Chapter 19

Home To Roost

Lisa Cuddy was in a bidding war in and it showed. Her index finger nail had been bitten right through her $50 manicure. Since she had been hired to be the Dean of Medicine at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, she had improved almost every department by hiring only the finest physicians and purchasing the best equipment within her budget. It had paid off in spades. The reputations of the hospital had improved and the med school's enrollment was up 38% since her tenure. The only department that really needed an overhaul was Neurology. The University Medical Center at Princeton was her competition during the bidding and Lisa wasn't sure she would be able to beat it. She convened a session of the Board of Directors to discuss the matter.

"I know it's a lot of money, but look at her portfolio carefully. Each of the hospitals that hired her made a substantial profit off of her before she moved on. She would also be just what we need for the Neurology department. I think we should take a chance and submit a higher offer."

Rajah Bala, a member of the Board said, "Yes, but Dr. Cuddy, that's a lot of money. I have to admit she's very impressive and she has been a gold mine wherever she's gone, but she claims that she wants to do research on HSV and GDF. Do you really think that's going to be profitable for us?"

"Yes, I think it will. With her background and winning record I think we can safely take for granted that she knows what she's doing. Does anyone want to call the vote?"

The vote was taken and it was unanimous to make another offer to bring Kenna Palmer on board at PPTH. Kenna was now one of the premier neuroengineers and neurosurgeons in the world. She had not only perfected and patented several surgical procedures, but she had also developed and patented several pieces of equipment and software programs to aid neurosurgery. Generous to a fault, she always shared the profits from the patents with the hospitals she worked at. Her share of her patents and her salary made her one of the highest paid doctors in the world. For the last five years Kenna had practiced in England and Mexico where she was allowed to use stem cells to do her research. She was homesick and missed the friends she had made up and down the East Coast over the years. It was time to go home to the United States to practice.

Kenna had a plan. She submitted her C.V. to the Mayo Clinic, Cedars-Sinai, UCSD, The University Medical Center at Princeton and Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Of all the hospitals she to which she submitted her CV , Princeton Plainsboro was the one she expected to win the bidding war. The neurology department at Princeton Plainsboro was mediocre at best and needed her the most. However, the University Medical Center of Princeton's laboratory had just received an overhaul and only had a few minor players taking advantage of it, making it an ideal place for her talent.

Kenna came with several multimillion dollar grants, but she herself was asking $1 million a year in salary along with 40 percent of any patents or generated income from her work. She also expected work benefits and a few other perks such as five weeks of vacation. All of the hospitals had met the million-dollar mark and were willing to give her everything else she asked for, so then it became a bidding war on her salary. Princeton Plainsboro won with a bid of $1.3 million a year. She signed a contract for two years.

Kenna knew Greg House was practicing at Princeton Plainsboro and when she allowed herself to think about it, she was apprehensive about seeing Greg again. She was of two minds. She was curious and wanted to see how he was doing after all these years and yet part of her was still wounded after all these years and wanted to be as far away from him as possible. Kenna had been in love a couple of times since she last saw House, but it had always been Kenna who left the relationships. The men would start making demands that she choose between her work or them, put down roots, stay in one place. She always chose work, having resigned herself years ago to the fact that she just couldn't commit to anyone after the pain of losing House.

Kenna had seen Doug at a conference in Hong Kong ten years ago. They had lunch and caught up. At the end of the conversation, she asked about House. He told her that House was in a stable relationship with a lawyer and that, for House, he seemed happy. When Doug told her this news, Kenna had just broken up with the man she had lived with for the last three years. Surprisingly, she was glad that House had found someone. Now if only she could do the same.

Years later, Kenna read that House had been shot by a former patient and had been in a coma for several days. In some ways Kenna wasn't surprised, she always worried that someday someone would be angry enough to want to teach Greg a lesson. She made a few inquiries and heard that he had made a full recovery.

Kenna had attended a meeting of Neuroscientists in England three years ago when she overheard a conversation between two doctors from Johns Hopkins,"You remember that son of a bitch, Greg House? Well he was arrested for drug abuse."

"I was at a conference once with him and he was popping Vicodin like they were Tic Tacs."

"My friend, James Wilson, told me that he became addicted after they removed a large chunk of muscle from his leg after an infarction. Now he has chronic pain."

"Ha, couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

The two doctors both chuckled and went on their way. Kenna realized that Greg had to be in a lot of pain in order to tolerate Vicodin at that level and still function.

There was no house to sell and little to pack because Kenna knew that once she got bored with her job, and she got bored often, she would want to move on. Not relishing the idea of having to sell a house or pack up furniture, Kenna tended to rent to make life easier when she did leave. As a result, her large cache of money was safely invested. Despite having money, Kenna rarely spent any of it on herself although she had splurged on a car and numerous vacations, but her apartments tended to be plain and empty along with her closets.

Lisa Cuddy was excited and it showed. She fussed with her skirt and primped her hair a few times as she waited. Kenna Palmer was an icon for female doctors. She had blown the roof off of the glass ceiling. Lisa had never met her even though the hospital had just committed to a hefty salary for her. Kenna Palmer was known to be a little quirky, had her own entourage and could be solemn from time to time, but apparently her quirks were easily tolerated. Compared to House, Lisa was pretty sure that she could handle Kenna Palmer.

Kenna was scheduled to arrive that morning. Lisa had assembled a large contingent of the hospital's neurosurgeons and neurologists downstairs to welcome her. Lisa knew that some of the doctors were extremely jealous of Kenna while others were equally excited about working with her. Lisa didn't care how they felt, none of them were stellar in their fields or they wouldn't have needed Kenna Palme. She figured that if anyone had a problem with Kenna Palmer they could leave and that would just give the hospital more money to pay Kenna's salary.

James Wilson was average in height, very good looking with medium brown hair and liquid brown eyes. He was one of the best oncologists on the east coast. James was well known to everyone in the hospital as the long-suffering sidekick to the evil Greg House. No one understood why Wilson put up with House, not even Wilson. Wilson walked into the hospital and noticed Lisa standing with a dozen doctors, all from the Neurology Department. Wandering over, he asked, "What's up?"

"I only announced it yesterday afternoon, but Kenna Palmer is joining the staff. In fact, she just called me and said she'd be here in a few minutes. This is kind of a welcoming committee of neurologists."

"Kenna Palmer? We can afford Kenna Palmer?" Wilson was shocked. Just last week he had read a four page article on Kenna and the salary she commanded. It also went on to say that she was working on new research that could consist of a huge breakthrough.

"We've been wanting to glam up the Neurology Department so when she became available last month, it seemed like a perfect fit. She demands a high salary, but she's always left each hospital with a lot more money than what they spent on her. I'm betting that she's going to do the same here. If she doesn't, it's probably my job."

"Have you ever met her?" Wilson asked.

"No, but I understand she's nice to look at."

One of the neurologists who claimed to have attended a seminar where Kenna had given a presentation, caught Lisa's eye and nodded at the doors. Lisa turned and saw a woman walk through the doors. Lisa was surprised. She had expected a tall, regal looking woman. Instead, Kenna Palmer was average, if not short in height, thin and very pretty with a freckled nose and pixie-like features, very pretty with an All-American look. Lisa was somewhat jealous of Kenna's hair which was pinned up on her head and falling down the back in reddish blonde ringlets. She had lovely blue eyes making her look more like an Irish nymph than the reigning queen of Neurology. Kenna also looked like someone you could be friends with.

As Kenna approached, she greeted everyone with a smile. If he had to describe her, Wilson would say she looked sweet and perky. Dressed in a light beige sheath with matching open toed high heels, the dress showed off her great figure and legs. Lisa noted that she wore minimum jewelry and makeup.

"Kenna Palmer? Hi I'm Lisa Cuddy, Dean of Medicine, welcome aboard." Lisa led with an extended hand. "Your office will be on the fourth floor near the Neurology Department. You also have an office on campus in the laboratory. As requested, your secretary will have her own private cubicle outside of your office." Lisa pulled her hand back after an extended shake. "Before we go up to your office, I'd like to introduce you to the neurologists and neurosurgeons here at the hospital."

Lisa took approximately 10 minutes to introduce Kenna to everyone. Each of the doctors praised Kenna for her work as a Neuroengineer, inventor and neurosurgeon. In fact, after listening to them recount her accomplishments, Lisa wondered how Kenna managed to have a personal life.

"Well, Dr. Cuddy, now that I've met everyone, can I see my office?"

Lisa was about to escort Kenna to the fourth floor when she saw House enter the hospital behind Kenna's back. Lisa had hoped to keep Kenna away from Greg House for as long as possible, simply because House was known to be exceptionally rude to new staff.

Kenna followed Lisa's gaze to the front door. Her heart squeezed into a ball when she saw him Taking a deep breath, she tried not to show her shock. Her throat went dry when he finally recognized her.

A devilish smile broke out on his face, spreading from one side to the other. Cuddy was confused, House seemed to recognize Kenna and Kenna seemed to recognize House.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOX

I wasn't sure it was him at first. I wasn't expecting to see him so worn and weathered. He looked as if life hadn't been kind to him. His severe limp indicated the seriousness of his injury. Although still handsome, especially with his shadow of a beard, there was a sadness in his eyes that made me want to hug him. Of course I didn't, I didn't even touch him. Everyone was watching us and I could see that Lisa Cuddy was apprehensive. I'm sure that Greg hadn't made her life easy and she was probably afraid that he was going to say something that would upset me. I was pretty sure he was going to say something that would upset her.

"Hi Kenna."

"Hi Greg." I smiled as kindly as I could.

He leaned on his cane and stared at me for what seemed like a very long time.

Lisa Cuddy finally interrupted us, "House, you know Dr. Palmer?"

He chuckled and I knew what was coming, "I had carnal knowledge of her when she was just a pretty young thing. Still looking pretty but "young" is a definitely in the past"

I watched Lisa Cuddy shudder and shake her head. She was sure that I was going to be insulted by his comments. I looked up at him nonchalantly and said, "Yeah, and if I remember correctly you used to tell me that having sex twice in one night was a lot. Luckily, I found out later that twice was just a warm up."

One of the doctors, a nice looking man with brown hair, brown eyes and a lab coat that said, 'James Wilson M.D.', started laughing out loud. House smiled again and I turned to Lisa, "Now would be a good time for me to see my office."

Lisa Cuddy motioned for me to follow her and I did. We turned down a corridor and walked down past several departments to get to the elevator that went up to the Neurology Department. We entered the elevator and I knew she was dying to ask me about Greg. I turned and smiled at her to let her know she could feel free to ask me whatever it was she wanted to ask.

"Did House really sleep with you?"

"Worst than that, he was my first. I asked him to teach me how to kiss and well, one thing led to another."

"Where did you meet him?"

"I met him at Johns Hopkins when he was doing his infectious disease residency. I was his tenant."

"And he took your virginity?"

"Yes, Greg House was the one. Actually he did a lot more. We started living together soon after that until he left to go to Mass General." We exited the elevator on the fourth floor and started walking past several doors. I could see she was having trouble wrapping her mind around the fact that Greg and I had lived together. It really seemed to baffle her.

"You'll have to excuse me; I just can't believe that Greg House lived with Kenna Palmer. How could you put up with him?"

"He was actually fun to live with. We used to have a really good time. Sure, he was an ass, but he was kind to me and he was great in bed. In fact, don't tell him, but he's the best I ever had. Sex was never quite as fun or as fulfilling as with him. He really knew how to slam one out of the park."

Lisa Cuddy was quiet; the look on her face was one of a lover who hadn't been told about the former girlfriend. And then it hit me. She had slept with Greg too.

"But you know all this. You slept with him too." I said softly.

She sighed and nodded. "We met at Michigan, had a short fling back then. Recebtly we had a two year relationship that didn't work out."

"Did it have something to do with his leg?"

She chuckled. "It had something to do with he's a narcissistic jerk who thinks only about his own needs."

"Hmm. He was always a jerk, but it sounds like he's taken a change for the worse. I heard several years ago that he's an addict. Is that true?"

"I don't talk to him about it. He went through a three month rehab in a mental institution and was clean for almost two years. Our break-up triggered a relapse. As his boss, I really don't want to know how bad it is. I don't want to have to fire him."

She opened the door and I walked into my new office. The office was approximately 20 feet by 15 feet with windows that ran down the complete side of the west face of the building. I was pleased with it because it had so many windows. I hated feeling cooped up.

Dear Readers:

I may not be able to post over the next few days...we'll see how good my reception is in Yosemite. So, I get back on Tuesday if I can't post over my vacation. I'm rafting on Friday so I know I'll be out of ommission Friday! Take care! Kim