Chapter 4

Tuesday

The sounds of shopping carts could be heard, along with the beeping of scanned items, and the rustling of plastic bags. The Whole Foods was empty on this Tuesday afternoon save for a few customers perusing different aisles while House and his son stood standing side by side in front of produce by the entrance. Ulysses grabbed an orange, feeling it in his hands before setting it back onto the pile with the others while House beside him grabbed a few lemons.

"We are going to feast this week." House said, tying the bag of produce before placing it in the green cart where his cane was hooked over. Ulysses hadn't heard him but continued to take in the surroundings of the market and the colorful assortment of fruit while House placed a few in plastic bags before proceeding forward. He followed closely beside House and the cart, not paying attention, House had bumped him with the cart softly which startled him and he turned to face House.

"What is your favorite fruit?" House signed, standing beside the refrigerated pre-packaged sliced fruit, the cool of the refrigeration sending a chill to Ulysses small frame. He hugged himself even though he was wrapped in a black winter coat and House reached into the assortment of colorful fruit.

"I like strawberries." Ulysses signed, reaching over to pat on House's free arm to get his attention and House turned from where he had been reaching out, looking down at Ulysses expressing himself.

"Really? I do too." House signed with a playful smile which Ulysses mirrored with a cheerful one and House placed a large package of strawberries in the cart before continuing forward.

In the early morning they had gone to the DMV where he acquired a new state ID for Ulysses with his official name and had him entered into the states database. Thankfully, they didn't have to stand in line or wait long since House had a disability although he didn't appreciate the patronization from the employee about raising such a young boy alone with a disability. That is until the employee realized that Ulysses was deaf when he'd tried to take a photo of him and Ulysses wasn't listening to the commands. In that case both disabilities canceled out and they were officially two peas in a pod.

"We have an interview today at 3:00 at your new school." House informed Ulysses while the cashier scanned their items, Ulysses eyes lit up and his lips curled into a bright smile.

"Really? A deaf school?" Ulysses signed quickly.

"Yes, really. A deaf school, none of them can hear. Except for maybe the administrator I spoke to on the phone…unless." House joked, signing with his hands when the cashier coughed to get House's attention and he turned to look at the woman.

"He gets excited about markets." House said, pulling out his wallet to pay for the groceries, she processed his cash before handing him his change and a receipt. House handed Ulysses the change which he happily placed in his pocket, then House placed the bags in the cart with Ulysses following behind him.

"Let's eat a light lunch before we leave." House signed, popping open his trunk in the parking lot while Ulysses was handed a light plastic bag with bread. He assisted House in placing the groceries into the trunk before they were on their way back to the apartment where House had already ordered boxes and had contacted a piano mover to move the grand piano.

House directed Ulysses on how to properly store each produce, fish, and poultry when they unpacked the groceries in the kitchen. Ulysses looked on attentively, storing the information, and copying House's movements while handling each item. He was now seated on the wooden kitchen island while House placed several eggs into a pot of water, House informing him the eggs needed to be boiled, cooled, and then peeled before being mashed.

"So we're gonna set the fire to here. Medium heat and place a cover on top to ensure the heat remains inside." House informed him, motioning his hands before turning to the stove and turning the nozzle before placing the pot over the flame.

"We're eating egg salad sandwiches." Ulysses motioned with his hands and House nodded with a friendly smile, wearing a kitchen apron.

After the eggs had finished boiling, House poured out the boiling water, informing Ulysses to be careful upon doing so because the heat from the smoke could be harmful to the skin and he poured the boiled eggs in a bowl of ice cold water. Informing Ulysses that this would ensure the shells fall right off and they wouldn't struggle to peel them off or it getting stuck to the egg. After a few minutes, House took them out of the bowl, placed them on a napkin and handed a few to Ulysses, showing him how to peel them before throwing them into a plastic container. They peeled through the eggs, the shell sliding clean off and House proceeded to smash them in the plastic container before handing it to Ulysses to try.

"We're gonna smash them to bits!" House informed him.

Once they'd prepared the egg salad, House spread it on pieces of wheat bread and handed it over to Ulysses who took a small bite and chewed with satisfaction. House prepared his own sandwich and took a large bite out of it, exhaling through his nose quenching his appetite with a hand resting on his hip.

He thought about how he found himself in his current situation, wondering if Ulysses was real and if there really was a boy sitting in the kitchen with him. Squinting his eyes with suspicion, he reached out and pinched Ulysses cheek, earning him a yelp and tear filled eyes.

"What was that for?" Ulysses signed, holding his sandwich in his right hand and rubbing his cheek with his left from where House had pinched it.

"Sorry. I didn't know if you were real or not?" House replied flatly, shrugging his shoulders and signing with his hands while Ulysses pinched his brows.

"I am real!" Ulysses signed, tossing his wavy locks in frustration from his face, little breaths escaping his lips as he mouthed the words along with his hands. Patting his chest to show House he was indeed real.

—-

Dana Conway's School for the Deaf was a large school that served pre-k to 12th grade, which meant Ulysses wouldn't have to be attending different schools for middle school or high school which was alright with House because he wasn't sure he could handle the stress from all of the work that came with that. The school had aged architecture with the structures made of brick save for a few new nearby buildings such as the gymnasiums, tennis courts, and the indoor swimming pool.

House had arrived with Ulysses who was very excited for the tour of the school, they'd gone inside and Ulysses smiled from ear to ear at every person who passed him by. It reminded him of Cuddy when she was in a room with potential donors, excited about winning their money for the hospital.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Gregory House. I have an interview with Deborah Hall at 3:00 for my son, Ulysses House." House informed the front desk receptionist who was not deaf to his surprise, not that he assumed everyone in the school would be. The elderly woman turned to her computer, clicking away, before picking up the office phone and speaking with someone on the other line curtly.

"She'll be right out. If you could have a seat." The woman replied with a warm smile, motioning behind House where a wooden bench stood against the wall where Ulysses was leaning against while watching passing children and teenagers who made their way home for the day. House limped his way over to the bench, placing his cane between his legs and sitting down where Ulysses joined him, his feet dangling.

"I'm excited!" Ulysses motioned with his hands, swinging his feet back and forth underneath the bench and House huffed.

"We're only in the office, Ulysses. We haven't even seen the rest of the school yet." House chuckled, Ulysses pouted before signing with his hands that the office was already part of the experience and he was finally getting the chance to get a tour of the whole school.

"Dr. House." A woman appeared from around the corner, she was dressed respectively with a dress she wore modestly, and she had medium length sandy blonde hair that fell across her chest.

"I'm Deborah Hall, it's a pleasure to meet you." Deborah walked over to him, her heels clicking against the tiled floor while House stood up carefully to shake her hand in greeting. She flashed a beautiful white smile that reached her eyes, pulling from him to turn to Ulysses, she put her hands on her knees, putting a piece of hair behind her ear from where it fell in her eyes, and she leaned forward.

"You must be Ulysses. I'm Deborah. I'm in charge of running this school." Deborah signed with her hands, still in a bent position to give Ulysses a sense of familiarity instead of hovering above him with her tall height. Ulysses eyes lit up and he motioned his hands to introduce himself before holding a hand out to her, she took and shook it.

"You have a nice little gentleman here, Dr. House." Deborah complimented, straightening upward and she turned to him with a friendly smile, blinking her long lashes at him in the process. She was very attractive, but she also reminded him of Cuddy just in a different position and a different font.

"Yes, well, I try." House replied awkwardly before Deborah began the tour of the school, turning out of the office and into the main entrance where a few kids were lingering or making their way out the front doors.

Deborah spent most of her time explaining the amenities the school had to offer directly to House so that he could relay it to Ulysses when they arrived home, but Ulysses lingered beside House just in surprise at this new environment. She also explained the class systems and how the lower levels were separated from the higher levels, so no bullying of any kind from older children would be going on. The pre-K building was in the same building as the daycare center and Kindergarten which Ulysses would go to the following year. The buildings were split up based on levels, so each area was respective to the age groups, but the only times the children blended together were for after school activities. House explained his position as a head of diagnostic department and that sometimes he may not be available to pick Ulysses up right away upon dismissal which Deborah informed him the latest pick-up was six and that Ulysses would be in the care of after-school clubs such as tutoring, sports, or life skills.

"I was worried about taking him anywhere else, I just don't want people to treat him like he's stupid. You know. I just got custody of him not too long ago and the foster placement he was with didn't take care of him properly." House explained to Deborah as they rounded back to the main office, her heels clicking against the tiled floors of the hallways and hair bouncing with each step.

"Yes, I read the information you faxed over regarding his background. I can only imagine what a delicate situation that was and continues to be for you, but I can assure you Ulysses will receive the same education as any other hearing child would receive. There is no coddling here." Deborah informed House with a closed-mouth smile, opening the door to the office and she had them follow her into her main-office across from the principal's office who was speaking with parents.

"Now, this is a bit of a late enrollment and I will see what I can do. Can you tell me about his mother?" Deborah questioned, folding her hands over her desk where she sat behind and House sat on the other side with Ulysses beside him. House coughed nervously, but Ulysses didn't seem interested in the conversation and was looking around the office.

"His mother is no longer in the picture. She doesn't want anything to do with him, in fact she's getting married and gave birth to a little girl last year." House informed Deborah glumly, smacking his lips together before looking down at his shoes, sad about the information that Cuddy was indeed getting married and there was nothing he could do.

"I'm sorry to hear that. At least, you have your son." Deborah gave him a small smile which House returned as they both looked to Ulysses who turned his attention to them now from where he had been looking out the window.

"What?" He signed with his hands which earned a laugh from both House and Deborah.

After completing paperwork with Deborah for an hour, he and Ulysses were on their way back home.

—-

Wilson sat in his office, typing away at his computer. It was later in the afternoon, the hospital was bustling as usual when he clicked to print out patient stickers, he turned to grab the folders where he'd label them alphabetically. Rolling up the sleeves on his dress shirt, he heard a knock at his door and he called out to whoever was seeking his counsel to come in.

"Sorry to bother you, but we have a problem." It was Foreman, he walked in with a patient file, sitting across from Wilson who was peeling a sticker to place neatly on the folder in front of him.

"Well, House is on leave and I'm not going to call him." Wilson replied quickly, continuing his motions, moving the completed ones out of the way before grabbing a new one.

"I understand, but we believe with recent labs it might be cancer so if you could come and do a lung biopsy with us." Foreman explained, Wilson stopped his movements and leaned forward in his office chair before getting up. He and Foreman walked out of the office where Foreman filled him in on the patient's condition before they rounded down to Cuddy's office.

"We need approval to do a lung biopsy." Foreman handed Cuddy the patient's file, she hung up the phone before taking it into her hands, flipping it open and reading it.

"Why are you doing a lung biopsy when the patient is exhibiting other symptoms having nothing to do with her lungs?" Cuddy squinted at the folder, looking up from it to Foreman who was shifting in his step.

"She came in with severe nausea, dizziness, cough, and shortness of breath. She's a bit hard of hearing due to the fluid buildup in her ears from a cold she says just won't go away. Her x-rays revealed an advanced case of pneumonia, but we tried to treat it and yet her fever is still standing and her cough has worsened. We had to trache her because she stopped breathing on her own." Foreman informed Cuddy, who was checking the chart once more, the woman was young and had been seeing a doctor for the past year about a cold that just would not go away and swimmers' ears.

"Because she's a swimmer." Cuddy concluded, signing off on the procedure before handing it back to Foreman who was joined by Wilson.

"I thought I told you guys to not take any cases until House got back?" Cuddy said, folding her arms over her chest.

"Taub found her in the clinic, we didn't think it was anything serious besides pneumonia, but then she took a turn for the worst when we treated it. Her labs revealed certain elevation levels common with certain cancers, so since the problem is in her lungs."

"I'm assisting Foreman, don't worry Cuddy. We won't be calling House, the patient probably has leukemia if this has been going on for the past year." Wilson informed her casually, Cuddy nodded slowly before eyeing the two of them.

"The last thing I need is for him to be up my ass because I gave you a case and interrupted his wallowing." Cuddy huffed with a rise of her chest before exhaling, Foreman had a tight lipped smile at the comment while Wilson rubbed his forehead.

"Let's hope it's Cancer because if it's not…we might have to call him." Wilson said, putting his hands on his hips, watching the change in Cuddy's expression turn sour and he had a suspicious inkling she was bothered by House returning so soon.

"Tell him it was Taub." Cuddy explained before resuming her work, Wilson and Foreman exchanged looks before leaving her office.

They had the patient prepped in the OR for a lung biopsy, they took the sample to the lab and put it under a microscope which proved nothing. It was clean other than traces of pneumonia that she was under treatment for at the moment, but something was still keeping her fever high which meant it was an infection, but they knew that, which was the pneumonia and yet it was still standing.

"We've treated her for the pneumonia, she lost control of her breathing and went into respiratory distress. She's still under the treatment, a low dosage, but has oxygen to help her breathe." Foreman explained.

"Is it possible she has an underlying condition which mixed with the pneumonia caused her fever to spike even further?" Thirteen inquired, flipping through the patient's chart in front of her where she was seated at the glass table in the diagnostic room.

"There's nothing in her history or family history to indicate an underlying condition. Other than the fact she's had a persistent cold for the past year and most recently swimmer's ear that she's taking medication for." Taub informed smartly, turning towards Foreman who was standing beside the white board trying to mull over what caused her to go into respiratory distress.

"Is it possible she can have two infections at the same time?" Thirteen asked, shooting it out there, it was rare for a condition to be a coincidence.

"That patient with the gout medication, he came in with a similar condition several years ago. Maybe she's suffering from the same thing?" Wilson suggested to Foreman who shook his head.

"Can't the medication she's taking for the Swimmer's ear isn't anything even related to that medication. They don't even look alike and she tested negative for drugs as well as steroids." Foreman said.

"Looks like we're gonna have to call an infectious disease specialist." Wilson said with his hands on his hips, letting them fall to his sides, he walked over to the office phone on the center of the desk. He dialed a number, clicked a button to put it on speaker, and the line rang.

—-

"Alright, Ulysses. We're going to roll the dough, we already prepared it but now we need to flatten it out before we cut it into thin slices." House signed to Ulysses who was standing on top of a chair beside the wooden kitchen island where House had sprinkled out flour on top of. They were making Trenette al Pesto, House left Ulysses to roll the dough while he prepared the pesto sauce from scratch. The two worked meticulously preparing dinner when House's home phone rang, he didn't hear it when he turned on the food processor which grinded the ingredients for the sauce. It rang a few times until House heard a voice, turning off the processor he looked at Ulysses who was still rolling the dough clueless to the voice and House recognized it as Wilson.

"House, I know you didn't want anyone bothering you on leave, but we have a patient here…that none of us can figure out what's wrong with her…" Wilson apologized with a stubborn sigh and House smiled smugly before limping over to the home phone. Ulysses looked up at him and signed with his hands where he was going, which House informed him someone was calling on the phone.

"You guys just can't function without daddy, huh?" House said into the phone, taking it into his right hand while his left rested on his hip. He was wearing a blue apron, shirt, and jeans, barefoot.

"Didn't mommy say I didn't want to be bothered? I think I might need to have a chat with her or…something else with her. If you know what I mean." House said suggestively while the team in the diagnostic room rolled their eyes at his inappropriate comment towards the Dean of Medicine.

"I see your feeling better, House." Taub replied.

"Don't let my voice fool you. I am very much still in pain about losing my patient…young people don't deserve to die. Now tell me, what's wrong with this one. Although, I won't feel too guilty since she's not my patient." House joked.

"Don't worry, Cuddy won't make you come in if she finds out you're back to your old self." Thirteen commented.

"Cuddy won't let me come in general."

"House, let's focus on the patient." Wilson coughed.

"Emma Stewart, 34 years old, came into the clinic with complaints about shortness of breath she'd been experiencing the last week. Her other symptoms that she didn't think were too important were nausea and dizziness which she explained was a result of her swimmer's ear which she's getting treatment for by her primary doctor. Also, she's had a cold for the past year that just won't go away." Taub explained.

"We ran blood tests and took an x-ray of her chest which revealed pneumonia so we treated her for it and she went into respiratory distress from the treatment. We lowered the dosage to keep her breathing stabilized. We later did a lung biopsy which proved it wasn't cancer." Foreman explained.

"What idiot thought it was cancer?" House asked harshly, contorting his face in a grimace.

"Foreman." Chase answered.

"It doesn't matter, Emma's fever is still holding even after getting treatment for the pneumonia." Foreman said, his hands resting on his hips, when in walked Cuddy with an update on Emma's condition before House spoke up from the speaker once more.

"So you guys came up with the conclusion that it's-." House was cut off when he heard a crash in the kitchen he had his back turned to, the team heard the loud crash and were concerned when he went silent, Cuddy leaned forward with concern from the entryway.

"House?" Thirteen questioned, her brows drawn.

In the kitchen, Ulysses had been rolling the dough when the chair slid out from under his feet, bumped hard against the stove when it fell and knocked over the pot and utensils from the counter. Ulysses had been gripping the wooden kitchen island during the commotion, House held the phone from his ear taking in the image in front of him.

"What happened?" House asked, signing with his hands, resting the phone between his neck and ear. Ulysses pawed at the floor before standing on the ground once more, signing with his hands that he leaned forward and the chair slipped from under him.

"Be careful," He told Ulysses, turning to the phone. " Hold on for a second, my cooking partner is a bit clumsy in the kitchen, be right back." House explained to his team, setting the phone down on the coffee table facing upward, he limped over to the kitchen and helped Ulysses clean up the mess.

"I guess he's feeling a LOT better if he has a hooker over." Foreman huffed with a proud smile, laughing to himself, rubbing his chin while Cuddy shot him a look of disgust.

"Here, the dough is done. Can you cut it into small thin slices for me? Like this." House explained to Ulysses, signing with his hands as well before showing Ulysses how to do it and Ulysses took the utensil from House and mimicked the action.

"Good job! You're a natural." House complimented Ulysses, ruffling his hair before scooting the chair closer to the kitchen island to ensure it wouldn't slip this time and he limped back toward the phone and picked it up.

"Now where were we?" House said into the phone once more.

"You have company?" Wilson asked, curious. The last he'd spoken with House the man was resolved with the situation regarding Hanna and his feelings for Cuddy. He was ready to move forward, but explained he still needed time to himself and Wilson thought that was really what Greg needed, and has been needing for a long time.

"Why? You jealous?" House snickered.

"No, it's just you were a bit upset a couple of days ago and now you're cooking with a new friend?" Wilson defended, shaking his head at the playful tone of his best friend's voice.

"Making Trenette al Pesto from scratch and you can't have any since you kicked me out, jerk." House replied, the team looked at Wilson not knowing he kicked House out of the loft and Cuddy even looked at Wilson with a look of concern. Wilson had informed her House had gone back to his apartment but she had no idea Wilson had kicked him out.

"Can we get back to Emma?" Taub questioned.

"Right, Emma. So I'm guessing you idiots have come to the realization that she has two infections?" House continued.

"Yes, as ridiculous as it sounds." Thirteen explained.

"It's not ridiculous, what's ridiculous is the fact that Foreman, being the neurologist, hasn't bothered scanning her brain. She has swimmer's ear and a cold that hasn't gone away in a year? As for the other infection, it's the flu." House explained with utmost certainty.

"But there's no reason to since she's taking medication for it from her doctor." Foreman explained, finding it hard that House was already so sure even though he wasn't even there in person.

"The woman has been swimming her whole life and in this one instance she develops swimmer's ear and a cold that won't let up. Don't you think that's a little strange?" House inquired.

"Scan her brain, then call me back if you haven't got the answer from that. My partner is done chopping the dough and now we need to boil the noodles. Toodle loo." House hung up the phone while the team stood there with new orders.

"Well, good for him." Wilson said, turning to Cuddy who handed him an update on the patient's history from her mother arriving.

"Sure." Cuddy replied flatly while the team exchanged looks before the phone rang once more and Foreman answered it.

"That doesn't mean an invitation to drop by my apartment. My partner doesn't take kindly to strangers. If you need help, call or skype. Can't leave, I'm under house arrest so to speak." House informed them, looking at Ulysses who was happily watching the noodles boil from a safe distance while House stood holding the strainer with his right hand and holding the phone with his left.

"She must have you on a tight leash." Chase replied smugly while Cuddy felt a bit uncomfortable at the comment.

"Not as tight as Cuddy's leash." House replied suggestively, Wilson coughed nervously while the team scoffed, turning to look at anything but Cuddy who had her hands folded over her chest with a scowl.

"House, she's…Cuddy's here in the office." Wilson said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Just can't stay away from me, hm? Lisa." House purred into the phone, emphasizing her first name which he never called her by and it sent a shiver down her spine with the way he said it.

"I'm helping your team, Greg." Lisa replied, emphasizing his name with venom which earned her a chuckle.

"Looks like you guys have mommy and daddy helping you on this case. This is going to be fun, even if I can't see what she's physically wearing." House replied huskily before hanging up and Cuddy rolled her eyes and walked out of the office to inform the patient's mother about what was going on.

"Looks like he's still not over her." Foreman said to Wilson when Thirteen and Taub left to get the patient prepped.

"He's over her. He's just messing with her." Wilson replied, but he didn't know how wrong about that he was. Just how much worse it was than messing or over.