Princeton-Plainesboro Teaching Hospital – New Jersey

Cuddy,

I convinced a night nurse to let me use the computer to conduct 'company business' and I decided to update you on what's going on; House's son, Woodrow Hoyt, has been diagnosed with a meningioma and that's why he had a seizure. Anyway, the on-duty oncologist was very unprofessional and I decided to become Woody's doctor even though I don't know him well. Apparently, House's daughter, Annie, and his other foster son, Calvin, are also in the area, so things are pretty busy here. It's quite a shock…

"James, I am going to kill you and House," Cuddy moaned as she closed the lid of her laptop and sighed.

There was a moment of silence and then Cuddy sighed, "Foreman!" she yelled. "Get in here now!"

"Cuddy, what is it?" Foreman asked as he came into the room with a chart in hand. "What's wrong?"

Cuddy sighed, "I have to go to Boston to see what nonsense House and Wilson are up to," she said in a distressed voice as she stood up and quickly unplugged her laptop. "Can you hold down the fort?"

"Thirteen can help me, right?" Foreman asked in a nervous voice. "Why do you care about…?"

Cuddy picked up her laptop and mouse, "Why do I care about what House and Wilson are up to, Foreman?" she asked in a commanding voice. "I care because it scares the crap out of me why they even went to Boston in the first place; all of a sudden, House has children that nobody ever knew about?"

"What?" Foreman asked in a shocked voice as he stared at her. "Cuddy, have you been drinking?"

Cuddy scoffed, opened the laptop, and showed Foreman the screen, "Wilson sent me this email," she explained in an irritated voice as Foreman's eyes widened. "Wilson wouldn't lie about this."

"Wow," Foreman replied in a shocked voice. "I can't imagine House ever being a father."

Swallowing hard, Cuddy closed the laptop and picked it up, "You and Thirteen better not blow up the hospital while I'm gone," she said in a snappish voice as she walked out of the office. "See you soon."

Boston, Massachusetts

"I spent most the night looking over this," Wilson explained as he sat in a chair next to Woody's bed with the folder open so that both Woody and House could see it. "Surgery is the most effective option."

Woody sighed, "What other options are there?" he asked, not wanting to be put under the knife. "If it's cancer, why can't I do radiation or chemotherapy? I'd rather not have surgery if I can avoid it."

"Don't be stubborn," House replied gruffly. "If they shave your head, I'll buy you a nice wig."

Woody sighed and was about to reply when his eyes suddenly rolled into the back of his head and he began to convulse violently, "Woody!" House yelled in an angry voice. "Jimmy, do something!"

"I can't do anything, House!" Wilson shouted as he ran to the door. "Hey, I need some help!"

Several nurses and a doctor ran in as the monitor Woody was hooked to began to whine, "He's got a meningioma!" Wilson said in an anxious voice as the nurses worked to stabilize him. "House, I know Woody wanted to make his own decision, but he can't and I need you to make the decision now!"

"Schedule surgery for as soon as you can," House replied commandingly as Woody suddenly stopped seizing and went limp enough for the monitor to return to normal. "I want Woody feeling better."

Wilson nodded and swallowed hard as House turned and walked out of the room to collect himself. He sighed and hurried out of the room, "House, why don't you go do something so you're not pacing around the hospital while Woody's in surgery?" he suggested gently. "You could see your daughter."

"That's a thought," House replied as he turned to face Wilson. "Woody woke up at three this morning and we had a chat about his life and Annie's life. He told me where Annie will be working and I…"

Wilson looked slightly relieved, "Go visit her, then," he said in a gentle voice. "Get out of here."

For a moment, House was silent and then nodded as he walked off, leaning heavily on his cane.

"Doctor Macy?" Nigel asked as he poked his head into Garrett's office and saw that Garrett was on the phone while Lily stood beside the desk looking worried. "Doctor Macy, I need to have a word."

Garrett sighed, "…If you find out where he is, let me know," he said in a cross voice before he hung up the phone and glared at Nigel. "What is it you want, Nigel? I'm trying to see if I can find Bug."

"Where's Bug?" Nigel asked in a concerned voice. "Last I checked, he was at the hospital with…"

Garrett shook his head, "Woody woke up just in time to see Bug get taken away by Homeland Security because some grouchy nurse accused Bug of being a terrorist," he replied in a somber voice. "Woody's got company, though; his father and a friend of his father's came from New Jersey to be of help."

"Do you know who needs help?" Nigel asked in a shocked voice. "I do; I almost got maced last night."

Lily looked shocked and Garrett looked like he wanted an explanation, "Woody's sister, Annie, came by the office with her son and Jordan yesterday and I took Annie and her son to Woody's," Nigel explained in a distressed voice. "When I brought Annie's luggage inside, Annie threatened to mace me…"

"Wait, are you talking about Annie Hoyt, the doctor I just hired by recommendation?" Garrett asked in a confused voice, giving Nigel a skeptical look. "Doctor Hoyt's boss, Doctor Switzer, assured me that Doctor Hoyt is very skilled and very professional. She's got a young son and needed a change…"

Nigel nodded, "She's got a fiery temper, protective attitude, and bruises on her face," he replied, unaware that Jordan, Annie, and Daniel were coming through the hallway towards the office and were overhearing his rants about Annie. "If you ask me, you should take a second thought about hiring…"

"Good morning," Annie said in a clipped, yet very professional voice. "Doctor Macy, I'm Doctor Hoyt."

Nigel cringed and turned to find Jordan and Daniel standing beside Annie, who was wearing duct-taped sneakers, dark blue scrubs with an undershirt underneath them while her hair was done up in a bun.

"Doctor Hoyt, it's nice to meet you," Garrett said in a warm voice as he stood up and offered his hand.

Giving Nigel a death glare, Annie walked over to the desk and carefully shook Garrett's hand before moving back to Daniel, "This is my son, Daniel," she explained pleasantly. "I know you probably don't encourage your staff to bring your kids to work, but I haven't gotten Daniel enrolled in school yet."

"It's fine for today," Garrett replied in a calm voice. "You'll just be doing Orientation today and I think Jordan can help you with that; if Daniel doesn't mind, he can hang out in my office for a bit."

Annie nodded, "Daniel, listen to Doctor Macy," she said in a gentle voice. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Mommy, when are we going to see Uncle Woody?" Daniel asked softly. "I'm worried about him."

Annie sighed, "When Mommy finishes talking to Jordan, we can," she replied in a gentle voice as she moved out of the office. "Why don't you see if Doctor Macy will help you make a get well card?"

Daniel looked at Dr. Macy hopefully as Annie followed Jordan off down the hallway, "Nigel, can you please go find something to do?" Garrett asked in an exasperated voice. "I don't know what exactly happened between you and Doctor Hoyt to get her uncomfortable around you, but don't push it."

Nigel scowled, but nodded and silently left the office just as the phone rang, "Hello?" Garrett asked as he picked the receiver up and held it to his ear. "Oh, Doctor House, what can I do for you?"

Garrett's eyes widened as he listened to House tell him that Woody was being prepped for surgery on his meningioma after suffering a seizure that disrupted his vitals and that the surgeon was planning to also take a bit of the meningioma for a biopsy, "…What can I do?" Garrett asked in a worried voice.

There was silence as House explained that Wilson was going to observe the surgery and that there was nothing else that could be done until after the surgery, "Right, call me here when you know of anything," Garrett said in a distressed voice. "I've got a new doctor doing an Orientation today and…"

A dial tone was the only thing Garrett heard and he hung up, "What a day," he said to Lily and Daniel, both of whom were giving him worried looks. "Lily, why don't you take Daniel to the break room and get him set up with some paper and pencils? I'm sure he'd like to make a get well card for his uncle."

Lily nodded and silently ushered Daniel from the office while Garrett began to offer a silent prayer.

"Do you want to tell me why you didn't want to go to the hospital?" Jordan asked in a quiet, but concerned voice as she watched Annie wrap a rubber band around her arm and stick a small lab syringe into a vein that was popping out. "Garrett's going to kill me if we don't do your orientation, Annie."

Annie sighed as blood filled the vial, "Read the book to me while I'm doing this," she replied in a gruff voice as the vial became full and she pulled it out. "Can you also get me a cotton ball and some tape?"

"They do blood tests at the hospital, you know," Jordan replied calmly as she walked over to a medical supply cabinet, got the requested items, and walked back over to Annie. "What tests do you want run?"

Annie sighed as she taped the cotton ball to the crook of her arm, "Cap it for me and I'll take it to the hospital when I visit Woody," she replied in a tired voice as she took the Orientation booklet from Jordan and began to skim through it. "I'm looking forward to working with patients who don't talk back even if they're not satisfied with their care. I spent enough years dealing with the grouchiest people."

"Here," Jordan replied calmly as she handed Annie the sealed vial. "Why do you want secrecy?"

Annie quickly took the vial, "Some secrets are better left kept secret," she replied softly as she rolled up the Orientation booklet and stuck it into the pocket of her scrub pants. "Do you think they'll test this?"

Before Jordan could reply, Nigel came into the room and saw that there was a cotton ball taped to Annie's arm and that she was holding a vial full of blood, "Practicing blood drawing on your first day, Doctor Hoyt?" he asked in a charming voice. "Are you actually planning to use that for something?"

"None of your business," Annie replied softly, deeply unnerved by Nigel's curious expression.

Jordan sighed, "Did you still want me to read you the booklet?" she asked in a worried voice.

"I'll read it tonight after Daniel's in bed," Annie replied calmly as she carefully held the vial close.

Nigel grinned mischievously, "I take it that you gave Doctor Hoyt the sped up version of Orientation, Jordan?" he asked, grinning at both Annie and Jordan as he walked over to the supply cart, pulled a rubber glove out of an open box, and made a balloon out of it. "Here's a little welcome present."

Before Annie, who was taken aback by the gesture, could reply, her cell-phone that she desperately needed to replace, buzzed, "Just a minute," she said in a nervous voice as she dug the cell-phone, which resembled a walkie talkie, out of her pocket and held it up to her ear. "Hello, Doctor Hoyt speaking."

There was speaking on the other end and Annie nodded, "Sure, we can meet for something to eat if you want," she said in an anxious voice, well aware that Nigel and Jordan were watching her. "I'm at the Medical Examiner's office just arranging details for my new job. Why are you asking me where I am?"

The phone suddenly went dead and Annie could hear the sound of a cane and footsteps making tracks down the hallway. Annie, Jordan, and Nigel looked towards the door just in time to see House stop in the doorway and lean on his cane with a confused, yet very intrigued expression on his aged face.

"Can I help you, sir?" Jordan asked in a confused voice as she stared at the grizzled man before her.

House smirked and pointed his cane at Annie, "I can't believe you followed in my footsteps, of all things you could do with your life," he commented as he walked into the room. "How are you doing, Annie?"

"Fine," Annie replied, well aware that she probably looked like crap. "Jordan, Nigel, this is my father."

Jordan extended her hand, "Doctor Jordan Cavanaugh," she replied as she and House shook hands.

"Doctor Nigel Townsend," Nigel replied as he walked over to them. "What brings you here?"

House scoffed, "I wasn't aware I needed an invitation to see my daughter," he replied in an unimpressed voice as he tapped his cane on the floor. "I was just wondering, Annie, if you wanted to go out to eat…"

"Grandpa House!" Daniel's excited voice filled the room as House suddenly felt himself being hugged.

House looked down at Daniel, "Careful of my leg, buddy," he replied in a calm voice. "Remember?"

"Yep," Daniel replied in a happy voice as he hugged House around the waist. "Did you come to visit?"

House nodded as Garrett came in with Lily, "I got a lead on where Bug might be and I'm going to check it out," Garrett commented as he noticed House standing there being hugged by Daniel. "Doctor House?"

"Just visiting my daughter and grandson," House replied coolly. "Or am I facing an interrogation?"

Annie sighed as Daniel came over to her, "Daniel, let's go for a little walk with Grandpa House, okay?" she suggested in a gentle voice. "We'll go get some food and then go visit Uncle Woody, all right?"

Before Garrett, Nigel, or Jordan could react, Annie and Daniel left the room with House, "Garrett, did you actually do any other checks on Doctor Hoyt besides getting one recommendation?" Nigel asked in a nervous voice, very wary about Annie's personality. "She's only been here a day and she's…"

"Nigel, I don't want to hear it, all right?" Garrett replied crossly. "Doctor Hoyt is part of our family now."

Deeply humbled, but not willing to give up until he at least made a private call to whomever this Dr. Switzer was, Nigel nodded and hurried out of the office, "Jordan, Lily, can you hold down the fort here while I go see about where Bug might be?" Garrett asked in a concerned voice. "Hopefully, I'll find him."

"Doctor Wilson, I think you need to see these results," a voice whispered in Wilson's ear as he watched a surgeon and several nurses and also watched a screen that had a view of the meningioma on it.

Letting out an aggravated sigh, Wilson turned and saw a lab tech standing there in a surgical gown, cap, and gloves with a folder in hand, "The results of the biopsy?" he asked worriedly. "What were they?"

The technician handed him the folder and Wilson opened it cautiously, "It's cancerous, but it hasn't spread beyond the meningioma yet," he reported to the medical staff who were working on Woody.

"We'll get out what we can and then Detective Hoyt can either have chemo or radiation to eradicate the rest," Dr. Mortenson, who had taken on Detective Hoyt's surgery after Wilson had begged him to, replied through his mask without looking up from what he was doing. "Any idea on his wishes?"

Wilson shook his head as he studied the results, unaware that the tech had left, "Doctor Gregory House has power of attorney for Detective Hoyt," he replied in a nervous voice. "Should I call him?"

"You might want to do that so that Detective Hoyt can get started on treatment as quickly as possible once he's awake and alert," Dr. Mortenson replied through his mask. "So the cancer doesn't spread."

Wilson sighed and silently left the operating room. He pulled off his mask and gown and threw them in the nearest trash bin before he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. House wouldn't like this at all.

"Woody's got a nice apartment for being a detective," House commented dryly as he followed Annie and Daniel into Woody's apartment and saw that there was an open sleeping bag and pillow on the couch and that two suitcases were sitting near the bookshelf. "Don't tell me you sleep on the couch."

Annie sighed, "Daniel uses Woody's bed and I thought you might like the spare room," she lied, not wanting her father to know that she still suffered from periodic insomnia. "Do you want it?"

House scoffed and looked at Daniel briefly before looking at Annie again, "I'll make Wilson take the couch if he doesn't get himself a hotel," he replied in a smug voice. "He was talking about a hotel."

"How's your leg?" Annie asked softly, determined to get the focus off of her. "Any pain?"

House shrugged, "Every day," he replied in a voice that indicated he didn't care as he studied the bruises on Annie's face and wondered how many more she was hiding. "Have you been getting any rest?"

"I'm a single mom with a full time job and a beautiful son," Annie replied softly. "What do you think?"

House raised an eyebrow as his mouth went tight, "Sorry, that was rude," Annie said apologetically.

"Annie, we need to have a serious talk," House said in a worried voice as he saw Daniel lingering.

Annie nodded, "Honey, why don't you take your suitcase and unpack it in Uncle Woody's room while I talk to your grandpa?" she suggested, smiling at Daniel. "After we're done, I'll make us all some food."

Daniel nodded, quickly grabbed his suitcase, and dragged it into Woody's room, "Okay, so what's with the vial of your blood?" House asked, eyeing the vial that Annie had brought with her from the office.

Before Annie could reply, House's phone buzzed and House quickly took it out, "Wilson texted me," he explained, frowning as he read the text that Wilson had sent. "Annie, Woody's in surgery and they just biopsied a bit of the meningioma. Woody's got cancer, but it hasn't metastasized beyond the mass…"

Swallowing hard, Annie nodded and offered a silent, heartfelt prayer for Woody's frail health.

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