Chapter 13

Arresting Matilda

Susan returned home the following day, surrounded by round the clock nurses and caretakers. Finley stopped by each day for tea in the morning to examine her and have a few minutes of gossip. Sometimes House was lurking around in the background, but few words were exchanged between Finley and House. The partnership they had developed over the last week had retreated back into a cautious truce.

"They finally arrested Matilda." Susan said one morning a week after being home. "They found her in Atlantic City trying to lay low. She has platinum blonde hair now. It looks like a slam dunk. Both women have confessed and claimed it was Keith who did the dirty work. Boy, I know how to pick men don't I?"

Finley looked over at House sitting in the living room chair and raised an eyebrow. "No comment, but you never did fall in love with the nice ones, did you?"

Susan giggled and shook her head.

"I think you can return to work next week if you want, part time though. Maybe we should limit it to your teaching assignments and then add back with patients next month. That's only twelve days from now."

"I never thought I'd say it, but I miss work. I want desperately to get out of here." Susan sighed.

They both watched as House got up and went into the bedroom to take a shower before going to work.

"I need to get to work." Finley said.

Susan reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Fin…"

"Yes?"

"Greg's been acting strange."

"Oh?"

"He's been very attentive. Like he's trying extra hard."

"Extra hard? To do what?"

"Be there for me…be nice."

"You're complaining?"

"I'm worried. I think being arrested may have really had an impact on him."

Finley tried to stifle a laugh, but couldn't. "Susan, I doubt seriously that this is House's first time in jail. I think he's just trying to show you how worried he is. He almost lost you."

Susan looked at Finley for a moment and then nodded. "You're probably right."

"Christ, are you still here? You're harder to get rid of than cockroaches. When are we going to get our mornings back? I like to walk around naked in the mornings, air the boys out." House growled from the hall as he stood dripping wet wrapped in a small towel.

"Greg! Finley saved your butt. Don't talk to her like that!"

Finley tried hard not to show how hurt she was. She had thought they were going to at least tolerate each other after what they had been through. "Don't worry Greg, this is my last housecall. Susan is doing very well. You officially have your mornings back." Finley closed her bag, gave Susan a kiss on the cheek and then stood up.

House stared at her as if she was a nuisance. Walking to the door, she turned and looked back. House waved his hand to shoo her away. Gathering her pride, she straightened her shoulders and left.

House began to breathe again. There was something about her that made him anxious whenever she was around. Was he afraid that she'd tell Susan about the kiss? No. It takes two to kiss and it would damage her relationship with Susan as much as it would his. Looking deeper he realized he felt guilty. But, he wasn't sure what he felt guilty about? Was it that he kissed Susan's best friend? Or did it bother him that after he kissed Susan's best friend, he ignored her—went back to Susan? That was too much for House to scrutenize for now. Deferring an analysis of his feelings felt like the right thing to do.

Finley's feelings were on edge; she felt as if anything could trigger some emotional meltdown. She found herself snapping at orderlies, crying during examinations and throwing food at the television whenever programs about relationships came on. Despite the fact that she had only been in Princeton for six months, she wanted to get away. She really wanted to move back to California, but her contract with PPTH was for one year.

"Finley! Wait up!"

Finley turned around to see House and Susan crossing the parking lot towards her, Susan smiling and waving, House taciturn. She felt her stomach cramp and her heart speed up, but she managed to give her a forced smile.

A pink cheeked Susan, cold wind blowing her long blonde hair across her face, raced up to Finley and hugged her. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd grab a bite and then a movie."

"By yourself?" Susan was stunned that Finley was alone on a Saturday night.

The truth was that Finley had received a couple of invitations to go out from men, but none that interested her. She had found that after her painful breakup three years ago, she was very picky when it came to men. She didn't want to make the same mistake again. "I don't mind."

"Greg and I were going to get some dinner too. Come with us."

Finley looked up at House and could see that he wasn't in favor of the idea. "No, I don't want to intrude."

"We never get to see you even though you only live downstairs, come on!"

Finley wanted to mention that it was a two way street; Susan could use the same elevator and come see her, but neither of them made the trip. Finley didn't know why Susan didn't make more of an effort. She knew that House was not fond of her and she stayed away from Susan's loft because of him—him and her feelings for him.

"She doesn't want to…don't push it." House admonished.

"Maybe we could have lunch this week." Finley suggested.

Susan started to cry. "I know you two hate each other but I would have thought what happened to me would bring you together…at least to a point where you could stand to be in the same room."

Finley and House both looked down at the ground, ashamed.

"Okay, fine. I'll join you for dinner."

House rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly.

"Great!" Susan bubbled, grabbing Finley's arm with hers. They went to Big Fish Seafood Bistro and waited half an hour at the bar until their table was ready. In the booth, House sat on the outside of the bench facing Finley. Susan was on the inside, leaning over to talk to Finley.

"I don't understand why we don't see more of you."

'We' being the operative word. "I'm just busy and I'm sure you'd rather spend time with Greg."

"No truer words were ever said." House commented.

"Finley, really, we'd love for you to stop by…any time."

"We'll see."

House finally made eye contact with Finley. "Cuddy said something to Chase about you asking if you could buy out your contract."

Finley winced; she knew what Susan's reaction would be.

"What?" Susan looked at House and then at Finley as they stared at each other. "No! You can't leave!"

Finley put her head in her hand and exhaled loudly. "Susan, I miss life in California."

Susan swallowed hard and tried to hold her tears back. "Finley, this is my fault. I haven't been a very good friend. I've been so caught up in my own drama that I haven't realized that you're here all alone."

"Oh come on, she's not a fourth grader in a new school. She's a big girl; she can make new friends on her own, she can be a bloody nuisance to someone else."

"Shut up, Greg." Susan snapped. "Finley, I swear I'll spend more time with you. I swear I'll be a better friend. I'm so sorry. Please, just don't go."

"You don't have to worry, Lisa turned me down. She claims that several grants are tied into me staying the full year."

Susan's shoulders relaxed. "Good, then I don't have to worry. I can make it my job to see that you stay even longer."

I glanced briefly at House who seemed absolutely mortified by her statement. The idea of Susan spending time with me meant that he would see less of Susan and more of me, something he didn't relish for whatever reasons.

"Susan, I'm not a special interest project."

"No, you're my best friend and I've been a poor one."