The Short Straw
The next seven hours were spent in restful bliss. All systems rejuvenated for the first time in years, making waking up a good feeling. Greg's muscles weren't tight, his thoughts were clear and his heart was light. Everything was good. At least he thought it was until he looked over to where Cindy was expected to be sleeping.
She was gone. That area of the bed was perfectly made. He had a clear view into the bathroom. Cindy wasn't there either. A check of the alarm clock revealed another love note.
'Greg. Woke up in your bed. Not sure how that happened. Oops. Hope you aren't upset with me. Call you at noon. Be well, and stay put (ha ha). Cindy.'
Noon was too far away. He yearned to hear her voice. Dare he call her? The fact that he was alone and confined to the bed did nothing for his nerves. There were things he eventually would need to do. He surveyed the pulley system. Would he be able to release himself without causing agony?
The phone rang, startling him. He snagged it off the nightstand. "House."
"Doing okay?" Cindy was checking in.
"Hanging in there," Greg smiled. "All puns intended."
"Good. I missed talking with you this morning."
"You should have woke me."
"You looked peaceful. I didn't want to disturb you."
"When am I going to see you again?"
"Tonight?"
"Is there anyway I can get out of bed?"
"It would be better if you didn't Wilson said he'd get on of your Fellows over at lunchtime to check in on you."
"Wonderful," he moaned.
"Give them a chance. Could they really be worse than putting up with James?"
"None of them will come willingly."
"What about Thirteen?"
"It's a possibility." Greg wasn't sure he wanted to impose on her further.
"I know you're not happy about it, but we're both kind of stuck between a rock and hard place."
"We?"
"I want to be there with you, but my job is only so flexible," Cindy confessed. "I hate that you're alone these first few days."
"I'll survive," Greg said with renewed emotional energy. She cared, really cared about him.
"We'll talk more later. Call me if you want, but right now I gotta go."
"See you later."
He was still smiling an hour later. Granted, he was asleep. But a smile was a smile.
Foreman drew the proverbial short straw. Since there was no patient currently dying of some unknown cause, Cuddy bribed Eric by giving him the rest of the day off. Foreman wasn't upset with the decision, he just thought he should vie for some leverage. The rest of the day off was an unexpected bonus. He'd have been happy not to have to work the clinic. This way he didn't have to return and be questioned by the CIA and FBI.
House's spare key was in its usual hiding place over the door on the lintel. Eric let himself in, surveying the living room for any sign of his boss. "Hello, House?"
"In the bedroom," he called out.
Foreman stood in the doorway, a bit unsuspecting. "Whoa. I didn't know it was this serious."
"If this is serious, I feel sorry for the poor sap who contracts Lupus."
"It's never Lupus."
"And this isn't serious."
"So how long are you going to be laid up?" Eric stepped into the room to get a better look at the set up.
"As long as it takes for you to unhook me," Greg raised his eyebrows hopefully.
"I'm guessing they want you to stay off your feet."
"Only when I don't need a potty break." He batted his eyes at Foreman.
"Too much information." Eric familiarized himself with the set up. "I think I've got it." He unhooked the pulley system, supporting his boss's leg until it rested on the bed.
"Thank god. Help me get off the bed."
They worked as a team, Eric supported House as he got to his feet shakily. "You got it?" He was unsure his boss was stable enough to go the few feet to the bathroom.
"Evidently when the blood flows back into my leg after elevating it for extended periods of time, it's like reprofusing the tissue after a crush injury. Add the weight of the cast and gravity pulling at the fracture sites. . .it's just a party."
"Sounds like it." Foreman stayed close enough to House to catch him if he needed it.
Greg reached the toilet, giving him a malicious glare. "You going to hold it for me too?"
Eric snorted, backing off. "This is all yours."
"Tell me what's been going on in my absence," House called through the door.
"Lots of clinic duty. We haven't had any tough cases."
"So there's no rush for me to get back to work." The water was running now, so he shouted this time.
Foreman waited for his boss to re-enter the bedroom before answering. "It doesn't seem like you're ready, so why rush it?"
"Yeah, just what I thought."
Team work got Greg hooked back up relatively quickly. There seemed to be nothing to talk about after that.
"Even if we got a case, would could teleconference for the differential. We don't need your body, just your brain."
"Cuddy seems to think I need to be up and around. And to an extent, I do. Just not at the level she thinks I should be at."
"Obviously. You're not a young man anymore. This isn't a strained muscle. Even if it was, you'd need some time to recover."
"Evidently it's more like a herniated disc."
"How do you figure?"
"Got an MRI to prove it. After the bone heals there's more testing to be done."
"Sounds like fun. I'll be happy to take a look at the results."
"I sure you would. Maybe someday."
"You need anything before I go?"
"In a hurry to get back to clinic duty?"
"I got the rest of the day off."
"How'd you rate that?"
"Had to walk my boss to the bathroom." Eric smiled triumphantly.
"It figures," House smirked.
"Nah, I was glad to do it. After all the secrecy it's nice to know that you're hangin' in there."
"That euphemism's gonna get old real fast," Greg growled.
"That's why I'm going to use it to annoy you every chance I get." Foreman continued to taunt his boss with his Cheshire Cat grin.
"Get out of here. And don't forget to leave the key where you found it."