Cameron had hoped to start the New Year off in her new position at the hospital, but as per his usual, House was being difficult. His moods were so unpredictable lately that she was hesitant to remind him he needed to be interviewing for her replacement. Maybe he thought she wasn't serious about terminating her fellowship early now that they were back together? Cameron really believed it was the best move for her and for them. They couldn't possibly spend all that time together without ending up at each other's throats.
Cuddy, exasperated that yet another assistant had quit and Cameron wasn't able to leave House's team to start in her new position, had no issue with telling him to get a move on. On Friday morning, she stood in the doorway to House's office. She'd spoken to Cameron earlier, before House arrived, and she knew he had been in a foul mood when he woke up. Telling House to start interviewing when he was already moody was a little like poking a bear with stick, so Cuddy thought maintaining a little physical distance was prudent. At least she wasn't sending him to the clinic.
"House," Cuddy said to get his attention. He was standing in front of his desk with his back to the door.
"What?" he demanded roughly. Cuddy cringed, Cameron hadn't been kidding when she'd said he was in a foul mood.
"I came to ask you how your search for Allison's replacement is going," Cuddy started. "But then I realized that you haven't started it yet. She terminated her fellowship weeks ago. You need to start interviewing."
"Yeah," House replied. He turned and limped toward her. Cuddy backed up a little, insisting to herself it was to give him room to get through the doorway and not because he was intimidating in this mood. She dared to give him her 'administrator from hell' look, however. "Got it! Need to replace Cameron. No problem, I'll just hire the first idiot who comes in the door, 'kay boss?"
"House," Cuddy called to him as he limped away, and something about the tone of her voice made him stop, although he did not turn around. "Look, I know you're concerned about your reputation for being a miserable ass, but this is really unnecessary. Nobody else thinks any differently about you just because of Allison." House still did not turn around, and Cuddy wasn't sure if she was really getting at what was bothering him. She stepped closer and stopped just behind him. "Are you okay? Is something else wrong?"
House closed his eyes at the concern in her voice. He knew Cameron would never send Cuddy here to question him about his feelings, but the fact that she was meant his mood was affecting Cameron enough for Cuddy to notice. That wasn't what he wanted; he just didn't know any other way to be.
"I'm late for therapy," House said quietly, and limped away. Cuddy watched his back receding down the hall, and hoped maybe Quig could get a handle on this before it was too late.
XXXXXXX
"You look like hell," House said to Quig as he settled into on the big brown leather chairs.
"My wife's a little under the weather. She didn't get much sleep last night and neither did I," Quig said as he sat in the chair opposite House.
House didn't comment. He actually wanted to talk today, but he didn't really know how to start. Something had been bothering him ever since he'd told Cameron that he loved her. This morning he'd been searching for one of his favorite t-shirts when he found something in his closet that he hadn't seen in a great many years. As soon as he saw it, he realized what had been bothering him and why. House reached into his jacket now and pulled the item from his pocket. He placed it on the small table between him and Quig, and then opened it. Inside was a diamond engagement ring.
"House, I'm flattered, but you're really not my type and I'm sure my wife wouldn't approve," Quig said. House barely smirked as he'd known some comment like that was bound to come up. He kept his eyes carefully trained on the ring.
"I bought that ring two weeks before the infarction," House said. Quig appeared surprised; he'd assumed the ring was for Dr. Cameron. "I was so afraid she'd find it, I carried it with me everywhere for twelve straight days. Then I finally hid it in my golf bag because I knew she'd never look there. I got up that morning and we made plans to go out for dinner, I was going to ask her. Then my leg happened and everything fell apart."
Quig nodded his understanding. He waited, somehow knowing that there was more to this story than just the ring.
"When I was really little, maybe six, my mom and I lived with her parents while my dad was overseas. Then one day she told me he was coming home. I was so excited; I hadn't seen him in months. They planned a huge party and my mom and I started looking at houses. When he came home, he told my mother he'd been promoted and accepted an assignment in Germany and we would have to move with him. We had two days. Two days to pack up our entire lives and leave everything and everyone behind. He didn't even seem to care."
"When I was graduating college my father actually managed to take leave and come see me. I was valedictorian. My whole family was supposed to be there, but when the ceremony was over I noticed that my grandmother was missing. I was so mad. I couldn't believe she didn't come to my graduation I almost didn't go to the party my mom planned. When we got there, my uncle told me that my grandmother had passed away, and they decided to wait until after the ceremony so they wouldn't ruin it for everyone."
I was obvious to Quig where this was going, but he knew House after all these months and he knew that it would better if he let him talk it out by himself.
"Every time I've ever had any real happiness, something has always happened to ruin it. It never fails. Maybe not the little things, but always when it was something real, something important." House looked up at Quig. "What's going to happen this time?"
"House, everyone has bad things happen in their lives. It's inevitable. Yours seem to have particularly bad timing, but that doesn't mean every time you're happy you'll have to endure some personal tragedy." Quig looked at him earnestly. This was something that he had suspected when he'd gotten House's brief history, but he hadn't known it had stretched all the way back to his childhood.
"My experience tells me otherwise," House countered.
"Maybe you're right. Let's say you are. Don't you think, and I'm being serious here, that it would better for you and easier to handle whatever came along if Dr. Cameron were there to help you through it?"
"Not if she's the tragedy," House said quietly.
"You're afraid something is going to take her from you," Quig stated. "That's a fear you have to live with when you love someone."
"I don't want to go through all that again. I can't," House said.
"But fear makes you make bad decisions. You can't live your life never doing anything because you're afraid of what might happen. Do you know what happens when you do that? Nothing."
"So what should I do?" House asked him.
"What is that you're most afraid of?" Quig said. "That you'll get hurt, that she'll get hurt?"
"I'm afraid I'll lose her," House admitted, although he couldn't quite look Quig in the eye when he said it.
"Then don't lose her. Do something about it."
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House walked around the corner one Thursday morning and began limping toward his office. As he made his way down the hall, he noticed a couple half-hidden behind a rolling supply cart. They were locked in an obviously passionate embrace. It occurred to him that he'd overheard less griping about him than normal from the nursing staff and he saw this as a perfect opportunity to remind them he was still a miserable bastard.
As he approached the snuggling couple, he realized that the back of the woman's head looked vaguely familiar. She was wearing a lab coat, so he knew she must work here. It could be any of a dozen people. He couldn't really recognize her, as her face was currently buried in her partner's mouth. When he reached the supply cart he gave it a good hard shove with his cane and watched it roll toward the couple, unnoticed. The resounding crash was more satisfying than he'd hoped, as the cart upended itself, spilling its contents across the hallway.
"Son of a bitch!" a male voice shouted, and House chuckled. He'd recognize that accent anywhere. "House, what the hell are you doing?"
"Oh, Chase. Sorry, didn't recognize you with that girl attached to your lips," House snarked at him. Then the girl turned around and he grinned even wider. "Dr. Jasper. Well, this is going to be fun." And with that, he turned and walked into his office, leaving Jasper a little nervous about what might be coming next.
"What's going to be fun?" Jasper asked Chase. "Should I be scared?"
"It's House. Always be scared," Chase answered. Reaching his hand out and smoothing her hair from her face, Chase leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. "I've got to get the NICU. See you for dinner?" Jasper nodded and went to the conference room, rubbing her hip where the cart had smashed her.
Foreman was already in the conference room, waiting for anyone else to arrive. He was surprised that Cameron wasn't in yet, she was always the first to arrive. He hoped she wasn't trying to avoid House again. He had to admit, he had been a little relieved when she'd told them she was taking a position with Cuddy in the administrative department. It wasn't that he was happy to see her go exactly; he just hoped it would mean things would be a little smoother in the department. And probably in their relationship too; how much House could one person stand?
"Morning Foreman," Jasper said, noticing the coffee pot was empty. She started a pot herself, also curious why Cameron wasn't in yet. She rubbed her hip again absently as she waited for it to brew.
"You okay?" Foreman asked. Jasper looked confused. "You're rubbing your hip. Did you hurt yourself?"
"No. House saw me in the hall with Rob and pushed a supply cart into us," Jasper said. Foreman nodded. So she and Chase were an item finally. He was glad for them, but somehow this news upset him a bit. It meant he was currently the only one in their little group without a significant other. Even House had a girl. Foreman shook his head.
"Morning everyone," Cameron said as she entered the conference room.
"You're a little late this morning, aren't you?" Foreman asked.
"Late? Actually no, I've been down in the administrative offices since 6. Cuddy's last assistant quit when she heard that I was taking a new position there. Apparently, she was insulted that she didn't get asked. Anyway, stuff is backing up since I can't start yet so I came in early to try to catch up on some of it. Do we have a case today?"
"I don't know. House hasn't been in here yet," Foreman said.
"Of course not, I was busy spying on Jasper here," House commented as he entered from his office. "If I'm going to torture you all about your personal lives, I must have all the pertinent information. Finding Jasper sucking face with the wombat, well that's just a bonus. Too bad I didn't have my camera." House winked at Jasper, who merely shot him a glare before making herself a cup of coffee and sitting down. "It's best to have no personal life at all, right Foreman?"
House prepared himself a cup of coffee while his fellows stared at his back. What was with him today? It was like he was intentionally trying to showcase his talent for the obnoxious.
"House!" Cuddy's voice shouted from the hall as she entered. "You will kindly refrain from assaulting hospital personnel with our equipment."
"That wombat is such a cry baby," House pouted.
"The wombat," Cuddy drawled, "didn't whine. Three different nurses came and complained to me. It's barely even 9 o'clock."
"Three?" House asked, pleased. "I think that's a record. Go me."
"You're due in the clinic this afternoon," Cuddy said turning to leave. "Try to behave yourself the rest of today."
"Scout's honor," House said as he flashed Cuddy his middle finger. "Wait, that's not right."
"Grow up," Cuddy said.
"Make me."
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House limped down the hall toward the physical therapy room ten minutes early. Today was his last scheduled appointment and he was finally going to crack Dianna. For three months he'd been harassing her constantly and gotten no response. He'd snarked, he'd yelled, he'd pouted and one time he'd even threatened her with bodily harm, to no avail. Last night, while watching TV, he had been struck with a sudden inspiration. It would be tricky, but worth it.
"Good morning, Gregory. You're five minutes early, the apocalypse must be coming," Dianna quipped
House just smirked at her. He didn't intend to give away his winning hand before he got a chance to play it. Dianna indicated for him to get on the treadmill, which he did. When he was finished, 50 minutes later, she shut the machine off and watched him carefully as he toweled the sweat from his forehead.
"Gregory, I'm very impressed. Personally, I would recommend that you keep up with the therapy at least twice a week on your own. You wouldn't want all this hard work to be for nothing," Dianna told him.
"Moonlit strolls along the boardwalk, check," House said. He noticed the faintest of grins on her face at his comment, and he knew he had her exactly where he wanted her. He looked around quickly to make sure they were out of earshot of everyone else. Seeing that they were, he dropped the carefully schooled mask from his face and looked at her openly. "I thought all this physical therapy stuff was crap, but I was wrong. You've done an amazing job in helping me; my leg hasn't felt this good in years. I'll finally be able to get by drug free, and that's partly because of you."
The whole while he had been speaking, he noticed tears welling up in Dianna's eyes. Pleased, but not quite satisfied, he leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. That was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Dianna began to cry openly and House, knowing he would be collecting quite a bit of cash in the next few hours, limped toward the locker room for a shower.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After he'd finished his clinic hours that afternoon, Cuddy entered House's office. She couldn't believe after she'd specifically warned him this morning that he'd behaved as he had all day. Something was definitely going on with him, and she was determined to find out what before he got sued, again.
"What the hell is with you today?" Cuddy demanded by way of a greeting.
"I don't know what you mean," House replied, spinning his office chair to face the window so she wouldn't see the grin he couldn't wipe off his face.
"Three complaints from nurses this morning, then two complaints from the physical therapy department, a patient complaint while you were in the clinic and then ANOTHER two nursing complaints when you signed out. Are you taking part in some sort of dare?" Cuddy berated him.
"No, just reminding people who I really am."
"Well, you've certainly redeemed your reputation for being the world's biggest a$$hole if that's what you were going for. I actually had a nurse threaten to quit if she ever had to work with you again."
"Then all is right with the world," House replied.