Chapter 11 - Swan Song

House and Cuddy went out this evening. The occasion was a charity event at the local orphanage. The administrator organised it involving children and teenager there making a performance in music, acting, singing and dancing. The kind of occasions House never liked but forced himself to go to make Cuddy happy. The orphanage and the PPTH where in partnership so, as the Dean, she was obliged to attend, and House with her.

A Blues Brother performance just finished with terrible way of singing and playing music.

House was not just bored, but he hated even the destruction of his third religion: music. (The first two were Cuddy and Rachel; fourth his work, yes, just fourth………………)

House: "The next time remember me to bring my guitar."

Cuddy: "Oh, House, they are just kids."

H: "No one of them have the minimum sense of music. I assure you that Rachel will get rid of all that bounce of kids in ten minutes."

C: "I know………… Daddy little Mozart……………" She smiles.

H: "Well, at least she took something from me." Day by day House is acting more like the real genetic father of the little Rachel. Cuddy is pleased by that, is giving their relationship much more complicity.

C: "You can tell it. Now be quiet. In a minute will start a dancing performance. It will be………" She looks back at the program. "………… 'Swan Lake' maybe will be good."

H: "I have the feeling it will be a 'Swan Song' instead."

C: "Sssssh."

When the curtains open the sweet music of 'Swan Lake' begins and with that enters in a wonderful girl in her black ballet dress with some glitters on it. The girl has bright red – blond hair in a tight chignon, porcelain skin, a doll face with big green eyes and natural red lips. She seems a nymph of the forest. And to everybody delight she is really talented.

H: "She's hiding something." He whispers at Cuddies' ear

C: "Why?"

H: "She is smiling too much. I'm sure she's sick."

C: "Why don't you forget to be a diagnostician for once and just enjoy the evening?"

H: "I put 10 dollars that I'm right."

C: "Fine, now shot up."

The girl is continuing her performance without a failure. At the end of the music she is in the usual position of the dead swan.

Then the curtain gets blocked. While the electrician is trying to fix it the girl is still there.

Someone is starting to call her name:

Lady: "Michelle? Michelle? Michelle wake up. Did you fall asleep?"

Nothing.

People there are starting to laugh. And the administrator is getting angry.

A girl approaches Michelle, nothing. Calls her, then touches her and goes back of a couple of steps with an horrified face. She goes at the direction of the administrator.

Girl: "Mrs. Needham, I think she is finally dead. Is there a doctor here?"

H: "I don't know you but I hate when this sort of things happens. And don't forget to give me 10 dollars."

C: "For what?"

H: "Swan song."

C: "Oh God…………………" Cuddy rolls her eyes.

House looks at her with an expression of triumph in his face.

H: "Yeah. We are Doctors." And stand up with Cuddy. "We are coming."

While they are approaching the stage Cuddy is already calling the hospital for an ambulance.

Cuddy helps House to turn the girl that is hardly breathing and almost can't move.

C: "Mrs. Needham. What's wrong with this girl?"

M.N.: "She has a cancer."

C: "What?"

M.N.: "Please tell me she's dead."

C: "Why are talking this way?"

M.N. "Because cure her is a thorn in our business plan."

C: "Don't worry Mrs. Needham. From this evening she will never be anymore. I'm taking this girl under my supervision. And certainly I will not her dye."

H: "We." He says approaching Cuddy.

C: "If she already has got a cancer she doesn't need a diagnostician."

H: "Do you really believe that? And what about that rush?"

C: "What rush?"

H: "This one." He says lifting up the girl left harm.

A New Case – The Swan

When House and Cuddy enter his office all the team was already there, Wilson included. House slams to each one of them a folder file with all the notes of the case.

H: "Good Evening children, thanks for coming."

W: "You could even say good night. It's 10 PM you know?"

H: "Come on Jimmy, we have to save a life."

W: "Fine……………" Wilson sits down.

H: "Good. The case of the day is the Dying Swan."

Taub: "Aren't we in the wrong Department? I mean, usually we don't cure animals."

H: "Actually the Swan is a 15 year old ballet dancer with a stomach cancer."

W: "If you already have a diagnosis why do you need us?"

H: "Look at the blackboard my friend because the best is yet to come. Team now think and pop up ideas or anything else could be in your mind."

House starts to write on the blackboard.

Stomach cancer.

Rush.

Fainting.

Trouble breathing.

Lack of strength.

Vomit.

Heat drop.

Muscular Sinking

Gastrointestinal trouble

House: "Any bets?"

F: "Basedow disease."

C: "Hyperparathyroidism, explains the muscular troubles and…………"

H: "Oh God. My little darling specialist in endocrinology……………Want to game with us?"

C: "House I'm serious."

H: "Fine boss. Anything else team?"

Th: "Addison disease."

H: "That doesn't explain her being so skinny."

Ta: "She could have become anorexic to be a better ballet dancer."

H: "Ok………… go and force her to eat. And what else?"

W: "Schonlein-hench disease."

Cam: "Even Berger disease is suitable to symptoms."

H: "Fine. We have something to start from. Check her blood for all the disease we mentioned, and check thyroid to see if Cuddy is right."

C: "I will run the test."

H: "You are not supposed to do that I have plenty of assistants."

C: "I wanna do that."

H: "Fine. I will wait here and think."

C: "Or better take a nap."

H: "As you prefer."

They all go out of Houses' office to do the tests.

He stares in front of the blackboard looking at symptoms. It must be something. Couldn't be just cancer. He will find the missing part of this new puzzle.

Meeting the Swan

A day passed and all the tests are negative.

House hates when things are turning this way, he's forced to work like a blind man in a square crowded of people, is almost impossible to find a way out.

Is time for him to meet his Swan, to understand what she is hiding like he thinks.

In her room. Michelle is lying on the bed with a book about ballet in her hands, her I-pod is on, listening to the Nutcracker music. When House enters in she shut it of.

M: "Morning."

H: "Hello, I'm Doctor House."

M: "I know. I remember you. You were sitting in the second row near a beautiful woman in a green dress the evening of the show. If I remember well she is Doctor Cuddy."

H: "Right. How you noticed us? You were dancing."

M: "I always try to have a look at the audience when I'm on stage. It helps me making a connection with them. I understand better how far I can go in my performance."

H: "And why did you choose us?"

M: "She looked very interested while you were enough detached. Was an interesting situation."

H: "Is not true………………"

M: "You are lying, I understand it. And I tell you something more. You weren't detached because of the event, even if it was really a mess. You were detached because you had something better to think about."

H: "Perhaps what?" He is getting curious of this teenage girl.

M: "I think a who is much more appropriate." She laughs. "You were thinking about the woman at your side who was holding your hand. There's nothing like the look of a man in love."

H: "You are imagining things kid. Was too dark there and you haven't seen a thing."

M: "The heart never lies. Yours is one of the picture I would like to remember forever."

H: "And why do you choose us?"

M: "The moment I saw you, I thought you were the picture of a family. And I'm sure is pretty and happy family." She sighs for a moment. "You have to forgive me Doctor House. I'm an orphan, and I always dream about how I would like my family to be. So when I see one I figure out how I could fit it. I think you are a very good father."

She is a very nice person. And she is getting House quite embarrassed and uncomfortable.

H: "You have to ask Rachel the next time she will come here."

M: "She's your daughter?"

H: "She's Cuddies' daughter. I became his father later in the years. It's complicated. Anyway you will see her quite often. She always puts her little nose everywhere in the hospital."

M: "Would you like your daughter to be in touch with a dying person?"

H: "Why are you saying that?"

M: "Because is what is happening to me."

H: "Who told you so?"

M: "Everybody."

H: "Anyone of my team? Tell me who and I will strangle him or her."

M: "No, no, no. Actually everybody are so nice here."

H: "So who?"

M: "Well ……………the other children in the orphanage…………… Mrs. Needham………… The other people working there………… actually they were wishing I could dye."

H: "How could someone wish a girl to dye?"

M: "My cancer gets people afraid of even touch me. That's why no one wanted to adopt me. Everybody wants an healthy daughter. And I barely have friends thanks to this."

She's an adult wrapped in the body of a girl. And this is remembering him about his difficult childhood.

H: "I'm sorry." He really mean it.

M: "That's not your fault."

He puts a hand on her right one trying to comfort her. Stops for a moment that continue his conversation with her.

H: "What you know about your disease?"

M: "Anything. And I don't want to know."

H: "You don't want to know what is affecting you and than be cured?"

M: "I can't be cured."

H: "How can you say that if you don't know?"

M: "All the doctors I saw didn't know where to slam their damned faces."

H: "Maybe you just met a bounce of idiots."

M: "That's what I have always thought. But I don't think you are, really. Maybe is true that there isn't anything to do about."

H: "You don't look so upset. Are you just indifferent or is something else picking you up?"

M: "Apart the fact I took the habitude to be ill………………… Is true, there's something picking me up. How strange, you are the first person I met who ever realized that, you know?"

H: "I took the habitude to observe and listen to people for my work. Is really helpful. I can always tell when they are hiding me something."

M: "Am I hiding something Doctor House?" She has got a challenging look in her eyes.

H: "Sure. I understood that the moment you put your first step on the stage."

M: "What am I hiding Doctor House?" Her beautiful green eyes are getting bigger saying this.

H: "I don't know yet. There's something else inside you I haven't yet discovered. And you can tell what is picking you up?"

M: "Sure. The ballet. My dream is to become a great ballet dancer."

H: "I see. Well, why not, from I saw last evening you are pretty good at that."

M: "Good is not enough. A strong commitment to excellence is the only quality for an étoile. And even is just a dream I want to work hard for it."

Why you consider it a dream? You don't think you can enter in a dance academy?

With which identity and with which money? I haven't nothing.

House is silent for moment.

M: "You look worried. Anything wrong?

H: "Yeap."

M: "Is it something about me?"

H: "Yeap."

M: "Anything you could tell me? I'm strong, I can stand it."

H: "I don't know if you are strong enough for that."

M: "Please let me know."

H: "Ok………… You see, with all the combination of symptoms you have and muscles fading……………… I need you to ask you quit dancing."

An expression of terror is on Michelle face now.

M: "I can't. No. I can't. Please. Don't do this to me. Please." She started to cry.

H: "I'm sorry."

M: "No you are not!!!!!" She yell at him with all the anger she could have. She start to punch Houses' arm and chest with soft fists. "You don't understand. You don't understand. You don't understand. I can't. I need this to live. Is my life."

While House tries to stop her Cuddy enters in.

C: "Hey. What is going here? Michelle, stop! Stop! Calm down."

M: "He is a jerk. I don't want to do that. I don't. Do you hear me."

She cries in Cuddies' arm now.

Cuddy lift up an eyebrow and ask: "What have you done to put her in such a state."

H: "I told her that she must quit dancing."

Michelle murmurs low, between sighs and tears: "I can't…………"

C: "Is for the muscles fading right?" House nods. Cuddy caresses Michelle tenderly, like a mother with her child. She knows that House is right. "Michelle………… we are doing this for your good."

Michelle sniffs. "Can at least try to make you both understand?"

H: "Ok. Try."

M: "Let me picture it to you in the best way. I have multiple diseases for years now." Cuddy and House nod. "And I'm a ballet dancer. I'm in constant pain. The profession I choose is the results of strong hours of exercises and pain. Much pain you hear the better. But you can't show it to the people around you. Have you ever seen a painful expression on a ballet dancer? I need to dance to justify my pain. Is that so strange for you?" They both stay in silence. "Have you ever been in pain?" She directs this question looking House straight in the eyes.

House sighs: "Use the pain to do a better work………… Is unusual but it does have sense." He has been doing this for years but is strange to hear another person create a philosophy for life around it. And as she just told to them it does have sense, it doesn't seem the nonsense of a cripple jerk as him.

C: "Michelle…………… I understand your point but we are doctors. The health of the patience is our first care."

M: "But this is the best medicine you could gave me. Please." She makes pity now.

H: "Cuddy……………… we have a few test to run on her where she is supposed to be on stress. Instead of doing it the usual way, you know…………… bicycle and so on……………… we can take her to the physical therapy room and let her do some ballet exercises."

C: "House…………… the girl is under my supervision and you know."

H: "Come on Cuddy. Is just another way to make the test and the girl will be happy. What difference does it make?"

C: "What about if she gets hurt? She is so weak after all."

H: "We will fix her. Why are we here for?"

Michelle jumps on the bed and grabs Cuddies' hands "Please Doctor Cuddy let me do it. I have enough strength to do all the test you want. Please, when can we start." She really can't wait the moment she can dance again. Cuddy understand it very well.

C: "Ok. Do the test. But at least you or one of your team have to supervise her. You will not left her alone."

H: "Certainly."

Michelle puts her arms on Cuddy neck and tight her in a big hug. "Thanks. Thank you Doctor Cuddy."

C: "That's ok honey."

H: "Hey. What about me. I had the brilliant idea."

M: "Thank you Doctor House." She gives him a bright smile. "When can we start?"

C: "In a couple of hours, we need to get the room ready."

M: "I can hardly wait."

C: "I can see it."

M: "Doctor Cuddy?"

C: "Yes?"

M: "You told Doctor House I'm after your supervision now. Are going to adopt me?"

Her inquiry left Cuddy astonished, she freezes for a moment. "No, I'm sorry, I'm just your tutor."

Michelle sighs. "Ah………… Ok……………… Was just curiosity."

House thought in his head 'Was just a hope. Poor child.'

H: "See you later Michelle."

M: "See you." Cuddy and House are leaving the room while she calls them back and asks "Would you like to be my parents?"

Cuddy turn back and approaches Michelle's bed, she than places a kiss on her forehead and says "Don't think about this now, you need to rest now."

M: "Ok mum. Bye dad."

C & H: "Bye Michelle." They left the room both confused and concerned.

They go straight to Cuddy office. House closes the door behind them.

C: "House I understood that you read in her words your way to react about pain but are we going to do when she will finish all the test?"

H: "I don't know."

C: "Do you understand she is definitely ill?"

H: "Don't tell me Cuddy. I thought she came her just to play an awful game!!!" He takes a sit on her couch. "I'm sorry Lisa, I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm tired. Sorry."

Cuddy finds a seat at his side and place her head on his shoulder. "That's ok. I'm sorry too. Is such a strange situation."

H: "She's a strange girl, indeed."

C: "She asked us to be her parents."

H: "She is an orphan, what do you expect."

C: "She's so sweet."

H: "She's particular strong instead. Is not common at her age."

C: "Her childhood was not simple."

H: "I don't think she has much happy memories."

C: "What are we going to do?"

House stand up "Fix her."

C: "And then?"

H: "I don't know."