Out With A Bang

By Jules

(7/10)

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing! Enjoy.

"How'd you sleep, son?" His father asked, pulling out a chair for House.

House shuffled in, his hair flying out in every direction. "Considering the guest bed is about as soft as a brick, not bad."

His father grinned ruefully and poured House a cup of coffee. "An uncomfortable bed is the trick to keeping a house guest's stay to a minimum."

"Tell me how you really feel." House took a swig of coffee.

"I'll get you more pillows for tonight." He nodded once. House didn't say anything; he hadn't expected to stay. "There're a few parishioners I must visit today. You're welcome to come along."

House pinched his face. "And watch you hold hands and sing kumbaya? No thanks."

"Your lack of interest in other people can't go well with your chosen profession." He picked up House's unfinished cup of coffee and tossed the remainder in the sink. "I did a little research after you went to bed. You lead quite an interesting life, Dr. House."

House scoffed, "You googled me?"

He lowered his glasses and eyed House indignantly. "I'm old, not incapable. Come on. Go get dressed. We haven't much time."

The phone rang four times before her sister picked up. "Hey Jules. I need you to do me a favor."

"What?"

Cuddy took a deep breath. "Can Rachel stay with you for a few days?"

House stood in the doorway and watched his father approach the invalid young woman. He took her hand and probed her face with kindness. "How are you doing today, Mary?"

The girl didn't move. Her nurse said quietly, "I'm afraid not much has changed, Father."

He nodded and gripped the young woman's hand. "That's alright. I'll just sit with her for a few minutes."

"What's wrong with her?" House spoke up, his curiosity getting the better of him. He stepped out of the doorway.

"She suffered a stroke. Hasn't spoken since," his father explained.

"Let me see." House went to the other side of the bed and began to examine the woman. "Her vocal cords are spasming. Probably some form of Aphasia. Is she on any kind of steroid?"

"No, sir," said the nurse.

"Tell her doctor to try an immunosuppressant treatment. It's worth a shot." House shrugged but stopped when he caught his father's eye.

"Worth a shot? I never knew doctoring involved such guesswork."

"It's not a guess if I'm right."

"That, my son, is why God exists."

Julia walked in on her sister packing furiously. "This is crazy, Lisa. I thought you broke up with him?"

"I did."

Something was off. Julia knew her sister; the break-up had been like ripping a band-aid off, so pragmatic and self-preserving. Cuddy had cried once and then she was back to her normal self. Clearly, something had changed her mind. "I'm worried about you. What do you think you're doing?"

"I can't just sit here and wait for him." Cuddy escaped into the bathroom. She nearly ran into her sister when she came out. "Jeez, Jules!"

Julia didn't move. "You've been waiting for him half your life. I don't think he's going to get here, no matter what you do or how much you believe it."

Cuddy ducked under her sister's arm. "He's making an effort. He's out there with his father, a person he barely knows, trying to figure things out."

Julia crossed her arms. "You really think one trip to his long lost father is going to make things better? That he'll really be able to give you a normal life?"

Cuddy took her sister's hand. "Listen, I love you and love that you care enough about me to worry. But….I don't want normal. It was stupid and naïve to think we could actually work that way. He's never made this kind of effort before, and I don't want to miss out on it just because I was too shut down and stubborn to give him a chance."

"Lisa. Look, I just don't want you to go to all this trouble and wind up disappointed again."

"Jules, he's the love of my life. I can't give up on him. Not yet."

"You impressed me today, Gregory."

"It's only what I do."

"No, you have a gift. I'm glad you shared it with me." He sat down heavily in his armchair.

House looked at him: calm, reserved, and genuine. He was everything a good father should be, and it pissed House off. He couldn't stop the anger as it boiled deep inside of him. "I didn't think we'd have anything in common. But we do."

"Oh?"

House sat across from him on the ottoman. His leg hurt like hell. "You weren't there for the people who loved you. Needed you."

His father considered him. He leaned forward, taking in his son's impassive demeanor. "The way I see it—you have two choices. You can hold it against me and have nothing to do with me, or you can start having a relationship with me beginning today. We don't look back on the past."

House nodded. It was all so reasonable. It meant he would have to forgive. Forget. But he had been angry and miserable so long, he wasn't sure he could do it. "You don't care about the past. You don't care how I grew up or how I got to be who I am."

His father frowned and spoke honestly, "What could I do?"

House stood up. "You could have stepped up, been a man, and gotten me and my mother out of years of abuse from a man who didn't have a clue how to be a good father or husband," he yelled in rapid succession.

His face paled. "Oh."

Oh. All he had to say was Oh? He could stay here, scream at him until he felt guilty, but why? He didn't want a relationship with this man. He didn't want a father at all. This was all pointless.

"I think I'm going to head out."

"Gregory." House stopped.

He stood up from his chair unsteadily. "The offer stands. If you want a relationship with me, I'll be here."

"Hello?"

"Mrs. House?" Bythe House nodded, smiling automatically at the younger woman in front of her.

"Yes, can I…." She stepped forward, suddenly recognizing her son's boss. "….Dr. Cuddy?"