Mistakes Shouldn't Be Made Twice - Chapter seven
House watched from the observatory as the surgeons carefully closed up Kayla's thigh. Once he was sure they weren't about to screw up any time soon, he headed back to his office to wait for her to come out of surgery. He played his DS for about a half hour until Cameron came in.
" Kayla's out of surgery. They had to remove less muscle then they originally thought, so she will probably only need a cane for balance, not so much for the pain. She should be able to get along ok with just some ibuprofen." Cameron relayed the information in a soft caring voice that House always felt comforted with. Though he'd definitely never tell that to her. He simply nodded and got up to go visit her. House chuckled at the fact that for once he actually wanted to go see a patient. Walking, er, limping down the halls, he finally reached Kayla's room. He opened the door and entered without permission as usual, though Kayla didn't seem to mind. She was to bust staring solemnly at the uneven slope her thigh made underneath the covers. House's normally untouchable heart clenched for the poor girl. He was pretty sure he knew the feelings currently running through her head. He walked a little closer to the side of the bed. She didn't even look up. House tried in his own way to comfort her
. " You'll never like it you know," He said, referring to her leg, "but you'll get used to it. Eventually it'll just become a part of you. I remember my first few months with the cane, I was devastated, I was embarrassed, and worst of all, I was in pain. Lots of it. You won't have to deal with that pain, yours will only be minor. And if you ever feel embarrassed by someone staring at you, or frustrated when someone pities you. Make it very clear that you don't need pity, whack him in the shins with your cane, that's what I do all the time, just ask doctor Wilson," She smiled at this, she had met Dr. Wilson a few moments after her surgery, and he had mentioned being friends with House. House continued his little mini-speech, "Just whatever you do, don't become a misanthropic jerk like me." He nodded, as if satisfied with what he had just said.
Kayla finally looked up, and gave a teary eyed laugh, "What, did you rehearse that?"
House pretended to be offended, "Of course not!" He pulled something out of the closet next to her bed, it was a long, thin box. He handed it to her awkwardly. "Here, it's um, a present form me and my team, we figured that if you had to walk with a cane, you'd at least want a good one."
Kayla opened the box, and found a light cherry wood cane, it's handle perfectly curved to fit a small teenage girl's hand. Underneath the handle was an intricate carving of a butterfly.
" Thanks," Said Kayla, finally smiling, she looked up at him, "was this your idea?"
"No, I'm not that thoughtful, trust me." House responded instantly.
The phrase, "Everybody lies," did in fact, include him too.
THE END
A/N: Well, that's all folks! Thanks to those of you who reviewed and stuck around dispite long waits in between chapters. You all rock!