Down to the last few chapters now…….and some new details emerge…….Just when Cameron thinks she has all of House's symptoms nailed down, another one steps forward……..And its going to attack her heart……
House stood very still avoiding Cameron's haunted eyes. He licked his lips and tried to formulate the words in his mind.
"You're the worst part of who I am. The problem is I thought you were pathetic for caring about people, especially your patients. And the way you looked at me was the way you looked at them. It was like you saw some sort of person behind the disease and you weren't giving up. People like Wilson and Cuddy had tied to cure it a long time ago, but since I was a brilliant doctor, they let me stay the way I was. I was happy being miserable, and I was good at it. Then you walked into my office so sure of yourself and so eager to prove me wrong. And then there was this light entering my darkness and I was determined to kill it. But I was way too late for that. You made me give a damn with your entire ethical, demanding, Hippocratic oath, love the patient into being well attitude. I had two choices, succumb to that type of behavior, or manipulate and brainwash you. You can see which side of the political ticker tape I ended up on. I was actually proud of myself when you started to become jaded. I'd won the battle or so I believed. And then there was this kid who I was rotten and cruel to. But everyday I'd see him and he waited for me before he'd sleep. And then the darkness vanished and I was pissed off because I felt like I was standing in the middle of Madison Square Garden in my birthday suit. I wanted to protect him. He's a good kid and good kids get smacked around and tortured. So I figured I'd make him like me, then he'd be tough. Oh but then there was a problem because the harder I worked to make those jagged edges, the better he seemed to be. And then one night I realized the truth of my ugly little Frankenstein project. We were going fishing on the boat and I was wishing I had my Vicodin because the pain was excruciating. And you know what Braeden did? He took it upon himself to heal my leg. He went in his bag and brought me this stupid Band-Aid with Finding Nemo on it and he demanded I put it on my leg. And then I saw it, it wasn't me, it was you. And what I can't get out of my head is the fact that Braeden is immune to my bad side. He'll never catch this disease that I've become. So I started to think back through all the time that I'd known you and it hit me again. You're just as immune as he is. All of those times I thought I had conformed you, I'd been wrong. You were just a mirror so I could see myself, but behind it you were still Glenda the good witch of the North. I was ready to leave all of this behind, you, Braeden, this town, that hospital, because I didn't want to infect all of you. Yet another of my brilliant selfish desires to be free. Braeden's stupid Band-Aid and your pixy dust or whatever you want to call it, is a cure. It's a damn cure and I'll be damned if I don't want it."
Cameron could feel the fires of rage begin to turn to embers. She'd lived in the same universe with House for three years and now the words he spoke were somehow alien. He had the same voice, the same stubble, the same striking blue eyes, but he spoke as if he'd resurrected into a new body. Finally she caught his gaze.
"And so now where do we go from here?"
He looked thoughtful for a moment and then looked down at her once more. "Do you know how long it took to write that second letter?"
"I think I'd rather hear the rest from you. This way if I have a sudden desire to bust your chops, I won't injure myself trying to get to you."
"You're stubborn Tinkerbell. All right I'll finish the letter verbally but I have to help Joey and Dakota hang up the last of the cabinets that Uncle Cappy stained over the weekend."
She eyed him suspiciously wondering if this was another excuse to avoid the rest of the conversation.
"Please Al, you're bleeding all over the place. If Uncle Cappy gets one look at you in this condition, I'm done for."
Cameron silently nodded her agreement and allowed him to guide her through the back door of the restaurant. Luckily, Uncle Cappy was working on the new jukebox with Pete and Bruce. From what she could see, Al's House of Pasta was a magnificent work of art but she had little time to take in the sites. House dragged her into the ladies room, grabbing a first-aid kit from the newly painted utility closet and pushed the rod-iron, cushioned parlor sofa in front of the door. He pulled the bandana out of his back pocket, soaked it, and then he began to clean her wounds. She attempted to take-over and he denied her.
"I can do it." She whispered.
"I know, but it looks like I'm gonna have to perform some open-heart surgery on you from all the damage I've done, so it's better to start out small."
His admission was again breath taking. Furiously he cleaned her cuts and washed off the dried blood. The process was painful but Cameron didn't flinch. When he got to the scrape on her elbow she finally stopped him. The look she gave him was unshielded and he knew that she was headed towards forgiveness. She didn't have the whole story yet and he couldn't allow one more passionate moment to erupt between them. Before she realized what he was doing he shoved the bench from the door and pulled her towards the kitchen. He was grateful to find Beatrice and Vivian sorting dishes and other kitchen accessories.
"Look who missed my sugar first thing in the morning." He said to the women just as Aunt Virginia arrived with Ruthie and Braeden.
House lifted Braeden up and clamped him under his shoulder. He smiled to himself as he thought about Cameron in the midst of all those emotional, Italian women. They were better then handcuffs. Aunt Virginia winked at him as he carried Braeden in to help the men.
Cameron looked at her watched a short time later. She was amazed to see that three hours had passed by. She was proud of the work she'd help the ladies accomplish in the industrial sized kitchen. Not only was there enough room for half the town in the kitchen but also it looked like a bigger version of Aunt Virginia's own kitchen. The joy in the little Sicilian woman's face was evident.
"Aunt Virginia I forgot to ask a question. Why are there sheets on that wall behind the jukebox?"
"It's a surprise my precious angel. You will see it at the grand opening tomorrow evening."
Cameron went out through the kitchen doors and found House fast asleep in one of the dining room chairs. She pulled the camera phone from her pocket and snapped a quick picture. Gently she ran her fingers though his hair and he immediately sat up.
"What time is it?"
"A little after two. Not that I'm not being held hostage by your favorite women, I am ready for part two of your letter."
He stood up and stretched like a cat sleeping in the sun. She followed him into the main dining room. Dakota, Bruce, Uncle Cappy, Charlie and Dan Brady were gathered around a giant tray of hot wings. Planted between Uncle Cappy and Joey was Braedan. Hot sauce went from top of his chin to his ears. He was beaming as the men ruffles his hair and cheered him on. When he saw House and Cameron, however, the smile was bright enough to illuminate Atlanta.
"Uncle House you found Auntie Alice!" He said flinging himself into Cameron's arms.
"Auntie Alice, did you get our birfday movie?"
"I sure did little man. It was the best birthday present ever! Was it your idea?"
He nodded his eager little head.
"Uncle House told Auntie Ginna that if you were here for you birfday, he was going to give you a kiss, but….." He trailed off thoughtfully.
"But what Popcorn?" House said eyeing him suspiciously.
"Are you going to kiss her like Sully kisses me?"
The now silent room exploded into thunderous laughter. All the men had witnessed Braeden and his sidekick, Sully the puppy, licking his face whenever the pup could manage it."
House got close to Braeden's face. "No Popcorn, girls don't like to be kissed that way. Only puppies do that.
Cameron set Braeden back on the stool he had jumped off of. He looked unconvinced at House's answer.
"The kid looks confused Greg. Maybe you better demonstrate." Pete added.
"I just ate my lunch Pete. And besides Allison won't allow it. Will you doll?" Dakota asked.
Braeden looked back and forth from Cameron to House.
"This kid is going to be the death of me. All right just a ball park figure here, if I kiss you how hard are you going to hit me?" He said only half-teasing her.
"I won't hit you in front of your fan club I promise."
"If I catch you doing this before you're eighteen I'll hang you by your toes and let the wolves eat you. Are we square short stuff?"
"Ok Uncle House."
House pulled Cameron gently into his arms and kissed her softly with just enough pressure to make it look legitimate. Just the brush of his stubble on her face lit the inferno within. Luckily for both her and House, the men once again erupted into groans and cheers. House saw Dakota throw a $20 bill at Uncle Cappy.
"What's that for?"
"Dakota, Charlie, and Bruce were all betting that Allison would kick you before she'd kiss you again. Pete, Dan and I were all convinced that she'd give-in. Now I can get Mark to mount my elk horns in my new office." Uncle Cappy said triumphantly.
"Over my dead body and under my father's Carrado!" Aunt Virginia hollered from the kitchen.
The men laughed and slapped him on the back.
"Wait a minute are you telling me that you used my son to win that bet?" House challenged and Cameron didn't miss his reference to calling Braeden his son.
"Nope, we just lucky that Braeden's so inquisitive. And since my little hero just won me some money, I think I'll take him for a ride on Old Benji." Dan said referring to his old horse.
Braeden was so excited that he leapt across the table into Dan Brady's bear hug. House nodded his approval because he had to take Cameron out.
"Braeden, don't you eat too many of Aunt Ruthie's cookies. Otherwise I'm eating an entire pizza by myself."
"Pizza yay! And we can play Pac-Man?"
"Tell your Uncle Danny you need some quarters. He's rich all-of-a-sudden. I'll come get you on the motorcycle, ok?"
Braeden gave House a big thumb's up like Dakota had taught him. Cameron and House slipped away while Braeden was negotiating cookies and quarters. They took Pete's truck and drove down the hill. Cameron knew where they were going but she was surprised by it. The second surprise came when they rounded the corner. The last she'd seen of the old church was a rundown old building. There were great improvements to the lawn and structure. Without a word she followed him through the double wooden doors.
"Is there a sadistic priest who called for a hooker and lottery ticket on staff here?" House shouted into the empty rectory.
"The hooker better be attached to a fishing pole and the lottery ticket better be the women's baking raffle." Father Auggie said as he came from his office. "I could however, be tempted by one of your aunt's cranberry walnut muffins. Do you have any of those?"
House rubbed his stomach. "In one form or the other."
Father Auggie was so elated but Cameron's arrival that he wouldn't be satisfied by anything less than a hug. Cameron was surprised at just how calming the older man's presence seemed to be.
"My sweet Allison, welcome home. It looks like our prayers have finally paid off." He said.
"Our prayers?" She questioned.
"Greg and I have been praying a lot for you."
"I have not! I was praying for a Ferarri and sponge bath from Clara." He teased Father Auggie, referring to the priest's longtime secretary.
"I'll give you an hour and then you can join me for some much needed confession."
"Mine are yours?" House bantered.
"I was once asked if God has a sense of humor. The fact that you're in love with Doctor Sarcasm is proof that God is hysterical." Father Auggie teased.
"Yeah yeah yeah, I bet he's a riot at the Fryer's Club."
"I'll be in my office saying Hail Mary's till next spring if you should need me. By the way Greg, Clara asked that you call her. She saw what a fine job you did with the silver and blue combination in the parish hall and she wants you to help her pick out paint for her office."
"Yeah I'll call her in the morning. We can work out our sponge bath."
The priest shook his head. "Confession might take till next spring." He muttered as he walked away.
"How old is Clara?" Cameron asked.
"Seventy-one."
"So you fixed up all of this?"
"More or less. My fan club came down to help when they could but mostly it was Father Auggie and I. I told God if he got Aunt V through the fire then I'd help fix this place up."
"I thought you didn't believe in God."
"I don't believe in the idiots that claim to believe in God. People throw themselves under a bus and say the devil made them do it and that it was God's will. But if you lose your kid and your best friend, your parents treat rabid dogs better, and your leg implodes, you tend to try and forget about God or you hate him. I've done both."
"And what about now?" She asked as they sat down near the altar.
"We've made our peace; and as much as I'd deny it to his face, Father Auggie had everything to do with it."
"And how did he get you to listen?"
"Too much alcohol was my twisted sister that night. You had just left and Braeden was sleeping at Uncle Cappy's. I raided my very old liquor cabinet and started drinking alphabetically, Absinth, bourbon, brandy, tequila, vodka, and good ole' whiskey."
Cameron looked horrified.
"Don't worry I only had like two shots of each. So anyway I decided to go for a walk down the yellow brick road. Not quite sure if that was from Braeden and I watching the Wizard of Oz or cause the radio was playing that Elton John song."
He was silent for a minute and then continued.
"So I'm drunk and I'm looking for Toto and I end up here. I took a leak on the big maple tree out front and then I saw Toto jump into the thorn bushes so I began to rip them out of the ground. Father Auggie heard me cussing at that the stupid bush so he hauls me inside. I vaguely remember asking the bush if I knew her sister. Then because I'd lost Toto, I began to call Father Auggie some uh, unholy names. You know what he decides is best for my drunken disorderly contact? Confession. He locked me in the confessional for the rest of the night!" House barked still in disbelief.
"They have locks on the confessionals?" Cameron asked in fear.
"No, he sat in front of the door so I couldn't get out. And then he wanted to talk. I don't remember most of what I said. I think at some point I asked for an exorcism and then I remember laughing over being a drunk-in-the-box. But I remember little else. I must've said a lot however, because he pulls information out of his magic 8-ball every now and again. It was like being hypnotized. I woke up the next morning on the couch in the youth room. There was blood all over my clothes. My hands were cleaned and wrapped in gauze and tape, but underneath they looked like they'd fought a cheese grater and lost."
"So because you were less than a gentleman, he made you fix up the church?"
"Coerced is more like it. Apparently during my drunken tai-bush karate, I started talking about repaying God for leaving Aunt Virginia with us. Along with my damaged hands, there was a list in my pocket of things for me to do. I begrudgingly began by trimming the bushes and then I went on from there. He damn well didn't leave me alone either. I'd be painting the side of the church and he'd grab a brush and help. Then he'd started asking questions and I'd tell him to go take a heated vacation in hell. He'd just laugh at me, which pissed me off. A few times I left until he'd slyly call my aunt and request muffins."
"I'd say you had your hands tied. What got you to talk to him?"
"We were sanding and restaining the pews. The smell is really bad so we had some of the guys carry them to the back of the church so we could do them outside. Braeden who is like the smartest kid on the block sends me a picture message on my phone. The stupid thing made me laugh so of course I have to share with the Big Nosey. It's quiet again as we begin to stain and all of a sudden he stops and he's staring at me. And then he asks me a question that very nearly gets me to a level where I'm committing mortal sin."
"Killing a priest is definitely not the way to go." She confirmed. "What did he ask you?"
"He asked me if I was more afraid that Braeden would become like me or that he wouldn't. I was ticked off but he was right. Somewhere I'd decided that I had to protect that kid but I didn't want him to be to soft. If I turned him into me from a young age than he'd never go through what I did. He'd be very smart, very controlled, and very jaded. And he'd be protected from men like my father."
"Your father? But you said you hardly saw him growing up."
"Yeah, well he made the rare occasions memorable. For instance, do you ever wonder why I never shave?"
"Because it kills the angry ogre effect?" She asked.
"Good answer, but try again for the right one. Look right here under my jaw."
She got close to him and she saw what she knew every else missed. There was a scar that began on the right side of jaw at the chin and drew a path that ended beneath his molars. Her eyes met his in a questioning gaze.
"Dan Brady, Dakota and I were leaving the high school football game. We were all about eighteen. Dakota had a thing for Bruce's sister so he decided to wait for the cheerleaders to come out of the locker room. Dan and I started walking home. I remember is well because he was still in his football gear. Margaretville's favorite linebacker was the subject of a lot of stalkers. That was mostly because of rumors I started. He was digging on Ruthie even then so he avoided the post-game parties."
"Wow quite a catch Ruthie has."
"Story's not over. Anyway we're about three blocks from his house just passing the woods, when this truck pulls up behind us. It's my father. He smiles at Dan and then tells him to go on home and he'll take me home. I could tell that Danny boy didn't want to leave but he took of for the woods anyway. My father gives me crap about how stupid football games are in high school and how I just want to screw all the cheerleaders. Then he moves on and accuses me of stealing and using his favorite hunting knife. I shrugged and told him I didn't touch his knife. I started to head for the truck and he socked me hard and fast. I hit the truck and fell to the ground. He called me a thief and a liar and then he pulls the knife from his boot. The next thing I know he's kneeling on my ribs and he shines the blade in my face. He asks me if it looks sharp and I told him I didn't know. He stuck the point right here and slices from there to here."
Cameron balked at him as he traced the scar line.
"He tried to kill you?"
"No, he'd never make it that easy. He couldn't torment me anymore if he did."
"So what happened?"
"Mr. Linebacker made an excellent tackle. He knocked my father off of me and sent the knife flying. See he didn't take orders from my father and I knew he wasn't far away. Dan was set to kick in his ribs with his cleats but I grabbed his leg to stop him."
"What? Why?"
"Because my father was at ease in combat situations. He'd been trained for them all his life. Somewhere in his head, the concept of war was much easier than real life. Dan would've given him a fight and he would've enjoyed it. So instead Dan picked up the knife and stood between him and me. He pulled my father off the ground and nearly threw him in the truck. And he left like nothing had happened. Then Dan took me to his aunt. She was a nurse and was able to sew me up. He told her that I'd slipped jumping the barb wire fence in Fender's Alley and cut myself."
"Did he tell Aunt Virginia or Uncle Cappy?"
"You've met my father, he's still alive and standing isn't he?"
"So no one knew ever but you and Dan Brady? How could you be safe with that secret?"
"I didn't live with them so he was easy to avoid. A month later he and Bruce's father Tony got into a fist fight at the sawmill. Tony was an honorable man so I knew who started the fight. Tony fired him on the spot and a few days later my parents disappeared."
They were silent for a few minutes. House was caught up in the memory and Cameron was caught up in disbelief. She gulped in a large drink of air.
"House, I'm sorry that he hurt you. I'm not saying this because you told me that or any other story but I want you to know it now. I love you. Now and always I love you."
He sighed and then barely audibly said, "I know that."
"Why do you sound so defeated then?"
"I'm not defeated. I'm relieved. Until the last two months I didn't believe you ever loved me. I thought you were just hung up on me. I didn't want you to become my mother if I was going to become him."
"How does she act with him."
"Like Cupid on Valium. She's in love with him and even though he treats he decently, my mother is no more than a dog on a leash. In her eyes my father adored me but he needed to have a firm hand to keep me in line. She wasn't around during those times to see how firm those hands got. No one saw what he did when he caught up to me and no one would believe it either except for Dan Brady. I'll never let either of my parents get near Braeden. And if I become like-"
"You're not going to become Michael, Greg. Forgive me for eavesdropping I've been doing it for years. I like to think of it as proactive confession." Father Auggie emerged from behind the pulpit and stood in front of them. "I know all about him, such are the bitter tears of young angry football players. Michael is a very soul locked behind gruesome images of war. He'll never be free because in that darkness he fights and he's safe. You might've become just like him except for one very important thing."
"My boyish charm and roguish good looks?"
"Hardly. You were raised by a man whose very soul is after God's own heart."
"Uncle Cappy." Cameron concluded.
"Exactly, whatever path of destruction you were doomed for, that man and his wonderful wife derailed you. Listen, terrible things have happened to you Greg but the goodness inside of you radiates out of you. I think that Braeden would be honored to be like you."
He crouched in front of House so he was at eye-level. "Let go of the anger son. This lovely woman, that gentle child, this entire town, and God himself has found favor in you. Let go of it now, no one's going to hurt you like that again. All of those dark moments are just shadows over your light."
Cameron held House's hand and she could feel him begin to shake.
"Be free my son, let go of the shadows and let those that have waited to love you, do so." Father Auggie rose from his position and House grabbed his forearm but still holding tightly to Cameron. Although she couldn't see his face the violent shaking of his body revealed the emotions. The priest held him tightly with his eyes closed. She was sure that he was silently thanking God for helping House.
Cameron suddenly realized that she was crying. And she knew right then what Aunt Virginia had said that morning. Like Uncle Cappy, House was finally a man she could trust. For even though he doubted his abilities to love her completely, he'd spend the rest of his life meticulously loving her so as not to hurt her again. Though Cameron was unsure of her contribution to House's redemption, she knew she'd been a part of a modern-day miracle. The stone was finally rolled away.