Chapter 17

Foreman stood outside Marcus's room once again. He wanted to talk to his brother; he wanted to say he was sorry about what happened between them, but his stubborn pride got in the way. Maybe Nichelle was right, and Marcus's own stubbornness was preventing him from taking the first step. Foreman steeled himself, and stepped inside the room.

"Dr. Cameron came in and took more blood. What are you testing me for now?" Marcus asked.

"Alzheimer's," Foreman said simply. Marcus let out a low whistle.

"So that's it, huh? I guess you'll be packing up and running off then, like last time," Marcus said bitterly.

"That's not fair. You know that's not what Mom wanted. She'd have been pissed as hell if I'd dropped out of school, and you know it," Foreman spoke calmly, although he could feel the anger building inside.

Marcus turned his head away, and Foreman prepared himself for the angry shouting and insults to follow. He was shocked to see tears on his brother's face when he turned back. He couldn't remember ever seeing his brother cry, not even when they'd been very young.

"I don't want to end up like Mom, Eric. She doesn't even know me when I go visit her. She can't even remember the kids from one time to the next. I don't my kids to have to do that," Marcus said, his voice choked from trying to hold in the tears. Foreman came to the side of the bed and took his brother's hand.

"We don't know that's what this is. And even if it is, it's early and there are always new treatments. We're not giving up," Foreman said, and squeezed Marcus's hand. Marcus nodded, and then looked away again. Foreman released his hand and stood to leave.

"Eric," Marcus said, without turning his head. "She'd be proud of you."

Foreman stood quietly for a few seconds, and then left.

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"She won't tell me anything," Wilson said, leaning against the wall separating the balconies.

"Have you asked her?" House asked, leaning on the opposite side of the wall, facing away from Wilson.

"Well, not exactly," Wilson replied. "I'm not sure I want to know."

"Gee, Wilson, usually you wait until after you've married them to walk out on them," House snarked. Wilson took this remark with his usual calm.

"True, but usually, they're not having other people's babies," Wilson retorted in his typical deadpan drawl.

"Run that by me one more time," House said, confused.

"We've only been together about six weeks," Wilson explained. "She had an IVF treatment not long before we …" Wilson waved his hands to fill in the blanks, "it could be the IVF worked. I may not be the father."

"Would that make a difference?" House asked.

Wilson stared at him. That was the real question, wasn't it? Should it matter if he wasn't the biological father? Did he really want to start a family with Lisa? They'd only just begun their relationship. Wasn't this too soon? Wilson ran his hand over his face, and then both hands through his hair.

"I don't know," he said finally.

House didn't reply. What was there to say? He knew what Wilson was thinking. And House couldn't answer any of those questions for him. This was something he and Cuddy would have to work out for themselves.

Chase poked his head out of the office door timidly. He hated to interrupt House and Wilson; they always made him feel like he'd stepped into an intimate moment. Of course, that was silly, they weren't a couple, but he couldn't help feel like an outsider when they were together.

"It's not typhoid," Chase said. House nodded. He'd known that already, how would Marcus have gotten typhoid? Alzheimer's was far more likely. "It's not Alzheimer's either."

House looked intrigued. He glanced at Wilson, who nodded his understanding, and House pushed off from the wall to go inside. A pain in his leg caused him to stumble slightly. House looked around quickly, but Chase had already gone back inside, and Wilson was already walking back into his office, his back to House. Glad no one had seen, House straightened and walked very slowly inside.

A/N: I hope people are still enjoying the story. Please R&R, the reviews make my day!!! Seriously!