Chapter 2
An orderly knocked on House's office door.
"Yeah?" said House, the orderly popped his head in.
"There's a patient downstairs for you."
"And you couldn't phone?"
"She said she didn't trust you to be discrete."
"Discrete about what?" asked Foreman.
The orderly looked at the other doctors and back to house. "She's here for her 2 week check up and apparently no one else will do and she refuses to leave the room."
House practically leapt out of his chair. Picking up his cane he hobbled out after the orderly.
"Who the hell makes him get up that quickly?" asked Cameron.
"Girlfriend?" offered Foreman.
"Mary," said Chase.
"Who the hell is Mary?" asked Foreman.
"A 14-year-old girl and I'm 90% sure that isn't her real name."
"Secret daughter?" laughed Cameron.
"That's what I keep thinking…" said Chase.
"Come on, House wouldn't have a secret daughter," said Foreman.
"How well do we really know him?"
Foreman sighed. "Not that well, but really? A kid?"
"Let's go see then," said Chase. "They're chemistry is…well, come on."
"Isn't this wrong?" asked Cameron as they made their way to the elevators. "Spying on a kid?"
"No," said Chase. "Because we're spying on House."
"Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your infection grow?" asked House as he came into the exam room.
Mary smiled. "Will silver bells, no putrid smells, and healing all in a row."
House smiled and motioned for the nurse to leave. "Charming. Shirt."
Mary lifted the back of her shirt and House examined her. "You tell the truth." He ran his hand over the lacerations. "Turn this way."
Mary shuffled on the bed so House could see her back properly. There was some bruising underneath the lacerations. He pushed down on the bruising.
"Ow," said Mary, more annoyed than out of pain.
House pushed another bruise.
"Ow!"
House pushed further along that bruise.
"OW! Seriously, stop that."
House leaned back and sat on the end of the bed. He frowned.
"What?" asked Mary.
"What are the bruises from?"
Mary glared at him. "The healing perhaps?" she said sarcastically.
"Funny thing is I'm a doctor. A good one. And I know about your medical history and I know you bruise easily, not slowly. So I'm going to ask again. What are the bruises from?"
"I fell over at gym class."
"Doing what?"
"Rock climbing."
"Why the hell are you rock climbing?"
"Because it's a sport."
"No. Why are YOU rock climbing."
She shrugged.
"You fell on your back, on the mat?"
"Onto the wall as I was being let down."
House groaned. "When?"
"Today."
"You need a CT scan."
"No I don't."
"You could be bleeding."
"It doesn't hurt that bad."
"Have you seen your back?"
"Have you seen your face?"
"Oh, honey, we are way past the humor now. Up. Let's go."
House stood, leaning on his cane. When Mary refused to move, he tapped her shoe with his cane. "Move it, or I'll make the call you so desperately do not want me to make. Actually, there are three phone calls I know you do not want me to make."
Mary rolled her eyes. "You only know one of those numbers."
"Ah. Well, I pick that one."
Mary jumped off the bed.
"Atta girl."
As House and Mary left the room Cameron, Chase, and Foreman are there, staring.
"Don't you all have a dominatrix's bitch to take care of?" said House to them.
"What's a dominatrix?" asked Mary.
"Something you don't need to ever know about."
"He's fine," said Foreman. "Who's this?"
"This," said House putting his hand on Mary's head, "is my puppet patient. Say 'hello annoying doctors', puppet patient."
"Hello annoying doctors," said Mary with a grin.
The three doctors just stared.
"Chase, you know Molly- "
"Mary," said Mary.
"Right, yes. Mary. We need a CT scan for her back. Take her. Call me with the results. Do not linger. Same as last time. She hit her back on a rock-climbing wall today at school."
Chase frowned at House but smiled at Mary as they headed towards CT.
"Who is she?" asked Cameron.
"Funny, I thought we just did that?"
"You know what she means," said Foreman.
"Is she your daughter?" asked Cameron.
"Oh god, no. Nothing like that."
"Then who is she?"
"I know her parents."
"How?"
"I just do. Did you ever hear of doctor patient confidentiality?"
"You hit your back rock-climbing?" asked Chase again after they made into the CT scan room.
"Gym class, my partner was letting me down and dropped a bit too fast and I went splat on the wall."
"Lift your shirt," said Chase.
"Why? Aren't I about to have a CT to check."
"I just need to know where to look."
Mary rolled her eyes but lifted her shirt.
"Right over your lacerations…" Chase mumbled to himself. "You know these seem very straight to be caused by a rock-climbing wall."
"Our school can't afford the best."
Chase frowned but put her shirt down. "All right, you know the drill."
Mary laid down and Chase conducted the scan.
House, Cameron and Foreman were walking back to the office talking about the lovely dominatrix when House suddenly swore.
"What?" asked Foreman.
"She's a big fat liar!" House yelled and turned around, hobbling back to the elevators as quickly as possible.
"About what?" asked Cameron.
"She's home-schooled." House said as he got into the elevator.
House stormed into the review room of the CT scanner.
"Results?" he asked Chase.
"Still processing," said Chase. "I thought you said-"
House pressed the microphone button, "You're a liar, Kate."
Her leg twitched.
"You know better than to lie to your doctor." House said. "How'd you get the bruises?"
"I already said," she said.
"You mean you already lied."
"Whatever."
"They were very straight," said Chase.
"What?" asked House, switching the mic off.
"I looked, the marks, they were straight. Rock climbing wall wouldn't be straight."
"What is?"
"Uh, a wall, book shelf, furniture, ladder?"
"All very-"
"She's bleeding," said Chase.
House looked at the monitor. "Oh jeez."
"She needs surgery…it's on her spine, god that's a lot of blood," said Chase. "We need…"
House turned the mic on. "I have to make that call, Kate."
"But…"
"Take your pick, but I'm a making a call."
There was a pause. House flicked the mic off.
"Get her out of there, vitamin K and platelets, and prepped for surgery," said House to Chase. He turned the mic back on, "Kate, make a choice."
"Call him."
"Has this happened before?" asked Chase as he helped Kate get undressed and into the gown.
"A few times, but not in the last two years," she said.
"So, it's Kate, is it?" he asked with a smile as he handed the gown behind him.
"Yes," Kate said, snatching it back.
"So, Mary-Kate, was that a joke?"
"What do you mean?"
"Mary-Kate Olsen?"
"Oh, no, it's my actual name."
"But House couldn't remember your name was Mary?"
"I haven't been called Mary since I was like 3, I go by Kate."
"Why?"
"Mary is my grandma's name, it got a bit confusing. And my name isn't hyphenated, it's just Mary and Kate."
"And House couldn't remember that?"
"House isn't exactly the personal details remember-er."
"You're right about that."
"I'm done."
"Right," Chase turned around. "You can put your clothes in the bureau and sit on the bed, please."
"Do you know if House called my dad?"
Chase shook his head as he opened the curtain. "No, sorry, we're about to go down to surgery as soon as the bag's done. So you might not see him anyway."
"That's not really what I meant."
"What did you mean?" asked Chase as Kate sat down on the bed.
"Every surgery is a risk, right? And this bleed is in my back, near my spine. That's a pretty important part of the body."
"You want to see your dad before you go under?"
Kate shrugged. "I don't know," she sighed and lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. "I haven't seen him in, nearly a year."
"Why so long?" asked Chase, getting the intravenous drip ready.
"My step dad got a job in Seattle, it's a long way to go."
"What does your step dad do?"
"He's a specialist in neurology. He used to be a surgeon but he got into a car accident so now he teaches around the country. Still does research too."
Chase paused. "Is your step dad Douglas Fairchild?"
Kate rolled her eyes. "You've heard of him?"
"Pretty much everyone in the medical field has at least heard of him."
"Wonderful."
"One of my colleagues, Doctor Foreman, Doctor Fairchild is a god to him."
"Never meet your heroes."
"Just the man I was looking for," said House as he ran into Wilson in the hallway.
"For what? My god, is that paperwork? You're actually doing paperwork?"
"Actually, this is your paperwork." House handed him the clipboard, "need some information and approvals, health insurance, et cetera."
Wilson stopped walking and looked at the paperwork. "This is a consent form for intravenous fluids and surgery? Why do I need that?"
"You don't."
Wilson froze. "Which room."
"Oh come on, you don't need to scare her just."
"Which room?!" he yelled.
"S11."
Wilson ran down the hallway, dropping the clipboard.
House sighed as he walked over and struggled to go pick up the clipboard but managed.
"What's that supposed to me-" Chase was asking just as Wilson appeared out of breath in the room.
"Kate," he said.
"Dad," said Kate, she sat up.
"You…your back?"
"I fell," Kate said plainly.
"Can I see?"
"I was just about to start the…" Chase said dumbly, wiggling the tube for the drip.
"Right, yes. Of course." Wilson took a deep breath and went over to the other side of Kate's bed.
Chase pulled out the line needle kit and Kate looked away sharply.
"Still hate needles?" asked Wilson with a slight smile.
"Surely there has to be a better way to get stuff into the bloodstream?"
"One day, maybe," said Chase. "On 3, one, two-" he stuck the needle in Kate.
Kate breathed in sharply. "Argh! You're a big fat liar," Kate said as she clenched her eyes shut.
"Sorry," said Chase. He put in the line and started the drip. "Thought it would be easier. Also, don't know if you're one to lecture people about lying."
If there was literal frozen blood going into my left side right now, I'd be giving you the dirtiest look, Doctor Chase."
"Good to know. This should take about 45 minutes, then we'll go down for surgery. Press the call button if there's any pain."
"Okay."
"All right, Doctor Wilson you'll-"
"I'll stay," said Wilson.
Chase nodded once and left the room.
"Mary Kate Wilson," repeated Foreman. "Really?"
Chase smiled. "That's what the chart says now. He literally came running into her room after House told him."
"He never said," said Cameron.
"She doesn't even live her, why would he?" asked Foreman.
"Fourteen years old, so she didn't lie about that at least," said Chase.
"Makes sense why House and her are so chummy," said Foreman.
"Wonder how often he sees her?" asked Cameron.
"House or Wilson?"
"Wilson, obviously. She's his daughter."
"Kate said she hadn't seen him in nearly a year," said Chase. "But I was here over a year ago and I never saw her or remember him mentioning her."
"Maybe it's an alternating holiday kind of deal?" offered Cameron.
"Why are we speculating about this?" asked Foreman. "It's interesting, but none of our business."
"But it is fascinating business," said Chase.
"So, what happened?" asked Wilson once Chase was gone.
"I fell, I said," said Kate.
"I mean, actually. House gave me forms for…" he trailed off. "I dropped them. But anyway, you need surgery, the K and platelets aren't going to be enough. So, what happened?"
"I tripped on the rug at the apartment, fell backwards onto a bookshelf."
Wilson rubbed his hand over his face. "And how long before you came in?"
Kate shrugged. "A few hours."
"Kate…" Wilson said exasperated.
"I know, but, it's been years since anything, and I feel fine, honestly. It doesn't hurt…well, not until House poked at it. But even now, I feel fine."
"People don't have pain receptors everywhere. You know that."
"Yeah…"
"Do your mom and Doug know?"
"That I'm here? God no."
"Why not?"
Kate raised her eyebrows at Wilson. "They don't want me seeing you."
"Ah."
"They're very mature for their ages."
Wilson laughed.
"I mean I should say they don't want me seeing you until the 4th of July anyway."
Wilson frowned at that. "That's not funny."
"You know what they're like."
"How long have you guys been in New Jersey?"
"Five weeks."
Wilson leaned back in his chair and sighed. "And Colleen doesn't think to tell me that information?"
"To be honest, I don't think she even planned on telling you in the summer."
"What, she was just going to drop you off on my doorstep and think I wouldn't notice the lack of airplane ticket I had to pay for?"
Kate bit her lip. "No, I think she was going to get you to pay for the ticket anyway and have me take a taxi to your place from our place."
"And what? Have you lie to me the whole weekend? God, I know she's your mother but she's a piece of work."
Kate smiled. She knew it too. Obviously.
"How's Julie?"
Wilson was taken aback a bit. "Fine."
"Way to sell it, Dad."
Wilson shook his head. "She's the same, Katie, I know you don't like her very much."
"Oh I like her fine, thank you very much. She's the one that acts like I'm chewing on her leg for the 7 nights a year I'm in her house."
"I know. Julie doesn't like kids. She doesn't even like her own nieces and nephews."
"I'm 14, not 4."
Wilson sighed. "Yeah, I know."
"What?"
"Nothing, it's just-"
"Someone left some very important paperwork in the hallways," said House appearing in the room waving the clipboard around.
"Thank you," said Wilson, taking the clipboard a little too eagerly. He sat down and picked up a pen out of his pocket.
"How's my favourite liar going?" asked House.
"Just brilliant," Kate said to the wall.
"You're not going to make eye contact. Wilson, your child is very rude."
"I don't like needles."
"So close your left eye."
"House," Kate warned.
"Oh for heaven's sake," House moaned and came over to sit at the edge of the right side of the bed. "Hello Kate."
"Hello Greg."
"You going to tell me what happened to your back?"
"She told me," Wilson said without looking up from the paperwork he was filling in.
"Oh I see. You'll lie to your doctor but not to your father? I think you've got the backwards, sweet autumn child."
"I tripped and fell into a bookshelf this morning."
"This morning?"
"Dad already gave me the spiel."
"Good. Now, where are your mother and what's-his-face today?"
"Work."
"I got that, thanks, where are they working?"
"Doug's at Princeton as a guest lecturer and they've got a dinner tonight too after that mom's going to."
"You weren't invited?"
"I'm never invited."
Both Wilson and House paused for a beat too long.
"What?" asked Kate.
"Nothing," they both said.
"Creepy. So, is there any chance this surgery will have me back to the apartment by 11pm?"
House and Wilson both looked at each other.
"Possibly," said House.
"You don't want them to know?" asked Wilson.
"I have one parent that knows, why do the other parental figures in my life need to know?" asked Kate.
Wilson took a deep breath. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"I'll let you be the one to tell mom that you know they're in town. Always a fun argument. Plus you might be able to get something from family court for her lying."
"Kate that's not a reason to do anything."
"Please, Dad. Don't tell them. If they find out after 2 years, I've had a spell I won't be able to stay home alone, I won't be able to go out. I've got this study group thing at the library twice a week, I'm making friends. I won't be able to go. I'll have to shadow mom or Doug at work. Do you know how boring that is? Please, please, please."
"Okay, okay," said Wilson. "Calm down. It's fine. Just this once, and I mean it, this once, I won't say anything."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"Wilson, you softy," said House.
"Here," Wilson said, handing House the completed forms.
"Do I look like a nurse?" asked House.
"Do I look like I'm going to be the one looking for a nurse to make up her chart?"
House clicked his tongue. "Fine." He left.
"Study group thing?" asked Wilson.
"At the library. For home schoolers in the area. We're all on the same program. The library hosts groups different times during the week for two hours blocks, so you know, we all get socialised and stuff."
"No, I mean, I thought you said Doug was a visiting professor?"
"Oh he is, from next year he's going to be a professor too but he's in some research thingy at the school for some brain thing, we moved here for that. It's like at least a 2-year thing. This visiting professorship is a favour to the dean."
"You've moved here?"
Kate nodded. "Yeah. I mean Doug will probably travel for the research but Mom got a job as a malpractice lawyer at another hospital so she's…there…are you okay?"
Wilson was leaning on his knees, his face in his hands. "Yeah, fine. I just…"
"Dad?"
"Don't worry about me. I'm just, shocked is all. You moved back 5 weeks ago?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I will be contacting the court."