Will House realize the consequences of his rash confrontation with Morgan?

Here's another chapter. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 144.

I waited until Chase tested for the allergen, and then slid open the door to Marisa's room.

"Dr. House, Dr. Chase said you've identified what I'm allergic to." She was smiling.

"We think so. But I need to ask you about something else. Did the piano bar ever get deliveries while you were there?"

She didn't answer right away, but seemed to be thinking about it. "Occasionally, when I was there in the afternoon rehearsing the liquor delivery man came by."

"What about the fruit guy? From Bernini Fruit Company?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. I didn't really pay attention to what was happening in the storerooms."

"Tall guy, well-built. Named Mike?" I tried to jog her memory.

She started to shake her head, then stopped. "You know, I think I saw him a few times, standing in the doorway to the back, watching me."

"Like he was keeping an eye on you?"

She shrugged again. "I guess so. I didn't really watch him." Her eyes narrowed. "Why?"

I was sure Francesca could have said the same. Was Morgan stalking her? Or had Molino and his girlfriend asked him to watch Marisa?

I ignored her question. "Once you're doing better, Dr. Wilson will resume your treatment." No need to tell her more. Ricky was already taking precautions against Giancarlo. If Ricky was in a relationship with her, I'd tell him to be on the lookout for Mike Morgan, too. Then again, how do you guard against some truck hitting your car?

It must have been telepathy or something, but who should I meet coming off the elevator as I was about to get on but Ricky Locarno.

He smiled. "Hi, Dr. House. How's Marisa today?"

"Better. We've gotten to the bottom of what was wrong, and she should be starting treatment for her vocal problems."

His smile spread to a grin. "That's great news. Um, I didn't know what to bring her. Is this alright?" He held out a box of Italian pastries.

They looked so tempting, I was considering confiscating them, at least one of the cannolis, but decided I'd just ask Marisa to share. "Is there any cinnamon in them?"

"Cinnamon? I don't think so. Why?"

I sniffed the box. "If she starts sneezing come get me." I caught sight of Markham walking down the hall. "Better yet...hey, Markham. Come over here and be our canary-in-a-coal-mine."

"Huh?" The red-headed nurse came closer.

"Let's see what happens when you hold this box."

Both of the young men were completely confused by what I asked, but Markham took the box from Ricky.

"Okay, now give it back and let me see your hands." I examined the palms and smiled. They were clean as a whistle. "Ricky, I hope she enjoys those and tell her to save one for me. Or two."

"Sure, Doc." He continued on toward Marisa's room.

Markham still looked puzzled. "Did you need me for anything else?"

"Not a thing." I pressed the button for the elevator again as he walked away, shaking his head. He was new. He'd learn to read between the lines of whatever I said.

I returned to my office with a growing feeling that there was something else I should be doing, but my mind wouldn't give it up. I leaned back in my office chair and tossed my ball up in the air, catching it one handed for a while until my eyes fell on Marisa's file and I jumped up again, rushing back to her room.

She and Ricky were chattering away and smiling at each other. I rolled my eyes. She held out the box of pastries to me. "Ricky said you wanted one."

"Yeah, maybe later. Marisa, did Yvette leave anything here or give you something?"

"Who's Yvette?"

"One of Dr. Wilson's nurses. Short." I held my hand about the height of my chest.

"Oh, the friendly one." Marisa started to shake her head, then stopped. "She left a lacy handkerchief. I meant to give it back to her, but I never saw her again."

"Where is it?"

"Well, I didn't want anyone to take it, so I've been keeping it under my pillow." She reached under and pulled out a pink piece of fabric. "Why?"

"It wasn't only one-time exposure to her perfume that's affected you, it's continued exposure. You should have improved after the last time you saw her, but that handkerchief probably absorbed some of her perfume."

Marisa held the cloth to her nose, and I rolled my eyes again before grabbing it from her.

"Haven't you been listening? This thing is keeping you from getting better." I sniffed it myself. A faint cinnamon scent remained. I held it at arms length, away from the patient.

"So once you get rid of that she'll get better?" Ricky asked.

"Well enough for Dr. Wilson to work his magic on her." I stared at Marisa, thinking I should be badgering her some more about Morgan or her step-sister, but decided I'd wait for her to come to me. I left, taking the offending frilly hanky away with me. I passed Chase in the hallway.

He did a double take and looked carefully at what I was holding.

I stuck it under his nose.

He wrinkled it. "Where'd you find that?"

"Under Marisa's pillow."

"What were you doing..."

I smirked at him. "She was keeping it there until she saw Yvette again."

"So that's why she wasn't getting any better."

I nodded.

He nodded too and continued on.

This time when I returned to my office, I felt a lot less unsettled. The hanky dropped into my trash can, making not a sound. I leaned back in my chair again and closed my eyes.

I could have been there five minutes or fifty when my phone rang. It was Rudy again. What did he want this time? "Hello, Rudy."

"Dr. House, I think you were right. Morgan reacted to your taunting." His voice was high and he was shouting, as if he was angry.

"What did he do?" I was suddenly alert.

"He drove his truck through the window at the front of the bar."

I whistled.

"No one was hurt, and he backed off and drove away, but I know it was him. The piano player saw the truck. Doc, how do I pay to have that fixed?"

"Don't you have insurance?" Everyone did, especially business owners.

"Well, yeah, but what's to stop him from doing it again. And again. Or maybe next time something worse?" He sighed. "Someone could have been hurt."

"I hear ya." What else could I say? What I did got Morgan to react and that was a good thing. It would have been better if he'd done something else, something that would hurt Molino's cause in some way.
"You should press charges. If you have a witness that it was his truck, and you saw him driving it earlier, it might be enough to get him off the streets. With his record, they'd be certain to hold him in the hoosegow."

"Yeah, well I did call the cops and file a report." He was calming down a bit. "And Pat, the piano player, you remember him? He told them it was Morgan's fruit truck, so I guess you're right. They'll pick him up. If they can find him. If he hasn't run off. That's a big if. It's what I'd do under the circumstances."

"But you aren't Mike Morgan. He doesn't hesitate to kill or to damage property, doesn't run from anyone."

"Let's hope you're right. The sooner he's in jail, the better I'll like it."

"If he runs instead, he'll be gone from the scene anyway. Ever think about that? This might have been the best thing that could happen."

He blew a raspberry that seemed to wet the phone at my end. "Easy for you to say. I still have to take care of the damage."

A teeny smidge of guilt crept into my head. "I'll cover what the insurance doesn't. Don't worry, Rudy. Your troubles with Mike Morgan are over. And I have more good news. We know what caused Marisa's reaction and why it continued, so we'll be able to fix her up good as new before long."

"That's probably the best news I've had today. Thanks, Doc."

"I'll let you know when we'll be kicking her outta here."

"Do that." The phone went dead on the other end of the line.

I stared at my phone, processing what might happen next with Morgan, but I was convinced I was right. I'd forced him to do something stupid that would put him behind bars, at least for a while. How would that affect Molino's plans? Without Morgan to do his dirty work, he'd have to send Giancarlo out in the open again if there was anyone he wanted to eliminate or even scare.

So who would they go after next? The Locarnos were his prime target, for some reason I still couldn't fathom, but Marcello and Ricky had taken precautions. They were probably protecting Tina, too, although I'd have to confirm that with Ricky. Would Molino be so stupid as to go after Tony? He'd been mostly smart and careful up to now.

I hoped Ricky was still visiting with Marisa. I needed a word or two with him. But was there anyone else who was in danger from the Sicilian? Somehow I doubted Morgan's recent attack on Ellie was at Molino's behest. No, that was personal.

Once more, I headed to our patient's room. As luck would have it, Ricky was just leaving. "Care for a cup of coffee?" I asked him.

"I should get back to the office before my grandfather has a conniption."

"It won't take long." I steered him to the elevator and when we reached the ground floor, to the cafeteria. I looked around. "Are you still keeping a guard nearby?"

He grinned. "See the guy in the scrubs sitting with an older man in jeans and a t-shirt?"

I had to admit I hadn't noticed either of them, but now that I had, I realized one or the other had been in the hallway every time I'd seen Ricky. I nodded. "Good. What about your uncle? And Tina?" We each got a cup of coffee and sat at a table not far from the guards.

"We're well protected. Why? Have you seen the guy who attacked me?"

"No, but I have a feeling he'll show up sometime soon. Have you seen a big guy, mid-forties?" I described Morgan.

Ricky's eyes narrowed and he rubbed his ear. "I haven't noticed anyone, but I'll ask Roger. That's the younger guy over there."

"He may be out of the picture for now, but that means Molino only has Giancarlo left to do his dirty deeds. I have a feeling things will heat up pretty quickly now."

"Thanks for the warning, Dr. House." Ricky looked around the cafeteria, then leaned closer to me. "What about Marisa? Molino might not know she and I have gotten close."

"He probably knows. He's been watching her, or at least had someone keeping tabs on her."

Ricky frowned. "Why?"

"Did she ever mention her step-sister, Beverly?"

He shook his head.

"Beverly is Molino's latest girlfriend."

Ricky sat back in his chair, a stunned look on his face. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

I shrugged. "I wasn't sure what it meant. Still not sure. If I'd known, I doubt I would have introduced you."

"Well, I'm glad you did. She's a terrific person. Not just pretty, but smart and sweet." He glanced at his two bodyguards. "I'll have to arrange some sort of watch on her. The hospital may be safer than other places, but you never know."

I thought about all the times the hospital hadn't been safe and had to agree with him. "We'll do what we can."

Ricky finished his coffee and stood. "Thanks, Dr. House, for keeping me apprised of the situation."

I nodded, hoping whatever precautions he was taking would be enough.