Chapter 96
House sat in the car not saying a word as Cuddy chatted about how different her brother looked and how much she had to ask and tell him. The girls were excited to be going out and were screeching and laughing. House felt the headache coming on and reached for his Vicodin by force of habit. Cuddy didn't even notice as she chatted on. After dry-swallowing the pills House closed his eyes and laid his head back attempting to relax as the Vicodin filled his pain-ridden body. Cuddy stopped in mid-sentence after a moment.
"House? Are you alright?"
"Fine"
"You don't look fine"
"Looks can be deceiving"
"Not in your case"
"Well, considering that I'm in constant pain I don't suppose that I look very great all the time" House was getting irritated. He wished she was chatting away again not paying him any attention.
"Just making sure, so relax"
"That's what I was trying to do before you began to pester me"
"Shut up" Cuddy turned an angry eye back to the road. House rolled his eyes and looked in the back. Emily had stopped giggling and was looking at House. Abby was tugging at Emily's shirt attempting to get her attention.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah"
"Can we go home?" Cuddy looked quickly behind her in surprise and then scowled at House.
"No Emily we're going to the restaurant" Cuddy answered quickly before House could say something. Emily began to whine and complain and Cuddy whispered to House.
"She sees it, when you don't want to do something, when you're miserable she's miserable too House. She thinks you don't want to go tonight. And quite frankly, I don't give a damn whether you do or you don't, but change your demeanor so she'll at least be in a good mood" Cuddy angrily glared at House. House still in pain his leg hurting him more which was surprising him since he had just taken Vicodin, was too shocked and only nodded. Cuddy was concerned at his lack of answer but didn't let it show. House spoke to Emily in almost a hoarse whisper.
"Emily we're going to have a good time with your uncle Chris you'll see" Emily looked up sharply.
"Are you alright daddy?" Her eyes began to tear.
"I'm fine."
"House tell me what's wrong?"
"My leg hurts mother" House gave Cuddy a cold glare.
"Daddy!" Emily was waiting for an answer.
"Daddy's leg is hurting sweetheart don't yell" Cuddy smiled at Emily who looked like she was going to cry and soon. House saw it in the mirror above his head.
"Emily I'm fine. Don't worry. Now, tell mommy what kind of dessert you said you wanted tonight?" House closed his eyes again. Cuddy was getting worried.
"Chocolate cheesecake!" Emily said excitedly. The distraction worked.
"I don't think so" Cuddy shook her head as Emily began to plead.
"Oh please mommy! Daddy said it would be real good and that if I was good I could have some!"
"Oh he did did he?"
"Yes!"
"I most certainly did not" came House's weak reply.
"YOU DID!" Emily was shocked.
"House"
"Ok ok I did." House grabbed his Vicodin bottle and downed two more pills.
"No more House" Cuddy whispered.
"So can I mommy?"
"Yes" Cuddy pulled into the parking lot and stopped the car.
"We're here" Emily looked at the restaurant in awe.
"Yay!!" Abby laughed along. Cuddy got out and unhooked Abby from her car seat pulling her into her arms. House got out much more slowly and limped over to the side of the car. After unhooking an excited Emily who jumped out of the car and followed her mother he closed the car door and limped after his family.
Chris was already sitting when the four got in. He had left while House and Cuddy were getting the kids tied up so he was a bit earlier. He smiled as Cuddy sat down beside him asking a passing waiter to grab a highchair for the squealing Abby. Emily sat down beside her uncle who tickled her. House limped over to the table and sat down beside Cuddy.
"So sis, what do you want to talk about?" Cuddy looked over at House and smiled nervously.
Cuddy made a fuss with Abby while trying to think of a way to start her little request. Chris sat patiently watching his sister getting more suspicious with every passing moment.
"Will you just tell the man? Jesus he's been waiting for an answer for like ten minutes" House looked over at Cuddy who sent him a death glare. Turning away from Abby she looked at Chris and started.
"Ok so it's like this. Mom sent me a letter asking me to go to dad's birthday party coming up. I haven't seen them in a long time, and I thought you could come with me" Cuddy smiled lovingly at Chris. Chris smirked.
"They don't know about House or the kids do they?"
"No they don't" Cuddy looked down embarrassed.
"Ok"
"Ok?" Cuddy looked up in surprise. House didn't.
"Ok"
"What do you mean ok? Why is this so easy?" Cuddy asked surprised.
"Because obviously the guy wants to help you out." House sipped the beer the waiter had just brought him without looking at Cuddy.
"I think I got that" Cuddy sneered.
"Listen Lisa. I've always felt bad about us being separated when I left home. And I hate that we've been out of touch all these years. I see this as a way to make it up to you. So, I'm going to do it" Cuddy gasped and leaned over giving Chris a hug. House watched with a knowing eye. This was exactly what he had been expecting.