Chapter 9: Bedside Manners
House and Rachel stood outside of the ICU as they watched the nurses attending to the diva. She seemed in fairly good spirits considering the ordeal she'd been through, all of the tubes had been removed, her breathing and her heart rate were regular and she was alert, talking even.
"You gonna go in?" Rachel asked as she stood next to House.
"I don't usually," House answered.
"Do you know how creepy it is if you just stand here and stare at her?" Rachel asked.
"Do you think I'm creepy?" House asked.
"No, but I know you!" Rachel stated, "she doesn't." she added and marched toward the sliding glass door.
"Where are you going?" House asked as he hobbled to follow the little girl.
"Hello," Rachel stated as the Diva saw her enter the room.
"Hello," Rosalie whispered.
"Probably not good for you to be talking after what happened to you," Rachel stated as she stood beside the bed, "you almost died. There was a tube down your throat to keep you breathing and they had to shock your heart back into rhythm."
"Are you my doctor?" Rosalie asked amusement in her eyes.
"No, I'm five," Rachel stated, "He's your doctor." She added and pointed at House.
"Then, if you aren't my doctor, how do you know so much?" Rosalie asked.
"I'm smart," Rachel answered.
House smiled at her from the door.
"I was singing professionally at your age," Rosalie stated, "you could be a doctor if you really wanted to be."
"I'd be a pretty bad doctor without all the schooling," Rachel reasoned, "but I have plans for the future."
"But you have better bedside manners than many of the doctors I've met," Rosalie smiled.
"What does that mean?" Rachel asked as she turned to House.
"It means you're nice and you talk to the patients' way better then the doctors do. It means you're making her feel very comfortable talking to you about her problems. You're doing very well, Jelly Bean." House explained with great pride for the five year old.
"Doctors are mean to the people they are helping?" Rachel asked in confusion.
"No, not always, we try to help and be nice. Its just some times people lie, or they don't know what we are trying to tell them, or they get angry because of the things we are telling them," House explained, "and then sometimes, some of us can be mean because we think that the patients are working against us when they lie to us. That's why I avoid the patients," he added.
"Cause you're mean?"
"Sometimes yes, because people don't like my bluntness, and because my job is just to diagnose, not to treat." House explained.
"But you're a doctor; your job is ultimately to make the patient better, if you can." Rachel stated.
"True, but that's why I have a team. I diagnose and they treat." House stated.
"But you'll hang around and stare at people," Rosalie observed, "that's creepy you know." The young diva added.
"Told you!" Rachel stated.
"Noted," House laughed, "But in my defense, I was watching you for more symptoms, just like I was watching you last night when the first symptoms appeared."
"So you were there last night?" Rosalie asked.
"Yes, I enjoy a good opera just like the next fellow, but I enjoyed it more when there was a medical mystery to be had." House stated.
"Glad I could entertain you," Rosalie stated. "Do you know what's wrong with me?"
"Not yet, but we're working on it," Rachel stated.
"So who are you, really?" Rosalie asked a twinkle of something in her eyes.
"I'm Doctor Gregory House, and this is Rachel Cuddy." House explained.
"The Dean's daughter?" Rosalie asked.
"Yes," House answered.
"Oh, ok, I understand now," Rosalie smiled, "Well good luck with the diagnosis," she added and closed her eyes.
"Are you feeling alright?" House asked.
"Yes," Rosalie answered, "this is actually the first break I've had in years and there are two other doctors staring, dumbstruck, behind you. So I am assuming, they are part of your team and you'll be leaving to deal with them. So I will rest, and you can continue your search for answers."
"Ok," Rachel smiled and turned to leave, "bye." She added and waved.
"Good-bye," Rosalie whispered and listened to the door swish shut behind them.