a/n: This is the big setup for the next two chapters, which will have the rest of the drama and action for the story. I see only three chapters max after this one. Thanks to everyone that has followed this here and on livejournal given the recent site difficulties. It means alot that you want to know what happens next.
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Chase wondered what was going on as soon as dinner was finished. His mother-in-law gave Cameron a weird glance, what seemed like she was wishing her luck, before going upstairs. He started to clean up the dishes, but Cameron grabbed his wrist. "We can get those later. Come sit down with me."
Chase followed her lead skeptically into the family room, where he took Cameron's side on the couch. "You have something you want to talk about."
"Robert, House came to see me today."
"He's not the type to pay a social visit."
"It wasn't."
His startled expression told her he figured out exactly what this was about. "He offered you a job, didn't he?"
"He needs me," she replied nervously.
"No, he needs someone to run interference so he doesn't have to play the latest game of hospital politics. You don't need that headache. Let him fight his own battles."
"He's willing to meet my demands. Flexible and reduced schedule. He even somehow got the twins two spots in the hospital child care center."
Chase shook his head. "That wasn't so tough. Everyone knows about the director's lunchtime trysts in the janitor closet with Dr. Cardon."
Cameron frowned in disappointment. "Everyone but me. You see? I'm on maternity leave for four weeks and I miss out on everything. I want to be part of the action again."
Chase grasped her hand and took a calming breath, using the pause to carefully plan what to say. "I know the last several weeks have been a huge adjustment. You've been doing great with our kids though. Are you sure you want to try and juggle so much?"
"Robert, do you remember when we first found out I was pregnant? You were worried that giving up my career would turn me bitter and depressed like your mother."
"That's why I gave you the chance to consult with Foreman and me. I don't want you to be an overcommitted stressed out mess either."
"I'm a hands on doctor. Reviewing files from home will get old fast. Besides, I wouldn't be a burden on your payroll."
Chase leaned back, feeling the light sting of her hitting a touchy subject. "Trust me, you won't. After we went through the expansion plans for diagnostics, Foreman, Pamela, and I figured out we will be busier than ever. We're eventually going to need to add doctors. We're planning for an onslaught."
Cameron adjusted her position so his eyes met hers. "The same will happen to House. He has no one working for him and will do horrible things to the med students and interns. I need to work for him for the sake of humanity."
Chase cracked a smile. "Well, if you put it that way, you would be doing a huge public service."
Cameron grinned back. "I'd be branded a hero."
They both chuckled over the thought of sparing humanity. When they settled down, he looked at her earnestly. "Are you sure this is what you want?" He looked for any sign of apprehension.
"Very sure."
He nodded, accepting the confidence of her answer. "Okay then. Work out with him when you want to come back."
"It won't be for another four weeks. I'm not ready to give these babies over to someone else yet."
"When the time comes, you won't be ready either. I'm not worried about the kids, they'll manage fine, but I plan to be there to help you through your separation anxiety."
"I'll be fine."
"Right. Sounds like we have a wager."
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"Dr. Brennan, I know there are challenges, but somehow other general practioners are overcoming them. Your practice is falling behind."
The irate doctor did not come there to hear this. "That's because the other doctors don't give a damn about their patients. They don't want to take the time to thoroughly examine them and get all issues out in the open. Not to mention I've known these patients for a good number of years. They like telling me about their grandchildren and I like listening."
Pamela reached in her desk drawer for her bottle of aspirin. He was only the tenth doctor today to read her the riot act. Now she was no longer offended by House dry popping vicodin in front of everyone. She felt his pain.
"I don't doubt your skill as a physician. You are well respected by everyone and I'm sure your patients are very loyal. The problem is that THC has billing minimums, operating procedures, training requirements on new medical equipment and research, and you aren't meeting any of those. Your JCOAH guidelines aren't being met either, which isn't just a Trinity concern, but Medicaid's as well. We aren't trying to shut down your practice. We just question your fit in our network."
"I've been affiliated with Princeton General for twenty-eight years. Take away that relationship now, and you might as well take my license. It will kill my practice since the referrals and incentives are the only things keeping me afloat. "
"I'm sorry, but the world is changing. Medicine is evolving at a rapid rate and you aren't keeping up. Most practioners are able to find a way to manage in today's changing environment."
His face grew redder and he raised his already loud voice even higher. "I don't see how. Are you sure they are acting with complete honesty? They are cramming in appointments every fifteen minutes. They won't take the doorknob questions and are running unnecessary tests. That's not enough to thoroughly examine a patient. My malpractice insurance has tripled even though I haven't had a lawsuit or complaint filed against me. My costs for equipment are skyrocketing, but my insurance reimbursements are staying the same or even going lower with each new contract negotiation. Medicare doesn't even cover basic expenses, which accounts for thirty five percent of my billing. I'm barely getting by."
"My office is willing to offer suggestions to you help your practice meet our requirements, but I have to put your practice on notice. You have three months, otherwise we cut you loose."
Dr. Brennan got up fuming. "So much for wanting to keep experienced doctors. Its businesses like THC that will be the end of sound medicine." He stormed out.
"Thank you, come again," she said sarcastically after he left. Pamela's guilty feeling was huge. Everything he said made perfect sense, but perfect common sense often didn't mean business sense. That didn't change the feeling that she was evil. She got up and grabbed her purse.
"Aren't you going to wait for your next appointment?" Her assistant asked when Pamela walked by her desk.
"He won't show up. Dr. House is someone I have to track down personally. Lucky for me, I know the places where to find him."
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"I can take you to the airport mom. You really don't need to call a cab." Cameron and her mother waited in the living room, watching for the cab through the large window.
"Nonsense. There is no way you are hauling those babies to the airport. Newark Liberty is too crazy for that. I'll be just fine."
Cameron knew she was right, but she felt bad anyway. "So you think you'll make it back sometime?"
"Haven't I driven you crazy enough?"
Cameron wasn't surprised by her negativity. "No, not at all. I actually loved having you here. Not just me. Robert likes you, and the kids adore you."
"So I take it that you and me are now okay."
"Whatever rift we had before, I've forgotten it."
Her mother smiled. "You sure? You've always been good at carrying grudges."
"Me?" Cameron said angrily. "You're the one that kept saying I told you so after my first husband died."
Her mother took her hand and laughed, trying to smooth things over. "Okay dear, all is forgiven. I'd love to come back."
Cameron didn't get a chance to say anything else for the cab pulled into the driveway. "He's here. Come on, I'll help you with your bags."
Together they hauled the luggage out into the driveway. As the cabbie loaded the luggage into his trunk, Cameron's mother turned toward her for goodbyes. "Don't work yourself too hard Allison."
"I love you mom," she said pulling her in for a tight hug and letting a few tears roll.
"I love you Allison." Her eyes weren't dry either.
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Pamela slinked into the small conference room, wordlessly dropping into Foreman's desk chair. Chase and Foreman, who were at the white board, watched her with both fascination and bewilderment.
"Rough day dear?" Foreman asked.
"You guys are so damn lucky, you know that? Your practice easily passes the requirements and you won't have to listen to me bitch at you personally. You only have to listen to me bitch about everyone else. Now get me a gun so I can blow my brains out."
Foreman walked behind her and began rubbing her shoulders. "I thought you had appointments all afternoon."
"My next one is House. I was here looking for him and thought I would stop by and hide as well. Two of us can play that game."
He rubbed harder causing her to close her eyes and melt in the chair. "It looks like I had the right idea. Damn are you good."
"You shouldn't stress yourself out over this," Foreman said, trying to calm her, but he cringed as soon as he said that those words, knowing he just said the wrong thing.
She rose up in her chair and turned around ready to give him the what for. "I shouldn't stress out? If I screw this up, I'm done in my job. If I succeed, half of the New Jersey medical community is going to be pissed at me. I'm screwed."
Foreman was that less than sympathetic over how other doctors behaved. "Screw the medical community. Doctors will get over it. Since everyone is so desperate for doctors that they're scraping bottom-of-the-barrel countries like India and Australia for help, they'll take your leftovers."
"Hey!" Chase exclaimed, surprised that Foreman thought he wouldn't notice. "Aussie medicine is more advanced than yours."
"You're American now. You've abdicated your argument over whose medicine is superior, which your home country's is not."
Pamela interrupted their squabbling. "Both countries suck, so there! It's a wonder a patient gets treated at all. We spend so much time trying to setup a system to deliver quality care, that we absent mindedly skip the actual care part."
Chase looked at her stunned by that statement. "Wow, that was...deep."
Pamela got up realizing social time was over. "I better get back to work. You think they'll come up with a cool nickname for me like The Hacker?"
Foreman had something better. "How about I start a rumor people are calling you Foxy Brown?"
Pamela was tickled over the idea. "Do I get to put on an afro and start taking people out with barstools?"
While they were laughing at their private joke, they saw Chase, who had a horrified look. "You have no idea what we are talking about. Not from a backward nation my ass." Foreman harped.
"I understand the reference," Chase said with arms folded and a still uncomfortable look. "I just don't see the humor since I can't get past the part with the testicles in the pickle jar."
Pamela and Foreman busted out into deeper laughter. "That might be the best way to deal with House. That could be my mantra. 'I want you to suffah!'" Pamela joked.
Chase couldn't take anymore. "Now that I've got that disturbing image in my head, I need some coffee. Enjoy your poking fun at male mutilation."
Pamela and Foreman were on the floor by now, rolling around with tears in their eyes.
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"Mrs. Foreman I presume. How did you figure out my hiding place? Oh yes, the dark one."
"Actually, Robert called me when he spotted you on break, which was thoughtful of him since we threatened his manhood."
House shook off any witty remark that came to him. He honestly didn't want to go there.
Pamela continued with her point. "You're a cripple right? How far can you really go? There are only so many coma rooms in this hospital. Most families are wise enough to pull the plug."
"Shh. They can hear you, you know." House said mocking concern.
"They can listen in on our meeting than. I've come to talk to you about the new guidelines you have to meet."
"You've come to the wrong person. Talk to my assistant."
"You don't have an assistant."
"Sure I do. I hired her last week. Didn't your office get the memo?"
"Considering you only use the Internet and email for porn sites, I don't think we were notified. Wait, are you talking about Allison?"
"That's Dr. Cameron, Dr. Chase, whatever she wants to be called these days. I just call her mama."
"So you're assigning her duties that she never agreed to before she started."
"Noooo. Okay, yes."
"She won't be back from maternity leave for a few more weeks."
"Your crackdown will have to wait then."
Pamela dug deep and began to line up set of threats. "How about I just tell Jerry you should either move to the college of medicine or be spun off into private practice?"
House laughed. "You of all people know I don't respond to threats. Go take your complaint to my boss."
"That will be me. Or it will be once Lisa goes on maternity leave. I am allowed to fire people when she's gone."
"Ooh, I'm scared."
Pamela folded her arms and a tough scowl fell on her face. She was going to have to go straight for the hard stuff. "You ever see Foxy Brown?"
House winced. "Pickle jar?"
She nodded.
"So what were those guidelines again?"
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Cameron was doing her best not to be weepy, but the distress on her face was obvious. She wasn't sure what upset her more, leaving the babies behind or losing the bet with Robert. "Why did I decide to do this? I shouldn't leave them."
"You did this because you were ready to kill them. They needed a break from mom and fast." Chase was still feeling very proud of the fact that he was right.
"They both looked so confused in those nursery cribs. They need me."
"They weren't confused. Ethan was rather thrilled with all the new eye candy. Emily was mad, not confused. Think of it this way. We have something very precious to look forward to at the end of the day."
"You're right. I'll shake off the guilt eventually."
"No, you won't. It will get easier, but the guilt will always linger." Chase said gloating.
"Can you shut up now Mr. Know-It-All?" They arrived at diagnostics, and Cameron took her familiar place at the table. It felt like home.
"You see, you're already more content." Chase leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Take it easy today."
"It's about time you got here!" The familiar cranky voice said from the adjacent office.
"I'm out of here." Chase quickly left.
House limped in with a moveable cart stacked high with files. He plunked each huge pile right in front of Cameron one by one, four in all, startling her with each drop. "These need to be done in an hour." He went back into his office, leaned back, put his feet up and closed his eyes.
After she got over the initial shock, Cameron smiled. It was good to be back.
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Life was pretty damn miserable for Lisa Cuddy these days. At least the sleepless nights were. One week past her due date and the inability to get comfortable in her bed was just too much. She rolled over for the umpteenth time, facing James' bare back. She knew he couldn't be sleeping well, but he insisted on being with her instead of the guest room. He wanted to be right there if anything happened with the baby.
This had been easily the worst part of the pregnancy thus far. Given the amount of times she heard how high risk her pregnancy was because of her maternal age, everything had gone smoothly. So smoothly in fact, now the kid was too comfy inside. She was ready to have the big moment she waited for her entire life, but unfortunately this baby had other ideas. Stubborn and irritating. That's House's kid alright.
She rolled over again and sighed. Sleep was not going to happen. She was going to work tomorrow, despite her doctor's warning that she should be staying home. As long as she limited her duties to paperwork, the work was a welcome distraction from all the waiting. She needed to finish a few things up anyway before the regional office took over her duties during her maternity leave.
"Need me to do anything?" Wilson asked sluggishly.
"You wouldn't have any tricks to get this kid to pop, would you?"
"Sorry, not my area of expertise. I heard sex might work."
She smiled. "Thanks, but that's an old wives tale and I'm too miserable right now. I need to get used to not sleeping anyway."
He reached his arm out and began to rub her lower back. "Not much longer."
"Actually, there's another reason I can't sleep. I wasn't going to say anything until I was sure, but I think I've had a couple of contractions."
Wilson sat up. "You think you have?"
"They have been too mild to say for sure, but they don't feel like Braxton-Hicks."
Wilson shrugged. "I guess we'll know if they become harder and more frequent. You should try and sleep."
"Impossible. I can't sleep now. Not that I could before."
He sighed and turned on the lamp beside him. "I'll stay up with you then. I only have to be at work in," he checked the clock and rolled his eyes, "five hours."
"I'm going to work with you. This could likely go on all day before anything significant happens. I need a distraction. If something does happen, then I'm already at the hospital."
Wilson wasn't convinced he liked the plan. "Are you sure you wouldn't be more comfortable at home?" I can stay here with you."
"I'm very sure. You can be with me there."
He nodded, grabbed the remote, leaned back on his pillow and wrapped his arm around Cuddy's upper body so her head could rest on his shoulder. "Let's get comfortable. The infomercials are really good at three am."