Author's Note: I'm so sorry I didn't get this up yesterday. This whole story pretty much arrived fully-formed in my head and I've been writing out a chapter per day but everything got derailed yesterday and then my Colts tried to give me a heart attack! Anyway, here is what I believe will be the next-to-last chapter of our story (the story arrived fully-formed but that doesn't mean that my characters don't occasionally surprise me by doing something I didn't expect). As always, I do not own House and it bums me out. Cheer me up by reviewing, would you?
Sarah would have been content to stay where she was, lying beside Greg in his bed with his arm around her, for hours. Unfortunately, her full bladder and empty stomach protested. Once she was up, she realized all the things she needed to do yet today. She needed to find out if she could get her things back from the police, retrieve them if she could, get her car towed, purchase new tires, and see if she still had a job at the University. Greg listened patiently as she outlined all these tasks. When she finished he'd nodded.
"Will you come back this evening?" he asked and she'd smiled, feeling almost giddy with relief. He still wanted her around.
"Of course," she said. She looked longingly at the spot in the bed that she'd occupied, wishing she could just return there, before making her way down to the diagnostics office.
Thirteen and Chase were still sitting on the floor in the conference room. Maggie had given up chasing the ball and was sitting on Chase's lap, watching her surroundings. Thirteen swallowed a yawn; her night in House's chair was catching up with her.
She shifted on the floor, trying to find a comfortable spot and wound up with her shoulder touching Chase's. He didn't pull away. Thirteen glanced over at him and saw that he was staring off into space. He still looked tired and she thought about suggesting that he move to House's chair and take a nap. The feeling of his shoulder up against hers was starting to dominate everything else – the ache in her rear from sitting on the floor, the chill from the glass wall in her back, and the burning of her tired eyes.
Maggie's ears perked up and she jumped off of Chase's lap. A second later Sarah came into view, walking toward the conference room door. Thirteen sprang up to keep the dog from running through the door as Sarah opened it, Chase's shoulder forgotten.
"Everything ok?" she asked and Sarah nodded.
"Everything's good," she said, smiling. She moved to a chair at the conference table and sat down. Maggie jumped into her lap.
"We need to take a look at your hand," Chase said, getting slowly to his feet.
"I need to call Detective Graham," Sarah said. "I want to get my things back from the hotel and then I've got to get my car towed, buy some tires, and I should call the University and find out if I still have a job." Her stomach gave a loud rumble and she flushed.
"Sounds like you should have lunch first," Thirteen said.
House watched Sarah go reluctantly. She had said she would come back but a part of him was afraid that she was going to take off again. He told himself that he was being foolish; she had no reason to run now. Her stalker was gone and she was safe.
Sarah had been gone for about ten minutes when the door to the room slid open. House looked over to see Cuddy coming in. His temper flared remembering her earlier behavior. She hesitated, seeing his scowl, but then came the rest of the way over to the bed.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I…"
"You owe her the apology," he said.
"I know, but I owe you one as well. I… I haven't been fair to you." House just looked at her, not saying anything, and watched the flush crawl up her face. "I apologize, House." She waited a minute and turned to go when he didn't say anything. She made it to the door before House spoke.
"Tell Lucas I appreciate his help," he said. Cuddy looked back at him and nodded before leaving the room. It was as close to accepting her apology as he could come.
Sarah went with Dr. Chase to take Maggie outside while Dr. Hadley went to the cafeteria to get them food. Sarah walked Maggie around a small patch of lawn while Dr. Chase leaned against the building, watching.
They ate lunch in the conference room. They were part-way through the meal when Greg's other two fellows, the bald black man and the short balding man, came in. Dr. Hadley made introductions as Dr. Foreman glowered at them. Dr. Taub smiled at her and dropped into the chair beside hers.
"So you and House are…." He arched a brow at her and Sarah felt herself flush.
"She's his dance instructor," Dr. Chase said.
"We're friends," Sarah said, flustered by the man's curiosity. Was she the first person to ever visit Greg at his job?
"I'm going to lunch," Dr. Foreman announced, starting for the door. He paused and looked back at Sarah. "I'm glad you're alright." Sarah watched him walk out before turning back to the others.
"Foreman always knows how to pour on the charm," Dr. Chase said drily. He wadded up his napkin and put it into the container his sandwich had come in before standing up. "I'm going to go get the supplies for your hand."
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of activity for Sarah. Dr. Taub looked at her hand and told her that he thought there'd be very little scarring. She called Detective Graham and found out that she could get her things from the hotel back. Dr. Hadley drove her to the police station while Dr. Chase took Maggie to see Greg. Then it was off to a tire shop where she purchased new tires and arranged for her car to be towed. Finally, Dr. Hadley drove her to the University, dropping her off in front of the history department's building.
Sarah was able to speak with the department chair, giving him a condensed account of the events of the past two days. Much to her relief, he was sympathetic and agreed to let her use vacation days for the time she had missed so far and for Friday as well. She agreed to return to work on Monday.
It was after 5 when Thirteen returned to the hospital with Sarah. Sarah had told her that her job was safe and then sank back (as far back as one could in the small cab of the SmartCar anyway) in the seat. She looked tired after what had been a busy afternoon.
They started across the parking lot toward the hospital and Sarah spoke up.
"Thank you for your help today, Dr. Hadley," she said.
"Please, call me Remy, or Thirteen if you like," Thirteen said.
"Greg never told me how you got that nickname," Sarah said. Thirteen looked at her, wondering what she should say. How could she tell this story without making House look like a jerk, or worse?
"When House was selecting his fellowship team a few years ago, he had about 40 applicants. He decided that the best way to choose a team was to put all of us to work and see who did the best job. He gave us numbers and mine just … stuck." Thirteen watched Sarah carefully out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge her reaction. She was so busy trying to judge Sarah's reaction that she didn't see Cuddy approaching until it was too late.
"Ms. Kelly, I wonder if I could speak with you for a moment," the older woman said. Sarah looked startled but nodded her consent.
"Ok." Cuddy started to lead Sarah to her office and Thirteen followed for a few steps.
"Dr. Hadley, I would like to speak with Ms. Kelly privately," Cuddy said. Thirteen looked to Sarah.
"It's alright," she said. "Will you please tell Greg that I'll be up in a few minutes?" Sarah turned to go with Cuddy and Thirteen stared after them. She wasn't sure that telling House about this meeting was a good idea.
House had dozed off and on throughout the day. Chase had come by with Maggie for a visit in the late afternoon. He told House that Sarah was with Thirteen, taking care of her car and getting her things. House had nodded, petting Maggie and trying to keep anxiety at bay. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to go wrong even though everything seemed to be ok.
Chase was in the visitor's chair and Maggie was on the bed when Thirteen came in. House muted "Family Guy" on the tv and looked at her expectantly. She looked worried and House felt his anxiety ramp up.
"Where's Sarah?" he demanded.
"She said to tell you she'll be up in a few minutes."
"Is she ok?"
"She's with Cuddy," Thirteen admitted.
"What?" House sat up straighter, ignoring a sharp spike of pain from his ribs.
"She stopped us in the lobby and asked Sarah if she could speak to her." House started to swing his legs over the side of the bed but Chase stood up to stop him.
"Take it easy," he cautioned. "She can handle Cuddy." House scowled at him.
"If she's not here in 10 minutes…"
"If she's not here in 10 minutes, I will go get her," Thirteen said.
Sarah followed the older woman through a waiting area and into a large office. She hesitated inside the door, watching as Dr. Cuddy walked around to stand behind her desk.
"Please, have a seat," Dr. Cuddy said, gesturing to one of the two visitor's chairs in front of her desk. Sarah moved forward slowly, coming to a stop behind one of the chairs.
"I want to get upstairs to see Greg," she said. "Can we keep this brief?"
"Of course." Dr. Cuddy smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. What's going on here, Sarah wondered. She wished that she hadn't agreed to speak with this woman after all.
"I wanted to apologize to you," Dr. Cuddy said stiffly. "For this morning."
"Ok." Sarah didn't know what else to say. The apology didn't seem sincere and she couldn't shake the feeling that something else was going on here.
"House is a very important doctor at this hospital…" Something snapped in Sarah at that moment. She didn't want to play this game. She was tired and hungry and just wanted to get upstairs to see Greg.
"We both know that's not what you were concerned about," she said.
"His reputation is tied to this hospital's reputation…"
"So you question all your 'important' doctors about their friends' love lives?" Sarah let all her skepticism come through and Dr. Cuddy blushed. Sarah turned on her heel and left.
