Chapter N°4
Your mother is gone.
And you can't find in yourself the strength to be happy.
She'll come back. With your father and paramedics. It seems his condition is a little worse that your mother led you to believe: he is on the brick of death and she thinks you're going to help him just fine.
Fine.
She has left you with a bitter taste in your mouth and the task to call your brothers with the news.
You still have not done so.
A sigh escapes while you put on the jacket and take the keys. It is, after all, Monday, and work is where you have to be. Not to forget the foot rub you'll have to do for House to accept your father's case. Great.
The doors close behind you with a slam and Kiba is barking from your bedroom: you forgot to feed him yesterday and he's been patient enough. You roll your eyes and reopen the door only to be assaulted by thirteen stones of fluff and tongue and fang. Your pants are ruined thanks his saliva and you really need to take another shower to rid yourself from the stench of wet dog.
Apparently, you forgot to walk him too.
After another hour you're finally ready to go and you're surprised, when you enter the Diagnostic Department, to see House working at the pile of mails on his desk.
Weird.
Maybe The Wicked Witch of the West finally got to him and spelled his butt on his chair. Or has given him a mind altering poison. Naa. It's more probable that he is trying to freak everybody out.
It's working: while Chase is sitting with a stupid expression on his face and a mug of coffee halfway to his nose, Foreman is looking for hidden cameras under the table.
You sigh. Again.
And you wonder why have you ever though these two idiots could ever be your friends. Anyway, your sigh has woken House from his work induced trance and he's motioning for you to enter his office.
"You're late"
"You're working"
"Right"
You look at each other. None of you willing to break first.
"Did you have a problem to excuse yourself?"
Now would be the perfect opportunity to tell him about your father. If for no other reason that he will be there tomorrow morning already registered as House's patient.
"Well actually…now that you mention it…well"
You stutter and the anomaly makes him perk his ears and wakes his curiosity.
"Yeah?"
"My father. He is sick"
"Aren't we all?"
"And he is your new case"
Shit.
It sounded different in your head.
You wait a few seconds. He seems to be unable to process the abrupt way you handed him his new puzzle. But. Then he inclines his head like your dog does when he is thinking deep thoughts. And smiles.
"Ok"