Like Father Like Son
Chapter 19
Wilson's alarm went off way too soon the next morning….until he remembered that he had the secret of all secrets when it came to House. The news that he, House, actually had a son was as stunning to Wilson as if the child had been his. House would need help with the little tike! Where was he keeping him? With his mother, he presumed. Maybe checking out the PPTH daycare just might give Wilson a glimpse of the child. Who would the mother be, though? Did Wilson know her? No, the child must be older; not a tike at all. He was possibly a young adult or a teen. That would make things easier on House. Although House didn't seem to mind little kids, an older child would be more to House's liking….as if he had a choice.
Wilson had two goals for the day. The first was to check House's room for clues. More and more frequently, House had been spending the night at his own place. Wilson decided a trip to House's condo was in order, as well. The second goal was to determine how best to use this information. House was expert at using information for the greatest impact. It was only fair that Wilson got to use this information to the same extent.
After showering, shaving, and dressing, Wilson ambled out to the kitchen to fix his breakfast. He always made enough for House, too, because nothing roused him faster than the scent of food cooking. Sure enough, House appeared.
"Jimmy-boy, the aroma beckons me to the kitchen. Bestow on me a breakfast fit for a king."
"Get your own breakfast, House!" replied Jimmy as he placed a mug of steaming coffee and the sugar bowl in front of his friend. "We both know that you are a better cook than I will ever be."
"Ah, but you know how I struggle in the morning." House put on a sad, pained face and rubbed his leg for emphasis.
Wilson placed an omelet filled with cheese, tomato, onion, green pepper and bacon in front of House.
"I'm feelin' the love, Jimmy! I knew there was no way that you would neglect your bestie!"
"Should I box up another one? Just in case you get hungry later… or feel the need to bring breakfast to someone else should the opportunity arise?"
"Sure, I'll throw it into the middle of the table and let the team fight over it. They've been looking a little thin." House grinned giving no indication to Wilson that his offspring might be going hungry. "Do you want me to let you know when the show starts? I'll even make Thirteen wear a wet t-shirt. You do have clean t-shirts in your dresser, right? Mine aren't meant for that kind of wear.
Wilson let House go on. He knew he wasn't going to get any helpful information from him when he was in this sort of mood.
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As House was riding to his place, he considered the conversation that he'd just had with his best friend. Wilson's comment didn't go unnoticed by House. Nor did House think for a minute that Wilson was fixing the extra omelet for him or the team or anyone else. Wilson was looking for House to confirm that he had a son. He wasn't ready for that yet even though he knew it was best for Greg. They'd agreed to "come out" and it was time. Five short weeks had passed since House met Greg and House had never been happier. He knew he couldn't hide Greg forever, but he sure wished he could. He wasn't ready to share. House parked his bike and grabbed the omelet. Heading up the steps to apartment to see his son made him the happiest man alive. He couldn't even begin to process that knowledge without tears coming to his eyes.
Greg was making a finger football when House walked through the door. The fridge was bare again and keeping his hands busy and mind occupied was his way of staving off hunger until his dad arrived.
"Feed me!" Greg didn't mince words when his stomach was involved.
"Good Morning, young House!" as he spoke, House tossed the container holding the omelet onto the table. "Wilson is onto us. He made this for you. I guess my words finally soaked into his radiation riddled mind."
"What did he say?" Greg was all ears and anxious to know if Wilson had made the connection between him and Intern Eddie.
"He didn't say a thing, but he made the extra omelet and that said all that was needed. I didn't deny or confirm your existence. I'm going to let him think what he wants until you and I figure out how we want to introduce you.
Greg was too busy eating the egg to respond, glad that he had a reason to keep silent. This was one of those days when he interned with Wilson while House had clinic. In another week or two it would be House in charge and he didn't even know that Greg worked there yet. He just had to make it through today without getting caught by House. The rest would have to wait until later. He needed to get to the hospital and that required his dad to be out of the way. Once the egg was gone, he fiddled with his finger football while House made annoying small talk and Greg answered distractedly. Finally, Greg decided that he needed his dad to refocus.
"Dad, don't you have a patient to cure?" It was lame, but the best he could do for that early in the morning.
"No. I've got clinic all morning. Eddie, my soon to be intern is in today so I'm banished to the dungeon. I'm putting off going in to the very last second," House stated.
"What does your boss do to you when you're late?"
"I get more clinic hours."
"Which you hate."
"Tell me," an exasperated House asked, "who's the parent here?"
Greg stared at his dad wondering if he'd crossed a line he shouldn't have crossed.
"I'm going to work." House grabbed his helmet and left without another word. He knew when to make himself scarce. He just didn't know why Greg was so anxious to be rid of him.
Greg needed to scramble to get to the hospital on time and he knew it wasn't going to happen. He called a cab and finished getting ready as he waited. This game he was playing needed to end and it had to be soon.
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House arrived at work and went straight to the clinic. As he passed her office, Cuddy saw him enter and knew by his stride that something was off. House wasn't a happy camper and, if she didn't act soon, no one in clinic was going to be happy either.
"House, need you." Cuddy called from her office door.
House rolled his eyes and hoped against hope that she would give him a reason to yell.
"Just go to your office." Cuddy couldn't believe the words she heard coming from her own mouth. "You hurt, or you're angry, or….House, I know something isn't right. Just go to your office and do whatever it is you do to work things through. I don't need you terrorizing the clinic."
"Just like that."
"Yes, just like that."
"Is there an inspection? Maybe a high profile official or a donor is taking a tour? Why are you getting rid of me, too?" House didn't understand Cuddy's act of kindness any better than she did and it made him want to figure it out. "You aren't getting rid of me that easy, Cuddy."
"Just go, House, please. Don't analyze this. I saw you limping more, I guess. You looked preoccupied and unhappy. I thought you might need some time and I decided to give it to you. Can't I just be nice?"
"Not usually without an ulterior motive."
"Would you feel better if I made one up?"
House thought about it and responded by heading to his office. If Cuddy had forgotten why he was banished to the clinic, then he wasn't going to remind her. House had an intern to torture and he was going to enjoy it!
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Greg slipped into the hospital just shortly after House. Fortunately, a cab had been immediately available and Greg was just a few minutes late. After checking Wilson's office and finding it locked, he went to the conference room to wait and catch up with the team.
"Hey, Eddie!" greeted the team in unison.
"Hi guys! Have you seen Wilson?"
"Not yet, but he doesn't usually check in unless he wants to talk to House," answered Chase. "Come sit."
Greg sat with his back to the glass wall. "Thanks!" He took out his finger football and fiddled with it until Taub decided to engage him in a game.
"I haven't seen one of these since…."
"…last week when House was making one," Foreman interrupted Taub. Foreman caught the football in his cupped hands when Taub flipped it to him and, in turn, flicked it back to Greg."
As House limped by the conference room on the way to his office, he noticed that "Intern Eddie" was deep into a game of finger football with his team…using a football that House was certain that he'd seen less than an hour ago. A smile appeared on House's face and suddenly things didn't look so bleak anymore. He continued on past his office door and returned to the clinic. He needed to think on what he had just seen and contemplate his next move. A celebratory nap was definitely in order!