CHAPTER TEN
On the flight back home from London, the whole gang was exhausted. Sarah and Wilson kept Charlie occupied with reading and coloring so he'd behave on the plane; Rog read through another medical book; Foreman challenged House to Texas Hold 'Em; Nancy and Melissa watched their 'men' try to cheat at the card game; Cuddy sat by the window looking out as they flew over Wales and Ireland; and Cameron and Chase were both covered up with the same blanket with their heads leaning against the other and their hands entwined under the blanket.
Cuddy sat back in the seat trying to comprehend everything that had happened the past few days. Rog and Melissa didn't get married, and that's the only reason she came here; House and Melissa declared their love for each other but didn't get married; they had a food fight, the first for her since high school, in Mrs. Stone's Inn, and she was going home alone. Not exactly what she planned.
FLASHBACK THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE TRIP
Cuddy had been purposefully giving House a hard time on anything she could, from extra clinic hours or threatening to fire him if he didn't finish the reports on patient's charts. And every time she cornered him with the extra work, he'd moan and groan, as usual, but then he'd do it. That's was it! No haggling, no bargaining. She couldn't figure out what was going on with him because he was being way too cooperative.
Then came the day when it dawned on her what was going on. She saw House and Melissa together in the cafeteria. They were in line with their trays of food, and when they got to the register, House pulled out his wallet and paid for it. She couldn't believe it! She watched them as they headed off to a table and sat down. They sat across from each other, but seemed to maneuver their chairs a little bit closer to each other. They seemed to be whispering, occasionally laughing.
What really clued her in was when Melissa let out a hearty laugh that even Cuddy could hear from the door and then Melissa touched House on his forearm. It wasn't a quick tap; it was a place and hold, which seemed odd for House because he didn't like talking to people, much less people touching him. She thought about going in for a top secret, covert mission, but she knew the perfect day would come to confront them, and so she did. She waited. But it didn't take as long as she planned.
A few days later, shortly around 'General Hospital time', Cuddy went into the doctor's lounge looking for a Pediatrician when she caught, out of the corner of her eye, House and Melissa lying on the doctor's cots together. She smiled to herself, like the Grinch before he swooped down on Hooville. She pushed the swinging door open so hard it hit the wall and made Melissa jump awake which woke House up.
"What in the hell is going on here?" She screamed.
"Nothing, Lisa/Boss." Both House and Melissa said at the same time.
"Lisa, I wasn't feeling good…my stomach was cramping up, and I asked Doc to stay with me. Nothing happened."
Cuddy stood there with her hands crossed over her chest. "House, I am not paying you to sleep while you work, especially with my Assistant."
"Wait, that's not fair." Melissa said. "I'm off the clock, and you know what his excuse is." She said as she cocked her head to him.
"Melissa, I want to see you in my office at 8am; House, you have 4 more hours of clinic duty." Cuddy said then stormed out.
"You have got to be kidding me!" House screamed as he stood up and they walked through the door.
"Doc, I think you need to go out with her again and 'make her happy.' She's been so nasty lately, even to me in the office. I mean, she's always nasty to you, but, that's normal."
Cuddy stormed back to her office in a foul mood, and she rarely was this angry, well, close. She still hadn't figured out why she was this angry because since House had Melissa move in with him, he had changed: He was going to counseling with Dr. Parker, his need for the Vicodin had diminished, he was a lot less stressed out. She should have been happy. But she wasn't.
She stood up and went to get coffee. She saw Melissa in the lobby with House and she walked out the front door to go home, while House headed for her office. Immediately she tensed up and walked back to her desk and sat down.
"Cuddy, what's going on with you?" House asked as he limped in and sat down in the chair across from her. "Has anything happened with that Cole guy?"
Cuddy wiggled in her chair and tried to think of something to say but since she didn't know why she was feeling what she was she was speechless. She wasn't ready to confront House face to face, and she had every intention of firing Melissa the following morning. Not because she was doing a poor job, she wasn't; she was actually an awesome assistant. It was because she couldn't take the chance; exactly what that meant she wasn't sure.
"You know, after all we've been through I thought you'd at least talk to me about stuff." He told her. "I deserve that much."
"House, I don't owe you anything. And no, I don't feel as if I can talk to you openly. You don't seem to have the time anyway."
"Oh, I see. Hmmph." House said. "I think I get it. Are you jealous of Melissa and me? Because you shouldn't be, regardless of what you saw in the lounge. I care about her, just like I care about you and Cameron and Chase and Foreman…well, scratch Foreman. But that's as far as it goes." He said, trying to sound convincing.
"Fine. You can think what you want. But consider this a warning." She told him.
House looked perplexed. "A warning? Warning against what, exactly?"
"When I figure that out I'll let you know."
"I've never seen you like this. It's not very becoming." He told her.
"Neither is your stubble." She shot back.
"Ok, you know what?" House said as he stood up. "I'm done with this right now. When you are willing to open up and tell me what the hell is going on, you know where to find me."
"In the janitor's closet?"
"Yes, exactly." He said as he walked out the door.
FLASHFORWARD TO THE PRESENT
Cuddy never did fire Melissa because she didn't have the heart. House was right, he did deserve an explanation. But she
couldn't tell him she had feelings for him at that time, and gradually she'd come to realize that Melissa was good for him.
"takehouse'sclinichoursawaaay……taaakehouse'sclinichoursawaaay…" A male voice whispered in Cuddy's ear.
"giveforemanchaseandcameronaraaaays…" Another male voice whispered. "rogisyourfaavoriteemployeeeee…" "givemelissaaraaaystoooo…" A female voice whispered. "fiiiirehousssse…" Another male voice whispered.
"HEY, Chase!" House yelled which made Cuddy jump; she'd fallen asleep as she was thinking.
"ImmmmNOTasleeeeep…youallare fiiiired." Cuddy said as she grinned then opened her eyes. Sitting next to her were House and Melissa; peeping from over the front seat were Cameron and Chase; standing in the isle were Rog, Foreman and Nancy; and behind her were Sarah and Wilson.
"Can't a woman get some peace around here?" She asked as everyone cracked up and either walked away or sat down in their seats, while Melissa remained in the isle talking to Cameron.
"What's up, boss!" House said cheerily.
"Me, now." She said with a laugh. "Who went away with the pot?" She asked, referring to the poker game.
"Oh, what a pathetic wimp! I took all his money! He should stay away from Vegas." House said and immediately the back of his chair was violently pushed forward.
"I heard that, House! And tell her the truth!" Foreman said from the seat behind them.
"Ok, ok. He won, so I had to pull out my Smith & Wesson and shot him to death. Cuz he cheated. It was justifiable homicide, boss!" House told Cuddy.
"I DID NOT! I won fair and square." Foreman objected.
"Ok, he's right." House said.
"Thank you, House." Foreman replied.
"He is a square." House shot back. Again, Foreman pushed his seat forward violently. House just laughed sadistically.
"So, do I have my clinic hours revoked?" House asked Cuddy.
"Nope. I've just added two more." She told him.
"You know? Did I ever tell you how much I love your sense of humor?"
Cuddy answered seriously, "I have a sense of humor? Wow, I didn't know that. No one's ever told me that before."
"Ok, ok. I give. Are you really ok?" He asked her.
"Ok with what?"
"Me and Melissa." House answered. "I mean, after your little jealous spat I didn't want to leave another woman with a broken heart."
"Oh, please. And yes, I'm okay with you and her together. Just don't mess with her or you'll have me to answer to." She said seriously.
"Ok, good." He said and stood up facing down the cabin. "Missy, our boss said we can have an affair now!"
House yelled with a 'thumbs up' sign, even though she was now sitting directly in front of Cuddy.
Melissa blushed, shook her head and said, "Doc, go back to your seat!"
"But I wanna hear all the latest gossip from you ladies….eh, Chase? Have you heard anything lately?" House asked after he'd turned around to face Cameron, Chase and Melissa.
"Hey, Chase! Why don't you go kick House's butt in poker!" Melissa suggested so she could get him away while she and Cameron got caught up on the visit from her brother, Doug.
"Fat chance!" House challenged Chase.
"You don't scare me, House." He answered back.
"Well, you should be. Be afraid, be very afraid." He shot back as Chase stood up and the two went to the center row isle.
"Now, Allie, tell me! I've been dying to ask but have been busy wi…did Doug kick Chase's ass?" Melissa asked but in a soft whisper.
FLASHBACK MONTH EARLIER
Cameron has been nervous all day while working at the clinic because her older brother, Doug, was coming to visit for that evening. He was in Jersey for a conference in Atlantic City the following day. She caught herself from giving a patient an injection with 50 insulin rather than the needed .5 insulin. Chase, on the other hand, was quite calm and collected, even though Cameron had pre-warned him about her brother. Cameron walks into the conference room that afternoon and heads straight for the coffee pot.
"Why can't anyone brew the next pot when it's EMPTY!" Cameron fusses at the three sitting around the table, who just stare at her like she's a mad woman. She puts the filter and scoops of coffee in, hits the 'brew' button then walks to the table and sits down.
"What's wrong with you, Cameron?" Foreman asks.
"Her brother is coming in from Atlanta tonight." Chase simply answers.
"Oh, I've heard about him. You got your will last wil…" Foreman starts to say but is cut off by House who screams from his office.
"…floor, you dillweeds!" All of them look at House and try to figure out what he is saying.
Rog gasps then runs to the machine, where the hot coffee is pouring onto the burner, making a 'sizzing' and crackling sound. He grabs the pot sitting next to the machine and quickly places it on the burner. Cameron runs over to the pot, too, and starts to help clean up.
"I'm sorry, guys." Cameron says.
"ROG! Get in here!" House screams from his office. Rog turns to look toward House's office and his hand accidentally knocks over the entire full can of coffee, which sends it crashing to the carpeted floor.
"Thank God House didn't see that." Rog says.
"I'll get this, Rog. You go on." Cameron says as she scoops up the coffee with the cup and puts it in the nearby trashcan.
"Yes, Dr. House?" Rog says as he opens the door to his office.
"There's an 'Anti-Klutz 101' class in 15 minutes. I want you to attend. I would have gone myself, but like a klutz, I wrote the date in last month's calendar page." House says with a smirk.
"Uh, I didn't do that."
"Then why were you the first to the machine?"
"Because I was the closest, Sir."
"Who did it?"
"Dr. Cameron, Sir."
House nods. "Ok, then you just got two hours of my clinic duty."
"I don't do clinic duty, Sir." Rog corrects.
"Oh. Then tell Chase he does."
"Is that all you wanted?" Rog asks.
"Yeah, you can go now." House says and Rog does so.
Rog walks back into the conference room and tells Chase he has House's clinic hours. "Yeah, we'll see if that happens." Chase tells Rog.
Rog goes to help Cameron clean up. Of course, Chase and Foreman sit where they are and says, "Let us know if you need any help."
A few minutes later, Cameron's cell phone goes off to the tune of Ricky Martin's 'Livin' La Viva Loca.' She pulls it out of her pocket, looks at it then looks into House's office. He sits at his desk with a sly grin on his face. She shakes her head, stands and heads to his office.
"House, I was right there! Couldn't you have hollered? Or even seen I was busy?" She snaps.
"Ooooh, are you getting snippy with me, woman?" House says as he sits up straight in his chair.
She gives him a death glare. "I am not your woman, and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't say that again."
"Ok. That was uncal…" He starts to say.
"Yes, it was. Now, what did you want?" She asks as she puts her hands on her hips.
"I saw you forgot to put the pot on the bur…" House starts to say.
"You SAW me forget it and you didn't SAY anything!"
"Would you stop interrupting me! And yes. I wanted to see if you'd really do it. That's something Rog would do but not you. Where is your head at?" He asks.
Cameron sighed and sat down in the chair. "It's my brother. He's coming in this afternoon."
"So?"
"He's not the most pleasant person to be around."
"So?"
She gets a bit perturbed. "Fine! He is a chauvinistic, egotistical, know-it-all, 'do it my way' person and he always sets me on edge."
"Then why did you invite him?"
"Because he's my brother." She answers.
"So?" Cameron shakes her head as House says that. "Look, do what I do, okay?"
"I will not take pain k…"
"Oh, do shut up! It's a little trick I learned, though I haven't put it to use yet." House tells her. She looks at him inquisitively. "When he's not looking, slip some Batrobitrol into his wine. He'll be out in five minutes."
Cameron stands up but House says, "I'm joking, calm down." Cameron remains standing.
"Whenever you get yourself stressed out while he's there, ask to be excused and go to a quiet place, like, the bathroom for five minutes and count while you breathe in and out." House says seriously. Cameron shakes her head and walks out, leaving House confused because he is being dead serious.
House allows Cameron to go home early that day, but of course she has to do an hour of his clinic duty. 'I'm gonna have to talk to Melissa about putting some 'niceness' medication in his cereal.' She thinks to herself as she drives home.
Chase isn't home yet because she asked him to go to the grocery store to buy some things. She changes clothes and has an hour to get the salad and spaghetti ready. She drinks a glass of wine while she changes just to calm her nerves. Then she has another when she makes the salad. Then she has another when she makes the spaghetti. So, she is already tipsy when Chase makes it to her place.
"You want some wine, Robert?" She asks when he sets the food on the counter.
"No, thanks. Already had a fifth of whiskey on the drive here." He teases. "Has he called yet?"
"No, he wasn't going to."
"I meant House." He says.
She is about to put the spoon of sauce in her mouth to test the seasonings when she stops dead cold and looks at him. "Why would he call?"
"I ran into him on the way out and he sort of invited himself. What could I say?"
"Uh, you could have said NO." She says as she puts the spoon on the counter and walks over to Chase. She puts her fingers around his mouth and puckers them. "Put the tip of your tongue at the back of your front top teeth and say 'oh.' That's how you say no."
"Allison, I can smell the wine on your breath. How much have you had?"
"A couple glasses, why?"
"Because you're drunk already." He says as he looks at the bottle. "Girl, it's half empty!"
"Oh, well, yeah. We have a mouse, too."
"Come on. I've never seen you this stressed out...oh, wait, yes I have." He says with a sarcastic grin.
"Shut up, Robert and help set the table. The sooner he's out of here, the better."
"Hey, he's your boss."
"No, I meant Doug."
"Cameron, it can't be all that bad." She fills a huge pot with water to cook the spaghetti and the doorbell rings. She almost drops it back in the sink.
"I'll get it, babe." Chase says as he walks to the door, takes a breath and opens it.
As the door opens, standing there is a man about 5'11", dark hair, brown eyes, shoulders twice as wide as Chase's and weighs about 240 lbs; chunky, not extremely heavy, more muscle, built like a lineman for the Rams.
"Hi, come on in." Chase says as he opens the door wider for Doug to enter.
"Hey, you're punier than I thought you'd be." Doug says laughing then stuck out his hand for a handshake. Chase turns to look at Cameron as she walks toward them.
"Hey, Doug. How's it going?" She asks as she gives him a hug; she seems to disappear in his arms.
"Good. You still haven't eaten, huh?" Doug says as he walks into the living room.
"No, it'll be ready soon." She says, knowing full well he is referring to her boney arms and legs.
"So, Bobby, I've heard a lot about you. You taking care of my little sis?" He asks as he sits down.
"Of course."
"Let me get the spaghetti going and I'll be right out. Doug, you want some wine?"
"Sure, that'd be great. But make mine a Jack, will ya?"
"You still drinking that straight?" She asks him.
"Of course." He says as he pats his full stomach.
"So, Bobby, I hear you're from England."
"Uh, no. Australia."
"Oh, crickey!" Doug says with a very bad Aussie accent. "No kidding! What did you do to make them kick you out of there?" He asks as he takes the glass from Cameron and she heads back to the kitchen.
"I'm from Adelaide, actually Sydney born and raised." He says proudly.
"Oh! I heard Al loved it in the Barossa Valley! All that goood wine! She just loves wine." Doug says, but she never mentioned it to Chase before so he thinks Doug is being sarcastic.
"Actually, I loved Coopers beer!" Cameron hollers out from the kitchen as she plays along with Doug's stupid comment. She has never been there; she just hears Chase talk about the beer.
"Ok, done." Cameron says as she sits down on the couch across from her brother with a glass of wine in her hand. Chase makes a mental note to make sure she doesn't overdo it with the wine.
"My boss is coming for dinner, too. He'll be here any minute." She says as she sips her wine.
"Oh! You're doing your boss and Bobby?" Doug says a little too loud.
Cameron cringes and thinks to herself, 'No. He's also an arrogant, self-centered jerk, too. You should get along with him just fine.'
"My name's Robert, not Bobby." Chase corrects him.
"Oh, ok, sure, Bobbo. Sorry 'bout that." Doug says as the doorbell buzzes.
"Oh, that must be House now." Cameron says as she jumps up a little too fast and sets the wine glass on the coffee table. She opens the door and finds House in black jeans, white, plain t-shirt and his bike jacket holding his helmet.
"Come in, House." She says as she reaches for his helmet.
He nods and steps through the door, takes off his jacket and hands it to her. He sees Doug and Chase sitting in the living room as Cameron goes to the bedroom to store his stuff. House hates introductions; he is more for the sarcastic-comment opening line to introductions, but under the circumstances, he thinks it best he doesn't. He starts to walk toward them when Cameron bounds out from the back.
"This is Doug, my brother. This is my boss, Dr. Gregory House."
"Hey! You go by your full name, too? What is it with you all in Jersey?" Doug asks. Cameron rolls her eyes but she has her back turned so no one sees it.
"No, I go by House. Dr. House." He says curtly.
"Ah, James Bond! Got it!" Doug says with a laugh, but he is the only one that does. House looks at Cameron and notices her shoulders are tense and square, a sure sign of her nerves about the break.
"Need help with dinner, Cam...Allie...Allison?" House asks, not because he wants to help, but because he doesn't want to be in the same room with her brother.
"Sure. You can help with the garlic." She says as she turns to the kitchen.
"Oh, I don't do garlic. I break out in hives, grow fangs...it's disastrous." He says as he follows her to the kitchen.
They all sit down to dinner, and is going well, until Cameron finishes her fourth glass of wine and is so drunk she is slurring her words.
"What's the matter, sis? Can't hold your liquor?" Doug asks her. She shoots him a look that only little sisters can give.
"So, Doug, what do you do for a living?" Chase asks, hoping to change the subject.
"I'm a freelance photographer." He answers.
"Oh, so, basically, you have no job." House says sarcastically as Cameron bursts out laughing.
"Oh, that's a good one, House!" Cameron stutters.
"So, Dr. House, what happened to your leg?" Doug asks him.
House looks at him surprised at his bluntness, and so rude. "I kicked a punk ass like yours in college and broke my foot in his a..."
"Uh, I think we're pretty much done with dinner. What do you say we go into the living room?" Chase asks as he tries to avoid an unnecessary confrontation as he stands up and heads for the living room.
"Cameron, don't you have something to do in the bedroom?" House asks as he stands up and reaches for his cane.
"Oh, geez, sis! Not while I'm in the house." Doug spits out as he walks into the living room.
"Doug, why don't you shut the hell up!" Cameron says as she grabs two plates and heads to the kitchen. Doug gives her a look like he's just been kicked in the balls. House smiles, and makes sure Doug sees it.
"Cameron...eh, need help?" Chase volunteers, pulling a 'House.'
"No, I've got this under control." She says as she puts the plates back down and heads to the living room, ready to give the first
Oscar performance of her life.
"You know what? I've sat here and listened to you be rude, insult, belittle and disrespect my boyfriend and boss! And I've never said anything, even when we were growing up. But I'm not going to let you do it anymore! I'm not a child, Doug. Stop treating me like one!" Chase and House stand in the dining room speechless as they watch her pound her brother.
"You know what your problem is, Douglas! You are too pathetic in the life you've chosen that you have to condescend to everyone that's around you! And the only person you are hurting is yourself! I've got something to do in the bathroom." She says quickly and goes to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
"Ah, there she goes again. Geez, that girl is always PMS'ing." Doug says with a laugh. Chase looks at House but not for guidance. He knows exactly what he needs to do.
"Doug, I think you'd better go, now." He tells Doug.
"What, her boyfriend's gonna kick me out of his own sister's apt? You've got the nerve." Doug starts to say as he stands up and walks to the door.
"No, he's doesn't have the nerve, but I do." House says as he holds out the cane behind Doug's knees while Chase stands in front of him.
"Yes, I am. Now go." Chase says as he walks forward so Doug can gradually run into House's cane.
"I most certa..." Doug starts to say but he trips on the cane and falls back on his butt. House and Chase both laugh out loud. Doug slowly stands up, brushes the back of his pants and walks to the door.
"Well, it was certainly a pleasure meeting you." House says sarcastically as he opens the door. He shoots a glare at House as he turns around and walks out, with House slamming the door behind him. House and Chase look at each other, and they both hold out their hand for a high five.
"You need to go check on your girl, Chase. Thank her for dinner. See you two tomorrow." House says as he walks to the door.
"Oh, my stuff." He says as he turns back around.
"I'll get it." Chase says and quickly goes to her bedroom, opens the door and grabs his jacket and helmet, all the while hearing Cameron with her face in the toilet throwing up.
FLASHFORWORD TO THE PLANE RIDE HOME FROM ENGLAND
"Wow, I can't believe Robert stood up for you." Melissa said she giggled.
"Yeah, isn't he great?" Cameron said.
"How was your head the next day?"
"Oh, just a little hangover. And I thanked Robert, too." She said with a half-smile.
Melissa looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?"
Cameron just winked and said, "Twice." They both giggled as Chase walked toward them.
Chase had a big smile on his face. "Hey, Foreman! I got your money back!" Chase said laughing as he walked toward him.
The rest of the flight was uneventful, except little Charlie wanted House to wake up so he could play with him. House had the back of the seat reclined with a blanket over him and his right leg stretched out in the isle. Charlie stood at House's left knee and stared at him, afraid to touch his one leg because of what happened that one time.
Melissa awoke sitting next to House and egged him on. "Charlie, say Angelina Jolie." He looked at her like she'd just spoke
Chinese.
"Ok, repeat after me…Ann…Jell…eena…Joe…Lee." She spoke slowly so Charlie could pick up what she said.
Charlie smiled and in his cute little 5 year-old voice said a little louder than he had to, "Annjuhweena Johleee."
House didn't move. "Unkel Gweg! I SAID Annjuhweena Johleee!" He said more clearly.
"Huh, huh, where? Angelina! Come back!" House whispered then grinned and opened his eyes. "Did you see where she went?" House asked as he looked at Charlie with his eyes popped open, playing along with him.
"Who?" Charlie asked.
"Angelina Jolie."
"I dunno…tink she went…tha' way." He said as he pointed down the aisle.
House laughed along with Melissa then he picked him up and set him on his left knee. Melissa rested back in the seat and watched House with Charlie. Charlie ran his hand over House's bearded chin. "How come Daddy dunt have one of deese?"
"Cuz he's not a real boy." House told him.
"OH! Daddy's Pin-oak-eeoh?" Charlie asked amazed.
"Yep, something like that." House said and kept playing mind games with Charlie. Melissa had a huge smile on her face the whole time. Sarah came over and grabbed Charlie and told him not to bother House.
"Oh, he wasn't. I was just babysitting. That'll be 40 bucks, please." House said as he stood up to go to the bathroom.
"Uh, right!" Wilson objected from behind them.
When they finally touched down at the airport it took them longer than anticipated and didn't get through customs until after 8pm. They headed to the luggage area where as soon as they turned the corner, Melissa, walking beside House carrying his other duffle bag, swiftly stepped behind House but in front of Wilson and kept walking.
"Melissa, wh…" Wilson started to say.
"Shhh! Just keep walkin', House." Melissa said in barely a whisper.
They took a few more steps and a woman shouted, "Maleeesa! Baybeee! Wharah have ewe been?"
They all stopped at the same time except Melissa, who had been looking in the opposite direction. She banged right into House's back and he almost went forward but he got his balance quickly enough with his cane.
"What is WRO…" House started to say as he turned around.
"WHAT-A-YOU DONE TO MY DAUGHTER!" The woman screamed as she looked at House. The woman was about 5'6" with jet black hair and wild eyes in a ripped, worn jean jacket with sweatpants that looked 50 years old.
"YOU DONE GONE OFF AND MARRIED THIS…THIS…MY GOD, MELISSA JEAN! HE OLDER-'N' YOUR OWN DADDY!"
"Mother, please don…" Melissa started to say as she coward behind House.
"MY OWN FLESH AND BLUD DONE GOT MARRIED AND I HAD TA' READ IT IN DA' PAPER!"
Melissa felt the tears in her eyes and her whole body started to shake. She wrapped her arm around House's waist and buried her face in his back. Rog stood to the right, Sarah, Wilson, Chase and Foreman each stepped forward while Sarah, Charlie, and Cameron stepped back.
"Mrs. FitzHugh, this isn't th…" Cuddy started to say calmly but it was more than she wanted to hear.
"WHAT, MELISSA? YOU PREGNANT, TOO?" She screamed as she took a step toward Melissa.
"House, get her out of here." Cuddy whispered in his ear as she walked by him.
House took a few steps to the left with Rog moving right with Melissa like a shield. Several security guards started to walk toward them and the gang backed off so the guards could take care of her mother. The biggest of the guards grabbed the woman by the wrists and tried to pull them behind her, but she was strong, even for him. They wrestled a few seconds before she was on the floor with four guards on top of her. She was screaming and fighting the whole time.
"WHORE! TRAMP! I KNEW I DID YA WRONG BUT DIDN'T THINK YOU STOOP 'DIS LOW." She muffled.
Another guard escorted the gang to a back room where Melissa was barely able to walk and her eyes were glazed over. She had no strength in her arms and legs and let Foreman and Rog carry her by her arms into the room.
"Melissa…Missy…" House said as she sat down in a chair with her chin to her chest. He bent over and lifted her eyelids up to see her pupils.
"She's in shock. We need some oxygen, now." House said to the guard.
"We have a medical unit we…" The guard started to say.
"We're doctors, just bring the damn oxygen!" House barked.
Melissa was running through a deep, dark forest with just the sound of hoot owls above her and the wind blowing the leaves. Occasionally a twig on the ground would dig into her ankles but she kept running. The voice behind following her was her mother's: that high-pitched shrill that made her spine curl. But she kept running.
She got out into a clear field with no cover, and the voice got closer with nothing to hide behind. She walked backward while facing the trees so she could see her mother approach, but it seemed as if the voice was coming at her from all directions. She flew around in circles so her back would never be behind the trees and she kept looking for her mother.
Circling…round and round, walking backward, tripping over an empty liquor bottle…circling…round…her mother's voice getting louder and louder…tripping…circling…
"No….no!" She said to herself. "She can't hurt me…can't hur…" Circling…round…tripping…she felt a hand on her shoulder. It held tight, shaking her, saying her name over and over…
"Nooooo…NOOO" Melissa screamed out loud as she sat up in bed with her eyes open wide and her feet kicking as if she were running. Sweat poured from her face and it was flushed from the nightmare.
"…issa, Melissa…" She heard someone say and felt strong, warm arms around her shoulders. She looked right at him as if he weren't even there.
"She's com…I can't hide…"
"Melissa…wake up, baby. You're with me." House said trying to comfort her.
"…but she…after me…" She started to say when he held onto her tighter and pulled her toward him.
"She can't hurt you, babe, I won't let her." He said softly into her ear as she stroked the side of her face.
"Gre…Greg?" She said then burst into tears.
She buried her face in his chest and felt his heart beat against her ear. She let all the pain, stress and horror she'd been through all her life into this very moment and cried. Not for herself, but for the fact that House was there for her, was protecting her, did protect her at the airport. 'Airport?' After her sobbing subsided a moment she wiped her cheeks of the tears and looked up at him.
"The a…irport…wha' happened?"
"Babe, don't worry about that now. Wait, I'll be right back."
"No, NO! You said you'd stay." She started to say and the tears started again.
"Babe, I'm just going to get something for you. I'll talk the whole time, ok?" He said.
She let out a laugh-cry; that was one of those laughs you do when you cry over something so petty that it's funny, at the moment. She simply nodded her head. She laid her head back down on the pillow but didn't close her eyes. She wasn't quite sure what she was feeling, but it didn't seem so life-threatening at the time. House walked back into the bedroom with a syringe and vial. "Wha's that for?" She asked.
"It'll help you sleep." He said as he sat down on the bed.
"No, I don't want to sleep, Greg. I can't." She pleaded with him.
"You can fall asleep in my arms, ok?"
"No, no…ca…" She said as she lightly punched him to keep the syringe away from her arm.
"Melissa, STOP IT! I'm trying to help you…please…"
With those words she seemed to calm down and pulled her arm out so he could give her the injection. After he pulled the needle out of her arm he set it on the nightstand and sat next to her until she fell asleep.
"She was after me an…I can't…" She mumbled for a few minutes as her eyes grew heavier and heavier. She grabbed his hand and held onto it as he lie down next to her and put his arm behind her head and held him close to her.
"You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you. You're okay…" House spoke softly and serenely to her until her breathing slowed down and she quit moving her lips as if she still talked to him.
'Wow, I thought I was damaged.' House thought to himself. 'Seems like we're in this boat together.'
He thought about how surprised he had handled the whole situation with her mother as well as he did; surprised at how much he fought for her; surprised at how he felt about her. But he was okay with that. She gave him what he needed, and he gave her what she needed. It was a fair enough exchange.
'As long as neither one of us drown.' Was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep, with Melissa in his arms; a woman who he really loved, and someone who loved him as well.
House woke up a few hours later lying on his side cuddling with Melissa. He felt her heartbeat against his chest and smiled. Then he noticed the speed of her heart, which was way too fast. He sat up and turned her over on her back and placed his forefinger on the inside of her wrist.
"Melissa…Missy…wake up." He said softly patting her face. She moaned then suddenly he noticed the smell on her breath; vomit. He looked at the edge of the bed and saw on the hardwood floor a small puddle of vomit.
"Baby, come on…wake up." He said as he got out of bed, grabbed his cane and went to her side of the bed. He lifted her eyelids to find her eyes were dilated. He reached over to the phone and dialed '911.'
A little time later at PPTH, House was sitting next to Melissa hooked up to an I.V. and oxygen tube in her nose. Her pulse was still too fast and she had become jaundiced and her fever spiked. She thrashed around in the bed like she was having a nightmare and for the first time in his life he was scared. Well, the second time. Dr. Foreman came into the room with her file. House looked up at him but didn't say anything.
"House, her white blood cell count is low, which indicates cellular depression. We also found Thorazine in her system. Did you know she was taking it?" Foreman asked him.
"I gave it to her."
"And did you also know she was taking Lithium?"
House's head shot up and looked at Foreman. "What? No, I didn't. She never told me."
"And it's not written on her chart from her earlier admittance. Congratulations, House, you've just killed your first patient." Foreman said then walked out. House watched him leave then looked at Melissa.
'I couldn't have…no way.' He thought to himself.
"Mo…eee….don…hurts…stop…" Melissa mumbled under her breath.
"Babe…it's Greg…come on…" House said trying to get her to come around. He shook her hard but it did the trick. Her swollen eyelids fluttered open and she tried to focus on him.
"Have you been taking Lithium?" He asked. She slowly shook her head and tried to swallow, but looked like she was in pain as she did.
"You have a sore throat?" He asked.
She shook her head. "Hard t…swall…back hurts…" She barely got out.
"Okay, baby, we'll get you something for that." He told her as she closed her eyes and fell back to sleep. He stood up, walked to the nurse's station and told the head nurse to give Melissa 20cc of Augmentin.
"I'm sorry, Dr., I can't do that."
"Excuse me?" He said.
"We've been instructed not to follow your orders."
"And why the hell not?" He demanded.
"Because Dr. Cuddy told us not to."
House was taken aback by those words. "Is she here?" He asked the nurse and she nodded her head.
House quickly turned on his heel and headed for her office, glancing at his watch; it read 6:45 am. He pushed the door to her office open so hard it banged loudly in protest. She jumped a little behind her desk because she wasn't expecting him – well, she was expecting him, but not to break the glass in the door.
"What in the hell are you doing, Cuddy?" He screamed at her.
"Stopping you from killing Melissa. You're suspended, as of now, with pay."
House's eyes flew open at the words she'd just said. "You're what? Oh, come ON, Cuddy!"
"You heard me, House. I'm serious. You gave her the Thorazine without even checking what drugs she was taking, not to mention knowing whether or not she was allergic to it." She told him.
"I live with the woman! I'd know what drugs she was or wasn't taking."
"This is not open for debate, House. I suggest you go home and wait it out."
"'Wait it out?' I'm not going home un…"
"You are also forbidden to visit her as long as she is a patient in this hospital." She said curtly.
"You can't do this, Cuddy!"
"Yes, I can. And I did. Now go home." She told him.
House stood there for a moment staring at Cuddy then stormed out of the office. He couldn't have known she was taking Lithium, could he have? She never mentioned it to him.
'Could there be an underlying cause of her symptoms?' He thought to himself as he drove back to his apartment. He walked in and immediately grabbed his notebook and pen and sat on the couch and started to write.
'Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome' – NMS; Muscle rigidity – back; irregular heartbeat – pulse up; fever;
Neuromuscular – Dystonias; Liver deteriorate'
'Don't tell me her liver is failing. No…no.' He thought to himself. 'I couldn't have done this to her.'
He looked around the room at a few of her things she'd set in the living room. A thought crossed his mind, something he never thought he would bring himself to. But he had to do it, for Melissa's sake. He stood up, grabbed his cane and walked toward her bedroom. He opened the closet door and looked at the neatly piled jeans and sweaters on shelves. He pulled them back a bit to see if anything was hidden under there, but there wasn't.
He went to each drawer and did the same…nothing. He went to the bathroom and opened the cupboard. There were three bottles of medication: Chlorimentin, Phenothemol and prescription Motrin 600. He closed the cupboard, but then opened it again and grabbed the bottle of Motrin. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and was shocked at his appearance. His eyes were dark and his face looked tired and worn. He popped open the bottle of Motrin and poured the pills into his hand. He turned one over and looked at the writing on it. It read 'LM 200.'
"This isn't Motrin. Damnit! She was taking Lithium. But why didn't she ever tell me?" He said out loud. He put the bottle in his pocket then headed back to the hospital.
When House arrived at the hospital he went straight to Melissa's room. She was still out of it but the oxygen tube had been removed. Her complexion was back to its rosy color and her pulse was normal. He heard the sliding door open and Cameron walked in.
"How's she doing? I just got in." She said as she walked toward the bed. He just nodded his head. "Dr. House, I should have told you she was on Lithium but she swore me to secrecy."
"Outside, Cameron. Wait for me." He said as he glared at Cameron.
She looked at him dumbfounded then walked out. He looked at Melissa for a few minutes then left her alone. He quietly slid the glass door closed behind him.
"What was the reason you didn't tell me, Cameron?"
"House, it's called friendship. But you don't know what that means, do you?" She said sarcastically. "The question is what were you doing with the Thorazine?"
"That really isn't any of your concern." He told her bluntly.
"It is my concern when you almost kill a friend of mine, House. You can kill yourself, but you will not take anyone down with you." And with that she stormed away, and he watched her until she turned a corner.
House's expression changed from surprise at Cameron's words to complete devastation. He had to convince Cuddy to get some more blood work. He walked to her office but she wasn't there. He headed up to his office to talk to Wilson. He didn't speak a word as he walked in and sat in a chair.
"How's Melissa?" Wilson asked.
"Stable." He simply said.
"House, did you know she was taking Lithium?"
"Hell, no. I wouldn't have given it to her if she did. But I'm wondering if maybe you can get Cuddy to check for hepatic encephalopathy."
"Do you know the rarity of that? But, she did have a liver transplant."
"She must have taken Thorazine before for that kind of reaction which could indicate H.E. I'll call Dr. Stafford at the rehab center. But I think it's NMS."
"Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome? Again, do you know how rare that is?"
"Yes, but it has happened. Damn. See what you can do?" House said as he stared out the window. Wilson nodded his head.
"Thanks." House said as he walked out to his own office. He picked up the phone and dialed the Dr., then after several minutes he hung up.
'Why was she hiding that He asked himself. That made no sense, but he understood where she was coming from.
"Dr. House? Melissa's awake." Rog said as he poked his head in the door. "Thought you'd want to know before Cuddy did."
House nodded his head and headed to her room, although he had no idea what he was going to say. Her refusal to tell him about it made him feel betrayed, and angry. He slid open the door and walked in. She was staring out the window watching the red, orange and yellow leaves fall down from the trees.
"Melissa?" She didn't respond. "How are you feeling?" She still didn't respond, but she turned to look at him. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"How should I be feeling, Doc?" She said angrily.
"Hey, this was not my fault. You never told me you were on Lithium."
"And you never told me you were doing Thorazine, either." House couldn't reply to that because she was right but he still tried to weasle himself out of 'the blame.'
"Melissa, I would never do anything to hurt you. I've been taking the Thorazine for a month, and only then 3-4 a week. I've tried to cut back with the Vicodin but it wasn't enough. I've even made progress with Dr. Parker. And I did it all for you."
They stared at each other a moment. "Why didn't you tell me about your dad?" He asked.
Her eyes flew open and she seemed surprised. "Ah, you spoke with Dr. Stafford. When does he want me to come back?"
"Back? He doesn't want you back." He told her.
"But you almost killed me."
House sighed. "Look, I know you were young when what happened to your father gave you that psychotic break. But Melissa, you're not that same girl. Don't you see? You are the person you are today because of that."
"Oh, is that what you tell yourself?" House looked confused. "I know about LizBeth, a little, but enough. You blame yourself for
not being there for her and I blame myself for what I did to my father."
"And you had that break after you killed him, not before. That was self defense, baby. You were 15. That wasn't your fault." House told Melissa.
"Then why do you need those drugs, then, huh? I know you were doing something before you leg, you had to have been. Look, my ex-boyfriend was a coke addict and I sure as hell don't want to be in a relationship with another one." She snapped.
"Do you have any idea what it's like to live with my pain?" He asked her.
"Tell me, is that physical or mental pain?"
House shook his head. "Ok, so I screwed up, a lot. But things have changed so much for me so far this year. And it's because of you, Melissa? Don't you get it? I've tried to kick back on the Vicodin since the summer because my feelings for you changed. I was afraid to tell you, didn't want to tell you."
She shook her head. "Greg, I can't do this. Not now. I don't know what I want."
"Do you want me?" He asked after a brief moment of silence.
"We'll talk about it, but not now. I need time to think." She told him as she turned her head to look out the window again.
"Don't give up on me, Melissa." He simply said but she didn't respond.
He sighed. "Ok, when you're ready, I'm here for you, Melissa. Remember that." Then he left.
Melissa wanted to scream at him but she didn't have the energy. Her hallucinations from the two medications made all the memories of her parents flood back to her, and she didn't want to face them again. Not now that she had House. But the fear of 'losing' it again was too much for her. She lay in bed thinking of the time she killed her father.
FLASHBACK TO WHEN MELISSA WAS 15
Melissa sits at a coffee table doing her homework while her mom sits watching t.v. Her dad comes home from work late and stumbles into the family room, which means another fight between her mom and dad. It starts out normal enough: her mother screaming at him about his cold dinner that she wasn't going to reheat for him; he yells back that she's a horrible cook and eats out before he comes home; the glass being thrown at her dad but misses him. But that's where things got worse.
He grabs her mother by the throat and pushes her back against the wall, yells loud enough to drown out the t.v. noise. "I told you NEVER to do that again!" He screams at her.
"Well if you weren't so drunk and lost your balance I would have hit you!" She answers back.
"Dad, stop it! You're hurting her!" Melissa says as she stands up.
That only infuriates him more and he gets a tighter grip on his wife's throat and lifts her up against the wall. She starts to gurgle and grips his hands in vain.
"Dad, ENOUGH!" Melissa said as she walks toward them and tries to pull her dad off her mom.
With his free hand he lashes out and strikes Melissa on her cheek which in turn sends her flying to the floor. She remembers the last time he hit her and she's had enough. She slowly stands up and sees her softball bat in the corner from her earlier practice game. Her mother whines and whimpers as she tries to struggle against weight. Melissa picks up the bat and quietly moves toward the back of her dad as she raises the bat. She takes one deep breath and hits him right in the middle of his back. He gasps as he releases the grip on his wife and she slides to the floor as she holds her neck. He arches his back and moans in pain.
"You little bit..." He starts to say but his words were cut off by another blow, this time to his chest. He flies back and lands on his back and groans in pain.
"Melissa Jean, don't!" Her mom pleads. She turns to look at her mom as she raises the bat high over her head.
"You will never hurt me and Mom again, you understand that?" She screams as she brings the bat down over her father's face - once, twice...she was in the middle of the third strike when her mother grabs the bat from behind and guides her hand to her side.
"Enough, girl. I think you've done quite enough." Her mom says.
"He would have killed you, Mom, but you are too drunk to defend yourself. Well, I'm NOT! Not anymore! I'm gone, Mother. I don't need this!" Melissa says as she heads up to her bedroom.
The adrenaline from his attack races through her veins as she finds the nearest thing she can destroy. First it was all the books in her bookcase, then figurines her father had bought her and anything else she could lay her hands on. A few minutes later her mother knocks on her door and comes in. She has devised a plan for Melissa to tell the cops what happened.
Everything else was a blur to Melissa: the talks to the cops, her relief as she sees the body of her father being taken out the front door on a gurney.
"It's over." Melissa says as she glances at her mother, who stood still sipping her whiskey.
"You did this! You killed your father! You'll have to live with this the rest of your life!" She spat at her daughter.
"But, I'm free, Mother. I'm free." She says as she walks out the front door.
"Where are you going? Get back here!" Her mom hollers out the front door, but Melissa keeps walking and never looks back.
FLASHFORWARD TO THE PRESENT
Again, she doesn't exactly remember what happened when she had her psychotic break. She just remembered it as one long nightmare with all the drugs she'd had to take in the psyched ward. But, luckily for Melissa, she was never charged with murder. There were enough eye-witnesses to vouch that he had been a ruthless, volatile, brute of an alcoholic.
But her life hadn't gotten any better since then. Not until she met House, and had a reason to live. Didn't he tell her he was trying to change for her? And didn't he deserve that much? She wasn't going to let him get away. He was worth it. Being with him was worth it. And she'd never mistrust him again. So, right then and there she told herself she'd tell House about that night, even if it meant losing him. Just then Cameron walked into the room.
"Hey, girl! You look much better." Cameron told her.
"Hi." She simply said.
"Are you feeling any better?" She asked as she checked the monitor for her vitals.
"I dunno. I feel like I'm dying and my eyes hurt."
"Yeah, well, you have a lot of drugs in your system. You're going to feel like hell the next few days." Cameron said as she stood at the side of the bed.
"So, what's new?" Melissa asked.
"We still don't have any cases and the boys are bored."
"No, Allie, I meant what's so different with feeling like hell?"
"Oh, Missy, it's the drugs that are making you feel like that. The I.V. will help flush out the drugs in your system. I promise."
"Thanks." Melissa said.
Cameron frowned. "For what?"
"For not telling Greg I was on the Lithium."
"It was hard for me not to tell him, you know that? Considering what's happened. I wish you had." Cameron said. Melissa's eyes grew hazy and she closed her eyes.
"Get some sleep, ok? You know where to find me. I'll be in the conference room doing nothing. OH! House got us all addicted on that stupid Sudoku game. Right now Rog has the best time in advance and he ticked House off sooo bad!" Cameron said with a laugh.
Melissa grinned and rolled over to try to sleep. But it didn't come as quickly as she hoped. She'd ask House what happened with her mom. She still had no clue once her mother was tackled by the guards.
Back in House's office, he hadn't talked to Cuddy since earlier in the day and he hoped she calmed down enough to come to her senses. He'd give it a try. He walked into her office and stood at her desk waiting for her to get off the phone.
"No, he's too short. What about 6 feet?" She said as she looked directly at House. "I've got to go, call you later, Mom." And she hung up the phone.
"Another man lined up from the pimp-mobile?" House teased.
"What do you want, House?"
"I want to know if I'm allowed to see Melissa now, Mommy. Her curfew sucks."
She stared at him a moment. "She does have NMS and I've ordered her meds. We would never have found it."
House sat there smugly. "Never have found it if what?"
"Ok, you were right. We would never have found it if we hadn't checked her blood. There has been no damage to her liver. You happy now."
"Quite." He said as he stood up.
"House?"
He turned around. "Yeah?"
"You gonna tell her?"
"Yes, I'll tell her you were wrong."
"Funny. NOT. Are you going to tell her about what happened to her mother?"
He stood there a moment, nodded his head then walked out. 'I just don't know how to tell her.' He thought to himself as he walked back to Melissa's room. She was awake and sitting up in bed, but she seemed dazed. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Oh, my! You do smile!" He said with a grin as he walked toward her bed and sat down. She reached out her hand for his and leaned forward, as if she were going to whisper.
"Greg, I'm sorry about earlier, I really am."
"So?"
"So, what, Doc?"
"So, do you want me?" House asked her.
"It's not going to be easy, Greg. And I have noticed a change in you. But I'm also worried, too, about us, as a couple." House
nodded in agreement but avoided her eyes.
"Greg, what happened at the airport?" She finally asked him.
He took a deep breath before he started. "Melissa, your mother is dead." He said bluntly. She looked at him in amazement and disbelief, then happiness.
"Ok." Was all she said.
He looked at her confused before he continued. "After we were escorted to the back room and the guards wrestled her to the ground, she grabbed one of their guns. In the mayhem the gun went off and your mother was shot. She died on the way to the hospital."
"Ok."
"My God, Melissa, what did that woman do to you?" He asked, shocked at how cold and insensitive she was. He put his left hand on her cheek.
"Greg, it's har...I couldn't even talk to Dr. Stafford." She said as she fought back the tears. "When I was little I used to always get out of bed and watch them from the top of the stairs. They never knew I was there until one night Mom and Dad were drunker than normal. She started screaming at me and from that moment on I was always tied to the bed by my ankle so I couldn't get up.
"But that wasn't the worst of it." She choked. "When I misbehaved at school or home she'd put her cigarettes out on me."
House was in complete shock. "What?"
She nodded her head and pulled the robe down over her shoulders and twisted a bit so he could see her back. There was not one area of untouched skin from her shoulder blades to her mid back. She didn't look at him for the shame of the scars she had and quickly pulled it back over her shoulders.
"I'd always fight and try to get away from her..." She said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Looking back now I was so angry at myself for not telling anyone and not being strong enough." House reached out and held her in his arms and rocked her, like she was that 10-year old again.
"You were helpless, Melissa. You were a child. Oh, baby, I'm soo sorry." Was all House could say and she let herself go. She cried for a good ten minutes until all the strength was gone and she couldn't talk anymore. He gently laid her back on the bed but remained over her with his right arm over her waist.
"I'm a mess, huh?" She asked as she took a couple of deep breaths and tried to laugh. Her sides and shoulders hurt from the muscles tightening.
"We both are." House said.
"Greg? Do you still want me?"
"I dunno. Do you still want me?" He answered back.
"I dunno." She said then smiled. She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him toward her. "Kiss me and then I'll answer your question." She told him. He grinned, leaned in and kissed her softly, then broke the kiss and looked at her.
"Missy, I want you. And I love you." He said.
"Oh, Greg, I love you, too." She said to him the first time, and it felt good. She knew it was the best decision she'd ever made.