Chapter 6

It was a typical Wednesday evening at the House-Cuddy residence, marking the first day of October. The family gathered around the dinner table, enjoying a meal together. Little Paige was secured in her baby chair next to House, gurgling happily as she played with a soft toy. The atmosphere was warm and filled with the casual chatter of family life.

Cuddy, ever the attentive mother, turned to her eldest daughter with a smile. "Hope, have you decided what you want to do for your birthday next weekend? It's coming up in just ten days."

Rachel, always brimming with energy, immediately perked up at the mention of her sister's birthday. "A party! A party!" she exclaimed, bouncing in her seat.

Hope looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "I'd like to have a party at home, with some of my friends from school. Outside, in the garden?"

Cuddy and House exchanged approving glances. "That sounds like a great idea, sweetheart," Cuddy said.

House, always one to add a twist, suggested, "How about we get a trampoline for the party?"

The girls' eyes lit up with excitement, but Cuddy shot House a look that clearly communicated her disapproval of the idea. "We'll see about that," she said diplomatically.

As the conversation continued, Hope mentioned wanting a strawberry and cream cake for her birthday. Rachel immediately interjected, "But I want chocolate!"

Cuddy and House gently reminded Rachel that it was Hope's birthday and she should get to choose. "When it's your birthday, you can have a chocolate cake," House explained patiently. "But this time, it's Hope's choice."

Rachel pouted, her lower lip sticking out. "But I really want chocolate," she insisted.

House leaned closer to Rachel, his voice calm and soothing. "Rachel, listen. It's Hope's special day, so she gets to choose what makes her happy, and she likes strawberry and cream cake better than chocolate, and it's her choice. When it's your birthday, you get to pick everything you want, and we'll make sure it's exactly how you like it. But this time, it's important that Hope gets to choose because it's her celebration."

Rachel looked at Hope, then back at House. "But I don't like strawberry," she mumbled.

Hope, seeing her sister's disappointment, smiled gently. "Rachel, I promise you can have some chocolate, too. Maybe we can have chocolate cookies just for you."

Rachel's eyes lit up. "Really? Like chocolate chip cookies?"

Hope nodded her head smiling at her little sister.

Cuddy smiled at the thoughtful gesture from Hope. "That's very sweet of you, Hope. We can definitely arrange that."

Rachel beamed. "Yay! I love you, Hope!"

House chuckled, ruffling Rachel's hair. "You've got a pretty awesome big sister, don't you?"

Rachel nodded vigorously. "The best!"

Hope smiled shyly, feeling the warmth of her family's love. "And I've got the best little sister."

Cuddy looked at House, her eyes filled with pride. "We're lucky to have such amazing daughters."

House nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. "Yeah, we really are." He then turned to Hope. "So, besides the cakes, what else would you like for your party? Any special games or activities?"

Hope thought for a moment. "I don't know, maybe we can have the trampolim and music, and play a scavenger hunt?"

"That sounds like a great idea," Cuddy said. "We can definitely set up some fun activities. It'll be a wonderful birthday party."

Rachel's excitement was palpable. "Can I help with the scavenger hunt?"

"Of course, you can, Rachel," Hope replied. "We can plan it together."

Cuddy felt a rush of gratitude watching her daughters interact so lovingly. She thought about how Hope was growing more confident and compassionate with each passing day. Hope was not only excelling in school and gymnastics but also at home, where her bond with Rachel was strong and nurturing.

Hope smiled at her sister. "You can also help me with the invitations, Rachel," she offered, her voice kind and inclusive.

Rachel's face brightened instantly, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I want to help!" Cuddy watched this interaction with a swelling heart. She couldn't help but feel proud of Hope. Despite being only nine, Hope was showing remarkable maturity and kindness, especially towards her younger sister. It was clear to Cuddy that Hope was thriving—at school, in her gymnastics classes, and at home. She had a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity about the world that both Cuddy and House nurtured and encouraged.

Hope was increasingly integrated into her school life, excelling in her classes, and forming strong friendships. Her gymnastics training was going well, with her coaches frequently praising her dedication and skill. At home, she was an incredible sister to Rachel, always looking out for her and including her in her activities. Cuddy felt immense pride seeing how Hope was growing into such a well-rounded, compassionate individual.

Hope's interests were diverse and ever-expanding. She loved reading about various subjects, from astronomy to zoology, must her real passion is medicine, it was more than clear, that little girl, her little girl was going to be a doctor, but for now her insatiable curiosity often led to family discussions that were both enlightening and entertaining. Cuddy and House did their best to support and foster her love for learning, providing her with books, educational toys, and experiences that would enrich her understanding of the world.

House's voice interrupted her thoughts. "So, Hope, what do you want for your birthday present? Another book?"

Hope's eyes sparkled with excitement. "No, Daddy, I know what I want! I want a silicone model to practice suturing!"

House and Cuddy exchanged surprised but proud looks. "A suturing model, huh?" House said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That's quite an ambitious request."

Cuddy nodded, impressed. "Hope, honey, you are only nine, I don't think a suturing model is an appropriate gift for a nine years-old little girl..." she teased gently.

"Oh! but mommy" Hope told her as matter of fact "I'm turning ten, not nine"

"Oh!" Cuddy replied looking at Hope "You are so much older than" She stated "Ask for another thing baby, not a suturing model, you are not old enough to play suturing human body just yet."

Hope's face fell slightly, but she remained hopeful. "Like what, Mommy? I really like the suturing model..."

House jumped in, his tone encouraging. "How about a science kit or a model of the human body? Something without needles and stitches..."

Hope considered this, her eyes lighting up again. "Can I get a really detailed human anatomy model?"

Cuddy nodded, smiling. "That sounds like a great idea. You can learn a lot from that, and when you're older, in college hopefully, we can get you that suturing model."

Hope grinned. "I guess is okay Mommy, Thank you Mom, Dad"

House ruffled Hope's hair affectionately. "You're welcome, kiddo. We are really proud of you, you know!"

Cuddy looked at House, her eyes reflecting her pride and love. "We really are. You're an amazing big sister and such a bright girl."

Rachel, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "Can I help you with the anatomy model, Hope?"

Hope smiled at her little sister. "Of course you can, Rachel. We'll learn together."

House chuckled. "Looks like we've got two future doctors in the making."

Cuddy laughed softly. "I wouldn't be surprised."

"Maybe, just maybe, I could suture some human? Like a dead body... Please!"

"Absolutely not!" Cuddy told her "Not dead bodies until you are in college, or better, in Med School!"

"It like light years away mom!" Hope complained to her.

"Then wait the light year, no dead bodies, not human bodies, not nothing like that" She told her daughter "Once you get to college, we can practice as much as you want, right now, you got to wait the light years"

"It no fun!" Cuddy looked seriously at Hope, reminding her that the conversation about cadavers and suturing on tissues was over. There was no way she, Hope, could practice suturing anytime soon... at least not on living tissue.

As the family continued their dinner, the atmosphere was filled with warmth and love, everyone looking forward to celebrating Hope's upcoming birthday.

A few hours later, with baby Paige soundly sleeping in her own room, House and Cuddy were getting ready for bed. House was rereading some articles from the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, while Cuddy was engrossed in the last chapter of the romance novel she had started reading when she was still pregnant with Paige.

House broke the silence. "So, about Hope's birthday present... do you really think we can't let her have the suturing model?"

Cuddy sighed, looking up from her book. "House, we can't rush time and give Hope a suturing model with medical instruments and needles. It's not only dangerous, but it's also not a toy."

"I get that," House replied, "but I didn't want to play with toys at her age either. It's normal for her to want to explore the things she's interested in. She's not like other kids her age, and most important, she would only play with the model with one of us with her, it's not like she will play suturing the next human on my own alone"

Cuddy shook her head. "We need to find alternatives. The suturing model isn't appropriate. Hope will have all the time in the world to practice suturing, but right now, it's not suitable."

House leaned back, contemplating. "You need to see it from her perspective. She's not interested in toys or simple models; she's fascinated by medicine. It's perfectly normal for her to make this request."

"What about letting her sit in on an anatomy class at Princeton?" House suggested.

"No, House, she is still a child! I don't want to push her towards medicine when she's still so young. She may think she's ready, but what she's read is nothing like the reality of medicine. She needs to be a child while she can. She'll have plenty of time to be a doctor or whatever else she wants to be."

House countered, "Giving her the suturing model isn't going to change that. We're just supporting her interests."

Cuddy remained firm. "She can't always get everything she wants, and she can't think of herself as a mini-adult. She needs an age-appropriate gift."

They fell into a tense silence, clearly at an impasse. Cuddy finally suggested, "How about we decide together tomorrow what to get her? We can go shopping together?"

House sighed, knowing they were still far from agreement. "Fine, but she's not going to be happy with anything else."

"She'll learn," Cuddy said softly. "She can't always get what she wants."

They let the issue rest for the night, both too tired to argue further. Soon, they drifted off to sleep, their unresolved disagreement hanging in the air.

-/-

The days passed uneventfully until one late afternoon when Rachel and Hope were playing hide-and-seek in the living room. Marina was feeding Paige a bottle of milk in the corner. The house was filled with the sounds of laughter and excitement as the two sisters dashed around, trying to outsmart each other in their game. It was nearing the end of the day, but Cuddy and House were still at work, she was caught up in meetings with the board and he was still working in a case.

Rachel, in her enthusiasm, didn't notice how close she was to her sister and accidentally collided with Hope. The impact was stronger than expected, causing Hope to stumble backward and fall. As she hit the floor, her head struck one of the sharp corners of the coffee table with a sickening thud. Marina's heart skipped a beat as she watched the scene unfold, the bottle slipping from her grasp.

"Hope!" Rachel screamed, her voice filled with terror. Hope lay motionless, her eyes closed. Marina rushed to her side, her hands trembling. "Hope! HOPE!" Marina call her but she was still unresponsive, with a quickly reflex Marina checked for a pulse and found it.

Marina's mind raced. She couldn't afford to panic, not now. She grabbed her phone and dialed emergency services. "Please, send an ambulance immediately! A child has fallen and hit her head. She's unconscious!" She rattled off the address, her voice barely steady.

Rachel stood by, tears streaming down her face. "Is she going to be okay?" she asked, her voice small and scared.

Marina pulled her into a quick hug. "The ambulance is on its way, sweetheart. Stay calm. Everything will be alright."

As they waited, Marina tried to keep Rachel calm while continuously checking Hope's condition. The minutes felt like hours, the tension in the air palpable. Paige, sensing the distress, began to cry, adding to the chaos.

As House pulled up to the house, he immediately sensed something was wrong. The sound of sirens approaching confirmed his worst fears. He rushed inside, his heart pounding in his chest. The scene that greeted him was chaotic: Hope lay motionless on the floor, blood pooling around her head; Rachel stood nearby, tears streaming down her face, her cries filling the room; Paige was wailing in her crib; and Marina was on the phone, desperately trying to keep her composure while speaking to Cuddy.

Panic surged through House, his mind racing with a thousand horrifying possibilities. But years of medical training kicked in, and he forced himself to stay calm. He dropped to his knees beside Hope, his hands trembling only slightly as he began his examination.

"Marina, what happened?" he demanded, his voice sharper than intended.

"She fell and hit her head," Marina replied, her voice breaking. "She's been unconscious since."

House nodded, his focus already shifting back to Hope. He gently checked her airway, breathing, and circulation. His fingers moved to her neck and spine, carefully feeling for any fractures or abnormalities. He fought to keep his emotions in check, focusing on the medical task at hand.

"Stay with me, Hope," he muttered under his breath, his voice both a plea and a command. He continued his examination, his hands moving methodically over her small frame. As he palpated her scalp, searching for signs of a fracture, he suddenly felt Hope's eyelids flutter beneath his fingertips.

"Daddy?" Her voice was weak but unmistakably hers.

Relief flooded through him, nearly overwhelming his professional demeanor. "Hey, kiddo. Just stay still, okay? You're going to be fine." He forced a reassuring smile, though his heart was still racing.

He turned to Marina, who was still on the phone with Cuddy. "Tell her we're heading to the hospital," he instructed, his voice calmer now. "She just woke up. Pupils are reactive, no obvious fractures, but we need to get her checked out."

Marina nodded, tears in her eyes as she relayed the information to Cuddy. House shifted his attention back to Hope, gently wiping the blood from her forehead. "You're going to be okay," he repeated, more for himself than for her.

As the paramedics arrived and began preparing Hope for transport, House looked at Marina, who was visibly shaken. "Marina, stay here with Rachel and Paige. I'll go with Hope to the hospital. I'll call Cuddy on the way."

"I'm so sorry, Dr. House," Marina choked out, guilt etched across her face. "I tried to watch them closely."

House placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Marina. Accidents happen. Right now, I just need to make sure Hope is alright."

He gently lifted Hope onto the stretcher, securing her in place. As the paramedics prepared to transport her, House pulled out his phone and dialed Cuddy.

"Cuddy, it's me. Get the ER ready. I'm coming in with Hope. She fell and hit her head. She was unconscious but just woke up. There's some blood, but she's coherent."

Cuddy's voice was tense but composed. "I'll be ready. Just get her here safely."

House hung up and climbed into the ambulance with Hope, holding her hand as they sped toward the hospital. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but he focused on staying calm for his daughter.

-/-

Cuddy still had her heart racing and her chest feeling tight as she stood beside her husband while he conducted another CT scan on their daughter. Hope, now fully awake and in surprisingly good spirits, showed no signs of trauma, bleeding, or anything serious. The impact on the table had been strong, and the stress likely caused Hope to faint, but there was nothing more concerning. They had run all possible tests, and everything seemed fine. As House finished the CT scan, Cuddy helped their daughter out of the exam room.

"Can we go home, Mommy? I'm fine!" Hope said. It was well past her bedtime, and she had undergone every test they had mentioned.

"It's bedtime, isn't it?" Cuddy replied just as House entered the exam room. "Well, Kiddo, no fractures, no hemorrhages, no contusions, no nothing. You're okay, aside from the huge bump on your head and the three stitches you got. At least someone got to practice suturing," he said, making both Hope and Cuddy laugh, since it had been Cuddy who sutured Hope's forehead.

"Does that mean I get my suturing model?" Hope asked hopefully.

Her parents laughed, relieved that everything was alright. Hope was fine, they were fine, and Cuddy clearly didn't need any more practice with her suturing skills.