Title: Parasitic
Chapter Three: Well...
"But not twins." Allison couldn't stand the suspense.
"No, not twins." Greg looked at his wife and then tilted the monitor at her, "Triplets."
"WHAT!?" Allison screamed, yanking the monitor so that she could see, effectively shifting Greg's position over her abdomen and losing the shot. He found it again quickly and Allison couldn't help but use her index finger to find each of the little bundles of cells. "Oh... My... G..." Words failed her and Greg watched his wife take a deep breath before counting them again.
Greg could feel his own heart hammering in his chest. He hated himself for feeling so helpless, and not being able to say something to make Allison feel more secure. Unfortunately, before he could find his voice, Lisa Cuddy burst in.
"What's wrong? I heard Allison yell." Lisa looked pale.
"Three." Allison whimpered, staring at the monitor.
A bit of him felt hurt at Allison's forlorn voice and the way her eyes were looking at him, as if to say "YOU DID THIS TO ME!". After all, it wasn't all his fault.
"Uh..." Lisa looked hesitant to say anything at first, "Three... embryos?" She felt faint just asking.
"I didn't know my boys were that good." Greg shrugged, "Apparently age doesn't slow 'em down."
"Shush!" Allison was staring at the screen with complete concentration. Greg figured she was just counting again, "Honey, look how close these two are compared to the third." Allison pointed.
Greg leaned forward and looked, "Yeah, but it doesn't mean they're identical. If they are, then they look like a di/di." He squinted his eyes.
"Wait, but... Three?" Lisa leaned heavily against the door, her mind was swimming. Leave it to Gregory House to make it nearly impossible to get him on this lecture. She couldn't possibly tear him away from Allison now! He'd never forgive himself if she ended up developing hyperemesis gravidarum while he was away and needed to be put on fluids. After all, it was Allison's first pregnancy, and she was already experiencing fainting spells caused by low blood sugar, an unfortunate result of malnutrition thanks to morning sickness. Groaning, Lisa finally agreed, "Fine. You're not going, but let me see that ultrasound." She sighed, hating that she had to confirm that there were indeed triplets, and that they hadn't plotted this out.
"Going where? What?" Allison was confused and her stomach was spiraling out of control from the mere scent of Cuddy's perfume. If she stayed around it much longer she was going to vomit.
"There's a conference in Florida, and House was suppose to speak at it. Unfortunately, I can't pull him away from you now." Cuddy sighed, pulling Allison from her momentary nausea induced train of thought. "Can I see the shot now?"
Turning the screen, Greg showed his boss, and Lisa just stared for the longest time before sitting down on the couch next to Allison, "Wow."
"I love it. Three doctors staring at an ultrasound like it's the most captivating thing in the world." Greg snarked, though he didn't tear his eyes away from the monitor either.
Standing rather quickly, Lisa straightened her skirt before clearing her throat, "I'll, umm.. Leave you two alone." The medical director quickly evacuated the office.
When the door closed, Greg was quiet while he and his wife continued to stare at the screen. If he thought enough about it, there wasn't anything very impressive going on. Nothing that he would find personally interesting, at least. The three bundles of cells didn't have heart beats yet, or any physical forms that were over all impressive. Yet, he couldn't tear his eyes away. "Three." He didn't realize he'd exhaled the single word.
"You're not... Mad are you?" Allison asked meekly.
Finally dragging his eyes away from the ultrasound, Greg looked at Allison, "Why should I be?"
"Three babies in the apartment... There's gonna be pretty big changes." She gave a weak smile, as if she too were still processing the information. Then her eyes watered, her lip quivered, and voice clenched on a sob.
"Ally-"
"I'M GONNA GET HUGE!" She wailed, burying her head into the crook of his shoulder. Greg reached for the box of tissues, grabbing a bunch and handing her one while he wiped up the slick mess on her tummy. Allison wiped away tears with her kleenex.
"Is everything okay in-" Foreman came in through the door conjoined with the department. "Oh..." His eyes took in the sight of a crying Allison and the ultrasound. "I heard you fainted... So you're pregnant, huh?" He leaned against the doorframe, looking at his boss and his former co-fellow.
"Don't tell Chase, or everyone from the hospital to the Queen is going to know." Greg warned.
"Not a problem." Foreman shook his head. "Congratulations." He looked a bit uncomfortable, "I'll get that thing outta here for you guys." He gestured at the ultrasound machine.
"Thanks." Allison murmured as she pulled her shirt back down all of the way. When Foreman had also gone, Allison turned to sit on the couch properly and make room for her husband, "Baby, what are we going to do?" She bit her lip.
Greg's hand went to her cheek, and his thumb tugged at the bottom lip she was worrying between her teeth. "We'll get it figured out. We always do."
"I know..." Allison took a deep breath, "But I'm so... Confused." She rubbed her eyes.
"Take a nap." Greg kissed her lips gently, "And I'll scrounge up some digestible food for you." He assured as he stood.
"Okay." She smiled childishly and curled up on the couch once more, giving a squeak when Greg gave her rear a gentle pat.
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Lisa Cuddy was in deep thought when a knock came at her door, "Come in." She called.
Wilson entered, shutting the door behind himself, "I heard Allison fainted." He sat down in the chair across from his boss.
Every time Wilson was in the same room as her, Lisa got a sudden shiver down her spine, a shiver that had grown stronger since House's wedding. She'd kissed hims that night, an action she didn't think appropriate for her to act on considering that she was his boss. Though she would have loved to blame the her high level of alcohol consumption that evening, Lisa knew better. She would have kissed this gentle, kind man whether she'd drank or not.
"Y-yes." She stammered, forcing herself from her revery. "She's been ill lately." Cuddy was aware of the couple's want to keep the pregnancy low key for a while, not to mention, it was their choice who found out when. However, she suspected that Wilson would be informed shortly, merely because of his close ties with the two of them.
"Oh." Wilson frowned.
"That's not why you came in though, is it?" Cuddy leaned back in her chair.
"No." Wilson sighed, "Lisa, I just... I wanted to tell you that... Even though I know you're my boss, and everything that happened at-"
"That's enough." Lisa butted in. "What happened that day is-"
"I know-"
"But-"
"It was-"
"Wonderful." Lisa sighed dreamily.
Wilson smiled slightly as he relaxed into the chair. Knowing that she felt the same way was comforting. "Why can't we? I mean, House and Cameron were together when he was technically still her boss."
"This is different, Wilson."
"I know. You're head of the entire hospital and fraternizing with the subordinates is frowned upon. But... Is that really a reason to deny yourself what you want?" He coaxed.
Frowning now herself, Cuddy contemplated this. "James, I can't-"
"Okay." He stopped her before she could word her dooming statement.
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Chase wandered idly through the hospital, not quite sure what he should be doing. The holiday had left them surprisingly short on work, and all that was to do was work at the clinic and try himself at challenging crossword puzzles. Part of him debated on finally working up the nerve to call the girl from Allison and House's wedding. He wished that she'd remained in the area longer, but Marah had quickly disappeared back to Florida after the wedding, leaving behind only a scrap of paper with her number, and a very nice memory to reflect upon.
With a sigh, Chase went towards his boss's office, hoping that a new case had presented itself. When he pushed back the door, however, he was surprised to find Allison asleep on the couch. Wondering if he should wake her up, he was quickly distracted when the door swung open.
"Get your british ass out of there." Greg hissed when he saw Chase standing in his office with a blank look on his face.
Scurrying out, Chase hissed back at his boss as the door closed, "What's Cam- Allison doing sleeping on your couch!?"
"She's sick, leave her alone." He said shortly.
"She shouldn't be here then." Chase crossed his arms.
Narrowing his eyes, Greg responded, "This is a hospital, sick people are everywhere, and my wife doesn't change that."
Gulping at the glare his boss gave him, Chase quickly made himself scarce.
"Moron." Greg pulled out the snack food he'd been hiding in the folds of his button down and went into his office. Entering, he sidled up next to his wife and coaxed her back into wakefulness. "I snuck out and got you some saltines." He murmured, helping Allison turn over so she could try and eat something.
Taking the crackers, Allison smiled at her husband before nibbling the corner of the salty crisp. "Mm, salt." She smirked, as she finished the cracker, and reached for another. "I just can't believe..." She shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Three."
"I've been thinking." Greg tapped his finger on his knee, "We'll need more space with three kids..." Though he hated too much change, he knew that it would happen whether he was willing to accept it or not. "And I'm sure Kane would love a yard..."
Smiling at her husband's offer, knowing full well that he loved where they lived now, Allison wrapped her arms around his neck, "I love you." She sighed, closing her eyes. "We don't have to move right now." She pointed out and then laughed, "The second room in the condo is big enough for three for a couple years. We have time."
"I know, but it's something we should think about." Greg ran his fingers over her cheek.
"Do mine ears deceive me? Is my husband, Dr. Gregory House, actually considering... planning for the future?" She giggled.
"Quiet. Tell anyone, and I may have to blab all over how you're carrying not one, not two, but three little molecular, half carbon copies of me."
"If there's a girl in here, I'm gonna tell her you said that when she's older. No offense, love, but I don't think a girl wants to look like her daddy." She saw the glazed look that came over his features when she said that. "Aw, are you looking forward to being called "daddy"?" She teased.
Pulling his wife into his lap, Greg kissed her deeply, "Who's your daddy?" He stuck his tongue out at her childishly.
"The minute this vomit feeling stops being so damned persistent, I'm dragging you to our supply closet."
Greg clucked his tongue, "Too many chemicals. You're not going anywhere near that closet."
"Oh please!" Allison rolled her eyes. "We won't be in there that long!"
Greg raised an eyebrow at her as if to say, -"I don't last long enough for you?"-
"I mean... Oh hell." She wrapped her arms around his neck once more, nuzzling against his throat, "I just mean, I won't have damaging exposure."
"I don't care."
"Greg-"
"If I have to, I will handcuff you to the bed until you go into labor, if it means keeping you from getting injured and, or sick." He said firmly.
"Mm, handcuffs... There's something we haven't done." She rolled her hips against him.
"Okay, my little temptress," Greg pulled her off of his lap, "you should make an appearance in your own department some time today." He pointed out. Allison pouted, but got up from the couch, none-the-less.
Giving her husband a quick kiss, Allison left and went to her own office. As she sat there filling out paperwork, she began to ponder. What if she went to the conference with Greg? After all, with him keeping her from patients, what was stopping her from going with him and Cuddy? Not to mention, Florida did sound very enticing this time of the year with the bitter temperatures. There wasn't much she couldn't do here, that couldn't be done just as easily further south. Standing up, Allison made her way to her boss's office.
"Are you feeling okay?" Cuddy stood up quickly when Allison appeared. She was still reeling from her earlier talk with Wilson, and the sudden appearance of Allison made if difficult for Cuddy to push back her superficial emotions.
"Fine." The younger woman smiled, easing Cuddy's eagerness, "I was just thinking, that maybe I could go with you two on the lecture. You get Greg and he gets me."
Lisa fiddled with a pen, her mind still on James, "I don't think it would be wise to be missing two department heads and myself from the hospital for an entire week."
"Greg's not letting me see patients right now." Allison flopped in the chair across from her boss, "He wants me to take it easy. Rachel can handle it, and anything she can't do, I can easily do on the trip. Miracle of fax machines and e-mail."
Pondering for a moment, Lisa weighed the pros and cons. After all, she really needed House on the lecture. He was one of the most highly noted individuals in his field, and despite his reputation for being a difficult individual, he was highly respected and the most well known person who worked at their hospital. She really did need him...
"I'll have to think about it for a while. Why don't you talk to Rachel about it and see if she's up for handling the department for a week?" Lisa suggested to give herself more time to consider the offer.
Allison looked at Lisa for a moment, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah! Why!?" Lisa squeaked and then belittled herself for giving herself away with her squawky, paranoid voice.
"Because you just did your paranoid parrot impression." Allison's eyes narrowed, suspicion brewing. "Is something going on?"
"No." Cuddy sighed.
"Does it have to do with Wilson?" Allison witnessed Lisa struggle with herself, and her question was answered merely by the lack of response she received. Unfortunately, before she could question any further, the familiar knotting of her stomach returned with the over powering smell of her boss's perfume, "Can I just make one request?" Allison asked carefully, "If I do go to Florida with you guys... Can you not wear whatever perfume it is you have on?" She held her stomach, "I feel like I'm gonna throw up." As she said this though, she lurched forward and doubled over Lisa's trashcan. "Okay, I don't feel like throwing up anymore..." She whimpered, as Lisa pulled her back into a chair.
"No perfume." Cuddy made a mental note as Allison made a face over the taste in her mouth. "Do you want me to help you to the washroom?" She offered, but the younger woman shook her head and rose.
"I'll be fine." She said, evident fatigue in her voice. "I'm already sick of being sick. It better go away after the first trimester." She joked weakly.
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"What's wrong, Jimmy-kins?" Greg flopped onto the couch in his best friend's office.
"Nothing." Wilson grumbled, not distracted in the least by his friend's abrupt appearance from the balcony. It was more unsettling for the oncologist when Greg didn't suddenly emerge into the office unannounced.
"That's a lie if I ever heard one, and I've heard a lot." Greg raised an eyebrow at his friend, "You've got an interesting silence about you."
"I am usually the quiet one between us, House. It's you that does all the yammering." Wilson glared at his buddy.
"First of all, which one of us is usually talking is purely based on the type of talking done. If you're scoring by intellectually snide comments that are both brilliant and mind shattering; then I obviously talk the most. However, if you're scoring by most likely to pry into someone's personal life; then my dear Jimmy, you take the cake."
"What are you talking about!?" James gawked, "You're the one who tries to dig up the most dirt on people!"
"Yes, but I don't try and help them better themselves." Greg pointed out.
"Touche."
"But you have a familiar meaningful silence about you lately. I recognize it." Greg sat up and looked at his friend. "You're thinking about a woman."
Wilson's glare intensified, "And how, all knowing God of PPTH, do you come to that conclusion?"
"That's the same kind of silence Chase had for Ally and I had for Stacey..." Brow scrunching, Greg thought for a moment, "And that I later developed for Ally... You're not thinking of Ally are you?" Greg was now glaring.
"NO!"
"Ah, then it's old Funbags, huh?" Greg asked innocently, his surge of protective jealousy ceasing over the knowledge that his love was his alone and that other men didn't think of her like that. Then again, they probably did, he just didn't know. Great, now his surge of over protective jealousy was rising once again.
"Ever since your wedding," Wilson rubbed his face briskly, "I..."
"Is this about you two making out behind a pillar? 'Cause, honestly, a bit of tongue isn't much of a-"
"It was more than that."
"So you fucked?" Greg asked nonchalantly.
"NO!"
"Then what's the problem. There shouldn't be anything weird." He shrugged.
"You wouldn't understand." Wilson picked up a blank file, knowing Greg didn't care enough about patients to try and sneak a peak and discover it was empty.
"Yes, that's right, Love's Bitch wouldn't know anything about heartache and unrequited love." Greg rolled his eyes.
"Love's Bitch? Ha!" Wilson slammed the blank file down, "How can you try and assume that title? Unrequited love, that's bullshit. Stacey did love you-"
"No, she loved her husband. She just pulled the same shit with him that she did with me, and he ended up hating her for it too." Greg stood up and leaned over his friend's desk, "Stacey only tried to come back to me because she knew I'd take her back if they broke up."
"But you didn't." Wilson pointed out.
"No." Greg's eyes narrowed, "Because I was already in love with Ally. I owe everything I have today to one night. I don't believe in tricky, little bullshit things like fate. Fate is a cheap excuse, but I do know that if Ally and I hadn't gotten sick when we did; we never would have ended up together." His voice was dark.
"You honestly think that you never would have ended up with Allison if you two hadn't gotten sick together?" James asked, disbelief all over his face.
Shaking his head, Greg sighed and flopped back into his chair. "Things would have turned out much different if we hadn't."
"How so?"
"Think of all the things that took place to get us together." Greg counted on his fingers for emphasis, "The sickness, her apartment burning down, her moving in after a week, the holiday madness that made me love her even more for screaming at my dad, getting to know her family..." He stopped, getting bored with the retelling of the last year of his life, "The list goes on!"
"But... What am I going to do about Lisa?" Wilson asked weakly.
"Get her sick." His friend shrugged.
"I don't walk around with a vile of the common cold in my lab coat pocket." James shot back.
"Well you should... How about mono?"
"House-"
"Listen, Cuddlebuns, isn't going to loosen up unless you give her a reason to." Greg stood up, "So, show her you're worth loosening up the rules for." Glancing at his watch, Greg frowned, "Gotta go check on the old ball and chain." Hopping out the balcony door he said one last thing, "And stop being so up tight. That's Cuddy's job."
TBC
A/N- Oh goodness, Greg giving romance advice to Wilson? Is this the sign of an apocalypse!?-Andi