Chapter 9
Sheraton—12:15 PM
As she got off of the elevator, Cuddy scanned the hotel's lobby once again. While she had managed a two mile walk, a swim in the hotel pool and listening to Chopin to deal with her nerves, she still felt anxious about this whole deal. Am I ready to go back into standard practice? She frowned while straightening her cream-colored blouse and maroon blazer once again.
Then she heard a familiar voice. "Lisa?"
He turned to see Frank Landers walking toward her. "Frank, what are you doing here?" She took a long look at his navy suit and guessed, "Job interview or conference?"
"Job acceptance actually. Fishburne offered me a position in Oncology. And you?" he indicated.
"Radiology." She smiled. "Congratulations, Frank. I have to admit that this is a surprise since you're tenured back in New York."
He shrugged. "Jolene and I have wanted to come out here for a couple of years now. Besides, after what happened in Princeton, James needed a local job. Fishburne's offer enabled everyone to have what they really want. Wait until you see what Angie, Belinda and I can accomplish out of that department."
Recalling what those three had produced in the last couple of years within the professional literature, she nodded. "I hope my team's as good. By the way, you haven't seen House, have you? He took off earlier this morning and hasn't been seen since."
"No, I haven't seen him. He's probably scoping out the locals, I'd imagine," he replied.
"That's what I'm afraid of. Frank, we haven't signed our contracts yet," she worried.
"He's a big boy, Lisa."
"Emphasis on boy," she groused, frowning. "Well he knows we're supposed to meet over there. Mind walking over or do you want to drive?"
He shrugged. "It's not that hot outside. Let's cross the street. It'll give us a chance to catch up."
She smiled, feeling glad to have somebody to talk to on the way to the meeting.
12:45 PM—Fishburne's suite
Frank and Cuddy had a very engaging conversation on the walk over to the hospital and in the elevator. As they got off, he mentioned, "This is the place."
Lori looked up. "Good afternoon, Drs. Landers and Cuddy. How are you?"
"We're fine, Lori," he greeted with a smile. "Have you two met officially?"
"Not yet but it's a pleasure, Lori," Cuddy agreed while shaking the receptionist's hand.
"Likewise. Drs. Fishburne and House are waiting for you both."
"He is?" Cuddy took a deep breath to stay composed before she blew her cork. I worry all morning about him and he's right here?
"Thanks, Lori," Frank expressed as he and Cuddy made their way into the office.
"Lisa, Frank, glad you're here! How was your morning?" Fishburne greeted.
"Great," she replied. "Just out exploring the territory."
"Glad you made it, Cuddy," House noted almost flippantly. "You should try the coffee across the street. It's something else. You could say the artwork is too but I promised to be nice." He arched a brow at her.
"Glad you took my suggestion from last night. I often go there myself," the administrator agreed while producing three folders. "It's supposed to be modeled after a place in Smallville."
"The original theater," Frank agreed, suppressing a shudder. Dave really wants a replica of THAT place here?
"That's what Lex said too," House added while sipping irreverently on a cup of coffee. Still he noted Frank's reaction despite the latter's attempt to hide his feelings. That theater has something to do with Mr. Scary's attitude with things. Interesting….And another piece is added to the puzzle.
"You'll all have plenty of time to go there as well as the other sites around the city. Meantime, if you could read those documents over and sign them, I would appreciate it," Fishburne told them.
As they looked at the documents, House considered the scenario opening up before him with new people, locale, regional hang ups, etc. to adjust to and deal with.
She looked at him anxiously, still wondering how she would handle moving back onto the front lines. Come on, Lisa, you can do this!
A shared glance decided things. (Even if House would never admit it to anyone else.) They both signed the papers and handed them back to Fishburne.
"Excellent!" The administrator buzzed his intercom. "Lori, please page Dr. Dubois. Thanks."
"I suppose we can tell her now?" House queried, feeling impatient by the developing plot.
"I plan to," Fishburne replied. "I also have something for her to hear as well." With that, they waited for Angie to show up.
1:30 PM
After a busy day, Angie finished her rounds and the waiting paper work on her desk. While she and Dave had salvaged some enjoyment out of the visit with their friends and the latter's families, the trip had stressed them both out. Needless to say, it was good to be home.
While heading to a patient's room, she glanced at the doors to Dr. Fishburne's suite wondering what was going on in there. Lori hadn't allowed any phone calls for the last two hours. Is he okay in there? She filed the thought and tended to the older gentleman in there, making sure that everything was okay with his care.
Then her beeper went off.
"What the?" she asked herself, studying the message.
"Everything all right, Doctor?" he inquired.
"Sure. Mr. Patterson, I need to check with my Dean on something. If you can excuse me?" she replied while heading out and toward the suite.
Lori smiled. "Dr. Dubois, Dr. Fishburne wanted to see you. Go right in."
"Thanks," Angie expressed anxiously while heading into the room. "Lisa? House? Frank? What are you doing here?"
"Hi, yourself. Don't look so happy to see us," House cracked with a smirk.
"Take a seat, Angela. Everything's fine," her boss indicated while closing the door. "Would you like some coffee?" He buzzed the intercom. "Lori, put calls to voice mail and join us, will you?"
"Right away," the receptionist agreed. A minute later, she came in with her laptop in hand ready to type.
"Right." Fishburne walked to the window, looking across Campbell Avenue toward the eastern mountains. "You remember your interview here, Angela?"
"It was a long time ago, Dr. Fishburne, but yes I do. It really was more of a visit than anything else. Dave had a couple of papers to present," Angie remembered.
"You both showed innovation in the middle of everything. That day, we were putting the core of what we have together. We've reached another turning point today like that. The university's looking to bring in several fresh faces and make changes. As I did in the middle of that change, I'm offering good jobs to great people," Fishburne continued. "Meet the department heads for diagnostics and radiology. Dr. Landers has agreed to come on board to work with you in oncology."
"If it's okay with you, Angie," Frank told her.
"But, Frank, you're tenured at St. Luke's. Not that I don't want you out here of course but…."
Frank shrugged. "James needed something close for his wife and kids. With everything that's happened, it made me realize what's really important." He looked at her. "It's not just you and Dave that are out here, everyone's here now. Jolene and I talked with the Petersens, Garth and April just before that garbage happened in Boston. It's up to you though."
"Frank, that's his call not mine," Angie protested.
"Get on with it!" House interrupted, tiring of the overdrawn drama.
"Michael, please. I agree with House," Cuddy concurred.
"Get on with what? Dr. Fishburne, what is this?" Angie demanded, panicking. "Are you firing me?"
House rolled his eyes at the developing insanity in their midst. "You all should write for a soap."
Dr. Fishburne took a deep breath, knowing he would need to adjust to House's irreverence. "It's all right, Angela. First of all, I would just as soon quit before firing you. Now that we've said that, I still have a chair of Oncology to fill. That's you. I want nobody else in that spot. Belinda McDermott and Dr. Landers would be under you. What do you say?"
"Wow," Angie gasped, trying to take in the proposed promotion in stride. "I don't want to screw things up though."
Their boss chuckled. "That's another reason. You're grounded and humble. You have good people around you. Of course, I will work with you. But you're one of the hardest working people I know. Well?"
Angie nodded. "Dave would have a fit if I turned this down." She walked over to the administrator and shook his hand. "I accept, Dr. Fishburne. Thank you."
"One more thing, Angela. From now on, when we're in here, it's Michael. Understand?"
"Absolutely, D…Michael," she agreed. "Thank you. And I'd like Dr. Landers and McDermott under me as you proposed."
"Done. Congratulations, everyone. Did you get that, Lori?" Fishburne indicated.
"I'll record the core of it, sir," the receptionist agreed. "Will that be all?"
"Yes. Thank you."
As Lori left the sanctum, she noticed Dave standing almost stunned in the waiting room. "Dave, what is it? Is anything wrong?"
He shook his head. "Is Angie here? I need to talk to her about something important."
"Just a minute." She knocked on the door and looked in on the doctors. "Dr. Fishburne, David Dubois is here. He needs to speak with his wife."
"Now? Oh no, they didn't fire him over Vogler's garbage," Angie worried. "Dave, is it something you can share?"
"Provided you and Dr. Fishburne can keep it under wraps," Dave agreed while scanning the area. "Crap. What's going on in there?"
"Join us, David, and find out," Dr. Fishburne invited, ushering him inside. "You know the newest members of my staff already."
"Frank?"
"We figured you wouldn't mind," Frank supposed, hugging his friend.
"You got that right!" Dave concurred. "I was hoping for some advice from Angie but if you all want in, I'll definitely take that."
"If we can, David," the administrator agreed. "Everyone, feel free to chime in."
"What is it, Dave?" Angie asked.
"After I taught my classes today, I learned there was a faculty meeting in the History Department while we were gone. Rita McCoon apparently is leaving for another position." He paced around the room.
"And?" Frank asked.
Angie shook her head. "They've elected you as chair, didn't they?"
"It was unanimous. I told them I wanted to talk with you first. With my situation, I don't know if I should do it," Dave confirmed.
"What about it?" Cuddy interjected. "You showed remarkable self-control in Princeton even when you were…well…out of it."
"You've never backed down from anything, Dave," Frank weighed in. "I say go for it."
"I'm staying out of this one," House abstained (for once).
"I concur with Lisa and Frank, David. You could do a lot of good over there in the chair," Fishburne agreed.
"Angie?" Dave asked.
"It's up to you, Dave. You know I'll support you in whatever you decide," she informed him.
"What's your gut feeling?" he demanded.
"God hates a coward," she retorted while picking up the phone. "If I may, Michael?"
Fishburne nodded. "Make the call and then Angela has some news of her own."
Dave stared queerly at him while dialing the number and waiting. "Yes. Dean Armas? Afternoon, sir, this is David Dubois. Yes. She's standing right here. I want to accept the chair, sir. Yes, I'll be there in about fifteen minutes if that's all right. See you soon. Thank you once again."
After hanging up, he looked at his wife. "What's going on with you?"
She smirked at him. "It seems we've had very similar days, Dave. Michael's created chairpersons under him for the UMC's departments. Lisa's running Radiology. House has Diagnostics and I'm the new Oncology chair. What do you think?"
"I'm proud of you," he told her while giving her a kiss. Seeing House squirming, he added, "Some day, Pal, this'll be you. I hope for your sake that I'm right."
"Michael, if we're finished, can I go with him?" Angie requested.
"We are. Congratulations, David. Before you go, I need your signature, Angela, to make it official," Fishburne indicated.
Angie looked the document over and signed it. "There! Thank you once again."
"My pleasure. I'll let Dr. Armas know you both are on your way," her boss agreed.
After they left, Cuddy elbowed House, knowing what was going through his mind. Some times, that's all that was needed…..