Yay, I'm glad no one told me about my lack of medical knowledge on the way I handled the previous chapter. I guess, all you guys cared about was that the baby was safe. Hehe, I doubted myself for nothing then.
** Thank you so much for the lovely reviews I got from the chapter I wasn't even sure if it is logical or not. Special mention to 3 of my fellow kababayans,Horen_Downey,myhappiness and lisalchemyx.Salamat girls for the encouragement.
DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE. All belongs to David Shore and Company.
CHAPTER 9 – WITHOUT YOU
Lisa Cuddy finds herself alone in a private room when she wakes up from the light that was peering through the window blinds. It took a minute for her to realize why she wasn't at House's bed where she's supposed to be. And then, upon remembering the tragic scenario she was in the night before, she instantly went to touch her stomach and shocked registered on her face when she felt that empty space where her baby used to be. She was practically in a state of panic now when she incessantly pressed the call button besides her bed.
In a few seconds, a female Nurse went into her room and saw the Dean's disgruntled expression. She was still newly hired in this hospital and not good yet in dealing with hysterical patients. In a lighter voice, she addressed the woman in front of her, "Are you okay, Dr. Cuddy?"
Cuddy, still very confused about the situation asked several questions all at a time, "What happened? Is my baby okay? Where is he? Where is Dr. Wilson?" Tears were now rolling down her face as the Dean tried to stop her mind from going into paranoia.
She knows that if her baby didn't survive, then she wouldn't want to live any longer. It was one thing not to see House, the love of her life on a daily basis but losing that single thing that binds them together forever is too much for her to take.
Why is this happening to her? What wrongful act did you do in her past life to deserve all these pain and suffering? Is there even an end to all of these?
Too many questions are now going on in her mind that she didn't notice that Dr. James Wilson already entered her room. The Oncologist instructed the Nurse on duty the night before to page him as soon as the Dean awakes. He saw her friend apparently going into a state of panic when the young nurse in front of her just stared back at her without saying any word. The ever caring Wilson went to step in into the situation right away knowing that his friend must have been still feeling very exhausted.
He immediately called Cuddy's attention through her first name, "Lisa, calm down. Take a deep breath first."
The Dean of Medicine seeing that she haven't got any answer from the young nurse in front of her now felt her heart beat faster with all the possible negative scenarios she can come up with regarding her baby. Wilson's presence still didn't register yet to her frantic mind as well as his voice. It took the feeling of someone's hands on her both her shoulders for Cuddy to realize that another person was already present in her room aside from her and the nurse who still stood speechless and just staring at her.
"Hey, Lisa. It's me, James. Calm down." Wilson tried to once again get his friend's attention. He let out a sigh of relief go when he saw Cuddy stared at him and though she was still looking so lost, at least he knew he got her attention now. And then, he added, "Listen to me. Your baby is okay. He's doing okay but still needs to be in an incubator for now since his lungs are not yet fully developed." The Oncologist said these all at once because he knew the woman in front of him had undergone through enough already.
As soon as Cuddy heard that the baby was okay, she also exhaled a deep breath and wiped the tears from her face. With still a hoarse voice, she heard herself say, "Can I see him now?" She saw Wilson was about to object but she still insisted. She knew she will only calm down as soon as she sees that House's baby, their baby is doing okay. "Please, Wilson. I need to see him now."
The Oncologist seeing that another batch of fresh tears were streaming down the Dean's face nodded at his friend and then addressed the young nurse from behind him a calmer voice, "Can you get a wheelchair in here, please?"
The young nurse having witness the scene before her now finds herself nodding at the two doctors in front of her and said, "Yes, of course, Dr. Wilson. I'll be right back." She also took a deep breath and turns around to do what she was requested to do.
Five minutes later, Dr. Lisa Cuddy is seen being wheeled on a wheelchair by Dr. James Wilson towards PPTH's NICU ward located at the third floor of the building. Wilson already called in advance and informed the staff in-charged at NICU that the Dean of Medicine is coming and instructed them to move the said doctor's baby incubator near the glass windows where she can properly see her precious child.
Upon arrival, the Oncologist assisted his friend to stand on her feet to finally have her first glance of her and House's baby. This tiny person is indeed a blessing and a miracle to be born under such circumstances regarding his parent's lives.
When Cuddy had her first glance of her baby, she felt that her tears were once again flowing like a river down her face. She couldn't believe that finally, she is able to see the ultimate and greatest gift House can give to her. After all they had been through, this beautiful tiny person in front of her is a wonderful reminder about their uncommon but great love towards each other. This baby is a product of the union of two wounded souls that found each other in the midst of the challenges that life has to offer.
Placing her shaky hands on the glass windows where she can see their child's hands was, she made a bow to herself and promised her baby that she'll find his father and when she does, she'll never gonna let go of him again. Wilson heard Cuddy said in a calm voice as tears continuously pour down her smooth cheeks, "We'll find your daddy, baby. I promise."
The digital clock located on top of the small table near the bed says it's now 9pm in the evening and Dr. Gregory House even though, his new favorite local drama show is playing on the TV screen in front of him finds himself once again wondering what's with this sudden strange feeling he can feel within himself. He couldn't explain why but after the unexplained feeling of restlessness he felt the whole afternoon yesterday at work, and then that gentle "touch" he felt from the warm afternoon breeze at his office's balcony, that same feeling of something lighter still lingers deep within him.
For the first time in the months following his "escape", he doesn't feel that whole sense of pain and misery anymore. It's as if something had been lifted up from him and was replaced by something good that even his genius mind cannot fully comprehend.
He still think about Cuddy and the horrible things he did to her. But, now when his brain does associate Cuddy's image, it's replaced with something different, something more on the positive thoughts. There was this very strange feeling now 'bugging' him as if something good came out from all these mess surrounding their very complicated relationship.
Of course, the famous Diagnostician knew that this has something to do with the vivid dreams he had of Cuddy being pregnant and then, that bloody dream scenario of her and Wilson. Somehow, since after having those dreams and that unexplained "touch" he felt on his office balcony, his overactive thoughts concerning Cuddy mellowed down a bit and now, was replaced with a feeling of contentment as if recognizing that his woman is safe and happy on the other side of this planet.
Feeling that his head is starting to ache again from all these confusing and unexplained feelings that he is experiencing right this very moment, he decided to go back to his soap opera that is now playing a scene of a happy family.
A month after her early delivery, the glowing silhouette of one Dr. Lisa Cuddy was once again seen by her staff walking briskly towards the NICU ward. Since her baby was born, and put into the care of an incubator, she is a constant visitor at this part of the hospital.
Every early morning, barely depositing her things first at her office, the Dean is immediately on her way up to see her beloved son. She and Rachel still spent 3 nights a week at House's apartment and this morning after leaving Rachel with Marina at her house, she's now ready to see her son.
When she arrived at the one place she was so eager to reach, she saw that the Nurse on duty as always already moved her baby's incubator near the glass windows for all her viewing pleasure. With much pride behind her eyes, she once again read the name tag labeled below the incubator as Aaron Gregory Cuddy-House.
Of course, since there was still no news about the whereabouts of the love of her life and the father of her baby, she always felt that sense of peace when her eyes will trace that name tag. Somehow, she felt reassured that House is safe somewhere out there and for now, seeing their baby is enough for Cuddy to go on and hold on to that hope within her heart that eventually their paths will cross again.
As if sensing his mother's presence nearby, Baby Aaron opened his ocean blue eyes and "stares" back at Cuddy through the glass windows. According to her baby's doctor, her son is growing healthy day by day. With that reassuring knowledge, the Dean spent 15 more minutes with "him" and then went on her way back to her office to start her busy day.
Meanwhile, as the days go by, Dr. Gregory House with his observant eyes once again finds himself closely monitoring Dr. Jacqueline House's health condition. From above the second floor balcony, he saw his boss' fragile form enter the hospital's entrance door after being out the whole morning to somewhere he wasn't able to force out from her assistant.
He was approached 3 nights ago by his Nana Sela inquiring him about Jacque and her pale appearance. The old woman was obviously very worried about her daughter seeing that day by day, Jacque seems to be paler and weaker.
The Endocrinologist is now 8 months pregnant and although, they do live under the same roof, the Diagnostician hardly pays attention to her since his mind is always busy thinking of Cuddy. And then at work, House does what he always does, that is to find a way to avoid his boss and his dreadful clinic duty. It was only after his Nana Sela went to his room that night did he start to once again notice that yes, Jacque seems paler and weaker these days.
And so, that is what he is doing right this very moment. He is once and for all gonna find out the mystery behind Jacque's pale appearance. Though, he wouldn't admit it to anyone, he is genuinely concern about her. He decided to just approach her and bring out this issue. He finds himself on the way down to her office.
Barging in into his boss' office unannounced, the grumpy doctor was surprised to find her tiny frame crying her heart out on the couch. The Chief Administrator instantly tried to compose herself upon hearing her office's door open. But when she looked up and see that it was her most troublesome employee, she simply said in a weak voice, "Not now, Dr. House."
Gregory House, even though everyone thinks that he is a bastard son of a bitch with a cold heart finds himself just staring at her. He doesn't know how to properly react when he sees a woman in tears. The last time he saw one was still visibly engraved on his mind and everything was his fault. He doesn't want to see another one in front of him.
But then, he also remembered his Nana Sela's worried expression from that night. And so, even though he knew he's not good at this, he went to sit down besides his "sister" and said, "Is there something wrong? Talk to me. Nana is worried about you."
Upon hearing her Nana's name, Jacque looked up at the man sitting a few feet away from her. She's debating to herself as to whether or not, she can finally tell him the truth. There's no one else that she can tell this and for sure, she can't tell this to her mother. She knew the old woman will only worry for her more but can't do anything about her situation.
Taking a deep breath, she finally decided to trust this man and said, "I'm dying."
House just kept staring at her without saying a word. He doesn't know what to say. He knew right from the first moment he saw her that she's sick but he didn't expect it to be this serious. And then, he heard her continue, "Colon Cancer. I was diagnosed during my second month of pregnancy. My doctor suggested terminating the baby so I can immediately start chemo-therapy but I refused knowing that the prognosis isn't high for me even if I will do so. This morning, I was told that I may not have enough time left till my due date. They need to do an Induced C-Section to deliver the baby as soon as possible."
Jacque once again felt more tears streaming down her eyes and looked down at her hands on her lap. The man besides him continued to just sit there with her in silence. Then, she went on, "I scheduled the surgery the day after tomorrow at Makati Medical Center. Nana doesn't know and you can't tell her."
She said this part in a firm voice that made House immediately react and said, "But, she has to know. How do you think she will feel when you will just suddenly be at her door step inside a coffin?"
The woman in front of him just shook her head and still insisted, "NO. You can't tell her. Please, Greg." It was the first time she addressed him that way. Even at home, she still calls him Dr. House. This time, she went to look up at him again and with pleading eyes, tried to make him understand. "Promise me that you won't tell her."
House, albeit reluctantly finds himself nodding at her. "Okay. But, what about the baby? What happens to him?" He knows the baby's gender because his Nana Sela keeps on talking about it sometimes during dinner.
Jacque just continuously let her tears fall down her cheeks and looked away from him when she said in a low voice, "I don't know. In this country, the closest living relative is immediately appointed as the child's legal guardian unless there is a Will signed by the deceased mother stating who should be that person."
Surprising both themselves, the world-renowned Diagnostician heard himself say, "I'll do it."
The Chief Administrator's eyes went wide as she met his intense gaze. "What?"
In a much calmer voice now, House answered her. "I'll be the baby's guardian. You can appoint me to become one. Have the paper's ready before your surgery and I'll sign it." He was never so sure about anything else in his life before than this precise moment. He figured since he couldn't come back to Princeton and that Cuddy is really better off without him, this is his best shot to at least find a bit of normalcy in his life.
Jacque still not sure about all of these just kept staring back at him. Then, she heard him go on, "Nana can help me with the baby. You don't have to worry."
With more tears on her eyes now, she went closer to him and then, embraced him into a grateful hug while she whispered. "Thank you."
The day after when Lisa Cuddy went back to the ground floor after her usual morning visit to her son, Nurse Brenda told her while she was about to enter her office that someone was waiting for her inside. Confusion was clearly evident within the Dean's face because the Head Nurse never allowed any visitor to wait inside her office before. So, what was different now?
Taking a deep breath, she opened her office door and was surprised to see herself in the presence of one Blythe House.
Ahmm, not sure about this chapter. After re-reading this, even I found myself bored with this. Hehe, sorry. I'll try to make it up on the next chapter.
Share me your bored thoughts too on the reviews?
Thanks for reading,
Helen