Yay! New chapter! So sorry for the wait! I'm a bitch! I'm soooo sorry!
Forgive me. Go on, forgive me. Say you forgive me, you do, don't you?
I had to change what type of cancer Cameron's first husband died of so it would fit. Just a little alteration, don't worry he still died!
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Chapter 9 - Long hidden
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House's words resounded in the dead silent room.
"No. As her father"
Allison sunk into the arm chair and Addie leaned against the wall.
"Now I've done it", House muttered.
"Maybe she's old enough to know", Allison suggested softly.
"Well, we can't not tell her now", House snapped, "She already has the outline of what happened".
Addie glanced at them, "I would like to know", she said softly.
They both glanced at her.
"Oh sweetie", Allison said, she glanced at House, "I want her to know".
House nodded, "Me too".
He sighed and began to tell their long hidden secret to the one person they'd tried to protect from it.
"We were married only a few months when your mom got pregnant. We had a beautiful baby girl but something was wrong, her organs never properly developed and when she was born there were complications and she began to bleed internally. Like your mother said there was nothing we could do. She had surgery upon surgery but nothing helped. She died within a week".
Addie's eyes filled with tears and she looked at her mom.
The tears ran freely down her cheeks and she rubbed her running nose.
Glancing back at her dad she realized he had tears of his own running down his face
"What-what was her full name?", Addie asked quietly.
Housed smiled wistfully, remembering a time long ago.
"Rebecca. Rebecca Ayden House".
-----
"She's beautiful", House gasped placing a small kiss on the head of their very first child.
Allison smiled at him, "Yes. She is".
They smiled at each other and then leaned in.
House let his lips linger on hers for a few moments before pulling away.
"Ok, names", he let his gaze fall to their one hour old daughter.
Allison leaned back in her chair, "What about, um, Caitlin?".
They both stared at the small baby.
"Nope", they both said at the same time.
"Rose?"
"Desiree?"
"Joy?"
Allison sighed, "Who knew naming a baby could be so hard"
House smiled at her, "Well at least by our sixth child maybe we'll be skilled at it".
Allison sat up straight, "You want six kids?"
"Only if you want them", he answered kissing her softly again.
"Rebecca", they both said suddenly.
House laughed, "Great minds".
Allison smiled, "Rebecca", she confirmed.
"Hello little Becky", House cooed at his daughter.
"Here", Allison said, picking their daughter up carefully.
"Watch her head", he warned.
She laughed gently and supporting Becky's head she held her gently to her shoulder.
Leaning her head down, she kissed Becky's head.
Looking over at her husband she became immediately concerned, "Greg?", she asked, "What is it?"
House stared in shock at the small baby where the pink blanket that was wrapped around her had fallen away to reveal her back.
"Oh god", House whispered hoarsely.
"Page Doctor Cuddy", he yelled at a nurse who scurried to do his bidding.
"Greg", Allison asked shakily, "What's wrong? What's wrong with my daughter?"
House got up from his seat and carefully removed the baby from Allison's arms.
She reached for her, "Give her back to me", she ordered him.
"Allison, stop", House told her gently.
He turned the baby gently and laid her on her stomach in her tiny hospital bed. Once she was settled House removed the blanket covering her back.
"Oh god", Allison sobbed her legs wavering.
House hurried to her and wrapped his arms around her, supporting her weight against his body.
As they gripped onto each other for dear life they stared down at their poor baby whose back was covered in a red-purple bruise.
Tears ran down Allison's cheeks and she began to sob.
"What did I do wrong", she cried.
House turned her into him hugging her gently.
"It wasn't you. You didn't do anything", he comforted her, his own tears welling in his eyes.
He lead her to the bed, "Here, you need to sleep".
Allison started to cry hysterically, "No, no, no. I need to see Becky".
House kissed her gently on the head.
"Sleep, Ally", he ordered, "Becky will be here when you wake up".
She slipped into sleep, the strain of the day catching up with her along with the morphine House had ordered for her when she was in labor.
House rubbed her back then moved to go to the door.
He leaned against the wall, letting himself slip to the floor.
He brought his knees to his chest and cried.
Cried because there was nothing he could do to fix this.
The door opened softly and three men snuck into the room, oblivious of House sitting by the door.
"There's Ally. Where's the baby and House?", Chase asked.
"Idiot", Foreman said, "The baby would be in the baby hospital bed".
Wilson shook his head at the younger men, "I wonder where House is".
They crept towards Becky.
"Stop", a disgruntled cry came from House.
The three men spun around to see House struggle to his feet.
Foreman and Chase rushed to help him but he pushed them away.
"Don't you touch her! Don't you touch my Becky", he told them harshly and hysterically.
The tears poured down his face and his two employees stared at him in shock.
"House. Are-are you OK?", Chase asked gently.
He walked past them.
"Don't touch her. I won't let you touch her", he yelled at them.
Foreman and Chase stared, astonished but Wilson went into action.
"Greg?", he asked gently, "We aren't going to touch her".
House nodded, "Good".'
He sat by the tiny hospital bed praying that Cuddy would hurry up.
Wilson came forward, "May I see your daughter? I won't touch her, I promise"
House stared at him before nodding gently, "OK".
Wilson walked towards the tiny bed as he reached it he stared in shock at the tiny baby.
"Oh, god", he breathed.
House began to shake and Wilson rushed to him.
"House", he tried to reassure him, "It's OK. We can fix this".
"No we can't", House yelled, "I can't fix this".
He began to stalk angrily, the tears gone.
"Where the hell is Cuddy?", he yelled.
"Lisa is coming", Wilson reassured him.
He glanced quickly at Foreman and Chase but they already knew to leave.
"I'll go make sure Cuddy's coming", Foreman said quietly.
House nodded, "Good".
Wilson glanced over at Allison, "Is Ally OK?", he asked, "Does she know?"
House nodded, "She's tired, let her sleep".
Wilson tried to smile but failed miserably.
At that moment Cuddy rushed in the room. She stopped in the door way and Wilson wondered if House was going to blow up again.
House surprised him by beckoning to her.
She came silently to the two men.
Glancing down at Becky she assessed the situation.
"Greg", she said and he looked at her, "We can fix this. I'll take care of her".
"Becky", House whispered, "Her name's Becky".
Cuddy walked to the door quickly and motioned to two nurses who came forward to take Becky.
"No!", House yelled.
Everyone in the room stopped.
"I don't want them near her", he gestured at the nurses and Cuddy waved them away.
Wilson went to the door, "I'll get Chase and Foreman".
House nodded and moments later they were in the room.
They glanced quickly at Becky then up at House.
As Foreman began to push the tiny hospital bed he was stopped.
House's hand shot out and grabbed Foreman's arm.
"Ta-take care of Becky", he ordered him.
Foreman nodded, "I will House. I promise".
He continued to wheel the bed from the room and Chase followed him under Houses watchful gaze.
House watched them take his baby from him before turning away.
That was the last time he ever saw her alive.
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"Wow", Addie gasped.
They all had tears running down their faces.
"Guess we really are an emotional group", House tried to joke.
"So-so she bled out?", Addie asked carefully.
"Yeah", Allison sniffled wiping her nose then handed a tissue box to Addie who took one then handed the box to House.
"I don't get it", Addie said after a moment, "Why couldn't you tell me about Becky".
Allison and House glanced at each other.
"Well, um", House began.
"It's OK", Allison told him, "I'll tell her".
"You-you see", she began, "Parents should never bury their own children, it's not right. It's just…just not fair", she paused and wiped her eyes, "Death is bad enough but a death of a child can take a huge strain on a marriage".
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One month after Rebecca's death-
"I was thinking of making spaghetti for dinner", Allison wearily, "What do you think?"
House shrugged, "I felt like pizza", he said quietly.
Allison sighed, he'd been so quite since Rebecca had died, he only ever spoke when absolutely necessary or when he was asked.
"OK, Greg", she said gently.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek tenderly, his entire body stiffened at human contact. The way it did every time someone touched him.
Allison sighed tiredly and wiped away yet another tear.
She went and ordered him a pizza and put a pot on the stove filling it with water.
She stood by the stove waiting for the water to boil.
Rubbing her temples with her fingers she yawned, every day seemed like a year.
Once the water boiled Allison put the spaghetti in the pot and began to make a sauce.
House walked into the kitchen as she was busy stirring the spaghetti and throwing some chopped tomatoes into a pan.
He stopped a watched her carefully. After a few moments she turned.
"Was there something you needed? Anything I can get you?", she asked patiently.
"What happened to pizza?", House asked grumpily, "What, it doesn't matter what I want anymore?"
"Of course it does, honey!", Allison soothed him
"Don't you honey me", he snapped.
Allison was shocked but she was soon taken over by a new emotion, anger.
"Sorry for trying to be a good wife", she huffed.
"Well, you're not very good at it", House crossed his arms.
Allison gaped at him, "Well, you are a terrible husband. I have been nothing but patient and understanding with you!".
"You have no idea what I'm going through", House thundered.
"Of course I don't", Allison said sarcastically, "Cause I've never have a child die in my arms. Never had my one week old daughter bleed out!".
The tears ran down her face and if it was any other time House would have felt regret for putting them there but this time he just glared at her.
"Don't be sarcastic", House ordered her.
"Don't tell me what to do!", she screamed back, "Because you have no idea what I went through. You are the one that sat in his stupid office all curled up in his own thoughts while I sat with my daughter as she died! You weren't there as she fought! You weren't there".
"Yeah but it must be easier the second time. Isn't it?", he hissed at her.
Allison instantly stiffened. "You don't know anything about what happened", she said defensively.
"I know how your last baby died", House sneered at her, "With your first husband. Bet you blamed that on him too. 'course he wasn't the one pregnant and probably smoking dope-".
He was cut off as Allison slapped him hard.
"Don't you dare", she warned, "You don't know anything".
House glared at her holding his cheek which had a visible red handprint mark on it.
"It's a good thing you never became a mother because you would have been terrible at it", House said quietly.
Allison stepped back, the tears and misery pouring from her eyes, and this time House felt regret.
The doorbell rang and they looked towards the door.
"That's your pizza", Allison said switching the stove off.
She walked from the room and House followed her to the lounge.
He watched her walk to their bedroom then turned to answer the door.
Once he got the pizza he collapsed on the couch with it and flicked the TV on thinking she'd only need a little time by herself.
Ten minutes later House looked up in shock as Allison entered the room with a suitcase.
"What the hell are you doing?", House asked switched the TV off.
"I-I", Allison stuttered, "I think we need some time", she said quietly, her eyes downcast, "Apart".
House stood staring at her completely astonished, "But-but".
"That fight", Allison raise her eyes to meet his, "That wasn't normal".
She moved to go to the door and House went after her.
"So you're just going to leave? Walk out on me?", House asked with wide eyes.
"I'll be at Lisa and James's", she told him gently, "I-I'm sorry".
She put her hand on the doorknob then turned to look him in the eye, and the tears began to roll again.
She searched his eyes and he searched hers.
"I have to say goodbye to you now", she said tearfully, "And I don't know how I'm gonna do that".
He tries to tell her to stay. The words rang in his head. They climbed up his throat, but something swallowed them before they reached his mouth.
House tried to speak to stop her from leaving and Allison tried to smile to reassure him.
Both of them failed.
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You broke up?", Addie asked astonished.
"Yeah", House said miserably and Allison nodded.
"But…but…you guys are like totally happy", Adie stuttered.
Allison shrugged, "I guess losing a child brings people closer together. If they can get over the grief together".
House smiled wanly, "We weren't to good at the together part. I went pretty much mute and your mother does what she always does when she's worries; cares until your eyes pop out".
Allison raised an eye brow, "In the long run it was good that we had some time apart. It's once you loss something that you realize how much it means to you".
"How did you guys get back together?", Addie asked.
Allison laughed lightly, "That was all down to Lisa and James. They set us up and showed us how miserable the other was".
"And how life isn't worth living with out someone to love", House added.
Allison smiled at him, "I'm sorry".
"Me too", House whispered, "for everything".
"So, you just lied to me my entire life", Addie stated bitterly.
Allison turned to her, "Oh, no sweetie we just-"
"Left out a huge part of it", Addie finished, "I need to get changed", She stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
House stared at Allison worriedly.
"She'll get over it eventually", Allison tried to reassure him.
She came over to House and sat on the bed next to him. He opened his arms and she leaned into them, happy to be in his embrace again.
"I really am sorry", House said sincerely, "for what I said about-about your other pregnancy. I-I am so sorry".
Allison nodded, "I was going to call him Jack".
House kissed her head gently.
"If you want to tell me I want to listen", he said very gently.
Alison took a deep breath and laced her fingers trough House's, "I was twenty two. Very young, too young to be in love or pregnant.
My husband was dying from liver cancer and I had a chance to save him. I was the same blood type and willing to give up half my liver but-but I couldn't because I was pregnant. 15 weeks".
She paused and sighed, leaning heavily against House. He complied by wrapping his arms tightly around her, knowing she needed all the strength she could get.
"I got an abortion", she said suddenly, "At 15 weeks I got an abortion. For weeks after I had dreams, nightmares, about someone trying to kill me but the only thing I could do was cry".
The tears ran down her cheeks as she thought of the baby she had to give up.
"I killed him. My own son, my flesh and blood and I killed him", she began to sob and House hugged her even closer, placing small kisses on her head.
"I did it for nothing too", she hiccupped, "the cancer metastasised. There was nothing they could do and I was left alone. I had killed my husband and my son. I lost the two people I loved within the same week".
She began to cry and House rocked her back and forth.
"It's OK", he murmured, "It's OK. Everything's OK".
"I woke up", she wept, "and a stranger told me that he died. He died while I was under. I'd killed my son then I couldn't even say goodbye to my husband".
Allison's body shook as she cried, "It never stops".
"What never stops?", House asked quietly.
Allison whimpered, "The pain".
House was shocked, "Shhh. I'm here", he told her, "I'm not going anywhere".
She clung to him urgently, "Addie…I…so scared", she mumbled inaudibly, "Don't want…lose her".
"She's not going anywhere", House told Allison, "She's right here".
She nodded gently and let her head fall to his shoulder. House held her gently, still rocking her back and forth.
In a few moments he noted that her breathing had changed and he shifted her gently so that she laid on the bed.
Pulling the blankets up around her he kissed her softly on the head.
"I love you", he murmured into her hair.
Walking to the phone he picked it up and pushed in the number for Lisa's cell.
"Hey Greg", she greeted him happily.
"Hey", House said softly, careful he didn't wake Allison, "Listen, we've had a rough morning here so Allison won't be coming in today".
"Are you guys OK?", Lisa asked concerned, "What happened?".
House glanced quickly over at his wife, "Addie knows…about Rebecca".
"Is she OK?", she enquired, "Does she know about…what happened after that?"
"Yeah", House said slowly, "We told her that too".
"Alright", Lisa told him gently, "Tell her that's fine. Don't worry about coming in today, just spend sometime with Ally".
"Thanks Lis," House thanked her very genuinely, "Take care".
"You too", she told him warmly.
As he hung up a soft knock came from the door.
The door creaked open gently and Addie poked her head in.
"Hey", Addie caught sight of her sleeping mother and lowered her voice, "Can you drop me off soon?".
Her car needed new wheels so she was at House and Allison's mercy for transport.
House nodded, "I'll be five minutes".
Addie nodded once and ducked back out.
House sighed and continued getting ready.
Even though Lisa had told him to stay home he would end up going in anyway. As much as he loved complaining and sneaking off to have breaks there was no way he could stay home today.
He had a lot to think about and he couldn't do it here.
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House and Addie drove in silence most of the way. After a few moments House couldn't bare the quiet and began to talk.
"I'm sorry", he began, "But we were just trying to protect you".
Addie glared at him, "Because covering up the fact that I had a sister really protected me".
House sighed, "I truly am sorry".
Addie nodded, "I know. But I truly am not going to forgive you".
House frowned, "Why?", he asked.
"Because you lied to me!", she exploded, "I'm 17 years old for Christ sake and you couldn't find the time to tell me I had a sister or the fact that you guys broke up! I'm pretty sure I could handle it".
"That's exactly why we didn't tell you", House explained, "I know how you think Addie, you are my daughter and I knew it would only hurt you".
"You don't know anything about me", Addie snarled turning to face the window.
"Ayden", House warned, "Don't take that tone with me".
Addie ignored him and the silence House dreaded fell around them again.
As they pulled up outside an impressive building Addie reached for the door handle but House was faster.
He locked the doors and Addie tugged on the handle but it wouldn't budge.
"Let me out", she ordered.
House took a deep breath, "Addie", he pleaded with her, "I'm sorry".
Addie turned to face him, her eyes bore coldly into his.
"Open the fucking door".
A frown crossed over his face but House did what she requested.
Watching her stalk away he got the feeling he was about to lose another daughter.
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TBC
R&R
Though I am sorta getting more interested in Torchwood I can guarantee you that I adore House M.D and this fic will get finished!