable with them on the actual show, but whatever, it was fun to write that for them!
Nikelodean: I knew before I posted the chapter that I was going to get bombarded with the facts – not a bad thing, of course, but I knew. Maybe that makes me more ignorant, but oh well, at least I'm still true to me. :P I considered the possibility of having Alma die too, but that would have been unbearable for poor Julia! (I never thought I'd get so attached to someone who's not even real.) I was hoping I could sneak past the facts in that particular chapter so Alma could get a second chance and grow up. So yes, I know the chances of her getting a liver in that amount of time in real life are about none, but she lives in the world of my imagination where everybody gets a liver! Haha, but thanks for reading and allowing me to make these mistakes; it really helps!
The Lilac Elf of Lothlorien: To each his/her own. I've always had a hard time picturing House and Cameron together, but I wanted to try it out and I like it! Thanks for reading!
Kris Wright: Haha, I'm so bad at romance, but I just have to keep trying! I'll try my best not to make future chapters cheesy and lame. Also, you have to back around a corner? I can't even back straight! I'm a danger on the road. Stay far away…Haha, thanks for reading!
Eternalgorithm: Haha, for all my use of profanity, I still have to ask one extremely dumb question: bitchin' means good, right? LOL, sorry, I'm the biggest nerd ever! Thanks for tolerating my writing and idiocy and everything else; I really appreciate it!
Japanese Gaisher Doll: I did the House/Cam thing because I knew it would make everyone happy. I've never been a fan of the relationship, but now that I've seen the possibilities it really looks like fun! I think you'll like the direction I end up going in.
Queen of Blank: No way, Chase is MINE! Haha, we're going to have to work out a custody arrangement with the man. One week at your house, one week at mine. :P Also, if your dad was selling Houses, I would be his first customer, but as it is, I don't have quite enough $$ to scrape together a down payment on a normal-people house yet, otherwise I'd help you out. LOL, no, I'm not gonna quit driving, but I'm never gonna get behind the wheel of a car with my dad again…He's just too OCD about everything, you know? I know driving is very dangerous and not something you should mess around with, but the fact that I can't parallel park yet is not a safety issue, unless I'm driving around in the city or something. Am I right? Haha, sorry, the man gets me so irritated sometimes…Anyways, getting off the subject, aren't I? Thanks for reading!
Runs with sissors: Sorry about the out-of-characterness; while I agree with you 100 that they were nothing like themselves (except for Julia, who can be anything I want her to be because she belongs to me), it was fun to write and I can't bear to change it! If I'm allowed to play with them, I get to make them play Truth or Dare and kiss whoever they want! Haha, sorry, but thanks for coming back; I missed you:P Hope this chapter is a bit more realistic.
Here's chapter 21, which is just incredible because I've never stuck with anything this long (knock on wood), and I sincerely hope you enjoy it!
Julia burst into the ICU, walking fast in the direction of her mom's room. "Mom," she said as she pushed the door open. "Mom?"
"Hey," she croaked.
Julia smiled sympathetically. "You sound terrible, no offense," she told her. "Can I get you anything?"
"Morphine," Alma said. "Other than that…" She shrugged.
Julia sat down beside her. "I'm sorry I wasn't here," she apologized. "Dad and I went out to get something to eat…"
"You call him dad now, huh?" Alma observed. "That's good. Do you two get along?"
"Pretty well, I guess," she said. "He's a lot better than he seemed when I first met him."
"How so?"
"He's a lot nicer than you made him out to be, that's for sure," Julia told her. "He's a far cry from Mother Teresa, but he's not Len either."
"Ah, yes," Alma said. "Len. I've been meaning to talk with you about him."
"Don't tell me," Julia said. "Let me guess. 'Julia, I know you don't like him, but there are some things you don't understand. Love is one of them. I love Len, despite how he can be sometimes, and you have to understand that. That's why I'm going back to him again.' I know exactly what you're going to say, Mom, and I've spent nineteen years coming up with this: I understand love a hell of a lot better than you do. You can love Len all you want, but if he loved you, he wouldn't treat you the way he does, and he wouldn't let you do this to yourself!" She indicated the hospital bed. "You can't keep falling into the same trap over and over and over again. You've gotten a second chance, and I don't want to see you throw it away on him."
Alma, to Julia's surprise, nodded miserably. "I know, Julia. That's not at all what I was going to say. Quite the opposite, in fact." She sat up with some difficulty, wincing as she did. "I can't promise you that everything's going to end up being perfect, but I'm going to take care of you for a change. Starting with kicking Len out of my life."
Julia squealed in delight, then blushed slightly, knowing her mother was making a huge sacrifice. Hell, maybe she was right; maybe Julia didn't understand everything about love. Because this was love. It wasn't all roses and diamond rings, kisses in the IHOP parking lot, or whispering three little words in someone's ear. Love was giving up everything for someone else when your mind is telling you no and your heart is telling you yes. "Mom," she said, feeling perilously close to tears, "you don't know how much this means to me."
"Oh, I think I do," Alma said. Julia bent in to hug her, but Alma pushed her to arm's length before she could get too close. "Sorry, honey. It kind of hurts to move right now. I'll hug you tomorrow and never let go, okay?"
Julia nodded, her eyes watering. "Okay."
Alma kissed her on her head and said, "Could you send Greg in for a minute?"
"Greg? You mean Dad?"
"Whatever you want to call him," Alma said. "I just need to speak with him for a minute."
"Be gentle," Julia pleaded. "He's had a rough couple of days."
Alma flashed her a wicked smile. "Don't worry," she said.
Julia pushed the door open and hit House, who had been pacing back and forth, in the arm. "Dad," she gasped. "I'm so sorry; I didn't even see you there!"
"It's fine," he told her tiredly. "Ready to go? This place is making me nervous." How in hell am I going to get back to work like this? he wondered.
"She wanted to talk to you for a minute," Julia told him helplessly, motioning into the room.
House felt his stomach drop. "About what?" he asked, fearing the worst.
Julia shrugged carelessly. "I don't know," she said. "Ask her yourself." She moved out of his way to let him in.
"I'll get you for this if she suffocates me with the pillow," House told her sharply, going in to meet his doom. "Even if I die, I'll come back and haunt you." Julia shut the door and he was left alone with a conscious Alma for the first time in nineteen years. "How are you feeling?" he asked politely.
"As good as can be expected, I guess," she replied, eyeing him amusedly. "I'm not going to keep you long, and I'm not going to suffocate you with the pillow, in case you were worried. I just wanted to tell you that I heard everything you said, that day in the car."
House nodded. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know I was being a jerk, but I entirely forgot that people in comas can hear every word people say to them, and I was under a lot of stress and I really wanted to get it out –"
She held up a hand to stop him. "I understand," Alma said softly. "Look, you're right, okay? Everything you said was true. House, I just wanted to say that I'm going to try to change. Starting with the alcohol. But I need you to do something for me, okay? Are you listening?" House nodded. She took a deep breath, then said, "I need you to take care of Julia. I've been trying for the past nineteen years and there's something that's missing between us. I can't figure out what it is. The love is there, but…well, something's missing," she finished lamely. "Maybe I'll get it back as I grow up, learn how to take care of myself. But House, she's so much like you. I can't help but think that maybe you have something I don't. Maybe you can make up for the childhood she missed out on."
House cleared his throat. "Alma," he said, "I'm new to this. I might screw it up in ways you never would have thought possible. Are you sure I won't make it worse?"
"She loves you," Alma insisted. "And I think you love her too. You don't have to admit it to me, but if you keep her in the dark, I will make you pay for it. She's never had a father, Greg; she won't know if she's missing out on anything." Alma smiled sadly. "You need each other, you know."
House shook his head. "I never expected to, but you're right, you know that?" House sat down in the chair Julia had occupied moments ago.
"Tell me the truth," Alma said. "How quickly will she die?"
"Without anything to help her immune system fight off infection, it could be a matter of weeks or months before it happens," House mumbled, not wanting to face the grim reality. He knew the days would fly by, and before he know it, the strange but wonderful creature that was his daughter would be nothing but a memory.
Alma nodded, biting her lip. "Okay. I don't want you to do this if you don't want to, but I know it would mean so much to me."
"What about her?" House asked, laughing humorlessly. "You ever consider that she might not want to spend the last few months of her life trying to connect with a loser like me?"
"You might not know it, but she already has connected with you," Alma said. "And she thinks you're anything but a loser."
"Thank-you." They locked eyes for a moment and communicated everything they couldn't put into words: apologies, promises, and…affection? Maybe not, but something like it. House stood up and went to the door. Before it closed, he heard Alma add something that would give him strength until the end.
"We both do."
Julia strolled through the parking lot, rubbing her arms. It was August, and she didn't understand why, but she was freezing. Goosebumps had taken over her skin and her thin t-shirt did nothing to keep her warm.
"Chilly?" said a voice behind her.
Julia spun around, knocking into the car behind her. The alarm sounded shrilly and she gasped. "Dr. Wilson," she said. "Ummm…sorry." Oh, God. I knew it wasn't a bright idea to go walking around in a parking lot at night, but I never expected to get accosted by someone I knew!
He turned off the alarm and threw his briefcase in the passenger seat. "Going to see your mom?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I already did," she told him. "She wanted to talk to House."
Wilson nodded. "I see."
Silence hung in the air, suffocating them, and what was still unspoken stood between them, refusing to go away. Julia didn't want him to say anything about it; it would be so much easier to pretend it never happened. Alas, he probably needed that thing called closure.
"Wilson," she said. "We need to talk, don't we?"
"Yeah, we do," he admitted. "The question is, about what?"
She arched an eyebrow. Wasn't it obvious? "You tell me."
"Anything and everything, if you want the naked truth," Wilson replied. "The most obvious thing being the…ummm…"
"Shall we refer to is as 'The Incident' and move on with our lives?"
He smiled. "Good word for it. Yes, we have to talk about 'The Incident,' and your diagnosis, and your mom, and House, and Chase, and –"
"What makes you think we need to discuss all of these other things?" Julia asked him. "Because aside from The Incident and my diagnosis, everything you've said is between me and other people."
"I thought we were heading towards the same thing: a repaired friendship," Wilson said. "Friends share everything – every burden, every sorrow, every trouble."
"Friends should learn to mind their own business," Julia snapped. She slowly regained her composure and remembered how sometimes, words can hurt. "Sorry," she said, embarrassed. "Sensitive subjects. You understand." A statement, not a question.
"Yeah." Wilson paused. "Alright, let's have it out. You can start."
"Ladies first, is that it?" Julia smiled. "Okay. Ummm…why?"
"Why what?"
She glared at him. "Are you trying to piss me off, because you're doing a really good job of it."
"Sorry," Wilson said. "Ummm…why?...That's a good question. I don't know if I know why. There's no single reason, I can tell you that much. I don't know, a combination of things – you and how we met and it felt like we'd known each other for years, House constantly taking all the good people in his life for granted, Julie and how we're barely speaking these days, opportunity, boredom, stress –"
"I get the picture," Julia said, smiling. "So at least you're not as spontaneous as you seem to be. Anything make you want to not participate in The Incident?"
"Fear, of you, of House, and of losing my job," Wilson said. "Little strands of loyalty I still have intact for my wife. Ummm…the fact that you were sick and we didn't know what it was."
"Is it any better now that you know?"
"Makes it worse," Wilson told her. "For the record, I'm still sorry."
"Me too," Julia said. "I can't help being so attractive, you know. Must be in my genetics."
Wilson burst out laughing. "Oh yeah, you and House are masters of seduction. You should start a business."
"I'm not what I was a few days ago," Julia reminded him. "So…is The Incident resolved?"
"It's up to you."
Julia took a deep breath, not ready to let him stop suffering. Let it go, she told herself. It's over, he's sorry, and he's not going to do it again. "Yeah. It's resolved."
"Good."
"What's next on your list, Jimmy?" Julia asked, attempting to keep the conversation flowing. Maybe it would erase the feeling of regret she had behind her.
"Your diagnosis."
"Oh, that. I have AIDS, and it wasn't my fault. I just want you to know that."
"I know," Wilson said. "House told me. About…you know…"
Julia's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. "Jerk," she muttered. "I don't get it! What else has he told you about me, huh? Since when does he get to go spreading my business around? I told him that in confidence, and that's how it should have stayed. He's known me for all of a week, and he thinks he gets to discuss every detail about me? I bet if he'd known me when I was a baby, he'd be one of those dads that buzzed it around town every time I wet my diaper. Unbelievable."
"Julia, I am – was his best friend," he said helplessly. "Confidence sometimes means it's just between you and me and whoever you trust to tell. For him, that was me."
"Oh, yeah? And who'd you trust to tell, huh? Who else knows I'm not even strong enough to prevent…you know, that from happening?" Julia was shaking from all kinds of unpleasant emotions. I just can't win with these men, she thought.
"I haven't told anyone," Wilson said. "I might be a little dense, but I have some sense of propriety about me, you know."
She nodded, willing to accept this answer. "Good. Anything else you'd like to ask me before I go and kill my father?" She stopped suddenly. "Wait…why is he mad at you?"
Wilson squinted at her. "He didn't tell you?"
"No. Tell me what?"
"Oh, God," Wilson said, feeling sick. "You see, Julia, I didn't know you lied for me that night, and I kind of slipped up during a conversation. House got pretty mad at me, which is totally understandable. Frankly, I would have been worried if he didn't do what he did…"
"Which was what?" Julia asked furiously.
Wilson took a deep breath. "He punched me in the face," he mumbled.
"He what?"
"Julia, he had every right to do it –"
"He punched you? He outed me and then he punched you?" Julia felt faint, only on her feet because of the power behind her anger. "Wilson, I am so sorry. I apologize for what he did. I don't know what to do with him…maybe a leash? Nah, he'd chew through it." She made a fist and began to punch it into her hand. "I say we give him a taste of his own medicine."
"Julia, I don't think that's a wise idea," Wilson told her anxiously. "He's a got a cane, and you don't know how strong he really is, and –"
"He wouldn't fight back, not against me," she assured him. "Not against his daughter, not against someone who's right!"
"Julia –"
She frowned. Wilson's lips hadn't moved and that wasn't Wilson's voice. She turned around slowly and glared at her father.
"What are you doing out here?" He narrowed his eyes as he saw who his daughter was keeping company with. "Is he giving you trouble?"
She took a swing at his face. House saw it just in time and grabbed her wrist to keep her fist from connecting with his mandible. Julia swung her other hand at his face, desperately wanting to at least slap him before he put her in her place, but he blocked that one too. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she screamed. "You told him about…you know…and then you hit him? Are you insane?"
House glared at Wilson. "You told her about us?"
Wilson couldn't help but smile; that was a bad choice of wording. "We're repairing our friendship," he admitted. "I thought I'd finish things in the order I started them."
"I'll show you how to repair your friendship," House began, letting go of Julia. He started towards Wilson.
Julia grabbed his arm and yanked him backward, almost forcing him off his feet. "Don't you dare," she warned him.
House rolled his eyes. "I don't know what you're suggesting I'm going to do, but I assure you, this isn't going to be a physical fight. Me? Violent? Tsk, tsk. How could you think something like that?" He ignored her weary look and turned back to Wilson. "Would you like to explain this?"
"I'm sorry," Wilson said again. "I apologized profusely for what I did, I was forgiven –" he looked to Julia for approval, and she nodded – "and we started talking about…other things."
"What a coincidence, that these 'other things' end up being the only kinds of conversation that will get me in trouble," House commented dryly. "Trying to poison my own daughter against me, Wilson?"
"You don't need any help from him," Julia muttered.
"You know what?" House fumed. "I might not know everything there is to being a good father, but I said and did what I had to do to defend your honor and reputation."
"Have you considered that I don't need your help?"
"Then why did you come looking for me?"
Julia couldn't answer that; she only stared at House blankly, her eyes expressive yet unreadable.
"House, I'm sorry," Wilson tried. "I really am. Look, I give up, okay? I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! I screwed up. Contrary to popular belief, losing my best friend hasn't been all fun and games, okay? I miss you! I miss all the stupid yet incredibly smart things you say, I miss your jokes, I miss that look you give me when I fall off the marriage wagon –"
"You make it sound like we had some kind of kinky romantic thing going on," House muttered. "I don't swing that way, and I was under the impression you didn't either."
"I'm not like you!" Wilson said. "I'm not a robot! I'm not the most sensitive man you'll ever meet –"
"You can say that again," Julia murmured, amused by the thought, hoping it might take some of the edge off of the conversation.
Wilson shot her a dirty look "As I was saying, I'm not the most sensitive man in the world, but I'm not afraid to admit when I'm wrong. I'm not like you."
"Are you calling me emotionless?"
"You be the judge," Wilson told him. "I've done my part; the ball's in your court now. Julia, I've got to go. My wife is at home waiting for me with swatches for our new dining room curtains. We're kind of bonding. Thanks for the advice."
Julia grinned. "Anytime," she said, waving as she pushed House out of the way. Wilson got into his car and drove away.
"Advice?" House repeated. "What are you, Dear Abby?"
"Nice try, but I'm still mad at you."
"May I ask why?"
"He's trying his best, House. Things always get worse before they get better."
He noticed, with regret, that she had called him House. Play offensively, just like in football, he reminded himself. "So I've been demoted to House again, huh? What happened to Dad?"
"I don't know," she said, truly surprised that she had reverted to his last name. "But that's not the point."
"Are you going to make me miserable for this?" House asked regretfully. "I'm letting you stay in my apartment. That's gotta count for something."
Julia, not thinking, said, "Maybe I should go home."
House raised both eyebrows. "Have I really screwed things up that badly?"
Julia thought, then shook her head tiredly. "No, but you're getting there. Anything else I should know about before we go back home?"
He considered the question, then said, "I don't like MTV; therefore, you will not be taking advantage of my cable if that's all you're going to watch."
Julia burst out laughing, giving up the charade. As frequently irritating as he could be, it was impossible to stay mad at him. "Fine," she acquiesced as they walked to House's car. "You're not off the hook yet, Dad, but you're getting there."
You like, or no? That was chapter 21; I know you're getting so tired of pulling together reviews, but maybe you could manage for just a few more chapters? This is almost done, I swear it! Also, voting for a sequel is now open! Should there be one, yes or no? It may affect how I end this story. Thanks for reading!