This is it, the end of the story. Thansk to everyone who has been reading it. I know there is a large, silent group of you out there. I'd love to know what you thought of the ending. I will have more stories in the future, so if you're interested, stay tuned...

EPILOGUE – Part 2

The dinner was excellent. Chase had hired the best caterer in the area and everything was prepared to perfection. As soon as the last of the dessert dishes were cleared away, Chase climbed up to the podium that was set up in the front of the room on a small stage. House, Kate and their daughters, along with Wilson and his wife, were seated at a table just in front of it.

While still speaking in his normal voice, Chase managed to quiet the guests down. Once all the noise had stopped, Chase began talking.

"Good evening, everyone. I am Doctor Robert Chase, the Dean of Medicine at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. I would like to welcome all of you here as we attempt to say farewell to Doctor Gregory House and to thank him for almost forty years of service to this hospital.

"When the announcement was made that Dr. House was retiring, the response I received was overwhelming. I was forced to refuse some people, based on time and space. Patients also wanted to attend, but we just couldn't accommodate them. In a few minutes, I will show you messages from some of them.

"Tonight, you will hear colleagues, both past and present of Dr. House speak of him. You will hear from doctors who worked under him as fellows. That includes myself. You will also hear his daughters. Hopefully, we will embarrass him more than he has embarrassed all of us over the years."

Chase looked at the table where House sat. Kate and the Wilsons were laughing. House just gave him a cool, piercing blue stare.

Chase continued. "As head of the Diagnostic Department, Dr. House treated many patients over the years, from the rich and famous to the poor and homeless. That didn't matter, only the challenge of curing them did. I received letters and emails from so many of his former patients, I can't possibly read them. I've posted them on some boards that are in the back of this room. You can read them when we're finished.

"You should know that some of the writers are very famous. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Fletcher Stone. Carly Forlano, CEO of several Fortune 500 companies. Three time World Series winning pitcher Hank Wiggen. Captain Greta Cooper, the first woman to walk on Mars. And the former President of the United States, Gary H. Wright."

There was applause from the audience. Chase then introduced the first of many doctors who spoke of their experiences with House. Not everything said was complimentary, but there was a rough respect in all the words. Then Chase introduced the next doctor.

"I had the honor and sometimes annoyance to work with this next doctor. May I present the head of Neurology at Boston General Hospital, Doctor Eric Foreman."

Foreman stepped up to the podium. "I worked for Gregory House for three years before resigning because I didn't want to be like him. I thought I could be a better doctor and a better person away from him. I found out that I couldn't be a better doctor than him. And the person he is made him the doctor he is. And that is the best there is."

Cameron was introduced as well. She smiled at Chase as she stepped up. "I was very young and naïve when I started working for Gregory House. Everyone that worked with us then knew that I had a crush on him. He could have taken advantage of that. I certainly wouldn't have complained. But he didn't. I probably took more advantage of him. But the one thing that he did give me that no other man ever did was knowledge. I learned so much from him and not just about medicine. I especially learned not to care too much. That may seem harsh, but as a doctor, you have to learn to detach yourself or you'll fall apart. After three years with him, I became a better doctor in so many ways."

Cuddy had a turn as well. "Gregory House and I have known each other for a long time. I know that rumors went around this hospital that we were, uh, dating. I know that House helped those rumors with things that he said. People also assumed that was the only reason I let him get away with the things he did. The truth is that although I have known and worked with truly wonderful physicians over the years, I have never known a better one than Gregory House."

Chase then introduced the head of Oncology, Dr. James Wilson.

"I have known Gregory House for an unbelievably long time. Truly, it is unbelievable to me that we've stayed friends so long. I have been asked more times than I can count why I would stay friends with a man like House. People see him as a harsh, mean, sometimes downright cruel jerk. They'd be right. He's all of those things. He's also the most honest and loyal friend that I've ever had. Maybe a part of me is like him, maybe more than I care to admit. But either way, I am proud and happy to have had Gregory House as a friend for over forty years."

When Wilson was finished, Chase stepped up again. "Some thirty-odd years ago, House met and married a wonderful woman named Kate Martin. We all felt she was too good for him." House smiled at that. "Ah, he's smiling. He agrees with me. Kate refused to get up here and talk. So in place of her, I'd like to introduce to you a young woman who just last month made her Carnegie Hall debut as a concert pianist to rave reviews. She married her sound manager last year and they are expecting their first child next winter. Please welcome Emily House Marshall."

Emily walked up to the podium. At thirty years old, she was a lovely woman with reddish brown hair and her father's beautiful blue eyes. She smiled at the assembled guests, and then at her father. "Most people know that besides medicine and my mother, my father's other love is music. Before I could walk or talk, Dad sat me on his lap while he played the piano. He put a guitar in my hands when it was bigger than I was. The happiest moments we've ever know were spent playing together, sometimes piano and guitar, sometimes both on piano. It didn't matter. When I told him that I wanted to be a professional musician, I think I saw envy in his eyes. So every time I walk onto a stage and sit down at a piano, I silently say, 'This is for you, Dad.' Tonight, I want to say thank you, Dad. Thanks for giving me life, for giving me music and for loving me the way you do."

House had to look down at the table. Kate put her hand over his. She knew that he was filled with emotion that he was unable to show.

The guests applauded Emily's words loudly as she took her seat, stopping to give her father a kiss first. Chase returned to the podium.

"How do you replace someone like Gregory House? It's hard, but I think we managed to do that. I'd like to present the newly appointed head of Diagnostics at Princeton Plainsboro, Doctor Monica House."

Monica smiled at her parents as she stepped up. She gave Chase a hug, then pulled out glasses to read the words that she had written. At age forty-three, she was of medium height and build and entirely comfortable in her skin.

"Greg and Kate House adopted me when I was fifteen after a horrendous childhood. What came before doesn't matter. What they gave to me does. Although it wasn't an easy journey. In my first weeks with them, I hated Greg House. Hard to believe that anyone could hate Greg House, isn't it?

She paused for the laughter she knew that remark would bring from the assembled guests.

"But eventually, we found our way and I came to love him and accept him as my father. He also accepted me as his daughter. He told me that he was proud of me. He told me that he loved me and wanted the best for me. Which is why I was so shocked when I applied for a fellowship position on his team and he rejected me."

There was silence in the room at this announcement.

"I had just finished my residency and had received high honors and awards all throughout my schooling. My dream was to do what my father did and to work on his team. When a position opened up, I was thrilled. But Gregory House insisted I give him a resume and he interviewed me along with all of the other applicants. And when the selection time came, he chose someone else.

"To say I was angry is an understatement. How could he, my own father, reject me? He knew how hard I had worked, how much I wanted it. So I confronted him, full of anger and righteous indignation. And he told me that I just wasn't the best candidate for the job. I needed some experience. I needed to practice medicine a little first. But, I said, I'm your daughter! That's when he got angry. How dare I expect anything based on who I know or what my name is. Anything worth having is worth working for. When I had worked for it and earned it, I might get a place on his team.

"I angrily moved across the country and accepted a position in San Francisco. Five years later, I applied for his fellowship again. This time he hired me. In the office, he never treated me any different from the other fellows. In other words, he yelled at me and called me a moron when he thought I was. And never praised me when I did something right. But when he decided to retire, I know that he recommended me to replace him, though he won't admit it. And I know that he did that because he believes that I am the best one for that job, not because I am his daughter.

"I am proud to be the daughter and protégé of Dr. Gregory House. Thank you, Dad."

Chase stepped up again. "In case you're wondering why I get to speak about House last, well, I'm the head of this hospital. Plus, I planned this event and I made the schedule. So there."

Mild chuckling from the audience.

"I worked for Gregory House for four years until he fired me. Why did he fire me? Well, he said that either I'd learned everything I could from him or nothing at all.

"I didn't learn everything I could, no one possibly could learn everything that Gregory House has to offer. But it wasn't 'nothing' either. Everyone has told you how much they learned from House. I won't bore you with that.

"House and I did not always see eye to eye. One time I ratted him out to a bully who wanted to take over this hospital. Another time, he punched me right in the hospital lobby. He berated me, humiliated me, ridiculed my home and my background. So what do I really think of the man?

"He's the closest thing to a father I have ever known in my life. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses in a toast to Doctor Gregory House – the finest doctor and the finest man I have ever known."

The assembled guests all stood and raised their glasses. House's head was bent, he was swallowing hard and Kate knew he was trying to control the emotion.

People started urging the guest of honor by calling out, "Speech! Speech!"

Chase looked at him, a question in his eyes. House glanced up, then down again.

Chase s spoke again. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have achieved the impossible tonight. We have rendered Gregory House speechless."

Wild applause broke out in the room. House looked up again, a smile on his face and a small chuckle erupted from him. He picked up his cane and made his way slowly to the podium. Chase reached for his arm to help him up. House gave the younger man a dirty look.

"I'm not feeble yet."

He leaned his cane against the podium and, resting his arms on the end of it, looked out at the people assembled. All were friends or colleagues, former or present. He cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Seems like everyone here agrees on the fact that I'm a jerk. Good to know. But for some reason, you all also seem to love me. Gee, I wished I'd known that for the last forty years. I could have really made you guys miserable. Then of course, you might not have loved me as much. Hmm, strange paradox."

"I was going to come up here and announce that I'm not retiring after all, but I think Monica would murder me anyway, so what would be the point? A new Dr. House to torture you." He raised his eyebrows maniacally. People laughed a little nervously.

"I have been fortunate for the last forty years to have worked at a hospital that allowed me to do what I needed to do and for bosses who didn't fire me for doing it.

"Although I have been exposed to an unusual amount of idiots during my tenure here, I have also had the privilege to work with some very fine doctors. They claim that I made them better. Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. If I did, I want royalties. If I didn't, it wasn't my fault. Don't sue me.

"Over forty years ago, Doctor Lisa Cuddy hired me. I'm still not sure why. But I'm happy that she did…the view of her anatomy was excellent. Still is, by the way."

Cuddy's smile burst into laughter along with the rest of the room.

"Jimmy Wilson wondered why we've been friends for so long. That's easy. He bought lunch. Why do you think I'm retiring before him? If he leaves first, I'll have to buy my own. Since we'll both be retired, he can continue to buy my lunch. It's a win-win.

"Finally, I'd like to talk about my family. My two beautiful daughters who spoke to you. Once again, if I'd known they felt that way, I might not have grounded them so much. Oh well, water under the bridge.

"And then there's Kate. I never really understood why she married me. She could have done a hell of a lot better. But I'm glad she did. She literally saved my life. And she kept her promise to grow old with me. Cool.

"So, I'm saying goodbye to you tonight. Of course, you know I'll turn up now and then. Gotta check up on everyone, make sure you're not acting like morons. But for now, I'm gonna say, later."

He made his way down from the podium to the sound of thunderous applause. He returned to his table and sat down beside Kate who had tears running down her cheeks. He leaned over and kissed her. There was as much passion in that kiss as the first one in that bar. His arm stayed around her as the people came to his table to pat him on the back and shake his hand. He endured it all stoically. Kate was beside him and that's all that mattered.

The End