Chapter 32

House was gone to his hotel and Cuddy played with Rachel and Ethan when someone knocked at the door. Cuddy was surprised. She didn't wait for anyone.

"Mommy, is it House?" Rachel asked.

"No, no, it's too soon."

"Who is it?"

"I don't know. Stay here with Ethan, I come back." Cuddy said as she left the room and went to the door.

She opened the door and started back to let Arlene go inside. She seemed furious.

"Where is he? Where is this schmok?!"

"Good morning" Cuddy said and frowned.

"Where is he?!" Arlene repeated furious.

"Where is who?"

"House! Where is this moron?"

"Oh, you talked with Julia." Cuddy sighed. She was angry at her sister. Why did she tell their mother? Cuddy had to do it, not her.

"Yes, I talked with Julia. SHE keeps me posted." Arlene replied in a reproachful tone.

"Mom, I wanted to tell you, it's just"

"And when? When I will be six feet under?"

"Please, stop shouting, you're gonna scare the children."

"And this! This! How could you conceal this?!"

"Mom, come, we need to talk."

"Of course we need to talk! When I think that you reproached me for not telling you about my lovers! And you!"

"Calm down, there is no need to be hysterical!"

"Lisa, you're completely stupid! Have a child with such a crook! What did you think? Do you want to kill me?"

"House isn't a crook, he's"

"Shut up, Lisa! He's a criminal, a man who runs amok by jealousy and wanted to kill you! How do you call such a yob! He's dangerous and I don't want you to have anything to do with him. We should call the police, Lisa."

"Mom! House is not a criminal, he's not a serial killer or anything else of the same kind. And he went in jail for that."

"Lisa, you're irresponsible. This man almost killed you and you still trust him! You're mad.

"Mom, I lo"

"Shut up! Love is blind!"

"Mom!"

"Listen to me for one time, Lisa. This guy is dangerous, he's irresponsible and completely insane, he"

"But he saved your life."

"Well I was lucky to survive. He almost killed me when he changed my treatment behind the back of my doctor. And when I think that you trusted him!"

"Mom! HE saved your life! Without House you would be dead."

"But he didn't believe me when I explained him my symptoms, he doesn't listen to his patients! How can you say that he treats them! He has luck."

"That's how he works. I admit that his methods are unconventional but they're very effective."

"Lisa, are you really stupid or are you playing a role?"

"What do you mean?"

"Lisa, he's arrogant, selfish, he refused to listen to his patients, he"

"He's a brilliant Doctor."

"But he's not a guy to live with."

"So why did you want us to get back together? If I remember YOU imagine a plot to bring us back together!"

"It was before he ran his car in your living-room. This man is mad."

"He's screwed-up but he's much more than that, he does care about us, he loves me and"

"Shut up Lisa! If he really loves you, then why did he pretend to be dead? Why did he want to kill you? Why did he let you down when you needed him? Why?"

"I know why he"

"No, you don't know and you don't want to know because for some reasons I don't get, you're under his spell. There are many good guys, like this David, but no, you chose the bad guy. Lisa, you always gripe me, you're always against me, but for one time don't think of you, think of your children. They deserve a father, a good father."

"House is Ethan's father and"

"Are you really sure?"

Cuddy stared at her mother offended. She articulated: "Mom! My sexual life is quite boring compared to yours but at least I know with who I sleep. I know that Ethan is House's son. Just look at him, it's more and more obvious with time. He came here because of me, he"

"And where is he? He's here since two days and he's already gone. And you want me to welcome him?!"

"He's just at his hotel to get his bag and then he comes back here."

"That's what he told you and you believed him."

"Where do you want him to be? He knows nobody here!"

"If I remember he used to have fun with hookers"

"Mom, I don't want to listen to you anymore, I"

"Here I am, sweetie!" House said and stopped as he saw Arlene. She got up and ran to him.

"You! You!" she choked, furious.

"Nice to see you too." House replied sarcastically. Then he turned to Cuddy and articulated without speaking: "Why is she here?"

"I told you that if you ever hurt her I'll kill you. I think the time is coming." Arlene said.

"Hey! SHE dumped me! Not I! SHE broke my heart."

"And your broke hers by marrying this hooker!"

"Hey!"

"And you wanted to kill her by driving your car in her home!"

"I… I knew there was no one in the room. I just wanted to give her her brush back and… and to show her how hurt I felt." House said and looked down.

"And to bring back her brush you destroyed her house! Admittedly it's not a common way to prove your love and I know that she can be strange, but you're completely crazy! And dangerous!"

"I…"

"Shut up! You don't deserve her."

"Hey!" House turned to Cuddy and waited for her to say something.

"Mom, I"

"Shut up, Lisa! Let me talk to this weirdo."

"Mom! House is my boyfriend and Ethan's father!"

"She's right. You should listen to her. Thanks God, she sleeps with me, not you."

"And then you pretended to be dead! Why? Because you plotted something to persecute her I assume. My daughter is stupid"

"Because I"

"A beam fell on his head and he lost his memory. He didn't know who he was." Cuddy said fast, cutting House short. She didn't want that House ran the risk of being sued if he told Arlene the truth. Her mother was furious and unwilling to listen to House and Cuddy didn't want to lose him once again. House looked at her. He wasn't sure it was a good thing to lie to Arlene, but… on the other hand he didn't want to have any problem with the police now that Tritter had to give up on his investigation. But House perfectly knew that if Arlene ever got in touch with him, Tritter would do his best to open a new investigation and used Arlene's testimony as an excuse for it.

Arlene looked at House, suspicious. She wondered if Cuddy told her the truth. "And how did he get his memory back?"

"Thanks God" House replied smiling. Cuddy rolled her eyes and added: "No, thanks a good medical team and thanks "

"I thought you didn't believe in God" Arlene said staring at House.

"You're right. But… people change."

"I don't believe you. You're lying, both of you. I'm sure you're hiding me something. But I'm gonna find it out. You can be sure of that."

"Okay then let's say I had luck." House said and made a funny face.

"What do you mean?"

"House was stabbed in the street and taken to the hospital where someone recognized him." Cuddy replied.

"I'm a well-known doctor, you know."

"You're a moron. You're the father of my grandson but I don't like you, House. And, you Lisa, you're really an idiot. But I promise you: don't hurt her again and take care of your son or you're gonna deal with me and my lawyers."

"Have a nice day!" House said with a smile as Arlene opened the door.

"Be careful, House. I'm not done with you." And she left.

House looked at Cuddy. She was upset and worried.

"Don't worry, she likes me." House said and tried to comfort her.

"We have to be careful, House. You know of what she's capable…"

oooooooo

Monday, early in the morning.

"I don't know if we should go together to the hospital." Cuddy said while she fed Ethan.

House looked at her. "Oh, and may I know why?"

"People gonna talk and"

"Cuddy, I thought you were fed up with what people think. Are you ashamed of me?"

"No! It's just that… the whole hospital knows for me and Robert, and now…"

"And now what?! You're with me, that's it! I'm really better than this Robert."

"Yes, but with your past, our past…"

"Cuddy, people are going to talk whatever we do. So let them talk!"

"Maybe you're right but"

"Of course I'm right! The sooner they know that we're together, the better it is. No mutter no stupid rumors, no spy on us and on everything we do or say."

"But no mystery, no need to hide, no excitement…"

"If you want mystery and excitement, danger and adrenaline, we can make love in your office" House said with a grin.

Cuddy rolled her eyes. "First we'll drive Rachel to school."

"I'll wait for you in the car."

"Good morning, Mrs Cuddy" a young woman said and stared at House. Then she turned to Cuddy with a questioning look.

"Good Morning, Jenny. This is Dr. House"

"Nice to meet you, Doctor House."

"I'm Ethan's father." House replied and shook Jenny's hand.

"Oh, I believe…"

"Okay, Jenny, we're late, we have to go. Have a nice day." Cuddy added, kissed Ethan and told him: "And you, be a good boy." Ethan smiled.

Ooooooooo

"Well, here we are, Rachel. Come!"

"I want that House comes with us."

"Rachel, come with mommy, we're already late. And House's leg hurts. He will go with you another day, okay?"

"House" Rachel said and tried to move him.

"Mushroom, your mother is right. My leg hurts and I can't walk. Go!"

The little girl got unwillingly out of the car and followed her mother. Once next to her teacher, she said with pride: "Hi, Caroline, my father is back and he brought me a sword of pirates!"

The teacher looked surprised at Cuddy. "Oh, that's great, Rachel." Then she told Cuddy: "That's amazing how the children adopt so easily the partner of their parents. I'm glad that Rachel likes Dr. Robert."

"No! That's not Robert! Robert is stupid, I don't like him. My father is House." Rachel replied smiling. "And we found the treasure of the pirates."

Rachel's teacher looked embarrassed at Cuddy who blushed and said: "Have a nice day, Rachel. Jenny will take you home after school." Then she gave Rachel a kiss and went to her car.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. Everything's fine."

"Cuddy, I know when there's something wrong with you…"

Cuddy sighed. "I forgot how perceptive you are." She replied sarcastically.

"Especially with you. So tell me, what happened?"

"Rachel told her teacher that her father was back, and by father she meant you." Cuddy said looking at House.

"I see."

"No you don't. The teacher thought Rachel was talking about Robert." She added and looked straight away. "Even there, people know for me and Robert."

"I don't understand why it bothers you so much. You have the right to sleep with who you want, you're not answerable to them."

"I know but…"

"How did she know?"

"Who knows what?" Cuddy asked not understanding what House meant.

"The teacher. How did she know for you and Robert? Chicago isn't a small village."

"I… I don't know. Maybe she was his patient or"

"I'm not talking about my girlfriend with my patients. No, there is something else. What's her name?"

"Hem Robert I guess" and as she said the name, Cuddy understood. "I'm stupid!"

"You say it, not me. But I agree with you."

"House! I need some comfort, not be crucified! Especially by you!"

"Well, if you want me to comfort you, I have an idea but… with my leg, it won't be easy here."

"House!"

"Okay, leave it. You didn't know that Rachel's teacher was his sister?"

"He told me but I didn't really pay attention to what he said."

"But he didn't tell her that it was over. Interesting…"

"Why?"

"Because it means that he still hadn't given up on you."

"And? What's the problem? I turned the page."

"It just means that he will try to get you back. Another one will fight for you."

"What do you mean? Who is the other one?"

"Jay."

"How… how do you know?" Cuddy exclaimed surprised.

"I was at the Gala, do you remember?"

"You're right. I forgot this horrible guy."

"But don't worry, now that we're officially together, I guess that none of them will bother you longer."

"House, promise me you won't do something stupid. I don't care about these guys." Cuddy replied worried. The image of her destroyed living-room was in her mind.

"Okay. Shall we go now?"

"Yes." She started the engine and drove to the hospital. Once in the parking, she said: "I don't know which office you gonna have."

"As far away as possible from yours."

"Why?!"

"Because I need some privacy." House said with a smirk and got out of the car.