Chapter 6

Realizations

Ginger visibly slumped at the sound of the voice, her anger waning. A second later, two women walked around the corner.

The first woman, dressed in a business dress, with her dark curls down around her shoulders, was obviously Dr. Cuddy.

The second woman, with sandy blonde hair halfway down her back, a small button nose, and clear green eyes dressed in nice black slacks and a dark green top, was obviously Ariel Price.

"I told you to watch your mouth!" she said angrily at her daughter.

"Sorry mom," was the mumbled reply.

Wilson and House's team were looking back and forth between the two Price women, while House's eyes were stuck on the mother.

Ariel, suddenly aware of the others, looked around apologetically before her gaze met House's.

Her eyes went wide, as she said, "Greg? Greg House?"

Everyone looked to him as he replied, "Ariel."

There was silence until Cuddy spoke up, "You two…know each other?"

Ariel looked to Cuddy. "Know each other? We used to date," she looked over at House, "But that was a long time ago."

After another moment of silence, in which Ginger kept looking between the two adults bewildered, Cuddy spoke up again.

"Well, I hate to break up this little love fest, but Wilson, I need paperwork. Chase and Cameron, you can help out in the ER. Foreman and House, clinic duty."

She then turned to Ariel, "If you have all the information you need, I have some paperwork that needs to be done." She then turned and walked off.

Everyone except House and the Prices left. Ariel had been glaring at her daughter, turned her gaze to House.

The man had been staring thoughtfully at Ginger before shifting his eyes over to Ariel with his epiphany look on his face.

Ariel spoke first, "Girls, why don't you go down to the cafeteria, like I told you to do before."

Ginger whined, "Aw, mommy, do we have to? I wanna watch you and daddy fight." She did not miss the shock that quickly passed on her mom's face at the word "daddy".

She grinned, "So I'm right? He's my dad?" Ginger then frowned, and added, "Is that why we left sunny California for this place? So you could reconcile with him?" She jabbed her thumb at House.

"Just GO!" Ariel's tone sent the girls flying towards the stairs, since elevators wouldn't get them away fast enough.

She then turned to House, who led her into his office. He silently walked over to his desk chair, sat down, put his leg up, and started playing with the red tennis ball.

"So, are we right? Am I…" he trailed off.

"Ginger," she supplied.

"Lovely name. Ginger's father?"

Ariel sat down and refused to look at him. "Yes. I didn't find out I was pregnant until about a week after you left."

"And you couldn't bother to call me," he replied, as a statement rather than a question.

Ariel glanced at him before looking away, "I knew you really wanted and needed this job, and I didn't want to leave California at the time."

He stopped playing and sat up straight. "So why did you come here of all places?"

"I remember you said it's a great town, and to be honest, I didn't think that you would still be here after all this time," came her reply.

"I'll have you know I've survived three regime changes here. They know I'm too good to lose," he said indignantly before turning serious.

"How long have you been here?"

"Almost three weeks. I just opened a café and catering place today," was her soft response.

"Are you seeing anyone?"

"Are you?" she asked innocently.

"Well, if you mean besides the hook-" he started before seeing her face, "No, I'm not."

She looked up at him. "Me neither."

House leaned back, saying, "So the kid's really mine? Well, I can tell you I never expected this. What am I supposed to do now? Teach her to play catch, help her with her homework, tuck her in at night?"

Ariel looked surprised, before smiling. "She already knows catch; she never does her homework unless I force her to; and I haven't tucked her in since she was a baby."

"Oh, so I guess I'm supposed to be there to scare off the boys who want to date her," he replied jokingly, only Ariel took it as sarcastic.

She got up angrily, saying, "No, don't worry about it, Greg. You don't have to do anything. In fact, I don't want you to go anywhere near her. Do you understand me?"

House was hurt, but he hid it behind an amused expression, before leaning over to look around her.

She turned around to see Ginger and Marcia, one holding a candy bar, the other a banana, both with looks of shock on their faces.

Ariel looked up at her daughter (seeing as while her daughter is 5'10", she herself is only 5'4") and said, "Doctor House was just asking about you, and now it's time to leave."

Ginger looked over at House, still seated at his desk. "But wait a minute, I have a few questions for my da…" she stopped before finishing the word "dad" at the look her mom gave her.

Her expression became dark. "Now wait a minute, I don't care if you have a problem with him, he's my dad and you can't stop me from talking to him."

The look on Ariel's face was deadly. "You want a bet, young lady? Now go out to the car. NOW!" she added as Ginger was about to protest.

Marcia started to move towards the door, but Ginger stood her ground. When Ariel realized that her daughter had no intention of moving, she grabbed the girl's arm roughly and dragged her towards the door (which was no easy feat).

"Come along, Marcia," she said before the three disappeared from House's sight.

The ride back to Shop was deathly silent, with Ginger glaring at her mother, who was grasping so hard at the steering wheel her knuckles were white.

Marcia just looked back and forth between them, before sighing and leaning back. She knew that once Ginger could get away from her mom, she was going to have to listen to a lot of complaints.

Meanwhile, House went to talk to Wilson. Discovering that his door was locked, he took the alternate route through the outdoor balconies, before entering Wilson's office.

Without looking up, Wilson said, "I really need to get that lock fixed."

House sat down, and started twirling his cane when he said, "We dated for a while when I was working out in California. Turns out that girl, Ginger I think it was, is my daughter."

Wilson looked up. "Whoa, wait a minute. Are you serious? That girl is really your daughter?"

Rolling his eyes, House replied, "Come on, Wilson. She looks like me, dresses like me, and acts like me. Besides, her mom told me it's true."

"So what are you going to do?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing."

"Nothing. You're not going to be a part in your own kid's life?" Wilson asked incredulously.

"Mom doesn't want me to."

"Okay, but do you want to." House gave him a look. Wilson tried again.

"It's a simple question, House. Do you want to know your daughter? If not, then forget this ever happened. If you do, then you're going to have to figh-" Wilson stopped as House got up to leave.

As soon as the door shut, Wilson sighed. "Alright then."