Overhauled. Chapter 2.
It has been a week since he first woke up. Now it was time for him to come Home. Cuddy appointed herself to bring him home today. She hasn't showed herself yet, she was probably taking care of things at the last minute.
He forgot. Today was Amber's funeral. They should be probably on their way back right now. Waiting gave him time to think about what happened the past weeks.
He remembered her, holding his hands. Squeezing it tight, and never letting it go. She left when he woke up. After convincing herself that everything's been taken cared of, she went back to her office.
She went back the next day though. Cameron, Chase and Foreman visited him next. They wanted to make sure he was OK. Chase, especially. He had been his surgeon, and he wanted to make sure, Cuddy would not reprimand him from the Deep-brain Simulation that they've done.
"We're glad you're OK" Cameron said smiling at him. "Do you need anything?" she volunteered.
"No thanks, I'm good" he brushed him off.
The rest of the ducklings followed after them. Thirteen, Taub and Kutner just wanted to make sure he was alive. "So does this mean we don't have work for a week?" as usual, Kutner's indifferent questions are always ready to break the ice.
"We probably need the time off" Thirteen responded. She seemed calm. Perhaps she took your advise. Taub was not saying anything. He was probably still contemplating the ramifications of Amber's death.
"Do me a favor and bring my laptop in here. I'm sure there's plenty of porn to entertain me for the next weeks" he ordered them.
Cuddy checked up on him at lunch. She checked his stats first, once satisfied, she sat down at the couch next to him. She started to eat her lunch next to him without saying a word.
"So, you're my guardian now? People are starting to have a different opinion" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
"You need to eat House. Need to let your brain heal. I'm just here, cause no one else is here. People would get that" she tried to answer bluntly.
She finally sighed. "Look, you need to focus on getting better right now. And after that...we'll talk, OK?".
She visited him the next day, and two more days after. But they never really had a chance to talk. It was probably for the best, there are many observers in the hospital. Classic Cuddy moves, setting a clear line between private and professional life. He missed the intimate Cuddy though. The intimacy she displayed after his surgery is far gone.
He read medical journals when he was alone, and found more positive results of Ketamine treatment, especially for coma patients.
He realized that one day soon he would part of the statistics. He can't feel the pain any more. And he was glad. And yet, his heart was still aching. Amber is gone, taking his best friend with him. He tried to figure-out scenarios how he could be able to reconcile with Wilson, but found none. And the whole uncertainty of his relationship with Cuddy is still overshadowing his thoughts. The real reason why he was drinking himself to oblivion.
"The funeral's tomorrow" she blurted on the fourth day.
He nodded to acknowledge. He just looked at her. "Will you tell him.." he paused his eyes pleading. Wilson has never visited him, except for that night. And his look at that time seemed so hateful He wondered if his bestfriend could ever find it in his hear to forgive him.
"Tell him yourself. Seems like all your brain functions are perfectly working" she snapped. She was really tired. The entire week has been hectic.
The Board heard of the Deep-brain stimulation surgery Chase performed and called for an emergency meeting. She felt like going to a battle with no shield. With Wilson gone for funeral arrangements, she had no one to back him up. Good thing Chase's father still has a bit of a pull among the older board members. They were able to convince them to let this pass for Wilson.
"Grumpy much? Fine. I'd tell him when I get to see him then" he sulked. She has been sending him mixed signals. He's getting confused.
"Sorry for snapping. I'm just tired" She tried to explain. "How's your leg doin'?" She proceeded to examine his charts. A different topic would probably help ease this conversation. "Wow, these are pretty impressive House. If you're lucky, things just might work out fine".
"You had a judgement call. I'm glad you took it Cuddy" he somehow felt more honest with her.
"If things will go well, you could be discharged tomorrow afternoon. I'll have to schedule this though" she smiled. Somehow, that statement seem to imply that she would be the one to take him home. And he has no problems with this. "I have to go" she squeezed his arm, and then left.
What in the world is going on with Cuddy? She's being erratic.
Everyone is here except House. Cuddy was lost in her thoughts. How in the world did they end up here? She couldn't bear to think what would happen if she had been on Wilson's place.
Amber's funeral has been short and sweet. Wilson was not saying anything, he has been still the entire service. But she was there to hold his hands. He held on to her. When they finally laid her body to rest, Wilson started sobbing, so she hugged him. A single tear fell down her eye, she held back. "She's gone" he said. "Amber's gone" Wilson said matter-of-factly, maybe so that he could convince herself.
She chose not to say anything. Words would not have any meaning right now. Just a tight hug and an affirmation which expresses her willing support should be enough.
Everybody else started leaving after the service. Cuddy walked Wilson back to his card.
"You can use your holidays you know. You have enough for a month. Just say the word, and I'll take care of it" She knew he needed to process everything away from the hospital. "Just promise you'll reconsider House's role in all this. He..he never meant for all of this to happen".
"I still don't know why you had to defend him, Cuddy. I know he didn't mean for this to happen. But that doesn't change the fact that he is still an irresponsible son-of-a-bitch who will only take advantage of his friends. And I don't know if I can live with a person like him in my life any more" he was angry.
"Give him a chance Wilson. Just don't cut him off. He was there. He volunteered for the Deep-brain Simulation just to save Amber. How many friends do you have who you think would be willing to make that sacrifice?" suddenly all the drama seems to much for her. She hugged him once again and left.
His eyes were closed, but he knew she was already on her way. The distinct clicking of her stilettos gave her away the minute she came out of the elevator.
"You ready yet?" Cuddy announced herself dragging along the wheelchair that has been placed in his room towards his bed.
He nodded, and began to let himself up, and transferred to the wheelchair. "I'm all yours" he replied.
She wheeled him out of the hospital passing by the questioning gazes of her hospital staff. They reached her car, and let himself in the passenger seat. She returned the wheelchair to one of the stands, and finally settled inside her car and drove.
They were still not talking. The silence in the car was deafening, so House decided to play the radio and let the music fill the air.
"You're taking the wrong turn. That's not the way to my house" he corrected her.
"Excellent deduction skills Dr. House. Glad you still have it" she did not correct him though, she just kept driving.
"First of all, I never lost it. And second of all, why are we going towards you house?"
She sighed. "I'm taking you home".
He tried to process what he just heard. Why in the world would Cuddy take her home? He decided not to ask any more questions after that.
He was confused. Cuddy was making this more complicated. He figured it's best to ask her once they finally settled.
They finally arrived at her porch after twenty minutes. "We're here" she announced.
They both let themselves out of the car. Cuddy went ahead and opened her door. They entered her house together.
"I think you know your way around already. I already took some of your clothes and personal effects. Please make yourself at home" she
directed him to the bedroom.
"Need to go pee-pee" he headed directly to the bathroom. What exactly is happening here? House questioned himself. After washing his face,
he headed out. "So you expect me to stay here Cuddy? Are you adopting me now?" He found her sitting at her bed. Staring at nothing.
"Hey Cuddy, are you OK?" he shook her shoulder. She didn't seem to hear him. What happened next took him by surprise.
She hugged him so tight he felt like he was going to explode. And she cried. Hard enough that she was shaking.
"Don't you ever dare do that to me again Gregory House" And he finally understood. She had been miserable the entire time, she needs him now.
Hugging her back, he led them back to her bed.
"Shh..I'm here. I'm not leaving. You have me" he chose to kiss her at that moment. And she kissed him, hard. He felt the longing in her kiss, it felt like years. After what it seemed like an eternity, he decided to pull back. He needed to talk to her before letting things slip. "Tell me you're OK with this".
"You idiot! You just have to perform that stupid operation. " She looked straight into his eyes. "Don't you ever do that to me again" she repeated.
"You almost died House. And I almost lost my mind. You just had to almost die to make me realize that I can't, that I could never ever imagine my life without you" and she cried, she cried hard. She was too tired and the reality of it all finally sank in. She let all her feelings out, and she finally showed her vulnerability to him.
He hugged her tighter and cradled her. "You have me now. I'll never leave you again, I promise, shh.." he tried to calm her down, until she finally fell asleep.