LostFan4Ever: Thanks for your comments. :o) I'm really glad you like the story.
Mixy/Prinnie:Is Prinnie your personality number 2? I've not met her before. :o) I'll chat w/cha later.
Ok, y'all...I'll post one chapter a day for the next 15 days. How does that sound:o) And yes, I AM evil. :O)
CHAPTER FOUR
Later that night, Chase was at home when he got a call from Cameron.
"Hey, Allison? How's it going?" Chase asked when he picked up the phone.
"Better, thanks. I've been thinking about what happened…" She started to say.
"So have I."
"You know how I feel about House, but, I don't know, I was wondering…"
"Spill it, Allison, please." He begged.
"Will you go out with me Friday night?" She asked.
"I thought you'd never ask." He said. Chase smiled because he'd wanted to hear that for so long. He liked her from the first day she started working at the hospital. But House warned him to stay away from her. Chase never asked why. But, the way he felt about her, he couldn't stay away for long.
---House sat at his piano pounding out the most depressing Beethoven classical tune he could think of. It sounded like a death march of his Green Bean man after being killed by the Thousand Island dressing. He ended it with the Snoopy Christmas song. He took a little bow then downed the rest of the Scotch.
'One more day before Hell Day.' He thought to himself. 'Maybe I'll get Chase to go drinking with me tomorrow night. I don't think Wilson could get permission to leave the hospital just to have a few drinks with me. Few? Try ten.' He chuckled. Then he belted out the Margarita song.
The next morning, Foreman and Cameron sat in the conference room waiting for House. It was 10:30. He wasn't supposed to be there until noon, but they had learned to keep themselves busy.
"Cameron, how have you been holding up?" Foreman asked her.
"Ok. How are things with you and Michelle?"
"She wants to move in."
"That's great!"
"Yeah, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for that or not."
"Not ready for what?" Chase asked as he walked in the room.
"Foreman's getting married." Cameron teased.
"Knock it off, Cameron." Foreman fussed back.
House walked into the conference in a grumpy mood. Well, grumpier than normal. He went directly to the coffee machine, grabbed the whole pot and took it to his office. Foreman couldn't help but grin. The three continued to sit there until he got brave enough to go to House's office.
"Can't you see the 'do not disturb' sign on my door?" House snapped.
"No, but I see it on your forehead. It's always there, though." Foreman answered.
"You want a case all day tomorrow with me?" House asked.
"Sure, that's fine. What kind of case is it?"
"I don't know yet. Don't have one."
Foreman shook his head. "Come to think of it, I think already have another case." Foreman said.
"What kind of case?"
"I don't know yet. Don't have one." Foreman answered then walked out into the hallway.
'Now would be a good time to see Wilson. I haven't seen him since yesterday at noon.' House said to himself as he grabbed his cane and walked out into the hall.
When House walked into Wilson's room, he was sitting in a wheelchair talking to a little boy. Sarah was there, and an older woman.
"House, I'd like you to meet Charlie!" Wilson said, almost screaming. Charlie turned to see who his daddy was talking to then he looked at Housethen at his cane then frowned.
"Hi, Greg. This is my mom, Laura." Sarah said.
"Nice to meet you." Laura said. House simply nodded his head. House looked at the boy and immediately saw the resemblance to Wilson.
"Whus dat for?" Charlie asked, pointing to House's cane.
"A big, gigantic elephant stepped on my foot and broke all my toes!" House teased. Charlie's eyes got real big. Sarah and Laura smiled, but Wilson looked at House suspiciously.
'What's gotten into him?' Wilson thought to himself.
"Well, Charlie, we have to get back, now. Mommy needs to lie down. Say goodbye to Dr. House." Sarah said. Charlie put his little hands on Wilson's knees and gave him as big of a hug as he could without hurting him. Then he walked to House and looked up at him.
"You so taaall!" He said then walked out the door. Laura and Sarah followed him out.
"Ok, what was that all about?" Wilson asked House as he wheeled himself to the window.
"What was what all about?"
"Elephant?" Wilson asked. House just grinned. "Since when do you talk to anyone shorter than you?"
"Uh, since Stacy told me she was pregnant with my baby."
Wilson looked at House in shock and disbelief. "She wha…you wha…baby?" Wilson stammered
"Who the man? I the man!" House said.
"I wouldn't be joking about something like that if I were you." Wilson said. House shook his head and sat in a chair.
"Do you really think Mark is going to believe that it's his baby? House, he's sterile. They've known for two years now. Mark isn't stupid."
"Yes, he is." House said.
"How so?"
"He'd believe anything Stacy told him, even if it was against all medical odds. She said she slept with him that night, too; that was the first time they'd be together since the accident, and the last."
"What are you going to do?" House just stared at him blankly. There was only one person he needed to talk to, and she wasn't going to like it.
Later that afternoon, after putting off seeing her the whole day, he finally got the courage to go talk to Cuddy. He opened her door and went straight to her desk.
"You have a minute?" House asked seriously.
"Sure. I need a break, anyway."
"Actually…" House said as he looked at his watch. "How about dinner? My treat." House said.
She looked at him cautiously. "Your treat? Ok, you're scaring me. What did you do now?"
"Nothing, besides pay for dinner. Now, come on." He said as he reached for her coat and handed it to her. She took it but kept her eyes on him as they walked out of her office.
"Wait, I need my helmet." House said.
"No, you don't. I'm not going on your bike in 40 degree weather in this skirt." Cuddy protested.
He just grinned at her and opened the door from the lobby. A short time later they were seated in a cozy little Italian Restaurant, Italiano Pistora, eating breadsticks and garlic butter. Just as the waiter brought their drinks, Cuddy asked, "So, is it true?" House almost choked on his Scotch when she asked that.
"Good, grief, Greg! I thought I was the one who was supposed to choke from you buying dinner, which I still have to see to believe."
House wiped his chin and shirt dramatically as if he'd spilled it all over him. "Uh, yeah, I'm buying." He answered, with a little grin.
"Cu…Lisa, where do you see us going?" House finally said.
"What do you mean? I thought the woman was supposed to ask that." Cuddy smiled but House didn't smile. "Greg, what do you mean?" He hesitated a moment trying to find the right words as he took his time checking out every person in the restaurant to kill time.
"Lisa, last week, us." House mumbled.
"Ohh, ok. That's what you meant. You have been a real terror the past year, but I have seen some changes in you. Good ones. Positive. I'd like to take it slow and see where we go with it. I know you like to rush things, bu…" The waiter interrupted her when he brought their plates over. They both sat in silence eating but more because neither one wanted to talk, not because they were actually hungry.
"Greg, why did you really bring me here? I know there's more to it." Cuddy prompted House.
He sighed, took a sip of his drink and said, "Stacy's pregnant."
She looked at him blankly. "That's great! I know they'd wan…wait. He's sterile. Greg?" House bit his lip, downed the rest of the scotch, ordered another, and looked directly at her.
"Did you two…you didn't. You DID! When?"
"Four months ago."
"I see. So, all this was to tell me you knocked her up, good riddance, Lisa! You kiss Cameron, sleep with me, get another woman preg…You ba…"
"Lisa, stop it. No, that's not true! Not at all!" House said as Cuddy stood up, tore her coat away from the back of the chair and stormed out of the restaurant. House quickly stood up, grabbed his cane, threw enough money on the table to cover the food, but not the tip and limped out. As the door closed behind him, he looked to his right and saw Cuddy at a fast run to her car.
"Lisa! Hold up! LISA!" House screamed and went after her. She had just put the keys in the car when House grabbed her elbow and forced her to turn around.
"Lisa, listen to me…please! I wanted to know if you thought we'd have a chance because Stacy is still leaving!" Cuddy hadn't looked him in the face as he spoke, but she did when he'd said that. She looked at him for more explanation.
"Lisa, she's going to tell Mark it's his. And they're still leaving. She wants nothing from me. But I finally got that she doesn't love me enough to be with me and raise our baby together. That's why I wanted to talk to you. Lisa, I want to be with you. I wanted to know how you felt about us. Because, if you don't think we'd work out…"
"You'd what?" She said sarcastically. House inadvertently burped and spewed garlic breath all in Cuddy's face, and they couldn't help but laugh.
"I'd do that." House said, then put his arms around her waist and leaned into her, with her back against the car, and her arms went around his waist as well.
"What would you do if I think we will work out?" Cuddy asked with a teasing grin.
"I'd do thissss…" He said as he brought his mouth to her neck and did a raspberry.
"EEwww..stop! You're g…" House planted his lips on hers and gave her a long, deep, passionate kiss. He heard her moan from her throat. And he knew he had her. She was his.
House had just opened the door to his apartment when the phone rang. He hesitated to answer it at first, but then picked it up.
"Hi, Greg, it's Mom."
"Hi, Mom."
"Dad and I are leaving tomorrow at 7:30. We should be there by noon. Is that ok?" House closed his eyes as he pushed the mouthpiece away from his mouth.
"Yeah, fine."
"Ok, we'll call when we get to the airport."
"Ok." House put the receiver back in the cradle.
"You didn't say your parents were coming in!" Cuddy said as she sat on the couch. House took off his jacket and sat on the recliner. You never did introduce them to anyone when they were here a while ago."
"They met Cameron when they were on their way to Europe."
"Oh, I see. Well, don't bother coming in tomorrow, okay?" House frowned as he looked at her.
"Oh, but boss! I wanna work! Pleeeeeeez!" He whined, with a smile on his face.
"No! You may not work tomorrow. And if you come in, I'll fire you."
"Great! What time will you be in?" House said excitedly.
"As soon as we get up in the morning." She answered then stood up and walked to him, sitting on the knee of his good leg.
"And what time will that be?" He asked.
"It depends on how well I can tire you out!" She said wickedly and kissed him.
The next morning, Cuddy rolled over in House's bed and was startled awake by him screaming and cursing.
"Wha? What is it?" Cuddy asked.
"You kicked my leg! Da…Sh…oooooooohhh!" He moaned.
"Greg, I'm sooo sorry! What ca…" A huge smile spread over his face and he grabbed her and pulled her on top of him.
"That was mean!" Cuddy said as she laughed.
"Hey, when you leave, can you start a pot of coffee?" House asked.
"No, because you have to get up and meet your folks. That will be the incentive you need to get out of bed in the first place!" She said after she pulled herself off of him, stood up and put on her blouse and skirt.
"I have just enough time to go home and change. You know how rumors get started around in that place." She said as she leaned over him and kissed him.
House watched her leave his bedroom. He barely caught himself from saying 'I love you,' which wouldn't have been so bad. But he just couldn't say it. Couldn't bring himself to say it. He could, and he has, but not yet. But he will. He rolled back over, grabbed the pillow hugged it.
Back at the hospital, Stacy was in her office packing up her things when Cuddy walked in.
"I can't believe you are really leaving." Cuddy said with a little tone. Stacy stopped in mid-packing.
"Yeah, I don't know why I even thought it would be a good idea to work here. I must have been crazy."
"No, just hopeful." Cuddy answered.
"Hopeful of what?"
"Thinking it would work. I'm sorry it was difficult for you." Cuddy said.
"It was just as difficult for him. I didn't make it easy for him, either. You want this?" Stacy asked, pointing to a plant on her desk.
"Sure, I can't kill vines, but I kill everything else." Cuddy laughed as she took the pot from her.
"You and Mark will be there at Shenanigan's on Friday, right?" Cuddy asked.
"Definitely."
"Ok, let me know if there's anything you need, Stacy."
"Of course, thanks, Lisa." Cuddy nodded her head and left her office.
House was in his apartment getting things just a little cleaned up for his parents. His mom called an hour ago from the airport to say they'd be by within the hour. He didn't eat breakfast, he couldn't eat. His stomach was in knots. He hadn't even fallen back asleep after Cuddy left. Worst of all, the Vicodin didn't kick in soon enough, but luckily he dropped the dictionary (about 500 pages thick) on his left toe. Well, at least it took care of the pain in his leg.
The doorbell rang. He took in a deep breath and tried to forget to exhale. It didn't work. He heard the doorbell again. He slowly walked to the door and opened it.
"Hi, Greg! It's good to see you again!" Mom said as she hugged him. House tried to avoid looking at his father as he squeezed beside them to enter.
"I see you've cleaned, son." Dad said with a little tone in his voice. House just looked at his dad then at the floor.
'Never a nice word.' House thought to himself. 'I think he thinks he'll keel over and die if he says something nice.'
"Mom, can I get you some coffee...dad?" House asked as he took his parents' coats and hung them in the hall closet.
"That'd be nice, yes, thanks." Mom said. House nodded his head as his dad picked up their suitcases and took them to the spare bedroom.
"Greg, can you get Mom's duffle bag? Last time I checked you had one good arm and leg and can still walk." House felt the sting of his dad's words hit him upside the head. He looked at his mom; she shook her head as if to say, 'son, don't start anything.' He put the cane on the chair, picked up the bag and limped slowly to the bedroom.
"See, that wasn't so tough, was it?" Dad said. House put the bag on the floor by the suitcases and immediately walked out.
"This was made this morning. I hope it's still fresh enough for you."
"Just heat it up in the microwave. It'll be fine." Mom said as she stood in the doorway.
"You make coffee, too? Wow, I'm impressed." Dad hollered from the living room. House dropped the sugar bowl on the counter and sugar went all over the counter.
"Honey, I'll get it. Go in and talk to your father."
"I'd rather have a root canal, with no Novocain." He retorted.
"Greg, stop it. He hasn't been feel..."
"I don't care, Mom." House whispered. "He hasn't said one nice thing to me since he walked through that door. You'd think I'd be used to it by now."
"That's not true. He noticed you cleaned." House couldn't help but grin at his mother. It was just like her - make light of a serious situation.
"No, he just said that because it wasn't clean enough…Ok, here's your coffee. Dad, you want some?"
"Sure, two sugars, little cream." House rolled his eyes. 'I'm 46 years old and he still doesn't think I know how he likes his coffee.'
He thought to himself. He and his Mom walked into the living room and sat down. House was so tense he swore his hand was shaking so badly the coffee would spill in his lap.
"How was your flight?" House asked, just because he couldn't think of anything else to think of to ask.
"Terrible, just terrible. There was an hour wait through security, then someone was in our seats, then there was a lot of turbulence, then we had to wait on the runway for 45 minutes before we got cleared, then..." House blocked Dad out at this point. Usually when there were more than three 'then's', he knew when not to listen.
"It was fine, dear." Mom said, trying to calm the situation.
"You still play that rackety ole' thing? I don't know why you keep that big thing in this small apartment."
House put his head in his hand and closed his eyes, rubbing his temple. 'I'm getting a migraine already? That's a record, I think.'
"You have a headache? I've got..." Mom started to say.
"No, no, Mom. I'm fine. Will you excuse me?" House said as he stood up and went to the bathroom. He ran cold water over his face, even though he'd washed it 30 minutes ago. He didn't know how much more of his father he could take. He took out the bottle of Vicodin and popped more than he'd ever taken. He wasn't quite sure how it was going to affect him, but he didn't care. He took a deep breath and walked back into the living room.
"So, how's that girl you introduced us to when we were here before, Greg? She seems so sweet." Mom asked.
"Fine."
"I don't think it's sweet you need, Greg. You need someone who's going to kick you in the ass when you need it, which is pretty often." Dad snorted. House tried to hide the hurt in his eyes but Mom caught it. She nudged Dad with her elbow, hard.
"Have you two eaten? There's a good restaurant down the street." House suggested, hoping to have just them go.
"We had the nasty airplane food and I got heartburn an..." Dad complained.
"Dad, will you stop! God! You have done nothing but complain since you got here! Would you just shut UP!" House shouted. He immediately realized what he said and wished he could take them back, sort of.
"Gregory, don't you EVER talk to me like that again!" Dad screamed back as he stood up as if he were going to tackle his son.
"Son, I think we'd better go get some food in your father's stomach. What's the name of that restaurant?" Mom asked.
"We come to see our son and he can't even cook us a meal? I didn't raise you to treat us like that, Gregory!" Dad said as he took a step closer to House.
"Dad, sit down, please." House begged, trying to control not hitting Dad.
"Oh, and now you're telling us what to do?" Dad screamed.
House's head began to swirl so bad it felt like it was going to roll right off his shoulders. His face felt flush and he started to sweat. He laid his head back on the chair and closed his eyes, but it only made his dizziness worse.
"Greg, honey, what's wrong? You're pale as a gho...oh, God! His eyes are rolling in the back of his head! Call 911!" Mom screamed.
The paramedics rushed Dr. Greg House into the E.R. with a possible heart attack. Cuddy and Stacy met them in the E.R. room while he was being assessed. Stacy had her hands on her face trying to hold back tears and Cuddy was upset, but calm. His parents were forced to wait outside. Mom House was hysterical; she was yelling at Dad House saying 'it was all his fault...he'd killed their son...'
"Patient is unresponsive; B.P. is 105 over 60, heart palpitation, breathing slow and thready, small pupils, skin cold and clammy." One paramedic said to the doctors and nurses in the room as they picked him up off the gurney onto the exam table.
"What medications is he on?" The Dr. Jackson asked.
"I'm Dr. Cuddy. Dr. House has been taking Vicodin/Hydocosone, 10mg/660."
"How many times a day?"
"About 50mg, I believe." Cuddy answered, but she knew it was more.
"Ok. Let's pump his stomach. I want his liver and kidneys checked for possible acetaminophen toxicity, and give him Rhythamine to...he's seizing! Turn him over! 10cc's epinephrine!" Dr. Jackson screamed urgently.
Several nurses turned him over on his side and put a rubber tong in his mouth to keep him from biting his tongue. Dr. Jackson had to remove it when he vomited on the table and floor. His seizure slowly subsided.
"Get a breathing tube in him, but watch for vomiting! 5cc's Rhythamine to get his B.P. up. Ok, get blood."
Several hours later, House lay on a hospital bed with an oxygen mask and a heart monitor on. His parents had been by his side since they wheeled him in to the room. Dr. Cuddy had just left to let everyone know how he was. She walked into the conference where Foreman, Chase, Cameron and Stacy sat around the table. Their faces worn, tired faces all looked up at her as she walked in.
"How is he?" They seemed to ask all at once.
"His breathing is better and his B.P. is up. There is slight liver damage and no kidney failure. He's going to be fine." She told them.
"No, he's not! He's going to kill himself! I'm surprised he hasn't already." Stacy said a bit too loud.
"I've spoken with the board. He's officially on medical leave. If he wants to continue working here, he has to go through rehab. It's the only way, and it'll save his life. I knew this was going to happen. It was just a matter of time."
"Has anyone told Wilson?" Chase asked.
"Hell, no! That's the last thing he needs." Cameron said.
"Well, he has a right to know." Foreman said. "I'll go tell him."
"Want me to go with you?" Chase asked him. Cameron leaned against Chase for support.
"No, no. I can do this." Foreman said as he walked out the door.
"I've got to go back and see him. I'll keep you all posted." Cuddy said and followed Foreman out the door.
---House lay in bed, still unconscious. His parents just walked out to get something to eat in the cafeteria. Cuddy walked into the room and checked the monitors; they were all fine. He was still on the oxygen mask because his breathing wasn't strong yet.
'Greg...oh, Greg. You idiot! Why did you take more than you had to? I just got you. I don't want to lose you now.' Cuddy thought to herself as she leaned over the bedrail and kissed him on the cheek. She laid her head on his shoulder and cried hard. Harder than she'd ever cried. Well, except for when her father died. But she couldn't go through another death. Not her Greg.
"Greg, don...leeev meee..." Cuddy cried. Her head jerked up when she felt his right hand on her head. His eyes were still closed but he had a slight grin on his face.
"...hmmmph...hey..." House muttered.
"Oh, Greg! I thought you were...ohhh..." She started crying again but it was a cry of relief.
"Carm...you're get...my sheees wet..." He mumbled.
Cuddy giggled a little and kissed him. "Don't you ever do that again, you hear me!"
"...Mommm..."
"They're downstairs getting something to eat."
"Don...et...Dad...ba..." House started to say but then had to swallow.
"You don't want your dad back in here, baby? Ok, ok. I'll see what I can do."
"No...noo..I don't...no..."
"Get some sleep. It'll be alright. I'll help you through this. You're not alone anymore, baby." She said as she rubbed her nose against his cheek.
"Leee...a..."
"Yes, baby?"
"...uuuv ewe.." House whispered, then closed his eyes and slept.
---Foreman walked into Wilson's room and he was sitting up in the bed, looking at a photo album.
"Hey, Wilson! How's it going?"
"Great! I'll be out of here tomorrow, but won't be to work for another couple of weeks. Hey, I want you to see these. They're pictures of my son, Charlie."
Foreman's eyes bugged out and his eyebrows raised. "Really? I thought you didn't have any kids."
"Neither did I, but apparently I do." Wilson said proudly as Foreman looked at a few pictures.
"Wilson, I've got some...something's come up." Foreman started.
Wilson wasn't alarmed until he saw Foreman's face. "What is it?" He asked as he closed the album.
"It's House. He was admitted a few hours ago with acetaminophen toxicity. Those damn pills finally got the best of him."
"Is he alright?" Wilson asked, alarmed.
"Yes, thank God. Slight liver damage, but he's fine."
"Good. I'm not surpri..."
"Well, it seems he had taken more than he should have. He doesn't know it, but he's on a suicide watch." Foreman told Wilson.
Later that night, House lay in bed with a headache, swollen eyes that he could barely keep open and sick to his stomach. He'd been awake just a few minutes, but he wanted to go back to sleep, forever.
"Greg, honey, you awake?" Mom asked as she stood at the foot of the bed, but he pretended he didn't hear her. He was afraid of hearing his father's voice, too.
"Please try to understand your father. I don't know how much more I can take being in the middle of you two bull-headed m…"
House couldn't take it anymore. He rolled over on his back and looked at his mom. She had tears in her eyes, and he couldn't stand to see her cry. He'd only seen her cry twice before; once when he was a kid, and the other when she'd seen him after the infarction.
"Mom, what are you doing here so late?" House asked.
"I bribed a nurse." She said then wiped her eyes. "Dad's hom…"
"Don't, pleee…I try to deal with him, I really do, but sometimes…"
"I don't want to talk about his now. But I don't understand why you took so many."
"I don't either, Mom. I don't know." House said as he closed his eyes. It was going to be a long night.
---The next morning, Sarah was helping Wilson get his things together to go back to her place. Julie had made arrangements to have his things brought to her place. Julie hated Wilson for what he did, and she'd had enough, but she also loved him enough to ease up on him while he was recovering.
"Have you seen Greg, yet, honey?" Sarah asked him as she helped him put his shirt on over his arms and head.
"No." He simply answered. By his short answer and tone of voice, she remembered when not to press Wilson too much. An attendant walked into his room with a wheelchair to take him to sign himself out. He didn't say a word when he slowly sat down and they left the room.
"Wait, can we make a stop, first?" Wilson asked the attendant.
"I'm not a cab driver, Dr. Wilson!" He teased, but nodded his head.
"Sarah, can you wait here for just a moment?"
"Of course." She answered with a smile; she knew what he needed to do. So Wilson headed down the hall to the elevator.
When Wilson was wheeled into House's room at just after 10a.m., House sat at the window staring out. His headache had gone away but now his ears were constantly ringing. He turned around when he heard the squeak from Wilson's wheelchair.
"I'll be back in five minutes, Dr. Wilson." The attendant said and left the room.
"How ya…wow, you look like hell." Wilson cut himself off.
"Thanks." House answered as he grabbed onto the side table, bounced up as he reached for the bedrail and sat down. His face contorted from the pain in his leg; they wouldn't allow him pain medication of any sort, and it caused him to get no more than an hour-long sleep.
"House, what's going on?" Wilson asked.
"I'm leaving this afternoon for rehab." House said solemnly, almost in a whisper, out of shame.
"Ah, ok. That'll be good for you."
House looked up at him. "Wilson, I can't do this. I can…" House said as tears built up in his eyes.
"There will be plenty of support for you there."
"Shut up." House screamed bluntly.
"You know, I didn't deserve that, House." Wilson snapped back.
"Shut up!" He repeated.
"I wish you luck, old man. You'll need it." Wilson said nastily as he put tried to push the wheels back but the pain surged through his body. Just then the attendant walked in and wheeled him out of the room.
House sat on the bed regretting was he'd said. But the pain in his leg was unbearable, and he knew it was only going to get worse. Oh, not the pain in his leg; the fact that he'd have to say goodbye to Stacy. Stacy sat in her empty office, at her empty desk, staring at her empty wall. Her heart felt as empty as the room. She felt like she was committing the ultimate betrayal against House; not because he'd almost killed himself with the Vicodin and she never tried to stop him, but because she wasn't allowing him to have the opportunity to see his child grow up.
'This is better for him.' Stacy thought to herself.
"Yes, it is." Cuddy said as she'd walked in the room but Stacy hadn't noticed, or realized she'd said it out loud.
"Lisa, is this difficult for you?" Stacy asked.
"Harder than anything I have ever done before." She answered. But she couldn't think of anything else to say. Cuddy didn't want Stacy to know she knew about their baby.
"Why is it that we have to be around him during the most difficult time of his life? When he's the most miserable?" Cuddy asked.
"Because it'll test your love for him." Stacy answered. Cuddy looked up at her in surprise. She wasn't expecting that.
"But Stacy, you loved him. What do you mean 'test my love for him?'"
"Oh, there were days before his leg that I loved him. Then on days when I hated him I'd want to punch the daylights out of him. Then after his leg, it was the same thing. It was such a rollercoaster ride. But he's too stubborn. He never changed, and I always thought he would."
"Stacy, I think we've all made that same mistake at one time or another."
"Oh, and there will be plenty more. When you wake up next to him and watch him sleep, he can look like an angel. Then another day you see him when he's awake and he looks like the devil himself. I hope you can handle him better than I did." Cuddy looked at Stacy confused because she hadn't realized Stacy knew about her and House.
"It's ok, Lisa. I knew. I saw the way you were with him last night. I'm happy for you, happy for Greg. I hope you have a lot of patience because the road ahead of him is going to be a long one."
Cuddy nodded. "I know that. And I will try, to be good to him. Good for him."
"Well," Stacy said as she looked at her watch. "He should be leaving soon. We should say goodbye."
"You go first. I'm seeing him to the rehab center." Cuddy told Stacy. Stacy nodded her head and walked out of the door. Cuddy threw herself on the back of the couch hard and prayed. Just a quick one. For Greg…her Greg.
Stacy walked into Greg's room and he had changed into jeans and an AC/DC sweatshirt. His face was drawn, tired, his eyes black and she could see the pain in his eyes. Stacy couldn't think of anything 'right' to say.
He looked up at her like a little boy about to get his first haircut. "Hey." House said.
"Hi. I remember that concert." She said as she walked to the bed. "Came to say goodbye."
"Oh, thought you came for a quickie before they shipped me off to the dawgs." House said without a smile.
"Greg, I'm sorry you have to go through this, but you are not alone. Everyone here is behind you 100."
"Oh, yeah, they're lined up to watch me wheel out of here then have a huge party afterward."
"Greg, seriously, I want you to be happy. You'll get through this. You never gave up on me when you chased after me, did you?" She said with a little smile on her face.
He nodded his head. "Stacy?"
"Yeah?"
"Be good to that baby, ok? Will you ever come back?" House said staring at the blanket on the bed and fiddling with his socked toe.
"Of course I will. We will. I promise." She reassured him.
"Greg?"
"Huh?"
"Be good to Lisa, ok?" Stacy said as she walked toward him. "Remember I care about you." She reached her hand up and put it on his right chin and cheek. He didn't look at her. He couldn't. He felt the tears brim in his eyes and he couldn't let her see them. When he did get the courage to look at her, a single tear fell down his cheek. She leaned in and brushed her cheek against his to get the tear. She closed her eyes.
"I love you, Greg." She whispered. He felt her chest heave a bit as if she were holding back a breakdown cry. When he opened his eyes she was staring at him.
"Goodbye, Stacy." House said under his breath.
"No, Greg. See you later." She corrected him. He nodded and watched her walk out the door.
Is Stacy out of his life for good? Will she be returning? How will House cope being in rehab?
Join in to Chapter 5...same HOUSE WEBSITE...same HOUSE MYSTERIES... :o)