Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I do not own House, but I do own Lily.
A/'N Thank you for the wonderful reviews! Hope you all like this chapter! I decided to bump the rating to teen due to language and innuendos. Mentions of child abuse and sexual innuendos that is Yes this is a long one this time!!
House sat absentmindedly switching the television stations. The remote's buttons felt foreign to him like little pieces of plastic digging into his fingers. He could feel a fine line of sweat begin to break out above his lip. He ran his slender fingers over his mouth feeling the course bristles of his stubble. God …I don't think I can get through today.
House closed his eyes. It had been a few years since he had last scene his parents. It had been eons since he had talked to them…really talked to them. Maybe I never really talked to them. It was a two way street. We never tried to see each other…just existed in our own skin.
The TV was beginning to become more of an annoyance than House originally had anticipated. The screen went dark. Grabbing one leg carefully to the coffee table and swinging the other around, House decided sleep would be the best way to pass the time.
1976
House laid back in the grass breathing in the hyacinths and lilacs. Sweet…innocent and dying before their time….like me….
He smirked at the thought of comparing himself to a wild flower growing beneath his feet.
"Greg?" Blue eyes turned to face the direction of the voice. A petite brunette with bright eyes looked longingly at him causing Greg's heart to skip a beat. If I weren't such a gentleman….
"Are you Ok? You seem…more distant than usual." Greg smiled at her. If she only knew…
"I'm fine. Just thinking."
She didn't want to let it go. "About what?"
Greg pushed himself up on his elbow and leaned in close to her soft rose colored lips. "You, of course."
A giggle erupted as he made his way to her mouth searching it hungrily…distracting her and me from the obvious burn…
He found himself becoming more intense…hands moving eagerly to her breasts only to have an arm push him away. "Greg, you know I'm not ready for that yet."
He grinned. "Sorry. You are just so beautiful."
The young woman blushed. "We are also only seventeen and preparing for college. I can't afford to have anything go wrong if you know what I mean." Greg nodded. Of course I do….all children are mistakes….I've heard it plenty of times spoken in innuendos and whispered conversations….
Greg pushed himself up till he was sitting cross legged on the grass. "Do you know what you want to d with your life?"
Lily sat up next to her boyfriend. "I don't know. Whatever it is it has to do something with helping people."
Greg cocked his head. "Helping people? Are you serious?"
Lily scoffed. "Why not? You want to be a doctor. Don't doctors help people?"
Greg thought for a moment before replying. "Only the pathetic ones become doctors just to help people."
Lily glowered in his direction leaning in teasing him with her close proximity. "Why do you want to become a doctor then?"
Greg stared straight ahead keeping his answer within….She wouldn't understand….
When there was no answer from his lips, she sighed tugging on his arm.
"I have to get home. Can you walk with me?"
Greg stood up extending his hand to help Lily to her feet. "Guess I'm not getting lucky again tonight huh?"
She punched his arm hard causing him to yelp. "Gregory House I should punch you harder for that comment."
Greg sighed. "I was just kidding. I love you, you know. I would wait for you." Lily's bright eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
The two arrived to Lily's base house moments later. A quick kiss threatening to linger drew tem apart. "I need to get home too." Lily noticed how sad he sounded when he said that and ran her hand along his cheek. "See you later?"
Greg nodded smiling. "You bet."
Greg walked slowly to his house a few paces forward. Lily and he had been together for what seemed like ages in teen years but in reality had been about a year. He did love her. He wanted her. He would marry her if he could. There was time. There was always time…
John House heard the door close behind his son as he stormed into the living room.
"Where the hell have you been?"
Greg looked to his dad. "I was out."
"Don't be a smart ass with me. Where were you? With that girl again doing God knows what! Do you even care what the neighbors must think of you? Of me?"
Greg smirked. "I don't give a rat's ass what the neighbors think."
The words were barely out when Greg felt the sting of his flesh. He put a hand to his cheek.
"Watch your mouth boy. You have a long way to go in this world. Don't screw it up."
Greg knew exactly what that meant and also if he spoke his mind what the consequences would be.
"Yes, sir." Greg started to walk away.
"You are in way past curfew. No seeing Lily for the next week."
Greg glared angrily and huffed daring his father to hit him, yell at him, do anything to him. Nothing came. Why? Wasn't he good enough to be smacked around anyone? The old man going soft on me?
Greg shook his head and went to his room. Not much longer and I will be free…
Present day
Greg opened his eyes. He was wrong. He never was free. Before his punishment was up from his father that week, he got a call that Lily had been killed in a car accident along with another friend of hers. Greg had lashed out at his father in pain. He was tortured that he was the survivor. He knew he would have been with her if he wasn't punished. I should have died too….
John House had smiled and said "I did you a favor. Now you owe me."
Greg didn't realize he had begun swinging his fists until he felt the recriminations of his actions. Tears filled his eyes at the memories. So damn vulnerable right now…how did that happen?
He rubbed his tired eyes. Didn't matter anyway. That was so long ago….Amber not so long ago…I am once again the survivor. Dad had done me no favors.
"House?" Another voice calling me out of my reveries. I don't think I can meet her eyes without breaking down…still caught up in the past.
"Yeah?" I can barely croak out one word. I feel her presence there…please leave me alone….
Cuddy sits down next to me. "I know you don't get along with your father but…."
House shook his head and stifled a fake chuckle. "I hate him."
Cuddy understood. "I know. I wish you would…."
He looked to her. She could see unshed tears in his eyes… so much pain he holds… why won't you let someone in?
Cuddy remained silent allowing her concerns for him die on her breath. Maybe when you're ready you'll share it….I can only hope you do….
A knock on the door brought reality into focus. Two pairs of eyes stared at the door each for reasons of their own. It's now or never….
Cuddy got up to open the door. Standing there were both John and Blythe House.
"Mr. and Mrs. House come in, please."
Cuddy felt her own voice filled with too much sweetness.
The two enter her house. Blythe takes in her surroundings, the ever polite guest and comments on how lovely the home is. Cuddy smiles in gratitude accepting her words, all the while keeping an eye on John. He studies the environment looking for anything to be out of place. That is when he finds it.
"Are you using that leg of yours as an excuse to not come say hi to us?"
House felt his skin tingle at the words before struggling to get up and make his way over. Blythe eagerly grabbed her son with two arms not wanting to let go.
"I am so glad you are Ok, Gregory." House looked to Cuddy before making his next move and embraced his mom in return. He rested his chin against her shoulder breathing in familiar scents triggering past memories of love and comfort.
"Thanks, Mom." John stood behind Blythe saying nothing.
"Nice to see you too, Dad."
John scoffed. "Cut the bullshit, Greg. You know this was your mother's idea. "
Greg averted his gaze and limped off to the couch.
"So why are you here and not at your place? Do you two take turns or something? I mean I never got the whole concept of shacking up." Blythe turned a cold hard stare to her husband while Cuddy felt her face blush bright red.
House said nothing.
Cuddy looked to him. No quick wit… no sarcastic remark? Where has House gone?
"Mr. House, I think you may have misunderstood. We aren't together….."
John nodded keeping his gaze on House while answering Cuddy. "Of course not. I don't blame you."
Cuddy looked to House who seemed to wish that he were smaller and smaller by the minute.
"It's not that, you see, I'm his boss…"
John waved it off. "I know. It's fine. I don't need an explanation. Greg has always been an asshole and always will be. You don't; need to make excuses for him."
Cuddy found the rage boiling. House met her eyes. He feels it too.
"I'm not…."
"So, "House interrupted before it could get anymore awkward, "Anything new? Kill anything lately Dad like Mom's spirit?" Why the hell did I just say that?
John and Blythe gave him disapproving looks. "Sorry I meant it as a joke, but I guess it didn't come out like that."
"Guess not." House heard the tone his mother had.
"Sorry, "he mumbled.
"No, you're not." John interjected.
Blythe put and arm up between House and John. "Let it go."
Time for damage control…"So is Chinese Ok for everyone?"
Dinner was only an hour after the Houses' arrived but it seemed like an eternity. John kept shooting accusations and insults at House while Blythe stepped in between. If this is any indication of what his life growing up was like, no wonder he hates going home.
House wasn't hungry. He moved his fork around on the plate playing with the rice and broccoli wishing he were anywhere else but here.
Cuddy and Blythe struck up a conversation and were trying to keep the peace when out of the blue John asked, "Where's your friend, Wilson?"
House stopped moving his fork. Cuddy became quiet and Blythe looked at them each in turn.
"Wilson and I are not speaking to each other for the moment."
John scooped up a spoonful of rice. "What did you do this time? Steal his girl? Crandall… Kill his grandmother?" Esther…
House's pallor turned white. His blue eyes stood out even more against his skin.
"I killed his girlfriend."
Blythe dropped her fork and John stopped chewing taking House's words as a horrible joke and began to lash out at an already injured soul "You arrogant bastard." John stood up. House knew where this would lead and he was not in the mood for it.
"It wasn't like that. It was an accident." House heard Cuddy but needed to get this out.
"No, it was my fault. She never would have been on that damn bus if it weren't for me…"
"What are you talking about?" Blythe was thoroughly confused. "We heard you were in a coma and now someone else died in a bus accident?
House looked to Cuddy for guidance. He didn't know how much she had told them. Apparently not much.
"Your son, Mrs. House, "began Cuddy. "was in a bus accident. Wilson's girlfriend was with him…"
"So you were cheating with her huh? "
House slammed his fork down. "I was not cheating on anyone!"
His screams could be heard throughout the house.
"I did something better, Dad. I got drunk off my ass and called for Wilson to come pick me up. She came instead and followed me onto the bus after I told her to drive home because stupid me forgot my cane!"
John stood inches from House's flaring eyes. "For a leg problem that isn't all that bad a girl was killed." I made a girl cry….
This was getting no where. "You're right Dad. Always are. It just tickled and I wanted her to make it all better. Maybe suck me off when she had the chance." House felt the punch before he saw it coming. He was on the ground in moments.
John was staring down at him. "You always were a disappointment Greg. If I had a tub of ice big enough to put you in for this indiscretion, I would drown you in it myself."
Cuddy looked to Blythe who hid her face as she went to House's aid. Tub of ice?
"John I think it's time we left." Her voice was so small. She knew the pain the words caused Greg, the embarrassment he was now feeling and the strength he would need to explain it to his friend.
Cuddy bent down with a napkin to help stop the bleeding falling from House's nose.
"I am sorry, Dr. Cuddy. Thank you for the dinner." Cuddy felt her heart break for the woman. "You're welcome. Thank you for coming. " She meant that for her ears only.
Blythe stood up pulling Cuddy along with her, squeezing Cuddy's hands. "He needs someone. Please help him." Cuddy took in her whispers and nodded. "I will do my best."
Blythe smiled and patted her hand. John and Blythe made their way to the door.
"Bye, Gregory." She called on her way out.
"Bye Mom," he said. With that the door slammed shut.
Cuddy looked at House holding his bloody nose staring at the floor.
"Here let me help you." Cuddy went to the kitchen and got another napkin and handed it over. House glanced briefly into her eyes and muttered thanks.
"Are you Ok?"
House licked his lips as he put his head back to stop the gushing blood.
"No, I'm not Ok! Thanks for asking!"
He turned his back to Cuddy leaving her feeling even more helpless.
"Fine. If you need me or want to talk, I'm here."
He could hear her heels clicking against the hard wood floor. I wish things could be different.
Hours went by before House felt it was safe to go to bed. Visions of the afternoon's events and what tomorrow would bring followed him around. He slowly opened the door to Cuddy's room allowing a small amount of light to filter through. He tried his best to be quiet, his body aching for the sweet drugs left at the night stand for him with a glass of water. Damn it Cuddy, why do you have to be so…so nice?
House gratefully swallowed them before climbing into the bed. He pulled up a flower print sheet and sighed resting his forehead in his hands.
Before he realized it he was speaking out loud. "I screwed up again."
He said it low at first, heart beating heavily as he looked toward her sleeping form. Breathing pattern steady…she's asleep.
"I shouldn't have said the things I did tonight. There was no need. It didn't matter. Nothing matters, I guess. Doesn't change anything. He's always going to be a bastard…" He pauses afraid to admit the truth, "but so am I. It's not all his fault…I mean maybe none of it is, I don't know. I just wish sometimes that I could put it all behind me you know? So long ago yet…" he recalled his dreams with a shiver, "sometimes it feels just like yesterday."
He allowed his voice to trail off. It wasn't like she was listening anyway. She was dead to the world. Dead….
"There are things I want to tell you, things that I need to tell someone. Not just some stranger in a room." He thought of Eve.
"Not just an apparition from a near death experience." He thought of Amber.
"I need to talk to someone. Wilson and you are the only ones I trust. Maybe it's time to deal with this, all of this, everything in my life that needs fixing." He felt his voice hitch a little suppressing the escaping sobs. "I don't want to be alone anymore."
He shut his lips fearing anything else that may fall out and turned to lie on his side in any effort to fall asleep. Lost in his own thoughts, he was oblivious to the muffled cries coming from the other side of the bed at his admittance.
Cuddy shut her eyes and prayed …He is ready to try ….
Do you like it? I know a bit long but there was a lot to say this time! For anyone wondering…Esther was from All In and Eve is from One Day One Room.
Up next House confronts Wilson! Please review! It is like candy and I love candy!!