Chapter 14: The three bears
Kate gathers her purse and coat and heads out to her car. She secures Steve's cage in the backseat and heads out to the grocery store. She picks up some essentials for House and then swings by the liquor store and picks up a bottle of Glenlivet. After she is done shopping, she heads to the address Wilson gave her for House's place. She parks in the street in front of his building. She tucks the scotch into one of the grocery bags. Then she grabs her purse, the two grocery bags and Steve McQueen's cage. She locks up the car and then goes to the apartment door and bangs on it. There is no response, so she sharply raps on the door again. She can hear House faintly grumbling, so she bangs on the door one more time. She is rewarded with him yelling "I'm coming, Wilson!"
The door opens and House's jaw drops when he sees Kate on his doorstep, juggling grocery bags and Steve McQueen. She rolls her eyes and thrusts the cage at him as she says "Are you going to let me in?"
House takes the cage and steps aside to let Kate in the apartment. He pokes his head out the door and looks around as he says "Am I on Candid Camera? Or is Ashton Kutcher going to jump out to "punk" me?"
Kate says from the kitchen "Nope, it's just me. Wilson had something come up and asked me to drop off your groceries and your small furry friend."
House slams the door. He puts Steve McQueen's cage in its normal spot. "So, Cameron has been feeding Steve?"
Kate walks into the living room with two glasses of scotch on the rocks. She hands one to him and says "So she claims. He looks pretty healthy and happy."
House tilts his head in acknowledgement as he takes the drink. "Wilson didn't tell you to get scotch."
Kate smirks. "No, he didn't. But he did tell me he dumped your bottle out, so I graciously bought you another one." She swirls the scotch and the ice cubes clink against the glass. "What shall we drink to?"
House thinks for a moment and says "Wilson. For sending my ex-wife who has enough sense to bring booze with her." Kate and House clink glasses and sip their drinks. House gestures at the couch with his cane. "Have a seat, unless you are going to cook something with those groceries your brought with you."
Kate sits on the couch and says "I haven't decided if I can put up with you long enough to stay for dinner. And I am certainly not cooking a dinner that I am not going to have the chance to eat." She sips her drink and watches him sit on the couch. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was shot awhile ago."
"No kidding! Hard to believe someone would shoot you." Kate rolls her eyes at him.
He smirks at her. "How was your first day on the job?"
"I enjoyed it. It will be a pleasant diversion for the next few months."
"Cuddy must not have given you any Clinic duty."
Kate laughs. "She certainly did not."
"And isn't she expecting you home? Mommy'll be worried about you, Goldilocks. And I am certain she will not approve of you visiting the Big Bad Wolf."
Kate shrugs. "You are confusing your fairy tales. Goldilocks has three bears."
Greg knocks back the rest of his scotch and says "True. I guess that makes me, Wilson and Cuddy the three bears then."
Kate stands up as she finishes her drink. She goes to the kitchen and returns with the bottle of scotch. House holds out his glass and she refills it and then her own. "How'd you figure that?"
"Well, think about it. I'd be Papa Bear: everything is too hard or too hot; too much. Wilson would be Momma Bear: too soft. For you, Cuddy is Baby Bear: just right. And you, you'd be Goldilocks. The naïve, blond girl who breaks into the Bear home and starts going through their things like she is some sort of stalker. She uses them for the food and chairs and beds and then tries to cry her way out of trouble in the end."
Kate visibly stiffens. She says "Maybe you were right on with the Big Bad Wolf analogy for yourself. You devour people and break people's hearts and then leave a mess behind for someone else to clean up."
Greg and Kate stare each other down. Greg finally says "Well, I see you haven't forgiven me yet."
Kate bitterly says "Why should I? You never even apologized." She sets her glass on the coffee table and stands up. "This was an incredibly bad idea. Do you have any demands I should forward to Wilson?"
"Oh come on, don't tell me you are going to quit this quickly. I've got many more insults to deliver to you."
Kate stares at him. She knows she is letting him get under her skin much too easily. She takes a deep breath and says "I promised Wilson I wouldn't kill you tonight."
Greg winks at her and says "Promises are made to be broken. May I suggest you give me a heart attack from a wild romp in bed?"
Kate guffaws. "The only crime of passion you will get out of me is multiple stab wounds." She picks up her drink and heads to the kitchen. "You do at least have simple cooking tools, like a skillet, right?"
"I'm not a heathen. Of course I have a skillet. And a stock pot. And that's about it."
Greg hears Kate mumble something about single men and poorly stocked kitchens. He is about to make another snide remark when the phone rings. Greg picks up the cordless handset and glances at the caller ID screen. He sighs and answers it. "Hi Mom."
"How are you doing, sweetheart? This is your first day home, right?"
"It is. I am doing ok."
"Good. I am going to come down and stay with you a few days since you forbid me from coming to the hospital."
House gets a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Mom, there is no need for you to come. I am supposed to be getting rest and I am."
His mother protests. "But who is taking care of you? Who is cooking for your and keeping the apartment up?"
House watches Kate move around in the kitchen. "People from the hospital are helping me out. One of the women from the hospital is cooking me dinner as we speak."
"Oh, is it that lovely young woman who works for you?"
"Dr. Cameron? No, it's not her."
"Oh, it must be your boss then? Um, I think her name is Dr. Cuddy?"
"No, and I told you, Mom: she prefers to go by Party Pants."
Blythe chuckles at her son's irreverence. She then asks in a hopeful tone: "Are you dating someone? What's her name?"
House sighs. "Mom, it's Kate." The line is silent for close to a minute. He finally says "Mom, are you still there?"
"Kate as in Katherine your ex-wife Kate?"
House is still watching Kate move around the kitchen. "Right."
"Why is she there?"
"I asked her to come." Blythe coughs harshly. Greg asks "Are you ok, Mom?"
"Sorry, I choked. Greg, is the world as I know it ending? You asked for your ex-wife to come tend to you?"
"In my defense, I was in shock and on the verge of a coma when I asked for her."
"She broke your heart!"
"Mom, she did not."
"She did! You were never the same after the divorce. You became bitter. She is going to do it again if you let her back in to your life."
"Mom, you know we were both wrong. Now look, you have completely changed the subject on me. There is no need for you to come out to Princeton. Wilson is helping me out and I'll be fine."
"And how long is Kate helping you out?"
"Just tonight. Wilson had to take care of some personal stuff."
Suddenly, John House's voice booms across the line. "Your ex-wife is there? Have you apologized to her for breaking her heart yet?"
"Hello, Dad. Why yes, I'm healing nicely and it's great to hear from you too."
John ignores Greg's sarcasm. "Kate was the best thing that ever happened to you and you destroyed it."
Blythe interrupts. "John, she has a role in the failure of their marriage, too."
Greg interrupts them both. "Look, there isn't going to be a reconciliation. I asked for her to come to cover my department while I recuperate. She is doing a very big favor for Wilson, who is a good friend of hers. Nothing more, nothing less."
Blythe sighs. "Ok, Greg. Look, you finish talking to your father. Ok? I love you."
Greg smothers his groan. "Ok, mom. I love you too. Bye." He hears Blythe hang up her extension.
John says "Your mother and I are coming out at the end of the week. We will visit for the weekend and then leave you be. I told your mother you don't need us, but she won't listen to reason. So you will suck it up and deal with it. We will come out to your apartment after our flight lands on Friday."
"Fine, Dad. Whatever will make Mom happy."
"You listen to me son: don't hurt Kate anymore than you already have. She is a good woman. I don't harbor any false illusions about you two reconciling, but she doesn't deserve any more crap from you. Do you understand me?"
"Kate is a big girl now. She can fight her own battles now. Don't worry about her. Look, my dinner is ready and she is getting annoyed with me. I'll see you on Friday. Good-bye." Greg hangs up the phone. He grabs his cane and makes his way to the kitchen. He leans against the door frame and watches as Kate serves up some pasta and vegetable concoction. "My dad sends his regards."
Kate glances up and smiles. "I always liked your dad." She sets a plate for Greg on the butcher's block next to some silverware. "Your mom doesn't send her regards?"
"I'm sure she does."
Kate shrugs and sets her plate on the counter. "Yeah, I wouldn't expect her to be enthusiastic about me being here."
Greg takes a bite of the pasta. "This is good, even in light of the vegetables that weren't so discreetly added to it."
They eat in relative silence. Once they have finished, Kate tells Greg to go sit down while she washes dishes. He retreats to the living room. Kate hears the television turn on. She hums to herself while she washes the dishes. Once she has finished, she dries her hands and heads out to the living room. She grabs her coat and puts it on.
Greg looks at her. "What, you are leaving already? I haven't had much of a chance to insult you yet."
"My work here is done. You have been fed and watered, so to speak. I'm going home and relaxing."
"I think you are too scared to stay any longer."
Kate shakes her head. "I'm older and wiser now. That doesn't work on me anymore."
"Well, thanks for the scotch then."
"Don't drink it all at once. I'm not bringing you another bottle."
"Then I will be sure to hide it from Wilson."
They stare at each other for several long seconds. Kate sadly smirks and says "It's always going to be awkward between us, isn't it?"
Greg shrugs. "I really don't know."
Kate nods. "Me neither. Good-night." She lets herself out.
Greg watches the door close and he murmurs "Sweet dreams, Goldilocks."
