"I have to uh go shake the rain off the oak tree if you get my drift." House said to Cameron.
"I thought it was the dew off the lily."
"Lilies don't have trunks and if they did they wouldn't be that big."
She got up and let him go while she poured more brandy. It was already late. Despite being up for almost two days straight, Cameron didn't feel tired. Finally he returned.
"Can I ask you something?" She said.
"Yes my jeans do feel tight at times."
"Will you concentrate on something other than your um vegetation for a minute?"
"Ok Bugs Bunny don't the carrot off, eesh."
She rolled her eyes but laughed anyway.
"Why did you want to marry me if you already decided that it wouldn't get Braeden back?"
"Because Margerite wanted a son named Zaeden. When I saw Braeden and read the letter it all fit, the part about going to medical school, taking care of the family but I never got married and that's what she wanted for me. I guess in some way I thought that it would become what it was supposed to be. They were supposed to die and now this kid comes into the picture. What are the odds? What kind of name is Braeden? It just stuck with me."
She took all of it in and felt a twinge in her gut that she couldn't identify.
"Look Al I can't even figure things out right now and it bothers me because I can't inject something into it or send Foreman and Chase to biopsy this damn problem."
"It's hard not having all the answers House. But you seem to be in the right town at the right time. I guess that's all you can expect for now."
"Hey I got an idea so we can stop killing our buzz. Hold on a second." He said a bit excitedly.
He let go of her hand and walked to a large redwood finished stereo cabinet. She laughed when he opened the doors to reveal his large vinyl collection.
"Laugh all you want. This is when music was good. Come here I'll show you how Aunt Virginia and Uncle Cappy used to wow the party crowds back in the day."
He led her out onto the back porch. The view of the stars against the mountain was beautiful. The moon peaked right over the mountaintop.
"This is my favorite song."
She recognized the tune and the voice of Frank Sinatra.
The stars are aglow
And tonight how their light
Sets me dreaming…
"I thought you were into Jimmy Buffett and BB King?"
"I am but Sinatra, he's the man. He had all the babes."
My love, do you know
That your eyes are like stars
Brightly beaming…"Well you definitely got his eyes but I'm not so sure that you got his voice." She teased.
I bring you and I sing you
A moonlight serenade…The song played on and then continued into "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." She closed her eyes and held onto him. Then something involuntarily came out.
"House, I'm scared."
"Nah the bears don't come down the mountain till it starts to get colder." When she didn't laugh he got a little bit more serious. "What are you scared about?"
"That I'm asleep and I might wake up to find the stubborn, angry, pain-inflicted doctor I left back in Jersey."
"I still am that doctor. I just left that suit in my locker at the gym."
"House, you aren't going to go back to that are you? I mean you've changed so much since we've been here."
His eyes looked suddenly sad and ashamed.
"Ok, it's been a long couple of days. I need some sleep, all right?"
"Yeah no problem." He said barely looking at her.
She leaned up and kissed his cheek and then made her way up the stairs. It was the first time in a long time she slept back in the guest room.
Cameron slept soundly into the next morning. Her cell phone rang a little after 9:30.
"Hello?" She whispered.
"Hi Cameron it's Wilson. Cuddy and I are in town and we were wondering what hotel we should stay at.
"Try Belladonna's Bed and Breakfast. It's the first left after the Sunoco gas station. I'll wake House up and we'll meet you there in about an hour."
"Where was he last night? I tried to call him and got no answer."
"It's been a long few days Wilson. See you in awhile."
She stretched and walked slowly from the room. It was a bit cloudy outside which matched her mood in a way. House was lying on the sofa sound asleep. A small gray and white head came out of his shirt collar. The puppy was small but fast asleep. The television was paused on the image of House holding his baby. The brandy bottle had made its way upstairs along with the glass.
"House."
"Hmm?"
"Time to wake up Papa dog."
He cracked open his blue eyes and the puppy made a small whimper when he sat up. Lusha promptly came out of the pantry and took her pup by the scruff of his neck and brought him back with the others.
"Got yourself a new friend?" She asked.
"You decided to hibernate by yourself so I found me a new girlfriend. She didn't mind."
"Well at any rate, Wilson and Cuddy are here. I directed them to Belladonna's."
"So it begins." He stated rising from the sofa. "Was there any mention of Braeden?"
"Nothing and I didn't ask."
He ran his hands through his hair and limped to the bathroom. It was the first time she'd thought about his leg the entire time they'd been there. And miraculously his Vicodin bottle had surfaced only once that she could count.
An hour later they pulled up in front of Belladonna's. Cameron was surprised to see Uncle Cappy getting out of his truck. House didn't seem surprised however.
"Hello sweetheart." He said kissing her face. "How you doin my Bambino?"
"Not getting much sleep these days thanks to your little sweetheart here."
"House!"
"How's Aunt V?" He said casually.
"Good but she's got too much time on her hands in that hospital. She's driving me crazy with all the new ideas for the restaurant."
"Well you deserv-."
"Uncle House!"
Cameron heard his breath catch. A minute later a little boy was wrapped around his neck. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes. He most certainly could've passed as House as a little boy.
"How are you Popcorn?" He said to the boy.
"I'm not Pockorn, I'm Braeden silly!"
"You jump around like Popcorn. Can I call you that?"
"Ok can I be Super Pockorn?"
"It's your life buddy." He said in true House fashion.
House still hadn't acknowledged Cuddy or Wilson.
"Braeden, you see that man over there? You can call him Uncle Cappy. Remember I told you about the duck pond?"
"The one with no gooses? I don't like them."
"Right the one with no geese. Well Uncle Cappy knows a man who has food for the ducks and so now it's your job to feed them. So you're gonna go ride in that truck with Uncle Cappy, cool?"
The little boy could hardly contain his excitement. "Yay!" He squealed and ran to Uncle Cappy. Then he wiped his little hands on his jeans and shoved it up at Uncle Cappy. "My name's Braeden. I got a job to feed the ducks. And no gooses!"
"Oh good I don't like gooses neither, and I'm your Uncle Cappy." He slid his hand over the boy's outstretched hand to shake. "That's some squeeze you have there."
"Uncle Greg says I better not shake like girls."
"No you are strong like Superman!"
"I am? Strong like Batman too."
"Even stronger than that!" Uncle Cappy played.
Braeden turned back to House and ran back over. "Will you come help me?" He asked looking up at House. It brought tears to Cameron's eyes. "When I get done being a grownup ok?"
"Promise?"
"Yeah kid I promise."
"Who's she?" He said looking at Cameron
"That's Aunt Allison."
"Auntie Alice? Yay! You look like Belle in Beauty and the Beast!"
To that House, Cuddy, and Cameron all began to laugh.
"Will you come feed the ducks too?"
"Sure buddy. I'll be there soon."
"Promise?"
"Pinky promise!" Cameron linked pinkies with him and he smiled brightly. Then he ran after Uncle Cappy. "Quack Quack Quack!" They could still hear him quacking at the truck drove down the hill.
"Let's go eat over there at Jelly's Diner. They make great almond pancakes drizzled with caramel and bananas." He said more to Cameron then the others.
"Well Gregory House, if I didn't know your Aunt Virginia was kicking your behind but good I would do it! You louse! You been here for weeks and you don't even come see me?" A heavy-set woman said swatting him with a menu.
"Don't get high on the hog with me Donna. I was all set to take you out on that dance floor at the picnic, get you drunk on cheap beer and pull you out on my boat but you were licking the jelly off Sam Blackwell's tonsils."
Cameron remembered the way House had teased Vivian about her crush on Dan Brady and her reaction, but the blush was nowhere near as intense as Donna's.
"Don't be fresh. Sam is a gentleman and besides we're engaged so I have to practice for the honeymoon."
"I'm still available if you wanna practice with me? But then again Sam may not meet those standards."
"Sit down you naughty boy. And who is this beautiful young thing?"
"Allison Cameron, this is Donna D'Nochi. She owns the diner and the hardware store that Charlie works in on Lobo Drive. This is Wilson and Cuddy, people I know from Jersey."
"It is wonderful to meet you Donna and now I know where I saw your name. You made Boysenberry and the pecan walnut pies for the picnic. Secretly I think your pies should've been out Joanie Shula's." Cameron said.
"Oh honey they did. But Joanie has cancer and this year has been rough on her. The town council got together and decided to give her the blue ribbon. Such a sweet lady too. I would give up my diner to see her smile that way again." Donna replied sweetly.
House and Cameron sat next to each other in the booth and Wilson and Cuddy across.
"How are you both?" Cuddy asked gently.
"Cut with the pleasantries already Cuddy. I'm sure you and Wilson have this approach all figured out so just get to the part where you pull your ace and let's get down to the bet."
And just like that, the titanium iron walls were back up and House the warrior was standing at the gate ready to slaughter any who would try to enter in.
"All right you want to cut to the chase? Why didn't you tell me that Stephen pulled a gun on you in the hospital?"
"Who said he did? The cancer cupid over here?"
"No it was Braeden."
"Braeden was asleep."
"Or so you thought House. He's a smart kid. He pretended."
"So what I shot the bastard and I'd do it again. And if you would've left me alone I could've finished the job." He said cold-staring Wilson.
"Hey I was watching your back pal!"
"Leave it to you to take all the credit." House muttered.
"That's it! Show him Wilson." Cuddy demanded.
"No, leave it alone. I won't make any difference to him."
"Oh what? Did you get a tattoo with my name across your chest?" House bantered.
Cuddy was mad. Cameron watched the exchange but didn't say anything until that point.
"What is it Wilson?" Cameron asked.
"Nothing."
Cuddy grabbed Wilson by the buttons of his shirt and in one fell swoop ripped it open and pulled it down the shoulder. There was a bandage wrapped tightly taped under his arm.
"What is that?" Cameron said getting up to look.
"After House shot Stephen and took off I made Wilson put the gun down in the chair and I ran for security. Stephen seemed to be out cold but when the security guards came to pull him up, he came up fighting, liquor was still heavy on his breath. Out of nowhere a knife appears and when Wilson went to get out of the way Stephen stabbed him in the side. Then Wilson tells the cops when they get there and he's gushing blood that he shot Stephen for trying to shoot Braeden."
"Leave it to you to take all my credit." House said.
"The cops were looking for Braeden and I told them you took Braeden home for his safety. Luckily Sergeant Peterson was with them and vouched for what a good doctor you were and how you saved his son. He even helped me with CPS to get Braeden put in my temporary custody. All of this while you were hiding out and wouldn't talk to Wilson or me. In the meantime I thought you'd lost your mind and then Braeden starts to tell me just how wonderful Uncle Greg is. You might wanna inform me when you decide to bond with a three and half year old boy who adores you."
"Cuddy I hear enough of your gibberish everyday at work I don't want to hear it on vacation."
"You're not on vacation, you're on leave."
"Same thing."
Braeden thinks the sun rises and sets on you. I didn't dare tell him we were coming to see you he wouldn't be able to handle the excitement."
"It's not my fault the kid likes me. I was my usual charming self with him too."
"Shrek marathons? Candyland tournaments? Sucking out the crème from the middle of the Twinkies? That's usual?"
"No lunch with coma guy, PSP, and General Hospital are all House's style." Wilson responded.
"And what about Thursday's events?" Cuddy asked.
"What about Thursday?"
"CPS was scheduled to take Braeden in with them and mysteriously Stephen signed papers that made you legal guardian."
House's cocky smile went away. "What are you saying? I didn't do anything."
"He was in the hospital till yesterday. Nurse Meadows said she saw a muscular man with jet-black hair, and an anchor tattoo on his forearm go in and talk to him. A few minutes after he came out he requested an attorney and named you legal guardian."
House made a face and then questioningly said, "Dakota?"
"I did it." Cameron said looking at her empty plate of French toast. "I got Johnny Dakota's number from Uncle Cappy and I told him what happened. Johnny wasn't about to let you lose Braeden so he went down to the hospital to talk to him."
"How? You didn't even know about Braeden till last night."
"Chase told me a few days ago. See he and Foreman think I'm at a conference. Chase didn't want me to walk into a mess so he called to tell me."
"And you neglected to tell me this because….."
"I wanted to hear your side. You were so sure that Wilson and Cuddy were against you in this. If you knew that Chase told me you wouldn't have told me the entire story."
He got out of the booth faster than if hot coffee had scalded him.
"I guess your patron sainthood is now in jeopardy for deception. Congratulations you made it into our club. You should've told me when you found out. I don't want your help and I sure as hell don't want Dakota in the middle of this! Game over!" He grabbed his cane and stormed out.
"How have you managed to spend all this time with Mr. Ray of Sunshine?" Wilson asked.
"You'd be surprised to find out what's under those rough edges. I'll see you both later. I suddenly have a lot to do today."