Like Father Like Son

Chapter 7

"Wanna meet Wilson?"

Greg nodded and smiled widely.

"Alright, but not a sound, okay? I want you to myself for awhile longer before Wilson sticks his oar in and spoils our fun!"

Greg grabbed a pillow to laugh into. He had the feeling that he would need it before this conversation was over. He was figuring out in a hurry that earlier in the day his dad wasn't just being accommodating, he was just being himself – a fourteen year old in a fifty year old body.

House answered the phone, putting it on speaker, just before it switched to voicemail.

"Hi Mom!"

"House, this is Wilson. Don't you check the caller ID?"

"I did. Hi, Mom!"

"Fine. Are you coming home for dinner?"

"I already ate; I had take-out from the Thai place."

"Don't forget to bring home the leftovers or they'll just mold in your refrigerator."

House rolled his eyes to Greg who had already started to giggle into the pillow.

"House, did I just hear someone else?"

"Yeah, one of my harem girls just can't seem to control herself in my presence."

"Fine, I know I can't talk to you when you're like this so I'll just hang up."

"Bye Wilson."

"House, what's her name?"

"Who's name?"

"Your girlfriend."

"I have a girlfriend? Thanks for the 'heads up'! I'll keep an eye out for her."

"House," Wilson voiced his exasperation.

"Wilson." House mimicked.

"You must have a girlfriend! Why else would you be spending so much time at your apartment?"

"I'm visiting my piano. It misses me."

"I knew it! There is a girl! What's her name?"

"No girl, Wilson! Now that we live together everyone thinks we're gay! You know that! I can't even get a woman to look at me! How are you doing?"

"The same as you."

"Maybe it's something we ought to consider."

"Consider all you like, House. You're not touching me."

"Seriously, what makes you think I'm seeing someone?"

"You got home late last night, you left early this morning, you ducked out of work in the middle of the day, and you didn't come home for dinner tonight." Wilson rattled off the list without taking a breath. "What else could it be?"

"Alright Wilson, you got me. I'll tell you. My long lost son showed up on my doorstep last night and I felt the need to spend some time with him."

Wilson laughed until he couldn't breathe. "Fine House, you win. Finish up whatever you're doing and I'll see you when you get home."

"Don't wait up!"

"Wow, she must really be good!"

"You have no idea! Bye, Wilson."

"Bye, House."

House hung up the phone and looked to see if Greg had suffocated himself.

"You can come out now he's gone."

"I thought it was you that was talking about coming out!"

"Yes, but I can't until Wilson is ready and that may take awhile." House answered, putting on a stereotypical gay affectation.

Greg was once again laughing at his dad's antics.

"Are you always like that with Wilson?" asked Greg.

"Some days more that others. I did tell him the truth, but he couldn't even imagine that possibility. My conscience is clear. He can't accuse me of lying to him and hiding you when he finally does meet you."

"Why don't you want us to actually meet?"

"Wilson is going to tell me how I ought to parent you and I just want some time to be with you before the guilt sets in. You're my kid. I'll raise you as I see fit. I just want to do it without retribution for as long as I can."

A cloud passed over Greg's face and House noticed immediately.

"Something I said?"

Greg responded with an edge to his voice, "I haven't been 'raised' in a very long time. I may be just fourteen, but I've been trusted to make my own decisions since I was about ten. Forgive me for not appreciating your willingness to 'step up'! "

House stood and headed to the kitchen. "Do you need something to eat? My boss, Cuddy, always tries to stuff something in her baby's mouth whenever she gets cranky…the baby, not Cuddy."

House turned back to look at Greg when he received no response. It was clear that the boy was trying to get a handle on his anger by the way House could see his jaw working.

"I see levity apparently isn't the way to go here. If we need to talk, I guess we can. But words aren't my strength when it comes to relationships…as I may have just demonstrated." As House was speaking, had moved back to the living room and placed himself on the opposite end of the couch from Greg. "I know I'm not dad material, not traditional dad, anyway. I hated my own dad. He was abusive both emotionally and physically and I've always been afraid that if I became a parent I would fall into those same behaviors. I'm not a nice person, Greg, but we just met so you can't really know how true that is yet. At this stage, let's just take time to get to know each other. I would understand if this isn't what you were signing up for and bailed, though."

"I've been on my own awhile, now, even when my grandma was alive she trusted me to make my own decisions regarding my life. I just don't know what this is supposed to look like and when you made that comment about raising me, I just cringed." Greg sighed heavily. "I'm not mad, just tired, and a little confused. So far, you've gotten me half the stuff I've ever dreamed of having. Are to trying to make up for lost time, trying to buy me, or just incredibly generous."

"Do I have to decide right now?" House's response wasn't what Greg had expected and there was a twinkle in House's eyes.

Greg had trouble holding back a smirk. His dad was a piece of work. House saw the smile playing around Greg's face and knew the storm had blown over and they both had survived. Rather that heading into the center of the storm, they had managed to avoid most of it by keeping cool heads.

"This is how I would like things to go," began House. "We'll take things a step at a time and as we need to we'll clarify our relationship. As for me, I'm glad to have you here. You are an unexpected surprise but very welcome. I've never been responsible for anyone but myself so I'm pretty selfish and set in my ways. I've leaned pretty heavily on Wilson this past few months as I've continued my recovery and until I get the go ahead from my shrink, I need to stay with him. I have no intention of burdening you with my troubles and for now the best way to do that is to keep you under the Wilson radar for the time being. I'm afraid that once Wilson knows about you, he'll expect me to become his idea of what a parent should be instead of letting me figure it out. Honestly, I'm not sure that I can handle the pressure right now. I don't want to be the weak link in our relationship."

Greg was a little stunned by House's openness. He could tell that it cost his dad something to be that candid. He felt that he needed to say something in return. "Thanks for trusting me not to mess up your place and for letting me stay. You're cooler than I thought you would be. I appreciate the things you got me today, but I'm not here to get you to buy me stuff, I'm here to get to know you and avoid going into foster care. I'm a good kid. I'm not bragging, it's just the truth. I had opportunities to get into drugs and drinking, but the truth is I'm really focused on my music and my education right now. I still haven't gotten that library card. You distracted me by taking me to that music store!" Greg grinned at his dad.

As Greg had been speaking, House watched him closely, barely listening to his words. Instead, he was noticing that Greg and he had similar mannerisms and speech patterns. He didn't sound like he was from the south, either. How could this kid be so much like him? House found it strange, but at the same time gratifying. He looked at his watch and realized that he needed to leave. Greg noticed House's crestfallen face and was pleased that his dad didn't want to go.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" asked Greg.

"Yes. Do you want me to bring breakfast again?" There was a hopeful look in House's eye.

"Sure! Thanks again for all the stuff; it's great!"

"If you play your guitar tonight, remember to keep it down."

House rose from the chair and got his keys out. He felt like he ought to say more or do….something, but he couldn't figure out what it was. He looked lost. Greg got up and gave his dad a bear hug and House reciprocated, realizing that this is what had been missing. He had never wanted to give his dad a hug, but this seemed just right. House smiled down at his son and said "I'm really glad you're here. I wouldn't want it any other way." With that, he turned and walked out the door leaving a very happy young man to fend for himself another night.