"House, MD" Speculative Fiction
Owned by David Shore
Title: "Beethoven's Damnation"
Author: Aquarius Seth
Rating R for AL, AC and eventually sexual content!
Disclaimers: Copyrights belong to Mr. Shore, Heel-Toe Productions, Z Shore Productions, Some Bad Hat Harry Productions and Fox Networks. Syndication rights belong to USA Networks. Absolutely no monetary profits are being made here. I'm just staying busy, sane and working with plot lines thanks.
A/N: This is my first really long piece I hope you all enjoy it! Please read and review-it feeds my enormous ego and justifies all the insane hours I spent in front of this computer typing this up. Enjoy but if you see glaring mistakes PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POINT THEM OUT! Thanks.
Word Count: 2,578
(Wilson, House. Quite a bit of Nurse Brenda thrown in along with Cuddy)
Chapter Two: "Waiting"
I drove into Princeton General's parking garage and swiped my still active doctor's identification badge. The security guard made me wait for a verification of his lists.
"I'm sorry sir but I do not have you on our lists." God he's a stickler!
"I worked at Princeton's teaching hospital."
"With Dr. Cuddy?" The guy asked speculatively.
"Yes. Call Dr. Lisa Cuddy and tell her Dr. Wilson's at General. Her extension is PPTH 25."
"But sir, PPTH has it's own parking lot."
"This is an extreme emergency of sorts. Call her, trust me." He glanced at my badge and then picked up the phone. Apparently the guy that had been in the loop was rotated to another booth for this shift and Cuddy used her clout to get me in. I parked at the first vacant parking space and waited for her to call me back.
I felt my stomach acids start to bubble as I sat in my car and listened to the radio. Fur Elise was playing as I began wondering if we were going to be able to pull this off. I nearly hit my head against the back of my seat when my phone rang.
"Hey Wilson House is out. Cameron's waiting for you with a wheelchair."
"What do you mean out?"
"I gave him a sedative. I can't find Foreman and Chase is in surgery. I don't want to ask his team for help. He'll make their lives a living hell if he suspects they helped out."
"I'll park right in front of the doors."
"No problem I've warned security. If an ambulance comes in Tim will move your car."
"Thanks. I'll be there."
"We'll be waiting." I started my car and drove over to the front entrance. I got out to find Cameron waiting for me right next to the first elevator with the chair. She smiled brightly at me.
"Welcome back Dr. Wilson."
"Back?"
"Dr. Cuddy gave us a heads up. Amazingly no one has tipped off House. House is really out of it because he hasn't sniffed out any plot whatsoever."
"When did she tell you guys?"
"Last night. She e-mailed everybody on the staff except House and his current staff. Nurse Brenda added an attachment threatening to find mystery clinic hours to anyone who gives House a hint of what's going on."
"No body has huh?"
"Have you ever been warned by Nurse Brenda?" I had to smile at that one. Yeah, no one wants to be on Nurse Brenda's bad side, even House goes out of his way to make her happy. Make no mistake that woman could be diabolical and let's face it she runs things when Cuddy's away.
"Not since I first arrived and tried to pull that 'I'm a doctor, you're a nurse' crap with her. She sent me home with my tail tucked in between my legs on the very first day. I know better than to irritate her universe."
"See?" We smiled and Nurse Brenda crossed our path while we waited for the elevator. She seemed to study me for a moment.
"Dr. Cameron, Dr. Peterson needs your help in exam room six. Dr. Wilson I have about forty clinic files for you to complete for Dr. House. I'll expect them three days after you come back from your trip with Dr. House. I hope you enjoyed your small vacation now it's back to work."
"Yes madam." I saluted her as Cameron took off to go find Peterson.
"No more running away from home, got it? Next time I'll track you down."
"Yes madam." I replied sheepishly as I realized I was nervously digging the tip of my shoe into the tile-like a child being reprimanded by their parents. Oddly enough I felt…happy.
"Good, now I'll be able to get some work done around here without having to worry about Dr. House misbehaving out of his norm."
"Yes madam."
"I'll expect to have the wheelchair back in twenty minutes." I nodded and practically jumped into the elevator when it opened. I heard someone chuckle and then Nurse Brenda order them to clean out the supply closet. The chuckling stopped as I heard footsteps rushing away from the elevator's general vicinity.
I smiled-they have obviously crossed paths with Nurse Brenda and felt the sting of her bite.
My smile soon faded when the elevator stopped on my old floor. For a brief moment I felt my knees stiffen and then they must have liquefied, because I could have sworn they disappeared. I felt lost suddenly. I looked around the small space wondering if I could keep it moving some how.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Cuddy as she motioned me to come to House's office. I froze up and could no longer move. I saw her frown at me as she motioned me forward again. I was suddenly terrified. I watched helplessly as she dialed someone.
What felt like a lifetime later, Nurse Brenda was back in my field of vision.
"Wilson? It's against hospital policy to hold up an elevator this long." I focused on her and felt my blood rush to my feet.
"I can't see him. I'm not ready." I pleaded. She frowned at me and hit the emergency button as the bell began to ring. She stepped into the elevator as the doors closed.
"Is there a problem with the elevator?" A male voice demanded from somewhere above my head. I watched as Nurse Brenda hit the call button.
"Mitch this is Nurse Brenda…."
"Yes madam?"
"This elevator is currently off limits don't let anyone summon this thing until I tell you it's clear. I have a small problem in here."
"Do I need to contact someone madam?"
"No, I've got it under control."
"Okay." The intercom went off as she focused on me.
"What's wrong Wilson?"
"I can't see him."
"Why not? As far as I know he's out like a light."
"But he'll wake up."
"By then you two will be on the road."
"Exactly." She sighed and studied me once again.
"Are you happy Wilson?" Before I could think of an answer she cut me off. "Let me spare you the effort of coming up with a convincing lie. I can see you are miserable, I can see House is miserable. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put one and one together. Go get House into your car and get him to his father's wake. If you can only focus on one thing focus on that."
"But he'll give me hell."
"And that's new? Why do you think we all keep an eye on him? It's not for his sparkling personality."
"But…."
"If he's determined not to go, he'll hitchhike back home. I can bet money he'll go just to spend time with you. He has missed you. Believe me I know."
"How?" I winced at how soft my voice came out.
"He's given me those forty files just last week." Amazed I studied her expression very carefully.
"He saw forty clinic patient's last week?"
"Yes and spent an hour with each patient." House put in forty hours in clinic? That was definitely abnormal. "As much as Cuddy and I want him to complete his clinic hours, I don't want him to do his entire year worth in two months. I don't like his paperwork that much. I actually saw him fill out some of it on Tuesday." House was actually filling out his paperwork? Things were really bad.
"Okay. I'll get him into the car."
"Good. I'll see you later and you now have ten minutes to return the wheelchair." I nodded as she pushed the open button and walked out. I followed a few seconds later and rolled my way down to House's office. Cuddy smiled at me and gave me a hug.
"Thank you for coming."
"I'm sorry but I have to try to stop him from putting in his clinic hours or doing paperwork." I mumbled as she pulled away. She gave me a wavering smile.
"I don't mind. Nurse Brenda's threatened to scalp us all if House gave her anymore of his files semi-completed." I smiled weakly at her and inhaled deeply. I opened House's door and focused on the figure on the floor. Cuddy had somehow managed to roll him onto his left side and he had his back towards us.
Before I could over analyze my actions too much, I walked in and deposited the chair near him. I watched as his torso moved with each breath he took. I heard the door close shut and then I heard Cuddy's heels click away from the door.
I knelt down and my fingers automatically went to the side of his neck to feel for a pulse. I glanced at my watch and counted as I felt his strong pulse underneath my fingertips. His heartbeat was within a normal range. I sighed and sat back on my heels to just take in the fact I was back in his office.
I let my eyes take him in. He seemed to have lost some weight. Not that he can afford to lose that much more weight and still be considered healthy. His hair had not gotten any more salt in it but his beard had. I softly ran my fingers across his face greedy for physical contact. I continued my exploration in an unhurried pace as my questioning fingertips searched for any sign of damage.
When I was finally satisfied that he was okay I gently brushed his beard into a uniform downward direction before I got the courage to touch his lips. They were moist and pliable under my fingertip. God I wanted to kiss him. I shot straight up when I realized that thought had crossed my mind again. First sex and now I want to kiss him? I needed to get my irrational emotions under control before I acted on them on an impulse.
I managed to get House into the chair without too much difficulty and draped my doctor's coat over his chest as I took one last glance at his office. I noticed his cell phone on his desk. I picked it up and scanned through his phonebook menu. I smiled as I realized he had his mom in his phone directory as 'MOM.' Yeah, this was a sign that the guy I first met was still lurking somewhere underneath that seeming uncaring asshole personae I've come to accept. I hit send.
"Gregory?"
"Hello Mrs. House."
"Jimmy?"
"Yes madam." I heard her sigh.
"Have you managed to talk my stubborn son into coming?"
"Well we haven't managed to talk yet but we're on our way."
"What? How is that possible? Are you coming with him?"
"Yes madam. He's been given a weak sedative and I'm on my way to shovel him into my car. He should be out of it for about an hour or so." I heard her sigh which sounded quite resolute.
"My son is quite a stubborn one isn't he?"
"Yes but I wouldn't want to know him any other way." I reassured her as I pushed House out of his office. I heard her laugh softly.
"I've never known him any other way James. Of course you know he'll give you a hard time when he comes to?"
"Oh yeah. Don't worry, I'll get him there no matter how much he tries to annoy me. I promise you that."
"Knowing him he'll do anything to make you guys late. I'll hold the ceremony until he gets here."
"Are you sure Mrs. House?"
"Living with these two stubborn men for a the majority of my life has taught me to be just as stubborn otherwise I would have never gotten anything done around my house. No funeral director is going to manage to rush me along until I feel good and ready to proceed James. You can be sure of that. I want my son to deliver his father's eulogy and damn it it's going to get done." I smiled recognizing much of House's attitude in her.
"Yes madam."
"Good I'll see you boys in a few hours. I want my son to stay here this weekend. Is that all right with you? I mean it's not going to interfere with your work schedule anymore than I already have?"
"Mrs. House my calendar is always clear for you."
"Good I'll see you boys later. Good bye James."
"Good bye Mrs. House." I hung up and wheeled House into the elevator.
I noticed Foreman standing by the ER's front desk nodding as Nurse Brenda continued pointing out things on some chart. She glanced up and noticed House underneath my coat. She gestured our way and Foreman glanced towards us. He saw House and rolled his eyes but he came towards us.
"I don't believe he fell for Cuddy's ploy."
"Yeah like Humpty Dumpy." He smiled as he followed me to my car.
"I guess I'll have to take over his massive clinic paperwork?"
"Nope. As part of my punishment for running away from home, Nurse Brenda is having me do it."
"Oh you irked her huh?"
"More like mildly annoyed her. Had I irked her she would have given me student tours to do." Foreman seemed to think it over.
"When's her birthday?" I smiled as we slid House's limp body into my car.
"Ask Cuddy." I advised as I left House with Foreman and pushed the wheelchair back into Nurse Brenda's domain. As promised there were four cotton hospital bags full of files waiting for me. I read my name on a sticky and loaded them up on my arm. I waved down Nurse Brenda and she nodded as she noticed the bags on my arm. I tossed them into the trunk. Foreman took a peek and noticed all the strange things in my trunk.
"Are you taking a fishing trip with a broken fishing pole?" He asked as he picked up the metal contraption out of my trunk.
"I have to be prepared for anything. This is House I'm dealing with remember?" He smiled and put it back.
"Do you think you have enough bandages?"
"Yeah, can I con you out of some more sedatives though?"
"For him or you?"
"Me." He smiled and walked back inside. I got into the car and drove after I made sure I had seven copies of the map and directions Mrs. House gave me. I sent up a small prayer and eased into traffic with House sound asleep next to me.
To Be Continued.