Thanks so much to those who have let me know that they are reading, and thanks for the help you have given me, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 8
When Dom woke it was after eight, she knew her mother would be watching the twins for her, she thought about the night before, wishing it had all been a bad dream. She looked at Greg expecting him to be sleeping but he was lying there looking at the ceiling, so deep in thought he hadn't even noticed that she was awake.
"Good morning, oh handsome one." She said, "It wasn't just a horrible nightmare, was it?"
"I'm afraid not, how are you feeling?" he wasn't looking at her.
"I feel fine, no headache." She moved closer to him, his hands were behind his head; she slid her arm across him and bought her face level with his. He looked at her almost reluctantly, the pain she saw in his eyes shocked her, then it was gone the shutters were up and she felt like she was trying to reach him from behind a wall.
"I suppose we better get up and let your mother get some sleep."
"I don't think she'll mind if we're another hour." Dom said suggestively
"I don't know that I'm up to….." his voice trailed off as Dom worked her magic on him. She trailed kisses down his chest and lower. "Oh maybe I am" he gasped.
It was after nine when they finally went out to have breakfast; House was quiet, but not so distant. Dom felt relieved that he had let her get close to him, she had been worried that he would wall her off as his way to cope with the situation that they found themselves in. They were eating breakfast, and Dom's mum was drinking coffee with them, the twins had eaten but were at the table chattering happily oblivious to the stress the adults were under.
"I have some things I want to take care of, if you need me I'll have my phone." House told them as he rinsed his plate and put it into the dishwasher. He gave the twins a hug and a kiss, then their mum and he was gone.
Wilson came into the cafeteria at the hospital, he had slept a little in the doctors lounge since taking Dom and House home, he felt distraught at what was ahead of them, he also had two terminal patients that were very low, so his stress levels were high anyway. He really needed to talk to someone, he tried Sam on her cellphone but it was turned off, she would be at work by now, and in some departments the signal was bad. He sat staring into his coffee, wondering how he was going to tell House and Dom that if the tumor were inoperable, Dom would have at best a year. He thought back to when Cuddy got sick and how badly House had coped then, he was even more invested here. How will he be able get through this? Cuddy was walking past on her way back from seeing Rachael, who was making great progress, she saw Wilson and went and took a seat opposite him.
"You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders!"
Wilson filled her in on the nights happenings. A shocked Cuddy sat opposite him as he went into details about Dom's condition.
"That's why Foreman wants to see me, he'll want me to pull some string to get her into a neurosurgeon if he's had no luck himself."
"The tumor looks benign, but I think it's aggressive to hit so suddenly with little or no symptoms."
"You don't think it's operable do you?" Cuddy asked
"No neither do House or Foreman, but who knows that field is advancing every day, it's a shame Gabe's no here, when is he due back?"
Cuddy didn't meet his eyes "I'm not sure."
"You two are alright aren't you?"
"It's over, he is still in love with his wife, he's gone back to try and see if there is any hope there."
"Did he end it?"
"He said that I'm still in love with House and that made him realize that he needed to do everything in his power to win his wife back, or he would regret it"
"Are you still in love with House?" asked Wilson shocked
"I don't know, I have a million emotions when it comes to him, not all of then positive" she closed her eyes. "Yes I think I might be!"
"Cuddy you need to stay away from him, you had your chance and he wasn't what you wanted or needed."
"Well if he's true to form he'll do plenty to remind me just why I couldn't be with him, is he handling things?"
'They were both still in shock when I took them home."
"Poor Dom! It's bad enough to be that ill, without having to worry about House, as well as the children."
"Who knows he could surprise us."
Cuddy shot Wilson a look of disbelief "he is probably breaking into his secret stash of Vicoden right now!"
Foreman saw them and joined them followed by Chase who saw the three of them and came to join them.
"Wilson has just bought me up to speed about Dom, have you had any luck getting her into see anyone?"
"I showed her films to Johnson, he said outright he wouldn't touch it. I am trying to get in touch with Peters; his office said they couldn't give her an appointment for at least two weeks, but if I can talk to him, he may squeeze her in."
"I know him, he'll take my call, I'll go and do it now." Cuddy stood she looked at Wilson "I will go and tell them what I've come up with after work, will you come with me?"
"I'd ring first," said Chase "I just saw House going into a bar in the seediest part of town!"
"We all know what he'll be doing there, but what were you doing in the seediest part of town?"
"I was dropping my date off." He said a little embarrassed.
"When did you have time to pick someone up? We were here till the early hours!" Foreman asked.
"I stopped for a bite, met up with an old friend…." He shrugged
"You actually saw House going into a bar at 10.30 in the morning?" Wilson asked he was visibly upset.
"Strip club really" Chase said, which didn't help at all.
"I don't know why we are so surprised." Cuddy said sadly
"People don't change, House said it himself often enough." Foreman added
"I'll go and make some calls, Wilson we'll met there about five."
Dominika and her mother spent the day with the children, Dom spent some time with Billy, explaining her situation, it broke her heart, the young man had had so much pain in his life she was loath to cause him more.
"That's all we know for now, we are waiting for an appointment to see a surgeon."
Billy sat on his bed; the tears were streaming down his cheeks. "You of all people don't deserve this."
"Thank you" she said her hand on his shoulder, she wished Greg was here, he always knew what to say to the boy, "at least I have great people around me, I know I won't have to worry about the babies, with all of you to care for them."
"I'll do what ever I can, just let me know if I can help, with the twins or downstairs."
"Mum may need your help with the twins and the restaurant over the next few weeks until we know what is going to happen, but I don't want it to affect your schooling. You are doing so well Billy, Greg and I are so proud of you. We don't tell you that enough."
It was nearly five, Dom had bathed the children and their dinner was cooking, there was still no sign of House. Dom really wanted to call him but she resisted, they were seldom ever apart and she didn't want him to feel hounded, she trusted him. She could trust him she told herself, he had never let her down. She remembered the look in his eyes that morning, the pain she saw still haunted her. She was scared that he would retreat behind that mask he had worn when they first met, the master of deflection, he had rarely let anyone see how he really felt. He once said to her that when he showed his vulnerable side, it made him feel weak, a failure, the more he admitted to feeling, the more he was sure he would never measure up. She was never sure what he felt he had to measure up "to", but she knew it was ingrained so deeply in him that he would never truly overcome it, she was OK with that, she didn't need him to be something he couldn't be. Over time he had relaxed a little, his children had really bought out the gentle side of him, he laughed a lot more, and he was always affectionate and tender with her. When she had found out she was pregnant she had been afraid that he would be angry, after all they had only just started their relationship and he was sensitive about the age gap. She had done a home pregnancy test and when it was positive she told him with trepidation, he had grinned and said he had suspected that she was knocked up. He had asked her what she wanted to do, she of course had told him she wanted a baby even if the timing was a bit off. He had been quiet for a few days, then one night after they had made love he had confided in her that he was worried about the type of father he would be. He explained that he had huge issues with his father and it terrified him that he may turn out to be like his dad. She had told him that if he treated their child with the tenderness and respect that he had treated her it would be a very lucky baby. She had also promised him the she would tell him if he was out of line. It had never been necessary.
The doorbell rang and she opened it to find Lisa Cuddy and James Wilson on the other side. Dom had become very fond of Wilson, but she had only really seen Cuddy the night they had come back into their lives apart from when House and her had married.
The pajama clad twins both ran to Uncle Wilson, he was a real hit with them.
"Where is Aunty Sam?" Sophie asked they looked at Cuddy with curiosity.
"She's at work, Dr. Cuddy and I have just come to have a word with mummy and daddy."
"Can you play?" asked Wilson
"Maybe later."
"Greg's not home yet, can I offer you a drink?" she made coffee and they sat in the large kitchen as she gave Wilson and Sophia their dinner. Cuddy was struck by the way the twins sat and ate their dinner with gusto. Dom saw her watching them and said, "They are both blessed with their fathers love of food!"
"I have truly never seen children eat their veggies so well!"
"Greg insisted that they were never forced or even encouraged to eat, we have always just dished it up, we are very lucky!"
Billy came in and said that he would eat down stairs as Ania had asked him to help in the kitchen, he was introduced to Cuddy and course he had already met Wilson.
"You have school tomorrow, Billy please make sure you are in bed on time."
"I will." The tall lanky teenager dropped an affectionate kiss on the top of Dom's head and left.
"Billy lives with you?" Cuddy asked
"Yes, Greg and I are his guardians, Greg met him in jail, he worked tirelessly to get him released into our care, we are so glad that we were finally able to give him a home."
" He must have been young when he was incarcerated!" Cuddy replied
"Ten, Greg met him at fifteen, and he has been with us for the last two years, he does well at school, but he struggles socially. Kids can be so cruel."
The kids had finished their dinner and Dom was busy tidying up, the twins were playing with Wilson, when House walked in the door.
"Daddy" they called excited. House picked them up and kissed them soundly before saying. "Where's that gorgeous mother of yours?" seeing Dom in the kitchen with Cuddy he went out and kissed her, then he greeted Cuddy and Wilson with, "I hope you two have good news for us."
Both Wilson and Cuddy had been looking at him trying to tell if he had been drinking or if he was high, he showed no signs of either.
"I have booked an appointment with Peters, he will see you at his rooms at twelve tomorrow, I have sent the scans over already."
"Well done, thanks Cuddy, we appreciate your help."
"You are welcome, I hope it all goes well!" said Cuddy
"Had a good day?" Wilson asked randomly
"What are you my wife? No she's much better looking." He grinned at Dom, "I have a surprise for you, and I hope you'll like it."
"I like surprises, what is it."
"Well there's two, here is number one." He went over to a bag he had bought in with him, and bought out a parcel and handed it to her.
It was the latest compact video camera, theirs had just started having problems and House had thought that videos of them as a family were a precious commodity.
"Its so tiny, thanks Greg, I love it." Dom loved photography; their walls were full of photos of the children and them as a family.
"And downstairs moving into the apartment is Marie Clare."
"Why? How did you find her?"
"You told me she was the best and that she taught you all that you know about the restaurant business, so I figured that she would be the best to look after the place while we concentrate on your health."
Dom had told House about Marie Clare, and how she had taught her the business and looked after Dom when she had first arrived into the country. The woman was gruff but had a heart of gold.
"I have told her that the employment of the Blues brothers is non negotiable, and she will need to take direction from you and Ania, but will be in charge for the foreseeable future."
"What about her place?"
"She lost it, she was running a bat and restaurant."
"How was she able to give notice and come here so quickly?"
"She had fallen on hard times, her boyfriend had run off and emptied their bank account, he had also run up a lot of debt, she lost her place and has been struggling to pay creditors, she was working as a causal, in a real dive of a strip club. The food was good though, I had lunch there."
"At a strip club!" Dom asked sternly
"Yeah I had my eyes closed." She smacked him on the arm.
"What if the surgeon, operates and I'm OK! I'll be out of a job!"
"I'll keep you busy" he said leeringly "We could always add to the family"
"You mean it!"
"If we get through this, you're the boss, what ever you want!" Dom hugged him tight and excused herself she couldn't wait to see her old boss.
House talked to Wilson and Cuddy for a while before they left, it struck Cuddy that he almost seem shy and embarrassed that they had seen him being a loving and supportive husband, he deflected when Wilson mentioned what a nice thing he had done for his wife. They discussed what would happen, if the tumor was inoperable, Wilson said he would call around the next evening to see how things went.
Cuddy was driving home, she felt guilty for expecting the worst of House and she felt like she had always misjudged him, she turned on her car radio t take her mind off him the haunting sound of Adele singing "Someone Like you" came over the airways, as she listened the tears began to flow. She pulled to the side of the road and wept.
I heard That you're settled down That you Found a girl And your Married now
I heard That your dreams came true I guess she gave you things I didn't give to you
Oh friend Why you so shy Ain't like you to hold back Or hide from the light
I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited But I couldn't stay away I couldn't fight it I hoped you'd see my face and be reminded That for me It isn't over
Nevermind I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best For you too Don't forget me I beg I'll remember you still Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead Yeah
You know how the time flies Only yesterday It was the time of our lives We were born and bred In a summer haze Bound by the surprise Of our glory days
I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited But I couldn't stay away I couldn't fight it I hoped you'd see my face and be reminded That for me It isn't over
Nevermind I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best For you too Don't forget me I beg I'll remember you still Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead
Nothing compares No worries or cares Regrets and mistakes And memories made Who would have known How bittersweet This would taste
Nevermind I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best For you too Don't forget me I beg I'll remember you still Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead
Nevermind I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best For you too Don't forget me I beg I'll remember you still Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love But sometimes it hurts instead
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