A/N : I apologize profusely for delaying this story….I've gone blank. If anyone has any suggestions for the next chapter I would definitely be pleased to use your ideas.
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"So Ronald, what is the answer?" The young teacher with her hair tied in a tight bun and glasses falling down to the tip of her nose asked.
"ummm…two?"
"Great. That's right. One plus one is two. One star for our new student." She smiled brightly and took a golden star off the packet and onto the board with all the students names.
Ronald smiled triumphantly.
--
"What would that make him?" Cameron asked spinning a pencil through her thin fingers.
"His dad? Maybe he adopted him." Chase said nonchalantly.
"Right, House adopted a kid because he cared about the child's feelings…maybe…maybe he decided to become a priest." Foreman said over exaggerated.
Cameron and Chase unanimously rolled their eyes.
"Or maybe he found him on his porch step and couldn't get rid of him…" House said swinging his cane back and forth on his forefinger. "Case?"
"Nothing right now." Foreman said shifting uncomfortably at getting caught.
"Good." He closed the door to his office and they heard the click of the lock echo through the office.
"Is it me or did he seem to be…." Cameron started, searching for the right words.
"Glowing?" Chase asked almost horrified.
The three stared at the office door dumbfounded.
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"Then, she asked if I knew the answer and I did! I told her it was two and she was like 'Great job Ronald!' I got it right." He explained in a high-pitched proud voice, to House who was limping along beside him toward his car outside the school.
"Really?" House asked monotonously.
"And then, when we went to lunch a kid shot peas right out of his nose! It was sooo awesome." the girlish giggle from Ronald made House smirk.
"No way, peas?" he asked to amuse the child.
"I know! It's unbelievable!" House smirked again.
"That's disgusting." House opened the door and let Ronald inside.
"I can't wait until tomorrow!" House frowned slightly at that as he sat down behind the wheel.
--
He repeated his story to Cuddy the second he ran into her office. She smiled and even laughed out loud during some parts of it.
Word for word…the kid had a gift.
"Do you mind watching him for a bit? I need to call somebody back…got a message."
She looked at him worriedly and nodded.
"Want any gum?"
His excited answer was the last thing he heard as the door fall shut.
--
"Mr. Johnson, You called?" House asked sweetly when he was clear from everyone…on the roof.
"Dr. House, no need to be sarcastic."
"Oh, But sir. I'm not being sarcastic…please, what was the importance of the message?"
He heard the man sigh over the phone and felt a small sense of superiority that he could get the man annoyed so quickly.
"This has gone too far Dr. House."
"Listen Mr. Johnson I am not going to let this go without a fight."
"Great. But don't say I didn't warn you."
--
"And then, when we went to lunch a kid shot peas right out of his nose! It was sooo awesome." Cameron smirked as the little kid sat at the end of the table in House's chair. He grabbed the newspaper that Foreman was reading and propped his feet on the table.
Chase laughed out loud. Foreman smirked at the kid's forwardness.
"You know, Elvis reads the paper like this." Ronald smiled.
"Elvis?" Cameron asked.
"Yeah, the man with the cane…" He said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
The group exchanged humored glances at one another.
"You mean House?" Chase asked.
"No." He stated simply, "I mean Elvis."
"McDonald." House practically yelled as he opened the door. "Come on."
He looked up from his paper and tried to jump up and out of his chair, only to land on his stomach. He pulled himself up quickly and ran toward House.
"What's going on?" He asked trying to keep up with House.
"We have to talk to Cuddy."
"Why?"
"You ask too many damn questions." House said gruffly and pressed hard on the elevator button.
"Sorry." He looked down at his converse clad feet.
House looked at him with a slight flash of guilt. What is wrong with me?
"Don't be." He muttered.
--
"What do you mean court?" She whispered to House with one eye on Ronald, sitting on the couch twisting a piece of gum around his finger.
"It's the only way I can do this…I don't know how else to get that bastard off my ass without getting legal custody."
"Well, do you need me? I mean, do we need a cover or something?"
House smirked, "Look at you, goin' all Alias on me…"
She smiled up at him, "Greg, what are we supposed to do about this? If they even glance at your record they're going to immediately refuse. You don't have a chance."The smirk fell from his face. "Gee, way to have faith in me."
"You know what I mean. Man with a cane, been alone for six or so years, dependant on Vicoden, drinks like a fish…."
"I get the point, honey." he stated bitterly.
"This is a serious matter, we're going to have to do a lot more than sit back and pretend its going to turn out picture perfect."
"I get that. I'm not saying that! I just want…" He paused, looking down, he was afraid to let himself come off as even slightly vulnerable, " I just want him to…be with someone who…" he sighed, " Someone who understands."
She looked up into his eyes and questioned what he was saying.
"He's going to be fine. You're going to win and I'll do anything, House, anything to help."
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TBC