Like Father, Like Son

Chapter 28

Cuddy walked down the hallway of the hospital with measured steps and measured breaths. She really didn't understand the reaction that she was having. House hadn't betrayed any trusts. It wasn't her business and if they were telling the truth, House and Wilson never knew what Greg was up to until just before she found out. At least she found out before the team did. That humiliation would be too much.

As Cuddy stepped onto the elevator she saw House trying to catch up to her. She jammed her finger alternately between the first floor and the down button, but the doors wouldn't close fast enough. House's cane was between the two doors, and he was using it to pry them open. Cuddy tried to push the cane back through the doors, but House just used her as leverage. Cuddy felt doomed. The ride to the first floor was silent. Once the doors were open, she flew to her office. Unfortunately, House matched every step. As she tried to lock her door, House blocked it again with his cane.

"Damn that cane" House heard Cuddy say through the door. "Why can't you just leave me in peace, House?"

"Because that isn't really what you want," came House's reply. Cuddy released her grip on the door and let House enter. She sat down at the far end of the long couch in her office and House sat beside her, barely giving her room to move.

"House," sighed Cuddy, "Just say whatever it is you came here to say and then leave. I need to process all of this."

"I can wait. You process" House didn't speak. He didn't move. He did stare, though. Perpetually.

"House, just stop!"

"Stop what?"

"Staring."

"I'm not staring. I'm waiting, Patiently. I can't help it if you're the only interesting thing in the room."

"House…." She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Say it, just say it!"

House remained silent. He looked at her with his little boy waiting patiently eyes and Cuddy cracked. He noticed it the minute it happened; so he waggled his eyebrows, too, and she smiled. Cuddy didn't want to smile, but when House looked at her that way, a switch deep within her flipped and she couldn't help herself. House knew it and had used it on her since college. His puppy dog eyes were extremely effective on Cuddy and once again they had done their job.

"Are we friends, again?" he asked.

"We were never not friends. I was just surprised."

"So was I. I needed a little more time to process than you did, though."

"Well, how long did it take you to process?"

"I'll let you know," replied House. "I'm thinking probably sometime next century. I never planned to be a dad. I never knew Renee was pregnant, thus I never knew that I had a child. I think that Renee was probably right to keep Greg from me, because until recently, I was way too messed up to be a dad. I may still be too messed up to be a dad, but I need to get over it about six weeks ago."

"You never stop being too screwed up to be a parent; you just overlook your lack of qualifications and keep moving. You just do the best that you can. Greg seems happy and well adjusted. You can't be doing too badly."

"Is that experience talking or did you read that in a book?"

"House…" Cuddy sounded like she wasn't sure that she wanted to answer him. "Fine. Nobody told me that this little person was going to make me feel so completely inadequate. Things are so much better now, but that first year I had Rachel, I was starving for reassurances and nothing was coming. Finally, one day, she smiled and said 'Mama" and I felt like maybe I was doing something right, after all."

"Do you know what I've done?" House smiled to himself. He barely remembered that Cuddy was there. "I bought Greg everything I ever wanted - a cool bike, a guitar, a top of the line phone. Well maybe not a phone, they didn't have phones like that when I was a kid. I wanted him to know that I loved him and accepted him right from the start. There's no denying that he's mine. We couldn't look more alike."

"You've got that right! I think that's why I gave him the internship. He reminded me of you. It wasn't conscious, but I knew that I knew Greg from somewhere. Did you like her?"

House was taken off guard by Cuddy's question.

"Yes, very much. We were intoxicated by each other. The music, the mood and the atmosphere were all catalysts for making Greg, but we were in different places in our lives. She had her music and I had medicine. Her family was in New Orleans and I was here, Stacy was in the picture and I was committed to her.

"Renee and I were a flash in the pan. It would have worked at a different place in our lives, but not then. The experience… the moment was magic for me. I love the blues and she did things with that piano that captivated me. I sat down next to her and learned what she had to teach me and I had a few things to teach her as well. We were caught up in the moment. The music downstairs let to music, well sex, upstairs and I guess we made Greg. I can't very well deny it and I don't even want to. He's amazing - gifted in every sense of the word. I'm a lucky man to have that kid."

House stopped and he looked at Cuddy. There were tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry, House, that was beautiful. I've never allowed myself to be caught up in anything like that and I'm a little jealous." Cuddy wiped her eyes with her hand. "I admire that about you, you know. You spend your life risk taking. I call you on it because you're always pushing the boundaries, but God, I envy you!" Cuddy sniffed and looked around for a tissue. "I've planned everything in my life. I can tell you what I'm going to be doing when I'm 105."

House grinned "I can guess that one, myself. The question is whether or not you die of old age or bordom."

"I can't help the way I am, House!"

"Can't you? You can't attempt some spontaneity?"

"I'd need a sitter. That takes planning."

"Bring the kid along! I didn't say get a male hooker! Just do something adventurous!"

Cuddy laughed the boisterous outrageous laugh that gave House hope that she still had some adventure left in her.

"This is how you're going to start. Bring Rachel to dinner with Wilson, Greg and I tonight. You can let me show off my kid's musical talents. We'll eat junk food, and be completely unscheduled. I'll do you a favor and not take bets regarding when you crack under the strain."

"House, I…"

"Cuddy, that's the point! Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Just say yes. Y-E-S. You can do this."

"Yes"

"Yes!" House punched the air with his fist. "Look at that, Cuddy, you survived the first step!"

"Wha-"

House cut her off. "We aren't discussing time or if you bring anything or what you should wear. Don't think about any of it. Be Spon – tan – eous!" He dragged the words out for what seemed to be forever.

Cuddy giggled at the absurdity of what he was suggesting. She also decided to do her best to comply with his suggestion. She was never spontaneous.

House stood up "My work here is done. Come, bring the kid and don't think. I'll let Wilson know that he's having a 'Spontaneity Party' tonight and he's not to plan a thing. He'll be as upset and worried about the whole thing as you will be by then."

"I'm not going to be upset or worried, I might even wear my…."

"Damnit Cuddy, stop thinking! Do your work thing for a few more hours, get the kid and come to Wilson's. Period."

House strode out of Cuddy's office terribly pleased with himself. He'd successfully managed to get Cuddy out of her funk and possibly saved her kid from a life of consistent structure and routine. He also had another plan for the evening that nobody but him knew!