Part Five
He was a quivering youngster all over again, muscles and knees trembling uncontrollably fearing the wrath of his furious father, not knowing if his punishment would be a verbal shakedown or that of a physical kind.
And then he heard the unmistakable sound of his father's belt snapping together sending a tsunami of fear, nausea and tears surging through him.
"Mom…" he whimpered.
He craved the sanctuary, the safety and warmth of his mother's embrace. They were happy when his father was away, he longed for the day it could stay that way.
"John, he didn't mean it! Look at him, he's just a boy for god's sake!"
Blythe tried everything to reason with her husband but he was stubborn as a mule. He had determined Greg had done wrong and for that, he needed to be punished, and punish him he will.
"He's old enough to make the mistake, so he can damn well take the punishment!"
John pushed Blythe aside, her pleas for mercy on young Gregory falling on deaf ears. He held the belt in front of the trembling boy, smirking at the fear drawn across his big blue eyes.
"You'll get ten lashes and you'll take it like a man, do you understand me?"
"Y-y-yes S-Sir."
Greg held up his hands and gritted his teeth in preparation for the onslaught. John drew the belt up to shoulder height and let his arm swing. The belt scythed through the air with a whistle, cracking as it struck the soft skin of Greg's wrist. His howl of pain rent the air as John mercilessly called out "one."
It had been a turning point in his life, he remembered it vividly thinking his father wasn't a man worthy of his status and the respect he garnered from those in the Corps. He was a coward. A tyrannical coward in a uniform taking out his frustrations and anger on a kid. A young child. His own son.
The fear he felt now as a grown man wasn't fear for himself, it was fear for his daughter. He could see it in her eyes, the wariness, she was on edge in her grandfather's presence, as though instinctively she sensed he could turn nasty.
Not that House would let him upset her in such a way.
Although there was obvious unease with John's presence, Izzy was completely content with her Grandma B, proudly showing off her plushie collection and introducing her to Goose.
Cameron had excused herself to the kitchen to make drinks, hoping that some semblance of conversation would happen between the two House men but nothing was said, just frosty silence broken by Izzy's happy chattering.
The awkward silence was only broken when Cameron came back in with a tray of coffees and set them down on the coffee table.
"Aren't you supposed to be a doctor?" John's cold eyes homed in on his son, "you paying her to be a maid?"
"She's helping me with Izzy."
"Is that so?" The sarcasm was dripping from every word, "jumped at the chance to play mommy now that there's a vacancy open."
"Shut up." House growled lowly, not wanting Izzy to hear him raise his voice, "shut up. You don't talk to her like that, you don't talk like that around Izzy."
Blythe noticed the shift in tone and met her son's eyes as she reached for her coffee, "Izzy is very proud of her organ collection, Greg. At this rate she'll be joining your team before she's ten, won't you sweetheart?"
"That's what Cameron said."
"Maybe she can replace her on the team. Especially now the maid is otherwise occupied." John sniped, unable to resist throwing another barb.
House rolled his eyes with a resolute sigh, "Mom, can you take Izzy for a walk just for a few minutes?"
"Daddy, can Goose come?"
Blythe answered before House could even open his mouth, wanting to placate Izzy, "Of course he can. Come on, show Grandma B where your shoes and coat are."
Even from her spot on the other side of the room, Cameron could hear House's breathing, ragged, barely containing his simmering anger. She smiled softly at Izzy and Blythe, helping them get ready to take Goose for a walk, knowing the second they left all hell would break loose.
"Thanks Mom, be a good girl. You too, Iz."
Blythe chuckled looking at her son with soft, knowing eyes which flickered between him and her husband. She nodded, promising to be back within ten minutes, a timely indicator for the men to hash out their differences before Izzy returned.
The door closed and House got up from the piano bench, running his hand through his hair, "why are you here?"
"Your mother wanted to see you. Instead of seeing you at the hospital, we're told our granddaughter is living with you because her mom has died."
House looked at Cameron, "Wilson and his big mouth."
"Not him, that Aussie punk with the hair." House Snr snapped, "to find out our granddaughter's life has been turned upside down by someone other than our son is despicable, what kind of son does that?"
House barked out a sarcastic laugh, "seriously? You of all people taking the moral high ground."
"You're manipulative and vindictive! She's our granddaughter, we have a right to know!"
"I'm manipulative? Izzy is my daughter, my priority and responsibility! Not yours, not mom's, mine! She's just lost her mom and is having to adjust to her life changing forever and you're making it about you. You haven't even so much as looked in her direction since you've been here and she's not all that keen on you either."
"I love that kid and she needs us. What kind of stability is she going to have with a pill-popping cripple for a father?!"
The slur was as wounding as a shotgun blast, sending House reeling. All his weaknesses and fears were exposed to the air, the wind knocked out of his sails. He collapsed onto the couch with his head in his hands and on the verge of tears.
The last thing he expected was Cameron's hands on his shoulders, the warmth of her touch and the solidarity it symbolised rebuilding him. Nor was his father expecting the verbal barrage she threw his way.
"How dare you! How fucking dare you talk to Greg like that! What kind of a father cuts his son down when he's at his lowest?"
John's eyes flared wide, stabbing his finger at Cameron, "Don't you raise your voice to me!"
"Or what, you'll insult me again? You don't frighten or intimidate me. I'm not going to stand by and let you talk to him like that. He's an amazing dad and an amazing man, a credit to Blythe, not to you."
"You know, I almost feel sorry for you. He's got you dancing like a puppet on a string, playing mommy to a kid he'll soon grow bored of just as he will with you. Enjoy it while it lasts, he'll palm her off on Wilson before the month is out."
It was one push, one taunt too far for House. He felt a tsunami of rage well up in his chest, surging forward and propelling him to his feet until he towered above the older man.
His voice was low, dangerous as was the look in his eyes, "Get out. Get the fuck out of my life. I don't want you anywhere near my family again."
The flicker of fear danced over John's features before he could mask it, "I think you're forgetting who you're talking to, boy."
"I'm not your boy, I'm not even your son. Allison has done more for me and Izzy in the past 48 hours than you have done in the past 48 years. You're nothing to me but a spineless Marine and I won't let you poison my little girl as you did me."
House saw the effects his words had with great satisfaction, knowing they landed and surely wounded he pressed home his advantage, unaware that Izzy and Blythe had returned and had heard the tail end of the exchange.
"Izzy will never fear me, I'll never give her reason to. She will only know love and unconditional support. I'm doing something you never did for me, protecting my daughter from harm. She doesn't need a bitter old man in her life, and neither do I. Now get out."
"You can't keep me out of her life."
House leaned forward until he was practically nose to nose with John, "Watch me."
John glared at the insolent pair with clenched fists and a snarl on his lips, oh how he wished he could take his belt and whip them into shape. His attention then shifted to his wife who merely shrugged, this wasn't her battle and if her husband thought she was going to fall in line with him and cut precious time with her granddaughter short, he was sorely mistaken.
As soon as John left, the tension that had been so fraught and antagonistic dropped but the fight was gone from House. He slumped bonelessly to the couch once again and Izzy immediately ran to him, clutching him as tight as her casted arm would allow.
"It's okay Daddy, he's gone now."
.o0O0o.
Blythe stayed a little longer, helping get Izzy bathed and ready for bed. Along with her son, they tucked the little girl in with her beloved kidney plushies and Goose nestled by her side.
"I'll come and see you again very soon, Izzy, okay?"
"Okay Granny B," Izzy nodded with a sweet smile which quickly morphed into a frown, "but just you, not, not him? Only you?"
"Only me sweetheart, I promise." Blythe kissed the relieved youngster's brow, "be a good girl for your Daddy, sweet dreams."
House kissed Izzy's nose watching her go crossed eyes before snuggling down into the covers, "Good night Princess, I love you."
"Love you too Daddy."
They turned out the light and pulled the bedroom door closed, leaving it slightly ajar. House took a few steps before leaning back against the wall, letting out a huge decompressing sigh, the day had been one of extreme highs and lows.
Blythe stroked her son's shoulder, "I'm so sorry Greg, I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he whispered, "he'll never see her again, I meant every word of it."
"You're protecting your little girl and I'm so proud of you."
Back in the lounge, Cameron had set up the fold-out couch. Sitting on the edge nervously twiddling her thumbs as House and Blythe reappeared. Their eyes met and Cameron went to his side letting their fingers entwine.
"You okay? Izzy settled down?"
"Out like a light cuddled up with Goose and her plushies, you're not getting that dog back now Allie."
"Especially when he'll be running around that amazing garden soon."
"Garden?" Blythe asked.
"We viewed a house today and put an offer in, Izzy loves it, especially the pool."
"The pool definitely sold it," Cameron smiled, remembering the wild-eyed wonderment on Izzy's face.
Blythe had watched the couple's interaction, her motherly instinct told her there was more to this than just colleagues supporting one another and she couldn't help but enquire.
"Do I detect something more than friends here?"
Much to Cameron's amusement, the rugged, grumpy Greg House morphed into a shy schoolboy with a tinge of a blush on his bearded cheeks.
"Mom…"
Cameron gave his fingers a reassuring squeeze, "we're figuring it out, Blythe. But I've told him that no matter what, Izzy is the priority."
"As it should be. You will figure it out, you're already doing so well." Blythe caught sight of the time and sighed, "I'd better get going. Now Greg, please stay in touch, I'll be back soon to see you all."
"I will do, thanks Mom."
Blythe took Cameron's hand and pulled her into a motherly embrace, "thank you for being there for them."
She then brought House into a slightly awkward cuddle, "look after your girls."
As they broke away, House put his arm around Cameron's shoulder and nodded to his mom, "promise."
Blythe picked up her bag and quietly left the apartment, reassured that her granddaughter and son were safe and doing well.
.o0O0o.
With the apartment finally quiet, they got themselves ready for bed with House opting for just his t-shirt and boxers and Cameron in one of his creased-up shirts.
She reappeared from the bathroom to find House sitting on the edge of the bed, the day having well and truly caught up with him. She stood before him, stroking his hair and furrowed brow.
"We'll be okay."
House looked up at her with tired soulful blue eyes, "will we?"
"Come here."
Cameron held out her hand and pulled House to his feet and into a loving hug, his arms immediately anchored around her waist. His mind went back to what his Mom said, his girls. They were his girls; his daughter, his partner, his team. His family if he didn't screw things up.
Feeling overwhelmed, he kissed Cameron's neck just at the point of her pulse not trusting his voice. But as perfect as the hug was, they were both physically and emotionally drained, they needed to settle down before they fell down.
From their embrace, Cameron gently eased the pair of them down onto the sofa bed with House half lying on top of her. He tensed up and tried to move, fearing his sizable bulk in comparison to her dainty frame would be a recipe for a crushing disaster, but she merely held him steady and whispered, "it's okay, relax."
He shuffled slightly so he rested more against the mattress but settled into Cameron's embrace, nuzzling at her neck, savouring the warmth and comfort she bestowed him. He could've purred like a cat at the feel of her fingers smoothing through his hair.
They lay in companionable silence for a while, both content to listen to the sound of one another breathing.
"It wasn't all bad, my childhood, it's just easier to remember the low points. He was like a dictator, everything had to be done his way, his moral compass, his regime."
Cameron kissed his hair and held him tighter, "I'm sorry. No child should have to experience that."
"He'd never admit it but he resents me, what I am, what I represent. Mom's affair, not falling in line. I resented him just as much, even Mom deep down for standing by him. He used to make me sleep outside on the back porch on cold nights or take ice baths, his way of punishing Mom by using me. They happened so often they lost their edge, so when he really wanted to drive home his frustration, he used his belt."
He held up his wrist so the warm glow of the lamp highlighted the silver scarred welts across his wrist and forearm for Cameron to see. Her breath caught in her chest, tracing her fingers over each one, imagining the pain each one caused.
"That heartless bastard…" She whispered.
She took hold of his hand and pressed her lips to the scars, wanting nothing more than to kiss away the pain, the fear and the hideous memories.
"When Nicole told me she was pregnant I felt fear on the same level as those belt beatings. Pure gut-wrenching terror at the thought of a tiny baby relying on me and that I would end up becoming him. But when Izzy was born and I held her in my arms, the love that I felt consumed me. I stroked her cheek and promised that I would never hurt her, that I couldn't be the athletic dad running around the park but I would make up for it in other ways."
He swiped away the tears trickling through his beard, his emotions still so raw even after six years. He took a deep breath and let it go slowly, exhaling shakily before nuzzling into Cameron's neck.
"She's a very lucky girl to have you as her dad. The way she looks at you is pure love, she hero-worships you. You did well today standing up to him, that can't have been easy."
"I didn't want that around Izzy and the way he spoke to you after everything you've done for us made me see red. Besides, seeing you all fired up was something else."
Brushing his thumb over the soft rosy apple of her cheek, he kissed her lips just as delicately.
"We're a team and I was doing what came naturally, protecting you and Izzy. He was out of line and I wasn't going to tolerate it. You're twice the man he'll ever be, don't ever forget that. Him, he's just a coward living off the memory of a uniform."
"My own Lioness," he brushed his nose across hers, "I don't know what I've done to deserve you…"