Chapter 26

Alysa was excited, almost. She knew somehow that House was getting to the part between him and her mother. She couldn't wait.

House went back into story form and continued to recap his complicated, but amuzing life.

After Wilson ratted House out to Tritter, the evil cop,...

"Why were you arrested, Daddy?" asked Auddy, curious as always.

Before House could answer, Alysa jumped at the oppurtunity. "Dad was mean to the cop. Cop some him pop a pill and then go driving. Tritter found out Dad was an addict, yada yada yada..." She smiled mischieviously at her father. House, confused, wondered if her mother had told her that story.

After Wilson ratted House out to Tritter, they made a little bargain. House wouldn't have to go to jail as long as he completed a rehab program, a long and painful rehab program. So, House did as he was told. He didn't want to do any jail time... Still, that made everything at the hospital worse for everyone. House grew grumpier by the day. Detoxing was not a fun process (House popped a vicodin). He didn't do as well on his diagnosises, but people thought he'd snap out of it. Well, he didn't. He was in pain. Anyways, while he was in rehab, Cuddy finally grew a backbone!

"House..." began Cuddy very nervously.

House didn't look up from his PSP, but she had his attention. "What?"

"House... I..." she fidgetted, "I still can't get pregnant. I... can't even find a good donor. I was wondering... if... maybe..."

"Sure," said House easily as a loud crashing noise came from his PSP.

Cuddy stared at him. Did she seriously just ask a child for a sperm donation? Well, technically he wasn't a child, but look at him for goodness sakes!

"House..." she said uneasily, "Are you sure?"

"What? You want me to rethink it? Then it'd be even harder on you..."

"No, I... I just think you should think before having a kid." She almost smiled.

"I have thought."

"You... wait... what?"

"I knew you wanted a donation; I was just waiting for you to maybe grow a spine and actually ask for one."

"Oh..." She turned around to exit House's office, but not before saying, "Thanks... House." She smiled and left.

"No prob," he said under his breath as she left.

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The next day, in the middle of a differencial, House's phone started ringing. Unwilling to leave, he made Chase go answer it.

"House," said Chase.

House stared at him.

"Cuddy wants to see you in her office."

"Doesn't she always?" he retorted, raising his eyebrows. He set down his marker and ordered his fellows to run some tests. Then he left the office after them and headed up to Cuddy's office.

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"Hey," he said.

"House... I..."

"Stop looking so nervous," he said rudely, "I already said yes, didn't I?"

Cuddy shook it off. It was just the detoxing. That's why he was angry... right? "House, I needed to know a few things about..."

"Whattya need?"

"Um, first, do you want me to make you an appointment at the sperm bank?"

"I thought we could do it the natural way!" he said wiggling his eyebrows, but Cuddy just rolled her eyes. (Alysa laughed at this.)

"I'm serious, House."

"Sure."

"Okay..." she continued, "And um, did you have any names in mind?"

"Not really," he said, "I guess I have time to think though, right?" Wasn't this HER child? Why did he have to pick a name?

"Okay... and lastly," she said as House got up to leave. "I just wanted to know what kind of part you wanted to be in the child's life." House stopped. He hadn't really thought about it.

"I don't know."

"Okay..." she said, "I mean, you don't have to be there every night, helping with homework, but I mean..."

"I'll think about it." With this, House left her office and headed back to his, awaiting his patient's test results.

What kind of life DID he want for his future kid? He'd never really considered having kids. He talked about it with Stacey, but he never really wanted them... now... What was he going to do? Cuddy was right, though. This kid needed a father.

"House," said Cameron walking into his office.

House looked up.

"Tests came back negative."

"They always do..." he trailed off, still in thought about his future son or daughter.

Alysa thought hard about this last part of her father's story. How could he not instantly jump at the idea of a child? How could he... oh well. That's it. He was doing his best now, who cares what he thought before he had children? He enjoyed her, her sisters, and her brother...