Chapter 28

House stared at Tremblay his face contorted with rage. He didn't want this idiot diagnosing Cuddy. No way. He just stared angry at the doctor taking a few steps closer and brandishing his cane menacingly until Tremblay couldn't take it anymore and fled the room mumbling something about getting a Doctor Peterson. House closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Cuddy watched House for a minute then said quietly;

"House, can you pick up the baby please?" House looked over at Emily slightly surprised. He had forgotten for a second that she was in the room sleeping. His shouting had awoken her and he sat down and picked her up feeling somewhat guilty for having awoken her and still slightly angry at the doctor. House sat there with Emily rocking her gently and didn't look up at Cuddy. Cuddy stared at him for a while until he put Emily back in her carrier and announced to Cuddy that he would be back later. He limped out carrying the carrier in his free hand and decided to head to his office. He was feeling tired and weak and his leg was throbbing real badly. When he arrived in his office he swallowed three pills and then followed it with a swig of Whiskey he kept in his bottom drawer. He hadn't noticed how many glasses he had poured himself and soon he was surrounded by blackness he couldn't prevent.

When House awoke his office was dark except the lamp lying on his desk that was keeping the room slightly illuminated. He rubbed his eyes and waited till he could focus again before looking around. Wilson sat in the chair in the corner feeding Emily and looked up angrily when House stirred. House immediately felt a sudden horror when he remembered the drinks and the baby. He had been so stupid. Getting drunk when he was taking care of Emily, he was ashamed. He almost had tears in his eyes he was so guilty. He also knew, Cuddy would freak.

"Well House, this is a new low even for you" Wilson was so angry at his friend. He had walked in an hour and a half earlier and noticed Emily sleeping in the carrier, and House sleeping on his desk. A couple of pokes and pushes and Wilson realized that House was passed out and not sleeping. When he looked at House's feet he also noticed the whiskey bottle and the glass that had fallen on the floor. He looked in horror as the baby slept there and again at House drunk and passed out. Did House not realize that he was responsible for a baby? That he couldn't just get drunk and pass out and leave a child sleeping there?

"Oh my god" House whispered. Had he really drunk that much? He hadn't noticed. He was thinking about Cuddy and if she's was pregnant because that really was a shock to him, and he was worrying about her. He hadn't noticed the whiskey, it was like a natural reflex that he was pouring and drinking. Pouring and drinking. Like he was hypnotized. He hadn't thought about the consequences of drinking or what would happen if he passed out, or if someone walked in and saw Emily and… House looked up at Wilson whose face went from angry to surprised.

Were House's eyes watery? No way. Yes, he looked absolutely ashamed.

"No one came in here?" He asked.

"No, I came in and sat with your kid until you woke up" Wilson answered. His tone was much calmer and House felt he couldn't look Wilson in the eye.

"Something wrong House? Something's going on you had to have been thinking of something pretty serious for this to have happened" Wilson usually tread on eggshells around House scared he would retreat further into his shell, but he knew this was a special circumstance.

"I'm worried about Cuddy" House was in a special predicament. He was ashamed, worried, he still wasn't quite right because of the alcohol, and he was feeling slightly vulnerable.

"House, it could just be a flu…"

"They say she could be pregnant"

Wilson's mouth dropped slightly at this last confession. He couldn't believe it. He knew without being told that House hadn't donated more sperm. That this kid (if there was a kid) was unplanned for and was born from natural…causes. He also knew, that if House was hoping for a baby (which was a possibility) and there wasn't one, he might be devastated, especially if Cuddy's condition was serious.

"Wow, that's news" Wilson answered. Both men sat in silence for a moment.

"House, if you want, I can baby-sit Emily tonight" Wilson offered. "I'm sleeping here anyway because Julie is gone for the weekend and I'm working tomorrow. You look like you really need to sleep"

"Thanks, but I'll be fine I prefer to have her here with me" House was feeling some separation issues at the moment and vowed never to drink when he was alone in her presence again. He noticed Wilson's uneasy glance and grabbed the bottle of whiskey and limped into the dark conference room turning on the lights. After he had poured the contents into the sink he returned to his office and sat down rubbing his temples. He had a headache and it was getting awful and he felt so drained as the days activities began to take their toll.

"Are you sure House? You don't look well" Wilson answered. He was getting concerned about House. He had dark circles under his eyes and worry lines creased his forehead. He probably had a massive headache judging by the fact that his eyes were closed and he was rubbing his knuckles against his forehead.

"I'm fine" House's tone was more clear and controlled. "I'll get a couple of hours sleep in here and her cries should wake me. The office will be locked and we should be ok." House remained independent even in the toughest of times.

"I can bring a lounge chair and crash here with you guys if you want" Wilson persisted. He was afraid and didn't want House to be alone with the baby when he was so stressed and tired looking. He wanted to be there just in case.

"If you must" House was tired of arguing. If this would shut Wilson up then so be it. He decided that Wilson could watch Emily while he went and visited Cuddy for a while. By now, those test results should be in…

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House limped slowly to Cuddy's room. He had to stop for several breaks and take a couple of white pills to make it. His leg hurt more than it had since before Emily was born and his head hurt almost as bad. A couple of nurses stopped him and suggested he be checked out but he didn't have to say much and they scurried off slightly frightened. When House got to Cuddy's room he saw her sitting up deep in thought. He tried to smile but it didn't work and his face made more like a grimace. Cuddy's eyebrows shot up questioningly but House didn't respond. The silence was heavy and Cuddy was just going to ask where the baby was when a doctor walked in. House guessed that Tremblay had found another doctor and fast.

"Hello Doctor Cuddy, Doctor House, I'm Doctor Peterson. I have some news on your condition doctor Cuddy". House made gagging noises behind the doctors back and Cuddy had to bite her lip to avoid laughing or giving House a dirty look.

"Your test results showed that you have Hyperemesis gravidarum" The doctor announced.

"Don't you have to be pregnant to have that?" Cuddy asked though she had pretty much guessed his answer.

"Yes well, you are 12 weeks along Miss Cuddy" the doctor answered. Cuddy's hands flew to her mouth and she gasped. House's eyes looked like they would bulge from his sockets and he stared dumbfounded at the doctor.

"She's pregnant?" House asked astounded as if he and Cuddy had never talked about it before.

"Yes doctor House" The doctor replied calmly. "Are you aware of this disease and what it entitles?" he asked Cuddy. She nodded silently. She knew exactly what was happening, and she didn't like it one bit.